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patricksupertramp's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
moncoinlecture's review
3.0
3,5
Beaucoup aimé l'exercice de style et l'idée de l'uchronie, qui est jubilatoire. On parle d'une renaissance différente, disons! Ceci dit, j'ai été moins convaincue par la 4e partie. Et je suis drôlement contente de ne pas avoir lu la 4e!
Beaucoup aimé l'exercice de style et l'idée de l'uchronie, qui est jubilatoire. On parle d'une renaissance différente, disons! Ceci dit, j'ai été moins convaincue par la 4e partie. Et je suis drôlement contente de ne pas avoir lu la 4e!
emmay's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
dialhforhgai's review against another edition
4.0
“One thing was certain, however: life would not return to its old order.”
sevenlefts's review against another edition
3.0
What a great idea for a book. This novel turns the tables on ideas of exploration and colonialism by imagining that the Inca Empire sailed to Europe during the tumultuous 16th century and took over a "new world." Told in the form of sagas, chronicles and letters, it follows the Emperor Atahualpa as he uses religious and political turmoil to gain power over most of Europe.
I enjoyed the first parts of this book. The final part, which imagines Miguel de Cervantes' travels through this changed Europe, was much less engaging to me.
I enjoyed the first parts of this book. The final part, which imagines Miguel de Cervantes' travels through this changed Europe, was much less engaging to me.
werfer's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
fred312's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
karenjn's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
joebonnell's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
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
2.0
The concept of this book is fascinating: an alternative history where Vikings introduce iron, horses, and European diseases to Central and South Americas 400-500 years before Columbus arrives provides a fun domino effect of how history could have changed. However, the style of the writing made this book into a dense history text that drags through most of pages.
The characters are viewed through a historical perspective, meaning that the reader only receives a surface level view of their actual character. Because of this, there is no character growth and the story is not character driven.
It’s also difficult to say that the book is plot driven. The book follows a few people through their history, primarily Atahualpa, an Inca of royal blood, who is chased out of South America to Europe where he conquers Spain and Germany. All of this is just a string of events with no destination for the plot other than letting time tick past.
I did very much enjoy the hardships that Christopher Columbus endured. Knowing the evils he committed in real life, this was a fun revenge tale. I also enjoyed the comments on the religion of the nailed god (Christianity) showing how violent and hypocritical religion in general can be.
The characters are viewed through a historical perspective, meaning that the reader only receives a surface level view of their actual character. Because of this, there is no character growth and the story is not character driven.
It’s also difficult to say that the book is plot driven. The book follows a few people through their history, primarily Atahualpa, an Inca of royal blood, who is chased out of South America to Europe where he conquers Spain and Germany. All of this is just a string of events with no destination for the plot other than letting time tick past.
I did very much enjoy the hardships that Christopher Columbus endured. Knowing the evils he committed in real life, this was a fun revenge tale. I also enjoyed the comments on the religion of the nailed god (Christianity) showing how violent and hypocritical religion in general can be.
zikiriki's review
4.0
This was deeply imaginative and very thoughtfully done. It was a pleasure to read and although at times the side characters were harder to follow, the characters of Atahualpa and Higuénamota were such fun personalities to follow. The blend of fact and fiction was marvelously well done, I have never read a counterfactual novel before and absolutely enjoyed it.