The Inventor's Secret Series (Book 1-3)

[Jannene]

Dom, Cherie and I plan on starting this series in February.

[Cherie]

When are we starting?

[Dominique]

Cherie wrote: "When are we starting?"

L'm starting mid-month

[Jannene]

Mid-month works for me as well since Dom has this idea we should read a chunky book. LOL!

[Dominique]

Jannene wrote: "Mid-month works for me as well since Dom has this idea we should read a chunky book. LOL!"

Lol... I think from now on we'll do a chunky once a month!

[Jannene]

Who approved that?? Then I’m making you read books with 20 word titles!!

[Dominique]

Jannene wrote: "Who approved that?? Then I’m making you read books with 20 word titles!!"

L'm okay with that since they are less than 350 pages!!

[Jannene]

I nearly spit out my beer when I read that.

[Dominique]

Jannene wrote: "I nearly spit out my beer when I read that."

Lol!

[Cherie]

I'm okay with mid-month.

You two crack me up!

[Cherie]

So - the toppler starts on the 15 and it does not look like this book will apply to the toppler criteria, at least as far as I can tell.
Do we want to wait a week and start on the 22nd?

[Dominique]

Cherie, Jannene told me that there was a chance you guys wouldn't be able to start it this weekend. L'm good with the 22nd.

[Jannene]

I’m good with it as well Cherie.

[Cherie]

Okay, Dom. I really am looking forward to reading this one.

I started another Steampunk genre series a couple of years ago that I need to get back to. It happens in an alternate timeline too, but the Civil War is currently happening there.

[Dominique]

Cherie wrote: "Okay, Dom. I really am looking forward to reading this one.

I started another Steampunk genre series a couple of years ago that I need to get back to. It happens in an alternate timeline too, but ..."
Sounds interesting!

[Jannene]

Toppler is done, are we ready??

[Cherie]

I am.

I’m hanging out at my work to finish up a task I started for a project that needs to be done on Monday and get on-line to post my last toppler book. I’m listening to a stupid, mindless audiobook while I work. I plan to start our book as soon as I get home though. 😜

[Cherie]

Did you start? I read the first 48 pages in my ebook, to chapter 6. (view spoiler)[ I am not sure what I expected. It is ok. Definitely YA. Steampunk, maybe. Just because things are mechanical doesn’t mean steampunk. Kids living in caves and the person in charge is not quite eighteen and the parents are all away - doing “important work”. Ok. (hide spoiler)]

[Jannene]

I’m starting now. :)

[Cherie]

I'm on my way home, to read some more.

[Cherie]

I’m on my way to bed. I’m on page 99 at the beginning of chapter 12. (view spoiler)[ I think the story line is getting more and more implausible. (hide spoiler)].

[Cherie]

I’m on page 138 in my ebook. This is the beginning of chapter 16. I read 13, 14, and 15. (view spoiler)[ Hmm, maybe this isn’t going to be so sappy after all. These last three chapters were interesting and well done and show some real human feelings. The background has suddenly become much more interesting. Who are these people and what’s going to happen next? The characters have suddenly become people I can start to care about, not just kids. (hide spoiler)]

I’m going to start listening to The Starless Sea book for the buddy read. I will still try to read a chapter or two a day until you two join in.

[Dominique]

L'm at chapter 8 and can't get into it. L'm going to skip this one.
Hope you guys enjoy it!

[Jannene]

Ash (view spoiler)[What is Ash and Jack up to? Jack goes on some mission and Ash has to sacrifice himself by drawing the rats to him. (hide spoiler)]
Charlotte(view spoiler)[I liked the part where she was teasing Jack by starting to strip in front of him because he wouldn’t leave. I also like how she saved Grave and she seems to look out for the group. I wondered what the heck Pocky was until they finally said it was a gun. (hide spoiler)]
I think if I was reading this it would be a little harder to get into. What do you think Cherie?
Thoughts so far(view spoiler)[I wonder why the adults have to leave the group. I also wonder about the “empire” and why there are all these mechanical things that can kill. (hide spoiler)]
This is a type of genre that I have NEVER read before so it is interesting learning a new genre but frustrating because I don’t exactly understand it. Does that make sense?

[Jannene]

I just finished chapter 11.

[Cherie]

Yes, Jannene, you are making sense. Steampunk can be very difficult at first, until the author paints the background to the world they are creating. Thinking about what I had read up until the last three chapters, I do not blame Dom for bailing, but it has gotten a little better. It is very easy to read. Everything is right on the surface, except what they call things, until they explain or give a demonstration. If I were listening, I might have liked the first parts a little better. I seem to do better with YA in audio. That said, I am hanging in there with the book. I do want to know more about the parents, but I don't think we are going to find out. This seems to be all Ash, Jack, Meg and Charlotte.

Yes, I liked the scene in your spoiler about Charlotte (view spoiler)[ I thought Ash was an ass though. There seems to be A LOT of withholding of information from Charlotte. She does not seem to be a blabber mouth though. I was confused about the Pocky thing too, but it was interesting - after we found out about it. I liked the little submarine they went down the river in. It sounded cool. The RATS were gross! Obviously, we are not going to get a lot of explaining about how things work though. (hide spoiler)]

[Jannene]

I’m starting chapter 22. It is going faster now and boy is this getting entangled. (view spoiler)[I had a feeling when Jack’s mom asked about Elenor it wasn’t a good sign. I figured he was with someone else.

His brother was very shrewd by making Charlotte go to the ball where they were announcing Jack and his fiancé. I felt so bad for Charlotte. Then he comes to her the next day and wants reassured that he should leave Elenor. What?? I was behind Charlotte the entire time. Why should she go to him and forgive him when he wants assurances of her love for him. I did appreciate that he at least didn’t sleep with her and “tarnish” her since he was betrothed to someone else.

I like the sister. She’s a great character. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Good grief! You were at chapter 11 and now you are at chapter 22. You speed reader.
I worked until 8:00 and had to taxi my granddaughter to the bank before I got out of the car. I just finished reading chapter 17 and was going to write a spoiler, but you already know what happened and I’m behind now.
I’m going to bed. I’m tired.

[Jannene]

I’m listening to the audiobook because that is all that was available. I’ll finish it tonight. (Also know that I’m only reading one book right now...or is that listening?)

[Cherie]

Got it.

I finished another audiobook at work today, and will read another chapter or two when I get home. I can concentrate on the audiobook for The Starless Sea tomorrow. I only have one or two audiobooks on Audible to listen to until my library holds show up.

We can still discuss the book. After the action in Chapter 17 last night, I am anxious to get back and see what happens next. (view spoiler)[ when Coe takes Charlotte back to Jack's house. I also want to know if they find Grave - what a stupid name. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

I’m at chapter 20.
Ch 17/18/19 (view spoiler)[ I liked the way Charlotte handled herself during the fight. An air compression tube. Cool. The Jack/Charlotte kiss scene, after she and Coe got back from the Tinker Fair was weird. Are they under some kind of love potion? Is she? And now Charlotte is going to the Military Ball with Coe in Mrs. Winter’s dress? Where was Meg when Charlotte was getting dressed? Hmm, a mechanical horse pulling a carriage. I guess it would be hard to use real ones in a floating city though. Think of the mess. (hide spoiler)]

[Jannene]

LOL@think of the mess!! You are cracking me up Cherie!

[Cherie]

I read to chapter 26 now. I’m at 80% but can’t finish tonight.

Ch20-22. (view spoiler)[ Well, the Military Ball was a mess. Good thing that Lord Ott was there to be barrier between the brothers. I can understand Coe wanting to teach his brother a lesson but he certainly had no compassion for Charlotte. I like Linnet. Too bad Jack couldn’t talk to Charlotte and explain things before they got out of hand. In his defense, the whole hurried trip to the city didn’t help anything. I’m not quite sure I understand all the beliefs in the Athens and Hephaestus stuff, but the scene at the temple was weird. Grave died, huh? (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Ch23-24 (view spoiler)[The Hive place was too strange. I wanted to beat that guy as much as Coe did. Grave’s father is the new Frankenstein! He just made a better monster. I’m not quite sure how though. The Book of the Dead was Egyptian, wasn’t it? Grave doesn’t seem too upset about it all but the other’s reactions were more foreboding, except for Charlotte. I don’t think she understands the ramifications of an army of Graves. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Ch25 (view spoiler)[ It was nice to have Meg’s story, but I’m not sure if her ability and intentions are magic or voodoo. Her aversion to Grave, to his resurrection, is weird too. Not just that he is like a robot, but undead too, like evil. Do you know what I mean? I wonder what she is going to do and where she is going to go? (hide spoiler)].

[Cherie]

I just finished the story, but before I read the author’s notes, I wanted to write my spoilers for the last chapters.
Ch 26 (view spoiler)[ I suspected Meg was going to leave, but her decision to go to Athens’s Temple was a surprise. After the fact though, it made sense. Ash staying behind was an even bigger surprise! It was always insinuated that he was going though. Obviously, Charlotte was being groomed to be in charge though. I was proud of her. Jack’s letter was lame. I agree. (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Ch 27 (view spoiler)[ Haha about the mule and horses not being allowed on the platforms. Seems like Lord Ott has his hands in a lot of things. I like him. I’m not sure about Coe. The Iron forrest seemed spooky but cool. Wonder what prevents the real trees from going back? A stern wheeler with gold leaf on the wheels seemed like overkill. Loved Linnet’s name for her stiletto! (hide spoiler)]

[Jannene]

I like your comments Cherie. It sounds like you liked the book?

[Cherie]

Ch 28 (view spoiler)[ The explosions at the Catacombs is obviously Charlotte’s first call to duty. I’m glad she stopped Grave from becoming a weapon. I guess cliff hangers are the only way author’s think they can get readers to come back for their next story. I’m game. (hide spoiler)]

I’m going to read the Author’s Note now.

[Cherie]

Author’s Note: Interesting alternate history write up. It might have been better to read it first to get a feel for the story line, but I cannot decide if it would have made any difference into how I felt about the characters and their environment in the beginning chapters of the book. It is simply too hard for me to believe that teenagers and young children, living alone in a cave system can survive like we are led to believe. There are too many holes.

My ebook has the beginning of the next book but I did not read it.

[Jannene]

I was wondering if you would still want to go on. I’m in if you are...

[Cherie]

Yes, I'm willing to go on with the next book. I liked this one enough to see where the next one leads.

[Jannene]

Perfect. You want to look at it next month since we are doing The Serpents Tale this weekend?

[Cherie]

Yes, if you don’t mind waiting. I think we are both getting dangerously over burdened with buddy reads.

[Jannene]

Cherie wrote: "Yes, if you don’t mind waiting. I think we are both getting dangerously over burdened with buddy reads."

Agreed. I wouldn’t mind waiting until May if needed.

[Jannene]

Book 3 - Unfortunately my audiobook doesn’t tell me chapters. I’ll have to read comments and then comment.

[Cherie]

The Turncoat's Gambit

Oh, too bad your audiobook does not tell chapters. What a pain!
I read the first six chapters yesterday. Like the second book, this third one takes off right after where the previous one ended. (view spoiler)[ The sailing ship converted into a flying ship. I still cannot quite "see" it, but okay... They got away from the maelstrom and the English Navy ship. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 1-6 (view spoiler)[ The pirate guy seems interesting. Linnet and he seem to be lovers. Back in New Orleans - Ashe's mother and Coe are telling Birch that Charlotte and Grave and Meg have left the city. I do not quite understand why Birch is supposed to be involved with it all. Coe seems to be very different. He is implying that Jack could be a traitor, but Ash and Birch are defending him. Ash thinks Meg is a spy??? I do not believe it. The pirate has landed them on shore and is taking them to an inn that he owns. He is talking about going to the floating city with Linnet and allowing Meg to travel with them. This will leave Charlotte with Jack and Grave in this strange little town. What are they supposed to do?? (hide spoiler)]

[Jannene]

Chapter 1-6 (view spoiler)[ I think Jack, Charlotte and Grave will flip to the other side. I think her mom and Coe are on the wrong side. I don’t know what is making me think that but there you have it.

I believe Linnet and the Captain were lovers previously. I thought he asked her to marry him and she turned him down. Wasn’t that in book 2? (hide spoiler)]

[Cherie]

Re Linnet and the Captain (view spoiler)[ There may have been something in the second book about Linnet loving someone, but IF it had been the Pirate it was not until the very, very end. (hide spoiler)]

I finished reading chapters 7 through 13.
(view spoiler)[ Well, Charlotte and Grave on the island or wherever they were, didn’t last long. I was right about Coe, but how wrong is an understatement! Charlotte can’t get a break!!! I sincerely can’t believe she is ever going to rescue Grave. Oh, what they have done to him. (hide spoiler)]

[Jannene]

Chapter 7-16
(view spoiler)[Coe is the turncoat but somehow I don’t think it is that simple. Charlotte tricking them to let her visit the spider goddess was genius. I thought it was sad that they ripped up grave. Relieved that Ash has a feeling to help his sister. Where is Jack?

The contraption that they had Charlotte in certainly made an impression. Apparently Coe didn’t care what they did to her. He’s playing both sides.

Her dad being alive but on the brink of death was a twist, why is that relevant? (hide spoiler)]