Review: Steampunk Gem!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 21, 2014
TARNISHED KNIGHT (London Steampunk) by Bec McMaster. I found this little gem while I was trolling for a new Indie author to read. Normally I would have passed on this book because the title and the book cover are ridiculously cheesy (Yes, I am that superficial.) but I haven’t read a good Steampunk in a while and this one has some great reviews.World building in novellas is difficult and this one has a slow start but once I was “in” I felt I was in the dark underbelly of this Victorian London Steampunk world. The main characters Rip and Esme spend a good portion of the story dancing around each before anyone’s love is professed which is the typical love story storyline. BUT, what was different and what I really liked was that both of these characters were atypical in that they weren’t drop dead gorgeous, they weren’t rich beyond belief and they had real life struggles. Rip is a giant of a man that has a gruff menacing exterior but he is a big softy when it comes to Esme. Esme a 35 year old widow, that is the consummate nurturer and uses food as her love language. How can you not love this pair?!I did a little digging and this novella is a “free” stop in a series of books Ms. McMaster has written in this Steampunk world. I may have to check her out when I can do it in a more leisurely pace.If you like steampunk or if you are wanting to try it out, I highly recommend the Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger.