The author delivers a tale that has almost everything in it - a romantic second chance, homicidal would-be lovers, graveyard shenanigans, blood-thumping chases and thrilling international espionage. I found this riveting because I was afraid of missing something if I stopped reading. It is almost Eve Dallas as a scholar living in a steampunk world, but Rourke would never be so self-effacing as to leave her, no matter how messy the circumstances. Still this feels much one of Eve and Rourke's mystery adventures, so I think JD Robb fans might find this a fun change of pace.

I received an ARC from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.2 s3 comments Tina Miles390 6

Who would’ve thought that mushrooms, Egyptian antiquities and steampunk would come together into a fast-paced mystery with a side of romance? All this and more in Anne Renwick’s latest book, Flight of the Scarab and I enjoyed every single page of it.

I admit to being a big fan of Egyptian mysteries (Elizabeth Peters anyone?) so when I saw Renwick’s latest book would have an Egyptian theme along with mushrooms (what?!), steampunk and a love triangle, I couldn’t wait to read it.

This is another instalment in the Elemental Steampunk Tales series and frankly I think it’s the best one so far. This book starts off strong and moves quickly from a forced marriage and denied love to passionate encounters. There is the unfolding of a strange mystery that affects the Empire. The story moves from our heroine studying yeast, brewing beer and baking bread in her pub to clockwork scarabs with a deadly kiss to aristocrats dying in the tombs in Highgate Cemetery to mummies and Latvian goddesses with a magical touch. It sounds crazy but Renwick weaves it all together into a seamless tale of love, lust and greed.

Renwick shows off her skill at descriptive writing. Consider ‘Questions that weighed on her chest at night the lid of a stone sarcophagus.’ or my favourite phrase ‘champignon beetle’. There are too many to quote here. Her descriptions allow the reader to step right inside the story so we are right there in that time and place with the characters, watching the action with bated breath. I would point you to the *ahem* carriage ride in Chapter 9 that Graham and Julia take together. If that scene doesn’t make you fan yourself vigorously, well then, nothing will! I did very much enjoy the interactions between Julia and Graham. In Chapter 12, Julia declares ‘You, sir, are a decided distraction’ and believe me, you won’t regard your kitchen table the same after this scene. Renwick does an excellent job of building the romantic tension throughout the book but she does an equally fine job of keeping us enthralled with the different clues she places before us. Just when you think it’s over, another twist pops up. Splendid!

It seemed appropriate to me to be reading this book on International Women’s Day because the theme of Julia’s independence was front and centre. Not overwhelmingly so but there is a definite plot thread of Julia being restricted by men’s rules and demands, in spite of being equally smart and extremely competent. I do love that Renwick’s heroines are super clever, feisty and courageous.

Renwick’s signature focus on science is deftly intertwined with the other story elements. I enjoyed reading about the XRF Analyser and the ‘syntholink and its paired tethersync inquisitor’ but also about the tiny golden glowing mushrooms growing on a scarab’s carapace. I felt the science was not only skillfully embedded as part of the story but it added to my enjoyment of the tale.

I received an ARC from the author and my views are offered voluntarily.
1 Penelope1,139 7

MY RATING GUIDE: 5 Stars. I love Renwick’s imagination! She deftly weaves adventure, science and romance into a wonderful tale. This was great fun!

1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= This was okay/cute; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= I d it a lot; 5=I LOVED IT, THIS WAS GREAT! (I seldom give 5 Stars).

June 1885 ~
Julia marries to keep her family from the poorhouse but even as she says her vows, she regrets her choice. She has chosen an older man of means rather than the man her heart desires.
Nearly one year later, Julia contemplates how her life could possibly have gone so wrong. Her marriage is a disaster, the family pub she worked so hard to keep has lost its customers, money is scarce, she suspects her husband has become involved in illegal activities, and a government agent has approached her to turn her husband in to the authorities for questioning! And then where would she be?

Quotes ~
“Insects and fungi and bodies and death, a common enough quartet.” Julia

s ~
1) THE FLIGHT OF THE SCARAB is a book 7 in Renwick’s Elemental Steampunk Web Tales series. (Renwick also has a fun 4 bk Chronicle series and a 3bk novella series). THE FLIGHT OF THE SCARAB can easily be read as a standalone book as only one (secondary) character carries over from the earlier books. These stories are fast moving and fun! I highly recommend Renwick’s books. Her combination of science, adventure, the Steampunk world and romance is phenomenal.
2) I adore Renwick’s book cover art. The detail, colors and composition are what drew me to her books in the very beginning. Her writing keeps me clicking & reading. ;)

READER CAUTIONS ~
PROFANITY - Yes. Strong language is used on occasion.
VIOLENCE - Not particularly dark nor graphic.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. Open-door flirtation and intimacy occurs.escape-reality favorites seasoned-character ...more Karissa4,084 206

Series Info/Source: This is the 7th book in the Elemental Web Tales. I bought a copy of this book on ebook.

Thoughts: Strangely I read this right after reading Kelley Armstrong's "Disturbing the Dead" which also deals with Egyptian mummies and mythology and is set in a Victorian- period. Anyway, I enjoyed this book in the Elemental Web Tales. I always love the detailed dive into medical and technical aspects that Renwick includes in her stories.

This story alternates POV between Julia and Graham. The two have previously had a brief romantic history together, but Julia opted to marry an older man for the money to save her family from ruin. Julie studies mycology (study of mushrooms, fungus and yeast) and is trying to run her family's pub, while also studying at University in an effort to develop new yeasts for her unique alcohol brews. Graham has been in Egypt studying archaeological sites but is secretly also working for the King as a spy. They get sucked together to work on a mystery when Julia's husband turns up dead under mysterious circumstances and a clockwork creature is on the loose murdering people.

I enjoyed this book. It deals with some Egyptian mythology as well as having steampunk/clockwork elements. I d learning about mycology and enjoyed the mystery here. I also enjoyed that Julia and Graham already have history together, which makes their romance more believable.

This was an entertaining read that I enjoyed. I struggle a bit to remember how this ties in to previous books. I know Graham's superior, Black, has been in previous books but I can't quite remember his story.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed this and would recommend if you enjoy steampunk reads with a technical aspect, some romance, and a good mystery. I look forward to Renwick's future books in this series and always enjoy them. Kristen Lewendon7,787 49

This author has the uncanny ability to take subjects that should make no logical sense together; such as mushrooms, mechanisms, and ancient Egyptian artifacts, to build a story around. Then she stirs them up in the melting pot of her world, and produces an incredible adventure that makes every conspiracy theory I’ve ever heard sound all too plausible after the impossible things her characters have just faced. Now, I’m a sucker for a second chance, and when there’s one of those at the heart of any book, I’m guaranteed to be intrigued. I loved seeing Julia and Graham get the opportunity to work through the things that drove them apart in the first place. And the obstacles they had to overcome, and the hoops they were required to jump through, kept me glued to the page. I won’t even begin to guess what unly improbability the author has planned for us next, I only know that I already can’t wait to get my hands on it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Heather25 1 follower

Fast-paced, smart fun

As with all Renwick's books, I love this story. If you are reading this series for the first time, you can easily jump in here. While I certainly recommend reading the other books because they are great, you do not have to read the others to enjoy this one.

Graham and Julia are reuniting former lovers, kept apart by circumstances that left sadness and regret, but not recriminations. When they are reunited, they have a solid love story already in place. That leaves room for fast-paced action, clever deductions, and fantastical (but plausible enough for fiction) science and technology. The story never lags, both main characters are able, and mushroom facts abound. What more could you want in a story? Sahar Husseini390 8

Steampunk, Murder, and Second Chances

Julia’s husband is dead, but his slaying is not your run-of-the-mill murder. There is a deadly scarab somewhere in the neighborhood, and it isn’t your typical scarab. It’s a deadly, mechanical beast. It is a clockwork scarab. Graham found Julia right after she found her dead husband. They were lovers once, and he wanted another chance. Would he get that second chance? There was a murderer around, and the evil he concocted was not finished. Would Julia and Graham survive the flight of the deadly scarab? If you steampunk, murder mysteries, and second chance romance, you might enjoy this twisted tale. Donna1,252 12

Loved it!

I loved this latest book in the Elemental Web Tales series. With its Egyptian theme it appealed to my Classics love, as well as my Steampunk love. And the relationships between the people in the book really bring it to life. I also loved the appearance of the mythical goddesses, a nice touch. A great read which I highly recommend, and I can’t wait to see what Anne comes up with next! Rhonda Jones2,682 13

Good Storyline

I loved the plot. And I loved the heroine. What I did not care for was all the backstory that was told instead of experienced directly by the characters. When it is experienced with dialogue I can picture it in my head. When it is just told as something that happened in the past, it is reading a history book, there is no movie running in my mind. I understand that there was a lot of backstory and background that needed to be told and just telling it could be done faster this way. But it did take some of the enjoyment out of the book for me. Christina Heck2

Anne never ceases to amaze me with the research into technology and vivid landscapes! Who can resist clockwork mechanisms and mushroom hunting! Always an intelligent romance. A promise of something old rekindling and reawakening a long lost yeast. Jen (That's What I'm Talking About)1,564 303

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