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Halcyon #1
The Burning Sky
Alternate Cover Edition for ASIN B004MDLL9K
Taziri Ohana is an elite airship pilot, though the long hours away from home have taken a toll on her family and she longs for a simpler life. When the Northern Air Corps is wiped out in a catastrophic fire, only Taziri survives to help the marshals pursue the suspects across the skies of Marrakesh. Their investigation reveals a vast conspiracy of deposed aristocrats, wealthy industrialists, and warmongers plotting against the crown. Taziri discovers that her own inventions have been perverted by the conspirators, the cities plunge into violent riots, and their only hope for salvation may be an exiled princess, her swashbuckling escort, and a crippled airship plummeting out of the burning sky.
A note about the text
This is a work of historical fantasy. Some of this world may be familiar to you.
But in this world, Europe never emerged from the last Ice Age and only the southern areas are habitable. North Africa is cool, wet, and fertile. Ancient nations such as the Persian Empire have persisted, though others, such as the Romans, never rose to power. Some of the countries in this world reflect the cultures and attitudes of the Renaissance while others reflect the Industrial Age. Historical figures appear, though they too may be different from the ones you have known.
Don’t expect this world to conform to the history that you know. The people and places are different. The climate and wildlife are different.
Even death is different here.
Taziri Ohana is an elite airship pilot, though the long hours away from home have taken a toll on her family and she longs for a simpler life. When the Northern Air Corps is wiped out in a catastrophic fire, only Taziri survives to help the marshals pursue the suspects across the skies of Marrakesh. Their investigation reveals a vast conspiracy of deposed aristocrats, wealthy industrialists, and warmongers plotting against the crown. Taziri discovers that her own inventions have been perverted by the conspirators, the cities plunge into violent riots, and their only hope for salvation may be an exiled princess, her swashbuckling escort, and a crippled airship plummeting out of the burning sky.
A note about the text
This is a work of historical fantasy. Some of this world may be familiar to you.
But in this world, Europe never emerged from the last Ice Age and only the southern areas are habitable. North Africa is cool, wet, and fertile. Ancient nations such as the Persian Empire have persisted, though others, such as the Romans, never rose to power. Some of the countries in this world reflect the cultures and attitudes of the Renaissance while others reflect the Industrial Age. Historical figures appear, though they too may be different from the ones you have known.
Don’t expect this world to conform to the history that you know. The people and places are different. The climate and wildlife are different.
Even death is different here.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2011
15 people are currently reading
730 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Robert Lewis
68 books97 followersJoseph R. Lewis enjoys creating worlds in which history, mythology, and fantasy collide in unpredictable ways. He also likes writing about heroines that his daughters can respect and admire. Joe was born in Annapolis and went to the University of Maryland to study ancient novels, morality plays, and Viking poetry.
www.josephrlewis.com
www.josephrlewis.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
March 23, 2012
3.5 Stars
Steampunk! Aiee! Vivala Steampunk!
The Burning Sky, book one of the Halcyon trilogy, was my first foray into steampunk outside of classics like Jules Verne and Edgar Rice Burroughs. The story started fast with lots of explosions...always a plus when you have explosions... The action slowed a bit, but the mystery took over and what started like an action/adventure turned into a mystery/espionage novel with a Noir-ish detective hot on the trail of a domestic terrorist!...oh, yea, there was plenty of action there too.
There is a lot to like in this story and my 3.5 stars may get upgraded for the shear effort the writer put into keeping it unique and different from anything I've ever read...no comparison to things that I haven't read yet intended. Kudos Joseph Robert Lewis!
Characters
I liked the characters, though there were too many of them to fully explain in the pages of one book. Be that as it may, there was a very interesting convention of gender equality here, maybe even a reversal of fortunes. Women run everything. For our main heroine, more a co-lead, but as the first introduced, she gets top billing, we get a gutsy smart engineer on the Halcyon, an airship. She's got a husband at home and a baby. She's brave, races head first into a raging fire at the airfield. She's tough, but not nearly as tough as other characters we meet along the way, but she has a sense of honor and duty that drives her, and a longing for family waiting for her back home.
The other lead, is a very Noir-ish cop who is fast on the trail of our domestic terrorist like a pit bull with a grudge. I mean this guy's like the Terminator, without the accent. At first I did not like this character, then, he grew on me. He had a wry sense of humor that took some getting used to, but worked after a while. There was also a wonderfully tough woman detective in the story...but... too much about her and I spoil things.
There were a number of supporting cast members on various tiers of involvement including a fencing master from hell, a barbarian princess in love with a holy warrior and even a surprisingly delightful ghost-angel with a down to earth sense of people and the world. Which brings up another thing...?
This ain't exactly the same Victorian era your great grandmother grew up in. Surprise, this book is a dystopian-ish other-earthly novel. In the Halcyon's earth, the ice age never completely receded, and the factions that populate Halcyon's Europe are vastly different than the Europe of our history books. The world of Halcyon is very much its own character in this book. Every new place or new character that came into the story left me wondering if this was real (in our world) or something new.
Plot
The plot was more a long chase scene, but it included things from the bizarre to the exotic. The flora and fauna were different, saber-toothed cats and exotic attack ostriches... but I digress...
the plot. The story is as much fun as any Code Alpha Ludumian espionage story, and as unusual as anything that ever chased Secret Service Agent James West around his little one man train on the Wild, Wild West. The villains are not what you would expect but every bit as scary and dangerous as villains from any book.
I found some of the writing a bit rough around the edges and it took me a while to just get comfortable with the Steampunk setting, but once I felt more comfortable with the strange-world and half-science of steampunk.
Warnings (yes, always warnings)
1) This story is in your face. No punches are pulled for women, children, dogs, cats or exotic birds. It's not the most violent story I've ever read, and it's not particularly gory, but the violence and description of it, could be considered shocking. If your sensitive to such things, you may want to be careful reading this. If you’re used to it, or like Noir and dark stories, you may find it a little light. I think it's well balanced but make up your own idea.
2) Cruelty to Animals. The bad guys do some mean things to animals. It's recognized as wrong and terrible in every sense appropriate and imaginable but it is difficult to read if you’re an animal lover. The steampunk platform allows these things to be shocking. Again, like the violence between people (above) it's not the most violent and cruel I've ever read, but it's likely to be disturbing to animal lovers who have gentle caring hearts.
3) good news. Not a lot of sex.
4) This is written to come out of left field. The villains the world, the gender roles, everything is turned upside down and shaken up. Even the world is broken down and reassembled. If you like traditional stories with more traditional characters, you'll probably not like this. Some of this non-traditional-ness leads to some awkward feeling segments. Over all I think everything works out.
5) Not a whole lot of love. There is a love story, but it’s an oddly cute side show to the main story. There is lots of talk by Tazehri about how much she loves and misses her husband, which is a good thing, but if you want a real exciting bodice ripper, it’s not this one. The Romance is strange, and minimal.
Bottom line-Fun story, if a bit dark and violent. It lacks a traditional base group of characters, though this is likely intentional by the author. The author does take advantage this by making some "trope breakers" which, if also exotic, which is a nice way of saying weird, make for some different heroes and villains. Strong women acting strong, but with a realism that keeps it from turning into a wonder woman want to be story. Fallible women who get hurt with the same relevancy as any male character.
I liked it, it starts at a 3 star, but ends up pushing me for a fourth. Overall 3.5 stars. Recommendable, a GOOD read.
Steampunk! Aiee! Vivala Steampunk!
The Burning Sky, book one of the Halcyon trilogy, was my first foray into steampunk outside of classics like Jules Verne and Edgar Rice Burroughs. The story started fast with lots of explosions...always a plus when you have explosions... The action slowed a bit, but the mystery took over and what started like an action/adventure turned into a mystery/espionage novel with a Noir-ish detective hot on the trail of a domestic terrorist!...oh, yea, there was plenty of action there too.
There is a lot to like in this story and my 3.5 stars may get upgraded for the shear effort the writer put into keeping it unique and different from anything I've ever read...no comparison to things that I haven't read yet intended. Kudos Joseph Robert Lewis!
Characters
I liked the characters, though there were too many of them to fully explain in the pages of one book. Be that as it may, there was a very interesting convention of gender equality here, maybe even a reversal of fortunes. Women run everything. For our main heroine, more a co-lead, but as the first introduced, she gets top billing, we get a gutsy smart engineer on the Halcyon, an airship. She's got a husband at home and a baby. She's brave, races head first into a raging fire at the airfield. She's tough, but not nearly as tough as other characters we meet along the way, but she has a sense of honor and duty that drives her, and a longing for family waiting for her back home.
The other lead, is a very Noir-ish cop who is fast on the trail of our domestic terrorist like a pit bull with a grudge. I mean this guy's like the Terminator, without the accent. At first I did not like this character, then, he grew on me. He had a wry sense of humor that took some getting used to, but worked after a while. There was also a wonderfully tough woman detective in the story...but... too much about her and I spoil things.
There were a number of supporting cast members on various tiers of involvement including a fencing master from hell, a barbarian princess in love with a holy warrior and even a surprisingly delightful ghost-angel with a down to earth sense of people and the world. Which brings up another thing...?
This ain't exactly the same Victorian era your great grandmother grew up in. Surprise, this book is a dystopian-ish other-earthly novel. In the Halcyon's earth, the ice age never completely receded, and the factions that populate Halcyon's Europe are vastly different than the Europe of our history books. The world of Halcyon is very much its own character in this book. Every new place or new character that came into the story left me wondering if this was real (in our world) or something new.
Plot
The plot was more a long chase scene, but it included things from the bizarre to the exotic. The flora and fauna were different, saber-toothed cats and exotic attack ostriches... but I digress...
the plot. The story is as much fun as any Code Alpha Ludumian espionage story, and as unusual as anything that ever chased Secret Service Agent James West around his little one man train on the Wild, Wild West. The villains are not what you would expect but every bit as scary and dangerous as villains from any book.
I found some of the writing a bit rough around the edges and it took me a while to just get comfortable with the Steampunk setting, but once I felt more comfortable with the strange-world and half-science of steampunk.
Warnings (yes, always warnings)
1) This story is in your face. No punches are pulled for women, children, dogs, cats or exotic birds. It's not the most violent story I've ever read, and it's not particularly gory, but the violence and description of it, could be considered shocking. If your sensitive to such things, you may want to be careful reading this. If you’re used to it, or like Noir and dark stories, you may find it a little light. I think it's well balanced but make up your own idea.
2) Cruelty to Animals. The bad guys do some mean things to animals. It's recognized as wrong and terrible in every sense appropriate and imaginable but it is difficult to read if you’re an animal lover. The steampunk platform allows these things to be shocking. Again, like the violence between people (above) it's not the most violent and cruel I've ever read, but it's likely to be disturbing to animal lovers who have gentle caring hearts.
3) good news. Not a lot of sex.
4) This is written to come out of left field. The villains the world, the gender roles, everything is turned upside down and shaken up. Even the world is broken down and reassembled. If you like traditional stories with more traditional characters, you'll probably not like this. Some of this non-traditional-ness leads to some awkward feeling segments. Over all I think everything works out.
5) Not a whole lot of love. There is a love story, but it’s an oddly cute side show to the main story. There is lots of talk by Tazehri about how much she loves and misses her husband, which is a good thing, but if you want a real exciting bodice ripper, it’s not this one. The Romance is strange, and minimal.
Bottom line-Fun story, if a bit dark and violent. It lacks a traditional base group of characters, though this is likely intentional by the author. The author does take advantage this by making some "trope breakers" which, if also exotic, which is a nice way of saying weird, make for some different heroes and villains. Strong women acting strong, but with a realism that keeps it from turning into a wonder woman want to be story. Fallible women who get hurt with the same relevancy as any male character.
I liked it, it starts at a 3 star, but ends up pushing me for a fourth. Overall 3.5 stars. Recommendable, a GOOD read.
November 23, 2011
Unlike many steampunk novels, "The Burning Sky" isn’t set in Victorian era Britain, but on an alternate version of the Earth, based on the premise that Europe didn’t emerge from the Ice Age and is mostly uninhabitable. Lewis gives a brief author’s note explaining this and setting expectations. Wikipedia calls steampunk novels with this type setting fantasy or fantasy-world steampunk.
My favorite things about "The Burning Sky" were the plot, which is a thriller, and understanding the alternative world Lewis has created. The premise of Lewis’ world means the history of the world would have changed; how everything, from science to culture, would have developed differently from the Ice Age to the time the story is set. This makes anticipating how people will react and the direction the story might go more unpredictable. "The Burning Sky" kept me guessing, right up to its dramatic conclusion.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
My favorite things about "The Burning Sky" were the plot, which is a thriller, and understanding the alternative world Lewis has created. The premise of Lewis’ world means the history of the world would have changed; how everything, from science to culture, would have developed differently from the Ice Age to the time the story is set. This makes anticipating how people will react and the direction the story might go more unpredictable. "The Burning Sky" kept me guessing, right up to its dramatic conclusion.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
November 7, 2011
The Burning Sky was my very first encounter with a truly Steampunk novel. I read it more out of curiosity about the genre than anything. I’m glad I did, and I’m glad I chose this one as a starting point.
The Burning Sky, by Joseph Robert Lewis is the first book in the Halcyon Trilogy. I found it to be the embodiment of the old writing adage that says: to create suspense, place your protagonists in a very bad situation, then make it worse. The story starts out with a horrific act of terrorism sweeping up an uninvolved mechanic on an air ship and carrying her along throughout the story. For most of the story, her plight and those of the characters that get rolled into the mix, get steadily worse. Resolution is saved for the very end.
The story is a masterful weave of multiple storylines, all winding around the main plot, although we don’t learn what that is for quite some time. However, Mr. Lewis does not allow us to founder in confusion; each character’s contribution is quite interesting all on its own and the intrigue builds as they begin to coalesce and we start to make the connections.
Lewis is very good at characterization. His characters leap off the page to run and jump through the imagination, the dialogue is tight, fast, real and peppered with witticism. Each is unique, each character is powerful, each is completely believable. His scenes too are well done; each is rich and detailed without being burdensome.
The only aspect that gave me pause was the need to suspend my knowledge/belief systems long enough to accept that certain things were possible. Normally I read hard Sci-Fi and hold the authors to demonstrable scientific theory, I rarely enjoy fantasy. Although Steampunk skirts the fantasy genre, I found this story to be very enjoyable; only one aspect rung loudly as not possible, and explaining that would serve as a spoiler. However even that one thing did nothing to kill the story; I just needed to adjust my thinking a bit. The rest of the ride easily made up for that one speed bump.
I just finished Burning Sky and am already anticipating enjoying the second book in the series: The Broken Sword. The sample included at the end of Burning Sky promises that I won’t be disappointed.
The Burning Sky, by Joseph Robert Lewis is the first book in the Halcyon Trilogy. I found it to be the embodiment of the old writing adage that says: to create suspense, place your protagonists in a very bad situation, then make it worse. The story starts out with a horrific act of terrorism sweeping up an uninvolved mechanic on an air ship and carrying her along throughout the story. For most of the story, her plight and those of the characters that get rolled into the mix, get steadily worse. Resolution is saved for the very end.
The story is a masterful weave of multiple storylines, all winding around the main plot, although we don’t learn what that is for quite some time. However, Mr. Lewis does not allow us to founder in confusion; each character’s contribution is quite interesting all on its own and the intrigue builds as they begin to coalesce and we start to make the connections.
Lewis is very good at characterization. His characters leap off the page to run and jump through the imagination, the dialogue is tight, fast, real and peppered with witticism. Each is unique, each character is powerful, each is completely believable. His scenes too are well done; each is rich and detailed without being burdensome.
The only aspect that gave me pause was the need to suspend my knowledge/belief systems long enough to accept that certain things were possible. Normally I read hard Sci-Fi and hold the authors to demonstrable scientific theory, I rarely enjoy fantasy. Although Steampunk skirts the fantasy genre, I found this story to be very enjoyable; only one aspect rung loudly as not possible, and explaining that would serve as a spoiler. However even that one thing did nothing to kill the story; I just needed to adjust my thinking a bit. The rest of the ride easily made up for that one speed bump.
I just finished Burning Sky and am already anticipating enjoying the second book in the series: The Broken Sword. The sample included at the end of Burning Sky promises that I won’t be disappointed.
July 12, 2011
JOSEPH ROBERT LEWIS' "HALCYON 1 & 2" (REVIEW)
Joseph Robert Lewis has taken the best part of living in a Steampunk age and written two extraordinary novels full of excitement and imagination. Taziri Ohana is one of the best airship pilots around, struggling with home life and her job. When almost the entire fleet of ships as well as their crew is wiped out by an attack, it is up to her to find the ones responsible, discover the conspiracy at a higher level and save the day.
The second book continues the epic saga of Taziri and her friends. Definitely a must-read for anyone that loves Steampunk novels and enjoys works written by a writer that knows his stuff. I definitely enjoyed them and I know you will too! "Halcyon 1: The Burning Sky" & "Halcyon 2: The Broken Sword" don't miss out!
-Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club
Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...
Joseph Robert Lewis has taken the best part of living in a Steampunk age and written two extraordinary novels full of excitement and imagination. Taziri Ohana is one of the best airship pilots around, struggling with home life and her job. When almost the entire fleet of ships as well as their crew is wiped out by an attack, it is up to her to find the ones responsible, discover the conspiracy at a higher level and save the day.
The second book continues the epic saga of Taziri and her friends. Definitely a must-read for anyone that loves Steampunk novels and enjoys works written by a writer that knows his stuff. I definitely enjoyed them and I know you will too! "Halcyon 1: The Burning Sky" & "Halcyon 2: The Broken Sword" don't miss out!
-Kitty Bullard / Great Minds Think Aloud Book Club
Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...
January 20, 2012
Excellent read! Steampunk!
Full review in progress ...
Full review in progress ...
October 15, 2013
Refreshing. Addictive. A breath of fresh air. Innovative. It's not often that I fall completely, head-over-heels in love with a book, but when it happens - oh, when it happens it's the best feeling in the world.
This book hits all the right notes for me. A steampunk book where the entire power structure of the world as we know it is subverted? A steampunk book that's not focused on British or American white imperialism? A steampunk book where, in fact, the US and Britain - as well as the other main English-speaking countries- aren't even among the main players? As a reader, writer, and in general citizen living outside the English-centric clique that seems to rule all cultural products, I very nearly wept with joy. I hadn't realized how dearly I needed a book like this before I started reading this, and now it will be painful to go back to the same old stuff. I'm glad there's another two trilogies set in this world I can look forward to!
I loved how North Africa is the leading country in terms of technology and economy, here. I loved how the different areas had very different strong points - technology for Marrakesh, religion and supernatural for Espana, nature for the Incan Empire. I LOVED how an Incan woman described the Catholic religion from her perspective - it was delightful, for once, to see Europe portrayed as irrational and primitive through someone else's eyes instead of always the reverse.
And oh, the women. It was just so wonderful to have all these diverse female characters, capable, smart, generous, brave but also scared, prideful, greedy... interacting, working together or fighting, for pages and pages. Such a huge leap from the all-too-common trope of the one perfect heroine surrounded by a cast of women accurately put down in order not to overshadow her magnificence. The best, unexpected part is how, most of the time, when some secondary character comes along, especially in a position of command... it turns out it's a woman. And I realized that I was surprised by this, that I was so used to all these characters being naturally male that I was just assuming everybody in an important role would be a man. This was another huge breath of fresh air, and again, I hadn't realized how much I needed this before I opened this book. It will be painful to go back to the usual tropes.
The characters in general are very three-dimensional, realistic, with good sides and flaws... which sounds normal, doesn't it, except in most books - especially genre fiction books - characters tend to fall in the usual tropes and stereotypes. I hadn't realized just how much those tropes were radicated in my head until I found myself getting frustrated because this book wasn't following "the rules"... and of course I loved it even more for it. Main characters slowly become unlikable as their bad sides emerge. Bad guys crawl their way into your heart and eventually become the good guys almost without you realizing it. It's frustrating at times, confusing, gives a lot to think about... it's so delightfully REAL. And in a world where fiction demands 100% perfect, saintly protagonists and bad guys who are 100% evil for evil's sake, this was such a relief. Harder. More painful. But so much more gratifying and involving in the long run.
During my research lately I've read too many books that were stereotypical 'Chosen One' YA romances with the steampunk elements used as nothing more than a backdrop for the plucky heroine and dashing hero, but this, this right here is what steampunk should be like. A radical re-imagining of society, a true exploration of what the world would be like if the balance of power shifted, with technology taking on a poignant role (the positivity of progress, yes, but also a critical look at the dangers and de-humanization that machines and factories bring) rather than being limited to quirky clockwork accessories for the rich bourgeoisie. This truly brings to the table the 'punk' element that should be the core of steampunk works but that, alas, is all too often lacking.
It hurts me that a book so wonderful is almost unknown in a world that desperately needs, and wants, more diversity in characters, settings, stories and dynamics. I was beginning to despair in my search for a steampunk book that wasn't just a white bourgeoise gaslamp fantasy romance masquerading as such... and I can't describe how glad I am to have stumbled across this little gem. It will definitely be one of the main case studies for my PhD dissertation, and I will do whatever I can to bring it more attention.
This book hits all the right notes for me. A steampunk book where the entire power structure of the world as we know it is subverted? A steampunk book that's not focused on British or American white imperialism? A steampunk book where, in fact, the US and Britain - as well as the other main English-speaking countries- aren't even among the main players? As a reader, writer, and in general citizen living outside the English-centric clique that seems to rule all cultural products, I very nearly wept with joy. I hadn't realized how dearly I needed a book like this before I started reading this, and now it will be painful to go back to the same old stuff. I'm glad there's another two trilogies set in this world I can look forward to!
I loved how North Africa is the leading country in terms of technology and economy, here. I loved how the different areas had very different strong points - technology for Marrakesh, religion and supernatural for Espana, nature for the Incan Empire. I LOVED how an Incan woman described the Catholic religion from her perspective - it was delightful, for once, to see Europe portrayed as irrational and primitive through someone else's eyes instead of always the reverse.
And oh, the women. It was just so wonderful to have all these diverse female characters, capable, smart, generous, brave but also scared, prideful, greedy... interacting, working together or fighting, for pages and pages. Such a huge leap from the all-too-common trope of the one perfect heroine surrounded by a cast of women accurately put down in order not to overshadow her magnificence. The best, unexpected part is how, most of the time, when some secondary character comes along, especially in a position of command... it turns out it's a woman. And I realized that I was surprised by this, that I was so used to all these characters being naturally male that I was just assuming everybody in an important role would be a man. This was another huge breath of fresh air, and again, I hadn't realized how much I needed this before I opened this book. It will be painful to go back to the usual tropes.
The characters in general are very three-dimensional, realistic, with good sides and flaws... which sounds normal, doesn't it, except in most books - especially genre fiction books - characters tend to fall in the usual tropes and stereotypes. I hadn't realized just how much those tropes were radicated in my head until I found myself getting frustrated because this book wasn't following "the rules"... and of course I loved it even more for it. Main characters slowly become unlikable as their bad sides emerge. Bad guys crawl their way into your heart and eventually become the good guys almost without you realizing it. It's frustrating at times, confusing, gives a lot to think about... it's so delightfully REAL. And in a world where fiction demands 100% perfect, saintly protagonists and bad guys who are 100% evil for evil's sake, this was such a relief. Harder. More painful. But so much more gratifying and involving in the long run.
During my research lately I've read too many books that were stereotypical 'Chosen One' YA romances with the steampunk elements used as nothing more than a backdrop for the plucky heroine and dashing hero, but this, this right here is what steampunk should be like. A radical re-imagining of society, a true exploration of what the world would be like if the balance of power shifted, with technology taking on a poignant role (the positivity of progress, yes, but also a critical look at the dangers and de-humanization that machines and factories bring) rather than being limited to quirky clockwork accessories for the rich bourgeoisie. This truly brings to the table the 'punk' element that should be the core of steampunk works but that, alas, is all too often lacking.
It hurts me that a book so wonderful is almost unknown in a world that desperately needs, and wants, more diversity in characters, settings, stories and dynamics. I was beginning to despair in my search for a steampunk book that wasn't just a white bourgeoise gaslamp fantasy romance masquerading as such... and I can't describe how glad I am to have stumbled across this little gem. It will definitely be one of the main case studies for my PhD dissertation, and I will do whatever I can to bring it more attention.
March 14, 2013
Author Joseph Robert Lewis shares his love of "the amazing history of human civilization" by inviting readers into one exotic steampunk locale after another, across Northern Africa, in this fast-paced adventure. The setting alone sets The Burning Sky (Halcyon #1: A Steampunk Thriller) apart from most of the Steampunk genre, rooted as it is in the neo-victorian UK or US. Quite apart from the splendid abundance of airships, mechanically augmented villains, and steam-powered industry, Burning Sky held my attention by forcing me to imagine how history and civilizations would have unfolded in a world where "Europe never emerged from the last Ice Age and only the southern regions are habitable. North Africa is cool, wet, and fertile. Ancient nations such as the Persian Empire have persisted, though others, such as the Romans, never rose to power."
The action kicks off right away in this novel, with fiery explosions at the airship hangars and the city of Tingis's train station. Two of the protagonists, Major Syfax Zidane of the royal marshals and Lt. Taziri Ohana, airship engineer, are suddenly off chasing a stolen airship seeking answers. Who would destroy the main modes of transportation out of the city? Is the missing Ambassador involved? Can anyone dislike Crosby, Stills, and Nash so much as to bomb the Marrakesh Express?
While the chase unfolds, a second storyline introduces readers to Princess Qhora of the Incan Empire and her lover and guardian Don Lorenzo, the Espani swordsman. Disrupted in their quest to deliver exotic New World pets (Great Cats that are long extinct from our own world) from her cousin the Prince-Emperor across the ocean to the Queen of Marrakesh, they're forced to seek other means of transport to their destination. Before long, we learn how their mission entangles with the same shadowy villains behind the Tingis violence in a conspiratorial plot to replace the Queen with an aristocrat who is unafraid to apply Steampunk technology for her deadly ends.
Other noteworthy character include the bionically Taser-equipped Ambassador Chaou and the stiletto assassin Shifrah, one Bad Samaritan. I couldn't find much to complain about in this novel, although I did find myself wrenched out of the story a few times by dialog that sounded too contemporary to my ear: "Oh shut up you big babies. You're all fine. They're juts little cuts. No one's dying, no one's lost any eyes. And no one's head is sliced open. Just settle down" is one example that came to mind. I also would like to have seen a stronger emphasis on the clockwork, mechanical, brass-goggled gizmology that one comes to expect from the genre, but that could simply be my sci-fi tastes imposing. For those of my leaning, there was some vaguely satisfying imagery in Doctor Medina's abattoir laboratory, however.
On the other hand, these small failings are more than made up for by the welcome threading of important themes not always addressed in Steampunk, a genre not generally known for it's confrontation of contemporary issues. Change and Progress aren't always universally beneficial things, and Lewis is determined to remind us of the human cost. Steam-powered prosthetic limbs are all well and good, but when the reason for their high demand is industrial accidents brought on by rapid modernization... one pauses at the ethical dilemma. Marrakesh's matriarchal society also called attention to our own too-often unequal treatment of the genders. There is another noteworthy line spoken by a character from the glacier-frozen and economically underdeveloped Europan nation of Hellas (AKA: approximately Greece on our own real-world globe). Speaking to characters from the more prosperous and "First-World" nations of Africa, he complains: "Europa isn't a country, you know. It's a vast continent, filled with many different nations and peoples, languages, and religions!" These reversals of fortune seen in Burning Sky subtly remind us that ours isn't the only perspective on matters.
I'm looking forward to reading books 2 and 3 of The Halcyon Trilogy, and think that readers hungry for a taste of some exotic flavor to their Steampunk will agree.
The action kicks off right away in this novel, with fiery explosions at the airship hangars and the city of Tingis's train station. Two of the protagonists, Major Syfax Zidane of the royal marshals and Lt. Taziri Ohana, airship engineer, are suddenly off chasing a stolen airship seeking answers. Who would destroy the main modes of transportation out of the city? Is the missing Ambassador involved? Can anyone dislike Crosby, Stills, and Nash so much as to bomb the Marrakesh Express?
While the chase unfolds, a second storyline introduces readers to Princess Qhora of the Incan Empire and her lover and guardian Don Lorenzo, the Espani swordsman. Disrupted in their quest to deliver exotic New World pets (Great Cats that are long extinct from our own world) from her cousin the Prince-Emperor across the ocean to the Queen of Marrakesh, they're forced to seek other means of transport to their destination. Before long, we learn how their mission entangles with the same shadowy villains behind the Tingis violence in a conspiratorial plot to replace the Queen with an aristocrat who is unafraid to apply Steampunk technology for her deadly ends.
Other noteworthy character include the bionically Taser-equipped Ambassador Chaou and the stiletto assassin Shifrah, one Bad Samaritan. I couldn't find much to complain about in this novel, although I did find myself wrenched out of the story a few times by dialog that sounded too contemporary to my ear: "Oh shut up you big babies. You're all fine. They're juts little cuts. No one's dying, no one's lost any eyes. And no one's head is sliced open. Just settle down" is one example that came to mind. I also would like to have seen a stronger emphasis on the clockwork, mechanical, brass-goggled gizmology that one comes to expect from the genre, but that could simply be my sci-fi tastes imposing. For those of my leaning, there was some vaguely satisfying imagery in Doctor Medina's abattoir laboratory, however.
On the other hand, these small failings are more than made up for by the welcome threading of important themes not always addressed in Steampunk, a genre not generally known for it's confrontation of contemporary issues. Change and Progress aren't always universally beneficial things, and Lewis is determined to remind us of the human cost. Steam-powered prosthetic limbs are all well and good, but when the reason for their high demand is industrial accidents brought on by rapid modernization... one pauses at the ethical dilemma. Marrakesh's matriarchal society also called attention to our own too-often unequal treatment of the genders. There is another noteworthy line spoken by a character from the glacier-frozen and economically underdeveloped Europan nation of Hellas (AKA: approximately Greece on our own real-world globe). Speaking to characters from the more prosperous and "First-World" nations of Africa, he complains: "Europa isn't a country, you know. It's a vast continent, filled with many different nations and peoples, languages, and religions!" These reversals of fortune seen in Burning Sky subtly remind us that ours isn't the only perspective on matters.
I'm looking forward to reading books 2 and 3 of The Halcyon Trilogy, and think that readers hungry for a taste of some exotic flavor to their Steampunk will agree.
July 12, 2011
This book is a great start to what looks to be an amazing trilogy. It is a story of 4 days of conspiracy in the land of Marrakesh. These 4 days are told from the perspective of 6 different characters. Taziri-the electrical engineer from the Halcyon; Syfax-a major in the section 2 marshalls; Qhora-the exiled princess from across the sea; Lorenzo-famed swordsman;
Kella-an Arafez cop working for Lady Sade; Lady Sade-Governer of Arafez.
Steampunk altered history with a twist; what if Europe never emerged from the ice age? "The people and places are different. The climate and wildlife are different. Even death is different."*
The land of Marrakesh is changing. Change brought on by an industrial revolution as well as a social one. But the industrial part isn't all it's cracked up to be; pollution, deadly accidents. Neither is the social one; men without their veils, unhappy ex-nobles. Some of these ex-nobles have decided to use these, and other events, to their advantage to try to bring back the old ways.
I liked this book. And even though it could stand alone as it's own novel, I'm looking forward to see where the next books in the trilogy go. Lewis's style was easy to read and enjoyably straight forward through out. Also I liked how he presented the technology. Some authors get lost in explaining how everything works and forget they are writing a story not an instruction manual. His explanations were detailed without being over the top and confusing to anyone without an engineering degree. Lewis was also able to weave all the perspectives of his characters together without it being confusing or losing track of the story itself. I also enjoyed the characters themselves. Lewis's characters are well rounded and intriguing. I wanted to see where the story was going to take them.
Even if you are not familiar with steampunk, I would still recommend this book. Whether you are looking for something to take with you on summer vacation, or just looking for something good to read.
*quote from A note about The Other Earth series, found in beginning of book.
October 16, 2014
originally appeared on:Bookshelf Confessions
*I won a free copy of this e-book in a LibraryThing Member Giveaway*
i was first intrigued by the cover of this book, and now that i've read it,.the cover really stands for the contents of the book..it's as awesome as how it appeared to be..
Joseph Robert Lewis brought his readers to a familiar but different world in The Burning Sky(Halcyon #1: A Steampunk Thriller)..i really felt lucky to be one of the few who win this.
the author mixes intrigued, action, mystery, adventure and even some historical facts to arrive into a wonderful story that would really lure readers of different ages to this book..the story itself is wonderful and inriguing that at the moment you read the first chapter you're all hooked up and definitely would be craving for the sequel in this book.. a really really good book which defines a really really good author!
After a massive airship explosion, Taziri Ohana is the only pilot left to chase the criminals responsible across the skies of Marrakesh. Working alongside the marshals and police, Taziri uncovers a vast conspiracy of deposed aristocrats, wealthy industrialists, and xenophobic warmongers plotting to overthrow the Queen and plunge the country into war.
The case becomes terrifyingly personal when Taziri learns that the killers are using her own inventions as weapons and her family's survival hangs in the balance. With assassins stalking the streets and riots breaking out on every street corner, the country's only hope for salvation may be an exiled Incan princess, her swashbuckling lover, and an airship called Halcyon plummeting out of the burning sky.
Readers are introduced to The Other Earth through this stunning vision of an alternate world where fantastical machines sail the seas and the skies, enormous prehistoric beasts still roam the earth, and the restless dead walk among the living.
*I won a free copy of this e-book in a LibraryThing Member Giveaway*
i was first intrigued by the cover of this book, and now that i've read it,.the cover really stands for the contents of the book..it's as awesome as how it appeared to be..
Joseph Robert Lewis brought his readers to a familiar but different world in The Burning Sky(Halcyon #1: A Steampunk Thriller)..i really felt lucky to be one of the few who win this.
the author mixes intrigued, action, mystery, adventure and even some historical facts to arrive into a wonderful story that would really lure readers of different ages to this book..the story itself is wonderful and inriguing that at the moment you read the first chapter you're all hooked up and definitely would be craving for the sequel in this book.. a really really good book which defines a really really good author!
After a massive airship explosion, Taziri Ohana is the only pilot left to chase the criminals responsible across the skies of Marrakesh. Working alongside the marshals and police, Taziri uncovers a vast conspiracy of deposed aristocrats, wealthy industrialists, and xenophobic warmongers plotting to overthrow the Queen and plunge the country into war.
The case becomes terrifyingly personal when Taziri learns that the killers are using her own inventions as weapons and her family's survival hangs in the balance. With assassins stalking the streets and riots breaking out on every street corner, the country's only hope for salvation may be an exiled Incan princess, her swashbuckling lover, and an airship called Halcyon plummeting out of the burning sky.
Readers are introduced to The Other Earth through this stunning vision of an alternate world where fantastical machines sail the seas and the skies, enormous prehistoric beasts still roam the earth, and the restless dead walk among the living.
December 12, 2011
I want to start off completely honestly and say that I never thought I'd finish reading this book. It's not a terrible long book, but I am a reader who likes to get lost in the world of the story and this is one hell of a world. The "steampunk" fad always seemed interesting to me, but it wasn't even until I finished the book that I thought about whether or not this term applies. The thought of inflatable airships and a world where lights out is at sundown simply took my breath away.
This story begins with Taziri, but this is in no way Taziri's story. It took a while to get all of the characters straight, but soon you realize how intricately woven their lives really are. The synopsis leads you to believe Taziri is the main character, and personally she was the character I connected most with. As a mother with a young daughter, I could imagine the pain and worry associated with the fantastic journey she gets to go on.
There is only one aspect of the novel that truly bothered me, and that involved Dr. Medina's experimentation. While I understand that her actions were aimed to show the moral character of both her and Lady Sade, the basement of the prosthetics shop is somewhere that left me with nightmares. Once again, Lewis described it in great detail, but the feeling of being there is something I could have lived without.
Altogether I think that this was the best science fiction I've read in a long time. This is one story that really had my mind going as it pulled me right into it. If you enjoy fantasy, science fiction, or really any kind of adventure, grab a copy of The Burning Sky by Joseph Robert Lewis.
This story begins with Taziri, but this is in no way Taziri's story. It took a while to get all of the characters straight, but soon you realize how intricately woven their lives really are. The synopsis leads you to believe Taziri is the main character, and personally she was the character I connected most with. As a mother with a young daughter, I could imagine the pain and worry associated with the fantastic journey she gets to go on.
There is only one aspect of the novel that truly bothered me, and that involved Dr. Medina's experimentation. While I understand that her actions were aimed to show the moral character of both her and Lady Sade, the basement of the prosthetics shop is somewhere that left me with nightmares. Once again, Lewis described it in great detail, but the feeling of being there is something I could have lived without.
Altogether I think that this was the best science fiction I've read in a long time. This is one story that really had my mind going as it pulled me right into it. If you enjoy fantasy, science fiction, or really any kind of adventure, grab a copy of The Burning Sky by Joseph Robert Lewis.
October 24, 2011
So. Mystery and intrigue, colourful characters, sinister science, marvellous machines and unlikely heroes. Um, and a lot of fire, shootings and death. Interesting mix.
The story is nicely complex, with a lot going on across the four-day period of the plot. It requires some concentration to keep all the plot threads and characters straight, though it's worth the effort. The one thing that let the book down a little was the number of POV changes with, frequently, very short chapters. It began to feel choppy, whirling through a succession of characters' heads rather too fast. But that's a minor problem.
Reading about a matriarchal society was interesting. This point could've been irritatingly belaboured, but wasn't: it took me a while to even notice how frequently women were in positions of command. Many of the major characters are women, leaving the men slightly under represented - though Major Brute-Force Syfax has enough presence to make up for most of that all on his own. Swashbuckling Lorenzo, on the other hand, is literally a pale shadow of a man and fails at being especially interesting. That said, there's clear potential for him to develop a long way in the future and I'll be interested to read about his adventures in the next book.
This is a story full of adventure (and guns, and explosions, and bombs, and fires, and riots, and attacks, and airship crashes, and stabbings, and and and...). If you like a lot of excitement with your weird science and sinister plots, this one is a winner.
The story is nicely complex, with a lot going on across the four-day period of the plot. It requires some concentration to keep all the plot threads and characters straight, though it's worth the effort. The one thing that let the book down a little was the number of POV changes with, frequently, very short chapters. It began to feel choppy, whirling through a succession of characters' heads rather too fast. But that's a minor problem.
Reading about a matriarchal society was interesting. This point could've been irritatingly belaboured, but wasn't: it took me a while to even notice how frequently women were in positions of command. Many of the major characters are women, leaving the men slightly under represented - though Major Brute-Force Syfax has enough presence to make up for most of that all on his own. Swashbuckling Lorenzo, on the other hand, is literally a pale shadow of a man and fails at being especially interesting. That said, there's clear potential for him to develop a long way in the future and I'll be interested to read about his adventures in the next book.
This is a story full of adventure (and guns, and explosions, and bombs, and fires, and riots, and attacks, and airship crashes, and stabbings, and and and...). If you like a lot of excitement with your weird science and sinister plots, this one is a winner.
April 3, 2012
I enjoyed reading the Burning Sky by Joseph Robert Lewis. The characters are very realistic. The plot is very suspenseful and adventuresome. It was hard to put the book down. The story begins with an explosion of an airship and the plot revolves around the interactions of the mechanic (who is also a pilot), Taziri, from the airship Halcyon who is the only pilot left alive at the scene to assist Major Syfax Zidane from the royal marshals in Security Section Two to discover who was behind the act of terrorism. They meet numerous characters with different agendas that are not always what they appear to be. Read the book to discover the different ways the characters in the book try to kill them or stop them.
I was happy to discover that the women controlled the government, the military, and the most powerful industries in the world. There was also a trained woman assassin who loved using knives. This is a completely different twist for the parallel time period. Make sure you use the map and appendix so you will have a clear understanding of the people and the areas that are developed in the adventure.
Read the book to discover who and why the acts of terrorism were committed. This is the second book I have read by Joseph Robert Lewis. The books just keep getting better and better. Don't take my word for it. Go read the book!
I was happy to discover that the women controlled the government, the military, and the most powerful industries in the world. There was also a trained woman assassin who loved using knives. This is a completely different twist for the parallel time period. Make sure you use the map and appendix so you will have a clear understanding of the people and the areas that are developed in the adventure.
Read the book to discover who and why the acts of terrorism were committed. This is the second book I have read by Joseph Robert Lewis. The books just keep getting better and better. Don't take my word for it. Go read the book!
March 10, 2012
The Burning Sky by Joseph Robert Lewis is the first novel in the Halcyon Trilogy. And what a fantastic beginning it is! Lewis gives us a well woven story with brilliant characters and non-stop adventure. I found the story so well written and entertaining that I flew through it and was surprised when I came to the end...and dismayed as I want the next novel immediately!
The story is described as a historical fantasy, but I would describe it more as an alternative steampunk history with the steampunk element a maybe. Whatever you may call it, you will be entranced with The Other World.
The central character, Taziri, is an airship engineer and pilot until the fleet is destroyed and most of the Air Corps killed. It is up to Taziri to chase down the killers through the horrors of mad doctors and ruthless assassins.
There is a detailed appendix at the end of the book along with a preview of the next book in the series, The Broken Sword: Halcyon, Book Two.
There are too many elements in The Burning Sky to tell here without giving up plot details and I don't do that.
I recommend you read this book as soon as possible. You'll be glad you did and will then be waiting for the next installment along with the rest of us.
The story is described as a historical fantasy, but I would describe it more as an alternative steampunk history with the steampunk element a maybe. Whatever you may call it, you will be entranced with The Other World.
The central character, Taziri, is an airship engineer and pilot until the fleet is destroyed and most of the Air Corps killed. It is up to Taziri to chase down the killers through the horrors of mad doctors and ruthless assassins.
There is a detailed appendix at the end of the book along with a preview of the next book in the series, The Broken Sword: Halcyon, Book Two.
There are too many elements in The Burning Sky to tell here without giving up plot details and I don't do that.
I recommend you read this book as soon as possible. You'll be glad you did and will then be waiting for the next installment along with the rest of us.
May 10, 2011
I thoroughly enjoyed Burning Sky. Lewis wrote a really action packed book, full of many different characters whose paths all intersect. They are all motivated by different beliefs, some are pastoralists, what we would call terrorists, some are law enforcers, and some innocent bystanders like the main character, the airship engineer who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The alternate history was cool. Lewis clearly knows history and was able to manipulate it to produce the world he wanted. A combination of technology is utilized including airships, guns, swords, bombs, trains, carriages, and electric batteries. There are a lot of fights, several terrorist attacks, and long distance chases.
Overall a really enjoyable book. I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy. I've also read Heirs of Mars by this author, but I must say that Burning Sky was more interesting to me. Good plot, fast paced, a variety of characters and locations scattered across North Africa.
The alternate history was cool. Lewis clearly knows history and was able to manipulate it to produce the world he wanted. A combination of technology is utilized including airships, guns, swords, bombs, trains, carriages, and electric batteries. There are a lot of fights, several terrorist attacks, and long distance chases.
Overall a really enjoyable book. I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy. I've also read Heirs of Mars by this author, but I must say that Burning Sky was more interesting to me. Good plot, fast paced, a variety of characters and locations scattered across North Africa.
April 11, 2011
The Burning Skytakes place on a world that has many similarities to Earth as we know it. There are Europans not Europeans, Espani not Spain. So the world portrayed is familiar and at the same time different. The first thing that differs is the roles that men and women play. The height of technology is airships, telegraphs, and steam trains. The story starts out with an act of terrorism, the airship field is attacked. The heroine of this story, an electrician and pilot of an airship are commandeered by a Marshall to track the criminals. There is plenty of action, and some questions of right and wrong are also explored along the way.
I have not read many steampunk novels, but based on this one, I look forward to reading many more, especially the promised sequel in the Halcyon Series by Robert Joseph Lewis.
I have not read many steampunk novels, but based on this one, I look forward to reading many more, especially the promised sequel in the Halcyon Series by Robert Joseph Lewis.
April 28, 2011
This was given to me as a free ebook on the condition that I would post a review. I will have one up in the next few days...
This book was very good, though not quite as enjoyable as Heirs of Mars. "Steampunk" is a sub-sub-culture, and kinda hard to define. This book was touted as a steampunk story, and I guess it qualifies. It is alternate history where electricity seems to be strange and new but an industrial revolution is/has happened. The alternate history (Thriving Incan culture meets the Spaniards of frozen Europe and fear the Persian Empire... huh?) is convoluted, and it will take more explaining to see what the big picture is, but the characters and story are enjoyable enough anyway! I definitely liked the story, and look forward to the rest of the series. A real review is still to follow...
This book was very good, though not quite as enjoyable as Heirs of Mars. "Steampunk" is a sub-sub-culture, and kinda hard to define. This book was touted as a steampunk story, and I guess it qualifies. It is alternate history where electricity seems to be strange and new but an industrial revolution is/has happened. The alternate history (Thriving Incan culture meets the Spaniards of frozen Europe and fear the Persian Empire... huh?) is convoluted, and it will take more explaining to see what the big picture is, but the characters and story are enjoyable enough anyway! I definitely liked the story, and look forward to the rest of the series. A real review is still to follow...
August 4, 2011
Overall I truly enjoyed reading this book. The steampunk genre is not something that I am familiar with, and it came across as something fresh and new. Also, I thought the historical fantasy portion of the novel was fantastic. It would have been great to see a map of all the locations the characters were traveling, but the amount of knowledge of the past was very consistent and through. My only issue with this novel is that it was difficult for me to jump into it and took me a long time to read. I don’t know if it was the amount of characters and locations, but I was constantly checking back to see who was who. After I got familiar with the book, I really became invested in the characters and I would like to see where book two takes them. This was definitely a change of pace from your typical dramatic novel, and I can’t wait to read more from Lewis!
March 1, 2012
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review, which in no way determined the outcome of my review.
I liked "The Burning Sky." If you enjoy action books, I'd recommend this one. I think that someone who wasn't an avid fantasy reader could still easily enjoy this book. There were a lot of characters and it did take me quite a few chapters to sort them all out as each character gets his or her own point-of-view chapter. Because of this, there are many many chapters, all of which are only a few pages long. But there is a glossary in the back which helps sort of the characters and made up inventions. I used it more than once in the beginning. By the end, I could remember who was who without a problem. I think I'll get the other two in the trilogy--though this is a stand-alone book--because I'd like to keep reading about what happens to the characters after this conclusion.
I liked "The Burning Sky." If you enjoy action books, I'd recommend this one. I think that someone who wasn't an avid fantasy reader could still easily enjoy this book. There were a lot of characters and it did take me quite a few chapters to sort them all out as each character gets his or her own point-of-view chapter. Because of this, there are many many chapters, all of which are only a few pages long. But there is a glossary in the back which helps sort of the characters and made up inventions. I used it more than once in the beginning. By the end, I could remember who was who without a problem. I think I'll get the other two in the trilogy--though this is a stand-alone book--because I'd like to keep reading about what happens to the characters after this conclusion.
January 28, 2011
I've liked the idea of 'steampunk' historical fantasy settings for a while but not really got around to reading anything from that sort of genre but this, with its steam-powered airships, certainly counts and I really enjoyed it.
Set against the imaginative backdrop of a world where the northern hemisphere never really emerged from the last ice age, Taziri Ohana flies her airship in the skies above Marrakesh. After a huge explosion destroys the airfield, she is the only pilot left. She and marshal Syfax Zidane discover this is only a part of a huge conspiracy aiming to take down the government.
A great mix of intrigue, action and adventure. I'm already looking forward to more in the series.
Set against the imaginative backdrop of a world where the northern hemisphere never really emerged from the last ice age, Taziri Ohana flies her airship in the skies above Marrakesh. After a huge explosion destroys the airfield, she is the only pilot left. She and marshal Syfax Zidane discover this is only a part of a huge conspiracy aiming to take down the government.
A great mix of intrigue, action and adventure. I'm already looking forward to more in the series.
April 6, 2011
I really liked this book. The characters were varied and well developed. the action kept going from one point to another. I also found out that I am more of traditional than I thought with roles of women versus men. The opening shows a piolet Taziri playing with her daughter and husband wanted to go back to working full time. Taziri said maybe later. Women were the ones in power for the most part. their was bombing, terrosts conspiracy against the queen. Marshalls trailing the ambassodar who was a murder and behind train bombings and airships. thier were hero's and traitors. I enjoyed this book and its the second I have read of his and both excellent stories. I look forward to reading more from him
March 23, 2011
This book happens over the course of days. It literally starts off with a bang and then keeps moving forward with multiple story lines that carry the momentum along and make the book difficult to put down.
But it is never exhausting. The action and adventure is perfectly balanced by strong and interesting characters. One of Lewis' strengths are these multidimensional characters that have opinions and motives no matter what side of the conflict they're on. No one is truly good or bad although their actions can be questioned.
It's the entire reason I get drawn in and keep coming back to read more and will be back again.
But it is never exhausting. The action and adventure is perfectly balanced by strong and interesting characters. One of Lewis' strengths are these multidimensional characters that have opinions and motives no matter what side of the conflict they're on. No one is truly good or bad although their actions can be questioned.
It's the entire reason I get drawn in and keep coming back to read more and will be back again.
May 3, 2011
The Burning Sky is an interesting and action-packed story. I found it a little more difficult to get into than Heirs of Mars, but that may be because a lot of the cultural and historical references went over my head. Being set in a kind of alternate timeline, to appreciate the story you really need to understand how history has happened differently. However, the different cultures were quite interesting, being very different from our own. And all the characters had their own complex issues to deal with outside of the main adventure story. Basically a very well thought-out world.
Reviewed as a librarything giveaway ebook.
Reviewed as a librarything giveaway ebook.
August 18, 2012
Very good read. I received this in a member giveaway and I am so glad I did. I loved the airships, the electronics. I loved that it was set in our world so some things were familiar yet it was so different. At first there seemed to be too many characters, but it was quickly resolved and I learned to love all of them. It's so easy to get attached, the characters were all so developed and complicated. They all gave you information, but it was jumbled with their own thoughts, emotions, and problems and when everything and every character finally came together my eyes and brain couldn't take in the words as fast as I wanted them.
This book was amazing!
I can't wait to get #2~!
This book was amazing!
I can't wait to get #2~!
October 13, 2012
Really enjoyed this indie steampunky fantasy. Similarly to Kate Elliot's Spiritwalker series (which I am totally *loving*) and S.M. Stirling's The Peshawar Lancers, Europe gets very, very cold. The action here is in Africa, and the book is very enjoyable - Incan princesses, steam-powered flying machines, and a plucky engineer - who writes articles in scientific journals! - and more. An interesting element which so far seems to be continued in book 2 (it's a trilogy) is that the band of adventurers that forms does not become the typical tight-knit band - these people all have their own agendas...
October 8, 2014
I picked up this book because steampunk and Gail Carriger were mentioned in a review. Well, The Burning Sky has absolutely nothing to do with Gail Carriger. I found the book very hard to get into and didn't feel much sympathy for the characters. Actually, I didn't really care what happened to them.
June 27, 2011
Review of member giveaway eBook
This is a thrilling adventure set in an alternate North Africa. There are dirigibles; extinct beasts; matriarchal societies; sinister plots and that new technology ‘electricity’.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in this world.
This is a thrilling adventure set in an alternate North Africa. There are dirigibles; extinct beasts; matriarchal societies; sinister plots and that new technology ‘electricity’.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in this world.
September 13, 2011
This was the first steam punk book I have read and I found it very enjoyable. At first, the many parallel story lines were at times confusing, but as the story developed, you could see how they tied together. Lewis has created an intriguing world populated by interesting characters.
July 25, 2012
This is really different than what I usually read but I really enjoyed it.
July 30, 2012
Intriguing mix of alternate history and thriller, Joseph R. Lewis shines in his debut with an eclectic world filled to the brim with ideas and potential. More to come in FBC review...
October 17, 2012
Loved the book. His books are totally awesome. Great writer!
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