4 out of 4 stars
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The Marvelous Mechanical Arm of Octavian Rilliuex by Melanie Thompson and published by Torrid Press is a delightful romp through the world of steampunk romance. The story has many of the hallmarks of an alternate history world sprinkled with the fanciful elements of zombies, voodoo, and H.G. Wells style inventions.
The novel centers on the adventures of Octavian and his companion Ridley. The two collaborate to uncover the reason behind a series of kidnappings and murders in the city. Octavian’s love interest is Raine L’ Eveque, a capable but headstrong woman who is both talented and beautiful. While she returns Octavian’s feelings, she hides a dark secret that keeps them apart.
Octavian is a vital man - a war hero, a brilliant inventor, and an implacable foe of the evils that beset the city of New Orleans. After losing an arm in the war, he has replaced it with a mechanical device he invented. This device has many attachments including the punisher - his literal arm of vengeance. It's a devastating weapon, capable of amazing feats of strength.
The cover artwork is gorgeous. I thought the cover’s female character bore a striking likeness to Keira Knightley (who might make a good actor for the female lead if Hollywood decided to make a movie.) The book has been professionally edited and I found nothing in the novel that left me hanging or confused.
The story’s plot is well done. Steampunk readers are in for a fun ride, although the marvelous devices tend to take a backseat to the romance. For romance fans, it is also a good read with a nice mix of the confused feelings and incorrect assumptions that tend to keep lovers apart.
Scenes involving torture, rape, and murder require keeping the novel out of the hands of younger readers. However, the book isn’t for horror or thriller fans. Instead, the scenes are brief and carry the story forward. I also found Ridley’s plunge into a marriage commitment a bit rash, but some readers may find it humorous and charming.
The overall writing is excellent and scenes fill out with colorful, period descriptions. You can clearly picture the characters and places. In addition, motivations fit with the thinking of the time. It's wonderful in a novel when characters behave consistently with their reasoning.
Overall, I found the book to be a fun, dashing read and I think steampunk and romance fans will enjoy it. For these reasons, I have rated it 4 out of 4 stars.
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The Marvelous Mechanical Arm of Octavian Rilliuex
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