shadocvao's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-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
4.0
thebookclectic's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cassies_books_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
A explorer discovers a mysterious golden box in the Carpathian Mountains. She is completely unaware of the danger it poses and she takes it home to London. Unaware the evil had started in the city. Bram stoker a theatre manager and frustrated writer finds himself pulled into a plan of the rich owners of a mission home for the poor. Stoker and the explore mist rescue the city from an evil Egyptian enemy!
matosapa's review against another edition
3.0
A nice little variation on historical events using supernatural events and a bit of help from old-school monster movies.
I like reading his books because it's fun to discover the boundaries between what happened historically and what didn't. I also like the moments when he drops historical figures/events into the story in a seamless fashion.
I like reading his books because it's fun to discover the boundaries between what happened historically and what didn't. I also like the moments when he drops historical figures/events into the story in a seamless fashion.
bookishgurl's review against another edition
4.0
I received a complimentary ARC copy of The Night Crossing
by Robert Masello from NetGalley and 47North in order to read and give an honest review.
The Night Crossing is a well written and intriguing gothic novel that blends historical fact, paranormal twists and a mystery, to create a tale that will keep you flipping pages. There are three main plot lines running through this story which all blend together into a fantastical tale that takes a very unexpected tangent about two-thirds the way through the book.
Following in her father’s footsteps, Egyptophile and archaeologist Mina sets out on an expedition to the Carpathian Mountains to visit and document a mysterious phenomenon of a Sphinx which when the sun sets appears to come to life. Mina and her guides climb a mountain to get a perfect vantage point to capture a photograph of the Sphinx. After getting the shot they start on the journey down the mountain when an unexpected storm forces them to seek shelter in a cave. Too dark to continue they decide to set up camp in the safety of the cave. Mina awakens to find two of the guides have abandoned them during the night. She retraces their footprints which leads her to the back of the cave where a skeleton whose hands have been damaged after an artefact of some sort had been forcibly removed. Mina finally tracks down the artefact, a mysterious gold box, to a gypsy camp but when she arrives they are in the throes of the funeral and can’t give Mina back the box quickly enough.
Aspiring writer, Bram Stoker working as the manager of the Lyceum Theatre in 19th century London has his life turned upside down when he stops to rescue a young waif, Lucinda, who has jumped off a bridge on the Thames River in an attempt to take her life. Being a kind gentleman, he continues to care about this young woman, her body ravaged by chemicals from working making matches in a mission house where she and her son resided. Lucinda’s suicide attempt was a result of being distraught over the death of her young son Davey and the guilt she feels not knowing what happened to his body. Stoker becomes a friend and a father-like figure to her and offers her kind words and support. When Lucinda returns to work at a mission house she is intent to find out what happened to the body of her son, but nothing can prepare her for what she finds. When Mina, Bram and Lucinda cross paths, a family-like bond is formed and together they fight an evil that could be the death of them.
In Night Crossing, Robert Masello creates an interesting well-rounded cast of characters with a few familiar names such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the “Unsinkable Molly Brown”. I was impressed by the intelligence, strength and resiliency displayed by his female characters as well as genuinely evil villains who the reader can’t help but despise. The author also tackles some of the social issues prevalent at the time such as racism and sexism which he addresses accurately and with class.
As a writer, I also enjoyed the way Mr Masello gives us insight into the fictional inspiration behind Stoker’s Dracula. Although I found the tangent as well as the time jump of 19 years a bit frustrating at first, I eventually grew to appreciate the author’s unique way of tying two very different storylines together making it fairly cohesive once it unravels.
All in all an interesting read that I would recommend to those looking for a gothic thriller with threads of the paranormal.
by Robert Masello from NetGalley and 47North in order to read and give an honest review.
The Night Crossing is a well written and intriguing gothic novel that blends historical fact, paranormal twists and a mystery, to create a tale that will keep you flipping pages. There are three main plot lines running through this story which all blend together into a fantastical tale that takes a very unexpected tangent about two-thirds the way through the book.
Following in her father’s footsteps, Egyptophile and archaeologist Mina sets out on an expedition to the Carpathian Mountains to visit and document a mysterious phenomenon of a Sphinx which when the sun sets appears to come to life. Mina and her guides climb a mountain to get a perfect vantage point to capture a photograph of the Sphinx. After getting the shot they start on the journey down the mountain when an unexpected storm forces them to seek shelter in a cave. Too dark to continue they decide to set up camp in the safety of the cave. Mina awakens to find two of the guides have abandoned them during the night. She retraces their footprints which leads her to the back of the cave where a skeleton whose hands have been damaged after an artefact of some sort had been forcibly removed. Mina finally tracks down the artefact, a mysterious gold box, to a gypsy camp but when she arrives they are in the throes of the funeral and can’t give Mina back the box quickly enough.
Aspiring writer, Bram Stoker working as the manager of the Lyceum Theatre in 19th century London has his life turned upside down when he stops to rescue a young waif, Lucinda, who has jumped off a bridge on the Thames River in an attempt to take her life. Being a kind gentleman, he continues to care about this young woman, her body ravaged by chemicals from working making matches in a mission house where she and her son resided. Lucinda’s suicide attempt was a result of being distraught over the death of her young son Davey and the guilt she feels not knowing what happened to his body. Stoker becomes a friend and a father-like figure to her and offers her kind words and support. When Lucinda returns to work at a mission house she is intent to find out what happened to the body of her son, but nothing can prepare her for what she finds. When Mina, Bram and Lucinda cross paths, a family-like bond is formed and together they fight an evil that could be the death of them.
In Night Crossing, Robert Masello creates an interesting well-rounded cast of characters with a few familiar names such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the “Unsinkable Molly Brown”. I was impressed by the intelligence, strength and resiliency displayed by his female characters as well as genuinely evil villains who the reader can’t help but despise. The author also tackles some of the social issues prevalent at the time such as racism and sexism which he addresses accurately and with class.
As a writer, I also enjoyed the way Mr Masello gives us insight into the fictional inspiration behind Stoker’s Dracula. Although I found the tangent as well as the time jump of 19 years a bit frustrating at first, I eventually grew to appreciate the author’s unique way of tying two very different storylines together making it fairly cohesive once it unravels.
All in all an interesting read that I would recommend to those looking for a gothic thriller with threads of the paranormal.
catsluvcoffee's review against another edition
5.0
I expected this book to be tolerably mediocre. Pretty but somewhat generic cover art, non-specific title, blurb plot that seems familiar. That's not a very sparkly assessment when beginning a book, is it? As readers, we understand that it's simply too much to expect that every book is going to be a 5/5. Sometimes, we just hope that it's a 3. We can settle for a 3.
As long as it doesn't end up like this, right?
The Night Crossing happily contradicted that initial impression!
Beginning in 1895, archaeologist Mina is in the Carpathian mountains racing to procure the perfect shot of an incongruous Egyptian Sphinx before a storm hits. They race to take cover in a cave to ride out the storm, only to discover a skeleton cradling a mysterious golden box. The story then jumps to London, where Bram Stoker presides over the Lyceum theater. On his walk home, he happens upon match girl, Lucinda attempting to throw herself in the Thames river to drown. These three characters are from different walks of life, yet somehow their stories are then masterfully woven together in a journey fraught with danger and adventure, to triumph over evil.
Read the rest of the review at Cats Luv Coffee.
As long as it doesn't end up like this, right?
The Night Crossing happily contradicted that initial impression!
Beginning in 1895, archaeologist Mina is in the Carpathian mountains racing to procure the perfect shot of an incongruous Egyptian Sphinx before a storm hits. They race to take cover in a cave to ride out the storm, only to discover a skeleton cradling a mysterious golden box. The story then jumps to London, where Bram Stoker presides over the Lyceum theater. On his walk home, he happens upon match girl, Lucinda attempting to throw herself in the Thames river to drown. These three characters are from different walks of life, yet somehow their stories are then masterfully woven together in a journey fraught with danger and adventure, to triumph over evil.
Read the rest of the review at Cats Luv Coffee.
foreveryoungadult's review against another edition
Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: We have top men working on it right now.
Drinking Buddy: Cheers, Old Bean
Testosterone Level: (cue theme music)
Talky Talk: Fortune and Glory
Bonus Factors: Victorian England, Gothic Horror, Author as a Character
Bromance Status: Fellow Adventurer
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: We have top men working on it right now.
Drinking Buddy: Cheers, Old Bean
Testosterone Level: (cue theme music)
Talky Talk: Fortune and Glory
Bonus Factors: Victorian England, Gothic Horror, Author as a Character
Bromance Status: Fellow Adventurer
Read the full book report here.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
I love this mix of historical fiction, horror, and alternate history.
It starts slowly, building the tension and introducing the different characters, and the background.
After this introductory part is fast paced, full of action and keep you hooked till the last page.
I loved the different characters, Mina above all.
The historical background is well researched and the books and I loved to read about the different way of living in Victorian London.
A very good book that I recommend.
Many thanks to 47North and Netgalley for this ARC
It starts slowly, building the tension and introducing the different characters, and the background.
After this introductory part is fast paced, full of action and keep you hooked till the last page.
I loved the different characters, Mina above all.
The historical background is well researched and the books and I loved to read about the different way of living in Victorian London.
A very good book that I recommend.
Many thanks to 47North and Netgalley for this ARC
crystalmayfield's review against another edition
4.0
I have to say first off I am not one who likes historical fiction very well. With that said, I did, however, enjoy The Night Crossing. Robert Masello did do his research on this novel to the extent that was needed and left enough room for the story. Which the story was great and well written.
When I first started to read this book, I really didn't know what was going on. Because first we are on top of a mountain and the second we are in London with no other than Bram Stoker!!! And then a tale is weaved so well together you could almost feel the excitement with every turn.
This eBook was given to me by Netgalley for an honest review.
When I first started to read this book, I really didn't know what was going on. Because first we are on top of a mountain and the second we are in London with no other than Bram Stoker!!! And then a tale is weaved so well together you could almost feel the excitement with every turn.
This eBook was given to me by Netgalley for an honest review.