Phoenix Rising

A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Novel

By: Pip Ballantine, Tee Morris

Narrated by: James Langton

Length: 13 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Evil is most assuredly afoot - and Britain’s fate rests in the hands of an alluring renegade... and a librarian.

These are dark days indeed in Victoria’s England. Londoners are vanishing, then reappearing, washing up as corpses on the banks of the Thames, drained of blood and bone. Yet the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences - the Crown’s clandestine organization whose bailiwick is the strange and unsettling - will not allow its agents to investigate. Fearless and exceedingly lovely Eliza D. Braun, however, with her bulletproof corset and a disturbing fondness for dynamite, refuses to let the matter rest... and she’s prepared to drag her timorous new partner, Wellington Books, along with her into the perilous fray.

For a malevolent brotherhood is operating in the deepening London shadows, intent upon the enslavement of all Britons. And Books and Braun - he with his encyclopedic brain and she with her remarkable devices - must get to the twisted roots of a most nefarious plot... or see England fall to the Phoenix!

©2011 Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris (P)2011 HarperCollins Publishers

Great steampunk story!

I enjoyed the strong mysterious female character. I am looking forward to the back stories being filled out more in the book.

I am anxious to read the rest of the series!

Starts well ends poorly

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The ending wasn't very exciting

Would you be willing to try another book from Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris ? Why or why not?

Probably not.

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

The reader was very good.

Do you think Phoenix Rising needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

It definitely feels like a series, and for those who like it, I'm sure follow-ups would be welcome.

Enter the ministry.

What a great book! Eliza D. Braun and her partner Wellington Books are fun to listen to and entertaining to follow, you never know what’s next. The mix of mayhem and comedy make this audio book hard to turn off, so make sure you are ready to get angry at anyone who tries to disrupt you. If you've never listened to a steam punk novel I suggest that you make this one your first. I really hope that Tee Morris and Pip Ballantine will continue to write more about these two.

Fun in spots, but pretty pulpy ... SteamPulp?

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

It could have been better spent. The book occasionally felt on the edge of being engaging only to fall victim to predictable plot contrivances and Steampunk cliches.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Occasional successful invocation of a Victorian mood was most interesting -- inability to make the Steampunk affectations seem natural, constant Deus Ex Machina devices introducing both implements of salvation and destruction were among the least interesting things.

Could you see Phoenix Rising being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

It already is, it is called "Sanctuary"

Any additional comments?

The narration was fairly pleasant but australian accents were rather odd...or perhaps it was the dialog that made them seem so stilted.Dreadfully obvious setup of a sequel that almost seemed tacked on. Side plot with Australian "mole" character, or secret chamber never developed very well or, at least, never well enough to invoke interest.

Good fun steampunk

Where does Phoenix Rising rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Definately rate this as above average among the audiobooks I've listened to.

What did you like best about this story?

Likeable characters, good story - fun stuff

Which character – as performed by James Langton – was your favorite?

Ministry seven

Any additional comments?

very enjoyable - buoght the next set

Fantastic story.

This was a brilliant book with the perfect amount of detective work and steampunk. I can't wait to continue with the rest of the story!

What a terrific intro to steampunk this was for me

For some time now, I've been hesitant about trying "steampunk" literature, even though I like steampunk costumes, and as for literature I'm big on science-fiction, and fantasy.

Wow! Am I ever glad I bought this!

I found the story was essentially riveting from the beginning, and then all the way through to the end. I do a lot of driving because of my work, but even with all the driving time, I found myself wanting to sit in the driveway and listen when I got home. I couldn't really wait until the next time I got in the car.

And, by the way, I hate all the driving I have to do. Or may now I should say, I "hated" all the driving. Now I look forward to it. I've already purchased book two in this series, and can't wait to have to get back in the car later today.

As for story details, I'm not giving any of it away. Suffice it to say that I found the appropriate amount of exposition, dialogue, and action. Unsurprisingly to me (and it was the thing that had made me hesitant about steampunk in the first place), there does not seem to be much in the way of explanation of any of the "science" behind the gadgets. In that sense – and, again, I expected this – it simply reminded me of a less sophisticated "Go-Go Gadget" show. But as it turned out, the gadgets aren't much of a distraction; or the story was good enough that I didn't think about the gadgets much.

I enjoyed that the writing took into account not just things like the visuals, but also included even references to smells, the feel of heat, and other sensations. It definitely is some good and thoughtful writing.

Okay. That's it for now. I need to find an excuse to go for a drive.

Great Adventurous Story

I loved this story and I immediately purchased the 2nd book after finishing this one. The story was a lot of fun. I did have some misgivings with the narrator at first, but I quickly became accustomed to him and then really enjoyed him. Give this story a try. I am sure you won't be disappointed.

FANTASY . . . please don't forget that is so

At first the narrator & narration rubbed me the wrong way. But if you stick with it you will find that this is worth the effort . . .

The story is a steam punk, sort of Victorian era tale that confuses true history with fact which at times confuses and irks. But if you get past this it's not a bad tale if taken very much tongue in cheek . . .

If you like this you will probably like the Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger

NUFF SAID

Victorian, Steampunky greatness!!!

Thoroughly enjoyable listen! I couldn't turn it off.

A Victorian James Bond/Lara Croft type duo with character development that's just plain fun.

The story is great with enough detail to get the atmosphere of the period without dragging.

Possibly the best narration I've heard to date.