biteintobooks's review
4.0
Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've never actually read a Steampunk Novel. I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book, which starts with; "Ella Rosenfeld is a lunatic." I was like YEAH! That's something interesting, something new, a POV I've not seen often.
I was surprised by this book and I was in doubt whether to give the book 3 stars or 4 stars. But since I can name more Pros than Cons, it's not more than fair to give the book 4 as a rating!
A longer review can be found at Bite Into books
This book has a futuristic, but also back-in-time feel to it with certain steampunk and sci-fi elements. I can't explain it any other way.
I liked the different aspects, since the book also contains adventure, action and the necessary feels.
Especially the different aspects in this book, made me give the book 4 stars. Also the fact that it reminded me of one of my beloved games, was great!
I've never actually read a Steampunk Novel. I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book, which starts with; "Ella Rosenfeld is a lunatic." I was like YEAH! That's something interesting, something new, a POV I've not seen often.
I was surprised by this book and I was in doubt whether to give the book 3 stars or 4 stars. But since I can name more Pros than Cons, it's not more than fair to give the book 4 as a rating!
A longer review can be found at Bite Into books
This book has a futuristic, but also back-in-time feel to it with certain steampunk and sci-fi elements. I can't explain it any other way.
I liked the different aspects, since the book also contains adventure, action and the necessary feels.
Especially the different aspects in this book, made me give the book 4 stars. Also the fact that it reminded me of one of my beloved games, was great!
thegothiclibrary's review
4.0
(The author of this novel sent me a free copy in exchange for an honest review)
Ella Rosenfeld begins seeing ghosts after being caught in an explosion at the ball celebrating her debut into society. Her scientist father had brought her to Transylvania when he was hired to work for the mysterious and brooding Baron Victor Szarka. But instead of enjoying her first Season amongst the Eastern European nobility, Ella finds herself alone in a foreign insane asylum. At first determined to cooperate fully in order to be cured as quickly as possible, Ella soon begins to suspect that the doctor and nurses of the asylum may not have her best interests at heart. And the ghost of a hanged woman who floats above her bed at night doesn't exactly reassure Ella of the asylum's ability to cure her. When Ella makes a daring escape attempt, she becomes entangled in a complex plot that is far more dangerous than she could have realized.
This novel blended the elements of steampunk and the gothic far more successfully than I initially expected. With two genres that are both known for their melodrama and tendency to go over the top, Kristen Brand does a remarkable job of staying grounded and keeping the all too common campiness to a minimum. Ghost Machine is a gem among the many self-published ebooks of Amazon, and I am grateful to the author for bringing this one to my attention!
See my full review at TheGothicLibrary.com
Ella Rosenfeld begins seeing ghosts after being caught in an explosion at the ball celebrating her debut into society. Her scientist father had brought her to Transylvania when he was hired to work for the mysterious and brooding Baron Victor Szarka. But instead of enjoying her first Season amongst the Eastern European nobility, Ella finds herself alone in a foreign insane asylum. At first determined to cooperate fully in order to be cured as quickly as possible, Ella soon begins to suspect that the doctor and nurses of the asylum may not have her best interests at heart. And the ghost of a hanged woman who floats above her bed at night doesn't exactly reassure Ella of the asylum's ability to cure her. When Ella makes a daring escape attempt, she becomes entangled in a complex plot that is far more dangerous than she could have realized.
This novel blended the elements of steampunk and the gothic far more successfully than I initially expected. With two genres that are both known for their melodrama and tendency to go over the top, Kristen Brand does a remarkable job of staying grounded and keeping the all too common campiness to a minimum. Ghost Machine is a gem among the many self-published ebooks of Amazon, and I am grateful to the author for bringing this one to my attention!
See my full review at TheGothicLibrary.com
notjustfiction's review
4.0
Loved this one!
You should read this book because-
-headstrong and relatable female protagonist
-combines genres like steampunk and paranormal
-great world buliding
-lots of death which is inevitable in good books
-influential and badass female captain!
-really cute young Prince who acts like he has a hard shell but is a total softie
-well developed-characters
FULL REVIEW ON MY BLOG HERE https://itsnotjustfiction.wordpress.com/2018/06/03/mini-reviews-edition-1/
You should read this book because-
-headstrong and relatable female protagonist
-combines genres like steampunk and paranormal
-great world buliding
-lots of death which is inevitable in good books
-influential and badass female captain!
-really cute young Prince who acts like he has a hard shell but is a total softie
-well developed-characters
FULL REVIEW ON MY BLOG HERE https://itsnotjustfiction.wordpress.com/2018/06/03/mini-reviews-edition-1/
stephbookshine's review
5.0
The Ghost Machine is a deliciously creepy blend of Gothic horror and romance with steampunk technology and sensibilities.
Here are dark, brooding castles, secret candle-lit passages and heroines fleeing in high-necked nightdresses. Here also are airships, clockwork and automatons. Chilling medical and supernatural horror, interspersed with some light banter and sweet, clean courtship.
The light, witty touch with characterisation and dialogue reminded me very much of Elizabeth Peter’s Peabody series (one of my personal favourites), although the plot content is far darker than those Egyptological cosy mysteries!
Kristen Brand has created some fantastic and memorable characters here. Obviously Ella is a favourite, as a main character so strong, determined and enterprising that she makes an excellent role model and inspiration. The side characters are also beautifully layered. I especially enjoyed the relationship building between Ella and András.
I was less keen on the side plot of Jakab and Ilona, as I felt that the motivations were weaker than in the rest of the storyline and the resultant actions seemed out of character in places.
Still, the story as a whole is well-paced and packed with action, terror and adventure. I literally could not put it down and had to finish it all in one big glomph! Kristen Brand has captured a heady blend of humour, horror and the terribly, terribly sad which is both gripping and memorable.
Recommended to all who can handle some good old ghostly horror!
It was a woman. But then it wasn’t, not really. Women weren’t eerily transparent. Something that looked like both smoke and light composed her body, and she was right next to the bed, her feet hovering just inches in front of my face. At first I thought she was floating, but I was wrong. A rope made of the same wispy, glowing substance as her body was fastened to the pipes in the ceiling. It ended in a noose around her neck. My mouth opened in a voiceless scream, but that wasn’t the worst of it.
– Kristen Brand, The Ghost Machine
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2018/08/26/the-ghost-machine-kristen-brand/
Here are dark, brooding castles, secret candle-lit passages and heroines fleeing in high-necked nightdresses. Here also are airships, clockwork and automatons. Chilling medical and supernatural horror, interspersed with some light banter and sweet, clean courtship.
The light, witty touch with characterisation and dialogue reminded me very much of Elizabeth Peter’s Peabody series (one of my personal favourites), although the plot content is far darker than those Egyptological cosy mysteries!
Kristen Brand has created some fantastic and memorable characters here. Obviously Ella is a favourite, as a main character so strong, determined and enterprising that she makes an excellent role model and inspiration. The side characters are also beautifully layered. I especially enjoyed the relationship building between Ella and András.
I was less keen on the side plot of Jakab and Ilona, as I felt that the motivations were weaker than in the rest of the storyline and the resultant actions seemed out of character in places.
Still, the story as a whole is well-paced and packed with action, terror and adventure. I literally could not put it down and had to finish it all in one big glomph! Kristen Brand has captured a heady blend of humour, horror and the terribly, terribly sad which is both gripping and memorable.
Recommended to all who can handle some good old ghostly horror!
It was a woman. But then it wasn’t, not really. Women weren’t eerily transparent. Something that looked like both smoke and light composed her body, and she was right next to the bed, her feet hovering just inches in front of my face. At first I thought she was floating, but I was wrong. A rope made of the same wispy, glowing substance as her body was fastened to the pipes in the ceiling. It ended in a noose around her neck. My mouth opened in a voiceless scream, but that wasn’t the worst of it.
– Kristen Brand, The Ghost Machine
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2018/08/26/the-ghost-machine-kristen-brand/
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