Kilts & Kraken

by Cindy Spencer Pape

[Rowena]

This is the very first steampunk romance that I’ve ever read and it took a little getting used to but I did end up enjoying it. This book came in the Carina Press Editors Choice eARC on NetGalley and I was really stoked to read the Stacey book so I requested it. I’d never heard of this author before getting this book for review but after reading this book, I know her now.

The story follows Magnus Findlay and Dr. Geneva MacKay as they bumble along toward their happy ending. Magnus is the Laird of his clan and he lives on the a magical island that helps heal him when he’s injured and in order for him to survive this last attack against the kraken, he has to return home. Dr. Geneva MacKay came to Muir to attend this patient at the request of her father. Since Magnus was on his deathbed, she thought she was take him home to die but once they got back home, in a couple of days, he’s good as new (well, almost).

I thought Pape did a wonderful job of packing a great story into a small page count. This story was short but it didn’t feel like it. It was interesting to see the steampunk world come alive in this story but to be honest, I spent most of the book trying to make sense of the steampunk world. I’m not too familiar with the steampunk genre but I can’t say that I was disappointed in the romance that bloomed between Magnus and Genny. The story flowed well, the characters were enjoyable but all of the monster squids coming out of the sea to attack people didn’t really do much for me.

Overall, the story was good but as much as I enjoyed it, I don’t see myself becoming a fan of steampunk. But still, this was a good story.

Grade: 3 out of 5