6/10*I'm not sure how much my opinion was affected by listening to the audiobook version instead of reading the Kindle version, like I did with the first book.Overall, "Romulus Buckle & the Engines of War" is a pretty enjoyable read.The dialogue and characters are often exaggerated, and there are some timeline inconsistencies... and don't even get me started on the strange mix of "clans".Richard Ellis Preston Jr. has some interesting ideas, but I suspect there was a lot of jumping in without thi...

The first 30% of "Romulus Buckle & the Engines of War" is basically a recap of the first book, complete with a pointless solo journey and an aerial dogfight with some flying creature. Felt like treading water.But once the actual story kicks in, Richard Ellis Preston Jr. delivers non-stop, excellent action all the way to the end. Seriously, it doesn't let up.One thing that still bugs me about Romulus Buckle, though? The guy never seems to learn from his mistakes. You'd think after everything he's...

This was another swashbuckling good time with Captain Buckle and the crew of the Pneumatic Zeppelin. *Romulus Buckle & the Engines of War* begins 3 weeks after the conclusion of book 1, and Richard Ellis Preston Jr. wastes no time throwing the reader into the thick of the action. Buckle is in search of answers. Answers that may prove vital to the Crankshaft clan in the upcoming war with the fog-sucking Founders clan. There is only one problem: our dear Captain Buckle tends to act first, and thin...

Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths.The Swashbuckling King of Steampunk is back!Yes, Romulus Buckle, our favorite zeppelin captain, has returned with the same fiery attitude, the same devious enemies, and the same soaring zeppelin to ride above it all. However, this time Richard Ellis Preston, Jr. has upped the fun quotient in Romulus Buckle & the Engines of War with an unexpected love triangle, more mesmerizing world building, new characters and dueling zeppelins!You heard me right. Richard Elli...

Is Romulus ever going to catch a break? I guess that's the life of a swashbuckling hero – facing danger and death head-on and walking away. Now, with a fragile peace threatening to crumble, Romulus discovers his long-lost sister is being held by a mysterious clan, and she might hold the key to finally defeating the Founders. Now, he has to risk everything he's worked so hard for, leaving his friends and allies to fend for themselves, all to save his sister. Is this the right move? Will there eve...

I really dug this book. I'm not usually a huge steampunk fan, but Richard Ellis Preston Jr. seems to have a "screw it, let's go over the top and throw as much stuff in as we can" attitude with "Romulus Buckle & the Engines of War."It was loads of fun! I even went back and read the first book. It has a few problems; the plot is kinda weak, and Preston has a habit of over-describing things, using ten-dollar sentences when a five-dollar one would work.Needless to say, it's a smashup of a good time....

It's series like this that make me fall in love with steampunk all over again. Romulus Buckle & the Engines of War continues the series, providing plenty of action/adventure, introducing new characters, and giving us more information on the dystopian Los Angeles world in which this is set. It reminds me of great seafaring tales like Treasure Island and Horatio Hornblower – but with the action and adventure in the air rather than on the sea. In this second book, Romulus sets out to discover who ...

Action! Adventure! Discoveries and alliances forged before the outbreak of war! All set in a post-apocalyptic steampunk California!!While *Romulus Buckle & the Engines of War* stands on its own, be warned: it does contain significant plot spoilers for *The City of the Founders*.For example, the opening scene finds Romulus venturing into the mountains to investigate a shipwreck. He's acting on information gleaned from the previous book and seeks verification. This journey is enlivened by treacher...

Just as much fun as the first book! I'm definitely going to track down the next one in the series. It's still delightfully over-the-top, and that's a big part of its charm.A couple of thoughts: I listened to the first book on Audible and didn't really pick up on Richard Ellis Preston Jr.'s apparent aversion to using contractions. I'm guessing it's a stylistic thing, but it can make the reading feel a little clunky in places. Also, there was a lot more of a potential love triangle in *Romulus Buc...

Okay, so *Romulus Buckle & the Engines of War* is officially my first steampunk novel, and honestly? It wasn't half bad! I went in thinking I wouldn't enjoy it, but it totally grew on me. Romulus Buckle, the main character and swashbuckling captain of the "Pneumatic Zeppelin," is your classic James Bond type: cocky, a bit of a womanizer, and undeniably brave. You can't help but like the guy (though his thing for two of his stepsisters is a little…weird, even for me).This is the second book in th...