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wordsmithlynn's review against another edition
3.0
I adore Alexandre Dumas. I've read all the original musketeer stories, so I was really excited to hear about this book. I have to admit that it was a bit disappointing. Since it's billed as a Three Musketeers sequel, that really raises expectations of who the main characters are going to be. In fact, it's not really about the musketeers, it's more about Richelieu.
Still, there are a lot of great action sequences, impossible escapes, surprising twists and witty banter. So while it won't go down as a MAJOR addition to the Dumas canon, it's still an enjoyable read for devotees of one of France's greatest storytellers.
I received my copy of this book for free at Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Still, there are a lot of great action sequences, impossible escapes, surprising twists and witty banter. So while it won't go down as a MAJOR addition to the Dumas canon, it's still an enjoyable read for devotees of one of France's greatest storytellers.
I received my copy of this book for free at Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
spinnerroweok's review against another edition
3.0
A sequel to the Three Musketeers, only without any musketeers. This book is a mixed bag. Parts of it are very good, especially the section in which Cardinal Richelieu resigns. And parts of it just meander around. Of course this book doesn't end because Dumas never finished it. If that is a spoiler to you, I'm sorry.
It does come with a completed epistolary short story, "The Dove" that is supposed to resolve the story of the supposed protagonist, who hardly appears in the book, and when he does, who cares. But the short story is very good on its own.
It does come with a completed epistolary short story, "The Dove" that is supposed to resolve the story of the supposed protagonist, who hardly appears in the book, and when he does, who cares. But the short story is very good on its own.
thatokiebird's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
The Red Sphinx is listed as the second book in the The d'Artagnan Romances, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it should not be included. For one, d'Artagnan makes no appearance in the book, neither do any of the other musketeers. It does have many scenes of intrigue and swashbuckling and romance, but I found very little humor which was abundant in The Three Musketeers.
It's broken into two parts, The Comte de Moret, which was published incomplete do to the nature of its original serialization and the publisher going out of business before completion, and The Dove, which was published earlier in Dumas' life. It's inclusion in this book sort of acts like a conclusion for The Comte de Moret since we're left literally in the middle of a scene, but it really isn't a conclusion at all. However, The Dove is much better, the romance and suspense is beautifully written throughout.
I listened to the audiobook version, which is decently narrated, and I did appreciate the notes included at both the beginning and the end by the translator, to give more backstory and history for this book.
It's broken into two parts, The Comte de Moret, which was published incomplete do to the nature of its original serialization and the publisher going out of business before completion, and The Dove, which was published earlier in Dumas' life. It's inclusion in this book sort of acts like a conclusion for The Comte de Moret since we're left literally in the middle of a scene, but it really isn't a conclusion at all. However, The Dove is much better, the romance and suspense is beautifully written throughout.
I listened to the audiobook version, which is decently narrated, and I did appreciate the notes included at both the beginning and the end by the translator, to give more backstory and history for this book.
margo415's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
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? Yes
4.25
laura975's review against another edition
3.0
I'm still not sure on the translation, but it was lovely to be reading about some of Dumas' most famous characters again.
vlynnk89's review against another edition
4.0
This is an unfinished story from Dumas but the translator (Lawrence Ellsworth) added the short story The Dove to the end as a way to wrap it up and I think it works quite well. It is a long book but a lot of added story about the Cardinal and what he was up to following the events of the Three Musketeers.
If you look at the D'Artagnan romance series list, this book is listed as 1.5 in the series and that's because the musketeers never actually appear. This is indeed a sequel to the Three Musketeers but centered on the Cardinal, not the musketeers.
If you look at the D'Artagnan romance series list, this book is listed as 1.5 in the series and that's because the musketeers never actually appear. This is indeed a sequel to the Three Musketeers but centered on the Cardinal, not the musketeers.
dgrachel's review against another edition
4.0
My #YearofDumas continues with this lost sequel to The Three Musketeers, The Red Sphinx. Because this hadn't been published when I originally read The Three Musketeers, this is my first time reading this particular sequel. I really enjoyed it.
Last month, even though I own a Lawrence Ellsworth translation of The Three Musketeers, I opted for the Richard Pevear translation. The difference between the two styles is fascinating to me, and just goes to show how much can be changed in the feel and flow of a novel by translators. Unfortunately, I cannot speak or read French, so I cannot read these in their original language, which is a shame. While I enjoy the work of both translators, I feel like Pevear's work is a bit clunky, and while it may be truer to the French in a word-for-word translation, it doesn't flow as well as Ellsworth's, and I'm a little sorry I didn't opt for the Ellsworth translation of Musketeers.
As for the story itself, I have to admit I was a little thrown off by the cover blurb and by the treatment of Cardinal Richelieu. I thought this was going to center more on the actions of the Comte de Moret, but this is much more a story of Richelieu, at least, until the abrupt end of the original manuscript. In The Three Musketeers, he was very much the villain. In The Red Sphinx, Dumas appears to look on the Cardinal with a fonder eye, emphasizing his support of Louis XIII, and his skills as a statesman. The Comte de Moret is also more of a side character, albeit an important one. The Dove, which is a short epistolary story, which Ellsworth chooses to include as a conclusion to The Red Sphinx, is a series of letters between Isabelle de Lautrec and the Comte. It's as fitting an end as any, I suppose, since it appears Dumas never finished the book himself.
That abrupt ending and the addition of The Dove as the conclusion is what brings me to the 4 star rating instead of 5. The completely different style of storytelling in The Dove compared to the main text is jarring. It doesn't help that I was not at all interested in the love story between the two characters whose exchange of letters we read. The other issue I had, and it's one I have with all of Dumas, is that there are SO MANY CHARACTERS. I find it difficult to keep everyone straight. Those two criticisms aside, The Red Sphinx is a highly entertaining adventure tale full of intrigue, sword fights, and a fair bit of chaste romance. I think that's why I love Dumas so much. There is so much joy in the writing. I can't wait to (re)read more!
Last month, even though I own a Lawrence Ellsworth translation of The Three Musketeers, I opted for the Richard Pevear translation. The difference between the two styles is fascinating to me, and just goes to show how much can be changed in the feel and flow of a novel by translators. Unfortunately, I cannot speak or read French, so I cannot read these in their original language, which is a shame. While I enjoy the work of both translators, I feel like Pevear's work is a bit clunky, and while it may be truer to the French in a word-for-word translation, it doesn't flow as well as Ellsworth's, and I'm a little sorry I didn't opt for the Ellsworth translation of Musketeers.
As for the story itself, I have to admit I was a little thrown off by the cover blurb and by the treatment of Cardinal Richelieu. I thought this was going to center more on the actions of the Comte de Moret, but this is much more a story of Richelieu, at least, until the abrupt end of the original manuscript. In The Three Musketeers, he was very much the villain. In The Red Sphinx, Dumas appears to look on the Cardinal with a fonder eye, emphasizing his support of Louis XIII, and his skills as a statesman. The Comte de Moret is also more of a side character, albeit an important one. The Dove, which is a short epistolary story, which Ellsworth chooses to include as a conclusion to The Red Sphinx, is a series of letters between Isabelle de Lautrec and the Comte. It's as fitting an end as any, I suppose, since it appears Dumas never finished the book himself.
That abrupt ending and the addition of The Dove as the conclusion is what brings me to the 4 star rating instead of 5. The completely different style of storytelling in The Dove compared to the main text is jarring. It doesn't help that I was not at all interested in the love story between the two characters whose exchange of letters we read. The other issue I had, and it's one I have with all of Dumas, is that there are SO MANY CHARACTERS. I find it difficult to keep everyone straight. Those two criticisms aside, The Red Sphinx is a highly entertaining adventure tale full of intrigue, sword fights, and a fair bit of chaste romance. I think that's why I love Dumas so much. There is so much joy in the writing. I can't wait to (re)read more!
velocitygirl14's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book!
A wild trip till the end, it wasn’t a sequel per say, but more of a parallel to the three musketeers. It was more interesting and intriguing to see the other perspectives happening in the court and the much less sympathetic take on the king and the court.
Loved the snark in regards to history details and how the enriched the plot. Glad I read it.
A wild trip till the end, it wasn’t a sequel per say, but more of a parallel to the three musketeers. It was more interesting and intriguing to see the other perspectives happening in the court and the much less sympathetic take on the king and the court.
Loved the snark in regards to history details and how the enriched the plot. Glad I read it.
saralynnburnett's review against another edition
5.0
Less swashbuckling and more political scheming than you may be used to with Dumas but like all Dumas - a fabulous, funny, tale you want to linger it. It's a long book that ends too quickly. What a pleasure to have finally had this available in English. I wish there were more to look forward to!