Short Story Review – Kraken and Canals (Elemental Steampunk Story) by Anne Renwick (4/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Steampunk
Length: 72 pages
Publisher: Anne Renwick
Release Date: January 18, 2018
ASIN: B07942VJVS
Stand Alone or Series: Short Story in the Elemental Steampunk series
Source: Bought for Kindle
Rating: 4/5 stars
“Time has run out. Rules must be broken and her patron’s wrath risked. To save the woman who raised her, Lady Judith must visit the underwater grotto of a giant lagoon kraken. Survival isn’t guaranteed, but Arturo will not let his love face the dangers of the canals alone.”
Series Info/Source: This is a short story set in the Elemental Steampunk world. I bought this for Kindle.
Story (4/5): This is a story about kraken causing issues in Venice. Lady Judith is trying to use the kraken ink for medicinal purposes while Arturo is working on designing a device to protect Venice from the kraken infestation. The two have a history together and are brought together again by the illness of Judith’s aunt. This is a very short story but it packed a lot of story in a very short amount of space.
Characters (4/5): We don’t get a lot of time with these characters but I still enjoyed them both. Lady Judith is on a noble mission to use kraken ink to help the sick, she is smart and driven but has gotten herself into a bit of a tough spot. Arturo is also intelligent and creative and is determined to help protect Venice from the Kraken, he is also still desperately in love with Judith despite their rocky past. They have great chemistry together and worked well together in this story.
Setting (4/5): The setting is an alternate Victorian Venice. I’ve enjoyed the settings for all of the books in this world. I loved the re-imagined Victorian steampunk world and really enjoy these stories set in this alternate historical setting.
Writing Style (4/5): Renwick does a great job writing and this story was no exception to that. It’s easy to read, flows nicely, and was entertaining.
Summary (4/5): Overall this was a fun little short story. I enjoyed the characters and the world, but it was very short which made everything seem a bit abrupt. I would recommend to those who have enjoyed Renwick’s full length books and are looking for a little more time in this entertaining historical steampunk fantasy world.
