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marlanareads's review against another edition
3.0
It certainly wasn't what I expected from looking at the cover and I think that's a good thing.
The book was well written, the pacing was excellent, and the characters could have been a bit more fleshed out but this is only the first in what is meant to be a series.
It is certainly a standout middle grade novel and perhaps one of the better ones I've read.
Alas, for me, I think it's only 3.5 out of 5 stars, but I think that just comes down to my personal tastes. The characters were amiable enough and the plot highly original but something just missed the mark for me.
I will, however, keep my eye out for the sequel.
The book was well written, the pacing was excellent, and the characters could have been a bit more fleshed out but this is only the first in what is meant to be a series.
It is certainly a standout middle grade novel and perhaps one of the better ones I've read.
Alas, for me, I think it's only 3.5 out of 5 stars, but I think that just comes down to my personal tastes. The characters were amiable enough and the plot highly original but something just missed the mark for me.
I will, however, keep my eye out for the sequel.
sworthen's review against another edition
4.0
What a delightful book! I enjoyed the high adventure exploration of Mars in the early nineteenth-century with ongoing Napoleonic tensions.
Alas, I spent the entire book expecting more plot from the crannybugs.
Alas, I spent the entire book expecting more plot from the crannybugs.
pris_asagiri's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, loved the premise: steampunk adventure on colonized Mars, possible dragons. Execution was unfortunately not as good. The beginning was tedious with way too much world building and backstory. My kid lost interest about less than 1/3 into it. It was shockingly boring. But I hate unfinished books so I picked it up again this last month and finally finished. The final third of the book was more fun, better pacing, decent action. If the next book is like this final third, Samphire could have a good series on his hands. He just needs to remember who he’s writing for. It seemed a very specific subgroup would be interested. So unless you like steampunk spy stories set in British colonized Mars, I can’t really recommend it. But if you do read it, stick with it. The ending makes it better.
maya_b's review
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Dieses Buch ist in drei Abschnitte aufgeteilt, und ich muss sagen, dass es mir im ersten Abschnitt sehr schwer fiel, mich auf die Geschichte einzulassen. Die Figuren benehmen sich einfach alle etwas zu unbedacht und scheinen nicht wirklich mitzudenken, und viele Sachen wirkten beim Lesen schon eher offensichtlich, weshalb es teils sehr frustrierend war, zu sehen, wie angeblich intelligente Figuren nicht in der Lage waren, Dinge zu schlussfolgern. Auch fühlte es sich gerade dadurch anfangs an, als würde die Geschichte nicht wirklich in Gang kommen, da viele Dinge eingeführt werden, und dann erst einmal nicht wirklich etwas mit diesen Dingen passiert.
Auch war das Buch für mich insgesamt etwas zu ernst, als dass ich bestimmte Unwissenheiten oder Unfähigkeiten wirklich als Witz hätte abtun können, sonst wäre es zweifellos weniger frustrierend geworden, aber ab dem zweiten Abschnitt des Buches war die Geschichte dann in vollem Gange, und das hat auch den Figuren durchaus gut getan, und während ich sie im ersten Abschnitt eher frustrierend fand, sind sie mir im Laufe der Geschichte dann doch ans Herz gewachsen, und gerade im dritten Abschnitt des Buches fand ich sie schon ganz cool.
Es gab durchgängig Momente, die zu offensichtlich waren und dennoch nicht durchschaut worden sind (oder nicht von Edward, obwohl es anderen Leuten klar zu sein schien), aber sie wurden ab Abschnitt zwei weniger, und ich kann mir vorstellen, dass es für eine jüngere Zielgruppe durchaus Spaß macht, da ein wenig mehr mitzurätseln. (Im ersten Abschnitt war es vielleicht zusätzlich etwas frustrierender, weil der Klappentext ganz genau verrät, was passiert, und entsprechend ist das Miträtseln nicht wirklich eine Option.)
Die Geschichte war ganz cool, die Figuren irgendwann auch, aber durch einige Kleinigkeiten immer wieder hat sie mich ab und an doch nicht ganz von sich überzeugen können. Es war aber keinesfalls eine schlechte Geschichte, und ich kann mir gut vorstellen, dass die richtige Zielgruppe sie wesentlich mehr zu schätzen weiß.
Auch war das Buch für mich insgesamt etwas zu ernst, als dass ich bestimmte Unwissenheiten oder Unfähigkeiten wirklich als Witz hätte abtun können, sonst wäre es zweifellos weniger frustrierend geworden, aber ab dem zweiten Abschnitt des Buches war die Geschichte dann in vollem Gange, und das hat auch den Figuren durchaus gut getan, und während ich sie im ersten Abschnitt eher frustrierend fand, sind sie mir im Laufe der Geschichte dann doch ans Herz gewachsen, und gerade im dritten Abschnitt des Buches fand ich sie schon ganz cool.
Es gab durchgängig Momente, die zu offensichtlich waren und dennoch nicht durchschaut worden sind (oder nicht von Edward, obwohl es anderen Leuten klar zu sein schien), aber sie wurden ab Abschnitt zwei weniger, und ich kann mir vorstellen, dass es für eine jüngere Zielgruppe durchaus Spaß macht, da ein wenig mehr mitzurätseln. (Im ersten Abschnitt war es vielleicht zusätzlich etwas frustrierender, weil der Klappentext ganz genau verrät, was passiert, und entsprechend ist das Miträtseln nicht wirklich eine Option.)
Die Geschichte war ganz cool, die Figuren irgendwann auch, aber durch einige Kleinigkeiten immer wieder hat sie mich ab und an doch nicht ganz von sich überzeugen können. Es war aber keinesfalls eine schlechte Geschichte, und ich kann mir gut vorstellen, dass die richtige Zielgruppe sie wesentlich mehr zu schätzen weiß.
brandypainter's review against another edition
5.0
Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.
Secrets of the Dragon Tomb by Patrick Samphire is a Napoleonic war spy adventure on Mars that includes pterodactyls and dragon corpses. As nonsensical as that may sound, it all works together perfectly and is so much fun. I added this book to my TBR originally because I'm a big fan of the author's wife, Stephanie Burgis, and I also consider her a friend. But my love for this book was won all on its own merits. This is just so much my aesthetic. With every page I had something new to grin and get excited about. This was the best possible book for me to begin my 2016 reading year.
Edward could have been having a better time on his holiday from school. He could have been enjoying himself at an aristocratic friend's estate. But he came home because his family needs him. There is no way they would make it through the year alive if he wasn't around to keep an eye on things. When the son of his father's best friend (an honorary cousin) crashes into Edward and takes up residence, Edward's summer goes from bad to worse. Everyone knows Cousin Freddie is an idiot, but his arrival kicks off a string of events that leads to the kidnapping of Edward's parents and eldest sister. The evil Sir Titus needs Edward's father to find a lost dragon tomb. Once the tomb is found, Sir Titus has no reason to keep his hostages alive. Knowing they have limited time and few options, Edward, his sisters, and Freddie take off in pursuit to rescue their family and put an end to Sir Titus's evil treasonous plans.
Edward is such an endearing hero. He sees himself as the practical one in his whacky family of absent-minded geniuses and frivolous socialites. He is a boy who dreams of adventure and becoming a spy. He longs to be appreciated for his talents and acknowledged for the important role he plays in keeping the family functioning. He is very much a 12 year old and he learns so much about himself and his family over the course of his adventures. Edward's younger sister Putty has inherited their father's technological genius, is completely uninterested in wearing dresses or being proper, and is the perfect foil for Edward. She is courageous and quick thinking and Edward needs her just as much she needs him. Edward's older sister Olivia is outwardly proper and studious, but has masses of hidden depths her siblings hadn't even seen before they started a perilous journey with her. Any one who follows this blog regularly knows sibling stories are one of my favorite things in the world, and this one is done exactly right. Then there is Freddie. I won't say a whole lot about him for reasons, and even this one little thing is a tad spoilery: I could sum up my feelings for him with a never ending string of heart eye emojis.
Secrets of the Dragon Tomb is a steampunk alternate history. In the world Samphire created, pathways were discovered between earth and mars that allow ships to travel between the two planets in a few weeks time. When this wondrous discovery is made, what do the nations of earth do? Colonize it. Of course. Because if Imperialistic forces had the power to do that we all know they would. There is a heavy British Empire presence and also a large Chinese section of Mars. It is 1816 and the British Empire is attempting to hold back Napoleon on Earth. Napoleon is busy attempting to launch his ships to Mars. The world is an intensely interesting and layered place. The politics and historical aspects push the plot, but don't overtake the adventure aspects and the characters, who are the heart of the story. However, there is a lot to notice in how the ancient Martians are treated, how the colonialists interact with them, and the attitude many seem to have toward the past and the excavating of the dragon tombs. There are many interesting parallels between the British fascination with Egypt at the time and the fascination with the Marian emperors and their dragon tombs.
The plot of the book is sure to please any reader who loves adventure and spy stories. The villains are willing to go to any length necessary to secure their ends, even if it means hurting children. The peril is very real and there are also the fantastic creatures that inhabit Mars that the heroes have to contend with. There are a lot of elements coming together to make the story, but Samphire threads them all together perfectly. The steampunk elements, Martian world, politics of war, spies, and archeology all come together to make a brilliant fully satisfying read. I could not put this book down.
In so many ways this book seems tailor made for my loves, that it is hard for me to fathom how a person might not like it. It's one of those books I will be trying to get everyone to read and I absolutely can not wait for the next one. (This has a satisfying end, but I know there is going to be a next one. YAY!)
I read an ARC received from the author. Secrets of the Dragon Tomb is on sale January 12.
Secrets of the Dragon Tomb by Patrick Samphire is a Napoleonic war spy adventure on Mars that includes pterodactyls and dragon corpses. As nonsensical as that may sound, it all works together perfectly and is so much fun. I added this book to my TBR originally because I'm a big fan of the author's wife, Stephanie Burgis, and I also consider her a friend. But my love for this book was won all on its own merits. This is just so much my aesthetic. With every page I had something new to grin and get excited about. This was the best possible book for me to begin my 2016 reading year.
Edward could have been having a better time on his holiday from school. He could have been enjoying himself at an aristocratic friend's estate. But he came home because his family needs him. There is no way they would make it through the year alive if he wasn't around to keep an eye on things. When the son of his father's best friend (an honorary cousin) crashes into Edward and takes up residence, Edward's summer goes from bad to worse. Everyone knows Cousin Freddie is an idiot, but his arrival kicks off a string of events that leads to the kidnapping of Edward's parents and eldest sister. The evil Sir Titus needs Edward's father to find a lost dragon tomb. Once the tomb is found, Sir Titus has no reason to keep his hostages alive. Knowing they have limited time and few options, Edward, his sisters, and Freddie take off in pursuit to rescue their family and put an end to Sir Titus's evil treasonous plans.
Edward is such an endearing hero. He sees himself as the practical one in his whacky family of absent-minded geniuses and frivolous socialites. He is a boy who dreams of adventure and becoming a spy. He longs to be appreciated for his talents and acknowledged for the important role he plays in keeping the family functioning. He is very much a 12 year old and he learns so much about himself and his family over the course of his adventures. Edward's younger sister Putty has inherited their father's technological genius, is completely uninterested in wearing dresses or being proper, and is the perfect foil for Edward. She is courageous and quick thinking and Edward needs her just as much she needs him. Edward's older sister Olivia is outwardly proper and studious, but has masses of hidden depths her siblings hadn't even seen before they started a perilous journey with her. Any one who follows this blog regularly knows sibling stories are one of my favorite things in the world, and this one is done exactly right. Then there is Freddie. I won't say a whole lot about him for reasons, and even this one little thing is a tad spoilery: I could sum up my feelings for him with a never ending string of heart eye emojis.
Secrets of the Dragon Tomb is a steampunk alternate history. In the world Samphire created, pathways were discovered between earth and mars that allow ships to travel between the two planets in a few weeks time. When this wondrous discovery is made, what do the nations of earth do? Colonize it. Of course. Because if Imperialistic forces had the power to do that we all know they would. There is a heavy British Empire presence and also a large Chinese section of Mars. It is 1816 and the British Empire is attempting to hold back Napoleon on Earth. Napoleon is busy attempting to launch his ships to Mars. The world is an intensely interesting and layered place. The politics and historical aspects push the plot, but don't overtake the adventure aspects and the characters, who are the heart of the story. However, there is a lot to notice in how the ancient Martians are treated, how the colonialists interact with them, and the attitude many seem to have toward the past and the excavating of the dragon tombs. There are many interesting parallels between the British fascination with Egypt at the time and the fascination with the Marian emperors and their dragon tombs.
The plot of the book is sure to please any reader who loves adventure and spy stories. The villains are willing to go to any length necessary to secure their ends, even if it means hurting children. The peril is very real and there are also the fantastic creatures that inhabit Mars that the heroes have to contend with. There are a lot of elements coming together to make the story, but Samphire threads them all together perfectly. The steampunk elements, Martian world, politics of war, spies, and archeology all come together to make a brilliant fully satisfying read. I could not put this book down.
In so many ways this book seems tailor made for my loves, that it is hard for me to fathom how a person might not like it. It's one of those books I will be trying to get everyone to read and I absolutely can not wait for the next one. (This has a satisfying end, but I know there is going to be a next one. YAY!)
I read an ARC received from the author. Secrets of the Dragon Tomb is on sale January 12.
snazel's review against another edition
4.0
When his parents are kidnapped, it's up to Freddie (and his idiot cousin (and his mad scientist younger sister (and his deeply sensible older sister))) to save the day. But nothing and no-one are what they seem.
This is a rollicking adventure with an incredibly fun world. I cannot overstate the incredible funness of this world. Oh my goodness. Hunter-Stalker Tripods! Mummified long-dead dragons! Clockwork butlers! (I will remember you, butler.) Plants that want to eat you! Ships that SAIL THROUGH THE VOID OF SPACE USING DRAGON PATHS DURING THE NAPOLEONIC WAR. MARS. Spies, and cyphers, and secret tombs, and murders! And the characters are lots of fun and we learn not to take people at face value. Also Putty is paralyzed by a venomous snail and must be traversed through a carnivorous forest while unconscious.
This book is also notable because it really manages to include all the fun of Thrilling Adventures-era boys adventures, while neatly side-stepping sexism, colonialism, racism, and even a decent amount of classism. The servants are clockwork, not oppressed human. England is hardly the greatest power in the known world(s). It isn't even the greatest power on Mars, as three other countries (none of them European) have established dominions here. Even the shoddy way the Native Martians are treated is addressed, and they're depicted as both valuable allies and dangerous foes. Plus everybody, no matter their gender, gets a moment of competence (with the possible exception of Mum, but there's book two for that).
This is really solid and really fun. I want so many more books in this world.
This is a rollicking adventure with an incredibly fun world. I cannot overstate the incredible funness of this world. Oh my goodness. Hunter-Stalker Tripods! Mummified long-dead dragons! Clockwork butlers! (I will remember you, butler.) Plants that want to eat you! Ships that SAIL THROUGH THE VOID OF SPACE USING DRAGON PATHS DURING THE NAPOLEONIC WAR. MARS. Spies, and cyphers, and secret tombs, and murders! And the characters are lots of fun and we learn not to take people at face value. Also Putty is paralyzed by a venomous snail and must be traversed through a carnivorous forest while unconscious.
This book is also notable because it really manages to include all the fun of Thrilling Adventures-era boys adventures, while neatly side-stepping sexism, colonialism, racism, and even a decent amount of classism. The servants are clockwork, not oppressed human. England is hardly the greatest power in the known world(s). It isn't even the greatest power on Mars, as three other countries (none of them European) have established dominions here. Even the shoddy way the Native Martians are treated is addressed, and they're depicted as both valuable allies and dangerous foes. Plus everybody, no matter their gender, gets a moment of competence (with the possible exception of Mum, but there's book two for that).
This is really solid and really fun. I want so many more books in this world.
rhodesee's review against another edition
4.0
Dragons, Mars, clockwork machines and a plucky young hero.... Where has this book been all my life? This is a super fun and action packed middle grades steampunk-fantasy. I can't wait to start the next one!
mckenzierichardson's review against another edition
4.0
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
This is quite an impressive book, especially for a first novel.
I found this in the Little Free Library and was instantly pulled in by the amazing cover art. Once I started reading, I was also pleased to see the fantastic artwork continued throughout the book. They were all gorgeous to look at and really added to the aesthetic of the book.
This story is such am amazing mash-up of steampunk, dragons, spies, and dinosaurs. Oh, yeah, and it all takes place on Mars. A very unique combination that works well. The story itself is a fairly standard one in terms of Indian Jones-style adventure stories, however the main character, Edward Sullivan, a twelve-year-old who loves such adventure and spy stories, adds a new twist in being thrown into a world that he has always dreamed of and finding it's quite different in real life.
Such a fantastic story of adventure, family, and growth. I loved the characters and the settings and really enjoyed watching the characters connect and mature as the novel progressed. This is the first book in the series. It wraps up nicely at the end and feels fully-contained, but also makes the reader want to continue the adventure. I am always slightly disappointed by books that end on such a cliff hanger that it seems like it isn't even a full story. This one has a good balance and sets up the next book nicely.
A spectacular read that I really enjoyed. I will definitely be reading the second book in this series.
This is quite an impressive book, especially for a first novel.
I found this in the Little Free Library and was instantly pulled in by the amazing cover art. Once I started reading, I was also pleased to see the fantastic artwork continued throughout the book. They were all gorgeous to look at and really added to the aesthetic of the book.
This story is such am amazing mash-up of steampunk, dragons, spies, and dinosaurs. Oh, yeah, and it all takes place on Mars. A very unique combination that works well. The story itself is a fairly standard one in terms of Indian Jones-style adventure stories, however the main character, Edward Sullivan, a twelve-year-old who loves such adventure and spy stories, adds a new twist in being thrown into a world that he has always dreamed of and finding it's quite different in real life.
Such a fantastic story of adventure, family, and growth. I loved the characters and the settings and really enjoyed watching the characters connect and mature as the novel progressed. This is the first book in the series. It wraps up nicely at the end and feels fully-contained, but also makes the reader want to continue the adventure. I am always slightly disappointed by books that end on such a cliff hanger that it seems like it isn't even a full story. This one has a good balance and sets up the next book nicely.
A spectacular read that I really enjoyed. I will definitely be reading the second book in this series.
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
I love books that break molds. We found this series at our local library, and I PURCHASED them, I loved them so much!
This series successfully transcends reality and any pretense of adherence to scientific laws by ignoring them -- in a space setting that is utterly fantastic.
Imagine: Napoleon Bonaparte is alive and well and scheming to invade an already-colonized Mars. Three-masted schooners sail between worlds, on lanes created by now-extinct dragons. Dragon tombs on Mars are stuffed with fantastical technology that make all sorts of amazing inventions possible. All set in a very Austen-esque, or perhaps Bronte-esque (?), British Mars colony, with all it's preconceptions of propriety.
The MC, Edward, is a "damsel," as my daughter calls them -- characters who perpetually need saving. Edward gets into scrapes from which his 9-year-old sister, Putty, must rescue him. Or his uncle Freddy, the spy trying to thwart Napoleon's aspirations of Martian conquest. Or his father, the inventor of the amazing water abacus. Or his sister Olivia (who's in love with Freddy) or his sister Jane (who definitely puts me in mind of Sense and Sensibility).
I do hope there's a third book soon!
Visit my blog for more book reviews, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
This series successfully transcends reality and any pretense of adherence to scientific laws by ignoring them -- in a space setting that is utterly fantastic.
Imagine: Napoleon Bonaparte is alive and well and scheming to invade an already-colonized Mars. Three-masted schooners sail between worlds, on lanes created by now-extinct dragons. Dragon tombs on Mars are stuffed with fantastical technology that make all sorts of amazing inventions possible. All set in a very Austen-esque, or perhaps Bronte-esque (?), British Mars colony, with all it's preconceptions of propriety.
The MC, Edward, is a "damsel," as my daughter calls them -- characters who perpetually need saving. Edward gets into scrapes from which his 9-year-old sister, Putty, must rescue him. Or his uncle Freddy, the spy trying to thwart Napoleon's aspirations of Martian conquest. Or his father, the inventor of the amazing water abacus. Or his sister Olivia (who's in love with Freddy) or his sister Jane (who definitely puts me in mind of Sense and Sensibility).
I do hope there's a third book soon!
Visit my blog for more book reviews, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
reader44ever's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun adventure story and I really enjoyed it. Sure, it's marketed to the middle-grade kid and I'm an over-40 adult, but I still had fun reading it. :-)
The story is told by Edward Sullivan, a 12-year-old boy with three sisters. Two are older (Jane and Olivia/Livvy), and one is younger (Parthenia/Putty). They live on Mars (!!!), where Edward dreams of one day becoming a spy. But when his parents and eldest sister are kidnapped, Edward learns that being a spy is rather more complicated and dangerous than his stories in Thrilling Martian Tales made it seem. ;-)
I enjoyed seeing Edward work with his two younger-than-Jane sisters and his "cousin" Freddie. I was at first not inclined to like Freddie, as hisbehavior towards Edward was not very nice, giving him that stickleberry juice. :-( I also didn't like Edward's mama, who seems like a social-climber of the worst sort. Sadly, she was still a social-climber at the end of the story, after her kidnapping/rescue, but I have hopes that in book two we'll see a kinder, more nicely-motherly Mama. I was all set to like Putty, who seemed like she'd be a great comic sidekick, but then she annoyed me by running off and doing dumb things, like ignoring Edward and turning off the water abacus, stealing Edward's Thrilling Martian Tales, and the like.
So why did I like this book so much, given how much I disliked certain primary characters? Well, Edward was pretty great, the illustrations were fantastic (if scant), and the story-line was full of excitement and adventure. :-)
Plus, Freddie redeemed himself to me, and I enjoyed the ending, when he says he hassomething to ask Olivia, but can't...And Olivia smiles and says, "Yes." Then, "they took each other's hands and grinned like idiots." Edward was clueless as to what they were talking about, lol, but I think (though I'm not 100% sure) that Freddie proposed! And Livvy said yes! :-) I had a big smile after finishing this story, and that ending was a big reason for it. :-)
I'm rather disappointed that the only dragons in this story were embalmed. I had been hoping to meet a live one, but apparently they're extinct. . . . Or are they? I need to read book two when it's released. I still have hopes that they'll be found to still exist. :-)
(Note that my hope that the dragons do still exist is purely mine; no hints were given in this book. On the contrary, we were explicitly told that all the dragons are dead and gone.)
The story is told by Edward Sullivan, a 12-year-old boy with three sisters. Two are older (Jane and Olivia/Livvy), and one is younger (Parthenia/Putty). They live on Mars (!!!), where Edward dreams of one day becoming a spy. But when his parents and eldest sister are kidnapped, Edward learns that being a spy is rather more complicated and dangerous than his stories in Thrilling Martian Tales made it seem. ;-)
I enjoyed seeing Edward work with his two younger-than-Jane sisters and his "cousin" Freddie. I was at first not inclined to like Freddie, as his
So why did I like this book so much, given how much I disliked certain primary characters? Well, Edward was pretty great, the illustrations were fantastic (if scant), and the story-line was full of excitement and adventure. :-)
Plus, Freddie redeemed himself to me, and I enjoyed the ending, when he says he has
I'm rather disappointed that the only dragons in this story were embalmed. I had been hoping to meet a live one, but apparently they're extinct. . . . Or are they? I need to read book two when it's released. I still have hopes that they'll be found to still exist. :-)
(Note that my hope that the dragons do still exist is purely mine; no hints were given in this book. On the contrary, we were explicitly told that all the dragons are dead and gone.)