The Clockwork Witch
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4.1 • 11 Ratings
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- $4.99
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
The seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, Arabella is destined to disappoint, when she was expected to shine. Though she descends from a long line of gifted witches she has earned the moniker of a "brown bud" showing no sign of magical talent.
When it truly seems her lot can grow no worse, she discovers an unnatural affinity for...of all things...technomancy. Not only are the mysteries of the mechanical world open to her, but her new-found ability allows her to manipulate them, making her the first ever clockwork witch and anathema to the nature of the witching world.
How will she come to grips with her new power when she must question if she will survive the judgement of her family and her peers? Or, more daunting yet…The Trials?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Intriguing magic, gender politics, and historical detail weave together in this coming-of-age fantasy debut set in a Victorian London where witches have been both a part of and outside of non-magical society. Young Arabella is the seventh daughter of a prestigious house of witches. Her mother is the Grande Dame of the Witches Council, but Arabella has not manifested her powers yet, to the shame of her family. When Arabella develops an affinity for machines and the unheard-of power of technomancy, she fights to prove herself a witch and not an abomination. Sonnier captures the opulence of Victorian London as well as the restrictions of class and gender. Arabella's struggle is believable, and her relationship with her closest sister, Rowena, is touching. Although the central plot turns on the tired trope of a prophecy, this does not detract from Sonnier's energetic prose. Fantasy readers will especially enjoy Sonnier's inventive worldbuilding.
Customer Reviews
Not bad for a first novel
Not every writer manages both short story and novels forms.
I haven’t read this author’s other work, but given the number, I think she must write the short form pretty well.
I’m not a steampunker, but I enjoy a good story. Rather than a technomancer, I’d call Arabella a technomage, similar to those in the Babylon-5 universe, e. g., Galen. However, in this novel it has to fit with the template set by the natural modalities, so technomancer it is..
Arabella could also be said to have “mechanic’s magic”. It’s what happens when you have a problem with a car, appliance, or computer, and when you take it in for repair, the blasted device works just fine, as long as it’s near the appropriate “mechanic”.
The three internal drawings were lovely.
There were a few words that weren’t right. One is ‘discrete’, something apart, which is a mathematical term. ‘Discreet’ should have been used in both instances.
There was an easy typo to make, but not to catch via spell-check: theN instead of theM. I am certainly guilty of not reaching far enough to get the letter or symbol I want!
When someone all worked up into a red face calms down, ‘pallor’ is not the correct choice of words.
That said, the author does great character development and makes a good start of worldbuilding. I want to see more of that world, and more stories about Arabella.
It’s worth the read, even if no-one has a clue when the next installment will show up (this is a hint to start working on one, Dear Author).