Book Review: Lumiere (Illumination Paradox #1) by Jacqueline Garlick

Title: Lumiere (Illumination Paradox #1)
Author: Jacqueline Garlick  
Publisher: Amazemo  
Publication Date: 2013 
Pages: 335  
Format: E-Book - PDF  
Genre: Steampunk / YA / Fantasy     
Source: ARC via NetGalley


 
One determined girl. One resourceful boy. One miracle machine that could destroy everything.

After an unexplained flash shatters her world, seventeen-year-old Eyelet Elsworth sets out to find the Illuminator, her father’s prized invention. With it, she hopes to cure herself of her debilitating seizures before Professor Smrt—her father’s arch nemesis—discovers her secret and locks her away in an asylum.

Pursued by Smrt, Eyelet locates the Illuminator only to see it whisked away. She follows the thief into the world of the unknown, compelled not only by her quest but by the allure of the stranger—Urlick Babbit—who harbors secrets of his own.

Together, they endure deadly Vapours and criminal-infested woods in pursuit of the same prize, only to discover the miracle machine they hoped would solve their problems may in fact be their biggest problem of all. (Goodreads Synopsis)


I have struggled to decide how to rate and review Lumiere. In the end I plumped for a middle-of-the-road 3 (really a 2.5). I requested an ARC of this book since the concept sounded interesting - and it is. The storyline is original and offers many possibilities, but for me, those possibilities were never full realised. There was some good world building, some engaging concepts for mechanical devices and "bad guys", and plenty of imaginative descriptions; however, I struggled to maintain any depth of interest in the characters, and the romance between the leads felt forced and far too sudden (they went from nothing to nearly having sex). Eyelet, in particular, was aggravating. She jumps to conclusions and has far too high an opinion of herself to be likeable. Confidence is good in a heroine, but undeserved cockiness is not - at least in my reckoning. If I had the opportunity to finish the series, I wouldn't say no. Yet, I will not be going out of my way to get hold of the remaining installments.