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lazy_raven's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The audio book was good, but serveral parts were in such a low wisper i would have to max out the volume for 2 min and then have my ears blasted out once normal dialogue resumed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Incest, Torture, Medical content, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Slavery, and Cannibalism
Pirates and magicrkaufman13's review against another edition
2.0
Not as good as [b:The Anubis Gates|142296|The Anubis Gates|Tim Powers|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309282613s/142296.jpg|2193115]. Powers is a weird author to wrap my head around. He writes in such a strange style, it took me almost to the end of Anubis Gates to "get" it. That's the only reason I stuck with this book so long; I kept hoping something would happen that would make the book a little more enjoyable.
Instead, this is a fairly straightforward pirate story (well, as straightforward as you can get when voodoo, Blackbeard, and zombies are involved) with a little too much swashbuckling for my taste.
Also, somebody told me there'd be steampunk involved, perhaps because Powers's later work has a definite steampunk vibe to it. Sadly, no steampunk pirates here. :( If anyone wants to write a steampunk pirate story, I'll be your first reader.
Instead, this is a fairly straightforward pirate story (well, as straightforward as you can get when voodoo, Blackbeard, and zombies are involved) with a little too much swashbuckling for my taste.
Also, somebody told me there'd be steampunk involved, perhaps because Powers's later work has a definite steampunk vibe to it. Sadly, no steampunk pirates here. :( If anyone wants to write a steampunk pirate story, I'll be your first reader.
dashie's review against another edition
3.0
This book was first published in 1987, I think. And it has aged terribly. While the premise is rich, the plot thick and you can tell by the detail that Tim Powers knows how to write about pirates, the story falls flat when relying on the main character.
Jack Shandy has some kind of deux ex machina with the plot where things just magically fall into place where he is concerned. I feel like this would make for a fantastic swashbuckling comedy if taken ironically. Maybe I'll write that book!
The women were there to cry, be catatonic or to throw themselves at Shandy for a snog, because you know? Nothing is as appealing as a man who started piracy last week and ends the book as the king of pirates. (not true, not spoiler)
Jack Shandy has some kind of deux ex machina with the plot where things just magically fall into place where he is concerned. I feel like this would make for a fantastic swashbuckling comedy if taken ironically. Maybe I'll write that book!
The women were there to cry, be catatonic or to throw themselves at Shandy for a snog, because you know? Nothing is as appealing as a man who started piracy last week and ends the book as the king of pirates. (not true, not spoiler)
earlofoaks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
The 3rd Act "book 3" drags by pretty slow to a pretty anticlimactic ending.
trhodes2319's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lucardus's review against another edition
4.0
Ein Piratenroman erster Kajüte, mit subtilen Einsprengseln moderner Wissenschaft, aber leider auch mit wenig überraschendem Ende bzw. Wendungen. Es wären glatte fünf Punkte, wäre nicht in der zweiten Hälfte so ziemlich alles eingetroffen, was der erfahrene und aufmerksame Leser erwartet hätte. Ansonsten bestätigt Powers hier wieder, dass er einer meiner Lieblingsautoren ist, seine Magie ist stets durchdacht und originell. Historisches gemischt mit Phantastik ist sein Fachgebiet, und das ist immer ein Genuss. Jack Shandy ist der echte Jack Sparrow. Und der bessere. Die Damen, die hier mitspielen dürfen, sind allerdings nur Mitbringsel bzw. werden am laufenden Band gerettet. Also eher nichts für Liebhaber(innen) starker Protagonistinnen.
nigellicus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
5.0
Tim Powers early pirate tale, full of swashbuckling action and terrible magics. A puppeteer in search of a stolen inheritance is waylaid on his way to Jamiaca and obliged to join a pirate crew, who in turn are carrying out the behest of the terrifying Blackbeard, in search of the fountain of youth which he hopes will rid himself of an infestation of ghosts as well as grant him power and immortality aided by two Englishmen, one completely insane and dragging his daughter along with him for unthinkable purposes, the other depraved and determined to become God. This they now do.
josephschmitt's review against another edition
3.5
How in any way was the movie inspired by this novel? Nothing is similar between the two