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jstudes's review against another edition
3.0
So much of this worked well for me even though I'm not a die-hard steampunk fan. Nick opening his eyes to the need to make more of himself. Penny's gadgets, Malcom's gruff leadership. I adore Kate's alchemy knowledge, brainy demeanor, protective nature towards her sister. So yeah, the characters are great and 90% of the story was totally on-pace. Then you get to the very end and Nick's mentor leaves without a satisfactory explanation... Felt like the steam ran out. Perhaps more of him later but IDK if I'll finish the series.
jessie_h's review against another edition
4.0
This book took me about 40 pages to get into and to get use to the writing style. After that, I thoroughly enjoyed it! It's a great combination of gaslight fantasy, steampunk, and urban fantasy. The world building was fantastic and so were the characters! There's at least one romance being hinted at in this book. It looks like it's going to be a slow burning one and I ship it. There also seems to be another not so obvious romance shaping up in the background and I ship that one too.
I will say that while I loved the characters, they weren't as developed as I would have liked to see. I'm used to books where the writing is a bit tighter than what I found here. But those things didn't take away from how much fun I had reading this book. I can't wait to see what happens in the next one.
I'll be posting a full review of this book at Goldilox and the Three Weres closer to the release date.
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I will say that while I loved the characters, they weren't as developed as I would have liked to see. I'm used to books where the writing is a bit tighter than what I found here. But those things didn't take away from how much fun I had reading this book. I can't wait to see what happens in the next one.
I'll be posting a full review of this book at Goldilox and the Three Weres closer to the release date.
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
marie_thereadingotter's review against another edition
4.0
Review:
http://pagestoexplore.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-shadow-revolution-by-clay-and-susan.html
http://pagestoexplore.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-shadow-revolution-by-clay-and-susan.html
suzjustsuz's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
My review posted today at Edens Bookshelf and here on Goodreads at Edens Bookshelf.
When my friends at Edensbookshelf asked if I was interested in reviewing an ARC of the newest urban fantasy offering from Clay & Susan Griffith, I squealed an enthusiastic “YES!” I am admittedly an ardent fan of the Vampire Empire series and hoped for a new series from these authors that I would enjoy at least as much as I had it. I was not disappointed in the first offering in the trilogy. In fact, I had no time to consider comparisons as I read because the world, the characters, and the story swept me up and carried me away.
The Shadow Revolution is set in Victorian London and features a gritty, slightly steampunk landscape in which the worst of the worst have been unwittingly released from imprisonment in the Bastille when it was stormed and are now, apparently, looking to recreate their niches and dominance in the world. But these are no ordinary bad guys, these are magic practitioners and monsters so vile they were long secreted away in the Bastille, locked away for so long they had come to be considered myth by most. Rather than spending much time in world-building the book jumps right into action, monsters, and magic use in the very first chapter. Be prepared because the monsters are decidedly nasty, the bad guys are exceptionally inventive, and the results are quintessentially macabre. Don’t be disheartened by all this nastiness, however, because the good guys are all slightly broken in their own unique ways, well-meaning, and very good at what they do. More, they are each endearing in their way and even the grumpiest of them will draw you in and make you their friend, rooting for their victory. There are a few who will leave you wondering what they are about, though, and a few that will break your heart such that you will keep turning the pages needing to know what will happen next.
The primary protagonists, Simon Archer and Kate Anstruther, are both a bit unusual for the time period. Simon, a bit more typical of the times, poses as a rake to hide his magical abilities from society at large and from other magic practitioners. Kate, a “modern” woman that has found herself the matriarch of her family, is less concerned with the opinions of society than with caring for her family, doing the right thing, and facing whatever comes. The daughter of a renowned explorer she is not only an accomplished alchemist but also a surprisingly competent fighter. The two meet in this, the first installment of the trilogy, and after a bumpy start find that circumstance and their own attractions bring them together. Those of you who wish for immediate romance won’t get it here, but those of you who are quite happy with a slow burn romance will find Simon and Kate’s blossoming relationship compelling. The relationship does take a distant back seat to the rest of the story and is more alluded to than actualized, leaving one with the sense of more to come.
At first blush it seems that the fight will be against werewolves, but I assure you that is just the tip of the iceberg. Kate’s younger sister is kidnapped and the process of trying to rescue her peels back a story that gets increasingly macabre and shudder-worthy as it is revealed. These are not romance hero monsters.
Things that stood out for me over and above the story, and perhaps a bit in comparison to the Vampire Empire series, is that the story brought you along and allowed the world to build as the story did, rather then spending any significant amount of time in world building alone. Also a stand out is that there was character growth even in this, the first book of the trilogy, with characters brought to face personal misconceptions and practices that may have previously stunted their growth. They are forced to stretch beyond their comfort zones to achieve their goals. I think it only fair that I tell you I am currently reading book 2 in the series and, happily, this is a trend that continues even with the captivating secondary characters.
I did not want to leave this world and these characters when I closed this book. Those of you who know me know that I have been called sensitive to cliff-hangers. It’s true, I loathe them. I can not tell you that all things are resolved in this entry to the series, but I can tell you my wish to stay in the world had more to do with just enjoying the immersion and wanting more of it than it did with the parts of the story that are ongoing. Even though the book ends knowing that it is just the beginning of the conflict and many crises from the book do not get resolved, there is still a satisfying and tightly written end to the book arc that did not leave me feeling as if I had been toyed with. Further, I was joyous to learn the entire trilogy is set to be released within a two month period. Book 1 is set to release on June 2nd, book 2 is scheduled for a June 30th release, and book 3 is set for release a month later on July 28th. Who can complain about near instant gratification?
Bottom Line: This is very nearly a perfect urban fantasy with a splash of steampunk. You won’t want to leave the world either.
My review posted today at Edens Bookshelf and here on Goodreads at Edens Bookshelf.
When my friends at Edensbookshelf asked if I was interested in reviewing an ARC of the newest urban fantasy offering from Clay & Susan Griffith, I squealed an enthusiastic “YES!” I am admittedly an ardent fan of the Vampire Empire series and hoped for a new series from these authors that I would enjoy at least as much as I had it. I was not disappointed in the first offering in the trilogy. In fact, I had no time to consider comparisons as I read because the world, the characters, and the story swept me up and carried me away.
The Shadow Revolution is set in Victorian London and features a gritty, slightly steampunk landscape in which the worst of the worst have been unwittingly released from imprisonment in the Bastille when it was stormed and are now, apparently, looking to recreate their niches and dominance in the world. But these are no ordinary bad guys, these are magic practitioners and monsters so vile they were long secreted away in the Bastille, locked away for so long they had come to be considered myth by most. Rather than spending much time in world-building the book jumps right into action, monsters, and magic use in the very first chapter. Be prepared because the monsters are decidedly nasty, the bad guys are exceptionally inventive, and the results are quintessentially macabre. Don’t be disheartened by all this nastiness, however, because the good guys are all slightly broken in their own unique ways, well-meaning, and very good at what they do. More, they are each endearing in their way and even the grumpiest of them will draw you in and make you their friend, rooting for their victory. There are a few who will leave you wondering what they are about, though, and a few that will break your heart such that you will keep turning the pages needing to know what will happen next.
The primary protagonists, Simon Archer and Kate Anstruther, are both a bit unusual for the time period. Simon, a bit more typical of the times, poses as a rake to hide his magical abilities from society at large and from other magic practitioners. Kate, a “modern” woman that has found herself the matriarch of her family, is less concerned with the opinions of society than with caring for her family, doing the right thing, and facing whatever comes. The daughter of a renowned explorer she is not only an accomplished alchemist but also a surprisingly competent fighter. The two meet in this, the first installment of the trilogy, and after a bumpy start find that circumstance and their own attractions bring them together. Those of you who wish for immediate romance won’t get it here, but those of you who are quite happy with a slow burn romance will find Simon and Kate’s blossoming relationship compelling. The relationship does take a distant back seat to the rest of the story and is more alluded to than actualized, leaving one with the sense of more to come.
At first blush it seems that the fight will be against werewolves, but I assure you that is just the tip of the iceberg. Kate’s younger sister is kidnapped and the process of trying to rescue her peels back a story that gets increasingly macabre and shudder-worthy as it is revealed. These are not romance hero monsters.
Things that stood out for me over and above the story, and perhaps a bit in comparison to the Vampire Empire series, is that the story brought you along and allowed the world to build as the story did, rather then spending any significant amount of time in world building alone. Also a stand out is that there was character growth even in this, the first book of the trilogy, with characters brought to face personal misconceptions and practices that may have previously stunted their growth. They are forced to stretch beyond their comfort zones to achieve their goals. I think it only fair that I tell you I am currently reading book 2 in the series and, happily, this is a trend that continues even with the captivating secondary characters.
I did not want to leave this world and these characters when I closed this book. Those of you who know me know that I have been called sensitive to cliff-hangers. It’s true, I loathe them. I can not tell you that all things are resolved in this entry to the series, but I can tell you my wish to stay in the world had more to do with just enjoying the immersion and wanting more of it than it did with the parts of the story that are ongoing. Even though the book ends knowing that it is just the beginning of the conflict and many crises from the book do not get resolved, there is still a satisfying and tightly written end to the book arc that did not leave me feeling as if I had been toyed with. Further, I was joyous to learn the entire trilogy is set to be released within a two month period. Book 1 is set to release on June 2nd, book 2 is scheduled for a June 30th release, and book 3 is set for release a month later on July 28th. Who can complain about near instant gratification?
Bottom Line: This is very nearly a perfect urban fantasy with a splash of steampunk. You won’t want to leave the world either.
rebeccadupont's review against another edition
3.0
Fair book, enjoyable but not very inspiring. We had basically 3 leads, 2 men and 1 women; with a minor man and woman as well. Our ‘rake’ lead guy was, of course, the most powerful with his rare magic 'scribe' ability. The lead girl was tough and smart but of course ended up kidnapped and needing to be rescued; also, of course, laid the grounds for romance between the two. There was a lot of fights that mostly involved smashing stuff and werewolves; some interesting inventions and uses of alchemy. I enjoyed the Victorian location, the occasional steampunk feel, our main villain werewolf being female and the homunculus angle. But all around it was pretty pale ale, non original historic era fantasy.
izabrekilien's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent ! I've just spent the last couple of days immersed in this universe and I want more !
The gorgeous cover first caught my eye last year, then the blurb, but I was in my "reasonable" period : already too many books, no need to add more to the pile. Stupid, I was. This book has everything I love and more that I didn't know I wanted to read about before I actually did : a magically tattooed handsome dandy hero, a sorcerer who can lit his hands on fire, a kickass geeky heroin (loved, loved Kate !), a Scottish brooding werewolf hunter, a genius weapon maker, a valkyrie, werewolves, a crazy doctor who loves to experiment on people, a few creatures I wouldn't touch with a ten feet pole (yuck), magic, excitement, a huge dog, lots of action scenes, humor. Oh come on, what more could you possibly want ?!
It's simply impossible to get bored with this novel. I want to read the rest asap and I will ! If you haven't read this trilogy yet, what on Earth are you waiting for ?
Quotes :
Simon's attention was immediately diverted by a large reptilian skull on another bookshelf. "What do you think of this beast, Nick ? It appears to be an enormous crocodile but of a type I've never seen."
The older man glanced briefly. "It's a dragon."
Simon tilted his head. "You say that rather matter-of-factly."
"That's because it is a matter of fact. It's a dragon skull. I saw one in Persia."
"Is it useful for anything ?"
"Holding a dragon's brain."
"I owe you an apology, Mr MacFarlane."
The Scotsman continued to stare without great expectation.
"Brace yourself," Simon said with grave importance. "It seems there is a second werewolf in London after all."
Malcolm raised a tired eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
Simon feigned extreme distress. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put you to sleep with that news."
"Brace yourself. There is an army of werewolves in London. And they are under the command of one of the vilest monsters to ever walk our Earth : Gretta Aldfather."
The gorgeous cover first caught my eye last year, then the blurb, but I was in my "reasonable" period : already too many books, no need to add more to the pile. Stupid, I was. This book has everything I love and more that I didn't know I wanted to read about before I actually did : a magically tattooed handsome dandy hero, a sorcerer who can lit his hands on fire, a kickass geeky heroin (loved, loved Kate !), a Scottish brooding werewolf hunter, a genius weapon maker, a valkyrie, werewolves, a crazy doctor who loves to experiment on people, a few creatures I wouldn't touch with a ten feet pole (yuck), magic, excitement, a huge dog, lots of action scenes, humor. Oh come on, what more could you possibly want ?!
It's simply impossible to get bored with this novel. I want to read the rest asap and I will ! If you haven't read this trilogy yet, what on Earth are you waiting for ?
Quotes :
Simon's attention was immediately diverted by a large reptilian skull on another bookshelf. "What do you think of this beast, Nick ? It appears to be an enormous crocodile but of a type I've never seen."
The older man glanced briefly. "It's a dragon."
Simon tilted his head. "You say that rather matter-of-factly."
"That's because it is a matter of fact. It's a dragon skull. I saw one in Persia."
"Is it useful for anything ?"
"Holding a dragon's brain."
"I owe you an apology, Mr MacFarlane."
The Scotsman continued to stare without great expectation.
"Brace yourself," Simon said with grave importance. "It seems there is a second werewolf in London after all."
Malcolm raised a tired eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
Simon feigned extreme distress. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put you to sleep with that news."
"Brace yourself. There is an army of werewolves in London. And they are under the command of one of the vilest monsters to ever walk our Earth : Gretta Aldfather."
cnohero's review against another edition
2.0
This book felt very much like the Clockwork series by Cassandra Clare. I didn't really bond with the characters. There is a lot of violence with blood and guts but not much of a plot good dialog or character development.
wanderinglynn's review against another edition
4.0
What a fantastic ride! This book sucked me in from the first page and was action packed. I enjoyed the characters, the world building, and the plot. There were one or two things I wished had been fleshed out a bit more, which might have happened had the characters had time. This story started, picked up speed, and didn't stop until the last page. So maybe more explanations (with a slower pace) happens in the next book. I'd like to see a bit more of the characters' backstories, as well as some more explanations. Regardless, I'm hooked and will definitely be reading the next one.
bookadventurer's review against another edition
1.0
After reading partway through this book, I have decided not to review it. I can't say precisely why I don't like it. It is a faithful example of urban fantasy/steampunk, but nothing about it interested me. And perhaps that faith to the sub-genre's tropes was the rub. There were no unique elements that kept me reading - the world felt as familiar as many books in this genre do. The characters felt bland, the action was not very exciting... this book (and perhaps the genre) is not for me, at least not right now.