by Evangeline Denmark
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Just released: January 5, 2016
Publisher: Blink
Genre: Steampunk, YA
Hardback: 432 pages
Rating: 3, (DNF)
First sentence(s):
The chemist came just before closing. Granddad shot Grey a warning look as he hurried to the front of the store. Time to make herself unnoticeable. As if that were possible.
Grey Haward has always detested the Chemists, the magicians-come-scientists who rule her small western town. But she has always followed the rules, taking the potion the Chemists ration out that helps the town’s people survive. A potion that Grey suspects she—like her grandfather and father—may not actually need.
By working at her grandfather’s repair shop, sorting the small gears and dusting the curio cabinet inside, Grey has tried to stay unnoticed—or as unnoticed as a tall, strong girl can in a town of diminutive, underdeveloped citizens. Then her best friend, Whit, is caught by the Chemists’ enforcers after trying to protect Grey one night, and after seeing the extent of his punishment, suddenly taking risks seems the only decision she can make.
But with the risk comes the reality that the Chemists know her family’s secret, and the Chemists soon decide to use her for their own purposes. Panicked, Grey retreats to the only safe place she knows—her grandfather’s shop. There, however, a larger secret confronts her when her touch unlocks the old curio cabinet in the corner and reveals a world where porcelain and clockwork people are real. There, she could find the key that may save Whit’s life and also end the Chemists’ dark rule forever.
My two-bits:
Argh! yes, I know right? I have come across another DNF kind of book.
The premise is interesting - especially with the steampunk tinge. But I could not get into the telling of this tale. However, the writing was alright and I gave a rating based on what was read so far.
From the start I did not connect with main character or with any others. For me connecting with a character does not necessarily relate to likability. I liked her, Grey, well enough. But, she did not hold enough interest to continue following.
Also at the start, I did not get the steampunk vibe that I was expecting. Could be I need to read more into the story for it.
Feel free to let me know if you would like to give this book a read with your email in comments and I will send it to you -offer ends January 31, 2016
About the author:
Evangeline lives in Colorado with her husband, an engineer with a sense of humor and an artistic streak, two ravenous sons who steal her laptop and demand dinner, a cat, two turtles, and a cattle dog who runs the house.
* review copy courtesy of book tour sponsored by BookSparks @booksparks
