What do you think?
Rate this book
The Eight #2
The Fire
2003, Colorado: Alexandra Solarin is summoned home to her family’s ancestral Rocky Mountain hideaway for her mother’s birthday. Thirty years ago, her parents, Cat Velis and Alexander Solarin, believed that they had scattered the pieces of the Montglane Service around the world, burying with them the secrets of the power that comes with possessing it. But Alexandra arrives to find that her mother is missing and that a series of strategically placed clues, followed swiftly by the unexpected arrival of a mysterious assortment of house guests, indicates that something sinister is afoot.
When she inadvertently discovers from her aunt, the chess grandmaster Lily Rad, that the most powerful piece of Charlemagne’s service has suddenly resurfaced and the Game has begun again, Alexandra is swept into a journey that takes her from Colorado to the Russian wilderness and at last into the heart of her own hometown: Washington, D.C.
1822, Albania: Thirty years after the French Revolution, when the chess service was unearthed, all of Europe hovers on the brink of the War of Greek Independence. Ali Pasha, the most powerful ruler in the Ottoman Empire, has angered the sultan and is about to be attacked by Turkish forces. Now he sends the only person he can rely upon—his young daughter, Haidee—on a dangerous mission to smuggle a valuable relic out of Albania, through the mountains and over the sea, to the hands of the one man who might be able to save it.
Haidee’s journey from Albania to Morocco to Rome to Greece, and into the very heart of the Game, will result in revelations about the powerful chess set and its history that will lead at last to the spot where the service was first created more than one thousand years before: Baghdad.
Blending exquisite prose and captivating history with nonstop suspense, Neville again weaves in this sequel to The Eight an unforgettable story of peril, action, and intrigue.
When she inadvertently discovers from her aunt, the chess grandmaster Lily Rad, that the most powerful piece of Charlemagne’s service has suddenly resurfaced and the Game has begun again, Alexandra is swept into a journey that takes her from Colorado to the Russian wilderness and at last into the heart of her own hometown: Washington, D.C.
1822, Albania: Thirty years after the French Revolution, when the chess service was unearthed, all of Europe hovers on the brink of the War of Greek Independence. Ali Pasha, the most powerful ruler in the Ottoman Empire, has angered the sultan and is about to be attacked by Turkish forces. Now he sends the only person he can rely upon—his young daughter, Haidee—on a dangerous mission to smuggle a valuable relic out of Albania, through the mountains and over the sea, to the hands of the one man who might be able to save it.
Haidee’s journey from Albania to Morocco to Rome to Greece, and into the very heart of the Game, will result in revelations about the powerful chess set and its history that will lead at last to the spot where the service was first created more than one thousand years before: Baghdad.
Blending exquisite prose and captivating history with nonstop suspense, Neville again weaves in this sequel to The Eight an unforgettable story of peril, action, and intrigue.
451 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
351 people are currently reading
4,614 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Neville
28books1,377followersKatherine Neville is an American author. Her novels include The Eight, A Calculated Risk, and The Magic Circle. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and she previously worked as a photographer, a model, a consultant at the Department of Energy, and a vice president of the local Bank of America.
-Wikipedia
-Wikipedia
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 814 reviews
October 3, 2017
Almost as good as the first one! Definitely a good follow-up. I love the Neville's style -- and the way in which the world is turned upside down. The books are similar to most historical adventure fiction, full of suspense and thrills. Neville builds amazing characters, and she takes you to fantastic places. I loved the start of this all being about the game of chess. If you like mystery and intricate details, this is a good book to read... but definitely read The Eight first... it's a two-book series. I wish she wrote more!
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on ŷ, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at , where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on ŷ, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at , where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
December 16, 2008
I really, really wanted to love this book. Really. I liked it okay... but the love just wasn't there. It's a sequel to one of my favorite books ever - The Eight - and I had high hopes, but also reservations about whether the author could capture the magic of The Eight. Unfortunately, she did not. I can't even tell you what it is about The Eight that gives it that extra spark - or that extra bonfire - whatever it is that makes it one of the coolest books ever. But The Eight has it, while The Fire does not.
It's a good book. We get a glimpse at some of our old favorite characters from the original book - Cat Velis, Alexander Solarin, Ladislaus Nim, Charlot, Tallirand. But mostly the book is about Cat and Alexander's daughter Alexandra and her friends. Its fun and adventurous, but nothing like the original.
If someone can tell me why the two are so different, when they appear, on the surface, so much the same. I'd appreciate it.
But for now, I'll just wait my usual 2-3 years to forget the details, then enjoy The Eight all over again.
It's a good book. We get a glimpse at some of our old favorite characters from the original book - Cat Velis, Alexander Solarin, Ladislaus Nim, Charlot, Tallirand. But mostly the book is about Cat and Alexander's daughter Alexandra and her friends. Its fun and adventurous, but nothing like the original.
If someone can tell me why the two are so different, when they appear, on the surface, so much the same. I'd appreciate it.
But for now, I'll just wait my usual 2-3 years to forget the details, then enjoy The Eight all over again.
January 5, 2017
koliko god da to ne želim, moram knjizi dati trojku. Sva je nekako...nedovršena. Likovi su površno odrađeni, radnja je uglavnom predvidljiva a kraj je jednostavno...meh. Da nema nekoliko svijetlih momenata, ne bi dobila ni to.
July 1, 2020
"Todo jugador de ajedrez que se precie conoce la famosa frase de Thomas Jefferson: "Creo mucho en la suerte, y he descubierto que cuanto más trabajo, más suerte tengo."
Después de haber leído que me encantó y estará siempre dentro de mis favoritos, tenía muchas ganas de leer esta segunda parte, pero no ha cumplido de todo mis expectativas, quizás porque la autora ya había dejado el listón muy en alto.
La autora repite fórmula, narrando la historia entre dos líneas de tiempo, 1822 y la actualidad, y un mismo impulsor, hay un ajedrez que da un gran poder a cualquiera que junte todas sus piezas.
“El Fuego� es un libro denso, con numerosas referencias a la simbología, incluso en los nombres de personajes. La manera en la que se entrelazan las historias místicas, la trama amorosa entre los protagonistas, y el desarrollo argumental principal de la obra hace que te despistes y te pierdas la relación existente entre los personajes.
Así como me enganchó, “El Fuego� me ha costado más leerlo.
Después de haber leído que me encantó y estará siempre dentro de mis favoritos, tenía muchas ganas de leer esta segunda parte, pero no ha cumplido de todo mis expectativas, quizás porque la autora ya había dejado el listón muy en alto.
La autora repite fórmula, narrando la historia entre dos líneas de tiempo, 1822 y la actualidad, y un mismo impulsor, hay un ajedrez que da un gran poder a cualquiera que junte todas sus piezas.
“El Fuego� es un libro denso, con numerosas referencias a la simbología, incluso en los nombres de personajes. La manera en la que se entrelazan las historias místicas, la trama amorosa entre los protagonistas, y el desarrollo argumental principal de la obra hace que te despistes y te pierdas la relación existente entre los personajes.
Así como me enganchó, “El Fuego� me ha costado más leerlo.
January 6, 2009
Ok.. I really really really loved reading Katherine Neville's book "The Eight" several years ago. I still think it's a great little book. So I was super excited to hear that she wrote a sequel. It was all down hill from there. I struggled through the opening chapters full of obscure middle eastern names and theories but I hung in there because I thought it would pay off in the end. Every corner that the story turned I thought I would finally get to the good part. But every time the bad guy was going to get them, somehow it all just fizzled out. Every single climax in the book just seemed to fizzle out. And isn't there a rule about how many "oops.. I forgot my phone was bugged" scenarios you can have in one book? or "Ooops.. I forgot to check for listening devices before I told you all my secrets in this totally public place"???
I don't know.. maybe I just didn't get it. I've never been good at chess, but it seemed like her other book was a lot more exciting. This seemed to be a lot of crazy people sitting around talking about crazy things and drawing completely crazy conclusions totally out of thin air. Yah.. there was waaaaaay too much talking. At least there was some nice hot steamy bathroom boat sex *gag*gag*gag*
I don't know.. maybe I just didn't get it. I've never been good at chess, but it seemed like her other book was a lot more exciting. This seemed to be a lot of crazy people sitting around talking about crazy things and drawing completely crazy conclusions totally out of thin air. Yah.. there was waaaaaay too much talking. At least there was some nice hot steamy bathroom boat sex *gag*gag*gag*
July 8, 2008
I am very disappointed to say that I had to give up on this book about halfway through. (See below to read what I had to say when I began it.) It's not awful, but ... it was way too easy to put it down and pick up other books. Oh, well.
I wrote earlier: [I've been waiting for this sequel to THE EIGHT for ever. Hooray! Okay, sure, I admit that in countless ways THE EIGHT was preposterous and silly. I loved it. Which makes me as frightened to read THE FIRE as I am eager... what if it's not as fun and absorbing? (Her other books weren't). But maybe it will be. Plus, I got hold of an ARC! Frabjous day!]
I wrote earlier: [I've been waiting for this sequel to THE EIGHT for ever. Hooray! Okay, sure, I admit that in countless ways THE EIGHT was preposterous and silly. I loved it. Which makes me as frightened to read THE FIRE as I am eager... what if it's not as fun and absorbing? (Her other books weren't). But maybe it will be. Plus, I got hold of an ARC! Frabjous day!]
Read
June 29, 2024Una nueva partida, dos equipos enfrentados y una cuenta contrarreloj para vencer al enemigo.
Colorado, 2003. Alexandra Solarin acude a la inesperada invitación a la fiesta de cumpleaños de su madre, Catherine Velis, para descubrir que la vivienda está vacía, su madre desaparecida y hay unos invitados con los que no contaba. Siguiendo las pistas que su madre le ha ido dejando, Alexandra se verá en medio de una nueva partida de un juego ancestral que sus padres habían ocultado años atrás para evitar que nadie pudiera juntar de nuevo el ajedrez de Montglane y descifrar el peligroso secreto que oculta.
Katherine Neville teje de nuevo esta complicada historia en la que nada es lo que parece, las alianzas se tambalean y la tensión se mantiene desde el principio. Una digna continuación para la magistral novela "El ocho" que, con un objetivo similar, arranca un nuevo juego en el que las cosas están todavía por decidir.
✔️ Puntos fuertes: intriga, ritmo trepidante, trama adictiva, lenguaje sencillo, los personajes.
� Te gustará si: buscas una lectura adictiva, una novela de intriga, si te gusta el estilo de la autora y has leído "El ocho".
Colorado, 2003. Alexandra Solarin acude a la inesperada invitación a la fiesta de cumpleaños de su madre, Catherine Velis, para descubrir que la vivienda está vacía, su madre desaparecida y hay unos invitados con los que no contaba. Siguiendo las pistas que su madre le ha ido dejando, Alexandra se verá en medio de una nueva partida de un juego ancestral que sus padres habían ocultado años atrás para evitar que nadie pudiera juntar de nuevo el ajedrez de Montglane y descifrar el peligroso secreto que oculta.
Katherine Neville teje de nuevo esta complicada historia en la que nada es lo que parece, las alianzas se tambalean y la tensión se mantiene desde el principio. Una digna continuación para la magistral novela "El ocho" que, con un objetivo similar, arranca un nuevo juego en el que las cosas están todavía por decidir.
✔️ Puntos fuertes: intriga, ritmo trepidante, trama adictiva, lenguaje sencillo, los personajes.
� Te gustará si: buscas una lectura adictiva, una novela de intriga, si te gusta el estilo de la autora y has leído "El ocho".
January 21, 2009
Uch.
I didn't even finish the book, which is rare for me. This was just so painful and tedious to read, I couldn't stand it. There were parts where it seemed like Neville just took her historical research and put it into the mouths of the characters (and I use that term loosely) verbatim. The whole book felt like an attempt to cash in on the "DaVinci Code" craze for powerful-hidden-conspiracies-uncovered-by-deciphering-clues novels.
I am dreading going back and taking another look at "The Eight," to which this was the sequel. I loved that book (I read it in college) and I wonder if this one was really that different.
I didn't even finish the book, which is rare for me. This was just so painful and tedious to read, I couldn't stand it. There were parts where it seemed like Neville just took her historical research and put it into the mouths of the characters (and I use that term loosely) verbatim. The whole book felt like an attempt to cash in on the "DaVinci Code" craze for powerful-hidden-conspiracies-uncovered-by-deciphering-clues novels.
I am dreading going back and taking another look at "The Eight," to which this was the sequel. I loved that book (I read it in college) and I wonder if this one was really that different.
January 14, 2019
au, jedva izdržah do kraja
zašto sam joj zbiberio "sjedni jedan"?
monstruozno dosadno - baš cijelu knjigu se odvija neka priprema, strka za nešto, nekog vraga, stalno se čeka da već počne radnja (koja ima vezu s Monglanskom garniturom) i tako dođemo do kraja i ništa, baš ništa, neki apsolutno bezvezni završetak s kvazi filozofijom.
sve liči na odvratne beskonačne trke i proganjanja u američkim filmovima (konji, kočije, automobili, čamci i ino što oni veselo izmišljaju), a udrobljeno likova za 3 knjige
i ne, ni na kraju nemam pojma "ko je koga" u njoj
veze ovo s odličnim prethodnikom "Osmica" nema, jednostavno zaboravite da postoji, valjda je izdavaču i gđi zatrebalo para
zašto sam joj zbiberio "sjedni jedan"?
monstruozno dosadno - baš cijelu knjigu se odvija neka priprema, strka za nešto, nekog vraga, stalno se čeka da već počne radnja (koja ima vezu s Monglanskom garniturom) i tako dođemo do kraja i ništa, baš ništa, neki apsolutno bezvezni završetak s kvazi filozofijom.
sve liči na odvratne beskonačne trke i proganjanja u američkim filmovima (konji, kočije, automobili, čamci i ino što oni veselo izmišljaju), a udrobljeno likova za 3 knjige
i ne, ni na kraju nemam pojma "ko je koga" u njoj
veze ovo s odličnim prethodnikom "Osmica" nema, jednostavno zaboravite da postoji, valjda je izdavaču i gđi zatrebalo para
October 19, 2017
Parte de este libro me ha encantado y parte la he aborrecido... La primera parte me gustó demasiado y eso quizás ha hecho que mis expectativas estuvieran muy altas.
Aún así la trama de Alexandra me atrapó desde el principio y por suerte los capítulos que hacían referencia al pasado son minoría.
Aún así la trama de Alexandra me atrapó desde el principio y por suerte los capítulos que hacían referencia al pasado son minoría.
July 3, 2012
The author herself describes the predecessor to this book (The Eight) by saying there were no other books like it. She goes on to say that she never intended to write any followups. She really should have taken her own words of wisdom to heart (as Key would say).
This book had too many ideas, names, subnames and places and not nearly enough action. There is literally one action scene, 15 pages from the end of the book and it is tied up nicely, ex machina, with no one getting hurt. The characters are not interesting enough to hold together a novel of this length and the mystery is literally talked out rather than hunted down. On more than one occasion people are sitting in a room when they suddenly discover the secret to it all. They look at each other and say some variation on "Of course, why didn't we see it before!" only it is completely impossible they could have figured it out by just sitting there saying "the board is the key" over and over again. There is far too much exposition to explain the secret clues and puzzles, especially since everyone who could answer these questions is alive and were only moments before embracing the adventurers. They could have just told them. Why the mystery? In fact, the larger question is what mystery, a big question since the mystery was supposed to be the driving force of this novel.
This book had too many ideas, names, subnames and places and not nearly enough action. There is literally one action scene, 15 pages from the end of the book and it is tied up nicely, ex machina, with no one getting hurt. The characters are not interesting enough to hold together a novel of this length and the mystery is literally talked out rather than hunted down. On more than one occasion people are sitting in a room when they suddenly discover the secret to it all. They look at each other and say some variation on "Of course, why didn't we see it before!" only it is completely impossible they could have figured it out by just sitting there saying "the board is the key" over and over again. There is far too much exposition to explain the secret clues and puzzles, especially since everyone who could answer these questions is alive and were only moments before embracing the adventurers. They could have just told them. Why the mystery? In fact, the larger question is what mystery, a big question since the mystery was supposed to be the driving force of this novel.
February 19, 2009
Giving "The Fire" only one star might not be fair, but I just can't help it, having waited like FOREVER (and even sounding like a Twilight Fangirl here) for a sequel of the ingenious "The Eight".
Since the predecessor was SO very very good it robs me of any more creative adjectives, I had such a high expectation of "The Fire".
But it didn't really deliver... What's with the lead character going on and on about...food, and not to mention total lack of chemistry whatsoever between Alexandra and her beau. Just compare that to the scene when Cat first met Solarin *sign* and hopefully you'll understand my reason for the one lonely star there.
This book is supposed to be a two-tiers story...So where's the other "tier"? In "The Eight", the story in the past (so-called the other tier) is even more mesmerizing than the present-day part.
I've already blogged about how Katherine Neville out-Dan Brown before Dan Brown was even Dan Brown, but in "The Fire" there is not even a single element of mystique that made "The Eight" so ahead of its time.
All in all, I don't want to be all whiney about how good "The Eight" was like I would whine about how I miss the 80's (and I DO miss the 80's) but taking "The Fire" as a stand-alone and not as a sequel...well, I still wouldn't recommend it. Now, let me crawl quietly into the corner with my battered copy of "The Eight" and cry..
Since the predecessor was SO very very good it robs me of any more creative adjectives, I had such a high expectation of "The Fire".
But it didn't really deliver... What's with the lead character going on and on about...food, and not to mention total lack of chemistry whatsoever between Alexandra and her beau. Just compare that to the scene when Cat first met Solarin *sign* and hopefully you'll understand my reason for the one lonely star there.
This book is supposed to be a two-tiers story...So where's the other "tier"? In "The Eight", the story in the past (so-called the other tier) is even more mesmerizing than the present-day part.
I've already blogged about how Katherine Neville out-Dan Brown before Dan Brown was even Dan Brown, but in "The Fire" there is not even a single element of mystique that made "The Eight" so ahead of its time.
All in all, I don't want to be all whiney about how good "The Eight" was like I would whine about how I miss the 80's (and I DO miss the 80's) but taking "The Fire" as a stand-alone and not as a sequel...well, I still wouldn't recommend it. Now, let me crawl quietly into the corner with my battered copy of "The Eight" and cry..
July 25, 2022
Continuación muy por debajo del nivel de su antecesor como fue "el ocho". Tramas sin sentido. No me ha gustado. 3/10
September 24, 2024
Abandonado al 30%, tramas sin sentido, nada que ver con el primero. Qué decepción!!
November 21, 2018
A base da história até é interessante, mas com tanta rainha branca e preta, duplicações e peões, torna-se maçador.
November 24, 2022
Rating: 3.75 stars
The Fire takes place 30 years after the events described in The Eight, and follows the same style of bouncing between events in the past (Albania and Greece in 1822) and the present (USA in 2003). Alexandra Solarin, daughter of important characters from The Eight, doesn't have a very active role in this novel, compared to her mother in the previous novel. She does, however, have very interesting and helpful friends and relations. There were several twists that made this novel different from the first one, and which particularly appealed to me. The Fire is not nearly as intense as The Eight, but it's still an entertaining story with interesting and quirky characters.
The Fire takes place 30 years after the events described in The Eight, and follows the same style of bouncing between events in the past (Albania and Greece in 1822) and the present (USA in 2003). Alexandra Solarin, daughter of important characters from The Eight, doesn't have a very active role in this novel, compared to her mother in the previous novel. She does, however, have very interesting and helpful friends and relations. There were several twists that made this novel different from the first one, and which particularly appealed to me. The Fire is not nearly as intense as The Eight, but it's still an entertaining story with interesting and quirky characters.
December 31, 2014
Λοιπόν,λοιπόν...Για να δούμε τι μπορώ να πω για αυτό το βιβλίο..
Πρώτον ότι ήταν καλό
Δεύτερον όχι τόσο καλό όσο το Οχτώ
Είχε πάλι τα quotes στην αρχή του κάθε κεφαλαίου που μου άρεσε αυτό. Αλλά πάλι είχε πολύ λεπτομέρεια. Όπως το προηγούμενο. Το καλό με αυτό ήταν ότι είχε 567 σελίδες(ουφ!) οι οποίες είναι λιγότερες σε σχέση με το προηγούμενο. Το κακό όμως είναι ότι μοιάζει με ένα καλούτσικο sequel ενός βιβλίου που έκανε μπαμ. Είναι σαν μια συμπυκνωμένη έκδοση του Οχτώ. Αλλά και πάλι είναι καλό. Χαίρομαι που το διάβασα. Δεν χρειάζεται να βγει και τρίτο βιβλίο. Δεν είναι απαραίτητο. Αυτά τα δυο βιβλία στην σειρά αυτήν είναι αρκετά.
Πρώτον ότι ήταν καλό
Δεύτερον όχι τόσο καλό όσο το Οχτώ
Είχε πάλι τα quotes στην αρχή του κάθε κεφαλαίου που μου άρεσε αυτό. Αλλά πάλι είχε πολύ λεπτομέρεια. Όπως το προηγούμενο. Το καλό με αυτό ήταν ότι είχε 567 σελίδες(ουφ!) οι οποίες είναι λιγότερες σε σχέση με το προηγούμενο. Το κακό όμως είναι ότι μοιάζει με ένα καλούτσικο sequel ενός βιβλίου που έκανε μπαμ. Είναι σαν μια συμπυκνωμένη έκδοση του Οχτώ. Αλλά και πάλι είναι καλό. Χαίρομαι που το διάβασα. Δεν χρειάζεται να βγει και τρίτο βιβλίο. Δεν είναι απαραίτητο. Αυτά τα δυο βιβλία στην σειρά αυτήν είναι αρκετά.
October 17, 2015
Από τα πιο βαρετά βιβλία που έχω διαβάσει. Το 8 το είχα διαβάσει πριν από πέντε χρόνια και θυμάμαι πως μου είχε αρέσει πολύ. Η Φωτιά όμως ήταν εντελώς ανέμπνευστο, χωρίς ίχνος λογικής πλοκής και με ίσως το χειρότερο τέλος που έχω διαβάσει ποτέ. Ένα μιρκό ρόλο στην τόσο άσχημη κριτική μου ίσως να παίζει το γεγονός πως λόγω της πρωινής δουλειάς, δεν είχα την όρεξη και τον χρόνο που έπρεπε. Και πάλι όμως, αμφιβάλω αν θα το ευχαριστιόμουν παραπάνω.
Read
July 21, 2010It’s been five years since The Da Vinci Code triggered an avalanche of imitators–thrillers featuring codes and ciphers, arcane knowledge, and ancient conspiracies. To me, the book that most resembled it was Katherine Neville’s The Eight, which was actually written 15 years before the Code. Positing a thousand year old chess set with alchemical powers, and a larger Game with geopolitical implications, the book acquired something of a cult, and, after 20 years, a sequel.
The Fire finds Alexandra Solarin, a former child chess prodigy who gave up the game after her father’s murder, summoned to her estranged mother’s home in Colorado. Her mother is missing, but carefully encoded clues, and the arrival of several other people place her smack dab in the middle of the Game’s newest round, forcing her to decipher both the rules and the roles of others (friend or foe?) as she goes. The action moves to Washington, DC, Jackson Hole, Kamchatka, and back in time to France, the Sahara, and the Greek islands where we find Lord Byron and Tallyrand, among others, involved in the intrigue.
This sequel seems to me less successful than The Eight. Neville has done so much research that it slows the action, and I struggled to keep up. The rules of the Game remain unclear, and a half-resolved ending suggest that another volume might be in the works. Still, one could do worse than a book this brainy and ambitious. --John
The Fire finds Alexandra Solarin, a former child chess prodigy who gave up the game after her father’s murder, summoned to her estranged mother’s home in Colorado. Her mother is missing, but carefully encoded clues, and the arrival of several other people place her smack dab in the middle of the Game’s newest round, forcing her to decipher both the rules and the roles of others (friend or foe?) as she goes. The action moves to Washington, DC, Jackson Hole, Kamchatka, and back in time to France, the Sahara, and the Greek islands where we find Lord Byron and Tallyrand, among others, involved in the intrigue.
This sequel seems to me less successful than The Eight. Neville has done so much research that it slows the action, and I struggled to keep up. The rules of the Game remain unclear, and a half-resolved ending suggest that another volume might be in the works. Still, one could do worse than a book this brainy and ambitious. --John
September 30, 2012
I picked this book up at a local thrift store that sells as many books as you can fit into a Walmart-esque bag for $4.99 (and I can fit a lot of books into this bag). So far, I have picked up books I have never heard of and have been extremely satisfied with my choices. I did not, until after reading it, discover that it was the second book, and yet I really had no problem understanding the story, despite some of the chess talk I didn't quite understand. A great book!! Full of action and intrigue, adventures and secrets, danger and conspiracy. She is invited to a strange party and left even stranger clues by her mother which sets her off on an adventure to find the hidden pieces of the Montglane Service, a chess set once owned by Charlemagne, and on this adventure she's unsure who to trust as she finds out the truth about herself and her family. (You can always tell whether I've read a book by the sticky notes stuck inside the first cover - notes, quotes, thoughts I've had while reading it - and you know I've loved it when there are a lot. The whole inside of the front cover is full. Enough said.)
August 2, 2008
I got an Advanced Reader's Edition of this title and was so excited as The Eight is a book I recommend to everyone.
This book was extremely difficult for me to be engaged with as there were too many characters and the plot seemed somewhat disjointed.
This book was extremely difficult for me to be engaged with as there were too many characters and the plot seemed somewhat disjointed.
August 10, 2020
The Eight is one of my favorite books and sadly the sequel does not come close to being as enjoyable. I highly recommend The Eight and suggest skipping this one.
August 30, 2022
Audiobook.
Second time trying this, and second time DNFing. I loved the first one so much I felt I had to give it another try. Though I did get further this time, I can't justify continuing when there are so many books I want to read. The best way I can describe my feelings while reading this book... it's like a poorly made tapestry with loose threads trying to be cohesive, but they meander and twist into indifference.
The narration is fine, though I upped the speed a little to try and push through; obviously, it didn't work.
Second time trying this, and second time DNFing. I loved the first one so much I felt I had to give it another try. Though I did get further this time, I can't justify continuing when there are so many books I want to read. The best way I can describe my feelings while reading this book... it's like a poorly made tapestry with loose threads trying to be cohesive, but they meander and twist into indifference.
The narration is fine, though I upped the speed a little to try and push through; obviously, it didn't work.
April 7, 2023
He who has an ancient chess board and all the pieces could have unlimited power. No one has had everything, the chess pieces and the board for centuries. The king and queen pieces have been killing each other to attain everything for these same centuries. I found it hard to follow sometimes. New characters were introduced and at times,I thought, what century are we in? The potential black king and white queen have fallen in love. Will their unity end the game?
March 23, 2020
"Η Φωτιά" είναι το sequel του "Οχτώ" της Κάθριν Νέβιλ και τρίτο βιβλίο της ίδιας συγγραφέα που διαβάζω. Όπως και το πρώτο βιβλίο, η ιστορία περιστρέφεται γύρω από το Σκάκι του Μονγκλάν το οποίο κρύβει περισσότερα μυστικά απ'οτι είδαμε προηγουμένως. Μία αλήθεια για το Σκάκι είχε αποκαλυφθεί στο "Οχτώ", όμως τελικά η πραγματική αλήθεια θα αποκαλυφθεί στο βιβλίο "Η Φωτιά".
Πρόκειται για την ιστορία της Αλεξάνδρας Σολάριν (ναι, ένιωσα famous) της κόρης της Κάθριν Βέλις και του Αλεξάντερ Σολάριν. Η Αλεξάνδρα, ως ενήλικη και πρώην σκακίστρια, δουλεύει ως δόκιμη στο εστιατόριο «Σουλταδέα» της Ουάσιγκτον. Χωρίς να το περιμένει δέχεται μια πρόσκληση στο Κολοράντο για το πάρτι γενεθλίων της μητέρας της κάτι εξωφρενικά περίεργο αφού είναι γνωστό πως εκείνη δεν γιορτάζει ποτέ τα γενέθλιά της. Η Αλεξάνδρα πηγαίνει στο Κολοράντο μόνο για να ανακαλύψει πως η μητέρα της αγνοείται ενώ οι περισσότεροι καλεσμένοι δεν φαίνεται να είχαν καλές σχέσεις με την Κατ ώστε να θεωρούνται πραγματικοί καλεσμένοι. Τότε, αποφασίζει να ανακαλύψει την αλήθεια λύνοντας όλους τους γρίφους που έχει αφήσει η μητέρα της για εκείνη και παράλληλα να αποκαλύψει το ουσιώδες μυστικό του περιβόητου Σκακιού του Μονγκλάν.
Η παράλληλη αφήγηση υπάρχει και στο sequel περιγράφοντας την πλευρά της ιστορίας (1822 και μετά) από τον Κάρλο, τον γιο της Μιρέιγ, ο οποίος τελικά είναι πιο ενεργός στην ιστορία απ'οτι φαινόταν στην αρχή. Ένα δεύτερο πρόσωπο με σημαντικό ρόλο από την παράλληλη αφήγηση είναι η Χαϊδή, η κόρη του Αλή Πασά.
Παρά το γεγονός πως "Η Φωτιά" αποτελεί sequel του "Οχτώ", ομολογώ πως δεν είχε την χάρη του. Αρχικά, δεν είχε ιδιαίτερη δράση κι όταν είχε, φάνηκε σαν να ήταν προχειρογραμμένη. Περισσότερη βάση δόθηκε στις σκέψεις της Αλεξάνδρας και στις λεπτομέρειες γύρω από το Σκάκι ώστε να βγαίνουν τα σωστά συμπεράσματα. Επιπρόσθετα, κατά την γνώμη μου όλα έγιναν κάπως απότομα και χωρίς τις απαραίτητες εξηγήσεις. Υπήρχαν πιο πολλοί διάλογοι παρά διευκρινίσεις σχετικά με το τι συνέβαινε.
Η Αλεξάνδρα, ως προσωπικότητα δεν ήταν και τόσο εύστροφη όσο η μητέρα της παρόλο που ήξερε να αναπτύσσει καλές στρατηγικές εξαιτίας του ταλέντου της στο σκάκι. Επιπρόσθετα, φάνηκε αρκετά παρορμητική, απερίσκεπτη και δίχως να αντιλαμβάνεται πολλά από αυτά που γίνονται γύρω της, χαρακτηριστικά που της δημιούργησαν αρκετά προβλήματα στην ιστορία.
Γενικά, έχω να πω πως σίγουρα είναι φανερό το έργο που έκανε η συγγραφέας με όλες εκείνες τις ιστορικές λεπτομέρειες που αφορούν την εποχή του 1822 και αργότερα, όμως δεν μπορώ να πω πως επισκιάζουν την ελλειπτικότητα που χαρακτηρίζει το υ��όλοιπο βιβλίο. Προσδωκούσα κάτι τελείως διαφορετικό από το sequel το οποίο δυστυχώς δεν είδα. Δεν ξέρω άμα θα το συνιστούσα σε τόσο μεγάλο βαθμό όσο το πρώτο βιβλίο.
Πρόκειται για την ιστορία της Αλεξάνδρας Σολάριν (ναι, ένιωσα famous) της κόρης της Κάθριν Βέλις και του Αλεξάντερ Σολάριν. Η Αλεξάνδρα, ως ενήλικη και πρώην σκακίστρια, δουλεύει ως δόκιμη στο εστιατόριο «Σουλταδέα» της Ουάσιγκτον. Χωρίς να το περιμένει δέχεται μια πρόσκληση στο Κολοράντο για το πάρτι γενεθλίων της μητέρας της κάτι εξωφρενικά περίεργο αφού είναι γνωστό πως εκείνη δεν γιορτάζει ποτέ τα γενέθλιά της. Η Αλεξάνδρα πηγαίνει στο Κολοράντο μόνο για να ανακαλύψει πως η μητέρα της αγνοείται ενώ οι περισσότεροι καλεσμένοι δεν φαίνεται να είχαν καλές σχέσεις με την Κατ ώστε να θεωρούνται πραγματικοί καλεσμένοι. Τότε, αποφασίζει να ανακαλύψει την αλήθεια λύνοντας όλους τους γρίφους που έχει αφήσει η μητέρα της για εκείνη και παράλληλα να αποκαλύψει το ουσιώδες μυστικό του περιβόητου Σκακιού του Μονγκλάν.
Η παράλληλη αφήγηση υπάρχει και στο sequel περιγράφοντας την πλευρά της ιστορίας (1822 και μετά) από τον Κάρλο, τον γιο της Μιρέιγ, ο οποίος τελικά είναι πιο ενεργός στην ιστορία απ'οτι φαινόταν στην αρχή. Ένα δεύτερο πρόσωπο με σημαντικό ρόλο από την παράλληλη αφήγηση είναι η Χαϊδή, η κόρη του Αλή Πασά.
Παρά το γεγονός πως "Η Φωτιά" αποτελεί sequel του "Οχτώ", ομολογώ πως δεν είχε την χάρη του. Αρχικά, δεν είχε ιδιαίτερη δράση κι όταν είχε, φάνηκε σαν να ήταν προχειρογραμμένη. Περισσότερη βάση δόθηκε στις σκέψεις της Αλεξάνδρας και στις λεπτομέρειες γύρω από το Σκάκι ώστε να βγαίνουν τα σωστά συμπεράσματα. Επιπρόσθετα, κατά την γνώμη μου όλα έγιναν κάπως απότομα και χωρίς τις απαραίτητες εξηγήσεις. Υπήρχαν πιο πολλοί διάλογοι παρά διευκρινίσεις σχετικά με το τι συνέβαινε.
Η Αλεξάνδρα, ως προσωπικότητα δεν ήταν και τόσο εύστροφη όσο η μητέρα της παρόλο που ήξερε να αναπτύσσει καλές στρατηγικές εξαιτίας του ταλέντου της στο σκάκι. Επιπρόσθετα, φάνηκε αρκετά παρορμητική, απερίσκεπτη και δίχως να αντιλαμβάνεται πολλά από αυτά που γίνονται γύρω της, χαρακτηριστικά που της δημιούργησαν αρκετά προβλήματα στην ιστορία.
Γενικά, έχω να πω πως σίγουρα είναι φανερό το έργο που έκανε η συγγραφέας με όλες εκείνες τις ιστορικές λεπτομέρειες που αφορούν την εποχή του 1822 και αργότερα, όμως δεν μπορώ να πω πως επισκιάζουν την ελλειπτικότητα που χαρακτηρίζει το υ��όλοιπο βιβλίο. Προσδωκούσα κάτι τελείως διαφορετικό από το sequel το οποίο δυστυχώς δεν είδα. Δεν ξέρω άμα θα το συνιστούσα σε τόσο μεγάλο βαθμό όσο το πρώτο βιβλίο.
August 1, 2009
I have very mixed feelings about this, it's the sequel to The Eight. It's the kind of sequel where you very much have to have read the first book, it wouldn't stand alone very well at all. Now, I almost always like a sequel AT LEAST in the sense that I like to know what happens to everyone after. Sometimes I have heard people, when talking about a favorite book, claim that it's better NOT to know, that a sequel would only ruin things. That, my friends, is the talk of crazy people. So on the one hand, I was glad to catch up with the characters from The Eight again, although I was also a little disappointed that for them, overall, life after the events of The Eight was ... well, mostly a bummer.
To set the stage, The Eight is about the hunt for a mysterious ancient chess set, told in two stories: one search taking place around the time of the French Revolution, and the other in the 1970s. The Fire is the next generation of chess set seekers.
One of the things I liked the best about The Eight is that it was a good mix between adventure (which I found very suspenseful and engaging) and the rather new age-y story about the significance of the chess set (which I was not overly interested in, but whatever). In The Fire, the scales have tipped in favor of the mystical, and the adventure took a backseat. I was half-way though the book when I realized the characters hadn't even GONE anywhere yet, and then they ended up going to Washington D.C., which is where my class went on its 8th grade field trip so it doesn't seem to me to be an overly exotic destination. And because I am a nitpicky annoying person, I was also peeved that there were a few places where the plot turned on points that seem to be contradictory to the parameters set up in the first book about how the chess game worked.
Despite all of that, I found myself liking the ultimate resolution of the fate of the centuries old chess game. Odd that I wasn't overly impressed by how the author got the characters to that point, though.
Grade: Meh
Recommended: If you are a big fan of The Eight you will probably find this hard to resist.
2008/41
To set the stage, The Eight is about the hunt for a mysterious ancient chess set, told in two stories: one search taking place around the time of the French Revolution, and the other in the 1970s. The Fire is the next generation of chess set seekers.
One of the things I liked the best about The Eight is that it was a good mix between adventure (which I found very suspenseful and engaging) and the rather new age-y story about the significance of the chess set (which I was not overly interested in, but whatever). In The Fire, the scales have tipped in favor of the mystical, and the adventure took a backseat. I was half-way though the book when I realized the characters hadn't even GONE anywhere yet, and then they ended up going to Washington D.C., which is where my class went on its 8th grade field trip so it doesn't seem to me to be an overly exotic destination. And because I am a nitpicky annoying person, I was also peeved that there were a few places where the plot turned on points that seem to be contradictory to the parameters set up in the first book about how the chess game worked.
Despite all of that, I found myself liking the ultimate resolution of the fate of the centuries old chess game. Odd that I wasn't overly impressed by how the author got the characters to that point, though.
Grade: Meh
Recommended: If you are a big fan of The Eight you will probably find this hard to resist.
2008/41
July 24, 2014
Αχ αχ αχ...Λοιπόν. Παρασάγγας καλύτερο το Οκτώ. Αγωνία, μυστήριο, ανατροπές, συμπτώσεις, Γαλλική Επανάσταση, Ναπολέων, Αλγερία. Ποιοι οι κακοί και ποιοι οι καλοί;Τα Μαύρα πιόνια είναι οι καλοί και τα Άσπρα οι κακοί. Κι όλα αυτά για το ελιξήριο της ζωής και της αθανασίας. Ταλεϊράνδος, Ελευθεροτέκτονες, Βολταίρος, Ρουσσώ, Αικατερίνη της Ρωσίας και Αλέξανδρος, Ναπολέων, Νεύτωνας και τόσοι άλλοι. Και μετά από 20 χρόνια αυτό; Γκουχ γκουχ.
Ειλικρινά έπρεπε η συγγραφέας να σωπάσει. Έκανε ένα σφιχτοδεμένο βιβλίο, με ανατροπές, μυστήριο και απίστευτα αγωνιώδεις παράλληλες ιστορίες του 1796 και του 1976. Γιατί να το συνεχίσει; Και μάλιστα μετά 20 έτη. Άλλο να ξεκινάς ένα βιβλίο σε χ αντίτυπα (βλ. Χάρι Πότερ) κι άλλο να στηρίζεσαι στο μύθο ενός παλιού αριστουργήματός σου. Ούτε το θέμα της εξαφάνισης με τράβηξε, ούτε το διπλό πιόνι Μαύρη Βασίλισσα, ούτε η νεκρανάσταση, ούτε τίποτα. Για να μη μιλήσω για τους απογόνους των ηρώων του πρώτου βιβλίου της περιόδου της Γαλλικής Επανάστασης. Ούτε θα σχολιάσω την εμφάνιση του Αλή Πασά στα Γιάννενα και τον θάνατο του Βύρωνα στο Μεσολόγγι. Καλή η προσέγγιση και εξαίρετη η αφήγηση αλλά πολλή συμπτωματολογία ρε παιδιά. Ασε που δεν πιστευω στο ελάχιστο η κυρά-Βασιλική να το έκανε με τον λόρδο Μπάιρον και η κόρη της, Χάιδω (Χαϊδή) να είναι παιδί του. A propos η αμφιφυλοφιλία του Μπάιρον δεν σκιαγραφείται αλλά αν διαβάζεις πίσω από τις γραμμές κατι πιάνεις. Εδώ δεν έχουμε τρελά ονόματα πλην Μπάιρον, Τζωρτζ Ουάσιγκτον (και πώς χτίστηκε η πόλη της Ουάσιγκτον βασισμένη σε αρχαίες δοξασίες και μύθους, χμ χμ...).
Πολλή συνομωσία κι ανατροπές αλλά δεν διαβάζεται μόνο του, πρέπει να διαβάσεις το πρώτο. Άσε που πρέπει η συγγραφεύς να σταματήσει τις γαστριμαργικές αναφορές όταν η υπόθεση κορυφώνεται. Δεν με νοιάζει τι τρώτε, με νοιάζει τι λέτε και τι γίνεται στην πλοκή. Άντε μπράβο. Τέλος κάπου κάπου πετά τους Δίδυμους πύργους και την εισβολή στο Ιράκ που βοηθούν την πλοκή της ιστορίας αλλά όλα αυτά δείχνουν ότι η συγγραφέας τραβά την ιστορία από τα μαλλιά. Πάμε για άλλα. Μην ανασκαλεύετε τις στάχτες.
Ειλικρινά έπρεπε η συγγραφέας να σωπάσει. Έκανε ένα σφιχτοδεμένο βιβλίο, με ανατροπές, μυστήριο και απίστευτα αγωνιώδεις παράλληλες ιστορίες του 1796 και του 1976. Γιατί να το συνεχίσει; Και μάλιστα μετά 20 έτη. Άλλο να ξεκινάς ένα βιβλίο σε χ αντίτυπα (βλ. Χάρι Πότερ) κι άλλο να στηρίζεσαι στο μύθο ενός παλιού αριστουργήματός σου. Ούτε το θέμα της εξαφάνισης με τράβηξε, ούτε το διπλό πιόνι Μαύρη Βασίλισσα, ούτε η νεκρανάσταση, ούτε τίποτα. Για να μη μιλήσω για τους απογόνους των ηρώων του πρώτου βιβλίου της περιόδου της Γαλλικής Επανάστασης. Ούτε θα σχολιάσω την εμφάνιση του Αλή Πασά στα Γιάννενα και τον θάνατο του Βύρωνα στο Μεσολόγγι. Καλή η προσέγγιση και εξαίρετη η αφήγηση αλλά πολλή συμπτωματολογία ρε παιδιά. Ασε που δεν πιστευω στο ελάχιστο η κυρά-Βασιλική να το έκανε με τον λόρδο Μπάιρον και η κόρη της, Χάιδω (Χαϊδή) να είναι παιδί του. A propos η αμφιφυλοφιλία του Μπάιρον δεν σκιαγραφείται αλλά αν διαβάζεις πίσω από τις γραμμές κατι πιάνεις. Εδώ δεν έχουμε τρελά ονόματα πλην Μπάιρον, Τζωρτζ Ουάσιγκτον (και πώς χτίστηκε η πόλη της Ουάσιγκτον βασισμένη σε αρχαίες δοξασίες και μύθους, χμ χμ...).
Πολλή συνομωσία κι ανατροπές αλλά δεν διαβάζεται μόνο του, πρέπει να διαβάσεις το πρώτο. Άσε που πρέπει η συγγραφεύς να σταματήσει τις γαστριμαργικές αναφορές όταν η υπόθεση κορυφώνεται. Δεν με νοιάζει τι τρώτε, με νοιάζει τι λέτε και τι γίνεται στην πλοκή. Άντε μπράβο. Τέλος κάπου κάπου πετά τους Δίδυμους πύργους και την εισβολή στο Ιράκ που βοηθούν την πλοκή της ιστορίας αλλά όλα αυτά δείχνουν ότι η συγγραφέας τραβά την ιστορία από τα μαλλιά. Πάμε για άλλα. Μην ανασκαλεύετε τις στάχτες.
November 13, 2024
A ver, todo pasa mucho mas por la cara que en el primero, pero esta bien
January 16, 2014
Empezaré diciendo que terminé de leer a pura fuerza de voluntad porque me pareció que la escritora alargó demasiado la historia y que por eso se había vuelto pesada. Pero le di crédito por crear misterio y drama.
Pese a ese antecedente, compré el libro porque quería saber el verdadero final de la historia. Sin embargo, con esta secuela me he convencido de que no volveré a leer más los libros de esta autora. La historia de Solarin y Cat se repite con su hija... en muchas maneras. La narración es confusa y parece como que las palabras salieran disparadas sin sentido y como que ha querido poner demasiada información en poco espacio.
He tenido que pasarme varias hojas para seguir la historia pero al final, me he rendido y no he conseguido terminarlo (cosa que raramente me ocurre porque siempre termino lo que leo).
Ha sido un gasto de tiempo y dinero el leer este libro. Espero que otros encuentren este libro mucho más entretenido que yo.
Pese a ese antecedente, compré el libro porque quería saber el verdadero final de la historia. Sin embargo, con esta secuela me he convencido de que no volveré a leer más los libros de esta autora. La historia de Solarin y Cat se repite con su hija... en muchas maneras. La narración es confusa y parece como que las palabras salieran disparadas sin sentido y como que ha querido poner demasiada información en poco espacio.
He tenido que pasarme varias hojas para seguir la historia pero al final, me he rendido y no he conseguido terminarlo (cosa que raramente me ocurre porque siempre termino lo que leo).
Ha sido un gasto de tiempo y dinero el leer este libro. Espero que otros encuentren este libro mucho más entretenido que yo.
January 9, 2009
A dismal disappointment, especially because I was so enthralled by "The Eight" that I've reread it several times.
It's fairly easy to determine what happened here. Neville had advertised for years that she was working on a sequel to "The Eight," but it never materialized. My guess: the higher-ups at the publisher finally called in their chits.
Nearly every thought here is underdeveloped or, worse - OVERexplained. There is much chasing after clues . . . but the clues don't seem to flow from the storyline. And, this book displays the worst curse of the bad novel: an unfulfilling ending. There is no substance to what the protagonist finds. I was left feeling cheated that I spent the money on this one, and - truthfully - wondering if I should re-evaluate my love affair with "The Eight."
It's fairly easy to determine what happened here. Neville had advertised for years that she was working on a sequel to "The Eight," but it never materialized. My guess: the higher-ups at the publisher finally called in their chits.
Nearly every thought here is underdeveloped or, worse - OVERexplained. There is much chasing after clues . . . but the clues don't seem to flow from the storyline. And, this book displays the worst curse of the bad novel: an unfulfilling ending. There is no substance to what the protagonist finds. I was left feeling cheated that I spent the money on this one, and - truthfully - wondering if I should re-evaluate my love affair with "The Eight."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 814 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.