Most Helpful Customer Reviews
97 of 112 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Flawed Fun, February 8, 2007
Here's a new throw of the thriller dice that's fairly entertaining despite its flaws. Others have praised it, so let me focus on the problems if you like books that are well-written as well as well-constructed. There's too much anachronistic writing all the way through, like mentioning that Ben Franklin liked to "party" with the ladies or having characters from late 18th century France say, "Don't even think about it!" The author hasn't made much effort to give you a sense of another time through the dialogue, though he works hard at the other period details. It's also filled with repetitious phrasing within sentences or from one to the next; a basic lack of vocabulary awareness so that there's no sense that "shinny" and "shimmy" are not the same word; and full of obvious errors. For instance, the French flag is not red, white, and blue. Then there are the too-obvious references to Indiana Jones and even The Lord of the Rings, and some action sequences that you have to re-read because the description isn't unclear. Likewise, his hero's attraction to the hotty heroine seems awkward, cooked up and a plot device. What real man says, "I'm fond of women" or "I have a weakness for women?" Maybe a type of woman, perhaps. The narrator seems to be trying to convince us that the hero is attracted to Astiza, and doesn't seem to know how to go about it, doesn't make it authentic. He should try reading some really good thrillers, like the early Ken Folletts (Lie Down with Lions, would be a good start). Overall, the writing is undistinguished and too often full of series of similarly-patterned sentences: subject, verb, direct object. And then there are the preachy long-winded stretches of expository dialogue. The book cries out for a writing workshop at these basic levels, or at least good editor and copyeditor. However, the author does do well in cooking up a highly improbable plot and making you curious to follow what happens. His battle scenes are terrific, and he can keep the ball rolling. I did not find this propulsive reading and wished it had been a bit shorter, but I suspect most thriller readers will gloss over the flaws and just follow the treasure trail where it leads since the book clearly points to a sequel. I'll skip that one.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Think Indiana Jones meets Napoleon!, February 24, 2007
Imagine a young man who had worked with Benjamin Franklin - a hero who found notoriety in Paris. Ethan Gage, living in Post Revolution Paris, won a mysterious medallion during a poker game. Others in the game tried to get the medallion from Gage, but he keeps it in his possession. He's framed for a murder he didn't commit, and he runs. Ultimately to Napoleon Bonaparte's Egyptian campaign. Bonaparte is not only bringing troops to conquer the ancient land, but savants to learn and glean the knowledge of this once formidable country. Soon Gage is up to his eyeballs in danger and intruige in Egypt. He has a great sense of humor and even in the midst of danger, he says something to make you laugh.
The action is amazing - vibrant accounts of naval battles with Nelson - literally puts you there on the ship, as well as land battles. Gage seeks knowledge about the medallion and finds scholars that start him on a path that the medallion is more than a pendant, but perhaps a key to a lost society and greater knowledge. Along the way, he falls in love. The action in this book is nonstop - there is romance, historical figures vividly shown, ancient cities explored. Ethan soon finds himself in constant danger from the men who want that medallion - possibly the key to powers so great, the owner could literally rule the world.
The end seems open to a sequel, and I hope it does - this is a wonderfully presented historical, action book that you'll be begging for more after you read it. You will enjoy Napoleon's Pyramids.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Heavy on History, June 22, 2007
William Dietrich is a historian, and it shows. There are enough dates and facts in this novel to excite any historian. Unfortunately, it also reads like a history text at times. And therein lies my problem with this book.
While the ultimate story was good, even intriguing at certain points, there were several things that put me off this book. The first was the use of first person point of view. Though not unusual, it seemed limiting and forceful in this story. I have read many books written in first person and enjoyed them, but it did not work for me in this one.
The second problem was Dietrich's tendency toward lengthy diatribes dumping dry information on the unsuspecting reader. These passages reminded me uncomfortably of a dry history lecture. I was forced to sit through them in my college years; I don't want to have to do that when reading a book for enjoyment.
The third problem for me was the ending. No, I will not reveal the outcome, but the ending chapter made it quite obvious there will be a sequel. The lack of a conclusive end is something I loathe in modern books. It is a marketing ploy thought up by bean counters. While it forces readers to purchase the next book in the series, it does not generate fans. Though the ending here was very good, it was not satisfying.
Now, all that being said, I did enjoy parts of this story. It is reminiscent of Indiana Jones stories in that it concerns an adventurous American, a mysterious medallion and a beautiful woman and is set against the mystical background of Egypt. Throw in Napoleon and his attempt to conquer Egypt and Africa and you have the basis for a good adventure.
I will honestly admit that I did enjoy the ending much more than I did the beginning. If I hadn't been forced to read this book for review, I would probably have stopped after the first chapter. But I did read on. It took me a month to read the first five chapters and less than an evening to read the last five. If you can get through the history lessons in the beginning, you may actually enjoy this book.
If you don't mind lectures and books that will lead you to the next in the series, by all means pick this one up. If you want an adventure and action, you might be disappointed with the beginning, but the ending is well worth the read.
Reviewed by Vicky Burkholder
06/22/2007
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
