The Dark Unwinding and A Spark Unseen

Jeanette was the one who first told me about The Dark Unwinding. She said she had found a Steampunk book that she was excited to read. I read it with her because I thought it looked like a fast read and would be fun to talk about. I was going to put the Amazon synopsis on here but I think it gives too much away (especially if I included the second book's synopsis before you read the first). Basically it is a Gothic Steampunk romance and the fun is in not knowing what it is about.

I really really enjoyed it! The characters were varied and interesting. The setting was elaborate and fantastical. The story was unique and unpredictable. I would say this author has a gift for creativity. However what she does not have a gift for is dialogue. I felt like the interactions between the characters were weak and did not promote the relationships that were forming. I felt like I was rounding out relationship details as I went along in my head. If I was her editor I would have made her go back and fill in some conversations. Also it read like a movie especially at the end, lots of unnecessary destruction. Additionally she was a heroine that I did not usually relate to, which is fine, I simply was not always in her cheering section.

The second book has a story as interesting as the first but it was told in only a matter of a few days, had some gaps that could have been filled in to make it better, killed off a character I adored, and made me question how great her relationship was to the man she liked. However again I didn't see everything coming and I was interested and read quickly. And like the first book I quite often thought what she was doing was not how I would have handled the situation at all. Additionally there was more unnecessary destruction that would make for a great movie.    

So overall a fun read when you have a few spare hours and want something entertaining and not too taxing on your brain. I would love to visit any of her book settings! And wear the fancy clothes:)

I would be interested to hear what you have to say on the subject Jeanette?!

(Oh and on a side note, I thought it was interesting how Katharine counted in her mind in certain scenes. It kind of bugged me and yet it helped slow the scene into a sort of slow motion and put you in her place. I have a couple more things to say after you have read the book, I don't want to spoil it!)