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timinbc's review against another edition
3.0
Meh. Bubbled along nicely. Characters and plot seemed to be developing. Then I guess Pullman got bored. He started doing things with the plot that don't ring true, and having things happen to the characters that don't fit the flow of the book. It's almost as if someone darker and nastier pushed him aside and said, "Enough! Let's give them something to chew on."
And sheesh, can we get away from having almost every novel in the Victorian/steampunk setting coping the others by using a protagonist who is a plucky single woman with 21st-century values? Won't someone mix it up a little? Or have the marketing staff at the publishers decided that this is what sells so it's what we are going to churn out?
And sheesh, can we get away from having almost every novel in the Victorian/steampunk setting coping the others by using a protagonist who is a plucky single woman with 21st-century values? Won't someone mix it up a little? Or have the marketing staff at the publishers decided that this is what sells so it's what we are going to churn out?
nedge's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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
3.5
kristiinaness's review against another edition
4.0
I just love Sally Lockhart. I want to be her. The series gets better as it progresses but it is written for teens.
stephxsu's review against another edition
3.0
A significant improvement over the faux-feminist charade that was [b:The Ruby in the Smoke|114982|The Ruby in the Smoke (Sally Lockhart, #1)|Philip Pullman|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1390276946s/114982.jpg|1128656]. Sally actually DOES stuff and takes stances in this installment of the Sally Lockhart series, and while I may not always agree with the positions she argues, especially when it comes to romance, I have to respect her for standing up for what she believes in. Besides for that, however, I still did not achieve a sort of emotional connection with any of the characters to be much shaken over the shocking event that takes place. I also have a few qualms about how it's Sally's "feminine wiles" that eventually enable her to end her case. Isn't that a bit sending the wrong message, Pullman?
The issues I have with the characters aside, I was much more impressed and interested in the mystery in this novel. The layers of psychopathic deceit and manipulation involved were quite chilling! I will probably read the remaining Sally Lockhart-related books since I am this far along now. They are fair enough reads, but nothing in particular about them is going to stick with me, and I probably won't be going around singing the praises of these books to anyone anytime soon.
The issues I have with the characters aside, I was much more impressed and interested in the mystery in this novel. The layers of psychopathic deceit and manipulation involved were quite chilling! I will probably read the remaining Sally Lockhart-related books since I am this far along now. They are fair enough reads, but nothing in particular about them is going to stick with me, and I probably won't be going around singing the praises of these books to anyone anytime soon.
jessie368's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
olivia_b2509's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
marije_neeltje's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
Not as good as part 1 but still a delightful read.
missmim's review against another edition
3.0
Were I 10 or 11 I think I may have really loved this trilogy. As an adult, I think it's cute and well done but there's nothing earth shattering about it. The insights into daily living in the Victorian era are pretty cool and the main characters are all very likable and I did grow attached to them. This particular book ends in tragedy, which I think is rather rare for YA books (at least from my day).
gingerliss's review against another edition
3.0
I did enjoy this book, but it didn't have me on the edge of my seat as much as the [b:The Ruby in the Smoke|114982|The Ruby in the Smoke (Sally Lockhart, #1)|Philip Pullman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266475216s/114982.jpg|1128656]. And I kind of felt like I was missing a few loose ends from the end of the last book. Like what happened to Adelaide, did they ever find her? I'm guessing not, but I thought they would have mentioned it somewhere. And one of the side characters from the last book disappeared, Trembler', no explanation what happened to him and I don't remember him dying at the end or anything. But as the books is 6 years later I'm guessing he may have died and I'm also guessing Adelaide was never found, unless of course he gets back to them in another of the books.
This book was more political than the last one, which is probably what made it less exciting.
I did like the new characters though, McKinnon, Isabel, Lady Mary and the enemy in this book Bellman.
The story is interestingly weaved and works out pretty well, at the end everything seems to fall together.
It made me very depressed that Frederick died at the end, especially as he and Sally had finally declared their love for each other. But I guess that's what a good book will do to you.
I'm curious about the last two books, but I have to order them, so on to something different for now, but I will definitely finish this series.
This book was more political than the last one, which is probably what made it less exciting.
I did like the new characters though, McKinnon, Isabel, Lady Mary and the enemy in this book Bellman.
The story is interestingly weaved and works out pretty well, at the end everything seems to fall together.
It made me very depressed that Frederick died at the end, especially as he and Sally had finally declared their love for each other. But I guess that's what a good book will do to you.
I'm curious about the last two books, but I have to order them, so on to something different for now, but I will definitely finish this series.