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lady_mel's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a hoot. Karen Memery is a prostitute, er, seamstress, at the Hotel Mon Cherie, an establisment run by the formidable Madame Damnable.
Karen and her fellow seamstresses find themselves enmeshed in a plot to kill all the population of Alaska, so the Russians can take it back.
Karen and her fellow seamstresses find themselves enmeshed in a plot to kill all the population of Alaska, so the Russians can take it back.
mcr314's review against another edition
3.0
The steampunk aspect of this book is rather subtle. The characters don't know much about the technology, so we learn little of it. It's neat that a Singer "sewing" machine has both a steam and diesel engines, and appears to be more of a Ripley/Aliens exo-skeleton... On the other hand, the characters in Friends also know little about cars or phones or electricity: it's not like we expect them to explain stuff to us that is obvious to them. I was drawn into the aspirations of our main character, Karen. I thought that maybe "Memory" was going to play a bigger role... like maybe she invents core-memory or something so that machines could be made autonomous.
It's otherwise historical fiction set in 1880 with strong female leads.
It's otherwise historical fiction set in 1880 with strong female leads.
atlantic_puffin's review
I got 80% of the way through before deciding to DNF it -- I'm still not invested in the relationship and I did somewhat accidentally see the last page and satisfied enough with what I saw, so I'm done.
songwind's review against another edition
5.0
This book is near perfect.
The book is told in a folksy vernacular that evokes Western movies, but which isn't so overdone as to become annoying.
The book's heroine, despite being young and in the socially disadvantageous position of working as a prostitute, is self assured, assertive and confident. Throughout the narrative she maintains her agency and proactive attitude rather than allowing events to come to her.
The nature of the Madame's parlour (i.e. brothel) is such that she has attracted and assembled an eclectic and unlikely group of misfits, outcasts and strangers. Bear uses this fact to effectively include a wide variety of characters that keep the plot interesting.
The inclusion of real-life US Marshall Bass Reeves was a nice touch, as were a few small nods to the Lone Ranger, a character Marshall Reeves may have helps inspire.
The romance subplot was well written, and kind of adorably awkward.
I felt that the denouement was bobbled a little bit, but it's really a small flaw in an otherwise amazing book.
Narrator Jennifer Grace did an excellent job giving voice to all the characters.
The book is told in a folksy vernacular that evokes Western movies, but which isn't so overdone as to become annoying.
The book's heroine, despite being young and in the socially disadvantageous position of working as a prostitute, is self assured, assertive and confident. Throughout the narrative she maintains her agency and proactive attitude rather than allowing events to come to her.
The nature of the Madame's parlour (i.e. brothel) is such that she has attracted and assembled an eclectic and unlikely group of misfits, outcasts and strangers. Bear uses this fact to effectively include a wide variety of characters that keep the plot interesting.
The inclusion of real-life US Marshall Bass Reeves was a nice touch, as were a few small nods to the Lone Ranger, a character Marshall Reeves may have helps inspire.
The romance subplot was well written, and kind of adorably awkward.
I felt that the denouement was bobbled a little bit, but it's really a small flaw in an otherwise amazing book.
Narrator Jennifer Grace did an excellent job giving voice to all the characters.
stellarian's review against another edition
5.0
As I’ve mentioned before, I mostly read audiobooks. Because of it, I sometimes miss the spelling of names, places and other noteworthy things I need when writing these things up. With this particular book, I may be making more mistakes than usual, and I apologize in advance. Karen Memory is told entirely from the perspective of its narrator, Karen Memery (like memory, but with an e), and her grammar isn’t all that good.
Karen is a “seamstress” in Rapid City (an amalgamate of a few late 19th century American cities, including what is now Seattle Underground). She does a bit of actual seamstressing, which is taxed heavily by the city, but her main occupation is the “seamstressing” that’s earned on her back and is the actual reason why Karen and her coworkers have to pay so much. Things are not horrible. Karen and the other girls at the Hôtel Mon Cherie are allowed to save a part of what they earn, they have their own rooms when they don’t entertain customers and Madame Damnable, who runs the place, offers them a certain security.
The setting of this book is Wild West Steampunk, which is a joy to read. There are a variety of steam-powered gadgets including a near heal-all surgeon’s tool, a variety of digging and building tools, a strap-in sewing machine and even a mechanical octopus. Naturally, there are steam-powered airships. The Wild West aspect is represented by sheriffs, gold diggers and dime novel heroes and villains.
The first person narrative makes everything direct and exciting. Karen is brave, but not unbelievably so. She falls in love, but certainly not with one of her customers and her emotions are written simply and honestly. The plot has to do with politics on both a local, direct level and in a larger setting, but the text never feels distant or boring, because Karen is always right there at the heart of things, making what happens personal and real.
A lot of the characters are non-white and/or don’t identify as heterosexual. This could have seemed contrived in a lesser book, but the author knows her business and makes them all real people, well fleshed-out. Bear is also very good at being matter-of-fact about some of the awful living conditions of these characters. It’s their lives and it’s the way things are.
Jennifer Grace does a good job of narrating the audiobook, so if you like listening to your novels I recommend it. However, if you don’t mind spelling variations and unconventional grammar in your written text, give the paper book/e-book a try.
Karen is a “seamstress” in Rapid City (an amalgamate of a few late 19th century American cities, including what is now Seattle Underground). She does a bit of actual seamstressing, which is taxed heavily by the city, but her main occupation is the “seamstressing” that’s earned on her back and is the actual reason why Karen and her coworkers have to pay so much. Things are not horrible. Karen and the other girls at the Hôtel Mon Cherie are allowed to save a part of what they earn, they have their own rooms when they don’t entertain customers and Madame Damnable, who runs the place, offers them a certain security.
The setting of this book is Wild West Steampunk, which is a joy to read. There are a variety of steam-powered gadgets including a near heal-all surgeon’s tool, a variety of digging and building tools, a strap-in sewing machine and even a mechanical octopus. Naturally, there are steam-powered airships. The Wild West aspect is represented by sheriffs, gold diggers and dime novel heroes and villains.
The first person narrative makes everything direct and exciting. Karen is brave, but not unbelievably so. She falls in love, but certainly not with one of her customers and her emotions are written simply and honestly. The plot has to do with politics on both a local, direct level and in a larger setting, but the text never feels distant or boring, because Karen is always right there at the heart of things, making what happens personal and real.
A lot of the characters are non-white and/or don’t identify as heterosexual. This could have seemed contrived in a lesser book, but the author knows her business and makes them all real people, well fleshed-out. Bear is also very good at being matter-of-fact about some of the awful living conditions of these characters. It’s their lives and it’s the way things are.
Jennifer Grace does a good job of narrating the audiobook, so if you like listening to your novels I recommend it. However, if you don’t mind spelling variations and unconventional grammar in your written text, give the paper book/e-book a try.
rc_boxnut's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, and Trafficking
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Rape, Child abuse, and Sexual violence
Minor: Death of parent and Racial slurs
lsparrow's review against another edition
3.0
steam punk alternate history - wild west mystery and lesbian romance.
I think that probably covers it all. Easy read - enjoyed it enough to try the second in the series but not enough to feel that it would make my recommendation list.
I think that probably covers it all. Easy read - enjoyed it enough to try the second in the series but not enough to feel that it would make my recommendation list.
maile_vine's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Physical abuse