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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
Good idea, poor execution. I was prepared to enjoy an over-the-top steampunk story, but it's like Hodder never got past the stage of "I'm gonna throw everything into this story and be super-gonzo!"
good easy read. fun concept. love the time travel aspects
GREAT job setting up a world that can continue on and wonderful reasoning as to why it is a different setting than it should be!
Mixed thoughts on this one. Liked the majority of the story, but at a couple of points the required suspension of disbelief regarding the science was beyond my capacity to sustain! The writing is adequate but doesn't sing to me. Mulling over if I liked it enough to try the next volume.
I'm sorry, but this was just terrible. I had not read any steampunk before, so perhaps some of this review is coloured by the fact that this may not be a genre for me, but I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy so I'm not bothered by some of the more fantastical elements. What bothers me is the poor quality of the writing and the plot that is so convoluted as to be unintelligible. This book is in desperate need of a good editor. You could probably lose 20% of the text by getting rid of the incredibly annoying habit of referring to the main protagonist as "Sir Richard Francis Burton" at every possible opportunity. Just "Burton" would do, and would make me less likely to want to hurl the book straight out of the window.
A wasted opportunity of an interesting premise for a book, in my view.
A wasted opportunity of an interesting premise for a book, in my view.
I'm a sucker for a good time travel story and this one was action packed and filled with time travel twists. A good cast of characters leading with Richard Burton actually went to PG to download some of his free books, as an explorer and adventurer his was first rate, I’m wondering what type of writer he was. Algernon Swinburne was my favorite character, the diminutive masochist was funny and strangely heroic.
The best line in the novel was Burton’s “Still hanging around with the wrong crowd!” after a character is unexpectedly hung, unfortunately it was also too big of a coincidence saving the hero’s life, that along with some early pacing problem with info dumps that took far too long brouth this down from a 4 star to a three star book for me. I’m going to get book 2 and give that a try soon as book 3 is coming out this month I believe.
The best line in the novel was Burton’s “Still hanging around with the wrong crowd!” after a character is unexpectedly hung, unfortunately it was also too big of a coincidence saving the hero’s life, that along with some early pacing problem with info dumps that took far too long brouth this down from a 4 star to a three star book for me. I’m going to get book 2 and give that a try soon as book 3 is coming out this month I believe.
Seriously weird. It held together for a while but then descended into madness.
This book was fun - that's the major point I have as my review.
Due to some time travel mucking, the Victorian age never really existed. Instead young Queen Victoria was assassinated, technology ran amuck with steam-driven devices, genetic tampering and major changes to history as we know it.
Sir Richard Francis Burton did not leave for a consul posting and instead became an agent of the King. His friend, the poet Swinburne joins in him in his adventures. Swinburne was hilarious.
The action, the story and the characters were all very well done. A bit too much time was spent in the head of Spring Heeled Jack, but that was the only downside. I'm looking forward to the next adventure.
I should also add, that while I like the concept of Steam Punk, I've not been much of a fan of the books I've read. This is the exception.
Due to some time travel mucking, the Victorian age never really existed. Instead young Queen Victoria was assassinated, technology ran amuck with steam-driven devices, genetic tampering and major changes to history as we know it.
Sir Richard Francis Burton did not leave for a consul posting and instead became an agent of the King. His friend, the poet Swinburne joins in him in his adventures. Swinburne was hilarious.
The action, the story and the characters were all very well done. A bit too much time was spent in the head of Spring Heeled Jack, but that was the only downside. I'm looking forward to the next adventure.
I should also add, that while I like the concept of Steam Punk, I've not been much of a fan of the books I've read. This is the exception.
Turned out better than I expected! The author managed to successfully blend steampunk elements with a mystery plot. Really clever and a tiny bit clunky. Hope this series gets even better with the second installment.