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timinbc's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. This reads as if it was written to fulfill a contract obligation, or because "we need a steampunk novel".
Too many formulaic components - and this may be a problem with the genre rather than this particular author - and too many chunks of boilerplate text.
Every time characters of the opposite sex enter the room, it's tea time. Every time two men come together, it's time for some brandy, sometimes with a pipe. Yawn.
Implausible hero. Makes Batman look like a wimp. The more he got hurt/maimed and carried on by Sheer Grit, the more I thought of Monty Python's armless, legless Black Knight saying, "It's only a flesh wound."
And a fight scene on top of a moving train? Puh-leeze. Is that a tribute to older books or something? Can't think of another reason to roll out such a dusty old trope. Especially the part where he is This must be a tribute to the days of pulp novels. But as I read it I imagined the author laughing at the gullible reader. This part was almost an insult to the reader.
We are asked to believe that automata can be programmed by punch cards to serve tea. OK, maybe we do have a whole generation that has never SEEN a punch card, much less used them and programmed with them, but I have been there and done that, and this is taurine excrement. This is right up there with the adeledicnander drive and and the Hulk punching out a spaceship.
There were a few good ideas in here, so I'm not quite into "there go three hours of my life that I'll never get back" territory, but I'm close. This is the fast-food version of steampunk.
I won't bother with the sequel.
Too many formulaic components - and this may be a problem with the genre rather than this particular author - and too many chunks of boilerplate text.
Every time characters of the opposite sex enter the room, it's tea time. Every time two men come together, it's time for some brandy, sometimes with a pipe. Yawn.
Implausible hero. Makes Batman look like a wimp. The more he got hurt/maimed and carried on by Sheer Grit, the more I thought of Monty Python's armless, legless Black Knight saying, "It's only a flesh wound."
And a fight scene on top of a moving train? Puh-leeze. Is that a tribute to older books or something? Can't think of another reason to roll out such a dusty old trope. Especially the part where he is
Spoiler
hanging by one hand, badly injured, but somehow reaches up, pulls the bad guy off balance, then heaves himself one-handed onto the roof.We are asked to believe that automata can be programmed by punch cards to serve tea. OK, maybe we do have a whole generation that has never SEEN a punch card, much less used them and programmed with them, but I have been there and done that, and this is taurine excrement. This is right up there with the adeledicnander drive and and the Hulk punching out a spaceship.
Spoiler
We are also never shown how the automata are taught to fight and pilot airships.There were a few good ideas in here, so I'm not quite into "there go three hours of my life that I'll never get back" territory, but I'm close. This is the fast-food version of steampunk.
I won't bother with the sequel.
t8r's review against another edition
3.0
This was a neat book. I liked the style and the plot kept a good pace. The science was pretty out-there, but I guess it has to be for a steampunk/sci-fi/Sherlockesque story. It's a good quick read if you like this kind of novel. The vivid imagery helps to bring it to life.
dromwald's review against another edition
4.0
Love this series of books which blends a delicious cocktail of steampunk and detective mystery with a generous side order of the occult.
andrew_j_r's review against another edition
I really liked this book. it took a couple of attempts to get into it, mainly because I was trying to read too many things at once, but I am so glad that I did.
The basic idea seems to be a mystery set in late Victorian England - but with science quite beyond what was available at the time. It is a Victorian London of airships, and steam powered coaches that drive alongside the more traditional horse drawn variety. So although it is a Science Fiction setting, the author has done an amazing job of creating a slice of history that (obviously) never actually happened, as well as making it believable.
The lead characters (Newbury and Hobbes) are great fun, and there is a kind of X-Fileseque "will they/won't they" worn into the narrative. This is the first of a series, and will certinly read the others as the actual plot of this one kept me guessing what was actually happening. Obviously the two main plot strands were going to be linked, but it was not too obvious in what way, and I enjoyed guessing as I went along, although I never actually worked it out.
So, all in all a thoroughly enjoyable read.
beleivalbe
The basic idea seems to be a mystery set in late Victorian England - but with science quite beyond what was available at the time. It is a Victorian London of airships, and steam powered coaches that drive alongside the more traditional horse drawn variety. So although it is a Science Fiction setting, the author has done an amazing job of creating a slice of history that (obviously) never actually happened, as well as making it believable.
The lead characters (Newbury and Hobbes) are great fun, and there is a kind of X-Fileseque "will they/won't they" worn into the narrative. This is the first of a series, and will certinly read the others as the actual plot of this one kept me guessing what was actually happening. Obviously the two main plot strands were going to be linked, but it was not too obvious in what way, and I enjoyed guessing as I went along, although I never actually worked it out.
So, all in all a thoroughly enjoyable read.
beleivalbe
biophile's review against another edition
2.0
Boring steam-punk Holmesian riff; should have been published as YA. Best avoided if possible.
nation's review against another edition
2.0
I really can't complain. This book didn't have any egregious errors. It was a fun, mediocre steampunk adventure thriller. If you're into steampunk adventure thrillers with liberal smatterings of clockwork robots, airships, Victorian etiquette, zombies, and Victorian chauvinism, you'll enjoy this quick read. I give it two stars because, while I enjoy all these things, it felt a little paint-by-the-numbers, and nothing stood out as being exceptional.
fluffles's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
pekoegal's review against another edition
2.0
This book couldn't decide what it wanted to be - mystery, horror, steampunk, action-adventure. In the end it was just a mediocre mishmash of genres.
It's a quickly paced book, which makes it hard to put down. The characters aren't especially unique or interesting though and it got hard for me to remember who was who.
Overall, just kinda "meh".
It's a quickly paced book, which makes it hard to put down. The characters aren't especially unique or interesting though and it got hard for me to remember who was who.
Overall, just kinda "meh".
cathyreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
3.0
kiwialexa's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Mental illness, Colonisation, Death, Drug abuse, and Fire/Fire injury