Type: Novella
Genre: Steampunk/Action/Adventure
Price: $2.99
Grade: A
This high action adventure is the most exciting that Kali and Cedar have yet been on. This is the third in the Flash Gold series, and this novella is also the longest. With the longer story our hero and heroine get to go on an even bigger and more deadly adventure, involving air ships complete with pirates, steam powered motorcycles, murder mystery, Flash Gold, and just a touch of romance. This story is impossible to put down, and is so fun. You don't have to be a fan of the steampunk genre to enjoy it, but if you are, you certainly will! These stories have a different setting than most steampunk fiction, and I find it intriguing. Not only does it add variety to the genre, but it makes it easier for different readers to relate (no Victorian London here!) Couple that with a heroine in dirty overalls with a tool belt instead of garter belt who is simply impossible not to love, and a hero that always keeps us guessing, not to mention the powerful story telling, and it all adds up to a recipe for entertainment!
I will admit, that by the third story I was hoping we would finally get to see more developing between our hero and heroine, but unfortunately for them something always gets in their way. I can't wait for the 4th installment of this exciting series.
Showing posts with label steampunk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label steampunk. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Lily Marin - three short steampunk stories by Paul Kater
Type: Short Story Compilation
Genre: Steampunk
Price: Free
Grade: B+
Lily Marin is a mild mannered singer by day, and crime fighting bad ass by night. She has a slew of interesting gadgets to help her, but she seems to have a few secrets as well. The stories are full of fast paced action, fight scenes and a good amount of criminal butt-kicking. Lily was not born a superhero, she never expected her life to turn out like that, all she wanted to do was be a better singer. The first two stories show us what Lily can do, or at least what her alter ego the “Masked Woman” can do. The third story answers some of the nagging questions the first two brought up. Namely, how did sweet and gentle singer Lily become a vigilante, and how does she have such super human qualities?
Genre: Steampunk
Price: Free
Grade: B+
Lily Marin is a mild mannered singer by day, and crime fighting bad ass by night. She has a slew of interesting gadgets to help her, but she seems to have a few secrets as well. The stories are full of fast paced action, fight scenes and a good amount of criminal butt-kicking. Lily was not born a superhero, she never expected her life to turn out like that, all she wanted to do was be a better singer. The first two stories show us what Lily can do, or at least what her alter ego the “Masked Woman” can do. The third story answers some of the nagging questions the first two brought up. Namely, how did sweet and gentle singer Lily become a vigilante, and how does she have such super human qualities?
Saturday, January 14, 2012
The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles) by Kady Cross
Type: Novel
Genre: Steampunk
Price: $7.16
Grade: A
Anyone who has read The Strange Case of Finley Jayne is no doubt intrigued and delighted by Miss Finley Jayne, and this full length novel is sure to please. Finley finds that it is getting more and more difficult to control her “dark side” and begins to wonder what will become of her, when something extraordinary happens, and she finds herself in the one place she Never expected. A whirlwind of events occur and she quickly finds herself caught up in an amazing, and dangerous adventure, and along the way finds out not only more about her parents and her past, but about her strange affliction as well.
This story is rich and exciting, and is impossible to put down! It has lively characters, fabulous gadgets, love triangles galore, and a sprinkling of magic. If you haven’t already, you will fall in love with the strong, tough, fighting Finley and her fabulous steel corset!
Genre: Steampunk
Price: $7.16
Grade: A
Anyone who has read The Strange Case of Finley Jayne is no doubt intrigued and delighted by Miss Finley Jayne, and this full length novel is sure to please. Finley finds that it is getting more and more difficult to control her “dark side” and begins to wonder what will become of her, when something extraordinary happens, and she finds herself in the one place she Never expected. A whirlwind of events occur and she quickly finds herself caught up in an amazing, and dangerous adventure, and along the way finds out not only more about her parents and her past, but about her strange affliction as well.
This story is rich and exciting, and is impossible to put down! It has lively characters, fabulous gadgets, love triangles galore, and a sprinkling of magic. If you haven’t already, you will fall in love with the strong, tough, fighting Finley and her fabulous steel corset!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Encrypted by Lindsay Buroker
Type: Novel
Genre: Fantasy/Action/Adventure/Steampunk
Price: $3.95
Grade: A+
A stand alone novel set in the same world as the Emperor's Edge series, this book will appeal to fantasy, sci-fi and puzzle fiends. With it's usal nail-biting action, fight scenes, mysteries to solve, and loveable characters, this is a book I'd recommend to anyone who has enjoyed Lindsay's work before, or anyone who hasn't.
Though it takes place chronologically before The Emperor's Edge, this book can be read at any point and enjoyed (even if you haven't read EE yet). We get to see some of the Kyatt islands, as well as get to know the peaceful and scientific Kyattese people and the stark contrast they pose with the Turgonians. This book has more elements of science fiction in it than most of Lindsay's books, but die hard fantasy fans will not find it displeasing.
And, if you need extra incentive, we get to see our favorite assassin as a teenager in this story (although that does not make him any less deadly) and find out the origins of his favorite black dagger.
Genre: Fantasy/Action/Adventure/Steampunk
Price: $3.95
Grade: A+
A stand alone novel set in the same world as the Emperor's Edge series, this book will appeal to fantasy, sci-fi and puzzle fiends. With it's usal nail-biting action, fight scenes, mysteries to solve, and loveable characters, this is a book I'd recommend to anyone who has enjoyed Lindsay's work before, or anyone who hasn't.
Though it takes place chronologically before The Emperor's Edge, this book can be read at any point and enjoyed (even if you haven't read EE yet). We get to see some of the Kyatt islands, as well as get to know the peaceful and scientific Kyattese people and the stark contrast they pose with the Turgonians. This book has more elements of science fiction in it than most of Lindsay's books, but die hard fantasy fans will not find it displeasing.
And, if you need extra incentive, we get to see our favorite assassin as a teenager in this story (although that does not make him any less deadly) and find out the origins of his favorite black dagger.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross
Type: Novella
Genre: Steampunk
Price: Free
Grade: A
Finley finds herself in an awkward position, she has to go home to her parents house and tell them she has just been fired from her job, because she let her "dark side" out. In Victorian London she worries about finding another position, and does not want to be a burden on her family, but she does not have to worry long, for the very next morning a prominant Lady comes around and offers her a position, one that she is not qualified for and which pays more than she ever dreamed of. The job seems like a dream job, but what exactly has Finley gotten herself into?
A startlingly dark steampunk story which is sure to entice and thrill any reader. Finley Jayne is just your average girl, who happens to have a very odd secret. This story is the prequel to The Girl in the Steel Corset in which we will hopefully find out more about Finley's odd secret.
Genre: Steampunk
Price: Free
Grade: A
Finley finds herself in an awkward position, she has to go home to her parents house and tell them she has just been fired from her job, because she let her "dark side" out. In Victorian London she worries about finding another position, and does not want to be a burden on her family, but she does not have to worry long, for the very next morning a prominant Lady comes around and offers her a position, one that she is not qualified for and which pays more than she ever dreamed of. The job seems like a dream job, but what exactly has Finley gotten herself into?
A startlingly dark steampunk story which is sure to entice and thrill any reader. Finley Jayne is just your average girl, who happens to have a very odd secret. This story is the prequel to The Girl in the Steel Corset in which we will hopefully find out more about Finley's odd secret.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Dark Currents (The Emperor's Edge Book 2) by Lindsay Buroker
Type: Novel
Price: $3.99 when purchased, $4.95 now
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Steampunk
Grade: A+
This is the sequel to The Emperor's Edge and is just as good if not better. Most of the information in my post for The Emperor's Edge applies here. Many authors these days do not correctly use the story arc, and try to create suspense and a "cliff hanger" at the end of a book to entice you to read the sequel. Lindsay Buroker understands the purpose of the story arc, and that any good story will have a resolution, leaving you fulfilled at the end of a book, and she relies on her strong characters, story line and amazing writing skill to entice you to read the following books. This worked for me, and I could not wait to start reading Deadly Currents as soon as I finished The Emperor's Edge.
In this book, Amaranthe, Sicarius and the crew embark on a new adventure that is even more nail-biting than their first. Along the way the crew become a solid unit (albeit a dysfunctional one) and their interpersonal relationships develop. Most notably is the relationship between Amaranthe and Sicarius which has certainly become a different sort than it was in the first book (I'm not giving anything away though).
I recommend reading The Emperor's Edge before reading this book to enhance your experience, although it is not necessary and the author provides all necessary information without blatantly repeating the first book. Though I enjoyed reading this book immensely, I feel there is very little I need to say about it, because if you read the first book no doubt you are excited to read the second. So, I am going to trust the strength of these books, not my words to have you continue reading, as I go and start reading Deadly Games, the third book in the series.
as always, visit the authors website at www.lindsayburoker.com
Price: $3.99 when purchased, $4.95 now
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Steampunk
Grade: A+
This is the sequel to The Emperor's Edge and is just as good if not better. Most of the information in my post for The Emperor's Edge applies here. Many authors these days do not correctly use the story arc, and try to create suspense and a "cliff hanger" at the end of a book to entice you to read the sequel. Lindsay Buroker understands the purpose of the story arc, and that any good story will have a resolution, leaving you fulfilled at the end of a book, and she relies on her strong characters, story line and amazing writing skill to entice you to read the following books. This worked for me, and I could not wait to start reading Deadly Currents as soon as I finished The Emperor's Edge.
In this book, Amaranthe, Sicarius and the crew embark on a new adventure that is even more nail-biting than their first. Along the way the crew become a solid unit (albeit a dysfunctional one) and their interpersonal relationships develop. Most notably is the relationship between Amaranthe and Sicarius which has certainly become a different sort than it was in the first book (I'm not giving anything away though).
I recommend reading The Emperor's Edge before reading this book to enhance your experience, although it is not necessary and the author provides all necessary information without blatantly repeating the first book. Though I enjoyed reading this book immensely, I feel there is very little I need to say about it, because if you read the first book no doubt you are excited to read the second. So, I am going to trust the strength of these books, not my words to have you continue reading, as I go and start reading Deadly Games, the third book in the series.
as always, visit the authors website at www.lindsayburoker.com
The Emperor's Edge by Lindsay Buroker
Type: Novel
Price: Free
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Steampunk
Grade: A+
This is the first of the Amaranthe Lokdon stories, and the beginning of a fantastical tale that is sure to please anyone. This book has something for everyone, it a is fantasy, action, steampunk, mystery story with a heroine, assassin and a touch of magic. Lindsay Buroker creates a world that is as real and gritty as Terry Pratchett's Diskworld, and holds all the same appeal. Though the story is character driven, the plot is intricate and fascinating and makes this book impossible to put down. The main characters are impossible to dislike and the smattering of tertiary characters add whimsy and reality to the story.
Amaranthe Lokdon is our heroine, and she is as real a hero as anyone could believe. She is strong and headstrong, yet sweet and affable with a charming touch of OCD. She relies on a quick wit, friendly disposition, a generous amount of luck, and the ability to inspire loyalty and trust in those around her to get her through a myriad of dangerous situations that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Amaranthe is so multi-dimensional a character you will walk away from this book feeling like you know her, or for some, want to be her!
Sicarius is not the main character of this book, but non the less, he steals the show. An assassin so notorious that he is known not only throughout the Turgonian empire, but the whole world, and so good at his job that the emperor himself put a $2 million ranmya bounty on his head. Sicarius is silent, stealthy, deadly, and will steal your heart. Though he says little, and emotes even less, you can not help but love him, from the soles of his soft black boots, to the tips of his disheveled blonde hair. He is the hottest bad-ass since Aragorn (though certainly more morally objectionable).
When these two unlikely partners must pair up to reach a common goal, the result is pure genius. The background characters are no less important to the story and the above mentioned goals, and although they only step up to the limelight for brief moments, they are all beautifully crafted and feel as real as the main characters.
Though this is the first in a series of books (three so far, but a fourth is in the making) I already look forward to reading it again. Though the series is not yet finished (and so far I've only read two of the novels and the three short stories) already it is shaping up to be one of my favorite series's, up with the likes of Lord of the Rings, His Dark Materials, Narnia, Harry Potter and the Diskworld books.
I give this book my highest recommendation. Seriously, go read it. It is free and will only make your life better. If you don't have a Kindle device, install the Cloud reader on your computer, phone, etc. and download this book. that is all.
visit the author's website at www.lindsayburoker.com
Price: Free
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Steampunk
Grade: A+
This is the first of the Amaranthe Lokdon stories, and the beginning of a fantastical tale that is sure to please anyone. This book has something for everyone, it a is fantasy, action, steampunk, mystery story with a heroine, assassin and a touch of magic. Lindsay Buroker creates a world that is as real and gritty as Terry Pratchett's Diskworld, and holds all the same appeal. Though the story is character driven, the plot is intricate and fascinating and makes this book impossible to put down. The main characters are impossible to dislike and the smattering of tertiary characters add whimsy and reality to the story.
Amaranthe Lokdon is our heroine, and she is as real a hero as anyone could believe. She is strong and headstrong, yet sweet and affable with a charming touch of OCD. She relies on a quick wit, friendly disposition, a generous amount of luck, and the ability to inspire loyalty and trust in those around her to get her through a myriad of dangerous situations that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Amaranthe is so multi-dimensional a character you will walk away from this book feeling like you know her, or for some, want to be her!
Sicarius is not the main character of this book, but non the less, he steals the show. An assassin so notorious that he is known not only throughout the Turgonian empire, but the whole world, and so good at his job that the emperor himself put a $2 million ranmya bounty on his head. Sicarius is silent, stealthy, deadly, and will steal your heart. Though he says little, and emotes even less, you can not help but love him, from the soles of his soft black boots, to the tips of his disheveled blonde hair. He is the hottest bad-ass since Aragorn (though certainly more morally objectionable).
When these two unlikely partners must pair up to reach a common goal, the result is pure genius. The background characters are no less important to the story and the above mentioned goals, and although they only step up to the limelight for brief moments, they are all beautifully crafted and feel as real as the main characters.
Though this is the first in a series of books (three so far, but a fourth is in the making) I already look forward to reading it again. Though the series is not yet finished (and so far I've only read two of the novels and the three short stories) already it is shaping up to be one of my favorite series's, up with the likes of Lord of the Rings, His Dark Materials, Narnia, Harry Potter and the Diskworld books.
I give this book my highest recommendation. Seriously, go read it. It is free and will only make your life better. If you don't have a Kindle device, install the Cloud reader on your computer, phone, etc. and download this book. that is all.
visit the author's website at www.lindsayburoker.com
Ice Cracker II and other short stories by Lindsay Buroker
Type: Short Story Collection
Price: Free when purchased, $0.99 now
Obvious Typos: No
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Steampunk
Grade: A
This story collection was my first glimpse into the world of Amaranthe Lokdon, Sicarius and the rest of the Emperor's Edge crew. I am not normally a short story person, I prefer to get more in depth into a story, but these three stories were so intriguing that I was thirsty for more. The characters are so well developed that I knew there had to be a novel or two about them, and I was correct. These stories take place sometime after The Emperor's Edge which I will be reviewing next, so if you prefer to read a story chronologically then you may want to read at least that book first. There are other novels in the series, but we will get to them later.
From the beginning of "The Frozen Water Trade" you will be hooked on the insanely likable (although Vastly different) characters of Amaranthe and Sicarius. If you are unfamiliar with these characters, these stories are almost a teaser, inciting you into the rich and fantastical world of the Turgonian Empire. If you are old friends with Amaranthe's crew then you will get to explore some new and fun mysteries with them, and learn a little more about the characters and their history in the process.
"The Frozen Water Trade" centers around the dynamic duo of Amaranthe and Sicarius, as does "Ice Cracker II", but Sicarius sits out for "Through Fire Distilled" to let Books, the endearing nerd, play Amaranthe's side-kick. I highly recommend this collection of stories to anyone, whether you plan to read the novels or not. Lindsay Buroker's fictions are so engrossing it is easy to become addicted, and to want to become a Turgonian Citizen yourself. I enjoyed these stories so much, that after reading The Emperor's Edge, I re-read them and enjoyed them even more after getting to know the characters better.
My next few posts are going to be of other works by Lindsay Buroker. The reason for this is that I have quickly become enamored of her work and I find myself unable to read anything else until I run out of material. Her wonderful works have inspired me to create this blog, and to share wonderful finds like the Amaranthe stories with the world. To find out more about the author visit her website at http://www.lindsayburoker.com/
Price: Free when purchased, $0.99 now
Obvious Typos: No
Genre: Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Steampunk
Grade: A
This story collection was my first glimpse into the world of Amaranthe Lokdon, Sicarius and the rest of the Emperor's Edge crew. I am not normally a short story person, I prefer to get more in depth into a story, but these three stories were so intriguing that I was thirsty for more. The characters are so well developed that I knew there had to be a novel or two about them, and I was correct. These stories take place sometime after The Emperor's Edge which I will be reviewing next, so if you prefer to read a story chronologically then you may want to read at least that book first. There are other novels in the series, but we will get to them later.
From the beginning of "The Frozen Water Trade" you will be hooked on the insanely likable (although Vastly different) characters of Amaranthe and Sicarius. If you are unfamiliar with these characters, these stories are almost a teaser, inciting you into the rich and fantastical world of the Turgonian Empire. If you are old friends with Amaranthe's crew then you will get to explore some new and fun mysteries with them, and learn a little more about the characters and their history in the process.
"The Frozen Water Trade" centers around the dynamic duo of Amaranthe and Sicarius, as does "Ice Cracker II", but Sicarius sits out for "Through Fire Distilled" to let Books, the endearing nerd, play Amaranthe's side-kick. I highly recommend this collection of stories to anyone, whether you plan to read the novels or not. Lindsay Buroker's fictions are so engrossing it is easy to become addicted, and to want to become a Turgonian Citizen yourself. I enjoyed these stories so much, that after reading The Emperor's Edge, I re-read them and enjoyed them even more after getting to know the characters better.
My next few posts are going to be of other works by Lindsay Buroker. The reason for this is that I have quickly become enamored of her work and I find myself unable to read anything else until I run out of material. Her wonderful works have inspired me to create this blog, and to share wonderful finds like the Amaranthe stories with the world. To find out more about the author visit her website at http://www.lindsayburoker.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)