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apas's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
The Langdon St Ives books are fun steampunk books. Don't look for too much character developments or deeper meanings. The characters are flat and especially the villain is a caricature. But the books are nice if you want a relaxed read. This one was my favourite Langdon St Ives story that I've read.
branch_c's review against another edition
3.0
As usual, Blaylock's command of language is brilliantly clever and reading any of his books is a unique experience. The eccentric cast of characters is another constant positive with his writing, and that's certainly in evidence here.
However, I'm forced to admit that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped. There are a number of possible reasons: it could be that as eccentric as the characters are, they've become less interesting to me as they reappear in subsequent books (or new characters appear with eccentricities so similar to those of previous characters that they've become commonplace). Or it could be that I was less impressed with the supernatural aspect of this book. Blaylock's treatment of such things is generally masterfully subtle and brings with it a hint of the wondrous - but Narbondo's ghost skull obsession was, for me, a bit too clumsy compared to my expectations, and I'm afraid I still wasn't clear in the end exactly what part it was supposed to play in his grander scheme. Likewise, the outlandish steampunk aspects are less prevalent here - if only St. Ives' plan involving the elephant could have been worked into the events of the story instead of just peripheral! In fact, the plot in general was a bit slow for my liking, with too many occurrences of characters meeting in a pub to decide upon the best course of action. And finally, the tone was more grim and gloomy than I've come to expect from Blaylock, with the kidnapping aspect and Narbondo's anarchic terrorism overshadowing the story and draining much of the fun from the antics of the protagonists.
In spite of these issues, I still found it to be a solid entry in the St. Ives series. In particular, I enjoyed the expert weaving of the separate paths taken by the characters as they diverged and reconverged unexpectedly, and also the expanded role played by Alice. The ending was suitably entertaining, with St. Ives and his airship stealing the scene.
Overall, then, I have to give it a mixed review: had hoped for more, but a worthy effort nonetheless.
However, I'm forced to admit that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped. There are a number of possible reasons: it could be that as eccentric as the characters are, they've become less interesting to me as they reappear in subsequent books (or new characters appear with eccentricities so similar to those of previous characters that they've become commonplace). Or it could be that I was less impressed with the supernatural aspect of this book. Blaylock's treatment of such things is generally masterfully subtle and brings with it a hint of the wondrous - but Narbondo's ghost skull obsession was, for me, a bit too clumsy compared to my expectations, and I'm afraid I still wasn't clear in the end exactly what part it was supposed to play in his grander scheme. Likewise, the outlandish steampunk aspects are less prevalent here - if only St. Ives' plan involving the elephant could have been worked into the events of the story instead of just peripheral! In fact, the plot in general was a bit slow for my liking, with too many occurrences of characters meeting in a pub to decide upon the best course of action. And finally, the tone was more grim and gloomy than I've come to expect from Blaylock, with the kidnapping aspect and Narbondo's anarchic terrorism overshadowing the story and draining much of the fun from the antics of the protagonists.
In spite of these issues, I still found it to be a solid entry in the St. Ives series. In particular, I enjoyed the expert weaving of the separate paths taken by the characters as they diverged and reconverged unexpectedly, and also the expanded role played by Alice. The ending was suitably entertaining, with St. Ives and his airship stealing the scene.
Overall, then, I have to give it a mixed review: had hoped for more, but a worthy effort nonetheless.
mbondlamberty's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this read, and paused my day today to read it, but couldn't bring myself to give it more stars. Some of the characters (Narbondo) seem a little caracturist and wasn't particularly drawn to read anymore in these series.
Also troubled by historical fiction that includes some patently ahistorical events and leans more to steampunk without steampunk's fun.
Also troubled by historical fiction that includes some patently ahistorical events and leans more to steampunk without steampunk's fun.
thaydra's review against another edition
2.0
I love the steampunk genre, but have never actually read it before. I really wanted to love this book, but I didn't. I found it very difficult to get through. I felt like there was no depth to any of the characters, and they seemed to have no emotion despite highly traumatic events. Even the villain felt flat. Maybe if I had read the previous books in the series I would have had more background to them and felt for them more.
This book IS readable without having read the others. I could follow along well enough. I just didn't care.
This book IS readable without having read the others. I could follow along well enough. I just didn't care.
otherwyrld's review against another edition
3.0
It's odd that I haven't encountered James Blaylock before, despite my being a SF and Fantasy fan for nearly 40 years. Maybe it's because his output has been quite small in comparison to other authors, but it seems strange that his work has never come up on my radar despite labels describing him as one of the fathers of steampunk.
Having read this book, I'm not sure that I've actually missed very much. While I didn't dislike it, it never seemed to catch fire with me. The whole thing just plodded along until it finally dragged itself to it's inevitable climatic confrontation between hero and villain. The antagonists motives never seemed very clear, and the plot was so complicated and unwieldy that it seemed bound to failure. The protagonists never seemed to be in any great hurry, even when his own child was in mortal danger. There always seemed to be time to stop for a bite to eat and a nap.
As this was only the latest part of a series, maybe I would have benefited from reading earlier works. Other reviewers have said that this wasn't necessary, but at times the back story seemed to overwhelm the plot to the point where it became frustrating to read. At this point though, I don't feel particularly motivated to search out those earlier stories.
Having read this book, I'm not sure that I've actually missed very much. While I didn't dislike it, it never seemed to catch fire with me. The whole thing just plodded along until it finally dragged itself to it's inevitable climatic confrontation between hero and villain. The antagonists motives never seemed very clear, and the plot was so complicated and unwieldy that it seemed bound to failure. The protagonists never seemed to be in any great hurry, even when his own child was in mortal danger. There always seemed to be time to stop for a bite to eat and a nap.
As this was only the latest part of a series, maybe I would have benefited from reading earlier works. Other reviewers have said that this wasn't necessary, but at times the back story seemed to overwhelm the plot to the point where it became frustrating to read. At this point though, I don't feel particularly motivated to search out those earlier stories.
gnostalgia's review against another edition
5.0
While the story is part of a series, I had no problems with what I would call a stand-alone story. The story has a quick pace and the characters are fleshed out well (even the secondary characters). The 44 chapters are short and the book is hard to put down. Some of the chapters have that old movie serial cliff-hanger feel.
Airships, pirates, magic, I was hooked from page one and hated to see the adventure end. I loved the cliff-hanger chapters that forced you to come back for more. All in all it is an excellent book and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Airships, pirates, magic, I was hooked from page one and hated to see the adventure end. I loved the cliff-hanger chapters that forced you to come back for more. All in all it is an excellent book and I enjoyed every minute of it.
hugh's review
1.0
Maybe this makes more sense if you've read the rest of the story? I found the plot rambling and directionless, there didn't seem to be any real theme or meaning to anything, and the conclusion didn't resolve any of the issues.
The big thing that struck me is that steampunk is really built on nostalgia for the victorian age, which really whitewashes all the colonialism, brutality and rampant inequality, and I would really have hoped we've got beyond uncritical adventure novels about that by now.
The big thing that struck me is that steampunk is really built on nostalgia for the victorian age, which really whitewashes all the colonialism, brutality and rampant inequality, and I would really have hoped we've got beyond uncritical adventure novels about that by now.
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