Tag Archives: steampunk

Spotlight on Steampunk: Etiquette & Espionage

By Gail Carriger, published by Atom Books.

Goodreads Synopsis: It’s one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It’s quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School.

Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners—and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine’s, young ladies learn to finish…everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage—in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year’s education.

My Review: This was such a fun book! I’ve never read anything by Gail Carriger before, though it’s been said that she’s one of the best steampunk writers out there at the moment. I’m really glad to say I loved her writing, so I’m really looking forward to reading Soulless, now!

Etiquette and Espionage is the first story in a new series featuring Sophronia, but set in the same world as Gail’s Soulless books. That means steampunk awesomeness, plus vampires and werewolves. Sophronia is a bit of a different girl; who’s always exploring and being generally unladylike – and one day, her mother decides that it’s time she’s sent off to a finishing school, in order to learn more etiquette and become a better lady. It’s a bit of a give away in the title; the finishing school isn’t entirely what Sophronia’s mother thinks it is! In fact, they learn to curtsy on top of learning espionage skills- and a couple of the teachers aren’t human, too.

I absolutely loved the idea behind this book. It has elements of Victorian society- you can see that through the etiquette school, obviously- and with a lot of steampunk fantasy thrown in. Early on in the book, I learned about the Flywaymen- highwaymen, but in airships- I loved that idea, and especially the part that played later on in the book! The school reminded me, a lot, of a Victorian version of Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls school series- where everyone on the outside of the building thinks it’s a normal girl’s school- but on the inside, it’s an espionage training school. Though it seems very similar, it definitely didn’t copy anything. Etiquette & Espionage had a very original plot, and I really loved reading it! At some points, though, I felt like some parts weren’t explained as well as they could have been. Reading this in school, maybe I didn’t take in everything… so was the mysterious Prototype explained in more depth? I’m not that sure! I didn’t feel it was, massively- so I hope more is revealed in book 2, should the same events carry on.

Sophronia is a great character, and led the story really well. I liked her, because whilst she was pretty girly at points, she had a tomboy element that I could really relate to! I loved her relationships with three of the supporting characters- Dimity, Vieve, and Soap. Dimity is a little irritating at points, but it’s hard not to like her. Vieve is a nine year old mechanical genius. Spin-off novels about her, please, Gail! (: Soap is a boy who works beneath the school, and he was so loveable. Thought not that much was revealed about him in this book, I could tell that he and Sophronia were definitely growing quite close. I really want them to be together in the sequel- he’s such a brilliant male character (and, having a finishing school student and a coal worker would cause some very amusing problems).

Overall, Etiquette and Espionage was an enjoyable read. Sophronia is a relatable character who I loved as a protagonist. At points, I really wanted Soap to take center stage more, because he was just… awesome! More of him and his inventing, slightly crazy companion Vieve, soon please! Gail’s writing is brilliant. She combines action and thrills, with humor and laughs. I just fell in love with her writing! It’s very addictive- as I found myself hooked on the book, and a big reason was because I loved Gail’s vivid steampunk descriptions, and witty dialogue, hugely. Another reason was the plot; which was really well written and fun. I think there’s a lot to be built upon in this book, so I’m hoping more things that I want to know are revealed in book two, which is Curtsies and Conspiracies!

My rating:

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I received a copy of Etiquette and Espionage from Nina at Death, Books and Tea, as a part of a book swap (Thanks Nina!)

Spotlight on Steampunk: Larklight

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First review of the fortnight! I devoured this book in a couple of sittings over the weekend, and it was brilliant. There can’t be a steampunk event without a Philip Reeve book, right? Here’s the first in his MG/Teen series- Larklight! (:

By Philip Reeve, published by Bloomsbury.

Larklight (Larklight, #1)

Goodreads Synopsis: Arthur (Art) Mumby and his irritating sister Myrtle live with their father in a huge and rambling house called Larklight…that just happens to be traveling through outer space. When a visitor called Mr. Webster arrives for a visit, it is far from an innocent social call. Before long Art and Myrtle are off on an adventure to the furthest reaches of space, where they will do battle with evil forces in order to save each other–and the universe. A fantastically original Victorian tale set in an outer space world that might have come from the imaginations of Jules Verne or L Frank Baum, but has a unique gravitational pull all its own…

My Review: This was the best book to start the fortnight on, as it was so rich with imagination and craziness. I loved it! The story begins with a brother and a sister, who are living in a crazy, huge house-mansion-ship in space called Larklight, which was their mother’s home before she died. Already, I was sucked into the story, because the premise was so awesome. The time of the events in the book is the early 1800’s- but the Victorian era I’ve learned about here has a massive twist. Victoria’s empire has expanded not only over the globe, but over space and surrounding planets. I couldn’t help but squeal here. It was so original and a really fun setting!

This book doesn’t hang around, world-building before the action. The details all fall into place perfectly over the course of the book, and you’re thrown into the action almost immediately. Larklight gets a visitor ,which Art and Myrtle are immediately already suspicious of. Then, when this visitor turns out to be a giant spider with a giant army, things happen. Creepy things, and adventurous things, all of which I don’t want to detail on in fear I’ll drop spoilers- but I’ll just say that it was so fun following everything! This book would suit anybody- whether they love sci-fi, fast-paced adventures, or pirates, or space. Or pirates in space (This happens! How brilliant! It had a very Treasure Planet feel.)

The story moved quite fast for me. With a lot packed into the plot, I was expecting the pace to be a little bit slower. However, the book moved really, really quickly. I did have to read over a few paragraphs at multiple points, because there was a lot to take in. Larklight really is a wild adventure, and moved a bit too fast in places, but that was made up for with the writing style- a twelve year old’s perspective!

Art is such a great character. Philip Reeve has captured a twelve year old’s personality so well. Art is a really easy character to like, and the story is written by “him,” so in places he complains a lot about his older sister, and skips to the battle scenes. His actions, and perspective on everything, made me giggle a bit. I couldn’t stand his sister Myrtle- though. She just seemed the opposite of Art; stuck up and unfriendly. I think it was intended for a reader to dislike her at first- because later in the novel, we get her diary entries, and whilst she’s still a bit annoying in them, I did grow to like her a little more through those.

Overall, Larklight is an imaginative, roller-coaster of a book! The world was simply amazing- I loved the historical aspects that Philip Reeve has used, and put his own twists on. All so original! I planned on not reading the sequel (Starcross) this month yet, but I might end up reading it, actually- I want more of the setting! More of the adventure! The plot in Larklight has a very strange mixture of everything, but it all works, thanks to Philip Reeve, and his brilliant writing and world-building skills. The two siblings whom the story is centered around are both very three-dimensional characters, though I still really couldn’t like Myrtle much. Hopefully she’ll become more likeable in the rest of the series. I can’t wait to read on!

My Rating:

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I purchased a copy of Larklight from a local bookstore!

Clockwork Prince

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By Cassandra Clare, published by Walker.

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)

**To read my review of the first in The Infernal Devices, click HERE**

After the events of Clockwork Angel, Tessa has finally found safety in the sanctuary of the Shadowhunter Institute of London. As training commences for Tessa , rogue forces inside of the Clave are plotting to kick Charlotte out of the Institute, which she is the head of. This would leave Tessa on the streets with nowhere to go, so an adventure begins for her and her new Shadowhunter friends, to find the enemy and stop them. But this enemy has connections to the Magister- which amps up the danger levels. As Tessa works with Will and Jem on a terrifying and perilous journey full of lies and betrayal, she begins to fall for Jem, who fears he has little time before death. As she becomes closer to him, Tessa begins to feel tension between her and Will. Who will she choose?

After seriously enjoying Clockwork Angel, and waiting for about a month to read the next instalment, I was so excited to start reading this. It didn’t let me down at all, in fact, it was even more amazing than the first book in the series.

I loved the plot so much. It was layered with a different and detailed story for every major character, and full of so many plot twists that kept me constantly reading. I absolutely loved the twist involving Jessamine (I’m trying to write a spoiler-free review, so I won’t say what she does!) shocked me so much. She was the last person I would expect to change the course of the story entirely, and I loved her sudden, major involvement! As always, Cassandra Clare has astounded me again with her writing. It was so complex, with switching paragraphs to different characters, but stayed understandable and enjoyable. I just love how she has about five different sub-plots going at once, and then entwines them all together in such a clever and intriguing way.

Tessa was awesome. She really came out of her shell a lot more, emotionally, in Clockwork Prince. I think she gained a whole new level of confidence too. I absolutely loved seeing her develop throughout the course of events of this book. I think she got in on the action a bit more, because she went all undercover and used her abilities for the first time since the Dark (pardon the pun, which you’ll only get if you’ve read the books (; ) events of Clockwork Angel. I also liked her developing relationship with Jem. I had felt so sympathetic for Jem in the end of the last book, and when they became a kind-of-secret item in Clockwork Prince, I did a little dance for joy. I loved Jem’s development in confidence and emotion in the book, and I loved to see that also in Will. Both of them made serious competitors for Tessa’s love in this book, and it was such a hard decision for Tessa, and I was heartbroken and overjoyed at the same time- does that make sense?- at the outcome.

Overall, Clockwork Prince was absolutely breathtaking, with a captivating plot that gripped me from the start and didn’t let me go until the last page. I fell in love with all of the character and can’t wait to read more about them! And, as this ended on such a cliffhanger, I now can’t wait to read Clockwork Princess, the last in the Infernal Devices trilogy!

The battles of Ben Kingdom: The claws of evil

Clockwork Angel

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By Cassandra Clare, published by Walker books.

Tessa Gray’s brother Nathaniel moved to London from America to get a new job, and soon Tessa follows him, ready to start a new life away from Nerw York. When she steps off of the ferry, she is introduced to the Dark Sisters, who claim they’re here to look after her.
They uncover her power- Tessa’s ability to see into the life of somebody else through a possession of theirs. After weeks of torture and seeing into people’s terrifying lives, Tessa is rescued by English teenager Will- who claims that the Dark sisters were demons and he was hunting them. Tessa begins an extraordinary life after discovering and seeking refuge with the Shadowhunters- an elite family of demon killers. As she begins to unravel the conspiracy of her missing brother, she also lands herself in trouble with Vampires. Can she save herself, Nathaniel, and choose between the two strikingly beautiful teenage shadowhunters?

I seriously enojoyed this, just as much as The Mortal Instruments! I actually wanted to finish the TMI series before starting the prequel, but oh well. I had this book at home and not city of ashes, so I picked it up instead!
I really liked the plot. It was very well structured, with some great twists that really hooked me in. I think, after reading so much about demons in City Of Ashes, it was great to read a story where the plot was mainly centered around the vampires. It was scarty at parts, and heartbreaking at other. Also, I enjoyed the touch of steampunkiness to Clockwork Angel- it was steampunk weapons and devices, in the victorian era, with demons and vampires. Plainly awesome, in my opinion.
Tessa was a brilliant protagonist. She was three dimensional, and well developed, and I felt really involved with her terrifying journey. I really loved her character- she had the strength and determination of the protagonist of The Mortal Instruments, Clary. It was really shocking to find that she was actually a demon warlock in a way- a seriously exciting plot twist.
Will and Jem made really great love interests. We saw alot of Will in the book, and as much as I loved his character and untameable personality… I think I would have liked to see more of Jem. Although there was quite a big involvement of Jem towards the ending when Tessa discovered his secret, I really would have liked to see a little more of him. Maybe I will in the sequel.

Overall, Clockwork Angel is a thrilling, steampunk read that’s great for teenagers and adults. ALthough a very big book (About 500 pages) it was so fun to read and I can’t wait to buy a cop of the sequel!

Tall Tales From Pitch End

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By Nigel McDowell, published by Hot Key Books.

Tall Tales From Pitch End

The town of Pitch End is ruled by the powerful Elders, and the citizens are watched over be clockwork sentries. Ten years after the end of a rebellion and the death of his father, nearly fifteen year old Bruno Atlas lives just like any other Pitch Ender- except that he has a secret. He has a forbidden book, called Tall Tales from Pitch End, and he doesn’t know that this book will change his life forever.

After he discovers a chilling, scary truth about the Elders, he runs from the town, and finds out that there are still rebels of the town, lurking in the mountains. As he teams up with them, Bruno begins an exciting journey, full of rebellion and adventure, with the Tall Tales book to guide him. Can he and his new team of rebels take down the evil Elders?

Before I review this book, can we just take a moment to stare in awe at the amazing, steampunky cover of this tale above? It is AMAZING. Possibly one of the coolest covers I have seen this year. Okay, moment over.

Tall Tales from Pitch End was brilliant. Right from the start it hooked me in- the opening was really powerful and exciting, and that excitement stayed consistent throughout the book. The plot was pretty brilliant and unpredictable, and I really enjoyed reading it. The events in the book were exciting,original, and well constructed, and kept me reading. Tall Tales from Pitch End was an imaginative, Steampunk adventure with some great twists. It was beautifully written, too!

Bruno was a really adventurous protagonist who I really enjoyed reading about. He was a well developed, and loveable character. The evil dudes, the Elders, made great and imaginative bad guys; seriously ruthless people who kept so many secrets from their town. I loved reading Bruno’s rebellion against them!

Overall, I really enjoyed this. Tall Tales was a great debut. The story was great, and I so want to read more. Highly recommended for young teens!