Lumiere

Lumiere, a teen steampunk novel, places it's reader firmly in a dystopian society that doesn't tolerate wickedness or witchcraft. 17-year-old Eyelet has always been protected by her unusual parents. If it is discovered that she suffers from seizures she will be put away...or destroyed. Her father was working on a machine to cure her before his death. One day she will find that machine - the Illuminator - and finish what he started. That day comes sooner than she expects when she's forced to run or suffer the fate of her mother, who is found guilty of wickedness and sentenced to die.

Urlick is a disfigured orphan with a quick mind and a soft heart. When Eyelet jumps aboard his conveyance and hitches a ride to his home, he takes her in and protects her. He knows she has secrets. But then, so does he.

This may be the least restful novel I have ever read. Eyelet and Urlick simply do not slow down - their tale pushes them onward from adventure to adventure, always on the run and in pursuit of the Illuminator. Both characters are inquisitive, intelligent, and likable. The supporting characters are less developed and sometimes seem like an afterthought, but even so they add dimension to the plot. Likewise a plot twist or two had me scratching my head, though overall things made sense and flowed well.

Lumiere is the first book in a new series, The Illumination Paradox. Fans of Kady Cross's Steampunk Chronicles and dystopian fiction (such as the Maze Runner and the Hunger Games) will love this title.

Garlick, Jacqueline E. Lumiere. Skyscape, 2015. 4 stars

When one series ends, another begins…

Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series has a special place in my heart. It introduced me to paranormal/steampunk crossovers, and all five books are well-written with a balance of humor, adventure and a bit of romance. I was sorry when the series ended, though by that point the author had already started a prequel series for teens, which I also enjoyed. I couldn’t wait to see what she came up with next. 

What was next was Prudence, first book in the Custard Protocol series and a continuation of the Parasol Protectorate, though with a gap of around twenty years. If you have not read the Parasol Protectorate books, or are in the middle of the series, be warned that this review may have some spoilers.

Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama (Rue to her friends) is twenty-one, and a darling of society, but she’s bored and apt to find herself in embarrassing escapades. When her adopted father sends her to India to look into his top-secret tea dealings she’s thrilled to finally have a true adventure. But soon heretofore unknown native shifters pull Rue into their politics, and Rue’s diplomacy skills and quick mind are the only things that can stop a declaration of war on England.

My high hopes for this novel were sadly unrealized. While I loved the idea of all the children from the previous books having their own adventures, mostly this book was about clothing. I got the distinct impression that the author had done a ton of research into the clothing and dress of the time period and was determined that absolutely all of it would be used in one novel. I put the book down several times because I was so tired of reading about what everyone was wearing. I persevered out of some crazy sense of loyalty to the previous books, and was finally rewarded about 3/4 of the way through. At that point the plot kicked in, Rue proved that she did have a quick mind and the plot wrested control away from the excruciating historical detail. 

Imprudence, book two in the series, is due out sometime next year and I will definitely pick it up. Despite my disappointment in this first installment the novel was well-written, and the groundwork has been set for what could be a very enjoyable book two. Everyone has a bad day, right?

Carriger, Gail. Prudence. New York: Orbit, 2015. 3.5 stars. 

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in the review are mine alone.