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ktembreull's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
clauleesi's review
3.0
[a:Adrian Tchaikovsky|1445909|Adrian Tchaikovsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1282303363p2/1445909.jpg] seems like one of those authors that can write anything - he goes from enormous spiders to talking military animals and now tiny, animated homonculus-dolls. Best of all, [a:Tchaikovsky|1445909|Adrian Tchaikovsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1282303363p2/1445909.jpg] does it well, and [b:Made Things|44581532|Made Things (Made Things, #1)|Adrian Tchaikovsky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557991956l/44581532._SY75_.jpg|69197736] is no exception; even if it somewhat suffers from its shorter novella format.
Coppelia is an orphan and puppeter, surviving by thieving in a city where magic rules. She gets by more easily after befriending a group of dolls with an agenda of their own. When a gollem is discovered, Coppelias talents are put to the test, as well as her shaky friendship with the tiny homonculi.
I have conflicted feelings about short stories. On one hand, they're often easy to digest, and I fly through them. On the other, it's harder to create a complex world with fleshed out characters in the much fewer pages you have - something that either makes the story lacklustre, or if you love the book, makes you wish that it was a full-length novel. In [b:Made Things|44581532|Made Things (Made Things, #1)|Adrian Tchaikovsky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557991956l/44581532._SY75_.jpg|69197736], it's latter problem; [a:Tchaikovsky|1445909|Adrian Tchaikovsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1282303363p2/1445909.jpg] manages to capture the readers attention, but then it leaves you wanting more. I wish we could have fully explored the magical setting, followed the homonculis quest to expanding their people, discovered if Coppelia's family might have been alive after all, as well as discussed how the power of magic affected the entire power dynamic in this world.
There was so much promise, and so I think that [b:Made Things|44581532|Made Things (Made Things, #1)|Adrian Tchaikovsky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557991956l/44581532._SY75_.jpg|69197736] would have been better as just a regular novel. But, I guess that's a good problem to have as an author - that you leave your readers wanting more.
Coppelia is an orphan and puppeter, surviving by thieving in a city where magic rules. She gets by more easily after befriending a group of dolls with an agenda of their own. When a gollem is discovered, Coppelias talents are put to the test, as well as her shaky friendship with the tiny homonculi.
I have conflicted feelings about short stories. On one hand, they're often easy to digest, and I fly through them. On the other, it's harder to create a complex world with fleshed out characters in the much fewer pages you have - something that either makes the story lacklustre, or if you love the book, makes you wish that it was a full-length novel. In [b:Made Things|44581532|Made Things (Made Things, #1)|Adrian Tchaikovsky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557991956l/44581532._SY75_.jpg|69197736], it's latter problem; [a:Tchaikovsky|1445909|Adrian Tchaikovsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1282303363p2/1445909.jpg] manages to capture the readers attention, but then it leaves you wanting more. I wish we could have fully explored the magical setting, followed the homonculis quest to expanding their people, discovered if Coppelia's family might have been alive after all, as well as discussed how the power of magic affected the entire power dynamic in this world.
There was so much promise, and so I think that [b:Made Things|44581532|Made Things (Made Things, #1)|Adrian Tchaikovsky|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1557991956l/44581532._SY75_.jpg|69197736] would have been better as just a regular novel. But, I guess that's a good problem to have as an author - that you leave your readers wanting more.
roadtripreader's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Actual rating is a 3.75
Throughout the reading of this, I've had this nagging sensation of de ja vu that just won't leave me be. I've never read this book before, so why? Something about the the made things seems so familiar. I would read a couple pages then stop to do a search and type in :
Movie based on Made things...
No no...clear search, type again:
Made things based on movie...
Okay not that, maybe this:
Tv series inspired by Made Things...
And finally, type in this:
What inspired Adrian to write Made Things...
The google results did not subdue that feeling. So I read and read.
The characters, the setting the entire lore just scritching and scratching at me it was almost annoying in it's barrage of familiarity bloody dejavuing me. The Folded Lord, Shallis with its paper edges and nervous demeanor, Arc and his metal resolve and battered armor and Tefwith her intricate facial features delicately placed in wood - the not-real-people who did real things and lived real lives and had real human-sized stakes harrassed me with their familiarity .
Of course it would hit me days after I'd read the book. The made-monster/Ariel = real boy/real girl trope. This one is a strange mix of Pinocchio, and Dr Frankenstein's monster. They want autonomy, but have no interest in becoming real people. They desire a place to call their own, power or agency and to self-determine their existance. Ah yes, everything that makes a human well, human.
Plus. A good Heist. Who doesn't love a good heist.
By the by; I think Adrian wrote this while chilling with his dogs or got a dog around this time because I counted a heck of a lot of dog-related similies and metaphors. NO shade. My own dogs would feature heavily in my art if I were the "artsy" kind
Throughout the reading of this, I've had this nagging sensation of de ja vu that just won't leave me be. I've never read this book before, so why? Something about the the made things seems so familiar. I would read a couple pages then stop to do a search and type in :
Movie based on Made things...
No no...clear search, type again:
Made things based on movie...
Okay not that, maybe this:
Tv series inspired by Made Things...
And finally, type in this:
What inspired Adrian to write Made Things...
The google results did not subdue that feeling. So I read and read.
The characters, the setting the entire lore just scritching and scratching at me it was almost annoying in it's barrage of familiarity bloody dejavuing me. The Folded Lord, Shallis with its paper edges and nervous demeanor, Arc and his metal resolve and battered armor and Tefwith her intricate facial features delicately placed in wood - the not-real-people who did real things and lived real lives and had real human-sized stakes harrassed me with their familiarity .
Of course it would hit me days after I'd read the book. The made-monster/Ariel = real boy/real girl trope. This one is a strange mix of Pinocchio, and Dr Frankenstein's monster. They want autonomy, but have no interest in becoming real people. They desire a place to call their own, power or agency and to self-determine their existance. Ah yes, everything that makes a human well, human.
Plus. A good Heist. Who doesn't love a good heist.
By the by; I think Adrian wrote this while chilling with his dogs or got a dog around this time because I counted a heck of a lot of dog-related similies and metaphors. NO shade. My own dogs would feature heavily in my art if I were the "artsy" kind
cupiscent's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This was a charming little bite of second-world urban fantasy thief-shenanigans. The story and world and characters all felt nicely done at this size; in this case, my yearning for more comes down to language and style choices. Every now and then, there'd be an absolutely sparkling line, but in general the prose was more functional, which made some of that sparkling seem a little overly ostentatious; I'd have preferred more felicity throughout. Similarly, the later inclusion of a new POV made things feel a little unbalanced; I'd have preferred to have had it throughout.
zivan's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Made Things is aimed at a younger audience and intended to teach the evils of hording power.
It's a fun story about a street urchin that teams up with magical figurines. But it really hits you on the head with the rich and powerful are evil message.
It's a fun story about a street urchin that teams up with magical figurines. But it really hits you on the head with the rich and powerful are evil message.
ielerol's review
4.0
A fun little adventure, just the right size story for a novella. The cover doesn't do the homunculi justice, whose various forms sound wonderfully weird and inventive.
titusfortner's review
3.0
A short book with an interesting story about an orphan and her living puppets. It was a fun romp, with an interesting ending. 3.5 stars.
bkschwartz's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cj13's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0