Adventure, Steampunk-- Who Could Ask for More?
935655
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Steampunk, adventure, romance-- all can be found in The Perilous Journey of the not-so-Innocuous Girl. This is one of those rare novels that blends a fun plot with great characters, making for a wonderful read. I was entirely too grumpy when forced to put it down, and yes- I did read it in just a few hours.

Marguerite- what can I say about her? She was the type of female protag I love: smart, too sassy for her own good, and courageous. Marguerite knew she wouldn't be happy with the life being forced upon her. It takes great courage to take a chance on a new life- even if she did do it originally to be with Claude. No one could ever accuse her of taking the easy way out of anything. I liked Claude, he seemed like a great childhood friend, but there were no sparks between the two characters. Now Jacques, on the other hand, seemed to set Marguerite's heart racing-- both in outrage and attraction.

I loved the steampunk aspect of this novel-- so many fun inventions, bots, machines-- and everything was described in such a way that it was easy to picture in the minds eye. The story unfolded at a great pace, in fact there was only one lull that occurred toward the middle when Marguerite first boarded the aership. There wasn't a whole lot of romance in the story, but what was there was rather sweet. Lots of action- did I mention that Marguerite was a woman of action. As the book progressed I became more and more impressed with her.

The Perilous Journey of the not-so-Innocuous Girl is great for fans of nonstop action and adventure. Vivid imagery, great characters, and a fun plot made it one of the better books I've read this year.
3403555
This was a very good, very quick steampunk novella.  Professionally written and edited - rare in the self-publishing arena.
Without divulging any of the storyline, it would be my advice to readers to read these novellas in order as the characters evolve from one to the next. In researching this author, I see she apparently writes under at least one other name.  I, for one, am hoping she continues the Steampunk Smugglers series.
3223681
the world-building is just right, a random pseudo-Euro steampunk milieu, but the drama is really carried by nicely rounded characters, interesting, all flawed in some way and yet uplifted by the choices they make in extremis. glad I read this after the second had already been released, because its a world I find myself wanting to return to.
3709899
Jaleigh gives us an adventurous heroine and a prince who befriends her in this steampunk adventure. A wonderful underground culture amidst archivists, who study artifacts of unknown origin, and puts them in museums provides the setting. The plot is one of the standards, a prince deprived of his rightful place in the palace. Jaleigh Johnson writes for young teens with straight-forward language. Point-of-view plays back and forth between Lina and the prince's perspectives, so there is a character for boy or girl readers to empathize with.
335716
Steampunk requires a great imagination, and Fesmire delivers. The zombies of the title are not fantasy creations, but real people reborn through steampunk technology. This gives the story a dose of realism that makes it very interesting and full of suspense. The  world of Santa Cruz, circa 1870, is beautifully created, and the characters are well-defined and quite realistic. Once in a while I like to read something a little different, and this book was perfect. I can't wait for the next adventure of Bodacious Creed.
812464
*This Book Was Given To Me By The Author In Exchange For An Honest Review*

This is the first book I have read by new to me author Angela Quarles and it was definitely a fun escape into the Steampunk genre.

The heroine is fun and the integration of actual history mixed up with an original tale was certainly very well done.

A stand alone book those looking for their answers will not have to wait for another installment despite the #1 in the description that these days often means "You will need book 2". You may indeed WANT book 2 I know that I do, but not for story completing purposes.

The only lacking part for me was with some of the secondary characters.  There, for me, was a lot more to be explored there and I think that would have enhanced the read for me.  Perhaps we will learn more about them in another book?

Over all 4 stars from me and I look forward to more in this series. V""V

***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. ***
2283069
A lot of reviews describe this book as "steampunk," which it may well be, albeit I am not familiar with steampunk, so I understand this  story as set in a different world - the religious scheme is clearly not our world - during the (maybe) 1920s - there are cars and guns and crowded urban slums and something of a labor movement - where science has taken an odd turn - alchemy in place of chemistry and homunculi and "returners," which I understand to be something like Frankenstein's monster. In any event, Jack Conner has richly imagined his world and developed it with a level of detail that reminds me of Gene Wolfe's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Book-of-the-New-Sun/dp/1568658079/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Book of the New Sun</a>.

Jack Conner, the author, is a superlative writer. His writing is engaging and captivating, drawing the reader into his interesting and mysterious world. As I write these words, I happen to be watching&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Penny-Dreadful-Season-1-Blu-ray/dp/B00KACFMHO/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Penny Dreadful: Season 1 [Blu-ray</a>] via Amazon Instant Videos.  It occurs to me that if you want a feel for the kind of world that Conner has imagined, that series is a good approximation.  Contrariwise, if you liked that show, then you will probably enjoy being introduced to Lavorgna.

The storyline introduces Kat - a very small time thief who has gotten sideways with a gang in her hometown, the Fifth Ward of Upper Lavorgna.  In her effort to flee she gets a ride from Death's Head Jack, who takes her to see Ravic, the chief boss of the Fifth Ward.  Ravic agrees to provide Kat with protection, so long as she spies on a rival, who may have been sending alchemically created "haunts" into the Fifth Ward to terrorize and kill, and eventually to take over the Fifth Ward.  Kat undertakes the mission and shows courage, pluck and intelligence in carrying out her mission.

I've been debating whether to describe this story as "young adult" - it does have a plucky character who makes a good role models - but I'm not sure that I would recommend a story where the main character is tossed into a sex harem, whose members are subject to vivisection, to (younger) young adults, albeit, to be fair, the horror of this is essentially implied rather than exploited.  I would have no problem giving this story to my 16 and 17 year old daughters, albeit I might have been reluctant to give it to them at 12 or 13. (Of course, who am I kidding?  One of them has been watching "Game of Thrones" since she was 14 and the actual depiction of gore and sex in that series is far, far worse than anything in this book. *Sigh*...parents will have to make their own judgment.)

This is a good adventure story with a fascinating setting. The reader should be forewarned that this is the first part of a two part novel, but the quality of the story is very good and I look forward to reading future instalments.
673514
Steampunk is a peculiar bird: often mired down by obsessive attention to clothing and gadgets, whilst the story is almost incidental. I'm glad to say that isn't the case here. Hitting the ground running and barely letting up, "The Angels of the Abyss" is closer in its heart to Pulp fiction. And at 10,000 words, packs an awful lot of action into its length.

Narrated by Cadwallader - amanuensis to Professor Sedgewick (a more even-tempered version of Conan Doyle's Professor Challenger) - the story deals with events aboard a transaetheric space-lock (like a canal lock, only allowing travels between the different aetheric levels beyond Earth): mankind's first contact with beings other than human. It's giving nothing away to say all doesn't go well.

The author manages to maintain an authentic 19th century voice throughout, even when describing scenes that are all too familiar from films such as "Alien" and "Aliens", and space marines that are more than a nod in the direct of the "Warhammer" games and books. The xenophobia so prevalent at the period is perhaps a little overdone, but it's presented with humour and generous amounts of tongue in cheek. Most importantly, the story achieves its aim of sounding like the kind of adventure a particularly imaginative late Victorian author might conjure: well-paced, with just about the right amount of grue (sensibilities of the period would have baulked at too much blood).

In all a fun read, and I look forward to the further adventures of Professor Sedgewick and Cadwallader; including, perhaps, details of their time aboard the submarine HMS Serpentine, alluded to so casually in the opening paragraph.
3046746
A fun, fresh story that will leave you wanting more. Part steampunk, part western, part zombie apocalypse, and all a rollicking good time. And those maps! I didn't know you could even do that in an ebook. Definitely recommend.
1048348
Affinity Bridge covers no new ground - this is true.  However, what the author does do very well is provide a delightful world that inspires a fanciful melange of all things that have lent their influence to steampunkish things.  It's crafted well enough, and the action is pleasantly paced.  The dialog is a kindness, and both together make the characters vibrant and interesting.

If you love and enjoy Steampunk give it a try.  Nothing unique, no, but the story is fascinating and it gave me a pleasant afternoon of reading.  I really enjoyed it.
3559861
PROS
- Required reading for steampunk fans. If you like descriptions of technologies that include words like phenakistoscopes, quassia and crenellation, than this is your book

- Main character Edward "Leviathian" Mallory is a retro-futurist rock star.

- The Great Stink account is breathtaking adventure. Very well written

- Seamless integration of historical fact and science fantasy fiction.  Did the karakuri Japanese automatons really exist?

- Raises interesting questions about our own information-age society

CONS
- The dozen-odd chapters in the Modus section (e.g. "In the Time of Troubles" and ones that are postscript "Memorandum from the Foreign Office") should have been placed in the beginning as opposed to the ending to orient the reader. I'd recommend starting with this section first, then moving onto Chapter 1. The book will make a lot more sense.

- The Sam Houston character is extraneous
4076816
Corsets & Clockwork brings together thirteen romance-charged Steampunk stories in a dynamic anthology. They make a great introduction to the genre for beginners while still offering something for the more die-hard enthusiast.

The cover design is a successful blend of the two main elements of the anthology: Steampunk and Romance. The soft-focus used on the model's face sets the romantic mood as your eye is guided up to her more in-focus eye - whose gaze captures you. The light flare on her pupil is the point where the two halves of the cover start to merge - if you look closely you will see what looks like metal pipes and steam. You are then drawn across to the cogs, gears, maps and mechanical drawings. It is a lovely cover and captures the essence of Corsets & Clockwork.

I enjoy Steampunk - the merge of technology with magic and human endeavour is a fertile land for the imagination. And collected in the pages of this anthology are thirteen examples of the genre, albeit with a romantic twist. I really enjoyed the fact that the Romance didn't elbow the Steampunk out of the way - the two genres seem to have linked arms and leapt feet first into the fun.

As with any anthology there were some stories that I enjoyed more than others. My rating for the book is based on my overall experience of all of the stories, but I just wanted to highlight three that really stood out for me.

Deadwood by Michael Scott was a lot of fun to read, with a feisty and determined heroine and a hero who could keep up with her. Unlike most Steampunk stories, Deadwood is set in the US, but the time period is right and the feel of the story was spot-on.

The Airship Gemini by Jaclyn Dolamore was definitely one of my favourite stories in Corsets & Clockwork. I was intrigued by the story of Siamese twins who are being pressured by a sorcerer and their guardian to be separated. I admired the girls' characters and Dolamore never lets you see them as victims, despite their life as a travelling curiosity. The Airship Gemini was a very satisfying read.

Under Amber Skies by Maria V. Snyder is a delightful Steampunk story set at the start of World War II. A smart heroine, gadgets and gizmos aplenty and mechanical Nazis - what more do I need to say? Snyder has done a great job with this story.

Corsets & Clockwork is an anthology that is definitely worth exploring.
2857242
What a lovely book! Please take a steampunk-trip through American history. Irresistibly entertaining. Thank you.
3664007
This was my first introduction to anything of the Steampunk genre.  After an explosive beginning to the story, I could hardly put the book down.  I did, but then finished the entire book in one afternoon.  I love stories that keep me interested and not wanting to stop reading, and this adventuresome tale did just that.  I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and following their dangerous challenges throughout the book.  The next book in the saga is sure to be on my reading list as soon as it is made available.
2213267
The third (and final?) installment in the Larklight series provides more of the fantastic steampunk Victorian sensibility made familiar to us in Larklight and Starcross. Honestly, this book could stand on it's own... but reading the first two in the series would be highly recommended. Some hilarious footnotes accompany the text, and as usual, David Wyatt's illustrations add much to the feel of the book. We are treated to a few of Myrtle's flowery diary pages, but Art is the main narrator.

It's Christmastime in the Year of Our Lord 1851 and the Mumby family has settled in for the holiday. They are interrupted by the minor problem of space-faring pudding worm, which disguises itself as a raisin and eats Christmas puddings from the inside out. The major problem is that Georgium Sidus (aka Uranus) has sent a distress call, and the whole family goes out to investigate.

The omnipotence of Art's mother, in actuality a Shaper, or disembodied alien being who created and continues to influence the solar system for the past several millennia, is neatly sidestepped. Encountering an alternate Shaper in another solar system, we see a glimpse of how the world would be if ruled by a despot, rather than a gentle being committed to letting her creations have free will.

The brave and intrepid Charity Cruet provides a great balance to the ever fussy and proper Myrtle. She and Art seem well-suited to each other. Space-pirate Jack Havock and Myrtle's romance shows signs of not being over yet, as they find themselves thrown together again.

The mysteries of Ssilissa's origins are finally revealed. The quiet girl-lizard pilot on Jack Havock's ship turns out to be a member of the Snilth race, from far beyond our galaxy. The Snilth recognize in Ssilissa's knobby tail the former royal family of their people, and abandon their warlike ways to settle on Pluto with her as their queen.

I thought the attempt to rescue Jack's family from the Venusian tree virus could have taken up a whole book on it's own, but everything is rather quickly taken care of in the final chapter. Fans of series will either be happy to see every loose end so neatly wrapped up, or (like me) wish that there were more. The book is coming out in paperback in November, so if you've missed it when it first came out, definitely consider adding this to your list of "must reads" And, it looks as if Larklight is in development as a movie to be released sometime in 2010, so I expect interest in this trilogy to continue.
726283
It has been years since I have read Alice in Wonderland and I, honestly, don't think I ever read the other books. I will have to fix that literary faux pas. I am, however, very familiar with the story and its various characters.

In Jason Anderson's Gears of Wonderland, we are thrust into the world of Wonderland with a new human visiting from the outside world. James inadvertently enters Wonderland and is immediately thrust into an adventure that he never thought possible complete with The Hatter, the Griffin, the White Rabbit and a plethora of characters from Lewis Carroll 'Alice in Wonderland, 'all with a bit of a twist to their original character. The world of Wonderland comes from story books, it's not real...ah, but it is and James plays a very big role in aiding the characters of Wonderland with their plight against the The Knave of Hearts who usurped the throne from the King of Hearts.

Anderson has taken a world we are all familiar with and added a Steampunk feel to it, hence the title 'Gears of Wonderland''. Now, I have read only a few Steampunk tales and I hope to read more as I rather enjoy the genre.  Therefore, I am not well versed in Steampunk. but let me tell you Wonderland  is a PERFECT outlet for Steampunk. It's already a crazy haphazard place and then add in various gadgets, cogs, clockworks that combine to create flying machines, new guards and weapons. It was AWESOME!

Seriously, if you like 'Alice in Wonderland ''and you enjoy Steampunk or you're just looking for a fun and entertaining adventure. Put down the java, just for a second and click on one of the links to get your copy of 'Gears of Wonderland. ''
4700317
Ive just had the pleasure of reviewing a new anthology of short fiction put out by Curiosity Quills Press. When asked if Id like to review Chronology, I had the impression that it was a steampunk anthology, which is a genre Im newly discovering. Some of the stories in this collection do have steampunk elements, such as Wind Up Hearts, the steampunk-ish romance that is sure to break readers hearts, by Bram Stoker Award finalist, Stan Swanson, or Flight of the Pegasus by Dr. Darin Kennedy. Theres also That Which is Hidden, a haunted steampunk-ish werewolf romance, by Julie Frost. But, I was pleasantly surprised to find the stories in Chronology to be a diverse mixture of speculative fiction.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. You can see my full review on my blog, "Writing to be Read": [...]