Julia Verne St. John

Sometimes, despite how much I want to like I book is there are just something that doesn't work. Perhaps I don't connect with the characters or the story just doesn't work out for me. And, sometimes there is a combination of both, The Transference Engine is just the kind of book where I didn't find myself especially interested in the story or liking the characters very much. And, to be honest, I'm a bit mystified by that because I really do like steampunk and I found the idea of an evil Lord Byron trying to get back to life fascinating.

However, the most interesting with this book was the recollection of Magdala's past life running from Lord Byron, I would rather I have read about that than the story in this book. I liked Ada Lovelace, but she didn't have a big part in this book and that was too bad because as the only daughter of Lord Byron would it have been interesting to follow her life rather than Magdala who I'm, to be honest never really found myself warming up to. The book started off great, with Magdala being appointed a governess to Ada, but then the story jumps into the future with Ada grown up and Magdala running a coffee salon and then the story just become dull. The disappearing of young people and Magdala trying to figure out what is going on just didn't appeal to me.

So, I'm sorry to say, this was just not a book for me. However, I do love that cover!

I want to thank Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a free copy for an honest review! … (meer)

In this early Victorian steampunk setting, cult followers of Byron have been trying for years to use Ada Lovelave, his daughter to fix a machine that will bring Byron’s soul into another body so he can live again. Magdala has worked at protecting Ada as a child and into adulthood. Using small and large deceptions along with a smattering of street children to gather information she is trying to find out who is behind the latest plot to bring back Byron and another plot to possibly kill Queen Victoria on her coronation day.

Magdala is very interesting as a character and has a good backstory that slowly comes out. With her friendships with the Rom, connections to academics with her coffee shop / lending library and her ongoing series of salons in the evenings she uses all of these treads to get to the center of a mystery. I did enjoy the story and the plot and it should be interesting if there are more books in the series.

Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley
… (meer)

This steampunk novel is set in 1830's London. Madame Magdala has reinvented herself many times. Several years previously, she destroyed a machine called a transference engine. Lord Byron was totally obsessed with being able to transfer his soul into another body, thereby becoming immortal. Magdala's fear is that Byron's fanatical followers will kidnap her and Ada Byron Lovelace, his only legitimate daughter, and force them to rebuild the transference engine.

During the day, Magdala runs a fashionable coffee salon and reading room while living on the edge of polite society. She and Ada use the massive library stored there to keep an eye on political and business activity around the world. An army of street urchins keeps Magdala informed about what's going on around London.

The coronation of Queen Victoria is coming in a few days. An all-black hot air balloon that shoots searing light from a hidden cannon suddenly appears above London. Is Victoria the target? Does this have anything to do with the disappearance of a number of young women from all walks of life? Lord Byron died a few years previously, or did he?

I enjoyed reading this book. It's just weird enough, and it is very easy to read and comprehend. I am looking forward to reading a sequel.… (meer)