Review @FabulosityReads - Chasing the Star Garden by @MelanieKarsak Melanie Karsak

Chasing the Star Garden

The Airship Racing Chronicles #1

by Melanie Karsak

Goodreads blurb:  An opium-addicted beauty.
An infamous poet living in self-imposed exile.
An ancient treasure about to fall into the wrong hands.

Melanie Karsak's Chasing the Star Garden takes readers on a thrilling adventure from the gritty opium dens of gaslamp London to the gem-colored waters of the ancient world. Lily Stargazer, a loveable but reckless airship racer with a famous lover and shattered past, reluctantly plunges into a centuries-old mystery in a romantic adventure best described as Dan Brown meets Mary Shelley.

It all begins on one of the worst days of Lily’s life. She just lost the London leg of the 1823 Airship Grand Prix. To top it off, a harlequin fleeing from constables shoved a kaleidoscope down her pants, told her to fly to Venice, then threw himself from her airship tower. What’s a girl to do? For Lily, the answer is easy: drink absinthe and smoke opium.

Lily’s lover, Lord Byron, encourages her to make the trip to Venice. Lily soon finds herself at the heart of an ancient mystery which has her running from her past and chasing true love and the stars along the way.

*Due to steamy scenes and depictions of drug use, this novel is intended for mature readers.

About the Author:  Melanie Karsak grew up in rural northwestern Pennsylvania where there wasn't much to do but read books and go for hikes. Apparently, rambling around in the woods with a head full of fantasy worlds and characters will inspire you to become an author. Be warned. Melanie wrote her first novel, a gripping piece about a 1920s stage actress, when she was 12. A steampunk connoisseur, white elephant collector, and caffeine junkie, Melanie now lives in Florida with her husband and two children. She is an Instructor of English at Eastern Florida State College.

Releasing March 4th, 2014
Chasing the Green Fairy
The Airship Racing Chronicles II
Genre: Steampunk/Alt. History

Connect with Melanie:

~ Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~

My Thoughts - 3 out of 5 Unicorns - I liked it!!!

***Received ebook as part of a Fabulosity Reads Tour for an honest review.

The cover is steampunk beautiful :)  I totally love it!!  It looks so magical :)

First, this book is not a YA book as several people listed in Goodreads.  The rampant drug use, sex, fetishes, alcoholism, and more would make this new adult or just adult, take your pick.

I am sooo torn with this book because it is beautifully written and had some great moments, but I didn’t connect with completely with the characters.  I think my reason for the disconnect is all the drug use but not really sure.  I have never been that curious about drugs or known anyone with this sort of addiction, but it seemed very life like in the writing.

I am sort of new to the steampunk genre, so I’m not sure if the drug use part of this book is typical of the genre or just this book.  I love the idea of all the cool things made by tinkers and the airships.  It would be so cool to travel by airship (with a parachute just in case) and see the world as an eagle would see it.  I think I want to read book 2 to see if she conquers her drug use and if that helps me fall more in love with Lily as a character.  I feel bad for Lily because so many terrible things have happened to her, but I do not want to ruin anyone's journey into reading this book.

As this book sort of baffles me, I’m not sure who to recommend this book to except to say steampunkers should read the blurb and my review and decide for yourself :)

Interested in reading???

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