The Clockwork Dynasty
Books | Fiction / Fantasy / Paranormal
3.8
(71)
Daniel Howard Wilson
An ingenious new thriller that weaves a path through history, following a race of human-like machines that have been hiding among us for untold centuries, written by the New York Times bestselling author of Robopocalypse. Present day: When a young anthropologist specializing in ancient technology uncovers a terrible secret concealed in the workings of a three-hundred-year-old mechanical doll, she is thrown into a hidden world that lurks just under the surface of our own. With her career and her life at stake, June Stefanov will ally with a remarkable traveler who exposes her to a reality she never imagined, as they embark on an around-the-world adventure and discover breathtaking secrets of the past... Russia, 1725: In the depths of the Kremlin, the tsar's loyal mechanician brings to life two astonishingly humanlike mechanical beings. Peter and Elena are a brother and sister fallen out of time, possessed with uncanny power, and destined to serve great empires. Struggling to blend into pre-Victorian society, they are pulled into a legendary war that has raged for centuries. The Clockwork Dynasty seamlessly interweaves past and present, exploring a race of beings designed to live by ironclad principles, yet constantly searching for meaning. As June plunges deeper into their world, her choices will ultimately determine their survival or extermination. Richly-imagined and heart-pounding, Daniel H. Wilson's novel expertly draws on his robotics and science background, combining exquisitely drawn characters with visionary technology--and riveting action.
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More Details:
Author
Daniel Howard Wilson
Pages
309
Publisher
Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House LLC
Published Date
2017
ISBN
0385541783 9780385541787
Community ReviewsSee all
"((This review doesn't contain spoilers))<br/><br/>This read surprised me beyond expectation. Just a little bit of background about myself, I am a woman who practically devours every fantasy novel that I find for that is the genre I have always been partial too. But I found this book calling to me in the oddest way. I have never read anything with these themes, I don't gravitate towards steampunk or just general robotics for that matter. The only thing that I usually gravitate to is Russian history. Still, this book seemed to be constantly begging for me to pick it up, so I did. <br/><br/>And I don't regret my choice one bit. I usually am not the biggest fan of shifting POV (I blame George R.R. Martin and numerous other authors that love character soup) but for this book it made sense. The constant back and forth never interrupted the flow of the action and made me want to see the outcome of each time frame. I have a feeling that Daniel Wilson wanted you to have the feel of an avtomat. An ancient robot that has a hard time keeping track of, well time. So as humans it is hard to wrap our head around being alive for eons and seeing the passage of time of human history in what constitutes as a day for us.<br/><br/>Now I am not going to review the plot because most of it is done by other reviews and the synopsis. But I will tell you that the characters, even the antagonists, all have their individuality and not annoying or not fleshed out. I was so glad that the main lead, June, was a great mind when it came to machinery but also could admit when she didn't know something or she was scared. And oh boy are there some heart thudding moments. And the other main character, Peter, I think I might love his character a bit more than I thought I would. He may be an ancient robot but he has the makings of some of my favorite characters in other works of art. He is stoic and calm and collected most of the time but he has moments when he is naive and blinded. Also, his love for his kin is incredibly heartwarming. Things happen, as in most families, where rifts are formed and words are said, but Peter's love always seems to persevere through the hardships. <br/><br/>I would recommend this book to anyone who either is like me and loves fantasy and history and wants to try out a sci-fi read or just someone who feels compelled to pick it up. I wouldn't say this would be a read for anyone younger than 18 for the violence gets pretty gruesome (like popping someone's skull from their spine). But this was a wonderful journey and I hope Daniel Wilson extends the series."