**** The Fates: A Novel
by Tino Georgiou
Edition: Paperback
Availability: Currently unavailable
77 of 99 people found the following review helpful:
The Return of the Great Romance Novel, February 25, 2008
Reading and reviewing early works by novice writers is at times a daunting task. When the writer is so obviously talented as is author Tino Georgiou, the task is easier. Does the novel engage interest from the first page? Are the characters readily identifiable by the third chapter? Is the time frame of the story visually reconstructed in a credible, well-researched manner? In the case to THE FATES the answer is a resounding 'yes', and yet to ignore problems in the execution of the novel would be a disservice to not only potential readers but to the receptive, learning author.
THE FATES is a heady romance set in ancient Greek times. The Greeks, under the leadership of Sir Nicholas Constinos, have taken over Karabey Palace in the realm of Turkey, a palace fraught with resentment from the long wars with Greece and form the fact that the Turks on whose land it stands are resentful of the occupiers. The clash of societies is brought to a head with the introduction of the once upper class Turkish family of the Baals in the form of the beautiful Leah Baal. The struggle between the two obviously love stricken couple of Nicholas and Leah form the wedge which drives the story in an near Shakespearean conflict between class, national pride, and honest love that seeks to change the world view by its own rules. Love, lust, revenge, sacrifice, and fidelity are all issues that rise from the steam of the love affair between the Greek Nicholas and the Turk Leah.
This is a very entertaining story, one that will please devotees of historical Romance novels. There are problems that the author should address. In transporting the reader to another time in history and maintaining the atmosphere of that period (obviously well researched, here), it is a major mistake to insert phrases as early as page 2 that read 'He was not handsome in the underweight model way so fashionable among men and women on television today'. That sort of jolt disturbs the historical flow of the story! Also choosing names for the characters that are obviously not from the time of the story is disconcerting, names such as 'Josh', 'Keith', 'Patrick', etc. And do we have any evidence that the courtly designators such as 'Sir' and 'Lady' and 'Dame' were used in this era? Yes, these are minor flaws and should not stop the eager reader from enjoying this romance novel. They are mentioned as thoughts for the novelist to consider in what appears will be a long line of novels of this type. New writers are fresh, malleable, and deserve nurturing: Tino Georgiou obviously has the talent that will take him far. Grady Harp, February 08 Comments (4) | Permalink | Most recent comment: Mar 26, 2008 6:46 AM PDT
Do you remember this review? He gave this book four stars even though it sounds so poorly written as to be amusing. Ancient Greeks named Josh and Keith?! Grady Harp believes those characters' names to be the product of an "obviously well researched" novel? From what I've read in discussions at Amazon U.K. this book seems to have had the dubious distinction of being plagiarized twice. It was originally written and published as "Wildsong" by Catherine Creel in 1996. Then it becane "Circe's Song" by K.G. Glaub, and finally, "The Fates" by Tino Georgiou. How sad to see one dishonest person duped by another.
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5 comments:
"This post has been removed by the author." Good grief, don't tell me that Marie M through one of her loony monikers has at last gained posting privileges on the HKAS. Say it isn't so!
No worry Stanley, that was me. I have mixed feelings about this issue and I couldn't edit the earlier comment. While I have no doubt that Grady is a shill and will review anything for anyone (glowingly of course), I do recall seeing in those threads somewhere that one of the posters had contacted GH via email about the alleged plagiarism issue and he took the review down after that. That being said, he still has a review up for the book on B&N, as does our illustrious leader Harriet Klausner.
Easiest way to muddle through it all is here, http://kgglaub.com/. Originally printed on the back of Circe's Song as the author's website he/she forgot to register the domain and someone took it over. It's almost as much fun as the DAM nonsense.
Stan,
I was greatly amused that 77 "people" were supposed to have found this review of Grady's to be helpful. We are to believe that between listening to recordings of classical music, watching interesting "little" foreign films, and gazing upon the newest art book of male nudes these people would want to read a romance novel? And a romance novel with a heterosexual couple as the love interest? Every single day that goes by it becomes more apparent that Grady Harp is voting for himself.
Well, we know Grady will review anything. That said, if the book's plagiarized, that's the author's problem, not Grady's. And wasn't it the same guy publishing the same book under different names and titles?
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