ccqtpie's review against another edition
5.0
Oh man was this a busy one.
NOOOOOO ABDULLAH:(((((( you will be sorely missed
NOOOOOO ABDULLAH:(((((( you will be sorely missed
sjgochenour's review against another edition
3.0
Also known as "the one where David and Lia fall in love (yay!) and Abdullah dies (boo)."
I think Peters was doing something rather interesting and worthwhile in this book, by forcing Peabody, who prides herself on her progressive thinking, to confront (some of) her own deeply-embedded racial prejudices. That being said, the conflict of an Egyptian man marrying into the family (who is, of course, fully Anglicized by this point) never fully drags into the light a bunch of relevant questions about how close any two families (the Emersons and the family of Abdullah) can be when one has significant financial and institutional power over the other.
I don't think it was the move to make Abdullah die for Peabody to convince her of his grandson's eminent worthiness. I don't exactly take issue with his death, because I do think it was in keeping with his character to desperately wish to avoid the suffering and lack of autonomy that would likely attend his final years. (Ableist? Yes, but consistent with how many men whose identity rests in their ability to do skilled physical labor struggle with despair as they lose their strength and dexterity.) I do think the implications of it needing to be for the sake of a white woman, even a friend, is depressing.
While I enjoy the camaraderie of David, Ramses, and Nefret, I find Ramses' unrequited love for Nefret exasperating. Believable, certainly, but not particularly enjoyable for me to read. I think Lia has the right of it -- Nefret and Ramses are great characters, but David is definitely the best at being a functioning adult human among the three of them.
ETA: also yikes this one has a bunch of weird stuff about sex workers in it. Victorian savior attitudes abound.
I think Peters was doing something rather interesting and worthwhile in this book, by forcing Peabody, who prides herself on her progressive thinking, to confront (some of) her own deeply-embedded racial prejudices. That being said, the conflict of an Egyptian man marrying into the family (who is, of course, fully Anglicized by this point) never fully drags into the light a bunch of relevant questions about how close any two families (the Emersons and the family of Abdullah) can be when one has significant financial and institutional power over the other.
I don't think it was the move to make Abdullah die for Peabody to convince her of his grandson's eminent worthiness. I don't exactly take issue with his death, because I do think it was in keeping with his character to desperately wish to avoid the suffering and lack of autonomy that would likely attend his final years. (Ableist? Yes, but consistent with how many men whose identity rests in their ability to do skilled physical labor struggle with despair as they lose their strength and dexterity.) I do think the implications of it needing to be for the sake of a white woman, even a friend, is depressing.
While I enjoy the camaraderie of David, Ramses, and Nefret, I find Ramses' unrequited love for Nefret exasperating. Believable, certainly, but not particularly enjoyable for me to read. I think Lia has the right of it -- Nefret and Ramses are great characters, but David is definitely the best at being a functioning adult human among the three of them.
ETA: also yikes this one has a bunch of weird stuff about sex workers in it. Victorian savior attitudes abound.
bookwrm526's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
elizafiedler's review against another edition
3.0
I keep hoping these would introduce some unexpected twists, but they're all very similar
kvegan's review against another edition
1.5
Worthy enough attempt at a humorous romp through colonial eygpt solving murders whilst discovering artefacts. However I DNF, the main character got very irritating and I grew extremely tired of her bodice ripping relationship with her apparently gorgeous six foot three black haired hunk of a husband who both ravishes and infantalises her in equal measures. I think the author was just writing her own fantasies and I started to feel like a gooseberry.
snowden64's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
inger70's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoying the part "the children" are playing in the series now. Sorry for the loss of another favorite character, however.