Review: Steampunk Quest
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 15, 2013
This MG/YA steampunk/dystopian novel by Simon Kewin is a descriptive tale of the shattering of childhood innocence in the quest to find one's place in a society that seeks to conform individuals into a manageable mold. A common theme among current and popular books of this genre.Where Kewin distinguishes himself is the imaginative steampunk setting and the quest narrative that provides uncertainty for the main character, Finn, as he tries to find his friends who've been taken by and incorporated into the machine (the engine, or ENGN) itself. Finn is also on a quest to destroy ENGN and reunite with his family back in their idyllic valley.The novel might be a bit long for MG readers, and it can take awhile to get into, but the story is solid enough and the characters have you hoping for the best. Like the set up in 'Maze Runner' by James Dashner, ENGN is run by a mysterious ruling class whose motivation and origin isn't quite explained. But if you enjoy this kind of YA societal conspiracy premise, Kewin's novel is a nice addition to the bookshelf.(Note: I received a free advanced review copy of this ebook and have read some of Mr. Kewin's other SF writings likeThe Genehunter, which I also highly recommend.)