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siria's review against another edition
3.0
Fun period pastiche of half a hundred things—from the pulp novels of the 20s and 30s, to James Bond, to the Da Vinci Code—which doesn't have quite the energy and verve of its predecessor, but which compensates for that with better pacing. This is not a life-changing book by any means, but as two hours of bonkers bisexual spy caper escapism (Lucifer Box "rides the number 38 bus as well as the number 19", as he puts it), it's well worth the read.
lubleu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
jant8's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
After reading a very serious, though undeniable brilliant, book I fancied something lighter and more fun. This was both!
fletchie's review against another edition
4.0
I'm going for three and a half stars for this. Was a fun read but didn't grab me like the first. Perhaps the lack of a tantalising hunky gay love interest is what knocked it down for me.
jerefi's review against another edition
2.0
It was a dollar bin book. It was "meh." Some parts made me think of Bond, other parts of Indiana Jones, but mostly it was dealing with a character that was a real scoundrel and cad. I did not find him to be as likable as would make this book more fun, but it wasn't as if I thoroughly hated him either. I just found his self-centered protension to be rather boring instead of entertaining. I blame the years I lived in Los Angeles.
soupy_twist's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
annasirius's review against another edition
2.0
I quite enjoyed the first installment in the Lucifer Box series, but I could not warm up to this. Maybe the novelty has worn off, maybe I was just not in the right mood.
The language was once more very engaging, but there was little to enamor me to the protagonist. He's self-absorbed (nothing new there) and incompetent, strutting through the world fancying himself a super-spy (er, THE super-spy) without, however, ever bothering to come up with a strategy or (dare I be so bold as to suggest?) paying attention to his surroundings to make sure his secret meetings are not watched/violently disrupted. Lucifer Box in all his dandy arrogance worked so well because despite his flaws, I trusted him to guide me through an interesting story. Here, he does not guide but stumble and follow blindly, and the antagonist left me half yawning, half annoyed to see yet again another Fascist/Satanist action adventure unfold.
Having seen (and disliked) series 3 of Sherlock, I feel a tendency to over-the-top plots and hilariousness to the detriment of plausibility is becoming a dominant streak in Gatiss' work.
The language was once more very engaging, but there was little to enamor me to the protagonist. He's self-absorbed (nothing new there) and incompetent, strutting through the world fancying himself a super-spy (er, THE super-spy) without, however, ever bothering to come up with a strategy or (dare I be so bold as to suggest?) paying attention to his surroundings to make sure his secret meetings are not watched/violently disrupted. Lucifer Box in all his dandy arrogance worked so well because despite his flaws, I trusted him to guide me through an interesting story. Here, he does not guide but stumble and follow blindly, and the antagonist left me half yawning, half annoyed to see yet again another Fascist/Satanist action adventure unfold.
Having seen (and disliked) series 3 of Sherlock, I feel a tendency to over-the-top plots and hilariousness to the detriment of plausibility is becoming a dominant streak in Gatiss' work.
ajraffles's review against another edition
5.0
Wow.
I don't often go around and tout that sequels (or following books in a series) are better than the first volume, but wow...
I really enjoyed the Vesuvius Club, but I was able to put it down for months and then return to it whereas for THIS novel I had to finish it one sitting. And did.
It's the same spy-thriller with all the punny-goodness that I so enjoy (and names that are actual words, which I also adore) only this time there is a healthy coating of the Occult. At first I balked at this, but Gatiss wound it in so lovely that I bought into it completely and was perched on the edge of my proverbial seat for what seemed the whole reading.
It's splendid and I recommend it to anyone else who sees this. Now I just hope that Black Butterfly is as splendid as The Devil in Amber was...!
I don't often go around and tout that sequels (or following books in a series) are better than the first volume, but wow...
I really enjoyed the Vesuvius Club, but I was able to put it down for months and then return to it whereas for THIS novel I had to finish it one sitting. And did.
It's the same spy-thriller with all the punny-goodness that I so enjoy (and names that are actual words, which I also adore) only this time there is a healthy coating of the Occult. At first I balked at this, but Gatiss wound it in so lovely that I bought into it completely and was perched on the edge of my proverbial seat for what seemed the whole reading.
It's splendid and I recommend it to anyone else who sees this. Now I just hope that Black Butterfly is as splendid as The Devil in Amber was...!
jejemaatita's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
5.0
It is a very cracky take of espionage genre. Lucifer is a prick but you can't help but love him. He is a mixed of James Bond and Austin Power.
The writing mimics that of ACD but with more modern take. There are many interesting lines that make you go: "oh god, that is genius!" Or "i can't believe that happen".
The twist and turn of the story can be guessed from the start but there is one or two aspects (or characters) that I was surprised for the twist until it about to happen. It is a very fun read
The writing mimics that of ACD but with more modern take. There are many interesting lines that make you go: "oh god, that is genius!" Or "i can't believe that happen".
The twist and turn of the story can be guessed from the start but there is one or two aspects (or characters) that I was surprised for the twist until it about to happen. It is a very fun read