jeswil62's review
1.0
I got about halfway through the book but couldnt finish it. Originally I was going to give it 2 stars but if i cant even finish it, it has to be a 1 star book. The plot was basically all these characters telling De Winter things and became the prime example of telling instead of showing. It did have cool aspects but i couldnt get over the mediocre writing and characters that tried so hard to be interesting. As a minor note, the grammar and writing style were appalling
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review
1.0
In [b:The Bookman|6922360|The Bookman (The Bookman Histories, #1)|Lavie Tidhar|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1258686290s/6922360.jpg|7150817], Tidhar throws in everything, including the kitchen sink. In this one, he adds the plumbing, shame he forgot to connect it to a water source.
Good ideas, but too much "ain't it cool" based on television and not actual source material for the characters (some of whom are not in character, and some of whom don't make sense in co-existing together).
Worlds need some rules, besides the whole gravity thing.
Good ideas, but too much "ain't it cool" based on television and not actual source material for the characters (some of whom are not in character, and some of whom don't make sense in co-existing together).
Worlds need some rules, besides the whole gravity thing.
woodge's review
4.0
Though set in the same alternate steampunk world as The Bookman, this story stands on its own for the most part. This story is set three years after the events portrayed in The Bookman and begins in France. Our protagonist is Milady de Winter, a headstrong operative of the Quiet Council. The Council is sort of an elite police unit though with an agenda of its own. Milady is tasked with investigating a strange murder scene which blossoms into something much bigger and more dangerous.
Although my wife read The Bookman and liked it, she got about halfway through this one and said, "Oh gross!" and tossed it away in disgust. I thought that boded well for me. This story is indeed darker than The Bookman and I also enjoyed it more as well. Like in The Bookman, famous people from other works of literature pop up here too. I won't spoil it for you by telling you who, though. I am really enjoying this trilogy and looking forward to the final volume, The Great Game, due next year.
Although my wife read The Bookman and liked it, she got about halfway through this one and said, "Oh gross!" and tossed it away in disgust. I thought that boded well for me. This story is indeed darker than The Bookman and I also enjoyed it more as well. Like in The Bookman, famous people from other works of literature pop up here too. I won't spoil it for you by telling you who, though. I am really enjoying this trilogy and looking forward to the final volume, The Great Game, due next year.
mfred's review
2.0
Lavie Tidhar gives good setting. His descriptions of a Steampunk Victorian Age, ruled by Lizards, populated with historical and literary minor characters— Sherlock Holmes and his gang, a Lizard Queen Victoria, a nicely creepy Dr. Frankenstein — it’s all done very well. Totally enjoyable.
But does he write good story? Kinda. In The Bookman, the poet Orphan finds himself at the center of a vast conspiracy and is dragged all around the globe, beat up, and almost killed, numerous times. In Camera Obscura, the main difference seems to be that it is a woman, Milady, who is beat up, conspired against, etc.
Well ok, there is a second difference. Milady is also supposed to be a police woman, carrying a big gun and intimidating all of the criminals in Paris— unlike our somewhat nebbish everyman, Orphan.
But Milady, she is a badass with a big gun from the page one. She’s not drawn into conspiracy, she’s a conspirator! Employed by the Quiet Council, the shady cabal of automatons ruling France, Milady just swaggers all over town, covering up crimes, collecting clues, fingering her gun in menacing ways… Once the story gets going, however, Milady starts to get beat up, a lot.
And every time she is conspired against, beat on, horrifyingly tortured, etc., not only was I reminded a little too closely of Orphan’s woes, but I also started to doubt her verisimilitude as originally described. Her truthfulness as a person began to ring false the worse the story treated her.
I’m all for the noir style beat down of the protagonist. Bring em low, I say! Bring em down to my filthy, violent level!
…But by every villain that shows up? With every new twist of the plot? All the while also telling me just how tough and smart she is, always hinting at some dark past filled with clever and crafty misdeeds? In a fantasy England populated by walking and talking man-sized lizards, whales that roam the Thames, and a real, live Captain Nemo? It’s one unbelievable thing too many.
I give the Bookman three stars for being inventive and fun. Camera Obscura, however, gets two. Don’t piss on my leg (or beat up your so-called tough female heroine until she is unrecognizable) and tell me it’s raining. And seriously? Don’t make me read the same book twice.
But does he write good story? Kinda. In The Bookman, the poet Orphan finds himself at the center of a vast conspiracy and is dragged all around the globe, beat up, and almost killed, numerous times. In Camera Obscura, the main difference seems to be that it is a woman, Milady, who is beat up, conspired against, etc.
Well ok, there is a second difference. Milady is also supposed to be a police woman, carrying a big gun and intimidating all of the criminals in Paris— unlike our somewhat nebbish everyman, Orphan.
But Milady, she is a badass with a big gun from the page one. She’s not drawn into conspiracy, she’s a conspirator! Employed by the Quiet Council, the shady cabal of automatons ruling France, Milady just swaggers all over town, covering up crimes, collecting clues, fingering her gun in menacing ways… Once the story gets going, however, Milady starts to get beat up, a lot.
And every time she is conspired against, beat on, horrifyingly tortured, etc., not only was I reminded a little too closely of Orphan’s woes, but I also started to doubt her verisimilitude as originally described. Her truthfulness as a person began to ring false the worse the story treated her.
I’m all for the noir style beat down of the protagonist. Bring em low, I say! Bring em down to my filthy, violent level!
…But by every villain that shows up? With every new twist of the plot? All the while also telling me just how tough and smart she is, always hinting at some dark past filled with clever and crafty misdeeds? In a fantasy England populated by walking and talking man-sized lizards, whales that roam the Thames, and a real, live Captain Nemo? It’s one unbelievable thing too many.
I give the Bookman three stars for being inventive and fun. Camera Obscura, however, gets two. Don’t piss on my leg (or beat up your so-called tough female heroine until she is unrecognizable) and tell me it’s raining. And seriously? Don’t make me read the same book twice.
nkmeyers's review against another edition
3.0
[b:Camera Obscura|9280057|Camera Obscura (The Bookman Histories, #2)|Lavie Tidhar|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1301906823s/9280057.jpg|13326028]
Liked it.
Didn't love it like [b:The Bookman|6922360|The Bookman (The Bookman Histories, #1)|Lavie Tidhar|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1258686290s/6922360.jpg|7150817], but it was kinda fun anyway.
Spoiler
A heroine with a Gatling gun integrated prosthetic is hard not to enjoy. But if you sprinkle with some kinky sex, add zombie pirates and a few dashes of literary references you've got the basic ingredients of a hell of a story.The book starts in a Paris with a brothel dominated nightlife
and includes a visit to an alternative future America
Spoiler
and cameo appearances by [a:Henri De Toulouse Lautrec], the [a:Marquis de Sade|3190746|Marquis de Sade|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1262081435p2/3190746.jpg], Buffalo Bill, and Sherlock Holmes.A false climax recalls the story of serial murder told more thoroughly in [b:The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America|21996|The Devil in the White City Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America|Erik Larson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167325045s/21996.jpg|3486041] (Guess here's where I have to admit I liked the Chicago of [b:Fair Weather|548194|Fair Weather|Richard Peck|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309201817s/548194.jpg|535450] a bit better than the Devil book?)
But, however you look at it, the Chicago world's fair venue charged with Tesla's gyrating energy and the exposition's position in history are ripe territory for re-imagining.
I'm putting my copy up on swap if you want to explore this world for yourself!
athenalindia's review
4.0
I feel like this series is developing nicely. The second book feels slightly more accomplished than the first. But two books in, isn't it about time to state clearly what's going on here? It's not a deal-breaker, because I enjoy very much this literary steampunky world, but I've stuck it out for two books. What are Les Lezards? (Yes, it's been broadly hinted at. But I'm ready for answers, not just hints. If something major had been revealed each book, but reserved part of the secrets, that would have been fine. It's substituting the hints for any real reveals that makes me a bit impatient.)
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
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