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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
Are you more plot oriented or character oriented? The reason I ask is that if you are plot-oriented, this Steampunkery/Egyptian mythology adventure might frustrate you a little.
As it did me.
But I am, in the end, willing to hang on to multiple-different-time flashbacks that add backstory and somewhat hazy plotting paragraph to paragraph (a couple times a chapter I had to go back and re-read the preceeding paragraph to remember what was going on or why someone answered a question that was asked like three paragraphs back) because Folley and Mallory are multi-layered creations of angst.
They both have pasts that cause complications with family members. I can't say much about Folley's problems without massive spoilers that are more fun to discover along with Folley, but suffice it to say it involves disappointing her father and yearning after a disappeared mother.
And Mallory is contending both with hiding a major part of his nature at the same time as dealing with the death of a wife who possibly was keeping secrets of her own.
meanwhile, they're both on the trail of some Egyptian rings and a mysterious mummy called 'The lady'. There are airships. And sometimes they crash. And there's a vineyard with oddly believable vinaculture being done.
And there's a pivotal scene near the end of the book when things get quite action-packed, time jumpy and Egyptian-mystical where Mallory suddenly acts like a complete jerk-wad just to force Folley to accept a part of herself that I did not care for.
But I would probably buy the second one on Amazon if its less than $2.99 to find out what happens. Folley and Mallory separately pack an emotional-arc punch, although their "together" relationship didn't ring many bells for me.
As it did me.
But I am, in the end, willing to hang on to multiple-different-time flashbacks that add backstory and somewhat hazy plotting paragraph to paragraph (a couple times a chapter I had to go back and re-read the preceeding paragraph to remember what was going on or why someone answered a question that was asked like three paragraphs back) because Folley and Mallory are multi-layered creations of angst.
They both have pasts that cause complications with family members. I can't say much about Folley's problems without massive spoilers that are more fun to discover along with Folley, but suffice it to say it involves disappointing her father and yearning after a disappeared mother.
And Mallory is contending both with hiding a major part of his nature at the same time as dealing with the death of a wife who possibly was keeping secrets of her own.
meanwhile, they're both on the trail of some Egyptian rings and a mysterious mummy called 'The lady'. There are airships. And sometimes they crash. And there's a vineyard with oddly believable vinaculture being done.
And there's a pivotal scene near the end of the book when things get quite action-packed, time jumpy and Egyptian-mystical where Mallory suddenly acts like a complete jerk-wad just to force Folley to accept a part of herself that I did not care for.
But I would probably buy the second one on Amazon if its less than $2.99 to find out what happens. Folley and Mallory separately pack an emotional-arc punch, although their "together" relationship didn't ring many bells for me.
Seriously good Egyptian supernatural steampunk
Having read a lot steampunk and others things called steampunk is was a pleasure to read this book. The pacing and depth of the main characters are excellent and the slow reveal of critical information increased the depth of involvement and engagement for me. This isn't a book of large info dumps rather it is a well paced story with a very solid base of Egyptian myth and belief that has moments of tension, humour and enjoyment. Recommended for any one who likes good fantasy or steampunk. She is certainly an author I will pay attention to.
Having read a lot steampunk and others things called steampunk is was a pleasure to read this book. The pacing and depth of the main characters are excellent and the slow reveal of critical information increased the depth of involvement and engagement for me. This isn't a book of large info dumps rather it is a well paced story with a very solid base of Egyptian myth and belief that has moments of tension, humour and enjoyment. Recommended for any one who likes good fantasy or steampunk. She is certainly an author I will pay attention to.
I got this title from a twitter thread where someone was asking for recommendations of Indiana Jones-like lady protagonists, and this book did not disappoint (and I went straight on to the next one as soon as I'd finished). It's got archaeology! It's got adventure! It's got werewolves! It's got humor! It's got romance! t's got a little bit of steampunk!
If you love Indiana Jones and Lara Croft (including their supernatural bits) definitely give this a read. I'm on board for the entire series.
If you love Indiana Jones and Lara Croft (including their supernatural bits) definitely give this a read. I'm on board for the entire series.
I really can't remember the last time I so thoroughly enjoyed an adventure novel. The integration of steampunk elements is remarkable, the stately pace is masterful, and the characters are vibrantly and realistically drawn. Every scene break I felt as if Tobler conjured a wipe as a transition, and the jumps from historical set-piece to historical set-piece were marked by a red line flowing across a map.
The Rings of Anubis has it all: adventure, romance, family drama, and personal growth, all bound together by luscious writing that magically transports the reader into the past... much like the Rings themselves...
The Rings of Anubis has it all: adventure, romance, family drama, and personal growth, all bound together by luscious writing that magically transports the reader into the past... much like the Rings themselves...
This book is right up my alley to begin with - an archaeologist in Victorian-ish steampunk Paris searches for her lost Egyptian mother, flirts with a werewolf secret agent and generally adventures. In particular I love the characterization of Eleanor and Mallory, the view of Anubis, the way filial obligation weaves through everything. I recommend it highly!
I wasn't sure about this, as the opening made the protagonist seem a bit "perky," which I'm pretty allergic to. But that fell away quickly, and then this book was engaging and fun. The details of place were lovely, and quite evocative. A subtle sense of urgency and tension threaded through the whole thing, and was relieved in a wonderful pile-on of climaxes near the end.
Be warned, though: romance is involved in this book, so if romance is your "allergy," you'll want to avoid this one. If not, this is a great book. I'm looking forward to reading the next.
Be warned, though: romance is involved in this book, so if romance is your "allergy," you'll want to avoid this one. If not, this is a great book. I'm looking forward to reading the next.