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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Excellent premise but I feel the focus is never on the interesting part and after 200 pages of waiting for it to get good I can’t wait any more
*I won this novel in a "first reads" giveaway. Thanks, Goodreads!
Entertaining read. Art history meets mythology and conspiracy theory. The novel jumps back and forth between present day scholar David Franco's search for an amulet carved with the head of Medusa believed to have powers to grant immortality, and the journey of the artist Cellini through the centuries who crafted the amulet.
Great premise, but with all the jumping around in time, the author doesn't dwell long enough in any one scene or time period to linger on his historical fictions and re-imaginings. This is rather unfortunate because the reader never gets a chance to thoroughly indulge in and savor Masello's clever scenes of the past, which really is what makes reading the book worthwhile. The reader is left wishing Masello had dwelt more on this strength, which would have made The Medusa Amulet feel more meaty and substantial.
Entertaining read. Art history meets mythology and conspiracy theory. The novel jumps back and forth between present day scholar David Franco's search for an amulet carved with the head of Medusa believed to have powers to grant immortality, and the journey of the artist Cellini through the centuries who crafted the amulet.
Great premise, but with all the jumping around in time, the author doesn't dwell long enough in any one scene or time period to linger on his historical fictions and re-imaginings. This is rather unfortunate because the reader never gets a chance to thoroughly indulge in and savor Masello's clever scenes of the past, which really is what makes reading the book worthwhile. The reader is left wishing Masello had dwelt more on this strength, which would have made The Medusa Amulet feel more meaty and substantial.
I'll readily admit I skipped quite a few paragraphs in this novel, but overall it was a good read.
I won this book through first reads
This story is a historical mystery kind of along the lines of the DaVinci Code. The story goes back and forth between the present and the hunt for the Medusa Amulet and the past, shortly after the amulet was made.
The story follows a college professor/library curator's quest to find the Medusa Amulet for a very rich widow, Mrs. Van Owen, who promises him a lot of money as well as a cure for his dying sister. Of course there is another faction trying to find the same amulet that will stop at nothing to keep the amulet from Mrs. Van Owen.
While the story was good, it didn't move very fast which frustrated me. But the story did capture my interest and kept me plugging along.
This story is a historical mystery kind of along the lines of the DaVinci Code. The story goes back and forth between the present and the hunt for the Medusa Amulet and the past, shortly after the amulet was made.
The story follows a college professor/library curator's quest to find the Medusa Amulet for a very rich widow, Mrs. Van Owen, who promises him a lot of money as well as a cure for his dying sister. Of course there is another faction trying to find the same amulet that will stop at nothing to keep the amulet from Mrs. Van Owen.
While the story was good, it didn't move very fast which frustrated me. But the story did capture my interest and kept me plugging along.
This author writes a poor excuse for a Robert Langdon copycat novel. The real mystery of the book is how it came to be published.
A good twist at the end that I didn't see coming. A fun read.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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!
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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.