Summary:
The second part of Arthur and Jo’s strange adventures throughout the land of Discoucia, and a time when Archie the Water Goddess has made the ultimate sacrifice to rid the world of her nemesis, Cordelia Paradise, the Fire Goddess.
However, things rarely go to plan and Arthur finds himself at war with Archie’s hidden agenda rather than the insane task that he has to help Archie complete.
Hidden around Discoucia in its sixteen major cities are sixteen gems that Archie must collect before a year is up. If she wins then Cordelia will disappear to another dimension and not return until she agrees to stop causing forest fires, volcanic eruptions and droughts.
Team Archie has Arthur and Jo, who both have the understanding that by collecting these gems a natural order can be brought back and maybe Jo’s father will get well again. Team Cordelia has Alicia May, who has a talent for becoming anyone and a deep malicious streak; and Iren, who has a fanatical hatred for Archie, which Archie herself doesn’t like to talk about.
Along the way they meet old friends and old enemies, as well as Archie having to perform miracles without the use of divine power. From the murky ruins of Tanalos to the haunted corridors of Ashin Dance Academy, the frozen caverns of Icester and the verdant streets of Proceur, the adventure will take them around Discoucia and beyond, unless Cordelia and Alicia May can stop them first…
Information about the Book
Title: Gemenicia (Discoucia #2)
Author: Nicholas Lovelock
Release Date: 30th May 2019
Genre: YA Steampunk
Page Count: 410
Publisher: Clink Street Publishing
Goodreads Link
Amazon Link
My Review
Geminicia is the second book in this series thus far and I read Discoucia beforehand to be caught up for this blog tour and let me tell you, you’ll definitely want to read it before diving into book 2! This series is setting itself up to be an epic steampunk fantasy with a soap opera feel, and in saying that I mean that there’s a ton of action and it’s just one adventure after another.
There’s a full cast of characters and it just grows from book one to book two and the cast is rather loveable if I do say so myself.
I am sorry to say that though this book had some really enjoyable parts and very creative ideas that a lot of times I had a hard time with the writing style. It wasn’t difficult, so please don’t be scared off by that, but it wasn’t to my taste and that’s nothing against Nicholas Lovelock. I think that Geminicia is a great show of growth as an author, Discoucia was a good attempt but I think that its sequel is a great show of what’s to come. The books end in cliffhangers that are meant to go directly onto the next book so be prepared to wait for book 3 if you go ahead and jump in.
Lovelock has no problem breaking the fourth wall and I have to say it did have me chuckling quite a few times. There are lots of movie and literary references and so some jokes may go over the head if you’re out of the loop with some of them.
There’s a helpful appendix and map in book 2 that I wish would have been in the first book but better late than never if you ask me! So while this book wasn’t exactly to my cup of tea I still enjoyed it enough and instead of slapping a star rating I’m just telling you what I found good about it and letting you decide if this is the book for you!
I would say that if you’re a fan of steampunk and kind of operatic arc then you will want to check these books out. This is aimed at YA audiences, and I think that it is enjoyable even for those a little younger than that as well.
I’m including the information to the first book below and I want to say thank you to Faye and Authoright for letting me take part in the tour.
Summary
Revolution, romance and technological wonders are all in a day’s work for the decorated hero of Alavonia, Sir Arthur Pageon.
An acclaimed explorer and inventor, Sir Arthur Pageon takes his unofficial role as defender of the realm of Avalonia very seriously. A fantastical world, Avalonia is home to the Discoucian Monarchy, as well as monstrous creatures and secretive academies for the highly gifted.
Upon returning from his most recent exploits aboard on his personal flying galleon The Nostradamus, Pageon is treated to a hero’s welcome and celebratory procession through the streets of Avalonia’s capital, Evermore. Little does Pageon know he’s being followed by a mysterious group known as the Purple Guard, whose devious leader is his estranged sister, Queen Lily Pageon of Harrha Island. Fiercely intelligent, Lily specialises in dastardly technological inventions with the aim of bringing down the Discoucian Monarchy so that she may reign as its dictator. However, the heir to the throne is one Princes Josephine Oladine, whose youth and royal position masks her role in the Discoucian Secret Service.
Joining forces, Princess Josephine and Sir Arthur’s adventures will take them across the whole of Avalonia — from the fog-bound shores of Karga, to the secret underground shanty town beneath the frozen prison of Icester, south to the verdant city of Proceur and from there to the affluent Starfall Academy — in their quest to foil Lily’s revolutionary plans.
Information about the Book
Title: Discoucia (Discoucia #1)
Author: Nicholas Lovelock
Release Date: 29th June 2017
Genre: YA Steampunk
Page Count: 345
Publisher: Clink Street Publishing
Goodreads Link
Amazon Link
Author Information
Nicholas Lovelock lives in a small village in Oxfordshire and has already published Discoucia, the first part of the Alavonia Series which spans multiple novels set to be released in the future. He enjoys riding around the countryside as well as illustrating his own works, as can be seen in his second novel Gemenicia. These Illustrations in stark black and white provide a glimpse into the world of Alavonia and how he sees it, as well as showcasing the different locations and characters that make up the Alavonia series universe.
He is a keen musician capable of playing the electric guitar as well as the acoustic and the piano, often trying to play like his musical heroes David Gilmour, Jimmy Page and Jeff Lynne. His coin collection has transformed from a hobby to a passion and obsession as he attempts to collect one of every issued coin in Great Britain. He is over halfway in that respect collecting such treasures as a 1675 Charles the Second Crown and an extremely rare Edward the Seventh Half Crown of 1905, and has begun metal detecting in an effort to tick some boxes in the Hammered Coinage section.
His love of Steampunk literature and cinema has been with him from a young age when he first saw the film ‘Wild Wild West’, sought out the original series and discovered a world of fantasy that he has painstakingly tried to pay homage to in his novels, to bring the wild west to an English setting and to create something that has never been done before.
History has always been a major passion of his as he makes many references in his literature, from characters whose personalities resemble those of eccentric historical characters or monarchs. The ability to change history through literature was one of the things that attracted him to become an author in the first place, to create similar timelines and put a unique spin on the mundane.
Tour Schedule
Monday 27th May
The Northern Witch Book Blog
Tuesday 28th May
Rambling Mads
Wednesday 29th May
Jazzy Book Reviews
Thursday 30th May
The Caffeinated Reader
Friday 31st May
Lauren’s Bookshelf
Saturday 1st June
Big Book Little Book
Sunday 2nd June
Donna’s Book Blog
Monday 3rd June
An Ocean Glimmer
Tuesday 4th June
Books are my Cwtches
Wednesday 5th June
Book Junkiez
Thursday 6th June
Luna’s Little Library
Friday 7th June
Jera’s Jamboree
The Reading Cafe
Saturday 8th June
A Daydreamer’s Thoughts
Sunday 9th June
Abooktasia
The Caffeinated Reader 
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