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sparks_fitz's review against another edition
Really good!! Loved the way magic was portrayed and all the Scottish folklore stuff. It's way less "Loud" than I expected it to be, in a very good way. I actually only bought the first two at a bookstore in Seattle (thanks Magus!), but went back to get the third before I left since I liked it so much. Excited to start the second one.
waclements7's review
DNF. I was really hoping that I would like these—I love the Deryni books and I really liked Lammas Night, so I thought I would… The attention to really insignificant things (I really don’t care that much about the household furnishings, or the cars—at least not to the detail given here). To me it makes the main character completely unrelatable. I think it’s just a definite style that bugs me. Oh well.
jdhacker's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I ended up with this book along with a number of others from a relative's collection.
From the description, I was really looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a let down. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but it was definitely not what I got.
I suppose I anticipated a bit more of the 'mystic detective' trope, ala Carnacki or so many other examples from weird and pulp fiction. And that's certainly present in a way...but there is an awful lot of almost Victorian/Romantic-esque nobility/rich person stuff here. Much like a lot of classic literature from that era, I find it a little off-putting. Its hard to feel sympathetic to or identify with people so wealthy they have no actual responsibilities or demands on their time. Even artists who benefit from their patronage (which are present here) feel similar to me. Combined with the fact that we get *VERY LIMITED* magic or mystical secret society action until about the last 50 pages of this book. In fact, there's very little action of any kind til that point. Until then, there's a lot meandering not really training, not really teaching, a new protege...a lot of description of rich people's homes and cars and oh so important activities, a *little* investigation...and that's about it. There's also some really heavy christian overtones to the magic, which I wasn't anticipating, but the author goes out of their way to let us know it doesn't *have* to be that way. Unless someone tells me the subsequent books have a pretty hard shift in tone and pacing, I'm out for the rest of the series.
From the description, I was really looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a let down. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but it was definitely not what I got.
I suppose I anticipated a bit more of the 'mystic detective' trope, ala Carnacki or so many other examples from weird and pulp fiction. And that's certainly present in a way...but there is an awful lot of almost Victorian/Romantic-esque nobility/rich person stuff here. Much like a lot of classic literature from that era, I find it a little off-putting. Its hard to feel sympathetic to or identify with people so wealthy they have no actual responsibilities or demands on their time. Even artists who benefit from their patronage (which are present here) feel similar to me. Combined with the fact that we get *VERY LIMITED* magic or mystical secret society action until about the last 50 pages of this book. In fact, there's very little action of any kind til that point. Until then, there's a lot meandering not really training, not really teaching, a new protege...a lot of description of rich people's homes and cars and oh so important activities, a *little* investigation...and that's about it. There's also some really heavy christian overtones to the magic, which I wasn't anticipating, but the author goes out of their way to let us know it doesn't *have* to be that way. Unless someone tells me the subsequent books have a pretty hard shift in tone and pacing, I'm out for the rest of the series.
cheryl6of8's review
5.0
Nice to re-read this, although I have discovered that some of the scenes I remembered best are actually from the next book in the series -- so I read it too.
easolinas's review
3.0
Imagine a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys mystery with all the delightfully cheesy trappings, set in Scotland with lots of occult bits. That is the basic description of Katherine Kurtz's "The Adept," a stately supernatural thriller that seems to be gleefully rolling in cars, kilts, gentrified upper-crust cliches and magical reincarnation stuff. It's strictly a guilty pleasure -- fun but slightly goofy.
Sir Adam Sandler is a shrink, baronet... and Adept mage for the forces of Light (ah, the shorthand for generic Good). While visiting an old friend, he encounters a young artist named Peregrine Lovat, who is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
It turns out that Peregrine has a psychic gift that allows him to foresee things and hear voices, and he's desperate for Adam's help. So Adam reveals that both of them are part of an elite force of reincarnated Templar knights, who have battled evil throughout the centuries. And now he's taking Peregrine under his wing to teach him.
Unfortunately, dark things are afoot in Scotland, including the theft of a sword that may have supernatural power, grave-robbing, necromancy and a string of murders. Using ancient Scottish artifacts and blood magic, a wave of evil sorcerers are coming to steal an ancient treasure -- unless Adam and Peregrine can stop them.
"The Adept" is porn for people who love reading about Anglicized aristocracy, big crumbling castles and ivy-draped manorhouses, blue-bloods and lots of clothes and cars. The story practically swims in this, until it sometimes feels like you're swimming in jolly-good, veddy-veddy-elegant surroundings -- especially since most of the main characters seem to be "the right sort of people" (minus the pleasantly middle-class McLeod).
So if you don't like hearing about every aspect of clothing, jewelry and hairstyle at whatever genteely wealthy party the characters are attending, this may not be your cup of tea.
However, the mystery is the strongest point of the story, if a bit Hardy Boys at times. The base of the book and its characters will be familiar to mystery fans: the detective and his sidekick, the friendly policeman (McLeod) who tags along on their adventures, and a dastardly plot to do... something. Despite a suspenseful prologue, it doesn't get moving until a good one-third of the way through the story, and things slowly rev up to the breathtaking climax.
And Kurtz soaks it in a generous amount of occult goings-on, which may baffle people who don't know much about reincarnation, occult theory and the sort. There are even fairies (not cute little gauze-winged creatures, as Adam tells us), a Ban-sidhe, and a chuckleworthy cameo at the end.
As for the characters, they feel slightly unreal -- Adam and Peregrine don't get angry or frustrated, they have no skeletons in their closets, they have no sex lives, and they're resolute pillars of virtue with few flaws. Peregrine is made somewhat more interesting, though, due to his emotional problems and initial hysteria. And McLeod is just an all-around fun guy, a rollicking Highland chieftain in a cop's uniform.
"The Adept" has some serious flaws, particularly the focus on upper-crust trappings rather than the mystery -- but when it focuses on the mystery, it's a pretty fun supernatural thriller.
Sir Adam Sandler is a shrink, baronet... and Adept mage for the forces of Light (ah, the shorthand for generic Good). While visiting an old friend, he encounters a young artist named Peregrine Lovat, who is on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
It turns out that Peregrine has a psychic gift that allows him to foresee things and hear voices, and he's desperate for Adam's help. So Adam reveals that both of them are part of an elite force of reincarnated Templar knights, who have battled evil throughout the centuries. And now he's taking Peregrine under his wing to teach him.
Unfortunately, dark things are afoot in Scotland, including the theft of a sword that may have supernatural power, grave-robbing, necromancy and a string of murders. Using ancient Scottish artifacts and blood magic, a wave of evil sorcerers are coming to steal an ancient treasure -- unless Adam and Peregrine can stop them.
"The Adept" is porn for people who love reading about Anglicized aristocracy, big crumbling castles and ivy-draped manorhouses, blue-bloods and lots of clothes and cars. The story practically swims in this, until it sometimes feels like you're swimming in jolly-good, veddy-veddy-elegant surroundings -- especially since most of the main characters seem to be "the right sort of people" (minus the pleasantly middle-class McLeod).
So if you don't like hearing about every aspect of clothing, jewelry and hairstyle at whatever genteely wealthy party the characters are attending, this may not be your cup of tea.
However, the mystery is the strongest point of the story, if a bit Hardy Boys at times. The base of the book and its characters will be familiar to mystery fans: the detective and his sidekick, the friendly policeman (McLeod) who tags along on their adventures, and a dastardly plot to do... something. Despite a suspenseful prologue, it doesn't get moving until a good one-third of the way through the story, and things slowly rev up to the breathtaking climax.
And Kurtz soaks it in a generous amount of occult goings-on, which may baffle people who don't know much about reincarnation, occult theory and the sort. There are even fairies (not cute little gauze-winged creatures, as Adam tells us), a Ban-sidhe, and a chuckleworthy cameo at the end.
As for the characters, they feel slightly unreal -- Adam and Peregrine don't get angry or frustrated, they have no skeletons in their closets, they have no sex lives, and they're resolute pillars of virtue with few flaws. Peregrine is made somewhat more interesting, though, due to his emotional problems and initial hysteria. And McLeod is just an all-around fun guy, a rollicking Highland chieftain in a cop's uniform.
"The Adept" has some serious flaws, particularly the focus on upper-crust trappings rather than the mystery -- but when it focuses on the mystery, it's a pretty fun supernatural thriller.
prgchrqltma's review
4.0
I think I read at least one of these years ago, but I didn't remember it as I read. The first book in the series, this introduced a number of characters and plot starts. The world building, while interesting, is accomplished in a very info dump way, so it interfered with plot for me. I'll read some more, obviously, just because Sinclair.
spryfrog's review
2.0
My initial impression of the book and the characters hasn’t changed much. They’re both serviceable, but aren’t amazing. Peregrine and Adam remain rather flat and unengaging. Peregrine hangs on Adam’s every word and is always surprised, only occasionally mustering up the will to make declarative statements. He’s a big, dumb, puppy. Adam’s take on the Bruce Wayne character –rich man with a butler who knows everything and has many secrets- comes off as bland and shallow simply because he rarely, if ever, struggles with anything. I’m not a fan of how the magic system works, but that’s just personal preference. The fact that most of it is left in mystery sure doesn’t help.
Around page 200, 210, the book started to drag and I wished we could just get everything over with. Instead, I had to read about the crew changing into weather-appropriate clothes, the butler packing the suitcases, scenes of eating lunch, and the phrase, “We’ve done enough for today. Let’s get some rest so we’re fresh for tomorrow,” and similar variations too many times to stay sane.
All of this magic, Scottish lore, the Faerie court, and psychological/spiritual mumbo jumbo for what? For a story about stealing some damn treasure. Could the end goal of the bad guys be less compelling? They’re going to perform black magic rites and necromancy for TREASURE?? C’mon! Okay, fine. The bad guys are also looking for a spell book. They’re going to do…something…with it? Bad things? Evil spells? It’s not made clear what their exact goal is other than to have it. And in the end, the bad guys have it for about two seconds before they’re torn limb from limb, so…
Another reason the plot failed to produce suspense or a feeling of urgency is that Adam, Peregrine, and McLeod are so far behind the culprits that they only manage to face danger near the end of the novel. Most of the pursuit is Peregrine and Adam looking at things: old castles, microfilm, newspapers, etc. and then Adam whipping up a magical solution to point them in the right direction.
The most interesting part of the novel comes, of course, at the end. The storm conjured up by angry faeries adds a little bit of the missing danger and suspense element. The trio’s trek to the bad guys’ castle was my favorite part and the part where the prose shines the most. I mean, it’s not really shining, per say, the rest of the time, but you get it.
Let’s take a look at the female characters. Um. What female characters? We have an elderly Lady Laura who’s Peregrine’s grandmotherly/maternal influence who kicks the bucket, a young lady Peregrine’s instantly drawn to who subsequently falls off the face of the earth, Adam’s friend who’s married to his other friend and life’s mission is to set him up with girls, and a couple of other old ladies scattered about. The only reason I’m okay with this sad lack of representation is that it kills the potential for any sickeningly annoying romance to gum up the plot. Apparently Adam’s standards for a girlfriend are so “exacting” that’s he’s been all alone all of his 40 years. *cue a single tear*
Overall, the book would've been much improved if it were 50-100 pages shorter or a just a different book altogether.
Around page 200, 210, the book started to drag and I wished we could just get everything over with. Instead, I had to read about the crew changing into weather-appropriate clothes, the butler packing the suitcases, scenes of eating lunch, and the phrase, “We’ve done enough for today. Let’s get some rest so we’re fresh for tomorrow,” and similar variations too many times to stay sane.
All of this magic, Scottish lore, the Faerie court, and psychological/spiritual mumbo jumbo for what? For a story about stealing some damn treasure. Could the end goal of the bad guys be less compelling? They’re going to perform black magic rites and necromancy for TREASURE?? C’mon! Okay, fine. The bad guys are also looking for a spell book. They’re going to do…something…with it? Bad things? Evil spells? It’s not made clear what their exact goal is other than to have it. And in the end, the bad guys have it for about two seconds before they’re torn limb from limb, so…
Another reason the plot failed to produce suspense or a feeling of urgency is that Adam, Peregrine, and McLeod are so far behind the culprits that they only manage to face danger near the end of the novel. Most of the pursuit is Peregrine and Adam looking at things: old castles, microfilm, newspapers, etc. and then Adam whipping up a magical solution to point them in the right direction.
The most interesting part of the novel comes, of course, at the end. The storm conjured up by angry faeries adds a little bit of the missing danger and suspense element. The trio’s trek to the bad guys’ castle was my favorite part and the part where the prose shines the most. I mean, it’s not really shining, per say, the rest of the time, but you get it.
Let’s take a look at the female characters. Um. What female characters? We have an elderly Lady Laura who’s Peregrine’s grandmotherly/maternal influence who kicks the bucket, a young lady Peregrine’s instantly drawn to who subsequently falls off the face of the earth, Adam’s friend who’s married to his other friend and life’s mission is to set him up with girls, and a couple of other old ladies scattered about. The only reason I’m okay with this sad lack of representation is that it kills the potential for any sickeningly annoying romance to gum up the plot. Apparently Adam’s standards for a girlfriend are so “exacting” that’s he’s been all alone all of his 40 years. *cue a single tear*
Overall, the book would've been much improved if it were 50-100 pages shorter or a just a different book altogether.
nick_borrelli's review
3.0
I usually enjoy Katherine Kurtz's books. This one however was just average in my opinion. I guess I expected a lot more and what I got was a meandering story with a few flashes of brilliance but ultimately not enough to make me give this anything but a so-so rating. I don't know how much the co-author affected the story and I am unwilling to blame her since I don't know how much of what she contributed was lackluster. It could have been that Kurtz just didn't perform up to her usual standards in this entry. Anyway, it was just okay.
mariaschneider's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Loved this series. One of the first urban fantasy series out there before UF was even a genre. Great fun.