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reallyew's review
3.0
Guilty pleasure reading/Crack. The writing was not well done, but I'm a sucker for a sexy archaeologist.
loyaltoliterature's review
3.0
Having randomly pulled this book off the library shelf with no further research, I wonder if “Indiana Jones & the Secret of the Sphinx” is part of a series because the last couple of chapters felt very left-field from the rest of the plot. Otherwise, this was a fun, quick read that just makes me want to watch the movies again. Except the unmentionable one. #IYKYK
stormborn_kruidnootje's review against another edition
4.0
A fun and light-hearted adventure to read.
However, I was personally a bit bothered by the sometimes big jumps with unexplained gaps in the story and the lack of descriptive language (e.g. characters are barely described and most of the time only their name is stated when they are introduced). I guess I personally do need more descriptions as I read to anchor my imagination.
The main outline of the story was also quite predictable, but since the style of the book reflects the vibe of the Indiana Jones movies, this is not really surprising.
Nevertheless, I read it while on holiday and was fun.
However, I was personally a bit bothered by the sometimes big jumps with unexplained gaps in the story and the lack of descriptive language (e.g. characters are barely described and most of the time only their name is stated when they are introduced). I guess I personally do need more descriptions as I read to anchor my imagination.
The main outline of the story was also quite predictable, but since the style of the book reflects the vibe of the Indiana Jones movies, this is not really surprising.
Nevertheless, I read it while on holiday and was fun.
jamesm90's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
topdragon's review
4.0
The final Indiana Jones prequel book to be written by Max McCoy is certainly his best (of the four he wrote) and I would say in the top three of the whole batch of 12 original prequels. There is still one more prequel book to go, written by Steve Perry but it was released ten years after this one as an attempt to reinvigorate the series but evidently fell flat.
This novel is a straight forward Indiana Jones novel, very reminiscent of the original Indy film trilogy, and does not try to make Indy into some different kind of character. It takes place in 1934 which is just one year prior to the events of “Temple of Doom” and two years prior to “Raiders of the Lost Ark” so it is easy to picture Harrison Ford rather than Sean Patrick Flannery as I felt more inclined to do with the early prequel books. This time around, circumstances force Indy to go in search of the Staff of Aaron (the one Moses used to call for the the plagues, etc.). His adventures take him from Shaanxi Province, China, to the deserts of Iraq and on into Cairo, Egypt. Since Max McCoy is the author, you can be sure there is plenty of accurately portrayed vintage aircraft involved. Accompanying Indy is a mother and daughter magician act who provide some nice illusions to assist Indy in his getaways. It's also good to see old friends like Sallah who foreshadows some of the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
I thoroughly enjoyed this action-adventure yarn. I’m an Indiana Jones fan from the very beginning and I found this novel to be a good rendition of the character and faithful to the series.
This novel is a straight forward Indiana Jones novel, very reminiscent of the original Indy film trilogy, and does not try to make Indy into some different kind of character. It takes place in 1934 which is just one year prior to the events of “Temple of Doom” and two years prior to “Raiders of the Lost Ark” so it is easy to picture Harrison Ford rather than Sean Patrick Flannery as I felt more inclined to do with the early prequel books. This time around, circumstances force Indy to go in search of the Staff of Aaron (the one Moses used to call for the the plagues, etc.). His adventures take him from Shaanxi Province, China, to the deserts of Iraq and on into Cairo, Egypt. Since Max McCoy is the author, you can be sure there is plenty of accurately portrayed vintage aircraft involved. Accompanying Indy is a mother and daughter magician act who provide some nice illusions to assist Indy in his getaways. It's also good to see old friends like Sallah who foreshadows some of the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
I thoroughly enjoyed this action-adventure yarn. I’m an Indiana Jones fan from the very beginning and I found this novel to be a good rendition of the character and faithful to the series.
lapigeon's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I feel the Indiana Jones book series is a mixed bag. On the one hand; I feel all but one (Sky Pirates) Indy is well realized and reads as Indy. But that the secondary characters, plot, and macguffin tend to feel underdeveloped and/or not fitting the the world of Raiders. I feel like this book comes closer then most to fitting into the Mythos of Indy, but still ultimately doesn't stick the landing with the rushed third act, underutilized Villains and use if exploring mysteries.
timgonsalves's review
3.5
McCoy ends his Indy run on a high note with his tightest adventure overall, no nonsense just straight to the good stuff all the way through. Maybe too short, but you have to appreciate a quick read.
How Indy is it...
9/10 - It's really close to a 10, featuring all the expected elements, just maybe a bit light on action, and featuring a few too many endings, mostly focusing on stuff from the other McCoy books that isn't very relevant here.
How Indy is it...
9/10 - It's really close to a 10, featuring all the expected elements, just maybe a bit light on action, and featuring a few too many endings, mostly focusing on stuff from the other McCoy books that isn't very relevant here.
mpetruce's review
1.0
Boy, I wish I could say it's one deus ex machina after another (and the magic items in the story would make you think that would be the case), but even those aren't defined very well. I don't even think this was all that great a book to read when you're between reading books. Quick read though, I'll give it that. My son liked it OK and wanted me to read it, so I did. I'm not sure I would pick up any others in the series. I mean, my expectations weren't super high, but this could have been better.
wyrmbergmalcolm's review
4.0
Having previously read Indiana Jones and The White Witch and hated it, I had low expectations for this one. However, my fears were misplaced as there's a pretty decent Indiana Jones story here. If anything, it's perhaps too similar to the Indiana Jones formula for the movies, but it did make for a fun adventure. A worthwhile addition to the franchise. My only negative is that as the 12th book in this series it does have some call-backs to previous books that I've not read, but none of that was plot-related so it didn't affect the story.
verkisto's review
3.0
If Indiana Jones came on to the scene looking for the Ark of the Covenant, then it makes sense to end this series with him looking for the Staff of Aaron, its companion piece. I feel like this book comes closest to capturing the feel of the movies out of all the novels in the series. Sallah makes an appearance (though there's no history given as to how they know each other), and the religious overtones of the story help make the story feel familiar. Technically, there's a thirteenth book in the series, but it was published ten years after this one, presumably to cash in on the revival of the franchise with the Crystal Skull movie. I'm not interested in reading that one.