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Synopsis (From GoodReads):
In an alternate Victorian world controlled by clock towers, a damaged clock can fracture time—and a destroyed one can stop it completely.
It’s a truth that seventeen-year-old clock mechanic Danny Hart knows all too well; his father has been trapped in a Stopped town east of London for three years. Though Danny is a prodigy who can repair not only clockwork, but the very fabric of time, his fixation with staging a rescue is quickly becoming a concern to his superiors.
And so they assign him to Enfield, a town where the tower seems to be forever plagued with problems. Danny’s new apprentice both annoys and intrigues him, and though the boy is eager to work, he maintains a secretive distance. Danny soon discovers why: he is the tower’s clock spirit, a mythical being that oversees Enfield’s time. Though the boys are drawn together by their loneliness, Danny knows falling in love with a clock spirit is forbidden, and means risking everything he’s fought to achieve.
But when a series of bombings at nearby towers threaten to Stop more cities, Danny must race to prevent Enfield from becoming the next target or he’ll not only lose his father, but the boy he loves, forever.
Review:
In an alternative universe where time in Victorian England is literally controlled by clocks, Danny is racked guilt. The youngest person ever to become a mechanic, he is still haunted by the thought that he is responsible for his father being stuck in a town that has Stopped. Once I understood the world that this book is set in, I loved it. It was fun, romantic and suspenseful.
via GIPHY
What I liked:
World-Building:In this version of Victorian England, the industrial age has progressed far ahead than in real-life. There are automobiles (run on boilers), automatons helping customers in shops, and mechanics whose job it is to keep the clocks running so time doesn't Stop. The author didn't go overboard with the innovations. Tara Sim just tweaked small details of Victorian life to include more technology. This created tension between traditionalists and those who could see how machines could improve people's lives.
Throughout the book, the author sprinkles in mythological stories and then ties them in with what happens in the book. This is such a beautiful aspect of the book. It fleshed out this world for me as a reader.
Romance:
Danny is assigned to the Colton clock in a small town named Enfield. The clock's spirit, named Colton, recognizes Danny's loneliness, and reveals himself to Danny. Their romance is beautiful and tugs at the heart. It shows both the good and the challenging parts of a relationship. All is not roses and chocolates for this couple. As they get to know each other, they must deal with fear, jealousy, and selfishness on both of their parts. I really enjoyed how Tara Sim showed this as a complex relationship.
Suspense:
As the story progressed, I got caught up in the action and could not put it down! When I am losing sleep and am happy about it, I know this is a great book! I loved that the culprit was not obvious (at least to me), until late in the story. There were obstacles for Danny to overcome, and I couldn't wait to read how Danny would navigate these problems.
Rating:
Release Date: November 8th, 2016
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Source: NetGalley
Format: ARC E-Book
Recommendation:
If you love steam punk science fiction, romance and suspense, you are in for a treat! This is a fast-paced, fun book.
I love the sound of an alternate Victorian London and basically anything involving time is bound to grab my attention. I'm really glad to hear you liked Timekeeper. Great review!
ReplyDeleteZareena @ The Slanted Bookshelf
I loved the romance between Danny and Colton, and that in that universe, it may have raised some eyebrows, but it was accepted.
DeleteOoh! I also got it and can’t wait to get to it! :D
ReplyDeleteIt's a really fun, fast-paced book.
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