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azalea128's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
themin's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
rhonaea's review
4.0
Dark tale based on the disappearance of multiple young children in Paris in 1750, mixed up with King Louis XV’s love of automaton and the fascination with resurrecting the dead/eternal life. Well written, soundly researched and with a strong sense of place, The Clockwork Girl follows the fine tradition of Dracula, Frankenstein, and RLS’s The Body Snatcher (Burke and Hare murders).
ilsesbooks's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
thebritishbibliophile_'s review
5.0
The Clockwork Girl was a read that appealed to me from the start, due to the significant difference to the kinds of books in my go-to tropes and genres. I was looking for something otherworldly different. This read ticked all those boxes, starting with the cover art. My eyes were initially drawn to the incredibly beautifully detailed cover, and in such an attractive blue too. My favourite colour. Then there was the blurb.
I was 1001% sold when I saw--aside from the hint on the cover--that it was set in France and featured Versailles, a place I am simply enamoured with. Now it was time to see if the storyline and the characters inside lived up to everything they've promised to be. The clock starts...now.
Set in the era of France that promised everything from balls at the palace of Versailles with the King and his court, to the gritty rawness of Paris' backstreets, slums and brothels, The Clockwork Girl is nothing short of being one of the best dark, suspenseful, chillingly compelling gothic reads I've ever had the pleasure of picking up to read. Mystery lies around every corner, and the drips and drabs of history woven in with the beautiful French language is just --chefs kiss--, chest magnifique.
All the components of this book came together to create the perfect concoction, no, all worked in sync with one another like the pieces of a clock. Wound at the right moments, it hit its mark and delivered a story that was impossible to put down until the last page.
If you're looking for something that is a little bit different with a dash of culture and history, a sprinkle of breath-stealing suspense and a once-in-a-blue-moon immersive reading experience, The Clockwork Girl is the novel for you.
Though this is the first time I've read an Anna Mazzola novel, it most certainly will not be the last.
I was 1001% sold when I saw--aside from the hint on the cover--that it was set in France and featured Versailles, a place I am simply enamoured with. Now it was time to see if the storyline and the characters inside lived up to everything they've promised to be. The clock starts...now.
Set in the era of France that promised everything from balls at the palace of Versailles with the King and his court, to the gritty rawness of Paris' backstreets, slums and brothels, The Clockwork Girl is nothing short of being one of the best dark, suspenseful, chillingly compelling gothic reads I've ever had the pleasure of picking up to read. Mystery lies around every corner, and the drips and drabs of history woven in with the beautiful French language is just --chefs kiss--, chest magnifique.
All the components of this book came together to create the perfect concoction, no, all worked in sync with one another like the pieces of a clock. Wound at the right moments, it hit its mark and delivered a story that was impossible to put down until the last page.
If you're looking for something that is a little bit different with a dash of culture and history, a sprinkle of breath-stealing suspense and a once-in-a-blue-moon immersive reading experience, The Clockwork Girl is the novel for you.
Though this is the first time I've read an Anna Mazzola novel, it most certainly will not be the last.
pinj_'s review
slow-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
1.25
Honestly this book did not grip me. Still after 200 pages, which is generous, it still just dragged and dragged on. Barely anything happening. It was day in and day out of the main character not being able to finish the assaignment. The hook of what the clockmaker was building was being kept from the reader far too long. The reveal flopped. It made me expect something much more spectacular.
This book could have been just a novella of maybe 150 pages told at much much faster pace. I would have enjoyed it more.
This book became a rage read after 260 pages of not being interesting I refused to let it beat me and honestly the last 100 pages weren't much better. I still had to know what the plot was in its entirety.
I just wasn't entertained.
This book could have been just a novella of maybe 150 pages told at much much faster pace. I would have enjoyed it more.
This book became a rage read after 260 pages of not being interesting I refused to let it beat me and honestly the last 100 pages weren't much better. I still had to know what the plot was in its entirety.
I just wasn't entertained.
sophiemai25's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
liisui's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
sophisreads's review
I wanted to enjoy this because I thought the premise was great but I just didn’t gel with it. Felt like there was something missing. Did try to push on but gave up after over 50 pages.
cher_reads09's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0