Why Did I Listen To This Book?
So, LOL you guys, I was initially rejected for The Inventor’s Secret by Andrea Cremer on Netgalley and of course, I remember those kinds of things. A few days post-rejection there was a link to a review copy of the audiobook in my email, so it’s kind of like kismet. I decided to listen to this book because I actually really enjoyed Nightshade way back when I read it. I liked how Cremer made werewolves actually seem interesting and how she created all this interesting mythology for that world, also the romance was not half bad. So, when I saw that she was writing steampunk alternative history, I totally had to listen to the audiobook.
What’s The Story Here?
Cremer’s latest series reimagines the world so that the Americans lost the Revolutionary War. In The Inventor’s Secret, the British have this mega-empire which is not really much different from the age of Imperialism. The story stars 16 year old Charlotte who lives in hiding on the outskirts of the empire. She lives as a scrapper with a band of children who form their own ragtag group and of course hide from the British imperialists and press gangs who would force the kids into horrific labor if they found them. One day a boy shows up with no memory of his past and so Charlotte decides to help him find out who he is and why he can’t remember the past, so she goes to this floating city to be a spy and to pretend to be a noble. At least that’s what I remember — I read this book in April and now it’s August.
How’s The World Building?
Well, I do not really read a whole lot of steampunk — however there’s these like robots that look for the kids, or rather that can sense kids from what I remember and I thought that was cool. I mean, cool in that it’s an interesting method of control by the British. I liked the hidey-hole that the kids lived in — it’s kind of like a fort in that from what I think I remember they had to pretty much be buzzed in and there’s security measures. Also, hmmm, there’s a submarine. And there’s travel in a zeppelin I think. Maybe my brain is making this up. But I do remember thinking that the modes of travel in The Inventor’s Secret were cool. Huh, but apparently the world building is not all the memorable as evidenced by this review.
Are There Swoons?
Yes. There’s totally a love triangle involving Charlotte and Ash who is part of her ragtag group and this guy that she meets while she’s pretending to be above her station in life. As you can tell, I do not remember his name. There’s totally a ball too. I think. I am like this positive that there is.
How’s The Narration?
OH! Something I remember! The book is narrated by Leslie Bellair who has a younger sounding kind of voice. Actually, her voice reminded me a lot of Sarah Drew and Jenna Lamia, so if you like those narrators you will like Leslie Bellair. I actually really enjoyed listening to her and thought she had decent pacing, enunciation and character voices for The Inventor’s Secret by Andrea Cremer.
Sum It Up With A GIF:
From what I remember most clearly there’s a ball and that is the best scene. Full disclosure: I could be remembering wrong, but I don’t think so with this.
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I listened to this book on audio too. What stood out for me was the abrupt ending. They’re about to check out what has happened and bam it’s over. If I get a chance I’ll probably listen to the next book.