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Gears of Brass Anthology
A world like ours, but filled with gears of brass, where the beating heart is fueled by steam and the simplest creation is a complex clockwork device.
Within this tome, you’ll find steampunk fairy tale re-tellings, as well as original stories that will send your gears turning.
Welcome to the steampunk realm, with eleven authors guiding your path.
GEARS OF BRASS is a steampunk anthology published through Curiosity Quills. Within the pages, you’ll come across clockwork inventions and steampunk-ified fairy tale retellings. Eleven authors will guide you through worlds filled with airships, top hats, and corsets.
Introduction
A “Steamy” Note
A Clockwork Dollhouse, by Jordan Elizabeth
Zeus’ Fire, by Lorna MacDonald Czarnota
Clockwork Wolf, by Jordan Elizabeth
Lana’s End, by Christine Baker
The Clockwork Monkey, by W.K. Pomeroy
Treasure’s Kiss, by Jordan Elizabeth
Autumn Rose, by Eliza Tilton
A Princess of Zephyris, by Heather Talty
The Key Girl, by Grant Eagar
A Clockwork Beast, by Jordan Elizabeth
My Golden Anabel, by Natalia Darcy
The Archive Room, by Clare Weze
Time Spun Souls, by S.A. Larsen
Clockwork Dwarves, by Jordan Elizabeth
Last of the Giants, by J. Million
Within this tome, you’ll find steampunk fairy tale re-tellings, as well as original stories that will send your gears turning.
Welcome to the steampunk realm, with eleven authors guiding your path.
GEARS OF BRASS is a steampunk anthology published through Curiosity Quills. Within the pages, you’ll come across clockwork inventions and steampunk-ified fairy tale retellings. Eleven authors will guide you through worlds filled with airships, top hats, and corsets.
Introduction
A “Steamy” Note
A Clockwork Dollhouse, by Jordan Elizabeth
Zeus’ Fire, by Lorna MacDonald Czarnota
Clockwork Wolf, by Jordan Elizabeth
Lana’s End, by Christine Baker
The Clockwork Monkey, by W.K. Pomeroy
Treasure’s Kiss, by Jordan Elizabeth
Autumn Rose, by Eliza Tilton
A Princess of Zephyris, by Heather Talty
The Key Girl, by Grant Eagar
A Clockwork Beast, by Jordan Elizabeth
My Golden Anabel, by Natalia Darcy
The Archive Room, by Clare Weze
Time Spun Souls, by S.A. Larsen
Clockwork Dwarves, by Jordan Elizabeth
Last of the Giants, by J. Million
266 pages, Paperback
First published November 10, 2014
6 people are currently reading
528 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
December 12, 2014
One of the best Steampunk anthologies I've read in a while.
The authors each contributed very unique, cliche-less tales and fairy tale retellings.
I had not heard of a few of the others but will definitely look into their other works after this collection. Well edited and beautiful, eye-catching cover!
Personal favorite story was A Clockwork Dollhouse by Jordan Elizabeth...way to start the book with a bang!
(I chose this book at NetGalley and received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!)
The authors each contributed very unique, cliche-less tales and fairy tale retellings.
I had not heard of a few of the others but will definitely look into their other works after this collection. Well edited and beautiful, eye-catching cover!
Personal favorite story was A Clockwork Dollhouse by Jordan Elizabeth...way to start the book with a bang!
(I chose this book at NetGalley and received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!)
November 21, 2014
A great book. Easily one of the best collections of steampunk collections of 2014. Everyone who reads this will find at least one story that they will enjoy and find to be a classic.
December 13, 2014
*NetGalley book review*
Well slap me silly... this is a great book of steam punk stories. I have never really read any steam punk genre literature before but this were pretty damn good.
Well slap me silly... this is a great book of steam punk stories. I have never really read any steam punk genre literature before but this were pretty damn good.
February 22, 2015
I was delighted to find fifteen stories in this book. There’s literally something for everyone, with lots of different characters, plots, and approaches to the Steam Punk genre.
Several of the tales are loosely based on different mythologies and fables, like one was a surprising twist on the Red Riding Hood story and another is a new approach to the character of Rumpelstiltskin.
My favorite stories were “Time Spun Souls” by S.A.Larsen and “My Golden Anabel” by Natalia Darcy. Both have winsome protagonists that make you care about them from the first moment, clever premises, and exciting fast-paced plots. I also really enjoyed “A Clockwork Dollhouse” by Jordan Elizabeth. It was a murder mystery wrapped in copper-plating and toothy gears with a very creepy ending.
I was originally impressed by the sensational cover art, and I’m happy to report that the editing is as professional as the cover. If you’re a fan of Steam Punk, or just enjoy unusual historical fantasy, you can’t go wrong with this book.
Several of the tales are loosely based on different mythologies and fables, like one was a surprising twist on the Red Riding Hood story and another is a new approach to the character of Rumpelstiltskin.
My favorite stories were “Time Spun Souls” by S.A.Larsen and “My Golden Anabel” by Natalia Darcy. Both have winsome protagonists that make you care about them from the first moment, clever premises, and exciting fast-paced plots. I also really enjoyed “A Clockwork Dollhouse” by Jordan Elizabeth. It was a murder mystery wrapped in copper-plating and toothy gears with a very creepy ending.
I was originally impressed by the sensational cover art, and I’m happy to report that the editing is as professional as the cover. If you’re a fan of Steam Punk, or just enjoy unusual historical fantasy, you can’t go wrong with this book.
November 29, 2014
I wasn’t too familiar with steampunk before reading this collection. I loved how each story took me away to a different place with mechanical creations, professors, royalty, and the like. The world building is solid. As with any anthology, some stories will appeal to the reader more than others. I certainly was enraptured by most of these tales. I read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2015
I received this from Netgalley for my honest review. Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Okay so this may be this longest review I have ever written! Sorry!
One thing I want to say about Steampunk is to NEVER trust a budding relationship. Also NEVER trust a young sweet gentleman because they NEVER end up being who they portray themselves to be!! So many times in this book I was like, “Aww it’s turning into a romance,” and then he kills her! Or at least tries to. Does the love interest always have to turn out to be a dick?
Even though I rated this 3 star, I think I might have fallen in love with the genre. It intrigues me and even though there were some writing issues in this book, I still want to read more!! I will be looking for more of Jordan Elizabeth’s work. One thing I will say about this book is that even though it’s written by different authors and some are better than others, it feels like it was all written by the same person or has a cohesive feel. Another occurring theme was that people were just assholes like I imagine most the world to be now. Needless to say that none of these stories were happy. They either ended on a cliffhanger or a horribly sad ending.
A clockwork dollhouse by Jordan Elizabeth 3.5
So the first story really gripped me. It confused me a bit at first but I just went with it and realized it was my fault not the writing. This story was about a clockwork dollhouse that mimicked the family that had made it. Deaths were happening in the family and the young girl vowed to find the murdered and extract her revenge. What had confused me was I didn’t catch the time jump and thought her brother was her father. Good story and a really good concept for a whole book I think. I liked Ainsley, she was a bit creepy!
Zeus’ fire by Lorena MacDonald Czarnota 2.5
This story was about a group of siblings that go on an adventure to destroy the monsters that Peter (one of the sibs) created. What the story was actually about was banter between sibs, going to their parents’ house, building a flying ship and killing a few monsters but leaving the story on the cliffhanger of not finding and killing them all. I didn’t like this one as much as the first story. Mainly because I felt the author put the focus of the story on the wrong things. I wished it was more action and maybe romance than banter between siblings. This story could have been better mainly because I felt nothing actually happened and the story was a bit pointless.
Clockwork wolf by Jordan Elizabeth 3.5
This was a fairy tale retell of Little Red Riding Hood, Steam punk style and I really enjoyed it! Such a good remake of the classic story! I like Jordan Elizabeth’s writing style and I like that she is like gothic and dark. Her main characters have a very dark creepy personality and I love it! Perfect for the setting in like a gothic style historical novel. More of her please!! Also this is another great idea that could be a full book.
Lana’s end by Christine Baker 3
This one seems to be pretty cool. It’s about upgrading your body parts to fight off disease but only the rich can afford it. Well the MC is a snobby BIA and I hate snobby bias. Okay so after finishing the story I kind of liked Lana even though she was a BIA. Another good one.
The clockwork monkey by W. K. Pomeroy 2
I think this is a play on the story about the woman who went to the jungle to live with the gorillas. This felt like the Steampunk version of that. Good but somewhere in the middle I lost interest and forced myself to come back and finish this one.
Treasure’s Kiss by Jordan Elizabeth 2.5
This story was about a young socialite going on a date with a strange young man and finding herself in a sticky situation. Okay so not my favorite again. Dang it Jordan Elizabeth you were delivering with your creepy female MC’s but this one was a little vapid and spacey. I predicted the story before I even read it so maybe that’s why I didn’t like this one as much.
Autumn rose by Eliza Tilton 3
The first love story of the bunch! Also another fairy tale retell of Rumpelstiltskin Steampunk style. It was sweet but very predictable.
A Princess of Zephyris by Heather Talty 3.5
This was a cute mother/ daughter story. It’s written in the style of letters Samantha is writing to her mother telling her about her journey to the Floating city. I really enjoyed this one and I think it would have been a good full book as well.
The Key Girl by Grant Eagar 2.5
This was mythology Steampunk style and it was alright. It’s about a General and thieves wanting to take over Apollo’s clock and rule the world. Bella, the guardian of the clock is awoken to protect it and kill the intruders. She ends up finding her humanity and I think falling in love with the under priest. This story felt almost…. I don’t know. Too planned out. It felt like a b rated movie, like the characters weren’t real people and say stupid formal things. Although they are like priests and stuff so maybe it fits but I just feel like the dialogue is very formal and boring. Kind of cool but I didn’t like how it ended on a HUGE cliffhanger.
A Clockwork beast by Jordan Elizabeth 3
Another fairy tale retell of Frankenstein. It’s about a girl, Augusta, which wants to travel and see the world. Her father is afraid for her and fights her about it. She decides to make a clockwork beat as her protector and her father tells her to destroy it. She ends up running away and her father sets the town against her to kill the beast. Jordan Elizabeth delivers with her writing style and well-rounded characters! I love how her characters make me feel something I’m not used to feeling while reading books. They make me want to love and kill them at the same time. And the fact she makes you feel these things from a short story. Some books can’t make me feel this way with over 200 pages.
My Golden Anabel by Natalia Darcy 3
This story is about girl named Anabel that is engaged and lives at home with her father. Her father spends all his time in his lab forcing Anabel to take on odd jobs. They lost her mother to a sickness and her father is claiming to be “reunited” with his love. Worried for her father’s health she steals his keys to his lab and investigates further. In a way this was also another take on Frankenstein.
The Archive Room by Clare Weze 3
This starts with a girl, Elizabeth preparing her father after he has died. She is full of grief and sadness. And mostly just continues with her day as a poor person in this futuristic yet old world setting. Her story is moving and I really felt for her. She meets a girl named Anthie at work and strikes up an unlikely friendship. *I don't want to spoil anything too much, but I just want to remind you that I did say NONE of these stories really ended happy.*
Time Spun Souls by S. A. Larsen 3
This story is really intriguing. I feel like its parts of Cinderella mixed with parts of Rumpelstiltskin. It’s about a girl named Emma and her father had recently died. Her evil step mother is looking for a new husband to take care of her and Emma has been working as a yarn spinner. Turns out that the gentleman that her step mother is wooing is the owner to the yarn spinning factory and has plans for Emma. This was a very good story and another one that would be good expanded into a full book.
Clockwork Dwarves by Jordan Elizabeth 3.5
I loved this one! This was a retake on Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. This was sooo cute and even though the MC is kind of annoying, I kind of loved her. Or maybe I’m just deprived of some romance!!
Last of the Giants by J. Million 3
This is another retake only of Jack and the Beanstalk and instead of Jack its Jackie! Okay so I have a feeling that this story may be the only one not to feel unfinished. It turned out to be a cute yet somewhat weird story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who love dark creepy characters, fairy tale retells, and of course this book is for anyone who love Steampunk!
Okay so this may be this longest review I have ever written! Sorry!
One thing I want to say about Steampunk is to NEVER trust a budding relationship. Also NEVER trust a young sweet gentleman because they NEVER end up being who they portray themselves to be!! So many times in this book I was like, “Aww it’s turning into a romance,” and then he kills her! Or at least tries to. Does the love interest always have to turn out to be a dick?
Even though I rated this 3 star, I think I might have fallen in love with the genre. It intrigues me and even though there were some writing issues in this book, I still want to read more!! I will be looking for more of Jordan Elizabeth’s work. One thing I will say about this book is that even though it’s written by different authors and some are better than others, it feels like it was all written by the same person or has a cohesive feel. Another occurring theme was that people were just assholes like I imagine most the world to be now. Needless to say that none of these stories were happy. They either ended on a cliffhanger or a horribly sad ending.
A clockwork dollhouse by Jordan Elizabeth 3.5
So the first story really gripped me. It confused me a bit at first but I just went with it and realized it was my fault not the writing. This story was about a clockwork dollhouse that mimicked the family that had made it. Deaths were happening in the family and the young girl vowed to find the murdered and extract her revenge. What had confused me was I didn’t catch the time jump and thought her brother was her father. Good story and a really good concept for a whole book I think. I liked Ainsley, she was a bit creepy!
Zeus’ fire by Lorena MacDonald Czarnota 2.5
This story was about a group of siblings that go on an adventure to destroy the monsters that Peter (one of the sibs) created. What the story was actually about was banter between sibs, going to their parents’ house, building a flying ship and killing a few monsters but leaving the story on the cliffhanger of not finding and killing them all. I didn’t like this one as much as the first story. Mainly because I felt the author put the focus of the story on the wrong things. I wished it was more action and maybe romance than banter between siblings. This story could have been better mainly because I felt nothing actually happened and the story was a bit pointless.
Clockwork wolf by Jordan Elizabeth 3.5
This was a fairy tale retell of Little Red Riding Hood, Steam punk style and I really enjoyed it! Such a good remake of the classic story! I like Jordan Elizabeth’s writing style and I like that she is like gothic and dark. Her main characters have a very dark creepy personality and I love it! Perfect for the setting in like a gothic style historical novel. More of her please!! Also this is another great idea that could be a full book.
Lana’s end by Christine Baker 3
This one seems to be pretty cool. It’s about upgrading your body parts to fight off disease but only the rich can afford it. Well the MC is a snobby BIA and I hate snobby bias. Okay so after finishing the story I kind of liked Lana even though she was a BIA. Another good one.
The clockwork monkey by W. K. Pomeroy 2
I think this is a play on the story about the woman who went to the jungle to live with the gorillas. This felt like the Steampunk version of that. Good but somewhere in the middle I lost interest and forced myself to come back and finish this one.
Treasure’s Kiss by Jordan Elizabeth 2.5
This story was about a young socialite going on a date with a strange young man and finding herself in a sticky situation. Okay so not my favorite again. Dang it Jordan Elizabeth you were delivering with your creepy female MC’s but this one was a little vapid and spacey. I predicted the story before I even read it so maybe that’s why I didn’t like this one as much.
Autumn rose by Eliza Tilton 3
The first love story of the bunch! Also another fairy tale retell of Rumpelstiltskin Steampunk style. It was sweet but very predictable.
A Princess of Zephyris by Heather Talty 3.5
This was a cute mother/ daughter story. It’s written in the style of letters Samantha is writing to her mother telling her about her journey to the Floating city. I really enjoyed this one and I think it would have been a good full book as well.
The Key Girl by Grant Eagar 2.5
This was mythology Steampunk style and it was alright. It’s about a General and thieves wanting to take over Apollo’s clock and rule the world. Bella, the guardian of the clock is awoken to protect it and kill the intruders. She ends up finding her humanity and I think falling in love with the under priest. This story felt almost…. I don’t know. Too planned out. It felt like a b rated movie, like the characters weren’t real people and say stupid formal things. Although they are like priests and stuff so maybe it fits but I just feel like the dialogue is very formal and boring. Kind of cool but I didn’t like how it ended on a HUGE cliffhanger.
A Clockwork beast by Jordan Elizabeth 3
Another fairy tale retell of Frankenstein. It’s about a girl, Augusta, which wants to travel and see the world. Her father is afraid for her and fights her about it. She decides to make a clockwork beat as her protector and her father tells her to destroy it. She ends up running away and her father sets the town against her to kill the beast. Jordan Elizabeth delivers with her writing style and well-rounded characters! I love how her characters make me feel something I’m not used to feeling while reading books. They make me want to love and kill them at the same time. And the fact she makes you feel these things from a short story. Some books can’t make me feel this way with over 200 pages.
My Golden Anabel by Natalia Darcy 3
This story is about girl named Anabel that is engaged and lives at home with her father. Her father spends all his time in his lab forcing Anabel to take on odd jobs. They lost her mother to a sickness and her father is claiming to be “reunited” with his love. Worried for her father’s health she steals his keys to his lab and investigates further. In a way this was also another take on Frankenstein.
The Archive Room by Clare Weze 3
This starts with a girl, Elizabeth preparing her father after he has died. She is full of grief and sadness. And mostly just continues with her day as a poor person in this futuristic yet old world setting. Her story is moving and I really felt for her. She meets a girl named Anthie at work and strikes up an unlikely friendship. *I don't want to spoil anything too much, but I just want to remind you that I did say NONE of these stories really ended happy.*
Time Spun Souls by S. A. Larsen 3
This story is really intriguing. I feel like its parts of Cinderella mixed with parts of Rumpelstiltskin. It’s about a girl named Emma and her father had recently died. Her evil step mother is looking for a new husband to take care of her and Emma has been working as a yarn spinner. Turns out that the gentleman that her step mother is wooing is the owner to the yarn spinning factory and has plans for Emma. This was a very good story and another one that would be good expanded into a full book.
Clockwork Dwarves by Jordan Elizabeth 3.5
I loved this one! This was a retake on Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. This was sooo cute and even though the MC is kind of annoying, I kind of loved her. Or maybe I’m just deprived of some romance!!
Last of the Giants by J. Million 3
This is another retake only of Jack and the Beanstalk and instead of Jack its Jackie! Okay so I have a feeling that this story may be the only one not to feel unfinished. It turned out to be a cute yet somewhat weird story.
I would recommend this book to anyone who love dark creepy characters, fairy tale retells, and of course this book is for anyone who love Steampunk!
November 8, 2015
I was given a free copy from the author in return for an honest review.
Let me first emphasize this point: THE COVER IS BEAUTIFUL Actually, a lot of Jordan Mierek's covers are gorgeous.
.
This book incorporates fifteen short stories, each about steam punk. Some of them, I wish would be an entire book, others, it was too short for me to comprehend.
The author built a world of machines and ideas. She created characters of all kinds and built a story of love, revenge, inventions, and losses.
The book:
Let me first emphasize this point: THE COVER IS BEAUTIFUL Actually, a lot of Jordan Mierek's covers are gorgeous.
.This book incorporates fifteen short stories, each about steam punk. Some of them, I wish would be an entire book, others, it was too short for me to comprehend.
The author built a world of machines and ideas. She created characters of all kinds and built a story of love, revenge, inventions, and losses.
The book:
December 15, 2014
I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received Gears of Brass; a Steampunk Anthology through Netgalley. My copy only contained the first story: A Clockwork Dollhouse by Jordan Elizabeth, so this review will only focus on that one.
This story is all about Robert and his niece Ainsley. Robert is a man of many secrets and Ainsley is one of them. He has kept her prisoner for a long time and now she’s out to get revenge.
I love everything about steampunk. And this short story has everything you would expect: mechanical creations, steam-powerd devices, magic, royalty, steampunk fashion, and an exciting story. Very solid, great way to start of the book. Kinda wish I could read the other stories as well.
Love steampunk? This is a must read!
I received Gears of Brass; a Steampunk Anthology through Netgalley. My copy only contained the first story: A Clockwork Dollhouse by Jordan Elizabeth, so this review will only focus on that one.
This story is all about Robert and his niece Ainsley. Robert is a man of many secrets and Ainsley is one of them. He has kept her prisoner for a long time and now she’s out to get revenge.
I love everything about steampunk. And this short story has everything you would expect: mechanical creations, steam-powerd devices, magic, royalty, steampunk fashion, and an exciting story. Very solid, great way to start of the book. Kinda wish I could read the other stories as well.
Love steampunk? This is a must read!
March 6, 2015
** In exchange for a digital copy, I was asked to post an honest review on GoodReads.com within a month.**
Well.. Several of the stories were great and wrapped up, neatly. Others left me asking, "OK what just happened?" The rewritten fairy tails were a bit dark and pessimistic. I did like the more original tales that wrapped up and gave me a sense of completion.The unfinished tales were frustrating as they had potential but did not quite pan out.
I will note, adding gears to stories does NOT make steampunk. Some of these stories definitely did not fit the definition but over all, the book was alright. I did feel irritation with a few editing mistakes but that is pretty much in all books.
All in all, a good read with some definite page turners.
Well.. Several of the stories were great and wrapped up, neatly. Others left me asking, "OK what just happened?" The rewritten fairy tails were a bit dark and pessimistic. I did like the more original tales that wrapped up and gave me a sense of completion.The unfinished tales were frustrating as they had potential but did not quite pan out.
I will note, adding gears to stories does NOT make steampunk. Some of these stories definitely did not fit the definition but over all, the book was alright. I did feel irritation with a few editing mistakes but that is pretty much in all books.
All in all, a good read with some definite page turners.
February 14, 2016
I really like steampunk! And anthologies are great! This one just isn't the best. Some of the stories have not point and bad plots. There are many spelling errors as well. In some, it is written with more formal older words and then you suddenly get a random modern word. The stories that are good are really good though! Sometimes the plots were easy to guess or there wasn't really a plot at all but overall, this is a pretty cool book! And I love the cover!
February 22, 2015
Received a complimentary copy to read and review. Great group of short stories. Each story has something that will appeal to all types of readers. I couldn't put it down. There are some great twists and turns in the stories that will keep the reader turning the page. This is one to add to your TBR list if you love to read steampunk.
April 3, 2015
I was a little sad when I finished reading this anthology. Although not all of the stories were of the same caliber, I truly enjoyed the journey and wished for more when the book ended. Most of the protagonists were female, which surprised me, but I won't complain. On to the details, eh?
A CLOCKWORK DOLLHOUSE: This was a fabulous opening to the anthology, perhaps a bit macabre, but definitely engaging. I was rooting for revenge.
ZEUS' FIRE: Such a unique marriage of mythology and steampunk, with strong family values. I wanted the adventure to continue.
CLOCKWORK WOLF: Fairytale retelling and steampunk all in one. This was a dark tale, and despite following a demented protagonist, I found myself invested.
LANA'S END: High society, bio-clockwork, thieves, egos and a rightful end. I enjoyed this story world. (Even if it was a little dark.)
THE CLOCKWORK MONKEY: Tech meets the natural world and evolution. This was a sweet story with a strong conclusion.
TREASURE'S KISS: Definitely didn't see the end coming. Very fun twist here.
AUTUMN ROSE: If you want your happily ever after, you just might find it here.
A PRINCESS OF ZEPHYRIS: This was definitely the most unique story in the anthology. It got my imagination moving.
THE KEY GIRL: I loved the premise of this one. This is definitely an action piece with some mythology twisted at the core. A fun read.
A CLOCKWORK BEAST: The beast in this story takes on a double meaning for me, and I enjoyed how this one came full circle.
MY GOLDEN ANABEL: It's dangerous to be naive. I wanted to protagonist to fight a little more for herself, but I liked the end.
THE ARCHIVE ROOM: A dystopian world and a tale of friendship. I wanted to learn more about their society and spend more time with the characters.
TIME SPUN SOULS: Whew! This story had so much creativity wrapped into it, my head was spinning. Beyond unique!
CLOCKWORK DWARVES: Depraved. This was the most risque of the tales, but made for a fun spin on Snow White.
LAST OF THE GIANTS: I loved this fairy tale retelling and wanted the story to go on. Definitely a fun angle.
All in all, if you're looking for a unique read with bite-sized snippets, this is a great choice.
Content Warning: This anthology is rather mature and recommended to adults.
A CLOCKWORK DOLLHOUSE: This was a fabulous opening to the anthology, perhaps a bit macabre, but definitely engaging. I was rooting for revenge.
ZEUS' FIRE: Such a unique marriage of mythology and steampunk, with strong family values. I wanted the adventure to continue.
CLOCKWORK WOLF: Fairytale retelling and steampunk all in one. This was a dark tale, and despite following a demented protagonist, I found myself invested.
LANA'S END: High society, bio-clockwork, thieves, egos and a rightful end. I enjoyed this story world. (Even if it was a little dark.)
THE CLOCKWORK MONKEY: Tech meets the natural world and evolution. This was a sweet story with a strong conclusion.
TREASURE'S KISS: Definitely didn't see the end coming. Very fun twist here.
AUTUMN ROSE: If you want your happily ever after, you just might find it here.
A PRINCESS OF ZEPHYRIS: This was definitely the most unique story in the anthology. It got my imagination moving.
THE KEY GIRL: I loved the premise of this one. This is definitely an action piece with some mythology twisted at the core. A fun read.
A CLOCKWORK BEAST: The beast in this story takes on a double meaning for me, and I enjoyed how this one came full circle.
MY GOLDEN ANABEL: It's dangerous to be naive. I wanted to protagonist to fight a little more for herself, but I liked the end.
THE ARCHIVE ROOM: A dystopian world and a tale of friendship. I wanted to learn more about their society and spend more time with the characters.
TIME SPUN SOULS: Whew! This story had so much creativity wrapped into it, my head was spinning. Beyond unique!
CLOCKWORK DWARVES: Depraved. This was the most risque of the tales, but made for a fun spin on Snow White.
LAST OF THE GIANTS: I loved this fairy tale retelling and wanted the story to go on. Definitely a fun angle.
All in all, if you're looking for a unique read with bite-sized snippets, this is a great choice.
Content Warning: This anthology is rather mature and recommended to adults.
January 3, 2015
2.5/5 Stars
I really wanted to adore this book. It is a compilation of steampunk stories from several authors (heavily featuring Jordan Elizabeth Mierek). Short stories have to leave an impression in one way or another. Most of these floated out of my head as soon as I finished them.
Memorable/Worthwhile Stories: These rated a 3-4/5 Stars for me.
Clockwork Dollhouse:
Creepy story that leaves you with vivid impressions - in some ways very Twilight Zone-ish in feel.
Clockwork Wolf:
Evil Red Riding Hood retelling - of all of them, this one was the most visceral for me.
Key Girl:
Think Indiana Jones meets Greek Mythology. I wish this one was the first chapter in a book rather than a short story.
Last of the Giants:
Retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk. This was my favorite and I also wish this was part of a novel instead of a short story.
The rest were a chore for me to read. I love full length steampunk, but perhaps I have a niche of steampunk I prefer. Overall this took me FOREVER to read. I had more fun writing this review than reading the book. I kept picking it up and putting it down....maybe you'll like more than me.
I received a free digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to adore this book. It is a compilation of steampunk stories from several authors (heavily featuring Jordan Elizabeth Mierek). Short stories have to leave an impression in one way or another. Most of these floated out of my head as soon as I finished them.
Memorable/Worthwhile Stories: These rated a 3-4/5 Stars for me.
Clockwork Dollhouse:
Creepy story that leaves you with vivid impressions - in some ways very Twilight Zone-ish in feel.
Clockwork Wolf:
Evil Red Riding Hood retelling - of all of them, this one was the most visceral for me.
Key Girl:
Think Indiana Jones meets Greek Mythology. I wish this one was the first chapter in a book rather than a short story.
Last of the Giants:
Retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk. This was my favorite and I also wish this was part of a novel instead of a short story.
The rest were a chore for me to read. I love full length steampunk, but perhaps I have a niche of steampunk I prefer. Overall this took me FOREVER to read. I had more fun writing this review than reading the book. I kept picking it up and putting it down....maybe you'll like more than me.
I received a free digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2019
The are several authors in this steampunk anthology and I was pleased that there were different story lines covered in the book as well.
Prior to this book Jordan Elizabeth was the only author I was familiar with in this genre and I am pleased to find other authors I can now follow.
If you can locate this book I would encourage you to give it a read.
Prior to this book Jordan Elizabeth was the only author I was familiar with in this genre and I am pleased to find other authors I can now follow.
If you can locate this book I would encourage you to give it a read.
March 1, 2015
Fantastic read. Each story adds to a world that I think should be better explored. A few of the stories had me wishing there was more because they seemed to end abruptly with it closure.
July 19, 2018
Stories to make your gears turn! It doesn't matter if your gears are made of brass, flesh or both, these stories touch you! They take you away to different worlds. They are mysterious, magical and mechanical.
Great collection!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great collection!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
partly-read
December 16, 2015For me, choosing to pick up a steampunk anthology of authors I'm unfamiliar with is the triumph of hope over experience. Steampunk, all too often, consists of wonderful ideas poorly executed. In the first three stories of this book, though, I encountered OK ideas executed to a mediocre standard. That's as far as I got, because life is too short to read books I'm not particularly enjoying.
The first and third stories, by the editor, Jordan Elizabeth, were also darker than I prefer. They reveal a lack of facility with apostrophes, and language in general. As plots, they work well enough, though the second one has a soft ending, but in both cases there were nasty serial-killer characters without redeeming features. The second Jordan Elizabeth story (the third in the book) also has a professor who is absent-minded to the point of idiocy, and I don't generally appreciate characters carrying the Idiot Ball.
One of the problems of steampunk is that the Victorianism and/or the Englishness usually isn't well conveyed. This is one of the two main problems of the second story in the collection, "Zeus's Fire" by Lorna MacDonald. There's no sense of it being set in England, to me, particularly since the dialog is pure modern American ("Are you okay?" "You suckers!" "Yeah, what she said!"). It was only when Southampton was mentioned near the end that I finally resolved the question of whether it was even supposed to be England.
The other main problem of that story is an odd one I've noticed in a few inexperienced writers: they use simple past ("Peter assured Edward that he made improvements") when past perfect is called for ("Peter assured Edward that he had made improvements"). This problem comes up repeatedly, and is distracting, because I had to stop and untangle when everything had happened.
The story also ends inconclusively, in a way that suggests it's the first episode in a much longer story.
I've read steampunk that is much worse than this, but, in the first three stories at least, it doesn't rise above mediocrity, and so I didn't read any further.
(No star rating because I didn't finish.)
The first and third stories, by the editor, Jordan Elizabeth, were also darker than I prefer. They reveal a lack of facility with apostrophes, and language in general. As plots, they work well enough, though the second one has a soft ending, but in both cases there were nasty serial-killer characters without redeeming features. The second Jordan Elizabeth story (the third in the book) also has a professor who is absent-minded to the point of idiocy, and I don't generally appreciate characters carrying the Idiot Ball.
One of the problems of steampunk is that the Victorianism and/or the Englishness usually isn't well conveyed. This is one of the two main problems of the second story in the collection, "Zeus's Fire" by Lorna MacDonald. There's no sense of it being set in England, to me, particularly since the dialog is pure modern American ("Are you okay?" "You suckers!" "Yeah, what she said!"). It was only when Southampton was mentioned near the end that I finally resolved the question of whether it was even supposed to be England.
The other main problem of that story is an odd one I've noticed in a few inexperienced writers: they use simple past ("Peter assured Edward that he made improvements") when past perfect is called for ("Peter assured Edward that he had made improvements"). This problem comes up repeatedly, and is distracting, because I had to stop and untangle when everything had happened.
The story also ends inconclusively, in a way that suggests it's the first episode in a much longer story.
I've read steampunk that is much worse than this, but, in the first three stories at least, it doesn't rise above mediocrity, and so I didn't read any further.
(No star rating because I didn't finish.)
February 3, 2015
(I got a copy from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.)
2.5 stars, as on average the stories ranged from "it's OK" to "I like it" for me, but not more—which is too bad, because, well, steampunk? How come I didn't like this more!
My problems with this anthology were some cases of bad editing (spelling mistakes), but mainly the fact that most stories left me with a strong feeling of unfulfilled expectations. As soon as I'd get into a plot, and get excited about it and how it might pan out, the story ended, somewhat unresolved. As if the authors had so much more to say, but were constricted by imposed length, and had had to find in a hurry a "witty" punchline to give to their tales.
(Speaking of tales, quite a few stories were retellings of fairy tales, so if you like those, you're going to be happy. Same if you like plots where human nature is denounced as dark, twisted, and not so close to redemption.)
On the bright side, the authors featured here all seem to have a vivid imagination, and plenty of good ideas in store for novellas or even novels. I could easily see half these short stories expanded, especially Zeus' Fire, Time Spun Souls and The Key Girl (the latter had excellent bases, but went much too quickly to my liking).
My favourite ones:
* A Clockwork Dollhouse – in my opinion, the best wrapped and fulfilling of all.
* Zeus' Fire – Greek mythology and steampunk (although it didn't feel "British", owing to the language).
* Clockwork Wolf – Little Red Riding Hood revisited.
* Lana's End – selfish protagonists are selfish!
In other words, I was disappointed in the anthology itself, but I definitely wouldn't mind checking some of the authors' longer works, as I believe they can do good things when given longer formats to develop their ideas, worlds and characters.
2.5 stars, as on average the stories ranged from "it's OK" to "I like it" for me, but not more—which is too bad, because, well, steampunk? How come I didn't like this more!
My problems with this anthology were some cases of bad editing (spelling mistakes), but mainly the fact that most stories left me with a strong feeling of unfulfilled expectations. As soon as I'd get into a plot, and get excited about it and how it might pan out, the story ended, somewhat unresolved. As if the authors had so much more to say, but were constricted by imposed length, and had had to find in a hurry a "witty" punchline to give to their tales.
(Speaking of tales, quite a few stories were retellings of fairy tales, so if you like those, you're going to be happy. Same if you like plots where human nature is denounced as dark, twisted, and not so close to redemption.)
On the bright side, the authors featured here all seem to have a vivid imagination, and plenty of good ideas in store for novellas or even novels. I could easily see half these short stories expanded, especially Zeus' Fire, Time Spun Souls and The Key Girl (the latter had excellent bases, but went much too quickly to my liking).
My favourite ones:
* A Clockwork Dollhouse – in my opinion, the best wrapped and fulfilling of all.
* Zeus' Fire – Greek mythology and steampunk (although it didn't feel "British", owing to the language).
* Clockwork Wolf – Little Red Riding Hood revisited.
* Lana's End – selfish protagonists are selfish!
In other words, I was disappointed in the anthology itself, but I definitely wouldn't mind checking some of the authors' longer works, as I believe they can do good things when given longer formats to develop their ideas, worlds and characters.
January 8, 2015
I wanted to love it. I love steampunk. I didn't love this book. I tried and tried and tried. The short , stories were too short and didn't leave me feeling like they were finished at all. A few of the stories were good but could've been better. I admit I gave up after about half way. I just couldn't continue reading little nuggets that left me wondering why they stopped when and where they did.
Clockwork Dollhouse, Zeus' Fire, Clockwork Wolf, Lana's End were my favorites that I did read, but I wish they were all more well concluded - like Clockwork Dollhouse.
I also wish the titles were a bit more varied and a bit more creative topic wise.
A note on formatting - I read on a kindle fire hd - in black background white text. I hated having to stop reading and reset the text to black on white or sepia to see the author's name and next title in the sequence. This problem is one of the main reasons I stopped reading this title and gave up when I did. Having to repeatedly alter the book so I could see what I was reading, frustrated me. An extra page or even a simple chapter-type heading format 'author name - title" between titles would've gone a long way to making me want to keep reading even if the stories were horribly abruptly concluded.
Clockwork Dollhouse, Zeus' Fire, Clockwork Wolf, Lana's End were my favorites that I did read, but I wish they were all more well concluded - like Clockwork Dollhouse.
I also wish the titles were a bit more varied and a bit more creative topic wise.
A note on formatting - I read on a kindle fire hd - in black background white text. I hated having to stop reading and reset the text to black on white or sepia to see the author's name and next title in the sequence. This problem is one of the main reasons I stopped reading this title and gave up when I did. Having to repeatedly alter the book so I could see what I was reading, frustrated me. An extra page or even a simple chapter-type heading format 'author name - title" between titles would've gone a long way to making me want to keep reading even if the stories were horribly abruptly concluded.
April 6, 2015
This was the first time I ever read anything to do with steampunk. I'm a fan of the outfits I've seen people wear and the cool, unique things they've created but I never read anything about it. I can honestly say that I am now a fan! Each one of these stories was insanely interesting. They were all very different from each other and it wasn't at all confusing. That was my worry at first that there would be too many cooks in the kitchen and it would end well but I am so glad I was wrong.
I really liked each and every story here, especially Jordan Elizabeths she is a very talented writer. I already have Treasure Darkly by her and I am so excited to read it now.
Since each story was short I won't go into detail with any of them because I won't spoil it for anyone. All I'll say is no one in the steampunk world is innocent. Every time I thought someone was a good guy I was shocked to find out they were not and felt just as hurt as the character at the betrayal.
It was great for the steampunk world to come to life like this and I would easily read any books by any of these authors.
I really liked each and every story here, especially Jordan Elizabeths she is a very talented writer. I already have Treasure Darkly by her and I am so excited to read it now.
Since each story was short I won't go into detail with any of them because I won't spoil it for anyone. All I'll say is no one in the steampunk world is innocent. Every time I thought someone was a good guy I was shocked to find out they were not and felt just as hurt as the character at the betrayal.
It was great for the steampunk world to come to life like this and I would easily read any books by any of these authors.
August 24, 2018
I really wanted to like these anthologies, because I fell in love with the cover, unfortunately not so much with the stories. I picked this book up and put it down so many times as the stories would leave me feeling unsatisfied with the endings, the meandering storylines and some went dark really fast.
While a bit drawn out my favorite was A Clockwork Dollhouse it was probably the most complete of the stories. Many of the others just as you were getting into the story it would just end or end ambiguously. It may have been a way for you to want to track down the author and find the rest of the story. Honestly after trying to work through this anthology that would have been more effort that I felt any of the stories were worth.
There were a few intriguing bits and pieces along the way, just not enough to really keep me interested for more than a story every few weeks.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
While a bit drawn out my favorite was A Clockwork Dollhouse it was probably the most complete of the stories. Many of the others just as you were getting into the story it would just end or end ambiguously. It may have been a way for you to want to track down the author and find the rest of the story. Honestly after trying to work through this anthology that would have been more effort that I felt any of the stories were worth.
There were a few intriguing bits and pieces along the way, just not enough to really keep me interested for more than a story every few weeks.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 27, 2015
It was so much fun reading this book. All stories are interesting and highly entertaining. Some are excellent, some good and I love the whole book. I'm so glad I got to read this book. I think I've developed a taste for steampunk, a genre allien to me not so long ago. I recommend this delightful read to all my friends and readers. I hope you like it as much as I did.
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January 29, 2015
Provided to me by netgalley for an honest review.
First off I love steampunk. Its one of my favorite genres. I was really excited to read this collection. I was a bit disappointed by this collection of stories. i liked five of them and the rest were just not what I wanted to read. Some were good and others okay. The writing was not what I liked. Overall an okay novel
First off I love steampunk. Its one of my favorite genres. I was really excited to read this collection. I was a bit disappointed by this collection of stories. i liked five of them and the rest were just not what I wanted to read. Some were good and others okay. The writing was not what I liked. Overall an okay novel
March 7, 2015
Interesting mix of steampunk stories. You get to jump between different worlds, steampunk inventions, and characters - fun mix.
July 9, 2015
Absolutely fabulous collection of Steampunk stories!!
July 28, 2016
A book full of Steampunk short stories. I thought that some of the stories would make great books. Full of very interesting characters.
September 26, 2016
What amazing stories. I loved this
June 28, 2017
I did receive this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Before I get to that, I must be honest I've never been into steampunk. Some of these stories might have changed my mind. This will be a kind of lengthy review as I am adding a little about each story held within the covers (There are a lot of stories in this, part the way through I was like "OMG! How many stories are in this thing").
The Clockwork Dollhouse: I would have loved this as a full length novel, but it is still great as a short story. It has mystery, a little suspense and a surprise ending.
Zeus' Fire: Action, adventure, "mad" science. I love how some of the characters are similar to ones in Greek Mythology (I 💖mythology). I would actually love to find out what finishes happening to the characters and the monsters.
Clockwork Wolf: I'm a little on the fence about this one. Redyn definitely takes revenge to a new extreme.
Lana's End: This is another one that I wasn't over the moon for. It does have a twisty ending and proves the point of not underestimating someone.
The Clockwork Monkey: To me there was no real climax. It was a clever story but there was no real buildup, personal discovery, etc.
Treasure's Kiss: For me this is a little prequel to Treasure Darkly, even though the incident isn't referenced in that book. It does give a little more insight into the vapid, self absorbed Amethyst from the beginning though.
Autumn Rose: I actually thoroughly enjoyed this new spin on the Rumpelstiltskin tale.
A Princess of Zephyris: The fact that the majority of the story is written as letters is a creative storytelling method. However, for this story I believe I would have preferred a first person narrative to be better immersed in the story.
The Key Girl: I was so enthralled in the story and world that I hated for it to end!! I would love love love to see this as a full length novel!!!!
A Clockwork Beast: I feel bad for Augusta. She gets a taste of freedom only to have her wings clipped before they can completely unfurl.
My Golden Anabel: This story seems to have several different underlying meanings built in.
The Archive Room: This seemed to be an okay story, until towards the end. I expected there to be some kind of twisted or big ending but, it was just kind of blah.
Time Spun Souls: I might would have liked this as a full length novel but, it works as a short story just as well. The ending kind of leaves it open so your imagination can take over as to what they will do next.
Clockwork Dwarves: This is definitely a different spin to an old classic. It doesn't feel quite complete though, almost like some parts were left out or rushed.
Last of the Giants: Jack and the Beanstalk.. Who cares about that guy anymore when you have Jackie?!? This is a very creative and well thought out rendition. You can actually believe this is the way the original should have been.
As you can probably guess from some of my former comments this is a cornucopia of different styles of stories, characters, etc. There is a little bit of something for most readers, even if steampunk isn't really your "thing" (like me).
The Clockwork Dollhouse: I would have loved this as a full length novel, but it is still great as a short story. It has mystery, a little suspense and a surprise ending.
Zeus' Fire: Action, adventure, "mad" science. I love how some of the characters are similar to ones in Greek Mythology (I 💖mythology). I would actually love to find out what finishes happening to the characters and the monsters.
Clockwork Wolf: I'm a little on the fence about this one. Redyn definitely takes revenge to a new extreme.
Lana's End: This is another one that I wasn't over the moon for. It does have a twisty ending and proves the point of not underestimating someone.
The Clockwork Monkey: To me there was no real climax. It was a clever story but there was no real buildup, personal discovery, etc.
Treasure's Kiss: For me this is a little prequel to Treasure Darkly, even though the incident isn't referenced in that book. It does give a little more insight into the vapid, self absorbed Amethyst from the beginning though.
Autumn Rose: I actually thoroughly enjoyed this new spin on the Rumpelstiltskin tale.
A Princess of Zephyris: The fact that the majority of the story is written as letters is a creative storytelling method. However, for this story I believe I would have preferred a first person narrative to be better immersed in the story.
The Key Girl: I was so enthralled in the story and world that I hated for it to end!! I would love love love to see this as a full length novel!!!!
A Clockwork Beast: I feel bad for Augusta. She gets a taste of freedom only to have her wings clipped before they can completely unfurl.
My Golden Anabel: This story seems to have several different underlying meanings built in.
The Archive Room: This seemed to be an okay story, until towards the end. I expected there to be some kind of twisted or big ending but, it was just kind of blah.
Time Spun Souls: I might would have liked this as a full length novel but, it works as a short story just as well. The ending kind of leaves it open so your imagination can take over as to what they will do next.
Clockwork Dwarves: This is definitely a different spin to an old classic. It doesn't feel quite complete though, almost like some parts were left out or rushed.
Last of the Giants: Jack and the Beanstalk.. Who cares about that guy anymore when you have Jackie?!? This is a very creative and well thought out rendition. You can actually believe this is the way the original should have been.
As you can probably guess from some of my former comments this is a cornucopia of different styles of stories, characters, etc. There is a little bit of something for most readers, even if steampunk isn't really your "thing" (like me).
September 8, 2018
This is an excellent anthology of short stories with a steampunk twist. From fairytale retellings to Ancient Greek mythology and Poe, stories of love and stories of woe, they are all unique and all great reads - see below. If you like short stories and love a steampunk twist, this is an anthology you really shouldn't miss!
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
Individual Stories:
A Clockwork Dollhouse by Jordan Elizabeth
This story is ingenious in a Poe-esque way. And the twist at the end? Perfect!
Zeus’ Fire by Lorna MacDonald Czarnota
I liked the way that Ancient Greek mythology has been woven into this story from a steampunk age. I'd love to read more, to know what happens next, and whether the siblings succeed in their quest.
Clockwork Wolf by Jordan Elizabeth
This steampunk and murderous twist on Red Riding Hood is awesome. Loved it!!
Lana’s End by Christine Baker
A good story, well written. Loved the Burke brothers reference.
The Clockwork Monkey by W.K. Pomeroy
LOVED this story. Made me want to go exploring for clockwork monkeys too!
Treasure’s Kiss by Jordan Elizabeth
I loved this latest instalment in Amethyst Treasure's life, and yet more proof she's not as daft as she likes to appear!
Autumn Rose by Eliza Tilton
A beautiful new version of the Rumplestiltskin story.
A Princess of Zephyris by Heather Talty
A good story with a bittersweet ending.
The Key Girl by Grant Eagar
Whilst one of the longest stories in the book (split into three sections), this story still felt somewhat incomplete, as it finishes just as they really get started! There are also a lot of silly errors in it that could've been caught with a decent proofread.
A Clockwork Beast by Jordan Elizabeth
Kind of felt like a cross between Rapunzel and Frankenstein, especially the scene with the villagers with pitchforks and torches! Loved the female protagonist's fierce independence.
My Golden Anabel by Natalia Darcy
Both sad and yet sweetly tender. A lovely story
The Archive Room by Clare Weze
This story is a sad tale of friendship found and lost in pursuit of advancement in society.
Time Spun Souls by S.A. Larsen
Really enjoyed this story, and am dying to know what happens next!!
Clockwork Dwarves by Jordan Elizabeth
A fabulous steampunk retelling of Snow White. Very imaginative.
Last of the Giants by J. Million
Based on Jack and the Beanstalk, this is an excellent story, and a very fitting end to the anthology.
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
Individual Stories:
A Clockwork Dollhouse by Jordan Elizabeth
This story is ingenious in a Poe-esque way. And the twist at the end? Perfect!
Zeus’ Fire by Lorna MacDonald Czarnota
I liked the way that Ancient Greek mythology has been woven into this story from a steampunk age. I'd love to read more, to know what happens next, and whether the siblings succeed in their quest.
Clockwork Wolf by Jordan Elizabeth
This steampunk and murderous twist on Red Riding Hood is awesome. Loved it!!
Lana’s End by Christine Baker
A good story, well written. Loved the Burke brothers reference.
The Clockwork Monkey by W.K. Pomeroy
LOVED this story. Made me want to go exploring for clockwork monkeys too!
Treasure’s Kiss by Jordan Elizabeth
I loved this latest instalment in Amethyst Treasure's life, and yet more proof she's not as daft as she likes to appear!
Autumn Rose by Eliza Tilton
A beautiful new version of the Rumplestiltskin story.
A Princess of Zephyris by Heather Talty
A good story with a bittersweet ending.
The Key Girl by Grant Eagar
Whilst one of the longest stories in the book (split into three sections), this story still felt somewhat incomplete, as it finishes just as they really get started! There are also a lot of silly errors in it that could've been caught with a decent proofread.
A Clockwork Beast by Jordan Elizabeth
Kind of felt like a cross between Rapunzel and Frankenstein, especially the scene with the villagers with pitchforks and torches! Loved the female protagonist's fierce independence.
My Golden Anabel by Natalia Darcy
Both sad and yet sweetly tender. A lovely story
The Archive Room by Clare Weze
This story is a sad tale of friendship found and lost in pursuit of advancement in society.
Time Spun Souls by S.A. Larsen
Really enjoyed this story, and am dying to know what happens next!!
Clockwork Dwarves by Jordan Elizabeth
A fabulous steampunk retelling of Snow White. Very imaginative.
Last of the Giants by J. Million
Based on Jack and the Beanstalk, this is an excellent story, and a very fitting end to the anthology.
December 5, 2017
Gears of Brass is a Steampunk Anthology by various authors, including Jordan Elizabeth and Eliza Tilton. In a world powered by steam and filled with clockwork devices, these fairy tale retellings feature a steampunk twist. A Clockwork Dollhouse finds a power hungry Robert haunted by his evil deeds through the mysterious happenings of his sister's dollhouse. In Zeus's Fire, three siblings work together to find clockwork creatures released from a box. Anabel is enjoying her new engagement until she discovers her father's startling secret in My Golden Anabel. These and many others will have you seeing fairy tales in a new light.
Each story is different from the next, with the only common elements being steampunk, fairy tales, and adventure. There are the stories spun from the most popular tales of Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin, and Jack & the Beanstalk, which are completely unique takes on the fairy tales. In every story you'll find hints of classic fairy tale motifs mixed into exciting adventures. A Clockwork Dollhouse is eerie and mysterious, placing a ghostly spin on a dollhouse used to seek justice. Zeus's Fire is your Pandora's Box tale with Greek myth a driving force throughout and many fun references.
Mythology is also the background for The Key Girl, which features a mention of Apollo and finds a goddess and a protector woken up when a sacred place is disturbed. Clockwork Wolf, The Clockwork Monkey, and A Clockwork Beast feature a determination to create clockwork creatures, which often serve as dispensers of justice and protectors, while Lana's End and My Golden Anabel are a bit darker than the rest with grim endings and a more twisted view of the world. Time Spun Souls is enchanting and unique, a truly surprising story and one of my favorites in the anthology. There are morals to the stories that are gritty and dark, clearly derived from the tone of fairy tales. Happily ever after isn't really the goal in these stories; instead independence and adventure are what drive each story. A fantastic anthology that you won't be able to put down!
Each story is different from the next, with the only common elements being steampunk, fairy tales, and adventure. There are the stories spun from the most popular tales of Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin, and Jack & the Beanstalk, which are completely unique takes on the fairy tales. In every story you'll find hints of classic fairy tale motifs mixed into exciting adventures. A Clockwork Dollhouse is eerie and mysterious, placing a ghostly spin on a dollhouse used to seek justice. Zeus's Fire is your Pandora's Box tale with Greek myth a driving force throughout and many fun references.
Mythology is also the background for The Key Girl, which features a mention of Apollo and finds a goddess and a protector woken up when a sacred place is disturbed. Clockwork Wolf, The Clockwork Monkey, and A Clockwork Beast feature a determination to create clockwork creatures, which often serve as dispensers of justice and protectors, while Lana's End and My Golden Anabel are a bit darker than the rest with grim endings and a more twisted view of the world. Time Spun Souls is enchanting and unique, a truly surprising story and one of my favorites in the anthology. There are morals to the stories that are gritty and dark, clearly derived from the tone of fairy tales. Happily ever after isn't really the goal in these stories; instead independence and adventure are what drive each story. A fantastic anthology that you won't be able to put down!
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