Review - Steamed

From Katie MacAlister's site:

"Computer technician Jack Fletcher is no hero, despite his unwelcome reputation as one. In fact, he's just been the victim of bizarre circumstances. Like now. His sister happens to disturb one of his nanoelectromechanical system experiments, and now they aren't where they're supposed to be. In fact, they're not sure where they are when…


…they wake up to see a woman with the reddest hair Jack has ever seen-and a gun. Octavia Pye is an Aerocorps captain with a whole lot of secrets, and she's not about to see her maiden voyage ruined by stowaways. But the sparks flying between her and Jack just may cause her airship to combust and ignite a passion that will forever change the world as she knows it…"


This is the first story of Katie MacAlister's that I've read. And while I adore almost everything steampunk, I'm afraid I didn't like this story as much as I had hoped.

First, the good: MacAlister pays fine attention to detail in the creation of her steampunk world. The language, slang, technical terminology, history, and explanation of machinery all set the scene of a multi-layered alternative universe in which electricity is deemed too dangerous to be used in home and business. This part of the story is executed skillfully. Also, the twist involving Octavia and her past is foreshadowed so subtly early on, that I didn't even realize it was coming until the reveal at the end. Very well done.

At the same time, I think the primary story has holes in it. Not enough to kill the overall enjoyment of the tale, but enough to leave nagging little doubts in my head after I finished reading. For me, Jack accepts his place in the steampunk world far too easily. I think his sister's reaction more likely, even with Jack's scientific interest in the world, and his sexual interest in Octavia. The frequent steampunk references are kind of hokey, like a megaphone in the ear announcing "THIS STORY IS A STEAMPUNK STORY!". I also think there is a great deal of buildup involving Octavia's past lovers and the conspiracies of the world that don't really go anywhere. Jack's jealousy where Octavia is concerned seems forced, and the way he speaks to her, especially in front of others, rings somewhat false. Finally, for me at least, it is hard to believe how frequently Jack is able to disregard his sister's kidnapping to hookup with Octavia under the pretense of "we've done all we can for now, might as well have sex." I would have liked to see a bit more concern from him, as well as more purposeful action taken to save the poor girl, and less coincidence.

Overall, the tone of the story is a bit too flippant for my tastes. I realize this is a personal preference, and although the light, comedic nature of the story didn't work for me, it may be a draw for others. I find that while I enjoyed the individual story components, the whole seemed somehow less than the sum of its parts. For example, I loved the eccentric, over-the-top secondary characters. In the course of the story, however, their actions seem at odds with the strict adherence to protocol and rigid standards initially purported by Octavia. I just can't believe that she'd let her crew act so unprofessionally. It doesn't seem in her nature, and it became an element that bothered me for the course of the story.

I didn't hate Steamed by any means, but it isn't something I see myself rereading in the future. I've consistantly heard good things about MacAlister's writing and I fully plan on giving some of her other series a try. Steamed just didn't work for me.

Rating: 2.5/5

~Lily

Review - Liam's Gold

From Samhain Press:

"He’s the leprechaun, but she’s the one who can make his dreams come true.
Sal Winter, a computer tech, has lived next door to Liam for years. They’re friends—just not that kind of friends. Sal wishes it could be more, but she’s come to accept Liam will never want anything from her except her computer skills.

As for Liam, he’s a leprechaun in disguise who has no intention of granting anyone’s wish except his own: to taste the delights of one Miss Salvia Rose Winter before his sojourn in humanspace comes to an end. Sal possesses a gene that gives her the power to detect leprechauns. The closer Liam sticks to Sal, the greater the risk—and the better his cover, which is becoming critical as his time in humanspace runs short.

Time isn’t the only thing running short for Liam. A nemesis from the Realm is bearing down on him, determined to do anything to prevent his return to their homeland. Including murder the woman he’s only just realized he loves."

Liam's Gold by Jody Wallace is a paranormal novella with a twist. Instead of the dark, brooding vamps, werewolves, and - more recently - demons that clutter the pages of many paranormal stories, Liam's Gold is a whimsical, upbeat tale of a handsome leprechaun trying to avoid detection until he has saved up enough magic to make it home. What's standing in his way? The extreme attraction for his smart, feisty, computer savvy next-door-neighbor, of course.

Ok, that's oversimplifying things a bit. There are political issues fueling Liam's desire to head home, a responsibility to his people and a sense of morality that war with his desire to experience the one pleasure he's denied himself while in humanspace, Salvia Winter. There's also Sal, who is as smart as she is beautiful, and not willing to sacrifice her heart and self-respect for a momentary thrill, even with a guy she's lusted after for years. Throw into this mix an evil leprechaun set on stealing Liam's power, and you have a lot of action, wit, and emotion packed into a a fast-paced novela that I couldn't put down.

I'm afraid to say much more, because I don't want to give away any plot points. So I'll finish by saying that Liam's Gold contains that same humor and unique wit I've come to associate with Jody's stories. After reading so many paranormals filled with manufactured doom and gloom, it was refreshing to read a story that was both funny and quirky, without dumbing itself or its characters down.

Rating: 5/5


~Lily

Freaking Awesome Sauce!

So I completely love Etsy and all the neat little trinkets that people make.  I found this and just had to have it. 

I recently bought a belt and cowboy boots that will go beyond perfectly with it!  I know cheesy, retarded, hick, whatever you want to call me, I do not care.  This is the bomb dot com!

~Helena

Lincoln's role in the "Vampire" War

Seth Grahame-Smith, author of "Pride Prejudice and Zombies" has done it again! On March 2, 2010, his novel entitled "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" will grace the shelves. This book is heavily entrenched in historical research, so expect a novel more in the vein of Max Brook's delightfully entertaining "World War Z" than a satiric comic strip hero charade. I am super excited!
~Helena

Verizon Twilight Style 'Vampire'

Ok this is classic!

~Helena

Bwahaha

Feline Vampirism on the rise

First off, here is a hilarious picture I found on a random google search:

Then this one I found to be artistic with a slightly disturbing undertone.  It really is quite beautiful though:

And somehow I ended up here:

Yes girls and boys, this is a gargoyle that you can put on your front lawn for ONLY 18 buckaroos!  I am actually highly tempted...do not judge me...

~Helena

In Honor of the Coming Holiday

Valentine's Day is just around the "coffin" so to speak.  Here is an entertaining puzzle game to take up ten minutes of your day and fill it with wonderful vampy cartoon goodness!  (If you are a kid at heart, or well just a kid like me...lol...if you click on the printer icon on the front screen, you can print out stills from the game, crayon 'em up, and stick them all over your cubicle or shove them in your secret admirer cards!)

~Helena

Super Bowl Vampy Shout-out

While watching the Superbowl last night, this commercial highly amused me. Towards the end, there is a blurb about vampire tv shows :D

~Helena

Review - City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones is the first in the Mortal Instruments trilogy, a young adult urban fantasy series by Cassandra Clare. The storyline centers on Clary, a teenage girl that has been sheltered by her mother from an alternative world her whole life, that of the Shadowhunters. Shadowhunters are the policing force of the "extra-mortal" realm, they hunt down and slay demons effectively keeping the order. One night while out at a club with her best friend Simon, she sees something no one else does, well actually four somethings: enter the three Shadowhunters Isabelle, Alec, and Jace and the demon boy they are luring into a backroom. Clary is in hot pursuit and slips into the backroom only to see the hunters at work, dispatching the demon then disappearing as swiftly as they appeared.

Jace is intrigued with Clary and brings her to the Instititue, secret Shadowhunter abode, after she is brutally attacked by a demon and her mother goes missing. So starts Clary's descent into the world her mother worked so hard to conceal from her. Clary is on a mission to save her mother and discover the part of herself that she has always been sequestered from.

City of Bones has immense potential. The Shadowhunter lore is slowly uncovered piece by piece but never really cemented together. The reader does not get a cohesive view, maybe meant to help the reader bond with Clary, I am not sure. Character development is fairly static, from the minor to major characters including Clary herself. I had a very hard time empathizing with any of them simplying because they did not seem to have more than one distinct emotion associated with each. Isabelle is self absorbed, Jace is arrogant, Alec is pathetic honestly and all three are insanely prejudiced against Downworlders (werewolves, vampires, "half breeds") and mundies (humans). The constant superiority complex gets old really fast. Clary has more depth than the others, but her constant forgetting of her best friend Simon is insulting and does not make me quick to befriend her myself.

The world building is pretty and very well done. The action and battle scenes were engrossing. I had no problem falling right into the scene. I would have liked to hear less about the sun on Jace's hair/eyes/whatever though. The constant obsession she has with him is a bit unsettling.

Many fans of the Twilight series have become fans of the Mortal Instruments as well. Stephanie Myers is even quoted on the cover of City of Bones:

"The Mortal Instruments series is a story world that I love to live in. Beautiful!"

Is it just me or does that quote seem really awkwardly written?

After all the critical negativity I have written above, I must say that the last fifty pages are amazing. The storyline comes together nicely, the clash of emotion between the major characters is palpable, and the action is gut wrenching. If only the entire book had this much heart and soul, I would have given it rave reviews.

Would I have read it if I knew this ahead of time? Probably, the last scene really is worth it but the whole book is really needed to build up to it. Would I read more in the series? Maybe, I borrowed this from a friend and might borrow the others, but would I put money into it? Probably not.

Rating: 3/5

~Helena