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arborwinter's review
4.0
An interesting, character driven story set in a steampunk world. I'm a little wary of kitschy fantasy genres like steampunk but was pretty pleasantly surprised to not be overwhelmed by the steampunk elements. The steampunk in this story is nicely interwoven into a interpersonal drama of a young woman making her way through a structured world, bouncing between a seedy underground and high-society. Some parts could be a bit tedious but the pay off is worth it. I'm looking forwards to going into the next book!
sarina_langer's review
4.0
This was an interesting experience for me. I read Book 3 first because I'm editing it, so I loved seeing how everything started in Out of the Shadows! It was a little like reading a prequel for me, and I do love those!
Don't let me give you the wrong idea though. This is the start of a fantastic steampunk trilogy in every way!
Dana's world-building is strong, but it's her characters that will make you turn the pages. They're relatable, realistic, and super likable (especially Rook and Lenore <3) On top of that, her writing is easy to read and just *flows* from one chapter to the next.
If you love strong female leads who won't take sh*t from anyone (with a dash of handsome criminals and a side of humour), then you'll love this!
Don't let me give you the wrong idea though. This is the start of a fantastic steampunk trilogy in every way!
Dana's world-building is strong, but it's her characters that will make you turn the pages. They're relatable, realistic, and super likable (especially Rook and Lenore <3) On top of that, her writing is easy to read and just *flows* from one chapter to the next.
If you love strong female leads who won't take sh*t from anyone (with a dash of handsome criminals and a side of humour), then you'll love this!
dmoony's review against another edition
I will withhold my rating for now, because it will heavily depend on the outcome of the sequels, since this first part lacks a conclusive ending.
Firstly, I want to say this book deserves much more attention than it's got. I read it all the way through without being bored once, which is a lot for a coming-of-age story with such a vague structure. The prose is nice and all the characters are solid.
I'm not as taken with the woldbuilding as the rest of the reviewers though, it seemed juvenile and sorta naive for a dystopian society, as if the horror isn't really a part of their everyday psyche. I'm saying that as someone whose parents grew up in such a world, and the aftermath can still be felt.
Anyway, my biggest problem is with the fan favorite, Rook. He carries several red flags, and I'm inclined to think they're romanticized. This will contain some spoilers.
- literally tortures people and runs a mafia or sth, and no, ends don't justify the means
- chooses violence (e.g. punches a love rival with little to no provocation)
- withholds information from Lenore until it's convenient for him to release it, essentially making him a creepy stalker at the start. He's also quite dishonest, despite the book trying to tell you otherwise
- he's possessive and starts to think of Lenore like his "girlfriend" before she even gets to know him properly
Worst of all though, he is selfishly manipulative. I could write an entire essay about that, but he repeatedly romantically corners Lenore. Major spoilers ahead!! He gave himself up to the Enforcers in order to be able to date Lenore, despite her telling him not to. After the way he was tortured "for her sake", how could Lenore reject him without feeling immense guilt for the rest of her life? Basically, if his plans had worked out, Lenore would have been guilt-tripped into marrying him regardless of whether she wanted to or not. That is incredibly selfish and childish behavior.
The only decent love interest, Eamon, seems to be the least loved by the story. Dimitri was creepy too, and there's the overprotective father trope. So another reminder, caring about someone does not entitle you to their attention, friendship or romance. Possessiveness ≠ passion. Passion itself isn't enough either. Thanks for coming to my relationship therapy session lol.
Firstly, I want to say this book deserves much more attention than it's got. I read it all the way through without being bored once, which is a lot for a coming-of-age story with such a vague structure. The prose is nice and all the characters are solid.
I'm not as taken with the woldbuilding as the rest of the reviewers though, it seemed juvenile and sorta naive for a dystopian society, as if the horror isn't really a part of their everyday psyche. I'm saying that as someone whose parents grew up in such a world, and the aftermath can still be felt.
Anyway, my biggest problem is with the fan favorite, Rook. He carries several red flags, and I'm inclined to think they're romanticized. This will contain some spoilers.
- chooses violence (e.g. punches a love rival with little to no provocation)
- withholds information from Lenore until it's convenient for him to release it, essentially making him a creepy stalker at the start. He's also quite dishonest, despite the book trying to tell you otherwise
- he's possessive and starts to think of Lenore like his "girlfriend" before she even gets to know him properly
Worst of all though, he is selfishly manipulative. I could write an entire essay about that, but he repeatedly romantically corners Lenore. Major spoilers ahead!! He gave himself up to the Enforcers in order to be able to date Lenore, despite her telling him not to. After the way he was tortured "for her sake", how could Lenore reject him without feeling immense guilt for the rest of her life? Basically, if his plans had worked out, Lenore would have been guilt-tripped into marrying him regardless of whether she wanted to or not. That is incredibly selfish and childish behavior.
The only decent love interest, Eamon, seems to be the least loved by the story. Dimitri was creepy too, and there's the overprotective father trope. So another reminder, caring about someone does not entitle you to their attention, friendship or romance. Possessiveness ≠ passion. Passion itself isn't enough either. Thanks for coming to my relationship therapy session lol.
roisinmarie_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I received an ARC of this book from BookSirens which I am so grateful for. I really enjoyed this book! It has such an intricate world and storyline! There is a city controlled by Enforcers which reminds me of The Hunger Games, a very detailed yet mysterious criminal underworld, vampires, relics from the Old World, bonds that magically bind people together, and traditional class systems with courting, chaperones and ideas. The book has the steampunk aesthetic and is set in an alternative and fictional world that I picture as somewhat similar to Victorian England. It’s so fun!
The main character, Lenore, was a thief after her parents were captured by the Enforcers. After a series of chance encounters, she is ‘adopted’ into the home and family of Neal, Mina and Camilla, who are wonderful characters. Lenore also has a bond with a criminal called Rook, as he promised her father that he would protect her. I love most of the characters in this book, but Lenore and Rook are the main characters for a reason, as they are my favourites. Their romantic friends who wish they could be more relationship is so sweet, and they both truly care for each other and I hope in the following books they are able to begin an official relationship.
The book ended quite abruptly and I definitely still have questions about a few aspects of the plot, such as; Why did Rook hand himself in if he was going back to the crime world as it didn’t seem to help his situation with Lenore? Why was Dmitri a mole as he seems to be more in favour of the Enforces? What’s happened to Lenore’s mother? Who wants to kill Lenore? and finally, why is it so extremely bad for Rook and Lenore to date? They’re already friends and there’s suspicious feelings towards Eamonn as well. I’m sure these questions will be answered and I can’t wait to read the next book!
The main character, Lenore, was a thief after her parents were captured by the Enforcers. After a series of chance encounters, she is ‘adopted’ into the home and family of Neal, Mina and Camilla, who are wonderful characters. Lenore also has a bond with a criminal called Rook, as he promised her father that he would protect her. I love most of the characters in this book, but Lenore and Rook are the main characters for a reason, as they are my favourites. Their romantic friends who wish they could be more relationship is so sweet, and they both truly care for each other and I hope in the following books they are able to begin an official relationship.
The book ended quite abruptly and I definitely still have questions about a few aspects of the plot, such as; Why did Rook hand himself in if he was going back to the crime world as it didn’t seem to help his situation with Lenore? Why was Dmitri a mole as he seems to be more in favour of the Enforces? What’s happened to Lenore’s mother? Who wants to kill Lenore? and finally, why is it so extremely bad for Rook and Lenore to date? They’re already friends and there’s suspicious feelings towards Eamonn as well. I’m sure these questions will be answered and I can’t wait to read the next book!
bee77's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? No
5.0
secre's review against another edition
4.0
There's an interesting world here populated by fascinating characters and a narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat; in essence, there isn't a lot not to love about this book. This seems to have been categorised as steampunk, however whilst I would agree that there are certainly some steampunk elements to the novel, it is more fantasy based than historical based. The dystopian world set-up is immersive, with an authoritarian and draconian ruling elite that both set the rules and carry out the punishments for breaking them. Lenore, as the daughter of two 'convicted' criminals, finds herself out on a limb at the beginning of the book, having to steal to survive but knowing that she is always only steps away from discovery, imprisonment and torture. When Lenore is almost captured by the Enforcers her entire life changes and she finds herself treading into the world of the upper class, with identity papers and a new background to match.
There is a huge amount going on throughout this book with multiple narrative threads and various sub-plots going on throughout. By and large the writing really brings both the characters and the events to life and it is easy to get sucked into both the minutiae of Lenore's life and the more important events occurring throughout. There is plenty of detail and you really get a sense of the characters lives; how they work, think and act on a day to day basis. The interactions between characters are largely well played as well with relationships being just as murky and grey as they are in the real world. Quite impressively, all of the characters come across as fully realised with none falling into the trap of becoming cardboard cut outs. Even the love triangle angle wasn't overly annoying, although personally I'd have been tempted to thump both blokes over the head with something heavy and tell them to take a hike.
Because there is so much going on, it's difficult to know where this is leading which means that it can catch you unawares at points by going in a completely different direction to where you had judged. Lenore's life becomes ever more complex as she assumes life as an adopted family member of the Allens, finds work, navigates the social tightrope of the time and fumbles through her first experiences of courtship all the while trying to stay out of the firing zone of the Enforcers and to stay alive. Yet Lenore isn't the only character you are following and other characters very different and more dangerous lives are brought to the fore at crucial points, keeping you constantly guessing and engaged with all of the characters.
My only complaint is that periodically the writing falls into a 'tell rather than show' style which breaks the smoothness of the dialogue and the majority of the narrative. There were also narrative threads that seemed to get dropped like the hazing of one of Lenore's colleagues; considering his nature, it would seem more natural for him to make a huge song and dance about it, but you actually learn very little about it. Personally, I'd have appreciated less of the romance and love triangle, but I recognise that is a personal choice. Thankfully is wasn't too sappy but the possessiveness and inability to accept the word 'no' as a valid response grew old rather quickly. Either way though, these are three minor niggles with an overall excellent novel.
This novel has a lot to offer and not just for fans of steampunk writing; there is an immersive and compelling world here with a variety of politics lurking in the background. There is a solid cast of characters who are all interesting and individual in their own rights and Fraedrich writes well, capturing emotions and dialogue without losing track of the main narrative.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for my free review copy of this novel. I have already meandered over to Amazon and bought the sequel.
There is a huge amount going on throughout this book with multiple narrative threads and various sub-plots going on throughout. By and large the writing really brings both the characters and the events to life and it is easy to get sucked into both the minutiae of Lenore's life and the more important events occurring throughout. There is plenty of detail and you really get a sense of the characters lives; how they work, think and act on a day to day basis. The interactions between characters are largely well played as well with relationships being just as murky and grey as they are in the real world. Quite impressively, all of the characters come across as fully realised with none falling into the trap of becoming cardboard cut outs. Even the love triangle angle wasn't overly annoying, although personally I'd have been tempted to thump both blokes over the head with something heavy and tell them to take a hike.
Because there is so much going on, it's difficult to know where this is leading which means that it can catch you unawares at points by going in a completely different direction to where you had judged. Lenore's life becomes ever more complex as she assumes life as an adopted family member of the Allens, finds work, navigates the social tightrope of the time and fumbles through her first experiences of courtship all the while trying to stay out of the firing zone of the Enforcers and to stay alive. Yet Lenore isn't the only character you are following and other characters very different and more dangerous lives are brought to the fore at crucial points, keeping you constantly guessing and engaged with all of the characters.
My only complaint is that periodically the writing falls into a 'tell rather than show' style which breaks the smoothness of the dialogue and the majority of the narrative. There were also narrative threads that seemed to get dropped like the hazing of one of Lenore's colleagues; considering his nature, it would seem more natural for him to make a huge song and dance about it, but you actually learn very little about it. Personally, I'd have appreciated less of the romance and love triangle, but I recognise that is a personal choice. Thankfully is wasn't too sappy but the possessiveness and inability to accept the word 'no' as a valid response grew old rather quickly. Either way though, these are three minor niggles with an overall excellent novel.
This novel has a lot to offer and not just for fans of steampunk writing; there is an immersive and compelling world here with a variety of politics lurking in the background. There is a solid cast of characters who are all interesting and individual in their own rights and Fraedrich writes well, capturing emotions and dialogue without losing track of the main narrative.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for my free review copy of this novel. I have already meandered over to Amazon and bought the sequel.
murkymaster's review
5.0
I have read quite a few romances and YA books in my time. I can honestly say after finishing this that Fraedrich has the best grasp of real human romantic and philial interactions I have yet seen. Drama and spice and life with being over the top or understated. Also, love the setting and all the Austenian steampunk fun! Not every day you get a epic fantasy adventure, sprinkled with YA angst all buried inside a novel of manners!
booksies_booksies's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fantastic story, I love Lenore! She is sweet, funny and full of wonder. She retains her innocence throughout the book, despite the sad circumstances that she has to deal with. Dana did an amazing job of adding butterflies-in-the-tummy romance. The plot is well developed with deep suspense that really tied me in emotionally. AMAZING book, I cannot wait for the next installment!
samthorne's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up this book after meeting the lovely author at a convention. I am not generally a fan of female lead fiction, especially ya, but I was intrigued by the world design enough to give it a shot.
Off the bat, I was not disappointed by the world design. It is different and designed well enough it holds up under basic scrutiny. I hope more details will be revealed as the series continues, such as just what happened with the War and how the Enforcers came to such power.
The writing style is solid and enjoyable, and the dialogue feels natural and entertaining.
Where I felt the story didn't quite reach a fifth star for me was in the plot -- or lack there of. There is plenty going on in the double dozen subplots happening, but there is a distinctive lack of an overarching plot, which creates a feeling at the close of the novel that nothing had actually happened. There were lots of charactersnintroduced, many of which felt unnecessary to the current plot threads and transparently seemed to have been introduced for the sole reason of using them in plots of sequels
Other things I disliked are merely my own tastes conflicting with the narrative. I prefer very logical characters, and Lenore is the epitome of an emotionally driven character, as is the norm for a young girl in a ya, hence my usual distaste for novels featuring them. Inevitably, the novel brought in the standard love triangle, a point at which I actually groaned aloud.
I will likely read the sequels, to find out more about the universe, if nothing else, and perhaps to see if any of my predictions about certain things come true. Hopefully, this novel length setup will pay off in faster pacing down the line.
Off the bat, I was not disappointed by the world design. It is different and designed well enough it holds up under basic scrutiny. I hope more details will be revealed as the series continues, such as just what happened with the War and how the Enforcers came to such power.
The writing style is solid and enjoyable, and the dialogue feels natural and entertaining.
Where I felt the story didn't quite reach a fifth star for me was in the plot -- or lack there of. There is plenty going on in the double dozen subplots happening, but there is a distinctive lack of an overarching plot, which creates a feeling at the close of the novel that nothing had actually happened. There were lots of charactersnintroduced, many of which felt unnecessary to the current plot threads and transparently seemed to have been introduced for the sole reason of using them in plots of sequels
Other things I disliked are merely my own tastes conflicting with the narrative. I prefer very logical characters, and Lenore is the epitome of an emotionally driven character, as is the norm for a young girl in a ya, hence my usual distaste for novels featuring them. Inevitably, the novel brought in the standard love triangle, a point at which I actually groaned aloud.
I will likely read the sequels, to find out more about the universe, if nothing else, and perhaps to see if any of my predictions about certain things come true. Hopefully, this novel length setup will pay off in faster pacing down the line.
pileofbooks94's review against another edition
5.0
[Originating from my tumblr/book review site fromthelibrarycatalog.tumblr.com]
I was at BookCon in NYC at the beginning of the month, and I happened across author Dana Fraedrich’s booth. Noted as being similar to “Pride and Prejudice,” but with a steampunk twist, I was immediately intrigued. Upon reading the first few pages, I was drawn into the Broken Gears world, and proceeded to return the next day, in order to buy the rest of the titles that she was selling.
Set in the Broken Gears world, Lenore has fallen upon hard times. Having lost both her parents to the law, she is forced to live as a thief on the streets. In a town where law and punishment is held to the strictest degree by the police (Enforcers), getting caught means almost guaranteed death. However, one unlucky, but lucky, day, Lenore is caught by the Allen family. Rather than turning her in, they make a deal: Live with them, and start anew. At first overjoyed with the opportunity to restart her life, Lenore begins to find he familial past catching up with her, and a mysterious figure with an unquestioned bond to her is seeking her out.
I absolutely loved this book. The steampunk aspect of the book is well-balanced with the plot and the characters; not overpowering the rest of the story. In addition, I liked how the world is created in the book. Not all the rules are introduced at once. Rather, aspects of this world that differ from our reality are introduced when they happen to Lenore herself. As such, this world’s workings is not fully outlined until about a third of the way in. For me, this writing style kept me intrigued to read more, and propelled me throughout the story. Lastly, I was very pleased with the way that the character development was created. For all the characters in the story, there is growth, as well as a trajectory of their mindset and emotions. While the story takes place mostly from Lenore’s perspective, to ensure that the reader understands the other characters, Fraedrich switches perspectives to all the other main/secondary characters. In doing so, she allows us to empathize with all the characters, including the ones that are not so nice.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes adventure and romance, wrapped in a layer of steampunk.
I was at BookCon in NYC at the beginning of the month, and I happened across author Dana Fraedrich’s booth. Noted as being similar to “Pride and Prejudice,” but with a steampunk twist, I was immediately intrigued. Upon reading the first few pages, I was drawn into the Broken Gears world, and proceeded to return the next day, in order to buy the rest of the titles that she was selling.
Set in the Broken Gears world, Lenore has fallen upon hard times. Having lost both her parents to the law, she is forced to live as a thief on the streets. In a town where law and punishment is held to the strictest degree by the police (Enforcers), getting caught means almost guaranteed death. However, one unlucky, but lucky, day, Lenore is caught by the Allen family. Rather than turning her in, they make a deal: Live with them, and start anew. At first overjoyed with the opportunity to restart her life, Lenore begins to find he familial past catching up with her, and a mysterious figure with an unquestioned bond to her is seeking her out.
I absolutely loved this book. The steampunk aspect of the book is well-balanced with the plot and the characters; not overpowering the rest of the story. In addition, I liked how the world is created in the book. Not all the rules are introduced at once. Rather, aspects of this world that differ from our reality are introduced when they happen to Lenore herself. As such, this world’s workings is not fully outlined until about a third of the way in. For me, this writing style kept me intrigued to read more, and propelled me throughout the story. Lastly, I was very pleased with the way that the character development was created. For all the characters in the story, there is growth, as well as a trajectory of their mindset and emotions. While the story takes place mostly from Lenore’s perspective, to ensure that the reader understands the other characters, Fraedrich switches perspectives to all the other main/secondary characters. In doing so, she allows us to empathize with all the characters, including the ones that are not so nice.
Overall, I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes adventure and romance, wrapped in a layer of steampunk.