hmmm

the story is great except for the repetitive love story of will they won't they and i dont understand the need for the views of Ireland and Irish people in this

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A fun, enjoyable romp; Steampunk with a twist.

First off, let me just say that I disagree with the former review about the dragged out, will-they-won't-they love story. There IS a love story but for me it seemed to flow and develop in a very natural way.
Now the unpleasant business of disagreement is out of the way, let me talk about the book.

As a steampunk fan, I loved it but I think I would have enjoyed it anyway, even without that predisposition. The protagonist is a strong woman, without becoming obnoxious, and has enough flaws and vulnerabilities to avoid being a "Mary-Sue" type character. The character of her best friend is a bit stereotypical (the upper class gal who dresses like a man) but the women in the books discuss the early stages of the suffrage movements so it makes sense that a fully transgender character would be out of place.

It is actually in elements such as the misogyny of the college professors and the behaviour of others in the book toward different societal classes that the author adds a sense of realism to anchor the fantasy in her story. (While it would be nice to believe that people of colour were often seamlessly integrated into Victorian society (as modern screen media tend to show), I feel that the author did a good job of showing how poorly regarded and ill treated minorities usually were, without belabouring the point and becoming "preachy".)
I found it interesting to note that there were a number of serious issues which were involved in the tale, to a greater of lesser degree, and more than once I found myself seriously considering one of these after I had stopped listening. I have read any number of books which are considered serious "literature", which have failed to instil such contemplation. If there is an award for creating thought provoking "light fiction", Ms Barden should win it.

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1 person found this helpful

impossible to listen to

the sample is description of a character
the book is ready in the same dead none distinguished voice that either there is no punctuation or she ignores it
I found it easier to follow the book I accidentally downloaded in Spanish

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