Category: Steampunk Page 4 of 5

Unseemly Science by Rod Duncan

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On December 4, 2015

In Fiction, Steampunk

Unseemly ScienceUnseemly Science

by Rod Duncan
Series: Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire, #2

Mass Market Paperback, 368 pg.
Angry Robot Books, 2015
Read: November 28 – 30, 2015


So in The Bullet Catcher’s Daughter, Duncan created this nice little world and set up what could’ve been a pretty long running series of adventures for Elizabeth Barnabus and her alter-ego/brother Edwin. Naturally, in the sequel, he pretty much destroys all of that. Sure, it would be possible to get back to something akin to the status quo, but it’d be tricky, and he’s clearly not going for that.

As clever and skillful as Elizabeth demonstrated herself to be, there’s always someone better. And when a few of those people are working together? It’s not going to go easy for you. She’s got quite the powers arrayed against her — she’s about to be deported back to the Kingdom, along with dozens of other refugees. When she’s safely back on the other side of the border, there are sure to be representatives of the Duke that’s been hunting for her waiting.

Elizabeth’s mentee, Julia, continues her education — emboldened and possibly more headstrong thanks to her recent adventures, yet still naive and idealistic. it’s her support for a charity that drives Elizabeth in this novel (well, other than the above). John Tinker, naturally, shows up and is just as simultaneously inconvenient and perfectly helpful as he was before. I’d like to learn a little more about the America he comes from.

On the run for her life, chased by the government, bounty hunters, and investigating an odd crime (ice shortages — no, really) — things start to get strange. Strange followed by disturbing. This culminated in an action sequence I (literally) could not turn pages fast enough through. Which was followed by a denouement that in retrospect I think I should’ve expected, but took me by surprise.

I’m not ready to leave this world, and am so glad to see that The Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire duology has been upgraded to a trilogy, although I haven’t the foggiest idea how Duncan is going to achieve any kind of closure in one more book. But I’m looking forward to finding out how he pulls it off.

—–

3.5 Stars

Blameless by Gail Carriger

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On November 17, 2015

In Fiction, Steampunk

BlamelessBlameless

by Gail Carriger
Series: The Parasol Protectorate, #3

Mass Market Paperback, 355 pg.
Orbit, 2010
Read: November 12 – 14, 2015

… a pitcher of some dark liquid that smelled like heaven. Floote poured a portion for her into his cup

Alexia took a tentative sip and was quite overwhelmed by an acute sense of betrayal. It was absolutely
vole tasting, a mixture of quinine and burnt dandelion leaves.

“That, I am to assume, is the infamous coffee?”

Madame Lefoux nodded, pouring herself a splash and then adding a good deal of honey and milk. Alexia could not believe a whole hive of honey capable of rescuing the foul drink. Imagine preferring that to tea!

It’s just a couple of weeks since the surprising twist at the end of Changeless, and Alexia is just beginning to see just how bad the fallout is going to be for her. Almost friendless, encouraged (strongly) to leave her family home, jobless, husbandless — she’s reeling. Then the vampires start to try to kill her. Which is a little more than anyone should be asked to take. So Alexia, Madame Lefoux and Floote take off for Italy to see if the Templars can shed some light on Alexia’s current predicament.

Big mistake. But you can discover that on your own.

Here in book 3, there’s not much to say — I seriously just love the way that Carriger writes, it’s just delicious. I enjoy the characters, the world, the conflict — and this is really just more of the same delightful prose that Carriger’s already given us. Beyond that? A few semi-baked thoughts is all you get out of me here:

  • I enjoyed the narration, the dialogue, and so on. Ivy writing a letter just might be better than Ivy talking — her malapropisms are too much fun. It was nice to see a responsible streak in her, nevertheless.
  • Floote’s hiding more than we previously thought, I hope something makes him crack.
  • The effects of garlic on vampires, and basil on werewolves in this world gave me a good chuckle.
  • At the end of the day, Professor Lyall shines brightest here — it’s been clear all along that he’s powerful, capable, and resourceful — but he really gets to strut his stuff here, while Lord Maccon is licking his wounds and drowning his sorrows. That was fun to see.
  • In between the assassination attempts, the bullets, the supernatural goings-on, and everything else, there were a couple of really sweet moments. Making everything just a little more human.

If you enjoyed the first two volumes of this series, I bet you’ll enjoy this one. If you haven’t enjoyed those — why are you reading this? This particular Book 3 is not a jumping on point — go back to Soulless and start from there. You’ll be glad you did.

—–

3 Stars

Changeless by Gail Carriger

By

On September 23, 2015

In Fiction, Steampunk

ChangelessChangeless

by Gail Carriger
Series: The Parasol Protectorate, #2

Mass Market Paperback, 374 pg.
Orbit, 2010
Read: September 16 – 17, 2015
I had two options to start this post with:

Ivy waved the wet handkerchief, as much as to say, words cannot possibly articulate my profound distress. Then, because Ivy never settled for meaningful gestures when verbal embellishments could compound the effect, she said, “Words cannot possibly articulate my profound distress.”

or

“I did so want to see the Highlands,” said Miss Hisselpenny. As though there would be some sort of line, drawn on the ground, that indicated transition from one part of Scotland to the next. Miss Hisselpenny had already commented that Scotland looked a lot like England, in a tone of voice that suggested this a grave error on the landscape’s part.

As long as Carriger gives me a paragraph or two like that every dozen pages or so, I’m in. She’s just so fun to read. Even when not picking on poor Ivy Hisselpenny.

Almost every review I’ve read for this book has included/started with this warning, and I might as well follow along — DO NOT read anything, including the back cover copy, about the third volume in this series — Blameless — until you’ve read the last page of this book. Even if you’ve not read any of the first book, and are just considering the series. Don’t. Just don’t.

That public service out of the way, let’s focus on this one: Alexia and Conall have been married for a few months now, and things are going pretty well, settling into a pattern, if nothing else. Then a couple of unusual things happen — a good number of werewolf regiments are recalled from India to have a short leave before being redeployed to Africa. Around the same time, a good number of the supernatural set in London is suddenly, briefly, and inexplicably normal.

Naturally, this gets the attention of Queen Victoria and her soulless advisor — as well as Alexia’s werewolf husband and his agency, her vampire friend and his entourage — and well, pretty much everyone. How did this happen? What made it stop? Some want to be able to duplicate the effect and make it widespread and permanent. Others want to make sure it never happens again.

The investigation takes Alexia, her annoying sister, her flighty friend Miss Hisselpenny, and a new French acquaintance (with a reckless proclivity for wearing pants of all things) to Scotland. Where the run into Conall on a similar mission. Seeing Conall in his native land guarantees that we get a good chunk of his backstory, what led him to London and to a new pack. Surprisingly enough, Alexia learns more about her father than she ever expected to on this trip, too.

Honestly, the solution to the central problem of the novel was pretty easy and obvious — but the explanation of it was pretty out of left field (but makes so much sense). This is clearly not one of those books that you read for the head-scratching mystery, but for the delightful way that the narrative gets you to the solution.

The steampunk element is much stronger in this book (to my recollection, anyway) and the mix of Steampunk and Urban Fantasy elements is just great — I could read these by the handful. Speaking of the UF, authors like Patricia Briggs and Carrie Vaughn have tried to explain just how traumatic the change from human to werewolf can be, I’m not sure they’ve ever been as effective as Carriger was here (while being perfectly charming):

The change comprised a good deal of biological rearranging. This, like rearranging ones parlor furniture for a party, involve the transition from tidy to very messy to tidy once more. And, as with any redecoration, there was a moment in the middle where it seemed impossible that everything could possibly go back together harmoniously. In the case of werewolves, this moment involved hair retreating to become fur, bones fracturing and mending into new configurations, and flesh and muscles sliding about on top of or underneath the two.

The ending was a bit too soap opera-y for my tastes. The explanation for __________ is pretty self-evident, especially given the central question that these people had spent the last 350 pages or so dealing with. But I get that it fits in with some of the genres that Carriger is drawing from, and if she hadn’t done something like that, it’d have been easier for things to get duller or predictable. So I can put up with all the sands through the hour-glass and whatnot.

An okay story, told in a charmingly witty manner, with characters that are just fun to read. Sure, they obsess a bit too much over hats, fashion, and the rest, but okay. As I said, I’m not crazy about the way that it ended, but it definitely gives the series some place to go from here that’s not just a repeat of the last books. Changeless is a fun way to spend some time, which is one of the best reasons to pick up a book. Recommended.

—–

3.5 Stars

Soulless by Gail Carriger

By

On June 3, 2015

In Fiction, Steampunk

SoullessSoulless

by Gail Carriger
Series: The Parasol Protectorate, #1

Mass Market Paperback, 357 pg.
Orbit, 2009
Read: May 16 – 18, 2015
This is simply not my kind of book, a fact I repeated to myself many times while reading this. But man, I was charmed by it. So charmed by it, that I didn’t care if it was my kind of book or not.

Straightaway, we have our heroine, Alexia Tarabotti, describing her mother:

Mrs. Loontwill, as she was Loontwill since her remarriage, leaned a little too far toward the frivolous in any given equation. She was prone to wearing yellow and engaging in bouts of hysteria.

Something about that second sentence killed me — and I knew I was in for the book, and likely, the series.

This is essentially an Urban Fantasy novel told in Steampunk Victorian England — the Steampunk elements are there, but they’re really just the dressing (occasionally, that dressing becomes quite important, I should point out). The book doesn’t scream “Steampunk” to me, it’s about Vampires, Werewolves, forces threatening them on behalf of humanity, humans and one rare person who’s not really any of the above. Naturally, Alexia is the latter.

The characters — most of them, anyway — are refugee’s from Austen, just turned up to 11. Probably because Carriger is willing to have fun with her characters (and at their expense), which Austen would’ve frowned on, I think. But it’s all in good fun — Carriger isn’t mean, she seems to take great delight in talking about the food, fashion and manners of the day, even as she plays with them, and sets Alexia on a course to bend, if not break, all the societal norms. Her supernatural creatures are also one foot in the society and one foot (paw?) out.

Like with most things in Victorian London, there are very strict rules about the making of new vampires — and then making sure that they know how to behave/feed/etc. When Alexia accidentally kills a young vampire at a ball — almost ruining the affair and bringing all sorts of scandal upon her mother — Lord Conall Maccon of the Bureau for Unnatural Registration shows up to investigate. Alexia involves herself in the project as well — and it soon becomes clear that a number of young vampires not properly made are showing up around London (while werewolves are disappearing all over Britain). It’s clearly not just about unauthorized vampires, there’s something else afoot — and what’s up with the bandaged stranger who keeps trying to kidnap Alexia?

It should be added that Conall is the local werewolf Alpha, and Alexia tends to bring out the wolfish parts of his personality — he brings out something in Alexia, too, but it takes her a while to figure out what. Enter the romance (sorry for the minor spoiler, but if you can make it through the first half of chapter 1 without figuring that out faster than Conall or Alexia, you’re not paying attention and should probably turn off the TV while you read).

It’s not the most original story, really. Fairly easy to predict most of what happens, too. But you know what? Carriger mixes the various elements — Austen-inspired romance, Victorian manners, Steampunk tools world, and Urban Fantasy creatures — with her wit and charm, and you just don’t care how well-trod the plot is.

This might not sound like the compliment it is, but, let me give it a shot. I hold no hope whatsoever of getting my mother to read Urban Fantasy (or Steampunk, for that matter), unless I publish an Urban Fantasy novel (or Steampunk, for that matter). But if I was ever going to succeed? It’d be with this one. The setting, the voice, the romance — all right up her alley. But it worked for me, too. And for Carriger to pull that off says a lot about her skill. I’m coming back for more.

—–

3.5 Stars

The Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter by Rod Duncan

By

On May 5, 2015

In Fiction, Steampunk

The Bullet-Catcher’s DaughterThe Bullet-Catcher’s Daughter

by Rod Duncan
Series: Fall of the Gas-Lit Empire, #1

Mass Market Paperback, 364 pg.
Angry Robot, 2014
Read: April 27 – 29, 2015

This, my friends, is how you create a world. And populate it with a great character — and several really good supporting characters. Oh, and manage to tell a rollickingly good story while you’re at it.

The back of this book says that this is supposed to be shelved in “Fantasy,” which is just about the last thing that I’d have put it under, but . . . sure, why not? This is a very alternate history — 1973, but operating on Steampunk-ish technology after a global moratorium on technological advancement (this is just a quick and dirty summary, read the book to really get it). Edwin Barnabus makes ends meet (and that’s about it) working as a Private Intelligence Gatherer with a little help from his twin, Elizabeth, they’re looking for the missing brother of a Duchess — who is more than capable of helping ends meet for quite a while.

Here’s the thing: Edwin doesn’t exist. And underneath her Victorian-era dress, Elizabeth keeps fairly decent disguise so she can go out and about as a male when necessary. There is one pretty noticeable flaw with her disguise, but she’s pretty good at covering it up — but the fact that’s there’s such a chink in her armor makes me like it all the more.

Elizabeth is smart, resourceful, kind — and haunted by a threat from the past. You can easily see this as a later entry in an ongoing series, sort of where everything Elizabeth has worked to establish is jeopardized. The search for this missing brother will push Elizabeth to her extremes, as she dodges debt collectors, representatives of two different pseudo-governmental forces, and some very driven circus performers.

The narration is crisp, and Elizabeth is charming. Her few friends, and at least one person who may be some sort of ally — or patient enemy — are well used to round-out her universe and give her the aid she needs to get the job done.

Give it a shot. This is the first of a duology, and I’m afraid that just might not be enough.

—–

4 Stars

The Diamond Conspiracy by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

By

On April 21, 2015

In Fiction, Steampunk

The Diamond ConspiracyThe Diamond Conspiracy

by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
Series: Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, #4

Mass Market Paperback, 357 pg.
Ace, 2015
Read: April 9 – 15, 2015
Most authors let a series go for awhile before they break formula, but not these two — here were are in Book #4, and they’re shaking things up in this follow-up to that intriguing cliffhanger. On the one hand, I wish they’d given us a one or two more of the standard Brooks & Braun head off on a mission somewhere (even to another country or something like their trip to the States) before this one — but I’m not sure it could’ve waited.

This is not a good year for me and Book 4s. Like, Pocket Apocalypse, this one took me far too long to get into. There was no point where I wasn’t interested, where I thought the story dragged or anything — but I think it took 5 days to read half of this book, but only one other to read the last half. I’m not sure what to make of that, honestly, but it’s annoying, if nothing else.

You get a glimpse of what’s coming in the previous book — the Ministry has been decommissioned. The agents who served the Crown so faithfully are now hunted by her government. Yet, they stay true to their mission, as you’d expect. Not the easiest task, even for these agents, used to the peculiar and the impossible. And what they’re about to go up against is a lot more peculiar than they’re used to. I’m always a sucker for tales of second chances — and we got a few here, to boot. This book really has a little bit of everything.

Beyond the events of the story, there is just so much here to blow the reader’s mind — events, revelations, characters — in the last hundred pages that I cannot talk about without utterly ruining the experience for anyone. But if you don’t sit up in your chairs a little straighter, mouth agape, at least twice in Chapters 14 and 15 (for example), there’s something wrong with you. And the last chapter? Great, just great.

I’ve always enjoyed the back and forth between the Brooks and Braun, but now they’ve added this flirtatious (and then some) aspect to it, making the scenes between two cackle with a new energy. The growth in their relationship feels natural, and doesn’t go too far. Sure, they’re ga-ga over each other, and in the first blush of new love — but they’re still professionals, with work to be done. Now that there’s a little more trust in each other, maybe that works better, but it’s still the same base relationship we’ve been following since Phoenix Rising.

One final thought: Is it just me or does that position Eliza is in on the cover look: 1. really uncomfortable, and 2. not that useful for shooting?

A dash of steam=punk, a bit of romance, some intrigue, some “you’ve got to be kidding me” moments, and good character progression. This is one of my favorite series going, and this entry just solidifies it.

—–

4 Stars

Agatha H. and the Voice of the Castle by Phil & Kaja Foglio

By

On January 30, 2015

In Fiction, Steampunk

Agatha H and the Voice of the CastleAgatha H. and the Voice of the Castle

by Phil Foglio & Kaja Foglio

Hardcover, 485 pg.
Night Shade Books, 2014
Read: January 26 – 29, 2015
When I started this, I had one big question: since I hadn’t read the comics this one was based on (unlike the first two), would that effect my understanding or enjoyment of the novel? Nope. Not a bit. Which I think is a good thing.

Like the other two installments, this is just fun to read. The writing is full of joy, zip, and panache. The narration, descriptions, characters, and escapades are just fun. I couldn’t tell you how often I had to stop to chuckle (or more) at what looks like a throwaway line, but probably took 5-6 tries to get just right — and was absolutely worth the effort.

The whole gang is back — plus a few new characters, most of which I want to spend more time with (others I’ve already had my fill with). I think the city and residents of Mechanicsburg are great, and I hope we get to spend more time with both. Ditto for a certain self-aware piece of architecture. I still love the Jaegers, even if I typically have to stop and really think about the pronunciation of every one of their syllables — which, honestly, makes it more fun.

My only complaint — well, I have two, actually. The biggest is that the last 100 or so pages seem like the authors are just spinning their wheels. Which is just frustrating. The other is a common one for me — anytime another person takes over someone’s body, so that it’s hard to tell who’s doing what? Boring. Hate it. Silly plot contrivance that I hope goes away soon, but will probably stick around for a long, long time.

Still, not enough to crush my enjoyment of the book as a whole and or to keep me from wanting the next one soon.

If you’ve read the first two novels, there’s nothing for me to say other than, keep going. If you haven’t — don’t start with this, it won’t make sense. Go back to Agatha H and the Airship City and enjoy.

—–

4 Stars

Review Catch Up: Beautiful Redemption; Breach Zone; Chasing the Prophecy; Fiddlehead

By

On January 21, 2015

In Authors, Fantasy, Fiction, P-U, Science Fiction, Steampunk, YA/MG/Children's Books

I’ve got a backlog of 40-plus reviews I’ve been meaning to write — some of them, I just have to admit aren’t going to get done. But I’m going to try my level best. The four books I’ve decided to tackle in one fell swoop are the concluding novels from series I enjoy, and yet I’ve had trouble reviewing them. On the whole, there’s no reason for it — I should’ve had at least a few paragraphs of material on these, but I can’t seem to muster it (especially given how much time has gone by).

But I do want to clear these off my to-do list, so, without further ado, a few words on these series finales:

Beautiful RedemptionBeautiful Redemption

by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Paperback, 451 pg.
Penguin Books, 2012
Read: November 19 – 20, 2013

On the one hand, this was not at all like the rest of the series — and yet it was a very fitting conclusion. Garcia and Stohl wrapped up everything that needed wrapped up, answered every lingering question (not always as I expected), and generally, did so in an emotionally satisfying way. I wouldn’t have thought that this book would lead to a spin-off series, but it fits.

If you’re into Paranormal YA, this was a very satisfying conclusion, and probably the best of that genre I’ve read.
4 Stars

Breach ZoneBreach Zone

by Myke Cole

eBook, 384 pg.
Ace, 2014
Read: January 31 – February 04, 2014

I really, really liked all of Myke Cole’s Shadow Ops series — a gritty, believable mix of Contemporary Military and Fantasy, and yet, I’ve never reviewed one of his books. Don’t ask me why.

This, the conclusion to the trilogy, is just outstanding. You know how at the end of (pretty much) every fantasy novel, there’s this big, epic battle that takes up most of the last ¼ – ⅓ of the novel? That’s pretty much this entire book. Okay, not really — there’s plenty of backstory, character development and wrapping up the trilogy. But while reading, it sure felt like it was an epic fantasy battle on the streets and in the waters of New York. Somewhere in there, Cole looks gain at questions of patriotism, duty, ethics and morality — and how people of integrity can try to harmonize them all (and, more often, how those with integrity can’t harmonize them all). Seriously, awesome stuff.
4 Stars

Chasing the ProphecyChasing the Prophecy

by Brandon Mull

Hardcover, 512 pg.
Aladdi, 2013
Read: December 2 – 5, 2013

Wow — Mull concluded his Beyonder’s trilogy in a fantastic fashion. Given the target audience, I couldn’t believe how many deaths there were in this book. But, not in a gory or exploitative way. Just a huge body count. But, the core of this book remained the same: these two Beyonders, Rachel and Jason, risking everything for the sake of Lyrian. There’s sacrifice, honor, loyalty, and courage — all the necessary elements of a tale full of heroes — natives and Beyonders, warriors and children, those with many lives and those with only one to lose. Which is not to say it’s not fun — there’s a lot of fun to be had by the characters and the readers. Great way to go out.
4 Stars

FiddleheadFiddlehead

by Cherie Priest

Paperback, 368 pg.
Tom Doherty Associates, 2013
Read: November 12 – 14, 2013

Nice looking book — love the cover, the layout and the graphics are great. I miss the brown ink — what gives, Tor? Sure, the content is the important thing, it’s just nice when the package it’s wrapped in is nice to look at. Speaking of content — this (like the rest of this group) is a fitting — and thrilling — conclusion to the series. Lincoln (wheelchair-bound following the unsuccessful assassination attempt at Ford’s Theater) and President Grant working together near the end of the Civil War to protect a freeman scientist who built an early computer — the eponymous Fiddlehead. Fiddlehead is the best chance to end the War without making everything worse. The presidents, with the assistance of Pinkerton agent Maria Boyd and intelligence from — well, everywhere else this series has focused — in order to begin to deal with the Rotters. I think it’s possible that Boyd is my favorite character in the series — in the Top 3, anyway.

I just didn’t want this series to end, I understand it needed to, but man…just didn’t want that.
4 1/2 Stars

Endsinger by Jay Kristoff

By

On December 29, 2014

In Fiction, Steampunk, YA/MG/Children's Books

Endsinger (The Lotus War, #3)Endsinger

by Jay Kristoff

Hardcover, 432 pg.
Thomas Dunne Books, 2014
Read: Dec. 16 – 23, 2014

Let me show you what one little girl can do.

Of course, if you’ve read the first two novels in The Lotus War, you’ll know the list of what this one particular little girl can’t do is probably much shorter. The only question at this point is, can one little girl survive?

Kristoff has quite the wringer to put you through before you get the answer to that. For example, within the first thirty pages — thirty — Kristoff reveals something about a character I’d grown to have a certain affection for, and pitied after what happened to them in the previous book which makes me question everything I thought about them. And then he does something to that character I’m not sure I’ll forgive him for (will still read him, don’t get me wrong, I’ll just bear a grudge).

On the other hand, Endsinger is filled with so many fist-pumping moments, and fun sentences — like

Hiro laughed like a man who’d only read about it in books.

that you can keep pressing on — and actually enjoy the book. Another example of this:

Michi’s foot connected with the Inquisitor’s groin like a redlining goods train. It was the kind of kick that made one’s testicles throw up their hands and move to a monastery in the Hogosha mountains. It was the kind of kick that made orphans of a man’s grandchildren.

I mean, that’s something that Bruce Willis should be saying as he takes on Hans Gruber’s second-cousin or whatever.

I’m not going to describe much plot-wise here. It’d be too difficult to do it justice at this point — if you haven’t read the first two books anyway, there’s not a lot you’ll understand here without a lot of effort on my part. And if you’ve read the first two, you don’t need that to be an inducement to read the this one. It’d be easy in a book like Endsinger to just point every character at the final battle, throw in an obstacle or two along the way and let that be that. Heck, just coming up with an excuse to have Yoshi and Buruu travel around for 70-100 pages as the best buddy comedy pair to come along lately would’ve been a very satisfying way of spending time before the big battle. Instead, we get character development — a lot of it. We get mysteries explained. We get new characters, we learn new things about characters that we’ve known really well since book one (or thought we did, anyway). And they’re all thrown at a couple of really big battles, with some obstacles to overcome along the way.

The themes of the first two books continue to be explored here. The two that stuck out the most for me were: what makes a hero, what do they look like and what’s worth fighting for — honor, family, love, something else. Heroes aren’t what you think they are, don’t look like you think they should like — even (especially) to themselves. But everyone knows one when they see and/or hear one. As for what’s worth fighting for? That’s different for every one.

You don’t think people should know what happened here?”
“Oh, I think they should know, no doubt. I just don’t think they’ll care.”
“How could they not?”
“Because it will be different next time. It always is.”
“Different?” Akithito frowned at the cloudwalker captain.
“Different,” the Blackbird nodded. “Whatever they fight over. It’ll have a different name or a different shape — religion or territory or black or white. People will look back on us and say ‘we could never be that blind.’ People don’t learn from history. Not people who count, anyway.”

There’s a measure of cynicism, realism and idealism in Kristoff’s exploration of these (and other) themes. It’s tough, and probably ill-advised, to try to pin one of these viewpoints on Kristoff. But it seems to me that idealism’s voice is a bit louder than the rest.

Kristoff is great at keeping you on your toes. Things are bleak, but you start to think that hope is on the horizon, that one cavalry or another is coming — and coming soon. And then the hope is dashed. Or you start to think that all hope is gone and things are going to fall to ruin, and this is going to turn into a YA historical dystopian series, but then a new source of hope, a new rabbit gets pulled from a hat. He blindsides you time after time, from every direction.

Kristoff is great at his pacing, there are many moments he lets breathe, lets the readers and the characters observe everything going on, taking in all the sensory information and the thoughts of everyone. But he’s also capable of throwing in a sudden scene to grab the reader. The quick scenes bouncing around between the various characters in the heat of battle really work well to keep the tension high (though that can be a bit confusing unless you force yourself to slow down and read carefully — which is the last thing you want to do at that moment).

After awhile — about three-quarters through the book, after all the death, destruction, and (seemingly) climactic confrontations and battles getting you to that point, you simply can’t believe Kristoff can keep it going. How can the book last so many more pages? Is he going to give us a Peter Jackson’s Return of the King-style multi-epilogue? Probably not, it really seem to be Kristoff’s style. And then Kristoff shows you how he’s going to fill the rest of the book, and you pity all his characters, even those you’ve grown to despise, because that’s just not right.

In the end, Endsinger is a very satisfying conclusion to one of my favorite series in recent years. It’d have been easy for him to go for a “Everybody lives, Rose” kind of thing, where Hiro and the Lotus Guild are destroyed, Yukiko and Buruu are universally hailed as heroes, the Kage take over, and happily ever after. But he doesn’t give us that. Instead, we get the kind of conclusion promised in the first two books: it was emotionally satisfying (and induced a wide range of emotions, and may have involved a Kleenex or two on my part), it gave characters real conclusions to their arcs (not all happy endings), it tied up what needed to be tied up and it pointed towards the future. I’m going to miss this world and most of these characters. But I’m glad Kristoff didn’t try to milk this longer — it’s great as it is.

—–

5 Stars

The Girl with the Windup Heart by Kady Cross

By

On July 8, 2014

In Fiction, Steampunk

The Girl with the Windup Heart (Steampunk Chronicles, #4)The Girl with the Windup Heart

by Kady Cross

Hardcover, 400 pg.
Harlequin TEEN, 2014
Read: July 5 – 7, 2014

When my wife’s friend recommended this series to us, I didn’t even notice it was published by Harlequin Teen until I was well into the first (and best) of the series. By contrast, I don’t think there was a page in this one that didn’t scream Harlequin, Teen, or both. Still, I’d enjoyed this X-Men in Steampunk Victorian England series up til now, so I persevered. But I’d read about half of the novel before I really “got into” the story.

There were basically two storylines in this novel — the B story (oddly, the one the book is titled for) is all about the highly advanced automaton that Jack discovered in the previous novel becoming a “real life girl” — just like her favorite, Pinocchio. There were some interesting moments in this story — and if it had been given more time to breathe — maybe taking place over a few weeks, rather than a couple of days — I’d have bought it and been invested in it.

The A story was even more rushed. Further proof that you can’t keep a bad man down, The Machinist is back — again. This time, a full-fledged resident of the Aether, he kidnaps Griffin and begins to exact his revenge. Finley goes off to rescue him — with a little technical support from her friends. This is one of the bigger problems with this installment — the series is strongest when it’s dealing with all the interpersonal relationships — not just the romantic ties — seeing the characters interact with each other. There was so little of that this time, it felt like a different series. Sam didn’t get to be too Sam-ish. Both he and Emily mostly worked behind the scenes — ditto for Jasper and Wildcat (when they weren’t off helping Jack in the B story). Emily and Finley got 1 or 2 good scenes together, but that’s about it.

Anyway, Finley goes off to save Griffin and runs into a couple of blasts from the past. One of which was simply an unnecessary plot complication — and was dispatched as such. The other was probably the best part of this book. Probably its saving grace.

Initially, I was disappointed to read that this was the conclusion to the Steampunk Chronicles. But by the end, I think it’s time — and clearly Cross did, too. There’s no getting around the idea that she was wrapping things up (and rushed a few things to get to that point). Still, readers that have been with Griffin’s little crew up to this point will appreciate seeing how things end. The book may have been not terribly impressive, but the series as a whole was still a fun Steampunk-ish tale. Because of the aforementioned saving grace and the series as a whole, I’ll give this 3-stars. It should probably get 2 – 2.5.

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3 Stars

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