God Save the Queen
(The Immortal Empire #1)
by Kate Locke
Published July 3rd 2012
by Orbit
Thoughts:
I had high hopes for this book and although it did not live up to my greatest expectation, I enjoyed it nonetheless. The book combined steampunk and paranormal so I can't help but compared it to the already concluded Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger which I simply adore. Unfortunately, this book lack the wit, humour and charm that is apparent in Gail Carriger's writing.
The concept of the story is indeed intriguing. The nobles and the aristocrats of London are all vampires and werewolves. And although it is set in 2012, Queen Victoria is still alive. The world building is wonderful. I just wished that there's more character development. I had trouble relating to the main character. The writer tried so hard to portray her as this kick-ass Royal Guard but it just seems unbelievable to me. She's a half vampire or halvie who is still inferior to the aristocrats.
The romance is also so predictable. Vampires and werewolves? The story will indeed appeal to those who wanted a different type of read but as a steampunk fan, I really yearned for more.
Trivia:
Did you know that Kate Locke is actually Kady Cross;the author of The Girl in the Steel Corset? So Kate Locke is actually another pseudonym for Kathryn Smith who also goes by the name Kady Cross for her YA books.
Verdict: 3 stars.
Available on: Amazon
Summary from Goodreads:
Queen Victoria rules with an immortal fist.
The undead matriarch of a Britain where the Aristocracy is made up of werewolves and vampires, where goblins live underground and mothers know better than to let their children out after dark. A world where being nobility means being infected with the Plague (side-effects include undeath), Hysteria is the popular affliction of the day, and leeches are considered a delicacy. And a world where technology lives side by side with magic. The year is 2012 and Pax Britannia still reigns.
Xandra Vardan is a member of the elite Royal Guard, and it is her duty to protect the Aristocracy. But when her sister goes missing, Xandra will set out on a path that undermines everything she believed in and uncover a conspiracy that threatens to topple the empire. And she is the key-the prize in a very dangerous struggle.
Thoughts:
I had high hopes for this book and although it did not live up to my greatest expectation, I enjoyed it nonetheless. The book combined steampunk and paranormal so I can't help but compared it to the already concluded Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger which I simply adore. Unfortunately, this book lack the wit, humour and charm that is apparent in Gail Carriger's writing.
The concept of the story is indeed intriguing. The nobles and the aristocrats of London are all vampires and werewolves. And although it is set in 2012, Queen Victoria is still alive. The world building is wonderful. I just wished that there's more character development. I had trouble relating to the main character. The writer tried so hard to portray her as this kick-ass Royal Guard but it just seems unbelievable to me. She's a half vampire or halvie who is still inferior to the aristocrats.
The romance is also so predictable. Vampires and werewolves? The story will indeed appeal to those who wanted a different type of read but as a steampunk fan, I really yearned for more.
Trivia:
Did you know that Kate Locke is actually Kady Cross;the author of The Girl in the Steel Corset? So Kate Locke is actually another pseudonym for Kathryn Smith who also goes by the name Kady Cross for her YA books.
Verdict: 3 stars.
Available on: Amazon
I love the cover & the story does seem interesting, but vampires and werewolves? I'm after new reading experiences.
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