Book Review: The Heart of Resistance by A. D. Griffey

22/05/2025Action, Adventure, Alternate History, Dystopian, Fantasy, noir, Science-Fiction, Science-Fiction Fantasy, steampunk, Surreal Fiction, Young AdultLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: A. D. Griffey
Release Date: March 25, 2025
~~Series~~:
Genre: Steampunk Fantasy, Dystopian Fiction, Science-Fantasy, Alternate History, Young-Adult, Coming Of Age
Format: E-book
Pages: 405 pages
Publisher: GBE Press
Blurb:
Janna Tulli, a disillusioned airship mechanic, is on the run from her father’s fruitless rebellion.
Elsie, an orphan trapped in the miserable workhouse system, dreams of a better life.
Princess Yvonnia, heir apparent to the fractured nation of Sial, is forced to seek aid from the imperialists who threaten her people.
Arthur Pendington, former captain of the Imperial Dreadnought Formidable, is out for revenge against the empire that made him into a monster. With nothing but his wits, a rag-tag crew, and an ill-gotten airship, Arthur plans to destroy the remaining dreadnoughts: weapons of terror that rain destruction on the Odolian Empire’s enemies and civilians alike.

Arthur’s impossible mission pulls them all into his inescapable orbit, threatening to shatter the Odolian establishment and tear apart the lives of his few remaining friends. Set in a Dickensian world of flintlocks, airships, class warfare, and colonialism, this swashbuckling steampunk adventure is packed with action, political intrigue, and unforgettable characters who will stay with you long after the final page.

Review

The Heart of Resistance is a richly imagined steampunk odyssey set against the backdrop of imperial tyranny and crumbling rebellion. As someone who thrives on character-driven narratives and deeply layered world-building, I found this novel thoroughly immersive, even when it treaded familiar thematic ground.

Told in a multi-POV structure, the story braids together the lives of Janna—a disillusioned rebel mechanic; Elsie—a workhouse orphan desperate for a life beyond servitude; and Arthur Pendington—a once-loyal imperial captain turned insurgent. Each voice brings a distinct texture to the story. Janna’s inner turmoil, especially, stood out to me—her gritted realism, biting wit, and the slowly unraveling weight of her past were brilliantly done. There’s a raw, authentic edge to her arc that reminded me of classic literary rebels, but with a modern grit.

The prose walks the line between efficient and occasionally ornate, particularly in describing the cityscapes of Gorand or the infernal machinery of dreadnoughts. The scenes involving airships and skydocks were kinetic and cinematic, and the combat sequences (especially the boarding and escape scenes) had real tension. I appreciated how the authors avoided glamorizing war; they instead chose to emphasize the psychological wear and the slow erasure of ideals, which felt honest.

If I had a critique, it would be about pacing (my old nemesis). The novel begins with a sharp hook and builds well, but midsections—especially the early Elsie chapters—sag slightly. I found myself yearning for a tighter edit in parts to match the intensity of the opening and climax. Some emotional beats also felt rushed when they could have been lingered on for greater impact. That said, the world itself never falters—it feels lived-in and vividly rendered.

Overall, this is a strong debut from the Griffeys. It carries the weight of classic resistance literature while still feeling timely. For readers who love character-driven science fantasy with rebellion, found family, and just the right amount of grit, The Heart of Resistance is well worth your time.

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Book Review: The Boxcar Baby by J.L. Mulvihill

14/08/2018Dystopian, J.L. Mulvihill, steampunk, Young AdultLeave a Comment

Author: J.L. Mulvihill
Release Date: 12th July 2013
Genre: Steampunk, Dystopian, Young Adult
Series: Steel Roots Series (Book #1)
Edition: e-book
Pages: 274
Publisher: Seventh Star Press, LLC
Blurb:
The Box Car Baby introduces the character of AB’Gale Steel who was born in a boxcar on a train bound for Georgia, according to what her papa told her. Bishop Steel, a mechanical engineer for the Southern Railroad, found his adopted daughter snuggled in a basket of cotton on an otherwise empty boxcar in the train yard. When no one came around to claim the baby, Bishop Steel, rather than relinquish the child to the State only to end up at the Workhouse someday, smuggled her home to raise as his own. The name on the boxcar he found her in read, A B Gale Logs, and so he named the baby AB’Gale.
But if the mystery of who her real parents are isn’t enough for fifteen-year -old AB’Gale, Papa Bishop goes missing. Worried for her family and afraid of having to spend her life at the Workhouse, AB’Gale goes into town to see if anyone’s seen her papa, only to find a deeper mystery. At the train station no one seems to know who her papa is even though he’s worked for the Southern Railroad for thirty years.
An encounter with a strange Hobo-man, who claims to know her father, results in the acquisition of a leather eye-glass tube that he says belongs to her papa. Before AB’Gale can question him further the man runs away. When she gets home, she finds the Crushers taking her grandma off to the Oldies-home, so she hides until they are gone.
AB’Gale finds that the leather tube contains a map of the United States, with markers made by various towns across the country. By each marker is a word or a name written in her papa’s handwriting.
Alone, and with only the clues of the map to go by, AB’Gale has no choice but to set out on her own to find her Papa.

Review

★★

The Boxcar Baby by J.L. Mulvihill is a steampunk dystopian with a very interesting plot which unfortunately wasn’t executed well.

Considering the beautiful covers of all the three books in this series, I was expecting the book to be really good and polished, but unfortunately, it proved to be a bit of a disappointment. I have the entire series with me and I was really excited about it, but there is so much telling and not enough showing in this book that it gets difficult to read after a couple of pages itself. Plus, the story progression is way off than should be allowed in an edited book.

The writing was too simple and there was a lot of wandering. The characters felt flat and the overall connection was not established (though I was able to see the effort the author put into it, but it simply didn’t work.)

this review is also posted on Goodreads and Amazon

Book Review: Esper Files by Egan Brass

08/01/201708/01/2017Egan Brass, Fantasy, Paranormal, Science-Fiction, SupernaturalLeave a Comment

Author: Egan Brass
Release Date: 26 October 2016
Series: Esper Files
Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy, Steampunk, Supernatural, Paranormal
Edition: Paperback
Pages:
Publisher: Inkitt

Rating: ★★★★

Blurb:

Set in London during the latter part of the 19th century. An experiment goes wrong at The Oxford Academy of Science, giving certain people extraordinary powers which turns them into ‘Espers’. An institute is set up to teach Espers how to control these power, and stop corrupt Espers from abusing theirs. Nathan and James, two agents from the Institute team up with Freya, a young Esper whose brother (gifted with the strange ability to manipulate emotions) is abducted by a ruthless Baron. The group has to fight against a dark threat to protect the fragile peace of Victorian London… And the rest of the world.

Review

Esper Files by Egan Brass is the first book in the series of the same name and is an enjoyable supernatural fantasy read.

I had no idea what to expect from this book when I was first asked to review it, but when I started reading it and was only a few pages in, I knew it for fact that I was in for a fun ride. And as it turned out, I wasn’t wrong.

Even though the entire concept was quite similar to the X-men team – Professor X, Logan, and Magneto, still I was able to enjoy the new take on the whole “being different” thing.

The writing was captivating and the story was really engrossing. The concept was not unique but it was definitely good. The story progression was really good and I really liked reading this book. I was pulled into the story from the very start right till the end. It was a fast-paced read which proved to be a quick one (another plus for me.)

In this book, I liked the story better than the characters. I won’t say the characters were completely one-dimensional because I liked them, but I wasn’t able to feel a striking connection with any one of them. It was one of those books that made me take enough interest in the characters to want to know what happens in the end and also what happens after it. So I’ll be definitely looking forward to reading the sequel (hoping that now that I know the characters well, I might feel a connection with them.)

I’d recommend this book to fantasy lovers and to anyone who is looking for a light and quick supernatural series to read.

Goodreads and Amazon

Book Review: The Courtesan’s Avenger by Kate M. Colby

15/12/201618/12/2016Dystopian, Kate M. Colby4 Comments

Author: Kate M. Colby
Release Date: September 20, 2016
Series: Desertera (Part #2)
Genre: Dystopian, Steampunk
Edition: Ebook (mobi)
Pages: 312
Publisher: Boxthorn Press

Preceded by: The Cogsmith’s Daughter

Rating: ★★★★

Blurb:

A courtesan on a mission. A brothel ravished by greed. A murder to avenge.
Dellwyn Rutt loves her life as a courtesan. For years, she has enjoyed the simple pleasures and lavish gifts of her trade. Now she wants more: the title of madam.
But Madam Huxley, the brothel’s current proprietor, refuses to name a successor—a problem that is amplified by the legalization of adultery. As the new law sends lusty clients flocking to the brothel, Madam Huxley’s greed grows unchecked at the workers’ expense. Only one outsider seems to care: a self-proclaimed prophet who won’t rest until the unholy institution is abolished.
After weeks of abuse, Dellwyn desperately seeks a way to subdue Madam Huxley’s tyranny. But when another courtesan is murdered, Dellwyn must set her struggles aside and solve the crime. The only problem? All evidence points to Dellwyn’s friends… and to her.
Driven by twisting turns, peppered with witty dialog, and shadowed by unrequited love, The Courtesan’s Avenger is a cozy mystery in a steampunk fantasy world.

REVIEW

The Courtesan’s Avenger is the second book in the Desertera series. As with any sequel, I had huge expectations from this one, especially because I loved the first book in this series, The Cogsmith’s Daughter, and I’m happy to say that this book turned out to be as good as I was hoping for.

I loved reading about Delwyn. She was already established as a strong character in the previous book and when I started reading this book I felt like I already knew her. So getting into the story and losing myself in it was really easy. And once I started reading I did not rest easy till I finished the entire book.

I liked the ending and can’t wait to read the next book in this amazing series. One of the best parts for me still remains the absolutely amazing world-building in this book. It is a really strong Dystopian setting and you can feel just how bad things are and the people’s desperation makes you feel grateful for all the life-giving water we have.

The writing was flawless, simple and easy to relate and it made reading this book an even more enjoyable experience.

I just had one issue with the book and that was more a matter of personal choice than anything else, I loved Aya so much that I had just a wee bit of problem seeing Delwyn as the lead in this book. I mean, it’s actually a compliment for the author on creating such a strong character as Aya that now I just want more of her and Will. I loved reading about her in this part, but honestly, I wanted the entire book to be about her and the King. Delwyn was no doubt an absolutely fantastic character, but for me, Aya will always be the main character and I do hope that the author will make her the main character int he next book or maybe even dedicate a series on her alone (I, for one, would definitely love that!)

As I said, there was nothing wrong with the story, it was just that I’m so hung up on Aya that I couldn’t bring myself to rate this book as high as the previous one, hence I’m settling for 4 +1/2 stars.

I’d recommend this book to all the readers of Dystopian and Steampunk stories and also to those who want to start with a fresh series worth their time.

Goodreads and Amazon

Book Review: The Cogsmith’s Daughter (Desertera #1) by Kate M. Kolby

01/06/201609/06/2016Book Reviews (by Genre), Books Reviews (by Author), Dystopian, Kate M. Colby10 Comments

Author: Kate M. Colby
Release Date: October 15, 2015
Series: Desertera
Genre: Dystopian | Steampunk | Fantasy
Edition: Ebook (mobi)
Pages: 306
Publisher: Boxthorn Press
Source: Author
Buy it here: Amazon

Rating: ★★★★★

Blurb:

In a desert wasteland, one king rules with absolute power and unquenchable lust, until the cogsmith’s daughter risks everything for vengeance.

Two-hundred years ago, the steam-powered world experienced an apocalyptic flood. When the waters dried up, the survivors settled around their moored steamship in a wasteland they named Desertera. Believing the flood and drought were caused by a scorned goddess, the monarchs demanded execution for anyone who commits the unforgivable sin—adultery.

Today, King Archon entraps his wives in the crime of adultery, executing each boring bride to pursue his next infatuation. Most nobles overlook King Archon’s behavior, but when Lord Varick’s daughter falls victim to the king’s schemes, he vows revenge.

When Aya Cogsmith was a young girl, King Archon had her father executed for treason. Orphaned and forced to turn to prostitution for survival, Aya dreams of avenging her father’s death. When Lord Varick approaches Aya with plans for vengeance, she agrees to play the king’s seductress—even though it puts her at risk for execution.

Review

The Cogsmith’s Daughter is the first steampunk book I’ve read in a long time, and I must say that I’m really happy that I did. This book is nothing short of a masterpiece.

The Cogsmith’s Daughter has a brilliantly written and efficiently developed plot line that is set in a mesmerizing new world. Playful yet serious at the same time, author Kate M. Colby’s writing is simply outstanding!

As soon as I started reading the first chapter, I completely lost myself in the scary, although interesting, world of Aya. I was able to relate to her on so many levels that I still feel that she’s not just a character but a friend whom I know inside out. This only proves that the characterization is beyond perfect. It’s simply magical!

I fell in love with the male lead, just as Aya did, and felt every emotion in the deepest corners of my heart. I felt sad when Aya was sad and felt happy when she found even a tiny bit of joy. Most of all, I enjoyed Aya’s thought process, and her innocence and determination made her a very compelling character.
Other characters were also crafted finely and I loved them all (even the well-crafted character of the protagonist.)

I have NO words to describe the brilliance of the worldbuilding that was executed flawlessly by the author in this book. Kudos to a job well done!

The book ended on a great note and I felt completely satisfied after finishing the book, yet at the same time, I was left craving for the next part.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this beautiful book and I’d recommend it to all the readers who are looking for an EPIC new series to read.

Bookstagram

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Other Stuff

Opening Line: Aya Cogsmith awoke, as she did every morning, to the croaking of the mechanical frog next to her bed.

Highlights: Exceptional writing and worldbuilding.

Lowlights: None.

Memorable Quotes:

This was her chance to reclaim her life, get back her father’s shop, and finally attain justice for his death. She was going to take it or die trying.

Memorable Paragraph:

“You forgot, Varick. You live in an illustrious estate, have all the fruit and wine you can ingest, and receive every pampering from your staff. I live in a dirt-floored hovel, trudge miles for water, and let disgusting men penetrate me for the smallest coins in a currency. Do you really think death wouldn’t be a relief?”

Final Thoughts: A magical read that will leave you craving for more.

You can also read this review at Goodreads and Amazon.