Review: Heart of Steel by Meljean Brook

Title: Heart of Steel
Author: Meljean Brook
Series: The Iron Seas #2
Format: Paperback
Pages: 311
Genre: Romance, Steampunk
Publication Date: November 1st, 2011
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Rating: 8.5

Summary:
From Goodreads: Return to the gritty, alluring world of steampunk with the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Duke.

Growing up in the dangerous world of the Iron Seas, the mercenary captain of the airship Lady Corsair, Yasmeen, has learned to keep her heart hard as steel. Ruthless and cunning, her only loyalty is to her ship and her crew-until one man comes along and changes everything...Treasurehunter Archimedes Fox isn't interested in the Lady Corsair--just the captain and the valuable da Vinci sketch she stole from him. When it attracts a dangerous amount of attention, Yasmeen and Archimedes journey to Horde-occupied Morocco- and straight into enemy hands.

Why did I read this book? I read and loved the first book in the series, The Iron Duke.

Source: Review copy provide by Penguin Canada

My Review
This book was one of my most anticipated releases last year due to my love of the first novel, The Iron Duke. Even though I’ve had Heart of Steel for a while now, I kept putting it off because I was just a little afraid it wouldn’t live up to the high expectations The Iron Duke set. That fear was definitely unfound as Heart of Steel lives up to the steamy romance and steampunk adventure established in The Iron Duke and in some cases surpasses it.

There’s definitely going to be some comparison between the two novels. They are both set in the same world but follow two sets of different characters. This time around it’s Yasmeen, captain of the Lady Corsair airship and fierce fighter and adventurer. Her love interest is the infamous Archimedes Fox, legendary raider of ruins left by the zombie infestation. He also is the star of a series of novels written by his sister about his adventures.

The Iron Duke left me with a bigger impression, perhaps because everything was entirely new to me (even the author). However, I think I enjoyed the characters and romance more in Heart of Steel. Mostly that comes from my love of the character Yasmeen. She’s so badass yet so believable in her faults. She’s a loyal yet ruthless mercenary and possesses a heart of steel – no man has loved her and lived to enjoy it. Until Archimedes Fox, who is determined to win her heart even if it costs him his life. Yasmeen won’t sacrifice her independence for him, though. What’s great about Archimedes is that he never asks her to stop being who she is: a great captain and strong fighter. Even stronger than him.

The other part of the plot is that Archimedes is on the hunt for a treasure that can repay a huge debt and Yasmeen is thrown into things when she finds herself hunting for revenge. Chaos ensues including many zombie brawls, attempted assassinations and run-ins with many contraptions that really solidify this as my favorite steampunk series.

I also preferred the kind of story this was: an adventure. There’s a lot of treasure hunting going on throughout this alternate Europe. This really appealed to me especially since Brook’s Horde-occupied world is so dark and rife with danger. That also means that most of the time is spent on or near airships and really, you can’t get much cooler than a story set on an airship.

Rating: 8.5
Overall, I’m super pleased with this latest edition to the Iron Seas series. The romance is sweeter, the characters fiercer, the adventure more thrilling. It’s a great companion to the previous book and really fleshes out the world even more. I definitely recommend to romance and steampunk readers. There are references to the first book’s characters but this can be read as a standalone (but why do that? The Iron Duke is a great read in itself). The next book comes out this year as is titled Riveted. I'm not sure who will star in that one, but I’m hoping for more of the character Zenobia, the sister and writer of Archimedes Fox.

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Review: The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson

Title: The Alloy of Law
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Series: Mistborn #4
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 320
Genre: Fantasy. Steampunk
Publication Date: November 8th, 2011
Publisher: Tor Books
Rating: A-

Summary:
From Goodreads: Three hundred years after the events of the Mistborn trilogy, Scadrial is now on the verge of modernity, with railroads to supplement the canals, electric lighting in the streets and the homes of the wealthy, and the first steel-framed skyscrapers racing for the clouds.

Kelsier, Vin, Elend, Sazed, Spook, and the rest are now part of history—or religion. Yet even as science and technology are reaching new heights, the old magics of Allomancy and Feruchemy continue to play a role in this reborn world. Out in the frontier lands known as the Roughs, they are crucial tools for the brave men and women attempting to establish order and justice.

One such is Waxillium Ladrian, a rare Twinborn, who can Push on metals with his Allomancy and use Feruchemy to become lighter or heavier at will. After twenty years in the Roughs, Wax has been forced by family tragedy to return to the metropolis of Elendel. Now he must reluctantly put away his guns and assume the duties and dignity incumbent upon the head of a noble house. Or so he thinks, until he learns the hard way that the mansions and elegant tree-lined streets of the city can be even more dangerous than the dusty plains of the Roughs.

Why did I read this book? Sanderson's Mistborn series is probably one of my all-time favorite fantasy triologies. When I heard that a fourth novel was being published I squeed, then promptly requested the book from the publisher.

Source: Publisher

My Review
One of the most intriguing things about this fourth Mistborn novel is that it’s set about three hundred years in the future from the last book, Hero of the Ages. The characters of the trilogy we’ve come to know and love are legends, myths or religious figureheads (sometimes all three). I wanted to see what Sanderson did with this since one of my favorite things about his stories is the religions he creates and how they integrate into the society. I’m not disappointed with this; there are many nods towards the previous books through the new culture.

The Mistborn world has advanced since the events of Hero of the Ages and now there are trains, guns, and other steampunkish technology. This makes for great entertainment since the magic systems are all based on metals. We see two of the systems featured prominently, Allomancy and Feruchemy. Allomancy is the ability to burn certain metals (by ingesting them) and each metal has its own effect. For instance, burning steel gives the Allomancer the ability to push on metallic objects. Feruchemy uses metal to store power (it’s not consumed in the process). You could use gold to store health, so when you really need it, you can heal yourself.

That’s right, the Mistborn series has not one awesome magic system but three! Although the third isn’t mentioned that much in The Alloy of Law.

Aside from the setting and magic systems, I really enjoyed the plot. It follows Wax and his friend Wayne (yes, that’s really their names), who worked together in the outskirts of town keeping the peace. There’s a very western feel to this story, with hats, dusters, guns and shootouts. It fits the setting very well. Wax and Wayne inadvertently come across a series of robberies and they team up with a character named Marasi to solve the crimes. Wax is definitely the exalted hero type and Wayne was the snarky sidekick. I think I would like to see more of these characters to give them more time to develop, but I feel like the purpose of this novel was to give us more Mistborn and also tell an exciting action-packed story.

Rating: A-
I really loved it. There were so many awesome tidbits such as the references to the past books and even newspaper prints placed throughout the book. It really added to the western feel. I'm not a Wheel of Time fan, so when this came out I was super excited to read it, since I don't know when there will be more Mistborn books. I don't think this is the end though. I loved what Sanderson did with the setting and he created a fun mystery packed with Allomancy and Feruchemy to satisfy me until the next book comes out.

This book is also available by Macmillan Audio, and you can listen to an excerpt by clicking here.

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Mega Manga Challenge (9): Fullmetal Alchemist, vol. 4 by Hiromu Arakawa

Title: Fullmetal Alchemist
Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Demographic: Shonen
Series: Fullmetal Alchemist, vol. 4
Format: Manga
Pages: 200
Genre: Steampunk, Adventure
Publication Date: November 8th, 2005
Publisher: Viz
Rating: A

Summary:
From Goodreads: Trapped and injured in a secret alchemical laboratory, Edward Elric is at the mercy of his enemies, Lust and Envy. But they don't want him dead... they have other plans for him. As the laboratory goes up in flames, the brothers find themselves back at square one, with only an inkling of the massive scale of the Philosopher's Stone conspiracy. But then, Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes uncovers a shocking secret...

Why did I read this book? For the Mega Manga Challenge and I've been following the series.

Source: Bought

My Review
Volume 4 in this series was another great read. There's a real quality to the writing and the depth of the story. We have some pretty significant events happening in this volume that spurs the main story forward (I don't want to spoil). We also get great character development. Alphonse has a crisis when it is suggested that since he has no body that perhaps his personality and memories were all fabricated just like a human can be created from a pile of ingredients using alchemy. This leads to him and Ed having a nice encounter between each other and we also see more of how Ed struggles with his guilt for what happened to his brother.

I like where this volume leaves off: the mystery of who in the military is related to the Philosopher's stone, Ed and Al on their way to visit their teacher, and Scar finding sanctuary in an Ishbalan community.

Rating: A
Definitely a must read due to the shocking event that takes place but also for the great character development between Ed and Al. I can't wait to read more!

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Mega Manga Challenge (6): Fullmetal Alchemist, vol. 3 by Hiromu Arakawa

Title: Fullmetal Alchemist

Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Demographic: Shonen
Series: Fullmetal Alchemist, vol. 3
Format: Manga
Pages: 192
Genre: Steampunk, Science Fiction, Adventure
Publication Date: September 21, 2002
Publisher: Viz
Rating: A-

Summary:
From Goodreads: Accompanied by their bodyguard, Alex Louis Armstrong, our heroes seek out their closest childhood friend, mechanic Winry Rockbell, to fix their battered "auto-mail" bodyparts. Soon their quest for the Philosopher's Stone takes them to the great central library, where the Stone's formula may be hidden...if the mysterious figure named Lust doesn't get there first! But the secret of the Philosopher's Stone may be even more frightening than the beings who guard it...

Why did I read this book? I just love this series!

Source: Bought

My Review
Note: May contain spoilers from previous volumes.

I think this was a great installment in the series for a couple reasons. First, it adds a lot of depth and really propels the main plot of the manga. Ed and Al have been searching for the philosopher's stone and have come up with nadda until they found a lead through Dr. Marcoh. Apparently he knows the secret to creating a philosopher's stone and has hidden it away, that is, until Ed and Al find it.

Through their discoveries we find out how to create the stone but also how much the governement has been involved in the making of stones in the past. Of course there's a question of morality to go along with this and this is explored in the last chapter when we meet some criminals who were chosen to be experimented on since they had forfeited their lives by committing crimes. What we find out is surprising and also makes us think about the worth of people or the soul (gosh I love this series).

The other great thing about this volume is we meet some great new characters. When volume 2 ended, Ed automail and Al's body was severely damaged and so they make the trip back to their hometown to get fixed up by Pinako ('Granny') and Winry Rockbell. Pinako is an old lady who took in Winry after her parents were killed in the Ishbal war and who also took in Ed and Al when their mother died. Winry is the same age as Ed, I think, and you can see they might have a little thing for each other. Some other great characters introduced are Sheska the bookworm and soldiers Havoc and Ross.

Rating: A-
Overall I think this is a great volume, especially for those who want more of the meat of the story. What and how are philosopher stones created? How is the government involed? What happened in Ed and Al's past and where is their home? I definitely recommend it to readers of the series and even to those who are not (but start at the beginning of course!). If you don't like this volume then you probably won't like much where the story is going.

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Mega Manga Challenge (4): Fullmetal Alchemist, vol. 2 by Hiromu Arakawa

Title: Fullmetal Alchemist

Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Demographic: Shonen
Series: Fullmetal Alchemist vol. 2
Format: Manga
Pages: 192
Genre: Steampunk, Science Fiction, Adventure
Publication Date: May 22nd, 2002
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: B+



Summary:
From Goodreads: There are many types of alchemy in the world. Edward's commanding officer, "Flame Alchemist" Roy Mustang, can control fire. Shou Tucker, the "Sewing-Life Alchemist," specializes in the most difficult alchemy of all...biological transmutation, the ability to alter the tissue of living things. But no matter what their power, alchemists are still human. And when a mysterious killer begins stalking state alchemists, no one can escape his vengence...

Note: There may be spoilers for the previous volumes. I'll try to keep them light.

Why did I read this book? I'm heading the Mega Manga Challenge, that's why! Also, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is my favorite anime and that series is based on the manga. So of course, I have to collect and read every one of them!

My Review

Ed and Al's adventure continues in this volume. They are still looking for the Philospher's Stone which will give them the power to get their bodies back. After seeing the anime, I was waiting for the chapter on Nina and Alexander, which is by far my most dreaded story of the whole series. I won't say why, but this chapter really gives the series a sense of danger and consequence. There are some crazy people in this world and alchemy isn't all fun and games. I think this really set the tone for the journey that Ed and Al will go through. In this way I think the Nina and Alexander story is really valuable to the manga as a whole, but man, do I hate Shou Tucker!

Another character we're exposed to is Scar, who is hunting down State Alchemists for reasons unknown. This chapter also carries on the message that not everything done with alchemy is good or even wanted.

I loved the action drawings and of course, I think Hiromu is amazing with the comedic timing. Fullmetal Alchemist can be very serious and dark but it's balanced so well with humor.

Rating: B+
We're introduced to many characters in this volume and you really start to get a feel of the personalities of each and every one. Many are shrouded in mystery, such as Scar and Lust, but it really makes you want to read on. While this book is more dark than the first, I feel like it's a good installment and sets the tone for the story ahead. I love the dark mixed in with the steampunk-ness of the world and the lovability of the two brothers. Definitely worth the read.

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Mega Manga Challenge (1): Fullmetal Alchmist vol. 1 by Hiromu Arakawa

Title: Fullmetal Alchemist

Author: Hiromu Arakawa
Demographic: Shonen
Format: Manga
Pages: 184
Genre: Steampunk, Science Fiction, Adventure
Publication Date: May 3rd, 2005
Publisher: Viz
Rating: B+



Summary: Dabbling in alchemy carries a price. When brothers Edward and Alphonse played with the mystical power to alter the natural world, they both paid dearly. One lost an arm and a leg; the other became a soul locked into a body of living iron. Now these siblings are slaves of the evil military-alchemical complex, using their unique powers for dire purposes. Fullmetal Alchemist combines powerful graphics with a strong original story line.

My Review

Why did I read this book? This is first day of my Mega Manga Challenge and I wanted to pick a book that had some signficance. You see, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (and also it's predecessor, Fullmetal Alchemist) is my favorite anime. I always wanted to read the manga but never got the chance or the right motivation. I thought it would be a good start to the challenge!

What I liked: This volume begins with Ed and Al (pictured on the cover) traveling to a small town to where they find out a prophet of the sun god Leto has some miraculous abilities, such as bringing thigns back to life. They think he might have something their looking for, the Philosopher's stone, which allows the user to bypass the alchemic laws of equivalent exchange (you can only gain something by giving something of equal value. There's a reason they're after this stone, but I won't say because it would spoil it!

Needless to say, the boys go on many adventures, being that Ed (the blond one) is a State Alchemist. That means he's strong enough in alchemy that he can work for the government. Alchemy is the 'magic' in the story, where alchemists draw a transmutation circle on the ground and use it to transform materials inside that circle into others (such as coal into gold, etc). I really love this idea and think it's pretty awesome. It's a great magic system because there are definite limits (such as equivalent exchange) but also lots of room for creativity. Another aspect I really enjoyed is the steampunk nature of the story. It takes place in what seems to be some kind of industrial era, perhaps in a European like country (can't be sure though) and is full with a bunch of steampunk goodness like automail, trains, and fun gagdets.

Finally, I love the humor. Ed is hilarious in his insecurities (such as being called 'puny') and the way Al plays off of this is great.

What I didn't like: There's not much I didn't like in this first volume.

Thoughts on the cover: Not my favorite but at least it shows the main characters.

Overall Thoughts
This is a must read for anyone interested in shonen manga or adventure stories. It's got humor, great artwork and the beginnings of a great story. We aren't revealed too much about the main plot, but we get a good introduction to some of the main characters. I will definitely be reading the second volume.
 

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Review: The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

Title: The Iron Duke

Author: Meljean Brook
Series: Iron Seas #1
Format: Paperback
Pages: 378
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Steampunk
Publication Date: October 5th, 2010
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Rating: A

Summary

From Goodreads: First in an all-new series where seductive danger and steampunk adventure abound in the gritty world of the Iron Seas.

After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power-and fear-of his name. And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth into his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession.

But when Mina uncovers the victim's identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England. To save them, Mina and Rhys must race across zombie-infested wastelands and treacherous oceans-and Mina discovers the danger is not only to her countrymen, as she finds herself tempted to give up everything to the Iron Duke.

My Review

Why did I read this book? I never read this author before and didn't have much interest in paranormal romance but I just saw great reviews for this novel everywhere and I caved in and bought it.

What I liked: I loved this book! I don't think I burned through a book this fast in a long, long time! I have to say I'm thoroughly impressed with Brook's ability to create romantic suspense between her characters. Yes, the book is mostly romance but there is so much more to enjoy as well. The world is some kind of steampunk world where Europe was devastated by the Horde not long before. There's everything you could want in this steampunk novel: zombies, goggles, crazy mechanical items, and airships. And boy, do I mean airships. I think if there was an add at the back of this book to purchase your very own airship, I would have called it in right then.

Another great part of this book is the characters. The protagonist, Mina, is a inspector who solves crimes by her own insight and wit. I just loved her. She's a flawed character dealing with her own experience with the Horde occupation of England but still manages to be awesome at her job and her relationships with her family. Another character I enjoyed was Yasmeen, the caption of the airship Lady Corsair. We never got enough of her, I think, but I heard she's in the second book and I'm looking forward to that.

What I didn't like: There's very little I didn't like. The only thing that really bothered me was Rhys' (Mina's love interest) preoccupation with possessing things (including Mina). He just seemed to think in that zone so much when he thought about her, that I questioned really want he wanted (did he love her?). Things are resolved by the end, but throughout the story this sometimes jarred my enjoyment of the budding romance.

Thoughts on the cover: I love the colors and layout but can't get past that chest smack-dab in the middle of it. Oh well!

Overall Thoughts

I would definitely recommend The Iron Duke to anyone interested in paranormal romance or steampunk. It's really a great book even if you're just into the steampunk. The romance itself is very, very steamy. Even if you're not hugely into romance I'd say try this one out, because that's how I was before I picked this up and now I'm hooked. I'll definitely be reading more of Brook soon.

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Review: The Buntline Special by Mike Resnick

Title: The Buntline Special
Author: Mike Resnick
Format: ARC
Pages: 321
Genre: Steampunk
Publication Date: December 2nd, 2010
Publisher: Pyr
Rating: C-

I first discovered The Buntline Special months ago after seeing the cover on various blogs. I was interested in the idea of a steampunk/wild west story. When I found out I could review it for Dreams and Speculation, I jumped at the chance.

The premise of the book is simple: Thomas Edison and Ned Buntline have joined forces; Edison with his genius ideas and Buntline with his expert engineering skill. Together they have created multiple inventions such as carriages that need no horses, automatons, special guns and other steampunk gadgets. Their success has made them a target and so the US government whisks them away to Tombstone, to work on their technologies in hiding. While there, the Earps take the responsibility for protecting them, especially after Edison gets his arm shot off and then replaced with a mechanical arm. They enlist the help of the best in the business, Doc Holliday and Bat Masterson. The tale centres on Holliday and his experience in Tombstone; his encounters with the magic-using Native Americans, the Cowboys, and Kate Elder, who owns the local brothel.

Unfortunately, the book did not work for me. It seems that it has the recipe right for a great action adventure story, but the execution failed. The writing is quick, smooth and overall easy to read, however, it is focused too much on dialogue. Often the dialogue between characters became bogged down by really cheesy statements. You might expect that from a western movie, but when reading a novel, it can get old really quickly. While you might also expect some great action, most of the book’s scenes take place in the saloon while characters ate breakfast or drank. I didn’t understand why there was so much time dedicated to these scenes. Even the big showdown at the end was disappointingly over in a page or two.

Adding to that, there were many subplots integrated into the story to the point that the main plot was often pushed to the side. I found that this didn’t help the pacing since I often wondered where the story was going.

Lastly, I thought that while some characters were interesting (Holliday, Geronimo), others were found lacking. One example is Kate Elder, the only female character of the book. I really wished she either had more development or there were other females. A lot of the females were the whores in Kate’s brothel, and even then, they were automatons! There was too much attention paid to the mechanical prostitutes rather than real human women. It made me wonder, who is that woman on the cover? Kate? I don’t think she ever left her brothel.

Overall, I would say that Resnick missed the mark with The Buntline Special. If you’re a die hard western fan, I’d say try it, but don’t expect a lot of action.

ARC was provided by Dreams and Speculation.

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Review: Cold Magic by Kate Elliott

Title: Cold Magic
Author: Kate Elliott
Pages: 502
Genre: Fantasy, Alternate History, Steampunk
Publication Date: September 9, 2010
Rating: A
Challenge: The Bookkeeper's Steampunk Challenge

Cold Magic takes place in steampunk world, some of whom have been calling even 'icepunk' because of the mixture of airships, firearms and a frozen landscape. In this world we meet Catherine "Cat" Hassi Barahal, a smart, clever young woman. There is also Beatrice ("Bee"), her cousin, an artist who is equally fascinated by dirigibles. One day, a man by the name of Andevai shows up to fulfill the contract the mage house Four Moons has with Cat's guardians, her aunt and uncle. The oldest Barahal daughter is to be married into the mage house before her twentieth birthday. Before she knows what is going on, Catherine is taken and there starts her journey of finding out show she really is and what is most important to her.

Going into this novel I didn't know what to expect out of the world and magic Elliott had created. The cover is beautiful and the blurb on the back sounds like something right up my alley. One thing I didn't expect was the thoroughly thought-out alternate history. I must admit I couldn't get a hold of the timeline perfectly, but there is mention of Romans and other civilizations from Europe and Africa, all holding their own magical traditions. This book takes place after the Roman Empire in a Victorian-like era. I was really impressed with the mixture of cultures old and new and how this influenced the magical elements of the story.

The story is narrated by Cat. I enjoyed her as the main protagonist because I thought she was smart and pretty strong in a world where women are considered lower than men. One of her main faults is saying things that could get her in trouble (which it sometimes does). I also liked the character Bee, her cousin, who is an artist and a lot more bubbly in personality. I thought that despite their similar ages and situations they really felt like distinct characters. My favorite character would be Roderic, which I won't say too much about him because of spoilers, but I thought he was very entertaining and hope to see more of him in the sequel.

The one character I just couldn't like for most of the book (which could be the goal but perhaps not) was Andevai. He's also the love interest of Cat. He's an arrogant, rude cold mage of the Four Moons House. I felt that Cat was attracted to him from early on, but I just couldn't figure out why at the time since he was just always rude and disagreeable. He somewhat redeems himself at the end, but even then I am still not convinced. He does some growing throughout the story; however, we don't see him as much as I would have expected for Cat to fall for him.

That brings me to the romance in the story. There wasn't as much romance as I thought there would be. Cat does think about Andevai on her journey, but there isn't much explicit romance. I'm guessing things will change in the second book, and I am looking forward to finding out what happens between all the characters in the story.

Lastly, the magic in this world is diverse. There is cold magic of the nobles' mage houses, who rule over the land like feudal lords. Then there is djeliw and bards "who have the ability to manipulate and respect the essence that flows through the spirit world." (p. 79) Blacksmiths use fire; however, we did not get to see this in depth yet. There is also the magic of the beings of the spirit worlds themselves who are a mystery in themselves.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed Cold Magic by Kate Elliott. I loved the world, the magic and the characters. This is the first in the Spiritwalker Trilogy and I felt that it was a great introduction. I want to see more of Cat, Bee, Roderic and also have the what I would call a big cliffhanger at the end of the story resolved. I highly recommend Cold Magic. A

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Review: The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia

Title: The Alchemy of Stone
Author: Ekaterina Sedia
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 293
Genre: Fantasy, Steampunk
Publication Date: April 12th, 2008
Publisher: Prime Books
Rating: 7.5

Summary:
From Goodreads: Mattie, an intelligent automaton skilled in the use of alchemy, finds herself caught in the middle of a conflict between gargoyles, the Mechanics, and the Alchemists. With the old order quickly giving way to the new, Mattie discovers powerful and dangerous secrets - secrets that can completely alter the balance of power in the city of Ayona. However, this doesn't sit well with Loharri, the Mechanic who created Mattie and still has the key to her heart - literally A steampunk novel of romance, political intrigue, and alchemy, The Alchemy of Stone represents a new and intriguing direction by the author of the critically-acclaimed The Secret History of Moscow.

Why did I read this book? The is the April Challenge for Calico Reaction's Book Club!

Source: Library

My Review
Warning! Some spoilers about the ending.

I had one of the most engaging experiences when I opened this book and started the tale of Mattie the automaton; I don't remember when I last felt immediately drawn into a world so seamlessly. Sedia's writing is beautiful and it made me feel very nostalgic (whether that's on purpose, I don't know).

Sedia creates a steampunk city and populates it with Mechanics who engineer automatons and other contraptions, the Alchemists who deal with those of flesh and bone (a fine line), and the Gargoyles. I really loved, in particular, the use of alchemy as a major subject because it really sets the darker tone of the book for me (such as the homunculus). Mattie herself was my favorite part of the book. She's an automaton but she is so real and so endearing that I really attached myself to her. I wanted her to succeed, to be happy, even though she's a machine. I wish more of her past and creation were revealed.

I felt that near the end of the book that the charm of the book slowly dissipated perhaps because of the fact that the political plot catches up with Mattie and everything is thrown into chaos in her world. Mattie herself wants the world to go back to how it was, to the simpler time before the interference of the Mechanics and Alchemists. I almost think this was done this way for us to feel the same as Mattie, that things aren't quite right and we wish we could go back to the beginning.

I also noticed the irony in how Mattie succeeds at changing the gargoyles into mortals only to find herself turned to "stone" from the loss of her key. The gargoyles say they will search for it until they die and that was made possible by Mattie herself. In many ways I find the ending sad because I hoped that Mattie would succeed, that there would be something more. Instead, it's as if the whole story was just a brief glimpse into the lives of these characters and that we were only meant to watch for a short time, wishing we had the key to Mattie so we could wind her up again and continue the journey.

Rating: 7.5
Finally, I did enjoy the book. It was a quick read and intriguing and I believe I will remember it for a while. There are some weak elements but overall I think the creativity and characters made up for those shortcomings.

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