Breath of Bones: Volume 1

This is the second Tricia Goyer book I have read. Her impeccable historical research, the fascinating premise, and my love for the publisher propelled me to read this book. The premise really was very interesting and combined the dark days of WWII in Czechoslovakia, a Jewish myth and folklore, and a dash of steampunk. The mechanical work Josef did to make weapons for the resistance was neat and the assembly and functioning of golem were really cool. The historical component of the story was terribly heart-breaking and somewhat emotionally difficult to read, as all WWII narratives are. Katerina's non-Jewish voice as part of the Czech press was a very different narrative from Josef's and added a deeper layer to the plot. This book is the first of a series so be forewarned that it ends on a cliffhanger of sorts. Though the premise was very attractive and the fusion of history and steampunk worked well, I unfortunately didn't fully connect with any of the characters. The interactions and dialogue amongst the characters felt stilted. The many scene changes from Josef to Katerina and from different parts of the city felt choppy. I still think fans of historical fiction and steampunk will enjoy this book and the rest of the series, even if I didn't love the book as much as I had expected and hoped. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Enclave Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.