by Shea Megale
This is the story of a bunch of Englishmen with rifles.
Really, how can you go wrong?
You can't. Especially not if you imagine the British accents the whole time. Which I highly recommend.
Anyway, our story begins with a fancy black-tie affair, a grumpy dad and a lovesick half-sister, some raspberry sauce, and a possibly nonexistent---nooo, that would be giving too much away.
And, of course, the Emporium. The world's last remaining zoo, created after world war was barely staved off by the release of a dreadful poison that nearly destroyed the natural world. The toxin leeched into the world's ecosystems and destroyed nearly all animal life. Youths from all over the world flock to the Emporium to become Hunters, brave and reckless souls who venture into the wild to win fame and fortune by bringing back the world's last animals. And who, often, don't come back.
Tyber has the bad luck of being the son of two of the most famous Hunters of all, the captors of the polar bear. As such, his father expects a good deal more of him than photography, mastery of sign language, and bearing the daily shame of his illegitimate birth.
90 years after the near-annihilation of the natural world, the glory of the Emporium and the Victorian era has all but ground to a halt. But one evening, a deadly new Hunt is announced. And Tyber, as caged as his father's polar bear and burning with resentment, takes destiny into his own hands.
I had the great pleasure and privilege of reading this book, written by my authorly friend Shea Megale, before almost anyone else, as it is not yet published. That's right, you have to wait. I wrote a CLIFFHANGER book review, for which I must beg your pardon, while giggling evilly inside. Bwa-ha-ha. Anyway. When Emporium comes out, I highly recommend you read it! Well and sensitively written, with an original Victorian-Steampunk-safari (betcha never heard that phrase before) setting and storyline, and a new twist on issues as old as humanity itself. Love the characters, especially Sandy...well, you'll find out. And per Shea's insistence, I must add, Xander is hot.
for: teens and adults
Content rating: I'm gonna say 3/5. This one is tricky, since one of the book's themes is homosexuality, which many including myself consider erroneous for moral reasons. If you find homosexuality offensive or immoral, this book may not be for you. However, nothing at all of an explicit nature occurs. Aside from that, there are a few swear words and mention of cheating/an affair.
My enjoyment: 4/5 Loved Emporium, but my heart really belongs to Shea's next book series Starborn. Look for the review!
This is the story of a bunch of Englishmen with rifles.
Really, how can you go wrong?
You can't. Especially not if you imagine the British accents the whole time. Which I highly recommend.
Anyway, our story begins with a fancy black-tie affair, a grumpy dad and a lovesick half-sister, some raspberry sauce, and a possibly nonexistent---nooo, that would be giving too much away.
And, of course, the Emporium. The world's last remaining zoo, created after world war was barely staved off by the release of a dreadful poison that nearly destroyed the natural world. The toxin leeched into the world's ecosystems and destroyed nearly all animal life. Youths from all over the world flock to the Emporium to become Hunters, brave and reckless souls who venture into the wild to win fame and fortune by bringing back the world's last animals. And who, often, don't come back.
Tyber has the bad luck of being the son of two of the most famous Hunters of all, the captors of the polar bear. As such, his father expects a good deal more of him than photography, mastery of sign language, and bearing the daily shame of his illegitimate birth.
90 years after the near-annihilation of the natural world, the glory of the Emporium and the Victorian era has all but ground to a halt. But one evening, a deadly new Hunt is announced. And Tyber, as caged as his father's polar bear and burning with resentment, takes destiny into his own hands.
I had the great pleasure and privilege of reading this book, written by my authorly friend Shea Megale, before almost anyone else, as it is not yet published. That's right, you have to wait. I wrote a CLIFFHANGER book review, for which I must beg your pardon, while giggling evilly inside. Bwa-ha-ha. Anyway. When Emporium comes out, I highly recommend you read it! Well and sensitively written, with an original Victorian-Steampunk-safari (betcha never heard that phrase before) setting and storyline, and a new twist on issues as old as humanity itself. Love the characters, especially Sandy...well, you'll find out. And per Shea's insistence, I must add, Xander is hot.
for: teens and adults
Content rating: I'm gonna say 3/5. This one is tricky, since one of the book's themes is homosexuality, which many including myself consider erroneous for moral reasons. If you find homosexuality offensive or immoral, this book may not be for you. However, nothing at all of an explicit nature occurs. Aside from that, there are a few swear words and mention of cheating/an affair.
My enjoyment: 4/5 Loved Emporium, but my heart really belongs to Shea's next book series Starborn. Look for the review!
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