What is your opinion?
Full Steam Ahead!
"My first impression with this book is that the author did a fantastic job of describing the visceral, dog eat dog world in which the story is set. Life is cheap, and if you are not born into a specific class of people, then your life essentially has little or no worth. That was blatantly obvious with the murder of the beggar near the train tracks in the opening chapter, and essentially the drama and suspense never let up from that point. The world that the author has created has a dash of post-Apocalyptic Steampunk-esque vibe to it, and the characters of Amelia, Desmond, Gabriel, and of course, Cornelius the King of Thieves are refreshing, unique, and vivid. I was reminded of certain aspects of "Ghost in the Shell" when it came to how the Bonecutters swap human parts for better, more desirable machine parts, and it essentially underscores one of the central themes of the story: you never really own anything in this world--not even your life or identity--and in order to get ahead/survive, you must lie, cheat and steal."
A visually rich exploration of a Steampunk world of magic, thievery and treachery
"'To The Western Gate' is a very intriguing story full of rich descriptions that paint a thoughtfully crafted, bleak world which Amelia is desperately trying to escape. I would love more information about some of the context of the world, but I imagine it unfolds more as the story goes along (only at six chapters). Concepts like 'Fera' are enhanced by Vanessa's choice of image at the top of the chapter, however I still marginally guessed what a 'Fera' is and this was confirmed at chapter 5 with the introduction of more (but different types) of 'Fera'. It is a grim story and would be well suited for an audience that loves dark fantasy and steampunk. I hope Amelia and Desmond can escape into a breath of fresh air! There are some grammar and punctuation errors here and there but they didn't detract from the story at all, which is a testament to Vanessa's wordsmithery. Vanessa's work is excellent!"
To The Western Gate
"To The Western Gate introduces us to an interesting world overrun by monsters, the most dangerous of them being Cornelius, the King of Thieves. Amelia — our main character — is a thief, specifically Cornelius’s favorite. Having languished in this miserable life, she dreams of freedom, and to that end, she needs to escape aboard the Steel Train. It’s not that easy, and she needs to take several risks and step outside the comfort zone. The ruthless and grim nature of this world is portrayed masterfully, especially the opening scene when the beggar was brutally murdered; it sent shivers down my spine. Amelia is a character I love to root for, and it’s fascinating to see her adapt to this grim world through her cunning. Throughout the first chapters of this book, we only get one scene involving Cornelius, but that one scene speaks a lot of his ruthlessness and intimidating character. Desmond — a Fera — is every bit the loyal friend Amelia could ever ask for, and their dynamic is something I’ll never get tired of. However, I’d really wish we can get a bit more context into this world, its inhabitants, and its history. I’m sure that’ll be cleared up in the coming chapters. No notes on the writing style; it’s just awesome 👏 . Overall, this book is shaping up to be something great, and its opening chapters are proof of that. "
To the Western Gate
""To The Western Gates" is an action-packed novel filled with suspense and intrigue from the very first page. Amelia is fighting for her and her friend Desmond's safety in a place ripping them apart piece by piece but the unforgiving, cruel world is trying to stop them. Amelia's pain mingled with her desire to survive is so strong, and I really enjoyed how Vanessa weaved together both Amelia's external mask with the true her buried deep down. It didn't disrupt the flow, adding to the building Amelia's character. The description was *chef's kiss* helping this gritty world jump off the page and develop it as the story goes along, when the detail was needed. Cornelius' character is clearly cruel while Desmond's protectiveness stands out well. So many questions since this story is still in the early stages but I'll be waiting to read more, to watch it all unfold. There were the occasional spelling error, all an easy fix. Glad to see you writing again, Vanessa! Would recommend to fans of dark fantasy novels and exciting, gripping thrillers. Or just fans of well-written tales. "
To the Western Gate
"This book I am absolutely excited to see what comes next. The way the author uses her writing technique to paint such vivid images allows you to picture the world she creates as if you are there with the characters she's creates. The story line keeps you wanting to know what is happening next and even with the first chapters you already feel a bond with Amelia and Desmond!! Fantastic skills and an absolute must read!"
