The Battle of Blood and Ink: A Fable of the Flying City    by Jared Axelrod & Steve Walker Order:  USA  Can Tor, 2012 (2012) Hardcover     Reviewed by Ricki Marking-Camuto Steampunk is a genre that lends itself very well to the graphic form with its mix of sci-fi technology and Victorian settings. Jared Axelrod and Steve Walker's The Battle of Blood and Ink: A Fable of the Flying City is a perfect example of this. The Flying City is a popular tourist destination, but clouddog Ashe knows there is something sinister about the Provost, and is determined to let the people know through her one-sheet paper. The object of affection of a rich playboy, Ashe has the opportunity to get closer to some political information, but what she finds out is utterly shocking ... and so is the Provost's reaction to it. A flying city makes for a wonderful steampunk setting as dirigibles just have to be used. Because of this, the opening scene is sure to immediately pull in any fans of the genre. Axelrod's world-building is well-done, with plenty of little details fleshed out and a good backstory for Ashe. However, some of the characters are almost unrecognizable in a few of Walker's panels, which is made obvious through the sparse black and white illustrations. However, Jared Axelrod and Steve Walker show plenty of imagination, and hopefully The Battle of Blood and Ink will not be the only fable of the flying city. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews