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Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) has
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New-To-Me Authors
2013 reading goal:
15 new-to-me authors.
1) Stacy Gail
2) Heather Massey
3) Sidney Bristol
4) Ann Mayburn
5) Thea Harrison
6) Virna DePaul
7) Mary Quast
8) Molly Harper
9) Eleri Stone
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Showing posts with label ROC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ROC. Show all posts
Friday, June 21, 2013
Review: The Havoc Machine by Steven Harper
The Havoc Machine
Author: Steven Harper
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: ROC
Clockwork Empire Book 4
ISBN: #978-0451417046
Genre: Steampunk, Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (400 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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In a world riddled with the destruction of men and machines alike, Thaddeus Sharpe takes to the streets of St. Petersburg, geared toward the hunt of his life….
Thaddeus Sharpe’s life is dedicated to the hunting and killing of clockworkers. When a mysterious young woman named Sofiya Ekk approaches him with a proposition from a powerful employer, he cannot refuse. A man who calls himself Mr. Griffin seeks Thad’s help with mad clockwork scientist Lord Havoc, who has molded a dangerous machine. Mr. Griffin cares little if the evil Lord lives or dies; all he desires is Havoc’s invention.
Upon Thad’s arrival at Havoc’s laboratory, he is met with a chilling discovery. Havoc is not only concealing his precious machine; he has been using a young child by the name of Nikolai for cruel experiments. Locked into a clockwork web of intrigue, Thad must decipher the dangerous truth surrounding Nikolai and the chaos contraption before havoc reigns….
What B is talking about:
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Since the murder of his son, Thaddeus Sharpe has cared about only one thing: relieving the world of its population of clockworkers. Revered by those who have suffered at the hands of these madmen, he is ruthless in his pursuit of them, and quick to dispatch justice once he finds them. But, when a beautiful woman enlists him to recover a special invention for a secretive benefactor, he inadvertently embarks on a journey that will make him question every step he takes, and turn everything he believes in upside down.
The Havoc Machine takes place during the reign of tsar Alexander III of Russia and the unrest caused by the oppression that went largely unchecked at the time. As has been true with previous novels in this series, Mr. Harper takes great care to weave the more fantastical elements of his story around historical fact. While the clockwork plague is central to the problems facing Thaddeus and Sofiya, it is the underlying, irrefutable conflict between the classes that is truly in need of attention. The Havoc Machine is part social commentary which, while told through the lens of history, is still relevant, and isn’t wrong in its implication that we don’t learn nearly as much from that history as we should.
As it is primarily a work of fantasy, there isn’t a great deal of romance in The Havoc Machine. Thaddeus and Sofiya have moments of true tenderness during the course of the story, but even that serves a greater purpose in the end. Still, there are quite a few moments when they seem to really like antagonizing each other, which I enjoyed. Their connection beyond the job they’re hired to do is obvious, however, and I found myself hoping they’d find a way to make something more of their relationship before the story’s end.
While not my favorite novel of the Clockwork Empire in terms of science and adventure, The Havoc Machine was very effective in that it led me to do some research of my own, as well tugging at my heart. This novel is quite dark in places, but so are history and science, both of which we still stand to learn a lot from. Thad’s loss is what fuels his hate, yet is by turns the thing that allows him to change. He finds in himself a kind of empathy that is only possible through the infliction of wounds that are unbearably slow to heal, yet which may be the only thing that ties us to our own humanity. Regardless, I still think this is a fascinating series, and, as long as Mr. Harper continues to explore all the possibilities within it, I’ll be more than happy to continue the journey.
B’s Rating:
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Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Review: Generation V by M.L. Brennan
Generation V
Author: M.L. Brennan
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Roc
Fortitude Scott series #1
ASIN: 978-0451418401
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (320 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Fortitude Scott’s life is a mess. A degree in film theory has left him with zero marketable skills, his job revolves around pouring coffee, his roommate hasn’t paid rent in four months, and he’s also a vampire. Well, sort of. He’s still mostly human.
But when a new vampire comes into his family’s territory and young girls start going missing, Fort can’t ignore his heritage anymore. His mother and his older, stronger siblings think he’s crazy for wanting to get involved. So it’s up to Fort to take action, with the assistance of Suzume Hollis, a dangerous and sexy shape-shifter. Fort is determined to find a way to outsmart the deadly vamp, even if he isn’t quite sure how.
But without having matured into full vampirehood and with Suzume ready to split if things get too risky, Fort’s rescue mission might just kill him.…
What G & U are talking about:
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Generation V is a new and exciting urban fantasy debut novel from M.L. Brennan. This engrossing new vampire mythos is a thrilling and engaging suspense that is tempered with humor.
Our hero, Fortitude, is an average guy. That is... until he begins his transition into a vampire. In this world, vampires are born not made. As they mature, vampires are just like humans, except they must feed from their parent once a month until the transition begins. Fortitude is doing everything he can to postpone that transition for as long as he as he possibly can. Some of his methods are a bit akin to being a difficult child, but after being introduced to his older siblings, Prudence and Chivalry, we don't blame him. As he is trying to make his own way in the world (staying human) he rejects living with his mother and tries to make it out on his own. This is why he is living the life of a starved college student. His college degree in film theory seems to only get him so far, as he works for a dive coffee bar.
Something finally changes for Fort when a strange vampire enters his mother’s territory. Fort sees this as his opportunity to see if his family is better or worse than others out there. Sadly, he finds out that his family may actually be the more modern and new aged group than those out there. This chance meeting however, starts a chain reaction. As Fort tries to save a "pet" from this seemingly evil vampire's possession he discovers that this vampire may be collecting other young girls.
This quest that Fort finds himself on in Generation V also finds him with a reluctant but comical sidekick, Suzume, the kitsune bodyguard. Suzume has been assigned by Fort's mother to keep her son alive while the foreign vampire is in town. However, Suzume almost steals the spotlight between her more than capable skills and wonderful sarcastic wit. She and Fort make a very unlikely but wonderful team. The camaraderie and occasional tension between them brings laughter when needed and a sense of grounding as well.
The world building in Generation V is seamlessly intertwined with the plot. Part of this ease is that Fort had been reluctant to learn anything of the supernatural community. Simply put, he was trying to be as human as possible. However, being paired with Suzume, who is a fount of information - condescendingly offered, Fort learns about the other supernaturals. We look forward to learning more about this world that we have only been given a glimpse of.
If you are looking for a new and fascinating urban fantasy with Vampires in the center of it all, please pick up Generation V and follow our unlikely but strong and courageously hearted hero, Fort.
Their Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Purchase Info:
Friday, April 26, 2013
Review: Blood Trade by Faith Hunter
Blood Trade
Author: Faith Hunter
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: ROC
Jane Yellowrock Book 6
ISBN: #978-0451465061
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (368 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker who’s always up for a fight—even if it means putting her life on the line…
The Master of Natchez, Mississippi has a nasty problem on his hands. Rogue vampires—those who follow the Naturaleza and believe that humans should be nothing more than prey to be hunted—are terrorizing his city. Luckily, he knows the perfect skinwalker to call in to take back the streets.
But what he doesn’t tell Jane is that there’s something different about these vamps. Something that makes them harder to kill—even for a pro like Jane. Now, her simple job has turned into a fight to stay alive…and to protect the desperately ill child left in her care.
What B is talking about:
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When a string of missing persons cases coincides with the rise of Naturaleza vampire attacks in Natchez, Mississippi, Jane Yellowrock makes a deal with the Master of the City to come in and fix the problem. But, when some of the missing turn out to be witches, and Jane has an encounter with a more deadly form of vampire than has ever been encountered before, the situation spins out of control fast, leaving Jane wondering if, this time, she’s really in over her head, and whether the events she’s set in motion will mean losing everyone she holds dear.
When I first began reading the Jane Yellowrock series, I wasn’t sure what to think of Jane, except that I always liked her strength and determination, even though it often got her, as well as anyone close to her, in trouble. Jane has always taken big chances in these novels, and the consequences for everyone involved have often been severe. But, over the last couple of novels, Jane has grown a lot and learned plenty, and I’ve found myself enjoying these tales far more than I anticipated I would.
In Blood Trade, Jane takes an outside job, seemingly against her boss’s wishes, and is quickly immersed in a battle that’s far more deadly than she was originally led to believe. On top of that, two former acquaintances from her childhood become involved, further upping the stakes. And, for the first time in as long as she can remember, Jane is surprised to find that she’s part of a family, one that’s certainly worth dying for, but, more importantly, one she desperately wants to keep. It’s a new world for Jane, but she’s determined to make it work out.
One of my favorite things about Jane is her dual nature, the lineage that makes her a “Skinwalker,” and divides her into two entities: the human part of herself, and her “Beast,” the mountain lion whose soul lives within her, and occasionally takes her over entirely. Jane is a remarkably stubborn, snarky woman who is at her best when she’s throwing herself into battle, and driving her boss, Leo Pellissier, completely insane. The latter is a lot of fun, because he really deserves it. Beast, on the other hand, is more primitive and direct, but is beautiful in both her sincerity and unfettered view of the world. She likes to fight and play and love, and it’s often highly entertaining to see Jane dragged along for the ride.
Jane’s support system has grown to include the Younger brothers, both of whom I like very much as well. A good deal of Blood Trade is spent letting Jane first adjust to, then be grateful for, then fight for the presence of these two in her life, giving a warmth to the story that I felt was lacking before. Theirs is a family chosen, not born, and I loved seeing their relationship evolve and settle into something humorous and comforting, as well as Jane’s repeated bouts of surprise at the changes that stealthily took place in her life without her really knowing. Moreover, I think Jane has simply become a better version of herself for it.
The suspense and action in Blood Trade is also some of the best I’ve read in the series yet. Jane is a vampire hunter, and it’s a deadly profession. Ms. Hunter’s enthusiasm for detail is evident in every description, be it of the arsenal Jane and Eli strap themselves into before each fight, or the battle to the death that seems to happen every time they leave their house. The language of these passages is rich and vivid, and even Jane’s visits to the spiritual realm are painted with a clarity that makes getting lost in the scene an easy thing to do.
Although it took me a while to warm to Jane, she’s easily one of the best female characters I’ve read in a long time. She is difficult, and a thorn in the side of the men around her, but I can’t imagine her any other way. Her curious mix of faith and heritage combine with a world filled with magics and mystical creatures to create a truly exciting backdrop for a story filled with action and mystery and just enough awkward romance to keep me hoping that Jane will find real happiness—and soon. The series continues to be pleasingly unpredictable, and while I have no idea what might be in store for Jane as the series progresses, I’m looking forward to continuing the journey.
B’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Friday, March 22, 2013
Review: Written in Red by Anne Bishop
Written In Red
Author: Anne Bishop
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Publisher: ROC
The Courtyards of the Others #1
ISBN: #978-0451464965
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Hardcover (448 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut—a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard—a business district operated by the Others.
Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.
What B is talking about:
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When the frightened human female entered his bookstore ridiculously underdressed and half-frozen in the harsh winter night, Simon Wolfgard knows she’s hiding something. But, as much as that concerns him, his curiosity over just what makes her unlike any other human he’s ever encountered is far stronger. How could he have predicted that one decision made in a moment of uncertainty would change everything?
Meg Corbyn knows that getting too close to the “Others” can be deadly, but when faced with the reality of what she’ll face if she’s caught and returned to the one she’s trying so hard to escape, it’s a risk she has to take. Running with nothing but the clothes on her back in the middle of winter, and in a strange place inhabited by the strongest predators in the land, she never expected to find more than just a temporary sanctuary. But, sometimes the future isn’t what it’s expected to be, even if you’re a blood prophet.
As another new author for me, I had no idea what to expect from this new novel from Ms. Bishop. Regardless, I very much enjoyed Written in Red. The world of this novel is a brutal one, and a brief history, that is itself a familiar story of “civilization” forcing its way across oceans and into lands where it isn’t welcome, is thankfully provided at the beginning. Here, however, the earth gave rise to a different group of creatures that have dominion over the lands, and humans aren’t at the top of the food chain, merely a barely tolerated part of it.
I liked Meg and Simon a great deal from the very beginning. Meg, while she is, literally, the innocent among the wolves, is funny and charming, and manages to make a place in the world of the Others just fine, even though she’s incapable of surviving for long on her own. The very nature of what she is makes her someone to be cherished and protected, yet she’s not presented as a powerless mannequin. Likewise, Simon was a tremendous surprise, somehow finding himself at the mercy of the frail woman he rescued from the storm, with plenty of humorous head-scratching moments and Alpha-prone outbursts as he attempts to regain some control over his community—all of whom are somehow, and delightfully, on Meg’s side.
With Meg’s powers of precognition, Written in Red isn’t so much a whodunit, but a story of survival and hope. Although I knew something bad was coming, watching the bonds form between Meg and her new “family” made anticipating what I believed would happen more agonizing with every page. Fortunately, there were plenty of surprises that made me continue to want the best for both the others and the humans they’ve worked so hard to accept.
While Urban Fantasy is a more difficult genre for me to really fall into sometimes,Written in Red was a great story. It could be said that parts of the narrative edge towards predictable in some ways, but I think that worked well in this case. Despite Meg’s status as a prophet, I grew more and more intrigued with her as she made a place for herself among the others, and enjoyed getting to know these fascinating creatures most of all. Ms. Bishop injects just the right amount of humor in all the right places, as well as moments of real sorrow, resulting in a thoroughly likable read. This series is definitely on my list of ones to watch, and I hope to be reacquainted with Meg and the Others again soon.
B’s Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Purchase Info:
Labels:
4.5 stars,
Anne Bishop,
Bs-review,
ROC,
The Courtyards of the Others,
urban fantasy
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Thursday, March 21, 2013
Review: Agave Kiss by Ann Aguirre
Agave Kiss
Author: Ann Aguirre
Release Date: March 5, 2013
Publisher: Roc
Corine Solomon #5
ISBN: # 978-0451465030
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (336 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Once Corine Solomon only had the touch—the ability to read an object’s past by handling it. Then she inherited her mother’s magick, and that ended up being a hell of a burden. But if Corine can wrestle a demon queen and win, she can bring back her lover Chance after he’s made the ultimate sacrifice. Can’t she? All Corine knows is that she can’t leave Chance behind if there’s anything she can do about it.
But the clock is ticking—and she still has to deal with debt-collecting demons and a maniacal archangel who’s running a recruitment drive. The stakes have never been so high…and this time it’s truly Corine’s last chance to save the love of her life.
What Gikany is talking about:
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Agave Kiss is the fifth, and final, book in the Corine Solomon series. It is a worthy finale to the series and nicely ties up all of the loose ends from the previous four books. All of the major characters that have made an appearance in the previous four books do so again in this one, and their plot arcs are resolved. I really appreciated this touch.
Agave Kiss picks up approximately one week after the end of Devil’s Punch. Corine is trying to figure out how she can go on after the shattering loss of Chance’s sacrifice. To top it all off, she and Shannon are still stuck in London without passports or any sort of documentation. A call for assistance from Booke gives Corine the opportunity to focus on helping someone else rather than wallowing in her own sorrows.
The blurb that the author provided about Agave Kiss suggests that most of it is about Corine rescuing Chance. It’s not. This is the major thread woven into the background of the book and the plot arc that gives it structure, but most of the novel deals with the consequences of Corine’s choices from both the previous books in the series and those that develop as she tries to help Booke. I love that in this series actions have consequences. An example of this is that Corine has lost her ability to use her mother’s white magic because she channeled too much demon magic in Devil’s Punch.
Another theme that runs through the Corine Solomon series is that doing the wrong thing for the right reason does not make it acceptable. Evil done in the name of good is still evil. Corine’s soul has been scarred by her dealings with demons. Why she chose to do so makes no difference. Ignorance also offers no excuse.
I have really enjoyed this series. In preparation for this review, I treated myself to a reread of the previous books and enjoyed them just as much the second time around. All of the books build on each other and I strongly recommend that you start this series with Blue Diablo, the first book.
Gikany’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Review: Blood Oranges by Kathleen Tierney
Blood Oranges
Publisher: Roc Trade
ISBN: #978-0451465016
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (288 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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My name’s Quinn.
If you buy into my reputation, I’m the most notorious demon hunter in New England. But rumors of my badassery have been slightly exaggerated. Instead of having kung-fu skills and a closet full of medieval weapons, I’m an ex-junkie with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time. Or the right place at the wrong time. Or…whatever.
Wanted for crimes against inhumanity I (mostly) didn’t commit, I was nearly a midnight snack for a werewolf until I was “saved” by a vampire calling itself the Bride of Quiet. Already cursed by a werewolf bite, the vamp took a pint out of me too.
So now…now, well, you wouldn’t think it could get worse, but you’d be dead wrong.
What B is talking about:
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Siobhan Quinn (but don’t ever call her anything but “Quinn”) is a foul-mouthed junkie runaway whose greatest allegiance was previously only to her next fix. Now, she’s pulling double-duty as a lupus garou and a vampire, and staying alive while finding a way out of the mess she’s currently in has taken center stage. Not that she is without skills, but it’s fair to say that a heavy dose of luck would certainly come in handy if she’s going to survive. Oh, and you can’t believe much of what she says, because the first rule you learn on the streets where Quinn’s from is a simple one: junkies lie.
Blood Oranges is the first story I’ve ever read that led me to simultaneously consult Google Earth and undertake some fairly in-depth research into the world of Mr. William S. Boroughs, patron saint of junkies everywhere. Quinn is as unique a narrator as I’ve ever read, flinging out obscenities and fabrications with abandon, the latter justified by repeated early warnings that any revisions to the story would be done entirely at Quinn’s discretion. Toss in a trail of bodies, a couple of trolls, demon prostitutes, and a British handler who goes by random names beginning with the letter “B,” and you have quite a unique tale. In short, this story can be classified as “weird,” but, if you like Urban Fantasy novels, it’s the good kind of weird, I think.
Certainly not for those looking for something warm and sweet to snuggle up with before turning in, Blood Oranges is fast-paced and thoroughly graphic. Quinn’s inner beast is ravenous and undisciplined, and, while she laments any harm befalling those she counts as friends, she is impressively conscience-free when it comes to her own kills. Feeding her vampire side does burden her with a modicum of guilt, but Quinn is nothing if not a survivor. It’s a disposition that suits her, though, and I couldn’t help rooting for her while she stumbles her way towards some sort of resolution.
Blood Oranges is a unique work of Urban Fantasy that lets its anti-hero shine without any “pesky” romantic entanglements. Quinn is, in fact, as romantic as an acid bath, yet I couldn’t help but be morbidly fascinated by her story. Ms. Tierney has crafted an enjoyably frustrating suspense with Blood Oranges, providing hardly any clues to follow, the first person narrative guaranteeing that the reader is only privy to whatever Quinn sees fit to tell us. If it were possible to have any sort of faith in our narrator, as is typical of most novels, the story might have been more predictable, but it wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun. However, as mentioned before, Quinn lies. And I wouldn’t have her any other way.
B’s Rating:
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Liked it - recommend (B+)
Purchase Info:
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Review: Magic for a Price by Devon Monk
Magic for a Price
Author: Devon Monk
Release Date: Nov. 6, 2012
Publisher: ROC
Allie Beckstrom #9
ISBN: #978-0451464866
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (368 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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For most of her life, Allison Beckstrom has used magic and accepted the heavy price it exacts. But now that all magic is poisoned, it’s no longer just using people—it’s killing them.
With Portland about to descend into chaos, Allie needs to find a way to purify the wells of tainted magic beneath the city. But the only options left to her are grim: attempt to close down magic forever, or follow her father’s plan to set magic into the right hands—even though she’s learned to never trust his word.
Now, Allie will have to make a choice and face the darkness of her own deepest fears, before time runs out for them all…
What Una is talking about:
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How do you write the review for a final book in a series? How do you sum up nine novels worth of mystery, challenge and sacrifice? Without giving anything away, without ruining the first-time reader experience, while trying to convey how awesome it is?
I know beginnings are new and exciting while endings tend to be sad. However, with this last installment in the Allie Beckstrom series, I am not sad. Ms. Monk has delivered the final novel in Allie’s story arc befitting the type of woman Allie is – with all the rewards due and sacrifices accepted. With Magic for a Price we have come full circle with Allie, and in the future we will look to the series continuing through a different set of main characters (but they aren’t “new”).
I know I have mentioned it a few times in reviewing this series, but I will repeat myself, I apologize. The Allie Beckstrom series I discovered quite by accident. While glancing (gleaning every word on blog pages - searching for snippets) at another author’s webpage -cough-Ilona Andrews-cough- I saw a blog post for a book giveaway. Who doesn’t want a free book from an author they like… Well, I start looking at the blog post that was a cartoon sketch of the upcoming plot of a book. To this day I still am not sure if it was Ms. Andrews or Ms. Monk (although I do believe the sketch was Ms. Monk’s work), but the humor of the post between these two authors struck me. So I went over to look at Ms. Monk’s webpage and saw this series. Got the first book from the library and then proceeded to get every single one that was out (I think only four were out at the time). I was hooked. The world was fresh and new; hopeful but with an iron spine of reality – lessons we know well: nothing worth having is free, sacrifice is sometimes a necessity, and we all must live with our choices. It is fitting that the final book in this series is titled: Magic for a Price.
By the way, how can you not be tempted to read a series where the first paragraph in the last book is?
I never expected cookies at the end of the world. Some other more violent dessert perhaps, like volcano cake or devil’s food or heck, maybe even zucchini muffins, since everyone knows zucchini is evil. But cookies? Those are happy, life-goes-on desserts.
I just love this series, and that quote is a great example why. The banter, even in the midst of such pain and anguish help to ground us, keeping the reader absolutely glued to the page. Magic for a Price was no different in the previous novels in that it was a nail-biting, witty and absolutely gripping read. Also, I would do you all a disservice by not telling you that I did indeed cry while reading the last 100 pages or so. They did end up as more happy tears…but you have been forewarned.
This series works because Allie is characterized so well, so realistically. Even amidst all this magic, evil plots and strife, she rings true to me. For all her strength and mettle, she is caring and compassionate. She is stubborn yet loyal. She is not infallible and does accept the punishments that come with making those hard decisions. However, she doesn’t back down, even when deep inside she wants to. Allie finds what she needs and rises to meet the challenge. What makes the series richer, besides the wry humor, is that Allie finds and creates the family she wants (not always) but does need. These are the people who help her, care for her, look out for her while she is trying to look out for everyone else but herself. The supporting characters are just as real as Allie is. Ms. Monk enables me to walk in this world and be a part of the group.
All those questions that I would have in each previous review are finally answered. This is the final book in the series and Magic for a Price leaves us with a most satisfying conclusion to the Allie Beckstrom series. I am still reeling from the secrets that were revealed. How some sacrifices were rewarded while others will be scars to remind what was lost. Amidst so much action there was such a sense of unveiling of dark truths and bittersweet justifications. That all choices have consequences, that no matter the choices we make, we ultimately pay the price. Magic for a Price is a gritty, gripping and emotionally charged ride. But do yourself a favor, start at the beginning. Because if you don’t, without the beginning, you will never know the whole course of the journey that led to Magic for a Price….and it is the journey that makes the series and ultimately, this novel.
The next series in this world is called the Breaker series, and it will follow Shamus and Terric, Allie and Zavion’s friends. I am overjoyed that this is not the last we will see of Allie and Zay. This gives all of us who have rooted and cheered for Allie and Zay a chance to follow up and see how they are – to the happiness and joy they deserve. Well…until Shame and Terric find some trouble to get them mixed into.
Una’s Rating:
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Personal favorite - a must read (A+)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Review: The Dragon Men by Steven Harper
The Dragon Men
Author: Steven Harper
Release Date: Nov. 6, 2012
Publisher: ROC
The Clockwork Empire # 3
ISBN: #978-0451464880
Genre: Steampunk, Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (400 pgs),
e-book
e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Gavin Ennock has everything a man could desire—except time. As the clockwork plague consumes his body and mind, it drives him increasingly mad and fractures his relationship with his fiancée, Alice, Lady Michaels. Their only hope is that the Dragon Men of China can cure him.
But a power-mad general has seized the Chinese throne in a determined offensive to conquer Asia, Britain—indeed, the entire world. He has closed the country’s borders to all foreigners. The former ruling dynasty, however, is scheming to return the rightful heir to power. Their designs will draw Gavin and Alice down a treacherous path strewn with intrigue and power struggles. One wrong step will seal Gavin’s fate…and determine the future of the world.
What B is talking about:
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Lady Alice Michaels and Gavin Ennock have had more than their share of obstacles and difficulties in the short time they’ve been together. First, Alice lost her father and found herself in the middle of an underground revolution, then Gavin was infected with the clockwork plague and began the resulting slide into both brilliance and madness, and, finally, the universe was nearly ripped apart by yet another mad clockworker in an attempt to stop time and literally give Gavin and Alice an eternity together. Now they’re racing towards a cure for Gavin that may not even exist while Alice has a bounty on her head.
While The Dragon Men can be enjoyed as a standalone novel, I highly recommend reading the entire series. Mr. Harper very thoughtfully includes a summary of the story to date as a prologue, which should be very helpful to readers who are new to the series. This brief introduction might have been redundant if I’d read the stories back-to-back, but since there’s been some time between books for me, I was very grateful for the reminder.
Alice and Gavin feel so comfortable to me as a couple by this point, I find their endearments and interactions completely natural and unaffected. With the responsibilities they both carry, it’s easy to forget that they’re still quite young, twenty-three and nineteen, respectively, but Mr. Harper manages to use their passion vs. propriety interactions to great effect in these instances. The greatest threat to their union isn’t from any outside force, but more from their own self-doubts, which are brought up sparingly enough that they don’t weigh the relationship down. Likewise, there’s just enough sexual tension between the two to keep their devotion to each other enjoyable.
With the exception of Lieutenant Susan Phipps, The Dragon Men introduces a cast of new characters, most of whom are from an entirely different culture than what Gavin and Alice have encountered before. There is an underlying commentary about the need for political inclusion, rather than exclusion, made by noting that one nation cannot reasonably point out the atrocities of another without acknowledging their own. The characters come to terms with each other when they admit that all nations have sinned against humanity, but by evening the score militaristically, that is, without the ability to hide behind advanced technology, peace might actually be an attainable goal.
The only real drawback in the novel is, unfortunately, its attempt at explaining the how’s and why’s of the universe itself. Mr. Harper touches on this idea throughout the series, but spends a good bit more time on it in The Dragon Men, not only via Gavin’s clockworker “fugues,” but mostly through his interactions with his father towards the end of the story. The exploration of the layers upon layers of mysteries that Gavin is able to decipher nearly lost me once or twice, but I liked being challenged by the ideas behind it all the same.
The Dragon Men is my favorite book in the series yet. I’m not sure whether that’s because I’ve become so enamored with the world of the Clockwork Empire as a whole, or that the action sequences are nearly relentless, which a definite plus in this case. The main characters have little time for introspection in this story, and even less time for regret. Alice and Gavin have set a course of action in the previous novels and are hell-bent on carrying it out as best they can in this one. There is plenty of science and philosophical thought to consider as well, and a sweetness between Gavin and Alice that ties everything together. While I’m happy with the way the story is resolved, I’m a little sad that their story feels so complete. Luckily, the next novel in the series is due out next year, and I’m nervously excited to see what sort of chaos Mr. Harper will deliver next.
B’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
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