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Jackelian Chronicles - Book VI
Stephen Hunt
Harper Voyager /HarperCollins
16 February 2012 / ISBN-13: 9780007289714
Fantasy/Steampunk
Amazon
US
- UK
Reviewed
by Rachel A Hyde
It looks as
though the streets of Middlesteel are the haunt of vampires, as
bloodless corpses are being found everywhere and the penny dreadfuls
are having a field day. But actually something far stranger and
a lot worse is happening, and it looks as though only a girl thief
with a magical gem, a State Protection Board operative on the run,
a broken streamman, a private investigator, and Jared Black himself
are all that stand between a terrifying new enemy and total destruction…
Prepare to be served up another tasty slice of steampunk as it is
meant to be and usually isn't. I know I said that I would stop reading
these books if any vampires dared show their pasty faces, but you
can trust Mr Hunt to have more imagination than that. This time
we are back under the waves in the Purity Queen and facing down
a new foe, as well as getting more acquainted with some races only
touched on before and more facets to this diamond of an imagined
world. To its detriment, this tale does take its time getting started,
but once it does, it is full steam ahead to make up for lost time.
Also, we do get to hear rather too many repetitive conversations
from most of the characters bewailing their lot in life, which gets
wearing - let's have more of the wonderful descriptions and breathless
action that makes these books sing. There is a humdinger of a battle
to enjoy, more than one showdown, and various plot twists and turns
to keep readers on their toes. So plenty to enjoy in a series that
shows no sign of getting stale or slowing down. Mr Hunt isn't afraid
to lose characters, but we always get somebody new in their place
-- surely one of the rules of good novel writing. There is a topical
feel to the various characters' views on the waste of war, which
calls to mind our own thoughts while watching the news. This gives
the reader something to think about when the last page has been
read. More please and soon…
Reviews of others in this series.
The
Kingdom Beyond the Waves, Book II
Secrets
of the Fire Sea, Book IV
Jack
Cloudie, Book V
From
The Deep of the Dark, Book VI
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