Customer Reviews

The Amulet of Power (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is written like a tour of East Africa, with obligatory attempts to kill Lara at every location. The level of detail in the descriptions of the countries, and more to the point the type of details, make it very clear that this author has a vast knowledge of the area. On that side it was a very interesting read. Unfortunately, that's not supposed to be the centre of the book. There is no depth to the presentation of Lara. There was no introspection, almost no effort to present what she was thinking or even feeling. Dave Stern did a great job in this very area in the Cradle of Life novelisation, and this book was supposed to cover an extremely traumatic part of Lara's life, so it was generally quite disappointing in that area. Also, in the fight scenes the author just describes what happens. There is almost no effort to make us feel like Lara's life is threatened. The fight descriptions are pretty good, and certainly clear about what's happening, but there's no tension. In general, the book is very light reading, mildly enjoyable but with almost no memorable moments. The fascinating description of how easy it is to dodge a charging rhino is virtually the only one. Then we get to the climax, which I found rather shocking, certainly in contrast to the light tone of the rest of the book. It actually is a fairly good reason for Lara's angry-at-the-world attitude at the start of The Angel of Darkness game. Then for some strange reason the author has a trivial incident supposedly return Lara to her old self. That was bizarre.

I was looking forward to one of my favourite characters appearing in my favourite entertainment medium. If the next book does not have more depth and interest, it will be the last Lara book I bother to consider.

You people are tripping who say this item is bad and i think the only reason some of you people think its bad, is because its probably the first book you`ve read since 1 st grade because you`ve been too busy playing video games =]. This book is filled with action and adventure and i highly recommend it. You guys will not be disappointed with this book! Its all you need in a good book.

Lara Croft is a famous archaeologist who travels the world looking for lost artifacts. She turns up in Egypt even though she is believed to be dead. People believe she has found the lost amulet of Mareish. The amulet is supposed to give the one who has it great power. Some people long to posses it and others want it to stay lost forever. Will Lara Croft make it out of this adventure alive or die trying?
The genre of this book action/adventure. The main characters of this book were Lara Croft, Omar, Gafaar, Hassam, and Kevin. I liked this book and didn't want to stop reading it because it is an exciting book and seems like it will never end. When I finished the book I was kind of upset because I didn't want it to end.
I recommend Lara Croft: Tomb Raider the Amulet of Power to everyone who likes action/adventure books. People will like this book because of all the sudden turn of events.

while digging through a tomb, lara is buried under it when the tomb collaspes. while she is recuperating, she is targeted by assassins and almost killed. they are assuming that she found a amulet that has been missing for 100 years. the book is about the race to find the amulet and all the parties that want to make sure that it is either never found or found. the book is action pack and a pretty interesting. i would reccommend it.

This original novel evidently starts where the first Tomb Raider game ended, with Lara Croft buried alive in the Temple of Horus. She is saved, but before she even has time to recover from her injuries enigmatic hitmen are trying to kill her. Her rescuer becomes her partner and the two are soon dashing across Africa searching for a mysterious amulet that everyone seems to think that she has. Can Lara Croft find the amulet and save her life? The Amulet of Power is the first original novel based on the video game series, none of which I have played - yet. My only knowledge of Lara Croft comes from the film series, but this is a nice, pulpy read. Packed with enough action and monsters to satisfy those looking for nothing else. Sadly the book fails to bring any dimension to Croft herself, she runs from one adventure to the next without feeling fatigue, hunger, thrist, or any kind of emotion. This changes at the climax, but it is too little too late. Still, the book shows that there is plenty of juice left in the franchise. Fans should enjoy it.

Yes, the plot is one-sided; yes, the characters are one-dimensional; yes, random people appear and random things happen at the most suspiciously convenient times... but isn't that exactly what works for Tomb Raider? Isn't that why Lara is STILL raiding, even after 6 games, 2 movies, and an extremely successful comic book series? If you're looking for more than a video game on paper, this book is not for you. However, if you're a fan of the Tomb Raider franchise and are familiar with the game's MO (and Ms.Croft's, for that matter) you'll be grateful for the hole it fills in the background plot -- which is not necessary to know to read the book, in case you were hesitant -- and will enjoy it as a fun, mindless diversion. Don't pick it up looking for a brilliant, epic adventure; pick it up knowing it will take your mind off the stress of life for awhile and provide you with an endless string of literary action sequences... and who doesn't need that every once in awhile?

I've never read a Resnick novel before, but I've heard of his reputation. I would have passed on this book if not for Resnick's reputation.

As a video game tie-in, it's very well done. Video games have a bumpy history of movie and book translations ("Mario Brothers" and Alan Dean Foster's "The Dig" are just two of the low points), but this book did a good job. The action is good, the side characters have more than one dimension to them, and the plot is perfect for this genre.

As a stand-alone SF/Adventure novel, however, it's not the best read. While the characters have depth when compared with the video game, they certainly wouldn't stand up against other true SF/Fantasy heroes created by Orson Scott Card, James Stoddard, or Jennifer Roberson.

Is it fun? Absolutely. Is it predictable? A tad. Is it deep? Not in the least. As long as you know what you're getting when you pick it up (and who today hasn't heard of Lara Croft?), you'll enjoy it.

Before I read this book I thought it was going to be like a kid¡¦s book. Lara Croft is the fighter of justice, kicking some evil asses and saving the world. Well, it is pretty much like that. However, this book is much more exciting than I expected. The plot is well planed, story is exciting with a lot of action and ending is surprising. I enjoyed reading this book. At least it is better than the movie. PS: Lara kills a lot in the book. Not recommend to kids under 13.

I've never read a Resnik novel before and if this is what he's capable of putting on paper, please someone stop him and save a tree or two.

SPOILER ALERT (kinda). Ok, you've been warned.

Amulet of Power was horrible. All Lara does is:

A: Ask a question between large vapid expository paragraphs from whomever she's with at the time.
B: Eat.
C: Ride Camels
D: Act like her IQ is equal to her bust size.

It's clear that Resnik wrote it in about a week while looking at Google maps of Nairobi. Could the chapters be any smaller?

Here's my fav paragraph from the book. Page 191.

"She finished her story at about the same time she finished her meal. Oliver signed the check, got up, and walked her to the safari car. A few moments later they were driving through the center of the huge city, past the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, the New Stanley Hotel, the High Court, all the familiar landmarks."

Geepers, if that's not pulizter winning writing I dunno what is. I love "the safari car".

Then soon after, Lara smells what she's unsure may be gasoline. Turns out it's not. I mean...WTF? Doesn't she know what she's smelling? I'll refrain from a spoiler here.

Lets turn to page 203 (that's the first page of Ch 27). Here's JUST Lara's dialog for a while:

"Mount Kenya?"
"You mean the Mount Kenya Safari Club?"
"Where are we going then?"
"So we'll spend the night out in the park?"
"So what are we doing there?"
"I'm pretty good at guarding myself."
"Where are we?"
"You look like you're pulling in there."
"What have you got?"
"I still am. It smells delicious."
"I thought all you ex-hunters like the Northern Frontier District best."
"Not that many animals, though."
"Did you ever do any hunting here?"
"What then?"
"It's terrible terrain for a war."
"I'm amazed that there's so little residual bitterness. Everyone in Kenya seems to get along well these days."

"You couldn't have chosen a lovelier place for a picnic."
"What *do* we do if a lion approaches? I don't imagine my pistols would have much effect from more than a few feet away."
"So what *do* we do?"
"And that's it?"
"Even man-eaters?"

The rest would start spoiling things but you see what I mean? That's nearly the end of the chapter too. Lara is a complete idiot in the book and what little "adventure" there is isn't very original or exciting. Someone tries to kill her by putting a snake (naturally one of the deadlist snakes in Africa too) in her hotel room? Wow, never saw or read that one before...yawn.

The whole thing feels like a first draft, much like TRAOD come to think of it.

The first two parts of the book, 185 pages, is there just to get Lara from point A to Point B and tell you what the main story is about. 185 pages for a road trip in a book that's only 279 pages long.

Page 281 is Maxim's legendary review for five out of five stars for TRAOD, btw.

That's just my opinion though. You may like it less than I did.

This book is fantasitc. I picked it up in the store and began reading it immediately. And i haven't been able to put it down. Story-wise it feels like a cross between "The Mummy" and "Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark". So the story is great. I don't want to spoil anything, but there's action, suspense, and even some humor. It suprisingly has funny moments here and there, so it definetly isn't predictable. Lara is also a great action hero who can hold her own against today's best.

So if you're looking for a great book, this is one you should pick up. You won't regret it. ;)