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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
Some interesting ideas, but the characters never felt fully alive, perhaps because they were larger than life!
Odd very odd reading about people you know from history, in strange situations.
Odd but fun will read the next in the series.
Odd but fun will read the next in the series.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I liked the story, and the many layers of steampunk. I am not all that familiar with the historical Burton and Swinburne, so it's possible I don't appreciate the changes as much as I might, but the other characters were well-twisted into caricatures.
The use of the time-travel tropes and other applications of ill-advised technology were well-written, and there was lots of action and reaction.
I listened to this as an audio book, and I found the language to be very Victorian, almost a bit stilted at times. The author often referred to the main character as "Sir Richard Francis Burton" and that got old after a while.
The use of the time-travel tropes and other applications of ill-advised technology were well-written, and there was lots of action and reaction.
I listened to this as an audio book, and I found the language to be very Victorian, almost a bit stilted at times. The author often referred to the main character as "Sir Richard Francis Burton" and that got old after a while.
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the better steampunk books I've read this book is of an alternate history where steampunk and Eugenics rule the British world. Spring Heeled Jack is terrorising London and only an ex-explorer can stop him.
I really enjoyed this book and, I may be alone in this, really preferred the Eugenics side compared to the steampunk. I'd have like to have seen more of the mad creations. I liked that they weren't perfect, like the swearing parakeets.
What let the book down was the length and the historical figures. The book was really too long. It took a long time to get going though once it did I flew through it. The start of the book could have used a good trim. Secondly the author felt compelled to stick in as many Victorian "celebrities" as possible like he was attempting to create Big Brother UK (Victorian Edition). They didn't need to be there. He should have either dropped a few or have their cameos be a lot subtler, almost like in-jokes.
But for all that it was a fun read especially towards the end when it all comes together, especially the back story for Spring Heeled Jack. I won't be rushing out for the next volume but if I come across I'll probably pick it up.
I really enjoyed this book and, I may be alone in this, really preferred the Eugenics side compared to the steampunk. I'd have like to have seen more of the mad creations. I liked that they weren't perfect, like the swearing parakeets.
What let the book down was the length and the historical figures. The book was really too long. It took a long time to get going though once it did I flew through it. The start of the book could have used a good trim. Secondly the author felt compelled to stick in as many Victorian "celebrities" as possible like he was attempting to create Big Brother UK (Victorian Edition). They didn't need to be there. He should have either dropped a few or have their cameos be a lot subtler, almost like in-jokes.
But for all that it was a fun read especially towards the end when it all comes together, especially the back story for Spring Heeled Jack. I won't be rushing out for the next volume but if I come across I'll probably pick it up.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I did not finish this book because two separate people whose opinions I value gave concrete reasons for disliking it that already matched up with what I had felt upon reading the first two chapters. And, honestly, I didn't need to read another book glorifying colonialism and male exceptionalism, as well as treating women like objects at best.
Life's too short.
Life's too short.
Esta es una novela fascinante que abrió mi perspectiva a un sinnúmero de posibilidades literarias. Está escrita en la tradición del Steampunk clásico... pero con un giro potente que agrega al relato una característica más "convincente" (entendiendo el concepto dentro del contexto propio de la obra).
Usando personajes conocidos de principios de la era Victoriana, el autor urde una historia intrincada y fascinante que incluye todos los elementos de obras clásicas, la historia relatada en los almanaques y varios toques innovadores, incluso humor tiene, sadismo e insinuación de violencia sexual. Si bien no ahonda en los detalles escabrosos o morbosos, están ahí y son relevantes para entender por qué esta versión Steampunk del mundo es posible.
Y está bien escrito, incluso cuando retrocede a contarnos la historia particular de algún personaje, o cuando hace uno de esos brutales saltos en el punto de vista, incluso con esos motes no pude dejar de leer. Me atrapó y me entretuvo tremendamente. Imaginen a Darwin con dos cerebros. Es un spoiler, sí, pero sin leer la novela no tendrían idea de dónde ni por qué existe semejante criatura.
La recomiendo totalmente. Y tiene dos secuelas que procedo a leer en el acto.
Usando personajes conocidos de principios de la era Victoriana, el autor urde una historia intrincada y fascinante que incluye todos los elementos de obras clásicas, la historia relatada en los almanaques y varios toques innovadores, incluso humor tiene, sadismo e insinuación de violencia sexual. Si bien no ahonda en los detalles escabrosos o morbosos, están ahí y son relevantes para entender por qué esta versión Steampunk del mundo es posible.
Y está bien escrito, incluso cuando retrocede a contarnos la historia particular de algún personaje, o cuando hace uno de esos brutales saltos en el punto de vista, incluso con esos motes no pude dejar de leer. Me atrapó y me entretuvo tremendamente. Imaginen a Darwin con dos cerebros. Es un spoiler, sí, pero sin leer la novela no tendrían idea de dónde ni por qué existe semejante criatura.
La recomiendo totalmente. Y tiene dos secuelas que procedo a leer en el acto.
I liked the plot and characters. I had trouble with the constant, ongoing descriptions of things that had already been described. I just started skimming those parts about halfway through the story. (Yes, I get it, London is dirty and foggy.)