The Machine: Book Review

The Machine, by E.C. Jarvis

I don’t read a lot of books by indie authors, and I definitely don’t read a lot of self-published writers’ work. I’m a slow reader, and most of my spare time is filled by writing (as well as my other hobbies), but E.C. Jarvis was on my must-read list ever since I heard about The Machine. I’d also made the new year’s resolution of reading more indie authors in 2016, so I was particularly keen to read The Machine. That said, I was also a bit apprehensive. I can be a very impatient reader, and I have a low tolerance for grammar errors and typos, which self-published books are somewhat notorious for.

In the case of The Machine, my fears were entirely unfounded. In fact, I’ll be adding The Machine to my list of Best Steampunk Novels (ok, so I don’t have an actual list – just a mental list in my head). Gripping, fast-paced, The Machine is an airship adventure with a tough female protagonist and a collection of likable side characters and truly despicable villains.

It’s a classic damsel in distress story, except that the damsel is a man and the rescuer is a woman.

Larissa Markus’ life is turned upside down when a romantic date ends in an explosion and a burning building. Her lover – the Professor – is kidnapped, and she is left for dead.
Though she escapes she faces the blame for the destruction, leaving her no choice but to try and save the Professor and clear her name. However, the naive sales clerk is ill-prepared for such an adventure.

The great thing about The Machine – well, there are many great things, but for now I’ll stick to just one – is the pace. It’s an adventure story, and it reads like one. There is never a dull moment, and my attention was hooked right from the first chapter. From then on, The Machine continued to gather steam, right until the last page. Jarvis’s second in the series, The Pirate, was released recently, and I’m assured it’s “even better than The Machine.” Honestly, that’s setting the bar high.

The book is at times graphic and never apologetic; if you’re squeamish, this might not be the book for you. I’ll admit there was one scene in particular that was difficult to read, but the protagonist’s growth from naive sales clerk to (spoiler alert) more than just a sales clerk, was spurred on by that traumatic scene.

I love a book with a tough female protagonist, and I love seeing the damsel in distress formula flipped upside down, with the man being rescued by the woman. Larissa Markus is constantly being underestimated, and it’s nothing short of awesome to see her growth as a character from beginning to end.

And let’s not forget the curmudgeonly Cid, the handsome but deadly Holt, or the fucking cat, Imago. Cid’s words.

Book Review: Stormdancer

Stormdancer, by Jay Kristoff

A year or two ago, my friend and coworker asked if we could stop in at Chapters on our way back to work during our coffee break. He wanted to grab the sequel to a book he’d read. Of course, I agreed, and we set off for Chapters. He found his book, bought it, and explained what it was about. Two words and I was instantly intrigued: Japanese steampunk.

The book was Kinslayer, #2 in the Lotus War series by Jay Kristoff, and it was the sequel to Stormdancer. I later went back to the bookstore and bought Stormdancer for myself.

It sat on my bookshelf for about two years, while I made my way through my ever-growing collection of mostly steampunk books. After reading all of Cherie Priest’s Clockwork Century novels, all of Gail Carriger’s Parasol Protectorate series (not to mention Prudence), as well as Doktor Glass (Thomas Brennan), The Constantine Affliction (T Aaron Payton), Whitechapel Gods (S.M. Peters), and Bronze Gods (A.A. Aguirre), finally, I got around to reading Stormdancer.

My only regret is not reading it sooner

Arashitoras are supposed to be extinct. So when Yukiko and her warrior father Masaru are sent to capture one for the Shõgun, they fear that their lives are over – everyone knows what happens to those who fail the Lord of the Shima Isles.

I can’t say much else about the plot without spoilers. The book starts out a bit slow. To be fair, Jay Kristoff spends a lot of the first few chapters on setting up the world of Kigen and takes his time with it. It’s worth the wait.

Kigen is a world reminiscent of feudal Japan, but with chi-fueled technology – airships, mechanical samurai, and chainsaw-katanas. I guess you could say it’s not really steampunk (it’s chi-punk)…but that would be silly. It’s Japanese steampunk. And it’s awesome.

But when Yukiko and her father finally see the arashitora for the first time, that’s when book really picks up. It’s an incredible moment, just as powerful for the reader as it is for Yukiko. The arashitora is not only a magnificent mythological beast, but also one of the most interesting, fiercest, and most likable characters in the novel.

The book held my interest throughout the rest of the novel, with epic battles fought, political intrigue, a bit of romance, fantastical machines, and a climactic conclusion. The lead character had a ton of growth from beginning to end. As I read the few closing pages, it was hard to think of that angsty, obnoxious, emo teenage girl that graced the first few pages of the novel.

Definitely enjoyed Stormdancer, and would certainly add it to my list of favourites. Can’t wait to start reading Kinslayer!