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The Glass Books #3
The Chemickal Marriage
An assassin, an heiress and surgeon against the world's most unhloy evil - the stage is set for a final battle in an adventure like no other.
516 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2012
32 people are currently reading
1006 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Dahlquist
32 books233 followersGordon Dahlquist, also credited as G.W. Dahlquist, is a novelist and a playwright.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
November 13, 2013
HEY I WANT TO LIVE IN SOME OTHER WORLD FOR A WHILE, FULL IMMERSION STYLE. I WANT TO REALLY KNOW THIS WORLD. BUT IT NEEDS TO BE EASY GOING DOWN TOO. WHAT DO I CHOOSE? HERE ARE SOME REMINDERS FOR YOU mark monday WHEN YOU NEED TO GO SOMEPLACE ELSE FOR A BIT:
(1) A Song of Ice and Fire. I mean duh that's obvious, no one besides GRRM can imagine what a curtain in some castle somewhere looks like, scene after scene, he's gonna totally describe those curtains. it's awesome.
(2) Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, because my fantasy home away from home always includes dreary weather and drafty manors and a protagonist who is a misanthropic old man who actually does know how to take care of business. and btw, fuck off Jon Strange! the nerve of you. Mr Norrell knows what's up.
(3) The Terror. when I get around to dying, who knows what will happen, I may end up dying really slowly. The Terror would be a perfect accompaniment.
(4) David Copperfield. okay sometimes not particularly easy going down but mark, for real, don't be a weak bitch. you gotta make sure to re-read this one, it's incredible.
(5) The Gormenghast Novels. I don't even need a reminder here because this is like my perfect dream world and I think about it all the time already.
(6) Gloriana. if you feel like reading Gormenghast but you want it to be really sexed up and sorta trashy but still beautifully written and hey all in one book.
(7) The Raj Quartet. it's not even fantasy but Paul Scott may as well be writing fantasy for all of the lush and microscopic detail on display. plus all of those hyperventilating but carefully hidden emotions. and especially because these books just love their long long sentences full of scrumptious imagery that you can just drown in.
(8) His Dark Materials. best series for kids ever.
(9) Little, Big. I read those reviews complaining about this book's impenetrability and how it gets annoying and confusing in the last third and I just smile to myself because it's like I have a secret treasure that only a few people really, truly love or even understand. TERRY I am not talking about you in case you are reading this.
(10) GLASS BOOKS TRILOGY WHICH INCLUDES THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE: THE CHEMICKAL MARRIAGE
...the lavish description and beautiful prose and overlapping POV chapters are married strangely but perfectly to a breathlessly paced narrative that is constantly on the move and hurtling forward. plus a resoundingly proletariat perspective that angrily chafes at the inequities that arise from money and class. the novel spits on aristocrats and politicians and power brokers. the protagonists often spit on those types as well, literally. love that!
(1) A Song of Ice and Fire. I mean duh that's obvious, no one besides GRRM can imagine what a curtain in some castle somewhere looks like, scene after scene, he's gonna totally describe those curtains. it's awesome.
(2) Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, because my fantasy home away from home always includes dreary weather and drafty manors and a protagonist who is a misanthropic old man who actually does know how to take care of business. and btw, fuck off Jon Strange! the nerve of you. Mr Norrell knows what's up.
(3) The Terror. when I get around to dying, who knows what will happen, I may end up dying really slowly. The Terror would be a perfect accompaniment.
(4) David Copperfield. okay sometimes not particularly easy going down but mark, for real, don't be a weak bitch. you gotta make sure to re-read this one, it's incredible.
(5) The Gormenghast Novels. I don't even need a reminder here because this is like my perfect dream world and I think about it all the time already.
(6) Gloriana. if you feel like reading Gormenghast but you want it to be really sexed up and sorta trashy but still beautifully written and hey all in one book.
(7) The Raj Quartet. it's not even fantasy but Paul Scott may as well be writing fantasy for all of the lush and microscopic detail on display. plus all of those hyperventilating but carefully hidden emotions. and especially because these books just love their long long sentences full of scrumptious imagery that you can just drown in.
(8) His Dark Materials. best series for kids ever.
(9) Little, Big. I read those reviews complaining about this book's impenetrability and how it gets annoying and confusing in the last third and I just smile to myself because it's like I have a secret treasure that only a few people really, truly love or even understand. TERRY I am not talking about you in case you are reading this.
(10) GLASS BOOKS TRILOGY WHICH INCLUDES THIS BOOK RIGHT HERE: THE CHEMICKAL MARRIAGE
...the lavish description and beautiful prose and overlapping POV chapters are married strangely but perfectly to a breathlessly paced narrative that is constantly on the move and hurtling forward. plus a resoundingly proletariat perspective that angrily chafes at the inequities that arise from money and class. the novel spits on aristocrats and politicians and power brokers. the protagonists often spit on those types as well, literally. love that!
October 14, 2012
I'm not really sure how to go about reviewing this. First of all, if you're unfamiliar with Dahlquist, I should point out that The Chemickal Marriage is the third, and last, book in a series that began with The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters and continued with The Dark Volume. If you're at all interested in this book, I can't emphasise enough how important it is that you should start with the first of the three - both because it's absolutely fantastic, and because the others will make no sense if you don't. I very much doubt The Chemickal Marriage could be read as a standalone novel: although there's a recap of previous events at the beginning, and numerous concepts/details are briefly summarised within the narrative, I don't think I would have understood much of it without an existing knowledge of what 'glass books', 'the Process' etc actually were and what kinds of things the characters had been through prior to this book.
At the beginning of this story Miss Temple, having barely survived the events of the previous book, is recuperating in a hotel, believing her former comrades Cardinal Chang and Doctor Svenson to be dead. It soon becomes apparent that Chang and Svenson are alive after all (not a spoiler, it's mentioned in the blurb!) and the three join forces once again to defeat what's left of the nefarious Cabal. There is more chaos than ever in this volume, with constant unrest on the streets and the introduction of new weapons which turn mobs of citizens into something akin to rage-filled zombies. The lines are blurred everywhere you look - every new character is a potential enemy, while some old enemies become tenuous allies, bad characters turn good and good characters turn bad. Like the previous books, it's a heady mix of action, sex, science and deceitful behaviour. It's also intense and highly descriptive, although I think I actually find this installment easier to read than the others - I certainly finished it more quickly than I'd imagined I would.
I didn't write proper reviews of either Glass Books or The Dark Volume, and it's been more than three years since I read the latter, so I was unsure whether I'd remember enough to follow the plot properly. Happily, I did - just about. As with The Dark Volume, I found the fight scenes confusing and whenever there was a lot of action I just had to keep reading in the hope that I would figure it out. At some points, particularly in the penultimate chapter, the sheer amount of characters overwhelmed me and I have to admit that I wasn't sure exactly who a few of them were, and whether they were supposed to be on the 'good' or 'bad' side (if such a thing even existed by that point).
I loved the epilogue: it was a fitting conclusion to the trio's adventures and left the story open enough that there could be some kind of follow-up. Although the two sequels haven't quite matched up to the brilliance of Glass Books, I've really enjoyed the progression of this trilogy and am looking forward to what Dahlquist will write next, whether it's a continuation of this story or something new. I would recommend the series to anyone who likes, or likes the sound of, literary fantasy... but start with the first one!
At the beginning of this story Miss Temple, having barely survived the events of the previous book, is recuperating in a hotel, believing her former comrades Cardinal Chang and Doctor Svenson to be dead. It soon becomes apparent that Chang and Svenson are alive after all (not a spoiler, it's mentioned in the blurb!) and the three join forces once again to defeat what's left of the nefarious Cabal. There is more chaos than ever in this volume, with constant unrest on the streets and the introduction of new weapons which turn mobs of citizens into something akin to rage-filled zombies. The lines are blurred everywhere you look - every new character is a potential enemy, while some old enemies become tenuous allies, bad characters turn good and good characters turn bad. Like the previous books, it's a heady mix of action, sex, science and deceitful behaviour. It's also intense and highly descriptive, although I think I actually find this installment easier to read than the others - I certainly finished it more quickly than I'd imagined I would.
I didn't write proper reviews of either Glass Books or The Dark Volume, and it's been more than three years since I read the latter, so I was unsure whether I'd remember enough to follow the plot properly. Happily, I did - just about. As with The Dark Volume, I found the fight scenes confusing and whenever there was a lot of action I just had to keep reading in the hope that I would figure it out. At some points, particularly in the penultimate chapter, the sheer amount of characters overwhelmed me and I have to admit that I wasn't sure exactly who a few of them were, and whether they were supposed to be on the 'good' or 'bad' side (if such a thing even existed by that point).
I loved the epilogue: it was a fitting conclusion to the trio's adventures and left the story open enough that there could be some kind of follow-up. Although the two sequels haven't quite matched up to the brilliance of Glass Books, I've really enjoyed the progression of this trilogy and am looking forward to what Dahlquist will write next, whether it's a continuation of this story or something new. I would recommend the series to anyone who likes, or likes the sound of, literary fantasy... but start with the first one!
February 24, 2013
Miss Temple paces her hotel room, believing her companions to be dead. She arms herself, prepares for the worst, heads unquestioningly back into the fray. It does her characterisation justice that one never believes for a moment that she could do anything else. She has taken this path, and doesn't care what anyone thinks of her. She is a great creation. Alongside the evil, beautiful, ruthless and irresistible Contessa, they stand as two of the best creations in recent fiction. Spending time in their company is so much fun!
The action, lulled for a moment to allow our heroes to catch their breath, as it were, soon picks up again and we're off, rollicking on through restive city streets, old abandoned bridge-guardhouses, silty marketplaces, mysterious factories on fenced-off islands, endless grand houses filled with drones and sycophants, social climbers and ambitious fools, royalty and soldiery, and barely time to think between. These endless vignettes, a constant stream of names and faces and people and places, are like nothing so much as the confusing pulp-adventure novels that inspired the great graphic novels The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec. To attempt to create order in this mass of seething plots, motivations, and actions defies the whole purpose. You must simply be willing to be taken along for the ride. Surrender your orderly fiction-reading brain, accept the fact that you are not meant to keep up with them, that they will turn up again and perhaps shed another layer, and you will be much happier. It is, in fact, a little like undergoing the dreadful, enlightening Process yourself, reading these books.
It is a book to actively enjoy, curled up on the sofa for hours on end. I don't recommend reading in snatches, minutes here, half an hour there. You need to give this book the time it demands, like the other two in the trilogy. And then more time, probably, since if you're anything like me you'll now want to turn around and start from the beginning again...
The action, lulled for a moment to allow our heroes to catch their breath, as it were, soon picks up again and we're off, rollicking on through restive city streets, old abandoned bridge-guardhouses, silty marketplaces, mysterious factories on fenced-off islands, endless grand houses filled with drones and sycophants, social climbers and ambitious fools, royalty and soldiery, and barely time to think between. These endless vignettes, a constant stream of names and faces and people and places, are like nothing so much as the confusing pulp-adventure novels that inspired the great graphic novels The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec. To attempt to create order in this mass of seething plots, motivations, and actions defies the whole purpose. You must simply be willing to be taken along for the ride. Surrender your orderly fiction-reading brain, accept the fact that you are not meant to keep up with them, that they will turn up again and perhaps shed another layer, and you will be much happier. It is, in fact, a little like undergoing the dreadful, enlightening Process yourself, reading these books.
It is a book to actively enjoy, curled up on the sofa for hours on end. I don't recommend reading in snatches, minutes here, half an hour there. You need to give this book the time it demands, like the other two in the trilogy. And then more time, probably, since if you're anything like me you'll now want to turn around and start from the beginning again...
February 20, 2013
Maybe 2 1/2 stars. I still like the idea, and I cherish the memory of reading the first part of the trilogy. This time, the usual protagonists spend chapter after chapter running away, occasionally together but usually separately (at one time meeting each other briefly in flight, barely nodding and exchanging information, then racing on to their various goals), through a variety of quite atmospheric sets. It got a bit tedious after a while. Felt like a computer game, first person perspective. Still, I applaud the sheer bravado of a book like this. Do begin with the first book, though, and then see if you want to go on.
August 30, 2013
Well they certainly sneaked this one past me! The last book in Dahlquist's trilogy, I've been excitedly awaiting this volume for quite some time. And yet despite regularly searching Amazon with crossed fingers, I only spotted it by chance on a shelf under authors beginning with 'D' in a high street bookshop. It wasn't even on their 'new releases' display shelf. This lack of publicity demonstrates that the publishers have far less faith in Dahlquist's work flying off the shelves than when they initially paid him an advance of $2,000,000 for his first book in this series, The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters.
Such a large advance is powerful testament to how incredibly well written & entertaining these books are - The Glass Books was a rollicking Victorian adventure story which had me on the edge of my seat for almost 800 pages. Its sequel - The Dark Volume - was 500 pages of the same. That they didn't get the mass audience they so thoroughly deserved is a tragedy.
The ongoing story in all 3 books revolves around 3 adventurous misfits battling a shadowy cabal. The dastardly cabal are looking to secure untold wealth & influence by coercing those in positions of power via their mysterious glass books - the alchemical technology of a mad genius which can steal memories & replay them exactly. In The Chemickal Marriage, said genius has discovered several sinister new applications for his invention, so once again our intrepid threesome & their new allies run around by the seat of their pants & get into all manner of scrapes. They certainly don't waste any time getting stuck in either, the action commencing surprisingly early on & barely letting up for a second. When it does, the character development which replaces it is equally satisfying.
While the previous 2 books contained a veritable phonebook-full of charismatic villains & sinister henchmen to keep track of, the end of the second book left many of them 6 feet under. Yet the most wicked malefactors - the Contessa & the Comte - remain, so our heroes still have their work cut out! It says in the blurb that no knowledge of the previous books is necessary - the introduction to The Dark Volume inaccurately put forward the same claim, yet thanks to a smaller roster of faces from the past, I suspect it's truer here. But I challenge new readers to not quickly WANT to read the first 2 novels once the first couple of chapters have sped by. Nevertheless, there's soon a rather large cast of new characters to keep track of, many of whom cross from one narrative strand from another. It can be difficult to keep up (especially, I found, if I didn't dip into it for a couple of days) but just going with the flow still resulted in a satisfying read.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, which I much preferred to the second book. It's a rollicking, intelligent & well-crafted adventure story set in the era which virtually invented the genre. Thrilling, thought-provoking, quotable, intelligent, erotic & downright fun, I sped through it way too quickly, loving every page! Most highly recommended!
Such a large advance is powerful testament to how incredibly well written & entertaining these books are - The Glass Books was a rollicking Victorian adventure story which had me on the edge of my seat for almost 800 pages. Its sequel - The Dark Volume - was 500 pages of the same. That they didn't get the mass audience they so thoroughly deserved is a tragedy.
The ongoing story in all 3 books revolves around 3 adventurous misfits battling a shadowy cabal. The dastardly cabal are looking to secure untold wealth & influence by coercing those in positions of power via their mysterious glass books - the alchemical technology of a mad genius which can steal memories & replay them exactly. In The Chemickal Marriage, said genius has discovered several sinister new applications for his invention, so once again our intrepid threesome & their new allies run around by the seat of their pants & get into all manner of scrapes. They certainly don't waste any time getting stuck in either, the action commencing surprisingly early on & barely letting up for a second. When it does, the character development which replaces it is equally satisfying.
While the previous 2 books contained a veritable phonebook-full of charismatic villains & sinister henchmen to keep track of, the end of the second book left many of them 6 feet under. Yet the most wicked malefactors - the Contessa & the Comte - remain, so our heroes still have their work cut out! It says in the blurb that no knowledge of the previous books is necessary - the introduction to The Dark Volume inaccurately put forward the same claim, yet thanks to a smaller roster of faces from the past, I suspect it's truer here. But I challenge new readers to not quickly WANT to read the first 2 novels once the first couple of chapters have sped by. Nevertheless, there's soon a rather large cast of new characters to keep track of, many of whom cross from one narrative strand from another. It can be difficult to keep up (especially, I found, if I didn't dip into it for a couple of days) but just going with the flow still resulted in a satisfying read.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, which I much preferred to the second book. It's a rollicking, intelligent & well-crafted adventure story set in the era which virtually invented the genre. Thrilling, thought-provoking, quotable, intelligent, erotic & downright fun, I sped through it way too quickly, loving every page! Most highly recommended!
October 31, 2012
I've been so looking forward to this one. So much so that I've reread the first two books in hopes of keeping it's convoluted plot and vast character list in my head. Sadly I did only slightly better than the first time, yet still enjoyed the ride.
By now the authors technique of splitting and then rejoining the three central characters is well engrained. I count on it at this point, but consolidating the three points of view make keeping the overall arc of the plot in my head somewhat of a challenge. Thankfully, this book has a smaller set of main characters. It's so much darker than the first two since the three characters have all by now been tainted by the Blue glass's evil as well as their own story arc. But I miss scenes like Miss Temple's tea party.
Some very minor spoilers follow.
I've been dawdling on going thru this so as to savor it I suppose, but also to keep the plot clear. The Contessa (played by Anne Bancroft in my minds eye: what a juicy role that would be!) and Chang seem to be gravitating towards each other as is Miss Temple (played by Reese Witherspoon of Cicily Cardew vintage) and Chang. Indeed as is Miss Temple and any male on two legs, so fraught with corrupted lust she struggles to control. I suppose I should cast Chang as Jude Law and perhaps a very young Ryan O'Neal as Svenson. It's a tribute to the novels that I can picture the characters well enough to want to cast them.
As I mentioned in another review, it's a pity film producers can't draw from books like these for new films instead of constant remakes of comic book characters. These books would make an incredible HBO series and with three main characters to follow as they split up and rejoin the stories as written could take years, yet still have enough action to satisfy.
Having just now finished it, I have to say this was my favorite of the three. Quite a rousing and satisfying finish! A very small possibility of continuation because so many points of closure would have to be overcome.
What I've liked best of the three books were the depths of characterization of the three main characters. I like that the author wasn't afraid to spend a page or so to go a bit deeper inside them, describing their feelings and frustrations. This made them easier to root for and to care for their efforts to overcome all manner of obstacles and peril.
Certainly Dahlquist could have made it somehow easier on the reader, but I suspect confusion was part of the madhouse charm of the novels. Still, if a new reader hasn't stumbled on the idea by now, it's mandatory that one keep notes of each new name and then place a post-it note at the end of each chapters/character's arc so you can review what happened 100 pages later when Dahlquist leads back to that character's point of view once again.
Sad to let these characters go off to fond memory now, but I can't wait to see what Dahlquist comes up with in future novels.
PS: I bought this book from Amazons Britain site. It seems no-one has the book in the US.
By now the authors technique of splitting and then rejoining the three central characters is well engrained. I count on it at this point, but consolidating the three points of view make keeping the overall arc of the plot in my head somewhat of a challenge. Thankfully, this book has a smaller set of main characters. It's so much darker than the first two since the three characters have all by now been tainted by the Blue glass's evil as well as their own story arc. But I miss scenes like Miss Temple's tea party.
Some very minor spoilers follow.
I've been dawdling on going thru this so as to savor it I suppose, but also to keep the plot clear. The Contessa (played by Anne Bancroft in my minds eye: what a juicy role that would be!) and Chang seem to be gravitating towards each other as is Miss Temple (played by Reese Witherspoon of Cicily Cardew vintage) and Chang. Indeed as is Miss Temple and any male on two legs, so fraught with corrupted lust she struggles to control. I suppose I should cast Chang as Jude Law and perhaps a very young Ryan O'Neal as Svenson. It's a tribute to the novels that I can picture the characters well enough to want to cast them.
As I mentioned in another review, it's a pity film producers can't draw from books like these for new films instead of constant remakes of comic book characters. These books would make an incredible HBO series and with three main characters to follow as they split up and rejoin the stories as written could take years, yet still have enough action to satisfy.
Having just now finished it, I have to say this was my favorite of the three. Quite a rousing and satisfying finish! A very small possibility of continuation because so many points of closure would have to be overcome.
What I've liked best of the three books were the depths of characterization of the three main characters. I like that the author wasn't afraid to spend a page or so to go a bit deeper inside them, describing their feelings and frustrations. This made them easier to root for and to care for their efforts to overcome all manner of obstacles and peril.
Certainly Dahlquist could have made it somehow easier on the reader, but I suspect confusion was part of the madhouse charm of the novels. Still, if a new reader hasn't stumbled on the idea by now, it's mandatory that one keep notes of each new name and then place a post-it note at the end of each chapters/character's arc so you can review what happened 100 pages later when Dahlquist leads back to that character's point of view once again.
Sad to let these characters go off to fond memory now, but I can't wait to see what Dahlquist comes up with in future novels.
PS: I bought this book from Amazons Britain site. It seems no-one has the book in the US.
February 25, 2013
At long last, the saga concludes.
I had been waiting for this ever since the indeterminate ending of book 2 -- could that volume have really been the end? Lucky for us all, the third book has emerged, and was incredibly fun.
The steampunk focus of the previous novels remains present, but there is a slightly more political and personal bent to this story; the stakes have gone up, the number of characters has dropped, and the mysteries of the characters are being revealed. The incredible depth of the world has grown, and so the outside world has become ever more important. The sheer imagination and coordination needed to complete this series on a high note is incredible, and Gordon Dahlquist has pulled it off.
This isn't to say there aren't some flaws here. Certainly, there is some repetition, as every action scene seems like one before; some locations and enemies are back yet again. Not to mention that the characters continue to escape from inescapable scenarios, sometimes through contrived plots. There are even a few nods to some previous unconvincing behaviors, though this helps me to accept it. In the end, none of this ever gets in the way; it never detracts from the intriguing main plot line.
Once you get to a certain point in long series, you start thinking about its ending. Will it be worth my time? Will it be sufficient for the magnitude of story that has come before it? In this case, I had those thoughts long before I normally would, due to the long and uncertain wait for volume 3. There's no worries, though, as Dahlquist completes the series very convincingly, with a nicely tied-up ending. I was very happy, even if some subtle points were left out (though I find those are often unsatisfying).
A suitable and rewarding end to the series, which comes across as a major steampunk opus, well worth the time of any fans of the genre.
I had been waiting for this ever since the indeterminate ending of book 2 -- could that volume have really been the end? Lucky for us all, the third book has emerged, and was incredibly fun.
The steampunk focus of the previous novels remains present, but there is a slightly more political and personal bent to this story; the stakes have gone up, the number of characters has dropped, and the mysteries of the characters are being revealed. The incredible depth of the world has grown, and so the outside world has become ever more important. The sheer imagination and coordination needed to complete this series on a high note is incredible, and Gordon Dahlquist has pulled it off.
This isn't to say there aren't some flaws here. Certainly, there is some repetition, as every action scene seems like one before; some locations and enemies are back yet again. Not to mention that the characters continue to escape from inescapable scenarios, sometimes through contrived plots. There are even a few nods to some previous unconvincing behaviors, though this helps me to accept it. In the end, none of this ever gets in the way; it never detracts from the intriguing main plot line.
Once you get to a certain point in long series, you start thinking about its ending. Will it be worth my time? Will it be sufficient for the magnitude of story that has come before it? In this case, I had those thoughts long before I normally would, due to the long and uncertain wait for volume 3. There's no worries, though, as Dahlquist completes the series very convincingly, with a nicely tied-up ending. I was very happy, even if some subtle points were left out (though I find those are often unsatisfying).
A suitable and rewarding end to the series, which comes across as a major steampunk opus, well worth the time of any fans of the genre.
March 21, 2013
I'm so excited. Been waiting for this for years!
February 12, 2015
Could have been rated less but if treated as a stanadalone then middle for diddle is fair.
Best I review the trilogy as a whole really.... I really loved the first of the trilogy as it was very different & an enjoyable & entertaining steampunk romp, in truth (2 books later) it should well have ended there & could have done so as it came to a neat conclusion. The rest of the trilogy is ok, maybe just better than average at times but it is for the most part déjà vu as nothing really exceptional happens bar endless chases & lots of going from A to B to thwart X & Y. If it was a series & based on differing adventures it may well have worked as the characters of Miss Temple, Cardinal Chang & Dr Svensson & the evillllllllll Contessa are really first-class & its a shame they get stuck in this time warp with the Dreameaters trilogy.
A missed opportunity by the author would be my summing up as it IS good for the most part, jus shouldn’t have done it as a trilogy. Sorry Mr Dahlquist but that’s the rub of it for me.
Best I review the trilogy as a whole really.... I really loved the first of the trilogy as it was very different & an enjoyable & entertaining steampunk romp, in truth (2 books later) it should well have ended there & could have done so as it came to a neat conclusion. The rest of the trilogy is ok, maybe just better than average at times but it is for the most part déjà vu as nothing really exceptional happens bar endless chases & lots of going from A to B to thwart X & Y. If it was a series & based on differing adventures it may well have worked as the characters of Miss Temple, Cardinal Chang & Dr Svensson & the evillllllllll Contessa are really first-class & its a shame they get stuck in this time warp with the Dreameaters trilogy.
A missed opportunity by the author would be my summing up as it IS good for the most part, jus shouldn’t have done it as a trilogy. Sorry Mr Dahlquist but that’s the rub of it for me.
December 22, 2012
This, for me, was a wonderfully satisfying conclusion to the Glass Books trilogy. Based on a real Rosicrucian text, set in a steampunk-esque world, with three of my favourite characters ever, with some neat ideas, sex, murder, mayhem and a brilliantly conceived conspiracy, I'm sad that the story has ended.
So, the writing is crisp, everything driving the story forward, but with a lushness of language that provides a baroque or gothic feel.
I'd like to say more, but I can't say enough good things about Dahlquist's novels, and I really don't want to add spoilers and ruin the exploration of the Glass Books world for anyone.
Suffice to say, that I understand why he was given such a huge advance, and am perplexed that they haven't been as well received and wider read than they are.
So, the writing is crisp, everything driving the story forward, but with a lushness of language that provides a baroque or gothic feel.
I'd like to say more, but I can't say enough good things about Dahlquist's novels, and I really don't want to add spoilers and ruin the exploration of the Glass Books world for anyone.
Suffice to say, that I understand why he was given such a huge advance, and am perplexed that they haven't been as well received and wider read than they are.
September 4, 2012
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and am only sad that it is over. Everything about it is beautifully original, from the fantastic plot right down to the dialogue. I can only hope Dahlquist continues writing novels. This trilogy has left me with some new favourite characters, a few very vivid dreams, and a habit of double-taking at the sight of green ankle boots.
July 24, 2018
So comes the dénouement ... On a par with the first book ... interesting characters, intriguing plot twists, dark and exciting settings; I enjoyed this finale but there were times when I genuinely had no idea what was going on!? Verbose passages of dialogue and description were confusing and, at times, unnecessary but I sincerely wanted to know what finally happens to Miss Temple, Doctor Svenson and Cardinal Chang after being bizarrely thrown together and launched on a terrifying 'adventure' of peril and dark alchemy. I very rarely dream about the books that I am reading ... but this was one exception ....
September 3, 2013
So I finally finished this trilogy. Although, after the previous book ("The Dark Volume") I had some qualms about jumping into "The Chemickal Marriage" right away, I did want to finish this story and move on with my life. In the end, I was not disappointed. It was a fun ride, action-packed and mostly exciting, but it failed to permanently engrave stupendous loving memories within my soul. I have no regrets reading the trilogy, but I did not feel the exquisite need of picking the first one up immediately after I finished the third (like I constantly feel when it comes to the Song of Ice and Fire series or the Fever series). Still, 4/5 for the entire trilogy for the effort it must have taken to sustain such complex writing, for the research that has obviously been done and for three awesome characters.
I will keep this one short. Most of the things that I found to suck and annoy in "The Dark Volume" were brought down to a minimum in this final installment. There was more interaction between the three main leads, not much development (although yay for Doctor Svenson who really gets to shine in this one, especially at the end), and the action scenes were far more cinematic and easy to understand and like. This could indeed be made into a movie, but I would prefer if it became a TV show instead. The sexy Cardinal Chang remains my favourite of the three, and one of the best anti-heroes I have recently read, and I would have given this book 5 stars only on his account had I not been once again (sadly) bombarded by too many minions, irrelevant secondary characters and the false hope of a tough, hardcore twist at the end in the form of Drusus Shoepfil (who turned from prospective awesome villain to one of the weakest and most pathetic creatures I have ever encountered on a page; this character would have fit in just fight had there not been another ten or so like him in the story already).
As I mentioned before, I liked the three main leads and this third book did them justice, but I would have preferred an actual graphic romantic scene before the end. Call it fan service, call it whatever you like, but I need more skin and less suggestion in books classified as "Adult". The superb villain which is the Contessa did not disappoint, of course, but then again, she was probably the best part of this entire trilogy.
There were more puzzles in this book, which is always a plus if you are into good mysteries. The scene at the end is a bit far-fetched and you kind of expect some of the twists (I foresaw all of them, so yeah), but this does not spoil the intensity of the action and the quality of the usage of the characters.
Probably what really takes away from the re-readability of this series is the convoluted writing and the fact that there are too many villains running around in disarray. Barely escaping is nice to read, but it gets kind of old after the tenth or so time. Still, I do recommend giving it a shot. The first book is the best by far and it could be read, in my opinion, as a stand-alone. The second book I personally did not like. The third is much better, not as perfect as the first, but it wraps things up quite well. I am curious what they will do with the movie adaptation.
I will keep this one short. Most of the things that I found to suck and annoy in "The Dark Volume" were brought down to a minimum in this final installment. There was more interaction between the three main leads, not much development (although yay for Doctor Svenson who really gets to shine in this one, especially at the end), and the action scenes were far more cinematic and easy to understand and like. This could indeed be made into a movie, but I would prefer if it became a TV show instead. The sexy Cardinal Chang remains my favourite of the three, and one of the best anti-heroes I have recently read, and I would have given this book 5 stars only on his account had I not been once again (sadly) bombarded by too many minions, irrelevant secondary characters and the false hope of a tough, hardcore twist at the end in the form of Drusus Shoepfil (who turned from prospective awesome villain to one of the weakest and most pathetic creatures I have ever encountered on a page; this character would have fit in just fight had there not been another ten or so like him in the story already).
As I mentioned before, I liked the three main leads and this third book did them justice, but I would have preferred an actual graphic romantic scene before the end. Call it fan service, call it whatever you like, but I need more skin and less suggestion in books classified as "Adult". The superb villain which is the Contessa did not disappoint, of course, but then again, she was probably the best part of this entire trilogy.
There were more puzzles in this book, which is always a plus if you are into good mysteries. The scene at the end is a bit far-fetched and you kind of expect some of the twists (I foresaw all of them, so yeah), but this does not spoil the intensity of the action and the quality of the usage of the characters.
Probably what really takes away from the re-readability of this series is the convoluted writing and the fact that there are too many villains running around in disarray. Barely escaping is nice to read, but it gets kind of old after the tenth or so time. Still, I do recommend giving it a shot. The first book is the best by far and it could be read, in my opinion, as a stand-alone. The second book I personally did not like. The third is much better, not as perfect as the first, but it wraps things up quite well. I am curious what they will do with the movie adaptation.
October 30, 2014
As I've observed almost every time I reach the end of a series, it's hard to review a book so dependent on what comes before. How do you discuss things with constant reference to the prior two books, how indeed do you recommend a book beyond "Go read the first ones dummy". Because honestly, if you've stuck through the prior two, you'll certainly enjoy this one. Though I will note that isn't a universal. There are series whose quality just drops off markedly.
I will say that I think the first book of the 'Glass Books of the Dreameaters' is the the best of the series, and that while I continued to love the conventions of the series, at times they did contrast a little more harshly, though 'The Chemickal Marriage' does grant much of what I'd want in a conclusion, it didn't have that feel of brilliance of the original.
The Chemickal marriage picks up where the last book left off; our heroes, the Stubborn Miss Celestial Temple, the Poet-Assassin Cardinal Chang, and the German Dr. Swenson think each other possibly dead. Their adversaries have been thwarted again, but not fully, and now the deranged Alchemy of the Books and their insane creator threatens to truly engulf the entire country.
The books themes, of dealing with corruption both outside and in continue, and it's here, in the self consideration of the changing lives of each of the characters, that the book is strongest. Celeste's struggle both with the Comte's corrupt knowledge and with the lascivious urges that have been unwilling thrust into her psyche is the most obvious. But we also have Change, routing about to define himself in a world as it tumbles down around him. We see Swenson an almost completely broken man, a potential love killed, himself betrayed. Though we also see his medical knowledge come to the four. A man who begins to understand the science behinds their adversaries power, and more importantly, and horrifically, a man who begins to emerge through the crucible of events harder and more dangerous than he ever was.
The book ends in a very satisfying way, and it reaches that way through an examination of elements of how the conspiracy came to be, but also through questions of society and social hierarchy. How one is set apart from the elite, and how those walls of separation can be used to manipulate. Ultimately we see the Comte and the Contessa as outsiders who were able to use a combination of brilliance, insanity, cruelty, and the hierarchical systems of society to put forward their plans. The conspiracy used the rich and powerful, but it was formed by a Venetian Courtesan and a Artist/Scientist from some out of the way place in Europe. In essence our heroes and the villains stand as mirrored images of one another.
I will say that I think the first book of the 'Glass Books of the Dreameaters' is the the best of the series, and that while I continued to love the conventions of the series, at times they did contrast a little more harshly, though 'The Chemickal Marriage' does grant much of what I'd want in a conclusion, it didn't have that feel of brilliance of the original.
The Chemickal marriage picks up where the last book left off; our heroes, the Stubborn Miss Celestial Temple, the Poet-Assassin Cardinal Chang, and the German Dr. Swenson think each other possibly dead. Their adversaries have been thwarted again, but not fully, and now the deranged Alchemy of the Books and their insane creator threatens to truly engulf the entire country.
The books themes, of dealing with corruption both outside and in continue, and it's here, in the self consideration of the changing lives of each of the characters, that the book is strongest. Celeste's struggle both with the Comte's corrupt knowledge and with the lascivious urges that have been unwilling thrust into her psyche is the most obvious. But we also have Change, routing about to define himself in a world as it tumbles down around him. We see Swenson an almost completely broken man, a potential love killed, himself betrayed. Though we also see his medical knowledge come to the four. A man who begins to understand the science behinds their adversaries power, and more importantly, and horrifically, a man who begins to emerge through the crucible of events harder and more dangerous than he ever was.
The book ends in a very satisfying way, and it reaches that way through an examination of elements of how the conspiracy came to be, but also through questions of society and social hierarchy. How one is set apart from the elite, and how those walls of separation can be used to manipulate. Ultimately we see the Comte and the Contessa as outsiders who were able to use a combination of brilliance, insanity, cruelty, and the hierarchical systems of society to put forward their plans. The conspiracy used the rich and powerful, but it was formed by a Venetian Courtesan and a Artist/Scientist from some out of the way place in Europe. In essence our heroes and the villains stand as mirrored images of one another.
January 28, 2014
Gosh, what drivel.
I loved the first book in this trilogy and was excited about the second. That already let me down somewhat, largely due to my edition (the purple penguin version) giving away a MAJOR spoiler on the blurb. I was unsatisfied by the ending, but didn't follow it up.
Imagine my surprise and delight when my sister got me this for Christmas! I had no idea Dahlquist had written a third volume and I dove right in.
My, was I disappointed. Dahlquist tries to drag out about 100 pages worth of plot into over 500 pages. There are so many crossings and double crossings that I had stopped caring about a third of the way in. That wasn't much of a problem, as none of these seeming big twists actually *mattered* to the plot: they were just ways of reshuffling who is with whom when they all arrive at Harschmort for the dullest final I have read in a long time. I am an unusually fast reader and I stuggled with this book for six months.
I was heartbroken that the three central characters, who were brilliantly set up in the first book, had been reduced to mere attributes: dutiful Svenson, reluctantly horny Miss Temple and confused and lovelorn Chang. What a waste of character development!
The change of focus onto a more political intrigue with consequences in the general populus felt like a cack-handed attempt to comment on current affairs; largely the rambling is caused by Dahlquist seemingly getting lost in his own sumptious settings, world-building and salivating about bodice-ripping and sexy corset times.
The Chemickal Marriage is an unsatisfying, overly complicated, unfinished ending to what could have been a great trilogy. Let's hope the final pages are not in fact a hint at a fourth book because Gordon, you'd have to seriously get your shit together to pull that off.
I loved the first book in this trilogy and was excited about the second. That already let me down somewhat, largely due to my edition (the purple penguin version) giving away a MAJOR spoiler on the blurb. I was unsatisfied by the ending, but didn't follow it up.
Imagine my surprise and delight when my sister got me this for Christmas! I had no idea Dahlquist had written a third volume and I dove right in.
My, was I disappointed. Dahlquist tries to drag out about 100 pages worth of plot into over 500 pages. There are so many crossings and double crossings that I had stopped caring about a third of the way in. That wasn't much of a problem, as none of these seeming big twists actually *mattered* to the plot: they were just ways of reshuffling who is with whom when they all arrive at Harschmort for the dullest final I have read in a long time. I am an unusually fast reader and I stuggled with this book for six months.
I was heartbroken that the three central characters, who were brilliantly set up in the first book, had been reduced to mere attributes: dutiful Svenson, reluctantly horny Miss Temple and confused and lovelorn Chang. What a waste of character development!
The change of focus onto a more political intrigue with consequences in the general populus felt like a cack-handed attempt to comment on current affairs; largely the rambling is caused by Dahlquist seemingly getting lost in his own sumptious settings, world-building and salivating about bodice-ripping and sexy corset times.
The Chemickal Marriage is an unsatisfying, overly complicated, unfinished ending to what could have been a great trilogy. Let's hope the final pages are not in fact a hint at a fourth book because Gordon, you'd have to seriously get your shit together to pull that off.
August 12, 2012
4.5/5
Beautiful book, complex, engrossing. You can't read it fast, as you really need some time to digest the information you are given. I've missed out on a book two as well, but the prologue in the beginning will actually give you a brief description of what happened in previous two books so you won't feel lost when the action starts right where it left in book #2.
You won't find repetition in Gordon's writing, so you have to stay sharp. He also describes the same situation from three points of view - Miss Temple's, Dr Svenson and Cardinal Chang which gives you very deep understanding of each big scene, it becomes truly three-dimensional.
The Chemickal Marriage is pure alchemy, exquisite flight of fantasy and so much more. I'm awed by Mr. Dahlquist imagination and such deep world-building.
Cardinal Chang is by far my favorite character, although Dr Svenson and Celeste Temple are superbly written as well.
I can't even describe any of the plot to you because it's way too complex, I also think that it's very steampunkish and at times unexpectedly erotic. Overall, great series, and much recommended.
Beautiful book, complex, engrossing. You can't read it fast, as you really need some time to digest the information you are given. I've missed out on a book two as well, but the prologue in the beginning will actually give you a brief description of what happened in previous two books so you won't feel lost when the action starts right where it left in book #2.
You won't find repetition in Gordon's writing, so you have to stay sharp. He also describes the same situation from three points of view - Miss Temple's, Dr Svenson and Cardinal Chang which gives you very deep understanding of each big scene, it becomes truly three-dimensional.
The Chemickal Marriage is pure alchemy, exquisite flight of fantasy and so much more. I'm awed by Mr. Dahlquist imagination and such deep world-building.
Cardinal Chang is by far my favorite character, although Dr Svenson and Celeste Temple are superbly written as well.
I can't even describe any of the plot to you because it's way too complex, I also think that it's very steampunkish and at times unexpectedly erotic. Overall, great series, and much recommended.
March 31, 2014
I enjoyed all of the books in the series but this was my least favourite. It could easily have been several pages and some twists shorter for me. With the first two the turns kept me turning the page. With this I put the books down to read another in the middle.
At the end of the second book you are left not sure of who is dead and who is alive. Well Chang, Miss Temple, Dr Svenson and the Contessa are all alive if not well and continue on their merry way. As with the first books there are many twists and turns until the story reaches its conclusion.
This is definitely worth reading if you have read the first books and want to see the story through to the end. Even though there is a brief synopsis of the previous books to help if you are starting with this book I wouldn’t start with this book.
At the end of the second book you are left not sure of who is dead and who is alive. Well Chang, Miss Temple, Dr Svenson and the Contessa are all alive if not well and continue on their merry way. As with the first books there are many twists and turns until the story reaches its conclusion.
This is definitely worth reading if you have read the first books and want to see the story through to the end. Even though there is a brief synopsis of the previous books to help if you are starting with this book I wouldn’t start with this book.
February 9, 2022
This is the sequel to The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters. I love the whole series (2 or 3 books depending on editions), but don't know anyone else interested in reading it.
Steampunk, thriller, romance, adventure, evildoers, fantasy, detailed fight scenes and complex plot. Just when you think they're a goner, they bounce back like superheroes.
Somebody please try it and let's talk.
Steampunk, thriller, romance, adventure, evildoers, fantasy, detailed fight scenes and complex plot. Just when you think they're a goner, they bounce back like superheroes.
Somebody please try it and let's talk.
February 20, 2014
Only wish I could give it 4.5 stars. The final instalment of a trilogy with some of the best characters and a fast paced plot. Not sure what I'm going to do without Cardinal Chang, Celeste Temple and Dr Svenson.
September 4, 2015
I love this series. I love this book. Some day very soon I'm going to marathon all three of together and it's going to be glorious!
Want to read
July 4, 2012FINALLY! So excited. Can't wait.
September 14, 2024
The third and final part of the Glass Books trilogy picks up a month after the unsatisfactory ending of part two, The Dark Volume, where once again Celeste Temple has managed to escape the destruction of the Cabal of the Glass Books - through some leniency on the part of Contessa Rosamunde Lacquer-Sforza, who has managed to kill Cardinal Chang, it seems, while Svenson seemingly died at the hands of a rebellious soldier. Sforza has made off with the daughter of the now deceased Mrs. Trapping, the child apparently key now to some claim the vestiges of the Cabal's hold on power. Only the Contessa and Vandaariff seem to remain of the original Cabal, the latter now inhabited by the corrupt persona of the dead Comte - and he was perverse enough.
Once again, the tentative thread of the Trappings link up all things relevant - while they remain apparently irrelevant to the three narratives' true progression. This was a weak connective thread throughout, and remains so still, the girl's sudden prominence in the story just as quickly over. In a series where the writing is absolutely first class, as are the core characters, the connecting threads are weak and confusing, and this fault lies throughout each book, as does the too-large cast of characters, so many of them incidental and throw-away. The two new secondary characters here seem like add-ons to a meandering plot. But the key to the series is the chase, and once more Celeste Temple is being hounded, if not exactly chased - yet.
Yet a significant problem with this third part of the trilogy is that character is subsumed by the meandering plotline. They are still chased, frequently get caught, and are thrown from one fatal experience to another, surviving each encounter, but it feels like more of the same without any true line, without any central rod to support it, veering off into cameos of newly-introduced tertiary characters that do not uphold the central plot, that of the massive unrest stirred up by Vandaariff's explosions of blue glass spurs, setting the nation in uproar and perpetual crisis, disrupted by hate and riot, so that he can take hold of the reigns of power that slip from the fallen and shattered echelons of imperial power, who one by one are subjected to the Process. It doesn’t feel enough. It doesn't feel true.
Dahlquist's writing is not quite as fine as in the previous two parts, where his marvellous similes were the watermarks of his literary style and his endless action in the endless chase the mark of his page-turning quality. Whereas the former part opened with a fine sense of mystery extended by his primary-character-switching method chapter-by-chapter, this last piece feels like a bolt-on, a veering off course, from chapter to chapter, a finishing, for the sake of finishing. No edge-of-the-page cliff-hangers, just a weird tracing of looping plots that feel like a visit to the etch-a-sketch®. Almost brilliant, but not quite enough.
This one was a completist exercise. But the first one will stay with me as an immersive ride through a world almost entirely vanished, Victorian colonialism, all steam and coke and smog and carriages. And blue glass. Is it that, ultimately, the verisimilitude of its period setting clashes with the obscure fantasy of the blue glass, and that, however excellent the writing and the three principal characters, that divide is never really unified?
Once again, the tentative thread of the Trappings link up all things relevant - while they remain apparently irrelevant to the three narratives' true progression. This was a weak connective thread throughout, and remains so still, the girl's sudden prominence in the story just as quickly over. In a series where the writing is absolutely first class, as are the core characters, the connecting threads are weak and confusing, and this fault lies throughout each book, as does the too-large cast of characters, so many of them incidental and throw-away. The two new secondary characters here seem like add-ons to a meandering plot. But the key to the series is the chase, and once more Celeste Temple is being hounded, if not exactly chased - yet.
Yet a significant problem with this third part of the trilogy is that character is subsumed by the meandering plotline. They are still chased, frequently get caught, and are thrown from one fatal experience to another, surviving each encounter, but it feels like more of the same without any true line, without any central rod to support it, veering off into cameos of newly-introduced tertiary characters that do not uphold the central plot, that of the massive unrest stirred up by Vandaariff's explosions of blue glass spurs, setting the nation in uproar and perpetual crisis, disrupted by hate and riot, so that he can take hold of the reigns of power that slip from the fallen and shattered echelons of imperial power, who one by one are subjected to the Process. It doesn’t feel enough. It doesn't feel true.
Dahlquist's writing is not quite as fine as in the previous two parts, where his marvellous similes were the watermarks of his literary style and his endless action in the endless chase the mark of his page-turning quality. Whereas the former part opened with a fine sense of mystery extended by his primary-character-switching method chapter-by-chapter, this last piece feels like a bolt-on, a veering off course, from chapter to chapter, a finishing, for the sake of finishing. No edge-of-the-page cliff-hangers, just a weird tracing of looping plots that feel like a visit to the etch-a-sketch®. Almost brilliant, but not quite enough.
This one was a completist exercise. But the first one will stay with me as an immersive ride through a world almost entirely vanished, Victorian colonialism, all steam and coke and smog and carriages. And blue glass. Is it that, ultimately, the verisimilitude of its period setting clashes with the obscure fantasy of the blue glass, and that, however excellent the writing and the three principal characters, that divide is never really unified?
September 6, 2019
Owww I can already tell the book hangover will be vicious...
This was a satisfying ending to the trilogy. It wrapped everything up, with a terrifying build-up to the final confrontation which was as fraught as I have grown accustomed to from the author. I had no idea how he would solve this but he did, with enough symbolism to bring everything together nicely. I enjoyed the few "puzzles" we got in the lead-up to the grand finale.
This book felt almost darker, with society collapsing around our characters. It felt more gripping and driven than the second one, and everything was once more falling into place, driving towards the finish. Chang and Celeste will go down in my gallery of cool characters. There is something so compelling about the sarcastic assassin who always falls on his feet and can tackle any challenge, and Miss Temple's cool analysis of her situation, iron will and nerves of steel. Dr Svenson really came into his own as well here, I was cheering him on. I like how decent and kind he is. I'm not quite sure what he was off to at the end though.
I have to say, for stunning victorian and steampunk settings, pulse pounding action and striking characters, I've never read a series like this one. If ever I feel like a wild tale I'll know to come back to these books. They will stay on my keeper shelves.
This was a satisfying ending to the trilogy. It wrapped everything up, with a terrifying build-up to the final confrontation which was as fraught as I have grown accustomed to from the author. I had no idea how he would solve this but he did, with enough symbolism to bring everything together nicely. I enjoyed the few "puzzles" we got in the lead-up to the grand finale.
This book felt almost darker, with society collapsing around our characters. It felt more gripping and driven than the second one, and everything was once more falling into place, driving towards the finish. Chang and Celeste will go down in my gallery of cool characters. There is something so compelling about the sarcastic assassin who always falls on his feet and can tackle any challenge, and Miss Temple's cool analysis of her situation, iron will and nerves of steel. Dr Svenson really came into his own as well here, I was cheering him on. I like how decent and kind he is. I'm not quite sure what he was off to at the end though.
I have to say, for stunning victorian and steampunk settings, pulse pounding action and striking characters, I've never read a series like this one. If ever I feel like a wild tale I'll know to come back to these books. They will stay on my keeper shelves.
January 23, 2021
Die wohl unterbewerteste Trilogie überhaupt. Ich liebe alles an den Büchern (Dies ist das Letzte der Reihe). Der Schreibstil, die Kampfszenen sind mitreißend und schnell, es gibt genug innerer Monologe um mich enorm glücklich zu machen und insgesamt lädt diese Welt einfach zum träumen ein. Ich verstehe nicht wie es der Mann geschafft hat Celeste Temple so gut zu schreiben. Das ist ein weiblicher Hauptcharakter wie ich ihn lesen will. Mit Persönlichkeit und Schwächen. Überhaupt sind alle Charaktere vielschichtig und man fragt sich immer wieder was einzelne Figuren antreibt. Die verschiedenen Zweckgemeinschaften sind immer interessant und man fragt sich wie lange es Feinde miteinander aushalten, bis es zu der nächsten Auseinandersetzung kommt.
Ja...ich gebe zu das Ende ist verhersehbar, aber!
Spoiler!!!
Jedes andere Ende hätte mich zerstört. Miss Temple, Doktor Svenson und Kardinal Chang sind mir so ans Herz gewachsen, dass ich es nicht ertragen hätte einen von ihnen gehen zu lassen.
Was bleibt noch zu sagen? Diese Trilogie gehört zu meinen absoluten Lieblingsbüchern. Natürlich muss man sich auf die superlangen Sätze (halbe Seiten) einlassen können und ein bisschen was für die Abenteuerromantik am Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts übrighaben. Aber ich glaube dass es nicht viel braucht um diese Figuren ins Herz zu schließen.
Ja...ich gebe zu das Ende ist verhersehbar, aber!
Spoiler!!!
Jedes andere Ende hätte mich zerstört. Miss Temple, Doktor Svenson und Kardinal Chang sind mir so ans Herz gewachsen, dass ich es nicht ertragen hätte einen von ihnen gehen zu lassen.
Was bleibt noch zu sagen? Diese Trilogie gehört zu meinen absoluten Lieblingsbüchern. Natürlich muss man sich auf die superlangen Sätze (halbe Seiten) einlassen können und ein bisschen was für die Abenteuerromantik am Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts übrighaben. Aber ich glaube dass es nicht viel braucht um diese Figuren ins Herz zu schließen.
November 30, 2021
A satisfying conclusion to the trilogy although one thread possibly left for a potential sequel (?). As with the other books The Chemikal Marriage structurally has individual chapters advancing the plot for our 3 protagonists although this time around there is significantly more overlapping with each other in each chapter.
The plot is as convoluted as the others with some previous antagonists returning - well mainly the Contessa Lacquer-Sforza - and some new ones introduced; and who is with or against who criss-crosses the narrative until the very end.
Overall an intriguing saga stylistically it felt as if it wouldn’t have been out of place serialised in The Strand Magazine alongside Conan-Doyle’s Holmes stories but sitting within the steampunk fantasy sub-genre. And where geographically are we in these novels: sort of a London/England but sort of not although other European places are clearly named like Paris, Vienna and Venice. The pseudo-science “alchemy” of indigo clay, the blue glass (including the books), the “art” of Oskar Weilandt (the Comte D’Orkanz) all feel well thought through by the author with even some vague parallels into real science - for example “blue glass books” being a kind of holographic memory storage device.
The plot is as convoluted as the others with some previous antagonists returning - well mainly the Contessa Lacquer-Sforza - and some new ones introduced; and who is with or against who criss-crosses the narrative until the very end.
Overall an intriguing saga stylistically it felt as if it wouldn’t have been out of place serialised in The Strand Magazine alongside Conan-Doyle’s Holmes stories but sitting within the steampunk fantasy sub-genre. And where geographically are we in these novels: sort of a London/England but sort of not although other European places are clearly named like Paris, Vienna and Venice. The pseudo-science “alchemy” of indigo clay, the blue glass (including the books), the “art” of Oskar Weilandt (the Comte D’Orkanz) all feel well thought through by the author with even some vague parallels into real science - for example “blue glass books” being a kind of holographic memory storage device.
August 14, 2019
Im a bit mystified by the genre this series of books falls into. It is the only book of its kind I’ve ever read. If you get over the gratuitous sex it’s a stomping good yarn. The author conjures an amazing totally imagined land where all things seem possible, but man is not displayed well! It’s set around about the 18th century otherwise it could be confused with a futuristic dystopian novel. This is the final book of the series, which is the third but appears to be the 4th and my least favourite hence the 4 instead of 5 stars. It’s a bit slow!
July 15, 2019
This had been sitting on my bookshelf for a few years as I adored the first of this trilogy (The glass books of the dream eaters) wasn't quite as in love with the second so was aprehensive about reading this as it ended Miss Temple, Doctor Svenson and Cardinal Chang's story. But I was suprised that I wasn't so disspaointed and felt their stories/adventures were concluded well and with a satisfying ending
April 22, 2022
It started off really good, I didn't want to put it down and the style of writing was a little different to the first 2 books. But as I read on, it fell back into the same patterns which is why I have rated it 3 stars. I'm glad I've read the series but I won't read it again. Not for a very long time at least. I'm still confused with some of the scenes and the ending but "there's an end to everything my friend. And then - somehow, somewhere - going on.".
November 27, 2024
This was an enjoyable 4 star read, the last in a trilogy that began great with Vol1 (5 star, fast paced and wonderfully creative), then seemed to lose the magic in Vol. 2 (3 star, more like a rushed obligation than inspired), but here settled into a steady (if sometimes plodding) and disciplined pace. Overall a fun series with interesting characters and settings and a playful sense of imagination.
May 5, 2017
A fantastic trilogy but this was probably my least favourite. Each book gets more and more complex and more frantic, with character careening through an often bewildering scene that takes at least two reading to even begin to comprehend. I personally enjoy working to fully understand a book, but this may not be everyone's cup of tea.
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