Legible Review: Ancient Appetites, by Oisín McGann
Ancient Appetites, published in 2007, is a suspenseful steampunk tale set in the time of Charles Darwin. The steampunk genre is a sub-genre of science fiction based around incredible technological advances in Victorian times. This genre combines Victorian culture with modern technology to form a unique and surprising universe that is vastly different from our own. This book brings a unique spin to Darwin’s theory of evolution, as creatures called enigmals are seemingly machines yet are able to think, breathe, and roam the world.
Ancient Appetites takes place in Ireland, where the powerful and dangerous Wildensterns rule. This family is different from most because they encourage family members to assassinate each other in order to improve their position in the family. The assassin just has to abide by the rules of Ascension the family has put into place. The story focuses on Nathaniel, an 18 year old son of the patriarch of the family. Nathaniel is 3rd in line behind his two older brothers and has no interest in the family, content to spend his days chasing down wild enigmals. However, when his eldest brother dies, the family is thrown into chaos as Nathaniel and his older brother Roberto must both help to take over the eldest brother’s roles. On top of this, Nathaniel is suspected of being the murderer of his eldest brother, and he vows to track down the real killer.
A stable boy named Francis works for the Wildensterns, and his life is relatively peaceful until his father convinces him to participate in a robbery, which ends up going horribly wrong. The explosion from this failed robbery disrupts the funeral of the eldest son and uncovers four corpses that were long forgotten. When these corpses begin to return to life, the Wildenstern patriarch is thrown off balance as the recently born again corpses begin to reclaim their power in the family. The patriarch believes the explosion was caused by rebels and begins a hunt to bring them to justice.
With the family in chaos, Nathaniel, Roberto, and their cousin Gerald, must work together to discover their brother’s true assassin and restore order to the patriarchy. The twists and turns, unexpected murders, and adorable enigmals lead to an engrossing story that you can’t put down. This book is full of dramatic irony, as the reader understands more of the plot than any of the characters. We hear from both Nathaniel and Francis’s point of view, learning the truth behind the assassination and the failed robbery before either character realizes what is really going on.
What sets Ancient Appetites apart from other books in the steampunk genre is the author’s flawless incorporation of machinery into the story without distracting the reader from the intended plot of the book. The enigmals remain in the background, used as weapons and tools as well as companions for the characters, blending seamlessly with the world around them. The characters treat enigmals as horses, tanks, and even pets for entertainment, such as when we encounter a bird-like enigmal that communicates through screaming instead of tweeting. When I first began to read this book, I assumed that the enigmals would be the main focus of the story; however, the patriarchy is the real attention-grabber while the living machines keep the plot fresh and exciting.
Ancient Appetites is the first in a series of four books, and once you begin reading, it will be impossible to put down. The combination of science and fantasy leads to a wildly unpredictable and suspenseful saga that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. The first book of the series can be found on Legible, currently available for beta testers.
Lucy Johnson is a junior at Carroll University, majoring in animal behavior and biology. She works part-time as a curation assistant for Legible and spends her free time reading any book she can get her hands on and binge watching a little too much Netflix.
