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mikig's review
2.0
I did finish the book but kept thinking as I read it that the author was trying too hard to get every possible variation of person, gender or issue covered. The characters, even the primaries did not come alive and the writing seemed awkward much of the time. It is good story idea that needed a better writer to make it compelling. I did find myself put off by the casual mutilation of animals in several parts of the story. The whole story felt like a market-driven mish-mash.
silquesoleil's review against another edition
1.0
Did actually not finish this because it bored me to death and it's just so genuinely bad and lacking any actual realistic science and everythin's so cheaply written and flat, I want to yell
raix's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
This has been on my to-read list for ages! I'm glad I finally got to it, because it was such a joy to read. The writing style is amusing and the characters are easy to like. I especially liked the way it gave even minor characters a viewpoint when it suited the story! Twelfth Night is my favourite of Shakespeare's plays and I loved this take on it, especially the queer elements (as there should be!). Naturally, there are romantic elements, but I feel like the focus was more on the plot than romance. I loved the personalities of the teachers at the school and hearing about all the mad inventions and experiments. Aside from the humour, the tension and mystery can be very gripping at points too!
Given the setting, there's some period-typical outdated language, and sexist/racist/homophobic ideas, however not endorsed by the protagonists. Keep that in mind.
Given the setting, there's some period-typical outdated language, and sexist/racist/homophobic ideas, however not endorsed by the protagonists. Keep that in mind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, Violence, Cursing, Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Homophobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Kidnapping, Racism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Antisemitism and Adult/minor relationship
annakim's review
3.0
This is an enjoyable steampunk mashup of William Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde. The characterization is a bit uneven, however, with the antagonists very obviously the bad guys, almost to the point of being one dimensional. The resolution, while unsurprising, came on a bit suddenly compared to the rest of the action in the novel.
The blatant rip-off of the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde (or even the Hulk) is also quite obvious, especially at the end. I'm not sure what this added to the story, but I guess Rosen felt the need to make sure all of his scientists had some sort of quirk.
The blatant rip-off of the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde (or even the Hulk) is also quite obvious, especially at the end. I'm not sure what this added to the story, but I guess Rosen felt the need to make sure all of his scientists had some sort of quirk.
biblialex's review
5.0
Funny that I read this book right after another that I criticized for being too derivative, because All Men of Genius is a steampunk mashup of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. In this case I really enjoyed the playful and inventive take on two great plays.
Violet Adams and her twin brother Ashton (Viola and Sebastian) are the center of the novel. Viola is a talented engineer who decides to disguise herself as Ashton in order to attend the elite all-male Illyria College. (And what recourse does a young women lacking twin brother have when she wishes to attend an all-male school?) She sets out to prove her worth as a scientist, but of course also attracts the attention of Ernest, Duke of Illyria ("Ernest" Worthing/Orsino), and his ward Cecily (Cecily Cardew/Olivia), a budding scientist herself. Of course, knowing the Twelfth Night, I knew how Violet's romantic entanglements would be resolved, but it was still so much fun getting there.
The novel has an amazing cast of characters with parallels from both plays. (An especially amusing example: Professor Bunbury, who actually *is* injured and must be visited in the hospital. Also Ada Lovelace as... herself.) Violet holds her own very well, but the varied cast enriches the story and highlights some of the societal issues at play in the Victorian world. Violet is the only character actually in disguise, but identity is a major issue for many of the others as well. I liked that Violet's story went beyond fear of discovery and misplaced affections and explored her struggle to grow both as a woman and a scientist.
Overall, great fun. Satisfying as a standalone, but some elements were open ended enough that I wouldn't be surprised to see a sequel.
Violet Adams and her twin brother Ashton (Viola and Sebastian) are the center of the novel. Viola is a talented engineer who decides to disguise herself as Ashton in order to attend the elite all-male Illyria College. (And what recourse does a young women lacking twin brother have when she wishes to attend an all-male school?) She sets out to prove her worth as a scientist, but of course also attracts the attention of Ernest, Duke of Illyria ("Ernest" Worthing/Orsino), and his ward Cecily (Cecily Cardew/Olivia), a budding scientist herself. Of course, knowing the Twelfth Night, I knew how Violet's romantic entanglements would be resolved, but it was still so much fun getting there.
The novel has an amazing cast of characters with parallels from both plays. (An especially amusing example: Professor Bunbury, who actually *is* injured and must be visited in the hospital. Also Ada Lovelace as... herself.) Violet holds her own very well, but the varied cast enriches the story and highlights some of the societal issues at play in the Victorian world. Violet is the only character actually in disguise, but identity is a major issue for many of the others as well. I liked that Violet's story went beyond fear of discovery and misplaced affections and explored her struggle to grow both as a woman and a scientist.
Overall, great fun. Satisfying as a standalone, but some elements were open ended enough that I wouldn't be surprised to see a sequel.
talreadsbooks's review
5.0
Only two things are required for me to give a book 5 stars, and this book did both. 1. It must make me never want to put it down. 2. It has to leave me thinking about it and wanting more even after I finish.
The characters were perfect. The story was interesting, romantic and exciting. The writing though, that was what truly won me over. The writing was just beautiful. Rosen has a magical way with words and a poetic style that is perfect for the genre in which he writes.
The characters were perfect. The story was interesting, romantic and exciting. The writing though, that was what truly won me over. The writing was just beautiful. Rosen has a magical way with words and a poetic style that is perfect for the genre in which he writes.
hoperu's review
4.0
An enjoyable steampunked version of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, also a mash-up of Oscar Wilde and Harry Potter. There is some interesting gender play and commentary here as well. I'd actually give it 3.5 stars, because it was a bit slow to get into the heart of the story, and it took me quite a while to get fully engaged with the story.
pollyroth's review
4.0
This book needs a cover remodel. It looks like animation straight out of Jimmy Neutron! It totally disguises the amazingness of itself!
lindacbugg's review
4.0
Look for my shelf talker after I figure out how to encapsulate how great this was in a very short space! Exciting story, setting, loved the main character and the secondary characters too. Not the most exciting tag but...
4.5
All Men of Genius
by
Lev A.C. Rosen
An alternative Steampunk
Victorian London, where
science makes the
impossible possible
is the setting for
this fun, funny and
charming debut novel.
Violet Adams - genius - wants
nothing more than to go
to Illyria College, the
brilliant school for
up-and-coming
scientists. But can
she keep her secret
identity as "Ashton"
for a whole school year?
I loved this book!!!!
4.5
All Men of Genius
by
Lev A.C. Rosen
An alternative Steampunk
Victorian London, where
science makes the
impossible possible
is the setting for
this fun, funny and
charming debut novel.
Violet Adams - genius - wants
nothing more than to go
to Illyria College, the
brilliant school for
up-and-coming
scientists. But can
she keep her secret
identity as "Ashton"
for a whole school year?
I loved this book!!!!
abigailbat's review
4.0
Genius inventress Violet Adams wants nothing more than to be admitted to Illyria College, a the most prestigious scientific school in Victorian London. The problem? They don't admit women. Undaunted, Violet disguises herself as her twin brother Ashton and is admitted. However, keeping her secret proves even harder than she'd imagined with love affairs blossoming all around her and the discovery of strange leftover science experiments in the basement of the school.
I thoroughly enjoyed this imaginative novel. The characters are well developed and I always enjoy a women-disguised-as-man story. There's plenty of humor and romance, but also some creepy bits. The plot's fairly action-packed, though I did feel it was a bit too long. Though it's published for adults, this one will have loads of crossover appeal and I'd recommend it to high schoolers who have enjoyed Phillip Pullman's The Golden Compass, Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan, or Tamora Pierce's Lioness books.
http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2011/11/crossover-all-men-of-genius.html
I thoroughly enjoyed this imaginative novel. The characters are well developed and I always enjoy a women-disguised-as-man story. There's plenty of humor and romance, but also some creepy bits. The plot's fairly action-packed, though I did feel it was a bit too long. Though it's published for adults, this one will have loads of crossover appeal and I'd recommend it to high schoolers who have enjoyed Phillip Pullman's The Golden Compass, Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan, or Tamora Pierce's Lioness books.
http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2011/11/crossover-all-men-of-genius.html