thelauramay's review
1.0
Predictable. Derivative. The characters have the depth of wet cardboard. Sexism, racism, and prejudice rule the day. For example:
There's one woman character, who exists only as a sex object and damsel in distress. She's a trained archaeologist, but at NO point does this matter.
Then there's the fact that the bad guys are Russian - classic and tired - who exist only to torture and kill, with a bit of sexual violence thrown in. Ridiculous caricatures.
The 'good' guys are toxic, with zero emotional depth, and the protag is a Mary Sue: he's got a photographic memory, details on how to find a lost city, is talentless but stumbles his way to where he needs to be. And then of course, receives maximum and overstated glory.
The portrayal of Peruvians, and particularly indigenous groups, is sickening. Apparently, everybody is uneducated, conniving, dirty, obsequious, and 'lesser than', while indigenous groups are either a Deus ex machina or murderous. Truly disgusting.
If this had been written in the seventies, it would have been just 'bad'; but as a book written in the modern era, it's an embarrassment. Don't waste your time.
There's one woman character, who exists only as a sex object and damsel in distress. She's a trained archaeologist, but at NO point does this matter.
Then there's the fact that the bad guys are Russian - classic and tired - who exist only to torture and kill, with a bit of sexual violence thrown in. Ridiculous caricatures.
The 'good' guys are toxic, with zero emotional depth, and the protag is a Mary Sue: he's got a photographic memory, details on how to find a lost city, is talentless but stumbles his way to where he needs to be. And then of course, receives maximum and overstated glory.
The portrayal of Peruvians, and particularly indigenous groups, is sickening. Apparently, everybody is uneducated, conniving, dirty, obsequious, and 'lesser than', while indigenous groups are either a Deus ex machina or murderous. Truly disgusting.
If this had been written in the seventies, it would have been just 'bad'; but as a book written in the modern era, it's an embarrassment. Don't waste your time.
imzadirose's review
4.0
This wasn't a bad read. Dull and slow moving at times, but overall kept my attention, even if predictable. 3.5 rounding up because I'll read the next, especially since the narrator is one of my favorites.
quiraang's review
3.0
I enjoy Russell Blake's books, and I think I've read most of them. It's great to see a new set of characters, and I enjoyed the book,even though it was a little predictable plot-wise. The author usually develops his characters as each series progresses, and I'm looking forward to the next in the series.
jamestomasino's review
1.0
Ugh, this was kinda painful. There's so much macho bullshit here it was tough to slog through. There's some redeemable elements and intruding scenery but... ugh
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