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angus_mckeogh's review
3.0
Was certainly considering two-stars for this one. Just marginal. But the overall premise earned an extra star despite the writing style being dry and passive. An alternate history of the discovery and settlement of the New World. Had many interesting avenues of thought and much about the absurdity and cruelty of religion. However his first book was much, much better.
dillybean's review against another edition
5.0
What if Vikings introduced iron and horses to the Americas almost 500 years before Columbus arrived? And then Columbus never returned? A fun and thought provoking what if scenario that shows the Inca arriving in Europe, their leader going on a grand odyssey towards forming an empire in the vein of Alexander the Great, Augustus, and Charlemagne.
motherofladybirds's review
2.0
An interesting alternative history. What would have happened if South America colonised Europe. Some humour in the reactions to the inquisition and religious customs. Read like a chronicle and I had to persevere, but it was interesting
em_w's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The book has an interesting concept however it didn't really have any character development which hindered my enjoyment. The only character development that we see is with Higuénamota and it’s only a surface level mention. I wish there was more of a connection between the characters and the world around them. There is a cursory mention of relationships (a marriage here, a kid there) but not much more than that. I would have loved to see Atahualpa’s relationship with his son Charles Atahualpa and his European wife and more of Higuénamota’s relationship with with King of France (I mean the woman nearly dies to to defend him for peet’s sake!)
The book does a good job chronicling what happens but it doesn’t really give you anything interpersonally to keep you invested in the main cast of characters.
The book does a good job chronicling what happens but it doesn’t really give you anything interpersonally to keep you invested in the main cast of characters.
Like I should have been saddened when Atahualpa was assassinated but since we weren’t given much to invest in him emotionally, it wasn’t really all that consequential. Though I think it really should have ended there… because the last half of the book with the Spanish novelist Miguel de Cervantes and the artist El Greco kinda detracts from the whole first 2/3 of the novel.
Their part leads to a rather anticlimactic ending and the novel did not gain much from their inclusion IMO. I would have liked it to either show the downfall of the Inca’s empire or show how this affects the future history instead of the ending we got.
Their part leads to a rather anticlimactic ending and the novel did not gain much from their inclusion IMO. I would have liked it to either show the downfall of the Inca’s empire or show how this affects the future history instead of the ending we got.
henrikhofgen's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
gakushu's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
saxonnefragile's review against another edition
2.0
C'est vraiment dommage que Binet soit historien de coeur. Le livre se présente sous la forme de 4 parties :
- la première raconte l'arrivée de vikings en Amérique, qui poursuive au Sud transmettant l'immunité face aux maladies aux peuples locaux, ainsi que le cheval et le fer.
- la deuxième se présente sous la forme du journal de Christophe Colomb
- la troisième est une chronique racontant l'arrivée des Incas en Europe
- la quatrième est le récit des aventures de Cervantès (oui celui là)
Loin d'être aussi fantaisiste qu'on pourrait l'espérer, Laurent Binet tente de respecter la prose des chronique de l'époque. Malheureusement, ça sonne faux. De plus, on retrouve les travers de l'uchronie classique, avec un texte surréférencé, qui tente de faire entrer le maximum de personnage historique.
Dommage, comme je l'ai dit que ce livre finisse par ressembler à une suite sans fin de grand hommes, qui fond des rencontres fortuites avec d'autres grands homme.
- la première raconte l'arrivée de vikings en Amérique, qui poursuive au Sud transmettant l'immunité face aux maladies aux peuples locaux, ainsi que le cheval et le fer.
- la deuxième se présente sous la forme du journal de Christophe Colomb
- la troisième est une chronique racontant l'arrivée des Incas en Europe
- la quatrième est le récit des aventures de Cervantès (oui celui là)
Loin d'être aussi fantaisiste qu'on pourrait l'espérer, Laurent Binet tente de respecter la prose des chronique de l'époque. Malheureusement, ça sonne faux. De plus, on retrouve les travers de l'uchronie classique, avec un texte surréférencé, qui tente de faire entrer le maximum de personnage historique.
Dommage, comme je l'ai dit que ce livre finisse par ressembler à une suite sans fin de grand hommes, qui fond des rencontres fortuites avec d'autres grands homme.
margamus's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0