The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
tracey_stewart's review against another edition
3.0
I think the first thing I said about [b:Reliquary|28171973|Reliquary (Reliquary, #1)|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1455625702s/28171973.jpg|48189759] was "Well, crap, this one's got the echo–y sound effects too." I complained about that in my review of [b:Relic|16079090|Relic|Renee Collins|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1362400844s/16079090.jpg|21876653] – they're quite annoying and unnecessary. And I've never heard anything like them in any other audiobook. Happily.
The same strange not-quite–sexism continues. The female member of the main cast of characters, now Dr. Margot Green, is still always called Margot, while the female cop is "Hayward". Although the society lady is referred to as Mrs. Wisher. It's all just odd; there's no consistency.
I was glad to see the cast of characters return. I liked them – which was the main reason I continued on to listen to this second book, and while I'll probably one day pick the series up again. I do like Agent Pendergast, and whatever else I have to say about the narrator and the production of the narration I do like the delivery of Agent Pendergast and his accent. (The SEAL team leader sounds like Jack Nicholson, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.)
I appreciated that, while this was a continuation of the story begun in the previous book, the setting and circumstances are completely different. Instead of one enclosed (albeit labyrinthine) space like a museum, this takes place around – and under, especially under – the city of Manhattan. And it explores the waterways as divers begin by discovering mysterious corpses and then later SEAL divers get in on the action. I learned the difference between wet suits and dry suits, and how intensely terrifying diving in bad (or no) visibility can be. It was not only different from the previous book, but from pretty much anything I've read before – so that was good.
And while the experts are diving, some of the characters we know from the first book are taking their investigation underground, infiltrating the bizarre community of the homeless and disenfranchised that shelters in all the places most would never dare to go. Of course, being me, I kept thinking about the tv show Beauty and the Beast from the 80's, which was my introduction to the idea of a whole world of tunnels below the City of New York. They're not nearly as nice in this book.
I liked the storytelling better this go 'round, for the most part. Except …
Exploring the depths of the tunnels, the party comes upon a sort of a shrine, and on it is an object that is so significant that I immediately knew what was about to happen, so I won't mention it here. In a way the next half hour or so were just … boring as the characters caught up to where I'd leaped. ()
Once again this wasn't wall-to-wall good stuff – but there was more good stuff in this one than in the first one. I've picked up a few books in this series over the years, so I hope the ratio of good to not keeps going up.
Quotable quote: "I have also found that the louder a person speaks, the less they have to say." Amen.
The same strange not-quite–sexism continues. The female member of the main cast of characters, now Dr. Margot Green, is still always called Margot, while the female cop is "Hayward". Although the society lady is referred to as Mrs. Wisher. It's all just odd; there's no consistency.
I was glad to see the cast of characters return. I liked them – which was the main reason I continued on to listen to this second book, and while I'll probably one day pick the series up again. I do like Agent Pendergast, and whatever else I have to say about the narrator and the production of the narration I do like the delivery of Agent Pendergast and his accent. (The SEAL team leader sounds like Jack Nicholson, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.)
I appreciated that, while this was a continuation of the story begun in the previous book, the setting and circumstances are completely different. Instead of one enclosed (albeit labyrinthine) space like a museum, this takes place around – and under, especially under – the city of Manhattan. And it explores the waterways as divers begin by discovering mysterious corpses and then later SEAL divers get in on the action. I learned the difference between wet suits and dry suits, and how intensely terrifying diving in bad (or no) visibility can be. It was not only different from the previous book, but from pretty much anything I've read before – so that was good.
And while the experts are diving, some of the characters we know from the first book are taking their investigation underground, infiltrating the bizarre community of the homeless and disenfranchised that shelters in all the places most would never dare to go. Of course, being me, I kept thinking about the tv show Beauty and the Beast from the 80's, which was my introduction to the idea of a whole world of tunnels below the City of New York. They're not nearly as nice in this book.
I liked the storytelling better this go 'round, for the most part. Except …
Exploring the depths of the tunnels, the party comes upon a sort of a shrine, and on it is an object that is so significant that I immediately knew what was about to happen, so I won't mention it here. In a way the next half hour or so were just … boring as the characters caught up to where I'd leaped. (
Spoiler
– And then Margot has the gall to say "just so you can walk?" Really, honey? "Just"? Let me give your spinal cord a good hard tweak and see how content you are in a wheelchair.Once again this wasn't wall-to-wall good stuff – but there was more good stuff in this one than in the first one. I've picked up a few books in this series over the years, so I hope the ratio of good to not keeps going up.
Quotable quote: "I have also found that the louder a person speaks, the less they have to say." Amen.
msmagoo502's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I really enjoy the mixture effect and fiction of the tunnels underneath New York. I found it fascinating. I'm rereading these books after 12 years and I still love them. They got me back into reading in my late teens and these are amongst the last books I read before I lost my vision. I like them as much as I did when I was 19 and 20. I'm almost 40.
aestas's review against another edition
4.0
Very much a strong sequel to The Relic. I didn't like it as much as The Relic, but it was still a joy to read. Not near enough of Agent Pendergast, but that's what Cabinet of Curiosities is for right?!
Lots of action, a smattering of science and mystery. Dialog written the right way and enough creepiness for me.
I must admit though, the first time I read this I liked all the characters. This go round Smithback is not high on my list of characters I want to see much more. He's trite and whiny...but maybe that's the point.
Lots of action, a smattering of science and mystery. Dialog written the right way and enough creepiness for me.
I must admit though, the first time I read this I liked all the characters. This go round Smithback is not high on my list of characters I want to see much more. He's trite and whiny...but maybe that's the point.
nicolaspratt's review against another edition
4.0
A very interesting view into underground NYC, somewhat predictable but still a very good book.
justiceofkalr's review against another edition
2.0
This was not quite as fun as Relic was. While it was still entertaining, it was a little too inconsistent for me. It swung back and forth from intriguing and readable fun to a totally unbelievable cheese-fest. I was particularly not a fan of the baddie reveal at the end. It just seemed way too out of left field and over the top. Also despite the fact that the menace in this book was technically different from Relic's monster, it still had a kind of been there and done that feel to me.
kendalf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
books_n_bananas's review against another edition
5.0
Perfect sequel to Relic! Brings back and expands on all the characters from the first one.
The twists and turns were so well executed. Wish they kept going with this series to continue on the with the monster, but it was a perfect way to end the series.
I also loved the use of the underground tunnels and incorporation of all of New York in this one.
The twists and turns were so well executed. Wish they kept going with this series to continue on the with the monster, but it was a perfect way to end the series.
I also loved the use of the underground tunnels and incorporation of all of New York in this one.
rhubarbguru's review against another edition
2.0
SPOILERS:
I marinated on this one for a bit before editing my review, because I was far too generous initially. I was a very big fan of "Relic". I think it was a lot of fun, kept me interested and was a page turner for me. Even though I knew a general idea of where it would go thanks to seeing the movie the book is based on years before it, I was still very pleasantly surprised and it kept me wanting to read.
This one? nope. I put this one down for over a week because I hated the plot. Look, it's not like Relic was a believable story, at all. But it was a very fun suspenseful creature feature. This was so ridiculous though - hybrid Mbwun's without any of the cool Mbwun features living in abandoned tunnels under NYC praying on homeless people (and a few surface dwellers) controlled by......Dr Frock?!? I absolutely HATED that twist (and to me it became predictable as to who the "other" was by the time of the reveal). Frock was one of the good guys in Relic and for him to become basically a mad scientist and murderous villain just because he was in a wheelchair was ridiculous. His whole rant after the reveal, especially with taunting Margo, was just too far out of left field and the authors were just going for the shock factor in all this because they didn't hit it out of the park w/ the major plot twist in the epilogue of Relic of what the creature really was (if you saw the movie first, you knew who/what the monster was even with the differences between the book and film - but the book's reveal was pretty mundane).
I just can't get over Frock being the big bad pulling the strings, it left a sour taste in my mouth even with suspecting it - I was just hoping to be wrong when the time came and I wasn't. Again his explanation for becoming evil was just so dumb. I really didn't like this one, and I am wondering I will continue on w/ the Pendergast series.
I marinated on this one for a bit before editing my review, because I was far too generous initially. I was a very big fan of "Relic". I think it was a lot of fun, kept me interested and was a page turner for me. Even though I knew a general idea of where it would go thanks to seeing the movie the book is based on years before it, I was still very pleasantly surprised and it kept me wanting to read.
This one? nope. I put this one down for over a week because I hated the plot. Look, it's not like Relic was a believable story, at all. But it was a very fun suspenseful creature feature. This was so ridiculous though - hybrid Mbwun's without any of the cool Mbwun features living in abandoned tunnels under NYC praying on homeless people (and a few surface dwellers) controlled by......Dr Frock?!? I absolutely HATED that twist (and to me it became predictable as to who the "other" was by the time of the reveal). Frock was one of the good guys in Relic and for him to become basically a mad scientist and murderous villain just because he was in a wheelchair was ridiculous. His whole rant after the reveal, especially with taunting Margo, was just too far out of left field and the authors were just going for the shock factor in all this because they didn't hit it out of the park w/ the major plot twist in the epilogue of Relic of what the creature really was (if you saw the movie first, you knew who/what the monster was even with the differences between the book and film - but the book's reveal was pretty mundane).
I just can't get over Frock being the big bad pulling the strings, it left a sour taste in my mouth even with suspecting it - I was just hoping to be wrong when the time came and I wasn't. Again his explanation for becoming evil was just so dumb. I really didn't like this one, and I am wondering I will continue on w/ the Pendergast series.
wgower's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25