God Save the Queen

The Immortal Empire, Book 1

By: Kate Locke

Narrated by: Courtney Patterson

Length: 11 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

The first in an alternate fantasy series where vampires, werewolves, and goblins rule London.

Queen Victoria rules with an immortal fist. The undead matriarch presides over a Britain where the Aristocracy is made up of werewolves and vampires, where goblins live underground and mothers know better than to let their children out after dark. It's a world where the nobility are infected with the Plague (side-effects include undeath), Hysteria is the popular affliction of the day, and leeches are considered a delicacy. And a world where technology lives side by side with magic.

The year is 2012 and Pax Britannia still reigns.

Xandra Vardan is a member of the elite Royal Guard, and it is her duty to protect the Aristocracy. But when her sister goes missing, Xandra will set out on a path that undermines everything she believed in and uncover a conspiracy that threatens to topple the empire. And she is the key - the prize - in a very dangerous struggle.

The fantastic start to The Immortal Empire series that continues with the spectacular undead books, The Queen is Dead and Long Live the Queen.

©2012 Kate Locke (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

Rapid-paced action and an original interpretation of goblins...add much to differentiate Locke's fantasy from the rest of the pack." (The Library Journal)

"[A] fresh, witty, and darkly beautiful ride...you'll enjoy every minute of adventure and mystery." (Philippa Ballantine author of Geist)

"Locke's writing is smart and fast-paced, full of sharp dialogue and vivid detail. This stylish, original story is perfectly suited to a wonderfully constructed world." (Publishers Weekly on God Save the Queen)

Intriguing characters and colorful world-building

What did you like best about this story?

The primary heroine is both flawed and vulnerable in some ways but also tenacious, strong, and loyal. Supportive characters are also well-drawn, with complex personalities and life histories. I look forward to learning more about each of them!

Hell yeah!

This is exactly the kind of book I've been wanting recently. Cant wait to start the next one!

Fantastic mix of paranormal and steampunk

Where does God Save the Queen rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Lately, pretty high. This book is very original. I had been looking at some steampunk books lately, but was afraid to take a chance on one in case I didn't like it. Then I read the synopsis of this book. This story has a mix of the paranormal (vampires, werewolves and goblins ) but it also contains bits and pieces of Victorian era of London that has been stunted because of a plague epidemic that has caused the aristocracy in the first place.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love the main character. She's sassy and tough. She can take care of herself, but she can also admit she needs someone when the Alpha Wolf comes knocking.

Which scene was your favorite?

No spoilers from me. This book is well written. Solid character development and good pacing.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

That's a hard one. But this would make a great movie trilogy.

Any additional comments?

If your on the fence about a steampunk book but you like paranormal, give this a shot. You won't be disappointed. Also, if you like steampunk already but don't mind paranormal, this book is probably a good fit for you too.

Pretty Good - I'd say 3-1/2

For a detailed critique - especially of how this does or doesn't fit in various genres - read CasyK's review. I'm not so picky about a lot of that stuff, just looking for entertainment. This has some fresh ideas, good humor and minimal gore. I liked it enough that will probably try the second book at some point.

We Were Amused

Interesting new series which is probably more Urban Fantasy meets Historical Romance than Steampunk. I would also put this as a crossover from Young adult to adult. Small amount of sex, a lot of English swearing and violence.

I could not help but find similarities to Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate but it is not any where near as amusing and is far more gritty and most of the humour comes from anachronistic paraphernalia and altered history lines. There were no World Wars, Hitler was a failed artist, tampons, rotaries, bloomers and corsets are every day regalia and Sid Vicious and Queen Victoria Co-exist. The humour is more wry. Queen Victoria, a Vampire is not deceased and still rules with a Fang of Iron. This is a new world that we have not been privy too before.

The author is Canadian from the East Coast and is a big anglophile. Although a lot of the terms and speech in the book is truly English you can tell in places it has been adopted for the NA market, this does not detract from the mainly authentic feeling of a modern day Victorian London. The narrator does a good job. She keeps the story moving at the fast pace it deserves and gives Xandra a feisty edge that makes her believable and eminently likable even though she is a little unhinged at times. She is rather spoiled and tunnel visioned believeing all she is told but is staunchly loyal and protective For the UK listeners: I did find the narrator's accent a little odd as most times she spoke with a middle to upper class accent but on occasion used the harder As used in the Northern part of the country.

The reason I do not find this novel to be truly Steampunk is that there are not inventions before their time and very little science jargon and the usual suspects of Steampunk and not a single derigible in sight. The science seems to be more genetic and torture related being of a most disturbing nature. Again like the Parasol Protectorate there is a lot of dialogue about the types of food consumed, relationships with family and work and the outcast protagonist having an alpha boyfriend. Although women seem to not be under the Rule Of Thumb and have a say.

After the Plague during Victoria's reign the virus slowly turned the aristocrats into vampires and some of them (especially the Scottish contingent) into werewolves. Humans still existed and another breed emerged, a cross of the strongest humans with the Aristos has produced another group called Halvies who are used to protect the Aristos. Our protagonist is one of these and they are distinguishable mainly by their unnaturally coloured hair, speed adn strength.. Last and not least there are the Goblins living under the City.... There is a vague harry Potter feel at times but there is no magic. It is all genetic.

In the present time, London operates as usual, only the aristocrats and Queen Victoria are still ruling. The vampires have some sort of celebrity status, while normal people live no different apart from donating a pint of their blood occasionally and keeping a record of their DNA with state's hospitals so they can be monitored for the virus development. Also they always keep their children in after dark knowing a seedy adn brutal underworld exists adn they are not safe..

There is much unrest and attempts of revolution which will give people more rights and diminish the rule of aristocracy. Bedlam, the infamous mental institution still exists and many Halvies end up behind it's formidable walls. There is also a strange destructive drug that allows people to borrow the supernatural strength of those affected by The Plague however. humans will not last long on this.

Xandra Vardan is quite content with her life as a special guard, living with her half sister and brother, until her younger sister, Dee Dee, goes missing and a body burned beyond recognition is identified as Dee Dee. Then the plot takes off and were are lead into the underworld and lots of truths are revealed and twists and turns occur that shake the foundations of Xandra's belief system. Forcing her to see the truth of those around her and herself. As everything falls away she does not know who to trust.

One of the things I was not so keen on was that there waas an invented words for this verse, a bit like in A Clockwork Orange, that got very overused which again made me feel it was aimed at a younger audience.

I loved Kate Locke's non nonsense style with likable characters, action and a good deal of punching, Xandra is straightforward and likable and I think there will be great times ahead in the rest of the series.

Interesting!

For some reason, its rare to find the combintion of paranormal and historical romance. The once out there are mostly not very well done. That is what makes this a rare treasure.
It is really well written, with a perfect balance between the lore and the romance.
Good Job!

Glad I picked it up!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, it starts out boorish and a bit slow but picks up soon. The story was good. The description of the world is done in a way that you slowly get involved in what is happening.
And it's nice to see a devoted man in a heroine's life who doesn't spend any time doubting her nor she him.

What was one of the most memorable moments of God Save the Queen?

I don't want to give anything away.

What about Courtney Patterson’s performance did you like?

Yes but in book 2 it is a different narrator, I wonder how that will be as I am listening to them all back to back.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

idk

A Very Interesting Audiobook

A very interesting audiobook and completely unique take on the vampire, werewolf, and goblin myths. The narrator does an amazing job of bringing this book to life. I'm immensely impressed with the entire tale and can not wait to start the next audiobook.

Not perfect but the world has potential

I quite like the narrator though there were some parts of the story that I found a little hard to swallow and some things that weren't different enough from reality based on the changes the story . That it's one of the problems I have with some alternate reality works of fiction.

A Great New (for me) Series

I love the mixture of the supernatural and mythical world, we are dealing with Vampires, Werewolves, Goblins, and humans that can be half breeds too. It is a society where being effect by The Plague makes you nobility and un-dead. It is a rapid-paced action with characters driven by family loyalty and duty.
This is classified as a steam punk. There is no technology, but there is a unique social hierarchy between the species.
Xandra, the protagonist, is a halvie, a half-vampire with noble blood on her paternal side. She lives in a world where Queen Victoria of England still lives and prospers as a vamp; where the date is 2012 yet the cars and dress are still old fashioned; where werewolves and vampires make up the aristocracy, plagued with mutated blood thanks to the Black Death; where goblins creep through the sewers of London, snatching children and dragging them back into the dark depths.
This is a must read for those who enjoy supernatural