Book Review: The Eight by Katherine Neville

I finished reading Katherine Neville's The Eight last night and I must say I went into it in the wrong state of mind. This is not a "light" read; this is a deep book that combines actual events in history with that of a fictional world. It features well known people such as Catherine the Great, Napoleon, William Blake and William Wordsworth. If you are a fan, as I am, of the "Adventure/Quest" genre this is for you. The cover of the new paperback version even claims if you enjoyed The Da Vinci Code you'll enjoy this. I did enjoy the Da Vinci Code, but Neville's book is much deeper. The Eight is a very complex and well-written book that deserves much credit. It is centered around a chess service belonging to Charlemagne that contains a secret formula, but to tell any more would be to give away the best part. Wonderful characters that a reader can relate to and root for. This is the first book I have read by Katherine Neville (and, appropriately enough, it was her debut novel). The book was first published in 1988, but is available now in a mass market paperback from Ballantine Books. It is definitely worth a read, but only if you are read to put your thinking cap on!