Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Hatshepsut's Collar by A.W. Exley

I'm excited to be hosting a stop for the Artifact Hunters tour that features Nefertiti's Heart and Hatshepsut's Collar by A.W. Exley.   This series is new adult / Mystery / Steampunk, recommended for ages 16+ (there's some mature content, especially in the second book). The tour runs March 3-14th.  Check out the tour page for the full list of tour stops.

Nefertiti's Heart (Artifact Hunters #1) by A.W. Exley
Page Count: 284 pages
Published: February 4th, 2013 by Curiosity Quills Press
Genre: NA/Mystery/Steampunk
Recommended Age: 16 and up

Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.

London, 1861. Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the strange death of her father – sell off his damned collection of priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when aristocratic beauties start dying of broken hearts, an eight inch long brass key hammered through their chests. A killer hunts amongst the nobility, searching for a regal beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumored to hold the key to immortality.
Her Majesty’s Enforcers are in pursuit of the murderer and they see a connection between the gruesome deaths and Cara. So does she, somewhere in London her father hid Nefertiti’s Heart, a fist sized diamond with strange mechanical workings. Adding further complication to her life, notorious crime lord, Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is relentless in his desire to lay his hands on Cara and the priceless artifact. If only she could figure out his motive.
Self-preservation fuels Cara’s search for the gem. In a society where everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, she needs to figure out who to trust, before she makes a fatal mistake.

Check out my review of Nefertiti's Heart HERE. (Hint: I loved it!)

Links:

Curiosity Quills Page 

Goodreads | Amazon US | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | Kobo | Barnes & Noble

Hatshepsut's Collar (Artifact Hunters #2) by A.W. Exley
Page Count: 274
Published: November 13th, 2013 by Curiosity Quills Press

An ancient Egyptian artifact is driving Queen Victoria insane, and that’s not top of Cara Devon’s growing list of problems.

Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is a man of numerous secrets, but there is one in particular that threatens his fledgling relationship with Cara. Stunned by Nate’s revelation, and before she can absorb the ramifications of his actions, he is arrested, charged with treason and imprisoned in the grim Tower of London. He stole something the mad queen wants, and only has days to deliver, before his date with the executioner.
Although sorely tempted, Cara can’t let him die on Tower Green, not when their connection means she would share his fate.
Only together can Cara and Nate figure out how to wrestle Hatshepsut’s Collar from around the queen’s neck, before she plunges Britain into a world war. The search for answers sends Cara to the opulent Winter Palace of St Petersburg and the frozen depths of Siberia, with every step shadowed by an enemy with his own dark plans.

I am SO loving this series! The first book was 5 stars and this one I've been back and forth about it. I think maybe it's a 4.5 star book so I'm not sure whether I should go up or down with that.  I seriously really loved this!

The first book was pretty clean without any explicit sex. This book gets much more detailed with sex, though it never overtakes it in any way.  Actually, it's mostly just in the beginning part before the action starts and things get crazy.  It wasn't really that much, but because the first one was so clean it kind of surprised me. But it fit the book well.  Just a warning, it does get a bit steamier!

Cara is such a great character! She may not act like the girls of that time period, wearing inappropriate clothing, demanding she's the boss of herself, going into establishments not fit for a lady... just a few examples; but I loved her for it! Maybe it's not realistic, but being as it's a steampunk book with paranormal, it didn't bother me at all.  I sometimes get annoyed with too much modern slang or terms being used, but this book didn't feel like it was too much.

Nate. Oh what do I say about this man?  I'm not sure what I can say without giving spoilers. In the first book you don't know if he's good or bad. If you can really trust him, even though you really, really want to. In this book something happens in the beginning that makes us wonder again, but it all gets sorted without too much drama and angst, which I appreciated. This couple is never at odds for long, which is a bonus.

The steampunk aspects are wonderful! I didn't think they were too extreme or hard to understand. Mostly things that are pretty easy to imagine. The mystery is definitely different from the first. Not really a mystery so much, but definitely an adventure!  We got to visit Russia! It was a book that was easy to keep reading with wonderful banter and dialogue to keep you reading. It's not just the main characters that are colorful and brought to life, but the secondary ones as well. {I am really hoping we can get a book for pirate captain Loki. Oh yes indeed. He does deserve his happy ending.}

Once I started reading I was compelled to continue. I didn't really want to set the book down as I was eager to see how everything would play out.  It ended up having a full conclusion (like the first book) but with a new task at hand to bring us to the next book.  Which I will most certainly be reading!  Delightful read, highly recommend!

Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.
 

Links:

Curiosity Quills Page

Goodreads | Amazon US | uk | de |  fr | it | es | Kobo

Anita Exley's Biography:
Books and writing have always been an enormous part of A.W. Exley’s life.
She survived school by hiding out in the library, with several thousand fictional characters for company. At university, she overcame the boredom of studying accountancy by squeezing in Egyptology papers and learning to read hieroglyphics.
Today, Anita writes steampunk novels with a sexy edge and an Egyptian twist. She lives in rural New Zealand surrounded by an assortment of weird and wonderful equines, felines, canine and homicidal chickens.

Author Links:
Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This tour was organized by CBB Book Promotions.

 

Adult Review: Nefertiti's Heart by A.W. Exley

Nefertiti's Heart by A.W. Exley

ebook, 280 pages

Published: Feb. 14, 2013 by Curiosity Quills Press

Source: Publisher

Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.

London, 1861. Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the strange death of her father - sell off his damned collection of priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when aristocratic beauties start dying of broken hearts, an eight inch long brass key hammered through their chests. A killer hunts amongst the nobility, searching for a regal beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumored to hold the key to immortality.

Her Majesty's Enforcers are in pursuit of the murderer and they see a connection between the gruesome deaths and Cara. So does she, somewhere in London her father hid Nefertiti's Heart, a fist sized diamond with strange mechanical workings. Adding further complication to her life, notorious crime lord, Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is relentless in his desire to lay his hands on Cara and the priceless artifact. If only she could figure out his motive.

Self-preservation fuels Cara's search for the gem. In a society where everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, she needs to figure out who to trust, before she makes a fatal mistake.

I have been on a total win streak with adult books lately!  I'm not a fan of the typical romance and while sometimes the rest of the book makes up for it, it's always a bit of let down.  This book though, it was not a typical romance and I was SO on board with it!  I think I like that feeling of just not really knowing what to think about someone.  So often it's hard to judge whether a 'bad boy' is really a bad boy or is just misjudged.  Or maybe he is, but he's really just a pile of goo on the inside and just needs the right person to reach that goodness inside.  Unpredictable characters are often my favorite, even though I've been burned a time or two, it's still so worth it!  So while usually the romance in a book is more on the back burner for me, this romance was full on front burner heat!  I was all over it, all aspects!

Cara is a character that really caught my attention and pulled me in immediately.  She's no weakling. She doesn't allow herself to live in fear. She's prepared to protect herself at all costs and doesn't hesitate to do so, which we see right away in the beginning of the book.  She's totally kick butt, but she also has this great confidence about her that just pulls you in.  You do see that she's not as confident and secure as she appears, but this is a side of her you see revealed in little bits through the book.  While she relates some of her past, when she has some emotional breakthrough's and other little bits and pieces here and there.  We know pretty quickly that Cara has been through hell and I was glad that we got her back story almost right away.  It wasn't necessary for it to be a mystery since there was so many other things going on.  Cara's character was really fleshed out well and we saw all the different angles of her. 

Nate is a bit mysterious and initially a little scary.  He treats Cara pretty carefully at first but seems to know when to step forward  and move things along just a tad.  Because Cara can't handle being touched he really wants to be the one that can touch her.  I had thought this might just be a game for him at first, but it wasn't long before I completely fell for him.  Other then a slightly awkward beginning that I felt was maybe one step too early, the rest I was totally on board for.   Nate's character is revealed much more slowly and he just grew on me more and more. He is proving to be a character of many layers.  But the whole time I was prepared for the worse, even while wishing for the best for the both of them.  I really loved how Cara wouldn't really moon over his looks so much but occasionally would think something like she noticed he was in his pirate gear and we knew clearly how hot she thought he was in that particular outfit. 

While the romance was total win for me, the world and plot were just as strong.  I felt the steampunk elements were done fabulously, without too much description or difficult to understand aspects. It was easy to understand, but still a strong element.  Even down to her clothing, I thought this was brought about extremely well.  The mystery was done brilliantly as well.  While we know there's some connection to Cara it's nearly impossible to guess who the killer is.  These girls are being killed one after the other and we get pieces from the killers POV, but it doesn't reveal anything about their identity.  I thought maybe it's someone we hadn't actually met in the book, but there are more clues along the way then I thought, and I totally missed them!  We also get little bits and pieces from the inspector's POV as he's trying to solve the crime.  I liked seeing another angle and getting a better idea of what was happening with the mystery aspect of it all since Cara wasn't always there.  She had other things she was dealing with as well.

This was a book that when I finished I just wanted to flip it over and read it again.  I've had a few books like that this year, but really, that's a pretty rare feeling.  I was just so in love with every aspect of the book that I didn't want it to end.  Fortunately the 2nd book, Hatshepsut's Collar, is now out and I look forward to digging in! 

Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Adult Review: Shadows of Asphodel by Karen Kincy

Shadows of Asphodel by Karen Kincy

ebook and paperback (not yet released), 350 pages

Published: September 13th, 2013

Source: author

1913. The death of the Belle Époque and the brink of the Great War.

Outlawed in America, armed with only an antique sword, Ardis just wants to do her job. As a mercenary, she works to keep the peace in Transylvania. Truthfully, this kind of peacekeeping involves beheading rebels who oppose the empire of Austria-Hungary. It shouldn’t be too hard—gunpowder has been useless ever since the archmages of Vienna cursed the entire continent of Europe with the Hex.

But Ardis never expected to find an unarmed gentleman bleeding out on the battlefield: Wendel, who manages to be a charming bastard even on the verge of death. And she certainly never expected him to revive the dead to fight for him. Wendel is a necromancer. He can’t die unless Ardis wants him to return as a monster—or so she has heard. Afraid to find out, she saves his life.

When Wendel swears fealty to Ardis, they forge an uneasy alliance underscored with sexual tension. Together, they confront rebels, assassins, and a conspiracy involving the military secret of Austria-Hungary: robotically-enhanced soldiers built by the inventor of the diesel engine, Rudolf Diesel himself. But as Ardis starts to fall for Wendel, she realizes the scars from his past run more deeply than she ever imagined. Only Ardis can stop the necromancer before his thirst for revenge destroys him and everyone else around him.

(Dieselpunk romance. Recommended for ages 17 and up.)

First things first- this book had the illustrated cover first but because people were concerned about younger readers picking it up the author decided to get a second cover done. However, many of us really loved the first, so for now the book is released with both covers.  I loved the first cover and was sad when she said she was going to change it.  But I got it, it makes sense that people would be concerned. Then I saw the second cover, or 'new' cover, and I loved it too!  Now with them side by side I think that I love them equally.  I'm curious about your thoughts on the cover though, so let me know in the comments.  I know the author has been torn so that's why she's keeping it at two covers. The original, illustrated one, might end up being only a first edition.

Okay, here's my review!
This was a book that when I finished reading I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling just thinking about it. For hours. I couldn't pick anything else up; I just wanted to read it again!

I'd been excited about reading this book for what has felt like a very long time.  I love Steampunk so when I heard this was Dieselpunk I was curious what the difference would be.  I have to say that for me, not someone fully versed in the difference, I couldn't really tell a difference.  All I know is that it was AWESOME!  These aspects of the book were actually quite light, so no worries about not understanding how things work or having complicated explanations. 

My favorite part of the book is the characters.  I really liked Ardis a lot. She's a mercenary, so she's definitely good with a sword.  She's kick ass and bold, she carries herself with confidence.  She's not full of angst and drama and I really, really loved this. Not to say that she didn't have emotions, oh no- she has stuff to deal with, but she deals with it, she doesn't dwell on it and go on and on all 'woe is me'.  This book works for the 'New Adult' age group due to the characters age, so the angst and drama tends to be a concern, but don't worry about that here!  While Ardis and Wendel have a rocky first meeting, it smoothes out quickly.  They have some issues, there has to be some drama, but it's only the necessary and realistic sort and nothing is drawn out longer than it should be.  I really appreciated this aspect of the book as it was truly perfect.

Wendel was a win from the start.  He's been hurt in the beginning, so he could be construed as weak, but he isn't.  Even injured he carries himself with confidence.  He's arrogant, bold and sure of himself. He says what he thinks, but he's not one of those jerks that are mean just to drive people away. He's not mean at all really.  While he and Ardis may have 'words' a time or two, he's usually honest, even if he doesn't spill all his secrets.   While Wendel is arrogant and confident, he's still vulnerable and even broken.  This made him feel more real, but never weak.  While necromancers may make some cringe, it may seem dirty, gross and wrong; Wendel's confidence and sureness regarding this part of him, made it seem almost attractive.  The way he carries himself when doing what he does makes it seem like a quality, a very good thing.  Wendel may have a lot of demons but his acceptance of his necromancy and not being ashamed of it was something that I really, really loved.  Wendel will likely become the man that many girls will soon be swooning over.  Oh yes... you must meet Wendel.

The romance happens pretty quickly and if I were to change one thing about this book it would be for the sexual tension to climb just a tad more before it went anywhere. However, this wouldn't be the same book if it did, and I really, really loved it as it was.  The pages sizzled with steam between these two.  There is sex, and it is a romance so we see it.  I'm not one who loves descriptive sex in books, but it's not really negative, I just skim over it quickly.  The book isn't all sex or anything, so don't be too concerned about that.  But it IS there for all of you romance lovers.

I loved the setting of the book.  They travel a lot, so it takes place over several areas of Europe, but much of it is in Vienna.  While it's not overly descriptive, and this may be a negative for some, I found it to work for this book.  I still could easily picture where they were and everything.  I thought it was great, and for those that aren't overly fond of historical settings, you may still enjoy this one.

While I could have read this book straight through just because I loved it so much; it was the last quarter or so that I couldn't put down.  I felt ALL THE FEELS.  Some really dark stuff goes down and all you want is for things to desperately work out. So I feverishly read, terrified that it would end at a critical moment and we would be stuck with a cliffhanger.  But we weren't!  No cliffhanger!  It had an epic end in that some MAJOR stuff goes down, but the immediate issues have been dealt with. However, there are still things that need to be solved.  I will be very anxiously awaiting the next book.  I CANNOT wait to see what goes down next! 

A few notes for those who don't know: This book is self published by the author, but she is previously traditionally published (3 books) and she's clearly been professionally edited.  This book was as good as any traditionally published book, and personally I feel it was probably better because the author was able to take the book in the direction she wanted without anyone telling her that they didn't think it would work that way.  Sometimes authors need to follow their hearts and do it their way and I personally think that's best; to stay true to the story.
This one gets 5 stars.  I had the biggest grin when I finished this book.  I have a feeling I'll be thinking about it for quite some time.

Disclosure: I was a backer for this book, therefore I received the book as a gift.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

You can buy this book for only $4.99 on Amazon (for kindle)! (That is an affiliate link and if you click it I will get a small portion{very small portion} and anything made is used for giveaways on this blog.)

Review: The Girl With the Iron Touch by Kady Cross

The Girl With the Iron Touch (The Steampunk Chronicles #3) by Kady Cross

Hardcover, 384 pages

Expected Publication: May 28th, 2013 by Harlequin TEEN

Source: NetGalley

In 1897 London, something not quite human is about to awaken

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons—or forfeit her friends' lives.

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke's sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him...and for Griffin.

Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel's desolate alleyways to Mayfair's elegant mansions. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine.

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist's ultimate creation—an automaton more human than machine. And if she's to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn't know she has....

I have really been enjoying this series a lot and have read them each year diligently before they are released (that never happens, I almost ALWAYS fall behind).  I love the world created in the books and the setting.  The last book took place in America and in this one we are back in London.  Surprisingly I loved the American setting in the last book, but I still found myself happy to be back in London.  Not only that, but Jack Dandy is in London and that is a character that I love to read about!

Now that description hints at a love triangle.  Well, more than hints, and there's not really one.  Finley already knows who her heart belongs to and the person who it doesn't belong to is someone she still cares about but he also understands that she's made her decision.  There's not really any drama concerning them anymore.

The previous books seemed to focus on Finley more and in this one Emily was much more center stage.  We still know what's going on with Finley and all that, but Emily is the one kidnapped and we see everything she goes through and just get to know her better.  She's a really strong and kick butt character and I loved getting to know her better.

I love all the characters in this series.  Finley is great and I loved where the romance started to go in this one.  Not a new turn or anything, it just moves forward.  And Griffin has some major issues to deal with but I felt like we barely touched on them and that will be the focus of the next book.  Sam has grown as a character in finding to accept himself.  In this book Jasper is pretty absent.  When he was there, he wasn't really there.  That made me sad and I hope that we see more of him in the next book and that he might find his HEA.  And Jack Dandy, oh I think Jack Dandy is my most favorite character of all!  It might be that lovely cockney accent (faked accent?) or his terminology and mannerisms, but he is a character I would love to read more about!  We see that Jack may end up with his own HEA... but that's yet to be seen, just my prediction.  Because my lovelies, there's a new character introduced in this book and my lips are sealed!  You must just wait to meet her yourself!

The steampunk aspects of this series are pretty great.  For the most part I really love them.  The things that bug me a tad are that there's some rather 'convenient' devices so they can get in touch (like cell phones, but not) and some other inventions that just seemed a bit out of place and felt more convenient than anything.  It's not a big issue for me though.

The plot of this one moves along rather quickly.  I was surprised at how fast I devoured the book and was never bored or wanting to put the book down.  I'm most definitely eager for the next book, it's sure to be intense!

Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review: Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published: Feb. 5th, 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Source: Purchased

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.

Sophronia Temminnick at 14 is a great trial more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners -- and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Her poor mother, desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady, enrolls the lively tomboy in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But 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.

I <3 Gail Carriger.  And yes, I did just do the <3.  Hey, everyone's doing it! (I did it right, right?)   No, but for serious, she really creates a great mix of mystery and humor to go along with her fantastic (and very funny) characters.

To anyone who has read Gail Carriger before and is familiar with the characters, I can tell you that these ones are just as great!  Actually they are very similar in personality, just younger.  And in addition there are crossover characters!  This takes place before the Parasol Protectorate series (about 25 years, I think) so they are a bit different, but still there! 

This book was full of hilarious moments.  I read this while my daughter was sick, so I'd burst out laughing while cuddling her and every time she said "What mom?  Read it to me."  Here's one favorite bit of mine.  This is when Sophronia and Dimity are discussing practicing their eyelash flutter on the boys at the evil genius school.

"Well, is that wise?  Having a mess of seedling evil geniuses falling in love with you willy-nilly? What if they feel spurned?"
"Ah, but in the interim, think of the lovely gifts they can make you.  Monique bragged that one of her boys made her silver and wood hair sticks as anti-supernatural weapons.  With amethyst inlay.  And another made her an exploding wicker chicken."
"Goodness, what's that for?"
Dimity pursed her lips.  "Who doesn't want an exploding wicker chicken?" 
Page 163

Part of the humor is that it's just so matter of fact. Sophronia just takes everything in stride and is really rarely ever shocked.  She arrives at her new 'finishing' school and barely bats an an eye when she discovers that there's a werewolf AND a vampire employed and the truth behind this school.  But while maybe it's a bit silly, it's silly in a good way and it utterly hilarious.  

There's a bit of mystery in the book but it really felt back burner until the end when it was what played out the very action'y conclusion to the book.  Mostly this was Sophronia's adventures (or shall we say mis- adventures?) at finishing school.  And Sophronia is not satisfied just sitting around learning stuff, oh no, she wants to know all the secrets and find out more about everything.  While on her little late night adventures she makes friends with the 'sooties' and learns how to get around the mechanicals that patrol the halls.  This school is actually not at all a normal sort of school.  Rather than giving it away I will just tell you that this sort of school does not just sit in one place. 

This definitely is a Steampunk book but while it felt very steampunk there wasn't any sort of crazy contraptions or anything that was overly difficult to understand.  I think that it was all done very well to keep it YA and appealing to even those who may not be big fans of steampunk. 

There's no romance, but there's something hinted at that may occur in future books.  There's definitely a few 'moments' between these two characters and I really like how it's playing out so far. 

I really recommend you check this book out!  It's one of the funniest I have read this year but still has more 'serious' moments.  And there's no bad language or sexual situations so it's recommended for all YA readers.

Review: The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress

The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress

Hardcover, 440 pages

Expected publication: Dec. 6th, 2012 by Dial

Source: Gift

An action-packed tale of gowns, guys, guns--and the heroines who use them all

Set in Edwardian London, The Friday Society follows the stories of three very intelligent and talented young women, all of whom are assistants to powerful men: Cora, lab assistant; Michiko, Japanese fight assistant; and Nellie, magician's assistant. The three young women's lives become inexorably intertwined after a chance meeting at a ball that ends with the discovery of a murdered mystery man.

It's up to these three, in their own charming but bold way, to solve the murder--and the crimes they believe may be connected to it--without calling too much attention to themselves.

Told with Adrienne Kress's sharp wit and a great deal of irreverence, this Steampunk whodunit introduces three unforgettable and very ladylike--well, relatively ladylike--heroines poised for more dangerous adventures.

Ever since I first heard of this book I was dying to get my hands on it.  I adore the cover and I just love steampunk books.  So when I got my hands on it I read it nearly right away.  It immediately became clear that this was going to be a fun book though even though it wasn't exactly what I was hoping for.

We are getting the story from Cora, Nellie and Michiko and are introduced to them and their world right away.  This took up quite a bit of the start of the book but I didn't find it boring and enjoyed learning about each one.  Each has some very strong skills and they are all bold and fearless.  Each one was maybe not the smartest with their fearlessness though because as the story goes on and we see them in dangerous situations time and time again we begin to see that maybe they just aren't being very smart.  It's like they think they are able to take on a killer that kills grown men and that just doesn't make sense.  Well, maybe for Michiko, but the other two should maybe try to think about staying safe.

One thing that kept me from getting fully immersed in the story and time period is the way these girls speak.  They don't speak like they should for a historical book, I felt like they were modern day girls put back in time or something.  It just didn't work very well for me.  Their behavior didn't fit so well for the time period either as they weren't so shy to speak with (or kiss) men and went about things as women in our time do, not in Edwardian England.

While there are steampunk elements to it, it wasn't anything too complicated or difficult to comprehend.  As far as Steampunk goes this was on the lighter side but still had a fair bit of gadgets and whatnot.

The romance was a bit bleh to me.  But it wasn't really the focus of the story at all and is maybe just a set up for future books.

Overall this book wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, but it had it's fun parts and I may have giggled a time or two.

Review: The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent

The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent

Hardcover, 305 pages

Published: August 14th, 2012 by Simon & Schuster

Source: Purchased

In an alternate London where magical creatures are preserved in a museum, two teens find themselves caught in a web of intrigue, deception, and danger.

Vespa Nyx wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life cataloging Unnatural creatures in her father’s museum, but as she gets older, the requirement to become a lady and find a husband is looming large. Syrus Reed’s Tinker family has always served and revered the Unnaturals from afar, but when his family is captured to be refinery slaves, he finds that his fate may be bound up with Vespa’s—and with the Unnaturals.

As the danger grows, Vespa and Syrus find themselves in a tightening web of deception and intrigue. At stake may be the fate of New London—and the world.

I admit I had very high expectations for this book, it was one of my most anticipated books of the year.  So it wouldn't take much to leave me feeling disappointed.  Fortunately this book was everything I expected and more!  First of all it's a mesh of all my favorite genres; steampunk, fantasy (and all the fantasy creatures I could ever dream of!), and historical.  The historical bit isn't really historical, but you know, all the fun stuff like bustles and manners, etc. It's actually an alternate London that is basically faery land.  But it's unlike any other book I've read that takes place in a faery land and so don't go picturing that just yet.

This book is told in alternate chapters by Vespa and Syrus.  This worked well because they are such different people seeing things in a completely different way as well as from a different place.  This allows us to see and learn much more of this crazy world that Tiffany Trent has created.  My assumption was that Vespa and Syrus would have romantic interest in each other, but it's not quite as I expected and in a better way then I could have hoped.  There's a different love interest actually and I liked it much better that way.  There are plenty of twists and turns and unexpected things that get in the way so the romance that is here is on the back burner, but it is there.  I'm hoping in the next book this will expand a bit.

I already touched a bit on the characters and I don't really know what else to add.  I really liked all of them, the good ones and the bad (you know in the hateful way you must) and I think they played their roles incredibly well. The evil ones were perfectly evil and the good ones were amazingly brave and daring as they should be.

I think it was the incredible world that Tiffany Trent has created that completely won me over for this book.  Because it was just that, incredible.  She pretty much blew my mind with all the creative stuff she did.  This book was completely different from anything else I've ever read.  It had a stronger fantasy feeling to it then most steampunk since it's a fantasy world, except the New London which didn't feel like a London to me much at all.  The creatures, the creeping waste that's taking over, the tinkers and their history... it was all so perfectly done and so easy for me to picture.  Now because she has created such an incredible world don't be expecting constant action as there was a fair bit of world building to do.  But I never felt bored or like there was an overabundance of description.  Much of it we see as the characters do, as they discover horrific thing, or as they recall stories they have heard.  So in this way we do get the 'show' rather then the 'tell' and it kept the plot moving forward and everything stayed plenty interesting.  The last quarter of the book or so was simply impossible for me to put down.  It was constant action and everything was unfolding before us, revealing things we never could have guessed on our own. And the ending was absolutely fantastic as we get the conclusion we need but still crave more of the beauty that is this book.

I most definitely, very highly recommend you pick this book up. I recommend this to fans of steampunk and fantasy alike as it's equal parts of both.  It's a stunning book and I most eagerly await the next one nearly dying as I need it in my hands immediately.

Review: God Save the Queen by Kate Locke

God Save the Queen (The Immortal Empire #1) by Kate Locke

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published: July 3rd, 2012 by Orbit

Source: Publisher

Queen Victoria rules with an immortal fist.

The undead matriarch of a Britain where the Aristocracy is made up of werewolves and vampires, where goblins live underground and mothers know better than to let their children out after dark. A world where being nobility means being infected with the Plague (side-effects include undeath), Hysteria is the popular affliction of the day, and leeches are considered a delicacy. And a world where technology lives side by side with magic. The year is 2012 and Pax Britannia still reigns.

Xandra Vardan is a member of the elite Royal Guard, and it is her duty to protect the Aristocracy. But when her sister goes missing, Xandra will set out on a path that undermines everything she believed in and uncover a conspiracy that threatens to topple the empire. And she is the key-the prize in a very dangerous struggle.

First of all this book is a total win if you're looking for something different.  It's modern age but heavy on the Victorian as Queen Victoria is still alive.  So it's like an alternate present.  Imagine how it would be if Queen Victoria were a vampire and lived on though still heavily living in the past.  It's definitely different.  And while it feels a bit Steampunk, it doesn't really have the gadgets and what not because they really have modern technology, it's just referred to differently much of the time.

I really liked Xandra and her strong personality.  She's kick a$$ but real.  She has weaknesses.  She's been taught certain things all her life and suddenly she's being shown other things and she doesn't know what to believe.  Things have completely turned topsy turvy and she doesn't know up from down.  Who to trust, who to believe, where to turn.  But when a certain man shows up and stands by her side through it all it seems to ground her and help her along as she figures out the truth.

For those wanting some romance, this book delivers.  It's hard to explain this romance, but it caught me a bit unawares.  I liked that though and I liked how it played out.  I loved how things were pretty easy for them as a couple, uncomplicated.

I would say this is a book for adult readers, but more mature YA readers may enjoy it.  It's a bit more on the complicated side as far as the plot goes and there's plenty of cursing and violence.  But yet it didn't really seem heavy duty adult to me.  So if you've already ventured into adult urban fantasy then this may be one you'd enjoy.  However, I wouldn't suggest this if it's your first adult urban fantasy/paranormal.

If you're looking for a fun and different kind of read with a good mix of historical and modern and a fabulous romance, then I suggest you give this one a shot.  

Disclosure:  I received this book for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review: Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear

Innocent Darkness (The Aether Chronicles #1) by Suzanne Lazear

paperback, 408 pages

Expected publication: August 8th, 2012 by Flux

Source: NetGalley/Flux

Wish. Love. Desire. Live.

Sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock's hoyden ways land her in an abusive reform school far from home. On mid-summer's eve she wishes to be anyplace but that dreadful school. A mysterious man from the Realm of Faerie rescues her and brings her to the Otherworld, only to reveal that she must be sacrificed, otherwise, the entire Otherworld civilization will perish.

I have some really mixed feelings about this book, but I find myself finding that I really liked it despite some things that I liked less.   I also read an early version e-arc and it's possible that some things will be changed.  And the rough formatting will most definitely make the final edition more pleasurable to read.  But overall this is a fantastic story with characters I really liked.

I'm gonna start off first saying that I love this cover.  Like love, love, love it.  It's gorgeous and I want it on my shelf.  However, it is a bit misleading.  And I see from other reviews that this has disappointed a lot of people so I figure it's important to let you all know.  While this does have steampunk in the first bit and a tad bit here and there, it's very light on the steampunk aspects.  This is much more a fantasy than anything else.  So there's good and bad about that.  If you're holding back reading it because you're not a steampunk fan, don't.  However, if you're a steampunk fan, don't be expecting a large amount of steampunk.  Perhaps future books will have more, I don't know.

Now I'm going to move onto the characters.  I really liked Noli for the most part.  She's pretty headstrong but she's not stupid and doesn't say or think stupid things.  However, occasionally she feels a bit naive.  And when it comes to Kevign and V I have very mixed feelings.  I didn't really fall for either of them and am not sold on her feelings.  But I didn't not like them either.  I liked V more than Kevign but felt like he got a bit pushy at times which turned me off from him.  And that leads me to the sexual bits, as it gets a bit heavy for YA.  As I'm an adult that reads adult books, it really didn't bother me.  However, for those wanting a completely clean read, this has some heavy insinuation as far as sex goes.  They don't have sex, just other stuff...

I liked the steampunk in the beginning with the cool flying car, I loved the historical bits at the reform house and felt so furious at how things were (good bit of strong emotions are good!), and I really liked the Otherworld and the beauty within.  All the settings were great.  And I thought the story, the plot, was done well.  I liked it and how it all went.  However, I felt like sometimes the pacing was off.  It would have some slow bits, but then feel like it rushed through parts that maybe could have been explored more.  But I never really felt bored or anything, I just wanted things to run maybe a bit more smoother and at a steadier pace. 

Now, it feels like I've nitpicked this book apart so I must stress to you guys that I still really liked it.  It's like I saw all these things that could have been better, but I was able to overlook it all because what was good, was really good.  I somehow was still emotionally involved in it and was eager for more.  And even though I've already read the book, I'm definitely going to get a copy for my shelf.  If you go in with the right expectations, I think you could really enjoy it.  It reminded me a tiny bit of Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey because the Otherworld felt somewhat similar. 
Also, please remember that the final edition may have some changes.

Disclosure:  I received this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review: Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff {Absolutely Freaking Amazing!}

Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: Sept. 18th, 2012 by Thomas Dunne Books

Source: Amazon Vine

A DYING LAND
The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima's imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger – a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A HIDDEN GIFT
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

Before I get started, please note that I say this is YA at the top of this post, but I think it might be considered adult.  However, the main character is 16 and while it had some heavier themes I would recommend it for mature YA readers. 

This was a book I selected on a whim.  I hadn't heard of it yet (somehow) but it sounded excellent.  And I am so *so* glad I did because this was an absolutely stunning book.  It had so much about it that made it completely unique and while it's a mix of genres, each genre represented was represented extremely well.

The characters were unbelievably amazing.  Yukiko has grown up in a time and place where speaking up is definitely frowned upon.  You could be killed for speaking your mind.  But this doesn't hold her back.  She rebels against the system every way she can that isn't outright going to get her killed.  But once things change and she realize what needs to be done, we see this strength in her to do everything it takes to make things right.

All the other characters were great as well and I loved that there were two characters that were completely loyal to her and would do everything to keep her safe.  They were true friends and showed this in many, many ways.  And while they were not the kinds of friends you would expect, both of which could easily be her enemy, they were everything I could ever want in a friend.  And as a reader, I enjoyed the humor they threw into the mix while at the same time horrible and devastating things were happening.  Having humor thrown in just makes things a bit more bearable and lightens it up, which I appreciate in darker books.  Both of these characters I would love to just give a ginormous hug to, they made this book what it was and were completely brilliant.

This book is epic fantasy, dystopia and steampunk.  All rolled into one delicious story!  The fantasy part of the book was brilliant.  We get mythical creatures, crazy demon things and a world that is devastated, but still holds beauty.  Particularly in the Japanese feel of everything.  The world has been devastated by the Blood Lotus.  The Blood Lotus has taken over agriculture and is used for everything.  It's a drug, it's a fuel, it's basically what the country is run on.  Unfortunately it pollutes the air (from the fuel), it kills the soil (which makes them tear down more forest and kill off more animals) and it's making the country die.  That is the dystopia, along with the Shogun's harsh rules and evil ways of ruling with an iron fist.  The steampunk aspects are that it's the Guild Workers in their giant metal skins (like a suit of armor, kind of) that create all these brilliant inventions.  Unfortunately it is largely them that is working at killing the country because they push the Blood Lotus to be grown more for them to have more fuel for more inventions.  They also kill people that are impure.  To be impure you have to suspected (note the suspected part) of having an ability like being able to talk to animals.  They burn them if they suspect this. We get airships, along with masks that are to filter the filthy air and this is the steampunk aspect.  I'm sure I'm forgetting something very important in this bit, but that's what I'm thinking of off the top of my head.

This book started out a tad bit slow, but we are shown the world through Yukiko's eyes, along with a few jonts into some others and a few pages here and there of memories.  We get a clear idea of the world quite quickly and while it slowed the pace for the first bit, it made the story so easy to picture and imagine.  And it wasn't long until it started moving at a fast pace and became impossible to put down. 

While there is a tad bit of romance in the book, it's very light.  However, it has some very big twists and you really would never guess how things would turn out.  While I would have liked an epic love story, I think that in this book it just wasn't right.  However, I'm holding out hope that there's some serious romance to come in the future books.

Personally, I loved this book.  I wanted to tell the world to read it as I read it, and I hope that even those that think it's maybe not for them give it a try.  The mix of genre's was nice and I think that those that don't like any one of those genre's would still enjoy it, because each one plays a big part without being too much.  The inventions aren't at all crazy or weird or difficult to imagine,  the dystopian feel is obvious, but yet not too dark as we get a good middle bit of a more lighter feel.  And the fantasy, while epic, wasn't difficult to conceive of with it's court intrigue and crazy world.   There is some bad language, and there is sex but it fades out.  There are more mature themes, but nothing inappropriate for the mature YA reader (in my opinion).  I very highly recommend you give this one a shot.

Disclosure:  I received this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Blog Tour for Tin Swift by Devon Monk w/ Giveaway!

Today we have an amazing post up as part of the Tin Swift Tour.  Tin Swift is the second book in The Age of Steam series by Devon Monk. I really enjoyed Dead Iron and can't wait to read more! I am so privileged as to be the very first stop on this epic tour.  You know why it's epic? Because we get a first hand look at this short story.  Here, I'll let Devon explain:

HANG FIRE is a steampunk short story set in late 1800's America. It takes place between the Age of Steam book #1, DEAD IRON and book #2 TIN SWIFT. The story is broken into 20 "chapters" and posted, one chapter at a time, on 20 awesome blogs. To read the whole story, start at chapter 1 at www.candacesbookblog.com (that's here!) and follow the "read the next chapter" links at the end of the post.

Sounds awesome right?  Well here goes!

HANG FIRE - Chapter 1

    They were being followed. Cedar Hunt thumbed the gear at the edge of his goggles, flipping a darker lens into place. He scanned the high, rocky hills, looking for a glint of sun off a gun barrel, listening for the shift of horse and leather against the scrub here on the eastern curve of the Oregon territory.
    His curse would do him no good today. The beast the Pawnee had planted in his bones only came out at the full moon, and was no more than an unsettled anger now.
    Still, it might be a fair bit easier to hear if an ambush were imminent if the Madder brother’s wagon wasn’t making enough noise for an entire troupe of tinkers. At least the brothers weren’t drunk and singing. Yet.
    “Trouble, Mr. Hunt?” Alun, the eldest Madder called out over the clatter of oddments stashed inside the big wagon pulled by their two draft horses.
    “Not that I see,” he answered.
    All three of the brothers were miners. Short, bearded, bull-shouldered and tougher than the mountains they blasted their way through. They were rich too, from all the silver they dug out of Hallelujah, though a man wouldn’t know it from the state of their clothing or belongings.
    But only a fool would mistake them for anything other than clever. They had an eye for the Strange, a knack for measuring a man’s soul, and a way with the wild sciences that had gotten Cedar out of–and into–too many tight spots.
    He’d made them a promise to find a very dangerous weapon. Of course, he’d made a lot of promises lately.
    “Mr. Hunt?” a softer voice called out.
    Mae Lindson, the beautiful, sad-eyed widow urged the mule she was riding up ahead of the Madder’s wagon so she could better talk to him. He’d promised to take her to the coven of her witch sisters, off Kansas way. He hoped to do so before she lost her mind to the madness the sisters had set upon her.
    At the sight of her, his heart hammered hard and reckless. She was a need he’d found no fix for, a thirst he couldn’t quench. And his desire had only grown stronger all their days on the trail.
    “Mrs. Lindson,” he said as she stopped just short of a comfortable distance. “Where’s Rose?”
    Rose Small, the young woman who rode with them looking for adventure in the big cities beyond the small town of Hallelujah was often at Mae’s side. Even horseback, Rose tended to occupy herself with a bit of metal, cog and spring, making whimsical curiosities of metal. She had a deviser’s quick fingers and quicker mind.
    “I don’t know,” Mae said, her eyes gone cloudy with concern. “Rose disappeared.”

...read chapter 2 at: Fiction Vixen www.fictionvixen.com

 Dead Iron (The Age of Steam #1) by Devon Monk

 Welcome to a new America that is built on blood, sweat, and gears...

In steam age America, men, monsters, machines, and magic battle for the same scrap of earth and sky. In this chaos, bounty hunter Cedar Hunt rides, cursed by lycanthropy and carrying the guilt of his brother's death. Then he's offered hope that his brother may yet survive. All he has to do is find the Holder: a powerful device created by mad devisers-and now in the hands of an ancient Strange who was banished to walk this Earth.

In a land shaped by magic, steam, and iron, where the only things a man can count on are his guns, gears, and grit, Cedar will have to depend on all three if he's going to save his brother and reclaim his soul once and for all...

Tin Swift (The Age of Steam #2) by Devon Monk

In steam age America, men, monsters, machines and magic battle to claim the same scrap of earth and sky. In this chaos, one man fights to hold on to his humanity--and his honor. . .
 Life on the frontier is full of deceit and danger, but bounty hunter Cedar Hunt is a man whose word is his bond. Cursed with becoming a beast every full moon, Cedar once believed his destiny was to be alone. But now, Cedar finds himself saddled with a group of refugees, including the brother he once thought lost.

Keeping his companions alive is proving to be no easy task, in part because of the promise he made to the unpredictable Madder brothers—three miners who know the secret mechanisms of the Strange. To fulfill his pledge, Cedar must hunt a powerful weapon known as the Holder—a search that takes him deep into the savage underbelly of the young country and high into the killing glim-field skies defended by desperate men and deadly ships.

But the battles he faces are just a glimmer of a growing war stirring the country. To keep his word Cedar must navigate betrayal, lies, and treacherous alliances, risking everything to save the lives of those he has come to hold dear…

Giveaway:

The publisher and Devon Monk are generously giving away:

1. A magnet of the cover of TIN SWIFT
2. A hand-made by Devon Monk (and her husband) one-of a kind, signed bookmark.
3. A copy of TIN SWIFT

One winner

Must be 16 or older to enter.

Open to US only. 

Fill out the rafflecopter to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Hardcover, 354 pgs.

Published May 1st, 2012 by Amulet Books

Source: Purchased

Description from Goodreads:

This dark and thrilling adventure, with an unforgettable heroine, will captivate fans of steampunk, fantasy, and romance. On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars, people whose unusual characteristics make them unacceptable to modern society. Lena wonders if her father is the source of her own extraordinary characteristics and if she, too, is Peculiar. On the train she meets a young librarian, Jimson Quiggley, who is traveling to a town on the edge of Scree to work in the home and library of the inventor Mr. Beasley. The train is stopped by men being chased by the handsome young marshal Thomas Saltre. When Saltre learns who Lena’s father is, he convinces her to spy on Mr. Beasley and the strange folk who disappear into his home, Zephyr House. A daring escape in an aerocopter leads Lena into the wilds of Scree to confront her deepest fears.

Maureen McQuerry has created a unique and stand-out world.  While at first it had the feel of fantasy it quickly became more historical fiction with fantasy elements.  As the world is not exactly clear where it is, mentions of Europe and other 'real' places led me to believe it is someplace in America.  There was also mentions of real historical figures but they were only mentions and didn't play any role in the story other than having made a gun or came up with an invention, etc.  

The book clearly has a steampunk look to it and while it has steampunk elements it is most certainly 'light' on the steampunk.  There is an inventor but there was not much description of his inventions, they just 'were'.  They did some traveling in aerocopter (flying machine) and some other things, but nothing real major.  I was happy with what was there, but if you're expecting a crazy steampunk ride you may be disappointed.  On the other hand, if you've held off on reading this because you don't enjoy steampunk then please don't let that hold you back.  The steampunk is a very minor aspect in the story.

I really enjoyed the world created and the aspect of the Peculiars.  It was so different but yet so easy to relate to because there has always been those persecuted.  This reminded me a little of the Native Americans because they were basically rounded up and put to work or just put in their own areas (the reservations now).  While they were definitely different from the Peculiars, there was just enough there to make me think of that.  And how wrong it is to persecute others because they are different and/or have different beliefs.  

This book would have been an outstanding read for me if it wasn't for the main character.  I had a few issues with her and her decisions.  She makes some pretty stupid choices and I could have maybe understood it better if the reasoning had been backed up just a little more.  I needed to be more convinced about why she would do what she did.  I was able to look past this aspect because so much of the rest of the story was fantastic.  I also really liked the other characters.  Jimson was a character that I couldn't help but like.  He was a boy that craved knowledge and adventure.  And I would have maybe liked him a bit more fleshed out, but I still liked him quite a lot.  Mr. Beasley was a fascinating character as well and was one I could imagine so well.  Kind of the crazy genius/doctor/inventor sort with weird drawn on eyebrows but was so kind and understanding of everything.  Now my most favorite character of all was the cat, Mrs. Mumbles.  I don't want to say too much, but this is a cat with character!  Any cat lover will fall head over hills for her!

This was a fun historical fantasy with a touch of steampunk and a dash of adventure thrown in.  I definitely suggest you give this one a try!

Disclosure:  I purchased this book myself.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review: The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (Steampunk Chronicles #2) by Kady Cross

Hardcover, 416 pgs.

Published May 22nd, 2012 by Harlequin TEEN

Source: NetGalley/ Harlequin

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous.

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.

I remember I really enjoyed the first book in the series, The Girl in the Steel Corset, but I didn't feel a complete connection to the story or characters.  It was still awesome, but it was missing something.  This book delivered those missing parts.  I loved the characters and felt like they've really grown into something wonderful.  Finley is totally kick butt and isn't really afraid of anything.  She has a strong sense of right and wrong.  

The story completely delivered for me.  I never felt like I was missing anything or wanted more of anything.  It was the perfect amount of everything!  I loved the twists and turns and unexpected things that happened.  While things were sometimes hinted at that had me wondering things I still felt surprised, or a sense of 'hah!, I KNEW it!' when it was revealed. 

The steampunk aspects in this book were pretty easy to comprehend.  I don't really remember ever feeling confused about how stuff works, it all was pretty straightforward.  There was one bit of that part of the book dealing with Griffin and his ability and stuff that wasn't tied up by the end.  I'm not sure if that means there's going to be more or not, but I hope so!   But the ending of the book felt tied up.  No major cliffhangers at all.  That one aspect of the story was just a side issue but may be the link for the future book if there is one.  (I'm not finding any info from my digging so if you know please let me know!)

I highly recommend this series if you enjoy Steampunk, Historical Fiction and Paranormal.  It's great for teens and adults alike!

Disclosure:  I received an e-arc of this book for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.