Grand Tour: The Brass Queen II

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GRAND TOUR: THE BRASS QUEEN II continues the adventures of blue-blooded Victorian rogue, Miss Constance Haltwhistle and shady US spy, “Liberty” Trusdale.

 

DESCRIPTION: 

In a fantastical steam-powered world, eccentric aristocrat and secret arms dealer, Miss Constance Haltwhistle, has been blackmailed into stealing alien artifacts from the crown heads of Europe. Only the shady but annoyingly handsome US spy, “Liberty” Trusdale, can help her execute her perfect palace heists. As Constance creates chaos and mayhem across the Continent, monstrous creatures are plotting an interdimensional invasion of Earth. Will Constance and Trusdale stop bickering long enough to end the war of the worlds before it starts?

You can buy GRAND TOUR at all good bookstores in Hardcover, Large Print, and Audiobook formats.

Don’t forget to add the novel to your reading list on BookBub or Goodreads.

And finally, you can request all three formats of the novel to be carried at your local library!

 

THE TRADE REVIEWS ARE IN! 

 
Publisher’s Weekly Review: 
 
Chatsworth returns to the bustling Victorian steampunk world of The Brass Queen in this entertaining sequel. After Constance Haltwhistle’s quest to find a husband goes awry and Haltwhistle Hall vanishes into another dimension, the British Museum’s military arm, the Royal Antiquities Tactical Team, demands that Constance return the house and the artifacts within it by week’s end or she and her servants will be killed. To open a portal back to her own dimension, Constance must collect five Enigma Keys scattered across Europe, a quest that sends her and her crew trotting from England to France, Italy, and Switzerland staging logic-defying heists. Chatsworth concocts a delightful blend of magic and science, creating a world filled with parallel dimensions and alien invasions. The whiff of danger is enough to raise the stakes without ever deflating the whimsy. Series fans and new readers alike will tear through this action-packed, twist-filled romp.
 
 
Library Journal Review: 
Constance Haltwhistle may be a blue-blooded rogue, but at least she is one of her own making. Under her moniker “the Brass Queen,” she continues to create and sell arms, but she still hopes to enjoy a bit of a European vacation with her airship crew, including her cousin Welli and U.S. spy Liberty Trusdale. When Constance is blackmailed into stealing alien artifacts from the royal heads in Europe, her chaotic schemes put them on a collision course with old enemies and some new friends, right in the middle of a plan for interdimensional invasion by unworldly creatures. As Constance and Liberty dance around their feelings for each other, both hold secrets that could affect any future relationship. The supporting characters, including Constance’s dog, Boo, all play integral parts throughout the story, and Chatsworth intertwines Victorian history with steam-powered airships and alien dimensions in her incredible world.
 
VERDICT: In the sequel to The Brass Queen, the vivid worldbuilding and delightful characters create an epic setting. Chatsworth pushes the dialogue and banter to extremes, leading to a fast-paced and humorous steampunk tale.
 
Booklist Audiobook Review:
 
In her sequel to The Brass Queen, Elizabeth Chatsworth picks up shortly after the events of her first book. This time, the brilliant and unconventional Miss Constance Haltwhistle must engage in heists of alien artifacts held by royalty in order to save those she cares about most. Once again American spy “Liberty” Trusdale is by her side, but with secret goals of his own. Erin Bennett’s narration delivers on the tonal mashup of the ballrooms of Victorian-era high society and madcap steam-powered, multidimensional adventure with style to spare. She also manages to balance Constance’s logical and practical mind with her clearly unconventional (for her society) tastes and behavior. Although Trusdale is often the straight man in the chaos surrounding his companions, Bennett aptly highlights his conflicting loyalties and emotions. A fun, action-packed second installment that will appeal to fans of Gail Carriger, Marie Brennan, or Patricia C. Wrede.
 

Book Clubs

If your Book Club would like to discuss The Brass Queen series, I’d be happy to meet with your group via Zoom or Google Meet for thirty minutes. Just drop me a line through my website contact form, and please feel free to download these handy book club kits!

BOOK CLUB KIT – Grand Tour

BOOK CLUB KIT – The Brass Queen

1 Review for Grand Tour: The Brass Queen II

  1. 5 out of 5

    Gabi Coatsworth

    I loved book one in this series, where the characters of Constance Haltwhistle and the tall, dark, and almost handsome American spy Truelove first run into each other in an alternate Victorian time and set off, squabbling as they go, to save the world. This book continues their adventures, and although it might be good to read book 1, it’s not essential, since all is explained.
    Suffice it to say that the novel contains some drama, some steampunk, some alternative history, a little science fiction and just the right amount of humor, all tied together with the huge imagination the author showed in Book 1. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that Versailles is floating above the earth in this book, which adds to the difficulties when our heroes are searching for something vital to save the world.
    I’m normally not a reader of science fiction or steampunk novels, but this one won me over completely because of its great visuals, wonderful characters and the way it made me laugh out loud at times. And yes, I agree with the Goodreads reviewer who said it would make a great graphic novel. Movie too!

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