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Steamcraft & Sorcery #2
A Grimoire for the Baron
2nd Edition
Sequel to Boots for the Gentleman
Steamcraft and Sorcery: Book Two
Former archivist Reg Whitney, expert thief Querry Knotte, and the clockwork boy known as Frolic are fugitives from Halcyon living on a small island. While Reg is content to lead a safe and settled life, there is trouble in paradise: Querry is bored, and Frolic can't help but ponder his own existence.
When Querry and Frolic get caught breaking into Baron Starling's villa, all three men are bamboozled into accompanying the baron on a quest for arcane knowledge. But their jungle destination holds more danger than anyone on the expedition expects.
Reg knows their crew is made up of criminals-the kind who can't be trusted-which puts a strain on the trio. He's certain the baron and the mercenary Jean-Andre are hiding something that puts them all in danger. Querry and the baron grow close, leaving Reg and Frolic feeling alienated. Frolic's friendship with a fey servant just strains the trio's dynamic further. Even if Reg, Querry, and Frolic survive the quest, their relationship will never be the same.
1st edition published by Dreamspinner Press, October 2012
Sequel to Boots for the Gentleman
Steamcraft and Sorcery: Book Two
Former archivist Reg Whitney, expert thief Querry Knotte, and the clockwork boy known as Frolic are fugitives from Halcyon living on a small island. While Reg is content to lead a safe and settled life, there is trouble in paradise: Querry is bored, and Frolic can't help but ponder his own existence.
When Querry and Frolic get caught breaking into Baron Starling's villa, all three men are bamboozled into accompanying the baron on a quest for arcane knowledge. But their jungle destination holds more danger than anyone on the expedition expects.
Reg knows their crew is made up of criminals-the kind who can't be trusted-which puts a strain on the trio. He's certain the baron and the mercenary Jean-Andre are hiding something that puts them all in danger. Querry and the baron grow close, leaving Reg and Frolic feeling alienated. Frolic's friendship with a fey servant just strains the trio's dynamic further. Even if Reg, Querry, and Frolic survive the quest, their relationship will never be the same.
1st edition published by Dreamspinner Press, October 2012
354 pages, Paperback
First published October 11, 2012
2 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Augusta Li
39 books124 followersGus's Books are available at Dreamspinner Press, Silver Publishing, , Yaoi Press, and Storm Moon Press.
Gus has much love for readers and book enthusiasts. Communication and friendship is encouraged!
Website: www.BooksByEonandGus.com
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 13, 2019
3.5 Stars
There were elements of really fun things in this story, but the repetitive nature of Querry, Reg, and Frolic's arguments wore on me a bit. The adventure here was fun and I liked seeing more of this incredibly interesting world that's been created. A lot of the characters in this story had their own motivations, but I felt for Querry and Frolic caught in a trap of their own making really. But still they had no choice in what they had to do. Still I wished that everyone had talked to each other more. Stop hiding and holding on to their resentments. The three boys needed to let each other in to have their relationship grow.
Frankly I like the magic and the steampunk world often more than I like the characters. The adventure was interesting and had some nice elements to it. They ran into some unique things in the jungle that kept things fresh. I think the frustrating thing walking away from this book is I don't believe the direct sequel set up with the cliffhanger ending has ever been written.
There were elements of really fun things in this story, but the repetitive nature of Querry, Reg, and Frolic's arguments wore on me a bit. The adventure here was fun and I liked seeing more of this incredibly interesting world that's been created. A lot of the characters in this story had their own motivations, but I felt for Querry and Frolic caught in a trap of their own making really. But still they had no choice in what they had to do. Still I wished that everyone had talked to each other more. Stop hiding and holding on to their resentments. The three boys needed to let each other in to have their relationship grow.
Frankly I like the magic and the steampunk world often more than I like the characters. The adventure was interesting and had some nice elements to it. They ran into some unique things in the jungle that kept things fresh. I think the frustrating thing walking away from this book is I don't believe the direct sequel set up with the cliffhanger ending has ever been written.
September 8, 2020
So, the second book in the series runs pretty much like a D&D adventure. The thieves get caught stealing from a powerful wizard and are forced into a quest to find a fount of magic which the fairy world would have them not find. Plenty of battles and surprising entities to fight and befriend along the way. The polyamory aspect of the book figures less into the storyline, and the erotic scenes are a bit unnecessary to the plot, save for one towards the end. It's like the rest were just put there to remind you that it's a m/m/m story. While there is less focus on Querry this time around there is some nice character development especially with Frolic who begins to realize that his lovers are mortal and will eventually leave him by himself again. Overall, an interesting read as we discover the new world equivalent of the steampunk universe.
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October 13, 2012Available October 12th. 25% off until October 14th at dreamspinnerpress.com.
September 3, 2014
Review to come.
Edit for review: These two books by Augusta Li and Eon de Beaumont, Boots for the Gentleman and A Grimoire for the Baron, are good, old-fashioned fun akin to the adventures serials of yore--sans the serial aspect. The combination of steampunk and magic was charming, and the stories took me to unexpected places, and on adventures I would never have imagined on my own. It was fun and happy-making to read books where the thought of "I would have done xyz differently" rarely came into play because the books are unlike anything I would imagine or make up myself. A lovely escape to a different world. I read somewhere recently that a review should be about the book, but, that's never how my reviews turn out. My reviews always turn out to be about me and my relationship to the book. In the case of these, they were the right fun at the right time and I look forward to buying them in paperback when I see Gus Li at Rainbow Con next year.
Edit for review: These two books by Augusta Li and Eon de Beaumont, Boots for the Gentleman and A Grimoire for the Baron, are good, old-fashioned fun akin to the adventures serials of yore--sans the serial aspect. The combination of steampunk and magic was charming, and the stories took me to unexpected places, and on adventures I would never have imagined on my own. It was fun and happy-making to read books where the thought of "I would have done xyz differently" rarely came into play because the books are unlike anything I would imagine or make up myself. A lovely escape to a different world. I read somewhere recently that a review should be about the book, but, that's never how my reviews turn out. My reviews always turn out to be about me and my relationship to the book. In the case of these, they were the right fun at the right time and I look forward to buying them in paperback when I see Gus Li at Rainbow Con next year.
June 25, 2015
Skimmed the rest after about 50%. The story dragged for me and the three guys rehashed the same arguments over and over and over. None of them were as likable as they were in the first book though I did feel for Reggie. Just didn't work for me this time around.
October 14, 2012
4 1/2 Hearts
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews