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The Baroque Cycle (8 volume) #3
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Алхимия и герметика. «Королевское искусство» и «искусство королей». Загадочная наука, связавшая в прочную цепь магов и авантюристов, философов и чернокнижников. Алхимиков, то принимали как равных, то жгли на кострах Святой инквизиции. Перед вами – история одного из последних алхимиков Европы. История тайн и приключений, чудес и мистических открытий. Потрясающая интеллектуальная фэнтези, открывающая читателю новую грань таланта Нила Стивенсона!
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First published January 1, 2005
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About the author
Neal Stephenson
88 books28.7k followersNeal Stephenson is the author of Reamde, Anathem, and the three-volume historical epic the Baroque Cycle (Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World), as well as Cryptonomicon, The Diamond Age, Snow Crash, and Zodiac. He lives in Seattle, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
July 3, 2017
Still going strong. We have all the characters from the first two books plus a few entries that only deepen the sense of the world of Europe. In the previous two, we got to see a lot of England and then a massive amount of the Dutch world in the second, but this one focused mainly on the French.
Our favorite tease/spy lives her life as a fake noble (but not so fake that no one fails to realize it), but that's all right. It's the life of intrigue in Louis the Fourteenth's court. Truly fascinating.
We also return in full force to Daniel, and while everyone is older, the political intrigue is nevertheless as dangerous as ever with the new English king.
The immensity of detail is such that I'm thrown deep into the late sixteen hundreds without pause or breath and I feel like I'm getting one hell of an immersion. It's also so full of interesting plots and twists, going back fully into the anti-slavery angle even while whole parts of Christiandom want to enslave whole other parts of Christendom just because of their beliefs, it feels like an insane move to go any further or wider in scope when there's such dissension everywhere you look.
And then there's the science and the economics and the way that the perennially tapped nobles play the markets in order to regain their wealth. The science bits are always the most fascinating for me, but I have to be honest. The economics bits are pretty damn close to the top as a favorite.
Let me be clear: I read and loved Cryptonomicon which is like an Epic Economics treatise as well as a cryptography primer, so getting the early explorations of these same topics but within the frame of Europe during this time is a real treat. So much to learn!
I'm really impressed by these, and I've still got five more to go! What will happen next to my poor MCs? *cry*
Our favorite tease/spy lives her life as a fake noble (but not so fake that no one fails to realize it), but that's all right. It's the life of intrigue in Louis the Fourteenth's court. Truly fascinating.
We also return in full force to Daniel, and while everyone is older, the political intrigue is nevertheless as dangerous as ever with the new English king.
The immensity of detail is such that I'm thrown deep into the late sixteen hundreds without pause or breath and I feel like I'm getting one hell of an immersion. It's also so full of interesting plots and twists, going back fully into the anti-slavery angle even while whole parts of Christiandom want to enslave whole other parts of Christendom just because of their beliefs, it feels like an insane move to go any further or wider in scope when there's such dissension everywhere you look.
And then there's the science and the economics and the way that the perennially tapped nobles play the markets in order to regain their wealth. The science bits are always the most fascinating for me, but I have to be honest. The economics bits are pretty damn close to the top as a favorite.
Let me be clear: I read and loved Cryptonomicon which is like an Epic Economics treatise as well as a cryptography primer, so getting the early explorations of these same topics but within the frame of Europe during this time is a real treat. So much to learn!
I'm really impressed by these, and I've still got five more to go! What will happen next to my poor MCs? *cry*
July 2, 2018
"Even a well-made clock drifts, and must be re-set from time to time."
- Neal Stephenson, Odalisque
An odalisque was a chambermaid or a female attendant in a Turkish haram (seraglio), particularly the ladies in haram of the Ottoman sultan.
So, the book title references Eliza, who in book 2: King of the Vagabonds is rescued by "Half-Cock" Jack (King of the Vagabonds). Eliza in this book enters the world of European economics and spycraft. She rises from broker of the French nobility, eventually earning the title of Countess of Zeur. She also aids William of Orange as he prepares to invade England, gaining the added title of Duchess of Qqghlm. The book also brings us back to Daniel Waterhouse.
I personally missed Jack Shaftoe, but that was partially assisted because we were introduced to his brother Bob Shaftoe.
I've enjoyed Volume one. I'm a big fan of the Age of Enlightenment and was thrilled to experience of fictionalized Pepys, Newton, Leibniz, William of Orange, etc.
- Neal Stephenson, Odalisque
An odalisque was a chambermaid or a female attendant in a Turkish haram (seraglio), particularly the ladies in haram of the Ottoman sultan.
So, the book title references Eliza, who in book 2: King of the Vagabonds is rescued by "Half-Cock" Jack (King of the Vagabonds). Eliza in this book enters the world of European economics and spycraft. She rises from broker of the French nobility, eventually earning the title of Countess of Zeur. She also aids William of Orange as he prepares to invade England, gaining the added title of Duchess of Qqghlm. The book also brings us back to Daniel Waterhouse.
I personally missed Jack Shaftoe, but that was partially assisted because we were introduced to his brother Bob Shaftoe.
I've enjoyed Volume one. I'm a big fan of the Age of Enlightenment and was thrilled to experience of fictionalized Pepys, Newton, Leibniz, William of Orange, etc.
August 15, 2012
This is the third book in the eight-book Baroque Cycle, and also the third part of the first volume. So it involves a fair amount of tying together separate characters and story arcs introduced in the first two books, Quicksilver and King of the Vagabonds, which is mostly accomplished by having Eliza meet up with Daniel Waterhouse in England. (Jack Shaftoe does not appear at all in this book, though he is alluded to a few times by other characters. His brother, Bob, does make an appearance near the end, introducing a story arc of his own that intersects with those of Eliza and Daniel.)
Structurally, this book follows the latter part of King of the Vagabonds in switching back and forth between two geographically distant characters' points of view. Where in the second book it was Eliza and Jack, here it is Eliza and Daniel, who are much more similar in temperament and habit --- both are smart, cautious characters who observe, plan, and then act, rather than heedlessly throwing themselves into the thick of things. This makes for more suspense, and more sense that each narrative is building toward something, as opposed to just listing along from one episode to the next. But it also makes for fewer entertaining incidents, so if you really liked Jack's part of the last book, you might find yourself bored by this one.
Eliza by now is ensconced in King Louis IV's court at Versailles, where she has a sponsor of sort, the comte d'Avaux, whom she met in the previous book and who has gotten her a position as governess to the children of some noblewoman. That's only a pretext for her to be at Versailles, though, where she has several more important roles she keeps shrouded in varying degrees of secrecy. Nearest to the surface, she acts as personal finance manager to practically the entire court, most of whose members are nearing bankruptcy trying to maintain their households and wardrobes at a suitable level of opulence. Known to fewer people, she corresponds with d'Avaux, keeping him updated on what goes on at court; she also corresponds with the Natural Philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who has published his calculus. She uses a couple of different codes to write her letters; the letters she writes to d'Avaux are written in a simpler code that she anticipates will be broken by Dutch spies, who are her real audience for those missives. (D'Avaux, it was revealed in the last book, is working to undermine King Louis, but is not pro-Dutch either. I'm not 100% sure how much his agenda and Eliza's overlap, though I don't THINK he knows the Dutch are reading his correspondence ...) Anyway, at the highest level of secrecy, she's spying for William, the Prince of Orange, who intends to seize power in England.
And, reading that paragraph, you will start to see why I don't like the title of this installment in the Baroque Cycle. An odalisque is a woman whose defining feature is her idleness; she's kept by others to be idle, and beautiful, for them. Eliza, who has to be the one the title refers to, is dizzyingly active ALL THE TIME, simultaneously doing two or three incredibly difficult things, and making sure no one sees her doing them, at any given time. Stephenson might well have chosen the title ironically; that's the only way I can see it making any sense.
I mentioned that Daniel Waterhouse comes back into play in this book; he does, and when we meet him he has come into his own as a political power player. He's still a Fellow of the Royal Society, but he doesn't conduct any research of his own. Instead, he hangs around King James II's dwindling court, watching his doctors try to treat his advanced syphilis and talking with other people about what's going to happen next. He intercedes on behalf of his fellow Puritans, getting them released from jail whenever they get rounded up on suspicion of fomenting another rebellion (remember that in the first book, Daniel's father Drake was instrumental in bringing Oliver Cromwell to power, and was rewarded for this by having his head cut off once Charles II was restored to the throne). While he's watching and waiting, the Glorious Revolution happens around him. He knows he has played some role in bringing it about, but he mostly just wanders around dazed once it actually starts unfolding. Mostly, he tries to keep an eye on his friend Isaac Newton, who is going off the deep end, abandoning physics for some sort of esoteric metaphysics. His parts of the book, especially compared to Eliza's and especially toward the end, are anticlimactic.
Structurally, this book follows the latter part of King of the Vagabonds in switching back and forth between two geographically distant characters' points of view. Where in the second book it was Eliza and Jack, here it is Eliza and Daniel, who are much more similar in temperament and habit --- both are smart, cautious characters who observe, plan, and then act, rather than heedlessly throwing themselves into the thick of things. This makes for more suspense, and more sense that each narrative is building toward something, as opposed to just listing along from one episode to the next. But it also makes for fewer entertaining incidents, so if you really liked Jack's part of the last book, you might find yourself bored by this one.
Eliza by now is ensconced in King Louis IV's court at Versailles, where she has a sponsor of sort, the comte d'Avaux, whom she met in the previous book and who has gotten her a position as governess to the children of some noblewoman. That's only a pretext for her to be at Versailles, though, where she has several more important roles she keeps shrouded in varying degrees of secrecy. Nearest to the surface, she acts as personal finance manager to practically the entire court, most of whose members are nearing bankruptcy trying to maintain their households and wardrobes at a suitable level of opulence. Known to fewer people, she corresponds with d'Avaux, keeping him updated on what goes on at court; she also corresponds with the Natural Philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who has published his calculus. She uses a couple of different codes to write her letters; the letters she writes to d'Avaux are written in a simpler code that she anticipates will be broken by Dutch spies, who are her real audience for those missives. (D'Avaux, it was revealed in the last book, is working to undermine King Louis, but is not pro-Dutch either. I'm not 100% sure how much his agenda and Eliza's overlap, though I don't THINK he knows the Dutch are reading his correspondence ...) Anyway, at the highest level of secrecy, she's spying for William, the Prince of Orange, who intends to seize power in England.
And, reading that paragraph, you will start to see why I don't like the title of this installment in the Baroque Cycle. An odalisque is a woman whose defining feature is her idleness; she's kept by others to be idle, and beautiful, for them. Eliza, who has to be the one the title refers to, is dizzyingly active ALL THE TIME, simultaneously doing two or three incredibly difficult things, and making sure no one sees her doing them, at any given time. Stephenson might well have chosen the title ironically; that's the only way I can see it making any sense.
I mentioned that Daniel Waterhouse comes back into play in this book; he does, and when we meet him he has come into his own as a political power player. He's still a Fellow of the Royal Society, but he doesn't conduct any research of his own. Instead, he hangs around King James II's dwindling court, watching his doctors try to treat his advanced syphilis and talking with other people about what's going to happen next. He intercedes on behalf of his fellow Puritans, getting them released from jail whenever they get rounded up on suspicion of fomenting another rebellion (remember that in the first book, Daniel's father Drake was instrumental in bringing Oliver Cromwell to power, and was rewarded for this by having his head cut off once Charles II was restored to the throne). While he's watching and waiting, the Glorious Revolution happens around him. He knows he has played some role in bringing it about, but he mostly just wanders around dazed once it actually starts unfolding. Mostly, he tries to keep an eye on his friend Isaac Newton, who is going off the deep end, abandoning physics for some sort of esoteric metaphysics. His parts of the book, especially compared to Eliza's and especially toward the end, are anticlimactic.
March 29, 2013
Why do I keep reading these?
If I could just have a few hundred pages of Neal Stephenson talking about the history of science and currency without these characters I would be thrilled. Likewise if he could tell me a story about these characters in which I actually believe they have some agency, rather than just being pulled along by historical events that already happened.
If I could just have a few hundred pages of Neal Stephenson talking about the history of science and currency without these characters I would be thrilled. Likewise if he could tell me a story about these characters in which I actually believe they have some agency, rather than just being pulled along by historical events that already happened.
April 28, 2016
Well, the history is good, but it's not much of a novel or narrative really, is it? There are short passages where the author becomes a bit more excited though in general its quantity over quality.
I will read the remainng 5 books ... over the hopefully 40 remaining years of my life; I think I'm done with The Baroque Cycle for this decade, anyway.
I will read the remainng 5 books ... over the hopefully 40 remaining years of my life; I think I'm done with The Baroque Cycle for this decade, anyway.
August 25, 2020
Até pode ser muito interessante pelos acontecimentos descritos mas não cheguei bem a perceber qual era o objectivo desta história.
É certo que não li os volumes anteriores e talvez esteja aí o meu problema. Talvez este livro seja melhor apreciado tendo lido os outros.
É certo que não li os volumes anteriores e talvez esteja aí o meu problema. Talvez este livro seja melhor apreciado tendo lido os outros.
January 29, 2017
After reading and thoroughly enjoying Cryptonomicon I instantly dove into this book, hoping for, nay, expecting the same delightful experience. I'm sure that to some French and/or British historians and other learned persons steeped in the esoteric machinations of the Royal Families etc, this book is a delightful way to pass time. I will simply call it tedious. Lucid, satiric, verbose, and imaginative as well, but that is, of course, the very reason I started reading it to begin with. All the hallmarks of Neal Stephenson, buried in 20 pounds of make-up, wigs, and cravats, insufficiently illuminated by wavering tallow and plaque ridden pyres.
March 26, 2008
Like the others in this series, the plot and characters, don't really grab my attention, but the writing style is so entertaining, I read it anyway!
August 16, 2017
better than book 1, worse than book 2... i'll keep checking them out
April 26, 2022
Another long slog from NS.
October 9, 2023
Neal Stephenson continues his beautifully written, witty and informative historical cultural science-fictionish cycle of novels about Western Europe in the 17th century--featuring Daniel Waterstone (a Puritan who is also General Secretary of the Royal Society for Science, Gottfried Leibniz, Sir Isaac Newton, the various English and French kings and courts, as well as Willem of Orange and the irrepressible Eliza and the financial markets especially of Amsterdam.
Odalisque is #3 in the cycle--in my view perhaps not quite as stunning as its predecessors, Quicksilver and King of the Vagabonds, but still thoroughly enjoyable. Can there be a special "revolution" without violence--is a central question leading to the Glorious Revolution in England in 1688 in which the Dutch king Willem becomes the "William" of William and Mary, restoring Protestantism and the northern European nexus of the nascent bourgeois free enterprise system versus the French and Spanish systems, whereby we are given to the view that the Sun King used his over the top Palace of Versailles and its emphasis on nobility and high end clothing as an effective means of keeping his aristocrats occupied, poor, and not a threat to his further rule, but states that this "system" is ultimately defeated by a civil and commercially free bourgeois democracy.
But along the way, Stephenson satisfies richly our appetite for wit, irony, and desire to understand what was really happening (and why) in late 17th Century England, France and the Netherlands. Or at least what could have been happening in what may be the most outrageous possible interpretation of real historical events.
As perhaps a few examples:
Speaking of King Charles II's reign rowing back Cromwell's Puritans, restoring his version of Catholicism, and being openly in the pay of the King of France: "It had been--in other words--a reign. Charles II's reign. He was the King, he loved France and hated Puritans and was always long on mistresses and short on money, and nothing ever really changed...Whole sections had been taken over by the King's pack of semi-feral spaniels, who'd become inbred even by Royal standards and thus hare-brained even by Spaniel standards."
and
"In Amsterdam, they have investments instead of emotions...We could destroy all the treasures of the Classical world and they would not care; but if they hear bad news that touches the V.O.C. (Dutch East Indies Company), they are plunged into despair--or rather, the price of the stock falls, which amounts to the same thing."
As some examples of Stephenson's writing:
"He was not a handsome man: ...his nose stuck out like a beak, and in general he had the exhausting intensity of a trapped bird."
"The result of his lucubrations was classically French in that it did not square with reality but it was very beautiful, and logically coherent."
"A hill of water had piled up on the upstream side of the bridge and was finding its way through the arches like a panicked crowd trying to bolt from a burning theatre."
Finally, Stephenson quotes eminent writers of the era, such as Hobbes:
"For to accuse, requires less eloquence, such is man's nature, than to excuse; and condemnation, than absolution, more resembles justice."
All in all, it is such a great pleasure to read Stephenson one can only conclude one of his books by asking for a new offering--which thankfully came through the Confusion--next in the cycle.
Odalisque is #3 in the cycle--in my view perhaps not quite as stunning as its predecessors, Quicksilver and King of the Vagabonds, but still thoroughly enjoyable. Can there be a special "revolution" without violence--is a central question leading to the Glorious Revolution in England in 1688 in which the Dutch king Willem becomes the "William" of William and Mary, restoring Protestantism and the northern European nexus of the nascent bourgeois free enterprise system versus the French and Spanish systems, whereby we are given to the view that the Sun King used his over the top Palace of Versailles and its emphasis on nobility and high end clothing as an effective means of keeping his aristocrats occupied, poor, and not a threat to his further rule, but states that this "system" is ultimately defeated by a civil and commercially free bourgeois democracy.
But along the way, Stephenson satisfies richly our appetite for wit, irony, and desire to understand what was really happening (and why) in late 17th Century England, France and the Netherlands. Or at least what could have been happening in what may be the most outrageous possible interpretation of real historical events.
As perhaps a few examples:
Speaking of King Charles II's reign rowing back Cromwell's Puritans, restoring his version of Catholicism, and being openly in the pay of the King of France: "It had been--in other words--a reign. Charles II's reign. He was the King, he loved France and hated Puritans and was always long on mistresses and short on money, and nothing ever really changed...Whole sections had been taken over by the King's pack of semi-feral spaniels, who'd become inbred even by Royal standards and thus hare-brained even by Spaniel standards."
and
"In Amsterdam, they have investments instead of emotions...We could destroy all the treasures of the Classical world and they would not care; but if they hear bad news that touches the V.O.C. (Dutch East Indies Company), they are plunged into despair--or rather, the price of the stock falls, which amounts to the same thing."
As some examples of Stephenson's writing:
"He was not a handsome man: ...his nose stuck out like a beak, and in general he had the exhausting intensity of a trapped bird."
"The result of his lucubrations was classically French in that it did not square with reality but it was very beautiful, and logically coherent."
"A hill of water had piled up on the upstream side of the bridge and was finding its way through the arches like a panicked crowd trying to bolt from a burning theatre."
Finally, Stephenson quotes eminent writers of the era, such as Hobbes:
"For to accuse, requires less eloquence, such is man's nature, than to excuse; and condemnation, than absolution, more resembles justice."
All in all, it is such a great pleasure to read Stephenson one can only conclude one of his books by asking for a new offering--which thankfully came through the Confusion--next in the cycle.
March 25, 2023
This is probably the most plot-heavy book from the first volume of the Baroque Cycle, with many characters and plot lines from the first two books starting to weave together. This book certainly advances the plot and leaves the series on a hell of a cliffhanger, but it never quite matches the wonder of book one or the heart of book two. The evolution of Daniel as a character is becoming very apparent, and the gradual shift he experiences over the course of volume one has been such a joy to read. His character arc is one of the most realistic, convincing depictions of a man torn between to conflicting beliefs I’ve ever seen in print. Daniel Waterhouse is a character who sneaks up on you with subtle genuineness and connects with all readers; I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series holds in store.
August 15, 2017
fictionalized history of europe (actually netherlands england france and germania) during the 1680s. follows the exchange in amsterdam, the court of the sun king, the short lived reign of james ii, and continuing transformation of the scientific world. newton and leibniz struggle to explain gravity and thus the solar system. should science simply try to describe the universe (newton) or try to explain it (leibniz)? what place is left for god (and hence the catholic church) if science can explain the mechanics of the world, and even predict the future? in the 1600s, being able to predict where a planet would be in the future was viewed satanic sorcery among the religious, and an assault on free will among the rest. also the characters are very fun.
March 18, 2019
Finished this 3rd book in the series, I enjoyed the book that features things like espionage and science, cryptography, and political intrigue. The question I have, did people really care on this much sexually or is the sex gratuitous. But sex was more free and outrageous than classical, so perhaps the author was trying to depict this difference historically. So while I could have done with a bit less sexual detail, it does fit the time period. Interesting book. The book is rich in science details, features the Royal Society member in the English scientific community. Such characters as Isaac Newton and Liebniz. Its an interesting way to brush up on history.
October 29, 2019
This is amazing. For someone who enjoys history this is a pure gem, all the references, dates, impressive figures and sheer research that must've been poured in this book is astounding and something to cheer.
I must be honest: I am, taking into considertaion what could be percieved as "flaws" like the long paragraphs, exhaustive description of science terminology, endless minutiae of dates and persons and plots and concepts, a fervent follower of Stephenson's work. I admire the depth (maybe not present in all his fictional characters) that his stories have because for the themes to work they must be accompanied by a profound love for knowledge.
Anyway, I love this book and series.
I must be honest: I am, taking into considertaion what could be percieved as "flaws" like the long paragraphs, exhaustive description of science terminology, endless minutiae of dates and persons and plots and concepts, a fervent follower of Stephenson's work. I admire the depth (maybe not present in all his fictional characters) that his stories have because for the themes to work they must be accompanied by a profound love for knowledge.
Anyway, I love this book and series.
June 10, 2017
It's hard to praise the Baroque Cycle to high, maybe just as hard as it is to categorise, it's historic fiction, a little fantasy, adventure like Dumas and philosophical discussions about the nature of everything.
The marvel of it all is that Stephenson manages to hold it all together and even make it interesting, somehow the most outrageous plot developments seems reasonable.
The unabridged audible version is wonderful narrated, a joy to listen to.
On to "The Confusion" volume 4 and 5.
The marvel of it all is that Stephenson manages to hold it all together and even make it interesting, somehow the most outrageous plot developments seems reasonable.
The unabridged audible version is wonderful narrated, a joy to listen to.
On to "The Confusion" volume 4 and 5.
April 8, 2023
Continuation of the Baroque cycle, it continues the stories of some fun characters. The pseudo-history is quite compelling, if a little too detailed sometimes. It's nice to see scientific concepts and discovery mixed together with a tale of individuals.
I did set this book aside for a while because it was too winding.
I can see this series dragged and being "just too much", but this is one of the better volumes!
I did set this book aside for a while because it was too winding.
I can see this series dragged and being "just too much", but this is one of the better volumes!
August 17, 2017
The stories in Quicksilver and King of the Vagabonds begin to converge as characters begin desperate gambits to ensure that their preferred candidates sit upon the throne of England. Deviating from the style of the previous books, Odalisque combines traditional storytelling with with epistolary, journal entries, and a short play. Definitely the cleverest book of the series so far!
October 5, 2019
I preferred the middle book of the first volume. This was interesting historical fiction. I crossed-referenced some of the events with my history of Britain - death of Charles II, reign of James II, take over of William, Prince of Orange. I'm also curious of some of the events on the continent (Louis XIV move in to Germany, etc.), and will have to look in to those some time as well.
March 22, 2020
If you like history, and particularly the kind of history that explores fictional (but possible) ways all sorts of people cross paths, then this is the series for you. Third book of the first volume, and I think it was my favorite of the three, probably because the focus was on Eliza, and I find her duplicitous character (a mix of economics and politics as shaped through eroticism) very fun.
October 27, 2020
It's really good, although sometimes it goes on and on. This one features Eliza (and because we listened to the audio book they had a woman reading her letters, which was a really good choice) and Daniel. Half-cocked jack is off doing other things and I'm looking forward to reading the next book to catch up with him too.
March 8, 2022
Brilliantly wide ranging. Plots and subplots going left right and centre again. Too much to properly review and give it justice. It is breathtaking at times but also a bit slow at other times. This is an epic story in and epic cycle so I have no problem that the words and overly flowery descriptions sometimes gets the better of the author and editor.
June 4, 2017
I liked it. each book picks right up where the last one ended. they are all of a piece, so I won't be reviewing each one as much as the whole thing at the end. I'm digging it so far and doing a bit of supplemental reading on the side to brush up on my history of the late 1600.
January 16, 2021
Audio book. Book 3 of the Baroque Cycle. Liked it more than the second one because focus back to Daniel & the natural philosophers, with Eliza now in that world. Continue listening at some point. Not excited enough to do now
January 8, 2024
Read as part of my goal to read all the winners of the locus award for best science fiction.
Still interesting. The intrigues of what happens with Daniel, Eliza, the changing kings… it’s interesting to have this portion of history written about in this manner.
Still interesting. The intrigues of what happens with Daniel, Eliza, the changing kings… it’s interesting to have this portion of history written about in this manner.
July 19, 2024
Read book one & loathed it. I planned to get to this & I might someday...but for now, I'm logging it as ejected and awarding it one star based on my opinion of the preceding novel, which was too corny for my tastes.
April 27, 2018
Crispy Read.
If you have not read Neal Stephenson yet then you are missing out.
If you have not read Neal Stephenson yet then you are missing out.
January 4, 2019
The story continues with the perils of Eliza. The English monarchy is shaky. Who is William of Orange?
January 27, 2019
A very informative and entertaining read. On to the next novel(s) in The Baroque Cycle!
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