Review: One of a kind story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 28, 2010
Egyptology, steampunk, and time travel? I'm in!This was such a special book and an absolute surprise. The premise was so unique, a great twist on steampunk. I even hesitate to call it steampunk. It has a world and characters and dystopian/utopian feel that's all its own.Fen, an ex-cop, finds herself in a sort of limbo state between "Normal" - 1890s New York and "Steamside" a strange alternate dimension where nightmares attack at night. The Punks who are stuck in this limbo have to scavenge Normal in order to outfit themselves in Steamside. No one quite knows what they're doing there and they've banded together to form their own quasi-society under the leadership of charismatic Jack Pettigrew and his witty and astute, yet a bit spacey sister, Petti.Wonderful speculative fiction. You'll find yourself trying to figure out the world along with Fenwick (Emily). The absolute beauty of this story is how it's written with so much ATTITUDE and cleverness. I loved Ciar Cullen's writing. Every scene was a treat. The emotional development between Fen and Jack is the most heart-rending and realistic I've read in a long time -- despite the very "unreal" setting. The romance will remind you of how vulnerable and obsessive and sometimes silly new love can be.The story really defies description. Highly recommend this for readers of science fiction, steampunk, or anyone who likes to be a little adventurous in their reading. I can't wait to read more from this author.