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The Ghost Engine
She thought she could change the world...
When Lady Elizabeth Ada Lovelace, a beautiful, arrogant suffragette, purchased the 19th-century Algorithmic Engine in order to become the world's first programmer, she planned to break the shackles of inequality for Victorian women.
Until her world became that of the machine...
Instead she learns the true meaning of equality when she ends up trapped, brought down to the level of the machine. Inside the double-crossing computer, Elizabeth must match wits with a stubbornly idealistic ghost and a chillingly handsome doppelganger in the computer's endless series of mind games. But as the machine learns to become a sentient being, time is ticking away. Elizabeth finds herself falling in love with the ghost trapped in the machine. Together they are pitted in a race against the machine to escape before the Algorithmic Engine shuts down – killing them all.
Now all their worlds hang in the balance.
When Lady Elizabeth Ada Lovelace, a beautiful, arrogant suffragette, purchased the 19th-century Algorithmic Engine in order to become the world's first programmer, she planned to break the shackles of inequality for Victorian women.
Until her world became that of the machine...
Instead she learns the true meaning of equality when she ends up trapped, brought down to the level of the machine. Inside the double-crossing computer, Elizabeth must match wits with a stubbornly idealistic ghost and a chillingly handsome doppelganger in the computer's endless series of mind games. But as the machine learns to become a sentient being, time is ticking away. Elizabeth finds herself falling in love with the ghost trapped in the machine. Together they are pitted in a race against the machine to escape before the Algorithmic Engine shuts down – killing them all.
Now all their worlds hang in the balance.
- GenresSteampunk
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 8, 2018
3 people are currently reading
2017 people want to read
About the author
Theresa Fuller
16 books31 followersI grew up with ghosts outside my door. They haunted dark trees and cemeteries and were the spirits of young girls betrayed by lovers. These stories were made real by my cousins who were always telling me how just last year a child around my age had been snatched by one of these ghosts – Pontianaks. And never seen again…
In Singapore it is considered a treat to bring children to Haw Par Villa, originally a venue for teaching traditional Chinese values. Here children are shown the ten views of Hell. I had nightmares for a week after each visit. Even today, I can visualize the demons as they tortured liars by pulling their tongues, elongating them grotesquely.
This is probably why I never wanted to be a writer. Initially.
Writers bend the truth. A little.
Then I came to Australia for my education, met my husband, married and stayed.
When my first son was born I read him stories. And somehow something stirred. I remembered my grandfather and how he would tell fairy tale after fairy tale, at least ten per night until in frustration he would record them to be spared reading the same stories repeatedly.
Thus, in a strange land far away from my own family and what was familiar, I began to write. And in my stories, I could come home.
To a land where boys turn into crickets and mousedeer dance laughing upon the backs of crocodiles.
Theresa currently resides with her family in Sydney, Australia.
You can find her on Facebook.
In Singapore it is considered a treat to bring children to Haw Par Villa, originally a venue for teaching traditional Chinese values. Here children are shown the ten views of Hell. I had nightmares for a week after each visit. Even today, I can visualize the demons as they tortured liars by pulling their tongues, elongating them grotesquely.
This is probably why I never wanted to be a writer. Initially.
Writers bend the truth. A little.
Then I came to Australia for my education, met my husband, married and stayed.
When my first son was born I read him stories. And somehow something stirred. I remembered my grandfather and how he would tell fairy tale after fairy tale, at least ten per night until in frustration he would record them to be spared reading the same stories repeatedly.
Thus, in a strange land far away from my own family and what was familiar, I began to write. And in my stories, I could come home.
To a land where boys turn into crickets and mousedeer dance laughing upon the backs of crocodiles.
Theresa currently resides with her family in Sydney, Australia.
You can find her on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
May 1, 2025
THE GHOST ENGINE opens strongly, with a feisty heroine and a fun premise, but unfortunately fails in execution with forced romance, lifeless world-building and slow prose.
DNF at 40%.
I absolutely went in expecting to love a steampunk adventure with a pinch of technology and romance. What I got instead: a novel with absolutely no life and character.
The love interest, Charles, has no consistent character traits. One moment he is aloof and hostile, the next he swoons and swaggers. His personality has some leeway for in-story reasons, but the flip-flop makes it difficult to connect with his character. I couldn’t root for him when his only stable trait was his supposed hotness.
It’s equally difficult to care when his and the protagonist’s romance springs up fully-formed when they’ve known each other for less than a day. It’s fine to find him handsome, but suddenly mooning over each other killed off my appreciation for Berd’s character, and any connection I may have had to Charles completely.
The world-building of the Engine is confusing and not at all concrete. The descriptions feel hollow and lifeless. It was so hard to imagine what the landscape looks like. Is it supposed to be a city? A collection of metals? A forest? Also, why is the Engine attacking them? How did Berd get sucked into the Engine? She never asks the obvious questions, and because nothing is explained, there’s no urgency, and the stakes feel too low to fear for the protagonist.
Some decisions the protagonist makes are utterly nonsensical; at one point, she asks the love interest not to take in the Engine’s energy as if she knows best, as if she’s lived in the Engine for a whole year like he has. Though the quirky prose style was fitting for the setting, the writing itself was too slow, wallowing and convoluted and focused on the wrong details, and especially in action scenes, it ruined the momentum and excitement.
Even some of the world-building is absurd, and not in an endearing way. For example, the protagonist and love interest are forced to perform CPR on a bunch of mutant insects for power. Enough said.
WILL I READ MORE BY THIS AUTHOR? Probably not. I'm so disappointed because I really want to read a good steampunk book.
eARC received from Bare Bear Media via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This title released on the 20th March 2018.
DNF at 40%.
I absolutely went in expecting to love a steampunk adventure with a pinch of technology and romance. What I got instead: a novel with absolutely no life and character.
The love interest, Charles, has no consistent character traits. One moment he is aloof and hostile, the next he swoons and swaggers. His personality has some leeway for in-story reasons, but the flip-flop makes it difficult to connect with his character. I couldn’t root for him when his only stable trait was his supposed hotness.
It’s equally difficult to care when his and the protagonist’s romance springs up fully-formed when they’ve known each other for less than a day. It’s fine to find him handsome, but suddenly mooning over each other killed off my appreciation for Berd’s character, and any connection I may have had to Charles completely.
The world-building of the Engine is confusing and not at all concrete. The descriptions feel hollow and lifeless. It was so hard to imagine what the landscape looks like. Is it supposed to be a city? A collection of metals? A forest? Also, why is the Engine attacking them? How did Berd get sucked into the Engine? She never asks the obvious questions, and because nothing is explained, there’s no urgency, and the stakes feel too low to fear for the protagonist.
Some decisions the protagonist makes are utterly nonsensical; at one point, she asks the love interest not to take in the Engine’s energy as if she knows best, as if she’s lived in the Engine for a whole year like he has. Though the quirky prose style was fitting for the setting, the writing itself was too slow, wallowing and convoluted and focused on the wrong details, and especially in action scenes, it ruined the momentum and excitement.
Even some of the world-building is absurd, and not in an endearing way. For example, the protagonist and love interest are forced to perform CPR on a bunch of mutant insects for power. Enough said.
WILL I READ MORE BY THIS AUTHOR? Probably not. I'm so disappointed because I really want to read a good steampunk book.
eARC received from Bare Bear Media via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This title released on the 20th March 2018.
November 23, 2018
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
DNF'd @ 43 %
The Ghost Engine by Theresa Fuller sounded like an intriguing steampunk novel featuring Ada Lovelace. Unfortunately, though, we just didn't get along. The opening 20% or so of the story was promising. I liked getting to know Ada - she's quite the feisty heroine and obviously she's based on the real life historical figure. Plus, the concept of Ada getting sucked into the computer and working with an actual ghost in the machine is pretty cool. The world-building, the romance, and character decisions are what made me give up on it. First, the world building was actually confusing while we're inside the computer because nothing gets really solidly explained; secondly, the romance was quite irritating because it was all over the place - Charles was not a well defined character; and thirdly, Ada makes too many inexplicable decisions that don't line up with her personality. Anyway, thanks but no thanks, NetGalley.
DNF'd @ 43 %
The Ghost Engine by Theresa Fuller sounded like an intriguing steampunk novel featuring Ada Lovelace. Unfortunately, though, we just didn't get along. The opening 20% or so of the story was promising. I liked getting to know Ada - she's quite the feisty heroine and obviously she's based on the real life historical figure. Plus, the concept of Ada getting sucked into the computer and working with an actual ghost in the machine is pretty cool. The world-building, the romance, and character decisions are what made me give up on it. First, the world building was actually confusing while we're inside the computer because nothing gets really solidly explained; secondly, the romance was quite irritating because it was all over the place - Charles was not a well defined character; and thirdly, Ada makes too many inexplicable decisions that don't line up with her personality. Anyway, thanks but no thanks, NetGalley.
May 26, 2018
The Ghost Engine is one of the most imaginative Steampunk romances that I have had the pleasure of reading this year. The world building is superb. The descriptions of the city inside the Engine are so well written that you feel as though you are experiencing every single terror laden moment that Berd and Charles experience right along with them. You can feel every desperate moment, and you wonder right along with them, if they are going to get out. As you read, it feels like you are in the Engine too! It puts me in the mind of a Steampunk version of the movie Tron – speaking of which, this book would make a very good movie! I highly recommend it for anyone who loves the Steampunk, sweet romance and fantasy. You simply do not want to miss this one, folks!
Regina
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Full Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
Regina
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More
Full Review @ Coffee Time Romance & More
April 13, 2018
The Ghost Engine by Theresa Fuller is a fantastic mix of steampunk, sci-fi, historical, and romance. Berd, the main character, a 17-year-old girl living in Victorian England, buys a computer at an auction house with the intent of learning how it works. She does more than just that when a lightning bolt traps her inside the computer, and she and its other trapped inhabitant have to figure out how to escape.
A wild romp, with twists and turns, a hefty dose of girl power, and an amazing visualization of what the inside of a computer would be like if one were trapped inside, Fuller's debut novel is not one you'll want to miss.
A wild romp, with twists and turns, a hefty dose of girl power, and an amazing visualization of what the inside of a computer would be like if one were trapped inside, Fuller's debut novel is not one you'll want to miss.
May 24, 2018
Stephanie's Corner
The Ghost Engine is a standalone underrated novel mixture of steampunk and sci-fi with an epic dose of women power. Told from the view point of Berd, a young woman with a too modern mind in a time when woman were not allowed to have thoughts of their own, I was taken on a journey inside a machine widely used today.
The plot was nothing new or fresh but it was well written. The writing style is a formal 1800s style with a simplistic style to it making it easy to read and understand. The setting was visually descriptive enough for me to be able to get engulf into the where the characters were.
I truly did enjoy the read but there was something missing. That certain 'je ne sais quoi.' The story did not have depth. It was simply a fun read that did not ouch my heart in any significant manner. It is not a book that would cross my mind again in the future.
Stephanie's Corner
The Ghost Engine is a standalone underrated novel mixture of steampunk and sci-fi with an epic dose of women power. Told from the view point of Berd, a young woman with a too modern mind in a time when woman were not allowed to have thoughts of their own, I was taken on a journey inside a machine widely used today.
The plot was nothing new or fresh but it was well written. The writing style is a formal 1800s style with a simplistic style to it making it easy to read and understand. The setting was visually descriptive enough for me to be able to get engulf into the where the characters were.
I truly did enjoy the read but there was something missing. That certain 'je ne sais quoi.' The story did not have depth. It was simply a fun read that did not ouch my heart in any significant manner. It is not a book that would cross my mind again in the future.
Stephanie's Corner
June 11, 2018
I received this arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love a good Steampunk - especially a new good steampunk, and the market is unfortunately rather sparse of well-written examples of the genre. I have found a few gems before but I've been on the lookout for a new read, and I found it in The Ghost Engine.
The Ghost Engine follows the story of Lady Elizabeth Ada Lovelace, granddaughter of Ada Lovelace, one of my personal heroines, and suffragette. Much to the chagrin of her brother, she much prefers getting her hands dirty with a car or a machine than looking for love or finding a husband or even dressing as women at the time were expected to.
In her attempts to break the bounds of the society that holds women in, she sneaks into an auction of a dead man's belongings and manages to procure the Ghost Engine, a machine which has been said to hold the ghost of Charles Babbage Fotheringay, who worked on the machine with his late father (who is, no surprises her, the man who has just passed away at the beginning of the novel).
On working on the engine, Elizabeth finds herself sucked into the insides of the contraption, and into the arms of the annoyingly stubborn 'ghost' - Charles Fotheringay. Together, they must discover the way out of the engine, whilst dodging the seemingly malicious intentions of the engine itself.
This book was incredibly well written, fast-paced and not too heavy on the detailed descriptions. Whilst the inside of the machine certainly felt fleshed out and real, the action never stopped for a moment, which definitely worked within a novel involving such fast-paced events.
Elizabeth was an amazing character, feisty and interesting, and always willing to speak her own mind and go her own way. Of course, the early 20th Century suffragette trope is a pretty overused one, to my mind, in modern-day fiction, but it was done very well here.
There is an element of romance to this book, and I feel like it actually added to the story in this case, rather than taking anything away (as can occasionally be the case in books that triumph strong female narrators). But, overall, the main theme in this book is definitely female power and, of course, steampunk science fiction.
Overall, I gave this book a solid 5 star rating out of 5, and I think this is one anyone who wants to try out steampunk should have a go with. It isn't too outlandish, so it's a good introduction to the genre for those who don't know a whole lot about it. However, overall, this is just a brilliant book, and one I wholly recommend.
I love a good Steampunk - especially a new good steampunk, and the market is unfortunately rather sparse of well-written examples of the genre. I have found a few gems before but I've been on the lookout for a new read, and I found it in The Ghost Engine.
The Ghost Engine follows the story of Lady Elizabeth Ada Lovelace, granddaughter of Ada Lovelace, one of my personal heroines, and suffragette. Much to the chagrin of her brother, she much prefers getting her hands dirty with a car or a machine than looking for love or finding a husband or even dressing as women at the time were expected to.
In her attempts to break the bounds of the society that holds women in, she sneaks into an auction of a dead man's belongings and manages to procure the Ghost Engine, a machine which has been said to hold the ghost of Charles Babbage Fotheringay, who worked on the machine with his late father (who is, no surprises her, the man who has just passed away at the beginning of the novel).
On working on the engine, Elizabeth finds herself sucked into the insides of the contraption, and into the arms of the annoyingly stubborn 'ghost' - Charles Fotheringay. Together, they must discover the way out of the engine, whilst dodging the seemingly malicious intentions of the engine itself.
This book was incredibly well written, fast-paced and not too heavy on the detailed descriptions. Whilst the inside of the machine certainly felt fleshed out and real, the action never stopped for a moment, which definitely worked within a novel involving such fast-paced events.
Elizabeth was an amazing character, feisty and interesting, and always willing to speak her own mind and go her own way. Of course, the early 20th Century suffragette trope is a pretty overused one, to my mind, in modern-day fiction, but it was done very well here.
There is an element of romance to this book, and I feel like it actually added to the story in this case, rather than taking anything away (as can occasionally be the case in books that triumph strong female narrators). But, overall, the main theme in this book is definitely female power and, of course, steampunk science fiction.
Overall, I gave this book a solid 5 star rating out of 5, and I think this is one anyone who wants to try out steampunk should have a go with. It isn't too outlandish, so it's a good introduction to the genre for those who don't know a whole lot about it. However, overall, this is just a brilliant book, and one I wholly recommend.
June 17, 2018
E-Arc recieved from Net Galley and Bare Bear Media.
Ghost Engine is a retelling based loosely on the life of Ada Lovelace (computer Programmer)' grand daughter.
The events of this book takes place shortly after Ada Lovelace's painful demise, and our MC Elizabeth 'Berd' is all too set on carrying on her grandmother's legacy of retrieving the Ghost Engine and continue programming work.
However whilst getting the engine to work things don't go as expected...she instead ends upbeing sucked into the engine and meeting the former owner of the engine...reported dead an year ago.
The world building is very descriptive and quite wonderful to make the interior of a computer something that of Narnia.
(I used to play with old computer parts as a kid, as a result I could picture the world here quite accurately)
I found the pacing quite slow and tedious, I was hooked into plot on and off, since some of the events of the story were drawn out for no reason.
Either condensing the details or splitting it into 2 books would make this story less heavy to read and more enjoyable.
The MC is very head strong, perverse on having women's equal rights and easily ruffled at mention of any suggestion of being the weaker sex, that being said she's portrayed as quite an intelligent character with enough knowledge on computers to understand the owrld she was in now...but at times she'd be so blinded by the fact that she's a lady and the world is unjust we would get just glimpses of her geniosity.
I found the MCs partner in crime Charles most likeable amongst all of them, he was given the page time for us to truly discover his predicament and geniosity of his work and also...ofcourse his attachments and feelings.
He was in some ways just like every other YA good guy character with added dose of being a computer programmer in the making.
Our antagonist...was really something unexpected but a pleasant surprise. He turned out to be very clever character often blurring the lines between good and evil.
The story ends in in a grey area situation with a open ended but satisfying ending.
Ghost Engine is a retelling based loosely on the life of Ada Lovelace (computer Programmer)' grand daughter.
The events of this book takes place shortly after Ada Lovelace's painful demise, and our MC Elizabeth 'Berd' is all too set on carrying on her grandmother's legacy of retrieving the Ghost Engine and continue programming work.
However whilst getting the engine to work things don't go as expected...she instead ends upbeing sucked into the engine and meeting the former owner of the engine...reported dead an year ago.
The world building is very descriptive and quite wonderful to make the interior of a computer something that of Narnia.
(I used to play with old computer parts as a kid, as a result I could picture the world here quite accurately)
I found the pacing quite slow and tedious, I was hooked into plot on and off, since some of the events of the story were drawn out for no reason.
Either condensing the details or splitting it into 2 books would make this story less heavy to read and more enjoyable.
The MC is very head strong, perverse on having women's equal rights and easily ruffled at mention of any suggestion of being the weaker sex, that being said she's portrayed as quite an intelligent character with enough knowledge on computers to understand the owrld she was in now...but at times she'd be so blinded by the fact that she's a lady and the world is unjust we would get just glimpses of her geniosity.
I found the MCs partner in crime Charles most likeable amongst all of them, he was given the page time for us to truly discover his predicament and geniosity of his work and also...ofcourse his attachments and feelings.
He was in some ways just like every other YA good guy character with added dose of being a computer programmer in the making.
Our antagonist...was really something unexpected but a pleasant surprise. He turned out to be very clever character often blurring the lines between good and evil.
The story ends in in a grey area situation with a open ended but satisfying ending.
June 13, 2018
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, thank you! All opinions are my own.
Ada Lovelace is one of those historical personalities I'm most interested in. I remember reading my first study book of programming and the introduction started with her writings (along with those of Charles Babbage and Blaise Pascal) - I became fascinated with her as a female mathematician at a time when women rarely were able to ...well, be a mathematician.
I also really love scifi and steampunk.
Naturally, I was thrilled to get a chance to read The Ghost Engine, where Ada's granddaughter, Berd, aquires The Ghost Engine at an auction - in order to learn how it works and to find out about her grandmother's death, who died of cancer very early and in pain. The Ghost Engine - a so-called computer- is supposed to be able to do a lot of magnificient and scary things, some say it has the ghost of Charles Babbage Fortheringay trapped inside. And then Berd herself gets inside of the machine and discovers so much more than that.
With all its twists and turns this turned out as a fantastic, imaginative story with a fierce protagonist - I really enjoyed this.
Ada Lovelace is one of those historical personalities I'm most interested in. I remember reading my first study book of programming and the introduction started with her writings (along with those of Charles Babbage and Blaise Pascal) - I became fascinated with her as a female mathematician at a time when women rarely were able to ...well, be a mathematician.
I also really love scifi and steampunk.
Naturally, I was thrilled to get a chance to read The Ghost Engine, where Ada's granddaughter, Berd, aquires The Ghost Engine at an auction - in order to learn how it works and to find out about her grandmother's death, who died of cancer very early and in pain. The Ghost Engine - a so-called computer- is supposed to be able to do a lot of magnificient and scary things, some say it has the ghost of Charles Babbage Fortheringay trapped inside. And then Berd herself gets inside of the machine and discovers so much more than that.
With all its twists and turns this turned out as a fantastic, imaginative story with a fierce protagonist - I really enjoyed this.
August 26, 2018
The Ghost Engine by Theresa Fuller is a combination of a steampunk romance with historical and sci-fi elements.
The ghost engine follows the story of Lady Elizabeth Ada Lovelace, granddaughter of Ada Lovelace, who has been called the first computer programmer. The MC Elizabeth or otherwise known as ‘Berd’ attempts to break the shackles that society has placed on women and wants to prove women are just as capable as men by trying to complete her grandmothers work. Whilst working on the ghost engine and trying to figure out how to program it she finds herself sucked inside the machine, where it’s a race against time to get her freedom. This story slightly reminded me of a steampunk version of Alice in wonderland.
I found the beginning of the book really strong and had a lot of potential but towards the end I felt it had lost its way and was a little weak. However, I still enjoyed it and it is worth a read if you like a steampunk romance and stories about AI’s.
I would rate this 3.5/ out of 5 which I will round up to 4.
I received a free copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The ghost engine follows the story of Lady Elizabeth Ada Lovelace, granddaughter of Ada Lovelace, who has been called the first computer programmer. The MC Elizabeth or otherwise known as ‘Berd’ attempts to break the shackles that society has placed on women and wants to prove women are just as capable as men by trying to complete her grandmothers work. Whilst working on the ghost engine and trying to figure out how to program it she finds herself sucked inside the machine, where it’s a race against time to get her freedom. This story slightly reminded me of a steampunk version of Alice in wonderland.
I found the beginning of the book really strong and had a lot of potential but towards the end I felt it had lost its way and was a little weak. However, I still enjoyed it and it is worth a read if you like a steampunk romance and stories about AI’s.
I would rate this 3.5/ out of 5 which I will round up to 4.
I received a free copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2018
I read this book via NetGalley.
Really not into this book at all. It had a lot of potential. My first problem was that it was never really explained what the engine is actually meant for? I don’t understand its purpose at all. Secondly, the romance was quick and childish in a way. By that, I mean it’s a kind of romance that a teenager would want to have but is way too cheesy to actually happen in life. And it was very quick. I have a lot of issues with this romance. Especially in the last 20 pages of the book. It just went weird from there. Thirdly, too many plot twists for my liking. And fourth, Ada Lovelace. If she is going to be talked about in a book, I want more background and more respect for her. She probably was ridiculed in her time, but she was also respected as the first woman, and one of the first people, to be involved with computers and programming.
Other than these issues, my emotions were rallied as I read. I was frustrated when the character, Berd (what kind of name is that?), was frustrated over being an oppressed woman. But loved when she fought for her own back and tried to do what was right by her morals and not society’s. The element of adventure started good but the many plot twists honestly had me lost. And the ending? Yeah. Wasn’t impressed at all.
Really not into this book at all. It had a lot of potential. My first problem was that it was never really explained what the engine is actually meant for? I don’t understand its purpose at all. Secondly, the romance was quick and childish in a way. By that, I mean it’s a kind of romance that a teenager would want to have but is way too cheesy to actually happen in life. And it was very quick. I have a lot of issues with this romance. Especially in the last 20 pages of the book. It just went weird from there. Thirdly, too many plot twists for my liking. And fourth, Ada Lovelace. If she is going to be talked about in a book, I want more background and more respect for her. She probably was ridiculed in her time, but she was also respected as the first woman, and one of the first people, to be involved with computers and programming.
Other than these issues, my emotions were rallied as I read. I was frustrated when the character, Berd (what kind of name is that?), was frustrated over being an oppressed woman. But loved when she fought for her own back and tried to do what was right by her morals and not society’s. The element of adventure started good but the many plot twists honestly had me lost. And the ending? Yeah. Wasn’t impressed at all.
August 17, 2018
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a strong four-star book for me. A book spanning many genres and an exciting story!
Bard is a strong female focus with a real passion for female equality - it is reminiscent of Ada Lovelace and the achievements she made in the fields of maths and programming.
A love story I love and had me questioning what I would do and chose propped up by honest human characters. Best steam-punk book I have read in a long time! Well written and would whole-heartedly recommend!
This was a strong four-star book for me. A book spanning many genres and an exciting story!
Bard is a strong female focus with a real passion for female equality - it is reminiscent of Ada Lovelace and the achievements she made in the fields of maths and programming.
A love story I love and had me questioning what I would do and chose propped up by honest human characters. Best steam-punk book I have read in a long time! Well written and would whole-heartedly recommend!
July 3, 2018
I love steampunk books and found the synopsis really interesting.
The book is interesting, there're wonderful descriptions of the machine and there's a very good world building.
I like the heroine, so tech savy and bad ass.
Unfortunately part of the books were a bit boring and some characters fell flat.
An entertaining book with a lot of potential to turn it into a very good book.
Many thanks to Bare Bear Media and Netgalley for this ARC
The book is interesting, there're wonderful descriptions of the machine and there's a very good world building.
I like the heroine, so tech savy and bad ass.
Unfortunately part of the books were a bit boring and some characters fell flat.
An entertaining book with a lot of potential to turn it into a very good book.
Many thanks to Bare Bear Media and Netgalley for this ARC
June 25, 2018
I loved this book. It kinda reminded me of almost a steampunk Alice in Wonderland. I loved the amount of detail in the descriptions of inside the computer and the plot. I love all things steampunk, and I was very pleased with this book
July 18, 2018
3.5/5.0
"Ghost Engine" is a bold jump back to 1880 with a uniquely modern look at the other edge of the machine age.
Read full review in the 2018 July Aug issue of InD'tale Magazine.
"Ghost Engine" is a bold jump back to 1880 with a uniquely modern look at the other edge of the machine age.
Read full review in the 2018 July Aug issue of InD'tale Magazine.
August 25, 2020
This is the first steampunk novel I have read and while I found it interesting it wasn'tfor me.
#TheGhostEngine #NetGalley
#TheGhostEngine #NetGalley
September 22, 2021
This was an enjoyable, quick steampunk read. The world-building was confusing, but if you can suspend your disbelief and fill in some of the details yourself, it's a fairly fun reading experience.
May 24, 2018
Fact: Ada Lovelace would have been the world’s first programmer if she hadn’t died young and in great pain, her fears ignored solely because she was a woman.
Seventeen-year-old suffragette Lady Elizabeth Ada Lovelace will do anything to ensure no more women suffer the indignities and anguish her grandmother underwent at the hands of her physician. She attempts to program the Ghost Engine, the 19th century equivalent of the computer, to use it as a tool to hasten research on the cancer that killed her grandmother. By taking on what is believed to be a man’s job – programming – she also hopes to prove that women are just as capable as men. She fixes the Ghost Engine and gets it running only to be sucked inside.
Elizabeth needs to escape before the engine shuts down, killing her, but she finds herself locked in what seem to be pointless games of logic. The games take on a sinister bent as the Ghost Engine learns via artificial intelligence to become sentient. It fashions a doppelganger in the image of its creator, initially appearing as a ghost. Soon Elizabeth can’t tell creator and creation apart. She is not the only one fighting for equality.
In her wildest dreams, Elizabeth never thought she'd end up falling in love with a hauntingly attractive ghost, the same seductive ghost who just might want her dead.
In writing this book, it is my dearest wish that I have encouraged girls to enter technology.
Theresa Fuller
Seventeen-year-old suffragette Lady Elizabeth Ada Lovelace will do anything to ensure no more women suffer the indignities and anguish her grandmother underwent at the hands of her physician. She attempts to program the Ghost Engine, the 19th century equivalent of the computer, to use it as a tool to hasten research on the cancer that killed her grandmother. By taking on what is believed to be a man’s job – programming – she also hopes to prove that women are just as capable as men. She fixes the Ghost Engine and gets it running only to be sucked inside.
Elizabeth needs to escape before the engine shuts down, killing her, but she finds herself locked in what seem to be pointless games of logic. The games take on a sinister bent as the Ghost Engine learns via artificial intelligence to become sentient. It fashions a doppelganger in the image of its creator, initially appearing as a ghost. Soon Elizabeth can’t tell creator and creation apart. She is not the only one fighting for equality.
In her wildest dreams, Elizabeth never thought she'd end up falling in love with a hauntingly attractive ghost, the same seductive ghost who just might want her dead.
In writing this book, it is my dearest wish that I have encouraged girls to enter technology.
Theresa Fuller
December 12, 2023
Received this as a Goodreads giveaway. Review to come soon.
June 5, 2018
Seventeen year old Lady Elizabeth Ada Lovelace sneaks into an auction, in disguise of course, and bids to win the Ghost Machine. While attempting to get it functional, she is sucked into a whole new world, where she finds the handsome ghost in the machine, along with his quickly-becoming-sentient computer counterpart. Time is running out and she must escape before the engine stops. This is an adventurous foray into the depths of technology. Our heroine is intelligent, tech savvy, and independent. This book has wonderful world building, leaving you with a perfect visual of the city and inhabitants inside the machine. Danger lurks each twist in the track. Will they make it out in time?
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March 4, 2019This book is an entry in the 2018 Aurealis Awards, for which I am a judge. Any review will be withheld until the results of the awards are announced.
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