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Best known for his fast-paced contemporary thrillers, The Tournament is a real departure for Matthew Reilly.
Told by Queen Elizabeth I on her death-bed, the action of the book is set in 1546 when the young princess was only thirteen years old. She accompanies her tutor, Roger Ascham, to Constantinople to attend a chess tournament. Suleiman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, had issued an invitation to every king in Europe, ‘to determine the champion of the known world’.
Soon after th ...more
Told by Queen Elizabeth I on her death-bed, the action of the book is set in 1546 when the young princess was only thirteen years old. She accompanies her tutor, Roger Ascham, to Constantinople to attend a chess tournament. Suleiman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, had issued an invitation to every king in Europe, ‘to determine the champion of the known world’.
Soon after th ...more
I read this a couple of weeks ago, and really enjoyed it. A bit different to Matthew Reilly's other works.
There was a lot of sex in it, and it was quite graphic. I understand the reasoning behind it, but it was still rather gratuitous at times, especially since one of the characters was describing various parties (which were basically orgies) to another character. I felt that the sex could have been more alluded to than spelt out, and the second character's reaction described would have allowed ...more
There was a lot of sex in it, and it was quite graphic. I understand the reasoning behind it, but it was still rather gratuitous at times, especially since one of the characters was describing various parties (which were basically orgies) to another character. I felt that the sex could have been more alluded to than spelt out, and the second character's reaction described would have allowed ...more
Quite different to Mr Reilly's usual action fare but a very good & interesting historical murder mystery.
...more
I've read (and enjoyed) quite a few Matthew Reilly books. This one never made it as far as the TBR pile though, because although I enjoy his work the premise didn't really interest me. I don't care for chess, nor am I a big fan of historical fiction. I stumbled across it in a secondhand book sale and impulse bought it, and then because it was on the pile it had to be read.
And I'm glad I did.
The Tournament is the story of 13 year old Bess (you might have heard of her, she goes on to become Queen ...more
And I'm glad I did.
The Tournament is the story of 13 year old Bess (you might have heard of her, she goes on to become Queen ...more
interesting but not historically accurate. very much a Matthew riley book
Oct 30, 2013
Donna
marked it as to-read
Dec 08, 2013
Midnightrider
marked it as to-read
Feb 22, 2014
Penguin
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review of another edition
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Jul 07, 2015
Krista the Krazy Kataloguer
marked it as to-read
Aug 29, 2015
Hilde
marked it as wishlist
Apr 22, 2016
Victoriakor
marked it as to-read
Jan 02, 2024
Gaynor
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Aug 27, 2025
Catsalive
marked it as to-read
