Elle Hartford
I love the thought that went into this. It's basically two of my favorite things–Sherlock Holmes and Cape May, of course! Seeing the little references and background information shine through in the story is a lot of fun. It's a quick read and a sweet homage to both local history and detective fiction.
This was more a 3.5 for me honestly; I think my expectations were too high. The cover is so lovely and the subject (apothecaries, herbs, alchemy) is one I find so interesting–and I think that's what tripped me up!
The story itself is familiar, a woman in the present investigating some women in the past with whom she feels a connection/shares similar issues. In this case, the issue is crime and cheating husbands–which eventually rang a little hollow to me, like it had been overplayed, perhaps. It's not unbelievable at all, but I also didn't strongly relate to any of the female characters, so it kind of came off as a “some people (mostly men) are awful and some people (mostly women) are victims” story. Again, not untrue by any means. But it felt a little flat.
I don't mean to scare people away–I think if you like women's coming-of-age/quarter-life crisis stories, historical women's fiction, or atmospheric drama, you'd definitely enjoy this. It was just a little out of my wheelhouse, I think!
This was a book club read, and though at first I wasn't sure what to expect, I ended up finding it very thought-provoking and useful. At times I found the explanations to be repetitive, but that's just me. On the whole it was extremely relatable and accessible. Worth reading for anyone who wants to slow down and release some pent-up anxiety and stress-inducing habits!
I'm not normally the audience for this book; I think this is best for urban fantasy/women's lit readers. It was good, and the premise was fine, but it didn't quite catch hold of my imagination. I found the ending to be predictable, but perhaps that's just me! It definitely was an atmospheric, dark-fantasy mystery, and would certainly appeal to anyone who loves that twisted carnival vibe.
So. There were two plot points that I did not fully understand, and I've never seen this performed in person. That said, reading it still made me cry–several times–and it left me thinking deeply about the bravery of being honest about what we fear.
I'm not a super-fan of the original series, but I have read them, and I did get satisfaction from seeing the next phase of familiar characters' stories . . . And from some of the indirect ways the authors addressed mythologies and a few criticisms that have developed about certain characters' actions.
It's difficult to read Rowling's books without bearing in mind the controversy around her opinions these days. The podcast “The Witch Trials of JK Rowling” gave me much to ponder on that front. Within that context, the themes of facing our imperfections and being painfully honest with those we love hit home in a very meaningful way.
Overall, the story goes to some darker places than I would like; I have always been a little too “cozy” a reader for the Potter books. ;) (By that I mean torture & watching people die, which both happen within a very intentional context, but I am a softie and it was a step further than necessary for me personally.) Despite that it drew me in and made me love characters I did not expect to, and I think that is the real strength of the play–and the series as a whole.
So far, this is easily my favorite of Maguire's books that I've read. He gives the tale a historical setting (still weaving in some fantasy elements) that works very well. I love how the historical themes of trends in artwork, famous painters, and even tulip mania underscore the meditations on beauty throughout the story. It makes for a great and very thoughtful twist on Cinderella!
I picked this up at a used bookstore and am very glad I did. Perhaps it is due to a coincidence–the author describes himself as a hobbyist, interested in both archaeology and astronomy, and those were my twin passions in college. Because of that, I think, I found this book very natural to follow.
Basically, to me, it came across as one scientist's curiosity about a simple question: how did people in ancient cultures predict eclipses? (He might not have actually said that anywhere, which might be why some other reviewers weren't too pleased, but this was my understanding of how the narrative unfolded.) The author then goes on to examine instances where eclipses and history overlap using some anecdotal evidence, but mostly personal observations of archaeological structures ranging from Stone Henge to canyon dwellings in the US. He himself is not an archaeologist (he is upfront about this) and his research is dated (the book was written decades ago now) but essentially what he is doing is a light, personal form of experimental archaeology. He does not come to an exact conclusion–it wouldn't be possible to, given how much knowledge has been lost–but instead ends by musing on the ways ancient star-gazing and shamanism may have developed into the science we recognize today.
Like I said at the top, this was basically a blend of two of my pet subjects, so I enjoyed it very much–all the while realizing that it's over 30 years old now, and not hard science. ;) I think this book would be of interest to others who have a passing familiarity with archaeoastronomy, or to folks who like musing about ancient religion, or even to those who like experiential/experimental archaeology. It isn't a textbook. However, it is a thought-provoking survey of the early beginnings of a very intriguing field.
I loved this book, but I have to say, I might love the BBC adaptation even more. It's very true to the original dialogue & plot, and this is the kind of dramatic story that is fascinating to watch unfold!
That said, I found the book itself to be accessible and the characters relatable. The beginning is a little bit rocky as there are some hasty transitions, but after that it settles into a very thoughtful and interesting story. Plus, the romance. Even though the main characters spend most of their time at odds, it's very sweet!
I loved classic novels like this in high school, and yet I'd missed this one. If you're like me and had always heard of the book but never read it, definitely give it a try!
I read this quickly in one train trip, which I think is how it's best read. ;)
I appreciate that other reviewers here have pointed out that this is more political thriller (set in the 1950s) than mystery. As someone who doesn't read many thrillers, I found it often tense and intriguing, though I agree with others who have said the characters came across a bit flat. They did have many philosophical conversations in the midst of all the running away/trying to escape, which felt a bit set up at times but still very reflective of the time.
Overall, I enjoyed it, but probably won't feel the need to read it again.
I'd accidentally read one of the later books from this series already (not to mention other books from this author duo) so I knew what to expect. The narrative switches between perspectives of all the characters involved, focusing mostly on Kate and Charles. I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop most of all, I think. The peek into the world of some notable Victorian authors was fun for a history nerd, too! ;)
An interesting world, with a very strong main character! If you're in to urban fantasy, this one is worth a try. I found that the story took a little while to pick up, but afterwards moved fairly quickly. The conclusion was pretty tense and, I must admit, as a primarily cozy reader I probably won't go on with the series–but it was fun to peek into another world!
I adored this protagonist and, of course, all her animal friends! Her relationships with her sister and the detective (naturally) are very sweet and compelling also. The mystery itself had several twists–some very sad–and came to a suspenseful conclusion. I went through it in one afternoon, and would happily read the next in the series!
I received this as a gift and wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but it turned out to be a very engaging and rewarding read! I loved the mother/daughter relationship, and while the tension did get pretty high there for a while, I really appreciated how everything turned out. Some of the side characters' storylines are unexpectedly endearing, too. Overall, this was a fun and ultimately uplifting read!
I volunteer at a secondhand bookstore where we get a lot of volumes from this series, so I figured I'd see what it was all about. The set up, I thought, was very clever: we have a sci-fi setting (robot sidekick, space travel) blended with a lost colony of medieval enthusiasts (sounded basically like a Ren Faire, haha). So the inhabitants of the colony have now forgotten all about the advanced technology they left behind, and now the adventuring astronaut (our main character) and his knowledge come across as magical to them. Hence, warlock. :)
Overall, I liked the setting, which allows the author to play with lots of medieval references. The narration, too, was amusing, often tongue-in-cheek. The portrayal of the female characters doesn't hold up with what I would expect from a book written today; there are two active women in the story, and they fall into very distinct, rather pejorative roles. One's motivation is attributed simply to her unlikable arrogance, and the other's motivation is that she fell in love with the hero . . . for reasons that aren't entirely clear (to a female reader). Descriptions of all women are a bit single-minded. That said–it's a fantasy adventure written decades ago. So, grains of salt must be taken with character portrayals.
The plot is very active and political, and ends up with several character reveals, etc. It was intriguing, definitely, and came together satisfactorily–though occasionally our main character would hash out a new development with his robot just a little too repetitively (leaving me thinking, ‘Yes, but didn't we already know that?'). It ended up being pretty easy to follow, which is good because I don't have much of a head for drama. ;) A couple of explanations came rather suddenly at the end of the story, including one I particularly liked about witches and why everyone was interested in the colony in the first place. But, as a primarily mystery reader these days, perhaps I've become picky about my reveals. :)
Overall, I enjoyed the story and its twists, especially for the creative world-building. If you're into funny, clever fantasy–and especially if you're familiar with that sort of classic, swashbuckling hero adventure from decades past–you'll probably have fun reading it.
An interesting, and very scholarly, read. Basically, as I understood it, Rupke's point is that religion began (thousands of years ago) as a home or family affair, with daily practices or “rituals” for personal communication with deities or divine forces. From there, he traces how Roman religion developed–temples grew, then priests to tend the temples, then writing about religion, then national identification with religion. The narrative is compelling, though admittedly very dense, and perhaps with some translation oddities.
Check out a more detailed review on my blog~
https://ellehartford.com/book-review-pantheon/
Honestly I was a little surprised by the 3.35 average rating–that seems a bit harsh. To me, this felt like a fun and funny twisted fairy tale, exactly the sort of thing I would have devoured growing up.
The main complaint in other reviews seems to be the lack of character development/that it took time to get into the book. I can definitely see that, but I think the narration and situational humor is more what drives this book. Like a lot of classic fairy tale type adventures, you kind of hang on for the ride and let the characters show who they are as they act.
And on that note, I did find some of the “side” characters more relatable and root-for-able than the main duo of Percival and Tuppence. I loved the way everyone's storyline intertwined and led to a satisfactory end. Overall, I thought this was a fun summer read!
This was my first Crofts novel, and I was a little skeptical because the introduction reeeeaally talked it up, haha. But to me, it seemed the story lived up to the hype, and it kept me guessing until the end! The alibis are incredibly intricate and the inspector (and other detectives) are very, very thorough.
From what I understand, Crofts went on to write about a single detective; but this book, one of his early ones, reads a little more like The Moonstone or similar works where several characters come together to solve the mystery. My one frustration was with the characterization of the mother and daughter. But, it is, of course, a book of its time.
Overall, this was fascinating, especially as another look at early classic mysteries. Very detail-oriented, but the puzzle is rewarding in the end!
I picked this up second hand because it is a very nicely made book, I have to say! I found the hardcover edition, and it even has a little ribbon bookmark. But anyway, as far as an actual review goes . . . ;)
I had not read any of the other books in the series, but I found it easy enough to follow along. The strength of the book is definitely its community of characters and calm tone. I spotted a big clue pretty early in the mystery, so I got ahead of the sleuths on that one, but it was fun to spend time with the entire cast!
So–the setting is very appealing, of course, and I thought the main character was interesting. As I was reading, though, I couldn't help feel that this would have been a great mini-series (or even a full series!). Meaning that the setting was colorful and storyline intriguing, but I think perhaps I missed some of the introspection or personal feeling that comes with a chattier or “closer” narrator, if that makes sense. The mystery itself did have some interesting twists though, and it made for a good vacation read!
I just adore this series. The narration, the characters, the setting–I love returning to them all with each book! This one had some amusing new faces and even a trip out of town, which was fun to tag along on. The mystery itself had a few neat twists but I think hands down the best part was all the fall vibes! Very cozy. <3