A review by kblincoln
The Affinity Bridge by George Mann
3.0
So looking for some action-oriented steampunk with lots of delicious descriptions of automata and airships?
This is your book. This is full-fledged, steampunked Victoriana complete with plague-driven Zombies, a fog-shrouded murder, missing automaton, and a hero extremely similar to Sherlock himself.
If that's what you're looking for, you'll be completely satisfied with the setting, its missing automaton mystery, the cool backstory for the Zombies, and the various chases, crashes, and attempted murders.
However, if you're like me, and want a bit more depth to your characters, the very Sherlockian Sir Maurice Newbury and his assistant, Veronica Hobbes won't fill you up.
I think the biggest problem for me, personally, was the very formal, very British-sounding narrative voice that differed very little from Hobbes or Newbury's voice. Because everything was formal, I never felt close to Newbury or Hobbes, although I wanted to like them.
(and then there was all the organising of tea and constant popping of Newbury's stitched wounds and for my personal taste a bit too much use of "whilst" outside of dialogue)
So if you're in the mood for some light, action-oriented Steampunk fun, this is great. If you're in the mood for more character-driven or philosophical Steampunk, then I'd probably look elsewhere.
This Book's Snack Rating: Sour Cream and Onion Lay's Potato Chips for the creamy delight of a fog-shrouded, Steampunk London featuring a very thin crunch of characters.
This is your book. This is full-fledged, steampunked Victoriana complete with plague-driven Zombies, a fog-shrouded murder, missing automaton, and a hero extremely similar to Sherlock himself.
If that's what you're looking for, you'll be completely satisfied with the setting, its missing automaton mystery, the cool backstory for the Zombies, and the various chases, crashes, and attempted murders.
However, if you're like me, and want a bit more depth to your characters, the very Sherlockian Sir Maurice Newbury and his assistant, Veronica Hobbes won't fill you up.
I think the biggest problem for me, personally, was the very formal, very British-sounding narrative voice that differed very little from Hobbes or Newbury's voice. Because everything was formal, I never felt close to Newbury or Hobbes, although I wanted to like them.
(and then there was all the organising of tea and constant popping of Newbury's stitched wounds and for my personal taste a bit too much use of "whilst" outside of dialogue)
So if you're in the mood for some light, action-oriented Steampunk fun, this is great. If you're in the mood for more character-driven or philosophical Steampunk, then I'd probably look elsewhere.
This Book's Snack Rating: Sour Cream and Onion Lay's Potato Chips for the creamy delight of a fog-shrouded, Steampunk London featuring a very thin crunch of characters.