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izzygrayreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
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
3.5
lollybee's review
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In The Clockwork Girl, Anna Mazzola takes 'The Vanishing Children of Paris of 1750' and creates a historical, gothic tale of three women from different backgrounds -
Madeleine, daughter of a vicious brothel keeper.
Veronique, who has recently returned home (to her father, the city 's famous clockmaker) from a harsh convent education
Jeanne (Madame Pompadour), mistress to King Louis XV
- and the lengths they will go to for the freedom to take control of their own lives.
Madeleine, daughter of a vicious brothel keeper.
Veronique, who has recently returned home (to her father, the city 's famous clockmaker) from a harsh convent education
Jeanne (Madame Pompadour), mistress to King Louis XV
- and the lengths they will go to for the freedom to take control of their own lives.
reggie_swift's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
jacki_f's review
2.0
I really liked Anna Mazzola's first two novels but this one didn't work for me. They have all been historical and feel well researched with lots of atmospheric detail. The Clockwork Girl is set in Paris in 1750 and the plot draws from real events, although it uses them as a starting point rather than as the plot.
The novel is about a young woman who goes to work for a clock maker who is suspected of conducting strange experiments. She is tasked with finding out what he is doing. The story alternates between her perspective, the clockmaker's daughter and also a character called Jeanne who will turn out to be the famous Madame de Pompadour.
Having three narrators didn't work for me. I was most interested in Madeleine the maid and I think the story could have been told purely from her perspective. Initially I liked the gothic atmosphere but the plot was too drawn out and became silly. I was bored at the halfway point, forced myself to stick with it but it didn't get better.
The novel is about a young woman who goes to work for a clock maker who is suspected of conducting strange experiments. She is tasked with finding out what he is doing. The story alternates between her perspective, the clockmaker's daughter and also a character called Jeanne who will turn out to be the famous Madame de Pompadour.
Having three narrators didn't work for me. I was most interested in Madeleine the maid and I think the story could have been told purely from her perspective. Initially I liked the gothic atmosphere but the plot was too drawn out and became silly. I was bored at the halfway point, forced myself to stick with it but it didn't get better.
rocks_and_mountians's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
since68's review
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kazked's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
angelfish257's review
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - it has a creeping feeling of unease from the start, beginning in the seedier parts of Paris but continuing in the house of Dr Reinhart and ultimately, all the way to the Palace of Versailles.
I empathised with Madeleine, trying desperately to escape her brothel madam Mother's clutches and create a better life for herself and her nephew - desperation can make people do things they would not normally consider, and this is how Madeleine agrees to become a police spy - for the promise of an opportunity to escape her current existence.
When she joins Dr Reinhart's household as a maid and companion for his convent-educated daughter, the claustrophobic feeling and unsettling atmosphere intensifies - how does he make the strange mechanical beasts so lifelike? What is he trying to create so secretly?
Outside the house, children are disappearing and the city is in turmoil as the people start to riot and Madeleine's fears for her nephew Emile grow .
Even once the mechanical beasts come to the attention of King Louis and the household moves to the Louvre and are then invited to Versailles, it is clear corruption is at every level and the patriarchy rules with an iron fist - a woman's value is determined by what she can do or provide to a man. To this end, it was interesting to get the perspective of Mme Pompadour, for whom scheming and trying to keep her position at court is the life she chose but what does the future hold?
I found I really cared for the characters of Dr Reinhart's household and was fully invested in their story - there are twists and turns I wasn't expecting, which kept me gripped right to the end. This is a dark and mysterious tale, a thoroughly good read.
I empathised with Madeleine, trying desperately to escape her brothel madam Mother's clutches and create a better life for herself and her nephew - desperation can make people do things they would not normally consider, and this is how Madeleine agrees to become a police spy - for the promise of an opportunity to escape her current existence.
When she joins Dr Reinhart's household as a maid and companion for his convent-educated daughter, the claustrophobic feeling and unsettling atmosphere intensifies - how does he make the strange mechanical beasts so lifelike? What is he trying to create so secretly?
Outside the house, children are disappearing and the city is in turmoil as the people start to riot and Madeleine's fears for her nephew Emile grow .
Even once the mechanical beasts come to the attention of King Louis and the household moves to the Louvre and are then invited to Versailles, it is clear corruption is at every level and the patriarchy rules with an iron fist - a woman's value is determined by what she can do or provide to a man. To this end, it was interesting to get the perspective of Mme Pompadour, for whom scheming and trying to keep her position at court is the life she chose but what does the future hold?
I found I really cared for the characters of Dr Reinhart's household and was fully invested in their story - there are twists and turns I wasn't expecting, which kept me gripped right to the end. This is a dark and mysterious tale, a thoroughly good read.
charlxoxo's review
3.0
3.5/5 stars
I liked this book but didn’t love it!! It was a little slow to start off with but did pick up towards the second half of the book. The plot was a little predictable but still an entertaining read
I liked this book but didn’t love it!! It was a little slow to start off with but did pick up towards the second half of the book. The plot was a little predictable but still an entertaining read
duartepatri's review
5.0
In the spring of 1750 a two-day series of riots erupted in Paris when the populace discovered that police were sweeping children off the streets in an overzealous attempt to control vagrancy.