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The Transference Engine
A fantastical steampunk novel of magic and machines set in an alternate 1830s London.
Madame Magdala has settled comfortably into her new life in London, as the proprietress of the Book View Café, a coffee shop and extensive library. Her silent partner is Ada Lovelace, who will one day become the world’s first computer programmer—but who now is simply the young woman for whom Madame Magdala was a nursery maid.
Ten years ago, Ada’s father, Lord Bryon, was known as a great writer. But few knew of his powers as a necromancer. Upon his death, his devoted followers tried to repair the Transference Engine—a device that would allow Byron’s soul to claim the body of its choice. Magadala, along with Mary Godwin—a.k.a. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley—had to stop them.
While the original Transference Engine was destroyed, they were unsure whether they truly stopped Bryon and his followers. Together, they fled to safety in London, and built new futures for themselves.
Now, Magdala and Mary care for the Book View Café’s community, leading fashion, following gossip, and reading the latest periodicals. But when members of the café’s community mysteriously disappear, and rumors of a threat of royal assassinaton grow, Magdala finds herself with new mysteries to solve. The more she learns, the clearer it becomes that this is the same mystery returned—the Transference Engine is back with a vengeance.
Madame Magdala has settled comfortably into her new life in London, as the proprietress of the Book View Café, a coffee shop and extensive library. Her silent partner is Ada Lovelace, who will one day become the world’s first computer programmer—but who now is simply the young woman for whom Madame Magdala was a nursery maid.
Ten years ago, Ada’s father, Lord Bryon, was known as a great writer. But few knew of his powers as a necromancer. Upon his death, his devoted followers tried to repair the Transference Engine—a device that would allow Byron’s soul to claim the body of its choice. Magadala, along with Mary Godwin—a.k.a. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley—had to stop them.
While the original Transference Engine was destroyed, they were unsure whether they truly stopped Bryon and his followers. Together, they fled to safety in London, and built new futures for themselves.
Now, Magdala and Mary care for the Book View Café’s community, leading fashion, following gossip, and reading the latest periodicals. But when members of the café’s community mysteriously disappear, and rumors of a threat of royal assassinaton grow, Magdala finds herself with new mysteries to solve. The more she learns, the clearer it becomes that this is the same mystery returned—the Transference Engine is back with a vengeance.
314 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2016
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July 5, 2016
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/07/05/...
Julia Verne St. John’s fantasy steampunk alternate history novel The Transference Engine became one of my most anticipated releases of 2016 when The BiblioSanctum hosted the cover reveal for it earlier this year. The first time I glimpsed that beautiful cover was also the first time I’d heard of this book, and both the protagonist and the world sounded fascinating to me. A mystery involving necromancy, set in an alternate 1830s London that’s run on magic and machines? No way I wasn’t going to love this. In spite of my excitement though, by the time I was through the first few chapters, I realized I was probably going to have to adjust my expectations.
These first few dozen pages or so introduced us to Madame Magdala, the proprietress of the Book View Café, a magical library where patrons can sit and read while enjoying a cup of coffee and freshly baked pastries. However, the café’s centerpiece is a magical book sorting contraption designed by Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, a literal search engine that can find any book you ask for in the library’s collection. Magdala and Lovelace—the woman who will one day become the world’s first computer programmer—go way back, from the time Magdala was first hired by Ada’s mother to be a governess and protector for her daughter.
That’s because Ada’s father is also the notorious Lord Byron, the famous poet and depraved necromancer. Even after his death, Lady Byron feared that her husband’s followers would try to resurrect him in a new body using a soul-transferal machine called the Transference Engine. While the original machine was destroyed ten years ago, there’s no telling how far the necromancers will go to complete their task. Now, with reports of young men and women disappearing all around London (and several of the missing being employees of the Book View Café), Magdala is concerned that someone might be attempting to repair the Transference Engine by collecting enough innocent souls to bring back the one of Lord Byron.
In truth, I actually liked this novel. If I was a little disappointed, it’s only insofar because I thought I was going to love it. My main issue with the book was how slowly it started. For a 300-page novel, I typically expect things to be moving long by page 50, but this story didn’t pick up in earnest until more than halfway through, which is quite a lot to ask of your readers. I was feeling much more generous with The Transference Engine and kept reading because I genuinely was taken in by the world, but I think others might not be so patient. Not that the plot didn’t interest me, but I would have liked this a lot more if the major developments were presented sooner.
The number of confusing flashbacks was also another factor that played into the pacing issue. Part of the problem is that this book almost reads like a sequel, with the heroine constantly referring to events in the past like I should be aware of them already. This feeling of “sequel-ness” was so strong, I did some research after finishing The Transference Engine to see what I could find. It turned out, I was right—sort of. The character of Madame Magdala was actually first introduced in a collection of short stories called Steampunk Voyages, published by the author in 2013 under her name Irene Radford. Many of the past adventures Magdala mentions in The Transference Engine are apparently from this anthology, including her experiences involving her past clients, Mary Godwin and Percy Shelley (the latter was a necromancer too). Knowing all this, I understood the reason I felt so lost and confused was because I was effectively starting this story from behind.
That said, I really liked some of the characters and world-building elements. I actually wish these aspects could have been developed more, but the truth is this book was probably too short to fit all the ideas the author wanted. The narrative also spends way too much time on things I didn’t find as interesting, such as Magdala’s constant congratulating of herself for taking in orphans and other street children (almost like she has to remind us all every few minutes what a kind, magnanimous soul she is). In actuality, what I really wanted to know was more about the amazing technology in this world, like her little tiny clockwork hummingbird, or her awesome book finding machine. I’d also hoped that Ada Lovelace would feature more prominently in this book; I think she’s an incredible historical figure and it was such a shame that she didn’t play a bigger role in the story.
Once this book got going though, it really moved. All the set up in the first half of the novel paid off in the second, and I breezed through the story’s climax and conclusion. I don’t know if I can wholeheartedly recommend this since the beginning was so confusing and somewhat dull, but at least the ending was satisfying, even if it did wrap up a little too quickly and neatly. The pacing issues really hurt this novel, robbing this mystery story of its full potential, but there’s also plenty to like here if you’re a fan of the steampunk genre and enjoy reading about cool world-building ideas. If there’s a sequel, I can see pacing improving since the foundation has already been established, and I would be very curious to continue the story.
Julia Verne St. John’s fantasy steampunk alternate history novel The Transference Engine became one of my most anticipated releases of 2016 when The BiblioSanctum hosted the cover reveal for it earlier this year. The first time I glimpsed that beautiful cover was also the first time I’d heard of this book, and both the protagonist and the world sounded fascinating to me. A mystery involving necromancy, set in an alternate 1830s London that’s run on magic and machines? No way I wasn’t going to love this. In spite of my excitement though, by the time I was through the first few chapters, I realized I was probably going to have to adjust my expectations.
These first few dozen pages or so introduced us to Madame Magdala, the proprietress of the Book View Café, a magical library where patrons can sit and read while enjoying a cup of coffee and freshly baked pastries. However, the café’s centerpiece is a magical book sorting contraption designed by Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, a literal search engine that can find any book you ask for in the library’s collection. Magdala and Lovelace—the woman who will one day become the world’s first computer programmer—go way back, from the time Magdala was first hired by Ada’s mother to be a governess and protector for her daughter.
That’s because Ada’s father is also the notorious Lord Byron, the famous poet and depraved necromancer. Even after his death, Lady Byron feared that her husband’s followers would try to resurrect him in a new body using a soul-transferal machine called the Transference Engine. While the original machine was destroyed ten years ago, there’s no telling how far the necromancers will go to complete their task. Now, with reports of young men and women disappearing all around London (and several of the missing being employees of the Book View Café), Magdala is concerned that someone might be attempting to repair the Transference Engine by collecting enough innocent souls to bring back the one of Lord Byron.
In truth, I actually liked this novel. If I was a little disappointed, it’s only insofar because I thought I was going to love it. My main issue with the book was how slowly it started. For a 300-page novel, I typically expect things to be moving long by page 50, but this story didn’t pick up in earnest until more than halfway through, which is quite a lot to ask of your readers. I was feeling much more generous with The Transference Engine and kept reading because I genuinely was taken in by the world, but I think others might not be so patient. Not that the plot didn’t interest me, but I would have liked this a lot more if the major developments were presented sooner.
The number of confusing flashbacks was also another factor that played into the pacing issue. Part of the problem is that this book almost reads like a sequel, with the heroine constantly referring to events in the past like I should be aware of them already. This feeling of “sequel-ness” was so strong, I did some research after finishing The Transference Engine to see what I could find. It turned out, I was right—sort of. The character of Madame Magdala was actually first introduced in a collection of short stories called Steampunk Voyages, published by the author in 2013 under her name Irene Radford. Many of the past adventures Magdala mentions in The Transference Engine are apparently from this anthology, including her experiences involving her past clients, Mary Godwin and Percy Shelley (the latter was a necromancer too). Knowing all this, I understood the reason I felt so lost and confused was because I was effectively starting this story from behind.
That said, I really liked some of the characters and world-building elements. I actually wish these aspects could have been developed more, but the truth is this book was probably too short to fit all the ideas the author wanted. The narrative also spends way too much time on things I didn’t find as interesting, such as Magdala’s constant congratulating of herself for taking in orphans and other street children (almost like she has to remind us all every few minutes what a kind, magnanimous soul she is). In actuality, what I really wanted to know was more about the amazing technology in this world, like her little tiny clockwork hummingbird, or her awesome book finding machine. I’d also hoped that Ada Lovelace would feature more prominently in this book; I think she’s an incredible historical figure and it was such a shame that she didn’t play a bigger role in the story.
Once this book got going though, it really moved. All the set up in the first half of the novel paid off in the second, and I breezed through the story’s climax and conclusion. I don’t know if I can wholeheartedly recommend this since the beginning was so confusing and somewhat dull, but at least the ending was satisfying, even if it did wrap up a little too quickly and neatly. The pacing issues really hurt this novel, robbing this mystery story of its full potential, but there’s also plenty to like here if you’re a fan of the steampunk genre and enjoy reading about cool world-building ideas. If there’s a sequel, I can see pacing improving since the foundation has already been established, and I would be very curious to continue the story.
July 12, 2016
Sometimes, despite how much I want to like I book is there are just something that doesn't work. Perhaps I don't connect with the characters or the story just doesn't work out for me. And, sometimes there is a combination of both, The Transference Engine is just the kind of book where I didn't find myself especially interested in the story or liking the characters very much. And, to be honest, I'm a bit mystified by that because I really do like steampunk and I found the idea of an evil Lord Byron trying to get back to life fascinating.
However, the most interesting with this book was the recollection of Magdala's past life running from Lord Byron, I would rather I have read about that than the story in this book. I liked Ada Lovelace, but she didn't have a big part in this book and that was too bad because as the only daughter of Lord Byron would it have been interesting to follow her life rather than Magdala who I'm, to be honest never really found myself warming up to. The book started off great, with Magdala being appointed a governess to Ada, but then the story jumps into the future with Ada grown up and Magdala running a coffee salon and then the story just become dull. The disappearing of young people and Magdala trying to figure out what is going on just didn't appeal to me.
So, I'm sorry to say, this was just not a book for me. However, I do love that cover!
I want to thank Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
However, the most interesting with this book was the recollection of Magdala's past life running from Lord Byron, I would rather I have read about that than the story in this book. I liked Ada Lovelace, but she didn't have a big part in this book and that was too bad because as the only daughter of Lord Byron would it have been interesting to follow her life rather than Magdala who I'm, to be honest never really found myself warming up to. The book started off great, with Magdala being appointed a governess to Ada, but then the story jumps into the future with Ada grown up and Magdala running a coffee salon and then the story just become dull. The disappearing of young people and Magdala trying to figure out what is going on just didn't appeal to me.
So, I'm sorry to say, this was just not a book for me. However, I do love that cover!
I want to thank Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
July 8, 2016
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads.
THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE did a lot of things right with its Steampunk inspired machinery, and its eccentric heroine with a big heart. The necromancy aspect was a definite hook for me, and Julia Verne St. John’s writing style fit the alternate 1830s London time period. The area in which this book didn’t perform was unfortunately the story. The pacing was very slow, and the mysteries weren’t difficult to solve.
I enjoyed Madame Magdala’s character a great deal from her refusal to conform to traditional female roles, to her chameleon tendencies, and soft spot for street urchins. I also liked her connection to the Romany people, and the way that the author explored some of their nomadic ways. Ada Lovelace didn’t really add much to the plot other than to set the tone for Lord Bryon’s followers, so her parts were kinda tedious.
The Book View Café’s catalogue search engine was a pretty cool gadget, and St. John had plenty more where that came from with things like steam horse drawn carriages, and air balloons. The fact that some of the secondaries were Science or Math driven helped to elaborate on the thought processes behind some of these creations. The explanations with regards to the gizmo that this novel was named for were rather shoddy though.
The story was where the author lost me because it involved a whole lot of dialogue and speculation, but not much action. Magda’s street kids are disappearing, there’s an unknown airship hovering over the city up to who-knows-what, and Drew, her lover is somehow involved. The pieces do come together however, the question of whether Byron is really dead is never answered, and the ending was as anticlimactic as they come.
THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE’s “fresh twist on historical literary figures” was anything but. ~ 3.5 Stars
THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE did a lot of things right with its Steampunk inspired machinery, and its eccentric heroine with a big heart. The necromancy aspect was a definite hook for me, and Julia Verne St. John’s writing style fit the alternate 1830s London time period. The area in which this book didn’t perform was unfortunately the story. The pacing was very slow, and the mysteries weren’t difficult to solve.
I enjoyed Madame Magdala’s character a great deal from her refusal to conform to traditional female roles, to her chameleon tendencies, and soft spot for street urchins. I also liked her connection to the Romany people, and the way that the author explored some of their nomadic ways. Ada Lovelace didn’t really add much to the plot other than to set the tone for Lord Bryon’s followers, so her parts were kinda tedious.
The Book View Café’s catalogue search engine was a pretty cool gadget, and St. John had plenty more where that came from with things like steam horse drawn carriages, and air balloons. The fact that some of the secondaries were Science or Math driven helped to elaborate on the thought processes behind some of these creations. The explanations with regards to the gizmo that this novel was named for were rather shoddy though.
The story was where the author lost me because it involved a whole lot of dialogue and speculation, but not much action. Magda’s street kids are disappearing, there’s an unknown airship hovering over the city up to who-knows-what, and Drew, her lover is somehow involved. The pieces do come together however, the question of whether Byron is really dead is never answered, and the ending was as anticlimactic as they come.
THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE’s “fresh twist on historical literary figures” was anything but. ~ 3.5 Stars
February 17, 2017
**Reviews courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy**
I think a lot of readers like to imagine a world in which they could own their own cafe/bookstore, or maybe I'm just weird thinking that would be cool. But that's what made me pick up THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE, a story about someone who owns her own cafe/bookstore in a steampunk world sounded pretty awesome. Few books get me as interested in them as THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE did just by reading the synopsis, however, it wasn't quite as good as I wanted it to be.
My main issue with THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE was that it was a stand alone novel that seems to pick up in the middle of the plot. There are a few other published short stories with Madam Magdala in them, but from my brief skimming of them they don't seem to be related to the main plot line of THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE. In my opinion there should have been two full length novels before THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE to really understand whats going on. Julia does quite a few flashbacks and just straight exposition about previous events, which I really dislike in books, especially stand alone novels. If the reader needs the information that badly then that event should be part of the story.
My second issue with THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE is that it starts with one story line (which has a lot to do with events that happened before THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE takes place) then at about the halfway point it switches gears to a completely separate story line. That story line ends satisfactorily, but the original one isn't tied up at all. I think there may be a sequel to finish that story line, but I don't know.
My final complaint is that all the action scenes are a big let down. There are only two of them, the midpoint and the climax. Neither of them were very satisfactory, and Madam Magdala wasn't even the one to accomplish anything major in the actions scenes. She's there, but it was the other characters that actually got the job done.
Despite all of that, I did enjoy THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE. It was a fun read with awesome characters! The characters were the only reason I kept reading the book. If a sequel does come out I will pick it up. I'm interested to see if the original story line gets wrapped up.
References to sex and rape
I think a lot of readers like to imagine a world in which they could own their own cafe/bookstore, or maybe I'm just weird thinking that would be cool. But that's what made me pick up THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE, a story about someone who owns her own cafe/bookstore in a steampunk world sounded pretty awesome. Few books get me as interested in them as THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE did just by reading the synopsis, however, it wasn't quite as good as I wanted it to be.
My main issue with THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE was that it was a stand alone novel that seems to pick up in the middle of the plot. There are a few other published short stories with Madam Magdala in them, but from my brief skimming of them they don't seem to be related to the main plot line of THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE. In my opinion there should have been two full length novels before THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE to really understand whats going on. Julia does quite a few flashbacks and just straight exposition about previous events, which I really dislike in books, especially stand alone novels. If the reader needs the information that badly then that event should be part of the story.
My second issue with THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE is that it starts with one story line (which has a lot to do with events that happened before THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE takes place) then at about the halfway point it switches gears to a completely separate story line. That story line ends satisfactorily, but the original one isn't tied up at all. I think there may be a sequel to finish that story line, but I don't know.
My final complaint is that all the action scenes are a big let down. There are only two of them, the midpoint and the climax. Neither of them were very satisfactory, and Madam Magdala wasn't even the one to accomplish anything major in the actions scenes. She's there, but it was the other characters that actually got the job done.
Despite all of that, I did enjoy THE TRANSFERENCE ENGINE. It was a fun read with awesome characters! The characters were the only reason I kept reading the book. If a sequel does come out I will pick it up. I'm interested to see if the original story line gets wrapped up.
References to sex and rape
July 6, 2016
3.5/5
Mon avis en Français
My ENglish review
When I saw the book, I fell in love with the cover! How not to do so? It’s really gorgeous. But here, the synopsis is also very attractive with the mention of Mary Shelley, the Victorian area or the technology development. So I was very curious to delve into the story and to find out what it concealed.
I was a little disturbed early in my reading because we have a chapter in the past (to put the basis of the story) to be propelled thereafter into a period a long time after and we feel that many events occurred. I thought that we would know more gradually by recalls over the chapters but that has not really been the case and found that the passages were sometimes a bit confusing. But if you put that aside, we find Mrs. Magdala, a young woman who after living as a nurse, now runs a café that allows her to be aware of the latest rumors and to help young people in difficulty by giving them work. To avoid any harm to the reputation of her former pupil, she also operates in secret with her protected Ada, to study engineering, machinery and inventions. They live in peace until Ada’s father, Byron comes back at the center of the stage with disturbing disappearances in the population of London and therefore the return of Transference Engine that could cause many problems.
It was very nice and surprising to discover that the Romani community had great impact in this novel and to understand that without them Magdala would have been found in difficult situations. I enjoyed how the author had staged to explain a bit their culture at the same time. It was also a really interesting and different story of what we usually find and it was fascinating to find a mixture such as this and to understand all the subtleties. As I said initially, I would have liked more feedback in relation to what had happened before (I had the impression of reading a second volume or a spin off). And despite some length, I had a great time with the story and the characters (colorful) and I am curious to see what will happen later. It was a good discovery, which laid the foundations of the story but I am curious to understand a little better the characters and their past.
Mon avis en Français
My ENglish review
When I saw the book, I fell in love with the cover! How not to do so? It’s really gorgeous. But here, the synopsis is also very attractive with the mention of Mary Shelley, the Victorian area or the technology development. So I was very curious to delve into the story and to find out what it concealed.
I was a little disturbed early in my reading because we have a chapter in the past (to put the basis of the story) to be propelled thereafter into a period a long time after and we feel that many events occurred. I thought that we would know more gradually by recalls over the chapters but that has not really been the case and found that the passages were sometimes a bit confusing. But if you put that aside, we find Mrs. Magdala, a young woman who after living as a nurse, now runs a café that allows her to be aware of the latest rumors and to help young people in difficulty by giving them work. To avoid any harm to the reputation of her former pupil, she also operates in secret with her protected Ada, to study engineering, machinery and inventions. They live in peace until Ada’s father, Byron comes back at the center of the stage with disturbing disappearances in the population of London and therefore the return of Transference Engine that could cause many problems.
It was very nice and surprising to discover that the Romani community had great impact in this novel and to understand that without them Magdala would have been found in difficult situations. I enjoyed how the author had staged to explain a bit their culture at the same time. It was also a really interesting and different story of what we usually find and it was fascinating to find a mixture such as this and to understand all the subtleties. As I said initially, I would have liked more feedback in relation to what had happened before (I had the impression of reading a second volume or a spin off). And despite some length, I had a great time with the story and the characters (colorful) and I am curious to see what will happen later. It was a good discovery, which laid the foundations of the story but I am curious to understand a little better the characters and their past.
July 18, 2016
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Victorian, Steampunk
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
The Transference Engine, by author Julia Verne St. John, is being billed as a Victorian Era, Steampunk driven novel. It is apparently a standalone novel since I haven't been able to determine whether or not any sequel will be forthcoming. Really, the first 100 pages reads as though this book is a sequel to another book that apparently doesn't exist in any form. The story takes place in Victorian England from 1824 through 1838. The story follows Madame Magdala, or Elise Vollans, proprietress of the Book View Cafe who years before, destroyed Lord Byron's Transference Engine along with one Mary Goodwin aka Shelley.
*Full Review @ Talk Supe Blog 07/17/2016
http://www.talksupeblog.com/2016/07/g...
Published July 5th 2016 by DAW
*Genre* Victorian, Steampunk
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
The Transference Engine, by author Julia Verne St. John, is being billed as a Victorian Era, Steampunk driven novel. It is apparently a standalone novel since I haven't been able to determine whether or not any sequel will be forthcoming. Really, the first 100 pages reads as though this book is a sequel to another book that apparently doesn't exist in any form. The story takes place in Victorian England from 1824 through 1838. The story follows Madame Magdala, or Elise Vollans, proprietress of the Book View Cafe who years before, destroyed Lord Byron's Transference Engine along with one Mary Goodwin aka Shelley.
*Full Review @ Talk Supe Blog 07/17/2016
http://www.talksupeblog.com/2016/07/g...
Published July 5th 2016 by DAW
February 27, 2017
A steam-powered library. A woman with a complicated past who serves as governess to Ada Lovelace, the genius who was a computer programmer before computers existed. And a dark plot involving necromancy, lasers, and the future of England...
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I actually did. I can't strictly fault it on anything, either: the writing is perfectly proficient, the heroine is nicely complex, and there are plenty of good ideas... I guess it just felt to me like the pacing was off a bit. It dragged in places, but at the same time I felt that almost too much was going on. And I really wanted much more back-story on many of the characters and concepts, as though this book were the sequel to a novel I haven't read. I'd probably read more by this author, if only in hopes of having some of those questions answered!
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I actually did. I can't strictly fault it on anything, either: the writing is perfectly proficient, the heroine is nicely complex, and there are plenty of good ideas... I guess it just felt to me like the pacing was off a bit. It dragged in places, but at the same time I felt that almost too much was going on. And I really wanted much more back-story on many of the characters and concepts, as though this book were the sequel to a novel I haven't read. I'd probably read more by this author, if only in hopes of having some of those questions answered!
March 30, 2017
I enjoy steampunk and throwing in some necromancy by dead English poets sounds good, but the choppy, always serious narration combined with gadgets like the secret? steam train to the bad guys hangout badly damaged my mental suspension. It was sort of OK but I'm not reading any further in this series. Nice pseudonym though.
For those wishing for crazy romantic poet action I'd recommend The Anubis Gates as a far better alternative.
For those wishing for crazy romantic poet action I'd recommend The Anubis Gates as a far better alternative.
July 26, 2016
Necromancy and Steampunk. Two things I'm always willing to give a try. Naturally this, back when I saw the cover revealed on (I think it was) Bibliosanctum, was one of my most anticipated reads for this year. Not only did I get a digital ARC but I did in fact buy a physical copy of the book. I was stoked!
The book was interesting - but not as mind blowing as I had hoped unfortunately. It had a few things going for it and few things batting against it. The good things were the ideas and the settings, again I have to state Necromancy and Steampunk. Great ideas and the actual premise of this sounded super promising. The bits that dealt with Byron and Ada, spoke about them at length, those were some of my favorite parts.
The world in this one was also interesting to me. She built what could be a pretty typical steampunk London but I give her kudos - she made it seem very gritty and dirty. The idea of the coal being burnt for the steam to power everything made the city very dirty, something she conveyed well. I always love a good cost to an exotic setting.
Where it stumbled for me was in the pacing and characters. The pacing was odd, slightly slow at first building to a breakneck pace at the end. The constant and weirdly spaced flashbacks really did not add a lot to the story - confusing me at times. Every time we had one I had to reread the beginning to be sure we weren't in the book's present but the past. Also, I felt like I was reading a sequel, and I was! I had to look at other reviews and research but most of the grand escapades referenced (constantly) by our heroine are in a collection of short stories. I wish I'd known that going in.
Probably due to the pacing I couldn't get attached to the characters. I found it hard to enjoy our main narrative because of the almost infallibility of the main character. This could entirely be because I didn't get to read those short stories but she always seemed to know what to do and when, no problems. Other characters came and went at her disposal, an awkward and hazy after sex scene accompanying many out the door. I didn't get to enjoy those characters - again because of the strange over-familiarity that never introduced me to them.
I wish, ultimately, that someone had told me this was a sequel of sorts. Was it the fault of the publisher for leaving that very important information out or is digging up that collection (which, may I add is under another name of the author's) on the reader's head? Remains to be seen. I think I'll give the collection a shot then perhaps return to this one for another try. It definitely has some first book syndromes that could be solved with time, but I'm hoping the short stories could clear up the bigger issues I had.
I can't recommend this knowing the stories are needed - but if you've read those, give this a shot! Maybe tell me if it helps?
The book was interesting - but not as mind blowing as I had hoped unfortunately. It had a few things going for it and few things batting against it. The good things were the ideas and the settings, again I have to state Necromancy and Steampunk. Great ideas and the actual premise of this sounded super promising. The bits that dealt with Byron and Ada, spoke about them at length, those were some of my favorite parts.
The world in this one was also interesting to me. She built what could be a pretty typical steampunk London but I give her kudos - she made it seem very gritty and dirty. The idea of the coal being burnt for the steam to power everything made the city very dirty, something she conveyed well. I always love a good cost to an exotic setting.
Where it stumbled for me was in the pacing and characters. The pacing was odd, slightly slow at first building to a breakneck pace at the end. The constant and weirdly spaced flashbacks really did not add a lot to the story - confusing me at times. Every time we had one I had to reread the beginning to be sure we weren't in the book's present but the past. Also, I felt like I was reading a sequel, and I was! I had to look at other reviews and research but most of the grand escapades referenced (constantly) by our heroine are in a collection of short stories. I wish I'd known that going in.
Probably due to the pacing I couldn't get attached to the characters. I found it hard to enjoy our main narrative because of the almost infallibility of the main character. This could entirely be because I didn't get to read those short stories but she always seemed to know what to do and when, no problems. Other characters came and went at her disposal, an awkward and hazy after sex scene accompanying many out the door. I didn't get to enjoy those characters - again because of the strange over-familiarity that never introduced me to them.
I wish, ultimately, that someone had told me this was a sequel of sorts. Was it the fault of the publisher for leaving that very important information out or is digging up that collection (which, may I add is under another name of the author's) on the reader's head? Remains to be seen. I think I'll give the collection a shot then perhaps return to this one for another try. It definitely has some first book syndromes that could be solved with time, but I'm hoping the short stories could clear up the bigger issues I had.
I can't recommend this knowing the stories are needed - but if you've read those, give this a shot! Maybe tell me if it helps?
June 29, 2016
The Transference Engine
by Julia Verne St. John
A fantastical steampunk novel of magic and machines set in an alternate 1830s London
So Booklovers, this one was an interesting story!
I have forever wanted to read a steam punk novel, and I tried and I tried and I TRIED *insert sad face* I just couldn’t get into this one.
The overall story was neat, I liked the characters enough to finish the story.
It was an absolute blast reading this in paperback, I loved holding the book in my hand, I feel so lucky to have received an ARC copy from penguin.
I honestly think thought readers will love this one, for what it is the steampunk fantastical world.
I adore this cover, isn't it pretty? I thought so!
3 - 3.5 Stars
by Julia Verne St. John
A fantastical steampunk novel of magic and machines set in an alternate 1830s London
So Booklovers, this one was an interesting story!
I have forever wanted to read a steam punk novel, and I tried and I tried and I TRIED *insert sad face* I just couldn’t get into this one.
The overall story was neat, I liked the characters enough to finish the story.
It was an absolute blast reading this in paperback, I loved holding the book in my hand, I feel so lucky to have received an ARC copy from penguin.
I honestly think thought readers will love this one, for what it is the steampunk fantastical world.
I adore this cover, isn't it pretty? I thought so!
3 - 3.5 Stars
April 21, 2018
This steampunk novel is set in 1830's London. Madame Magdala has reinvented herself many times. Several years previously, she destroyed a machine called a transference engine. Lord Byron was totally obsessed with being able to transfer his soul into another body, thereby becoming immortal. Magdala's fear is that Byron's fanatical followers will kidnap her and Ada Byron Lovelace, his only legitimate daughter, and force them to rebuild the transference engine.
During the day, Magdala runs a fashionable coffee salon and reading room while living on the edge of polite society. She and Ada use the massive library stored there to keep an eye on political and business activity around the world. An army of street urchins keeps Magdala informed about what's going on around London.
The coronation of Queen Victoria is coming in a few days. An all-black hot air balloon that shoots searing light from a hidden cannon suddenly appears above London. Is Victoria the target? Does this have anything to do with the disappearance of a number of young women from all walks of life? Lord Byron died a few years previously, or did he?
I enjoyed reading this book. It's just weird enough, and it is very easy to read and comprehend. I am looking forward to reading a sequel.
During the day, Magdala runs a fashionable coffee salon and reading room while living on the edge of polite society. She and Ada use the massive library stored there to keep an eye on political and business activity around the world. An army of street urchins keeps Magdala informed about what's going on around London.
The coronation of Queen Victoria is coming in a few days. An all-black hot air balloon that shoots searing light from a hidden cannon suddenly appears above London. Is Victoria the target? Does this have anything to do with the disappearance of a number of young women from all walks of life? Lord Byron died a few years previously, or did he?
I enjoyed reading this book. It's just weird enough, and it is very easy to read and comprehend. I am looking forward to reading a sequel.
June 20, 2018
Alternate history/steampunk-lite at the cusp of Queen Victoria's coronation. It's probably more for readers who are familiar with steampunk as a genre and for readers who are familiar with the Byron/Shelley/Romantic poets as a literary movement. Byron and Shelley were necromancers, and I wish that was explored a little bit more. The story felt crowded with other details that ultimately felt like they could have been culled for a tighter narrative, but it was still enjoyable and an easy, fun read!
July 20, 2021
I enjoyed this, it's definitely worth a read if you're a steampunk fan, but it's also not the pinnacle of the genre either. It does do some jumping back in forth in time for perspective, and I generally prefer a linear telling of the story.
March 14, 2018
it was agood book for the most part!
May 9, 2021
The plot was very good but storyline was anticlimactic.
November 2, 2021
Meh. Too much of Lord Byron this and My Ada that. Apparently I've also come to dislike first person narrative immensely.
But the Café and the Book machine? Yes please.
But the Café and the Book machine? Yes please.
July 13, 2016
Madame Magdala has settled comfortably into her new life in London, as the proprietress of the Book View Café, a coffee shop and extensive library. Her silent partner is Ada Lovelace, who will one day become the world’s first computer programmer—but who now is simply the young woman for whom Madame Magdala was a nursery maid.
Ten years ago, Ada’s father, Lord Bryon, was known as a great writer. But few knew of his powers as a necromancer. Upon his death, his devoted followers tried to repair the Transference Engine—a device that would allow Byron’s soul to claim the body of its choice. Magadala, along with Mary Godwin—a.k.a. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley—had to stop them.
While the original Transference Engine was destroyed, they were unsure whether they truly stopped Bryon and his followers. Together, they fled to safety in London, and built new futures for themselves.
Now, Magdala and Mary care for the Book View Café’s community, leading fashion, following gossip, and reading the latest periodicals. But when members of the café’s community mysteriously disappear, and rumors of a threat of royal assassination grow, Magdala finds herself with new mysteries to solve. The more she learns, the clearer it becomes that this is the same mystery returned—the Transference Engine is back with a vengeance.
My Review:
I very rarely if ever read Steampunk novels so when I do I'm always curious to see how it turns out. As you can see this is a book I severely judged by its cover. I plead guilty ahead of time but come on look at it, its absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful cover.
That being said I thought the world was interesting and the plot even more so yet I felt something was off through the entire thing.
It felt... abrupt, somehow incomplete.
We jump from current day to future or past to future way too soon into a journey that happens way too slow and doesn't particularly answer enough questions that it opens.
There is a ton of potential and it held my interest but I wish the author had invested more time fleshing the journey that got the cast to where they are from where they started in the beginning instead of jumping years later and continuing on with where they are now.
It left me feeling slightly disconnected from the cast, the story and the journey they were on when its that I wanted more of.
The Transference Engine has the potential of being a five star read but it would be nice if there was more meat in the story and the development of it considering how many pages are in the book.
Its this issue that caused me to rate the book three stars but otherwise I thought it was really fantastic.
My Rating:
Reviewed By:
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews
Booklikes
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Amazon
Disclaimer:
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
Source:
Received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley via Berkley Publishing
Note:
If any of Krissys Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like or let me know what you think! Thank you!
Ten years ago, Ada’s father, Lord Bryon, was known as a great writer. But few knew of his powers as a necromancer. Upon his death, his devoted followers tried to repair the Transference Engine—a device that would allow Byron’s soul to claim the body of its choice. Magadala, along with Mary Godwin—a.k.a. Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley—had to stop them.
While the original Transference Engine was destroyed, they were unsure whether they truly stopped Bryon and his followers. Together, they fled to safety in London, and built new futures for themselves.
Now, Magdala and Mary care for the Book View Café’s community, leading fashion, following gossip, and reading the latest periodicals. But when members of the café’s community mysteriously disappear, and rumors of a threat of royal assassination grow, Magdala finds herself with new mysteries to solve. The more she learns, the clearer it becomes that this is the same mystery returned—the Transference Engine is back with a vengeance.
My Review:
I very rarely if ever read Steampunk novels so when I do I'm always curious to see how it turns out. As you can see this is a book I severely judged by its cover. I plead guilty ahead of time but come on look at it, its absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful cover.
That being said I thought the world was interesting and the plot even more so yet I felt something was off through the entire thing.
It felt... abrupt, somehow incomplete.
We jump from current day to future or past to future way too soon into a journey that happens way too slow and doesn't particularly answer enough questions that it opens.
There is a ton of potential and it held my interest but I wish the author had invested more time fleshing the journey that got the cast to where they are from where they started in the beginning instead of jumping years later and continuing on with where they are now.
It left me feeling slightly disconnected from the cast, the story and the journey they were on when its that I wanted more of.
The Transference Engine has the potential of being a five star read but it would be nice if there was more meat in the story and the development of it considering how many pages are in the book.
Its this issue that caused me to rate the book three stars but otherwise I thought it was really fantastic.
My Rating:
Reviewed By:
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews
Booklikes
Goodreads
Google Plus
Blogger
Amazon
Disclaimer:
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.
Source:
Received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley via Berkley Publishing
Note:
If any of Krissys Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like or let me know what you think! Thank you!
August 20, 2016
This was a very enjoyable story. I liked the plot, I loved the characters, and it had enough of a steampunk vibe without that overwhelming the rest of the book.
First off, I absolutely LOVE the character of Madame Magdala!! She is smart, independent, strong-willed, but also kind, and moral [in her way] and very supportive of those in her world. She is the perfect strong female character which is always a draw for me in a book.
The plot with Byron trying to use machinery to come back from the dead [that's not a spoiler, we are told this at the beginning of the book] didn't feel quite finished to me. I liked the idea of that plot line, and it felt as though it had lots of promise, but it didn't get developed as much as I'd thought it would. Perhaps that is because the author is planning to make this a series [which I would be very happy about, as I would definitely read more books with Magdala as the protagonist!] but I would have liked more resolution than I feel like we got on that part of the story. Still that didn't overly impact my enjoyment of the story.
I also really liked the supporting characters, especially Magdala's gang of ragamuffins and misfits. They are spunky and clever and have plenty of personality. They get some of the best lines in the book and I liked all of them.
The book cafe and coffee house was a very fun an unique aspect to the story, and a welcome one for an avid reader. I loved hearing about the machine that uses your criteria and finds the book you want and whooshes it out into the cafe right into Magdala's hands. I would love to hear more about that machine and if there are more books to come in this world, I very much hope the author writes more detail about the machine and how it works. That was cool!
The villains in this book were delightfully evil, and had more than enough juice to give Magdala a throroughly exciting run for her money in thwarting them. There's plenty of action, danger and adventure in this book and it really keeps your attention all the way to the end.
Overall a very enjoyable action/adventure story which delivers - as the cover blurb promises - Victorian steampunk fantasy of magic, machines and necromancy. I enjoyed this a lot. Recommended if you are looking for a light, fast, fun read with a steampunk feel and just a hint of romance but no sex to speak of.
First off, I absolutely LOVE the character of Madame Magdala!! She is smart, independent, strong-willed, but also kind, and moral [in her way] and very supportive of those in her world. She is the perfect strong female character which is always a draw for me in a book.
The plot with Byron trying to use machinery to come back from the dead [that's not a spoiler, we are told this at the beginning of the book] didn't feel quite finished to me. I liked the idea of that plot line, and it felt as though it had lots of promise, but it didn't get developed as much as I'd thought it would. Perhaps that is because the author is planning to make this a series [which I would be very happy about, as I would definitely read more books with Magdala as the protagonist!] but I would have liked more resolution than I feel like we got on that part of the story. Still that didn't overly impact my enjoyment of the story.
I also really liked the supporting characters, especially Magdala's gang of ragamuffins and misfits. They are spunky and clever and have plenty of personality. They get some of the best lines in the book and I liked all of them.
The book cafe and coffee house was a very fun an unique aspect to the story, and a welcome one for an avid reader. I loved hearing about the machine that uses your criteria and finds the book you want and whooshes it out into the cafe right into Magdala's hands. I would love to hear more about that machine and if there are more books to come in this world, I very much hope the author writes more detail about the machine and how it works. That was cool!
The villains in this book were delightfully evil, and had more than enough juice to give Magdala a throroughly exciting run for her money in thwarting them. There's plenty of action, danger and adventure in this book and it really keeps your attention all the way to the end.
Overall a very enjoyable action/adventure story which delivers - as the cover blurb promises - Victorian steampunk fantasy of magic, machines and necromancy. I enjoyed this a lot. Recommended if you are looking for a light, fast, fun read with a steampunk feel and just a hint of romance but no sex to speak of.
February 25, 2017
Picked up off library rack. Interesting concept. Didn't completely pull it off. Not enough detail.
July 12, 2016
The Transference Engine is an imaginative departure from standard steampunk fare. While there are the expected airships an unusual devices, there is also an intriguing form of magic - necromancy. Followers of the Lord Byron, poet and the head of the cult of necromancy, seek to place the dead man's soul into another body. For that they need the Transference Engine and the knowledge of Madame Magdala and Byron's genius daughter Ada Byron King, Countess of Lovelace.
Meanwhile, on the eve of Queen Victoria's coronation, a mysterious threat looms. Young women are disappearing including two of the helpers from Magdala's cafe. Whispers of a plot targeting the coronation as well as the reform movements targeting necromancers abound. To top everything off, Magdala’s lover appears involved.
The Transference Engine is an exciting adventure, whose lead is a woman in her prime rather than an ingenue. She knows her own mind and her strengths. Magdala is not a woman who relies on a man for rescue, but is not too proud to accept assistance when necessary. Her practical nature and perceptiveness make her an excellent lead.
I was impressed by The Transference Engine, finding it an exciting and imaginative work of steampunk fantasy.
4/5
I received a copy of The Transference Engine from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
—Crittermom
Meanwhile, on the eve of Queen Victoria's coronation, a mysterious threat looms. Young women are disappearing including two of the helpers from Magdala's cafe. Whispers of a plot targeting the coronation as well as the reform movements targeting necromancers abound. To top everything off, Magdala’s lover appears involved.
The Transference Engine is an exciting adventure, whose lead is a woman in her prime rather than an ingenue. She knows her own mind and her strengths. Magdala is not a woman who relies on a man for rescue, but is not too proud to accept assistance when necessary. Her practical nature and perceptiveness make her an excellent lead.
I was impressed by The Transference Engine, finding it an exciting and imaginative work of steampunk fantasy.
4/5
I received a copy of The Transference Engine from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
—Crittermom
August 9, 2016
This was my first time reading a book by this author, so it was a lot to take in and I found it to be very interesting. I enjoyed the concept of an alternate history with steam engines, the sci fi, a strong woman who isn't afraid to speak her mind and the mysteries that came about. It's an interesting thought that there could be such a machine to transfer one's soul into another body though I'm glad that's not a technology that we've come across.
Madame Magdala is a very smart woman who has her own secrets, a generous heart, very fashionable and has connections all over the country. When her lover is gone longer than expected and some of her street urchins start to go missing, she knows something is going on and wants to get to the bottom of it. Things are not what they seem though and danger lies just around the corner but Madgala won't let that stop her from trying to figure out what's happening around the city.
This book was full of adventure, humor, fascinating gadgets, the power of friendship and the importance of not getting in over your head. I really enjoyed reading this book and my only complaint is that it seemed to end suddenly. I really hope this world will be continued and would love to read more about Magdala.
Madame Magdala is a very smart woman who has her own secrets, a generous heart, very fashionable and has connections all over the country. When her lover is gone longer than expected and some of her street urchins start to go missing, she knows something is going on and wants to get to the bottom of it. Things are not what they seem though and danger lies just around the corner but Madgala won't let that stop her from trying to figure out what's happening around the city.
This book was full of adventure, humor, fascinating gadgets, the power of friendship and the importance of not getting in over your head. I really enjoyed reading this book and my only complaint is that it seemed to end suddenly. I really hope this world will be continued and would love to read more about Magdala.
July 5, 2016
In this early Victorian steampunk setting, cult followers of Byron have been trying for years to use Ada Lovelave, his daughter to fix a machine that will bring Byron’s soul into another body so he can live again. Magdala has worked at protecting Ada as a child and into adulthood. Using small and large deceptions along with a smattering of street children to gather information she is trying to find out who is behind the latest plot to bring back Byron and another plot to possibly kill Queen Victoria on her coronation day.
Magdala is very interesting as a character and has a good backstory that slowly comes out. With her friendships with the Rom, connections to academics with her coffee shop / lending library and her ongoing series of salons in the evenings she uses all of these treads to get to the center of a mystery. I did enjoy the story and the plot and it should be interesting if there are more books in the series.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley
Magdala is very interesting as a character and has a good backstory that slowly comes out. With her friendships with the Rom, connections to academics with her coffee shop / lending library and her ongoing series of salons in the evenings she uses all of these treads to get to the center of a mystery. I did enjoy the story and the plot and it should be interesting if there are more books in the series.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley
October 1, 2016
The hook here is great: Byron, Shelley, etc. weren't just dissolute poets who were dicks to women, they're also necromancers, and while Byron is actually, thankfully, dead, our protagonist needs to make sure he never successfully possesses his daughter Ada (who she used to be the bodyguard/nanny of). I'm deeply suspicious of using the term "Mary Sue" (and would be even if it were less gendered, for pete's sake), but there is something to be said against narratives that have the main character constantly talked about in superlative terms, especially when they're narrated in the first person. (I genuinely think I would have found this aspect of the book as off-putting if our hero were male, but who knows? Absolutely take that caveat of mine with a grain of salt should the spirit move you.) There are some nice touches here, I especially liked making the obvious love interest more of an ambiguous figure than expected, but I only sort of enjoyed this one.
August 26, 2016
It's hard to pinpoint what the issue with this book is. On one hand, it's an enjoyable and easy to read steampunk novel, but on the other, the plot tends to go gently nowhere and then lurch in some direction abruptly, then get gentle again. The protagonist is likeable and engaging, but she seems to alternate between doing not very much and then turning an approximation of a master spy. And the backstory of the novel has more derring-do in it than the novel itself does, yet I was never bored.
So to me, this was pleasant filler but not a cohesive novel. I might try something else from this author, if I find it at the library, i.e. There was enough done well here to give the author another chance, but I'm not risking money on them again until I've seen a story that holds together better than this one did.
So to me, this was pleasant filler but not a cohesive novel. I might try something else from this author, if I find it at the library, i.e. There was enough done well here to give the author another chance, but I'm not risking money on them again until I've seen a story that holds together better than this one did.
September 8, 2016
I love steampunk. And I like "supernatural" stories, but I'm not sure that one doesn't distract from the other. A little "busy" with details, but still a good romp.
October 9, 2016
Amusing, if a bit of a mish-mosh. I liked the mix of historical and original characters, although I found the main character a bit over the top. If the book had had a more coherent plot, I'd have given it four stars.
July 8, 2016
This was like...borderline incoherent. It was one of the most disorganized and poorly developed books that I've ever read, and I was often confused as to what was going on. Full review to follow.
October 8, 2016
It wasn't what I expected. I had a hard time getting into the plot and understanding all of the intrigue that happened in the story.
August 26, 2016
Needs a little polishing. Otherwise, a very entertaining read.
April 17, 2017
This book didn't really capture my attention until about 2/3 of the way in. But after that, I couldn't put it down. My first steampunk style book, so that may have contributed to my lack of enthusiasm. I will probably try the next one.
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