The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

Book Stats:  

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Steampunk
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: ACE
Release date: June 14, 2016

Series:  The Invisible Library #1

Source: Library

Reviewed by: Kara

Order: Amazon | Book Depository

One thing any Librarian will tell you: the truth is much stranger than fiction...

Irene is a professional spy for the mysterious Library, a shadowy organization that collects important works of fiction from all of the different realities. Most recently, she and her enigmatic assistant Kai have been sent to an alternative London. Their mission: Retrieve a particularly dangerous book. The problem: By the time they arrive, it's already been stolen.

London's underground factions are prepared to fight to the death to find the tome before Irene and Kai do, a problem compounded by the fact that this world is chaos-infested—the laws of nature bent to allow supernatural creatures and unpredictable magic to run rampant. To make matters worse, Kai is hiding something—secrets that could be just as volatile as the chaos-filled world itself.

Now Irene is caught in a puzzling web of deadly danger, conflicting clues, and sinister secret societies. And failure is not an option—because it isn’t just Irene’s reputation at stake, it’s the nature of reality itself...

Okay, you all know I'm a librarian; obviously I have been intrigued about this book ever since I heard about it.

Having finished with it, I am of two minds which can't quite mesh together, like magnets of the same polarity that push on one another the harder you try to force them. I loved the idea of a library with sentient powers and librarians with, for lack of a better word, magical authority who go off on adventures. Granted, instead of obtaining artifacts, they obtain rare books from an infinite number of alternate worlds, but that's probably where the similarities to the TNT show The Librarians begins and ends.

Instead, I found the beginning of this book and its worldbuilding explanations to be intricate and almost painful to wrap my head around. And while I naturally love organization of information and research, the revealing of the Library and its world/rules was not logical and presented in a forthright manner, leaving me both confused and irritated. My brain wanted library facts to be logical, just as real librarianship is (mostly). Since we only get a few ideas at a time revealed from the protagonist, I was chomping at the bit to see the full picture. Therefore, I did not have much appreciation for Irene and her way of telling the story.

This reads as a fantastical mystery series, which I supposed I missed from the get-go, having expected  more sci-fi with bits of fantasy. It takes place in a steampunk setting with a meld of fae and other traditional urban fantasy elements like vampires and werewolves (at least in this particular alternate). The mystery itself is very unpredictable because you just don't have many clues about the world itself or its inhabitants and their capabilities.

Another frustrating parts of the novel were the characters and character development. They mainly exist in the present but without much detail, Kai being the real exception (since he is part of the mystery). In other words, their pasts, physical descriptions, and motivations are largely unknown and, I think, make the reader connect less with them. Kai's revelation was not surprising, but what this entails? I still have no clue after finishing this first book. Irene also has a nemesis in Bradamant, whom we meet at the beginning, but their history is still very vague. And though I disliked Bradamant, I found her loyalty and morality to be very questionable though she works for the Library and we're just supposed to trust her? Bradamant seems like she'd be happy throwing whomever under the nearest bus, and why would even the Library supervisors approve of a person like that who doesn't inspire cooperativeness with her coworkers? It astounds me. Speaking of librarians, I did have a couple library specific quotes to share that were my favorite and humorous to the profession. (Disclaimer: naturally, I will allow that these are not entirely accurate--for instance, I spend way more time with people than I do with books but I suppose I haven't lived a full lifetime yet.)

Favorite Librarian Quotes:

"'We are the Library,' Coppelia pointed out. 'What we don't know, we research.'"


"Irene felt chilled. Some of the older Librarians had . . . unsavory reputations. A lifetime among books didn't cultivate depravity or debauchery as much as a love of mind games and politics. And those games could turn dark."

"[Dragons] were supposed to be hoarders after all. Not so different from Librarians."


I'll be reading the second installment, The Masked City, soon, so we'll see whether this picks up in detail and logicality.

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Posted by Kara at 07:00

 Ace, Adult, genevieve cogman, steampunk, the invisible library, Urban Fantasy  2 People left their mark

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Book Stats:  

Reading level:Young Adult
Genre: Steampunk / fantasy
Hardcover: 567 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release date: September 5th, 2013

Series:  The Infernal Devices #3

Source: Purchased

Reviewed by: Tynga

Order: Amazon | Book Depository

Danger and betrayal, love and loss, secrets and enchantment are woven together in the breathtaking finale to the #1 New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices Trilogy, prequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series. THE INFERNAL DEVICES WILL NEVER STOP COMING A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray. Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever. As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army? Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.

I am very late to this party. I LOVED Clockwork Prince so much when I read it that I didn't want to read Clockwork Princess right away. I just couldn't face the fact that it was that last book in the trilogy. I was not ready to let go! It was a double-edged knife though because I had a hard time getting back into the story. In fact, I thought the first half was really dragging and it wasn't until Tessa was kidnapped that I finally felt engaged in this last installment. 

There are many aspects I liked and disliked about this novel so I am in a solid grey zone here. First, Tessa... I loved her a lot more in the previous books. In this one she really feels like a damsel in distress and does no fighting what-so-ever despite having some training now. And the romance killed me. I've always thought she should be with Will, and her engagement with Jem never made sense to me. And I won't spoil anything for you, but I am not happy with how things played out romantically. 

On the other side, we FINALLY got answers about Tessa. Who her ancestors are, how she came to be, more info about her clockwork angel and toward the end, she finally used per power. Something she should've done more instead of being a defenseless lady (which she shouldn't be!). 

Will. I love Will and always have. The poor boy is sooo tortured though, sometimes it's hard to read. I loved that he took matters in his own hands though and worked hard toward his goals. I also really like his relationship with Magnus and I wished there was more of it. Those two make quite the pair! 

One of the aspect I loved most is how strong Charlotte is. She is a natural leader and she is caring and compassionate for her shadowhunters. She works really hard to do what is best even if she has no support. The difficult trail in front of her doesn't make her shy away and I command her for that. Despite her own loses, I was happy for her at the end of this novel.

Even though I didn't like this novel as much as I wanted too, the epilogue really kindled my passion for the Shadowhunter world. I feel a urge to re-read The Mortal Instruments series to see if I overlooked the appearances of some of the immortal characters, or if my perspective on some other characters will change now that I know their ancestors.  I haven't read book 5 and 6 of that series yet, so I will pick them up very soon, that's for sure. 

In conclusion, the books in the world are much better than the movie and the TV show. I urge you to pick up 'em up for an entertaining ride! 

Read Chapter One

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Posted by Tynga at 06:08

 Cassandra Clare, Fantasy, shadowhunters, Simon and Schuster, steampunk, Warlocks, young adult  1 Person left their mark

Arabella of Mars by David D. Levine

Arabella of Mars is clearly an original take on sci-fi. I was blown away by the details of the story, despite the fact that everything about space travel was fictional and unrealistic. David D. Levine was able to merge science fiction, fantasy and steampunk effortlessly in this epic space adventure.

I'm usually a stickler for facts when it comes to space and science in novels, but in this case, because everything was done purposely, I really don't mind the way the author reinvented space travel. The ships that fly between Earth and Mars are very similar to the airships often seen in steampunk. Clearly the author thought long and hard about space travel and I love how much detail was included in the novel. The native inhabitants of Mars, with their insect-like lifeforms, are obviously fictional, but the way they're described and their detailed culture makes them almost believable. The tension between the Mars natives and humans is one of the many conflicts in the book, despite years of a somewhat peaceful co-existance.

Arabella is a wonderful character. In my opinion, she's the perfect new settler of Mars. She adventurous, inquisitive and obviously has tremendous respect for the Mars natives.  She's also a tomboy, and her mother blames this on her being raised on Mars. To make sure Arabella grows up to be a proper Englishwoman, her mother forces Arabella to move to a completely different world: London, England. She clearly isn't cut out for Regency England. As soon as she realizes that her brother, back on Mars, might be in trouble, she leaves everything behind and joins an airship crew under the guise of a boy in order to head back to her home planet. With no experience as an airman she quickly learns her way around the ship.

When the captain of the ship, Captain Singh, discovers her aptitude for automatons and navigation, he takes her under his wing and teaches her how to use the navigation automaton. The relationship that develops between Arabella and Captain Singh, is at first a professional one, but slowly, Arabella starts to develop strong romantic feelings for her Captain, especially while caring for him during a coma. When it comes to romance, the book was clearly written by a man because it felt really awkward and inexperienced. The two of them make a great pair, and despite the clumsy almost non-existant romantic scenes, I still love the direction in which the two characters are heading

This book is a blend of many genres, including steampunk, science-fiction and fantasy. It has pirates, automatons, space battles, a mutinous coup, a siege on Mars, a little bit of romance and so many other great things. Arabella of Mars can definitely be read as a stand-alone but I really hope to see more of Arabella and Captain Singh in the future. They make a great pair and I think their story has only just begun. A must read!

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Posted by Tynga at 21:21

 airships, automatons, BEA, David D. Levine, Fantasy, Macmillan, mars, Review, Science Fiction, Science-Fiction, Space, steampunk, Tor Books  2 People left their mark

Strange and Ever After by Susan Dennard

Strange and Ever After is the third book in the Something Strange and Deadly series.  For the first two books' reviews, click here:  Something Strange and Deadly | A Darkness Strange and Lovely.  There won't be any spoilers for Strange and Ever After in this review, but there may be spoilers for the first two books.

Strange and Ever After wraps up this trilogy really well!  The characters remain true, and continue to show growth; the setting is awesome; and the pacing feels just right.  Sometimes finales to trilogies or series can feel a bit rushed or even anticlimactic--this wrap-up feels excellently planned.

I definitely recommend that you begin at the beginning with this trilogy in order to truly know the characters.  Susan Dennard doesn't waste any time or words on character descriptions or background before rushing right into plot in this novel.  In fact, Strange and Ever After opens mere minutes after A Darkness Strange and Lovely ends, and the reader is immediately thrown into the midst of the Spirit Hunters clique as they race across the sky in an airship.  (The airship is described to be very similar to a zeppelin.  Very cool.)  I love hearing Daniel and Joseph's Creole accents in my mind as I read, and picturing the lovely Jie.  I love that Dennard doesn't phonetically write out the Creole accent... that style of writing always slows my reading pace!  I appreciate that she trusts her readers to remember who has what accent.  At the outset of this book, I didn't actually care overly much for Eleanor, the main character.  Most of the time I don't end up caring for books where the main character isn't overly likable, but not in this case- in this case, Eleanor undergoes so much believable character growth that I ended up liking her, and the book, all the more for the rough start.  Dennard also gives us character growth in Oliver.  Yes, she manages to write maturity and emotional growth into a paranormal being!   That is talent, my friends.

Not only are all the characters lovable in their own ways, the setting alone would be enough to recommend this book.  Egypt!  The settings for this trilogy keep getting better and better.  Victorian Philadelphia, Paris, and now Egypt!  High society with balls and gowns + steampunk inventions!  Rich history + zombies and magic!  What more could you ask for than an adventure involving crystal pulse pistols used to fight hordes of reanimated mummies?

Finally, I can also say that this finale reads really smoothly in terms of pacing.  I read it in one day and was never bored; never tempted to skip ahead.  I was also never overwhelmed, and never had to reread a passage for missed details.  There was a really well-written huge battle that did not have a predictable end- I was on the metaphorical edge of my seat the whole time!  Then there were great details in the final chapter that let you know where your beloved characters end up.

I would love to see more books from this world!  Ms. Dennard, can we get a spin-off series?

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Action amp; Adventure, ancient Egypt, Edelweiss, HarperTeen, Magic, Review, Something Strange and Deadly, steampunk, Susan Dennard, young adult  Leave your mark

The Diabolical Miss Hyde: Electric Empire Series #1 by Viola Carr

At a time when women had not yet gotten the right to vote, Dr. Eliza Jekyll is a woman trying to make a career in a field that is not always taken seriously when performed by men.  On top of that, she has to deal with Lizzie Hyde, the Royal Society and her mysterious benefactor.

The Diabolical Miss Hyde: Electric Empire Series #1 by Viola Carr is a more unique telling of the old tale by Robert Louis Stevenson.  The change in gender of the main character(s) is accompanied by another subtler difference.  In this telling, we get a good understanding of the two characters that reside in the single body.  It is an interesting experience to watch both of these characters develop independently while still understanding they are essentially the same person. They are surrounded by a cast of characters that seem to fulfill their purpose. There are those exceptions that act outside of the archetype they represent and give a bit more life to the story.

The Victorian London setting always seems to be the best for the Jekyll and Hyde and Viola Carr takes full advantage of that in this book.  The style and sensibilities of an era marked by industrial advancement are a fertile field for a story that is about discovery and invention mixed with a bit of mysticism and folklore.

The story is interesting and keeps a decent stride, there are moments in the beginning where the author over used certain elements of the story (in my opinion).  To me, one of the more exhausting things a writer can do is to be repeatedly redundant over and over and over again. I may be more especially sensitive to this and that part of the book may not bother most readers.  Once I got into the meat of the story, I was in to the end.

 

The Diabolical Miss Hyde by Viola Carr is an entertaining book that gives hope for the series that is promised in the title.  If you like classics reimagined, this is worth a try.  It is not, however, for the little ones.  Language, violence and mature scenes (yes, I mean sex) put this deep into the PG13 rating.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Jekyll and Hyde, Mystery, Purchased, Review, Science Fiction, steampunk, Viola Carr, Voyager  2 People left their mark

Ink and Bone: The Great Library By Rachel Caine

Jess Brightwell loves books.  Since the family business is selling books, one might think Jess would be like a kid in the candy store.  The problem is, the Brightwell's book business isn't legal by any stretch of the imagination and Jess' father can only see the books for the coin they can bring.

This is the world woven by Rachel Caine in her book Ink and Bone: The Great Library.  A world where being a librarian is more of a calling than a career and libraries hold the keys to all the knowledge and whose power is absolute.  Ms. Caine does a masterful job of bringing us to a world inspiring accomplishments under the iron fist of an authority afraid of what can be done with the knowledge it safeguards.

From the streets of London to the alleys of Alexandria, we learn about Jess' world right along side him as he learns from his father, his family, his friends and of course his instructor, Scholar Wolfe.  A young person's introduction to the way a world works is still by far my favorite way of entering a new reality.  In Ink and Bone, we get not only Jess' views and lessons but, a peek into those of his friends and fellow students.  It makes for a richer is somewhat skewed vision of this world.

Rachel Caine also uses her characters to add depth to the reality she created.  Not only what we see but, also places we're only told of.  Each character is a post card from their homeland and given their complexity, gives us a small window into places we don't get to see in this book.  As we grow familiar with each character, we start to understand how it is living under the control of the Great Library and different ways the different peoples live within that control.

This is a book of sometimes stark and often striking imagery as well as thought provoking and emotionally evoking moments that seem to swirl around a central theme: If knowledge is power, who has the right to own the knowledge.  Of course we all have own thoughts and I, for one, love the way this book challenges and affirms many of them on this subject.

Ink and Bone is not just really good allegory, it's wonderful entertainment.  There is a sufficient  amount of violence and mature subject matter that I would give it a PG13 but, only just.  I actually suggested it to my 14 year old for a school reading assignment.



P.S. On a personal note, I would like to thank again, Ms. Rachel Cain for being so kind and generous with her time during her book signing at San Diego Comic-Con this year!!



 

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Books, Dystopian, NAL, Rachel Caine, Review, Science Fiction, steampunk, The Great Library  1 Person left their mark

The Cinder Spires: The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher

Jim Butcher makes a grand departure from both The Dresden Files and Codex Alera and does so on the decks of The Predator, an airship captained by a privateer named Captain Grimm.  The Predator may be a sound vessel but, Capt. Grimm seems to have less than a sound reputation having been kicked out of the Albion Admiralty for cowardice.  So, how do members of the aristocracy and military cadets as well as a couple of more unique inhabitants of Albion find themselves entangled with such a person? That can be answered in the pages of The Aeronaut’s Windlass the first book in The Cinder Spires series by Jim Butcher.

This really is a departure from what we have becomes accustom from Mr. Butcher in the past.  In a break from stories set in worlds full of magic. Now he takes us to a world of flying ships and people who have learned to harness energy that flows around them.  Though we are plunged right into this new world, we are eased into some of the uniqueness of this world by using the best trope for the job: Training some of the characters.  We get to meet three parts of Albion society each as they learn and then as they learn to act together.  This has long been my favorite way to learn a new world in a book since long explanations of how things work can be made easier to follow.  Explaining the next stage of the story and how it’s accomplished breaches my spoiler boundary so, let’s just say, we’ve seen done before but, this is done well.

A new book series certainly means new characters and Windlass has some interesting ones.  Along with Capt. Grimm of the Predator, we have his Executive Officer and crew.  There’s almost always tension between the XO and the crew, which happens in real life as well (XO’s almost always play the heavy).  We also meet a variety of aristocrats and other denizens of Albion and other Spires.  I really don’t want to spoil the masterful job of exposition by the author but, I will say, meeting these individuals is unique for each one.  Some characters may seem a bit flat in the beginning (especially those in the aristocracy). But, a bit of patience pays off as they allow their true colors to show.  For all the cat lovers out there, you may find some of the characters very interesting indeed!

The Aeronaut’s Windlass is a very entertaining story and well worth the effort to read the 600 plus pages.  This is definitely the first book in a series evidenced in both exposition and ending and I look forward to the next installment.  There is a fair bit of violence and a few discussions of mature matters so, this one lands in the PG13 range but, not too deep in.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Free, Jim butcher, Pirates, Review, ROC, Science Fiction, steampunk, The Cinder Spires  4 People left their mark

Gearteeth by Timothy Black

When most people think their world might come tumbling down around them, it's more metaphorical than it is for Elijah Kelly.  He lives in a world where cities have taken to the skies to escape a pandemic.  Though biological in nature, it leaves the victims more closely resembling a curse. A werewolf curse to be more precise.

We meet Elijah right as he has his first contact with a werewolf and, as one might guess, it doesn't turn out well.  In a matter of minutes he loses his friend and partner at work and he also gets infected himself.  Since nobody realizes he, too, has been infected, Eli now has to spend the few weeks until the next full moon trying to find a cure, a control or a way to leave their flying city.

These first few weeks for Eli are some of the best parts of the book.  It's were so much of our entrance into this strange world happens.  We start off learning about Eli and his grandmother, Maude and some about Henry, Eli's best friend.  There's enough interaction with the rest of the city that, we get some semblance of life aboard it and even a rudimentary idea of the social structure there.  There quite possibly have been a whole book exploring those aspects of this world.  Later on we get to meet some who have made a place for themselves on the ground but, I won't go into detail there (spoilers).  We do get introduced to some good characters there and that too could have been a tome all its own.

I love the setting.  Nothing says steampunk better than rail yards.  When you combine rail yards with flying machines and overly complicated machinery, that is steampunk at its finest.  Even when the focus shifts to events on the ground, it's still close enough to  the rail yard that the story is able to maintain that environment going.

There are two aspects I didn't quite enjoy once the focus shift to earth.  I won't go into because I feel it gives too much away but the second has to do with credibility.  I really do get the fact that, this is fantasy and odd things happen.  I mean, that's what drew us to these stories in the first place.  There is one thing any work of fantasy must stay true to and that is itself.  There are a few key points where it seemed that the story ignored events that had just occurred in order to keep the narrative going at the pace the author had set.  This could have been to very good books though, I will admit, I'm not sure how that would have impacted future books in the series.

All in All, Gearteeth is a book with an intriguing concept.  There is quite a bit of gore and blood since it's filled with werewolves (and not Labradoodles).  I would put this one as a definite PG13 due the violence and some of the more challenging social aspects.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Author, Gearteeth, Paranormal, Review, steampunk, Timothy Black, werewol  2 People left their mark

Ticker by Lisa Mantchev

When the leading lady of a story is said to be 'heartbroken', we take this to mean she has suffered a tremendous emotional disappointment.  Alas, if it were only so for Penny Farthing, for she had literally  become heartbroken in that her human heart failed her.  Due to the resourcefulness of her dead sister's fiancé, she was given a second chance only, this heart has likelihood of becoming broken as well.  It's a race against time for Penny at a time when her greatest benefactor is in serious trouble.

This is were Ticker by Lisa Mantchev starts us out with the story of Penny.  She takes us on a journey through Penny's world from the view of the plucky young lady who never seems to slow down until forced to by her own body.  Constantly harassed by her brother, Nic,  and her friends to slow down and take better care of herself.  We also, eventually get to see what price Penny's antics put on her closest allies like her family an her friend Violet.  I got the impression of a young woman still discovering her place in the world and how she can effect it.

Effect it she does.  Not the she goes out looking for trouble.  It seems to find her  when she needs it least of all.  A case could be made that this story is filled with oft used tropes.  Maybe so but, I always felt that the real test for readability was not the unique nature of  the story.  It's in how well the story is told and how entertaining it is to the reader.  I think Ticker hits both of these points well.  This is the closest I've come lately to a well told steampunk story.  A tiny bit more There's a fair bit of violence and the romantic interactions are very Victorian in nature so, I would give this one a PG13 rating and wouldn't hesitate recommending this to my own 14 year old to read.



 

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 body augmentation, Lisa Mantchev, Purchased, Review, Skyscape, steampunk  2 People left their mark

The Map of the Sky by Felix J. Palma

The Map of the Sky is the sequel to The Map of Time, so take warning before reading further if you haven't started this series yet!  (And you can read my review of The Map of Time HERE.)

I am JUST AS EXCITED about The Map of the Sky as I was about The Map of Time!  In the first book, the plot revolved around time travel, and how it related to H.G. Wells' The Time Machine.  In this second book in the trilogy, the same characters are back, with a few additions, and the story is based on H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds.  Yes:  there are MARTIANS in this book!  Martians + steampunk + author-as-character... everything I love!

Although the format of The Map of the Sky is very similar to the the format of The Map of Time, I was never bored, and I was never able to predict plot twists.  This book is also split into three very distinct parts, that all weave together at the end for a big reveal.  In the first part, we very briefly rejoin H.G. Wells as he goes with a friend to see a Martian that is being kept in secret storage at a London museum.  Coincidentally, the author has just published The War of the Worlds; will he find out that he wrote a piece of nonfiction rather than fiction?  The reader is then taken on a flashback adventure to the Antarctic in 1830 with the brave Captain Reynolds and Edgar Allen Poe.  (Yes:  two authors-as-characters in this one!)

In another vignette within the book we're introduced to Emma and Montgomery, two young people at the top of the London social chain.  At first I very much disliked Emma; she's pretentious and a bit stuck up.  However, we see a lot of character growth in her through the book.  As we come to the pinnacle of the story-the Martian invasion-we see her really come into her own and shine with a previously unknown strength.

And finally, Felix J. Palma does an amazing and masterful job interweaving all the early plot points to come together for a un-put-downable ending.  Really!  I completely ignored everything else in the world to sit for two hours straight to read through the ending.  Once the action gets going, you won't want to miss a moment in Victorian London!  Action, adventure, a little romance, all set against a backdrop of survival during an intergalactic invasion.

A final note:  I somehow missed this when I read The Map of Time, but these books were actually originally published in Spanish and translated by Nick Caistor.  I give him many, many props for his translation skills!  I mean, he's obviously working from a great book, but then to continue the fluidity of the prose and the gorgeous descriptives... just wow.

I give this series two enthusiastic thumbs up, and will definitely be continuing on to the third book in the series!

Readalikes:  If you are daunted by the (very) high page count in these books, but like the idea of sci-fi/fantasy with authors-as-characters, I recommend the YA series "The Madman's Daughter" by Megan Shepherd.  The first in the trilogy is The Madman's Daughter.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Atria, Felix J Palma, Historical, Library, Map of Time, Martians, Review, Science Fiction, steampunk  Leave your mark

Soulbound by Kristen Callihan

Finally free! Or so Eliza May thought. She'd been chained to Adam for months when she'd been finally freed. She didn't know she was getting herself into another form of enslavement when she moved in with her aunt Mab, though. She must now escape once more and ironically, she'll need the help of Adam to get away.

I really love Kristen's books and Soulbound is no exception! Fool that I am, I almost missed the release day of this book altogether! It would've been a grave offense! Anyhow, this pretty is now sitting on my shelf, along with the previous books, and I am eagerly awaiting the next one!

Adam had always been some kind of enigma to me, and even though he is still mysterious by the end of this title, I feel I know him a lot more. Actually, the man itself laid it all out for all to see and judge, it really is his job and how he controls the GIMs that still remains mysterious. BUT, I got enough answers to keep me satisfied. I really like him and despite not approving all of his decisions, I can understand where he is coming from, and I loved that Callihan shed light on his past, allowing us to really understand his motives. He is a true knight in not-so-shiny armor at his core, but had to become a scheming bastard to survive this long. It's a complicated mix, and I truly enjoyed it.

Eliza May is a force to be reckon-with under her lady attire. She had a very troubled past, has those really weird- and deadly - powers and has to deal with her last slaver to  escape her most recent nightmare. It took a lot of strength to face all that came her way and I command her for it. She is smart and wary, has a strong attitude and the language to back it up, and I loved her verbal sparing with Adam. I rooted for her the whole time and I really hoped it would work out for Adam and her, in the end.

The plot was highly addictive and I have to tip my hat and give a round of applaud to Adam. He is a master manipulator and I can only admire how he managed to make it all work the way he wanted to. With all his smarts, Eliza still managed to get one on him in the end, and I am SOOOO glad she did! What a sad ending it would've been otherwise.

The end isn't your typical happily ever after, and Adam and Eliza aren't your typical couple either. I guess all things considered things didn't turn out not so bad and I'm glad Sin gave his 30cents to Eliza!

Now, I'm under the impression Sin will be the star of the next novel (or maybe Lucien?? who knows) and I can't wait to read it! This series is awesome, and I urge you to read it if you haven't started yet!

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Posted by Tynga at 00:32

 Adult, Banshee, Darkest London, ghosts, Grand Central Publishing, Hachette, Historical, Kristen Callihan, Netgalley, Paranormal, Review, Romance, steampunk  Leave your mark

The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma

Ohmygoodness did I ever LOVE this book!  I know it's early in the year, but this may be a Top Ten Read of 2015.  My aunt recommended this to me; I'm so lucky to have people in my life to introduce me to such great books!  It's got an author as a character (H.G. Wells no less!), time travel, Victorian England.... love it!

The Map of Time is told in three parts--or episodes--that all come together beautifully in the end.  It felt like Felix J. Palma was conducting a gorgeous, moving symphony of a story.  He was able to skillfully gather up and weave together all the disparate moving parts and characters at the end to give the reader a conclusive, satisfying, and exciting ending.  That, my friends, is talent.  

I want to go ahead an reassure you that The Map of Time never felt confusing to me.  The cast of characters was definitely manageable, especially considering the length of the book and it's subject matter.  The majority of the first part of the book is told from the point of a young man named Andrew; the majority of the second part is told from the point of view of a young lady named Claire; and the majority of the third part of the book is told from the point of view of the author H.G. Wells.  There is also an omniscient, unnamed narrator who helps fill in gaps and provide the reader with extra insight.  I loved that there were a few points where the omniscient narrator introduced a character by name, only to immediately tell the reader that it's not necessary to remember them; they only play a bit part in the larger story.  Whenever a plot point or a character were influential to the story, the author found a way for the narrator to subtly "underline" them.

The Map of Time may be a lengthy tome (656 pages!) with a sometimes-confusing subject matter (time travel), but I flew through it and felt like it ended too soon.  I'm so glad that it's the start of a trilogy!  I began recommending it to other book-loving friends before I'd even finished it myself.  In the first part, Andrew is a devastated young man.  He's contemplating ending his life after the tragic death of his beloved.  His cousin swoops in and takes him to H.G. Wells, who has just published The Time Machine and who, they believe, may have an actual time machine that Andrew can use to go back in time and save his love's life.  In the second part, Claire is a young lady who is disillusioned with Victorian England.  She signs up for an expedition to the future to escape the pressure to get married.  She believes that life will be better for a woman in the year 2000.  In the final part of the book, H.G. Wells himself is confronted by a time travel dilemma; and his choice could have rather large ripple effects on history.  It's not all smoke and mirrors; every time a character time travels or is confronted by a time traveler, Mr. Palma gives explanations as to how it was possible.  He even preemptively answered questions that I hadn't even considered!  There are no plot holes that I could find!  I also found it all very accessible.  I'm a library worker, not a scientist, and I didn't have any trouble keeping up with the action and explanations.

I haven't read much steampunk in the past, but The Map of Time has peaked my interest.  I've already requested the sequel, The Map of the Sky, from my library!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Atria, Felix J Palma, Historical, Map of Time, Purchased, Review, Science Fiction, steampunk, time travel  1 Person left their mark

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson

In The Rithmatist, Brandon Sanderson takes us to a time and place that might have been.  In this telling, the United States of America has become the United Isles of America.  The reason for them being islands isn't immediately clear in this, the first book of the series.  North America seems to be broken up differently and the influences Europe had over the development of some areas is markedly different.  With that, the more striking difference between their reality and ours is the rithmatists.  They are able to use geometric shapes  and lines to influence the world around them and to create two dimensional constructs to do handle minor tasks.  Rithmatists are selected at 8 years old and trained to use rithmatics.  A large part of their training seems to be combat related.

The main character, Joel, is a young man who is very knowledgeable in the was of rithmatics.  He does not, however, have the ability to use rithmatics.    To make matters worse for Joel, he goes to a top rated school full kids of some of the wealthiest and most influential families.  I like the character and his humble approach.  Often we're given these characters with a chip on their shoulder but, not this time, not really.  I also like the character of his classmate Melody.  She sometimes comes off as a little bipolar at times but, there a certain honesty to her character.  The rest of the characters often don't measure up to these two.  Some characters a little light in development and a few are almost caricatures of the role they play in the story.  I was a little surprise to see that in a Sanderson book.  Most of his principle characters have sufficient depth to them.  He didn't always hit the mark in this book.

The story itself is strong and the world in which it occurs is intriguing.  I like steampunk used in real world design as well as in story settings.  Brandon Sanderson has managed to use it here in a way that isn't over the top but, still get that style-sense across.   The book uses some well known tropes throughout.  Some seemed a little too familiar to me.  I still stay true to my there's nothing new under the sun attitude but, I believe authors should be very careful not to get too close other literary properties when courting the same type readers.  I'll just say that a few times when the word "rithmatic" showed up the word "arithmancy" echoed in my head.

This is a very interesting read.  For teens, it shows promise to be an excellent series for them to follow.  The world and magic system Brandon Sanderson has built with this one is still a bit incomplete at this point but, there is great potential there.  There is some mild violence and no sexual content so, I give  this a PG rating for sure.  I'll be watching for the next in this series in the future!



 

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 alternate history, Brandon Sanderson, Fantasy, Purchased, Review, Rithmatist, steampunk, Tor Books, young adult  4 People left their mark

Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger

In the flurry of amazing books and review obligations, I didn't have a chance to chat about the second Finishing School book CURTSIES & CONSPIRACIES but I love Gail Carriger's writing too much not to talk about the penultimate book in the series, WAISTCOATS & WEAPONRY. If you're not familiar with the series, check out my review of the first book, ETIQUETTE & ESPIONAGE, which will give you an idea of the series.

In WAISTCOATS & WEAPONRY, Sophronia is slightly more experienced but still in training at Mlle Geraldine's school, learning how to be an intelligencer of the highest order. I really enjoy the lessons that Sophronia receives, and the school in general, as it is so magnificently twee. This year's lessons include how to fight with a fan, which leads to a truly comical scene. But the heart of the books aren't the lessons - the heart is Sophronia and her friendships and personal growth. She's a delightfully protagonist and she becomes more confident and also more aware of her abilities and shortcomings with each page in the series and it's a pleasure to watch her grow.

Although we see growth and change in some areas, Sophronia is still very much the strong-minded girl that she was from the start of ETIQUETTE & ESPIONAGE, rebelling against the rules and forging her own path. She's maintained her close relationship with Soap, the sootie who works below stairs (insofar as a zeppelin can have a below stairs), despite the scandalous difference in their stations and the fact that he's black, but she's also formed a tight knit group of friends who are staunchly on her side, no matter what the danger. Dimity, Sidheag, and Agatha are such wonderful characters and the four girls form a marvellous band of opposites. Sophronia's ability and willingness to fly in the face of convention imbues all aspects of her life but it's most apparent in the fact that she treasures her friendships with people she "shouldn't" be friends with, and is willing to go to some lengths to keep these friendships, even when they take turns that make things a bit awkward, such as Soap's more overt romantic intentions. (Romance is not the main focus of the series but there are some romantic tensions, which are quite enjoyable since it's about the only thing that flusters Sophronia.)

WAISTCOATS & WEAPONRY also advances a lot of the series plot threads, which is really exciting. We get some ideas about where Sophronia might end up after she graduates, and also see the true colours of some of the men/boys in her life. It was great to see all these developments, and I'm quite excited about where Sophronia will end up when the series draws to a close.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Brown Books for Young Readers, Finishing School, Gail Carriger, Hachette, Little, Purchased, Review, steampunk, young adult  3 People left their mark

Evernight by Kristen Callihan

I am a big fan of Kristen Callihan and once again I enjoyed my ride with her great characters. This time around, we follow brilliant, human, Holly has she tries to regain her composure after being kidnapped and forced to do terrible things. One of her terrible actions resulted in William Thorne having a titanium heart, poisoning his body and mind. He wants nothing more than the death of the tool (Holly) who forced this transformation onto him, but he had no idea how amazingly good she would make him feel.

I've heard other say this novel was their favorite in the series so far and while I cannot claim the same, I definitely enjoyed it. The most amazing thing about this series is that each novel is so great I simply cannot pick a favorite. They are all equally awesome.

One of the aspects I particularly liked about this installment is that Holly, even though she has an affinity to control metal, is human and that she pulls her own weight in a world of supernaturals. She is super smart, and trained physically be as strong as the supernatural next door and I can only command her for it. I don't want to spoil anything but at some point she fought against a particularly nasty demon and I was awed by her quick thinking and tricks. She is definitely a force to be reckoned with even though she flies under the radar because of her quiet and over-analyzing demeanor.

Will was a delight and I loved witnessing his contradictory feelings. He is a rebel, yet falls for quiet Holly and find himself craving a simple life. She is, despite her circumstances, the source of his torment but her regrets are palpable and go straight to his heart. I really loved how he slowly falls for her and that it drives him nuts to see her so devoid of emotions. They are complete opposites, but draw each other like magnets.

On a side note, the cover is super pretty, and Holly is well represented, but William has long white hair... so yeah, I wish to cover portrayed him better.

I was completely committed to the plot and was surprised by the different twist and turns. The bad guy isn't necessarily whom we think they are and I always appreciate that in a novel.

I loved the conclusion even though it was a bit predictable. I just love those HEA!

I am under the impression the next novel will feature Adam and Eliza May and I can't wait to know more about these two!

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Posted by Tynga at 01:30

 Darkest London, Grand Central Publishing, Hachette, Historical, Kristen Callihan, Netgalley, Paranormal, Review, steampunk, Vampire  Leave your mark

The Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato

A book in the vein of Trudi Canavan and Gail Carriger and blurbed by Kevin Hearne? Sold! Those endorsements alone were enough to get me hooked, even before I read the cover copy. And after I read THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER, all I could think of was how long it will be until the sequel gets released! I absolutely loved this novel and I don't want to wait even a day to read the next part of Octavia's journey.

THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER is the first book in a duology set in the most amazing world. Beth Cato is an amazing writer who has clearly thought of everything in terms of world building because I was instantly immersed in Octavia's life and homeland.  There are so many beautiful details in the setting and historical descriptions that the world just came alive for me. And Cato manages to squeeze all these great little moments into the book. One of my favourite moment comes early on, and has to do with a dog. It's not my favourite because of what happens but because it shows you that you're in for a story that will defy your expectations. Plus, there are flying, adorable gremlins so how could I not stay up incredibly late reading this?

Octavia Leander is, as promised, an unusual heroine. She is an incredibly gifted healer. She'd call herself blessed by the Lady; whether the powers come from Octavia or the Lady is in many ways irrelevant since Olivia is capable of so much more than the other medicians in her order, including her school's founder. (Awkward!) Despite these gifts, which have been widely acknowledged, Octavia is very humble and actually very worried about how she will make her way in life. She doesn't doubt herself, which is always a great trait, but she does worry about her ability to make a living as a medician when her natural inclination is to help everyone. It's a very practical worry and one I think we can all relate to on at least some level. Despite this worry, Olivia is a standout character because she is resolute, brave, and honourable, and knows herself very well, which is something we could always use more of in fiction. She's strong without being flashy.

Octavia isn't the only great character in THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER. She meets some very interesting people along her journey and learns some dangerous facts that put her life in serious peril. It seems like everyone on the airship has secrets and Olivia's life depends on her figuring out who she can trust. There are many surprising and harrowing moments in Olivia's trip and it makes THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER a very exciting read!

One of the really noticeable aspects of THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER is that Alonzo Garret, the dashingly handsome steward mentioned in the cover copy, has with a physical flaw -- he lost his lower leg and now wears a mechanical prosthetic -- but no one makes a big deal about it, except when it becomes a plot device. No one is revolted by his prosthetic or his need for one; it's treated as commonplace and is not his defining characteristic. I think it's really easy for a writer to take a character with a physical limitation and make that character's identity revolve around the handicap but, in Cato's hands, his prosthetic limb is just a part of his body that's a bit different from the rest. It makes no difference to Olivia, which makes sense since she's a healer who's performed hundreds of amputations, but no one else is really phased by it either. It helps that Alonzo is a damn interesting guy, all issues of legs aside. From the moment Olivia meets him, I wanted to know more about him and so I was over the moon to see him figure heavily into the plot.

If you're looking for a great steampunk story, or just a great story more generally, I wholeheartedly recommend THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER. Beth Cato doesn't disappoint!

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Beth Cato, Harper Collins, Netgalley, Review, steampunk, The Clockwork Dagger, Voyager  2 People left their mark

The Girl and the Clockwork Cat by Nikki McCormack

It's no secret that I love reading steampunk. However, I personally think if you're invested in writing a steampunk novel, you have to dedicate a lot of time in world building. I was intrigued by the synopsis (and the cover art) of the THE GIRL AND THE CLOCKWORK CAT, and obviously the title of the book screamed steampunk. In reality this story could have been set in any world or any time. Except for the occasional mention of airships and the clockwork cat, there really wasn't much point in setting this story in a steampunk world. In my opinion, the world building was almost non-existent.

Maeko, a half-Japanese girl has been roaming the Victorian London streets for almost a decade and now, because of a newly formed attachment to a cat, has stumbled upon a missing person's investigation turned murder investigation. The initial mystery is intriguing but I find everything goes downhill from there. She gets captured by the Lit (a type of police force), placed into jail, escapes, and the following night gets placed in jail again. Yep, you guessed it, she escapes a second time, however this time with a new friend, Ash. Together, Maeko and Ash try to find and help Ash's family that has unfortunately gotten involved in the murder investigation. A good amount of the novel is spent searching for the cat and for family members. It felt like everything was on repeat, probably because it was. Fast-paced action is usually a good thing, however in this novel, the action was so fast that it was hard to keep track of everything, and didn't let the reader appreciate the story.

I'm relieved the characterization was a little bit better than the world building. Maeko, the main character, is intriguing because of her Japanese heritage and because of her troubled past. The author could have expanded a little more on Maeko's past in order to really understand what drives this teen to take such risks with her life. She calls herself a street rat but whenever someone points it out, her first instinct is to say, "I'm not a street rat!" She's a little bit immature but her association with Ash actually helps her see the world from a different point of view. All of a sudden, life is more than pick-pocketing and living off scraps. She see the possibility in having a better life, of living off the streets, and she has a hard time deciding what is best for her.

Ash, the good looking boy she's trying to help, might be the first boy that sees her as a girl. All the other boys on the streets know that she's a girl and belittle her for it, but Ash is the first one that makes her blush and makes her think about the possibility of romance. Chaff, her pick-pocketing mentor, also becomes interested in Maeko, probably because he gets jealous and doesn't like the idea of losing her to someone like Ash. Regrettably, the almost-there love triangle is a tease because is it doesn't result in much.

Overall, THE GIRL AND THE CLOCKWORK CAT wasn't for me. It left me wanting and confused about the direction of the plot. It's not clear if this novel will have a sequel or not, and if it doesn't, the ending is unsatisfying and incomplete. The novel seems to have mixed reviews on Goodreads since some people seemed to have liked it. Personally it doesn't rank very high on my list of YA steampunk.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Clockwork, Entangled, Nikki McCormack, Publisher, Review, steampunk, YA, young adult  6 People left their mark

The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter by Rod Duncan

It's been a while since I've gotten my hands on an amazing steampunk story so THE BULLET-CATCHER'S DAUGHTER was a real treat. Rod Duncan has created an ultra engaging tale of intelligencing, intrigue, and illusion in this novel and it's pure joy to read.

Elizabeth Barnabus is a great heroine living a double life from her houseboat. Everyone thinks she's a mild-mannered woman who lives with her twin brother but she's actually a quality intelligencer, despite her youth. She's resourceful and talented and uses all of her wits to accomplish her mission, a mission that eventually puts her in contact with her past, which was a fun way to show the reader how she acquired some of her talents. (I don't want to talk about it too much because I want to keep this spoiler-free but I will say that it's quite interesting and helps us see some of what shaped Elizabeth into the woman she is in THE BULLET-CATCHER'S DAUGHTER.

The worldbuilding is also well done. There's a lovely steampunk flavour to THE BULLET-CATCHER'S DAUGHTER but it's not the emphasis of the story. There are lots of neat gadgets but there's also sleight of hand, alchemy, and all other manner of intrigue in the novel. The revisionist history is really well done, too, which makes THE BULLET-CATCHER'S DAUGHTER a delight to read. I love how Duncan's rewritten the UK's history, and added a very menacing Patent Office to the mix. There's also a touch of romance but Duncan keeps the main focus of the novel on Elizabeth's increasingly complicated mission, not on her opportunities to lock lips.

I was completely hooked from the first page and I can't recommend THE BULLET-CATCHER'S DAUGHTER enough. It's a delightful book and I'm truly looking forward to seeing what Duncan delivers in the next part of the story.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Angry Robot, Fall of the Gaslit Empire, Netgalley, Review, Rod Duncan, steampunk, Strange Chemistry, young adult  3 People left their mark

The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper

When I picked up this book and started reading a few pages, I started to wonder, "Do I really want to read another steampunk?" The answer was yes but for some reason, I had a hard time getting into this one. Since I thought Steven Harper had created a wonderful world in his first attempt at steampunk in THE DOOMSDAY VAULT, I think my expectations were too high and THE IMPOSSIBLE CUBE kind of fell short. I was expecting more romance, more gadgets and more crazy ideas. Instead I got a decent story of the aftermath of the first book.

It's kind of by chance that I read this book right in the middle of an ebola outbreak since this steampunk world deals with a plague. It really makes you wonder about what would happen if a virus started spreading worldwide and the ramifications it would have on the population. In Steven Harper's steampunk fictional series, a plague is ravaging the whole world and causing most patients to become zombies. A selected few become clockworkers, geniuses with machines, inventions and the comprehension of time and space. (Obviously this is fiction and one should never try to catch a virus in hopes of becoming a genius.) A cure for the zombies has been found but unfortunately clockworkers are still infected and will inevitably die after going insane if nothing is done about it.

Since leaving England to find a cure for Clockworkers, Alice, Gavin and their crew are trying to make their way to China because of rumors they heard. In China, they call clockworkers The Dragon Men and apparently they have come up with a cure but are keeping it a secret. Alice is already a carrier of the zombie plague cure but unfortunately it doesn't cure the clockworkers. Which is sad, because Gavin is  a clockworker and she more or less turned her back on her baroness title to be with him.

So get this. In this book, they never make it to China. Only after departing London do they realize how far China is and how long it would take for them to get there in their airship. Instead, they make their way east by hiding within a circus because they are still being pursued by English authorities. A clockwork circus sounds great in theory but besides travelling with it and Gavin and Alice getting a weird card reading, it doesn't amount to much. In my opinion, the story is just about travelling east, Alice curing as many people as she can throughout Europe and dealing with crazy clockworkers in Kiev. Ok, that last part might be a major issue, especially to enforce the necessity for Gavin to find a cure to his condition.

To say the least, the story wasn't what I expected. THE IMPOSSIBLE CUBE was sort of an interlude, a continuation to the first book but not really getting anywhere besides a little bit further east. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book, and I hope they make it to China this time. Another disappointment is the fact that I was expecting a little bit more romance between Alice and Gavin. Book one concentrated a lot on the developing romance between the two characters, and I expected to see more but maybe Steven Harper is saving that for the next book. Personally, I won't stop reading this series because of these minor setbacks because I truly think there's something special about this steampunk/clockwork world.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:02

 Clockwork, Library, Penguin, Review, ROC, steampunk, Steven Harper, The Clockwork Empire, Zombie, Zombies  Leave your mark

The Girl In The Steel Corset by Kady Cross

I've heard so much about The Girl In The Steel Corset and for the most part, my friends had pretty mixed reactions to this book. I honestly didn't think I would enjoy this book and I expected to abandon it early on. Don't expect The Girl In The Steel Corset to be extremely serious, this is an extremely light-hearted, fun novel. This book was just what I needed to read and I am very excited to continue this series!

Finley Jayne has a dark "Mr. Hyde"-esque side to her and she is a danger to all those around her. When Griffin King hears about Finley Jayne, he figures out that she is special and he urges her to join his little rag-tag band of friends. Griffin and his friends are investigating a series of crimes committed by a mastermind called "The Machinist" and he needs Finley's help if he wants to stop The Machinist.

Finley Jayne isn't your average YA protagonist, she's far more tortured and conflicted than most main characters. She literally has dark side to her that makes her do horrible things and yet readers won't ever hold that against her. Instead readers will fall in love with the compassionate, bad-ass and strong-willed Finley who's not afraid to fight for her friends. I absolutely loved Finley and all of the other magnetic characters.

The romance in The Girl In The Steel Corset is simple and sweet. There's so much chemistry between Finley and Griffin, but I just hope that their romance doesn't overshadow their friendship. There's definitely a love triangle in this book, but surprisingly I was fine with it. I am definitely intrigued by Jack Dandy's relationship with Finley and I'm curious to see where Cross takes their relationship next. Dandy may be a criminal, but there's something so alluring about him. I really want to know more about Dandy and how he became the despicable man he is today.

I haven't read too many steampunk novels, but The Girl In The Steel Corset is one of the superior steampunk novels that I've read. I loved all of the zany and quirky inventions that fill this book and I loved reading about the uses of each of these wonderful creations. Though these inventions aren't always so relevant to the plot, they were extremely engaging to read about and the science nerd in me really appreciated all of the countless inventions.

One of my few complaints regarding The Girl In The Steel Corset is the plot and it's lack of momentum. I really enjoyed The Girl In The Steel Corset, but I feel as if there was so much character development and setting of the scene that the plot got neglected. Very few substantial plot events occur throughout the novel and even though, this book is extremely enjoyable I felt as if barely anything was accomplished. I really hoped that the next book is more action-packed and is more eventful.

The Girl In The Steel Corset is a bit ridiculous at times, but I had so much fun reading this novel. I'm extremely excited to read the following book in this series and I hope that the next book explores more of Jack Dandy's past. This book helped me get out of my reading slump and I would definitely recommend this book! Kady Cross is definitely a promising author and I have a feeling that her Steampunk Chronicles is going to become one of my favorite series.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Harlequin, Harlequin Teen, Kady Cross, Paranormal Romance, Review, Romance, steampunk, Steampunk romance, The Steampunk Chronicles, young adult  3 People left their mark