Reviews

The Medusa Amulet by Robert Masello

singalana's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-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? No

4.0

This book surprised me. It had been sitting on my shelf for ages until I picked it up for my “read it or unhaul it” -challenge. It’s a mystery thriller book with elements of horror splashed here and there. I’ve never read anything from the author, and apparently, he has a ton of other novels with equally interesting premises.

The Medusa Amulet mixes real-life people and events into an action-packed story. In 16th century Florence, artist Benvenuto Cellini created an amulet that can presumably grant eternal life. A present-day art historian, David Franco, is hired to find this amulet. His sister is dying from cancer, and David jumps at the chance to pay off Sarah’s medical bills.

The premise sounds simple and reminds me of Dan Brown’s work. As the story progresses, the supernatural elements become more pronounced, and that’s where the novel really distinguishes itself from other books like this that just hint at the possibility of the supernatural.

It’s a fun, adventurous story, and the main focus is on the plot. Therefore, the characters could have done with a little more development. There are also some clicéd bits and some convenient and unlikely plot points, but it manages to deliver on the atmosphere. And definitely kudos for not copping out on the supernatural! 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual content, Body horror, Cancer, Murder, Violence, Death, Alcohol, Blood, Drug use, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, and Cursing

zspetra01's review

adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

hldonavant's review against another edition

3.0

I'll readily admit I skipped quite a few paragraphs in this novel, but overall it was a good read.

danipurple's review against another edition

4.0

Won a copy and didn't know until I received it in the mail. I enjoyed the book and how it wound together the present and the historic. I wasn't that impressed with who ended up the "villian" in the story but it wasn't so unimpressive that it made me dislike the book. I didn't want to put it down once I picked it up, the story definitely pulls you in.

rosekk's review against another edition

4.0

Everything about this story was fascinating. The way Masello arranged the chapters so that one was simultaneously reading of the amulets loss and how it was once again found was brilliant - it meant one really felt how the past was affected the present. The mystery around who the bad guy is until the very end added tension, and meant that when the truth was discovered, it didn't seem so bizzare (as it might have if Masello had made it obvious from the start).

momdacook's review against another edition

4.0

David got the shock of his life at end of his journey!

ladybookdragon's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

coach_sean's review against another edition

4.0

From the title and description, I did not pick up on the fantasy/sci-fi aspect to this book. At first, I would have thought it was going to be a Robert Langdon look-alike. It's not. It is interesting though, and I did look up a few things that came up as I went along. For instance, I did not really know who Marie Tussaud was.

The narrator was good and I could hear him at all times. He was another good choice for this story.

If you were looking strictly for historical fiction, don't go here. If you like a little sci-fi mixed with history, it's a decent read/listen.

acquiescence's review against another edition

4.0

What first drew me to this book was the historical aspect, and I wasn't disappointed. I was expecting a quest set in the present that would unravel the history as it progressed, but instead there were almost as many chapters dedicated to the past as the present, and all of them were described in a way that leads me to believe Masello must have done quite some research into the time periods.

It is an easy to read book with descriptions that lead to questions and revelations. The main protagonist is an ordinary man driven by his desire to help his loved ones, thrown into a world he can barely believe in.

The past and the present weave together seamlessly, with an end that could be expected but doesn't read as a cliché.

With believable characters, a convincingly considered plot and enough twists and turns to keep one interested, it is definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone into this genre.

carlos_r's review against another edition

4.0

Una historia muy bien planteada, llena de elementos que llaman a leer el libro: investigación, magia negra, artistas de renombre, épocas clave de la historia europea y mundial... El trabajo de documentación que ha hecho el autor es meritorio. Para aquel que le haya gustado un libro como [b:The Last Cato|361938|The Last Cato|Matilde Asensi|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348889756s/361938.jpg|65419], le recomiendo que le eche un vistazo. Además la manera en la que plantea el desarrollo del libro, alternando el protagonismo de los capítulos entre los distintos personajes, hace que se haga muy llevadero.

El único pero es que la trama es algo predecible, y para la mitad del libro uno ya se hace una idea de quiénes son los personajes sospechosos.