Blog Tour: Lumiere (The Illumination Paradox #1)

About The Book:

Title: Lumiere (The Illumination Paradox, #1)

Author: Jacqueline Garlick  

Release Date: December 12th, 2013

Genres: Steampunk, Young Adult

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Synopsis: 

Even in a land of eternal twilight, secrets can’t stay hidden forever.

Seventeen-year-old Eyelet Elsworth is no stranger to living in the dark. She’s hidden her secret affliction all of her life—a life that would be in danger if superstitious townspeople ever guessed the truth. After her mother is accused and executed for a crime that she didn’t commit, the now-orphaned Eyelet has no choice but to track down the machine—her last hope for a cure. But Eyelet’s late father’s most prized invention, the Illuminator, has been missing since the day of the mysterious flash—a day that saw the sun wiped out over Brethren forever.

Alone and on the run, she finds the Illuminator—only to witness a young man hauling it away. Determined to follow the thief and recover the machine, she ventures into the deepest, darkest, most dangerous part of her twisted world.

Review:

I was pleasantly surprised by this new YA steampunk novel! Anyone who knows me, knows I'm very picky with my steampunk. If it's not done properly, then I won't like it. While this wasn't the best steampunk novel I've read, it was still a great read that's worth checking out. The story did take me a bit to get into, but by the end, I was fully into the story, and am excited to find out what happens next!! 

Jacqueline Garlick crafted a wonderfully imaginative world that is rich in it's descriptive elements, and has great characters that you'll easily fall in love with. There was a good balance of steampunk and fantasy elements in this novel, however I am sure that some will say that there was too much steampunk in the story. Nevertheless, because I am very picky with my steampunk, I will say that I could have done with more steampunk in the story. There were parts of the story where I thought it was more of an afterthought then an actual element. 

One of the strongest aspects of this story were the lovable characters. All of her characters had such great personalities that made it easy to root for them. They were real, genuine, and not your typical hero/heroine. And this is something I enjoyed a great deal. I wasn't expecting characters like Eyelet and Urlick, but they were unique and fun, and I loved being able to read from both their POV's. Eyelet was such a hoot. She was headstrong, and wasn't going to let anything stop her from accomplishing her goals. Eyelet certainly never gives up, and was definitely amusing throughout the story. She definitely doesn't understand the concept of privacy, but that just makes her even more fun. Urlick is certainly not your typical hero that's drop dead gorgeous, but this just made his character stronger. I loved Urlick and Eyelet's dynamic as a couple, and how they both helepd each other overcome his/her insecurities. They were certainly a refreshing duo to read!

Another wonderful aspect of this story was the setting and storytelling. The setting is so richly described, I felt like I could see the scenes playing out in front of me. I can tell you exactly how everything looks, down to the color of the forest and what the characters are wearing. The story is extremely original, and I highly applaud Ms. Garlick for her creativity with this story. As I said, it did take me a bit to get into the story. I can't quite put my finger on what it was, but I think mainly it was just a little slow in the beginning and I needed to get used to Eyelet's personality. However, once I was farther into the story, I really starting enjoying the story and it was an action-packed adventure! 

While this book won't be for everyone, I am definitely looking forward to reading the next in the series, Noir. It is sure to be yet another unique, creativity story that will sweep you away to another world. I'm interested to see where Ms. Garlick takes the story and what will happen next with Eyelet and Urlick! If you're looking for a unique blend of action, adventure, fantasy, and steampunk, this book is perfect for you. Don't miss out! 

Happy reading :)

~Cassie

About Jacqueline: 

I'm Jacqueline Garlick, author of young adult and new adult fiction. I love strong heroines, despise whiny sidekicks, and adore a good story about a triumphant underdog. (Don't you?) 

I love to read, write, paint (walls and paper). I have a love/hate relationship with chocolate, grammar, and technology and would rather hang out with a dog, than a cat. I prefer creating things to cleaning things, and believe laughter is a one-stop-shop solution to all that ails you. You will always find a purple wall (or two) in my house (currently in my writing room), and there may or may not be a hidden passageway that leads to a mystery room. (Okay, so you won't find a hidden passageway, but a girl can dream, can't she?) Oh, and tea. There will always be tea. 

My writing style has been described as edgy and rule-breaking, and by some--a touch Tim Burton-esque. Because of this, I am often referred to as the Quentin Tarantino of YA among writing friends. 

Connect with the Author:  Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Blog

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Special thank you to Xpresso Books Tours
 for letting us be apart of this Blog Tour