Thursday, December 22, 2011

Dearly, Departed (Gone with Respiration #1) by Lia Habel




Book Summery (via Goodreads): The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses.

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

Book Review:
I'll be honest. I hadn't heard a thing about this book before I picked it up. It was the cover that caught my eye. When I read the blurb on the cover I was hooked! A future Victorian world filled with steam punk and zombies? I was soooo there! I didn't take long to get hooked into this story at all. Nora is just so adorable, feisty, and smart! It's hard not to like Bram either. Really...all the characters are great, even the villains! I love the alternating voices. Each chapter speaks from a different character's perspective. I know that not everyone is a fan of this, but I really like it. It makes for a richer story, in my opinion. The back story of the waring Punks and new Victorians is well thought out and original. I love the political pieces in this story. Habel fleshed out her tale rather impressively, and not in an information-overload manner, but rather in an interesting and engaging way. One thing that kind of bothered me was that the book trailer and the cover blurb really amp up the romance. It is not the center focus of this book. Instead, it's a slow building arc that is to be savored and cherished. Overall, this book was well done and I look forward to the next installment to the story!


Favorite Quote:
“Real ladies can give orders, Real gentlemen can take them, and Real zombies don’t eat brains.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
I'm not gonna lie...I am a sucker for a beautiful cover, and this one is certainly eye-catching. In fact, I had heard nothing of this book, but saw it on the shelf at the bookstore and made a rather impulsive purchase, which I almost NEVER do! This cover is just that powerful! You know immediately that there is something unique and interesting about this book, just from the cover alone.

Rating:

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