I really like Höst's work but I found the story and world to be confusing. I'll read [b: Tangleways|25043547|Tangleways (The Trifold Age, #2)|Andrea K. Höst|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1432858794s/25043547.jpg|44721669] though because I like the characters. ( )

All the characters are interesting and important. I loved Rian from the beginning and then I loved her nieces and nephew. They're clearly on the same page but distrustful of each other. Rian seems aloof to them but when you're in her point of view you can see that she isn't, but that she hides it well because of life experience. Of course the fact that Rian is bisexual is pretty great and an awesome plus, especially when she's falling for the royal avatar of a part of a goddess and the strange whatever with Makepeace.

I also like seeing Eluned's point of view. Since the siblings don't exactly trust Rian, you wouldn't get to see their plotting and intelligence properly just through Rian.

I love books of intrigue so I was hooked reading about the discoveries of surrounding the death of the children's parents made on both the side of Rian and the children.

The world is so well built as well. Steampunk with some magic and magical creatures thrown in and then some ancient lore because Rome and Egypt still exist and that the world kind of revolves around vampires and goddesses and pyramids. I especially like that vampires aren't evil, which is the case a lot of the time. They're able to control the weather and other great stuff for their people. This book was a lot of good. ( )

Such cool worldbuilding in this AU where the Roman and Egyptian Empires remain prominent nations, gods and vampires rule, and science works alongside magic. Andrea Höst is particularly good at developing these detailed worlds, just as she is at writing books that suck me in emotionally. [I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.] ( )

Can I get an Airship to Prytennia Please?!

I really just started reading a lot more fantasy and sci-fi books this year so I'm not an expert on the genres by a long shot. With that said, I thought the alternate world in The Pyramids of London was unique and very creative! I love the idea of the airships, daily wind blasts, automations and fulgites etc. I personally am not that creative so I never in a million years would have been able to come up with any of that stuff. I have to give Host and authors in general, credit for their creativity and originality but also for being able to keep it all straight. It's hard enough keeping up with everything going on in our own world much less keeping up with an alternate make-believe world. I definitely have a better appreciation of fantasy and sci-fi authors. I thought it would be a challenge learning all the different protectorates and allegiances and other dynamics of the alternate world but it really wasn't. Host did a great job of writing so that you are able to understand and follow along. There is also a glossary in the back to refer to.  I didn't need it but I could have used a few pictures throughout so I could see the world come to life. It would even make a great movie! I tried to picture it in my mind but its just not the same. I really hope The Pyramids of London is the start of a series because I am ready to leave the real world again for a trip back to Prytennia!
 
*I received this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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I've really enjoyed all of Andrea K. Höst's novels - usually in an intense "I can't put this down until I know that this character is going to be okay!" sort of way. Several of them are high on my list of current comfort reads.

So I was surprised when I bounced off The Pyramids of London. Especially since I don't think there's anything about The Pyramids of London that I actively disliked, per se. I liked the main characters - Arianne and her 16 year old niece Eluned - but something about the way the narrative switched between them stopped me from becoming invested in them and from feeling much urgency about their circumstances.
Neither of them know each other very well and they're both reasonably good at hiding their feelings - Arianne appeared to be particularly calm and confident from Eluned's perspective, and so even though I knew that was misleading, it still sort of dampened the tension.
I don't know how else to describe it.

I also found myself confused by the layout of several key physical locations, and I spent most of the story feeling like I didn't know Eleri at all - which felt especially weird since she's Eluned's twin.

I made myself finish it - feeling frustrated, as if there was a story that I'd absolutely love somewhere inside this one and I couldn't get at it. I don't know whether The Pyramids of London is a less successful, less polished, narrative than Höst's others, or if it simply just didn't appeal to me.

I'll read the sequel when that comes out... maybe I'll enjoy that more, if I know now what to expect. ( )