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mbpartlow's review
4.0
Genre-twisting is a good way to describe this.
We learn quite a bit more about Johannes in this second book in the series. I just can't get enough of it. The sly, clever character with beautiful, witty writing. More than once I paused and reread a sentence, laughing out loud.
This book is definitely a mystery, and as such I did not enjoy it quite as much as the first book, where we are introduced to Johannes as he's making (and fulfilling) a contract with the Devil.
There are moments of quiet introspection right next to thrilling scenes of comedic action like the best of an Indiana Jones movie. There are unexpected moments of Doing the Right Thing, when nobody has any reason to believe Johannes will do anything of the sort.
Very much looking forward to the next in the series!
We learn quite a bit more about Johannes in this second book in the series. I just can't get enough of it. The sly, clever character with beautiful, witty writing. More than once I paused and reread a sentence, laughing out loud.
This book is definitely a mystery, and as such I did not enjoy it quite as much as the first book, where we are introduced to Johannes as he's making (and fulfilling) a contract with the Devil.
There are moments of quiet introspection right next to thrilling scenes of comedic action like the best of an Indiana Jones movie. There are unexpected moments of Doing the Right Thing, when nobody has any reason to believe Johannes will do anything of the sort.
Very much looking forward to the next in the series!
timinbc's review
5.0
What a hoot! I enjoyed this almost as much as a good Pratchett, and indeed there are some stylistic similarities. Many similes and metaphors made me laugh out loud.
I haven't read the first book yet, but I think this one stood on its own just fine. I'll certainly look for all the Cabal books now.
OK, the ending was lame. I don't think it's a spoiler to reveal that it relies far too much on the villain being a classic Explainer who keeps saying "I'ma kill you now" but not actually doing it.
I like Cabal's odd mixed morality, laid-back attitude, and what Nero Wolfe called "ratiocination" in figuring out what's happening. I like his complete cluelessness about women.
Good book.
I haven't read the first book yet, but I think this one stood on its own just fine. I'll certainly look for all the Cabal books now.
OK, the ending was lame. I don't think it's a spoiler to reveal that it relies far too much on the villain being a classic Explainer who keeps saying "I'ma kill you now" but not actually doing it.
I like Cabal's odd mixed morality, laid-back attitude, and what Nero Wolfe called "ratiocination" in figuring out what's happening. I like his complete cluelessness about women.
Good book.
hirvimaki's review against another edition
5.0
I ate this one up. Horror meets steampunk meets detective fiction meets adventure. A truly well written, well executed story. A brilliant, gorgeous narrative that makes you like an unlikable person.
premium_huhn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Johannes Cabal, der berühmt-berüchtigte Nekromant, hat sich beim Versuch, die Principia Necromantica zu stehlen, unglücklicherweise festnehmen lassen. Auf der Flucht per ergaunerter Flugschiffreise begegnet ihm ausgerechnet genau jene Leonie Barrow, deren Seele er im letzten Band beinahe dem Teufel verkauft hätte und die ihm das durchaus nachträgt. Sie hat vor, ihn am nächsten Flughafen den Behörden auszuliefern. Der mysteriöse Mord an einem Passagier bringt Leonie und Johannes jedoch dazu, vorübergehend zum Zwecke der Ermittlungen einen Waffenfrieden zu schließen.
Wow, der war wirklich spaßig, der Band! Hat mir besser gefallen als der erste. Leonie ist ein sehr angenehmer Charakter, deren Neugier uns Lesenden mehr Einblicke in Cabals Verhalten verschafft und deren moralische Standhaftigkeit einen Gegenpol zu Cabals Selbstbezogenheit bietet, ohne aufgesetzt zu wirken. Ich hätte gedacht, dass ich Vampir Horst mehr vermissen würde, aber Leonie erfüllt seine Rolle ziemlich gut. Sehr gut hat mir auch gefallen, dass Leonie nicht als schnöde Loveinterest herhalten muss. Der Fokus bleibt auf dem Kriminalfall.
Cool auch der Genrewechsel. Wo der erste Band eher ein Roadmovie war, ist dieser hier eine Mischung aus Sherlock-Holmes-Ermittlung und James-Bond-Film. Ich mag es, dass das Konzept des Romans so ganz anders als das des ersten ist. Frische Einblicke in die Charaktere, auf andere Art präsentiert. Eine gute Entscheidung.
Einziges wirkliches Manko des Buches war für mich, dass zwei Darstellungen, die die Inhalte eines Flyers über ein Luftschiff und ein Fluggerät zeigen, in der ebook-Version so klein waren, dass ich sie nicht wirklich lesen konnte. Keine Ahnung, ob man den auf der Seite stehenden Text irgendwie hätte vergrößern können? Es war für die Lektüre des Buches nicht zwingend notwendig und ich habe sie daher übersprungen,aber ich hab mir damit selbst die Chance genommen, ein oder zwei relevante Details vor Cabal zu entdecken (der die Flyer auch nicht liest^^) .
Wow, der war wirklich spaßig, der Band! Hat mir besser gefallen als der erste. Leonie ist ein sehr angenehmer Charakter, deren Neugier uns Lesenden mehr Einblicke in Cabals Verhalten verschafft und deren moralische Standhaftigkeit einen Gegenpol zu Cabals Selbstbezogenheit bietet, ohne aufgesetzt zu wirken. Ich hätte gedacht, dass ich Vampir Horst mehr vermissen würde, aber Leonie erfüllt seine Rolle ziemlich gut. Sehr gut hat mir auch gefallen, dass Leonie nicht als schnöde Loveinterest herhalten muss. Der Fokus bleibt auf dem Kriminalfall.
Cool auch der Genrewechsel. Wo der erste Band eher ein Roadmovie war, ist dieser hier eine Mischung aus Sherlock-Holmes-Ermittlung und James-Bond-Film. Ich mag es, dass das Konzept des Romans so ganz anders als das des ersten ist. Frische Einblicke in die Charaktere, auf andere Art präsentiert. Eine gute Entscheidung.
Einziges wirkliches Manko des Buches war für mich, dass zwei Darstellungen, die die Inhalte eines Flyers über ein Luftschiff und ein Fluggerät zeigen, in der ebook-Version so klein waren, dass ich sie nicht wirklich lesen konnte. Keine Ahnung, ob man den auf der Seite stehenden Text irgendwie hätte vergrößern können? Es war für die Lektüre des Buches nicht zwingend notwendig und ich habe sie daher übersprungen,
antimony's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
enjoyed a lot!!! really liked leonie being more prominent bc book 1 felt like there wasn't actually a single woman showing up till 80% or so. and I liked how this was more steampunk as well..and the way it leans hard into the structure of a detective story down to the monologue at the end. oh so fun
aceinit's review
3.0
I enjoyed this second installment of the Johannes Cabal series right up until the moment the dramatic climax is set in motion. From there, the book took a turn for the overly-dramatic, explosive-laden action sequence one finds in every clichéd popcorn flick. Sadly, this overblown excuse for an ending ruined the book for me.
Still, it is nice to re-enter Cabal's world, and to see unexpected, familiar faces from the first novel make an appearance as well. Cabal and Miss Barrow work well together, though neither of them would ever admit it, and I hope to see more of her in the future.
It's also been fascinating to be handled a few more breadcrumbs about Cabal's past and the mysterious woman who is driving his every action.
The novel closes with a story-within-a-story about an adventure Cabal has after his primary adventure is over. "The Tomb of Umtak Ktharl" is a delightful short story, and I would definitely recommend checking it out if you are curious about Cabal’s world but don’t want to fully commit to a series without first knowing more about it, the characters and the storytelling style.
I am looking forward to The Fear Institute, and hope the series regains its stride after the missteps of the ending of the principal story of this installment.
Still, it is nice to re-enter Cabal's world, and to see unexpected, familiar faces from the first novel make an appearance as well. Cabal and Miss Barrow work well together, though neither of them would ever admit it, and I hope to see more of her in the future.
It's also been fascinating to be handled a few more breadcrumbs about Cabal's past and the mysterious woman who is driving his every action.
The novel closes with a story-within-a-story about an adventure Cabal has after his primary adventure is over. "The Tomb of Umtak Ktharl" is a delightful short story, and I would definitely recommend checking it out if you are curious about Cabal’s world but don’t want to fully commit to a series without first knowing more about it, the characters and the storytelling style.
I am looking forward to The Fear Institute, and hope the series regains its stride after the missteps of the ending of the principal story of this installment.
sydneyjn's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was an okay follow up to Johannes Cabal, Necromancer. I like that the author is plopping the protagonist into different genres, but this locked-room murder mystery a la Agatha Christie didn't use the necromancer's powers nearly enough. It felt like you could have dropped any astute observant person into the main role, and the fact that it was Cabal was incidental.
stepriot's review
5.0
It is fun, well written and very British in all of the best ways. The integration of Lovecraft's Mythos is done seamless and makes it the more amusing.
klparmley's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun sequel to Johannes Cabal, Necromancer. I look forward to the next in this series.