What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ingenious Mechanical Devices #2
The Gentleman Devil
This is an alternate title/cover edition for B00RU0R0YW
Can death be conquered?
When Immanuel Winter set off to the banks of the Thames, he never thought his life would be changed forever. Emmeline Jardine, a young Spiritualist medium, drowns, but the potion given to Immanuel by his mother brings her back from the dead and irrevocably intertwines their souls.
But Emmeline and Immanuel aren’t the only ones aware of his ancestors’ legacy. Understanding the potential of such an elixir, the ruthlessly ambitious Alastair Rose knows securing the mysteries of death will get him everything he desires: power, a title, but more importantly, dominion over the dead and the living.
Unaware of what the dashing madman is capable of, Emmeline follows him deeper into a world of corrupt mediums, unscrupulous scientists, and murder. All that stands between Lord Rose and his prize is the boy who refuses to die, but both men know the key to stopping him lies within the girl who shares Immanuel’s soul.
Can death be conquered?
When Immanuel Winter set off to the banks of the Thames, he never thought his life would be changed forever. Emmeline Jardine, a young Spiritualist medium, drowns, but the potion given to Immanuel by his mother brings her back from the dead and irrevocably intertwines their souls.
But Emmeline and Immanuel aren’t the only ones aware of his ancestors’ legacy. Understanding the potential of such an elixir, the ruthlessly ambitious Alastair Rose knows securing the mysteries of death will get him everything he desires: power, a title, but more importantly, dominion over the dead and the living.
Unaware of what the dashing madman is capable of, Emmeline follows him deeper into a world of corrupt mediums, unscrupulous scientists, and murder. All that stands between Lord Rose and his prize is the boy who refuses to die, but both men know the key to stopping him lies within the girl who shares Immanuel’s soul.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2015
91 people are currently reading
323 people want to read
About the author
Kara Jorgensen
21 books202 followersKara Jorgensen (they/them) is a queer, nonbinary oddball with a penchant for all things antiquated, morbid, or just plain strange. While in college, they realized they no longer wanted to be Victor Frankenstein but instead wanted to write like Mary Shelley and thus abandoned their future career in science for writing. Kara melds their passions through their books and graduated with an MFA in Creative and Professional Writing in 2016. When not writing, they can be found hanging out with their dogs watching period dramas or trying to convince their students to cite their sources.
To find out more about their books go to https://karajorgensen.com
Sign-up for their newsletter and get a free sapphic novella: eepurl.com/bfJTW9
Historical Fantasy/Steampunk Novels
The Ingenious Mechanical Devices:
The Earl of Brass (IMD #1)
The Winter Garden (IMD #2)
"An Oxford Holiday" (short story)
The Earl and the Artificer (IMD #3)
"The Errant Earl" (short story)
Dead Magic (IMD #4)
Selkie Cove (IMD #5)
The Wolf Witch (IMD #6)
The Reanimator Mysteries
The Reanimator's Heart (TRM #1)
"An Unexpected Valentine" (TRM #1.5)
The Reanimator's Soul (TRM #2)
"An Unexpected Question" (TRM #2.5)
The Reanimator's Remains (TRM #3 FORTHCOMING 2024)
A Paranormal Society Romance
Kinship and Kindness (PSR #1)
Trousers and Trouble (PSR #2) (FORTHCOMING)
Tempests and Temptation (PSR#3) (FORTHCOMING)
Untitled (PSR #4) (FORTHCOMING)
To find out more about their books go to https://karajorgensen.com
Sign-up for their newsletter and get a free sapphic novella: eepurl.com/bfJTW9
Historical Fantasy/Steampunk Novels
The Ingenious Mechanical Devices:
The Earl of Brass (IMD #1)
The Winter Garden (IMD #2)
"An Oxford Holiday" (short story)
The Earl and the Artificer (IMD #3)
"The Errant Earl" (short story)
Dead Magic (IMD #4)
Selkie Cove (IMD #5)
The Wolf Witch (IMD #6)
The Reanimator Mysteries
The Reanimator's Heart (TRM #1)
"An Unexpected Valentine" (TRM #1.5)
The Reanimator's Soul (TRM #2)
"An Unexpected Question" (TRM #2.5)
The Reanimator's Remains (TRM #3 FORTHCOMING 2024)
A Paranormal Society Romance
Kinship and Kindness (PSR #1)
Trousers and Trouble (PSR #2) (FORTHCOMING)
Tempests and Temptation (PSR#3) (FORTHCOMING)
Untitled (PSR #4) (FORTHCOMING)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
dnf
February 24, 2020DNF @ 49%
This could've been so good. The first book could've been good. Hell, even great. But the writing is so amateurish that it bogs the story down. There were incorrect word usages throughout, unnecessary descriptors for everything, epithets used instead of names, full names or titles used just because when the first name would do just fine, and that's just for starters. On the flip side, when there are two characters of the same gender in the scene, it's not always easy to tell when the action or dialogue switches from one character to another because "he" or "she" is used when the name should be, especially with the amount of head hopping going on from one paragraph to another. I then read a sentence that started in one place and ended somewhere completely different with no rhyme or reason. It made me wonder if there was a delete error or a copy/paste issue going on.
Then there's the fact the characters weren't really fleshed out. Sure, Immanuel seemed like a swell guy. But his connection with Adam felt artificial. Why he decided to stay with the Hawthornes after These characters' actions just didn't make sense. Oh, and then there's the that kicked off this chain of events. Nothing felt authentic.
I can't say that Emmeline was very nice at all, but at least she was consistent. Unfortunately, when she finally got a moment of potential character growth it took place off-page and was only casually mentioned in passing by another character. Also, providing the villain's POV very rarely adds tension to a story in my experience because it's almost always done terribly - and this is not the exception.
Still, I think if I were in a better mood, I could've powered on and dealt with all this if the story had been more engaging, but the reference to Immanuel's torture just felt gluttonous after awhile and didn't add any depth to any of the characters it affected. As I kept going, I found myself less and less invested and more inclined to just let the book sit untouched, so I'm throwing in the towel.
Anyway, here's a review that has some good examples of the weirdness going on with the writing:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This could've been so good. The first book could've been good. Hell, even great. But the writing is so amateurish that it bogs the story down. There were incorrect word usages throughout, unnecessary descriptors for everything, epithets used instead of names, full names or titles used just because when the first name would do just fine, and that's just for starters. On the flip side, when there are two characters of the same gender in the scene, it's not always easy to tell when the action or dialogue switches from one character to another because "he" or "she" is used when the name should be, especially with the amount of head hopping going on from one paragraph to another. I then read a sentence that started in one place and ended somewhere completely different with no rhyme or reason. It made me wonder if there was a delete error or a copy/paste issue going on.
Then there's the fact the characters weren't really fleshed out. Sure, Immanuel seemed like a swell guy. But his connection with Adam felt artificial. Why he decided to stay with the Hawthornes after These characters' actions just didn't make sense. Oh, and then there's the that kicked off this chain of events. Nothing felt authentic.
I can't say that Emmeline was very nice at all, but at least she was consistent. Unfortunately, when she finally got a moment of potential character growth it took place off-page and was only casually mentioned in passing by another character. Also, providing the villain's POV very rarely adds tension to a story in my experience because it's almost always done terribly - and this is not the exception.
Still, I think if I were in a better mood, I could've powered on and dealt with all this if the story had been more engaging, but the reference to Immanuel's torture just felt gluttonous after awhile and didn't add any depth to any of the characters it affected. As I kept going, I found myself less and less invested and more inclined to just let the book sit untouched, so I'm throwing in the towel.
Anyway, here's a review that has some good examples of the weirdness going on with the writing:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 28, 2020
I will be honest when I say that, for me, this book was all about the characters. I know what you're thinking. Aren't ALL books about the characters? Well, yes and no. In some books, the characters are simply tethers for a grander plot that seems to revolve around them but could be tethered by any character interchangeably. Some books, however, have characters so deep and multifaceted that they are irrevocably lodged in not only the plot but also the readers hearts and minds.
This was the latter.
While being Book 2 in the series, you don't have to have read book 1 to read this one (though it's much more enjoyable if you have, as you get to see familiar faces and further depth to characters from the first book). For me, following the story of Immanuel and Adam was my main focus here. If nothing else had happened, and it was just about these two people learning and growing from each other, I would have been perfectly content. However, a great deal else DID happen, and amidst the excitement and danger, watching the relationships grow in strength and complication was a thoroughly fulfilling experience. I have to admit that I never really grew to like Emmeline, but there's a (grudging) respect for her. That's as far as I will go, though :P
This is definitely another solid read from Jorgensen, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the unique treatment of this particular genre that the author brings to the table.
This was the latter.
While being Book 2 in the series, you don't have to have read book 1 to read this one (though it's much more enjoyable if you have, as you get to see familiar faces and further depth to characters from the first book). For me, following the story of Immanuel and Adam was my main focus here. If nothing else had happened, and it was just about these two people learning and growing from each other, I would have been perfectly content. However, a great deal else DID happen, and amidst the excitement and danger, watching the relationships grow in strength and complication was a thoroughly fulfilling experience. I have to admit that I never really grew to like Emmeline, but there's a (grudging) respect for her. That's as far as I will go, though :P
This is definitely another solid read from Jorgensen, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the unique treatment of this particular genre that the author brings to the table.
May 17, 2015
Okay, people. You need to read this book. I am in dire need of people to obsess over it with. I finished Winter Garden a week ago, but I still can just not deal. It’s left a little piece of me deeply unsettled - but it was carried out in such a skilful and compelling way that I forgave the author for it even while it was happening. That said, I am not going to be entirely OK until there’s a sequel. I’m just not.
I’m serious, anyone who has read this and feels a similar need to talk, you can just go ahead and message me. Please. We can start a support group.
Now that I have that out of the way, perhaps a few content-related comments are in order. First off, like the first book in this series, it’s set in Victorian England - but it’s slightly less steampunk-oriented (the elements are still there, but not as dominant) and more paranormal/horror/romance than the first one. The cast is full of well-developed, lifelike characters; some of which we recognise from book 1, but the main protagonists here are (mostly) new, or at least only had smaller parts the previous book. Immanuel, Emmeline and Adam are endearing. But the villain! I am so deeply disturbed by this person, who is a true terror in aristocrat form. The portrayal is so vivid it’s alarming - I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near this person. Ever. Probably not even in the same city, if I could help it.
Okay. Deep breaths. I can finish this. Stop thinking about Lord Rose.
To sum up the review, I really liked this, in so many ways. It’s new, and only the second title published by the author, but it is utterly wonderful. It deserves so much more attention! Go read it, now. (Then we'll talk!)
I’m serious, anyone who has read this and feels a similar need to talk, you can just go ahead and message me. Please. We can start a support group.
Now that I have that out of the way, perhaps a few content-related comments are in order. First off, like the first book in this series, it’s set in Victorian England - but it’s slightly less steampunk-oriented (the elements are still there, but not as dominant) and more paranormal/horror/romance than the first one. The cast is full of well-developed, lifelike characters; some of which we recognise from book 1, but the main protagonists here are (mostly) new, or at least only had smaller parts the previous book. Immanuel, Emmeline and Adam are endearing. But the villain! I am so deeply disturbed by this person, who is a true terror in aristocrat form. The portrayal is so vivid it’s alarming - I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near this person. Ever. Probably not even in the same city, if I could help it.
Okay. Deep breaths. I can finish this. Stop thinking about Lord Rose.
To sum up the review, I really liked this, in so many ways. It’s new, and only the second title published by the author, but it is utterly wonderful. It deserves so much more attention! Go read it, now. (Then we'll talk!)
June 22, 2015
ThreeStar
Immanuel Winter and Emmeline Jardine are the heroes of this book. Two people connected by Fate and an ancient elixir. Life and death is in their hands. Unfortunately, of course, someone is looking to crack the secret of death. It's a conspiracy that goes all the way back to the Queen herself.
This is Victorian(ish) steampunk paranormal stuff. If that appeals it's a good representation of the genre. Anachronistic and places, which can be handwaved a bit as "steampunk," and any little details to wonder about are quickly swallowed up by the story and the atmosphere, which are captivating.
If you're concerned that the leads are a man and a woman, don't be. Theirs is rivalry and contentious friendship. Immanuel's heart belongs to a man. And it's quite lovely that young love between lads that blossoms in the face of murder, intrigue, and homophobia.
Immanuel is likeable. Emmeline, unfortunately, is not, though she's sympathetic. Fans of the genre will enjoy their story. I'm not big on it and I wasn't completely sold. The story kept me interested all the way through. Kara Jorgensen is a competent writer and her characters are all striking. I just don't know how long they'll linger with me now that I'm through.
This is book Two of the Ingenious Mechanical Devices series. It is not necessary to read the first book in the series.
I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
C.E. Case
Immanuel Winter and Emmeline Jardine are the heroes of this book. Two people connected by Fate and an ancient elixir. Life and death is in their hands. Unfortunately, of course, someone is looking to crack the secret of death. It's a conspiracy that goes all the way back to the Queen herself.
This is Victorian(ish) steampunk paranormal stuff. If that appeals it's a good representation of the genre. Anachronistic and places, which can be handwaved a bit as "steampunk," and any little details to wonder about are quickly swallowed up by the story and the atmosphere, which are captivating.
If you're concerned that the leads are a man and a woman, don't be. Theirs is rivalry and contentious friendship. Immanuel's heart belongs to a man. And it's quite lovely that young love between lads that blossoms in the face of murder, intrigue, and homophobia.
Immanuel is likeable. Emmeline, unfortunately, is not, though she's sympathetic. Fans of the genre will enjoy their story. I'm not big on it and I wasn't completely sold. The story kept me interested all the way through. Kara Jorgensen is a competent writer and her characters are all striking. I just don't know how long they'll linger with me now that I'm through.
This is book Two of the Ingenious Mechanical Devices series. It is not necessary to read the first book in the series.
I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
C.E. Case
March 16, 2015
After reading and loving the first book in this series, I could not wait for The Winter Garden. Having read, it was worth the wait.
In this installment, we shift focus not only to new characters, but also a new alt history dynamic. The steampunk elements are still there, though downplayed and more in the background. This time around, we are dealing with mysticism and the occult, which were very popular during Victorian times, but in this reality there exists a machine that is powerful enough to steal and entrap souls. To that end, the villain in this book is more than a little unnerving.
But what really makes this book is the same careful attention to creating complex characters that made The Earl of Brass such a pleasure to read. From the book's description, one might think they know where the relationship dynamic is headed, and they would be wrong. Once again, the author weaves into the plot social issues that are as relevant today as they were in Victorian times and does so effortlessly.
As I came to the end of the book, and the slight hints at what is to come, my only complaint is that once again, I must try to wait patiently for the next book to be written.
In this installment, we shift focus not only to new characters, but also a new alt history dynamic. The steampunk elements are still there, though downplayed and more in the background. This time around, we are dealing with mysticism and the occult, which were very popular during Victorian times, but in this reality there exists a machine that is powerful enough to steal and entrap souls. To that end, the villain in this book is more than a little unnerving.
But what really makes this book is the same careful attention to creating complex characters that made The Earl of Brass such a pleasure to read. From the book's description, one might think they know where the relationship dynamic is headed, and they would be wrong. Once again, the author weaves into the plot social issues that are as relevant today as they were in Victorian times and does so effortlessly.
As I came to the end of the book, and the slight hints at what is to come, my only complaint is that once again, I must try to wait patiently for the next book to be written.
June 20, 2019
Works quite nicely as a gothic mystery with steampunk elements and had mostly everything necessary for a victoranian tale from the upper class. The added steampunk element seems to help tearing a small crack into the moral perception of that time if it comes to feminism but not if it comes to homosexuality. Do not fear, there's no real bad scene and definately no homophobic action against Adam and Immanuel but nevertheless their growing love has to happen behind closed doors and always in danger and therefore fear. The author doesn't use any white salve to make the situation more bearable. On the one hand I appreciate that but on the other hand it reminds me why I rarely enjoy historical novels.
What I didn't like was the change in the PoV. Nothing against getting a story from different point of views but please change it at the end of a chapter or another visible break.
What I didn't like was the change in the PoV. Nothing against getting a story from different point of views but please change it at the end of a chapter or another visible break.
January 8, 2016
Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The Winter Garden (The Ingenious Mechanical Devices Book 2) by Kara Jorgensen is the sequel to The Earl of Brass. While it is not necessary to have read The Earl of Brass to understand and enjoy The Winter Garden, I highly recommend it. Not only is it an exciting and intriguing read (see my review for more), having read The Earl of Brass gave me a better understanding of the world of The Winter Garden as well as gave me a creative respect for the way Jorgensen interwove the lives and stories of the characters from both novels.
The Winter Garden begins with young scholar Immanuel Winter saving Emmeline Jardine from drowning. In order to save Emmeline's life, Immanuel must use a mysterious family heirloom, and after he does so, he and Emmeline are inexplicably bound together. Eventually, Immanuel and Emmeline are taken captive and must work together to escape and later discover the identity of their captor and how to permanently free themselves from the threat of his clutches.
Once again, Jorgensen has crafted complex and realistic characters. Immanuel and Emmeline could not be more different: he is a thoughtful, compassionate scholar and she is a self-interested, spoiled socialite. However, both characters are sympathetic and both learn to overcome their weaknesses and evolve into the people they are meant to be. Likewise, the supporting characters are well-rounded and have excellent chemistry with the protagonists and each other.
My favorite aspect of The Winter Garden is that Jorgensen expanded into new facets of the steampunk genre. In The Earl of Brass, Jorgensen featured steampunk technology, biomechanical limbs, and even explored a fantastical utopian society. In The Winter Garden, Jorgensen explores the "darker" side of steampunk, introducing readers to deadly mechanical devices, a spiritualist society, and a touch of what the "real world" would deem magic. These new subjects ramp up the styling and tone of the novel and set it apart from The Earl of Brass, while still keeping it true to the world Jorgensen created.
While some of the steampunk elements of the story are new, Jorgensen revisited similar themes from The Earl of Brass (albeit in different ways). Once again, the reader is introduced to a loving, respectful homosexual relationship, this time between two of the main characters. Likewise, Jorgensen revisits feminist themes, providing strong, female characters and reminding the reader that one can be a strong, capable woman and still have traditionally feminine values (ie: appreciation for fashion and desire to be a wife and mother). Additionally, Jorgensen grapples with questions of responsibility and power and how they should be executed in ethical ways.
The Winter Garden is an engaging, theme-driven novel full of vivacious characters and fantastical steampunk elements. If you are looking for a novel that is clever, thought-provoking, and just plain beautiful in the imagination, look no further.
The Winter Garden (The Ingenious Mechanical Devices Book 2) by Kara Jorgensen is the sequel to The Earl of Brass. While it is not necessary to have read The Earl of Brass to understand and enjoy The Winter Garden, I highly recommend it. Not only is it an exciting and intriguing read (see my review for more), having read The Earl of Brass gave me a better understanding of the world of The Winter Garden as well as gave me a creative respect for the way Jorgensen interwove the lives and stories of the characters from both novels.
The Winter Garden begins with young scholar Immanuel Winter saving Emmeline Jardine from drowning. In order to save Emmeline's life, Immanuel must use a mysterious family heirloom, and after he does so, he and Emmeline are inexplicably bound together. Eventually, Immanuel and Emmeline are taken captive and must work together to escape and later discover the identity of their captor and how to permanently free themselves from the threat of his clutches.
Once again, Jorgensen has crafted complex and realistic characters. Immanuel and Emmeline could not be more different: he is a thoughtful, compassionate scholar and she is a self-interested, spoiled socialite. However, both characters are sympathetic and both learn to overcome their weaknesses and evolve into the people they are meant to be. Likewise, the supporting characters are well-rounded and have excellent chemistry with the protagonists and each other.
My favorite aspect of The Winter Garden is that Jorgensen expanded into new facets of the steampunk genre. In The Earl of Brass, Jorgensen featured steampunk technology, biomechanical limbs, and even explored a fantastical utopian society. In The Winter Garden, Jorgensen explores the "darker" side of steampunk, introducing readers to deadly mechanical devices, a spiritualist society, and a touch of what the "real world" would deem magic. These new subjects ramp up the styling and tone of the novel and set it apart from The Earl of Brass, while still keeping it true to the world Jorgensen created.
While some of the steampunk elements of the story are new, Jorgensen revisited similar themes from The Earl of Brass (albeit in different ways). Once again, the reader is introduced to a loving, respectful homosexual relationship, this time between two of the main characters. Likewise, Jorgensen revisits feminist themes, providing strong, female characters and reminding the reader that one can be a strong, capable woman and still have traditionally feminine values (ie: appreciation for fashion and desire to be a wife and mother). Additionally, Jorgensen grapples with questions of responsibility and power and how they should be executed in ethical ways.
The Winter Garden is an engaging, theme-driven novel full of vivacious characters and fantastical steampunk elements. If you are looking for a novel that is clever, thought-provoking, and just plain beautiful in the imagination, look no further.
March 7, 2017
Well, I read this book based on the fact that the first book was pretty interesting, in spite of the difficulties with the writing it had, in my opinion. There were so many strange things going on with the writing that, as I continued to read I thought that the author must be from a country in which English is not the first language. But low and behold, after looking up the author's bio, I discovered that she is an America.
The author seemed to think she had to make up an adjective for practically every color she mentioned. For example: "strigine brown eyes" I had to look it up in the dictionary and found that the word didn't exist at all; never mind being a description of the color brown. There were numerous other examples of incorrect use of words to describe colors, but I didn't make notes on them.
In general, I thought the author didn't have a good grasp of grammar, nor much knowledge of the meanings of some words that she chose to use. Such as - "her jet hair drizzled onto her white gown" Just how does hair drizzle? I have an idea of what she wanted to say, but the word "drizzle" doesn't really describe it.
"savouring the rare meat as it 'bled' down his lips with each bite" I think this sentence was intended to make the meat sandwich sound deliciously juicy. Bleeding meat just makes the sandwich seem as though it would be anything but savory.
"The hair on the back of his head 'prickled' sounds like it was itchy, when it seemed the author was trying to convey the idea that the hair on the back of his head stood up.
What exactly is a "malleable dress" I sounds like the dress is made out of metal that has softened enough so that it can be pounded into a different shape.
Yet another example: "His light eyes ran over his friend's 'ashen' face, which was 'flushed' from exertion. Did the author not realize that "ashen" and "flushed" are just about opposite in meaning?
A face that is "ashen" would not also be "flushed"
And my last example of poor spelling or just plain ignorance of the correct term is when the author used the term "liver mortis". Perhaps she meant "livor mortis" but maybe she also meant "rigor mortis".
This author could use a really good editor. There were so many mistakes in word usage, spelling and even grammar that they took away any real enjoyment that I might have gotten from reading the story.
The author seemed to think she had to make up an adjective for practically every color she mentioned. For example: "strigine brown eyes" I had to look it up in the dictionary and found that the word didn't exist at all; never mind being a description of the color brown. There were numerous other examples of incorrect use of words to describe colors, but I didn't make notes on them.
In general, I thought the author didn't have a good grasp of grammar, nor much knowledge of the meanings of some words that she chose to use. Such as - "her jet hair drizzled onto her white gown" Just how does hair drizzle? I have an idea of what she wanted to say, but the word "drizzle" doesn't really describe it.
"savouring the rare meat as it 'bled' down his lips with each bite" I think this sentence was intended to make the meat sandwich sound deliciously juicy. Bleeding meat just makes the sandwich seem as though it would be anything but savory.
"The hair on the back of his head 'prickled' sounds like it was itchy, when it seemed the author was trying to convey the idea that the hair on the back of his head stood up.
What exactly is a "malleable dress" I sounds like the dress is made out of metal that has softened enough so that it can be pounded into a different shape.
Yet another example: "His light eyes ran over his friend's 'ashen' face, which was 'flushed' from exertion. Did the author not realize that "ashen" and "flushed" are just about opposite in meaning?
A face that is "ashen" would not also be "flushed"
And my last example of poor spelling or just plain ignorance of the correct term is when the author used the term "liver mortis". Perhaps she meant "livor mortis" but maybe she also meant "rigor mortis".
This author could use a really good editor. There were so many mistakes in word usage, spelling and even grammar that they took away any real enjoyment that I might have gotten from reading the story.
Read
March 17, 2015Steampunk meets Victorian Spiritualism
Absolutely great and unique plot follows a German Student studying at Oxford University. On a botany inspired trip to the river Immanuel Winters ends up rescuing and reviving the teenage daughter of the head of the Oxford Spiritualists. This is observed by the villain of this book and leads to much suffering, death and danger. Very different.
This is the second book of the series that started with the Earl of Brass. You don't have to read it first but it would be more enjoyable if you did as there are 6 characters that repeat and you would have more background on them. Nevertheless this story is complete without any problems.
The writing style is smoother, fuller, more juicy with the descriptions and character development. Both the attitudes and reasoning of the teenage girl for which one .is greatly relieved as she matures, and of Immanuel as he recovers from PTSD and masters his fears, show a depth of psychological sensitivity by the author. Sensitivity is also displayed in the M/M relationship that later develops. I would love to say more but I don't wish to give away anything important. The hints above should not spoil anything as the plot is far different than anything you are imagining now. Kudos!
Absolutely great and unique plot follows a German Student studying at Oxford University. On a botany inspired trip to the river Immanuel Winters ends up rescuing and reviving the teenage daughter of the head of the Oxford Spiritualists. This is observed by the villain of this book and leads to much suffering, death and danger. Very different.
This is the second book of the series that started with the Earl of Brass. You don't have to read it first but it would be more enjoyable if you did as there are 6 characters that repeat and you would have more background on them. Nevertheless this story is complete without any problems.
The writing style is smoother, fuller, more juicy with the descriptions and character development. Both the attitudes and reasoning of the teenage girl for which one .is greatly relieved as she matures, and of Immanuel as he recovers from PTSD and masters his fears, show a depth of psychological sensitivity by the author. Sensitivity is also displayed in the M/M relationship that later develops. I would love to say more but I don't wish to give away anything important. The hints above should not spoil anything as the plot is far different than anything you are imagining now. Kudos!
August 2, 2015
I downloaded this book from Kobo, for some holiday reading.
I really enjoyed reading this book and the basis for the story was great and one I hadn't come across before. I thought the characters were good and well-rounded, with individual traits and personalities that added to the overall feel of the book and the excellent narrative of the author.
At first, I did have an issue with the constant switching of POV within chapters or subsequent paragraphs, with no clear breaks. One minute you'd be in a certain characters head, the next minute another character's thoughts would jump in, rather than just following one character for a chapter and then maybe switching to another in the next, sometimes more than one viewpoint was expressed in a single scene.
As the story progressed, and all of the main characters began to stand out more as individuals, this quickly became less relevant as both plot and story were well written.
I have to say, the epilogue was exceptional. I won't give too much away, but that was a really great twist to the story, and really made me sit up and think!
I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment...
I really enjoyed reading this book and the basis for the story was great and one I hadn't come across before. I thought the characters were good and well-rounded, with individual traits and personalities that added to the overall feel of the book and the excellent narrative of the author.
At first, I did have an issue with the constant switching of POV within chapters or subsequent paragraphs, with no clear breaks. One minute you'd be in a certain characters head, the next minute another character's thoughts would jump in, rather than just following one character for a chapter and then maybe switching to another in the next, sometimes more than one viewpoint was expressed in a single scene.
As the story progressed, and all of the main characters began to stand out more as individuals, this quickly became less relevant as both plot and story were well written.
I have to say, the epilogue was exceptional. I won't give too much away, but that was a really great twist to the story, and really made me sit up and think!
I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment...
February 6, 2017
The Gentleman Devil.
The Earl of Brass caught my attention and opened me up to something new, but The Gentleman Devil just shows how much an author can grow, improve and shine in their prospective literary prowess.
Immanuel Winter is a man choses to save the life of another. A simple act of kindness and he plunges into the Thames in attempt to rescue Emmeline Jardine.
Unknowingly both are in over their heads when compassion leads them on a journey deep into the dark psyche of one Alastair Rose. This is a man ruled of ambitious desires who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals including leaving poor Immanuel brutellaly crushed and broken beyond his physical shell.
Will compassion and love bring him from the brink of the dark abyss?
Moved to tears by the disaster that befell Immanuel and in turn Emmeline's entwined fate. Immanuel's character is by far my favorite in this book. His trauma and triumph, his strength to confront the dark devil that plagues him with fear, and his hope to conquer it all with the help of blossoming love.
This journey is one I strongly recommend delving into more so than a stack of your favorite penny dreadfuls.
The Earl of Brass caught my attention and opened me up to something new, but The Gentleman Devil just shows how much an author can grow, improve and shine in their prospective literary prowess.
Immanuel Winter is a man choses to save the life of another. A simple act of kindness and he plunges into the Thames in attempt to rescue Emmeline Jardine.
Unknowingly both are in over their heads when compassion leads them on a journey deep into the dark psyche of one Alastair Rose. This is a man ruled of ambitious desires who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals including leaving poor Immanuel brutellaly crushed and broken beyond his physical shell.
Will compassion and love bring him from the brink of the dark abyss?
Moved to tears by the disaster that befell Immanuel and in turn Emmeline's entwined fate. Immanuel's character is by far my favorite in this book. His trauma and triumph, his strength to confront the dark devil that plagues him with fear, and his hope to conquer it all with the help of blossoming love.
This journey is one I strongly recommend delving into more so than a stack of your favorite penny dreadfuls.
June 13, 2022
Wow. Okay. So that went places I didn't expect? But it was so good! I will admit that I spent the greater part of the book really not liking Emmeline, but she got her head on straight eventually. Immanuel was amazing. With everything he went through, he remained open-hearted and wonderful. I love him so much. Seeing Adam come out of his shell was everything I wanted. I'm still a HUGE fan of Eliza and James. With the added bonus of seeing Eillian so happy and carefree during their christmas holiday? Ugh. It was so good.
AND THE PLOT! Hello! Spring-heeled Jack meets spiritualists meets resurrections. It was everything weird and occult that I could have asked for.
RE-READ: remains an utter delight. <3
AND THE PLOT! Hello! Spring-heeled Jack meets spiritualists meets resurrections. It was everything weird and occult that I could have asked for.
RE-READ: remains an utter delight. <3
June 16, 2016
Facinating steam punk alternate history
True friendship, love, and an interesting story. This was unexpected when I first saw the book available to download. Sometimes the truly inexpensive books are rather superficial; this one was very engaging however. Give it a chance. I am looking forward to the others in the series.
True friendship, love, and an interesting story. This was unexpected when I first saw the book available to download. Sometimes the truly inexpensive books are rather superficial; this one was very engaging however. Give it a chance. I am looking forward to the others in the series.
November 5, 2019
Really enjoyed the second on Jorgenson's Ingenious Mechanical Devices series. Technically this takes place after The Earl of Brass but while Hadley and Elian make cameos, the pov characters are new MCs. Emmeline Jardine is a headstrong and tempestuous seventeen year old waiting to make her debut in London society. Immanuel Winter is a medical student from Germany, studying at Oxford. A chance encounter and a strange potion binds their lives and futures inextricably, leading them through dark and traumatic adventures.
This was an exciting and vaguely spooky historical romance (though not between the two leads!) drawing on well researched period detail and old urban legends such as Springheel Jack. There was a hint of Frankenstein in the feel of the book too. The author has clearly hit her stride here - much as I enjoyed the first book, this one was much better in terms of structure and pacing. Highly recommend.
This was an exciting and vaguely spooky historical romance (though not between the two leads!) drawing on well researched period detail and old urban legends such as Springheel Jack. There was a hint of Frankenstein in the feel of the book too. The author has clearly hit her stride here - much as I enjoyed the first book, this one was much better in terms of structure and pacing. Highly recommend.
April 15, 2015
The Winter Garden, by Kara Jorgensen, is book Two of the Ingenious Mechanical Devices series. It is not necessary to read the first book in the series before enjoying this novel.
**Possible Spoilers Ahead**
The Winter Garden is a neo-Victorian style novel. Immanuel Winter, a student at Oxford, rescues a young woman, Emmeline Jardine, after she drowns in the Thames by the use of a magical elixir that links their souls. Emmeline and her mother are members of the Oxford Spiritualist Society. One of the spiritualists, Alastair Rose, desires the secret of this elixir at any cost. He knows that the elixir will allow him dominion over the dead and the living.
I enjoyed this novel a great deal. I read it this last week when tornados were spotted in my area of the U.S. I had the TV alerts on in the background and started reading this book on my iPad to keep my mind off the storm. The fact that it was able to hold my attention during this time speaks volumes!
**Major Spoilers Ahead**
The characters are very realistic in this novel. Immanuel did strike me as the quintessential foreign exchange student in Oxford during the late 1800’s. He is respected by his mentor at the University but is only grudgingly accepted by his fellow students. At this time in British history there strong feelings of nationalism and foreigners were not easily accepted. When the men first start hunting for Immanuel in the library, a reader might at first assume that they were fellow students trying to torment the foreign student simply for the “crime” of being born in another country. This, however, is not the case.
Immanuel is kidnapped by Alastair Rose’s henchmen and tortured so he will reveal the secret of the magical elixir that brought Emmeline back to life. This was the most difficult part for me to read because I like Immanuel. Jorgensen does a wonderful job of putting in just enough detail so a reader can visualize the torture without being overly graphic. The aftermath—Immanuel’s injuries—are described in greater detail. There is no “magical healing” for him; the effects from the damage are lasting.
Emmeline is also kidnapped, but is not tortured. Their captors are trying an experiment; they injure Immanuel in hopes that it will affect Emmeline in some way. They hope to create a connection and then extract the elements of the elixir from them. She is treated rather nicely in comparison to Immanuel.
I found it hard at first to like Emmeline and I had to keep reminding myself how young she was so that I could look at her character objectively. I reminded myself that she had just died and been resurrected, had been kidnapped, her mother had died, and so forth. Otherwise the way she treated Immanuel would have made me root for the bad guys!
Still—it is realistic. A young, wealthy, sheltered, and pampered woman during the late 1800’s would react in a similar fashion. Emmeline wants to live a life of luxury; to be presented in society and to go to parties and balls. She does not want to reflect on the ugliness of her captivity and Immanuel is a living, breathing reminder of that time. Her character develops over time into one which is a great deal more sympathetic as she realizes what is actually important in life.
It is fortunate for Emmeline that Immanuel feels bound to protect her and ensure her safety even during this early phase because Alistair Rose has not given up his ambitions to obtain the elixir.
I recommend The Winter Garden to anyone who enjoys neo-Victorian novels, science-fiction, mysticism, and a good mystery.
**Possible Spoilers Ahead**
The Winter Garden is a neo-Victorian style novel. Immanuel Winter, a student at Oxford, rescues a young woman, Emmeline Jardine, after she drowns in the Thames by the use of a magical elixir that links their souls. Emmeline and her mother are members of the Oxford Spiritualist Society. One of the spiritualists, Alastair Rose, desires the secret of this elixir at any cost. He knows that the elixir will allow him dominion over the dead and the living.
I enjoyed this novel a great deal. I read it this last week when tornados were spotted in my area of the U.S. I had the TV alerts on in the background and started reading this book on my iPad to keep my mind off the storm. The fact that it was able to hold my attention during this time speaks volumes!
**Major Spoilers Ahead**
The characters are very realistic in this novel. Immanuel did strike me as the quintessential foreign exchange student in Oxford during the late 1800’s. He is respected by his mentor at the University but is only grudgingly accepted by his fellow students. At this time in British history there strong feelings of nationalism and foreigners were not easily accepted. When the men first start hunting for Immanuel in the library, a reader might at first assume that they were fellow students trying to torment the foreign student simply for the “crime” of being born in another country. This, however, is not the case.
Immanuel is kidnapped by Alastair Rose’s henchmen and tortured so he will reveal the secret of the magical elixir that brought Emmeline back to life. This was the most difficult part for me to read because I like Immanuel. Jorgensen does a wonderful job of putting in just enough detail so a reader can visualize the torture without being overly graphic. The aftermath—Immanuel’s injuries—are described in greater detail. There is no “magical healing” for him; the effects from the damage are lasting.
Emmeline is also kidnapped, but is not tortured. Their captors are trying an experiment; they injure Immanuel in hopes that it will affect Emmeline in some way. They hope to create a connection and then extract the elements of the elixir from them. She is treated rather nicely in comparison to Immanuel.
I found it hard at first to like Emmeline and I had to keep reminding myself how young she was so that I could look at her character objectively. I reminded myself that she had just died and been resurrected, had been kidnapped, her mother had died, and so forth. Otherwise the way she treated Immanuel would have made me root for the bad guys!
A light knocking on the door broke the girl’s tearful reverie as she clutched the picture to her chest. He was in the doorway carrying a tea tray. Her eyes roamed up to the liver scar across his cheek, the lasting reminder of her twenty-two days in captivity. Every time she looked at him, the inhuman howls of pain surfaced in her memory followed by the reverberating smacks of flesh being struck and the pleadings for mercy half indecipherable and the rest horrifically comprehensible. She had moved past all that now. She was becoming a medium. She wasn’t stuck there helplessly counting the days by his lamentations.
“I thought you could use some tea,” he began softly as he waited to be allowed in.
“How thou—”
“Go away!” Emmeline spat as she spun her body toward the wall, blocking him from seeing her face. Eliza gaped at her niece but quickly turned to Immanuel who stared back uncertainly.
“That was very thoughtful of you, Immanuel. Thank you.”
He nodded stiffly and placed the tray on the dresser a little harder than he intended, rattling the porcelain cups and pot. “Good night, Mrs. Hawthorne.” His tone sharpened as he added, “Miss Jardine.”
Still—it is realistic. A young, wealthy, sheltered, and pampered woman during the late 1800’s would react in a similar fashion. Emmeline wants to live a life of luxury; to be presented in society and to go to parties and balls. She does not want to reflect on the ugliness of her captivity and Immanuel is a living, breathing reminder of that time. Her character develops over time into one which is a great deal more sympathetic as she realizes what is actually important in life.
It is fortunate for Emmeline that Immanuel feels bound to protect her and ensure her safety even during this early phase because Alistair Rose has not given up his ambitions to obtain the elixir.
I recommend The Winter Garden to anyone who enjoys neo-Victorian novels, science-fiction, mysticism, and a good mystery.
January 28, 2024
After reading book one of this series. I went straight to book three because I wanted to read right away the follow up on Lord Sorrell and Miss Hadley Fenice's adventure and love story. Once I finished book three, I got back to book two with a certain trepidation, and fear of being let down by a less engaging plot. I was thrilled to discover that it was even more riveting than the others!
So, this series is fast becoming one of my favorites, with its victorian England setting, fantastical, otherworldly elements, slightly steampunk, the intrigue, the suspense, and don't forget the romance. I truly hope the rest of this series will be as satisfying as what I've read so far.
So, this series is fast becoming one of my favorites, with its victorian England setting, fantastical, otherworldly elements, slightly steampunk, the intrigue, the suspense, and don't forget the romance. I truly hope the rest of this series will be as satisfying as what I've read so far.
August 10, 2015
(5/5 stars *****)
If you want a tale of suspense, thrills, and the supernatural, you've come to the right review. Kara Jorgensen's second self-published novel is just as good as her first (see REVIEW: The Earl of Brass), adding the dark world of the spiritualist movement to her series.
What I came away with after reading this novel was a sense of the author's emotional sensitivity. Though the book covers the supernatural and steampunk, it is not purely an adventure story of a German student or a Bildungsroman of a young, naïve spiritualist. The novel covers some dark material: serial murder, horrendous torture and the death of loved ones. Though the tone is often bleak (especially the chapters covering Immanuel's torture- the young German student) and Jorgensen's descriptions of wounds very detailed (I like that thing myself but for the faint hearted, I'd skip a few lines every now and then) it gives the novel a dose of reality, much like the emotional reactions of the characters to certain events. There are no stock characters or phrases here: the extent of emotions explored by the reader through the characters is extensive and engrossing, and more importantly, realistic. I felt attached to the characters because of this; whether it's emotional development or overcoming trauma, everything is handled with immense sensitivity. We're not given a stock hero either: scrawny man ignores injuries and carries on without consequence is not realistic and that's not what we get with Immanuel.
Instead, we get a vibrant character. He is by no means perfect (I hate a perfect hero) and comes across a little sour tempered at times. Nonetheless, he feels human, which is important in a story that involves so much steampunk and extreme attention to detail. We get a character that's brutally tortured and struggles to deal with it, making his defeat of the bad guy (no spoilers!) at the end very deserved; you feel elated because you're happy for him.
Emmeline, the young spiritualist, is the other main character. Her immaturity at the start of the novel is frankly irritating; but it's meant to be, and her change in self and attitude towards the end of the novel is relieving. If she's in the next Ingenious Mechanical Devices instalment, I can't wait! I enjoyed her development into a reasonably likeable young woman, though it was refreshing to have a character that's almost unlikable.
Jorgensen describes her steampunk world wonderfully and yet she also captures her characters realistically as well: a perfect combination.
The secondary characters are wonderful too: old faces return. For this reason, I suggest reading The Earl of Brass before The Winter Garden as though they can stand alone, it works better if read in order.
My only quibble was over how fast the main romance moved (spoilers!): however, Immanuel's explanation over the speed of his romance with Adam explained the pain of same sex relationships so well that I felt bad questioning the speediness of their love! Now that's good writing.
If you want a tale of suspense, thrills, and the supernatural, you've come to the right review. Kara Jorgensen's second self-published novel is just as good as her first (see REVIEW: The Earl of Brass), adding the dark world of the spiritualist movement to her series.
What I came away with after reading this novel was a sense of the author's emotional sensitivity. Though the book covers the supernatural and steampunk, it is not purely an adventure story of a German student or a Bildungsroman of a young, naïve spiritualist. The novel covers some dark material: serial murder, horrendous torture and the death of loved ones. Though the tone is often bleak (especially the chapters covering Immanuel's torture- the young German student) and Jorgensen's descriptions of wounds very detailed (I like that thing myself but for the faint hearted, I'd skip a few lines every now and then) it gives the novel a dose of reality, much like the emotional reactions of the characters to certain events. There are no stock characters or phrases here: the extent of emotions explored by the reader through the characters is extensive and engrossing, and more importantly, realistic. I felt attached to the characters because of this; whether it's emotional development or overcoming trauma, everything is handled with immense sensitivity. We're not given a stock hero either: scrawny man ignores injuries and carries on without consequence is not realistic and that's not what we get with Immanuel.
Instead, we get a vibrant character. He is by no means perfect (I hate a perfect hero) and comes across a little sour tempered at times. Nonetheless, he feels human, which is important in a story that involves so much steampunk and extreme attention to detail. We get a character that's brutally tortured and struggles to deal with it, making his defeat of the bad guy (no spoilers!) at the end very deserved; you feel elated because you're happy for him.
Emmeline, the young spiritualist, is the other main character. Her immaturity at the start of the novel is frankly irritating; but it's meant to be, and her change in self and attitude towards the end of the novel is relieving. If she's in the next Ingenious Mechanical Devices instalment, I can't wait! I enjoyed her development into a reasonably likeable young woman, though it was refreshing to have a character that's almost unlikable.
Jorgensen describes her steampunk world wonderfully and yet she also captures her characters realistically as well: a perfect combination.
The secondary characters are wonderful too: old faces return. For this reason, I suggest reading The Earl of Brass before The Winter Garden as though they can stand alone, it works better if read in order.
My only quibble was over how fast the main romance moved (spoilers!): however, Immanuel's explanation over the speed of his romance with Adam explained the pain of same sex relationships so well that I felt bad questioning the speediness of their love! Now that's good writing.
March 22, 2015
What a great way to get into the weekend, by finishing Book Two of the Ingenious Mechanical Devices. Kara Jorgensen delivers another solid round of steampunk melancholy. Her young characters brood in a chugging world of dirigibles and steamers, going through the meandering human foibles of selfishness, love, fear and friendship.
I immediately liked Immanuel liked Winter, because he's the geek hero. Boy does he get put through the wringer, but appropriately so for the hero's journey. Very nice midway to see my recent fave steampunk character, Hadley Fenice (and guest star other fave Eilian Sorrell) make an appearance.
I am not in any way into Spuritualism, but I know it was a sad popular fad of the time, more like the biggest con in history. But having a real medium in the tale, selfish young Emmeline, worked and helped tell the tale.
Kara tells very well paced stories. Nothing moves too fast or too slow, even though she amped up the action on this one considerably from EoB.
So, Book Three comes out next week, right? No. Doggone it!
I immediately liked Immanuel liked Winter, because he's the geek hero. Boy does he get put through the wringer, but appropriately so for the hero's journey. Very nice midway to see my recent fave steampunk character, Hadley Fenice (and guest star other fave Eilian Sorrell) make an appearance.
I am not in any way into Spuritualism, but I know it was a sad popular fad of the time, more like the biggest con in history. But having a real medium in the tale, selfish young Emmeline, worked and helped tell the tale.
Kara tells very well paced stories. Nothing moves too fast or too slow, even though she amped up the action on this one considerably from EoB.
So, Book Three comes out next week, right? No. Doggone it!
September 13, 2016
The Winter Garden was a fun read. The intrigue of the Spiritualist Society alongside the various Steampunk elements was an interesting combination for the backdrop of this story. This story follows Emmanuel and Emmeline, two strangers who end up unwittingly caught in the middle of another group's search for a means of cheating death. The apparatus used by Spring-heeled Jack was both macabre and fascinating.
Some characters who were in The Earl of Brass did appear in The Winter Garden, but you did not need to have read The Earl of Brass in order to enjoy this story. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading Steampunk adventures with a bit of mystery and some hints of life after death.
Some characters who were in The Earl of Brass did appear in The Winter Garden, but you did not need to have read The Earl of Brass in order to enjoy this story. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading Steampunk adventures with a bit of mystery and some hints of life after death.
May 28, 2015
The second act seemed to have people in tears on every other page, that got tiresome very fast. At the Christmas party there was a reference to Santa Claus with the story set in England it should have been Father Christmas. Interesting use of Spring-Heeled Jack.
December 11, 2015
I had the pleasure of BETA reading this book. I will post a more in depth review when it's published, but let me just say you're in for a brilliant read :)
September 3, 2022
The first book of The Ingenious Mechanical Devices, The Earl of Brass, was a surprisingly solid, well-written, and enjoyable read. With it, Kara Jorgensen successfully launched a Victorian science fiction adventure that really delivered on its premise, with plenty of room for a sequel
That sequel, The Gentleman Devil, takes us back to the Victorian era, but swaps out some of the steampunk elements for something more paranormal. While a few characters from the first book make appearances here, the protagonists shift to Emmeline, a once-dead spiritualist, and Immanuel, the young scholar who resurrected her. Hard to like but easy to admire, Emmeline is a young woman dealing with a lot of issues, not the least of which is her death. Immanuel is a far more likable, bookish young man, which makes it hard to watch as he suffers his own share of violence. As I mentioned, there is a definite shift towards the paranormal here, but the mystical obsession with the spirit world is completely in keeping with the era.
Once again, Jorgensen deftly weaves themes of gender, class, and sexuality into the tale, with Emmeline allowing for a little more feminism to slip into the story. Set against an era of awkward progress, both scientifically and sociologically, those themes fit very well. The story this time around also deals with themes of power, responsibility, and accountability, which serve to bridge science and society, bringing everything together. There’s a lot of darkness, torture, pain, and death to the story, and it certainly weighs on the narrative, but it also serves to make for a very satisfying climax.
In terms of narrative, it’s just as strong a tale as the first, although a little less Victorian feeling in language and tone. Personally, I liked the heaviness of the original narrative, and felt it fit the times, but this is a more comfortable read. The frequent changes in point-of-view can be a bit jarring at times, but the characters are all strong enough and identifiable enough to make it work. The romance aspect developed rather quickly, but I found it natural that the characters would grasp at previously unthinkable attachments in the face of such suffering.
https://femledfantasy.home.blog/2015/...
That sequel, The Gentleman Devil, takes us back to the Victorian era, but swaps out some of the steampunk elements for something more paranormal. While a few characters from the first book make appearances here, the protagonists shift to Emmeline, a once-dead spiritualist, and Immanuel, the young scholar who resurrected her. Hard to like but easy to admire, Emmeline is a young woman dealing with a lot of issues, not the least of which is her death. Immanuel is a far more likable, bookish young man, which makes it hard to watch as he suffers his own share of violence. As I mentioned, there is a definite shift towards the paranormal here, but the mystical obsession with the spirit world is completely in keeping with the era.
Once again, Jorgensen deftly weaves themes of gender, class, and sexuality into the tale, with Emmeline allowing for a little more feminism to slip into the story. Set against an era of awkward progress, both scientifically and sociologically, those themes fit very well. The story this time around also deals with themes of power, responsibility, and accountability, which serve to bridge science and society, bringing everything together. There’s a lot of darkness, torture, pain, and death to the story, and it certainly weighs on the narrative, but it also serves to make for a very satisfying climax.
In terms of narrative, it’s just as strong a tale as the first, although a little less Victorian feeling in language and tone. Personally, I liked the heaviness of the original narrative, and felt it fit the times, but this is a more comfortable read. The frequent changes in point-of-view can be a bit jarring at times, but the characters are all strong enough and identifiable enough to make it work. The romance aspect developed rather quickly, but I found it natural that the characters would grasp at previously unthinkable attachments in the face of such suffering.
https://femledfantasy.home.blog/2015/...
June 25, 2018
A very solid read, and an excellent installment in the series. I feel like the characterization was very strong, especially with regards to the characters of Immanuel and Emmeline. While I found Emmeline insufferable for the majority of the book, I also found her very authentic, given her upbringing. More importantly, I saw a gradual growth to her character, dotted with some remissions along the way. In this, I feel Emmeline was incredibly well fleshed-out, since real people also go through gradual change, and often with false-starts or missteps not unlike hers.
Immanuel was great in other ways, in that I feel like his trauma was well presented; realistic, not romanticized, and like Emmeline, he was able to gradually overcome it, little by little. And while it's doubtful he has fully recovered from the wrongs done to him, there was a great deal of hope at the end that suggested he was well on his way.
It was also nice to get to know Adam Fenice a little better, since he wasn't one of the main players in book one, and this goes double for Eliza and James. And of course, Hadley and Lord Sorrell's cameos were nice, too.
The writing was beautiful, and while a bit purple at times, not so much as to take away from the storytelling itself. All in all, an enjoyable read.
Immanuel was great in other ways, in that I feel like his trauma was well presented; realistic, not romanticized, and like Emmeline, he was able to gradually overcome it, little by little. And while it's doubtful he has fully recovered from the wrongs done to him, there was a great deal of hope at the end that suggested he was well on his way.
It was also nice to get to know Adam Fenice a little better, since he wasn't one of the main players in book one, and this goes double for Eliza and James. And of course, Hadley and Lord Sorrell's cameos were nice, too.
The writing was beautiful, and while a bit purple at times, not so much as to take away from the storytelling itself. All in all, an enjoyable read.
June 15, 2019
Steampunk, mystery, suspense, and romance
I got sucked into this world and couldn't put the book down. The mix of genres keeps it engaging - it's a suspenseful steampunk mystery with a male/male love story. (I got this book via BookBub under the LGBT category and was really confused when the first POV protagonists were male and female; the love interest doesn't come along until 1/4 of the way into the book.) There is a lot of head-hopping to tell that story, which can be a little confusing to read, but does propel the story forward as you see how things fit together.
Please note there is death, violence, and gruesome injury that occurs in this book, but there is no more than kissing in terms of sexual content (I'm a romance reader, so I was very confused by this, haha). This book functions as a standalone - I have no idea what happened in the first book, and it didn't affect my reading experience. The main plot wraps up at the end, though the last chapter and the preview of the next book included here show that there is still more story to come. I enjoyed reading in this world, as it's different from my usual fare, and look forward to reading some more of the series.
I got sucked into this world and couldn't put the book down. The mix of genres keeps it engaging - it's a suspenseful steampunk mystery with a male/male love story. (I got this book via BookBub under the LGBT category and was really confused when the first POV protagonists were male and female; the love interest doesn't come along until 1/4 of the way into the book.) There is a lot of head-hopping to tell that story, which can be a little confusing to read, but does propel the story forward as you see how things fit together.
Please note there is death, violence, and gruesome injury that occurs in this book, but there is no more than kissing in terms of sexual content (I'm a romance reader, so I was very confused by this, haha). This book functions as a standalone - I have no idea what happened in the first book, and it didn't affect my reading experience. The main plot wraps up at the end, though the last chapter and the preview of the next book included here show that there is still more story to come. I enjoyed reading in this world, as it's different from my usual fare, and look forward to reading some more of the series.
July 25, 2020
Victorian intrigue
While I haven't read the first in this series, l found it read well as a standalone. The plot is a combination of mystery, technology, history and romance, set in the worlds of Oxonian academe and London society. Excellent writing with believable characters thrust into plotlines expertly woven together. Seemingly a valid representation of the final decade of the reign of Victoria, the story presents a look at the cultural and social doings.
As I am a gatherer of books, I collect books and ebooks from a variety of sources: Goodreads wins, Bookhub, BookFunnel, emails from authors and publishers, and others. I do lose track of their sources. But, as a reader, I feel I should give an honest, unencumbered review for all I read.
While I haven't read the first in this series, l found it read well as a standalone. The plot is a combination of mystery, technology, history and romance, set in the worlds of Oxonian academe and London society. Excellent writing with believable characters thrust into plotlines expertly woven together. Seemingly a valid representation of the final decade of the reign of Victoria, the story presents a look at the cultural and social doings.
As I am a gatherer of books, I collect books and ebooks from a variety of sources: Goodreads wins, Bookhub, BookFunnel, emails from authors and publishers, and others. I do lose track of their sources. But, as a reader, I feel I should give an honest, unencumbered review for all I read.
Read
December 4, 2017 I received a galley copy of this book prior to publication of the third book in the Ingenious Mechanical Devices series, in exchange for an honest review.
I have tried ardently to read this book, and even went back and tried the first book in the Ingenious Mechanical Devices series to see if I was missing something. (The audiobook of The Winter Garden/The Gentleman Devil certainly did the author no favors, since it is atrociously read, with many mispronunciations.) I found the story to be a very odd and anachronistic whitewashing of Victorian/Edwardian society. There were still aspects of the story that I liked but overall, for me the story wasn't very satisfying.
I have tried ardently to read this book, and even went back and tried the first book in the Ingenious Mechanical Devices series to see if I was missing something. (The audiobook of The Winter Garden/The Gentleman Devil certainly did the author no favors, since it is atrociously read, with many mispronunciations.) I found the story to be a very odd and anachronistic whitewashing of Victorian/Edwardian society. There were still aspects of the story that I liked but overall, for me the story wasn't very satisfying.
May 5, 2024
Excellent read overall, though it was called "The Gentleman Devil" when I began it. Still, "The Winter Garden" makes perfect sense, but I was surprised when the title appeared to change midway through my read.
I got bogged down in an early/mid part of the book (no spoilers), but that could have been my life interrupting me as much as a section that seemed too long. Believable characters plus connections from the first book in this series made it all worthwhile.
I got bogged down in an early/mid part of the book (no spoilers), but that could have been my life interrupting me as much as a section that seemed too long. Believable characters plus connections from the first book in this series made it all worthwhile.
June 4, 2021
Great story with well-developed characters
I loved the twist of the storyline, how things that I expected were woven in with things totally unexpected. The genre of the book is refreshingly difficult to categorize. No science fiction, nor fantasy, nor steam punk, but a delicious blending of the Victorian era with the others!
I loved the twist of the storyline, how things that I expected were woven in with things totally unexpected. The genre of the book is refreshingly difficult to categorize. No science fiction, nor fantasy, nor steam punk, but a delicious blending of the Victorian era with the others!
January 4, 2024
The second installment of this series was quite exciting. Unfortunately I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. The only thing that's still fresh in my mind are the odd eye descriptions since they were mentioned every other page. The editing is as bad as in the previous book and I'll probably not read any further.
July 6, 2018
2nd book in series
This book picks up where the first one left off. It contains an evil villian, an unexpected romance, and an interesting glimpse into the science of reanimation.
This book picks up where the first one left off. It contains an evil villian, an unexpected romance, and an interesting glimpse into the science of reanimation.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews