Lucy is an agent for the crown charged to ensure
important plans being delivered to the American government actually arrive and
don’t fall into the hands of a hostile foreign power: especially as tensions
rise and Britain’s new Martian technology is in high demand.
As a dhampire, a half-vampire, she is uniquely qualified
for this role – and for vampire slaying. Which is complicated when a vampire
joins her on the HMS Titanic – and a vampire that conflicts so strongly with
what she has been taught and tempts her away from both her duty and her
mission.
This is one of those books that frustrates me immensely –
because it’s only a book. Worse, it’s only a short story. Because, by all that
is awesome, why is this not a book series? Why is it not a book series covering
many many many books?
Bisexual female dhampire secret agent working for the
government in a Steampunk setting that has the feel of both The League of Extraordinary Gentleman and
Penny Dreadful pulling in all those
Victoriana stories from Martian invasions to vampires and men raised in the
wilderness – and so much more. All of it mixed in with real world politics of
the time adding some nice intrigue to the story of the supernatural secret
agent. All of this world building is nicely hinted at, included briefly but not
overwhelming the actual plot and development of this short story.
Of course the bitterness of that is there’s so much of
this world building which we could so play with! I want to see it all, the
martial technology, the supernaturals incorporated into the world and government
agencies and Lucy’s own personal situation and development and growth as a
dhampire.
With this world we have a nice plot that does an
excellent balance between action and development and world building that really
just left me wanting more because there’s so much potential. Lucy’s story and
development, lots of intrigue and lots of action which is really well written
along with lots of emotional; development and world building all perfectly
balanced.
