Book Review: Beetle Shiny, Beetle Blue
Beetle Shiny, Beetle Blue: An Evin Brack Adventure by M. J. Nofsinger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve been reading Steampunk novels ever since the genre arrived. Over the years, steampunk authors have had a tendency to evolve towards writing in a hybrid genre – such as mysteries with a steampunk setting, or romance with plenty of corsets. There’s more of a ‘steampunk twist’ added to what otherwise is a traditional, mainstream genre.
And then there’s Beetle Shiny, Beetle Blue, which right from the get-go pulled me back in time to the golden age of steampunk. The gears aren’t just glued on, they are grinding away, turning the plot machinery in fine form.
Evin Brack, a student of natural history is setting off on his first expedition, and he’s beyond excited to be heading off to far-flung places to collect exotic beetles. He’ll be traveling by train – and that train counts as a fully formed steampunk character in its own right, as far as I’m concerned. It’s a train with a surprise in store!
In fact, everything and everyone in this rollicking, nail biting adventure has been carefully crafted by the thoughtful author. The characters are well conceived, and the gadgetry wonderfully thought out. It’s great fun, really, and if you consider yourself a fan of steampunk you owe it to yourself to come along and meet the beetles. (I apologize. I tried not to write that but I simply couldn’t resist.)
I’m hoping for a sequel, as I’d love to spend more time getting to know the people of this world and exploring more of its countryside.
Lori Alden Holuta
Lori Alden Holuta lives between the cornfields of Mid-Michigan, where she grows vegetables and herbs when she’s not writing, editing, or playing games with a cat named Chives.
