My two favorite demons, Dante Lovelace and Iago Wick, are in trouble again. Definitely go back and read The Last Temptations of Iago Wick, the first in the series, before Binding Dante Lovelace though. It gives some extra background to the characters that I think it's better when reading this one. The first gives more attention to their jobs as demons, while this one's focus is a bit different.
Dante has been bound by a witch, which Hell lets occur. They don't really have their demons' backs when it comes down to it. The witch needs his power to add to hers, but we don't find out why for a few chapters. Turns out the world is actually in danger and Dante has been forced to help save it. Of course, Iago leaves Boston to join him.
Of course, saving the world is never easy, especially not for demons. The costs are high.
I adore Dante and Iago. I love how...
The Circular Staircase is the first of Mary Roberts Rinehart's novels I've read. I don't know why it has taken me so long to get around to reading her.
The Circular Staircase is apparently the first example of the "Had-I-But-Known" school of mystery writing. The Had-I-But-Known mystery novel is one where the principal character (frequently female, in this case Rachel Innes) does things in connection with a crime that have the effect of prolonging the action of the novel. Ms. Innes keeps information from the police, does her own investigation, actively hides things the police should know - basically she's a standard amateur detective. I take that back, she literally hides people, which is taking the whole thing a little far. Of course, she's surrounded by people who are keeping secrets too, but they are suspects, so that's expected.
So, Ms. Innes, her niece and nephew, and her maid move into a rented country house for the summer. The owners, a rich...
Apparently telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve was a tradition in England. This is a funny little book. I found it because I was looking for Christmassy ghost stories for a Thursday's Tale post, but this is more of a parody of ghost stories.
"Christmas Eve is the ghosts' great gala night. On Christmas Eve they hold their annual fete. On Christmas Eve everybody in Ghostland who IS anybody—or rather, speaking of ghosts, one should say, I suppose, every nobody who IS any nobody—comes out to show himself or herself, to see and to be seen, to promenade about and display their winding-sheets and grave-clothes to each other, to criticise one another's style, and sneer at one another's complexion."
The narrator tells us that it is Christmas Eve at his Uncle John's house. Gathered together are of the narrator, old Dr Scrubbles, the local curate, Mr Samuel Coombes, Teddy Biffles and Uncle John. At the party goes on and they more of the...
4½ stars for the story, 2 stars for the translation
Arsène Lupin is simply a fabulous character. He's a thief, but suave and brilliant and a "gentleman." I just wish this translation by Nicolae Sfetcu had been better.
The collection includes the first nine stories:
1) The Arrest of Arsene Lupin
2) Arsene Lupin in Prison
3) The Escape of Arsene Lupin
4) The Mysterious Traveller
5) The Queen’s Necklace
6) The Seven of Hearts
7) Madame Imbert’s Safe
8) The Black Pearl
9) Sherlock Holmes Arrives Too Late
Lupin gets arrested, organizes a heist from jail, and escapes from jail. He solves a couple of mysteries, in order to steal the items himself of course and even outwits Holmes. I truly enjoyed the stories. They're fun and light.
This particular translation is not well done though. Aside from not being particularly smooth, the pronouns seem to get mixed up a lot - him and her almost become interchangeable, which is more than a little annoying. I could follow the story, and see...
