Remember a few months ago when I crapped all over a really bad book that I suffered through? Which time, you ask? I'm talking about that poorly written steampunk monstrosity that I spent actual money on. Ugh. Well, this book is the antithesis to that horrible garbage. Just last weekend I was strolling through a bookshop with a friend, whining about how I wish that there was some sort of Steampunk novel that didn't completely suck because I love the idea, I love the potential, but it always turns out really cliche and overdone. Thank the heavens. Thank you, Elise Kova. You've blended high fantasy with just the right amount of steampunk and given me something that's interesting, enhanced by the world of steampunk themes in a way that makes sense and isn't completely pretentious. It was not an easy feat. Also the cover art on the first book is pretty cool. Thumbs up, girl, YOU DOIN' IT. Am I biased on this topic because I have a deep and everlasting love for high fantasy? It's possible. My thinking on this is that it works so well specifically because it's been blended gently into an already tried and tested formula. This author knows how to write a beautiful turn of phrase and keep the reader engaged with the classic ploy of writing each chapter from the point of view of different characters: but there's only four and it doesn't get annoyingly confusing. Rather we encounter a dynamic and refreshing view point as events unfold from both sides of the differing peoples. You're going to think it's one thing at first and then it flips quickly, several times. The lands of Nova and Loom are curious, delightfully imagined and full of magic. When I say lands though... two worlds essentially lay stacked, one on top of the other. A weather anomaly separates them, layers of cloud and extreme winds making them difficult to traverse and effectively ensuring each land is unable to visit the other. Nova above is the domain of Dragons. Humanoid creatures not entirely unlike the widely known mythical beast, though more on the side of half-human, half-dragon - coloured skin, fangs and claws, magical powers - but no wings. The ways in which their magic manifests are as varied as our human talents, one could say. Some have the power to see in complete darkness, some are exceptionally strong, in some vary rare cases they are able to stop time. There isn't much information as to the format of their lands, though we know they live above Gods Line, the weather bank that keeps them sequestered above, blocking most of the sunlight from shining on the lands of Loom. I honestly couldn't figure out by the end of the book if they were magically floating lands or some sort of technological marvel. The land of Loom is populated by a humanoid race called the Fenthri, stocky, thrifty people whose society values hard work, technological advance and freedom. A few Dragons fall to their deaths through Gods Line and realising that there is something above them, completely unexplored, they create machines to solve the mystery, giving themselves the power of flight. Along with this development they discover the magic Dragons possess can be transferred into their own bodies as long as they transplant the organ where the magic is. Yes. This is super fucked up. But so is the king of the Dragons stealing technology, combining it with magic and together with his superior resources... declares himself emperor of both lands. The worst part of this is that he scrambles their societal structure to the point that they have no freedom to move outside strictly enforced guidelines that hobble them technologically, biologically, societally... they're under the thumb totally, and after one truly sensational revolt they are quashed and broken. Enter The Wraith. This book starts with something I truly love - a good heist. I love an old fashioned one, guns blazing, Bonnie and Clyde style. I cant get enough of a medieval one either, yeahhh pick those poorly crafted padlocks, slip some chancy powders made from berries into your targets wine to put 'em out for a few hours while you rob 'em blind. I go nuts for a good con and I have no idea where this compulsion comes from. The Wraith very nearly makes it out with her prize, has an excellent escape plan, when the smallest detail trips her up... it's abundantly clear that she is not like the others of her race. Each twist and turn during the heist is surmounted by the grace of her enhancements. Night vision, speed, but also incredibly clever planning and ground work, she's done her research and displays a general disregard for others that makes her pretty ruthless. Yes, she's stubborn as hell and you know she's going to have that rubbed in her face somewhere along the line. But all of a sudden, she's losing ground trying to escape her pursuers and barrels around a corner to find a mostly unconscious dragon trying to heal himself. She immediately steps up to carve out his heart to sell on the Chimera black market when his eyes flick open and he stays her hand. From this point on it's power struggle central! He quickly separates himself from the dragons pursuing her, offering a boon in exchange for his life. It's clear she has barely the time to consider but errs on the side of a potential future leg up. The rest of the story I will leave to you to discover. It's an excellent go at steampunk fantasy without being so over the top that a reader gets weighed down in all the details. Kova weaves a rich story and leaves out the unneccessary garbage. I'll give this an 8.5 and will definitely be reading the next one.
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