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Wings of Equity

by Sean Kennedy (Goodreads Author)

3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 · rating details · 126 ratings · 22 reviews

The truth is that those who make a difference usually get martyred. What good are you dead?

Ezra Kneebone is most at home in the skies, piloting his airship with his best friend Jazz, even if it doesn’t quite pay the bills or warm Ezra’s empty bed. Those same skies are also the territory of a man known as Icarus, who uses his metal wings to steal from the rich and feed the...more

Paperback, 262 pages

Published July 2nd 2010 by Dreamspinner Press

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Mar 12, 2013 Thomaidha Papa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, favorites, m-m, steampunk

4.5 Hearts

Review written for MM Good Book Reviews

http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/

As you walk through that road you call life you get to do many things and meet many people. They are all around you and it’s a never-ending sea of experiences. Some of those are rare and their memories hold onto you for a long time. Such is the “love in first sight” where you experience a surreal feeling that is almost instinctual. As such is the case I fell in love with Sean Kennedy’s writing from the very f...more 4.5 Hearts

Review written for MM Good Book Reviews

http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/

As you walk through that road you call life you get to do many things and meet many people. They are all around you and it’s a never-ending sea of experiences. Some of those are rare and their memories hold onto you for a long time. Such is the “love in first sight” where you experience a surreal feeling that is almost instinctual. As such is the case I fell in love with Sean Kennedy’s writing from the very first lines of the very first book I read. I had no doubt that Wings of Equity, though quite different a genre from the other books, would bring me very satisfactory emotions in the end. What I didn’t expect was the rollercoaster I experienced that had me laughing, excited, giggling, gasping, terrified, near tears, exasperated and many, many more. One thing is certain; I lost track of time and space, found myself living the book and feeling every emotion the author wanted as if I was a character in this story and not an outside reader. For me this is what makes a bloody good story.

Now this story might remind you that of Robin Hood since the antagonist is an outlaw, coming from a wealthy family and stealing the rich to help the poor. He is Icarus and like the myth he has man-made wings and flies in the sky. But, though he might be the hero of the story he is not the protagonist. That role belongs to Ezra Kneebone.

Ezra first saw a flying machine when he was a young boy and that moment marked his future for all his thought revolved around the sky and the many ways he could stay up there forever. Now a grown man his dreams are just within reach. He has developed plans for a small ship and along with his best friend/partner/mechanic Jazz they have created the Lilliput, their prototype. Their dream is to create a fleet of mini ships that will be reachable for every man or woman. There is one thing standing between their dream; money!

As it happens there is a large reward for the most wanted man on earth, or sky depending on how you look at it. Large enough to get Ezra started and although the idea of taking a hero away from those who need him is against Ezra’s principles, one must do whatever it takes to accomplish one’s dreams. What Ezra never counted though is how it would affect him knowing the man hiding behind the myth.

A series of events cause Ezra turning from having Icarus in his mercy to literally being in his mercy and owing him his life. To add injury to the insult a kiss in the middle of the insanity turns his views upside down. Both men attracted to each other, both stubborn in their ideas, both men’s life constantly altering and behind them all pride will get in the way of what could be a happy future. Moments of sheer bliss will get spoiled in a bloodbath and the pain of loss will probably take your breath away.

It is the way this author works, using so very humane characters, flawed within their passions and making you fall for the very essence of life instead of unrealistic princes in shining armor. I love all characters in this book, I love the multitude of characters that are used here, all their unique personalities that give such depth to this book.

In the end I think I’ve said too much even as I feel I could go on and on. My only wish is that I could have seen Ezra and Icarus together for a bit longer. So, bottom end, and yes I know I’m repeating myself, I loved this story.

Thommie(less)

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Jul 02, 2010 Kassa rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars
I read Wings of Equity in one sitting, it’s that much fun. WOE reminds me of the great Joss Whedon short lived series, Firefly, but it is not fan fiction in any way. I’m sorry to bring up the dreaded FF in a review but I couldn’t help but make the connection. For those that love the tv series and want something along those lines but NOT fan fiction, WOE should totally satisfy. It offers the same sense of adventure, action, danger, wry humor, and delight that makes up a great story with...more 4.5 stars
I read Wings of Equity in one sitting, it’s that much fun. WOE reminds me of the great Joss Whedon short lived series, Firefly, but it is not fan fiction in any way. I’m sorry to bring up the dreaded FF in a review but I couldn’t help but make the connection. For those that love the tv series and want something along those lines but NOT fan fiction, WOE should totally satisfy. It offers the same sense of adventure, action, danger, wry humor, and delight that makes up a great story with interesting characters and a visually stunning setting. Kennedy has written a great steam punk story that sucks you in and simply entertains on all levels.

Ezra Kneebone is struggling to get his fledging business of the ground. He’s got a great prototype of a smaller, faster personal flying ship but he can’t quite drum up the cash needed to produce more. He doesn’t want to take a loan from his chief mechanic’s rich girlfriend so instead Ezra decides he’s going to cash in on the reward from capturing Icarus. Icarus is a thorn in the government’s side as a pseudo Robin Hood. He steals from the trains and always manages to get away due to a clever set of mechanical wings. Although Ezra’s pilot, mechanic, and sole friend Jazz is against the idea, Ezra sets out to capture Icarus. Along the way, Ezra finds himself captured in return.

The plot is filled with action, adventure, fire fights, captures, rescues, escapes, crashes, true love, miracles! Well the last one is a bit iffy but Ezra finding true love could be considered a miracle. A majority of the twists and turns the plot takes may be predictable, but the strongly plot driven story is so well written and so much fun to read I can’t imagine anyone really minding. If anything some of the actions are the obvious ones, even when presented with a wry humor but this is being rather picky and instead focus on the quick action and punchy dialogue. The fight for Icarus brings in a large cast of memorable and truly extraordinary characters and here Kennedy does a truly fabulous job in bringing them all to life.

There is Ezra, the main narrator although the third person point of view is shown through several people. Ezra is desperately yearning for a connection. He’s almost a hopeless romantic but he’s given up most hope of ever finding someone to share a life. He’s witty, sarcastic, funny, loyal, and beyond stubborn. He’s in some ways a classic male character with a do it yourself attitude and too much pride. His actions and comments are often hilarious even though you sometimes want to shake some sense into him. Here the friendship with his mechanic, pilot, and best friend Jazz offers a great contrast. Jazz is an inspired female character in a sea of weak females offered in this genre. Jazz is raw, biting, totally feminist, and absolutely delightful. Though these types of females tend to be militaristic and unattractive, Jazz is written with such subtly and skill that she becomes essential and just as interesting to read as Ezra. She’s not a stereotype and her banter with Ezra is both touching and reminiscent of bickering siblings.

Jazz’s girlfriend, Lady Bart, offers a more feminine and softer female presence but she’s equally delightful. Although featuring a lesbian relationship within an m/m romance is a chance, it’s one that pay offs entirely. There is no onscreen sex so don’t worry. The only sexing is hot and heavy between Ezra and Icarus but the relationship between Lady Bart and Jazz enhances the story in many ways. Not only is Bart instrumental in the action and plot but their caring give and take help shape Ezra and his thoughts on relationships. The great characterization afforded these women creates a wonderful and memorable dynamic. If there is any stumble it is in the characterization of Icarus.

Although he is a main driving force of the plot and action, Icarus himself remains a mystery. His motivations are told through stories and interactions with other people and the lack of any viewpoint from his perspective is obvious and disappointing. While his reasons and his character are slowly uncovered over the course of the book, his attraction to Ezra and ultimately how and why they fall in love feels almost one sided from Ezra’s perspective. We see why Ezra makes his decisions, how he changes, evolves, and falls in love. We see how Ezra changes his life and becomes a different person, perhaps not better but different. The converse to that is that Icarus clearly changes and evolves as well but we only see the affects filtered through the views of other people. I’d have really liked to know more about the man and see his actions and choices from his perspective.

Yet for the few missteps, in my opinion, the world building and great writing simply shine. The fascinating world of steam punk comes alive with numerous details that culminate in an intricately crafted setting. Steam punk is a great genre when done right and here the author has delivered a wonderful addition. From the bleak, dusty hills of barren outposts to the gadgets, buttons, bobs, and bits which create everything from the small to large pieces, the story never forgets the setting first and foremost. This is truly a visual feast for those that love complex world building but written in such a way as you never feel bogged down in details. The world building is subtle but constant and combined with great characters; this is a fully entertaining, well written romp.

If you’re a fan of steam punk, definitely get this offering. You absolutely won’t be disappointed. If you’re new to the genre, WOE is a great introduction. It has all the classic elements but mixed with romance, action, hot sex, and entertaining banter. I hesitate to say Sean Kennedy can do no wrong but so far that’s kind of how I’m feeling. Get this today!(less)

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Apr 25, 2013 Simon rated it 2 of 5 stars

Two stars is a little mean for this book. Two stars equates to "It was ok" here on Goodreads. I didn't like it, but it doesn't mean to say it wasn't well written.
I love Sean Kennedy's other works, but Science Fiction really is not my thing. This was the first book in a very long time that I almost came close to abandoning before the end. It took me over a week to get through, there were more important jobs to get through rather than sit down and read this story, cleaning out the cupboard under...more

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Jul 05, 2010 Ami rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-romance-or-erotica

I don't think I can classify this as M/M romance (though there is a M/M and -- yes F/F action, though very tender and not in your eyes blatant :p). I think I can classify this as adventure fiction. I don't think I have read anything like this before. The story is filled with adventure in the sky -- pilots, planes, chasing out wanted man, bullets firing, and interesting characters, including intriguing winged-boy who acts like Robin Hood :). It's a story like none-other. Each characters shine ......more

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Sep 06, 2012 Eon Beaumont rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a fun read. The characters were likeable and the romance wasn't sappy or overdone. The action was pretty decent and the plot moved along at a brisk pace. The bad guys were a little too cookie cutter without any real motivation, just popping up to give Ezra a hard time. And though he's mentioned quite a bit, Tobias's father never makes an appearance. Still enjoyable. I think I liked Jazz better than Ezra though. Heh. Better than Ezra. Sorry. Unintentional.

I feel like a may have missed a...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: steampunk, adventure, alt-u, glbt, f-f, m-m

“The people choose to call me a hero. I don’t think what I do is heroic. It’s just doing what’s right for those who are worse off than you.” – Icarus

Sean Kennedy’s Wings of Equity is a cleverly steampunked tale filled with airships and flying trains, amazing machines and advanced technology, in a world where a dirigible captain turned bounty hunter, Ezra Kneebone, seeks to collect the price on the head of a Robin Hood-like vigilante dubbed Icarus, who soars through the skies on mechanical wings...more “The people choose to call me a hero. I don’t think what I do is heroic. It’s just doing what’s right for those who are worse off than you.” – Icarus

Sean Kennedy’s Wings of Equity is a cleverly steampunked tale filled with airships and flying trains, amazing machines and advanced technology, in a world where a dirigible captain turned bounty hunter, Ezra Kneebone, seeks to collect the price on the head of a Robin Hood-like vigilante dubbed Icarus, who soars through the skies on mechanical wings as he conspires to rob from the rich and give to the poor, rebelling against everything his wealthy and estranged father represents.

Ezra and his partner Jazille fly upon the Lilliput, dreaming of a day when they might craft a whole new fleet of airships, for which they need a lot of quick capital. Capturing the elusive Icarus and collecting the bounty seems to be the ideal way to make that happen, giving Ezra what he needs without becoming financially indebted to Jazz’s lover, the wealthy Lady Bart. It seems like the ideal plan, but as is usually the case with ideal plans, there’s one major complication—Ezra isn’t the only man looking to capture that prey and collect the reward, and the danger to himself, Jazz, and the Lilliput, not to mention to Ezra’s own conscience and personal integrity, quickly becomes a price that’s too high to pay. Especially after Ezra meets and loses his heart to the man he’s supposed to turn over to the government.

If you’re a fan of steampunk and all the imagination that goes into creating a world where technology conflicts with the times, Wings of Equity is a great read, filled with fun and humor and fast paced adventure, loads of danger and chaos, air battles and falling flying machines that only borrow their place in the sky before they surrender to earth’s gravity, in a sometimes spectacular fashion.

There were times I thought the romance between Ezra and Icarus, who will eventually come to trust Ezra with the power of his true identity, was overshadowed a bit by the world building, and even, to a certain extent, by the relationship between Jazz and her lady, Bart, but the thrills and danger came fast and frequently enough that, in the end, I didn’t miss the message of Ezra and Icarus’ relationship, which, for me, was that there are times when the heart and the conscience must overrule ambition and force you to see what’s truly imperative, not giving up on your ideals and dreams but adapting them to include the ideals and dreams of someone you love.

TNA (less)

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Jul 17, 2010 Tam rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

Ezra Kneebone (wildest name ever) and his female partner Jazz run a transport service using their small dirigible. Ezra has dreams of mass production for the common man but refuses to take money from Jazz's lover Lady Bart. He decides the best way to get the funds is to capture Icarus, a Robin Hood type figure who robs from the government and gives the money away. Things don't quite go according to plan and eventually both he and Icraus are shot and held captive. Ezra is finding himself more and...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Paul rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: glbt, fantasy, western, steam-punk

An interesting story, that's sort of steampunk but maybe more fantasy/western/sci-fi - its wood panelled computers and lasers mounted on airships.

I would have rated this as three stars rather than two except for plot hole between the last two chapters. Really this is just an editing bug (source of a critical piece of information switched between two characters) but its always jarring when you come across something like that.

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Aug 15, 2012 Justin Piercey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3rd-person, gay, fiction, scifi, steam-punk

Poorly plotted. I wanted to love the book so much more than I do. Some scenes were superfluous, even to character development, while others were simply omitted and the pacing suffered substantially. The world building and imagery were indistinct; Hard to manage with the robust flavor of Steam Punk backing you up, in my opinion.

I give it 3 stars only because it's m/m, steam punk, and a bit adventurous.

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Sep 13, 2010 Lee rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Lovers of Books

Recommended to Lee by: ooh, good question

How I love Sean Kennedy! After reading Tigers and Devils I wanted to read more Sean Kennedy. I have, and Wings of Equity is one of the follow up books by Kennedy that I've read...so far. Wings of Equity doesn't have the scope of Tigers and Devils, but it is still an outstanding story. I loved the characters and their unique contribution to the overall story.
I hope to read more from Sean Kennedy.

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Mar 21, 2013 Fangtasia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Action, adventure, quirky characters, this played in my head just like a good movie. The romance was sweet without being sappy, the story made sense and was beautifully written.

May we hope for a follow-up? I would dearly love to know how it went for these guys, particularly for Lee, a few years down the road. There's got to be some mischief for Harding to get into with Ezra and Co., right?

For M/M Romance purists, a warning: there's some F/F, tough subtle and very well done. Other than that, hig...more

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Feb 19, 2011 Li rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Li by: Loved "Tigers & Devils"

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

An imaginative setting - though I have to admit I'm still trying to get to grips with steampunk and am wondering if this is it? Certainly this book appears to be tagged as steampunk in various places.

It was a quick and easy read, but it's the world, rather than the romance, that has left more of a lingering impression.

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Mar 07, 2013 Cris marked it as dnf

Shelves: favorite-author, m-m, f-f, couldnt-get-into-it, criminal-hero

I will probably come back to this one, but it really didn't grab me like Kennedy's books usually do. It's well written overall, but I couldn't get into the head of the MC or truly understand his motives. They were explained, of course, but not in a way that resonated.

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May 08, 2012 Josephine Myles added it

Shelves: romance, m-m, steampunk

A steampunk romantic adventure taking place in a Wild West type setting, Wings of Equity tells the tale of down-on-his-luck dirigible captain Ezra Kneebone, and his stint as a bounty hunter in search of the elusive winged Icarus. When he finally hunts down Icarus, however, he discovers that not only is he stealing from the rich to give to the poor, but that Ezra isn’t really ruthless enough to capture anyone, let alone someone he’s so attracted to…

There’s a lot to enjoy here, though. Ezra’s inte...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Marc Lane rated it 3 of 5 stars

This steampunk fantasy is a little light, and lacks the richness of detail that Sean brings when describing his hometown and passions, as in Tigers + Devils / Tigerland / Dash and Dingo.

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Sep 01, 2010 Matthew Vandrew rated it 4 of 5 stars

My inner boy was jumping with joy while reading WoE. Action, chases, fights, flying, danger, heroic deeds - you name it, it's there. It's very obvious Sean had much fun writing this and this joy is contagious.
The novel is fast-paced, maybe too fast sometimes because we could use more information about characters. Not that somethin's missing, it's just greed on my side. :-)
I totally fell in love with Lady Bart and the dynamics of her relationship with Jazz. Do I mind F/F element in this predomin...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Veronica / V marked it as should-i-read-it-or-not

Not very fond of pilots, planes or F/F.

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Feb 10, 2011 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, lgbt, awesome, fantasy, made-me-cry, steampunk, romance

This book made me cry ;_; That is all.

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Aug 28, 2010 Nightcolors rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, fantasy, glbt, 2010

3.5 stars.

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Oct 17, 2012 Marge rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hurt-comfort, m-m, romance, science-fiction

I'm not generally into steampunk, but I felt Wings of Equity was much more accessible than previous steampunks I've read. It had more of a Western feel, with dirigibles and occasional electronics added in. This is really as much of a swashbuckling adventure story as it is a romance, with an ensemble cast that I really came to like.

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May 18, 2011 Lily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, free-arc-gifts-contest-wins, m-m, steampunk, what-i-read-in-2011, shelf-a-thon-2010-to-11

3.5 stars

This is the first steampunk I've read and for the most part I enjoyed it. Nicely written with entertaining characters although at times it dragged a bit. This may not be a genre I'll be reading a lot of but I do look forward to more stories from this author.

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Oct 26, 2010 LVLMLeah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: gay, steam-punk

This was a fun book, crazy adventure, and likable characters. Not too deep, but entertaining. It's my first steam punk book and I'll be reading more!

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Dec 23, 2012 Jen marked it as setting-aside-for-now

Setting aside for now.

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May 19, 2013 Xing marked it as to-read

Shelves: steam-punk

May 18, 2013 Marinus marked it as to-read

May 16, 2013 Misty marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: mm, mm-to-read, steampunk, to-buy

May 16, 2013 Dave Mills marked it as to-read

Shelves: steampunk

May 15, 2013 Reymart Dinglasa marked it as to-read · review of another edition

May 11, 2013 Al rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy, favorites

May 07, 2013 Heidi is currently reading it

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About Sean Kennedy

Sean Kennedy was born in 1975 in Melbourne, Australia, but currently lives in the second most isolated city in the world (although there still seems to be conjecture over whether it is actually number one). Living in such deprived circumstances can only affect his writing, which is published by Dreamspinner Press.

More about Sean Kennedy...

Books by Sean Kennedy

Tigers and Devils (Tigers and Devils #1)

One Less Stiff at the Funeral (Petit Morts #8)

Just Like Florence Nightingale (Tigers & Devils)

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