THE DARK UNWINDING
by Sharon Cameron
Coming September 01, 2012
ISBN-13: 978-0545327862
Scholastic Press, 352 pages.
Find it on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads
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A spine-tingling tale of steampunk and spies, intrigue and heart-racing romance!
When Katharine Tulman's inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.
Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.
As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle's world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it. With twists and turns at every corner, this heart-racing adventure will captivate readers with its intrigue, thrills, and romance.
I admit that I may be suffering from a bit of Steampunk fatigue. I desire less and less of the Gail Carriger variation, but find that I am still voraciously craving the Scott Westerfeld epic-sized steampunk. I want heroes on sprawling sharply-witted adventures, not small and stuffy sharply (or scathingly) witted stories with only dashes of dastardly adventure. May be it's more of the Victorian lady archetype that I grow board of, or may be it's the novel Peculiars that did me in. (I really disliked Lena Mattacascar, she was such a numbskull and the author let her get away with some of the most selfish behavior. The character looked cool on paper, and the rest of the story was fascinating, but how could anyone appreciate it with Lena as a main character?!) I need a heroine that is less worried about the vapors or stubbornly refusing to see reason, and more of a Deryn Sharpe- put on some pants ladies and get your hands dirty!
The Dark Unwinding doesn't sound like it will be a sprawling adventure story, may be it will be more mystery based, but I am looking forward to reading this new author. And I do love novels full romance and intrigue so that adds to my anticipation for this book. Besides, series like The Hunchback Assignments and yes, even the Infernal Devices, are helping to keep my interest in the Steampunk genre alive.
