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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
The heroine was likeable, and the story interesting, but the author was too handerpants about the love interest for my tastes :/
Really enjoyed this story but gah, this era was suffocating for women! I hope Charlotte gets to kick some male arse in book 2!
Brother's Ruin is a gaslamp fantasy from Emma Newman. Tl:Dr absolutely fantastic escapism that hits all the right notes.
I hope this series continues through several instalments as it is a joy to read.
I hope this series continues through several instalments as it is a joy to read.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Just recently I've got interested in the steampunk genre, but haven't actually tried out the British Victorian era setting which inspired the genre itself.
[b:Brother's Ruin|29964674|Brother’s Ruin (Industrial Magic, #1)|Emma Newman|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475177041s/29964674.jpg|50359200] is a novella that is supposed to introduce us to the world of the 19th century London that is more or less ruled by the Royal Society of the Esoteric Arts. The members of this society are not allowed to marry or indulge into anything that might prevent them from being loyal and serving their country. That is one of the reasons why the common folk (who were 'unlucky' enough to have children with odd powers) are not cooperative and refuse to send their children to become the fully trained magicians... even though they get paid a nice sum for that. However, if they do refuse to report their children's magic powers, they might face the trials or even execution because it is believed that unless properly trained, those children would go wild.
So, the premise of this short novella is quite interesting. And it is probably the only positive thing I can say about it.
SPOILERS!!!
The worst thing is definitely the annoying heroine Charlotte who acts like every stereotypical YA heroine (this novella wasn't supposed to be YA, right?). I believe she is in her early 20s but I'm not sure. She is the perfect daughter and sister who goes along well with her family, but at the same time is reluctant to tell her parents that she is a talented illustrator? Additionally, she is a selfish bitch who refuses to tell her family about her own powers, so her ill brother gets reported instead. However, his powers are very weak or even nonexistent, so what the dumb bitch does? She tries to "help" him by cheating on his tests so he could pass off her powers as his own. Of course, she didn't do that to save him from being imprisoned for false reporting - she did that because she knew if she became an apprentice she would be forbid from drawing ever again.
Of course, a dumb and stereotypical YA heroine wouldn't exist without a mysterious and handsome hero that makes "her feet and toes ache" just by looking at him... He is so handsome that whenever she looks at him she forgets about her quite ordinary mustached fiance.
- this is me vomiting in my mouth.
The writing is quite ordinary and unimpressive. I believe the story could have been executed in a better way, but the author chose the "safe" and predictable way instead.
The sequel is supposed to be released this year, but I think I can already predict half of the plot - the heroine ditches her ordinary mustached fiance (who will probably end up a villain) for a dashing and handsome hero who will become her teacher. They will save the world by themselves and make babies. But I'm going to give that book (I'm not even sure if it's going to be a full-length book or just another novella) the benefit of the doubt and check it out. Perhaps the characters will develop and the writing will be better. Perhaps, we'll see.
[b:Brother's Ruin|29964674|Brother’s Ruin (Industrial Magic, #1)|Emma Newman|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1475177041s/29964674.jpg|50359200] is a novella that is supposed to introduce us to the world of the 19th century London that is more or less ruled by the Royal Society of the Esoteric Arts. The members of this society are not allowed to marry or indulge into anything that might prevent them from being loyal and serving their country. That is one of the reasons why the common folk (who were 'unlucky' enough to have children with odd powers) are not cooperative and refuse to send their children to become the fully trained magicians... even though they get paid a nice sum for that. However, if they do refuse to report their children's magic powers, they might face the trials or even execution because it is believed that unless properly trained, those children would go wild.
So, the premise of this short novella is quite interesting. And it is probably the only positive thing I can say about it.
SPOILERS!!!
The worst thing is definitely the annoying heroine Charlotte who acts like every stereotypical YA heroine (this novella wasn't supposed to be YA, right?). I believe she is in her early 20s but I'm not sure. She is the perfect daughter and sister who goes along well with her family, but at the same time is reluctant to tell her parents that she is a talented illustrator? Additionally, she is a selfish bitch who refuses to tell her family about her own powers, so her ill brother gets reported instead. However, his powers are very weak or even nonexistent, so what the dumb bitch does? She tries to "help" him by cheating on his tests so he could pass off her powers as his own. Of course, she didn't do that to save him from being imprisoned for false reporting - she did that because she knew if she became an apprentice she would be forbid from drawing ever again.
Of course, a dumb and stereotypical YA heroine wouldn't exist without a mysterious and handsome hero that makes "her feet and toes ache" just by looking at him... He is so handsome that whenever she looks at him she forgets about her quite ordinary mustached fiance.
- this is me vomiting in my mouth. The writing is quite ordinary and unimpressive. I believe the story could have been executed in a better way, but the author chose the "safe" and predictable way instead.
The sequel is supposed to be released this year, but I think I can already predict half of the plot - the heroine ditches her ordinary mustached fiance (who will probably end up a villain) for a dashing and handsome hero who will become her teacher. They will save the world by themselves and make babies. But I'm going to give that book (I'm not even sure if it's going to be a full-length book or just another novella) the benefit of the doubt and check it out. Perhaps the characters will develop and the writing will be better. Perhaps, we'll see.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Intriguing, but there is something a little bit lacking in the worldbuilding here. I never entirely bought into it, though it got stronger as it went. Still, definitely intending to continue with the series.
Incredible novella. A mix of [a:Mary Robinette Kowal|2868678|Mary Robinette Kowal|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1647270290p2/2868678.jpg]'s Glamourist novels and Enola Holmes. Great world building in a small format.