My favorite books transcend genre. This one was particularly compelling in that it mixes fantasy with an alt-world of cold, Lenin-era ambiance. The prMy favorite books transcend genre. This one was particularly compelling in that it mixes fantasy with an alt-world of cold, Lenin-era ambiance. The premise is that gods once actually walked the earth, but then man killed them all. The story of the book follows the consequences of this action. This is a great, meaty fantasy and I highly recommend it for the world building and fantastic characters, including a kick-ass female lead. One of my faves of 2016....more
This is a really enjoyable book that blends mystery and steampunk together. I've always been a sucker for cross-dressing ladies a-la Shakespeare, and This is a really enjoyable book that blends mystery and steampunk together. I've always been a sucker for cross-dressing ladies a-la Shakespeare, and this one really does a bang up fun job of having a protagonist who dresses as her "brother" in order to be a detective.
There's intrigue and a cool steampunk alt-world to dive into, and really interesting characters. There are hints of romance but it's certainly not a driving force. The political intrigue and mystery are, and those are where the book shines. Can't wait to read the next one!...more
I have enjoyed this trilogy a lot, and the last installment wraps everything up in a really nice way. This is an alt-steampunk-Victorian-type world wiI have enjoyed this trilogy a lot, and the last installment wraps everything up in a really nice way. This is an alt-steampunk-Victorian-type world with magic and faeries and it's a really lovely meld of all of those things, without being too cheesy. It's very female-centric, the two young women lead characters are sisters and they're really portrayed as well-rounded and believable, which I appreciated. The theme of the book follows their liberation and freedom, among other things, and even though they have love interests, it never hampers their growth.
The tone leans a touch young adult, but it's a great series and I was satisfied with the ending, which is always good, lol. Recommended for fans of Parasol protectorate, or even Phillip Pullman. It straddles a lot of genres and does so with finesse!...more
**spoiler alert** I've read SEVERAL installations of this SAME book recently: Steampunk Investigative Duo working for government. Now, I have to admit**spoiler alert** I've read SEVERAL installations of this SAME book recently: Steampunk Investigative Duo working for government. Now, I have to admit, that I've enjoyed almost ALL of them, so this trope works really well for me! I think this might be my favorite of the bunch, just because the world building had an added twist that intrigued me: Faerie. Can't WAIT for the next one, love the two main characters and the romance there, and want to see more for sure!...more
Finally finished this! It definitely picked up steam in the last half like the ladies said. It definitely isn't my cup of tea, but if you like teen roFinally finished this! It definitely picked up steam in the last half like the ladies said. It definitely isn't my cup of tea, but if you like teen romance and steampunk you will get into this. Still biggest criticism is there were WAY too many POVs, just sticking to a few would have been stronger because the world building was very interesting!...more
I would LOVE to give this 3 1/2 stars but I can't here, so I'm giving it 3. As a first book I liked it, and will definitely try out the next one. ThisI would LOVE to give this 3 1/2 stars but I can't here, so I'm giving it 3. As a first book I liked it, and will definitely try out the next one. This is steampunk alt-reality mixed with vampires, and I randomly picked it up not knowing what was going on at all, which was kind of fun.
I liked the world-building, but it was WAY too repetitive for the first third of the book especially. I think the author needed to trust her world was being set up well without having to remind the audience all the time, some editing could have def helped that part.
After that first half though, I really loved where the characters went with the FAMILY part, those relationships were really awesome and clear and I was invested in them. I guess my biggest problem with the book was that the love interest was kind of 2-dimensional, he was really perfect the whole time and I felt like there needed to be a bit of a twist there to make it more interesting/more conflict. I mean, he's the KING OF THE WEREWOLVES, and he was just kind of a Murray-Sue (Is that what they're called? haha). I think maybe a big twist will be in book two with them? I hope so! But I think this is good for fans of Gail Carriger's series for sure.
It's hard to put a category on this, it's kind of steampunk/high fantasy? At any rate, it was a PLEASURE to go into this hybrid-world again. I love thIt's hard to put a category on this, it's kind of steampunk/high fantasy? At any rate, it was a PLEASURE to go into this hybrid-world again. I love the characters, and the author puts them through their paces for sure, but there are enough ups and downs to really be engrossed, I literally had to read this book in one night. Very interesting upheaval happens to set up for a next book, and a VERY interesting character twist leaves you really wondering how the main characters are gonna get through THAT in #4! Def would recommend as a light alternative to heavy epic fantasy readers who like a strong female protagonist!...more
I mean, I love this series, I just LOVE LOVE it. Steampunk + Adventure + Romance = Wunderbar! This book I think is even better than the last two in thI mean, I love this series, I just LOVE LOVE it. Steampunk + Adventure + Romance = Wunderbar! This book I think is even better than the last two in the series, but all three are up there. The world building and depth of character in these novels justifies everything I do with my book club, Vaginal Fantasy. I love highlighting books that don't get enough credit or widespread acknowledgment. I'm sure this one will be super popular on its own however, and it deserves it.
I don't want to spoil anything, but the hero in this book has tremendous physical challenges after a childhood accident, and has a lot of nano-tech equipment welded to his body, which is unusual but fascinating as a character study. The chemistry between him and the heroine, a very frank and naive airship crewman who is descended from a Valkerie-type enclave of women on this alt-world's Iceland (yes that typed out dumb but it's totally cool in the book!), is just amazing. They grow to love each other no matter what their background, without judgement. There is a strong lesbian-rights storyline as well in this that somehow fits organically into the world-building as well. It's just really well-done and I def urge you to try the series if you haven't. These characters don't continue from the last ones, so you can pick this one up and know what's going on, although reading the previous will help with world-building.
I really liked the first in this series and I really enjoyed the second as well. There are some jokey things with the naming I could have done withoutI really liked the first in this series and I really enjoyed the second as well. There are some jokey things with the naming I could have done without, but overall I got caught up in the characters a LOT, even moreso than the last installment. I really like how romance cliches aren't followed in this book, and it's really more of an adventure novel with some romance thrown in. I love the female lead is tough without TRYING too hard, I loved her old flame coming in, not cackling like a bad guy, but being a genuinely interesting character. The overall plot was interesting, and the steampunk stuff continues to be super fun and well thought-out. I usually hate children in books like this because they're just WAYYYY too adorable, but these kids didn't make me crazy like they usually do (although Ilona Andrews has YET to be topped in the cool kid department with her Edge series. Love those kids).
Anyhoo, definitely a good read for people who like steampunk and mysteries and period pieces, guy or girl!...more
This seriously wins terrible cover of the year. I am so confused about this shirtless guy who looks like he'd be mopping in a fast food restaurant andThis seriously wins terrible cover of the year. I am so confused about this shirtless guy who looks like he'd be mopping in a fast food restaurant and he's holding a machete. So weird.
The BOOK however is really nice. Again, I love the lore of this steampunk world, it's the most interesting I've seen with the nanobot aspect and the Horde and the revisionist European history. This one had racy sexy scenes but it didn't seem to dominate as much as the last. I just loved the swashbuckley nature, and the romance was great, I'm a big fan! Except of the cover haha....more
I enjoyed this book a lot, surprisingly, because I had no expectations and it's sat on my Kindle for a WHILE. I'm kinda OVER vampires, but this was a I enjoyed this book a lot, surprisingly, because I had no expectations and it's sat on my Kindle for a WHILE. I'm kinda OVER vampires, but this was a really interesting interpretation, with alt-historical-European history thrown in (written to be young adult friendly). I liked the old-fashioned quality of the writing, it felt like an early 20th century book, a bit fairy tale-ish, simple but compelling. I definitely will enjoy reading the next. I think the cover art doesn't sell the book the way that it reads just for the record!...more
As you may have seen, my review of "Native Star", the first book in this series, was a big rave, and the world-building here continued to shine in thiAs you may have seen, my review of "Native Star", the first book in this series, was a big rave, and the world-building here continued to shine in this next book. Emily continues to be a wonderful heroine, and the story of her family and the secrets of her past were very engrossing and paid off very well. This is a great magical/steampunk/turn of the century world. I could definitely read lots of stories set in this alt-NYC. Very fun.
I guess I had a bit of a problem with the Big Bad of the plot being WAY "out there", compared to the previous book (it seemed like there needed to be more setup in #1 for a certain main character twist at the end of this one, I dunno). I wanted more Stanton in the first half of the book too, every scene Emily and Stanton had together I just LOVED, and I just wanted more of them working together.
I guess this would ideally be 3 1/2 stars, but I do have a soft spot for the main character that bumped it up. I just hope there's another book, because the ending was SO wrapped up, I dunno if there's room for more with these characters! At least give us NEW characters in the world, it's so fun!
Soo I am a fan of Philippa's other series, Geist, but I didn't actually see that she wrote THIS book until after, haha.
I enjoyed this book a lot. The Soo I am a fan of Philippa's other series, Geist, but I didn't actually see that she wrote THIS book until after, haha.
I enjoyed this book a lot. The main character's voice, like in Geist, was definitely one of the biggest strengths, and the other characters were well-drawn. This is a cool steampunk world that actually worked for me, I enjoyed the idea of a secret bureau, and the tech and description of the world and items in it was enjoyable.
I guess the only things I could say negative were that there were some strange tone issues, like later in the book things get racy in a way that come a bit out of nowhere considering the nature of the book up until then. And then the ending had a weird character turn that wasn't laid out up front, so it seemed to come out of nowhere, and it will be interesting how the subsequent books deal with the development. But all in all, I'm enjoying this latest wave of Steampunk lit, and this is a great addition to the fold. Great main lady character! Urban Fantasy people will enjoy....more
I dunnnnno. I am in love with "House of Suns", the other book I've read by this author, so I went into this with high expectations. I honestly didn't I dunnnnno. I am in love with "House of Suns", the other book I've read by this author, so I went into this with high expectations. I honestly didn't understand a lot of what was going on, the world was so confusing, it seemed to contradict itself SO MUCH as time went on. I found it extremely hard to finish, and I was always confused, and the main character was just MEH. I hate to give negative reviews, but I loved House of Suns SO MUCH I really wanted this to be as absorbing and raveful, and it just didn't do it for me. A sci-fi-steampunk-adventure that I would not readily recommend.
HOWEVER, I am looking forward to other works by the author! Just not any sequels to this, haha....more
I will go on record that my hatred of the Western genre has been sorely shaken lately. I think the revisionist Steampunk lit has really infused a clasI will go on record that my hatred of the Western genre has been sorely shaken lately. I think the revisionist Steampunk lit has really infused a classic genre with much needed freshness. I dare to say that Half-Made World is the apex of these selections. The author takes the American West and plops it into a fictional world, with several warring factions fighting over the future of the country, none all the way black or white. The complexity of the world and characters was so engrossing, similar to how Joe Abercrombie infused a fresh grittiness into High Fantasy. Highly recommend this book to men and women. Looking forward to the sequel (which is deftly set up)....more
I love when a book makes me ponder before marking which shelf to place it on. This is definitely a fantasy novel, but with a strong urban fantasy attiI love when a book makes me ponder before marking which shelf to place it on. This is definitely a fantasy novel, but with a strong urban fantasy attitude, some steampunk/paranormal thrown in and just enough romance to keep me rooting for the characters.
We're in a great time of innovation in world-building, seems like people are getting away from strict Tolkien worlds and adding twists, which I find quite enjoyable. The society and magic system in Geist is REALLY interesting and believable. The paranormal-fighting Paladin order was really fun to learn about, and the world was well-layered in familiar ways. The steam punk stuff was very light, but added nice flavor.
I especially liked the characters, they were all distinct and Sorcha, the main female character, was tough but BELIEVABLE, she never tried to hard to be competent: she just WAS. Everyone's personality was well balanced against each other, and I definitely rooted for them to succeed!
I guess the plot was the weakest part, if there's anything to criticize, a few times there were things that the characters should have known, but overlooked, there were some secondary characters dropped (like Sorcha's husband, but probably plans for him in the sequel), but nothing so egregious that it made me irritated, because the pace was so quick, the action never lulls, which is a good thing!
I really loved this book! It was a Steam-Punk=Fantasy-Western-Romance hybrid, which...you don't see every day? haha. I really liked the characters, thI really loved this book! It was a Steam-Punk=Fantasy-Western-Romance hybrid, which...you don't see every day? haha. I really liked the characters, the magic system was quite interesting and the romance didn't make me roll my eyes, it was actually sweet. HIGHLY recommended!!...more
I enjoyed it a LOT, just one thing brought it down from 5 stars, which I will specify at the end. (BTW Has VERY racy scenes as a warning to the non-smI enjoyed it a LOT, just one thing brought it down from 5 stars, which I will specify at the end. (BTW Has VERY racy scenes as a warning to the non-smutty lovers, but that wasn't my -1 star point haha)
I would give worldbuilding: 5 stars. The first chapter is a bit confusing, but the world that is spun out over the novel is ENDLESSLY interesting, one of the few books that has made me read SLOWLY to see what all the steampunk stuff really is about. FASCINATING history with the Horde and the nanobugs, I just cannot sing praises enough about the rich playground the author has invented here. Looking forward to MANY more books in this world.
Heroine: 5 stars. LOVE LOVE LOVED THIS CHARACTER! I thought the worldbuilding lent itself to the creation of a very rich character, one that deals with ostracism and race in a way that is so understanding, so interesting SO NOT CLICHED. I really thought this character could be one that arcs over book after book without settling down with a guy, she was that strong. For a very romance book, it's a relief and a pleasure. I was rooting for her all the way pretty much.
Hero: 3 stars :( UHHHHHG. Ok, he was hot sometimes, but honest to god the word "Shag" just rubbed me the wrong way, IN ADDITION he was kinda a bully and just tried to force the heroine to do what he wanted in a way that felt almost predatorial. Now, some of this was because of his backstory, but no one else really called him out on his bullying, not even the heroine most of the time. If you read my reviews I'm not a big fan of "YOU MY WOMAN" men, so this might be my peeve, but I had to express some reservation for the record.
ANYWAY, loved the book, if you're into the racy steampunk/scifi/fantasy/historical romance genre, this will be a hit for you :) Looking forward to the next!
2) Very specific style of writing that too a while to hook me. It reminded me of Red Dead Redemption in boo1) Best cover art I've seen in a LONG TIME!
2) Very specific style of writing that too a while to hook me. It reminded me of Red Dead Redemption in book form with Steampunk. I definitely got into it when all the zombie stuff took off, cool details there. 3) All the Steampunk stuff was awesome, and well detailed and realized. The world definitely grew on me a lot. 4) Main problem was that the characters didn't hook me until WAAAY into the book. I really feel like the main character could have been fleshed out more, maybe it was the spare prose style that kept me a bit distanced from caring enough? I dunno. I never really felt like her backstory with her dad and husband was filled to my satisfaction, it almost felt coincidental that she was tied to two such famous people in this world, maybe it's my fault and I skimmed too much though. I did love the fact that she wasn't a cliched "peppy go-getter lady lead who meets a dreamy airship captain". So kudos for a different woman lead there.
Definitely recommended for an interesting, Western-style Steampunk extravaganza....more
I enjoyed this book, it was Young Adult in tone but not pandering. I just read two books of very similar tone to this, and I liked both of them. This I enjoyed this book, it was Young Adult in tone but not pandering. I just read two books of very similar tone to this, and I liked both of them. This one has a very Gothic, Faerie Tale bent to it. Definitely felt Young Adult, like Graceling, but I was engrossed and kept with the characters.
Interesting environment and world (which I was interested in learning more about, sometimes it felt a bit thinly drawn, but the author succeeded in giving me the total creeps a few times with his monsters, so bravo to that). The characters were quite interesting, albeit some were familiar from this genre (but like I said, I've read several very similar to this book lately).
Another review mentioned similarities to Coraline, and I would agree. Definitely felt "Gaiman-ish".
I would definitely be interested in other books by this author, especially ones more adult oriented. ...more
Loading...
