Steampunk Canada

Phoenix Rising: A Ministry of PeculiarOccurrences Novel

By: Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris

Who doesn't love an adrenaline pumped, pistol twirling woman wearing a fur coat “flowing around her like a cape”. This is your first introduction to Eliza Braun, agent at the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. Not only is she a crack shot and incredibly endowed with other talents, but she also likes to blow things up. The perfect woman.

We first meet her male counterpart chained to a wall, yet still every bit the gentleman. WellingtonThornhill Books, Esquire is all about rules and regulations and being proper. He is a wonder with contraptions and has a mind like the Archives he works in. He is also very handsome.

We do see more layers of our favourite agents as the story progresses, but there are many secrets left dangling to hopefully be revealed in future adventures.

 Of the many contraptions in the story, I believe my favourite is Mad McTighe's automated bar and clockwork barkeep that pours a perfect pint. It also knows when to shut down and close up to protect itself when a bar brawl is about to get heated. Delightful.

The whole story is like an intricate, many coursed feast. There are good agents, bad agents, rogue agents,evil doctors, mad scientists, mad men in general, not one but two evil secret societies, contraptions and gadgets galore!

As well, this feast comes with action that never stops. Each chapter has some life threatening adventure just while Braun and Books are searching for clues. This leaves the true climax of the story having to up the excitement ante, which it does in spades. The ending is a little sad and a little sweet and has left me looking forward to seeing what mischief agent Braun gets into in the next book and how Books helps her out of it....not that she can't hold her own and take down any man or machine by herself...with a little dynamite.

If you like secret agents, mystery, cleavage, explosions and perpetual action....you will love Phoenix Rising!

If you would like more information on the story, the authors and what's next, be sure to check out their WEBSITE