Sometimes, you expect a bit too much from a book - and end up more than just disappointed from the outcome. Maybe it's the genre, maybe the synopsis, maybe something else - but in any case, the result still leaves you wanting...

This book was one of those few where my hopes were sort of crashed. The story of an airship crew, in a very Treasure Planet kind of environment. Air pirates, and steampunk elements, and a team of supposed smugglers that is close to being each other's family.

But that was all there was to it. See, a story needs more than good intentions and a nicely-thought plot concept. The whole book must be in sync with what the reader is expecting - or at least close enough. And in this case... it was not.

Not only was the pace a mess - maybe in an attempt to make the suspense higher? - but there were many plot holes and the writer's voice left much to be desired. The dialogues were... well, stale, and although funny, there were times that they seemed... I don't know, sort of fake? Like rehearsed scenes - you know, the ones where the amateur actors are woody and stiff and there's no color to it?

Speaking of actors, the main injury to my poor reading eyes were the characters. Let me just say, I didn't mind the fact there were so many of them being mentioned. I enjoy stories with big casts. And while Desire's crew was a team of very interesting individuals that gave plenty of ways for meaningful and intriguing interactions (like, seriously, the characters themselves were pretty much giving this to the writer in a silver platter), it feels like Ms. McIntyre didn't take advantage of that, and instead stuck to the stereotypical profiles she had given them, blocking their way to growth and personal development. At this point, even Jensen's betrayal, or the acceptance of Mordecai, looked like something to be expected and didn't shake us at all... (see above comment for rehearsed scenes)

But the one thing that really made it difficult to get through this book, was Bea herself. I hated her! We see a main heroine who's comfortable in her own skin, supposedly, and is all about being "one of the guys" and whatnot. But really, she was just plain boring, predictable, and at times, irritating and a pain in our ass. The usual, stereotypical tomboy of a woman who wants to SHOW to the world that she's no fragile female, acting like a reckless idiot, mouthing off, and generally being rude. Hell, she even went as far as categorizing a woman she had JUST met as a whore, because Geoff wasn't - for once in his life - paying attention to her! Ha! What a joke! I find it hard to believe he would pine after a woman who's all but bragging about how many men she's slept with in front of him, none of them being him, and of course stopping his advances all because she was afraid she might catch feelings like any other GIRL! Oh, but how dare he look at someone else, right?

You want my opinion? Isabella was a much healthier choice as a female lead. Comfortable with her gender, using it to her own advantage, not minding showing that she sometimes needed help, and helping out even when she was nearly down herself. Not to mention her kind and understanding nature - because, you know, she wasn't SCARED of showing her feminine side in front of the boys!

All in all, I was let down by the first installment of this series and I won't move on to the rest of it. I honestly found the main idea appealing, but the technicalities really destroyed the whole thing for me...

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***

Steampunk novels are some of the best historical fiction novels that I can read. This was a thrilling ride from start to finish and I really enjoyed it.

“An Airship Named Desire” eBook was published in 2015 and was written by Katherine McIntyre (https://katherine-mcintyre.com). Ms. McIntyre has published a dozen novels, this being the first in her “Take to the Skies” steampunk series.

I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in the near future of an Alternate History Earth. Machines are driven by steam and airships fly the skies, not airplanes. The primary character is young Beatrice, the First Mate of the Airship Desire.

The Desire and her crew mostly deal in smuggling and other similar jobs. Bea and fellow crew mate, Jensen, sneak aboard a British merchant vessel to steal a specific piece of cargo. That soon has the British chasing after the Desire. The British want to get back their stolen merchandise, a small locked box. Before long, a traitor among the Desire’s crew makes off with the box. Bea and the crew of the Desire give chase, but find both the British and the Morlock pirates in their way.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent reading this 294 page Steampunk Alternate History. The story is set in our world, but it has changed in several ways. California has slid into the Pacific, the British are in control of most of Europe, and most importantly steam power rules. The date is a little in our future, around 2040. There is a mix of technologies - super computers are mentioned and the balloon holding up the Desire is protected by a Plasma Shield. On the other hand, the Desire crew and their enemies carry various kids of swords and hand guns.

The story is never dull, with Bea and her crew getting into one perilous scrape after another. The cover art is a good idea of what the story will bring. The only thing I can say is missing is a little better explanation of why the story is set in a steam powered world. I give this novel a 4.7 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.

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