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catsluvcoffee's review against another edition
5.0
I expected this book to be tolerably mediocre. Pretty but somewhat generic cover art, non-specific title, blurb plot that seems familiar. That's not a very sparkly assessment when beginning a book, is it? As readers, we understand that it's simply too much to expect that every book is going to be a 5/5. Sometimes, we just hope that it's a 3. We can settle for a 3.
As long as it doesn't end up like this, right?
The Night Crossing happily contradicted that initial impression!
Beginning in 1895, archaeologist Mina is in the Carpathian mountains racing to procure the perfect shot of an incongruous Egyptian Sphinx before a storm hits. They race to take cover in a cave to ride out the storm, only to discover a skeleton cradling a mysterious golden box. The story then jumps to London, where Bram Stoker presides over the Lyceum theater. On his walk home, he happens upon match girl, Lucinda attempting to throw herself in the Thames river to drown. These three characters are from different walks of life, yet somehow their stories are then masterfully woven together in a journey fraught with danger and adventure, to triumph over evil.
Read the rest of the review at Cats Luv Coffee.
As long as it doesn't end up like this, right?
The Night Crossing happily contradicted that initial impression!
Beginning in 1895, archaeologist Mina is in the Carpathian mountains racing to procure the perfect shot of an incongruous Egyptian Sphinx before a storm hits. They race to take cover in a cave to ride out the storm, only to discover a skeleton cradling a mysterious golden box. The story then jumps to London, where Bram Stoker presides over the Lyceum theater. On his walk home, he happens upon match girl, Lucinda attempting to throw herself in the Thames river to drown. These three characters are from different walks of life, yet somehow their stories are then masterfully woven together in a journey fraught with danger and adventure, to triumph over evil.
Read the rest of the review at Cats Luv Coffee.
foreveryoungadult's review against another edition
Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: We have top men working on it right now.
Drinking Buddy: Cheers, Old Bean
Testosterone Level: (cue theme music)
Talky Talk: Fortune and Glory
Bonus Factors: Victorian England, Gothic Horror, Author as a Character
Bromance Status: Fellow Adventurer
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: We have top men working on it right now.
Drinking Buddy: Cheers, Old Bean
Testosterone Level: (cue theme music)
Talky Talk: Fortune and Glory
Bonus Factors: Victorian England, Gothic Horror, Author as a Character
Bromance Status: Fellow Adventurer
Read the full book report here.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
I love this mix of historical fiction, horror, and alternate history.
It starts slowly, building the tension and introducing the different characters, and the background.
After this introductory part is fast paced, full of action and keep you hooked till the last page.
I loved the different characters, Mina above all.
The historical background is well researched and the books and I loved to read about the different way of living in Victorian London.
A very good book that I recommend.
Many thanks to 47North and Netgalley for this ARC
It starts slowly, building the tension and introducing the different characters, and the background.
After this introductory part is fast paced, full of action and keep you hooked till the last page.
I loved the different characters, Mina above all.
The historical background is well researched and the books and I loved to read about the different way of living in Victorian London.
A very good book that I recommend.
Many thanks to 47North and Netgalley for this ARC
crystalmayfield's review against another edition
4.0
I have to say first off I am not one who likes historical fiction very well. With that said, I did, however, enjoy The Night Crossing. Robert Masello did do his research on this novel to the extent that was needed and left enough room for the story. Which the story was great and well written.
When I first started to read this book, I really didn't know what was going on. Because first we are on top of a mountain and the second we are in London with no other than Bram Stoker!!! And then a tale is weaved so well together you could almost feel the excitement with every turn.
This eBook was given to me by Netgalley for an honest review.
When I first started to read this book, I really didn't know what was going on. Because first we are on top of a mountain and the second we are in London with no other than Bram Stoker!!! And then a tale is weaved so well together you could almost feel the excitement with every turn.
This eBook was given to me by Netgalley for an honest review.
annmarie_reads's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderful book that’s part supernatural and part historical fiction. I enjoyed seeing the fictionalized characters of Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle.
mato's review against another edition
3.0
A nice little variation on historical events using supernatural events and a bit of help from old-school monster movies.
I like reading his books because it's fun to discover the boundaries between what happened historically and what didn't. I also like the moments when he drops historical figures/events into the story in a seamless fashion.
I like reading his books because it's fun to discover the boundaries between what happened historically and what didn't. I also like the moments when he drops historical figures/events into the story in a seamless fashion.
annarella's review
4.0
I love this mix of historical fiction, horror, and alternate history.
It starts slowly, building the tension and introducing the different characters, and the background.
After this introductory part is fast paced, full of action and keep you hooked till the last page.
I loved the different characters, Mina above all.
The historical background is well researched and the books and I loved to read about the different way of living in Victorian London.
A very good book that I recommend.
Many thanks to 47North and Netgalley for this ARC
It starts slowly, building the tension and introducing the different characters, and the background.
After this introductory part is fast paced, full of action and keep you hooked till the last page.
I loved the different characters, Mina above all.
The historical background is well researched and the books and I loved to read about the different way of living in Victorian London.
A very good book that I recommend.
Many thanks to 47North and Netgalley for this ARC
kamisha's review
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, 47North, for the opportunity to read and review this book!
This book ended up being a fun diversion read for me, as I was reading this amongst the heavy chapters of I‰ŰŞll Be Gone in the Dark, and it was a great escape tactic! The atmosphere of this spooky Victorian story was also a great way to begin the best season of the year!
This is a historical fiction story with a distinct supernatural bent, a reimagining of Bram Stoker‰ŰŞs life before he wrote Dracula and some of the events that ultimately lead up to his inspiration for that novel. The story primarily follows both Bram Stoker and a young woman named Mina Harcourt. Mina is an archaeologist, trained from an early age by her father (a famous archaeologist) and in the beginning of this story, she is searching for a relic in the Carpathian mountains. The relic is ultimately stolen by the porters accompanying her, but ends up back in her hands after they attempt to sell it due to it‰ŰŞs sinister nature and the deadly luck it seems to carry with it.
Mina heads back to London with the relic where she ultimately crosses paths with and befriends Stoker, who is currently shuffling about life in a state of skepticism and hopelessness about his own writing. Both characters are thrown into a series of events of a supernatural nature that lead them both to realize that there is more to the world than they previously thought. There is something very sinister going on at the local mission house and there is something even more sinister about the proprietors of the house, the Thorne siblings. Stoker and Mina must find a way to stop the Thorne siblings and end their horrific reign of terror.
Like I said in the beginning, this book ended up reading like a fun supernatural romp to me, the characters (both good and bad) were enjoyable and I liked seeing all of the historical references. My only qualm with the book was that despite the relic that Mina picks up and the implied ancient evil that it contains, the ‰ŰĎevil‰Űť isn‰ŰŞt actually dealt with or mentioned that often throughout the story, only cropping up here and there. I enjoyed the plot with the Thorne siblings and I know they were meant to be the ultimate evil presence in the story, but I was slightly disappointed in the lack of detail about the relic and it‰ŰŞs inhabitant. Aside from that, this is an enjoyable supernatural romp through Victorian London with mummies, ancient Egyptian folklore, Dracula references, and even a short Titanic spotlight! Definitely check this out if you are looking for an atmospherically spooky Victorian story without too many horrific elements.
This book ended up being a fun diversion read for me, as I was reading this amongst the heavy chapters of I‰ŰŞll Be Gone in the Dark, and it was a great escape tactic! The atmosphere of this spooky Victorian story was also a great way to begin the best season of the year!
This is a historical fiction story with a distinct supernatural bent, a reimagining of Bram Stoker‰ŰŞs life before he wrote Dracula and some of the events that ultimately lead up to his inspiration for that novel. The story primarily follows both Bram Stoker and a young woman named Mina Harcourt. Mina is an archaeologist, trained from an early age by her father (a famous archaeologist) and in the beginning of this story, she is searching for a relic in the Carpathian mountains. The relic is ultimately stolen by the porters accompanying her, but ends up back in her hands after they attempt to sell it due to it‰ŰŞs sinister nature and the deadly luck it seems to carry with it.
Mina heads back to London with the relic where she ultimately crosses paths with and befriends Stoker, who is currently shuffling about life in a state of skepticism and hopelessness about his own writing. Both characters are thrown into a series of events of a supernatural nature that lead them both to realize that there is more to the world than they previously thought. There is something very sinister going on at the local mission house and there is something even more sinister about the proprietors of the house, the Thorne siblings. Stoker and Mina must find a way to stop the Thorne siblings and end their horrific reign of terror.
Like I said in the beginning, this book ended up reading like a fun supernatural romp to me, the characters (both good and bad) were enjoyable and I liked seeing all of the historical references. My only qualm with the book was that despite the relic that Mina picks up and the implied ancient evil that it contains, the ‰ŰĎevil‰Űť isn‰ŰŞt actually dealt with or mentioned that often throughout the story, only cropping up here and there. I enjoyed the plot with the Thorne siblings and I know they were meant to be the ultimate evil presence in the story, but I was slightly disappointed in the lack of detail about the relic and it‰ŰŞs inhabitant. Aside from that, this is an enjoyable supernatural romp through Victorian London with mummies, ancient Egyptian folklore, Dracula references, and even a short Titanic spotlight! Definitely check this out if you are looking for an atmospherically spooky Victorian story without too many horrific elements.
kalventure's review
2.0
Friends, I was so excited to receive an advanced copy of The Night Crossing for review as I love spooky stories and historical fiction. A mysterious golden box, London in the late nineteenth century, and an evil that must be overcome are all ingredients that I love and I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, my expectations were not met: I found the writing a to be a bit lackluster and I struggled to connect with the characters. While I found the overall plot to be interesting, I struggled to find the desire to read... and the last 25% of the book infuriated me to no end.
This is a difficult book to rate for me because I experienced so many different feelings towards the book while reading it. I was sucked in straight away with Mina's adventure in the Carpathian mountains, but as the plot progressed I become less and less engaged with it and the characters. It was at about 75% when my attitude shifted from apathy to anger, and is a feeling that very much has stuck with me 2 days after finishing the book. I didn't like the shift in focus to Stoker being inspired to write Dracula and I found the nineteen year jump to 1912 to completely pull me out of any engagement that I had. I was no longer invested in the story since so much time had passed, and the whole Titanic thing just irked me for some unknown reason.
I think I struggled most with the dual/multiple perspectives. I was most interested in the archaeological mystery and thus was more drawn to Mina's POV. We all know that I appreciate strong female characters, and Mina is that in spades as well as smart and compassionate. Stoker's narrative felt the most disjointed for me - as the plot progresses, his POV becomes more and more obsessed with immortality and writing something that will achieve that (which I suppose is an interesting mirror for the antagonist's obsession with immortality). The Night's Crossing starts with Mina and Stoker perspectives, but more are added in as the story progresses - some are one-offs and others stick around - which contributed to my struggles connecting with the characters and plot.
My review is definitely in the minority here, and this book is not without its strengths. I appreciated the balance of the social injustices of the period with the main characters' response to them, especially as it relates to racism. Often times in historical fiction, authors choose to depict harmful taboos, words, and characteristics that would not be appropriate in fiction today and hide behind the historical accuracy without ever challenging those beliefs. I was very happy to see that wasn't the case here.
Overall I found The Night's Crossing to be a very interesting story that was a little bogged down by a lot of ideas. I was disappointed that the purpose of the book seemed to shift from the actual story to Stoker's desire for immortality and his inspiration for and writing of Dracula; it felt abrupt to me and detracted from the "main storyline" for me. While this book ultimately wasn't for me, I think people with an interest in history, the lengths that people will go to achieve immortality, archaeological mysteries and curses, and strong female characters will enjoy this book.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me an electronic advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Quotations taken from an uncorrected proof and may change upon final publication. The Night Crossing will be released on September 18, 2018.
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This is a difficult book to rate for me because I experienced so many different feelings towards the book while reading it. I was sucked in straight away with Mina's adventure in the Carpathian mountains, but as the plot progressed I become less and less engaged with it and the characters. It was at about 75% when my attitude shifted from apathy to anger, and is a feeling that very much has stuck with me 2 days after finishing the book. I didn't like the shift in focus to Stoker being inspired to write Dracula and I found the nineteen year jump to 1912 to completely pull me out of any engagement that I had. I was no longer invested in the story since so much time had passed, and the whole Titanic thing just irked me for some unknown reason.
I think I struggled most with the dual/multiple perspectives. I was most interested in the archaeological mystery and thus was more drawn to Mina's POV. We all know that I appreciate strong female characters, and Mina is that in spades as well as smart and compassionate. Stoker's narrative felt the most disjointed for me - as the plot progresses, his POV becomes more and more obsessed with immortality and writing something that will achieve that (which I suppose is an interesting mirror for the antagonist's obsession with immortality). The Night's Crossing starts with Mina and Stoker perspectives, but more are added in as the story progresses - some are one-offs and others stick around - which contributed to my struggles connecting with the characters and plot.
My review is definitely in the minority here, and this book is not without its strengths. I appreciated the balance of the social injustices of the period with the main characters' response to them, especially as it relates to racism. Often times in historical fiction, authors choose to depict harmful taboos, words, and characteristics that would not be appropriate in fiction today and hide behind the historical accuracy without ever challenging those beliefs. I was very happy to see that wasn't the case here.
Overall I found The Night's Crossing to be a very interesting story that was a little bogged down by a lot of ideas. I was disappointed that the purpose of the book seemed to shift from the actual story to Stoker's desire for immortality and his inspiration for and writing of Dracula; it felt abrupt to me and detracted from the "main storyline" for me. While this book ultimately wasn't for me, I think people with an interest in history, the lengths that people will go to achieve immortality, archaeological mysteries and curses, and strong female characters will enjoy this book.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me an electronic advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Quotations taken from an uncorrected proof and may change upon final publication. The Night Crossing will be released on September 18, 2018.