Helpful Score: 8
I read the first book in the Aisling Grey series from Katie MacAlister and loved it. So when I went to the store and saw this one I took a chance. I didnt like it. I just kept wishing I could hurry up and finish reading this book. There is alot of background and some of the stuff I didnt understand. I was dissapointed in the book. I guess there maybe more to the series because some of the questions were not answered. Like How are they going to get home?
Helpful Score: 5
The book was kinda funny but the ending really fell flat. I love Katie as an author and was very surprised that this book was very disappointing.
Helpful Score: 3
First off, I love love love the cover of this book, it is absolutely gorgeous...get a copy to look at in your hands, the pictures do it no justice. It's beautiful. This is the second book in the 'steampunk' genre I have read, the other being 'Soulless'. This book was a completely different experience, it is set in present times in an alternate world as opposed to the past in the same world.
The main characters Octavia and Jack are HILARIOUS, I kept cracking up at the most inappropriate moments, the book makes a scene feel serious, but not serious at all, in a whole new way, and just wait until you read one the sensual scenes, I laughed my way almost through the whole thing.
The plot is sturdy and strong, except for the thing with Hallie, she just gets arrested, I wish that could have gotten a bit more explanation, but everything else was pretty good. Flowed well, no lulls, and kept a decent pace. I do wish we could have gotten to know some of the crew better but I have a feeling this is the first in a series for Ms. MacAlister.
'Steamed' was an adventure to read, one I will gladly go on again and again.
The main characters Octavia and Jack are HILARIOUS, I kept cracking up at the most inappropriate moments, the book makes a scene feel serious, but not serious at all, in a whole new way, and just wait until you read one the sensual scenes, I laughed my way almost through the whole thing.
The plot is sturdy and strong, except for the thing with Hallie, she just gets arrested, I wish that could have gotten a bit more explanation, but everything else was pretty good. Flowed well, no lulls, and kept a decent pace. I do wish we could have gotten to know some of the crew better but I have a feeling this is the first in a series for Ms. MacAlister.
'Steamed' was an adventure to read, one I will gladly go on again and again.
As always Katie's books capture my attention from page one and keep me turning pages til the last. Steamed is a little different than what you think it will be, but the adventure keeps you riveted to the book. Loaded with action, secrets and passion. A must read for any Katie MacAlister fan!!
Helpful Score: 3
I originally bought this book because I was getting into reading Steampunk, had just finished MacAlister's Aisling Grey series and found it amusing, and was looking for a light fun read. This book overall was a disappointment. I finished it because I was sitting on a plane for three hours and had nothing else to read. It started out kind of amusing but the plot got so convoluted and then wrapped up in such a contrived way I just had to roll my eyes.
Jack Fletcher and his sister Hallie are zapped into an alternate reality when a lab experiment goes wrong. They find themselves on the airship of Captain Octavia Pye. Sparks fly between Jack and Octavia, but Octavia is wrapped up in a number of political schemes that entangle her whole crew in a fight for their lives.
The book started out kind of amusing. Jack is a geek with a rep for being a ladies man and Octavia appears to be a straight-laced women commander who doesn't take Jacks advances at all kindly. Of course this book being what it is, that eventually changes and Jack and Octavia couldn't get enough of each other.
The world is loosely steampunk. That is to say there are some automatons, a Europe and Asia still stuck in war, lots of airships and a Victorian feel to it all. Given that the world felt a bit incomplete. There was a lot of political stuff going on in this book but most of it seemed contrived and all of it was tied to men that Octavia had slept with. This really wasn't in keeping with Octavia's supposed stuffiness. Most of the plot seemed loosely thrown together in a way that enabled Jack and Octavia to have more sex.
Jack was obnoxious as a character and I wasn't at all intrigued by him. His sister Hallie was a doorstop more than anything else, oh and she was a bit of a plot device since she got lost and had to be tracked down. I am really not at all sure why she was even in the book.
The potential for Jack and Octavia to have a steaming hot relationship was there, but puttered out pretty quick. Octavia gives into Jack quickly and from there out they were pretty uninspiring. There wasn't a lot to keep the characters apart and, given that this book focused mainly on their relationship, it made things pretty boring for the remainder of the story. There was so much potential here for a steamy romance set in a steampunk Victoria era and it just wasn't realized. I felt like MacAlister wrote this over a weekend for fun and didn't bother really making her characters, plot, or world all that filled out.
Given all of the above, the story was slightly amusing. I was stuck on a plane and didn't have much else to do so I finished it; although I have to admit I had trouble getting through the last third of the book even though I had absolutely nothing else to do....
Overall my recommendation would be to skip this book. If you want to read something by MacAlister pick up her Aisling Grey Guardian series, it is much much better than this book. Keep in mind that MacAlister writes light fluffly, funny, paranormal romance. If you want to read a steampunk paranormal romance that is awesome pick up The Iron Duke by Meljean Brooke; The Iron Duke has an actual plot, awesome characters, and an absolutely fantastic world. If you feel like you still absolutely need to read this book do yourself a favor and get it from the library.
Jack Fletcher and his sister Hallie are zapped into an alternate reality when a lab experiment goes wrong. They find themselves on the airship of Captain Octavia Pye. Sparks fly between Jack and Octavia, but Octavia is wrapped up in a number of political schemes that entangle her whole crew in a fight for their lives.
The book started out kind of amusing. Jack is a geek with a rep for being a ladies man and Octavia appears to be a straight-laced women commander who doesn't take Jacks advances at all kindly. Of course this book being what it is, that eventually changes and Jack and Octavia couldn't get enough of each other.
The world is loosely steampunk. That is to say there are some automatons, a Europe and Asia still stuck in war, lots of airships and a Victorian feel to it all. Given that the world felt a bit incomplete. There was a lot of political stuff going on in this book but most of it seemed contrived and all of it was tied to men that Octavia had slept with. This really wasn't in keeping with Octavia's supposed stuffiness. Most of the plot seemed loosely thrown together in a way that enabled Jack and Octavia to have more sex.
Jack was obnoxious as a character and I wasn't at all intrigued by him. His sister Hallie was a doorstop more than anything else, oh and she was a bit of a plot device since she got lost and had to be tracked down. I am really not at all sure why she was even in the book.
The potential for Jack and Octavia to have a steaming hot relationship was there, but puttered out pretty quick. Octavia gives into Jack quickly and from there out they were pretty uninspiring. There wasn't a lot to keep the characters apart and, given that this book focused mainly on their relationship, it made things pretty boring for the remainder of the story. There was so much potential here for a steamy romance set in a steampunk Victoria era and it just wasn't realized. I felt like MacAlister wrote this over a weekend for fun and didn't bother really making her characters, plot, or world all that filled out.
Given all of the above, the story was slightly amusing. I was stuck on a plane and didn't have much else to do so I finished it; although I have to admit I had trouble getting through the last third of the book even though I had absolutely nothing else to do....
Overall my recommendation would be to skip this book. If you want to read something by MacAlister pick up her Aisling Grey Guardian series, it is much much better than this book. Keep in mind that MacAlister writes light fluffly, funny, paranormal romance. If you want to read a steampunk paranormal romance that is awesome pick up The Iron Duke by Meljean Brooke; The Iron Duke has an actual plot, awesome characters, and an absolutely fantastic world. If you feel like you still absolutely need to read this book do yourself a favor and get it from the library.
