The Dragon Men by Steven Harper

Title: The Dragon Men (Clockwork Empire #3)

Author: Steven Harper

Publisher: Roc 2012

Genre: Steampunk

Pages: 365

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Steampunk; TBR Pile

How I Got It: Library Loan

Gavin Ennock has everything a man could desire—except time. As the clockwork plague consumes his body and mind, it drives him increasingly mad and fractures his relationship with his fiancée, Alice, Lady Michaels. Their only hope is that the Dragon Men of China can cure him.

But a power-mad general has seized the Chinese throne in a determined offensive to conquer Asia, Britain—indeed, the entire world. He has closed the country’s borders to all foreigners. The former ruling dynasty, however, is scheming to return the rightful heir to power. Their designs will draw Gavin and Alice down a treacherous path strewn with intrigue and power struggles. One wrong step will seal Gavin’s fate…and determine the future of the world.

Love this series!  It's just so much fun!  Love the steampunk inventions. Love the action sequences.  Love the romance.  Love the general adventure.  This volume sends us to China and in the midst of a power struggle.  Cixi is such a fun character.  She added another fun layer to this adventure story. I warn readers that the main story arc ends with this volume, but the series seems to go on to a fourth book.  I wonder what it will be about? Even though Alice and Gavin's story seems to be ending, I'll pick up the next volume.  Steven Harper writes such great adventure stories; he's on my must-read list.

Clockwork Empire

• 1. The Doomsday Vault
• 2. The Impossible Cube
• 3. The Dragon Men
• 4. The Havoc Machine

The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper

Title: The Impossible Cube (Clockwork Empire #2)

Author: Steven Harper

Publisher: ROC 2012

Genre: Steampunk

Pages: 380

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Steampunk; New Authors; Library Loan; Bingo - 5 from series

How I Got It: Library loan

Once, Gavin Ennock sailed the skies on airships and enchanted listeners with his fiddle music. Now, the clockwork plague consumes his intellect, enabling him to conceive and construct scientific wonders—while driving him quite mad. Distressed by her beloved’s unfortunate condition, Alice Michaels sought a cure rumored to be inside the Doomsday Vault—and brought the wrath of the British Empire down on them.

Declared enemies of the Crown, Alice and Gavin have little choice but to flee to China in search of a cure. Accompanying them is Dr. Clef, a mad genius driven to find the greatest and most destructive force the world has ever seen: The Impossible Cube. If Dr. Clef gets his hands on it, the entire universe will face extinction.

And Gavin holds the key to its recreation…

Fun fun!  I am really loving these quick action adventure reads.  I am extra excited that this series is all steampunky goodness.  Harper has the right mix of character and action to make me keep reading.  The characters are intriguing.  I especially loved the addition of Feng and Dodd to this volume.  Harper's characters expand and grow, but they still retain their core of being.  I loved continuing to follow Alice and Gavin (with Dr. Clef, Click, and Kemp) on their journey to China to bring about the end of the Clockwork Plague and a cure for Gavin.  Plus, we get great stopovers in Luxembourg, Berlin, and Kiev. The encounter with the Gontas and Zalzinaks was fabulous.  I can't wait to see what happens in the next volume.

Clockwork Empire

1. The Doomsday Vault
2. The Impossible Cube
3. The Dragon Men
4. The Havoc Machine

The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper

Title: The Doomsday Vault (Clockwork Empire #1)

Author: Steven Harper

Publisher: ROC 2011

Genre: Steampunk

Pages: 391

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Steampunk; Library; Eclectic -- Action Adventure; 52 Weeks -- W12

How I Got It: Library loan

In a clockwork Brittania, Alice's prospects are slim. At 22, her age and her unladylike interest in automatons have sealed her fate as an undesirable marriage prospect. But a devastating plague sends Alice off in a direction beyond the pale-towards a clandestine organization, mad inventors, life-altering secrets, and into the arms of an intrepid fiddle-playing airship pilot.

I picked this up on a whim at the library.  It looked interesting.  And it was amazing!  I loved it!  Cross the Gail Carriger Parasol Protectorate series with George Mann's The Affinity Bridge.  I loved the twists and turns.  The action never stops...  And the characters are too much fun.  Alice has such spunk and life!  Gavin is the perfect hero.  I couldn't wait to see these two get together.  Of course, it had to be difficult and fraught with other complications.  The side characters round out the whole story.  I can't wait to see where this series goes.

Clockwork Empire

1. The Doomsday Vault
2. The Impossible Cube
3. The Dragon Men
4. The Havoc Machine