Helpful Score: 1
I couldn't get interested in this book at all. I gave it a few pages and stopped, on the grounds that if an author can't hook me in in the first few pages, then the book is eitner not for me or an outright dud. After that I sampled further on for writing style. The parts that weren't Victorian pastiche seemed standard read-it-a-zillion-times series romance; I had been hoping for something unique. The writing style is okay, about what I would expect to find in series romance - competent for that form but not at all exciting. I gave it two stars because if it's what readers are looking for, then they will probably think it's okay as some of this is probably a matter of taste and habit.
This is the first book in the Clockwork Agents series by Cross (who also writes under a variety of other pen names). There are three books in this series and all have been released. I have had this book on my TBR pile for a while and was excited to get to read it. This ended up being a well done steampunk romance. I enjoyed it.
Arden is in an interesting situation. Her husband has been missing, presumed dead, for seven years and she has struggled to be faithful to both him and his position as a Peer of the realm. When she thinks she sees him one night on the streets she is stunned. Thing get even more complicated when she finds out his memory is gone and he has been sent to kill her.
The majority of the story focuses on a power struggle between the Wardens (who work with the Crown of England) and the Company. Arden works for the Wardens and has been consulting on a mission involving young murdered debutantes. The two storylines about the Wardens vs Company and the storyline about the murders are somewhat related. The storylines could have been put together better, at the end it was a bit confusing what the whole point was and I didn't think the story made that much sense. So, hopefully the story elements are more well done in the next book.
There are some fun steampunk inventions throughout, so I really enjoyed those aspects. The story is fairly romance heavy but it was a well done romance. The fact that Arden and Luke are already married and are having to fall in love again and get to know each other again (after seven years apart) is very intriguing and engaging.
Overall this was a quick and engaging read. I enjoyed the chemistry and romance between the main characters and enjoyed the steampunk elements throughout. I thought that the story could have been better put together; it was a bit pointless and hard to figure out at times.
Arden is in an interesting situation. Her husband has been missing, presumed dead, for seven years and she has struggled to be faithful to both him and his position as a Peer of the realm. When she thinks she sees him one night on the streets she is stunned. Thing get even more complicated when she finds out his memory is gone and he has been sent to kill her.
The majority of the story focuses on a power struggle between the Wardens (who work with the Crown of England) and the Company. Arden works for the Wardens and has been consulting on a mission involving young murdered debutantes. The two storylines about the Wardens vs Company and the storyline about the murders are somewhat related. The storylines could have been put together better, at the end it was a bit confusing what the whole point was and I didn't think the story made that much sense. So, hopefully the story elements are more well done in the next book.
There are some fun steampunk inventions throughout, so I really enjoyed those aspects. The story is fairly romance heavy but it was a well done romance. The fact that Arden and Luke are already married and are having to fall in love again and get to know each other again (after seven years apart) is very intriguing and engaging.
Overall this was a quick and engaging read. I enjoyed the chemistry and romance between the main characters and enjoyed the steampunk elements throughout. I thought that the story could have been better put together; it was a bit pointless and hard to figure out at times.
I really enjoyed this book. Good Steampunk but not over the top. Romance is very nice and mystery is quite good. The main characters are well written.
