The Inventor's Companion

Apr 08, 2013 ARe Cafe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bbb-picks

Ariel Tachna gave us the Partnership in Blood series and now has given us a new release, The Inventor’s Companion. I was blown away by this book. It was solidly written and had amazing characters. All of Tachna’s characters go through horrible ordeals or past experiences, yet instead of wallowing (or only for a bit) they rise up and become stronger, more honed, and therefore all the more beautiful. In Gabriel and Lucio’s world there are casts. You are born into them of course and these casts def...more Ariel Tachna gave us the Partnership in Blood series and now has given us a new release, The Inventor’s Companion. I was blown away by this book. It was solidly written and had amazing characters. All of Tachna’s characters go through horrible ordeals or past experiences, yet instead of wallowing (or only for a bit) they rise up and become stronger, more honed, and therefore all the more beautiful. In Gabriel and Lucio’s world there are casts. You are born into them of course and these casts define you as a being, as a human, and who you are. Gabriel belongs to the merchant class, which is middle in the totem pole. Lucio belongs to the companion class and is near the bottom of the cast system. The only difference is that these pleasure beings (glorified prostitutes really) can usually only be afforded to the upper class and rich. So in essence while Gabriel is higher, he would never be able to afford Lucio’s time. This is where Gabriel’s friends come in. For Gabriel’s birthday they buy a night with a companion. Lucio, who is interested in machines, decides even though it’s lower pay than he’s worth to accept the bid and become this Merchant’s companion for the evening.

This is where both of their lives change forever. Lucio is someone who is used on a daily basis; Gabriel has strong moral values and only has dinner with his Companion. Both feel a connection they can’t stop thinking about, but there is no future for them. This was a long, intricate, political novel. Yes there were bedroom scenes, some great and fantastic, others had me cringing in sympathy, but the plot was the main driving factor of the story. In fact the romance is slow going compared to a lot of romance/erotic books. Tachna has this way of pushing her characters together quickly, then allowing their relationship to develop at its own pace. Lucio and Gabriel are no exception. The curve balls Tachna also throws the readers throughout the story are sometimes unexpectedly good, and other times have the readers wondering what else could go wrong. The ending was there, perhaps for some, but others have loose ends that I’m hoping will be explored and tied up in a sequel. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants intrigue, plot and steam. Enjoy!

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Feb 28, 2013 Charly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Interesting steampunk society and a sweet romance

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 8/10

PROS:
- This author knows how to tell a good story. She creates well-rounded characters and intriguing settings (this one is steampunk), and whenever she sets you up for something by hinting that some action or another is dangerous or inevitable, she doesn’t let you down by failing to follow through on plot points.
- I like that there are no games or hidden agendas b...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Lyndi Lamont rated it 5 of 5 stars

Gabriel Blackstone’s world is divided quite clearly into castes: everyone knows their place and abides by it. As an inventor in the merchant caste, his life is predictable in its routine until the night his best friends and assistants, Caleb and Andrew, purchase the time—and body—of a companion for his birthday. As an activist in the Caste Equality movement, everything Gabriel believes in tells him to refuse the gift, but then he meets Lucio. The beautiful and alluring companion is far more than...more

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Dec 31, 2011 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotic, bdsm, multiple-partners, steampunk, voyeurism, m-m, science-fiction-fantasy

Originally posted at: http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...

“I cannot change what they do to my body, but I will never kiss anyone but you.” A kiss was all that Lucio could give Gabriel to show his love.

This book went a long way in derailing my thoughts and feelings when I first started reading mainly because I had no idea where I was as far as time and space was concerned. Steampunk is brand new to this reviewer and it took a few chapters to realize the story took place in the Victorian era w...more Originally posted at: http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...

“I cannot change what they do to my body, but I will never kiss anyone but you.” A kiss was all that Lucio could give Gabriel to show his love.

This book went a long way in derailing my thoughts and feelings when I first started reading mainly because I had no idea where I was as far as time and space was concerned. Steampunk is brand new to this reviewer and it took a few chapters to realize the story took place in the Victorian era with steambased inventions that put me in mind of Artemus Gordon in Wild, Wild West, inventions like mechanical coaches, fans, and other items that would not be found in the time period. I must admit I had a ball seeing how the author incorporated steam machines into the plot.

My heart went out to Lucio, who was a companion for those in a world where the mark on their hand determined their casts in life. His occupation for lack of a better word was “pleasure partner” and he has no say in what the higher class does to him, but he has wants and dreams beyond his pretty face and sex. Gabriel Blackstone from the merchant caste is given a birthday gift that he will never forget when his friends pay for a night with Lucio. However, no sex and honest conversation leads to a lasting impression on both of them and sparks desires for more than the hand life has dealt them.

The combination of their heart and chemistry left this reader hanging on and hoping for a happy ever after. I will admit that there were times in the plot that I was upset and felt that Lucio and the companions he knew were being degraded. Ms. Tachna’s writing is so vivid I couldn’t help but hurt for the painful and heart-wrenching experiences they sometimes faced.

The cruelty and torture the pleasure class endured was particularly hard to take when Lucio confesses to Cressida, another companion, how Gabriel was different and told her that “for an evening, I got to be me. Me. Not the polished, practiced companion everyone sees, but me.” This sentiment brought tears to my eyes. It was romantic and heartbreaking watching Gabriel deal with irrational jealousy because of Lucio’s fate in life.

Ms. Tachna added a lot of twists and turns in the plot. I found it was easy to become spellbound and enchanted by the two main characters. The storyline itself flowed well and did not drag or bog down which made for an enjoyable, albeit anger-filled story emotionally. Personally I enjoyed the book a lot but there were times when the subject matter of torture and rape were a little more graphic then what I am use to reading. However, it fit well into the story and only added to pulling me into this decadent lifestyle. If you’ve been considering picking up a steampunk book and love a story that grabs both your heart and mind, The Inventor’s Companion is a good place to start.

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Aug 14, 2011 Emilie rated it 5 of 5 stars

(From the review printed in Steampunk Chronicle) Candy is dandy but steampunk is quicker-

There’s seldom call to start a review with the word “SQUEE!!!,” especially as a (former) professional broadcast journalist, but sometimes one gets a little peanut butter into her neighbor’s chocolate – and a delectable creation is born. I love a good Steampunk tale, and I love me some M/M (NO, not the candy that melts in your mouth, not in your hand. If you don’t know – perhaps you shouldn’t look it up. One...more (From the review printed in Steampunk Chronicle) Candy is dandy but steampunk is quicker-

There’s seldom call to start a review with the word “SQUEE!!!,” especially as a (former) professional broadcast journalist, but sometimes one gets a little peanut butter into her neighbor’s chocolate – and a delectable creation is born. I love a good Steampunk tale, and I love me some M/M (NO, not the candy that melts in your mouth, not in your hand. If you don’t know – perhaps you shouldn’t look it up. One can’t unlearn things sometimes, no matter how hard you try). So here goes: Squee!!! Finally, a good gay Steampunk romance novel.
The Inventor’s Companion, the fifth romance novel by Ariel Tachna, follows inventor Gabriel Blackburn as he encounters his first Companion, an expensive plaything from the lowest rung of the city’s social hierarchy – the Pleasure Cast. Gabriel, an active member of the Cast Equality movement, vows to take no pleasure in the companion, Lucio, who was hired for an evening by the inventor’s employees as a birthday gift for the boss. Lucio, fascinated by a “guest” who is interested in him as a person and not as the human equivalent of a toilet, falls quickly in love with the handsome inventor. The obstacles that the two must overcome to have a relationship are large and multifaceted, and the emotions bubble forth powerfully. (Let’s be honest – the sex is WAY HOT.) So, full marks in the M/M column of this sweet recipe.
Unlike the many so-called Steampunk romances, which simply take a standard bodice-ripper and glue on a few cogs whilst two airships pass in the night, Tachna guides the story to a place that showcases the versatility of the genre; she takes the moralities and social conventions of a Victorian-esque Era and subverts them, challenging social issues that still foul our better angels today. Specifically, she examines the fettering mindsets of a forced cast system. All of the inhabitants in Gabriel’s world – short of the Aristocrats – are tattooed at birth with a symbol which locks them into their cast. The back of Gabriel’s hand bears the balance scales of the merchant class, whereas Lucio’s inked fan marks him as little more than a slave to his handlers, or if he’s lucky, as the sole companion of an Aristocrat who purchases his contract. The rights of the haves overshadow the abuses to the have-nots. The outward glamour of the Companion’s lives, with fine clothes that please the eyes of Aristocrats and polished manners, hides the dehumanization and abuse that each of them suffer. Gabriel’s interest in Lucio as a man opens the companion’s eyes to what love and respect ought to be, making his lot in life both better and worse. Furthermore, the tale goes deeper than just Lucio and Gabriel, as the decisions that each make to love the other send ripples into the lives of friends and acquaintances in casts both above and below them. Really, a well developed and completely satisfying Steampunk story. (And the sex grows all the more hot for it. Did I mention my urge to yell “Squee!!!!?”)
If you are not an M/M reader, I would caution you to what you are getting into. It’s not PG-13 in any sense, and a few moments are more than R-rated. But for Steampunk fans that like this branch of romance, I say this is your lucky day. Feel free to act like a kid in a candy store. I look forward to finding more Steampunk romance like The Inventor’s Companion.
More about Ariel Tachna’s novels, include All for One, Checkmate, A Summer Place , The Matelot, and The Inventor’s Companion, can be found at DreamSpinnerPress.com.
Reviewer Emilie P. Bush is the author of two Steampunk novels: Chenda and the Airship Brofman (a 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Semi-finalist) and The Gospel According to Verdu, both available at your favorite on-line book retailer, on Kindle, and in all other digital formats from Smashwords.com (worldwide distribution). (less)

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Aug 16, 2011 Augusta Li rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is my favorite of Ariel's books so far. The main characters were so well done that I cared about them and their struggles almost from the first page. The supporting characters were also deep and multi-faceted, each of them engaging in his or her own right. The world building is solid, and I enjoyed the exploration of an industrialized society that adhered to a caste system, particularly in how the privileged justified the system. Each person in this world, aside from the aristocracy, is bra...more This is my favorite of Ariel's books so far. The main characters were so well done that I cared about them and their struggles almost from the first page. The supporting characters were also deep and multi-faceted, each of them engaging in his or her own right. The world building is solid, and I enjoyed the exploration of an industrialized society that adhered to a caste system, particularly in how the privileged justified the system. Each person in this world, aside from the aristocracy, is branded with a tattoo announcing his or her caste. The system is very rigid, with no way for a person to change his or her assigned role. Gabriel belongs to the merchant class as an inventor struggling to make ends meet, while Lucio is a member of the lowest class, the pleasure caste. Lucio is called a companion, but in reality he's closer to a slave. I can't say how much I appreciate that Ariel doesn't sugar-coat the details of his life. His work is brutal, dangerous and degrading. Some of the things that happen to Lucio are not for the squeamish, but they are necessary to understand the reality of his life and limited freedom. These details are given as a way to make the reader understand the man he's become and his motivations and fears, and not as an excuse for kinky, non-consensual scenes, another refreshing change.

Too often in m/m romance, I find an overdone amount of angst before the characters decide to begin a relationship, with each of them pining away for the other while wondering if the attraction is mutual. In this case, every ounce of angst and pining is justified, and the characters' pain and doubt rang very true to me. Of course Lucio is cynical after the life he's been forced to lead, and so of course he wonders if the kindness and respect he receives from Gabriel is genuine. One the other hand, Gabriel is no fool and knows Lucio has been highly trained to tell a client exactly what he wants to hear, so he has no choice but to doubt Lucio's sincerity in the beginning. Lucio is also expensive, and poor merchant Gabriel can rarely afford to spend time with him. After the relationship begins, Gabriel naturally struggles with Lucio's work, and who wouldn't? Still, these men are literally willing to risk everything for even a small chance to be together, and I cheered them on the entire time, even when it seemed the most hopeless.

Lastly, I'd like to say how much I appreciate Ariel putting the "punk" back in steampunk. This isn't just a romance that happens to take place in a quasi-Victorian setting with a lot of clockwork around. The societal context is just as important as the technology. In the tradition of all really good steampunk, the story wouldn't have worked in another setting, because the conflict arose organically from the world the characters inhabit. These characters see the injustice around them, and they're willing to fight to protect the people they care about and in some cases, just to fight for anyone less fortunate than themselves.

I love to see characters fighting the system. It's as essential to steampunk as the clockwork.(less)

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Sep 16, 2012 Gyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars! Overall I thought this was a realy good story and a must read for anyone looking for some mm steampunk. I thought the author did a great job of building the world. I enjoyed the horseless carriages and the mechanical dog. The addition of the caste system was also a good twist, making this story unique.

My biggest complaint would be the MCs were a little too quick to fall in love and then too much time was spent declaring all their love while not really seeing it become corporeal. The...more

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May 04, 2011 Top 2 Bottom Reviews Interviews and More rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Although this is not the first of Ariel Tachna’s books we’ve featured here on our site, this is the first time I’ve had the personal pleasure of reading one of her offerings. Now I question what has taken me so long to climb onboard the bandwagon!

The Inventor’s Companion is an imaginative story told in an alternate history/steampunk universe where clockwork machines and steam driven engines rule. Gabriel Blackstone is our inventor—a member of the merchant caste in a society that caters to the Ha...more Although this is not the first of Ariel Tachna’s books we’ve featured here on our site, this is the first time I’ve had the personal pleasure of reading one of her offerings. Now I question what has taken me so long to climb onboard the bandwagon!

The Inventor’s Companion is an imaginative story told in an alternate history/steampunk universe where clockwork machines and steam driven engines rule. Gabriel Blackstone is our inventor—a member of the merchant caste in a society that caters to the Haves and dismisses the Have Nots, marking, labeling and classifying people based on the circumstances of their birth, prohibiting them from ever elevating their status in life. Those members of the lower castes are at best discounted by the aristocracy and at worst debased, treated as less than human—more like property to be used on a whim, without regard for things such as free will and respect.

Lucio is a companion, a member of the lowest of the lower castes. Companions are, in essence, slaves living lives of sexual servitude to anyone with enough coin (meaning the aristocracy, in general) to purchase their time and talents. In their roles, the companions are in complete submission to the wills and urges of the man or woman who purchases their services, indifferent to the concept of moral obligation and basic compassion. Companions are used and bred like dogs; their pedigree and worth to their handlers determining their value in procreation.

As it is with humankind, however, where there may not be freedom of choice, the status quo cannot hinder freedom of thought. And where there is freedom of thought, there is progress. Where there is progress, there is action, and this story is about just that—the thoughts and actions of a group who refuse to accept the unacceptable and who would fight to change it.

Gabriel and Lucio are brought together by chance and fall in love under the unlikeliest and most difficult of circumstances. Their story is one which communicates the belief that love can overcome all, for with that guiding motivation, the world can and will change for the better. Theirs is a romance that is quite touching and deeply sentimental. It is gentle and, though they do face their share of difficulties from outside sources and extenuating circumstances, the reader is never given reason to worry that the two men and the bond they share will not endure the trials they face.

As there were some plot threads that have been left untied, specifically with regards to Lucio and his best friend, Cressida—a situation which resulted in a significant event for Lucio, Gabriel, and for Cressida herself—as well as in the brewing changes of the social and political climate, I’m hoping it means we’ll be seeing a sequel to The Inventor’s Companion at some point in the future. It couldn’t come too soon for this steampunk fan.

Reviewed By: Lisa(less)

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Jan 29, 2012 Silverius rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: steampunk, victorianesque, gay-romance, glbtq

Discovering a gay steampunk romance elicited a squeal of glee, not unlike that of one plagued by Bieber fever - however that affliction is much more grave. Who could have thought a combination of such marvelous things could exist between the pages of one book. After several recommendations, I immediately ordered this novel, eagerly awaiting its arrival. However, this book ultimately disappointed me.

As I said, It was glorious finding a novel compiling a gay romance AND steampunk elements. It's ni...more Discovering a gay steampunk romance elicited a squeal of glee, not unlike that of one plagued by Bieber fever - however that affliction is much more grave. Who could have thought a combination of such marvelous things could exist between the pages of one book. After several recommendations, I immediately ordered this novel, eagerly awaiting its arrival. However, this book ultimately disappointed me.

As I said, It was glorious finding a novel compiling a gay romance AND steampunk elements. It's nice to know someone took the time to craft a novel from two considerably obscure genres to the preponderance of the general public.

Tachna's world was well-configured. One could tell she took the time to craft a world where iniquity and inequality were acceptable without becoming entirely preposterous. The disparity between the castes was fascinating, but I would have liked to learn more about the political climate and any other castes that might exist. I am dubious to believe that the world could function properly with only for or five castes. The steampunnk elements of the novel were discreetly and elegantly dotted throughout, enabling anyone to read the novel without causing difficulty comprehending the world, an imperilment many steampunk novels have for first-time readers to the genre. However, some of the contraptions were moderately anachronistic, including the fan, and I had a hellaciously arduous time imagining Gabriel's flying chair.

Generally, all the characters were enjoyable. Gabriel, noble and stalwart to the end, is a character many men and women will pine over. In the beginning, I must confess, I found him slightly aggravating and too good to be true, always telling Lucio he mustn't do things Lucio truly wanted to do. Gabriel, though wanting Lucio to feel as equal as any other person, was often the cause of strife between the couple. When Lucio wanted a kiss, Gabriel refused for fear it might not be by Lucio's volition. Often, I found myself saying, "Just kiss him already, damn it! He wants it as badly as you do!" Lucio's character was much more believable to me. Callous and aloof from many years of indentured sexual service to repulsive aristocrats, he slowly allows himself to accept that Gabriel loves him for who he is and wants him as his lover. I could easily imagine this young boy hardening himself to the world, only to have this impeccable facade melt away during intimate times with Gabriel. All of the supporting characters including Cressida, Caleb, Andrew, and even Lord Stuart in the end, were unique and enjoyable as people. Cressida in particular caught my eye, a combination of elegance, wit and audacity that warmed my heart to the woman.

What truly disappointed me about this story - and do not misconstrue my meaning by this- is how shallow it was. It reminded me of many YA novels where two people fall magically and inexplicably in love but just cannot be together due to reasons beyond their control. There was no major conflict other than the fact that Gabriel and Lucio could not be together. In reality, their economical status and the political injustice were the only things keeping them apart. The story was lacking an antagonist, even though I thought Lady Merydith might fill that part for a time, to keep them separated. Perhaps if there had been just one sinister villain, the story would have compelled me to a greater degree. Don't get me wrong, many times I found myself "awing" over something that Gabriel and Lucio shared, and the explicit sex scenes were steamy and sensual, but were just not enough to meet my criteria.

There have been rumors of a second installment, featuring Cressida in a more prominent role, but considering I continuously found myself seeing how many pages remained until I was finished, I likely won't be searching for a sequel.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a sweet, romantic and angsty story about two gay men vying for their liberties and each others' affection, without much of a concrete plotline. I am quite happy, however, to find an author intrepid enough to undertake such a creative story. (less)

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Sep 25, 2011 Deja Dei rated it 4 of 5 stars

Pretty good romance story with interesting characters, though I had a few problems along the way. The world is well built if a little generic Victorian England. However, the people living here can't escape the assigned roles tattooed on their hands. Gabriel is designated an inventor, and Lucio is a companion, which is basically a sex slave who has to service any one he's sent to. His life is horrible, and it made me angry and upset to see what Lucio had to go through while other people dismissed...more Pretty good romance story with interesting characters, though I had a few problems along the way. The world is well built if a little generic Victorian England. However, the people living here can't escape the assigned roles tattooed on their hands. Gabriel is designated an inventor, and Lucio is a companion, which is basically a sex slave who has to service any one he's sent to. His life is horrible, and it made me angry and upset to see what Lucio had to go through while other people dismissed it.

There's an instant connection between Lucio and Gabriel, because Gabriel treats Lucio like a human being and Gabriel sees more to Lucio than a prostitute. Gabriel is completely against Lucio's profession, but he tries to accept it. The men go through a lot to try to be together. Lucio really suffers because of his profession. There are good supporting characters who try to aid the couple, and some real villains too. It's a beautiful love story, and I felt that these two characters would go to any length to be together. I felt for them because they had to wait so long and go through so much.

The writing dragged a little at times. There was so much of Gabriel and Lucio's thoughts and worries shown, and sometimes it was repetitive, that after a while I kind of skimmed over the passages where they were thinking about each other. I skimmed the sex scenes, which were alot, toward the end too. At first, they contributed to the character development, because Lucio had to learn to see sex outside of work, and to get to experience pleasure instead of just giving pleasure to others. But after a while they were just going at it for no apparent reason, other than that they liked it and wanted to. I don't have a problem with that. It just didn't hold my interest towards the end. I enjoyed the book and the characters, but I would have prefered a little faster pacing. The final dangerous thing they needed to do came off a little too easily, but I was glad to see it. Sorry to be vague, I don't want to spoil anything. It is a good story.

There are het scenes and bad torture, though off-camera, the character is seriously injured. Everything bad is handled with tact, so it should be ok for most everybody. Lucio's life is just not good, and it needs explaining.(less)

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Jun 06, 2011 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just couldn't see how the author was going to tie everything up in the number of pages she had left. I was halfway through the book and scared to death. It builds so seamlessly and Lucio is so tortured and Gabriel so long-suffering and they love each other so much and it was killing me that they couldn't be together! The humiliation Lucio suffers that is contrasted so heart-breakingly with the love and tenderness that Gabriel shows him got me teary. So I wanted the happy-ever-after in neon lig...more

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Jun 02, 2011 Cleon Lee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: comfort-read, m-m, tearjerker

This is her first book I've read and certainly won't be the last. The romance building is sweet and touching, no sex at first meeting, although they did fall in love at first meeting. But the way it's handled, we can see why they fall for each other and how deep their connection is. So sweet, touching, and sad at some time.

It is a very realistic view of a society which allows slavery, (although the society doesn't outright says it is a slavery). It is certainly not a slavery as titillation story...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Jacqueline rated it 3 of 5 stars

OUCH! Angst... A bittersweet love story . Three stars for a sweet ending ; )

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Apr 16, 2011 Wyndslash rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, steampunk, 2011-reading-challenge

4.75 stars

I can't say enough how much I enjoyed this book. It was romantic, passionate, and clearly a feel-good book as most of the major conflicts were addressed after the facts. I would like to see a sequel, just to see how the author would treat the other slightly loose ends in the book, but it clearly can be a stand alone, and the reader left to presume about the rest.

The visual formatting of the book is also very nice, however there are very few typos that don't affect the enjoyment but doe...more

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Nov 18, 2012 LG (A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 3-star, m-m, steampunk, read-2011, historical, format-ebook, acquired-bought-new

After reading the book's official description and excerpt, I think I expected Lucio to be something like Inara from the TV show Firefly: elegant, cultured, and relatively in control of his life. Maybe he didn't always like his clients, but he could choose to leave behind and never see again any client who really crossed the line.

Yeah, not so much. Over and over, readers were shown how awful Lucio's life really was under its pretty, cushy surface. As long as they were offered enough money, Lucio'...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Karel rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: nomance

Terrible.

The two main characters make me feel like I'm reading about two women instead of men, with the amount of lovesick sighing around. To believe that they're in love at all requires a suspension of disbelief in itself. They fell in love at first sight, practically at chapter one, and have absolutely no reason to do so. Lucio at least have a weak excuse to be in love. Nobody's ever treated him like a human being before except Gabriel. Gabriel's excuse is that Lucio is hot and likes his machi...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Cris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, romance, steampunk

When I write reviews, I like to start with the words I say to myself when I finish the book. In this case, it was "Oh, that was sweet!". This was a cute tale of an inventor in an AU regency England who falls in love with a companion, i.e. prostitute. The world is such that everyone is assigned a caste and has that level tattooed on their hands. The companions are similar to Whedonverse Firefly companions in that they are beautiful, well-educated, and live in luxurious surroundings. They are diff...more

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Sep 26, 2011 Trix rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: abuse, angst, bi-sexual, mm-novels

I liked this story!

The background of the story was similar to 19th Century England, the only difference being the tattoos that were forced on certain casts. I liked the idea and would have enjoyed a more in-depth analysis of it, not just having to read time and time again how the characters wanted the system changed.

Lucio and Gabriel made an interesting couple. And while I could understand Lucio's immediate reaction to Gabriel's behavior, I wasn't sure what exactly had interested Gabriel in Luci...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Nikki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: steampunk, lgbt, romance

I went up and down on whether I liked The Inventor's Companion for the first 50% of it. I like the setting, and the fact that it's a serious exploration of a caste system, rather than something done purely for titillation. I quickly got to love Gabriel for being a decent guy, though perhaps too good to be true. I got very fond of the supporting characters -- there was a lot of attention given to developing all the characters, which has been somewhat lacking in some of the other LGBT books I've r...more

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Dec 26, 2011 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: steampunk, rainbow-gay, glbt, romance

3.5 stars.

The world building was awesome and it's clear the author thought of it thoroughly. The society is organized in a caste system, which is almost unchangeable. People carry tattoos on their hands stating their caste, only the aristocrats have no tattoo. In the society there is unrest and a few people are trying to make people understand the injustice of that system.

Gabriel Blackstone is an inventor and he belongs to the merchant chaste. Lucio is a companion and his station in society is v...more 3.5 stars.

The world building was awesome and it's clear the author thought of it thoroughly. The society is organized in a caste system, which is almost unchangeable. People carry tattoos on their hands stating their caste, only the aristocrats have no tattoo. In the society there is unrest and a few people are trying to make people understand the injustice of that system.

Gabriel Blackstone is an inventor and he belongs to the merchant chaste. Lucio is a companion and his station in society is very close to that of a slave: he can't buy his freedom, but he lives in luxury and can use gold and trinkets to buy things for himself. Lucio is given for a night to Gabriel as a birthday present, but Gabriel, who is a member of the Caste Equality movement, can't bring himself to use Lucio for sex, he wants to treat him as a person and give him the dignity of a free man. Lucio is a young man with a passion for machines and it's a common ground and an excuse for the two men to meet again after their first encounter.

I liked to see how Gabriel's profession and Lucio's passion complemented to influence Gabriel's inventions. Lucio, with his knowledge of the aristocrats' way of thinking, makes Gabriel see his machines under a different light and prompts him to improve them to appeal to the highest chaste. Again, it's a sign of how much thought the author has given to the setting.

My problem was that sometimes it seemed the author answered questions which might arise directly on the page. As a reader I don't need to know all the hows and whys of a secret meeting, it's clear the people involved have thought of the details, I don't want to know that the basement has only one entrance and the hansom is hidden from sight, etc. etc. with the characters informing each other about these details. In my opinion it makes the reading a bit exhausting. I think one third of the book was made of these detailed plans. Instead of making the characters talk line after line about it, a paragraph with a sketch of the situation would have sufficed in my opinion.

The love story was very sweet and cute, the hurdles the protagonists had to go over to be together were all handled and tied up in the end, there were many interesting secondary characters. Sometimes the characters were too emotional in my opinion, but even if there were many things working against the main couple, the drama was not too angsty. I appreciated that the unpleasantness of Lucio's profession was not underestimated. The worst part of it happened off page, but both Gabriel and Lucio discuss about the way it could affect their relationship, especially Gabriel has to accept that his lover has sex with people he is bound to meet because of his own job as inventor.

I'll certainly read something else by this author.(less)

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Aug 22, 2012 C.C. Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wonderful read! This was my first outing with Ariel Tachna, and I was not disappointed.

I was drawn to this book for the steampunk elements and found the world building to be quite believable with no over-stretched science. The main characters were well-developed and engaging with interesting secondaries along the way. The story moved along nicely with a couple of rounded out sub-plots.

All in all a delightful piece which I definitely recommend!

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Jul 23, 2012 Elci rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bingo-challenge, steampunk, au, rent-boy

It was AU, and steampunk-ish. I loved Gabriel (the inventor), he was quiet and somewhat shy, but participated in political protests to abolish or at least change the caste system which was very unfair. Lucio was the companion (escort). He was born into this caste and like Gabriel he had a tattoo on his hand to show this. Anyway, they meet and like each other because Gabriel treats him like a person and not a sexual object (gasp!). This is the story of how they get together (in this society that...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Antonella rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked the steampunk aspect and the worldbuilding. I didn't like the general sappiness (I admit my level of tolerance is low), the fact that it was 510 PDF-pages -> the story would have been better if shorter and tigher written, the lack of flaws in both MC and their recurrent chick-with-dick behaviour, the simplistic plot.

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Apr 26, 2011 kasjo_peja rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, alternative-universe, historical-romance, hustlers

Solid, satisfying read. I enjoyed the steampunk reality, multiple characters' plot and a strong main couple that actually communicated(!) and worked on their fears and misconceptions. There was nothing really wrong with the book, it just didn't sweep me off my feet.
It gets 4.5 out of 5 points in my book.

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Apr 09, 2011 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, steampunk, romance, m-m

Really enjoyed this, thought the characters were fabulous. Would love to read a sequel about them settling into their lives now that everything's happened. And there IS much that could lead on from the end of this, though if a sequel doesn't appear there'll be nothing much that feels unfinished. I'd love to read more.

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Sep 03, 2012 Eden Myles rated it 4 of 5 stars

A beautiful, touching romance with an edge of bittersweetness to it. Love the concept, the world, even the inventions. The couple, Gabriel and Lucio, are both sweet and hot. If I have any gripe with the book it's that I felt it was slightly overworded and the sex slipped into the saccharine territory a little. But those are minor complaints. Highly recommended!

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Jun 19, 2012 Rosina Scott rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book and was captivated by Gabriel and Lucio's story from the moment i picked it up. I finished it in a matter of days as i foung it hard to put down.

I really hope that this isn't the last we will see of these two and the wonderful world that they live in.

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Jun 23, 2011 Meggie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Now, this was truly interesting plotted book. All emotions were well written and felt. I liked how everything developed till the end and how this story ended. Nothing can be perfect at the end, but then it never is. HIGHLY recommended story!!

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Sep 17, 2011 Eon Beaumont rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a delightful read. Ariel's characters are fantastically easy to relate to, even the secondary characters, Gabriel's assistants for instance. The technical bits were believable but not overly done and the story moved along. As a writer myself, I admire the way Ariel took the emphasis off the nit-picky historical details by making the characters so completely engaging. This is definitely a book I would recommend to others.

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Oct 07, 2011 Allie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Loved the story and all the characters. Look forward to reading the Cressida sequel. Wonder if it will involve two certain Inventor's assistants...

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title link	preview: The Inventor's Companion
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