There Are Inkspots On My Page!

You can find this, and other reviews, on my blog. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The search is over! I’ve finally found a steampunk book that I really, really like!

The Brass Giant is a a thoroughly delightful book, and I’m very much looking forward to the rest of the series. It has a great plot, it’s very well written, and the steampunk elements fit neatly into the era.

There’s a fair bit of romance in the novel, and that’s not usually something I’m a fan of, but it’s just so sweetly done that I really didn’t mind it at all (and even found myself gushing in a couple of places). It’s a little bit over the top and a little bit angsty … but what teenage romance isn’t?

There’s a huge focus on the disadvantages Petra has being not only from a lower social class, but a girl, and this was very well done for the most part. A couple of times it felt a little over-emphasised, although still very accurate considering the era it was set in.

I really enjoyed the story line, and I’m very curious to see what comes next. I liked the detail that went into the mechanical explanations - thorough without being incomprehensible to those who have no idea about machinery. I also really liked how new information about various factions was introduced - it was very skilfully and subtly done, and I was very happy to see my initial reaction to one of the secondary characters wasn’t wrong after all.

I absolutely can’t wait to see how the story progresses, and highly recommend that everyone goes and reads it right now.