Yes, this yet another book review. I confess to reading more than writing of late – so this is all I have to contribute. At least it is a short read.

Bronze Gods is classed under steampunk – bet you never saw that one coming – and is blessed by its complete lack of zombies! However, steampunk naturally pairs with magic/paranormal in some fashion or another (this could be due to my habit of perusing the SciFi section in book stores) and this is no exception. In this case the husband and wife writing team of A.A. Aguirre selected the fey. I have read a few good things and a few really terrible things involving the fey. This one ranks on the good side.

As I sit here organizing my thoughts I am suddenly struck by how blasé I am regarding the book. It was good. It was enjoyable. Yet, I am not filled with passion. I didn’t love it. I was not consumed by the world depicted in the pages. Why?

The world was good. It was different, a setting that was not London or some version of. In fact, it seemed that they were setting the story in a world completely original – that was until they made a few references to the vikings. Suddenly Hy Breasil is another dimension connected to our world and reality. I found such a small detail strangely disappointing.

While Hy Breasil was filled with clockwork creations it felt largely modern in design and function – well, near recent. There were a few things, the description of clothing and the structure of society that maintained a link to more historic periods. Over all, the development of technologies and their implementations in the world gave it a more current feel.

The characters, the two lead detectives were interesting and fun – and yet. Mikani and Ritsuko had been partners for three years prior to our introduction to them. In all that time they seemed to have communicated almost nothing about themselves to their partner. It was strange the way they worked well together, yet felt as though this was their first case as a team. In three years, Ritsuko never asked Mikani about his family? It is not until the reader joins this duo that they commence discussions about their personal lives. No doubt many will rave about the chemistry between the two characters – and most days I would too. Except it seems conveniently sudden and largely unprofessional. As stated, they have been working together for three years already.

However, the biggest reason I would say this book is good but not great relates to the ending. Yes they catch the bad guy (and yes, I called it well before the end), but the last page clearly states this was only a minor boss. The big boss has not yet been revelled – please level up before proceeding to the next dungeon. Sigh. Why could this not be a single, self-contained plot? One of a series of cases that are not directly related to each other? Or at the very least don’t appear connected to begin with.

There are a few things I am still uncertain about in the story itself. Can you call them plot holes when the main characters point out that inconsistances implicate a different master mind? One occurs when the suspicious man demands the list from a mob boss – how did he know about the list of names? Second, how did no one notice the old House family did not die off as otherwise believed?

I fear any sequels will drift to the magical and illogical. I foresee this series rapidly entering the circus of stupid. Either I am correct in identifying Miss Wright’s father as the master manipulator and everything is blindinly obvious. Or the authors will attempt to suprise and astound us with cunning misdirection that ultimately ruins the flow of the story.

In summary, a good first book – not a great one – and beware of the sequel. It is apt to be dumb.