Ratings1
Average rating5
When Clara Marie Stanton's ex-fiancé begins to spread rumors that her family suffers from hereditary insanity, it's all Clara can do to protect them from his desperate schemes and society's prejudice. Her family may be eccentric, yes, but they certainly aren't insane. Then Clara's Grandfather Drosselmeyer brings on an apprentice with a mechanical leg, and all pretense of normalcy takes wing. Theodore Kingsley, a shame-chased vagabond skilled in repairing clocks, wants a fresh start far from Kingsley Court and the disappointed father who declared him dead. Upon returning to England, Theodore meets clockmaker Drosselmeyer, who hires him as an apprentice, much to Clara's dismay. When Drosselmeyer spontaneously disappears in his secret flying owl machine, he leaves behind a note for Clara, beseeching her to make her dreams of adventure a reality by joining him on a merry scavenger hunt. Together, Clara and Theodore set off to follow Drosselmeyer's trail of clues, but they will have to stay one step ahead of a villain who wants the flying machine for himself--at any cost.
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4.5 stars, rounded up
This book tried to be a bunch of things, and at first it left me reeling a bit! I was so unsure where it was heading. In the end it's basically a steampunk scavenger hunt across Europe, with a dash of romance and suspense and family love. Once I caught my stride and bonded with the characters, I enjoyed it more and more all the way up to the end. Her mom is a bit much but I honestly know a lady who would probably do exactly that sort of thing if dropped in that setting! I have to say, an ermine as a pet is one of the most unusual ones I've encountered in a book (though not in real life!)
The descriptions are excellent, making me feel like I'm right there while reading. It's a brilliant concept and I'm definitely going to be buying Angela Bell's next book because it's a really well done release!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. A favorable review was not required.