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callienicole's review against another edition
4.0
This was one of those books that I enjoyed while I was reading, but I had no motivation to pick it up when I wasn't actually reading it. So I only got to page 219 before the library time clock won and I had to return it. So here are my thoughts on the 70% that I read, and I hope to pick it up and finish it when I can!
Genre: The most interesting thing about this book to me is that I had a hard time categorizing it in any one genre! I have never read anything quite like it. It's part historical fiction, part mystery, maybe part romance, and a whole lot of fantasy. Sometimes you thought these must be events that would be occurring in our real world, but then something fantastical would happen, like a mechanical octopus pet showing up in the story, and you would get the feeling that this must be some alternate universe, where the characters are set in London but it's not REALLY London. I really enjoyed how unusual it was!
Plot: Thaniel Steepleton comes home one day to find a mysterious watch with sophisticated clockwork - he can't break it, and he can't get rid of it, and he has no idea how it got in his room. As the story unfolds, the watch saves him from an explosion, and he then tracks down the maker, a man named Mori, a mysterious character who seems to know more than he should. Is he the bomber or not?
Characters: I really loved Mori in this book - he was just so lovable, and I love the friendship that was forming between him and Thaniel. This is the main reason I will pick the book back up, because I want to know how that plays out. There is also a character named Grace, a female scientist who doesn't want anything but to continue her research. I had a REALLY hard time liking Grace though. She came off a little emotionless, and wasn't relatable to me.
Language: Mild cussing, but several uses of Jesus's name in vain.
Spiritual Content: If I am remembering right, I think one of the characters mentions a seance, which I don't like. One of the main characters is supposed to be a "clairvoyant", but in the context of the book it didn't seem weird. One of the scientist characters gave a scientific explanation for it, and the whole book had a fantasy kind of feel even though it occurs in London - so rather than being a weird spiritual element, like it would be to me in other books, it came off like part of the fantasy genre of the book. Normally I would probably put a book down if clairvoyants started showing up, but this one seemed more like a fanciful scientific explanation, so it didn't bother me as much.
My Thoughts: The writing in this book is the part that has me the most torn. The progression of the story often gets hazy...I had a hard time keeping up with where the characters were and what they were doing, because the transitions from one scene to another were either very tiny and easy to miss or foggy. I honestly couldn't decide if it was intentional or unintentional - if these hazy transitions were intentional, then it was brilliant, because it really added to the overall mysterious/fantastical elements in this story. If it was unintentional, then it was just bad writing. I think this was part of why I felt unmotivated to pick it back up, because the writing could get a little confusing...but at the same time, a part of me wants to finish it for the friendship I see developing and to see where this whole crazy thing is going.
Genre: The most interesting thing about this book to me is that I had a hard time categorizing it in any one genre! I have never read anything quite like it. It's part historical fiction, part mystery, maybe part romance, and a whole lot of fantasy. Sometimes you thought these must be events that would be occurring in our real world, but then something fantastical would happen, like a mechanical octopus pet showing up in the story, and you would get the feeling that this must be some alternate universe, where the characters are set in London but it's not REALLY London. I really enjoyed how unusual it was!
Plot: Thaniel Steepleton comes home one day to find a mysterious watch with sophisticated clockwork - he can't break it, and he can't get rid of it, and he has no idea how it got in his room. As the story unfolds, the watch saves him from an explosion, and he then tracks down the maker, a man named Mori, a mysterious character who seems to know more than he should. Is he the bomber or not?
Characters: I really loved Mori in this book - he was just so lovable, and I love the friendship that was forming between him and Thaniel. This is the main reason I will pick the book back up, because I want to know how that plays out. There is also a character named Grace, a female scientist who doesn't want anything but to continue her research. I had a REALLY hard time liking Grace though. She came off a little emotionless, and wasn't relatable to me.
Language: Mild cussing, but several uses of Jesus's name in vain.
Spiritual Content: If I am remembering right, I think one of the characters mentions a seance, which I don't like. One of the main characters is supposed to be a "clairvoyant", but in the context of the book it didn't seem weird. One of the scientist characters gave a scientific explanation for it, and the whole book had a fantasy kind of feel even though it occurs in London - so rather than being a weird spiritual element, like it would be to me in other books, it came off like part of the fantasy genre of the book. Normally I would probably put a book down if clairvoyants started showing up, but this one seemed more like a fanciful scientific explanation, so it didn't bother me as much.
My Thoughts: The writing in this book is the part that has me the most torn. The progression of the story often gets hazy...I had a hard time keeping up with where the characters were and what they were doing, because the transitions from one scene to another were either very tiny and easy to miss or foggy. I honestly couldn't decide if it was intentional or unintentional - if these hazy transitions were intentional, then it was brilliant, because it really added to the overall mysterious/fantastical elements in this story. If it was unintentional, then it was just bad writing. I think this was part of why I felt unmotivated to pick it back up, because the writing could get a little confusing...but at the same time, a part of me wants to finish it for the friendship I see developing and to see where this whole crazy thing is going.
aarnireads's review against another edition
3.0
A decently entertaining little adventure.
I'm only docking points because some parts seemed like they should have had more polishing: it wasn't always clear who was talking in a scene, or a pronoun was in the wrong place and so forth. The book doesn't really have a huge coherent plot either in my opinion, and Grace's POV felt a little distant from Thaniel's.
My favourites, surprisingly enough, were Mori and Matsumoto. Mori is a sweet bean and Matsumoto is just fun.
I'm only docking points because some parts seemed like they should have had more polishing: it wasn't always clear who was talking in a scene, or a pronoun was in the wrong place and so forth. The book doesn't really have a huge coherent plot either in my opinion, and Grace's POV felt a little distant from Thaniel's.
My favourites, surprisingly enough, were Mori and Matsumoto. Mori is a sweet bean and Matsumoto is just fun.
merrydrummer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
ellathelibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
I lost the story about 3/4 through and couldn't tell you what happened. A disappointing read.
angie_98's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I just didn't get excited by the story one bit. It was just boring, but not dull enough to dnf the book completely
oshild's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
monkeyboystiff's review against another edition
On paper should be my perfect book, but I found it really hard to read and follow, and extremely boring! Gave up two thirds in, just trudging through it
gabudell's review against another edition
2.0
I was really looking forward to this book just going off the setting and the ‘soft magic’ atmosphere I was promised (which was present) but there were so many plot-holes, set-ups that never resolved and most of the characters didn’t even have any common sense despite the narrator describing their intellect and academic abilities in some cases.
One of the main things that bothered me was the fact that, in this novel set in Victorian England, when it is revealed that one of the main characters has a clockwork octopus, our protagonist doesn’t acknowledge this as strange, impressive or anything out of the ordinary. Not only would this be worth a reaction in a modern setting but in Victorian London I would expect the characters to have a bigger reaction to technology achievement and breakthroughs. This is just one example and probably the least likely to cause spoilers.
On top of this, the dialogue was very blocky and shallow in addition to the incredibly declarative writing style that made it so I was never fully engrossed into the narrative.
One of the main things that bothered me was the fact that, in this novel set in Victorian England, when it is revealed that one of the main characters has a clockwork octopus, our protagonist doesn’t acknowledge this as strange, impressive or anything out of the ordinary. Not only would this be worth a reaction in a modern setting but in Victorian London I would expect the characters to have a bigger reaction to technology achievement and breakthroughs. This is just one example and probably the least likely to cause spoilers.
On top of this, the dialogue was very blocky and shallow in addition to the incredibly declarative writing style that made it so I was never fully engrossed into the narrative.
qludwig's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
slow-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
I really enjoyed the cast of characters in this book. Even the ones that were not likeable were very compelling. I think it’s also very well done that the author allows characters to have biases and opinions that would be standard to the time even if from a modern viewpoint it risks making them a less likeable character. I think this works so well because it’s shown to not be views that come from active hate but that’s how they’ve been raised to think and they can grow beyond that prejudice if given the right opportunity.
The book does a good job of acknowledging and showing the broader societal discrimination various groups faced while also not having a story that is just about their struggles and traumas. They are allowed to have joy and build lives for themselves in the corners of a society that looks down on them. To me it strikes a good balance of decent historical accuracy while also tell stories that get to show the moments of joy that existed in marginalized communities even during times of oppression.
My biggest issue with the book was the pacing. Well the first three quarters were interesting they were very slowly paced. Which I didn’t mind but then the climax of the story pacing felt breakneck by comparison and felt a bit rushed at the end. I just felt the ending could have been given a bit more time to breath particularly as the rest of it felt like a wander through the characters lives.
Would definitely recommend it was a very sweet book overall but does contain some very tense moments.
The book does a good job of acknowledging and showing the broader societal discrimination various groups faced while also not having a story that is just about their struggles and traumas. They are allowed to have joy and build lives for themselves in the corners of a society that looks down on them. To me it strikes a good balance of decent historical accuracy while also tell stories that get to show the moments of joy that existed in marginalized communities even during times of oppression.
My biggest issue with the book was the pacing. Well the first three quarters were interesting they were very slowly paced. Which I didn’t mind but then the climax of the story pacing felt breakneck by comparison and felt a bit rushed at the end. I just felt the ending could have been given a bit more time to breath particularly as the rest of it felt like a wander through the characters lives.
Would definitely recommend it was a very sweet book overall but does contain some very tense moments.