Reviewed by Kim

Before you start Thomas Riley by Nick Valentino, take a deep breath. It may be the last you catch before finishing this book. Full disclosure: I LOVE steampunk novels. So please excuse the gushing, but this book was the most fun I’ve had in fiction in a long time.

Steampunk: is a sub-genre of science fiction and speculative fiction, frequently featuring elements of fantasy, that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used — usually the 19th century, and often Victorian era England — but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. (Wikipedia)

The story begins with a bang, literally, as Thomas Riley’s lab is blown up and the soul of the Duke’s daughter trapped inside his assistant, Cynthia Bassett. From there, things really get interesting. A plane crash (or two), attack by a tank, kidnapping by pirates and more. But don’t forget, this is steampunk, so the pirates fly and old tall ship in the sky! The tank is more like a giant bear than a tank and Thomas, a weapons expert, takes it over using his acid bullets. You’d think the intricate descriptions of such inventions would take away from the tension and the drama, but it was quite the opposite. If found the imagination of the writer, intriguing. I could easily picture each unbelievable technology and wished I could see a few of them (like the flying ships).

The story reminds me of a more action-packed version of my favorite series by Greg Keyes “The Age of Unreason.” Though I found the plot in Thomas Riley much less convoluted. This is a high concept book that would be ideal for reluctant readers, but would be a rip-roaring read for all young fantasy enthusiasts. The minor romantic element is just enough to develop the characters and leave us wondering how and when Thomas will finally reveal his feelings for Cynthia. I suspect we’ll see more of this series and I, for one, hope it’s soon.