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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
I'm very conflicted. On the one hand, this is a brilliant story with an awesome steampunk backdrop. But then again, it's poorly written. Irritatingly so. The characters are mostly just names on the page that do things, sometimes rationally, but most often not. The only character with any resemblance of a personality is the octopus. The conversations are hard to follow because it's usually not clear who's ralking, and I repeatedly wondered if the author knows the connotational gravity of certain words because I sure as hell wouldn't call someone a "xenophobic gnome" and then laugh it off as a joke. And I doubt the other would take it as such.
Not to mention the ending.
I really, really, honsetly hoped against all odds that Grace would turn out to be a terrorist. There was a perfect leading up to it with her science background. The best part of the book was her account of trying to escape Mori and then constructing the bomb at the back of the shop. And all that for what? I can't even fathom the reasons. She should have been an undercover Irish nationalist, what with the family background and all. All that hassle just to make Thaniel realize what a threat Mori is is a gaping missed opportunity and I'm angry about it. I should probably take back the "brilliant story" statement.
The one satisfaction I got from this book is that I wasn't queerbaited.
Not to mention the ending.
I really, really, honsetly hoped against all odds that Grace would turn out to be a terrorist. There was a perfect leading up to it with her science background. The best part of the book was her account of trying to escape Mori and then constructing the bomb at the back of the shop. And all that for what? I can't even fathom the reasons. She should have been an undercover Irish nationalist, what with the family background and all. All that hassle just to make Thaniel realize what a threat Mori is is a gaping missed opportunity and I'm angry about it. I should probably take back the "brilliant story" statement.
The one satisfaction I got from this book is that I wasn't queerbaited.
adventurous
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
mysterious
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
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I couldn't get into this book, the characters did not engage me.
I did like the clockwork octupus and birds.
I did like the clockwork octupus and birds.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Reading this was like a warm hug.
Set in 1883, this is a well written Holmesian mystery stretching from a slightly alternative Victorian London to Japan with a subtle steampunk theme woven throughout. Well rounded characters and clean dialogue make it very readable and some of the more incongruous characters (Katsu, the clockwork octopus) help remind the reader that this isn't entirely set in reality - that and the fact that one of the protagonists is a clairvoyant!
This is the first in a set of (so far) two books, and I already have the second waiting to be read; would recommend to fans of Pullman, Joanne Harris, and The Night Circus.
This is the first in a set of (so far) two books, and I already have the second waiting to be read; would recommend to fans of Pullman, Joanne Harris, and The Night Circus.
Meh. The writing is awkward and I do not care about any of the characters.
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No