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Aboard the Unstoppable Aerostat Fenris
When war breaks out in the Russian Empire, airship captain Stig Rayner has little choice but to bring along the teenage girl he found hiding out in his hangar as he flees the opening skirmishes. He has every intention of just dropping her off in the next port, when he picks up his cargo.
Isabelle Feeney Hemsworth has different ideas. Rayner could be her ticket out of the Empire. If she could just get back to London, where her brother still lives, then maybe she can finally get off the streets.
Aboard the Unstoppable Aerostat Fenris follows Isabelle and Stig from the East as they set out to deliver mysterious—and possibly dangerous—cargo to Iceland, before returning her to England.
Book One of The Steam and Steel Chronicles, Aboard the Unstoppable Aerostat Fenris details the adventures of Miss Isabelle Feeney Hemsworth and Captain Stig Rayner in an alternate steampunk Edwardian age.
Isabelle Feeney Hemsworth has different ideas. Rayner could be her ticket out of the Empire. If she could just get back to London, where her brother still lives, then maybe she can finally get off the streets.
Aboard the Unstoppable Aerostat Fenris follows Isabelle and Stig from the East as they set out to deliver mysterious—and possibly dangerous—cargo to Iceland, before returning her to England.
Book One of The Steam and Steel Chronicles, Aboard the Unstoppable Aerostat Fenris details the adventures of Miss Isabelle Feeney Hemsworth and Captain Stig Rayner in an alternate steampunk Edwardian age.
- GenresSteampunk
ebook
First published February 2, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 14, 2011
Really enjoyed this novella, wish it had been longer but will def buy the second one.
August 3, 2016
--from Red Adept Reviews--
I received Aboard the Unstoppable Aerostat Fenris (The Steam and Steel Chronicles), by Cameron Chapman, as a review copy submitted to “Red Adept Reviews” by the author.
Overall: 1 3/4 Stars
Plot/Storyline: 1 1/2 Stars
A steampunk romance that’s shy on steampunk and nearly absent on romance, this novella-length story answers essentially no plot questions and feels like Act I of a three-act novel rather than any sort of stand-alone piece. There is a sequel available on Amazon, for those who want to read the second installment, but it takes place four years in the future.
Numerous plot details enter the story, then are abandoned, including an entire chase scene whose outcome must be inferred from the fact that the main characters are alive to discuss something unrelated in the next scene. The story’s backdrop is a massive intercontinental war, but its combatants are never identified (outside the blurb), leaving the story drifting loose from its anchor in time and place.
At one point, the characters agree to transport some mysterious cargo. While this decision fuels much of the rest of the plot, it turns out to be a mere plot device. A “no questions asked” employer fails to disguise the gaping plot hole any further than his re-entry into the plot, leaving the second half of the story feeling forced. The mysterious device itself raises several questions that are never answered.
Though the ending left many loose ends, Isabelle’s quest comes to a happy ending so quickly that it reads like a fairy-tale.
Even die-hard steampunk fans will probably not enjoy this story as much as they think they will, and romance fans will likely be equally let-down.
Character Development: 2 Stars
The main characters came with good background. Stig’s in particular really piqued my interest. But the main thrust of the story involved the two characters’ interpersonal interaction and dealings with current events, so their backgrounds were tangential at best. Stig didn’t feel selfish enough, if that makes sense. For a man who travels alone, has a history of violence, and occasionally flies on the wrong side of the law, he was unbelievably solicitous to the runaway girl he found aboard his vessel. At one point, this grizzled veteran of numerous sky battles can’t even concentrate on outrunning air raiders because he’s daydreaming about the girl.
Most of the characters’ thoughts about each other were repetitious as they tried to resist their attraction to each other. Little progress was made throughout the story, despite opportunity, leaving them much the same place they started.
Writing Style: 2 Stars
The way steampunk details are used in this story makes me wonder if it’s the author’s first venture into the genre. Words like “brass” and “gas” are tossed around, but deeper details, those which make one feel that one cannot be anywhere but smack in the middle of a steampunk tale, just aren’t there. The aerostat Fenris itself gets no outer description despite its prominence in the story. When an untrained character must land the airship on a distant island, it involves a dial and a lever, and no turning.
Too much of the action is told instead of shown. Filler sentences occur regularly. Wordiness is a problem in some areas, and a lack of detail in many others. Dialogue was unremarkable, when it should have been distinct: Isabelle was from Britain and Stig was Scandinavian, but both spoke with ordinary American word usage.
My inner geek discovered that the author misused the term “einherjar”. You may not know what it means, but Stig certainly should, since he’s using it to explain part of the old Norse belief system of his ancestors.
I did notice some hilarious confusion regarding the thoroughness of pirates who threw victims from their airships to their deaths far below: “Sometimes it was after their throats had been slit, and sometimes it was before.” Think that through for a moment. I didn’t mark off for this; it rather paled in comparison to other issues.
Editing: No rating
There were only a handful of small errors in the story, but we don’t give bonus points for average editing.
I received Aboard the Unstoppable Aerostat Fenris (The Steam and Steel Chronicles), by Cameron Chapman, as a review copy submitted to “Red Adept Reviews” by the author.
Overall: 1 3/4 Stars
Plot/Storyline: 1 1/2 Stars
A steampunk romance that’s shy on steampunk and nearly absent on romance, this novella-length story answers essentially no plot questions and feels like Act I of a three-act novel rather than any sort of stand-alone piece. There is a sequel available on Amazon, for those who want to read the second installment, but it takes place four years in the future.
Numerous plot details enter the story, then are abandoned, including an entire chase scene whose outcome must be inferred from the fact that the main characters are alive to discuss something unrelated in the next scene. The story’s backdrop is a massive intercontinental war, but its combatants are never identified (outside the blurb), leaving the story drifting loose from its anchor in time and place.
At one point, the characters agree to transport some mysterious cargo. While this decision fuels much of the rest of the plot, it turns out to be a mere plot device. A “no questions asked” employer fails to disguise the gaping plot hole any further than his re-entry into the plot, leaving the second half of the story feeling forced. The mysterious device itself raises several questions that are never answered.
Though the ending left many loose ends, Isabelle’s quest comes to a happy ending so quickly that it reads like a fairy-tale.
Even die-hard steampunk fans will probably not enjoy this story as much as they think they will, and romance fans will likely be equally let-down.
Character Development: 2 Stars
The main characters came with good background. Stig’s in particular really piqued my interest. But the main thrust of the story involved the two characters’ interpersonal interaction and dealings with current events, so their backgrounds were tangential at best. Stig didn’t feel selfish enough, if that makes sense. For a man who travels alone, has a history of violence, and occasionally flies on the wrong side of the law, he was unbelievably solicitous to the runaway girl he found aboard his vessel. At one point, this grizzled veteran of numerous sky battles can’t even concentrate on outrunning air raiders because he’s daydreaming about the girl.
Most of the characters’ thoughts about each other were repetitious as they tried to resist their attraction to each other. Little progress was made throughout the story, despite opportunity, leaving them much the same place they started.
Writing Style: 2 Stars
The way steampunk details are used in this story makes me wonder if it’s the author’s first venture into the genre. Words like “brass” and “gas” are tossed around, but deeper details, those which make one feel that one cannot be anywhere but smack in the middle of a steampunk tale, just aren’t there. The aerostat Fenris itself gets no outer description despite its prominence in the story. When an untrained character must land the airship on a distant island, it involves a dial and a lever, and no turning.
Too much of the action is told instead of shown. Filler sentences occur regularly. Wordiness is a problem in some areas, and a lack of detail in many others. Dialogue was unremarkable, when it should have been distinct: Isabelle was from Britain and Stig was Scandinavian, but both spoke with ordinary American word usage.
My inner geek discovered that the author misused the term “einherjar”. You may not know what it means, but Stig certainly should, since he’s using it to explain part of the old Norse belief system of his ancestors.
I did notice some hilarious confusion regarding the thoroughness of pirates who threw victims from their airships to their deaths far below: “Sometimes it was after their throats had been slit, and sometimes it was before.” Think that through for a moment. I didn’t mark off for this; it rather paled in comparison to other issues.
Editing: No rating
There were only a handful of small errors in the story, but we don’t give bonus points for average editing.
September 23, 2011
My Blurb:
Isabelle just wants to have a good meal and warm shelter. Life on the streets is not easy on the young teenager. As a storm quickly approaches Isabelle seeks shelter in an old air hangar, expecting it to be empty. As she prepares her bed for the night Isabelle is shocked to see an air ship landing and headed straight for the hanger she is in.
Stig is the captain of the Aerostat Fenris. He notices Isabelle hiding in his hangar when he steps of his air ship. His conscious won't allow her to stay out in the cold hangar and invites her in.
An emergency alarm sounds and Stig and Isabelle take off on an adventure neither one expected.
Lets Talk About It:
I enjoyed the story however it was so short it felt like it was really just beginning and then it ended.
There was a blossoming like/love between the Isabelle and Stig never goes anywhere. I'm not sure if in the second book in this series revisits Isabelle or Stig. I hope so only because whoever reads the first book will surely feel as if the other half is missing.
Together they are in air delivering cargo that both have odd feelings towards. Isabelle is drawn to the mysterious item in the cargo box, Stig is repelled by it. It ends up saving them both from sure death. Though what the cargo item is is not really told beyond it being some sort of weapon.
If you are interested in this book or series I suggest having both books on hand as the first as a stand alone will leave you with more questions than answers.
Melissa
Reviewer for 1000 + Books to Read
Isabelle just wants to have a good meal and warm shelter. Life on the streets is not easy on the young teenager. As a storm quickly approaches Isabelle seeks shelter in an old air hangar, expecting it to be empty. As she prepares her bed for the night Isabelle is shocked to see an air ship landing and headed straight for the hanger she is in.
Stig is the captain of the Aerostat Fenris. He notices Isabelle hiding in his hangar when he steps of his air ship. His conscious won't allow her to stay out in the cold hangar and invites her in.
An emergency alarm sounds and Stig and Isabelle take off on an adventure neither one expected.
Lets Talk About It:
I enjoyed the story however it was so short it felt like it was really just beginning and then it ended.
There was a blossoming like/love between the Isabelle and Stig never goes anywhere. I'm not sure if in the second book in this series revisits Isabelle or Stig. I hope so only because whoever reads the first book will surely feel as if the other half is missing.
Together they are in air delivering cargo that both have odd feelings towards. Isabelle is drawn to the mysterious item in the cargo box, Stig is repelled by it. It ends up saving them both from sure death. Though what the cargo item is is not really told beyond it being some sort of weapon.
If you are interested in this book or series I suggest having both books on hand as the first as a stand alone will leave you with more questions than answers.
Melissa
Reviewer for 1000 + Books to Read
April 4, 2013
It honestly pains me to say it, but I've read fanfiction with more depth and originality than this. The narrative of Aerostat falls victim to the constant danger of telling rather than showing. We as readers have no background to understand either the setting or the characters' motivations (it would have been lovely to know why Stig was so amenable to a street urchin...at all); to experience their feelings (which they were sorely lacking); or to even see this world Chapman created that has such potential to be vibrant.
I continued to read through the disappointment in the hopes that something would develop to a greater degree than simply being given a superficial glance at this world and its people. No dice. It moved swiftly from one ambiguous moment to the next with a total lack of feeling or proper exploration into what it promised.
My sister has been recommending steampunk stories to me for a while, but I borrowed this from her on the sly. When I asked her if she had even liked it, she couldn't remember having even read it until I said, "It's that novella where all that makes it steampunk are an airship, gaslights, and a couple of brass fixtures."
But despite all that, it's impossible for me to say that Chapman lacks promise as a writer. She has an obvious grip on language, but where brevity may be the soul of wit, there are ways to be both descriptive and succinct without being flat and lifeless. There is a good skeleton assembled here that would love to have some flesh and blood on it.
I continued to read through the disappointment in the hopes that something would develop to a greater degree than simply being given a superficial glance at this world and its people. No dice. It moved swiftly from one ambiguous moment to the next with a total lack of feeling or proper exploration into what it promised.
My sister has been recommending steampunk stories to me for a while, but I borrowed this from her on the sly. When I asked her if she had even liked it, she couldn't remember having even read it until I said, "It's that novella where all that makes it steampunk are an airship, gaslights, and a couple of brass fixtures."
But despite all that, it's impossible for me to say that Chapman lacks promise as a writer. She has an obvious grip on language, but where brevity may be the soul of wit, there are ways to be both descriptive and succinct without being flat and lifeless. There is a good skeleton assembled here that would love to have some flesh and blood on it.
January 28, 2012
This was a short steampunk book, most of it taking place on the airship Fenris. Which is unstoppable, as you might guess from the title. I quite enjoyed this book and picked up the second in the series shortly after finishing the first. After a brief Lovecraftian interlude, I've started the second.
This book tells the tale of Isabelle, an orphan living on the streets in a Khazakistan town. It took place at a vague time, probably in the first fifth of the 20th century. Isabelle meets up with Stig, the captain of the Fenris, and journeys off with him as he escapes the arrival of an enemy fleet. The story continues with their attempts to get and deliver a few cargoes, after which Stig plans to deliver Isabelle to her brother in London. A giant Golden Snitch makes an appearance at a crucial time.
There were a few unanswered questions at the end, as well as one or two head-scratching "Huh?" moments. Given the book and the questions, I'm sorry to say I don't expect those questions to be answered in the future. The story was quite engaging and I'm glad to have the second so quickly available.
This book tells the tale of Isabelle, an orphan living on the streets in a Khazakistan town. It took place at a vague time, probably in the first fifth of the 20th century. Isabelle meets up with Stig, the captain of the Fenris, and journeys off with him as he escapes the arrival of an enemy fleet. The story continues with their attempts to get and deliver a few cargoes, after which Stig plans to deliver Isabelle to her brother in London. A giant Golden Snitch makes an appearance at a crucial time.
There were a few unanswered questions at the end, as well as one or two head-scratching "Huh?" moments. Given the book and the questions, I'm sorry to say I don't expect those questions to be answered in the future. The story was quite engaging and I'm glad to have the second so quickly available.
May 1, 2014
Quick read, but there just seemed like a string of events in without real development or connection. At the end, Isabelle and Stig just seemed like caricatures rather than fleshed out people, and the romantic tension was too forced for the entire plot when it should have ended at the first reason given. A platonic friendship can work just as well as a blossoming love in many circumstances.
As it is, this short story is really a vanilla steampunk world that's a vehicle for telling the non-relationship of two strangers. I think some better use of the constant internal conflicts could've gone to fleshing out the setting: Who exactly was at war? Did the mysterious cargo do anything else? There's a fair amount of mystery that's alluded to but never expanded upon.
I will give it the author though, they know how to write some tasteful airship descriptions! And despite the awkward pacing of the plot (though I realize there's only so much space to devote in less than 100 pages), I could see it becoming quite a ride with more detail fend into it and less on what the characters think about each other.
As it is, this short story is really a vanilla steampunk world that's a vehicle for telling the non-relationship of two strangers. I think some better use of the constant internal conflicts could've gone to fleshing out the setting: Who exactly was at war? Did the mysterious cargo do anything else? There's a fair amount of mystery that's alluded to but never expanded upon.
I will give it the author though, they know how to write some tasteful airship descriptions! And despite the awkward pacing of the plot (though I realize there's only so much space to devote in less than 100 pages), I could see it becoming quite a ride with more detail fend into it and less on what the characters think about each other.
June 26, 2011
I really enjoyed this novella introducing Chapman's Steam and Steel Chronicles. Set in an alternative Victorian-era Europe on the brink of war, the story revolves around Isabelle, a high-born street urchin, and Stig, a rugged airship captain, and what happens when the two of them are thrown together and given a mysterious cargo to deliver from Russia to Iceland.
I love that Chapman lets the reader discover her storyworld as the plot develops. There are no background info dumps, and an element of mystery surrounds both Isabelle and Stig, who are both interesting and intriguing. The story is fast-paced and exciting with just the right amount of quiet moments interspersed in which Isabelle and Stig get to know each other and try to fight their growing attraction to each other. I devoured this little novella and the ending left me hungry for more. Fortunately, the second installment is available for immediate download to my Nook!
I love that Chapman lets the reader discover her storyworld as the plot develops. There are no background info dumps, and an element of mystery surrounds both Isabelle and Stig, who are both interesting and intriguing. The story is fast-paced and exciting with just the right amount of quiet moments interspersed in which Isabelle and Stig get to know each other and try to fight their growing attraction to each other. I devoured this little novella and the ending left me hungry for more. Fortunately, the second installment is available for immediate download to my Nook!
November 7, 2011
Though I can really connect with the writing style of the author, who I believe has self-published this text, I was disappointed with the lack of depth in the plot (not to mention some holes that needed filling), in the personal growth of the characters as the reader tries to make a personal connection with them, and how abrupt the story ended. However, because I am sure I am not part of the target audience, having escaped from childhood long ago, I cannot fault the author too much on these points.
Steampunk is fast becoming one of my favorite genres, and I hope and wish that authors will begin to write more mature steampunk novels that have more substance to the characters. As it is, I am relegated to reading mostly young adult fiction, and that can get very old, very fast. So, if you're reading this, Ms. Chapman, perhaps a steampunk novel for those of us older than 25??
Steampunk is fast becoming one of my favorite genres, and I hope and wish that authors will begin to write more mature steampunk novels that have more substance to the characters. As it is, I am relegated to reading mostly young adult fiction, and that can get very old, very fast. So, if you're reading this, Ms. Chapman, perhaps a steampunk novel for those of us older than 25??
March 15, 2012
I actually liked this story. It was a free download onto my Nook so didn't have real high expectations.
I enjoyed the story and the 'alternative world' the characters live in.
As others say, their are holes in the story and it really needs filling out. I have read the second book in the series also. I like the characters and the idea behind the story. I just wish I had more information about the 'world' they live in. I often times feel like I am missing entire portions of the book and they are not getting filled in.
I think the series would make one very good book if combined and filled in.
Keep up the good work Cameron Chapman. You have a good idea. I hope you make it into a Great Series.
I enjoyed the story and the 'alternative world' the characters live in.
As others say, their are holes in the story and it really needs filling out. I have read the second book in the series also. I like the characters and the idea behind the story. I just wish I had more information about the 'world' they live in. I often times feel like I am missing entire portions of the book and they are not getting filled in.
I think the series would make one very good book if combined and filled in.
Keep up the good work Cameron Chapman. You have a good idea. I hope you make it into a Great Series.
February 4, 2011
This is a charming story of love and adventure with unexpected turns of magic.
The characters feel alive, and the adventure is written in such detail you can visualize yourself aboard the ship. Once I started reading this, I read it straight through without putting it down.
I would love to go to Russia aboard the Fenris!
The characters feel alive, and the adventure is written in such detail you can visualize yourself aboard the ship. Once I started reading this, I read it straight through without putting it down.
I would love to go to Russia aboard the Fenris!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews