Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781497447509 |
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| Publisher: | CreateSpace Publishing |
| Publication date: | 03/28/2014 |
| Pages: | 264 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.60(d) |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
A Matter of Temperance
4.2 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
5 reviews.
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Steampunk and SciFi fans will enjoy this entertaining read. Ichabod Temperance finds himself across the Atlantic, creating a partnership with Miss Plumtartt. After the recent passing of a strange comet, some people were "blessed" with abilities, prodigies really, such as increased intelligence or the ability to build or fix anything (I could use that ability). Creatures appear in London, heading for Miss Plumtartt and Temperance comes to her aid. Well, creatures that only Miss Plumtartt could see (or Temperance with his goggle invention). Readers familiar with Lovecraft may recognize the otherworldly critters that are set to devour the residents of Earth. But how are they crossing that barrier? Has someone opened a portal or is the effect of the comet? This is an enjoyable read and great for vacation. It reminds me of the old radio programs, especially with the way it's written. The "voice" of the author would do well as a radio production, perhaps by Alien Voices? I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
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Reviewed by Brittney Rossie for Readers' Favorite
A Matter of Temperance by Ichabod Temperance is a steampunk adventure heavy on sci-fi, humor, and wordplay. It is told from the alternating POVs of our main characters, Ichabod Temperance and Persephone Plumtartt. Ichabod Temperance is an Alabamian mechanical tinkerer/prodigy with a strong accent and sense of chivalry, the latter of which propels him to assist Miss Plumtartt, the British daughter of another famous inventor, with her little invisible monster problems. Normally only Miss Plumtartt is able to see them; however, with the aid of one of his inventions, Ichabod finds himself able to protect her from alien monsters bent on killing her and achieving world domination. Together they team up to save the world and send the creatures back to where they came from. This takes them on an adventure through a wonderfully humorous steampunk world filled with life-saving bustles, weaponized parasols, alien spying goggles, old-fashioned fisticuffs, cartoonish villainy, and a touch of sweet and charming romance. But it is yet to be seen if the chivalrous southern tinkerer’s ingenuity and the lady’s compulsion to succeed in their mission will be enough.
Truly, A Matter of Temperance is a rollicking adventure and quite uniquely (read: theatrically/dramatically) written. Additionally, the highly alliterative, acronymic and fragmented writing style took a minute to adjust to, but I felt it was appropriate for these characters and added something special- almost a branded style - to the story. I would categorize this story as young adult but the vocabulary was quite extensive. I learned a handful of fun new obscure words. I found Ichabod to be a charming character as we watch him grow into himself and his confidence as a young man and identity as a “tinkerer” prodigy. I also liked his pairing with Persephone’s personality as a contrast and how her attachment to him grows over the course of their adventure. I love the cover of the silhouettes and tentacles. This is a really fun read!
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My Thoughts:
I am a steampunk fantatic! I love all things steampunk and enjoy reading a good book that throws in a good bit of steampunk action.
Matter of Temperance is the beginning of the journey of Icabod Temperance (Icky) and Persephone, and though it is part of a series, I can confidently say you can read it and any of the others as solo reads. However, I would suggest you read them all, as each is brilliant and they create a fab overall story, when read together.
In this book, we see the emergence of Icky, as we will know him for the rest of the series. He is a an American abroad, as he is making his way to England. However, even this excellent tinker can find himself in trouble. As a comet changes the world, we see Icky become himself, Persephone gain powers and the true emergence of the steampunk world.
Persephone must use her powers to defeat an evil, and we soon find Icky teaming up with her, and the two create a brilliant steampunk duo, fighting off the evil in the world.
I loved the amount of steampunk that was in this book. The beginning of the book gave us loads of information, creating the world we were in, Icky and Persephone, so that we knew who they were, before finding out who they are...after. I think this was essential. We got to know things, to see just how much they changed.
The pace of the book was swift, but it really worked. The details were still in the book, and we had depth of character, but it moved quick to match the urgency behind the fight they were in.
Overall, this is a brilliant first book to a grand steampunk series. It only gets better as you go along. The writing style is fast and different, but it fits the steampunk genre and the fight. I loved it and think my steampunk readers will as well!
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Ichabod Temperance is a young man with a brilliant mind and a gentlemanly manner that includes doing anything to save a lady. In 1875, he sets across the Atlantic to England on a voyage that will change his life even more than the comet that dashed Earth with its tail and bestowed greater intelligence on some people. Even animals became self-aware. England has been suffering from vicious ghost attacks. Ichabod saves a lovely young lady from one of these horrifying creatures and discovers she is Persephone Plumtartt, the daughter of a well known inventor. The monsters seem intent on her, and Ichabod cannot leave a lady in danger. The pair soon discover they are at the center of something much bigger than random ghost attacks and begin a quest to save Earth from an evil greater than any imagining.
What a wonderfully quirky and cheeky steampunk tale. The world pulled me in and hooked me. The romance of the Victorian age with advanced steampunk technology and people with super intelligence. It has all the charm with the fanciful dress, etiquette, and manners of speech. The tongue-in-cheek names for people and places had me giggling. Even with the light-heartedness, there is a dark edge. The monsters have a Lovecraftian flavor and the villains have no mercy.
The cast of characters is large and varied. Ichabod's voice is young and filled with wonder. I loved his eagerness, southern charm, and sense of chivalry. Persephone is a strong and clever young woman, a proper role model for all steampunk girls.
The plot is fast-paced and exciting. Never a dull moment! This is a fantastic start to the Adventures of Ichabod Temperance series. I will definitely be picking up the next books. 4.5 stars and cheers to a highly entertaining story.
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Are you ready for a charmingly quirky and ever so proper trip into an alternate past, where steampunk rules? Grab your parasol, straighten your bustle ladies, and you gentlemen, a walking cane and hat should do, because Ichabod Temperance is about to take you on his very own adventure in A Matter of Temperance. Get ready to appreciate the whirlwind that is Ichabod!
Fresh out of Alabama, with his greatest invention, Green Beauties (night vision goggles) and his affable Southern charm, Ichabod heads to England intent on personally delivering his product to its purchaser, who turns out to be an obnoxious arse. Fate must have timed the following events for Ichabod as he is witness to some very unusual events which lead him to an unsettling introduction with the brilliant beauty, Miss Persephone Plumtartt, a young woman with a special talent she gained when an unusual comet passed over the earth. Evil is afoot and the adventure begins as Ichabod and Persephone begin a dash around the globe for answers, while trying to stay one step ahead of danger!
Did I say dash? Try warp drive, wait, that wasn’t invented yet. No matter, A Matter of Temperance completely blew me away! Not only is Ichabod Temperance a delightful character with all of his Southern Charm and wonderful innocence about the world, but he is a brave soul who craves knowledge, defends damsels and fights for good! Miss Persephone has the eye of the “gentlemen” and the wit and intelligence to evade any sense of impropriety as well as enough spunk to stand toe to toe with Ichabod every step of the way!
Ichabod Temperance, the author, has a sense of fun that will leave you laughing at his over-the-top use of, well, everything! From his world building to his characters, no area has been left unpolished in this dazzling tale! Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT expect to be bored! Expect to be enchanted, to be whisked away on the magic carpet of Mr. Temperance’s carefree style! Total fun, total enjoyment, tons of steampunk and the unbelievable, I’m half-tempted to buy my own parasol, I already have the modern version of Green Beauties!
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