The Clockwork Scarab Book Review

The Clockwork Scarab: A Stoker & Holmes Novel

By Colleen Gleason

Chronicle Books

Available after September 17, 2013

The novel’s perspective flows between Miss Alvermina Holmes, niece of Sherlock Holmes and Miss Evaline Stoker, half-sister to Bram Stoker.  The two start out meeting the famed Irene Adler, the great love interest of Sherlock Holmes, at The British Museum having never met before.  The two are asked to investigate the murder of a young lady. Both are being asked to perform a great service for their country at a time when women weren’t even allowed to vote let alone be treated as if they had the capacity for higher thought processes beyond what they were going to wear to the next society event.

This novel is set in Victorian London and fits well into the steampunk realm with an alternate reality of vampires, time travel and airships.  Other ways in which this novel fits well into the steampunk realm are the uses of steam-powered gadgets, machines and other various inventions such as: a Steam-Stream gun, a steamcycle, an Ocular-Magnifyer and other such things.  This science fiction/fantasy employs steam power over electricity.

There is a bit of romance in The Clockwork Scarab with two love triangles. One of the triangles happens between Miss Alvarmina Holmes, Dylan Eckhert and Inspector Ambrose Grayling.  The other love triangle happens between Miss Evaline Stoker, a streetwise mysterious chap named Pix and Mr Richard Dancy.  Even though there is romance in this novel it is not without a fair amount of action scenes where the two female leads get to fight or outsmart people.

There are a few historical people in this book as well as famous characters from classical literature.  For example, Bram Stoker, being a famous author, plays a small role in the novel while other historical figures such as Princess Alexandra are mentioned in the novel. The famous characters from classical literature who come into play are Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler while Sherlock’s brother Mycroft is only mentioned.  Fans of Sherlock Holmes, classical literature and history will love all of the shout-outs.

One of the themes that runs strongly throughout the novel is that women can take control of their own destiny by serving their country, wearing what they want to and seeking professions.  Other undercurrent themes are bettering the society in which one lives, good versus evil and teamwork amid diversity.  These elements leave the readers wanting to know more about the two heroines.  There are unresolved issues at the end of the novel which leave the reader craving a sequel.

The author did a beautiful job of researching major Victorian elements such as their obsession with archaeology, specifically Egyptology.  Another element well researched for the novel was the world of Sherlock Holmes, a major character of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s.  Colleen Gleason writes a beautiful novel with no holes that flows from page to page and you can feel the dirt and grime of a cramped dark London as you read with a true Dickensian tradition.

The Unnaturalists Book Review

The Unnaturalists

By Tiffany Trent

Simon & Schuster BFYR

August 14, 2012

The story flows between Vespa Nyx, an unnaturalist in the Museum of Unnatural History and Syrus Reed, a Tinker from Tinkerville. Both are coming of age in a world where anything magic is considered evil and science is the new religion. They both must work together along with sympathizers to their cause in order to save the world from destruction. The novel begins right before the main character, Vespa’s self discovery.

The Unnaturalists is an action packed young adult science fiction/fantasy that fits well into the steampunk realm because it is set in a Victorian era alternate universe where steam power is used to run the city via “myth,” a substance created in refineries throughout New London. There is a hint of romance in the novel with love interests between Vespa and Pedant Lumin and Mistress Virulen and Pedant Lumin.

There are no historical characters so to speak but the author does use actual scientists of the Victorian era that the people of New London worship as saints in their Church of Science, which fits well into the theme of magic versus science that runs throughout the novel. Another element that runs throughout the story is that peace should be sought above all else to solve one’s problems. There is an ecological undercurrent to the novel to stop using nature as a means to power man-made machines.

There are no holes in this novel and is beautifully written. Tiffany Trent’s novel is action packed throughout and each chapter has a nice bit of action holding the reader’s attention to the next chapter. There are however, nice bits of comic relief via the Sylphid, Piskel’s, crazy actions and Syrus Reed and Pedant Lumin’s comments to each other from time to time during or after a sticky situation has occurred.

The author uses first person style of writing when the action is centered around the main character, Vespa. Tiffany Trent uses adjectives that make one feel as if they are right there with the characters experiencing the action first hand. The novel’s pace and length were just right bringing closure to the main conflict of the story while setting up the anticipation for a second novel.

A very enjoyable read.