suze_1624's review against another edition
4.0
Ned and Safe are into all sorts of excitement once again.
Ned heads off to Egypt, while Rafe accepts that his elevation to First Heir means stepping into his dying fathers shoes and stays behind.
Plans go awry when Ned goes missing - cue dramatic rush to the rescue, though not smoothly.
Mechanical pyramids, Aegyptian gods, Prussians and traitors - and a stowaway sister, like that was only ever inevitable!
Enjoyed these three books
Ned heads off to Egypt, while Rafe accepts that his elevation to First Heir means stepping into his dying fathers shoes and stays behind.
Plans go awry when Ned goes missing - cue dramatic rush to the rescue, though not smoothly.
Mechanical pyramids, Aegyptian gods, Prussians and traitors - and a stowaway sister, like that was only ever inevitable!
Enjoyed these three books
kaje_harper's review
5.0
This was a fun addition to a favorite steampunkish historical fantasy series. Rafe, coffee shop owner and aeroship pilot, is a great POV character, with his dry humor and independent attitude. Here we see him more than a year on from the end of book 2, settling in to his new role in his House, and his new interactions with family. Ned is still the hidden center of Rafe's world, but as the next season for Ned's archaeological dig in Aegypt approaches, Rafe isn't free to go along. The separation is hard to take, and worse when Ned and a few of his men go off on a side expedition that takes them out of radio contact, and from which they do not return. Rafe is not going to sit around in England when Ned is missing.
This had an entertaining plot, and a warmth to the established couple romance. A few moments were pretty obvious plot-wise. (Rafe should not have been fooled by Nell - that was clearly coming from a mile away.) But it gave us a fun character addition, and in general the plot kept moving along in an interesting way, with some twists and turns. The wrap-up was solid and sweet, and the ending a strong HFN in a society where homophobia is still reigning strong. I reread the first two before this one, and recommend the whole series, read in order.
This had an entertaining plot, and a warmth to the established couple romance. A few moments were pretty obvious plot-wise. (Rafe should not have been fooled by Nell - that was clearly coming from a mile away.) But it gave us a fun character addition, and in general the plot kept moving along in an interesting way, with some twists and turns. The wrap-up was solid and sweet, and the ending a strong HFN in a society where homophobia is still reigning strong. I reread the first two before this one, and recommend the whole series, read in order.
amandasbookreview's review
"This novel is steampunk genre meets "The Mummy."
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2020/april/viewer/desktop/#page/54
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/2020/april/viewer/desktop/#page/54
frothy's review
2.0
The story was fine, I just didn’t like it, and skimmed along the whole thing. I enjoyed the elements of the story in the UK, and the coffee shop, and the characters, just not the poms in Egypt stuff.
susanscribs's review
3.0
Highly anticipated but slightly disappointing conclusion to the Lancaster's Luck series. Rafe's first person narration is as distinctive as always - erudite, witty, dry and full of affection for his beloved Ned. And therein lay the problem for me: there's no relationship development in this book. Rafe and Ned love each other, their families either don't mind or turn a blind eye to their homosexuality, and there are no challenges. Yes, Ned disappears and they are both in danger at various points in the story, but there's no doubt that Rafe will find Ned and they will survive the ultimate battle with the bad guys.
There are many intriguing aspects to the story. Rafe is trying to settle into his surprising new role in his House, and he has very complicated feelings about the father he recently discovered and is about to lose. His stepsister Nell adds a spirited flair and a secondary M/F romance to the story. And of course there is lots of danger, adventure and a mysterious, miraculous archeological discovery that could change the balance of power in the world if it is brought to light. So YMMV especially if you don't mind the lack of anything new with Ned and Rafe's relationship. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want Butler to have them break up in each book just so they can get back together, but a writer who can develop such intricate plots around the Imperial Houses should surely be able to come up with a novel way to test or further explore their romance.
I thoroughly enjoyed the series overall, especially the second book [b:The Jackal’s House|36361060|The Jackal’s House (Lancaster's Luck, #2)|Anna Butler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507247315l/36361060._SY75_.jpg|58044794]; I just think Butler didn't quite nail the landing.
There are many intriguing aspects to the story. Rafe is trying to settle into his surprising new role in his House, and he has very complicated feelings about the father he recently discovered and is about to lose. His stepsister Nell adds a spirited flair and a secondary M/F romance to the story. And of course there is lots of danger, adventure and a mysterious, miraculous archeological discovery that could change the balance of power in the world if it is brought to light. So YMMV especially if you don't mind the lack of anything new with Ned and Rafe's relationship. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want Butler to have them break up in each book just so they can get back together, but a writer who can develop such intricate plots around the Imperial Houses should surely be able to come up with a novel way to test or further explore their romance.
I thoroughly enjoyed the series overall, especially the second book [b:The Jackal’s House|36361060|The Jackal’s House (Lancaster's Luck, #2)|Anna Butler|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507247315l/36361060._SY75_.jpg|58044794]; I just think Butler didn't quite nail the landing.
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