Chasing the Star Garden

A Steampunk Romantic Adventure Novel: The Airship Racing Chronicles, Book 1

By: Melanie Karsak

Narrated by: Libby Clearfield

An opium-addicted beauty. An infamous poet living in self-imposed exile. An ancient treasure about to fall into the wrong hands.

Melanie Karsak's Chasing the Star Garden takes listeners on a thrilling adventure from the gritty opium dens of gaslamp London to the gem-colored waters of the ancient world. Lily Stargazer, a loveable but reckless airship racer with a famous lover and shattered past, reluctantly plunges into a centuries-old mystery in a steampunk romantic adventure best described as Dan Brown meets Mary Shelley.

It all begins on one of the worst days of Lily's life. She just lost the London leg of the 1823 Airship Grand Prix. To top it off, a harlequin fleeing from constables shoved a kaleidoscope down her pants, told her to fly to Venice, then threw himself from her airship tower. What's a girl to do? For Lily, the answer is easy: Drink absinthe and smoke opium.

Lily's lover, Lord Byron, encourages her to make the trip to Venice. Lily soon finds herself at the heart of an ancient mystery which has her running from her past and chasing true love and the stars along the way.

©2013 Clockpunk Press (P)2014 Clockpunk Press

Interesting

The book was an interesting read. It didn't push steampunk at you in an over the top manner but was the backdrop. The intrigue was a bit contrived and the love story a little unusual. However I enjoyed the story. Probably won't continue the series unless they are a good price.

a beautiful listening experience!

Would you consider the audio edition of Chasing the Star Garden to be better than the print version?

I bought Chasing the Star Garden just a couple of months ago in eBook format but have been getting into audio books lately. I've been dying to read this book and so jumped at the chance to review this story in audio book format.

Listening to Chasing the Star Garden is a beautiful experience. I love the narrator, Libby Clearfield! She can speak in a variety of accents, including Italian and French. She brings the story to life and speaks clearly. I'd definitely listen to another audio book narrated by her.

What did you like best about this story?

Chasing the Star Garden is engrossing and action packed with romance sprinkled throughout. The heat level to some of the love scenes definitely makes this a book for adults!

Lily is a character who quickly became a favorite of mine. She has a painful past she escapes from by smoking opium and drinking absinthe, and you see what her past is like through flashbacks. While Lily is strong, independent, and fierce, she also has a vulnerability.

I didn't realize at first how much Lord Byron and Sal meant to her, but it soon became clear they were much more than just her lovers. They both know about the other, and I think it was harder for Sal to accept that she also has Lord Byron. I think Sal loved Lily and didn't want to share her with anyone, but I also think Lily knew that and was scared of that kind of love.

The way Greek mythology ties into the treasure hunt in the story was interesting and well done. As if airship racing wasn't exciting enough, there's more excitement with the danger and adventure that comes with searching for the treasure before it falls into the wrong hands. Lily's very life is on the line.

Have you listened to any of Libby Clearfield’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to Clearfield before but would love to listen to her other performances.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Chasing the Star Garden confirms my love of the steampunk genre, and I'm looking forward to the next installment of the Airship Racing Chronicles, Chasing the Green Fairy! The title alone would make anyone want to dive into the story even if she/he didn't know what it was about, I'm certain of it! I definitely need more Lily!

Any additional comments?

I received an audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Exhilarating!

Would you consider the audio edition of Chasing the Star Garden to be better than the print version?

Not having read the print version, I would still have to say yes. The narration of the book brought the characters and plot to life.

What other book might you compare Chasing the Star Garden to and why?

Not sure about this

Which character – as performed by Libby Clearfield – was your favorite?

I'd have to say Lily as she was the primary focus of the story. I believe the narrator captured her emotions and enhanced the story line.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not possible.

An enjoyable steampunk adventure!

What made the experience of listening to Chasing the Star Garden the most enjoyable?

The narrator, Libby Clearfield, was excellent in this audio.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Chasing the Star Garden?

I liked the part where Lily follows the snake in the cave and finds the glowing statue and she is able to come to terms with her past.

What does Libby Clearfield bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Libby Clearfield is an excellent narrator and her accent fits perfectly with this story.

Any additional comments?

There is mature content in this book, so I would not recommend for children.

Beautiful, but difficult story.

Loved this story. The flashbacks are a little hard to read, and I would not read it if you might be triggered by non-consensual sexual acts. I didn’t know what I was getting into when I listened to it, but having read several other books by this author I pushed on and am happy I did so. I might read it again, but I will certainly skip parts. Still it was a beautiful story of survival and love and I’m glad I read it.

Slow start but eventually a decent ending

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Less reliance on sex and drug use.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Mildly surprised how it ended up.

Which character – as performed by Libby Clearfield – was your favorite?

Lilly and Sal

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

Any additional comments?

This book was received for free in exchange for a review.

I have not previously read any steampunk so wanted to try one out. I feel this book was written for a 20 year old because of the amount of sex and drug dependence exhibited by Lilly. At times it was more than was truly needed.

The narrator had a wide range of voices and did a good job of differentiating the various characters with appropriate accents. This very characteristic though made it very hard for me to follow the narration until I became used to her voice.

The storyline at first was shallow and bounced around a lot; but by mid book had started to develop cohesion and by the end of the book was actually interesting.
It turned out to be a travel not only all across the Mediterranean in search of a centuries lost statue but a search for an individual's place in the world.

I felt it was one of those books that you might want to put down early but with determination you are glad that you finished.

Chasing Star Garden,bk 1

Any additional comments?

Lily captains an airship in a Steampunk kinda world.On the worst day she's had,she's just lost a big race,a Harlequin shoves a kaleidescope down her trousers then jumps to his death.In a haze of opium,absinth and sex,Lily must figure out how she fits into this mystery.
Libby Clearfield narrates with great effect.

"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com"

Falling to Freedom

Sometimes we have to fall hard on our faces before we are ready to get back up. Lilly Stargazer does just that in this epic steampunk fantasy and notable tale. This novel is not your typical hero must struggle against the evil of the world but undoubtedly will triumph in the end, it's a tale about the broken and unwanted seeking truth and finding it in the most unlikely of places.

Let's be honest, this novel depicts some of the raw, and unseemly parts of life: the protagonist, or rather anti-heroine, is a drug addict and sex is the only way she knows how to express and receive love, but her heart is searching for the right and the truth revealed in her journey is what makes it all with it in the end; isn't that why we share stories? To acknowledge the communal journey we all go through at some point in life, some people's struggle is just harder and Lily's struggle is one worth reading.

The narration by Libby Clearfield was truly enjoyable. The energy and life she brought to each of the characters was exquisite. Her tempo, timing, and numerous dialects was spot on.

I would recommend this novel.

This audiobook was given in exchange for an honest review.

Another great story

When I first started reading this was not sure if I would enjoy it. Then it became a great story about love and transformation!

Love story in a fast pace adventure

What did you love best about Chasing the Star Garden?

I loved the airship adventures. But I also love that the author didn't hold back on the darkness in Lily's life. The story moved at a quick pace with the adventure to keep us interested and going.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lily was my favorite. She's a female that sticks out in a crowd. She does as she wishes and has no problem with language or drugs. She pushes on, and comes to realize things need to change. And she makes that happen.

What does Libby Clearfield bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Libby has intensified the character development through voice. Libby is perfect for the characters and world. Libby is talented in accents. She has a British accent that fits the characters and thickens when need be for other characters. She even does Italian, Irish, French and more accents. The way she speaks for each character is as she is the character. She differentiates many with tone, accent, and feeling in their voices. Outstanding job.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Oh yes. I wanted to know where Lily ended up with Sal and on the chase to find the Aphrodite statue.

Any additional comments?

I love listening to the flight of the airship. Lily and her small crew is talented and the descriptions are of the visuals not the technical of how it's done. But the use of the air and storms is wonderful.

Do be prepared for fowl language, opium dens, and steamy sensual moments with Lily Stargazer. Melanie has taken us into a dark side of the world where drugs numb the senses and where woman are viewed as things. Melanie brings Lily through a dark past to a present that she can live with. But it's a journey that Lily has to make to come to grips with her past and be who she is. She has her friends around her to help. There's her crew for a time but most of all it's Sal, the Italian tinker, that helps her. She also finds a new friend in Celeste who helps guide them to find the statue her family is tied to.

Lily's past comes back, front and center for her. A past that she's long forgotten when she was abandoned at the orphanage. Then, a past that she keeps locked away with opium surfaces and is what draws her to help find the Aphrodite statue that is so treasured by it's strong following.

Yes, Aphrodite. Which also connects Venus and the sensual feeling of the book as a whole. This is an interesting blend of clockworks and steampunk elements with the height of love and steam. This all intersects with Lily and her life.

This story feels like a love story at it's core. A love of ones self and finding that the past does not define who they are now. Then, when they accept themselves they find love with another. Beautiful story and meaning mixed with a surrounding I love, clockworks, airships, adventure and fighting.