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Aether Psychics #4
Aether Rising
The only place to hide could be behind the truth.
No one can lie to Louisa Cobb. It’s her gift. Her curse. Magic her stepfather has no compunction about using to gain the upper hand in business. But when Parnaby Cobb presents her with her latest mark, she realizes he’s testing her loyalty.
Her target is Patrick O’Connell, an Irish tinkerer and scoundrel who stole a kiss—and her heart—years ago. Should she betray her stepfather to set Patrick free, she’ll be cut off without a penny to her name.
Patrick knows exactly he’s been captured, why he’s struggling to lie into Louisa’s sky-blue eyes. He’s invented a device to stabilize and direct the mysterious Eros Element. If he fails to recreate it for Cobb, his closest friends’ happiness will be at risk.
Back in Boston, as Patrick stalls for time and Louisa uncovers secrets of her tragic past, the two of them engage in a treacherous dance on the edge of love and danger. Where one wrong step could condemn them both to everlasting heartache—and unleash an unimaginably powerful force that could destroy their world.
No one can lie to Louisa Cobb. It’s her gift. Her curse. Magic her stepfather has no compunction about using to gain the upper hand in business. But when Parnaby Cobb presents her with her latest mark, she realizes he’s testing her loyalty.
Her target is Patrick O’Connell, an Irish tinkerer and scoundrel who stole a kiss—and her heart—years ago. Should she betray her stepfather to set Patrick free, she’ll be cut off without a penny to her name.
Patrick knows exactly he’s been captured, why he’s struggling to lie into Louisa’s sky-blue eyes. He’s invented a device to stabilize and direct the mysterious Eros Element. If he fails to recreate it for Cobb, his closest friends’ happiness will be at risk.
Back in Boston, as Patrick stalls for time and Louisa uncovers secrets of her tragic past, the two of them engage in a treacherous dance on the edge of love and danger. Where one wrong step could condemn them both to everlasting heartache—and unleash an unimaginably powerful force that could destroy their world.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 25, 2017
6 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Cecilia Dominic
34 books394 followersCecilia Dominic became a clinical psychologist because she's fascinated by people and their stories, but she couldn't stop making stuff up. By day, she helps people cure their insomnia. By night, she writes fiction that keeps her readers turning pages past bedtime. Yes, she recognizes the conflict of interest between her two careers, but she prefers to be called versatile, not conflicted. Cecilia has been published in short and novel-length fiction and currently writes urban fantasy and steampunk. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and the world’s cutest cat.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 23, 2023
Aether Rising by Cecilia Dominic
#4 of the Aether Psychics series. Historical steampunk romance. Mythology. It can be read as a stand-alone. Characters from the previous books appear in the large cast and some back story is included here as well. Multiple POV’s.
Louisa Cobb can detect lies. Patrick O’Connell has invented a device to stabilize and direct the mysterious Eros Element that Louisa’s father wants desperately. Patrick wants to protect Louisa but time is running out.
Couples fro the prior books along with Louisa and Patrick do their best to keep the Eros Element on the right side of ethics but there are many opposing forces that want it for their own purposes.
An adventure and cast that can be confusing but in the end is good against evil. A satisfying end to the story. But it’s not the end of the series. And we don’t yet know all the properties of this mysterious Eros Element.
It is going to be interesting to see where this goes in the future books.
#4 of the Aether Psychics series. Historical steampunk romance. Mythology. It can be read as a stand-alone. Characters from the previous books appear in the large cast and some back story is included here as well. Multiple POV’s.
Louisa Cobb can detect lies. Patrick O’Connell has invented a device to stabilize and direct the mysterious Eros Element that Louisa’s father wants desperately. Patrick wants to protect Louisa but time is running out.
Couples fro the prior books along with Louisa and Patrick do their best to keep the Eros Element on the right side of ethics but there are many opposing forces that want it for their own purposes.
An adventure and cast that can be confusing but in the end is good against evil. A satisfying end to the story. But it’s not the end of the series. And we don’t yet know all the properties of this mysterious Eros Element.
It is going to be interesting to see where this goes in the future books.
November 26, 2018
In 2015, I raced through the three full novels in the Aether Psychics series and the lone novella, Noble Secrets, which were available at the time. I grew quite fond of Iris, Marie and Claire and their dashing husbands. Dominic won me over with book two in the series with its sly retelling of one of my favorite stories, Phantom of the Opera. When I finished reading all the books and wrote my reviews, I mentioned that I hoped that the three ladies would join forces and go on fun adventures together. I was more than delighted when Dominic reached out to me personally to let me know that Iris, Marie and Claire had their own book and wondering if I would like to review it. I jumped at the chance!
I love the Aether Psychics series. The world is wonderfully drawn combining elements of fantasy, steam punk and science (but not too much science to bore me). In book four, Aether Rising, the debate on who should have control of the Eros Element continues and the powers that each of the ladies possesses in connection with the Element and each other is explored further. When explaining the concept to my husband, he responded, “So they are like superheroes.” His statement tickled me. The thought of Victorian superheroes and a team of all women superheroes seemed supremely fitting with the onslaught of movies from Marvel and D.C. flooding the box office.
For me, as a reader, I struggled a bit with remembering what happened in the previous books. There’s a bit of recap, but not quite enough to jar all the memories loose. I know this a fine line for an author to walk so I don’t necessarily hold Dominic at fault. However, I would have been beneficial to me for a bit more recap of events and happenings as the characters reconnected after being apart from each other and with the full introduction of Claire into the band of superheroes.
In the end, I hope that Iris, Marie and Claire go on grand adventures together. Aether Rising serves as a bridge book to bring the band of friends together. Where they go from here, I can only imagine, but I hope that Dominic continues to write in this imaginative world where women hold power and work together to save the world.
This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews
I love the Aether Psychics series. The world is wonderfully drawn combining elements of fantasy, steam punk and science (but not too much science to bore me). In book four, Aether Rising, the debate on who should have control of the Eros Element continues and the powers that each of the ladies possesses in connection with the Element and each other is explored further. When explaining the concept to my husband, he responded, “So they are like superheroes.” His statement tickled me. The thought of Victorian superheroes and a team of all women superheroes seemed supremely fitting with the onslaught of movies from Marvel and D.C. flooding the box office.
For me, as a reader, I struggled a bit with remembering what happened in the previous books. There’s a bit of recap, but not quite enough to jar all the memories loose. I know this a fine line for an author to walk so I don’t necessarily hold Dominic at fault. However, I would have been beneficial to me for a bit more recap of events and happenings as the characters reconnected after being apart from each other and with the full introduction of Claire into the band of superheroes.
In the end, I hope that Iris, Marie and Claire go on grand adventures together. Aether Rising serves as a bridge book to bring the band of friends together. Where they go from here, I can only imagine, but I hope that Dominic continues to write in this imaginative world where women hold power and work together to save the world.
This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews
October 29, 2024
Aether Rising is book 4 of the steampunk/romance/adventure series Aether Psychics. If you are looking for the first three books, you may not be able to find the former Samhain titles. But if you want to dive into Aether Rising, don’t worry. Ms. Dominic reveals all the relevant details through the telling of the tale.
Aether Rising is has a very interesting ensemble of characters that add to the color of the story and to the diverse paths the story takes between the first page and the last page:
Physicist/Aetherist Edward Bailey – his talent is his intelligence.
Archeologist Iris Bailey – Iris is brainy and has the ability to learn the history of any item by touching it
Actress Marie Bledsoe – has the ability to completely become someone else.
Musician Johann Bledsoe – he plays the violin and is a bit of a charmer.
Doctor Chadwick Radcliffe – Chadwick is black and the year is 1871. Enough said.
Doctor Claire McPhee – Claire is a psychologist and seems to be able to talk to ghost.
Tinkerer Patrick O’Connell – Inventor Patrick is also a charmer and talks to ghosts.
Truthsayer Louisa Cobb – Tell a lie and Louisa’s hackles get up.
Spy Henry Davidson – or detective or secret agent whose employers are mysterious.
Airship Lieutenant Crow – she is a Pythagorean. So, maybe the enemy.
Physicist, Archeologist, Actress, Musician, Doctor, Tinkerer, Psychiatrist, Truthsayer, Spy and Airship Crewperson. What do these people have in common. An uncommon adventure!
Within the ensemble, there are two couples we want to see get together. The first is Chadwick and Claire. Both are doctors, but Chadwick is a Negro and Claire is white. At the time the story takes place in the US, it was not legal for them to marry, though they intend to make it happen. Their main story took place in book 3, Aether Spirit, but they are still key characters in Aether Rising.
The second couple is Patrick and Louisa. Louisa is the stepdaughter of Parnaby Cobb. She is beginning to have many second thoughts about her relationship with her stepfather who only treats her well because of her talent. Patrick is the tinkerer. He is man with the knowledge of aether. Louisa and Patrick met at a party several years ago and shared one sweet kiss. You know where this is going. In Aether Rising, the romance is overshadowed by the mystery and intrigue, but it is still a sweet part of the story.
Parnaby Cobb wants to use the aether to provide power to light the streets. So he says. It’s pretty clear Cobb has some other horrible purpose in mind. So Cobb nabs Patrick and holds him prisoner. At the same time, Patrick’s friends Chadwick and Claire have been ‘captured’ and separated by Cobb and Aunt Eliza in an effort to control Patrick. Claire ended up in Aunt Eliza’s custody and Chadwick in a prison because of his skin color. At this point I am beginning to get outraged for both Chadwick and Claire.
Aunt Eliza. What a controlling, mean, old biddy. And why does society let people like her take charge of people like her niece Claire? When I read historical novels and there are young heroine’s whose lives are controlled by others, I am outraged. Can’t help it. Even though I know the heroine is going to win in the end (why – because – heroine).
In the meantime, the rest of the crew (the Baileys and the Bledsoes) have been searching for and/or trying to rescue Patrick and Claire and Chadwick. All while running into people like Henry Davidson and Lieutenant Crow. Davison and Crow are unknowns and tend to get in the way. The Baileys and Bledsoes have had their stories told in previous books, so their roles are smaller in Aether Rising. But they are no less significant and all add to the unfolding story of the Eros element. I am enjoying this very clever and interesting group of people that adds multiple layers to the plot while continually refreshing the story.
About aether. The mysterious element whose properties are not totally known, has manifested itself in various ways through the series. In past books, the element has been known to heal, amplify emotions, power weapons and it seems to communicate with ghosts. Its true nature is still in question and in Aether Rising, while we learn more, the mystery is still left unsolved. Having said that, I should mention that this book is a complete story – no cliffhanger!
In Aether Rising, Parnaby Cobb’s true purpose is revealed. He has been an enigma in the past, and you never knew for sure what he was up to. He is a manipulator and, I’m pretty sure he would have you believe that all the events leading up to Aether Rising were personally orchestrated by him. I have my doubts and that is all I will say on that subject.
Aether Rising has some typical steampunk elements. Steamcars and airships. And there are always bugs, in the form of some mechanical flying creature. Either the Clockwork Guild or the Pythagoreans may be responsible for the bugs, but I never really know who is. The goals of both of these organizations are murky at best, evil at worst. There is still more to learn about them.
I just want to talk a bit about the third person perspective. When one of the main characters has the scene, there is that typical internal introspection to add to the actions of the characters. When the ensemble appears, the internal introspection disappears. Action and dialog make up the page. Although I found this a bit harder to follow, not knowing what the characters were thinking about made me feel more a part of the action.
As I mentioned earlier, because of the demise of the original publisher, Samhain, not all books in the series are currently available. There are three reasons you should not be concerned about that: 1) Ms. Dominic now has the rights to the books and will soon be re-publishing the series 2) the series prequel novella, Noble Secrets is available and 3) throughout the story of Aether Rising, details from previous installments are added when necessary to make sure you know what is going on. Each book in the series does stand alone.
As with each of the previous books in the Aether Psychics series, I was delighted with the romance, drawn into the intrigue and carried away by the adventure. Aether Rising is steampunk adventure and romance worth 5 stars!
The author provided a copy of her book so that I could bring you my honest review.
Originally posted at Whiskey With My Book.
Aether Rising is has a very interesting ensemble of characters that add to the color of the story and to the diverse paths the story takes between the first page and the last page:
Physicist/Aetherist Edward Bailey – his talent is his intelligence.
Archeologist Iris Bailey – Iris is brainy and has the ability to learn the history of any item by touching it
Actress Marie Bledsoe – has the ability to completely become someone else.
Musician Johann Bledsoe – he plays the violin and is a bit of a charmer.
Doctor Chadwick Radcliffe – Chadwick is black and the year is 1871. Enough said.
Doctor Claire McPhee – Claire is a psychologist and seems to be able to talk to ghost.
Tinkerer Patrick O’Connell – Inventor Patrick is also a charmer and talks to ghosts.
Truthsayer Louisa Cobb – Tell a lie and Louisa’s hackles get up.
Spy Henry Davidson – or detective or secret agent whose employers are mysterious.
Airship Lieutenant Crow – she is a Pythagorean. So, maybe the enemy.
Physicist, Archeologist, Actress, Musician, Doctor, Tinkerer, Psychiatrist, Truthsayer, Spy and Airship Crewperson. What do these people have in common. An uncommon adventure!
Within the ensemble, there are two couples we want to see get together. The first is Chadwick and Claire. Both are doctors, but Chadwick is a Negro and Claire is white. At the time the story takes place in the US, it was not legal for them to marry, though they intend to make it happen. Their main story took place in book 3, Aether Spirit, but they are still key characters in Aether Rising.
The second couple is Patrick and Louisa. Louisa is the stepdaughter of Parnaby Cobb. She is beginning to have many second thoughts about her relationship with her stepfather who only treats her well because of her talent. Patrick is the tinkerer. He is man with the knowledge of aether. Louisa and Patrick met at a party several years ago and shared one sweet kiss. You know where this is going. In Aether Rising, the romance is overshadowed by the mystery and intrigue, but it is still a sweet part of the story.
Parnaby Cobb wants to use the aether to provide power to light the streets. So he says. It’s pretty clear Cobb has some other horrible purpose in mind. So Cobb nabs Patrick and holds him prisoner. At the same time, Patrick’s friends Chadwick and Claire have been ‘captured’ and separated by Cobb and Aunt Eliza in an effort to control Patrick. Claire ended up in Aunt Eliza’s custody and Chadwick in a prison because of his skin color. At this point I am beginning to get outraged for both Chadwick and Claire.
Aunt Eliza. What a controlling, mean, old biddy. And why does society let people like her take charge of people like her niece Claire? When I read historical novels and there are young heroine’s whose lives are controlled by others, I am outraged. Can’t help it. Even though I know the heroine is going to win in the end (why – because – heroine).
In the meantime, the rest of the crew (the Baileys and the Bledsoes) have been searching for and/or trying to rescue Patrick and Claire and Chadwick. All while running into people like Henry Davidson and Lieutenant Crow. Davison and Crow are unknowns and tend to get in the way. The Baileys and Bledsoes have had their stories told in previous books, so their roles are smaller in Aether Rising. But they are no less significant and all add to the unfolding story of the Eros element. I am enjoying this very clever and interesting group of people that adds multiple layers to the plot while continually refreshing the story.
About aether. The mysterious element whose properties are not totally known, has manifested itself in various ways through the series. In past books, the element has been known to heal, amplify emotions, power weapons and it seems to communicate with ghosts. Its true nature is still in question and in Aether Rising, while we learn more, the mystery is still left unsolved. Having said that, I should mention that this book is a complete story – no cliffhanger!
In Aether Rising, Parnaby Cobb’s true purpose is revealed. He has been an enigma in the past, and you never knew for sure what he was up to. He is a manipulator and, I’m pretty sure he would have you believe that all the events leading up to Aether Rising were personally orchestrated by him. I have my doubts and that is all I will say on that subject.
Aether Rising has some typical steampunk elements. Steamcars and airships. And there are always bugs, in the form of some mechanical flying creature. Either the Clockwork Guild or the Pythagoreans may be responsible for the bugs, but I never really know who is. The goals of both of these organizations are murky at best, evil at worst. There is still more to learn about them.
I just want to talk a bit about the third person perspective. When one of the main characters has the scene, there is that typical internal introspection to add to the actions of the characters. When the ensemble appears, the internal introspection disappears. Action and dialog make up the page. Although I found this a bit harder to follow, not knowing what the characters were thinking about made me feel more a part of the action.
As I mentioned earlier, because of the demise of the original publisher, Samhain, not all books in the series are currently available. There are three reasons you should not be concerned about that: 1) Ms. Dominic now has the rights to the books and will soon be re-publishing the series 2) the series prequel novella, Noble Secrets is available and 3) throughout the story of Aether Rising, details from previous installments are added when necessary to make sure you know what is going on. Each book in the series does stand alone.
As with each of the previous books in the Aether Psychics series, I was delighted with the romance, drawn into the intrigue and carried away by the adventure. Aether Rising is steampunk adventure and romance worth 5 stars!
The author provided a copy of her book so that I could bring you my honest review.
Originally posted at Whiskey With My Book.
October 26, 2017
Aether Rising brings together characters and plot points from the three previous Aether Psychics books, so it will be most enjoyable if you're reading the series in order (and they're all fantastic, so I highly recommend you do read them all). And can I just take a moment to applaud how gorgeous the covers for these books are? I think these are some of the most beautiful and story-appropriate covers I've seen.
Just like the other volumes in this Aether Psychics series, Aether Rising is a fun steampunk romance with memorable characters. However, Aether Rising has a slightly different feel because we're following so many different characters now. This is written in third-person point of view but switches between different characters' perspectives from one scene to the next. Ms. Dominic handles this rather well, but if you're not fond of frequently changing points of view, it can be a little challenging.
I really love the characters in this book--each of them has their own strengths, weaknesses, and special gifts, and especially if you've read the series in order, then you will know enough of their backgrounds to understand their motivations and why they respond to events the way they do. I particularly love that Cecilia Dominic's female characters are well-balanced characters with agency (neither Mary Sues nor helpless damsels in distress). Even the secondary characters are quirky and interesting. Ms. Dominic reliably writes memorable characters, whether they are characters you love or characters you hate or characters you just want to get to know better!
The story featured elements of science fiction, paranormal fantasy, adventure, mystery, suspense, and historical romance, and I think this would probably please fans of many of these genres. The pacing was perhaps a little uneven at times but generally fine if you enjoy a fast-paced adventure, and the book was well-written. I was quickly drawn into the story and never had trouble suspending disbelief.
In addition to providing fun romance and adventure, this novel reveals a little more about the conspiracies introduced in previous books and we learn more about the mysterious aether. However, the ending felt a bit rushed to me, and it left me still craving to learn more about these mysteries. There's no cliffhanger; the book sufficiently resolves its own plot and feels like a reasonable place to end for the series, but I really hope the author decides to write more Aether Psychics books. She has plenty of plot threads still open, and this is such a rich world to explore!
I received a free copy of this book from the author and volunteered to review it. I didn't notice any grammatical errors in the version I reviewed, just a couple of minor punctuation problems, and it was cleanly formatted. The language was clean, and there were no sexually explicit scenes, although there was some violence and a couple of deaths described without any gory details. This should be appropriate for a wide audience.
Just like the other volumes in this Aether Psychics series, Aether Rising is a fun steampunk romance with memorable characters. However, Aether Rising has a slightly different feel because we're following so many different characters now. This is written in third-person point of view but switches between different characters' perspectives from one scene to the next. Ms. Dominic handles this rather well, but if you're not fond of frequently changing points of view, it can be a little challenging.
I really love the characters in this book--each of them has their own strengths, weaknesses, and special gifts, and especially if you've read the series in order, then you will know enough of their backgrounds to understand their motivations and why they respond to events the way they do. I particularly love that Cecilia Dominic's female characters are well-balanced characters with agency (neither Mary Sues nor helpless damsels in distress). Even the secondary characters are quirky and interesting. Ms. Dominic reliably writes memorable characters, whether they are characters you love or characters you hate or characters you just want to get to know better!
The story featured elements of science fiction, paranormal fantasy, adventure, mystery, suspense, and historical romance, and I think this would probably please fans of many of these genres. The pacing was perhaps a little uneven at times but generally fine if you enjoy a fast-paced adventure, and the book was well-written. I was quickly drawn into the story and never had trouble suspending disbelief.
In addition to providing fun romance and adventure, this novel reveals a little more about the conspiracies introduced in previous books and we learn more about the mysterious aether. However, the ending felt a bit rushed to me, and it left me still craving to learn more about these mysteries. There's no cliffhanger; the book sufficiently resolves its own plot and feels like a reasonable place to end for the series, but I really hope the author decides to write more Aether Psychics books. She has plenty of plot threads still open, and this is such a rich world to explore!
I received a free copy of this book from the author and volunteered to review it. I didn't notice any grammatical errors in the version I reviewed, just a couple of minor punctuation problems, and it was cleanly formatted. The language was clean, and there were no sexually explicit scenes, although there was some violence and a couple of deaths described without any gory details. This should be appropriate for a wide audience.
February 6, 2017
TITLE OF BOOK: AETHER RISING
AUTHOR OF BOOK: CECILIA DOMINIC
DATE READ: JANUARY 25, 2017 – JANUARY 26, 2017
CECILIA DOMINIC TOPS HER AETHER PSYCHICS SERIES WITH “AETHER RISING”!!!!!!!!!!
I started reading Cecilia Dominic’s Aether Physics series with “Noble Secrets.” It was the first time I had ever heard of Steampunk and I must say I loved it. “Aether Rising” is my favorite next to “Noble Secrets.” I hope that she doesn’t end the series here. I hoping that by the way “Aether Rising” ended that there will at least one more book in the works. I know that this series had to be a lot of work to get the descriptions of the flying crafts and mechanical critter so in depth. The story line lured you in at the beginning of the book and held your attention to the end. All the characters had very important parts and they worked into the story line so perfectly. Even though the book was technically the story of Patrick and Louisa, Edward, Iris, Johann, Marie, Claire, and Chadwick were very important in making the story line work. You have a tinkering Irishman, a young female with special abilities, flying mechanical critters, flying machines like the Hindenburg, murder, ghosts, a god and goddess, and twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. What more could you ask for in a book? You do not want to miss this book.
Louisa Cobb is technically a prisoner of her stepfather Parnaby Cobb. She has the gift of knowing if a person is lying or not. Nobody can lie to her and her stepfather abuses her gift in order to maintain the power he has in business. His next mark is a test to see how loyal she is to him. When she is introduced to her stepfather’s next mark, Patrick O’Connell she realizes that he is the same scoundrel who stole a kiss from her at a birthday party. Now she must deal with her feelings for Patrick. Should she side with her stepfather, or lie to her stepfather in order to set Patrick free? If she fails, she will be cut off and broke.
Patrick O’Connell what they call a tinkerer (sort of the same thing as scientist), and he has been captured by Parnaby Cobb. Parnaby wants the device he has invented to stabilize and direct the Eros Element. So now he must decide whether to lie to Louisa or not. His biggest problem is keeping friends safe who will be in danger if he doesn’t give Parnaby what his wants. Patrick wants Louisa and he must stall for time to escape or to be rescued. Louisa discovers secrets of her past that are tragic. She and Patrick engage in a risky dance that puts them on the edge of love and danger. If one thing goes wrong, they could wind up alone and the world would be at the mercy of the scoundrel Parnaby Cobb. Will Patrick and Louisa both be able to escape from Parnaby Cobb? Will they be able to stop the unimaginable powerful force that could destroy everything and everyone?
No Spoilers. Advanced Reader Copy Read and thoroughly enjoyed!!!
AUTHOR OF BOOK: CECILIA DOMINIC
DATE READ: JANUARY 25, 2017 – JANUARY 26, 2017
CECILIA DOMINIC TOPS HER AETHER PSYCHICS SERIES WITH “AETHER RISING”!!!!!!!!!!
I started reading Cecilia Dominic’s Aether Physics series with “Noble Secrets.” It was the first time I had ever heard of Steampunk and I must say I loved it. “Aether Rising” is my favorite next to “Noble Secrets.” I hope that she doesn’t end the series here. I hoping that by the way “Aether Rising” ended that there will at least one more book in the works. I know that this series had to be a lot of work to get the descriptions of the flying crafts and mechanical critter so in depth. The story line lured you in at the beginning of the book and held your attention to the end. All the characters had very important parts and they worked into the story line so perfectly. Even though the book was technically the story of Patrick and Louisa, Edward, Iris, Johann, Marie, Claire, and Chadwick were very important in making the story line work. You have a tinkering Irishman, a young female with special abilities, flying mechanical critters, flying machines like the Hindenburg, murder, ghosts, a god and goddess, and twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. What more could you ask for in a book? You do not want to miss this book.
Louisa Cobb is technically a prisoner of her stepfather Parnaby Cobb. She has the gift of knowing if a person is lying or not. Nobody can lie to her and her stepfather abuses her gift in order to maintain the power he has in business. His next mark is a test to see how loyal she is to him. When she is introduced to her stepfather’s next mark, Patrick O’Connell she realizes that he is the same scoundrel who stole a kiss from her at a birthday party. Now she must deal with her feelings for Patrick. Should she side with her stepfather, or lie to her stepfather in order to set Patrick free? If she fails, she will be cut off and broke.
Patrick O’Connell what they call a tinkerer (sort of the same thing as scientist), and he has been captured by Parnaby Cobb. Parnaby wants the device he has invented to stabilize and direct the Eros Element. So now he must decide whether to lie to Louisa or not. His biggest problem is keeping friends safe who will be in danger if he doesn’t give Parnaby what his wants. Patrick wants Louisa and he must stall for time to escape or to be rescued. Louisa discovers secrets of her past that are tragic. She and Patrick engage in a risky dance that puts them on the edge of love and danger. If one thing goes wrong, they could wind up alone and the world would be at the mercy of the scoundrel Parnaby Cobb. Will Patrick and Louisa both be able to escape from Parnaby Cobb? Will they be able to stop the unimaginable powerful force that could destroy everything and everyone?
No Spoilers. Advanced Reader Copy Read and thoroughly enjoyed!!!
January 22, 2017
Guess who has two thumbs and got her hot little hands on an ARC? *pops collar* As always I promise absolutely nothing when I read an ARC and get nothing but a wonderfully free book in return. Now let's have at.
I'll start out by saying that I did not connect as strongly with the heroine in this book. I think maybe at my heart I'm too much of a rebel to understand her mindset. It all worked out in the end though because I connected more strongly with the hero of this book. Thus the reason it didn't lose any stars for that. Plus, I appreciated having a different sort of woman introduced (well, women really but I'm talking about the main character right now). Some authors can fall into the minefield of minimizing femininity that doesn't match the women they write. I liked that Louisa wasn't treated with absolute disrespect by the author. Because that's a thing that happens. The only time stuff happened like that it made sense canonically. Also honestly wasn't that bad.
Point the second that got this book four stars for me, I am a sucker for consipiracies and skulduggery. You have no idea. When I watched the pilot episode of Mr Robot there were many high pitched noises. Maybe it has something to do with being born in the eighties, maybe it's all the sci-fi I watched as a child (looooaaaads of skulduggery in Babylon 5 not to mention the X-files). Regardless of the reason, I rub my metaphorical hands together when conspiracy rises to the top. There's always been a bit of that in this series (hence the reason I like it) but this book amped it up and introduced players more directly. It also raised questions about some capabilities that might be in the hands of folks OTHER than our intrepid heroes and heroines.
As a side note, yet again Cecilia Dominic handles mental illness with a steady hand. It doesn't matter that this is in the 19th century, the reactions are pretty accurate. When people know someone has a mental illness or has had a breakdown they act differently. Suddenly the individual cannot be taken seriously and everyone acts like the might fall apart at any moment. That was painfully realistic based on my own experiences and the experiences I've observed others having.
Still, when it comes right down to it I compare every book in this series to Light Fantastique and it remains the pinnacle for myriad reasons. This book maintained the quality of the series, gave our favourite Irishman some happiness, and allowed further progression in the stories of our adventurers. I recommend this book with the caveat that it needs to be read in order, otherwise some of the stuff that goes down will make not a lick of sense.
I'll start out by saying that I did not connect as strongly with the heroine in this book. I think maybe at my heart I'm too much of a rebel to understand her mindset. It all worked out in the end though because I connected more strongly with the hero of this book. Thus the reason it didn't lose any stars for that. Plus, I appreciated having a different sort of woman introduced (well, women really but I'm talking about the main character right now). Some authors can fall into the minefield of minimizing femininity that doesn't match the women they write. I liked that Louisa wasn't treated with absolute disrespect by the author. Because that's a thing that happens. The only time stuff happened like that it made sense canonically. Also honestly wasn't that bad.
Point the second that got this book four stars for me, I am a sucker for consipiracies and skulduggery. You have no idea. When I watched the pilot episode of Mr Robot there were many high pitched noises. Maybe it has something to do with being born in the eighties, maybe it's all the sci-fi I watched as a child (looooaaaads of skulduggery in Babylon 5 not to mention the X-files). Regardless of the reason, I rub my metaphorical hands together when conspiracy rises to the top. There's always been a bit of that in this series (hence the reason I like it) but this book amped it up and introduced players more directly. It also raised questions about some capabilities that might be in the hands of folks OTHER than our intrepid heroes and heroines.
As a side note, yet again Cecilia Dominic handles mental illness with a steady hand. It doesn't matter that this is in the 19th century, the reactions are pretty accurate. When people know someone has a mental illness or has had a breakdown they act differently. Suddenly the individual cannot be taken seriously and everyone acts like the might fall apart at any moment. That was painfully realistic based on my own experiences and the experiences I've observed others having.
Still, when it comes right down to it I compare every book in this series to Light Fantastique and it remains the pinnacle for myriad reasons. This book maintained the quality of the series, gave our favourite Irishman some happiness, and allowed further progression in the stories of our adventurers. I recommend this book with the caveat that it needs to be read in order, otherwise some of the stuff that goes down will make not a lick of sense.
January 17, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed this advanced reader copy and I have not been compensated in any way.
Louisa Cobb has a unique gift - no one can lie to her. Her stepfather Parnaby Cobb uses her unashamedly to gain the upper hand in business. However when he tries to trap her she has a dilemma - let Patrick O’Connell free and be cut off without a penny, or report accurately and try to ignore the Irish tinkerer who stole a kiss (and her heart) some years ago. Patrick has been captured and is struggling to lie to Louisa because he's invented a device that stabilises the Eros Element. He now has to recreate it for Cobb because he friends' happiness is now at risk.
In Boston, while Patrick stalls for time, Louisa is uncovering secrets from her past. Can they be careful enough to avoid possible heartache and even more importantly can they stop the powerful force that if unleashed will destroy the world
This was a book that contained lots of strands of the story being pulled together working towards the culmination of the events with Parnaby Cobb and the intrepid friends. It was a little slow to start with but as it got further into the story the action and events seemed to come faster and faster building up to a series of events. The writing was good and the events and emotions clear. The end of the book gave a hint of a possible continuation of the story.
Louisa Cobb has a unique gift - no one can lie to her. Her stepfather Parnaby Cobb uses her unashamedly to gain the upper hand in business. However when he tries to trap her she has a dilemma - let Patrick O’Connell free and be cut off without a penny, or report accurately and try to ignore the Irish tinkerer who stole a kiss (and her heart) some years ago. Patrick has been captured and is struggling to lie to Louisa because he's invented a device that stabilises the Eros Element. He now has to recreate it for Cobb because he friends' happiness is now at risk.
In Boston, while Patrick stalls for time, Louisa is uncovering secrets from her past. Can they be careful enough to avoid possible heartache and even more importantly can they stop the powerful force that if unleashed will destroy the world
This was a book that contained lots of strands of the story being pulled together working towards the culmination of the events with Parnaby Cobb and the intrepid friends. It was a little slow to start with but as it got further into the story the action and events seemed to come faster and faster building up to a series of events. The writing was good and the events and emotions clear. The end of the book gave a hint of a possible continuation of the story.
February 2, 2019
The latest book in the Aether Psychics series brings together the characters we've known and loved all together for the first time to combat their greatest threat yet. Parnaby Cobb, the American Businessman ostensibly responsible for bringing together the heroes and heroines from previous stories, has finally shown his hand... and he has big plans for aether and the people who have been working to tame it. Patrick finds himself once again face-to-face with Louisa, Cobb's stepdaughter who has powers of her own, although Cobb has done a good job of making her feel like all she'll ever be is a tool. Caught between the neo-Pythagoreans, the Clockwork Guild, and Parnaby Cobb, will eight friends and a British Inspector with his own secrets be able to stop the aether from being used to a nefarious end? And will something even more ancient and unpredictable be unleashed in the process?
I can't emphasize enough how fantastic this series is. I am crossing my fingers and hoping for another installment!
I can't emphasize enough how fantastic this series is. I am crossing my fingers and hoping for another installment!
September 6, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book, I adore this series and this book makes me love not only this series even more but also the way this author writes her books!
The storyline if this book is even more exciting and thrilling than the previous books in this series which I didn't think was possible! Readers will not believe everything that happens in this book, when reading this s book you can't stop turning the pages as you simply need to find out what the next surprise will be next! This book is filled with pain and betrayal but also realisations of love, longing and hope.
This is the book where all the characters come together and I loved reading about them again, you also get to see more of the characters that you haven't seen much of in the previous books.
I loved this book and am dying to see if there will be another book in this series! This is a must read book for all readers!!!!
The storyline if this book is even more exciting and thrilling than the previous books in this series which I didn't think was possible! Readers will not believe everything that happens in this book, when reading this s book you can't stop turning the pages as you simply need to find out what the next surprise will be next! This book is filled with pain and betrayal but also realisations of love, longing and hope.
This is the book where all the characters come together and I loved reading about them again, you also get to see more of the characters that you haven't seen much of in the previous books.
I loved this book and am dying to see if there will be another book in this series! This is a must read book for all readers!!!!
December 31, 2017
Aether Rising is the latest book in Cecilia Dominic’s Aether Psychics series. Plenty of familiar couples from the previous books. The story focuses on Patrick and Louisa. Prisoner to her stepfather (Parnaby) and an ability to sense a lie, Louisa is forced into a test of her own. Loyalty to her stepfather or the scoundrel who stole a kiss from her? Patrick, a tinkerer by trade but also a victim of Louisa’s stepfather. Set to be Parnaby’s next mark, he must do anything to protect those he cares about, even lying to Louisa.
As always, I look forward to the next in the series. I recommend this series to those who enjoy steampunk style romance. Fascinating worldbuilding and engaging characters, make this a steady read. A perfect blend of history, fantasy, and steampunk. I voluntarily reviewed Aether Rising as an advanced copy from the author.
As always, I look forward to the next in the series. I recommend this series to those who enjoy steampunk style romance. Fascinating worldbuilding and engaging characters, make this a steady read. A perfect blend of history, fantasy, and steampunk. I voluntarily reviewed Aether Rising as an advanced copy from the author.
July 25, 2020
The day of the last book looked like everything was finally settled for our friends. That ends quickly. All of our friends reunite but not without a lot of problems.
Patrick's is spirited away by a mad engineer. But he also is reunited with a woman who has been on his mind for years. Her gift is forcing people to speak the truth. Claire's evil aunt manages to separate her and Chad after they've just reunited. The enigmatic Henry Davidson plays more of a roll in this tale but we're still not sure where his allegiance lay. Edward, Marie, Oris and Johann arrive from the Ottoman Empire to help make sense of things.
This time the Eros Element is not being used as a weapon of devastation but what can it do to the mind?
Patrick's is spirited away by a mad engineer. But he also is reunited with a woman who has been on his mind for years. Her gift is forcing people to speak the truth. Claire's evil aunt manages to separate her and Chad after they've just reunited. The enigmatic Henry Davidson plays more of a roll in this tale but we're still not sure where his allegiance lay. Edward, Marie, Oris and Johann arrive from the Ottoman Empire to help make sense of things.
This time the Eros Element is not being used as a weapon of devastation but what can it do to the mind?
December 7, 2019
A good book with a disappointing "but".
The author took her time to install four different couples with strong characters. Especially showed in a believable way that women could still be strong after being married.
So the stage is set for a big showdown, where all those eight protagonists can deal with the villains, using all those skills we learned of. And then the deus-ex-machina shows up and spoils - at least for me - all the fun. No, no, no!
This could have been a great finish for a great series.
The author took her time to install four different couples with strong characters. Especially showed in a believable way that women could still be strong after being married.
So the stage is set for a big showdown, where all those eight protagonists can deal with the villains, using all those skills we learned of. And then the deus-ex-machina shows up and spoils - at least for me - all the fun. No, no, no!
This could have been a great finish for a great series.
January 24, 2017
Two people in love forced apart by others who feel their relationship is forbidden. A remarkable story written by a thought provoking author. Vivid scenes are created throughout this book that challenges your ability to capture them in your imagination. The pages are drenched in mystery and suspense. This storyline will truly leave its mark on your intellect. This voluntary review is based against an advance copy
August 8, 2017
I enjoyed reading this novel in the Aether Psychics series. The steampunk setting is apparent all through this novel, and I would recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of steampunk adventure/romance. I received a free copy of the ebook from the author, but wanted to share my honest opinion about it here.
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