The Doll Maker (The Viper and the Urchin, #4) by Celine Jeanjean – Review

Tags

5 stars, Adventure, Book Review, Celine Jeanjean, dolls, favorite characters, favorite series, mystery, series, spider, Steampunk

About The Doll Maker by Celine Jeanjean

Revolution in the streets.
A deadly weapon stolen.
A wardrobe too wide to fit up the stairs.
All is most definitely not well back in Damsport…

Cruikshank has created a deadly new weapon, but someone breaks into her workshop, steals the design, and leaves her for dead.

Time for Rory and Longinus to roll up their sleeves again.

But it doesn’t take long for them to be completely out of their depth. They find themselves facing a creepy doll maker, chaos in the streets, and a powerful man seeking to overthrow the Old Girl. In short, another sinister plot seeking to bring Damsport to its knees.

Once again, Rory and Longinus find themselves the city’s last line of defence.

Damsport really needs to invest in better defences.

**********************

Review of The Doll Maker

In The Doll Maker, a serious threat to the rule of the Marchioness of Damsport brings the team together to determine who is behind it all. It seems straightforward at first. A power-hungry noble/politician wants to oust the Old Girl. Can it be that simple? Of course not. You’ll need to read the book to delve into the complexity of the plot. I will say that I was adamant that, in Damsport, the rule of the Marchioness is just fine. These upstart politicians are going to have a thing coming. I hope…..

Each time I read another book in The Viper and the Urchin series, I am fondly reminded of the first time I met Rory and Longinus. These are two of my favorite characters in all of Steampunkdom. Rory, the urchin who wanted to be a great swordswoman and Longinus, the assassin who passes out at the sight of blood. They are the unlikely duo who formed first, a business arrangement and second, an enduring friendship.

Rory and Longinus have grown into their characters beautifully over the series. I love how the friendship has strengthened and expanded to other endearing characters like Pip, Alice, Rafe, Adelma and Cruikshank. But mostly I love Rory and Longinus when they are together.

“No!” Longinus said in tone that brooked no arguments. So of course, Rory argued.

As much as Rory enjoys a good debate, she watches out for Longinus. And Longinus has Rory’s back.

While Rory is now a well-paid employee of the Marchioness, she is always on the lookout for the opportunity to steal. She doesn’t, but she is on the lookout. And Longinus is forever planning out the perfect wardrobe, one that complements him and his surroundings. Some things never change. Another one of the things I love this about this duo.

Enough about my favorite characters. The books is full of other great characters. Poor Cruikshank gets beat up for the second book in a row – totally not fair. Adelma is large and in charge, especially when it comes to protecting her son Tommy. And Rafe does his very capable Varanguard thing. He and Rory may or may not be a couple. This is just about the slowest progressing romance I have been reading about lately. And that is exactly how their romance should be.

There might be a spider, or two, or more.  See the very cool book cover!

The book ends with the promise of another dangerous adventure. I eagerly await its arrival!

Many thanks to the author for providing a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.

**********************

Links

Add The Doll Maker to your Goodreads shelf:

Purchase The Doll Maker:

 

**********************

 

Advertisements

Raven, Sand and Sun (Touch of Truth, #2) by Nita Round – Review

Tags

5 stars, airship, Book Review, desert, Nita Round, paranormal, series, Steampunk

About Raven, Sand and Sun by Nita Round

Lucinda, Ascara, and the Captain have survived several almost fatal encounters with various agents of Sh’Na. Now they must face the Mistress of the Night herself in the pyramid from Lucinda’s dreams and cut short the beast’s reign of terror. Captain Stoner, however, has met this Queen of the Desert before, and although the companions are together, she fears the three of them will not be enough to withstand Sh’Na’s evil.

Their journey is not a simple one and their trials start in the city of Port Ruth. Here the Captain must face her own past, fraught with its own perils, before they can enter the desert. Once outside the city, they travel into the inhospitable lands of sand and sun where they must face Sh’Na in a battle for more than their own lives. Failure means the end of everything. Success will bring the three to a new truth, and a new path will be revealed.

**********************

Review of Raven, Sand and Sun

Raven, Sand and Sun continues the adventures of Lucinda, Ascara and Magda.

I like the idea of the trinity made up of three women, each with unique skills. At this point in their union, they are still learning what they can do. Not being aware of what they might be able to do makes these women more interesting. And based on what I read in the first two books in this Touch of Truth series, I think, going forward, they will be learning more about their talents. Whether they want to or not.

In Raven, Sand and Sun, we learn more of the background of Ascara and Magda. There are past events that weave fortune and misfortune into the story.

With the three, there is also the hint of mutual attraction between the three. Of the three, Ascara is the most vocal about this chemistry and I like her for it. But still, they do not act on it. At first, I wanted them to become more, but now I kind of like what they have become. A force to be reckoned with. They are fine the way they are.

Lucinda seems to be the primary, the leader, however, she is also lead by Ascara and Magda. Lucinda gets lots of advice and pretty much always takes it. It is good to have whip-smart advisors, but every now and then, I just wanted to Lucinda to prove she was in charge.

The amazing airship from book 1 returns, but it drifts into the background while the trio and their entourage travel through the desert on horse, camel, foot and giant mobile slug. Yes, I said slug. As near as I can tell, it is kind of like a tank, but nicer on the inside. After all, it must accommodate a priestess.

Raven, Fire and Ice was very much a mystery, wrapped up in the paranormal. Raven, Sand and Sun is more of an adventure. And it is a busy story. Many events, many characters. But all nicely laid out. There are multiple story lines, some resolved and others yet to be resolved. There are multiple protagonists, some dealt with and others, well….you know there will be another story.

The author provided a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.

**********************

Links

Add Raven, Sand and Sun to your Goodreads shelf:

Purchase Raven, Sand and Sun:

**********************

 

The Mortal Word (The Invisible Library #5) by Genevieve Cogman – Review

Tags

5 stars, Book Review, fantasy, Genevieve Cogman, library, mystery, parallel universe, series, Steampunk

About The Mortal Word by Genevieve Cogman

Peace talks are always tricky, especially when a key diplomat gets stabbed. This rudely interrupts a top-secret summit between the warring dragons and Fae. As a neutral party, Librarian-spy Irene is summoned to investigate. She must head to a version of 1890s Paris, with her assistant Kai and her detective friend Vale, where these talks are fracturing. Here, she must get to the bottom of the attack – before either the peace negotiations or the city go up in flames.

Suspicions fly thick and fast and Irene soon finds herself in the seedy depths of the Parisian underworld. She’s on the trail of a notoriously warlike Fae, the Blood Countess. However, the evidence against the Countess is circumstantial. Could the killer be a member of the Library itself?

**********************

Review of The Mortal Word

In Chapter One of The Mortal Word, Irene steals one token book, which serves only to illustrate Irene’s magical and physical abilities, not so much to glorify her librarianship. Librarian is Irene’s title. But her job, well…. Spy, yes (and she admits it), detective, most definitely (even though she pretends only to assist other detectives), task master – well just ask her fellow investigators.

The Mortal Word takes place in the setting of a peace negotiation between the dragons, the ultimate creatures of order and the fae, who introduce chaos into every possible situation. Why would two such dissimilar races want peace? That question will be asked many times in The Mortal Word.

Soon after the peace ‘conference’ starts, one of the primary dragon negotiators is murdered. Irene’s friend, detective Vale, is asked to investigate. Irene’s job: manage the detective along with the dragon and fae representatives to the investigations. Plus, her close friend and former apprentice Kai (dragon) shows up to assist in a very unofficial way. I love how Irene has taken charge more and more throughout the series. She has become quite the formidable taskmaster.

But while Irene is able to delegate, there are some things she still wants to do herself. Irene’s interest in Sherlockian detective stories means she wants to follow up on some clues herself. I have read enough of Irene to know that anytime this happens, trouble will ensue. And anytime this happens, Irene will use her brains, and maybe a bit of magic, to get out of trouble. While all her friends and associates are quite capable, Irene is the superhero of this series.

The Mortal Word can be read as a standalone and will appeal to anyone who appreciates a great mystery solved by a brainy detective, with a mix of myth and magic. Though if you think that sounds pretty good, why not read the entire series!?

Thanks to the publisher (Berkley, Penquin, Random House, whoever – they are all on the letterhead) who held a giveaway and sent me the prize of an ARC of the The Mortal Word. I had read books 1-3 and had decided not to continue the series, not because I did not like the series, rather I had other books I wanted to read more. However, having received a free book, I had to read it! So glad I did!

 

**********************

Links

Add The Mortal Word to your Goodreads shelf:

Purchase The Mortal Word:

**********************