I am not a steampunk fan by any means. It's just not a genre or plot device that does much for me. 

Having said that, after reading some posts and observations from the author in various places online, I was intrigued enough to give this one a shot, and I'm so glad I did. I think, if there's a single word that this novel boils down to for me, it's entrancing.

There's a few layers to this story. Yes, there's the titular Robot Gentleman, Santos, that in Cardona's skilled hands, remains very much a mystery, a puzzle to be observed, but never truly solved. And while he's a mechanical being in a time when mechanical beings didn't exist (pretty much the definition of steampunk), Cardona has a light, intriguing touch with this element.

Of course, the bright light here is Violeta, who is mesmerizing to read about. She leaps off the pages and it's her observations of Santos that truly elevate this story.

And then there's the story. The pace is languid (until the final third, then it completely shifts into high gear) and, while the plot elements begin to align, not a lot happens, but Cardona keeps everything fascinating with her lyrical, gorgeous narrative style. I will say, the author rarely spells things out plainly, choosing instead to come at each situation, each interaction from an oblique angle, letting things happen and allowing the reader to puzzle out what just occurred.

I don't know that I've ever read anyone who writes quite like Cardona, and it took me a bit to align with her style, but once I did, I loved it. She suffuses the story with gorgeous observations, smirking opinions, and a casual eroticism that has to be read to be believed.

All in all, just a really good story, really well written, and enjoyable.