Author: Lisa Mantchev
Publication: Skyscape (December 1, 2014)
Description: A girl with a clockwork heart must make every second count.
When Penny Farthing nearly dies, brilliant surgeon Calvin Warwick manages to implant a brass “Ticker” in her chest, transforming her into the first of the Augmented. But soon it’s discovered that Warwick killed dozens of people as he strove to perfect another improved Ticker for Penny, and he’s put on trial for mass murder.
On the last day of Warwick’s trial, the Farthings’ factory is bombed, Penny’s parents disappear, and Penny and her brother, Nic, receive a ransom note demanding all of their Augmentation research if they want to see their parents again. Is someone trying to destroy the Farthings...or is the motive more sinister?
Desperate to reunite their family and rescue their research, Penny and her brother recruit fiery baker Violet Nesselrode, gentleman-about-town Sebastian Stirling, and Marcus Kingsley, a young army general who has his own reasons for wanting to lift the veil between this world and the next. Wagers are placed, friends are lost, romance stages an ambush, and time is running out for the girl with the clockwork heart.
My Thoughts: Penny Farthing lives with an artificial heart - a ticker - that was installed by a doctor now on trial for mass murder. He kidnapped, experimented on, and murdered a number of people to improve the heart and other augmentations. When the Farthing's factory is bombed and her parents kidnapped, Penny and her twin Copernicus (Nic) recruit some friends including baker Violet Nesselrode and entrepreneur Sebastian Stirling to help them find their missing parents and the papers the kidnappers have demanded as a ransom for them. They are assisted by Marcus Kingsley who is in charge of the local police and who has his own reasons for wanting to find the kidnappers.
This was a great steampunk story filled with wonderful gadgets not least of which was Penny's augmented heart which was in danger of failing throughout the story. The story had sort of a Victorian feel in terms of manners and costumes. It was a very nice mystery and a very nice romance too. I liked the relationship between Penny and her brother Nic and Penny and her best friend Violet.
I would be very happy to read more stories set in this world.
Favorite Quote:
Energy crackled between us until I felt an unexpected kinship with Tesla coils.I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love getting comments. Let me know what you think.
This blog is now officially declared an Award Free zone! I do appreciate your kindness in thinking of me and I am humbled by your generosity. Your comments are award enough for me. Comment away!