I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Loot is a book about toys– who creates them, who defines them, who benefits from them, and what they say about the dynasties they are a part of. It begins when Abbas, a 17 year old (who reads much younger to me) is conscripted to work as a woodcutter to create a giant tiger automaton toy. He endures a classic hero’s journey that takes him out of India and into a search to connect his past and present.

Despite wrestling with some heavy topics and including some horrific moments, Loot is a gentle book, with most of the gore o

Exquisite writing, wonderfully plotted, vividly realistic characters - this historical adventure has it all.

I enjoyed Loot immensely and I think this will be excellent in audio format.


Recommended!

This book deserves all the hype; I completely fell into the book while sitting on the beach on vacation, which I didn’t expect given the subject matter and is a real testament to the writing. The novel imagines the backstory to the real looting of a musical tiger, following the creators from India to Europe.

I have read previous works from the author and was eagerly looking forward to this one.

I have not read or heard of many historical fiction tales set during Tipu Sultan's reign. That period of history is mostly unexplored but the author does a good job in painting a vivid picture of the protagonist's journey.

Interesting tale overall. Looking forward to future works from the author.

I've seen "Tippoo's Tiger" several times at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and I was fascinated by the way author James uses it as a touchstone for the life of one of its creators, Creating a fictional woodcarver, Abbas, James uses his life to mirror the upheavals of the British Empire and its dealings with India, the colonial forces fighting one another at the same time as the ancestral peoples for control over wealth and land, the daily lives of people affected by these conflicts, and how individuals sought to make unique lives for themselves. The book is a wild ride, and adventure pursuing a tiger; it's beautifully written, the characters feel enormously real, and the destructions brought by Empire are deftly chronicled.

I really enjoyed this book. It loosely follows the creation and life of an automaton created for a Sultan in India who was eventually overthrown by the British. The story focuses on the two creators and a couple of people with whom they cross paths on their respective journeys. It reminds me a lot of Cathedral By the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones.

Historical fiction really draws me in, and the author did a beautiful job of describing the environment during the time period. I also really liked seeing the story unfold from the different character perspectives, people from different countries and backgrounds and with different baggage. This isn't a book with significant action or a problem to solve--like a thriller or mystery. It is more about navigating the everyday challenges of life in that time.

Loot by Tania James. Pub Date: June 13, 2023. Rating: 2 stars. When I read the synopsis for this book, I was very intrigued. It was a fresh concept in a literary and cultural world I had little knowledge about. I was excited to read it but honestly, this one was a major let down for me. This novel centers around a young man and his transition into adulthood through adventure and culture as well as use of a tiger automaton to keep the story flowing. I found this story to be choppy, non engaging and drawn out. The cover is stunning and made me instantly want to read this novel, but I found it difficult to get through. Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #loot #netgalley #knopf

A wonderful saga of a young man’s life into adulthood, across decades, continents and cultures. It is a compelling, engaging adventure novel and love story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the opportunity to read this beautifully written ARC.

Loot is an outstanding historical novel, making the background and the characters come alive. The talented Indian boy, the isolated French clockmaker and the unconventional English aristocrat all are fully rounded as are even the
Secondary characters.
Moving from India to France to England with an especially vivid section aboard a ship, Loot captures the culture and political changes of the time subtlety revealing the history without becoming didactic. There isn’t a boring page in this book.
I cannot recommend Loot too highly.
This is a book that will remain

It seems that nearly all the novels I've picked up lately are filled with dystopian angst about something--not that they're not good, but, boy, are they dire. Then comes the blessed relief of Tania James' "Loot," a beautifully realized historical novel about art, and hope, and science. It's a wonderful dive into a world that is not perfect, but one which people feel will get better, due to the power of new ideas,

It's 1794. Abbas is seventeen the finest woodcarver in his home town of Mysore, India. He is snatched up by the sultan to work with a master French watchmaker to create an unforgettable automaton to celebrate the return of the Sultan's sons from being held hostage by the English. Tipu's Tiger is a wonder, and Abbas is completely enamored with learning to create mechanisms and the opportunities for learning with the Frenchman Lucien Du Leze.

But history engulfs Abbas, Lucien, the Sultan, and the Tiger. Abbas will travel to England and to France, finding his way as a creator and artist. There are so many entrancing characters in "Loot" that the pages fly by, keeping you glued to every one of them.

Tania James is an assured and deft writer, and the good news is that she has several other books to explore. "Loot" is a delight and highly recommended.

Heartfelt thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for a digital review copy of this novel.