My previous experience with Wilbert Stanton's work, The Artful, was not a good match, but how could I resist a book that mixes steampunk, Greek gods and Fey.

What I liked was that it tried to deliver something different, mixing a lot of things together and trying to be fresh in a genre where that is not easy. However, while some concepts where nicely worked out, the different Pantheons for example, the pacing felt off. There is a rather slow start with a lot of explaining and then, at the end, a lot happens in the final few chapters.

A nice concept, but the execution could have been better.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Gears of Fate - Wilbert Stanton Zak Walker is content to live out his life as a fringe rat in the slums of the sky city Olympus taking care of his little sister Alice. But of course his father has his own plans for Zak. Zak’s father is going to get him a job on an airship and Zak will be away from home a lot. Who is going to look after his little sister, Alice if he is not there to do it? His father spends most of his time at The Crow’s Nest drinking.

Than a girl, Seneca Rose lands on Zak’s doorstep wanting his help to fight a war on Earth between the Seelie and the Unseelie Court. Zak wants no part in this war. Besides he doesn’t understand what if anything this war has to do with him and why is it his problem. He thinks this girl is cogged with all her stories about fey, queens and gods and other creatures and wants no part of her and her war. That is until his little sister, Alice is kidnaped and he will do anything to get her back safely even take a trip to Earth.

Many, many centuries ago a war broke out and the Fey won dominion over Earth. Olympians and Norse Gods with humans; fled Earth to live in the sky on planet Olympus and became known as the sky people.

I really enjoyed reading Gears of Fate with the airships and all the gear cogs. I loved their slang language like rust and clogged. The world building is so amazing with all the creatures that now live on Earth.

If you like steampunk and fantasy then you will fall in love with Gears of Fate. Once I started reading it I couldn’t put it down.

Okay, I normally don't do this kind of posts but Curiosity Quills Press is one of my favourite publishers and I really enjoy reviewing their books. That's why I thought I might know some people who would also enjoy it.

 

They are now hosting an event to gain more reviewers in their mailing lists, and as a reward for just signing up you'll get three books of choice from their ebook catalogue. If you would PM me and allow me to tell them I sent you there, I also get three books (which be nice as I really like their books).

 

I did a quick check of my reading stats this year and so far this year I've read 29 of their books. That's almost 14% of what I've read this year!

 

I think they publish around 10 books a month, in all kinds of different genres. I've been on their reviewers list for a while now and I generally receive two emails a month (which I'm usually even looking forward to): one announcing new books that can be requested for review, and one invitation to join on one or more blog tours. What I really like is that you don't have to enter anything and it's just fine not to participate if you're busy or don't think you'll like the books.

 

Some of the books eventually make it up to Netgalley, but I noticed many do not.

 

Every time I mailed with the staff they have been really friendly, and even writing a negative review for a blog tour (I once wrote a two star review on a book that just wasn't for me and the response I got was just 'too bad, these things happen, hope you enjoy your next book better') is not a problem (which is something I find really important and which is why I'm really hesitant to enter other blog tours).

 

You can find more information on this event here.

I received a review copy of this book for my stop on the blog tour at Donnie Darko Girl. 

I could imagine The Artful being made into a black and white movie like a Frank Miller graphic novel. Think Sin City, which is really fitting here because that's what NYC has become with the Tower Babies living their lavish lifestyles with out of the ordinary sex practices. NYC has become gritty and unrecognizable - there are no crowds, no hustle and bustle. It is, essentially, a ghost town. There are scavengers out and about once in a while, but not while the sun's out. 

Half the world's population has been wiped out by a virus, and those who survived are now allergic to the sun. Tower Babies are known as the wealthy, those who were born in tall buildings and have lived in them their entire lives. They can afford to stay out of the sun in luxury compared to people like Dodger and Twist. Tower Babies have all the medication they want, including the kind to make them forget about how shitty the world has become. 

Dodger and Twist are the two main characters known as Gutter Punks. They're the Robin Hood of stealing meds from the rich to give to the poor. I really enjoy Dodger's no apologies attitude - he's authentic and doesn't try to pretend he's something he's not. Twist is the narrator of this novel, and while he's a good fit with Dodger, Twist is more of a "good guy" in my eyes. He talks Dodger into helping people if it doesn't immediately benefit them. 

Once again wealth divides the classes, and those who are poor suffer. Listen, man, if I didn't happen to be born wealthy, I'd want to hang out with Dodger and Twist's friend Red's group. She leads the group of hippies known as The Tribe. They seem to be better off than where the Gutter Punks were living. If I'm going to die of an illness because I don't have medication, then I'd rather be with the Tribe than anywhere else. 

The Artful took a great idea of mixing a dystopian story with economic class division. The execution of the story was a bit lacking for me, but I enjoyed reading it and will read the next one.

I had to put aside my issues about it being some kind of post-pandemic book and just enjoy the immediate immersing of my fantasy bug to enjoy two characters trying to being Twist and Dodger. For someone who not only read but includes Oliver Twist as one of her favorite books I caught a bunch of subtle tribute to Dickens within the actual story lines, but from this futuristic viewpoint.

 

Personally I found the story absolutely delightful, I could care less that it was not the post-pandemic story, it because a story of the relationship between these two best friends and how it changed and expanded itself into something almost magical and frightening as one friend is racing against time to safe the other.

 

Don't sell it short and don't expect it to have a bunch of post-pandemic troupes because truthfully this is a story which is a little Escape from NY meets Charles Dickens meets Stand By Me... 

 

Give it a shot, you won't be disappointed.