Audio Book Review: The Curse of the Silver Pharaoh by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

The Curse of the Silver Pharaoh by Pip Ballantine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love my steampunk worlds emersed in all things steampunk. The houses, things used, transportation, and the story. All steampunk related.

Pip and Tee give me that in their steampunk stories. I love it.

This series is a spinoff from their first steampunk series, Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. I love that our main characters have a job to do, find the missing Museum expert Dr. Williams. And there's always action that goes with it.

Verity is part of the Ministry Seven. Seven, well actually eight, orphans that live on the streets. They are their own family and work with Agent Harrison Thorne on small things. Verity is looking for Uncle Octavius, and finds herself trying to help a museum expert that gets kidnapped. Agent Thorne arrives and learns what Verity overheard. Agent Thorne has a mission for the Ministry Seven... To go to the academy for talented young engineers. Three go to the academy and the remainder are near at a farm, waiting for when they are called in.

Each group has their daily tasks as they look around. And some find trouble, which works out to finding out great details they can use.

Verity, Henry, and Emma are at the academy and we follow along through Verity's eyes as she finds friends, deals with those who pick on others, and the teachers. Interesting place. I got a little bit of a Harry Potter feel while at school. But, instead of magic, it was with automatons. Kinda cool.

The Curse of the Silver Pharaoh is really a thing here. And we do get to see the Pharaoh! You'll get there. You'll get there. ;)

And like in The Ministry of peculiar Occurrences, we do have a few explosions. ;)

I had fun with this one. Great way to dive into a world full of steampunk and a case to be solved, even if there's a little danger along the way.

View all my reviews

Cover Reveal: Operation: Endgame

I had to join this cover reveal when the option came available. Why? Because I've followed this series from the beginning and love it! This reveal is a touch bitter sweet as it's the last book in the series, but it's still such an amazing world! There are podcasts set in the world that we can listen too!

And now to the cover!

Operation: Endgame

Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #6

By:  Philippa Ballantine & Tee Morris

Description:

Join Agents Books and Braun on their final adventure with the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences!

There is no time to rest for Eliza D Braun and Wellington Thornhill Books. The man who has haunted and hounded them since the fall of the Maestro, Doctor Henry Jekyll, is now on a killing spree, using bizarre, theatrical murders as a way to taunt their inability to capture the. It falls on Books and Braun to turn the tables on Jekyll and bring him to justice.

As Wellington and Eliza continue their pursuit of the madman Jekyll, the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences stand against a recent surge in House of Usher activity. Agents Bruce Campbell and Brandon Hill discover more about the intention of Operation: Ragnorok, and the Ministry find themselves in a race to thwart Usher’s intent to plunge the world into chaos, despair, and a noticeable lack of clotted cream for Devon Teas.

The Ministry will not let this stand.

I soooooo can't wait!

Want to pick up the book too? You can find links at Books2Read

Book Review: The Ghost Rebellion

The Ghost Rebellion

By:  Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

Publish Date:  June 10, 2016

Format:  eBook

Genre:  Steampunk

Series:  5th in The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series; Book 1 ~ Phoenix Rising, Novella 1.5 ~ Silver Linings, Book 2 ~ The Janus Affair, Book 3 ~ Dawn's Early Light, Book 4 The Diamond Conspiracy

First Impression:  The Ministry must stop the man responsible for so many deaths is still free, and creating the serum that's dangerous!

Synopsis:
The chase is on! After rescuing Queen Victoria from the clutches of the Maestro, Agents Eliza D Braun and Wellington Books are in hot pursuit of Dr Henry Jekyll. While he continues his experiments on the aristocracy of Europe, he leaves a trail of chaos and despair in his wake. However when Eliza and Wellington run him to ground in India, they are forced to come face to face with ghosts from the past, and the realities of empire.

Meanwhile Ministry agents Brandon Hill and Bruce Campbell travel deep into Russia hunting down a rare ingredient to save Queen Victoria's life. Amid the cold they uncover a threat from the revitalized House of Usher that comes directly from their new Chairman.

All in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences will find their allegiances in question, and their mettle tested as a new dastardly era of international intrigue dawns.

First Sentence:
Wellington Thornhill Books took in a deep breath, sparing just a moment to collect his wits.

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble

My Thoughts and Summary:
Okay. I have to stop and bring my thoughts together. There is, once again, much we learn here as our Agents fight the best battle they can.

We follow two missions through this book. First and foremost in many eyes is what Wellington Books and Eliza Braun are up against. Following the trail of the isotope Blackwell created for in Dr. Jeckyll, Wellington Books and Eliza Braun find themselves in India where a person Jeckyll had been in contact with was heading.

Books and Eliza are trying  to track down all on the list that are working with Dr. Jekyll. It's going a bit...rough. They are trying to clean up Dr. Jekyll's work and mess of super-enhanced people who go a bit mad and grow in size along with other abilities. This leads them to where one of  Dr. Jekyll's patients had worked, and shared secrets with military in India. Not only are the medicines that Jekyll experiment with an issue, but there are experimental equipment that is now in the hands of the Ghost Rebellion forces. And this brings a new battle for Wellington and Eliza to battle, trying to get to Jekyll.

But reinforcements come! Well, one assassin that is, and the agents that remain in India. Yes, you guessed it by the mention of assassin. We get to see Sophia again. I really do love this woman, and seeing her personality clash with Eliza's is fun. I believe we will see her more in the last book to come as well - you'll come to the same conclusion in the end.

The second mission we follow is with Bruce and Brandon. They are sent to the arctic cold winter of Russia to find and obtain a Firebird feather to help cure the queen after the effects of Dr. Jekyll's serum in the last book. I have enjoyed the bold Bruce in previous books, but here I have started to see another side to him. Bruce seems to have a softer side here, a genuine person.

We get to see inside the House of Usher meetings too! And they are behind so much that Books has unknowingly stopped. Oh and a bit more on our dear Wellington too. There are major points shared with us that I just can't share because I don't want to spoil the book for you.

While the remaining agents are on their missions we see them deal with the great losses, and losses of those that were dear friends as well. There are connections to those we knew and the losses are still fresh in many hearts. The Ministry is reforming after the great losses felt preciously. It's a lot of work, and being in the state The Ministry is, anything can happen...

I want to add, I love that we have a couple that still function and interact as individuals paired together. They are who they are and love each other for that reason. Eliza and Wellington still banter and make me smile as they go through their missions, but they are more to each other as well. I enjoy writing of couples in this way.

For me steampunk is all about the gadgets. And Tee and Pip don't let me down! I love the gadgets created and used or seen with other agents. Awesome! But they also drew in the emotions from lose to love and blooming friendships into the book as well as the adventures and dangers continue.



**If you found my thoughts helpful, please click Yes at Amazon.

Cover Reveal: The Ghost Rebellion

Our favorite steampunk duo is back! Eliza Braun and Wellington Books are back at it!

As many of you know, I love this series! And I'm thrilled to share with you the cover reveal of the book that was successfully funded through Kickstarter.

The Ghost Rebellion

The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #5

By:  Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris

Due Out:  June 10, 2016

Publisher: Imagine That! Studios

Word Count: about 100,000

Cover Artist: Photography by Go ForWard and design by Designed by Starla

Book Description:

The chase is on! After the destruction of the Diamond Jubilee, Agents Eliza D Braun and Wellington Books are in hot pursuit of Dr Henry Jekyll. While he continues his experiments on the aristocracy of Europe, he leaves a trail of chaos and despair in his wake. However when Eliza and Wellington run him to ground in India, they are forced to come face to face with ghosts from the past, and the realities of empire.

Meanwhile Brandon Hill and Bruce Campbell travel deep into Russia hunting down ingredients to save Queen Victoria's life. Amid the cold they uncover a new threat from the revitalized House of Usher .

All the agents of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences will find their allegiances in question, and their mettle tested as a new dastardly era of international intrigue dawns.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

Chapter One: Wherein a Delightful Luncheon Is Cut Short

Wellington Thornhill Books took in a deep breath, sparing just a moment to collect his wits. Otherwise he risked not living to see dessert.

The archivist-turned-agent dabbed at the corner of his mouth with his snow-white napkin, and draped it carefully over his lap. Outside the window the gleaming Atlantic rolled under their ocean liner the African Sunset, but that was not the view that held his attention. His focus remained with the dandy in front of him. Since their first meeting, the bombastic Lord seemed rather taken with the sound of his own voice, which was why the change in his dining companion's demeanour came as such a shock.

If an attack should come Wellington still had his dinner knife and fork. He was also in possession of a glass of wine, half finished—a pity to use, since it was a delightful vintage and paired perfectly with the duck—that could blind his opponent for a few valuable moments.

His lunch date kept a hard glare fixed on him, the monocle digging into the folds of his cheek. Rather unexpected to Wellington, Lord Hieronymus Featherstone had run out of things to say, and was now giving him his undivided attention.

Wellington thought he had shown unending fortitude while being subjected to Featherstone's eternal droning on about his recent excursions across Africa, India, and Siam. He now knew to what far reaches Lord Featherstone had traversed in the name of Her Majesty—which might be useful.

Yet now Featherstone sat before him, no longer the awful, droning chatterbox. The gentleman's jaw twitched as he kept his ice-chip blue eyes trained on Wellington, demanding satisfaction.

"Well," the lord spoke, his voice booming from his barrel chest, "answer me, man."

Sod it, Wellington thought as he picked up his glass. At the very least, I will finish this excellent wine.

"You obviously mentioned her name during one of your riveting stories when crossing the Serengeti," Wellington replied, taking in a good, long sip of his wine.

"My dear Bernice does not care for heat."

"Then perhaps you mentioned her joining you as you crossed the Canadian Rockies?"

"Nor does she care for the cold."

Mrs. Bernice Featherstone did not sound either lovely or agreeable, a perfect match for her husband, it seemed.

Nodding in resignation, Wellington cast another quick glance across the table, taking note of the knife and fork. Both hardly suited for close-quarter combat, but still useful. "M'lord, we could speculate for the entirety of the afternoon on how I came to know your lovely wife's name, but why don't we just cut this clever banter short and try a more direct form of engagement."

"Which would be?"

"The truth." With a final dab at of the corners of his mouth, Wellington dropped the napkin on the table, swiping up the fork and placing it in his lap. He positioned the silverware for a quick thrust as he began. "Lord Featherstone, it is no lie when I say your company has been enlightening. I have genuinely enjoyed our spirited and scintillating discussions whilst we journey around the Ivory Coast. However, to say we 'met you' by chance would be disingenuous." His grip tightened on the fork as he said, "My associate and I have been tracking you since your boarding in Conakry."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

About the Authors:

Philippa (Pip) Ballantine
Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Philippa has always had her head in a book. For this she blames her father who thought Lord of the Rings was suitable bedtime reading for an eight year old. At the age of thirteen she began writing fantasy stories for herself.

She first earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Political Science and then a Bachelor of Applied Science in Library and Information Science. So soon enough she found herself working in the magical world of libraries where she stayed for over a decade.

Her first professional sale was in 1997, and since then she has gone on to produce mostly novel length fiction. In 2006 she became New Zealand’s first podcast novelist, and she has voiced and produced Weaver’s Web, Chasing the Bard, Weather Child and Digital Magic as podiobooks. Her podcasts have been short listed for the Parsec Awards, and won a Sir Julius Vogel award.

Philippa is the author of the Books of the Order series with Ace- Geist and Spectyr and Wrayth out now, and Harbinger to follow. She is also the co-author of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series with Tee Morris. Phoenix Rising debuted in May 2011 and The Janus Affair came out in May 2012. She also has the Shifted World series with Pyr Books, with the first book Hunter and Fox out now.
When not writing or podcasting, Philippa loves reading, gardening, and whenever possible traveling. With her husband, Tee and her daughter, she is looked after by a mighty clowder of three cats.

Tee Morris
Tee Morris began his writing career with his 2002 historical epic fantasy, MOREVI The Chronicles of Rafe & Askana. In 2005 Tee took MOREVI into the then-unknown podosphere, making his novel the first book podcast in its entirety. That experience led to the founding of Podiobooks.com and collaborating with Evo Terra and Chuck Tomasi on Podcasting for Dummies and its follow-up, Expert Podcasting Practices for Dummies. He won acclaim and accolades for his cross-genre fantasy-detective Billibub Baddings Mysteries, the podcast of The Case of the Singing Sword winning him the 2008 Parsec Award for Best Audio Drama. Along with those titles, Tee has written articles and short stories for BenBella Books’s Farscape Forever: Sex, Drugs, and Killer Muppets, the podcast anthology VOICES: New Media Fiction, BenBella Books’ So Say We All: Collected Thoughts and Opinions of Battlestar Galactica, and Dragon Moon Press’ Podthology: The Pod Complex.

Tee brought all these skills to the award-winning Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series which he wrote with his wife, Pip Ballantine. When he is not writing, Tee enjoys life in Virginia alongside Philippa Ballantine, his daughter, and three cats.


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMinistryOfPeculiarOccurrences
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BooksandBraun
Tumblr: http://ministryofpeculiaroccurrences.tumblr.com
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pipballantine/the-ministry-of-peculiar-occurrences/

Keeping it Fresh

I'm thrilled to share a post by the amazing Philippa Ballantine. She and her husband Tee Morris are working hard to bring us the next two (YES TWO!) books in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series.

They have a Kickstarter going to bring us these books, and BOTH! have been funded and WILL happen. You can back the project and get the books too! AND!! A nice bonus is if the funding goes high enough, we could purchase the scandalous Countless Hues of Crimson. (If you read Diamond Conspiracy, you'll know what Countless Hues of Crimson is.)

I'm thrilled to have Philippa Ballantine by today about Keeping It Fresh with a series. Please welcome Pip!

Keeping it Fresh….After All This Time.

By Pip Ballantine

Back in 2008 I pitched the idea of writing a podcast for pay to my (then friend, now husband) Tee Morris. It was just supposed to be a little steampunk side project. Just a bit of fun to seeing if getting people to pay for podcasts was possible.

We ending up not actually finding that out. An agent, and a bidding process with multiple publishers ended up making it into a book…then a series…then a roleplaying game…and round again to a podcast.

So the first book of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences came out in 2011, and here we are, again in a place I never expected. Within those four years later give or take a month or two with Books Five The Ghost Rebellion and Six Operation: Endgame funded.

Along the way we’ve learning how to co-write together, and we’ve developed a world we really enjoy writing in. It started out with Wellington and Eliza, and is now populated with a whole plethora of villains and heroes.

So how do we keep it fresh as we approach book five? Well luckily we still have plenty of world to explore. Welly and Eliza have been to America, Germany and France (briefly), so they haven’t really explored a great deal of the globe at all.

We don’t want to give too much away, however we can say The Ghost Rebellion is partly set in India, which is a culture and setting with tremendous possibilities. We’re lucky that we have over the years made friends far and wide in the steampunk community. So we’re extremely grateful to have Suna Dasi of Steampunk India as our consultant, to keep us on point with our Indian history and culture.

As well as the world as a whole, there is a lot more depth to examine in our main characters. Eliza might have had her mind taken off New Zealand, by her attraction to Wellington, but the desire to go home is still strong in her. In The Ghost Rebellion there will be many reminders of her past, and that the strings are still firmly attached.
Also Wellington is still dealing with the repercussions of his father’s experiments. The House of Usher put a lot into creating him, and they will want a return on investment. Our quiet archivist can travel as far as he likes, but the tentacles of the House are everywhere.

We are also looking at what happened to Sophia del Morte after the events of The Diamond Conspiracy. Having been labeled a turn-coat, and without the protection of the Maestro, what has the assassin been up to? How can she make a living now? Hopefully the answers in The Ghost Rebellion will surprise some people. Sophia has become something of a fan favorite, and the evolution of her character has been interesting.

So this whole adventure, both the Kickstarter and the novels has been quite a ride. And now, thanks to funding two more books, we will be riding around in the Ministry world for awhile longer. Not just that, but we have some earlier periods to explore too. I have about half a YA book done, which is all the about the Ministry Seven before they met Eliza D Braun. So yes…there is plenty more in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences world to play with.

There is still time to pre-order The Ghost Rebellion and Operation: Endgame but the Kickstarter ends 9.30pm EST November 15th.

About the Author:
Philippa Ballantine
New Zealand born fantasy writer and podcaster Philippa (Pip) Ballantine is the author of the Books of the Order and the Shifted World series. She is also the co-author with her husband Tee Morris of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences novels. Her awards include an Airship, a Parsec, the Steampunk Chronicle Reader’s Choice, the RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for steampunk, and a Sir Julius Vogel. She currently resides in Manassas, Virginia with her husband, daughter, and a furry clowder of cats.

Find the Authors:
Twitter:
  @PhilippaJane
  @TeeMonster

Blogs/Sites:
   http://www.pjballantine.com/
   http://teemorris.com/


I hope you visit and back the kickstarter as well. :)

The Ghost Rebellion is coming!

Many of you know I'm a huge fan of steampunk and Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine. I've enjoyed their four books in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series along with so many podcasted stories in their playground by other authors.

If you've read and enjoyed this series as well, I have news for you!

Tee and Pip have created a kickstarter for The Ghost Rebellion, the 5th book in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series. The kickstarter is still in the process, but at this point it WILL go through. The book is FULLY! funded.

Go ahead and jump over to back the kickstarter too.



What is new being worked toward in the kickstarter is funding for book 6, Operation: Endgame! We are ever soooo close to having this added to our list of books to purchase. Book 6 will be coming, but we could have it added to this list to purchase if the goal is hit now. Then after that is funded and if people keep backing the project to the next level, we could get the scandalous and sexy novella, Countless Hues of Crimson, mentioned in Dawn's Early Light.

So I'm rambling. I know. But I'm so excited to see this kickstarter in full funding and going for beyond the gold. :) (Countless Hues of Crimson would be so cool to see! lol)

If you'd like to back the project, please head over and pick your level.

Tales from the Archives Vol 4 #4

Tales from the Archives, Vol. 4: #4

By:  Philippa Ballantine & Tee Morris

Written by:  Tim Dodge
Narrated by:  Tim Dodge

Format:  Podcast, 42:56 minutes

Genre:  Fantasy, Steampunk

Series:  4th in Tales of the Archives Vol. 4 podcasts, part of A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series

Recommendation:  Nice way to meet new characters and authors in this steampunk-ish world particularly if you enjoyed the book; A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, Phoenix Rising.  The archives are full of stories to be told.

Synopsis:
Down by the River

Agent Brandon Hill of the Ministry meets Agent Bill Wheatley of the Office of the Supernatural and the Metaphysical meet up in Afton, New York. The House of Usher is moving a large and dangerous weapon through this small town, and it is up to the agents to track it down. However, not all the residents are quite the same as they seem.

Purchase eBook at:
Amazon

Listen for Free at:
iTunes  /  Tales from the Archives website

*I listened to this short story for my own enjoyment.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Agent Brandon Hill meets Agent Bill Wheatley at the train station of Afton, New York. He's hear as he's heard word of a danger that will be coming through town. The House of Usher will be transporting a destructive weapon through this town in the cover of dark.

Agent Hill and Agent Wheatley are to find the weapon and stop it. But there may also be locals that are involved. Can they find them and arrest them?

Tim Dodge narrates this story himself. As he's well spoken and his words are clear, his voice is a bit laid back for me. Pauses make the story feel easy and relaxed and feels it breaks up sentences. This is a cadence that I feel doesn't flow consistent for me, but many might like.

This story feels to be a slower start in a calm, little town. It didn't feel like much of a big event, and the man who brings the weapon seems to not be expecting the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences along with the Office of the Supernatural and the Metaphysical to be present in this small village. So it was easy to overtake him.

There are a few neat robots here. The Afton Inn has a robot that takes luggage up to your room. And we see Agent Brandon Hill use night goggles.




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.

You can find the Archives: Amazon Kindle ~ Tales from the Archives Scroll through the list for them all, and the ones you still need.

There are short stories always added to the listing. So keep checking back!

Tales from the Archives, Vol. 4: #3

Tales from the Archives, Vol. 4: #3

By:  Philippa Ballantine & Tee Morris

Written by:  Katharina Bordet
Narrated by:  Katharina Bordet & Mick Bordet (music by Mick Bordet)

Format:  Podcast, 35:05 minutes

Genre:  Fantasy, Steampunk

Series:  3rd in Tales of the Archives Vol. 4 podcasts, part of A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series

Recommendation:  Nice way to meet new characters and authors in this steampunk-ish world particularly if you enjoyed the book; A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, Phoenix Rising.  The archives are full of stories to be told.

Synopsis:
The Black Empress

When two agents from the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences are called to Vienna to investigate disturbances at the palace, what they discover could threaten the Austro-Hungarian Empire and shatter the fragile peace in Europe. Who is the mysterious man who has pulled diplomatic strings to enlist the help of a foreign agency and how is the Empress Elisabeth herself involved?

Purchase eBook at:
Amazon

Listen for Free at:
iTunes  /  Tales from the Archives website

*I listened to this short story for my own enjoyment.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Two agents from The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences are sent to Vienna to look into the strange actions of Empress Elisabeth. She secludes herself in the basement, yet there are people that walk in and those that walk out seem...different. The one to call them in for help is concerned about the Empress as she's been this way since her children have died.

This story has a darker feel to it with the ugly ghost of death lingering. There are so many questions as to why death claims some that are so loved.

Our agents venture to Vienna to investigate what is happening in the basement. With the masquarade ball approaching, it's the perfect time to make the trip to the basement. But what they find puts their lives in danger as well.

This story has a bit of steampunk but also has a mad scientist feel on the dark side as well. Interesting.

This story is narrated by amazing voices yet at times when two men are talking you need to pay attention to realize which man it is as they are done in the same voice. (Many may find this easy to do with listening to audiobooks.)



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.

You can find the Archives: Amazon Kindle ~ Tales from the Archives Scroll through the list for them all, and the ones you still need.

There are short stories always added to the listing. So keep checking back!

Tales from the Archives, Vol. 4 #2

Tales from the Archives, Vol. 4: #1

By:  Philippa Ballantine & Tee Morris

Written & Narrated by:  Michael A. Ventrella

Format:  Podcast, 35:28 minutes

Genre:  Fantasy, Steampunk

Series:  2nd in Tales of the Archives Vol. 4 podcasts, part of A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series

Recommendation:  Nice way to meet new characters and authors in this steampunk-ish world particularly if you enjoyed the book; A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, Phoenix Rising.  The archives are full of stories to be told.

Synopsis:
The Mummy of Barnsley

Northern England, 1894

Agent Ernest Throckmorton is called to Barnesley to investigate reports of a Mummy terrifying the town. Throckmorton soon finds himself thrown together with an all too eager assistant desperate to be part of the Ministry, as they hunt down the meaning of the Mummy’s ominous threat. All shall pay for the desecration of the tomb!

Purchase eBook at:
Amazon

Listen for Free at:
iTunes  /  Tales from the Archives website

My Thoughts and Summary:
Agent Ernest Throckmorton is sent to investigate a mummy sighting and the deaths that resulted. Agent Ernest finds himself in the path of the mummy...

I loved that this episode starts off right in the heat of things. Agent Throckmorton is being chased by the murdering mummy! Then he wakes in his room as he was found outside, passed out.

The narrator sounds new to podcasting/reading with the growth of volume and pauses while reading. But shortly into the story, when he's doing different voices, he starts to get 'into character' and better at fluid conversing. He does do a great job of differentiating the characters vocally for us.

I did get a kick out of the 'weapons' used to fight. They are common items but were perfect for the fun of the read. The relation to steampunk is ever present too. There is a connection to the clocks and not needing wound and, well, there are a few other things but if I mention you might catch them. ;)



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.

You can find the Archives: Amazon Kindle ~ Tales from the Archives Scroll through the list for them all, and the ones you still need.

There are short stories always added to the listing. So keep checking back!



I listened to this short story for my own enjoyment.

Tales from the Archives, Vol 4 #1

Tales from the Archives, Vol. 4: #1

By:  Alyson Grauer

Written & Narrated by:  Alyson Grauer

Format:  Podcast, 35:18 minutes

Genre:  Fantasy, Steampunk

Series:  1st in Tales of the Archives Vol. 4 podcasts, part of A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series

Recommendation:  Nice way to meet new characters and authors in this steampunk-ish world particularly if you enjoyed the book; A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, Phoenix Rising.  The archives are full of stories to be told.

Synopsis:
Spiritus Sanctus

Rome, Italy
1896

Emily Cassidy Tuttle, on word from Doctor Sound, arrived in the shadow of the Vatican to receive a mysterious parcel from a local contact. What should be a simple pass between agent and mule spirals deeper and deeper into a wild madness that Emily is not prepared to face.

Purchase eBook at:
Amazon

Listen for Free at:
iTunes  /  Tales from the Archives website

My Thoughts and Summary:
Emily has received her letter from mom, her mission from Dr. Sound. She's to meet her contact and collect a valuable artifact from him. All sounds easy enough, and seems so until the alarm is raised.

Emily is proficient in secrecy. She knows all the codes and the way to scoop the crowd for followers. She's top of the game to accomplish what needs to be done undetected. Emily felt well put together and true to her form here. I liked learning about Emily through her actions and thoughts.

The object she's to collect... well, I can't tell you as it's a neat surprise to hear/read about as the story happens. And she even gets to witness the artifact at work.

I could feel Emily's anxiety was true. The worry of what to do when she realizes what this artifact is, and witnesses it's power. That Phantom Protocol has gone into effect and she has to move. She worries about the poor man who now has the artifact too.

But the call of Phantom Protocol makes us also wonder what is going on, to do what Emily has to do now means some thing's not right back home.



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.

You can find the Archives: Amazon Kindle ~ Tales from the Archives Scroll through the list for them all, and the ones you still need.

There are short stories always added to the listing. So keep checking back!



I listened to this short story for my own enjoyment.

Tales from the Archives ~ Christmas Special 2014

Tales from the Archives, Vol. 3: Christmas Special

Written & Narrated by:  Philippa Ballantine & Tee Morris

Format:  Podcast, 42:58 minutes

Genre:  Fantasy, Steampunk

Series:  11th in Tales of the Archives Vol. 3 podcasts, part of A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series

Recommendation:  Nice way to meet new characters and authors in this steampunk-ish world particularly if you enjoyed the book; A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, Phoenix Rising.  The archives are full of stories to be told.

Synopsis:
A Christmas to Die for

Even an assassin must go home for Christmas.

Sophia del Morte, skilled spy-for-hire, now faces the most formidable of opponents: family. It is the closing of the year, after all; and the lethal Italian beauty returns to her home village for wine, food, and memories.

As this is the del Morte family, Sophia tries to brace herself for awkward talk at the dinner table, and perhaps a touch of intrigue.

Anything to make her Nonna happy…

My Thoughts and Summary:
Sophia del Morte returns home for the holidays. The family sets their spy ways aside for one night, to visit. Nonna, the matriarch of the family, wants them together, believing in family. But being the family of spies and assassins, it's hard to not be suspicious...

What does a family of spies and assassins talk about around the dinner table at the holiday? Oh the conversations. lol.

On her way home, as she has to take a horse to the village, her black sheep of the family cousin is returning as well. Ortensia, a surgeon rather than an assassin or spy, wants to talk with Sophia. Sophia tries to ignore the constant babbling of her cousin.

Even though Sophia is a 'bad' person, I've enjoyed her more and more. She's got morals, though they are a bit different as normal people would see, but she's got limits and rules she lives by. As does her family. To see the family as a whole is like looking at any family together, just the conversations are a bit different. And maybe a few hidden weapons on their person and around the home... Nonna is a strong leader of the family. She has goals for her family. Though they might think differently for themselves at times.

Oh I did have a few chuckles at the family interactions. They do have a great reaction to each other and events. Then there was a warm moment with Nonna too. Well rounded family time. lol!

Being of the profession Sophia is, she trusts no one. Her eyes return to the man Rosia has brought to dinner.

What could a spy and assassin family wish for, for Christmas? What miracle, this night will come? For a family of this profession, there is something, but you have to listen to find out.


Curious about Sophia? You can learn more at Pip Ballantine's guest post on Sophia del Morte. And you can pick up the 3rd book of Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences which has more scenes of Sophia: The Diamond Conspiracy.




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.

You can find the Archives: Amazon Kindle ~ Tales from the Archives Scroll through the list for them all, and the ones you still need.

There are short stories always added to the listing. So keep checking back!



I listened to this short story for my own enjoyment.

Tales from the Archives Vol 3 #10

Tales from the Archives, Vol. 3: #10

Written & Narrated by:  Paul Ellis

Format:  Podcast, 49:40 minutes

Genre:  Fantasy, Steampunk

Series:  10th in Tales of the Archives Vol. 3 podcasts, part of A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series

Recommendation:  Nice way to meet new characters and authors in this steampunk-ish world particularly if you enjoyed the book; A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, Phoenix Rising.  The archives are full of stories to be told.

Synopsis:
Foothold

Venture back to the beginnings of the Ministry, where a young man named Rowan Clayworth finds himself trapped between love and an eldritch danger. Director Culpepper Source may yet help him find reason in a world full of peculiar occurrences like the ones he is facing.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Clayworth is hired by Dale to learn about the plate he found when he and his sister nearly drown. While here, Clayworth finds himself attracted to Madeline, and that Madeline is attracted to him as well. She's a delightful distraction, but he has a rubbing of the ruins on the stone that he takes to Professor Culpepper and things are more than he thought, along with Professor Culpepper being more than he appears.

This story had a few surprising turns to the events. Learning of Dale, Madeline, and Professor Culpepper along with the starts of Miggins. I'm glad I didn't stop listening at first when I was unsure and unfocused at the first few moments.

Madeline was, and still is, a curiosity to me. I wanted to know what she could do and was up to.

The narrator reminds me of an audiobook reading. The author/narrator does all the voices in different tones so we can differentiate them. After a few moments at the beginning, I was able to listen easily to his voices and know who was who.

And the ending! Oh, surprise surprise! lol. This was interesting to learn of Professor Culpepper. And I'm wondering what of the connections Clayworth has? There are objectives still out there and will there be not so good things to come? Could we get more of Clayworth and this story?

This important moment in Clayworth's life has concluded, but maybe we could get more with him?



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.

You can find the Archives: Amazon Kindle ~ Tales from the Archives Scroll through the list for them all, and the ones you still need.

There are short stories always added to the listing. So keep checking back!



I listened to this short story for my own enjoyment.

Tales from the Archives Vol 3 #9

Tales from the Archives, Vol. 3: #9

Written & Narrated by:  Stacia Kelly

Format:  Podcast, 10:45 minutes

Genre:  Fantasy, Steampunk

Series:  9th in Tales of the Archives Vol. 3 podcasts, part of A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series

Recommendation:  Nice way to meet new characters and authors in this steampunk-ish world particularly if you enjoyed the book; A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, Phoenix Rising.  The archives are full of stories to be told.

Synopsis:
Clockwork Portal When Timelines Go Awry

When demon hunter, sorceress and samurai, Raisa falls into a strange, odd version of Victorian England, she finds herself in the domain of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. Just being built, and with a demon already amok in the archives, Raisa finds herself with odd allies indeed.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Raisa is from another time of London, 2016. There are magics and demons present, and she uses them and hunts the demons. However, when she makes a portal she is surprised where she falls. She must now find the demon in the archives filled with magically infused items.

This is the collision of magic and the archives. Evil finds it's way here to find what will help bring back the dead. Raisa struggles to do what she does best, hunt and kill demons, with the presence of English gentleman trying to help her.

This story was one I didn't feel much attraction to and my attention wondered while listening. I'm not sure if it's the authors reading or the short sentences but it felt choppy, and awkward at times. I finished listening to it but I'm not sure about this one. It also felt like this was a sort of cross over from another series with Raisa and her sisters in her time. I'm not sure it is, it may not be, but it felt that way.



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.

You can find the Archives: Amazon Kindle ~ Tales from the Archives Scroll through the list for them all, and the ones you still need.

There are short stories always added to the listing. So keep checking back!



I listened to this short story for my own enjoyment.

Tales from the Archives Vol 3 #8

Tales from the Archives, Vol. 3: #8

By:  Jarred Axelrod

Written & Narrated by:  Tee Morris & Jarred Axelrod

Format:  Podcast, 10:45 minutes

Genre:  Fantasy, Steampunk

Series:  8th in Tales of the Archives Vol. 3 podcasts, part of A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series

Recommendation:  Nice way to meet new characters and authors in this steampunk-ish world particularly if you enjoyed the book; A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, Phoenix Rising.  The archives are full of stories to be told.

Synopsis:
What the turtle saw.

When Wellington is made supervisor of the Ministry’s R&D department, he has to deal with Professor Axelrod, and all his dangerous and doolally experiments. He just never knew it would involve…turtles…

My Thoughts and Summary:
When Director Sound thinks it's a good idea to send Wellington to supervise R&D... which is watching over the genius Axelrod.

lol. Okay, I had to restart the podcast as I got caught up in listening and smiling at the interactions here, so I could write something other than how fun this quick listen was. But it was such fun. ;D

Wellington finds himself trapsing through slush and muck to meet Axelrod out in a field. (Wellington's new shoes... oh my.) Wellington is excited to learn of an electroteloportation device, as it's how he gets his favorite hot tea in his empty cup. But what Axelrod has brought him out to see... the new surveillance squad of... turtles. LOL!

Oh my! For the fun of all things crazy thinking by Axelrod, this is a hoot. And what Wellington learns about the turtles.. LOL!




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.

You can find the Archives: Amazon Kindle ~ Tales from the Archives Scroll through the list for them all, and the ones you still need.

There are short stories always added to the listing. So keep checking back!



I listened to this short story for my own enjoyment.

Tales from the Archives Vol 3 #7

Tales from the Archives, Vol. 3: #7

By:  Bill Blume

Written & Narrated by:  Sheri Blume & Bill Blume

Format:  Podcast, 40:43 minutes

Genre:  Fantasy, Steampunk

Series:  7th in Tales of the Archives Vol. 3 podcasts, part of A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series

Recommendation:  Nice way to meet new characters and authors in this steampunk-ish world particularly if you enjoyed the book; A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, Phoenix Rising.  The archives are full of stories to be told.

Synopsis:
Bitter Pill

Miss Sharpe is not used to working for the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. She is used to being a killer for hire, the Jade Dagger, an artisan of death. Yet when called on to find an immortal in the city of her birth, she finds herself unprepared for what she discovers, as she is plunged into her own terrifying past and future.

My Thoughts and Summary:
April 1895 Hong Kong

Miss Sharpe is called upon by the Ministry to help in the city of her childhood to help Agent Fredrick with a case centered around immortality.

The beginning is interesting. Mention of a dagger, painting, and blood as the paint it seems. I really like the poetry of this beginning.

Miss Sharpe is an interesting character. She kills people for a living. People who become... inconvienient. Her thinking and personality fit the character to a T. Her history is rather unique in the way her father raised her. We get to see moments of her past as well. In the beginning she is a straight arrow of thought. In the end she is a bit scattered in her memories and thinking, but there is a reason for it. And you will understand, from the story, what it is.

The venture into the mountain that houses the fruits of immortality is neat. I felt like there was a cross of Alice following the white rabbit and an Indiana Jones moment in the mountain.

Immortality and time cross...

This author has a different feel to his writing, and I like the different approach.




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.

You can find the Archives: Amazon Kindle ~ Tales from the Archives Scroll through the list for them all, and the ones you still need.

There are short stories always added to the listing. So keep checking back!



I listened to this short story for my own enjoyment.

Character Spotlight: Sophia del Morte

I am honored to have a Character Spotlight from the amazing author Philippa Ballantine, celebrating the release of The Diamond Conspiracy. I've shared my thoughts on the book last week, so if you haven't read my review I do hope you stop by to check it out. The character Pip talks about to day is one I have enjoyed reading more and more of this character as the series has grown with each book. So, without further ado, please welcome Pip Ballantine to the blog to share a special (and dangerous) character with you.

Spotlight on Sophia del Morte from the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series

Sophia is a character, much like Puck in my book Chasing the Bard. Both of them were only meant to be side characters, small parts in the main story. However both of them soon developed into larger, and more vibrant characters.

Yes, they sort of took over.

Rather than be bothered by that, both Tee Morris and I have embraced Sophia. She is a character, that goes anywhere, does anything, and is totally unapologetic about it.

Sophia is our Italian assassin, who was originally a nice foil for Eliza. In fact both of them could be sisters. Sophia is a dark haired beauty, who travels the world on nefarious business. Her particular skillset of seduction and lethality has gotten her far in the world. Despite all this she does have her own set of morals, and will never kill children.

Yet, even among her family of trained killers, she is very skilled. However, as the series of books have progressed, there have been changes in Sophia. She finds herself working with people with different ethics, and she is also seeing the way the evil people around her operate.

There are big changes around the corner for our assassin, and ones we hope to explore in further books, once we are done with the story of Wellington and Eliza.

Here's just a little sampling of Sophia from the Diamond Conspiracy.

Sophia took her breath, still keeping her blade in reach as the other hand checked the time. She was two minutes early. The weapon should have given her a comfort of some kind, but instinct dismissed any as a false reassurance. That plunged her insides into a hard chill, a sensation she was not familiar with.

Blackfriars Bridge loomed before her out of the fog, its gilding gleaming only slightly. She stood there and took in a long, deep breath, tasting the bitterness of the Thames in her mouth. Her fears, she ascertained as minute waves lapped against the viaduct’s foundation, were unfounded but merely tested her nerves. She was once a woman to be feared, not the one cowering as would a hound beaten to heel. Once far and away from the Maestro, Sophia would discover that woman again. This alliance would serve her in so many ways; and as she had done before, once her commitments were met, Sophia would return home. Perhaps reaching beyond the borders of her beloved Italy had been too ambitious of a notion. Some time in familiar villas would be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Another shadow emerged from the pitch black underneath Blackfriars. His face was concealed by the shadow of his bowler’s brim, but there was just enough touches of silver—a lapel pin, the head of his walking stick, and the cravat just visible between the lapels of his long, black coat—that Sophia recognised straight away as her saviour’s signature fashion. Straightening to her full height, she widened her stride and devoured the distance between them.

“Buonasera, Sigñora,” he spoke, his voice like velvet against such hard, terrible surroundings.

Upon emerging into the dim light from lamps of the streets overhead, Sophia felt the air around her chill ever so slightly. She recalled the last time she felt this way was upon seeing the Maestro in his dishevelled, manic state, his mind warring between the real, the engineered, and the perceived. She still did not care for that memory as she had thought she knew all forms of fear, but the Maestro—as she had come to learn under his service—had far more to teach her of the darker corners of the human psyche.

She received the same feeling from this man. Her instincts were all in the most heightened of states, but he appeared quite normal in every outward respect. He appeared well groomed, a fine carriage, and confident. Boundless confidence in his demeanour, a quality that usually Sophia found appealing in certain respects.

Not on this one.

“Sigñora, it has been too long.”

~~~~~~~~~~

If you have enjoyed reading Sophia del Morte and would like more, you could check out the Christmas Special short story (novella) that Pip and Tee have written for a Christmas with Sophia.
   You can listen at Tales from the Archives
   or You can pick up the novella to read at Amazon: A Christmas to Die For

The Diamond Conspiracy
By: Philippa Ballantine & Tee Morris
For years, the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences has enjoyed the favor of Her Majesty the Queen. But even the oldest loyalties can turn in a moment…

Having narrowly escaped the electrifying machinations of Thomas Edison, Books and Braun are looking forward to a relaxing and possibly romantic voyage home. But when Braun’s emergency signal goes off, all thoughts of recreation vanish. Braun’s street-wise team of child informants, the Ministry Seven, is in grave peril, and Books and Braun must return to England immediately.

But when the intrepid agents finally arrive in London, the situation is even more dire than they imagined. The Ministry has been disavowed, and the Department of Imperial Inconveniences has been called in to decommission its agents in a most deadly fashion. The plan reeks of the Maestro’s dastardly scheming. Only, this time, he has a dangerous new ally—a duplicitous doctor whose pernicious poisons have infected the highest levels of society, reaching even the Queen herself...


Pick up the latest Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences novel:
The Diamond Conspiracy


If you need the previous two novels:

Book Review: The Diamond Conspiracy

The Diamond Conspiracy

By:  Tee Morris & Philippa Ballantine

Publish Date:  March 31, 2015

Format:  ebook

Genre:  Steampunk

Series:  4th in Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series; 1st Book ~ Phoenix Rising, 2nd Book ~ The Janus Affair, 3rd Book ~ Dawn's Early Light
Tie in with: Tales from the Archives.

First Glance Feel:  Holy.... Steampunk with the history we know mixed in. Oh wow! I love the connections, the steampunk, the action, the love! Can I go on and on?

Synopsis:
For years, the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences has enjoyed the favor of Her Majesty the Queen. But even the oldest loyalties can turn in a moment…

Having narrowly escaped the electrifying machinations of Thomas Edison, Books and Braun are looking forward to a relaxing and possibly romantic voyage home. But when Braun’s emergency signal goes off, all thoughts of recreation vanish. Braun’s street-wise team of child informants, the Ministry Seven, is in grave peril, and Books and Braun must return to England immediately.

But when the intrepid agents finally arrive in London, the situation is even more dire than they imagined. The Ministry has been disavowed, and the Department of Imperial Inconveniences has been called in to decommission its agents in a most deadly fashion. The plan reeks of the Maestro’s dastardly scheming. Only, this time, he has a dangerous new ally—a duplicitous doctor whose pernicious poisons have infected the highest levels of society, reaching even the Queen herself...

First Sentence:
"Welly, would you please listen to me for just a moment?".

Purchase At:
Amazon  /  Barnes & Noble  /  Book Depository

My Thoughts and Summary:
Eliza and Wellington return from the states in a rush. The Ministry Seven is in deadly danger and have called Eliza home. What the Ministry Seven have found, and trouble they dipped into, brings the dangers of the Queen and others into light. But when talking to the children, Wellington and Eliza realize the Department, another agency they know of under the Queen, is cleaning up...the Ministry. The Ministry is in grave danger and scattered about. Eliza and Wellington will learn great secrets that they will use to help restore society to it's rightful standing. But the Maestro and another new evil work to stop them at every turn. However, maybe a new ally will help give them an inside scoop on what they are up against...

Good grief, Charlie Brown! Talk about a kick start beginning. WOW! So much happening and I'm rushing to keep up.

My smile grew with each word of Eliza and Wellington's banter and brilliance in it. Goodness do I enjoy these characters, and even as a couple they are just as much fun. The humor and banter is not lost with a relationship started, as this is part of the foundation in their relationship as well. They both are taken with each other, but it seems Wellington is the one swooning a bit more. It's great to see Eliza is the strong woman we all know her to be. She is a field agent first and foremost with the Agency she knows and loves crumbling around her and danger on the heals of her loved ones. At the same time - when the time is there - she loves, hard. Wellington is new to field work and Eliza's knowledge of field work and the secrets not stored in Wellington's archives are important to their survival. Both their strengths play a huge importance in the book, and this is why this couple will survive as a duo of outstanding agents and a couple.

It was amazing to see the Ministry Seven in this book. They play an important part and have moved up in their standings from street children to much more. I'm hoping this is the list of new agents in the future, as they deserve it! We also get to see what happens to a few of the Ministry Agents through their eyes as the even is happening. Good and bad.

Pip and Tee take me through an array of emotions as I read this book. I'm relaxed with Wellington and Eliza, enjoying their banter and good humor. Then I picked up with the Ministry Seven. Oh the tension in me grew with theirs. And the worries and fears of what could happen with... Then the secrets I learn, and they don't stop! Oh it's a circle of emotions repeatedly.

By George! I do think this is my favorite book of the series. I don't know how Tee & Pip are going to top this one. This book is only 368 pages, but when I was done I felt like I read a door stopper 1,000 pages (enjoying every minute of it as it flew by). There was so much information packed into these minimal pages. It's hard to believe all that is here!

GOOD GRIEF, THE SECRETS!!!

The secrets we learn! Are you curious about the Restricted Section of the Archives? You'll learn it. Curious about Director Basil Sound? Yes, your speculation was raised with those subtle moments by him. You learn about it!! Want a bit more on Wellington's past? We get to dip a bit further into that as well. Enjoy the assassin Sophia del Morte? You'll see her here in closer proximity, and if an assassin can have limits.

The immense amount of information and TWISTS will have your eyes bulging and jaw dropping throughout the book! There are also a few big names from history mentioned in this book. Oh to see them here!

Now, to wait with baited breath for the next Ministry book to arrive. As I know Tee and Pip can top what they've done, and I NEED to see it!

Steampunk Book Trailer!

I'm thrilled to share this amazing new trailer. Tee Morris is at it again with his filming work...

I saw this and knew I had to share it. I loved the first one, which was like a mini movie. This one isn't as long, but just as powerful. The events that happen in this video... well, you'll want to read the book to learn what is happening to The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences.

Do enjoy! And hope you head over to order the book. It's out March 31st!






Need the first 2 books yet?

Tales from the Archives Vol 3 #6

Tales from the Archives, Vol. 3: #6

By:  Nobilis Reed

Written & Narrated by:  Nobilis Reed & Dee Reed

Format:  Podcast, 44:56 minutes

Genre:  Fantasy, Steampunk

Series:  6th in Tales of the Archives Vol. 3 podcasts, part of A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series

Recommendation:  Nice way to meet new characters and authors in this steampunk-ish world particularly if you enjoyed the book; A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel, Phoenix Rising.  The archives are full of stories to be told.

Synopsis:
Blessings of Baalshemin

In the Spring of 1869 Mrs Isabel Burton begins a correspondence with the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Director, Woodruff Spring, on a strange device she has run across in her travels. Ministry agents are dispatched and a soon enough the Burtons, both Isabel and her husband Sir Richard, are deep in a very peculiar occurrence.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Mrs. Isabel Burton has been a connection of the Ministry's for far some time. She has now come across something she strongly feels they should investigate. Her letters draw the story of what has been happening and that something peculiar has very much taken place, and wants agents to come and stop what might happen.

This is a neat way to tell the story. I found it interesting as this is told through letters between Mrs. Isabel Burton and Director Spring. Then the letters turn into the two agents who are investigating the situation's story.

The hexagram that was recovered, and the script that was translated seems to have created troubles. We see a touch of history and a connection to Solomon in this item that was recovered and causing troubles with the Russian Consul who's now suffering from insomnia. Terrible screams and moans escape the consulate, keeping the locals as far away as possible because they fear a curse or such.

This story connects a few things together with the steampunk feel of the world. There's a hexagram, Egyptian astronomy, and the worship of one of those planets. Very neat how it all fits together.

And enjoyable listen.



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.

You can find the Archives: Amazon Kindle ~ Tales from the Archives Scroll through the list for them all, and the ones you still need.

There are short stories always added to the listing. So keep checking back!



I listened to this short story for my own enjoyment.