Rainbow Reading is our weekly series focusing on book reviews with a geeky/sci-fi/fantasty/supernatural flair with LGBTQ characters. Today I review Clockwork Tangerine by Rhys Ford.
Synopsis by Dreamspinner Press:
The British Empire reigns supreme, and its young Queen Victoria has expanded her realm to St. Francisco, a bustling city of English lords and Chinese ghettos. St. Francisco is a jewel in the Empire’s crown and as deeply embroiled in the conflict between the Arcane and Science as its sister city, London—a very dark and dangerous battle.
Marcus Stenhill, Viscount of Westwood, stumbles upon that darkness when he encounters a pack of young bloods beating a man senseless. Westwood’s duty and honor demand he save the man, but he’s taken aback to discover the man is Robin Harris, a handsome young inventor indirectly responsible for the death of Marcus’s father.
Living in the shadows following a failed coup, Robin devotes his life to easing others’ pain, even though his creations are considered mechanical abominations of magicks and science. Branded a deviant and a murderer, Robin expects the viscount to run as far as he can—and is amazed when Marcus reaches for him instead.
The British Empire reigns supreme, and its young Queen Victoria has expanded her realm to St. Francisco, a bustling city of English lords and Chinese ghettos. St. Francisco is a jewel in the Empire’s crown and as deeply embroiled in the conflict between the Arcane and Science as its sister city, London—a very dark and dangerous battle.
Marcus Stenhill, Viscount of Westwood, stumbles upon that darkness when he encounters a pack of young bloods beating a man senseless. Westwood’s duty and honor demand he save the man, but he’s taken aback to discover the man is Robin Harris, a handsome young inventor indirectly responsible for the death of Marcus’s father.
Living in the shadows following a failed coup, Robin devotes his life to easing others’ pain, even though his creations are considered mechanical abominations of magicks and science. Branded a deviant and a murderer, Robin expects the viscount to run as far as he can—and is amazed when Marcus reaches for him instead.
I don’t normally read steampunk books. However, Rhys Ford is an automatic buy for me so I decided to try it. This novella is Rhys’s first foray into the world of steampunk, and it is so good. In such a short book she was able to build a world that made sense to a non steampunk person. She was able to make me understand why Robin was hated so much, and why very little of it was his fault.
I sympathize with Robin – this is a guy that built something in his teens that others used to cause terrible terrible destruction. He was then used as a scapegoat, and, to top it off, he was literally branded a sodomite. He spends his life trying to create new inventions to help humans and animals. Doctor Elle Horan has a mechanical leg because of him, his housekeeper can see, his cat can now walk and at the very beginning of the book he was on his way to help a child. All he wants to do is help with his inventions, and yet he is treated as a pariah in this society. To a certain extent he believes he deserves to be treated like this, and he wants to help people to try to make up for the damage his inventions cause so many.
Marcus comes in and saves him in both the physical and mental sense. He stops him from being beaten, he takes care of him during recovery and he helps to keep Robin tethered to reality when he is inventing. In essence, he becomes his protector, friend and eventually lover. He also uses his and his family’s influence to try to get others to understand the disservice that was done to Robin. Marcus does all of this for a man that invented something that killed his father. Marcus was told who Robin was immediately after he stopped the beating. He could have walked away then, but instead he chooses to help. His father always said to him,
Responsibility lies with those who can enact changes. It is our duty to step up and do what is right for all, even if it is for someone we do not care for. We cannot pick and choose who we champion. To do so denies your birthright...your responsibilities...your very legacy.
A man with power protects and serves those lesser than he. It is only the weak who use their power to do harm.”
I love not only the main characters in this book, but the secondary characters as well. Doctor Elle Horan, the doctor who takes care of Robin when he is beaten, and Marcus’s Grandmother, the esteemed Agatha Stenhill, the Dowager Duchess of Harding. When Marcus tells his grandmother about what he call "his unnatural" affection for Robin, the duchess’s response is perfect:
“What were you hoping I’d do? Throw myself into a pique of anger? Very Well.” Picking up a tchotchke, she flung it. Clasping her hand to her powdered cheek, the duchess rolled her eyes dramatically, and intoned flatly, drawing out each word, “Oh, Dear. My life is over. My grandson loves a man. Whatever shall I do? The. Horror. The. Shame.”
How can you not love this character? The duchess also helps Marcus understand that he would not have disappointed his father. His father knew about his preferences, and only wanted him to be happy.
My only complaint about this book is that I wanted more. I would love to see these characters back in another novella or full length book. But Rhys is very sneaky like that. She always leaves you wanting more. If you have read this book, let me know what you think in the comments below.
Rhys also has a Hellsinger series ( Fish and Ghosts and Duck Duck Ghost) available for those who love stories about ghosts and ghost hunters.
Rhys also has a Hellsinger series ( Fish and Ghosts and Duck Duck Ghost) available for those who love stories about ghosts and ghost hunters.
