If it's at all possible to believe, I wouldn't change a single thing about this book (except maybe that there was MORE). It's so rare to find a book that fits my mood exactly, but this book was my idea of perfection, and I can't wait for the series to continue! 
 Lily Stargazer is not your typical protagonist. She is an opium eater, absinthe drinker, tomboy airship pilot, all within a historical London steampunk setting. Her childhood is revealed slowly throughout the book, one piece of the puzzle at a time, allowing the reader to learn and care about Lily. I sympathized with her at every step of the way. The secondary characters were no less fascinating, from the "madame" Celeste, to the mechanical tinker Sal. I loved Lily's airship crew so much that I was disappointed they weren't in more scenes! Maybe in the next book? 
 Melanie has a crisp, clean writing style, that easily draws a reader in. She paints a vivid scene without poetic metaphors or unnecessary flourishes. And somewhere between the mystery and intrigue, Melanie did a lot of research! I was constantly drawn to delve into history to learn about the fact behind the fiction (I may or may not have learned more from this book than in my high school history class). The story is so complex, with a steady trail of clues leading us on. It's impossible not to follow! 
 I highly recommend this book for fans of ANY genre. Historical fiction? Check. Mystery? Check. Action/Adventure? Yup. Even Romance! There is mature content so I won't recommend it to younger readers, but other than that, your excuses are invalid. Go read it. 
 A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.