Broken Promises by J.K. Coi Series: Seasons of Invention #2
Published by Carina Press on September 10, 2012
Genres: Steampunk
Pages: 94
Format: eBook
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Former ballerina Callie Carlisle is determined to rebuild her life with her new mechanical limbs. She's just learned to accept the enhancements that saved her from certain death when she experiences uncontrollable twinges and flashes of light that obscure her vision. Terrified of literally falling apart, she resists telling her husband. Jasper's already vowed to keep her out of harm, and she doesn't want to worry him further.
When the War Office's General Black arrives with an urgent mission—rescue the doctor who created Callie's enhancements—she has no choice but to accept. A rogue agent and former patient of the scientist believes the biomechanical modifications he received are killing him, and he's out for revenge.
Callie must reach the doctor before it's too late. But with an overprotective Jasper at her side, and her alarming symptoms getting more frequent, will she be able to hold herself together long enough to save the doctor...and herself?
This is an older book that I’m certain I read, but it looks like I never reviewed it. I re-read it this afternoon, and it’s got a really good Steampunk world. Broken Promises is the second book in the series of a husband and wife who are coerced into working for the War Department, and who need to recapture a rogue agent. But it seems nothing more ever happened beyond these 2 books.
Callie was a ballerina who, at the end of the previous book (I’m assuming. It seems to be hinted at that something horrific happened and she was tortured), was involved in something that had her losing her legs and a hand, but a doctor for the War Department grafted her new iron limbs. This book begins with her lamenting the fact that she’ll never dance again, no matter how much her husband wants her to. This is her new reality.
Jasper doesn’t care if she dances or not. He wants her to be happy. He thought dancing would make her happy. But so far she’s still struggling to adapt, and he’s still struggling with the guilt that she was hurt because of him.
Being forced back into the spy game is hell, but when Callie is the one they want to watch in action, he’s not letting her go. However, she knows they’ll both have to go. A rogue agent has tried to kill the doctor whose groundbreaking research led to Callie’s new limbs. But more than that, it’s said that her body will reject the implants. She needs to rescue him to save herself.
As the plot thickens, Callie is starting to realize that there is so much they haven’t been told, and what they have been told may not be true. Not knowing who to trust, and not trusting her own eyes, Callie doesn’t know where to turn. Jasper wants her to turn to him, but she’s been holding back a lot. Will he want her when this is over?
Reading this book without having read the first will in no way leave you confused, but I think you’d appreciate the richness of the plot more if you do. Short, action-packed, and intriguing, this is a good story. I only wish this series had continued on.
***ARC courtesy of Carina Press
