Garlick does differently than most Steampunk novels, I also enjoy one thing she does that seems to be a staple of steampunk – have a female protagonist. Let’s take these one at a time, even if this review is going to end up getting a bit rambly. So, if it’s not a story for tech’s sake or a caper (as many steampunk novels seem to be), what is it? Well, it’s mostly a character study with hints of romanticism and also using the Victorian setting to comment on both feminism and superstition. It’s almost Urban Steampunk Fantasy if things aren’t being called magic by unreliable narrators. Outside of that, there are a few devices used here and there, but it’s mostly a Victorian society with some tech that straddles steampunk and magic. Yes, there is an inexplicable device at the center of this plot, but it’s neither a MacGuffin nor does it dominate the story. Compare it to the difference between a movie with 3D as a gimmick vs using 3D as an element of the storytelling or simply to add depth. But what I like about Lumière is that the steampunk elements are window dressing rather than the main focus. I’m no Steampunk know-it-all, I’m just a fan of the genre. This is a long-winded way of saying that I didn’t choose this book on its own merits, I own it because it was part of a bundle I found interesting. Either one works given what we learn of the world throughout the book. I’d have to check Calibre later to check my tags, but I’m pretty sure I got this book from one of the Storybundles – maybe Steampunk or maybe Alternate History. Book # was this gem I’d overlooked on previous trawls through Calibre to select which book I’d read next.
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