Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel #1
Upon first seeing the cover of this book, I had to smile at the two MC's names - Agents Books and Braun! :-D Ok, I thought, I have to give this a chance.
Eliza D. Braun is a field agent for the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, working to preserve order under the reign of "Queen Vic." Wellington Thornhill Books, Esquire, is the head of the Ministry's archives - he is NOT a librarian, but an archivist (as he so often reminds Eliza).
When Agent Braun brings too much attention to the existence of the clandestine Ministry, she is reassigned to the Archives. But, that doesn't keep her confined to the stuffy basement for long. Her former partner, Harrison Thorne, was driven mad after going missing for a week while investigating the newest in a series of gruesome murders. Upon discovering the evidence Thorne collected in the Ministry’s unsolved cases, Braun takes action. She intends to find answers, and assuage her guilt over Harrison’s madness – with or without Agent Books' help.
As they begin to connect the murders to one another, Books and Braun find themselves involved in something much more dangerous than they expected. When the clues lead them to the mysterious Phoenix Society, fighting for “Queen and country” takes on a whole new meaning. Going undercover, Wellington and Eliza discover what the Phoenix Society members are up to in their secluded country estate. But when their cover is blown, how will they escape the dungeons of the nefarious Phoenix Society’s leader and see justice done?
Philippa (Pip) Ballantine and Tee Morris have created a fun, witty and adventure-filled steampunk novel. It is the first steampunk book I've read, but if I can find more with this level of writing and entertainment value – I'm officially a fan! I'll be keeping an eye out for book two in this series.
“Welly,” as Eliza insists on calling Agent Books, is fascinated with technology and creates some of the cool steampunk gadgets in the book. Eliza, on the other hand, prefers dynamite to steam power. They’re a classic “odd couple” somewhat reminiscent of Mulder and Scully in the early seasons of X-files.
A couple of the scenes felt a bit forced just so the authors could include more cool gadgets. But, since I love a good fight scene, I forgive them. A really enjoyable read that I had a hard time putting down. :-)
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Book Review #2 - Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches From the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture by Peggy Orenstein
I am not a mother, so why did I read a book about how to raise confident, healthy young women in America? Because someday I may be the mother of a daughter, and right now I am the auntie of a 10-year-old niece. Making sure the girls in my life (present and future) are strong and confident is important to me.
If you’re thinking this book is a preachy recitation of “tell your daughter to be proud of who she is no matter what anyone else thinks and everything will be fine” – you’re wrong. Peggy Orenstein acknowledges the warring opinions and philosophies on raising a girl who doesn’t put all her self-worth in her appearance. There are pitfalls in life and the author does not ignore them. She even admits her feelings of inadequacy regarding her own looks and her fear that they will somehow seep into her daughter’s self-perception. She tackles media (most markedly the “Disney Princess” deluge), how children of both genders play and what that may or may not mean for their future in relating to one another, the early sexualization of young girls(think Toddlers and Tiaras – yeah she goes to a pageant) and even the internet. But she manages to mix lessons on combating a girl’s desire for “perfection” with humor.
One of my favorite examples is her mention of the “Twilight” craze. Orenstein picks apart Bella without mercy. “But it is Bella, not the supernaturals she falls in with, who is the true horror show here, at least as a female role model. . . . Realizing [in New Moon] that she conjures Edward’s image at times of extreme danger, Bella flings herself off a cliff into a stormy sea and nearly drowns: ‘. . . I saw him, and I had no will to fight . . . . Why would I fight when I was so happy where I was?’
Oh yeah, I want my daughter to be that girl.”
Orenstein goes on to say that Bella’s one redeeming value in teaching girls to like themselves is that the character is a completely lackluster, decidedly not model-perfect girl who still gets the hot guy. (Um, I’m not so sure that should really be what girl’s strive for myself, but I didn’t write the book.)
However, I found this book to be informative, thought-provoking and entertaining. Do I believe it should be used as the new gospel on raising girls? No. Do I believe it has serious merit and will help parents(and cool aunties/uncles/grandparents/etc.) discover their own way to guide girls through the conflicting messages and images they must face every day? Absolutely. Give it a read. At the very least, it will get you thinking.
If you’re thinking this book is a preachy recitation of “tell your daughter to be proud of who she is no matter what anyone else thinks and everything will be fine” – you’re wrong. Peggy Orenstein acknowledges the warring opinions and philosophies on raising a girl who doesn’t put all her self-worth in her appearance. There are pitfalls in life and the author does not ignore them. She even admits her feelings of inadequacy regarding her own looks and her fear that they will somehow seep into her daughter’s self-perception. She tackles media (most markedly the “Disney Princess” deluge), how children of both genders play and what that may or may not mean for their future in relating to one another, the early sexualization of young girls(think Toddlers and Tiaras – yeah she goes to a pageant) and even the internet. But she manages to mix lessons on combating a girl’s desire for “perfection” with humor.
One of my favorite examples is her mention of the “Twilight” craze. Orenstein picks apart Bella without mercy. “But it is Bella, not the supernaturals she falls in with, who is the true horror show here, at least as a female role model. . . . Realizing [in New Moon] that she conjures Edward’s image at times of extreme danger, Bella flings herself off a cliff into a stormy sea and nearly drowns: ‘. . . I saw him, and I had no will to fight . . . . Why would I fight when I was so happy where I was?’
Oh yeah, I want my daughter to be that girl.”
Orenstein goes on to say that Bella’s one redeeming value in teaching girls to like themselves is that the character is a completely lackluster, decidedly not model-perfect girl who still gets the hot guy. (Um, I’m not so sure that should really be what girl’s strive for myself, but I didn’t write the book.)
However, I found this book to be informative, thought-provoking and entertaining. Do I believe it should be used as the new gospel on raising girls? No. Do I believe it has serious merit and will help parents(and cool aunties/uncles/grandparents/etc.) discover their own way to guide girls through the conflicting messages and images they must face every day? Absolutely. Give it a read. At the very least, it will get you thinking.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Book Review #1 - Bloodring by Faith Hunter
I have decided to post reviews of the books on my reading list which I find to be most entertaining (or informative in the case of non-fiction). You can see a full and updated list by clicking the My Planned Reading List for 2011 link at the top of the page. So, without further ado, here is the first.
Thorn St. Croix is the most hunted of beings in the Post-Ap world – an unlicensed witchy-woman. She must keep herself, as well as the power she feels through and from stone, hidden. No one must know what she is. To be discovered means a torturous death; either at the hands of the Seraphs, or through the slow descent into insanity that return to her Enclave would mean.
And for years she has been able to fool those around her into believing she is nothing more than human. Then Thaddeus Bartholomew arrives in Mineral City.
He has a secret of his own. One even he doesn’t fully realize. A Hand of the Law, he is investigating the disappearance of Thorn’s ex-husband, Lucas.
Finding Lucas isn’t exactly at the top of Thorn’s to-do list, until she learns that his kidnappers plan to do harm to his daughter and daughter-of-her-heart, Ciana. The child puts all her trust in Thorn, telling her that God the Victorious has told her that Thorn will get her father back.
Left with little choice, for finding Lucas now means saving Ciana, Thorn begins to explore the powers she was born with in order to locate him. The hunt will take both Thorn and Thadd closer to their destruction than either ever considered.
*****
This was one of the best dark fantasies I’ve read in a long while. While some of the descriptions were a bit tedious (Do I really need to know the color and cut of every outfit her flamboyant, gay best friend wears?) it pulled me into the author’s Post-Apocalyptic vision of a world where humans, mages, half-breeds, Seraphs and devil spawn co-exist in a tumultuous mixture teetering on the brink of another war.
The main character was likeable and just flawed enough that she wasn’t an overly-righteous stereotype of a heroine. The supporting characters were vibrant especially Rupert (the one with all the fabulous outfits) and his partner Audric, a huge black man who is more than he seems.
I would recommend this to all lovers of the genre. It does draw upon religious themes, but not in a preachy manner (if it had been preachy, I wouldn’t be recommending it). It’s well-written and comes to a satisfying ending with just enough left unanswered to pull you forward to read the next of the series “Seraphs,” which I will be picking up next.
Thorn St. Croix is the most hunted of beings in the Post-Ap world – an unlicensed witchy-woman. She must keep herself, as well as the power she feels through and from stone, hidden. No one must know what she is. To be discovered means a torturous death; either at the hands of the Seraphs, or through the slow descent into insanity that return to her Enclave would mean.
And for years she has been able to fool those around her into believing she is nothing more than human. Then Thaddeus Bartholomew arrives in Mineral City.
He has a secret of his own. One even he doesn’t fully realize. A Hand of the Law, he is investigating the disappearance of Thorn’s ex-husband, Lucas.
Finding Lucas isn’t exactly at the top of Thorn’s to-do list, until she learns that his kidnappers plan to do harm to his daughter and daughter-of-her-heart, Ciana. The child puts all her trust in Thorn, telling her that God the Victorious has told her that Thorn will get her father back.
Left with little choice, for finding Lucas now means saving Ciana, Thorn begins to explore the powers she was born with in order to locate him. The hunt will take both Thorn and Thadd closer to their destruction than either ever considered.
*****
This was one of the best dark fantasies I’ve read in a long while. While some of the descriptions were a bit tedious (Do I really need to know the color and cut of every outfit her flamboyant, gay best friend wears?) it pulled me into the author’s Post-Apocalyptic vision of a world where humans, mages, half-breeds, Seraphs and devil spawn co-exist in a tumultuous mixture teetering on the brink of another war.
The main character was likeable and just flawed enough that she wasn’t an overly-righteous stereotype of a heroine. The supporting characters were vibrant especially Rupert (the one with all the fabulous outfits) and his partner Audric, a huge black man who is more than he seems.
I would recommend this to all lovers of the genre. It does draw upon religious themes, but not in a preachy manner (if it had been preachy, I wouldn’t be recommending it). It’s well-written and comes to a satisfying ending with just enough left unanswered to pull you forward to read the next of the series “Seraphs,” which I will be picking up next.
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