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theshadowplay's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it! Full of fun and adventure. I wish I would have read the book that came before this one that introduces the characters. Still I breezed through it.
modernviking's review against another edition
2.0
Meh, perfect for sitting on the trainer but not much else.
iluvmb96's review against another edition
3.0
A fun, although not terribly original, historical fiction adventure novel.
rlse's review against another edition
1.0
This was like a pointless action movie with an asshole hero. Perhaps I would have been more sympathetic and invested if I started with the first book. DNF @70%.
weaselweader's review against another edition
2.0
“If the text promised immortality, I wanted nothing to do with it”
When I reviewed NAPOLEON’S PYRAMIDS, the opening novel in William Dietrich’s Ethan Gage historical adventure trilogy, I wrote:
There are those who would criticize NAPOLEON’S PYRAMIDS as a dead ringer derivative from INDIANA JONES and THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. To them I say, “Boy! Right on! It could hardly be closer!” You’d be very hard pressed to fit a piece of onion-skin flimsy between the two in terms of narrative style and general plot outlines – the wise-cracking hero and the aloof but slowly warming romantic love interest, the collection of mean dudes chasing after the hidden artifact (not to mention the charms and affections of the afore-mentioned female), the historical underpinnings behind the meaning and the value of the elusive prize, the overlaid widespread conflict, the outrageously booby-trapped hiding place, and, of course, layer after layer of ingenious puzzles safeguarding the actual location of the ultimate sought for prize! But I’d also suggest that it doesn’t make NAPOLEON’S PYRAMIDS any less gripping or enjoyable.
The story line, such as it is in THE ROSETTA KEY, picks up right where NAPOLEON’S PYRAMIDS left off. But sadly, despite its underpinnings in the astonishing reality of Napoleon’s attempted conquests in Asia and the Holy Land in his drive to become emperor of his native France, THE ROSETTA KEY falls into every pit that NAPOLEON’S PYRAMIDS deftly sidestepped. It loses all charm and becomes a derivative, juvenile, cartoonish, repetitive, video game screenplay. The question is not whether Ethan Gage will escape the traps laid for him in his quest to find and translate the Book of Thoth or whether he will evade the futile attempts of his many opponents to dispatch him in a typically ridiculous, mustache twirling, bad boy villain style. The question is only how high you will raise your eyebrow as you read about his escapes. And, of course, knowing that this is the second novel in a trilogy means that your hopes for an actual ending are futile long before you actually reach the final page.
Not recommended. And, unless I come across a free copy in the local street library box, I’m not planning on reading THE DAKOTA CIPHER (Ethan Gage #3) any time soon.
Paul Weiss
When I reviewed NAPOLEON’S PYRAMIDS, the opening novel in William Dietrich’s Ethan Gage historical adventure trilogy, I wrote:
There are those who would criticize NAPOLEON’S PYRAMIDS as a dead ringer derivative from INDIANA JONES and THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. To them I say, “Boy! Right on! It could hardly be closer!” You’d be very hard pressed to fit a piece of onion-skin flimsy between the two in terms of narrative style and general plot outlines – the wise-cracking hero and the aloof but slowly warming romantic love interest, the collection of mean dudes chasing after the hidden artifact (not to mention the charms and affections of the afore-mentioned female), the historical underpinnings behind the meaning and the value of the elusive prize, the overlaid widespread conflict, the outrageously booby-trapped hiding place, and, of course, layer after layer of ingenious puzzles safeguarding the actual location of the ultimate sought for prize! But I’d also suggest that it doesn’t make NAPOLEON’S PYRAMIDS any less gripping or enjoyable.
The story line, such as it is in THE ROSETTA KEY, picks up right where NAPOLEON’S PYRAMIDS left off. But sadly, despite its underpinnings in the astonishing reality of Napoleon’s attempted conquests in Asia and the Holy Land in his drive to become emperor of his native France, THE ROSETTA KEY falls into every pit that NAPOLEON’S PYRAMIDS deftly sidestepped. It loses all charm and becomes a derivative, juvenile, cartoonish, repetitive, video game screenplay. The question is not whether Ethan Gage will escape the traps laid for him in his quest to find and translate the Book of Thoth or whether he will evade the futile attempts of his many opponents to dispatch him in a typically ridiculous, mustache twirling, bad boy villain style. The question is only how high you will raise your eyebrow as you read about his escapes. And, of course, knowing that this is the second novel in a trilogy means that your hopes for an actual ending are futile long before you actually reach the final page.
Not recommended. And, unless I come across a free copy in the local street library box, I’m not planning on reading THE DAKOTA CIPHER (Ethan Gage #3) any time soon.
Paul Weiss
lazygal's review against another edition
2.0
This book has it all: Indiana Jones-type escapes, the Knights Templar, Petra, Napoleon... all topped off with bad writing and plotting. If you absolutely love this genre, well, I'm sure you'll like the book.
jlynnelseauthor's review against another edition
1.0
I really, really tried to read this book. Pegged as an "Indiana Jones-like adventure," I really wanted to like it. The title sounds great! Unfortunately, I did not realize when I got it from the library that it was book 2 in a series. Yet unlike other serial books, this book does not adequately sum up what happens before so readers can be up to date on the present storyline. I read "Hand of Isis" which is actually the second book of that author, which relates back to her previous, "Black Ships." "Grave Goods" by Ariana Franklin is another example of book three in a series that is easily a stand-alone novel as well. This book did not transition the readers into the story.
The opening few pages were good attention grabbers. Good opening portion. But afterwards I found I just did not like the main character. All he ever talked about was his "pride" on remaining celibate because he's in love (so excited for you, man) and his friend Ben Franklin. I got so sick of hearing "My friend, Ben Franklin, once said..." I got about 1/4-way into it and decided it was not worth the effort anymore.
The characters were shallow and the plot was too slow to develop in my opinion.
The opening few pages were good attention grabbers. Good opening portion. But afterwards I found I just did not like the main character. All he ever talked about was his "pride" on remaining celibate because he's in love (so excited for you, man) and his friend Ben Franklin. I got so sick of hearing "My friend, Ben Franklin, once said..." I got about 1/4-way into it and decided it was not worth the effort anymore.
The characters were shallow and the plot was too slow to develop in my opinion.
anaya13's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This book is right up my alley. Ethan Gage is a treasure hunter/avant garde electrician still reeling from the loss of his Egyptian love interest and on a recent mission from his allies of the hour, the British, to find a legendary magical book hidden somewhere in besieged Palestine. This is the second book in the series, which I didn’t know, and it would be helpful to read the first book before this.
Pros: the history is lively and fascinating, the settings are unique and fun, and the characters are all well done and generally likable. I really appreciate how well researched this is and love that some regions are so new and mysterious to the Europeans - it really keeps you in the time period. The scientific aspects are also very creative.
Cons: the plot is completely unbelievable, which is part of the fun but still is a bit much. Things really just fall into place. A lot of time is spent on battle scenes which I generally found tedious, but others might like it. And, despite how wonderful and rich the settings are I actually found this an incredibly slow read. It was almost a slog for me. I think this is due to the writing style. Some moments that should have been epic and exciting were described with the same energy as the sleepy waiting phase at the beginning of the book. I put the book down and imagined the scenes instead and they were much better. I have no idea if this reaction is common, but that was my experience.
I’ll try another book in the series - maybe as audiobook.
Pros: the history is lively and fascinating, the settings are unique and fun, and the characters are all well done and generally likable. I really appreciate how well researched this is and love that some regions are so new and mysterious to the Europeans - it really keeps you in the time period. The scientific aspects are also very creative.
Cons: the plot is completely unbelievable, which is part of the fun but still is a bit much. Things really just fall into place. A lot of time is spent on battle scenes which I generally found tedious, but others might like it. And, despite how wonderful and rich the settings are I actually found this an incredibly slow read. It was almost a slog for me. I think this is due to the writing style. Some moments that should have been epic and exciting were described with the same energy as the sleepy waiting phase at the beginning of the book. I put the book down and imagined the scenes instead and they were much better. I have no idea if this reaction is common, but that was my experience.
I’ll try another book in the series - maybe as audiobook.
libraryowl's review against another edition
3.0
The Rosetta Key has the flavor of an Indiana Jones type movie. I didn't read book one of the series and perhaps I would have appreciated book 2 better had I read that first. Regardless, it was a good book but not a great book. Ethan Gage is the main character. He calls himself a savant. He is an adventurer in the late 1700s. He finds himself in Egypt and Israel in search of the book of Thoth as well as his lost love (from the previous book) Astiza. Although the book was an okay read, I probably needed to see it as a movie to appreciate the action. Gage finds himself in situations that you think that no one could possibly survive and yet he does. Time and time again be prepared for death threats by unusual means. I've always wondered why the bad guy doesn't just kill their nemesis instead of having him slowly die by bizarre methods from which he manages to get away anyway. In the beginning of the book he is already in front of a firing squad and we read the words being said, "Ready, Aim, FIre". I think that is my only frustration with an otherwise action packed novel. i particularly enjoyed the side characters more than the main character. Many of them were former enemies that became friends. Mohammed and Ned were interesting people. I also enjoyed Jericho and his sister, Miriam. I would loved to have read more about them in the novel.
One thing that I do appreciate about this book is the way the author infused real historical events within the novel. It is a good read when I find myself wanting to learn more about the history of what I've read. Thank goodness I live with a "historian" of sorts who gave me great background knowledge of Napoleon as well as what was going on in the Americas at that time. I particularly enjoyed reading the Afterword in which the author stated which facts were historical and which were just made up for novel purposes. Did you know that Notre Dame Cathedral was located on a site of a Roman temple to Isis? I didn't. I applaud the fact that William Deitrich did his research before writing this historical fiction adventure.
One thing that I do appreciate about this book is the way the author infused real historical events within the novel. It is a good read when I find myself wanting to learn more about the history of what I've read. Thank goodness I live with a "historian" of sorts who gave me great background knowledge of Napoleon as well as what was going on in the Americas at that time. I particularly enjoyed reading the Afterword in which the author stated which facts were historical and which were just made up for novel purposes. Did you know that Notre Dame Cathedral was located on a site of a Roman temple to Isis? I didn't. I applaud the fact that William Deitrich did his research before writing this historical fiction adventure.
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