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    The Tournament
    The Tournament
    The Tournament
    Audiobook9 hours

    The Tournament

    Written by Matthew Reilly

    Narrated by Katie Firth

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    “A complete success…action fans and PBS types can share their enthusiasm” (Booklist, starred review) when a young Queen Elizabeth I is thrust into a gripping game of deception and lust at the height of the Ottoman Empire in this edge-of-your-seat historical thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Great Zoo of China and Temple.

    The year is 1546, and Suleiman the Magnificent, the 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 consumed by royal duties in Henry VIII’s court.

    Yet on the opening night of the tournament, a powerful guest of the Sultan is murdered. Soon, barbaric deaths, diplomatic corruption, and unimaginable depravity—sexual and otherwise—unfold before Elizabeth’s 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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateJul 21, 2015
    ISBN9781442391307
    Author

    Matthew Reilly

    Matthew Reilly is the Australian-born author of bestselling novels Contest, Ice Station, Temple, Area 7, Scarecrow and Seven Ancient Wonders, which reached the Sunday Times top-ten bestseller list. He wrote his first two books while studying law at the University of New South Wales, and now writes full-time, producing novels and screenplays and creating television series. The author lives in Syndey.

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    Reviews for The Tournament

    3.5/5

    106 ratings18 reviews

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    • 4/5
      little slow at first but really good read the farther you get.
    • 5/5
      A young Queen Elizabeth, A mysterious Chess Tournament, and the exotic city of Constantinople combine for a fast paced and entertaining read.
    • 3/5
      I have been struggling with writing reviews lately and it’s making it hard for me to put into words what I thought about this book. So I am just going to let you know now, this is going to be a very short and probably bad review. I also want you to know that I enjoyed this book.Over the last year I’ve been hearing a lot about Matthew Reilly. Everyone says his books are amazing and everyone needs to read them. So when I won an ARC of The Tournament from Goodreads, I was beyond excited. As soon as I got the chance to pick this one up and read it, I did. It’s a good book, but I had such high expectations going into it that I was slightly disappointed.I think my biggest problem with this book is that it just wasn’t long enough. I felt like we didn’t go deep enough into the story. A lot of times I even forgot the story takes place in 1546. Although, that might be my fault. I used to read nothing but historical fiction and most of those books were big and had a lot of description that made it easier to imagine that time in history. There was also a character in this book that I just kept asking myself why they were even in the book. What was the point of that character? Once again, that might just be me. You might not feel the same way about that character.However, I did like the relationship between Elizabeth and Roger Ascham. Those two were by far the best part of the book. I loved Ascham. I also loved how addicting this book is. I was in a bit of a reading slump when I read it, but I still managed to read it in one sitting. I just didn’t want to put it down.Overall I enjoyed the book and will read more by this author. If you want a short, quick, and somewhat addicting historical fiction to read, pick this one up. It shouldn’t take you too long to read. :)
    • 3/5
      Matthew Reilly is a block-busting Australian author known for his larger than life, action-adventure novels, like Ice Station and Temple, however his latest offering, The Tournament, is a little different.Set in 1546, The Tournament is the story of young Bess (future Queen Elizabeth I) who flees the plague with her tutor Roger Ascham, to travel across Europe to Constantinople to attend a chess tournament. The tournament is being hosted by Suleiman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Lands of the Ottomans in order to determine the chess champion of the known world.Dignitaries and chess players from all empires are in attendance and what takes place on this journey will have repercussions for Bess for the rest of her life. They may even shape her beliefs and impact her rule when she ascends the throne.The Tournament reads like a medieval murder mystery, of which I've read plenty and tend to enjoy. I love reading fictional accounts of the life of Elizabeth I and this is the first I've read that focusses purely on her life as a youngster in her formative years.This is also the first book I've ever come across that contains a warning at the beginning. In the warning (written by the author himself), Reilly recommends that this book be read by mature readers [only] as it contains subject matter of an adult nature.In a time where sex sells and near naked bodies appear in advertisements, music and television everywhere, I admire Reilly for his firm beliefs about what is acceptable - and what is not - for young readers. The adult content mentioned is of a sexual nature, and involves sexual practices of the day not unfamiliar to historical fiction set in this time period, but I just can't help but respect Reilly for his stance. More authors should do the same.If you love chess you'll love The Tournament, but even someone as unfamiliar with the game as myself was not lost (or bored) by the game commentary. Essentially a crime novel, The Tournament kept me engaged and was a great read.
    • 5/5
      Very interesting and fascinating take on a young Queen Elizabeth.
    • 1/5
      Though I did read it to the end I think the story overall was dumb and juvenile. The characters were often caricatures, especially Elise who was totally out of sync with the mores of the times--more like an oversexed, rash modern day teen--and thoroughly unbelievable as the princess' coimpanion, to the extent that it was distracting. The mystery's structure was decent, and the historical environment interesting and uncommon, but the sex focus and descriptions totally gratuitous. A day wasted.
    • 3/5
      I have been struggling with writing reviews lately and it’s making it hard for me to put into words what I thought about this book. So I am just going to let you know now, this is going to be a very short and probably bad review. I also want you to know that I enjoyed this book.Over the last year I’ve been hearing a lot about Matthew Reilly. Everyone says his books are amazing and everyone needs to read them. So when I won an ARC of The Tournament from Goodreads, I was beyond excited. As soon as I got the chance to pick this one up and read it, I did. It’s a good book, but I had such high expectations going into it that I was slightly disappointed.I think my biggest problem with this book is that it just wasn’t long enough. I felt like we didn’t go deep enough into the story. A lot of times I even forgot the story takes place in 1546. Although, that might be my fault. I used to read nothing but historical fiction and most of those books were big and had a lot of description that made it easier to imagine that time in history. There was also a character in this book that I just kept asking myself why they were even in the book. What was the point of that character? Once again, that might just be me. You might not feel the same way about that character.However, I did like the relationship between Elizabeth and Roger Ascham. Those two were by far the best part of the book. I loved Ascham. I also loved how addicting this book is. I was in a bit of a reading slump when I read it, but I still managed to read it in one sitting. I just didn’t want to put it down.Overall I enjoyed the book and will read more by this author. If you want a short, quick, and somewhat addicting historical fiction to read, pick this one up. It shouldn’t take you too long to read. :)
    • 4/5
      Just about everyone has already commented how this novel is a departure for Matthew Reilly. It's still unmistakably a Matthew Reilly novel, but instead of a thriller, this is a mystery novel.

      Whilst this was an enjoyable novel, I can't rate it as highly as his others. The key to enjoying the change in Reilly's murder mystery cum chess tournament is to remember this is a mystery and not a thriller. Seriously, some of the reviews I've seen sound like they were expecting Scarecrow to time travel back at any moment and start shooting mutant monkeys, and were annoyed when that didn't happen.
    • 3/5
      I cannot find many good things to say about this book. It was written by Matthew Reilly, it was loosely about chess and there endth the good stuff. One star for the story, one for the author and one for a game of chess. Three stars because I love all other Matthew Reilly books I have read.
    • 1/5
      Shocking! Please Mr Reilly, go back to what you do best - fast paced, action packed novels that have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
    • 3/5
      I received an ARC copy through Goodreads.
      ---
      I had high hopes for this book and to be honest it was a bit of a let down.

      Sure, we got to see a handful of famous and infamous historical figures tossed into a chess tournament in the Ottoman Empire. But we didn't really get to know some of them as individuals before they were tossed aside once the introductions were done.

      The book certainly didn't shy away from the intense stuff (the carnal pleasures Elsie to the religious views of Muslims to punishments that we deem barbaric and harsh). While it tried to balance everything out, I felt there was a little too much carnal stuff.... to the point that some of the scenes Elsie described was a bit laughable to me since it was borderline ridiculous and over the top (yes I rolled my eyes a few times).

      Another thing, a meek Elizabeth? Sure.... I have a hard time imagining Elizabeth acting like she did for most of the book. Yes, while her curiosity and intelligence were there, it felt kind of flat and one dimensional.

      Also, I have an issue with the consistency of the book. At the tavern it seems the owner was speaking in Greek, and given the time period, I highly doubt Mrs. Ponsonby and Elsie would have been taught or were intelligent enough to converse or understand Greek. So how did Mrs. Ponsonby understand what the tavern owner was telling Elizabeth? And how did Elsie converse with other people in the palace?

      While this is an interesting book to read and pass time with, it was a little flat. It had a good mystery (who killed the Cardinal??) and lots of unpredictable twists and turns (who would have thought 1 action could lead to so many many deaths?).

      Overall, it was an OK book. Good for a quick read.
    • 4/5
      This is a fun little mystery novel set in the early years of the Renaissance. But if you're going into The Tournament expecting the typical over-the-top fast-paced Matthew Reilly novel, you might be disappointed. Not that it doesn't move at a good clip, but stylistically it's not in line with the Jack West Jr. or Scarecrow series.In The Tournament, we follow 13 year-old Bess (who in later years is better known as Queen Elizabeth I) as she travels to Constantinople with her world-renowned teacher Roger Ascham. The Sultan of the Ottoman Empire has requested that each ruler of the known world send a champion chess player to take part in the greatest tournament ever held.Unfortunately, not long after everyone arrives, a cardinal of the Catholic church is murdered and the Sultan asks Mr. Ascham to investigate the crime. This leads to more murders, political intrigue, and a lot of education for young Bess.If you've enjoyed Reilly's other books, I've no doubt you'll enjoy this one too.
    • 4/5
      The Tournament by Matthew Reilly is a departure from his normal thrill filled and action packed adventures. Instead Reilly has taken a step back and written a historical mystery that will surprise and delight his fans as well as stake his claim as more than a shoot them up writer. The Tournament is sleek and smart and moves at such a smooth pace that the events will literally surprise you as they unfold. At the center of this tale is a very young Princess Elizabeth of England."...How I came to be such a woman-sexless and aloof with men, wary of courtiers and ambassadors, ruthless when dealing with enemies-was the result of many things, but above all of them rises one experience, one singular experience from my youth, a journey that I took in absolute secrecy. It was an event that I have not dared tell anyone about for fear that they would think me a fabulist. It is this experience that I wish to impart to you now..."It is the year of 1546 and Suleiman the Magnificent, ruler and feared Sultan of the Ottoman Empire has issued an invitation to every King in Europe. An invitation that reads like a challenge."...You are invited to send your finest player to compete in a chess tournament to determine the champion of the known world..."The English delegation, selected by King Henry VIII, is sent to the great city of Constantinople. They consist of servants and the English Champion, Gilbert Giles as well as his guide; Roger Ascham and his student, the Princess Elizabeth. But along the way the delegation is set upon with tragedy and strange circumstance as one of their group falls ill. Poisoned. Soon Elizabeth and her brilliant teacher Ascham realize that the stakes are much higher than just a game of chess. As their eyes are opened to a whole new world in such a foreign land, they begin to understand that the tournament is not about chess but a symbolic show of world dominance by the Sultan. And when the butchered and dead bodies begin to rise to the surface, Ascham and the young Princess must solve the murders around them before they become the next victims. In this war between nations and religions and Kings.I am a huge fan of Matthew Reilly's other novels, primarily the Scarecrow series. If you have read any of those, you know that they are edge of your seat, knuckle biting, hanging on for your life roller coaster rides of adventure and thrills. So it took a moment to get into the pace and the cadence Reilly set with The Tournament. But it was necessary. This is not a book with gadgets and explosions and firefights. Don't get me wrong though. There is plenty of action. But it is instead a novel of intrigue and palace politics as the young Princess Elizabeth finds herself in a place and world where her standing means nothing. Ascham is a brilliant man and a mystery solver the likes of which would have rivaled Sherlock Holmes. But even his brilliance must be tempered by the need not to offend his hosts. The Sultan and his court.Reilly has done a terrific job of researching his subjects and his setting. We discover the hidden horrors and beauty of the 16th century Moslem world under the rule of Suleiman the Magnificent. For a young princess like Elizabeth, it is shocking to see the way the women of this world were treated and used. More so, the wanton excesses of the men in the Sultan's court when it came to the various women they used.The Tournament is an exciting and smart novel. If you are not a Matthew Reilly fan, this one will make you one!
    • 4/5
      Pretty great mystery, a lot of nice historical elements all sewn together and one or two great action sequences like I expect from a Reilly novel, but not too many because those would really throw off the tone of the book. Fun, but for me a little too heavy on the sex scenes. They made sense thematically and it wasn't really wasted time in the book, but you could also kind of just graze over those scenes and not really miss anything.
    • 5/5
      A very different style of writing for Matthew Reilly. This book uses historical people (Queen Elizabeth the first, as a small child). He has created a fictional setting to engage this well known monarchy to be involved in a murder mystery, surprisingly set at a chess tournament. It does contain very adult content, which also contains disturbing scenes, so I would only recommend this to those that can handle disturbing or distressing reading.
    • 4/5
      What if Elizabeth the first had an opportunity to go to Turkey as part of the retinue of a chess master with her tutor Roger Ascham and there help him solve a murder mystery.It's an interesting read. Features some fairly explicit sex and some situations that are unsuited to younger readers, and while Elizabeth is young in this this is not a young adult read. Interesting look at the time but the preaching about society at the time rang a little modern occasionally.
    • 2/5
      Let me start by saying Matthew Reilly is one of favourite authors and has been since I read Ice Station when it first came out. This book was a disappointment for me. This was less rollarcoaster more old lady tea room with a copy of fifty shades in the corner. I found his last series (The Jack West stories) went from being a fun rollicking adventure to being weighed down by its emphasis on historical justification and this one simply picked up where it left off.

      Two much intricate historical, but not factual, data, which makes it interesting as background but detracts from the moment...which is what I always thought Reilly was brilliant at, writing in the moment. The first time I read Ice station I felt like I was watching a movie, I could picture things so intently. This was like reading a crime novel that only had everyone guessing because it was set so long ago. Profiling, Sherlock Holmes like crime solving and the big reveal are all good but long established techniques, Just because the characters in the book have never encountered these things does not mean we the reader have not and cannot therefore be impressed as we are supposed to be, by the main characters deductions. The action scenes are descriptions of chess matches or sex scenes and during the entire book there is not one moment where any of the main characters seems in real danger. Compare this to his other books and the whole "No one is safe" mentality it is a let down. As for his assertion that this is for mature readers, that is down to the sex, as the book itself felt more like a childrens book than any others due to the age of the main character, and the limited intelligence and world knowledge of those in the time period. It's all wrapped up nicely in the end and never really gets going.

      Dont get me wrong I will buy his new book straight away, I just hope this one represents a different direction that is not followed in the future. Please follow me at @areadingmachine on twitter for giveaways and reviews



    • 4/5
      In 1546 Suleiman the Magnificent, ruler of the Ottoman Empire, invites the sovereigns of Europe to despatch their best chess player to Constantinople to participate in a world championship. Roger Ascham, tutor to Princess Elizabeth Tudor and a renowned scholar, leads the English delegation and he decides to take the 13 yr old princess with him. Once they arrive in Constantinople they discover a city of corruption, vice and violence. Once you have suspended enough disbelief to accept the idea that a potential heir to the English throne would've been allowed to travel so far out of the kingdom in the first place, 'The Tournament' is an enjoyable 16th century adventure story/murder mystery. The characters, both real and fictional, are well drawn and engaging. Overall, a very good read.