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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
As usual a rip-roaring read. Very easy to complete in a short space of time- not quite as good as book 1
If you don't know Mark Gatiss, you should probably check out the British TV show A League of Gentlemen first, just to get into the right frame of mind for this romper. You don't have to read [b:The Vesuvius Club|838668|The Vesuvius Club (Lucifer Box, #1)|Mark Gatiss|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348057213s/838668.jpg|824241] first, although it is set about 20 years prior to this one. It might add to the amusement.
First sentence of the book:
"He was an American, so it seemed only fair to shoot him."
And the 5th sentence of page 23 (I'm pretty sure you've done that before, too....):
"Vetting recruits for evidence of transvestism?"
So be prepared for a very silly, gay and entertaining crime novel delving into the supernatural just a wee bit. Good fun! Next one is on my wishlist already.
First sentence of the book:
"He was an American, so it seemed only fair to shoot him."
And the 5th sentence of page 23 (I'm pretty sure you've done that before, too....):
"Vetting recruits for evidence of transvestism?"
So be prepared for a very silly, gay and entertaining crime novel delving into the supernatural just a wee bit. Good fun! Next one is on my wishlist already.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood
Great quick read, but I'm having trouble deciding if I like it or not. I bounced between enjoying myself and Mr. Box's commentary and not quite knowing what he was talking about but I'm going to chalk that up to not being British like the book is. Still, I enjoyed reading it.
Full Review Here - http://anamateurslibrary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/the-devil-in-amber-by-mark-gatiss.html
Didn't like it as much as the first one but only by a hairs breadth. Lucifer box is a hilarious main character despite being a total douche the majority of the time. Not so keen on the aging of Box but liked the 1920's setting. Some emtional moments in there as well once old characters resurfaced from Vesuvius Club. Nice short read full of action and adventure with a protagonist like no other.
Didn't like it as much as the first one but only by a hairs breadth. Lucifer box is a hilarious main character despite being a total douche the majority of the time. Not so keen on the aging of Box but liked the 1920's setting. Some emtional moments in there as well once old characters resurfaced from Vesuvius Club. Nice short read full of action and adventure with a protagonist like no other.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the second book in the Lucifer Box series, Lucifer is the same bisexual gentleman assassin as he was in the first book, but this time the mystery takes a more religious aspect, which for man named Lucifer, seems pretty apt...
I enjoyed this book, there are some great lines. It's written from Lucifer's point of view and his personality shines through in his voice. Gatiss is great at giving Lucifer a snarky, sasssy tone of voice and it makes for great reading!
This book isn't for the younger reader, with implied sexual scenes with both male and female characters, which are written well and not in too much detail which means that the book remains easy to read and flows well.
However, as being written by a gay man, the representation is good and not used as a plot point. Everything about Lucifer remained a bit about Lucifer. The added bonus of meeting his sister (who's name works amazingly with the surname of box- but I'm not spoiling that, you need to read it to find out)
I'm looking forward to re-reading the last book in the trilogy, The Black Butterfly as these books are both climatic and humorous- Gatiss adds a bit of himself into the writing, but not too much, just enough to give it some charm. I could see this series easily becoming a TV show- it's got all the elements to be entertaining.
I enjoyed this book, there are some great lines. It's written from Lucifer's point of view and his personality shines through in his voice. Gatiss is great at giving Lucifer a snarky, sasssy tone of voice and it makes for great reading!
This book isn't for the younger reader, with implied sexual scenes with both male and female characters, which are written well and not in too much detail which means that the book remains easy to read and flows well.
However, as being written by a gay man, the representation is good and not used as a plot point. Everything about Lucifer remained a bit about Lucifer. The added bonus of meeting his sister (who's name works amazingly with the surname of box- but I'm not spoiling that, you need to read it to find out)
I'm looking forward to re-reading the last book in the trilogy, The Black Butterfly as these books are both climatic and humorous- Gatiss adds a bit of himself into the writing, but not too much, just enough to give it some charm. I could see this series easily becoming a TV show- it's got all the elements to be entertaining.
Great quick read, but I'm having trouble deciding if I like it or not. I bounced between enjoying myself and Mr. Box's commentary and not quite knowing what he was talking about but I'm going to chalk that up to not being British like the book is. Still, I enjoyed reading it.
I quite enjoyed the first installment in the Lucifer Box series, but I could not warm up to this. Maybe the novelty has worn off, maybe I was just not in the right mood.
The language was once more very engaging, but there was little to enamor me to the protagonist. He's self-absorbed (nothing new there) and incompetent, strutting through the world fancying himself a super-spy (er, THE super-spy) without, however, ever bothering to come up with a strategy or (dare I be so bold as to suggest?) paying attention to his surroundings to make sure his secret meetings are not watched/violently disrupted. Lucifer Box in all his dandy arrogance worked so well because despite his flaws, I trusted him to guide me through an interesting story. Here, he does not guide but stumble and follow blindly, and the antagonist left me half yawning, half annoyed to see yet again another Fascist/Satanist action adventure unfold.
Having seen (and disliked) series 3 of Sherlock, I feel a tendency to over-the-top plots and hilariousness to the detriment of plausibility is becoming a dominant streak in Gatiss' work.
The language was once more very engaging, but there was little to enamor me to the protagonist. He's self-absorbed (nothing new there) and incompetent, strutting through the world fancying himself a super-spy (er, THE super-spy) without, however, ever bothering to come up with a strategy or (dare I be so bold as to suggest?) paying attention to his surroundings to make sure his secret meetings are not watched/violently disrupted. Lucifer Box in all his dandy arrogance worked so well because despite his flaws, I trusted him to guide me through an interesting story. Here, he does not guide but stumble and follow blindly, and the antagonist left me half yawning, half annoyed to see yet again another Fascist/Satanist action adventure unfold.
Having seen (and disliked) series 3 of Sherlock, I feel a tendency to over-the-top plots and hilariousness to the detriment of plausibility is becoming a dominant streak in Gatiss' work.