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stephk23's review against another edition
5.0
This felt more like some of the earlier Amelia books, more focused on the mystery, less about the "children". Rameses is slightly less stuff. Slightly. The return of Sethos... awesome. I did cry. I cried a lot, actually, at the death of Abdullah. It wasn't entirely unexpected. His age had been mentioned in the past few books and his successor named. I just expected that Amelia and Emerson would arrive in Egypt on year and Selim, rather than Abdullah, would meet them, not have him shot and the readers be witness to his death. That was harsh. It was a much more fitting death for the dignified man, I suppose, dying to protect the woman he grew to respect. But... goodness I cried.
One of the best of the Amelia series!
One of the best of the Amelia series!
seshat59's review against another edition
5.0
Six stars.
I love this book. Rereading it was like a homecoming of sorts, and I savored every page. Ape is either in my top two or absolute top spot of favorite Amelia Peabody novels.
For one, it was my first. I read it at the tender, impressionable age of twelve and fell head over heels.
Secondly, the friendship trio of Ramses, Nefret, and David is just... perfection. I don’t think they’re ever together again with the same dynamic again, and I love them. Nefret and Ramses have really grown since Seeing a Large Cat, and Nefret is an equal member of the young Emersons partnership. Nefret has really come into herself in this novel. I enjoyed her, and it’s easy to think of Ramses as older than his nineteen years. I also really enjoyed Nefret not accepting any of Amelia’s B.S.
Furthermore, Manuscript H and the new Letter Collection B are far more numerous and freshen up the story. I love how all three narratives are so unique. Amelia has a very clear style; Ramses’s narration is completely his own, and now Nefret’s letters have a distinct voice as well. It’s also fun seeing all the characters from these various perspectives.
Egyptologically, the Emersons witness the discovery of one of the most blundered and mysterious tombs, KV55. Its enigmas still intrigue scholars today, and I have very strong opinions about this mummy’s identity, an identity that continues to divide the Egyptologist community, with one prominent member supporting the much dumber theory...
Back on track: this novel’s mystery/adventure is just phenomenal too. The “children” take the lead and drive the narrative while Amelia initially thinks the seaon to be uncharacteristically dull and crime-less.
Minor spoiler here, but in this edition, Amelia and a few others come face to face with their own deep-seated prejudices, and it’s high time for that reckoning.
And Sethos is, finally, back. Sethos always makes for a great Amelia Peabody novel.
All of the above combine, revitalizing this the ninth book in the series, freshening it up, and setting it up for the next two books, in publication order-wise. I think another thing that sets it apart is that — while it’s still humorous, this novel is not a parody of a specific cliched narrative — even though Amelia tries her best to assert the presence of a murder cult. It’s different, and while I loved the tropes, I love this book and the books that immediately follow it even more (well, if one can truly love Falcon). It’s a masterful novel with all of my favorite characters in this beloved series, and I can’t rhapsodize about it enough.
And since this is a reread marathon of sorts, I’m left with the decision of whether to read some of the later published books next that were written later to fill in “missing years,” or should I go in publication order? If you’re new to Amelia books, always read in publication order. The filler “chronological” books aren’t as good, but I’m willing to be adventurous, I think. Maybe I would revise my view of those books, if I did? Decisions, decisions.
Some favorite quotes:
“‘Do shut up, Nefret, there is Mother. She can hear a word like “murder” a mile away.’”
“The figure that stood in the door was not that of an enemy. It was worse. It was his mother.”
“‘[The children] were quite anxious about you, my dear. I admit it is difficult to tell with Ramses, but he blinked quite a lot.’”
I love this book. Rereading it was like a homecoming of sorts, and I savored every page. Ape is either in my top two or absolute top spot of favorite Amelia Peabody novels.
For one, it was my first. I read it at the tender, impressionable age of twelve and fell head over heels.
Secondly, the friendship trio of Ramses, Nefret, and David is just... perfection. I don’t think they’re ever together again with the same dynamic again, and I love them. Nefret and Ramses have really grown since Seeing a Large Cat, and Nefret is an equal member of the young Emersons partnership. Nefret has really come into herself in this novel. I enjoyed her, and it’s easy to think of Ramses as older than his nineteen years. I also really enjoyed Nefret not accepting any of Amelia’s B.S.
Furthermore, Manuscript H and the new Letter Collection B are far more numerous and freshen up the story. I love how all three narratives are so unique. Amelia has a very clear style; Ramses’s narration is completely his own, and now Nefret’s letters have a distinct voice as well. It’s also fun seeing all the characters from these various perspectives.
Egyptologically, the Emersons witness the discovery of one of the most blundered and mysterious tombs, KV55. Its enigmas still intrigue scholars today, and I have very strong opinions about this mummy’s identity, an identity that continues to divide the Egyptologist community, with one prominent member supporting the much dumber theory...
Back on track: this novel’s mystery/adventure is just phenomenal too. The “children” take the lead and drive the narrative while Amelia initially thinks the seaon to be uncharacteristically dull and crime-less.
Minor spoiler here, but in this edition, Amelia and a few others come face to face with their own deep-seated prejudices, and it’s high time for that reckoning.
And Sethos is, finally, back. Sethos always makes for a great Amelia Peabody novel.
All of the above combine, revitalizing this the ninth book in the series, freshening it up, and setting it up for the next two books, in publication order-wise. I think another thing that sets it apart is that — while it’s still humorous, this novel is not a parody of a specific cliched narrative — even though Amelia tries her best to assert the presence of a murder cult. It’s different, and while I loved the tropes, I love this book and the books that immediately follow it even more (well, if one can truly love Falcon). It’s a masterful novel with all of my favorite characters in this beloved series, and I can’t rhapsodize about it enough.
And since this is a reread marathon of sorts, I’m left with the decision of whether to read some of the later published books next that were written later to fill in “missing years,” or should I go in publication order? If you’re new to Amelia books, always read in publication order. The filler “chronological” books aren’t as good, but I’m willing to be adventurous, I think. Maybe I would revise my view of those books, if I did? Decisions, decisions.
Some favorite quotes:
“‘Do shut up, Nefret, there is Mother. She can hear a word like “murder” a mile away.’”
“The figure that stood in the door was not that of an enemy. It was worse. It was his mother.”
“‘[The children] were quite anxious about you, my dear. I admit it is difficult to tell with Ramses, but he blinked quite a lot.’”
megancmahon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Another super fun Peabody adventure, with some fabulous drama in the midst of all the murders. Sethos is back! Edward Washington is back! Amelia confronts her prejudices!
Though I do have beef with Ramses in this one. He calls Nefret "such a child" because she doesn't want to get married. MY GOOD SIR. At this stage in history, Nefret getting married would involve leaving her family, engaging in unpaid domestic servitude, and never being able to finish her education or engage in a proper career. She isn't a CHILD for not wanting to, essentially, be enslaved. She's intelligent and privileged for not having to submit to that. No person ever would. It's not childish, it's self-preservation, RAMSES.
Anyway. Still loved it.
Though I do have beef with Ramses in this one. He calls Nefret "such a child" because she doesn't want to get married. MY GOOD SIR. At this stage in history, Nefret getting married would involve leaving her family, engaging in unpaid domestic servitude, and never being able to finish her education or engage in a proper career. She isn't a CHILD for not wanting to, essentially, be enslaved. She's intelligent and privileged for not having to submit to that. No person ever would. It's not childish, it's self-preservation, RAMSES.
Anyway. Still loved it.
raptorimperator's review against another edition
5.0
There's a bunch going on in this book, but its smashing good!
1outside's review against another edition
5.0
This must be the best book in the series so far, and many of them have already been quite brilliant (I have read them in the order in which they were published). There is a slight change of tone - there is still humour, but there is also more reflection and seriousness, and the different "sources" for the narrative have matured (even Amelia herself).
And it was still a grand adventure!
(But this time I cried.)
And it was still a grand adventure!
(But this time I cried.)
gooberdawn's review against another edition
4.0
The characters in Elizabeth Peters books are just wonderful. Each character has a tenacious and colorful personality which adds true vigor & vitality to each & every story by this author. LOVE THEM. If you like Indiana Jones, you will LOVE these books.
ewil6681's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
redhairedashreads's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars - It was really good
It’s 1907 and Amelia Peabody is participating in the Suffrage movement and preparing for another season in Egypt. While Amelia thinks this season in Egypt will be a boring one, fate decides to change that by bringing back an old enemy, the Master Criminal.
I really enjoyed this adventure in Egypt. When the book starts with Amelia being determined to chain herself to a fence for the suffrage movement I knew it was going to be a good story. The Emerson family really knows how to keep things lively and we see all kinds of hijinks happening in this one. We have kidnappings, a royal tomb, stolen artifacts, jealous enemies, and a surprise couple.
I think part of why I enjoyed this book so much is that we are finally getting Nefret, David, and Ramses POV’s. While I didn’t really enjoy Ramses or Nefret in the early books, they have really become great characters that I want to know more about. I am extremely interested in seeing how David’s situation plays out, which hopefully will be in the next book. Also I am very invested in Ramses and Nefret’s relationship and can’t wait to see how that will work.
This book sees the return of the Master Criminal, aka Sethos, who was presumed dead for the past few stories. I was kind of glad we saw the return of this villain because I thought his “death” was a bit too easy. Sethos continues to be a mastermind of disguises and I look forward to seeing him cause havoc in future books.
Overall, this was another wonderful adventure in Egypt with the Emersons. While it did have some heartbreaking parts, this book continued to show the strength of this family and the strong love they share. I can’t wait to see what happens next for them. Also, Barbara Rosnblat’s narration is gold and really brings these characters to life.
Trigger Warnings: kidnapping; torture; misogyny; death; racism; death of a friend; grief
issyjanejane's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
snowmaiden's review against another edition
4.0
Another fine Amelia Peabody mystery. Our library weeded half the titles in the series, so I had to read an e-book, but the inconvenience was worth it.