What do you think?
Rate this book
Tweed & Nightingale Adventures #1
The Lazarus Machine
An alternate 1895... a world where Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace perfected the Difference engine. Where steam and tesla-powered computers are everywhere. Where automatons powered by human souls venture out into the sprawling London streets. Where the Ministry, a secretive government agency, seeks to control everything in the name of the Queen.
It is in this claustrophobic, paranoid city that seventeen-year-old Sebastian Tweed and his conman father struggle to eke out a living.
But all is not well...
A murderous, masked gang has moved into London, spreading terror through the criminal ranks as they take over the underworld. as the gang carves up more and more of the city, a single name comes to be uttered in fearful whispers.
Professor Moriarty.
When Tweed’s father is kidnapped by Moriarty, he is forced to team up with information broker Octavia Nightingale to track him down. But he soon realizes that his father’s disappearance is just a tiny piece of a political conspiracy that could destroy the British Empire and plunge the world into a horrific war.
It is in this claustrophobic, paranoid city that seventeen-year-old Sebastian Tweed and his conman father struggle to eke out a living.
But all is not well...
A murderous, masked gang has moved into London, spreading terror through the criminal ranks as they take over the underworld. as the gang carves up more and more of the city, a single name comes to be uttered in fearful whispers.
Professor Moriarty.
When Tweed’s father is kidnapped by Moriarty, he is forced to team up with information broker Octavia Nightingale to track him down. But he soon realizes that his father’s disappearance is just a tiny piece of a political conspiracy that could destroy the British Empire and plunge the world into a horrific war.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
15 people are currently reading
2909 people want to read
About the author
Paul Crilley
51 books200 followersPaul Crilley (who also writes thrillers under the pseudonym Paul Herron) has been writing professionally for the past 20 years. In that time, he has worked on over twenty-seven television shows - one of which was nominated for an iEmmy - as a head-writer, writer, script editor, and story-liner.
His Delphic Division series, Poison City and the sequel Clockwork City, (written as Paul Crilley), about a supernatural police force based in Durban, South Africa, is in development as a television series with Jerry Bruckheimer Productions and CBS. Paul worked on the Bioware MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic and has also written comics for IDW, (most notably, Star Wars Adventures, and The X-Files)
Over the years, Paul has worked with Marvel, 20th Century Fox Television, NBC Universal, Anonymous Content, Krysten Ritter’s production company Silent Machine, Disney, the SyFy Channel, and IDW comics. He has written twelve novels, worked on five computer games, and also novelized Frank Miller’s seminal graphic novel, Daredevil: The Man Without Fear for Marvel.
His new thriller Breakout, (written as Paul Herron), comes out in 2021 from Headline (UK) and Grand Central Press (US).
His Delphic Division series, Poison City and the sequel Clockwork City, (written as Paul Crilley), about a supernatural police force based in Durban, South Africa, is in development as a television series with Jerry Bruckheimer Productions and CBS. Paul worked on the Bioware MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic and has also written comics for IDW, (most notably, Star Wars Adventures, and The X-Files)
Over the years, Paul has worked with Marvel, 20th Century Fox Television, NBC Universal, Anonymous Content, Krysten Ritter’s production company Silent Machine, Disney, the SyFy Channel, and IDW comics. He has written twelve novels, worked on five computer games, and also novelized Frank Miller’s seminal graphic novel, Daredevil: The Man Without Fear for Marvel.
His new thriller Breakout, (written as Paul Herron), comes out in 2021 from Headline (UK) and Grand Central Press (US).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
December 27, 2012
The rating system says that 2 stars is "ok". That's pretty accurate, in my opinion. I was really intrigued at first. Mechanical spiders, steam carriages, and automatons powered by trapped souls (I thought it odd how few people in Victorian England had a problem with using human souls as batteries. But whatever.) thrown at you right out of the starting gate.
After these things are introduced, there is little to no establishment on how this history differed from our timeline except that in has "Babbages" (PCs) and "Adas" (Macs). (The author is obviously a fan of Macs. He goes on in detail about how the Ada excelled in style and ease of use over the clunky PCs...er, I mean Babagges.). What deciding factor made Charles Babbage a success in this universe?
Then the plot becomes a rather ordinary tale of mustache twirling Evil Guy being chased by Good Guy that, due to a lack of establishment and background, could have taken place in ANY time period. Just substitute car with "steam carriage", computer with "Babagges", laser with "Tesla gun", etc. The ending was so rife with cliche reveals, denials, and "join with me", "we aren't so different" monologues, it actually made me chuckle.
Meh. I don't really regret the money I paid for the book. Doubt I'll pick up the sequels, though.
After these things are introduced, there is little to no establishment on how this history differed from our timeline except that in has "Babbages" (PCs) and "Adas" (Macs). (The author is obviously a fan of Macs. He goes on in detail about how the Ada excelled in style and ease of use over the clunky PCs...er, I mean Babagges.). What deciding factor made Charles Babbage a success in this universe?
Then the plot becomes a rather ordinary tale of mustache twirling Evil Guy being chased by Good Guy that, due to a lack of establishment and background, could have taken place in ANY time period. Just substitute car with "steam carriage", computer with "Babagges", laser with "Tesla gun", etc. The ending was so rife with cliche reveals, denials, and "join with me", "we aren't so different" monologues, it actually made me chuckle.
Meh. I don't really regret the money I paid for the book. Doubt I'll pick up the sequels, though.
January 5, 2015
The Lazarus Machine
4 Stars
In an alternate London of 1895, Babbage machines and steam powered computers, automatons and airships are all part of daily life. In this strange and mysterious world, 17 year old Sebastian Tweed and his conman father are about to fall prey to a murderous gang with far-retching government ties that seeks to bring about the end of the British Empire and plunge the world into a terrible war. Can Sebastian and his friends stop this catastrophe before its too late?
Detailed world building, likable characters and some solid twists and turns makes this a fun read.
Crilley has created an engaging Steampunk world with intriguing concepts, such as automatons powered by human souls similar to Kristin Callihan’s GIMs in her Darkest London series. That said, there is a need for more information on how this alternate world came into being and how society perceives the technological developments that have had such a profound effect on their lives.
The characters are the real highlight of the story. The endearingly awkward and geeky Sebastian Tweed, and his spirited sidekick, Octavia Nightingale, head up a wonderful cast of eccentric and ethically challenged personalities who add charm and life to the story.
Although the villains are quite one-dimensional and the twist at the end is rather clichéd, the caper-like plot revolving around Sebastian and Octavia’s investigation into a secretive government agency makes for exciting and entertaining reading.
While The Lazarus Machine is not all that original, the story is well-written and fast paced with just the right amount of action and a hint at romance. Definitely one of the better YA books on offer these days.
4 Stars
In an alternate London of 1895, Babbage machines and steam powered computers, automatons and airships are all part of daily life. In this strange and mysterious world, 17 year old Sebastian Tweed and his conman father are about to fall prey to a murderous gang with far-retching government ties that seeks to bring about the end of the British Empire and plunge the world into a terrible war. Can Sebastian and his friends stop this catastrophe before its too late?
Detailed world building, likable characters and some solid twists and turns makes this a fun read.
Crilley has created an engaging Steampunk world with intriguing concepts, such as automatons powered by human souls similar to Kristin Callihan’s GIMs in her Darkest London series. That said, there is a need for more information on how this alternate world came into being and how society perceives the technological developments that have had such a profound effect on their lives.
The characters are the real highlight of the story. The endearingly awkward and geeky Sebastian Tweed, and his spirited sidekick, Octavia Nightingale, head up a wonderful cast of eccentric and ethically challenged personalities who add charm and life to the story.
Although the villains are quite one-dimensional and the twist at the end is rather clichéd, the caper-like plot revolving around Sebastian and Octavia’s investigation into a secretive government agency makes for exciting and entertaining reading.
While The Lazarus Machine is not all that original, the story is well-written and fast paced with just the right amount of action and a hint at romance. Definitely one of the better YA books on offer these days.
October 20, 2013
Fantasy Review Barn
Note: What follows is a review of two books, The Lazarus Machine and The Osiris Curse. I have chosen to review them together because I read them back to back on a weekend trip and there really isn’t enough to differentiate them into separate reviews.
The rules of steampunk are simple.
1. Set the story in Victorian England.
2. Put a slightly askew male character together with an all-to-aware plucky female character.
3. Have them solve a mystery that involves secret plots against The Empire.
4. Choose one or more of the following: Zombies, Mummys, Secret Societies, Vampires, and any literary characters that fit the time period you want.
Not groundbreaking, but not meant to be. Serial fiction with some by-the-numbers plots, full of adventure and banter. I can’t imagine anyone being fooled going in as to what they are going to get here, so why judge it for anything other than what it is supposed to be?
Tweed is a socially awkward teen genius that helps his dad pull cons off. Nightingale is low rung journalist searching for clues as to where her mother has gone. When Tweed’s dad is taken by what appears to be a once thought dead Moriarty fate works to bring these two unlikely partners together. Learning that they work well together, they fight, search and flirt their way through two books of adventure.
So the question is how well does the book do what its purpose seems to suggest? Does it provide entertaining escapism? Does the dynamic duo work well together and have a good line of banter? (Yes, I consider banter a requirement). I am a person who believes if I enjoy a book it is not a waste of time, no matter how light and fluffy, and for both books in this series I found myself entertained plenty.
What drives the series so far is Tweed and Nightingale as a duo. The series does a little better than some in establishing that the feminist rights movement has a good foothold in this alt world, so Nightingale’s awareness and ability to move within the world is a little less out of place than some Victorian fantasy tales. Tweed is suitable strange and in one facet surprisingly realistic; he is plenty confident in himself, even arrogant at times, yet finds him second guessing himself when in social situations. The pair provides the banter I love, perhaps a little too snappy under duress situations, but that is to be expected. They take turns rescuing each other, switch roles as mastermind of the operations, and in short just WORK. Their requisite romantic feelings are played just enough to be interesting without ever getting in the way of the rest of the story. The second book especially played it well, with some well-timed white knight comments made in relation to both of them.
Plot wise The Lazarus Machine was a better book. It had its share of WTF moments, with an eleven year old hacker really raising my eyebrows (yes, computers ran by punchcards). But it was set up quickly, introducing us to all the various influences that are canon in this alt-world. Tesla machines and Sherlock Holmes are almost assured in the genre; also present is Gibson’s Difference Engine and Frankenstein and his works. The dynamic duo find a plot against the queen, learn of a machine that can move a person’s soul, and of course end up saving the day. (Spoiler? Of course it is, but if you didn’t know it was coming by the end of the book I can’t help you).
The Osiris Curse was a bit weaker. Same fun ideas, same dynamic due, but not as interesting in plot. A missing Egyptologist may have stumbled on a secret that could change everything. Tesla is murdered in his lab. And Tweed and Nightingale stumble into yet another plot against the Empire. This time the team will follow the trail to Egypt, and then into the center of the world. The details were even more farfetched; coincidences came a bit too often, and major characters were painfully clueless at times. But it did have lizard men, so that could be a selling point for some. Not a bad book, it follows the same formula that made the first book endearing. Just not as good in my mind.
Chances are if you have read much steampunk you have a read a book just like these. George Mann, Philippa Balantine, and even Gail Carriger (with a bit more romance) have all written something with this formula. But if this is the kind of thing you like give it a run. It certainly worked for me, and made my down time this weekend fly.
4 stars –The Lazarus Machine
3 stars- The Osiris Curse
Note: What follows is a review of two books, The Lazarus Machine and The Osiris Curse. I have chosen to review them together because I read them back to back on a weekend trip and there really isn’t enough to differentiate them into separate reviews.
The rules of steampunk are simple.
1. Set the story in Victorian England.
2. Put a slightly askew male character together with an all-to-aware plucky female character.
3. Have them solve a mystery that involves secret plots against The Empire.
4. Choose one or more of the following: Zombies, Mummys, Secret Societies, Vampires, and any literary characters that fit the time period you want.
Not groundbreaking, but not meant to be. Serial fiction with some by-the-numbers plots, full of adventure and banter. I can’t imagine anyone being fooled going in as to what they are going to get here, so why judge it for anything other than what it is supposed to be?
Tweed is a socially awkward teen genius that helps his dad pull cons off. Nightingale is low rung journalist searching for clues as to where her mother has gone. When Tweed’s dad is taken by what appears to be a once thought dead Moriarty fate works to bring these two unlikely partners together. Learning that they work well together, they fight, search and flirt their way through two books of adventure.
So the question is how well does the book do what its purpose seems to suggest? Does it provide entertaining escapism? Does the dynamic duo work well together and have a good line of banter? (Yes, I consider banter a requirement). I am a person who believes if I enjoy a book it is not a waste of time, no matter how light and fluffy, and for both books in this series I found myself entertained plenty.
What drives the series so far is Tweed and Nightingale as a duo. The series does a little better than some in establishing that the feminist rights movement has a good foothold in this alt world, so Nightingale’s awareness and ability to move within the world is a little less out of place than some Victorian fantasy tales. Tweed is suitable strange and in one facet surprisingly realistic; he is plenty confident in himself, even arrogant at times, yet finds him second guessing himself when in social situations. The pair provides the banter I love, perhaps a little too snappy under duress situations, but that is to be expected. They take turns rescuing each other, switch roles as mastermind of the operations, and in short just WORK. Their requisite romantic feelings are played just enough to be interesting without ever getting in the way of the rest of the story. The second book especially played it well, with some well-timed white knight comments made in relation to both of them.
Plot wise The Lazarus Machine was a better book. It had its share of WTF moments, with an eleven year old hacker really raising my eyebrows (yes, computers ran by punchcards). But it was set up quickly, introducing us to all the various influences that are canon in this alt-world. Tesla machines and Sherlock Holmes are almost assured in the genre; also present is Gibson’s Difference Engine and Frankenstein and his works. The dynamic duo find a plot against the queen, learn of a machine that can move a person’s soul, and of course end up saving the day. (Spoiler? Of course it is, but if you didn’t know it was coming by the end of the book I can’t help you).
The Osiris Curse was a bit weaker. Same fun ideas, same dynamic due, but not as interesting in plot. A missing Egyptologist may have stumbled on a secret that could change everything. Tesla is murdered in his lab. And Tweed and Nightingale stumble into yet another plot against the Empire. This time the team will follow the trail to Egypt, and then into the center of the world. The details were even more farfetched; coincidences came a bit too often, and major characters were painfully clueless at times. But it did have lizard men, so that could be a selling point for some. Not a bad book, it follows the same formula that made the first book endearing. Just not as good in my mind.
Chances are if you have read much steampunk you have a read a book just like these. George Mann, Philippa Balantine, and even Gail Carriger (with a bit more romance) have all written something with this formula. But if this is the kind of thing you like give it a run. It certainly worked for me, and made my down time this weekend fly.
4 stars –The Lazarus Machine
3 stars- The Osiris Curse
Read
August 4, 2014Eh, tried but couldn't get into it, not badly written... the idea was intriguing but oh well *shrugs* 2.5
March 5, 2013
The Lazarus Machine is being hailed as “Doctor Who” meets “Sherlock” – and being the newfound BBC addict I am, I JUMPED at reading this one. I had these ideas that it would be full of a steampunk setting, with some historical fiction feel to it, little bit of sci fi, and just enough mystery to leave me guessing. Doesn’t that sound awesome?!
And while I began reading it and found it a bit slow at first, by the latter half of the book I knew I’d found another winner. The Lazarus Machine completely delivered, notwithstanding its slow start and introduction to Paul Crilley’s new world.
Reasons to Read:
1. A fascinating, alternate steampunk world:
Admittedly, I’m a bit of a newbie to steampunk – and I’m sure some of you are too. So I feel like every time I read anything remotely a la steampunk it feels fresh and exciting to me. Maybe this is all fairly common among steampunk books, but I loved how central and influential Charles Babbage and ESPECIALLY Ada Lovelace were to this 1895 England. Plus, automatons with human souls? That’s just disturbing and creepy enough to be EXCITING. AND! There’s a secret government agency called The Ministry working for the Crown. I’m totally game for conspiracy theories.
2. Sebastian Tweed as a misfit:
First of all, bonus points for a great male hero. I think Sebastian is the type of character that a number of male (and female) readers will be able to relate to, and he takes so much after Sherlock Holmes. Brilliant, a little bit awkward at times, and kind of obnoxious... but in this devastatingly clever way that makes him endearing at the same time.
3. Solid opposite-gender relationships:
I need to comment on how much I loved the relationship between Sebastian and Octavia. It takes them a little while to warm up to each other, and I feel a little bit of romantic tension going on there, but they treat each other like equals. Deep down, there seems to be so much respect for each other and I loved that. And that’s extended to other couples in the book as well, even though none of them are flawless. But I love how respectful Sebastian is towards Octavia, and that he doesn’t for a minute see her as inferior. I think the inclusion of Ada Lovelace in society really helps with this idea.
4. Spunky Octavia Nightingale:
I love to read books with characters like Octavia. She’s so brave and quirky and INTELLIGENT. She’s witty and exactly the kind of woman I like to imagine myself being. She’s equally attractive as a character to both male and female readers, just like Sebastian. And although she isn’t the main protagonist, she’s an extremely significant part of the story all on her own.
The mystery wasn’t nearly as predictable as it seemed at first glance, either. It is so much fun and such a pleasure to read, and one that I flipped through very quickly. I wish it had had a bit of a stronger start to really immerse me in the story, but it really is more of a slow burn for the first few chapters. Just stick with it! Trust me, it gets there.
And if anything I wished by the end that it had been a bit longer to devote a little bit more time to the world building. What’s there is great, and very enticing, yet I wished there had been more because I think it’s one of the strongest features of the book.
Review copy received from publisher for review; no other compensation was received.
And while I began reading it and found it a bit slow at first, by the latter half of the book I knew I’d found another winner. The Lazarus Machine completely delivered, notwithstanding its slow start and introduction to Paul Crilley’s new world.
Reasons to Read:
1. A fascinating, alternate steampunk world:
Admittedly, I’m a bit of a newbie to steampunk – and I’m sure some of you are too. So I feel like every time I read anything remotely a la steampunk it feels fresh and exciting to me. Maybe this is all fairly common among steampunk books, but I loved how central and influential Charles Babbage and ESPECIALLY Ada Lovelace were to this 1895 England. Plus, automatons with human souls? That’s just disturbing and creepy enough to be EXCITING. AND! There’s a secret government agency called The Ministry working for the Crown. I’m totally game for conspiracy theories.
2. Sebastian Tweed as a misfit:
First of all, bonus points for a great male hero. I think Sebastian is the type of character that a number of male (and female) readers will be able to relate to, and he takes so much after Sherlock Holmes. Brilliant, a little bit awkward at times, and kind of obnoxious... but in this devastatingly clever way that makes him endearing at the same time.
3. Solid opposite-gender relationships:
I need to comment on how much I loved the relationship between Sebastian and Octavia. It takes them a little while to warm up to each other, and I feel a little bit of romantic tension going on there, but they treat each other like equals. Deep down, there seems to be so much respect for each other and I loved that. And that’s extended to other couples in the book as well, even though none of them are flawless. But I love how respectful Sebastian is towards Octavia, and that he doesn’t for a minute see her as inferior. I think the inclusion of Ada Lovelace in society really helps with this idea.
4. Spunky Octavia Nightingale:
I love to read books with characters like Octavia. She’s so brave and quirky and INTELLIGENT. She’s witty and exactly the kind of woman I like to imagine myself being. She’s equally attractive as a character to both male and female readers, just like Sebastian. And although she isn’t the main protagonist, she’s an extremely significant part of the story all on her own.
The mystery wasn’t nearly as predictable as it seemed at first glance, either. It is so much fun and such a pleasure to read, and one that I flipped through very quickly. I wish it had had a bit of a stronger start to really immerse me in the story, but it really is more of a slow burn for the first few chapters. Just stick with it! Trust me, it gets there.
And if anything I wished by the end that it had been a bit longer to devote a little bit more time to the world building. What’s there is great, and very enticing, yet I wished there had been more because I think it’s one of the strongest features of the book.
Review copy received from publisher for review; no other compensation was received.
July 31, 2019
I was entertained throughout the book. Sometimes I questioned reading a youth series, but I enjoyed it and it had a twist that I wasn't expecting.
March 3, 2024
Crilley is a screenwriter by trade, and that makes sense as this feels like a movie. I thought this was going to be a Victorian steampunk Holmes/Watson kind of mystery - but instead it is a '90s action movie with a Victorian veneer.
The book opens with Sebastian Tweed and his father pulling a con, pretending to speak to the spirit of a man's deceased wife. The seance is interrupted by Moriarty - back from the dead after his tumble over Reichenbach Falls with Sherlock Holmes - who kidnaps Sebastian's father and murders everyone else. Meanwhile, Octavia Nightingale is searching for her missing mother, a journalist who was kidnapped while investigating Moriarty's return. The two team up, and discover that a deeper conspiracy is afoot.
Sebastian and Octavia have some good banter. One of the lines I chuckled at was:
"You're a pretty good artist," she said absently.
"I know. I've studied anatomy, the masters, techniques of sculpting, medical encyclopedias --"
"I was just paying you a compliment," Octavia cut in, "not asking for details."
While Octavia has some sass and spark, she is mostly sidelined in favor of Sebastian. Sebastian is just that much more clever, intuitive, and resourceful. The only thing Octavia has on him is that she tells him that it's not all about logic - emotions are important too. Instead of equal partners, Sebastian feels like a Gary Stu, and Octavia is the Cool Girl love interest (although there is not any romance in this one, I assume that will be developed later). It doesn't help that Sebastian has the juvenile (and sexist) habit of "teasing" Octavia by making any cover story for her about her sexuality. For instance, when they are trying to get information out of a desk clerk, Sebastian tells the clerk that Octavia is a prostitute who has been stiffed on payment by her john, before Octavia quickly cuts in and says actually she is looking for her father. If Sebastian is so smart, why doesn't he come up with a coherent cover story ahead of time with Octavia, instead of having dueling cover stories that would make any sensible person incredibly suspicious that they are lying (luckily for them, this desk clerk is particularly dimwitted).
Octavia and Sebastian also do not work the case Sherlock Holmes style together. Instead, this turned into a Mission Impossible type group heist, with a ragtag group - complete with an ace hacker - coming together for a prison break of Sebastian's father. Despite this supposedly being an alternate 1895 England, the jailbreak includes fingerprint, retina, and voice comparisons need to unlock a door and a modern day elevator that can be remotely hacked (despite the fact that in England they are called lifts and up until about the 1950s elevators had elevator operators/lift attendants to manually operate them). This world has computers created by Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, sure, but how are these computers that are still operated by punch cards operating the functional equivalents of 1990s technology?!? Including remote hacking from a carriage which would presumably require some kind of wireless internet?!?
This world also has robots (that are more advanced than robots we have today) that are powered by human souls. Apparently "The Crown offered to 'rent' the souls of the deceased from their families, an offer that was enthusiastically embraced by the lower classes." I call shenanigans. Victorian England was a much more religious time than today. Back in the day, citizens would get violent over stolen corpses, like when a mob attacked medical doctors who were dissecting corpses and people died in the riot Now imagine a world in which a person's immortal soul is not a theoretical idea but an actual fact - since souls can be pulled from a body and put into a machine. So there are souls and an afterlife, and robots are LITERALLY people. The poor in Victorian England were poor - entire families wiped out by disease, many of their children dying before their second birthday, starving to death kind of poor. Going to heaven was something to look forward to, not only because the struggle woudl finally be over but also so you could unite with your loved ones who were often taken too young. So you're telling me these folks would sell their loved ones' souls into enslavement instead of letting them go to heaven?!? Some folks, yes, but I can't believe enough for the amount of robots in this book. And I can't believe the Church of England would say nothing about this blasphemy. On top of that, the robots are directly competing for jobs that the poor need to survive. How would there not be riots to destroy these robots?!?
I'm clearly overthinking this book, because I doubt that it is taking itself seriously enough to try to be any type of historical. It wants to be a 1990s action movie plopped down into a setting with Moriarty and Queen Victoria. It's trying to be fun, which it certainly was in parts.
The book opens with Sebastian Tweed and his father pulling a con, pretending to speak to the spirit of a man's deceased wife. The seance is interrupted by Moriarty - back from the dead after his tumble over Reichenbach Falls with Sherlock Holmes - who kidnaps Sebastian's father and murders everyone else. Meanwhile, Octavia Nightingale is searching for her missing mother, a journalist who was kidnapped while investigating Moriarty's return. The two team up, and discover that a deeper conspiracy is afoot.
Sebastian and Octavia have some good banter. One of the lines I chuckled at was:
"You're a pretty good artist," she said absently.
"I know. I've studied anatomy, the masters, techniques of sculpting, medical encyclopedias --"
"I was just paying you a compliment," Octavia cut in, "not asking for details."
While Octavia has some sass and spark, she is mostly sidelined in favor of Sebastian. Sebastian is just that much more clever, intuitive, and resourceful. The only thing Octavia has on him is that she tells him that it's not all about logic - emotions are important too. Instead of equal partners, Sebastian feels like a Gary Stu, and Octavia is the Cool Girl love interest (although there is not any romance in this one, I assume that will be developed later). It doesn't help that Sebastian has the juvenile (and sexist) habit of "teasing" Octavia by making any cover story for her about her sexuality. For instance, when they are trying to get information out of a desk clerk, Sebastian tells the clerk that Octavia is a prostitute who has been stiffed on payment by her john, before Octavia quickly cuts in and says actually she is looking for her father. If Sebastian is so smart, why doesn't he come up with a coherent cover story ahead of time with Octavia, instead of having dueling cover stories that would make any sensible person incredibly suspicious that they are lying (luckily for them, this desk clerk is particularly dimwitted).
Octavia and Sebastian also do not work the case Sherlock Holmes style together. Instead, this turned into a Mission Impossible type group heist, with a ragtag group - complete with an ace hacker - coming together for a prison break of Sebastian's father. Despite this supposedly being an alternate 1895 England, the jailbreak includes fingerprint, retina, and voice comparisons need to unlock a door and a modern day elevator that can be remotely hacked (despite the fact that in England they are called lifts and up until about the 1950s elevators had elevator operators/lift attendants to manually operate them). This world has computers created by Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, sure, but how are these computers that are still operated by punch cards operating the functional equivalents of 1990s technology?!? Including remote hacking from a carriage which would presumably require some kind of wireless internet?!?
This world also has robots (that are more advanced than robots we have today) that are powered by human souls. Apparently "The Crown offered to 'rent' the souls of the deceased from their families, an offer that was enthusiastically embraced by the lower classes." I call shenanigans. Victorian England was a much more religious time than today. Back in the day, citizens would get violent over stolen corpses, like when a mob attacked medical doctors who were dissecting corpses and people died in the riot Now imagine a world in which a person's immortal soul is not a theoretical idea but an actual fact - since souls can be pulled from a body and put into a machine. So there are souls and an afterlife, and robots are LITERALLY people. The poor in Victorian England were poor - entire families wiped out by disease, many of their children dying before their second birthday, starving to death kind of poor. Going to heaven was something to look forward to, not only because the struggle woudl finally be over but also so you could unite with your loved ones who were often taken too young. So you're telling me these folks would sell their loved ones' souls into enslavement instead of letting them go to heaven?!? Some folks, yes, but I can't believe enough for the amount of robots in this book. And I can't believe the Church of England would say nothing about this blasphemy. On top of that, the robots are directly competing for jobs that the poor need to survive. How would there not be riots to destroy these robots?!?
I'm clearly overthinking this book, because I doubt that it is taking itself seriously enough to try to be any type of historical. It wants to be a 1990s action movie plopped down into a setting with Moriarty and Queen Victoria. It's trying to be fun, which it certainly was in parts.
May 14, 2013
“The Lazarus machine” by, Paul Crilley
It’s 1895 in a steampunk London. Sebastian Tweed and Octavia Nightingale have grown up in very different circles but when Sebastian’s father and Octavia’s mother are kidnapped the teen’s worlds collide. Professor Moriarty is loose in the city and he has a group of masked thugs at his disposal. Knowing they can only count on themselves, Tweed and Nightingale team up to find their lost parents and put a stop Moriarty’s nefarious plans.
“The Lazarus machine” is so much fun. I loved reading it and here are some reasons why:
*Sherlock Holmes and Professor James Moriarty are characters in this book. That automatically makes this story about fifty percent more fun because they are such great characters. (Love them)
*Sebastian Tweed. What a lovely, awkward, and funny young man. I fell in love with him immediately and I wanted to be the one on the adventure with him.
*Octavia Nightingale. She is smart, sassy, and very brave. She doesn’t take crap from anyone and she is the perfect partner for Tweed.
*Some of my favorite quotes:
1. (“Are you drunk?” he shouted.
She glanced back at him. “What? No. Don’t be absurd.” She grinned again. “Why? Are you offering?”)
2. (“Spinsterhood is still an acceptable alternative. Lots of free time to play with cats, I imagine.”)
3. (“Nobody likes a smart aleck, Tweed,” she snapped.
“Is that so?” said Tweed, distracted still peering into the alley. “Is that why you have no friends?”)
4. (Tweed was silent for a while. Then he asked, “Should we get something to eat?”
“Are you paying?”
“No. I’m poor. You can pay.”
“Fine. But I get to pick where we’re going.”
“Nowhere fancy. I don’t think I want to be surrounded by other people like you.”
“How dare you…”)
5. (“Tell me, do you think the only way I can distract a man is by acting hysterical? Is that what you think of women? I’m surprised you didn’t just tell me to undo a few buttons and flash my cleavage at him. Would you like me to do that, Sebastian Tweed? Hmm?”)
*This book read like a dream. I think that anyone who reads it will love it and I can’t wait for the second book to be released.
It’s 1895 in a steampunk London. Sebastian Tweed and Octavia Nightingale have grown up in very different circles but when Sebastian’s father and Octavia’s mother are kidnapped the teen’s worlds collide. Professor Moriarty is loose in the city and he has a group of masked thugs at his disposal. Knowing they can only count on themselves, Tweed and Nightingale team up to find their lost parents and put a stop Moriarty’s nefarious plans.
“The Lazarus machine” is so much fun. I loved reading it and here are some reasons why:
*Sherlock Holmes and Professor James Moriarty are characters in this book. That automatically makes this story about fifty percent more fun because they are such great characters. (Love them)
*Sebastian Tweed. What a lovely, awkward, and funny young man. I fell in love with him immediately and I wanted to be the one on the adventure with him.
*Octavia Nightingale. She is smart, sassy, and very brave. She doesn’t take crap from anyone and she is the perfect partner for Tweed.
*Some of my favorite quotes:
1. (“Are you drunk?” he shouted.
She glanced back at him. “What? No. Don’t be absurd.” She grinned again. “Why? Are you offering?”)
2. (“Spinsterhood is still an acceptable alternative. Lots of free time to play with cats, I imagine.”)
3. (“Nobody likes a smart aleck, Tweed,” she snapped.
“Is that so?” said Tweed, distracted still peering into the alley. “Is that why you have no friends?”)
4. (Tweed was silent for a while. Then he asked, “Should we get something to eat?”
“Are you paying?”
“No. I’m poor. You can pay.”
“Fine. But I get to pick where we’re going.”
“Nowhere fancy. I don’t think I want to be surrounded by other people like you.”
“How dare you…”)
5. (“Tell me, do you think the only way I can distract a man is by acting hysterical? Is that what you think of women? I’m surprised you didn’t just tell me to undo a few buttons and flash my cleavage at him. Would you like me to do that, Sebastian Tweed? Hmm?”)
*This book read like a dream. I think that anyone who reads it will love it and I can’t wait for the second book to be released.
December 6, 2012
I really liked this book and it really hit my mood spot on. I was specifically looking for something light, quick, and not too emotional or intense, and this just fit perfectly. I'm going to try and break this down...
The characters:
Sebastian Tweed: con man with a conscience, master of deduction and reason, and socially awkward around girls his own age (since he has never actually met one before)
Octavia "Songbird" Nightingale: Determined to find her missing mother, feminist, intelligent, not afraid to pull out and shoot a stun gun when endangered (my kind of girl!)
The chemistry:
These guys were so cute together and they complemented each other so well! Tweed thinks with his head and Octavia lets her gut feeling lead her. They really bring out the best in each other and learn from each other. They had such witty banter, and were just beginning to enjoy each others company. They looked out for each other and made a great team. I hope somewhere down the line they start to like like each other, because that would just be adorable <3
The world:
Guys, this steampunk is the real deal. We've got Tesla powered everything, massive computers, steam carriages, and AUTOMATONS. and let me tell you, these are no run of the mill automatons...oh no, they are powered by HUMAN SOULS! WHATTTTTTT? A little creepy I know but it a totally cool kinda way. Like the firemen automatons were powered by souls from former firemen! Just thinking about it gives me the heeby-jeebies. And yea, this is all set in Vitorian era England, which is just about my favorite kind :)
The mystery:
Intriguing and unpredictable. I don't want to give anything away, but the blurb was right about the whole Sherlock Holmes connection (though I have to admit I didn't have much prior knowledge outside of the Robert Downey Jr movies). I got more of a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys feel, but that might be attributed to the youth factor (and those were the mysteries I got into as a kid)
The writing:
Smart, a bit dry, fast paced, not bogged down by extraneous information, chuckle inducing, and exciting.
I am really looking forward to more Tweed and Nightingale adventures!
The characters:
Sebastian Tweed: con man with a conscience, master of deduction and reason, and socially awkward around girls his own age (since he has never actually met one before)
Octavia "Songbird" Nightingale: Determined to find her missing mother, feminist, intelligent, not afraid to pull out and shoot a stun gun when endangered (my kind of girl!)
The chemistry:
These guys were so cute together and they complemented each other so well! Tweed thinks with his head and Octavia lets her gut feeling lead her. They really bring out the best in each other and learn from each other. They had such witty banter, and were just beginning to enjoy each others company. They looked out for each other and made a great team. I hope somewhere down the line they start to like like each other, because that would just be adorable <3
The world:
Guys, this steampunk is the real deal. We've got Tesla powered everything, massive computers, steam carriages, and AUTOMATONS. and let me tell you, these are no run of the mill automatons...oh no, they are powered by HUMAN SOULS! WHATTTTTTT? A little creepy I know but it a totally cool kinda way. Like the firemen automatons were powered by souls from former firemen! Just thinking about it gives me the heeby-jeebies. And yea, this is all set in Vitorian era England, which is just about my favorite kind :)
The mystery:
Intriguing and unpredictable. I don't want to give anything away, but the blurb was right about the whole Sherlock Holmes connection (though I have to admit I didn't have much prior knowledge outside of the Robert Downey Jr movies). I got more of a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys feel, but that might be attributed to the youth factor (and those were the mysteries I got into as a kid)
The writing:
Smart, a bit dry, fast paced, not bogged down by extraneous information, chuckle inducing, and exciting.
I am really looking forward to more Tweed and Nightingale adventures!
June 12, 2013
I picked up this book in the young adult section on a whim because the cover looked interesting. Also I vaguely remembered it being on my to-read list for awhile. I needed a distraction book to read whilst in the middle of reading a huge adult nonfiction book, as I still want to read it but needed a mental break before I completely lost interest in it. I will say that this book actually helped me wanting to start it again because of the material.
The book is set in Victorian England but an alternate history where Tesla towers power electricity, automatons are servants and there are steam-powered coaches. Sebastian Tweed and his father Barnaby scam rich people by claiming to contact their dead relatives. Only one night, things go terribly wrong and Barnaby is captured by none other than the dreaded Professor Moriarty, back from the dead. While Sebastian, who goes by Tweed, is searching for his father, he finds a partner. Octavia's mother is a journalist who was investigating Professor Moriarty and was abducted three months before. Octavia, nicknamed Songbird, has been looking for her ever since. Will Tweed and Songbird ever find their parents? Just who is behind the missing disappearances? To find out, read this exciting introduction to the Tweed and Nightingale Adventures! Recommended for ages 12+, 4 stars.
***Spoilers***
Overall I loved the story, though the end was more than I could have dreamed up (very original and a great plot twist). The only thing I didn't like about the book was the master villain. All the royal families in Europe were linked to Great Britain in some way, and Victoria was the grandmother of pretty much everyone, including Wilhelm II of Germany and Nicholas II of Russia. I could imagine Wilhelm being the enemy as he never could decide if he liked or hated Great Britain, but not Nicholas II. From what I've read, he didn't like being Tsar, wasn't all that power hungry (except for keeping the autocracy going) and pretty much the only person he really disliked was dealing with was Wilhelm. And that is pretty much the reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars.
The book is set in Victorian England but an alternate history where Tesla towers power electricity, automatons are servants and there are steam-powered coaches. Sebastian Tweed and his father Barnaby scam rich people by claiming to contact their dead relatives. Only one night, things go terribly wrong and Barnaby is captured by none other than the dreaded Professor Moriarty, back from the dead. While Sebastian, who goes by Tweed, is searching for his father, he finds a partner. Octavia's mother is a journalist who was investigating Professor Moriarty and was abducted three months before. Octavia, nicknamed Songbird, has been looking for her ever since. Will Tweed and Songbird ever find their parents? Just who is behind the missing disappearances? To find out, read this exciting introduction to the Tweed and Nightingale Adventures! Recommended for ages 12+, 4 stars.
***Spoilers***
Overall I loved the story, though the end was more than I could have dreamed up (very original and a great plot twist). The only thing I didn't like about the book was the master villain. All the royal families in Europe were linked to Great Britain in some way, and Victoria was the grandmother of pretty much everyone, including Wilhelm II of Germany and Nicholas II of Russia. I could imagine Wilhelm being the enemy as he never could decide if he liked or hated Great Britain, but not Nicholas II. From what I've read, he didn't like being Tsar, wasn't all that power hungry (except for keeping the autocracy going) and pretty much the only person he really disliked was dealing with was Wilhelm. And that is pretty much the reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars.
April 22, 2013
I LOVE steampunk and this book had a lot more steampunk elements than most, so that's good. I even liked the two main characters a lot - Tweed is a young boy who goes on a mission to find his abducted father and Nightingale is a young woman who is looking for info on her mother who has been missing for a year. Together, with a small gang of helpers, they infiltrate high levels of British government and discover what's behind the rash of abductions.
Good plot, and it moves nicely - there were a few anachronistic things that bothered me - phrases used and conventions flaunted but overall it had a basic Victorian feel. It has a great little twist at the end so I want to read the next one. I think the writing could be a bit tighter, it drifts a bit in places and sometimes Tweed is boring. I want to know more about the characters and I think some more back story right off the bat would help. And maybe more Victorian atmosphere, you really need that in Steampunk. Overall, a good effort that has tickled my interest enough to read the next one.
Good plot, and it moves nicely - there were a few anachronistic things that bothered me - phrases used and conventions flaunted but overall it had a basic Victorian feel. It has a great little twist at the end so I want to read the next one. I think the writing could be a bit tighter, it drifts a bit in places and sometimes Tweed is boring. I want to know more about the characters and I think some more back story right off the bat would help. And maybe more Victorian atmosphere, you really need that in Steampunk. Overall, a good effort that has tickled my interest enough to read the next one.
November 19, 2012
I picked this book up in the mood for something fun, set in a historical setting and with lively characters. This is exactly what I got. This is the story of Sebastian Tweed and Octavia Nightingale, young adults who cross paths as they search for their kidnapped father and mother, respectively. Together, using logic, cunning, and spirit, they hunt down the devious villains and try to save the entire British Empire from certain disaster.
Read the rest of the review at Starmetal Oak Reviews.
Review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.
Read the rest of the review at Starmetal Oak Reviews.
Review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.
January 13, 2017
If you liked this book, you might also enjoy:
✱ The Golden Compass
✱ The Nine Pound Hammer
✱ Leviathan
✱ The Iron Thorn
✱ The Golden Compass
✱ The Nine Pound Hammer
✱ Leviathan
✱ The Iron Thorn
November 6, 2012
While The Lazarus Machine was not perfect it was a fun read. The characters made me giggle and there were plenty of plot twists to keep me entertained. The inventions were unique and brought a few points I kept thinking about long after I put the book down. I’m sad that I’m going to have to wait another year for the sequel. If you like steampunk you should definitely pick this book up!
Literary Escapism
Literary Escapism
November 5, 2013
Very action-oriented YA. Liked the world-building & the characters. Not a lot of subtlety to them but a fun read.
June 12, 2022
I really shouldn't have been waiting eight years just to read The Lazarus Machine--it really wasn't worth that wait.
The book was laced with problems including a handful of typos, the fact that the author doesn't seem to know that other sentence types besides simple sentences exist, and the fact that I didn't actually know what was going on at any point of the book. The author doesn't seem to know how to foreshadow anything, and, adding to the problem, the author doesn't include much mystery solving, despite the book's Sherlock Holmes-esque vibe. The answers to questions always seem to passively appear before the characters.
But perhaps the biggest bone I have to pick with The Lazarus Machine is the characterization of the main character Sebastian Tweed. Simply put, Tweed is a jerk. I don't have an issue with main characters with less than stellar morality, but the media usually frames these characters in a way that signals to the audience that the character is supposed to be bad. In The Lazarus Machine, the author clearly wants us to see Sebastian as the hero when I don't think he is.
For example, soon after meeting Octavia, Sebastian suggests that Octavia become his assistant in working to solve their case. Octavia responds that, if anything, Sebastian should become her assistant because she's already been working on the case for about a year. Not once does anyone bring up the possibility that they could become equal partners. Thus, Octavia becomes Sebastian's de facto assistant. This interaction sets the tone for the rest of the book.
Furthermore, at one point Sebastian monologues at length as to why he's actually not a misogynist, but a feminist, which he promptly follows by making a misogynistic joke about Octavia. In a different context, the joke could be construed as a criticism of the patriarchy, but because Sebastian and Octavia aren't close at the time, and the joke goes over the head of the man it's addressed to, the joke only serves to make Octavia look bad. Sebastian himself acknowledges that Octavia will probably be upset at/hurt by the joke. So, no, I don't believe Sebastian is a feminist, and, yes, I think he's a jerk.
Also, there's a part in which an adult woman kisses Sebastian, a minor, on the mouth, without consent. I think the part is supposed to show Sebastian's overflowing, unconscious ability to attract women, which is already weird, but the interaction actually serves to normalize inappropriate/predatory behavior. It just makes me feel very uncomfortable.
I like the themes the book plays around with, including emotion vs. logic and the ethicality of scientific "innovation," but, ultimately, the book doesn't even deal well with those themes. I mean, Sebastian, at one point, chides Octavia for being "too emotional" (yes, Sebastian definitely is a feminist), and, at another point, the book straight up quotes Jurassic Park.
Overall, the The Lazarus Machine is probably the worst piece of steampunk I've read. I literally recommend every other steampunk work I've read over this book.
The book was laced with problems including a handful of typos, the fact that the author doesn't seem to know that other sentence types besides simple sentences exist, and the fact that I didn't actually know what was going on at any point of the book. The author doesn't seem to know how to foreshadow anything, and, adding to the problem, the author doesn't include much mystery solving, despite the book's Sherlock Holmes-esque vibe. The answers to questions always seem to passively appear before the characters.
But perhaps the biggest bone I have to pick with The Lazarus Machine is the characterization of the main character Sebastian Tweed. Simply put, Tweed is a jerk. I don't have an issue with main characters with less than stellar morality, but the media usually frames these characters in a way that signals to the audience that the character is supposed to be bad. In The Lazarus Machine, the author clearly wants us to see Sebastian as the hero when I don't think he is.
For example, soon after meeting Octavia, Sebastian suggests that Octavia become his assistant in working to solve their case. Octavia responds that, if anything, Sebastian should become her assistant because she's already been working on the case for about a year. Not once does anyone bring up the possibility that they could become equal partners. Thus, Octavia becomes Sebastian's de facto assistant. This interaction sets the tone for the rest of the book.
Furthermore, at one point Sebastian monologues at length as to why he's actually not a misogynist, but a feminist, which he promptly follows by making a misogynistic joke about Octavia. In a different context, the joke could be construed as a criticism of the patriarchy, but because Sebastian and Octavia aren't close at the time, and the joke goes over the head of the man it's addressed to, the joke only serves to make Octavia look bad. Sebastian himself acknowledges that Octavia will probably be upset at/hurt by the joke. So, no, I don't believe Sebastian is a feminist, and, yes, I think he's a jerk.
Also, there's a part in which an adult woman kisses Sebastian, a minor, on the mouth, without consent. I think the part is supposed to show Sebastian's overflowing, unconscious ability to attract women, which is already weird, but the interaction actually serves to normalize inappropriate/predatory behavior. It just makes me feel very uncomfortable.
I like the themes the book plays around with, including emotion vs. logic and the ethicality of scientific "innovation," but, ultimately, the book doesn't even deal well with those themes. I mean, Sebastian, at one point, chides Octavia for being "too emotional" (yes, Sebastian definitely is a feminist), and, at another point, the book straight up quotes Jurassic Park.
Overall, the The Lazarus Machine is probably the worst piece of steampunk I've read. I literally recommend every other steampunk work I've read over this book.
April 26, 2013
Paul Crilley’s The Lazarus Machine has it all: an awkward boy genius, a plucky unconventional heroine, and a plot full of danger, steam powered technology, and that irresistible Victorian England setting that’s a part of all steampunk stories. It even has not one, but two evil villains intent on ruling the world. And yet, it just doesn’t add up to the thrilling page turner it ought to be. Why? Because there just isn’t any sizzle between the two main characters. Without this, all the rest becomes tiresome; a place revisited many times in other works with better written characters.
Sebastian Tweed is the main character. The story begins as Sebastian and his father prepare to conduct a séance. This is how they make their living. Sebastian’s father Barnaby Tweed is a fake medium who takes advantage of the bereaved by tricking them into believing they can talk to their dear departed. Sebastian assists his father, hidden in a steam-powered coach, viewing the events through the eyes of a mechanical spider sent in ahead of time. This particular séance starts to go south when the brother of the “mark” becomes argumentative and aggressive, wanting the proceedings stopped and the police called in to arrest the fraudulent medium. Sebastian deduces that part of the reason is because the brother wanted the dead wife to be his and she would not leave her spouse. Sebastian feeds his father the words to accuse the spurned brother and enlighten the mark. This is the first time we get a taste of Sebastian’s brilliant ability to deduce things from his observations, much like Sherlock Holmes. This bit becomes important to the story’s set-up because in the end we find out that Sebastian and Holmes’ connection is very intimate. Sebastian contains the soul of Holmes in the body of simulacra, a simulated body grown for this express purpose. The conclusion of the conflict between the two brothers at the séance gets interrupted when several masked characters appear after an explosion and kidnap Barnaby Tweed. The masked characters are assumed to be Moriarty and his gang. Moriarty and Holmes in this novel have died in their final confrontation, drowned after falling into the Reichenbach falls, which if you’ve read the Conan Doyle stories, is where Holmes did supposedly die. (Conan Doyle brought Holmes back in subsequent stories.)
Octavia Nightingale is the heroine. We meet her as she is preparing to go out and meet Sebastian, known to her only as someone interested in finding out more about Moriarty’s gang. She has been investigating them for about a year, going by the code name, “Songbird” and following tips given to her by nefarious characters. She wants to find out what happened to her mother who was also trailing this gang and disappeared. Octavia does have a father, but as with most stories featuring underage main characters, her parent is quickly dealt with. He is so distraught by the disappearance of his wife that he buries himself in work and doesn’t pay much attention to Octavia. He is really a “non-character” whose sole purpose it to provide young Octavia with a believable home. (As a young woman in this society, she would not be on her own, no matter how independently minded she was.) When Octavia and Tweed meet they don’t get much of a chance to discuss things. They have been found out by Moriarty’s gang and have to get away, amidst lots of action and firing of “Tesla guns” and other electrically charged weaponry.
There are two other minor characters, Jenny and Carter who help Olivia and Tweed in their pursuit of Moriarty’s gang. They are lovable thieves, totally devoted to each other. Jenny is a kind of surrogate mother to Tweed. Octavia doesn’t like the fact that they are thieves. She’s somewhat of a prig throughout the bulk of the story, objecting to a third supportive character, “Stepp Reckoner” who is a hacker and helps them to break into the ministry later in the story.
The relationship between Octavia and Sebastian is supposed to be playful bantering with a touch of romantic tension. It ends up being anything but that, to the point of painfulness. A scene where Octavia and Sebastian exchange insults is meant to establish their growing fondness but ends up being extremely awkward and seems out-of-place. Was it just meant to allow the writer to be able to include such fun-sounding insults as “dollymop,” and “flap dragon?” Their relationship just doesn’t seem natural. Octavia comes off as a superior-sounding snob throughout almost the whole story, and since they never solve the mystery of what happened to her mother (saving this for the next installment perhaps?) the point of including her at all isn’t clear.
The ending is full of excitement and “oh no, he didn’t” revelations that make it worth pursuing the book to its conclusion. Tweed discovers that his “father” (remember, Tweed is actually a kind of clone meant to house the soul of the dead Sherlock Holmes) is actually a “Mesmer” with real clairvoyant powers that were put to evil purposes by the ministry. Moriarty turns out to be another Sherlock Holmes with a 2nd or 3rd generation soul put into a defective body. This Holmes proves to be the ultimate evil villain, taking an insane pathway to thwart the original evil villain’s plot to kill Queen Victoria, and claim that the Russians did it, starting a war between the two powers. There’s plenty of interesting steampunk technology to fill the unsatisfactory void created by the non-romance between Tweed and Octavia. The Lazarus Machine of the title is a device that can duplicate souls and thereby create an army of simulacrums. Unfortunately, just as we are caught up with the action, it abruptly stops and threads are quickly tied up in an Epilogue section.
Typos are something that just happens in many a novel and I usually ignore them, but in the epilogue, there’s a sentence where there are disapproving “stairs” instead of “stares.” Since it comes at the end of the book, it’s quite noticeable. If you really want to read a steampunkesque series that has well-developed characters and plenty of action, may I recommend Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan trilogy. It has a male and female main character whose storylines are equally compelling. It’s well worth the three book effort and you will be richly rewarded.
Sebastian Tweed is the main character. The story begins as Sebastian and his father prepare to conduct a séance. This is how they make their living. Sebastian’s father Barnaby Tweed is a fake medium who takes advantage of the bereaved by tricking them into believing they can talk to their dear departed. Sebastian assists his father, hidden in a steam-powered coach, viewing the events through the eyes of a mechanical spider sent in ahead of time. This particular séance starts to go south when the brother of the “mark” becomes argumentative and aggressive, wanting the proceedings stopped and the police called in to arrest the fraudulent medium. Sebastian deduces that part of the reason is because the brother wanted the dead wife to be his and she would not leave her spouse. Sebastian feeds his father the words to accuse the spurned brother and enlighten the mark. This is the first time we get a taste of Sebastian’s brilliant ability to deduce things from his observations, much like Sherlock Holmes. This bit becomes important to the story’s set-up because in the end we find out that Sebastian and Holmes’ connection is very intimate. Sebastian contains the soul of Holmes in the body of simulacra, a simulated body grown for this express purpose. The conclusion of the conflict between the two brothers at the séance gets interrupted when several masked characters appear after an explosion and kidnap Barnaby Tweed. The masked characters are assumed to be Moriarty and his gang. Moriarty and Holmes in this novel have died in their final confrontation, drowned after falling into the Reichenbach falls, which if you’ve read the Conan Doyle stories, is where Holmes did supposedly die. (Conan Doyle brought Holmes back in subsequent stories.)
Octavia Nightingale is the heroine. We meet her as she is preparing to go out and meet Sebastian, known to her only as someone interested in finding out more about Moriarty’s gang. She has been investigating them for about a year, going by the code name, “Songbird” and following tips given to her by nefarious characters. She wants to find out what happened to her mother who was also trailing this gang and disappeared. Octavia does have a father, but as with most stories featuring underage main characters, her parent is quickly dealt with. He is so distraught by the disappearance of his wife that he buries himself in work and doesn’t pay much attention to Octavia. He is really a “non-character” whose sole purpose it to provide young Octavia with a believable home. (As a young woman in this society, she would not be on her own, no matter how independently minded she was.) When Octavia and Tweed meet they don’t get much of a chance to discuss things. They have been found out by Moriarty’s gang and have to get away, amidst lots of action and firing of “Tesla guns” and other electrically charged weaponry.
There are two other minor characters, Jenny and Carter who help Olivia and Tweed in their pursuit of Moriarty’s gang. They are lovable thieves, totally devoted to each other. Jenny is a kind of surrogate mother to Tweed. Octavia doesn’t like the fact that they are thieves. She’s somewhat of a prig throughout the bulk of the story, objecting to a third supportive character, “Stepp Reckoner” who is a hacker and helps them to break into the ministry later in the story.
The relationship between Octavia and Sebastian is supposed to be playful bantering with a touch of romantic tension. It ends up being anything but that, to the point of painfulness. A scene where Octavia and Sebastian exchange insults is meant to establish their growing fondness but ends up being extremely awkward and seems out-of-place. Was it just meant to allow the writer to be able to include such fun-sounding insults as “dollymop,” and “flap dragon?” Their relationship just doesn’t seem natural. Octavia comes off as a superior-sounding snob throughout almost the whole story, and since they never solve the mystery of what happened to her mother (saving this for the next installment perhaps?) the point of including her at all isn’t clear.
The ending is full of excitement and “oh no, he didn’t” revelations that make it worth pursuing the book to its conclusion. Tweed discovers that his “father” (remember, Tweed is actually a kind of clone meant to house the soul of the dead Sherlock Holmes) is actually a “Mesmer” with real clairvoyant powers that were put to evil purposes by the ministry. Moriarty turns out to be another Sherlock Holmes with a 2nd or 3rd generation soul put into a defective body. This Holmes proves to be the ultimate evil villain, taking an insane pathway to thwart the original evil villain’s plot to kill Queen Victoria, and claim that the Russians did it, starting a war between the two powers. There’s plenty of interesting steampunk technology to fill the unsatisfactory void created by the non-romance between Tweed and Octavia. The Lazarus Machine of the title is a device that can duplicate souls and thereby create an army of simulacrums. Unfortunately, just as we are caught up with the action, it abruptly stops and threads are quickly tied up in an Epilogue section.
Typos are something that just happens in many a novel and I usually ignore them, but in the epilogue, there’s a sentence where there are disapproving “stairs” instead of “stares.” Since it comes at the end of the book, it’s quite noticeable. If you really want to read a steampunkesque series that has well-developed characters and plenty of action, may I recommend Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan trilogy. It has a male and female main character whose storylines are equally compelling. It’s well worth the three book effort and you will be richly rewarded.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2019
3.0
I found this book at a book sale. I never heard of the title nor the author. Again, the cover art got me and the synopsis was interesting.
Opening the jacket cover though, I found the author thanking Sir Arthur Conan Doyle specifically and I was confused why. The synopsis didn't really point to a murder mystery novel. Then, I remember myself having mixed thoughts about using Sherlock Holmes and Jim Moriarty in this novel. I couldn't really put my finger on it. Fictional characters with real people in history. Somehow, it didn't work for me this time even when the premise is nothing new.
The two main characters were okay. They were consistent throughout but they fell a bit flat for me. Even the twist at the end about Tweed wasn't shocking to me. No I didn't predict it or anything, it just didn't have the desired effect.
And, finally, the epilogue. It definitely wanted readers to wait for a next installment but there was nothing in those few pages that left me wanting more. Not even the hint of a possible romance.
I found this book at a book sale. I never heard of the title nor the author. Again, the cover art got me and the synopsis was interesting.
Opening the jacket cover though, I found the author thanking Sir Arthur Conan Doyle specifically and I was confused why. The synopsis didn't really point to a murder mystery novel. Then, I remember myself having mixed thoughts about using Sherlock Holmes and Jim Moriarty in this novel. I couldn't really put my finger on it. Fictional characters with real people in history. Somehow, it didn't work for me this time even when the premise is nothing new.
The two main characters were okay. They were consistent throughout but they fell a bit flat for me. Even the twist at the end about Tweed wasn't shocking to me. No I didn't predict it or anything, it just didn't have the desired effect.
And, finally, the epilogue. It definitely wanted readers to wait for a next installment but there was nothing in those few pages that left me wanting more. Not even the hint of a possible romance.
April 7, 2018
This would be a good young adult novel. The story takes place in the years after Sherlock Holmes has died in England. Tweed is a young street thief with a conscious, who uses logic to address every day problems (to a fault). His father is kidnapped and he needs to find out why and how to save him. Meanwhile, a young lady is on the hunt for her mother, who coincidentally has also been kidnapped. They join forces, and their search for their parents leads to Moriarty and a cloned Sherlock Holmes who is now working for the other side.
I enjoy Steampunk and that theme permeates the book. I liked the strong female character that is Nightingale. I consider this a beach read- fun and light hearted, but ultimately not memorable.
I enjoy Steampunk and that theme permeates the book. I liked the strong female character that is Nightingale. I consider this a beach read- fun and light hearted, but ultimately not memorable.
January 4, 2020
I liked this book, it was in fact, an amazing incorporation between Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes, and I in fact haven't read or watched any of them! but I fairly enjoyed the book, {Spoiler Alert} I was surprised when I knew that Tweed is in fact H0lmes!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2017
Crilley walks within the framework set down by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
The Steampunk twist is light, with the primary focus being on the mystery.
The Steampunk twist is light, with the primary focus being on the mystery.
September 18, 2017
~3.5 stars~
Fascinating world building, writing and main characters.
Fascinating world building, writing and main characters.
June 8, 2018
Entertaining but not stunning. Character development and plot development uneven. guess I'm just not crazy about how he appropriates Sherlock Holmes, one of the greatest characters of all time.
March 14, 2020
Sci fi, steampunk and even a bit of Sherlock Holmes! Loved it!
July 14, 2020
Adequate use of London though some use of ambiguity. Somewhat enjoyable steampunk novel.
April 16, 2024
2.25/5
September 16, 2024
This was fairly decent. I like the steam punk element
March 9, 2017
When I was reading The Lazarus Machine I couldn't stop reading it. It was just one of those books that made you appreciate reading.
It has mild language sometimes but not bad. It had a very intriguing story.
It has mild language sometimes but not bad. It had a very intriguing story.
March 28, 2014
How did we end up here?
This was in Pyr’s catalogue and it sounded interesting so, among other books, I requested THE LAZARUS MACHINE for review. I’m not big into steampunk but I liked the way the story sounded here.
Okay, book. You've got 50 pages. Go!
The story starts with a con job that’s about to go tits up when Tweed’s dad up and gets kidnapped by some gas-masked dudes that kill everyone else in the room. How does that NOT keep me reading? I’m less than impressed with the writing style but the story had me hooked almost from the first page. Certainly from the first chapter. The action just kept going.
What worked . . .
The intrigue and the twists and turns. The story itself was a breathless mystery that involved steampunk-like technology and all the evils that come alone with it. People dream big and sometimes those dreams get away from them and it sucks other people into them too. I was kept guessing a lot of the time (although I’m usually not quick to guess any kind of plot bunny going on so take that for what you will) and there were a couple twists in the story that took me by surprise. I liked being surprised when I read. Being able to guess everything would just get boring.
Octavia was an interesting character and I liked how outspoken she was and how much she bucked the system and went against societal norms of the time. Although I think that’s fairly normal for steampunk, right? Still since it was really Tweed’s story she did take a back seat for a lot of it. Unless she was in the front seat playing real like Grand Theft Dirigible to keep them out of trouble’s reach.
I really liked Carter and Jenny and I wish they played a more prominent role in the story but they were more off-screen than they were on. The dynamic between the couple, how they were endearingly antagonistic toward each other but how in love they were with each other created great reading. Of course, since this is a YA novel you can’t give the adults the front page so they were kept to the background but they played their part. I’d like to read on just for them, if I’m honest.
What didn't work . . .
The writing itself left a bit to be desired. It’s not the POV shifts that bothered me or the number of characters. Really, they were all reasonably easy to tell apart. It’s just there wasn’t any flair to the language. It served its purpose and told the story and that was about it. No flourish, no shazaam, nothing. If the action wasn’t so prominent and I wasn’t able to project enough image from what I was reading it would have been rather dull. It was kind of a push to keep reading as it was because while I liked it it was toeing the line of being not for me and the writing itself certainly wasn’t helping.
And in the end . . .
There are some damn good characters in THE LAZARUS MACHINE and I think the book is worth reading just for them. Not to mention the story is pretty action-packed and you really can’t stop for breath at all. If it were any longer it very well could have been an exhausting read for that reason. But the writing is less than thrilling. It lends itself to a rather static, textbook-like read where, in hindsight, I had more going on in my head than what the page was telling me. There’s little to no oomph about it and it’s a shame because the rest of it is rather good. I did almost want to put it down but I trucked through it and I’m glad I did but I’m nonplussed about reading on in the series. I may get to it eventually but I’m not in a rush to.
This was in Pyr’s catalogue and it sounded interesting so, among other books, I requested THE LAZARUS MACHINE for review. I’m not big into steampunk but I liked the way the story sounded here.
Okay, book. You've got 50 pages. Go!
The story starts with a con job that’s about to go tits up when Tweed’s dad up and gets kidnapped by some gas-masked dudes that kill everyone else in the room. How does that NOT keep me reading? I’m less than impressed with the writing style but the story had me hooked almost from the first page. Certainly from the first chapter. The action just kept going.
What worked . . .
The intrigue and the twists and turns. The story itself was a breathless mystery that involved steampunk-like technology and all the evils that come alone with it. People dream big and sometimes those dreams get away from them and it sucks other people into them too. I was kept guessing a lot of the time (although I’m usually not quick to guess any kind of plot bunny going on so take that for what you will) and there were a couple twists in the story that took me by surprise. I liked being surprised when I read. Being able to guess everything would just get boring.
Octavia was an interesting character and I liked how outspoken she was and how much she bucked the system and went against societal norms of the time. Although I think that’s fairly normal for steampunk, right? Still since it was really Tweed’s story she did take a back seat for a lot of it. Unless she was in the front seat playing real like Grand Theft Dirigible to keep them out of trouble’s reach.
I really liked Carter and Jenny and I wish they played a more prominent role in the story but they were more off-screen than they were on. The dynamic between the couple, how they were endearingly antagonistic toward each other but how in love they were with each other created great reading. Of course, since this is a YA novel you can’t give the adults the front page so they were kept to the background but they played their part. I’d like to read on just for them, if I’m honest.
What didn't work . . .
The writing itself left a bit to be desired. It’s not the POV shifts that bothered me or the number of characters. Really, they were all reasonably easy to tell apart. It’s just there wasn’t any flair to the language. It served its purpose and told the story and that was about it. No flourish, no shazaam, nothing. If the action wasn’t so prominent and I wasn’t able to project enough image from what I was reading it would have been rather dull. It was kind of a push to keep reading as it was because while I liked it it was toeing the line of being not for me and the writing itself certainly wasn’t helping.
And in the end . . .
There are some damn good characters in THE LAZARUS MACHINE and I think the book is worth reading just for them. Not to mention the story is pretty action-packed and you really can’t stop for breath at all. If it were any longer it very well could have been an exhausting read for that reason. But the writing is less than thrilling. It lends itself to a rather static, textbook-like read where, in hindsight, I had more going on in my head than what the page was telling me. There’s little to no oomph about it and it’s a shame because the rest of it is rather good. I did almost want to put it down but I trucked through it and I’m glad I did but I’m nonplussed about reading on in the series. I may get to it eventually but I’m not in a rush to.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews