This novella came by way of Netgalley - thank you to them.

Now, this is steampunk as I keep expecting it to be (and keep being disappointed). Victoriana combined with automata and dirigibles (there should always be dirigibles) and a strange and unaccountable magic, hanging from a very good story: that's what I keep hoping for.

Elspeth Shaw is under a curse. Anyone who cares for her dies horribly, from family to a stray cat. It's all down to an artifact her father unearthed – her now-deceased father, needless to say. She lives on an island and keeps to herself, and sees to it in every way she can manage that the one person she has regular contact with, her housekeeper, simply does not like her.

Meanwhile, in England, James Weston is a young nobleman whose body is failing him. A rumor comes to him of an artifact (yes, that artifact) which can extend life, and he sees this as his only chance. His intrusion into Elspeth's world is unwelcome – especially when she realizes she is beginning to have feelings for him.

The story takes a turn I never expected, to wind up in a conclusion I would never have guessed at. It becomes very dark, very quickly, and feels like one of those episodes of The Twilight Zone – or maybe Alfred Hitchcock Presents – that might not make you reach for your teddy bear, but surely is good for a shiver or two. It's an excellent tale.

A side note, apropos of nothing: the image of the girl is, though flipped, otherwise identical to the girl on the cover of the novella Dark Remains. ( )

This book was both strange and attention grabbing. It tells the story of two people who meet by chance and are both having specific issues with their lives and health. I enjoyed the read but it could have used a little better description of the island Elspeth lived on and maybe better developed character descriptions. The ending left the story open for a possible sequel, if there is one I will definitely read it.

I received this book from Net Galley and Carina Press, thank you. ( )

Thank you to netgalley for giving me a copy.

Heart of Perdition is a neat little novella, though I was disappointed in the lack of detail and attention paid to setting. The plot was really interesting and absorbing, but for me it didn't make up for the lack of detail which I think is really important to the steampunk genre (the aesthetic is half the fun!). There are some undertones of robotics and clockwork, though, just nothing in good detail. The plot was good though, it involves an ancient artifact which both curses Elspeth, causing her to live alone and unloved, and returns James from the brink of death at a price.

The undertone of helplessness of women was also a bit disconcerting, even for the time period. Usually in historical fiction we see women trying to overcome these obstacles, not perpetuate them as we see here. In fact, it's Elspeth herself that talks about these, not James, who actually tries to refute them. I dunno, it definitely makes me think less of her as a heroine.

The writing is very good though, and I think maybe if it hadn't been so short the flaws wouldn't have been so overwhelming and apparent, or I would have been able to overlook them in favor of the good parts. But this is just a novella, though it seems to be part 1, which I think is silly. With a book this short you might as well just write the two books in one. I am definitely being generous with a 3 star review, it's probably more of a 2.5, but close enough.

Also, I love the cover. ( )

What I liked though is the feel of authenticity of the era it hopes to portray. Corsets, formal English, a close observation of class and etiquette and everything Victorian in 1899. I know that if we get more of James Weston that I'll absolutely love the guy and Elspeth's situation is ripe for adventure and some serious romance. The attempt on Steampunk needs more emphasis and originality to make the setting more vivid and convincing of an alternative Victorian England. ( )