I enjoyed reading this time travel/ alternative history novel, and probably would have relished it to a greater extent were I more familiar with EngliI enjoyed reading this time travel/ alternative history novel, and probably would have relished it to a greater extent were I more familiar with English historical events and figures. Even so, I recognized most of the main characters and parts of London I've seen, so the setting and actors came alive. The fantastical elements were great fun, full of imagination and humor, like a bit of old fashioned Sherlock Holmes mixed with the craziness of Austin Powers - the writing was very visual.
The story was not a fanatical page turner, no sleep lost, but the pace was quick enough to keep me drawn in. In good time travel, the details are layered and fit together precisely to logically account for plot twists, and Mark Hodder placed the puzzle together very well. He was masterful in revealing that all elements existed in a single scene, which explained the insanity and rendered the villain, Spring Heeled Jack, as a very sympathetic character indeed. The process of discovery made for wonderful entertainment.
On a more serious side, literary themes, such as truth and evil, were explored in a subtle and thoughtful way, mostly through quotes and poetry. Those I savored. In all, I recommend this novel, especially if one enjoys history and the steam-punk contraption sort of thing. Thankfully, the details were not overly dense, nor technical, just enough to make the wild inventions a hoot. ...more
I was ready to be charmed. After reading too much violence and gore lately, I was ready for history and subtle intrigue. Unfortunately, The Oracle of I was ready to be charmed. After reading too much violence and gore lately, I was ready for history and subtle intrigue. Unfortunately, The Oracle of Stamboul was flat and lifeless for me. The descriptive writing was nice in places, but I never felt the heartbeat of the characters. They moved about as sketches, or ghosts of the past without the writer revealing what lay beneath their skin.
The dialogue was mechanical and often annoying. Mr. Lukas has a habit of describing a situation, then giving the character's assessment or decision, then writing flat and straight forward dialogue stating that decision. This made reading rather painful and boring, so I began to skim, hoping some action would occur, or true conflict arise. Nada. No real subplots either, really. I saw potential for many. What about palace plots and politics and betrayals? Those were only alluded to and one event occurred, but was quickly resolved. As the novel stands, it should have been a short story or novella. For the novel as advertised, it needed more substance. The ending was unsatisfying as well. Surprising, yes, but much like the surprise you get when you drop a carton of milk on the floor and realize the waste of something that might have been delicious. ...more
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