I started this book with a little trepidation because the first book in this series, Innocent Darkness, felt too derivative of other books in the YA/FI started this book with a little trepidation because the first book in this series, Innocent Darkness, felt too derivative of other books in the YA/Fantasy genre. I had just finished reading Holly Black’s “The Modern Faery’s Tales� trilogy, which deals with the same mortal/faerie world dichotomy. Both Black’s published trilogy (Black published hers 2004-2007) and Lazear’s deal with the same question of a magical plane that must be fed on the blood of a young female sacrifice every seven years, and the major difference seems to be that Lazear has moved the timeline a century earlier to the 1900’s to make it compatible with the steampunk elements. (And, as an aside, a sword that turns into a pen? Percy Jackson, anyone?) But Lazear is better at building the relationship between the parallel worlds, and the writing seems less conflicted in tone, so I was eager to see where the second book would take her cast of characters.
I am pleased by how Lazear’s young adult novel is appropriate to the age of the intended audience, even though some readers have commented that they find the chaste nature of Noli and V’s relationship beyond unbelievable. Given the time period of the novel and the very real danger of pregnancy, it makes sense that these two would choose not to make things even harder for themselves. As an adult reading this novel I felt like Charmed Vengeance manages to explore the complex nature of evil in the human and faerie realms without overreaching; the cruelty and menace of both feel plausible, not like an attempt at shock value or to make the book ‘street� enough for teens to think it sufficiently cool to read. The idea of human sacrifice is more clearly defined in Lazear’s novel: Here the sacrifice is necessary to save not just the faerie world, but the human one as well. The two worlds are indelibly intertwined and, without the pact, both worlds pay a terrific price. The nature of sacrifice, and the ethical questions that surround it, simply seems handled more intelligently and doesn’t condescend to the teen audience, which I found refreshing. And it also helps that the story is moving in the direction of solving the ritual sacrifice problem.
The ‘head hopping� in the book is a little worrisome, because it interferes with the flow of the story. In this book we get far more of Noli’s viewpoint, and the reader experiences her unwilling possession by an earth sprite, which feels a lot like mental illness. I liked this POV, and I think this part of the story, which requires Noli to develop new coping strategies, to be interesting. I still think she’s impetuous and strong-willed at all the wrong times, but her inner conflict makes for good reading. But then the POV jumps to V and James, and I wasn’t quite so impressed with the moments we spent in V’s head, watching him struggle with his brother. James is dealing with a loss of his own, and he behaves like a wackadoodle two year-old lothario hybrid. It makes things almost absurdly tough for V, and this element of the story is inconsistent, unpredictable, and sometimes downright bizarre.
My biggest complaint about the first book was with regards to the use of steampunk elements, and this no longer seems to be an issue. I adore steampunk. I love the thematic explorations with regards to race and gender, the questions it asks about humanity’s interaction with technology and how it changes us, and the enormous environmental cost humans inflict on our planet in the search for the next marvel. In this book, airships are one of the most common modes of transport, and their use is organic and natural. I am still concerned by how there are hoverboards and flying cars, but these exist in a world still (bizarrely) lit by fire. They’ve managed to invent a flying car but can’t handle an incandescent light bulb? Steam powered gadgets and gizmos exist in the faerie realm, but the reader doesn’t spend any considerable time there in this book, so this is a non-issue.
I will repeat the complaint I have with the V/Noli/Kevighn love triangle. (Does every YA novel have to have one? This convention is getting stale, I think�) The triangle would be a useful plot device if it seemed like there was any possibility that dark-haired Kevighn SilverTongue stood a chance against blond Steven Darrow (Gag! A dark v. light binary!), but it really does feel like a foregone conclusion that Steven will get the girl. I truly detest how forced this element is in the book, but I think that Lazear is moving away from the “I say no with my mouth, but yes with my eyes while I look at you over the shoulder of my True Love� dialogue and narrative. Love triangles are meant to be complex and conflicted and, while there really doesn’t seem to be much of a challenge to Steven’s and Magnolia’s feelings for each other, Kevighn’s unrequited, almost courtly, love is growing on me. If you must have a love triangle then feed it well, and I don’t mean in the last chapter of the book as part of a cliffhanger.
I also find the amount of repetitive phrases to be mildly annoying, and I think teen readers will also pick up on this. Both Magnolia and Steven’s brother James refer to him as a “fussy old bodger,� and the boys� single profanity (?) is “flying figs.� Magnolia really, really doesn’t want to be a “dollymop.� The repetition has the unintended consequence of limiting these worlds, and I was disappointed that new language wasn’t introduced in this second installment. I hope to see the introduction of new vernacular in the remaining installment(s).
Overall, while I thought there were some problems with the novel, I enjoyed reading it, and I can recommend it to others (though I would hesitate to mention the steampunk elements and stick to a faerie description). I also wouldn’t hesitate to put this in a classroom library as it will definitely appeal to teens. ...more
This is one of those books I run up against every once in a while that make me really stop and think about what I want to say. There were parts of theThis is one of those books I run up against every once in a while that make me really stop and think about what I want to say. There were parts of the story that I really liked and found interesting. Other elements were confusing and disorienting; I had to reread some sections repeatedly to figure out what was happening. There are parts I still don’t understand, but I liked everything else enough to keep reading the series to see if I get some answers. I give Lilith Saintcrow high marks for writing a novel in which the leads are not romantic interests (or at least that’s how it looks for the time being). Emma Bannon and Archibald Clare definitely admire each other and respect the other’s abilities, but their partnership is grounded in more practical concerns (saving the empire and furthering their careers). I liked the imagery in the book, too, but wish it had been a little more show and a little less tell. I didn’t get very clear mental images, especially in the sorcerer’s duels and some of the more important battle scenes, and wish there had been a little more development in these areas. This is why this book gets a 3-star rating from me, with the caveat that I am excited to read more.
This book has fantastic language and imagery for fans of Steampunk, but it can be difficult to create the mental pictures of the large variety of machines presented (and, just to quibble a little teensy bit, there doesn’t seem to be any steam-driven technology; it seems to rely more on hydraulics and electricity). This is a Victorian alternate history in which a large part of the population is altered (one or more mechanical body parts), coaches are powered by mechanical horses, and there even seem to be mechanical rats running around. Yet, this is also an alternate history in which it is fairly common for the populace to have minor magic at their disposal that helps them in everyday tasks. Some people are particularly gifted in magic and, like Emma Bannon, serve the crown in particularly prestigious magical capacities. On the other hand, there are ‘mentaths� like Archibald Clare who use logic to solve complicated problems. One of these complicated problems involves a logic engine, another major problem is the rise of the machines, which are impervious to magical forces. This is a world of uneasy alliances, and some of Steampunk’s biggest themes of man versus machine, the role of women, and the impact of technology on the world are right at home in this narrative.
This being said, I just couldn’t visualize or understand some of the core elements of the narrative. In some of the largest and most important battle scenes the description seemed limited to the barest sketch of what the mecha robots look like, with slightly more attention paid to what they actually do. This holds true for the descriptions of the magic Bannon uses: In many parts of the book Bannon says something and the reader is just left to imagine what that spell looks like or does. The reader has to imagine a bloody and gritty battle with no explanation as to what the magic is actually doing. Likewise, the explanations of what makes Clare important as a mentath are less than useful. Apparently, he thinks really hard. If he thinks too hard his brain turn to mush; if he doesn’t think enough, his brain turns to mush. I kept waiting for him to make a connection I didn’t already see coming, and it never happened. It seemed like a lot of fuss over something that doesn’t seem that special, and this is possibly one of the least successful parts of the story for me. In some ways I had to turn off my brain and just get on with the narrative.
Saintcrow has done an interesting job with her alternate history: She not only created a different reality, but a vocabulary and naming practices. It’s close enough to be identifiable, but different enough to reinforce the idea that this is a different place. London becomes Londinium, Queen Victoria is Queen Victrix, and St. James is St. Jemes. In this alt history Queen Victrix is the human host for the immortal spirit Britannia, and saving the queen is much more about saving a single person or a piece of land. If I’m perfectly honest, the renaming of so many places was a little disorienting (and possibly not really necessary) but it does serve to establish that this is not London like we would recognize it. There are gryphons, dragons, and magic flingers, and it would be really difficult to try to fit all of this into real history.
The most intriguing part of the book (and the reason I intend to keep reading) is the characters. Emma Bannon is complex: She’s an incredibly powerful sorceress, a ‘prima�, out of the most misunderstood and scorned of the three branches of magic. She’s constantly on guard, and like an animal that has been beaten one time too many, she never fully trusts that anyone in her world won’t turn against her at any moment. She’s an ambiguous character who keeps her own counsel, even when surrounded by people she really can trust. Mikal is Emma’s ‘shield,� a warrior responsible for protecting her while she is mentally engaged and unable to defend herself. Mikal killed his previous charge to save Emma when she was ambushed, and she lives in fear of the day he will turn on her (though he has given absolutely no indication that he will). Their relationship is difficult to label in any way, but it could be romantic…possibly�.someday. It also doesn’t help that Mikal is something possibly not quite human, though what he is will have to wait for future books. Clare was interesting: He’s a mixture of Robert Downey, Jr. in Sherlock Holmes and Peter Falk’s Columbo. He’s very trim, but muscular. Somewhat attractive, but with thinning hair. He’s a walking computer who is performing mental calculations to the extent that it keeps him from interacting normally with others and makes it difficult for him to develop relationships (though I would argue that he did just fine). I enjoyed his deductive reasoning and analysis of the very strange situations he encountered after being recruited by Emma as the sole surviving unregistered mentath in Londinium (all the others having been murdered), but I didn't always 'get' what he was doing and how it affected him.
I have to give this 3 stars because it was flawed in some ways, but in others a very good book. I will continue this series with the hopes I will be enlightened on some of the world-building particulars and to explore more of Emma, Clare, and Mikal, and not to mention, Supernatural Victorian Great Britain. ...more
I don't usually read Christian Romance because I find it to be a little "Disney Romance" (The thirty-something characters in this novel hardly kiss, mI don't usually read Christian Romance because I find it to be a little "Disney Romance" (The thirty-something characters in this novel hardly kiss, mostly hold hands and think about how wonderful hugging would be, and never miss church on Sunday....awwwww!) Nevertheless, this was an interesting story that reveals the amount of work the author did to try to get the military part as correct as she could (and she lets the reader know in the preface that she has taken liberties with things like deployments, etc.) In the interests of full disclosure I received a copy of this book as a free download from the Kindle store, so the price was right!
If I have one problem with the story it is that our hero, Joe, spends copious amounts of time declaring that he doesn't want to have children while he's a SEAL because he won't be an absentee father. Never mind that the heroine Kelly is 31, can't wait forever to have the family she desperately wants, and asking her to wait until he's decided he's done with what he wants to do in the military is just plain selfish. Never mind that he has a beloved dog he doesn't mind spending 180 days of each year away from or that the heroine is fully capable of ensuring that he is presence in the lives of his hypothetical children even if he isn't physically in the home (military spouses do this routinely and with vast amounts of love). I understand his reasoning, I'm just not sure I could live with it if I were the woman in question, especially because it shows a lack of faith and trust, and the question of trusting in God is the foundation for this romance, RIGHT? I guess that it just doesn't ring true for me that two people who really want to have a family would wait to start one possibly too late to do anything but adopt, and all this over his career. I've seen too many career women go through terrific trials attempting to have the families they delayed because of their careers, and the regret these decisions cause them.
I also find it slightly humorous that the villain has a come-to-Jesus moment and that he is also a regular church-goer who uses his spare time to plot nefarious schemes in which good men could very easily perish. While I feel his redemption is true, his earthly sins are great, and it seems the reader is being encouraged to be far more forgiving than he deserves, especially since he is responsible for the death of Kelly's husband three years prior. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it that he is the thief with the heart of gold who started selling weapons to the highest bidder because he was mad at God over his wife's death from cancer, but this doesn't get much sympathy from me when his actions cause the deaths of honorable men who have every reason to be mad at God but are finding better ways to deal with their pain.
Overall, I found the story to be enjoyable despite the bipolar nature of the romance itself. I liked the dynamic between the SEALS, the nature of the work both Joe and Kelly perform, and the sense of community within the narrative. The prayerful tone of many of the scenes in the text isn't my cup of tea, but Christian readers may very well enjoy the prayers Kelly and Joe create and use these to reflect on their lives. ...more
I really thought about writing a complete review of this book, but then worried it would just become an extended rant about...well...everything I thinI really thought about writing a complete review of this book, but then worried it would just become an extended rant about...well...everything I think is wrong with women's literature these days. It's the "Fifty Shades" syndrome: Lots and lots of escapist "mommy porn" that no woman would really want to experience in real life. I hope, anyway.
What I did like about the book:
The rather absurd cover of the book (in which our heroine is pictured wearing a ridiculous outfit that she never actually wears in the book) hints that there will be Steampunk elements in the book. I really appreciate the way these elements are introduced in the novel. I've read a lot of Steampunk, and it bothers me when authors randomly use clothing or accessories to force their work to conform to what they think might pass for SP. Ok, so there's an airship, and articulated lenses, and a new-fangled battery operated flashlight, but these things make sense in the story and the reader isn't overwhelmed with assurances that this is, indeed, an SP story. The technology is appropriate to the period described (such as it is), and it makes sense in the progress of the story.
What I didn't like about the book:
It never bothers me when characters in a story have sex. Heck, I like a good sex scene as much as the next girl, but it does bother me when a story becomes a thinly veiled excuse to string together a variety of sexual positions and situations. I mean, there's pretty much everything here! The book starts with our heroine asking the hero (?) to save her by faking a liaison, only to find herself impaled on "the Duke" (quoted directly from the book). But he insists she liked it, and that the experience was part of her sexual awakening, so her rape is ok. And then there are voyeuristic episodes with people watching other people having sex, sometimes with spanking/whips/bondage, yee haw. Oh, and let us not forget that all the important males in the story are all hung like horses and have women salivating to be rutted on at every opportunity, with an audience or not. I'm glad our hero and heroine fall in love and all that, but it would have been nice if there had been a little more substance and a little less coitus. Too much "Fifty Shades," indeed.
Some might even argue that Miss America Jones is a strong female character because she is sexually empowered in the story. As in, every time she makes a decision that he needs to honor her body and respect her integrity what she really means is that she wants to be impaled on the Duke. Or her attempts to take back property that was stolen from her are completely managed by the males in the story. I don't see her as either financially, physically, or personally empowered, and I'm disappointed that our hero is a walking erection who sometimes behaves honorably when it occurs to him. There might have been a really good story here, but it was buried under stroking and flowing juices and an assortment of sex noises.
My final analysis:
Some women really like these kinds of stories, and view them as escapist fun and wish fulfillment. If that's the case, this story is for you! If you like a little more substance, well, read Gail Carriger's "Parasol Protectorate" series. Or "The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences" series by Pip Ballentine and Tee Morris.
As for this series, there was just barely enough story for me to keep reading, and I hope that future installments spend a little less time on describing the many and varied sexual positions of the characters and a little more time on character development and world building. ...more
I'm so torn! This book has three things that I usually struggle with in novels: time travel, first person POV, and a thoroughly unnecessary and uselesI'm so torn! This book has three things that I usually struggle with in novels: time travel, first person POV, and a thoroughly unnecessary and useless love triangle. I've actually owned this book since it's release and put off reading it because I thought I would hate it and then have to force myself to finish it. Imagine my surprise when I found myself racing through it in a single day, practically unable to put it down. Huh.
What I thought was done well:
I've read a LOT of stuff classified "Steampunk" in the last couple of years, and this book definitely stands up in terms of world building and unique story telling. It turns out that there really isn't time travel, rather alternate dimensions with a slight timelag, and this alternate dimension has a Wizard of Oz/Alice in Wonderland/20,000 Leagues Under the Sea brand of insanity that comes with it. There were Steampunk elements throughout, but they are subtle, and used in a way that feels natural and appropriate to the story. All this seems like a lot to process, but it was fun, and pretty well thought out.
Sang is a place with two hominid species: The Pinkies (who are human) and the Bludmen (who are a vampire species). There's the usual differences humans and vampires in that Pinkies are plant and meat eaters, and the Bludmen consume blood. But the Bludmen are not immortal, and they are far more apt to drink bottled donated blood, which is used in currency. The Pinkies take no chances though, and cover all available skin as a way to reduce their level of temptation to the Bludmen. There is a sense that these two species could work very well together if the political system would allow for it. It's an interesting take on vampire mythology that makes for a more interesting plot.
I also appreciate that the sexual relationship between Tish Everett and Criminy Stain doesn't happen right at the beginning, even though Tish is summoned to Sang because of Criminy's magic. They actually spend time together and learn about each other before jumping into bed, and their sexual relationship feels appropriate to their relationship and furthers the narrative. I like romantic sex scenes as much as the next girl, but I'm sick unto death of romances that are veiled excuses to write dozens of pages of detailed and graphic prose about how a man who is hung like a horse is sexing up the heroine.
Stuff that made me go "Aaaaaaaaargh!!!!!":
The book introduces a character is the third part of a love triangle, but the reality is that there's never really any doubt how the story's HEA is going to go, which rendered the love triangle pretty much useless. I like Casper as a character, but his presence exists mostly to create a false 'choice' for our heroine. Tish Everett was horribly abused in her marriage, and is determined to be her own woman, and Casper's job in the text (if he has one) is to empower her by making her feel like she chose Criminy Stain. Since she already has to make a choice (between staying in Sang or returning to her own reality) this additional choice simply seems to muck up the works.
And speaking of men, let's get back to Tish and the abuse she suffered during her marriage. She spends a lot of the book fighting for the right to make her own choices, and Criminy seems to be the guy to let her be her own woman and give her freedom, so why did it feel like she wasn't really making choices at all? He's a little bipolar in his swings between "You need to make your own decisions" and "Oooh, Oooooh, you better pick me!!" with a healthy dose of emotional blackmail thrown in. I just can't decide if he's a good guy or not, because he is, and isn't. But maybe his internal conflict is a good thing, and prevents him from becoming unrealistically self-sacrificial?
Another *facepalm* aspect of the book is the villain. He's...just...kinda lame. He has a plan, but it's the kind of plan that made me wonder how the heck he rose to power and why the heck he stays there. His eventual downfall is entirely predictable,
Final Analysis:
I would recommend this story to readers who like steampunk or paranormal romances. The writing is good, and the world building is among the best I've read in this genre. There will likely be a few things that will be problematic, but overall this is a vivid, interesting world that will keep you engaged from beginning to end....more
I feel a little guilty about giving this book four out of five stars because I absolutely adore this series. Alexia's adventures have been fun from thI feel a little guilty about giving this book four out of five stars because I absolutely adore this series. Alexia's adventures have been fun from the first page, and I was looking forward to a grand finale that answered some important questions. It was disappointing to see how many important details were simply glossed over or ignored, and it makes me wonder if these details are being held in reserve for the two new series Carriger is writing based on the Parasol Protectorate?
For example, there are allusions in all five books to how Alessandro Tarabotti, Alexia's father, met and married her mother while in Egypt. Much of this story takes place in Egypt, making it a perfect time to explain Alexia's origin story and to perhaps make her parents slightly more sympathetic characters, but this exploration never materializes. This becomes especially odd with regards to the mystery of the origins of the God Breaker Curse, and it wouldn't have taken much to expand on this, since it is the mystery that drove much of the series.
Another problem I had with the story is that the narrative seems to move at a broken pace. It took me, the inhaler of books, three days to read this story! At first I thought this was because I was lamenting the end of the series and pacing myself. Then I realized much of the problem comes from the way plot elements are revealed throughout the story: This book doesn't read like the end of the series, it reads like the set-up for a new series. I appreciate that a new series based on Alexia and Connall's daughter, Prudence, is forthcoming, but it is a YA series and, please, for the love of all things literary, please finish this series by focusing on these characters and storylines. The conclusion of the book feels pat and uncomplicated, and has a distracted feel like the author has already mentally moved on to another series.
Despite these problems, I found the book to be very much in keeping with the series. There is a wry humor throughout the series that keeps the romantic elements from descending into saccharine sweetness. The world Carriger has created has a complex social and political structure that can sometimes be a snarl, especially with vampires, werewolves, Knights Templar, Order of the Brass Octopus, and regular human governments, but I appreciated how this made me read carefully. I'd say more on this, but it will lead to spoilers so I'll leave it at that. Read carefully, and then wait for The Finishing School series, as well as the Parasol Protectorate Abroad series, where (hopefully!) a few more details about this world can be revealed. ...more
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