Genre: Steampunk, Gaslamp
Reviewer: KA
Get It At Amazon | Publisher | B&N
About The Book
Can the Mistress of the Forge best the Mistress of the Night?
Strength is forged in the moment when you dare to be vulnerable. Despite this inherent knowledge, Jacqueline Duval struggles with feelings of weakness and failure when a private celebration for her twin sister’s marriage turns fraught with peril.
Beset by vampires and insurrectionists and rogue monarchs, how is Jacqueline to keep her invited-and uninvited-guests safe, and the King of the French on the right side of the grave?
The Review
While her household is bustling to prepare for her twin sister’s wedding, Jacqueline Duval throws herself into working on her automatons, in an attempt to drown out the insecurities that are plaguing her mind. Whereas her twin sister Angelique seems proud and confident in her new transformation as both a werewolf and a fiancé, Jacqueline struggles with her own growth and identity. New to adulthood and courtship, she questions the worthiness of her beauty and her curves, even as her steadfast beau Alain consistently showers her with love and affection. No invention or discovery ever seems good enough in her mind; she constantly questions her own worth even when her ideas are literally proven as life-saving.
Over the space of a week, their home is beset with dark forces, explosions, and gunfire, and even the King of France himself is put into danger. Time and again, Jacqueline saves the day by using her knowledge and skills as an inventor to save her family and friends, yet she never seems to feel like her own contributions matter.
When she falls prey to the seductive call of the vampiric entity Mircalla, Jacqueline’s self-loathing locks her into a shame spiral, and she must learn that she can only overcome her troubles by sharing them with the people she loves—if only she can find the courage to do so. Mircalla’s seduction becomes the ultimate litmus test of her adulthood and identity, forcing her to come into her own and express her own agency both as an adult inventor as well as gain confidence to declare her love and desire for her Alain.
Although Aeros and Heroes is the second book of the Twins of Bellesfées series, this book was masterfully crafted to work as a standalone book. It is fast paced with dynamic characters, and will draw any reader to seek out the first book.
The tone of the book—a hybrid of gothic horror reminiscent of Le Fanu’s Carmilla and steampunk action set in Enlightenment France—is beautifully unique.
5 stars.
The Reviewer
KA Masters [she/her] is an ace author who writes queer fairy tales and historical fantasy. Although she believes that every good story needs elves and / or explosions in them, her most recent publication, “Sappho in Violet and Gray,” sadly does not include either. You can read more about her on her Goodreads Author Profile K_A_Masters.
