thereyrey's review against another edition
5.0
What a lovely addition to the Cabal series.
I enjoyed it immensely to read about Horst and his story but what I enjoyed even more was the relationship between Horst and Johannes. The interludes were immaculate, wholesome and funny.
Yet the story still kept me on my toes and leaves me wanting more.
Can't wait to get my hands on the next book!
I enjoyed it immensely to read about Horst and his story but what I enjoyed even more was the relationship between Horst and Johannes. The interludes were immaculate, wholesome and funny.
Yet the story still kept me on my toes and leaves me wanting more.
Can't wait to get my hands on the next book!
ashleylm's review against another edition
4.0
Howard uses a slightly distancing tone which prevents one from fully empathizing with viewpoint characters--ordinarily this would knock a book down an extra star, as I'm chock-full of pent-up emotions and anxious for a good book to drag them out of me--but he's such a clever writer, and the turns of phrases are so frequently so wonderful, that the substitution of wit for warmth works.
So often when reading the run-of-the-mill book, it appears the author has been perfectly satisfied with their first draft, so long as it correctly describes the event. Those authors would be content to describe a scene where Horst and Alicia are walking, with Johannes in the middle, as: "Johannes Cabal walked in the middle." Howard's rendition, however, is "Johannes Cabal walked in the middle with a poorly concealed air of impatience about him, like a father given charge of a pair of overactive children who had cleared out a sweet jar an hour before." If you prefer the shorter version, this book is not for you, and you should read something from the fine people at Baen Books, I expect. If you prefer the longer version, you will enjoy this (and likely the work of Matthew Hughes, or Jack Vance). But start with the first one!
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
So often when reading the run-of-the-mill book, it appears the author has been perfectly satisfied with their first draft, so long as it correctly describes the event. Those authors would be content to describe a scene where Horst and Alicia are walking, with Johannes in the middle, as: "Johannes Cabal walked in the middle." Howard's rendition, however, is "Johannes Cabal walked in the middle with a poorly concealed air of impatience about him, like a father given charge of a pair of overactive children who had cleared out a sweet jar an hour before." If you prefer the shorter version, this book is not for you, and you should read something from the fine people at Baen Books, I expect. If you prefer the longer version, you will enjoy this (and likely the work of Matthew Hughes, or Jack Vance). But start with the first one!
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
veramarsova's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.25
spookyjane's review
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
4.25
mimosaeyes's review
4.0
Full disclosure, I found this book in the library and because I'm a completionist, had to go and borrow the previous three in the series first. It's no coincidence that I like this one more than the preceding ones - as I've learned along the way, each book feels quite different from the others.
I really liked the way the brothers are set up (yes, including over the course of the books I didn't enjoy as much) so that we have Horst, a 'good guy' trying to resist his monstrous, vampiric side, next to Johannes, a 'bad guy' very begrudgingly gaining a conscience. The plot and tone here are also very satisfying - I had the feeling like something was always missing before, and now it's all come together to make a lovely read.
I really liked the way the brothers are set up (yes, including over the course of the books I didn't enjoy as much) so that we have Horst, a 'good guy' trying to resist his monstrous, vampiric side, next to Johannes, a 'bad guy' very begrudgingly gaining a conscience. The plot and tone here are also very satisfying - I had the feeling like something was always missing before, and now it's all come together to make a lovely read.
spookygrrrl's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
marklpotter's review
4.0
A new volume Jonathan L. Howard's Cabal series is always a high point with me. For me to really like an author, to give more than three stars, there has to be a certain set, or subset, of elements in alignment. For instance, a well crafted world and an interesting magic system will always get my attention and while those two may be the most important criteria they aren't the reasons I love this series. You see, Howard has combined wonderful word play with a fun romp through a Steampunk setting in such a manner that these books have been a joy to read. The Brothers Cabal did not disappoint on that front, at all.
While there is magic galore is not the reason for the books so it's never really delved in to unless necessary for the story. Johannes might explain, in quite a snarky tone, why someone's magic isn't as good as his own but the basis for the magic system is never explained at all. It just is and well it should be for a setting like this.
Horst as the reluctant vampire seems effortlessly written and his internal dialog left me laughing on more than one occasion. While the reluctant vampire character may seem trite at times it's Howard's writing that really pulls it all together and makes it work. There is an ease to his words and his word play that smacks of a practiced and well read craftsman.
Horst being alive is not a spoiler as such since he's the first character we encounter aside from Johannes but the circumstances of his reversed demise make for an interesting bit of fun and an introduction to the big evil that must be defeated. This isn't about Horst and Johannes sitting around sipping tea and eating crumpets, although there may be a bit of that. The brothers have to save the world from a couple of folks who should be really dead and not walking about, but aren't undead either, and a group of financiers they have put together to fund their ambitions.
Saving the world is never easy, except in the end when it is just that easy for Johannes, but if you're this far in to the series then you expect that and have come to love it. Howard does however make it very entertaining to watch our protagonists get about the business of saving humanity. From tossing together the brothers, again, to making groups who really would prefer to kill Cabal, if not each other, work together, to dropping huge other-dimensional being from the sky Howard really makes it loads of fun.
I hesitate to use the term swashbuckling because Horst would have none of that and Johannes would be offended, it is almost the perfect term to describe the adventures of Cabal Brothers in this volume. And just wait until you read about the entomopters...
While there is magic galore is not the reason for the books so it's never really delved in to unless necessary for the story. Johannes might explain, in quite a snarky tone, why someone's magic isn't as good as his own but the basis for the magic system is never explained at all. It just is and well it should be for a setting like this.
Horst as the reluctant vampire seems effortlessly written and his internal dialog left me laughing on more than one occasion. While the reluctant vampire character may seem trite at times it's Howard's writing that really pulls it all together and makes it work. There is an ease to his words and his word play that smacks of a practiced and well read craftsman.
Horst being alive is not a spoiler as such since he's the first character we encounter aside from Johannes but the circumstances of his reversed demise make for an interesting bit of fun and an introduction to the big evil that must be defeated. This isn't about Horst and Johannes sitting around sipping tea and eating crumpets, although there may be a bit of that. The brothers have to save the world from a couple of folks who should be really dead and not walking about, but aren't undead either, and a group of financiers they have put together to fund their ambitions.
Saving the world is never easy, except in the end when it is just that easy for Johannes, but if you're this far in to the series then you expect that and have come to love it. Howard does however make it very entertaining to watch our protagonists get about the business of saving humanity. From tossing together the brothers, again, to making groups who really would prefer to kill Cabal, if not each other, work together, to dropping huge other-dimensional being from the sky Howard really makes it loads of fun.
I hesitate to use the term swashbuckling because Horst would have none of that and Johannes would be offended, it is almost the perfect term to describe the adventures of Cabal Brothers in this volume. And just wait until you read about the entomopters...
sm_almon's review
5.0
Another excellent entry in the Johannes Cabal series - can't believe the next book isn't out until 2016!
libkatem's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, straight up, I love these books to pieces. I have just forgotten a lot, so following the plotlines was kind of hard? So I think before the next book comes out, I shall have to read them all again. This is probably the best kind of problem to have.