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git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
Fab start to a series! Hooked me instantly. I am not as fond of the Nightside series as others are, but I am definitely a fan of this, Secret Histories.
Plenty of action, deception, humor, and paranormal activity.
Bond (Shaman Bond) has been declared a rogue agent by his family. A family that stands against the dark evil of the world. He's not a rogue and he wants to clear his name. He goes to the dark side for help since he knows he won't get aid from any of the 'good guys'.
Excellent and can't wait to read more. Love the titles, too.
Plenty of action, deception, humor, and paranormal activity.
Bond (Shaman Bond) has been declared a rogue agent by his family. A family that stands against the dark evil of the world. He's not a rogue and he wants to clear his name. He goes to the dark side for help since he knows he won't get aid from any of the 'good guys'.
Excellent and can't wait to read more. Love the titles, too.
tracey_stewart's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't sure I'd like this. I usually dig my heels in and resist "humorous" fantasy novels. They're not my cup of cocoa. Smart and funny is great; I have a weakness for really clever puns. But I'm not usually willing to offer the same suspension of disbelief to a book written with the primary intent of being comical as I am a more grounded book with a sense of humor. And I'd heard of Simon R. Green's books primarily as humor.
Well, The Man with the Golden Torc was funny - from the title on through. The wonderful thing about it was that it never sacrificed storytelling to make a joke, never stretched for the humor, never beat me over the head with a pun. Puns did abound - Archie Leech? Ow, and I resent that on behalf of Archibald Alexnder Leach - and so did jokes and running gags ("the infamous Molly Metcalf"), and I chuckled several times and smiled more. It was good, and it was funny, and the humor was integral, partly down to a narrator with an honestly witty voice, and partly to a feeling that the world was run by people who saw no reason not to be amusing in the setting up and naming of things, including super-villains. Well done.
And, funnily enough (no pun intended), I learned a couple of things. Eddie Drood (whose name, along with Shaman Bond and Archie Leech, makes me wonder how many references I missed) mentions that the Drood home base boasts Rembrandts, Goyas, and Schalckens. I don't remember ever hearing of Schalcken before, which is surprising considering he seems fairly major and considering I thought I'd had a fairly decent art history education. I also picked up a few music recommendations (Hawkwind, Mary Hopkins, and Within Temptation), so this was a multi-media presentation.
It also prompted me to look up Jaffa cakes.
This wasn't perfect. There were a few instances of "But I thought you just said ... ?" In discussing the merits of the torc and the armour, Eddie explains several times in the first chapter that "no one sees me unless I want them to", which was (intentionally, I'm wondering belatedly?) funny because it seemed like every time he stated it was just before or after someone saw him who shouldn't have. The whole book was filled with instances of the much-vaunted perfect, impenetrable-in-all-ways protection of the torc being penetrated or overcome in one way or another. Another "huh?" moment for me followed Eddie and Molly's hike through the sewers of London. Although a visit to another ... establishment ... left its scent mark on him to the point that no one wanted to sit next to him on public transport, the schlep through what were described as overwhelmingly pungent tunnels seemed not to leave a trace of odor on them, given that there was no reaction from anyone they met before bathing and changing clothes. Small things, these, but they caught at my attention like slivers in a finger.
So: not perfect, but, overall, I loved it. It was fast-paced and didn't let go, and I genuinely like Eddie Drood and the earnest goodness of (most of) his family. I loved the story, unique and well thought out as it was. The humor was not unalloyed - there are a couple of very serious elements to the plot, and there are sacrifices along the way. But the protagonists are good people doing what they can and what they must, and, occasionally, having a lot of fun doing it. Highly recommended.
My favorite line: "You know, sometimes I swear the whole universe runs on irony."
Well, The Man with the Golden Torc was funny - from the title on through. The wonderful thing about it was that it never sacrificed storytelling to make a joke, never stretched for the humor, never beat me over the head with a pun. Puns did abound - Archie Leech? Ow, and I resent that on behalf of Archibald Alexnder Leach - and so did jokes and running gags ("the infamous Molly Metcalf"), and I chuckled several times and smiled more. It was good, and it was funny, and the humor was integral, partly down to a narrator with an honestly witty voice, and partly to a feeling that the world was run by people who saw no reason not to be amusing in the setting up and naming of things, including super-villains. Well done.
And, funnily enough (no pun intended), I learned a couple of things. Eddie Drood (whose name, along with Shaman Bond and Archie Leech, makes me wonder how many references I missed) mentions that the Drood home base boasts Rembrandts, Goyas, and Schalckens. I don't remember ever hearing of Schalcken before, which is surprising considering he seems fairly major and considering I thought I'd had a fairly decent art history education. I also picked up a few music recommendations (Hawkwind, Mary Hopkins, and Within Temptation), so this was a multi-media presentation.
It also prompted me to look up Jaffa cakes.
This wasn't perfect. There were a few instances of "But I thought you just said ... ?" In discussing the merits of the torc and the armour, Eddie explains several times in the first chapter that "no one sees me unless I want them to", which was (intentionally, I'm wondering belatedly?) funny because it seemed like every time he stated it was just before or after someone saw him who shouldn't have. The whole book was filled with instances of the much-vaunted perfect, impenetrable-in-all-ways protection of the torc being penetrated or overcome in one way or another. Another "huh?" moment for me followed Eddie and Molly's hike through the sewers of London. Although a visit to another ... establishment ... left its scent mark on him to the point that no one wanted to sit next to him on public transport, the schlep through what were described as overwhelmingly pungent tunnels seemed not to leave a trace of odor on them, given that there was no reaction from anyone they met before bathing and changing clothes. Small things, these, but they caught at my attention like slivers in a finger.
So: not perfect, but, overall, I loved it. It was fast-paced and didn't let go, and I genuinely like Eddie Drood and the earnest goodness of (most of) his family. I loved the story, unique and well thought out as it was. The humor was not unalloyed - there are a couple of very serious elements to the plot, and there are sacrifices along the way. But the protagonists are good people doing what they can and what they must, and, occasionally, having a lot of fun doing it. Highly recommended.
My favorite line: "You know, sometimes I swear the whole universe runs on irony."
veronica87's review against another edition
4.0
This is the kind of book for which you need to turn off your brain and just enjoy the ride. The high octane, ridiculously fun ride. It’s like watching those Fast and Furious movies…brain off…enjoy the explosions.
Eddie Drood, aka Shaman Bond, is a field agent for his family. The powerful Droods have guarded mankind for centuries against all the things that go bump in the night. Like that other better known Mr. Bond,ShamanEddie has all sorts of cool gadgets at his disposal. Those will come in handy because when his family suddenly declares him rogue – something the Family never takes well – Eddie finds himself on the run and looking for answers in all the wrong places.
The whole book is basically one long chase scene but Eddie leads readers through such a motley and interesting London Underground that it just adds to the fun flavor. Eddie himself makes for a likable and charismatic lead character. The secondary characters are, well…characters…in the sense that they are an outrageous and colorful lot.
Be warned that the story is overflowing with plot contrivances. Eddie’s special gadgets can counter anything the enemy throws at him but they never seem to have anything to counter his stuff. Such-and-such a place is an impregnable fortress, inviolate, yadda, yadda, yadda…until, of course, it isn’t because the plot needs it to be so. And so on and so on. That’s the whole turn-off-your-brain thing. But it’s fun…and funny and worth a looksee when you’re in the mood for popcorn fluff.
Eddie Drood, aka Shaman Bond, is a field agent for his family. The powerful Droods have guarded mankind for centuries against all the things that go bump in the night. Like that other better known Mr. Bond,
The whole book is basically one long chase scene but Eddie leads readers through such a motley and interesting London Underground that it just adds to the fun flavor. Eddie himself makes for a likable and charismatic lead character. The secondary characters are, well…characters…in the sense that they are an outrageous and colorful lot.
Be warned that the story is overflowing with plot contrivances. Eddie’s special gadgets can counter anything the enemy throws at him but they never seem to have anything to counter his stuff. Such-and-such a place is an impregnable fortress, inviolate, yadda, yadda, yadda…until, of course, it isn’t because the plot needs it to be so. And so on and so on. That’s the whole turn-off-your-brain thing. But it’s fun…and funny and worth a looksee when you’re in the mood for popcorn fluff.
b00kdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jrenee's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
aknas22's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very interesting story with a very unique world and characters. The ideas that the Sceneshifters had about the world were very strange...I'd never heard anything like them before.
csdaley's review against another edition
4.0
This was a four just barely. I was not thrilled with the ending. I felt like their was too much explaining in an attempt to set up the world and the next book.
The book was pretty action packed and that slowed it down a little. I think Green fans will like it. Clearly a James Bond Nightside and feels like Nightside might fit right inside this world.
The book was pretty action packed and that slowed it down a little. I think Green fans will like it. Clearly a James Bond Nightside and feels like Nightside might fit right inside this world.
kalldimma's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jessicalin07's review against another edition
3.0
I absolutely fell in love with the Nightside series, but this book and world didn’t resonate with me in the same way. I also felt like everything was just a bit too convenient, from the gadgets to the romance to the ending. However, I felt sort of underwhelmed by the first of the Nightside books as well. Anyone know whether the second of the Secret Histories picks up the pace? I would love to have another series to obsess over.
pzhorton4's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5