abigcoffeedragon's review
4.0
Han Solo-like fantasy
The world is struggling to survive. A smuggler gets caught up in a war that he wants no part of. All because a boy decided to save his life. The
Excellent and fun read
The world is struggling to survive. A smuggler gets caught up in a war that he wants no part of. All because a boy decided to save his life. The
Excellent and fun read
misterg65's review
3.0
You can forget the backstory for much of the time; it's a steampunk romp about a ragtag bunch of rebels against an evil empire (ish) trying to disrupt a supply of chems.
Beware: It's the first on a series. It's left very much hanging for you to make a new purchase ... should you want to see what happens to the characters. Me? I can take it or leave it.
Beware: It's the first on a series. It's left very much hanging for you to make a new purchase ... should you want to see what happens to the characters. Me? I can take it or leave it.
liisp_cvr2cvr's review
5.0
First of all I would like to mention that Hopebreaker is a steampunk novel. The only thing I “know” of steampunk is the fashion accessories which can be very popular among the gothic growd. Needless to say, I was very excited to approach Dean on Goodreads and offer to review his novel.
Isn’t the cover already so fresh and unique? I love it!
I started reading Hopebreaker and I realized why I love reading so much. In every book there exist sentences that stop me in my tracks and thrill me. Their simple yet genius meaning makes me so happy. Only a couple of pages into the novel I came across a sentence in Hopebreaker that did exactly that-
“In prison, words could still fit through the bars” Dean F. Wilson
The dialogue is so very entertaining and flows very naturally.
Before reading I was a bit worried whether I would be able to get into the whole theme, as .. you know… steampunk! Meaning gogs, and tech and turning iron wheels and robust machinery. In Estonia the old water towers are still present next to the railway stations where old trains running on steam would have got their water. Doesn’t sound super-sexy. But in a way it IS!!! So, yes, I stalled with picking up the book. On Sunday I thought- now or never, baby!
I started and I couldn’t put the story down. I finished reading this book a few hours later and I was very satisfied in how great my choice of Sunday PM entertainment had turned out to be!
Don’t be fooled- this is by no means “a boy’s book” only. This is totally and very much enjoyable by female audience as well. Don’t let the tank on the book cover scare you away!
I also found it very agreeable as to how the book ended. I know there will be a second one (and hopefully a third one?) and I can’t wait to read more! Sometimes the first book ends and it just, you know, ends. You don’t really miss or yearn for more because .. you know… it’s finished/caput/done with the theme, the characters and the whole idea. But The Great Iron War will stick to my mind for some time yet!
There wasn’t an overpowering amount of place descriptions (which some of us don’t like- yawn!) but there was exactly enough to feed my imagination’s greedy belly. I have those pictures in my head of the desert, of the characters. Of the cities and demons, the trains and landships. I do suggest you look up pictures from Google for steampunk. A feast for eyes and a guaranteed enhancement for your reading experience! Who knows, you might even get a pair of them goggles!
Isn’t the cover already so fresh and unique? I love it!
I started reading Hopebreaker and I realized why I love reading so much. In every book there exist sentences that stop me in my tracks and thrill me. Their simple yet genius meaning makes me so happy. Only a couple of pages into the novel I came across a sentence in Hopebreaker that did exactly that-
“In prison, words could still fit through the bars” Dean F. Wilson
The dialogue is so very entertaining and flows very naturally.
Before reading I was a bit worried whether I would be able to get into the whole theme, as .. you know… steampunk! Meaning gogs, and tech and turning iron wheels and robust machinery. In Estonia the old water towers are still present next to the railway stations where old trains running on steam would have got their water. Doesn’t sound super-sexy. But in a way it IS!!! So, yes, I stalled with picking up the book. On Sunday I thought- now or never, baby!
I started and I couldn’t put the story down. I finished reading this book a few hours later and I was very satisfied in how great my choice of Sunday PM entertainment had turned out to be!
Don’t be fooled- this is by no means “a boy’s book” only. This is totally and very much enjoyable by female audience as well. Don’t let the tank on the book cover scare you away!
I also found it very agreeable as to how the book ended. I know there will be a second one (and hopefully a third one?) and I can’t wait to read more! Sometimes the first book ends and it just, you know, ends. You don’t really miss or yearn for more because .. you know… it’s finished/caput/done with the theme, the characters and the whole idea. But The Great Iron War will stick to my mind for some time yet!
There wasn’t an overpowering amount of place descriptions (which some of us don’t like- yawn!) but there was exactly enough to feed my imagination’s greedy belly. I have those pictures in my head of the desert, of the characters. Of the cities and demons, the trains and landships. I do suggest you look up pictures from Google for steampunk. A feast for eyes and a guaranteed enhancement for your reading experience! Who knows, you might even get a pair of them goggles!
ashrowe's review
4.0
I received the ebook for my honest review
For me this is one of those books that I looked at the cover and decided I have to read this. I mean look at the cover! Its simple and has a cool tank like vehicle for me it was an attention grabber. Then I read the synopsis, a book about a world were there are no more human births and unborn are being replaced by Demons, unless you get an amulet that has to be smuggled in. Also these Demons survive on a drug called Hope. Yup, you got me. I have to read it.
Main character is a charismatic sarcastic and rather anti hero-ish amulet contraceptive smuggler with a coil ( money) addiction. The action starts up from the beginning where the main character Jacob end up in the same place as The Whistler. From there he meets other characters and to only feed his greed ( supposedly) and the mutual hate he has for the Regime he becomes a fighter in the Resistance.
I liked how the action started right from the beginning and continued through the story, so there wasn’t a point I felt the need or the want to set the book down. But, I felt like I was missing something. I think what I needed was more of a beginning
I enjoyed the characters they were interesting and have their own type of mystery about them. But, I could have used a little bit more to make them relatable I suppose. I’m not sure how to put this. They were well written but I felt like something was just left out or that maybe the story with all the action was going too fast that I couldn’t get a grasp on the characters ( This probably makes no sense to anyone). I enjoyed them but they left me with a so what feeling at points. Maybe its all the mystery behind the whole WHY are they in the Resistance besides the obvious going against the drug pushing unborn human swapping Demons.
All in All an intriguing story with some interesting characters. It has your steampunk, dystopian , war , with humor and slight romance. It was a book that I read from 9pm until I finished it around 4am the next day. Action, adventure and the need to know what is going to happen next kept me from putting it down.
I look forward to the continuation of the story and I liked it so much I am putting the other series this author has written in my "to be read" list.
If you like a light steampunk, action adventure with a world being taken over by Demons using Hope as a drug/ weapon and intriguing characters fighting this war against them this book will not disappoint.
For me this is one of those books that I looked at the cover and decided I have to read this. I mean look at the cover! Its simple and has a cool tank like vehicle for me it was an attention grabber. Then I read the synopsis, a book about a world were there are no more human births and unborn are being replaced by Demons, unless you get an amulet that has to be smuggled in. Also these Demons survive on a drug called Hope. Yup, you got me. I have to read it.
Main character is a charismatic sarcastic and rather anti hero-ish amulet contraceptive smuggler with a coil ( money) addiction. The action starts up from the beginning where the main character Jacob end up in the same place as The Whistler. From there he meets other characters and to only feed his greed ( supposedly) and the mutual hate he has for the Regime he becomes a fighter in the Resistance.
I liked how the action started right from the beginning and continued through the story, so there wasn’t a point I felt the need or the want to set the book down. But, I felt like I was missing something. I think what I needed was more of a beginning
I enjoyed the characters they were interesting and have their own type of mystery about them. But, I could have used a little bit more to make them relatable I suppose. I’m not sure how to put this. They were well written but I felt like something was just left out or that maybe the story with all the action was going too fast that I couldn’t get a grasp on the characters ( This probably makes no sense to anyone). I enjoyed them but they left me with a so what feeling at points. Maybe its all the mystery behind the whole WHY are they in the Resistance besides the obvious going against the drug pushing unborn human swapping Demons.
All in All an intriguing story with some interesting characters. It has your steampunk, dystopian , war , with humor and slight romance. It was a book that I read from 9pm until I finished it around 4am the next day. Action, adventure and the need to know what is going to happen next kept me from putting it down.
I look forward to the continuation of the story and I liked it so much I am putting the other series this author has written in my "to be read" list.
If you like a light steampunk, action adventure with a world being taken over by Demons using Hope as a drug/ weapon and intriguing characters fighting this war against them this book will not disappoint.
dspacenine's review
4.0
I'd not read a "steam punk" novel before but I'm glad I finally took the plunge. Great book, fresh world building and story line, unlike anything I've read before. Looking forward to Book 2 "Lifemaker" in this 5 book series.
bezzarina's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
readwithmoniqua's review
5.0
I really like this book. Jacob is a character and so stubborn, but I guess that is the life of a smuggler. I'm interested to see what happens next with him and Taberah and the growing life. This was a very different read for me from the normal (erotica and suspense), but it was a breath of fresh air. Not yet sure how I feel about Rommond and I hate that I didn't find out about who Teller really was. I didn't see that coming. Whistler seems to be so much younger than he really is, the way he is depicted in the story. I am looking forward to reading Lifemaker, funny though the title is what happened between Jacob and Taberah, lol.
virginiaduan's review
2.0
This not well written. The pacing is abrupt. No back story is written. Names are thrown out randomly. The world is not parsed out quickly enough to make sense or have me care about anyone. I can't tell if Jacob is 35 or 15. It's annoying and I don't care to finish.
Pass.
Pass.
sweets_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
dinnureads's review against another edition
2.0
Quite the raw and messy plot. The idea could be awesome, if a little more work would be put in....