The Clockwork Heart. Haunted by a past lover and left with scars so deep Libby gave up her life as an explorer, she spends her days trying to avoid bad memories by training ruthlessly with Helen, the woman she hired to teach her self-defense.
Helen is beautiful, appealing, and could be what Libby. Clockwork Heart. Flight is freedom, but death hangs in the skies Taya soars over Ondinium on metal wings. But even she cannot outfly the web of terrorism, loyalty, murder, and intrigue that snares. The reveal was a bit of a surprise when I mull this over I think that perhaps I was distracted by red herrings thrown in by the author , and yet WHY also didn't fully make sense to me. Maybe I expected to understand the reasons for the villains' actions more fully than was presented.
Overall: Already one of my favorite reads of this year, I think it's a shoo in for my best of list. This combines fantasy, steampunk, romance, action, and intrigue into something new and fresh. If you are the least bit interested go find this book. I was so addicted I just read this straight for hours and when I came up for air I was disoriented about how much time had passed. This is the debut novel by this author, however she has published some short stories. Dru Pagliassotti is currently working on a sequel to Clockwork Heart tentatively titled Obstruction Currents.
According to her blog she's also working on another unrelated novel called King's Monster. Which means no backlog for me to glom onto, and I have to wait for the next book. Meanwhile, new author to stalk and put on the auto-buy list. I'm excited to read whatever comes out next! Mar 31, Kat Hooper rated it liked it. The city of Ondinium clings to the side of a mountain where the rare and precious metal that the city is named for is mined.
This substance is lighter than air and is used to create the marvels that the city is known for, including the huge clockwork engine that lives in the heart of the mountain. The castes of Ondinium live on separate tiers of the mountain with the lower castes occupying the sooty smog-filled expanse at the bottom. But Taya, whose family comes from the lowest caste, is an Icarus, a courier who straps on ondinium wings and freely flies up and down the mountain, without caste constraints.
She is not the usual tattooed sarcastic kickass urban fantasy heroine. Both are appealing characters, as is the harmless political dissident whom Taya used to date. I loved the first half of Clockwork Heart as we were introduced to the city, its citizens, and its political and social issues. I was fascinated by the Great Engine in the mountain and the way it was programmed with old-fashioned tin punch cards. Clockwork Heart falls a little short when it comes to plot and pacing, especially in the second half of the novel.
After the big climax, the story continues on too long, gradually losing steam pun intended! A new subplot involving a group of computer programmers was suddenly brought in, but it should have been left out. I always like Kate Rudd when she reads a book with a young female protagonist, though she tends to overdo the angst.
Originally posted at FanLit. Jan 10, Chachic rated it really liked it Recommended to Chachic by: Jai. Shelves: received-as-gifts , best-of Originally posted here.
I was confused for the first few pages of Clockwork Heart because it took me a while to be fully immersed in the worldbuilding and to understand the terms that go with it. This steampunk novel is set in a fictional country where there's a strict caste system. Only the icarii, couriers who can fly using metal wings, can move freely across all castes. It's funny because I'm afraid of heights but I would love to try flying using those icarus wings.
Taya is an icarus who sudde Originally posted here. Taya is an icarus who suddenly gets involved in Ondinium's politics when she rescues the wife and son of one of the country's most powerful leaders. Taya was an easy character to like, she's a no-nonsense type of person who strives to be the best that she can be in her job. She loves to travel, which is fitting since she's an icarus, and longs to be assigned as an envoy in other countries. Another character that I liked right from the start is grouchy, sarcastic Cristof who's the exact opposite of his handsome and charming brother Alister.
Cristof is a member of the highest caste in the country but he chose to turn his back on his prestigious lifestyle. He works as a clockwright instead because he's fascinated with the inner workings of clocks and other mechanical devices.
I think he's the steampunk equivalent of a nerd and I found him endearing. Cristof's geeky charm trumps Alister's suave moves. Another intriguing aspect of the novel is the relationship between these two brothers and how they do what they can for the other person even though they have such different views in life. There were some parts of the novel that went way over my head like the mechanics of the icarii's metal wings and the discussions about programming and subroutines.
Programs what? But those things didn't pull me out of the story so I didn't really mind them. There's a lot of action, some mystery and political intrigue in Clockwork Heart, which made it such a fun book to read. I guess it shouldn't be a surprise that I enjoyed reading this because I'm a fan of political intrigue in fiction.
You really don't have to be into steampunk to like this novel and I have a feeling most fantasy fans would take pleasure in reading Clockwork Heart. I was able to predict one of the plot points and had an "I knew it! It's only the middle of the year but I have a feeling that this book will make it to my best of list.
I really don't understand why it's out of print. I heard that there's a second book in the works and I'd love to read that as soon as it becomes available. Read this if you get the chance, it deserves to get more attention! Sep 02, Katrina Patton rated it did not like it. I know it sounds stupid but I abandoned this book 60 pages from the end. Because there was no reason to finish. The way to kill the plot is to give the readers what they want before the actual end has arrived.
The bad guy was caught and the two people who acted as romantic partners for each other had already kissed. Everything after that dragged on and on. I'm sure something else dramatic must happen in the final pages but honestly, after the 'climax' of the book had been reached, which, ho I know it sounds stupid but I abandoned this book 60 pages from the end.
I'm sure something else dramatic must happen in the final pages but honestly, after the 'climax' of the book had been reached, which, honestly was only partially entertaining because I saw it coming from the moment the 'bad' character came on the scene, I was just bored to tears. I thought that it was mildly entertaining before that. I like the idea of icarii and of the caste system but the plot just wasn't interesting enough or even believable enough to make me stick with it.
I mean, honestly It is just so stupid. I'm sorry but imagine something like that going to a real congress hearing or something? It's like Match. Anyway, I don't really recommend this book unless you want to be disappointed by an unfortunate loss of ending. Has anyone gotten through the whole book and honestly believed that the final 'suspense' of whatever happens after I stopped really worth it?
I won't go back to it but it'll be nice to hear if anyone disagrees with me. Very entertaining steampunk adventure with a dash of romance and mystery. Ondinium is a city powered by the magic substance that gives its name, has a powerful calculating engine at its heart, and is divided in 3 caste areas at 3 levels on a mountain, one per caste, higher up of course, with the powerful "exalted" actually hedged by so many traditions and customs - in public they cannot show their faces, they have to wear some kind of robes - that the more rebellious ones go outcaste to have th Very entertaining steampunk adventure with a dash of romance and mystery.
Ondinium is a city powered by the magic substance that gives its name, has a powerful calculating engine at its heart, and is divided in 3 caste areas at 3 levels on a mountain, one per caste, higher up of course, with the powerful "exalted" actually hedged by so many traditions and customs - in public they cannot show their faces, they have to wear some kind of robes - that the more rebellious ones go outcaste to have the freedom of the regular people; there is a cable car system, and mechanically winged humans called Icarii that are messengers and do not belong to any caste.
Taya is one such Icarii coming from a prosperous middle class family - her father runs a factory; she saves an exalted woman and her son from a collapsing cable car and attracts the attention of two exalteds brothers, one a "programmer" and Council politician, the other a rebellious outcaste watchmaker that lives discreetly near Taya's former neighborhood. Add in spies from neighboring powers who want the secrets of Ondinium, dissidents, sabotage and you get an unexpectedly fun sff adventure.
Feb 02, Toni U. Taya is an Icarus. Her job is to courier messages. While on her way to make a delivery she ends up rescuing an Exalted and her son from a damaged high wire transport. After being interviewed by the authorities, it appears that the damage was no accident. Soon she can no longer tell who is friend and who is enemy and all she can do is be eyes and ears for her government, to help them solve who is behind these terrorist activities. Just a few measly kisses, such a shame.
Apr 15, Jann rated it it was amazing. I never knew they had a new genre of books called Steam Punk. I picked up this book to see what it was about I like the story line and the characters. The world development was interesting. It was a mix of different cultural elements without being confusing or unbelievable. I liked how things are not as they all seem, and the book was a little mystery, adventure, and romance.
It was a light fun read. Feb 04, Sharon marked it as to-read. I don't particularly remember why I added this on my TBR - but let's goooo. I haven't read a steampunk in a while - and I'm exciteddddd.
Aug 24, Hirondelle rated it liked it Shelves: sf. Interestingm, remind me somewhat of Martha Wells. Though I got some serious buts, the crucial dialogue was sometimes lame believable, but lame, but we expect better lines from fiction than "I hate you, you make me sick! The plot also was a little bit disappointing.
May 07, edifanob rated it really liked it Shelves: my-books , reads. My impressions: Two men, even brothers, struggle for one woman in a steampunk world including sleuth. This isn't a fast pace story. But it contains action, romance and a good world building. Jul 28, Cornerofmadness rated it really liked it Shelves: mystery , popsugar , fantasy , steampunk , romance. One of the reviewers of this who liked it less than me said this was as if the UPS man was trying to solve a mystery and that's when I realized I've read way too many cozy mysteries as that idea didn't seem weird to me at all.
And there is some truth in it. In this steampunk fantasy world, the city of Ondinium a light weight metal of great worth functions by a very strict caste system with the exalted at the top. The icarii wear metal wings and ondinium and are small jockey-sized people and fly around the city as messengers. They're one of the few who can go to all levels of the city and the castes.
Taya wants to be in the diplomat corps and visit other countries. In doing so, Veira befriends her and through her Taya meets Exalted brothers, Alister now part of their ruling political system and Cristof. Cristof has thrown off the strictures of being Exalted always being masked, wearing heavy garments to slow their movements to prove they don't NEED to go fast, do work etc and all his wealth to work as a clockwright. Alister is a programer for the Great Engine the thing that runs the town, how, we're never really told.
Naturally because of the romance subplot the brothers both want Taya's attention, the charming handsome Alister and the crabby, sarcastic Cristof and this will go just as you imagine it would.
All three of them are caught up in the terrorism gripping the city and Taya and Cristof especially are trying to get to the bottom of it especially since the latter works with the lictors, the police caste. I thought it was engaging and I liked the characters including the villain.
The support cast was interesting too. While this is a complete story in and of itself I know there are two more in the series so I'll be curious to see them. Shelves: steampunk , ya-steampunk , romance.
A Clockwork Heart takes place on a different world, one in which there are massive city-states and competing political systems that keep citizens very aware of complex loyalties and the possibility of conflict. Of the city states introduced Ondinium is the most stable and secure: After nearly being destroyed by war two centuries prior, the rulers of Ondinium have created a vast difference machine, known as the Great Engine, to regulate the running of the city and the choices that are made with r A Clockwork Heart takes place on a different world, one in which there are massive city-states and competing political systems that keep citizens very aware of complex loyalties and the possibility of conflict.
Of the city states introduced Ondinium is the most stable and secure: After nearly being destroyed by war two centuries prior, the rulers of Ondinium have created a vast difference machine, known as the Great Engine, to regulate the running of the city and the choices that are made with regards to policy.
A fourth social class, the Icarii, are winged messengers who can move freely between all three levels of society; they have great freedom and a special status, but in many ways have to be extremely careful about navigating the political structure. This city state is managed by a council of Decaturs, or senators, who create policy and form the body politic—there is no vote from the public. The story begins with Taya, an Icarus who is delivering a message when a wireferry car overhead suffers a catastrophic failure.
On board are exalted Viera Octavus and her four year-old son Ariq, and Taya must scramble to save the mother and child. Because she flies using wings made from metal that is lighter than air, Taya can rescue one at a time, but she has to move quickly. Rescue attempts are further impeded by the elaborate robes and mask that Viera is required to wear as a member of her caste. Taya employs every skill she has learned in her years of flying and, with a little help from a fellow icarii, is able to pull off an incredible rescue.
Afterwards, however, questions remain: Was the accident, involving the wife of a Decatur, truly an accident, or the product of something more sinister? There is a dedicated team of friendly customer support representatives Clockwork Secrets: Heavy Fire Clockwork Trilogy Dru Pagliassotti who do their best to ensure that every customer has a pleasant customer experience.
Related collections and offers. Shop Indie eBooks. That made him popular among the laboring plebeians but alienated many of the cardinal castes who depended on technology for their living. His enemies labeled him an Organicist, a reactionary who wanted to get rid of all technology. An icarus flies high and sees much. If you spot anything suspicious among the wires, I hope you will report it to me.
It was just like a lictor to drop enough hints of criminal activity to make a person uneasy, and then try to use that uneasiness to his own ends. Suspicion was a way of life for the military. And icarii were always asked to help out their investigations. Amcathra glanced up at her floating armature. Taya set about strapping herself back in, moving more slowly than usual.
The metal exoskeleton and leather straps had left bruises all over her body. A hot bath would be nice. Once the armature was strapped on, its buoyant ondium helped support her aching muscles.
Back out on the street, lictors were keeping the crowd of rubberneckers out of the way as engineers scrambled over the wireferry towers, running more cables back and forth like a giant safety net to keep the wreckage from hitting the street. Taya stood on the wide station steps a moment, wondering how long it would take to lower the broken girder safely to the ground. The cars would have to be rerouted around the accident site, and a lot of important people were going to find themselves delayed on their way home.
A few members of the crowd began to cheer. She looked around and realized they were waving at her. She lifted a hand, embarrassed. Scattered applause greeted the gesture. Uncomfortable at being the focus of attention, Taya limped across the street to the base of the wireferry tower. She considered waiting for Pyke, but she had no idea how long it would take him to give his statement.
She smiled. With his attitude toward authority, they might decide to hold him for the night. The lictors allowed her to climb up to the lowest launch dock on the tower, only fifty feet off the ground. It was high enough. She rolled her shoulders one last time and pulled on her cap, goggles, and gloves.
Muscles protesting, she slid her arms into the wings, unlocked them with a backward shrug, and ran to the edge of the dock. Taya made a face and swept her wings out, searching for a thermal to lift her away from the broken girders and the unwanted attention. Read Chapter Two , learn about the author , and buy Clockwork Heart directly from Juno Books or your favorite independent bookstore.
Both hide dangerous secrets, in the city that beats to the ticking of a clockwork heart… Chapter One Taya cupped her wings and fanned them, slowing as the iron struts of a wireferry tower loomed before her. How much longer until she was off-duty, anyway? The people in the car! Heart pounding, Taya slid her arms back into her wingstraps and crouched. Metal shrieked again. Wires snapped and twanged. Taya finished securing the terrified boy to her harness and slid her arm back into its wing. Relieved to have backup, Taya angled toward the ferry again.
Her sister would never forgive her if she died just hours before the wedding. Taya had hoped to have enough time to go into a controlled glide, but— Her wings caught an updraft and their descent slowed, almost imperceptibly.
Their fall slowed as the icarus above them shared their weight. They were safe. Taya, are you all right? Taya looked up. The crowd let him through, and even the lictors reluctantly stepped aside. She looked away. The smiths will fix it in no time. I thought we came in here because it was going to take a long time. Well, thank you. Taya grinned. Amcathra watched as she signed it, and then he added his own signature. The collapse may not have been an accident.
Amcathra shrugged. Best just to agree and get out. Is that all? Her back and arms hurt. Enjoyed this article?
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