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mary_soon_lee's review
3.0
This rather short novel is the first in the Brass and Glass trilogy, improbable steampunk where cities float above boiling seas. The main character, Svetlana, is an airship captain who operates on the questionable side of the law. I found it mildly entertaining, but it suffered in comparison to Robyn Bennis's Signal Airship books, which I read recently, also steampunk and likewise centered on an airship captain.
I found the book implausible and not charming enough for me to overlook its implausibility. I think I was meant to find Svetlana and her crew beguiling, but instead they seemed -- like the airships and the world in general -- rather superficially rendered. For instance, various of Svetlana's crewmates and friends are endangered during the course of the story. She is nominally worried for them, but her concern seemed mostly superficial, quickly forgotten or set aside.
Three out of five whiskey stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
I found the book implausible and not charming enough for me to overlook its implausibility. I think I was meant to find Svetlana and her crew beguiling, but instead they seemed -- like the airships and the world in general -- rather superficially rendered. For instance, various of Svetlana's crewmates and friends are endangered during the course of the story. She is nominally worried for them, but her concern seemed mostly superficial, quickly forgotten or set aside.
Three out of five whiskey stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
cj_jones's review
5.0
CoC is fast paced SteamPulp adventure, with engaging characters, an interesting and rich world, airships, and a one-eyed captain who hates corsets. It also has one of the most unique MacGuffins I've seen so far--the eponymous cask. I was sad when I bumped up against the end of the book because now I have to wait to find out more. And there are a number of questions that still need answering.
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