Wicklow's Odyssey

by R. Cooper

Two years into the Civil War, it is a bloody stalemate—exactly the sort of situation for a brilliant, ruthless visionary with ideas on modernizing spycraft to take advantage of. With an eye to not just winning the war, but to the future of the country, Alexander Rhoades convinces the Union government to let him run a team of remarkable spies as he pleases, mostly to plant brand-new electro-radio technology in Southern cities to aid the work of Northern agents. While on one of these missions, secret agent Wicklow Doyle’s safehouse is compromised and he’s on the run in enemy-controlled Charleston. The last thing he needs with him is the pampered rich man who runs his team, yet despite the danger, Alexander Rhoades refuses to leave his side. Wicklow doesn’t understand why, or why Rhoades’s very presence makes him tremble. A street rat-turned-soldier-turned-spy, there isn’t much that scares Wicklow. He’s used to men desiring him, but not wicked geniuses offering something he’s scared to name. Wicklow doesn’t understand love any more than he understands Rhoades’s noble causes. He’d rather focus on what needs to be done. The enemy is all around them and hiding a dangerous secret, the North still needs a victory, and Wicklow has to get Rhoades to safety. Of all the dangers in his path, that is the one that frightens him the most, and with every one of Rhoades’s soft kisses, he’s starting to realize why. But it might be too late. Wicklow may be a man of noble causes too, and he will do what it takes to fulfill his mission, save his team, the country, and Rhoades.

Genres: Steampunk, Historical, M M Romance, Romance, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Military Fiction

442 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 6, 2014

About the author

I'm R. Cooper, a somewhat absentminded, often distracted, writer of queer romance. I'm probably most known for the Being(s) in Love series and The Suitable 'Verse stories. Also the occasional story about witches or firefighters in love.

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Reviews

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read in March 2015. I love this book to pieces!

4.7 stars rounded up. I very rarely give full marks because there is always something missing or vaguely dissatisfactory about most books. I was very excited about reading this one since I like the author's work and a lengthy mm novel with steampunk elements is such a rare find; the title, synopsis and cover are also very appealing, hence the build-up of my expectations... And when I highly anticipate a book, I tend to be more demanding than usual... I know it might not be fair, but it is a point I felt should be mentioned as it reinforces how much I have enjoyed 'Wicklow's Odyssey'.

First of all, the choice of world building was very interesting and quite rare - an AU (alternate universe) to the American civil war. I found it solid and generally well configured, without overwhelming the plot. The steampunk dimension is present yet I would not consider it a focal point, which worked well for me. The emphasis rests more on complex characterisations and a beautiful romantic relationship, my preferred approach to a story.

While reading, I often felt as if this book encapsulated quite possibly all of my favourite themes: a steampunk variation on a historical setting; mythological references whose relevance remains over time and the importance of knowledge in general; the reformed rake who has fallen deeply in love but retains some darker facets (Rhoades); the devoted soldier of life who has known much hardship yet continues to try his best, who completely trusts hardly anyone and deserves to be loved unconditionally (Wicklow); an array of multi-dimensional secondary characters who enrich the plot and a seductive romance that conveys profound feelings on both sides.

As the title suggests, the story indirectly focuses on Wicklow's perspective where I enjoyed following his war missions and, most of all, how he gradually opens up to fraternal and romantic love. I desperately wanted him to accept that others truly love and care about him, allowing himself to acknowledge that he loves them in return. It was a heart-warming journey, believable in its difficulties and thus more rewarding at the end. Rhoades is... well, as Wicklow put it, so much more than meets the eye. He may appear unthreatening, but is actually a devious and manipulative idealist who previously seduced many men for the thrill of conquest and then discarded them without remorse.

The war determined him to employ his intelligence and other skills for information gathering, which he collects by whatever means are necessary including sexual favours. Rhoades apparently changed due to his unexpected feelings for Wicklow and acts like a different person when they are alone, yet that manipulative core is innate and makes him a great tactician/head spy. Both are complex protagonists and I liked how, despite his limited sexual experience, Wicklow had an equal role to Rhoades in their relationship, even having the emotional upper hand sometimes.

Apart from the intense and very well developed romance, the book has a lot of subtext which I considered thought-provoking. The secondary characters were also carefully contoured, giving interesting glimpses into human condition and motivations. The traitor was fairly obvious to me due to a couple of clues, one early on and my intuition had been right about his reasons, but there was so much going on that a more solid 'villain' did not prove to be necessary.

In conclusion, it should be obvious by now how much I love this book and will probably re-read it in the near future. Since I can be very greedy with what I like, two things could improve on such a great story. I believe a sequel would be welcome as there is plenty of material to build upon. Rhoades and Wicklow's romance is still in the initial stages and a consolidation of their relationship would make a long-term happy ending much more credible. Some insight into Rhoades' thoughts would certainly be riveting. The team of misfits who start to look like a family can make more contributions to hopefully stop an escalating war. How the abolition movement evolves and many other pending questions could be tackled in an equally lengthy sequel. Pretty please, I would very much like more!

[Plainbrownwrapper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe that this book doesn't have an even higher rating -- and many more ratings and reviews.

This book is just terrific. Every book I read by Cooper is better than the one before it -- she improves with every story published. Her books have all grabbed me, each in different ways, ever since Some Kind of Magic -- and I'm just so pleased to see how she continues to grow with experience.

Wicklow's Odyssey deserves a long, thoughtful, and detailed review -- which, unfortunately, I'm not going to give it right now. But let me give you the glowing short version: great, complex characters, including both MCs and secondaries; beatiful showing instead of telling; some really nice turns of phrase; deep and moving emotion and emotional growth; and a dramatic and gripping plot. Just terrific throughout.

I'm not generally much of one for steampunk, and I might have liked this even better if it were explicitly fantastical AU rather than clinging to steampunk Civil War, but the melding of history with fantasy was still interesting and creative. My one other kvetch, if I was going to kvetch, would be with some possible dragging of pace in the middle -- which I didn't really mind, especially since I'm not very sensitive to plotting when characters are this good, but it's something that might bother more plot-minded readers.

I'm wobbling on the edge of giving this one 5 stars, just because it warms the cockles of my tiny little heart. I think I'll call it 4.49 for now. I plan to reread this one soon -- that rating may rise in the future. Watch This Space.

[Leanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I love R.Cooper. She is the queen of UST and slow, slow burn romances and while there is plenty of delicious sexual tension in this one, the story was just way too lengthy and muddled for me to really connect to the two leads. The plot got in the way! Lol
Perhaps a case of right book, wrong time for me- I wanted to love it but I struggled with the length and skimmed a bit in the middle.
Liked it but think it would have benefited from little trimming.

[K.J. Charles]

American Civil War with a touch of steampunk. Pretty good fun, with a traitor and an undercover team and so on and great UST. I think it could have been tightened considerably without loss, the romance kind of circles over the same ground rather than progressing for a long time, and I am kind of out of patience with characters who go all foggy-headed and unfocused at the sight of a loved one. But, enjoyed a lot. A quality read.

[Tex Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 of 5 - Fun Mix of Steampunk, Mystery, Civil War & Gay Drama

I've been searching out good gay steampunk lately, and this is yet another one. I always love it when interesting things get rolled into your standard steampunk, like a mystery, set in Charleston in the midst of the civil war, espionage, and of course, the gay romance.

R. Cooper's characters in this union secret service team were well developed, distinct, and likable in each their own way. The action starting from the start with the explosion pulled me through to the end. So what if it's sometimes not rationale ... who can always think fast on their feet? The mystery had me guessing to the end. I had my suspicions, but there may have been too few clues laid along the way to be fair.

The steampumk technology and mechanizations were well done and plausible, and with good detail. And the historical setting seemed true to the times and depicted well as well. But strengths can also be weaknesses. Some may like that detail to build scene and characters, but others may find it detracts from the story and is more than enough info to tell it and follow it. Alas, it could have been a more tight-knit story.

The gay romance was a nice slow build, allowing for background and tension. The sex scenes were good and hot, but sometimes not quite capturing how a guy might feel. But I was rooting for them all along, all the way to the satisfying end.

[Natasha]

Cover love.

[Amy Cousins]

Less than 20% in and already it is clear that there is literally nothing R. Cooper can write that does not thrill me. This is fabulous.

[Love Bytes Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS
Reviewed by Colette

I am going to go all fan girl here and say straight out this book is brilliant! R. Cooper is on my short list of must read authors. Brilliant but not an easy read, you can’t just breeze through this one; you have to pay attention, read what is being said, and more importantly, what is NOT said. There is so much depth and texture to this novel, and to the characters that you can’t but help being caught up in the story. In that way it reminded me of the Caleb Carr’s The Alienist – I would look up from my ereader and be surprised that I was not in the alt-universe, Steampunk Charleston of Wicklow’s Odyssey.

In this world, the Union Army has radio communications and Wicklow Doyle is the man who builds and installs them for the Union agents in the field. Working with his team: Antonio, an Italian demolitions expert; Pilar, a sniper and the Colonel, a former solder, under the direction of Alexander Rhoades, spymaster and leader, they are in Charleston on just such a mission when things go FUBAR. Warned by Pilar that Reb soldiers are on their way to his position, Wicklow manages to destroy the radio and escape. Determined to discover who betrayed them, and sure that his team has left, he is surprised to find Rhoades has come for him.

This is the basic plot of the story, a classic espionage tale of death and betrayal, but it is so much more. The beauty of this novel lies in the storytelling. It is in the dance between Wicklow and Rhoades; the tension, the need, the longing between these two is palpable. They circle around each other, come together, separate, and circle again like an erotic pas de deux – they are beautiful together. It is in the way Antonio fixes Pilar’s hair and in the trust between Pilar and Wicklow; it is in the history between Louis, the manager of the brothel Wicklow’s team seeks refuge at, and Rhoades – one a slave the other grandson of his owners; between the Colonel, a military man who believes in honor and does not understand or condone this new style of war, the rest of the team and Rhoades who for all his tales of ancient heroes, is a modern man and understands there is very little that is honorable in war. It is in the stories Rhoades tells Wicklow, of Alexander and Hephaistion, Achilles and Patroclus, of Odysseus and the Trojan War.

The plot moves from finding the traitor and getting out of Charleston, to uncovering what the Rebels are planning and getting that information back to Washington. Plans are made and traps are set leading up to an explosive confrontation in the streets of Charleston. The identity of the traitor and the reasons why they betrayed the team did not come as a surprise; the evidence is all there in the story if you pay attention.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of speculative historical fiction and steampunk.

Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, interviews guest posts and giveaways!

[Pjm12 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very talky-talky but that is R Cooper's MO. Of course, I loved it.

I reckon da Silva from Think Of England took lessons from Cooper's Rhoades - these very smart, spies without any ability to protect themselves physically. Very similiar characters: both noble, always planning and able to generate loyalty in others.

It's that whole protective thing between MCs - each one prepared to sacrifice himself for the other. So glorious.

I also enjoyed a steampunk version of the civil war. Although Cooper doesn't go into a lot of detail with the world building, there is enough there is create a fairly detailed picture of what war does to landscapes, to people, and even to technology.

Very long (a smidge repetitive), but totally absorbing.

[Drianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ordinarily, I very much believe that more words are more better, but this book was a slog for me, and it needed to be shorter. In medias res is a valid choice, of course, but because this book chose to pick up in the middle of the relationship, which apparently the MC and the LI have built up over years, I was absolutely never invested in it, and all the words used to try to make me care (by describing the backstory over and over and over) did not work for me. I guess the author wanted it to feel Odyssean, but... it didn't. I found the actual plot hard to follow and not compelling. Sad. :(

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those authors whose writing style doesn't really work for me, for whatever reason. In this case, though, the story, the plot, really saved it for me. I love the setting and the time period and the steampunk-y-ness of it. I never could get a firm grasp of Wicklow as a character and I didn't quite understand the devotion to him that all the other characters displayed. To each their own, I guess.

[Mel]

I tried the sample twice. Both times, I nearly fell asleep during the first chapter. Too descriptive. And nothings kinda happening. It isn't holding my attention, unfortunately.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strange, beautiful, and often difficult to read. Overly wordy, but such beautiful words. Prolonged suspense that had me on edge. Something of a gorgeous mess that begged for editing to thin and sharpen. MCs who are complex, difficult, and very different people, but who complete each other. Among the best descriptions of intimacy I’ve read. (And I also spent some time worrying about how many people wouldn’t realize that the technology used wasn’t really available at that time.)

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was an amazing read and for me the best book by R. Cooper so far
And that although there are some weaknesses but if you like steampunk or just a good read this book is a must

I loved the world, the story and the characters .... amazing

[The Novel Approach · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s an odd thing but sometimes the more I love a book, the more difficult it is to put that love into words, which leaves me afraid I’ll never be able to do this book justice. The first thought I had when I finished Wicklow’s Odyssey was, “damn, this book was freaking brilliant,” and my love for it has only increased the farther I am from having finished. My second thought when I finished this book was, “please, please let there be more.” That’s how much I loved these characters, not only Alexander Rhoades and Wicklow Doyle, but all of them. I don’t want to let them go and can only hope with the ending R. Cooper has delivered that it means there will be more adventures to be had by this Sacred Band of spies.

All I needed to see was that this book is Steampunk to know I wanted it. Not having bothered to read the blurb then discovering that the story takes place in an Alternate History during the US Civil War, the level of perfection for me could only have been increased by it being filled with action, suspense, danger, intrigue, romance and characters with whom I fell in love, all told in a prose that was not only descriptive but also engaged the imagination in every possible way.

It is.

From the moment R. Cooper introduces Private Wicklow Doyle—beaten, imprisoned, and awaiting death—it becomes obvious his story is one that’s going to do more than tell a simple tale. There, in fact, is nothing at all simple about Wicklow or the man who comes to his rescue, Alexander Rhoades, the man who becomes Wicklow’s leader and tells him stories in the Greek epic tradition, of Troy and the Trojan War, and then leaves Wicklow to suss out what those stories mean to him and to his mission.

Private Doyle and Rhoades are an enigma in the way only men who are adept at keeping secrets and are proficient in the language of hiding their motives and intentions can be, or, in Wicklow’s case, not understanding what it means to trust and to believe someone cares for him. Wicklow and Rhoades couldn’t be more different—Doyle, the rough and rigid Irishman, and Rhoades, the sophisticated rogue whose cleverness at times comes off as madness. Rhoades is fluent in seduction and isn’t above taking any number of men to bed to gain the information he needs to further his cause. Wicklow is fluent in anger and, at times, killing if the situation warrants it, coming from a world where fighting often meant survival. There is no one Wicklow trusts unconditionally, not even the men and woman who make up the team he works with to carry out Rhoades’s mission to bring the Civil War nearer to an end. These two men together become a puzzle to be solved and as the author parses out clues here and there about who they are, all while building the sexual tension between them, it becomes imperative to know them and to see how the relationship between the man who seduces and the man who doesn’t like to be touched will resolve to remain in each other’s lives and perhaps become more to each other than simply chess master and pawn.

The timing of this book couldn’t be more perfect, and you don’t have to be a Civil War history major to appreciate the events that build up to one of the more tension filled and action packed climaxes I’ve ever read in a book. You need only know the motives for the war, who fought it, and its outcome to understand how beautifully R. Cooper has twisted it to suit this clockwork, steam driven adventure, where a great iron beast is the Trojan horse that, if not lamed, could bring victory to the South. Every single anachronism purposefully woven into this novel does nothing but add to the sense of intrigue, every single character introduced along the way not only adds to the adventure but also exposes more about Wicklow Doyle, revelations that are sometimes frustrating, sometimes heart-tugging as he tries to understand what he’s feeling, but each and every one is a new layer peeled away from this complex man’s prickly exterior.

I am so thoroughly infatuated with Wicklow’s Odyssey, with every nuance, every word the author shaped and finessed to tell the story through a vivid narrative and lush dialogue, that I want to bask in my love for it again. Just as Rhoades is the voice in Wicklow’s ear, a voice that soothes, directs, touches Wicklow without touching, R. Cooper directs us through this exquisite journey. I could likely write a second and third review of this book and come up with something new to love about it each time, that’s how rich Wicklow’s Odyssey is and I can’t begin to recommend it enough.

[Felix Léon · Rating 5 out of 5]

TL;DR : Interesting plot, characters and relationships, I recommend. (some very minor spoilers ahead)

350 pages, M/M historical romance, 3rd person point of view, the point of view does not vary.

Trigger warnings : Violence, prostitution, slavery, slurs, explicit sexual contents

The story happens in the middle of the American Civil War, in Charleston. The city is in shambles, destroyed by the Union, but a nest of 'Rebs', soldiers from the South rebelling against the North. There are some important historical innacuracies, notably technology that would only be invented decades later, which gives the book its steam punk-like atmosphere.
A team of special ops from the North is on a mission in the city.

The narrator is Wicklow Doyle, an Irishman thief, turned soldier, turned radio expert. From the first chapter, he shows a profound disdain for 'The Rich' and 'The Powerful' that he considers are coward who send men to wage their petty war, but never risk themselves. If Wicklow had been born in our century, he would probably identify somewhere in the aspectrum (in my opinion as a reader).

His team leader is Alexander Rhoades, A Rich And Powerful Man himself, but with ideals, who actually tries to fight for what he believes in, although Wicklow would prefer him to stay in his library/office where he is safe. Wicklow perceives Rhoades as a most intelligent man, gathering knowledge like it's a currency and builds plan and manipulates men to achieve his goal.
He is also fond of legends, especially greek ones, and Wicklow enjoys hearing him talk about them about as much as he likes talking about them to Wicklow.

Second in command is the Colonel (Samuel Willoughby). He was a soldier before a bomb tore off his arm, leaving him a proud but wounded man, who trained the team and is in charge of their well being while out on mission. He has a close relationship with Rhoades, earning him the privilege of using his given name.

The last two members are Pilar Sancho, a half mexican half native woman who does wonders with a rifle, and can disappear if she doesn't want to be seen. She considers Wicklow like a little brother, although she hasn't completely earn Rhoades trust. Her relationship with Anthony Cipazzio, their Italian explosive expert, is unclear, and can go from friendly bickering while he does her hair to resentment over Anthony's behavior which can be rude and crass towards her. He also likes to imply that Wicklow is nothing more than Rhoades pet which can make the reader uncomfortable.

In Charleston, Wicklow was charged to build a radio station to help a unknown local spy relay informations to Washington, but as he was about to finish, a squadron of Rebs started heading his way, forcing him to blow up the building and flee with his damaged material.

The team finds refuge in a local brothel, the Versailles, owned by a black man names Louis Bonaventure. Louis was a childhood friend of Rhoades.

There, they come to two realisations : first, there is a traitor in their midst who sold Wicklow's location to the enemy, second, the Rebs are up to something, and it is up to them to discover what.

While the plot goes on, the romantic and sexual tension already present between Wicklow and Rhoades bloom, going from late nights telling stories in a library to gasping words in a brothel bed. Wicklow and Rhodes keep making promesses to each other, trying to sacrifice themselves to save the man they love.

R Cooper's peculiar style is present in the dialogue, where the characters always seem to understand or mean more than what is being said, leaving the reader trying to read between the lines to understand their true meaning. All the characters are flawed, but none are truly bad either, walking the line of humanity between relatable and despicable, which makes the plot works so well, because anyone of them could be the traitor, but at the same time, you wish none of them were.

I do appreciate the wit of the title.

All in all I really appreciated the book, and the cast of characters and their relationship felt real to me. The plot was interesting enough to keep me on my toes and held my interst and worry for the characters. I recommend!

[Christopher Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wicklow Doyle is part of a team of operatives in Charleston, South Carolina, during the American Civil War. His particular job is developing radio communications for the Union army. It becomes apparent there is a traitor in the team when Confederate soldiers head straight for where he was creating a base for these communications. The rest of the book is about three things: finding out that the traitor is relationships with other team members, and his growing attraction for their leader, Alexander Rhodes.

First off, radio? In the Civil War? There is no indication that this is a Steam punk novel, but it is, according to the author. Once I had been apprised of this I did not balk at the mention of telephones and dirigibles, the first three of which did not make their appearance until the 1870s and after. If it weren’t for the fact that a whole string of events that began earlier led to the development of phones and radio I should not have questioned it, but Steampunk is Steampunk, and this is the American version.

This is a remarkable novel with incredibly erotic and evocative sex scenes, complex and credible interactions between characters, and for the plot features a very tense and building effort to find the traitor. It is this last that ruins the book, since the dramatic lead up to the traitor’s revelation and dealing with him/her happens off screen with little actual complexity. I kept expecting more but never got it. Nevertheless, the novel kept me on edge as the team members discover the weapon the South has developed and decides to deal with it themselves.

Probably the best part of this novel is the relationship between Wicklow and Rhodes. The latter has been taken with Wicklow since he rescued him from execution to become part of his team working for the Union army. Wicklow has been drawn to Rhodes as well, though with a great deal of denial. They wind up stuck in a room in a brothel for a few days where Rhodes and Wicklow make the sort of exquisitely slow mutual discoveries about their sexual attraction that is so subtle and beautifully drawn that I was left amazed about it. I have never read better erotica.

In spite of this the sex seems to be pointing to eventual anal penetration and this never happens. The book is such a puzzling set of contradictions that I can’t explain it. For a book so masterfully written to have two such holes in the plot astounds me.

Back to the eroticism, Rhodes and Wicklow have subtle, step by step, and excruciating actions. Every touch is descried, every kiss, every point of contact in a way that is evocative and loving.

SPOILER: I kept expecting the traitor to turn out to be Rhodes himself, to be discovered when Wicklow is back in Washington DC, but I was wrong. It turned out the off-camera discovery of the traitor and his defeat.

[Seeilin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright, jep, this is an odysee ^^ a very long and hard one :O
It took me ages to get into the story because I was confused. Honestly - read.every.fucking.word! And then do it again :P After 30% I couldn't put this book down and I'm sure I'll read it again because I missed something ^^
It was really good but I wished the Greek referrences where more...well, told ^^ I read them when I was younger but even then I had to stop reading and try to remember :O took me some time ^^ so, that could have been better but apart from that... I don't usually like war stories ( I think I skipped the blurb ) but this one was... more because there was so much going on *_*
I won't even attempt to write a summary...It would be like this:
Privat, Rhoades - wait, what? XD I'm not good at rewievs ~~~

If you want fluff a la Boy and Dragon - nope ^^ wait 'till the 3rd book gets published :P
If you want action, mystery, a very complexx storyline and loyalty above all... hello, darlings ♥

Check it out! It's worth the read ;)

PS: Maybe have wikipedia on hand...XD

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

R. Cooper has always been an author I admire for the ability to write such comprehensive characters. While some may feel this author’s novels have a slow build and can sometimes be wordy, I find that every sentence on the page is just another piece of how we get to know the men and women that people Cooper’s stories. Wicklow’s Odyssey is no exception. Aside from coming in somewhere over 300 plus pages, this is a story that builds deliberately and tells a complete and interesting tale.

Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.

[Paris · Rating 1 out of 5]

So far not so engaging. Way too many unnecessary details that are sidetracking you from the main subject. When your setting is war, you need to make it as personal as possible. Otherwise, it is just a history lesson (and not a good one in this case, because the author adds a bit of fairytale to it).
Instead of showing us what kind of people our MCs are, the author is telling us about it. It gives you a feeling that the author doesn't have a story to tell.
A lot of things are repeated over and over again. But it makes no sense, except it make the book longer and narration tiresome.

I'll give this book one more night, if the pace is the same, if characters are still dull, then I will have to put it down. Sometimes the story is just dead from the beginning.

[Slashreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe a 3.5? The fault may have been with me -- the plot and setting just did not appeal, and my attention kept drifting off. None of the characters really spoke to me, either, sad to say. I do continue to like R. Cooper's writing, though, and this will not deter me from checking out future works.

[Michael]

From the ratings I am obviously in the minority but this was one of the most boring and repetitive books I have read in a long time. It actually got a little interesting when something started to happen around 65% of the way in but that didn't last long. 2 Stars.

[Anna001 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very classic R Cooper- more pining and gobsmacking obliviousness than you can fill a library with!
The world of the story is pretty unique- steampunk Civil War USA, with radio-operator/spy Wicklow and spymaster/socialite Rhoades working with a band of other misfits behind enemy lines to turn the tides of the war in favour of the North. There are some pretty interesting side characters, but the emphasis remains on the main two guys, with action sequences utilised mainly to enable political commentary and highlight how much each means to the other.
The main couple, Rhoades and Wicklow, are very cute together for the most part, not to mention intense. Which is one of the most important features of a romance novel, to my way of thinking. There were some minor issues:
- like in other Cooper books, sometimes I have to re-read sections multiple times to try and understand the significance of pieces of dialogue or interactions between characters that are expressed in a deliberately opaque fashion...and sometimes annoyingly no matter how many times I re-read, I still feel like I don't get what exactly is going on!
- Cooper's sex-positivity manifests in this book, like in some of her others, with one part of the OTP (Rhoades) being a big fan of casual sex, which (naturally!) confuses the other (Wicklow) into thinking he isn't significant on an emotional level to his older, wealthier, more confident and more powerful boss...I just sort of wanted to slap Rhoades in the face multiple times while reading and let this supposedly clever man in on the secret that if you treat others like disposable pieces of ass in front of the one you are trying to impress, you may not engender confidence in your ability to commit, or be worth taking a leap of faith for...and that is even without the class, economic, age, experience, rank and confidence gulf between the two!
- Be prepared for many an unsubtle diatribe on how the rich all suck (confusing, considering Rhoades is loaded and lives in a mansion...) and an entirely expected revelation about who the traitor in the spy gang is (Cooper likes her angels and demons, and depicting complex morality in her characters isn't her strong suit)

For those how like a heads up about spice level, Cooper as per usual ups the heat anti more through UST than actual consummation, and words more than actions form most of the sexiness of the book...still it is definitely no fade-to-black! Also, there is no on page sex depicted between characters other than the main pair (although as mentioned above, plenty clearly has happened off page and Wicklow's memories of watching Rhoades with hordes of lovers made my heart ache for him...there are also one or two kisses and the like that involve other characters, mostly just for spy reasons).

All in all, I expect I will mostly enjoy re-reading this one.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wicklow's Odyssey was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The premise was intriguing enough to make me add it to my TBR without checking any reviews. In the end, it turned out to be a decent read, but nothing extraordinary.

If I had to sum up my experience with this book in two words, it would be 'mixed emotions.' From the outset, I felt a bit lost with the plot —no context was provided, and I wondered if I had missed a prequel or the first installment. It quickly became clear that wasn't the case; the story is set in an alternate universe of the American Civil War. However, some better orientation for the reader would have been appreciated.

As for the characters, they were okay. At times, their personalities really shone through, and I found myself genuinely liking them. However, there were other moments where they felt a bit shallowly developed, making it difficult for me to form a strong connection with them.

The romance was also just okay. I enjoyed the angst and slow-burn tension that built up throughout the book, but when they finally got together, it felt a bit anticlimactic. I was hoping to see more of their relationship afterward, but that didn’t happen, leaving me a bit underwhelmed by their happily ever after. Don’t get me wrong, their chemistry was intense and hot, but as a whole, the romance didn’t quite meet my expectations.

Finally, the writing was in line with the plot, characters, and romance—it was okay. At times, it was quite strong, and in the beginning, when I felt confused and mildly bored with the storyline, the writing alone kept me going. However, there were also moments when it became repetitive and dense. Coupled with the lengthy chapters, I found myself reading just to move forward, sometimes forgetting what I had just read and not even wanting to go back or just skimming what I'd missed.

The theme of things being good, then bad, continued throughout the entire book. It kept shifting from one to the other, which is why I was able to finish it—it was never so bad that I wanted to DNF, but also not so captivating that I was hooked. It was just good enough. As for the rating, I’d give it 3.5 stars. I might have given it 4 stars if even one of the issues I mentioned (plot, characters, romance, and writing) had been more than just okay, but I can’t quite justify a 4. At the same time, I can’t give it 3 stars, as that's the lowest rating I reserve for books that are barely good enough to avoid a DNF, and this wasn’t that. It was just somewhere in the middle—parts I enjoyed, but overall, a bit underwhelming.

[MariF · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I managed to finish it. It was long-winded and with a lot of repetitions that really annoyed me.
Wicklow's musings were not that great - he kept a lot of thoughts on a loop and when I read for a hundredth time that Rhodes was great but not well equipped to fighting and had to be saved at any cost I was ready to scream in frustration.
I was driving and couldn't change the book and I hoped that steampunk elements will finally show up.
The war machine wasn't so great to read about and I'm not sure I fully understood why Mariama had to disappear when they met Union patrol.
I liked the loyalty of Wicklow's team members and overall plot. I think good editing and cutting off so many repetitions would have made this book much better.

[Poptart19 (the name’s ren) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I think this book has the best balance between psychological/emotional relationships & external danger/action I’ve read in awhile!

There is plenty of danger, but so much of the narrative tension is in re-examining relationships & loyalties in the midst of betrayal. Lots of mind games.

As usual, I love Cooper’s prose. As usual, there’s a nicely rounded out cast of unique characters. I adore Rhoades. He’s all soft sharp edges and melting contradictions. He makes the whole book.

The steampunk element isn’t too heavy if that’s not your thing; it’s basically the US civil war with close to WWI technology.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a while to get around to reading this Civil War steampunk book, maybe I was afraid of battle scenes. The first half chapter had me hooked and once I got to know the wonderful characters I couldn’t put it down until I’d read the whole thing. Now I feel like I want to read it again. Intense pining, hot love scenes and characters (including well developed supporting cast) I really care about in life or death danger makes this one of my new favorite books. I am really happy it didn't take Wicklow the full 20 years to get home, as in the original Odyssey, however.

[Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a crazy book, an ambitious book, a courageous, brilliant book. Civil War, steampunk, alternate history/universe -- who'd have thought any of those things go together, much less form the setting for what is essentially one long sweet romance? R. Cooper just sees the world differently, writes differently, and all in all, braves territory no other author really comes close to.

I first read it when it came out way back in 2014, which is probably redundant to say --I buy all of her books as soon as they come out and read them the same day, or close enough--she's that magical an author. My first reading was that it was a sweet book, and the setting blew me away. The characterization and world-building as usual were divine. I just love (and find romantic) her sense of what's romantic. Cooper protagonists *adore*. They are *devoted*. They tend to be sweet people, innocent people, lovers dizzy with their emotions plugging away at this thing called living. You can't help but fall in love with all of her characters. Emotion is underplayed in this story, possibly her subtlest book.

I just re-read this story for about the 3rd or 4th time, but the first time since about 2014. I'm not sure I appreciated this story as much then, however, as I do now at the latest read through. I fell in love with it all over again, and my appreciation of this story grew so much more. Enough that I corrected my miserly 4 stars (what was I thinking for one of the best MM books ever written??) to the more deserved 5 stars.

The setting: Charleston. Our hero is a soldier on a mission with his team, a strange bunch of misfits who are trying to gather intelligence in the midst of the Civil War . The US Civil War, set in an alternate Universe, with some steam-punk elements. There are references to previous actions from airships having destroyed much of the city. Private Wicklow Doyle starts out almost getting killed, blows up a building to escape, and then the rest of the book is about the salvaging of the mission, trying to identify the traitor on their team and escaping from the hell that is Charleston. The romantic co-lead is their aristocratic team leader, Alexander Rhoades, a scholar and a planner, but not really a trained soldier himself. He's the one who's rescued Doyle from his earlier Army assignment under a cruel captain.

There are so many original and fascinating themes here. The literary references, the class antagonism, the racism in this broken society, although only briefly referenced. I could have read a lot more about this, although the story is already satisfyingly long. The entire story is suspenseful and utterly new and fresh, to the extent I had no idea what was coming and what to expect, which I can't say about almost any book in any genre these days. This was just a new color and flower and fruit altogether. MM has become fiction that's so formulaic it's rare you can't predict how the entire story is going to go, with a few variables tweaked. A lot of MM authors make a living changing a few details and churning out another copy of their work that started out oh so very derivative in the first place. None of that applies to the wonder that is R. Cooper.

The prose that Cooper writes is dense, heavy. She does not engage in clear, direct action. An action at the start of a page might end up being continued a page later after a lot of describing, and telling, and processing of emotional reaction. This doesn't normally work. It's hard work for the reader to track the action, follow the story. She manages to toe the line. There are a lot of small, seemingly inconsequential actions that become esoteric, half-page long thoughts about just how not inconsequential those things were, after all.

There is a lot of subtext. I didn't catch quite a lot of what the author was hinting at on my first read. I'm not sure I've gotten all of it yet. There's a point where the romantic interest (Alexander) is playing the role of a jilted lover, designed to help with a trap. I'm not sure any author has made so much with a plot mechanism of merely breathing or rasping or being silent, but somehow, it relays information to all the others in ways I didn't quite grasp.

There isn't any heavy purple prose about the hero luuuuuurrrvvving his romantic interest. He barely says a word about what he's feeling. He respects their leader. He wants him to be safe. But you do grasp, with all the intensity that the author intended, that of course Alexander adores Wicklow and Wicklow thinks the world of Alexander, no matter the low-key, restrained way the story unfolds. And his sweetness, innocence and courage and principles are admirable.

It's clever, subtle and polished. It's charming, and doesn't beat you over the head with its themes or assertions. Another plus point in the author's favor is her basic sense of decorum and dignity. There's very little coarse, gross coverage of how the hero's genitals moved about in response to something and for that, I'm eternally grateful.

Wicklow's Odyssey is a book that takes careful reading, and perhaps multiple readings to fully appreciate - but the effort is truly worth it. Cooper does romance so very well. Just brilliant.

[Guadalupe]

This book can get a bit slow at time but the world building is compelling and, when there's action, it keeps you on your toes. And, of course, the couple is great. I love Wicklow a lot, he's incredible.

[Lynn P · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Good

I have been reading all of R. Coopers books and I love the way the relationships and characters and plot unfold. She does not lead you down an obvious path but let’s you discover the world she created as you read.