~OR~
Genesis of an Iron Angel
Book One of the Iron Angel Series
by Robert C. Roman
PROS:
A tightly written steampunk tale
Well-defined lead characters
CONS:
An occasional bit of head-hopping
I would prefer a bit more world-building
Review
I’m reading an action-packed television thriller! That thought occurred to me about half way into Bob Roman’s new tale.
Don’t get me wrong now, I know that a lot of stories start out with instant adrenaline and impossible situations, but very few are able to sustain the rush and still maintain the reader’s interest. The Strange Fate of Capricious Jones is one of them.
The first few paragraphs established an exciting scene with a strong female character. Then, the scene shifted to another classic lady. This time, she’s somewhere in the middle of the sort of first world war where legendary heroes fight alongside semi-autonomous mechanised warriors.
After reading The Strange Fate of Capricious Jones, I found myself going back the following day to reread some of the scenes just for the marvellous imagery. Steampunk, dieselpunk and alternate history cosplayers will find plenty of fodder for their creations in this series.
Don’t worry. I’ll not provide any spoilers, but this tale is pure steampunk crunchy with a side order of subtle horror. Read it. Roll in it. Relish the colours and textures and take heart that the sequel is already out. I’m treating myself to book two of the Iron Angel, this coming weekend.
Thank you Robert C. Roman, for a fine ride!
Anthony Stevens' Weblog 