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j3nnplam's review against another edition
5.0
This could be The Adventures of Young Amelia Peabody. If you are an Elizabeth Peters fan, do give this a try.
seeinghowitgoes's review against another edition
4.0
Having been introduced to Deanna Raybourn via her Lady Julia series, it was interesting to see her writing style imposed on a whole new set of characters. Much unlike Julia, Evangeline Starke is a strong, bold and startling woman who just happens to fall into a ridiculously interesting set of circumstances when a photo of her husband appears in the mail, her husband who died 5 years ago.
It's a journey that ends up being a love story of sorts to Damascus and brings to mind all sorts of imagery, not unlike the Mary Russell novels. I'm not sure if this will end up being a series, but it's a lovely start to one.
It's a journey that ends up being a love story of sorts to Damascus and brings to mind all sorts of imagery, not unlike the Mary Russell novels. I'm not sure if this will end up being a series, but it's a lovely start to one.
cammmiam's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 out of 5 stars.
After five years of silence and a funeral that should have put him to rest, Evangeline Starke is shocked to receive by post a picture of her late-husband in the desert of Damascus. Gabriel should have met a watery grave with the sinking of the Lusitania; Gabriel should no longer be such a shadow over her life when she had every intention of divorcing him once it became clear their impetuous marriage was a disaster. But, because she has not been able to come to terms with the past nor is she able to resist the need to know answers, Evie sets off to Damascus to discover what has become of her husband. The search takes her beyond the confines of the City of Jasmine, however, and into the Badiyat ash-Sham (the Syrian desert), where all she thought she knew is challenged and an adventure is undertook to secure an artifact Gabriel took pains to give to her.
Despite its prominence as a plot point, I actually found the journey to retrieve the historic relic to be the least impressive aspect of this story. Things became very convoluted with so many different parties on the hunt and loyalties constantly dubious. It came to the point where I wished everyone would just give up on The Cross and instead focus on the political struggles of the Arabs against the French or English governments that wish to control the region. Set not long after the time of Lawrence of Arabia’s term in the desert, the history on the politics of the Middle East was purely fascinating to read.
Like she always does, Deanna Raybourn has created such a distinct time and place for her characters to inhabit. She has a way with words to beautifully paint Damascus, an archaeological dig site, or most impressively, the endless sea of sand that comprises the beautiful and harsh realities of the desert. Her research into the locale and the Bedouin people was perfect; I could have happily stayed among these characters to learn more of their way of life and the causes they would fight for. Characters come alive when a setting is powerfully realized, and this was definitely the case for Evie, Gabriel, and the memorable cast of supporting characters.
If you can ignore the cover (which I really don’t think does the story inside justice) then I would recommend this book for those interested in the beginning of the modern-day struggle in the Middle East and those who seek a desert landscape to escape to. I might also suggest ignoring some of the characters, since the jury is still out for me on whether or not I liked Gabriel, and focus in on the things I have said I enjoyed above.
(I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is February 25, 2014.)
After five years of silence and a funeral that should have put him to rest, Evangeline Starke is shocked to receive by post a picture of her late-husband in the desert of Damascus. Gabriel should have met a watery grave with the sinking of the Lusitania; Gabriel should no longer be such a shadow over her life when she had every intention of divorcing him once it became clear their impetuous marriage was a disaster. But, because she has not been able to come to terms with the past nor is she able to resist the need to know answers, Evie sets off to Damascus to discover what has become of her husband. The search takes her beyond the confines of the City of Jasmine, however, and into the Badiyat ash-Sham (the Syrian desert), where all she thought she knew is challenged and an adventure is undertook to secure an artifact Gabriel took pains to give to her.
Despite its prominence as a plot point, I actually found the journey to retrieve the historic relic to be the least impressive aspect of this story. Things became very convoluted with so many different parties on the hunt and loyalties constantly dubious. It came to the point where I wished everyone would just give up on The Cross and instead focus on the political struggles of the Arabs against the French or English governments that wish to control the region. Set not long after the time of Lawrence of Arabia’s term in the desert, the history on the politics of the Middle East was purely fascinating to read.
Like she always does, Deanna Raybourn has created such a distinct time and place for her characters to inhabit. She has a way with words to beautifully paint Damascus, an archaeological dig site, or most impressively, the endless sea of sand that comprises the beautiful and harsh realities of the desert. Her research into the locale and the Bedouin people was perfect; I could have happily stayed among these characters to learn more of their way of life and the causes they would fight for. Characters come alive when a setting is powerfully realized, and this was definitely the case for Evie, Gabriel, and the memorable cast of supporting characters.
If you can ignore the cover (which I really don’t think does the story inside justice) then I would recommend this book for those interested in the beginning of the modern-day struggle in the Middle East and those who seek a desert landscape to escape to. I might also suggest ignoring some of the characters, since the jury is still out for me on whether or not I liked Gabriel, and focus in on the things I have said I enjoyed above.
(I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is February 25, 2014.)
kiwikazz's review against another edition
3.0
Probably a 3.5 stars. Engaging and interesting to learn about Syria in the early 1900's.
karlynrose's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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
3.75
hlizmarie's review against another edition
2.0
I recently read Night of a Thousand Stars, which is loosely linked to this book, and loved it. Despite being a Deanna Raybourn fan I really had no desire to pick this book up until I read Sebastian and Poppy's story and got won over by their chemistry and adventures. Unfortunately, there was little here that reminded me of them except for the geography.
Evie and Gabriel married the same day they met and then within months were in the midst of a divorce when Gabriel is killed. Evie has tried to go on with her life and become a bit of a sensation flying her small plane around the globe. Out of the blue someone sends her evidence that Gabriel might be alive and she treks off to find out if it's true. Of course, it is and the two get drawn into a search for a sacred relic and misadventures ensue.
It's hard not to compare the two books. The men know each other and both are part of the same super-secret spy agency and end up in this part of the world during the war. Both women are unconventional for the time period and have quite their own personalities. The backdrop of the Middle East and the geography is much the same. Unfortunately, however, the relationship between Evie and Gabriel is much more harsh and bitter than that of Sebastian and Poppy. There is history between them that wounded them both and instead of a slow warming we get a lot of conflict, name-calling, and coldness. They have walls up against each other for so long in the book that when they finally crumble it was too late for me. Evie seems to just harp at him endlessly and her constant wrong assumptions about Gabriel's character came off as condescending. Poppy did much the same with Sebastian in Night of a Thousand Stars but it came across as charmingly naive and done with a bit of a wink. In the end, there was simply not enough lightness and spark between the two to balance out their anger and disappointment in themselves and each other.
Evie and Gabriel married the same day they met and then within months were in the midst of a divorce when Gabriel is killed. Evie has tried to go on with her life and become a bit of a sensation flying her small plane around the globe. Out of the blue someone sends her evidence that Gabriel might be alive and she treks off to find out if it's true. Of course, it is and the two get drawn into a search for a sacred relic and misadventures ensue.
It's hard not to compare the two books. The men know each other and both are part of the same super-secret spy agency and end up in this part of the world during the war. Both women are unconventional for the time period and have quite their own personalities. The backdrop of the Middle East and the geography is much the same. Unfortunately, however, the relationship between Evie and Gabriel is much more harsh and bitter than that of Sebastian and Poppy. There is history between them that wounded them both and instead of a slow warming we get a lot of conflict, name-calling, and coldness. They have walls up against each other for so long in the book that when they finally crumble it was too late for me. Evie seems to just harp at him endlessly and her constant wrong assumptions about Gabriel's character came off as condescending. Poppy did much the same with Sebastian in Night of a Thousand Stars but it came across as charmingly naive and done with a bit of a wink. In the end, there was simply not enough lightness and spark between the two to balance out their anger and disappointment in themselves and each other.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3 STARS
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
The Great War has ended and the now widowed, Evie is trying to support herself and her aunt Dove with her fame as an aviatrix. Evie and Gabriel were going to divorce before he died on the Lusitania and Evie was left with mix feelings. While their whirlwind courtship and marriage was ending Evie has always loved her adventurer husband. Five years since Gabriel's death Evie is finally moving on with her life when she receives a recent picture of Gabriel. She suddenly puts her life on hold and sets out to find out the mystery behind the picture.
Since the novel was set in the 1920s I cannot help but picture Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable as Evie and Gabriel. I did like the banter between and love story of the Starks but there were times in the novel where the book dragged on longer then it should have. I enjoyed the novel but I still prefer Lady Julia.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
The Great War has ended and the now widowed, Evie is trying to support herself and her aunt Dove with her fame as an aviatrix. Evie and Gabriel were going to divorce before he died on the Lusitania and Evie was left with mix feelings. While their whirlwind courtship and marriage was ending Evie has always loved her adventurer husband. Five years since Gabriel's death Evie is finally moving on with her life when she receives a recent picture of Gabriel. She suddenly puts her life on hold and sets out to find out the mystery behind the picture.
Since the novel was set in the 1920s I cannot help but picture Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable as Evie and Gabriel. I did like the banter between and love story of the Starks but there were times in the novel where the book dragged on longer then it should have. I enjoyed the novel but I still prefer Lady Julia.
andipants's review against another edition
2.0
After my last experience with this author, I was wary, but the description on the back sounded interesting and I really really wanted it to be good, so I gave this one a try. It was...okay. I really liked the Middle Eastern setting and the political intrigue; the first third of the book, where they arrive in Damascus and are touristing around the city, are pretty good for that alone. And the main character, Evie, was much more likable than Delilah in [b:A Spear of Summer Grass|16074560|A Spear of Summer Grass|Deanna Raybourn|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356914412s/16074560.jpg|19200712]. (Side note: I didn't realize this before, but it is set in the same universe - Delilah is an acquaintance of Evie's, and Ryder is the one who taught Evie to fly, though neither appear in this story).
The story itself, though, is unimpressive. I called the twist from the very beginning, and Gabriel's reasons for (and methods of) contacting Evie at that particular moment seemed a stretch. The coded messages he sends her are ridiculous; the fact that she receives and understands them as intended is more a testament to the power of coincidence and a complete lack of common sense on her part than any real cleverness. The plot is stupidly convoluted; I gave up trying to keep track of who was double-crossing whom, because the answer was EVERYONE. One betrayal is a plot twist; two are surprising, but beyond that, the story loses any suspense because the reader just assumes that everyone is a double agent it's pointless to pay attention because they all will switch "sides" a dozen times before the good guys finally win in the end. And for all that she is set up as a "modern woman" full of spunk and derring-do, Evie is distressingly helpless in key moments of action. She regularly gets herself into trouble and then has to be rescued by the men around her. Ugh.
And, though it wasn't quite so overt as in the other book, this one still has its share of racism, mostly of the archetype/caricature variety. You have the evil, scheming half-breed, the tribe of noble savages, and the white savior who sweeps in to rally the natives who otherwise couldn't possibly overcome their tribal differences to unite against their white oppressors (the comparison to Lawrence of Arabia is repeatedly and explicitly made in the text). To her credit, near the end, Evie has a revelation that she has been exoticizing the locals in Damascus, and she realizes that they are just people going about their everyday lives, just like the people in England. But that's pretty small consolation, all things considered.
The story itself, though, is unimpressive. I called the twist
Spoiler
that Gabriel disappeared because he was doing secret government workAnd, though it wasn't quite so overt as in the other book, this one still has its share of racism, mostly of the archetype/caricature variety. You have the evil, scheming half-breed, the tribe of noble savages, and the white savior who sweeps in to rally the natives who otherwise couldn't possibly overcome their tribal differences to unite against their white oppressors (the comparison to Lawrence of Arabia is repeatedly and explicitly made in the text). To her credit, near the end, Evie has a revelation that she has been exoticizing the locals in Damascus, and she realizes that they are just people going about their everyday lives, just like the people in England. But that's pretty small consolation, all things considered.
chloebear21's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
nakedsushi's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book because I enjoyed the Veronica Speedwell series that Raybourn wrote. This is pretty much the same, but without the same familiar London, auxiliary characters, and gripping mystery. Even though this was was more an adventure novel, it still read very much like what you'd want out of a Raybourn story: plucky main character, dark broody love interest, supportive-but-eccentric aunt, etc.
I didn't like it as much as I thought and found the setting and the descriptions of the people a little old-fashioned, bordering on offensive, so 3 stars for now.
I didn't like it as much as I thought and found the setting and the descriptions of the people a little old-fashioned, bordering on offensive, so 3 stars for now.