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A review by veronica87
Dawn's Early Light by Pip Ballantine, Tee Morris
3.0
Three to three and a half stars.
I want to start off by saying that I really, really, really loved the first two books in this series, [b:Phoenix Rising|9795166|Phoenix Rising (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #1)|Pip Ballantine|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1319574583s/9795166.jpg|14685275] and [b:The Janus Affair|13085609|The Janus Affair (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #2)|Pip Ballantine|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1328960260s/13085609.jpg|18256337]. They were fun and cheeky and just an all-around good time. But I must confess that while I still liked this third installment in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series, I just didn't love it as much. Here's the thing though, the hang up is mine and it's certainly not something that is going to bother everyone, maybe not even anyone. But let me start with what I liked.
As with the first two books, this is steampunk done well, where the gadgets and gizmos that give the genre its distinctive feel are integral parts of the story rather than just in-the-background scenery or accessories. The story does not lack for thrilling adventures or daring escapes, aspects that give it something of an Indiana Jones feel. I also like the manner in which actual historical figures are incorporated into the plot, from the British royal family to some of the great scientific minds of the time. Figuring out who is working what angle, and why, is high on the agenda for our intrepid agents, Wellington Books and Eliza Braun.
The story kicks off mid-foot chase as Wellington and Eliza are trying to run down a thief on the airship in which they are traveling. Anyone who has read the second book knows that it ended with the two agents being ordered on a new mission to the Americas. But what was supposed to be a consulting type of gig to help out America's version of the Ministry, the Office of the Supernatural and Metaphysical (OSM), soons escalates into something quite a bit more complex. And this is where my issue with this particular book comes into play. Not with the underlying mystery, which I thought was well done, but with Wellington and Eliza and how they go about solving it.
What gave the first two books its heart was the relationship between Wellington and Eliza. They make great partners because they're fun and there's a definite spark of humor and attraction when they're together. The problem for me, here, is that once Wellington and Eliza arrive in the Americas they spend far too much time apart for the majority of the book, instead paired off with their opposite gender counterparts in the OSM. I understand WHY it unfolded the way it did and I understand WHY Wellington and Eliza got their wires crossed in terms of their expectations but, for me, Wellington and Eliza working with other partners doesn't have the same...magic. So, there it is, the reason why I didn't love this book as much as the previous two.
That said, I did still like it. We finally get the identity of the Maestro (my theory on that was wrong) and we get more clues about the Restricted Area and how much Doctor Sound knows as well as some tantalizing lead-ins for future storylines. Plus the last fourth of the book did finally see Wellington and Eliza figure some things out, both personally and professionally (mad science, secret societies, and conspiracies - oh my!), and I fully expect a return to the full-time awesome partnership that is Books and Braun in the next installment. And hopefully the return trip home via airship is more to Eliza's liking. *wink*
I want to start off by saying that I really, really, really loved the first two books in this series, [b:Phoenix Rising|9795166|Phoenix Rising (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #1)|Pip Ballantine|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1319574583s/9795166.jpg|14685275] and [b:The Janus Affair|13085609|The Janus Affair (Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #2)|Pip Ballantine|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1328960260s/13085609.jpg|18256337]. They were fun and cheeky and just an all-around good time. But I must confess that while I still liked this third installment in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series, I just didn't love it as much. Here's the thing though, the hang up is mine and it's certainly not something that is going to bother everyone, maybe not even anyone. But let me start with what I liked.
As with the first two books, this is steampunk done well, where the gadgets and gizmos that give the genre its distinctive feel are integral parts of the story rather than just in-the-background scenery or accessories. The story does not lack for thrilling adventures or daring escapes, aspects that give it something of an Indiana Jones feel. I also like the manner in which actual historical figures are incorporated into the plot, from the British royal family to some of the great scientific minds of the time. Figuring out who is working what angle, and why, is high on the agenda for our intrepid agents, Wellington Books and Eliza Braun.
The story kicks off mid-foot chase as Wellington and Eliza are trying to run down a thief on the airship in which they are traveling. Anyone who has read the second book knows that it ended with the two agents being ordered on a new mission to the Americas. But what was supposed to be a consulting type of gig to help out America's version of the Ministry, the Office of the Supernatural and Metaphysical (OSM), soons escalates into something quite a bit more complex. And this is where my issue with this particular book comes into play. Not with the underlying mystery, which I thought was well done, but with Wellington and Eliza and how they go about solving it.
What gave the first two books its heart was the relationship between Wellington and Eliza. They make great partners because they're fun and there's a definite spark of humor and attraction when they're together. The problem for me, here, is that once Wellington and Eliza arrive in the Americas they spend far too much time apart for the majority of the book, instead paired off with their opposite gender counterparts in the OSM. I understand WHY it unfolded the way it did and I understand WHY Wellington and Eliza got their wires crossed in terms of their expectations but, for me, Wellington and Eliza working with other partners doesn't have the same...magic. So, there it is, the reason why I didn't love this book as much as the previous two.
That said, I did still like it. We finally get the identity of the Maestro (my theory on that was wrong) and we get more clues about the Restricted Area and how much Doctor Sound knows as well as some tantalizing lead-ins for future storylines. Plus the last fourth of the book did finally see Wellington and Eliza figure some things out, both personally and professionally (mad science, secret societies, and conspiracies - oh my!), and I fully expect a return to the full-time awesome partnership that is Books and Braun in the next installment. And hopefully the return trip home via airship is more to Eliza's liking. *wink*