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3 reviews for:
Twits in Love: A Steampunk Distraction (The Twits Chronicles Book 1)
Tom Alan Robbins
3.17 AVERAGE
3 reviews for:
Twits in Love: A Steampunk Distraction (The Twits Chronicles Book 1)
Tom Alan Robbins
3.17 AVERAGE
challenging
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was pleasantly surprised by Twits in Love. As a debut novella, it was fantastic. I initially picked it up because it was marketed as a steampunk comedy, and it absolutely hit the mark. The dialogue throughout is humorous and witty, keeping the tone delightful and engaging.
The story follows Cyril and his ever-reliable butler, Bentley—a steam-powered automaton. While the novella's primary focus is comedy, it also poses some thought provoking questions: what happens to a society when all major global issues like war and famine have been eradicated? Robbins explores a world where people are free to pursue leisure and pleasure without any pressing demands, but at a cost. Without challenges or a sense of purpose, life becomes a series of routines—frequenting gentlemen’s clubs with ever-changing, arbitrary dress codes or spending weekends in the countryside.
Beneath the humor, there are hints of a bleak reality. The world has been irreparably damaged by a mass extinction event, factory-made food has replaced natural sustenance, the Arctic ice has melted, and acid rain can ruin even the simplest plans. While the characters seem content in their routines, they live in a world diminished by these losses—yet they don't fully grasp what they've been deprived of. It reminded me of some of the themes explored in the movie Idiocracy
Although this is set in a steampunk world, there are strong dystopian undercurrents that remain largely unexplored. I would have loved to see more of these darker themes developed, as they offer a fascinating contrast to the comedy.
Overall, Twits in Love is an entertaining and witty novella with layers of thought-provoking ideas beneath its humorous surface. While I wish it delved deeper into its dystopian aspects, it’s a strong debut, and I am definitely going to continue the rest of the series.
The story follows Cyril and his ever-reliable butler, Bentley—a steam-powered automaton. While the novella's primary focus is comedy, it also poses some thought provoking questions: what happens to a society when all major global issues like war and famine have been eradicated? Robbins explores a world where people are free to pursue leisure and pleasure without any pressing demands, but at a cost. Without challenges or a sense of purpose, life becomes a series of routines—frequenting gentlemen’s clubs with ever-changing, arbitrary dress codes or spending weekends in the countryside.
Beneath the humor, there are hints of a bleak reality. The world has been irreparably damaged by a mass extinction event, factory-made food has replaced natural sustenance, the Arctic ice has melted, and acid rain can ruin even the simplest plans. While the characters seem content in their routines, they live in a world diminished by these losses—yet they don't fully grasp what they've been deprived of. It reminded me of some of the themes explored in the movie Idiocracy
Although this is set in a steampunk world, there are strong dystopian undercurrents that remain largely unexplored. I would have loved to see more of these darker themes developed, as they offer a fascinating contrast to the comedy.
Overall, Twits in Love is an entertaining and witty novella with layers of thought-provoking ideas beneath its humorous surface. While I wish it delved deeper into its dystopian aspects, it’s a strong debut, and I am definitely going to continue the rest of the series.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
medium-paced