The Gilded Scarab

Title: The Gilded Scarab

Author: Anna Butler

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Publisher URL: www.dreamspinnerpress.com

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-63216-773-6

Genre: {M/M} Steampunk

Rating: 4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx

Captain Rafe Lancaster suffers a permanent eye injury after crashing his aerofighter, and it ends his military career.  Wearing glasses to correct his vision, Rafe returns to Londinium in late 1899...the first time in almost a decade. He’s avoided the city for many reasons, mostly because of the powerful society Houses of which he’s a disowned member.

Now he’s home and being forced to find a new focus in life. After several weeks, Rafe settles on purchasing a coffeehouse near the Britannic Imperium Museum, putting him in close contact with several Aegyptologists. He also comes into the line of fire of powerful men with assassins on their payroll and Rafe’s forgotten how much he hates House politics. Making matters worse, an ex-lover is hovering in the background. Rafe has to handle these problems and deal with a kidnapping attempt all while trying to make the relationship with the man he loves work.   

In the past I’ve not been a big fan of the steampunk genre but Anna Butler has changed my mind with her new release The Gilded Scarab. It’s well written, has interesting characters with thoroughly developed personalities and the world building is top-notch. The vivid details of the time period, costumes and people make it a creative blend of Victorian England, science fiction and fantasy. The author created a world filled with danger, intrigue and society “Houses” that pulled me along with her gripping, complicated and fast paced plot. I liked it…no I really enjoyed it, and found it vastly entertaining. I could hardly put it down and think I read it in one day. Oh, and for those of you put-off by the steampunk verbiage…never fear, Ms. Butler has placed a glossary at the back.  I hope Ms. Butler intends to write a sequel in the near future.

Steel Dominance

Title:  Steel Dominance

Author:  Cari Silverwood

Publisher:  Loose Id

Publisher URL:  www.loose-id.com

ISBN/BIN:   978-1-62300-101-8

Genre:  {M/F}, {M/F/F}, Ménage, BDSM, Steampunk, Series

Rating: 5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph

Sofia has to act like a slave to Dankyo or she will not be able to enter the tomb of the Clockwork Warrior in Byzantium.  If they aren’t careful though, both could end up dead.

Steel Dominance is the third book in The Steamwork Chronicles.   From the Emperor’s guard to Dankyo and his friends, this is a very fast-paced story that keeps you on your toes.  The author introduces some very interesting customs throughout the story.  There are a lot of twists and turns as well.  Some of the secondary characters were from the previous books, but a few of the new ones have some very complex personalities. 

As Sofia and Dankyo try to solve the riddle and come to terms with their evolving relationship, there are some very heavy intrigues going on around them.  I was aware of a very big one almost from the beginning, though as the author weaves it throughout the story, I kept trying to figure out when Sofia and Dankyo would realize they were being betrayed.  I was surprised about the circumstances when everything came to ahead.

The chemistry between Sofia and Dankyo is hot from the beginning.  As their relationship evolves and Sofia learns more about her desires, Dankyo pushes her boundaries big time.  One big hot BDSM scene includes one of the harem girls that Sofia is friends with and it scorches the pages.  I was a little upset with Dankyo as he seemed a little wishy-washy sometimes when he and Sofia started to talk about their feelings.

Even though readers do not need to read the entire series, I encourage you to do so.  One thing I do hope is that there are more books in the future for this series.  This series happens to be the first time I have read steampunk, and Ms. Silverwood has made me a fan.

Lust Plague

Title:  Lust Plague

Author:  Cari Silverwood

Publisher:  Loose Id

Publisher URL:  www.loose-id.com

ISBN/BIN:   978-1-61118-802-8

Genre:  {M/F}, BDSM, Steampunk, Series

Rating:  4.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon  

Sten saves Kaysana from zombies infected with the lust plague.  Unfortunately, she loses her ship in the process, though one of her favorite crew members survives.   

The second book in the Steamwork Chronicles, Lust Plague, is filled with zombies, though I was startled by the different types of them because the author surprised me with that one.  A very big difference from the normal zombie stories was the fact that some of the zombies, or resurrected men, could actually think and pass as normal for awhile was very interesting.  There was also the normal flesh-eating ones that we have come to expect. I normally avoid zombie stories, but I enjoyed this one.  I will caution readers though that there are some parts of the book that may disturb. 

The main characters Sten, a frankenstruct and an airship captain, Kaysana, had such wonderful chemistry.  Kaysana has to rethink her ideas about being dominated, as well as her attitude regarding frankenstructs. I thought the give and take of their relationship was very believable, as they both struggled to come to terms with their growing feelings once they were no longer affected by the plague.  Emily was an interesting secondary character and added a lot to the story. 

The world that Ms. Silverwood has created is very interesting, since I had not been exposed to steampunk stories until this series.  The various countries and the types of people she showcases have made this series one that I want to read again.

Iron Dominance

Title:  Iron Dominance

Author:  Cari Silverwood

Publisher:  Loose Id

Publisher URL:  www.loose-id.com

ISBN:  978-1-61118-514-0

Genre:  {M/F}, BDSM, Steampunk

Rating: 5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amazon Nymph 

Claire has been created from several cloned parts and then trained as an assassin.  On the way to her assignment, the ship she is on crashes after being fired upon.  Theo takes her back to his house when he discovers she is one of the survivors and proceeds to seduce her.

One thing I liked a lot about Iron Dominance was that both Claire and Theo are very strong personalities.  Claire is a submissive though and as she learns to trust Theo, she seems to blossom even more.  The various personalities of the secondary characters are some that you either love or hate; there wasn’t any in-between for me. Another thing was that the author kept the angst going with Claire as she tried to navigate the questions she was asked to answer without letting on she was more than she presented herself as. 

I actually enjoyed reading this book, especially since this is the first time I have ever read steampunk.  I enjoyed the complexities of the world the author created.  The laws regarding the ‘frankenstructs’ of the various nations are tricky, to say the least.  They are slaves in some and are put to death immediately in others.  The fact that Theo kept her around while he tried to change the laws in his country was very telling about him as a person. 

I liked the fact that the author seems to be very knowledgeable about BDSM and showed both Theo’s Dom side as well as Claire’s submissive side very realistically.  Theo was extremely patient with Claire, especially when he realized she was terrified.   This book should be added to any BDSM lover’s bookshelf and is one I will be reading again.

Steamed Up Memories

Title: Steamed Up Memories

Author: Corinne Davies

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand

Publisher URL: http://www.sirenbookstrand.com

ISBN: 1-61034-704-8

Genre: {M/M/F} Steampunk, Series

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rogue Satyr 

Liam McKenna left his highland clan years ago, after they refused to help him keep two daughters from being taken by their New World father.  He has never forgiven himself for letting them down and is afraid of ever hurting women again.  He has found solace in Tristan, his first mate of his airship ‘Apollo’.  He loves Tristan but hasn’t told him that. Tristan is afraid Liam doesn’t love him like he loves Liam. The fact they even come to blows doesn’t help. They both know their relationship needs something to stabilize them. 

Yzabeau ‘Yzzi’ Gifrator is the youngest daughter of the man who took her away from Liam, although she has suppressed that memory.  Given her father’s high standing in the New World government, and her hatred of some of the things her government condones, she has been spying for years. She has been giving the resistance certain information, especially concerning slaver rings, although she doesn’t believe her father is involved so she modifies certain documents so as not to incriminate him. Until recently she has carefully avoided putting herself into danger, slipping information to an unknown contact via her sister. 

Liam is on a mission to break up a slave pit. When he sees Yzzi spread eagled upright on the auction block, he fears that his actions may put this operation and the whole resistance at risk.

Steamed Up Memories is the second book in the erotic steampunk series Steampunked Lust. The title is very apt as it involves the memories, some of them repressed, of the major characters and how they react to their own, and others, memories and past actions. The characters are strong, wonderfully detailed and believable. They were minor characters in the first book of the series, have very different personalities than the protagonists in that book, and it is good to see them have a story of their own. In that book, it was hinted at that Liam and Tristan were a gay couple. There’s no hinting here with plenty of man love to go around. Corinne Davies still amazes and teases me with her world. It is a fantastic steampunk alternate earth that I want to see in great detail. The ‘Atlantis’ is something almost worthy of Jules Verne. But whereas the first book had the perfect balance of erotica and adventure in its plot, we see much less of the world and there is much less adventure here. It seems odd to say an erotic book had too much sex in it, but I felt this one did. Although the sex is wonderful and very hot, it starts to become redundant towards the end of the book. 

My biggest disappointment in Steamed Up Memories is that it almost has the same exact plot of the first book; an emotionally damaged woman (sisters at that) may find healing in an airship captain who is afraid to hurt woman and has a gay lover as first mate.  For example, early in both books the captain gives the woman an erotic massage to calm her down and make her forget her trauma. At times I was getting déjà vu. This may be because I read both books in quick succession.  

I really did like this book.  It may sound like I didn’t like it, or wouldn’t recommend it, but I did and I would.  These are more warnings then very negative points. I understand that an author wants to keep a good thing going. 

One more point I must make is that the editing seemed very bad; bad grammar, extra words, missing words, missing punctuation. This isn’t the fault of the author or the book, but by about a fourth of the way through the book it began to irritate me and infringe on my enjoyment of it. The worst part was a section towards the end where the point of view of the narrative jumps around from paragraph to paragraph. I well understand that an author may be in such a hurry to get their thoughts down, they plan on it being polished later. It wasn’t polished later and someone let many mistakes slip through. 

Again, I really do recommend this book, especially if you are an erotic steampunk fan. It has much more to offer than any drawback it may suffer.

Steam Powered Passion

Title: Steam Powered Passion

Author: Corinne Davies

Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand

Publisher URL: http://www.sirenbookstrand.com

ISBN: 1610340159

Genre: {M/M/F} {M/M} {M/F} Steampunk, Series

Rating:  Golden Blush Award

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rogue Satyr 

Lady Tori Trenton knew her husband didn’t love her. Their marriage had been one of convenience, for political reasons. She didn’t love Lord Trenton either. But she is still shocked when an airship pirate captures Trenton’s frigate and tells Trenton he can keep one item; his wife or his ship. Lord Trenton chooses his ship. 

Tori married Trenton because the only man she truly cared about died at sea. If someone had to make a sacrifice to marry Trenton for her family, she thought it should be her. She is stunned to find Sean, still alive and first mate to Captain Mal, the pirate who attacked her husband’s ship. 

Tori believes her fate will be similar to the two ship doxies she is quartered with. That is until she comes to realize that Sean may still love with her and what’s more, Mal is intrigued by her. But Sean and Mal are now lovers and Tori worries Sean only loves men now. She knew Sean was a steampunk engineer who loved to tinker and is aghast to find that Sean has a mechanical arm now. Sean keeps Mal’s amazing ship, the “Seahawk” sailing. 

Events spiral out of control. Outside influences, personality conflicts, and the past of all three threaten to destroy what could be a wonderful three-way relationship. 

Steam Powered Passion is what all erotic steampunk should strive to be; Victorian ethics and technology intermingled with modern day sensibilities and fantastic inventions, with some very hot sex. It is a fantastic read and the plot, both character and adventure driven, will keep you on the edge of your seat. Mal, Sean, and Tori are all very detailed, unique and believable characters. Each have their own wants, desires, and agendas; often at odds with each other. They are all very lovable characters and I cared deeply about what happens to them. Mal and Sean’s relationship is obviously lacking something, but Tori adds the right balance to make the ménage a trios both wonderfully erotic and believable. That is if all three strong personalities don’t screw it up by the end of the story. 

The plot is clear and fun. This isn’t to say there aren’t some angst ridden moments where you want to reach in and strangle the protagonists or that there aren’t any sad and poignant moments. The plot works on two levels -  romance and adventure -  and it does so deftly. 

I’m glad that Steam Powered Passion is the first in the series, Steampunked Lust.  The world Corinne Davies created definitely deserves visiting again. I would love to learn more about the politics, technology and culture of this unique universe.

Tobias’s Own Adventure

Title: Tobias’s Own Adventure

Author: Connor Wright

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Publisher URL: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

ISBN: 978-1-61581-864-8

Genre: {M/M} Steampunk

Rating: 5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rogue Satyr 

Tobias Poole is a young man who always has his nose in adventure books. He has difficulty with his family over certain issues, so reading allows him to escape. His first reluctant trip away from home is on an airship that is attacked by the infamous air pirate “The Hawk”. The Hawk, Caledfryn Heddwyn Hawthorne, is a polite, gentlemanly, handsome and dashing robber.  He asks the wealthy passengers to drop their valuables in a bag, all the while apologizing for the inconvenience. He refuses to take wedding rings; anything inscribed from a loved one and even allows a woman to take the picture of her boyfriend out of her locket before handing it over.  For reasons he couldn’t really answer, Tobias attacks Caled, trying to wrestle the gun from him. Caled is much stronger then he looks and rebukes Tobias. After he finishes robbing the rest of the passengers, Caled takes Tobias along with him.  He takes him to a hidden airship hanger, nearby Caled’s house. Caled is the perfect host, and allows Tobias the use of his extensive, if unorganized, library.  In it Tobias finds a book of homoerotic drawings and poems.  He quickly slams it shut and puts it back on the shelf as the images and poetry get more and more graphic. Caled eventually gives Tobias two choices; stay with Caled and become an air pirate or go to his original destination, all expenses paid by Caled.  Tobias doesn’t want to become a criminal, but he doesn’t want to do what his family had planned for him either. Tobias knows there has to be a third choice. 

Tobias’s Own Adventure is a witty, funny, unpredictable, and at times tense, romp. After the first two chapters I thought I had the whole story figured out. Boy was I wrong. The story takes an interesting, delightful and totally unexpected twist. I love when a story does that and Tobias’s Own Adventure handles it well.  The plot is strong, the characters are well written and believable, the relationships are complex and you are always kept on your toes. I absolutely fell in love with Caled and Tobias and their chemistry. Although it is hinted at early in the story, it is slowly revealed that both Tobias and Caled are gay. The airship Tobias was on was taking him to a doctor, a doctor Caled is familiar with, to ‘cure’ Tobias’s disinterest in women.  It is hinted at that there is an arranged marriage waiting back home for Tobias, with a woman Tobias feels nothing for, not even with the few kisses he has had with her. But his first kiss with a man, Tobias feels it to his toes. Many times a gay romance historical story will ignore the prejudices of the past (or even today) and become totally unbelievable. Not this story. Tobias’s sexual preferences, and the abhorrence his family has with them, is very much part of the plot. Although the precise time is not given, it is sometime during the Victorian Era, with stuffy Victorian mores. It is handled in a sensitive, subtle, and inoffensive way, and handled with deftness.  

This is a great story that made me feel as if I was on the same adventure as Tobias. The world is given in great detail. Although there are no graphic sex scenes in this story, the build up to the off screen sex is some of the most erotic I’ve read. Sometimes, less is definitely more. Much of the story takes place in Luxembourg and the author obviously has done a lot of research. (Who knew there was a language Luxembourgish?) The dialogue has short phrases in French, German, and Luxembourgish and it just adds to the adventure aspect of the story. My only complaint is that, except for airships and air pirates which are kept mostly in the background, the steampunk elements are non-existent. Not that this ruined my enjoyment of the story. It is just that a publisher lists the genre as ‘steampunk’ I expect, well, steampunk. Fortunately for this story what steampunk there is, is more than enough.  This is a well thought out, wonderful story that works on so many levels. I hope that Tobias has another adventure.

The Inventor’s Companion

Title: The Inventor’s Companion

Author: Ariel Tachna

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Publisher URL: www.dreamspinnerpress.com

ISBN: 978-1-61581-823-5

Genre: {M/M} Fantasy, Steampunk

Rating: Recommended Read

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Dragon Minx            

The people of the world in which Gabriel Blackstone lives are divided by a caste system that no one can escape. As an inventor in the merchant class, he spends his time devising items the rich aristocrats will buy so he and his assistants, Caleb and Andrew, have enough money to survive. His routine life changes when they purchase time with a companion…a member of the pleasure caste for his birthday.  Gabriel believes in equality and almost refuses the gift but then his meets the alluring Lucio and he’s smitten. 

After that day, Gabriel can’t stop thinking about Lucio and when they meet at a ball, it becomes clear their chemistry isn’t a fluke and it can’t be ignored. Their caste system is against them and it’ll take cunning and all the help of their many friends to get Lucio out of the pleasure house that abuses him. No matter how difficult the road and despite how much money is needed to buy Lucio’s contract, Gabriel knows that having his lover at his side for the rest of his life will be worth it.

The Inventor’s Companion is the newest release by multi-published author Ariel Tachna. I haven’t read much in the steampunk genre, but the author met and exceeded my expectations with this well thought-out creative plot filled with alternative history components. The story is packed with fascinating characters, vivid details and great descriptions of costumes, customs, homes and living conditions within the caste system, all making the world in which Gabriel and Lucio lived come alive. 

The richness of the plot and the uniqueness of the characters and world caught my attention from the beginning and just wouldn’t let go. The chemistry between Gabriel and Lucio is intense and passionate, with the sparks flying as they meet and build their relationship under the most trying of circumstances. But they aren’t alone in their struggle because Ms. Tachna has also created some wonderful secondary characters to help them. Add all these components together with severe physical pain, emotional abuse, angst and unfairness and you have everything needed for a keeper book. I’d like a sequel please.

The Madame of Gravestone

Title: The Madame of Gravestone
Author: Misty Burke
Publisher: Summerhouse Publishing
Publisher URL: http://summerhousepublishing.com/
ISBN: 978-1-936950-21-8
Genre: {M/F} Steampunk, Series
Rating: 3 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rogue Satyr

Tripp Monroe is a photographer for a popular science magazine, covering the Kansas City Steampunk Convention. Tripp doesn’t think much of the fans of the genre, seeing nothing but ‘goggles and bad Victorian clothing’. He runs into the sponsor of the event, Professor Greggor, an eccentric scientist. Greggor insists that Tripp dresses more appropriately and loans him clothing. He also insists that instead of his digital camera, Tripp use a more authentic camera. Tripp thinks taking photographs with it is a good idea so takes him up on the offer. As he takes the camera, Greggor shows him a collection of private objects not on public display, telling Tripp the strange story that Greggor has actually visited a steampunk alternate timeline. A world where the North and the South fought a war of attrition to a standstill, leaving both countries wrecked. The West broke away from both becoming Westland, a monarchy with a tyrannical king. Tripp thinks Greggor is insane until he takes one more picture…

Tripp is hurled into Greggor’s alternate world. He lands on a flying town named Gravestone and meets Emma, the Madame of Gravestone, and its leader. Emma has Tripp imprisoned as a spy for the King, as Gravestone acts as a mobile base for Emma’s gang of Robin Hood-like outlaws. But Tripp has a trick or two up his own sleeve and soon is embroiled in Westland politics and intrigue. Tripp and Emma are attracted to each other as they follow along a twisted path of adventure; rife with zeppelins, clockwork horses, a clockwork army and an evil henchman of the King, who is half mechanical.

If The Madame of Gravestone, the first book in The Corset Chronicles, has a problem, it is that there is not enough of it. It is a story of only 51 pages and is stuffed to the brim. The complaint that ‘there is not enough’ unfortunately applies to nearly everything; the personality of the characters, their relationship, the plot, the fleshing out of the villains- even the intriguing world is given short shrift. Too much good stuff crammed into too small of a space. Nothing really has time to jell. I didn’t feel like I was emotionally attached to the main characters, and didn’t care for them as much as they deserved. The plot didn’t even start to take shape until 3/5ths through the book. The villains were little more than cardboard cutouts and the erotic parts of the story left me lacking.

Which is a shame. The Madame of Gravestone would have been an outstanding book, had it simply been given a chance to develop fully. It was a quick and easy read and fun. An afternoon or an evening by the fire would not feel wasted after this book was read. I felt there was a lot of potential to this story, but it left me wanting much more.

Pistons and Pistols

Title: Pistons and Pistols
Author: Regina Riley
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Publisher URL: http://www.lyricalpress.com/
ISBN: 9781616502379
Genre: {M/F} Steampunk; Sequel
Rating: Golden Blush
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rogue Satyr

It is the late 1860’s and ‘Bloody’ Rose Madigan is the captain of the airship Merry Widow. Rose, her female crew and her airship have been hired by a strange young man to find his missing father. The crew of misfits and castoffs from society has to brave prejudice, intrigue and a relentless villain. To make matters worse, the ship is still running from some prior unpleasantness, is low on money, fuel and morale.

Gabriella Upstairs is an 18 year old socialite running form a marriage her mother had arranged for her. The crew of Merry Widow has taken her under their wing. She is now the ship’s navigator and has fallen in love with their strange, young employer Atom Loquacious. But Gabriella has seen Atom often in the company of the ship’s engineer- Jayne, and suspects Atom has designs on Jayne and not her.
Can these vastly different headstrong and independent women unite to face all the problems besetting Merry Widow and her crew? And can Atom and Gabriella work out their differences as well?

Pistons and Pistols is the sequel to Clockworks and Corsets. While I loved the first book, I absolutely adore Pistons and Pistols. The author has tweaked her world to near perfection and fixed what little problems I had with the first book. All the characters are wonderful and I found it easy to care for and understand them and their motives. The crew of Merry Widow each has a role on the ship, and in the plot. The antagonist is a particularly loathsome person with no redeeming qualities; the kind of villain you love to hate. The plot is a wild ride. The story is a wonderful and an equal mix. It is sad, funny, suspenseful and erotic. The relationship between Gabriella and Atom is full of misunderstandings that are very humorous and I wanted strangle both of them. Much that happened in the first book is resolved in this one. But many old questions, and some new developments, have been left for another book; a book I am waiting for patiently. I can’t think of higher praise than that.

Clockworks and Corsets

Title: Clockworks and Corsets
Author: Regina Riley
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Publisher URL: http://www.lyricalpress.com/
ISBN: 978-1-61650-130-3
Genre: {M/F} Erotica, Steampunk
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Satyr Vael

Captain Rose Madigan is reluctant to take on a particular job but she trusts her all-female crew, and they all need the work, so off they set off on a trip that none of them will ever forget. Madam Ruby runs a bordello and she’s power-hungry and eager to get her hands on whatever remains of a mad scientist’s lost lab. However, when Rose and her crew--including the young socialite Gabriella Upstairs--find the laboratory, they also discover something unexpected.

Atom Loquacious, son of the missing scientist, has his own secrets and they could spell doom for everyone. Unfortunately, Gabriella finds herself falling for him, further complicating matters all over.

Clockworks and Corsets is a wild, sometimes funny, sometimes incredibly hot ride! I’m a big fan of steampunk and this book delivers all everything I love about the genre in one well-written, riveting package. The love scenes aren’t overdone, yet they’re explicit and still manage to stay true to the time period. If you’ve never read steampunk, make this your first!