Scan barcode
cyhr04's review
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.75
laura_cs's review against another edition
5.0
3rd Read 2019: This book just gets better and better every time I read it. I love it so much...
2nd Read 2018: In preparation of reading the second book in Tara Sim’s Victorian Steampunk trilogy, I re-read Timekeeper and fell in love all over again! This is a book I’ve recommend countless times since I read it last spring, and the first book I’ve read in a long time that I wanted to re-read almost immediately after finishing the last chapter.
Ms. Sim has created an amazing world with unique rules and mythos, as well as a fantastic cast of characters. This is a fantastic blending of genres and ideas all within one book: there’s obviously the sci-fi and fantasy aspects of the steampunk world mixed with magic, the underlying mystery of “who is sabotaging the clock towers and why?”, and of course romance. You’ve got characters from all different walks of life with different problems, who all come together to solve the same problem and make things right. It’s got a happy ending, though with an ominous note to lead into book 2, Chainbreaker.
Oh, and there’s explosions. Lots of stuff goes boom.
Favorite part: Colton, without a doubt. He’s equal parts innocent cinnamon roll and devious little monster.
2nd Read 2018: In preparation of reading the second book in Tara Sim’s Victorian Steampunk trilogy, I re-read Timekeeper and fell in love all over again! This is a book I’ve recommend countless times since I read it last spring, and the first book I’ve read in a long time that I wanted to re-read almost immediately after finishing the last chapter.
Ms. Sim has created an amazing world with unique rules and mythos, as well as a fantastic cast of characters. This is a fantastic blending of genres and ideas all within one book: there’s obviously the sci-fi and fantasy aspects of the steampunk world mixed with magic, the underlying mystery of “who is sabotaging the clock towers and why?”, and of course romance. You’ve got characters from all different walks of life with different problems, who all come together to solve the same problem and make things right. It’s got a happy ending, though with an ominous note to lead into book 2, Chainbreaker.
Oh, and there’s explosions. Lots of stuff goes boom.
Favorite part: Colton, without a doubt. He’s equal parts innocent cinnamon roll and devious little monster.
lunarchfey's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5 Stars
I was delighted by the premise of this book , but a little underwhelmed by the execution. I didn’t want to stop reading at any point, and was invested enough in the characters to want to know how it ended, but felt myself really hoping for more of this or maybe not that throughout much of the book.
What I did like: the premise, as stated! A very cool idea. In a lot of ways, a very interesting execution, as well. The characters themselves (especially Colton, the love interest) were very charming. There are many worse ways to spend a few hours than introducing Colton into your life, and I did find the romantic thread of the story really held it together. There was at least one very memorable kiss, and I say this as someone who has read many, many kiss scenes.
What I could take or leave: The prose was clean but largely unremarkable. I skipped the “mythology” chapters wholesale since they dragged too much. I easily predicted more events and occurrences than I’d like to (a shame for a ‘mystery’), and found that a lot of the worldbuilding was just under-utilized and under-explored set dressing. Outside of the main two, character relationships were one-note or easily dismissed.
In the end, I have sort of an overall generally positive feeling because nothing really betrayed me or broke my heart, but also a sense of longing for the strengths of the book to hold up better. I’ll definitely read the sequel, if only because I am invested in the main pair, but I have a strong suspicion that the flaws of the first likely won’t be addressed (and will probably be compounded) by the second.
I was delighted by the premise of this book , but a little underwhelmed by the execution. I didn’t want to stop reading at any point, and was invested enough in the characters to want to know how it ended, but felt myself really hoping for more of this or maybe not that throughout much of the book.
What I did like: the premise, as stated! A very cool idea. In a lot of ways, a very interesting execution, as well. The characters themselves (especially Colton, the love interest) were very charming. There are many worse ways to spend a few hours than introducing Colton into your life, and I did find the romantic thread of the story really held it together. There was at least one very memorable kiss, and I say this as someone who has read many, many kiss scenes.
What I could take or leave: The prose was clean but largely unremarkable. I skipped the “mythology” chapters wholesale since they dragged too much. I easily predicted more events and occurrences than I’d like to (a shame for a ‘mystery’), and found that a lot of the worldbuilding was just under-utilized and under-explored set dressing. Outside of the main two, character relationships were one-note or easily dismissed.
In the end, I have sort of an overall generally positive feeling because nothing really betrayed me or broke my heart, but also a sense of longing for the strengths of the book to hold up better. I’ll definitely read the sequel, if only because I am invested in the main pair, but I have a strong suspicion that the flaws of the first likely won’t be addressed (and will probably be compounded) by the second.
elea_scout07's review against another edition
3.0
It wasn't a super action book, I just got a bit bored. It felt like a not a whole lot of interesting things happened.
rycantread's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
mellhay's review against another edition
4.0
I love the magic of the clock towers. They are what keeps time moving at a regulated pace. If anything happens to the clock, time is skewed. We see this happen with a few different troubles with clock towers. Time can even stop in a time zone for a clock tower. Very interesting!
****FULL REVIEW****
*I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions.
Danny Hart is the youngest mechanic to take care of the clock towers. He has his fears to overcome, and one tower keeps breaking and he keeps repairing. But what he learns of the tower and it's spirit takes Danny's heart to new levels. Danny grows afraid for his favorite tower as someone is planting bombs in towers and stopping time.
Gary is a new narrator for me. And I found I liked his voice from the moment he read the title. His slight accent was lovely and felt to fit the book style for me. I got a feel for different characters when they spoke, the feel that fit their stations in life. While listening, early in the book (in chapter 2) there is a moment a word is cut short and a pause, like this was done in editing. But that was the only flaw I heard, and forgot about it quickly.
I love the magic of the clock towers. They are what keeps time moving at a regulated pace. If anything happens to the clock, time is skewed. We see this happen with a few different troubles with clock towers. Time can even stop in a time zone for a clock tower. Very interesting!
Within the first 5 chapters I got a strong feel for where the story is going with Danny and the clock tower. And I liked the idea. We got the brickwork for what's to come, and I looked forward to seeing Danny experience it all.
The romance is a sweet draw that I really enjoyed. This story is the first I've read of that's two boys falling in love. The way this is written, I didn't even think twice on the idea. I believed the relationship growth and thought there were innocent moments that were touching as they happen. I loved the romance, the love that grows. It's well written and innocent.
We get a mystery as well. There are a few elements that make us curious. There is the mystery of who's bombing the towers. We know of one bomb coming into the story and see a few more happen. Then there's a town that stopped working, stopping time in that city. Then theirs the thinking of how new clock towers are made. They can make a tower but to create the connection to time is a secret unknown. We learn about the spirits as we go, something that's not really known among the citizens and not always believed.
The story here is concluded, but there is a thought and worry left for the future. I'm curious where the story will go next with Danny and what we can learn of the clock towers and their spirits.
****FULL REVIEW****
*I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions.
Danny Hart is the youngest mechanic to take care of the clock towers. He has his fears to overcome, and one tower keeps breaking and he keeps repairing. But what he learns of the tower and it's spirit takes Danny's heart to new levels. Danny grows afraid for his favorite tower as someone is planting bombs in towers and stopping time.
Gary is a new narrator for me. And I found I liked his voice from the moment he read the title. His slight accent was lovely and felt to fit the book style for me. I got a feel for different characters when they spoke, the feel that fit their stations in life. While listening, early in the book (in chapter 2) there is a moment a word is cut short and a pause, like this was done in editing. But that was the only flaw I heard, and forgot about it quickly.
I love the magic of the clock towers. They are what keeps time moving at a regulated pace. If anything happens to the clock, time is skewed. We see this happen with a few different troubles with clock towers. Time can even stop in a time zone for a clock tower. Very interesting!
Within the first 5 chapters I got a strong feel for where the story is going with Danny and the clock tower. And I liked the idea. We got the brickwork for what's to come, and I looked forward to seeing Danny experience it all.
The romance is a sweet draw that I really enjoyed. This story is the first I've read of that's two boys falling in love. The way this is written, I didn't even think twice on the idea. I believed the relationship growth and thought there were innocent moments that were touching as they happen. I loved the romance, the love that grows. It's well written and innocent.
We get a mystery as well. There are a few elements that make us curious. There is the mystery of who's bombing the towers. We know of one bomb coming into the story and see a few more happen. Then there's a town that stopped working, stopping time in that city. Then theirs the thinking of how new clock towers are made. They can make a tower but to create the connection to time is a secret unknown. We learn about the spirits as we go, something that's not really known among the citizens and not always believed.
The story here is concluded, but there is a thought and worry left for the future. I'm curious where the story will go next with Danny and what we can learn of the clock towers and their spirits.
nyeran's review against another edition
2.0
“A single thought registered, stunned and succint: Oh, hell"
#STORYOFMYLIFE
♠ Ora, io non sono un meccanico e capisco ancora meno di orologi. Il mio massimo nel fai da te è attaccare un quadro. Il mio massimo nella meccanica è cambiare le ruote dell’auto (se i bulloni hanno un serraggio umano) quindi immaginatevi che due palle sia stato leggere continuamente di meccaniche orologesche. Che poi non succede mai nulla, per tipo 300 pagine. Palle.
Nel libro poi non c’è altro, c’è un po’ di storia(?)/mitologia(?), c’è un tentativo di world building e basta.
Che poi world building, sappiamo che in tutto il paese c’è gente che protesta perché ce l’ha con i meccanici e le torri. Però sono proteste senza senso perché possibile che nessuno riesce a spiegare a ‘sti disgraziati che la situazione sarebbe catastrofica se eliminassero le torri? Perché nessuno prova a dialogare con queste persone? Perché nessuno prova a farglielo capire? La risposta è “Non capirebbero”. Ma vai a cagare.
♠ Il resto del world building è un insieme di buone idee, prese singolarmente, ma che qui cozzano terribilmente tra loro. Tipo, siamo in epoca vittoriana però a scandire il tempo ci sono delle torri costruite ai tempi degli antichi greci. Già qui non è ben chiaro che aspetto abbiano queste torri. Viene citato il Big Bang quindi penso che abbiano un aspetto vittoriano, com’è possibile? Sono state ricostruite seguendo lo stile inglese? E poi da quando gli inglesi, e con loro celti e vichinghi, seguono i miti greci? Potevo capire Valhalla o le valchirie ma non Zeus e Poseidone. Poi tra l’altro la tecnologia generale avanza, migliora, cambia, però gli orologi che regolano la vita di tutti e la sopravvivenza del mondo, restano uguali.
♠ L’insta-love grande come un transatlantico che come tutti i suoi simili non ha alcun senso whatsoever. Cioè, davvero, forse sono troppo vecchia, forse è la mia misantropia, voglio dire, mi sta bene che tu vedi una persona e che questa persona ti piace, o che comunque la trovi attraente ma sentire già le palpitazioni quando non ti ha rivolto nemmeno la parola? Perché non c’è mai una base a questi insta-love? Come puoi provare attrazione per una persona di cui non sai letteralmente nulla? Ma fondamentalmente, perché quest’ insta-love è sempre presente, tutti lo amano e tutti lo scrivono??? Ma poi ripeto, un rapporto affettivo deve avere comunque delle basi, che siano hobby in comune, una conoscenza reciproca, gusti simili, no? Come? Cos’è che affascina dell’ insta-love, qualcuno me lo spieghi.
I due, tra l’altro, come tutto il libro, sono di un noioso allucinante. Un vero peccato perché le scene tra loro sono di un cuccioloso quasi vomitevole ma ero talmente annoiata da tutto che non credo di essere riuscita a godermele appieno.
E quanto è conveniente che gli spiriti degli orologi abbiamo forma umana? Non potevano essere gatti? Serpenti? Bianconigli? Posso capire Colton che è innamorato di Danny e quindi vuole e deve interagire con lui ma gli altri? Possono scegliere che aspetto avere o sono umani perché si?
Tra l’altro, la sindrome dello special snowflake non è che che se la affibbi ad un maschio va bene e se è una donna no, eh! È brutta anche nel protagonista di sesso maschile, ok!?
Pollici in alto per la scelta di avere un meccanico donna.
#STORYOFMYLIFE
♠ Ora, io non sono un meccanico e capisco ancora meno di orologi. Il mio massimo nel fai da te è attaccare un quadro. Il mio massimo nella meccanica è cambiare le ruote dell’auto (se i bulloni hanno un serraggio umano) quindi immaginatevi che due palle sia stato leggere continuamente di meccaniche orologesche. Che poi non succede mai nulla, per tipo 300 pagine. Palle.
Nel libro poi non c’è altro, c’è un po’ di storia(?)/mitologia(?), c’è un tentativo di world building e basta.
Che poi world building, sappiamo che in tutto il paese c’è gente che protesta perché ce l’ha con i meccanici e le torri. Però sono proteste senza senso perché possibile che nessuno riesce a spiegare a ‘sti disgraziati che la situazione sarebbe catastrofica se eliminassero le torri? Perché nessuno prova a dialogare con queste persone? Perché nessuno prova a farglielo capire? La risposta è “Non capirebbero”. Ma vai a cagare.
♠ Il resto del world building è un insieme di buone idee, prese singolarmente, ma che qui cozzano terribilmente tra loro. Tipo, siamo in epoca vittoriana però a scandire il tempo ci sono delle torri costruite ai tempi degli antichi greci. Già qui non è ben chiaro che aspetto abbiano queste torri. Viene citato il Big Bang quindi penso che abbiano un aspetto vittoriano, com’è possibile? Sono state ricostruite seguendo lo stile inglese? E poi da quando gli inglesi, e con loro celti e vichinghi, seguono i miti greci? Potevo capire Valhalla o le valchirie ma non Zeus e Poseidone. Poi tra l’altro la tecnologia generale avanza, migliora, cambia, però gli orologi che regolano la vita di tutti e la sopravvivenza del mondo, restano uguali.
♠ L’insta-love grande come un transatlantico che come tutti i suoi simili non ha alcun senso whatsoever. Cioè, davvero, forse sono troppo vecchia, forse è la mia misantropia, voglio dire, mi sta bene che tu vedi una persona e che questa persona ti piace, o che comunque la trovi attraente ma sentire già le palpitazioni quando non ti ha rivolto nemmeno la parola? Perché non c’è mai una base a questi insta-love? Come puoi provare attrazione per una persona di cui non sai letteralmente nulla? Ma fondamentalmente, perché quest’ insta-love è sempre presente, tutti lo amano e tutti lo scrivono??? Ma poi ripeto, un rapporto affettivo deve avere comunque delle basi, che siano hobby in comune, una conoscenza reciproca, gusti simili, no? Come? Cos’è che affascina dell’ insta-love, qualcuno me lo spieghi.
I due, tra l’altro, come tutto il libro, sono di un noioso allucinante. Un vero peccato perché le scene tra loro sono di un cuccioloso quasi vomitevole ma ero talmente annoiata da tutto che non credo di essere riuscita a godermele appieno.
E quanto è conveniente che gli spiriti degli orologi abbiamo forma umana? Non potevano essere gatti? Serpenti? Bianconigli? Posso capire Colton che è innamorato di Danny e quindi vuole e deve interagire con lui ma gli altri? Possono scegliere che aspetto avere o sono umani perché si?
Tra l’altro, la sindrome dello special snowflake non è che che se la affibbi ad un maschio va bene e se è una donna no, eh! È brutta anche nel protagonista di sesso maschile, ok!?
Pollici in alto per la scelta di avere un meccanico donna.
thestarsandthemoon's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
liliaouros's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly would give this a solid 4.5 stars really instead of 4 but THIS. I do not have any coherent thoughts other than I could not put this book down at all and I became so invested in the characters from really early on.
What started as a recovery read after I finished a much heavier book (The Vegetarian) turned into so much more. I am definitely set on the rest of the series now and will probably check out the author's other books too :)
What started as a recovery read after I finished a much heavier book (The Vegetarian) turned into so much more. I am definitely set on the rest of the series now and will probably check out the author's other books too :)
reaganwritesluv's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely wonderful. Danny is a relatable protagonist who has the reader cheering him on. The story is very steam punk meets tragic romance, and I’m here for it!