A review by branch_c
Arabella and the Battle of Venus by David D. Levine

4.0

This was an enjoyable read, with writing equally as polished and engaging as the first in the series, the strikingly original Arabella of Mars. The plot and tone were a bit grim in this one, and the pleasant interactions among the characters overshadowed by oppressive circumstances for much of the story. I thought the pace dragged just a bit in the middle section, but once preparations for the Twelfth Night performance began, the element of fun became more pronounced, and the action didn’t let up until the end. There may have been a few believability gaps as to what the crew could conceivably have accomplished, but for the most part the story was nicely constructed, and the characters were interesting, especially the new addition of Fox. The capabilities of the sailing vessels were well thought out and the logical mechanics of this world continued to be well executed. Plenty of excitement and a satisfying conclusion.