ireitlitam's review against another edition
5.0
This book, this series and these characters are unforgettable. Even after starting my next read I still cannot stop thinking about the events in this book. The writing as always was superb and the world fleshed out and growing every book. In this volume the characters develop so well and unexpectedly that it brought the series to a new level. Burton in particular develops to the point where he is not at all the King’s Agent met in book 1. I cannot stress enough how enjoyable this series is and I recommend it highly to anyone looking for excellent writing, bizarre characters and all the trappings of a steampunk time travel world.
m_is_for_awesome's review against another edition
1.0
The third book in the series, I was ultimately disappointed in Expedition. This was an incredibly depressing book with zero closure at the end. Well written, beautifully imagined, but a burden to finish, rather than a delight.
lydaalexander's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kimstone's review against another edition
3.0
While I very much enjoyed the first two books of this series, this book are a death march. I'm hoping the later books rectify this.
nini_f's review against another edition
3.0
I found this one a bit of a struggle. The two storylines that run alongside each other I found to be confusing at times and I am not a fan of the ending.
I probably will continue with the series in the hopes that book four resembles the first 2 more closely.
I probably will continue with the series in the hopes that book four resembles the first 2 more closely.
danguajars's review against another edition
4.0
Es el más débil de los tres libros, y aún así la trilogía es tremenda y fascinante.
Son dos historias que corren paralelas, una en el futuro y otra en el presente (de la novela), reunidas en un punto casi llegando al final. No puedo contar más sin caer en los spoilers.
La trilogía contiene steampunk, viajes en el tiempo, aventura decimonónica clásica, retrofuturismo y humor. Es una de mis mejores lecturas de este año.
Son dos historias que corren paralelas, una en el futuro y otra en el presente (de la novela), reunidas en un punto casi llegando al final. No puedo contar más sin caer en los spoilers.
La trilogía contiene steampunk, viajes en el tiempo, aventura decimonónica clásica, retrofuturismo y humor. Es una de mis mejores lecturas de este año.
sharon_geitz's review against another edition
4.0
A striking conclusion to the Burton and Swinburn trilogy. I am still trying to process what I have read. The dramatic adventure portrayed in the novel was compelling and kept the pages turning but there is more to this book and it's predecessors than just a good story.
Blog link: http://genteelarsenal.blogspot.com/2012/01/who-hath-known-ways-of-time-steampunk.html
Blog link: http://genteelarsenal.blogspot.com/2012/01/who-hath-known-ways-of-time-steampunk.html
dark_reader's review against another edition
5.0
This third part of the Burton & Swinburne trilogy (more on that later) takes the story of a fractured-history British Empire to its inevitable, mind-blowing conclusion. It has a heavier tone that the prior books. The characters go through a long, trying journey through the heart of Africa, and the overall feeling engendered by the story mirrors their bleak experience. Algernon Swinburne continues to provide manic comic relief and beautiful poetry, with some of the real-life Swinburne's composition factoring into the tale. All of our favorite Scotland Yard personalities make a comeback, as do multiple automatons, and of course the foul-mouthed Pox is present, you bilious scutwagger. Isabel Arundell, given short shrift in the first book, makes a notable comeback, and of the three books this one yields the best roles to female characters, although the males still take up most of the air.
I am sure you are familiar with foreshadowing as a literary technique, but have you ever encountered... aftshadowing? This story flips the prior time travel narrative on its head and tells a parallel tale of the future (circa 1910's, during "The Great War") intermixed with "present" time for the characters (1860's), along with a re-visit to the past, leaving the reader asking not "how did things come to be this way" but rather "how will things become this way", a fine distinction to be sure, but this approach adds much gravitas to the story. There are many touching moments too, as the fate of various characters come to be known across the timelines.
We see the ultimate evolution of the technological and cultural alterations that came into being through the actions of Spring Heeled Jack from the first book ([b:The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack|7293120|The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack (Burton & Swinburne, #1)|Mark Hodder|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327931939l/7293120._SY75_.jpg|8590363]), and they are sheer madness and horror. In the "future", the British Empire is on the verge of extinction, war is worse than hell, and there is no certainty that this bleak outcome can be avoided.
That won't stop Burton from trying, though. The end of this book... well, it's just about the only way that a time travel paradox can end, like it or not. I was wowed the first time that I read it and it has stayed with me ever since.
BUT WAIT! There's more! Yes, I was as surpised as anyone, after enjoying the perfect conclusion to this tale, that there were more books in the series. I have only read one further ([b:The Secret of Abdu El-Yezdi|17168300|The Secret of Abdu El-Yezdi (Burton & Swinburne, #4)|Mark Hodder|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1364642716l/17168300._SY75_.jpg|23595995]), and can't wait to re-read that and then move on to all-new territory in this, one of my very favorite contemporary series, and the only steampunk novels that have ever satisfied me.
I am sure you are familiar with foreshadowing as a literary technique, but have you ever encountered... aftshadowing? This story flips the prior time travel narrative on its head and tells a parallel tale of the future (circa 1910's, during "The Great War") intermixed with "present" time for the characters (1860's), along with a re-visit to the past, leaving the reader asking not "how did things come to be this way" but rather "how will things become this way", a fine distinction to be sure, but this approach adds much gravitas to the story. There are many touching moments too, as the fate of various characters come to be known across the timelines.
We see the ultimate evolution of the technological and cultural alterations that came into being through the actions of Spring Heeled Jack from the first book ([b:The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack|7293120|The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack (Burton & Swinburne, #1)|Mark Hodder|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327931939l/7293120._SY75_.jpg|8590363]), and they are sheer madness and horror. In the "future", the British Empire is on the verge of extinction, war is worse than hell, and there is no certainty that this bleak outcome can be avoided.
That won't stop Burton from trying, though. The end of this book... well, it's just about the only way that a time travel paradox can end, like it or not. I was wowed the first time that I read it and it has stayed with me ever since.
BUT WAIT! There's more! Yes, I was as surpised as anyone, after enjoying the perfect conclusion to this tale, that there were more books in the series. I have only read one further ([b:The Secret of Abdu El-Yezdi|17168300|The Secret of Abdu El-Yezdi (Burton & Swinburne, #4)|Mark Hodder|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1364642716l/17168300._SY75_.jpg|23595995]), and can't wait to re-read that and then move on to all-new territory in this, one of my very favorite contemporary series, and the only steampunk novels that have ever satisfied me.
bent's review against another edition
3.0
Wow! This book brought up its rating with its finish. I found the early going confusing, and the trip through Africa a bit of a slog (no pun intended). I know it was meant to be confusing, as there was a lot of foreshadowing going on, but I still didn't have the patience for it. But the ending kind of blindsided me, in a good way, and improved my opinion of the book overall. It's just too bad it took so long to get where it was going. I wouldn't recommend this book if you haven't read at least the first book in the series. It's not a good entry point otherwise, it would just be confusing.