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Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Book Review: Chasing the Star Garden by Melanie Karsak

Title: Chasing the Star Garden by Melanie Karsak
Series: The Airship Racing Chronicles #1
Released: December 4, 2013
Source: Won through giveaway
Genre: Adult Steampunk
Rating: 5/5

Summary from Goodreads:
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.
Okay, I know that no book is perfect, but I love absolutely everything about this one. I mean, read that synopsis! It's everything that it claims to be and so much more. This is my first time reading this author and this genre so I had no idea what to expect, but what I got was awesome! I was hooked from the first page and did not want to put it down.

I really enjoyed the writing. A lot of traveling and adventure takes place and the scenery gets set up fantastically. I had no problems imagining these foreign places, that I've never been to personally, in their historic setting. In fact, it was quite like I got to travel right along with these characters as well.

What we also get is a great crew of characters. I loved Lily as a main character and I was rooting for her the entire time; to finish her quest and find love. <3 (And yes, the romance, while not a main role in this story, is very good and realistic! Not rushed, fake, or over-the-top!)

My favorite thing about this book was the adventure, mystery, and mythology all rolled into one and the excellent way it was carried out. The plot moves along so smoothly and quickly that you can easily read for hours and not even realize it. Major points for no slow moments and no fluff! Just plain good writing and a wonderfully entertaining story!

I highly recommend!


5 STARS
Amazing! I'd make time to re-read it!

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