The Tournament

When I first started reading Matthew Reilly's, The Tournament, I wasn't sure I was going to like it, despite the fact it ticked so many interesting fiction boxes. First, it was historical fiction, which I adore. Second, it was set during the reign of Henry VIII - another positive. Third, it featured a young Elizabeth and her famous tutor, Roger Ascham, so was set on the margins of a period I've been researching in depth for over a year now. Lastly, a great deal of the action takes place in Constantinople – modern day Istanbul, a city I loved when I was lucky enough to visit it two years ago. All this was in the novel's favour. What initially worked against it for me was the extraordinarily modern language of the characters (Henry VIII's and other characters' use of the “f” word and other familiar contemporary expletives for example), the fact that though it's documented that Elizabeth, during her life and reign never went more than 100 miles from London, here she travels to Turkey. I also struggled with the way she was portrayed and her relationship with her father, never mind other characters in the story, which is very much at odds with the character historians and documented records portray. The historical leniency Reilly deployed, or rather, literary license he employed, in terms of clothing and places as well as modes of transport and inter-relationships, all really grated. I am not a purist by any means, but some of the scenes and characters - their dialogue, ideas that just didn't exist at the time or attitudes that were expressed that were so remote from the era almost had me putting the book down... except I didn't. Not only did I really like the very original idea of this fictitious chess tournament run by a proud sultan with an axe or scimitar to grind with his foreign royal peers, and putting young Bess in its midst, but Reilly is such a great storyteller, even when I was grinding my teeth and reminding myself that this was a novel first and foremost and forget the history (which is, arguably, a work of fiction anyhow), I was turning the pages and wanting to know what happened. What a craftsman, I kept thinking, what a damn fine lexical craftsman. I forgot my peeves and peevishness and simply enjoyed.Reilly's fabulation - that 13-year-old Elizabeth Tudor and her sex-crazed companion (Elise?) accompany Roger Ascham and an English chess champion to Constantinople to compete in a "world" tournament, along with two prudish chaperones - is a coming of age story for the future monarch (and in his Author's Note, Reilly explains that a great deal of what unfolds is meant to provide psychological context to make sense of decisions Elizabeth makes when she becomes queen - eg, remaining a virgin), as well as a murder mystery.Travelling to Constantinople poses its own dangers for the English group as they pass through villages, mountains and travel along unfamiliar roads, encountering friendship, hostility and a serious attempt to curtail their journey, but once in the city, the tension between rival religious and ethnic groups makes their trip to Constantinople seem like a walk in the bazaar. When bodies start appearing within the Topkapi Palace, Ascham is asked by the sultan to investigate and so, young Bess is exposed to a slice or slices (excuse the pun, which will become evident once you read the book) of life and a range of people that, with her privileged station, she might never have met.Smart, assured, and usually one step ahead of the culprit, Ascham not only exposes a corrupt and decadent city and ruler, but finds himself in a race against time to find the killer before he or she claims more victims, including the one person he really cares about.Fast-paced, able to balance action with more measured scenes and make chess fascinating even for non-players, Reilly has crafted an inventive and fun take on Tudor history. Far from putting it down, I was forever picking it up and ended up really enjoying this rollicking tale, even if it didn't always satisfy my non-purist historical fiction desires. I give it 3.5 stars. But sheesh, I give Reilly 4.5 for his fictive chutzpah. Wish I had it!

I'm a fan of Matthew Reilly and have enjoyed all his books. When I came on this site, I was looking for books to read that I could get from the library. This book popped up. I decided I'd give it a go and got the book from the library. When I started reading it, I simply couldn't put it down! It's one of the best books he's ever written and the most unusual, in a good way. It starts off in 1603 immediately following the death of Queen Elizabeth I, her closest friend/childhood playmate mourning her death. Her friend Gwinny tells us how just a week before her death, the Queen or Bess, as she was called as a child, recounts a tale that she has never told anyone. She knows she is dying so she tells Gwinny the tale and requests that if it pleases her, she may write about it for her. We jump back to the autumn of 1546. King Henry VIII is still alive, his children, Mary, Elizabeth and Edward, are 30, 13 and 9. One day, an invitation as well as a note from the King is given to Roger Ascham, Bess' primary tutor and mentor. On this invitation is a request from Suleiman the Magnificent, issuing an invite to each European head of state: He is holding a great chess tournament in Constantinople to see who has the world's best player. Each power is asked to send their best player to the ancient capital to participate in the tournament. The King's note for Ascham is a demand to seek out Mr. Gilbert Giles, who is the best chess player in England and send him immediately to the King. It so happens that Mr. Giles is a good friend of Ascham's. Mr. Giles proves that he still is the best and accepts the invitation. At this time, another bout of the plague breaks out. Ascham decides that it would be best if Bess goes with them, more to protect her from political enemies than the plague but also it would be a lesson in culture, religion and chess. She is allowed to take a friend with her. Bess chooses 17 year old Elsie to come along and not Gwinny. They set off, along the way encountering different people and danger. This doesn't compare to the danger that awaits them in Constantinople. Two days after they arrive, all hell breaks loose: a cardinal is brutally murdered during a banquet and Sultan Suleiman asks Ascham to investigate. Bess is drawn into the investigation not only because she needs to stay with her tutor at all times so he can protect her, but also she is the one who stumbles onto the body, but no one knows other than her tutor. What plays out is a story of violence, deception, political intrigue, sexual depravity, and the darkness that lives inside us all. It shows humanity at its worst but also at its best. The best is shown in the genuine love and affection Roger Ascham has for Bess and hers for him. It's also shown in the friendship and camaraderie between Giles, Ashcam, and Bess. This isn't for the faint of heart or those with a weak stomach. If you have one or both, I'd recommend skipping this book. Some of the situations are rough and descriptions of certain scenes are graphic. As for the rest, this is a fascinating story and well worth reading, especially if you like historical mysteries, intrigue and murder mixed with sex with real life figures participating in the story. We see everything first hand in the eyes of the precocious, intelligent Bess, her narration at times making you angry, cringe, sad, laugh, and root for the future queen as well as the intelligent yet formidable Roger Ascham. I loved it so much that I bought it! Great book!

Move over, Cornwell, Stockwin, Sidebottom and Iggulden and any other writers of historical dramas/fiction that are out there, a 'new kid' has firmly arrived on the street... Matthew Reilly has continued his blockbusting cinematic writing style of contemporary novels with his latest novel, The Tournament set in the Middle Ages.He has taken 13 year old Bess along on a journey, accompanying her teacher and Royal Court attendant, Roger Ascham, with Mr Giles, the latter, King Henry VIII's choice of representative in the worlds first Chess Championship to determine who truly is the best Chess player in the world......The Tournament is invitational only to be held in the Ottoman capital of Constantinople at the invite of 'His Exalted Majesty Suleiman The Magnificent, Caliph of the Sons and Daughters of Allah, Sultan Lord and Ruler of All That He Surveys".Thirteen year old Bess, if you haven't read the clue above, is the daughter of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII and will eventually rise to become Queen Elisabeth I of England. Ensconced in Hatfield House, away from Court she is under the tutelage of Roger Ascham a Cambridge Scholar and a firm believer that a good 'education' is not something to be trifled with, even if his methods sometimes bring down the wrath of the King!It would be difficult to review the story of this book without giving away many spoilers, so in broad terms only, Suleiman The Magnificent has issued invitations to the main and upcoming rulers of the day in all known Christendom. Contained within that invitation is a secret message and all are instructed to send their own chess champions along with a 'gift' for the Sultan.King Henry consults Ascham as to his friend and fellow Cambridge teacher, Gilbert Giles, as to whether he is 'the best chess player' in the land. Ascham confirms that it is his belief that he is, and so Gilkes, accompanied by Ascham, Bess and the Ponsonby's, chaperones for Bess, set off across Europe for Constantinople. Bess is also allowed to take a travelling companion and chooses Elsie Fitzgerald who around 5 years older than Bess and much more worldly, and a very interesting character, finds herself in a whole heap of trouble.However, notwithstanding Elsie's liaisons, there is much more trouble and intrigue in the Royal Palaces of Topkapi and Hagia Sophia in the heart of Constantinople. The city is being terrorised before the tournament by a murderer who once the murder has been committed , then skins the lower jaw of his victims leaving the skin, jawbone and teeth exposed and then leaves the bodies on display.On the opening night;s ceremony's Bess leaves the banquet hall to get a better view of a fireworks display and is met with the sight of Cardinal Farnese, an envoy accompanying the Holy See's player and an outspoken opponent of Allah and the Moslem faith, dead, in a courtyard pool, with a disfigured jaw!All in all there are 6 murders over the remaining pages and after the first The Sultan tasks Mr Ascham with finding the killer after hearing from Michaelangelo - did I mention that this book is sprinkled with many famous characters from history, yep Michaelangelo of Sistine Chapel and other famous works of arts and invention, and an old friend of Mr Ascham's - that he has some detective skills.That's all I can really tell you without giving the whole thing away, suffice it to say Mr Ascham does on more than one occasion come close to losing our future Queen in the most terrible of circumstances....Matthew Reilly writes big descriptive scenes, he lays it all out there like a cinema screen and you are visualizing these scenes in your minds eye as you race through this book and it does become a race as he writes so intelligently and with a fluidity that makes it difficult for you, the reader/ watcher, to stop turning pages. I should warn you though, that this book, like most of Mr Reilly's other published works, is not for the faint hearted. The descriptions of priests, and others, and their 'use' of young boys and others, could offend and there are, through Elsie Fitzgerald's descriptions, some 'racy' sexual encounters too.He has done some marvellous research both on Chess, and the period of history described, that he almost convinces you, like those fine authors mentioned in the opening paragraph and in their historical pieces, that the events unfolding in front of you, DID REALLY OCCUR. He weaves true events into the story line and informs us that even some of the maladies of our own time started even before the setting of this tome and continue to vex as now as they did then and we realise, that just maybe, there are no solutions to the ills of man and religion so long as 'faith' has followers and the predilections of the weak willed are covered up by their unswerving following and adherence to that 'faith'..This really is a marvellous read and your reading enjoyment will only be increased by adding this to your TBR pile, but when you start it, you wont be able to stop.At the end of the book Mr Reilly informs us of the material he used for reference and also reproduces an interesting interview he gave on the subject of the bookEditing for Kindle /iPad: 5 out of 5Reading Enjoyment: 5 out of 5Page length on kindle /iPad: Not given, but about 432 pages in lengthPlot: 5 out of 5Overall Rating: 5 out of 5Foot Note. If you want to get a taste, FOR FREE of Mr Reilly's writing and of Mr Roger Ascham then I recommend his little FREE prequel to the Tournament, Roger Ascham and the King's Lost Girl The whole thing is about 88 pages in length with only about 25 of them a very short and interesting tale of murder in Cambridge, introducing us to the analytical mind of Ascham.

I was happily surprised to find Mr Reilly had written more books since I last devoured him. Scarecrow, Jack West etc, and when books were made of paper lol A completely different type of hero, different point in time and place to his previous books. The Tournament, though gently styled, is so full of intrigue, it kept me reading late into the night, hence the 5 stars. I was expecting fast action, but found Mr Reilly had matured, no longer relying on blood and gung ho, I was pleasurably surprised to be sucked into a historical setting that poses possible causes for Queen Elizabeth's life choices. The book still has action, violence and cultural challenges that make you shiver. "Always pause before you criticise, and never unduly criticise one who has made an effort at something you yourself have not even attempted" This is a quote from the book that has stuck in my heart.

Great story, a bit of a departure from his usual tales, but still a quality read for fans and newcomers of author Matthew Reilly.

I like Mr Reilly's books, most are a breathtaking rampage with huge characters and fine plots. This one isn't - it's a historic whodunit set around a plausible but fictional event.It is well done and will probably prove to be a new area for him to explore.IF it had the "naughty bits" toned down a bit it would make excellent reading for younger readers, as it puts European history and Muslim history into context in a single timeframe.

Fantastic book I enjoyed very much.