Legacy of the Clockwork Key by Kristin Bailey
3/5 stars
Simon Pulse, 2013
403 pages
YA Historical
Scheduled to release March 5
Source: Received an e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I don't remember exactly how I stumbled over this book but I remember perusing Goodreads and adding it to my to-read list and then hoping it would show up on Netgalley or Edelweiss; then it did and I prayed to be accepted. Let's just say there was some serious happy dancing when I received notification I could download this.
The plot summary just sounded so exciting: secret societies, mechanical inventions, cute stable boys named Will...what more could you ask for in a book? Well, unfortunately I did want something more although it's the kind of something that is difficult to put in words. Basically as I was reading this, I never felt connected to the characters, the setting, the plot, the overarching mythology. I flipped the pages in a daze, hoping for something to spark my interest but never found it.
The main character, Meg, is a very young recently orphaned teenager who has accepted employ as a maid before embarking on an investigation of a mysterious clockwork key in her possession that holds the answer to questions about her family. The stable boy Will reluctantly comes along and a romance blossoms. I mentioned that Meg is very young-I don't remember if her age is mentioned but she seemed really young and naive to me. I don't know if it's because I'm more used to reading savvy contemporary teenagers or if it was some other reason. Will is confusingly hot and cold to Meg, annoyingly hot and cold to me, which just about breaks my heart because if there's a book boy name that I love, it is Will.
There are some other characters and I'll admit that the plot picked up a bit once Meg and Will began their search but it was never full-throttle action or anything exciting like that. I found the writing competent and that there were some cool concepts (I'm thinking of the maze as well as all the inventions in general) but nothing extraordinary.
Overall: I was completely unable to form a bond with the main character and trudged through the book, mostly being too stubborn to DNF.
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Aw, that's unfortunate. Such a gorgeous cover...
ReplyDeleteIt is a lovely cover, right? Hence my expectations that just weren't fulfilled.
DeleteSo sorry you didn't enjoy that as much as you wanted. Wonderful review. :)
ReplyDeleteJenea @ Books Live Forever
It was so disappointing-I always hope to love every book I read even though I know that's unrealistic.
DeleteI'm really sad to hear you didn't enjoy this one or connect with it. I was just recently approved for it on Edelweiss and I was really looking forward to it. I think I may need to lower my expectations. Thanks for the honest review!
ReplyDeleteI've seen a few positive reviews (and I'm sure there will be more once this releases) so I hope you end up being one of the ones who likes it!
DeleteOh, that's a bummer! The blurb sounds very good, the cover is great and I like a good mystery. I might give it a shot anyway, but thanks for the honest review :)
ReplyDeleteMel@thedailyprophecy.
I hope you do give it a shot and end up liking it-I just know it didn't really work for me.
DeleteOh that stinks when you don't connect with a book! I have experienced that feeling that the characters just feel too young though. I think it sounds like an amazing story but now if I ever read it my expectations won't be as high.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do give it a shot and that it works better for you!
DeleteThanks for making me feel better that I got rejected for this on Edelweiss. Luckily, I have plenty of other books to try!
ReplyDeleteHappy to help :) I had really high expectations but they just weren't met.
Delete:-( It's so sad when a book doesn't turn out as amazing as you wanted it to. Sorry this one disappointed you.
ReplyDeleteI was very sad that this book and I didn't click because I wanted to love it so much. Oh well, better luck with the next one, right?
DeleteUgh, too bad you couldn't connect!! I hate it when that happens. I haven't seen a lot about this one, but I'll read a few more reviews and see if it might be one for me.
ReplyDelete