The
Girl and the Clockwork Cat
Release
Date: 09/02/14
Entangled
Teen
Feisty
teenage thief Maeko and her maybe-more-than-friend Chaff have scraped out an
existence in Victorian London’s gritty streets, but after a near-disastrous
heist leads her to a mysterious clockwork cat and two dead bodies, she’s thrust
into a murder mystery that may cost her everything she holds dear.
Her only allies are Chaff, the cat, and Ash, the son of the only murder suspect, who offers her enough money to finally get off the streets if she’ll help him find the real killer.
What starts as a simple search ultimately reveals a conspiracy stretching across the entire city. And as Maeko and Chaff discover feelings for each other neither was prepared to admit, she’s forced to choose whether she’ll stay with him or finally escape the life of a street rat. But with danger closing in around them, the only way any of them will get out of this alive is if all of them work together.
Her only allies are Chaff, the cat, and Ash, the son of the only murder suspect, who offers her enough money to finally get off the streets if she’ll help him find the real killer.
What starts as a simple search ultimately reveals a conspiracy stretching across the entire city. And as Maeko and Chaff discover feelings for each other neither was prepared to admit, she’s forced to choose whether she’ll stay with him or finally escape the life of a street rat. But with danger closing in around them, the only way any of them will get out of this alive is if all of them work together.
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About the Author
Nikki started writing her first novel at the age of 12, which she still has tucked in a briefcase in her home office, waiting for the right moment. Despite a successful short story publication with Cricket Magazine in 2007, she continued to treat her writing addiction as a hobby until a drop in the economy presented her with an abundance of free time that she used to focus on making it her career.
Nikki started writing her first novel at the age of 12, which she still has tucked in a briefcase in her home office, waiting for the right moment. Despite a successful short story publication with Cricket Magazine in 2007, she continued to treat her writing addiction as a hobby until a drop in the economy presented her with an abundance of free time that she used to focus on making it her career.
Nikki lives in the magnificent Pacific Northwest tending to her husband and
three cats suffering varying stages of neurosis. She feeds her imagination by
sitting on the ocean in her kayak gazing out across the never-ending water or
hanging from a rope in a cave, embraced by darkness and the sound of dripping
water. She finds peace through practicing iaido or shooting her longbow.
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My Rating
3.5
My Review
I can honestly say that one of my favorite characters would be a cat named Macak, but here I am. In my defense, the very idea of a clockwork cat is incredibly awesome, and not just because of how fun it is to say. If someone can bring that to reality, I'd love to have one. Plus, you know, actions speak louder than words, and this cat sure had some delightful behavior. But all cats aside, The Girl and the Clockwork Cat is a very enjoyable read. Fans of Steampunk will be able to devour this novel with no trouble at all.
I really did love Macak, but the human characters are pretty cool too. And they say stuff, so that's a bonus. Maeko is a fantastic protagonist, and I adored the fact that she felt to be a major driving point of the plot at times, getting more and more involved with the murders. It was also great to see her relationship with Macak grow, as that's not a kind of relationship often utilized in novels! Not to mention, this is an excellent example of diversity in YA, which makes it all the more wonderful!
The setting of Victorian London creates a great world for the story, while giving quite the tone. Mixed with the murders and beautiful prose, I really enjoyed the read. What can I say? I like my Steampunk how I like my chocolate - smooth and dark - and The Girl and the Clockwork Cat delivers. There's a good pacing that only escalates throughout the read, making it a definite ride from start to finish.
I like a good love V every once in a while, but it's only fun if a have a definite side to root for. I suppose it's not a bad thing that I liked both Chaff and Ash, as both of them are well enough developed characters, but I was a little disappointed that neither of them really won me over.
The Girl and the Clockwork Cat is a wonderful YA Steampunk, especially if you're like me and have an unexplainable "thing" for clockwork in novels. (I like everything about it. Even the way the word sounds. Can I tell you why? Not really.) But even if that isn't for you, McCormack crafted a novel with enough layers and language - it still could be well worth the read.
I really did love Macak, but the human characters are pretty cool too. And they say stuff, so that's a bonus. Maeko is a fantastic protagonist, and I adored the fact that she felt to be a major driving point of the plot at times, getting more and more involved with the murders. It was also great to see her relationship with Macak grow, as that's not a kind of relationship often utilized in novels! Not to mention, this is an excellent example of diversity in YA, which makes it all the more wonderful!
The setting of Victorian London creates a great world for the story, while giving quite the tone. Mixed with the murders and beautiful prose, I really enjoyed the read. What can I say? I like my Steampunk how I like my chocolate - smooth and dark - and The Girl and the Clockwork Cat delivers. There's a good pacing that only escalates throughout the read, making it a definite ride from start to finish.
I like a good love V every once in a while, but it's only fun if a have a definite side to root for. I suppose it's not a bad thing that I liked both Chaff and Ash, as both of them are well enough developed characters, but I was a little disappointed that neither of them really won me over.
The Girl and the Clockwork Cat is a wonderful YA Steampunk, especially if you're like me and have an unexplainable "thing" for clockwork in novels. (I like everything about it. Even the way the word sounds. Can I tell you why? Not really.) But even if that isn't for you, McCormack crafted a novel with enough layers and language - it still could be well worth the read.
Giveaway
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and review the book! :)
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