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sunflowerscottie's review
5.0
Enter Lucy Harker, daughter of Dracula and Mina Harker, a dhampir and secret agent for Great Britain. The world is changed after the failed Martian attack of 1902. Now, Lucy must travel across the ocean on the Titanic, an unsinkable cruise ship powered by Martian technology. She's been tasked with protecting Major Archibald Butt, an American official who is ferrying secret documents across the ocean on the ship. These documents are of importance to British relations with the US and must arrive safely, and the major isn't to know Lucy is there. The whole thing seems very straightforward, keep an eye on the major and pretend to be just another passenger on the boat.
Then Clarimal Stein arrives, along with a pair of Germans and a man who seems to be aware of more than he ought to be. Suddenly, there suspicious characters everywhere, and Lucy finds herself distracted by a secondary duty. One that pertains to her species, rather than her country.
What a fun, quick read! I love the sapphic aspects and the appearance of one of my favorite classic characters. It's written in the style of classic science fiction and fantasy, so it might not be for everyone. The novella is a palate cleanser that combines familiar characters into an entertaining ride that's great for a break between longer novels.
Then Clarimal Stein arrives, along with a pair of Germans and a man who seems to be aware of more than he ought to be. Suddenly, there suspicious characters everywhere, and Lucy finds herself distracted by a secondary duty. One that pertains to her species, rather than her country.
What a fun, quick read! I love the sapphic aspects and the appearance of one of my favorite classic characters. It's written in the style of classic science fiction and fantasy, so it might not be for everyone. The novella is a palate cleanser that combines familiar characters into an entertaining ride that's great for a break between longer novels.
barb4ry1's review
3.0
3.5/5
A quick read (80 pages) that is good fun. It throws a lot to the mix: Titanic, Tarzan, martian ray-guns, evil germans, the queer romance between a dhampir and upiór, and somehow makes it work.
I think I'll read the sequel soon.
A quick read (80 pages) that is good fun. It throws a lot to the mix: Titanic, Tarzan, martian ray-guns, evil germans, the queer romance between a dhampir and upiór, and somehow makes it work.
I think I'll read the sequel soon.
mfred's review
4.0
That boring cover hides a rollickin' good time!
The plot is a little bananas. Yes! Dhampirs (half vampires) and full vampires, the Titanic, icebergs, German and British spies, and so much more. What else could there be, you ask? Martian heat ray technology, Tarzan, the influence of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes, the unsinkable Molly Brown, woman-loving-woman action (sadly off screen), and even more I’m forgetting now.
This is a very short, fast paced novel with a whole lot of delightful steampunk detail and a plethora of characters taken from both fiction contemporary to the story and real life. It’s a really fun read, anchored by Lucy’s strong voice and point of view. I never felt lost or overwhelmed by all the plot and detail. Actually, I wished the book would slow down a bit, take a little more time with building characters and back stories, filling in the gaps. This could have been 100 pages longer and I would not complain.
Also, it is a bummer that the sexy times are completely off the page. I get it, not every book can be a romance novel, but a lil smooching never hurt anyone.
The plot is a little bananas. Yes! Dhampirs (half vampires) and full vampires, the Titanic, icebergs, German and British spies, and so much more. What else could there be, you ask? Martian heat ray technology, Tarzan, the influence of Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes, the unsinkable Molly Brown, woman-loving-woman action (sadly off screen), and even more I’m forgetting now.
This is a very short, fast paced novel with a whole lot of delightful steampunk detail and a plethora of characters taken from both fiction contemporary to the story and real life. It’s a really fun read, anchored by Lucy’s strong voice and point of view. I never felt lost or overwhelmed by all the plot and detail. Actually, I wished the book would slow down a bit, take a little more time with building characters and back stories, filling in the gaps. This could have been 100 pages longer and I would not complain.
Also, it is a bummer that the sexy times are completely off the page. I get it, not every book can be a romance novel, but a lil smooching never hurt anyone.
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