By: Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
Written & Narrated by: Alyson Grauer
Format: Podcast, 30:54 minutes
Genre: Fantasy, Steampunk
Series: 6th in Tales of the Archives Vol. 2 podcasts, part of A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series
Recommendation: Nice way to meet new characters in this steampunk-ish world particularly if you enjoyed the book; A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, Phoenix Rising.
Synopsis:
A Trick of Strong Imagination
Althea Galway, a gifted statistician for the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, follows her tedious pursuits for Doctor Sound to a Winter carnival and a strange mystery at its heart. With a dashing illusionist and the memories of her own secretive past with the Traveling Galloway Circus clouding her judgment, she dares to reach beyond her station and discover what is behind the tricks of a trade she knew better than any active field agent.
My Thoughts and Summary:
Eliza and Wellington are preparing for Dragon*Con! (hope you saw them if you went)
It's winter 1893, Althea is a trapeze artist flying to her father, and falls short. Then she snaps her eyes open, to the Ministry and Mr. Sound. Seeing her peeked Mr. Sound sends her for a walk outside, even though winter. She sets her papers aside, the ones of missing items across the country and many more. While out she is approached by a beggar with a flower, persistent she finally reaches for it, turning to a white dove. The beggar now gone when she turns her eyes back, to see a flyer for a circus in his place. A circus of magic and strange animals. She didn't want to go to the circus due to her history, but something was interesting with the show of the flower and bird. At the circus Althea finds a curious box of unexplained powers, then finds more connections here.
Althea is employed by the Ministry, filing papers and reading through cases. She is a smart woman and makes connections no other does, by luck? maybe. She goes to Mr. Sound, but without more facts and proof can't send anyone out. Althea decides to get this proof, and finds herself in deeper than she ever expected. Althea's curiosity seems to get the best of her.
Enzo, the circus leader, has a way about him. One of presence and seems he might be attracted to Althea for some reason. But the magic that he presents is amazing. The box is curious and more to his act. Very interesting and one I would love to see.
Althea sounds like a kind woman, with smarts to connect the unusual feels with facts. I love the sound of the circus, and would love to be able to see this magical display.
Would you like to listen to these? For a taste of the characters or in addition to the book... Visit The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences.
You can find these for your Reading pleasure in any eFormat you would like at Smashwords.
NEW!! The Tales from the Archives: Volume 1 can now be found on Kindle as The Ministry's 99-Penny Dreadfuls. You can find the Archives on Kindle for your Reading.
There are short stories always added to the listing. So keep checking back!
I listened to this short story for my own enjoyment.
Oh more tales!! I've been having a lot of steampunk surround me lately... I think you are also trying to get me more into it. I'm on to you... ;)
ReplyDeleteI wanna go to dragon con. :)
Yes! Melissa (books&things) lol. I love to push steampunk. ;D LOL! I had thought I posted this one over a week ago, and it wasn't! I was shocked. :) Thank you!
Deletei still haven't got the 4 files for the complete anthology book1 on smashwords but i still hope because listening compreghension isn't my forte it's seems i want teh pdf!!
ReplyDeleteOh Miki, I do hope you enjoy reading the stories when you get them. :) I've not read them yet, but have a few for reading. :) Thank you!
Deletelooks like Miki answered my question..i wanted to know if these were available for nook and smashwords would work!
ReplyDeletehappy to hae helped^^
DeleteOh yes Kimba. :) I believe they show up on Nook at Barnes & Nobles too...
DeleteHere ya go! There are a few other books/authors that are not part of the group, but I searched Tales from the Archives and found them. :) Hope you enjoy!
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/tales-from-the-archives?keyword=tales+from+the+archives&store=allproducts
I think it's always so interesting when it's a steampunk story, so intriguing.
ReplyDeleteMelliane, these are fun short stories. I really enjoy them for that reason...and steampunk. lol :) Thank you!
DeleteI liked your review but steampunk scares me. The genre has not pulled me in yet.
ReplyDeleteJennifer Bielman, it's a very new genre, but with the right book, it's amazing to read. :) I was always afraid I wouldn't picture the machines or gadgets, but many are very easy to see and if not exactly right, well that's the finesse with reading. :) Hope you get to give it a try one day.
Delete