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The Colonel and the Bee
The Amazing Beatrix works as an acrobat in a 19th Century circus, no home or family to speak of. When a daring escape from her abusive ringleader crosses Beatrix's path with that of the daring adventurer Colonel James Bacchus, the unlikely pair team up, fly to safety aboard the Colonel’s miraculous four-story hot air balloon, and begin a grand quest to find the most precious gem in the world, The Blue Star Sphinx.
If the heroes can outmaneuver the deadly treasure hunters, escaped convicts, and double-crosses that await them, they may win the treasure they seek, or better yet, a sense of true belonging.
Witty banter, colorful characters, and exotic locations pack the fantastical, globe-trotting adventure that reads like Sherlock Holmes meets Around the World in Eighty Days.
If the heroes can outmaneuver the deadly treasure hunters, escaped convicts, and double-crosses that await them, they may win the treasure they seek, or better yet, a sense of true belonging.
Witty banter, colorful characters, and exotic locations pack the fantastical, globe-trotting adventure that reads like Sherlock Holmes meets Around the World in Eighty Days.
278 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2018
14 people are currently reading
713 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Canning
8 books237 followersPATRICK CANNING is the author of the novels For Your Benefit (2024), Cryptonalia (2021), Hawthorn Woods (2020), The Colonel and the Bee (2018), and Cryptofauna (2018).
His work often blends genres, combining elements of humor, adventure, fantasy, and mystery into stories with imaginative settings, quirky characters, and typos.
Patrick lives in Chicago with his Australian Shepherd, Hank. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys walks on the lakefront, being excited/worrying about AI, and eating his bodyweight in potatoes.
@catpanning (Instagram)
His work often blends genres, combining elements of humor, adventure, fantasy, and mystery into stories with imaginative settings, quirky characters, and typos.
Patrick lives in Chicago with his Australian Shepherd, Hank. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys walks on the lakefront, being excited/worrying about AI, and eating his bodyweight in potatoes.
@catpanning (Instagram)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
May 29, 2019
Book Reviewed by Clive on www.whisperingstories.com
The Colonel and the Bee promised much from the outset with a dramatic cover and our initial introduction to Beatrix. The story is told by her in the first person and I found myself immediately drawn into her character as a talented gymnast with feisty ambitions to make more of her life. The idea of her travelling around the world in such a magnificent machine promised a great deal.
Along the way there were some exciting incidents but generally that promise was not fulfilled. The overall plot did not excite me and between the moments of action there were long periods of drudgery and attempts at comedy that mostly fell flat.
That may have been because the book was almost certainly not aimed at someone with my profile. That said, I do have to wonder who it was aimed at. The story and its characters would appear suitable for young teens looking to progress from simpler magic stories but if that were true then was the Colonel’s condoned attitude towards young women suitable for such an audience?
Although I was drawn in by Beatrix’s personality I was not so convinced by the other characters who were either flat or stereotypical. This, I am sorry to say, included the mysterious Colonel who had little warmth.
The synopsis suggests that Patrick Canning has set The Colonel and the Bee in the 19th Century. The hot air balloon and the magic lantern would support that suggestion but many of the places visited appeared to be stuck in medieval times with some unrealistic comic touches. Nothing made me laugh out loud. Also, the Ox is remarkably manoeuvrable for a balloon powered solely by air currents in that they could steer direct courses to anywhere in the world and, with one notable exception, arrive within a day or so.
The text was easy enough to read and I persisted to the end, ever hopeful of some magic moments that never quite appeared. My overall feeling is that there could be a good novel featuring Beatrix and the hot air balloon but I don’t think that The Colonel and the Bee is that novel. I have awarded three stars.
The Colonel and the Bee promised much from the outset with a dramatic cover and our initial introduction to Beatrix. The story is told by her in the first person and I found myself immediately drawn into her character as a talented gymnast with feisty ambitions to make more of her life. The idea of her travelling around the world in such a magnificent machine promised a great deal.
Along the way there were some exciting incidents but generally that promise was not fulfilled. The overall plot did not excite me and between the moments of action there were long periods of drudgery and attempts at comedy that mostly fell flat.
That may have been because the book was almost certainly not aimed at someone with my profile. That said, I do have to wonder who it was aimed at. The story and its characters would appear suitable for young teens looking to progress from simpler magic stories but if that were true then was the Colonel’s condoned attitude towards young women suitable for such an audience?
Although I was drawn in by Beatrix’s personality I was not so convinced by the other characters who were either flat or stereotypical. This, I am sorry to say, included the mysterious Colonel who had little warmth.
The synopsis suggests that Patrick Canning has set The Colonel and the Bee in the 19th Century. The hot air balloon and the magic lantern would support that suggestion but many of the places visited appeared to be stuck in medieval times with some unrealistic comic touches. Nothing made me laugh out loud. Also, the Ox is remarkably manoeuvrable for a balloon powered solely by air currents in that they could steer direct courses to anywhere in the world and, with one notable exception, arrive within a day or so.
The text was easy enough to read and I persisted to the end, ever hopeful of some magic moments that never quite appeared. My overall feeling is that there could be a good novel featuring Beatrix and the hot air balloon but I don’t think that The Colonel and the Bee is that novel. I have awarded three stars.
August 5, 2020
I really tried to get stuck into this story but alas, I failed. Fantasy books are very niche in terms of my enjoyment and I thought the premise of the novel was really appealing. However, I disliked the protagonists and remained disconnected from the narrative.
I was actually confused by events for the majority of the read. I could not fathom the jump between travelling in air and then exploring on land; it seemed to happen too suddenly for me to keep up. The concept of the Colonel travelling by a make-shift air-balloon reminded me of 'Northern Lights' and I guess this was why I was keen to have a go at reading the story. However, the Colonel’s vessel is more evolved and, like the cover implies, it is more like a hot air-balloon building – strange, huh?! I felt like Canning could have capitalised on this unusual setting a little bit more and this was the trend for the entire story.
I wanted there to be more depth to setting, plot and characters. All in all, it felt decidedly average and with not enough detail. Maybe my confusion over what was happening meant I missed this however, I’m certain that if Canning had slowed down a little bit and elaborated on his story, this would have created a strong plot. Consequently, the foundations are there for a great narrative, but I don’t think it was fully executed – hence my rating.
Canning has pulled in many elements you would expect of the fantasy genre. I think this would delight many but I am uncertain as to the specific age group of it is directed at. Young adult readers would enjoy it but I believe some of the vocabulary and topics are a little adult – such as the Colonel being emphasised as a “Don Juan”, which, seriously, just made him more off-putting for me! At the same time, adult readers would likely enjoy this but maybe desire a story longer than under 300 pages. Perhaps then, this gives the novel a broad demographic?
Although this clearly wasn’t the novel for me, I can see that Canning has some good ideas. I could see this becoming the start of a series as more adventures are detailed involving the Colonel and Bee. However, this is one series I will give a miss to…
I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was actually confused by events for the majority of the read. I could not fathom the jump between travelling in air and then exploring on land; it seemed to happen too suddenly for me to keep up. The concept of the Colonel travelling by a make-shift air-balloon reminded me of 'Northern Lights' and I guess this was why I was keen to have a go at reading the story. However, the Colonel’s vessel is more evolved and, like the cover implies, it is more like a hot air-balloon building – strange, huh?! I felt like Canning could have capitalised on this unusual setting a little bit more and this was the trend for the entire story.
I wanted there to be more depth to setting, plot and characters. All in all, it felt decidedly average and with not enough detail. Maybe my confusion over what was happening meant I missed this however, I’m certain that if Canning had slowed down a little bit and elaborated on his story, this would have created a strong plot. Consequently, the foundations are there for a great narrative, but I don’t think it was fully executed – hence my rating.
Canning has pulled in many elements you would expect of the fantasy genre. I think this would delight many but I am uncertain as to the specific age group of it is directed at. Young adult readers would enjoy it but I believe some of the vocabulary and topics are a little adult – such as the Colonel being emphasised as a “Don Juan”, which, seriously, just made him more off-putting for me! At the same time, adult readers would likely enjoy this but maybe desire a story longer than under 300 pages. Perhaps then, this gives the novel a broad demographic?
Although this clearly wasn’t the novel for me, I can see that Canning has some good ideas. I could see this becoming the start of a series as more adventures are detailed involving the Colonel and Bee. However, this is one series I will give a miss to…
I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read
May 24, 2020
September 5, 2019
Review
This was a thoroughly delightful and creative story. It was short, but packed with mystery, intrigue, humour, and heart. And I love the cover so much!
The massive steampunk hot air balloon, where most of the tale takes place, was really unique (if not very plausible). The Ox was essentially its own floating city, with gardens, a library, countless corridors, and several endearing characters.
From the opening pages, our eccentric crew is hit with one trial after another as they not only try to beat their dangerous foes to the legendary treasure, but try to stay alive- and afloat- as well. It was non-stop action for these characters, putting their resolve and relationships constantly to the test.
The stars of the show were the Newlyweds, a long married couple who earned that nickname because of how obviously in love with each other they still are. They took Bee in under their wings and helped her start to feel like she actually belonged somewhere.
The Colonel, while amusing and intriguing at first, became a bit ingratiating as the book unfolded, especially with his obsession with bedding women in every port of call. He also waffled on a lot, a trait I find often with books about 19th century explorers. Men, amirite? He almost redeemed himself a few times throughout the book, particularly toward the end, but his behaviour and monologues did get a bit tedious.
The Colonel is really the only criticism I have of the book. All together, it was a fun, daring, and very charming book that I greatly enjoyed reading. I definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to read something light, quirky, and entertaining.
Final Thoughts
The author has stated that this is Around the World in 80 Days meets The Wizard of Oz, which is a perfect description of the book. Especially because while seeming like an omnipotent leader, The Colonel is just a flawed human underneath it all- much like The Wizard.
I’m not entirely sure what age range this is aimed for as there are some pretty heavy and adult themes throughout the book. I would imagine it’s best suited for those in their late teens like Bee, but either way as an adult I certainly enjoyed reading this fantastical tale.
Read my full review on my blog!
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
This was a thoroughly delightful and creative story. It was short, but packed with mystery, intrigue, humour, and heart. And I love the cover so much!
The massive steampunk hot air balloon, where most of the tale takes place, was really unique (if not very plausible). The Ox was essentially its own floating city, with gardens, a library, countless corridors, and several endearing characters.
From the opening pages, our eccentric crew is hit with one trial after another as they not only try to beat their dangerous foes to the legendary treasure, but try to stay alive- and afloat- as well. It was non-stop action for these characters, putting their resolve and relationships constantly to the test.
The stars of the show were the Newlyweds, a long married couple who earned that nickname because of how obviously in love with each other they still are. They took Bee in under their wings and helped her start to feel like she actually belonged somewhere.
The Colonel, while amusing and intriguing at first, became a bit ingratiating as the book unfolded, especially with his obsession with bedding women in every port of call. He also waffled on a lot, a trait I find often with books about 19th century explorers. Men, amirite? He almost redeemed himself a few times throughout the book, particularly toward the end, but his behaviour and monologues did get a bit tedious.
The Colonel is really the only criticism I have of the book. All together, it was a fun, daring, and very charming book that I greatly enjoyed reading. I definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to read something light, quirky, and entertaining.
Final Thoughts
The author has stated that this is Around the World in 80 Days meets The Wizard of Oz, which is a perfect description of the book. Especially because while seeming like an omnipotent leader, The Colonel is just a flawed human underneath it all- much like The Wizard.
I’m not entirely sure what age range this is aimed for as there are some pretty heavy and adult themes throughout the book. I would imagine it’s best suited for those in their late teens like Bee, but either way as an adult I certainly enjoyed reading this fantastical tale.
Read my full review on my blog!
Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2020
I received a free copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
2.5* I find the idea of a flying, four-storey hot air balloon hard to resist. Add to that the lure of adventure and a sprinkling of circus life and I'm sold. Indeed, the first 20% or so of the book felt like a warm hug. We meet thirteen-year-old Beatrix, or Bee, as she runs away from the circus to join Colonel James Bacchus on his global hunt for a murderer.
The Colonel lives and travels in the Oxford Starladder, or the Ox. Hung from from a huge balloon, the four-storey basket includes a top deck with deck chairs, a library outfitted with everything from Dante's Inferno to tomes on chemical combustion, and a plant nursery for the Colonel's collected cuttings. The Ox felt like a character in itself, with a warm, comforting and welcoming aura. I could just imagine sunning myself on top, tucking in to my blankets in the Nimble Hare (Bee's bedroom, named after the taxidermied animal), or feasting on one of the Colonel's culinary creations.
Swept up in the chase, we explore Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Gibraltar, Britain and the Sahara with Bee, the Colonel, and their fellow flyers. Initially, this gave me such a craving to see the world that, were in not for Covid, I would have bought a ticket there and then. Later, however, I grew to wish Canning had spent more time on world-building. The book gives such opportunity to describe the world from above and yet we're only ever really given brief outlines, and those tend to be stereotypical or uniform across the countries. His Jacan street could just as easily been his London street, for example.
My biggest problem with this book, however, is that it is not meant for me. No where in the blurb or the tags does anyone mention that this is a children's book. Its target audience is probably 10 to 14-year-olds. The main character is supposedly 13-years-old (though I found this hard to believe given how she's portrayed) and the plot is juvenile, with distinct goodies and baddies and very convenient (and quite unlikely) developments. The trouble is that the book also employs some quite complex vocabulary and sentence structures - largely due to the characters pomp and the book's historical setting. Occasionally, I enjoyed this as I myself like to play around with language. Most of the time I felt it slowed the story and just made it difficult for young readers that may still be gaining confidence. The below conversation perfectly emulates both the language employed and the ludicrousness of parts of the plot.
As the story progress, I fell out of love with the characters - finding Bee aggravating and whiny - and found it hard to motivate myself to continue reading. It was the Ox and the sightseeing I was after, so once these dropped out of focus in favour of plot development I wasn't so interested.
Not a bad book then, but not particularly good either. Were I 11, I probably would have loved it. Sadly I'm not 11 and just wish there was another story out there with a four-storey hot air balloon for me.
'"Colonel Bacchus. I've heard of you, remember. They say you traverse continents in a day's time, draped in doting cherubs and ribbons of white cloud."
"The timetable may be off, and I can't speak to the nude infants, but I suppose we do tow a bit of cumulonimbus every so often. Anything else you've heard is likely understated rumours of debauchery, which cannot stand in place of a proper introduction. I am Colonel James Bacchus, citizen explorer of this marvellous world and tenacious solver of its inhabitants' many problems. Friends simply call me, Colonel."'
2.5* I find the idea of a flying, four-storey hot air balloon hard to resist. Add to that the lure of adventure and a sprinkling of circus life and I'm sold. Indeed, the first 20% or so of the book felt like a warm hug. We meet thirteen-year-old Beatrix, or Bee, as she runs away from the circus to join Colonel James Bacchus on his global hunt for a murderer.
The Colonel lives and travels in the Oxford Starladder, or the Ox. Hung from from a huge balloon, the four-storey basket includes a top deck with deck chairs, a library outfitted with everything from Dante's Inferno to tomes on chemical combustion, and a plant nursery for the Colonel's collected cuttings. The Ox felt like a character in itself, with a warm, comforting and welcoming aura. I could just imagine sunning myself on top, tucking in to my blankets in the Nimble Hare (Bee's bedroom, named after the taxidermied animal), or feasting on one of the Colonel's culinary creations.
Swept up in the chase, we explore Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Gibraltar, Britain and the Sahara with Bee, the Colonel, and their fellow flyers. Initially, this gave me such a craving to see the world that, were in not for Covid, I would have bought a ticket there and then. Later, however, I grew to wish Canning had spent more time on world-building. The book gives such opportunity to describe the world from above and yet we're only ever really given brief outlines, and those tend to be stereotypical or uniform across the countries. His Jacan street could just as easily been his London street, for example.
My biggest problem with this book, however, is that it is not meant for me. No where in the blurb or the tags does anyone mention that this is a children's book. Its target audience is probably 10 to 14-year-olds. The main character is supposedly 13-years-old (though I found this hard to believe given how she's portrayed) and the plot is juvenile, with distinct goodies and baddies and very convenient (and quite unlikely) developments. The trouble is that the book also employs some quite complex vocabulary and sentence structures - largely due to the characters pomp and the book's historical setting. Occasionally, I enjoyed this as I myself like to play around with language. Most of the time I felt it slowed the story and just made it difficult for young readers that may still be gaining confidence. The below conversation perfectly emulates both the language employed and the ludicrousness of parts of the plot.
'"No need to reinvent the wheel. To best this Saint we shall take a page out of the book of another. Saint Nicholas."
"Father Christmas?" I laughed.
"The very same. His habit of dressing like the British Infantry and practices of animal husbandry we can do without. Ditto the list of good and bad children. What arrogance to pass judgement on the world's juvenile populace! What bizarre Polar standard informs these decisions? Where's the transparency!"
"Colonel! What's he to do with your plan?" I said.
"Yes, well, it's his method of chimney infiltration we're after."'
As the story progress, I fell out of love with the characters - finding Bee aggravating and whiny - and found it hard to motivate myself to continue reading. It was the Ox and the sightseeing I was after, so once these dropped out of focus in favour of plot development I wasn't so interested.
Not a bad book then, but not particularly good either. Were I 11, I probably would have loved it. Sadly I'm not 11 and just wish there was another story out there with a four-storey hot air balloon for me.
January 14, 2019
Wow! What a great book! I like steampunk anyway, and this story encompassed so much of what I love about reading-- a compelling tale that keeps you turning the pages, and author good with words, adventure, and a mystery. To me, it was reminiscent of The Good Thief, which I also loved, but vaguely, and at the same time a story unique and all its own.
Beatrix (Bee) is a 13 year old acrobat who had run away to the circus from an home where she was unwanted, but the circus proved no better as the owner, Ziro, was a volatile man who used his whip for the smallest infraction. During a performance she meets Colonel James Bacchus, a mysterious man that many tales of daring and adventure are told about, and he ends up being her savior, allowing her to escape from Ziro and his 2 dangerous mute and strange guards that are often tasked with the duty to kill whoever disappoints Ziro. The Colonel's home away from home is the Ox, a four story hot-air balloon which is almost entirely self-sufficient, and this way the conveyance for what ended up being a globe-hopping adventure, on the hunt of criminals and treasure.
This book has now found a treasured space on my bookshelf, sure to be revisited again. I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the author. Thank you!
Beatrix (Bee) is a 13 year old acrobat who had run away to the circus from an home where she was unwanted, but the circus proved no better as the owner, Ziro, was a volatile man who used his whip for the smallest infraction. During a performance she meets Colonel James Bacchus, a mysterious man that many tales of daring and adventure are told about, and he ends up being her savior, allowing her to escape from Ziro and his 2 dangerous mute and strange guards that are often tasked with the duty to kill whoever disappoints Ziro. The Colonel's home away from home is the Ox, a four story hot-air balloon which is almost entirely self-sufficient, and this way the conveyance for what ended up being a globe-hopping adventure, on the hunt of criminals and treasure.
This book has now found a treasured space on my bookshelf, sure to be revisited again. I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the author. Thank you!
August 1, 2018
This is classic Steampunk genre with a morality tale or two, writ large. The young teenaged, Beatrix, escapes a suitably Dickensian circus to travel the world on a multi-story dirigible, a craft common to so much of the genre.
The adventure, the search for the long-hidden artefact, is entertaining, even though the elements that build the story are somewhat contrived and sometimes less than well knitted together. However, the words themselves are nicely knotted and well cast-off. A ‘Victorian’ tone is achieved and displayed well enough, onto which is painted vivid pictures of both the cast of characters and the world in which they are played. Comedy is a consisted chord, tongue-in-cheek rather than riotously funny. The Colonel is all comic foil, a wild mix of Phileas Fogg, MacDonald Frazer’s Flashman, and Captain Pugwash. It is his eccentricity rather than any string of logic that binds the book.
I am mystified as to what age group the author was aiming at, if any, but certainly its general tone leans most heavily towards the age of its heroine, the young teenager, Beatrix. However, I must point out that even in my seventh decade, I was well entertained. Adventure books, especially ones like this, of a Disneyesk nature, tend to be of liked or loathed flavours throughout a life rather than attractive in a certain decade.
Death is treated with a certain flippancy, being generally confined to the less nice people. A great deal is sexually implied, though the subject detail is suitably distant. That the Colonel is of a particularly libertine, rakish, nature is obvious from early in the book. We must worry at first about the abused young lady coming into the Colonel’s household, and later about the character of one of the darker characters. We are though, kept aloft in lighter airs, in the comical balloon.
My overall feeling was one more of reading the detailed story behind a cartoon strip than a book with any profound depth. I found myself to be seized in a picture world that blended Herge’s Tin Tin and Moore’s Extraordinary Gentlemen. Certainly, the vivid scenes that the prose brings to my mind is the real strength of the book, a world of solid characters that somehow never quite distil from their comic cartoon into the world we live in.
The adventure, the search for the long-hidden artefact, is entertaining, even though the elements that build the story are somewhat contrived and sometimes less than well knitted together. However, the words themselves are nicely knotted and well cast-off. A ‘Victorian’ tone is achieved and displayed well enough, onto which is painted vivid pictures of both the cast of characters and the world in which they are played. Comedy is a consisted chord, tongue-in-cheek rather than riotously funny. The Colonel is all comic foil, a wild mix of Phileas Fogg, MacDonald Frazer’s Flashman, and Captain Pugwash. It is his eccentricity rather than any string of logic that binds the book.
I am mystified as to what age group the author was aiming at, if any, but certainly its general tone leans most heavily towards the age of its heroine, the young teenager, Beatrix. However, I must point out that even in my seventh decade, I was well entertained. Adventure books, especially ones like this, of a Disneyesk nature, tend to be of liked or loathed flavours throughout a life rather than attractive in a certain decade.
Death is treated with a certain flippancy, being generally confined to the less nice people. A great deal is sexually implied, though the subject detail is suitably distant. That the Colonel is of a particularly libertine, rakish, nature is obvious from early in the book. We must worry at first about the abused young lady coming into the Colonel’s household, and later about the character of one of the darker characters. We are though, kept aloft in lighter airs, in the comical balloon.
My overall feeling was one more of reading the detailed story behind a cartoon strip than a book with any profound depth. I found myself to be seized in a picture world that blended Herge’s Tin Tin and Moore’s Extraordinary Gentlemen. Certainly, the vivid scenes that the prose brings to my mind is the real strength of the book, a world of solid characters that somehow never quite distil from their comic cartoon into the world we live in.
July 19, 2018
What is this book like? Well, sort of like Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes teamed up with Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce in a 4-storey high hybrid hot air/helium-filled balloon chasing a pair of feuding underworld families across 19th Century Europe and beyond in search of a fabulous jewel. Lara Croft, steam-punk style.
This is the sort of book that demands creativity, and Canning delivers. Every character is a Character, stretched past stereotype into archetype. Every setting is new and different and unreal to the finest detail.
The writing is true to the era, a time when demonstrating one’s education came as naturally as – well – speaking. Not a vocabulary for the unwashed masses, I’m afraid.
If I have anything to complain about, the looseness and creativity of the writing seems to invite a certain amount of coincidence in the plotline, and Canning allows himself this luxury a shade too often.
In general a polished jewel of the Steampunk genre.
This is the sort of book that demands creativity, and Canning delivers. Every character is a Character, stretched past stereotype into archetype. Every setting is new and different and unreal to the finest detail.
The writing is true to the era, a time when demonstrating one’s education came as naturally as – well – speaking. Not a vocabulary for the unwashed masses, I’m afraid.
If I have anything to complain about, the looseness and creativity of the writing seems to invite a certain amount of coincidence in the plotline, and Canning allows himself this luxury a shade too often.
In general a polished jewel of the Steampunk genre.
March 23, 2021
I received a copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest review.
I really wanted to like this book, the whole concept of it sounded incredibly interesting and fun from the description. I don't know what it was about the book that I found extremely confusing and difficult to understand. If anyone asked me what the plot of the story was, I don't think I could accurately tell them. I think that there was just so much going on that at times I felt the need to re-read the chapter multiple times to find out where the characters were and what they were doing. It might just be personal preference but I definitely feel like this book would have been made better with a more even and less disruptive pace to allow the reader to engage with the content.
I also found the characters to be really unrealistic and confusing. The way they communicate with each other just doesn't seem natural to me and it would bring me out of the world building at times. Plus the way Bee spoke in general just seemed really... off? Almost as though the author had a thesaurus while they were writing the book and would just pick out the biggest word they could find that had a similar enough meaning. It made the story even harder to follow along because I would constantly be trying to figure out what she was trying to say. It was definitely a shame as I think that this book had a ton of potential and I do still believe that the concept was really interesting.
I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars as I think the concept was good but the execution was not.
I really wanted to like this book, the whole concept of it sounded incredibly interesting and fun from the description. I don't know what it was about the book that I found extremely confusing and difficult to understand. If anyone asked me what the plot of the story was, I don't think I could accurately tell them. I think that there was just so much going on that at times I felt the need to re-read the chapter multiple times to find out where the characters were and what they were doing. It might just be personal preference but I definitely feel like this book would have been made better with a more even and less disruptive pace to allow the reader to engage with the content.
I also found the characters to be really unrealistic and confusing. The way they communicate with each other just doesn't seem natural to me and it would bring me out of the world building at times. Plus the way Bee spoke in general just seemed really... off? Almost as though the author had a thesaurus while they were writing the book and would just pick out the biggest word they could find that had a similar enough meaning. It made the story even harder to follow along because I would constantly be trying to figure out what she was trying to say. It was definitely a shame as I think that this book had a ton of potential and I do still believe that the concept was really interesting.
I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars as I think the concept was good but the execution was not.
May 30, 2019
One of the things I love about Patrick Canning is his focus on odd characters with his world-spanning adventures. In The Colonel and the Bee, we see Beatrix, a down on her luck circus acrobat, team up with explorer James as they travel the world in a hot air balloon racing to get a mysterious treasure Indiana Jones style. It was greatly satisfying to experience this late 1800s adventure, getting to see interesting locales and very memorable characters. It was a little like James and the Giant Peach meets The Mummy, just not as creepy. I really hope to take another adventure with Beatrix and James and would recommend this one to any Indiana Jones fans out there!
August 7, 2024
I'd been holding onto this book for quite a while as it was the last book by Canning I had to read. And even though there's no indication that there would be more, I would love for him to revisit these characters as I'm not ready to let them go.
December 15, 2018
The Colonel and the Bee by Patrick Canning is an adventure spanning Europe. It has a mix of murder, excitement and treasure hunting. I honestly don’t remember the last time I read a book with such exquisite language delivery. It is not an easy job to address and to generate interest in readers with the vintage language used but the author was more than successful, I must say!
Ok, so without any further ado, let’s get to the review.
Summary
Beatrix is an acrobat associated with a travelling circus. When she finds a chance to escape the torturous hands of her master, she grabs it and embarks on an adventure with Colonel James Bacchus. The Colonel (in his extravagant hot air balloon) along with Bee (as he fondly calls Beatrix) and a few others travel together in search of a precious figurine and to solve a mystery that has rattled them all. Amidst discovering new places and making new friends, Bee is anxious about what the future awaits her.
What I Liked
I loved the book! It is a very adventurous tale set in the 19th century with its language to match eloquently. The narrative is humorous and witty that takes you on a journey across Europe.
There are characters like Colonel and Bee to watch out for. Also, I enjoyed Thelma’s character too. She is strong with a hint of motherly-ness. I did sense something romantic between Bee and the Colonel but the end result is different to what the readers may expect.
A special mention to the marvelous hot air balloon designed by the Colonel. I just wish it was actually real.
Overall, a fun story told in a fantastic method with antiquity-flowing language. It has been long since I read something like this. Truly enjoyable!
What I Did Not Like
I loved the use of the vintage language in the book. But as the case may be, this very quality requires for the author to be extravagant in explanations. Hence, it sometimes became too detailed especially when I was eager for the author to get straight to the point.
Other Details
The Colonel and the Bee instantly gave me similar vibes as that of Around the World in 80 Days. It is set in the 19th century and is of the typical steam punk genre. A fun narrative takes you back to the golden era.
Would I Recommend It?
Yes, undoubtedly. This is a tale about adventure and discovering new aspects about places, people and oneself. A fun and exciting read that is unstoppable once you start it.
*** This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. ***
Ok, so without any further ado, let’s get to the review.
Summary
Beatrix is an acrobat associated with a travelling circus. When she finds a chance to escape the torturous hands of her master, she grabs it and embarks on an adventure with Colonel James Bacchus. The Colonel (in his extravagant hot air balloon) along with Bee (as he fondly calls Beatrix) and a few others travel together in search of a precious figurine and to solve a mystery that has rattled them all. Amidst discovering new places and making new friends, Bee is anxious about what the future awaits her.
What I Liked
I loved the book! It is a very adventurous tale set in the 19th century with its language to match eloquently. The narrative is humorous and witty that takes you on a journey across Europe.
There are characters like Colonel and Bee to watch out for. Also, I enjoyed Thelma’s character too. She is strong with a hint of motherly-ness. I did sense something romantic between Bee and the Colonel but the end result is different to what the readers may expect.
A special mention to the marvelous hot air balloon designed by the Colonel. I just wish it was actually real.
Overall, a fun story told in a fantastic method with antiquity-flowing language. It has been long since I read something like this. Truly enjoyable!
What I Did Not Like
I loved the use of the vintage language in the book. But as the case may be, this very quality requires for the author to be extravagant in explanations. Hence, it sometimes became too detailed especially when I was eager for the author to get straight to the point.
Other Details
The Colonel and the Bee instantly gave me similar vibes as that of Around the World in 80 Days. It is set in the 19th century and is of the typical steam punk genre. A fun narrative takes you back to the golden era.
Would I Recommend It?
Yes, undoubtedly. This is a tale about adventure and discovering new aspects about places, people and oneself. A fun and exciting read that is unstoppable once you start it.
*** This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. ***
August 9, 2018
Described by the author as Around the World in 80 Days meets The Wizard of Oz, The Colonel and The Bee is a story, I would deem, worth being remembered as a classic.
Written in the style properly given to it's setting, everything about this novel is quite perfect. It's characters are flawed but we love them despite that; and they make mistakes that alter their courses for the worst, yet we easily forgive them and root for them still.
The Colonel is an eccentric, unpredictable character. He is odd, intelligent, not one to share feelings, and unnaturally adores supper and flora. Bee is equally intelligent and alluring, but her troubled past causes her to be immensely cautious of trusting others, a bit hasty in her decisions, and sometimes a bit dramatic in how she handles a situation. Together, they make a pair as dynamic and memorable as Sherlock Holmes and Dr.Watson.
Their adventures are filled with mystery, riddles, humor, surprising twists, and a stupendous amount of quotes that put my Kindle highlighter to use! My personal favorite being said by the Colonel in Chapter 20:
"I try to not just get by in the world, but to live in it with aggressively applied compassion, the greatest quantity of cunning I can muster, and the occasional tactical insertion of currency."
This is a book well deserving of a fanbase and I recommend it very highly to those who love classic stories filled with action, morale, and a new adventure awaiting around every turn. I give it a solid 5 out of 5 stars*! And for my fellow coffee lovers, this quote:
"Why Bee! Tea is for the indecisive, hard pressed to take a position on which way to comb their hair in the morning. A more apathetic beverage is hard to come across. Coffee begs you to take it somewhere new. A welcome traveling partner, an astute mind sharpener, and a trustworthy enema you can set your watch to!"
*Note: There are many mentions of womanizing from the Colonel, as he is quite known for his wooing of women, however there are no scenes that show this. There are also some dark rituals encountered that may disturb some readers in addition to infrequent, but very strong cursing (including "gd" multiple times).
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
Written in the style properly given to it's setting, everything about this novel is quite perfect. It's characters are flawed but we love them despite that; and they make mistakes that alter their courses for the worst, yet we easily forgive them and root for them still.
The Colonel is an eccentric, unpredictable character. He is odd, intelligent, not one to share feelings, and unnaturally adores supper and flora. Bee is equally intelligent and alluring, but her troubled past causes her to be immensely cautious of trusting others, a bit hasty in her decisions, and sometimes a bit dramatic in how she handles a situation. Together, they make a pair as dynamic and memorable as Sherlock Holmes and Dr.Watson.
Their adventures are filled with mystery, riddles, humor, surprising twists, and a stupendous amount of quotes that put my Kindle highlighter to use! My personal favorite being said by the Colonel in Chapter 20:
"I try to not just get by in the world, but to live in it with aggressively applied compassion, the greatest quantity of cunning I can muster, and the occasional tactical insertion of currency."
This is a book well deserving of a fanbase and I recommend it very highly to those who love classic stories filled with action, morale, and a new adventure awaiting around every turn. I give it a solid 5 out of 5 stars*! And for my fellow coffee lovers, this quote:
"Why Bee! Tea is for the indecisive, hard pressed to take a position on which way to comb their hair in the morning. A more apathetic beverage is hard to come across. Coffee begs you to take it somewhere new. A welcome traveling partner, an astute mind sharpener, and a trustworthy enema you can set your watch to!"
*Note: There are many mentions of womanizing from the Colonel, as he is quite known for his wooing of women, however there are no scenes that show this. There are also some dark rituals encountered that may disturb some readers in addition to infrequent, but very strong cursing (including "gd" multiple times).
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
July 23, 2018
Hoo-boy is this one a douzy! The novel hit all my buttons: unique, intriguing, adventurous, historical, surprisingly sharp female protagonist coupled with the swash-buckling theatrics of a male co-protagonist, and absolute non-stop riveting action.
Beatrix is a barely teenaged female acrobat in a 19th-century European traveling circus held captive owing her age by an abusive ringleader. The dashing and mysterious English Colonel James Bacchus attends the same private showing where she performs and she contrives to join him in a getaway following his illicit treatise with the wife of their exclusive estate's host. With the Oxford Starladder (the Ox) the colonel is in pursuit of a heinous criminal as he drifts across the continent in search of a precious jewel, the Blue Star Sphinx, which value in turn has attracted the warring factions of two families.
With every additional description of the Ox, I badly wanted to climb aboard and explore each and every crevice, descend the spiral stars, partake of the gourmet meals presented by the colonel, and peak into the horticultural room where the fresh vegetables were grown. What a delightful imaginative fantasy--but one that seemed within grasp it was made so real. The rich nineteenth-century dialogue, $50 words, and formal English prose was a delight but I was many times grateful for the built-in dictionary of my Kindle.
Intelligently written, well-plotted story with fully developed characters who came alive on the page so that it wasn't difficult to become fully invested in each. There is a fully developed sense of humor, innuendo, and puns dotting the colorfully painted landscape and often brought a LOL moment along with the profuse use of quotes and wise sayings.
I found this book such a delight! If I had any complaint, it would be that the adventure ended, and on a slightly weak note. More than heartily recommended, this is a must read for any who enjoy a clean, wickedly imaginative book. 4.5 stars
See my full review for this book and many others on https://rosepointpublishing.com
Beatrix is a barely teenaged female acrobat in a 19th-century European traveling circus held captive owing her age by an abusive ringleader. The dashing and mysterious English Colonel James Bacchus attends the same private showing where she performs and she contrives to join him in a getaway following his illicit treatise with the wife of their exclusive estate's host. With the Oxford Starladder (the Ox) the colonel is in pursuit of a heinous criminal as he drifts across the continent in search of a precious jewel, the Blue Star Sphinx, which value in turn has attracted the warring factions of two families.
With every additional description of the Ox, I badly wanted to climb aboard and explore each and every crevice, descend the spiral stars, partake of the gourmet meals presented by the colonel, and peak into the horticultural room where the fresh vegetables were grown. What a delightful imaginative fantasy--but one that seemed within grasp it was made so real. The rich nineteenth-century dialogue, $50 words, and formal English prose was a delight but I was many times grateful for the built-in dictionary of my Kindle.
Intelligently written, well-plotted story with fully developed characters who came alive on the page so that it wasn't difficult to become fully invested in each. There is a fully developed sense of humor, innuendo, and puns dotting the colorfully painted landscape and often brought a LOL moment along with the profuse use of quotes and wise sayings.
I found this book such a delight! If I had any complaint, it would be that the adventure ended, and on a slightly weak note. More than heartily recommended, this is a must read for any who enjoy a clean, wickedly imaginative book. 4.5 stars
See my full review for this book and many others on https://rosepointpublishing.com
July 29, 2018
Adventure awaits the night Beatrix escapes her circus life and joins with Colonel Bacchus. Beatrix is an abused acrobat and when she spies the Colonel in the crowd at a show she's immediately drawn to him, as her luck would have it she runs into him again later that night as she runs away. Reluctantly, the Colonel allows her to accompany him on his trip in a huge hot air balloon to find a missing artifact and more intrigue along the way. Beatrix, now called Bee, is now on the adventure of a lifetime with a whole new group of characters to help the Colonel and hopefully not die along the way.
I really wanted to love this book, but I only liked it. I had trouble reallying getting into the characters, and I found the Colonel so over the top that it became annoying. I couldn't really connect with Bee either, maybe if we'd gotten to spend more time with her before she joined the Colonel this could have helped. My favorite characters were the Newlyweds, who have been married for years but still act like they've only just have. The hot air balloon was a crazy creation, and quite fun to read about what else could all be on such a contraption (a whole library!?) I think for the right reader this would be a fun page turner, but for me it wasn't what I had hoped and so I gave it three out of five stars.
I really wanted to love this book, but I only liked it. I had trouble reallying getting into the characters, and I found the Colonel so over the top that it became annoying. I couldn't really connect with Bee either, maybe if we'd gotten to spend more time with her before she joined the Colonel this could have helped. My favorite characters were the Newlyweds, who have been married for years but still act like they've only just have. The hot air balloon was a crazy creation, and quite fun to read about what else could all be on such a contraption (a whole library!?) I think for the right reader this would be a fun page turner, but for me it wasn't what I had hoped and so I gave it three out of five stars.
October 30, 2018
When a young circus performer escapes her abusive ring-master boss and teams up with a ballooning adventurer, she isn’t at all certain she’s made the right decision. However, the pair set off on the trail of a criminal and the mysteriously named Blue Star Sphinx in a four-storey hot air balloon named the Ox. But Beatrix soon finds they are not just dealing with a thief, but with a killer.
Featuring a fascinating and oddly-matched pair of central characters (The Amazing Beatrix and an The Colonel – an Englishman who wears dandelions in his hat), this is a witty and clever book written in a style reminiscent of those classic adventures of the late nineteenth century. As well as the aforementioned individuals, it also boasts a host of strange and unusual characters who add a touch of the surreal to the story. At times I did find the text a little ‘heavy’ (which also made me wonder what age range the book is aimed at), but otherwise it’s a thoroughly enjoyable read that’ll delight fans of steampunk, classic adventure and Dickensian descriptions.
Featuring a fascinating and oddly-matched pair of central characters (The Amazing Beatrix and an The Colonel – an Englishman who wears dandelions in his hat), this is a witty and clever book written in a style reminiscent of those classic adventures of the late nineteenth century. As well as the aforementioned individuals, it also boasts a host of strange and unusual characters who add a touch of the surreal to the story. At times I did find the text a little ‘heavy’ (which also made me wonder what age range the book is aimed at), but otherwise it’s a thoroughly enjoyable read that’ll delight fans of steampunk, classic adventure and Dickensian descriptions.
October 6, 2018
"If there was one thing to know about the Colonel, it was that his brand of reasoning was peculiar and entirely his own. If there was a second thing to be known, it was that his methods often showed results."
A brilliantly written story full of humor and wit, Patrick Canning's The Colonel and the Bee features an epic "around-the-world" adventure with rather peculiar characters and a grand treasure hunt. After escaping her brutal life in the circus, Beatrix "Bee" becomes part of the Colonel's crew on his flying ship and becomes entangled in a mystery adventure like none other. With a captivating plot and a rather humorous undertone, Canning's novel displays the true essence of the steampunk and adventure genres in a splendid manner.
Full review on my blog, Bookmark Your Thoughts.
A brilliantly written story full of humor and wit, Patrick Canning's The Colonel and the Bee features an epic "around-the-world" adventure with rather peculiar characters and a grand treasure hunt. After escaping her brutal life in the circus, Beatrix "Bee" becomes part of the Colonel's crew on his flying ship and becomes entangled in a mystery adventure like none other. With a captivating plot and a rather humorous undertone, Canning's novel displays the true essence of the steampunk and adventure genres in a splendid manner.
Full review on my blog, Bookmark Your Thoughts.
October 21, 2018
Fiction - Fantasy - Adventure
Thank you to the author, Patrick Canning for sending me a finished copy of the Colonel and the Bee in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows two characters in a hot air balloon house, side note, I think that the front cover of this book is absolutely awesome and helps me imagine the house that floats within the pages of this book.
I loved the descriptions of the air balloon, with three different stories and tons of treasures, it made my imagination go wild. The amount of detail that goes into describing the wicker house is unbelievable and really is the centerpiece for this entire story.
This book has a full cast of characters with and an enjoyable main character.
As the book progressed, I did get a little lost in the story, and I found that the plot progressed a little slow.
As a whole, this book was enjoyable to read and definitely unique!
Go check out my blog at www.sarahjuneblog.com for more book reviews!
Thank you to the author, Patrick Canning for sending me a finished copy of the Colonel and the Bee in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows two characters in a hot air balloon house, side note, I think that the front cover of this book is absolutely awesome and helps me imagine the house that floats within the pages of this book.
I loved the descriptions of the air balloon, with three different stories and tons of treasures, it made my imagination go wild. The amount of detail that goes into describing the wicker house is unbelievable and really is the centerpiece for this entire story.
This book has a full cast of characters with and an enjoyable main character.
As the book progressed, I did get a little lost in the story, and I found that the plot progressed a little slow.
As a whole, this book was enjoyable to read and definitely unique!
Go check out my blog at www.sarahjuneblog.com for more book reviews!
October 5, 2018
The Colonel And The Bee is a fantasy adventure. It is set during an unnamed historical era of discovery and has some similarities to steampunk.
It opens in Switzerland, with Beatrix who is a thirteen-year-old circus acrobat. One evening she grabs a chance to run away with a mysterious man, whom she saw earlier in the audience.
Colonel Bacchus is an eccentric collector and adventurer, who travels in a hot air balloon known as an Oxford Starladder. It consists of a four storey, wicker-framed home which is suspended from an enveloped-shaped balloon. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-bKt
It opens in Switzerland, with Beatrix who is a thirteen-year-old circus acrobat. One evening she grabs a chance to run away with a mysterious man, whom she saw earlier in the audience.
Colonel Bacchus is an eccentric collector and adventurer, who travels in a hot air balloon known as an Oxford Starladder. It consists of a four storey, wicker-framed home which is suspended from an enveloped-shaped balloon. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-bKt
October 21, 2021
Book given by me by the author in return for an honest review.
So, I loved the story, I really did, I just couldn't get over the mistakes that were made, it completely made me DNF the book! For example: there are no mountains near Antwerp and Holland isn't a country at all! I don't mind mistakes, but a quick google search would've helped. I really, really liked the story and I'm really intrigued, but as an European myself, I notice these mistakes and it just bothers me and it made me not enjoy this book. Such a shame! However, I do recommend it if those mistakes wouldn't bother you, because the story itself is great.
So, I loved the story, I really did, I just couldn't get over the mistakes that were made, it completely made me DNF the book! For example: there are no mountains near Antwerp and Holland isn't a country at all! I don't mind mistakes, but a quick google search would've helped. I really, really liked the story and I'm really intrigued, but as an European myself, I notice these mistakes and it just bothers me and it made me not enjoy this book. Such a shame! However, I do recommend it if those mistakes wouldn't bother you, because the story itself is great.
August 13, 2018
Patrick Canning’s The Colonel and the Bee is a fanciful story that spans across countries and continents. Fleeing from her abusive master at the circus, Beatrix follows Colonel James Bacchus as well as an unusual band of characters in the hunt for a wanted criminal and the world’s greatest treasure, the Blue Star Sphinx. But they are not the only ones in search of the precious artifact...
Read my full review at: http://sevendaysaweek.co/the-colonel-...
Read my full review at: http://sevendaysaweek.co/the-colonel-...
August 24, 2018
I really enjoyed this book and it definitely made me want to travel more!
September 17, 2018
Is everyone ready for a fun story to read? Is everyone ready for an adventure? Is everyone ready to travel the world without leaving their home? Is everyone ready to throw caution to the wind and just go out and live life? Is everyone a fan of stories like Around The World in 80 Days, Howl’s Moving Castle, Romeo and Juliet, and Treasure Island? Then it is time to pick up and read author Patrick Canning’s newest novel, The Colonel and The Bee.
Beatrix dazzles the crowds with her amazing acrobatic skills in a traveling circus, but what the audiences don’t know is that she is abused by the ringleader and has been for years. Wanting an out and wanting to discover who she could truly be out in the world, her prayers are answered one night in Switzerland when Colonel James Bacchus shows her a kindness during one of her shows. The Colonel is known for traveling the world in The Ox, a four-story hot air balloon, and Beatrix takes her chance, fleeing from the ringleader that very night. Onboard, she discovers the Colonel is pursuing a criminal who is after The Blue Star Sphinx, a very rare and incredibly valuable figurine, and Beatrix offers her help for passage on The Ox. But catching the criminal will not prove easy as groups of dangerous treasure hunters are also in pursuit of the figurine and will do whatever it takes to get their hands on it. The race is on as the acrobat and the explorer follow clues that take them across the world, leading to an adventure Beatrix could only dream about that is as unexpected and unpredictable as the Colonel himself.
What a gem of a story readers will find in The Colonel and The Bee. Canning has taken elements and ideas that readers love to find in stories, then used his incredible storytelling to mix everything together into a literary cocktail of fun. Take the aforementioned stories: anyone who loves any or all of these stories will instantly fall in love with The Colonel and The Bee. Readers who enjoyed Verne’s Around The World in 80 Days or Jones’ Howl’s Moving Castle will enjoy the unconventional means of travel the Colonel has or even the strange diversity of characters that travel together that goes very much along the lines of the circus Beatrix ran away from. Each character is different and unique, yet they come together to form a family. The adventure of finding The Blue Star Sphinx and the dangers that come with treasure hunting will please fans of Stevenson’s Treasure Island. And a nod to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet makes an appearance, though not between the characters readers may think.
Credit is most certainly due to Canning’s writing style for he truly captures the feel of the time period his story takes place in. Taking place sometime during the 19th century, Canning took the time and care to ensure his story sounded like it occurred during this century. From the settings to what the characters are wearing to the professions of the different characters to the weapons they use to how they speak all sound historically accurate and these elements will please fans of stories that take place in the 1800s. One of these elements stands out more than the others, for how the characters speak is most certainly to be commended. If people who lived during the 19th century heard the way we talk today, heard the way we have shortened words and phrases using text lingo and numbers, they would most likely be mortified. Even though those who lived during that time are not alive anymore, the way they used to talk can always be found in books and stories. Canning captured this way of speaking beautifully both through the characters and the narrative and, for those of us who are embarrassed by modern day speech, this proves a real treat and a breath of fresh air from today’s sheer lingual laziness.
Let us not forget the two characters that make up The Colonel and The Bee’s title for they are characters readers will fall in love with. The Colonel is an adventurous soul who throws caution to the wind, sets out to finish whatever he starts, and hides more than he reveals, but always looks out for those who need help and makes them feel like they can do anything. Beatrix, even though she is young, is responsible and very mature, looks out for others and helps in any way she can, but is also hoping to one day be loved for who she is. As a pair, there is really nothing they couldn’t do. Even when things are going downhill and it seems there is no way out, Beatrix and the Colonel have such an optimistic attitude and always find a way to make things better. This is a good practice that everyone should try, especially in today’s world, instead of turning to unhealthy means of coping. And the optimism these fictional characters portray is infectious and will make others happy just by reading. As for their relationship, it is refreshing to read for they are not necessarily lovers nor are they like father and daughter. If anything, they act more like brother and sister or the best of friends. They rely on each other for strength, wisdom, courage, and friendship, making an unstoppable team.
There is one word that best describes Canning’s latest work: fun. The Colonel and The Bee is that fictional gem readers have been waiting to find for a while to lose themselves in. Readers will travel around the world by a means of transportation that could never work in real life. They will become part of a treasure hunt that has danger, fear, excitement, and laughter. They will become part of an adventure with characters who have infectious optimism and undefeatable spirits. It is a story that will capture the attention of a large audience of readers, peaking the interest and curiosity with fan favorite elements found in other popular works of fiction. Anyone who begins The Colonel and The Bee is guaranteed an excellent new read they will not want to have end.
**Originally posted on my blog Roll Out Reviews on September , 2018**
Beatrix dazzles the crowds with her amazing acrobatic skills in a traveling circus, but what the audiences don’t know is that she is abused by the ringleader and has been for years. Wanting an out and wanting to discover who she could truly be out in the world, her prayers are answered one night in Switzerland when Colonel James Bacchus shows her a kindness during one of her shows. The Colonel is known for traveling the world in The Ox, a four-story hot air balloon, and Beatrix takes her chance, fleeing from the ringleader that very night. Onboard, she discovers the Colonel is pursuing a criminal who is after The Blue Star Sphinx, a very rare and incredibly valuable figurine, and Beatrix offers her help for passage on The Ox. But catching the criminal will not prove easy as groups of dangerous treasure hunters are also in pursuit of the figurine and will do whatever it takes to get their hands on it. The race is on as the acrobat and the explorer follow clues that take them across the world, leading to an adventure Beatrix could only dream about that is as unexpected and unpredictable as the Colonel himself.
What a gem of a story readers will find in The Colonel and The Bee. Canning has taken elements and ideas that readers love to find in stories, then used his incredible storytelling to mix everything together into a literary cocktail of fun. Take the aforementioned stories: anyone who loves any or all of these stories will instantly fall in love with The Colonel and The Bee. Readers who enjoyed Verne’s Around The World in 80 Days or Jones’ Howl’s Moving Castle will enjoy the unconventional means of travel the Colonel has or even the strange diversity of characters that travel together that goes very much along the lines of the circus Beatrix ran away from. Each character is different and unique, yet they come together to form a family. The adventure of finding The Blue Star Sphinx and the dangers that come with treasure hunting will please fans of Stevenson’s Treasure Island. And a nod to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet makes an appearance, though not between the characters readers may think.
Credit is most certainly due to Canning’s writing style for he truly captures the feel of the time period his story takes place in. Taking place sometime during the 19th century, Canning took the time and care to ensure his story sounded like it occurred during this century. From the settings to what the characters are wearing to the professions of the different characters to the weapons they use to how they speak all sound historically accurate and these elements will please fans of stories that take place in the 1800s. One of these elements stands out more than the others, for how the characters speak is most certainly to be commended. If people who lived during the 19th century heard the way we talk today, heard the way we have shortened words and phrases using text lingo and numbers, they would most likely be mortified. Even though those who lived during that time are not alive anymore, the way they used to talk can always be found in books and stories. Canning captured this way of speaking beautifully both through the characters and the narrative and, for those of us who are embarrassed by modern day speech, this proves a real treat and a breath of fresh air from today’s sheer lingual laziness.
Let us not forget the two characters that make up The Colonel and The Bee’s title for they are characters readers will fall in love with. The Colonel is an adventurous soul who throws caution to the wind, sets out to finish whatever he starts, and hides more than he reveals, but always looks out for those who need help and makes them feel like they can do anything. Beatrix, even though she is young, is responsible and very mature, looks out for others and helps in any way she can, but is also hoping to one day be loved for who she is. As a pair, there is really nothing they couldn’t do. Even when things are going downhill and it seems there is no way out, Beatrix and the Colonel have such an optimistic attitude and always find a way to make things better. This is a good practice that everyone should try, especially in today’s world, instead of turning to unhealthy means of coping. And the optimism these fictional characters portray is infectious and will make others happy just by reading. As for their relationship, it is refreshing to read for they are not necessarily lovers nor are they like father and daughter. If anything, they act more like brother and sister or the best of friends. They rely on each other for strength, wisdom, courage, and friendship, making an unstoppable team.
There is one word that best describes Canning’s latest work: fun. The Colonel and The Bee is that fictional gem readers have been waiting to find for a while to lose themselves in. Readers will travel around the world by a means of transportation that could never work in real life. They will become part of a treasure hunt that has danger, fear, excitement, and laughter. They will become part of an adventure with characters who have infectious optimism and undefeatable spirits. It is a story that will capture the attention of a large audience of readers, peaking the interest and curiosity with fan favorite elements found in other popular works of fiction. Anyone who begins The Colonel and The Bee is guaranteed an excellent new read they will not want to have end.
**Originally posted on my blog Roll Out Reviews on September , 2018**
September 26, 2018
Beatrix was a circus girl, flying from trapeze to trapeze, in between whippings from her cruel ringleader and escaping from the memories of her past. Into this bleak outlook, walks a man with flowers in his hat and charm on his lips, promising adventure, excitement and most of all, tickling her curiosity in a way it had never been tickled before. Maybe he wasn’t as ready to indulge this curiosity of hers as she was to be indulged, but, as a circus acrobat who had already revealed her scars to the world, she was more than ready to take on the challenge.
Ok, I know the blurb I gave makes it sound like a romantic heist on the way; but, no! Listen to me and trust me when I say, it’s anything but.
The Colonel and Bee are two characters who’re not very new to our literary world- a charming gentlemen whose shades of suspicious grey cover a golden heart and a plucky heroine with a sassy tongue and enough street smarts to flee an armoured city. What makes them special though are their interactions. Neither is trying to best or woo or pull a fast one over the other. It’s a relationship of mutual respect and necessity. And well, a little bit of human kindness. The author built them not just as characters, but made them people and gave them consistency of character. That helps us identify their voices as individuals and really makes you invest in the book.
Apart from the characters, the other thing I want to sing praises about is the language. Now, this book is set in the steampunk genre and the amount of antique vocabulary just freely tossed about in here made me go all dance-y in my head. I’ll be adding an appendix of all the new words I came across at the end.
And not just the vocabulary, but the prose, the use of language too- Let me give you an example here:
“You take no milk?” I asked, half in jest.
The Colonel huffed.
“Imbibe the mammary ghost slime of thoughtless gluttons bested by a pasture fence? I’ve far better things to do with my time-”
How eloquent is that!
There were so many times where the dopamine in my brain went all giggly because a particular line had tickled me so much. Of course, the downside of such a roundabout use of language is that sometimes, the descriptions just go over your head; particularly in places where you’re so into the story that you’re not really interested in going back to untangle the mass of grammatical hanky-panky of the background.
The take away, of course, from the above mentioned downside is that the story does engross you that much. It’s divided into various parts of the journey and each part is enhanced with satisfying characters and any amount of skulduggery that’ll keep you fully occupied. The story has meat and a purpose. While the endgame is only teased to the reader until the final 100 pages, it isn’t annoying because there’s a lot going on- fast-paced and non-filler until then.
BOTTOMLINE: It’s a book worth reading, with characters worth remembering and a story that’s enchanting. Furthermore, if you’re a person who enjoys creative use of language, twisting and turning it to make sense, looping and hooping it to make even more sense, then you must read this book because it’ll definitely titillate you till the end.
(Appendix of all the new words I came across can be seen at the end of this post on my blog https://overratedsensibilities.wordpr... )
Happy reading!
Ok, I know the blurb I gave makes it sound like a romantic heist on the way; but, no! Listen to me and trust me when I say, it’s anything but.
The Colonel and Bee are two characters who’re not very new to our literary world- a charming gentlemen whose shades of suspicious grey cover a golden heart and a plucky heroine with a sassy tongue and enough street smarts to flee an armoured city. What makes them special though are their interactions. Neither is trying to best or woo or pull a fast one over the other. It’s a relationship of mutual respect and necessity. And well, a little bit of human kindness. The author built them not just as characters, but made them people and gave them consistency of character. That helps us identify their voices as individuals and really makes you invest in the book.
Apart from the characters, the other thing I want to sing praises about is the language. Now, this book is set in the steampunk genre and the amount of antique vocabulary just freely tossed about in here made me go all dance-y in my head. I’ll be adding an appendix of all the new words I came across at the end.
And not just the vocabulary, but the prose, the use of language too- Let me give you an example here:
“You take no milk?” I asked, half in jest.
The Colonel huffed.
“Imbibe the mammary ghost slime of thoughtless gluttons bested by a pasture fence? I’ve far better things to do with my time-”
How eloquent is that!
There were so many times where the dopamine in my brain went all giggly because a particular line had tickled me so much. Of course, the downside of such a roundabout use of language is that sometimes, the descriptions just go over your head; particularly in places where you’re so into the story that you’re not really interested in going back to untangle the mass of grammatical hanky-panky of the background.
The take away, of course, from the above mentioned downside is that the story does engross you that much. It’s divided into various parts of the journey and each part is enhanced with satisfying characters and any amount of skulduggery that’ll keep you fully occupied. The story has meat and a purpose. While the endgame is only teased to the reader until the final 100 pages, it isn’t annoying because there’s a lot going on- fast-paced and non-filler until then.
BOTTOMLINE: It’s a book worth reading, with characters worth remembering and a story that’s enchanting. Furthermore, if you’re a person who enjoys creative use of language, twisting and turning it to make sense, looping and hooping it to make even more sense, then you must read this book because it’ll definitely titillate you till the end.
(Appendix of all the new words I came across can be seen at the end of this post on my blog https://overratedsensibilities.wordpr... )
Happy reading!
November 9, 2018
Teen-aged Beatrix is a traveling circus acrobat in the employ of the Machiavellian Ziro. He is abusive toward his star performer but then he is abusive to all his employees. Beatrix (Bee) longs for the day when she can leave the circus and be free of the beatings and abusive language. Of course her smart mouth is what gets her into trouble on most occasions. During what is to be their final performance in Switzerland, Bee spots a peculiar gentleman in the audience. He is wearing a John Bull (top hat) sporting a daisy in the headband and piques her curiosity. Later, when Ziro throws her into an animal cage and drives her to a nearby castle where she is forced to perform, she is more than surprised to see the man from the audience at the dinner table. Realizing that this is her only chance at escape from her prison like existence, she seizes the opportunity and vaults over the heads of the guests and out the door. She manages to hide in some shrubbery when she sees a man fleeing the scene as well
The flamboyant hatted gentleman who was seated in the audience earlier that day is running in her direction. He doesn’t slow down; Bee joins him and he directs her to follow him. With only moments to spare, and no time for Bee to make sense of what she sees, they jump aboard a hot air balloon unlike any other – it is four stories tall, resembles a large house with windows, has a red envelope, and an outside staircase. With shouted directions to his traveling companions, the Oxford Starladder (or simply The Ox) takes flight. Once they are at a safe distance, the hatted man introduces himself as Colonel James Bacchus, the renowned treasure hunter with a passion for female conquests. He is on a search for a precious figurine known as The Blue Star Sphinx and for the criminal who may know of its location.
Bee joins the Colonel and his companions in the quest for the artifact. Along the way they deal with murder, riddles, warring families, and of course jealous husbands. What starts out as a murder investigation soon turns into a trail of mystery that will lead the band of adventurers to Earth’s most isolated island. Fraught with danger, mystery, and humor, the tale is one you soon won’t forget.
I loved this story! I don’t often read mysteries that follow the template for stories of that ilk. But reading The Colonel and The Bee took me out of the narrow cast of characters associated with a mystery and showed me that truly all the world is a stage. There will be times when the reader will question the seemingly silly antics of The Colonel but let me assure you that he makes no uncalculated moves. As the association between Bee and The Colonel grows, so does each of the characters. I loved the secondary characters of George and Thelma – they are perfect foils for The Colonel. An entire cast of animal characters also live on The Ox but my favorite is Jasper the pack rat who collects anything that isn’t stored away or fastened down.
Written in the style of prose rather than in the style of murder mysteries, THE COLONEL AND THE BEE is a bit on the steampunk side. An instant classic, it is an engaging read that will keep you turning the pages. You won’t be disappointed. With nothing untoward except a mention of the Colonel’s proclivities, this is a great book to share with the whole family.
NOTE: The author provided a copy of this book for review purposes.
The flamboyant hatted gentleman who was seated in the audience earlier that day is running in her direction. He doesn’t slow down; Bee joins him and he directs her to follow him. With only moments to spare, and no time for Bee to make sense of what she sees, they jump aboard a hot air balloon unlike any other – it is four stories tall, resembles a large house with windows, has a red envelope, and an outside staircase. With shouted directions to his traveling companions, the Oxford Starladder (or simply The Ox) takes flight. Once they are at a safe distance, the hatted man introduces himself as Colonel James Bacchus, the renowned treasure hunter with a passion for female conquests. He is on a search for a precious figurine known as The Blue Star Sphinx and for the criminal who may know of its location.
Bee joins the Colonel and his companions in the quest for the artifact. Along the way they deal with murder, riddles, warring families, and of course jealous husbands. What starts out as a murder investigation soon turns into a trail of mystery that will lead the band of adventurers to Earth’s most isolated island. Fraught with danger, mystery, and humor, the tale is one you soon won’t forget.
I loved this story! I don’t often read mysteries that follow the template for stories of that ilk. But reading The Colonel and The Bee took me out of the narrow cast of characters associated with a mystery and showed me that truly all the world is a stage. There will be times when the reader will question the seemingly silly antics of The Colonel but let me assure you that he makes no uncalculated moves. As the association between Bee and The Colonel grows, so does each of the characters. I loved the secondary characters of George and Thelma – they are perfect foils for The Colonel. An entire cast of animal characters also live on The Ox but my favorite is Jasper the pack rat who collects anything that isn’t stored away or fastened down.
Written in the style of prose rather than in the style of murder mysteries, THE COLONEL AND THE BEE is a bit on the steampunk side. An instant classic, it is an engaging read that will keep you turning the pages. You won’t be disappointed. With nothing untoward except a mention of the Colonel’s proclivities, this is a great book to share with the whole family.
NOTE: The author provided a copy of this book for review purposes.
September 21, 2018
The Colonel and the Bee centers on two characters who meet each other by chance at a show and decide to set out on an adventure that could change their lives or take it. Young Beatrix—who is later called Bee—is a circus acrobat who wants to escape her current life when she spies the Colonel in the audience of her show and then again when she is trying to escape. Being the gentleman that he is, the Colonel agrees to let Bee join him on his journey in a giant hot air balloon. Together, along with a cast of quirky and humorous individuals, the Colonel and the Bee find themselves on a journey around the world in search of a valuable artifact.
This is one of those reviews that I hate posting. I don’t have anything particularly bad to say about Canning’s work; it is a very well written story full of humor, adventure, and a unique steampunk creativity. I don’t often read books of this genre, so I was introduced to something new and, in some ways, I enjoyed it. But I have to be honest in that a lot of ways I didn’t enjoy it at all.
First let me reiterate this: Canning’s novel is a GOOD novel. The book is well written, and the story is one that’s easy to follow, full of humor, and has its fair share of creative wit. But there are a few things that took away from the book. The first is the Colonel himself. I don’t like him at all. His personality is so very ‘Hollywood’ that even though he is unique and eccentric, it feels like he is just another cookie cutter over-the-top character you tend to see in adventure novels. That being said, the entire book had this awkward quirky tone to it that I didn’t enjoy. Traveling in a giant hot air balloon—ok???? A married couple that barely knows each other despite being married for years—hmm… and Beatrix the escaped…ACROBAT…????
I’m not saying there is anything wrong with these characters, in fact, the cast is exactly what you would expect from a novel that boasts of being a mash up of Around the World in Eighty Days and The Wizard of Oz. That is the PERFECT description for this story. So then why didn’t I like it?
Because… I simply didn’t.
This might be unfair to Canning, but I realized, while reading this book, that there was nothing wrong with the story, nothing wrong with the characters (other than the Colonel), and nothing wrong with the writing. In the end, I guess I simply don’t like silly, Victorian adventure/steampunk novels. I was really interested in the book when Canning approached me for a review and I definitely went into it with the hopes of enjoyment, but I’m sad to say I’m simply not a fan of this genre.
I hope readers see this review and understand the point I’m trying to make. This is a great book in the right hands but I’m just not the reader for this. If reading about an escaped circus acrobat and a Colonel traveling the world in a giant hot air balloon in search of a precious artifact sounds like your cup of tea, then you might have just found your next addiction. While I didn’t enjoy the story very much, I must admit the writing is very good and fits the era quite perfectly. I have never enjoyed The Wizard of Oz, but it is undeniably a literary classic—similarly, I think it’s safe to say The Colonel and the Bee could be this generation’s next adventure to remember.
This is one of those reviews that I hate posting. I don’t have anything particularly bad to say about Canning’s work; it is a very well written story full of humor, adventure, and a unique steampunk creativity. I don’t often read books of this genre, so I was introduced to something new and, in some ways, I enjoyed it. But I have to be honest in that a lot of ways I didn’t enjoy it at all.
First let me reiterate this: Canning’s novel is a GOOD novel. The book is well written, and the story is one that’s easy to follow, full of humor, and has its fair share of creative wit. But there are a few things that took away from the book. The first is the Colonel himself. I don’t like him at all. His personality is so very ‘Hollywood’ that even though he is unique and eccentric, it feels like he is just another cookie cutter over-the-top character you tend to see in adventure novels. That being said, the entire book had this awkward quirky tone to it that I didn’t enjoy. Traveling in a giant hot air balloon—ok???? A married couple that barely knows each other despite being married for years—hmm… and Beatrix the escaped…ACROBAT…????
I’m not saying there is anything wrong with these characters, in fact, the cast is exactly what you would expect from a novel that boasts of being a mash up of Around the World in Eighty Days and The Wizard of Oz. That is the PERFECT description for this story. So then why didn’t I like it?
Because… I simply didn’t.
This might be unfair to Canning, but I realized, while reading this book, that there was nothing wrong with the story, nothing wrong with the characters (other than the Colonel), and nothing wrong with the writing. In the end, I guess I simply don’t like silly, Victorian adventure/steampunk novels. I was really interested in the book when Canning approached me for a review and I definitely went into it with the hopes of enjoyment, but I’m sad to say I’m simply not a fan of this genre.
I hope readers see this review and understand the point I’m trying to make. This is a great book in the right hands but I’m just not the reader for this. If reading about an escaped circus acrobat and a Colonel traveling the world in a giant hot air balloon in search of a precious artifact sounds like your cup of tea, then you might have just found your next addiction. While I didn’t enjoy the story very much, I must admit the writing is very good and fits the era quite perfectly. I have never enjoyed The Wizard of Oz, but it is undeniably a literary classic—similarly, I think it’s safe to say The Colonel and the Bee could be this generation’s next adventure to remember.
November 19, 2018
Title: The Colonel and The Bee
Author: Patrick Canning
Genre: Young Adult Action Adventure Fiction
Rating: Five Stars!
Have you ever started a book expecting one thing, but then you get a little ways into it and you suddenly realize that it’s an entirely different thing—but in a completely awesome way? Well that’s exactly what happened to me when I started The Colonel and The Bee. That isn’t to say that the book synopsis isn’t right on point—I mean, it’s a pretty accurate description of the plot, but it somehow didn’t prepare me for all of the fun and adventure that was in store. But, before I dive into how great the book is, here’s the actual book blurb . . .
“The Colonel and the Bee” Book Synopsis
A peculiar explorer and downtrodden acrobat span the globe on a building-sized hot air balloon, in search of a precious artifact and the murderous treasure hunter who seeks it.
Beatrix, a spirited but abused acrobat in a traveling circus, seeks more than her prison-like employment offers. More than anything, she wants to know her place in the world of the halcyon 19th century, a time when the last dark corners of the map were being sketched out and travel still possessed a kind of magic.
One night in Switzerland, the mysterious Colonel James Bacchus attends Beatrix's show. This larger-than-life English gentleman, reputed to have a voracious appetite for female conquests, is most notable for traveling the world in a four-story hot air balloon called The Ox.
Beatrix flees that night to join the Colonel, and the two of them make a narrow escape—Beatrix from her abusive ringleader, the Colonel from a freshly-made cuckold. Beatrix, feeling the Colonel may have the answers to her problems, pledges to help him catch the criminal he seeks in exchange for passage on his magnificent balloon.
The criminal seeks a precious figurine, The Blue Star Sphinx, but he's not alone. The Sphinx's immense value has also drawn the attention of the world's most deadly treasure hunters. A murder in Antwerp begins a path of mystery that leads all the way to the most isolated island on Earth.
What dangers await the Colonel and the acrobat?
Evolved Publishing presents a globe-trotting adventure in the tradition of such greats as “Around the World in 80 Days.”
Summer’s Take On “The Colonel and the Bee.”
As I said earlier, it’s a great book description, but it really doesn’t do justice to the exquisite writing style of the author and the amazing rapport that develops between the Colonel and Bee—think The Doctor, but a charming male version who really fancies the ladies, and his companion, this one like the kick-ass reincarnation of Nancy Drew or the younger version of Carmen Sandiego. The book, at its core, is fun, and while there are some serious underlying issues, like the abuse that Bee suffers at the hands of the ringleader and the horrific living conditions of the carnival employees and animals, the book itself never skips a beat with its humor, charm, wit, and mystery. Hence, I give The Colonel and The Bee a five out of five star rating and I hope that I’ve inspired you to grab a copy soon!
Author: Patrick Canning
Genre: Young Adult Action Adventure Fiction
Rating: Five Stars!
Have you ever started a book expecting one thing, but then you get a little ways into it and you suddenly realize that it’s an entirely different thing—but in a completely awesome way? Well that’s exactly what happened to me when I started The Colonel and The Bee. That isn’t to say that the book synopsis isn’t right on point—I mean, it’s a pretty accurate description of the plot, but it somehow didn’t prepare me for all of the fun and adventure that was in store. But, before I dive into how great the book is, here’s the actual book blurb . . .
“The Colonel and the Bee” Book Synopsis
A peculiar explorer and downtrodden acrobat span the globe on a building-sized hot air balloon, in search of a precious artifact and the murderous treasure hunter who seeks it.
Beatrix, a spirited but abused acrobat in a traveling circus, seeks more than her prison-like employment offers. More than anything, she wants to know her place in the world of the halcyon 19th century, a time when the last dark corners of the map were being sketched out and travel still possessed a kind of magic.
One night in Switzerland, the mysterious Colonel James Bacchus attends Beatrix's show. This larger-than-life English gentleman, reputed to have a voracious appetite for female conquests, is most notable for traveling the world in a four-story hot air balloon called The Ox.
Beatrix flees that night to join the Colonel, and the two of them make a narrow escape—Beatrix from her abusive ringleader, the Colonel from a freshly-made cuckold. Beatrix, feeling the Colonel may have the answers to her problems, pledges to help him catch the criminal he seeks in exchange for passage on his magnificent balloon.
The criminal seeks a precious figurine, The Blue Star Sphinx, but he's not alone. The Sphinx's immense value has also drawn the attention of the world's most deadly treasure hunters. A murder in Antwerp begins a path of mystery that leads all the way to the most isolated island on Earth.
What dangers await the Colonel and the acrobat?
Evolved Publishing presents a globe-trotting adventure in the tradition of such greats as “Around the World in 80 Days.”
Summer’s Take On “The Colonel and the Bee.”
As I said earlier, it’s a great book description, but it really doesn’t do justice to the exquisite writing style of the author and the amazing rapport that develops between the Colonel and Bee—think The Doctor, but a charming male version who really fancies the ladies, and his companion, this one like the kick-ass reincarnation of Nancy Drew or the younger version of Carmen Sandiego. The book, at its core, is fun, and while there are some serious underlying issues, like the abuse that Bee suffers at the hands of the ringleader and the horrific living conditions of the carnival employees and animals, the book itself never skips a beat with its humor, charm, wit, and mystery. Hence, I give The Colonel and The Bee a five out of five star rating and I hope that I’ve inspired you to grab a copy soon!
May 6, 2024
I love the search for a book with a plot different from all the others! Fantasy is not my first choice, but I am glad I gave this a try. Following Beatrix through her adventure reminds me of our hopes and dreams as we navigate into adulthood.
I read an advanced copy provided through voracious readers. Thank you Patrick Canning for sharing!
I read an advanced copy provided through voracious readers. Thank you Patrick Canning for sharing!
August 2, 2018
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinons are my own.
The first word that came to mind once I finished this book was wow followed by charming. Now wow was because it is such a great adventure story that just keeps giving, the charming was for the characters and the setting.
Even though this is set in a historical setting there is quite a bit of world building. This sets up the world in which our characters live and it starts as soon as you open the book. The descriptions in the book are wonderfully detailed with intricate detail of Beatrix or as we come to know her, Bee and her life in the circus. You jump straight into her life of adventure as she escapes from the cruel circus master.
Bee and the Colonel are really interesting characters who are developed slowly, leaving the reader to come to their own conclusions about their motivations, especially the Colonel's.
Bee is quite headstrong and curious a good trait in an adventurer, while the Colonel keeps secrets from those close to him.
There is also a very interesting bunch of supporting characters most notably 'the Newlyweds' the different treasure hunting families. There is also a definite vibe of Romeo and Juliet between these families. It was great to see how differently the characters reacted around each other while inside the influence of Nee and the Colonel.
Now I cannot talk about this book and not mention what I consider to be a main character, the Oxford Starladder, the Colonel's ballon. This wonderful contraption is not only a balloon but houses within it's structure bedrooms, a kitchen, a library and countless other rooms. This is no regular hot air balloon, this is a contrivance that feels like it often has a will of it's own. The Colonel rides it from one adventure to another and it really is one of the heroes of this story.
I loved the way it ended as well. This is a stand alone novel and it ended so well, giving you the answers that you needed.
I have this 4 stars and if you enjoy a good adventure, this book is for you
The first word that came to mind once I finished this book was wow followed by charming. Now wow was because it is such a great adventure story that just keeps giving, the charming was for the characters and the setting.
Even though this is set in a historical setting there is quite a bit of world building. This sets up the world in which our characters live and it starts as soon as you open the book. The descriptions in the book are wonderfully detailed with intricate detail of Beatrix or as we come to know her, Bee and her life in the circus. You jump straight into her life of adventure as she escapes from the cruel circus master.
Bee and the Colonel are really interesting characters who are developed slowly, leaving the reader to come to their own conclusions about their motivations, especially the Colonel's.
Bee is quite headstrong and curious a good trait in an adventurer, while the Colonel keeps secrets from those close to him.
There is also a very interesting bunch of supporting characters most notably 'the Newlyweds' the different treasure hunting families. There is also a definite vibe of Romeo and Juliet between these families. It was great to see how differently the characters reacted around each other while inside the influence of Nee and the Colonel.
Now I cannot talk about this book and not mention what I consider to be a main character, the Oxford Starladder, the Colonel's ballon. This wonderful contraption is not only a balloon but houses within it's structure bedrooms, a kitchen, a library and countless other rooms. This is no regular hot air balloon, this is a contrivance that feels like it often has a will of it's own. The Colonel rides it from one adventure to another and it really is one of the heroes of this story.
I loved the way it ended as well. This is a stand alone novel and it ended so well, giving you the answers that you needed.
I have this 4 stars and if you enjoy a good adventure, this book is for you
November 14, 2018
This is a fictional adventure novel set in the 1800's. Beatrix, known as Bee, is a young girl who ran away to join the circus as an acrobat. Her stubbornness and tenacity is only rivaled by her sharp wit and equally sharp tongue. These traits of hers keep her perpetually at odds with Ziro (her employer), his whip, and his two strange knife-wielding guards. Colonel James Bacchus is an eccentric lady's man and thrill seeker who spends most of his time flying around the world in the building-sized basket of a massive hot air balloon, named the Oxford Starladder and fondly nicknamed the Ox. These two unlikely friends are unexpectedly thrown together, and end up in the adventure of a lifetime, involving assassins, family feuds, mad scientists, armed bands of jilted women out for revenge, dungeons, skeletons, a certain packrat named Jasper, and a riddle that may lead to one of earth's most valuable treasures... or to their deaths.
This book brings back fond memories of classic literature in the same vein as Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days, William Pene Dubois' The Twenty-One Balloons, and Hugh Lofting's The Story of Doctor Dolittle. The verbose wordage and overall style of writing could easily fool a reader into believing the book was written nearly one hundred years ago. This, in my mind, makes the author Patrick Canning pure genius in the field of writing, and makes the book one of the best books of 2018, and perhaps one of the best fiction books of this century. With subtle messages of what friendship and family really mean, colorful characters that find their ways to your heart, and a plot reminiscent of many but at the same time like no other, this book is a modern day classic that fully deserves a home in anybody's library or bookshelf. In one hundred years, if books still exist, I hope that people will regard this book and its author in the same way that we currently regard the writings of Jules Verne. Five stars.
This book brings back fond memories of classic literature in the same vein as Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days, William Pene Dubois' The Twenty-One Balloons, and Hugh Lofting's The Story of Doctor Dolittle. The verbose wordage and overall style of writing could easily fool a reader into believing the book was written nearly one hundred years ago. This, in my mind, makes the author Patrick Canning pure genius in the field of writing, and makes the book one of the best books of 2018, and perhaps one of the best fiction books of this century. With subtle messages of what friendship and family really mean, colorful characters that find their ways to your heart, and a plot reminiscent of many but at the same time like no other, this book is a modern day classic that fully deserves a home in anybody's library or bookshelf. In one hundred years, if books still exist, I hope that people will regard this book and its author in the same way that we currently regard the writings of Jules Verne. Five stars.
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