I'm a retired chemist and stay at home mom. I read a wide variety of books, mostly fiction with romantic elements. I love PNR, UF, Sci-Fi, fantasy, mystery, romance, health, and finance books.
This is the first steam punk book I've read (if you don't count Wen Spencer's 'Tinker' as steam punk). I enjoyed the different world created by Ekaterina Sedia. Not a traditional fantasy novel and certainly not science fiction, the book had the feel of Victorian Europe but much grittier. I was intrigued by the gargoyles, the alchemists, the hints of magic. Definitely recommend it.