I was so pleased when I was accepted to read and review this book by Victoria Hislop and it did not disappoint. It brought Athens to life and made me want to explore all the places in the book.
I would thoroughly recommend.

This isn't my kind of book but I fancied a change and wanted to give this book a chance.

Its well written and a pleasant read.

I am a huge fan of Victoria Hislop’s earliest books so was very eager to receive a copy of this from Net Galley!

I have a great deal of respect for the level of research and time that must go into novels like this and found the descriptions and explanations of Ancient Greek history fascinating. I enjoyed that the book involved numerous jumps in time, it made it feel as though I could relate to Helena more and made me more invested in her story. I found the other characters enjoyable and liked that they felt fleshed-out with real personalities.

One complaint I do have about this book is that at some points I felt the narration was slowed down too much by some descriptions and explanations. Though I found many of these interesting, some felt as though they were there to increase the word count. The only other is that the ending felt almost rushed with all of the loose ends tied up within a short epilogue.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and look forward to finding more of Victoria Hislop’s novels.

I’ve never actually visited Greece, but I feel I have, after reading this! It’s a fascinating story, often going into some detail about Ancient Greek culture and artefacts - very interesting. I enjoyed it very much.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for review.

This is definitely a hefty book, which takes some time to get going. I did wonder quite where the storyline was heading during the beginning and Helena’s childhood visits to Greece. All did become clear though. As you expect from Victoria Hislop, this is an extremely well researched book, packed full of history, both ancient and modern. I certainly felt that I learnt something about modern Greek history that I didn’t know before. The second half of the story definitely steps up in pace and ultimately the book does make you feel that ancient relics ought to be preserved in the country of their provenance.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for a review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly the number of pages was overwhelming at first so I put off reading this for a while but it was well worth it. I loved Helena, the main character, and truly enjoyed reading about her life from childhood to adulthood. I also loved her parents, Mary and Hamish, their relationship together and with Helena, it was beautiful. Sally and Charles are characters I really warmed to, as well as Dina and Eleni. And later on, Anna, Haris, and Mihalis.

The story was captivating, and the pace was perfect for the length of the book. Divided into 4 parts it was also nicely structured. I don’t really have anything bad to say about this, besides that Part 3 was my least favourite, as I felt that it stalled a little and was different from the rest of the book, but I get how it was important to the story.

Always interesting to read a novel about a country I know little about regarding the politics of the 20th Century. Plus also the archeology and artefacts that have been found and are still being found. I thought the story line was believable and cute, though the writing a little immature and drawn out, presuming the reader to be naive in certain matters.
An easy read, with romance, misdeeds and cruelty to add intrigue . I would recommend this to others as a casual read, not one of Victoria Hislop's strongest novels.

The Figurine by Victoria Hislop ⭐️⭐️⭐️

We first meet Helena as a young girl when she is sent to Athens to spend the summer with her estranged grandparents. Her grandfather is formidable and unfriendly but thanks to her loving grandmother and their maid she comes to love the summers spent in her mother’s native city.

As we follow Helena into adulthood she continues her passion for all things Greek and volunteers at an archeological site on one of the many islands but it’s not just the artifacts that she uncovers.

I enjoyed this slow paced and well researched read but found that the plot took slightly too long to develop to completely hold my interest. Hislop has always been one of my favourite historical fiction writers but as my tastes have changed I’m beginning to move away from these type of books so I think this was a case of ‘it’s not you, it’s me’

The Figurine is an absorbing and compelling story set in Greece. The characters are well written and the historical dynamics of the troubled country clearly presented. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc

I absolutely loved this. Captivating, enthralling and beautifully written. In try Victoria Hislop fashion this kept me hanging on to every single word

This book is just beautiful. Victoria Hislop has once again pulled it out the bag. Not only do you get a wonderful story. You also get to understand some of the history of what happened in Greece.

Every year Helena would visit her grandparents apartment in Athens. Whilst her grandmother would do everything to make her stay a good one. Her grandfather was cold and cruel. He was a general in the military dictatorship, as much as he was brutal to others, he could be brutal to Helena. her parents never visited with her and Helena could never understand why her mother would not want to see her parents.
Years later, Helena inherit her grandparents apartment. as she goes to clear out the place which she is going to sell, she discovers many valuable objects and antiquities which belong in Greece. Things that happened all those years ago in the 60s come back to her, and she realises the significance of how her grandfather came about them

Helena has a love of Greece and its antiques. She realises that she has the opportunity to make some kind of amends for the disservice. The Greek people have suffered. It may only be a small thing, but she wants to do what’s right. Along her journey she meets many people. Some who want to use her However, she also finds true friendship and love in an unlikely way.

The author really gives you a feel for the different characters within the book. You can imagine yourself being in the Athens apartment and experiencing what Helena did. A beautiful read. This book deserves far more than five stars, and it’s probably my Read of the year.

A wonderful story filled with history. I always love that you can feel Victoria Hislop’s love for Greece through her writing, and there’s always so much to learn as the fiction is woven in with real facts from history.

I really enjoyed it as I do all her books and will certainly recommending this to others.

Thank you SO much to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I absolutely loved this!! Such great characters and a great storyline.

My full review is to follow in a few days.....

Thank you Headline and Netgalley for this wonderful ARC.
Victoria really has done it again!
This was an absolutely fabulous read which I couldn't put down. Set in Greece (my favourite place). Victoria has as always done her research and this was amazing.
I have read all of Victoria's books and this is up there with the rest.
You must read this (I've bought it for my Mum!)

Victoria Hislop has a seemingly effortless ability to transport the reader to the setting for her novels. The Figurine takes us to Athens and some of the Greek islands and it made me feel part of the story in only a way a brilliant writer can.

Our heroine is Helena who we follow from early childhood staying with her Greek grandparents, to adulthood and heartbreak and shocking discoveries about her grandfather's past.

With a fascinating eye for detail, this story of Greek history and archaeology is just sublime. With family discoveries, grief and a smattering of romance, The Figurine is a captivating and immersive read.

The Figurine is an epic story of family, love, loss, friendship and betrayal and finally revenge. Helena a British girl, daughter of a Greek mother and Scottish father inherits the Athens apartment of her late grandparents. This evokes memories of her visits there as a 12 year old to her beloved grandmother and the army chief grandfather she despised, like her mother before her she hated everything he stood for.
Victoria Hislop’s passion for Greece shines through. I felt transported back to my many Greek holidays.
All of Victoria’s books are so well researched and are rich in detail, from the history, the people, the architecture and the food. I absolutely loved this book, it was wonderful.

When Helena inherits her grandparent’s apartment in Athens, she is instantly drawn into a world of artefacts and valuable objects.

Helena has a natural passion for archaeology, so she has a general curiosity around the artefacts, but also about how they came to be in her family's possession.

She knows that her Grandfather had been a general under previous military dictatorship and wonders if there was a human cost to obtaining his treasure trove...

No matter what, Helena is determined to return the precious objects to their rightful places and to find justice for anyone who may have been harmed by the acquisition.

This is a beautifully written book, and I look forward to more from this author.

What a wonderful book mainly set in Greece. The author has clearly done her research and it shows in this captivating story, although also very thought provoking. This story is not normally my genre but I took a chance on the initial description and I am glad I did. The characters and the country were not what I was expecting but the authors descriptions capture a beautiful place full of majestic beauty and historic significance. A great read from a respected author

This was a fabulous read, real escapism, set in Greece I really enjoyed this book, great historical fiction never disappoints I’ve read all her books

This was my first time reading a book from the author but I am delighted to say I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading more books from the writer in the future