Reviews

Travelling With The Dead by Barbara Hambly

sparks_fitz's review against another edition

Way worse than the first one. Starts off okay but is super orientalist once it gets to Constantinople. The story's less interesting and the best relationship, that between Ysidro and Asher, is moot here since they don't interact again till the last few pages. Instead a slight romance is built between Ysidro and Asher's wife Lydia, which feels very stereotypical compared to the more interesting male friendship angle (though as a gay man I am a bit biased lmao). I might still eventually read the third one because I do care a bit about these characters, but this was still really disappointing.

pvbobrien's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

3.75

pjwhyman's review against another edition

3.0

Not bad. Not as good as the first book. Enjoyable enough but it dragged a little in places.

terriaminute's review against another edition

Well, I made it to 40%, but it is so very, very slow, and loaded down with much description, that I've entirely lost an interest in continuing. It took me over two months to get this far. 

batbones's review against another edition

5.0

The breadth (of scope) and depth (of detail) in this story is astounding, going beyond '19th century but with vampires', as Hambly re-creates for the reader the immensity and variety of 19th century Europe, while managing to insert an original intricate plotline. The taut and well-plotted narrative aside, I was also delighted by the various 'asides' that explore the world within the novel, which is especially satisfying given its richness. James and Lydia Asher make very intelligent and plausible protagonists (unfortunately for me, consequently, Margaret their tag-along evoked less appeal and sympathy), and the vampires are well-crafted with the individual personality quirks and believable motivations. The Ashers' professions are a very clever move, for it is through their scientific and academic interests that they prod their contemporary marvel that is the vampire, not without humour. Lydia's inveterate habits of wondering at the particular shininess of Ysidro's fingernails, or contemplating the various biological and chemical changes that may have occurred during the turning of a mortal, are entertaining and very believable. The other musings on the nature of good and evil, the vampire's definition of love, and the variety of organisation across vampire societies, add to a sparkling, grounded, intellectually- and sensuously-thrilling tale.

missellenmarie's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

cornflower's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

mysimas's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

2.5

This book somehow… annoyed me. It lagged in places, bogged down by too many descriptions. The redeemability of characters depended on their ability to love (obsessively and codependently), regardless of what else they’d done. Lydia was a badass in a nerdy sort of way, but she was also a major hypocrite and never overcame this flaw. Margaret, her female companion, never got any character development or arc. James had most of the coolest scenes but that was it. Ysidro got criminally little space but maybe that’s ok because now

he apparently has a thing for Lydia

? So maybe it’s a blessing in disguise that it stayed in the margins. 

I was still intrigued to read the whole story even if it took me a while. Not sure I can say I liked it, exactly. 
I think I’ll prefer to think of the first book of the series as a standalone.

ewalrath's review against another edition

4.0

I was so excited when there was a sequel to "Those Who Hunt the Night." this book was worht the wait and didn't let me down.

mindsplinters's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I adore the complexity that Hambly gives both vampires and mortals.  Not to mention the research she's obviously put in to recreate the world of 1908 - Paris, Vienna, Constantinople - all of it lush and layered and approached with equanimity.  The judgements of the locales and people come from the characters themselves, not the author.  What a cast of characters, too!  We have the return of James Asher and Don Simon, of course, but we also get much more time with Lydia and more vampires than you can shake a stick at - including some familar faces.

Along with the main plot which delves back into Asher's old Spy Game and the politics among the vampires themselves, Hambly layers extra side tales and allows characters to have their say.  One of the things that I noticed was that, for a book with an awful lot of death and static immortality, there are an awful lot of views and takes on love.  Different sides, different nuances.  The inhuman who do something kind and the human who do something barbaric.  What are the reasons and are they justified?  It's a lot to work through and my heart broke at the end even as I reminded myself that, well, they are MURDERERS.  

Good work, Hambly, you have left me a conflicted mess.  LOL  Though, PS, can we please start working on overriding Lydia's ingrained low self esteem from a denigrating father and society conventions?  Poor thing.