Chess Dragon

by Vladimir Gandelman

The boy attached to the wheel chair is limited in his movements, but his mind does not have any limitations. This book has adventure, romance, international intrigue and gambling.

95 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 24, 2022

Reviews

[Tia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from a Goodreads Giveaway, but the following words and opinions expressed are solely my own.

After an accident leaves Nathan in a wheelchair it allows him to fill his brain with knowledge that eventually allows him to create a chess game that gives him fame and fortune. Of course, with fame and fortune, there's always the danger of someone wanting to steal it from you. Nina insinuates her way into his life, but is she out to get him or is she who she says she is?

I really liked this storyline and I think this would make a good movie or tv series. I can see how the action and intrigue could entice a watcher, and throwing in the romance perspective would be a bonus. I didn't like that a lot of the book is written as back-and-forth conversations and would have loved to see more of a story evolve. I did feel in such a short story the author made a lot happen but the length of the book made me feel like it was unlikely to happen as quickly as it did and easily as did for example .... the handing over of $10,000 for groceries to a basically unknown woman. I do think in a longer version of this book it could happen.

I think the author should shop this idea to tv or movie companies, or write a more evolved book because I definitely think that other people would truly enjoy this story.

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful snack-sized story. Enjoyed the development of Nathan and Nina's relationship, the peek into Nathan's ultra rich lifestyle and the mystery of Nina's backstory. Would've enjoyed more chess drama in the plot.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Goodreads. I was thrilled to win this Kindle ebook in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Krystal Butcher · Rating 1 out of 5]

felt like it was written in a way for elementary age kids, but the elements were too mature for that; it was just bad in all aspects. Had potential to be a fascinating and intriguing story, but clearly fell short of that.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful storyline and read

[Peggy Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of adeventure, romance and mystery. Unexpected ending. Very well written and enjoyable.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read!
Thanks to Goodreads for the kindle copy.

[Lavender]

Placeholder.

I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways.

[JL · Rating 1 out of 5]

#Goodreads Giveaway. Thank you to the author for a review copy.

Unfortunately, this book was simply not my cup of tea. It was tersely written, frenetically paced, and unrealistic--everything seems to go the protagonist's way. It didn't hurt that he seemed to have unlimited means of unknown origin (perhaps winnings from the variation of chess he invented, even though he insisted he didn't gamble).

This was not the book I thought I signed on for when I read the brief blurb. I thought I'd see a disabled young man highly skilled a a chesslike game, but though Nathan spent his teen years as a paraplegic, confined to a wheechair, a second accident unrealistically, miraculously cures his paralysis. That's not how it works, at least at this moment. Those of us with loved ones permanently disabled may undertstandably take umbrage, as though the author thought the protagonist might be too disabled to go through an interesting life.

Some aspects of this book seemed reminiscent of "Buckaroo Bonzai", but without that multitalented character's heart and charisma. Some might love this bit of a fairy tale, but it left me cold.