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onearrow1274's review
4.0
I enjoyed this more than I expected to. It is more enjoyable than the Mortal Instruments series (and not as juvenile, which is a plus for me). I also love that it is set in Victorian England. I could have done without all the swearing and taking the Lord's name in vain, an unfortunate and unnecessary addition to any writing.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
faeriedrumsong's review
Just couldn't do it. I don't know what kept me from getting into it, I just stopped caring. It might have been me, though, and I might try again another time.
mollymortensen's review against another edition
4.0
This book took me longer than I expected since I couldn't read it at night. (Nightmares) It's rather violent, gruesome, and has scary monsters. (Although I am a wuss.)
At the beginning some of the lines were so over the top I couldn't tell if the authors were serious, (Grins that blazed in the darkness, and striking cavalier poses) but the writing quickly improved.
Simon's a party boy, and a womanizer, and at first I couldn't stand him, but over the course of the book he grew on me.
Malcolm said it best:
"Once I thought little of you, but I was wrong. You are an honorable man, and while there are times I would as soon throw you through that window, I’d stand with you if you need me."
Kate's fiery and strong, and exactly my kind of heroine. I wasn't sure about her judgment, being attracted to Simon and all, but she proves herself to be a smart woman. My favorite character was Simon's best friend Nick. He's a slob who would rather use magic to change his appearance than dress up and he always calls Simon on his failings. I wish he had a point of view too! He's a much needed bit of comic relief. Malcolm the solemn werewolf hunter and Penny the spunky mechanic were also nice additions.
Simon's potentially the last scribe, and uses runes to invoke magic. Nick's a jack of all trades when it comes to magic and is Simon's teacher. Kate practices alchemy, but despite her father's vast travels, she's never encountered magic before. If you ask me, magic needs limits. Those limits were unique here, as Simon acts drunk when he's used too much magic!
There wasn't much mystery, but I didn't have a clue what the villains were up to. (And still mostly don't) I prefer a little more story with my action, but the action well done so I can't complain.
All three books of this trilogy come out in the month of June!
I probably should've rated this higher, but the gruesomeness was a bit much for me.
Point of View: Third (Simon, Kate, Gretta, Malcolm)
Predictability: 3 out of 5 (Where 1 is totally unpredictable and 5 is I knew what was going to happen way ahead of time.)
My Summary:
A werewolf is loose in London and Simon, a magician and playboy, is after it for personal reasons.
Kate, the daughter of a rich adventurer, intends to discover what's been done to her sister.
At the beginning some of the lines were so over the top I couldn't tell if the authors were serious, (Grins that blazed in the darkness, and striking cavalier poses) but the writing quickly improved.
Simon's a party boy, and a womanizer, and at first I couldn't stand him, but over the course of the book he grew on me.
Malcolm said it best:
"Once I thought little of you, but I was wrong. You are an honorable man, and while there are times I would as soon throw you through that window, I’d stand with you if you need me."
Kate's fiery and strong, and exactly my kind of heroine. I wasn't sure about her judgment, being attracted to Simon and all, but she proves herself to be a smart woman. My favorite character was Simon's best friend Nick. He's a slob who would rather use magic to change his appearance than dress up and he always calls Simon on his failings. I wish he had a point of view too! He's a much needed bit of comic relief. Malcolm the solemn werewolf hunter and Penny the spunky mechanic were also nice additions.
Simon's potentially the last scribe, and uses runes to invoke magic. Nick's a jack of all trades when it comes to magic and is Simon's teacher. Kate practices alchemy, but despite her father's vast travels, she's never encountered magic before. If you ask me, magic needs limits. Those limits were unique here, as Simon acts drunk when he's used too much magic!
There wasn't much mystery, but I didn't have a clue what the villains were up to. (And still mostly don't) I prefer a little more story with my action, but the action well done so I can't complain.
All three books of this trilogy come out in the month of June!
I probably should've rated this higher, but the gruesomeness was a bit much for me.
Point of View: Third (Simon, Kate, Gretta, Malcolm)
Predictability: 3 out of 5 (Where 1 is totally unpredictable and 5 is I knew what was going to happen way ahead of time.)
My Summary:
A werewolf is loose in London and Simon, a magician and playboy, is after it for personal reasons.
Kate, the daughter of a rich adventurer, intends to discover what's been done to her sister.
literaryfeline's review against another edition
Original Review published on Musings of a Bookish Kitty @ http://www.literaryfeline.com/2016/06/bookish-thoughts-shadow-revolution-by.html
The Shadow Revolution (Crown & Key, #1) by Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith
Del Rey, 2015
Fantasy (Steampunk); 320 pgs
Source: NetGalley
I am likely not the first one to say this book would make a great movie. Admittedly, it was hard not to picture some of the cast from the Sherlock Holmes movies (the ones with Robert Downing Jr.). There was hardly a turn in the book that was not filled with some sort of fight or action, with occasional gore. The dialogue is quite witty, especially between Kate Anstruther and Simon Archer.
This novel is perfectly set in a steampunk Victorian London setting with magicians, alchemists, hunters and werewolves. The authors captured the atmosphere of the time period well.
Simon, Nick and Malcolm prove they are good in a fight as well as in using their brains. I have a feeling there are hidden depths to all three men that will come out in later books. I never really felt like I had a good handle on Nick. And from what Nick said towards the end of the book, I imagine there is a lot more to Simon than the reader knows as well.
Fighting alongside the strong and very capable men, Kate, an alchemist, proves she can hold her own. She doesn't hesitate to jump in when the action starts, even not quite knowing what the situation at hand is. As great a character as Kate is, however, I adore Penny Carter as well and hope to see more of her in the next two books. She doesn't appear until later in the books, but she's a force to be reckoned with.
The Shadow Revolution was an entertaining novel, a story made for the big screen. Still, I am left with a lot of questions and hope to find answers to them in the upcoming novels.
The Shadow Revolution (Crown & Key, #1) by Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith
Del Rey, 2015
Fantasy (Steampunk); 320 pgs
Source: NetGalley
I am likely not the first one to say this book would make a great movie. Admittedly, it was hard not to picture some of the cast from the Sherlock Holmes movies (the ones with Robert Downing Jr.). There was hardly a turn in the book that was not filled with some sort of fight or action, with occasional gore. The dialogue is quite witty, especially between Kate Anstruther and Simon Archer.
This novel is perfectly set in a steampunk Victorian London setting with magicians, alchemists, hunters and werewolves. The authors captured the atmosphere of the time period well.
Simon, Nick and Malcolm prove they are good in a fight as well as in using their brains. I have a feeling there are hidden depths to all three men that will come out in later books. I never really felt like I had a good handle on Nick. And from what Nick said towards the end of the book, I imagine there is a lot more to Simon than the reader knows as well.
Fighting alongside the strong and very capable men, Kate, an alchemist, proves she can hold her own. She doesn't hesitate to jump in when the action starts, even not quite knowing what the situation at hand is. As great a character as Kate is, however, I adore Penny Carter as well and hope to see more of her in the next two books. She doesn't appear until later in the books, but she's a force to be reckoned with.
The Shadow Revolution was an entertaining novel, a story made for the big screen. Still, I am left with a lot of questions and hope to find answers to them in the upcoming novels.
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
4.0
Really quite enjoyable. There was a lot of action here and two subtle romantic subplots...ok, one subtle romantic subplot and one hint at a future subtle romantic subplot. Either way, I liked knowing it was there but having it never come to the fore. I liked that the women were strong, ingenuitive, action-takers and I liked that the men let them be agents of their own destiny, never insisting they stay behind where they'd be safe and protected.
I suppose I could argue that this same acceptance and admiration for Kate and Penny's outspoken, take charge attitudes (not to mention the women's behaviours itself) was completely anachronistic to the Victorian setting, But since I enjoyed it, I'm willing to roll with the inference that since they're all outsiders of one sort or another that explains it. It doesn't really, but I'll take it.
The book did get bogged down in endless fighting at times. I've no problem with violence or even gore, but at times it went on so long it began to feel redundant. Along the same line, there seemed to be an endless supply of mindlessly violent werewolves to fight through, despite being told they were rare. Which also led me to wonder why it was only little Charlotte who wasn't in a beserker rage and therefore available and willing to side with and assist the 'good guys.'
All-in-all, a fun start to a new series that I'll be more than happy to continue.
I suppose I could argue that this same acceptance and admiration for Kate and Penny's outspoken, take charge attitudes (not to mention the women's behaviours itself) was completely anachronistic to the Victorian setting, But since I enjoyed it, I'm willing to roll with the inference that since they're all outsiders of one sort or another that explains it. It doesn't really, but I'll take it.
The book did get bogged down in endless fighting at times. I've no problem with violence or even gore, but at times it went on so long it began to feel redundant. Along the same line, there seemed to be an endless supply of mindlessly violent werewolves to fight through, despite being told they were rare. Which also led me to wonder why it was only little Charlotte who wasn't in a beserker rage and therefore available and willing to side with and assist the 'good guys.'
All-in-all, a fun start to a new series that I'll be more than happy to continue.
meg_wadlington's review
4.0
This was such a romping good time. Adventure/fantasy. New twists on the genre. I can't wait to read the next one.
katiespina's review
3.0
This book started strong with a mystery and the promise of adventure. Around the half-way mark, the plot falls away, and it is replaced by action. I'm sure that appeals to many people, but it is not what I look for in a story. I found myself skipping paragraphs and pages because it was more fight scenes of characters that I knew weren't going to die. They can't die. There are two sequels starring them already written.
Perhaps before this was a series the action had more gravitas, but picking it up now is disappointing.
Perhaps before this was a series the action had more gravitas, but picking it up now is disappointing.