A review by couillac
The Inventor's Secret by Andrea Cremer

3.0

I've never read Andrea Cremer before, and I'm not a particular fan of steampunk, so I was surprised to enjoy this book as much as I did. I'm a sucker for a good cast of characters, and I really enjoyed getting to know this group of allies. Cremer's world-building is also excellent. Despite a few info-dumping sections, she allows readers to decipher her world gradually and organically from the story. And what a fascinating world! Exploring what might have happened if the US lost the Revolutionary War is an intriguing premise, and I like where she goes with it. Teen readers will also enjoy the romantic aspects, which are pitch perfect for the audience (even if I preferred to skim over them). My only critique is that this volume seems to exist primarily to set up the rest of the series - it needed more of a central conflict driving the story. Grave's secret, while intriguing, doesn't really come across as critical enough to be the central focus, and yet there isn't really anything else there. No big battle, no resolution of any of the questions raised. Overall, however, it's a really enjoyable read, and I look forward to returning to this world in the next volume.