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The Teatime Chronicles #1
The Tea Machine
The story of a love that never dies...except it does, time after time after time.
London 1862, and Millicent Aberly, spinster by choice, has found her future love—in the future!
She meddled with her brother’s time machine and has been catapulted into an alternative world where the Roman Empire has neither declined nor fell. In fact, it has gone on to annex most of the known universe.
Millicent is rescued from Rome’s greatest enemy, the giant space squid, by Sangfroid, a tough and wily centurion who, unfortunately, dies while protecting her. Wracked by guilt and a peculiar fascination for the woman soldier, Millicent is determined to return in time to save Sangfroid from her fatal heroics. Instead, she finds her sexy centurion in her own timeline. And Sangfroid is not alone; several stowaways have come along with her.
Soon Millicent’s mews house is overrun with Roman space warriors and giant squid.
London 1862, and Millicent Aberly, spinster by choice, has found her future love—in the future!
She meddled with her brother’s time machine and has been catapulted into an alternative world where the Roman Empire has neither declined nor fell. In fact, it has gone on to annex most of the known universe.
Millicent is rescued from Rome’s greatest enemy, the giant space squid, by Sangfroid, a tough and wily centurion who, unfortunately, dies while protecting her. Wracked by guilt and a peculiar fascination for the woman soldier, Millicent is determined to return in time to save Sangfroid from her fatal heroics. Instead, she finds her sexy centurion in her own timeline. And Sangfroid is not alone; several stowaways have come along with her.
Soon Millicent’s mews house is overrun with Roman space warriors and giant squid.
342 pages, ebook
First published November 9, 2015
7 people are currently reading
413 people want to read
About the author
Gill McKnight
28 books283 followersGill McKnight is Irish but spends as much time as possible in Lesbos, Greece, which she considers home. She can often be found traveling back and forth between Greece and Ireland in a rusty old camper van with her rusty wee dog. Gill enjoys writing, roses, and by necessity DIY.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
December 5, 2015
This book has one of the most bizarre blurbs ever. London circa 1862 + space battle + Roman centurions + squid?!?!? How does all that come together in a book? Via time travel, of course. :)
Millicent, a prim and proper but rather unconventional young lady, would rather carry on intellectual discourses with her scientist brother Hubert and other solitary pursuits, than join the London social set of her day. Hubert, on the other hand is a tinkerer, inventor and all-around eccentric, who just happens to cobble together from old furniture and bits and pieces pilfered from Millicent's most treasured things, a contraption thats capable of sending someone to another time (and apparently to random places as well). And of course, Millicent just has to 'accidentally' activate said machine, setting up an incredible chain of events with reverberations thousands of years into the future, the past as well as the present.
Now before readers get turned off, the book is not a nerdy sci-fi yarn. Yes, it opens with a desperate space battle, has some icky Roman gladiator fights, and there's some bewildering time travel in between. But...at its heart, its a comedy... of sorts. Think campy, Victorian era, lesbian 'Back to the Future'... then cross it with 'Xena Warrior Princess'! :) Actually, it straddles a lot of sub-genres: steampunk, sci-fi, historical, thriller, mystery, character study, you name it. And there's even a romance there somewhere, or two, although you never know when it actually happens... lol Was it in the past? future?
The basic premise of Tea Machine is this (well, aside from the time travelling bit) : What if the mighty ancient Roman Empire never fell, but continued its domination of the world thousands of years into the future. What kind of civilization would we have today? Probably the same as if the Nazis had won. ;) Anyway, the author takes us to three different times in this alternate reality (past, present, future). The mystery there is, what or who caused this to happen? And how do they fix it? And even worse, if they do manage to fix it, will our main characters lose each other forever, since they've only ever met in this f-ed up reality?
Now one would think such a dire, gloomy world of death and destruction would result in a terribly depressing book, but except for a few chapters, I found myself laughing out loud through most of it. The author had a lot of fun playing up various character stereotypes. Great writing plus the overall campy tone the author chose made the book a very entertaining read.
My review won't be complete if I don't poke holes at the plot. And this one will probably leak like a sieve if you think too hard. The book doesn't take itself too seriously, so I didn't either. But here's a few big ones I couldn't help noticing: Despite my nitpicks, the overall plot (including all the time travelling and its ramifications) is well thought out and logical. I'm hoping things will be cleared up some more in the next book. Which hopefully comes soon, because I can't wait!
ARC received from Netgalley
Millicent, a prim and proper but rather unconventional young lady, would rather carry on intellectual discourses with her scientist brother Hubert and other solitary pursuits, than join the London social set of her day. Hubert, on the other hand is a tinkerer, inventor and all-around eccentric, who just happens to cobble together from old furniture and bits and pieces pilfered from Millicent's most treasured things, a contraption thats capable of sending someone to another time (and apparently to random places as well). And of course, Millicent just has to 'accidentally' activate said machine, setting up an incredible chain of events with reverberations thousands of years into the future, the past as well as the present.
Now before readers get turned off, the book is not a nerdy sci-fi yarn. Yes, it opens with a desperate space battle, has some icky Roman gladiator fights, and there's some bewildering time travel in between. But...at its heart, its a comedy... of sorts. Think campy, Victorian era, lesbian 'Back to the Future'... then cross it with 'Xena Warrior Princess'! :) Actually, it straddles a lot of sub-genres: steampunk, sci-fi, historical, thriller, mystery, character study, you name it. And there's even a romance there somewhere, or two, although you never know when it actually happens... lol Was it in the past? future?
The basic premise of Tea Machine is this (well, aside from the time travelling bit) : What if the mighty ancient Roman Empire never fell, but continued its domination of the world thousands of years into the future. What kind of civilization would we have today? Probably the same as if the Nazis had won. ;) Anyway, the author takes us to three different times in this alternate reality (past, present, future). The mystery there is, what or who caused this to happen? And how do they fix it? And even worse, if they do manage to fix it, will our main characters lose each other forever, since they've only ever met in this f-ed up reality?
Now one would think such a dire, gloomy world of death and destruction would result in a terribly depressing book, but except for a few chapters, I found myself laughing out loud through most of it. The author had a lot of fun playing up various character stereotypes. Great writing plus the overall campy tone the author chose made the book a very entertaining read.
My review won't be complete if I don't poke holes at the plot. And this one will probably leak like a sieve if you think too hard. The book doesn't take itself too seriously, so I didn't either. But here's a few big ones I couldn't help noticing: Despite my nitpicks, the overall plot (including all the time travelling and its ramifications) is well thought out and logical. I'm hoping things will be cleared up some more in the next book. Which hopefully comes soon, because I can't wait!
ARC received from Netgalley
February 24, 2017
Due to the lower reviews I was expecting to not like this book or perhaps come away with mixed feelings on its quality. For me, though, my reaction was completely the opposite and I was pleasantly surprised.
This is a really well-written, absurd sci-fi fantasy in the vein of Douglas Adams' 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' with some Dr. Who elements thrown in. If you're not into that, do yourself a favor and skip it. I see some negative reviews basically saying "I don't get it..." or question its believability and I get the feeling that reader shouldn't have picked it up in the first place...
To enjoy it, I think you need to put your "lighten up" hat on before diving into this one.
The book is supposed to be fun...and absurd...and it is! Who gives a flip if it adheres to actual science? I don't want to think that hard and I'm not going to run out and research quantum physics and parallel universes to see if the author got it right. The plot is well thought out and it's convincing enough.
What it delivers on is a completely zany story with a handful of quirky characters. The crux of the book is in how this set of characters gets into one impossible situation after another and how they get out of them. I was impressed with the vivid imagery, all of the moving parts working through the story, and the sheer imagination it took to bring it all together. It's a non-stop, unpredictable, kooky ride that is filled with amusement and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As a heads up, in case you're expecting it, there is an f/f element in the book but this is NOT a romance. Also, the book ends abruptly not so much as a cliffhanger but it felt like it was missing a final chapter. It ends on a punchline of sorts and we're caught up short...or I was, at least. There's a sequel to the book coming out in 2017, though, so I'll definitely read it.
Yes, I recommend but only to those who would appreciate a nonsensical sci-fi romp. :)
4.25 stars
This is a really well-written, absurd sci-fi fantasy in the vein of Douglas Adams' 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' with some Dr. Who elements thrown in. If you're not into that, do yourself a favor and skip it. I see some negative reviews basically saying "I don't get it..." or question its believability and I get the feeling that reader shouldn't have picked it up in the first place...
To enjoy it, I think you need to put your "lighten up" hat on before diving into this one.
The book is supposed to be fun...and absurd...and it is! Who gives a flip if it adheres to actual science? I don't want to think that hard and I'm not going to run out and research quantum physics and parallel universes to see if the author got it right. The plot is well thought out and it's convincing enough.
What it delivers on is a completely zany story with a handful of quirky characters. The crux of the book is in how this set of characters gets into one impossible situation after another and how they get out of them. I was impressed with the vivid imagery, all of the moving parts working through the story, and the sheer imagination it took to bring it all together. It's a non-stop, unpredictable, kooky ride that is filled with amusement and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As a heads up, in case you're expecting it, there is an f/f element in the book but this is NOT a romance. Also, the book ends abruptly not so much as a cliffhanger but it felt like it was missing a final chapter. It ends on a punchline of sorts and we're caught up short...or I was, at least. There's a sequel to the book coming out in 2017, though, so I'll definitely read it.
Yes, I recommend but only to those who would appreciate a nonsensical sci-fi romp. :)
4.25 stars
January 8, 2021
A fun whimsical fancy. This isn't your average lesfic, and I wouldn't say the main genre is romance. There's just the slightest hint of lady-loving undertones. Moreso toward the end.
If you liked the book and the films The Time Machine you may like this, only it's weirder and funnier. There's space squid, Statuesque female soldiers of a Romanesque empire, alternate realities and parallel worlds, tea and goats!
Sadly, the ending is on a bit of a cliff-hanger and it would appear the sequel never did come to fruition from what I am googling... if this is incorrect please let me know. I'd love to see a continuance.
The story we get is satisfying for the most part, but decidedly not complete which is a bother and a shame.
If you liked the book and the films The Time Machine you may like this, only it's weirder and funnier. There's space squid, Statuesque female soldiers of a Romanesque empire, alternate realities and parallel worlds, tea and goats!
Sadly, the ending is on a bit of a cliff-hanger and it would appear the sequel never did come to fruition from what I am googling... if this is incorrect please let me know. I'd love to see a continuance.
The story we get is satisfying for the most part, but decidedly not complete which is a bother and a shame.
July 8, 2017
The first part of the book was interesting and looked promising, but for some reason I just could not buy into it after the time travel ended up in an alternative Rome.
I liked the idea of time travel between 2 time zones and that the main characters were spanned both zones, and were trying to enter event so one of them did not die. But when everyone entered into another alternative time zone I confess to getting lost and losing interest.
Its just not to my personal taste.
Received from Ylva for an honest review.
I liked the idea of time travel between 2 time zones and that the main characters were spanned both zones, and were trying to enter event so one of them did not die. But when everyone entered into another alternative time zone I confess to getting lost and losing interest.
Its just not to my personal taste.
Received from Ylva for an honest review.
January 6, 2016
The Tea Machine by Gill McKnight is a fantastical tale of time travel. I found myself simultaneously enthralled and confused.
The main character of this novel is Millicent Abberly who hails from London via 1862. Millicent is a strong, sharped tongued, independent, super intelligent woman who is light years ahead of her time. Miss Abberly is a forward thinker, who is more than capable of handling a time traveling adventure. Good thing for her, her brother Hubert just invented a time traveling machine.
The story starts as Millicent takes an unexpected journey to 100 years into the future. No, she doesn't end up in the 1960s, she goes to a parallel universe when Roman Empire is fighting to control the galaxy. There she meets up with Decanus R.J. Sangfroid, a handsome lady soldier, who is battling colossal squid that are hell bent on destroying the ship that Millicent just showed up on.
I told you this story was fantastical, and it doesn't stop at a futuristic squid battle. Millicent, Sangfroid, Hubert and a handful of other characters have caused a ripple in time. Time travel has consequences and this crew must deal with the fallouts.
I had to really think about this book upon conclusion. What could I say to a fellow reader, I asked? So here goes... This book has a lot going on. At times I was lost as to where we were going. Just when I thought I had figured it out, nope Millicent and company are off to another adventure. You have to read this book with a wide open imagination, don't try to figure it out until it's completed. I did enjoy my time with it. I loved Millicent, she is awesome. I do wish more of Millicent and Sangfroid's love story was brought to the forefront of the story. McKnight did a good job of establishing chemistry between them in the beginning of the book, but seemed like it became a side note in the final third of the story.
I think if you are really interested in science fiction you will find this book fascinating. If you are looking for a clear cut romance, this may not be the one for you. It's definitely different, but different is not a bad thing. This book is what I would call a unique adventure.
The main character of this novel is Millicent Abberly who hails from London via 1862. Millicent is a strong, sharped tongued, independent, super intelligent woman who is light years ahead of her time. Miss Abberly is a forward thinker, who is more than capable of handling a time traveling adventure. Good thing for her, her brother Hubert just invented a time traveling machine.
The story starts as Millicent takes an unexpected journey to 100 years into the future. No, she doesn't end up in the 1960s, she goes to a parallel universe when Roman Empire is fighting to control the galaxy. There she meets up with Decanus R.J. Sangfroid, a handsome lady soldier, who is battling colossal squid that are hell bent on destroying the ship that Millicent just showed up on.
I told you this story was fantastical, and it doesn't stop at a futuristic squid battle. Millicent, Sangfroid, Hubert and a handful of other characters have caused a ripple in time. Time travel has consequences and this crew must deal with the fallouts.
I had to really think about this book upon conclusion. What could I say to a fellow reader, I asked? So here goes... This book has a lot going on. At times I was lost as to where we were going. Just when I thought I had figured it out, nope Millicent and company are off to another adventure. You have to read this book with a wide open imagination, don't try to figure it out until it's completed. I did enjoy my time with it. I loved Millicent, she is awesome. I do wish more of Millicent and Sangfroid's love story was brought to the forefront of the story. McKnight did a good job of establishing chemistry between them in the beginning of the book, but seemed like it became a side note in the final third of the story.
I think if you are really interested in science fiction you will find this book fascinating. If you are looking for a clear cut romance, this may not be the one for you. It's definitely different, but different is not a bad thing. This book is what I would call a unique adventure.
July 1, 2017
First of all, why this book has not more 5 star reviews is beyond me because it deserves so much more praise than it is getting now.
It is a crazy ride from start to finish, the end being left wide open for book two that is coming out this year (oh let it be soon!).
There is a lot going on, there is Steam Punk, there are space battles, giant space squid, plenty of humor, ancient Rome but not as you know it, goats... lots of goats, tea, adventure, time travel, a bit of romance, automatons, amazons, a fight to the death in a Roman arena and much more.
Gil McKnight does an excellent job weaving all the timelines together (which is not an easy task!) and you will be on the edge of your seat the whole time. Book Club buddie D. was blown away and so was I and we cannot recommend this book high enough. This is an absolute must read and is firmly in my top 10 of 2017!
It is a crazy ride from start to finish, the end being left wide open for book two that is coming out this year (oh let it be soon!).
There is a lot going on, there is Steam Punk, there are space battles, giant space squid, plenty of humor, ancient Rome but not as you know it, goats... lots of goats, tea, adventure, time travel, a bit of romance, automatons, amazons, a fight to the death in a Roman arena and much more.
Gil McKnight does an excellent job weaving all the timelines together (which is not an easy task!) and you will be on the edge of your seat the whole time. Book Club buddie D. was blown away and so was I and we cannot recommend this book high enough. This is an absolute must read and is firmly in my top 10 of 2017!
April 7, 2016
The Tea Machine is one of the most unusual books I have read in a long time. I mean that in the best way!
There are two things that make this book unusual to me. The first is a strange and lovely combination of genres. Basically, it is a steampunk and romance. Then you add time travel. And since the time travel is both backward and forward and in time, historical and science fiction can be added to the list of genres. This combining of several of my favorite genres into one novel is a feat that I truly admire.
The second unusual trait about The Tea Machine is that, with the turn of a page, the story goes from serious, intense action where the heroines are facing danger around every corner to a less intense, danger-free, witty and absolutely hilarious conversations. As I was reading, this constant change in the mood of the story grew on me with each chapter.
The characters in The Tea Machine are truly special. My favorite is Decanus Sangfroid, who leads her unit of Roman soldiers out into space, battling giant killer squid and always seems to live up to her name. On her timeline, the Roman’s never stopped invading. When they ran out of territory on earth, they went into space, unable to figure out any other purpose beyond conquering. Those who know their Latin may be aware that Decanus is a military rank, not a name. That is something Sangfroid will get tired of mentioning to the people in London.
Millicent Aberly is the 19th century woman who is responsible for Sangfroid being in London, apparently on a different timeline than the giant squid timeline. How that happened is difficult to explain, but here is the short version: There is Hubert, Millicent’s genius, inventor brother, a time machine, squid battles going horribly wrong, and time travel.
Sangfroid is tall. Really tall, evidently, towering over everyone on earth in late 1800’s London. Sangfroid is so tall that everyone thinks she is a he and that she is Millicent’s beau. Which is sort of true. Specifically, the part about Sangfroid being Millicent’s beau (belle) is true. It is a slow moving romance, but the two are drawn to each other for reasons they don’t understand or don’t remember. I like this ambiguous beginning(?) to their relationship. It hints that there is more to the story than the timeline you are currently reading about.
I can’t talk about characters without mentioning Sophia Trenchant-Myre. Hubert’s fiancé, Sophia is completely unaware of the true nature of Sangfroid, the time machine and pretty much everything that is going on around her. Totally annoying at first, this character became more interesting as the story progressed and her importance to the plot cannot ignored. Sophia also provides much of the comic relief – which also makes her a vital character.
When asked if I had any interest in reviewing The Tea Machine, I looked at the cover. That was all I needed to decide I had to read it. I think it is pretty evident why. There is an interesting border with a steampunk theme going on surrounding a suction-cup covered tentacle reaching out of a lovely porcelain cup filled with strongly brewed tea. How could I not want to read this book. Did I mention the tea? Tea is my second favorite beverage after water. There is a lot of tea in this book. Tea is represented in many forms from a cup of Lapsang Souchong to an entire tea theology. (BTW, my third favorite beverage is also mentioned in the book. Sangfroid seems to enjoy whiskey too!)
Along with the characters and the tea, Ms. McKnight has created several fascinating timelines in The Tea Machine. Each has its own quirks, dangers, and appealing and unappealing aspects. In the book, it seems that power, corruption, greed, suffering and ignorance can be found anywhere and any time. But so can compassion, generosity, bravery, intelligence, and love.
I found myself admiring Ms. McKnight's writing skills beyond just telling a great story. There is something about the way she strings words together that is funny and smart and oh, so readable. I could open to any page to find an example of what I am talking about. Here is a brief example of Sangfroid explaining Hubert to her fellow soldier Gallo:
The Tea Machine is the first in The Teatime Chronicles series. It has a satisfying ending, but leaves the reader and the characters with some key unanswered questions. I really wanted answers to some of those questions, but since book one was so good, I’m okay with having to read more of the series to figure it all out.
The Tea Machine is highly recommended! When I decided to group my posts about steampunk under the heading of Teatime Reading, I had no idea that I’d be reading The Teatime Chronicles. I really think The Tea Machine was destined to end up on my bookshelf. On my favorites shelf, to be specific. I am sad that I have to wait until 2017 to read the next book in The Teatime Chronicles series. But I’m sure it will be worth the wait!
Originally posted at Smart Girls Love SciFi Romance.
There are two things that make this book unusual to me. The first is a strange and lovely combination of genres. Basically, it is a steampunk and romance. Then you add time travel. And since the time travel is both backward and forward and in time, historical and science fiction can be added to the list of genres. This combining of several of my favorite genres into one novel is a feat that I truly admire.
The second unusual trait about The Tea Machine is that, with the turn of a page, the story goes from serious, intense action where the heroines are facing danger around every corner to a less intense, danger-free, witty and absolutely hilarious conversations. As I was reading, this constant change in the mood of the story grew on me with each chapter.
The characters in The Tea Machine are truly special. My favorite is Decanus Sangfroid, who leads her unit of Roman soldiers out into space, battling giant killer squid and always seems to live up to her name. On her timeline, the Roman’s never stopped invading. When they ran out of territory on earth, they went into space, unable to figure out any other purpose beyond conquering. Those who know their Latin may be aware that Decanus is a military rank, not a name. That is something Sangfroid will get tired of mentioning to the people in London.
Millicent Aberly is the 19th century woman who is responsible for Sangfroid being in London, apparently on a different timeline than the giant squid timeline. How that happened is difficult to explain, but here is the short version: There is Hubert, Millicent’s genius, inventor brother, a time machine, squid battles going horribly wrong, and time travel.
Sangfroid is tall. Really tall, evidently, towering over everyone on earth in late 1800’s London. Sangfroid is so tall that everyone thinks she is a he and that she is Millicent’s beau. Which is sort of true. Specifically, the part about Sangfroid being Millicent’s beau (belle) is true. It is a slow moving romance, but the two are drawn to each other for reasons they don’t understand or don’t remember. I like this ambiguous beginning(?) to their relationship. It hints that there is more to the story than the timeline you are currently reading about.
I can’t talk about characters without mentioning Sophia Trenchant-Myre. Hubert’s fiancé, Sophia is completely unaware of the true nature of Sangfroid, the time machine and pretty much everything that is going on around her. Totally annoying at first, this character became more interesting as the story progressed and her importance to the plot cannot ignored. Sophia also provides much of the comic relief – which also makes her a vital character.
When asked if I had any interest in reviewing The Tea Machine, I looked at the cover. That was all I needed to decide I had to read it. I think it is pretty evident why. There is an interesting border with a steampunk theme going on surrounding a suction-cup covered tentacle reaching out of a lovely porcelain cup filled with strongly brewed tea. How could I not want to read this book. Did I mention the tea? Tea is my second favorite beverage after water. There is a lot of tea in this book. Tea is represented in many forms from a cup of Lapsang Souchong to an entire tea theology. (BTW, my third favorite beverage is also mentioned in the book. Sangfroid seems to enjoy whiskey too!)
Along with the characters and the tea, Ms. McKnight has created several fascinating timelines in The Tea Machine. Each has its own quirks, dangers, and appealing and unappealing aspects. In the book, it seems that power, corruption, greed, suffering and ignorance can be found anywhere and any time. But so can compassion, generosity, bravery, intelligence, and love.
I found myself admiring Ms. McKnight's writing skills beyond just telling a great story. There is something about the way she strings words together that is funny and smart and oh, so readable. I could open to any page to find an example of what I am talking about. Here is a brief example of Sangfroid explaining Hubert to her fellow soldier Gallo:
“He’s a professor, the boss of the brainiacs,” Sangfroid told her. “He invented this machine.” She pointed at the contraption in the middle of the laboratory. “It lets you travel through time, so they decided to come visit us and screw us over.” Next she pointed at Millicent. “She’s managed to kill me at least 300 times, and I bet she’s done you in, too.” She concluded with, “And he dresses like that because he likes brown.”
The Tea Machine is the first in The Teatime Chronicles series. It has a satisfying ending, but leaves the reader and the characters with some key unanswered questions. I really wanted answers to some of those questions, but since book one was so good, I’m okay with having to read more of the series to figure it all out.
The Tea Machine is highly recommended! When I decided to group my posts about steampunk under the heading of Teatime Reading, I had no idea that I’d be reading The Teatime Chronicles. I really think The Tea Machine was destined to end up on my bookshelf. On my favorites shelf, to be specific. I am sad that I have to wait until 2017 to read the next book in The Teatime Chronicles series. But I’m sure it will be worth the wait!
Originally posted at Smart Girls Love SciFi Romance.
October 10, 2016
I had no idea what to expect from this book. Halfway through, I realized I had very little idea what was going on in the story but I didn't care because it was such fun! This is a book that defies categorization. Science fiction? Well, yes, sure. Alternate history? Got that too. Steampunk? Oh, yes.
The nearest thing I can compare this book to is an episode of Doctor Who. There was so much timey whimeyness going on that the Doctor would have felt right at home.
I mean, there are giant space squid. And Roman centurions battling to take over the galaxy. And time traveling lesbians. And a tea cult. And gladiatorial games. (Did I mention the giant space squid?) I literally cannot describe the plot adequately because it is all over the place and yet works perfectly. Everything fits together very well, and while I wasn't sure where McKnight was going at the 50% mark, by the 75% mark, everything was clear (sort of) and I was eagerly speeding toward the finish.
I'm really looking forward to the second book. I've already rec'ed the hell out of this book to folks.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley
The nearest thing I can compare this book to is an episode of Doctor Who. There was so much timey whimeyness going on that the Doctor would have felt right at home.
I mean, there are giant space squid. And Roman centurions battling to take over the galaxy. And time traveling lesbians. And a tea cult. And gladiatorial games. (Did I mention the giant space squid?) I literally cannot describe the plot adequately because it is all over the place and yet works perfectly. Everything fits together very well, and while I wasn't sure where McKnight was going at the 50% mark, by the 75% mark, everything was clear (sort of) and I was eagerly speeding toward the finish.
I'm really looking forward to the second book. I've already rec'ed the hell out of this book to folks.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley
June 5, 2017
This book rocked my small, self-centered world!
Women falling in love with women! Roman Space Marines! Amazons! A religion built around tea! Steampunk cyborg elephants! Time travel! Paradoxes! Genteel Victorian inventors and their brilliant sisters!
Seriously, is there anything good that isn't in this book? If so, I feel quite confident that it shall appear in the sequel, which I eagerly await!
Women falling in love with women! Roman Space Marines! Amazons! A religion built around tea! Steampunk cyborg elephants! Time travel! Paradoxes! Genteel Victorian inventors and their brilliant sisters!
Seriously, is there anything good that isn't in this book? If so, I feel quite confident that it shall appear in the sequel, which I eagerly await!
March 7, 2016
Millicent Aberly accidentally activates her genius brother Hubert’s new time machine, which throws her into a future where the Roman Empire did not fall, but expanded, even colonizing space. The Romans now fight the space squid for control of…space. Millicent is saved from death-by-space-squid by the dashing lady centurion Sangfroid, who she develops a crush on. As they make their way through the ship, Sangfroid dies, and Millicent returns to her original time and place. Intrigued by Sangfroid and wracked with guilt, Millicent uses the time machine again to try to prevent Sangfroid’s death. Many tries later, Sangfroid accidentally comes back to London and Millicent’s time. Then other strange phenomena begin, starting with giant squid and another Roman soldier from Sangfroid’s time showing up in the Aberly house. Matters get further muddled when there’s another time machine accident; and Millicent has to decide whether to save the version of London she knows, or keep her beloved Sangfroid in existence.
I have long found the work of HP Lovecraft interesting and hysterical: I went to the university that is Miskatonic’s closest analog (we have a library with books bound in human skin!), and while there I connected with many science fiction fans who loved the Victorian era and all things steampunk. Some of them impressed upon me that linear time is inherently straight and that subversion of it would be queer. This was before same-sex marriage was legalized anywhere in the US, and my friends bitterly joked that their so-called gay marriage agenda was to destroy linear time. So this book tied together some of my fondest memories of my college friends together: a bunch more of them were Classics geeks who could name the five worst Roman emperors. I’ll be recommending this book or loaning it out to as many of them as I can.
The story blends steampunk, science fiction, alternate history, romance, and a tea cult. I love McKnight’s imagination: strange creatures and technology are everywhere, causing mayhem. I wasn’t sure where the plot would go and got surprised several times. Nothing seemed out of place, though. Most of the “hey what about…” questions I had got resolved, although I think some mysteries are still there to explore in further books.
The characters and dialogue are strong, somehow remaining grounded as their reality gets wackier. Watching proper Victorians deal with the fantastical made me smile: they rationalize and hold on to their realities in believable fashion. Millicent worries about her ruined dress when there are far more dire concerns because it’s what she’s used to caring about. Hubert and his fiancée Sophia are gloriously neurotic. If you enjoy witty British banter, this is your cup of tea. Oh, that was awful, but I stand by my words. The romance between Millicent and Sangfroid is very sweet, and there is a hilarious secondary love story and yet another serious crush. There’s a happy-for-now at the end of The Tea Machine that asks more questions than it answers, so their story shall continue.
I’m not surprised that the Victorian ladies misgender Sangfroid, but I did raise a brow at the Romans who do so, when they recognize that centurion Gallo is female. Perhaps there’s a reason for that I missed. Sangfroid says she's obviously female, but her idea of obvious may not be in line with the others she meets.
The narrative is very twisty: there are several timelines to keep track of, and we’re dumped in the middle of the action. I liked how we start with Sangfroid’s getting the background information after the fact, but the flashbacks and explanations later in the story felt less potent in how they were conveyed.
In the copy I got, there were enough typos that I felt it needed another proofreading pass from the editor(s) at Ylva.
I received a free copy for review, but bought one to use as a loaner once I finished it. If you’re not sure if it’s for you, use sample chapters to see if you like the humor and vivid setting. It’s an original screwball premise with unpredictable twists, and I look forward to the sequel.
I have long found the work of HP Lovecraft interesting and hysterical: I went to the university that is Miskatonic’s closest analog (we have a library with books bound in human skin!), and while there I connected with many science fiction fans who loved the Victorian era and all things steampunk. Some of them impressed upon me that linear time is inherently straight and that subversion of it would be queer. This was before same-sex marriage was legalized anywhere in the US, and my friends bitterly joked that their so-called gay marriage agenda was to destroy linear time. So this book tied together some of my fondest memories of my college friends together: a bunch more of them were Classics geeks who could name the five worst Roman emperors. I’ll be recommending this book or loaning it out to as many of them as I can.
The story blends steampunk, science fiction, alternate history, romance, and a tea cult. I love McKnight’s imagination: strange creatures and technology are everywhere, causing mayhem. I wasn’t sure where the plot would go and got surprised several times. Nothing seemed out of place, though. Most of the “hey what about…” questions I had got resolved, although I think some mysteries are still there to explore in further books.
The characters and dialogue are strong, somehow remaining grounded as their reality gets wackier. Watching proper Victorians deal with the fantastical made me smile: they rationalize and hold on to their realities in believable fashion. Millicent worries about her ruined dress when there are far more dire concerns because it’s what she’s used to caring about. Hubert and his fiancée Sophia are gloriously neurotic. If you enjoy witty British banter, this is your cup of tea. Oh, that was awful, but I stand by my words. The romance between Millicent and Sangfroid is very sweet, and there is a hilarious secondary love story and yet another serious crush. There’s a happy-for-now at the end of The Tea Machine that asks more questions than it answers, so their story shall continue.
I’m not surprised that the Victorian ladies misgender Sangfroid, but I did raise a brow at the Romans who do so, when they recognize that centurion Gallo is female. Perhaps there’s a reason for that I missed. Sangfroid says she's obviously female, but her idea of obvious may not be in line with the others she meets.
The narrative is very twisty: there are several timelines to keep track of, and we’re dumped in the middle of the action. I liked how we start with Sangfroid’s getting the background information after the fact, but the flashbacks and explanations later in the story felt less potent in how they were conveyed.
In the copy I got, there were enough typos that I felt it needed another proofreading pass from the editor(s) at Ylva.
I received a free copy for review, but bought one to use as a loaner once I finished it. If you’re not sure if it’s for you, use sample chapters to see if you like the humor and vivid setting. It’s an original screwball premise with unpredictable twists, and I look forward to the sequel.
December 22, 2015
The bizarre synopsis of The Tea Machine was what attracted it to me when I saw it on NetGalley. There was a snafu with the content of the book, and I almost didn’t read it. I’m glad the snafu was fixed, and that I read it, because The Tea Machine is a great read.
I enjoyed the steampunk, and the time-travel trope completely turned to make an absurd take on what I can only assume is a nod to one of the movie versions of the Time Machine.
The writing was excellent, full of British humor. The situational comedic elements had me LOL more than once, and the ending wrapped up most of the story. I’m looking forward to reading another book, if one is ever written.
My actual star rating would be 3.5, but since fractional star ratings are not allowed, I’ll bump that up to four.
I enjoyed the steampunk, and the time-travel trope completely turned to make an absurd take on what I can only assume is a nod to one of the movie versions of the Time Machine.
The writing was excellent, full of British humor. The situational comedic elements had me LOL more than once, and the ending wrapped up most of the story. I’m looking forward to reading another book, if one is ever written.
My actual star rating would be 3.5, but since fractional star ratings are not allowed, I’ll bump that up to four.
December 21, 2015
I absolutely loved this book. It completely surprised me with the places it went, in really great ways. I thought I was getting a pulp book about space battles, romance, with a dash of time travel, and I actually got those, but in very different proportions. Plus, I got a lot of dry wit and musing on the human will to power I didn't quite expect, but I really enjoyed. In this way, it made me think of some of the best of Terry Pratchett. I highly recommend it if you're a fan of ideas with your pulpy, humorous entertainment.
December 21, 2015
This was a fun and often thrilling, confusing Steampunk ride that I highly recommended when you are looking for something just a bit off normal. It is part time travel part love story and part I'm just along for the ride, The characters are memorable and fun as well as the several setting that make up its atmosphere, A masterful tale...
May 15, 2018
Such a wild ride and so much fun to read!
The steampunk genre is a new one for me to read and I wasn't sure if I'd like it having never found TV shows or movies rooted in steampunk to be enjoyable. Here it works perfectly and makes sense in a story that is fantastical and so very entertaining in its zaniness and humour; each setting or time period is thought out and detailed so the reader gets a very good feel for each of them. After a certain point I realized that all the outlandish happenings in the book no longer felt that way and just felt completely normal in a story where anything can happen.
The reader is dropped into the middle of the action from the get go and from there the story is explained in both directions with one character fully knowledgeable about what is going on and the other completely in the dark; it’s a useful setup so the reader learns what is going on alongside this baffled and confused character while tons of hilarious bickering and several quirky and memorable secondary characters are brought into the fold.
Every time I thought I had a handle on the story, there was a shift of some kind, as if the author had the reader and some of the characters standing confidently on a carpet then pulled it out from under them, then does it again once they are upright and feeling surefooted again. It's a clever writing style and approach that keeps you guessing and keeps the story from becoming routine or predictable while not leaving the reader feeling disoriented or pulled out of the story. I cared about the characters and rooted for them, cheered against the villains and was invested in it all the way thru to the end.
I found it easy to sink into the story for a few chapters when reading time was limited and easily was back in that world every time I did so; it's as easily read in large chunks of time as it is in shorter ones so can be read and enjoyed in stolen moments waiting for the kids after school or on public transit for the work commute. Be aware though that the first part of the book is likely to have you laughing out loud and frequently, so if you're shy maybe read it at home or in your car with the windows up to avoid drawing attention to yourself in public. The story is hilarious but also has passages that are very dark and felt to me as though a layer of social commentary was embedded into the story back when it was written that is still applicable in reading it today.
The book includes a teaser of the sequel Parabellum which last I saw is due out in 2019; I am eager to read it and feel confident I'll enjoy it if this one and the other books I've read by the author are any indication.
The Tea Machine is a supremely entertaining read, brilliantly crafted story and I highly recommend it.
The steampunk genre is a new one for me to read and I wasn't sure if I'd like it having never found TV shows or movies rooted in steampunk to be enjoyable. Here it works perfectly and makes sense in a story that is fantastical and so very entertaining in its zaniness and humour; each setting or time period is thought out and detailed so the reader gets a very good feel for each of them. After a certain point I realized that all the outlandish happenings in the book no longer felt that way and just felt completely normal in a story where anything can happen.
The reader is dropped into the middle of the action from the get go and from there the story is explained in both directions with one character fully knowledgeable about what is going on and the other completely in the dark; it’s a useful setup so the reader learns what is going on alongside this baffled and confused character while tons of hilarious bickering and several quirky and memorable secondary characters are brought into the fold.
Every time I thought I had a handle on the story, there was a shift of some kind, as if the author had the reader and some of the characters standing confidently on a carpet then pulled it out from under them, then does it again once they are upright and feeling surefooted again. It's a clever writing style and approach that keeps you guessing and keeps the story from becoming routine or predictable while not leaving the reader feeling disoriented or pulled out of the story. I cared about the characters and rooted for them, cheered against the villains and was invested in it all the way thru to the end.
I found it easy to sink into the story for a few chapters when reading time was limited and easily was back in that world every time I did so; it's as easily read in large chunks of time as it is in shorter ones so can be read and enjoyed in stolen moments waiting for the kids after school or on public transit for the work commute. Be aware though that the first part of the book is likely to have you laughing out loud and frequently, so if you're shy maybe read it at home or in your car with the windows up to avoid drawing attention to yourself in public. The story is hilarious but also has passages that are very dark and felt to me as though a layer of social commentary was embedded into the story back when it was written that is still applicable in reading it today.
The book includes a teaser of the sequel Parabellum which last I saw is due out in 2019; I am eager to read it and feel confident I'll enjoy it if this one and the other books I've read by the author are any indication.
The Tea Machine is a supremely entertaining read, brilliantly crafted story and I highly recommend it.
May 12, 2018
Space Squids! Dirty, big, evil, melt-your face squids! I just finished The Tea Machine by Gill McKnight and I enjoyed it so much I MUST talk about it! This book immediately grabbed hold of me with its barbed, serpentine tentacles! Time stood still as I was thrust into a desperate battle between futuristic Roman forces and the dreaded Space Squids. And that was just the opening chapter! While I am left with what is likely the same astonished feeling, this book was way more fun than an asteroid up the Vestals!
The basic premise of the story revolves around time travel and the inadvertent chaos that can ensue from seemingly innocuous events that can alter a timeline. Hubert (a brilliant British inventor) has devised a time machine and his sharp-witted sister Millicent inadvertently activates it, propelling her into the midst of a great futuristic battle between Roman forces and the Space Squids. Here she encounters the Roman soldier Decanus Sangfroid (who I mentally dubbed Sangchaud!) with whom she feels an instant connection. While attempting to save Sangfroid from a horrific and inky demise, Millicent accidently transports her back to her own timeline. From there all Hades breaks loose as soldiers and squids appear in their timeline and the course of history is changed. In trying to fix the mess they created Millicent, Sangfroid and additional characters, Sophia (Hubert’s betrothed) and Gallo (Sangfroid’s fellow soldier) end up in predicament after crazy predicament including a coliseum battle with mechanically enhanced beasts!
While completely zany with Space Squids, goats, a religion founded on tea, Amazons, automatons, mechanically enhanced animals and so much more, there are underlying themes regarding the monstrosity and wastefulness of waging wars, the misuse of technological advancements, social conditioning and classism woven throughout the story as well.
The writing is fabulous! The absurdly hilarious discourse throughout the book made me laugh out loud repeatedly. The descriptive language is also incredible with wonderfully vivid, albeit at times grotesque imagery. While there isn’t an abundance of romance the book hints at the fact that there will be more to come for Millicent and Sangfroid in the next book “Parabellum” which I simply cannot wait to read!
I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a hilarious, crazy, on the edge of your seat ride into mayhem!
The basic premise of the story revolves around time travel and the inadvertent chaos that can ensue from seemingly innocuous events that can alter a timeline. Hubert (a brilliant British inventor) has devised a time machine and his sharp-witted sister Millicent inadvertently activates it, propelling her into the midst of a great futuristic battle between Roman forces and the Space Squids. Here she encounters the Roman soldier Decanus Sangfroid (who I mentally dubbed Sangchaud!) with whom she feels an instant connection. While attempting to save Sangfroid from a horrific and inky demise, Millicent accidently transports her back to her own timeline. From there all Hades breaks loose as soldiers and squids appear in their timeline and the course of history is changed. In trying to fix the mess they created Millicent, Sangfroid and additional characters, Sophia (Hubert’s betrothed) and Gallo (Sangfroid’s fellow soldier) end up in predicament after crazy predicament including a coliseum battle with mechanically enhanced beasts!
While completely zany with Space Squids, goats, a religion founded on tea, Amazons, automatons, mechanically enhanced animals and so much more, there are underlying themes regarding the monstrosity and wastefulness of waging wars, the misuse of technological advancements, social conditioning and classism woven throughout the story as well.
The writing is fabulous! The absurdly hilarious discourse throughout the book made me laugh out loud repeatedly. The descriptive language is also incredible with wonderfully vivid, albeit at times grotesque imagery. While there isn’t an abundance of romance the book hints at the fact that there will be more to come for Millicent and Sangfroid in the next book “Parabellum” which I simply cannot wait to read!
I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a hilarious, crazy, on the edge of your seat ride into mayhem!
June 21, 2017
This book was massive fun to read! From the beginning to the end, I felt very well entertained and I mean that in the most positive of meanings of the word. It’s not a slap-thigh comedy kind of book, nope, not that kind of entertaining, although there are moments that are hilarious (my favourite sentence: „Sophia did not like this. She did not like this at all.“ Beware, for trouble ensues!).
When I say „well entertained“, I mean that it’s easy to connect with the characters, the story is compelling, the author has a very pleasant story-telling voice, there’s a distinct Victorian feel to the story, there are great steampunky elements and good scifi stuff. It’s like a modern take on classic Jules Verne with great female leads! Love it! (Don’t know if it was the author’s intention but I immediately cast the wonderful Gwendoline Christie for Sangfroid.)
But it’s not all adventure and entertainment, nope, there’s a message, too, and it goes something like this: not all that looks harmless really is, and not all that looks evil necessarily is. You’d do well to look twice and think hard before you judge.
And now: can we please make this into a film?
Highly recommend this book. Five out of five stars!
When I say „well entertained“, I mean that it’s easy to connect with the characters, the story is compelling, the author has a very pleasant story-telling voice, there’s a distinct Victorian feel to the story, there are great steampunky elements and good scifi stuff. It’s like a modern take on classic Jules Verne with great female leads! Love it! (Don’t know if it was the author’s intention but I immediately cast the wonderful Gwendoline Christie for Sangfroid.)
But it’s not all adventure and entertainment, nope, there’s a message, too, and it goes something like this: not all that looks harmless really is, and not all that looks evil necessarily is. You’d do well to look twice and think hard before you judge.
And now: can we please make this into a film?
Highly recommend this book. Five out of five stars!
February 5, 2021
Esse livro foi pura diversão.
Eu li um review que descreve esse livro como um sci-fi absurdo e é pura verdade. Esse livro coloca a aventura e a diversão acima de tudo. Como mega fã de Doctor Who, esse é exatamente o tipo de sci-fi que eu amo. Então não afianta pegar esse livro se não estiver disposto a elevar sua suspensão de descrença ao máximo.
Na história, uma situação é mais louca do que a outra e por muitas vezes te deixa com uma sensação de "isso não vai ter solução", mas tem. O livro foi visivelmente bem pensado e muito bem escrito, de forma que mesmo os personagens que você acredita estar ali apenas para te irritar, apresentam grande relevância.
É um sci-fi absurdo com um pequeno teor de steampunk (criaturas meio autômatos meio seres vivos e um Império Romano que domina o universo com o poder do vapor, por exemplo). Então, não há muito romance entre as duas mulheres. Mas o que tem de romance é tão fofo.
O problema com esse livro é que ele foi planejado para ser uma duologia, mas o livro que estava planejado para 2017 nunca saiu. Apesar de isso fazer com que o livro termine de forma meio abrupta, não atrapalha em lê-lo como um livro único. Só tem que ir preparado para um grande (e adorável) choque no final.
Eu li um review que descreve esse livro como um sci-fi absurdo e é pura verdade. Esse livro coloca a aventura e a diversão acima de tudo. Como mega fã de Doctor Who, esse é exatamente o tipo de sci-fi que eu amo. Então não afianta pegar esse livro se não estiver disposto a elevar sua suspensão de descrença ao máximo.
Na história, uma situação é mais louca do que a outra e por muitas vezes te deixa com uma sensação de "isso não vai ter solução", mas tem. O livro foi visivelmente bem pensado e muito bem escrito, de forma que mesmo os personagens que você acredita estar ali apenas para te irritar, apresentam grande relevância.
É um sci-fi absurdo com um pequeno teor de steampunk (criaturas meio autômatos meio seres vivos e um Império Romano que domina o universo com o poder do vapor, por exemplo). Então, não há muito romance entre as duas mulheres. Mas o que tem de romance é tão fofo.
O problema com esse livro é que ele foi planejado para ser uma duologia, mas o livro que estava planejado para 2017 nunca saiu. Apesar de isso fazer com que o livro termine de forma meio abrupta, não atrapalha em lê-lo como um livro único. Só tem que ir preparado para um grande (e adorável) choque no final.
July 28, 2016
I mentioned in my review of another fantasy novel what a wild and ridiculous–sounding synopsis it had. (It really did.) So does The Tea Machine...maybe moreso. Amazons and giant killer squid. Time travel and steampunk and a tea cult.
And it is a weird and kind of wild ride. Victorian spinster Millicent cossets her scientist brother, who has been working on a mysterious machine, which she accidentally activates and finds herself in … was it an alternate Victorian era in which the Roman Empire never fell, or was it a future in which the Roman Empire never fell? (Sorry – it's been a minute since I read it.) And there follows a complex weave of storylines in which people end up in the wrong timelines, past and present and future, and that Still Roman timeline has to be fixed because it was the result of accidental tampering, and both Millicent and her brother find true love. Sort of.
I'll be blunt: the writing was rather weak. I wish I could check a published edition to see if some of the errors (like apostrophe abuse, comma chaos, comma splices, and things like "prizing Sangfroid’s fingers" and "board shouldered" (that's another one for the collection)) and "nevermind" and "she entered the empty dining room un–phased" and "populous" in place of "populace" and so very many more have been fixed. This was one of those ARCs that was a little hard to read simply because of my constant cringing at what I hope were typos.
There were also just so many things I questioned throughout. It's something else I say often: if your writing wins me over, you can tell me just about anything and I will buy it. Tolkien mentions that the fireworks dragon passed like an express train, in a book whose setting is long, long before express trains were remotely possible? I have no problem with that. But if you don't win me over, if you don't capture me, I will absolutely question every single thing that catches my attention.
Like the fact that the futuristic woman soldier, Sangfroid, keeps complaining that Victorian people think she's a man. "Well, you’re very tall. … And board shouldered. [sic; it also needs a hyphen] And your short hair doesn’t help." And … she's wearing trousers in a sea of gowned women. So … yeah.
I complained about Sangfroid knowing what Friday is. If Sangfroid is from a future in which Latin never became a dead language, then how is the fifth (or sixth, depending) day of the week named after Freya/Frigga?
And I really just wish that when it's even remotely questionable writers would avoid using the word "okay". Okay? Please?
I'm not going to even touch on the love interest that the scientist/inventor/brother develops. I ... no, I think I'm just going to try to forget about it. To try very hard.
It wasn't all bad – I also saved at least one kind of fun thing in my notes. ("…He was waving and smiling so as not to alarm us." "Well, it didn’t work," Gallo said. "I was very alarmed.")
But for every thing I liked, there were a slew of things I didn't. Like "There was a great steam slave uprising once, led by a semi–automate called Sparkitous." That's the sort of thing which makes me say blistering things under my breath. I was pretty generous, giving this three stars. I… think that was overly generous.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
And it is a weird and kind of wild ride. Victorian spinster Millicent cossets her scientist brother, who has been working on a mysterious machine, which she accidentally activates and finds herself in … was it an alternate Victorian era in which the Roman Empire never fell, or was it a future in which the Roman Empire never fell? (Sorry – it's been a minute since I read it.) And there follows a complex weave of storylines in which people end up in the wrong timelines, past and present and future, and that Still Roman timeline has to be fixed because it was the result of accidental tampering, and both Millicent and her brother find true love. Sort of.
I'll be blunt: the writing was rather weak. I wish I could check a published edition to see if some of the errors (like apostrophe abuse, comma chaos, comma splices, and things like "prizing Sangfroid’s fingers" and "board shouldered" (that's another one for the collection)) and "nevermind" and "she entered the empty dining room un–phased" and "populous" in place of "populace" and so very many more have been fixed. This was one of those ARCs that was a little hard to read simply because of my constant cringing at what I hope were typos.
There were also just so many things I questioned throughout. It's something else I say often: if your writing wins me over, you can tell me just about anything and I will buy it. Tolkien mentions that the fireworks dragon passed like an express train, in a book whose setting is long, long before express trains were remotely possible? I have no problem with that. But if you don't win me over, if you don't capture me, I will absolutely question every single thing that catches my attention.
Like the fact that the futuristic woman soldier, Sangfroid, keeps complaining that Victorian people think she's a man. "Well, you’re very tall. … And board shouldered. [sic; it also needs a hyphen] And your short hair doesn’t help." And … she's wearing trousers in a sea of gowned women. So … yeah.
I complained about Sangfroid knowing what Friday is. If Sangfroid is from a future in which Latin never became a dead language, then how is the fifth (or sixth, depending) day of the week named after Freya/Frigga?
And I really just wish that when it's even remotely questionable writers would avoid using the word "okay". Okay? Please?
I'm not going to even touch on the love interest that the scientist/inventor/brother develops. I ... no, I think I'm just going to try to forget about it. To try very hard.
It wasn't all bad – I also saved at least one kind of fun thing in my notes. ("…He was waving and smiling so as not to alarm us." "Well, it didn’t work," Gallo said. "I was very alarmed.")
But for every thing I liked, there were a slew of things I didn't. Like "There was a great steam slave uprising once, led by a semi–automate called Sparkitous." That's the sort of thing which makes me say blistering things under my breath. I was pretty generous, giving this three stars. I… think that was overly generous.
The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review.
December 22, 2015
I received a sample of this title from the publisher via Netgalley.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Plunged into a violent battle against giant space squid, Sangfroid witnesses the deaths of her fellow soldiers. Waking up after being rescued from a similar fate, she discovers that time is not what it seems and there may be a way to right the wrongs of her past, with the help of a time-travelling, inventoress named Millicent.
This story will greatly appeal to those who love being thrown in the deep end of an original fantasy or sci-fi world. I only received a few sample chapters of the full novel (which explained why the whole thing was so short!!) but right from the first page, the reader is plunged into gory, squiddy warfare in which only the toughest (quite literally) will survive. I found the learning curve of the first few chapters pretty steep and just as things started to make a bit of sense, the sample chapters came to an end, which was disappointing to say the least. This certainly looks like the promising beginning of a series that will be snapped up by those who love crazy, unexpected adventures laced with time-wimey stuff and strange, speculative worlds.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Plunged into a violent battle against giant space squid, Sangfroid witnesses the deaths of her fellow soldiers. Waking up after being rescued from a similar fate, she discovers that time is not what it seems and there may be a way to right the wrongs of her past, with the help of a time-travelling, inventoress named Millicent.
This story will greatly appeal to those who love being thrown in the deep end of an original fantasy or sci-fi world. I only received a few sample chapters of the full novel (which explained why the whole thing was so short!!) but right from the first page, the reader is plunged into gory, squiddy warfare in which only the toughest (quite literally) will survive. I found the learning curve of the first few chapters pretty steep and just as things started to make a bit of sense, the sample chapters came to an end, which was disappointing to say the least. This certainly looks like the promising beginning of a series that will be snapped up by those who love crazy, unexpected adventures laced with time-wimey stuff and strange, speculative worlds.
December 6, 2015
Wow. This book definitely had a lot to it. And to be perfectly honest, I don't think I really caught it all. The time travel elements were certainly very interesting, though a bit confusing as it did not adhere to either of the two foremost time travel theories. That aside, the premise was very interesting and it was, at least for me, reminiscent of some older Star Trek episodes or Back the Future Part II once they realized that something had to have happened in the past to create an alternate timeline that Hubert and Millicent come across. Despite some time travel confusion, it was clear what had happened to create this alternate timeline and I have to say that it was rather humorous. Though it did end at a place that felt right, I definitely still have some questions about how the resolution will affect the timelines. Luckily, there is to be a sequel, so I am confident that my curiosity will be sated.
November 23, 2015
https://koeur.wordpress.com/2015/11/2...
Publisher: Ylva
Publishing Date: November 2015
ISBN: 9783955334321
Genre: SciFi
Rating: NR
Publishers Description: London 1862, and Millicent Aberly, spinster by choice, has found her future love—in the future! She meddled with her brother’s time machine and has been catapulted into an alternative world where the Roman Empire has neither declined nor fell. In fact, it has gone on to annex most of the known universe.
Review: This is a preview that is somehow supposed to render itself salable through 3 or so chapters. Its generally about two lesbians (one hot and one manly) that interact through time/universes from the Victorian age to some future era where there are spaceships and space squid.
Read this if you want your bloodline cursed for many generations.
Publisher: Ylva
Publishing Date: November 2015
ISBN: 9783955334321
Genre: SciFi
Rating: NR
Publishers Description: London 1862, and Millicent Aberly, spinster by choice, has found her future love—in the future! She meddled with her brother’s time machine and has been catapulted into an alternative world where the Roman Empire has neither declined nor fell. In fact, it has gone on to annex most of the known universe.
Review: This is a preview that is somehow supposed to render itself salable through 3 or so chapters. Its generally about two lesbians (one hot and one manly) that interact through time/universes from the Victorian age to some future era where there are spaceships and space squid.
Read this if you want your bloodline cursed for many generations.
October 17, 2019
This is possibly the most bizarre book I have ever read... and I loved every minute of it.
One part space opera, one part steam punk, one part historical fantasy, and a lot of parts cephalopod. There's lesbians (and a sweet romance), a human/squid romance (why not?), and some Roman mythology tossed in for good measure.
The action is quick, the logic sound, and the characters an actual delight. Chug through those first few chapters to get your bearings and then lose yourself in the most amazing time-based space adventure with squid you will ever read.
One part space opera, one part steam punk, one part historical fantasy, and a lot of parts cephalopod. There's lesbians (and a sweet romance), a human/squid romance (why not?), and some Roman mythology tossed in for good measure.
The action is quick, the logic sound, and the characters an actual delight. Chug through those first few chapters to get your bearings and then lose yourself in the most amazing time-based space adventure with squid you will ever read.
April 23, 2016
Steam punk, time travel, space squid, sounds fun. I was drawn in. As I have no idea if digital books can get messed up after editing, I will only mention that my copy had a few print errors. This did not detract from my opinion of the story. I enjoyed the characters and found the story to be a quirky fun read during my lunch break. I will likely pick up the next in the series.
January 31, 2016
Time travel stories with alternative timelines is really mind warping.
The only issue I have is the "recognising" of the female Marines as male.
Otherwise it's nice steam punk with alternative history time travel. And don't forget the squids!
The only issue I have is the "recognising" of the female Marines as male.
Otherwise it's nice steam punk with alternative history time travel. And don't forget the squids!
September 24, 2020
I am very confused but in the best possible way and I really really want to read the next one. which apparently was scheduled for release two years ago and yet hasnt been released yet. I'm going to cry.
December 11, 2015
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. Wow, this book had a lot going on. It was wonderful and confusing all at once. I really enjoyed the ride.
May 23, 2021
I don't know how to feel about this book, I quite liked the whole time travel bit but the romance was very meh. It was a insta love explained by them feeling like they knew each other for forever but it was never explained. Since there's another book it might get explained but still. Also the fact that Hubert falls in love with an Infant squid is... weird. I'm all for aliens and all but why she had to be an infant?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2017
I liked the book in the beginning but the more I read the more interest I lost. It got too unrealistic for me with all the different universes and how the past changed. Just not a book that sparked my interest.
February 27, 2021
A very interesting take on timetravel with multiple timelines, giant space squid, false gods, and giant women.
Story left with plenty more to come in its sequel, with so much more time to explore and mysterious to solve.
Story left with plenty more to come in its sequel, with so much more time to explore and mysterious to solve.
March 19, 2025
There’s such a fine line between zany in a fun way and “quirky” in a way that makes you want to pull your hair out and this was the first zany-fun I’ve read in several years. Turns out I really miss it! 10/10 funny wild ride.
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