Prah, Constantine and Baryeh Review: Treasure Darkly by Jordan Elizabeth #Steampunk

A big fat huge welcome to the latest member of the review team, Empi Baryeh. I’m looking forward to seeing what both  Constantine and Baryeh think about this month’s pick. The choice of book is a new subgenre for me, but I'm always (usually) up for something different.

The Blurb

Seventeen-year-old Clark Treasure assumes the drink he stole off the captain is absinthe… until the chemicals in the liquid give him the ability to awaken the dead. 

A great invention for creating perfect soldiers, yes, but Clark wants to live as a miner, not a slave to the army—or the deceased. On the run, Clark turns to his estranged, mining tycoon father for help. The Treasures welcome Clark with open arms, so he jumps at the chance to help them protect their ranch against Senator Horan, a man who hates anyone more powerful than he. 

Sixteen-year-old Amethyst Treasure loathes the idea of spending the summer away from her bustling city life to rot on her father’s ranch, but when a handsome young man shows up claiming to be her secret half-brother, her curiosity is piqued. He’s clever, street smart, and has no qualms jumping into the brawl between the Treasures and Horans. Caught in the middle, Horan kidnaps Amethyst, and all she gets is this lousy bullet through her heart. 

When Clark brings her back to life, however, the real action starts, and Amethyst joins him in his fight against the Horan clan—whatever the cost. Defeating the Horans may seem easy at first, but going up against men with the same fighting vengeance as Clark, and a Senator with power he’s obtained by brainwashing the masses? 

Well, Amethyst’s boring summer at home has turned into an adventure on the run, chock full of intrigue, danger, love, and a mysterious boy named Clark. 

My Review

Until this book I was a steampunk virgin. The subgenre is an  interesting concept of placing steam run gadgets in the Wild West.

From the beginning the story intrigued me. Clark had a hard life growing up the child of a Tarnished Silver. Once he drank the tonic things became even worse for him because it put him on the run from the army. Although we didn’t experience this with him, he spoke of his adventures and I felt for him. 

I’d consider Clark to be a tough young man, hardened through life, and yet still able to keep his compassion towards others, especially the Bromi. The fact that he could see ghosts didn’t freak me out, although I didn’t envy him the gift, until he met one ghost in particular and then I thought it was really cool.

I love a strong heroine who can do for herself. I’m sorry to inform you that Amethyst is not such a woman. Although she has spunk and tendancies towards courage, she’s spoiled and likes to get her way without actually working for it. One thing I will give to the girl is that she transitions through the book. Yes she was still spoiled at the end, but not as annoying to me.

Although I like romance in all of my stories I didn’t know just how the one between Amethyst and Clark would work out. It initially had me closing my eyes and screaming no, no, no. But once clarity came through in the book I was okay with it and went with the flow.

I’ll mention that other than Clark, my favorite character was Amethyst’s mother. A strong, loving woman, who knew how to tough it out.

I give this story three steamcycle shaped chocolate bars.

I purchased this book from Amazon.

Time to head on over to Constantine's and Baryeh’s blog to see what they thought of the book.