Rate this book

Koningin Op Blote Voeten (2014)

by Ildefonso Falcones(Favorite Author)

3.78 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

902180932X (ISBN13: 9789021809328)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Luitingh-Sijthoff

review 1: Wow, what an incredible journey. An intriguing tale of deception, deceit, and corruption complete with love, devotion and betrayal. Any one who enjoys a little history with their sagas will love this. Anyone who enjoys a little drama with their history must read.For faint of heart regarding violence against women and rape, you may want to take a miss. I got tired of the constant rape and misfortune. The beginning of the book moves a little slow as the setting is presented. Once the story takes off, you'll not be able to put it down.
review 2: Having very much enjoyed Falcones’ earlier novel Cathedral of the Sea, I was disappointed to find that I really couldn't get through this one. The subject matter has great potential for an enjoyable and compelling read, ... morebut the author just hasn’t managed to carry it off. The story starts when a former Cuban slave arrives in Seville and ends up being welcomed into the local gypsy community. But this is not a good time for gypsies in Spain and soon after their persecution starts with a massive roundup. From then on the book becomes a swashbuckling romp with melodrama after melodrama and some clichéd and generally unconvincing dialogue. The author has researched his subject well and the historical detail I did find interesting. But the characters failed to draw me in and I simply didn’t care about any of them. I learnt a great deal about this turbulent period of Spanish history and much about gypsy life, but nevertheless found the narrative uninteresting. Romance, friendship, betrayal, music, dance, smuggling, cruelty and savagery – all the themes for an historical adventure are there (in abundance) but they failed to hold my attention and I ended up skim-reading. Just not one for me, I’m afraid. less

Download links for: Koningin op blote voeten

Advertising