I love historical fiction and was very much looking forward to a book set in 1492 when the Christian empire finally overtook the Muslim Moors. This is a period I don't know a lot about so was hoping to gain insights into this time in history. The book started off with the promise of that - the opening third is set in the Muslim court in Alhambra Palace with the last Sultan and his harem. There was a little bit about that time and place, but it quickly turned into a quest to get to an island that may or not exist.
I wasn't fond of the whole quest - lots of time at sea and a few chases on land as well - nor of the story that unfolds on the island. Too much like a very bad version of The Princess Bride with none of the wit, excitement or love between the characters.
The backdrop of the book is a story about a Bird King, a story that begins from a book from which the ending is missing and ends up being a story that the two characters have made up and told one another to help relieve boredom and escape the confines of the palace. Somehow it becomes real when they get to the island but the whole thing is somewhat confusing from that point on. I'm not a fan of fantasy and that's what this book ends up being.
I wasn't fond of the whole quest - lots of time at sea and a few chases on land as well - nor of the story that unfolds on the island. Too much like a very bad version of The Princess Bride with none of the wit, excitement or love between the characters.
The backdrop of the book is a story about a Bird King, a story that begins from a book from which the ending is missing and ends up being a story that the two characters have made up and told one another to help relieve boredom and escape the confines of the palace. Somehow it becomes real when they get to the island but the whole thing is somewhat confusing from that point on. I'm not a fan of fantasy and that's what this book ends up being.