CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

In the The Genesis Plague author Michael Byrnes has written a fast-paced action adventure, reminiscent of Matthew Reilly in style. It also interweaves elements of occultic belief and a sense of mystique, while developing a complex plot linking events in the Middle East with ancient myth and international conspiracy and espionage. The main character is action-man Jason Yaeger, known as Google to his squad mates. Located in Afghanistan, Yaegar stumbles across a madman’s plot, and alerts his agency to the possibility of external actors. Through the remnants of an id card out of place in a war zone, Yaegar’s State-side colleague, Thomas Flaherty unravels much of the secret, while Yaegar tries to prevent the real effects of the plot in the Middle East. The pace does not slow throughout the entire bok, and the clever incorporation of elements of mystery, intrigue, action, and romance led to a very satisying read. I will be looking for more of Mr. Byrnes ’ work, starting with TheSa...

So, I’ve been doing a bit of reading to get a better idea of what the term ‘steampunk’ encompasses. I have two that I really enjoyed: God Save the Queen by Kate Locke To be honest, I thought this was going to be one of those clichéd vampire-werewolf-zombie-virus things. It was not. God Save the Queen was one of the most entertaining reads I’ve had in a long while. The world-building and history-bending was well done, and the characters believable, in spite of their origins. The use of underground movements, political machinations and the genetic stratification of society made for an interesting interpretation of a Victorian England that had survived past what our world recognizes as the Victorian era. The steampunk element was present, but more a part of the background than a main feature, which allowed the intrigue and the characters take center stage. I liked the way goblins were explained and treated and the way this complemented an underlying theme of the commonality of ...