The Lazarus Machine (Tweed & Nightingale Adventures, #1) by Paul Crilley

Jun 17, 2013 Diayll rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: pyr-publishing

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating 4 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Publisher
Reviewer: AimeeKay

The Lazarus Machine is a very interesting Steampunk mystery.

Overall the book was filled with fun and excitement, as well as mystery. It drew me in and definitely had some parts I didn’t see coming.

I liked the world that Crilley has built. I think it is a great set up for future novels. Not only more about the main characters, Tweed and Nightingale, but for other characters that were...more

like · see review

Apr 26, 2013 LJ rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Paul Crilley’s The Lazarus Machine has it all: an awkward boy genius, a plucky unconventional heroine, and a plot full of danger, steam powered technology, and that irresistible Victorian England setting that’s a part of all steampunk stories. It even has not one, but two evil villains intent on ruling the world. And yet, it just doesn’t add up to the thrilling page turner it ought to be. Why? Because there just isn’t any sizzle between the two main characters. Without this, all the rest becomes...more Paul Crilley’s The Lazarus Machine has it all: an awkward boy genius, a plucky unconventional heroine, and a plot full of danger, steam powered technology, and that irresistible Victorian England setting that’s a part of all steampunk stories. It even has not one, but two evil villains intent on ruling the world. And yet, it just doesn’t add up to the thrilling page turner it ought to be. Why? Because there just isn’t any sizzle between the two main characters. Without this, all the rest becomes tiresome; a place revisited many times in other works with better written characters.

Sebastian Tweed is the main character. The story begins as Sebastian and his father prepare to conduct a séance. This is how they make their living. Sebastian’s father Barnaby Tweed is a fake medium who takes advantage of the bereaved by tricking them into believing they can talk to their dear departed. Sebastian assists his father, hidden in a steam-powered coach, viewing the events through the eyes of a mechanical spider sent in ahead of time. This particular séance starts to go south when the brother of the “mark” becomes argumentative and aggressive, wanting the proceedings stopped and the police called in to arrest the fraudulent medium. Sebastian deduces that part of the reason is because the brother wanted the dead wife to be his and she would not leave her spouse. Sebastian feeds his father the words to accuse the spurned brother and enlighten the mark. This is the first time we get a taste of Sebastian’s brilliant ability to deduce things from his observations, much like Sherlock Holmes. This bit becomes important to the story’s set-up because in the end we find out that Sebastian and Holmes’ connection is very intimate. Sebastian contains the soul of Holmes in the body of simulacra, a simulated body grown for this express purpose. The conclusion of the conflict between the two brothers at the séance gets interrupted when several masked characters appear after an explosion and kidnap Barnaby Tweed. The masked characters are assumed to be Moriarty and his gang. Moriarty and Holmes in this novel have died in their final confrontation, drowned after falling into the Reichenbach falls, which if you’ve read the Conan Doyle stories, is where Holmes did supposedly die. (Conan Doyle brought Holmes back in subsequent stories.)

Octavia Nightingale is the heroine. We meet her as she is preparing to go out and meet Sebastian, known to her only as someone interested in finding out more about Moriarty’s gang. She has been investigating them for about a year, going by the code name, “Songbird” and following tips given to her by nefarious characters. She wants to find out what happened to her mother who was also trailing this gang and disappeared. Octavia does have a father, but as with most stories featuring underage main characters, her parent is quickly dealt with. He is so distraught by the disappearance of his wife that he buries himself in work and doesn’t pay much attention to Octavia. He is really a “non-character” whose sole purpose it to provide young Octavia with a believable home. (As a young woman in this society, she would not be on her own, no matter how independently minded she was.) When Octavia and Tweed meet they don’t get much of a chance to discuss things. They have been found out by Moriarty’s gang and have to get away, amidst lots of action and firing of “Tesla guns” and other electrically charged weaponry.

There are two other minor characters, Jenny and Carter who help Olivia and Tweed in their pursuit of Moriarty’s gang. They are lovable thieves, totally devoted to each other. Jenny is a kind of surrogate mother to Tweed. Octavia doesn’t like the fact that they are thieves. She’s somewhat of a prig throughout the bulk of the story, objecting to a third supportive character, “Stepp Reckoner” who is a hacker and helps them to break into the ministry later in the story.

The relationship between Octavia and Sebastian is supposed to be playful bantering with a touch of romantic tension. It ends up being anything but that, to the point of painfulness. A scene where Octavia and Sebastian exchange insults is meant to establish their growing fondness but ends up being extremely awkward and seems out-of-place. Was it just meant to allow the writer to be able to include such fun-sounding insults as “dollymop,” and “flap dragon?” Their relationship just doesn’t seem natural. Octavia comes off as a superior-sounding snob throughout almost the whole story, and since they never solve the mystery of what happened to her mother (saving this for the next installment perhaps?) the point of including her at all isn’t clear.

The ending is full of excitement and “oh no, he didn’t” revelations that make it worth pursuing the book to its conclusion. Tweed discovers that his “father” (remember, Tweed is actually a kind of clone meant to house the soul of the dead Sherlock Holmes) is actually a “Mesmer” with real clairvoyant powers that were put to evil purposes by the ministry. Moriarty turns out to be another Sherlock Holmes with a 2nd or 3rd generation soul put into a defective body. This Holmes proves to be the ultimate evil villain, taking an insane pathway to thwart the original evil villain’s plot to kill Queen Victoria, and claim that the Russians did it, starting a war between the two powers. There’s plenty of interesting steampunk technology to fill the unsatisfactory void created by the non-romance between Tweed and Octavia. The Lazarus Machine of the title is a device that can duplicate souls and thereby create an army of simulacrums. Unfortunately, just as we are caught up with the action, it abruptly stops and threads are quickly tied up in an Epilogue section.

Typos are something that just happens in many a novel and I usually ignore them, but in the epilogue, there’s a sentence where there are disapproving “stairs” instead of “stares.” Since it comes at the end of the book, it’s quite noticeable. If you really want to read a steampunkesque series that has well-developed characters and plenty of action, may I recommend Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan trilogy. It has a male and female main character whose storylines are equally compelling. It’s well worth the three book effort and you will be richly rewarded.
(less)

like · see review

Dec 27, 2012 Paul rated it 2 of 5 stars

The rating system says that 2 stars is "ok". That's pretty accurate, in my opinion. I was really intrigued at first. Mechanical spiders, steam carriages, and automatons powered by trapped souls (I thought it odd how few people in Victorian England had a problem with using human souls as batteries. But whatever.) thrown at you right out of the starting gate.

After these things are introduced, there is little to no establishment on how this history differed from our timeline except that in has "Ba...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 14, 2012 Suzanne Dix rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi, ya-high-school, mystery-thriller, steampunk

Seventeen year old Sebastian Tweed witnesses the incredible abduction of his father by Professor James Moriarty...who supposedly died along with Sherlock Holmes when they fell over Reichenbach Falls. Such begins the mad adventure to save Tweed's father, understand how it is that Moriarty lives and what his evil plans are for the near future. Tweed and his father are friends to those with London underworld connections and in asking for help to find his father, Tweed is introduced to Octavia Night...more

like · see review

Nov 25, 2012 Justin rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Lazarus Machine has joined the ranks of some of the really awesome Steampunk books that I have enjoyed. As you can probably tell be the rating I didn't quite enjoy it as much as others I have read, but that isn't to say that it's not an awesome book. Because if there is one great thing I can say about this book is that Paul was able to create this amazing alternate world in which he wrote this pretty incredible story to go along with it. My only major complaint is that it gets a little overw...more The Lazarus Machine has joined the ranks of some of the really awesome Steampunk books that I have enjoyed. As you can probably tell be the rating I didn't quite enjoy it as much as others I have read, but that isn't to say that it's not an awesome book. Because if there is one great thing I can say about this book is that Paul was able to create this amazing alternate world in which he wrote this pretty incredible story to go along with it. My only major complaint is that it gets a little overwhelming sometimes. I love fast pace books, but sometimes it is good to have a little breather when you got so much to process as the story goes on.

The story itself as I mentioned above is incredible. One of the richest Steampunk stories I have read, period. I love that Paul writes it in a way that makes you think you're starting to figure out some of the things that are going on and then a chapter or so later you're left scratching your head again. And trust me, there is a lot of crazy stuff going on in this book. I love that it takes place in an alternate version of 1895 Britain, I love that time period as it is so it's interesting to see the crazy changes that Paul has made to the world and that time period an awesome new place to experience.

The characters were just as impressive and compelling as the story was Sebastian and Octavia were easily the characters that stood out the most, not only because of the fact that they are the "Main" characters in the book. But because it is so easy to become attached to them. As you read the story you find that they share something in common and they end up needing each other more than they previously thought. And from there things just continue to get crazier and crazier.

Overall it's a pretty interesting story with a really great and complex concept that I found to be quite enjoyable. As I mentioned at the start of the review, my only complaint that it seemed like things were a little rushed at times. But I ended up being pleased with the book, and how everything played out. I will be reading the rest of this series, without a doubt.

If you enjoy Steampunk, then I highly suggest picking this book up. I am still fairly new to this genre. But I feel like this is a great book that fans of the genre will be able to enjoy. Even if you aren't really familiar with the genre, it would be a good starter. It is a little on the heavier side as far as content, but I think you would be able to adjust to it all pretty easily.(less)

like · see review

Nov 19, 2012 Candace (Lovey Dovey Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

London in 1895, filled with steam and Tesla powered technology, never seemed so believable until Paul Crilley's Lazarus Machine. The first Tweed & Nightingale Adventure is everything one would expect from a science-fiction mystery: intriguing, speckled with humor, and riddled with danger for its endearing detective duo. Sebastian Tweed and Octavia Nigtingale are a force to reckon with and though they come from different backgrounds, their chemistry is undeniable and fun to see come to realiz...more London in 1895, filled with steam and Tesla powered technology, never seemed so believable until Paul Crilley's Lazarus Machine. The first Tweed & Nightingale Adventure is everything one would expect from a science-fiction mystery: intriguing, speckled with humor, and riddled with danger for its endearing detective duo. Sebastian Tweed and Octavia Nigtingale are a force to reckon with and though they come from different backgrounds, their chemistry is undeniable and fun to see come to realization.

Seventeen year old Tweed's father, a conman, is kidnapped in the middle of their latest job. The biggest suprise for Tweed is not that his father is taken, but that he's taken by a most feared criminal, Professor Moriarty. Moriarty was last heard of when he fell from Reichenbach Falls with the famous detective Sherlock Holmes, but he left behind a reputation for being a murderous criminal mastermind. On the posh side of town, Octavia, also known as Songbird, restlessly searches for her mother, who has been missing for a year. She focuses on finding out any and all information related to Moriarty which inevitably leads her to intersect paths with Tweed. Tweed and Songbird meld almost seamlessly into this evenly matched partnership to search for their missing parents. Their friendly bantering is natural and will make readers feel at home in their world. Tweed's mind is conditioned for deductive reasoning and compliments Songbird's knack for research and creating distractions.They make the most dangerous of tasks feel like exciting adventures as they delve deeper into what reveals itself to be a plot against the Crown, organized by the most powerful government agency - the Ministry.

Usually when I think of steampunk, my first thought is: limited technology. Novels like The Lazarus Machine prove that a story set in a steam era doesn't always reflect a primitive lifestyle. Octavia admires the renowned Ada Lovelace, who's work with Charles Babbage is held in high esteem. Tesla towers are scattered all througout London powering computers and buildings. Crilley's most unique contribution to the steam era, though, is the streamline automata powered by human souls. The mechanics involved with the automata is out of this world and definitely not something I've read before. The ingenious creations don't stop there and as the story builds in action and discovery, the inventions become more ethically challanging and original.

Crilley's fresh take on an alternate era will keep readers furiously flipping the pages and never knowing what's around the corner. The story progresses at just the right pace to keep you in the dark while cleverly developing in mystery. The direction of The Lazarus Machine is truly surprising and I love it's unexpected plot twists. I went from just enjoying the story to becoming entirely invested in its outcome and what's next for Tweed and Nightingale. The Lazarus Machine is the beginning of an exciting and adventurous series that will rock your perception of mystery and steampunk!

*Copy of book provided via publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Also posted on Lovey Dovey Books (less)

like · see review

Mar 07, 2013 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Love these types of books. Adventure and unexpected discoveries that leave you wanting more...

The plot of the book starts off great. Tweed goes around the country conning people. They pretend they can speak with dead. Right off the bat, their relationship is strange. It's not your normal father/son relationship but rather a friendship. It's odd to see how they regard each other and that;s why I'm so intrigued. Why are they like this in the first place? What is the father hiding?

Of course, my sus...more

like · see review

Dec 05, 2012 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fantasy, steam-punk

I really liked this book and it really hit my mood spot on. I was specifically looking for something light, quick, and not too emotional or intense, and this just fit perfectly. I'm going to try and break this down...

The characters:
Sebastian Tweed: con man with a conscience, master of deduction and reason, and socially awkward around girls his own age (since he has never actually met one before)
Octavia "Songbird" Nightingale: Determined to find her missing mother, feminist, intelligent, not afra...more I really liked this book and it really hit my mood spot on. I was specifically looking for something light, quick, and not too emotional or intense, and this just fit perfectly. I'm going to try and break this down...

The characters:
Sebastian Tweed: con man with a conscience, master of deduction and reason, and socially awkward around girls his own age (since he has never actually met one before)
Octavia "Songbird" Nightingale: Determined to find her missing mother, feminist, intelligent, not afraid to pull out and shoot a stun gun when endangered (my kind of girl!)

The chemistry:
These guys were so cute together and they complemented each other so well! Tweed thinks with his head and Octavia lets her gut feeling lead her. They really bring out the best in each other and learn from each other. They had such witty banter, and were just beginning to enjoy each others company. They looked out for each other and made a great team. I hope somewhere down the line they start to like like each other, because that would just be adorable <3

The world:
Guys, this steampunk is the real deal. We've got Tesla powered everything, massive computers, steam carriages, and AUTOMATONS. and let me tell you, these are no run of the mill automatons...oh no, they are powered by HUMAN SOULS! WHATTTTTTT? A little creepy I know but it a totally cool kinda way. Like the firemen automatons were powered by souls from former firemen! Just thinking about it gives me the heeby-jeebies. And yea, this is all set in Vitorian era England, which is just about my favorite kind :)

The mystery:
Intriguing and unpredictable. I don't want to give anything away, but the blurb was right about the whole Sherlock Holmes connection (though I have to admit I didn't have much prior knowledge outside of the Robert Downey Jr movies). I got more of a Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys feel, but that might be attributed to the youth factor (and those were the mysteries I got into as a kid)

The writing:
Smart, a bit dry, fast paced, not bogged down by extraneous information, chuckle inducing, and exciting.

I am really looking forward to more Tweed and Nightingale adventures!(less)

1 like · like · see review

Apr 22, 2013 Gena rated it 3 of 5 stars

I LOVE steampunk and this book had a lot more steampunk elements than most, so that's good. I even liked the two main characters a lot - Tweed is a young boy who goes on a mission to find his abducted father and Nightingale is a young woman who is looking for info on her mother who has been missing for a year. Together, with a small gang of helpers, they infiltrate high levels of British government and discover what's behind the rash of abductions.

Good plot, and it moves nicely - there were a f...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 20, 2012 Glen rated it 3 of 5 stars

I seem to be developing a taste for these Holmesian Steampunk style stories. Not really sure why, considering I generally hate the time period in question. That said, this is a nice little tale setting up a world for future amusing stories. The characters mesh well together, although there's not as much depth to them as I'd like. The author more than makes up for that with witty/snarky banter. Sometimes it can be a bit difficult to continue believing these characters exist in the time-period the...more

like · see review

Dec 25, 2012 Spacklefritz rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: steampunk lovers

Shelves: young-adult, steampunk

3.5 stars

Well this was a fun read, not exactly a light read, but definitely a fun read indeed.

I've never read any of Mr. Crilley's books before, but the world that he created in The Lazarus Machine is very rich, and if you're looking for a steampunk book that definitely shows the steampunkness (not a word I know) then this book is good bet. You can see the use of these unique machines in everyday life. There are also some models which have a certain "feature" which ties up into the story.

The pl...more

like · see review

Apr 22, 2013 Christa (More Than Just Magic) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, genre-steampunk, part-of-a-series, sent-for-review, publisher-pyr-prometheus

This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic

First off -Huge thanks to Brenna (Esther’s Ever After) without whom I would have never heard of this fabulous book.

To sum it up in one sentence it’s BBC-esque Sherlock meets steampunk with a dash of Doctor Who. I didn’t believe it until I read it but that is the most accurate description I can think off. So then knowing my love of all three of those things it should be no surprise that I adored The Lazarus Machine.

Since this is a steampunk nov...more This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic

First off -Huge thanks to Brenna (Esther’s Ever After) without whom I would have never heard of this fabulous book.

To sum it up in one sentence it’s BBC-esque Sherlock meets steampunk with a dash of Doctor Who. I didn’t believe it until I read it but that is the most accurate description I can think off. So then knowing my love of all three of those things it should be no surprise that I adored The Lazarus Machine.

Since this is a steampunk novel, I think it is only right I talk about that element first. I really liked the way Paul Crilley used steampunk technology. He took real inventions with actual historical figures (like Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage) which is always fun to read about and shows me that you’ve done your homework. But then he took it to the next level with computers, security systems and sonic guns that all spawned from that original tech. So this is not just surface steampunk with a few clockwork powered machines and zeppelin thrown in. This is a richly imagined, beautifully detailed, alternate world that I think fans of the genre will really appreciate.

But it’s not just the atmosphere that makes The Lazarus Machine worth reading. It’s that it’s filled to the brim with awesome characters. Starting with our leads - Sebastian and Octavia (Tweed and Nightingale respectively). They’re both such strong, independent personalities but they worked really well together as a team. Yay teamwork! They’re partnership was one built out of respect for one another and they played off each other’s strengths to achieve what they thought was the best possible outcome. There were simmerings of romantic interest but the story didn’t go there – focusing instead on the more important matters at hand. I wish more male-female partnerships could be like this. Not just in YA novels. But all novels.

I love an author who doesn’t neglect their secondary characters. There’s nothing more disappointing when the rest of the cast feels flat and one dimensional. But Paul Crilley has crafted an extraordinary cast of secondary characters. I was just invested in what happened to them as I was Sebastian and Octavia. Carter and Jenny – the professional thieves, who love each other more than anything – and Barnaby - Sebastian’s con man father, with some secrets of his own – are a few that really stood out for me. They all felt well-developed and were fun to read about even if they didn’t get the same “page time” as Sebastian and Octavia.

My one criticism of The Lazarus Machine is that I would have liked a little more Sherlock Holmes and Moriarity stuff. Whether it was more detail into their presence, or more actual interaction with the characters because they are repeatedly referenced and make an important cameo. It seems a shame to introduce these two famous and brilliant characters and then not make full use of them.

Recommendation: Great for fans of Steampunk, Sherlock Holmes and the BBC. Also for those looking for a YA with a male-female pairing that doesn’t devolve into insta love or a love triangle.(less)

like · see review

Mar 12, 2013 Megan (Book Brats) rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review will probably be shorter than my average, and for a very succinct reason – it was ultimately forgettable in a sea of books with similar plots. THE LAZARUS MACHINE was a book that took me almost two months to read, continuously relegated to the bottom of my reading pile after picking it up, reading a few pages, and then returning it to the stack to be forgotten after a number of steampunk fantasies that stood out more, some for great reasons, some for horrible ones.

In the end, when a...more This review will probably be shorter than my average, and for a very succinct reason – it was ultimately forgettable in a sea of books with similar plots. THE LAZARUS MACHINE was a book that took me almost two months to read, continuously relegated to the bottom of my reading pile after picking it up, reading a few pages, and then returning it to the stack to be forgotten after a number of steampunk fantasies that stood out more, some for great reasons, some for horrible ones.

In the end, when a book does not separate itself from the middling levels of the genre, for good or bad reasons, it becomes a book that you quickly forget and move on from. In the case of THE LAZARUS MACHINE, the end product is good, but against the competition of an overcrowded steampunk genre the past year in young adult fiction, it doesn’t stand out.

NOT STANDING OUT IN THE STEAMPUNK SEA

As you might be able to tell already, the main problem with THE LAZARUS MACHINE is a book that you read and a few days later after finishing, you’re left scratching your head. Did I actually read that book? What was it about? Something about Sherlock Holmes, right?

As it turns out, THE LAZARUS MACHINE follows teenage inventor and detective Tweed on his mission to recover his father after he is kidnapped by the dastardly Moriarty. He is assisted in his quest by Octavia, aka Nightingale, a girl on her own mission to find her journalist mother, also kidnapped by Moriarty. Moriarty has assembled scientists, psychics, paranormal power possessors, and politicians to create a machine to bring back the dead. At least I think that’s what went down.

I would have loved if this story had done more to stand out. The plot had a different twist, but once inside the pages, something about the story became tedious and overdone. Nothing about it stood out from the crowd, and it was such a frowny moment for me.

WELL-WRITTEN, STRONG HEROINE

On paper, THE LAZARUS MACHINE has the makings of an epic steampunk story. Unlike comparable books like THE FRIDAY SOCIETY, THE LAZARUS MACHINE truly is steampunk with a lore all of its own. The writing is very good, with its own interesting narrative that puts it above the majority of the YA pack. And Octavia was one of my favorite heroines I’ve read in the past few months. She is sassy, intelligent, and doesn’t take shishkabobs from anyone. Likewise, our hero Tweed was definitely one of the better boy main characters I’ve seen in a long time.

And the action! Once it was on, the action was ON.

I don’t know where this one went wrong with me! I really don’t. It might not come across in this review, but this one was solidly meh. It took me almost two months to finish, and after reading about 10 pages, I’d put it down for a week. There was just nothing within the pages that hooked me until more than halfway through the book. I just wish that there had been something more to keep me hooked, to keep me interested. In the end, I don’t remember THE LAZARUS MACHINE, and I probably won’t be reading the sequel. It just was not the book for me.

VERDICT: Although the writing is good and the characters great, THE LAZARUS MACHINE is ultimately forgettable in the steampunk sea.(less)

like · see review

Jun 12, 2013 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, steampunk, young-adult

I picked up this book in the young adult section on a whim because the cover looked interesting. Also I vaguely remembered it being on my to-read list for awhile. I needed a distraction book to read whilst in the middle of reading a huge adult nonfiction book, as I still want to read it but needed a mental break before I completely lost interest in it. I will say that this book actually helped me wanting to start it again because of the material.

The book is set in Victorian England but an alter...more I picked up this book in the young adult section on a whim because the cover looked interesting. Also I vaguely remembered it being on my to-read list for awhile. I needed a distraction book to read whilst in the middle of reading a huge adult nonfiction book, as I still want to read it but needed a mental break before I completely lost interest in it. I will say that this book actually helped me wanting to start it again because of the material.

The book is set in Victorian England but an alternate history where Tesla towers power electricity, automatons are servants and there are steam-powered coaches. Sebastian Tweed and his father Barnaby scam rich people by claiming to contact their dead relatives. Only one night, things go terribly wrong and Barnaby is captured by none other than the dreaded Professor Moriarty, back from the dead. While Sebastian, who goes by Tweed, is searching for his father, he finds a partner. Octavia's mother is a journalist who was investigating Professor Moriarty and was abducted three months before. Octavia, nicknamed Songbird, has been looking for her ever since. Will Tweed and Songbird ever find their parents? Just who is behind the missing disappearances? To find out, read this exciting introduction to the Tweed and Nightingale Adventures! Recommended for ages 12+, 4 stars.

***Spoilers***
Overall I loved the story, though the end was more than I could have dreamed up (very original and a great plot twist). The only thing I didn't like about the book was the master villain. All the royal families in Europe were linked to Great Britain in some way, and Victoria was the grandmother of pretty much everyone, including Wilhelm II of Germany and Nicholas II of Russia. I could imagine Wilhelm being the enemy as he never could decide if he liked or hated Great Britain, but not Nicholas II. From what I've read, he didn't like being Tsar, wasn't all that power hungry (except for keeping the autocracy going) and pretty much the only person he really disliked was dealing with was Wilhelm. And that is pretty much the reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars. (less)

like · see review

Jun 03, 2013 Kaitlyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

When I saw this book on Goodreads, everything about it screamed, "Read me!" From the Doctor Who-ish cover (gas masks and overcoats, anyone?) to the awesome premise (an alternate London with steampunk machinery in 1895) this book sounded like my dream come true. Not to mention the awesome references to Sherlock Holmes! But in the end, while this was definitely a good book, it simply wasn't great.

As much as I love steampunk novels, I hate it when the machinery is confusing and difficult to underst...more When I saw this book on Goodreads, everything about it screamed, "Read me!" From the Doctor Who-ish cover (gas masks and overcoats, anyone?) to the awesome premise (an alternate London with steampunk machinery in 1895) this book sounded like my dream come true. Not to mention the awesome references to Sherlock Holmes! But in the end, while this was definitely a good book, it simply wasn't great.

As much as I love steampunk novels, I hate it when the machinery is confusing and difficult to understand. Perhaps other readers didn't have this problem, but I sometimes had trouble trying to understand the descriptions and imagine what was happening. Also, I could've used some more clear backstory, rather than the jumbled explanations that were thrown into the story.

I had a bit of a problem with the writing style, too. It just didn't pull me in right away, and seemed bogged down with too many descriptions. It took a while for me to really get into the story. I'd have preferred more of the witty dialogue, which I greatly enjoyed, rather than the long rambling paragraphs. And sadly, I saw a plot twist at the end coming. It was rather obvious to me from the very beginning.

Aside from these problems, however, The Lazarus Machine is very fun. I love how quirky the main character Tweed is. He's kind of like a mash-up of Sherlock and the Doctor - he's both clever and curious, and very socially awkward, which I loved. The other narrator, Octavia, was spunky and funny, and the rest of the minor characters added charm to the story.

And the dialogue - hilarious! I loved the sarcastic banter going back and forth between Tweed and Octavia. Again, this was very reminiscent of TV shows like Sherlock and Doctor Who. I chuckled
numerous times while reading it.

So while I loved the characters and witty dialogue, I found the pacing to be slow and the descriptions a bit confusing at times. The Lazarus Machine isn't for everyone, but I would recommend giving it a try if you like BBC shows or historical steampunk novels.

Check out this review and more on my blog:
http://dragongirl28.blogspot.com/2013...(less)

like · see review

May 14, 2013 Kimberly Souza rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own

“The Lazarus machine” by, Paul Crilley

It’s 1895 in a steampunk London. Sebastian Tweed and Octavia Nightingale have grown up in very different circles but when Sebastian’s father and Octavia’s mother are kidnapped the teen’s worlds collide. Professor Moriarty is loose in the city and he has a group of masked thugs at his disposal. Knowing they can only count on themselves, Tweed and Nightingale team up to find their lost parents and put a stop Moriarty’s nefarious plans.

“The Lazarus machine” is...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 27, 2012 Dayla rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, adventure, creepy, death, experiments, family, fun-read, just-plain-cool, murder, mystery, politics, powerful-women, promising-series, sassy, science-fiction, society, surprising, suspense, thrilling, tough-chicks, young-adult, steampunk, london, arc

Article first published as Book Review: The Lazarus Machine: A Tweed and Nightingale Adventure by Paul Crilley on Blogcritics.

Review also appeared on my blog: Book Addict 24-7

I received a copy for review

Paul Crilley’s The Lazarus Machine: A Tweed and Nightingale Adventure is a young adult steampunk novel that toys with the morbid topic of death. Crilley’s story is a great introduction to the world of steam engines, curious detectives, and wondrous mysteries. Crilley wastes no time in getting the...more

like · see review

Mar 05, 2013 Brenna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, pyr, arc, review-copies

The Lazarus Machine is being hailed as “Doctor Who” meets “Sherlock” – and being the newfound BBC addict I am, I JUMPED at reading this one. I had these ideas that it would be full of a steampunk setting, with some historical fiction feel to it, little bit of sci fi, and just enough mystery to leave me guessing. Doesn’t that sound awesome?!

And while I began reading it and found it a bit slow at first, by the latter half of the book I knew I’d found another winner. The Lazarus Machine completely...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 06, 2012 Courtney rated it 4 of 5 stars

While The Lazarus Machine was not perfect it was a fun read. The characters made me giggle and there were plenty of plot twists to keep me entertained. The inventions were unique and brought a few points I kept thinking about long after I put the book down. I’m sad that I’m going to have to wait another year for the sequel. If you like steampunk you should definitely pick this book up!

Literary Escapism

1 like · like · see review

Mar 07, 2013 Sami rated it 3 of 5 stars

It's rare I say this, but I think this book would have made a much better SyFy show than it does as a book.
No real complaints, but also no real depth, it plays on the current 'new' trend of steampunk books with nothing that particularly stands out at me as unique or fresh.
This lands on my pile of what I call "candy books", ones that you like well enough when you need a book, but don't really expect too much out of.

Verdict: nice enough. If you have a plane to catch or a long trip to wait out,...more

like · see review

Feb 27, 2013 Josephine rated it 3 of 5 stars

The author does an excellent job describing the Victorian steampunk world of Tweed and Nightingale, but refrains from describing scenes or technology unnecessarily. The dialogue feels natural and does not get too caught up with excessive jargon.

It might just be the steampunk genre, but the cast of characters felt a little formulaic. The plucky and feisty female lead, dressed and determined to thumb her nose at society’s expectations; the noble and heroic male, with some dark secret or past; and...more

like · see review

May 20, 2013 Literary Princess rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, crime, steampunk, adrenaline, jargon-colloquialisms-dialects, plot-driven, mystery, international, teens

Almost totally clean, except for cloning and some killing. Strong male and female characters.

Good fun for fans of Sherlock Holmes (especially of the second movie and the new bbc series). Smart mystery. Creative alternate history and world-building.

Technology a bit hard to follow sometimes, but not bad. Definitely for slightly advanced readers.

like · see review

Jan 18, 2013 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-or-review-copy, historical, pyr, coming-of-age, read-in-2012, steampunk

There’s a lot here to like. Crilley establishes himself as a good author with a flair for world building and character development. That being said, the world itself could have used a bit more historical background, and the unfortunate cookie-cutter bad guy dragged the plot down into a predictable pit that it could have easily avoided. All in all, The Lazarus Machine is a good effort that will delight many readers, while leaving others, like myself, feeling a little disappointed.

Read my full re...more

like · see review

May 18, 2013 Anne Barwell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: library, ya

I really enjoyed this story, and the characters, and it makes me happy that this is the first in a new series. Interesting plot with a good sized amount of action and some fun banter between the two leads - one of my favourite kinds of stories. I enjoyed the AU setting steampunk Victorian London and there's a nice twist in the story.

like · see review

Dec 07, 2012 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Oh steam punk..how I love you. Especially when you are this much fun! Crilley's dialogue between tweed and nightingale had me smiling and laughing out loud at times. A good mystery/adventure with steam punk thrown in makes the ride all the better.

like · see review

Dec 09, 2012 Emmcee Roy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had to suspend my disbelief pretty strongly at some points, but still, this was a great read.
I wish this book had been out when I was younger. It's basically everything that 14 year old me would have wanted in a book.

like · see review

Feb 12, 2013 Sara Richards rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Nov 18, 2012 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I picked this book up in the mood for something fun, set in a historical setting and with lively characters. This is exactly what I got. This is the story of Sebastian Tweed and Octavia Nightingale, young adults who cross paths as they search for their kidnapped father and mother, respectively. Together, using logic, cunning, and spirit, they hunt down the devious villains and try to save the entire British Empire from certain disaster.

Read the rest of the review at Starmetal Oak Reviews.

Review...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 27, 2012 Shazzt added it

Shelves: ya, sf

An enjoyable steampunk romp that sometimes felt it was trying too hard to cram in as many elements of the genre as possible. I liked it enough to want to read more.

like · see review

Jan 28, 2013 Ticklish Owl rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction, steampunk, historical-fiction, ebook, young-adult

If you liked this book, you might also enjoy The Golden Compass, The Nine Pound Hammer, Leviathan or The Iron Thorn.

like · see review

title link	preview: The Lazarus Machine
avg rating	preview: The Lazarus Machine Goodreads rating: 3.76 (131 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15738313-the-lazarus-machine?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1341546389l/15738313.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15738313-the-lazarus-machine?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Lazarus Machine by Paul Crilley[/url]

The Lazarus Machine (Tweed & Nightingale Adventures #1)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (2)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Paul Crilley

Books by Paul Crilley

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About The Lazarus Machine