The Brass Queen by Elizabeth Chatsworth

The Brass Queen is a rollicking fun adventure with wonderful over the top, sassy characters. 

Steampunk  –  Historical Fantasy  –  Political Intrigue  –  Magic

Synopsis – In 1897, a fiery British aristocrat and an inept US spy search for a stolen invisibility serum that could spark a global war.
Miss Constance Haltwhistle is the last in a line of blue-blooded rogue inventors. Selling exotic firearms under her alias, the ‘Brass Queen,’ has kept her baronial estate’s coffers full. But when US spy, Trusdale, saves her from assassins, she’s pulled into a search for a scientist with an invisibility serum. As royal foes create an invisible army to start a global war, Constance and Trusdale must learn to trust each other. If they don’t, the world they know will literally disappear before their eyes.

Friday Face Off

The Friday Face Off meme was created by Books by Proxy and its an awesome opportunity to feature some cool cover art. All you have to do is choose a book cover that relates to the theme, which can be found over on Lynn’s page, post some covers and select your favourite.

This wasn’t as easy as I expected because I wanted it to be book I’d read or that is currently sitting on my TBR. It seems I don’t own many books with puffy dresses on the cover.

Meringue – the puffy dress

There were only three different covers for this book. The other two that were options for this week only had two.

The paperback and the kindle have different background colours with a different pose, but otherwise they are almost identical. The paperback wins out of those two. On the other hand the German edition is completely different and not really inline with the actual topic, but it’s really cute. I like it, so I select that one as winner of the day.

Which do you prefer?

Mini Review Series #1

Recently I’ve been in an almighty reading slump and as a result a reviewing slump. I haven’t even attempted a review in over six weeks. I have such a backlog of books that I loved and wanted to review that I think the only way to get through them is mini reviews. Using this method I’m hoping to clear out the backlog by the end of the year, which will help me alleviate the guilt I’m carrying about it.
To clarify, just because I haven’t given a book an in-depth review, it doesn’t mean I didn’t love it. It’s purely a reflection of my mental state combined with laziness. The memory fog has been real.

It Takes a Thief to Catch a Sunrise by Rob J. Hayes

Jacques Revou and Isabel de Rosier are at the height of their careers. Of course those careers are as professional charlatans, thieves without peer. With the completion of their final heist, they decide it’s time to retire and settle down. But they have not escaped unnoticed.
The king’s spymaster, Renard Daron, has a job for the thieves, one only they can perform, and he does not take no for an answer. With the threat of destitution and death hanging over their heads, Jaques and Isabel must take on their greatest roles yet, the Baron and Baroness Bonvillain.
Can they ferret out the treasonous elements within the government? Can they escape the clutches of the nefarious Seigneur Daron? Can they regain the fortune so unfairly taken from them?
And, can they finally complete their one last job?

– From Amazon

Jacques and Isabel are fantastic characters. Their devotion to each other is a joy to read, they know each other so well that half the time it feels like we are intruding on their personal jokes. They are completely in tune with one another and it’s so nice to have this pure relationship (I use that term loosely, they are thieves after all) against a backdrop of blackmail, scandal and political intrigue. They have each others back and love each other deeply. They are talented in the art of deceiving those around them and can play just about any role. Jacques is the more playful of the two, he enjoys stealing for the sake of it. It’s not just about getting rich, it’s about planning the job and figuring out how to get around all of the barriers in their way. Isabel is the true actor, she is mesmerising.

“Politics is like a fist fight only without the rules and good etiquette.”

I enjoyed the setting. The world was going through a time of change, while those on the outer fringes still used lanterns, in the city electric lights were in fashion. It had a steampunk vibe with airships and automatons. It takes a thief to catch a sunrise is an absolute pleasure to read. It is full of adventure, intrigue and thieving. It’s fast paced and will surprise you through out. I was absolutely convinced that I knew what was happening and how it would, I was 100% wrong.

Also Shawn King did the cover design for this, and if  I’m not mistaken a lot of Rob’s other books, and as always he absolutely nailed it.

You can get your own copy from  –  AMAZON

Title – It Takes a Thief to Catch a Sunrise

Author – Rob J. Hayes
Released – March 2015
Published – Self-published

Dancing with fantasy and sci-fi, a kickass reading challenge

I was just checking in with a few blogs and came across a challenge that has piqued my interest. So much so I’ve decided to give it a whirl. Do I expect to complete it? No, I rarely finish the challenges I start as I over-estimate my staying power. Do I let that stop me from starting them? Also no.

Cogheart by Peter Bunzl

A magical tale, filled with whimsy, friendship and adventure.

I tend to stay away from middle grade, but this gorgeous cover drew my eye and I decided to give it a go. I’m so glad I did. It was the perfect fun read I was hoping for.