The Fire - Katherine Neville

I promised a review of The Fire when I reviewed The Eight and here it is! This novel picks up 30 years after The Eight and is told in two narratives, one set in the 1820's and the other in the 1990's. When we first meet Alexandra, Xie, the daughter of Cat Velis and Alexander Solin, she is a 12 year old chess prodigy who lost an extremely important match due to Amaurosis Scacchistica, also known as Chess Blindness. She is given a second chance with a rematch opportunity in Russia but the game never takes place as her father is murdered after a startling discovery. 10 years later, Alexandra is summoned to her estranged mother's place in Colorado for a birthday party. When she arrives, she discovers that not only has her mother vanished but she left behind a complex series of clues, including a chessboard set up to mimic the last game Xie ever played. With the help of a cast of characters including her best friend, Key, her Basque boss, and some old favorites like Dr. Ladislaus Nim and Lily Rad. The story isn't as complex as The Eight, although that may have more to do with the fact that we now know what the Montglane Service is capable of and how dangerous it can be, but it is still enjoyable. It's fast paced and while it helps to have read The Eight, it isn't required. Although I didn't love this novel like I did The Eight, I was still entertained and would encourage you to read it.