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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
First in the Black Magic series and sixth in the Duke de Richleau series revolving around best friends: the Duke de Richleau, Simon Aron, the Princess Marie Lou and Richard Eaton, and Rex Van Wyn.
This ARC was sent to me by NetGalley for an honest review.
My Take
This is a very religious book, but more along the lines of Light versus Dark, Good versus Evil, and the Powers of Good.
I should think Simon has an “inkling” that he’s dabbling in wrong things when he tries so hard to keep de Richleau out of it all. I suspect de Richleau would do better to ensure Max was better informed about black magic.
Tanith was a pain. She comes across as an intelligent woman, but her reasoning for following the Left Hand Path is so immature. She’s a nasty-minded person with her desire to have power over people. Doesn’t she realize that this is an evil desire? What’s wrong with helping people? I do wish Wheatley hadn’t been so cryptic about the Malagasy and the Goat. Did the Malagasy give himself over to the demon, was he the demon, or what?
The slang of the 1930s was interesting to read, and Wheatley has a very black noir atmosphere with all the drama of the times in referring to “magic”. Also typical of the times is the attitude towards people of other races. It’s embarrassing to think people could actually believe such drivel, and a relief that we’ve come as far as we have. We do still have a ways to go, but at least we are making progress. Wheatley certainly has some “interesting” beliefs in why the white man has done as well as he has.
I knew the swastika was an ancient symbol adopted by the Nazis, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard this explanation about it. De Richleau’s explanation of baptism is encompassing, on both sides.Even more interesting is Wheatley’s take on the Albigensians, the Templars, and the Rosicrucians. More history involves La Voisin, Prince Borghese’s taking back his palazzo, the magic of Nicolas Flamel, Rasputin’s real identity, the real reason why World War I broke out, Tanith’s use of numerology, and the tale of Osiris’ murder of Set (very clever if totally wicked).
The duke uses some interesting analogies to explain magic to Rex, Richard, and Marie Lou. And they are good points.
People of my generation and older were taught to be polite to everyone. It’s a definite handicap when encountering the bad guys, and examples of when being rude is the better choice should be taught. That’s not to say that being rude is the best choice, but that there are times when it is merited…phone solicitors, for example.
The good guys did make some stupid moves: Rex drove me mad with his stupid decisions about Tanith at the inn. Duh. At the very least consult with the duke instead of falling asleep in the woods! Leaving Fleur unprotected makes me question their intelligence as well. Simon choosing to go against his friends despite the logic of their decision. And poor Richard, having to go a whole day without his drinks and meat…
Phew, these adventures make me so very appreciative of cell phones!
The Story
It must be truly important for Simon to miss the reunion dinner with the duke and Rex. And the duke is even more worried as Rex discovers. Since their friend is too important to them both, the men repair to Simon’s new house where they discover the depths to which he has sunk.
For Simon is the key to an evil ritual, and Mocata will never let him go. And the duke must convince his friends that magic is real.
It’ll be crazy chase scenes, mad escapes, kidnappings, stopping a Black Mass, and the fourth dimension before it's over.
The Characters
The Duke de Richleau, a.k.a., Greyeyes, is an elderly French exile (due to his involvement in the 1890s Royalist rising), art connoisseur, and dilettante one can count on in all things. He has studied the Right Hand Path, White Magic. Max is the duke’s man.
Simon Aron, a stoop-shouldered Jewish man with a very sudden interest in astronomy and gardening, is about to be baptized “Abraham”. Rex Van Wyn is a wealthy young man who enjoys sports of all kinds. His father is a banker and runs The Chesapeake Banking and Trust Corporation. Richard Eaton has married the Princess Marie Lou, and they have a daughter, Fleur. They sold off the lesser stones of the Shulimoff treasure to provide the princess with an independent income. They currently reside at Cardinals Folly in the country. Jim is a gardener; Malin is their butler; and, they have a nurse for Fleur.
The Assistant Commissioner at the Metropolitan Police is a personal friend of the duke’s. Mister Clutterbuck is ex-Scotland Yard who now works as a private investigator. Mr. Jeremiah Wilkes is a retired gentleman’s gentleman who runs The Pride of the Peacocks, an inn near Cardinals Folly. Mizka is an old gypsy woman of Tanith’s childhood. Nebiros is Mizka’s black cat. Retired Detective Verrier identifies the duke. Le Chef de la Sûreté Daudet arrests the duke.
The hypnotist, Canon Damien Mocata, is a French-Irishman and a defrocked Catholic priest as well as a follower of the Left Hand Path, black magic. Madame D’Urfé (a nom-du-Diable of a notorious witch during the time of Louis XV) is a cigar-smoking, overly jeweled, old Frenchwoman. The psychic Miss Tanith (a name taken from the Moon Goddess of the Carthaginians) is an orphan with a death sentence. The Chinaman; the Albino; and, Laurent Castelnau, a French banker, are involved.
The Forbidden Territory is…
…fifth in the Duke de Richleau series series refers to an earlier adventure of the Duke de Richleau and crew.
Different levels of magic mastery include Ipsissimus, Magus, and Magister Templi. The Red Book of Appin. The Talisman of Set is the 14th part that Isis never found. It's also the goal for Mocata, for the fulfillment of his evil plans. A Sabbat is a gathering of those who practice witchcraft and other rites. The Malagasy is the Goat of Mendes, the black magic equivalent of the lamb of God.
The Title
The title is true enough as The Devil Rides Out with both Mocata and the Goat of Mendes traveling all over the place.
This ARC was sent to me by NetGalley for an honest review.
My Take
This is a very religious book, but more along the lines of Light versus Dark, Good versus Evil, and the Powers of Good.
I should think Simon has an “inkling” that he’s dabbling in wrong things when he tries so hard to keep de Richleau out of it all. I suspect de Richleau would do better to ensure Max was better informed about black magic.
Tanith was a pain. She comes across as an intelligent woman, but her reasoning for following the Left Hand Path is so immature. She’s a nasty-minded person with her desire to have power over people. Doesn’t she realize that this is an evil desire? What’s wrong with helping people? I do wish Wheatley hadn’t been so cryptic about the Malagasy and the Goat. Did the Malagasy give himself over to the demon, was he the demon, or what?
The slang of the 1930s was interesting to read, and Wheatley has a very black noir atmosphere with all the drama of the times in referring to “magic”. Also typical of the times is the attitude towards people of other races. It’s embarrassing to think people could actually believe such drivel, and a relief that we’ve come as far as we have. We do still have a ways to go, but at least we are making progress. Wheatley certainly has some “interesting” beliefs in why the white man has done as well as he has.
I knew the swastika was an ancient symbol adopted by the Nazis, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard this explanation about it. De Richleau’s explanation of baptism is encompassing, on both sides.Even more interesting is Wheatley’s take on the Albigensians, the Templars, and the Rosicrucians. More history involves La Voisin, Prince Borghese’s taking back his palazzo, the magic of Nicolas Flamel, Rasputin’s real identity, the real reason why World War I broke out, Tanith’s use of numerology, and the tale of Osiris’ murder of Set (very clever if totally wicked).
The duke uses some interesting analogies to explain magic to Rex, Richard, and Marie Lou. And they are good points.
People of my generation and older were taught to be polite to everyone. It’s a definite handicap when encountering the bad guys, and examples of when being rude is the better choice should be taught. That’s not to say that being rude is the best choice, but that there are times when it is merited…phone solicitors, for example.
The good guys did make some stupid moves: Rex drove me mad with his stupid decisions about Tanith at the inn. Duh. At the very least consult with the duke instead of falling asleep in the woods! Leaving Fleur unprotected makes me question their intelligence as well. Simon choosing to go against his friends despite the logic of their decision. And poor Richard, having to go a whole day without his drinks and meat…
Phew, these adventures make me so very appreciative of cell phones!
The Story
It must be truly important for Simon to miss the reunion dinner with the duke and Rex. And the duke is even more worried as Rex discovers. Since their friend is too important to them both, the men repair to Simon’s new house where they discover the depths to which he has sunk.
For Simon is the key to an evil ritual, and Mocata will never let him go. And the duke must convince his friends that magic is real.
It’ll be crazy chase scenes, mad escapes, kidnappings, stopping a Black Mass, and the fourth dimension before it's over.
The Characters
The Duke de Richleau, a.k.a., Greyeyes, is an elderly French exile (due to his involvement in the 1890s Royalist rising), art connoisseur, and dilettante one can count on in all things. He has studied the Right Hand Path, White Magic. Max is the duke’s man.
Simon Aron, a stoop-shouldered Jewish man with a very sudden interest in astronomy and gardening, is about to be baptized “Abraham”. Rex Van Wyn is a wealthy young man who enjoys sports of all kinds. His father is a banker and runs The Chesapeake Banking and Trust Corporation. Richard Eaton has married the Princess Marie Lou, and they have a daughter, Fleur. They sold off the lesser stones of the Shulimoff treasure to provide the princess with an independent income. They currently reside at Cardinals Folly in the country. Jim is a gardener; Malin is their butler; and, they have a nurse for Fleur.
The Assistant Commissioner at the Metropolitan Police is a personal friend of the duke’s. Mister Clutterbuck is ex-Scotland Yard who now works as a private investigator. Mr. Jeremiah Wilkes is a retired gentleman’s gentleman who runs The Pride of the Peacocks, an inn near Cardinals Folly. Mizka is an old gypsy woman of Tanith’s childhood. Nebiros is Mizka’s black cat. Retired Detective Verrier identifies the duke. Le Chef de la Sûreté Daudet arrests the duke.
The hypnotist, Canon Damien Mocata, is a French-Irishman and a defrocked Catholic priest as well as a follower of the Left Hand Path, black magic. Madame D’Urfé (a nom-du-Diable of a notorious witch during the time of Louis XV) is a cigar-smoking, overly jeweled, old Frenchwoman. The psychic Miss Tanith (a name taken from the Moon Goddess of the Carthaginians) is an orphan with a death sentence. The Chinaman; the Albino; and, Laurent Castelnau, a French banker, are involved.
The Forbidden Territory is…
…fifth in the Duke de Richleau series series refers to an earlier adventure of the Duke de Richleau and crew.
Different levels of magic mastery include Ipsissimus, Magus, and Magister Templi. The Red Book of Appin. The Talisman of Set is the 14th part that Isis never found. It's also the goal for Mocata, for the fulfillment of his evil plans. A Sabbat is a gathering of those who practice witchcraft and other rites. The Malagasy is the Goat of Mendes, the black magic equivalent of the lamb of God.
The Title
The title is true enough as The Devil Rides Out with both Mocata and the Goat of Mendes traveling all over the place.
badseedgirl's review against another edition
3.0
I really only have one thing to say about this novel
These Satanist went through an awful lot of trouble for one dehydrated Egyptian penis on a string.
I think that says it all.
These Satanist went through an awful lot of trouble for one dehydrated Egyptian penis on a string.
I think that says it all.
susanearlam's review against another edition
3.0
Hokey and dated. Pretty awful use of narrative voice, lots of head hopping. Very disappointed.
mc_j_ho's review against another edition
Stopped about halfway. It felt like the so called heroes were a group of easily offended bigots persecuting a religious group of diverse genders, cultural backgrounds, and disabilities. The glorification of the smug wealth of the protagonists is utterly contemptible but at least it isn't class warfare as apparently all the antagonists are also wealthy. All the faults of Lovecraft with none of the redeeming original concepts. Just bad.
mint_renegade's review against another edition
three strikes of flagrant racism and you're out. also, i might die soon.
mike_brough's review against another edition
3.0
A good read. Perhaps a little dated and everyone is sooooo lovely to everyone else (think The Famous Five, all grown up) but it was a speedy and pacy read.
There are similarities to the film but the book is different enough to be worth reading.
There are similarities to the film but the book is different enough to be worth reading.
hera90's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
the_lady_miaow's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5