Review: Lumiere by Jacqueline E. Garlick

LUMIERE
Author: Jacqueline E. Garlick
Series: The Illumination Paradox #1
Genre: YA, Steampunk
Release Date: December 12th 2013

Book Length: 335 pages
Publisher: Amazon
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One determined girl. One resourceful boy. One miracle machine that could destroy everything. 

After an unexplained flash shatters her world, seventeen-year-old Eyelet Elsworth sets out to find the Illuminator, her father’s prized invention. With it, she hopes to cure herself of her debilitating seizures before Professor Smrt—her father’s arch nemesis—discovers her secret and locks her away in an asylum. 

Pursued by Smrt, Eyelet locates the Illuminator only to see it whisked away. She follows the thief into the world of the unknown, compelled not only by her quest but by the allure of the stranger—Urlick Babbit—who harbors secrets of his own. 

Together, they endure deadly Vapours and criminal-infested woods in pursuit of the same prize, only to discover the miracle machine they hoped would solve their problems may in fact be their biggest problem of all.

~ Review ~

Eyelet is a seventeen-year-old girl who lives in Brethren with her mother. Eyelet suffers with brain seizures and ever since the night of The Great Illumination, people who act strangely are accused of Madness and are entered into an insane asylum. Ever since this dreadful night the town lives without the sun and are endangered by a toxic gas called The Vapours, which lurks outside of the town. Determined to cure herself, Eyelet must find her late father’s research before it’s too late.

I loved the cover and concept on this book but was sadly not able to connect with it; I’m guessing I just not meant to be a steampunk reader. I enjoyed the characters but I just wasn’t able to care for them and be invested in their story. Ultimately what I struggled with what the amount of info-dumping about the world, how it came to be and the science and magic relationship behind inventions. Too often I found myself to be a little confused and overwhelmed and I would have to put down the book. Due to this I wasn’t able to pick it up again and dive right in, so I felt lost throughout reading.

However what I loved was Urlick Babbit. Instead of our usual gorgeous, swoony hot guys, Urlick would be considered a ‘monster’ with his albino eyes, birthmarks on his face and black and white hair. It was refreshing to read about a ‘disfigured’ character who is shunned by society but is still able to be our prince charming with his witty remarks, intelligence and kind hearted nature. I would have loved more romance between Eyelet and Urlick but I completely understand the slow turn around romance that comes with these ‘Beauty & the Beast’ type reads. This was sadly not for me but I may try again or at least give the second book a try, this would be perfect for steampunk romance lovers.