leland_hw's review against another edition
3.0
There were some problems with this book, but overall I'll have to rate it pretty well for being a cracking fun adventure book. Pirates AND zombies, Airships and subterranean living spaces. What more do you need?
Oh and, by problems I don't mean the anachronistic choices that Cherie Priest made to tell the story she wanted to tell. I'm okay with those.
Now that I live in Seattle, I love to see a few Seattle landmarks mentioned (Smith Tower, King Street Station...both cool places to visit.)
Oh and, by problems I don't mean the anachronistic choices that Cherie Priest made to tell the story she wanted to tell. I'm okay with those.
Now that I live in Seattle, I love to see a few Seattle landmarks mentioned (Smith Tower, King Street Station...both cool places to visit.)
pagesofpins's review against another edition
3.0
This book was absurdly difficult to get into, with a slow-moving plot at the beginning awash with long (sometimes unbelievable) descriptions of everything every character sees. That said, I really enjoyed the gold rush western steampunk meets zombie dystopia that Priest has created in this historical mashup of Seattle, and the characters had a lot of potential (unique personalities and hints at interesting backstories). This book was fine, but with 50 pages cut out it would have been great.
illustriousnewt's review against another edition
Going to try the paper book instead (audio version will take a very long time to get through).
wayfaring_witch's review against another edition
2.0
This novel was missing something. I never really connected to the characters and what little of plot there was. The only positive mark was the world building is so vivid I can imagine myself living and surviving there.
The cast of characters we meet are shallowly built. We focus on one strength or flaw about them and continue putting masks on or off and occasionally meeting rotter zombie like creatures whose abilities are also not very developed.
It seems a lot of people liked this book, so if its your genre go for it.
The cast of characters we meet are shallowly built. We focus on one strength or flaw about them and continue putting masks on or off and occasionally meeting rotter zombie like creatures whose abilities are also not very developed.
It seems a lot of people liked this book, so if its your genre go for it.
itsmarkyall's review against another edition
3.0
3.8 stars
I enjoyed the concept and though the story was simple it was well told. For whatever reason it didn't resonate me, and I couldn't give it the full five stars. The writing - or the story - I haven't decided dragged in places causing me to grow bored, and consider putting the book down. I'll read the rest of the series, at some point, but not soon.
I enjoyed the concept and though the story was simple it was well told. For whatever reason it didn't resonate me, and I couldn't give it the full five stars. The writing - or the story - I haven't decided dragged in places causing me to grow bored, and consider putting the book down. I'll read the rest of the series, at some point, but not soon.
peapod_boston's review against another edition
3.0
"Boneshaker" is a bit of a rarity in the world of steampunk--a steampunk novel set in the Pacific Northwest. Cherie Priest constructs a lively and unusual alternate history that allows her to mix airships, zombies, and exotic technology in a fast-paced adventure. There's so much to love about the setting, that it's easy to miss what I enjoyed most about the novel--the very grounded plot.
The plot of "Boneshaker" revolves around a mother searching for her rebellious teenage son. Priest never deviates from this. Their actions impact the world around them, some mysteries are solved, some are not, but the novel doesn't devolve into some epic tale. It is, instead, the very simple story of a single mom and her son trying to figure out what they mean to each other and where they should be in the world.
That story, the very reasonable motivations of all the characters (money, survival, revenge) and a very real physical world (with no impossible feats on the parts of characters) keeps the fantastic elements feeling real and makes the story work.
The plot of "Boneshaker" revolves around a mother searching for her rebellious teenage son. Priest never deviates from this. Their actions impact the world around them, some mysteries are solved, some are not, but the novel doesn't devolve into some epic tale. It is, instead, the very simple story of a single mom and her son trying to figure out what they mean to each other and where they should be in the world.
That story, the very reasonable motivations of all the characters (money, survival, revenge) and a very real physical world (with no impossible feats on the parts of characters) keeps the fantastic elements feeling real and makes the story work.
bookwyrm_kate's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars- Audiobook review:
I love Wil Wheaton, but he made some tone-choices in his reading that made Zeke, one of the main characters, a bit more annoying-child than I probably would have read into him. Otherwise, Wheaton really impressed me with one particularly-accented character, whose name I won't attempt to spell (as I haven't seen it written).
The story had what seemed to me to be some continuity errors, but they were minor things that while distracting in action scenes, were largely forgotten as the story went on. The surprise ending, while heavily foreshadowed, gave me a new perspective on one of the main characters that gave me a better sense of having enjoyed the story than I would have had otherwise.
Overall, interesting enough that I may seek out more from this author, but I'm not yet sure if I'll continue in the series. I'll base that on the premise of the stories, and see if they can hook me.
I love Wil Wheaton, but he made some tone-choices in his reading that made Zeke, one of the main characters, a bit more annoying-child than I probably would have read into him. Otherwise, Wheaton really impressed me with one particularly-accented character, whose name I won't attempt to spell (as I haven't seen it written).
The story had what seemed to me to be some continuity errors, but they were minor things that while distracting in action scenes, were largely forgotten as the story went on. The surprise ending, while heavily foreshadowed, gave me a new perspective on one of the main characters that gave me a better sense of having enjoyed the story than I would have had otherwise.
Overall, interesting enough that I may seek out more from this author, but I'm not yet sure if I'll continue in the series. I'll base that on the premise of the stories, and see if they can hook me.
thunderchld's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good book. I loved the different take on Seattle. I was kind of sad the author had to make a note in the back of her book that, yes, she was aware she wasn't following true history.
All-in-all, it was a great book. It was a good paced book. It kept me on edge wondering what was going to happen.
All-in-all, it was a great book. It was a good paced book. It kept me on edge wondering what was going to happen.
sygoldst's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5