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Engine Ward #1
The Sunken
In the heart of London lies the Engine Ward, a district forged in coal and steam, where the great Engineering Sects vie for ultimate control of the country. For many, the Ward is a forbidding, desolate place, but for Nicholas Thorne, the Ward is a refuge. He has returned to London under a cloud of shadow to work for his childhood friend, the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Deep in the Ward's bowels, Nicholas can finally escape his strange affliction – the thoughts of animals that crowd his head. But seeing Brunel interact with his mechanical creations, Nicholas is increasingly concerned that his friend may be succumbing to the allure of his growing power. That power isn't easily cast aside, and the people of London need Brunel to protect the streets from the prehistoric monsters that roam the city.
King George III has approved Brunel's ambitious plan to erect a Wall that would shut out the swamp dragons and protect the city. But in secret, the King cultivates an army of Sunken: men twisted into flesh-eating monsters by a thirst for blood and lead. Only Nicholas and Brunel suspect that something is wrong, that the Wall might play into a more sinister purpose--to keep the people of London trapped inside.
Deep in the Ward's bowels, Nicholas can finally escape his strange affliction – the thoughts of animals that crowd his head. But seeing Brunel interact with his mechanical creations, Nicholas is increasingly concerned that his friend may be succumbing to the allure of his growing power. That power isn't easily cast aside, and the people of London need Brunel to protect the streets from the prehistoric monsters that roam the city.
King George III has approved Brunel's ambitious plan to erect a Wall that would shut out the swamp dragons and protect the city. But in secret, the King cultivates an army of Sunken: men twisted into flesh-eating monsters by a thirst for blood and lead. Only Nicholas and Brunel suspect that something is wrong, that the Wall might play into a more sinister purpose--to keep the people of London trapped inside.
520 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2014
125 people are currently reading
895 people want to read
About the author
S.C. Green
7 books44 followersS C Green lives in an off-grid house on a slice of rural paradise near Auckland, New Zealand, with her cantankerous drummer husband, their two cats, and their medieval sword collection. She writes dark, dystopian fantasy featuring heavy historical elements. Her latest novel, The Sunken, explores an alternative Georgian London where dinosaurs still survive. The second book in the series, The Gauge War, is due out early 2015.
She also writes humorous fantasy under the name Steff Metal.
She writes about metal music, her books, living off-grid, and her adventures with home-brewing on her blog www.steffmetal.com.
Stay up to date with her books by signing up to her newsletter at http://steffmetal.com/subscribe, or like her Facebook page at http://facebook.com/steffmetal.
She also writes humorous fantasy under the name Steff Metal.
She writes about metal music, her books, living off-grid, and her adventures with home-brewing on her blog www.steffmetal.com.
Stay up to date with her books by signing up to her newsletter at http://steffmetal.com/subscribe, or like her Facebook page at http://facebook.com/steffmetal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 31, 2014
(I got an ARC through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)
Interesting ideas, blending 19th-century industrial Britain with religious sects based on trades. It gave the world a slightly dystopian flavour, casting skewed shadows on its inhabitants' motives and on the way things were run. Historical events were loosely respected and used (such as the king's madness, or Brunel's engines and railroads), but in a way that seemed believable enough to me. Same with historical personae: sure, some of them died before 1830 (the year the story's set in), but I didn't exactly care. I found it nice to see them play roles both similar and slightly different.
I remain torn regarding Holman's narrative, though: good, because it played on other senses than sight; strange, because it was the only first person point of view, and while it somehow fits with what was left by the real Holman in our world, it was also surprising. (I most often tend to feel like that when such switches occur in novels: why the need to insert such a POV in the story, what is it meant to achieve, etc.) Not uninteresting, just... questionable in places.
The story as a whole didn't grip me as much as I thought it would. The right ingredients are here, only not always used in a way that would keep my attention span steady (for instance, some things are repeated throughout the novel, whereas others are left as mere details that demanded to be fleshed out). The society described in this book is intriguing, however at times the reader has to piece bits together just a little too much for comfort. Nothing terrible, just sometimes tiring after a while. (On the other hand, I doubt I would have appreciated page after page of explanations, so I'm not going to whine too much about this.)
Not my love-love book of the year, however I may still decide to check the next book once it's out.
Interesting ideas, blending 19th-century industrial Britain with religious sects based on trades. It gave the world a slightly dystopian flavour, casting skewed shadows on its inhabitants' motives and on the way things were run. Historical events were loosely respected and used (such as the king's madness, or Brunel's engines and railroads), but in a way that seemed believable enough to me. Same with historical personae: sure, some of them died before 1830 (the year the story's set in), but I didn't exactly care. I found it nice to see them play roles both similar and slightly different.
I remain torn regarding Holman's narrative, though: good, because it played on other senses than sight; strange, because it was the only first person point of view, and while it somehow fits with what was left by the real Holman in our world, it was also surprising. (I most often tend to feel like that when such switches occur in novels: why the need to insert such a POV in the story, what is it meant to achieve, etc.) Not uninteresting, just... questionable in places.
The story as a whole didn't grip me as much as I thought it would. The right ingredients are here, only not always used in a way that would keep my attention span steady (for instance, some things are repeated throughout the novel, whereas others are left as mere details that demanded to be fleshed out). The society described in this book is intriguing, however at times the reader has to piece bits together just a little too much for comfort. Nothing terrible, just sometimes tiring after a while. (On the other hand, I doubt I would have appreciated page after page of explanations, so I'm not going to whine too much about this.)
Not my love-love book of the year, however I may still decide to check the next book once it's out.
March 6, 2015
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
This is one of the weirdest books I've read in a very long time. I don't even know how to describe the weirdness correctly.
Imagine London in the first half of the Nineteenth Century. Now take away everything you know about that. Add to that a lot of steam engines, a complete class of people to man them, a vampire George III and what possibly is the weirdest religion system I've come across with. The Church of England has been replaced with the Gods of the Industrialisation. And then there are several churches based on different ideas. These churches have their Messiahs (like the best engineer in that class) and they are quite competitive. O, and did I mention it has dragons as well? (Although they're not quite given a large enough part of the book).
All of this together was quite the culture shock as I kind of expected Victorian England.
It took me some time to get into the story, as all the ideas where so weird, and although I recognized names from famous engineers from that era, like Stephenson and Brunel it was weird for me to see them as the main characters in this story, that has such a different reality going on.
After reading half of the story I started feeling a little less lost and enjoyed the story more. There were plot points that still don't make sense to me. It also feels like there are multiple massive plot lines that are all mixed up in one book by accident. The dragon-problem, the Luddite-problem and the robots, the whole The Passage-like vampire-problem. It felt like these problems could've better been dealt with in different books as this book was confusing.
And so, I feel conflicted about this book. For one, it's definitely an original story, the alternate steam-punk history is for once really alternate. (Perhaps even a bit too much so). All the things that were thought of really show there must have been a lot of work in making it. On the other hand, not every major plot twist made sense, and so much different stories were going on it was hard to keep track and try to understand anything from the world in this book. It was kind of messy.
However, it was, in its own way fascinating, so I might just give the second book a try when it's going to be published.
The Sunken is the first book in the Engine Ward Series. The second book has yet to be announced.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This is one of the weirdest books I've read in a very long time. I don't even know how to describe the weirdness correctly.
Imagine London in the first half of the Nineteenth Century. Now take away everything you know about that. Add to that a lot of steam engines, a complete class of people to man them, a vampire George III and what possibly is the weirdest religion system I've come across with. The Church of England has been replaced with the Gods of the Industrialisation. And then there are several churches based on different ideas. These churches have their Messiahs (like the best engineer in that class) and they are quite competitive. O, and did I mention it has dragons as well? (Although they're not quite given a large enough part of the book).
All of this together was quite the culture shock as I kind of expected Victorian England.
It took me some time to get into the story, as all the ideas where so weird, and although I recognized names from famous engineers from that era, like Stephenson and Brunel it was weird for me to see them as the main characters in this story, that has such a different reality going on.
After reading half of the story I started feeling a little less lost and enjoyed the story more. There were plot points that still don't make sense to me. It also feels like there are multiple massive plot lines that are all mixed up in one book by accident. The dragon-problem, the Luddite-problem and the robots, the whole The Passage-like vampire-problem. It felt like these problems could've better been dealt with in different books as this book was confusing.
And so, I feel conflicted about this book. For one, it's definitely an original story, the alternate steam-punk history is for once really alternate. (Perhaps even a bit too much so). All the things that were thought of really show there must have been a lot of work in making it. On the other hand, not every major plot twist made sense, and so much different stories were going on it was hard to keep track and try to understand anything from the world in this book. It was kind of messy.
However, it was, in its own way fascinating, so I might just give the second book a try when it's going to be published.
The Sunken is the first book in the Engine Ward Series. The second book has yet to be announced.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
April 6, 2019
I'm editing my review to say that I'm reducing my star rating from 2-okay stars to 1-Didn't-like star. All I took from reading this book was its horrible treatment of the female characters. I can't remember why I thought the story was "okay" and my review didn't give me any clues.
Original Review
This book. . . It took me way too long to read. I started it on March 18th, and even subtracting the three or four days when I didn't read any of it at all, it still took me a week to read 505 pages. :-/
It took at least six days of that week to reach 55% of the way through this book. I read the rest of it all today, March 28th, but never with any excitement in my heart for the story. I liked Nicholas and James okay, but I can't say that I loved them. And my liking for them was diminished some by how the story ended. :-/
The only thing that kept me awake for the first half were the scenes with Brigitte and Miss Julie. And in the second half, Julianna and Brigitte kept me reading for a bit.
But none of the women were treated very well in this book. Which I found VERY disappointing considering the fact that S.C. Green, the author, is a woman. Most of the women were killed (after first being raped or tossed into a pit - filled with the Sunken - to be eaten). Brigitte and Chloe, Aaron's wife, survived, but ! :-(
Did I enjoy this book? Not really. Today's reading was accomplished because every time I checked my progress, I was further along: from 55%, to 60%, to 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 95%, and then DONE, FINALLY DONE.
And sadly, the ending left me with too many unanswered questions. Also, it didn't end in the best of scenes:
I mean, it reads like an ending, but it wasn't really. After all, Aaron wasn't even one of the major characters! He was a primary character (we did have some sections told from his POV), but still. . . :-/
Plus, there were all those unanswered questions: I'm sure there were more questions I had, but though I finished this book maybe half an hour ago, the finer details of it are already gone from my memory. (In fact, it feels like those finer details are running away.) :-/
So this book gets just two stars from me. It was an okay story. (It also had some spelling/grammar errors in it. But even if it had been perfectly edited, I still would have given it two "okay" stars.)
I'm editing my review to share the status update I forgot to hit "Save Progress" on earlier in the day on March 28th:
Original Review
This book. . . It took me way too long to read. I started it on March 18th, and even subtracting the three or four days when I didn't read any of it at all, it still took me a week to read 505 pages. :-/
It took at least six days of that week to reach 55% of the way through this book. I read the rest of it all today, March 28th, but never with any excitement in my heart for the story. I liked Nicholas and James okay, but I can't say that I loved them. And my liking for them was diminished some by how the story ended. :-/
The only thing that kept me awake for the first half were the scenes with Brigitte and Miss Julie. And in the second half, Julianna and Brigitte kept me reading for a bit.
But none of the women were treated very well in this book. Which I found VERY disappointing considering the fact that S.C. Green, the author, is a woman. Most of the women were killed (after first being raped or tossed into a pit - filled with the Sunken - to be eaten). Brigitte and Chloe, Aaron's wife, survived, but ! :-(
Did I enjoy this book? Not really. Today's reading was accomplished because every time I checked my progress, I was further along: from 55%, to 60%, to 70%, 75%, 80%, 90%, 95%, and then DONE, FINALLY DONE.
And sadly, the ending left me with too many unanswered questions. Also, it didn't end in the best of scenes:
I mean, it reads like an ending, but it wasn't really. After all, Aaron wasn't even one of the major characters! He was a primary character (we did have some sections told from his POV), but still. . . :-/
Plus, there were all those unanswered questions: I'm sure there were more questions I had, but though I finished this book maybe half an hour ago, the finer details of it are already gone from my memory. (In fact, it feels like those finer details are running away.) :-/
So this book gets just two stars from me. It was an okay story. (It also had some spelling/grammar errors in it. But even if it had been perfectly edited, I still would have given it two "okay" stars.)
I'm editing my review to share the status update I forgot to hit "Save Progress" on earlier in the day on March 28th:
I passed the halfway point & reached the 55% mark on the 26th. On the 27th, I didn't read ANY of this book. I just couldn't because of how tired I was when I was theoretically ready to start reading it last night. So I began my reading today from 55%, on page 282. I'm already a bit further on, but my phone with the book is in another room, sooo. . . Excuse me while I go back to it.
November 20, 2014
http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/11/20...
Publisher: Grymm and Epic
Publishing Date: September 2014
ISBN: 9780473305581
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.6/5
Publisher Description: In the heart of London lies the Engine Ward, a district forged in coal and steam, where the great Engineering Sects vie for ultimate control of the country. For many, the Ward is a forbidding, desolate place, but for Nicholas Thorne, the Ward is a refuge. He has returned to London under a cloud of shadow to work for his childhood friend, the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Review: This was a really good steampunk alternate reality novel set in the late 19th century England, that combined dragons, flesh eating weirdo’s and a vampire King. The character development was exacting which was woven into a compelling story-line with plenty of movement.
The novel begins near the end, which I am usually not a fan of as it detracts from the story line. In this case it works. The three main characters back story’s are written really well and flows wonderfully into the present. I was surprised that this was written by a woman as the perspectives within the novel are mainly male. I think a writer has truly arrived when they can write in any voice, especially male or female.
While the novel is lengthy, you really will not want it to end. Get this.
Publisher: Grymm and Epic
Publishing Date: September 2014
ISBN: 9780473305581
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.6/5
Publisher Description: In the heart of London lies the Engine Ward, a district forged in coal and steam, where the great Engineering Sects vie for ultimate control of the country. For many, the Ward is a forbidding, desolate place, but for Nicholas Thorne, the Ward is a refuge. He has returned to London under a cloud of shadow to work for his childhood friend, the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Review: This was a really good steampunk alternate reality novel set in the late 19th century England, that combined dragons, flesh eating weirdo’s and a vampire King. The character development was exacting which was woven into a compelling story-line with plenty of movement.
The novel begins near the end, which I am usually not a fan of as it detracts from the story line. In this case it works. The three main characters back story’s are written really well and flows wonderfully into the present. I was surprised that this was written by a woman as the perspectives within the novel are mainly male. I think a writer has truly arrived when they can write in any voice, especially male or female.
While the novel is lengthy, you really will not want it to end. Get this.
January 4, 2018
This was both fascinating and at times incomprehensible - the latter probably because I have only read a couple of steampunk novels. There was a whole slew of characters, a wild 'fantasy' plot involving dragons, an insane King and a 'victorian' world of Stokers, machinists, inventors, where England is at war with Europe and vampires (or worse) exist. Violent, brutal, creepy, horrific.
And .. FUN!
And although at times I had no idea what was going on in the story, I found myself unable to stop reading and I am definitely going to read the second book in the series.
And .. FUN!
And although at times I had no idea what was going on in the story, I found myself unable to stop reading and I am definitely going to read the second book in the series.
June 12, 2019
The idea of a fictional version of the story of real people such as Isambard Brunel and Robert Stephenson was very enticing but soon this novel descends into gratuitous blood-thirsty violence. The story switches backwards and forwards including the stories of two well developed characters at sea but as the plot continues it becomes more difficult to care about the outcome.
January 5, 2015
I’ll warn you right away…this is not for the faint-hearted. Not only is this a long read (over 500 pages), it’s full of action, adventure, and intrigue. If you’re looking for a light little beach read or such, this is not the book for you. However, if you’re looking for the ride of your life, grab your copy and buckle up.
I could tell you all about the characters and the world they live in. I could tell you how well-written they all were. How I was drawn into the world and the lives and actions of the various characters. How I kept trying to give advice to the characters about what they should do while reading and how emotionally involved I got.
I could also tell you how the plot drew me in. How this was so much more than just a mere steampunk or paranormal novel. How the twists and turns kept coming and surprising me. How I couldn’t put the book down, even when I was exhausted.
I could tell you all this, but quite frankly, I wouldn’t want to spoil this book before you read it. All I can say is that I highly recommend you give The Sunken a chance.
I could tell you all about the characters and the world they live in. I could tell you how well-written they all were. How I was drawn into the world and the lives and actions of the various characters. How I kept trying to give advice to the characters about what they should do while reading and how emotionally involved I got.
I could also tell you how the plot drew me in. How this was so much more than just a mere steampunk or paranormal novel. How the twists and turns kept coming and surprising me. How I couldn’t put the book down, even when I was exhausted.
I could tell you all this, but quite frankly, I wouldn’t want to spoil this book before you read it. All I can say is that I highly recommend you give The Sunken a chance.
October 27, 2014
“By Great Conductor’s steam-driven testicles!”
(Full disclosure: I received a free e-copy of this book for review through Library Thing’s Member Giveaways program. Also, trigger warning for rape. I summarize some of the plot points below, but try to avoid any major spoilers.)
Set in London in 1820 and 1830, The Sunken imagines an alternate history in which dragons thrive in the swamps surrounding London; King George III is a vampire/cannibal/madman; and traditional, god-fearing religions have been abolished in favor of those that worship science. In this new old England, engineers, physicians, scholars, artists, and poets lead their own churches and sects, sermonizing on their latest theories and inventions.
The Sunken follows four childhood friends in boyhood (in 1820, they are fifteen years of age and on the cusp of going their separate ways) and adulthood (in 1830, they reunite in a London destined for radical change). The son of a Lord, Nicholas Rose is about to depart with the Royal Navy on a post bought and paid for by his cruel father – as is his adventure-seeking comrade, James Holman. Meanwhile, Isambard Kingdom Brunel is to continue studying engineering under the tutelage of his father Marc. Ditto: Henry Williams, who - as the descendant of the great dragon hunter Aaron Williams Senior – occupies one of the top social rungs among the lowly Stokers, the laborers who keep the great machines under London running. The day before Nicholas and James are to set sail, there’s an accident in Marc’s school which claims the life of Henry; Marc is tried for negligence and banished to Van Diem’s Land, leaving Isambard in the care of his abusive mother.
In the intervening years, Isambard befriends another Williams brother, Aaron; the two quickly bond over their grief, as well as their love of machines. Though Stokers are prohibited from innovating, they spend years perfecting a new locomotive in secret. Meanwhile, poor James has contracted a mysterious illness while abroad that eventually claims his sight; upon his return to London, he takes up residence with the Naval Knights of Windsor, a group of veterans all of who are a good forty years his senior. And Nicholas, now a lieutenant, draws the ire of a superior officer, whom he’s eventually forced to kill in self-defense. Rose goes on the run, eventually finding “rescue” – of a sort – in a secret underground religious community in Spain. He’s forced to flee yet again when he falls in love with the sadistic leader’s wife/slave, finally finding illegal passage back to England.
Now the year is 1830, and the friends reunite at a pivotal time in alt. London’s history.
Though England’s dragons had been hunted to extinction years before, it seems they’re making a comeback – as evidenced by the increasing number of attacks within city limits. King George III – the so-called Vampire King – hosts a contest, open to all engineers, to find a way of deterring these destructive pests. Against all odds – as a Stoker, he’s not allowed to claim the title of engineer, let alone enter the contest – Isambard’s plan to build a giant Wall around London prevails, thus making him the first-ever Stoker Pesbyter.
While the other Stokers (derisively referred to as “the Dirty Folk”) celebrate this triumph in their ongoing class war with the rest of England, Isambard’s friends begin to suspect that not all is as it seems. With the King’s grasp on sanity becoming more tenuous by the day – and Isambard’s ambitions seeming to outweigh his concern for fellow Stokers – Aaron in particular worries that the Wall’s ultimate purpose might be more nefarious than any of them realize.
Based on both the description and the many glowing reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, I really thought I’d love this book. Dragons, vampires, cannibals, robots, alternate history, steampunk, and scifi – I love all of these things! Alas, The Sunken didn’t quite do it for me.
This is a story rich in detail and world-building. Which should be a positive, but oftentimes I felt like it was a little too rich: difficult to see the forest for the trees. Some points are repeated time and again (e.g., the intricacy of the servant’s tunnels in the King’s castle; it reminded me of how important details are reiterated across various books in a series, only here it’s done mere pages apart) while other, more important details come in dribs and drabs, left for the reader to piece together. Which is nothing to sniff at in a 520 page book. (According to Goodreads, anyway. I’m convinced that Amazon’s listing, which puts it at 378 pages, must be incorrect.)
In particular, I had trouble figuring out how the various churches and classes related to one another, and the ways in which religion mitigated the effect of class. For example, at Isambard’s sermon in the epilogue, Green takes care to note how the Stokers are relegated to “observing” (scare quotes because they can’t actually see any of the action) from a third-class area outside of the church: “a corral of high fences set up especially to keep the Stokers away from the populace of London, as though they carried some kind of disease.” Yet a Stoker priest is allowed not just in the church itself, but near the pulpit. How does that work, exactly?
There are also a ton of characters to keep track of, which Green makes more confusing by alternately referring to some of them by their first name, last name, alias, and title. Twenty percent into the book, I was cursing myself for not taking pen and paper notes. I fear that this sense of distraction kept me from becoming fully immersed in the story, especially early on.
Aside from James, none of the main characters are particularly likable – which becomes problematic as the friends split into two opposing camps, one of which I assume we’re supposed to root for. Aaron is a mean drunk who abuses his wife (including rape: “His advances which had once been tender, were now fuelled by a kind of inner fury that made her dread their nights together.” Let me be clear: THIS. IS. RAPE.), and Nicholas seems bull-headedly clueless (and, worse yet, uncharacteristically so) regarding Isambard, a childhood friend he hasn’t seen for a decade.
The first half of the book is mostly absent female characters and, once they are introduced, they’re primarily maids, victims, and/or love interests. Brigitte is plucky enough, but is often also hysterical (I’ve never in my life seen a woman scream this much), and Nicholas constantly sidelines her. Plus her victim-blaming of Nicholas’s first love, Julianne, didn’t sit well with me. After being sold into sexual slavery by her father and repeatedly gang-raped by her “husband” and his acolytes, falling in love and attempting escape with Nicholas, ultimately facing a lifetime of servitude to a sadist, Julianne begs Nicholas to kill her. Brigitte blames her – rather than her misogynist murderer of a husband – for what comes next. No. Just no.
On the positive side, I absolutely loved Nicholas and Aaron’s ability to hear - and sometimes influence – the voices of animals inside their heads. This opened the door for a number of animal-friendly passages, such as when Aaron visited a menagerie in Regents Park: “The sadness of the animals, trapped in tiny cages with little food, dying slowly in a land far from their home, drew me in.” In his excitement, young Aaron unwittingly caused a revolt among the animals, which culminated in their deaths – but not before they broke free of their chains and “tore their cruel master to pieces.” No doubt he’d be equally appalled by modern zoos, factory farms, research labs, and other industries of animal exploitation.
What with the phantom voices haunting Nicholas’s head, this is a plot that promises to play out in future books in the series. (Pretty sure it’s the Boilers, yo.)
Anyway, I’ll probably skip the sequel, unless it’s a hundred pages shorter. Green’s writing is actually pretty good – I get a little nervous when I see Createspace listed as the pub – but The Sunken is professionally written and edited. It just needs a bit of a fast.
http://www.easyvegan.info/2014/11/12/...
(Full disclosure: I received a free e-copy of this book for review through Library Thing’s Member Giveaways program. Also, trigger warning for rape. I summarize some of the plot points below, but try to avoid any major spoilers.)
Set in London in 1820 and 1830, The Sunken imagines an alternate history in which dragons thrive in the swamps surrounding London; King George III is a vampire/cannibal/madman; and traditional, god-fearing religions have been abolished in favor of those that worship science. In this new old England, engineers, physicians, scholars, artists, and poets lead their own churches and sects, sermonizing on their latest theories and inventions.
The Sunken follows four childhood friends in boyhood (in 1820, they are fifteen years of age and on the cusp of going their separate ways) and adulthood (in 1830, they reunite in a London destined for radical change). The son of a Lord, Nicholas Rose is about to depart with the Royal Navy on a post bought and paid for by his cruel father – as is his adventure-seeking comrade, James Holman. Meanwhile, Isambard Kingdom Brunel is to continue studying engineering under the tutelage of his father Marc. Ditto: Henry Williams, who - as the descendant of the great dragon hunter Aaron Williams Senior – occupies one of the top social rungs among the lowly Stokers, the laborers who keep the great machines under London running. The day before Nicholas and James are to set sail, there’s an accident in Marc’s school which claims the life of Henry; Marc is tried for negligence and banished to Van Diem’s Land, leaving Isambard in the care of his abusive mother.
In the intervening years, Isambard befriends another Williams brother, Aaron; the two quickly bond over their grief, as well as their love of machines. Though Stokers are prohibited from innovating, they spend years perfecting a new locomotive in secret. Meanwhile, poor James has contracted a mysterious illness while abroad that eventually claims his sight; upon his return to London, he takes up residence with the Naval Knights of Windsor, a group of veterans all of who are a good forty years his senior. And Nicholas, now a lieutenant, draws the ire of a superior officer, whom he’s eventually forced to kill in self-defense. Rose goes on the run, eventually finding “rescue” – of a sort – in a secret underground religious community in Spain. He’s forced to flee yet again when he falls in love with the sadistic leader’s wife/slave, finally finding illegal passage back to England.
Now the year is 1830, and the friends reunite at a pivotal time in alt. London’s history.
Though England’s dragons had been hunted to extinction years before, it seems they’re making a comeback – as evidenced by the increasing number of attacks within city limits. King George III – the so-called Vampire King – hosts a contest, open to all engineers, to find a way of deterring these destructive pests. Against all odds – as a Stoker, he’s not allowed to claim the title of engineer, let alone enter the contest – Isambard’s plan to build a giant Wall around London prevails, thus making him the first-ever Stoker Pesbyter.
While the other Stokers (derisively referred to as “the Dirty Folk”) celebrate this triumph in their ongoing class war with the rest of England, Isambard’s friends begin to suspect that not all is as it seems. With the King’s grasp on sanity becoming more tenuous by the day – and Isambard’s ambitions seeming to outweigh his concern for fellow Stokers – Aaron in particular worries that the Wall’s ultimate purpose might be more nefarious than any of them realize.
Based on both the description and the many glowing reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, I really thought I’d love this book. Dragons, vampires, cannibals, robots, alternate history, steampunk, and scifi – I love all of these things! Alas, The Sunken didn’t quite do it for me.
This is a story rich in detail and world-building. Which should be a positive, but oftentimes I felt like it was a little too rich: difficult to see the forest for the trees. Some points are repeated time and again (e.g., the intricacy of the servant’s tunnels in the King’s castle; it reminded me of how important details are reiterated across various books in a series, only here it’s done mere pages apart) while other, more important details come in dribs and drabs, left for the reader to piece together. Which is nothing to sniff at in a 520 page book. (According to Goodreads, anyway. I’m convinced that Amazon’s listing, which puts it at 378 pages, must be incorrect.)
In particular, I had trouble figuring out how the various churches and classes related to one another, and the ways in which religion mitigated the effect of class. For example, at Isambard’s sermon in the epilogue, Green takes care to note how the Stokers are relegated to “observing” (scare quotes because they can’t actually see any of the action) from a third-class area outside of the church: “a corral of high fences set up especially to keep the Stokers away from the populace of London, as though they carried some kind of disease.” Yet a Stoker priest is allowed not just in the church itself, but near the pulpit. How does that work, exactly?
There are also a ton of characters to keep track of, which Green makes more confusing by alternately referring to some of them by their first name, last name, alias, and title. Twenty percent into the book, I was cursing myself for not taking pen and paper notes. I fear that this sense of distraction kept me from becoming fully immersed in the story, especially early on.
Aside from James, none of the main characters are particularly likable – which becomes problematic as the friends split into two opposing camps, one of which I assume we’re supposed to root for. Aaron is a mean drunk who abuses his wife (including rape: “His advances which had once been tender, were now fuelled by a kind of inner fury that made her dread their nights together.” Let me be clear: THIS. IS. RAPE.), and Nicholas seems bull-headedly clueless (and, worse yet, uncharacteristically so) regarding Isambard, a childhood friend he hasn’t seen for a decade.
The first half of the book is mostly absent female characters and, once they are introduced, they’re primarily maids, victims, and/or love interests. Brigitte is plucky enough, but is often also hysterical (I’ve never in my life seen a woman scream this much), and Nicholas constantly sidelines her. Plus her victim-blaming of Nicholas’s first love, Julianne, didn’t sit well with me. After being sold into sexual slavery by her father and repeatedly gang-raped by her “husband” and his acolytes, falling in love and attempting escape with Nicholas, ultimately facing a lifetime of servitude to a sadist, Julianne begs Nicholas to kill her. Brigitte blames her – rather than her misogynist murderer of a husband – for what comes next. No. Just no.
On the positive side, I absolutely loved Nicholas and Aaron’s ability to hear - and sometimes influence – the voices of animals inside their heads. This opened the door for a number of animal-friendly passages, such as when Aaron visited a menagerie in Regents Park: “The sadness of the animals, trapped in tiny cages with little food, dying slowly in a land far from their home, drew me in.” In his excitement, young Aaron unwittingly caused a revolt among the animals, which culminated in their deaths – but not before they broke free of their chains and “tore their cruel master to pieces.” No doubt he’d be equally appalled by modern zoos, factory farms, research labs, and other industries of animal exploitation.
What with the phantom voices haunting Nicholas’s head, this is a plot that promises to play out in future books in the series. (Pretty sure it’s the Boilers, yo.)
Anyway, I’ll probably skip the sequel, unless it’s a hundred pages shorter. Green’s writing is actually pretty good – I get a little nervous when I see Createspace listed as the pub – but The Sunken is professionally written and edited. It just needs a bit of a fast.
http://www.easyvegan.info/2014/11/12/...
March 17, 2021
Top Shelf!
I have very few top shelf books that I have read on Kindle. This story is fabulous within the steam-punk genre. A full days reading (two for the less obsessed or time constrained, A week for the casual reader) but weeks worth of rabbit trails to follow through the internet, chasing out the lives of historically based characters. The research is superb. While there are very minor copy editing errors ("his oldest and closet friend" likely ment to say closest friend, or there is a totally different twist than I read.) those errors ore so few and innocent as to be disregarded.
The imagination, world-building, and meticulous research carry this story to great heights. There could be a little more effort given to making dialogue unique to individual characters, but once again this book manages to avoid having all characters sound so alike that the only way to tell them apart is by attribution.
Language is clean, to my memory and standards. There is no graphic sex. The violence in action sequences is subdued enough for most readers. The mid- nineteenth century comes alive with dinosaurs, dragons, vampires , and a horse driving blind man. What more could any steam-punk lover want? Electric powered pistols? Pishaw, give me Stokers and Boilers any day.
From the beginning to the end it is the quality of the research coupled with skilled writing and imagination in world-building that sets this book apart from the thousands of books that are in my general collection of Kindle books. My biggest regret is that the author has not made use of the Kindle Unlimited "read for free" rental option, though the price point at less than $5.00 for each of the three books is reasonable. Given the volume of books that I read, it is rare for me to pay full price for many books. These stories may well be worth skipping lunch to buy.
The author uses two pen names, SC Green, is my favorite. Ms . Holmes appears to be more torrid in love scenes, for those who need more well written stories and are happy to explore the romance side.
I have very few top shelf books that I have read on Kindle. This story is fabulous within the steam-punk genre. A full days reading (two for the less obsessed or time constrained, A week for the casual reader) but weeks worth of rabbit trails to follow through the internet, chasing out the lives of historically based characters. The research is superb. While there are very minor copy editing errors ("his oldest and closet friend" likely ment to say closest friend, or there is a totally different twist than I read.) those errors ore so few and innocent as to be disregarded.
The imagination, world-building, and meticulous research carry this story to great heights. There could be a little more effort given to making dialogue unique to individual characters, but once again this book manages to avoid having all characters sound so alike that the only way to tell them apart is by attribution.
Language is clean, to my memory and standards. There is no graphic sex. The violence in action sequences is subdued enough for most readers. The mid- nineteenth century comes alive with dinosaurs, dragons, vampires , and a horse driving blind man. What more could any steam-punk lover want? Electric powered pistols? Pishaw, give me Stokers and Boilers any day.
From the beginning to the end it is the quality of the research coupled with skilled writing and imagination in world-building that sets this book apart from the thousands of books that are in my general collection of Kindle books. My biggest regret is that the author has not made use of the Kindle Unlimited "read for free" rental option, though the price point at less than $5.00 for each of the three books is reasonable. Given the volume of books that I read, it is rare for me to pay full price for many books. These stories may well be worth skipping lunch to buy.
The author uses two pen names, SC Green, is my favorite. Ms . Holmes appears to be more torrid in love scenes, for those who need more well written stories and are happy to explore the romance side.
August 10, 2017
A great old fashioned fantasy story involving zombie like creatures, the city of London, all sorts of wonderful engineering and characters of wonderful depth, some with familiar names from our history.
A different tale of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Robert Stephenson - and what could have been if engineers were worshipped as gods with the country revolving around their beliefs and ideas, dragons were real, some men having power over animals and part of the great leaps in engineering rendering a sect of men obsolete.
I've read this twice now and second reading was just as great as the first. I read it initially as part of the Magic and Mayhem box set and it had been on my list of series to finish reading for a while now.
I couldn't recommend this enough if you don't mind some graphic description - blood and gore - and a story told from different viewpoints.
A different tale of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Robert Stephenson - and what could have been if engineers were worshipped as gods with the country revolving around their beliefs and ideas, dragons were real, some men having power over animals and part of the great leaps in engineering rendering a sect of men obsolete.
I've read this twice now and second reading was just as great as the first. I read it initially as part of the Magic and Mayhem box set and it had been on my list of series to finish reading for a while now.
I couldn't recommend this enough if you don't mind some graphic description - blood and gore - and a story told from different viewpoints.
May 10, 2021
%8'de bıraktım. Çok zorlanarak ilerliyordum.
Kitap ve içeriğindeki fikirler fena değil. Oluşturduğu dini yaklaşım ve toplum tasarımı, görmesi hoş. Ama, buradaki özeti okuduktan sonra kitabın tamamını okumuş gibi oldum. Sanki içinde hiçbir sürpriz yokmuş, gidiş yolunu tamamen bildiğim bir eseri ıkına ıkına ilerletiyormuşum gibi geldi. Çok zorlamadan bıraktım.
Özetten uzak durursanız ve harcayacak zamanınız varsa pekala denenebilir. Bazı yerlerde neyin ne olduğunu anlamakta zorlandım ama... Eh, olur o kadar.
Kitap ve içeriğindeki fikirler fena değil. Oluşturduğu dini yaklaşım ve toplum tasarımı, görmesi hoş. Ama, buradaki özeti okuduktan sonra kitabın tamamını okumuş gibi oldum. Sanki içinde hiçbir sürpriz yokmuş, gidiş yolunu tamamen bildiğim bir eseri ıkına ıkına ilerletiyormuşum gibi geldi. Çok zorlamadan bıraktım.
Özetten uzak durursanız ve harcayacak zamanınız varsa pekala denenebilir. Bazı yerlerde neyin ne olduğunu anlamakta zorlandım ama... Eh, olur o kadar.
July 1, 2025
no sane explanations in here...
how to explain a world that should have been inconceivable yet wasn't? another reviewer opined that this was the most unusual book he'd ever read and that was my hook, but was there a redemptive word anywhere in the text? maybe one, but it was short and long awaited. the most edifying point I can make in this case is that it's premises could never, ever happen, so an unthinkable fantasy is all it could ever be. s.c. green will never be an Isaac asimov. thankfully....
how to explain a world that should have been inconceivable yet wasn't? another reviewer opined that this was the most unusual book he'd ever read and that was my hook, but was there a redemptive word anywhere in the text? maybe one, but it was short and long awaited. the most edifying point I can make in this case is that it's premises could never, ever happen, so an unthinkable fantasy is all it could ever be. s.c. green will never be an Isaac asimov. thankfully....
April 20, 2023
It is dark, quite gritty and coated deeply with everything steampunk. The story is well paced and the major characters are well developed each with their own unique agendas and roles and how they connect with one another. The dark atmosphere is well described, you feel as though you are there witnessing the horrors themselves. This is one hidden gem of steampunk literature which deserves much more recognition!
April 5, 2025
This was a clever story. I struggled a bit keeping track of the characters and their relationships as things jumped around a bit, but that was probably a me issue. I also struggled with some of the writing. I reread some sentences multiple times to be sure I understood. This was a structure issue not a vocabulary issue.
Last thing, the story does not need a woman being repeatedly raped by multiple men to make another man a hero.
Last thing, the story does not need a woman being repeatedly raped by multiple men to make another man a hero.
March 3, 2018
I liked the sound of the summary and it started OK engineering and arts have churches and the normal ones have been banned, then it then picked up it dragged (repeat) then went to flashbacks of the main characters and that really dragged I don't normally give a book that long, but I only gave up after 2 thirds of the book.
I tried but I just couldn't be bothered to finish
I tried but I just couldn't be bothered to finish
July 7, 2017
interesting premise with overly complicated execution: too many plots and characters to keep my attention fully focused. Skimmed the final 30% or so.
longer review may come when I get onto my proper computer.
longer review may come when I get onto my proper computer.
August 29, 2017
Woah! Quite a ride - I liked the steampunk London setting, but the story was a bit out there, with an unexplained Mad King George turned vampiric / murderous. V odd! Plenty of action, with twists and turns, but a bit bonkers.
February 1, 2020
Epic
Clever and consistent telling in an alternate London. The characterisation is good with enough left to fill in later novels.
I was always going to finish it but I found it hard work, it lacked a little pace.
Clever and consistent telling in an alternate London. The characterisation is good with enough left to fill in later novels.
I was always going to finish it but I found it hard work, it lacked a little pace.
September 4, 2017
i couldn't put it down! I can't wait to read number 2
September 15, 2017
A wonderful world with elements of science and fantasy: I loved the way that the engineering disciplines were turned into religions, and the great scientists had become priests.
September 18, 2017
Great!
A wonderful story. I liked Nicholas and hope he survives to the very end. There was plenty of action, which I liked. I hope to read more.
A wonderful story. I liked Nicholas and hope he survives to the very end. There was plenty of action, which I liked. I hope to read more.
September 20, 2017
The Sunken
A Grande scale journey and adventure over time, to make this excellent steampunk fantasy tale. With Nicholas and Bridgette. I Loved it.
A Grande scale journey and adventure over time, to make this excellent steampunk fantasy tale. With Nicholas and Bridgette. I Loved it.
February 17, 2018
First steampunk book I have read & I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I was dubious about steampunk but was soon into it & enjoying it. The mix works amazingly well. Well written.
I was dubious about steampunk but was soon into it & enjoying it. The mix works amazingly well. Well written.
March 20, 2021
I really wanted to like this more. Maybe the other books will be better. Maybe this one just had to lay the groundwork for the world.
November 15, 2014
I received a digital copy of The Sunken, Book 1 of the Engine Ward series via LibraryThings, for a review. The opinions expressed in the following are my own – and I’m sure you’ll be able to tell.
The Sunken has to be one of the strangest, yet interesting, books that I have ever read. The story is a Steampunk alternate reality, but unlike the more famous stories in the genre, this novel incorporates aspects of anime, horror and dino-fantasy into a strange and new beast.
*SPOILERS*
The story begins with an introduction to the Engine Ward Universe, and a few of the major characters, in a scene that combines the best of Steampunk and Dino-Fantasy. The main characters of Isambard, Nicholas, and James Holman are on a field trip visiting one of the great engines that run aspects of London when a fellow students pet ‘dragon’ (dinosaur) gets lose and causes a death. It is here that we find out that Nicholas has some sort of telepathy with animals, as he attempts to calm the dragon in its panic; and it is this incident which is pivotal for the reuniting of the characters at the beginning of the novel.
Following the Prologue, we are properly introduced to the major players as James Holman, who is blind, is going to meet Nicholas for dinner. Nicholas has recently returned to England from the Continent, but due to his past is coming under a different name. On his way to dinner, James – who wants to be, and was in real life an adventurer – follows the sounds of chaos as a dragon has burst into London and is eating people, and is saved by Aaron, a ‘Stoker.’ Aaron, confesses to James that he has a telepathic connection with the dragons and James therefore invites him to meet Nicholas who also has this ability. Once at dinner it turns out that Aaron is the best friend of Isambard who has made a name of himself as a ‘Stoker’ – who are low class workers – that has created a steam engine and has gained the title of Engineer.
Meanwhile, His Majesty George III has decided to create a competition for the design of a wall surrounding London, and we find out the Isambard has designed an entry, but lacks an Architect to make it beautiful. Aaron, having just met Nicholas who is an Architect now by trade, tells Isambard and all the main characters become embroiled with each other. Also, we begin to understand the complex Socio-Religo-Politics of this alternate reality, where Christianity has been replaced with the Gods of Industry, and their churches are run by those who have created amazing industrial changes. However, it also means that the politics of England are important, such as the casting of Charles Babbage from the Royal Society for his critique of a church head.
As the story progresses Isambard and Nicholas win the prize of the honor of building the London wall, but strange things are occurring in the palace that disturb Nicholas who has become smitten with a palace maid. Meanwhile, Aaron has become less and less trusting of Isambard believing that he does not have is people’s best interest at heart, especially as he has created Boiler’s: machines that can do the work of a man when given the proper programming – I picture the Final Fantasy machines. In addition, it turns out that the King is not simply insane, but has become a sort Industrial Vampire that is creating an army of Sunken who are obsessed with the need for lead and blood, and that the wall surrounding London may be for a more nefarious purpose than the public knows. And then the plot shifts, as Part II of the novel tells us of the years between the Prologue and the opening of Part I.
Although the novel never really deals with the dragon plot lines, leaving it to the next story I hope, and the strange zombiesque finale (that reminds me of the Sherlock Holmes and the Undead comics) seems to come out of nowhere, even though it doesn’t, the plot is quite gripping, the characters well developed, and the universe as well created, or better even, than many established fantasy authors. If I have any complaints it is not with the story, but rather the editor and writer who seem to not understand that using ‘till when people speak is completely appropriate, but should otherwise be ‘until’ in all other aspects of writing. I am truly interested in reading the next novel in the series since S.C. Green is surprisingly able to weave together the various genres of Steampunk Fantasy, Zombie Horror and Dino-Fantasy without missing a beat.
The Sunken has to be one of the strangest, yet interesting, books that I have ever read. The story is a Steampunk alternate reality, but unlike the more famous stories in the genre, this novel incorporates aspects of anime, horror and dino-fantasy into a strange and new beast.
*SPOILERS*
The story begins with an introduction to the Engine Ward Universe, and a few of the major characters, in a scene that combines the best of Steampunk and Dino-Fantasy. The main characters of Isambard, Nicholas, and James Holman are on a field trip visiting one of the great engines that run aspects of London when a fellow students pet ‘dragon’ (dinosaur) gets lose and causes a death. It is here that we find out that Nicholas has some sort of telepathy with animals, as he attempts to calm the dragon in its panic; and it is this incident which is pivotal for the reuniting of the characters at the beginning of the novel.
Following the Prologue, we are properly introduced to the major players as James Holman, who is blind, is going to meet Nicholas for dinner. Nicholas has recently returned to England from the Continent, but due to his past is coming under a different name. On his way to dinner, James – who wants to be, and was in real life an adventurer – follows the sounds of chaos as a dragon has burst into London and is eating people, and is saved by Aaron, a ‘Stoker.’ Aaron, confesses to James that he has a telepathic connection with the dragons and James therefore invites him to meet Nicholas who also has this ability. Once at dinner it turns out that Aaron is the best friend of Isambard who has made a name of himself as a ‘Stoker’ – who are low class workers – that has created a steam engine and has gained the title of Engineer.
Meanwhile, His Majesty George III has decided to create a competition for the design of a wall surrounding London, and we find out the Isambard has designed an entry, but lacks an Architect to make it beautiful. Aaron, having just met Nicholas who is an Architect now by trade, tells Isambard and all the main characters become embroiled with each other. Also, we begin to understand the complex Socio-Religo-Politics of this alternate reality, where Christianity has been replaced with the Gods of Industry, and their churches are run by those who have created amazing industrial changes. However, it also means that the politics of England are important, such as the casting of Charles Babbage from the Royal Society for his critique of a church head.
As the story progresses Isambard and Nicholas win the prize of the honor of building the London wall, but strange things are occurring in the palace that disturb Nicholas who has become smitten with a palace maid. Meanwhile, Aaron has become less and less trusting of Isambard believing that he does not have is people’s best interest at heart, especially as he has created Boiler’s: machines that can do the work of a man when given the proper programming – I picture the Final Fantasy machines. In addition, it turns out that the King is not simply insane, but has become a sort Industrial Vampire that is creating an army of Sunken who are obsessed with the need for lead and blood, and that the wall surrounding London may be for a more nefarious purpose than the public knows. And then the plot shifts, as Part II of the novel tells us of the years between the Prologue and the opening of Part I.
Although the novel never really deals with the dragon plot lines, leaving it to the next story I hope, and the strange zombiesque finale (that reminds me of the Sherlock Holmes and the Undead comics) seems to come out of nowhere, even though it doesn’t, the plot is quite gripping, the characters well developed, and the universe as well created, or better even, than many established fantasy authors. If I have any complaints it is not with the story, but rather the editor and writer who seem to not understand that using ‘till when people speak is completely appropriate, but should otherwise be ‘until’ in all other aspects of writing. I am truly interested in reading the next novel in the series since S.C. Green is surprisingly able to weave together the various genres of Steampunk Fantasy, Zombie Horror and Dino-Fantasy without missing a beat.
October 9, 2022
I'm a little conflicted about this one, to be honest. The story started slow, with a lot happening in a very different historical England littered with familiar names, but by the end of Part one I was intrigued. Part two is the personal histories of the major characters in part one: you find out what happened to get Nicholas, James and Aaron to where they were at the beginning of the story. And then part three finishes up this story and sets things up for the sequel.
And that's where the conflict comes in. I found it hard to put down for the last half of the book, wanting to know what would happen next, but I'm not sure I really enjoyed it. There's a lot of questions still needing answers but I don't know if I'm interested enough to seek out the next books.
And that's where the conflict comes in. I found it hard to put down for the last half of the book, wanting to know what would happen next, but I'm not sure I really enjoyed it. There's a lot of questions still needing answers but I don't know if I'm interested enough to seek out the next books.
October 1, 2014
I'm finally back in Japan and back to reviewing books. I've missed a lot (a few NetGalley items I was approved of has been archived -cries-), but well, there's not time to spare! Today, I'm here to review The Sunken by S C Green as part of Enchanted Books Blog Tour.
The Sunken is a fascinating read set in an Alternate Universe during the time of King George III. There are a few main characters - Nicholas Rose/Nicholas Thorne, a brilliant architect that's also running from something. Aaron, a Stoker and friend of Isambard Brunel. Isambard Brunel is a talented and ambitious engineer. And lastly, there's James Holman, a blind man who wishes to explore the world. There's also Brigitte, but her role is more of "love interest", and she only provides some information in the early parts of the book.
Now that I've introduced the characters in one sentence summaries that do no justice to their complexity (not to mention how their relationships develop), let me introduce the setting and plot. King George is a vampire, English people worship a pantheon of "Industrial Gods". As a result of the "Industrial Gods", England is cut off from the rest of Europe, which is supposed to be Christian. The book starts off with Nicholas, Isambard and James as boys, when a horrible accident happens and someone dies. Nicholas and James feel horror and guilt, while Isambard just marvels at the beauty of the machines. Fast forward a few years, and Nicholas smuggles himself back to England, where he becomes Isambard's architect. However, as Isambard wins royal favour, it's clear that something sinister is happening, and all the main characters react differently.
While the book is supposed to be about the approaching menace of The Sunken (it's in the title, it's not a spoiler, right?), I can't help but think that the real main character of the story is Isambard. While the story is told from multiple POVs (including a few from those of Joseph Banks, the physician to King George), Isambard's POV is noticeably absent. Why? I think it's because he's complex, and most people view him in a different light. There are many differing accounts about the type of person he is, and the contractions aren't resolved at the end of the book - in fact, they become even more divergent. Trying to make up my mind about him was almost more interesting than the plot (which was pretty interesting on its own).
All in all, this is a fascinating steampunk/alternate history/AU book. The plot is interesting, and the multiple voices are distinctive and help the reader to piece the bigger picture together. I see it's the first of a series, and I definitely look forward to seeing what the author does in the next book.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book to review as part of the Enchanted Books Blog Tour. The opinions in my review are my honest opinions.
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
The Sunken is a fascinating read set in an Alternate Universe during the time of King George III. There are a few main characters - Nicholas Rose/Nicholas Thorne, a brilliant architect that's also running from something. Aaron, a Stoker and friend of Isambard Brunel. Isambard Brunel is a talented and ambitious engineer. And lastly, there's James Holman, a blind man who wishes to explore the world. There's also Brigitte, but her role is more of "love interest", and she only provides some information in the early parts of the book.
Now that I've introduced the characters in one sentence summaries that do no justice to their complexity (not to mention how their relationships develop), let me introduce the setting and plot. King George is a vampire, English people worship a pantheon of "Industrial Gods". As a result of the "Industrial Gods", England is cut off from the rest of Europe, which is supposed to be Christian. The book starts off with Nicholas, Isambard and James as boys, when a horrible accident happens and someone dies. Nicholas and James feel horror and guilt, while Isambard just marvels at the beauty of the machines. Fast forward a few years, and Nicholas smuggles himself back to England, where he becomes Isambard's architect. However, as Isambard wins royal favour, it's clear that something sinister is happening, and all the main characters react differently.
While the book is supposed to be about the approaching menace of The Sunken (it's in the title, it's not a spoiler, right?), I can't help but think that the real main character of the story is Isambard. While the story is told from multiple POVs (including a few from those of Joseph Banks, the physician to King George), Isambard's POV is noticeably absent. Why? I think it's because he's complex, and most people view him in a different light. There are many differing accounts about the type of person he is, and the contractions aren't resolved at the end of the book - in fact, they become even more divergent. Trying to make up my mind about him was almost more interesting than the plot (which was pretty interesting on its own).
All in all, this is a fascinating steampunk/alternate history/AU book. The plot is interesting, and the multiple voices are distinctive and help the reader to piece the bigger picture together. I see it's the first of a series, and I definitely look forward to seeing what the author does in the next book.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book to review as part of the Enchanted Books Blog Tour. The opinions in my review are my honest opinions.
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
October 21, 2014
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/book-tou...
Imagine King George III as a vampire. Now, imagine a steampunk, dark fantasy world, in which people worship the gods of Industrialism, as opposed to the rest of Europe, which still practises christianity.
The novel starts off by introducing us to the three main characters as youngsters: Nicholas, James and Isambard. When something terrible happens, Nicholas and James are shocked, but Isambard gains a strange connection to the machines that rule their world. He becomes an engineer, and gains royal favor as a result, while he works with the mechanical creations that have him mesmerized.
Numerous years later, Nicholas returns to the Engine Ward, a district in the heart of London, where he starts to work for his childhood friend. But as Isambard wants to set up a Wall, that would shut out the dragons (yes, you read that out) that threaten the city, and he gets the approval of the King, he begins to suspect something is wrong. He informs Nicholas of his suspicious that the king wants to use the wall not to protect the citizens of London, but to keep them locked inside while he unleashed an army of Sunken: flesh-eating monsters.
You can’t say that The Sunken doesn’t have an element of originality – it’s easily one of the most original books I’ve ever read. And the most amazing part is how skillfully S.C. Green manages to combine all the elements of this book: flesh-eating monsters, vampires, alternative history, steampunk machines, and dragons. When you read it like that, you’d never think it works, but it does. The London the author creatures is a dark and threatening place, but at the same time it’s also vibrant and lively, and one of the most thrilling fantasy settings I’ve read about.
I loved Isambard – he was my favorite main character, because he’s just so complex. It ward hard to think about what he’d do next. That’s not to say the other characters aren’t complex either, for example, Nicholas has a few struggles of his own and has some tough choices to make.
The writing was excellent, the characters engaging, the plot suspenseful from start to end. There aren’t enough words to say what an amazing read this is – I’d recommend you just pick it up and see for yourself.
Imagine King George III as a vampire. Now, imagine a steampunk, dark fantasy world, in which people worship the gods of Industrialism, as opposed to the rest of Europe, which still practises christianity.
The novel starts off by introducing us to the three main characters as youngsters: Nicholas, James and Isambard. When something terrible happens, Nicholas and James are shocked, but Isambard gains a strange connection to the machines that rule their world. He becomes an engineer, and gains royal favor as a result, while he works with the mechanical creations that have him mesmerized.
Numerous years later, Nicholas returns to the Engine Ward, a district in the heart of London, where he starts to work for his childhood friend. But as Isambard wants to set up a Wall, that would shut out the dragons (yes, you read that out) that threaten the city, and he gets the approval of the King, he begins to suspect something is wrong. He informs Nicholas of his suspicious that the king wants to use the wall not to protect the citizens of London, but to keep them locked inside while he unleashed an army of Sunken: flesh-eating monsters.
You can’t say that The Sunken doesn’t have an element of originality – it’s easily one of the most original books I’ve ever read. And the most amazing part is how skillfully S.C. Green manages to combine all the elements of this book: flesh-eating monsters, vampires, alternative history, steampunk machines, and dragons. When you read it like that, you’d never think it works, but it does. The London the author creatures is a dark and threatening place, but at the same time it’s also vibrant and lively, and one of the most thrilling fantasy settings I’ve read about.
I loved Isambard – he was my favorite main character, because he’s just so complex. It ward hard to think about what he’d do next. That’s not to say the other characters aren’t complex either, for example, Nicholas has a few struggles of his own and has some tough choices to make.
The writing was excellent, the characters engaging, the plot suspenseful from start to end. There aren’t enough words to say what an amazing read this is – I’d recommend you just pick it up and see for yourself.
January 24, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. When I first opened it, I honestly didn't know what to expect! I have never read any form of Steampunk before and in those cases I normally go for a well known, well recommended book to introduce me to the genre. The synopsis for this one looked so interesting however that I couldn't pass up the opportunity to do something a bit different and give this book a go. From start to finish, I couldn't have been more happy with the results if I had tried. Lt's start with the plot which is no doubt the most impressive aspect of the book. It is just so well put together and original! Green manages to skillfully weave together a large number of viewpoints and plot threads and I loved how they all combined and connected in the grand scheme of the overriding arc. The world-building too was impressive. A re-working of industrial Britain, many characters are recognisable in name alone (Brunel, King George III, Turner, Babbage, Byron, Shelly, etc.) and the setting almost felt like a totally different world, but was more a play on what would have happened if the Industrial age had gone too far. Design, engineering and art are turned into religious sects and it both made me laugh and sent a chill down my spine to see a man excommunicated and lose everything for calling out the incorrect calculations of a priest who far outranked him. The political and social complexities of the world only helped to further the story and it was fascinating to read. And then of course there were the dragons. I mean, who doesn't love dragons (among other unknown creatures). I would certainly love to grab a copy of Buckland's taxonomy and learn all about them, complete with diagrams! I guess the only thing that really threw me at the beginning was the world itself, as I felt like I had literally been transported to a place I didn't have the slightest idea about, and not much of a clue was given at first. The characters were a little flighty in their likability and personality at times too, but I can't WAIT to read the next book!
For a ful review, see here: http://chasedbymyimagination.blogspot...
For a ful review, see here: http://chasedbymyimagination.blogspot...
October 8, 2014
THE SUNKEN by S.C. Green is a Steam-Punk fantasy novel set in an alternate reality in the year 1830.
The author has imagined a complex world with London, England at it's center. The King of England has declared Christianity illegal and instead the residents of England worship the Gods of Industrialism.
There are trains, dragons, steam powered machinery, complex social stations and priests who worship such things as The Great Conductor.
Aaron Williams and Isambard Brunel are Stokers. They live in the Engine Ward in London. They, and their fellow Stokers are known as 'The Dirty People'. It is their job to feed the furnaces and keep all the machinery that powers London in good working order.
Aaron has a secret. He can hear the thoughts of animals and sometimes even influence them. He thought he was the only one with this gift until he meets Nicholas Thorne.
Nicholas Thorne attended school in the Engine Ward as a boy with Isambard, James and Aaron's brother. Afterwards he went off to sea as part of the Navy. Circumstances brand him a murderer and he lives in exile in France for a few years. This story takes place upon his return to England to live under an assumed name.
James Holman began his career as a sailor in the English Navy, but falls ill and ends up blind at a young age. He lives with elderly knights near the castle and dreams of traveling the world.
These four men find themselves in the middle of a situation that can alter the future of their world. The King seems to have gone mad. Dragons are attacking the citizens of London and strange sounds and even screams have been heard coming from within the castle.
This is a story of intrigue, ambition, fantasy, horror and adventure. There is something in this story that every reader will identify with.
The plot is complex and well thought out. I am sure my description does not do this book justice.
I highly recommend this book and give it a rating of five out of five stars.
This was the first book in a series and I am very much looking forward to the continuation of this saga.
The author has imagined a complex world with London, England at it's center. The King of England has declared Christianity illegal and instead the residents of England worship the Gods of Industrialism.
There are trains, dragons, steam powered machinery, complex social stations and priests who worship such things as The Great Conductor.
Aaron Williams and Isambard Brunel are Stokers. They live in the Engine Ward in London. They, and their fellow Stokers are known as 'The Dirty People'. It is their job to feed the furnaces and keep all the machinery that powers London in good working order.
Aaron has a secret. He can hear the thoughts of animals and sometimes even influence them. He thought he was the only one with this gift until he meets Nicholas Thorne.
Nicholas Thorne attended school in the Engine Ward as a boy with Isambard, James and Aaron's brother. Afterwards he went off to sea as part of the Navy. Circumstances brand him a murderer and he lives in exile in France for a few years. This story takes place upon his return to England to live under an assumed name.
James Holman began his career as a sailor in the English Navy, but falls ill and ends up blind at a young age. He lives with elderly knights near the castle and dreams of traveling the world.
These four men find themselves in the middle of a situation that can alter the future of their world. The King seems to have gone mad. Dragons are attacking the citizens of London and strange sounds and even screams have been heard coming from within the castle.
This is a story of intrigue, ambition, fantasy, horror and adventure. There is something in this story that every reader will identify with.
The plot is complex and well thought out. I am sure my description does not do this book justice.
I highly recommend this book and give it a rating of five out of five stars.
This was the first book in a series and I am very much looking forward to the continuation of this saga.
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