The Eight

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La riqueza de información, la cantidad de personajes importantes, inlfuyentes y misteriosos, un extraordinario manejo de los tiempos y las situaciones hacen de "El ocho", una experiencia irrepetible, una aventura que me habría gustado prolongar por más tiempo. El lector siempre se sentirá hipnotizado por una trama llena de acción impredecible... ¡¡Muchas gracias, Katherine!!.

This is the spanish version of Neville's book called _The Eight_ in English. I read it years ago but I still recommend it to people as one on the most absorbing reads. She is a master at the twisted plot. A bonus for chess fans but even if you're not it doesn't detract from the story.

Este libro me encanto, sus mas de 800 paginas llenas de accion y eventos que te mantendran leyendo hasta el final.Neville ha combinado historia y ficcion en forma extraordinaria, todos los personajes estan tan bien definidos que te hace pensar dos veces si esta es una historia real o no.Mirielli y Cat en diferentes periodos de tiempo enfrentaran los mismo peligros, miedos y tentaciones, ambas se ven envueltas en la busqueda del codigo de la Inmortalidad escondido en el ajedrez de Montglane. Muchas personas lo buscaran pero muy pocas tendran el coraje, destreza, genio para no ser eliminadas.

I have been recommended for months now to read The Eight especially since I really enjoyed The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons both by Dan Brown. This book didn't disappoint at all! With all those characters and the switching back and forth, it wasn't confusing at all ~~ especially since she put the year in front of the paragraphs when she switches gear. It is a fun book ~~ very intriguing and suspenseful! Catherine is approached by a friend to secure pieces of an old chess set for an antique collection, especially since her job was to take her to Algeria. There is a legend buried with this chess set and in her travels, Catherine learns the legend and finds herself in danger. Told not to trust anyone, she had to solve this mystery on her own with little help from anyone. To tie in this story is Mirielle, a novice studying to be a nun at the Montglane Abbey in France in the late 1700s. In the midst of turmoil and unrest, Mirielle is entrusted with making sure that the chess pieces didn't fall into the wrong hands. There were so many men who hunger for the power this ancient chess set could provide them if only they knew the secret behind it. And that begins a fascinating tale of suspense! Mirielle leads a merry chase in Europe and Northern Africa and Catherine is beset by strange circumstances every where she goes. And it's like someone is playing them as chess players ~~ only this is real life and a deadly game, not just a board game!If you like to read mysteries that keep you hopping, this book is it. With a long winter approaching, this book is perfect for those long dark nights. Just to be sure to have your favorite snack handy ~~ you will not want to put this book down!10-29-03

All the other reviews describe the book well. But no one mentioned the biographical sketches of such historical figures as Catherine the Great, Napoleon, Bach, Marat, Rousseau, Talleyrand, Benedict Arnold, etc. that are an integral part of the novel. Of course the stories of these persons are fictionalized in the book, but the ability of Ms. Neville to weave such realistic portraits of legends into the epic story she tells is fascinating and adds greatly to the appeal of this book. Also, let's not forget the education she gives us in chess, math, computers, the French revolution, alchemy, Mediterranean mythology, Algiers, OPEC, puzzles, Fibonacci numbers and freemasonry. Oh, and before anyone thinks that a book that covers the above topics must be pedantic, boring and complicated, let me state emphatically that this book is FUN. It's a hoot. It's engaging. It's engrossing. Finally, my copy of this book is starting to fall apart from overuse. It's time to get a new copy. And Ms. Neville, if you're reading this, please write another book. I can't wait.