ginnikin's review against another edition
3.0
Political intrigue, dirigibles, magic, alternate history, monsters, twisty multi-layered backstory--what more could you want?
moonlit_shelves's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
pygment's review against another edition
5.0
I should remember how much I like her writing. I've yet to be disappointed by something of hers I've read. Enjoy this fantasy tinged steampunk book set as a series of short stories with contiguous characters. I would love to read more of their adventures.
reading_rainy's review against another edition
4.0
What a delightfully, strange book. Alternate universe in a mostly Victorian America setting. A layered mystery with strong characters and conversations you’ll remember long after finishing.
abhrasach's review against another edition
4.0
Read this time as part of the Kindle edition with Garret Investigates.
A solid, if episodic, story set in a steampunkish alternate world without the gimmicks. Interesting characters, pretty much all followed by one heartache or another--it's that interaction that creates satisfying depth. Also great if you're looking for interesting leads who are not impossibly young for their experience and wisdom.
A solid, if episodic, story set in a steampunkish alternate world without the gimmicks. Interesting characters, pretty much all followed by one heartache or another--it's that interaction that creates satisfying depth. Also great if you're looking for interesting leads who are not impossibly young for their experience and wisdom.
qdony's review against another edition
5.0
M'ha agradat moltíssim. Té un sotrac al mig, però el supera sense problemes. També té una corva d'aprenentatge una mica empinada, però paga la pena superar-la. L'essència del llibre està més entre línies i en el comportament dels personatges que en les trames dels relats que composen el llibre. Els personatges principals són una meravella.
http://hevist.tumblr.com/tagged/new_amsterdam
http://hevist.tumblr.com/tagged/new_amsterdam
bookbeaut's review against another edition
2.0
DNF, though for purposes of my challenge count I will mark a book as read if I've completed 75% of it.
This book had so much potential but ultimately, bored me to the point that I realized I didn't even care about how it ended. That's very hard to do with a story that had elements I'm all about - paranormal, steampunk, lady sorcerer detectives - but sadly, it fell so flat. All those things were done in such a mundane & uninteresting way - for all the talk of Abby Irene's wand, her magic use was restricted to putting things in bowls on a table & then coming to some conclusion from it. And never have I ever seen vampires done in such a boring way - they're not my fave generally speaking but they're usually at least interesting. The final death knell for me was the episodic way the story was told - it was jarring & didn't allow the book to carry any sort of narrative along.
Two stars because it wasn't HORRIBLE, it was just..boring. And that's almost worse.
This book had so much potential but ultimately, bored me to the point that I realized I didn't even care about how it ended. That's very hard to do with a story that had elements I'm all about - paranormal, steampunk, lady sorcerer detectives - but sadly, it fell so flat. All those things were done in such a mundane & uninteresting way - for all the talk of Abby Irene's wand, her magic use was restricted to putting things in bowls on a table & then coming to some conclusion from it. And never have I ever seen vampires done in such a boring way - they're not my fave generally speaking but they're usually at least interesting. The final death knell for me was the episodic way the story was told - it was jarring & didn't allow the book to carry any sort of narrative along.
Two stars because it wasn't HORRIBLE, it was just..boring. And that's almost worse.
invisibleninjacat's review against another edition
5.0
This is an extremely well thought out story, with the role of main character tied between a badass sorceress-detective and a bisexual vampire whose reactions to living for eternity are very plausible. The story also includes some very strong supporting characters with motivations of their own. What's not to love?