Scan barcode
michellethebookcritic's review against another edition
5.0
This story starts off with a check in at the doctor's office. Gabby and her mom are sitting in the lobby, waiting for the doctor to call them in. Gabby, whose right hand, (the doctors say) is a "special case", is impatient.
I'm sorry to cut this off, but, can I just say, I LOVED THIS LITTLE MOMENT. Every kid hates going to the doctor's office, am I right? Well, I sure did! I remember when I was a kid, I was scared, nervous, and mad. Let's be honest, we all know the wait makes it worse. And I felt like this every time I got a check-up. So, I'm happy, even nostalgic, that Richardson included this. It was so cute, memorable, and relatable.
Anyway, her mom promises her that there will be no visits after this one, so, Gabby doesn't have to worry. However, when they find out that Gabby's hand has turned to steam, things get complicated. You read that right. Mom is horrified and worried thus recruiting an engineer to construct a clockwork glove for Gabby. Looking back, I don't really know why Gabby was mad about that decision. I'd take a clockwork glove any day than having to wear an jar around my hand. But, moving on, Gabby is already an insecure/sassy kid. Gabby wants to be normal, not different. Peer pressure, am i right?
The strange mechinism was surely a sight to behold and that was probably the reason why her peers bullied her for it. The glove was strong and it would prove, later on, quite useful for certain situations despite it's bulky frame.
Somewhere, far away, lies a boy named Kemple. Living with his foster dad has taught Kemple a lot of things. To be cautious, fearful, to obey and to deal with the abuse. The new girl, Josephyn, clearly doesn't know these rules. Or she does but chooses not to follow them. Kemple isn't exactly sure. She's rebellious, reckless and brave. But when Kemple takes a beating for her, Jesephyn realizes not to mess around. In fact, she tells him that they don't deserve this cruel environment. Kemple agrees, but he's not used to trouble or running away for that matter. His decision changes after Abner (drunk and asleep) gives them a chance to escape to Iron Bay. A city crowded with machinary, carriages, airships and people. Josephyn, with the idea, gives them both "excuses" and teaches Kemple how to steal. That is their only tactic on how to survive.
Gabby, near by, faces a tragic incident. Gabby and her mom were preparing to go to a convention. The main reason for Gabby's excitement is that she's hoping that she'll find one inventor that will help fix her hand. Oh, the solutions! Sadly, her mom gets killed right before they leave, attacked by a monster. This in turn of events lead Gabby to a detective who has plans for her to take up her revenge.
As Gabby and Kemple grow older, they will soon meet. Will a warrior who slays beasts ever forgive her past and help a boy who is turning into a monster? It's a internal struggle for both characters as they try to find themselves. A desperate, delicate romance sided along with action, adventure and the go-to steam fun!
Some of my favorite parts were as mentioned (the doctor's office) and the kiss. I was cheering them on and you do not understand how much fangirl screams came out of me when they met. Like, this is a "meant to be" in my opinion. I also loved the fighting/chasing scenes because they were so intense and dramatic. Richardson does a great way with his characters, even Viola, for their emotions and dialogue. As a steampunk nerd, I think this book does a fantastic way of portraying the genre. Not once were there more details than enough of the machines at hand. This series has a lot of potenial, aka I can't wait for book 2!
All in all, this book was amazing and kept me flipping pages faster than a speeding bullet (see what I did there?). Beast Heart stayed with me long after I finished reading. Meet cutes for one and the wild rides.
Thanks for reading my review and a shoutout to Meerkat Press for an ARC. Bye!
I'm sorry to cut this off, but, can I just say, I LOVED THIS LITTLE MOMENT. Every kid hates going to the doctor's office, am I right? Well, I sure did! I remember when I was a kid, I was scared, nervous, and mad. Let's be honest, we all know the wait makes it worse. And I felt like this every time I got a check-up. So, I'm happy, even nostalgic, that Richardson included this. It was so cute, memorable, and relatable.
Anyway, her mom promises her that there will be no visits after this one, so, Gabby doesn't have to worry. However, when they find out that Gabby's hand has turned to steam, things get complicated. You read that right. Mom is horrified and worried thus recruiting an engineer to construct a clockwork glove for Gabby. Looking back, I don't really know why Gabby was mad about that decision. I'd take a clockwork glove any day than having to wear an jar around my hand. But, moving on, Gabby is already an insecure/sassy kid. Gabby wants to be normal, not different. Peer pressure, am i right?
The strange mechinism was surely a sight to behold and that was probably the reason why her peers bullied her for it. The glove was strong and it would prove, later on, quite useful for certain situations despite it's bulky frame.
Somewhere, far away, lies a boy named Kemple. Living with his foster dad has taught Kemple a lot of things. To be cautious, fearful, to obey and to deal with the abuse. The new girl, Josephyn, clearly doesn't know these rules. Or she does but chooses not to follow them. Kemple isn't exactly sure. She's rebellious, reckless and brave. But when Kemple takes a beating for her, Jesephyn realizes not to mess around. In fact, she tells him that they don't deserve this cruel environment. Kemple agrees, but he's not used to trouble or running away for that matter. His decision changes after Abner (drunk and asleep) gives them a chance to escape to Iron Bay. A city crowded with machinary, carriages, airships and people. Josephyn, with the idea, gives them both "excuses" and teaches Kemple how to steal. That is their only tactic on how to survive.
Gabby, near by, faces a tragic incident. Gabby and her mom were preparing to go to a convention. The main reason for Gabby's excitement is that she's hoping that she'll find one inventor that will help fix her hand. Oh, the solutions! Sadly, her mom gets killed right before they leave, attacked by a monster. This in turn of events lead Gabby to a detective who has plans for her to take up her revenge.
As Gabby and Kemple grow older, they will soon meet. Will a warrior who slays beasts ever forgive her past and help a boy who is turning into a monster? It's a internal struggle for both characters as they try to find themselves. A desperate, delicate romance sided along with action, adventure and the go-to steam fun!
Some of my favorite parts were as mentioned (the doctor's office) and the kiss. I was cheering them on and you do not understand how much fangirl screams came out of me when they met. Like, this is a "meant to be" in my opinion. I also loved the fighting/chasing scenes because they were so intense and dramatic. Richardson does a great way with his characters, even Viola, for their emotions and dialogue. As a steampunk nerd, I think this book does a fantastic way of portraying the genre. Not once were there more details than enough of the machines at hand. This series has a lot of potenial, aka I can't wait for book 2!
All in all, this book was amazing and kept me flipping pages faster than a speeding bullet (see what I did there?). Beast Heart stayed with me long after I finished reading. Meet cutes for one and the wild rides.
Thanks for reading my review and a shoutout to Meerkat Press for an ARC. Bye!
beastreader's review against another edition
2.0
I must sadly admit that this book did not turn out to be a winner for me. This does make me very sad as I am a fan of steam punk. It has been a little while since I have read a steam punk book and therefore, was excited to jump into this book.
While, this book did have some of the vibes of steam punk, I would say it was more "fantasy". Also, it did feel like it was geared for the younger audience. Which is fine as that is what this book's target reading audience is. Yet, there are so many young adult novels out there now that are being read by adults alike that it is nice when you read one that appeals to both audience levels.
It seemed like the story really was slow to get going. I understood the set up of Gabby and Kemple and what was happening to them. Yet, after a while, it seemed this was accomplished within a few chapters and did not need to play out as long. The further I did read into the story; the better it did get. However, by this point I was not feeling the story anymore. This book may not have been for me but this does not mean someone else might not enjoy it.
While, this book did have some of the vibes of steam punk, I would say it was more "fantasy". Also, it did feel like it was geared for the younger audience. Which is fine as that is what this book's target reading audience is. Yet, there are so many young adult novels out there now that are being read by adults alike that it is nice when you read one that appeals to both audience levels.
It seemed like the story really was slow to get going. I understood the set up of Gabby and Kemple and what was happening to them. Yet, after a while, it seemed this was accomplished within a few chapters and did not need to play out as long. The further I did read into the story; the better it did get. However, by this point I was not feeling the story anymore. This book may not have been for me but this does not mean someone else might not enjoy it.
leapearlreads's review against another edition
5.0
Beast Heart starts with introducing nine-year-old Gabrielle, or Gabby, who is visiting the doctor again for her hand... issue. The mystery of what's happening with her hand is instantly intriguing, then finding out what's actually going on absolutely hooked me! Then the story moves on, introducing Kemple, a boy living with an abusive foster parent and a young girl named Josephyn. The parallels of both stories continue for half of the novel then it moves onto part two where Gabby now goes by Brielle and is 16. Eventually the story weaves both Brielle and Kemple together. The plot became a little predictable at that point, but I was so invested I wasn't let down by the predictability at all.
The world building is smooth, it feels just steampunk enough with the airships, engineers, Gabby's (super cool!) goggles, and various mechanical parts. Not at all what I expected from this book, but a welcome surprise! Roughly 25% of my way through, I had a hard time from then on putting the book down for bathroom breaks, let alone stopping all together, so I ended up finishing the book in one sitting... oops! Both Kemple's and Gabrielle's stories drew me in so deeply, I realized I cared for both of them and just had to know what happened... if that's not a sign of great writing, I don't know what is.
I highly recommend this book with its fantasy and steampunk aspects... a little beauty and the beast-esque as well! Even with the cliffhanger ending, it's a worthwhile read, for sure! I just need book two now ;)
Thank you Meerkat Press and LibraryThing for the advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest review.
The world building is smooth, it feels just steampunk enough with the airships, engineers, Gabby's (super cool!) goggles, and various mechanical parts. Not at all what I expected from this book, but a welcome surprise! Roughly 25% of my way through, I had a hard time from then on putting the book down for bathroom breaks, let alone stopping all together, so I ended up finishing the book in one sitting... oops! Both Kemple's and Gabrielle's stories drew me in so deeply, I realized I cared for both of them and just had to know what happened... if that's not a sign of great writing, I don't know what is.
I highly recommend this book with its fantasy and steampunk aspects... a little beauty and the beast-esque as well! Even with the cliffhanger ending, it's a worthwhile read, for sure! I just need book two now ;)
Thank you Meerkat Press and LibraryThing for the advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest review.
crystals_library's review against another edition
5.0
Beast Heart is a combo of sci-fi steampunk and horror. The alternating narrative starts with 9 year old Gabrielle who just wants to be "normal". She has strange goggles and steam for a hand. When her mom is killed by a vicious beast, Gabby declares revenge.
Kemple and Josephyn are foster kids who decide to run away from their abusive foster dad. When they arrive in the city, they have to fend for themselves and look after each other. Kemple decides to face one of his fears and ends up getting scratched. This scratch festers and starts to turn Kemple into some kind of beast.
I was genuinely rooting for all three of these kids! Each one is a badass in their own way. Beast Heart is the first book in the trilogy and I cannot wait for book 2. I am ready to jump off the cliff!
Kemple and Josephyn are foster kids who decide to run away from their abusive foster dad. When they arrive in the city, they have to fend for themselves and look after each other. Kemple decides to face one of his fears and ends up getting scratched. This scratch festers and starts to turn Kemple into some kind of beast.
I was genuinely rooting for all three of these kids! Each one is a badass in their own way. Beast Heart is the first book in the trilogy and I cannot wait for book 2. I am ready to jump off the cliff!
brewtifulfiction's review against another edition
5.0
*Full review to come on the blog*
First book in a trilogy, I'm just sad that I have to wait for book number two.
At 240 pages long it isn't a novella but in my opinion not quite a novel.
With its steampunk theme, I'd say it comes under the dystopian genre and honestly is utterly fascinating.
Broken down into parts and following two protagonists, this is a story with depth and grit.
Impressed would be an understatement.
First book in a trilogy, I'm just sad that I have to wait for book number two.
At 240 pages long it isn't a novella but in my opinion not quite a novel.
With its steampunk theme, I'd say it comes under the dystopian genre and honestly is utterly fascinating.
Broken down into parts and following two protagonists, this is a story with depth and grit.
Impressed would be an understatement.
kittyg's review
3.0
* I was sent this for free from the author in exchange for an honest review *
This book was super fun and easy to get into. The story is fast paced and covers things like magical misty-clockwork appendages, beast-form people, vicious cats, traumatic events, and revenge.
I liked that it had a lot of different bits, but was condensed to two main PoVs who tell the tale, Gabby and Kemple.
Gabby is a girl who never fits in because of her hand, and she is forced to grow up from a very young ages due to a very traumatic event which takes place in her childhood.
Kemple too has a hard upbringing, but he has to face something dark about himself which is scary and ominous and not something he knows how to handle.
The story alternated views to tell their tales and ultimately how they overlap and it works well.
I do think this is a short first book and therefore it's not as character-heavy as I would have liked. I think we could have had far more development, but I liked both the main PoVs.
The magic is a decent bit of the story, although the explaination of the magic isn't really given.
Overall a fun little steampunk-inspired book and a quick read too. 3.5*s from me.
This book was super fun and easy to get into. The story is fast paced and covers things like magical misty-clockwork appendages, beast-form people, vicious cats, traumatic events, and revenge.
I liked that it had a lot of different bits, but was condensed to two main PoVs who tell the tale, Gabby and Kemple.
Gabby is a girl who never fits in because of her hand, and she is forced to grow up from a very young ages due to a very traumatic event which takes place in her childhood.
Kemple too has a hard upbringing, but he has to face something dark about himself which is scary and ominous and not something he knows how to handle.
The story alternated views to tell their tales and ultimately how they overlap and it works well.
I do think this is a short first book and therefore it's not as character-heavy as I would have liked. I think we could have had far more development, but I liked both the main PoVs.
The magic is a decent bit of the story, although the explaination of the magic isn't really given.
Overall a fun little steampunk-inspired book and a quick read too. 3.5*s from me.
phanniebookworm's review
3.0
This review has also been published on my blog: https://phanniethegingerbookworm.wordpress.com
DISCLAIMER: A review copy of this book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own!
This book has a great premise and it’s definitely promising. I don’t know if I wanted too much out of this book or if in the end, it might not have been my thing but I missed something in this book. Something that would have given it a 4 or 5 – star rating. Now please don’t ask me what it is because I don’t even know what it is. I just know that I liked the book but it wasn’t enough for me to love it.
But let’s talk about the positive things. I loved the writing style it was unique and well written. I don’t read many steampunk books, even though I find the genre very fascinating, but I would say that the writing style used by the author is perfect for that genre. It also felt very mysterious.
Another great thing about Beast Heart is the length of the chapters. They are not long which makes it easier to read the book. At least in my opinion, because in this case, you can easily take breaks in-between.
Beast Heart kept me entertained and now I can’t wait to read more of it so that I can continue to follow the path of our main characters.
Overall, Beast Heart is a great introduction to a new steampunk series. If you love this genre or if you are a beginner in this genre I feel like this book might be a great read for you!
DISCLAIMER: A review copy of this book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own!
This book has a great premise and it’s definitely promising. I don’t know if I wanted too much out of this book or if in the end, it might not have been my thing but I missed something in this book. Something that would have given it a 4 or 5 – star rating. Now please don’t ask me what it is because I don’t even know what it is. I just know that I liked the book but it wasn’t enough for me to love it.
But let’s talk about the positive things. I loved the writing style it was unique and well written. I don’t read many steampunk books, even though I find the genre very fascinating, but I would say that the writing style used by the author is perfect for that genre. It also felt very mysterious.
Another great thing about Beast Heart is the length of the chapters. They are not long which makes it easier to read the book. At least in my opinion, because in this case, you can easily take breaks in-between.
Beast Heart kept me entertained and now I can’t wait to read more of it so that I can continue to follow the path of our main characters.
Overall, Beast Heart is a great introduction to a new steampunk series. If you love this genre or if you are a beginner in this genre I feel like this book might be a great read for you!
More...