cajeck's review
4.0
Sometimes I wonder if I'm a little too generous with my stars given, but I can't deny that the Janus Affair was skillfully written with great depth and attention to detail. Any annoyances I suffered came as a result of my very niche tastes, and I know not everyone will agree with my views.
First the positives: This is a strong steampunk adventure novel. The world is rich and vibrant with imaginative technology. The characters are oh-so-very British (or colonial, depending on who we are focusing on) but it's all great fun. I wonder why the authors insist on calling Eliza a "colonial pepper pot" when the story keeps focusing sympathetically on a feminist movement. I mean, wouldn't she object? But the description is used less in this book than the last, I think. I read the first book right when it first came out, so I'm late to the party on the second. I actually like the plot better in The Janus Affair then Phoenix Rising, mostly because it maintains a level of fantastic adventure without somehow getting into an almost sleazy pulp-fiction quality I felt from the first. (Rutting nobles in a pseudo-cult out to dominate the world? Sure. I know you just wanted to write in an orgy, guys. It's okay. We're all adults here.)
Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris really do achieve a level of epicness in their books, both in the scope of their plot and characters. Their antagonists are decidedly villainous, and their schemes indeed both clever and dastardly. They weave in details with care, timing things to such a degree that you feel a sense of admiration at their story-weaving. What's great about their stories is that you can envision them as blockbuster movies with their larger-than-life characters striking poses and making funny quips, while at the same time managing a depth and fallacy in their being that feels both sympathetic and real.
Now for the...possible negatives? Depends on if you're like me, really. If you don't care about these things, then The Janus Affair is really a five star book for you, and you should check it out. But me? I like to focus on the subjective. The sticky, tricky, icky relationships that people have with each other are important to me. It doesn't matter if it's a romance or a mystery or a horror. It's the relationships of the characters that allow me to best relate and sympathize with them. Not how they solve problems or how freaking clever they are. I will say this though: if I AM reading something that is going to bother with romance, then damn it, I want the romance to be central in some way, not a hanger-on to the "action packed plot". Otherwise, don't bother. I don't like canned romance, like the variety you get from action movies. "Every cishet hero needs a girl to kiss at the end!" No thank you.
I don't like it when stories go in between The Notebook level of romance, and the amount of romantic focus you get out of Big Trouble in Little China either.
Sadly, I feel this is exactly where The Janus Affair falls on the romance quality spectrum.
MoPO Book 2 picks up roughly close to where the first ended (apparently there was an interlude that I missed, but it seemed hardly important.) In the first adventure with Phoenix Rising (or something) Books and Braun definitely exhibit signs of a mutual attraction to one another, but because of their adventure and their personality differences things just don't get happenin'. In the second book, safe to say, we see a bit more movement there. I just wished there had been more...passion? Emotional connection?
For instance, and I'll try not to spoil things, there is one portion of the book where Eliza does a pretty selfish, ditzy thing to Books, and though she realizes her mistake, there is NO RECONCILIATION for it, whatsoever. Nope, in Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris' book, we just pull up stakes and keep moving, missing a prime moment to really stop and focus on the relationship of our two lead characters. I mean sure, we get there towards the end with some catharsis, but would it really have killed the authors to inject a little more focus on the budding romance? It's a major part of Books and Braun's dynamic, I certainly don't think it would have harmed their precious plot if they had.
But I digress. You see? This is a niche issue. Not everyone wants the same thing like I do. Some might accuse me of trying to squeeze blood from a stone. I've made my point, though. I still think The Janus Affair is a damn good steampunk story. MoPO was the first of the genre I read, actually. I'm glad I did. Looking forward to starting the next adventure!
First the positives: This is a strong steampunk adventure novel. The world is rich and vibrant with imaginative technology. The characters are oh-so-very British (or colonial, depending on who we are focusing on) but it's all great fun. I wonder why the authors insist on calling Eliza a "colonial pepper pot" when the story keeps focusing sympathetically on a feminist movement. I mean, wouldn't she object? But the description is used less in this book than the last, I think. I read the first book right when it first came out, so I'm late to the party on the second. I actually like the plot better in The Janus Affair then Phoenix Rising, mostly because it maintains a level of fantastic adventure without somehow getting into an almost sleazy pulp-fiction quality I felt from the first. (Rutting nobles in a pseudo-cult out to dominate the world? Sure. I know you just wanted to write in an orgy, guys. It's okay. We're all adults here.)
Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris really do achieve a level of epicness in their books, both in the scope of their plot and characters. Their antagonists are decidedly villainous, and their schemes indeed both clever and dastardly. They weave in details with care, timing things to such a degree that you feel a sense of admiration at their story-weaving. What's great about their stories is that you can envision them as blockbuster movies with their larger-than-life characters striking poses and making funny quips, while at the same time managing a depth and fallacy in their being that feels both sympathetic and real.
Now for the...possible negatives? Depends on if you're like me, really. If you don't care about these things, then The Janus Affair is really a five star book for you, and you should check it out. But me? I like to focus on the subjective. The sticky, tricky, icky relationships that people have with each other are important to me. It doesn't matter if it's a romance or a mystery or a horror. It's the relationships of the characters that allow me to best relate and sympathize with them. Not how they solve problems or how freaking clever they are. I will say this though: if I AM reading something that is going to bother with romance, then damn it, I want the romance to be central in some way, not a hanger-on to the "action packed plot". Otherwise, don't bother. I don't like canned romance, like the variety you get from action movies. "Every cishet hero needs a girl to kiss at the end!" No thank you.
I don't like it when stories go in between The Notebook level of romance, and the amount of romantic focus you get out of Big Trouble in Little China either.
Sadly, I feel this is exactly where The Janus Affair falls on the romance quality spectrum.
MoPO Book 2 picks up roughly close to where the first ended (apparently there was an interlude that I missed, but it seemed hardly important.) In the first adventure with Phoenix Rising (or something) Books and Braun definitely exhibit signs of a mutual attraction to one another, but because of their adventure and their personality differences things just don't get happenin'. In the second book, safe to say, we see a bit more movement there. I just wished there had been more...passion? Emotional connection?
For instance, and I'll try not to spoil things, there is one portion of the book where Eliza does a pretty selfish, ditzy thing to Books, and though she realizes her mistake, there is NO RECONCILIATION for it, whatsoever. Nope, in Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris' book, we just pull up stakes and keep moving, missing a prime moment to really stop and focus on the relationship of our two lead characters. I mean sure, we get there towards the end with some catharsis, but would it really have killed the authors to inject a little more focus on the budding romance? It's a major part of Books and Braun's dynamic, I certainly don't think it would have harmed their precious plot if they had.
But I digress. You see? This is a niche issue. Not everyone wants the same thing like I do. Some might accuse me of trying to squeeze blood from a stone. I've made my point, though. I still think The Janus Affair is a damn good steampunk story. MoPO was the first of the genre I read, actually. I'm glad I did. Looking forward to starting the next adventure!
tehani's review
4.0
3.5 if I could do half stars. An enjoyable, if at times problematic, read. I really do like the lead characters and the worldbuilding, but there's a bit of gender stuff going on that I'm not a huge fan of; even though I get the feeling the authors are trying to actually subvert that, it doesn't quite work. I also keep coming across copy edit errors which are jarring, and disappointing in a pro publication.
texaswolfman's review
5.0
The first book was good. This one was great. Steampunk with a touch of Bond. Great characters and fun adventure. I want to figure out who the Maestro is? Moriarty? And Sussex is the hints of Jekyll and Hyde?
rankkaapina's review
2.0
Just don't care enough to read this further... I really liked the first part, but somehow this doesn't have the same pull. So, lemmed it in the end.
dreamerfreak's review
5.0
Books and Braun are back and better than ever! Alright, maybe they're just causing more mayhem than usual, but it still makes for a great read.
Wellington and Eliza gotten themselves involved in another case from the Archives, and Eliza is never one to let well enough alone, especially when it involves something very near and dear to her heart: the Suffragist Movement. Both of our dear MCs pasts come calling in the second installment of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. Eliza's has visitors from home that bring up painful memories, and Wellington's devious father's deeds are finally revealed, if only slightly.
And we mustn't forget the Ministry Seven! They become even more deeply involved in the case when it spreads to their hometurf, the London underworld of street urchins and gangs.
All in all, The Janus Affair is a wonderful steampunk story with flair and drama, all in good taste of course. The only thing I don't like is the title. Maybe someone can explain it to me?
[I received this book for free through First Reads and was not required to write a positive or any other type of review. All opinions stated herein are solely my own.]
Wellington and Eliza gotten themselves involved in another case from the Archives, and Eliza is never one to let well enough alone, especially when it involves something very near and dear to her heart: the Suffragist Movement. Both of our dear MCs pasts come calling in the second installment of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. Eliza's has visitors from home that bring up painful memories, and Wellington's devious father's deeds are finally revealed, if only slightly.
And we mustn't forget the Ministry Seven! They become even more deeply involved in the case when it spreads to their hometurf, the London underworld of street urchins and gangs.
All in all, The Janus Affair is a wonderful steampunk story with flair and drama, all in good taste of course. The only thing I don't like is the title. Maybe someone can explain it to me?
[I received this book for free through First Reads and was not required to write a positive or any other type of review. All opinions stated herein are solely my own.]
schottjm's review
5.0
[It took me longer to finish this book than it should have, but that had nothing to do with the book itself and everything to do with working on four shows at the same time during the month of April and having little-to-no free time.]
Oh, this book. The authors successfully expanded the world presented in Phoenix Rising, in very organic ways. This never felt like a sequel-for-sequel's-sake, but a natural progression for both Books and Braun. Old faces show up again; new characters are also introduced. More backstories are given. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to give anything away. However, some things made me laugh. Some made me gasp. And one thing upset me greatly. But I trust the authors to take the story where it needs to go. And that ending!!!
Also, I really want to dine at the Bird's Eye View.
Oh, this book. The authors successfully expanded the world presented in Phoenix Rising, in very organic ways. This never felt like a sequel-for-sequel's-sake, but a natural progression for both Books and Braun. Old faces show up again; new characters are also introduced. More backstories are given. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to give anything away. However, some things made me laugh. Some made me gasp. And one thing upset me greatly. But I trust the authors to take the story where it needs to go. And that ending!!!
Also, I really want to dine at the Bird's Eye View.
miklosha's review
4.0
We are back with Books and Braun as they solve another case involving crazy plots and kidnappings!
Compared to the first one, this story was more mature, had greater character complexity, and overall flowed better. Books wasn't so charmingly befuddled and Braun wasn't just a walking set of breasts. Further, there was a greater historical context (women's suffrage movement) and more steampunk tech.
Overall, an improvement upon the first book.
Compared to the first one, this story was more mature, had greater character complexity, and overall flowed better. Books wasn't so charmingly befuddled and Braun wasn't just a walking set of breasts. Further, there was a greater historical context (women's suffrage movement) and more steampunk tech.
Overall, an improvement upon the first book.
krash9924's review
4.0
Fantastic story. This is closer to a 3.5 because of all the spelling mistakes, grammar issues and various other oddities.
mspris's review
4.0
This is the second book in this series and I think I preferred it to the first, which I also enjoyed! There is very good character development, there is excellent pacing in the action and the intrigues weren't too easily predicted. I recommend this series to anyone who loves Steampunk settings, this has one of the strongest world-builds I have found.