There seem to be a lot of people that really loved book. It was a nice read but I found the writing to be quite simplistic and the plot line I found very cliched and predictable. From the moment certain characters appeared, you knew where the story was going. All a bit disappointing

I should start by confessing to never have read her most famous book 'The Island', despite it being recommended to me years ago. . When the opportunity to read this book came up I was curious, and loved it! As far as historical fiction goes I learnt quite a few new things about Greek history, including the fact that the partition of Cyprus was a consequence of the Greek military invading the Island 5 days before the Turkish army. I live in Haringey, where many displaced Turks and Heels from Cyprus came, and always believed that the Turkush invaded first!

The story itself covers about 20 years, following Helen, whose mother is Greek and whose father is Scottish. It starts when she is a child and is sent to visit her grandparents in Athens for the first time. It follows family tragedy, university, adventure and the looting of antiquities. I found myself reading it when I should hand been asleep, on the bus and all weekend. Its a wonderful book, and I'm now finally going to read 'The Island' and possibly her other books too.

I’ve always enjoyed this authors novels. She captures the essence of Greece giving an insight into its history and also weaves in a beautiful tale. On this occasion, we focus on the questionable acquisitions of cultural treasures. We start off in a time when Greece was under military dictatorship and Helena was a child visiting her beloved yiayia in Athens. Upon her grandparents deaths, Helena eventually inherits their apartment and along with it a vast array of valuable objects and antiquities. But how were they acquired and what human price was paid for them? Alongside new friends Haris and Anna, Helena is determined to find answers and seek justice. This novel is beautifully written and I was totally enthralled from the start. Page after page, it’s so easy to immerse yourself as the plot unfolds. Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and the author for the chance to review.

In her true style, Victoria Hislop transported me to Greece along with the charismatic Helena, on her eventful journey, as she grows from a delightful, curious child into an admirable,independent young woman.
Historical facts ( which often surprise, inform and inspire me to find out more) woven with credible fictional characters and descriptions which immerse so deeply, I felt as though I was walking through the streets in Athens, stopping to savour the aroma of the strong bitter coffee.
The Figurine ticks all my boxes!

I can imagine this being a great holiday read with the sights and food of Greece. It is a great idea for a book about where artefacts belong and the complex history that can surround them.

At over 500 pages though I felt it was too long for the amount of plot, most of which is described in the blurb. There aren't many twists and I would've liked some more depth to the story and themes.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

As a child, Helena travels to Greece during the Summer to visit her grandparents. Whilst she builds a relationship with her grandmother, she is weary of her stern grandfather, who used to be high up in the military. When both grandparents die she is left their house and possessions, becoming fully aware of her grandfather’s terrible actions and lasting legacy in the community. With the help of friends she tries to right the wrongs of the past.

I would recommend for fans of Victoria Hislop and Greek sociocultural history. I really love the first half of this book. It is very similar in style to Victoria Hislop’s other writing. The descriptions of the areas and use of the Greek language lend a feel of authenticity. However, whilst I enjoyed learning about the history of Greece’s culture and the impact of looting in the second half, I found the relationships and dialogue between the characters quite forced.

The detail and knowledge of Greece in this book means I could easily imagine myself in the city of Athens and living Helena’s life through her eyes.
This is very much a book of 2 halves, with the plot only really developing in the second half. A lot of the first part could have been cut down (in my opinion), to allow more focus on the story as it developed later on.
The book is packed full of historical and archaeological references, making this a fascinating story.
Definitely worth reading, especially if you’re in Athens at the time!

I usually enjoy Victoria Hislop books but found this to be a bit of a drag. The descriptions of Greece when Helena was a child were vivid and really drew me in. The storyline when Helena is an adult was ok but I just felt that there were points when I thought the story could have been told a bit quicker and the book could have been shorter.

Have been totally unaware of Victoria Hislop until I decided to read this book. Odd really as I am a great fan of Greece and particularly the islands.

The Figurine drew me in from the very first page even though the plot seemed somewhat unclear. Fortunately clarity came quite quickly and whilst I liked the way some of the characters were drawn, I really was challenged by the stereotypical ones.

'Twas also quite predictable in its formula, arriving, as one would expect, at the usual conclusion and in the usual manner. I also found that the plot seemed to lose itself for a short while before getting back on track just in time for that predictable finale.

Would score 7 out of 10 but, as this is Amazon, 4 out of 5.

Definitely an easy and entertaining enough read and I might just dip into something else of hers if I am in need of a very light read on my next visit to Crete.

I’ve never read Victoria hislop before but I really enjoyed this story about a young girl Helena who spends her summers in Greece with her grandparents. It kept me intrigued throughout. My thanks to netgalley for the arc copy.

This is a beautifully written evocative novel set in England, Scotland and Greece with the narrative being so full of luscious descriptions of the places, archeology and people that it was hard to put down.

Helena is part Greek and part Scottish and when young she would spend summers with her Greek grandparents. Her grandmother was kind and loving but her grandfather was hard and cruel. Later in life Helena learns why her mother never returned to Greece while her father was alive.

As an adult Helena finds herself in Greece sorting through her grandparents home and makes some startling discoveries. She has been unlucky in love and had fallen for a fellow student who has not treated her well and the finds he made while helping at a Greek dig were treated with even less respect.

Through dogged determination to right the past and to ensure her Greek heritage is protected Helena begins to help to bring the perpetrators to justice.

A beautifully told story with fabulous characters and a vivid scenery that makes you believe you are in Greece. The descriptions of the local museums and they locals that Helena and her parents meet are so realistic it feels as if the reader is there with them.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A first Victoria Hislop novel for this reviewer, and mixed feelings overall. The writing felt a little stilted at times, and the story was quite heavily padded - it could have been much shorter, and would have flowed more freely for it. Having said that, Hislop’s research into both Ancient Greek artefacts and the more recent mid 20th century political trouble of the country is impressive, and the reader will finish the book well informed. The story moved quite slowly for the first half of the book - the Figurine of the title didn’t appear for a long time, leaving the reader wondering what was happening. Although I didn’t find this book immediately relatable, there were many enthralling moments and I was eager to find out what happened at the end, the story having picked up pace as it progressed.

This was my first Victoria Heslop novel since The Island and I absolutely loved it! Her passion for Greece and everything Greek just poured out of every page. The complicated history of Greek politics in the 20th century is simply explained through Helena's visits to her grandparents in Athens as a young girl and her mother's estrangement from her parents before that.
Later as a student Helena visits Greece to help on archaeological digs and discovers the extent of the abuse and theft of the artifacts. When she discovers the extent of members of her own family's involvement in this theft she works tirelessly to see justice done. An excellent and extremely interesting book I am happy to recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Victoria Hislop never disappoints. I'm always so excited to get my hands on our books. Vivid descriptions of culture, food and Greece localities. Absolutely devoured this.

An interesting novel that follows half-Greek, half-Scottish Helena as she grows up in England and Athens, falls in love and gets involved in archaeology. The author perfectly evoked Greece's beauty and atmosphere, leaving me keen to go back there. It also taught me a lot about the history of the Greek Civil War in the 1940s and the junta in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The story was slow at times, but it was still an entertaining read. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved all of the books I have read by Victoria Hislop. This didn’t disappoint. I loved the characters and the story line, I couldn’t put it down but didn’t want it to end. I will definitely recommend this book.

Really interesting Greek history and descriptions of food and culture and a good tale to accompany them. Lovely to read on holiday on a Greek island

Wonderful book bringing together Greek archaeology and a story about Helena's life as a young girl going to Athens to see her grandparents

I did initially find the autho'rs frequent use of Greek words rather annoying, but. I found in the end that it brought home the close link of the main character to Greece. The story really brings home the horror of the pillaging of Greek historical artefacts through the years. I now feel much more sympathy towards the case for the return of the Elgin Marbles!

I am a big fan of Hislop's previous works, and her ability to transport readers to Greece through her evocative storytelling. However, 'The Figurine' left me with some mixed feelings.

The story follows Helena, who upon inheriting her grandparents' Athens apartment, stirs up memories of her childhood summers spent in Greece during a brutal military dictatorship. Her grandfather, a distant and stern figure, was connected to the regime's generals, and as Helena delves into her family history, she stumbles upon a treasure trove of valuable objects and antiquities. This discovery triggers questions about her heritage and the human cost of her grandfather's collection. Alongside her exploration of her family's past, Helena develops a fascination for archaeology, cultivated during a summer on an Aegean island.

Something about Helena's story felt a little contrived compared to Hislop's previous works. While the premise was intriguing, I found it difficult to buy into the fact that Helena, who is portrayed as a kind of mega-genius, couldn't see through certain characters, particularly Nick, immediately. The plotline seemed to strain credibility at times and parts felt very predictable.

On the more positive side, I appreciated the Greek aspects woven throughout the narrative, especially as someone with Greek heritage myself. However I just didn't feel this story packed the same emotional punch as Hislop's earlier novels. It lacked the depth and connection to the characters and their struggles that I've come to expect from her writing.

In summary, this story will certainly appeal to readers who enjoy delving into family mysteries and exploring the intersection of personal history and archaeology. However, compared to Hislop's previous works, it falls a bit short, with a storyline that feels less organic and characters who don't quite capture the heart as her past creations have done. It's a decent read, but it just didn't do it for me the way I hoped.