P-Date: 2024
Genre: Steampunk
Review: Another great installment in the land of Carsolan with many twists and turns that will keep you up late in the evening. All the characters are well buildt and fun to follow.
This world is unique and that is what I love about it. You might say that it is edgey steampunkian 1800’s industrial London with some Oliver Twist thrown in on top of Gangs of New York.
Rating: 4.7/5
P-Date: 2023
Genre: Fantasy/Steampunk
Review: I was really impressed with this work by a relatively unknown writer. This reeks of Holmes and Watson’s pursuit of the arch-evil network, replaced with Cast and Ellyx as our daring duo. The cover art is confusing as the descriptions of our duo is one of an older (graying) alchemist and a grown woman, not a little girl.
There is a tinge of the Steampunkian throughout this novel that plays really well with setting the impression of the world. Alchemy bridged with the mechanical and contraptions that are self-powered, as well as Vril powered gaslights invigorate the story line. Why even an airship is forthcoming. YES!
The character development is what really drives the story, as it is coupled impeccably to the movement.
Get this!
Publishing Date: 2023
Genre: Steampunk/Fantasy
Rating: 1.8/5
Review: This was a tough read. The central story line, while riveting, was constantly mired with a loping and continuous back story that bogged down the movement. The central characters are built on a foundation of gore yet seem constantly conflicted with choices made and the outcomes therein. Pivotal instances become rants of actions anchored in the past and this halted the crews development.
The world building was visceral and prompted engagement in so much that I looked forward to any immediate quest. And then the agony of character reminiscences would invade to erase hard won movement across a bitter landscape. A big huggy monk whom weeps about some unknowable transgression does not a character make. Add in a whiney beta male and the only place to turn is a blonde valkeryie on a shiny horse that only lasts a few pages.
The crafting of a steam punkian genre married to fantasy was very well done and might have been better served if it was prominently featured instead of a deeply layered and confusing application of aether lines, flayed princes, slickdust and red goo. The bounty hunters come too late in the process to make much of a difference yet should have been central to the theme as they were presented in almost super human fashion. The pages and pages of the mewling intricacies of Raider politics was more boring than a bag of hammers and you end up not caring what becomes of the disparate factions.
This was a long novel, made longer by pages of whining and righteous retribution. And lucky us, it ends without resolution. This could have been a hit but missed the mark by placing emphasis in areas that lacked vigor.
Publishing Date: 2023
Genre: Steampunk?
Rating: DNF
Review: I thought the story line was inventive, the lack was in the execution. A confusing plot within a jumbling narrative, overshadowed by the poor disheveled hunky brainiac. Yeah, the cliche’s run deep as does the pervasiveness of the hotty freedom fighter.
Not sure much can save this other than a total re-write.
Publishing Date: 2022
Genre: Steampunk
Rating: 3.2
Review: A not so great finale’. A brilliant start with a meh finish. Why are all the heroes gay or lesbian? Why point this out all the time? Get a little success under your belt and thought it was time to wake us all up?
Dunno, that shjt falls on deaf ears and definitely detracts from the novel. If you don’t like getting whacked over the head with sexual preferences, there is still a good story line within.
Publish Date: 2019
Genre: Steampunk
Rating: 3.6/5
Review: As good as I remember from the first. This writer has some awesome world building chops. Couple that with interestingly built characters that you can bond to, and “Winner”!
Castoff is out and I have read it but it does not seem to exist on Goodreads. Get it though, it is a great finale’.
Publishing Date: 2022
Genre: Fantasy/Steampunk
Rating: 4.2/5
**WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD**
Review: Waited a long time for this fkr to come out that I forgot all that came before.
Was it worth the wait? Yes, with some exceptions. Namely that Sterile is still flouncing around with notebook, hand in hand with OCD and a penchant for being feisty while wuving her mans with exceptional regard. At least she likes her ass grabbed. Up until Marasi, B.S. writes his female characters much like Sterile in patterned fashion, so it was nice to see some divergence.
Speaking of characters, the best character ever built IMO is and was Wayne. This character was just awesome from top to bottom and kept me engaged throughout. Funny, witty with flashes of strange brilliance that drove this series to greater heights. So in one of the most epic failures that a writer could EVER MAKE is killing off a character that made the series what it was. So unless Wayne is brought back from the void, I will never read this authors books again for fear of a summary letdown.
Publishing Date: 2016
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.7/5
Review: Ah yes, the quest to find a few thingies in the water fall city and save a cherished soul. Well it’s about dam time we had some travels, or as Wayne puts it, “Travails”.
Good movement and even better character development is always had when questing. It just makes it easier to evolve the characters along with a mysterious, ever-moving” story line. The same characters you have known before become a bit more amped up emotionally and are more central to the theme.
This is pure steampunk fun without the Victorian hangover. I had a good time and you will too.
Publishing Date: 2011
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.1/5
Review: A fun ride through the mists with a bit of high brow buckle swashing amidst a steampunkian background.
All the ladies are blushing and speaking softly, while the men run about with guns and allomancy a-blazin’. The best character never elaborated on was Lessie. A quick witted bounty hunter with the hots for Wax. Al told, the banter is fun and the action well written. The characters stand on their own and suffuse the novel with vibrancy. I shall continue on with: “Shadows of Self”.
Publishing Date: 2015
Genre: Fantasy/Steampunk
Rating: 4.6/5
Review: For light reading, this was dam good entertainment. Love interests (tri-bangle), strange beings, terror killings via insanity and a city on the edge of implosion.
Sanderson draws the tension out with our hero’s overcoming somewhat impossible odds under continuous dire circumstances. Wax continues to grow as his past is revealed and you begin to hope he sticks it in……er, out with Steris. There is a fondness for Steris that only comes with building a character so wedded to her myopic ways yet fully aware of her short comings that you can’t help but hope that she lands in good hands. Very artful development. I will continue on with: “Bands of Mourning”.
Viking Jam 