Brekke K. (sfvamp) -
Helpful Score: 4
Awesome book! It delivers excellent characterization, an interesting and intricate plot, some wry humor, and more romance than I expected (but I'm delighted it is there). This is a fully realized steampunk world and I look forward to further escapades by Book and Braun. Not since Scully and Mulder have I enjoyed two characters' UST so much.
There is something very theatrical and visual about the writing. (It is really quite astonishing how often novels don't make their more visually inclined readers so at home within the story like Phoenix Rising.) I see everything vividly and if I had the power, I'd immediately develop this story into film or television. Each character is carefully and immediately fully realized yet just enough mystery remains for the reader to make interesting discoveries along the way. Side characters and those with mere cameos are given meaty significance and never suffer from cardboard representation. After reading some pretty poorly constructed paranormal romances in which the characterization was quite shallow, the humor forced, and the romance nil (I'm particularly thinking of Stephanie Rowe), I can't tell you how thrilled I am to read a well-rounded, visually scrumptious, fascinating story.
As with several of my favorite novels, my only real pet peeve with this book is the sloppy editing. This isn't something that is so prevalent as to make the book unreadable, but there does seem to be a higher count of problematic editing than I normally notice. When a book is as good as this one, you don't want anything to mar the easy flow of the story.
There is something about this literary world that reminds me of Carole Nelson Douglas' Irene Adler mysteries. The richness of characterization, the visual quality to the writing, the ridiculous readability of a plot that is no less meticulous and intricate for all of its inviting nature. Fans of that series might particularly enjoy what I hope will be the beginning of a prolific series.
There is something very theatrical and visual about the writing. (It is really quite astonishing how often novels don't make their more visually inclined readers so at home within the story like Phoenix Rising.) I see everything vividly and if I had the power, I'd immediately develop this story into film or television. Each character is carefully and immediately fully realized yet just enough mystery remains for the reader to make interesting discoveries along the way. Side characters and those with mere cameos are given meaty significance and never suffer from cardboard representation. After reading some pretty poorly constructed paranormal romances in which the characterization was quite shallow, the humor forced, and the romance nil (I'm particularly thinking of Stephanie Rowe), I can't tell you how thrilled I am to read a well-rounded, visually scrumptious, fascinating story.
As with several of my favorite novels, my only real pet peeve with this book is the sloppy editing. This isn't something that is so prevalent as to make the book unreadable, but there does seem to be a higher count of problematic editing than I normally notice. When a book is as good as this one, you don't want anything to mar the easy flow of the story.
There is something about this literary world that reminds me of Carole Nelson Douglas' Irene Adler mysteries. The richness of characterization, the visual quality to the writing, the ridiculous readability of a plot that is no less meticulous and intricate for all of its inviting nature. Fans of that series might particularly enjoy what I hope will be the beginning of a prolific series.
Tasula W. (fantasyisbetter) reviewed Phoenix Rising (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, Bk 1) on + 113 more book reviews
I looked forward to this book, and did enjoy some parts, but overall it was a disappointment.
Laura P. (hemmputnam) reviewed Phoenix Rising (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, Bk 1) on + 1116 more book reviews
This was my first steampunk read and it was a lot of fun. There was much more action than anticipated and much less romance. The villany was darker than I expected and I won't be looking for the next book in the series.
David N. W. reviewed Phoenix Rising (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, Bk 1) on + 8 more book reviews
Steam Punk Fun! Imaginative Imagery! A New Dynamic Duo!
Karissa E. (ophelia99) reviewed Phoenix Rising (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, Bk 1) on + 2527 more book reviews
This is the first book in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series. Right now there are five books released in this series. I really enjoyed this start to this steampunk series. There is a lot of action, a secret society, automatons and many crazy devices. Additionally I really enjoyed the characters; they have complex pasts and are intriguing and fun to read about.
I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was very well done. Langton was a joy to listen to and did a great job on character voices and with emotion. I would definitely recommend listening to this series on audiobooks if you enjoy them.
I am a huge fan of steampunk books and this was one of the better steampunk books I have read. It is much less paranormal romance in tone and has a much more urban fantasy type pace to it. It seems like a lot of the steampunk series I have read are more on the romance end of things. While there are some hints at a romance in this book it is mostly an investigative urban fantasy.
I loved the pairing of Books and Braun (an excellent, if blunt, play on names here). Eliza Braun is a blow everything up, attack first, ask later kind of woman who gets sent down to the archives for acting too brashly and disobeying orders on her last case. Wellington Books mans the library...eh...archives for the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. They could not be more different. However, when Eliza unearths an interesting case that's been filed with the other unsolved mysteries they suddenly find themselves with a common cause.
There is a lot of action, intrigue and mystery in this book. The book is chock full of interesting devices, weaponized automatons and other crazy steampunky inventions. It was great fun to read and I ended up enjoying it a ton.
Overall this book was highly entertaining and I would recommend to both steampunk and urban fantasy fans. This was a fun read and I plan on continuing with the series.
I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was very well done. Langton was a joy to listen to and did a great job on character voices and with emotion. I would definitely recommend listening to this series on audiobooks if you enjoy them.
I am a huge fan of steampunk books and this was one of the better steampunk books I have read. It is much less paranormal romance in tone and has a much more urban fantasy type pace to it. It seems like a lot of the steampunk series I have read are more on the romance end of things. While there are some hints at a romance in this book it is mostly an investigative urban fantasy.
I loved the pairing of Books and Braun (an excellent, if blunt, play on names here). Eliza Braun is a blow everything up, attack first, ask later kind of woman who gets sent down to the archives for acting too brashly and disobeying orders on her last case. Wellington Books mans the library...eh...archives for the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. They could not be more different. However, when Eliza unearths an interesting case that's been filed with the other unsolved mysteries they suddenly find themselves with a common cause.
There is a lot of action, intrigue and mystery in this book. The book is chock full of interesting devices, weaponized automatons and other crazy steampunky inventions. It was great fun to read and I ended up enjoying it a ton.
Overall this book was highly entertaining and I would recommend to both steampunk and urban fantasy fans. This was a fun read and I plan on continuing with the series.
