Book Review: Wings of Sorrow and Bone by Beth Cato

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Wings of Sorrow and Bone
Clockwork Dagger #2.5
Author: Beth Cato
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Steam Punk
Released: November 10th 2015
Review Source: Harper Voyager Impulse

From the author of The Clockwork Dagger comes an exciting novella set in the same world…

After being rescued by Octavia Leander from the slums of Caskentia, Rivka Stout is adjusting to her new life in Tamarania. But it’s hard for a blossoming machinist like herself to fit in with proper society, and she’d much rather be tinkering with her tools than at a hoity-toity party any day.

When Rivka stumbles into a laboratory run by the powerful Balthazar Cody, she also discovers a sinister plot involving chimera gremlins and the violent Arena game Warriors. The innocent creatures will end up hurt, or worse, if Rivka doesn’t find a way to stop Mr. Cody. And to do that means she will have to rely on some unexpected new friends.

I did enjoy the duology by Cato about the Great lady and her medician.

This was a nice side story to that of the Clockwork Dagger duology, but instead of following Octavia in her pilgrimage throughout the warring nations, unsure who's trying to capture her to utilize her skills or simply assassinate her. Wings of Sorrow and Bone follows a young miss Rivka, blossoming mechanic who's been plucked from the dirty streets of Mercia and found her true family at last, with the robust Miss Stout.

High society is a whole different game than the tough streets of the capital. Rivka is still stumbling to prove herself. Will she be enticed by a slimy apprenticeship under a master mechanic at the behest of Mr. Cody and his arena or will she find a better way as Miss Leander once did? Is Tatiana a true friend or foe to Rivka, can she be trusted after her actions towards Miss lander? I believe Tatiana is making amends, but then again time will tell.

Truly a fun read, I had wished for more of course so if there is more to the story I will be rapt to read it. Thank you for the ARC copy!

Book Review: The Clockwork Crown by Beth Cato

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The Clockwork Crown
Clockwork Dagger #2
Author: Beth Cato
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Steampunk
Released: June 9th 2015
Review Source: Harper Voyager

Rich in atmosphere, imagination, and fun, the action-packed, magic-filled sequel to The Clockwork Dagger is an enchanting steampunk fantasy, evocative of the works of Trudi Canavan and Gail Carriger

Narrowly surviving assassination and capture, Octavia Leander, a powerful magical healer, is on the run with handsome Alonzo Garrett, the Clockwork Dagger who forfeited his career with the Queen’s secret society of spies and killers—and possibly his life—to save her. Now, they are on a dangerous quest to find safety and answers: Why is Octavia so powerful? Why does she seem to be undergoing a transformation unlike any witnessed for hundreds of years?

The truth may rest with the source of her mysterious healing power—the Lady’s Tree. But the tree lies somewhere in a rough, inhospitable territory known as the Waste. Eons ago, this land was made barren and uninhabitable by an evil spell, until a few hardy souls dared to return over the last century. For years, the Waste has waged a bloody battle against the royal court to win its independence—and they need Octavia’s powers to succeed.

Joined by unlikely allies, including a menagerie of gremlin companions, she must evade killers and Clockwork Daggers on a dangerous journey through a world on the brink of deadly civil war.

As Octavia Leander and Alonzo Garrett flee to the south from their last encounter with the wretched Wasters, (ahem, the Dallowmen) Octavia ponders throughout their long journey about why from her blood so much springs forth, what her unusually strong connection to The Lady really means and what will become of both of them along this perilous journey? It's a lot for anyone to consider, but made harder by the ever growing feelings she has for her Clockwork Dagger.

As people of all types reach for Octavia, pleas for healing and many trying to simply take their healing if they need to. Everyone is on the look out for her, if only she'd wear a disguise instead of her medician white outfit.

In the first novel, The Clockwork Dagger, Miss Leander learns that her dreams many times are The Lady trying to lead her in a particular direction. This time she's learned to listen when hits are given, be they from the mouths of injured children, or in the form of a chimera named 'Leaf'. Throughout her adventure with Alonzo, she's had this nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach that she needs to ride into the Palace, within the soot covered industrial capital, something calls to her. She just isn't so sure it's genial.

What an adventure The Clockwork Crown turned out to be. I wasn't so sure at first but the first book really turned me around, it won me over. It was after all one of the truly first steam-punk-esk books I'd ever read. I enjoyed it so much I had to read the second book. This is a duology, which is a nice change up from the many trilogies that are published. I don't want to spoil anything, truly, but I was so excited at many points. So much does take place within these pages to fully answer any unanswered questions from the first book and then wraps up nicely at the end. It wasn't what I'd expected... --I had to delete the line of thought I'd written after this point as I feared it would give away the ending too much. HA! I'd give it five stars easily, I enjoyed it and loved the ending! :)

Book Review: The Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato

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The Clockwork Dagger
Clockwork Dagger #1
Author: Beth Cato
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Steampunk
Released: September 16th 2014
Review Source: Harper Voyager

Full of magic, mystery, and romance, an enchanting steampunk fantasy debut in the bestselling vein of Trudi Canavan and Gail Carriger.

Orphaned as a child, Octavia Leander was doomed to grow up on the streets until Miss Percival saved her and taught her to become a medician. Gifted with incredible powers, the young healer is about to embark on her first mission, visiting suffering cities in the far reaches of the war-scarred realm. But the airship on which she is traveling is plagued by a series of strange and disturbing occurrences, including murder, and Octavia herself is threatened.

Suddenly, she is caught up in a flurry of intrigue: the dashingly attractive steward may be one of the infamous Clockwork Daggers—the Queen’s spies and assassins—and her cabin-mate harbors disturbing secrets. But the danger is only beginning, for Octavia discovers that the deadly conspiracy aboard the airship may reach the crown itself.

I am ecstatic that this book was put into my hands, truly thank you to the author and to the publishers who sent it to me, I ate this book up! I will admit I do not read a whole lot of steam-punk style novels. It's not that I don't enjoy the idea of it, I just don't come across it in many of my favorite authors works.

Hopefully I won't give too much away by telling readers what I liked specifically, in that there is a lot packed within 360 pages. Octavia is an educated woman, one whom is gifted with healing powers as befitting any young graduate of Miss Percival's academy. However, the last 50 years have been dark times. Where money is scarce, war and disease are overly abundant. She is to journey to Delford, a city in need of her skills. That doesn't mean her journey will be safe or swift, many plot to kidnap her for their own use, or worse, kill her before they let her fall into enemy hands. Octavia ponders what makes her any better than the other gifted young ladies who study and heal the battle front. Oh, Lady knows why.

I would gladly recommend this book for a book club, or personal library, and give The Clockwork Dagger a five-star rating!