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alanaleigh's review
4.0
My review for The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters spans both Volume One and Volume Two, because really, I figure if you're committing yourself to the first, you should probably accept the second... after all, the book was originally printed as one large hardcover, and it only split into two volumes in paperback.
That said, my big issue was this. Generally, I think one can assume that the period of time in which it takes the events of a book to unfold will be greater than the time it takes one to read it. That might be *barely* true here... but only if one factors in the extra day that passes in the first five pages where Miss Temple absorbs the news that Roger Bascombe has ended their engagement. *Including that*, everything takes place in three days. Three days! That's a lot of pages to chart the course of three days. And sure, we're moving quickly, but I actually found this to be a book rich in detail, perfectly willing to linger over descriptions of people and locations... and the action scenes certainly took double the time to read than they would to actually occur (and oftentimes, you have certain scenes repeated at least twice, as we bounce between the perspectives of three main characters).
All that aside, I did enjoy these books and since I read them in the space of five days, I can reasonably say that they do captivate one's attention. Of course, they do this by such a ridiculous amount of suspense that I didn't feel as though I was eagerly devouring the book so much as I was being forcibly pushed through everything, with the knowledge that if I stopped, I would surely find something amiss and so I had no choice but to power through. There was never a moment of pause as we barreled headlong into an incredibly complicated plot with a long list of characters.
The simple description is ridiculously broad. Three unlikely compatriots find themselves banding together against a sinister group of persons who have a plot to take over the world by mind-manipulation. But that only scratches the surface.
The book opens upon Miss Temple reading a note from her fiancee, informing her in a rather terse note that he is terminating their engagement. She resolves to discover exactly why he has ended things (not out of deep love to get him back, but more with a need for closure), and of course, the most logical way to do that is not to ask him, but to follow him. This propels her (and the reader) into a world that is more and more complicated by the minute, with a "Cabal" of personalities bound tightly together by a fracturing partnership. But she isn't alone -- Celeste Temple forms a strange alliance with two other men as they seek to thwart the evil-doings of the Cabal. Cardinal Chang is a deadly assassin so named for his trademark red jacket and scarring on his eyes that gives him the appearance of being Oriental. Originally hired to kill a man (who turns out to be deeply involved in the Cabal's goings-on), Chang is unable to follow-through on that assignment when he finds the man has been killed for him, but his involvement hardly ends there. Doctor Svenson is a chain-smoking diplomat/doctor who is essentially baby-sitting a prince of Macklenburg (a German duchy) that has become engaged to a wealthy Lord's daughter, and then discovers that the Lord, the daughter, and his own prince all have their roles in this sinister plot. And lest you think this is some simple "take over the world" plot by hypnotising people, the means for mind-manipulation rest in the mysterious properties of "indigo clay" and the amazing glass that can be formed by it as a repository for memories. Such fantastic ideas have a darker side, too -- and the adherents to this "Process" might very well be selling their souls (or at least their free will) over to the leaders of the Cabal.
The fantasy elements are certainly interesting... I was introduced to the phrase "steampunk" by way of this book, and if you know that at all, it certainly applies. It's chocked full of dirigibles and trains, as well as masquerade balls and erotic undertones (without venturing into anything really romantic). It's certainly a wild ride, but I must admit that with the two volumes and all, I was a little peeved to note that there's a sequel that was just published. You'd think that it would at least have the courtesy to conclude its business within those two volumes, but ah well. I'll certainly go on to the sequel, but I predict that it might be trying my patience to do so. But if "steampunk" seems up your alley, then by all means, seek out The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters because it certainly is a creative epic, the likes of which you rarely stumble across on the pure fiction shelves (rather than that of fantasy or sci-fi).
That said, my big issue was this. Generally, I think one can assume that the period of time in which it takes the events of a book to unfold will be greater than the time it takes one to read it. That might be *barely* true here... but only if one factors in the extra day that passes in the first five pages where Miss Temple absorbs the news that Roger Bascombe has ended their engagement. *Including that*, everything takes place in three days. Three days! That's a lot of pages to chart the course of three days. And sure, we're moving quickly, but I actually found this to be a book rich in detail, perfectly willing to linger over descriptions of people and locations... and the action scenes certainly took double the time to read than they would to actually occur (and oftentimes, you have certain scenes repeated at least twice, as we bounce between the perspectives of three main characters).
All that aside, I did enjoy these books and since I read them in the space of five days, I can reasonably say that they do captivate one's attention. Of course, they do this by such a ridiculous amount of suspense that I didn't feel as though I was eagerly devouring the book so much as I was being forcibly pushed through everything, with the knowledge that if I stopped, I would surely find something amiss and so I had no choice but to power through. There was never a moment of pause as we barreled headlong into an incredibly complicated plot with a long list of characters.
The simple description is ridiculously broad. Three unlikely compatriots find themselves banding together against a sinister group of persons who have a plot to take over the world by mind-manipulation. But that only scratches the surface.
The book opens upon Miss Temple reading a note from her fiancee, informing her in a rather terse note that he is terminating their engagement. She resolves to discover exactly why he has ended things (not out of deep love to get him back, but more with a need for closure), and of course, the most logical way to do that is not to ask him, but to follow him. This propels her (and the reader) into a world that is more and more complicated by the minute, with a "Cabal" of personalities bound tightly together by a fracturing partnership. But she isn't alone -- Celeste Temple forms a strange alliance with two other men as they seek to thwart the evil-doings of the Cabal. Cardinal Chang is a deadly assassin so named for his trademark red jacket and scarring on his eyes that gives him the appearance of being Oriental. Originally hired to kill a man (who turns out to be deeply involved in the Cabal's goings-on), Chang is unable to follow-through on that assignment when he finds the man has been killed for him, but his involvement hardly ends there. Doctor Svenson is a chain-smoking diplomat/doctor who is essentially baby-sitting a prince of Macklenburg (a German duchy) that has become engaged to a wealthy Lord's daughter, and then discovers that the Lord, the daughter, and his own prince all have their roles in this sinister plot. And lest you think this is some simple "take over the world" plot by hypnotising people, the means for mind-manipulation rest in the mysterious properties of "indigo clay" and the amazing glass that can be formed by it as a repository for memories. Such fantastic ideas have a darker side, too -- and the adherents to this "Process" might very well be selling their souls (or at least their free will) over to the leaders of the Cabal.
The fantasy elements are certainly interesting... I was introduced to the phrase "steampunk" by way of this book, and if you know that at all, it certainly applies. It's chocked full of dirigibles and trains, as well as masquerade balls and erotic undertones (without venturing into anything really romantic). It's certainly a wild ride, but I must admit that with the two volumes and all, I was a little peeved to note that there's a sequel that was just published. You'd think that it would at least have the courtesy to conclude its business within those two volumes, but ah well. I'll certainly go on to the sequel, but I predict that it might be trying my patience to do so. But if "steampunk" seems up your alley, then by all means, seek out The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters because it certainly is a creative epic, the likes of which you rarely stumble across on the pure fiction shelves (rather than that of fantasy or sci-fi).
gaderianne's review
5.0
This was a completely unexpected read - one that I expected to enjoy but not one that I expected to love! What was especially surprising to me was that after reading the first 2 chapters...I didn't like the book at all. But it sucked me in and I loved it! I liken it to the first time I watched Moulin Rouge. I spend 1/2 the movie thinking - what the heck is this? What the heck is going on? But by the end I was crying my eyes out absolutely loving every minute of the movie. It was sort of like that with this book - except the book ended so abruptly in the middle of the story I wasn't crying but dying to find out more. (I now know it ended so abruptly b/c the initial publication wasn't put out in 2 volumes but one...so volume 1 and vol 2 were part of the same book.)
Okay, into the book. First of all, I don't even know how to classify this book. It seems like historical fiction and it reads like a Victorian novel should. However, it's not really as there are no discernible dates nor recognizable historical figures. It's part scifi/fantasy and part mystery suspense.
It all starts when Celeste Temple receives a note from her finance breaking off the engagement without any word of explanation. Rather than acting like a scorned woman (although she does for a day or two) she decides to discover the reason why and uncovers a sinister plot.
The most unusual thing about this book is it's organization. Rather than chapters it's organized into parts and told from the perspectives of the 3 main characters. The first part by Celeste Temple, the second by Cardinal Change (an assassin who also stumbles into the plot) and the third part by "The Surgeon" (who - you guessed it also stumbles into the plot). By the last part of this book, all three converge and begin working together. What is so unusual is that each part picks up where the other left off not bothering with tedious rehashing or retelling to same exact story but from another point of view. It took me a little while to adapt to this flow - BUT I loved it.
One downfall of this book is the sheer amount of characters beyond the main three. There are so many on the periphery that it's hard to keep them all straight (and to be honest, even at the end I'm not sure I have straight who is who).
I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd volume. In fact I'm heading to the library right now to pick it up!!
Okay, into the book. First of all, I don't even know how to classify this book. It seems like historical fiction and it reads like a Victorian novel should. However, it's not really as there are no discernible dates nor recognizable historical figures. It's part scifi/fantasy and part mystery suspense.
It all starts when Celeste Temple receives a note from her finance breaking off the engagement without any word of explanation. Rather than acting like a scorned woman (although she does for a day or two) she decides to discover the reason why and uncovers a sinister plot.
The most unusual thing about this book is it's organization. Rather than chapters it's organized into parts and told from the perspectives of the 3 main characters. The first part by Celeste Temple, the second by Cardinal Change (an assassin who also stumbles into the plot) and the third part by "The Surgeon" (who - you guessed it also stumbles into the plot). By the last part of this book, all three converge and begin working together. What is so unusual is that each part picks up where the other left off not bothering with tedious rehashing or retelling to same exact story but from another point of view. It took me a little while to adapt to this flow - BUT I loved it.
One downfall of this book is the sheer amount of characters beyond the main three. There are so many on the periphery that it's hard to keep them all straight (and to be honest, even at the end I'm not sure I have straight who is who).
I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd volume. In fact I'm heading to the library right now to pick it up!!
endnull's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
sisteray's review
5.0
(The same review for Vol. 1 and 2) This is a raucous adventure that runs the reader along a taut high tension line. Dahlquist insists on action, relentlessly dealing it out like a meth addled blackjack croupier. This novel reeks of all the "mistakes" that a first book suffers from: too many characters, too many storylines, extreme violence, and ultimately the scenes are scenario driven. I'm thankful for this naivete. Refined authors tend to cut, and smaller stories end up quieter, whereas this is a pipe bomb. This is big and unapologetic.
It seems these days that most adventure stories are tucked away in Children's Lit, or buried deep in Fantasy schlock. This hearkens back to everything that folks like Haggard, Burroughs, or Howard were shooting for.
He undoubtedly leans heavily on genre tropes, as the story (mystery) wraps up neatly as a parlor room drama, down to your standard "Before I kill you, Mr. Bond" confessionals and the "Ah-ha, now I have the upper hand" reversal moments. But it is all in good fun.
If I have a real complaint about the book it is that the women are ALWAYS defined by their sexuality (either over or undersexed). In the book there is only one male character that is defined by his sexuality, so it stands out as evenly one-sided. Ms. Temple, while a great character is constantly put into awkward sexual situation to define her (the way that the Doctor is constantly confronted with his fear of heights, ha). It would have been more just to spread the sexual encounters through all of the main characters for the sake of the read rather than fulfilling Dahlquist's little wet dream for his character.
Still though, this has been a tremendously fun read. The 5 stars rating is for how much I enjoyed it rather than how "good" it is.
It seems these days that most adventure stories are tucked away in Children's Lit, or buried deep in Fantasy schlock. This hearkens back to everything that folks like Haggard, Burroughs, or Howard were shooting for.
He undoubtedly leans heavily on genre tropes, as the story (mystery) wraps up neatly as a parlor room drama, down to your standard "Before I kill you, Mr. Bond" confessionals and the "Ah-ha, now I have the upper hand" reversal moments. But it is all in good fun.
If I have a real complaint about the book it is that the women are ALWAYS defined by their sexuality (either over or undersexed). In the book there is only one male character that is defined by his sexuality, so it stands out as evenly one-sided. Ms. Temple, while a great character is constantly put into awkward sexual situation to define her (the way that the Doctor is constantly confronted with his fear of heights, ha). It would have been more just to spread the sexual encounters through all of the main characters for the sake of the read rather than fulfilling Dahlquist's little wet dream for his character.
Still though, this has been a tremendously fun read. The 5 stars rating is for how much I enjoyed it rather than how "good" it is.
ingypingy2000's review
4.0
I loved this book the first time I read it and I still love it now. It's a fun steampunk adventure told thru the eyes of three characters (a very naïve maid, an assassin, and a doctor). This is volume one of book one and only whets the appetite for the next!
bibliophilelinda's review
3.0
This story was certainly imaginative and full of action, however I never found myself fully engaged. Bits and pieces were thrilling to read, but overall it didn't capture my attention as much as I had hoped. The writing is superb and a bit reminiscent of Wilde. The story comes from the points of view of the three main characters, often allowing the story to backtrack in order to understand each character's involvement at certain points in the narrative. Miss Celeste Temple discovers her engagement to Roger Bascombe, an up-and-coming Ministry official, abruptly ended by a simple note. A bit peeved and more than curious as to why Roger's feelings have changed so quickly, she follows him aboard a train and plunges head-first into a conspiracy that is not fully revealed in the first volume. However, what Celeste discovers includes a conspiracy where sadistic acts of corporeal multilation occur in an effort to transcend the body beyond the limits of biology. Some information about the elusive Glass Book and the Glass Cards are provided, but not fully understood by the reader. After Miss Temple's rendezvous with the secret society, she barely escapes with her life but is everafter hunted by those who wish to protect their secret. Enter Cardinal Chang, an assassin of renown hired to track and kill Miss Temple, and Dr. Svenson, a German physician who discovers his Prince has become involved with this mysterious society. Chang, Svenson and Miss Temple eventually form an alliance as mercenaries are now after all three of them. However, Miss Temple, in a fit of unreasonable anger, leaves the men only to be abducted. End of volume one.
thestarman's review
3.0
REVIEW: Fantasy/mystery with steampunk-ish elements. Imaginative at times, but seemed 20% too stretched-out to me. I would've preferred sticking with Miss Temple's viewpoint only; she was the most interesting character.
VERDICT: 2.75 stars, but bumping up to 3 for originality in mixed genres.
For something similar but far more hilarious, check out [b:Soulless|6381205|Soulless (Parasol Protectorate, #1)|Gail Carriger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1314020848l/6381205._SY75_.jpg|6569140] by Gail Carriger
VERDICT: 2.75 stars, but bumping up to 3 for originality in mixed genres.
For something similar but far more hilarious, check out [b:Soulless|6381205|Soulless (Parasol Protectorate, #1)|Gail Carriger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1314020848l/6381205._SY75_.jpg|6569140] by Gail Carriger
dsloboda's review
2.0
This is definitely one of those times I wish we could assign half-stars for our ratings on this site. If we could, I'd give this book a solid 2.5 stars...right between "It was OK" and "Liked it". So, if you're someone who lives by the ratings people give on this site, please consider mine a "2.5" instead of the "2" that I physically gave it.
That said, I suppose I should back up my reasoning on my "2.5" rating a bit...
I've stated before that I'm not the quickest reader...one book might take me just a week to breeze through, while another could take up to two months. This one, for me, falls into the latter category. Don't get me wrong, I think the book is very well written...but for the life of me, it took me forever to get through it! The odd thing about this, is that I found myself enjoying the characters and intrigued by the plot. Perhaps it just felt like it took a little bit too long to get our three protagonists up and on their way. There were probably a few bits and pieces that could have been removed entirely in order to quicken the overall pacing of the story...but hey, that's just me.
So even though I enjoyed much of what this book has/had to offer, I'm currently debating whether or not I want to pick up 'The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters, Volume 2'...part of me is quite curious as to the fates of the three protagonists, while another part of me is secretly dreading having to put myself through another book written like this.
That said, I suppose I should back up my reasoning on my "2.5" rating a bit...
I've stated before that I'm not the quickest reader...one book might take me just a week to breeze through, while another could take up to two months. This one, for me, falls into the latter category. Don't get me wrong, I think the book is very well written...but for the life of me, it took me forever to get through it! The odd thing about this, is that I found myself enjoying the characters and intrigued by the plot. Perhaps it just felt like it took a little bit too long to get our three protagonists up and on their way. There were probably a few bits and pieces that could have been removed entirely in order to quicken the overall pacing of the story...but hey, that's just me.
So even though I enjoyed much of what this book has/had to offer, I'm currently debating whether or not I want to pick up 'The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters, Volume 2'...part of me is quite curious as to the fates of the three protagonists, while another part of me is secretly dreading having to put myself through another book written like this.
caitlinxmartin's review
2.0
I don't often abandon a book, but I ditched this one midway through the second volume and that, I think, pretty much sums up my problem with it - there was a second volume.
There's a good premise here and had Mr. Dahlquist submitted to actual editing there might have been a great story here, but at something over 700 pages for both volumes this just wasn't worth it. If you're going to be this long-winded, you'd better be entertaining and at some point with this book I just didn't care.
Part of my problem with this is that I think it really wants to be [b:The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen|297627|The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1|Alan Moore|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255573805s/297627.jpg|797] (the comic, not the movie) and [a:Alan Moore|3961|Alan Moore|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1182935774p2/3961.jpg] has already done that and done it in an absolutely brilliant and engaging way - this suffers in comparison.
There's a good premise here and had Mr. Dahlquist submitted to actual editing there might have been a great story here, but at something over 700 pages for both volumes this just wasn't worth it. If you're going to be this long-winded, you'd better be entertaining and at some point with this book I just didn't care.
Part of my problem with this is that I think it really wants to be [b:The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen|297627|The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1|Alan Moore|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255573805s/297627.jpg|797] (the comic, not the movie) and [a:Alan Moore|3961|Alan Moore|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1182935774p2/3961.jpg] has already done that and done it in an absolutely brilliant and engaging way - this suffers in comparison.