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Verity Fitzroy and the Ministry Seven #1
The Curse of the Silver Pharaoh
While Verity Fitzroy loses herself in magical mechanizations and fantastical science of London, she harbours secrets of the death of her parents, of a mystery she can't leave alone, and of her power over machinery that both excites and terrifies her. Verity is part of the Ministry Seven, street orphans that work for Agent Harrison Thorne of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. Under his guidance, a whole new adventure begins for them all, investigating the strange, the unusual, and the bizarre.When an Egyptologist from the British Museum is kidnapped, the only clue leads to the Delancy Academy, an elite school for gifted, young scientists. Now the Seven are called upon to go where Ministry agents cannot, and within the school Verity uncovers an ancient evil that could herald the end of the world. The Seven set down a dangerous path of intrigue, mystery, and murder; and find that ancient curses are especially difficult to contend with when you have Chemistry assignments due the next day.From the creators of the award-winning steampunk series comes a new adventure set in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences universe.
186 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 5, 2019
Fun and inventive
From the streets of London to a school for gifted inventors, non-stop action made this such a fun and enjoyable read!
From the streets of London to a school for gifted inventors, non-stop action made this such a fun and enjoyable read!
January 29, 2020
Fun read
The characters are fun and I can't wait to see what they get up to next. Will Verity solve her problems? What will happen to the Seven?
The characters are fun and I can't wait to see what they get up to next. Will Verity solve her problems? What will happen to the Seven?
November 27, 2016
I think I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if I was a lot younger (i.e. 12-14). The book reminded me of the old kid's books where they have the groups of young boys/girls who solve 'mysteries' (The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, etc)
Also, I didn't realise that this was a spin-off type book from anther series. As such I was left quite confused about the setting. What year are we in? Why are there so many futuristic inventions? What do they do? (Because just giving us the names is pointless) And why, if the main character scoffs at the idea of the paranormal, is the aether (or whatever its called) acceptable?
I guess I would say, read the other series first and then read this book, but only if you want something really, really, simple.
Also, I didn't realise that this was a spin-off type book from anther series. As such I was left quite confused about the setting. What year are we in? Why are there so many futuristic inventions? What do they do? (Because just giving us the names is pointless) And why, if the main character scoffs at the idea of the paranormal, is the aether (or whatever its called) acceptable?
I guess I would say, read the other series first and then read this book, but only if you want something really, really, simple.
November 5, 2017
An intriguing adventure romp! There's a slight Hogwarts feel to the tale, due to being mostly told from within an extraordinary school out in the countryside, but the adventure is all it's own. Verity and her friends and foes are interesting, well rounded characters. You'll care about their outcomes. A fun rainy day read.
February 21, 2021
I’ve said this before a thousand times, but anything ancient Egypt is going to get my attention and THE CURSE OF THE SILVER PHARAOH was no exception. Such a fun and exciting premise, I’m glad it lived up to my expectations! Set around the beginning of the 20th century (based on how the cover model’s dressed, maybe late teens). Definitely post Great War, but I don’t think quite roaring 20s yet. But definitely creeping toward the height of Egyptomania that would sweep the world with the finding of King Tutankhamun’s tomb.
I loved the whole concept of a government agency employing street children to do jobs that they [the government] can’t otherwise get into. Granted, the adverse of that, and this is my own brain going here, is that they’re disposable and no one will miss them if they die, and they can be paid scraps and still think it amazing because otherwise they have nothing. But ignoring that rabbit hole my headspace crept close to, they get to go on this little adventure that gets them all into rather better conditions than what they’re used to, if nothing else. Granted, those staying at the farm house just couldn’t stay put, but really, that was to be expected.
Verity was an intriguing character that leapt off the page from the very beginning and she was a delight to follow along during this story. I had somewhat high hopes for Vidmar but alas, it was not meant to be. Although, and this is a spoiler so go ahead and skip to the next paragraph from here, having an Italian passing as an Indian kind of had my eye twitching a little. Although, considering the time it was set, I find it fairly accurate that anyone with even a mild dark complexion could say they were from somewhere in northern Africa or the Middle East or western Asia and people would accept it without question, never mind Italians and Indians look nothing alike. Not like similar things don’t happen now, so.
My only real complaint about the book was that it could have done with a round of copyediting. There were definitely a fair share of missing commas and linking verbs, but everything else was really well put together and the issues I did see didn’t detract from the story in any meaningful way.
It always brings me so much joy when authors dabble in ancient Egypt in a fictionalized way like this. Ballantine and Morris created such a fun story and I loved the light steampunk aspect of it too. It just added an additional layer of intrigue and depth to the world they created. It helped to focus less on the dirty street urchin part of the story and focus more on the service these children were doing for society and the good they were doing, and the fun toys they got to use doing it. Like, there was very little woe is me here. These children knew the hand they were dealt, for whatever variety of reasons that was, and they lived with it and they each brought something to the table that proved they were far more valuable to the world than what society would otherwise see in them. Equal parts uplifting and entertaining.
I look forward to the next book! And I also just found out there’s not only a sequel but more adjacent books. Awesome!
4
I loved the whole concept of a government agency employing street children to do jobs that they [the government] can’t otherwise get into. Granted, the adverse of that, and this is my own brain going here, is that they’re disposable and no one will miss them if they die, and they can be paid scraps and still think it amazing because otherwise they have nothing. But ignoring that rabbit hole my headspace crept close to, they get to go on this little adventure that gets them all into rather better conditions than what they’re used to, if nothing else. Granted, those staying at the farm house just couldn’t stay put, but really, that was to be expected.
Verity was an intriguing character that leapt off the page from the very beginning and she was a delight to follow along during this story. I had somewhat high hopes for Vidmar but alas, it was not meant to be. Although, and this is a spoiler so go ahead and skip to the next paragraph from here, having an Italian passing as an Indian kind of had my eye twitching a little. Although, considering the time it was set, I find it fairly accurate that anyone with even a mild dark complexion could say they were from somewhere in northern Africa or the Middle East or western Asia and people would accept it without question, never mind Italians and Indians look nothing alike. Not like similar things don’t happen now, so.
My only real complaint about the book was that it could have done with a round of copyediting. There were definitely a fair share of missing commas and linking verbs, but everything else was really well put together and the issues I did see didn’t detract from the story in any meaningful way.
It always brings me so much joy when authors dabble in ancient Egypt in a fictionalized way like this. Ballantine and Morris created such a fun story and I loved the light steampunk aspect of it too. It just added an additional layer of intrigue and depth to the world they created. It helped to focus less on the dirty street urchin part of the story and focus more on the service these children were doing for society and the good they were doing, and the fun toys they got to use doing it. Like, there was very little woe is me here. These children knew the hand they were dealt, for whatever variety of reasons that was, and they lived with it and they each brought something to the table that proved they were far more valuable to the world than what society would otherwise see in them. Equal parts uplifting and entertaining.
I look forward to the next book! And I also just found out there’s not only a sequel but more adjacent books. Awesome!
4
August 15, 2023
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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PLACING THE BOOK
It's been too many years (and too many books) since I read the early books in The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series, so I'm a little fuzzy on the Ministry Seven. But from things said throughout this book—and my dusty memory—I'd put this book slightly earlier than that series (or maybe right after book one...but I'm pretty sure it's earlier). We're in your classic Victorian Steampunk area dealing with an agent for the Ministry dealing with fringe science and other weirdness and the street urchins that he uses for things he can't do.
Think the Baker Street Irregulars. But with goggles.
WHAT'S THE CURSE OF THE SILVER PHAROAH ABOUT?
Verity Fitzroy's primary focus in life is finding out what happened to her parents and why. She's tracked down one person who she's convinced could help her—and when she attempts to contact him, she disturbs a Ministry operation involving their Ministry contact, Agent Harrison Thorne. Because things go so wrong during this operation an Egyptologist is kidnapped and Verity's contact is gone.
Thorne recruits the Seven to help him track down the kidnap victim. All tracks lead to the Delancy Academy—a school outside of London for students gifted in the sciences (most of whom come from money, obviously). The oldest two are enrolled (and, shine, it should be said) in the Academy to try to discover the tie between the Academy and the kidnappers.
The rest take up residence on a nearby farm to wait for their chance to help out. These children aren't ready for life in the countryside—the work is different from what they're used to doing (scrambling for scraps on the streets of London) and the environment as a whole takes some adjusting.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE CURSE OF THE SILVER PHARAOH?
I don't have a lot to say about this, and it kind of bugs me. Because it seems like I should. I had a real blast with this—it had a different flavor as a whole than the Ministry books—there's more of a supernatural bent to things, and the whole sexual-tension thing between Books and Braun is absent (obviously).
There's more of a YA-feel to it, too. Largely because the oldest two in the Seven are young adults. But it doesn't ever scream YA—it's just a fun fish-out-of-water adventure for a bunch of Steampunk kids.
I liked the devices that the Academy's students cooked up and would've been very content to spend a few months watching things at the school before the main action of the novel kicked in. Verity's new friend Julia McTighe is part Luna Lovegood, part whatever Amari Peter's best friend was called (I can't believe I can't come up with it)—and all sorts of fun. I hope they find a way to bring her back for the second book.
It's a short, fast, steampunkily fun adventure. That's good enough for me.
---
PLACING THE BOOK
It's been too many years (and too many books) since I read the early books in The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series, so I'm a little fuzzy on the Ministry Seven. But from things said throughout this book—and my dusty memory—I'd put this book slightly earlier than that series (or maybe right after book one...but I'm pretty sure it's earlier). We're in your classic Victorian Steampunk area dealing with an agent for the Ministry dealing with fringe science and other weirdness and the street urchins that he uses for things he can't do.
Think the Baker Street Irregulars. But with goggles.
WHAT'S THE CURSE OF THE SILVER PHAROAH ABOUT?
Verity Fitzroy's primary focus in life is finding out what happened to her parents and why. She's tracked down one person who she's convinced could help her—and when she attempts to contact him, she disturbs a Ministry operation involving their Ministry contact, Agent Harrison Thorne. Because things go so wrong during this operation an Egyptologist is kidnapped and Verity's contact is gone.
Thorne recruits the Seven to help him track down the kidnap victim. All tracks lead to the Delancy Academy—a school outside of London for students gifted in the sciences (most of whom come from money, obviously). The oldest two are enrolled (and, shine, it should be said) in the Academy to try to discover the tie between the Academy and the kidnappers.
The rest take up residence on a nearby farm to wait for their chance to help out. These children aren't ready for life in the countryside—the work is different from what they're used to doing (scrambling for scraps on the streets of London) and the environment as a whole takes some adjusting.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT THE CURSE OF THE SILVER PHARAOH?
I don't have a lot to say about this, and it kind of bugs me. Because it seems like I should. I had a real blast with this—it had a different flavor as a whole than the Ministry books—there's more of a supernatural bent to things, and the whole sexual-tension thing between Books and Braun is absent (obviously).
There's more of a YA-feel to it, too. Largely because the oldest two in the Seven are young adults. But it doesn't ever scream YA—it's just a fun fish-out-of-water adventure for a bunch of Steampunk kids.
I liked the devices that the Academy's students cooked up and would've been very content to spend a few months watching things at the school before the main action of the novel kicked in. Verity's new friend Julia McTighe is part Luna Lovegood, part whatever Amari Peter's best friend was called (I can't believe I can't come up with it)—and all sorts of fun. I hope they find a way to bring her back for the second book.
It's a short, fast, steampunkily fun adventure. That's good enough for me.
March 17, 2019
This steampunk adventure is a spinoff from the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series. It stars the Ministry Seven who are a group of street orphans who work for Agent Harrison Thorne. The main character in this one is Verity Fitzroy who is noted for her abilities as a "clanker" - an inventor who makes all sorts of machinery. Her proudest achievement is a clockwork mouse. She is also developing a power over machinery which makes her wonder if she is losing her mind.
The story begins with Verity hitching a ride on the vehicle of some bad guys through the use of magnets. We learn that Verity is trying to track down the people who killed her archaeologist father and engineer mother and caused her to begin living on the streets when she was eight. She is keeping her search a secret from the rest of her crew because she wants to keep them out of danger.
Verity learns that her hunt is coinciding with a hunt that Agent Harrison Thorne is on. An egyptologist has been kidnapped and Thorne is convinced that it has something to do with the missing Silver Pharaoh. Legend has it that the Pharaoh had some sort of mystical powers. Verity doesn't believe in mystical powers or legends because she prefers rational, scientific explanations.
Clues lead them to the Delancy Academy for Exceptionals and Verity, Henry, and Emma are tasked to go undercover to see what is going on. Meanwhile, the other four boys are sent to a nearby farm where they do some investigating of their own.
I loved the adventure and all the steampunk gadgets. I loved the setting in a highly fortified school with eccentric teachers and the usual entitled students who looked down on Verity as a charity student. I liked that Verity make friends with another student who had an interesting family situation of her own.
This book begins a series that should be a lot of fun to read.
The story begins with Verity hitching a ride on the vehicle of some bad guys through the use of magnets. We learn that Verity is trying to track down the people who killed her archaeologist father and engineer mother and caused her to begin living on the streets when she was eight. She is keeping her search a secret from the rest of her crew because she wants to keep them out of danger.
Verity learns that her hunt is coinciding with a hunt that Agent Harrison Thorne is on. An egyptologist has been kidnapped and Thorne is convinced that it has something to do with the missing Silver Pharaoh. Legend has it that the Pharaoh had some sort of mystical powers. Verity doesn't believe in mystical powers or legends because she prefers rational, scientific explanations.
Clues lead them to the Delancy Academy for Exceptionals and Verity, Henry, and Emma are tasked to go undercover to see what is going on. Meanwhile, the other four boys are sent to a nearby farm where they do some investigating of their own.
I loved the adventure and all the steampunk gadgets. I loved the setting in a highly fortified school with eccentric teachers and the usual entitled students who looked down on Verity as a charity student. I liked that Verity make friends with another student who had an interesting family situation of her own.
This book begins a series that should be a lot of fun to read.
May 22, 2024
I love my steampunk worlds emersed in all things steampunk. The houses, things used, transportation, and the story. All steampunk related.
Pip and Tee give me that in their steampunk stories. I love it.
This series is a spinoff from their first steampunk series, Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. I love that our main characters have a job to do, find the missing Museum expert Dr. Williams. And there's always action that goes with it.
Verity is part of the Ministry Seven. Seven, well actually eight, orphans that live on the streets. They are their own family and work with Agent Harrison Thorne on small things. Verity is looking for Uncle Octavius, and finds herself trying to help a museum expert that gets kidnapped. Agent Thorne arrives and learns what Verity overheard. Agent Thorne has a mission for the Ministry Seven... To go to the academy for talented young engineers. Three go to the academy and the remainder are near at a farm, waiting for when they are called in.
Each group has their daily tasks as they look around. And some find trouble, which works out to finding out great details they can use.
Verity, Henry, and Emma are at the academy and we follow along through Verity's eyes as she finds friends, deals with those who pick on others, and the teachers. Interesting place. I got a little bit of a Harry Potter feel while at school. But, instead of magic, it was with automatons. Kinda cool.
The Curse of the Silver Pharaoh is really a thing here. And we do get to see the Pharaoh! You'll get there. You'll get there. ;)
And like in The Ministry of peculiar Occurrences, we do have a few explosions. ;)
I had fun with this one. Great way to dive into a world full of steampunk and a case to be solved, even if there's a little danger along the way.
Pip and Tee give me that in their steampunk stories. I love it.
This series is a spinoff from their first steampunk series, Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. I love that our main characters have a job to do, find the missing Museum expert Dr. Williams. And there's always action that goes with it.
Verity is part of the Ministry Seven. Seven, well actually eight, orphans that live on the streets. They are their own family and work with Agent Harrison Thorne on small things. Verity is looking for Uncle Octavius, and finds herself trying to help a museum expert that gets kidnapped. Agent Thorne arrives and learns what Verity overheard. Agent Thorne has a mission for the Ministry Seven... To go to the academy for talented young engineers. Three go to the academy and the remainder are near at a farm, waiting for when they are called in.
Each group has their daily tasks as they look around. And some find trouble, which works out to finding out great details they can use.
Verity, Henry, and Emma are at the academy and we follow along through Verity's eyes as she finds friends, deals with those who pick on others, and the teachers. Interesting place. I got a little bit of a Harry Potter feel while at school. But, instead of magic, it was with automatons. Kinda cool.
The Curse of the Silver Pharaoh is really a thing here. And we do get to see the Pharaoh! You'll get there. You'll get there. ;)
And like in The Ministry of peculiar Occurrences, we do have a few explosions. ;)
I had fun with this one. Great way to dive into a world full of steampunk and a case to be solved, even if there's a little danger along the way.
February 5, 2017
Hidden in the shadows of London is a group called the Ministry Seven. All members are young, orphaned, and work for the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, who investigate the strange and unknown.
Verity Fitzroy became apart of this ragtag gang when her parents died in a house fire years ago. When the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences find a clue that connects her parents to the whereabouts of the stolen Silver Pharaoh at a boarding school for gifted children, Verity and her friends are recruited to find answers. They are sent to infiltrate the school disguised as new students to learn how the school is linked to the pharaoh, unaware of the mystery they will uncover.
In its short 186 pages, this book blew me away. I was completely intrigued from the first page to it's last, and even prompted me to contact the authors right away once i was done to find out when the next book would be released! the steampunk aspect of it was extremely creative and was described so vividly, it was a great main theme to the story. The characters are relatable, fun, and complex. I had a lot of fun learning the personalities of the Seven, along with the other characters we meet. I really liked that there were only hints of romance, setting up a great story line for future books in the series, and that most of the focus is on their mission for answers and the mysteries they compile.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Verity Fitzroy became apart of this ragtag gang when her parents died in a house fire years ago. When the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences find a clue that connects her parents to the whereabouts of the stolen Silver Pharaoh at a boarding school for gifted children, Verity and her friends are recruited to find answers. They are sent to infiltrate the school disguised as new students to learn how the school is linked to the pharaoh, unaware of the mystery they will uncover.
In its short 186 pages, this book blew me away. I was completely intrigued from the first page to it's last, and even prompted me to contact the authors right away once i was done to find out when the next book would be released! the steampunk aspect of it was extremely creative and was described so vividly, it was a great main theme to the story. The characters are relatable, fun, and complex. I had a lot of fun learning the personalities of the Seven, along with the other characters we meet. I really liked that there were only hints of romance, setting up a great story line for future books in the series, and that most of the focus is on their mission for answers and the mysteries they compile.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 24, 2020
While this novel is listed as the first in a series, the setting and characters are actually introduced in earlier books in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series. Very little to no time is spent introducing new readers to the characters here. This isn't as big of an issue as it otherwise would be, because there is never particularly much to the characters or their relationships.
That's unfortunately true of the rest of the book as well. The plot is fundamentally filled with a lot of steampunk tropes (in the good sense), and towards the end the book is quite action packed, and there is potential -- but somehow the gears never seem to mesh. The relationships, prose and dialogue felt off, and the story and characters never managed to fully engage me.
There are a few references and tie-ins to a longer story arc for the protagonist, but the book is entirely self-contained, managing to tell the entire adventure start to finish.
As full disclosure, the book was a free coronavirus quarantine giveaway from Philippa Ballantine.
That's unfortunately true of the rest of the book as well. The plot is fundamentally filled with a lot of steampunk tropes (in the good sense), and towards the end the book is quite action packed, and there is potential -- but somehow the gears never seem to mesh. The relationships, prose and dialogue felt off, and the story and characters never managed to fully engage me.
There are a few references and tie-ins to a longer story arc for the protagonist, but the book is entirely self-contained, managing to tell the entire adventure start to finish.
As full disclosure, the book was a free coronavirus quarantine giveaway from Philippa Ballantine.
October 18, 2016
I really wanted to like this book as much as I liked the original Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series. Unfortunately, this book fell short for me. The editing was just terrible and it progressively got worse the longer I read. I like to think I can handle the occasional misspelled word, mistakes do happen, yes? Obviously. But quotations missing during conversations so that one didn't know when one person had finished speaking and/or another person had begun or maybe this was narration I was reading? No, this I cannot abide. Or the gross merger of two sentences that caused my brain to mentally fidget for several minutes before I could move on? ...Need I say more?
The story was extremely predictable and the whole "Harry Potter Goes to Steampunk Hogwarts" vibe I got continued to taunt me while I was reading. It really shouldn't have taken me 10 days to finish this book but I found myself easily distracted and bored and I constantly set the book down after only reading a single chapter. This is not to say the story was entirely bad... I'm sure if I was 30 years younger I probably would've thoroughly enjoyed this light read.
But to sum up my grievances, The editing made it easy to deduct a star and the predictability factored away another. Again, I really wanted to enjoy this.
The story was extremely predictable and the whole "Harry Potter Goes to Steampunk Hogwarts" vibe I got continued to taunt me while I was reading. It really shouldn't have taken me 10 days to finish this book but I found myself easily distracted and bored and I constantly set the book down after only reading a single chapter. This is not to say the story was entirely bad... I'm sure if I was 30 years younger I probably would've thoroughly enjoyed this light read.
But to sum up my grievances, The editing made it easy to deduct a star and the predictability factored away another. Again, I really wanted to enjoy this.
September 11, 2018
A cross between Harry Potter and Nissa
Awesome. A really good read for most ages. Great fast moving storyline and with a vast array of characters so that most people will be able to relate to some. In fact most females will want to be Verity and most males will want to be Harry. Her family was killed in a fire when she was 8 years old. After living on the street of London she is part of the Seven that work with a Government Department. Her sole efforts to find her remaining uncle has led to information about a school for gifted children. Three are picked to attend the school whilst the others are to be on a nearby farm. What does the Silver Pharaoh and the school have in common? Why have two bodies been found - both dried up husks! When another Society try to take over the school the whole thing implodes! Can they all survive the destruction?
Awesome. A really good read for most ages. Great fast moving storyline and with a vast array of characters so that most people will be able to relate to some. In fact most females will want to be Verity and most males will want to be Harry. Her family was killed in a fire when she was 8 years old. After living on the street of London she is part of the Seven that work with a Government Department. Her sole efforts to find her remaining uncle has led to information about a school for gifted children. Three are picked to attend the school whilst the others are to be on a nearby farm. What does the Silver Pharaoh and the school have in common? Why have two bodies been found - both dried up husks! When another Society try to take over the school the whole thing implodes! Can they all survive the destruction?
December 22, 2018
This is a Young Adult paranormal / steampunk novel set in England. A group of street orphans are enrolled as the eyes and ears of Britain's secret paranomal agency. (See Pip Ballantine adult Steampunk adventures for more). The first of the series see the youngsters heading away from London with some of them going undercover at a private boarding school, while the others learn what life in a rural setting is compared to London. I had some chuckles. Overall a well put together steampunk that left me wanting to know more about the teenagers in this novel.
January 17, 2018
Another wild adventure
The Seven find plenty of action in this new addition to the series. The end felt a bit rushed and of course I would have loved more Egyptological details. The book could also use more careful proofreading. Still, it's a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to the next book!
The Seven find plenty of action in this new addition to the series. The end felt a bit rushed and of course I would have loved more Egyptological details. The book could also use more careful proofreading. Still, it's a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to the next book!
November 29, 2020
DNF at 5% 3 stars... this one just wasn't for me... nothing really grabbed me from the start, I didn't care about the character we met or what's gonna happen to her, so I'm moving on... the writing style was ok, so it's definitely "it's me not you" kind of a thing, I'm sure that a lot of people will like it, I am just not interested enough to continue :)
September 5, 2017
An interesting steampunk romp but a bit rough around the edges with inconsistent spelling of such things as the ornithopter, "Coptic" rather than canopic jars, and an unlikely hansom cab ride with the passengers sitting opposite one another.
August 10, 2018
A good romp of a read
The world building is excellent here and the characters engaging. But though it is the first book in the series, it feels like the aecond or third. Too many details, organisations an stories. And the pace is not even. So, four stars.
The world building is excellent here and the characters engaging. But though it is the first book in the series, it feels like the aecond or third. Too many details, organisations an stories. And the pace is not even. So, four stars.
October 16, 2017
Super fun steampunk book! Went into it not realizing it was a spin-off series and am now going back to read the other set of books.
Highly recommended for fun and mystery!
Highly recommended for fun and mystery!
June 2, 2018
Weaker than the other Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences steampunk books. Readable but not memorable.
August 24, 2018
Pip has written another great one, one that for long time ministry readers will shed light on Eliza D Braun's entry into the ministry. A great read, maybe it's YA but this senior sure enjoyed it!
December 20, 2018
Excellwnt Read!
Well put together, plot has plenty of twists to keep the reader wondering. The science is very believable and realistic. Loved the cast of xharactera
Well put together, plot has plenty of twists to keep the reader wondering. The science is very believable and realistic. Loved the cast of xharactera
February 18, 2019
YA ministry of peculiar. Good, young street people help solve a mystery in steampunk adventure
March 31, 2019
My first steampunk adventure read - thoroughly enjoyable!
January 3, 2020
First third of the book just dragged for me. Luckily, it picked up after they moved to the school. Probably not quite a four star, but better than a three.
June 23, 2021
I have a new genre of interest. If you are not familiar with this type of work then Pip Ballentine and Tee Morris are the best. Check out their list of books and start reading (or listening).
January 15, 2017
I reviewed this book for NetGalley.
This is an entertaining branch of the "Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences" series. Since this is the first book I have read in that series, or any series related to it, I am not entirely familiar with the world.
It is a exciting and fast paced YA steampunk novel. The characters are likeable with an interesting plot. And a mad pharaoh and the Illuminati are involved as well. A lot of fun and I look forward to reading more books in both of the series.
A very good read!
This is an entertaining branch of the "Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences" series. Since this is the first book I have read in that series, or any series related to it, I am not entirely familiar with the world.
It is a exciting and fast paced YA steampunk novel. The characters are likeable with an interesting plot. And a mad pharaoh and the Illuminati are involved as well. A lot of fun and I look forward to reading more books in both of the series.
A very good read!
November 2, 2016
Excellent addition to the series.
The Ministry Seven are the key players in this "episode", which was a nice change of pace. I'd like to see them developed even further in the series.
And now I have to go back & re-read the series to see if Verity changed her mind about Miss Braun...
The Ministry Seven are the key players in this "episode", which was a nice change of pace. I'd like to see them developed even further in the series.
And now I have to go back & re-read the series to see if Verity changed her mind about Miss Braun...
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