(Blog Tour) Book Review: The Vyne

The Vyne: Mystery of the Hidden Ember by Daniel Walls

Description and cover art courtesy of Goodreads.

Publication Date: 3 January 2011

I received a copy of The Vyne from the author as a participant in the Teen {Book} Scene Blog Tour.



DESCRIPTION
A chilling, heart-wrenching tale of colliding worlds and forbidden love, The Vyne reinvents steampunk-fantasy for a whole new generation.


MY THOUGHTS

The Tweet
The Vyne mixes adventure, romance and a fantastic villain to create a solid YA steampunk-fantasy novel.

What Worked (for me)
What I liked most about The Vyne was how character rich the story was. Despite being the villain, I really like the character of Count LePrey. He believed in his ideals and convictions so much that he wasn't able to see the difference between right and wrong. He was willing to do anything to accomplish his means, even killing.

I also liked the steampunk-fantasy aspect of the story. I've been wanting to read more of this genre and was interested in The Vyne because it sounded like a great example. And it was. I loved the world building and experiencing a different society and culture through reading the story.

What Didn't Work (for me)
My only disappointment with The Vyne is that I didn't feel much investment or connection with the main characters of Scar and Ash. Not only as individuals, but also as a couple. I thought it was a little unrealistic that Ash fell in love with Scar so fast and so easily. While this non-connection did affect my feelings for the book as a whole, I still enjoyed the adventures that Ash and Scar found themselves in.

Overall
The Vyne is a good steampunk-fantasy novel and I think fans of that genre would enjoy this book. Despite it being a little confusing at times, the predicaments that Scar and Ash find themselves in (and the characters they meet on the way) make a good story.

MY RATING IS 3 STARS

Interested in getting your own copy of The Vyne? Then fill out the form below! One lucky winner will receive their own copy of The Vyne. Contest open internationally until 18 February 2011.