Nocturnal Book Reviews: Early Review (Steampunk): Gilded by Karina Cooper

Early Review (Steampunk): Gilded by Karina Cooper

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 | Posted by kara-karina@Nocturnal Book Reviews

Gilded by Karina Cooper (The St. Croix Chronicles #2)

Egalley thanks to Avon

Synopsis from Goodreads
The second book in Karina Cooper's stunning steampunk series featuring fearless heroine Cherry St. Croix, in which she is faced with two men after her heart—and one killer out for her blood.

In the gleaming heights of Victorian London, a world of deception awaits an unconventional Society lady whose taste for adventure makes her a most formidable adversary . . .

Though Society demands that I make a good marriage, I, Cherry St. Croix, have neither the time nor the interest. I am on the trail of a murder with no victim, a mystery with no motive, and the key to an alchemical formula that could be my family's legacy.

Yet the world is not so kind as to let me pursue simple murder and uncomplicated bounties. Above the foggy drift, an earl insists on my attention, while my friends watch my increasingly desperate attempts to remain my own woman. From the silken demands of the Midnight Menagerie—to whose dangerously seductive ringmaster I owe a debt—to the rigorous pressures of the peerage, all are conspiring to place before me a choice that will forever change my life.

US release: December 26th 2012.
UK release: January 7th 2013.

Amazon US($7.99)/UK | Amazon kindle US($7.99)/UK(£4.99) | The Book Depository US/UK

9/10

* * *

The ending in this book is such a shocker, ladies and gents! I wanted to scream with frustration!!! Miss Cooper doesn't end her books with a cliffhanger per se, but she definitely knows how to end a book with a bang.

There is more darkness and desperation in Cherry this time. She feels trapped. By her debt to Karakash Veil, by the societal obligations and by her worsening addiction to opium. It's hard and painful to read about her horrible descent into abyss, but it's necessary too.

Sometimes a heroine needs to hit rock bottom to truly find what she is made of, I hope that's where we find how really awesome Cherry would become.

In this book she is still trying to find the mysterious Ripper and the traces of an alchemical formula Karakash Veil wants so much. She also works on a murder mystery for her patroness lady Rutledge which involves poisoned professor in King's college.

Her ton life intensifies when her admirer Lord Compton comes back from his mysterious journey and redoubles his attempts to woo her while his mother plots Cherry's disgrace behind their backs...

And above it all, Cherry slowly unravels unable to lead her double life for much longer.

I absolutely loved this book, and I already said that any fan of Downside Ghosts by Stacia Kane should take a look at The St. Croix Chronicles, - you most likely would love it too. Very much recommended.

Tarnished (The St. Croix Chronicles #1) - 9/10

* * *

Ещё одна фантастичная книга от Карины Купер! Если вы помните я оказалась просто влюблена в стимпанковский Лондон Хроник Ст.Круа ещё в первой книги, и вторая книга только его улучшила.

Карина создала великолепное сочетание викторианской Англии, с её пороками и чопорностью на фоне задыхающегося в смоге Лондона, Джека Потрошителя и сказочных Садов под покровительством китайской мафии - Вуали Каракаша.

После столкновения с Джеком в Очернённой Черри продолжает его поиски в попытках найти алхимическую формулу своего отца и оплатить свой долг Вуали Каракаша. В то же время она пытается выполнять свои светские обязательства, позволяя Лорду Комптону ухаживать за нею и противостоя усилиям его матери разрушить её и так шаткую репутацию.

Однако над всем этим лежит налёт отчаяния и боли так как Черри безуспешно борется со своей зависимостью от опиума и под стрессом двойной жизни постепенно скатывается всё ближе к нервному срыву и безумию.

В Позолоченной очень хорошо описана хрупкая хватка Черри за реальность и постепенное расшатывание её психики. Ей определённо нужна помощь, однако шокирующая концовка, хоть и не является клиффхангером, заканчивает книгу на такой неожиданной и мрачной ноте, что за героиню я просто боюсь и жутко жду продолжения.

Очень рекомендую, особенно поклонникам Стасии Кейн.

Tags: 9/10, karina cooper, steampunk, стимпанк

7 comments:

Blodeuedd said...: Shall I jump down and tell you it sounds good, well it does :D; 12 December 2012 06:41
Joyous Reads said...: Love the review, hun. It almost makes me want to read a book that's completely out of my reading comfort zone. :); 12 December 2012 11:28
Melliane said...: Wow 9/10! I really need to try the first one, mainly when I know I love the period of the book.; 12 December 2012 12:10
Christina said...: Usually blurbs are boring, but this sentence caught my eye and made me giggle: "Yet the world is not so kind as to let me pursue simple murder and uncomplicated bounties."

Alright, well, I haven't read Downside Ghosts, but I am going to TBR this anyway. :-p; 12 December 2012 15:55
Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...: oooh this looks really good!! i hadn't heard of this series!; 12 December 2012 17:14
Melissa (My World...in words and pages) said...: Oh wonderful! And sounds as all leads up to the end. :) Thank you!!; 13 December 2012 01:18
kimbacaffeinate said...: Good lord I have book one on my wishlist and two is out..well now with that ending..I may wait for book three and scoop them all up at once, cause I am feeling anxious already..LOL Love true steampunk books!; 13 December 2012 14:20