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The Lunar Chronicles meets Rook in this queer #OwnVoices science-fantasy novel, perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer and Sharon Cameron. A secret beats inside Anna Thatcher's chest: an illegal clockwork heart. Anna works cog by cog -- donning the moniker Technician -- to supply black market medical technology to the sick and injured, against the Commissioner's tyrannical laws. Nathaniel Fremont, the Commissioner's son, has never had to fear the law. Determined to earn his father's respect, Nathaniel sets out to capture the Technician. But the more he learns about the outlaw, the more he questions whether his father's elusive affection is worth chasing at all. Their game of cat and mouse takes an abrupt turn when Eliza, a skilled assassin and spy, arrives. Her mission is to learn the Commissioner's secrets at any cost -- even if it means betraying her own heart. When these uneasy allies discover the most dangerous secret of all, they must work together despite their differences and put an end to a deadly epidemic -- before the Commissioner ends them first.
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I know some reviews critique the book for being able to have gone further into world-building, and while at points I agree, I found the book a delight to read. A great YA, fantasy, magic book with AWESOME lgbtq+ rep, especially for the lesser known identities I'd love to see more in fiction.
Oh, my goodness, I loved this book. So, I first got into it from some thought I had (or I was told) that it was a poly relationship. It's not. It is a blooming sapphic romance and an aro/ace guy all being friends and choosing each other. And, in fact, the acknowledgement that they would not have been able to succeed if they hadn't trusted and chosen each other is there. So, yeah, right up my alley.
Added to that, we have characters that I adore. I love all three of them, and think their character arcs were amazing. The plot was solid and, I will admit, somewhat standard. The world building was...somewhat eyebrow-raising at times. But I always say I'm a character reader and these characters are all wonderful and amazing and I want to scoop them up and run away with them.
(The story puts me a little in mind of Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston and Stitching Snow by C.S. Lewis.)