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thehannah's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
masida214's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
ipanzica's review against another edition
3.0
This book is very similar to Dracula since it is about a mysterious magical foreign entity that terrorizes some brave British citizens. The narrator of the story changes for each section/book of the book. I did not like this since I was already invested in what was happening to the character in the past section for a full section of the book and switching the book's perspective was jarring when so many things are unresolved.
My favorite part of the book was when the old man/ Beetle was talking about the great Paul Lessingham and how he is "He is straight - straight as the mast of a ship he is tall - his skin is white; he is strong" and how happy Paul's wife must be. Since up till then we had a standard horror ambiance and mood, then all of a sudden the evil villain is talking about his enemy Paul Lessingham like a fangirl describing their favorite celeberty. The beetle was even offended when Holt had no idea who Paul Lessingham was, which prompted this amazing fangirl rant on how Paul is "good to look at". Like how dare you not know who Paul is or where he lives?
My favorite part of the book was when the old man/ Beetle was talking about the great Paul Lessingham and how he is "He is straight - straight as the mast of a ship he is tall - his skin is white; he is strong" and how happy Paul's wife must be. Since up till then we had a standard horror ambiance and mood, then all of a sudden the evil villain is talking about his enemy Paul Lessingham like a fangirl describing their favorite celeberty. The beetle was even offended when Holt had no idea who Paul Lessingham was, which prompted this amazing fangirl rant on how Paul is "good to look at". Like how dare you not know who Paul is or where he lives?
ang_elica's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
leela_wij's review against another edition
dark
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
ezpz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
xanadu_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
barnesstorming's review against another edition
3.0
A strong start -- through the novel's first of four subset books -- gives way to ham-handed manneristic dialog in the later sections. One of the book's two female characters is one of strong will (or, at least as strong as the men in the book), which was refreshing. And there are some effective "haunted house" moments as the book builds to climax.
There are also charming sentences to enjoy here and there. Here's one such bit of dialog:
"It is enough! -- It is the end! -- it it his doom! He shall be ground between the upper and the nether stones in the towers of anguish, and all that is left of him shall be cast on the accursed stream of the bitter waters, to stink under the blood-grimed sun!"
Later, Marsh seems to anticipate detective noir fiction some 40 years early, as the narrator states:
"The weather out of doors was in tune with my frame of mind -- I was in a deuce of a temper, and it was a deuce of a night. A keen northeast wind, warranted to take the skin right off you, was playing catch-who-catch can with intermittent gusts of blinding rain. Since it was not fit for a dog to walk, none of your cabs for me -- nothing would serve but pedestrian exercise."
But mostly the book is a trifle and probably best remembered for its historical significance than anything else.
Opening passage:
"No room! -- Full up!"
He banged the door in my face.
That was the final blow.
Closing passage:
There are also charming sentences to enjoy here and there. Here's one such bit of dialog:
"It is enough! -- It is the end! -- it it his doom! He shall be ground between the upper and the nether stones in the towers of anguish, and all that is left of him shall be cast on the accursed stream of the bitter waters, to stink under the blood-grimed sun!"
Later, Marsh seems to anticipate detective noir fiction some 40 years early, as the narrator states:
"The weather out of doors was in tune with my frame of mind -- I was in a deuce of a temper, and it was a deuce of a night. A keen northeast wind, warranted to take the skin right off you, was playing catch-who-catch can with intermittent gusts of blinding rain. Since it was not fit for a dog to walk, none of your cabs for me -- nothing would serve but pedestrian exercise."
But mostly the book is a trifle and probably best remembered for its historical significance than anything else.
Opening passage:
"No room! -- Full up!"
He banged the door in my face.
That was the final blow.
Closing passage:
Spoiler
So far as I am personally concerned, experience has taught me that there are indeed more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in our philosophy, and I am quite prepared to believe that the so-called Beetle, which others saw, but I never, was -- or is, for it cannot be certainly shown that the thing is not still existing -- a creature born neither of God nor man.writtenechoes's review against another edition
5.0
The book was tough to read in the beginning but it gained a rhythm as I read. I found the character of Sydney Atherton endearing and probably the only lovable character in the book. I know that Marjorie Lindon was supposed to represent the "new woman" but I found her irritating and selfish. The end of the book wasn't satisfying but the mystery through the book was, and I also enjoyed the writing of the book more than the actual story.
sofietintenhertz's review against another edition
4.0
(4.5)
Hvem skulle trodd at en gotisk skrekkhistorie skrevet samme år som Dracula, men ble fullstendig glemt i vår samtid, som handler om biller kunne være så hysterisk morsom? Jeg satt med blyant og streket under så mange vittige og flotte sitater. Det er lenge siden jeg har kost meg så mye mens jeg har lest en roman.
Utdaterte fordommer trekker boka ned. Likevel en interessant refleksjon på holdningene og fryktene til Europeere på denne tiden som kommer veldig til utrykk i forfatteren.
Hvem skulle trodd at en gotisk skrekkhistorie skrevet samme år som Dracula, men ble fullstendig glemt i vår samtid, som handler om biller kunne være så hysterisk morsom? Jeg satt med blyant og streket under så mange vittige og flotte sitater. Det er lenge siden jeg har kost meg så mye mens jeg har lest en roman.
Utdaterte fordommer trekker boka ned. Likevel en interessant refleksjon på holdningene og fryktene til Europeere på denne tiden som kommer veldig til utrykk i forfatteren.