brooklynreads01's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 ⭐️ **
I initially picked this book up as i did a major work on Napoleon in my last year of high school. I listened to this as an audiobook and think it was the best way to go for me! The only thing i knew before going into this book was that it was about Napoleon’s step-daughter and i feel like if i knew more than that i wouldn’t have picked it up as i think i was more interested in Napoleon and his reforms and the battles he was in rather than a historical fiction about his step-daughter with him playing a small role in the overall novel. In saying that it was still written well and a good audiobook to listen to. I enjoyed learning about after the French Revolution which I loved researching in school and the effects on people’s lives afterwards specially the repercussions and PTSD of the Guillotine. I found the characters relationships interesting and done well. I just don’t think historical fiction is for me ever though i love learning about history and you would think it would be a perfect genre for me but i found the book just mediocre and for me it lacked a strong plot. I don’t think this book was quite for me but it may be for you!
I initially picked this book up as i did a major work on Napoleon in my last year of high school. I listened to this as an audiobook and think it was the best way to go for me! The only thing i knew before going into this book was that it was about Napoleon’s step-daughter and i feel like if i knew more than that i wouldn’t have picked it up as i think i was more interested in Napoleon and his reforms and the battles he was in rather than a historical fiction about his step-daughter with him playing a small role in the overall novel. In saying that it was still written well and a good audiobook to listen to. I enjoyed learning about after the French Revolution which I loved researching in school and the effects on people’s lives afterwards specially the repercussions and PTSD of the Guillotine. I found the characters relationships interesting and done well. I just don’t think historical fiction is for me ever though i love learning about history and you would think it would be a perfect genre for me but i found the book just mediocre and for me it lacked a strong plot. I don’t think this book was quite for me but it may be for you!
sm_moon's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
arachnophobia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Sweet and easy read. Liked how the author didn't censor mensuration. The character behaviour felt accurate to the age the girls were. Liked how the ending was brought back to the main character being courageous. I wish the ghost plot had amounted to something.
damaris_anne's review against another edition
3.0
Sandra Gulland demonstrates a masterful grasp that she has on history in her book The Game of Hope. While some authors struggle to convince their audience that they are educated in history and to fully immerse their readers in their story, Gulland has no problem displaying her understanding of post-revolution France and therefore invites her readers into a well developed universe of Hortense de Beauharnais.
This book is well written for younger audiences of teenage girls, connecting them to the past with common issues that all preteen girls face in a timeless fashion. Gullard does not pump Hortense's 1780 mind full of 2017 ideas, which is a genuinely refreshing change to the typical YA historical novel. Gullard's form of writing was somewhat beneath what I would expect would appeal to young, preteen girls, opting for a more simple approach rather than a well-crafted literary route. However, for most preteen girls, this is still a wonderful introduction to history through the eyes of someone just like them, who truly lived, breathed, thought and felt in the same ways that they do.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book is well written for younger audiences of teenage girls, connecting them to the past with common issues that all preteen girls face in a timeless fashion. Gullard does not pump Hortense's 1780 mind full of 2017 ideas, which is a genuinely refreshing change to the typical YA historical novel. Gullard's form of writing was somewhat beneath what I would expect would appeal to young, preteen girls, opting for a more simple approach rather than a well-crafted literary route. However, for most preteen girls, this is still a wonderful introduction to history through the eyes of someone just like them, who truly lived, breathed, thought and felt in the same ways that they do.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
lightfoxing's review against another edition
Sandra Gulland's The Game of Hope is her YA debut, featuring Hortense Beauharnais, daughter of Josephine Bonaparte, and stepdaughter/future sister-in-law of Napoleon Bonaparte. Gulland cut her teeth writing her best-selling trilogy for adults about Josephine, so it seems fitting that her foray into YA should feature her daughter. She clearly has done incredible amounts of research, and she seems to remain as faithful as possible to history while identifying clearly in the end notes where she's deviated - I really respect that (and look for it!) in historical fiction.
The Game of Hope is pretty stellar. Hortense is likeable (maybe too perfect, sometimes, but sweet and easy to picture yourself as friends with), and so are most of the other characters. Even the unlikeable characters (like Caroline Bonaparte) are written in a way that you feel attached to them. That, in my opinion, is the mark of a good writer. I was HERE for sassy Caroline, let me tell you. I loved the cameos of historical figures like Mme Lenormand, which added a lot of colour and depth to the novel and provided interesting "Oh, I need to research that!" tangents. Also, I loved Mouse. LOVED Mouse. Really, all of the characters were written in an interesting and engaging way, although it had a pretty big cast Gulland infuses them all with quirks and personality, so it felt realistic.
The writing itself moved along quickly, mostly because of the very short chapters. Frequently, historical fiction is extremely slow and ponderous, and even though there's a bit of a skint plot, a lot still FEELS like it happens. However, regarding the plot, I do wish more had happened - and that it felt less like things simply happened to Hortense. I felt like she could have used more agency. While I understand that this can be difficult while writing historical fiction about women, especially young women in wealthy families, Hortense's musical ambitions, which we know come to fruition, felt as though they could have been spotlit more. Instead, Gulland chooses to focus on her romantic aspirations. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, because the object of Hortense's affections is so rarely in the same room as her, it occasionally felt a bit tired. I would have really liked to see Hortense strive more and engage more with the world outside her Institute in some way. I did feel I learned a lot, though, and I DID enjoy the book even though there seemed to be little in the way of plot or character development.
The Game of Hope is pretty stellar. Hortense is likeable (maybe too perfect, sometimes, but sweet and easy to picture yourself as friends with), and so are most of the other characters. Even the unlikeable characters (like Caroline Bonaparte) are written in a way that you feel attached to them. That, in my opinion, is the mark of a good writer. I was HERE for sassy Caroline, let me tell you. I loved the cameos of historical figures like Mme Lenormand, which added a lot of colour and depth to the novel and provided interesting "Oh, I need to research that!" tangents. Also, I loved Mouse. LOVED Mouse. Really, all of the characters were written in an interesting and engaging way, although it had a pretty big cast Gulland infuses them all with quirks and personality, so it felt realistic.
The writing itself moved along quickly, mostly because of the very short chapters. Frequently, historical fiction is extremely slow and ponderous, and even though there's a bit of a skint plot, a lot still FEELS like it happens. However, regarding the plot, I do wish more had happened - and that it felt less like things simply happened to Hortense. I felt like she could have used more agency. While I understand that this can be difficult while writing historical fiction about women, especially young women in wealthy families, Hortense's musical ambitions, which we know come to fruition, felt as though they could have been spotlit more. Instead, Gulland chooses to focus on her romantic aspirations. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, because the object of Hortense's affections is so rarely in the same room as her, it occasionally felt a bit tired. I would have really liked to see Hortense strive more and engage more with the world outside her Institute in some way. I did feel I learned a lot, though, and I DID enjoy the book even though there seemed to be little in the way of plot or character development.
just_cress's review against another edition
Dnf @ page 184
It was slow, nothing of import happened for like the first half and Hortense was just a whiny, pampered, annoying main character. I couldn't stand her or anyone else in this book for that matter.
Regardless, I was willing to finish this. Except reality caught up and I realised I was deluding myself into thinking so.
So Dnf, it is.
It was slow, nothing of import happened for like the first half and Hortense was just a whiny, pampered, annoying main character. I couldn't stand her or anyone else in this book for that matter.
Regardless, I was willing to finish this. Except reality caught up and I realised I was deluding myself into thinking so.
So Dnf, it is.
emilykatereads's review against another edition
3.0
The Game of Hope follows Hortense, stepdaughter of Napoleon, during his rise to power. This novel gives a look into the family's life and Hortense's life at school with her friends. We get a great look at France in 1800.
What this book did best was its historical accuracy. There was great detail, and obviously there's liberties taken to create the novel, but overall it remains quite true and keeps many facts accurate to history. Along with its accuracy, it was well-written and had many enjoyable parts of writing. Hortense develops so much over the book and we get a really complex look at the characters. I really appreciated the writing.
What this book didn't excel at, though, was it's storytelling and continuity. While we get great events from this time, we don't get much of an overarching story that I would expect from a novel. I understand that it's sticking true to the characters' events in real life, but I'd rather it a bit more fictionalized to create a polished story. Many of the storylines weren't wrapped up within the book, and characters were introduced never to be heard from again other than in the "Afterward." It felt really anticlimactic. Aspects that I felt the book had been leading up to were never even included in the story. Reading all this concluding details in the Afterward felt like a big cop out. After 350 pages of detailed life of Hortense, all the storylines were suddenly wrapped up in like 5 pages. I feel the book just ended, it didn't conclude.
Along with the story, I never really connected with the characters. I appreciated how developed everything was and the detail in the writing, but it felt like there was just a disconnect between the words and me having any emotional reaction.
Would I recommend this book? Depends on what you're looking for. If you're looking to learn more about this time period, absoutely, I was 100% recommend this book because it's a strong historical novel. However, if you're looking for an overarching story, this might not be for you.
Review can also be found on my blog: https://emilykatereads.wordpress.com/2018/06/26/the-game-of-hope-review/
What this book did best was its historical accuracy. There was great detail, and obviously there's liberties taken to create the novel, but overall it remains quite true and keeps many facts accurate to history. Along with its accuracy, it was well-written and had many enjoyable parts of writing. Hortense develops so much over the book and we get a really complex look at the characters. I really appreciated the writing.
What this book didn't excel at, though, was it's storytelling and continuity. While we get great events from this time, we don't get much of an overarching story that I would expect from a novel. I understand that it's sticking true to the characters' events in real life, but I'd rather it a bit more fictionalized to create a polished story. Many of the storylines weren't wrapped up within the book, and characters were introduced never to be heard from again other than in the "Afterward." It felt really anticlimactic. Aspects that I felt the book had been leading up to were never even included in the story. Reading all this concluding details in the Afterward felt like a big cop out. After 350 pages of detailed life of Hortense, all the storylines were suddenly wrapped up in like 5 pages. I feel the book just ended, it didn't conclude.
Along with the story, I never really connected with the characters. I appreciated how developed everything was and the detail in the writing, but it felt like there was just a disconnect between the words and me having any emotional reaction.
Would I recommend this book? Depends on what you're looking for. If you're looking to learn more about this time period, absoutely, I was 100% recommend this book because it's a strong historical novel. However, if you're looking for an overarching story, this might not be for you.
Review can also be found on my blog: https://emilykatereads.wordpress.com/2018/06/26/the-game-of-hope-review/
flowers_and_cows's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
When I first picked up this book, I wasn't too sure about it, but I ended liking it more than I thought I would!
The storytelling in the book was good; especially since a lot of historical information was used. The author did a good job of writing the characters' dialog that matches with the time period, but not so old that it was difficult to read/understand. I also really liked that at the end of the book, the author included where they strayed from facts.
Overall, the book is a bit boring, but that might just be my bias since I'm not super into historical books. I do wish the book was a little longer. The ending felt unfinished. The epilogue was nice to have, and reading the futures of some of the characters seemed like they would have been more of an interesting ream imo.
The storytelling in the book was good; especially since a lot of historical information was used. The author did a good job of writing the characters' dialog that matches with the time period, but not so old that it was difficult to read/understand. I also really liked that at the end of the book, the author included where they strayed from facts.
Overall, the book is a bit boring, but that might just be my bias since I'm not super into historical books. I do wish the book was a little longer. The ending felt unfinished. The epilogue was nice to have, and reading the futures of some of the characters seemed like they would have been more of an interesting ream imo.
tjlcody's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent.
I've been looking forward to this book, and I have to say, it delivered everything I hoped it would.
It was a well-rounded picture of the historical period in France, a good insight into the politics going on with Napoleon AND the situation with Josephine and his family, and a wonderful story about Hortense and her life.
I also greatly appreciated that the author clarified at the end that yes, some things in the book are historically inaccurate, it was to help the story flow better and not bog it down with too many people and side-stories. Probably the best reason for not being 100% historically accurate in a book that I've ever seen.
I've been looking forward to this book, and I have to say, it delivered everything I hoped it would.
It was a well-rounded picture of the historical period in France, a good insight into the politics going on with Napoleon AND the situation with Josephine and his family, and a wonderful story about Hortense and her life.
I also greatly appreciated that the author clarified at the end that yes, some things in the book are historically inaccurate, it was to help the story flow better and not bog it down with too many people and side-stories. Probably the best reason for not being 100% historically accurate in a book that I've ever seen.
charisegrace's review against another edition
4.0
Hortense is young woman about to cross the line from being a girl in the classroom to a woman and being viewed as marriage prospect. She's intelligent but feels she should downplay it to appear more attractive to men, she wants to be mature but finds it hard not to be swayed completely by her emotions.
From this book I learnt a lot about the period of history straight after the French Revolution and I didn't mind that is was being told from the perspective of more of a side character. However I found the ending disappointing, especially how it relates to the title word of 'hope'. I looked up the history of the real person Hortense and there really wasn't a lot of things to be hopeful or happy about in her future. I wish the book had included an epilogue explaining how the characters lives continued. In the end if felt like this book covered the first hill of Hortense's life while the mountain ranges of moral complexities in her future were just ignored.
From this book I learnt a lot about the period of history straight after the French Revolution and I didn't mind that is was being told from the perspective of more of a side character. However I found the ending disappointing, especially how it relates to the title word of 'hope'. I looked up the history of the real person Hortense and there really wasn't a lot of things to be hopeful or happy about in her future. I wish the book had included an epilogue explaining how the characters lives continued. In the end if felt like this book covered the first hill of Hortense's life while the mountain ranges of moral complexities in her future were just ignored.