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Arabella of Mars
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
41 posts | 33 read | 46 to read
Since Newton witnessed a bubble rising from his bathtub, mankind has sought the stars. When William III of England commissioned Capt. William Kidd to command the first expedition to Mars in the late 1600s, he proved that space travel was both possible and profitable. Now, one century later, a plantation in a flourishing British colony on Mars is home to Arabella Ashby, a young woman who is perfectly content growing up in the untamed frontier. But days spent working on complex automata with her father or stalking her brother Michael with her Martian nanny is not the proper behavior of an English lady. That is something her mother plans to remedy with a move to an exotic world Arabella has never seen: London, England. However, when events transpire that threaten her home on Mars, Arabella decides that sometimes doing the right thing is far more important than behaving as expected. She disguises herself as a boy and joins the crew of the Diana, a ship serving the Mars Trading Company, where she meets a mysterious captain who is intrigued by her knack with clockwork creations. Now Arabella just has to weather the naval war currently raging between Britain and France, learn how to sail, and deal with a mutinous crew...if she hopes to save her family remaining on Mars.
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majkia
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine

Fun, light steampunk. Think of how Jules Verne pictured Mars and the passage between. Arabella runs away from home after having been forced to leave Mars for Earth. She pretends to be a boy and gets a birth on a sailing ship headed to Mars.

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BookmarkTavern
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Mehso-so

After the unexpected death of her father, Arabella learns of a plot against the rest of her family. Dressed as a cabin boy on a merchant airship bound for Mars, she must make it in time to save her home.

I wanted to love this. Steampunk in space? Expansive worldbuilding? Corsairs? Action scenes? All good. Very Treasure Planet. But we go the entire book without once acknowledging “hey maybe colonialism bad?” Highly disappointing. 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑

BookmarkTavern Like we straight up get PLANTATIONS ON MARS and references to the savage native Martians. *face palm* 2y
PuddleJumper 😶 That's not great 2y
BookmarkTavern @PuddleJumper Yeah! 😅 He‘s a good writer, so I might eventually try something else of his, but I‘m not going to continue with this series. 2y
53 likes4 comments
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BookmarkTavern
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Sunshine, a slight breeze, a comfy chair, and a space adventure! 🚀

67 likes3 stack adds
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majkia
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
10 likes1 comment
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Kiana24
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Pickpick

05/10/21 - 05/14/21
Science Fiction, Alternate History
I finally finished this book. I choose this book because of how the cover looked and I really wanted to see how they tried. Lots of heartbreaking and heartwarming moments in this story. At first I thought it was just going to be an adventure of some sort due to the title and the cover but I later fould out that this story would be a rollacoaster. I would definitly recommend this as a pick.

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Kiana24
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine

Arabella had always been the only person in the family who shared her fathers passion.
This compares to how when you have an opinon or thought of something cool and unknow and you want to do it. Its hard when no one supports you especially when your family doesn't. When you fail it is like they will point out your mistake not just your family but your haters too. I think thats sort of how arabella was feeling when people doubted her.

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Mchartt
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
Pickpick

I had no idea what to expect on this one! But it was great, it had everything I love about adventure fiction! Reminded me of Treasure Island! Loved it!

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Shel.f
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
Pickpick

To quote one of my book group members, it was “a ripping good adventure!“ And it was. I kind of got bored during some of the fighting scenes, but I loved the parts on Mars.

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Shel.f
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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July selection for the Orbital Book Group. Looking forward to it! More later. Edit: 7/8/19. Reading now. Enjoying, except for the Martian lingo thrown in. Usually, any fantasy that I have to stumble over pronouncing place and item names gets an auto-pass, but this is book group. Other than that though...

rwmg Great fun 5y
4 likes1 comment
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Ddzmini
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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A little heavy on the imagination plan... but overall a good read 📖😋

64 likes1 stack add
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Ddzmini
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Filler book until Friday 😝😋📖

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rwmg
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
Pickpick

I don't think he quite caught the Regency manners and diction but it was a great ripping yarn so I'll give it a pick

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rwmg
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Starting this one. After two successive DNFs, I hope this one hits the spot.

#coffeeandabook

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elkeOriginal
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Pickpick

Spunky teen Jane Austen-ish heroine on a Hornblower-ish nautical adventure to the colony of Mars. Arabella grew up on Mars but her mother takes her to the unknown world of England/Earth—quickly she joins a ship headed back to Mars disguising herself as a boy valued for talent with automatons. Onboard she grows into a strong, smart gal. Predictable, yet surprising, this was a fun read. Stuck with me more than I expected it to—always a good sign!

47 likes3 stack adds
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Settings
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Mehso-so

Read because it was nominated for the 2017 Locus FN award and my library had the audiobook.

Small child in training to be a Victorian lady goes off and has adventures in space instead. The SFF setting is a substitute for historical research and doesn't add much. Substitutes colonized aliens for colonized people.

Entertaining enough, but very shallow and formulaic. Missing five minutes or so every so often doesn't matter.

rwmg Oh dear, that does sound disappointing 6y
rwmg I've got it on my virtual TBR shelf because of good reviews here and on LT 6y
Settings @rwmg Tend to dislike YA books, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. 6y
54 likes3 comments
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TracyReadsBooks
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Pickpick

I‘ve always maintained that Disney‘s Treasure Planet is one of it‘s most underrated films. I love it & this book reminds me of it—with a little comedy of manners thrown in too. Born & raised on Mars, Arabella is banished to Earth where she is to learn how to be a proper lady. When she learns her family left on Mars is in trouble, she disguises herself as a boy & enlists on a company ship to make the trip home. A fun, light read full of adventure.

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lyradora
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Has anyone read this? I'm looking for a quirky sci fi to read, and I'm wondering if this fits the bill. #sciencefiction #bravegirls

Jabberwocky No but now I desperately want to! 7y
11 likes1 stack add1 comment
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TracyReadsBooks
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Ok yes, I am enjoying this delightfully frothy mashup of science fiction, Mars, early 19th c. England, manners, dastardly deeds, automata and more. It‘s a good way to end the weekend!

DuckOfDoom This sounds great! 7y
16 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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TracyReadsBooks
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Random grab from my massive TBR pile—trying not to overthink it. I pulled this one out and had one of those, “I know I put it in the pile but I don‘t remember why—or where I found it,” moments. And then I read the back and decided, what did it matter? If the book is half as good as the description suggests it could be, I‘ll count that a win. So yeah, it‘s off to an 18th century plantation in a British colony on Mars for me.

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shanaqui
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
Pickpick

I just accidentally read this in literally one hour and forty minutes. I enjoyed it a lot: a classic sort of adventure romp, and I am enormously relieved that though Arabella dresses as a boy in a fairly rough company, even when she is discovered there is no sexual assault anywhere to be found. I was almost braced for it, since I've found it almost a staple of the genre.

7 likes1 stack add
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BookishTrish
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Forgetting your book at home is slightly less tragic when you work in a library, but only slightly. #weekendlibrarian

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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Space #30daysofreadathon

(Really just a chance to show off this sweet sweet solar system necklace that refuses to acknowledge that Pluto is no longer a planet)

BekahB Beautiful necklace! 😍 7y
rubyslippersreads I refuse to acknowledge it either. 😄 7y
ChasingOm Wow, I love that. 😻 7y
See All 9 Comments
batsy Love that necklace! 7y
GypsyKat Love everything about this! #PlutoNeverForget 7y
Bibliogirl That necklace! 😍 7y
diovival Um. WANT. 7y
diovival Thank you!!! 7y
70 likes9 comments
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JPrecht
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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This one came in from my library holds just in time! Riding out Hurricane Irma with a cup of coffee, a book described as "the delicious love child of Jane Austen, Patrick O'Brian, and Jules Verne," and some choo choos (of course; that's the only way to get a little reading time with a 2 year old ?)!

8 likes1 stack add
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brightbetween
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Pickpick

I'm a sucker for #steampunk and a good #seafaring adventure and this has both! Well, sort of, since the sea in question is outer space between Earth and Mars. It has the same feel, though, plus automatons, a smart, strong, scientifically-gifted girl rubbing up against Regency gender roles, and a galactic British Empire! If you like #Larklight then this is a book for you.

1 like1 stack add
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speljamr
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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DivaDiane Tell us what it's like! 7y
18 likes1 stack add1 comment
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elkeOriginal
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Another stack of spines - with a good variety of typefaces, #forfontssake!
#anditsaugust

Kalalalatja Great spines! 7y
IndyHannaJones I'm just finishing Nevernight right now. Soooooooo good! 7y
aeeklund We seriously need to do our Nevernight #buddyread. 7y
See All 9 Comments
elkeOriginal @Hyaeger I am dying to get to it! 7y
aeeklund @elkeo Just say when! I know you're trying to finish Sirens. 7y
IndyHannaJones @elkeo it's pretty gorey but I love it 7y
elkeOriginal @aeeklund I just wish I could lay around and read - like cat, except he doesn't read - instead of having to work! Sucks. SOON! 7y
Foragingfantasy I have Church of Marvels! Haven't read it yet... 😬 7y
66 likes9 comments
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Lreads
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Recent books bought containing a mix of mystery, fantasy, middle grade, and humor. Quite pleased with these.
#bookhaul #mystery #middlegrade

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Leigh0906
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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I got some lovely #bookmail today!! I can't wait to read them!! #springbreakbookexchange #buddyread

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quietjenn
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Outside reading, in Philadelphia, in February. Unnaturally unsettling, perhaps, but also awesome.

23 likes1 stack add
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quietjenn
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Lunch reading, today and yesterday. It's getting good, so I might have to take it home for the long weekend. During which I intend to do much, much reading.

24 likes1 stack add
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JoeRugola
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Pickpick

Like if PERSUASION and the JOHN CARTER series had a baby that got Burroughs' plotting and Austen's characterization, humanism, and lack of grotesque racism/xenophobia. Slight, but fun.

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Nafiza
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Starting this today. Anyone else read it?

Chachic Haven't read this! I think it's the first time I've seen it. 8y
WOCreads This looks epic! Is it steampunk? 8y
Nafiza @Chachic It seems to be Victorian romance except the girl is from Mars. 😀 8y
See All 8 Comments
Nafiza @Ifyoucanreadthis_Bina I am not sure, Bina. I will report this as soon as I read some! 8y
Angieville Yes, let us know! 8y
Nafiza @Angieville I will! 8y
Nafiza @Ifyoucanreadthis_Bina Yep, steampunk! 8y
WOCreads Yay awesome! Happy reading😃 8y
8 likes1 stack add8 comments
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Shay
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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When I head into the city, my favourite place to visit is University Book Store. On the right is author David D. Levine, and on the left is Duane, the awesome UBS staff member who is an expert on sci-fi and fantasy, and is responsible for bringing in so many of the awesome authors I go to see! #getindie

7 likes1 stack add
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Shay
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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This steampunky space adventure is the most recent addition to my collection of signed books! It was also quite a fun event. The author showed up in period costume, performed a rap about his book based on "Alexander Hamilton" and then led a sing-along to another song about his book. Most eventful! #signedSunday

5 likes1 stack add
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ness
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
Pickpick

Exactly what it says on the tin: Regency space opera. Did not disappoint. Would recommend.

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vanesdigregorio
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Pickpick

Airships, adventure, clockwork automata, space travel, and a girl who disguises herself as a boy in order to save her brother on Mars. What's not to love? This book felt like Jules Verne in space, and now I want more.

MrBook Great review and cool cover! 8y
vanesdigregorio @MrBook Thanks! (And yeah, I love the cover too) 8y
3 likes2 comments
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vanesdigregorio
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
Pickpick

Airships, adventure, clockwork automata, space travel, and a girl who disguises herself as a boy in order to save her brother on Mars. What's not to love? This book felt like Jules Verne in space, and now I want more.

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Bookbeez
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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This is how I Olympic.

BookishMarginalia I support this way to Olympic. Fully. 😎 8y
Alisnazzy Yeah my medieval history book is not getting much of a dent put into it. I'm trying to speed read during commercials. 8y
24 likes2 comments
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MargaretPinardAuthor
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine

A local author! With such a great tagline: a Patrick O'Brian girl in a Jane #Austen world... Looking forward to reading this #steampunk #adventure!

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ness
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Regency space opera? Sign me tf up.

Maike Wow, that looks great! 8y
5 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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samthebookdragon
Arabella of Mars | David D. Levine
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Pickpick

One of my most recent reads and one of my new favorites! This book feels like it has everything I want in a book. A girl disguising herself, steampunk, space pirates, diversity, and a beautiful cover 😍

MrBook Loving this picture. Well done. Bravo! 8y
samthebookdragon thank you ! 8y
49 likes12 stack adds2 comments