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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Another good addition to the Cogheart story, this time following Lily again and including a character from the first book, plus some more info on her mum. I liked his this added more to the world and characters. It's fairly firnuaic at times but a great story fir ages 9+
This is the second sequel I've read in this series and my excitement seems to wane with each successive book; nothing reaches the magical heights of Cogheart for me.
I thought that this book might do something interesting with the theme of the Victorian freak show, but no... all we end up with is repeated references to the participants being freaks until the end of the book where they decide to mention the typical 'everyone should be treated the same and be taken on their own merits' kind of sentiment. Throughout, even the word freak remains virtually uncorrected. Apart from the freak show and steampunk airships, I feel like the sense of historical setting is almost entirely gone. The characters have very modern speech and converting that are very advanced for their age.
This feels very much like a bridging book. There's no character development, it feels like our protagonists have just been plonked in another setting solely to have an adventure, which is essentially what has happened. I feel like the soul and difference from the first book is gone and all we're left with is a bit of a hollow sweet; something that readers will enjoy in the moment, but quickly forget. I have the next in the series, but think I'm going to stop with this one, before I forget why I loved Cogheart so much.
I thought that this book might do something interesting with the theme of the Victorian freak show, but no... all we end up with is repeated references to the participants being freaks until the end of the book where they decide to mention the typical 'everyone should be treated the same and be taken on their own merits' kind of sentiment. Throughout, even the word freak remains virtually uncorrected. Apart from the freak show and steampunk airships, I feel like the sense of historical setting is almost entirely gone. The characters have very modern speech and converting that are very advanced for their age.
This feels very much like a bridging book. There's no character development, it feels like our protagonists have just been plonked in another setting solely to have an adventure, which is essentially what has happened. I feel like the soul and difference from the first book is gone and all we're left with is a bit of a hollow sweet; something that readers will enjoy in the moment, but quickly forget. I have the next in the series, but think I'm going to stop with this one, before I forget why I loved Cogheart so much.
1st Read- April 2019
- Original Rating- 3 Stars
2nd Read- May 2020 for Medieval-A-Thon (orange on the cover)
- Rating- 4 Stars
It's been so lovely re-reading this series. I knew that I could remember everything from the first 3 books in this series but I just desperately wanted to re-read them before jumping into the fourth book and now I finally can.
- Original Rating- 3 Stars
2nd Read- May 2020 for Medieval-A-Thon (orange on the cover)
- Rating- 4 Stars
It's been so lovely re-reading this series. I knew that I could remember everything from the first 3 books in this series but I just desperately wanted to re-read them before jumping into the fourth book and now I finally can.
I enjoyed the book but it was hard to suspend belief with all the really dumb decisions the kids made. I still like the series and will continue with the rest.
adventurous
medium-paced
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
I have thoroughly enjoyed both Cogheart and Moonlocket, so I had high hopes for Skycircus and it did not disappoint. Bunzl takes us on another thrilling adventure that didn't have so much to do with a mystery as it did with people that had certain motives.
As always I so enjoyed the recurring characters and their personalities. Each book tends to see growth in both Robert and Lily as they face every challenge that comes their way. Their reactions and responses to certain situations are valid, but they also still have a lot of that impulsiveness that goes along with youth. Also, I always adore Malkin's attitude juxtaposed against theirs.
The circus was written masterfully and was rife with danger and creepiness. It was a great setting that was perfect for the adventure. I can't wait to get my hands on book 4!
I have thoroughly enjoyed both Cogheart and Moonlocket, so I had high hopes for Skycircus and it did not disappoint. Bunzl takes us on another thrilling adventure that didn't have so much to do with a mystery as it did with people that had certain motives.
As always I so enjoyed the recurring characters and their personalities. Each book tends to see growth in both Robert and Lily as they face every challenge that comes their way. Their reactions and responses to certain situations are valid, but they also still have a lot of that impulsiveness that goes along with youth. Also, I always adore Malkin's attitude juxtaposed against theirs.
The circus was written masterfully and was rife with danger and creepiness. It was a great setting that was perfect for the adventure. I can't wait to get my hands on book 4!
Another installment to the Cogheart series and these books can be fairly termed as an adventure rather than a thriller (unlike the other two books in this series).
Lily, Robert, and Malkin are swept into the mysterious and somewhat dangerous world of the Skycircus after Lily receives her mother’s journals in a mysterious package on her birthday. There she meets other hybrids and Angelica, a girl with wings that help her to fly.
If you haven’t heard of the series, ‘Cogheart Adventures’ contains mechanists (people/inventors working with the machine's) and characters who are either entirely mechanical or part machine-part human (hybrids) and a thrilling journey they embark on, with each book.
As familiar people return to this story, we are swept into the cacophony of circus of people, with their tents, slang and various kinds of setups. I was thrilled to read more about life in the circus because it has always fascinated me and the author brought it to life with every passing page.
Other than that, Paris as a backdrop was remarkably done. The streets, people, food and lifestyle was surprisingly pleasant to read amidst children trying to escape from an evil circus.
My problem, however, lies with two things- Characters and dialogue. There are many characters we come across throughout the story, some old and some new. But they weren’t well developed. It's more of mere mentions of the character and the present circumstances rather than insight on what kind of people they truly are.
The dialogues were a bit too mature for a middle-grade novel and drifter more towards monologues and philosophical conversations. Kids that age, talking about their purpose in life and advising adults isn’t exactly very convincing. I would recommend reading the series starting from Book 1, even though all the books can be read as a standalone so that you can familiarize yourself with the characters and the setting.
The plot is extremely entertaining and there are lessons to be learned, such as the need to accept all kinds of people no matter how different or alike they are(hybrids in this case) and the advantages and disadvantages of technology.
Lily, Robert, and Malkin are swept into the mysterious and somewhat dangerous world of the Skycircus after Lily receives her mother’s journals in a mysterious package on her birthday. There she meets other hybrids and Angelica, a girl with wings that help her to fly.
If you haven’t heard of the series, ‘Cogheart Adventures’ contains mechanists (people/inventors working with the machine's) and characters who are either entirely mechanical or part machine-part human (hybrids) and a thrilling journey they embark on, with each book.
As familiar people return to this story, we are swept into the cacophony of circus of people, with their tents, slang and various kinds of setups. I was thrilled to read more about life in the circus because it has always fascinated me and the author brought it to life with every passing page.
Other than that, Paris as a backdrop was remarkably done. The streets, people, food and lifestyle was surprisingly pleasant to read amidst children trying to escape from an evil circus.
My problem, however, lies with two things- Characters and dialogue. There are many characters we come across throughout the story, some old and some new. But they weren’t well developed. It's more of mere mentions of the character and the present circumstances rather than insight on what kind of people they truly are.
The dialogues were a bit too mature for a middle-grade novel and drifter more towards monologues and philosophical conversations. Kids that age, talking about their purpose in life and advising adults isn’t exactly very convincing. I would recommend reading the series starting from Book 1, even though all the books can be read as a standalone so that you can familiarize yourself with the characters and the setting.
The plot is extremely entertaining and there are lessons to be learned, such as the need to accept all kinds of people no matter how different or alike they are(hybrids in this case) and the advantages and disadvantages of technology.
Actual Rating: 3.5/5
Not my favourite in the series but a quick and enjoyable read anyway!
Not my favourite in the series but a quick and enjoyable read anyway!