Unique stories are my thing. I have a soft spot for alternate history, so I was really excited to give 20 Million Leagues Over the Sea by K. T. Hunter a try. It combines the universes of H.G. Wells and Jules Verne and turns them into something completely different. It has a mishmash of old and steampunk-futuristic technology, and a charming obsession with bacon.
The book started slow. Really slow. It was interesting enough to keep reading, but I was starting to wonder if the action would start. The main characters weren’t that sympathetic, the worldbuilding was a little convoluted, and I wasn’t sure about continuing. A spy with no clear mission and a near fanatical devotion to her institution? A space captain who longs to return to the sea? But, I’m glad I did.
After the first third of the book, the action picks up after a tragedy on board the ship, on their voyage to Mars to wipe out the Martians with some good old-fashioned influenza. The action and plot coherence pick up considerably at this point, and the stakes increase dramatically. The characters even start coming into their own, experiencing growth and becoming infinitely more sympathetic. No spoilers here, but we’re dropped some pretty mind-blowing revelations very late into the book and that made the whole early slog worth it. It ends on a cliffhanger, which mildly annoyed me as the story hadn’t been concluded in any way. The ending was too abrupt.
All things considered, I’d give the second book in the series a try, as I couldn’t put this one down after the first half. Ultimate rating: four stars.