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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Big chunks of this book felt very claustrophobic, in a very effective way. I like Mercy a lot, and she has a very distinctive voice in my head. Traveling from Chattanooga to Seattle is a trip I’ve made myself, though mine was (fortunately) much less interesting, so that drew me in immediately. I’d love to look at a history book from this world and see spelled out plainly how things are different, but I’m glad the story doesn’t do an “as you know Bob” with it—I’m left trying to piece it together from background, because of course to all these folks it’s just the way things are so they don’t talk about it, and I rather like that.
Dreadnought is a fun addition to Priest's steampunk universe. Mercy, the main character, is a nurse who is called out west to see her father, a man who disappeared from her life when she was a child. She is a recent widow, and so leaves out west on her own with just enough money to get her where she's going. This is a story of survival and exploration that puts a wide-angle lens on the landscape of this universe, showing us all the things that make steampunk fun - fashion, dirigibles, and steam engines - while also giving us a clear idea of who in this universe can see the impending zombie apocalypse coming.
It is also, in a sense, an origin story for Mercy. It is not so much about her relationship with her father as it is about her relationship with herself and the world around her. She is a strong woman working hard to get by in a world that would be just as happy to sweep her aside. For a long time she has been content enough to keep her head down and merely survive, but during her treacherous trip to the Pacific Northwest, she is called upon to save lives, to lead people in battle, and to solve a mystery. She does this all while navigating a complex political landscape that would position her as an enemy to both sides of the Civil War, if she weren't so deceptively deft with her rhetoric and sincere to boot. Through the course of the story she transforms into a character who is confidently capable and who will fit into the Seattle community rather nicely.
It appears as if Priest is setting up a delightful cast of characters who will, at some point in the series, save the world from the zombie apocalypse. If this is truly the case, I am looking forward to it.
It is also, in a sense, an origin story for Mercy. It is not so much about her relationship with her father as it is about her relationship with herself and the world around her. She is a strong woman working hard to get by in a world that would be just as happy to sweep her aside. For a long time she has been content enough to keep her head down and merely survive, but during her treacherous trip to the Pacific Northwest, she is called upon to save lives, to lead people in battle, and to solve a mystery. She does this all while navigating a complex political landscape that would position her as an enemy to both sides of the Civil War, if she weren't so deceptively deft with her rhetoric and sincere to boot. Through the course of the story she transforms into a character who is confidently capable and who will fit into the Seattle community rather nicely.
It appears as if Priest is setting up a delightful cast of characters who will, at some point in the series, save the world from the zombie apocalypse. If this is truly the case, I am looking forward to it.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
not quite as good as Boneshaker. a couple of ridiculous things
(e.g. a completely unencoded telegram for a spy on top of the
stack, completely readable by multiple individuals delivering it),
and i was afraid this universe might implode if Mercy met Briar,
*because they're the same damn character*.
(e.g. a completely unencoded telegram for a spy on top of the
stack, completely readable by multiple individuals delivering it),
and i was afraid this universe might implode if Mercy met Briar,
*because they're the same damn character*.
I liked Boneshaker, but this book was even better as it doesn't suffer from the pacing problem that Boneshaker has (very slow start - lots of people I've recommended it to couldn't get into it). A nice feature of this series is that you could really start with any of the books - minor characters in one book become major characters in another and vice versa, but reading them in order isn't critical. The ending felt a little abrupt to me in this one, but other than that I thought it was a thoroughly engaging read.
In the first book of the Clockwork Century universe - Boneshaker - the lead character is a woman partially defined by the distant but looming presence of her father and her husband. In this book, the heroine is partially defined by the absence of both her father and her husband. Despite that dynamic beginning to grate on me, I find them both strong and enjoyable characters. Here the heroine Mercy is essentially the only one drawn with any great depth. The great bulk of the 400 pages is action: harsh, gory, rollicking action. While I craved more characterization (and occasionally felt a bit cheated that certain intimate moments were not expounded upon), the world is still an intriguing one and the tale passed pleasantly. I appreciated that Priest didn't get too simplistic or preachy about the motivations and dynamics of the war between the states.
I look forward to the next book, and hope there's more characterization... and perhaps less dismemberment.
I look forward to the next book, and hope there's more characterization... and perhaps less dismemberment.
It wasn't the same fast paced action as Boneshaker, but it kept me reading all the same. Vinity was a strong female character in a book where there isn't the historical inaccuracy of too many. Does that make sense?
I wavered on how many stars to give this book. I love the way Cherie Priest writes. Her female characters are to books like Wonder Woman is to the movies (in case there is a question now or in th future, I'm speaking of the 2017 movie).
Why the indecision? Because I LOVED the first book in this series so much. And this one just didn't move quite as fast for me. Once everyone was on the Dreadnought, I thought it was a 5 star book again, but the previous chapters for me, just fell a bit short. I kept thinking, "now the action will start," and when it didn't, I'd be a bit disappointed.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I should probably add it to my list at the library while I'm thinking of it. This was still a really good book and for those into the whole steampunk thing or just like strong women in their fictional worlds, I highly recommend this series.
Why the indecision? Because I LOVED the first book in this series so much. And this one just didn't move quite as fast for me. Once everyone was on the Dreadnought, I thought it was a 5 star book again, but the previous chapters for me, just fell a bit short. I kept thinking, "now the action will start," and when it didn't, I'd be a bit disappointed.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I should probably add it to my list at the library while I'm thinking of it. This was still a really good book and for those into the whole steampunk thing or just like strong women in their fictional worlds, I highly recommend this series.