peachani's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death of parent, Death, Murder, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, and Gun violence
Minor: Drug abuse and Abandonment
iris_jv's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Imo the weakest of the three books in this series I’ve read thus far (Angels&Demons, Da Vinci Code). Not really hitting the spot that the others did for me. Will still read the remaining two though (Inferno, Origin)🙃.
Spoiler
Most easy to figure the villain out, villain itself being a repulsive human, doing the most inhumane things. Also slightly more unbelievable/un-logical than the other two.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Body horror, Confinement, Blood, Hate crime, and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment
ricksilva's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This earns an extra star for Dan Brown's usual array of historical and architectural details. Beyond that it's pretty weak. Symbologist Robert Langdon is tricked into coming to Washington DC by a man who has kidnapped one of Langdon's best friends, a high ranking Freemason. The usual mayhem ensues, in the same kind of frantic race of chases and puzzle-solving that we see in the other entries in this series.
The pacing (another specialty of Brown; the entire novel takes place over twenty-four hours, aside from some flashbacks) is used to obscure a whole range of plot holes, eventually leading to a big disappointment of a climax, followed by about four more chapters of philosophical debate on hidden meanings in the Bible and the power of positive thinking.
The noetic science that's a huge plot point in the story isn't really a science. It's repackaged new-age pseudoscience. The massive threat to national security that has the CIA involved in the case turns out to be, and it's never made clear why the villain waits to go forward with that part of his "evil" plan.
An early murder in the story, one of those "just to make sure everyone knows the villain is a really bad guy" killings reads like incel fanservice (the only things we know about the victim are that she's smart, she's overweight, and a computer nerd can't figure out why she possibly would have turned him down for a date).
Potentially world-changing discoveries that are referenced don't end up changing anything, and the story's teased revelations about the secrets of Freemasonry don't really amount to much in the way of revelations at all.
But I do now have some ideas of places I'd like to visit and take photos next time I'm in DC. So there's that.
The pacing (another specialty of Brown; the entire novel takes place over twenty-four hours, aside from some flashbacks) is used to obscure a whole range of plot holes, eventually leading to a big disappointment of a climax, followed by about four more chapters of philosophical debate on hidden meanings in the Bible and the power of positive thinking.
The noetic science that's a huge plot point in the story isn't really a science. It's repackaged new-age pseudoscience. The massive threat to national security that has the CIA involved in the case turns out to be
Spoiler
a video that would be embarrassing to important politiciansAn early murder in the story, one of those "just to make sure everyone knows the villain is a really bad guy" killings reads like incel fanservice (the only things we know about the victim are that she's smart, she's overweight, and a computer nerd can't figure out why she possibly would have turned him down for a date).
Potentially world-changing discoveries that are referenced don't end up changing anything, and the story's teased revelations about the secrets of Freemasonry don't really amount to much in the way of revelations at all.
But I do now have some ideas of places I'd like to visit and take photos next time I'm in DC. So there's that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Kidnapping and Injury/Injury detail
katrinarose's review
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Exact same formula as his previous books except the stakes of this book were much lower and less thrilling than previous books. Entertaining nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Torture
Moderate: Animal death and Animal cruelty
marianneiriss's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Blood, Death, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, Infertility, and Violence
Minor: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Suicide, Stalking, Religious bigotry, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Medical content, and Cursing
librariangeorgia's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Out of the 3 books i've read so far, this is my 2nd favourite.
I loved the codebreaking side of the story and the little mysteries throughout the book. Again, like in ANGELS AND DEMONS, I didn't care for the religion elements.
There are 2 books left in this series but I feel like I may be getting bored of these books. I may have to take a break before picking up the next book.
I loved the codebreaking side of the story and the little mysteries throughout the book. Again, like in ANGELS AND DEMONS, I didn't care for the religion elements.
There are 2 books left in this series but I feel like I may be getting bored of these books. I may have to take a break before picking up the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Transphobia, Death of parent, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Torture
lilybuddy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Oh jeez. I started this book for the 3rd time because I never understood it well and I hoped the new TV series would give me some handholds. It did! But the book is very different than the show. And quite a bit longer. With a lot of explanations. And more explanations. And expositions. Sometimes multiple times about the same thing.
Sometimes I just skipped entire paragraph because Langdon was waxing poetic about a building that didn't matter for the plot.
I get now why I could hardly follow it the first 2 times. I could barely follow it now. The story gets buried beneath the author's apparent need to prove how much research he did, which is an impressive amount, it has to be said.
All in all, I'm glad I read it again but I'm less enthused than I thought I'd be.
Sometimes I just skipped entire paragraph because Langdon was waxing poetic about a building that didn't matter for the plot.
I get now why I could hardly follow it the first 2 times. I could barely follow it now. The story gets buried beneath the author's apparent need to prove how much research he did, which is an impressive amount, it has to be said.
All in all, I'm glad I read it again but I'm less enthused than I thought I'd be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Violence, Torture, Physical abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Death
emmiekay's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
It was a great easy read. The beginning did feel like the author was trying to become a Mason by kissing ass. The main character comes across so dumb it doesn't make sense why Peter Solomon thought he would be fit for solving the mystery. Katherine was the true hero and honestly the book would have been 4 stars if she was the protagonist. But overall I enjoyed it, the ending has stuck with me for a while awarding it 3 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Torture, and Violence
meganpbennett's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Much like The Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol follows Robert Langdon as he runs through a major capital city, expounding on symbology, trying to both solve a mystery and save someone's life. In this book, it's Washington, DC, and the secret society is the Masons.
The Lost Symbol isn't as good as The Da Vinci Code. It's a fast-paced run though the District, exposing Masonic symbols, and it's interesting enough to be a page turner, but the way everything falls together is a bit rushed. It doesn't have the smoothness of The Da Vinci Code.
The Lost Symbol isn't as good as The Da Vinci Code. It's a fast-paced run though the District, exposing Masonic symbols, and it's interesting enough to be a page turner, but the way everything falls together is a bit rushed. It doesn't have the smoothness of The Da Vinci Code.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death
I have no idea how to tag this, but a major character drowns on the page, only for the reader to discover that it's a modified torture chamber with hyperoxygenated water, so he's still alive. A minor character is drowned.sabrielsbell's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
This was a fun addition to this series but not my favorite of the bunch. I enjoyed following along with the mysteries (as always) and the family plotline with Peter Solomon was really intriguing but I struggled with the conclusion its ambiguous nature. The clues felt less solid and that was a struggle for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, and Torture
More...