Helpful Score: 5
Not really what I expected - ancient Egyptian stuff barely figures in it. I guess, the sorcery in it is supposed to be of Egyptian origin, and it does have some scenes in Egypt - but overall the atmosphere is much more Dickensian than Egyptian, with a significant dash of horror. It's a time-travel romp with historical figures that keep popping up and the constant threat of grotesque mutilation. Oliver Twist meets The Mummy???
So - if you like evil clowns, this is a book for you!!! (personally, they really creep me out, soooo....)
So - if you like evil clowns, this is a book for you!!! (personally, they really creep me out, soooo....)
Helpful Score: 5
THE ANUBIS GATES is a time travel story about one English professor, Brendan Doyle. He is hired in 1983 to accompany a trip of wealthy tourists back to 1810 in order to attend a lecture given by Samuel Coleridge. While there, Doyle is kidnapped by a cadre of Gypsies led by an Egyptian sorceror. Doyle becomes embroiled in stopping their plot to subvert the growth of the British Empire.
The book has a lot of stuff going for it, and there's a lot of it that's pretty fun. I really enjoyed how the story was fairly nonlinear. And I also liked the ending.
There were some things about it that I didn't enjoy about THE ANUBIS GATES, though. One of the biggest problems in the book is that Doyle, because of his interest in a certain obscure poet, has a fairly complete blueprint of his actions. There are some things that surprise him, but for the most part, he's able to predict everthing that's going to happen. The time loop grates especially because it is supposed to be a big *surprise,* but it's really obvious that it's going to happen long before the possibility is even suggested.
Also, I felt like some of the secondary characters weren't used all that well. Particularly the love interest. The copy on the back of the book promotes her as a major player in the story, but in reality her role was very small. She was an interesting character and I felt she deserved more page time.
All in all, the story is good, and I think it is an important read if you like urban fantasy or time travel stories. But I think the hype of the story is overstated. Don't go into it with your expectations incredibly high, and you'll likely find it an enjoyable read.
The book has a lot of stuff going for it, and there's a lot of it that's pretty fun. I really enjoyed how the story was fairly nonlinear. And I also liked the ending.
There were some things about it that I didn't enjoy about THE ANUBIS GATES, though. One of the biggest problems in the book is that Doyle, because of his interest in a certain obscure poet, has a fairly complete blueprint of his actions. There are some things that surprise him, but for the most part, he's able to predict everthing that's going to happen. The time loop grates especially because it is supposed to be a big *surprise,* but it's really obvious that it's going to happen long before the possibility is even suggested.
Also, I felt like some of the secondary characters weren't used all that well. Particularly the love interest. The copy on the back of the book promotes her as a major player in the story, but in reality her role was very small. She was an interesting character and I felt she deserved more page time.
All in all, the story is good, and I think it is an important read if you like urban fantasy or time travel stories. But I think the hype of the story is overstated. Don't go into it with your expectations incredibly high, and you'll likely find it an enjoyable read.
Helpful Score: 1
an intricate time travel tale, set in the near future and the early 19th century (with cameo appearances by literary figures of the period), with lots of adventure, a touch of romance, and a fair share of the paradoxes that typify this kind of novel
