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TL
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received this copy of The Lady Lady in the Copper gate Tower from Shadow Mountain Publishing through Netgalley.

This steampunk romance was so much fun! Hazel and Sam are such great characters and I loved Hazel's deperation to have a family.
I found it very relatable.

Well, maybe not the mentally unstable twin sister
Or the uncle who might be a vampire
Or the assistant who might be a Murder.

Ok, you got me
But this one was an absolute ball to read.
  
2D
27 Days to Midnight
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This novel far exceeding any expectations I had. The description was more than enough to interest me but I was hooked from day one. I typically don’t like young adult, But Kruppa has a distinct voice that it didn’t feel like young adult. Not to mention it was steampunk. I am a sucker for steampunk although I find that very few authors can pull it off well. Kruppa is among those.

27 Days to Midnight is a fast paced novel filled with wonder and adventure. It has such an interesting concept, although not the first of its find, and Kruppa is a great storyteller. Her easy style makes it a quick read as I was hungry for every word, turning pages before I even realized I had read them. I was so caught up in the story, it wasn’t difficult forget the real world.

Sometimes there are good novels. And then there are novel like this where you can read all the blood, sweat, and tears put into every word. If this sounds like a novel you would be interested in, I implore to not pass it up. Become caught up in Kruppa’s extraordinarily fantasy.
  
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Hazel (1853 KP) rated Clockwork Dollhouse in Books

Oct 19, 2018 (Updated Oct 19, 2018)  
Clockwork Dollhouse
Clockwork Dollhouse
Jordan Elizabeth Mierek | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller, Young Adult (YA)
7
8.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Short but gripping
A very short novella, Clockwork Dollhouse by Jordan Elizabeth is a haunting steampunk tale of revenge. Set in a previous century, Governor Robert Pendleton is shocked to discover an intruder in a set of rooms that have not been entered for years. He is even more shocked to discover the intruder is his niece, Ainsley, the daughter of his sister, Jane.

When Jane was young, unable to walk due to a disfigured foot, she took delight in creating mechanical dolls, representing her family. Ever since Ainsley, now an orphan, appeared at the castle, the dolls have taken on a life of their own, acting out events to suggest Robert had murdered his parents and sister. Unnerved, Robert wonders who is moving the dolls; is it Ainsley or have the mechanical figures come to life. Could it even be Jane's ghost?

In under thirty pages, Jordan Elizabeth engages readers with a gripping tale of secrets and deceit. The steampunk genre adds an extra element of thrill, making Clockwork Dollhouse an apt short story to be published at this time of year. Although short, it proves the author's skill and wide imagination.
  
Mortal Engines (The Hungry City Chronicles, #1)
Mortal Engines (The Hungry City Chronicles, #1)
Philip Reeve | 2004 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy
6
6.9 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well, that was … unusual .. to say the least.

This was one of those stories that I'd been meaning to read for ages, but had never really got round to, and proved to (effectively) be a mash-up of Young Adult dystopian future with steampunk.

Steampunk, as a genre, is not one that I've really read all that much in - ab out the only other one that currently springs to mind is Jim Butcher's Cinder Spires series (all one book, so far!), but I tend to associate it more with an alternate past or present than the far future, which is when this one is set.

The main draw for me - and, I'm sure, many others - was the central concept of cities on wheels, cities that need to keep mobile and scavenge/attack each other in order to keep going - or, as it is described here by characters within, of 'Municipal Darwinism'.

While I found the writing and general plot a bit - how shall I say? - lacklustre? flat? I did enjoy the central premise of the story, and may come back to the world to see what else happens in future instalments.
  
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Heathski (173 KP) rated Scar Night in Books

Feb 10, 2019 (Updated Feb 10, 2019)  
Scar Night
Scar Night
Alan Campbell | 2011 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Brilliantly written (1 more)
Twisted and dark
Deliciously dark and macabre
While this is not my usually fantasy book to pick up, I found myself being drawn into the nightmare unable to look away. The characters, while not very likeable, are interesting, and you do care where their story will end. It's been compared to Goremenghast, which I haven't read so can't compare, but it is well written. It's gothic steampunk, grim, dark fantasy, melancholic tragedy with horror sprinkled on top. I loved it and felt sad I'd finished it, but couldn't wait to get the next in the series.
  
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William Finnegan recommended City of Bohane in Books (curated)

 
City of Bohane
City of Bohane
Kevin Barry | 2012 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
(0 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"The language sizzles and hisses in this 2011 Irish novel set in a steampunk future. We slip from the Trace, all tangled alleyways, to the Fancy, which is as it sounds, and even out to the wastes of the Big Nothin’, from which the Bohane river crashes down through the city. There’s a gang war, indelible characters, a martial music. Sweet Baba Jay, did anyone ever really speak this way? It’s wordplay at the level of Nabokov, but with a very different, Gaelic purpose. “Fucker Burke and Wolfie Stanners set their face against the hardwind as they climbed the bluffs.”"

Source
  
TF
The Future Door
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The second in a kid's mystery series that combines steampunk and Sherlock Holmes. Griffin and his uncle have raced home to see what has happened to his parents only to almost be killed as soon as they've arrived. Why? The answer lies back in London and may lead to the end of the world as we know it. I was enjoy this book despite some over writing until I hit the climax which was a cheap way to end things. Not a bad book, but a disappointing finish.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/06/book-review-future-door-by-jason.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1)
Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1)
Gail Carriger | 2009 | Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.4 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
Excellent narration (on audible) (2 more)
Very funny
Brilliant characters
The series is only 5 books long... I wanted more! (0 more)
Steampunk vamp & werewolf fun
Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series is absolutely brilliant, and this is the first in the series, following the soulless protagonist Alexia Tarrabotti on her adventures with vampires and werewolves in Victorian Britain, with twists and turns aplenty.

I listened to this via Audible, and really enjoyed it... So I'd urge anyone to pick up these books (either physical, or audiobook), as it's extremely enjoyable.

The style of writing is excellent, and Carriger has a wicked sense of humour.

I now need to start the Finishing School series!
  
RM
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I got this book from the Uppercase book box for the August book box. I am slowly getting out of a reading slump, so this was a really good book to help out with that.

This review actually is a 4.5/5 stars!!

I was a bit hesitant about this book because I don't read steampunk/historical fiction books that often. As you can see from my rating, I really enjoyed it! It was a good balance of drama, intrigue, and magical steampunkiness.

I liked how the characters were developed throughout the story and were not left to have one flat characteristic that I have seen happen a lot before. I absolutely loved the main character, Henry and the children. They were by far the best parts of the book for me solely based on their fun familial energy and retorts.

The plot went by pretty fast as well and I didn't feel like there was much left out of the story.

I did, however, want there to be more information on certain backgrounds of characters (if you have read this, you will understand what I mean). Some parts of it felt stiff for me. The bit about the dangerous secret felt like it was put in as an afterthought at parts. It didn’t really flow that well with the rest of the story. They could have been fleshed out in a more organic manner, in my opinion. (This is the reason for the 1 star off, even though it should only be 1/2 a star, but I can't do that on here.)

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a great, fun read!

I would definitely recommend this to people who haven't read a lot of steampunk, but want to get into it. This is a great introductory book for that because it isn't a slap in the face with so much steampunk. Also, anyone who wants to be really entertained by a headstrong, sassy female lead who will make you laugh out loud at parts, this is a great book for you!!
  
Kiss of Steel
Kiss of Steel
Bec McMaster | 2012 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Well paced plot and action (3 more)
Great dialogue
Fleshed out characters
Amazing world-building
Victorian Steampunk with vampires, mechs, and werewolves. AND AWESOME.
Holy crap. I have only read the first two of this series – I have three more to read. (My Lady Quicksilver, Forged By Desire, and Of Silk and Steam, with a second series in the same universe called The Blue Blood Conspiracy.) (Edit: I have now read three and four, and they are also excellent!)

THESE ARE SO GOOD.

Victorian Steampunk in London with vampires, mechs, and werewolves (sort of) with romance, a political conspiracy plot, and plenty of action? YES PLEASE. These books are excellently written, with a hefty plot that moves at a perfect pace. Both romances have been very believable and intertwined seamlessly with the larger world’s plot. Each book is a hefty length, enough to really get absorbed in and flesh out everything that needs to be covered, without dragging on and getting old. The characters are fascinating – even the side characters are interesting enough that I really hope future books focus on them.

I don’t have a single bad thing to say about this series, and I can’t wait to read the next books. I am forcing myself to take a break from the series, even though I have the next two books, because I have library books that are due sooner that I need to read!

See all my reviews at http://goddessinthestacks.wordpress.com