Reviews

An incredibly imaginative story, this book is a slow burn that is sometimes hard to follow. However, the author created a magical world and well developed characters that you want to follow on the adventure.

marleen3843's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

It sometimes was a bit hard to follow what was happening, but the mystery surrounding Raphael kept me reading and there was never a dull moment in this book!

The parts with Keita in it made me realise how much I love the filigree street books.

Also I'm still wondering what happened to the markayuq in Merricks garden

lenlin99's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Such a gripping story. I couldn´t put it down and was always really excited when I picked it up again. It has been YEARS since I picked up a steampunk novel so this felt really refreshing. Also it is set in Peru, where I went this summer so reading about it was very fun

sailorrosemoon14's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

rissaleighs's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Delightful. I don't think I have sped through a 400+ page book so quickly since I was a teenager.

The book opens in a familiar enough setting -- mouldering estate in England,1857. Exploratory botanist with the East India Company laid up with a leg wound. His friend Clement Markham shows up to bring him on a mission to Peru to harvest Chinchona trees (from which quinine is derived) which the imperial crown wants to establish in India to help fight malaria there. It all sounds very realistic because....it is! The author really did her research. There really was an explorer named Clement Markham who went on just such a mission to Peru. Our botanist, however, is an entirely fictional stand in for real life botanist Robert Spruce. Keep that name on mind because there's a reference to him that's good for a few chuckles.

So just when you think you're fairly established in reality, things begin to get a little odd. Exploding trees odd. Moving statues odd. As the explorers journey into Peru, the readers journey into a wonderfully imaginative fantasy novel.

It was such a fun, quirky, enchanting read. I will say two things though.

1) there was kind of a bromance vibe going on. It never got graphic, just kind of an undercurrent. Not enough to bother me, although I will generally steer clear of anything billed as LGBTQ fiction.

2) at times the writing style reminded me negatively of the fanfiction I read on the internet as a teenager. Maybe that's unfair. Maybe I just haven't read enough fantasy novels as an adult and that's why it struck those notes for me? Or maybe it was something in the snappy dialogue. Dunno.

But anyway. Loved the settings. Loved the historical basis. Loved the richly imaginative folklore-based fantasy world. This was such a cool book. ♥️♥️

maisie1717's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous hopeful informative mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

More...