Too much of a bad thing

Is there anything you would change about this book?

First of all, the story had zero humor. I liked the core storyline, but the author spent far too much time on the whole love triangle, with zero humor between any of the characters. I am used to some of the other steampunk authors like Pip Ballantine, and Gail Carriger who add a lot of humor along with a good story. This book was like listening to a teen girl whining about two boys she liked. The book could have been great with about fifty percent of the love triangle junk removed, and some humor added.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I doubt I'll listen to the rest of the series, since it was just to drab and slow moving. As a man, I don't think I can listen to all the confused love triangle stuff either. I need to listen to one of the other steam punk authors to get back to sanity.

What does Angele Masters bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Angele is a great reader, which was one of the only reasons I continued to listen, since the story seemed to drag on and on throughout. Her change of voice for characters is good, and she keeps you hooked well enough to keep the play button going.

Did A Study in Silks inspire you to do anything?

Yes, make sure a book isn't mostly a love story, instead of an adventurous steam punk story I was expecting.

Any additional comments?

Don't bother if you are expecting a fun adventure with steam punk. The story just drags and drags, with zero humor, and far too much "oh I love him, or no i love that guy, oh wait I love this guy again." At the end of the story the main character ends up looking like a foolish girl, while the guys are all jerks.Now I don't mind a love triangle, but it seemed as though the book was saturated with confusing little girl thoughts of who she liked or disliked.

7 people found this helpful

well written steampunk with a real plot

Where does A Study in Silks rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Certainly not among the very best, but really worth a listen for steampunk fans. Holloway does lean on the world building of previous steampunk novels, which makes it useful to have read in the genre already. (She also includes a magical component to her world, which isn't the general rule.) Many steampunk novels so far are so taken up with the technology that the story itself is sometimes rather thin and often short. Holloway instead has a complex plot and real character development; there are real villains, but the heros/heroines are flawed and do evolve over the course of the book. Evelina Cooper, the heroine of the book is the niece of Sherlock Holmes, not a terribly original concept but which gave her a (fairly absent) mentor of a sort and a grounding in the times. She has a mixed background, raised in a circus family, but also the daughter of a society woman of good enough standing that she is able to be on the edges of the aristocracy. There are two romantic threads in the story, but they are not the focus of the story, and it is not at all a typical romance. There are two more books following up on this story line; the book itself is long enough that it doesn't feel like an arbitrary way to sell more books. A Study in Silks is truly finished, but I do want to read more about these characters. (Neither sequel is available in audio yet.)

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Study in Silks?

Pretty well the whole book; a few slow moments but mostly the book moved forward consistently quickly. A few repetitions in scenes that could have been helped by better editing.

Which character – as performed by Angele Masters – was your favorite?

She did well with all of them.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not really that kind of book. More of a thriller/adventure.

Any additional comments?

I'm giving this book 5 stars because I think it is a really good addition to the steampunk genre. I don't think it's a book that I will reread, at least not soon.a

6 people found this helpful

If you have 21 hours this is doable

For 21 hours of listening you have a love triangle in a Victorian setting. That means it is not a 50 shades of Grey romance. Her choice of a husband is a dichotomy of wealth vs pauper, titled aristocratic vs merchant class, genteel vs horse trainer.
For 21 hours you have 2 lovely young woman. Both intelligent and best friends. One very fragile with a high rank in society. The other dominate and strong will with the disadvantage of her mother who married for ... of course love and died living with her husband’s circus family.

For 21 hours you have both ladies who lives will change after having the Queen kiss their hand and taking a dance on the floor. God I wish it was a simple as that to choose a person to marry. While the ladies are in the mist of making a life choice there is the issue of a little murder. How unique is a murder of a house maid who is in the (sotto voce) family way and who could possibly be the father?

For 21 hours the best method to keep the niece of Sherlock Holmes too busy to solve a case is to try to besmirch her character.

For a steampunk novel there is not enough gadgetry. That is my main pet peeve. The most interesting ones are created by Evelina, the niece of Sherlock Holmes. As the niece of Sherlock she was conducting her detecting from a negative premises. She want to control the information so her friend’s family honor is upheld. You cannot be impartial that way!

I was disappointed with the portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. His is presented as a man who has no standing and can be blackmailed. A one point Holmes has agreed to think about taking a case. To help nudge Homles make that decision a man threaten Holmes’ family. Really? .

After 14 hours I did wonder when was all this going to be wrapped up. Then I was disappointed with a cliff hanger for one of the characters and what was so evil about the woman automaton. So not cool. I did buy the next book. I want to find out of the story of the dismissed suitor.

Oh for 21 hours, a woman hair will get mussed, gloves will get dirty, cloths will get purchased and the ladies do a little snooping.

5 people found this helpful

Too choppy

Would you try another book from Emma Jane Holloway and/or Angele Masters?

I don't think so. Something about the writing style and the voice of the narrator did not work for me, I suspect that both of these folks are off the docket for me.

1 person found this helpful

A Credit to the Steampunk Genre!

I have read a few books in the steampunk genre and have enjoyed most of them. This is DEFINITELY one of the best! It combines fantasy, mystery and fun! I can't wait to read the next two installments! Angele Masters does an excellent job bringing this fun story to life. Although it is a long story, I just couldn't get enough! Emma Jane Holloway is now a MUST READ for me!

2 people found this helpful

A well narrated and we'll written

A masterful combination of the mind of Sherlock Holmes, a younger narrative and a touch of magic.

Good listen

I enjoyed this book very much, enough to get the next in the series. The narrator was excellent I will be looking for more books she has done. At first so many characters where introduced I felt overwhelmed but everything smooths out and a good mystery takes over.

First time reader of this type of book

This book was fantastical and had a sense of reality all at the same time it was a great distraction from the every day stresses and a wonderful book to listen to during long commute I am surprised to say that I will look forward to reading more in this series

I give it 2 out of 5 Gears

Any additional comments?

Let me start with Angele Masters, whom has a lovely voice for Steampunk books told from a woman’s point of view. It seems very difficult for most narrators to imitate the opposite gender – though some narrators such as Simon Vance do it beautifully. In this case, Masters’ male characters sounded a little cartoonish but all in all, I enjoyed her narration.

Now for the writing: Emma Holloway is a fine writer with a lot of interesting ideas. I liked her form and her dialog felt fairly natural.

That being said, this book just didn’t grab me. The plot begins with the murder of a young female servant in a house where Sherlock Holmes’ niece happens to reside.

For starters, I am an epic Sherlock Holmes fan. I love the way that Doyle’s books are actually a time capsule to a very real time. I study these stories like a monk studies the Bible (no sacrilege intended). So with that said, I don’t think Holloway suffers from a similar obsession, as her Holmes character didn’t ring true to Doyle’s.

I don’t think I would spoil the plot to say, “Holmes gets shot.” The reason Holmes gets shot is because he shows his hand before he has solved the case. This fact alone is so uncharacteristic of the great detective, whom was often chastised for being so cagey throughout every investigation.

My point is that if an author is going to use such a well-known character in fiction, then the author should be intimately acquainted with the character.

However, that was more of a personal peeve than a plot failure. Just the same, the overall plot didn’t really grab my interest either. Most of the time the main character prattled on about this Victorian Cotillion that served as a generic backdrop. It wasn’t until 15-hours into the book that Holloway finally introduced a sinister automaton but then failed to develop the character (though I suspect the automaton will reappear in future books).

Finally, the most enjoyable part of this whole book was actually the teaser at the end for Holloway’s next book. In it, there is a battle between sky pirates that really peaked my interest. However, after a grueling 21hrs 38 min of A Study in Silks, I don’t think I will read anymore of Holloway’s books.

I give this book: 2 out of 5 gears.

Pure Fun!!!

Would you listen to A Study in Silks again? Why?

I thought this was going to be a simple read, but it really took me by surprise! Great story, great characters & I find I can't wait to read the next one!