Customer Reviews

The Rosetta Key: An Ethan Gage Adventure (Ethan Gage Adventures)

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1 star:		(2)

 

 

At the end of his first adventure, "Napoleon's Pyramids," American adventurer Ethan Gage was fleeing Egypt in a hot air balloon when his lover Astiza tumbled over the side and into the Nile with the evil sorcerer Silano. (Trust me, this will not spoil the reading for those who haven't got there yet.)

At the beginning of Gage's second adventure he is again in the Holy Land, now facing a Napoleonic firing squad. And just before the guns blaze, he digresses, falling back to describe what has happened since readers last saw him.

Determined to find Astiza, he had agreed to do a little spying for the British who set him down in Palestine with the names of some allies in Jerusalem, Jericho and his lovely sister Miriam. While there, Gage figured he might as well continue his search for the Book of Thoth, an ancient scroll said to contain the secrets of the universe. The French are determined to beat him to this prize.

Pursuing leads in Jerusalem, he discovered a secret passage under Jerusalem's most sacred mosque. A step ahead of the French, he managed to bring the fury and alarm of Jerusalem's Muslims down on his little group, along with the French, who captured him. And that's how he ends up in front of the firing squad.

Suffice to say, he survives and continues his adventures, romances and intrigues with nary a dull moment from first page to last. Reminiscent of George MacDonald Fraser's Sir Harry Flashman - though not quite as outrageous or hilarious - Gage schemes and blunders his way through pivotal moments of history, roused to heroism despite his baser ambitions.

While greater character development could make the narrative more compelling, the series is entertaining and witty and sure to acquire new fans with every book.

In 1799 he was fortunate to survive the evil of NAPOLEON'S PYRAMIDS thanks to a hot air balloon ride across the Sahara but now expatriate Ethan Gage is in danger again in the Holy Land as Napoleon's army march towards Jerusalem. Gage and Bonaparte had gotten into a dispute over the Great Pyramid power leading to the French dictator proclaiming him an enemy of the state.

Napoleon's followers Count Alessandro Silano and his aide Pierre Najac declare Gage a dangerous traitor to France placing a price for his head. Knowing the peril he faces, Gage fears more for his former lover Astiza as a pawn if the lethal sorcerer Silano captures her. Thus he rushes to Jerusalem to keep her safe, which fits with his other quest perfectly as he follows clues in search of the revered legendary Book of Thoth, an ancient tome that allegedly knows the magical underlying secrets of the universe.

Using real persona, sites and events (not just Napoleon), William Dietrich writes a terrific historical thriller starring a late eighteenth century Hans Solo impish rogue. The story line is fast-paced but also brings alive the Holy Land. This is one series worth reading as Mr. Dietrich provides THE ROSETTA KEY to how Napoleon consolidated his power.

Harriet Klausner

Catapulted into Jerusalem in dogged pursuit of an ancient Egyptian scroll reputed to have magical properties, American adventurer Ethan Gage is forced to apply all his wits and archaeological prowess to prevent dark powers from falling into the wrong hands. BT.
This is a good follow up from William Dietrich's previous Ethan Gage novel. There's something very likeable about Gage that helps make this story so entertaining. With good characters and a suspenseful and mystery solving plot, this is fiction you're sure to enjoy.

There are basically two kinds of novels. One is the literary sort that all the intelligentsia consider to be the only ones worthy of reading--and which, as any publisher can tell you, rarely are.

Then there are the ones that do get read--and this is a prime example. It's not that there's anything terribly original about it, but then, there rarely is in a picaresque novel. It's the very familiarity of the form that allows us to settle down with a nice cold beverage and a bag of something crunchy and just have one whale of a good time.

I missed Mr. Dietrich's first book in this series but no matter--he does an excellent job of providing the necessary backstory without allowing it to be intrusive or repetitive. Which is a good thing because pacing is vital to the success of action-adventure. Be prepared to have a hard time getting anything else done, because just when you think you'll have time to catch your breath the next disaster hits and you're off again.

This book is precisely what it needs to be: superb entertainment with a character of both flaws and virtues, the latter sometimes in spite of himself. No cliches here, except for the ones that fans expect--and howl loudly if they don't get them.

Read it. It's fun.

In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte set forth to invade and conquer the Holy Land following his successful conquest of Egypt the year before. The difference in this attack is that Napoleon is set apart from his own navy, which had gone down to defeat at the hands of the British Commander, Admiral Nelson. Bonaparte gambled on the premise that a relatively small group of dedicated fighters would be enough to overthrow the Ottoman Empire. If successful in this endeavor, Napoleon would have had the power to change the face of world history and permanently affect the balance of power in the European empire. He did not expect that an unlikely alliance of British, Muslim and French royalists in the city of Acre were preparing to make a stand to stop his siege. This event is the centerpiece of THE ROSETTA KEY.

William Dietrich returns to the familiar genre of historical fiction as the background of this engaging and fast-moving novel. Even though THE ROSETTA KEY is a sequel to NAPOLEON'S PYRAMIDS, it may be enjoyed as a stand-alone tale. The hero this time is American adventurer Ethan Gage, who is sort of like a cross between Indiana Jones and Jack Sparrow --- including all the wisecracks and sarcasm. Gage finds himself torn in allegiance between following Napoleon's French forces and supporting the British military that is opposing Bonaparte.

The bottom line for Gage is that he is involved in this saga due to his own pursuit of adventure and treasure --- and switches allegiances so many times that you begin to lose count. In addition to reclaiming his lost love, Astiza (who was taken from him at the end of NAPOLEON'S PYRAMIDS), Gage is on the trail of the ancient Book of Thoth - which may hold the key to immortality. He is told of an ancient tale that involved the infamous Knights Templar during the Crusades and how their pursuit of the Holy Grail may have ended with their discovery of The Book of Thoth. The story indicates that the Holy Grail has been described as many different objects over time --- even an ancient book. Following clues that he finds during his adventures through the Holy Land, Gage learns that he is not alone in its pursuit. Apparently, Napoleon has been made aware of the Book and the promise of immortality and endless power it may bring to whoever possesses it.

Gage and his small band of allies set off in pursuit of The Book of Thoth --- which is actually a scroll said to have been stolen from the Great Pyramid by Moses and carried by the Jews to their new kingdom of Israel 3,000 years earlier. The American expatriate discovers that finding the scroll isn't the difficult part --- it's the interpretation of text written in a long-dead language that provides the biggest hurdle. Gage is told of a Rosetta Key that can be used as the template for interpreting this ancient scroll. What's more interesting in this tale is the fact that the Rosetta Key is in the possession of Gage's small group of allies --- in an unexpected form.

Gage is a morally ambiguous protagonist who is a lot of fun to follow. His ever-changing shifts in allegiance sometimes make it difficult to tell who is a friend or foe --- but are never boring. Once events unfold in THE ROSETTA KEY and the quest is determined, it is a non-stop race to the finish as Gage attempts to get "the key," rescue Astiza and help the British allied forces stop Bonaparte's siege of Acre. Complicating matters is that Gage falls for Miriam, the sister of one of his colleagues, early in the novel. This event provides Gage with additional turmoil as to which love interest he will end up with when the dust settles --- if either!

THE ROSETTA KEY is a well-researched historical adventure that will appeal to readers of both historical nonfiction and some of today's top historical fiction writers, such as Dan Brown, Steve Berry and James Rollins. This is the perfect summer novel as it provides non-stop escapist thrills while describing a pivotal event in world history. Not all of the questions and issues are resolved by the end of the book, which indicates that Dietrich hopefully will return to the adventurous Ethan Gage so we can follow him through another tale and find out what happens next.

--- Reviewed by Ray Palen

Ethan Gage knows how to find trouble. Or rather, trouble finds him! He takes off for the Holy Land in search of the magical Book of Thoth and his lost love, Astiza. Astiza has been missing ever since their disastrous expedition into the Great Pyramid (see NAPOLEON'S PYRAMIDS) and Ethan isn't above using the resources of the British to find her or the Book of Thoth. What ensues is an outrageous journey through the Holy Land as Ethan will have to face Napoleon Bonaparte himself in his quest.

THE ROSETTA KEY is the sequel to NAPOLEON'S PYRAMIDS but can easily be read as a stand alone. William Dietrich recaps any information needed so that the reader can jump straight into Ethan's second adventure.

William Dietrich takes the readers on a madcap journey, where nothing is truly sacred and the stakes are always high. Ethan is the perfect character for this story, a lovable gambler who will work himself to the bone on quests to avoid work. He falls in and out of friendships and relationships quite easily, as his loyalty is only really to himself and to what he cannot attain. Perhaps the only thing that keeps this book from being truly superb is the lack of depth to the other characters, all who appear almost as superficial as Ethan himself. A good dose of character development could turn this book from a fun-loving read into a true gem!

William Dietrich makes history entertaining through the eyes of Ethan. While his rapid side switching can be a bit disconcerting, Ethan's irreverence for either side makes his viewpoint on the battles all the more interesting. William Dietrich does a brilliant job at weaving history into the story as THE ROSETTA KEY is an unusual glimpse at history from the eyes of a lovable rogue.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

I started this book almost 12 times before I actually read it through to the end. I always have a stack of books to read, and every time I would find a reason to put this one down and pick up another. My initial impression was always off putting. It seemed as though the author was trying too hard to throw in bits of adventure, factoids, et al to lure me into his world.
Nevertheless, I ran out of other books. When I finally did read the book all the way through, I was entertained. In my opinion, there are better "historical thrillers" out there, but I might have different tastes than you. If you just want to pass some time and maybe be mildly entertained until your next must read book comes in, this will do.

William Dietrich's "The Rosetta Key" is a worthy follow-up to his earlier novel, "Napoleon's Pyramids." In the first novel, intrepid American adventurer Ethan Gage found himself bound to Egypt to accompany Napoleon's 1799 invasion of the ancient nation. Battling horrid foes and demonic traps, Gage fought to discover the secrets of the Pyramids, which quite possibly hold the answers to the great mysteries of the world.

"The Rosetta Key" opens where "NP" left off. Gage is single, having watched his beloved Azista plummet into the Nile with the horrid villain Silano. Gage learns that Azista may have survived and journeys to Jerusalem in hopes of tracking her down. While there, he learns that the clues he discovered in Egypt may lead to further magnificent discoveries in Jerusalem and elsewhere. So once again Gage is back doing what he does best- tracking down clues and exploring tombs with panache and an eagle-eye for beauty.

This is another funny book, to boot. Gage retains his self-deprecating humor, and Dietrich spices things up with plenty of age-appropriate, hilarious metaphors. Like Indiana Jones, Gage is a hero who appreciates the absurd situations he gets himself into . . . again and again and again.

Dietrich keeps this story moving a la Alan Quatermain or Indiana Jones, with just enough history, violence, and impeccable timing to keep thing just barely on the plausible side of ridiculous. This is an entertainment, as Graham Greene might say, and a terrific one at that. Sure, not everything bears close scrutiny, but it is undeniable that Dietrich has another great adventure up his sleeve with this book. Whether it's the titanic battle of Acre, or watching two lovers buried to their necks in desert sand to be mummified alive, going mano a mano with Napoleon himself, or exploring the caverns under Jerusalem, Dietrich pumps up so much incredible action that the pages fly by.

Definitely pick this book up after reading "Napoleon's Pyramids." If you're looking for a fantastic historical adventure, you could do a heck of a lot worse. A good read for fans of Bartle Bull, David Ball, or even Bernard Cornwell.

Dietrich is a superb writer and, at times, his descriptions of locations are especially vivid as are his descriptions of battle scenes. Enjoyment of the book would have been enhanced if the author used his thesaurus less (i.e. seraglio, barbican, crenellation).

This story line is not as exciting as some of the author's other books, especially Napoleon's Pyramids, but the book is still a worthwhile read.

The protagonist, Ethan Gage, remains a shallow character, which has not grown much over the course of several books. I would certainly not read another Gage book merely to follow him as a character. A more complex character might improve the enjoyment of reading about historical events.

I love historical novels - this one was SO disappointing - no historical information - the "plot" could have been in any time and/or place.