Month: February 2017

Review of Soleil by Jacqueline Garlick

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Soleil
The Illumination Paradox 3
By Jacqueline Garlick

Star Rating: 
Genre: Steampunk, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 342

Date Started: February 5, 2017
Date Finished: February 19, 2017

Synopsis: (From Amazon)soleil
Losing her would send him spiraling into darkness.

With Eyelet gasping in his arms and a toxic storm threatening to annihilate the Commonwealth, Urlick must find a way to save his beloved, and fast. Out of the mist appears an unusual man, claiming to possess the power to heal Eyelet. The townspeople immediately label him a sorcerer and call for his death, but Urlick trusts the stranger. He whisks him off to the Academy where it becomes clear Eyelet is running out of time. She must drink her father’s antidote, or perish.

Together, Eyelet and Urlick brave the toxic woods to battle an Infirmed Flossie for the stolen necklace. In a race against time, they embark on a harrowing journey through the hellfires of Embers, where they meet up with the resurrected form of a familiar enemy—now the leader of the Dark World. Along the way, the pair unearth a sinister truth. Could the Vapours really be what they appear to be?
Is this the end of the known world?

Soleil is the third and final installment of the long-awaited Illumination Paradox Series. A swashbuckling, nail-biting, romantic adventure, filled with mechanical beings and puzzling happenings, with a shocking, otherworldly conclusion.

NOTE: This book contains an homage to Lewis Carroll and his infamous characters, especially Alice, who visited me from Wonderland as a child and spurred me on. These scenes are an intended nod to Carroll’s original works (now in the public domain) which I dearly love, continue to be for me, unyielding source of inspiration. To the creator, endless thanks. J

Review:
This book missed the mark. I had been quite excited to see how everything would come together, how everything could be fixed or righted. Unfortunately, this book was a complete change from its predecessors.

I found absolutely nothing wrong with the Wonderland addition of this novel, it fit in seamlessly with the rest of the story, however, it might have been nice to have had a few mentions of Alice being Eyelet’s favourite story in the first or second book, instead of having the knowledge dumped on us towards the end of the third book, in a series that previously didn’t mention other stories.

All the talk of coughing blood, and never once was the idea of tuberculosis brought up! Perhaps it was supposed to be a subtle thing, but with the ravens and Eyelet coughing up blood repeatedly, I had thought it’d be a given.

Without giving anything away, in the end, I felt that everything we’d been through was rather for nothing. The world shifted to work in a way that made little to no sense, utopia found. I had been quite invested in the town that Urlick had only just been sworn king of, and I was looking forward to seeing it saved. In most dystopian style novels, there is active resistance against the government, and a slow rise/change from people (usually young adults, but not always) that attempt to bring the world into enlightment. This book simply left everything behind.

If you’ve read the first two books I would recommend finishing the series, since I do so hate to not know how something ends, however, be prepared to reach a conclusion that might not be what you had in mind.

jacquelineAuthor Biography: (From Amazon)
Jacqueline Garlick is the author of the immensely popular, young adult, steampunk/fantasy series THE ILLUMINATION PARADOX, as well the IF ONLY series, a contemporary, coming of age, romantic mystery. She is also the author of a variety of women’s classic romances including the highly anticipated, upcoming HEARTMENDER’S SOCIETY.

Jacqueline loves strong heroines, despises whiny sidekicks and adores a good story about a triumphant underdog. (But then again, doesn’t everyone?) She has an on-going love/hate relationship with chocolate, grammar, and technology. Jacqueline has been a teacher, professional speaker, and environmental activist, but much prefers her current role as mild manner novelist. To find out more about Jacqueline and to be the first to learn of her upcoming releases, book-related giveaways, and other cool contests and events, sign up for Jacqueline’s NEWSLETTER via jacquelinegarlick.com, to join Jacqueline’s elite Reader’s Group and receive an exclusive FREE READ.

Follow Jacqueline:
twitter @garlick books
facebook: http://bit.ly/jegarlickfb

Contact Jacqueline”
email: garlickbooks@gmail.com

Review of Noir by Jacqueline Garlick

/ authoramysbrown / 1 Comment

Noir
The Illumination Paradox 2
By Jacqueline E. Garlick

Star Rating: 
Genre: Steampunk, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 380

Date Started: February 2, 2017
Date Finished: February 5, 2017

Synopsis: (From Amazon)noir
Losing him would make her overcast world one shade darker…

Navigating her way through nightmarish lands devoid of sunlight, Eyelet Elsworth races to free her beloved Urlick Babbit, the first person to understand and accept her—differences and all. Framed for murder and sentenced to execution, Urlick is running out of time. And the Commonwealth’s tyrannical new ruler, Penelope Rapture, is strangely eager to speed up the clock.

Aided by a band of unusual yet loyal associates, Eyelet stumbles upon a startling rumor. And as she unravels a secret that could challenge Penelope’s claim to the throne, Penelope vows to divert Eyelet’s journey—straight to a dark and deadly end.

In Noir, the second thrilling addition to Jacqueline E. Garlick’s Illumination Paradox series, familiar friends struggle against new and old enemies, shocking secrets come to light, and the truth that could save this captivating steampunk world is revealed…if it doesn’t destroy everything first.

Review:
Ever had a book that you couldn’t put down? If you’ve read Lumiere, this will likely be like that. Not only is the reader introduced to other unfortunate people who are far more capable than they are given credit for, but more back story is learned about one of my favourite secondary characters, C. L. While adventuring we also meet a few more unforgettable characters, one named Livinea who I am certain will capture many hearts as she appears to be the embodiment between what people often feel and have to keep private.

I absolutely love the surprise about Urlick, and it wasn’t exactly as I had suspected, but I was quite pleased nonetheless. He seems to take direction well, and while his love for Eyelet is absolute, he does what is necessary for all first.

Now I have to say that the world crafting, the buildings in this particular novel, are genius. Is it magic or is it science? Or is it both? I absolutely love the creativity and medieval inspiration used for the jug and the tortures the characters were threatened with.

While I had an inkling that Eyelet may have contracted a particularly nasty disease because she keeps coughing up blood, I was still devastated by the abrupt uncertainty of the ending, and of course will start book 3 post haste.

jacquelineAuthor Biography: (From Amazon)
Jacqueline Garlick is the author of the immensely popular, young adult, steampunk/fantasy series THE ILLUMINATION PARADOX, as well the IF ONLY series, a contemporary, coming of age, romantic mystery. She is also the author of a variety of women’s classic romances including the highly anticipated, upcoming HEARTMENDER’S SOCIETY.

Jacqueline loves strong heroines, despises whiny sidekicks and adores a good story about a triumphant underdog. (But then again, doesn’t everyone?) She has an on-going love/hate relationship with chocolate, grammar, and technology. Jacqueline has been a teacher, professional speaker, and environmental activist, but much prefers her current role as mild manner novelist. To find out more about Jacqueline and to be the first to learn of her upcoming releases, book-related giveaways, and other cool contests and events, sign up for Jacqueline’s NEWSLETTER via jacquelinegarlick.com, to join Jacqueline’s elite Reader’s Group and receive an exclusive FREE READ.

Follow Jacqueline:
twitter @garlick books
facebook: http://bit.ly/jegarlickfb

Contact Jacqueline”
email: garlickbooks@gmail.com

Review of Lumière by Jacqueline E. Garlick

/ authoramysbrown / 1 Comment

Lumière
The Illumination Paradox 1
By Jacqueline E. Garlick

Star Rating: 
Genre: Steampunk, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 400

Date Started: January 29, 2017
Date Finished: February 2, 2017

Synopsis: (From Amazon)lumiere
Even in a land of eternal twilight, secrets can’t stay in the dark forever.

Seventeen-year-old Eyelet Elsworth has only one hope left: finding her late father’s most prized invention, the Illuminator. It’s been missing since the day of the mysterious flash—a day that saw the sun wiped out forever over England.

But living in darkness is nothing new to Eyelet. She’s hidden her secret affliction all of her life—a life that would be in danger if superstitious townspeople ever guessed the truth. And after her mother is accused and executed for a crime that she didn’t commit, the now-orphaned Eyelet has no choice but to track down the machine that was created with the sole purpose of being her cure.

Review:
I’m uncertain how long I’ve had this novel before I finally decided to give it a try. The beginning was hard, difficult to get into. Although I suppose it could be seen as corky, it took me quite a while to get used to the name “Eyelet”. While it was likely to set the mood and time period, I found myself spending a portion of the first section wishing, in some ways, that the author had gone with Violet instead, or had explained the name in some way. Perhaps the most jarring was the thought that Eyelet having the ailment she does would make her a prim candidate for an asylum or even death.

I found part one rather jarring as we went between the new vocabulary of setting the steampunk scene, learning the land, and trying to figure out the science and balance the magic as well– with Valkyries being mentioned lightly in passing. After catastrophe struck the story became a bit easier to follow, and I became more and more intrigued.

While reading several other stories were called to mind: The Birthmark, by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Beauty and the Beast were the most prominent. Though they may have helped shape the novel, that was in no way a negative thing, and the further I read the more I appreciated the story on its own merits. Eyelet is a wonderful protagonist, and while she does have a reason to be afraid beyond being a female, she doesn’t let anything or anyone stop her, and she won’t let anyone tell her what she can’t do because she’s a girl.

I am  intrigued, and have already purchased the second book to start on once I’ve finished this review.

jacquelineAuthor Biography: (From Amazon)
Jacqueline Garlick is the author of the immensely popular, young adult, steampunk/fantasy series THE ILLUMINATION PARADOX, as well the IF ONLY series, a contemporary, coming of age, romantic mystery. She is also the author of a variety of women’s classic romances including the highly anticipated, upcoming HEARTMENDER’S SOCIETY.

Jacqueline loves strong heroines, despises whiny sidekicks and adores a good story about a triumphant underdog. (But then again, doesn’t everyone?) She has an on-going love/hate relationship with chocolate, grammar, and technology. Jacqueline has been a teacher, professional speaker, and environmental activist, but much prefers her current role as mild manner novelist. To find out more about Jacqueline and to be the first to learn of her upcoming releases, book-related giveaways, and other cool contests and events, sign up for Jacqueline’s NEWSLETTER via jacquelinegarlick.com, to join Jacqueline’s elite Reader’s Group and receive an exclusive FREE READ.

Follow Jacqueline:
twitter @garlick books
facebook: http://bit.ly/jegarlickfb

Contact Jacqueline”
email: garlickbooks@gmail.com