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dromwald's review
4.0
I like steampunk fantasy as a rule and this book did not dissappoint. The main protagonist is a robot but the character is so well drawn it is almost impossible not to start thinking of it as human, or at least, a machine with very human values which was the author's intention. In short, a solid fantasy read with very good characterisation.
badseedgirl's review
4.0
The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia is an excellent introduction to the genre of Steampunk. It is the story of Mattie a self-aware robot called an Automaton. In this alternate reality, magic and technology live hand in hand in the forms of Alchemist and Mechanics. There is also an element of the divine, with the introduction of Gargoyles, who watch and are worshipped as the builders of the city. There are a couple prominent themes in this novel that are traditional themes in a steampunk novel. The big ones are the idea of Science (The Mechanics) vs. Nature (Alchemy), and what and when does a being become divine, in possession of a soul. Another is the idea technology displacing the human worker.
Ms. Sedia’s novel has these themes in spade. Throughout the novel we as the reader are challenged to decide whether in spite of her proclamations, Mattie indeed has a soul, or is she as she claims just a soulless creature. There is a strong “Frankenstein” feel to this novel, mostly due to the love/hate relationship Mattie has with her creator, Loharri. In the beginning of the novel the readers are introduced to Mattie as having been released from servitude from Loharri, but as the novel goes along we find that he has kept the key Mattie needs to maintain function, and if she does not go to visit him on a regular basis a mechanism in her brain causes pain. So even though she “released” her he purposely kept her dependent to him.
The basic story of the novel is Mattie’s quest to help the Gargoyles who are turning to stone break free from their connection to the stones, to give them a soul, and become mortal. But while Mattie is trying to achieve this, the city is embroiled in a royal murder, and civil unrest. The mechanics have created machines that are displacing the peasants in the fields.
As far as the storyline itself, Ms. Sedia is able to create a visual world without being bogged down in descriptive. There are some truly beautiful descriptions in this novel. At one point Mattie wonders what it would be like to have a soul.
“Silvery and elusive like a small fast fish that one could cradle in an open palm full of water but could never grasp without inflicting injury and distress”
I would whole-heartedly recommend this novel to anyone interested in Steampunk, but also to anyone looking for just a good story with interesting characters and an easy reading style.
4 of 5 stars
Ms. Sedia’s novel has these themes in spade. Throughout the novel we as the reader are challenged to decide whether in spite of her proclamations, Mattie indeed has a soul, or is she as she claims just a soulless creature. There is a strong “Frankenstein” feel to this novel, mostly due to the love/hate relationship Mattie has with her creator, Loharri. In the beginning of the novel the readers are introduced to Mattie as having been released from servitude from Loharri, but as the novel goes along we find that he has kept the key Mattie needs to maintain function, and if she does not go to visit him on a regular basis a mechanism in her brain causes pain. So even though she “released” her he purposely kept her dependent to him.
The basic story of the novel is Mattie’s quest to help the Gargoyles who are turning to stone break free from their connection to the stones, to give them a soul, and become mortal. But while Mattie is trying to achieve this, the city is embroiled in a royal murder, and civil unrest. The mechanics have created machines that are displacing the peasants in the fields.
As far as the storyline itself, Ms. Sedia is able to create a visual world without being bogged down in descriptive. There are some truly beautiful descriptions in this novel. At one point Mattie wonders what it would be like to have a soul.
“Silvery and elusive like a small fast fish that one could cradle in an open palm full of water but could never grasp without inflicting injury and distress”
I would whole-heartedly recommend this novel to anyone interested in Steampunk, but also to anyone looking for just a good story with interesting characters and an easy reading style.
4 of 5 stars
grayjay's review
3.0
I enjoyed reading this book, but it was more for the novelty than its literary merit. This story about a clockwork girl is fun and inventive, but definitely more style than substance. It felt like a writer's exercise in Steam Punk rather than an actual effort.
ashpanda88's review
4.0
This was a strange but lovely book. The world building was very intriguing. I loved how the story switched points of view from Mattie, our lead character, an automaton, to the gargoyles, strange flying stone creatures. It gives a very lyrical quality to the writing. Emotional ending but it leaves hope!
wendy_veley's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
theliterarysewist's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
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? No
4.0
Such a heartbreaking story! In a way it speaks in an abstract way about discrimination and acceptance and self care. The self discovery journey of this sweet automaton made my heart melt!
persychan's review against another edition
dark
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.25
Che dire? La prosa è magnifica e il vibe del setting immacolato, poi c'è tutto il resto.
Ci sono 4 trame contemporaneamente ma nessuna di cui mi sia interessato niente. I personaggi, protagonista e creatore abusivo esclusi, hanno la profondità di una pozzanghera. Stesso per gli "intrighi" politici.
E non parliamo della sottotrama dei gargoyle che è puro nonsense, viene risolta con concetti a caso che in qualche modo come un magico megazord si combinano insieme per risolvere la loro maledizione, senza che a nessun punto ci sia detto come mai succeda.
L'intero funzionamento della magia è alquanto...aleatorio e sembra funzionare per le regole del "Mmmh, la trama lo vuole."
Poi c'è la protagonista e la sua relazione con il suo costruttore e beh, l'ho apprezzata e mi è piaciuta nel suo orribile realismo di un continuo abuso e manipolazione vista la dinamica di potere, ma il finale è personalmente un inutile pugno nello stomaco, angst per nessun motivo se non il dramma stesso.
Questo libro è la versione steampunk, con l'aggiunta di gargoyle e una malfatta ribellione, di un classico femminicidio: uomo che non ha mai superato i suoi complessi di inferiorità/trauma usa l'unica donna che lo sopporta - perchè costretta- della sua vita e quando questa inizia a liberarsi dal suo giogo, lui fa di tutto per farla morire.
La mia vita era meglio prima di questo libro.
Ci sono 4 trame contemporaneamente ma nessuna di cui mi sia interessato niente. I personaggi, protagonista e creatore abusivo esclusi, hanno la profondità di una pozzanghera. Stesso per gli "intrighi" politici.
E non parliamo della sottotrama dei gargoyle che è puro nonsense, viene risolta con concetti a caso che in qualche modo come un magico megazord si combinano insieme per risolvere la loro maledizione, senza che a nessun punto ci sia detto come mai succeda.
L'intero funzionamento della magia è alquanto...aleatorio e sembra funzionare per le regole del "Mmmh, la trama lo vuole."
Poi c'è la protagonista e la sua relazione con il suo costruttore e beh, l'ho apprezzata e mi è piaciuta nel suo orribile realismo di un continuo abuso e manipolazione vista la dinamica di potere, ma il finale è personalmente un inutile pugno nello stomaco, angst per nessun motivo se non il dramma stesso.
Questo libro è la versione steampunk, con l'aggiunta di gargoyle e una malfatta ribellione, di un classico femminicidio: uomo che non ha mai superato i suoi complessi di inferiorità/trauma usa l'unica donna che lo sopporta - perchè costretta- della sua vita e quando questa inizia a liberarsi dal suo giogo, lui fa di tutto per farla morire.
La mia vita era meglio prima di questo libro.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Body horror, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Slavery, Child abuse, and Child death
thewallflower00's review
3.0
This book is about a female clockwork automaton. She's an alchemist living on her own, but she's still technically beholden to her creator, since he has the key. She's hired by gargoyles (real stone gargoyles) to find a way to stop them from petrifying forever.
I picked this up because it was on a list of robot books with a different spin. The book has great world-building, great description. It reminded me of Dishonored or "The Wise Man's Fear" in terms of how sheerly vast this world is. You only see a little bit, only what's on the surface.
The problem was that it was too slow-paced. Few events of significance happen throughout the plot. There's a lot of plates in the air, but they never come down. I felt like the gorgeous writing was compensating for the lack of plot. And the end result was that the style got in the way of the story. Character motivation was lacking too. Or at least I didn't get it. The characters do things, but I never got a sense of their back story to figure out why, or why it was important to them. The non-humans start getting indistinguishable after a while.
I picked this up because it was on a list of robot books with a different spin. The book has great world-building, great description. It reminded me of Dishonored or "The Wise Man's Fear" in terms of how sheerly vast this world is. You only see a little bit, only what's on the surface.
The problem was that it was too slow-paced. Few events of significance happen throughout the plot. There's a lot of plates in the air, but they never come down. I felt like the gorgeous writing was compensating for the lack of plot. And the end result was that the style got in the way of the story. Character motivation was lacking too. Or at least I didn't get it. The characters do things, but I never got a sense of their back story to figure out why, or why it was important to them. The non-humans start getting indistinguishable after a while.
karu_fernandez's review
3.0
Creo que sería más un 3.5 tirando a 4.
Qué manera de cringear con los personajes masculinos eh. El viaje de descubrimiento de la humanidad en medio de una revolución es ya un clásico de la literatura rusa. Pero ahora tiene robots, alquimistas y gárgolas.
Creo que el puntito que le falta es la acción. Tarda demasiado en arrancar y durante más de la primera mitad tuve esa sensación de que no estaba segura de cuál era la trama. Los personajes, por otro lado, son su punto fuerte. Son interesantes, tienen muchas aristas y, de hecho, de algunos me quedé con ganas de saber más.
Qué manera de cringear con los personajes masculinos eh. El viaje de descubrimiento de la humanidad en medio de una revolución es ya un clásico de la literatura rusa. Pero ahora tiene robots, alquimistas y gárgolas.
Creo que el puntito que le falta es la acción. Tarda demasiado en arrancar y durante más de la primera mitad tuve esa sensación de que no estaba segura de cuál era la trama. Los personajes, por otro lado, son su punto fuerte. Son interesantes, tienen muchas aristas y, de hecho, de algunos me quedé con ganas de saber más.