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nickynack's review
adventurous
funny
fast-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
4.5
booksverygood's review
adventurous
funny
medium-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
2.5
reallyew's review
3.0
Reads like one of the old films. A good, cheesy romp that doesn't take itself too seriously and is a typical 90s adventure. Don't read if you're hoping for meaningful female characters. This is about men being the plucky, desired heroes.
lesliesifers's review
2.0
I was enjoying this until the end. It felt like they decided the book was long enough and tried to wrap everything up in a six pages. Such a let down.
lapigeon's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
One of the better Indiana Jones adventure novels, but still not quite at the quality of the movies. Still a fun time all around though.
timgonsalves's review against another edition
3.5
Most of what you want from an Indy adventure, all in a nice, quick, and fun packages. Plotting can be a bit slapdash, but still solid.
How Indy is it...
10/10 - Somehow, this is essentially the first book to actually try to replicate the films themselves. We have a prologue adventure, globtrotting thrills, booby trapped temples, a love interest, fascist baddies, Marcus and Sallah, an ancient McGuffin, and a supernatural tinged finale. Any reservations are more nitpicks than anything.
How Indy is it...
10/10 - Somehow, this is essentially the first book to actually try to replicate the films themselves. We have a prologue adventure, globtrotting thrills, booby trapped temples, a love interest, fascist baddies, Marcus and Sallah, an ancient McGuffin, and a supernatural tinged finale. Any reservations are more nitpicks than anything.
aceofknaves88's review
3.0
Having read several of these Indiana Jones prequel novels already, it's safe to say this isn't one of my favorites. I got confused in a lot of parts over which Italian character was which and much of the plot was quite plodding compared to what you would expect from an Indiana Jones adventure. Even the subject of the quest, The Philosopher's Stone, isn't all that interesting. Still, it wasn't terrible and is worth reading if you're an Indy enthusiast like I am.
verkisto's review
3.0
McCoy is a relief to read after Caidin's two entries into the series. The author has a better understanding of what the character is about, and he seems to have a better idea of what makes a good Indy story. Here, he's after the philosopher's stone, but McCoy brings in the Voynich Manuscript to add the usual mystical angle, and honestly, it feels a lot like an entry into the movie series.
To be fair, that could be because he borrows a lot of plot and imagery from both Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, but I guess that's what readers of the series are looking for. The book still isn't a top-of-the-line genre read, but I'm guessing people who start reading the series aren't looking for those kinds of books here.
To be fair, that could be because he borrows a lot of plot and imagery from both Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, but I guess that's what readers of the series are looking for. The book still isn't a top-of-the-line genre read, but I'm guessing people who start reading the series aren't looking for those kinds of books here.