Thank you to NetGalley for offering a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I DNFed this book at 20%. The cover and description brings to mind a great adventure, but the writing is more like a textbook. For those who are very interested in both Elizabethen history and early exploration, this book would be a great fit. It was not a great fit for me, so I decided to stop reading it.

This story details the life of Sir Walter Ralegh (the correct spelling) and his expeditions to find El Dorado. I enjoyed learning more about the land surrounding Manoa (El Dorado) as well as bits of history from that time. For example, the chapter recounting Sir Ralegh’s corrupt trial and how that influenced the development of evidence rules in legal systems today was fascinating. The transition in power from Queen Elizabeth to King James was also interesting, as well as England’s foreign relations with other Western European countries. That said, the title is misleading because it implies content primarily about El Dorado, but instead this was a really excellent, thoroughly well-researched biography about Sir Ralegh and his travels.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

<b>**</b> <i>This was a NetGalley book [original due date <b>5.21.2024</b>]. I was finally able to purchase the eBook of this title [the digital eBook ARC was unavailable when I went to read it and I was unable to download it again] to read and review. See below</i> <b>**</b>

I had no idea [or if I did, I had forgotten] that Sir Walter Raleigh went on a years long obsessive hunt for the legendary City of Gold - the elusive El Dorado. And when I say obsessive, I mean it. Sir Walter spent SIXTEEN years in the tower of London for treason [his conviction and punishment were ultimately commuted by the King, though that would come into play again later in his life] and the second he is out, guess what he decides to do? You win if you guessed sail off to Trinidad and Guyana in search of the gold, regardless of family and disapproval all around [and not just from those in England. The islanders were over this "crazy" man and all the crazies he brought with him and were in no rush to see him again]. Sir Walter just never learned and the results were clearly not what he was hoping for [no gold, jailed again for treason, and ultimately his death {the King took BACK the commutation [?] but didn't go through with the drawn and quartering and the removal of his entrails, due to th entourage of the people that loved him], though he would have been pleased, one must assume, to know his wife [who always believed in him] carried his embalmed head with her until her death TWENTY-FIVE years later].

Meticulously researched, well-written [and weirdly enough, filled with moments of real hilarity AND gross-out facts. Sand flea infestation anyone?], and also filled with action, ego-filled stupidity [SO SO SO much stupidity; apparently rich white men doing stupid things isn't a new thing LOL], and facts I never knew [YAY for learning] like 1. I had no idea that grenade was French for pomegranate, and 2. just how said 1595 grenades were actually made, this is a compulsively readable book - I had real trouble putting it down when it was time to move on to my other books as I was really into the story.

If you love history, travel [especially the 1500's kind], adventure [traipsing through the jungle, encountering bugs I pray I never see, and fighting everyone in sight, including Caribs, who enjoyed eating people's hearts straight from their chest, and NEVER finding gold], and some real weirdness [and I mean that in the best possible way], then this book is for you and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Keith Thomson, and Little, Brown, and Company for providing this [unreadable] ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to read this one, but I am unable to download the book because it is unfortunately archived.

This is not my usual read, but the prospect of learning more about El Dorado intrigued me. While I did learn more about the famed city (very well researched! ), the main character reminded me of a modern day gambler, just one big score away from really making it. It was a frustrating but interesting read.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the ARC of this book. Paradise of the Damned is an of account of Walter Raleigh's obsessive search for El Dorado, the lost city of gold. I was a big fan of the author's first book, Born to be Hanged, and was intrigued to jump into this one.

Paradise of the Damned chronicles Raleigh's life, his time in court, his time in prison, his illegal marriage, and of course his numerous attempts to find El Dorado. The book also talks bout the scores of Spanish expeditions to find El Dorado, and the race against time between the Spaniards and the British to be the first to find it.

None of the expeditions went well. There were issues with the boats, the rendezvous points, the crew (both mutiny and straight-up desertion), treason. plus lack of sufficient provisions, illness, hostile enemies (including cannibals), weather, poor navigation skills, death, and the jungle itself, which was home to numerous predators, more enemies, innumerable insects, labyrinthian waterways, and traps. Basically, Raleigh's attempts to find El Dorado (and everyone else's that tried) was a messy, meandering, and misguided failure. It is clear from this book that the lure of gold drove many men crazy, risking small fortunes and crews on futile efforts in a deadly area, all based on second-hand information from likely unreliable sources. It is truly mind-boggling the lengths and efforts Raleigh and the others went to to find El Dorado when any sane and logical person would have long since given up. Definitely not worth the gamble.

Fans of historical fiction, particularly the Age of Exploration, will enjoy this interesting account of Raleigh's adventures. I'm not sure this book is for everyone, as it can be a bit boring at times, but I think it is well worth the read.

I did enjoy getting this descriptive narration of Raleghs quest for El Dorado. I thought it was well researched and interesting. You can tell the author thoroughly enjoyed and cared to convey a lesser known adventurers trials and tribulations to achieve his goals.

Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the advanced copy.

While the jacket copy -- a “rollicking,” “vividly re-created,” and “enticing romp” -- may be true, this isn't one for those seeking a more deliberate, reasoned, meticulous history. Fans of Thompson's bestseller "Born to Be Hanged" will be richly rewarded here, but it lacks the depth of David McCullough, Doris Kearns Goodwin, or Hampton Sides. Right down the middle at 2.5 stars.

Paradise of the Damned" by Keith Thomson offers a compelling exploration of Sir Walter Raleigh's obsession with finding the legendary city of El Dorado. Thomson skillfully delves into Raleigh's relentless pursuit, shedding light on the historical context of European exploitation of the New World and the exploitation of indigenous peoples. The novel vividly portrays the lengths to which individuals would go to fulfill their obsessions, highlighting the human aspect behind these quests. While the pacing may be challenging for readers unfamiliar with El Dorado or historical non-fiction, Thomson's narrative captivates with its exploration of adventure and the dynamics of securing funding during this era. Overall, "Paradise of the Damned" offers a thought-provoking journey into the depths of obsession and exploration in the age of discovery.

In “Paradise of the Damned,” Keith Thomson takes readers on a lively adventure through history, weaving together the enticing pull of unbelievable wealth, Elizabethan political intrigue, and the desperate hunt for El Dorado—the legendary city of gold hidden deep within the South American interior.

Among those seduced by the lure of El Dorado was Sir Walter Raleigh, an ambitious courtier and confidant to Queen Elizabeth. Raleigh’s swagger and audacity propelled him into the limelight, but it also led to his downfall.

Thomson vividly describes Raleigh’s quest, chronicling not only his search for El Dorado , but also the doomed expeditions that preceded and accompanied his. The narrative reveals the clash between European powers and their insatiable hunger for gold.

If you’re fascinated by history, adventure, and the quest for hidden treasures, “Paradise of the Damned” is a captivating read that brings the past to life.

"Paradise of the Damned" by Keith Thomson is an exceptional historical thriller that vividly brings to life Sir Walter Raleigh's obsessive quest for El Dorado. Thomson masterfully blends historical detail with gripping storytelling, creating a narrative filled with suspense and adventure. Thomson's witty and evocative writing style adds depth and humor to this historical tale, making it a thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an eARC copy of Paradise of the Damned by Keith Thomson.

I will personally say, I picked this up because I've had a love of the mystery of El Dorado since the 2000 Dreamworks film 'The Road to El Dorado' and so my curiosity of the real story made me request to read it. After all, who doesn't want to know if there really is a city of gold out there? This is also my first Keith Thomson book after hearing good things about his writing, so I thought it would be good to start with a book that is only just coming out.

Keith Thomson does wonders with portraying Sir Walter Raleigh's obsession with finding the city of El Dorado and also mentioning that he was not the first, only one of many to waltz their way through the Amazon. Paradise of the Damned really gets into the human thought of having to go as far as possible to fulfill their obsession in order to finally retire and just live the rest of their lives. It also really shows how far European countries were going to exploit the New World and what it had to offer, not to mention exploiting the natives for their own gain. However, what I will say was that the pacing wasn't my favorite and I had to set it aside for a bit prior to finishing. It can be a lot to take in, especially if you've never heard of El Dorado or read a lot of historical non-fiction. But, if you like reading about adventure and a bit the relationships/dynamics of getting funding during this time, this is certainly for you.

Deeply fascinating look at the true story of El Dorado and all of the behind the scenes implications in politics and colonization as applied to the "key players" of this exploration. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

Loved this book! The subject matter was definitely of interest, which helped me fly through it, but I also thought it was very well written.

My only complaint is that the ending felt a little abrupt. Once the British were done searching, the hunt for El Dorado was summed up in a short paragraph. I would have loved the same level of detail for the explorers who came after.

Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for the ARC!

I still firmly stand by the fact that Dreamworks' 2000 film 'The Road to El Dorado' is the best story on this topic, but if you're more of a non-fiction reader, I imagine this would have a very similar impact and enjoyment level!

Paradise of the Damned was published on May 21, 2024. Thank you to Little Brown and Company, NetGalley and the author for the digital advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Keith Thomson’s Paradise of the Damned: The True Story of an Obsessive Quest for El Dorado. Thomson’s book was a well-researched and detailed story of Sir Walter Raleigh’s lifelong quest to find El Dorado, starting from Elizabethan England and moving to Colombia, Venezuela, Guiana and the Orinoco River in South America. The book primarily follows Raleigh, tracing his early years spent in Elizabeth’s court and how he came to exploration and sailing. Thomson’s book features much adventure and many mishaps, especially around the war for the New World in the Americas between Spain and England. The book’s best parts are when Raleigh is in South America, looking for El Dorado while also navigating uncharted rivers, streams, waterfalls, and avoiding unknown predators like anacondas, alligators, and piranhas. It was fascinating to gain a deeper insight into how dangerous the new world was, mostly because of how unknown the terrain was. I also enjoyed learning more about Raleigh’s earlier approaches to diplomacy and finding ways to ensure that the Spanish would not beat him to El Dorado and how he sought out indigenous support from existing tribes. The other parts of the book that took place in England were not as exciting to me. I did not know much about Sir Walter Raleigh, so this book provided an engaging biography, but I was surprised to learn that in England at the time, the rule of law, especially things like evidence and due process were not really part of the society. Thus, reading about Raleigh’s years in prison for a kind of hearsay association with a plot to overthrow King James was important to know about. This also somewhat mirrored Raleigh’s earlier experiences with Queen Elizabeth when he was imprisoned for having a child with his future wife without informing the Queen. Thomson’s sharing of these events and the injustices that Raleigh faced helped to illustrate the kind of whims of the crown that many people, especially prominent people, faced. Although these parts dealing with the legal practices of England were important, I found them to be not as exciting as the chapters set in South America and dealing with the quest for El Dorado. It was also surprising that King James let Raleigh return to find El Dorado, despite being imprisoned for pretty much treason (even if the charges were never really tried). Raleigh’s second campaign, when he was in his 60s, did not go well. Like his initial quest to El Dorado, the hope was to bring money back to England in the form of gold. However, with a strong Spanish presence in the areas in Venezuela, Colombia, and Guiana he struggled to return to some of the areas he visited in 1590s (about 20 years prior). I won’t spoil the ending, but Raleigh does return to England without any gold, failing once again to find El Dorado and dealing with a hungry, tired, and mutinous crew. This leads Raleigh to face King James’s wrath and power. Most of this book was exciting, and I loved the images that Thomson selected to accompany these chapters. They really helped to illustrate the challenges and individuals involved in Raleigh’s various quests. While the book primarily focused on Raleigh’s quest, there were some other chapters that dealt with English and Spanish relations during this time, as well as Raleigh’s time spent imprisoned. These were necessary to understand some of Raleigh’s motivations for seeking out El Dorado once again, and the consequences of his failure to find it and bring home any gold. These sections were not as exciting but helped understand the broader perspective of this society.

This nonfiction book follows Walter Raleigh’s quest to find the legendary city of gold.

This was an interesting story, but I felt like the way it was set up didn’t help the narrative along. There was not enough I think to entice us like suspense. Maybe if it had started out with a legend about el dorado.

While nonfiction is typically outside of my ARC-reviewing wheelhouse, after an interesting conversation with a colleague the other week, this happened across my feed, and I figured why not? Plus, you know what they say about getting stuck in a rut, etc etc.

So while Paradise of the Damned is certainly not my typical read for many reasons, and while I don't think it lived up to the “rollicking" descriptor in the blurb, I do think it is an interesting read. Because of the blurb and the cover tagline, I was expecting a nonfiction account more closely aligned to Douglas Preston's Lost City of the Monkey God (which read, at times, more like a Clive Cussler than anything else). But this was not it; it is a meticulously written account of Walter Raleigh (and other European colonizers') explorations of the Americas. And when I say meticulous....the level of detail is incredible.

That being said, while Thomson does have some witty asides that make this more like a university lecture from a relatable professor, the pace is one that I struggled with. And, as with all accounts of European colonization, the treatment of the native populations is undoubtedly tricky, but I'm not sure that Thomson succeeded with walking the line of "adventure in the jungle!" and "the treatment of these people is horrific." I think his writing strayed more to the former.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ebook ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

A new take on the El Dorado hunt for gold, the power behind Raleigh and what happened as a result. History buffs won't want to miss this in depth look at how Raleigh secured funding from Elizabeth ! to sail to the Americas. It's also a stark look at the Spanish colonization and consequences that are still felt today.

DNF 34%. Not sure what possessed me to request this on NetGalley. Written as an adventure story of Spanish/English explorers searching for the fabled city of El Dorado. Sick men, doing sick things, with no consideration for others. Treatment of Indigenous populations is mentioned, but felt like an inconvenient footnote to the action! and escapades! of the explorers.

Some other points of concern:
1) Book describes 'walking trees'. Explains how they 'throw' their roots to walk toward sun/water. I googled it to see a picture. The top results are 'myth of the walking tree'. Apparently, it's a fun story, not reality.

2) Book describes mata mata turtles. Grotesque, with bulbous protrusions and a long neck like a snake in a turtle shell. Again, I google it. Top result is 'DERPY smile of mata mata turtle". They are suction feeders than can't bite or chew.

3) Book describes 'bacon torture'. Explorers starve prisoners. Then, cook bacon in front of them. When prisoners start salivating over the smell, they use the hot slabs to burn them. Seriously, what?

4) Book describes a certain Indigenous group as suffering from a parasitic infection. Uses the physical deformity caused by the infection to make them seem monstrous, and goes on to imply that they are sick because they are so dirty. No compassion.

I'm not an expert, and I know a Google search isn't the pinnacle of good research, but all these things taken together made me skeptical of the book's accuracy and motivations.