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Necklace Without A Trace: A Cozy Steampunk Fantasy Novel
The magic necklace has been stolen, and the world is going to end. Okay, fine, that’s a bit dramatic. But if I can’t convince the Guild that I’m a good private investigator, then my world is going to end. I’m out of money, and out of options. Finding this necklace is my priority.
To make matters worse, I have to deal with supernatural creatures like trickster gnomes, miniature dragons, and a shapeshifter that can’t sniff out clues.
One thing is for certain: the next few days are going to be an adventure.
To make matters worse, I have to deal with supernatural creatures like trickster gnomes, miniature dragons, and a shapeshifter that can’t sniff out clues.
One thing is for certain: the next few days are going to be an adventure.
127 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 4, 2022
7 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 4, 2023
This is a fast-paced, Steampunk, coming-of-age, slow (is there even anything there?) burn, detecting of a burgled magical artifact story that also happens to be chock full of creatures both sentient and not. There are Elves, Trolls, Faeries, Pixies, Gargoyles, Satyrs, Gnomes, Werewolves, shapeshifters, Gorgons, Vampires, incorporeals, and yes... even we Humans are there. There are also Lizards (of unusual size), Dragons, unicorns, and who knows what else is populating this world that we have yet to fully discover? Guess we'll have to wait for the next book to find out.
The writing here was solid. It carried a brisk pace and I was never bored or counting pages. In fact, I hit that epilogue at high speed and was dazed by the collision because it felt like mere minutes since I opened the ebook and started at chapter 1. I learned cool new things like witches have Covens but gnomes have Donsys as well as some other imaginative additions like gnomes can converse with animals and they need a great hoard of jewels and coin in order to attract a Queen gnome to their Donsy. It was all very entertaining and I found it to be extremely easy to lose myself within its pages.
The only thing that I saw as a mark against it was that it was not very difficult to suss out whodunit... especially since the red herring, suspect(s) weren't really believable patsies... I guess that was done on purpose so that we could understand Sierra's reluctance about letting the arrest stand.
Overall:
This book had it all! There were relatable characters. The backdrop was interesting. I'm a HUGE sucker for Steampunk and although it was a bit skimpy on the super cool Steampunk-like inventions.... some Steampunk is better than none any day of the week.
I loved the ending and where our FMC, Sierra Finley's story was headed. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre as well as anyone looking for a fun, character (creature) steeped novel. I'm looking forward to the next installation!
*** I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ***
The writing here was solid. It carried a brisk pace and I was never bored or counting pages. In fact, I hit that epilogue at high speed and was dazed by the collision because it felt like mere minutes since I opened the ebook and started at chapter 1. I learned cool new things like witches have Covens but gnomes have Donsys as well as some other imaginative additions like gnomes can converse with animals and they need a great hoard of jewels and coin in order to attract a Queen gnome to their Donsy. It was all very entertaining and I found it to be extremely easy to lose myself within its pages.
The only thing that I saw as a mark against it was that it was not very difficult to suss out whodunit... especially since the red herring, suspect(s) weren't really believable patsies... I guess that was done on purpose so that we could understand Sierra's reluctance about letting the arrest stand.
Overall:
This book had it all! There were relatable characters. The backdrop was interesting. I'm a HUGE sucker for Steampunk and although it was a bit skimpy on the super cool Steampunk-like inventions.... some Steampunk is better than none any day of the week.
I loved the ending and where our FMC, Sierra Finley's story was headed. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre as well as anyone looking for a fun, character (creature) steeped novel. I'm looking forward to the next installation!
*** I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ***
January 5, 2023
This story follows Sierra Finley as she embarks on the start of her dream job as a private investigator in Deva City. The Guild, a prestigious organization, tasks her with finding a priceless magical necklace. The Guild pairs Sierra with a handsome shifter, Logan Barkley, who definitely catches Sierra's fancy. Sierra's adventures as she goes about her task are totally interesting. The characters are great and nicely presented. This story is very gentle reading - even the bad guys aren't all that scary. I think the book would definitely be suitable for teens and older children as there is nothing objectionable in the book at all. I would love to read more stories about Sierra and see some future revelations as to the shifter secrets that Logan is hiding. I got this book as an Advance Reader Copy from For Voracious Readers Only.
December 13, 2022
Completely delightful!
I’ve not read much steampunk but this tale has made me a believer. A smorgasbord of paranormal creatures: pixies, gnomes, ghost and trolls and seraphim, maybe even a unicorn.
This has all the makings of a series, which I dearly hope. I’m in for the journey.
I’ve not read much steampunk but this tale has made me a believer. A smorgasbord of paranormal creatures: pixies, gnomes, ghost and trolls and seraphim, maybe even a unicorn.
This has all the makings of a series, which I dearly hope. I’m in for the journey.
September 3, 2022
The best thing about this cozy little mystery is its magical alternate-history universe. A mashup of Victorian fantasy steampunk, chocked with details that splice smoothly into the story.
"What do pixies even keep in their suitcases? Small papers? Do their human co-workers need to use magnifying glasses?"
I love that the main character has no power - making her a minority in this magically infused world. She navigates on the behest of a governing body called the Guild and solves the case using wits and intuition.
There's a hint of a romance that doesn't get very far, based on the length of the novella, but it would be fun to read more about Sierra Finley in another volume!
"What do pixies even keep in their suitcases? Small papers? Do their human co-workers need to use magnifying glasses?"
I love that the main character has no power - making her a minority in this magically infused world. She navigates on the behest of a governing body called the Guild and solves the case using wits and intuition.
There's a hint of a romance that doesn't get very far, based on the length of the novella, but it would be fun to read more about Sierra Finley in another volume!
January 27, 2023
Disclaimer: Even though I had requested/received a review copy of Necklace Without A Trace through BookSirens, I enjoyed the book so much that I ended up purchasing a copy via Amazon afterwards.
When I saw the cover of this book I was intrigued. I have read less than a handful of Steampunk books & really liked them; Necklace Without a Trace adds another reason why I should read more of the genre!
There really isn't a character I didn't like - except maybe the hotel receptionist who thinks it's a good idea to go around waking up guests at 6am to ask when she can expect rent money...even though Sierra was paid up for another week! Or the annoying little pixie who tried to pull her hair out of her head.
As Sierra makes her way through the throng of magical creatures, and humans like herself, on the crowded streets of Deva City, we learn a lot about her quickly. Joining the esteemed Guild as the very first female agent is her dream. It took her three weeks, and almost all of her meager life savings, before she was finally given her probationary case: To find a missing necklace when there are absolutely no clues left behind and three people who had been in the room around the time it went missing.
This case? This isn't like any probationary case that a man would get. They get kittens tucked up into trees that need rescuing, not historical and very expensive jewels that disappear without a trace, such as the Burgeon Necklace.
Yes, there is a feminist theme lightly weaved in, but Penrose does a fantastic job with it. I mean, Sierra's the first woman to even be considered and that's after three weeks of badgering the Guild receptionist (Charlene, who doesn't seem to realize she's dead)! When the Guild realizes that she was mistakenly given a case much too senior for someone so very green, they quickly rectify that and I was glad to see it handled so very gracefully by the Guild Director.
Because that meant she got to work with Logan, the Museum's security guard, more. I really like him and how he was able to help Sierra, letting her lead the investigation and stepping in only when it was absolutely necessary. I absolutely think those two work well together as friends, business associates, or even as a potential couple down the road. He may be a shapeshifter, with quite the temper, but she is the key to helping him to reign it all in and learn control.
Rosie is the best friend that everyone deserves. I absolutely adore her and hope that she makes appearances in future installments in this series. Sprocket, the kitten, and Iggy, the lizard, were absolutely adorable and even the gnomes captured my heart! And I'd love to see Conor and Bethany again.
I was able to figure out who the thief was very early on, but the reason why they stole the necklace was not what I had had in mind, so that was a surprise. The ending sets up the sequel nicely and I can't wait to see what's in store for Sierra (and company?) next.
The only "con" is that the book could do with some more proofreading and another round or two of editing, otherwise, I really enjoyed this quick & easy read (I was finished within an hour of starting it!).
When I saw the cover of this book I was intrigued. I have read less than a handful of Steampunk books & really liked them; Necklace Without a Trace adds another reason why I should read more of the genre!
There really isn't a character I didn't like - except maybe the hotel receptionist who thinks it's a good idea to go around waking up guests at 6am to ask when she can expect rent money...even though Sierra was paid up for another week! Or the annoying little pixie who tried to pull her hair out of her head.
As Sierra makes her way through the throng of magical creatures, and humans like herself, on the crowded streets of Deva City, we learn a lot about her quickly. Joining the esteemed Guild as the very first female agent is her dream. It took her three weeks, and almost all of her meager life savings, before she was finally given her probationary case: To find a missing necklace when there are absolutely no clues left behind and three people who had been in the room around the time it went missing.
This case? This isn't like any probationary case that a man would get. They get kittens tucked up into trees that need rescuing, not historical and very expensive jewels that disappear without a trace, such as the Burgeon Necklace.
Yes, there is a feminist theme lightly weaved in, but Penrose does a fantastic job with it. I mean, Sierra's the first woman to even be considered and that's after three weeks of badgering the Guild receptionist (Charlene, who doesn't seem to realize she's dead)! When the Guild realizes that she was mistakenly given a case much too senior for someone so very green, they quickly rectify that and I was glad to see it handled so very gracefully by the Guild Director.
Because that meant she got to work with Logan, the Museum's security guard, more. I really like him and how he was able to help Sierra, letting her lead the investigation and stepping in only when it was absolutely necessary. I absolutely think those two work well together as friends, business associates, or even as a potential couple down the road. He may be a shapeshifter, with quite the temper, but she is the key to helping him to reign it all in and learn control.
Rosie is the best friend that everyone deserves. I absolutely adore her and hope that she makes appearances in future installments in this series. Sprocket, the kitten, and Iggy, the lizard, were absolutely adorable and even the gnomes captured my heart! And I'd love to see Conor and Bethany again.
I was able to figure out who the thief was very early on, but the reason why they stole the necklace was not what I had had in mind, so that was a surprise. The ending sets up the sequel nicely and I can't wait to see what's in store for Sierra (and company?) next.
The only "con" is that the book could do with some more proofreading and another round or two of editing, otherwise, I really enjoyed this quick & easy read (I was finished within an hour of starting it!).
March 22, 2023
A very good introduction to Lucy Penrose and Sierra Finley!
I enjoy a good fantasy story, so when I saw Necklace Without a Trace, I was attracted first by the cover, the steampunk elements really caught my interest, then I read the description and figured I wanted to see if I might have found a new author and series. Well, this first story in the Sierra Finley series has whet my appetite and provided a very good introduction to Lucy Penrose’s writing/storytelling. The story is well developed and hopefully as the series progresses more of Sierra’s backstory is revealed, because she is a very interesting character. The action and intrigue in this story are well done, there were a few times where I thought I had figured out where the necklace went only to find out I had no clue. I will certainly be looking for the next installment in this series.
I enjoy a good fantasy story, so when I saw Necklace Without a Trace, I was attracted first by the cover, the steampunk elements really caught my interest, then I read the description and figured I wanted to see if I might have found a new author and series. Well, this first story in the Sierra Finley series has whet my appetite and provided a very good introduction to Lucy Penrose’s writing/storytelling. The story is well developed and hopefully as the series progresses more of Sierra’s backstory is revealed, because she is a very interesting character. The action and intrigue in this story are well done, there were a few times where I thought I had figured out where the necklace went only to find out I had no clue. I will certainly be looking for the next installment in this series.
April 11, 2023
This was fun! I'm always on the lookout for a good steampunk book and this didn't disappoint. The worldbuilding was great, and I liked the fact that there were a plethora of different paranormal creatures. Pixies, shapeshifters, vampires, satyrs, fae, trolls, gorgons, ghosts... the list could go on.
Sierra was a likable heroine with spunk and determination. She wants nothing more than to be a private investigator with the Guild, but it's gonna be an uphill battle. She has to prove herself on a probationary case first. She's tasked with finding a valuable necklace that was stolen from a museum. This high-profile case really tests her. There were plenty of suspects, and while I had my suspicions about who the guilty party was, I wasn't sure until right before the reveal.
I really enjoyed this book and hope there are many more stories to come!
Sierra was a likable heroine with spunk and determination. She wants nothing more than to be a private investigator with the Guild, but it's gonna be an uphill battle. She has to prove herself on a probationary case first. She's tasked with finding a valuable necklace that was stolen from a museum. This high-profile case really tests her. There were plenty of suspects, and while I had my suspicions about who the guilty party was, I wasn't sure until right before the reveal.
I really enjoyed this book and hope there are many more stories to come!
March 22, 2023
A fun and entertaining story about a detective in training that have to find a missing neckelace with the help of a mysterious shapshiffter. Really enjoy the world full of gnomes, pixies, goblins, elves and
dwarves. Just like the clocks, the Museum and The Gild were intresting backgrunds. Sierra have a hard time to find her real place in this world, but with the help of her friend Rose and her partner Logan she overcomes her strugles. In the end was the type of book that we read just to passe a really nice time, living an adventure and have some laughs.
dwarves. Just like the clocks, the Museum and The Gild were intresting backgrunds. Sierra have a hard time to find her real place in this world, but with the help of her friend Rose and her partner Logan she overcomes her strugles. In the end was the type of book that we read just to passe a really nice time, living an adventure and have some laughs.
December 10, 2022
I definitely enjoyed the characters and plot, but must note that the writing could use some tightening up and a good proofreader would also help, hence the 3.4 stars I would give this. Still, the bones of the story are good and I would definitely enjoy reading more about Sierra, her world and her path in life. I'm leaving this honest review after receiving a review copy.
December 26, 2022
A good story! This was an interesting tale, well enough written to keep my attention until the very end. I liked that the world-building was accomplished without a lot of excess verbiage.
I received a free ARC copy of this book and am under no obligation to review it.
I received a free ARC copy of this book and am under no obligation to review it.
March 23, 2023
4 stars for the story. 3 stars for editing. There were some inconsistencies and several grammar errors that bothered me. (ie: presently instead of pleasantly and wandering instead of wondering.) I liked the characters and the story, but I probably won't read more. So 3 stars overall.
January 9, 2023
Good story and well written, I just wish it was longer!
January 11, 2023
I love a good mystery book and this filled my quota of good so I liked it if you can't tell
March 14, 2023
This is a quirky steam punk fantasy mystery with great world building, interesting character and a solid plot. It was just a very fun read that makes me want more.
August 14, 2022
Great first novel
Loved this story of Sierra getting her first job.
Recommended for those that like steampunk.
I wait in anticipation for the second novel in the series
Loved this story of Sierra getting her first job.
Recommended for those that like steampunk.
I wait in anticipation for the second novel in the series
March 23, 2023
Readers follow Sierra take on a case to finance her situation as well as to prove to the Guild she is good at what she does. Sierra is very good at thinking on her feet, and this works in her favour to prove she belongs with the Guild as a private investigator. It's refreshing to watch one character solve the mystery - a missing necklace on this occasion - while later assigned to work with Logan. But Sierra has the objective outlook on the case, and the twist is nicely revealed. The story includes a well-detailed setting and following the story with fewer dialogue and more descriptions as Sierra admires her surrounding is nice. The book is written in the present tense, so readers read the narrative in real-time. A personal pleasant way to read since nothing in the future can be foreseen and readers learn what happens at the same time as the protagonist.
I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to StoryOrigin, VRO, and author.
I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to StoryOrigin, VRO, and author.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews