The Return of the Discontinued Man, by Mark Hodder
Second paragraph of third chapter:The king's agent stood, now a Knight of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George.
I thoroughly bounced off this, an alternative steampunky history, the fifth in a series featuring the madcap adventures of Algernon Charles Swinburne and Richard Francis Burton across various timelines. (On steampunk I sometimes sympathise with Marigold's dad in Questionable Content.) When I realised that on page 70 I still had no idea what was going on and no particular sympathy for any of the characters, I gave up. But you can get it here, if you want.
This was the top book on my rapidly dwindling pile of those acquired in 2014. Next up there is The Rain-Soaked Bride by Guy Adams.
I thoroughly bounced off this, an alternative steampunky history, the fifth in a series featuring the madcap adventures of Algernon Charles Swinburne and Richard Francis Burton across various timelines. (On steampunk I sometimes sympathise with Marigold's dad in Questionable Content.) When I realised that on page 70 I still had no idea what was going on and no particular sympathy for any of the characters, I gave up. But you can get it here, if you want.
This was the top book on my rapidly dwindling pile of those acquired in 2014. Next up there is The Rain-Soaked Bride by Guy Adams.