[ZHJ]∎ Read Gratis Company of Liars a Novel of the Plague Karen Maitland 9780718153229 Books

Company of Liars a Novel of the Plague Karen Maitland 9780718153229 Books

Download As PDF : Company of Liars a Novel of the Plague Karen Maitland 9780718153229 Books

Company of Liars a Novel of the Plague Karen Maitland 9780718153229 Books

The Camelot, a peddler “of hopes and crossed finger,” sells faith in a bottle, false talismans and relics that bring hope to believers and doubters, carries a horrible scar where the nose and eye have been slashed in some long ago battle. The Camelot collects a rather motley group of ‘liars’ who are entertainers, generally, a man with mysterious collection including a ‘mermaid’, who does sleight-of-hand and shell game tricks, a young story teller with one arm as the wing of a swan, a puzzling couple of less than streetwise demeanor, a pair of minstrels from Italy, and a scary little girl who reads the future in her runes. Nothing is what it appears to be, and all have told lies, but these characters are gradually revealed as the skillfully plotted tale unfolds and unfolds, and unfolds upon itself, all the occasionally chilling scenes slinking toward the astounding revelations at the very end. Brace yourself, Reader, this company of liars is just what their name promises.


Tags : Company of Liars, a Novel of the Plague [Karen Maitland] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers.,Karen Maitland,Company of Liars, a Novel of the Plague,Michael Joseph,0718153227,2752801,Fiction,Historical,Historical fiction

Company of Liars a Novel of the Plague Karen Maitland 9780718153229 Books Reviews

To me, this book is epic in nature. I've read all the less than 4 star reviews and just am amazed at how some people reviewed this book in comparison to my take. Of course, "no telling for taste", but I found the book to be exciting and oh, so very well written. The ending has two astounding surprises. The whole reading experience was a wild ride through the middle ages. I will read all I can find from this author. If you enjoy reading this book just half as much as I did, it will be well worth your time.
This is a fascinating book on multiple levels. I liked it and disliked it at the same time, but I will say that I found it compelling and always looked forward to reading it. It is well written and interesting, although not always enjoyable. There are many twists and turns in the plot and that keeps the interest level high, but much of the subject matter is dark and at times unbelievable. Perhaps people during medieval times were more prone to believing in magic and mystical matters, but that element of this book was somewhat of a detractor for me. The characters were an interesting mix, covering a wide array of human frailties and dysfunctional relationships, thrown together for the sake of survival during a dark and dangerous time. All factors considered, this book is definitely worth reading and will hold your interest. Just be prepared for some dark topics.
Before I begin my review, I'd like to give a warning. This book is NOT for fundamentalist religious folk. Without giving things away, it features sexual relationships that fundamentalists shun. It's full of superstition, the supernatural, and spell-casting. Priests are depicted as the enemies, and the main characters have faltering faith, at best. This is a fantastic book, but I imagine there are people out there who are likely to take offense to the subject material, so in the interest of preventing more negative reviews on what is a great book, I make this warning.

I don't usually read this genre, but I'm starting to grow more attached to it thanks to books like this. The world that Maitland painted was (for me) very believable and intriguing. Even the inclusion of "magic" seemed to fit well within the context of the book.

I must admit that when I first started to read this book, I thought I wasn't going to enjoy it. The first chapter reads differently to the prologue (what comes with the free sample), and in my opinion was bordering on amateurish. But Maitland does such a fantastic job of keeping you turning the pages ("I'll read just one more section...") that I soon became intrigued with the story and its characters. Honestly I can't say I liked the main character, which is usually a deal-breaker, but I was won over.

As the description states, this book is set during the time of the Black Plague. The plague (or "Pestilence" as it's referred to in the book) serves as a constant threat for the main characters, and the cause of numerous obstacles, but it is not what the book is *about*. The book is strongly about the characters, their backgrounds, their personality conflicts, and their goals. In the same way "The Walking Dead" is not *about* zombies, Company of Liars is not *about* the plague.

Read this book if you like dark tales set in an realistically dirty and depressing environment, with a hint of the supernatural. The ending could have been stronger, which is why I docked a star, but this book is definitely worth a read.
This book shows the other side of the medieval age that has been overlooked by so many authors who regurgitate novels of royal families, fair maidens, and chivalrous knights. Those who enjoy these books should avoid this one as A Company of Liars portrays the life of the common man, warts and all. It is a dark time filled with shadows, both real and imagined. There are a few grisly scenarios not for the squeamish, but there is also a humble beauty of the human spirit. It is a story of survival, betrayal, and yet one of compassion. Not all the characters are likeable, but most have redeemable qualities. Readers may find themselves examining human frailty in a new light. A Company of Liars is also a real page-turner as the reader attempts to uncover the secret each character is hiding. Some are obvious, others are not. It ends brilliantly on a very dramatic note. This is the first book by Karen Maitland that I have read. Reading previous reviews it is considered by some as her best, however I will definitely read more off her novels.
The Camelot, a peddler “of hopes and crossed finger,” sells faith in a bottle, false talismans and relics that bring hope to believers and doubters, carries a horrible scar where the nose and eye have been slashed in some long ago battle. The Camelot collects a rather motley group of ‘liars’ who are entertainers, generally, a man with mysterious collection including a ‘mermaid’, who does sleight-of-hand and shell game tricks, a young story teller with one arm as the wing of a swan, a puzzling couple of less than streetwise demeanor, a pair of minstrels from Italy, and a scary little girl who reads the future in her runes. Nothing is what it appears to be, and all have told lies, but these characters are gradually revealed as the skillfully plotted tale unfolds and unfolds, and unfolds upon itself, all the occasionally chilling scenes slinking toward the astounding revelations at the very end. Brace yourself, Reader, this company of liars is just what their name promises.