Crime & Mystery
Seacombe Island has me side-eyeing the “steampunk” label a bit. Too often that word gets slapped on for brass-and-cogs atmosphere and not much else.
If the machinery, tech or worldbuilding actually affects the mystery, fair enough. If it’s just decorative smoke, I’m less interested. A good crime story can wear odd clothes, but the clothes still need to matter.
If the machinery, tech or worldbuilding actually affects the mystery, fair enough. If it’s just decorative smoke, I’m less interested. A good crime story can wear odd clothes, but the clothes still need to matter.
Genre labels get used as a bit of decorative wallpaper these days. If the steampunk element changes how people move, hide, investigate or survive on the island, I’m in. If it’s only brass goggles and a fog machine, it’s doing the book no favours.
Mystery first, novelty second.
Mystery first, novelty second.