valentineo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
suze_1624's review
4.0
Well, another grand instalment in this steampunk historical.
It did take me a few days as you can not really rush this with terminology and action happening.
The start in London is quite slow and scene setting, getting us back acquainted with key characters.
Then on to Egypt (Or Aegypt) where the descriptions really give a sense of place and then the action starts.
Enjoyed a lot
It did take me a few days as you can not really rush this with terminology and action happening.
The start in London is quite slow and scene setting, getting us back acquainted with key characters.
Then on to Egypt (Or Aegypt) where the descriptions really give a sense of place and then the action starts.
Enjoyed a lot
alisonalisonalison's review
4.0
Excellent. I loved this. It is book two of a series and does not stand alone. The first book, [b:The Gilded Scarab|24656775|The Gilded Scarab (Lancaster's Luck, #1)|Anna Butler|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1422018330s/24656775.jpg|44270715], is fantastic, so do read that first. I'm a big fan of Anna Butler's work. This series is great and her Taking Shield sci-fi series is a top, top favourite of mine. I'd call this a steampunk mystery with a central romance and it's fun and gripping and really enjoyable. Rafe and Ned are lovely characters and I had fun reading about them and their adventures in Aegypt. The political machinations of the Houses are fascinating. The ending is a cracker and I'm really looking forward to the next book. What will happen next?
kaje_harper's review
5.0
This is the sequel to [b:The Gilded Scarab|24656775|The Gilded Scarab (Lancaster's Luck, #1)|Anna Butler|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1422018330s/24656775.jpg|44270715], one of my favorite books of 2015. It's steampunkish historical romance, with a bit of mystery. Rafe was an aviator, until a crash damaged his peripheral vision and left him grounded. He bought a coffee house near the London museum housing Egyptian artifacts, and came into the orbit of Ned Winters, archaeologist, fellow gay man (perforce closeted in this Victorianesque society), and Heir to the most powerful political family in Britain. Their adventures, and slow romance, make book 1 a gem.
This book begins a few months into their real relationship, as forces familial, political, and academic swirl around the First Heir, and the Houses to which they owe allegiance. Rafe and Ned would really prefer to be left alone, to make excellent coffee and dig up fascinating artifacts, while getting to know each other better. But they can't avoid the politics that their families embroil them in. Also, despite the tacit support from Ned's powerful father, two men cannot be together openly. And Rafe's position as minor son of a minor house, still traps him in the scheming of his own relations.
Despite the political drama that underlies the story, a lot of it reads as both adventure and romance. When Ned's airship pilot dies unexpectedly, he convinces Rafe to get his commercial pilot license back, and to provide Ned (and Ned's young son on his first trip abroad) with a safe ride to Egypt. Once there, they are caught up in the mix of local tensions over the removal of artifacts, the excitement of excavation, professional jealousies from other archaeologists, rumors and legends, and the underlying House scheming that has not been left behind in England. Through it, they are coming together as a couple, learning the ways of trust, affection and love (in moments stolen away from the company of a young child and the eyes of others of the expedition.)
I thoroughly enjoyed this story (despite a few minor plot quibbles) and look forward to perhaps seeing more of Ned and Rafe, as their lives and to a degree their society are tipped out of kilter at the end of this story.
This book begins a few months into their real relationship, as forces familial, political, and academic swirl around the First Heir, and the Houses to which they owe allegiance. Rafe and Ned would really prefer to be left alone, to make excellent coffee and dig up fascinating artifacts, while getting to know each other better. But they can't avoid the politics that their families embroil them in. Also, despite the tacit support from Ned's powerful father, two men cannot be together openly. And Rafe's position as minor son of a minor house, still traps him in the scheming of his own relations.
Despite the political drama that underlies the story, a lot of it reads as both adventure and romance. When Ned's airship pilot dies unexpectedly, he convinces Rafe to get his commercial pilot license back, and to provide Ned (and Ned's young son on his first trip abroad) with a safe ride to Egypt. Once there, they are caught up in the mix of local tensions over the removal of artifacts, the excitement of excavation, professional jealousies from other archaeologists, rumors and legends, and the underlying House scheming that has not been left behind in England. Through it, they are coming together as a couple, learning the ways of trust, affection and love (in moments stolen away from the company of a young child and the eyes of others of the expedition.)
I thoroughly enjoyed this story (despite a few minor plot quibbles) and look forward to perhaps seeing more of Ned and Rafe, as their lives and to a degree their society are tipped out of kilter at the end of this story.
swamphag's review
1.0
Review originally posted on JLR:https://justlovereviews.com/2017/11/29/the-jackals-house-by-anna-butler/
The first quarter or so of the book really dragged for me. I understood why Butler had it, but it was kind of bogged down by too much exposition. It often felt like I knew more about the scenery and what the characters were doing than the characters themselves. The anachronistic language style did not help the book either. It made the whole book drag for me and I lost interest really early in the book. Usually things pick up, but, in this case, it just got worse because more things were added to slow things down.
Another thing I wasn’t fond of was the world building. I’ll give some points for doing some creative things with the story, but it’s kind of obvious what Londinium and Aegypt are modeled after. Also, the languages and some of the cities have the same exact name, so it’s half made up, half the same with some sci-fi in it.
I think I’ve just gotten spoiled by series like Widdershins by Jordan Hawk and the Dragon series by Marie Brennan; both of which feature totally different worlds that were built on our existing one. I feel that if the story was going to be so obvious with it, the names could have just be left the same with just some added sci-fi elements (like the movie The Mummy did).
The biggest problem for me was how cold the characters were to each other when they weren’t behind closed doors. I understand that there was a need for discretion during the time period, but they were barely even friendly in public and kept their distance around their friends in private as well. It was just a super cold relationship, so when things did get hot and heavy it was pretty unbelievable.
Having Ned’s kid be a big part of the book was also not in favour of it. There were moments where there could have been some warmth and depth to the couples’ relationship, but it wasn’t possible because the kid was there. The introduction to their relationship was in the first book, so this book should have had them getting closer or strengthening their relationship.
The bottom line is that I didn’t like the relationship or the world in this book. I’ve seen a lot of positive reviews for this book, though, so you should probably get another opinion if this is something you really wanted to read.
*I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The first quarter or so of the book really dragged for me. I understood why Butler had it, but it was kind of bogged down by too much exposition. It often felt like I knew more about the scenery and what the characters were doing than the characters themselves. The anachronistic language style did not help the book either. It made the whole book drag for me and I lost interest really early in the book. Usually things pick up, but, in this case, it just got worse because more things were added to slow things down.
Another thing I wasn’t fond of was the world building. I’ll give some points for doing some creative things with the story, but it’s kind of obvious what Londinium and Aegypt are modeled after. Also, the languages and some of the cities have the same exact name, so it’s half made up, half the same with some sci-fi in it.
I think I’ve just gotten spoiled by series like Widdershins by Jordan Hawk and the Dragon series by Marie Brennan; both of which feature totally different worlds that were built on our existing one. I feel that if the story was going to be so obvious with it, the names could have just be left the same with just some added sci-fi elements (like the movie The Mummy did).
The biggest problem for me was how cold the characters were to each other when they weren’t behind closed doors. I understand that there was a need for discretion during the time period, but they were barely even friendly in public and kept their distance around their friends in private as well. It was just a super cold relationship, so when things did get hot and heavy it was pretty unbelievable.
Having Ned’s kid be a big part of the book was also not in favour of it. There were moments where there could have been some warmth and depth to the couples’ relationship, but it wasn’t possible because the kid was there. The introduction to their relationship was in the first book, so this book should have had them getting closer or strengthening their relationship.
The bottom line is that I didn’t like the relationship or the world in this book. I’ve seen a lot of positive reviews for this book, though, so you should probably get another opinion if this is something you really wanted to read.
*I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.
fleurette's review
3.0
I still have fond memories of the first book in this series. I remember especially Rafe, the main character, but also the unique and interesting world created by the author. I don't know why it took me so long to read the next book in this series, but I finally did and I am very happy.
Rafe and Ned didn't disappoint me, they are as cute as I remembered. I still really like them both as individual characters and as a couple. It's fun to see the new unknown face of Ned that he reveals in Aegypt where he can finally be completely himself. The events of this book also allow us to get to know Rafe much better and appreciate his strong character and moral code.
The only character that annoyed me was Ned's son Harry. But I don't really like children in my books. His talking about his emotions through his dog wasn't as cute for me as it probably is for many other readers. But he wasn't the most annoying kid I've read about, and the author definitely made sure that Harry wasn't just a spoiled bossy brat.
I love the direction in which Rafe and Ned's relationship is going. I like that they didn't quarrel and split up in this book, on the contrary, the events in this book cemented their relationship. I am even more convinced of them as a couple.
The plot is full of action. While the beginning may be a little slower for many of you, most of the stuff happens in the second half of the book. And although I usually don't like it, it didn't bother me at all here. The beginning is by no means boring.
I was completely taken aback by the events at the end of the book. For a moment I thought this was the last book in the series, but luckily it is not, it will be nice to get back to Rafe and Ned, especially after the events at the end of this book. This creates so many opportunities for a truly fascinating story. Maybe this time I won't wait that long to read the next book.
Rafe and Ned didn't disappoint me, they are as cute as I remembered. I still really like them both as individual characters and as a couple. It's fun to see the new unknown face of Ned that he reveals in Aegypt where he can finally be completely himself. The events of this book also allow us to get to know Rafe much better and appreciate his strong character and moral code.
The only character that annoyed me was Ned's son Harry. But I don't really like children in my books. His talking about his emotions through his dog wasn't as cute for me as it probably is for many other readers. But he wasn't the most annoying kid I've read about, and the author definitely made sure that Harry wasn't just a spoiled bossy brat.
I love the direction in which Rafe and Ned's relationship is going. I like that they didn't quarrel and split up in this book, on the contrary, the events in this book cemented their relationship. I am even more convinced of them as a couple.
The plot is full of action. While the beginning may be a little slower for many of you, most of the stuff happens in the second half of the book. And although I usually don't like it, it didn't bother me at all here. The beginning is by no means boring.
I was completely taken aback by the events at the end of the book. For a moment I thought this was the last book in the series, but luckily it is not, it will be nice to get back to Rafe and Ned, especially after the events at the end of this book. This creates so many opportunities for a truly fascinating story. Maybe this time I won't wait that long to read the next book.
susanscribs's review
4.0
More dashing good fun, with shades of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series if that classic were M/M and steampunk. I wish Butler would let Ned be a little more heroic (instead of just noble) but I guess Rafe is heroic enough for the two of them. I've come to adore many of the secondary characters, and seeing Rafe confronted by Ned's son was worth the price of the book just by itself. Seems like the end of the series because of some big revelations late in the story, but definitely left me wanting more.
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