First Light

Dawn of Steam #1

by Jeffrey Cook, Sarah Symonds

In 1815, in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, two of England's wealthiest lords place a high-stakes wager on whether a popular set of books, which claim that the author has traveled to many unknown corners of the globe, are truth or, more likely, wild fiction. First Light is an epistolary novel, told primarily through the eyes of former aide-de-camp Gregory Conan Watts, describing the journeys of the airship Dame Fortuna and its crew through journals and letters to his beloved fiancee. The first recruit is, necessarily, the airship's owner: war hero, famed genius, and literal knight in steam-powered armor Sir James Coltrane. Persuading him to lend his talents and refitted airship to the venture requires bringing along his sister, his cousin, and the crew that flew with him during the Napoleonic Wars. Only with their aid can they track down a Scottish rifleman, a pair of shady carnies, and a guide with a strong personal investment in the stories. When they set out, the wild places of the world, including the far American West, the Australian interior, darkest Africa, and other destinations are thought to be hostile enough. No one expects the trip to involve a legendary storm - or the Year Without a Summer of 1815-1816. The voyage is further complicated by the human element. Some parties are not at all happy with the post-war political map. Most problematic of all, the crew hired by the other side of the wager seem willing to win by any means necessary. Dawn of Steam: First Light follows these adventurers, as they open up the world. In the process, their journey helps lay the foundations for an age of enlightenment and technology to come.

Genres: Steampunk, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction

302 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2014

About the author

Jeffrey Cook lives in Maple Valley, Washington, with his wife and three large dogs. He has lived all over the United States. He’s contributed to a number of role-playing game books for Deep7 Press out of Seattle, Washington, but First Light is his first novel. When not reading, researching or writing, Jeffrey enjoys role-playing games and watching football.

Reviews

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm just going to be perfectly frank and confess that it is a rare day when I can get thrills from historical fiction. Don't get me wrong, it's a perfectly legitimate genre--but when there isn't the "freedom" for action and colorful characters, or the writer seems compelled to make a schmaltzy love story out of it... Let me just say I would only pick an historical fiction novel for two reasons:

1. It is an author I am already familiar with and I enjoy their style of writing;
2. I have read every other non-romantic fiction novel in the entire library.

That being said, First Light defied my expectations for an historical adventure fiction novel. The closest I can compare it to would probably be the Allan Quatermain novels by H. Rider Haggard, which bored me so much that I stopped reading halfway through—and I do not do that lightly.
Maybe retrospection increases creativity and eases idyllicizing the time period, which is why authors today are better able to paint an exciting and glamorized picture of the early nineteenth century than the authors who experienced the reality of the time period firsthand—

But I digress.

Those who are familiar with my blog know of a post I wrote a while ago called "How to Book." In it, I delineated three major points that, if followed, are nearly guaranteed to produce quality, worthwhile literature. Of course, the post was more a rant against those books I had recently read that did not follow these guidelines; I probably didn't think I would find a book that actually scored on all three points.

Then again, I had not yet read First Light.

The unorthodox format is ripe for flatness and a blasé, static plot: a series of letters and journal entries, most of them from the point of view of only one character, with perhaps ten lines of dialogue in the whole thing. How on earth could an author take something like that and pass it off as something more than a long treatise on someone's opinion with all the intrigue of a thesis paper?

This is where my three guidelines come into play.....

[Read the full review on The Upstream Writer ]

[Lanie (Lanies Book Thoughts) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dawn of Steam was a wonderfully written story told through diary entries by a husband, with notes by his wife to explain things for the readers. This style of writing definitely reminded me of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" with how it was formatted. I enjoyed getting the story from both a professional and a more personal feel as the story progresses. I did think it was a bit slow to start, and I was a lil confused when I began reading, but after a few chapters I quickly was able to catch on. I honestly didn't know what the "Napoleonic Wars" were, so I had to look that up to get a better feel for the book, but for those that know about this time in history will easily get the story. There were a few elements of steampunk thrown in there, I don't think I'd necessarily categorize this story as such though. It's a great read for those who like a historical feel mixed in with their adventures without it being over the top.

The characters themselves were interesting, it felt like a motley crew of men and women. You had both the higher class influence going on, but you also had the more down to earth people along for the ride.

Overall, it was a fun well written story, I'm surprised this is a first novel, because it's so well done. I'd recommend it.

I was given this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachael Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Steampunk Novel

Cook and Symonds set out to write a trilogy of novels about how a Steampunk Victorian Age comes to be. The idea is good. Using the depositary format was a nice touch. Story was excellent. Pacing was a bit slow. Would have liked more information about what led to the alternative timeline. I recommend this book for all fans of Steampunk and believe the series will eventually become an good introduction to the genre.

[Brian Wilkerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Trickster Eric Novels review

Jeffrey Cook asked me to read his book "Dawn of Steam: First Light". It's about a Dream Team exploring the world to either prove or disprove that an adventurer's journals are non-fiction, and all because of a bet made by two aristocrats. I will examine plot, character and polish before assigning a grade.


PLOT


This story takes place in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, and several people have gotten rich because of it. Two of these newly rich people decide to make a high stakes bet on Dr.Bowe's journals. These journals talk about his adventures across the world, from the American Wild West to India, to Japan, the last of these was closed to outsiders at the time, and the many wonders that he has seen. The bet is that he made all this up and so they hire crews to prove one way or the other.


This book covers the first leg of the trip, thus "First Light". It covers the bet itself, the Avengers Assembled scenes, and the trip across America. There's also an unplanned detour at a Spanish fort in Florida to claim it for England because a certain incident indicates war is coming.


Considering the story is told through Gregory Watt's journal and letters, and in professional and documentary tone, it can hardly be said to be thrilling despite its subject matter. The reader is further removed from the source of the action since Gregory Watts is not the one publishing this story in-universe. His wife is and after 65 years of marriage to boot. HOWEVER, that does not mean that this story is not dramatic or suffuse with tension. For example, there's this horrific storm that the airship is trapped in that leads to tragedy; since Gregory warns of the tragedy before hand (after all, his girlfriend is a delicate thing and might not be able to handle such awful happenings!) it has this "waiting for the other shoe to drop" sort of suspense; of knowing something bad is going to happen and being unable to stop it, because it's already happened.


Also, there is a subplot within the "exploring on a bet" main plot. Up until now, the in-universe public has been unaware of this conspiracy. Cordelia adds extra stuff that wasn't in the original publication. These are revealed in occasional interludes from other characters; other letters that hinted at something bigger and more sinister. It's quite a treat to find those gems.


There's a historical element; a deep sense of history. The events of the story take place in 1815 but the in-universe book is published in 1885. Thus there are footnotes for events that take place between the two. It is fascinating flavor text. It's the sort of small details that can push a story's quality higher.


The Ending is fantastic. Cordelia, the in-universe editor, decides to stop volume 1 after the group's first big achievement. This also marks the end of the first year of their adventure. Thus, it is a milestone and suitable stopping place.


CHARACTERS


The main cast is a Rag Tag Bunch of Misfits. Their recruitment fills tens of pages. While this may sound boring, the events that occur in the midst of recruitment and the colorful nature of these characters makes it quite entertaining. Gregory English snarkiness makes it even better.


Gregory Watts is the Supporting Protagonist and documentary/photographer of the expedition. He wastes no time in establishing how silly he thinks the bet is and how it is obvious that Dr.Bowe fabricated his journals. He takes the job in spite of this because he believes such an adventure will bring him fame and fortune enough to convince his girlfriend's father that he is worthy of her hand in marriage. In other words, a modern engagement challenge.


He is an English gentleman. This means that he is polite, chivalrous and patriotic. It also means that he is prejudiced against everyone that is not English, has mild Stay In The Kitchen ideas, and is prone to backhanded compliments and stealth insults.


The people he recruits as follows:

-Sir James Coltrane and Jilian Coltrane are like paragons of English society for their gender. Respectively, they are the gentleman war hero/inventor and the proper lady Silk Hiding Steel social networker. They are dual leadership of the expedition.

-Sam Bowe is frontier hunter and the daughter of Dr.Bowe. She is their guide. It becomes a minor running gag how her feats impress Gregory yet impressed upon him that she must be insane for doing so.

-There's Eddy McBride, a Scottish sniper and a foil for James; gruff, quirky, Scottish, and snipping.

-Harriet is a Cute Clumsy Girl desperately trying to be a Proper Lady like her cousin Jillian. She's also a mechanic from her time on her family's farm in Virgina.

-An Italian conman named Giovanni Franzini and his assistant, Julietta Penn, who is a Romanian fortune teller. They provide less reputable skill sets.


There is no clear villain, just the "opposing crew" from the other side of the bet. Very little is revealed about them in the first volume but they still cause a great deal of trouble.


POLISH

Dawn of Steam is a episcopal novel, that is, it takes the form of letters and journal entries. Never once does this atmosphere break. The illusion of historical documents and 70 year footnotes is perfect. It's impressive stuff.


No spelling or grammar errors.


Trickster Eric Novels gives "Dawn of Steam First Light" an A+

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sensational steampunk novel that’s edgy, fresh and full of inspired imaginative concepts!



This dazzling debut novel is an exciting edition to the genre, as it combines an eclectic mix of Victorian-esque glamour and futuristic technology in an exquisite historical backdrop. The thrilling drama and fast-paced, sweeping narrative took me on the most astonishing adventure of wondrous delights. Amid a world of technological enlightenment and innovation was an acutely contrasting character {Sam Bowe}, who kept the entire storyline well grounded with knives (instead of guns) and spunk & eccentricity! Set in 1810, the familiarity of the recognizable world that moves into a more typical steampunk Victorian era was captured perfectly, creating a vibrant world of fascinating modernization.

The mind-blowing scope and premise of this spectacular series left me in awe, as too did the detailed descriptions that brought the past so authentically to life. This ‘deep’ book is one that you can lose yourself within; from the dramatic unfolding events to the lavish details. Fans of classics such as ‘The League of extraordinary Gentlemen’ and ‘The Golden Compass’ will simply love Jeffrey Cook {& co-contributor Sarah Symonds) brilliant story set within an alternate reality.

“I imagine they were quite surprised to find a woman armed with a pair of mismatched knives, in a torn dress and her undershirts, fighting on their behalf…”
- Excerpted from the letters of Gregory Conan Watts to his fiancee

Volume one in the dawn of steam trilogy is a highly readable novel and one that leads the way in a fantastic genre, due to the in-depth world building and intricately detailed plot. The astonishing twists and turns and relentless fast-pace kept me firmly fixed to the page, and left me waiting with pent-up anticipation and excitement as to the next instalment within the series.

*I would like to thank the author for providing me with an e-copy to read & review*

[Lindsay Schopfer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not your typical steampunk book. Written in epistolary form with a Regency-period narrator, the prose can sometimes be somewhat dense and the story doesn't follow the typical conflict/resolution pattern of a novel, but that's not what readers should expect. What they should expect is an adventure told with the sort of distant yet genuine voice you'd find when reading the journal entries of Lewis and Clark or similar explorers.

With the exception of one character, the people in this story feel real and believable despite their often fantastic settings and situations. Fans of steampunk who'd like to see an imaginative take on how the various tropes of the genre came to be will enjoy this rousing adventure.

[DeAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dawn of Steam: First Light by Jeffrey Cook and Sarah Symonds is an epistolary steampunk novel that takes place in an alternative-history universe in which England is the most powerful country and America has yet to break away from the British Empire, and is thus still uncharted and wild anywhere west of the Mississippi. A young man sets out to find his fortune and adventure by following the fantastic journals of Dr Bowe, who is a Jules Verne-like figure.
The novel's protagonist is Gregory Conan Watts, who writes to his soon to be wife, Dr Cordelia Bentham-Watts, to Lord Donovan and in his travel journal of the adventures that he and his team face in trying to find a passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific through the Pacific Northwest.
While the book is written in Victorian and Regency style, it isn't the writing that makes the first 100 pages slow going. The unnecessary footnotes by Cordelia and the long chapters detailing too much about the difficulties of assembling the "team" that Watts needs to get him through this adventure make the stop-start reading frustrating. There are also numerous redundancies, paragraphs that could have communicated their idea in one sentence instead of ten (page 79 is rife with examples.)
The gathering of crew members for the dirigible that Watts and company will venture forth in is reminiscent of "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" with a few ladies, (who in the end are the real heroines of the tale.)
There's not a great deal to like about Gregory Conan Watts, who does little but chronicle the adventures and take photographs of the people and places that the team encounters. He hasn't the courage to try and save anyone but himself when the going gets rough, and he spends an inordinate amount of time passing judgement on anyone who isn't British and male, or British and a "proper lady" who practices perfect manners, is fragile, pretty and basically useless. He continually makes arrogant and sexist observations particularly about "poor Harriet Wright" a woman who has come along with the perfect Miss Coltrane to learn to "present herself as a fine lady of society and eventually to marry well." Every time she fumbles, even slightly, Watts makes note of it in a sneering fashion that becomes nauseating and hypocritical all too soon (his fiance, after all, is a woman doctor who obviously had ambitions well beyond her 'station' as a female). Once he discovers that she has great mechanical aptitude, however, he grudgingly admits that she might be useful to the team to help repair some of the devices the team take with them. Yet again, he says "...for perhaps if she truly had such a gift for the manly pursuit of artifice, certainly well beyond my own understanding, then perhaps some part of her mind is entirely unsuited for womanly pursuits." Though one could argue that women were subjected to a rigorous moral and societal code of conduct in the 19th century, I would respond that if you are rewriting history for the background of the book, why not give women greater freedom and respect than they had in the actual 19th century?
Miss Sam Bowe, daughter of the famed writer who inspired the trip that these people are taking, originally presents herself as a man, because she has tremendous knife-fighting and survival skills learned from Native American Indians, whose language she also speaks. Of course, Watts has little to say about her that is positive, calling her crazy several times, yet it is Miss Bowe who saves several crew members numerous times and is one of the few people with the courage to kill off the rival gangs sent to pursue Watts group in another dirigible. Bowe and Eddy, and occaisionally James Coltrane were the only characters who were at all interesting throughout the novel as they displayed bravery, intelligence and grit that was never a part of the make up of the protagonist, though his wife writes in the introduction that he was hailed as a hero.
Though Dawn of Steam is written in a fashion that doesn't lend itself to light reading, after the first 100 pages, the plot starts to steam right along, and the story becomes more engrossing. I'd give this novel a B- with the hope that, as it is part of a trilogy, that the author trims his redundancies and removes some of the rampant sexism/nationalism from future novels. I'd recommend it to those who enjoy the works of Jules Verne and HG Wells.

[Andrea Hintz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Readers, I have a simply delightful piece of fiction for you! Jeffrey Cook & Sarah Symonds have crafted an engaging account of early 19th century adventure with Dawn of Steam: First Light, the first in the series of the same name. Much like their predecessor, the decidedly unrivaled Mr. Jules Verne, Mr. Cook & Ms. Symonds weave a veritable web of history, geography, vulcanography & assorted other ‘ographies into a believable narrative of cross-continents exploration.

Dawn of Steam: First Light produces the perspective of one Gregory Conan Watts, former aide-de-camp turned photographer and chronicler of adventures. The story is related to us via his journals, letters to his employer, and letters to his sweetheart, Cordelia. The story hinges on a gentlemanly wager, dearest readers. A wager! How innocuous. Alas, the wager between two Lords was made, and the game afoot. The crux of the matter? Whether or not a certain Doctor Bowe had or had not made an honest accounting of his time while traveling the world-prior to the arrival of the dirigible, natch! Each Lord supplied a party to venture forth via dirigible –which unfortunately had their inception shortly after Dr. Bowe’s journeys– to substantiate (or not!) Dr. Bowe’s claims.

Dawn of Steam: First Light recounts the beginning of the journey, to include the acquisition of assorted persons deemed essential for the party… the aforementioned Mr. Watts, Sir James Coltrane, owner of the dirigible Dame Fortuna and leader of the expedition, his sister Miss Jillian Coltrane, socialite extraordinaire, their American cousin, a Scottish sharpshooter, an Italian magician of dubious character & his lovely half-Romany associate, and the knife-wielding daughter of Doctor Bowe. Also worth mentioning, dear readers, are a mechanical suit of considerable size and substance, and a positively sociable ornithopter named Bub. Once all the appropriate pieces are assembled, the journey begins in earnest.

I wouldn’t dream of spoiling the surprise for you, dearest readers… suffice it to say that there is sufficient excitement and intrigue to keep one turning the page, and though it may be slow going at the start the finale is well worth the effort. The interactions between the characters appear genuine, and each character has their own interesting backstory and subplot, of which we only scratch the surface, dear readers! As you recall, this is the first of a series and is meant to be read as a whole, thus pieces of the puzzle not integral to the main plot are left for the next book.

I found the writing style to be most pleasing and reminiscent of those early pioneers in the science-fiction adventure genre. The language used is of a more elevated variety, and may be off-putting to some readers not accustomed to this technique. It should be noted that the author’s voice is very distinct and remains consistent throughout the story, with slight deviations to account for changes in narration. The editing is also worth noting, as I like to call attention to a job well done; few to no errors spotted and nothing so egregious as to snatch you right out of the story! Dearest readers, if you are looking to explore the very roots of steampunk with an adventure of epic scope, this is the read for you.

[C.A. King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review ~ First Light
Author: Jeffrey Cook
By Carol Ann King
Rating 4 stars

Steampunk - A term I have heard in many circles, but never actually given any thought to. When Jeffrey Cook provided me with a free eBook copy of First Light in exchange for an honest review, I couldn't refuse. Expanding knowledge is what reading is about so I forged forward. I decided to look up what I was getting into before starting to read. As it turns out, I was way over-my-head and outside my norm for reading choices.

In a nutshell, steampunk is a subcategory of the science fiction genre, but rather than being based on future technology, it is based on 19th century industrial steam-powered machinery. First Light is also historical fiction.

The story takes place in 1815 just after the Napoleonic War. A gentleman's bet between wealthy englishmen sets afoot a plot of exploration. The end game - to prove if information contained in a series of writings by Dr. Bowe are fact or fiction. First Light is the beginning of this journey and introduces readers to the characters who are brought together to be the crew, some of whom are quite unusual. Journals and letters are used to chronicle the events aboard an airship as it sets out to follow Dr. Bowe's path around the world.

I found there were a few slow places in the novel, but not dry enough to make me put the book down.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and a good way to enter into the steampunk genre. My concerns about being overwhelmed were quickly dismissed. I look forward to reading the rest of the adventures.

Rating 4 out of 5 stars. Recommended read for anyone looking to try the steampunk genre.

[Celia Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

New to this genre, my brain had to sit and stew before I could write my thoughts about Jeffrey Cook and Sarah Symond's debut novel.

Firstly, I commend them for courageously taking on the task of transporting us utterly into a beloved era of literature and helping us redefine what could have been possible. This tale takes place early in 1815 - so we think of Jane Austen. Though we do find ourselves immersed in the language, social protocols, and fashion of the time, we have to allow science fiction to find it's footing.

The tale is told through two noteworthy characters: Dr. Cordelia Bentham-Watts, the first woman doctor in Britain. She writes to support a remarkable journey taken by her fiancé, Gregory Conan Watts, via unpublished material from his journals and letters to her. In turn, Gregory Conan Watts entries describe an extensive tour, under ever changing alliances and circumstances, of the four corners of the world via the Dame Fortuna (a dirigible which has survived the Napoleonic wars).

This novel in many ways defies most current novelists work. It dares to be lengthy in description, to linger in detailed passages, to note mundane objects. However, all of this works to transport us from the present to the past. Every time I picked the book up, I felt myself traveling around the globe in long ago shoes.

This is a meaty, non-formulaic, book that requires the reader to commit to it. Well worth the time investment.

[Sheri J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This step back into an alternate reality is a delight from beginning to end. The vivid characters and captivating adventure tempted me to rush through the book, but the well-rendered regency/steampunk hybrid style was so delicious that I meted out small portions to savor every word.

As if crossing the wild west of America via dirigible is not enough excitement, the author has added entanglements in the Spanish threats to New Orleans and dabblings in other historical events with researched accuracy and madcap twists.

I especially liked the unquenchable Sam Bowe, but each character was dear and bigger than life. I found myself missing them when, alas, I reached the last page. I'm thrilled that the sequel is soon on the way, and I will definitely hitch a ride on this continuing expedition!

Top hats off to author Jeffrey Cook and to Sarah Symonds. This is a new favorite, and I find myself recommending it to anyone who will listen.

[°~Amy~° · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not at all what I expected and for once, that was a great thing! I didn't think that I would like the writing style as it was written as a series of letters and articles, but it actually worked.

The plot was interesting and unique. The characters were all interesting and believeable. I wanted to know more about the story and the people involved.

My only complaint would be that the story ended before it was complete. I have been told it is because it is to be a trilogy possibly? I prefer to read complete stories in one book. Everyone is doing trilogies now. Guess it's the cool thing for authors to do now but it is frustrating for readers. In a book as full of details as this one, it is too easy to forget a lot of it while waiting for the second or third installment to appear on the market. Hopefully we won't have to wait long for #2.

Overall I would recommend it to alternate reality fans. I look forward to reading the rest of the story.

[EJ Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book, I was sort of prepared for the fact it’s written in the form of journal entries and letters. At first, I was leery of reading it because I’ve attempted to read other books in this format before and was unable to. However, Jeffrey Cook and Sarah Symonds pulled it off brilliantly. Honestly, I was surprised at how well it was done.

Another interesting thing is, I’m a fast reader. I can zip through a book in a single evening without too many problems. With this book, I slowed way down and took my time. Each journal entry and letter evoked powerful images that demanded my full attention. So I took my time and savored every word.

I’ve never read steampunk before, so this was all new to me. I’m glad there are at least 2 more books for this series as I’m excited to continue reading. Jeffrey and Sarah make an excellent team.

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 4 1/2 stars.
Loved this book! Though it took a little bit to get to the exploration part of the story, once we got there, the plot was brilliant. Intriguing and mysterious, sprinkled with battles and beautiful plot twists, First Light drew me in and didn't let go.
There's quite the cast of characters, but although there are a lot, the mains are remarkably unique, each clearly their own person. Though I can't say I loved them all (most but not all), I can say they were all fascinating and entertaining to read about.
Overall, First Light is a remarkably well-written book, and I highly recommend it.
If you'd like to read more of my thoughts on this book, you can find the full review at https://verbositybookreviews.wordpress.com/2015/03/08/first-light-by-jeffrey-cook/.

[Georgiann Hennelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story takes place in 1815 it is told through Dr Cordelia Bentham-Watts the first women Doctor in Britain. She writes to support the remarkable journey taken by her fiance Gregory Conan Watts via some unpublished letters to her and from his journals. Gregory Conan Watts entries describe an extensive tour, under some ever changing alliances and circumstances, of the four corners of the world. Via the dirigible The Dame Fortuna which has survived the Napoleonic wars. T he story was excellant, the pacing was a bit slow, you really have to commit yourself to read this book. I highly recommend for fans of Steam punk.

[PelicanFreak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Early on I’m exposed to Watts’ intentions to his recipient as well as his intentions on his impending journey and I’m hooked. His quest is exciting and he hasn’t even departed yet. It takes a bit of reading to get into the action but I found a lot of humor in Watts’ observations of the other people surrounding him, which made the read quite fun.

The book is very well spoken and paints a vivid and fun picture for the reader in a style of writing I haven’t before seen which makes it all the more enjoyable for me.
Cook manages to merge futuristic technology with a time behind us – making for a fascinating experience.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel of a journey taken in 1815. The story is told through various journals and letters from a team explorers.i found some of the tale a little long in the narrative, but all in all it was a fun journey and a great peek into history. I am reminded a little of journey to the center of earth with the companionship although the exploration isn't really science fiction and didn't go very far. Gregory Colton Watts tells most of the story although journals from others are explored in order to get out the whole story. I found the characters believable and the story compelling. I am looking forward to more works by this author.

[Brandon Varnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not really much of a steampunk fan, but I'll admit to enjoying this. Jeffrey Cook is an excellent writer, and I hope his next book is just as well-written as the first one.

[C. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

(In the interests of full disclosure, I was sent a review copy of this work, in expectation of an honest review)

The casual reader may find the novel a little challenging, because the author has almost perfectly captured the style and cadence of the period, but fans of Wells, Verne and other 19th century authors should have no difficulty at all, and for those who do, I believe it is well worth the effort, because you will quickly find yourself wanting to know more about these characters and what happens next.

The story is told as a series of letters and journal entries, which are intended to go behind the scenes of a very famous expedition. The narrative feels so much like a product of the era (albeit an alternate version of it), that I found myself wishing that the photographs referenced in the story actually existed, because I would dearly love to see them.

The world-building is extensive and impressive, and even though we're never told what specific event (or events) happened differently to result in this very different version of the 1800's, it feels very coherent and fully realised... so much so, in fact, that I would quite like to see some sort of addendum or appendix with some notes about the timeline. Perhaps in a future volume!

By having the fictional editor (the future wife of one of the explorers) choose which journal entries to include, the story is able to adhere to the 'collected documents' format, without getting bogged down by too many tedious entries, and manages to tell a ripping good adventure tale in the process.

Most of the entries are from just one of the explorers (which makes sense, as it's the future husband of the fictional editor), but there are also a few letters included from the other members of the expedition, and the author does an excellent job of giving them each a very distinct voice, which matches their character as you get to know them throughout the story. Even the entries from the same character vary in tone, depending on whether he's writing a formal letter, a journal entry or a private letter to the woman he hopes to one day marry, which further immerses the reader in the reality of that world.

I really only have two, very small, criticisms: [1] Some letters/entries are clearly labelled as to who wrote them and to/for whom, but others aren't. I realise that this would quite possibly be the case with real historical documents (which may be why it was done this way), but at times, I found it confusing. Most of the time, I was able to figure it out pretty quickly, but a few times it pulled me out of the story, which is never a good thing. And [2] while it did end on the completion of the first leg of their journey (and is obviously setting up for there to be more books in the series), it felt a little like it was ending right in the middle of a larger book. There was no cliffhanger, as such, but it just felt more like the end of 'part one' than the end of a novel. A minor quibble, because I fully intend to read the next (and future) volumes in the series, but it seemed worth noting.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed "Dawn of Steam: First Light" and I very much look forward to seeing what happens next!

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Dawn of Steam: First Light” is the first of a series of books set in an alternate past. The Napoleonic Wars have been won by England (with help from the USA and others). Dirigibles already exist; some were used in the war. The USA is still largely unexplored by Europeans, as are most parts of the world. But a book exists, written by an explorer, wherein he tells of his journeys across the North American continent (there is a Northwest Passage, he claims), to Australia, China, Japan, South America, and Antarctica- basically, the whole world. Two men make a bet in a club; one believes the book is the truth, one doesn’t. Therefore, two teams will set out to duplicate the author’s travels, to see if they are even possible. We follow the course of one of the teams; the good guys. Told through letters and a diary, it is almost all in first person by an ex-soldier who knows how to work a camera. He writes to his fiancé and to the gentleman who has made the bet and is financing the journey.

The first almost half of the novel is spent gathering the team. They assemble a group that has the skills needed to make the expedition a success. While this part of the book may be necessary to introducing the cast to us, it’s overly long. With so little action, I nearly gave up. When they get to North America (via one member’s family airship), they have a couple of events that, while full of action, do not move the story forward. They do finally start across the continent, but the plot never really works out; there is no build up and climax- it’s just sort of “and then we did this and then we did that”.

I didn’t care much about the characters. The basics were there and could have been great (and maybe they are in the later books in the series), but there was nothing built around “sharp shooter”, “lady engineer”, or “daughter of the explorer who passes as a man most of the time and can do damn near anything”.

I was sadly disappointed, especially because I’d enjoyed the first book in the other series these authors have written. Only three out of five stars.

[DaniLanglie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh I'm so upset! You know, sometimes when I don't like a book, it's just because it's really not my preferred genre. It's simply not up my alley. But this book? This is a book ostensibly about fun steam-punk adventures, found family, cool bad-ass ladies and proper British gentlemen, a book about alternate histories and cool weird inventions, and it's epistolary, has multiple burgeoning romance subplots... everything in this book seems like it would be perfect for me. Which is honestly what makes me review it even harsher.

I'm trying not to be mean - obviously this was self-published, and I want to be nice... but the prose are awful! The sentence structure is convoluted and poorly thought out. This is supposed to be a mix of letters and journal entries from one central character, with a few supplementary notes from the other characters, but every single character's voice is the same, and Gregory writes the same way in his journal that he does when writing letters to his boss or to his sweetheart. What a waste of an opportunity to use the medium to your advantage, and mix up the styles! Ugh.

I wanted to like this book so much, and I hate the fact that it didn't work for me. I didn't mind the slow pace, the careful description of all the characters and their relationships, the concept of the trip, the fact that clearly there are hidden secrets brewing that the narrator doesn't know about... all of this stuff would have been so fascinating to read about if this guy was able to write! I found myself editing along in my head. I could have made this book better, and I'm not even a professional editor.

[Dan Melson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm being charitable, and givin a rating such as I would give *if* I liked all the storytelling choices made.

This story is basically 'The Magnificent Seven go on an airship ride'. A Steampunk concept set in the immediate aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, in a world where the American Revolution failed.

The author has done a fair amount of research in terms of reading journals and letters and the attitudes of the era, and has (mostly) chosen to relate them in period-appropriate ways of writing. Unfortunately, this results in a lot of passive voice writing and not a lot of excitement. Even after the first 40% of the book wherein the company is gathered, I don't believe I read a single action passage that elucidated anything more than a yawn. Especially since the tolerance extended women is *far* outside period appropriate norms, I don't agree with his writing choices. If you're going to write period appropriate, do not suspend it to be politically correct - have the courage of your choices.

Were I giving this book a rating based simply on my own enjoyment, I would find it difficult to justify anything higher than two stars.

[C.H. Knyght · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my usual style but worth the read. A solid steampunk

[IndigoInsane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really want to rate this book higher, although I already feel like 3 stars is quite generous. The problem is that while the setting and concept is quite fascinating, with the exception of miss Penn, sometimes eddy, and sam bowe, all the characters are various degrees of unsufferable. They are over the top brilliant in various ways, which I don't mind since it fits the genre. However, the only character flaws I can find are the unintentional smugness I'm forced the read through as at least 1/4th of this book could have been cut out because it's just humble bragging about both the characters and GREATEST MOTHER ENGLAND. My god, it's like every stereotype about the overly patriotic Victorian soldier has to be brought up every single page to remind me that this is Victorian English society. Instead of using actions or words just have mr. Watts go on constantly about his gentlemen English-ness and never shut up about how wrong and pitiable everything not British is.

Not everyone is absolutely terrible, but the narrator mr. Watts gets it the worst since I'm forced to read every minute and biased thought he has. Also, his commentary on the others gets very repetitive very quickly and he only rarely has anything new to say.

I know this is the first book in the series but since I had to hate-read the last 50 or so pages of this I think it's unlikely I'll read the others.

[Connie Jasperson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today we are going steam-punk, in a unique way. Dawn of Steam: First Light by Indie author Jeffrey Cook and Sarah Symonds is a compelling story of early 19th century politics, science, and meteorological mayhem.

But first The Blurb:
In 1815, in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, two of England's wealthiest lords place a high-stakes wager on whether a popular set of books, which claim that the author has traveled to many unknown corners of the globe, are truth or, more likely, wild fiction. First Light is an epistolary novel, told primarily through the eyes of former aide-de-camp Gregory Conan Watts, describing the journeys of the airship Dame Fortuna and its crew through journals and letters to his beloved fiancee.

The first recruit is, necessarily, the airship's owner: war hero, famed genius, and literal knight in steam-powered armor Sir James Coltrane. Persuading him to lend his talents and refitted airship to the venture requires bringing along his sister, his cousin, and the crew that flew with him during the Napoleonic Wars. Only with their aid can they track down a Scottish rifleman, a pair of shady carnies, and a guide with a strong personal investment in the stories.

When they set out, the wild places of the world, including the far American West, the Australian interior, darkest Africa, and other destinations are thought to be hostile enough. No one expects the trip to involve a legendary storm – or the Year Without a Summer of 1815-1816. The voyage is further complicated by the human element. Some parties are not at all happy with the post-war political map. Most problematic of all, the crew hired by the other side of the wager seem willing to win by any means necessary.

My Review:
First of all, this tale is well told in an epistolary form--that is, it is told through letters and journal entries. It is also historical fiction, in that it deals with the summer of 1815-16 and infamous Year Without A Summer. But it is fantasy, and completely steampunk, so strap on your goggles--it's gonna be a bumpy ride. There will be steam, there will be gears, and there will be Sir James Coltrane's wondrous mechanical battle-suit!

We really do get to know and like the protagonist, Gregory Conan Watts through his letters to Cordelia, and vice-versa. We also get to know the other members of his crew, some better than others. Gregory is hired to photograph an expedition to various parts of the world that have only been considered mythical to this point.

And we get to know the Dame Fortuna as the miraculous air-ship that she is.

The tale is filtered though Gregory's eyes, as he attempts to chronicle events as they happened.

I loved the twists and turns the plots takes. The 18th century prose is well-done in a literary way, slightly separating the reader from the events. But that is completely in keeping with the epistolary style of this book and in no way detracts from it.

I give this book 5 stars for an excellent adventure, well told. This is book one in a series and I am definitely buying book two, Dawn of Steam: Gods of the Sun.

[M.A. Kropp · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is the early 1800's, the Napoloenic Wars are over, and two wealthy British gentelmen make a bet based on a series of books in which the author claims to have traveled to some of the most unknown (at the time) places in the world. Most consider the books to be mostly fiction, but some claim they could be real. Two crews set out in separate airships in a race to be first to prove or disprove the books.

The story is told mainly in journal entries and letters from Gregory Conan Watts, a war journalist who is part of one of the crews undertaking the journey. He has been hired on to write the story of the journey as it unfolds. We read his journal entries, as well as letters to both his employer and his fiancee. Occasionally, there is a letter from one of the other members of the crew. The entire collection is being published by Gregory's wife after his death.

It wasn't a bad book. In fact, there were a lot of good elements to it. The characters were varied and made quite the interesting dynamic for the voyage. There were secrets, personal agendas, and both good and bad relationships. The settings were true to the period, including the Year Without a Summer (1815). Customs, standards, and speech were all true to upper British society in the period. The steampunk elements added to the mix were believable. The book starts a bit slow, with the early journal entries and letters a bit tedious in spots, but after the crew is set and the actual voyage begins, things pick up a bit. The ending leaves the way open nicely for the sequels.

The problem I have with this one is the format. I couldn't really get into the epistolary format. It felt distant, as if I was being removed from the action and just a passive observer. That made it difficult for me to truly get invested in any of the characters or the story. It also tended to slow the plot in spots. It's an interesting idea, and seems to be done well here, but it wasn't my favorite form for storytelling.

Still, the idea of the story is good, the details are genuine to the time period, and the additional elements make this a good example of a steampunk novel. If you don't mind the format, this book should not disappoint.

[Wesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dawn of Steam: First Light is an early 1800's Steampunk novel. The book is set up as a compilation of letters, journal entries, and other correspondences between the characters in the book, mainly Mr. Watts. This is the book's strength as well as its weakness.

I loved the idea of doing a non-narrative, non-first-person, non-omniscient novel. It gave the story a very different feel, almost like reading history, or a real research paper.

The down side was that the main character, Mr. Watts, was exceptionally dry. The first 150 pages are about how everyone dressed, how well-mannered or ill-mannered they were, how everyone fit in socially, and what was proper as well as what was not. I understand that there is quite a following for this as Downton Abby is like this and is hugely popular right now. But it's just not my taste in books.

Once you get through the very long and boring set-up the story is actually quite good. Mr. Cook stays consistent with his characters. I know that a lot of people don't see the value in consistency, but having read a lot of Indie works lately, I can say that this is a rare gift. His characters, though a bit dry, are like real people. They don't suddenly change. Some have hidden secrets (the story wouldn't be fun if they didn't) but they are true to who they are.

Mr. Cook's writing is true to the era. The tone is correct, and the history (except the parts which are intentionally changed for the sake of the story) is accurate.

The story is a good one. At first I thought it was a copycat of "Around the World in 80 Days", but it is oh so different. The premise is that of a bet, but instead of "how fast can you get around the world," it's "did a famous explorer really do all he claims he did." And the end leaves the series open to several sequels.

If you like Steampunk, and you like the intricacies propriety in 1800's British culture, you'll love the book.

[Valerie Roberson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gregory Conan Watts of 1815 is a reporter and was in the Napoleonic War. Sir James Coltrane owns a airship called Dame Fortuna and wore a steam-powered suit to fight in the war.
Two of England's wealthiest Lords placed a high stake wager to see who's team can map and cross the America's east coast to west coast first, by way of Dr. Robert Bowe's book. The Two men and Sir Coltrane's sister, Jillian her cousin Harriet Wright and a Mr. Toomes were sent by Lord Donovan to recruit others for the mission.
This story is told by Dr. Cordelia Bentham-Watts, Gregory Conan Watts wife, from every detail and depth of his letters to her, journal Mr. Watts kept during the mission, letters to the London News Paper and Lord Donovan. Mr.Watts spared no detail in his writings. All the more you feel part of the journey.
It is written just as Mr. Watts wrote them in letter form. They cover the journey and adventures, war with Spain in Florida, Grand Parties with assigns to capture in New York City. A trip to New Orleans to prevent Spain from taking it over and to keep the pirates out of port. All this before they could even start their mission for Lord Donovan.
They add a bunch of characters to help with the mission and run the dirigible and learned a lot about each other that didn't show on the surface. They meet a crazy old Professor that invents steam machines, big and small. They discovered the railroad and how far it went west. They meet a tribe of Indians in the Rocky Mountains.
As they mapped out the same path that Dr. Bowe took, you learn of their good and bad times and can they make it to the Pacific Coast where their first part of the mission finishes.
This was my first Steampunk book and at first I had a hard time getting into it, but as I read on and learned more about Steampunk and how it works, I liked it much better. If you like machines, adventure, and history, you will love this book!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This steampunk adventure story, with a premise reminiscent of Jules Verne's Around the World in Eighty Days, is written as a series of letters and journal entries, purportedly written in the early 1800s.

The thing I liked most about this book was its "voice." The entries really do feel like they portray the writing style, attitudes, and social customs of the era. It also captured the nuanced differences of voice between the letters written by different characters.

The cast of characters, as they gradually join the adventurer's party, is varied, quirky, entertaining, and in many cases larger than life. I liked how each new member of the group added a new layer to the social interactions between the group's members. It was interesting to see the subtle differences in how the protagonist described his companions in his letters to his fiancee and his letters to his employers.

However, the very fact that the book captured the historic feel of the correspondence so well meant that by contrast it is not what most readers expect from an adventure novel. Early 19th century correspondence is formal, polite, and avoids flamboyant, active accounts of even the most exciting adventures. As a result, this book's pace ends up being rather slow and the reader feels distanced from the action rather than immersed in it.

It's a fun, well-written story, but one to choose when you're in a leisurely mood and can take the story at its own pace.

[Carol Piner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 out of 5 stars Finding the Pacific Northwest in the 1800's, May 5, 2014

Jeffrey Cook magically puts together a stunning series of possibilities. To be concise, a few do not seem that possible, but it doesn't matter. Go ahead and get caught up in it, you'll enjoy it more.

Based on letters written by camerman, George Conan Watts, to his love Cordelia, he signs up for a voyage developed by a wager to ride a dirigible from England to the colonies. From there, Sir James Coltrane, his sister, his sister's companion and a crew that includes characters most would never dream of is to race to the Pacific Northwest. Cook's character development is excellent, although some scientific "machines" would be questionable to an intelligent mind.

The story telling is also excellent and what I enjoyed most. Although there were so many events I found hard to grasp or believe, I got caught up in the excitement and the various achievements made by what became a team to be dealt with. It seemed any persoanlity deficiencies were found in others and they became a cohesive group.

This story includes just about anything you can throw into a book except blatant sex. Dirigibles, metal war costumes, instant camera fixes, constant attacks from the opposing wager-maker...it goes on and on. As for whether they found the Pacific Northwest, if you settle down to read this book that has enough ups and downs to make you think it is a sea voyage, buy Dawn of Steam.