This book was a "mystery date" book I got as a present and honestly, I wouldn't have read it because of the banner on the top of the book. High expectation is an understatement with stating Steampunk and Firefly, and I will state.....it lived up to this statement wholeheartedly. It started off a little slow while story building but it picked up steam to the point you felt like you were on a rollercoaster going downward while sprialing out of control. The characters are well thought out, the environment is breathtaking and the storytelling is spot on.

I look forward to the next book in the series, esp after the ending of this one.
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This book starts off well than make some strange choices. The story starts with stealing a ship, changes to finding a killer, than something else and than something else. By the time it ends I don't remember all the places it tried to go. I don't know what Aransa looks like. It's a desert city but feels like a small town. The world building is not good. The characters start of well. The Han Solo type of rogue that Honding starts of being ends with him being someone I don't care about. When there's trouble his calm swagger gives way to mild panic. His Chewbacca is more useful when trouble comes. The other characters feel tacked on. They are there for filler with some backstory thrown in. There are too many ideas that never get fleshed out in this book. Near the end of the book the author sticks to the idea of a captured prisoner planning his escape. Those were the best chapters in the book because there was one idea that was put out in front for you to see. I hope that the next book takes one idea and goes with it for the whole book. The author does a better job when she's fleshing out one idea at a time.

I read this book via NetGalley. I thank them for this book. #NetGalley ( )

This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress, Blogspot, & Librarything by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission

Title: Steal the Sky
Series: Scorched Continent #1
Author: Megan O'Keefe
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 340
Words: 117.5K

Synopsis:

From Kobo.com

Detan Honding, a wanted conman of noble birth and ignoble tongue, has found himself in the oasis city of Aransa. He and his trusted companion Tibs may have pulled off one too many cons against the city’s elite and need to make a quick escape. They set their sight’s on their biggest heist yet - the gorgeous airship of the exiled commodore Thratia.

But in the middle of his scheme, a face changer known as a doppel starts murdering key members of Aransa’s government. The sudden paranoia makes Detan’s plans of stealing Thratia’s ship that much harder. And with this sudden power vacuum, Thratia can solidify her power and wreak havoc against the Empire. But the doppel isn’t working for Thratia and has her own intentions. Did Detan accidentally walk into a revolution and a crusade? He has to be careful - there’s a reason most people think he’s dead. And if his dangerous secret gets revealed, he has a lot more to worry about than a stolen airship.

My Thoughts:

I read this back in 2016. I wasn't that impressed then, as I had some real issues with the story structure. I've been seeing lots of positive reviews for O'Keefe's Protectorate series though, so wanted to give this series another chance. It was a smidge bit better, enough to bump it up half a star and to get me onto the second book, unlike last time.

Reading my review from '16, I can still see what I meant. It just didn't bother me the same way, as I was already familiar with the characters. I've also realized that I enjoy the “Lord and Servant” trope. Detan & Tibbs. Wooster & Jeeves. Whimsey & Bunter. It simply works for me.

I did find Detan to be more of a useless ass this time around than last. I rather dislike using pejorative body parts as descriptions for someone, but really, it seems to be the most accurate, universal fit. Tibbs was less involved than I remember while all the women (the rest of the cast) played a much more decisive role.

Upon some investigating, it turns out that O'Keefe wrote a prequel novel after she finished this series. If she had written that first, even if not published it, it would go a LONG way towards explaining some of the “familiar” banter between Detan and Tibbs and would give some weight to their obvious history in this book. In that same investigating I have come across enough issues that I have decided to not delve into the Protectorate series. Now I just have to hope she doesn't tip me off a cliff with this trilogy.

Honestly, I can't say if I enjoyed this more than last time. I certainly had much less “dislike” than last time though. I'm pretty ambivalent and this review definitely reflects that.

★★★✬☆ ( )

This new fantasy novel had me in a twitter before I sat down to read it. I expected a steampunk fantasy tome, and if I'm really honest with myself, I always *want* to like steampunk more than I ever truly do.

In fact, I almost pre-judged this one based on my lackluster experiences.

Good news! This is anything but lackluster! :) Now, I don't even know what I was worried about! We've got solid characters butting heads with each other across battle-lines of prejudice, class, and logic. We've got airships tightly tied to a complicated and well-thought-out magic system that is also part and parcel of the prejudice. We've got good adventure.

I'm absolutely going to be keeping my eye out for the rest of these books. I'm nothing if not very impressed by this debut. I especially loved how a few characters kept falling out of their comfort zones with catastrophic results.

This is what the genre needs to be revitalized, IMHO. :) Or better yet, to finally rise out of the fringe. :)

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This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Wordpress, Blogspot, Booklikes & Librarything by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.

Title: Steal the Sky
Series: The Scorched Continent #1
Author: Megan O'Keefe
Rating: 3 of 5 Stars
Genre: SFF
Pages: 448
Format: Kindle digital edition



Synopsis:

A lighter than air substance, the basis of the power for most nations, can be found on the Scorched Continent. One city in particular is being brought into the Empire.

One law enforcement officer is trying to stop a military butcher from being elected governor. A former lord and his "servant" are running from the Empire because it uses those who have power of the substance and said lord has great power of it.

Throw in another power user who is out for revenge and things just get messy, very quickly.



My Thoughts:

I would like to thank Irresponsible Reader for initially bringing this to my attention.


Unfortunately, I wanted to like this much more than I actually did. I think the most positive thing I can say is that it reminds me of a mediocre Wax & Wayne story by Sanderson.


It had all of the elements that I could like. A roguish lord who is more powerful than he lets on. A sidekick who makes the quips and yet keeps the lord under control. A strong police woman who is trying to keep order. A blood thirsty military genius who is playing games and counter games. A driven mother who wants the death of those who killed her son.


There were times where the direction of the story or a revelation just came from sidewise and completely caught me off guard. It also didn't help that while this is the first book in the story, there is a lot of previous history about the characters, that they mention in passing. Kind of like listening in on 2 old school chums who'll say something like "boofer" and burst out laughing because of a shared experience. It isn't very nice to be on the outside looking in. And it just dragged.


I've got the second book on my tbr list. However, while this wasn't bad by any means, it wasn't nearly good enough for me to continue. Maybe if it was a Forgotten Realms book or some such, I could continue but for a "serious" SFF book, I expect more if I'm going to continue. ( )