The Iron Seas series is exactly my kind of shizzam. It's a buttload of plot, a healthy dose of characterizationion and then just the most delicious hiThe Iron Seas series is exactly my kind of shizzam. It's a buttload of plot, a healthy dose of characterizationion and then just the most delicious hint of sexy times - all grilled in some really fantastic world-building. It's almost like Brook is writing these books just for me! The reason is that I struggle with normal romance novels - I need romance novels that don't feel like romance novels because they're too busy being awesome sci-fi or fantasy etc with some sex in it. This is exactly what Brook does. Sure there's sex, and Iron Seas, the first book in this series is far more romance-y than the next two - but, more than that, they're just plain great Steampunk. It's almost enough to make me bow down and her feet and beg her to never stop.
To begin with, this book takes places in a different part of the same Steampunk driven world from The Iron Duke and Heart of Steel. But the great thing about this series is that Brook just keep shaking it up! She takes you everywhere and with so many great new characters. For me, Captain Corsair is my true literary love, so Annika had big ass-kicking boots to fill. She took a little while to warm on me, and whilst she can never replace Captain Corsair in my heart, she held her own. Her relationship with David was lovely, sweet and beautiful.
Riveted is a bit of a divergence from Brook's other novels. It takes the plot a long time to kick into gear. The first half is solidly centered on Annika and David developing a mutual relationship and trust. There's very little action or plot in that regard. Then the tension and action is ramped up a notch in the second half, and it's back to dodging bullets and mechanical monstrosities. AKA business as usual in Iron Seas world.
The writing was, as usual with Brook, solid and well-constructed. The plot progressed well with some interesting twists that I didn't see coming. But as usual, it was the characters, relationships and world that really makes this novel. While reading the Iron Seas series, Brook will take you to every corner of it and introduce so many wonderful marvels. The world, politics, locations and peoples are so fabulously complex and intriguing that it keeps you wrapped up in the continuing story.
Annika's home town was one of the things that truly made me fall in love with this novel. The normality of their circumstances, the brilliant and respectful way Brook represented it and wove it into the novel, it was all brilliant. I love this series and I can't wait to see what Brook does next!
*A Copy of Riveted was provided for me by the author. No favours, money or gifts were exchanged though I readily offered them for a chance to read this early. My review and opinion remains unaffected....more
Something Strange and deadly had a really rough start with me. There is a divide between the writing of the first chapter and the rest of the novelSomething Strange and deadly had a really rough start with me. There is a divide between the writing of the first chapter and the rest of the novel. The first chapter gave me the false impression that this book was flimsy, badly written and suffering from stagnant characters and plot.
However, this quickly faded away as Dennard hit her stride – introducing fresh, interesting characters, and intriguing plotline.
Dennard creates an interesting and fresh mythology in Something Strange and Deadly that mixes aspects of Steampunk with good ol’ zombie fun. In Elanore we find a fun, willful protagonist – driving the story forward and fleshing it out with wit, humour and a charm. She also makes a perfect balance between what you would expect of well-bred lady of her times, and a strong-willed, intelligent woman eager to prove herself. She certainly makes excellent use of her parasol at certain points in the novel in a way that would make womankind proud. However, I’m convinced that the parasol was its own character in this novel. Parasols make everything better. Parasols are awesome, but I digress…
[image] Everything!
Daniel, Jie and Joseph are the icing to a very fun cake. Particularly Daniel, with his abrasive, working class attitude and grouchy personality, which played nicely against Joseph’s gentlemanly persuasions and Jie’s serious case of kickass. Like, she just really kicked everyone’s butt in this novel at least three times and never once complained.
I’m one of those people who like steampunk things with monsters. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter sounds like a terrible, stupid movie that is perfect for me.
What was extremely refreshing was that whilst there was some romantic involvement, it clearly took a back seat to the more pressing issue of masses of walking undead trying to make mince meat out of your internal organs. Plus there was mystery and intrigue and more mystery and action and butt kicking interspersed evenly and generously throughout the novel.
My only real complaint – putting the first chapter aside – was one minor issue and that relates to the simpleness of the mystery.
The ending was simply too obvious and came as something of a letdown to realize my suspicions from the very beginning were confirmed.
[image] When you resemble an owl and make this face, you know the mystery has been too easy.
Overall, this was a great read and I strongly anticipate the next one!...more
I need to take a moment to do something before beginning this review.
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Stormdancer is a fantasy nerdgasm, written by a fantasy nerd, for tI need to take a moment to do something before beginning this review.
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Stormdancer is a fantasy nerdgasm, written by a fantasy nerd, for the fantasy nerds – and if it sounds like I just pilfered some of the Gettysburg address then that’s because Abraham Lincoln riding a grizzly bear was just about the only damn thing missing from this book.
[image] Image by Rando
Subsequently my life is now complete.
Stormdancer is a world one step removed from our own. Imagined as a Japan with Steampunk technology and alternate history, choking the life out of itself by growing and harvesting the Blood Lotus – which fuels all their mechanical marvels. And then there’s Yukiko. Daughter of the Hunt Master, subject of the terrifying and cruel Shogun, impure yokai-kin sent on an impossible mission to find the mythical griffin and capture it for the Shogun.
Things I liked about Stormdancer:
Buruu
The Writing
Yukiko
World-Building
Buruu
Michii
Kasumi
Buruu
Buruu
and
Buruu
Obviously the scene stealer of this novel is Buruu. Proud, funny, vicious, blood-thirsty and beautiful. But characters aren’t enough to breath life into a novel. What Stormdanver has is the near-perfectly constructed prose which transform this beautiful narrative into a sprawling epic. Kristoff’s style is rich, whimsical and near lyrical in his form and structure. Novice’s to fantasy may either get swept away or drown if it’s too deep for their skill level.
Clearly a great deal of tender loving care has gone into Kristoff’s stunning debut, as visible from every single page labored with meaty lore, obsessive detail and great imagination. Some may enjoy the subtle, or not so subtle, nods to other fantasy and science fiction that litter this book. The plot and pacing keep up a steady stream of interest and enthusiasm, I felt. Making this book exceptionally readable and enjoyable.
And now that I have gotten all the obligatory serious discussion and annoying stuff that I have to do to be taken seriously as book blogger out of the way, may I just mention one, juvenile thing that I rather enjoyed:
[image] Original picture by Cory Doctorow – alteration based on Darkstarz
All the jizzworthy toys. Yes! Great characters, writing, world-building, plot, pacing, blah-blah-blah… GIVE ME MY CHAINSAW KATANA, KRISTOFF!
The mechanized armor and sky ships and CHAINSAW FUCKING KATANAS and tattoos and the hundred other little Steampunk-y ideas that filled this novel up and made it stand out above the rest! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!
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Ah… erm, that is all…
Buy this book. Buy it and read it and love it. Then make me a chainsaw Katana.
I was hanging out with my good friend, Elizabeth May. We were riding unicorns along a deserted beach as our hair whipped in the wind, occasionally strI was hanging out with my good friend, Elizabeth May. We were riding unicorns along a deserted beach as our hair whipped in the wind, occasionally strands of her red and my brown locks blending together. We gazed lovingly together as we rode, smiling as joy filled our hearts in an almost mutual amount.
When we pulled our unicorns to a break, having reached the peak of a cliff overlooking the sea, I took an opportunity to ask her a question.
“Elizabeth,” I said whimsically as I gazed out at the setting sun glinting off the ocean, “Why did you break my heart with the ending of The Falconer?”
She smiled sadly and beckoned me forward, cricking her finger in my direction to encourage me closer. I leaned in expectantly. In a flash she was on me, stabbing me several times in the abdomen before whipping behind me, yanking my hair back and slitting my throat. As the blood spewed out my throat, drenching my chest, she whispered in my ear, “The House of May sends its regards.”
Then she dumped my body over the cliff, but I wasn’t paying attention to that. Because I was dead. My soul wasn’t, though. That is until she shot it, and it died too.
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I really enjoyed The Falconer. It wasn’t a perfect read. For example, I loved Aileana’s tinkering, and the various Steampunk aspects of this book. However, I feel like some of the aspects (Like a hovering hand that retrieves library books) were a little far-fetched. The world interacted a little with the Steampunk aspects, but most of the innovations seemed limited to Aileana’s Fae killing usage.
There is a love interest. He is hot. Like, splooge hot. But after a while of going:
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I was like: JUST KISS ALREADY!
Then there may or may not have been kissage. And I may or may not have been like:
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The writing was great. But you know what the best part is? May didn’t get all flowery about the romance. No. She got all flowery about the violence and massacre. I swear to god, for anyone who likes kicking ass, and protagonists who can do so – this is the perfect book for it. There is just a surplus of things that need to be shot, stabbed or blown up and Aileana is so very ready to oblige! With delicious, delicious abandon.
The plot is the really healthy dose of angst, murdering the living hell out of things, and romantic tension. They cycle around you, one after the other, like you’re a little kid on a Merry-G0-Round. You know what’s coming next, but it’s so much fun that your mind is rocked any way.
I’m kind of ready to rage quit over the ending. Like, I finished it and flipped the closest table I could get to. It’s the kind of ending where you’re going to want to be glad Elizabeth May is on twitter so that you can rage at her about it. (Her handle is @_ElizabethMay btw. You’re welcome.)
Now, if you don’t mind, I’m off to go harass Elizabeth May some more.
This ARC was provided to me by the author for reviewing purposes. This did not entice me to be any less annoyingly opinionated than I would otherwise be. I am also friends with Elizabeth May. You have my permission to feel sorry for her....more
Masque of the Red Death took a lot of risks. Firstly, it was based on Poe’s title of the same name. And as everyone knows, generally you just don’tMasque of the Red Death took a lot of risks. Firstly, it was based on Poe’s title of the same name. And as everyone knows, generally you just don’t go messing with Poe.
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All I’m saying is that shortly before this was taken, that skeleton was alive and very apologetic, but ultimately doomed.
Secondly, it’s a young adult novel that features drugs, sex and alcohol. Thirdly, the protagonist, Araby Worth, is suicidal.
After finishing it, it doesn’t feel like a novel that I necessarily need to talk about. I really enjoyed it. Duncan, an editor at Harper Collins, said in the forward, “We think Bethany Griffin is a startling and fresh voice in teen fiction.”
Well, I’ll give them that. I thought Griffin’s writing was well-crafted and strong. She has control over her prose and uses them to great effect throughout the novel.
Masque of the Red Death contains that dreaded creature – the love triangle. Curse it! But it was not horrifyingly painful. As a reader, it’s not something I enjoy and I don’t think it added much of value to this novel – but nor did it cause my eye to bleed and my internal organs to explode, so I think it can mostly be forgiven – though the relationship aspect does take up a significant portion of this story where I would have preferred, perhaps, to spend more time focusing on the political intrigue or intense plotting than over which boy may or may not kiss her.
[image] Plot, I’m going to let you finish in a minute. But this kiss scene is going to happen now.
Characterization in this novel is a tightrope over Niagra Falls difficulty setting and I think Griffin may just have pulled it off. Araby was the most difficult character of all. Not just because she was suicidal and depressed and mopy, but because she has a lot of difficult decisions to make and most of them impact on the world she’s in. There’s this uncomfortable feeling that a suicidal junkie may not be the person I’d want to place my hopes in, but somehow I think her warm heart and generous spirit balanced it out.
The two love interests, what can I say? It’s the usual toss up between Bad Boy and Ol’ Reliable. But Griffin gives a good twist on this and actually makes the relationships an interesting dynamic. The problem was that they occasionally interrupted the pacing.
[image] Excuse me, ma’am. Mind if I hijack your story pacing? Image by Avidel
Enjoyable and highly readable – I look forward to the next one!
My tale begins when Heart of Steel was purchased and shipped to me by the glorious, RADIANT Elizabeth
I liked the Iron Duke - but there were some thingMy tale begins when Heart of Steel was purchased and shipped to me by the glorious, RADIANT Elizabeth
I liked the Iron Duke - but there were some things holding it back from worshipping the ever-loving shit out of it.
Have you ever just known that if you were to meet a particular woman then you would immediately renounce men (or all other women) and devout yourself to them forever? Well, of course you do, you read my reviews - but I'm talking about someone other than me. That's how I felt about Captain Corsair. I loved her with a fiery passion that can never be doused.
But Brook is no stranger to making kick-ass characters because most people absolutely loved Mina from the first book. It's the male characters that have seen less enthusiasm. The Iron Duke himself was a big meh from me and it took me a while to warm to Archimedes Fox. Once I did, I rather adored him.
But I'm waiting for the day that Brook writes a character as insanely, bodaciously rockin' as Lady Corsair, and a male love interest that compares. I both long and fear for that day because I think the world might end and existence as we know it may, in fact, explode in a brilliant shiny light. I only hope I can read the book before I'm transported to a different state of consciousness.
The writing of this book sees a dramatic upturn. Brook has obviously been working on her craft. The story-telling has improved dramatically. This is Steampunk and glorious Steampunk at that. Brook's attention to historical detail and fantastic imagination help bring a vastly alternate world to light and I loved every minute of it.
The absolutely BEST thing about this book, without a doubt, is that it is no rapey! Yay!
Kat Kennedy
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