as always, Victoria hislop does not disappoint. A thrilling Romantic story that will bring the Greek scenery to life.

I always look forward to a new Victoria Hislop. The books are easy to read but are well researched. I have learnt so much about the history of Greece and the people from her books. She isn’t afraid to describe things as they are and as they were. Her descriptions are wonderful and her characters are well rounded with real feelings. I found “Those who are loved” heartbreaking in places and “The Figurine” picks up on a few of the themes found in her earlier book. On the surface the book is about buying and selling stolen figurines and other Greek antiquities from archaeological digs but it goes much deeper into politics, relationships and the choices people make if indeed they even have a choice. At times, there may be just a little too much detail but it is certainly a book that makes the reader think about the rights and wrongs of the theft of historical remains that tell a story of the country. The Elgin marbles are still in the British Museum. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for a review.

What a great book! This book has themes of family, love, politics, travel, history! I really enjoyed this book, I picked it to read because I'd covered #culturalrepatriation of the Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon as part of my University degree and this book piqued my interest.

The book follows Helena from her childhood trips to stay with her Greek Grandparents in school summer breaks right through to adult life. Her childhood innocence and seeing things she didn't understand until later life. I enjoyed the later sections the most when the puzzle pieces come together and Helena develops into an independent force to be reckoned with, she surrounds herself with great friends to achieve great things!

Thank you to @netgalley and @headlinebooks for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. This title will be released on 28th September 2023 in the UK.

I have a few of this Authors books in my tbr pile and have read August nights so far. For my second read, i can definalty say i will be keeping an eye on anything new from this author from now on.

This really was a pleasure to read. This story has a relaxed flow that breezes us through the pages with ease. I felt wrapped up in the beauty of Greece from the imagery provided and it is a place i have always wanted to visit.

The characters were very moreish. Some were scandalous. The story itself was a huge interest to me as i love to read about Artifacts, their origins and the smuggling trade that exists.

This was interesting, gripping in parts near the end, sweet, sad, holiday book bliss and i could go on. I could read it all again already.

Many thanks to the Author and Publisher through Netgalley for a free DRC. It was a pleasure to leave my review.

Publication Date
Review written 8/9/23

This is the first book I have read by million selling author Victoria Hislop and I thoroughly enjoyed this well researched book. The story of a Figurine is on the face of it a simple one but the research via many acknowledged experts is clear to see before reaching the acknowledgements page. Victoria is an English author who also writes travel articles for various publications and clearly has a love and understanding of Greece and conveys this in her writing. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this wonderful book prior to publication.

I’m a big fan of Victoria Hislop: I love the way I learn about the history, politics and culture of other countries through the personal stories of the characters she creates.

Helena McCloud is the daughter of a Greek mother and a British father. As a child she spends holidays with her Greek grandparents in Athens, travelling alone, since her mother is estranged from her parents. Over the course of her visits, we come to understand the reason for the estrangement. Helena’s grandfather is a nasty piece of work - a General completely committed to the military dictatorship, and running his own dictatorship at home.

During a summer vacation while at university, she takes part in an archaeological dig on a small Greek island, mainly so she can spend some time with the gorgeous and charismatic Nick, who invited her. This turns out to be a life-changing decision, and ultimately one which determines her future, while allowing her to try to make amends for some of the wrongs in her family’s past.

With characters to love and others to hate, the brilliant storytelling is so evocative, I felt I was walking the streets of Athens with Helena, drinking the coffee, eating the ice cream, listening to the music, marvelling at the antiquities. I loved every minute.

As usual in my reviews I will not rehash the plot.

I've read several previous novels by Victoria Hislop and always enjoy them. This latest book was no exception.

I particularly enjoy the way Victoria Hislop weaves timelines together - so here we follow Helena as a child and an adult. The book is set partly in Greece and partly in England, and the author's love for and knowledge of Greece shines through. The settings - as ever - are very well described, and the author captures the attitudes and behaviours of the times. The characters are believable and well rounded - some nice, some far from pleasant, and some downright evil!

I did feel at times that the pace was a little slow, but also felt that cutting the book short would have spoiled it.

I look forward to reading more by this talented author.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

I was delighted to receive the ARC of Victoria Hislop's 'The Figurine' just before a planned holiday to Greece. It was a great introduction to the country for me. The novel is set in the UK and in Greece. Helena is the daughter of a Scottish father and a Greek mother. She learns to love Greece during childhood visits to her grandmother in Athens. During college she volunteers with an excavation team on a small island. There she discovers trafficking of antiquities is happening and sets to help and resolve the issue and bring the treasures home to where they belong.
The novel is a delight to read and besides being involved in the protagonists' lives you get to read a lot about Greek history and the world of antiques dealing.
I would highly recommended this book.
With many thanks to Netgalley and Headline books for trusting me with this ARC for an honest review

This book is another excellent read from the pen of Victoria Hislop. Her vivid description of Greece and its colourful communities fill the reader with a passion for this beautiful country and its exotic inhabitants.
We get caught up in Greek history and our protagonist stumbles across information which both shocks and disgusts her! Will she be able to set in motion a way to rectify decades of wrong against this country that she feels she now belongs to?

As always with Victoria Hislop’s books,her love for Greece and its people shines through her writing.I always feel I want to go there, as she creates such an authentic picture of the country.
This book is set between the late 60s and early 80s,when Helena,the main character,spent summers staying with her Greek grandparents,supporters of the military regime.
In later years she inherits their Athens apartment and finds many antiques which she finds were looted and used to pay bribes to her grandfather.
The book is maybe overlong in places and in goes into a lot of detail about recent history but overall I enjoyed the story and wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

I have been a big fan of the other Victoria Hislop novels I have read but I’m afraid I was left disappointed by this one

This was just an OK read for me. I didn’t connect with it the same way as her others. I felt the book was too long and the first third in particular was very slow. The explanations of Greek politics felt a bit heavy handed and clumsy at times too.

As with her other books her research and love of the country shine through but the story just didn’t grip me at all this time.

Many thanks to Netgalley & Headline for the opportunity to read an early copy

'The Figurine' is another enjoyable, sweeping story from Hislop. We follow Helena from childhood to adulthood and are with her as she learns about the devastation caused by artefacts being stolen. Interwoven with this plot thread is a general one about Helena's life. I liked the blend of the two threads and they each made the other thread more interesting. Of course, I liked the setting of Greece and Hislop always managed to really evoke a place so you feel as if you are there. The characters are lovely and I enjoyed reading their story.
This is another beautiful and important read from Hislop.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for an advance copy.

I struggled through this one. I was sure the next chapter had to be better or that something would happen and it did. It happened in the last few chapters, but it wasn't really worth waiting for.

Weak lead without needed back up. Slow, plodding story and a rushed unsatisfying ending

I almost threw in the towel a few times, but I stuck it to the end. Maybe don't grab this one.

Another brilliant read from Victoria Hislop which I enjoyed immensely. I certainly learnt a lot of Greek history from late 1960s where most of the beginning of the novel was based to a decade later plus an insight to an ancient civilisation. Superb atmospheric descriptions of Greece with believable characters throughout with a smattering of villains. Quite intense at times but the reader is just swept along with it all. Definitely recommended.

I love Victoria Hislop`s books on Greece they are so informative and descriptive you just want to go there, I have visited Athens many times so it brought back many happy memories.
Helena inherits her grandparents apartment in Athens and discovers ancient artefacts hidden away and she soon discovers how they got there and gets help to stop the looters of these objects even her ex boyfriend who was involved.
I did think the story was a bit long as Helena didn`t inherit the apartment till half way through the book, if shorter I would have given it 5*
.A good mixture of Greek history, romance and betrayal just loved it.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was this first book of Victoria Hislop’s that I have read and won’t be the last.

This book was like a history lesson and story in one. It was really interesting learning some history about Greece, a country I love. The characters and storylines were believable and relatable. I enjoyed everything about this book.

I have read thirteen chapters of this book and I am sorry but I cannot read anymore.
I tried to read the whole book to provide a full review but for another eight hours I would rather read something else that is entertaining to me.
I do not know what the main plot or point of the story is and am really struggling to understand where the title 'The Figurine' comes into context within the book.
The first five chapters could have been condensed into one because they are very similar and repetitive.
I have not been empowered or drawn into the story and the characters are not entertaining, interesting or captivating.
It becomes a little confusing because suddenly, the main character has a best friend that hasn't been mentioned throughout the book and this best friend disappears as quickly as she entered it.
A lot of the time people are in Athens and on the Greek Islands. The author hasn't made me feel as though I am there with the characters as the descriptions of the locations do not allow me to imagine the aromas, pathways, houses or museums as if I was there with the characters.
For me, there also are far too many Greek words in the text and not enough explanations as to what these words actually mean - I spent far too much time on Google translate looking them up and this has proven to be tedious when trying to read a book.
I personally felt as though 'The Figurine' was written by a student writing an English essay for a college/school assignment who was focusing on their word count rather than the content of the topic.
The only good thing about this book for me was that it helped me to fall asleep at night due to it being so dull and unexciting.

The latest Victoria Hislop novel is again set in Greece. It moves from the 1970s Greek Junta into the 1980s. Helena born in the Uk has Greek mother and Scottish father. Her mother fled her dictatorial family home, where her father was part of the Greek military. Helena spends summers as a child with her Greek grandparents but does not understand the fact that the country is under military dictatorship. Growing up she becomes involved in archaeological excavations. She becomes caught up in the world of illegal smuggling of antiquities and sets out to right the wrongs of both the past and the present.
An exciting read

I received an advanced reading copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author Victoria Hislop.
This would be a perfect, easy read for a holiday (especially if you're in Greece) as the author is clearly passionate about the country and has done a lot of research.
For me, it was a little facile at times with characters that felt slightly two-dimensional and plot devices that moved things along just a little bit too easily and predictably. I'm not sure I'm the right audience for this one! 3 stars.

I'm going to keep this review short and (not) sweet as so many others have given full descriptions of this book.
Although I found this an easy read, it did not fill me with longing to pick it up to find out what happened next. Ideally all good books should make you feel this.
I loved The island but unfortunately I think this is where the author reached her peak. So far anyway.
This book has no characters to fall in love, sympathise or even hate. It's all a bit blah.
It's way to long at 500+ pages. I felt as though I'd made no progress at all even after reading it for a week. With still 70% to go I decided to give in and let it go. Life's to short to read a book you don't enjoy. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in return of an honest review.