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Take to the Skies #1
An Airship Named Desire
Airships, sky-pirates, smugglers and soldiers... An Airship Named Desire is an action-filled steampunk adventure.
Ever since their last botched smuggling job, First Mate Bea and the crew of her airship can barely afford fuel, let alone a barrel of grog. So, when a gentleman from Old Germany offers them a fortune to steal a locked box from a British merchant airship, they jump at the opportunity. Somehow, though, their employer forgot to mention the box's military escort, and the Morlock mercenaries who would kill to get their hands on it. Oh, and that if made public, the contents could engulf Europe in another devastating war.
Stealing the box was the easy part. Now, with a target on their back, and some of the toughest characters in the sky after them, they have to find a way to survive. If the crew of the Desire don't polish their pistols and prepare for a hell of a fight, they'll end up worse than grounded. After all, everyone from the Brits to the Morlocks will kill for the contents of that box, and no one survives an airship crash.
Ever since their last botched smuggling job, First Mate Bea and the crew of her airship can barely afford fuel, let alone a barrel of grog. So, when a gentleman from Old Germany offers them a fortune to steal a locked box from a British merchant airship, they jump at the opportunity. Somehow, though, their employer forgot to mention the box's military escort, and the Morlock mercenaries who would kill to get their hands on it. Oh, and that if made public, the contents could engulf Europe in another devastating war.
Stealing the box was the easy part. Now, with a target on their back, and some of the toughest characters in the sky after them, they have to find a way to survive. If the crew of the Desire don't polish their pistols and prepare for a hell of a fight, they'll end up worse than grounded. After all, everyone from the Brits to the Morlocks will kill for the contents of that box, and no one survives an airship crash.
382 pages, Paperback
First published August 19, 2012
34 people are currently reading
957 people want to read
About the author
Katherine McIntyre
86 books728 followersGeeky Queer Romance.
Katherine McIntyre is a feisty chick with a big attitude despite her short stature. She writes stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As a genderqueer geek who’s always stepped to her own beat, she’s made it her mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there. Easily distracted by cats and sugar.
Katherine McIntyre is a feisty chick with a big attitude despite her short stature. She writes stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As a genderqueer geek who’s always stepped to her own beat, she’s made it her mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there. Easily distracted by cats and sugar.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 22, 2019
Sometimes, you expect a bit too much from a book - and end up more than just disappointed from the outcome. Maybe it's the genre, maybe the synopsis, maybe something else - but in any case, the result still leaves you wanting...
This book was one of those few where my hopes were sort of crashed. The story of an airship crew, in a very Treasure Planet kind of environment. Air pirates, and steampunk elements, and a team of supposed smugglers that is close to being each other's family.
But that was all there was to it. See, a story needs more than good intentions and a nicely-thought plot concept. The whole book must be in sync with what the reader is expecting - or at least close enough. And in this case... it was not.
Not only was the pace a mess - maybe in an attempt to make the suspense higher? - but there were many plot holes and the writer's voice left much to be desired. The dialogues were... well, stale, and although funny, there were times that they seemed... I don't know, sort of fake? Like rehearsed scenes - you know, the ones where the amateur actors are woody and stiff and there's no color to it?
Speaking of actors, the main injury to my poor reading eyes were the characters. Let me just say, I didn't mind the fact there were so many of them being mentioned. I enjoy stories with big casts. And while Desire's crew was a team of very interesting individuals that gave plenty of ways for meaningful and intriguing interactions (like, seriously, the characters themselves were pretty much giving this to the writer in a silver platter), it feels like Ms. McIntyre didn't take advantage of that, and instead stuck to the stereotypical profiles she had given them, blocking their way to growth and personal development. At this point, even Jensen's betrayal, or the acceptance of Mordecai, looked like something to be expected and didn't shake us at all... (see above comment for rehearsed scenes)
But the one thing that really made it difficult to get through this book, was Bea herself. I hated her! We see a main heroine who's comfortable in her own skin, supposedly, and is all about being "one of the guys" and whatnot. But really, she was just plain boring, predictable, and at times, irritating and a pain in our ass. The usual, stereotypical tomboy of a woman who wants to SHOW to the world that she's no fragile female, acting like a reckless idiot, mouthing off, and generally being rude. Hell, she even went as far as categorizing a woman she had JUST met as a whore, because Geoff wasn't - for once in his life - paying attention to her! Ha! What a joke! I find it hard to believe he would pine after a woman who's all but bragging about how many men she's slept with in front of him, none of them being him, and of course stopping his advances all because she was afraid she might catch feelings like any other GIRL! Oh, but how dare he look at someone else, right?
You want my opinion? Isabella was a much healthier choice as a female lead. Comfortable with her gender, using it to her own advantage, not minding showing that she sometimes needed help, and helping out even when she was nearly down herself. Not to mention her kind and understanding nature - because, you know, she wasn't SCARED of showing her feminine side in front of the boys!
All in all, I was let down by the first installment of this series and I won't move on to the rest of it. I honestly found the main idea appealing, but the technicalities really destroyed the whole thing for me...
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
This book was one of those few where my hopes were sort of crashed. The story of an airship crew, in a very Treasure Planet kind of environment. Air pirates, and steampunk elements, and a team of supposed smugglers that is close to being each other's family.
But that was all there was to it. See, a story needs more than good intentions and a nicely-thought plot concept. The whole book must be in sync with what the reader is expecting - or at least close enough. And in this case... it was not.
Not only was the pace a mess - maybe in an attempt to make the suspense higher? - but there were many plot holes and the writer's voice left much to be desired. The dialogues were... well, stale, and although funny, there were times that they seemed... I don't know, sort of fake? Like rehearsed scenes - you know, the ones where the amateur actors are woody and stiff and there's no color to it?
Speaking of actors, the main injury to my poor reading eyes were the characters. Let me just say, I didn't mind the fact there were so many of them being mentioned. I enjoy stories with big casts. And while Desire's crew was a team of very interesting individuals that gave plenty of ways for meaningful and intriguing interactions (like, seriously, the characters themselves were pretty much giving this to the writer in a silver platter), it feels like Ms. McIntyre didn't take advantage of that, and instead stuck to the stereotypical profiles she had given them, blocking their way to growth and personal development. At this point, even Jensen's betrayal, or the acceptance of Mordecai, looked like something to be expected and didn't shake us at all... (see above comment for rehearsed scenes)
But the one thing that really made it difficult to get through this book, was Bea herself. I hated her! We see a main heroine who's comfortable in her own skin, supposedly, and is all about being "one of the guys" and whatnot. But really, she was just plain boring, predictable, and at times, irritating and a pain in our ass. The usual, stereotypical tomboy of a woman who wants to SHOW to the world that she's no fragile female, acting like a reckless idiot, mouthing off, and generally being rude. Hell, she even went as far as categorizing a woman she had JUST met as a whore, because Geoff wasn't - for once in his life - paying attention to her! Ha! What a joke! I find it hard to believe he would pine after a woman who's all but bragging about how many men she's slept with in front of him, none of them being him, and of course stopping his advances all because she was afraid she might catch feelings like any other GIRL! Oh, but how dare he look at someone else, right?
You want my opinion? Isabella was a much healthier choice as a female lead. Comfortable with her gender, using it to her own advantage, not minding showing that she sometimes needed help, and helping out even when she was nearly down herself. Not to mention her kind and understanding nature - because, you know, she wasn't SCARED of showing her feminine side in front of the boys!
All in all, I was let down by the first installment of this series and I won't move on to the rest of it. I honestly found the main idea appealing, but the technicalities really destroyed the whole thing for me...
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
June 1, 2015
I picked this up at the Steampunk World's Fair in May and I'm glad I did.
One of the most action packed books I've ever read!
What starts as a routine stealing from 2 crew members leads to one downfall and horrible piece of luck after another! When one crew mate commits treason, I found myself thinking I didn't see it coming, to...well... but I should have.
I LOVE that there's a strong female lead as a first mate who takes on the responsibility when she "has to" ( I won't give that away), and that she doesn't let love or emotion rule her too much. So much so that she almost loses out on love completely. In fact, all of the women in this are strong and commanding, and I LOVE even more that the male characters aren't afraid/ashamed to take orders from a woman. Oh, where art those men in real life?!
When she has to take over at a time, she doesn't really make the best decisions that a leader should make, and a big opportunity is lost. However, none of us are born with every skill; there are many we need to learn.
There isn't really a cliffhanger, per se, but it is rather open ended. I'm a bit disappointed in that, as I'd have like a HEA after all the Hell this crew goes through. But overall I really enjoyed the story, the strong women, and the action from first page to last!
One of the most action packed books I've ever read!
What starts as a routine stealing from 2 crew members leads to one downfall and horrible piece of luck after another! When one crew mate commits treason, I found myself thinking I didn't see it coming, to...well... but I should have.
I LOVE that there's a strong female lead as a first mate who takes on the responsibility when she "has to" ( I won't give that away), and that she doesn't let love or emotion rule her too much. So much so that she almost loses out on love completely. In fact, all of the women in this are strong and commanding, and I LOVE even more that the male characters aren't afraid/ashamed to take orders from a woman. Oh, where art those men in real life?!
When she has to take over at a time, she doesn't really make the best decisions that a leader should make, and a big opportunity is lost. However, none of us are born with every skill; there are many we need to learn.
There isn't really a cliffhanger, per se, but it is rather open ended. I'm a bit disappointed in that, as I'd have like a HEA after all the Hell this crew goes through. But overall I really enjoyed the story, the strong women, and the action from first page to last!
February 15, 2013
Well-drawn characters could not make up for the poor grammar, cavalcade of labored similes and glaring plot holes.
September 18, 2016
I couldn't. Plain boring characters. Boring beginning. Not caring for the story as it didn't "speak" to me... I couldn't keep reading this book. Sorry.
December 23, 2017
There is something about pirates that captures our imagination. Perhaps it is a sense of freedom coming from living life on your own terms. The crew of the airship Desire has a problem. A problem pirate crews normally wish for, a priceless piece of cargo to unload. It is so valuable, in fact, that everyone wants to get their hands on it.
Captain Morris leads the crew of the Desire, assisted by the beautiful and cunning first officer Beatrice. Beatrice loves a good fight. She thrives best in times of pure adrenaline where she only has to worry about herself and maybe a couple of others. She loves her captain and the ship she calls home. Like most of us, Beatrice hates change and would be content to go on with life exactly as it is. Until the day she finds her best friend standing over the body of Captain Morris.
“An Airship Named Desire” is a fun ride. I really enjoyed the book and Katherine McIntyre’s story telling style. Not overly gory, it hearkens back to the golden age of piracy and has the element of adventure that makes a gritty nautical story.
If there were any technical issues with the writing, I didn’t notice them and it is well edited. A few parts I thought suffered from too much description, but overall not often enough to make me put the book down.
I can highly recommend “An Airship Named Desire”, by Katherine McIntyre.
Captain Morris leads the crew of the Desire, assisted by the beautiful and cunning first officer Beatrice. Beatrice loves a good fight. She thrives best in times of pure adrenaline where she only has to worry about herself and maybe a couple of others. She loves her captain and the ship she calls home. Like most of us, Beatrice hates change and would be content to go on with life exactly as it is. Until the day she finds her best friend standing over the body of Captain Morris.
“An Airship Named Desire” is a fun ride. I really enjoyed the book and Katherine McIntyre’s story telling style. Not overly gory, it hearkens back to the golden age of piracy and has the element of adventure that makes a gritty nautical story.
If there were any technical issues with the writing, I didn’t notice them and it is well edited. A few parts I thought suffered from too much description, but overall not often enough to make me put the book down.
I can highly recommend “An Airship Named Desire”, by Katherine McIntyre.
August 22, 2018
I have a lot of issues with An Airship Named Desire. First and foremost, I acknowledge that I would probably have rated this a little higher if I’d had lower expectations going in, but this is a book about Airship Pirates led by a woman, why wouldn’t my expectations be high.
My biggest issue here is that it was just poor writing. The characters were very two-dimensional. The language was cliché and repetitive. The plot was boring and predictable. The fight scenes were very clinical.
Also, this is a female lead character written by a female author and I still caught myself eye-rolling at the male-gaze of it all. This includes things like we’re set in an alternate future and yet our lead is in a corset and getting shit for wearing pants and not a skirt. She instantly considered an ex of her love interest a whore for being a little rude to her. It’s ridiculous.
I wish I liked it more. I really do.
My biggest issue here is that it was just poor writing. The characters were very two-dimensional. The language was cliché and repetitive. The plot was boring and predictable. The fight scenes were very clinical.
Also, this is a female lead character written by a female author and I still caught myself eye-rolling at the male-gaze of it all. This includes things like we’re set in an alternate future and yet our lead is in a corset and getting shit for wearing pants and not a skirt. She instantly considered an ex of her love interest a whore for being a little rude to her. It’s ridiculous.
I wish I liked it more. I really do.
July 21, 2017
I've not been a steampunk fan. Almost put it aside when I realized it was. Instead, I enjoyed the read. Nicely done!
December 7, 2017
This is a really fun adventure! Great characters, and a story line that is exciting and inventive.
May 25, 2018
This was a fun adventure packed with plenty of action, battles, murder, traitors, revenge… everything you could want from airship pirates!
September 22, 2016
Giving up at 69% so I gave it a good go! None of the characters are appealing, and I don't care about the story. I don't care if the uninspired bad guy gets away.
The main character Bea is annoying! And there are so many other characters that none of them have a distinguishable personality. I definitely don't have the willpower to go on.
I love the premise of this book, but I just couldn't connect with any of the characters. The book makes a decent start, but it never kicks it up a notch and gets better - it just stays stagnant all the way through. I think this may have been because there was such a massive introduction of so many characters after the first action sequence that none of them popped out as particularly special or noteworthy.
The writing was good, but it lacked the detail of the world and its people. From what you are told, it's a steampunk sort of thing but you aren't told what is special about that world compared to the one we live in. There was some mention of Germans, Brits and Americans but it's never made clear what's going on there. Does it follow our history? Or did something else happen?
The whole experience left me wanting more.
The main character Bea is annoying! And there are so many other characters that none of them have a distinguishable personality. I definitely don't have the willpower to go on.
I love the premise of this book, but I just couldn't connect with any of the characters. The book makes a decent start, but it never kicks it up a notch and gets better - it just stays stagnant all the way through. I think this may have been because there was such a massive introduction of so many characters after the first action sequence that none of them popped out as particularly special or noteworthy.
The writing was good, but it lacked the detail of the world and its people. From what you are told, it's a steampunk sort of thing but you aren't told what is special about that world compared to the one we live in. There was some mention of Germans, Brits and Americans but it's never made clear what's going on there. Does it follow our history? Or did something else happen?
The whole experience left me wanting more.
April 5, 2013
Original review here: http://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/2013/03/indie-book-review-airship-named-desire.html
An Airship Named Desire is a steampunk adventure following First Mate Beatrice (aka Bea) and her crew of smugglers. One day while out on a smuggling job, Bea and her crewmate Jensen take a box from a British trading ship. They don’t know what is in the box, but they are getting paid a lot of money to steal it for someone. But they don’t know that their lives are even more at stake when the box is protected by the military. Now they are being chased for this one box. They know the contents inside are very valuable. So valuable in fact someone close to them is willing to kill for it.
What an exciting read this was. From the beginning, this was an adrenaline rush. It was like a steampunk take of Pirates of the Caribbean (the first and second movies). I love this alternate steampunk world McIntyre has created. It is set sometime in the future, but the style is very Victorian. This book is a book full of adventure, action, betrayal, lies, laughs, and a bit of romance.
Our leading lady Bea was quite a hard shell to crack. She is the First Mate and she has to keep her cool. She is a bit of an emotional wreck because of her past. She was a very tough woman and quite butch. I liked her a lot. She could be quite scary at times, but it helped her because she wasn’t afraid of anything. She could take on anyone, doesn’t matter if they are a man or a woman. Bea had a lot of guts. I love how she was willing to do whatever it takes to protect her crew. I absolutely loved her crew. Isabella was a lot of fun. She was a gypsy who knew how to get her way. Geoff was the possible love interest in the book. He was the navigator of the airship and it was clear he had feelings for Bea. All the secondary characters were amazing and had a bit of a Star Trek feel.
The story is full of action. This could easily become a very exciting film. The finding of the box has put an even bigger strain on the airship. They are running low on fuel and more. Captain Morris trusts his crew, but maybe a little too much. Something terrible happens and it is all because of the box. The crew is trying to get to the bottom of what could be in the box to cause such havoc. What they discover is beyond anything they could have thought of. It is big enough to start another world war.
I would recommend this read for anyone looking for a fun read. This is a great sci-fi book that was full of surprises and very exciting moments. I do wish we got more on some of the characters especially that Mordecai guy. I was very intrigued with him. I am definitely going to keep my eyes peeled for more of McIntyre’s work. I hope there is a sequel. Definitely worth checking out.
An Airship Named Desire is a steampunk adventure following First Mate Beatrice (aka Bea) and her crew of smugglers. One day while out on a smuggling job, Bea and her crewmate Jensen take a box from a British trading ship. They don’t know what is in the box, but they are getting paid a lot of money to steal it for someone. But they don’t know that their lives are even more at stake when the box is protected by the military. Now they are being chased for this one box. They know the contents inside are very valuable. So valuable in fact someone close to them is willing to kill for it.
What an exciting read this was. From the beginning, this was an adrenaline rush. It was like a steampunk take of Pirates of the Caribbean (the first and second movies). I love this alternate steampunk world McIntyre has created. It is set sometime in the future, but the style is very Victorian. This book is a book full of adventure, action, betrayal, lies, laughs, and a bit of romance.
Our leading lady Bea was quite a hard shell to crack. She is the First Mate and she has to keep her cool. She is a bit of an emotional wreck because of her past. She was a very tough woman and quite butch. I liked her a lot. She could be quite scary at times, but it helped her because she wasn’t afraid of anything. She could take on anyone, doesn’t matter if they are a man or a woman. Bea had a lot of guts. I love how she was willing to do whatever it takes to protect her crew. I absolutely loved her crew. Isabella was a lot of fun. She was a gypsy who knew how to get her way. Geoff was the possible love interest in the book. He was the navigator of the airship and it was clear he had feelings for Bea. All the secondary characters were amazing and had a bit of a Star Trek feel.
The story is full of action. This could easily become a very exciting film. The finding of the box has put an even bigger strain on the airship. They are running low on fuel and more. Captain Morris trusts his crew, but maybe a little too much. Something terrible happens and it is all because of the box. The crew is trying to get to the bottom of what could be in the box to cause such havoc. What they discover is beyond anything they could have thought of. It is big enough to start another world war.
I would recommend this read for anyone looking for a fun read. This is a great sci-fi book that was full of surprises and very exciting moments. I do wish we got more on some of the characters especially that Mordecai guy. I was very intrigued with him. I am definitely going to keep my eyes peeled for more of McIntyre’s work. I hope there is a sequel. Definitely worth checking out.
February 8, 2017
“An Airship Named Desire” eBook was published in 2015 and was written by Katherine McIntyre (https://katherine-mcintyre.com). Ms. McIntyre has published a dozen novels, this being the first in her “Take to the Skies” steampunk series.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in the near future of an Alternate History Earth. Machines are driven by steam and airships fly the skies, not airplanes. The primary character is young Beatrice, the First Mate of the Airship Desire.
The Desire and her crew mostly deal in smuggling and other similar jobs. Bea and fellow crew mate, Jensen, sneak aboard a British merchant vessel to steal a specific piece of cargo. That soon has the British chasing after the Desire. The British want to get back their stolen merchandise, a small locked box. Before long, a traitor among the Desire’s crew makes off with the box. Bea and the crew of the Desire give chase, but find both the British and the Morlock pirates in their way.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent reading this 294 page Steampunk Alternate History. The story is set in our world, but it has changed in several ways. California has slid into the Pacific, the British are in control of most of Europe, and most importantly steam power rules. The date is a little in our future, around 2040. There is a mix of technologies - super computers are mentioned and the balloon holding up the Desire is protected by a Plasma Shield. On the other hand, the Desire crew and their enemies carry various kids of swords and hand guns.
The story is never dull, with Bea and her crew getting into one perilous scrape after another. The cover art is a good idea of what the story will bring. The only thing I can say is missing is a little better explanation of why the story is set in a steam powered world. I give this novel a 4.7 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in the near future of an Alternate History Earth. Machines are driven by steam and airships fly the skies, not airplanes. The primary character is young Beatrice, the First Mate of the Airship Desire.
The Desire and her crew mostly deal in smuggling and other similar jobs. Bea and fellow crew mate, Jensen, sneak aboard a British merchant vessel to steal a specific piece of cargo. That soon has the British chasing after the Desire. The British want to get back their stolen merchandise, a small locked box. Before long, a traitor among the Desire’s crew makes off with the box. Bea and the crew of the Desire give chase, but find both the British and the Morlock pirates in their way.
I thoroughly enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent reading this 294 page Steampunk Alternate History. The story is set in our world, but it has changed in several ways. California has slid into the Pacific, the British are in control of most of Europe, and most importantly steam power rules. The date is a little in our future, around 2040. There is a mix of technologies - super computers are mentioned and the balloon holding up the Desire is protected by a Plasma Shield. On the other hand, the Desire crew and their enemies carry various kids of swords and hand guns.
The story is never dull, with Bea and her crew getting into one perilous scrape after another. The cover art is a good idea of what the story will bring. The only thing I can say is missing is a little better explanation of why the story is set in a steam powered world. I give this novel a 4.7 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
January 9, 2013
A solid yarn about First Mate Beatrice (Bea) (I'm not sure we ever get her last name) of the Airship Desire. This is the first steampunk novel I have ever read. It is set (interestingly) in an alternate future in the year 2030 after the end of The Great European War. Weirdly California appears not to exist in this alt-reality which places the coast at Reno. The world is also menaced by a rogue army of brutal pirates called the Morlocks.
The story has a nice dense weave that follows three major plot lines including a mysterious lockbox that everyone wants, a big betrayal within the Desire's crew, and some romantic tension between Bea and her shaggy-haired navigator, Geoff.
Beyond Bea and Geoff, the story of Desire is peopled by the ensemble cast of the Desire's crew which includes (Star Trek like) a navigator, engineer, doctor, recon dude, crew etc. many of whom have their own mini stories.
An Airship Named Desire is has a solid plot, and sports an excellent ending. I also enjoyed some nice reversals in terms of sex roles. Bea is by far the toughest character and also suffers from an inability to express herself emotionally. Geoff is cool with supporting Bea.
There were some things I would change about "Desire" however. Probably (for me) the most glaring issue is that some sections of the plot felt a bit by-the-numbers. People (villains and secondary characters) often seem to be in stasis, waiting for Bea to show up so they can do their thing. Want to find a villain? They'll be in a bar waiting to fight you. Need a new recon guy? He'll be waiting in the bar to help you fight said bad guys. (I'm talking to you Mordecai!) it all feels a bit like a video game.
In a similar vein, some of Bea's solutions to various crises also come across as a bit pat. For example in one scene, when they have to open the mysterious lock box, the solution seems too easy.
Finally, some of the metaphors come across as weird Writing hiccups. Probably the most flamboyant offender was this one: "Their shadow stretched along the crevasse between the warehouse like a mutated black alligator stomping in an aluminum river." Just reading that hurt my brain. In the authors defense, this may have been an over-the-top attempt at comedy
Overall, I recommend An Airship Named Desire as a fun, engaging, swashbuckling adventure. And while I did wish that the plot had been more organic and and a bit tighter, I could not help but Root for Bea and her allies. The book was fun and I definitely recommend checking it out!
The story has a nice dense weave that follows three major plot lines including a mysterious lockbox that everyone wants, a big betrayal within the Desire's crew, and some romantic tension between Bea and her shaggy-haired navigator, Geoff.
Beyond Bea and Geoff, the story of Desire is peopled by the ensemble cast of the Desire's crew which includes (Star Trek like) a navigator, engineer, doctor, recon dude, crew etc. many of whom have their own mini stories.
An Airship Named Desire is has a solid plot, and sports an excellent ending. I also enjoyed some nice reversals in terms of sex roles. Bea is by far the toughest character and also suffers from an inability to express herself emotionally. Geoff is cool with supporting Bea.
There were some things I would change about "Desire" however. Probably (for me) the most glaring issue is that some sections of the plot felt a bit by-the-numbers. People (villains and secondary characters) often seem to be in stasis, waiting for Bea to show up so they can do their thing. Want to find a villain? They'll be in a bar waiting to fight you. Need a new recon guy? He'll be waiting in the bar to help you fight said bad guys. (I'm talking to you Mordecai!) it all feels a bit like a video game.
In a similar vein, some of Bea's solutions to various crises also come across as a bit pat. For example in one scene, when they have to open the mysterious lock box, the solution seems too easy.
Finally, some of the metaphors come across as weird Writing hiccups. Probably the most flamboyant offender was this one: "Their shadow stretched along the crevasse between the warehouse like a mutated black alligator stomping in an aluminum river." Just reading that hurt my brain. In the authors defense, this may have been an over-the-top attempt at comedy
Overall, I recommend An Airship Named Desire as a fun, engaging, swashbuckling adventure. And while I did wish that the plot had been more organic and and a bit tighter, I could not help but Root for Bea and her allies. The book was fun and I definitely recommend checking it out!
September 12, 2012
While reading this story I had to stop and really think if I'd ever read any other steampunk books before. I'm pretty sure the only other book I've read set in a steampunk world was Bone Song and that was half steampunk half gothic and more of an alternate reality.
An Airship Named Desire seemed to take place in a "what could be" future of steampunk. I think I'd actually call this "steampunk-lite" because there was just enough of it to set the stage but no so much that you felt like you might get run over by a giant steam-powered arachnid at any moment.
I think my biggest complaint with the book is that it was too short. Just about when the climax was occurring I realized that I was pretty invested in these characters. It seems like the author may have left the plot somewhat open for a possible sequel? I'd love to find out more of the history of their world and learn the subtleties that lead to such a different future than what we would imagine now.
One good thing about the story being short(er) is that it doesn't lack for action. I don't think a single chapter goes by without a cutlass being drawn or a gun being reloaded. And actually, this may not have been that short of a story, I read the Kindle version and I have a hard time gauging the length of stories when I read on there (except for Existence which was the last book I read and was way, way too long).
There's a lot of other things I'd like to mention, but they'd almost all be spoilers, and I generally try not to have spoilage in my reviews. One thing I will say, not really spoiling anything, is that I'm always a sucker for good logos/symbols in stories, and when a certain organization's insignia was described I immediately thought "That'd be a cool tattoo."
So all-in-all a very enjoyable read. If there happens to be a "Return of An Airship Named Desire" I'll definitely be picking up a copy.
An Airship Named Desire seemed to take place in a "what could be" future of steampunk. I think I'd actually call this "steampunk-lite" because there was just enough of it to set the stage but no so much that you felt like you might get run over by a giant steam-powered arachnid at any moment.
I think my biggest complaint with the book is that it was too short. Just about when the climax was occurring I realized that I was pretty invested in these characters. It seems like the author may have left the plot somewhat open for a possible sequel? I'd love to find out more of the history of their world and learn the subtleties that lead to such a different future than what we would imagine now.
One good thing about the story being short(er) is that it doesn't lack for action. I don't think a single chapter goes by without a cutlass being drawn or a gun being reloaded. And actually, this may not have been that short of a story, I read the Kindle version and I have a hard time gauging the length of stories when I read on there (except for Existence which was the last book I read and was way, way too long).
There's a lot of other things I'd like to mention, but they'd almost all be spoilers, and I generally try not to have spoilage in my reviews. One thing I will say, not really spoiling anything, is that I'm always a sucker for good logos/symbols in stories, and when a certain organization's insignia was described I immediately thought "That'd be a cool tattoo."
So all-in-all a very enjoyable read. If there happens to be a "Return of An Airship Named Desire" I'll definitely be picking up a copy.
December 18, 2012
The world has suffered a second great war that decimated Germany and forced them to take a much smaller portion of land than that country previously occupied. In the novel, one of the characters refers to his mother having been part of a death march forced on the Germans by Great Britain. The topography and climate seems to have changed as well.
I must admit. I groaned through about the first 5% of this book when Jenson and Bea are escaping the British ship. I thought to myself, “This is going to be one of these balls to the wall, uncompromising, emotionally immature, horribly scarred, females. More Terminator than real person.” Bea was all of those things but as I got to know the reasons behind her being as tough as she was and as emotionally immature she was but how willing she was to sacrifice herself for people she saw as innocent, she grew on me. I got invested in this character and as the character developed, so did the storyline.
This is a heavily action packed storyline. I learned, in my research, that Morlocks are a common character in steampunk fiction. One of my favorite novels is The Time Machine by H.G. Wells which features Morlocks as brutal slavemasters who treat the surface dwelling, Eloi, like cattle. McIntyre’s Morlocks are more evolved and more human than ape but they maintain the cruel spirit of their namesakes.
There were times when I wanted more information about characters but recognized that if they were to open themselves up and spill out their souls, they woudn’t be as interesting through the rest of the story. We get enough information about everyone to titillate and involve us but we know there’s more to the story.
Another challenge a reader faces is that this novel is not set in a world we know. We may feel that we know the ground over which these characters are traveling but times have changed and I found, as a reader, that sense a little off putting at times.
If you like sci-fi, tough characters and constant, edge of your seat, action, An Airship Named Desire is the novel for you.
I must admit. I groaned through about the first 5% of this book when Jenson and Bea are escaping the British ship. I thought to myself, “This is going to be one of these balls to the wall, uncompromising, emotionally immature, horribly scarred, females. More Terminator than real person.” Bea was all of those things but as I got to know the reasons behind her being as tough as she was and as emotionally immature she was but how willing she was to sacrifice herself for people she saw as innocent, she grew on me. I got invested in this character and as the character developed, so did the storyline.
This is a heavily action packed storyline. I learned, in my research, that Morlocks are a common character in steampunk fiction. One of my favorite novels is The Time Machine by H.G. Wells which features Morlocks as brutal slavemasters who treat the surface dwelling, Eloi, like cattle. McIntyre’s Morlocks are more evolved and more human than ape but they maintain the cruel spirit of their namesakes.
There were times when I wanted more information about characters but recognized that if they were to open themselves up and spill out their souls, they woudn’t be as interesting through the rest of the story. We get enough information about everyone to titillate and involve us but we know there’s more to the story.
Another challenge a reader faces is that this novel is not set in a world we know. We may feel that we know the ground over which these characters are traveling but times have changed and I found, as a reader, that sense a little off putting at times.
If you like sci-fi, tough characters and constant, edge of your seat, action, An Airship Named Desire is the novel for you.
November 27, 2012
“At least once on every smuggling job, we reached a point where any sane person would have run screaming.” – I love this opening line! There’s an undercurrent of black humour in this book as evidenced by this first line. We also learn something very important about the protagonist Bea in this opening line when she does not behave as a sane person would.
What I Liked: The world. The alternate history and whole sky-pirate element is fascinating and handled very well. Although I know nothing about airships, I never struggled to imagine what these vessels looked like or how they worked. I also really liked Bea. She’s the epitome of a strong female character who can fight shoulder to shoulder with the boys and then slip into something feminine and be a girl. I love that this character wasn’t a complete tomboy.
What I Didn’t Like: There’s a lot of action in this story. The first few chapters are all action and at some point it got too much. I needed some down time, a moment to catch my breath from the frenetic pace. Also, I realise that steampunk might not be the genre for me. While I enjoy the neo-Victorian aspects, they just don’t grab me as much as some of the other -punk genres do.
Bonus Points: The Morlocks! And that subtle but ever-present dark humour.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars. If you enjoy a swashbuckling action-adventure of the steampunk persuasion then you will love this book. The writing is solid and the world is interesting. I’d definitely keep my eye on this author in the future.
What I Liked: The world. The alternate history and whole sky-pirate element is fascinating and handled very well. Although I know nothing about airships, I never struggled to imagine what these vessels looked like or how they worked. I also really liked Bea. She’s the epitome of a strong female character who can fight shoulder to shoulder with the boys and then slip into something feminine and be a girl. I love that this character wasn’t a complete tomboy.
What I Didn’t Like: There’s a lot of action in this story. The first few chapters are all action and at some point it got too much. I needed some down time, a moment to catch my breath from the frenetic pace. Also, I realise that steampunk might not be the genre for me. While I enjoy the neo-Victorian aspects, they just don’t grab me as much as some of the other -punk genres do.
Bonus Points: The Morlocks! And that subtle but ever-present dark humour.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars. If you enjoy a swashbuckling action-adventure of the steampunk persuasion then you will love this book. The writing is solid and the world is interesting. I’d definitely keep my eye on this author in the future.
December 31, 2015
This was basically all right, but not overly satisfying. As action packed as it was, it tended toward simplistic solutions to problems. For example, the time the crew managed to guess the three-digit combination to a box they knew nothing about (on the first try even). Hell, half the time I can't even figure out my own locker combination, let alone a combination set by an unknown person, for an unknown purpose. So, yeah, sometimes things worked out a little too easily, but it was also a fun romp.
However, all that action comes at a price. This book starts with it and it never abates. And while that's exciting it leaves no time to slow down and get to know the characters or the world. I really felt this lack of depth. I also thought it was a bit predictable and the open ending (not a cliffhanger per se, but not all questions answered) chaffed a bit.
All in all, if you're looking for some airship fluff that doesn't require much mental participation this will do the trick. It's a fun but shallow read.
However, all that action comes at a price. This book starts with it and it never abates. And while that's exciting it leaves no time to slow down and get to know the characters or the world. I really felt this lack of depth. I also thought it was a bit predictable and the open ending (not a cliffhanger per se, but not all questions answered) chaffed a bit.
All in all, if you're looking for some airship fluff that doesn't require much mental participation this will do the trick. It's a fun but shallow read.
December 21, 2012
An Airship Named Desire is a fast-paced dose of steampunk pulp fiction. Most steampunk fans should eat this up.
Basically, it’s a “thieves unwittingly steal” (insert the name and properties of the MacGuffin) story. Having said that, I really enjoyed it.
The characters were nicely fleshed out and interesting. The action really made the book and had me hooked from the start.
One the downside, I didn’t like the overuse of “I”.
I inhaled the lusterless air…
I ran a hand over my pistol…
I slowly lifted…
I dropped my pack…
I wiped my clammy palms…
Despite my minor quibbles with the book, it’s an entertaining read for those of us who enjoy steampunk. McIntyre is a fine story-teller. I highly recommend An Airship Named Desire and give it a solid 4 stars out of 5. It’s a great bang for your steampunk buck!
Basically, it’s a “thieves unwittingly steal” (insert the name and properties of the MacGuffin) story. Having said that, I really enjoyed it.
The characters were nicely fleshed out and interesting. The action really made the book and had me hooked from the start.
One the downside, I didn’t like the overuse of “I”.
I inhaled the lusterless air…
I ran a hand over my pistol…
I slowly lifted…
I dropped my pack…
I wiped my clammy palms…
Despite my minor quibbles with the book, it’s an entertaining read for those of us who enjoy steampunk. McIntyre is a fine story-teller. I highly recommend An Airship Named Desire and give it a solid 4 stars out of 5. It’s a great bang for your steampunk buck!
May 4, 2013
Well-written, with a suspenseful, twisting story line. I didn't love the mix of steampunk and futuristic technology, though. Putting holograms and the year 2030 together with steam power and brass just seemed like McIntyre couldn't decide what type of sci-fi she wanted to write. There also was an overabundance of similes. You can only read "blank like a blank" so many times in one chapter before it starts to become irritating. Finally, I had to knock my rating down from 4 stars to 3.5 stars for the irritating factual errors, such as McIntyre placing Reno, Nevada on the coastline and not realizing that Germany follows the dd/mm/yyyy date format favored by Europe.
June 12, 2015
One of my favorite books EVER, done my 2nd read!!! 2 thumbs up!
January 20, 2021
Hard to put down. A grand adventure with just enough steam punk to make it fun. Well developed characters with a good underlying theme of looking out for each other, and the surprise benefits that result when you do not put yourself first.
May 13, 2017
Adventure in the sky.
Katherine McIntyre is excellent and the book cover tells of the action that I love to read. A new fan.
Katherine McIntyre is excellent and the book cover tells of the action that I love to read. A new fan.
April 9, 2018
Not quite as action packed as I was expecting. Vol. 1.5 is out, but appears from the blurb to be more romance than steampunk. Might take in Vol. 2 if one ever comes out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2020
Fun
I enjoyed this venture into steampunk a lot and the characters are fun to learn more about. Such good imagination from the author.
I enjoyed this venture into steampunk a lot and the characters are fun to learn more about. Such good imagination from the author.
October 4, 2023
Wonderfully adventuristic story about friendship, betrayal, and perseverance among friends and ship mates
November 2, 2014
I had high expectations for this book. Those expectations were quickly crushed within the first few pages. Very confusing, boring, and uninteresting. The author obviously has no imagination and used ideas from movies such as Treasure Island to attempt to make their own story. If you are thinking about buying this book, don't.
April 18, 2013
Review forthcoming. :)
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