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snoakes7001's review against another edition
5.0
Obviously Neil Oliver's first novel was always going to be a bit of a historical epic - and this doesn't disappoint. The story sweeps from 15th century Constantinople to Scotland and back again. But don't expect a dry, factually accurate tome - Mr Oliver has definitely got his storytelling head on. History purists beware though as the identity of one key character may make you squirm. But remind yourself that this is a novel based in history with a gilding of romance and fantasy and you will have a lot of fun (especially if like me you cannot help but hear the prose in his Scottish mellifluous tones. I do hope he read his own audio book). The story zooms along like all good page turners do with great characters and plenty of action. Apparently a sequel is in the pipeline and I shall certainly look forward to that. I also rather hope that in the future he gives full reign to his imagination and writes a full-on fantasy novel.
omelialibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
For a first novel this is rather good :-) The only parts I didn't like were the torture scenes which made me feel sick and weepy as they were very graphic! Fab description throughout, I really felt like I was there at times and was very emotionally attached to the characters :-)
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
3.0
‘Among [Constantinople]’s defenders was a man cloaked in shadow. He is mentioned in accounts of the siege, but only in a few lines here and there.
Some writers described him as German, but in fact he was a Scot, and his name was John Grant.’
I picked this novel up for two reasons. First, it featured John Grant, an engineer who played a key role in the fall of Constantinople in 1453 but about whom little is known. Secondly, I’m a huge fan of Neil Oliver and wanted to see whether his fiction is as good as his non-fiction.
The story shifts between Scotland and Constantinople, between a number of characters, including John Grant, Prince Constantine and a mysterious woman known as Lena. Mr Oliver weaves a complex story (yes, I was hearing him narrate it as I read) and I enjoyed most of it. But is it historical fiction, or alternative history? I don’t want to spoil the novel for anyone who has yet to read it. I will say, though, that I found it easier to read past a certain point if I regarded the novel as presenting an alternative history. Otherwise, the identity of one particular character would have had me closing the book and throwing it at the wall.
I liked the depiction of John Grant, and I found Badr Khassan intriguing. Under Badr Khassan’s guidance, John Grant grows from a boy with a mysterious past, surrounded by secrets, into an effective mercenary. John Grant has unusual abilities, and a sense of honour. His life becomes a quest to keep a death-bed promise, and he meets some interesting people along the way.
As the action moved to Constantinople, to the siege, I found myself less concerned about historical accuracy and more interested in how this particular story was going to end. I read that a sequel is planned for release later this year. Yes, I’ll be looking to read it. I want to know how John Grant’s story will continue.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Some writers described him as German, but in fact he was a Scot, and his name was John Grant.’
I picked this novel up for two reasons. First, it featured John Grant, an engineer who played a key role in the fall of Constantinople in 1453 but about whom little is known. Secondly, I’m a huge fan of Neil Oliver and wanted to see whether his fiction is as good as his non-fiction.
The story shifts between Scotland and Constantinople, between a number of characters, including John Grant, Prince Constantine and a mysterious woman known as Lena. Mr Oliver weaves a complex story (yes, I was hearing him narrate it as I read) and I enjoyed most of it. But is it historical fiction, or alternative history? I don’t want to spoil the novel for anyone who has yet to read it. I will say, though, that I found it easier to read past a certain point if I regarded the novel as presenting an alternative history. Otherwise, the identity of one particular character would have had me closing the book and throwing it at the wall.
I liked the depiction of John Grant, and I found Badr Khassan intriguing. Under Badr Khassan’s guidance, John Grant grows from a boy with a mysterious past, surrounded by secrets, into an effective mercenary. John Grant has unusual abilities, and a sense of honour. His life becomes a quest to keep a death-bed promise, and he meets some interesting people along the way.
As the action moved to Constantinople, to the siege, I found myself less concerned about historical accuracy and more interested in how this particular story was going to end. I read that a sequel is planned for release later this year. Yes, I’ll be looking to read it. I want to know how John Grant’s story will continue.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
verityw's review against another edition
3.0
Read for Novelicious:
http://www.novelicious.com/2016/02/review-master-of-shadows-by-neil-oliver.html
Excerpt:
Although I’m fairly well up on western European history in the fifteenth century, my knowledge about Constantinople in this period is very sketchy. But Neil Oliver does a really good job of bringing all the locations in this book to life – no matter what you already know about it. It feels like a lot of research has gone into Master of Shadows, but it is worn very lightly – there are no massive info dumps or moments where you feel like he’s trying to show off what he knows. The plot is a little fantastical, but because of that research, you don’t really notice until you stop to think about it.
But boy, is it bloody. There’s a lot of fighting, with descriptions of gruesome killings and a big old body count. I found it a bit much, but then I can’t cope with Game of Thrones! It’s a fascinating period and I’d probably be off down an internet black hole trying to figure out where fact and fiction meet if I wasn’t so squeamish.
If Master of Shadows were a film, Gerard Butler would play John Grant and it would be rated 18 for very strong bloody violence – but if you can get past the gore, there’s an entertaining chase across Europe and fascinating picture of an imploding dynasty.
http://www.novelicious.com/2016/02/review-master-of-shadows-by-neil-oliver.html
Excerpt:
Although I’m fairly well up on western European history in the fifteenth century, my knowledge about Constantinople in this period is very sketchy. But Neil Oliver does a really good job of bringing all the locations in this book to life – no matter what you already know about it. It feels like a lot of research has gone into Master of Shadows, but it is worn very lightly – there are no massive info dumps or moments where you feel like he’s trying to show off what he knows. The plot is a little fantastical, but because of that research, you don’t really notice until you stop to think about it.
But boy, is it bloody. There’s a lot of fighting, with descriptions of gruesome killings and a big old body count. I found it a bit much, but then I can’t cope with Game of Thrones! It’s a fascinating period and I’d probably be off down an internet black hole trying to figure out where fact and fiction meet if I wasn’t so squeamish.
If Master of Shadows were a film, Gerard Butler would play John Grant and it would be rated 18 for very strong bloody violence – but if you can get past the gore, there’s an entertaining chase across Europe and fascinating picture of an imploding dynasty.
judenoseinabook's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it. I asked for it as a Christmas present and was not disappointed.
A fascinating historical read, begins in Scotland then France then Constantinople. A place I know very little about historically. It sets the scene well.
The story is interesting and characters well drawn. I wanted to know more about them all and the author reveals all slowly and keeps the mystery about all the relationships going.
One note jarred with me though - Neil Oliver is a historian/ archaeologist so I was surprised to find him referring to tomatoes at one point. The book is set in the early to mid 1400s; Columbus didn't sail the ocean blue till 1492 and tomatoes came from the Americas. I checked.
I am curious now to find out more about the siege of Constantinople so I do hope I don't find any more historical bloomers.
A fascinating historical read, begins in Scotland then France then Constantinople. A place I know very little about historically. It sets the scene well.
The story is interesting and characters well drawn. I wanted to know more about them all and the author reveals all slowly and keeps the mystery about all the relationships going.
One note jarred with me though - Neil Oliver is a historian/ archaeologist so I was surprised to find him referring to tomatoes at one point. The book is set in the early to mid 1400s; Columbus didn't sail the ocean blue till 1492 and tomatoes came from the Americas. I checked.
I am curious now to find out more about the siege of Constantinople so I do hope I don't find any more historical bloomers.
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