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Steamside Chronicles
Emily Fenwick, formerly with the NYPD, is now the reluctant defender of 1890 New York. Ignoring her inner voice, she went to a carnival in Central Park and entered a Victorian tent in hopes a psychic would have some encouraging news. The guarantee she received of meeting a tall, dark, and handsome stranger comes with a huge catch - he lives in an alternate dimension of the past.
142 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2010
194 people want to read
About the author
Ciar Cullen
26 books38 followersCiar Cullen grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. After working as an archaeologist for a decade in Greece and England, she settled in New Jersey, where she writes and works at a prominent college. Ciar is happily married with one cat. To learn more about Ciar Cullen, please visit www.ciarcullen.com, where you can send an email to her.
Her blog is at http://www.ciarcullen.wordpress.com and she often reviews books and hosts other authors.
Email her at ciar@ciarcullen.com
Her blog is at http://www.ciarcullen.wordpress.com and she often reviews books and hosts other authors.
Email her at ciar@ciarcullen.com
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 25, 2010
Wow. Ciar Cullen has completely blown my mind. I am in love with this book. It does jump around a bit and it took me a bit to get it down pat, but wow! Ciar has created this almost alternate universe. Her imagination is incredible. I'm having trouble even deciding what to say because I don't want to give anything away and I don't want to ruin all the little imaginary beings and nightmares that Ciar has created. I am so completely enchanted with this world.
I need to find someone who has read this so that I can talk about the ending. How incredibly sad it made me but giddy at the same time. It shows that love can find you anywhere!
ACK! I can't say what I want to say, because it will completely give away the twist!!!
And can I just say how much I am in love with this cover??
Who do I recommend to? If you enjoy Steampunk, if you enjoy time travel (which is odd, because I normally REALLY don't), and if you love the bizarre and strange, you will love this book.
Who recommended it? Ciar asked for reviewers on Twitter
I need to find someone who has read this so that I can talk about the ending. How incredibly sad it made me but giddy at the same time. It shows that love can find you anywhere!
ACK! I can't say what I want to say, because it will completely give away the twist!!!
And can I just say how much I am in love with this cover??
Who do I recommend to? If you enjoy Steampunk, if you enjoy time travel (which is odd, because I normally REALLY don't), and if you love the bizarre and strange, you will love this book.
Who recommended it? Ciar asked for reviewers on Twitter
September 5, 2012
This book deserves 2.5 stars. It's not the worst thing I've read, yet it wasn't the best either.
The protagonist, Emily Fenwick, is a police officer who is suddenly whisked into an alternate New York set in 1890. Except it's not really an alternate New York, nor are there any scenarios that could be labeled steampunk. It's more fantasy-based with a world that I found intriguing.
Emily wakes up in Steamside, a world connected to 1890's "normal" New York. Steamside's inhabitants are refugees like Emily who long to return to their times. Why are they here? It's not clearly explained, and that's not a good thing, which is a shame because Steamside is interesting.
Rather, the setting is used more as a backdrop to a juvenile, nonsensical romance between the two leads. POVs were difficult to distinguish, and the dialogue was all jumbled up. The romance was tedious and unbelievable. Have I mentioned juvenile?
It was a fun read, but Steamside Chronicles just wasn't the best.
The protagonist, Emily Fenwick, is a police officer who is suddenly whisked into an alternate New York set in 1890. Except it's not really an alternate New York, nor are there any scenarios that could be labeled steampunk. It's more fantasy-based with a world that I found intriguing.
Emily wakes up in Steamside, a world connected to 1890's "normal" New York. Steamside's inhabitants are refugees like Emily who long to return to their times. Why are they here? It's not clearly explained, and that's not a good thing, which is a shame because Steamside is interesting.
Rather, the setting is used more as a backdrop to a juvenile, nonsensical romance between the two leads. POVs were difficult to distinguish, and the dialogue was all jumbled up. The romance was tedious and unbelievable. Have I mentioned juvenile?
It was a fun read, but Steamside Chronicles just wasn't the best.
August 19, 2010
Right of the bat, let's make one thing clear. This is not what I would consider typical Ciar--there are no archeological twists or ancient ruins. And although it is considered paranormal, this is 100% a steampunk romance.
Now that's out of the way, I can tell you that I loved this book as much as I love Ciar's other works. She has, as usual, managed to step out of the norm and create an amazing world. And she's done it perfectly IMO.
It was my first steampunk read, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect other than the fact that I'd like it (Well, it is Ciar for goodness sakes!)
Characters were, how shall I put it, unique, and their stories were intricately woven into a very clever time traveling plot. Mrs. Pettigrew (LOVE THAT NAME) was my favorite because she reminded me of a Mary Poppins with a steampunk flavor and a snappy tongue. She's a whole heap of fun!
All in all, this was a blast to read and would make a fantastic TV series.
Now that's out of the way, I can tell you that I loved this book as much as I love Ciar's other works. She has, as usual, managed to step out of the norm and create an amazing world. And she's done it perfectly IMO.
It was my first steampunk read, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect other than the fact that I'd like it (Well, it is Ciar for goodness sakes!)
Characters were, how shall I put it, unique, and their stories were intricately woven into a very clever time traveling plot. Mrs. Pettigrew (LOVE THAT NAME) was my favorite because she reminded me of a Mary Poppins with a steampunk flavor and a snappy tongue. She's a whole heap of fun!
All in all, this was a blast to read and would make a fantastic TV series.
November 23, 2010
3.5 stars - Steamside Chronicles was a little bit of a lot of things: a bit of 'time travel', a bit of steampunk, and a bit of romance.
Police officer Emily (Fen) Fenwick suddenly finds herself part of a group of individuals who have been pulled from the modern world and who now split their time between 1890's New York and the otherworldly dimension of Steamside where they must guard their fortress from physical manifestations of Nightmares. A relationship develops between Emily and Jack, and 'the Man' in charge of the ragtag group of displaced-in-time 'punks' who make Steamside their home. But since both leads are somewhat of a mess due to their circumstances - the heroine being weepy as a result of the trauma of being torn from her normal life and the hero, suffering from insecurity as a leader who has no hope of bringing his people back home - there are moments when the relationship seems more suited to a YA story, despite some more adult intimacy that occurs between the pair.
Adding to my occasional confusion, the story is told from the first person point of view but switches back and forth between two narrators: Fen, and Jack. I don't have problems with first person narrations per say, but the switches weren't always obvious and it often took a sentence or two to determine whose head we were in. My favorite part of the book though were the supporting characters, Petti the hero's sister, Screw the inventor and Sweet Pea who is in charge of guarding Steamside were all intriguing.
Over all I liked Steamside Chronicles, it is a bit off-beat and surreal at times but I found that interesting.
Police officer Emily (Fen) Fenwick suddenly finds herself part of a group of individuals who have been pulled from the modern world and who now split their time between 1890's New York and the otherworldly dimension of Steamside where they must guard their fortress from physical manifestations of Nightmares. A relationship develops between Emily and Jack, and 'the Man' in charge of the ragtag group of displaced-in-time 'punks' who make Steamside their home. But since both leads are somewhat of a mess due to their circumstances - the heroine being weepy as a result of the trauma of being torn from her normal life and the hero, suffering from insecurity as a leader who has no hope of bringing his people back home - there are moments when the relationship seems more suited to a YA story, despite some more adult intimacy that occurs between the pair.
Adding to my occasional confusion, the story is told from the first person point of view but switches back and forth between two narrators: Fen, and Jack. I don't have problems with first person narrations per say, but the switches weren't always obvious and it often took a sentence or two to determine whose head we were in. My favorite part of the book though were the supporting characters, Petti the hero's sister, Screw the inventor and Sweet Pea who is in charge of guarding Steamside were all intriguing.
Over all I liked Steamside Chronicles, it is a bit off-beat and surreal at times but I found that interesting.
May 6, 2011
Such a deal! This novel is composed of two novels -- a fantasy novel and a romance novel. Alas, there isn't a steampunk novel, as one might think from the title; no steampunk at all. However, the two novels are intertwining and can't be read separately. I'll divide this review in two short pieces, one for each novel.
The fantasy novel had some interesting ideas. I'd have liked to have seen these ideas pursued further and developed more fully. There were also a number of dangling plot threads that I wish had been resolved. Sorry I can't go into detail, but I don't think I can discuss them much further, lest I give away important information. The fantasy bits are what allowed me to give this its one star.
Never having read a romance novel, I am not qualified to review the romance novel. So, take these comments with a grain of salt. The romance novel, in my opinion, seriously detracted from the book as a whole. Whenever he characters dealt with each other, they acted like complete idiots. I really wanted to slap them all around. The romance bits felt like high-school romance. Or maybe a high-school kid trying to imagine an adult romance.
Here are a few of disparate thoughts.
- This book was very choppy.
- Fen was a cop? Wow. I know we were told outright, but I'd never have guessed.
- Petti was supposed to be mysteeeeerrrious and bohemian, but just came off as annoying.
- The blind obedience to The Man was a bit baffling.
- Barber was underused.
- Where'd the gas come from? How was the pinball machine powered?
The fantasy novel had some interesting ideas. I'd have liked to have seen these ideas pursued further and developed more fully. There were also a number of dangling plot threads that I wish had been resolved. Sorry I can't go into detail, but I don't think I can discuss them much further, lest I give away important information. The fantasy bits are what allowed me to give this its one star.
Never having read a romance novel, I am not qualified to review the romance novel. So, take these comments with a grain of salt. The romance novel, in my opinion, seriously detracted from the book as a whole. Whenever he characters dealt with each other, they acted like complete idiots. I really wanted to slap them all around. The romance bits felt like high-school romance. Or maybe a high-school kid trying to imagine an adult romance.
Here are a few of disparate thoughts.
- This book was very choppy.
- Fen was a cop? Wow. I know we were told outright, but I'd never have guessed.
- Petti was supposed to be mysteeeeerrrious and bohemian, but just came off as annoying.
- The blind obedience to The Man was a bit baffling.
- Barber was underused.
- Where'd the gas come from? How was the pinball machine powered?
November 28, 2010
Egyptology, steampunk, and time travel? I'm in!
This was such a special book and an absolute surprise. The premise was so unique, a great twist on steampunk. I even hesitate to call it steampunk. It has a world and characters and dystopian/utopian feel that's all its own.
Fen, an ex-cop, finds herself in a sort of limbo state between "Normal" - 1890s New York and "Steamside" a strange alternate dimension where nightmares attack at night. The Punks who are stuck in this limbo have to scavenge Normal in order to outfit themselves in Steamside. No one quite knows what they're doing there and they've banded together to form their own quasi-society under the leadership of charismatic Jack Pettigrew and his witty and astute, yet a bit spacey sister, Petti.
Wonderful speculative fiction. You'll find yourself trying to figure out the world along with Fenwick (Emily). The absolute beauty of this story is how it's written with so much ATTITUDE and cleverness. I loved Ciar Cullen's writing. Every scene was a treat. The emotional development between Fen and Jack is the most heart-rending and realistic I've read in a long time -- despite the very "unreal" setting. The romance will remind you of how vulnerable and obsessive and sometimes silly new love can be.
The story really defies description. Highly recommend this for readers of science fiction, steampunk, or anyone who likes to be a little adventurous in their reading. I can't wait to read more from this author.
This was such a special book and an absolute surprise. The premise was so unique, a great twist on steampunk. I even hesitate to call it steampunk. It has a world and characters and dystopian/utopian feel that's all its own.
Fen, an ex-cop, finds herself in a sort of limbo state between "Normal" - 1890s New York and "Steamside" a strange alternate dimension where nightmares attack at night. The Punks who are stuck in this limbo have to scavenge Normal in order to outfit themselves in Steamside. No one quite knows what they're doing there and they've banded together to form their own quasi-society under the leadership of charismatic Jack Pettigrew and his witty and astute, yet a bit spacey sister, Petti.
Wonderful speculative fiction. You'll find yourself trying to figure out the world along with Fenwick (Emily). The absolute beauty of this story is how it's written with so much ATTITUDE and cleverness. I loved Ciar Cullen's writing. Every scene was a treat. The emotional development between Fen and Jack is the most heart-rending and realistic I've read in a long time -- despite the very "unreal" setting. The romance will remind you of how vulnerable and obsessive and sometimes silly new love can be.
The story really defies description. Highly recommend this for readers of science fiction, steampunk, or anyone who likes to be a little adventurous in their reading. I can't wait to read more from this author.
January 1, 2011
Hunter's Review
I think this is one of the best books I’ve ever been lucky enough to stumble upon accidently. From the title, I expected to read a book similar to MelJean Brook’s Iron Duke undertaking, a more traditional steampunk romance. While this book has those elements, it is so much more complicated than the so-called (if there is at this point a so-called) steam-punk romance.
Ciar Cullen has created two characters if Emily and Jack that are unforgettable. Jack is the kind of hero all writers wish they could create. He is at times wonderful, sexy, and Alpha and then he turns around and he is insecure, pigheaded, and confused. Emily is lost in a world she doesn’t truly understand but is trying to navigate just the same.
I cannot imagine how much research must have gone into this book. The author has captured police work, the year 1890, religious motifs, paranormal elements, sex, and Egyptology. Not to mention time travel and circus life…
Cullen writes like an expert. Her writing is as good as any I have ever read anywhere—it is clean, perfectly crafted, and well thought out. Every character in the book sounds different and unique. She is not afraid to take chances.
I do realize I’m raving about this book like a teenager but what can I say? I was blown away. Please go read this book. I’m hoping the author will write more!
5 Tea Cups and a Recommended Read!
I think this is one of the best books I’ve ever been lucky enough to stumble upon accidently. From the title, I expected to read a book similar to MelJean Brook’s Iron Duke undertaking, a more traditional steampunk romance. While this book has those elements, it is so much more complicated than the so-called (if there is at this point a so-called) steam-punk romance.
Ciar Cullen has created two characters if Emily and Jack that are unforgettable. Jack is the kind of hero all writers wish they could create. He is at times wonderful, sexy, and Alpha and then he turns around and he is insecure, pigheaded, and confused. Emily is lost in a world she doesn’t truly understand but is trying to navigate just the same.
I cannot imagine how much research must have gone into this book. The author has captured police work, the year 1890, religious motifs, paranormal elements, sex, and Egyptology. Not to mention time travel and circus life…
Cullen writes like an expert. Her writing is as good as any I have ever read anywhere—it is clean, perfectly crafted, and well thought out. Every character in the book sounds different and unique. She is not afraid to take chances.
I do realize I’m raving about this book like a teenager but what can I say? I was blown away. Please go read this book. I’m hoping the author will write more!
5 Tea Cups and a Recommended Read!
February 19, 2011
This was a book that Amazon.com recommended to me, and since it seemed like it was going to be steampunk and time travel (and it was a little shorter than most) I was in.
There are however, some definite problems with the book. I was initially confused by the story. Emily Fenwick, who is a cop in 2010, finds herself pulled into 1890's New York. But there are two versions of the 1890's - Normal and Steamside. She meets up with a cast of characters there, led by Jack Pettigrew and his sister Annalise Pettigrew. While I often enjoy first person point of view, it kepts switching back and forth between Emily (Fen) and Jack (The Man) in a way that I had trouble tracking. And the names that they used to refer to each other also kept changing, which again caused me problems. And while I enjoy a good romance, the main characters relationship was very teen angsty, yet explicit, so I wouldn't quantify it as young adult.
But I really enjoyed the actual story. Are the characters time traveling, or are they in a limbo world or maybe even dead? Their ancestors become involved, as well as Howard Carter! So now we have added Egyptology to the steampunk and time travel - which I totally love. And I never felt like the characters were doing anything stupid - they were trying to figure out how to get back home - which helped me feel how it would be to live in their shoes.
There are however, some definite problems with the book. I was initially confused by the story. Emily Fenwick, who is a cop in 2010, finds herself pulled into 1890's New York. But there are two versions of the 1890's - Normal and Steamside. She meets up with a cast of characters there, led by Jack Pettigrew and his sister Annalise Pettigrew. While I often enjoy first person point of view, it kepts switching back and forth between Emily (Fen) and Jack (The Man) in a way that I had trouble tracking. And the names that they used to refer to each other also kept changing, which again caused me problems. And while I enjoy a good romance, the main characters relationship was very teen angsty, yet explicit, so I wouldn't quantify it as young adult.
But I really enjoyed the actual story. Are the characters time traveling, or are they in a limbo world or maybe even dead? Their ancestors become involved, as well as Howard Carter! So now we have added Egyptology to the steampunk and time travel - which I totally love. And I never felt like the characters were doing anything stupid - they were trying to figure out how to get back home - which helped me feel how it would be to live in their shoes.
November 25, 2010
A while back I got hit by the Steampunk bug. Here's the thing, though, I didn't want just Steampunk, I wanted sexy Steampunk. You know, where people will get naked and romp between the sheets. Yep, I have very specific wants in my books. When this book fell into my hands, I was pretty darn excited about it.
The beginning is a little confusing. There's a lot of worldbuilding that takes place and you're running to keep up. Once the basics have been laid out, however, you end up with a fun ride into a Steampunk, bygone age. Throw in a link or two to Ancient Egypt, some sexy goings on between two of our main characters, and evil clowns and you've got a fun little story.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
The beginning is a little confusing. There's a lot of worldbuilding that takes place and you're running to keep up. Once the basics have been laid out, however, you end up with a fun ride into a Steampunk, bygone age. Throw in a link or two to Ancient Egypt, some sexy goings on between two of our main characters, and evil clowns and you've got a fun little story.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
September 12, 2010
Full of Cullen's customary intelligence and humor. I'd give it another half star if the system allowed. In a fun lark, the characters wind through history and possible history, caught in a battle between fate and free will. Recommended!
September 23, 2011
I loved this unique Steampunk tale. Ms. Cullen has created a world where souls gather in Steamside. As the story unfolds you discover along with Emily and Jack why they can travel between Modern and Steamside. Unique, romantic and one heck of an adventure! A must read!
July 17, 2011
Sorry, boring to death. I'm forcing myself to finish it. But honestly I don't know why: it has no real plot, the romance is "sad" (as in why???): angsty and almost childish.
September 20, 2010
Enjoyable, but nothing special.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews