erebus53's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A simple story in 1800s style with an Anglophile bent, having been with in the 1970s it allows a story told from the point of view of the women, despite the antics being primarily of Egyptology.
You're not going to like this story if you are disinterested in stories of rich Brits flitting about the countryside buying the time and energies of the locals, while pillaging the countryside of its relics and treasures. It's all quite ridiculous but at least, if you can hold your nose, it's not as rife with racism and misogyny as Wilbur Smith.
The sarcastic humour and dry turn of phrase is amusing. I did laugh out loud at some of the quips, and the casual banter between main characters is stuffy and kind of toxic, but is a foil for solid relationship building and mutual respect.
Not my usual flavour, but a fun little mystery, that's a bit ScoobyDoo in the execution.
You're not going to like this story if you are disinterested in stories of rich Brits flitting about the countryside buying the time and energies of the locals, while pillaging the countryside of its relics and treasures. It's all quite ridiculous but at least, if you can hold your nose, it's not as rife with racism and misogyny as Wilbur Smith.
The sarcastic humour and dry turn of phrase is amusing. I did laugh out loud at some of the quips, and the casual banter between main characters is stuffy and kind of toxic, but is a foil for solid relationship building and mutual respect.
Not my usual flavour, but a fun little mystery, that's a bit ScoobyDoo in the execution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Colonisation, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Violence, Drug abuse, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Death, Cultural appropriation, Infidelity, Kidnapping, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Stalking, Slavery, and War
kalira's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
The Amelia Peabody series has been a favourite since I was little and listening to the audiobooks with my mother; Barbara Rosenblat does a beautiful job bringing them to life.
While Amelia is very much the definition of an unreliable narrator, and her perspective is very much flavoured by her nationality and the era, these things are well written to make it obvious to the reader that they are true, and Amelia herself is a delight (in all her occasionally disastrous glory). The character dynamics and relationships are wonderfully engaging, and the mystery fascinating and alarming.
The conclusion sets up the next book in the series in excellent fashion without leaving any feeling of things being left hanging.
While Amelia is very much the definition of an unreliable narrator, and her perspective is very much flavoured by her nationality and the era, these things are well written to make it obvious to the reader that they are true, and Amelia herself is a delight (in all her occasionally disastrous glory). The character dynamics and relationships are wonderfully engaging, and the mystery fascinating and alarming.
The conclusion sets up the next book in the series in excellent fashion without leaving any feeling of things being left hanging.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Kidnapping, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Violence, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Racism, Religious bigotry, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
More...