Steam and Sorcery

By: Cindy Spencer Pape

Narrated by: Helen Stern

Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Sir Merrick Hadrian hunts monsters, both human and supernatural. A Knight of the Order of the Round Table, his use of magick and the technologies of steam power have made him both respected and feared. But his considerable skills are useless in the face of his greatest challenge, guardianship of five unusual children. At a loss, Merrick enlists the aid of a governess.

Miss Caroline Bristol is reluctant to work for a bachelor, but she needs a position, and these former street children touch her heart. While she tends to break any mechanical device she touches, it never occurs to her that she might be something more than human. All she knows is that Merrick is the most dangerously attractive man she's ever met—and out of reach for a mere governess.

When conspiracy threatens to blur the distinction between humans and monsters, Caroline and Merrick must join forces, and the fate of humanity hinges upon their combined skills of steam and sorcery....

©2011 Cindy Spencer Pape (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

light read

What did you love best about Steam and Sorcery?

no pretty vampires

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

a good week-end book

Any additional comments?

This book is a good light read. NOT a hard core steampunck book, just a good book to have on in the background while doing the laundry, or house work.

overall a very light, enjoyable read

Any additional comments?

Disclaimer - the author is primarily a romance writer, so there's some predictability here, the occasional mild ick factor, and several explicit sex scenes. But overall a very light, enjoyable read with characters to care about.

Steamy but without much magic...

Would you try another book from Cindy Spencer Pape and/or Helen Stern?

I don't think I would buy another of Pape's book. I was hoping for more steampunk and magic versus passion and graphic descriptions of people having sex. I do like Helen Stern as a narrator but the poor plot ruined it for me.

If you’ve listened to books by Cindy Spencer Pape before, how does this one compare?

I have never listened to another of her books, and after this... I probably never will again. The story didn't involve much steampunk or magic but rather more primal instinct. The only real detailed segments were when the two protagonists were about to make love or during. It was annoying to have their relationship be pushed to the forefront over everything else.

Which scene was your favorite?

The opening scene where the children help Merrick defeat the vampires. Essentially all the scenes where the story focuses on the children and their abilities. For me, the interest in Caroline and Merrick was secondary to the children's antics.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I loved the twist Pape gave to the legend of King Arthur and the Round Table and how Merrick was a descendent of the Knights.

Victorian steampunk at its best! More, please...

This delightful romp in Victorian England has it all: engaging characters, page-turning plot, and lots of sizzle. I hope a sequel is in the works, featuring more adventures with Merrick, Caroline, and the gifted chidren. The narrator made the story come alive.

Good way to get through a workday

I enjoyed the story itself, though I could have handled less information about the children's lessons and mealtimes in return for more magic and adventure, though the chemistry between the hero and heroine was sizzilng. The narrator gave a solid performance, though her male voices sounded a little too growly for my taste. All in all, a pleasant listen during the workday.

Good Story . . . Great Steam Punk

This story flows well, the characters are well developed, and it moves well. The narrator has the appropriate accent and while it gets a bit breathy in spots, it is well read. Loved it.

A light, enjoyable, toe dip into SteamP (plus sex)

Delightful Steampunk tale with no apparent deep meanings or aspirations to RPGs. Most apt for listening while doing boring tasks or even driving. It is not the sort of thing that would cause the kind of distraction engendered by non-fiction or a Cussler-type novel. Just a fun toe dipping into Steampunk without the possible envisioning problems that some of us are burdened with.
Bought as Whispersync on the cheap courtesy of BookGorilla.

More, please!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The entire series is so very charming! It is lovely entertainment while running errands, doing housework, etc.

What other book might you compare Steam and Sorcery to and why?

There are several series right now with a similar flavor, mostly under steampunk urban fantasy, but they all have their own unique spins that make them not QUITE comparable. They should be enjoyed in their own rights: the Parasol Protectorate Series, the Shelly Adina "A Lady of...." Series, and a few other

Not for me.

More than I bargained for. Too much detail in the romance department for this listener. Other than that, I enjoyed the storyline.

Steamy steampunk romance.

This book has more romance than steampunk but overall I liked it. Not a book I have to buy the next one and read it immediately type but overall a feel good type. This is a version Jane Eyre never dreamed of and of course the male hero is not married which is all the better. I liked all the characters, and there is a quite a lot of characters in the story. The story was smooth and flowed well. I wish there could have been more action involved but overall I enjoyed the story.