Swashbuckling steampunk. That's Romulus Buckle.

Romulus Buckle is the captain of a zeppelin which is soaring over the frozen wasteland known as Southern California, where warring clans battle one another for precious supplies. Buckle has worked hard to bring about an alliance between the clans in order put an end to the fighter. But that alliance is tenuous at best and actions taken by the Founders (one of two major organization/factions along with the Imperials) put the peace between clans at risk.

Just as Buckle is gearing up for a war - something he would prefer to avid but he will meet it head on if he must - he learns that his long-lost sister is being held captive at a secret base. That base could also hold the secrets to defeating the Founders in the upcoming war. Buckle has no choice but to infiltrate the base.

This is the second book in the Romulus Buckle series, though only the first one I've read. I did feel that there was probably information about Buckle and the world of the book that was presented in the first book that would have been helpful to know when reading this book.

The book was entertaining, but really it was mostly action sequence after action sequence. It seemed as though each time Buckle finished a battle, he was preparing for another one. Sometimes they were mano a mano, sometimes they were via his airship. About two thirds of the way through I rolled my eyes at 'yet another battle sequence.'

When Buckle gets word about his daughter, the story of the book picks up. Prior to this it seemed to be just action, action, action without motivation. Having a viable purpose seriously helped the book.

The read was fine, but it didn't make me interested in picking up any other books in the series.

Looking for a good book? Romulus Buckle and the Engines of War by Richard Ellis Preston, Jr. is a swashbuckling action/adventure steampunk novel. If this is something you're looking to read, then you'll enjoy this book.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.