{First of Clockwork Dagger duology +3; fantasy, steampunk, magic, adventure}(2014)

I read this at the beginning of the year and recently borrowed the second book but I couldn't remember the story well enough so I borrowed this again.

The country of Caskentia has been embroiled in civil war for most of Octavia Leander's lifetime and she was orphaned when her village was a casualty. She is now one of the strongest medicians who uses the Lady's power to heal and is travelling incognito by airship to help a town which is suffering with the ongoing war. But it seems that someone wants to harm her as there are several attempts on her life onboard the dirigible which continue even once she's on the ground. Octavia is no shrinking damsel in distress and can take care of herself, although the help of a handsome Clockwork Dagger - one of the queen's elite assassin-spies - doesn't come amiss.

I initially read this earlier this year but I re-read it because I've just borrowed the second book but I didn't review it or rate it properly and I can't remember what happened (I find that happens a lot these days). I skipped the entire first half of the first chapter with the puppy (though it does also introduce Octavia's craft and powers) since I did note 'Just starting this as the protagonist saves a puppy's life only to find that he's destined for the dinner table' the first time around. I could really have done with a map as there's a lot of geography involved; the characters cover a lot of territory by airship as well as on the ground and several countries, cities and towns are mentioned and are integral to the story.

This book is a lot of fun (except for the collateral damage to animals and small children) and the touch of young-adult (PG-rated) romance doesn‘t hurt. Neither does the inclusion of a lost princess out of fairytales, flying gremlins and action and quick thinking by Octavia.

February 2023
June 2023 (re-read)

3.5-4 stars (but rounding down for animal cruelty) ( )

I knew next to nothing about steampunk, other than the fact that it attracts a devoted following and looks like a really interesting genre. I wasn't even completely certain how attracted I would be once I truly explored it, but, finding the visual aesthetic appealing in the handful of films I've watched, and the conventions that some friends attend, I wanted to explore what steampunk was like on the printed page, how it played out in deeper story-telling. The Clockwork Dagger seemed a popular choice, so I decided to make it my entry point.

This is Beth Cato's first full-length novel, and we all know that first novels deserve a certain understanding in some areas. Many authors are still finding their voice with that first publication, and so some faults are to be expected. That said, I was impressed with how strongly our protagonist, Octavia Leander’s, voice came through. I could hear this character speaking clearly on the first page, the cadences and tone of her voice clear in my perception, and growing clearer with each chapter. I'm quite impressed with how Cato developed Leander through the course of these 200 pages, and I felt that I had met a character that I truly knew by the time I closed the book. The other primary characters receive an equally just treatment..all are developed thoroughly and carefully. Occasionally, a piece of reflective or introspective dialogue felt forced, but this was rare, and ultimately never broke my suspension of disbelief. The greatest strength of Cato's writing in this debut is the care with which she permits her characters to come to life. This is accomplished in no small regard due to her handling of the language, which is clever and inventive, merging well a period piece and modern language as seems a requirement for this genre.

Second would be the world-building. This novel is as steampunk as they come. We're introduced to a nice balance of Victorian dialogue, whirring machinations and inventions, magical spells and curses, and a mystery playing out aboard a dirigible. I was surprised by the magical components of the book...surprised in a good way. It's just that I hadn't really known how much a part of steampunk that magic is, but there you have it...this was a part of my education. I’m actually surprised with the depth of complexity that Cato captures in this world, given that the novel is relatively concise in length, but every nuance of the political structure, the economic issues between nations, and an industrial revolution run amok in war are designed with each detail considered and completely working. The warring nations and corrupt leadership form a fascinating backdrop to the story, without becoming overly didactic in their metaphor.

What Cato tackles head-on in this work is the seeming conflict between faith and science.

Octavia Leander, you see, is a medician...a healer who understands the natural ways to heal that the earth provides, as well as possessing magical means of mending broken people. More than this, these magical abilities are derived from a religious faith, a faith in the Lady and her Tree. Legend holds that the Lady received her power after asking God for the ability to heal more people, and the medicians follower her order. Octavia is ridiculed by many who trust in the rapid new technological developments of the age, yet her abilities cannot be questioned. She is a gifted healer, perhaps the most gifted known in recent memory, and it is for this reason that she is hunted. Most simply end up accepting her abilities with some awe, while concluding that such a path is not for them, thus walking away and attempting to reconcile the visible effects of an unseen faith with the measurable, quantifiable and tactile world of technological advances around them. That reconciliation seems to occur on mostly a surface level, never delved into too deeply...just as in our culture today. I think that this faith in a more ancient knowledge is the thesis of the novel, and what I especially appreciate is that Cato handles it adeptly without ever leaving the reader groaning or resentful. She never develops this into any sort of theology. She is content with the imagery that she is presenting, and it does its job well.

There's a romantic sub-plot that the book could simply live without. Each development in this regard feels forced and un-natural, and, on the rare occasions in which I did feel that something was out of place, it was in those moments. That said, I have no interest (and barely any tolerance) for the romantic genre, so this could just be my own clouded perceptions, and I'm willing to own that.

The ending feels a bit...stretched...but not to a point in which I feel anything is lost. Simply, proportions of things seem to become very large and epic very quickly, an abrupt step from the heavily interpersonal plot that Cato has developed up to that point. I think that it would have worked better with a bit more transition, but, while trying to avoid spoilers, I’ll say that this could also be seen as a device to further her emphasis on the power of faith.

I expected steampunk to be a bit of escapism, as it has always felt a bit whimsical in my previous (brief) experiences. I certainly didn’t expect it to deal with something deeper and thought-provoking, but I was pleasantly surprised here. I’m certain that, if you’re already a fan, this is already on your list or on your shelf. If, like me, you’re just exploring what this whole thing is all about, then this is a good first read…the kind of novel that stays with for a bit after you’ve finished. I think Cato’s future works will get better, but I’m glad that I’ve met Octavia Leander. ( )

Finally a steampunk novel that doesn't let the setting get in the way of the storytelling! Set mostly on a zepplin, in a dystopian, war-torn kingdom, with all the gears and fashion one could hope for, the book focuses on a young girl with a healing gift who is suddenly catapulted into a web of intrigue. The only goofy thing about it is the term "clockwork dagger" and I can forgive that easily if I get to find out what happens next. Pleasing, also, in that one adventure thoroughly wraps up, leaving space for the next chapter, but not a cliffhanger. ( )

Eh, 2.5 stars. ( )

Quite a mix! I read this for a bit of steampunk, and found much more. Cato crafts a whole world, something like our Victorian era, with airships and more. It's a bit of a Anastasia - with a lost princess and a kingdom wracked with war from rebels. And then there is the fantasy - the protagonist is a "medician" - something like a doctor, but drawing on a mystical power. A veteran of the war, she is seeking peace... but instead contends with assassins, hidden princess, and more cloak and dagger.

A fascinating world - I'd love to see more of it (well, I have the sequel - but I hope she'll do more!) ( )