lorialdenholuta's review against another edition
It takes a cunning mind to weave a story filled with romance, humor, adventure, royalty, madness, travel and a handful of kids into a coherent, exciting adventure. And I have to say I appreciated all the little side-jokes and wordplay. It was nice to be reminded now and again that this brilliant series is written by authors who are also fans of the genre. It took me a week of casual reading to get to the halfway mark... and then I finished the book in three hours. There was no stopping once everything really got exciting! Looking forward to starting the next volume, which is taunting me from atop my to-read stack right now.
ladyhighwayman's review against another edition
3.0
Another entertaining romp from Books & Braun, unfortunately I wasn't much into it as the previous books.
The intricate plots to this series are impressive, but I'm starting to think they're a bit too much for me. Also a bit much is the excessive descriptions and unnecessary dialog. I found myself skimming more than usual because of them.
There are also a lot of characters that I really just do not care a fig about. At this point, even the main characters of Books & Braun are starting to make me gnash my teeth. The only character I'm invested in is Sophia del Morte, and I really wouldn't mind having a entire book told from her point of view.
I'm starting to think that maybe steampunk just isn't my scene. I can deal with books that have light steampunk, but when the technology becomes too hard to follow, I find myself zoning out. And that's what happened here.
I gave this three stars because I really did like the story, even if I felt it was weighed down with unnecessary things. I probably will read the next book, or at least most of it.
The intricate plots to this series are impressive, but I'm starting to think they're a bit too much for me. Also a bit much is the excessive descriptions and unnecessary dialog. I found myself skimming more than usual because of them.
There are also a lot of characters that I really just do not care a fig about. At this point, even the main characters of Books & Braun are starting to make me gnash my teeth. The only character I'm invested in is Sophia del Morte, and I really wouldn't mind having a entire book told from her point of view.
I'm starting to think that maybe steampunk just isn't my scene. I can deal with books that have light steampunk, but when the technology becomes too hard to follow, I find myself zoning out. And that's what happened here.
I gave this three stars because I really did like the story, even if I felt it was weighed down with unnecessary things. I probably will read the next book, or at least most of it.
lalabristow's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars!
*NO Spoilers!
I love a great steampunk series and the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series is one of the best out there.
I absolutely adore the world Pip and Tee created. Books and Braun are one of the best couples in fiction and love their support system, their friends, their banter and their adventures.
The Diamond Conspiracy might be the best entry in the series yet. Braun and Book's world gets even more turned upside down and the new elements Tee and Pip added to the series left me speechless.
I LOVE this series and I hope you'll give it a shot. I hope it gets more and more books! I can't wait for the next adventure!
*NO Spoilers!
I love a great steampunk series and the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series is one of the best out there.
I absolutely adore the world Pip and Tee created. Books and Braun are one of the best couples in fiction and love their support system, their friends, their banter and their adventures.
The Diamond Conspiracy might be the best entry in the series yet. Braun and Book's world gets even more turned upside down and the new elements Tee and Pip added to the series left me speechless.
I LOVE this series and I hope you'll give it a shot. I hope it gets more and more books! I can't wait for the next adventure!
shelfquest's review against another edition
3.0
The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences goes through quite a time when the Department of Imperial Inconveniences ("The Department") is set on following orders to kill all of the Ministry agents. Our two main characters, Eliza Braun (Ministry Agent) and Wellington Books (Ministry Archivist), find themselves with their hands full exploring a possible relationship between each other, getting to the bottom of the Department's new orders, and trying to solve a kidnapping of one of the Ministry Seven.
The Ministry Seven is a group of eight kids that Eliza has taken (mostly) off the streets and under her wing, serving as her eyes and ears around London. The Ministry Seven, Eliza, Wellington, and Alice, Eliza's maid, travel all over Europe looking for a running from agents in the Department. This book reminds me of Doctor Who after Clara joined the picture; quite theatrical. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it very much (almost as much as the first three in the series), but it was a bit over the top for me. In any series there are bound to be some books you prefer more than others, and this just isn't one of them for me. That said, I do immensely enjoy this series and highly recommend reading it if you're looking for an awesome Steampunk adventure.
The Diamond Conspiracy is the fourth book in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris. I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Ministry Seven is a group of eight kids that Eliza has taken (mostly) off the streets and under her wing, serving as her eyes and ears around London. The Ministry Seven, Eliza, Wellington, and Alice, Eliza's maid, travel all over Europe looking for a running from agents in the Department. This book reminds me of Doctor Who after Clara joined the picture; quite theatrical. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it very much (almost as much as the first three in the series), but it was a bit over the top for me. In any series there are bound to be some books you prefer more than others, and this just isn't one of them for me. That said, I do immensely enjoy this series and highly recommend reading it if you're looking for an awesome Steampunk adventure.
The Diamond Conspiracy is the fourth book in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris. I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
mspris's review against another edition
5.0
I do believe that this was my favorite of the books, with all the story turns and the character developments and the culmination of many story threads coming together. It was a very good read. I enjoyed the revelations of a few significant pieces of information - I'll refrain from spoilers but I have some theories about what's to come and I can't wait to get started on the next one!
emslovestoread's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars. Not my favorite of the series. Too far-fetched in places. I'm totally willing to suspend disbelief, but this asked too much.
acf151's review against another edition
5.0
Given the reveals about the House of Usher in this book, the interactions with them in the past and the , I'm really nervous for Books' future with the Ministry.
If you want to read more (and you will), help out on the kickstarter campaign until mid-November. The 5th Book is already funded, but this is a 6-book arc, and it'd be a good thing to get the last one in the pipeline.
Kickstarter Campaign
Note: I am not associated with this campaign in any way. My benefit is in the way we all benefit: more awesome tales of Books and Braun.
Spoiler
discovery of Jekyll's mind control treatmentsIf you want to read more (and you will), help out on the kickstarter campaign until mid-November. The 5th Book is already funded, but this is a 6-book arc, and it'd be a good thing to get the last one in the pipeline.
Kickstarter Campaign
Note: I am not associated with this campaign in any way. My benefit is in the way we all benefit: more awesome tales of Books and Braun.
acf151's review
Can I read the next book now?
This book starts showing the carefully woven overall story arc Ann's provides intriguing clues about just what Books' nut of a father was up to.
I highly recommend reading if you enjoyed the first three books.
This book starts showing the carefully woven overall story arc Ann's provides intriguing clues about just what Books' nut of a father was up to.
I highly recommend reading if you enjoyed the first three books.
prgchrqltma's review against another edition
3.0
I just sort of wandered away from this one about half way through. I'm pretty sure the plot was about to move, but I just wasn't into it.
jaclynder's review against another edition
4.0
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
The Ministry is back in action!
The fourth book in The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences has arrived and the team is being thrown under the bus by outside forces. Forced to go to ground with the Phantom Protocol Eliza Braun and Wellington Books are on the run and ready to save the empire once again, trouble is, the leader of the empire, just might be the problem.
The Diamond Conspiracy takes place just days after the events in Dawn’s Early Light. Welly and Eliza are returning back to England and testing out their new found romantic relationship. However, the pleasure cruise home is brought to an abrupt halt when Eliza receives the signal from her street urchins, the Ministry Seven. Racing against the clock Eliza and Wellington band together with trusted colleagues and former enemies to save both the empire and their own skin.
The latest installment in the series is just as fun as the previous ones. The action starts right away and Eliza and Wellington are thrown into the thick of it, but this time their awesome dynamic had changed. No longer just partners, Eliza and Wellington have to cope with their new status as a couple. They’re not hiding their feelings for one another, but at the same time they can’t let it complicate their mission, the fate of the empire does rest in their hands after all.
What readers are also treated to in The Diamond Conspiracy is Wellington’s dark and tragic childhood. As readers of the series will be well aware, Wellington has secrets skills. He may be a mild-mannered archivist, but he knows his way around a rifle and is a crack shot, all thanks to his autocratic father's training. Here, readers find out more about that father and what Wellington’s childhood was a like. When the Ministry takes refuge in Wellington’s childhood home, he is forced to confront his upbringing and the mysterious purpose of it. And based on that ending, that upbringing is going to have some serious repercussions going forward in the series. Can we have book 5 now?
If you’re a fan of The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences this addition does not disappoint. It’s a fun, action packed adventure studded with great cameos (i.e. Queen Victoria, Dr. Jekyll) and new steampunk gadgets. If you haven't read the series, it's one that I highly recommend. The steampunk elements are fantastic and are actually important to the plot. The alternative London that the authors create is also a lot of fun, as is the secret service that protects it's shores. Start with book 1, Phoenix Rising.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
The Ministry is back in action!
The fourth book in The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences has arrived and the team is being thrown under the bus by outside forces. Forced to go to ground with the Phantom Protocol Eliza Braun and Wellington Books are on the run and ready to save the empire once again, trouble is, the leader of the empire, just might be the problem.
The Diamond Conspiracy takes place just days after the events in Dawn’s Early Light. Welly and Eliza are returning back to England and testing out their new found romantic relationship. However, the pleasure cruise home is brought to an abrupt halt when Eliza receives the signal from her street urchins, the Ministry Seven. Racing against the clock Eliza and Wellington band together with trusted colleagues and former enemies to save both the empire and their own skin.
The latest installment in the series is just as fun as the previous ones. The action starts right away and Eliza and Wellington are thrown into the thick of it, but this time their awesome dynamic had changed. No longer just partners, Eliza and Wellington have to cope with their new status as a couple. They’re not hiding their feelings for one another, but at the same time they can’t let it complicate their mission, the fate of the empire does rest in their hands after all.
What readers are also treated to in The Diamond Conspiracy is Wellington’s dark and tragic childhood. As readers of the series will be well aware, Wellington has secrets skills. He may be a mild-mannered archivist, but he knows his way around a rifle and is a crack shot, all thanks to his autocratic father's training. Here, readers find out more about that father and what Wellington’s childhood was a like. When the Ministry takes refuge in Wellington’s childhood home, he is forced to confront his upbringing and the mysterious purpose of it. And based on that ending, that upbringing is going to have some serious repercussions going forward in the series. Can we have book 5 now?
If you’re a fan of The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences this addition does not disappoint. It’s a fun, action packed adventure studded with great cameos (i.e. Queen Victoria, Dr. Jekyll) and new steampunk gadgets. If you haven't read the series, it's one that I highly recommend. The steampunk elements are fantastic and are actually important to the plot. The alternative London that the authors create is also a lot of fun, as is the secret service that protects it's shores. Start with book 1, Phoenix Rising.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.