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The Brass Queen

By: Elizabeth Chatsworth
Narrated by: Michelle Babb
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Summary

She knows a liar when she sees one. He knows a fraud when he meets one. In a steam-powered world, Miss Constance Haltwhistle is the last in a line of blue-blooded rogues. Selling firearms under her alias, the “Brass Queen”, she has kept her baronial estate’s coffers full. But when US spy J.F. Trusdale saves her from assassins, she’s pulled into a search for a scientist with an invisibility serum. As royal foes create an invisible army to start a global war, Constance and Trusdale must learn to trust each other. If they don’t, the world as they know it will disappear before their eyes.

If you like the Parasol Protectorate or Invisible Library series, you’ll love this gaslamp fantasy - a rambunctious romantic romp that will have you both laughing out loud and wishing you owned all of Miss Haltwhistle's armaments.

©2021 Elizabeth Chatsworth (P)2021 CamCat Publishing
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Critic reviews

“A fun, frothy blend of fantasy and romance ... Fans of humorous fantasy and headstrong heroines will be delighted.” (Publishers Weekly)

“With a satisfying bite, this steampunk venture includes an insightful twist on the British Empire ... Best of all, Constance stays center stage: a feisty, lovable heroine who is capable of rescuing herself, thank you very much.” (Foreword Reviews)

“An intriguing alternate world, filled with sharply amusing dialog and lively characters. VERDICT: A delightful gaslamp fantasy that will please readers of Gail Carriger and Kate Locke.” (Library Journal)

What listeners say about The Brass Queen

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Entertaining compelling mystic adventure

Really enjoyed this book a new author, it is a mix of adventure, mystery, magical futuristic storyline, narration is brilliant by Michelle

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outstanding steampunk fun

After working my way through a few heavy duty books, this is exactly what I needed.
The Brass Queen is a light-hearted vivid tale of a young lady inventor struggling to balance a weapons company, an investigation into invisible people, and the rush to marry before she loses her family estate. Set in Sheffield at the height of the industrial revolution and colonial era, with a whimsical steampunk twist.
The supporting cast is also outstanding, from a dandy cousin, to perverted print master every character is fleshed out, and given a distinct personality.

Looking forward to the sequel!

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good

Michelle Babb narration is spot on

We have great characters, there's plenty of action. I found myself laughing with the dialog between the characters. The humorous commentary between our English lady Constance and our rascal American was so entertaining
A fun fantasy.

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Steampunk

I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy tale, with all its plots, twists and turns. A new genre for me
Beautifully narrated by Michelle Babb

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Enjoyable Steampunk adventure

The Brass Queen is my first steampunk novel and enjoyed it quite a lot. There was a lot of imagination in the world that had been created and the characters were quite engaging. I especially enjoyed the servants and the cousin. I like that Miss Constance is not quite as competent as she thinks she is and hasn’t got her life quite as figured out as she thought she did. The mystery was engaging and kept me listening and felt the story resolved quite well while opening up the world to more stories to tell. The worlds tech and how it is used also held my interest. I found the narration did take some getting used to at first but I soon settled into it.

I was given a free copy at my request and have voluntarily left this review which has not been influenced by the party that provided it.

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A glorious romp

I Loved this book. It is full of wonderful invention, witty dialogue, great characters and A fabulous story. The brass queen arms dealer and debutante is in trouble. Her uncle wants her estate, the King of Sweden wants her dead over a misdirected arms shipment and now she has to deal with an American. This story grabbed me from the first page and kept me listening. Kidnappings, royal intrigue, invisible assassins, mechanical beast galore, it is simply a joy. Elizabeth Chadwick has created a real winner. Lots of wonderful touches and images there is so much to enjoy. I loved the occasional pulp references she throws into the mix. Michelle Babb gives a flawless performance giving the story the joy it deserves. I cannot recommend this Audio book enough.

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Fun Gaslamp Fantasy

The Brass Queen is a steampunk science fiction that definitely incorporates some retro-futuristic technology. Elizabeth Chatsworth has given readers a delightful book with interesting characters that get into some rather mad-cap situations. There is a lot of humor, almost hilarious sometimes, adventure, and a bit of romance. Lady Constance is looking for a husband, her father is missing, and her estate is about to be pulled out from under her. Will she be able to pull it all together in time? And what about this spy from America? I enjoyed listening to a complimentary copy of the audiobook and look forward to reading more of Lady Constance if there were to be another book about her. Michelle Babb does a great job narrating the story which makes for an enjoyable listening experience. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions are my own.

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This was brilliant - both story and narration

This was fantastic - the narration really suited it you could tell that both the author and narrator had fun. I am slowly getting into steampunk and this was a great addition to my stable of audio books that I will relisten to- could not have been better. It also would make a great entrance for steam punk novices.

I loved watching my daughter's face when she listened to extracts from this book.

I was given a free copy by the narrator but this in no way influenced my review and enjoyment of the book. It is her best narration yet.

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Enjoyed listening

I always adore listening to this narrator as Michelle Babb must be counted amongst the best of them.
It took my brain a little time to adjust to the world that Elizabeth Chatsworth created for her story and once I'd settled in I enjoyed it.

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"An accident waiting to happen."

Set in an alternative reality, in Sheffield, England, under Queen Victoria, in the final years of the nineteenth century, Miss Constance Haltwhistle is in need of a husband. She had efficiently run the Baronial estate without one for the several years following her mad explorer and scientist father departed to live in a different dimension with her mother, dead in Constance's reality but not in the alternative. But his absence had now been noted and, with a presumption of his death, inheritance laws demand that his estate be passed to a male successor, hence the need for a husband, fast. But she was unlikely dutiful wife material: with wild red hair, mad schemes, a propensity to wear chain mail undergarments and a liking for pigs, she was also, under the pseudonym of the Brass Queen, an innovative and exotic arms dea!er. And her attempts to save her estate by securing an eligible male were fraught with danger. Only the arrival of a decidedly unsuitable, non aristocratic, American-from-Kansas spy, 'tall, dark and almost handsome' might just save the day - and Constance.

The Brass Queen is a funny, well written, ridiculous ride of a book, with steampunk inventions, fast held rituals, murderous elites, drink empowered scientists, secret passages and an invisibility serum. All rollicking good fun. But at thirteen and a ha!f hours just several hours too long for this romance and fantasy adverse reader: despite the day by smiles and enjoyment of the ridiculous, my interest was mostly held by Michelle Babb's narration which conferred substance upon the outrageous characters, and whose cut glass English accent for Constance herself was spot on. An excellent performance bringing everything to life with warmth and a sense of enjoyment.

My thanks to the rights holder of The Brass Queen, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. It was a surprise, not really what I'd expected and not at all a genre I would normally read. But I must admit, it was fun, and funny, just overlong, more two books than one. Would I read another, should there be a follow on volume? No, I don't think so. Would I recommend it? Most definitely, to all who enjoy quirky locations, bonkers characters and thwarted, crazy but predictable, romances - and laughing at some staid English institutions.

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