Scan barcode
annkitsch's review against another edition
1.0
Exposition over exposition. Barely no dialogue or Multi dimensional characters. Waste of time
booksforbrooks's review against another edition
2.0
There's a good story in here, but a lot of the plot gets lost beneath the language that the author uses. Fantastic characters, original plot, and some parts were genuinely gripping, but the story could have been told in half the number of pages.
I think this book suffers from 'showy-off-author' syndrome.
I think this book suffers from 'showy-off-author' syndrome.
adularia25's review against another edition
5.0
What an amazing book! Just incredible. The images stay with you, haunting and unwilling to be banished to the back of your mind. Warning! It does get pretty dark, deliciously dark for those who enjoy that sort of thing. In essence there is a secret cabal is bent to take over the world, starting with England, and only three unlikely heroes have any chance of stopping them. It is wonderful to see how the characters weave in and out of each others' plots without their notice (before they join up). What's even more incredible is how all three main protagonists are characters that, even with their strong personalities, work well together. Their flaws and strengths are perfect compliments. Sure there are some parts of the book where all the weaving threads of plot get a little tangled and don't read quite as smoothly as one would like, but overall this is one of my all-time favorite Steampunk books!
fatamo's review against another edition
5.0
*WARNING - this review contains a hint of a spoiler*
I have never in my life been so relieved to finish a book!
This one took some serious effort on my part - but despite the length and the seeming impenetrability of it, I enjoyed every single word in this amazing story.
Dahlquist focuses on three main characters, and as all great adventure stories begin, you can tell from the beginning that they are the most unlikely allies imaginable: a bookish, patriotic Doctor Svenson from the fictitious European country of Macklenburg with a hint of a dark past; a shady (literally), red-jacketed, assassin by the name of Cardinal Chang, also with more than a hint of a dark past; and finally the iron-willed yet delicate, ladylike yet independent Miss Celestial Temple... does she have a dark past? I think this book created it for her.
There was murder, intrigue, sinister German-accented characters lurking about palatial manors, lust, unstoppable ambition... What more could you want in a story? Blue glass lady-automatons who can suck out your hopes and dreams with their eyes? Ok, you got it.
I made the biggest mistake of abandoning the book for about a month or so, and came back to it a bit confused. Anyways, as a result of this fantastic novel, I am now a full convert to the Great Cult of Steampunk.
*flies away in a dirigible*
I have never in my life been so relieved to finish a book!
This one took some serious effort on my part - but despite the length and the seeming impenetrability of it, I enjoyed every single word in this amazing story.
Dahlquist focuses on three main characters, and as all great adventure stories begin, you can tell from the beginning that they are the most unlikely allies imaginable: a bookish, patriotic Doctor Svenson from the fictitious European country of Macklenburg with a hint of a dark past; a shady (literally), red-jacketed, assassin by the name of Cardinal Chang, also with more than a hint of a dark past; and finally the iron-willed yet delicate, ladylike yet independent Miss Celestial Temple... does she have a dark past? I think this book created it for her.
There was murder, intrigue, sinister German-accented characters lurking about palatial manors, lust, unstoppable ambition... What more could you want in a story? Blue glass lady-automatons who can suck out your hopes and dreams with their eyes? Ok, you got it.
I made the biggest mistake of abandoning the book for about a month or so, and came back to it a bit confused. Anyways, as a result of this fantastic novel, I am now a full convert to the Great Cult of Steampunk.
*flies away in a dirigible*
cephaloverlord's review against another edition
3.0
I started listening to the audiobook but felt like the story was very facts-based, with little characterization and that I was generally missing a lot of the story. 10 hours into listening, I notice it is abridged! Grumble! There is no unabridged version as far as I could tell. I wasn't a huge fan of how they abridged the story. There is so little connection between the characters and the story just goes from one topic to the other with very little transition. It was hard to catch it while because there is nothing in the writing that says "we're changing main characters in this chapter". This would have been a 4 star book, but the audiobook made it a 3, sadly.
Thank goodness, I have a physical copy of the book. This story is much better unabridged (as most stories are). This story is different than anything I've read recently in a good way! This book has been on my list for a while and I'm finally glad I got to it! The unlikely trio at the center of this book are very interesting. I did not like each of them at various points in the story, but overall, they are much more likeable than the villains!
Thank goodness, I have a physical copy of the book. This story is much better unabridged (as most stories are). This story is different than anything I've read recently in a good way! This book has been on my list for a while and I'm finally glad I got to it! The unlikely trio at the center of this book are very interesting. I did not like each of them at various points in the story, but overall, they are much more likeable than the villains!
hpstrangelove's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this, but it's also an abridged edition, so that may be why. Even being abridged, it was quite long. Alfred Molina is the narrator, and I think he did an excellent job. The story is self-contained, as oppossed to the second book in the series. It does get difficult at times to keep track of all the characters, but eventually I managed to.
endnull's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
aigra's review against another edition
2.0
This book could have been a lot better with some heavy editing, less coincidences and narrow escapes and a bit more actual crime solving. It reminds me of one of these Doctor Who episodes that look good and have a lot of running down corridors and things exploding. And when you sit in front of your TV you are enjoying it and you're having a good time ... but then you walk away and take a minute to think about it all and suddenly it doesn't make all that much sense anymore.
I might give the second book a try, because I really like the weird science in it. Yes, that too doesn't make a lot of sense, but if weird science would make sense it would be actual science, so I'm fine with that. It can't be compared to something like a series of unlikely events that happen to reunite the three heroes in one room.
I might give the second book a try, because I really like the weird science in it. Yes, that too doesn't make a lot of sense, but if weird science would make sense it would be actual science, so I'm fine with that. It can't be compared to something like a series of unlikely events that happen to reunite the three heroes in one room.
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
5.0
I read this 760 page book in 5 days! It was one of those books you stay up and lose sleep for to keep reading. This was reminiscent of gothic novels like Jane Eyre, had similarities to Bram Stoker's Dracula, and reminded me of Harry Potter for grownups or the drawn-out, quest- like story of the Lord of the Rings series. The three heroes, Miss Temple, Cardinal Chang, and Dr. Svenson, are compelling in their humanness and super-hero-like behavior. Their hold on their humanness is what keeps you rooting for them throughout the unbelievably challenging adventure and intrigue, as they fight an insidious evil cabal bent on world domination through mind control of their "adherents" using an at-once entrancing and imprisoning alchemy of specially prepared blue glass "books" that entrap the memories and experiences of those recruited to the cabal's intentions.
--Recommended by Susie
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1072884__Sglass+books+of+the+dream+eaters__Orightresult__X5?lang=eng&suite=pearl
--Recommended by Susie
Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1072884__Sglass+books+of+the+dream+eaters__Orightresult__X5?lang=eng&suite=pearl