REVIEW: Wireless, by Alex Acks

Title: Wireless and More Steam-Powered Adventures

Author: Alex Acks

Genre: Steampunk, Adventure/Romance

LGBTQ+ Category: FF/Lesbian

Publisher: Queen of Swords Press

Pages: 294

Reviewer: Melissa, Paranormal Romance Guild

Get It On Amazon

About The Book

Captain Marta Ramos, the most dangerous pirate in the Duchy of Denver, is back and she and Simms are up to their goggles in trouble. Has General del Toro found a way to use the Infected as an army and can Captain Ramos work with her arch enemy, Colonel Geoffrey Douglas, to stop him? Can Simms join forces with the devious Deliah Nimowitz on a jailbreak, some sewer misadventures AND a high society soiree involving tea, a heist and sausages? And what about the Rail King and his nefarious plans? Can Captain Ramos and her crew stop him before he completes his latest dastardly deed, one that may result in Deliah’s demise? Check out the next installment of the exciting adventures of Captain Ramos and her valiant crew to find out more!

Wireless picks up where Murder on the Titania and Other Steam-Powered Adventures with 3 linked novellas, all set in or near the Duchy of Denver, in an American West that never was.

“Blood in Elk Creek” – When Captain Marta Ramos’s aeroplane is shot down over hostile territory, she has to work with her nemesis, Colonel Geoffrey Douglas, head of the Duke of Denver’s security division, to try and stop General del Toro’s plot to spread the dreaded Infection throughout the Plains tribes, thereby creating a monstrous private army. And the clock is ticking when Marta contracts the Infection too.

“Do Shut Up, Mister Simms” – While Marta is off having adventures, Simms involuntarily signs up for one of his own. He and the crew have to join forces with the lovely Deliah to break a crewmember out of the Duke’s prison. Then it’s off to visit two of Simm’s least favorite things: the city sewers and a high society tea party, whilst serving as Deliah’s escort. Make that three of his least favorite things.

“Wireless” – Marta returns from the Plains a changed woman and Simm’s plan to cure her gets Deliah kidnapped. Now the crew is racing against time to rescue her and stop the Rail King from executing his latest dastardly plan, with some help from some new and unexpected allies.

The Review

This is in fact three fun adventure filled novellas with a unique blend of steam punk, zombies, and crazy escapades by a band of misfit characters. It shouldn’t work, but, oh wow, it does!

Marta is the perfect main character. Despite claiming to be a pirate and in no way interested in doing charitable acts, she still manages to find her way to doing the right thing.

Along with her favorite sidekick Simms, her girlfriend, Delilah, and even alongside her longtime nemesis Col. Douglas, our intrepid and fierce hero faces off against all kinds of foes. There is not an extraneous detail or moment in these stories.

Everything is placed so well and it manages to convey some pretty big moral dilemmas with elegance. The banter between the characters is as fun and fast-paced as the action in these stories. Nothing is overdone. Acks somehow manages to get all the elements in a delicate balance.

For fans of steam punk, fans of mysteries, fans of adventure-you should add this book to your library.

The Reviewer

In writing this bio I am taking a rare break from reading! I always have a book on hand just in case there is time to sneak in a chapter or two. As a military spouse and a mom of two boys, it is amazing how often I am hurrying up to wait. Luckily for me I don’t have a favorite genre so I get lots of fun authors to choose from. My education was in sociology and mental health counseling, so stories with strong character development are my favorites. Happily Ever After is the best part of romance for me because real life is hard enough.

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