Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear

Karen Memory by Elizabeth Bear  346 pages

Trouble erupts one night when a badly injured girl arrives at their door, begging sanctuary, followed by the man who holds her indenture, and who has a machine that can take over anyone's mind and control their actions. As if that wasn't bad enough, the next night brings a body dumped in their rubbish heap - a streetwalker who has been brutally murdered. Hard on the heels of that horrifying discovery comes a lawman who has been chasing this killer for months. Marshal Bass Reeves is closing in on his man, and he's not about to reject any help he can get, even if it comes from a girl who works in the Hotel Mon Cheri.

Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson

Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson  310 pages

It's 1888, and seventeen-year-old Verity Newton lands a job in New York as a governess to a wealthy leading family - but she quickly learns that the family has big secrets. Magisters have always ruled the colonies, but now an underground society of mechanics and engineers are developing non-magical sources of power via steam engines that they hope will help them gain freedom from British rule. The family Verity works for is magister - but it seems like the children's young guardian uncle is sympathetic to the rebel cause. As Verity falls for a charming rebel inventor and agrees to become a spy, she also becomes more and more enmeshed in the magister family's life. She soon realizes she's uniquely positioned to advance the cause - but to do so, she'll have to reveal her own dangerous secret.

Avalon Rising by Kathryn Rose

Avalon Rising by Kathryn Rose  352 pages

In the aftermath of Morgan le Fay's war on Camelot, the once great kingdom struggles to rebuild. Knights scour the world, attempting to restore the Round Table's glory by locating Avalon and the Holy Grail before the dreaded Black Knight can do so first.
Vivienne, Merlin's former apprentice, toils in secret day and night on orders from the Lady of the Lake to build an aeroship. The Lady has seen the future and promised that the ship will ensure Camelot's knights succeed in their quest.
But when a company of knights goes missing―including Owen, Vivienne's brother, and Marcus, her beloved―Vivienne changes the plan and commandeers the aeroship for a rescue mission, altering the fates of all involved. Now, the Lady sees danger in Vivienne's future. And for Marcus, either betrayal or death.

The Conjurer's Riddle by Andrea Cremer

The Conjurer's Riddle by Andrea Cremer  342 pages

The Revolution is beginning and Charlotte may be on the wrong side. In this sequel to "The Inventor's Secret," Charlotte and her companions escape the British Empire, but they haven't left danger behind. In fact, if they go against the revolutionaries, they face even greater peril. Charlotte leads her group of exiles west, plunging into a wild world of shady merchants and surly rivermen on the way to New Orleans. But as Charlotte learns more about the revolution she has championed, she wonders if she's on the right side after all. Charlotte and her friends get to know the mystical New Orleans bayou and deep into the shadowy tunnels below the city the den of criminals, assassins and pirates Charlotte must decide if the revolution's goals justify their means, or if some things, like the lives of her friends, are too sacred to sacrifice. This alternate-history adventure series asks the questions: What would have happened if America had lost the Revolutionary War? And what would people be willing to do to finally taste freedom?

The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher

The Aeronaut's Windlass: The Cinder Spires Book One by Jim Butcher --- 630 pages

Jim Butcher, best-selling author of The Dresden Files Series and The Codex Alera Series now introduces his new series with a whopping big book in which he gives his own unique take on Steampunk, a gritty Victorian alternative technology genre. Only in Butcher's vision, the technology isn't steam but crystals, which channel etheric energies to power flying ships.

Due to some as yet unspecified catastrophe that has rendered the world lethally uninhabitable for humans, the Builders created the Spires, soaring towers of impregnable spirestone, which contain the Habbles or habitats shared by the sentient species of humans, warriorborn and cats.

I won't go into more detail than this in order to avoid spoilers. But if you are a fan of Butcher, or steampunk, or Horatio Hornblower, or cats, you will want to check out The Aeronaut's Windlass.

Click HERE to read a preview from tor.com

Click HERE to read a review from geeksofdoom.com

Click HERE to read a review from agentsofguard.com

Shadow of the War Machine by Kristin Bailey

Shadow of the War Machine by Kristin Bailey  433 pages

Meg has come a long way from her days as a lowly housemaid, driven to learn the truth behind her parents' murder. She's since discovered that they were part of the Secret Order of Modern Amusementists - an underground society of inventors. Determined to reclaim her heritage, she joined the Amusementists as an apprentice, but that hasn't brought her closer to the man responsible for the loss of her family: the man in the clockwork mask.

Now the man in the clockwork mask is coming for her. But Meg is tired of being hunted and she intends to become the hunter. The truth about her family is out there, and she will find it. With Will, the boy who holds her heart, Meg embarks on an adventure that takes them far from the cold London winter and into the heart of France.

But the City of Light is filled with dark shadows. There's a plot afoot that could turn the tides of a terrible war, and cost the lives of millions - that is, if it doesn't take the lives of everyone Meg holds dear, including her own.

A Clockwork Heart by Liesel Schwarz

A Clockwork Heart by Liesel Schwarz, 283 pages
Book 2 of "The Chronicles of Light and Shadow"

Steampunk at its finest ... with a very sad, dark, magic, mystery, fantasy, suspenseful storyline. A must read. Just break out the tissues before you get to the end.

The Falconer by Elizabeth May

The Falconer by Elizabeth May  378 pages

Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh's social events - right up until a faery killed her mother.
Now it's the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She's determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city's many dark alleyways.
But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana's father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose - and just how far will Aileana go for revenge?

The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge

 The Nightmare Garden  by Caitlin Kittredge      471 pages

This is the second book in the Iron Codex series.

Everything Aoife thought she knew about the world was a lie. There is no necrovirus and she isn't going to succumb to madness because of it.  She is allergic to iron and time is running out for her. Aoife isn't human she's a changling-half human and half fae-from the land of thorn. This time Aoife sets off on an exhausting adventure, spends time with her estranged father and travels in a sub with Russian pirates. Aoife needs to find the nightmare clock which has plagued her dreams and leads her to the arctic circle. The ending promises even bigger adventures to come. I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a strong heroine and constant adventure set in a world that is unlike any other that you've seen before.

Rise of the Arcane Fire by Kristin Bailey

Rise of the Arcane Fire by Kristin Bailey  453 pages

Mysteries of Meg's past and threats to her future are revealed in the second book in The Secret Order trilogy, set in steampunk Victorian London.After her parents died in a fire and her grandfather disappeared, Meg Whitlock thought her life had come to a standstill. But when she learned that the pocket watch her grandfather left her was really an intricate key, Meg, with the help of a stable hand named Will, uncovered the Amusementists: members of an elite secret society dedicated to discovery and shrouded in mystery.

Now the Amusementists are convening in London, and Meg is determined to join their ranks. But being the first girl in the Order has its difficulties, and with Will away in Scotland, Meg fears she can't trust anyone but herself. Her worries are only supported by the sabotage happening at the academy, with each altered invention being more harmful than the last.

With threats lurking around every corner, and while trying to prove her worth as the first female Amusementist, Meg must uncover the identity of the academy's saboteur before the botched devices become deadly. And after she finds evidence of a sinister and forbidden invention, Meg must stop it - or risk the entire future of the Amusementists.

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

  The Iron Thorn  by Caitlin Kittredge      492 pages

Aoife (pronounced Ee-fah) Grayson has spent most of her life living as an orphan while attending a prestigious school. Her mother, who is locked away in a madhouse, tells Aoife about her dreams and stories when Aoife visits. Her brother, Conrad, is missing and she has never met her father. One day a mysterious letter arrives just like several she has received in the past. This letter has "Help me" written on it . With the help of her childhood friend, Cal, Aoife begins a trip that will change her entire world. This book is odd and mysterious with spooky and dangerous creatures everywhere you turn, but none as dangerous as the rigid government that dictates your every step and belief.

The Iron Thorn (Iron Codex #1) is the first Steampunk genre book I have read so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect.Therefore it is hard to compare with other books in this genre. This book was filled with interesting characters, non-stop action and twists and turns you don't see coming. I look forward to reading the second and third books in the series, "The Nightmare Garden" and "The Mirrored Shard".
                                                             

The Dream of Perpetual Motion, by Dexter Palmer

  The Dream of Perpetual Motion, by Dexter Palmer, 352 pages

I really didn't care for this book- I saw it on some "best of" new fiction by African American novelists and I thought it would be appropriate for Black History Month.  But it was kind of disappointing.  The idea is that Harry is trapped on a zeppelin, haunted by the voice of Miranda, the woman he loves, and taunted by the memories of Prospero, her father/robot-maker/crazy guy/corpse.  It tries to take elements of The Tempest, and steampunk fiction, and robots and throw it into a work of science-fiction; but it just didn't do anything for me.

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger, 307 pages
Finishing School Series - Book the First

I absolutely loved the author's Parasol Protectorate series and knew this new series would be awesome. I was not disappointed. The author's wit and talent shines through yet again. Young teen Sophriana is not even close to what any female in her family would call "finished". When a family friend recommends Sophriana be sent to a finishing school, Sophriana's mother immediately complies. But Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy For Young Ladies of Quality is not like any other school for young ladies. Along with learning to curtsy, exercise proper tea etiquette and how to carry a fan, you also learn how to poison, steal, kill, divert and fight. Sophrian is quick to embrace her new life and makes friends and enemy alike at the boarding school. Toss in flywaymen (like highwaymen but in the air), a missing prototype, mystery and the sinister picklemen, and you have a great story. Looking forward to reading the rest in the series.

The Queen Is Dead by Kate Locke

The Queen Is Dead by Kate Locke, 337 pages
(Book 2 in The Immortal Empire series)

I wasn't so impressed with this book as I was with the first. It seemed that the author simply tried to "tidy up" from her first novel and make connections. One particular character that comes back from the past left me shaking my head. The quick change from viewing certain characters as "evil" and then as heroic was a bit odd. The end seemed to be rushed and didn't have as much action as the first book in the series did. All in all -- I didn't dislike the story, but it could definitely have been much better.

God Save the Queen by Kate Locke

God Save the Queen by Kate Locke, 354 pages
(Book 1 of Immortal Empire series)

This was a great read and I'm looking forward to finishing the series. Xandra's youngest half sister, Dede, has gone missing and she will do anything to find her. Nevermind that the authorities found a body that her sister and brother agree is Dede. Xandra senses something odd is at foot and starts out on a road that will lead her to startling discoveries about herself and the world she lives in. Xandra is a halfie - half human and half vampire. Vampires rule this world controlled by the Monarchy. Queen Victoria is still alive and kicking - ruling for 175 years now. Goblins, Werewolves and other creatures that go bump in the night are very much real. This is your classic Sci-fi/Fantasy Steampunk novel complete with twists and turns that will keep your head spinning. To say anymore would give too much away. This is a definite - must read for yourself book. It does have language, violence, torture, sex and some pretty graphic parts, but considering you have vampires, werewolves, goblins and humans ... it's kind of hard not to.

Ironskin by Tina Connolly

Ironskin by Tina Connolly, 304 pages

It is hard to "retell" a great story like "Jane Eyre", but Tina Connolly gives it a valiant try in "Ironskin".  You have your plain looking governess, your dark Mr. Rochester, the beautiful little girl and the crazy mom. However, the author also weaves fey and fey curses into the tale. The plot moves along very slowly and sluggishly. It might have been better had I never read Jane Eyre before, but I couldn't help but compare "Ironskin" to it. There was no mystery. No suspense. No heart stopping moments. It was just a book. A book about a governess falling in love with her brooding master and his little girl albeit with a steampunk twist. Jane is fey-cursed and hides her scars behind an iron mask. Her sister has found love and so Jane must find work to provide for herself - which is difficult since the "ironskins" are feared and considered the trash of society. She heads to the dark manor in the employment of Mr. Rochart to be governess to his daughter Dorie as he believes Jane is the only one who can truly understand and help his little girl.  Dorie, is also fey cursed but in a different way. Her mother was inhabited/possessed by a fey when she was pregnant and the fey qualities transfered over to little Dorie. It is five years after the Great War between the fey and humans. Humans are trying to get back to "normal" without fey technology. Yet, the fey aren't truly defeated and there will be one more final battle that Jane has to fight to protect the people she loves and save humanity from the threat of the fey. How will this book end? Well, if you've read Jane Eyre, you'll know, but hopefully it will still be an enjoyable read to you.

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross, 480 pages

A twist to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde involving a young girl who is born with a dark side she is finding harder to control every day. Finley Jayne tries to keep her darker side hidden, but when the innocent are attacked she can't help but let it loose. She is unusually fast, very strong and fearless when the dark side comes out. This makes for a wonderful story for the most part. The Girl In The Steel Corset starts out as a great read but finishes with a disappointing and predictable end. The Novella was much more entertaining but unfortunately really didn't with the story at all. There are several contradictions between it and The Girl in the Steel Corset. Still, this is a Steampunk book that you wouldn't want to miss reading.

God Save the Queen by Kate Locke

God Save the Queen by Kate Locke, 368 pages
Immortal Empire Series Book 1

I picked up this book due to a post on this blog.  I enjoyed the mashup of Victorian steampunk and urban fantasy.  This is a world where Queen Victoria is a vampire and still rules in 2012 along with an aristocracy made up of vampires and werewolves.  There are touches of modern day technology sprinkled throughout with a steampunk twist.  I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.    

Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi

Amulet, Bk 1: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi - 187 pages

Emily and Navin enter an alternate world to save their mom from a tentacled monster.  In that world, they meet their great-grandfather who gives Emily ownership of The Amulet which will grant her the power to give her whatever she wants.
I picked this up to read at lunch thinking I'd probably get halfway through it.  However, there is so little text that I finished it in 20 minutes.  I know kids who are rabid fans of this series - however, I didn't really see the appeal.  To be honest, the book kind of bored me.  I finished it simply because I didn't have anything else to read with me.