The cover of Innocent Darkness called to the cover whore inside me and she immediately had to have it. I mean look at it~ in all of its steampunk fineries. As the first book in the Aether Chronicles, I went into this book expecting a steampunk novel with a fantasy twist. What I got was a young adult fantasy with a steampunk mention. I am noticing a trend in YA novels that seem to cross multiple genres and I am personally not happy about it. It waters down the genres and has me as a consumer leery about what I am actually buying. Despite my disappointment, I did enjoy this dark fantasy.
The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross
The Girl in the Clockwork Collar is the second book in the Steampunk Chronicles by Kady Cross, and the third about protagonist Finley Jayne. This time we cross the Atlantic to rescue Jasper. Cross delivers a plot filled with suspense, a dash of romance, history, awesome characters and amazing gadgetry. I love the steampunk genre and Cross has earned herself a permanent place on my bookshelf. If you have not read The Girl in the Steel Corset,(click title to see review) I strongly advise you to stop reading, as this review might contain spoilers regarding the first novel.
The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry
The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry is a steampunk fiction set in an alternate late 1800s world. I love steampunk and was immediately drawn to the spectacular cover. Sprinkled with history, steampunk contraptions and strange folk known as Peculiars this novel kept me entertained.
A Clockwork Christmas by Stacy Gail, PG Forte, Jenny Schwartz and JK Coi
A Clockwork Christmas is the perfect holiday gift for anyone who loves steampunk romances. The anthology contains four tales set in unique locations. I enjoyed each tale in this delightful book. The four stories offer a brief glimpse into the wonderful world that is steampunk.
Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel
Dearly, Departed is a YA steampunk novel with a splash of romance. It contains elements of horror fantasy and a post-apocalyptic dystopia. This is Lia Habel’s debut novel and despite some flaws, I found it to be refreshing and delightful.