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CHAPTER 1
Some events change a man’s life so definitively that everything becomes defined in relation to this one moment. Such a milestone divides all other points in one’s life into Before and After.
This was one such moment for Longinus. He knew with perfect clarity that his life would never be the same again.
He gathered himself, took a deep breath, and burst through the velvet curtains, stepping regally out from the changing booth. In one fluid motion, he graced his audience with a twirl.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I give you… the Cape.” He managed to put a special emphasis on the capital ‘C’, feeling that so glorious an item most definitely warranted capitalisation. The Cape was of the most divine cerulean blue, its edges embroidered with silver.
“Who you calling a lady?” Adelma grunted. She lounged, or rather sprawled, on a chair by the door, with all the grace of a boulder dislodged by an avalanche.
She’d removed her fur hat, revealing the shaved sides of her head with their incongruous tattoos of small purple flowers. A thick plait ran from the top and down the back of her head, curving around her neck, over her left shoulder, and finishing by her waist.
“Ain’t you got one of them cape things already?” Rory asked from a nearby tailor’s fitting platform. She frowned. “Yeah, you definitely got some of them back in Damsport. I saw you wear one and all.”
White calico was pinned to her body, approximating the elaborate dress being made for her. The thick ropelike segments of her hair were piled atop her head, the copper rings and tubes she’d taken to wearing in her hair gleaming in the light.
The tailor and his team of assistants had all been kicked out when Adelma and Cruikshank had arrived earlier, so they could all talk in peace.
“No, no, no,” Longinus replied. “What you’ve seen me wear back home are cloaks. They are completely different. Cloaks are merely practical, to protect one from the rain, for example. This, however…” Longinus moved again, displaying the stunning drape of the fabric. “Look at the thickness of it. The richness. The silver detailing here. And the versatility! See how the clasp and chain adjust? I can have the Cape pushed back as a simple decorative item at my back, like so. Or I can wear it like so, covering my shoulders. Or like so, for a more rakish, off-the-shoulder look… oh, that is just divine.”
Longinus planted himself in front of a triptych mirror, moving to observe himself from every angle.
Rory snorted. “Did you seriously just call yourself divine?”
“Well, when one looks like this, what else should one call oneself?” Longinus replied distractedly, admiring himself in the mirror. “I look like a winter god—an elegant winter god.”
“Let’s not forget that modesty’s for amateurs,” Rafe said from his fitting platform. A half-finished jacket was pinned to him, chalk lines showing where the jack would be fitted snuggly to his waist.
“Much as I like to hear my words quoted back to me,” Longinus said, “I should point out that only fools mistake sarcasm for wit.” He moved again, placing a hand on his hip and admiring the ripple of the Cape’s fabric. “The cloak is prosaic and common. The Cape, however, is a statement.” He lifted both arms, spreading the Cape like two ethereal wings. “I shall get one in black too.” After all, no self-respecting assassin went out at night in anything other than the deepest, most perfect midnight black.
Longinus didn’t yet have a firm opinion of Northern Airnians. Most Damsians considered Airnia to be a cruel, brutal force that had kept Damsport in slum-like poverty for most of its existence until the Old Girl had freed the city by obtaining its independence from the Empire.
All this was true, of course, but Longinus knew better than to give weight to the myriad of stories that circulated about Airnia. He was waiting to make up his own mind. Prejudice could easily muddy the waters, and their mission was too important to take that risk.
The Old Girl expected them to return with information on which Damsian allies had turned their cloaks and agreed to potentially support an Airnian invasion. Longinus also hoped to discover the truth behind his sister’s wild claims that their mother was alive and a prisoner of the Empire.
For now, one thing was for sure—Airnia could teach Damsport a thing or two about the uses of fabrics, patterns, and colours. And as luck would have it, it wasn’t a conflict of interest for Longinus to play the eager pupil.
The fine establishment they found themselves in was a perfect example. The walls were upholstered in teal damask with a delicate repeating pattern woven into the fabric itself so that it was only visible when the light hit it in a certain way. Luxury without slipping into gaudiness.
Beneath the fabric, the walls were padded, so every corner was a soft curve, further softened by the perfectly diffused golden light. The walls were uninterrupted by windows, which was a blessing. The city of Bel Stadd might have been a hellish place of icy cold and horrid flat-grey light that filtered through the snow-laced winds, but one merely had to go to the tailor’s to escape to paradise.
And of course, the padding and lack of windows meant complete privacy—no sound or sight could be perceived from outside the room.
“I should have been born in a cold-weather country,” Longinus said, still moving the Cape in front of the mirror. “Heat limits the sartorial spectrum at one’s disposal.”
“Oh, alright, enough already,” Rory said. “Will you stop about the damned cape?”
“My dear girl, when steam power was invented, one did not stop talking about it. It revolutionised the way we live, just in the way that this Cape is going to revolutionise the way I live.”
“I’m not sure you can compare the marvel of technology that was the discovery of steam power to an item of clothing.” Cruikshank let a thick puff of smoke escape her mouth as she spoke. “Much as I think you look great—maybe consider a little realism in your statements.”
She sat next to Adelma, and in spite of her stocky frame and thick musculature, she looked almost small next to the massive smuggler. The complex cog tattoo over her right arm was hidden beneath layers of warm clothing.
She and Adelma were dressed like simple Northern Airnian workers: thick, padded tunics fastened by leather straps down the left sides and belted at the waist, over boiled wool leggings tucked into sheepskin-lined boots.
“Could we maybe go back to our assigned roles?” Rafe suggested. “Rory, focus on behaving like the eccentric heiress you’re supposed to be. Longinus, go back to being her cousin. And Cruikshank and Adelma should really be leaving. Hired help aren’t supposed to sit and ogle their employers at the tailor’s while making sarcastic comments and smoking.”
“If it bothers you, Cruikshank can put out the cigar.” Adelma grinned.
Longinus picked a tiny bit of fluff from his Cape. “I’ll have you all know that I haven’t stepped out of my role as a wealthy Southern Airnian merchant,” he sniffed. “I’m displaying just the kind of enthusiasm a man from the Choma province would feel on arriving in the capital and finding an establishment ready to attend to all his stylistic needs. Choma is rather provincial—pun intended—so my alias would be thrilled to find himself in the cosmopolitan beating heart of the Empire.”
The Airnian Empire was the vastest in the world—so vast, in fact, that it encompassed numerous climates and ethnicities. The Choma province, part of the Southern District, bordered Damsport, and its people were ethnically identical to Damsians. Choma had the same hot and humid climate too.
“Come on, Adelma. Let’s leave them to it.” Cruikshank stood up, clamping her cigar between her teeth. She winced and shook out her right leg. “Ooh, my foot’s gone to sleep.”
Adelma stood. “That’s right. Some of us got proper work to do. No fannying around with clothes for us.”
Rory looked longingly at the two women. It was painfully obvious just how much she would rather go with them than stay at the tailor’s and get dresses made.
“We’ll see you at the tavern,” Cruikshank said.
“Don’t forget the all-clear signals,” Rafe said.
The two women headed for the door, leaving it ajar.
“They're ready for you now,” Adelma called once they were outside.
A scratch against the door’s wood. “Are the gentlemen and the lady ready to continue?” the tailor asked, poking his head through the door.
“We are indeed,” Rafe replied imperiously.
The tailor bowed and clapped his hands, and a stream of seamstresses and various assistants followed him back into the huge fitting room.
Interesting. Earlier the tailor had been aloof. He’d left them to a couple of seamstresses, claiming to be too busy to attend to them himself. Now he eyed Rory and Rafe with greedy eyes.
That meant he’d gotten confirmation of the enormous line of credit they’d opened with Arvestia Bank under Rory’s alias’s name.
Good. That will start building our reputation nicely.
“Good to see you’ve finally found the time to tend to us,” Longinus sniffed. “I shall require a full team all to myself—I have many orders to place.”
“But of course. I do so apologise for the delay in tending to you. Now, about this cape…”
“The Cape requires no alteration.” Longinus shrugged it off in one theatrical movement, allowing it to drape over the arms of a seamstress. “This waistcoat, however, does. Look at this loose fabric, here.” He pinched the fabric to the side. “It’s as if you’ve only ever clothed men with potbellies.”
“I will rectify that at once.” The tailor smiled obsequiously. “You must be the envy of the town, with such a trim waist.”
“I appreciate flattery, but I draw the line at sycophancy.”
“Yes, quite. I didn’t mean… of course.” The tailor bent to work on the waistcoat.
Longinus had no trouble playing Darro Bogats, cousin to a millionaire, especially since he was required to clothe himself in keeping with his persona.
The trials and tribulations of spy work…
Rafe, likewise, had easily stepped into his cover identity. Cayden Stayre was a minor noble from the Choma province, and since Rafe’s family was one of the richest and oldest in Damsport, he had grown up in a world very similar to that of minor Airnian aristocracy.
Rory, however, had a little more trouble. Her alias was Samara Bogats, her father being the millionaire Darro Bogats was a cousin to. Samara’s father had made millions in the trade, specifically in the export of tropical fruits. He was real, as was his daughter, but she was a recluse who hadn’t left her home in years and who had never been to the capital.
The perfect person for Rory to impersonate. Her supposed wealth would make people forgiving of her lack of refinement or manners, following the principle that eccentricity was most easily forgiven for those who were very young, very old, or very wealthy.
Not only that but, as anyone with old money could testify, nothing was more crass than new money. And no one did crass as well as Rory.
Cayden Stayre was also real but had died in infancy. The Airnian Empire was lousy with minor nobility, many of whom lived in complete obscurity, so there was no danger of anyone in the capital knowing of the real Cayden, not without a lengthy search through the Southern Province archives.
Cayden and Samara were supposedly following the time-honoured tradition of matches seeking to bring money and titles together: they were engaged, and the official reason for their trip was to look into a new business opportunity that Cayden had supposedly put together.
Darro was a complete fabrication, but some kind of supervising family member would be expected on such a venture, and given that Longinus was somewhere around ten years older than Rory, he could realistically pass as her cousin.
“Ow,” Rory protested. “Watch what you’re doing!” She glared at the girl pinning the calico. “Last I checked, I didn't come here to be turned into a human pincushion.” The tone was perfect, but she ruined the moment by allowing guilt to skitter across her features.
Longinus gave her a quick warning glance. Passing for nobility was easy—all one needed was enough money and to be either exquisitely polite or so rude it bordered on abusive. Teaching Rory manners would have been as efficient as teaching a cat to juggle, but she still had to practice not looking guilty when she abused the staff.
“I do beg your pardon.” The tailor hurried to Rory’s side. He hissed something at the assistant, slapping her hand away. He looked up at Rory with a bright smile plastered on his face. “I do apologise, Miss Bogats. I will take over.”
“Well, hurry up about it,” Rory replied crossly. “I got better things to do with my time than stand around while you prod me with needles.”
Real customer stories
4.84 ★ (864)
Verified
Book 5 in a beloved steampunk series praised for "awesome characters" and "fast paced plot with plenty of excitement." Customers said it features intrigue, espionage in enemy territory, and character development. The cliffhanger ending drew mixed reactions. Reviewers loved the vivid world-building and romance elements.
- 5 stars: 17 (74%)
- 4 stars: 6 (26%)
- 3 stars: 0 (0%)
- 2 stars: 0 (0%)
- 1 star: 0 (0%)
J
Jane F. Awesome Characters! Great Book!
The-White-Hornet is book 5 in The Viper and The Urchin series.
There is lots of action in this book, like the others, and there are also a few secrets revealed about what makes some of the characters tick.
I loved this book!
It's a cliff hanger, so you should grab the next one quick, because you won't want to miss either one.
Fun, Fun Fun!
J
Jane F. The-White-Hornet is book 5 in The Viper and The Urchin series.
There is lots of action in this book, like the others, and there are also a few secrets revealed about what makes some of the characters tick.
I loved this book!
It's a cliff hanger, so you should grab the next one quick, because you won't want to miss either one.
Fun, Fun Fun!
E
Emma I loved this book
I loved this book. I am so heavily invested in all the characters that I will be devastated when this series comes to an end. As well as excellent characters it has a fast paced plot with plenty of excitement. Intrigue at court and a lot of people who are acting from mysterious motives. I highly recommend the whole series, I find it hard to imagine anyone not liking these books.
E
Emma I loved this book. I am so heavily invested in all the characters that I will be devastated when this series comes to an end. As well as excellent characters it has a fast paced plot with plenty of excitement. Intrigue at court and a lot of people who are acting from mysterious motives. I highly recommend the whole series, I find it hard to imagine anyone not liking these books.
d
david Another grand adventure!
every book in the series just keeps getting better. Simply amazing. Waiting for the next one!
d
david every book in the series just keeps getting better. Simply amazing. Waiting for the next one!
E
Emily W. Please note: this review contains minor spoilers for the previous four books in this series.
If you�ve been following my reviews for a while, you�ll know that there is very little negative I have to say about the Viper and the Urchin series. This instalment is no different.
In The-White-Hornet, the gang are undercover in the neighbouring country of Airnia, on a spy mission for the Old Girl. They have no idea who they can trust, and at any moment, their covers could be blown�
There was so much intrigue going on. I loved seeing the political machinations inside the House of Bel, even as I hated basically everyone there.
There are some really great character moments, from Adelma using alcohol to try to hide how much recent conflicts in Damsport have affected her (and the others noticing anyway), to Rory and Rafe setting some ground rules in their burgeoning relationship and Longinus finding out more about his family.
I really enjoyed Rory dealing with the Airnian fashions. Rory is no noblewoman, so having to put up with bustles and corsets was very much not to her liking and it was incredibly entertaining. XD
Speaking of Airnia, the descriptions were fantastic. I felt like I was in the middle of a steampunk Imperial Russia with all the descriptions of cold and snow and heated carriages, and enormous coats and pelts. A far cry from muggy Damsport.
This is the first book in the series to end on a cliffhanger, and the next book will be out in a few months. I�m intrigued to see how our team goes as they continue to navigate among their enemies!
(Thank you to Celine Jeanjean for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. This did not affect my opinions in any way)
E
Emily W. If you�ve been following my reviews for a while, you�ll know that there is very little negative I have to say about the Viper and the Urchin series. This instalment is no different.
In The-White-Hornet, the gang are undercover in the neighbouring country of Airnia, on a spy mission for the Old Girl. They have no idea who they can trust, and at any moment, their covers could be blown�
There was so much intrigue going on. I loved seeing the political machinations inside the House of Bel, even as I hated basically everyone there.
There are some really great character moments, from Adelma using alcohol to try to hide how much recent conflicts in Damsport have affected her (and the others noticing anyway), to Rory and Rafe setting some ground rules in their burgeoning relationship and Longinus finding out more about his family.
I really enjoyed Rory dealing with the Airnian fashions. Rory is no noblewoman, so having to put up with bustles and corsets was very much not to her liking and it was incredibly entertaining. XD
Speaking of Airnia, the descriptions were fantastic. I felt like I was in the middle of a steampunk Imperial Russia with all the descriptions of cold and snow and heated carriages, and enormous coats and pelts. A far cry from muggy Damsport.
This is the first book in the series to end on a cliffhanger, and the next book will be out in a few months. I�m intrigued to see how our team goes as they continue to navigate among their enemies!
(Thank you to Celine Jeanjean for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. This did not affect my opinions in any way)
E
Ed A. Entertaining read
I�ve throughly enjoyed reading the previous installments, and the latest is no exception. And the cliffhanger ending isn�t as bad as some others have been. All in all an entertaining read. I received an ARC, and also wound up buying the ebook once it was released.
One person found this helpful
E
Ed A. I�ve throughly enjoyed reading the previous installments, and the latest is no exception. And the cliffhanger ending isn�t as bad as some others have been. All in all an entertaining read. I received an ARC, and also wound up buying the ebook once it was released.
One person found this helpful
r
rann My Favorite Steampunk Series!
As I read the opening paragraph, I remembered the end of The-Doll-Maker, book 4 in this series. Longinus was left with a mission. Find out if what his evil sister told him is true � Mother is still alive.
"Some events change a man�s life so definitively that everything becomes defined in relation to this one moment. Such a milestone divides all other points in one�s life into Before and After."
Reading this paragraph, I figured Longinus was about to do something incredibly brave, if not well thought out.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you� the Cape."
Ah yes, the author reminded me immediately that Longinus� definition of words such as milestone do not necessarily match up to my definitions. I few paragraphs later in that chapter, we find Rory being fitted out for a fine dress with corsets, ruffles and hoops. She rebels as you would expect a confirmed street urchin to rebel. Not at all appreciative of the fine clothes.
And this is just one reason why I love this series so much! My favorite characters in all of steampunkdom � Longinus and Rory � are so amazing. Drawn in such delightful details and portrayed with emotion and enthusiasm, these two characters are the heart of the story.
In The-White-Hornet, Rory, Longinus, Rafe, Cruikshank and Adelma are far from home in the Airnian Empire. Their mission is to find out who is still an ally to Damsport. And while they are there, Longinus will be searching out the truth of his sister�s pronouncement. The goal is to get to the palace, but before they can do that, they will need to navigate the incredibly snobbish social network. This involves tracking down people that will help, pretending to be someone they are not and getting into all sorts of trouble.
The titular The-White-Hornet is a spymaster who works for the Emperor. Unless she is working for herself. Enigmatic and doubtless dangerous, she seems to be tracking the Damsians, with a special interest in Longinus. Never knowing who The-White-Hornet is or why she is interested in our crew makes the mission all that more dangerous � and interesting.
Eventually Rory and Rafe connect with a man who seems to help them but also seems to hinder them. Rory and Rafe use him to get what they want. Sounds terrible doesn�t it. They use him. Simeon is a strange man with strange habits and seems to appear in their path at strange times. From the moment he appeared in the story, I felt he was important, but had no idea how he would play into that importance.
The slowly evolving romance between Rory and Rafe continues to grow. Still slowly and still sweet, it is just the right amount to mix in with the wild adventures they are involved in.
Near the end, time is running out for our crew because their concocted identities will not last much longer. By the end of The-White-Hornet, they have been in many wild and precarious situations, each one getting them closer to their mission. But not all the way.
Now normally, a cliffhanger ending would have me steaming. I do not like cliffhangers. But I was warned. ?? The blurb for this book ends with �Please note: this book has a cliffhanger ending. The next instalment will be out early 2020 if you�d rather wait until you can read both books together.�
The-White-Hornet is another non-stop adventure in the highly entertaining The Viper and the Urchin series. If you haven�t read the series, I highly recommend you do so now. 2020 is not that far off. You will want to be caught up when the next book arrives!
Thanks to the author who provided a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.
(I think Capes are pretty awesome too!)
r
rann As I read the opening paragraph, I remembered the end of The-Doll-Maker, book 4 in this series. Longinus was left with a mission. Find out if what his evil sister told him is true � Mother is still alive.
"Some events change a man�s life so definitively that everything becomes defined in relation to this one moment. Such a milestone divides all other points in one�s life into Before and After."
Reading this paragraph, I figured Longinus was about to do something incredibly brave, if not well thought out.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you� the Cape."
Ah yes, the author reminded me immediately that Longinus� definition of words such as milestone do not necessarily match up to my definitions. I few paragraphs later in that chapter, we find Rory being fitted out for a fine dress with corsets, ruffles and hoops. She rebels as you would expect a confirmed street urchin to rebel. Not at all appreciative of the fine clothes.
And this is just one reason why I love this series so much! My favorite characters in all of steampunkdom � Longinus and Rory � are so amazing. Drawn in such delightful details and portrayed with emotion and enthusiasm, these two characters are the heart of the story.
In The-White-Hornet, Rory, Longinus, Rafe, Cruikshank and Adelma are far from home in the Airnian Empire. Their mission is to find out who is still an ally to Damsport. And while they are there, Longinus will be searching out the truth of his sister�s pronouncement. The goal is to get to the palace, but before they can do that, they will need to navigate the incredibly snobbish social network. This involves tracking down people that will help, pretending to be someone they are not and getting into all sorts of trouble.
The titular The-White-Hornet is a spymaster who works for the Emperor. Unless she is working for herself. Enigmatic and doubtless dangerous, she seems to be tracking the Damsians, with a special interest in Longinus. Never knowing who The-White-Hornet is or why she is interested in our crew makes the mission all that more dangerous � and interesting.
Eventually Rory and Rafe connect with a man who seems to help them but also seems to hinder them. Rory and Rafe use him to get what they want. Sounds terrible doesn�t it. They use him. Simeon is a strange man with strange habits and seems to appear in their path at strange times. From the moment he appeared in the story, I felt he was important, but had no idea how he would play into that importance.
The slowly evolving romance between Rory and Rafe continues to grow. Still slowly and still sweet, it is just the right amount to mix in with the wild adventures they are involved in.
Near the end, time is running out for our crew because their concocted identities will not last much longer. By the end of The-White-Hornet, they have been in many wild and precarious situations, each one getting them closer to their mission. But not all the way.
Now normally, a cliffhanger ending would have me steaming. I do not like cliffhangers. But I was warned. ?? The blurb for this book ends with �Please note: this book has a cliffhanger ending. The next instalment will be out early 2020 if you�d rather wait until you can read both books together.�
The-White-Hornet is another non-stop adventure in the highly entertaining The Viper and the Urchin series. If you haven�t read the series, I highly recommend you do so now. 2020 is not that far off. You will want to be caught up when the next book arrives!
Thanks to the author who provided a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.
(I think Capes are pretty awesome too!)
M
Mickey Heading into Enemy territory
This is a very exciting installment. If you haven't read the series yet, start with the-bloodless-assassin. There's also a free pre-quel on Celine's site, that's worth while signing up for.
In this latest installment, familiar characters head into enemy territory. Where in previous books, the Emperor has been stirring up trouble in Damsport, this time, our heros head into the heart of Airnia. One for revenge, one to keep Damsport safe, but everyone also there to support Longinus in his search for his family. Fully expecting to be surrounded by an evil enemy nation, they're surprised to find themselves relating to Airnians just as people.
A well paced book, I enjoyed an entertaining read, and how each different character views their new surroundings differently. In this story, the setting is in a very different location, and Celine's done a brilliant job of world building, and highlighting differences between different cultures.
I can't wait for the next book.
M
Mickey This is a very exciting installment. If you haven't read the series yet, start with the-bloodless-assassin. There's also a free pre-quel on Celine's site, that's worth while signing up for.
In this latest installment, familiar characters head into enemy territory. Where in previous books, the Emperor has been stirring up trouble in Damsport, this time, our heros head into the heart of Airnia. One for revenge, one to keep Damsport safe, but everyone also there to support Longinus in his search for his family. Fully expecting to be surrounded by an evil enemy nation, they're surprised to find themselves relating to Airnians just as people.
A well paced book, I enjoyed an entertaining read, and how each different character views their new surroundings differently. In this story, the setting is in a very different location, and Celine's done a brilliant job of world building, and highlighting differences between different cultures.
I can't wait for the next book.
P
Phil I confess. I am love with the characters created by Celine Jeanjean and anxiously await each new adventure.
This time they find themselves in the city of Bel Stadd, a manufacturing center with ice, snow, and biting winds year-round. They are there to find out who is betraying their country’s secrets to the Emperor of Airia as he plans an invasion of Damsia.
Rory, Longinus, and Rafe are disguised as very wealthy merchants interested in selling and manufacturing a new kind of weaponry. Adelma and Cruikshank play the part of Northern Airian workers looking for positions in an ammunition's plant. The plan is come to the attention of someone of influence at court and from there to discover the traitors.
At the same time, Longinus, following a message from his sister, believes his mother may be a prisoner here. For a long time, he has believed she is dead. His search leads him to even more family mysteries, as well as endangering them all.
P
Phil Who or What is The-White-Hornet?
I confess. I am love with the characters created by Celine Jeanjean and anxiously await each new adventure.
This time they find themselves in the city of Bel Stadd, a manufacturing center with ice, snow, and biting winds year-round. They are there to find out who is betraying their country�s secrets to the Emperor of Airia as he plans an invasion of Damsia.
Rory, Longinus, and Rafe are disguised as very wealthy merchants interested in selling and manufacturing a new kind of weaponry. Adelma and Cruikshank play the part of Northern Airian workers looking for positions in an ammunition's plant. The plan is come to the attention of someone of influence at court and from there to discover the traitors.
At the same time, Longinus, following a message from his sister, believes his mother may be a prisoner here. For a long time, he has believed she is dead. His search leads him to even more family mysteries, as well as endangering them all.
R
RB Steampunk intrigue
Once again Celine Jeanjean has delivered an exciting and suspenseful continuation of Rory and Longinus and crew�s adventures. Just when everything seems lost, the story takes new twists that keep it going. A worthy sequel to the series. Celine, hurry up with the next installment!
R
RB Once again Celine Jeanjean has delivered an exciting and suspenseful continuation of Rory and Longinus and crew�s adventures. Just when everything seems lost, the story takes new twists that keep it going. A worthy sequel to the series. Celine, hurry up with the next installment!
P
Phil I confess. I am love with the characters created by Celine Jeanjean and anxiously await each new adventure.
This time they find themselves in the city of Bel Stadd, a manufacturing center with ice, snow, and biting winds year-round. They are there to find out who is betraying their country�s secrets to the Emperor of Airia as he plans an invasion of Damsia.
Rory, Longinus, and Rafe are disguised as very wealthy merchants interested in selling and manufacturing a new kind of weaponry. Adelma and Cruikshank play the part of Northern Airian workers looking for positions in an ammunition's plant. The plan is come to the attention of someone of influence at court and from there to discover the traitors.
At the same time, Longinus, following a message from his sister, believes his mother may be a prisoner here. For a long time, he has believed she is dead. His search leads him to even more family mysteries, as well as endangering them all.
C
Cari Speeding along without stops!
Or downstairs, in Adelma�s case!
The story carries you along quickly, sometimes jumping from plot thread to plot thread while still exploring all the personal goings-on with the characters we have come to know so well. All of them are out of their depth� with the mission, with the changes in their lives, with the weather� (it is nothing like Damsport!). There is also a new player on the field (well two really, but you only meet one). He is interesting, and I wonder what part he will end up playing. Whether he is going to be a friend or foe (or both), remains to be seen. One thing�s for sure, he has his own reasons for doing what he is doing.
A lot goes on in this book, and I found myself reading through it quickly. My suggestion though, don�t make the same mistake. It is too easy to blow past something that will come up later. In fact, I have no doubt I will be referencing back to this book when the next one comes out to see what I have missed.
All in all, there are a lot more questions than answers, but it will be interesting to see how it all ties together. Hopefully the next book twists all those plot threads up into a proper skein. And fair warning, while this book does not end with a cliffhanger, the story is far from over when we leave our group of heroes.
I received an ARC of this book for my honest review, but as with all the others, I will also be purchasing it because it was an interesting read with a cast of characters that I enjoy reading about.
One person found this helpful
L
Lizanne L. Amazing scenes, superb characters
Once again, Longinus and Rory are part of a team engaged in espionage on behalf of the Marchioness of Damsport. Leaving the warmth of their home, Cruikshank, the clever engineer, Adelma, the strong, hard-drinking smuggler and Rafe, a handsome Varanguard, have travelled north with them to Arnia, fearing the Emperor intends to reconquer Damsport.
The fledgling romance between Rafe and Rory is beginning to blossom as they act out their parts of a noble but poor aristocrat and his rich but unsophisticated fianc�. Soon the need for Rory to act independently and Rafe�s shame in admitting a weakness from his past, cause misunderstanding and distance between them. Meanwhile Longinus creeps through the frozen city at night in search of information about his lost father and missing mother.
Increasingly Rory�s efforts lead her into greater danger as she puts her trust in the dissipated Airian, Simeon. While she and Rafe escape the authorities over the rooftops, Adelma, Cruikshank and Longinus attempt a daring diversion which nearly kills them all. But the greatest peril is the cold and ice of the unwelcoming city.
There are two parts to this story. First, during Rory�s visits to the House of Bel, we read fascinating descriptions of room after room of indulgence and desire where she finds no-one will help her until she learns the importance of gossip. The second and most exciting part describes the dangers and heroism of the five vivid characters as they fight, flee and help each other against weapons, soldiers and hostile weather. Another rollicking adventure of this likeable, if eccentric group.
C
Cari Or downstairs, in Adelma�s case!
The story carries you along quickly, sometimes jumping from plot thread to plot thread while still exploring all the personal goings-on with the characters we have come to know so well. All of them are out of their depth� with the mission, with the changes in their lives, with the weather� (it is nothing like Damsport!). There is also a new player on the field (well two really, but you only meet one). He is interesting, and I wonder what part he will end up playing. Whether he is going to be a friend or foe (or both), remains to be seen. One thing�s for sure, he has his own reasons for doing what he is doing.
A lot goes on in this book, and I found myself reading through it quickly. My suggestion though, don�t make the same mistake. It is too easy to blow past something that will come up later. In fact, I have no doubt I will be referencing back to this book when the next one comes out to see what I have missed.
All in all, there are a lot more questions than answers, but it will be interesting to see how it all ties together. Hopefully the next book twists all those plot threads up into a proper skein. And fair warning, while this book does not end with a cliffhanger, the story is far from over when we leave our group of heroes.
I received an ARC of this book for my honest review, but as with all the others, I will also be purchasing it because it was an interesting read with a cast of characters that I enjoy reading about.
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Hi! I'm Celine
I write different flavours of fantasy with a twist, but always with one uniting thread: quirky, flawed characters and heart-warming found families.
My books span the sub-genres of steampunk (but set in a secondary, tropical world) urban fantasy (set in Asia and London) and gothic gaslamp fantasy.
I'm French, grew up in the UK, and for the last few years I've been living a life of nomadic adventure, exploring the world with my laptop as my constant companion. My adventures have been a great source of inspiration for my stories.
These days I'm trying to figure out where in the world I might stop and setup some bookshelves.
I love to hear from readers, so feel free to contact me at with our contact form.
