DNF Review – The Dragon Men (Clockwork Empire, Book 3) by Steven Harper (3/5 stars)

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Steampunk
Length: 400 pages
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: November 6, 2012
ISBN-13: 978-0451464880
Stand Alone or Series: 3rd book in the Clockwork Empire series
Source: Bought
Rating: 3/5 stars

“As China prepares to become the ultimate power in an era of extraordinary invention and horror, Alice Michaels’ fate lies inside the walls of the forbidden kingdom….

Gavin Ennock has everything a man could desire—except time. As the clockwork plague consumes his body and mind, it drives him increasingly mad and fractures his relationship with his fiancée, Alice, Lady Michaels. Their only hope is that the Dragon Men of China can cure him.

But a power-mad general has seized the Chinese throne in a determined offensive to conquer Asia, Britain—indeed, the entire world. He has closed the country’s borders to all foreigners. The former ruling dynasty, however, is scheming to return the rightful heir to power. Their designs will draw Gavin and Alice down a treacherous path strewn with intrigue and power struggles. One wrong step will seal Gavin’s fate…and determine the future of the world.”

DNF: I don’t think I’ve ever had two DNF books in one week before. In fact I probably only have 3-4 DNF a year. However I was really struggling with this book. I got about 150 pages in before I gave up. The story jumps between our beloved Gavin/Alice and a new character, the Imperial Concubine of China.

I really did not enjoy the parts with the Imperial Concubine and this was the vast majority of the story. The parts with Gavin/Alice felt contrived and were just plain boring. I just could not get back into the story; I was completely ambivalent and did not care what happened to these characters.

It’s not that the writing itself was technically bad; I just found the story to be completely unengaging and uninteresting which is a pity because I love a good steampunk world.

Overall this was a DNF for me. I struggled with getting back into the story and did not find it at all engaging. I didn’t enjoy the new main character introduced and was disappointed in where Gavin and Alice’s story was going. I won’t be continuing with the series.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– Goodreads Reading Challenge
– Mount TBR Reading Challenge