Fun, light steampunk. Think of how Jules Verne pictured Mars and the passage between. Arabella runs away from home after having been forced to leave Mars for Earth. She pretends to be a boy and gets a birth on a sailing ship headed to Mars.
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Arabella of Mars | 
Fun, light steampunk. Think of how Jules Verne pictured Mars and the passage between. Arabella runs away from home after having been forced to leave Mars for Earth. She pretends to be a boy and gets a birth on a sailing ship headed to Mars.
so-soAfter the unexpected death of her father, Arabella learns of a plot against the rest of her family. Dressed as a cabin boy on a merchant airship bound for Mars, she must make it in time to save her home.
I wanted to love this. Steampunk in space? Expansive worldbuilding? Corsairs? Action scenes? All good. Very Treasure Planet. But we go the entire book without once acknowledging “hey maybe colonialism bad?” Highly disappointing. 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
Sunshine, a slight breeze, a comfy chair, and a space adventure! 🚀
pick05/10/21 - 05/14/21
Science Fiction, Alternate History
I finally finished this book. I choose this book because of how the cover looked and I really wanted to see how they tried. Lots of heartbreaking and heartwarming moments in this story. At first I thought it was just going to be an adventure of some sort due to the title and the cover but I later fould out that this story would be a rollacoaster. I would definitly recommend this as a pick.
Arabella had always been the only person in the family who shared her fathers passion.
This compares to how when you have an opinon or thought of something cool and unknow and you want to do it. Its hard when no one supports you especially when your family doesn't. When you fail it is like they will point out your mistake not just your family but your haters too. I think thats sort of how arabella was feeling when people doubted her.
pickI had no idea what to expect on this one! But it was great, it had everything I love about adventure fiction! Reminded me of Treasure Island! Loved it!
pickTo quote one of my book group members, it was “a ripping good adventure!“ And it was. I kind of got bored during some of the fighting scenes, but I loved the parts on Mars.
July selection for the Orbital Book Group. Looking forward to it! More later. Edit: 7/8/19. Reading now. Enjoying, except for the Martian lingo thrown in. Usually, any fantasy that I have to stumble over pronouncing place and item names gets an auto-pass, but this is book group. Other than that though...
A little heavy on the imagination plan... but overall a good read 📖😋
pickI don't think he quite caught the Regency manners and diction but it was a great ripping yarn so I'll give it a pick
Starting this one. After two successive DNFs, I hope this one hits the spot.
#coffeeandabook
pickSpunky teen Jane Austen-ish heroine on a Hornblower-ish nautical adventure to the colony of Mars. Arabella grew up on Mars but her mother takes her to the unknown world of England/Earth—quickly she joins a ship headed back to Mars disguising herself as a boy valued for talent with automatons. Onboard she grows into a strong, smart gal. Predictable, yet surprising, this was a fun read. Stuck with me more than I expected it to—always a good sign!
so-soRead because it was nominated for the 2017 Locus FN award and my library had the audiobook.
Small child in training to be a Victorian lady goes off and has adventures in space instead. The SFF setting is a substitute for historical research and doesn't add much. Substitutes colonized aliens for colonized people.
Entertaining enough, but very shallow and formulaic. Missing five minutes or so every so often doesn't matter.
pickI‘ve always maintained that Disney‘s Treasure Planet is one of it‘s most underrated films. I love it & this book reminds me of it—with a little comedy of manners thrown in too. Born & raised on Mars, Arabella is banished to Earth where she is to learn how to be a proper lady. When she learns her family left on Mars is in trouble, she disguises herself as a boy & enlists on a company ship to make the trip home. A fun, light read full of adventure.
Has anyone read this? I'm looking for a quirky sci fi to read, and I'm wondering if this fits the bill. #sciencefiction #bravegirls
Ok yes, I am enjoying this delightfully frothy mashup of science fiction, Mars, early 19th c. England, manners, dastardly deeds, automata and more. It‘s a good way to end the weekend!
Random grab from my massive TBR pile—trying not to overthink it. I pulled this one out and had one of those, “I know I put it in the pile but I don‘t remember why—or where I found it,” moments. And then I read the back and decided, what did it matter? If the book is half as good as the description suggests it could be, I‘ll count that a win. So yeah, it‘s off to an 18th century plantation in a British colony on Mars for me.
pickI just accidentally read this in literally one hour and forty minutes. I enjoyed it a lot: a classic sort of adventure romp, and I am enormously relieved that though Arabella dresses as a boy in a fairly rough company, even when she is discovered there is no sexual assault anywhere to be found. I was almost braced for it, since I've found it almost a staple of the genre.
Forgetting your book at home is slightly less tragic when you work in a library, but only slightly. #weekendlibrarian
Space #30daysofreadathon
(Really just a chance to show off this sweet sweet solar system necklace that refuses to acknowledge that Pluto is no longer a planet)
This one came in from my library holds just in time! Riding out Hurricane Irma with a cup of coffee, a book described as "the delicious love child of Jane Austen, Patrick O'Brian, and Jules Verne," and some choo choos (of course; that's the only way to get a little reading time with a 2 year old ?)!
pickI'm a sucker for #steampunk and a good #seafaring adventure and this has both! Well, sort of, since the sea in question is outer space between Earth and Mars. It has the same feel, though, plus automatons, a smart, strong, scientifically-gifted girl rubbing up against Regency gender roles, and a galactic British Empire! If you like #Larklight then this is a book for you.
Another stack of spines - with a good variety of typefaces, #forfontssake!
#anditsaugust
Recent books bought containing a mix of mystery, fantasy, middle grade, and humor. Quite pleased with these.
#bookhaul #mystery #middlegrade
I got some lovely #bookmail today!! I can't wait to read them!! #springbreakbookexchange #buddyread
Outside reading, in Philadelphia, in February. Unnaturally unsettling, perhaps, but also awesome.
Lunch reading, today and yesterday. It's getting good, so I might have to take it home for the long weekend. During which I intend to do much, much reading.
pickLike if PERSUASION and the JOHN CARTER series had a baby that got Burroughs' plotting and Austen's characterization, humanism, and lack of grotesque racism/xenophobia. Slight, but fun.
Starting this today. Anyone else read it?
When I head into the city, my favourite place to visit is University Book Store. On the right is author David D. Levine, and on the left is Duane, the awesome UBS staff member who is an expert on sci-fi and fantasy, and is responsible for bringing in so many of the awesome authors I go to see! #getindie
This steampunky space adventure is the most recent addition to my collection of signed books! It was also quite a fun event. The author showed up in period costume, performed a rap about his book based on "Alexander Hamilton" and then led a sing-along to another song about his book. Most eventful! #signedSunday
pickExactly what it says on the tin: Regency space opera. Did not disappoint. Would recommend.
pickAirships, adventure, clockwork automata, space travel, and a girl who disguises herself as a boy in order to save her brother on Mars. What's not to love? This book felt like Jules Verne in space, and now I want more.
pickAirships, adventure, clockwork automata, space travel, and a girl who disguises herself as a boy in order to save her brother on Mars. What's not to love? This book felt like Jules Verne in space, and now I want more.
A local author! With such a great tagline: a Patrick O'Brian girl in a Jane #Austen world... Looking forward to reading this #steampunk #adventure!
pickOne of my most recent reads and one of my new favorites! This book feels like it has everything I want in a book. A girl disguising herself, steampunk, space pirates, diversity, and a beautiful cover 😍
