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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Think this one wasn't for me. It seemed like there was a large focus on getting from A to B with various action sequences. The historical flashbacks were somewhat helpful, but the character development felt a little flat at times. Would definitely like more mechanical details and background, though sadly it doesn't seem to be part of a series.
read this because i sorted available libby books by "random" and this was near the top. i'm not really sure what happened and i think it got a lil incesty there for a sec but this was fun!
An entertaining book, good airplane read, and one of those I wish they would've been larger. There are a few interesting characters and subplots that are left unexplored, although I appreciate the author ended the story without forcing this book to become one of those series that just add irrelevant material in order to extend into multiple books.
If you are into Science Fiction, with some Steampunk, I believe you will enjoy it.
If you are into Science Fiction, with some Steampunk, I believe you will enjoy it.
This book was a ton of interesting ideas sprinkled through the story keeping it both surprising and interesting all the way through. The author really invests time in setting up the world of the avtomat and revealing it to you through the story. There were times reading this when I had real "No Way" moments and others when a slight twist took the concept in a direction I hadn't quite anticipated.
The story runs long at a nice pace and seldom slows down much and some of the action scenes fairly move it along even quicker often creating a just one more chapter! approach to reading it.
I quite like the characters and especially Pyotor & Elena as the main avtomat characters, the device of past/present chapters is a well used one and doesn't add or detract from the story. At times it would have been better I think to stick with either the current story or the back story a while longer but this is a minor niggle.
The ending feels open for future books but I feel it worked nicely as a stand alone novel.
The story runs long at a nice pace and seldom slows down much and some of the action scenes fairly move it along even quicker often creating a just one more chapter! approach to reading it.
I quite like the characters and especially Pyotor & Elena as the main avtomat characters, the device of past/present chapters is a well used one and doesn't add or detract from the story. At times it would have been better I think to stick with either the current story or the back story a while longer but this is a minor niggle.
The ending feels open for future books but I feel it worked nicely as a stand alone novel.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
[4.5 stars]
I had already loved Daniel H. Wilson from his amazing work on "Robopocalyse". Here, he brings his fascination with robots to a more steampunk setting, exploring the lives of automaton who have been hidden among us for centuries.
This book really was amazing. The characters were sweet, the story was interesting, and the writing was just fantastic. I hope Wilson continues to write about what he loves because he really has a knack for imagery, cliffhangers, and plot structure.
[4.5 stars]
I had already loved Daniel H. Wilson from his amazing work on "Robopocalyse". Here, he brings his fascination with robots to a more steampunk setting, exploring the lives of automaton who have been hidden among us for centuries.
This book really was amazing. The characters were sweet, the story was interesting, and the writing was just fantastic. I hope Wilson continues to write about what he loves because he really has a knack for imagery, cliffhangers, and plot structure.
A very solid fantasy/sci fi book about sentient automatons. Is that an oxymoron? Anyway, the writing is quite good-I am claustrophobic, and there is a scene in a cave that had me almost hyperventilating! Even just typing this makes my shoulders hunch..- I enjoyed the one current alternating with one historical chapter format, the characters were pretty well drawn. Iām married to someone as stubborn as Peter, so, someone that pigheaded is in fact, realistic. Not that *Iād* know anything about that.
And the story definitely picked up for me in the second half and I had to finish to see what was going on. The tension of the timelines drawing together was really well done.
But it isnāt four stars for me since it isnāt really about anything. Itās just a good story. Which is still good, and kind of what I was looking for. It was a nice balm as I try to finish āparable of the sowerā, which is about too much. Way too much. :(
And thereās nothing wrong with that, please, bring on more well written three star books that just tell good tales! I need them if Iām going to finish the heavy books.
I listened to this book, and enjoyed it. I can be a bit fussy about audiobooks, but this was a good one.
There are a couple of quibbles, why did Elena leave Peter? And they are all so brilliant and hundreds of years old but June figure things out in two days? But maybe itās like medicine, sometimes a second opinion, fresh eyes, is what you need. Why does Peter not figure out sooner killing all these people isnāt working for him and is, you know, evil. But theyāre quibbles, they didnāt interfere with my enjoyment of the story.
And Iām actually glad they left the origins of the avtomats unknown, not for a sequel, but Iād rather have things left a bit murky and mysterious, than have an explanation that doesnāt ring true.
And the story definitely picked up for me in the second half and I had to finish to see what was going on. The tension of the timelines drawing together was really well done.
But it isnāt four stars for me since it isnāt really about anything. Itās just a good story. Which is still good, and kind of what I was looking for. It was a nice balm as I try to finish āparable of the sowerā, which is about too much. Way too much. :(
And thereās nothing wrong with that, please, bring on more well written three star books that just tell good tales! I need them if Iām going to finish the heavy books.
I listened to this book, and enjoyed it. I can be a bit fussy about audiobooks, but this was a good one.
There are a couple of quibbles, why did Elena leave Peter? And they are all so brilliant and hundreds of years old but June figure things out in two days? But maybe itās like medicine, sometimes a second opinion, fresh eyes, is what you need. Why does Peter not figure out sooner killing all these people isnāt working for him and is, you know, evil. But theyāre quibbles, they didnāt interfere with my enjoyment of the story.
And Iām actually glad they left the origins of the avtomats unknown, not for a sequel, but Iād rather have things left a bit murky and mysterious, than have an explanation that doesnāt ring true.
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was an interesting concept. Left me wishing some chapters where shorter in order to include more lore but I guess that was the intent in case it becomes a series. I "read" the audio book, the female voice was annoying the male was ok, stoic but I think it was on purpose.
Nope, don't see what everyone else is loving about this. Some creative world building and great descriptions, but overall like plowing through molasses. The POV flip flopping between characters is choppy and disconcerting, and the suspense and pace is lost between them. As said in my first update, it's like the clockpunk highlander/terminator mashup I never needed.
And I'm still hacked off at Hypatia being 'Virtue'-one of the first known female mathematicians and last pagan librarians of the library of Alexandria celebrated for her 'virtue' of avoiding male company rather than her freaking brilliance... And the women as damsels and villains. June is supposed to be a brilliant researcher but we don't get to see that much, nor do we see Logic actually follow her word very often.
And I'm still hacked off at Hypatia being 'Virtue'-one of the first known female mathematicians and last pagan librarians of the library of Alexandria celebrated for her 'virtue' of avoiding male company rather than her freaking brilliance... And the women as damsels and villains. June is supposed to be a brilliant researcher but we don't get to see that much, nor do we see Logic actually follow her word very often.