Blood Ties
Year: 2015
Author: Quincy J. Allen
Length: 322 pages
While I haven’t read many steampunk stories, the genre is intriguing to me for a variety of reasons. Mostly, the aesthetic is a way to combine genres typically set in historical eras with other elements of science fiction or fantasy. In Blood Ties, steampunk is the overlay on a western, but with fantasy elements mixed in for a distinct flavor I haven’t read before. And while its unique elements are its strengths, there were a few parts of Blood Ties that felt unfinished—or at least written in a way to force the reader to pick up the next book in the Blood War Chronicles.
I appreciated that this book addressed some of the logistical challenges of steampunk. Metal is often heavy, so the fact that the main character had to ride something sturdier than a horse was a welcome detail. The zeppelin ride also seemed to take up much of the book’s length, which is likely an accurate portrayal of how long it would take to travel from Colorado to California. I also thought that the unique language used for the “secret code” was a nice touch since most books end up using a common language that any well-read individual can easily decipher.
There were a few qualms I had with this book which were minor, but there were enough of them that added up. I felt it was difficult to separate Jake and Cole as distinct characters, mostly because many other characters had such unique personalities. I also wasn’t pleased about how the beginning of the book teased this “magic,” but then rarely (if ever) showed it in action again—likely to tease me into reading the next book. Finally, there were quite a few instances of “men writing women” that made me roll my eyes, even if it’s obvious the author wrote this book for men.
Some smart steampunk with a collection of minor issues, I give Blood Ties 3.5 stars out of 5.
1/2
