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A review by almondcookies
The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter by Rod Duncan
3.0
This was a fun book, but it felt very contained - like the author was holding back. Very akin to being shown the inner workings of an underwater plankton community, when in fact, we should be looking at the whole ocean and the vast majority of sea life underneath. Does that make sense? I hope so. That's the best analogy I could think of.
There's more at play that we aren't privy to, especially as this is supposed to be the start of 'The Fall of the Gaslit Empire'. Where is the fall? Where is the revolution? (Spoiler: I've just finished the second book, which is more fun than this one, but I'm still waiting for it). Fundamentally, there are some problems with managing expectations. I picked up this book expecting the downfall of an era, but instead I got The Adventures Of A MC That Lives Dual Lives. Which would be completely fine and very fun. If that's what I thought I was getting.
There were a few things made me question whether I missed something. For example, Julia's parents were suddenly very keen on helping her, even though they didn't know of her double life, or the circumstances behind why the Duke and the Patent Office were after her. It's also implied by Julia at the start of the book, that if her parents knew, they'd want her to cease interaction with Elizabeth, so what gives?
I did really enjoy the set up and look into the world of showmen and illusionists. The world building was a bit hit and miss for me, but the part that really carried was the world of the bullet catchers. Considering this was a steampunk setting, I didn't see much of that coming through until the alchemic machine came in. Then again, isn't that more alchemy than steam punk?
Last note: for the entire duration of the book, I kept asking myself, why on earth is this called The Bullet Catcher's Daughter? The MC's father isn't even alive!
Biggest plot twist of the book - the titular character is not the MC. It is the person who commissions her. She's not an aristocrat, she's a bullet catcher's daughter in disguise. An important one too, it seems. Or rather, what she holds is important.
There's more at play that we aren't privy to, especially as this is supposed to be the start of 'The Fall of the Gaslit Empire'. Where is the fall? Where is the revolution? (Spoiler: I've just finished the second book, which is more fun than this one, but I'm still waiting for it). Fundamentally, there are some problems with managing expectations. I picked up this book expecting the downfall of an era, but instead I got The Adventures Of A MC That Lives Dual Lives. Which would be completely fine and very fun. If that's what I thought I was getting.
There were a few things made me question whether I missed something. For example, Julia's parents were suddenly very keen on helping her, even though they didn't know of her double life, or the circumstances behind why the Duke and the Patent Office were after her. It's also implied by Julia at the start of the book, that if her parents knew, they'd want her to cease interaction with Elizabeth, so what gives?
I did really enjoy the set up and look into the world of showmen and illusionists. The world building was a bit hit and miss for me, but the part that really carried was the world of the bullet catchers. Considering this was a steampunk setting, I didn't see much of that coming through until the alchemic machine came in. Then again, isn't that more alchemy than steam punk?
Last note: for the entire duration of the book, I kept asking myself, why on earth is this called The Bullet Catcher's Daughter? The MC's father isn't even alive!
Biggest plot twist of the book - the titular character is not the MC. It is the person who commissions her. She's not an aristocrat, she's a bullet catcher's daughter in disguise. An important one too, it seems. Or rather, what she holds is important.