Thursday, September 4, 2014

Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway for The Girl and the Clockwork Cat

Title: The Girl & the Clockwork Cat
Author: Nikki McCormack
Release date: September 2nd, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Source: YA Bound Book Tours

Summary from Goodreads:
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.

But it now on Amazon | BN | Kobo

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 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.
Website |Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Review:

★★★★★

Five stars.

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I went into this novel not really sure of what to expect. While I love the fashions and stylings of steampunk, I admittedly haven't read many books in that genre. When I read the blurb and saw the cute cover for this one, I figured I would give it a shot. I enjoyed this far more than I anticipated, and I was hooked from the get-go.

First, I have to say that McCormack's world building and settings are incredible. The senses were blasted in a detailed way without seeming (dare I say) too descriptive. I was able to play out what the characters were doing, where they were doing it, what they wore, what scents were in the air. It was gorgeous. I also loved the way she described all the technology/steampunk elements. Even the way they spoke was riddled with English (and Japanese) slang that just gave the whole story that "authentic" vibe to it.

Then of course, there's the characters themselves. I adore Maeko, the lead heroine. She is strong and so damn fierce. I'd like to add that she's part Japanese, and I thought this was a nice touch, it's something unique that made her stand out.She can steal and lie with the best of the street rats, but she isn't overly angst-y. She has her own battles to fight and morals to stick to, and she knows what prices she's willing to pay to get justice for what's right, and to help who she deems to need it. She is helped by boys but doesn't necessarily depend on them, and that makes me happy. That being said, there are two boys involved, Ash and Chaff. It doesn't get super love-triangular (is that a phrase? It is now) but there is a dash of romance. Chaff is her mentor, a kid off the street who helped to show her the ropes. He never cares about his mates, it's his rule. And then there's Ash, who confuses her and knows little about her struggles on the street. Both are likable in their own way, and honestly I don't even know which one I prefer at this point. And then of course, there's the little fluffy hero Macak, the cat who has a clockwork prosthetic leg. He's like a cool steampunk familiar. I kind of want one for my own.

As for the story, I was left on my toes in a good way trying to sort out all the whodunnit. Who can you trust? Who is lying? What is happening!? I loved watching the mystery come together. It was well paced and filled with action. From fist fights to jail escapes, gun shot wounds and jealous boy sneers, there was never a dull moment. I was frustrated when the book ended, but only because it meant I couldn't stay lost in the world any longer.

In short, I would describe this as if the gang from Scooby Doo met up with the cast of Oliver Twist, but then added a kick ass Asian lead and a questionable law enforcement agency to make some awesome steampunk/fantasy love child of a book. Fans of steampunk, action, female leads, and light romance should be sure to check this one out. I know I'll want a physical copy for my shelf. I mean, it's British-Japanese steampunk cats solving crime. How can you not?

Thanks to YA Bound Book Tours who provided me with my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Follow the rest of the blog tour by clicking here.