Author's Favorite Quotes Steam/Clockworks and Science Fiction Fantasy, Joseph Lewis

I wanted to include authors of books I've loved.  And what better way of including them then having quotes from the books?  A great way to introduce you to the books and share a bit from them.


This was a pleasure for me to read this year.  One thing that caught me was that there was a blend of Steam/Clockworks and Fantasy to the world.  Also, the main characters are a married couple, and they are a health married.  Yes, they have disputes, but their marriage isn't at it's end.  I found this rather refreshing.

Joseph Lewis caught my attention for this whole story and so much more in The Kaiser Affair:

“I can decide for myself whom I deserve to be with, thank you very much,” Bettina said. “Not that I have an intellectual equal, but if I did, I sincerely doubt she and I would be able to tolerate each other for more than five minutes’ time.”

*****

“I’m smarter than you are, Peter, by far, so there’s no need for you to make any more noise on this subject. Arjuna is stronger than you, and more charming as well, and much better looking, besides. He’s the finest marksman with any weapon and has studied with sages on two continents. He’s also a talented artist, speaks four languages fluently, has a photographic memory, and performs like a raging stallion in the bedroom. I can’t imagine that a snide cretin in a cheap blue suit with the body of a prepubescent orangutan could really entice me to leave him,” she said.

*****

“Dashing across the station to tackle the fleeing criminal to the ground, and batter him with my fists? No, I did that last time. It’s my husband’s turn,” Bettina said.

*****

She turned to him with a stern look. “No, Arry. Oster will be driving, so Oster will have to hurry. You, darling, will be in the carriage with me, and you will take your time, or I’ll make you start all over again.” She smiled wickedly at him, and strode off across the lawn toward the inn and the driveway where their car awaited.

*****

“Oh yes, yes.” Bettina nodded. “We chatted up the locals and strolled through the countryside and shot at people. It was a lovely evening."

Author Bio:
Hi, I’m Joe (also known as Joseph Robert Lewis, Joss Llewelyn, and Jordan Lockhart). I write books. Lots of books. Mostly fantasy and science fiction.

More specifically, I like to blend history, mythology, and fantasy together to create exciting yet familiar worlds. I like to challenge tropes and stereotypes in subtle ways, to create rounder and richer heroes for my readers, and to imagine times and places that we might really want to live in or work toward. And I think a good story should be, you know, fun. Although it never hurts to learn something cool, too.

It’s also important to me to write about heroines that my daughters can respect and admire, characters who blaze their own paths with fierce personalities, bright minds, and unbreakable spirits, who live lives filled with freedom, wonder, and joy.

I enjoy archery when the weather is nice. And I have no idea what is for dinner because I am anosmic. Look it up.

Find Joseph:
Blog
Site
Facebook: Joseph Robert Lewis
Twitter:  @joseph_lewis

Book Review: The Kaiser Affair

The Kaiser Affair

By:  Joseph Robert Lewis

Publisher:  Copper Crow Books

Publish Date:  March 6, 2013

Format:  ebook, 244pgs

Genre:  Fantasy, steampunk touches

Series:  2st book in The Drifting Isle Chronicles,
Mihir of Fantasy Book Critic reviewed - The Machine God
The Quillery reviewed Black Mercury
I will update with links to reviews.
*Note - each book is by a different author set in this world and can be read in any order.

Recommendation:  Mystery, fighting...and the chase is on in an unexpected and new world.  A blend of fantasy wonder and steampunk, worth a read.

Synopsis:
When a master thief escapes from prison, detective Bettina Rothschild must put him back behind bars before the scandalous fiasco destroys the Ministry of Justice.  Her investigation leads from decaying cemeteries where ravens conspire to warehouses where wondrous machines are built in secret, and even to the fabled Drifting Isle above the city of Eisenstadt where an ancient tomb hides a deadly secret.

The relentless chase proves taxing for a young woman who relies on her cane and her steamcarriage to get about, but that's where a good husband steps in.  While Bettina picks locks and interrogates suspects, her beloved Arjuna defends her from the most brutal and bizarre assassins in Eisenstadt.

But as the clock ticks down, Bettina finds too many questions till remain.  How did the thief escape from prison?  How can he afford to hire so many killers?  And why would he go to the Drifting Isle only to steal a giant beetle?

First Sentence:
Bettina Rothschild stepped down from the steam carriage, carefully balancing her weight with one gloved hand on her gleaming black cane while her other hand held her hat in place against the stiff evening breeze.

Purchase At:

Amazon   /   Barnes & Nobles

*Note: You can go purchase this book, but Joseph has made his books free on his site. If you enjoy and feel moved, he has a Donate button.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Partners on the job, and in life, Bettina Rothchild and Arjuna Rana race through their home town, Eisenstadt, on a wicked chase.  The Ministry of Justice's Minister, Minister Kaiser, has an urgent and sensitive case for them... her brother, Ranulf Kaiser, has stealthy escaped prison.  He only had twenty-three days until his release.  Why?  They don't know.  Also Gisel Kaiser's appointment as Minister will be under review in two weeks.  To keep her in position things need to stay quiet, or she'll be replaced with a politician with no criminal investigation background.  The duo work the case through their home town, in all areas with dangerous thugs of that aren't Ranulf's usual partners, to the drifting Isle above the city and back again, with the help from a talking raven looking for a crow who attacked him.  And the secret dark magical society, the Shadow's on their tail pushing the stop of visitors to the Isle.

Action, fights, guns, carriage chases, and mystical floating islands.  All part of an amazing world with unexpected turns as to what we will see next in this world.  Even a touch of what feels like magic as well.  So many great elements blended together in one little package.  There is a feel of steampowered as well!

Bettina and Arjuna are exactly what I've been looking for in a couple.  Refreshing.  They have a "proper" banter between them, teasing and flirting...and married!  There are always things that couples need to discuss, and that comes to light here - every marriage is work.  But they are not the couple that falls apart and teases us on whether they will be together or not.  I love their relationship.  They work together, tease each other, and compliment the other both on the job and in comments.

Arry, as Bettina calls Arjuna, seems to be the "muscle" of the pair.  But not only that, hes an amazing shot and quite the speed reader - Bettina calls him her little library.  He's nothing the prejudice of the town have of his race, a Dumastran.  Bettina is tough and has her fair share of fights, however, her ankle slows her down.  She's a strong woman and brilliant as well.

I'm taken with this world.  A mysterious drifting isle floating in the sky, which no one (until now) can get to.  One inventor has created an autogyro that flies and claims to have visited, show this is a time of the steel age and other crafty devices.  This seems to be the focus of another...to get whatever is up there.  We have the Shadow, secret society, that seems to have dark magical abilities.  Birds of most kinds talk!  Yes TALK!  And when we do finally set foot on the mystical drifting isle...well, the way of the world there is different, and magical feeling.

Definitely my kind of world.  Sometimes I felt the descriptions were drawn out, but at the same time they drew me to the world as well.

I felt for the duo as they came so close a few times to getting their man, but it happens especially with all the help he has.

I'm definitely curious to read the additional books set in this world.  The series is written by different authors in their own parts of the world, but I'm curious to continue with them to see what else I can learn and get lost in with this diverse world.




This is the 2nd book in The Drifting Isle Chronicles
The Quillery reviewed 1st book Black Mercury
Mihir of Fantasy Book Critic reviewed 3rd book - The Machine God

*Note - each book is by a different author set in this world and can be read in any order.



*I read this for a group review from a blogger friend.

Who? What? Where? (110)

Who are you with? Where are you at? What's happening?

Share with us just a little bit of what is happening in the book you are reading, right where you are now.

Just a tiny taste of what's happening, remember try to not give spoilers of the book.

his is a new meme I'm going to try and will tweak as I go. And please don't laugh at my lame attempt at drawing. ;D )

This Week:

Arjuna has surfaced from the mucky waters of the filthy river Dorrein with our suspect.  Bettina and Arjuna interrogating the man to learn why he was watching the house and who he's working for. But still so much information we don't have.

The Kaiser Affair
By:  Joseph Robert Lewis

Others have shown interest in joining in this post, and linking up.  So I've created a linky for that.
My only requests; copy the picture to use, and link back to My World...in words and pages.
Please visit any joining in.
Thank you!

Teaser Tuesday (158)

Teaser Tuesday

is a weekly event

Sponsored by MizB of Should be Reading

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading (anything at all)

Open the book to any random page.

Share 2 teaser sentences from anywhere on the page

Please Make Sure They Are Not Spoilers!

(Don't Give Too Much Away)

Just enough to pique our interests

This Week:

"No!  Why did you kill her?  I needed her alive."  Arjuna glared at the girl as he knelt beside the woman to check for a pulse.

The Kaiser Affair
By:  Joseph Robert Lewis
70pg





This is a teaser to me as well. I'm not this far yet. But I'm liking the world created and the main characters thus far. :)