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The Trinity Key #1
Into Aether
Colorado teen Theodora (Theo) will do anything to find her missing mom, including travel into the hidden and mysterious Victorian subculture of Aether. She takes a ride with airship pirates to a floating island full of strange automatons and even stranger people.
After a century-old feud reignites, she uncovers the alarming truth about her family's past. Finding her mother is more important than ever.
After a century-old feud reignites, she uncovers the alarming truth about her family's past. Finding her mother is more important than ever.
340 pages, Paperback
Published March 26, 2016
52 people are currently reading
502 people want to read
About the author
L.M. Fry
9books22followersL.M. Fry is an Amazon Bestselling author of young adult mysteries, romance, and thrillers. She's an active member of SCBWI and the OWFI. Every summer, she attends the West Texas A&M Writer's Academy. She blogs for What's Write About This and is a co-founder of the Edmond Writer's Critique Group.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 26, 2017
Theo has been alone for about a week when her mother should be returning from a business trip but doesn't show up at her expected time. Worried that something has happened Theo starts to get a bit frantic when a strange note shows up from her mother telling that Theo and her Aunt Grace should follow the included instructions and travel to meet her.
After going home to pack Theo is startled when two men break into her house before she can get her suitcase together. On the run now trying to get to her mother she and her aunt find themselves being followed by men looking for a key Theo knows nothing about and upon following the instructions from her mother Theo finds herself boarding a strange airship to a strange land full of automatons and even stranger people.
Ino Aether by L.M. Fry is the first book in the Trinity Key Trilogy. The series is a young adult read that features a bit of a mix of steampunk/sci-fi and fantasy along with the almost mandatory in young adult books bit of romance.
Reading this first book of this series I honestly felt like I picked up two different books due to the pacing of this story. The first half seemed a bit slower with the build up of the story but saying that is slightly wrong too as the steampunk world isn't even really explained and introduced until the second half. Once you really get into that world the story even picked up the pace rather quickly having a lot more action going on.
In the end I felt this was just an alight read, it felt it could have used a bit of work pulling the whole thing together a bit better to keep my attention and interest all throughout. Also, while it's not bad it still felt as the usual young adult story buried in a new steampunk world, I wouldn't have minded skipping the he's got great eyes and focusing more on the mystery of the keys and things along the line.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit
After going home to pack Theo is startled when two men break into her house before she can get her suitcase together. On the run now trying to get to her mother she and her aunt find themselves being followed by men looking for a key Theo knows nothing about and upon following the instructions from her mother Theo finds herself boarding a strange airship to a strange land full of automatons and even stranger people.
Ino Aether by L.M. Fry is the first book in the Trinity Key Trilogy. The series is a young adult read that features a bit of a mix of steampunk/sci-fi and fantasy along with the almost mandatory in young adult books bit of romance.
Reading this first book of this series I honestly felt like I picked up two different books due to the pacing of this story. The first half seemed a bit slower with the build up of the story but saying that is slightly wrong too as the steampunk world isn't even really explained and introduced until the second half. Once you really get into that world the story even picked up the pace rather quickly having a lot more action going on.
In the end I felt this was just an alight read, it felt it could have used a bit of work pulling the whole thing together a bit better to keep my attention and interest all throughout. Also, while it's not bad it still felt as the usual young adult story buried in a new steampunk world, I wouldn't have minded skipping the he's got great eyes and focusing more on the mystery of the keys and things along the line.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit
October 4, 2016
**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book in return for an honest review.
3 stars!!!
I really love steampunk novels. So, I was quite happy to pick this one up. I needed a break from the full on fantasy novels that's my usual reading fodder. I have to say that this book just sucked me in from page one. You are thrown head first into the plot and this can be quite disorientating at first. However, things gets cleared up fairly quickly so you don't need too much time to acclimatise yourself to the plot.
The story starts off with Theo, a sixteen year old girl, who finds her mother missing when she gets back home from school. With the fast plot pace, we are quickly swooped into an adventure where Theo and her Aunt Grace head off to a mysterious Victorian world called Aetherland. Here, our MC gets broiled in a centuries old war and learns some shocking secrets regarding her heritage.
I really loved the worldbuilding in this novel. I think L.M. Fry did an amazing job of creating this fantastical world. There were plenty of vivid descriptions and the atmosphere created was very intriguing. I loved the air of mystery created as well. I liked how things were not quite how they seemed and the plot twists were really captivating. There was quite a fair amount of action within the story itself. We are taken from one aspect to another but this is done seamlessly. There were no jarring inconsistencies or plot holes, if I am truly honest. The author definitely has a flair for writing and I really appreciate a well written novel.
With regards to the characters, I thought the minor characters were done fairly well. There was enough given regarding their backstories to lend them an interesting feel. Unfortunately, the biggest let down was with the MC Theo and the romantic side plot. I thought the MC was utterly infantile for a sixteen year old. She sways constantly between being matured and having her own way. She threw constant tantrums or fits. It was very irritating. None of the decisions she takes is with looking at the whole picture. She is mostly concerned with how things are going to turn out for her. I also found her to be way clumsy with not enough spunk.
In terms of the romance, it was way too forced in my opinion. It was all insta-romance and seems to come out from nowhere. I think it was mainly done to add another dimension to the story but failed in that regard. I think the story could have done without it. The adventure part was enough to carry it through. Besides, do all YA novels have to have romance? Not really. It would have been really refreshing to have a book without it. If it's not needed, might as well axe it out all together, in my opinion.
Anyway, those were the main reasons why I removed 2 stars from my review. Overall, the story was enjoyable. Hopefully, in book two, we see more character development in Theo. The girl needs to grow up seriously. I can't wait to see how the story progresses. I'm sure it is going to be a wild ride gauging from where the story ended in this one. I would recommend this book to fantasy and steampunk lovers. If you are looking for a quick read, this one is worth it if you ignore the MC :D
3 stars!!!
I really love steampunk novels. So, I was quite happy to pick this one up. I needed a break from the full on fantasy novels that's my usual reading fodder. I have to say that this book just sucked me in from page one. You are thrown head first into the plot and this can be quite disorientating at first. However, things gets cleared up fairly quickly so you don't need too much time to acclimatise yourself to the plot.
The story starts off with Theo, a sixteen year old girl, who finds her mother missing when she gets back home from school. With the fast plot pace, we are quickly swooped into an adventure where Theo and her Aunt Grace head off to a mysterious Victorian world called Aetherland. Here, our MC gets broiled in a centuries old war and learns some shocking secrets regarding her heritage.
I really loved the worldbuilding in this novel. I think L.M. Fry did an amazing job of creating this fantastical world. There were plenty of vivid descriptions and the atmosphere created was very intriguing. I loved the air of mystery created as well. I liked how things were not quite how they seemed and the plot twists were really captivating. There was quite a fair amount of action within the story itself. We are taken from one aspect to another but this is done seamlessly. There were no jarring inconsistencies or plot holes, if I am truly honest. The author definitely has a flair for writing and I really appreciate a well written novel.
With regards to the characters, I thought the minor characters were done fairly well. There was enough given regarding their backstories to lend them an interesting feel. Unfortunately, the biggest let down was with the MC Theo and the romantic side plot. I thought the MC was utterly infantile for a sixteen year old. She sways constantly between being matured and having her own way. She threw constant tantrums or fits. It was very irritating. None of the decisions she takes is with looking at the whole picture. She is mostly concerned with how things are going to turn out for her. I also found her to be way clumsy with not enough spunk.
In terms of the romance, it was way too forced in my opinion. It was all insta-romance and seems to come out from nowhere. I think it was mainly done to add another dimension to the story but failed in that regard. I think the story could have done without it. The adventure part was enough to carry it through. Besides, do all YA novels have to have romance? Not really. It would have been really refreshing to have a book without it. If it's not needed, might as well axe it out all together, in my opinion.
Anyway, those were the main reasons why I removed 2 stars from my review. Overall, the story was enjoyable. Hopefully, in book two, we see more character development in Theo. The girl needs to grow up seriously. I can't wait to see how the story progresses. I'm sure it is going to be a wild ride gauging from where the story ended in this one. I would recommend this book to fantasy and steampunk lovers. If you are looking for a quick read, this one is worth it if you ignore the MC :D
August 3, 2016
It’s not a secret that this has been the summer of Steam Punk for me! I'm just loving the genre more and more.
And would you look at that cover art…It’s just beautiful. I wish I could say the same about the story.
Overall this is a fun story. I like the idea of it, not necessarily the execution of it. It has potential but could use some more polishing to really make it shine.
The characters I think could use a little more work-particularly Auntie Grace and Theo, who is unfortunately the main character. My biggest complaint was that they felt contrived and were totally immature. There is a difference between disliking a character because you are supposed to and disliking a character because they don’t fit the world they are written into or you want them to be better. (This dislike falls into the latter category.)
This steampunk world is good and is different than most that I’ve read because it is on present day earth but certain steam punk cities are “hidden� are require certain means of transport to get there. Interesting.
What’s also intriguing is the Celtic influence. The main portals (thus revealed) lie in Ireland. It’s a different setting than most SP novels.
It explores some transhuman or H+ themes which is intriguing to me on a personal level. The acceptance of part human, part machine beings into society, I think will soon be table talk.
There were some typos but none so distracting that I couldn’t enjoy the book. It’s not the best start to a series but it has potential. I’d be willing to give the second book a look.
Thank NetGalley for the ARC.
And would you look at that cover art…It’s just beautiful. I wish I could say the same about the story.
Overall this is a fun story. I like the idea of it, not necessarily the execution of it. It has potential but could use some more polishing to really make it shine.
The characters I think could use a little more work-particularly Auntie Grace and Theo, who is unfortunately the main character. My biggest complaint was that they felt contrived and were totally immature. There is a difference between disliking a character because you are supposed to and disliking a character because they don’t fit the world they are written into or you want them to be better. (This dislike falls into the latter category.)
This steampunk world is good and is different than most that I’ve read because it is on present day earth but certain steam punk cities are “hidden� are require certain means of transport to get there. Interesting.
What’s also intriguing is the Celtic influence. The main portals (thus revealed) lie in Ireland. It’s a different setting than most SP novels.
It explores some transhuman or H+ themes which is intriguing to me on a personal level. The acceptance of part human, part machine beings into society, I think will soon be table talk.
There were some typos but none so distracting that I couldn’t enjoy the book. It’s not the best start to a series but it has potential. I’d be willing to give the second book a look.
Thank NetGalley for the ARC.
July 11, 2016
Publisher: Eleah
Publishing Date: March 2016
ISBN:9781519419330
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 1.7/5
Publishers Description: Colorado girl Theodora (Theo) will do anything to find her missing mom, including travel into the hidden and mysterious Victorian subculture of Aether. She takes a ride with airship pirates to a floating island full of strange automatons and even stranger people.
Review: Alert! We have extra-speshulness in the form of a gurl whom was farted out of the Blarney Stone so hard she hit her Stonehenge on a leprechaun’s butt. Also, we have insta-love in the form of a hairy/disheveled Irishman with twinkling/gorgeous/emerald green eyes that smells of leather and soap that sends sparks up her spine. Forget that she is 16 and is turned on by soap and leather. If she is not huff, huffed or huffing along with a stupid cat she is in a constant state of being a B.
I get that there is an audience for this crap but to suffer poor character development for the sake of horny teens everywhere is untenable. Just write the shjt better so everyone can be involved in the storyline. Why trample it with scene expediters like huffed (40x) or shivered (13x). And drop the friggin� insta love crap and the sniffing of body parts. You render your main characters akin to two dogs at each others butts.
May 26, 2016
This is one of the most refreshing new series that I've read in a long time. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with a steampunk - Celtic mashup at first (has that ever been done before), but wow! the author really handled the merging adroitly! While the settings and culture are immersive and fun, for me, it was the characters themselves that really sold it. Theo (the main protagonist) is very relatable and multidimensional. Even though I'm not (nor have ever been lol!) a teen girl, I felt like I was in her shoes, experiencing this vibrant other-world for the first time. What a great trip!
If there was anything that could be improved, I would say it might be that I wish the story lasted longer. I didn't want to leave Aether! But that is what sequels are for, right? The other characters were so much fun, too. Especially Nessie, the salty airship captain! I can't wait to dive into the next book.
If there was anything that could be improved, I would say it might be that I wish the story lasted longer. I didn't want to leave Aether! But that is what sequels are for, right? The other characters were so much fun, too. Especially Nessie, the salty airship captain! I can't wait to dive into the next book.
July 25, 2016
I definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves YA (Young Adults) and magic.
All Theo wants is to see her mother again, but she wasn't expecting the journey that would put her through, after her mom went on a work trip, didn't come back home on time and things were not adding up, Theodora takes it to herself to find her mom along side her aunt, following orders from some mysterious woman that knows where Theo's mom is, she embarks in a adventure that is literally out of this world.
This title is full of surprises, the plot just kept developing and getting more interesting and addictive! Love the characters and the setting (is so unique with a mix of modern and steampunk, I personally love steampunk). The writing style is fantastic, the way everything is described and the attention to details is not left unnoticed.
Note: I received a digital copy of this title for an unbiased opinion and reviewing purposes.
All Theo wants is to see her mother again, but she wasn't expecting the journey that would put her through, after her mom went on a work trip, didn't come back home on time and things were not adding up, Theodora takes it to herself to find her mom along side her aunt, following orders from some mysterious woman that knows where Theo's mom is, she embarks in a adventure that is literally out of this world.
This title is full of surprises, the plot just kept developing and getting more interesting and addictive! Love the characters and the setting (is so unique with a mix of modern and steampunk, I personally love steampunk). The writing style is fantastic, the way everything is described and the attention to details is not left unnoticed.
Note: I received a digital copy of this title for an unbiased opinion and reviewing purposes.
November 24, 2016
Everyone should read this book!
Colorado teen Theodora, Theo for short, will do anything to find her mum, including travel to the hidden and mysterious Victorian subculture of Aether. Her mum claimed she was going away for a conference and would be back in time for Leo’s birthday a week later but she failed to turn up. When Theo decides to talk to one of her mother’s colleagues she discovers her mother had phoned in sick the week before and they had no knowledge of a conference. Whilst Theo is looking for her mum she has to deal with strange dreams and a stranger in a top-hat who seems to be stalking her. Whilst investigating her mums disappearance Theo ends up heading to the Aetherland.
Read more of this review here:
Colorado teen Theodora, Theo for short, will do anything to find her mum, including travel to the hidden and mysterious Victorian subculture of Aether. Her mum claimed she was going away for a conference and would be back in time for Leo’s birthday a week later but she failed to turn up. When Theo decides to talk to one of her mother’s colleagues she discovers her mother had phoned in sick the week before and they had no knowledge of a conference. Whilst Theo is looking for her mum she has to deal with strange dreams and a stranger in a top-hat who seems to be stalking her. Whilst investigating her mums disappearance Theo ends up heading to the Aetherland.
Read more of this review here:
July 18, 2016
I received this ARC for free from NetGalley in return for an honest review
I give this book 4.5 stars. I really loved this book, can't wait read further works from this author! It was a fabulous mix of steampunk, mystery, small dash of romance, and action. It was very well written, easy to read with a bright open tone. Honestly, there' wasn't anything I didn't like about it, I thought the whole thing was spectacular!
I give this book 4.5 stars. I really loved this book, can't wait read further works from this author! It was a fabulous mix of steampunk, mystery, small dash of romance, and action. It was very well written, easy to read with a bright open tone. Honestly, there' wasn't anything I didn't like about it, I thought the whole thing was spectacular!
February 7, 2017
I love when a book starts quickly with plot and let's me discover the characters and world through constant action. It creates this feeling for me and I just can't close the book, or my kindle.
That's what happened in this book too...
It start's of quickly without lacking explaining, the world building and the descriptions were amazing...
I would have rated with 5 stars if it wasn't for the insta-romance I just cannot read anymore of that...
That's what happened in this book too...
It start's of quickly without lacking explaining, the world building and the descriptions were amazing...
I would have rated with 5 stars if it wasn't for the insta-romance I just cannot read anymore of that...
August 24, 2016
Fun read, though at times I wanted to strangle the main characters. I loved Theo’s attitude, she’s sarcastic and a bit sassy, and some of her quips made me laugh out loud. It has an interesting story line of a hidden world within our own, and involves not only steampunk, but also magic and goddesses. I’m definitely looking forward to the sequel.
May 6, 2016
This isn't my usual genre choice, but I really enjoyed this intriguing novel. I look forward to finishing the trilogy... I have to know what's going to happen next.
July 12, 2016
Well-written YA scifi Celtic steampunk combination.
May 4, 2018
"You need to learn our history in order to know your future, Theodora. You’re as much a part of Aether as we are. Your parents lied to you� with good reason. Now, you need to face the truth." - Victoria Corvus-Stein; Into Aether, L. M. Fry
*I received this book for free from the publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This cover looks spectacular (it's a good chuck of why I requested the book)! You can really sense the thrill of adventure and steampunk-ery from it. The symbol is very pretty and it, couple with the text, was really elegant, so thumbs up for that!
[spoiler]
Plot
Theo's mom goes missing one day and while Theo looks for her, she is led away from her home and into the land of Aether, where she uncovers secrets about her family and about the land she's been taken to. This land of Aether is pretty much like steampunk: Victorian architecture with advanced machines run by advanced energy. We get more worldbuilding as the secret-keeping characters begin to reveal the background of this new world. It begins with a goddess named Danu, who had three daughters, Ealga, Aeda and Maera, who each ruled a land in this other world. Danu dies and her spirit becomes the aether, the atmosphere around the world, that powers the machines in Aetherland. Humans hid Danu's body and broke the key to her location into three parts, which everyone has been trying to keep separate for when they form, they could give the user untold power. Eventually, the descendants of Ealga desired more power and sought it from the lands of her sisters. The families had to flee, and Theo's in particular fled to the human world. Each of Danu's daughters had daughters which became the next "trinity" of daughters. Theo's is a descendant of one of these daughters, whom she sees in her dreams and who communicates with her in short whispers, which leads her to trouble. The plot was nice and simple, and the worldbuilding with Danu's daughters was interesting.
It was kind of interesting that Fry wove in the story of 'Frankenstein' into this novel, with the Stein family being Aetherian and committing the "crime" of creating life using aether which they shared with a human (Mary Shelley, in this case) who wrote a story about it. I'm a sucker for call backs to fairy tales and classics.
Setting
We see two different lands. First there is Aetherland, where Theo is taken to first and where she interacts with the Stein family, friends of her mothers. This land is entirely empty except for the Steins, but looks like a small town. Then there is Subterria, a cold and desolate island that strongly separates the rich (headed by the Order of the Azure Serpent, the power-hungry descendants of Ealga) from the poor where the scent of rebellion is boiling over.
I'd hoped we'd get to explore more of the Ireland setting in description. I know it isn't really the focus of the story but it would have been nice to give some homage to the lovely Irish coast.
Characters
Theodora "Theo" Parson is our protagonist, a young teenager who lost her father earlier in her life and was raised by her academic mother and is close to her aunt, Grace. Her affection towards her mother was really nice to see, especially when books featuring teens tend to forget that parents even exist. She's a pretty typical teen complete with childish antics. I felt bad for her to be dragged around by total strangers and not told anything for most of the beginning, but she held together pretty well. She seems to talk to herself a lot which I found to be rather cute in it's oddity. Her focus in her missions tended to shift unexpectedly, like when she went from her mission to get out of the villain's home to a mission in trying to solve where Juliette's daughter, and the third member of Theo's generation of trinity daughters, could be (something she'd had no interest in for most of the book). But she focuses back pretty quickly.
Aunt Gracelynn Monahan is a bit of an air-head (this is an understatement) to a point where it got annoying and irresponsible. But she can have her lovable moments. She adores her cat and seems to think it can do no wrong, which I can totally understand (yes, I'm that kind of cat person), but most of the time, her actions are hard to explain, and it feels like she doesn't care for Theo as much as an aunt should. At times, she's more distracted with her own self to worry about Theo's state of mind. I just didn't quite get the point of her.
Victor Corvus-Stein is an Aetherian from Aetherland Isle and the main love interest, an inventor with a passion for gadgets. He was a rather arrogant and snobbish in a way that could be construed as charming but was rather boring to me. As was the attempt to round out his personality by having him be loving towards most of his family. But regardless of his personality, I could still enjoy his more quirky sides, like his love for inventing which boarded on seriously nerdy. I didn't care at all for his romance with Theo, but especially so since their scenes were particularly awkward, and there's no love lost between me and insta-love-based romances.
Marjorie Monahan-Parson, Theo's mother, Grace's sister and a descendant of Danu, appeared to be a workaholic but who could still find time to be with her daughter. She's missing for most of the book and when we come back to her, we don't really get to know her for long other than she's a very good liar and an apparent genius when it comes to Aetherian technology. It was nice that she and Theo could reconnect by the end.
Among the Corvus-Stein family, there is first Valera, Victor's sister, who Theo quickly takes a liking to and they bond very easily, their personalities pretty much parallel. Then there is Vivian "Vivi" Rose Corvus-Stein, Victor and Valera's younger half-sister, was very cute and incredibly excitable. Her straightforwardness and cheerfulness was a welcomed change to the secrecy surrounding her family. Victoria Corvus-Stein, the mother Victor, Valera and Vivi (so. many. Vs.), is a very posh and secretive woman who I couldn't help feeling sorry for; despite her apparent coldness and tight-lip, she struggles with keeping her family together and keeping Theo's mom's secret safe all while trying to reel Theo in. Can't be easy, especially when she's pretty much doing it alone. Vanessa "Nessie" Stein is Victor, Valera and Vivi's aunt, Victoria's sister, and the captain of the ship, the AV Agrippa. She's a rough-n-tumble kind of chick, very much a swashbuckler who refuses to be tide down expectations, which I thoroughly enjoyed. If you needed a queer-pirate-queen fix, Nessie's your gal. Finally, we have Titus Stein, Vivi's father and Victor and Valera's step-father, a nasty man who isn't seen as a separate person from his brutish brothers, Marcus and Rufus, for most of the book until he goes rogue against the Order and our villain, Lazarus, due to his love for his daughter.
Lazarus Killian, as I just mentioned, was pretty much your run-off-the-mill elegant villain, who walks with a practiced saunter and a cruel, charming smile. He is the head of the Order of the Azure Serpent, a group that claims to want to protect Aether but is actually segregating the land (or something like that, it's not entirely clear), and Hank, Johnson, Titus, Rufus, and Marcus work for him. For the most part, he acts like the selfless host to Vivi and Theo, when they are kidnapped and brought to him, but he quickly reveals himself to be cunning and ruthlessly single-minded. Despite that, though, there were odd things he did like leaving Theo and Vivi, whom he didn't want to alert, to violent brutes who have actively threatened them. Not exactly a great idea.
Julia is Theo's best, and only, friend of two-years, a flirty and sarcastic person who shows support towards Theo in the beginning, when Theo can't figure out what her dreams are trying to tell her and why weird things are happening around her. The twist to her character being apart of Team Villain wasn't all that surprising but at the end, when she appears pretty much out of nowhere and kidnaps Valera, I got really pumped to see her next move! I love sh*t-starters.
Negatives
This book is going to need some editing. It's not the worst I've seen and I can tolerate more grammar mistakes than most folks but it does need quite a bit of work before it's publish-able, for sure. I also wasn't super into Theo's initial set up. Her emo-dressed-everyone-at-school-hates-me-and-are-stereotypically-nasty-"bad"-"girl" persona gave me some serious fanfiction circa 2008 feelings which was rather nostalgic but definitely didn't help me take her very seriously. The dialogue needs some serious work; it's clunky, awkward, unbelievable and just doesn't flow well. Much like the action sequences; there needs to be some fluff in between. Some scenes didn't entirely make sense to me, like why people would break into a house so early in the morning or why no one seemed to react much when a ladder fell from the sky to lead them to the AV Agrippa. A few other nitty-gritty things were off, which made reading the story pretty slow for me.
[/spoiler]
Actual Rating: 2.5/5
You can find my review for this book, and others, on my blog:
*I received this book for free from the publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This cover looks spectacular (it's a good chuck of why I requested the book)! You can really sense the thrill of adventure and steampunk-ery from it. The symbol is very pretty and it, couple with the text, was really elegant, so thumbs up for that!
[spoiler]
Plot
Theo's mom goes missing one day and while Theo looks for her, she is led away from her home and into the land of Aether, where she uncovers secrets about her family and about the land she's been taken to. This land of Aether is pretty much like steampunk: Victorian architecture with advanced machines run by advanced energy. We get more worldbuilding as the secret-keeping characters begin to reveal the background of this new world. It begins with a goddess named Danu, who had three daughters, Ealga, Aeda and Maera, who each ruled a land in this other world. Danu dies and her spirit becomes the aether, the atmosphere around the world, that powers the machines in Aetherland. Humans hid Danu's body and broke the key to her location into three parts, which everyone has been trying to keep separate for when they form, they could give the user untold power. Eventually, the descendants of Ealga desired more power and sought it from the lands of her sisters. The families had to flee, and Theo's in particular fled to the human world. Each of Danu's daughters had daughters which became the next "trinity" of daughters. Theo's is a descendant of one of these daughters, whom she sees in her dreams and who communicates with her in short whispers, which leads her to trouble. The plot was nice and simple, and the worldbuilding with Danu's daughters was interesting.
It was kind of interesting that Fry wove in the story of 'Frankenstein' into this novel, with the Stein family being Aetherian and committing the "crime" of creating life using aether which they shared with a human (Mary Shelley, in this case) who wrote a story about it. I'm a sucker for call backs to fairy tales and classics.
Setting
We see two different lands. First there is Aetherland, where Theo is taken to first and where she interacts with the Stein family, friends of her mothers. This land is entirely empty except for the Steins, but looks like a small town. Then there is Subterria, a cold and desolate island that strongly separates the rich (headed by the Order of the Azure Serpent, the power-hungry descendants of Ealga) from the poor where the scent of rebellion is boiling over.
I'd hoped we'd get to explore more of the Ireland setting in description. I know it isn't really the focus of the story but it would have been nice to give some homage to the lovely Irish coast.
Characters
Theodora "Theo" Parson is our protagonist, a young teenager who lost her father earlier in her life and was raised by her academic mother and is close to her aunt, Grace. Her affection towards her mother was really nice to see, especially when books featuring teens tend to forget that parents even exist. She's a pretty typical teen complete with childish antics. I felt bad for her to be dragged around by total strangers and not told anything for most of the beginning, but she held together pretty well. She seems to talk to herself a lot which I found to be rather cute in it's oddity. Her focus in her missions tended to shift unexpectedly, like when she went from her mission to get out of the villain's home to a mission in trying to solve where Juliette's daughter, and the third member of Theo's generation of trinity daughters, could be (something she'd had no interest in for most of the book). But she focuses back pretty quickly.
Aunt Gracelynn Monahan is a bit of an air-head (this is an understatement) to a point where it got annoying and irresponsible. But she can have her lovable moments. She adores her cat and seems to think it can do no wrong, which I can totally understand (yes, I'm that kind of cat person), but most of the time, her actions are hard to explain, and it feels like she doesn't care for Theo as much as an aunt should. At times, she's more distracted with her own self to worry about Theo's state of mind. I just didn't quite get the point of her.
Victor Corvus-Stein is an Aetherian from Aetherland Isle and the main love interest, an inventor with a passion for gadgets. He was a rather arrogant and snobbish in a way that could be construed as charming but was rather boring to me. As was the attempt to round out his personality by having him be loving towards most of his family. But regardless of his personality, I could still enjoy his more quirky sides, like his love for inventing which boarded on seriously nerdy. I didn't care at all for his romance with Theo, but especially so since their scenes were particularly awkward, and there's no love lost between me and insta-love-based romances.
Marjorie Monahan-Parson, Theo's mother, Grace's sister and a descendant of Danu, appeared to be a workaholic but who could still find time to be with her daughter. She's missing for most of the book and when we come back to her, we don't really get to know her for long other than she's a very good liar and an apparent genius when it comes to Aetherian technology. It was nice that she and Theo could reconnect by the end.
Among the Corvus-Stein family, there is first Valera, Victor's sister, who Theo quickly takes a liking to and they bond very easily, their personalities pretty much parallel. Then there is Vivian "Vivi" Rose Corvus-Stein, Victor and Valera's younger half-sister, was very cute and incredibly excitable. Her straightforwardness and cheerfulness was a welcomed change to the secrecy surrounding her family. Victoria Corvus-Stein, the mother Victor, Valera and Vivi (so. many. Vs.), is a very posh and secretive woman who I couldn't help feeling sorry for; despite her apparent coldness and tight-lip, she struggles with keeping her family together and keeping Theo's mom's secret safe all while trying to reel Theo in. Can't be easy, especially when she's pretty much doing it alone. Vanessa "Nessie" Stein is Victor, Valera and Vivi's aunt, Victoria's sister, and the captain of the ship, the AV Agrippa. She's a rough-n-tumble kind of chick, very much a swashbuckler who refuses to be tide down expectations, which I thoroughly enjoyed. If you needed a queer-pirate-queen fix, Nessie's your gal. Finally, we have Titus Stein, Vivi's father and Victor and Valera's step-father, a nasty man who isn't seen as a separate person from his brutish brothers, Marcus and Rufus, for most of the book until he goes rogue against the Order and our villain, Lazarus, due to his love for his daughter.
Lazarus Killian, as I just mentioned, was pretty much your run-off-the-mill elegant villain, who walks with a practiced saunter and a cruel, charming smile. He is the head of the Order of the Azure Serpent, a group that claims to want to protect Aether but is actually segregating the land (or something like that, it's not entirely clear), and Hank, Johnson, Titus, Rufus, and Marcus work for him. For the most part, he acts like the selfless host to Vivi and Theo, when they are kidnapped and brought to him, but he quickly reveals himself to be cunning and ruthlessly single-minded. Despite that, though, there were odd things he did like leaving Theo and Vivi, whom he didn't want to alert, to violent brutes who have actively threatened them. Not exactly a great idea.
Julia is Theo's best, and only, friend of two-years, a flirty and sarcastic person who shows support towards Theo in the beginning, when Theo can't figure out what her dreams are trying to tell her and why weird things are happening around her. The twist to her character being apart of Team Villain wasn't all that surprising but at the end, when she appears pretty much out of nowhere and kidnaps Valera, I got really pumped to see her next move! I love sh*t-starters.
Negatives
This book is going to need some editing. It's not the worst I've seen and I can tolerate more grammar mistakes than most folks but it does need quite a bit of work before it's publish-able, for sure. I also wasn't super into Theo's initial set up. Her emo-dressed-everyone-at-school-hates-me-and-are-stereotypically-nasty-"bad"-"girl" persona gave me some serious fanfiction circa 2008 feelings which was rather nostalgic but definitely didn't help me take her very seriously. The dialogue needs some serious work; it's clunky, awkward, unbelievable and just doesn't flow well. Much like the action sequences; there needs to be some fluff in between. Some scenes didn't entirely make sense to me, like why people would break into a house so early in the morning or why no one seemed to react much when a ladder fell from the sky to lead them to the AV Agrippa. A few other nitty-gritty things were off, which made reading the story pretty slow for me.
[/spoiler]
Actual Rating: 2.5/5
You can find my review for this book, and others, on my blog:
October 11, 2019
I finally finished this book.. it took me awhile to finish it but I think between reading it on my phone, & getting into a small reading slump, it took me awhile...
The book, for me, was definitely a great read but it started off really slow and took forever to get to the point.. The plot didn’t start getting good until Theo and Vivi were kidnapped.
I did like the Steampunk of the book & was not expecting Theo’s Dad to still be alive.. I was expecting though, when I read that he was still alive, for Theo to be more upset than she was..
I definitely might be picking up book to later on my phone, but for now, I think I’m going to stick with reading another book first before picking up the second book...
The book, for me, was definitely a great read but it started off really slow and took forever to get to the point.. The plot didn’t start getting good until Theo and Vivi were kidnapped.
I did like the Steampunk of the book & was not expecting Theo’s Dad to still be alive.. I was expecting though, when I read that he was still alive, for Theo to be more upset than she was..
I definitely might be picking up book to later on my phone, but for now, I think I’m going to stick with reading another book first before picking up the second book...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2018
It was a nice story, I enjoyed it.
August 27, 2016
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog
Sometimes, YA books can really hit a low by smacking every cliche on the cliche tree. With Into Aether, unfortunately, we have a really unpleasant book. Insta luv, bratty and unlikable main character, super perfect boy who inexplicably thinks poor behavior is attractive, ill defined world, and logic holes you could pilot a blimp through. This isn't even steampunk!Story: Theo is your average every day raging hormone obnoxious teen - a little speshul princess who spends all day on the cellphone gossiping with her bestie and who thinks the world owes her everything. When her mother doesn't return from a business trip overseas, she decides to take a mysterious and unknown person's offer to fly across the world to 'get' her mother. She brings along her clueless Aunt, who is also raging with hormones and hitting on a hot chauffeur. But lo and behold, they are taken to a mysterious island with Irish fae trappings. Because Theo is speshul - fortunately, there is a hot emerald eyed Irish 'prince' to gawk at and be rude to while expecting to be fawned upon.
Early in the book, when Theo is flying to a foreign country and should be worried about her mother, she is instead wandering what it would be like to kiss the hot guy who randomly showed up at her door. That pretty much was the rest of the book - a middle grade level 'adventure' that makes no sense and demonstrates really poor character building. Granted, we all expect teens to be contrary. But we should also be able to respect their decisions and at least see creative writing to explain speshulness or attraction. None of that was to be found here - it was like reading a story glorifying the most obnoxious, annoying, and mean popular girls in high school. Because hey, let's make them unique snowflakes by giving them a random history in generic Irish mythology.
The 'aether' in the title and the blimp cover are misleading. This really isn't steampunk and I don't believe the author has a grasp of the concept or the milieu. Setting a 'hidden' steampunkish island in modern trapping is egregious and makes little sense. The allure of steampunk is its historical basis and that the modern world never developed as it did with gas engines and electricity. So I was left wholly unimpressed with the randomness of the world building.
About half way through, I began to skim just to get to the end. I disliked all the characters, the smarmy plot, and unimaginative writing. The characters were so two dimensional as to be paper thin. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
September 10, 2016
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
Find this review and more on my blog !
Into Aether is the first novel in L.M. Fry’s Trinity Key Trilogy and is a well written start to what looks like a promising YA steampunk series.
When Colorado teen Theodora’s mum mysteriously disappears, Theo has no idea that everything she knows is about to change. Desperate to find her mum, Theo is willing to do anything, including following the mysterious man that has been following her into the Victorian world of Aether. Once in Aetherland, Theo finds herself in the middle of a decades old feud, having to rely on the honesty and honour of the people she’s staying with, even as it becomes clear Aetherland holds its own secrets and the key to Theo’s future....
I’ll admit, Into Aether started out as a slow read for me, but it quickly gained momentum, managing to draw me into a fast paced and enjoyable steampunk tale. L.M. Fry introduces readers to a whimsical mechanical and steampunk world of Aether. Filled with plenty of 19th century gizmos and gadgets and rich in description, Aetherland was a really vivid and eccentric place. I loved the vast array of colourful characters Fry litters amongst the story as she puts her protagonist to the test.
I thought the mythology within Into Aether was really interesting. Weaving some Celtic history into her mythology, L.M. Fry creates a really potent and vivid steampunk world. It’s clear she put a lot of through into creating her backstory, and as such the history of Aetherland and its three subdivisions are something I really hope to learn more about, especially the Trinity Key and what it all means.
After getting off to a rocky start, Theo did grow on me. Once she was in Aetherland I found her character to be a lot more likable and easy to follow. I enjoyed seeing Theo get to know the Corvus-Stein siblings and loved that L.M Fry wove friendship and romance into the action packed story. Theo’s budding friendship with Valera was quaint as was the bond she developed with sweet and bubbly six-year old Vivian, Vivi for short. And as for Theo’s chemistry with Victor—well let’s just say I was won over and happy with their romance.
Wonderfully setting up the next book, Into Aether does end on somewhat of a cliffhanger, but one that sets up the next instalment perfectly. A great start to L.M. Fry’s YA steampunk series, Into Aether has left me ready to read more!
Find this review and more on my blog !
Into Aether is the first novel in L.M. Fry’s Trinity Key Trilogy and is a well written start to what looks like a promising YA steampunk series.
When Colorado teen Theodora’s mum mysteriously disappears, Theo has no idea that everything she knows is about to change. Desperate to find her mum, Theo is willing to do anything, including following the mysterious man that has been following her into the Victorian world of Aether. Once in Aetherland, Theo finds herself in the middle of a decades old feud, having to rely on the honesty and honour of the people she’s staying with, even as it becomes clear Aetherland holds its own secrets and the key to Theo’s future....
I’ll admit, Into Aether started out as a slow read for me, but it quickly gained momentum, managing to draw me into a fast paced and enjoyable steampunk tale. L.M. Fry introduces readers to a whimsical mechanical and steampunk world of Aether. Filled with plenty of 19th century gizmos and gadgets and rich in description, Aetherland was a really vivid and eccentric place. I loved the vast array of colourful characters Fry litters amongst the story as she puts her protagonist to the test.
I thought the mythology within Into Aether was really interesting. Weaving some Celtic history into her mythology, L.M. Fry creates a really potent and vivid steampunk world. It’s clear she put a lot of through into creating her backstory, and as such the history of Aetherland and its three subdivisions are something I really hope to learn more about, especially the Trinity Key and what it all means.
After getting off to a rocky start, Theo did grow on me. Once she was in Aetherland I found her character to be a lot more likable and easy to follow. I enjoyed seeing Theo get to know the Corvus-Stein siblings and loved that L.M Fry wove friendship and romance into the action packed story. Theo’s budding friendship with Valera was quaint as was the bond she developed with sweet and bubbly six-year old Vivian, Vivi for short. And as for Theo’s chemistry with Victor—well let’s just say I was won over and happy with their romance.
Wonderfully setting up the next book, Into Aether does end on somewhat of a cliffhanger, but one that sets up the next instalment perfectly. A great start to L.M. Fry’s YA steampunk series, Into Aether has left me ready to read more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2016
*I was given a copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley for an honest review*
Sixteen-year-old Theodora (Theo) lives in snowy Boulder Colorado with her mother; she goes to school like a normal girl, has a best friend and a bookish aunt that lives across the street. When Theo’s mom goes missing she begins a fast paced journey with her auntie Grace, uncovering an entire world they never knew existed. Aetherland is a city hidden from humans; they use Aether, an unknown power to humans, as a means to run their lives. This strange world is a mash-up of 1800s England and industrial, described as “steam punk�, complete with automatons and clunky tech devices.
The potential in this story is just unlimited; if you set plot aside, the world, the gadgetry, the clothes all lend themselves to aiding the reader in immersing fully in this interesting place. The same old, yet tried and true storyline is fairly predictable but I found enjoyable simply because the pictures in my mind weren’t anything normally placed there by a book.
Theo is very young and I constantly had to remind myself of that due to some of her almost childish reactions to things. I will say what I did like about her character is she is very strong and determined; she never strayed from her ultimate goal which was to find her mom. The romance between Theo and the only other young male in the story, Victor was absent one moment then present another. They seemed to like each other then not, and went back and forth before submitting to their hormonal whims.
My absolute favorite aspect of this story is Theo’s relationship with Victor’s little sister Vivi. Vivi is incredibly spirited, imaginative and plainly a five year old. Every interaction between Theo and Vivi is sweet, special and is evident Theo is protective of the younger girl.
This was a fairly fast paced read, with good amounts of action and a fare bit of mystery. I did enjoy this new world but I felt parts lacked a little spark, whether it was the writing style, the plot or the flatness of some of the characters I can’t pinpoint, I can say it didn’t feel as richly developed as it could’ve been. Books two and three are also available, I’m interested to see how this series progresses.
Sixteen-year-old Theodora (Theo) lives in snowy Boulder Colorado with her mother; she goes to school like a normal girl, has a best friend and a bookish aunt that lives across the street. When Theo’s mom goes missing she begins a fast paced journey with her auntie Grace, uncovering an entire world they never knew existed. Aetherland is a city hidden from humans; they use Aether, an unknown power to humans, as a means to run their lives. This strange world is a mash-up of 1800s England and industrial, described as “steam punk�, complete with automatons and clunky tech devices.
The potential in this story is just unlimited; if you set plot aside, the world, the gadgetry, the clothes all lend themselves to aiding the reader in immersing fully in this interesting place. The same old, yet tried and true storyline is fairly predictable but I found enjoyable simply because the pictures in my mind weren’t anything normally placed there by a book.
Theo is very young and I constantly had to remind myself of that due to some of her almost childish reactions to things. I will say what I did like about her character is she is very strong and determined; she never strayed from her ultimate goal which was to find her mom. The romance between Theo and the only other young male in the story, Victor was absent one moment then present another. They seemed to like each other then not, and went back and forth before submitting to their hormonal whims.
My absolute favorite aspect of this story is Theo’s relationship with Victor’s little sister Vivi. Vivi is incredibly spirited, imaginative and plainly a five year old. Every interaction between Theo and Vivi is sweet, special and is evident Theo is protective of the younger girl.
This was a fairly fast paced read, with good amounts of action and a fare bit of mystery. I did enjoy this new world but I felt parts lacked a little spark, whether it was the writing style, the plot or the flatness of some of the characters I can’t pinpoint, I can say it didn’t feel as richly developed as it could’ve been. Books two and three are also available, I’m interested to see how this series progresses.
September 5, 2016
Before I start my review, I would like to thank ELEAH Enterprises and NetGalley for allowing me to review Into Aether by L.M. Fry.
**All opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone. I received Into Aether from ELEAH Enterprises through NetGalley for free for my honest and unbiased review**
Now, onto my review:
Ahhhhh�..steampunk!!!! Ahhhhh……Celtic mythology. Ahhhh�..a mix of both!!!
As you can see, I was pretty pumped about reading a steampunk/Celtic mythology novel. Like super duper pumped about reading this book and it didn’t let me down.
Theodora (or Theo as she liked to be called), was the perfect heroine and I loved her. She was the perfect combination of sass, sarcasm, angst and innocence all rolled into one. She was the perfect definition of a teenager�.lol. I also liked that she didn’t even blink when strange things started to happen to her. That whole cross country flight/train ride/airship ride/floating island would have freaked me out. But not her and I admired that.
The steampunk part of the book didn’t happen until halfway through the book (when Theo and Gracelynn were taken aboard the airship). I was in nerd heaven after that�.lmao. Automans, half machine/half human people, odd way of talking, a freaking AIRSHIP!!!
The romance aspect was cute too. Theo was hilarious in fighting her feelings for Victor and when she gave in, well, I laughed. It was cute�.lol.
The whole Danu storyline was great too, along with the Order storyline. Lazarus was a creep and to be honest, he got what he deserved.
The ending was a bit of a surprise to me. Not a cliff hanger but it did leave the book open for another book.
Oh, and since I never comment, I loved the cover!!! It was great!!
How many stars will I give Into Aether? 4
Why? This is a perfect combo of steampunk/romance and YA. Plus it had Celtic mythology and I love that!!!
Will I reread? Yes
Will I reccomend to family and friends? Yes
Age Range: Young Adult
Why? No sex, minimal violence.
**All opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone. I received Into Aether from ELEAH Enterprises through NetGalley for free for my honest and unbiased review**
Now, onto my review:
Ahhhhh�..steampunk!!!! Ahhhhh……Celtic mythology. Ahhhh�..a mix of both!!!
As you can see, I was pretty pumped about reading a steampunk/Celtic mythology novel. Like super duper pumped about reading this book and it didn’t let me down.
Theodora (or Theo as she liked to be called), was the perfect heroine and I loved her. She was the perfect combination of sass, sarcasm, angst and innocence all rolled into one. She was the perfect definition of a teenager�.lol. I also liked that she didn’t even blink when strange things started to happen to her. That whole cross country flight/train ride/airship ride/floating island would have freaked me out. But not her and I admired that.
The steampunk part of the book didn’t happen until halfway through the book (when Theo and Gracelynn were taken aboard the airship). I was in nerd heaven after that�.lmao. Automans, half machine/half human people, odd way of talking, a freaking AIRSHIP!!!
The romance aspect was cute too. Theo was hilarious in fighting her feelings for Victor and when she gave in, well, I laughed. It was cute�.lol.
The whole Danu storyline was great too, along with the Order storyline. Lazarus was a creep and to be honest, he got what he deserved.
The ending was a bit of a surprise to me. Not a cliff hanger but it did leave the book open for another book.
Oh, and since I never comment, I loved the cover!!! It was great!!
How many stars will I give Into Aether? 4
Why? This is a perfect combo of steampunk/romance and YA. Plus it had Celtic mythology and I love that!!!
Will I reread? Yes
Will I reccomend to family and friends? Yes
Age Range: Young Adult
Why? No sex, minimal violence.
July 24, 2016
Let me begin by saying this book needed major proof reading and editing. Examples:
"Every step she took shook felt like the ventilation shaft would cave in."
"Victor held Theo’s arm, trying to restraint her."
“I now you’re there, Theo. You might as well come out of hiding.�
And that is only a few of the typos in the book.
Now to the real problem with the book: it just didn't make sense. The protagonist (a very bratty 16 year old named "Theo") behaved in a completely unrealistic way throughout the entire book. Theo barely even questioned being taken from a very average existence in Colorado to an island located in the freaking sky! She never turned to others for help when it would have made sense, she was obnoxious and ungracious to those who DID help her.
At this line I would have hurled my book if I weren't reading this on my tablet: "He was back to being Mr . Douchebag Know-it-all. His momentary lapse of fun had expired. Theo crossed her arms, huffed, and stormed off." Cringe, cringe, cringe.
Theo's aunt Grace behaved like a ditzy love starved teenager. Theo's mom could have resolved so much angst with one measly phone call. And Theo's love interest was an all around prig of the highest order.
This is book one of a trilogy and while it ended with a literal cliff hanger, I have absolutely no desire to find out what happens.
I WILL say there was one truly redeeming and adorable character, little Vivi was a refreshing addition to the book.
*I received a copy of this from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
"Every step she took shook felt like the ventilation shaft would cave in."
"Victor held Theo’s arm, trying to restraint her."
“I now you’re there, Theo. You might as well come out of hiding.�
And that is only a few of the typos in the book.
Now to the real problem with the book: it just didn't make sense. The protagonist (a very bratty 16 year old named "Theo") behaved in a completely unrealistic way throughout the entire book. Theo barely even questioned being taken from a very average existence in Colorado to an island located in the freaking sky! She never turned to others for help when it would have made sense, she was obnoxious and ungracious to those who DID help her.
At this line I would have hurled my book if I weren't reading this on my tablet: "He was back to being Mr . Douchebag Know-it-all. His momentary lapse of fun had expired. Theo crossed her arms, huffed, and stormed off." Cringe, cringe, cringe.
Theo's aunt Grace behaved like a ditzy love starved teenager. Theo's mom could have resolved so much angst with one measly phone call. And Theo's love interest was an all around prig of the highest order.
This is book one of a trilogy and while it ended with a literal cliff hanger, I have absolutely no desire to find out what happens.
I WILL say there was one truly redeeming and adorable character, little Vivi was a refreshing addition to the book.
*I received a copy of this from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2016
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.
Into Aether is the first book in the Trinity Key Trilogy and is recommended for readers who find young adult novels with a steampunk vibe of interest. The story begins in Colorado with the introduction of Theo, a teenage girl trying to locate her mother who has mysteriously vanished. As Theo searches for her mother, she finds herself pulled into an alternate Victorian steampunk world called the Aetherland. Throw in a lot of adventure and a little instalove and you've got a fairly decent start to a new series. The author did a wonderful job of world building. I found Aetherland incredibly intriguing and creative. Character development was a little one dimensional for some characters and inconsistent with others. Auntie Grace came across more like a teenage girl than a responsible adult looking after the well being of her niece. I got the impression that Theo fell for a boy based primarily on the fact that he smelled like soap and leather. I wanted more relationship building and less instalove. Regardless, I would definitely be interested in reading future installments in this series.
Into Aether is the first book in the Trinity Key Trilogy and is recommended for readers who find young adult novels with a steampunk vibe of interest. The story begins in Colorado with the introduction of Theo, a teenage girl trying to locate her mother who has mysteriously vanished. As Theo searches for her mother, she finds herself pulled into an alternate Victorian steampunk world called the Aetherland. Throw in a lot of adventure and a little instalove and you've got a fairly decent start to a new series. The author did a wonderful job of world building. I found Aetherland incredibly intriguing and creative. Character development was a little one dimensional for some characters and inconsistent with others. Auntie Grace came across more like a teenage girl than a responsible adult looking after the well being of her niece. I got the impression that Theo fell for a boy based primarily on the fact that he smelled like soap and leather. I wanted more relationship building and less instalove. Regardless, I would definitely be interested in reading future installments in this series.
September 11, 2016
What first drew me to this book was the cover itself. Normally I tend to ignore the covers as they never seem to match what is actually in the book itself but this cover was so gorgeous, I just had to read the blurb. The fact that I do really enjoy steampunk also helped out the decision.
The first part of the book had me confused however as there was anything to do with steampunk. It was a good story with a spunky heroine so I kept reading. It really didn't take that long before I was immersed in steam ships and automatons. And even more interesting characters. I really liked the Stein children especially Victor.
The plot and pacing of the story are great with danger and new puzzles around every corner. Theo really impressed me with her determination to find her mother and to protect the youngest Stein daughter. She also discovers some new info about herself and her family that broaden her horizons.
I do recommend this book to any of my readers who enjoy young adult as well as steampunk. For myself, I am waiting impatiently for Valora's story to come out.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
The first part of the book had me confused however as there was anything to do with steampunk. It was a good story with a spunky heroine so I kept reading. It really didn't take that long before I was immersed in steam ships and automatons. And even more interesting characters. I really liked the Stein children especially Victor.
The plot and pacing of the story are great with danger and new puzzles around every corner. Theo really impressed me with her determination to find her mother and to protect the youngest Stein daughter. She also discovers some new info about herself and her family that broaden her horizons.
I do recommend this book to any of my readers who enjoy young adult as well as steampunk. For myself, I am waiting impatiently for Valora's story to come out.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
December 9, 2016
4.5/5 Stars
First off, I was not thinking I would like this as much as I did. I still have not read many steampunk novels, so I'm still wary about the genre. However, this was a nice mix of Steampunk, fantasy, and adventure.
This novel follows young Theodora (Theo to her friends) as she tries to find her missing mother in the land of Aether. On the way she slowly learns of a plot to essentially take over the world along with her true familial history.
From the very first chapter, L.M. Fry brings these characters to life. Theo is a quirky, yet awkward teenager. Victor is the gorgeous, yet sometimes pretentious Aetherian. She builds these characters with likable and unlikable qualities, just as real people have. It's quite refreshing.
Though she did have to build the world of Aether, readers can learn along with Theo. I honestly love those kinds of world buildings simply because it's not a dump of information all at once. Plus you can compare your reactions to the character's.
This was a phenomenal work of fiction. I can't wait to read the next one. Especially with that twist that came near the end! When I get surprised by a twist, that is a very good thing!
First off, I was not thinking I would like this as much as I did. I still have not read many steampunk novels, so I'm still wary about the genre. However, this was a nice mix of Steampunk, fantasy, and adventure.
This novel follows young Theodora (Theo to her friends) as she tries to find her missing mother in the land of Aether. On the way she slowly learns of a plot to essentially take over the world along with her true familial history.
From the very first chapter, L.M. Fry brings these characters to life. Theo is a quirky, yet awkward teenager. Victor is the gorgeous, yet sometimes pretentious Aetherian. She builds these characters with likable and unlikable qualities, just as real people have. It's quite refreshing.
Though she did have to build the world of Aether, readers can learn along with Theo. I honestly love those kinds of world buildings simply because it's not a dump of information all at once. Plus you can compare your reactions to the character's.
This was a phenomenal work of fiction. I can't wait to read the next one. Especially with that twist that came near the end! When I get surprised by a twist, that is a very good thing!
August 20, 2016
Interesting book
This is an honest review of the book. The beginning of the book left me confused for awhile and I couldn't keep track of which characters were good and which were bad. Maybe it was due to my slow reading, but nevertheless I was confused.
The confusion continued through the book although I found the story engaging and exciting. The author reveals very little about this new place the main character finds herself in and in this book one of the series, left me hanging on why so many people are after her. Some details were provided but not enough to make me cheer for her.
The ending left me mad because she didn't end the book
when a resolution of the book's crisis was over (as was done in the Harry Potter series), but it ended where the first chapter of the second book should begin. I don't like that.
Because I'm curious about why I should care about the main character so I'll likely get the second book of the series to see if the author tells me there. It was a good book overall.
This is an honest review of the book. The beginning of the book left me confused for awhile and I couldn't keep track of which characters were good and which were bad. Maybe it was due to my slow reading, but nevertheless I was confused.
The confusion continued through the book although I found the story engaging and exciting. The author reveals very little about this new place the main character finds herself in and in this book one of the series, left me hanging on why so many people are after her. Some details were provided but not enough to make me cheer for her.
The ending left me mad because she didn't end the book
when a resolution of the book's crisis was over (as was done in the Harry Potter series), but it ended where the first chapter of the second book should begin. I don't like that.
Because I'm curious about why I should care about the main character so I'll likely get the second book of the series to see if the author tells me there. It was a good book overall.
August 28, 2016
Theo’s mother has yet to return from a business trip and she’s worried. When strange people start appearing, she feels more rushed to find her mother. What she wasn’t expecting was being transported into an entirely different world of Aether, a steampunk version of Victorian England.
Theo is an interesting character who is stubborn and head-strong, but surprisingly acted out of character in various instances throughout the novel. She allows herself to be pushed over. She doesn’t trust the people who have brought her into Aether, but lives in their house anyway.
The romance also felt forced with no real development/growth at all. She despises the guy one day and the next having heart palpitations at the sight of him. Really, Theo?
The one thing I did like was the steampunk aspects and the tech. Unfortunately, the characters have led me to bypass the rest of the series entirely.
Theo is an interesting character who is stubborn and head-strong, but surprisingly acted out of character in various instances throughout the novel. She allows herself to be pushed over. She doesn’t trust the people who have brought her into Aether, but lives in their house anyway.
The romance also felt forced with no real development/growth at all. She despises the guy one day and the next having heart palpitations at the sight of him. Really, Theo?
The one thing I did like was the steampunk aspects and the tech. Unfortunately, the characters have led me to bypass the rest of the series entirely.
September 28, 2016
Another tale of Steampunk goodness with pirates of airships and strange people with quirks that might just have you reaching to turn on a light... A girl in search of the truth... a land build out of junk from another time... a people craving the attention of anyone who will listen... the perfect recipe for an equally diverse and wonderful tale of mystery and fantasy. I truly loved this story and look forward to more like it.
October 29, 2016
It was okay. Didn't finish. Don't want to finish. Definitely don't think the novel is for me. It does have a very interesting setting and theme coupled with typical teenage characters. The writing is pretty good and the plot seems alright.
December 13, 2016
Into Aether
The first 10% was captivating, the next 40% bored me to death. The next half of the book was so up and down that it rained on my parade.
The first 10% was captivating, the next 40% bored me to death. The next half of the book was so up and down that it rained on my parade.
December 29, 2017
Steampunk, meets magic, meets mystery all wrapped up in a spellbinding style of writing. I highly recommend this series to any YA purchaser and strongly suggest you push it to your adult audience as well. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
This was read as an ARC through netgalley.com for an honest review.
This was read as an ARC through netgalley.com for an honest review.
Shelved as 'to-read-own'
October 24, 201710/23/17 FREE for Kindle.
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