rosekk's review against another edition
4.0
I continue to love the characters and the evolution of the histories.
skylion's review against another edition
2.0
Repeative and dull. Final 2/3 of book was
nonsense. Won't finish series. First three books are spectacular. Disappointed after
nonsense. Won't finish series. First three books are spectacular. Disappointed after
aziraphalekinnie's review
3.0
[Disclaimer: I have no idea what counts as a spoiler so I might have put in some unnecessary spoiler warnings.]
I was pleasantly surprised by this book as I found the first four books in this series to be rather bad. But I'm still confused because of the incredibly complex plot, and mind, I am OBSESSED with this series and usually try to memorise everything but at the plot it just stops.
Things that I did not like in particular:
- The complexity of the plot, as already mentioned
- The exaggeration of Swinburne's character [I would like to see him NOT being a silly little guy for once!!]
-
Things I did in fact like:
- I felt as if suspense was created better than in the previous parts of the series
-
-
-
As I'm writing this review, I've already started part 6 of the series, and I'm not going to include any spoilers but I can say it's all coming together. After this book, finishing the series is definitely worth it.
I was pleasantly surprised by this book as I found the first four books in this series to be rather bad. But I'm still confused because of the incredibly complex plot, and mind, I am OBSESSED with this series and usually try to memorise everything but at the plot it just stops.
Things that I did not like in particular:
- The complexity of the plot, as already mentioned
- The exaggeration of Swinburne's character [I would like to see him NOT being a silly little guy for once!!]
-
Spoiler
The hellish future scenarios from 2022 and ongoing [the problem I have with this is personal but still] [maybe it's a good thing that I disliked it since it was made to be disliked as it's part of Edward Oxford's horrible construction]Things I did in fact like:
- I felt as if suspense was created better than in the previous parts of the series
-
Spoiler
Burton getting thrown into different versions of history because of Saltzmann's Tincture, it was very interesting to read about all the different scenarios!-
Spoiler
People from different time periods interacting with each other, very fun-
Spoiler
EDWARD OXFORD FINALLY GETTING DESTROYED YEAHHHHHHHHAs I'm writing this review, I've already started part 6 of the series, and I'm not going to include any spoilers but I can say it's all coming together. After this book, finishing the series is definitely worth it.
matosapa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
danguajars's review
3.0
Es de esos libros que se ponen cada vez más complicados, pero a partir de reciclar sus propias ideas una y otra vez. ¡Es muy entretenido! Sobretodo si ya eres fanático de la serie, pero echo de menos el humor chispeante del primer libro, que a estas alturas es una burla de sí mismo. Y no me conmovió ni una pizca la muerte de tal o cual personaje súper importante para la serie.
Me gustaría saber si alcanzan algún grado de equilibrio, alguna vez, en el multiverso creado accidentalmente por Oxford, y por eso sigo con la serie. Pero solo por curiosidad.
Me gustaría saber si alcanzan algún grado de equilibrio, alguna vez, en el multiverso creado accidentalmente por Oxford, y por eso sigo con la serie. Pero solo por curiosidad.
nwhyte's review
1.0
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3766492.html
I thoroughly bounced off this, an alternative steampunky history, the fifth in a series featuring the madcap adventures of Algernon Charles Swinburne and Richard Francis Burton across various timelines. (On steampunk I sometimes sympathise with Marigold's dad in Questionable Content.) When I realised that on page 70 I still had no idea what was going on and no particular sympathy for any of the characters, I gave up.
I thoroughly bounced off this, an alternative steampunky history, the fifth in a series featuring the madcap adventures of Algernon Charles Swinburne and Richard Francis Burton across various timelines. (On steampunk I sometimes sympathise with Marigold's dad in Questionable Content.) When I realised that on page 70 I still had no idea what was going on and no particular sympathy for any of the characters, I gave up.
dark_reader's review
4.0
The opening chapter does not disappoint! The action starts fast and furious, with an insane genital-less version of Spring Heeled Jack materializing out of nowhere and defenestrating Burton with ease, while red snow flutters down to coat the whole of London. Mystery and adventure abound!
I love this series. This is the penultimate entry in the mad altered-history time-travel romp that is the Burton & Swinburne hexalogy. There were some uneven moments, including the book's final confrontation. I'm not sure yet how I feel about the ending. It leaves me eager to read the final volume shortly and I hope for a satisfying conclusion.
If anything the book is too short. It felt definitely lower in word count that the prior series entries, and I can only assume that the main goal in its writing was moving pieces into place for the next, last adventure. Still, it was infused with plenty of heart (be sure to read the author's afterword at the very back) and some terrific moments, both in terms of physical action and metaphysical pondering. The book seemed to rush during the first portions of the crew's core journey, but this was quickly rectified with some solid emotional moments. The story finally addresses the enigma of Burton's favorite concoction, Saltzmann's Tincture, as well as providing some other wonderful drug-fuelled visions.
This was my first time reading this volume, although I have read the prior four twice now. The last time I reached this point I decided that I needed to go back to the start. Fortunately, if you need a refresher on the series as you launch into this book, Burton & Swinburne recap the whole timey-wimey affair in conversation, although I have to admit that when they get to the lizard people I cease being able to make sense of events, but that's okay, I enjoy the ride anyway.
Seriously, that ending... I have no idea what to expect from the final book now.
I love this series. This is the penultimate entry in the mad altered-history time-travel romp that is the Burton & Swinburne hexalogy. There were some uneven moments, including the book's final confrontation. I'm not sure yet how I feel about the ending. It leaves me eager to read the final volume shortly and I hope for a satisfying conclusion.
If anything the book is too short. It felt definitely lower in word count that the prior series entries, and I can only assume that the main goal in its writing was moving pieces into place for the next, last adventure. Still, it was infused with plenty of heart (be sure to read the author's afterword at the very back) and some terrific moments, both in terms of physical action and metaphysical pondering. The book seemed to rush during the first portions of the crew's core journey, but this was quickly rectified with some solid emotional moments. The story finally addresses the enigma of Burton's favorite concoction, Saltzmann's Tincture, as well as providing some other wonderful drug-fuelled visions.
This was my first time reading this volume, although I have read the prior four twice now. The last time I reached this point I decided that I needed to go back to the start. Fortunately, if you need a refresher on the series as you launch into this book, Burton & Swinburne recap the whole timey-wimey affair in conversation, although I have to admit that when they get to the lizard people I cease being able to make sense of events, but that's okay, I enjoy the ride anyway.
Seriously, that ending... I have no idea what to expect from the final book now.
bent's review
4.0
A very good addition to this series. It may be the best book so far. The shifting between various Burtons in alternate time streams frustrated me at first, but then drew me in and ultimately fascinated me. Very good story that kept me enthralled. I wasn't as big on the '60s part of the book, but liked all the rest. I've had my problems with this series in the past, but like where it's heading now.
abookishtype's review
5.0
In 2202, Edward Oxford is interviewed following his invention of revolutionary scientific devices. The interviewer mentions that an ancestor once tried to assassinate Queen Victoria back in 1837. The thought needles Oxford so much that he drives himself to invent a time travel device to go and talk the ancestor out of it. Once he started popping up in Victorian England, he started influencing history. He sparked advances in steam technology and genetics, a world-ending world war, pissed off human-hating lizards, and thoroughly screwed up the timeline. Sir Richard Francis Burton and his friend, poet Algernon Swinburne, have been fighting Oxford and the side-effects of his time travel for centuries now...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type.