BOOK CLUB TAKEOVER: Rebecca from 'itsrebecca'

Here are my thoughts… I LOVE hearing other people’s views and reviews on pretty much anything especially books! Some of my favourite reads are ones that have been suggested by other people. So thinking along those lines,’ The Book Club Takeover’ was born! Hopefully each week I will bring to you a post from one of my lovely and amazing fellow bloggers who will in turn share with you what their favourite book is, why they love it and a review. I hope you enjoy this feature as much as I do!

Hi all. My name is Rebecca of itsrebeccauk.blogspot.co.uk, and I jumped at the chance to take part in Gemma’s Book Club feature as I LOVE reading!

I mainly write my blog about beauty and lifestyle, and what it is like to be married to a member of the Royal Air Force, but in my spare time I have a real love for film and literature and I hope over time to incorporate this love into my blog as well.

I kept Gemma’s review style for this post so I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Thanks for having me Gemma J

Labyrinth by Kate Mosse

 

The Blurb

July 1209: in Carcassonne a seventeen-year-old girl is given a mysterious book by her father which he claims contains the secret of the true Grail. Although Alais cannot understand the strange words and symbols hidden within, she knows that her destiny lies in keeping the secret of the labyrinth safe...

July 2005: Alice Tanner discovers two skeletons in a forgotten cave in the French Pyrenees. Puzzled by the labyrinth symbol carved into the rock, she realises she’s disturbed something that was meant to remain hidden. Somehow, a like to a horrific past – her past – has been revealed.

The Review

 

First up, if you caught the televised version of this that was on a few months ago but haven’t read the book, then you NEED to read this because it is infinitely better. The TV series misses out such huge chunks of story and plot, and left me with a real misunderstanding of the story and I have actually read the book!!

 

Magic and mystery? Check! Men in armour? Check! Mean seductress? Check! Plucky young heroine? Double Check!! I knew this would be right up my street when my Nana recommended it to me; I am an absolute sucker for a historical novel.

If you have read any of dan Browns novels, you will be familiar with the popular storyline surrounding the ‘Holy Grail’. Kate Mosse’s ‘Labyrinth’ is a refreshing take on the idea and quest for the ‘Grail’, and I particularly enjoyed Mosse’s spin on what has become quite an almost over done plotline. Historical elements are heavily but easily weaved into this storyline, and the scenic descriptions are breathtaking. (Having read this novel I looked up Carcassonne and found Mosse’s description to be so effective that I what I had imagined was literally the real thing...Amazing!)

The plot weaves back and forth from Alice in modern day back to Alais in 1209; these two lead characters are clearly connected throughout the plot resulting in a really lovely flow to the story. Mosse’s cast are interesting and complex enough for you to really believe in them. All too often I read books where the characters are so 1D that they are utterly predictable but I really enjoyed the intricacy of these characters and I was gripped from the word go.

It’s tricky to offer a review without giving too much away, but I would definitely recommend this read if you are at all interested in history, and even if you are not I would still say give this a go! The story itself is so enthralling that you will pick up the historical elements as you go along and Mosse does a great job of explaining anything without being to patronising.

 

Kate Mosse has definitely become a favourite author of mine following this book. It is totally effortless to read and is a firm favourite of mine (my dog eared copy has been read about 3 times).

Thanks again Gemma for having me,

 

Rebecca x