3.5 really. I love what Mars on the Rise is trying to do. Pairing the pure Cedo with the evil warlord (Erus) who is actually trapped in his role and longing to be a better person is pretty classic stuff. Gee's description of the environment is such that the reader is easily able to imagine it. The characters of Cedo and Billy are fairly well rounded, though Cedo does seem so innocent that you wonder how he even survived at all. Erus' character isn't as clear, but since the story is predominantly from Cedo's point of view and he is confused by Erus' personality too, this isn't really problematic. The writing is crisp and clear. It seems to have a storyteller feel to it. Which matches the main character really well.

The problem is that the reader never sees why Cedo follows and falls in love with Erus. Erus just shows up, says follow me and Cedo does; no questions, no getting to know each-other, or good times before things go to shite. But Cedo dedicates himself to Erus all the same and you wonder why. If you've ever read any Yaoi manga you see the same thing. In a 25 page short you have to accept that there isn't time to establish everything, but in a 300ish page book it is fair to expect more. The reader also always wonders why Cedo stays. There is a fairly predictable pattern, every-time the two of them have a loving or enjoyable time, something horrible happens to disrupt and ruin it. So you don't really see the good times Cedo refers to.

This is the first in a series and I see real potential for the continuation of the series. The last few chapters really redeemed the book in my mind. With Cedo and Erus' love finally declared (even with Billy still confusingly in the middle) I think a lot of the story's maudlin nature will fall away, leaving a strong adventure plot behind. Certainly Gee has the writing skills to pull it off and I look forward to reading it.

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Considering I’m not a huge fan of heavy fantasy setting, I have to admit with a little surprise that I enjoyed this story, probably since it has something that I really love, an evil character that will you will end to cheer for, hoping not that he will redeem, but that he will be able to find love.

The setting is pure steampunk, a Victorian London society (reference to the Rose theatre and to other London landmarks), the addition of mechanical machines and some other fantasy details are the only thing that bring this novel out from the historical borders. From what I understood, a good steampunk has to be, first of all, a good historical novel, and so Mars on the Rise completely centers the target.

As I said, Erus Veetu, the dark and dangerous war lord, is my favorite character, even if I really hate as he treats Cedo; the easiest way would be for the author to let Erus be the bad villain and Cedo finding love with the more likable and friendly Billy, but Erus is a tortured soul, and of course there is a little of “nurse” syndrome in Cedo, who believes he is the one who can understand Erus and love him despite everything and everyone.

You can see sparks of goodness in Erus, like for example when he allows Cedo to take his cat Misty; he clearly says that he is doing so since it will make Cedo happy, and he wants for Cedo to be happy. And then, after all, he is not taking him captive, he more than once has given him the chance to run away, but Cedo has always came back, willingly, like willingly he followed Erus the first time.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1610403053/?tag=elimyrevandra-20