Scan barcode
A review by abrittlebee
The Brass Queen by Elizabeth Chatsworth
2.0
Stylistically, this novel is lovely. The tone and cadence was really uplifting and addictive. However, the world didn’t feel very well thought out, and my opinion of the protagonists is mixed.
It is my understanding that the steampunk genre is meant to be an alternate history in which steam power remained the dominant energy industry. Therefore affecting daily living with the inclusion of various forms of steam propulsion and mechanics. In The Brass Queen the steampunk elements are superficial in that they seem in no way industrial or otherwise integral to the world beyond being aesthetically appealing. So, they could have been absent and the plot and the world would have lost nothing, which was a little problematic for me.
Out of the two protagonists, Trusdale was my favourite. While I wanted to like Constance, because her set up as a secret weaponsmith was interesting, I found that I couldn’t get past her haughty attitude. I think she was meant to come off as independent and aware of her self-worth, but she asserted her independence through talking AT the other characters rather than TO them. The result is a female character that is not so much independent as she is illogically demanding and demeaning to those around her. This would have been fine if it was meant to be a character flaw for her to eventually overcome, but it didn’t feel intentional, and I didn’t really feel she had changed at all by the end of the book. The other characters, namely Trusdale as the love interest, just became more willing to shrug off her “quirks.”
On the whole, I don’t think I enjoyed this book enough to recommend it, but the writing style does have potential so I would be willing to try with this author again.
It is my understanding that the steampunk genre is meant to be an alternate history in which steam power remained the dominant energy industry. Therefore affecting daily living with the inclusion of various forms of steam propulsion and mechanics. In The Brass Queen the steampunk elements are superficial in that they seem in no way industrial or otherwise integral to the world beyond being aesthetically appealing. So, they could have been absent and the plot and the world would have lost nothing, which was a little problematic for me.
Out of the two protagonists, Trusdale was my favourite. While I wanted to like Constance, because her set up as a secret weaponsmith was interesting, I found that I couldn’t get past her haughty attitude. I think she was meant to come off as independent and aware of her self-worth, but she asserted her independence through talking AT the other characters rather than TO them. The result is a female character that is not so much independent as she is illogically demanding and demeaning to those around her. This would have been fine if it was meant to be a character flaw for her to eventually overcome, but it didn’t feel intentional, and I didn’t really feel she had changed at all by the end of the book. The other characters, namely Trusdale as the love interest, just became more willing to shrug off her “quirks.”
On the whole, I don’t think I enjoyed this book enough to recommend it, but the writing style does have potential so I would be willing to try with this author again.