This is the 3rd book in the Stoker and Holmes series. It was a great continuation of the series, I think it was the best book in the series yet. Five books are planned in this series.
Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes are requested as chaperones for the dreadfully drab and boring Princess Lurelia of Betrovia. England has a treaty with Betrovia for now...the initial hostilities between the two countries were caused by a chess board whose pieces were stolen by England. Now England has promised to return the Queen piece as long as Betrovia provides the instruction for when the Queen piece is hidden. During the welcoming ball for Princess Lurelia the instructions go missing. Now it is up to Evaline and Mina to figure out where this elusive chess piece is, while keeping Princess Lurelia (who is not as timid as she first seems) out of trouble.
This book was great fun and continues the storyline involving the Ankh while adding in this new storyline involving Betrovia.
The story alternates between Evaline and Mina and they both continue to have distinct voices. There are many interesting steampunk elements to the story (lots of interesting devices and such).
Amidst all the mystery solving, vampire hunting, and general sneaking around the two girls also have to deal with their societal demands. In the last two books Evaline and Mina both have love triangles of a sort going on...let's just say that those are dealt with in unexpected ways. We also start to learn more about the mystery that is Pix and is he is panning out to have a very interesting background.
This series has been an interesting blend of steampunk, paranormal, and history elements. It is a light and fun read, that I really enjoy.
Overall a fun and light steampunk series. I enjoy the spunky heroines, the history, and the vampire hunting. There is a lot of mystery-solving, a bit of Victorian partying, and some romance. I would recommend to fans of investigative urban fantasy and/or light steampunk reads
Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes are requested as chaperones for the dreadfully drab and boring Princess Lurelia of Betrovia. England has a treaty with Betrovia for now...the initial hostilities between the two countries were caused by a chess board whose pieces were stolen by England. Now England has promised to return the Queen piece as long as Betrovia provides the instruction for when the Queen piece is hidden. During the welcoming ball for Princess Lurelia the instructions go missing. Now it is up to Evaline and Mina to figure out where this elusive chess piece is, while keeping Princess Lurelia (who is not as timid as she first seems) out of trouble.
This book was great fun and continues the storyline involving the Ankh while adding in this new storyline involving Betrovia.
The story alternates between Evaline and Mina and they both continue to have distinct voices. There are many interesting steampunk elements to the story (lots of interesting devices and such).
Amidst all the mystery solving, vampire hunting, and general sneaking around the two girls also have to deal with their societal demands. In the last two books Evaline and Mina both have love triangles of a sort going on...let's just say that those are dealt with in unexpected ways. We also start to learn more about the mystery that is Pix and is he is panning out to have a very interesting background.
This series has been an interesting blend of steampunk, paranormal, and history elements. It is a light and fun read, that I really enjoy.
Overall a fun and light steampunk series. I enjoy the spunky heroines, the history, and the vampire hunting. There is a lot of mystery-solving, a bit of Victorian partying, and some romance. I would recommend to fans of investigative urban fantasy and/or light steampunk reads
