Fantasy Steampunk Romance -- No, you're not misreading the title of this thread

Teresa Edgerton

Teresa Edgerton

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Because I've been encountering it and thinking about it for a while:

Fantasy Steampunk Romance.

There is a lot of it out there, and I've only read a little of it. I'm not sure if it is written for romance readers who also enjoy SFF, or for SFF readers who like a little romance thrown in. Usually tough, kick-a-- female characters, but I think these books are very clearly aimed at women readers.

So does anyone know when this began to happen? Where it comes from-- an offshoot of Paranormal Romance, or one of many variations that have developed out of Steampunk?

Light reading, but full of interesting gadgets and plots with odd, unexpected turns.

So is anybody else here reading this? Or is this a phenomenon that has slipped past Chrons readers entirely (except for me, obviously)?
 
Try this: I know it's a comic rather than a book, but it ticks all three of the title keywords...:)

Girl Genius
 
Ursa major said:
The description of the book on Amazon doesn't indicate much romance (in the interpersonal sense), although that doesn't mean it's presence is insignificant. If you think the book is any good, I'd try it: it sounds reasonably intriguing, what with murders, "enforcers", mysterious artefacts and a determined crime lord....
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There is definitely romance (and sex). I read it a while ago and liked it, but I don't know if you would ... largely because I've been reading so many books lately, they're mostly blending together in my mind. But it is different, so you might think it worth reading just so you can say you tried the genre, and find out if you like it.
 
At £2.05 for the Kindle version, the only real downside may be even more emails from Amazon, adding romance titles to the SFF and crime** promotions and adverts.








** - Not that I've ever bought a non-SFF crime novel from Kindle.
 
Ursa major said:
At £2.05 for the Kindle version, the only real downside may be even more emails from Amazon, adding romance titles
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Yes, they'll do that to you. So far as I can remember, I have never bought a contemporary romance in my life -- certainly never one from Amazon -- but because I've bought historical romances they seem to think that I'll like the contemporary ones, too. Which is not going to happen, because I am never going to read any of them.

If you have a Kindle, you can always read the sample for Nefertiti's Heart before you decide to buy it.
 
I've already mortgaged the house (;)) and bought it. I can always give up reading it a few pages in, but I fully intend to reach the end.

I buy an annual season ticket to an orchestra series; even if I don't like all the works -- there are over 20 concerts in a season and an average of three works per concert -- I think it does me good to try listening outside my comfort zone. (And I often enjoy the rarer works.) And besides, I can hardly criticise (fantasy steampunk) romance with much honesty if I've never finished a novel in the genre.
 
Ursa major said:
And besides, I can hardly criticise (fantasy steampunk) romance with much honesty if I've never finished a novel in the genre.
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True. If you like it, we can talk about that. And if you despise it, we can keep the thread going for a long time.
 
My wife reads romance and I read science fiction: she reads limited science fiction because she does initial edits on my work. She often would point out that many of her romances would have various elements that would show up as science fiction or fantasy and those are many and varied and have been around for a long time. I have in fact a spot where she stacks her choices that I occasionally delve into and they do have some very light or soft science fiction. So that part has been around for a long time.

The SteamPunk is new to me and it is not very close to what romance readers want or I'm pretty sure I could talk my better half into reading some more than what I've offered, but the scale there for determining Steampunk can become wide enough that the kindle we share often snares her with the occasional Romance Fantasy that is listed as Steampunk.

I really think that we are entering an era of young fiction readers that contains young males who are interested in seeing the KA female characters. This is an offshoot of Game playing and Role game playing and those MMORPG's that are out there. But along with that are a growing number of women who participate that also are interested in the KA female characters.

I enjoy the novels because I enjoy reading about women who are self-sufficient and can be just as comfortable being in charge as well as they could long ago be submissive. I also enjoy reading female characters that have an intellect; that makes for a companion that can hold their own in any number of conversational topics.

I'd like to think that there are a growing number of youths who are beginning to see the value of having such companions.

I read a lot of self published works and I've been reading a lot of this type of work which varies from well drawn out female characters to ones that unfortunately vacillate between being strong and weak and just come out too confusing. But yes, I've noticed a growing trend in this type of fantasy and it seems to be gaining a following.

I've even recently come across a couple of traditional published authors who write fiction close to this genre.

The St. Croix books are mildly dark almost frankenstien-ish. But the author's character seems to devolve in this story as she falls deeper into her opium use. This book has actual Steam powered devices.

Amazon.com: Tarnished: The St. Croix Chronicles eBook: Karina Cooper: Kindle Store

There are some elements of dark in this work but I've not read this particular book and
have read shorter novella's related to the same world. I enjoy the author's prose and particularly am fond of the vampire bunny rabbits.(the ones I've read of these do not have much in the Steam powered showing up.)
Wicked as They Come (Blud) - Kindle edition by Delilah S. Dawson. Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
 
tinkerdan said:
The St. Croix books are mildly dark almost frankenstien-ish. But the author's character seems to devolve in this story as she falls deeper into her opium use.
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Intriguing! And under $5.00 which is my upper limit right now, until I come into more ill-gotten gains.

I've just downloaded the sample.

I enjoy the novels because I enjoy reading about women who are self-sufficient and can be just as comfortable being in charge as well as they could long ago be submissive. I also enjoy reading female characters that have an intellect; that makes for a companion that can hold their own in any number of conversational topics.

I'd like to think that there are a growing number of youths who are beginning to see the value of having such companions.
Click to expand...

If so, that is an encouraging trend.
 
I've been aware (but not read) of the sub-genre for a while. (my TBR is already to big though I see it shrinking rapidly until oh, I dunno, August-ish) I know it is popula. The whole 'Victorian' feel adds well to the independent/intellectual female that can hold her own.
 
I have beta read for a couple and now I need to go away and remember the names rather than the screen names of the authors.
 
I got very excited about the Gail Carriger books The Parasol Protectorate (which probably counts?) and I pounced on Soulless as soon as I could find it. It sounded like it was going to be absolutely my kind of thing but unfortunately, it wasn't. I didn't really go for the writing, and the super-hairy Scottish Laird romantic hero may have said "Och" (or it may have been "Hoots!"), which is about the only thing that can make me throw a book across the room.
 
Hex said:
I got very excited about the Gail Carriger books The Parasol Protectorate (which probably counts?) and I pounced on Soulless as soon as I could find it. It sounded like it was going to be absolutely my kind of thing but unfortunately, it wasn't.
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I have a friend who really likes The Parasol Protectorate and recommended it to me, but somehow the Amazon entry has never appealed to me enough to buy it.

Stephen Palmer said:
Hairy London!
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Ah, a reminder that I very much want to read this book. Why haven't I? Note to self: Must see to this at once.

and the whole themes is 'what is love?'
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I didn't know this. Now I am even more interested in reading it than before.
 
Both my (romance) publishers have steampunk listed as genres on their websites.
 
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