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Tournament #1
The Tournament
The year is 1546.
Europe lives in fear of the powerful Islamic empire to the East. Under its charismatic Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent, it is an empire on the rise. It has defeated Christian fleets. It has conquered Christian cities.
Then the Sultan sends out an invitation to every king in Europe: send forth your champion to compete in a tournament unlike any other.
We follow the English delegation, selected by King Henry VIII himself, to the glittering city of Constantinople, where the most amazing tournament ever staged will take place.
But when the stakes are this high, not everyone plays fair, and for our team of plucky English heroes, winning may not be the primary goal. As a series of barbaric murders take place, a more immediate goal might simply be staying alive…
Europe lives in fear of the powerful Islamic empire to the East. Under its charismatic Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent, it is an empire on the rise. It has defeated Christian fleets. It has conquered Christian cities.
Then the Sultan sends out an invitation to every king in Europe: send forth your champion to compete in a tournament unlike any other.
We follow the English delegation, selected by King Henry VIII himself, to the glittering city of Constantinople, where the most amazing tournament ever staged will take place.
But when the stakes are this high, not everyone plays fair, and for our team of plucky English heroes, winning may not be the primary goal. As a series of barbaric murders take place, a more immediate goal might simply be staying alive…
393 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2013
337 people are currently reading
5368 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Reilly
68 books6,303 followersBorn in Sydney in 1974, Matthew Reilly was not always a big fan of reading. It was only after he read To Kill A Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies in Year 10 that he realised reading could transport you to another world. Following this revelation, Matthew soon began creating stories of his own and set about writing his first novel, Contest, at the age of 19 while still at university studying law.
Following rejections from all the major publishers, Matthew self-published Contest in 1996, printing 1000 copies. He produced a big-budget-looking novel which he sold into bookshops throughout Sydney, one shop at a time.
In January 1997, a Commissioning Editor for Pan Macmillan Australia walked into Angus & Robertson's Pitt Street Mall store and bought a copy of Contest. The editor tracked Matthew down through his contact details in the front of the book. Interestingly, those original self-published editions of Contest have now become much sought after collectors' items. One recently sold on eBay for $1200!
Matthew Reilly is now the internationally bestselling author of the Scarecrow novels: Ice Station, Area 7, Scarecrow, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves and the novella Hell Island; the Jack West novels: Seven Ancient Wonders, The Six Sacred Stones, The Five Greatest Warriors, The Four Legendary Kingdoms, and The Three Secret Cities; and the standalone novels Contest, Temple, Hover Car Racer, The Tournament, Troll Mountain, The Great Zoo of China and The Secret Runners of New York.
His books are published in over 20 languages with worldwide sales of over 7 million copies.
Since Seven Ancient Wonders in 2005, Matthew's novels have been the biggest selling new fiction title released in Australia for that year.
Matthew has also written several short stories, including Roger Ascham and the King's Lost Girl, a special free prequel to The Tournament which is available online. Other short stories include Time Tours, The Mine and the hyper-adrenalised romp, Altitude Rush.
He owns and drives a DeLorean DMC-12, the car made famous in the Back to the Future movies. He also has a life-sized Han Solo in carbonite hanging on the wall of his office! When not writing or penning a film script, Matthew can be found on the golf course.
Matthew Reilly is currently living in Los Angeles.
(source: Amazon)
Following rejections from all the major publishers, Matthew self-published Contest in 1996, printing 1000 copies. He produced a big-budget-looking novel which he sold into bookshops throughout Sydney, one shop at a time.
In January 1997, a Commissioning Editor for Pan Macmillan Australia walked into Angus & Robertson's Pitt Street Mall store and bought a copy of Contest. The editor tracked Matthew down through his contact details in the front of the book. Interestingly, those original self-published editions of Contest have now become much sought after collectors' items. One recently sold on eBay for $1200!
Matthew Reilly is now the internationally bestselling author of the Scarecrow novels: Ice Station, Area 7, Scarecrow, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves and the novella Hell Island; the Jack West novels: Seven Ancient Wonders, The Six Sacred Stones, The Five Greatest Warriors, The Four Legendary Kingdoms, and The Three Secret Cities; and the standalone novels Contest, Temple, Hover Car Racer, The Tournament, Troll Mountain, The Great Zoo of China and The Secret Runners of New York.
His books are published in over 20 languages with worldwide sales of over 7 million copies.
Since Seven Ancient Wonders in 2005, Matthew's novels have been the biggest selling new fiction title released in Australia for that year.
Matthew has also written several short stories, including Roger Ascham and the King's Lost Girl, a special free prequel to The Tournament which is available online. Other short stories include Time Tours, The Mine and the hyper-adrenalised romp, Altitude Rush.
He owns and drives a DeLorean DMC-12, the car made famous in the Back to the Future movies. He also has a life-sized Han Solo in carbonite hanging on the wall of his office! When not writing or penning a film script, Matthew can be found on the golf course.
Matthew Reilly is currently living in Los Angeles.
(source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 994 reviews
December 4, 2013
As a teenager, my brother hated To Kill A Mockingbird but adored Matthew Reilly novels. This is interesting, because when you strip away the hovering cars, the doomsday devices and the maghooks, all Reilly’s books are a version of Harper Lee’s classic tale: one wise, kind man, surrounded by savagery and corruption, fights to protect the innocent.
His new hero, Roger Ascham, resembles Atticus Finch even more than usual. Ascham is a gentle, intelligent schoolmaster who leads Scout – I mean, teenage future-queen Elizabeth the First – to a chess tournament in the Ottoman Empire. When the young princess and her teacher stumble across a murder, they find themselves hunting a serial killer in the Sultan’s palace. Or is it something even more sinister?
It’s a complex, unpredictable plot, and it moves along at an electrifying pace, driven by many colourful characters (including some real historical figures such as Ivan the Terrible and Michelangelo). The only pauses are thoughtful ones – when Elizabeth reflects on the carnal adventures of her friend Elsie, or when she and Ascham compare behanding thieves in Turkey to hanging them in England. The Tournament doesn’t shy away from scenes and ideas which may offend, be they cultural, sexual or visceral. (The book is both violent and sexy, but sensibly, never both at the same time.)
The most addictive thing about Reilly’s writing has always been the thoroughness of his research, which often leaves the reader wondering how much of his tale is true. Sure, the Sultan’s palace in Constantinople was probably a real place, but how about the incredible menagerie within it? Queen Elizabeth the First and her father were real people, but how about Roger Ascham? What about the chess master Gilbert Giles? The quotes from Elizabeth which begin each chapter – did she really say those things, or are they a product of Reilly’s imagination?
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. The fact and the fiction blend together so seamlessly that the setting comes to life, giving the reader a tactile sense of the luxurious palace, the sleazy brothels and the bustling bazaars of Constantinople in 1547.
It may seem strange to call a number one bestselling author “underrated”, but Reilly’s earnest, no-frills prose often leads critics to dismiss him as nothing more than a literary Michael Bay. His exhaustive research, tightrope storylines and his delightful tendency to experiment are regularly overlooked.
I have a feeling that this is about to change. Reilly may be best known for the bullets, bombs and outlandish technologies which populate his books, but with The Tournament, he has proven that these are only window dressing. He can tell a gripping tale with nothing more than chess pieces and the occasional flaying. That makes him indisputably a master of his craft.
His new hero, Roger Ascham, resembles Atticus Finch even more than usual. Ascham is a gentle, intelligent schoolmaster who leads Scout – I mean, teenage future-queen Elizabeth the First – to a chess tournament in the Ottoman Empire. When the young princess and her teacher stumble across a murder, they find themselves hunting a serial killer in the Sultan’s palace. Or is it something even more sinister?
It’s a complex, unpredictable plot, and it moves along at an electrifying pace, driven by many colourful characters (including some real historical figures such as Ivan the Terrible and Michelangelo). The only pauses are thoughtful ones – when Elizabeth reflects on the carnal adventures of her friend Elsie, or when she and Ascham compare behanding thieves in Turkey to hanging them in England. The Tournament doesn’t shy away from scenes and ideas which may offend, be they cultural, sexual or visceral. (The book is both violent and sexy, but sensibly, never both at the same time.)
The most addictive thing about Reilly’s writing has always been the thoroughness of his research, which often leaves the reader wondering how much of his tale is true. Sure, the Sultan’s palace in Constantinople was probably a real place, but how about the incredible menagerie within it? Queen Elizabeth the First and her father were real people, but how about Roger Ascham? What about the chess master Gilbert Giles? The quotes from Elizabeth which begin each chapter – did she really say those things, or are they a product of Reilly’s imagination?
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. The fact and the fiction blend together so seamlessly that the setting comes to life, giving the reader a tactile sense of the luxurious palace, the sleazy brothels and the bustling bazaars of Constantinople in 1547.
It may seem strange to call a number one bestselling author “underrated”, but Reilly’s earnest, no-frills prose often leads critics to dismiss him as nothing more than a literary Michael Bay. His exhaustive research, tightrope storylines and his delightful tendency to experiment are regularly overlooked.
I have a feeling that this is about to change. Reilly may be best known for the bullets, bombs and outlandish technologies which populate his books, but with The Tournament, he has proven that these are only window dressing. He can tell a gripping tale with nothing more than chess pieces and the occasional flaying. That makes him indisputably a master of his craft.
August 17, 2023
The year is 1546. Suleiman the Magnificent is the sultan of the Ottoman Empire, a country on the rise. And he wants to show off how much his empire has grown. He wants to establish the Ottoman Empire as a powerhouse in global politics. To do that, he organizes a chess tournament so epic, the world has never seen anything like it before.
Roger Asham thinks it would be a great idea for his pupil, the young girl who will become Queen Elizabeth the First, to accompany the British delegation to the Ottoman Empire for the tournament. Not only because he considers travel the finest form of education. But also to keep her safe. With the plague going strong and the king getting sicker, London is getting more dangerous by the second for every possible heir to the throne.
But as soon as the tournament starts, bodies start dropping like flies. And it’s up to Roger Asham to find the killer. Elizabeth’s friend Elsie couldn’t care less about the killings though. She would like nothing more than to become a princess herself. And she’s got her eyes set on a prince.
While Elizabeth is the protagonist, it’s her tutor Roger Asham who truly dominates the pages. He is a smart man who has a knack for seeing details others might easily miss. He does his best to pass down his knowledge and wisdom to the girl who could one day become a queen, so that she may become the best queen she can possibly be. A good example of what kind of character he is actually comes at the very beginning of the story, where the young Elizabeth mocks the sultan’s poor English skills. Asham however quickly points out that she doesn’t speak the sultan’s language. Yet he made the effort to learn hers. So who is she to criticize someone else for attempting something she herself has never even attempted.
This is a historical fiction story with characters who are based on real historical figures, in a fictional setting of the very first international chess tournament. The heart of this story is Elizabeth’s character arc. It’s a story that does something unique in trying to explain how Queen Elizabeth the First came to be who she was as a person. There are things her teacher tells her outright, like how very different men and women are judged as leaders. But there are other things he lets her learn for herself, so that she truly gets what he’s trying to teach her. It’s a bit out there though, because it’s a story that doesn’t let historical accuracy get in the way of a good story. You do need to keep that in mind to fully appreciate what this story has to offer.
This is actually quite a relaxed and soothing read by Matthew Reilly’s standards. It’s like he deliberately decks the table with a luxurious meal of a solid slow-paced murder mystery plot, a fascinating historical setting and interesting characters. To lull us into a false sense of security. And then he pulls our chair out from under us. While all his other stories are much more action-packed and full of absolutely brutal twists and turns, this one features by far the most shocking moment in any of his works. It’s honestly a scene that’s very hard to forget.
The only real negative for me personally is that there are quite a few sex scenes. There’s just too many of them for my taste. But, to be fair, they are essential to the protagonist’s character arc.
Since it’s a book about a chess tournament, it might seem like a daunting read for those of us who don’t know how to play chess. But I can’t play chess and this didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story whatsoever. This is much more a character-driven historical murder mystery story, rather than a story about chess. Though you do learn a few interesting things about the game of chess along the way.
Roger Asham thinks it would be a great idea for his pupil, the young girl who will become Queen Elizabeth the First, to accompany the British delegation to the Ottoman Empire for the tournament. Not only because he considers travel the finest form of education. But also to keep her safe. With the plague going strong and the king getting sicker, London is getting more dangerous by the second for every possible heir to the throne.
But as soon as the tournament starts, bodies start dropping like flies. And it’s up to Roger Asham to find the killer. Elizabeth’s friend Elsie couldn’t care less about the killings though. She would like nothing more than to become a princess herself. And she’s got her eyes set on a prince.
While Elizabeth is the protagonist, it’s her tutor Roger Asham who truly dominates the pages. He is a smart man who has a knack for seeing details others might easily miss. He does his best to pass down his knowledge and wisdom to the girl who could one day become a queen, so that she may become the best queen she can possibly be. A good example of what kind of character he is actually comes at the very beginning of the story, where the young Elizabeth mocks the sultan’s poor English skills. Asham however quickly points out that she doesn’t speak the sultan’s language. Yet he made the effort to learn hers. So who is she to criticize someone else for attempting something she herself has never even attempted.
This is a historical fiction story with characters who are based on real historical figures, in a fictional setting of the very first international chess tournament. The heart of this story is Elizabeth’s character arc. It’s a story that does something unique in trying to explain how Queen Elizabeth the First came to be who she was as a person. There are things her teacher tells her outright, like how very different men and women are judged as leaders. But there are other things he lets her learn for herself, so that she truly gets what he’s trying to teach her. It’s a bit out there though, because it’s a story that doesn’t let historical accuracy get in the way of a good story. You do need to keep that in mind to fully appreciate what this story has to offer.
This is actually quite a relaxed and soothing read by Matthew Reilly’s standards. It’s like he deliberately decks the table with a luxurious meal of a solid slow-paced murder mystery plot, a fascinating historical setting and interesting characters. To lull us into a false sense of security. And then he pulls our chair out from under us. While all his other stories are much more action-packed and full of absolutely brutal twists and turns, this one features by far the most shocking moment in any of his works. It’s honestly a scene that’s very hard to forget.
The only real negative for me personally is that there are quite a few sex scenes. There’s just too many of them for my taste. But, to be fair, they are essential to the protagonist’s character arc.
Since it’s a book about a chess tournament, it might seem like a daunting read for those of us who don’t know how to play chess. But I can’t play chess and this didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story whatsoever. This is much more a character-driven historical murder mystery story, rather than a story about chess. Though you do learn a few interesting things about the game of chess along the way.
February 8, 2017
In November of last year, I attended a local Dymocks Books event where Matthew Reilly was interviewed, promoting his new book, The Four Legendary Kingdoms. I was surprised by how enthralled I was by Matthew Reilly, as I had not read any of his books prior to the event and in general, the genres he tends to write for do not appeal to me. However, one audience member at this event asked Reilly about one his books written in 2011, The Tournament. This question related to whether Reilly was going to write a sequel to The Tournament. In answering this question, Reilly gave a great plug for his book. So very soon after meeting Matthew Reilly, I took the plunge and read my first ever Matthew Reilly book. The result? I enjoyed it immensely!
In the opening of The Tournament, the ageing Queen Elizabeth I is dying and she finds herself reflecting on a great event that shaped her life as a young queen to be, a world chess tournament. In 1546, Princess Elizabeth and her loyal tutor Roger Ascham, made the pilgrimage to Constantinople to attend this revered event.This was the world’s greatest tournament of its time, arranged by the powerful Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire. The Sultan attracted some of the world’s best players to this prestigious event and pitted them against one another, such as Ivan the Terrible and Michelangelo. The Tournament is a book that uses a magnificent chess championship to highlight issues prevalent at the time, such as politics, philosophy, intrigue, spies, religion and culture.
I believe part of my enjoyment of The Tournament, came from the time period and the principle character. The main events of The Tournament are set in 1546 and follow Princess Elizabeth. It is no secret that I am fascinated by the tudor period and Elizabeth I is my favourite monarch. This novel offers a different take in the monarch, providing an alternative coming of age story. At the close of The Tournament, Reilly explains that the events he puts a young Princess Elizabeth through in the novel, although fictional, played an important role in the long term, shaping many of the decisions she made whilst on the throne.
Supporting Princess Elizabeth’s journey to the great chess event are a number of secondary characters. Roger Ascham, tutor to the princess, plays an important role in her life and in the events in the novel. Ascham becomes embroiled in a murder investigation at the chess event, looking into the mystery murder of a cardinal. He is a clever man and a compelling historical figure that I took great pleasure in reading more about his life. In addition, Princess Elizabeth is supported by a female character her friend Elsie, who plays a significant role in Elizabeth’s sexual awakening. It is for this reason that Reilly fans have been warned that these sections contain mature content. Roger and Princess Elizabeth also take with them England’s chess champion, Gilbert Giles. Although chess does not interest me at all, I found the sections involving the chess tournament very interesting.
Reilly works hard to build his setting. The stage for The Tournament is set very well, aided by Reilly’s blockbuster storytelling style. The inclusion of great figures of this era, such as Ivan the Terrible and Michelangelo,are fascinating additions to the narrative. The use of the murder mystery underpinning this famous event sets the tone for plenty of intrigue, which was a common occurrence in the royal and tudor courts of the time. My only difficulty with this book was the language. The phrasing used by the characters definitely requires a suspension of belief, as it didn’t quite fit the times, it seemed too modern, especially after I have read many books set in this period. However, the creative concept of this book was plenty enough for me to like this book.
The Tournament, my first Matthew Reilly novel, was a welcome read and one that I had fun reading from cover to cover. I really warmed to Reilly’s storytelling abilities and for this reason, I am prepared to read more from this talented Australian author, even though his books are outside my genre comfort zone!
https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
In the opening of The Tournament, the ageing Queen Elizabeth I is dying and she finds herself reflecting on a great event that shaped her life as a young queen to be, a world chess tournament. In 1546, Princess Elizabeth and her loyal tutor Roger Ascham, made the pilgrimage to Constantinople to attend this revered event.This was the world’s greatest tournament of its time, arranged by the powerful Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire. The Sultan attracted some of the world’s best players to this prestigious event and pitted them against one another, such as Ivan the Terrible and Michelangelo. The Tournament is a book that uses a magnificent chess championship to highlight issues prevalent at the time, such as politics, philosophy, intrigue, spies, religion and culture.
I believe part of my enjoyment of The Tournament, came from the time period and the principle character. The main events of The Tournament are set in 1546 and follow Princess Elizabeth. It is no secret that I am fascinated by the tudor period and Elizabeth I is my favourite monarch. This novel offers a different take in the monarch, providing an alternative coming of age story. At the close of The Tournament, Reilly explains that the events he puts a young Princess Elizabeth through in the novel, although fictional, played an important role in the long term, shaping many of the decisions she made whilst on the throne.
Supporting Princess Elizabeth’s journey to the great chess event are a number of secondary characters. Roger Ascham, tutor to the princess, plays an important role in her life and in the events in the novel. Ascham becomes embroiled in a murder investigation at the chess event, looking into the mystery murder of a cardinal. He is a clever man and a compelling historical figure that I took great pleasure in reading more about his life. In addition, Princess Elizabeth is supported by a female character her friend Elsie, who plays a significant role in Elizabeth’s sexual awakening. It is for this reason that Reilly fans have been warned that these sections contain mature content. Roger and Princess Elizabeth also take with them England’s chess champion, Gilbert Giles. Although chess does not interest me at all, I found the sections involving the chess tournament very interesting.
Reilly works hard to build his setting. The stage for The Tournament is set very well, aided by Reilly’s blockbuster storytelling style. The inclusion of great figures of this era, such as Ivan the Terrible and Michelangelo,are fascinating additions to the narrative. The use of the murder mystery underpinning this famous event sets the tone for plenty of intrigue, which was a common occurrence in the royal and tudor courts of the time. My only difficulty with this book was the language. The phrasing used by the characters definitely requires a suspension of belief, as it didn’t quite fit the times, it seemed too modern, especially after I have read many books set in this period. However, the creative concept of this book was plenty enough for me to like this book.
The Tournament, my first Matthew Reilly novel, was a welcome read and one that I had fun reading from cover to cover. I really warmed to Reilly’s storytelling abilities and for this reason, I am prepared to read more from this talented Australian author, even though his books are outside my genre comfort zone!
https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
January 30, 2025
„Какъв по-добър урок за потенциална бъдеща кралица от това да надникне през прозорец в душите на хората?“
Страхотно историческо фентъзи, което определено надхвърли очакванията ми! „Турнирът“ представлява страшно любопитно и динамично четиво, което пренася читателите в мрачната, но и вълнуваща атмосфера на 16-ти век. Матю Райли умело замесва в удивителният си сюжет знаменити личности от тази епоха, отлично съчетавайки елементи на приключенски роман, криминална мистерия, политически трилър и спортна (шахматна) драма.
Главна героиня в историята е младата английска принцеса Елизабет, която преживява опасни премеждия в Константинопол и израства като личност, след като става свидетел на коварни дворцови интриги и страховити престъпления. Въпросният турнир по шах е грандиозно събитие, организирано в „Света София“ от османския султан Сюлейман Великолепни, за което е поканил да наблюдават влиятелни хора от различните европейски държави. Междувременно се случват загадъчни убийства и напрежението постепенно се повишава, а пък султанът възлага на Роджър Аскам, (който е учител на Елизабет) разследването на зловещата мистерия...
„— Очаквах земите на османците да са… по-назадничави — споделих с учителя си.
— Всяка държава смята своята култура за връх на цивилизацията, а всички останали — за примитивни и варварски — отвърна господин Аскам. — Тъжен, но естествен предразсъдък на човешкия ум.“
„Открил съм, че няма особен смисъл да разпитваш хората относно религиозните им порядки. Нещата, които се правят в името на религията, невинаги са религиоз��и. Често в основата им има по-първични причини.“
„— Въпросът, който трябва да си зададе всяко общество, е какъв натиск са готови да приемат хората в замяна на сигурността на самите тях и на имуществото им?
Намръщих се.
— Не мисля, че мога да отговоря на това.
Господин Аскам се усмихна.
— Радвам се да го чуя. Защото отговорът на този въпрос се свежда до балансирани действия от страна на всеки крал и кралица. Тираничните владетели губят престола и главата си. Слабите биват манипулирани от коварни лордове и двулични съветници. Успешните владетели намират баланс, който отговаря на епохата им.“
„Йезуитите са интересна група, тъй като ценят науката и знанията, докато самата Църква, на която служат, заклеймява подобни неща. Въпреки това йезуитите са в авангарда на борбата на папата срещу Лутер и протестантското движение.
— И срещу баща ми.
— И срещу баща ти. Запомни този човек, млада Бес, защото ако се случи да станеш протестантска кралица, ще се наложи да се бориш с мисионерите на Лойола за душата на народа си.“
„Нашият свят се развива бързо, но въпреки това някои хора винаги ще си останат роби на най-първичните си желания.“
„Пророкът е обичал жените, обичал е онова, което те носят на света — тъжно продължи султанът. — Светът е прекрасен именно заради равновесието между мъжката и женската енергия. Общество, което е прекалено мъжко, е обречено завинаги да зависи от мъжкия гняв.“
„Умът не е изключителна привилегия на богатите и културните, Бес. Не съди по външността на човека за проницателността му.“
„ — Независимо дали става въпрос за война, или за игра, резултатът всъщност е без значение — каза сериозно той. — Победите и загубите са случайност. Блестящият гръцки военачалник Пир е спечелил битката при Аскулум, но на такава цена, че е останал в историята като глупак, докато онези триста спартанци, сражавали се до смърт срещу огромната персийска войска при Термопилите, продължават да се почитат и две хиляди години след събитието. Във войната и в спорта важното е да се изтощиш в усилията си.“
Страхотно историческо фентъзи, което определено надхвърли очакванията ми! „Турнирът“ представлява страшно любопитно и динамично четиво, което пренася читателите в мрачната, но и вълнуваща атмосфера на 16-ти век. Матю Райли умело замесва в удивителният си сюжет знаменити личности от тази епоха, отлично съчетавайки елементи на приключенски роман, криминална мистерия, политически трилър и спортна (шахматна) драма.
Главна героиня в историята е младата английска принцеса Елизабет, която преживява опасни премеждия в Константинопол и израства като личност, след като става свидетел на коварни дворцови интриги и страховити престъпления. Въпросният турнир по шах е грандиозно събитие, организирано в „Света София“ от османския султан Сюлейман Великолепни, за което е поканил да наблюдават влиятелни хора от различните европейски държави. Междувременно се случват загадъчни убийства и напрежението постепенно се повишава, а пък султанът възлага на Роджър Аскам, (който е учител на Елизабет) разследването на зловещата мистерия...
„— Очаквах земите на османците да са… по-назадничави — споделих с учителя си.
— Всяка държава смята своята култура за връх на цивилизацията, а всички останали — за примитивни и варварски — отвърна господин Аскам. — Тъжен, но естествен предразсъдък на човешкия ум.“
„Открил съм, че няма особен смисъл да разпитваш хората относно религиозните им порядки. Нещата, които се правят в името на религията, невинаги са религиоз��и. Често в основата им има по-първични причини.“
„— Въпросът, който трябва да си зададе всяко общество, е какъв натиск са готови да приемат хората в замяна на сигурността на самите тях и на имуществото им?
Намръщих се.
— Не мисля, че мога да отговоря на това.
Господин Аскам се усмихна.
— Радвам се да го чуя. Защото отговорът на този въпрос се свежда до балансирани действия от страна на всеки крал и кралица. Тираничните владетели губят престола и главата си. Слабите биват манипулирани от коварни лордове и двулични съветници. Успешните владетели намират баланс, който отговаря на епохата им.“
„Йезуитите са интересна група, тъй като ценят науката и знанията, докато самата Църква, на която служат, заклеймява подобни неща. Въпреки това йезуитите са в авангарда на борбата на папата срещу Лутер и протестантското движение.
— И срещу баща ми.
— И срещу баща ти. Запомни този човек, млада Бес, защото ако се случи да станеш протестантска кралица, ще се наложи да се бориш с мисионерите на Лойола за душата на народа си.“
„Нашият свят се развива бързо, но въпреки това някои хора винаги ще си останат роби на най-първичните си желания.“
„Пророкът е обичал жените, обичал е онова, което те носят на света — тъжно продължи султанът. — Светът е прекрасен именно заради равновесието между мъжката и женската енергия. Общество, което е прекалено мъжко, е обречено завинаги да зависи от мъжкия гняв.“
„Умът не е изключителна привилегия на богатите и културните, Бес. Не съди по външността на човека за проницателността му.“
„ — Независимо дали става въпрос за война, или за игра, резултатът всъщност е без значение — каза сериозно той. — Победите и загубите са случайност. Блестящият гръцки военачалник Пир е спечелил битката при Аскулум, но на такава цена, че е останал в историята като глупак, докато онези триста спартанци, сражавали се до смърт срещу огромната персийска войска при Термопилите, продължават да се почитат и две хиляди години след събитието. Във войната и в спорта важното е да се изтощиш в усилията си.“
November 21, 2013
I know a lot of people are going to consider this one of Matthew Reilly's weaker books, but I think it's one of his strongest.
With a far slower pace than what we can normally expect from a Reilly. The Tournament is no less gripping or thrilling than anything else Reilly has ever written.
Accurate historical details and a true murder mystery featuring some beautiful and horrific descriptions, this is a properly thrilling read.
The young Princess Elizabeth views the action with an innocent eye and we can see the fictional events that shape her as a future queen. Roger Ascham is presented as a 16th century cross between Sherlock Holmes and Scarecrow, a "thinking" hero who defeats his foes using wits rather than brute force.
All in all, The Tournament is a fascinating departure from Reilly's usual style, and his enthusiasm at writing this piece of historical fiction can clearly be seen in the book.
With a far slower pace than what we can normally expect from a Reilly. The Tournament is no less gripping or thrilling than anything else Reilly has ever written.
Accurate historical details and a true murder mystery featuring some beautiful and horrific descriptions, this is a properly thrilling read.
The young Princess Elizabeth views the action with an innocent eye and we can see the fictional events that shape her as a future queen. Roger Ascham is presented as a 16th century cross between Sherlock Holmes and Scarecrow, a "thinking" hero who defeats his foes using wits rather than brute force.
All in all, The Tournament is a fascinating departure from Reilly's usual style, and his enthusiasm at writing this piece of historical fiction can clearly be seen in the book.
February 22, 2021
Reilly has departed from his typical writing style for this book. No longer is it non-stop action from the opening page of the book. That being said, this is still a great read. It's a murder mystery set during Queen Elizabeth's time. I enjoyed his choice of historical characters he used in the novel and especially liked the perspective of the story being told by a young Queen Elizabeth. Be prepared, there are some very risque scenes in the book, but that is not its main focus.
November 20, 2013
No guns. No electricity or even any form of advanced technology. No explosions. No high-octane action scenes. If someone told me Matthew Reilly had written a book like this I would have told them they were crazy. Surely he wouldn’t write a novel without some of the defining traits of his previous work? And yet, he has, and pulls it off masterfully.
The Tournament, set in the 1500s, is a historical thriller; a murder mystery novel that also chronicles a defining, albeit, fictional moment in Queen Elizabeth I’s childhood. When I first heard that this novel was to be based around a chess tournament my first thoughts were, what’s the catch? Surely there’s some sort of twist Reilly has installed to make this a more than ordinary chess game? Perhaps this will be chess with live human beings? But no, The Tournament is actually about a standard chess tournament, and I found myself entirely surprised about how enjoyable this is. There is no catch like I imagined, but it just so happens that there is some devious murder being undertaken around the tournament.
The Tournament is a massive departure from Reilly’s previous work. For one, it is set a long way into the past and features a number of historical figures, such as Queen Elizabeth I and Michelangelo. Reilly has clearly invested a lot of time in researching this era, the locations and characters, and brings these things to life, while still putting his own spin on things. The main character is Elizabeth and the story takes place in first person, from her own point of view. The insight you gain from the sometimes horrific events Elizabeth witnesses gives you a glimpse into how her mind began to be shaped towards the strong, calculating and intelligent Queen she became. From memory, Reilly has not used first-person in a novel before but the transition is seamless. Alongside Elizabeth is Robert Ascham, her teacher, who is knowledgeable in most things and bears a knack for solving terrible crimes and finding the truth in the inconceivable. He is very clever and watching him put the pieces together behind the murders in The Tournament is fascinating.
Gone are the breakneck speed and unrelenting action of Reilly’s past novels. Part of me thought I was reading a different author for a time. The whole way through the book I was waiting for the frantic speed and action that Reilly has made himself well known for to kick in and I was surprised when these did not come. More surprising was that I found it did not bother me at all. His trademark suspense and infectious writing are still there, keeping you hooked and turning those pages till the end, however, it moves at a different sort of pace, with the tension burning ever so slowly as the book progresses. This makes the ending all the more exciting and the build up is a worthy payoff as the twisting plot threads come to a head.
With the Tournament, Matthew Reilly has proven just how versatile an author he is. He is willing to take a risk with his writing despite running the risk of alienating his readers. Despite stepping out of his comfort zone with novels like Seven Ancient Wonders and Hover Car Racer, the Tournament is more like a leap, proving just how talented he is. Go into this with an open mind and I think you will be pleasantly surprised. It’s not the Matthew Reilly you know, but is still the Matthew Reilly you love.
The Tournament, set in the 1500s, is a historical thriller; a murder mystery novel that also chronicles a defining, albeit, fictional moment in Queen Elizabeth I’s childhood. When I first heard that this novel was to be based around a chess tournament my first thoughts were, what’s the catch? Surely there’s some sort of twist Reilly has installed to make this a more than ordinary chess game? Perhaps this will be chess with live human beings? But no, The Tournament is actually about a standard chess tournament, and I found myself entirely surprised about how enjoyable this is. There is no catch like I imagined, but it just so happens that there is some devious murder being undertaken around the tournament.
The Tournament is a massive departure from Reilly’s previous work. For one, it is set a long way into the past and features a number of historical figures, such as Queen Elizabeth I and Michelangelo. Reilly has clearly invested a lot of time in researching this era, the locations and characters, and brings these things to life, while still putting his own spin on things. The main character is Elizabeth and the story takes place in first person, from her own point of view. The insight you gain from the sometimes horrific events Elizabeth witnesses gives you a glimpse into how her mind began to be shaped towards the strong, calculating and intelligent Queen she became. From memory, Reilly has not used first-person in a novel before but the transition is seamless. Alongside Elizabeth is Robert Ascham, her teacher, who is knowledgeable in most things and bears a knack for solving terrible crimes and finding the truth in the inconceivable. He is very clever and watching him put the pieces together behind the murders in The Tournament is fascinating.
Gone are the breakneck speed and unrelenting action of Reilly’s past novels. Part of me thought I was reading a different author for a time. The whole way through the book I was waiting for the frantic speed and action that Reilly has made himself well known for to kick in and I was surprised when these did not come. More surprising was that I found it did not bother me at all. His trademark suspense and infectious writing are still there, keeping you hooked and turning those pages till the end, however, it moves at a different sort of pace, with the tension burning ever so slowly as the book progresses. This makes the ending all the more exciting and the build up is a worthy payoff as the twisting plot threads come to a head.
With the Tournament, Matthew Reilly has proven just how versatile an author he is. He is willing to take a risk with his writing despite running the risk of alienating his readers. Despite stepping out of his comfort zone with novels like Seven Ancient Wonders and Hover Car Racer, the Tournament is more like a leap, proving just how talented he is. Go into this with an open mind and I think you will be pleasantly surprised. It’s not the Matthew Reilly you know, but is still the Matthew Reilly you love.
February 10, 2017
I really felt a spectator throughout the whole story and I wasn't bored which I easily am!
June 15, 2014
This is another example of how authors misuse their creative freedom to tarnish a great historical figure's image in the name of fiction. Matthew Reilly had chosen to capitalize on the popular anti-Muslim sentiment in the western world and produced a work of fiction to reduce one of the greatest rulers of Islamic Ottoman Empire, Suleiman The Magnificent to a cheater and a murderer. Reilly has cleverly implanted in multiple places how cursed the city of Constantinople was, whereas in reality it was a city of light when most of Europe was plunged in darkness. Anyone interested, please do a little research in Wikipedia on Sulieman and his Ottoman empire.
Reilly has carefully used the well known and widely criticized phenomenon of pedophelia in Catholic churches in this book to gain credibility and presented his twisted version of Suleiman The Magnificent to an unsuspecting reader. Someone, who is ignorant of history, can be easily convinced about Suleiman's character by this clever ploy.
Reilly has also shamelessly tried to allude to the 'fairness' and 'heroics' of the British Empire and people. He must have forgotten the history of the East India Company in the subcontinent or the Opium war in China. He might have also forgotten about the countless women burned alive for alleged witchery in England.
It was a shame to see such morally irresponsible writing from an author who is supposedly reeling from an unfortunate suicide of his beloved wife. He has lost a great opportunity to channel his emotions to produce a masterpiece.
Reilly has carefully used the well known and widely criticized phenomenon of pedophelia in Catholic churches in this book to gain credibility and presented his twisted version of Suleiman The Magnificent to an unsuspecting reader. Someone, who is ignorant of history, can be easily convinced about Suleiman's character by this clever ploy.
Reilly has also shamelessly tried to allude to the 'fairness' and 'heroics' of the British Empire and people. He must have forgotten the history of the East India Company in the subcontinent or the Opium war in China. He might have also forgotten about the countless women burned alive for alleged witchery in England.
It was a shame to see such morally irresponsible writing from an author who is supposedly reeling from an unfortunate suicide of his beloved wife. He has lost a great opportunity to channel his emotions to produce a masterpiece.
July 15, 2015
The Tournament by Matthew Reilly
Published 2015(US), Gallery
Stars: ★★★★☆
Review also posted at: Slapdash & Sundry
Matthew Reilly is really good at thrillers. Like, super fun, crazy explosions, fast pace, unbelievable yet unputdownable thrillers. But then I attempted to read Troll Mountain, his foray into fantasy. No thanks. Not so good. So when I saw that Reilly had branched out into historical fiction and mystery, I was a little concerned... but since I love Reilly's work (other than Troll Mountain, ick!), I had to see if this would be any good.
And it was. I loved the characters of Bess and Ascham, and there were plenty of murders and lots of intrigue to keep it entertaining. I'll give it four stars, with the missing star because of the convoluted solution.
All in all, a strong entry by Reilly into the historical mystery genre. Much better than I had expected, considering Troll Mountain's blah-ness. (Did I mention I really didn't care for Troll Mountain at all???)
Thanks Netgalley for this review copy. I've provided my honest opinion, and gotten nothing other than the ARC in return.
Published 2015(US), Gallery
Stars: ★★★★☆
Review also posted at: Slapdash & Sundry
Matthew Reilly is really good at thrillers. Like, super fun, crazy explosions, fast pace, unbelievable yet unputdownable thrillers. But then I attempted to read Troll Mountain, his foray into fantasy. No thanks. Not so good. So when I saw that Reilly had branched out into historical fiction and mystery, I was a little concerned... but since I love Reilly's work (other than Troll Mountain, ick!), I had to see if this would be any good.
And it was. I loved the characters of Bess and Ascham, and there were plenty of murders and lots of intrigue to keep it entertaining. I'll give it four stars, with the missing star because of the convoluted solution.
All in all, a strong entry by Reilly into the historical mystery genre. Much better than I had expected, considering Troll Mountain's blah-ness. (Did I mention I really didn't care for Troll Mountain at all???)
Thanks Netgalley for this review copy. I've provided my honest opinion, and gotten nothing other than the ARC in return.
January 22, 2014
A friend slipped this one to me without it's dust cover - so I had no idea what i was getting into. By page 100 it was obviously brazen silliness - Young Elizabeth I playing Nancy Drew/Dr Watson in the harems of 16th Century Constantinople. I'm ashamed to say I finished it in one sitting - like scoffing a box or Turkish delights after midnight (I had to hide the evidence!!)
I laughed a lot - probably for all the wrong reasons - but I don't think this writer would care as long as you bought his book. The biggest laugh was saved for the afterward, where he lists a TV variety show (ABC TV's "Hungry Beast")as one of his "historical" sources. At least he's honest about his superficiality.
The sex in this book deserves a mention - there's lots of it and it's graphic. I wondered who this book is targeting as his usual audience is teenage boys. Maybe this is a blatant grab for playground porn. I suspect some school librarians are going to be a bit red-faced when they realise what they ordered in.
I laughed a lot - probably for all the wrong reasons - but I don't think this writer would care as long as you bought his book. The biggest laugh was saved for the afterward, where he lists a TV variety show (ABC TV's "Hungry Beast")as one of his "historical" sources. At least he's honest about his superficiality.
The sex in this book deserves a mention - there's lots of it and it's graphic. I wondered who this book is targeting as his usual audience is teenage boys. Maybe this is a blatant grab for playground porn. I suspect some school librarians are going to be a bit red-faced when they realise what they ordered in.
June 16, 2018
If I was given a copy of this book to read without a cover I never would have guessed this was written by Matthew Reilly. He has a very distinctive style of story and this is so very different but in a good way. If I had to describe it, I would say it is almost like a Sherlock Holmes-style narrative set in 1546 Constantinople at a chess tournament where a teenage Elizabeth the first plays the 'Watson' character. Also, throw in a lot of history and politics. I know a chess tournament may sound a bit dry but this book was every bit as compulsively readable as all of Reilly's other books, with just a bit less action. Overall, it was a fun, quick read and worth picking up.
December 18, 2013
As a history enthusiast and a Matthew Reilly fan I'm very disappointed in this mediocre book. Matthew Reilly had successfully written novels set deep in historical times before, and generally they were a lot more fun to read than this. Because this book has very few fight scenes compared to Matt Reilly's previous books, all the faults which were but minor details in his other books became gaping chasms in this one.
In short, this is a Matthew Reilly book without chase scenes, count downs, explosions, heads bursting open like smashed pumpkins, giant animals eating people, or impossible acrobatic stunts. That is to say, it is a Matthew Reilly book with all the good parts removed and replaced with a valiant yet mediocre attempt at traditional story forms.
This is not an action thriller. It is a murder mystery, and because the identity of the murderer must be kept secret until the end, almost all of the violence happens offstage.
The characters in this book are more developed than in Matt's other books, however they are not yet developed enough to stand on their own without the excitement of battles and chases. I find Matt's use of stock religious types moronic, superficial and overdramatic. In this story, all Catholic priests are not just child molesters, they're brothel-keepers and they're driving business away from secular brothels. Evil brown men force Muslim women to wear the veil, and no thought is given to whether Muslim women actually *want* to wear the veil as an expression of their faith. Matthew explores religious tensions in an extremely superficial way, betraying his lack of understanding of the nuances of actual religious issues of this time period. Heck, of any period really. Religious characters, good and bad, are not written well at all.
Sex. There is a lot of gratuitous sex in this book. It was meant to turn the wheels of young Elizabeth I's coming-of-age journey. Instead it comes across as fairly pointless and repetitive. Elsie, a sterotypically irresponsible teenager, slips off most nights to have sex with multiple foreign strangers whom she had just met that night. At the very end she suffers brutal exploitation. The morality tale is about as subtle as a half-ton anvil crashing down on your head. But besides these incompetencies I could not stop myself wondering, again and again, "How many dozens of crippling infections will Elsie carry before she starts showing symptoms?" Miraculously, she showed no signs of any ill health at all. None. Apparently, sexually transmitted infections just do not exist in Matthew Reilly's Middle Ages. Given that so much about this book is supposed to be about coming to terms with the consequences of sexuality, the omission of venereal diseases in a very plague-ridden world is patently ridiculous.
Several reviewers have remarked that Matthew Reilly is "progressive" in his attitude to the Middle East, because he describes Constantinople as more civilised than Medieval Europe. Keep reading, buddy, because pretty soon he reverts to the stereotypical backward view of the Middle East. Suleiman voices his concern that "religious tensions" (very roughly defined) will prevent his Muslim Empire from progressing beyond the technological and cultural development of the Middle Ages. Yup, apparently the Arabs today are still stuck in the Middle Ages and their religion prevents them from progressing any further. This is stock stuff, hardly daring and progressive.
Overall, I found this book disappointing with no redeeming features. I actually bought it as a Christmas gift for my brother and decided to give it a read before I gave it to him. On completing it I realised I had to get him another Christmas present. A Matthew Reilly book without his innovative chase scenes, explosions, headsplatters and rampaging beasts is just not fun at all.
In short, this is a Matthew Reilly book without chase scenes, count downs, explosions, heads bursting open like smashed pumpkins, giant animals eating people, or impossible acrobatic stunts. That is to say, it is a Matthew Reilly book with all the good parts removed and replaced with a valiant yet mediocre attempt at traditional story forms.
This is not an action thriller. It is a murder mystery, and because the identity of the murderer must be kept secret until the end, almost all of the violence happens offstage.
The characters in this book are more developed than in Matt's other books, however they are not yet developed enough to stand on their own without the excitement of battles and chases. I find Matt's use of stock religious types moronic, superficial and overdramatic. In this story, all Catholic priests are not just child molesters, they're brothel-keepers and they're driving business away from secular brothels. Evil brown men force Muslim women to wear the veil, and no thought is given to whether Muslim women actually *want* to wear the veil as an expression of their faith. Matthew explores religious tensions in an extremely superficial way, betraying his lack of understanding of the nuances of actual religious issues of this time period. Heck, of any period really. Religious characters, good and bad, are not written well at all.
Sex. There is a lot of gratuitous sex in this book. It was meant to turn the wheels of young Elizabeth I's coming-of-age journey. Instead it comes across as fairly pointless and repetitive. Elsie, a sterotypically irresponsible teenager, slips off most nights to have sex with multiple foreign strangers whom she had just met that night. At the very end she suffers brutal exploitation. The morality tale is about as subtle as a half-ton anvil crashing down on your head. But besides these incompetencies I could not stop myself wondering, again and again, "How many dozens of crippling infections will Elsie carry before she starts showing symptoms?" Miraculously, she showed no signs of any ill health at all. None. Apparently, sexually transmitted infections just do not exist in Matthew Reilly's Middle Ages. Given that so much about this book is supposed to be about coming to terms with the consequences of sexuality, the omission of venereal diseases in a very plague-ridden world is patently ridiculous.
Several reviewers have remarked that Matthew Reilly is "progressive" in his attitude to the Middle East, because he describes Constantinople as more civilised than Medieval Europe. Keep reading, buddy, because pretty soon he reverts to the stereotypical backward view of the Middle East. Suleiman voices his concern that "religious tensions" (very roughly defined) will prevent his Muslim Empire from progressing beyond the technological and cultural development of the Middle Ages. Yup, apparently the Arabs today are still stuck in the Middle Ages and their religion prevents them from progressing any further. This is stock stuff, hardly daring and progressive.
Overall, I found this book disappointing with no redeeming features. I actually bought it as a Christmas gift for my brother and decided to give it a read before I gave it to him. On completing it I realised I had to get him another Christmas present. A Matthew Reilly book without his innovative chase scenes, explosions, headsplatters and rampaging beasts is just not fun at all.
December 18, 2013
I admit it, It breaks my heart to give Rielly two stars. I have read everything he has written thus far, and I was hoping that The Tournament was something of a sequel to Contest. But it isn’t an intergalactic killing game that features here. Instead, it’s chess. That’s fine with me; I like chess. There is sex in this book too. Again, I’m good with that. What lets this book down, as far as historical fiction goes, is that it is boring.
The story follows Elizabeth the 1st (Bess) to Constantinople, where the Sultan has organised a game of chess. Each powerful country is to send their best man to compete for the glory of being the world’s best player.
Elizabeth is accompanied by her teacher, Roger Ascham, who is soon called upon to investigate the murder of one of the Sultan’s esteemed guests. What ensues feels like a poorly scripted episode of Sherlock. You see, Ascham can solve any mystery by applying ‘logic’ (mixed with some psychological profiling), and Bess follows him around like a lost puppy for the entire book as his trusty sidekick. Only, she’s less useful than Holmes.
For despite the characters in the book remarking at Elizabeth’s great intelligence, all Bess does is ask Ascham inane questions, which her teacher then goes on to answer at length, spelling the answer out for the reader’s sake more so than for his pupil’s.
Reilly’s characters feel very flat here. Take the hero, Roger Ascham, for example. He can fight, solve murders without the use of DNA scanners, beat England’s best chess player occasionally, speak many languages and spot a cheat by reading the wrinkles on his face. His one weakness is that he isn’t overly attractive. Yes, his Achilles’ heel is a bad haircut and a bulbous nose. And that would be fine if I was reading an action-packed-explosive-techno-thriller. But I’m reading about a murder investigation during a chess tournament set in the 1600’s. I appreciate that he is trying something new, but in order to sustain this story, Rielly needed to create deeper, more interesting and believable characters.
There is an interview with the author at the back of the book where Rielly mentions other works he has in progress. I’ll hold out hope for those.
The story follows Elizabeth the 1st (Bess) to Constantinople, where the Sultan has organised a game of chess. Each powerful country is to send their best man to compete for the glory of being the world’s best player.
Elizabeth is accompanied by her teacher, Roger Ascham, who is soon called upon to investigate the murder of one of the Sultan’s esteemed guests. What ensues feels like a poorly scripted episode of Sherlock. You see, Ascham can solve any mystery by applying ‘logic’ (mixed with some psychological profiling), and Bess follows him around like a lost puppy for the entire book as his trusty sidekick. Only, she’s less useful than Holmes.
For despite the characters in the book remarking at Elizabeth’s great intelligence, all Bess does is ask Ascham inane questions, which her teacher then goes on to answer at length, spelling the answer out for the reader’s sake more so than for his pupil’s.
Reilly’s characters feel very flat here. Take the hero, Roger Ascham, for example. He can fight, solve murders without the use of DNA scanners, beat England’s best chess player occasionally, speak many languages and spot a cheat by reading the wrinkles on his face. His one weakness is that he isn’t overly attractive. Yes, his Achilles’ heel is a bad haircut and a bulbous nose. And that would be fine if I was reading an action-packed-explosive-techno-thriller. But I’m reading about a murder investigation during a chess tournament set in the 1600’s. I appreciate that he is trying something new, but in order to sustain this story, Rielly needed to create deeper, more interesting and believable characters.
There is an interview with the author at the back of the book where Rielly mentions other works he has in progress. I’ll hold out hope for those.
March 10, 2014
Matthew Reilly Steps out of the Box - 3.5 Stars
I am generally quite confident in my rating of book. I start formulating a rating halfway through. In this case, I vacillated greatly as I was reading this book and, ultimately, gave it a rating on the high end. In my rating system, three stars are average books that I neither hate nor love and usually feel indifference. If anything, The Tournament does not leave you feeling indifferent.
If, like me, you are a fan of Reilly's non stop action thrillers and his bigger than life heroes Shane "Scarecrow" Schofield and Jack West Jr., you are in for a big surprise with his latest work. Reilly is apparently channeling is inner Bernard Cornwell and delves into the historical Fiction genre. The result is a hybrid historical action adventure mystery focused around a chess tournament. Admittedly, this sounds a bit absurd but Reilly manages to pull it together.
Plot summary
The story is a flashback told from the perspective of Queen Elizabeth I. On her deathbed, she relates a story to a dear friend. A story that informed her adult life and helped shape her in the monarch she would become. The story tells of a Chess Tournament in Constantinople at the height of the Ottoman Empire. The Sultan has invited major kingdoms from around the world to send their best player to compete in this first ever chess tournament. The English champion in chosen and the Teacher of Elizabeth I convinces the King to allow him to bring her to the tournament. It would be dangerous, but she was third in line for the throne. She was in danger within the confines of her own city. Upon arrival to tournament, a murders begin to occur and the Sultan engages Elizabeth's teacher to use his deductive reasoning to find the killer. The reader follows the tournament while at the same time follow the investigation. We are introduced to many historical characters including Michelangelo and a young Ivan the Terrible to name a couple.
My Thoughts
I have decided to forgo my customary Good/Bad analysis to give my overall thoughts. In the end, I gave this 3.5 stars because I enjoyed the story. The mystery was interesting and was similar to the wonderful (and superior) The Hangman's Daughter. Criminal investigations set in the distant past are interesting as the story often relies of the characters cunning and deductive ability to solve cases. It is interesting to see a crime solved without modern instruments, databases and other modern conveniences.
While this story is considered Historical Fiction, diehard fans of the genre may not novel. It doesn't have the hallmarks of great HF. While some elements are clearly researched, it doesn't immerse the reader into a time and place. Fortunately, I am a fan of Matthew Reilly. Having read most of the authors work, it bears the hallmarks of Reilly novel. The pace is brisk, people are dying horrible deaths, there is some political intrigue and there are some larger than life characters. Similarly, the book also lacks what the other Reilly novels lack, i.e. character development and location development. Readers familiar with Reilly will probably like this genre diversion while HF fans may find the below standard fare. Reilly creates events and places real persons within them. There is far more fiction than History.
While reading the novel, my biggest issue was with some of the content included. At the end of the novel, as is all of his novels, there is an interview with the author. Reilly clearly states that this novel is not for young people. With this, I wholeheartedly agree. Fans will be surprised with the amount of sexual content in the story. The content ranges from second-hand descriptions of erotic rendezvous to disturbing content of abuse of children. Reilly states he included this content to provide a possible reason as to why Elizabeth I did not marry. While the reasoning is interesting, the content was excessive. It is expected that HF novels included customs and practices of the time and the story certainly explores the sexual freedoms of the people of the Ottoman empire, inducing the sale and exploitation of children. The author also take the opportunity to use the historical abuse of children in Catholic Church. Unfortunately, the author strays far from the historical record and seemingly paints the entire Catholic Priesthood as homosexual pedophiles. A fan of the genre, it is important to me that the author clearly differentiate fact from fiction. These contrived elements detract from the story.
The Matthew Reilly fan in me enjoyed the story. The pacing was brisk and the mystery did not slow or stall. The HF fan found this to be contrived and below the expected standard. Had the story been written by a new author, I may have given it less than 3 stars. Being a Reilly fan, I was able to appreciate his form of story telling because for all we know, the next Jack West Jr. story may reveal that Jack is the great, great, great, great grandson of Queen Elizabeth's teacher and we will think that he is one bad dude.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 4.5
The sexual content is high and may shock those who have read other Matthew Reilly work. Sex is prevalent in the book as there some exploration of the culture of sexual freedom in Constantinople and how this contested with the religious underpinnings of the city. In a seeming attempt to ensure that religions are treated equally, the same exploration of the Catholic religion is undertaken. Very early, we learn that Elizabeth's young friend and travel partner has "loose morals". A character oversees a sexual encounter that is moderately graphic. On at least three occasions, there is a second hand recounting of parties that involved drug uses and public sexual activity. There is less graphic descriptions of sexual abuse of children. The characters attend (for investigative purposes) on several occasions a the local whorehouse. There is some low graphic descriptions of the sights and sounds. While the content and descriptions are not highly graphic, the content is pervasive.
Language - 2.5
There is moderate to low use of mild obscenities and religious exclamations. There are multiple scatological terms and phrases used.
Violence - 3.5
There is considerably less violence than the average Reilly novel. While some of the murders involved mutilation, the descriptions were not graphic. By Reilly standards, the violence was very tame. The rating is increased because of the inclusion of sexual violence. Some readers will find the discussion of the abuse of children to be disturbing.
I am generally quite confident in my rating of book. I start formulating a rating halfway through. In this case, I vacillated greatly as I was reading this book and, ultimately, gave it a rating on the high end. In my rating system, three stars are average books that I neither hate nor love and usually feel indifference. If anything, The Tournament does not leave you feeling indifferent.
If, like me, you are a fan of Reilly's non stop action thrillers and his bigger than life heroes Shane "Scarecrow" Schofield and Jack West Jr., you are in for a big surprise with his latest work. Reilly is apparently channeling is inner Bernard Cornwell and delves into the historical Fiction genre. The result is a hybrid historical action adventure mystery focused around a chess tournament. Admittedly, this sounds a bit absurd but Reilly manages to pull it together.
Plot summary
The story is a flashback told from the perspective of Queen Elizabeth I. On her deathbed, she relates a story to a dear friend. A story that informed her adult life and helped shape her in the monarch she would become. The story tells of a Chess Tournament in Constantinople at the height of the Ottoman Empire. The Sultan has invited major kingdoms from around the world to send their best player to compete in this first ever chess tournament. The English champion in chosen and the Teacher of Elizabeth I convinces the King to allow him to bring her to the tournament. It would be dangerous, but she was third in line for the throne. She was in danger within the confines of her own city. Upon arrival to tournament, a murders begin to occur and the Sultan engages Elizabeth's teacher to use his deductive reasoning to find the killer. The reader follows the tournament while at the same time follow the investigation. We are introduced to many historical characters including Michelangelo and a young Ivan the Terrible to name a couple.
My Thoughts
I have decided to forgo my customary Good/Bad analysis to give my overall thoughts. In the end, I gave this 3.5 stars because I enjoyed the story. The mystery was interesting and was similar to the wonderful (and superior) The Hangman's Daughter. Criminal investigations set in the distant past are interesting as the story often relies of the characters cunning and deductive ability to solve cases. It is interesting to see a crime solved without modern instruments, databases and other modern conveniences.
While this story is considered Historical Fiction, diehard fans of the genre may not novel. It doesn't have the hallmarks of great HF. While some elements are clearly researched, it doesn't immerse the reader into a time and place. Fortunately, I am a fan of Matthew Reilly. Having read most of the authors work, it bears the hallmarks of Reilly novel. The pace is brisk, people are dying horrible deaths, there is some political intrigue and there are some larger than life characters. Similarly, the book also lacks what the other Reilly novels lack, i.e. character development and location development. Readers familiar with Reilly will probably like this genre diversion while HF fans may find the below standard fare. Reilly creates events and places real persons within them. There is far more fiction than History.
While reading the novel, my biggest issue was with some of the content included. At the end of the novel, as is all of his novels, there is an interview with the author. Reilly clearly states that this novel is not for young people. With this, I wholeheartedly agree. Fans will be surprised with the amount of sexual content in the story. The content ranges from second-hand descriptions of erotic rendezvous to disturbing content of abuse of children. Reilly states he included this content to provide a possible reason as to why Elizabeth I did not marry. While the reasoning is interesting, the content was excessive. It is expected that HF novels included customs and practices of the time and the story certainly explores the sexual freedoms of the people of the Ottoman empire, inducing the sale and exploitation of children. The author also take the opportunity to use the historical abuse of children in Catholic Church. Unfortunately, the author strays far from the historical record and seemingly paints the entire Catholic Priesthood as homosexual pedophiles. A fan of the genre, it is important to me that the author clearly differentiate fact from fiction. These contrived elements detract from the story.
The Matthew Reilly fan in me enjoyed the story. The pacing was brisk and the mystery did not slow or stall. The HF fan found this to be contrived and below the expected standard. Had the story been written by a new author, I may have given it less than 3 stars. Being a Reilly fan, I was able to appreciate his form of story telling because for all we know, the next Jack West Jr. story may reveal that Jack is the great, great, great, great grandson of Queen Elizabeth's teacher and we will think that he is one bad dude.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 4.5
The sexual content is high and may shock those who have read other Matthew Reilly work. Sex is prevalent in the book as there some exploration of the culture of sexual freedom in Constantinople and how this contested with the religious underpinnings of the city. In a seeming attempt to ensure that religions are treated equally, the same exploration of the Catholic religion is undertaken. Very early, we learn that Elizabeth's young friend and travel partner has "loose morals". A character oversees a sexual encounter that is moderately graphic. On at least three occasions, there is a second hand recounting of parties that involved drug uses and public sexual activity. There is less graphic descriptions of sexual abuse of children. The characters attend (for investigative purposes) on several occasions a the local whorehouse. There is some low graphic descriptions of the sights and sounds. While the content and descriptions are not highly graphic, the content is pervasive.
Language - 2.5
There is moderate to low use of mild obscenities and religious exclamations. There are multiple scatological terms and phrases used.
Violence - 3.5
There is considerably less violence than the average Reilly novel. While some of the murders involved mutilation, the descriptions were not graphic. By Reilly standards, the violence was very tame. The rating is increased because of the inclusion of sexual violence. Some readers will find the discussion of the abuse of children to be disturbing.
October 20, 2017
This may initially seem a really different area for Matthew Reilly to explore, however, he has often used historical research in interesting ways. This is pacy, entertaining and at times very bleak story telling.
December 1, 2013
I have not read Matthew Reilly's books before. I picked this one up because it looked different to his usual techno-thrillers, and because I'm partial to historical fiction anyway.
This is a good airport novel. I think, however, that Reilly might have been aiming for loftier heights, and didn't quite make it.
On its surface, the novel is a pretty standard whodunit. Set against the backdrop of an international chess tournament in Constantinople, esteemed teacher and investigator, Englishman Roger Ascham, is tasked by Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent with solving a murder. Ascham's pupil, Princess Elizabeth, future Queen of England, tags along and learns a few life lessons along the way.
Making Elizabeth the narrator of the story allows Reilly to delve into the sexual politics of sixteenth century Europe, and how they shaped the formidable woman that Elizabeth would become. It's a very interesting subject, but Reilly's conceit in making the experience recounted in this novel a defining moment in Elizabeth's life doesn't quite work in its execution.
Reilly's problem is not the violence but the sex. There is relatively little violence in the book. The murders, grisly as they are, mostly take place out of view. There are a few tense moments, but nothing surprising comes out of these. That's fine, because the focus is on solving the mystery. Also, Reilly clearly wanted a change from his usual subject matter, and one can't expect too many Black Hawk helicopters and RPGs in sixteenth century Constantinople.
The sex, on the other hand, is gratuitous. Every other chapter features an orgy of some sort. Some might find it titillating, but the sheer frequency of rather graphic descriptions of various sexual acts desensitized me to them. This is unhelpful to the story, as Reilly's intention is to shock. As repetitive as the sex scenes become, they are written in such a way as to scandalize the reader, never for any other purpose.
This problem is crystallized in the character of Elsie. Reilly has written Elsie so that it is impossible to view her any other way than as a teenage slut. Every night, she indulges herself at debauched parties, only to scurry back in the morning to regale the younger Elizabeth with her lascivious adventures. Such naively promiscuous people do exist, but Elsie is so loose and so foolish that she is nothing more than a dumb blonde caricature. She learns nothing, except at the end, in the most terrible way. Her sole purpose is to serve as an example to Elizabeth of how not to become Queen.
This, ultimately, is what made this unbelievable as a formative experience for Elizabeth. The novel is set in 1546, with Elizabeth aged 13. She may not have been especially worldly yet, but she would have known that her father, Henry VIII, had had her mother, Anne Boleyn, beheaded. In 1542, Henry had beheaded his fifth wife, Catherine Howard. He divorced his first and fourth wives, and his third wife died in childbirth. These were only the women he married, not to mention the countless women he bedded not so secretly, and the many rumored illegitimate children he fathered. If Elizabeth had needed an education in the cruelty of men, both toward women and in general, she needed look only to her own father's example. She would not have needed (nor would she have been permitted) to travel to a foreign land, particularly one with which most of Europe had recently been at war, to visit brothels and hear "I never believed this would happen to me" stories from her bimbo BFF.
That said, this is not a dull book. Character development aside, Reilly does provide a believable description of this world and its politics. An improbable number of historical figures apart from Elizabeth appear in this book, but a young Ivan the Terrible is fun, and Ascham has an interesting conversation about the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church with none other than Michelangelo and Ignatius Loyola. The inclusion of a stock Middle Eastern pimp character is regrettable, but otherwise Reilly writes about Islam more progressively than one might expect for a book of this genre. Constantinople is presented as a glittering metropolis in comparison to London's dank alleyways. Suleiman laments at the schism between the Sunni and Shia, and fears that the Islamic world would stagnate and be overtaken by the West. Now there's some historical meat to sink one's teeth into.
Still, it's a murder mystery, and you don't have to think about all the other stuff if you don't want to. If you can get past the sex (or if you happen to enjoy it), there's plenty of plot twists and skullduggery to keep you entertained for a long flight or a few idle nights in.
This is a good airport novel. I think, however, that Reilly might have been aiming for loftier heights, and didn't quite make it.
On its surface, the novel is a pretty standard whodunit. Set against the backdrop of an international chess tournament in Constantinople, esteemed teacher and investigator, Englishman Roger Ascham, is tasked by Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent with solving a murder. Ascham's pupil, Princess Elizabeth, future Queen of England, tags along and learns a few life lessons along the way.
Making Elizabeth the narrator of the story allows Reilly to delve into the sexual politics of sixteenth century Europe, and how they shaped the formidable woman that Elizabeth would become. It's a very interesting subject, but Reilly's conceit in making the experience recounted in this novel a defining moment in Elizabeth's life doesn't quite work in its execution.
Reilly's problem is not the violence but the sex. There is relatively little violence in the book. The murders, grisly as they are, mostly take place out of view. There are a few tense moments, but nothing surprising comes out of these. That's fine, because the focus is on solving the mystery. Also, Reilly clearly wanted a change from his usual subject matter, and one can't expect too many Black Hawk helicopters and RPGs in sixteenth century Constantinople.
The sex, on the other hand, is gratuitous. Every other chapter features an orgy of some sort. Some might find it titillating, but the sheer frequency of rather graphic descriptions of various sexual acts desensitized me to them. This is unhelpful to the story, as Reilly's intention is to shock. As repetitive as the sex scenes become, they are written in such a way as to scandalize the reader, never for any other purpose.
This problem is crystallized in the character of Elsie. Reilly has written Elsie so that it is impossible to view her any other way than as a teenage slut. Every night, she indulges herself at debauched parties, only to scurry back in the morning to regale the younger Elizabeth with her lascivious adventures. Such naively promiscuous people do exist, but Elsie is so loose and so foolish that she is nothing more than a dumb blonde caricature. She learns nothing, except at the end, in the most terrible way. Her sole purpose is to serve as an example to Elizabeth of how not to become Queen.
This, ultimately, is what made this unbelievable as a formative experience for Elizabeth. The novel is set in 1546, with Elizabeth aged 13. She may not have been especially worldly yet, but she would have known that her father, Henry VIII, had had her mother, Anne Boleyn, beheaded. In 1542, Henry had beheaded his fifth wife, Catherine Howard. He divorced his first and fourth wives, and his third wife died in childbirth. These were only the women he married, not to mention the countless women he bedded not so secretly, and the many rumored illegitimate children he fathered. If Elizabeth had needed an education in the cruelty of men, both toward women and in general, she needed look only to her own father's example. She would not have needed (nor would she have been permitted) to travel to a foreign land, particularly one with which most of Europe had recently been at war, to visit brothels and hear "I never believed this would happen to me" stories from her bimbo BFF.
That said, this is not a dull book. Character development aside, Reilly does provide a believable description of this world and its politics. An improbable number of historical figures apart from Elizabeth appear in this book, but a young Ivan the Terrible is fun, and Ascham has an interesting conversation about the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church with none other than Michelangelo and Ignatius Loyola. The inclusion of a stock Middle Eastern pimp character is regrettable, but otherwise Reilly writes about Islam more progressively than one might expect for a book of this genre. Constantinople is presented as a glittering metropolis in comparison to London's dank alleyways. Suleiman laments at the schism between the Sunni and Shia, and fears that the Islamic world would stagnate and be overtaken by the West. Now there's some historical meat to sink one's teeth into.
Still, it's a murder mystery, and you don't have to think about all the other stuff if you don't want to. If you can get past the sex (or if you happen to enjoy it), there's plenty of plot twists and skullduggery to keep you entertained for a long flight or a few idle nights in.
January 13, 2016
I really enjoyed the historical crime aspect of this novel. And I was impressed by the amount of research that seemed to be done to support the story. I was less impressed with the sex scenes which seemed rather unnecessary to the rest of the plot. This is my introduction to Matthew Reilly, though, and I will be seeking out others of his work. Overall, a good read.
December 20, 2013
Sometimes all you need is an entertaining easy read, that amuses and compels you by turn, and I think that is what The Tournament achieves in spades! This is a romp in the truest sense of the word, with its easy style, interesting manipulations of historical figures, and more than a touch of sauce about it. Reilly creates an imaginary world filled with richness, colour and vitality, centring on a chess tournament held in the realm of Constantinople, and believe me, I saw the word ‘chess’ in the blurb and thought instant snooze-fest: how wrong I was…
Centring on the young Elizabeth I, when she was a mere stripling of a teenager and way down the pecking order for the throne, she is taken on an adventure to foreign climes by her personal tutor, the enigmatic and charming Roger Ascham. The two enter into the distinctly alien world of Constantinople, accompanying a Mr Giles who is to take part in a champion of champions chess tournament hosted by the Sultan himself with the tournament peopled by a series of very recognisable figures from history, imaginatively gathered by Reilly in this one locale. Yes, there is a little manipulation of historical fact to achieve this- so any history purists look away now- but with the natural wit and brilliant set-ups that Reilly injects into these strange meetings it proves enormous fun. And soon there is a murder. And then more murders, and Elizabeth and Ascham, displaying his innate ability at psychological profiling and crime solving, find themselves in peril- it’s a hoot and at times a very sexy hoot at that. I would say that this book comes with a high ‘raunch-warning’ as Elizabeth’s travelling companion, the comely Elsie, embraces all aspects of this rich and sensual world with alarming regularity and in some detail- so be warned!
But joking aside, this is, beyond the very fun nature of it, a well-crafted book and kept those pages-a-turning. I loved the characterisation of Elizabeth in particular, and the way Reilly manipulates certain situations, so that with the knowledge we have of her, we can see how these experiences could have influenced her monarchy and personal character- in particular to her being unmarried, a skilful political and military tactician, and her general demeanour as queen. Likewise, I felt Reilly really captured the loyalty and intelligence of Roger Ascham, so pivotal throughout Elizabeth’s life, and loved the easy relationship between them. The characterisation generally was top-notch and really brought the more well-known participants in the story to life. As much as I thought the ‘chess’ element would bore me to tears, it was actually quite interesting, with Reilly inserting, at well paced junctures, little vignettes of chess history, that worked really rather well, in tandem with quotes from some of the protagonists themselves. The atmosphere and portrayal of location was colourful and rich, completely capturing for me, the grandeur and moneyed opulence of the Sultan’s palace, but not shying away from the less savoury goings-on, particularly in relation to the Roman Catholic embassy set within the palace grounds. Some things never change it would seem…
So to sum up, what fun The Tournament is! I fair raced through this enjoyable historical romp, with all its quirks, bloody murder and a bit of sauce. There’s enough recognisable historical detail to please most readers, and what Reilly manipulates plays well along the way, heightening the reader’s enjoyment of the book. An engaging and racy read to offset those dark winter nights…
Centring on the young Elizabeth I, when she was a mere stripling of a teenager and way down the pecking order for the throne, she is taken on an adventure to foreign climes by her personal tutor, the enigmatic and charming Roger Ascham. The two enter into the distinctly alien world of Constantinople, accompanying a Mr Giles who is to take part in a champion of champions chess tournament hosted by the Sultan himself with the tournament peopled by a series of very recognisable figures from history, imaginatively gathered by Reilly in this one locale. Yes, there is a little manipulation of historical fact to achieve this- so any history purists look away now- but with the natural wit and brilliant set-ups that Reilly injects into these strange meetings it proves enormous fun. And soon there is a murder. And then more murders, and Elizabeth and Ascham, displaying his innate ability at psychological profiling and crime solving, find themselves in peril- it’s a hoot and at times a very sexy hoot at that. I would say that this book comes with a high ‘raunch-warning’ as Elizabeth’s travelling companion, the comely Elsie, embraces all aspects of this rich and sensual world with alarming regularity and in some detail- so be warned!
But joking aside, this is, beyond the very fun nature of it, a well-crafted book and kept those pages-a-turning. I loved the characterisation of Elizabeth in particular, and the way Reilly manipulates certain situations, so that with the knowledge we have of her, we can see how these experiences could have influenced her monarchy and personal character- in particular to her being unmarried, a skilful political and military tactician, and her general demeanour as queen. Likewise, I felt Reilly really captured the loyalty and intelligence of Roger Ascham, so pivotal throughout Elizabeth’s life, and loved the easy relationship between them. The characterisation generally was top-notch and really brought the more well-known participants in the story to life. As much as I thought the ‘chess’ element would bore me to tears, it was actually quite interesting, with Reilly inserting, at well paced junctures, little vignettes of chess history, that worked really rather well, in tandem with quotes from some of the protagonists themselves. The atmosphere and portrayal of location was colourful and rich, completely capturing for me, the grandeur and moneyed opulence of the Sultan’s palace, but not shying away from the less savoury goings-on, particularly in relation to the Roman Catholic embassy set within the palace grounds. Some things never change it would seem…
So to sum up, what fun The Tournament is! I fair raced through this enjoyable historical romp, with all its quirks, bloody murder and a bit of sauce. There’s enough recognisable historical detail to please most readers, and what Reilly manipulates plays well along the way, heightening the reader’s enjoyment of the book. An engaging and racy read to offset those dark winter nights…
December 9, 2015
The Tournament by Matthew Reilly is a departure from his normal thrill filled and action packed adventures. Instead Reilly has taken a step back and written a historical mystery that will surprise and delight his fans as well as stake his claim as more than a shoot them up writer. The Tournament is sleek and smart and moves at such a smooth pace that the events will literally surprise you as they unfold. At the center of this tale is a very young Princess Elizabeth of England.
"...How I came to be such a woman-sexless and aloof with men, wary of courtiers and ambassadors, ruthless when dealing with enemies-was the result of many things, but above all of them rises one experience, one singular experience from my youth, a journey that I took in absolute secrecy. It was an event that I have not dared tell anyone about for fear that they would think me a fabulist. It is this experience that I wish to impart to you now..."
It is the year of 1546 and Suleiman the Magnificent, ruler and feared Sultan of the Ottoman Empire has issued an invitation to every King in Europe. An invitation that reads like a challenge.
"...You are invited to send your finest player to compete in a chess tournament to determine the champion of the known world..."
The English delegation, selected by King Henry VIII, is sent to the great city of Constantinople. They consist of servants and the English Champion, Gilbert Giles as well as his guide; Roger Ascham and his student, the Princess Elizabeth.
But along the way the delegation is set upon with tragedy and strange circumstance as one of their group falls ill. Poisoned. Soon Elizabeth and her brilliant teacher Ascham realize that the stakes are much higher than just a game of chess. As their eyes are opened to a whole new world in such a foreign land, they begin to understand that the tournament is not about chess but a symbolic show of world dominance by the Sultan. And when the butchered and dead bodies begin to rise to the surface, Ascham and the young Princess must solve the murders around them before they become the next victims. In this war between nations and religions and Kings.
I am a huge fan of Matthew Reilly's other novels, primarily the Scarecrow series. If you have read any of those, you know that they are edge of your seat, knuckle biting, hanging on for your life roller coaster rides of adventure and thrills. So it took a moment to get into the pace and the cadence Reilly set with The Tournament. But it was necessary. This is not a book with gadgets and explosions and firefights. Don't get me wrong though. There is plenty of action. But it is instead a novel of intrigue and palace politics as the young Princess Elizabeth finds herself in a place and world where her standing means nothing. Ascham is a brilliant man and a mystery solver the likes of which would have rivaled Sherlock Holmes. But even his brilliance must be tempered by the need not to offend his hosts. The Sultan and his court.
Reilly has done a terrific job of researching his subjects and his setting. We discover the hidden horrors and beauty of the 16th century Moslem world under the rule of Suleiman the Magnificent. For a young princess like Elizabeth, it is shocking to see the way the women of this world were treated and used. More so, the wanton excesses of the men in the Sultan's court when it came to the various women they used.
The Tournament is an exciting and smart novel. If you are not a Matthew Reilly fan, this one will make you one!
"...How I came to be such a woman-sexless and aloof with men, wary of courtiers and ambassadors, ruthless when dealing with enemies-was the result of many things, but above all of them rises one experience, one singular experience from my youth, a journey that I took in absolute secrecy. It was an event that I have not dared tell anyone about for fear that they would think me a fabulist. It is this experience that I wish to impart to you now..."
It is the year of 1546 and Suleiman the Magnificent, ruler and feared Sultan of the Ottoman Empire has issued an invitation to every King in Europe. An invitation that reads like a challenge.
"...You are invited to send your finest player to compete in a chess tournament to determine the champion of the known world..."
The English delegation, selected by King Henry VIII, is sent to the great city of Constantinople. They consist of servants and the English Champion, Gilbert Giles as well as his guide; Roger Ascham and his student, the Princess Elizabeth.
But along the way the delegation is set upon with tragedy and strange circumstance as one of their group falls ill. Poisoned. Soon Elizabeth and her brilliant teacher Ascham realize that the stakes are much higher than just a game of chess. As their eyes are opened to a whole new world in such a foreign land, they begin to understand that the tournament is not about chess but a symbolic show of world dominance by the Sultan. And when the butchered and dead bodies begin to rise to the surface, Ascham and the young Princess must solve the murders around them before they become the next victims. In this war between nations and religions and Kings.
I am a huge fan of Matthew Reilly's other novels, primarily the Scarecrow series. If you have read any of those, you know that they are edge of your seat, knuckle biting, hanging on for your life roller coaster rides of adventure and thrills. So it took a moment to get into the pace and the cadence Reilly set with The Tournament. But it was necessary. This is not a book with gadgets and explosions and firefights. Don't get me wrong though. There is plenty of action. But it is instead a novel of intrigue and palace politics as the young Princess Elizabeth finds herself in a place and world where her standing means nothing. Ascham is a brilliant man and a mystery solver the likes of which would have rivaled Sherlock Holmes. But even his brilliance must be tempered by the need not to offend his hosts. The Sultan and his court.
Reilly has done a terrific job of researching his subjects and his setting. We discover the hidden horrors and beauty of the 16th century Moslem world under the rule of Suleiman the Magnificent. For a young princess like Elizabeth, it is shocking to see the way the women of this world were treated and used. More so, the wanton excesses of the men in the Sultan's court when it came to the various women they used.
The Tournament is an exciting and smart novel. If you are not a Matthew Reilly fan, this one will make you one!
October 27, 2016
What a wonderful book to complete my 2016 challenge! I enjoyed it so much that I didn't notice how time flew by while listening to it (mostly at the gym on the treadmill, so that's a great thing!)
Lucy Gaskell is such a talented narrator, she brings Queen Elizabeth I to life, with colorful characters, murders mysteries, enchanting settings and some games of Chess. Some passages felt like talking to the modern audience, and/or showing in hindsight how QE the I learned her life lessons for the future of her rule and private matters, but it didn't subtract from my enjoyment of this tale. Loved it!
Lucy Gaskell is such a talented narrator, she brings Queen Elizabeth I to life, with colorful characters, murders mysteries, enchanting settings and some games of Chess. Some passages felt like talking to the modern audience, and/or showing in hindsight how QE the I learned her life lessons for the future of her rule and private matters, but it didn't subtract from my enjoyment of this tale. Loved it!
January 4, 2014
A very different book for Matt Reilly, more in the vein of The Name of the Rose. The young Princess Elizabeth I accompanies her tutor to a chess tournament in Constantinople, where a series of murders draw them into the investigation. Sexual politics, corruption and vice dominate the plot, illuminating the formation of the young Queen. Not what I was expecting, but an enjoyable historical mystery
May 1, 2016
There were about 6 or 7 people killed throughout and more than a few sexual crimes but the book was so lacking in tension or challenges to the main characters that I couldn't even bother.
I picked up this book at the exciting premise of a best-selling author I've never read before, and a mystery set in 16th century Constantinopole. The story coasted along like a ride on the gondola or the London Eye: you get to experience some pretty nice scenery but don't expect any gasps of wonder or enchantment, lest of all excitement.
Based on this book the author seems like a milder version of a Dan Brown-James Patterson incarnate; without the adrenaline-inducing plot but with more restraint on creative license. Which is good, cuz Reilly came across like he genuinely loves writing and not doing it primarily for commercial ends like Patterson.
So the idea replicates the template of historical-fiction mysteries featuring a clever historical figure (Roger Ascham in this case) being embroiled in a mystery during a centrepiece event.
Suleiman of the great Ottoman empire was holding the inaugural worldwide chess tournament (an event lost in the annals of history because of further events in the book). Ascham and his pupil, Bess (i.e. the future Elizabeth I) came to Constantinopole as part of the English entourage answering the invitation on behalf of King Henry VIII. By the first night a VIP guest was murdered in the Palace, the beginning of a series of other killings about to come even as Ascham was appointed to lead investigations. Why? Who? Would England winWorld Cup this international chess tournament, if only in books?
The mystery resembled real life in that it's haphazard and even amateurish at times, but it lacked the element of surprise and deductive satisfaction you'd normally find in good mystery stories.
Bess was a self-insert sort of narrator with no discernible personality while Ascham was given the infallible Holmes halo sans his character flaws. Baddies absolutely had no chance against English logic, chivalry and Kingsmen moves.
God do indeed Save the Queen, always.
I picked up this book at the exciting premise of a best-selling author I've never read before, and a mystery set in 16th century Constantinopole. The story coasted along like a ride on the gondola or the London Eye: you get to experience some pretty nice scenery but don't expect any gasps of wonder or enchantment, lest of all excitement.
Based on this book the author seems like a milder version of a Dan Brown-James Patterson incarnate; without the adrenaline-inducing plot but with more restraint on creative license. Which is good, cuz Reilly came across like he genuinely loves writing and not doing it primarily for commercial ends like Patterson.
So the idea replicates the template of historical-fiction mysteries featuring a clever historical figure (Roger Ascham in this case) being embroiled in a mystery during a centrepiece event.
Suleiman of the great Ottoman empire was holding the inaugural worldwide chess tournament (an event lost in the annals of history because of further events in the book). Ascham and his pupil, Bess (i.e. the future Elizabeth I) came to Constantinopole as part of the English entourage answering the invitation on behalf of King Henry VIII. By the first night a VIP guest was murdered in the Palace, the beginning of a series of other killings about to come even as Ascham was appointed to lead investigations. Why? Who? Would England win
The mystery resembled real life in that it's haphazard and even amateurish at times, but it lacked the element of surprise and deductive satisfaction you'd normally find in good mystery stories.
Bess was a self-insert sort of narrator with no discernible personality while Ascham was given the infallible Holmes halo sans his character flaws. Baddies absolutely had no chance against English logic, chivalry and Kingsmen moves.
God do indeed Save the Queen, always.
May 30, 2014
I remember really enjoying Ice Station and Contest when I read them in my younger years. They were so full of action and adventure, books that took me on a great ride. I was expecting something similar with The Tournament, but I was sorely disappointed.
I found this to be a very underwhelming read. I was never really caught up in the story, I actually became quite bored with it at times. The development of the murder mystery is pretty ridiculous, and not a fun kind of ridiculous, more of a 'really Matthew?' *rolls eyes* kind of ridiculous. Like finding a very unique footprint in the mud on several occasions. How convenient!
Also, a big issue for me was the way the dialogue is written. The Tournament is written as a first person recollection of past events, and there are sections of dialogue that make no sense or are just completely unrealistic. There is a lot of direct quoting when a character is relaying a prior conversation they have had. I found this annoying and often confusing, because people just don't talk like that. Just turn to page 130 and you will see what I'm talking about.
Other problems with this book include:
1) The very repetitive, overlong and seemingly irrelevant recounts of nymphomaniac Elsie's sexual adventures.
2) The 'just in case the reader didn't quite catch that' explanations of every step of the mystery through conversations between Ascham and Elisabeth.
3) The stereotypes: Featuring dumb slut Elsie, child molesting Cardinals (a lot of them/all of them?) and oppressive Muslims.
Despite all of its faults this book isn't all bad, it does have some redeeming qualities. I rather enjoyed the chess tournament backdrop of the story, I actually found it to be more intriguing than the murder mystery to be honest. There are also a select few interesting, although underdeveloped, characters who make the story more bearable.
Ultimately, I found this greatly disappointing. I am usually a fan of Reilly's work but The Tournament just doesn't live up to the standard of his previous writings.
I found this to be a very underwhelming read. I was never really caught up in the story, I actually became quite bored with it at times. The development of the murder mystery is pretty ridiculous, and not a fun kind of ridiculous, more of a 'really Matthew?' *rolls eyes* kind of ridiculous. Like finding a very unique footprint in the mud on several occasions. How convenient!
Also, a big issue for me was the way the dialogue is written. The Tournament is written as a first person recollection of past events, and there are sections of dialogue that make no sense or are just completely unrealistic. There is a lot of direct quoting when a character is relaying a prior conversation they have had. I found this annoying and often confusing, because people just don't talk like that. Just turn to page 130 and you will see what I'm talking about.
Other problems with this book include:
1) The very repetitive, overlong and seemingly irrelevant recounts of nymphomaniac Elsie's sexual adventures.
2) The 'just in case the reader didn't quite catch that' explanations of every step of the mystery through conversations between Ascham and Elisabeth.
3) The stereotypes: Featuring dumb slut Elsie, child molesting Cardinals (a lot of them/all of them?) and oppressive Muslims.
Despite all of its faults this book isn't all bad, it does have some redeeming qualities. I rather enjoyed the chess tournament backdrop of the story, I actually found it to be more intriguing than the murder mystery to be honest. There are also a select few interesting, although underdeveloped, characters who make the story more bearable.
Ultimately, I found this greatly disappointing. I am usually a fan of Reilly's work but The Tournament just doesn't live up to the standard of his previous writings.
July 10, 2017
This is nothing like Matthew Reilly's other books and like all the rest, I absolutely loved it. This guy genre hops like it's a morning stroll in the park. From a creepy and nerve wracking alien match to the death, to a modern action packed search for the seven wonders of the ancient world, to a murder mystery surrounding none other than Queen Elizabeth I: Matthew Reilly knows how to deliver some captivating fiction.
January 1, 2014
I thought this book was fun, but with more than a hint of intelligence in it. Matthew Reilly did his research and evidently maintains his knack for making simple yet intriguing characters. I loved the chess theme as well as the Turkish setting - anyone who's looking for an adventure in Constantinople should look here first. 4.25/5 stars.
November 29, 2020
This is the second book I've read by Matthew Reilly and I must say I adore he's way of writing. Even tough this book is very different from The great zoo of China, it's very entertaining and binge worthy stories. He describe the scenes and setting in such a way you can almost see it even if you never been there. This book gave me the same feeling of the world shutting down a bit when I'm reading.
February 24, 2021
Well researched and a tight paced, Action oack murder plot in front of a cool lokation, Constantinople at the height of ist glory.
Sadly, it feels quite xenophobic, with the main characters being the good and true guys from England, while everybody else is a cheater, betrayer, adulterer or worse.
Mr. Ascham puts Sherlock Holmes to shame, with the added Benefit of everybody loving him. Seriously, if you have Michelangelo compliment your protagonist in the story on how smart he is, you have an issue.
Serious amount of sexy times with detailed description, and of course the sex positive female gets raped and abused for it. This is like a slasher movie in that regard.
Sadly, it feels quite xenophobic, with the main characters being the good and true guys from England, while everybody else is a cheater, betrayer, adulterer or worse.
Mr. Ascham puts Sherlock Holmes to shame, with the added Benefit of everybody loving him. Seriously, if you have Michelangelo compliment your protagonist in the story on how smart he is, you have an issue.
Serious amount of sexy times with detailed description, and of course the sex positive female gets raped and abused for it. This is like a slasher movie in that regard.
January 26, 2014
Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic
ANALYSIS: Matthew Reilly is one of my favorite thriller writers; he's what one would refer to as brain candy. His books are filled with adorable, heroic characters, over-the-top & drawn-out action sequences and lastly memorable plots. His Shane Schofield series established his name and signature writing style. His second book "Temple" was a variant in his writing style that it featured a dual storyline and the second plotline was placed in the latter half of the sixteenth century. This was the only instance of Matthew Reilly ever writing a historical thriller until now that is.
With The Tournament, the author heads back to the sixteenth century however instead of the new world (in Temple), the story is set in continental Europe and the city of Istanbul. The protagonist for this remarkable story is none other Queen Elizabeth I however she is just a teenager and is guided by her remarkable tutor Roger Ascham. The story is told entirely from Elizabeth's POV except for the prologue and epilogue. The beauty of the plot is that it focuses on a chess tournament which is to be held in the city of Istanbul and is organized by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Suleiman the Magnificent. What starts out to be a simple chess tournament soon gets mired in conspiracy and murder as a catholic priest is found murdered brutally and Roger Ascham along with Bess (as Elizabeth is referred to) get embroiled in it. Following sixteen famed players and with quintessential Matthew Reilly plot twists, The Tournament is a book that will delight most of his fans and might win him some new ones as well.
What I liked about this book was that the author unabashedly sticks to his storytelling style and keeps the plot moving forward with an extremely rapid pace. The book has a multitude of famous characters and one doesn't need to be a European history expert to enjoy their interactions. Elizabeth as a character is rather subdued and often focuses on her mentor Roger Ascham who is presented with a strong Sherlockian vibe. He is a man of knowledge and rational behavior, often focusing on the details and science to formulate his answers and thoughts. He often steals the scenes as a worthy historical predecessor to Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary virtuoso. The author creates many situations that perhaps are his way of explaining how they molded Elizabeth's character and thought process thereby making her into the formidable monarch she eventually became.
The book’s main draw begins with the chess tournament when the famed sixteen players face-off against each other. To offset the tournament's excitement, there’s also the murder mystery, which is set among the court of the sultan. The author keeps the tension twisting with both story threads and the plot twists keep on coming ending in a solid climax that resolves both plot threads. While the story unfolds quite brutally, this book deals with some adult themes in regards to sexuality, sexual abuse and morality. I enjoyed this aspect of the story as previously the author has taken a PG-13 view with his stories. Lastly the author has also gives a major clue for a potential sequel story than can either be done in a short or longer form.
While this book was a runaway story with some clever twists to it, there are some points that might not make it an intellectual equal of "The Name Of The Rose". The author often injects modern twentieth and twenty-first century sensibilities into the characters and their views. While it was enjoyable to read the various fallacies about the Catholic Church and the Ottoman Empire. It's hardly believable that these characters would be able to formulate them. The author has indicated certain historical facts to substantiate his extrapolations and it will be up to the readers to decide how believable it all is. This point though doesn't detract anything from the story but is a sore point for all sticklers of historical accuracy especially when it comes to historical fiction dealing with famous real-life personalities. There’s also one character that seems to be set up for a horrendous fall and basically is included to make a point about why Elizabeth remained a virgin (allegedly). It will be up to the readers to see how this twist pans out. For me it was rather unsavory to say the least.
Overall I would say that this book is a typical Matthew Reilly thriller albeit set in the sixteenth century and in Constantinople (nee Istanbul) a city wherein the author hasn't set any of his previous stories. It also features various famous historical characters and it was quite fun to read their interactions as well as see their predilections. This book works wonderfully if read as a fun thriller with some interesting factoids about chess and historical characters/organizations. It is not a true account of history and therefore doesn't seek to adhere to standards of historical accuracy.
CONCLUSION: The Tournament is a fun book that is an excellent mix of historical thriller and murder mystery. While this book will certainly excite Matthew Reilly’s fans, for seasoned thriller and historical fiction readers, this book might fall flat entirely. This book should be taken for what it is, a fun thriller written by Matthew Reilly in his inimitable style. It entertains and makes the time fly.
February 7, 2015
Set in 1546, this is the fictional story of Queen Eliabeth I as a thirteen-year-old girl, long before she became queen, who goes on a journey with an English delegation to the glittering city of Constantinople. Suleimann the Magnificent, the feared Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, has issued an invitation to a chess tournament to every king in Europe.
The English delegation is led by Bess’s teacher, Roger Ascham, and his friend Mr Giles is selected as the best English chess player. But what starts out as a simple chess tournament becomes something much more when a guest is murdered on the opening night, and Ascham is ordered to find the killer.
This is a page-turning historical thriller that is written from the young Bess’ eyes, and through her innocence we see barbaric deaths, diplomatic treachery and depravity, all of which helps mould her opinions and view of the world, and it shows her awakening to the sexaul power politics of the day. It also possibly explains why she famously never married, and how she became the successful monarch she was. This is a wonderful book, with a great sense of place, some insights into the clash between Muslim and the Western world, and the game of chess becomes the perfect metaphrical vehicle for the real life games at play.
The English delegation is led by Bess’s teacher, Roger Ascham, and his friend Mr Giles is selected as the best English chess player. But what starts out as a simple chess tournament becomes something much more when a guest is murdered on the opening night, and Ascham is ordered to find the killer.
This is a page-turning historical thriller that is written from the young Bess’ eyes, and through her innocence we see barbaric deaths, diplomatic treachery and depravity, all of which helps mould her opinions and view of the world, and it shows her awakening to the sexaul power politics of the day. It also possibly explains why she famously never married, and how she became the successful monarch she was. This is a wonderful book, with a great sense of place, some insights into the clash between Muslim and the Western world, and the game of chess becomes the perfect metaphrical vehicle for the real life games at play.
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