The first in a series (I think) that I wish did a little more world building, because I think it is a fascinating idea. Or perhaps it just needs clearer world building, because I found myself a little muddled as I got through the book. The two main characters were fun (if a little obvious) and the story moved along quickly. ( )

This was just not my cup of tea -- if you read for atmosphere and for setting, and you want a quirky steampunk murder mystery with some romantic overtones, go for it.

I love really excellent characters, and while these two had some promise, I felt like I was reading the same descriptions of their relationship/ interactions over and over again. Also, I get migraines, so a character who suffers from them constantly is just too much of a blargh reminder. ( )

Upon finishing, I actually said out loud, "Thank goodness that's over."

I was really disappointed in this. On paper - and cover - it looked so interesting. Steampunk fairyland featuring a woman-of-colour police detective! (And, look, she was great. I really wish the book had been about her, instead of shunting off-stage all her development that wasn't lavish agonising over her partner's sixpack.)

The pacing of the book was a strange combo of lingering and lurching that seemed to rush interesting developments and spend pages on boring details. It proceeded through a murder investigation that was probably quite realistic in its laboured chipping away at leads, but that gave no scope for deep mental engagement. Add in a major subplot, wherein a new point-of-view character had a romance almost vampiric in its fey formality, and about which I couldn't care less, and this book was a genuine chore to read.

I was mildly engaged with ours heroes UST, but that was flogged to death by endless self-aware asides and introspections. (The aforementioned agonising over sixpacks, and lots of "but we mustn't"-style denials. Yawn.) ( )

It's been weeks and it's time to admit it, I'm not going to finish this book. I absolutely hate to say this--and can't believe I'm saying this because it's co-written by Ann Aguirre whose books I adore--but this book is boring. There's very little suspense, which for a book about two people investigating a series of murders and one person very obviously targeted for murder, is not a good thing.

Everything about this book gave me a feeling of "almost, but not quite." I almost feel like I know the main characters because I've been told things about them, but at 74% into the book I still don't feel like I know them. I almost feel like I understand how this particular world differs from ours because I've been told certain things that happened, but I don't see those things playing out. It's that way with most things; very tell instead of show. ( )

The fact that this one took me so long to read is no reflection on the book. I was simply too busy to focus on reading at this time, especially a book so rich with content as this one. Set in an alternate historical London, the bulk of this book was pure police procedural. Those looking for a fantasy fix should look elsewhere. The two main protagonists are partners on the force. They are very different from each other but through the story come to realize their relationship may extend beyond the professional. I loved Mikani and Ritsuko and how they treated each other with genuine care and respect.

My one complaint would be the world of the story itself. Much of the world and the terminology that was used didn't make sense to me. There was not much effort to describe and explain this world, and it was a little confusing and frustrating at times.

I look forward to the next book however, to see how the relationship between Mikani and Ritsuko progresses. ( )