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The Wake of the Dragon
No sane airshipman will fly near a storm, but the cover of storm edge offers effective concealment for airship pirates who can strike quickly from above before anyone knows a ship is near. With the protection of Aide, the goddess of air travel, one airship defies the elements to seek fortune for the rag tag aerialists who make up the pirate crew.
The elements are the least of their problems when they find themselves saddled with an airsick clerk, a crewmember suspected of working for the East India Company and a love sick farm girl whose headstrong misconceptions compel her to seek adventure where no decent woman would wander unescorted.
Battling businessmen, mechanoids and villagers armed with torches and pitchforks, Captain Bonny must decide who to trust, and if the only rational course of action is one of apparent madness.
The elements are the least of their problems when they find themselves saddled with an airsick clerk, a crewmember suspected of working for the East India Company and a love sick farm girl whose headstrong misconceptions compel her to seek adventure where no decent woman would wander unescorted.
Battling businessmen, mechanoids and villagers armed with torches and pitchforks, Captain Bonny must decide who to trust, and if the only rational course of action is one of apparent madness.
125 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2012
2 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Jaq D. Hawkins
39 books69 followersJaq D Hawkins is a British author in the genres of Steampunk, Fantasy and the occult. Her first published book, Understanding Chaos Magic (Capall Bann, 1996), was the first book on chaos magic to bring a general understanding of the subject to a wide audience, and earned her a place among the best known writers on chaos magic.
Her Spirits of the Elements series spread her reputation across a wider spectrum of the magical community and led to speaking engagements in far flung corners of the earth, including the US and Japan as well as the UK. She retired from public speaking in 2006, but started making exceptions on occasion in 2008. She is no longer able to travel to the US however, as they do not accept her British passport due to complications over her actual place of birth.
Of her subsequent books, the most popular is Chaos Monkey, which takes a unique perspective on the subject of magic and how it affects the lives of those who choose to follow a magical path. It personifies magic as The Monkey, a Trickster archetype that sometimes teaches powerful lessons through uncomfortable methods. Those who learn to laugh with The Monkey become stronger as a result.
In 2005 her first Fantasy novel, Dance of the Goblins, was published followed by Demoniac Dance and soon to be joined in 2012 by Power of the Dance.
In Steampunk, Jaq has released The Wake of the Dragon: A Steampunk Adventure and has two more Steampunk titles in progress.
She currently lives in Norwich, UK.
Her Spirits of the Elements series spread her reputation across a wider spectrum of the magical community and led to speaking engagements in far flung corners of the earth, including the US and Japan as well as the UK. She retired from public speaking in 2006, but started making exceptions on occasion in 2008. She is no longer able to travel to the US however, as they do not accept her British passport due to complications over her actual place of birth.
Of her subsequent books, the most popular is Chaos Monkey, which takes a unique perspective on the subject of magic and how it affects the lives of those who choose to follow a magical path. It personifies magic as The Monkey, a Trickster archetype that sometimes teaches powerful lessons through uncomfortable methods. Those who learn to laugh with The Monkey become stronger as a result.
In 2005 her first Fantasy novel, Dance of the Goblins, was published followed by Demoniac Dance and soon to be joined in 2012 by Power of the Dance.
In Steampunk, Jaq has released The Wake of the Dragon: A Steampunk Adventure and has two more Steampunk titles in progress.
She currently lives in Norwich, UK.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 17, 2021
Jaq D. Hawkins’ “The Wake of the Dragon” is a first-rate tale of Victorian era adventure, intrigue, and aeronautical derring-do that never forgets that character is key to all storytelling. Right out the gate, I need to say that the book is firmly in the steampunk genre but does not allow itself to get too bogged down in cogs, levers, top hats with goggles, coal dust, and several kinds of brass what-have-yous to overload the more casual reader. Sure, that stuff is in there, but the heart of it lies in the characters that inhabit all those trappings.
Essentially the story of a pirate airship crew stealing a load of opium from a shipping magnate and the magnate’s attempts to recover it, it’s all largely fodder for the unexpectedly broad cast of characters that makes the read worthwhile. There’s Mr. Zachary Wyatt, the shipping magnate with dreams of someday running his own airship, Captain Horatio Bonny, the pirate who harbors a deep fascination with the air goddess “Aide,” Mr. Bale, Bonny’s first mate who hates cats (or does he?), James Dudley, the fussy-stomached clerk-turned-detective who is sent off to investigate the lost shipment, Miss Anne Bardwell, a farm girl with dreams of a much more adventurous life, and Thomas Curson, who might be a wheelwright…or a vagabond, or well, whatever his deal is. Throw in a boatload (literally) of mechanical men only just learning how to be pirates themselves, and it’s quite a bit of fun.
I would say more, but I don’t want to give away the joys of getting to know those characters yourself, as I did. Suffice it to say that I loved the interplay between the cast and how it all came together to a satisfying, if not quite typical ending. Sometimes you really just want a breezy, fun, self-contained story that stands on its own and that’s just what I got.
Essentially the story of a pirate airship crew stealing a load of opium from a shipping magnate and the magnate’s attempts to recover it, it’s all largely fodder for the unexpectedly broad cast of characters that makes the read worthwhile. There’s Mr. Zachary Wyatt, the shipping magnate with dreams of someday running his own airship, Captain Horatio Bonny, the pirate who harbors a deep fascination with the air goddess “Aide,” Mr. Bale, Bonny’s first mate who hates cats (or does he?), James Dudley, the fussy-stomached clerk-turned-detective who is sent off to investigate the lost shipment, Miss Anne Bardwell, a farm girl with dreams of a much more adventurous life, and Thomas Curson, who might be a wheelwright…or a vagabond, or well, whatever his deal is. Throw in a boatload (literally) of mechanical men only just learning how to be pirates themselves, and it’s quite a bit of fun.
I would say more, but I don’t want to give away the joys of getting to know those characters yourself, as I did. Suffice it to say that I loved the interplay between the cast and how it all came together to a satisfying, if not quite typical ending. Sometimes you really just want a breezy, fun, self-contained story that stands on its own and that’s just what I got.
June 22, 2015
I started to read “The Wake of the Dragon,” without knowing what to expect but was quickly drawn into the tale. The story is beautifully written in a style that seems almost classical, and the adventure it leads the reader on is nothing short of imaginative. The loves, fears and addictions of the main characters help them come to life, making it easy to become caught up in their journey. My favorite part was the steampunk aspect that added a different dimension to the traditional pirate tale. Like sea-going pirate ships, flying dirigibles carry their own dangers, and Captain Bonny certainly pushes the limits of his ship and crew throughout the book. I really enjoyed the story and would recommend it to anyone seeking a great adventure—steampunk or otherwise!
May 24, 2012
In a steam punk world reminiscent of Victorian London, a world where steam powered airships roam the sky and it would seam everyone and his mother succumb to the tempting embrace of opium and rum, a robbery sets the story for an adventure around the skies.
The thieves head off in their airship, captained by the incredible Captain Bonny, while the luckless Dudley, clerk of the dubious victim, Mr Wyatt gives chase.
The character of Captain Bonny is extremely well developed as he tempts the faits with his flirtations with Aide, goddess of the storm winds, always sailing a little too close to a storm so that he might feel a connection with her.
I thought this was a really well put together story that drew me along entertaining all the way. I look forward to exploring other books by this author.
The thieves head off in their airship, captained by the incredible Captain Bonny, while the luckless Dudley, clerk of the dubious victim, Mr Wyatt gives chase.
The character of Captain Bonny is extremely well developed as he tempts the faits with his flirtations with Aide, goddess of the storm winds, always sailing a little too close to a storm so that he might feel a connection with her.
I thought this was a really well put together story that drew me along entertaining all the way. I look forward to exploring other books by this author.
March 17, 2017
DNF at 20%..
I guess, since I loved the only 2 steampunk books I’ve ever read, I was going to like the third. This one is a DNF for me instead.
Here’s why: Mister Bale, the second mate, is always drunk, with a constant bottle of rum in his hand, or high on opium. The ship’s captain decides that’s a good idea and goes to his cabin and gets high on opium, too. Then he dreams of having sex with a goddess only to find out it’s the stowaway cabin boy, who happens to be the youngest daughter of the farmer where he stashed some crates of opium because it was too heavy for his flying ship.
I have no idea what age the “youngest daughter” is or how old the captain is. But mostly I have no desire to read about 2 stoned men captaining an airship like it doesn’t take any talent at all. Actually, I don’t care to read about the main characters be high, no matter what they do. And the title of the book, The Wake of the Dragon, that’s supposedly where you “go” when you use opium. That’s “where” Captain Bonny was when Anne snuck into his cabin and they had sex, and he believed it was all a dream.
The sex was only mentioned and there was no swearing. However, I can certainly see why there are only 22 reviews on Amazon, considering it’s from May 2012, no one really wants to read about stoned MC’s.
As to the narrator: Kevin Marchant was very good. His voices were excellent and his emotions terrific. I would definitely listen to him again, if he were reading a decent book.
I guess, since I loved the only 2 steampunk books I’ve ever read, I was going to like the third. This one is a DNF for me instead.
Here’s why: Mister Bale, the second mate, is always drunk, with a constant bottle of rum in his hand, or high on opium. The ship’s captain decides that’s a good idea and goes to his cabin and gets high on opium, too. Then he dreams of having sex with a goddess only to find out it’s the stowaway cabin boy, who happens to be the youngest daughter of the farmer where he stashed some crates of opium because it was too heavy for his flying ship.
I have no idea what age the “youngest daughter” is or how old the captain is. But mostly I have no desire to read about 2 stoned men captaining an airship like it doesn’t take any talent at all. Actually, I don’t care to read about the main characters be high, no matter what they do. And the title of the book, The Wake of the Dragon, that’s supposedly where you “go” when you use opium. That’s “where” Captain Bonny was when Anne snuck into his cabin and they had sex, and he believed it was all a dream.
The sex was only mentioned and there was no swearing. However, I can certainly see why there are only 22 reviews on Amazon, considering it’s from May 2012, no one really wants to read about stoned MC’s.
As to the narrator: Kevin Marchant was very good. His voices were excellent and his emotions terrific. I would definitely listen to him again, if he were reading a decent book.
September 24, 2013
I was quite excited to read The Wake of the Dragon, as I've recently gotten into steampunk and I've always loved adventure stories, especially historical ones. The book starts off with a bang--air pirates conducting a drug heist. Between the fun plot and the quality of the writing--which is quite good--I began the tale with enthusiasm.
I must confess, however, that I lost that enthusiasm along the way. The content is interesting and the writing is error-free (more or less), often even lyrical and witty, which is why I've given the book 4 stars. It is, technically speaking, a good novel. But for a number of reasons I found it difficult to really enjoy.
My biggest complaint is that the story telling is so reliant on exposition and internal monologue. The characters are ever thinking about all of their options, weighing and measuring, and internally stating things which are already evident. If you were to break this book down between "showing" and "telling" (a distinction that I'm not always in favor of, and shouldn't be viewed as a hard and fast rule, but, in this case, I believe is valid) you would find almost nothing but telling. All of this exposition and thinking serves to drastically slow down the pace of the book and gave it an overall feeling of being bloated and poorly balanced, in my opinion.
Despite the fact that we spend so much time in the heads of the characters, I didn't feel terribly attached to any of them. My biggest problem was with the treatment of the single female character, whose only characteristic seems to be a disturbing level of sexual promiscuity.
**DON'T READ THE NEXT SECTION IF YOU ARE OPPOSED TO SOME MILD SPOILERS**
That character, Ann, is initially presented as a feisty trouble maker. We then get the rather troubling detail that she'd made passes at her own father. Our lead treats her rather abominably at first, and I was hoping that she would show that she was either stronger, more interesting, or more dynamic as the tale went on. Instead, she commits what I can only describe as rape and her tendencies are never really addressed or developed. As the only female character, I was left feeling a bit uncomfortable by all of this. I suppose I've come to expect better treatment of female characters in modern genre fiction.
**
So, while I can't say I loved this book, I also can't deny that it has elements which will appeal to many readers: a fun concept and strong writing. If you are expecting a fast paced swashbuckler, I don't think this book will be exactly your cup of tea. If you like a slower paced story with a lot of focus on character feeling and choices, this will likely be right up your ally.
I must confess, however, that I lost that enthusiasm along the way. The content is interesting and the writing is error-free (more or less), often even lyrical and witty, which is why I've given the book 4 stars. It is, technically speaking, a good novel. But for a number of reasons I found it difficult to really enjoy.
My biggest complaint is that the story telling is so reliant on exposition and internal monologue. The characters are ever thinking about all of their options, weighing and measuring, and internally stating things which are already evident. If you were to break this book down between "showing" and "telling" (a distinction that I'm not always in favor of, and shouldn't be viewed as a hard and fast rule, but, in this case, I believe is valid) you would find almost nothing but telling. All of this exposition and thinking serves to drastically slow down the pace of the book and gave it an overall feeling of being bloated and poorly balanced, in my opinion.
Despite the fact that we spend so much time in the heads of the characters, I didn't feel terribly attached to any of them. My biggest problem was with the treatment of the single female character, whose only characteristic seems to be a disturbing level of sexual promiscuity.
**DON'T READ THE NEXT SECTION IF YOU ARE OPPOSED TO SOME MILD SPOILERS**
That character, Ann, is initially presented as a feisty trouble maker. We then get the rather troubling detail that she'd made passes at her own father. Our lead treats her rather abominably at first, and I was hoping that she would show that she was either stronger, more interesting, or more dynamic as the tale went on. Instead, she commits what I can only describe as rape and her tendencies are never really addressed or developed. As the only female character, I was left feeling a bit uncomfortable by all of this. I suppose I've come to expect better treatment of female characters in modern genre fiction.
**
So, while I can't say I loved this book, I also can't deny that it has elements which will appeal to many readers: a fun concept and strong writing. If you are expecting a fast paced swashbuckler, I don't think this book will be exactly your cup of tea. If you like a slower paced story with a lot of focus on character feeling and choices, this will likely be right up your ally.
June 9, 2012
13 stars:)
An exciting, adventurous, engrossing adventure, a Steampunk thriller, delightful in every aspect, “Wake of the Dragon” is a superbly-written story that will surely appeal to readers of all stripes of genre interest. Yes, it is Steampunk, but it is rich in historical background; the thrill-a-minute pace will appeal to readers of adventurous thrillers; and the sheer excitement of the airships, the piracy, the many chases, mobs, and the upending of normal consensus reality to paint a reality so similar, yet so different-everything in this book is fantastic.
Take a pinch of legal opium trade as administered by Britain’s East India Company; add airships, clockwork mechanoids; Dickensian business practices; rural communities and farms straight out of the Victorian era; pirates, cars, and the usual human emotions-toss in a hint of spy novel; and the result is a riveting page-turner that is not to be missed. Do pick this one up-you will likely find yourself reading it in one sitting as I did, then immediately wanting to turn back to the first page and read through again.
An exciting, adventurous, engrossing adventure, a Steampunk thriller, delightful in every aspect, “Wake of the Dragon” is a superbly-written story that will surely appeal to readers of all stripes of genre interest. Yes, it is Steampunk, but it is rich in historical background; the thrill-a-minute pace will appeal to readers of adventurous thrillers; and the sheer excitement of the airships, the piracy, the many chases, mobs, and the upending of normal consensus reality to paint a reality so similar, yet so different-everything in this book is fantastic.
Take a pinch of legal opium trade as administered by Britain’s East India Company; add airships, clockwork mechanoids; Dickensian business practices; rural communities and farms straight out of the Victorian era; pirates, cars, and the usual human emotions-toss in a hint of spy novel; and the result is a riveting page-turner that is not to be missed. Do pick this one up-you will likely find yourself reading it in one sitting as I did, then immediately wanting to turn back to the first page and read through again.
February 23, 2013
A warehouse full of opium is stolen away in the middle of a stormy night by a band of airship pirates. The opening is really promising in this nicely written steampunk novel, but the plot moves rather slowly, meandering around a cast of characters whose fates are intertwined by the theft of the opium. Things start to pick up about 50% in, and I enjoyed seeing how the paths of these characters crossed and diverged. As strong as this book was in discription and character motivation, the plot just wasn't fast paced or strong enough for me to love it. There was no one to love, no one to hate. The main characters seemed at times almost flatly normal. While this added to the "gritty realism" feel of the story, I wanted more. I wanted to fall in love with at least one of the characters, to be carried away by an intricate plot, and instead I felt I was reading a "life in the day of steampunk pirates, ruffians, and business men." The book is well written, and was enjoyable, I just think it may not be totally my cup of tea.
October 28, 2012
The Wake of the Dragon follows the events directly following a large air-pirate heist. While this provides an interesting back-drop for an adventure story, it feels as if it could be just any old day at the office for the people involved. There is no feeling that this is "the big one' or 'the final one' or extra important in any way and therefore worthy of note. I was a little disappointed about that. But the writing is very good (if repetitive at times), the steampunk technology interesting, and the characters relatable. I especially liked the pirates dedication to their goddess. There is also some appreciable humour and wit, especially in poor Dudley's discomfort and the captain's relations with his first officer.
While The Wake of the Dragon might not be all heart stopping action, it is very good and well worth a read. If you like steampunk in the slightest I would recommend picking it up. I'm definitely up for reading more of Hawkins' writing.
While The Wake of the Dragon might not be all heart stopping action, it is very good and well worth a read. If you like steampunk in the slightest I would recommend picking it up. I'm definitely up for reading more of Hawkins' writing.
December 21, 2012
Lively and imaginative.
September 24, 2024
Urban fantasy is my favourite genre so imagine the unexpected but sheer pleasure I found in listening to this rollicking story of steampunk airship pirates!
I was swept away by the narrator's voice. He had the perfect gravelly tones for pirates and a range of voices that worked extremely well for male and female characters of all levels of British society. I immediately felt like I was on a dirigible, watching storm clouds roll in. A few sound effects were added throughout the story as well, for verisimilitude - thunder, bells tolling, a cat's meow. I really enjoyed those and felt the 'less is more' approach worked brilliantly.
The story itself was absorbing and adventurous. Pirates stealing opium stores, the ubiquitous East India Company, mechanoids, a goddess of the winds who guided her favoured few. There were layered storylines that evolved from the initial group of characters as they dispersed or gathered fresh faces into their sphere. These tangential arcs were resolved, and then we caught up with our core group at the end. The resolutions weren't all happy ones though, in keeping with the harshness of the times and the pirate life. There were no rose coloured glasses but it all felt right. There was a considerable amount of action but to me, this story felt character-driven, with the third person POV's allowing oversight of the bigger picture.
The author's writing style was superbly suited for bringing this world to life. The formal language used in conversations felt authentic. The descriptions of the city life and the dangers of airship travel brought vivid images to my mind. Her ability to make each character's thoughts and actions feel genuine and appropriate to their situation meant it was all believable.
If there are ever more books in this world I would happily buy them. Definitely recommended.
I was swept away by the narrator's voice. He had the perfect gravelly tones for pirates and a range of voices that worked extremely well for male and female characters of all levels of British society. I immediately felt like I was on a dirigible, watching storm clouds roll in. A few sound effects were added throughout the story as well, for verisimilitude - thunder, bells tolling, a cat's meow. I really enjoyed those and felt the 'less is more' approach worked brilliantly.
The story itself was absorbing and adventurous. Pirates stealing opium stores, the ubiquitous East India Company, mechanoids, a goddess of the winds who guided her favoured few. There were layered storylines that evolved from the initial group of characters as they dispersed or gathered fresh faces into their sphere. These tangential arcs were resolved, and then we caught up with our core group at the end. The resolutions weren't all happy ones though, in keeping with the harshness of the times and the pirate life. There were no rose coloured glasses but it all felt right. There was a considerable amount of action but to me, this story felt character-driven, with the third person POV's allowing oversight of the bigger picture.
The author's writing style was superbly suited for bringing this world to life. The formal language used in conversations felt authentic. The descriptions of the city life and the dangers of airship travel brought vivid images to my mind. Her ability to make each character's thoughts and actions feel genuine and appropriate to their situation meant it was all believable.
If there are ever more books in this world I would happily buy them. Definitely recommended.
April 9, 2025
The Wake of the Dragon is an atmospheric book full of airships, pirates and Victorian opium traders, in a world of grimy smog and storms where only those able to interpret the air currents dare to fly. The characters are rich and well developed, with lots of interior monologue. The stories are based in a steampunked version of Victorian Britain with lots of familiar British locations and easily visualised scenes.
For those not yet in the know, steampunk is a variation of science fiction set in the Victorian era. Think Jules Verne or H.G. Wells, all polished mahogany with brass pressure dials and copper pipes. If Victorian trains could fly, and had luxurious leather seats, that would be steampunk.
The Wake of the Dragon revolves around a stolen shipment of opium with various characters and organisations looking to obtain it, sell it or steal it for themselves. There are stowaways, spies, a goddess of the air (who may or may not be on your side), pitchfork wielding villagers, ship to ship combat and clockwork mechanoids. I rather liked the idea of clockwork mechanoids.
So far this is the only steampunk novel Jaq has written but I understand another may be in the pipeline so I'm looking forward to it's arrival in our skies.
For those not yet in the know, steampunk is a variation of science fiction set in the Victorian era. Think Jules Verne or H.G. Wells, all polished mahogany with brass pressure dials and copper pipes. If Victorian trains could fly, and had luxurious leather seats, that would be steampunk.
The Wake of the Dragon revolves around a stolen shipment of opium with various characters and organisations looking to obtain it, sell it or steal it for themselves. There are stowaways, spies, a goddess of the air (who may or may not be on your side), pitchfork wielding villagers, ship to ship combat and clockwork mechanoids. I rather liked the idea of clockwork mechanoids.
So far this is the only steampunk novel Jaq has written but I understand another may be in the pipeline so I'm looking forward to it's arrival in our skies.
September 24, 2013
For this review, author Jaq D. Hakins reached out to me about her novel The Wake of the Dragon: A Steampunk Adventure. When I was younger I watched a few different animes that were in the steampunk genre, but I'd never read a novel.
The story opens on a pirate ship, though the high seas are miles away. The ship is in fact a steam powered air ship piloted by Captain Bonny and manned by one of the best, and most unorthodox, crew around. Each one so full of opium and rum they should not be able to walk, let alone swing from the rigging ropes thousands of feet above the ground.
Early on in the story its established that Captain Bonny is a unique Captain. Hawkins blended, in my opinion, the most likeable qualities in the classic pirate captains in pop culture, though I don't feel as though any certain one was a direct inspiration; He retains the stoic nature of Captain Jack's father Captain Teague, the relatable nature of Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow and the ruthlessness of Black Beard, the real not the one from Pirates of the Caribbean.
As the story progresses you're introduced to more characters that play a vital role in this story such as James Dudley, the well meaning nervous clerk, Zachary Wyatt, Dudley's scroogeish boss that treats him as a variable slave, Anne Bardwell, the seductive stowaway that longs for adventure in the open skies. Each of these characters, and more, plays an important part of the overall story involving Wyatt's stolen rum, that in itself gets stolen by a certain group of air pirates.
The story moves along seamlessly, giving you a real insight to the characters and their pasts; all the while taking you all over England and even across the channel into France. It truly is a page turner from the get go, and the ending is possibly one of the most shocking and unexpected I've ever read.
Besides the shear uniqueness behind the world Hawkins has created for The Wake of the Dragon, the group of characters and sense of adventure are all very creative and well done. The list of pros I could name for this story is immense, but I've narrowed it down to:
As I just said, the world Hawkins created is very unique, even for a steam punk story. Everything about it feels new and wonderful.
The characters all have a depth to them that keeps you rooting for all of them in one way or another, even the ones that you really hope don't succeed in their goal.
The story itself, while being about pirates doing what they do best, is fresh and more importantly it constantly moves forward and keeps you interested.
As far as cons go for the story, I racked my brain for some time trying to find something. While I did come up with one thing its based more on a personal preference:
For the first half of the story Hawkins keeps the transitions smooth between the characters. Once the characters all get together it gets a little hectic and there are a few instances where it becomes a little difficult to follow which character is speaking. This is only on a few occasions, most of the time there is a clear break between who is being followed.
I was told once by a reader that I like to much to be a reviewer, and the fact that I enjoy multiple things made it hard for him to believe the stories I've reviewed are as good as I've said. I purchased him a copy of The Waters Edge, The Seedbearing Prince, and he picked up a copy of Passion, Power & Sin. He emailed me back a couple weeks later and offered me my money back for the two stories I purchased, a request I turned down. Jaq D. Hawkins and The Wake of the Dragon is another story I would highly recommend to anybody who enjoys high flying action adventure. The steam punk aspect may seem uninteresting, or too odd for some, but I can tell you for certain that if you enjoy adventure stories than you will enjoy this story.
In the end I give The Wake of the Dragon by Jaq D. Hawkins a solid 8/10 based on:
7/10 for readability - The story flows well throughout. Its written in a style that is unique to Hawkins. The only downfall to the story flow is the few instances where following characters becomes a bit difficult towards the end.
8/10 for story - The story itself may be one of piracy and reclaiming what was lost on the surface, but its written in such a way that it becomes so much more. The way the characters take their individual journeys and come together, just to part ways and become individuals again is unique and well done.
9/10 for characters - Each character in this story has his/her own unique voice. This is a feat in itself as the story has so many characters, and each one is very distinct from the others. Even the classic steam punk mechanoids seem to take on a life of their own.
9/10 for overall creativity - I wasn't sure how else to label this x-factor when I considered what made this story unique. I listed it as overall creativity because I feel just bringing a steam punk novel to life doesn't describe what this story is. It meshes the most wonderful pieces of pirate lore, that adventure and freedom we've all been in love with sometime in our life, with a steam punk world. It combines wonderful story telling with larger than life characters, it really hits the mark in so many ways that are unique to itself.
A big thank you to Jaq D. Hawkins for contacting me about The Wake of the Dragon, I truly enjoyed the opium induced pirate epic. I can also guarantee that if you give this story a chance you will have found an author that you're going to want to keep up with, like I did.
If you'd like to pick up The wake of the Dragon for yourself, simply click here.
The story opens on a pirate ship, though the high seas are miles away. The ship is in fact a steam powered air ship piloted by Captain Bonny and manned by one of the best, and most unorthodox, crew around. Each one so full of opium and rum they should not be able to walk, let alone swing from the rigging ropes thousands of feet above the ground.
Early on in the story its established that Captain Bonny is a unique Captain. Hawkins blended, in my opinion, the most likeable qualities in the classic pirate captains in pop culture, though I don't feel as though any certain one was a direct inspiration; He retains the stoic nature of Captain Jack's father Captain Teague, the relatable nature of Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow and the ruthlessness of Black Beard, the real not the one from Pirates of the Caribbean.
As the story progresses you're introduced to more characters that play a vital role in this story such as James Dudley, the well meaning nervous clerk, Zachary Wyatt, Dudley's scroogeish boss that treats him as a variable slave, Anne Bardwell, the seductive stowaway that longs for adventure in the open skies. Each of these characters, and more, plays an important part of the overall story involving Wyatt's stolen rum, that in itself gets stolen by a certain group of air pirates.
The story moves along seamlessly, giving you a real insight to the characters and their pasts; all the while taking you all over England and even across the channel into France. It truly is a page turner from the get go, and the ending is possibly one of the most shocking and unexpected I've ever read.
Besides the shear uniqueness behind the world Hawkins has created for The Wake of the Dragon, the group of characters and sense of adventure are all very creative and well done. The list of pros I could name for this story is immense, but I've narrowed it down to:
As I just said, the world Hawkins created is very unique, even for a steam punk story. Everything about it feels new and wonderful.
The characters all have a depth to them that keeps you rooting for all of them in one way or another, even the ones that you really hope don't succeed in their goal.
The story itself, while being about pirates doing what they do best, is fresh and more importantly it constantly moves forward and keeps you interested.
As far as cons go for the story, I racked my brain for some time trying to find something. While I did come up with one thing its based more on a personal preference:
For the first half of the story Hawkins keeps the transitions smooth between the characters. Once the characters all get together it gets a little hectic and there are a few instances where it becomes a little difficult to follow which character is speaking. This is only on a few occasions, most of the time there is a clear break between who is being followed.
I was told once by a reader that I like to much to be a reviewer, and the fact that I enjoy multiple things made it hard for him to believe the stories I've reviewed are as good as I've said. I purchased him a copy of The Waters Edge, The Seedbearing Prince, and he picked up a copy of Passion, Power & Sin. He emailed me back a couple weeks later and offered me my money back for the two stories I purchased, a request I turned down. Jaq D. Hawkins and The Wake of the Dragon is another story I would highly recommend to anybody who enjoys high flying action adventure. The steam punk aspect may seem uninteresting, or too odd for some, but I can tell you for certain that if you enjoy adventure stories than you will enjoy this story.
In the end I give The Wake of the Dragon by Jaq D. Hawkins a solid 8/10 based on:
7/10 for readability - The story flows well throughout. Its written in a style that is unique to Hawkins. The only downfall to the story flow is the few instances where following characters becomes a bit difficult towards the end.
8/10 for story - The story itself may be one of piracy and reclaiming what was lost on the surface, but its written in such a way that it becomes so much more. The way the characters take their individual journeys and come together, just to part ways and become individuals again is unique and well done.
9/10 for characters - Each character in this story has his/her own unique voice. This is a feat in itself as the story has so many characters, and each one is very distinct from the others. Even the classic steam punk mechanoids seem to take on a life of their own.
9/10 for overall creativity - I wasn't sure how else to label this x-factor when I considered what made this story unique. I listed it as overall creativity because I feel just bringing a steam punk novel to life doesn't describe what this story is. It meshes the most wonderful pieces of pirate lore, that adventure and freedom we've all been in love with sometime in our life, with a steam punk world. It combines wonderful story telling with larger than life characters, it really hits the mark in so many ways that are unique to itself.
A big thank you to Jaq D. Hawkins for contacting me about The Wake of the Dragon, I truly enjoyed the opium induced pirate epic. I can also guarantee that if you give this story a chance you will have found an author that you're going to want to keep up with, like I did.
If you'd like to pick up The wake of the Dragon for yourself, simply click here.
March 13, 2024
Highly entertaining. As far as I know, this is a stand-alone steampunk novel. It feels, at first, like the beginning of a convoluted, build-up to a series of books with the characters making odd appearances, however, it does seem to wrap up fairly neatly. Good characters and a good oil-n-grime steampunk world. Fast-paced, funny, and inspiring. If there are more of these characters I would continue reading.
July 5, 2015
Originally posted to Audiobookreviewer.com
I have very limited experience with Steampunk books. I’ve only read 2 or 3, one of which I loved, while the others I barely finished. That being said, I really love the concept of steampunk in novels and enjoy it in other mediums, so I keep trying. This book seemed more in the fantasy Genre than the others I had read, which is why I decided to give it a try.
The story opens on an airship with Captain Horatio Bonny behind the wheel. The Pirates had just stolen crate upon crate of opium. Having taken on too much weight, the airship loses altitude and is forced to land on a farm. Promising coin and to take the farmer’s daughter, Anne Bardwell, away from the family, the Pirates leave half their cargo stored in the Mr. Bardwell’s barn.
Meanwhile, Zachary Wyatt arrives at his warehouse to find all of his Opium missing and his night guard unaccounted for. Furious, he sends his Clerk, James Dudley, to investigate the crime in hopes of finding some clues. Along the way he comes across and vagabond named Thomas, with whom he ends up jumping onto an airship and volunteering.
This is pretty fun book with multiple points of view. It starts off a little slow but it picks up pretty quick. The story is a little hard to follow, via audio at least, as there are times when it jumps from one character to another, without pause or warning, and it takes a minute to get acclimated. That being said, Ms. Hawkins puts together a entertaining tale of piracy, deceit, greed, and even a little self discovery.
The audio in this book had a little echo too it however, it wasn’t bad enough to take away from the performance of Kevin Marchant. Mr. Marchant has quite the talent for voices and did a great job narrating this novel. I look forward to hearing more from him.
Though it wasn’t my favorite audiobook, it was a fun listen. I would suggest it to anyone interested I steampunk or sailing/pirate novels. I plan to keep my eyes on more of Hawkins’ work in the future.
I have very limited experience with Steampunk books. I’ve only read 2 or 3, one of which I loved, while the others I barely finished. That being said, I really love the concept of steampunk in novels and enjoy it in other mediums, so I keep trying. This book seemed more in the fantasy Genre than the others I had read, which is why I decided to give it a try.
The story opens on an airship with Captain Horatio Bonny behind the wheel. The Pirates had just stolen crate upon crate of opium. Having taken on too much weight, the airship loses altitude and is forced to land on a farm. Promising coin and to take the farmer’s daughter, Anne Bardwell, away from the family, the Pirates leave half their cargo stored in the Mr. Bardwell’s barn.
Meanwhile, Zachary Wyatt arrives at his warehouse to find all of his Opium missing and his night guard unaccounted for. Furious, he sends his Clerk, James Dudley, to investigate the crime in hopes of finding some clues. Along the way he comes across and vagabond named Thomas, with whom he ends up jumping onto an airship and volunteering.
This is pretty fun book with multiple points of view. It starts off a little slow but it picks up pretty quick. The story is a little hard to follow, via audio at least, as there are times when it jumps from one character to another, without pause or warning, and it takes a minute to get acclimated. That being said, Ms. Hawkins puts together a entertaining tale of piracy, deceit, greed, and even a little self discovery.
The audio in this book had a little echo too it however, it wasn’t bad enough to take away from the performance of Kevin Marchant. Mr. Marchant has quite the talent for voices and did a great job narrating this novel. I look forward to hearing more from him.
Though it wasn’t my favorite audiobook, it was a fun listen. I would suggest it to anyone interested I steampunk or sailing/pirate novels. I plan to keep my eyes on more of Hawkins’ work in the future.
September 7, 2012
I’m a huge fan of history, and one of the things that I like about steampunk is its alternate view of the Victorian age of England (usually). A well-imagined steampunk tale should feel authentic, and Wake of the Dragon delivers authenticity in spades. It can be a bit awkward when an American writer takes on the Victorian age, but it feels warm and fuzzy when a British one does.
The characterization in this book is its strongest point. We are delivered a bountiful cast, from the opium-addicted pirates to the mysterious Thomas Curson and the ever-ill Mr. Dudley. There are several laugh-out-loud-worthy moments, especially involving the constantly-intoxicated first mate and a certain minor character named Khana.
The plot meanders a bit, with the central conflict being several crates of stolen opium and the intent to sell. There are several subplots as well, but this book reads more like a ‘day-in-the-life’ of the airship pirate and the detail of a strange and often-wondrous world than it does like an adventure. This really seems to be more of a character study than a true forge into the unknown. I never felt as though the stakes were high enough to really draw me in and rivet me to the story.
The fact is, however, that as a character study, this book is a success. The characters are interesting, amusing, funny, flawed and lovable. While I might have wished for a more stirring adventure with rousing action, daring swordfights on the deck of an airship and higher stakes, the fact is that I must read as much of the author’s intent into it as I can.
With a tightly-paced, action-packed plot, this book would have easily been five stars for me. As it stands, often-brilliant dialogue, strong characterization and a detailed alternate history where airships rule the skies of Britain in the late 1800s, I give it a solid four.
The characterization in this book is its strongest point. We are delivered a bountiful cast, from the opium-addicted pirates to the mysterious Thomas Curson and the ever-ill Mr. Dudley. There are several laugh-out-loud-worthy moments, especially involving the constantly-intoxicated first mate and a certain minor character named Khana.
The plot meanders a bit, with the central conflict being several crates of stolen opium and the intent to sell. There are several subplots as well, but this book reads more like a ‘day-in-the-life’ of the airship pirate and the detail of a strange and often-wondrous world than it does like an adventure. This really seems to be more of a character study than a true forge into the unknown. I never felt as though the stakes were high enough to really draw me in and rivet me to the story.
The fact is, however, that as a character study, this book is a success. The characters are interesting, amusing, funny, flawed and lovable. While I might have wished for a more stirring adventure with rousing action, daring swordfights on the deck of an airship and higher stakes, the fact is that I must read as much of the author’s intent into it as I can.
With a tightly-paced, action-packed plot, this book would have easily been five stars for me. As it stands, often-brilliant dialogue, strong characterization and a detailed alternate history where airships rule the skies of Britain in the late 1800s, I give it a solid four.
October 11, 2013
The Wake of the Dragon: A Steampunk Adventure by Jaq D. Hawkins is a Steampunk story. Recently I have ventured into the world of Steampunk with, of all things, a YouTube series called Dirigible Days.
The Wake of the Dragon follows the rules of the genre quite well, airships and gadgets set in a Victorian setting. It starts out with a pirate like adventure, but on airships. Captain Bonny, and I love the picture that name presents, takes off with a warehouse full of opium. At times I am reminded of Greek mythology in the way the story is told. We have our pirate and we have Dudley, chasing him down.
There is a hint of a love interest, and lots of adventure, and of course the execution of the “Victorian Age” and Steampunk elements are very good.
The British spellings and punctuation were a little hard to get used to, but once I did, they read smoothly. The drawback for me was the pacing of the novel. I found myself wanting the characters to move forward, while they were often stuck in their heads while we were told the story rather than experiencing the story as they lived it. A lot of this internal monolog could have been cut and the pace of the book increased quite a bit.
I also wondered why the author only had one female character of note, Ann, and she turned out to be shallow and not very well developed, as in the things she did seemed without reason.
The book was a good read, and an interesting tale. This reader wishes there had been a bit more action in the adventure.
A solid 3 stars for a good entertaining read.
The Wake of the Dragon follows the rules of the genre quite well, airships and gadgets set in a Victorian setting. It starts out with a pirate like adventure, but on airships. Captain Bonny, and I love the picture that name presents, takes off with a warehouse full of opium. At times I am reminded of Greek mythology in the way the story is told. We have our pirate and we have Dudley, chasing him down.
There is a hint of a love interest, and lots of adventure, and of course the execution of the “Victorian Age” and Steampunk elements are very good.
The British spellings and punctuation were a little hard to get used to, but once I did, they read smoothly. The drawback for me was the pacing of the novel. I found myself wanting the characters to move forward, while they were often stuck in their heads while we were told the story rather than experiencing the story as they lived it. A lot of this internal monolog could have been cut and the pace of the book increased quite a bit.
I also wondered why the author only had one female character of note, Ann, and she turned out to be shallow and not very well developed, as in the things she did seemed without reason.
The book was a good read, and an interesting tale. This reader wishes there had been a bit more action in the adventure.
A solid 3 stars for a good entertaining read.
June 16, 2015
This is the first steampunk book that I’ve read. I didn’t know a genre like this existed before this book. A friend of mine read the book and felt that I would enjoy it and she was right. I do like steampunk or maybe I like this one.
This book led me on a fantastical, magical world of pirates and floating ships. I felt at times that I was caught in a bit of a spin-off from the movie Stardust and I couldn’t help but have Robert de Niro in my head as Captain Bonny. And a little bit of Jack Sparrow maybe. Like these swashbuckling pirates, Captain Bonny is full of style and bonhomie and is a very entertaining character.
I know that all the characters are larger than life because of the magical setting but each of them is multi layered and interesting. Whether it is the irritating clerk, the stowaway, everyone has their own little story which melds into the whole.
There may not have been much of a plot or rather it is a well used plot, but mix it with the magic and it is raised to a whole new level. And the ending is worth the wait. I think I may be into steampunk after this book. If you’re into steampunk, read this book, you’ll love it. If you have no idea what steampunk is, read it, you’ll love it.
This book led me on a fantastical, magical world of pirates and floating ships. I felt at times that I was caught in a bit of a spin-off from the movie Stardust and I couldn’t help but have Robert de Niro in my head as Captain Bonny. And a little bit of Jack Sparrow maybe. Like these swashbuckling pirates, Captain Bonny is full of style and bonhomie and is a very entertaining character.
I know that all the characters are larger than life because of the magical setting but each of them is multi layered and interesting. Whether it is the irritating clerk, the stowaway, everyone has their own little story which melds into the whole.
There may not have been much of a plot or rather it is a well used plot, but mix it with the magic and it is raised to a whole new level. And the ending is worth the wait. I think I may be into steampunk after this book. If you’re into steampunk, read this book, you’ll love it. If you have no idea what steampunk is, read it, you’ll love it.
January 3, 2016
The Wake of the Dragon is pure high-flying airship pirate adventure. It includes pirates that like to indulge in rum and opium, a captain that calls on his goddess Aide to defy the weather, a spy, an industrious clerk, and insane man of questionable business ethics. Multiple story lines interact in farcical precision. These characters will take you on an adventure that will be hard to forget!
For the most part, I enjoyed the narration on the audiobook. Kevin Marchant nicely voices a variety of characters. I felt something was missing when the funnier passages were read. Maybe it was the timing. But this compliant was minimal and if you like audiobooks, I can certainly recommend this one.
The Wake of the Dragon is not something I would typically read. There is no romance and the sort-of-HEA happens for the most unexpected characters. But the author was promoting her books at a FB Virtual Fantasy Con and I received a complimentary code for the audiobook. I am very glad I did. The Wake of the Dragon is a little different and a lot entertaining! And there is a cat, so bonus points!
For the most part, I enjoyed the narration on the audiobook. Kevin Marchant nicely voices a variety of characters. I felt something was missing when the funnier passages were read. Maybe it was the timing. But this compliant was minimal and if you like audiobooks, I can certainly recommend this one.
The Wake of the Dragon is not something I would typically read. There is no romance and the sort-of-HEA happens for the most unexpected characters. But the author was promoting her books at a FB Virtual Fantasy Con and I received a complimentary code for the audiobook. I am very glad I did. The Wake of the Dragon is a little different and a lot entertaining! And there is a cat, so bonus points!
September 7, 2016
First paragraph:
The airship hovered low over the city. The dark silhouette might have been seen against the darker storm-filled morning sky despite the thick smog, had there been anyone foolish enough to be on the streets at that hour to look up and see it. But the rat-infested lower end streets defied even a watchman to brave the hours just before dawn, when only the pirates and night-crawling thugs dared walk them. The law would not travel where enforcement equates to suicide. Like their seafaring ancestors, the airship pirates wouldn’t hesitate to travel the roads of Hell itself if there was a profit to be made.
Truthfully, I found this book difficult to get in to for almost the first half of the book, maybe more. It was only towards the end of the book when, like the fogs of the opium cloud, clarity and understanding were revealed.
Khana rocked. As did Mr. Bale. And the ending, explosive. Well done.
The airship hovered low over the city. The dark silhouette might have been seen against the darker storm-filled morning sky despite the thick smog, had there been anyone foolish enough to be on the streets at that hour to look up and see it. But the rat-infested lower end streets defied even a watchman to brave the hours just before dawn, when only the pirates and night-crawling thugs dared walk them. The law would not travel where enforcement equates to suicide. Like their seafaring ancestors, the airship pirates wouldn’t hesitate to travel the roads of Hell itself if there was a profit to be made.
Truthfully, I found this book difficult to get in to for almost the first half of the book, maybe more. It was only towards the end of the book when, like the fogs of the opium cloud, clarity and understanding were revealed.
Khana rocked. As did Mr. Bale. And the ending, explosive. Well done.
June 7, 2015
The cover does a great job of conveying the contents and drew me in before I had even opened a page. A pirate ship under a dirigible? Cool and add to that a pirate captain every bit as charismatic as Jack Sparrow and there stands Captain Bonny, who has just stolen a whole load of opium.
The story flows above various areas of England and France as various characters interact with each other. They are pirates for the most part so can't be expected to behave as if in polite society encountered below and that makes them so much fun. The leap out of the pages, each with a very credible life and personality.
I haven't read a lot of steampunk books, but of those I have, this stands in my high regard. There is something inherently fun about the genre and the intrepid characters featured. This book may well turn out to be my favorite read of the year.
The story flows above various areas of England and France as various characters interact with each other. They are pirates for the most part so can't be expected to behave as if in polite society encountered below and that makes them so much fun. The leap out of the pages, each with a very credible life and personality.
I haven't read a lot of steampunk books, but of those I have, this stands in my high regard. There is something inherently fun about the genre and the intrepid characters featured. This book may well turn out to be my favorite read of the year.
August 31, 2013
Coming out of an opium induced hypnotic allure can be enjoyable or catastrophic depending on the conditions around the dragon at the time. Air pirates, riding an airship, lighter than air - looking for the goddess Aide, in an opium dream - find it exhilarating in a strong wind.
This book tells of an adventure where the captain of the ship, a mysterious fellow, enjoys the dragon so much he becomes the merchant of stolen crates of opium. Jaq D Hawkins describes the lifting of the crates so well the reader can imagine their own involvement in the procedure. As the adventure includes a farmers daughter, a clerk asked to spy, a captured guard, and a mysterious vagabond the story moves right along through complications, and surprises to it's astonishing end.
This book tells of an adventure where the captain of the ship, a mysterious fellow, enjoys the dragon so much he becomes the merchant of stolen crates of opium. Jaq D Hawkins describes the lifting of the crates so well the reader can imagine their own involvement in the procedure. As the adventure includes a farmers daughter, a clerk asked to spy, a captured guard, and a mysterious vagabond the story moves right along through complications, and surprises to it's astonishing end.
August 16, 2012
This is my first steampunk read, and it's just possible steampunk is not for me. The setup sounded really exciting, but it's not particularly action oriented. I would say it's more character based, as you follow different players and see their interaction as well as get inside their heads. My problem is I never found any of them particularly likable; some are nicer than others but that's about it. No heroes, no villains. It's well presented and edited so if it's "your thing" you might very well enjoy it. I thought of giving it 3 stars, but looking back at my other 3-star books, it just didn't seem fair.
February 8, 2013
This is the first steampunk book that I have ever read and I am hooked. The author gives the characters such warmth and depth as to appear vivid before one’s eyes with each word! She brings adventure from the first page to the last for the reader to dred putting the book down. The storyline flowed with such fun that I loved it from the start to the very last page! She writes such a descriptive scenario that it is easy for one new to the genre to follow with ease. I am looking forward to more of this very talented author’s books! I would highly recommend this book to read!
September 22, 2013
The Wake of the Dragon is the first "Steampunk Adventure" I have read. I enjoy historical fiction as well as some science fiction novels, so this seemed like it would be a nice combination of the two genres.
The book was very well written. The historical time frame seemed reasonable, given the steampunk element added to Victorian England. The characters were well-developed, yet I did not connect with them, and the ending left me depressed. I'm sure, given the quality of the writing, another reader might find it a more enjoyable read.
The book was very well written. The historical time frame seemed reasonable, given the steampunk element added to Victorian England. The characters were well-developed, yet I did not connect with them, and the ending left me depressed. I'm sure, given the quality of the writing, another reader might find it a more enjoyable read.
June 22, 2015
I was interested in reading this story because I've never read a Steampunk adventure. What an interesting read! Right when the story starts, my curiosity was aroused. The characters were nicely developed as well as the plot. I've always been intrigued by pirates, so that was also fun for me.
This book was a fantasy and an adventure. The author did a nice job with getting inside her characters' heads. As readers, we could sense their inner conflicts and turmoil.
The ending surprised me- definitely wasn't expecting it. If you're looking for a fun, different read, give this one a try.
This book was a fantasy and an adventure. The author did a nice job with getting inside her characters' heads. As readers, we could sense their inner conflicts and turmoil.
The ending surprised me- definitely wasn't expecting it. If you're looking for a fun, different read, give this one a try.
November 9, 2015
An extremely entertaining and fun adventure!
Jaq D Hawkins writing skills immensely impressed me. The pace of the writing took me sailing through the air into a fantastical but convincing world. You enter the heart of each character, Captain Bonny, the luckless clerk Dudley, prostitutes and many more. The author painted such a vivid picture that this adventure stayed with me long after I put the book down. If all steampunk is like this then I’m a fan. I would highly recommend this as an escapist fun adventure.
Jaq D Hawkins writing skills immensely impressed me. The pace of the writing took me sailing through the air into a fantastical but convincing world. You enter the heart of each character, Captain Bonny, the luckless clerk Dudley, prostitutes and many more. The author painted such a vivid picture that this adventure stayed with me long after I put the book down. If all steampunk is like this then I’m a fan. I would highly recommend this as an escapist fun adventure.
January 21, 2015
I've never really read much steampunk, but I found that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot of the story was well-paced and kept me interested till the end. And I really liked the fact that you knew what the outcome was going to be a little while before the end, but you didn't find out how until the very final page. Brilliant! Highly recommended!
August 23, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed this read.
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