Review: Treasure, Darkly

Title: Treasure, Darkly

Author: Jordan Elizabeth

Date of Publication: February 15, 2015

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon.com

Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Clark Treasure assumes the drink he stole off the captain is absinthe… until the chemicals in the liquid give him the ability to awaken the dead.

A great invention for creating perfect soldiers, yes, but Clark wants to live as a miner, not a slave to the army—or the deceased. On the run, Clark turns to his estranged, mining tycoon father for help. The Treasures welcome Clark with open arms, so he jumps at the chance to help them protect their ranch against Senator Horan, a man who hates anyone more powerful than he.

Sixteen-year-old Amethyst Treasure loathes the idea of spending the summer away from her bustling city life to rot on her father’s ranch, but when a handsome young man shows up claiming to be her secret half-brother, her curiosity is piqued. He’s clever, street smart, and has no qualms jumping into the brawl between the Treasures and Horans. Caught in the middle, Horan kidnaps Amethyst, and all she gets is this lousy bullet through her heart.

When Clark brings her back to life, however, the real action starts, and Amethyst joins him in his fight against the Horan clan—whatever the cost. Defeating the Horans may seem easy at first, but going up against men with the same fighting vengeance as Clark, and a Senator with power he’s obtained by brainwashing the masses?

Well, Amethyst’s boring summer at home has turned into an adventure on the run, chock full of intrigue, danger, love, and a mysterious boy named Clark.

My Review:

Let me just start this review by saying that the cover of this novel is one of the most beautiful, amazing, fantastic, awesome, brilliant covers I have ever seen in my life. The second I saw the cover of this novel I knew I wanted to read it and I just have to give the biggest shout out in the world to the person who designed it, because honestly it's just gorgeous. Okay, now that I've got that out of my system, on to the actual review!

Treasure, Darkly is one of those novels that's going to be interesting to review because I'm just so on the fence about how I feel about it. The novel started off interesting enough, with Clark stealing a vial of what he though was absinthe, and instead gaining some cool preternatural abilities. Though his abilities are fascinating, they really take a backseat to the rest of the drama going on in the novel, and I wish we could have seen them in action a little more. However, with the army after him, a long lost father to learn about, inventions to find, and a new family to meet there was plenty going on in this novel to keep me turning pages.

When Clark is taken in by the Treasures, and instantly accepted, the action really picks up and I absolutely loved the western/steampunk setting. Elizabeth really did a fantastic job with the world building and I loved learning more about the world she created. From steamcycles to evil ranchers this novel had it all. The only problem I had with the plot was that there was no resolution to any of the conflicts, there are so many story arcs going on that  I figured at least one of them would have been resolved. Instead all we get is a rather abrupt ending that had almost nothing to do with the main story. 

Though there were a lot of good things about this novel there were a few that really bothered me too. First of all there was just something about Clark that rubbed me the wrong way. I don't quite know what it was about him but as the novel went on I started to like him less and less. His cocky attitude and some of his inner dialogue had me quickly losing respect for him and toward the end of the novel I just couldn't stand him anymore. Amethyst, on the other hand, had a bit of a flat personality but wasn't as bad as Clark. Though for the amount of times she was kidnapped you would think she would have some sort of reaction, but she just goes back to lusting after Clark instead. 

Maybe part of the reason I disliked Clark as much as I did was because of his relationship with Amethyst. The romance in this novel was so lewd and lust driven that reading about Clark and Amethyst honestly made me uncomfortable. There was absolutely no mutual affection between them and some of the inner dialogue Clark had about Amethyst was just plain disgusting. I wanted to root for them, I really did, but in the end I just couldn't do it. 

Though there were a lot of things I really enjoyed about this novel, mainly the setting and the steampunk elements, the romance made me feel so icky that I had to knock this one down a little bit. Overall not a bad read, but I could have done without the romance.

3/5

*I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a free and honest review. 

Review: Hand of Miriam

Title: Bayla and the Golem #1: Hand of Miriam

Author: Eva Gordon

Date of Publication: December 6, 2013

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon.com

Synopsis: On an archaeological expedition, Bayla Gideon, is widowed by a supernatural force and branded with the Hand of Miriam or Knowing Eye. Threatened by evil, she awakens the golem; a mythical man of clay, who protected the Jewish community over three centuries ago.

The golem, Gesher, is surprised. Freedom –by a beautiful, enchanting woman. His desire is to return to the celestial spheres and regain his status as an avenging angel. Yet, Bayla challenges his mind, body and soul. Would he risk his return to the heavens for her?

Besides, dealing with the otherkind, mad inventors and an unrelenting matchmaking aunt, Bayla is equally determined to resist her steamy attraction to the striking fallen angel.

Thrust into a malevolent war, which includes facing Jack the Ripper, they must resist the magnetic pull toward each other, while protecting the world from encroaching evil.

My Review:

I've been meaning to read The Hand of Miriam for what feels like forever, so when I finally sat down to start this one I didn't even read the description and jumped right in. After only a few pages I was thrilled to discover this novel full of steampunk inventions, a unique cast of characters, and a fascinating story line. I was quickly drawn into the story and I only wish I had picked this one up sooner! 

I was immediately fascinated by the the physical Hand of Miriam, which embeds itself in Bayla's palm, and Gesher, the golem. Though I've heard of both before I've never read a book about either of them and I loved being introduced to Jewish customs and stories. From werewolves, to vampires, and unsuitable suitors this novel had it all! The Hand of Miriam was a highly original novel and I loved reading about the stories and creatures associated with the Jewish religion rather than Christianity. I've never read anything quite like this novel, and I enjoyed every moment of it. 

Though Gesher can't be with a human woman, or he'll be stuck on earth forever, he falls in love with Bayla anyway and the romance between them ranged from sweet to steamy and everything else in between. Because much of the novel is spent with the two of them hiding their feelings for each other and building up sexual tension the moment when the two of them finally admitted their feelings for each other was only all the better. Though Gesher could be a bit on the alpha male and domineering side I wasn't overly bothered by his attitude and it was obvious that he only had Bayla's best interests at heart. 

The mystery involving Jack the Ripper kind of fell to the background in the beginning but it really took a strong lead at the end and I loved every moment of it. I used to absolutely love mysteries and I just don't read enough of them anymore. The murders were gruesome and though it wasn't particularly hard to figure out who was behind them I still enjoyed the ride to get there. The ending was action packed and I loved watching all the villains get exactly what they deserved and seeing Bayla and Gesher finally be together! 

I was very impressed by the first installment of the Bayla and the Golem series and I'm excited to see where Gordon takes it next! I loved the action, the romance, and learning about a whole section of paranormal creatures and their stories. A great read! 

4/5

*I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for a free and honest review.

Review: Waistcoats & Weaponry

Title: Finishing School #3: Waistcoats & Weaponry

Author: Gail Carriger

Date of Publication: November 4, 2014

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Sophronia continues second year finishing school in style -- with a steel-bladed fan secreted in the folds of her ball gown. She, best friend Dimity, sweet sootie Soap, and charming Lord Felix Mersey stow away on train to return classmate Sidheag to her werewolf pack in Scotland. No one suspects what or who would be aboard the suspiciously empty train.

My Review:

Carriger never fails to entertain me and Waistcoats & Weaponry was no exception. Hilarious writing, lovable characters, and the strongest plot in the series yet, this novel was a wonderful read! Short and quick I blew through this novel in a little more than a day, and honestly it was just the thing I needed to boost my spirits.

This novel definitely had the best plots of any of the Finishing School books, though we haven't lost any of the flair that we've all come to love from Carriger. Sophronia and her friends are starting to get older and Waistcoats & Weaponry focused not just one ridiculous lessons and hilarious dialogue but the worries Sophronia and her friends have regarding the future. At the end of the novel we get a bit of the idea of where Sophronia is going and I'm super excited to see her out the real world, rather than purely at finishing school.

Even though this series is very light on the romance, bordering on non-existent really, I'm happy to see that the love triangle has (mostly) cleared up and we have some room for actual romance in the future. I'm not really one for love triangles but Carriger did an amazing job on this one, even though there was one person I was rooting for in particular (Soap!), I really liked both of the love interests for completely different reasons. Sophronia came a long way in this novel in that she was able to come to terms with the fact that all of them were growing up and, even though it took awhile, she was able to realize her feelings and hopefully in the next novel we'll get to see her act on them!

But in the end what makes these novels so fantastic is how outrageous they are. I just can't get enough of Carrigers writing and I constantly find myself laughing out loud during her novels. The writing is a perfect blend of propriety and the ridiculous that it really brings the novel together. To be honest the plot and romance aren't all that amazing and without the writing I probably wouldn't enjoy these nearly as much as I do, but the writing is so wonderful and fantastic that I can't stop coming back for more, and loving every minute of it.

Carriger is truly one of the most talented steampunk writers in the genre today. I just can't get enough of her writing and I'm so excited to get my hands on the next book in this fantastic series. I can't recommend this one enough!

4/5

Review: The Girl with the Windup Heart

Title: The Steampunk Chronicles #4: The Girl with the Windup Heart

Author: Kady Cross

Date of Publication: May 27, 2014

Formats Available: Hardcover, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: In 1897 London, a final showdown is about to begin.

London's underworld is no place for a young woman, even one who is strong, smart and part-automaton like Mila. But when master criminal Jack Dandy inadvertently breaks her heart, she takes off, determined to find an independent life, one entirely her own. Her search takes her to the spangled shadows of the West End's most dazzling circus.

Meanwhile, taken captive in the Aether, Griffin King is trapped in an inescapable prison, and at the mercy of his archenemy, The Machinist. If he breaks under the hellish torment, The Machinist will claim his powers and control of the Aether itself, and no one in either world will be safe-especially not Finley Jayne and her misfit band of friends.

Finley plunges headlong into the Aether the only way she knows how, by temporarily dying. But she cannot parry The Machinist's maneuvers for long. To defeat him for good, Griffin will have to confront his greatest fear and finally come face-to-face with the destructive power he wields.

My Review:

From the very beginning I knew this was going to be an amazing novel, I just didn't know how amazing until I was up at 2 am reading because I absolutely had to finish it.  Cross has an amazing talent for steampunk and each novel only gets better and better. With amazing characters and a fascinating London setting there's nothing not to love about this wonderful addition to the Steampunk Chronicles series!

The first thing I have to say about this book is: JACK AND MILA. Oh my god, I cannot even put into words how much I absolutely loved every portion of this novel about the two of them. Mila is absolutely adorable and her devotion to Jack made my heart melt. Jack has always been played off as the "bad boy" character but watching him take care of Mila brought out a whole new side of him that I absolutely love. Jack is so protective of Mila, and obviously loves her so much, that I can't help but love him more with every page. Their story made my heart flutter and I had to force myself not to flip through the book and read all of their sections before I got there!

I also enjoyed the story about Finley and Griffin but, even though their story was more exciting, they didn't have the character interactions that made Jack and Mila's story shine. It was interesting to finally learn more about the Aether and Griffin's powers, as well as be reunited with some long dead characters. Finley and Griffin have always had an adorable story, I just wish they could have spent more time together so we could watch their relationship develop. It seems that something is always interrupting them and though the moments they have together are cute, they just aren't enough!

Emily and Sam, as well as Jasper and Wildcat, also make an appearance in this novel, though not as big of one as I would have liked. There was a lot of bouncing around between the two story lines in this one, so it only makes sense that these characters would all play more background roles, but after the last book about Emily and Sam I was hoping to see a little bit more of their relationship develop. However, every sentence about Mila completely made up for it, from the beginning I knew I would love her and there were moments when her character had me laughing out loud, I honestly don't think I've ever laughed that hard from a book before!

The Girl with the Windup Heat is hands down the best book in the Steampunk Chronicles yet and I honestly cannot recommend this series enough to fans of romance and steampunk. With an original premise, lovable characters, and plenty of romance old and new fans alike will be enchanted by the world Cross has created.

5/5

Review: Curtsies & Conspiracies

Title: Finishing School #2: Curtsies & Conspiracies

Author: Gail Carriger

Date of Publication: January 1, 2013

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Does one need four fully grown foxgloves for decorating a dinner table for six guests? Or is it six foxgloves to kill four fully grown guests?

Sophronia's first year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has certainly been rousing! For one thing, finishing school is training her to be a spy--won't Mumsy be surprised? Furthermore, Sophronia got mixed up in an intrigue over a stolen device and had a cheese pie thrown at her in a most horrid display of poor manners.

Now, as she sneaks around the dirigible school, eavesdropping on the teachers' quarters and making clandestine climbs to the ship's boiler room, she learns that there may be more to a field trip to London than is apparent at first. A conspiracy is afoot--one with dire implications for both supernaturals and humans. Sophronia must rely on her training to discover who is behind the dangerous plot-and survive the London Season with a full dance card.

In this sequel to New York Times bestselling Etiquette & Espionage, class is back in session with more petticoats and poison, tea trays and treason. Gail's distinctive voice, signature humor, and lush steampunk setting are sure to be the height of fashion this season.

My Review:

I'd forgotten how much I absolutely adore Gail Carriger's writing until I started reading this novel. By far one of her best works yet Curtsies & Conspiracies was wonderfully written and full of quirky characters who I just can't get enough of! Paired with the comical writing this novel had so much going for it that it was easy to over look the few slow spots and get engrossed in the wonderful story.

Sophronia was absolutely hilarious and I just love reading about her. When I started this series I was a bit worried because I usually don't like reading about characters under the age of seventeen, but Sophronia is the one exception to that rule. Even though she's fifteen she acts mature enough to keep me from rolling my eyes at her antics but still acts young enough to get away with some of her escapades. I love her down to earth personality and even though she finds herself in some entirely ridiculous situations her level headedness brings even more hilarity to the scene.

There also seems to be a bit of a love triangle forming, but not in a serious way. Romance in this series definitely takes a back seat, and considering the main character is fifteen, I think it works out perfectly. I feel like in many YA novels, no matter how young the main character is, always has some sort of romance going on. Because of that it's refreshing to have a main character who acts her age in that regard and rarely thinks about boys in any way other than her friends. I have no doubt that there is going to be some romance for Sophronia in the future but hopefully after she matures!

Like the last book there wasn't a huge amount of plot, but everything that happened was hugely entertaining just because of the way it was written. There were plenty of moments where I burst out laughing just because of the talent Carriger has of phrasing things in the most posh and outrageous way she possibly can. The whole novel feels like a bit of parody on the Regency era, but in the most positive way possible. With ridiculous names like Professor Shrimpdittle and Bumbersnoot there's absolutely nothing serious about this novel, but thats the reason I love it so much.

The Finishing School series is one of the stars of young adult steampunk and there is no doubt in my mind recommending this novel to fans of young adult. Old fans of Carriger will no doubt be impressed by this novel and those new to her work will definitely be clamoring for more!

4/5

Review: The Clockwork Wolf

Title: Disenchanted & Co. #2: The Clockwork Wolf

Author: Lynn Viehl

Date of Publication: February 25, 2014

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: As the proprietor of Disenchanted & Co. in a steampunk version of America, Charmian “Kit” Kittredge makes her living solving magical crimes. But when a snobbish lady begs for help, saving her reputation might very well cost Kit her life.

Doing a favor for deathmage Lucien Dredmore, Kit agrees to interview a newly widowed lady as a potential client. Upon meeting, however, she learns that the woman in question is none other than Lady Eugenia Bestly, president of the Rumsen Ladies Decency Society—someone who once led a vicious campaign to ruin Kit’s life. Ironically Lady Bestly now lives in fear herself, for the press is about to unmask her husband as the savage “Wolfman” who died while terrorizing the city.

As monstrous rampages continue to occur, Kit soon determines there is more than one Wolfman, and that they may themselves be victims of evil players. While avoiding both mechanized assassins and attempts by Dredmore and Chief Inspector Tom Doyle to take her under their protection, Kit follows a tangled path that leads from a prestigious gentlemen’s club fronting a hellish secret to a vengeful native tribe and dangerous, ancient magics.

My Review:

Though I enjoyed the first book I wasn't expecting to like The Clockwork Wolf as much as I did! Even better than the first novel in the series this book included all the action I loved about the first book, minus all the world building that made for a slow start the first time around. I was instantly drawn into the action and I really started to feel a connection with Kit, the love triangle was a little annoying, but overall this novel was even better than the first!

The first book in the series had been hugely focused on world building, especially in the beginning, and the action took a long time to build up. However, this time around the action was much more immediate and I was instantly drawn into the steampunk world Viehl had created. I also enjoyed Kit a lot more this time around, I felt like her personality was a little more fleshed out and she was easier to relate to. In the first book I didn't mind her but I didn't completely relate to her, this time around I felt much more invested in what happened to her.

What really made the novel stand out to me was the fantastic plot. I loved the blending of steampunk and paranormal and the originality of the world Viehl has created. The mechanical werewolves, the magical shamans, and the scattering of characters with special powers, all came together to create a highly original and exciting story. Not only that but this book revealed more about Kit's past, she has a fascinating back story and I always love learning a little bit more about it. I'm just waiting for the book in the series that finally reveals it all!

The only thing bringing this novel down is the frustrating love triangle. It's obvious who Kit is going to end up with; it's just taking forever for her to finally get there. The sexual tension between Kit and Dredmore was escalating more with every chapter and by the end of the novel I thought they were finally going to end up together, then Viehl threw in an interesting twist that may drag this out even longer. I definitely wasn't expecting the ending and though I'm excited to see how it plays out it frustrated me nonetheless.

Overall I enjoyed The Clockwork Wolf even more than the first book in the series and I'm excited to see where the next book in the series goes, especially after how this one ended! I highly recommend this series to fans of The Parasol Protectorate series and other fans of steampunk and the paranormal!

4/5

Review: Disenchanted & Co.

Title: Disenchanted & Co.

Author: Lynn Viehl

Date of Publication: January 28, 2014

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: In the Provincial Union of Victoriana, a steampunk America that lost the Revolutionary War, Charmian “Kit” Kittredge makes her living investigating crimes of magic. While Kit tries to avoid the nobs of high society, she follows mysteries wherever they lead.

Unlike most folks, Kit doesn’t believe in magic, but she can’t refuse to help Lady Diana Walsh, who claims a curse is viciously wounding her while she sleeps. As Kit investigates the Walsh family, she becomes convinced that the attacks are part of a more ominous plot—one that may involve the lady’s obnoxious husband.
Sleuthing in the city of Rumsen is difficult enough, but soon Kit must also skirt the unwanted attentions of a nefarious deathmage and the unwelcome scrutiny of the police chief inspector. Unwilling to surrender to either man’s passion for her, Kit struggles to remain independent as she draws closer to the heart of the mystery. For the truth promises to ruin her life—and turn Rumsen into a supernatural battleground from which no one will escape alive.

My Review:

I'd seen Lynn Viehl's name before but I'd never had the chance to read a novel by her, so when I was offered the chance to read Disenchanted & Co. I absolutely jumped at the chance! Full of magic and mystery, a dash of romance, and all set in a steampunk America, this novel had all the right elements to make it an absolutely amazing read.

Kit started off as a bit of a lackluster character. Sure, she was interesting enough with her investigation business and the mystery behind her parents and their involvement in magic, but her personality just didn't hold my interest. As the novel went on I began to warm up to her as she started interacting with the other characters. I absolutely adored the interactions between characters in this novel, with a sarcastic attitude and a group of interesting friends Kit really stood out where dialogue was involved. Along with her rejection of societies norms for women and her hilarious exchanges with Dredmore by the end of the novel there was no doubt that I was a fan of Kit.

Kit's interactions with Dredmore were what made her personality really shine. Sarcastic and bold she wasn't afraid to get on Dredmore's bad side and I think that was half the reason he liked her so much.  Though he played a relatively small part in the start of the novel I was pleased to find him appearing more and more often as the novel went on. I loved the banter between him and Kit and the sexual tension between them was driving me absolutely insane. I knew they were going to end up together but watching them get there was half the fun. After the twist at the end I'm eager to see how their relationship plays out and see where it's going to take them!

The plot was absolutely fascinating (but complicated!) and really threw me for a loop at the end. The novel starts off with a simple mystery involving a high society woman believing she's cursed and quickly turns into a plot involving Kit saving the world. I really liked the use of magic in the plot and even though I wasn't quite sure about the twist at the end I admit that it was so unexpected that it worked perfectly. The world Viehl created was an interesting one, but it was so detailed that there were times when I was a little confused by some of the aspects Viehl had invented. The glossary in the back was helpful but sometimes its a bit of the pain to be constantly flipping to the back for definitions. However, the world building was part of what made the novel as good as it was so I can't complain too much about it!

Overall Disenchanted & Co. was a really entertaining read despite starting off a little slow. I really loved the interactions between Kit and Dredmore and I'm so excited to see where they end up! Viehl did a great job creating a steampunk world with fantastic character interactions and I'm excited to get started on the sequel.

4/5

Review: The Steampunk Chronicles #3: The Girl With the Iron Touch

Title: The Steampunk Chronicles #3: The Girl With the Iron Touch

Author: Kady Cross

Date of Publication: May 28, 2013

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: In 1897 London, something not quite human is about to awaken

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons—or forfeit her friends' lives.

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke's sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him...and for Griffin.

Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel's desolate alleyways to Mayfair's elegant mansions. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine.

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist's ultimate creation—an automaton more human than machine. And if she's to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn't know she has....

My Review:

When I started this novel I was a little nervous, the description on the cover made it sound like there would be a major love triangle in the works and I thought we had left all that behind in the previous novel. Thankfully, if there was one thing this novel didn't have it was a love triangle. Cross has a wonderful writing style that completely pulled me in and kept me engrossed throughout the entire novel and left me desperate for more!

Rather than focusing on the plot The Girl With the Iron Touch focused mostly on character relationships and character development. While it was a little disappointing not to have a thrilling plot like in the last novel, I really enjoyed getting to know the characters more and watching as their interactions with each other gradually changed. I felt like Emily's and Sam's characters were especially fleshed out and by the end of the novel I felt like I knew them much better than I had when I started the novel.

Quite possibly the bests part of this novel was the double romance, I had gone into this book expecting the bulk of the romance to focus on Finely and Griffin but a fair amount focused on Emily and Sam as well. The relationship between Emily and Sam is absolutely adorable though a bit cliché , however the romance between Griffin and Finely is what always makes me swoon a little bit. Finely and Griffin follow none of the normal rules of attraction and Finely even plays more of a leading role in the relationship than Griffin.

One of the most interesting things about the world Cross has created is the fascinating steampunk contraptions. The Girl With the Iron Touch was full of some of my favorite mechanical creations so far, the best of them being Mila. Part automaton and part human her creation fascinated me just as much as her character. Sweet and innocent I couldn't help but love her and her adorable reliance on Jack Dandy. Cross has a way of creating characters that are just perfect for each other and I have a feeling that we haven't seen the last of Jack and Mila (fingers crossed for a book focusing on those two!).

Fans of steampunk (young and old alike!) will be completely enraptured by this novel. One of the best steampunk series I've ever read Cross has a way of pulling you into the world she's created and drawing you in through the characters and fantastic setting. If there is one steampunk series I'll always recommend it's this one!

5/5

Review: Dearly, Departed

Title: Gone with the Respiration #1: Dearly, Departed

Author: Lia Habel

Date of Publication: September 29, 2011

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie?

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever the concept of undying love.

My Review:

I'm beginning to think I need to change my opinion on zombie novels! I've never really been a huge fan of them but lately I've found myself surprised over and over again by how much I'm beginning to enjoy them! Zombies will never be my favorite supernatural love interest (I think I'll always just have something against boys who are decomposing) but Habel did an absolutely fantastic job creating the world and characters and, in the end, left me agonizing over how to get my hands on the sequel!

Nora was a fun and entertaining character. Her loyalty to her friends and family made me smile and I loved her open mindedness toward the zombies, especially after all she had been through because of them. Bram was a dashing love interest and I loved being able to switch between Nora's and Bram's point of views as their relationship developed. Habel did a fantastic job creating their relationship, instead of everything happening all at once she builds it up, making their relationship that much more special. I also enjoyed reading from Pamela's point of view; in the thick of the epidemic she takes on the role of protecting her family and even killing some zombies along the way.

There were so many little quirks this novel had that made it so much fun to read. My favorite had to be the little colored lamps on top of parasols indicating a girl's marriageability, or even a girl who wasn't interested in men but could be swayed by a pretty skirt. I also loved the blending of old fashioned Victorian language with modern vernacular. Habel was able to seamlessly blend the past and present and even explained the development of the steampunk society she had created. So often steampunk novels throw you into a world never really telling you how they came to be that way, so it was a nice change to understand the history behind the story. Habel truly did an absolutely fantastic job with world building, a huge amount of the novel was dedicated to explaining past events and explaining the world and while sometimes that can make for a dull read Habel was able to integrate it so expertly that it didn't take away from the action of the novel.

Like most of the reviews I've seen the only thing I didn't like about this novel was the five different first person perspectives. I felt a little overwhelmed by how many stories I had to follow at the same time and I didn't really understand the point of Victor's and Wolfe's point of views, neither of them were necessary to the story and the information provided in those sections could have been easily provided another way. Often times I set this book down to take a break and I came back a few hours later only to start reading and not remember whose point of view I was reading from. I also found the first third or so of this novel to be extremely slow, not boring necessarily, but lacking in action. I kept waiting and waiting for something exciting to happen, once the action scenes picked up this novel moved very quickly but before that this novel felt incredibly slow.

Despite the frustrating amount of narrators and the slow beginning once this novel takes off it becomes a completely engrossing read. Part steampunk, part dystopian, and part romance this novel has it all! I highly recommend this one to young adult and adult readers alike looking for a great new series!

4/5

Review: Finishing School #1: Etiquette & Espionage

Title: Finishing School #1: Etiquette & Espionage

Author: Gail Carriger

Date of Publication: February 5, 2013

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners—and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage—in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

Set in the same world as the Parasol Protectorate, this YA series debut is filled with all the saucy adventure and droll humor Gail Carriger's legions of fans have come to adore.

My Review:

I wasn't sure what to think about Carriger's expedition into young adult fiction, I'm not usually a big fan of books with characters under the age of sixteen so I was especially nervous about starting this one. However, other than a few slow spots Etiquette & Espionage turned out to be a fast and highly enjoyable read. Set in the world of the Parasol Protectorate I really enjoyed chance to revisit the world learn more about some old characters.

Sophronia was an absolutely hilarious protagonist. I adored her character and Carriger's writing just highlighted all the best aspects of her personality. I have always loved Carriger's writing style and Etiquette & Espionage was no disappointment, witty but proper Carriger has the prefect style for London set steampunk. Even though I hadn't been sure if I would like Sophronia I found myself liking her more and more with every hilarious comment and improper escapade.

The biggest disappointment came in that there wasn't much of a plot. Other than the girls searching for "the prototype", which is some kind of mystery object, nothing much happens. My biggest issue was why Sophronia cared about the prototype in the first place, other than her carriage being attacked by flyway men searching for it. Even though it had a few slow spots, and a lack of substantial plot, I did end up liking the first Finishing School novel more than I thought I would. I loved being able to learn more about Sidheag and revisit the world of the Parasol Protectorate as well as discover some hilarious new characters.

From Dimity to Soap I loved every new character Carriger introduced in this series. I'm sensing a hint of some future romance between Sophronia and Soap, which excites me to no end. I absolutely loved Soap and not only is he a sootie, shoveling coal in the depths of the floating school, but he's colored as well. I'm super excited to see where Carriger takes their relationship! Dimity was another great character, constantly fainting and always armed with a proper response she was the perfect contrast to Sophronia.

I would highly recommend The Finishing School series to fans of Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series as well as young adult steampunk fans. Despite the weaker plot Carriger makes up for it with great character development and wonderful  writing!

4/5

Bannon & Clare #1: The Iron Wyrm Affair Review

Title: Bannon & Clare #1: The Iron Wyrm Affair

Author: Lilith Saintcrow

Date of Publication: August 7, 2012

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Emma Bannon, forensic sorceress in the service of the Empire, has a mission: to protect Archibald Clare, a failed, unregistered mentath. His skills of deduction are legendary, and her own sorcery is not inconsiderable. It doesn't help much that they barely tolerate each other, or that Bannon's Shield, Mikal, might just be a traitor himself. Or that the conspiracy killing registered mentaths and sorcerers alike will just as likely kill them as seduce them into treachery toward their Queen.

In an alternate London where illogical magic has turned the Industrial Revolution on its head, Bannon and Clare now face hostility, treason, cannon fire, black sorcery, and the problem of reliably finding hansom cabs.

The game is afoot..

My Review:

I'm not going to lie I absolutely could NOT finish this book. I feel horrible writing a review when I haven't even read the end but I feel that it says a lot when I got to over page 200 and just couldn't do it anymore, especially when I almost never stop reading books once I've started them. When I sat down to right this review I racked my brain to come up with something nice to say about this novel but I literally couldn't come up with a single thing. I've read books by Saintcrow before that I have enjoyed but just something about this book just didn't click with me.

Maybe I missed something important in the beginning or two important pages got stuck together but I was completely LOST during this novel. I had no idea what was going on, I had no idea who was who, I had no idea why the characters did a single thing they did. I've never been so completely baffled by a plot and struggled so intensely to put important events together. I didn't understand what a mentath was, I couldn't figure out a single thing Emma was doing, I never understood Shields or Mikal's role in the story, somewhere along the line I got lost and just couldn't find my way back.

If being completely confused wasn't bad enough the characters had absolutely zero personality. Both Emma and Archibald did absolutely nothing but walk around an alternate version of London and search for... something. I could never figure out what they were searching for or even what they were doing. Their relationship with each other was nearly non-existent and their voices were so similar half the time I forgot who's side of the story I was reading. By page 200 I was so frustrated with them and the confusing plot I just couldn't go on anymore.

I know I didn't finish the novel so my review may not be 100% credible but I honestly could not do it. When I begin to dread reading and start doing other things to avoid the book I know there's something wrong. The brain dead characters paired with the incomprehensible plot just made for a horrible time and in all honesty I don't think I've read a book I disliked this much in a long time, sorry to Saintcrow because she really has written some good books, but this one just wasn't for me. At all.

Obviously I don't recommend this novel in the least but I have read some good reviews on it and maybe if I hadn't gotten so lost in the beginning I would have ended up liking this novel I lot more. This novel was most definitely not my cup of tea this time around.

1/5

Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #2: The Janus Affair Review

Title: Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #2: The Janus Affair

Author: Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

Date of Publication: May 29, 2012

Formats Available: Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: When Eliza Braun and her partner Wellington Books witness a passenger aboard Britain's latest hyperstream train vanish in a bolt of lightning they find that this is not the first of many disappearances that they cannot ignore. As more and more women in the suffragist movement begin vanishing Eliza convinces Wellington to go against his instincts and investigate the disappearances. With the arrival of former friends from New Zealand Eliza must face her past to properly investigate, leaving her questioning her place in England. Between Wellington's skill with machines and Eliza's use of weapons and explosives they just may be able to capture the culprit behind the kidnappings, that is, if they aren't the next victims.

My Review:

I had really enjoyed the first novel in this series, Phoenix Rising, so when I saw that there was a sequel I knew that I had to read it. Unfortunately while this novel wasn't bad I definitely felt that it didn't quite live up to the action and excitement present in the first novel. I found the plot of The Janus Affair to be a bit tedious and honestly I just wasn't as interested in it as I was in the plot of Phoenix Rising.

While the plot wasn't bad it was considerably weaker than in the first novel. While adding in the suffragist movement was an interesting idea it just didn't work for the story. The suffragist movement was a controversial time this novel just didn't quite capture that aspect, making the kidnappings of the suffragist women feel a little anti-climactic. The climax of the novel seemed almost random and left quite a few loose ends in terms of some of the characters; however the ending left it open for a sequel which I am highly anticipating!

This novel focused more on the characters and their interactions than the plot. As Eliza and Wellington discover their feelings for each other as well as face significant others from their past they learn a lot about each other and their feelings. While the plot of this novel fell flat the character development did not! This novel offered a deeper look at both Eliza and Wellington and offered unexpected revelations and introduced interesting new tidbits on their characters!

In the end, I enjoyed this novel a lot. Eliza is a fun character to read about and I absolutely love her relationship with Wellington. Full of action, mystery, and suspense this novel was by no means dull. I liked the adding in of New Zealand characters and the revelations about both Eliza and Wellingtons past. I loved the changing perspectives and the several plots all contained in one novel. While I didn't think it lived up to Phoenix Rising I still liked this novel and definitely can't wait for the next one!

The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences novels are some of steampunk's finest. A great series so far I'm extremely excited to see where the series goes as Eliza drags Wellington into more adventures and they take on new cases! Definitely a great series that should not be missed by fans of steampunk!

4/5

Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #1: Phoenix Rising Review

Title: Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #1: Phoenix Rising

Author: Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

Date of Publication: April 26, 2011

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: These are dangerous days in Victorian London as the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, an organization funded by Queen Victoria herself, investigates the most mysterious instances around the world. Eliza D. Braun is a wild and impulsive field agent, most of her investigations ending in explosions and mayhem. Wellington Books is a quiet archivist who spends most of his time in the damp archives of the Ministry. After an assignment gone horribly wrong Eliza finds herself trapped in the dank atmosphere with Wellington. As they begin to go thought the forgotten cases of the Ministry Eliza becomes determined to find the organization behind the unravel of her former partner. Along with a reluctant Wellington the two take on the forgotten case on their own, discovering one of the darkest brotherhoods in London's hidden corners.

My Review:

Phoenix Rising is an example of steampunk fiction at its absolute finest. Full of fascinating gadgets, non-stop action, and two amazing heroes this book was impossible to put down. The more I read the more I fell in love with the characters and their little quirks that made them feel so real and relatable. Paired with a fantastic plot and witty dialogue I absolutely loved this novel.

Eliza was by far one of the most fun characters I've ever read about. With her wild and impulsive behavior and her love of making Wellington, who she instantly nicknames Welly, uncomfortable I couldn't help but laugh out loud at some of her antics and adventures. Wellington, her polar opposite, also made me smile as he constantly tried to make sense of Eliza and her constant deviant behavior. Between subtle hints of romance and awkwardness I looked forward to all of their interactions.

One of the reasons I liked this book so much was the reversed roles between Eliza and Wellington. Eliza takes control of every situation, not afraid to pull out her gun and shoot while Wellington cowers behind her. Constantly torn up by the violence around him Eliza is constantly comforting Wellington and doing her best to make him uncomfortable in the process. Eliza dominates the relationship, something almost unheard of in Victorian England, making me love her character all the more.

Opening on a wild action scene and full of many more to follow this novel leaves nothing to be desired in terms of excitement. From torture, to dungeons, to wild horse chases on the streets of London there is hardly a dull moment. Eliza and her love of dynamite leaves many exploded buildings and blown up inventions in her wake, while Wellington avoids all adversaries and uses his knowledge of machines to obtain the intelligence they need.

With something for everyone, Phoenix Rising turned out to be a fantastic novel. I loved the characters, the action, the adventure, as I deftly turned pages and got lost in the story. An amazing novel on all counts this is one I would undoubtedly recommend!

4/5

The Steampunk Chronicles #2: The Girl in the Clockwork Collar Review

Title: The Steampunk Chronicles #2: The Girl in the Clockwork Collar

Author: Kady Cross

Date of Publication: May 22, 2012

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: After their friend Jasper Renn was hauled off by bounty hunters Griffin King and his band of misfits leave from London to New York to save their wayward friend. Once in New York they discover that Jasper has been captured by his former boss and dangerous gang leader Dalton. Dalton is demanding that Jasper return a contraption Jasper stole from him before he kills Mei, the girl Jasper loves. Finley quickly infiltrates their gang, getting close to Dalton to learn his secrets. The more time Finley spends in the gang the more her dark side starts to reveal itself, leaving her friends Sam and Emily, and most of all Griffin, wondering where her allegiances lie.

My Review:

I hadn't been expecting to love this book as much as I did! The first book in the series, The Girl in the Steel Corset, had been an enjoyable but merely okay novel. A bit slow and at times dull I had expected this novel to be the same. I was thrilled when I started reading only to find that I was riveted by the plot and the interactions between characters sometimes had me laughing out loud!

I absolutely adored the romance between Griffin and Finley, despite their uncertainty in each other's feelings Griffin is constantly worried about Finley's safety, they're both torn apart by each other's near death experiences, and Finley spends the last part of the novel wearing Griffin's clothes. Definitely not a stereotypical romance their interactions kept me smiling the entire novel. Sam and Emily also have the cutest relationship and I would absolutely love to see more between them, I'll have my fingers crossed for the next book!

After his relatively small part in The Girl in the Steel Corset I was excited to read more about Jasper in this novel. Filling in pieces about his mysterious past and learning more about his character through the constantly changing point of view was a real treat. I adore books with changing POV's and Cross does a fantastic job switching between characters.

With a fantastic plot full of steampunk inventions, including even the Victorian version of a cell phone, Kady Cross blew my expectations away with this novel.  With a surprising ending and a perfectly deceptive villain it was no wonder I fell in love with this book! I'm definitely looking forward to more in The Steampunk Chronicles!

5/5

The Parasol Protectorate #5: Timeless Review

Title: The Parasol Protectorate #5: Timeless

Author: Gail Carriger

Date of Publication: March 2, 2012

Formats Available: Mass Market Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: Taking place two years after the birth of baby Prudence Alexia Maccon has received summons to visit Queen Matakara, the oldest vampire still alive. Along with her husband, baby Prudence, Ivy Tunstell, Ivy's husband and children, and their entire acting troupe they arrive in Egypt under the cover of preforming a play for Queen Matakara. It appears that the God-Breaker Plague has expanding in Egypt and Alexias deceased father seems to have had something to do with it. Now Alexia, with the help of Professor Lyall and Biffy, must right her father's wrongs and discover the truth of the God-Breaker Plague before it's too late.

My Review:

Timeless has easily become my favorite novel in the Parasol Protectorate series, from alternating perspectives between Alexia and Biffy to the Egyptian setting I loved every second of this book. While the middle books in this series never quite lived up to the first book, Timeless was just as good, if not better, than Soulless.

One of my favorite things about this novel was that part of it was from Biffy's point of view, one of my favorite secondary characters it was refreshing to read from his point of view. I absolutely adored the romance between Biffy and Professor Lyall, they were perfectly suited for each other and I would absolutely love a spin-off novel about them. Prudence was another of my favorite characters, just as stubborn and contrary as Alexia I couldn't help but love the little girl.

Carriger did a fantastic job wrapping up the series, leaving no loose ends and the majority of the characters happy; it was a satisfying ending to the series. Timeless was the perfect blend of action and romance, just as exciting as previous books with a bit more romance than usual. I am a little disappointed that we never learned more about Alexia's mysterious father but perhaps his story will be continued in the future books focusing on Prudence.

A great conclusion to the series, The Parasol Protectorate is a fantastic series that fans of the paranormal and fans of romance can enjoy. I highly recommended the Parasol Protectorate series, it is a series that will not disappoint and will leave readers eager for the follow-up series focusing on Prudence.

5/5

The Parasol Protectorate #4: Heartless Review

Title: The Parasol Protectorate #4: Heartless

Author: Gail Carriger

Date of Publication: July 1, 2011

Formats Available: Mass Market Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: When a confused ghost appears to Alexia threatening the queen Alexia knows she has to investigate. She soon picks up on a trail that leads her deep into her husband's past, his former werewolf pack, as well as her friend Madam Lefoux's aunt, a rapidly dissipating ghost. When Alexia learns the startling truth she also finds she has been on the wrong track all along. With Madame Lefoux's suspicious activities, threats against her life, and her duty to the queen Alexia hardly has the time to remember she is eight months pregnant. Now she must save the queen, relocate a vampire hive, and get to the bottom of the threats against the queen, all while the baby insists upon arriving most inconvenietly.

My Review:

Heartless easily takes the place as one of the best books in the series right behind the first book, Soulless. Alexia waddles about England dodging zombie porcupines, pretending to be a housekeeper, and learning the truth behind her husband's abandonment of his old pack; all while eight months pregnant. Alexia is as hilarious as usual and the interactions between her and Conall are sweet and make for a subtle but cute romance.

I really enjoyed getting to see more of Biffy's character in this book, previously one of Lord Akeldama's drones he is having a hard time accepting his fate of becoming a werewolf. Biffy's predicament also brought out a softer side of Lord Maccon, breaking down a bit of his tough exterior. Lord Akeldama will forever be one of my favorite characters, his tendency to give everyone a nickname and his overly exuberant personality never fails to make me smile.

I really enjoyed the plot of this novel; Alexia's father has always been a character that fascinated me and I was thrilled when Carriger revealed more about his past.  The end of the novel leaves all the characters in an interesting position, I can't wait to see what Carriger does with this huge plot twist she's thrown us. However it turns out I'm sure Carriger will handle it beautifully!

Fans of the Parasol Protectorate series will not be disappointed, while nothing can quite live up to the first book in the series Heartless comes pretty close. From Carrigers wonderful writing and her humorous characters the Parasol Protectorate series is a series that fans of paranormal romance will definitely enjoy.

4/5

The Parasol Protectorate #3: Blameless Review

Title: The Parasol Protectorate #3: Blameless

Author: Gail Carriger

Date of Publication: September 1, 2010

Formats Available: Mass Market Paperback, E-Book

Note: This review may contain mild spoilers from the previous books, Soulless and Changeless

Synopsis: After moving back in with her repulsive family and being removed from Queen Victoria's Shadow Council Lady Alexia Maccon is the subject of the majority of London's society gossip. In addition the vampires are trying to kill her, Lord Akeldama has left town, and her husband continues to become more and more intoxicated. Deciding that its best to leave town herself Alexia gathers her traveling companions, Madame Lefoux and her father's butler Floote, and embarks to Italy to find the Templars. Only the Templars have the resources to tell Alexia what she really is, explain her inconvenient condition, and most of all prove her husband wrong.

My Review:

Full of action and wit Blameless does not disappoint. While the romantic storyline is all but non-existent what the novel lacks in romance is made up with intense action and an engaging plot. One of the most fast paced plots of the series there is hardly a dull moment, especially with Alexia and her parasol handy.

I adore Carriger's writing style, very proper and eloquent; Alexia manages to remain dignified in even the most excruciating of circumstances. From Lord Akeldama's every other italicized word to Floote's few serious admissions, each of the characters has their own humorous voice. With each book these voices become more defined, adding depth of character and making me laugh along the way.

Professor Lyall really had his chance to shine in this volume, taking care of Lord Maccon all the while figuring out why Lord Akeldama left town and why the vampires are after Alexia. Blameless switched perspectives between Alexia and Professor Lyall giving us an idea of whats going on in the underappreciated beta's head. I really like Professor Lyall's character; I would love to see him acquire a love interest! Hopefully there will be more from his perspective in future novels.

A wonderfully steampunk novel, Blameless is a fantastic addition to the Parasol Protectorate series. One of the most unique writers of paranormal romance Carriger delivers a novel that is impossible to put down! The Parasol Protectorate series definitely should not be missed.

4/5

The Parasol Protectorate #2: Changeless Review

Title: The Parasol Protectorate #2: Changeless

Author: Gail Carriger

Date of Publication: April 1, 2010

Formats Available: Mass Market Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: Alexia Maccon wakes up one morning to find her husband gone and a camp of werewolves on her front lawn. Troops from India and Egypt have returned and with them they seem to bring a disease that makes all supernatural beings human. When Alexia hears news that the disease is heading up north to Scotland, where her wayward husband seems to have disappeared to, there is no choice but to investigate. Along with her catty sister Felicity, her husband's valet Tunstell, a french hat maker who dresses like a man, and the collector of horrid hats, Ivy Hisslepenny, Alexia arrives in Scotland where she must learn the truth of the disease before she, or her friends, are killed.

My Review:

Once again Carriger manages to seamlessly merge several genres and create a fantastic novel along the way. This installment in the Parasol Protectorate series places emphasis on the characters, focusing more on their interactions than the plot itself. The characters are as enjoyable as ever and the plot, while not as strong as the previous book, still makes for an entertaining read.

One of the major focuses of Changeless seemed to be the interaction between characters, which was highly entertaining. From Felicity's cutting remarks to Ivy's horrible hats and plenty of parasol whacking each of the characters had their time to shine. One aspect I found myself disappointed with though was the romance. The romance between Alexia and Lord Maccon seemed a little forced and empty, despite the implications that their marriage was a love match there is little evidence to back it up.

More information on Alexia's status as a preternatural was also revealed in Changeless. The majority of the plot centered on the powers of preternaturals and their true effects on supernatural beings. The ending leaves me clamoring for the sequel, the person trying to kill Alexia still on the loose and tensions still unsolved. The ending leaves me frustrated with all the characters yet excited for the sequel because I must know how this all plays out!

While not as good as Souless, Changeless is a fantastic novel. I love this series and would recommend it to fans of steampunk and paranormal romance, just make sure you have the sequel handy before you start! The horrible cliffhanger will leave you wanting more!

4/5

The Steampunk Chronicles #1: The Girl in the Steel Corset Review

Title: The Steampunk Chronicles #1: The Girl in the Steel Corset

Author: Kady Cross

Date of Publication: May 24, 2011

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-Book

Synopsis: Finley Jayne is a girl fighting for control in her own body. For as long as she can remember there has always been a 'thing' inside of her, taking control when she is in danger or frightened. When Finley is threatened by her employer her dark side takes control and fights back, leaving him incapacitated on the floor. Griffin King, a young orphaned duke who can speak to the dead, finds Finley on the streets and takes her in to join his band of misfits; a girl who can talk to machines, a half robot boy, and an abnormally fast American cowboy. Together they must stop the Machinist, a criminal with a plan to destroy all of London and give away the secret of their powers.

My Review:

Despite starting off a little slow, The Girl in the Steel Corset is a wonderful example of young adult steampunk. With a bit of mystery and romance thrown in and interesting characters this novel makes for a fast read. While the mystery was a bit obvious it still made for a good story and I enjoyed this book immensely.

Finley is a perfect main character, she manages to be kick-ass while also being a sweet and somewhat vulnerable. Both Griffin and Jack Dandy are swoon worthy love interests; Griffin being sweet and protective while Jack is dangerous and mysterious. The love triangle between Griffin and Jack was perfect, I loved both of them equally and can't wait to see where the romance goes.

The plot was interesting, yet a bit transparent. Many random events were necessary for the story to move along without much explanation to why or how they were happening. However I loved the changes in point of view, although it always seemed to happen at the most climatic moments. I also loved the action, each of the characters had their own special power that was necessary in defeating The Machinist.

The Girl in the Steel Corset is a must read for fans of the paranormal and steampunk genres. While the beginning is a little slow, once the story picks up speed it's impossible to put this book down. Cross is an excellent writer and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the sequel, The Girl in the Clockwork Collar.

4/5

The Parasol Protectorate #1: Soulless Review

Title: The Parasol Protectorate #1: Soulless

Author: Gail Carriger

Date of Publication: October 1, 2009

Formats Available: Mass Market Paperback, E-Book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Alexia Tarabotti is soulless, Italian, and a spinster; making her very unpopular among Victorian London's aristocracy. When Alexia is very rudely attacked by a rouge vampire she has no choice but to kill him, thus getting involved with Lord Maccon, sent by the queen to investigate. It seems that a number of lone vampires have been recently disappearing for no apparent reason and Alexia is determined to uncover the culprits. Because Alexia is soulless she has the power to reverse supernatural abilities, making the culprits just as determined to find her as she is to find them.

My Review:

A blend of urban fantasy, historical fiction, romance, mystery, and steampunk it is impossible not to love Soulless. With a hilarious female lead, a deliciously scruffy love interest, and an entertaining plot I have to admit I am now obsessed with this series. Carriger seamlessly blends genres together creating a world of Victorian rules; full of vampires, werewolves, and mad scientists. With a bit of mystery and romance thrown in Soulless could not get any better.

Alexia is a refreshing character, she's witty and sassy; completely independent of society's customs. Her obvious dislike of Lord Maccon made me laugh and their romance, between a soulless woman who can reverse supernatural powers and an alpha werewolf who wont take no for an answer, was undoubtedly one of my favorite parts of the novel. Alexia's soullessness is an idea that is very original and adds an interesting twist to the story.

Though mostly written from Alexia's point of view Carriger does give us small glimpses into the heads and lives of other characters. Although Carriger's writing style took a little getting used to her style is perfect for Alexia, making even her insults appear proper. The exciting climax provided a perfect ending to the mystery and the epilogue tied up any loose ends relating to the romance.

Soulless is a fun, cute, entertaining, and enjoyable read. I loved every second of this book and can't wait to pick up the sequel. Carriger is a talented writer, able to blend so many genres together to create an amazing masterpiece. I would recommend this book to anyone on the market for a hilarious paranormal romance with a historical twist.

5/5