The Tournament

By: Matthew Reilly

Narrated by: Katie Firth

Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times best-selling author of Temple and The Great Zoo of China comes a gripping historical thriller featuring a young Queen Elizabeth I thrust into a web of treachery, power, and lust at the height of the Ottoman Empire.

The year is 1546, and Suleiman the Magnificent, the powerful and feared sultan of the Ottoman Empire, issues an invitation to every king in Europe: You are invited to send your finest player to compete in a chess tournament to determine the champion of the known world.

Thousands converge on Constantinople, including the English court's champion and his guide, the esteemed scholar Roger Ascham. Seeing a chance to enlighten the mind of a student, Ascham brings along Elizabeth Tudor, a brilliant young woman not yet thrust into royal duties.

Yet on the opening night of the tournament, a powerful guest of the sultan is murdered. Soon barbaric deaths, diplomatic treachery, and unimaginable depravity - sexual and otherwise - unfold before Elizabeth and Ascham's eyes. The pair soon realizes that the real chess game is being played within the court itself - and its most treacherous element is that a stranger in a strange land is only as safe as her host is gracious.

©2015 Karandon Entertainment, Pty. Ltd. All rights reserved. (P)2015 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

This story has all marks of a Masterpiece!

This is an historical novel that offers intrigue, suspense, mystery, betrayal, redemption and loyalty. It depicts an era where truth and honor are contrasted with debauchery and deceit. As always, the truth does prevail!

Great Narration

Fun and engaging mystery but extremely well read by the narrator. I believe it's a better book as an audible.

Meh

Not a bad story but not what I'd expect from Matthew Reilly. If you read his books because you love the scarecrow series I would pass this one up especially if your short on credits. Reader was good just didn't really like the book

One of the Best books this year!

I really enjoyed listening to The Tournament by Matthew Reilly! The plot and the setting of the story is wonderful and I had hard time restraining myself to finish the book versus listening to a little bit every day ! This is the first book from Matthew Reilly that I have listened to so I am anxious to read his other books in the hope that they are just as great!

The Tournament

Keeps the reader in the edge of their seat. Never a dull moment. Can't wait to read more of this writers books.

Entertaining

The voice actor did a a great job. The story was entertaining. I felt a few sayings or mannerisms were out of their time period but I could be wrong. But that is my only real complaint other than that a great story , time flew by as I listened intently.

Engaging Adventure

Well crafted combination of imagination, murder mystery, and travel log. Excellent narrator. Some language out of context for the era, i.e. "the leading edge" and psychiatric terms which did not appear in use before the 19th and 20th century. A bit more care with language and descriptors is required. Yes, I would read a sequel.

Don't Hesitate - Just Buy it Now!

What made the experience of listening to The Tournament the most enjoyable?

I've read the book before but was excited to have it in audio form. I was so glad that the narrator chosen did a fantastic job!

What other book might you compare The Tournament to and why?

I don't think I could compare it to other books. I'd probably compare it to the film Elizabeth (1998) starring Cate Blanchett. There's mystery and intrigue and murders to be solved in Elizabethan times, set in the Ottoman Empire.

Have you listened to any of Katie Firth’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not listened to other of Katie Firth's narrations, but I'll be checking them out now.

Any additional comments?

I love historical fiction and this is one of the best I've read. I'm really hoping that Audible will get more audiobooks of his and hope that he writes more historical fiction, since he's mainly an action novelist.

Well written and well narrated

What I like about Matthew Reilly's stories are the fast paced non-stop action. I kept waiting for some edge of your seat type action to take place. For awhile I thought maybe I might just return the book because my lust for action was not being met. I kept reading and the story, although still lacking the action I wanted was interesting enough to hold my attention. In the end, even though the reviews all said this was not the breakneck - hold on to your pants action some of us have become accustomed to with Matthew's stories - (obviously I did not pay attention to them) this was a good story worthy of my five stars. This is a well thought out, well written and entertaining story about a chess tournament and a who dun-it murder mystery. It does keep you wondering who the murderer was all the way up until the end. It is well worth the credit.

Interesting

Not your typical, fast-paced Matthew Reilly story, but still very interesting and a good read.