#Bookreview – Fiona Finch and the Pink Valentine: A steampunk novella by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

What Amazon says

Put your feet up and enjoy a whimsical break with this quick, lighthearted story. There’s some romance, and a lot of silliness. It’s a steampunk/Victorian setting. You might call it a long-short story or a novelette.

This is a tale of an old lost valentine and the shenanigans that ensue when it turns up. Fiona Finch and her brother Steele – along with a helping “wing” from Quellie the duck, work to bring two long ago sweethearts back together. Even though it is a Valentine’s Day story, it does not include sex or passionate romance. It does, however, include a lot of imaginative fun.

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

My review

This delightfully whimsical Valentine novella is filled with the author’s trademark creativity, humour and sharp insight into human characters and relationships. Fiona is a fun-loving girl with a passion for pink. She lives with her genius stepbrother, Steele, who is the protegee of the famous inventor, Professor Quirinius. The Professor has been absent from their lives for some time at the start of the story, as he has been pursuing his own inventions and initiatives. When he left them, however, he gave Steele a gift of a cheeky and troublesome duck, which Fiona has nicknamed, Quellie. Quellie is also clever and likes to help out around the house with certain tasks including delivering the mail.

After a disastrous episode where Fiona’s efforts to create a lovely pink dye result in Quellie dying herself pink and reacting to the change with great annoyance, Steele tries to reinstate peace by sharing with Fiona a wonderful gift from the Professor. The gift is a selection of delicious chocolates encased in a beautiful pink wooden box. The box is for Fiona who loves pink. Quellie’s annoyance with Fiona bubbles over and she charges her, causing the lovely pink box to fall to the floor and break. A quick inspection proves that it is not broken. The box actually has a secret drawer which has sprung open due to the fall. Inside is a pink Valentine’s letter to a well-to-do and wealthy woman who as recently been widowed.

Fiona takes it upon herself to send the 30-year old Valentine’s letter to its intended recipient with rather hilarious and entertaining consequences.

If you are looking for a light and fun-filled read which is clever and entertaining, this novella is the book for you.

Purchase Fiona Finch and the Pink Valentine