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inkandpages's review
2.0
I think I realised pretty early on while reading this book that I wasn’t really going to like it, but its pretty short length, as well as the fact I’d bought it for under £2, kept encouraging me to just plough through and get it over with. I think I would class it as steampunk – it’s set in an alternate eighteenth century Europe, with mad genius scientists, hybrid soldiers, and the huge airship city from the title. Agatha, the main character, I actually really didn’t like; she was very inconsistent. At times she was portrayed as very prudish, but the next page she was being sexualised for the reader, and she was stubborn, but not in a compelling, interesting way, just a pig-headed and stupid way. She irritated me right from the start, and I much preferred the parts of the book that were about the other characters. The book itself didn’t really surprise me at all, I guessed pretty much every twist ages before it happened, and for all its trying to be quirky and exciting, it felt a bit too formulaic. The blurb made it sound really interesting and exciting, so the actual story was a huge disappointment.
Originally this book got three stars from me (which was already a little generous), but then I realised something – something so ridiculously annoying that I am actually getting more irritated just thinking about it – which severely affected my opinion of the book and made me lob off that original third star from the rating. The main character, Agatha, is called “Agatha Clay” on the blurb, and most of the book itself, and what I didn’t realise until after I’d finished that the very title of the book is a spoiler; “Agatha H and the Airship City”. I mean, I saw that particular twist coming a mile off, but why on earth would the author and publisher even try to call it a twist when it’s literally spoiled in the title. I thought it was so patronising and ridiculous and I’m really glad I didn’t cave and buy the other two books at the same time because trust me, I have no plans to ever continue with this series.
Rating: ⭐⭐
Originally this book got three stars from me (which was already a little generous), but then I realised something – something so ridiculously annoying that I am actually getting more irritated just thinking about it – which severely affected my opinion of the book and made me lob off that original third star from the rating. The main character, Agatha, is called “Agatha Clay” on the blurb, and most of the book itself, and what I didn’t realise until after I’d finished that the very title of the book is a spoiler; “Agatha H and the Airship City”. I mean, I saw that particular twist coming a mile off, but why on earth would the author and publisher even try to call it a twist when it’s literally spoiled in the title. I thought it was so patronising and ridiculous and I’m really glad I didn’t cave and buy the other two books at the same time because trust me, I have no plans to ever continue with this series.
Rating: ⭐⭐
minsies's review against another edition
3.0
Final Fantasy VI was released in 1994, which meant I imprinted on steampunk. (I was 14.)
So, airship cities? Yes, please!
It's not perfect, but it moves quickly enough that you don't have much time to dwell on many of its faults. I liked the Jägermonsters in particular, though I did think their accent (comedy German mangled with Jamaican, at least as far as I could tell) was probably not necessary.
I got this book free, so I'm not sure if I'll be seeking out the next volume or not. I knew about (but hadn't read any of) the Girl Genius comic books/webcomic, so I may make a diversion there first. It was decidedly better than both Of Blood and Honey and The Emperor's Knife.
So, airship cities? Yes, please!
It's not perfect, but it moves quickly enough that you don't have much time to dwell on many of its faults. I liked the Jägermonsters in particular, though I did think their accent (comedy German mangled with Jamaican, at least as far as I could tell) was probably not necessary.
I got this book free, so I'm not sure if I'll be seeking out the next volume or not. I knew about (but hadn't read any of) the Girl Genius comic books/webcomic, so I may make a diversion there first. It was decidedly better than both Of Blood and Honey and The Emperor's Knife.
periwinklegeo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
3.5
I used to read the web comic and picked this up to sort of "reread" it. As with anything Girl Genius related, if you like Steampunk this is your one-stop shop. If you don't, you might still enjoy the novelization for it's fast-paced story and wit.
The web comic is full of snark, and one thing I loved about the book is how it adapted everything to suit the media but kept the integrity of that humor. It doesn't make anything dark or edgy to make the story more realistic for the novel, but let the bright, sarcastic, manic story shine through. It really was like reading Girl Genius for the first time.
I gave it four stars because most of the story is taken from the web comic verbatim. Nothing wrong with that since the dialogue is A+ (and I loved the descriptions of the characters and settings where before you would have just seen them via illustration). There are, however, a few moments where the novel might have fleshed out or cut down a scene or two for the sake of pacing. Most often, the authors found a great balance between the source and adaptation, so I know they were definitely paying attention to this! I still want to mention the point for the sake of acknowledgment so others won't hold it against what is otherwise a great read!
The web comic is full of snark, and one thing I loved about the book is how it adapted everything to suit the media but kept the integrity of that humor. It doesn't make anything dark or edgy to make the story more realistic for the novel, but let the bright, sarcastic, manic story shine through. It really was like reading Girl Genius for the first time.
I gave it four stars because most of the story is taken from the web comic verbatim. Nothing wrong with that since the dialogue is A+ (and I loved the descriptions of the characters and settings where before you would have just seen them via illustration). There are, however, a few moments where the novel might have fleshed out or cut down a scene or two for the sake of pacing. Most often, the authors found a great balance between the source and adaptation, so I know they were definitely paying attention to this! I still want to mention the point for the sake of acknowledgment so others won't hold it against what is otherwise a great read!
emterf's review against another edition
4.0
I wrote a long review of this book that can be found at http://magnificentnose.com/2011/01/12/girl-genius-day/ -- check it out!
rockatanskette's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
wizzardofxxxx's review against another edition
4.0
Very good read even though I'm up-to-date on the comic. It's interesting to see the story differences between the book and the comic. Makes me wonder if Phil wrote it off of Kaja's notes...including things that didn't make it into the comic.
Overall if you're a fan of Girl Genius then you'll really like this book. It was a fun, quick read and an easier way to read back through the story 'cause it's a whole lot faster than re-reading the comics.
Overall if you're a fan of Girl Genius then you'll really like this book. It was a fun, quick read and an easier way to read back through the story 'cause it's a whole lot faster than re-reading the comics.
ccrowder's review against another edition
3.0
I really, really wanted to like this as much as I like love the comics. The story is the same, and still just as wonderful (more so in some parts, where characters' motivations are explained or we have access to their thoughts), but there are quite a few grammar errors. As much as I hate to be a grammar nazi (it isn't always a big deal), there were a few times when I was pulled out of the story because of my reaction to the way the story was being told.
Now, I would totally recommend this to someone who hasn't read the comics before and isn't as much of a nitpick as I am (read: most everyone). I think this is a great introduction to the Spark universe for those averse to comic/graphic novel format, and is still a great read in it's own right.
Now, I would totally recommend this to someone who hasn't read the comics before and isn't as much of a nitpick as I am (read: most everyone). I think this is a great introduction to the Spark universe for those averse to comic/graphic novel format, and is still a great read in it's own right.
natashalielumley's review against another edition
4.0
This is going to be a short review of the Kindle e-book version. In general this book was great, and hilarious, and very imaginative. There was one big confusing point - in the ebook version, there is no more than a single line break before somebody else's perspective takes over. This means that we go from following Agatha to following Moloch with only the slightest context clues, and it progresses that way for the rest of the book. It does get a little easier, once you know all of the characters, but it was difficult to follow at first.
Otherwise I love this book, and I'm totally going to be listening to the audiobook so I can experience the speech patterns of the Jagerkin.
Otherwise I love this book, and I'm totally going to be listening to the audiobook so I can experience the speech patterns of the Jagerkin.
catslippers's review against another edition
2.0
A book I trucked through due to the promise of some good steampunk. Was instead weighed down by the cinematic but cliched descriptions.
threerings's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first prose novel adaptation of the webcomic Girl Genius. I bought it because the authors promised more depth than the comic. I'm not actually convinced there is more depth, but can't speak very well to if or how much extra this adds to the comic because it's been awhile since I read the beginning of it. I did really enjoy reading this, though I'm not sure if it would be as satisfying a read if you haven't read the comic. Having the visuals for the characters and gadgets in your head is really helpful. I like that they're doing novelizations because my one big problem with webcomics is that the story moves so ridiculously slowly that I lose interest and stop reading. This gives you what was probably years of story of the webcomic. After finishing reading this, I was finally motivated to catch up on the last year of the comic. Now I just have to wait another year or so until there's enough plot for me to read in a sitting.