Ice and Embers: Steampunk Snow Queen

Steampunk Fairy Tales

By: Melanie Karsak

Narrated by: Lesley Parkin

Length: 7 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Ice and Embers is a retelling of the classic Snow Queen fairy tale set in Regency London.

When actress Elyse McKenna fell in love with Lord John Waldegrave, she was prepared to keep their liaison secret. What she wasn't ready for was how her newfound love would rock her relationship with her dearest friend, Doctor Kai Murray.

With the 1814 London Frost Fair in full swing, Elyse and her troupe at the Ice House Theatre find themselves at the heart of the excitement on the frozen Thames. But when an exotic ship captain, whose vessel is trapped in the ice, turns her attention to Kai, everything Elyse thought she knew about her feelings for her old friend gets flipped upside down.

While the Ice House Theatre's production of A Midwinter Night's Dream thrills the London crowd, Elyse's life begins to take on a distinctly Shakespearean turn.

Elyse must find a way to discover the truth about the captain, Kai, John, and her own feelings if she hopes to escape the Thames with her heart intact.

©2017 Clockpunk Press (P)2018 Clockpunk Press

Elements of Shakespeare and Steampunk

This is a retelling of the Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson. In London, there are two upstairs apartments that share a flower box. One apartment was where Kai Murray lived with his grandmother and the other is where Elyse McKenna lived with her grandmother. The two children grow up this way and become close friends. Kai becomes a doctor and Elyse, an actress. As they still live in the same apartments, their friendship has become even stronger.

I didn’t see a lot of steampunk elements in Ice and Embers. Yes, it was set in 1814 London, however, the tinkers, Mr. Hawking and his daughter Isabelle, who have their own fairytale Beauty and the Beastly, were the only characters that seem to fall into the steampunk category. Now the story definitely has an enjoyable Midsummer Night’s Dream vibe to it which happens to be one of the plays Elyse is performing with her troupe during the Frost Fair (I love the title change her troupe gives it). I also like that Karsak told the Cinder Girl story as it was originally written and not the sweet Disney version. The frozen ships stuck in the iced-over Thames was a beautiful setting for the audiobook. The novelty of a Frost Fair and theatre being directly on that ice makes for the perfect backdrop symbolizing the fragility and magic of falling in love.

I had a difficult time sympathizing with Elyse but that could be because the Midsummer Night Dream romance plot was being mirrored in her heart and life, poor thing. Dr. Kai’s life was also turned upside down much like his character in Hans Christian Anderson’s Snow Queen. I didn’t dislike the audiobook, but I think I was expecting more steampunk devices. I must say I enjoyed seeing how Midsummer Night Dream and Snow Queen overlapped. Just looking for those moments, kept my mind engaged and interested. I ended up listening to the entire audiobook in one sitting.

The narration by Lesley Parkin is spot on. She brought so many characters to life with her ample range of dialects. Her male voices take some getting used to. I found them more distinct when she used regional and social dialects rather than just deepening her voice. She and Karsak are such a wonderful combination. I hope Parkin narrates Karsak’s upcoming Steampunk Rapunzel.

There is some description of nudity and scenes that imply sex took place so I wouldn’t say this is for children. In truth, many fairytales aren’t rated G. The real Cinderella story is pretty gory in parts.

This is a beautifully written story with an HPE.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author/narrator/publisher.
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More Shakespeare than Anderson

Ice and Embers by Melanie Karsak is advertised as a steampunk Snow Queen Retelling. But the only thing it has in Common with The Snow Queen is that it has a character named Kai.

Instead this novel works much better as a retelling of Shakespeare's Mid Summer Night's Dream. specifically the Oberon and Titania storyline from that play.

I really loved the Victorian setting. The story is set during the legendary Frost Fair on the frozen Thames. There isn't much steampunk about it save for a single character who likes to tinker, but this story is just as suited to a straight historical setting anyway.

I loved the main character Elise who acts in a troop of players, she is both a strong woman while still remaining a product of her time. I also loved the look behind the curtain at the workings of the theater.

The Narrator was fantastic. She did different voices and read dynamically with a great sense of timing.

Elyse and Kai

I love a good retelling of a beloved fairy tale. Elyse and Kai have grown up together, and although everyone else can tell they are in love she doesn't realize it. Set in the 1800s in London the Thames has frozen and the frost fair is in full swing. Some special captains have boats stuck in the ice and shenanigans start. I enjoyed the audio and think the narrator brought the story to life vividly.

reading this book was my pleasure

My first read from author Melanie Karsak, although I own several of her books I’d yet to read one and I have to say reading this book was my pleasure. Exquisite detail, well developed characters and setting. Although not particularly long the story & the book reads longer as it’s so well written. I love the mixture of steam punk and 1814 Regency London and the author makes the two mesh together seamlessly and create a story that you will not want to put down. I’ll be reading more from this author.

the snow queen

Elyse is not your average fairytale princess. No. she's actually your everyday actress trying to make a living at the frost fair and hopefully win over her mister right, or at least she thought he was mister right. when swashbuckling pirate and barons seem to throw a monkey wrench in her future she realizes she has mister right all along.

Fairy Tales and Shakespeare!

Who knew that the River Thames actually did freeze over! What a great concept for a story! I thoroughly enjoyed this tale which wove a version of Snow Queen with Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream...in this case Midwinter Night's Dream! Oh and did I mention romance? I love this new series written by Melanie Karsak. The Steampunk Fairy Tale series uses a fun twist on old stories. Lesley Parkin did an outstanding job with the narration. She is easy to listen to with a great voice and a range of character voices which are easy to discern.

Love these Fairy Tales

I love all of Melanie Karsak’s books but especially the fairy tales. And it is fun to see how each story builds on the previous… leaves me feeling like I know a whole village of characters.