I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
Clockworks? Check! Airships? Check! Orphans? Check! London? Check!
Diagnosis: Steampunk.
Maeko has been living as a street rat for years now. Her mother a Japanese prostitute and her father unknown, no one really cares about her except Chaff, the leader of a street pickpocketing and burgling gang. When Maeko meets a cat with a clockwork leg, she has no idea in what kind of conspiracy she finds herself...
I enjoyed this story, it was a nice and quick read. However, when I started to think about exactly why I enjoyed it, I couldn't really find things that stood out for me. So it was basically the setting in London I liked, and the story was probably just what I was looking for these last few day. Something not too complicated, but nice enough.
The story wasn't flawless. As I usually find in YA 'mysteries' the mystery was quite easy and it didn't took Maeko long to find new clues and everything. She's supposed to be very streetwise and almost seventeen, but when reading I'd guess she was around thirteen at most. And there's a *BRACE YOURSELF* love triangle! *sigh* There isn't too much romance it this book but why does it have to be a love triangle, again...
The setting was London, but a bit alternate. There's the Literati (upperclass and modern, from what I read in the book) and the Pirates (more like Luddite or just opposing the Literati). The problem is just that the story tells so little about this world that I don't really know what is going on. I understand that this is Maeko's story and she's neither Literati nor Pirate, but still, I'd like to see a bit more world building.
But still, I had some nice hours reading this book. And, if it happens not to be a standalone, then perhaps I'll find out more about the world in the next book...
10
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