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missmim's review against another edition
4.0
I devoured this book in about two days--that's how engrossed I was and how much I wanted to find out what happened next. Now that I'm done, I will concede that it's a bit too long, that there are way too many characters, that they all have about 9 lives too many, and yet despite all of its flaws I came away from the book still partially lost in its world. I fully enjoyed reading it and can't wait to see what Mr. Dalhquist comes up with next.
showell's review against another edition
4.0
If Gail Carriger and David Liss got together and birthed a steam punk mystery, the result might -- just might -- be something like this.
wannabekingpin's review against another edition
3.0
all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: A dark and secret cabal is performing unearthly rituals. They’re stealing minds, knowledge, experiences, condensing them into their blue glass books to be used by others. This process enslaves people, transforms them. Or outright kills them. And it’s a tad hard to tell which is worse.
Miss Temple truly did not expect to find all this when she decided to follow her former fiance in attempts to find out if there were any other reasons for why he broke off the engagement. Nor did she expect to find allies such as foreign doctor Svenson, with his masterful ability to not only heal and cure, but make allies out of enemies; or the infamous assassin nick named Cardinal Cheng. For reasons of their own, united they fight against the evil forces, giving it all to survive.
My Opinion: Fantasy doesn’t need iron logic. It only needs it to hold water and have everything work. Here, while we get to spend most the chapters in one or another head of the character, we barely get these vague outlines of why are they doing what they’re doing. For instance, Miss Temple has these ridiculous outbursts of violence that there and here sort of were hinted to as coming from what her father used to be like. Other times she does or thinks the strangest things which then leaves me, as a reader, wonder why the hell was I subject to this. Then there’s the assassin in bright red coat. I imagine he enjoys chasing victims, for I can’t imagine people recognizing the coat to not dash.
It’s not bad, it’s just not good either. 3 out of 5 from me.
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu
About the Book: A dark and secret cabal is performing unearthly rituals. They’re stealing minds, knowledge, experiences, condensing them into their blue glass books to be used by others. This process enslaves people, transforms them. Or outright kills them. And it’s a tad hard to tell which is worse.
Miss Temple truly did not expect to find all this when she decided to follow her former fiance in attempts to find out if there were any other reasons for why he broke off the engagement. Nor did she expect to find allies such as foreign doctor Svenson, with his masterful ability to not only heal and cure, but make allies out of enemies; or the infamous assassin nick named Cardinal Cheng. For reasons of their own, united they fight against the evil forces, giving it all to survive.
My Opinion: Fantasy doesn’t need iron logic. It only needs it to hold water and have everything work. Here, while we get to spend most the chapters in one or another head of the character, we barely get these vague outlines of why are they doing what they’re doing. For instance, Miss Temple has these ridiculous outbursts of violence that there and here sort of were hinted to as coming from what her father used to be like. Other times she does or thinks the strangest things which then leaves me, as a reader, wonder why the hell was I subject to this. Then there’s the assassin in bright red coat. I imagine he enjoys chasing victims, for I can’t imagine people recognizing the coat to not dash.
It’s not bad, it’s just not good either. 3 out of 5 from me.
aga_acrobat's review
2.0
Eines dieser Bücher, die formidabel anfangen, sich irgendwann verlieren und am Schluss nicht mehr wissen, wann es Zeit ist aufzuhören.
bergamotandbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Great start but the book dragged on far longer than it needed to. A lot of the plot was repetitive, showed from all three characters points of view. I will probably read the sequel at some point. Maybe.
rcstewa's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
This book had some serious pacing issues. The first chapter was very compelling and I raced through. Then the next 3-4 chapters just dragged on and on. The next couple of chapters went back to the original pace, etc., etc.
Overall, I did enjoy the story and will definitely be picking up the sequel.
This book had some serious pacing issues. The first chapter was very compelling and I raced through. Then the next 3-4 chapters just dragged on and on. The next couple of chapters went back to the original pace, etc., etc.
Overall, I did enjoy the story and will definitely be picking up the sequel.
missayme's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know how to categorise this book - all at once a fantasy, literary work and erotic fiction all mixed into one. Inexplicable but very good. Worth a read if you have a few days to concentrate. And great cover (which we all know is the main thing :) ).
klarastan's review against another edition
1.0
I still have no idea what this book is about. Sex, obviously. Unnamed Victorian-like eras, obviously. But, other than that, just...kind of pointless.
sandraker's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0