Scan barcode
A review by patchworkbunny
The Mad Scientist's Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke
5.0
One evening Cat’s father brings Finn home. He is to be her tutor. But Finn is no normal tutor; he is a robot, and not just any robot but a billion dollar prototype; one of a kind. To Cat, he is her friend. Her father tells her Finn’s kindness is a program but as she grows, so do her feelings for him. In a world where robots have helped humankind return from the brink of destruction, they struggle to be accepted. Is her father right? And if so what future can they have?
This book is just stunning; a beautiful story about the nature of love and the sentience of artificial intelligence. It’s a very intimate tale following Cat from her childhood through to adult via marriage and grief. The politics of the robot situation sits perfectly in the background, enough to fuel the plot but not so much that you need to be interested in robots to enjoy the storytelling. Cassandra’s prose is wonderfully descriptive and paints a vivid picture of Cat’s world. From the cottage that feels like an enchanting escape from the hostile world to the sterile environment of the glass house.
Cat’s a multi-faceted character and one you won’t always like. Home-schooled and isolated in childhood she can be a bit self-absorbed and has moments of selfishness. She takes far too much for granted but there is a prevailing sense of loneliness and your heart will break repeatedly for both her and Finn. She is a brilliant example of a flawed character that you can fall in love with. I cried bucket-loads and their story stayed with me long after the last page.
This book is just stunning; a beautiful story about the nature of love and the sentience of artificial intelligence. It’s a very intimate tale following Cat from her childhood through to adult via marriage and grief. The politics of the robot situation sits perfectly in the background, enough to fuel the plot but not so much that you need to be interested in robots to enjoy the storytelling. Cassandra’s prose is wonderfully descriptive and paints a vivid picture of Cat’s world. From the cottage that feels like an enchanting escape from the hostile world to the sterile environment of the glass house.
Cat’s a multi-faceted character and one you won’t always like. Home-schooled and isolated in childhood she can be a bit self-absorbed and has moments of selfishness. She takes far too much for granted but there is a prevailing sense of loneliness and your heart will break repeatedly for both her and Finn. She is a brilliant example of a flawed character that you can fall in love with. I cried bucket-loads and their story stayed with me long after the last page.