Dual Review – Two YA Audiobooks

Tags

4.5 stars, 5 stars, aliens, Book Review, culture war, fantasy, Jaimee Draper, Morgan L. Busse, Nnedi Okorofor, Robin Miles, romance, scifi, space opera, Steampunk, young adult

Today I am reviewing two audiobooks. Both are classified as Young Adult, though I found the written voice in both to be mature enough for me to enjoy them. Both books are also award winners.

Abut Tainted (Soul Chronicles, #1) by Morgan L. Busse,

Narrated by Jaimee Draper

What Happens When Your Soul Dies?

Kat Bloodmayne is one of the first women chosen to attend the Tower Academy of Sciences. But she carries a secret: she can twist the natural laws of science. She has no idea where this ability came from, only that every time she loses control and unleashes this power, it kills a part of her soul. If she doesn’t find a cure soon, her soul will die and she will become something else entirely.

After a devastating personal loss, Stephen Grey leaves the World City Police Force to become a bounty hunter. He believes in justice and will stop at nothing to ensure criminals are caught and locked up. However, when Kat Bloodmayne shows up in his office seeking his help, his world is turned upside down.

Together they search World City and beyond for a doctor who can cure Kat. But what they discover on the way goes beyond science and into the dark sphere of magic.

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Review of Tainted

4.5 stars

Tainted is a multi-award winning YA steampunk novel by Morgan L. Busse. Having read her Ravenwood series, I was eager to check out this steampunk tale and received a complimentary copy of the audiobook.

While it is categorized as steampunk, instead of clever mechanical devices, psychic ability is featured in this book. Kat’s abilities are mysterious and undisciplined. On the run, Kat is both chased and supported by bounty hunter Stephen who does not know about Kat’s abilities. The powers that be, however, know about her and want her for their own nefarious purposes.

Both characters are flawed with many obstacles to overcome. These challenges hinder their relationship and add to the suspense. Will they grow to understand each other or will they end up on opposite sides?

The Christian aspect of Tainted is low key and nicely woven into the story.

The narration of Tainted is okay. However the voice sounded quite youthful and came across as tentative. When I read the follow-up book, Awakened, I will switch to ebook.

Tainted is the winner of:

2017 REALM Award Winner for Horror/Paranormal/Steampunk

2017 Alliance Award Nominee

2017 Rone Award Nominee

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About Binti by Nnedi Okorafor,

Narrated by Robin Miles

Her name is Binti, and she is the first of the Himba people ever to be offered a place at Oomza University, the finest institution of higher learning in the galaxy. But to accept the offer will mean giving up her place in her family to travel between the stars among strangers who do not share her ways or respect her customs.

Knowledge comes at a cost, one that Binti is willing to pay, but her journey will not be easy. The world she seeks to enter has long warred with the Meduse, an alien race that has become the stuff of nightmares. Oomza University has wronged the Meduse, and Binti’s stellar travel will bring her within their deadly reach.

If Binti hopes to survive the legacy of a war not of her making, she will need both the the gifts of her people and the wisdom enshrined within the University, itself — but first she has to make it there, alive.

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Review of Binti

5 stars

The novella that begins as a coming of age story of the young woman leaving her home to go the to greatest university in the universe quickly morphs into something far more ageless and interesting. Binti’s futuristic African upbringing influences her actions on the ship bound for Oomza Uni when the ship comes under attack from deadly foes.

Binti uses intelligence and a lucky artifact to find her way among the Meduse who would rather see her dead due to a very unfortunate cultural misunderstanding. Hope and determination are key elements of this engrossing story that left me wanting more. I plan to continue the series. Perhaps when I do so, I will learn more about the interesting technology found in the novella – the artifact and the ship.

I absolutely loved the narration of Binti. Robin Miles’ African dialect added warmth and authenticity to the story.

Binti is the winner of:

2016 Nebula Award for Best Novella

2016 Hugo Award for Best Novella

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The Brass Queen by Elizabeth Chatsworth – Review

Tags

4 stars, Book Review, Elizabeth Chatsworth, historical, humor, mystery, romance, Steampunk, Victorian England

About The Brass Queen by Elizabeth Chatsworth

In 1897, a fiery British aristocrat and an inept US spy search for a stolen invisibility serum that could spark a global war.

Miss Constance Haltwhistle is the last in a line of blue-blooded rogue inventors. Selling exotic firearms under her alias, the ‘Brass Queen,’ has kept her baronial estate’s coffers full. But when US spy, Trusdale, saves her from assassins, she’s pulled into a search for a scientist with an invisibility serum. As royal foes create an invisible army to start a global war, Constance and Trusdale must learn to trust each other. If they don’t, the world they know will literally disappear before their eyes.

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Review of The Brass Queen

Two words: Steampunk fundom.

There is more to The Brass Queen than that, but basically, it is all about the fun.  That is, there is a mystery, there is romance, there is adventure.  But there are these larger than life characters that do outrageous things while while uttering outlandish dialog.  So, fun!

Constance, the heroine with a goggle collection, invents and makes weapons (of mass destruction).  I know, it seems an odd profession for a woman of the Victorian age.  What is even odder is that she does it incognito.  She sells her weapons under the name of the Brass Queen.  She a) is not very discriminating about who she sells to and b) needs to hire a good manager to avoid shipping snafus.  One particular snafu has the client wanting her dead.

Trusdale, American spy, becomes the reluctant partner of Constance as they search for the kidnapped scientists.  There is supposed to be a romance between these two.  I found the adventure and the humor kind of overshadowed any romanticism.  However, Constance and Trusdale make an interesting, bumbling, team that overcome several ridiculous obstacles with a combination of a little skill and a great deal of luck.  It was easy to imagine this story playing out in movie format with witty dialog, cool gadgets and lots of explosions.

An over-the-top bad guy with a mustache to twirl is the perfect complement to the hero and heroine.  Lucien is devious, ambitious, over-confident and throws grand garden parties.  Relentless in his pursuit of Constance, Lucien’s final confrontation is fast approaching.  This is evident from the moment you meet him.

While I enjoyed the story, the characters of The Brass Queen were not the kind I could connect with.   If the intent is to turn this into a series, more character development is needed.  However, as a stand-alone story, The Brass Queen, filled with humor and adventure, is steampunk fundom!

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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The Rising Rooks (The Viper and the Urchin, #9) by Celine Jeanjean – Review

Tags

5 stars, Adventure, Book Review, Celine Jeanjean, fantasy, favorite series, series, Steampunk

In 2016, on January 16th my very first Whiskey With My Book review was for The Viper and the Urchin. The name of the book was later been changed to The Bloodless Assassin with the original title becoming the series name. Today, on the 5th anniversary of my first blog post, my review is for The Rising Rooks, the last book in the series. It has been a very fun and entertaining journey with Rory, Longinus and the rest of the crew. Hopefully, you have had a chance to read about their adventures.

About The Rising Rooks by Celine Jeanjean

The Rising Rooks, the Rookery rebels, are mounting an attack against Garrata that they hope will destabilise her enough to weaken her grip on Damsport.

But not only does the mission fail, its failure causes a rift between the Rising Rooks and the rest of Damsport.

Rory and Longinus find themselves retreating to the Rookery without support from the rest of the city and without resources. They’ll have to use all their ingenuity and inimitable style to somehow get to Garrata.

Whether it’s cutting Rory’s hair, robbing a post office, or creating dastardly poisons, Rory and Longinus fight with everything they’ve got.

Will they succeed, or will they fail to free Damsport? If they go down, at least they’ll be going down in style…

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Review of The Rising Rooks

Finale’s are hard to read.  When the characters have become near and dear to your heart, the last adventure is approached with trepidation.  Will everyone get their HEA?  Are you happy with the ending?  Do you wish there were more?  I’ve read my fair share of series finales of series that I loved, only to find the author totally messed up the ending. 

And then there is The Rising Rooks.   This book is really just another Viper and Urchin story.  It includes all the usual wonderful, endearing characters, Rory, Longinus, Rafe, Cruikshank, Adelma, the Marchioness and all their colorful and varied associates: Susie the restaraunteer , Mercy the miopic horder/analyst, Tess the ever-patient, sweet-tempered maid, Kriss the owner of the Old Girls Arms, Rafe’s father Lord Standarr and children Tommy, Pip and Alice.  Also, old friends from Azyr: Urzo, Reheeme, and Tabir.

The usual suspects make their appearance also:  Myran, Garata, Voynia.  Though Myran is less a suspect now.

The Rising Rooks also bring together elements of the overall story arc that remind you have where you have been on this journey.  The Rookery, Damsport, the trolley, the shipyards, the palace, the underground, Azyr, Airnia, The Old Girl’s Arms, and Susie’s coffeehouse.  

Rory has always been a heroine.  Whether it is her astute observations, her connections, or her unwavering support for her friends, Rory is the shining light in these stories.  In Rising Rooks, Rory’s mysterious history is revealed.  Longinus is the unflappable fashion plate who’s observations have been an unending source of both wisdom and hilarity.  In Rising Rooks, Longinus comes face to face with what he has been searching for.

With the amazing characters, and colorful settings combined with the current plot that began with The Veiled War, the finale is a glorious climax to a wonderful series.  I am sad to see it end, but I am also very happy with how it ended!

Thanks to the author who provided a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.

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