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The Gunpowder Chronicles #4
The Rebellion Engines
A clash of gunpowder-tech and the machineries of war leading to a showdown in steampunk Shanghai.
Physician Jin Soling and Engineer Chen Chang-wei are stationed at a secret factory complex tasked with creating war machines. When a series of industrial accidents reveals an underground resistance, the two are faced with questions of loyalty, sacrifice and honor. Will they sacrifice their souls for the empire they have sworn to save?
The third book in the Gunpowder Chronicles trilogy which started with Gunpowder Alchemy.
Physician Jin Soling and Engineer Chen Chang-wei are stationed at a secret factory complex tasked with creating war machines. When a series of industrial accidents reveals an underground resistance, the two are faced with questions of loyalty, sacrifice and honor. Will they sacrifice their souls for the empire they have sworn to save?
The third book in the Gunpowder Chronicles trilogy which started with Gunpowder Alchemy.
280 pages, Paperback
Published June 28, 2021
4 people are currently reading
1280 people want to read
About the author
Jeannie Lin
47 books1,027 followersUSA TODAY Bestselling author Jeannie Lin grew up fascinated with stories of Western epic fantasy and Eastern martial arts adventures. When her best friend introduced her to romance novels in middle school, the stage was set. Jeannie started writing her first romance while working as a high school science teacher in South Central Los Angeles. After four years of trying to break into publishing with an Asian-set historical, her 2009 Golden Heart Award–winning manuscript, Butterfly Swords, sold to Harlequin Mills & Boon. Her books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Library Journal with The Dragon and the Pearl listed among Library Journal's Best Romances of 2011.
Titles by Jeannie Lin:
Gunpowder Alchemy (Gunpowder Chronicles #1)
The Jade Temptress (The Lotus Palace #2)
The Lotus Palace
Butterfly Swords
The Dragon and the Pearl
My Fair Concubine
The Sword Dancer
For updates, sign up for her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/42oZL
Find out more about Jeannie Lin online at http://www.jeannielin.com
Titles by Jeannie Lin:
Gunpowder Alchemy (Gunpowder Chronicles #1)
The Jade Temptress (The Lotus Palace #2)
The Lotus Palace
Butterfly Swords
The Dragon and the Pearl
My Fair Concubine
The Sword Dancer
For updates, sign up for her newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/42oZL
Find out more about Jeannie Lin online at http://www.jeannielin.com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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July 30, 2021The Rebellion Engines is here!
Want to know more about the series including suggested reading order and behind the scenes info?
Background info: http://www.jeannielin.com/the-rebelli...
Plus Here's Who's Who in the Gunpowder Chronicles if you need a refresher (or would like to look at some eye candy):
Character guide: https://steampunk.coffeetimeromance.c...
Want to know more about the series including suggested reading order and behind the scenes info?
Background info: http://www.jeannielin.com/the-rebelli...
Plus Here's Who's Who in the Gunpowder Chronicles if you need a refresher (or would like to look at some eye candy):
Character guide: https://steampunk.coffeetimeromance.c...
July 10, 2021
Soling and Chang-wei are at a secret factory, where he's crafting weapons for Prince Yizhou that he the Prince can use to force the foreigners off of Chinese soil. Soling is a physician there, treating the workers' many injuries, due to the dangerously accelerated production schedule. Then there's an explosion at one of the factories, and it's deduced that this latest accident is actually sabotage. The rebels have infiltrated the factories, and Soling is both deeply worried, and increasingly wondering how they can win against threats both outside and within the country, even while she grows increasingly disenchanted with the Prince and others imperilling common people for their power games.
Chaang-wie may not have convinced Japan to aid the Prince, but he learned a lot observing the various karakuri, and designs an unstoppable force for use against the rebels and foreigners.
Opium continues to harm countless people, and when more violence breaks out when Soling and Chang-wei make it back to Shanghai, the strange zombie affliction is another danger harming countless refugees escaping from the attacking rebels.
I love how Jeannie Lin brought so many different story threads together in this end to The Gunpowder Chronicles trilogy. I also like again how the author reinterpreted actual historical events into this alternate history. One fact she included unchanged was the way foreigners, living a short distance away from brutal battles between government and rebel forces, remained untouched and unconcerned about the atrocities, while the refugees and others uninvolved in the conflict were raped and butchered by government forces.
Soling proved a terrific character, and her “sisterly” relationship with Ming-fen was both a source of friction and support between the two. And thank goodness Soling finally managed to get through to Chang-wei, who was too focused solely on engineering difficulties and his unquestioning loyalty to the dynasty, rather than the wider social and moral complexities of the rulers’ actions.
The story wraps up well, with my faves Yang and Satori also playing important parts, and I wish Jeannie Lin returns to her steampunk China again, as I’d LOVE more stories in this setting.
Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Chaang-wie may not have convinced Japan to aid the Prince, but he learned a lot observing the various karakuri, and designs an unstoppable force for use against the rebels and foreigners.
Opium continues to harm countless people, and when more violence breaks out when Soling and Chang-wei make it back to Shanghai, the strange zombie affliction is another danger harming countless refugees escaping from the attacking rebels.
I love how Jeannie Lin brought so many different story threads together in this end to The Gunpowder Chronicles trilogy. I also like again how the author reinterpreted actual historical events into this alternate history. One fact she included unchanged was the way foreigners, living a short distance away from brutal battles between government and rebel forces, remained untouched and unconcerned about the atrocities, while the refugees and others uninvolved in the conflict were raped and butchered by government forces.
Soling proved a terrific character, and her “sisterly” relationship with Ming-fen was both a source of friction and support between the two. And thank goodness Soling finally managed to get through to Chang-wei, who was too focused solely on engineering difficulties and his unquestioning loyalty to the dynasty, rather than the wider social and moral complexities of the rulers’ actions.
The story wraps up well, with my faves Yang and Satori also playing important parts, and I wish Jeannie Lin returns to her steampunk China again, as I’d LOVE more stories in this setting.
Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2021
I received an ARC from the author as part of her review team and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
The Rebellion Engines is the action-packed, long-anticipated conclusion to the main Gunpowder Chronicles trilogy. Once again, we’re back in the steampunk-infused Qing Dynasty China, full of politicking, action, and romance. It did take a little bit to get back into the “groove” of things, as it’s been a bit since I read the other books, but I did appreciate the nice character guide that reminds you briefly of who everyone is, helping to re-immerse me in the adventure.
Jeannie Lin is a master of challenging her characters with new environments to keep things from stagnating, and drawing from historical and other types of research to do so. She explores some new settings yet again, such as the high seas among pirates, as well as new perspectives of some familiar locations, like the factory Soling works at in Shanghai.
The question of where Soling’s loyalties would lie has been a constant one throughout, especially as the story in the first book started with her father being executed. It remains a pressing issue, with even higher stakes as her slow-burning romance with Chang-wei has simmered throughout the series. While it’s not a super physically demonstrative relationship, like in Lin’s historical romances, it’s sweet and the payoff is very much worth it after three books.
I enjoyed this book, and I think other readers who’ve read the previous two will enjoy it too.
The Rebellion Engines is the action-packed, long-anticipated conclusion to the main Gunpowder Chronicles trilogy. Once again, we’re back in the steampunk-infused Qing Dynasty China, full of politicking, action, and romance. It did take a little bit to get back into the “groove” of things, as it’s been a bit since I read the other books, but I did appreciate the nice character guide that reminds you briefly of who everyone is, helping to re-immerse me in the adventure.
Jeannie Lin is a master of challenging her characters with new environments to keep things from stagnating, and drawing from historical and other types of research to do so. She explores some new settings yet again, such as the high seas among pirates, as well as new perspectives of some familiar locations, like the factory Soling works at in Shanghai.
The question of where Soling’s loyalties would lie has been a constant one throughout, especially as the story in the first book started with her father being executed. It remains a pressing issue, with even higher stakes as her slow-burning romance with Chang-wei has simmered throughout the series. While it’s not a super physically demonstrative relationship, like in Lin’s historical romances, it’s sweet and the payoff is very much worth it after three books.
I enjoyed this book, and I think other readers who’ve read the previous two will enjoy it too.
June 27, 2021
After the exciting adventure began in Gunpowder Alchemy, we arrive at last to the final leg of Jin Soling’s tale. Qing Dynasty China is a powder keg of factions and the foreigners encroaching on the shores are like sharks circling. Soling and Chang-wei are caught up in it all knowing they are likely to get crushed under the machine of empire or rebel at any time.
The Rebellion Engines is the fourth entry in the Gunpowder Chronicles series and the third full-length leg of the story. They all comprise one story so much be read in order. Some might opt to skip the novellas that are all gathered up in the Tales of the Gunpowder Chronicles, but I found that all three of those novellas had bearing on the series and particularly this final book.
It has been a few years since the release of the Clockwork Samurai and I was excited to see that the final leg of the story was written and coming out. Jin Soling has been a fabulous heroine from the beginning. Her life hasn’t been fair, but she’s got gumption and keeps getting up, dusting off and going on. Chang-wei was cautious and less willing to buck the system, but, in his own way, he was a fighter to achieve what he has. They both have stuck together even when not in full agreement like now when he is completely loyal to the empire even after what was done to him, Soling’s family, and so many other people. Soling is skeptical that their loyalty will matter little and they are expendable, but she sticks by Chang-wei and watches him push himself to the brink of sickness to build the automaton army he promised the emperor.
Meanwhile, there is sabotage at the factory, the automatons aren’t ready when the royal inspectors come, the rebels are still on the move, and Soling discovers her mother has returned to Peking and the nest of shark-like political intrigue there. Chang-wei is keeping secrets from her and she wonders if their budding relationship still stands a chance. Chang-wei’s orders are even more dangerous than she thought when he gets them and of course she goes along where he goes even onto a certain ‘mad scientist’s’ pirate junk with their ultimate destination a showdown in Shanghai.
The depth of characterization and the weaving of the plot set against the lush backdrop of nineteenth-century China with the addition of steampunk machine and gadgetry were fabulous. I loved dropping back into this world with the intrigue and excitement that matches character growth and relationships.
This felt like a final book in the series as all the players of the past were present and many of the mysteries were explained as well characters becoming fully realized. Though, I must admit, the author didn’t tie every last thread up with a pretty, little bow because some aspects of the world of the stories couldn’t be suddenly tied up and are an ongoing reality of the world- opium and the addictions don’t just go away, encroaching foreign traders, and neither do corrupt government types or those who would rebel against what they see as injustice. And, the author demonstrated many aspects of romance in these- from having a loving relationship and losing it across the gamut to a couple finally speaking their piece and getting their chance.
The big finale was perfect and had my heart racing. Then, the denouement was just what was needed to bring things to a satisfying end. Although, that said, I would never say no to more stories from the Gunpowder Chronicles’ world. This series is recommended for those who love Asian history and steampunk romance.
I rec’d an eARC to be read in exchange for an honest review.
The Rebellion Engines is the fourth entry in the Gunpowder Chronicles series and the third full-length leg of the story. They all comprise one story so much be read in order. Some might opt to skip the novellas that are all gathered up in the Tales of the Gunpowder Chronicles, but I found that all three of those novellas had bearing on the series and particularly this final book.
It has been a few years since the release of the Clockwork Samurai and I was excited to see that the final leg of the story was written and coming out. Jin Soling has been a fabulous heroine from the beginning. Her life hasn’t been fair, but she’s got gumption and keeps getting up, dusting off and going on. Chang-wei was cautious and less willing to buck the system, but, in his own way, he was a fighter to achieve what he has. They both have stuck together even when not in full agreement like now when he is completely loyal to the empire even after what was done to him, Soling’s family, and so many other people. Soling is skeptical that their loyalty will matter little and they are expendable, but she sticks by Chang-wei and watches him push himself to the brink of sickness to build the automaton army he promised the emperor.
Meanwhile, there is sabotage at the factory, the automatons aren’t ready when the royal inspectors come, the rebels are still on the move, and Soling discovers her mother has returned to Peking and the nest of shark-like political intrigue there. Chang-wei is keeping secrets from her and she wonders if their budding relationship still stands a chance. Chang-wei’s orders are even more dangerous than she thought when he gets them and of course she goes along where he goes even onto a certain ‘mad scientist’s’ pirate junk with their ultimate destination a showdown in Shanghai.
The depth of characterization and the weaving of the plot set against the lush backdrop of nineteenth-century China with the addition of steampunk machine and gadgetry were fabulous. I loved dropping back into this world with the intrigue and excitement that matches character growth and relationships.
This felt like a final book in the series as all the players of the past were present and many of the mysteries were explained as well characters becoming fully realized. Though, I must admit, the author didn’t tie every last thread up with a pretty, little bow because some aspects of the world of the stories couldn’t be suddenly tied up and are an ongoing reality of the world- opium and the addictions don’t just go away, encroaching foreign traders, and neither do corrupt government types or those who would rebel against what they see as injustice. And, the author demonstrated many aspects of romance in these- from having a loving relationship and losing it across the gamut to a couple finally speaking their piece and getting their chance.
The big finale was perfect and had my heart racing. Then, the denouement was just what was needed to bring things to a satisfying end. Although, that said, I would never say no to more stories from the Gunpowder Chronicles’ world. This series is recommended for those who love Asian history and steampunk romance.
I rec’d an eARC to be read in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2021
The end is near. The battle lines are drawn and loyalties are tested. Jin Soling is trying to keep her family safe and secure but she sees the unrest and rebellion against the emperor and the foreigners. Soling is a character to be admired. She is trained in traditional medicine and now helps the workers in the secret Factories. She is close to Chen Chang-wei. He is a Engineer and her former betrothed. He is developing an army of deadly automatons to ensure the emperor's victory. He cares for Soling and wants her as his wife. I watched their romance blossom amid the tension and chaos. I wasn't sure if they had a future. Their secrets could tear them and their world apart. This final book in The Gunpowder Chronicles is beautiful written. It is an emotional roller coaster filled with heartbreak and suffering along with glimmers of hope. I could see disaster coming. How will it end? I had to know. Jeannie Lin transported me to another world where tradition hides the truth and honor is blurred.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.
October 4, 2021
A very good conclusion to the trilogy. I was happy to see in this final volume, in addition to the main cast, the characters that were developed in "Tales from the Gunpowder Chronicles". All the questions set in the first volumes, notably about Soling's loyalties, find their conclusion in this volume.
I liked the ending.
I will re-read this series with pleasure and I hope we'll get more novels in the gunpowder world from Jeannie Lin in the future as it is very rich and interesting.
I liked the ending.
I will re-read this series with pleasure and I hope we'll get more novels in the gunpowder world from Jeannie Lin in the future as it is very rich and interesting.
February 2, 2024
As the series progressed, the reasons I liked book #1 dwindled further and further into the background, leaving this book more historical war novel than alt-steampunk. The entire story was completely abandoned! That promised to be the best part! Unfortunately, that shift gave me room to focus on and nurture my seething dislike of Chang-wei. His back-story explaining why he's so loyal to the empire comes too late to change my opinion of him and I felt like Soling would be better off with anyone else rather than him. Anyone else. Spinsterhood rather than lowering herself to be with this absolute dunce. I mean, I know how accurate this is to the behaviour of men throughout history when it comes to glorifying service and warmongering, but still.
June 28, 2021
Fabulous finale to this saga!
Disclaimer: It's been a while since I read the previous books, so it took me a bit to fully arrive back in this steampunk'd version of 19th century China.
But once more, Jeannie Lin excels at bringing this rich and complex world to life on the page. And - as in the previous books - I couldn't help but root for Soling and Chang-wei, once again facing all sorts of conflict and dangers, from estranged family and political intrigue to sabotage and killer automatons. Not to mention the slowest of slow-burn romances...
Disclaimer: It's been a while since I read the previous books, so it took me a bit to fully arrive back in this steampunk'd version of 19th century China.
But once more, Jeannie Lin excels at bringing this rich and complex world to life on the page. And - as in the previous books - I couldn't help but root for Soling and Chang-wei, once again facing all sorts of conflict and dangers, from estranged family and political intrigue to sabotage and killer automatons. Not to mention the slowest of slow-burn romances...
August 20, 2021
As all the books in this series rather slow paced but with lots of wonderful details and great characters. I enjoy the world building immensely and this was a well crafted ending for the trilogy.
I especially liked the descriptions of Shanghai with its clash of East and West and how this looks to an outsider like Soling.
Now I have to re-read the short stories... :)
I especially liked the descriptions of Shanghai with its clash of East and West and how this looks to an outsider like Soling.
Now I have to re-read the short stories... :)
July 1, 2021
Enjoyable read. Will try to write more later.
January 26, 2024
Set in a Steampunk version of 1853 China and narrated by nineteen year old Jin Soling, Lin blends actual history into her fantasy plot.
December 3, 2024
This volume had a little less action and a little more romance. Overall I enjoyed how it was wrapped up and where Soling and Chang-wei ended up.
An enjoyable series!
An enjoyable series!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews