What do you think?
Rate this book
The Clockwork Century #1.1
Clementine
Maria Isabella Boyd's success as a Confederate spy has made her too famous for further espionage work, and now her employment options are slim. Exiled, widowed, and on the brink of poverty...she reluctantly goes to work for the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in Chicago.
Adding insult to injury, her first big assignment is commissioned by the Union Army. In short, a federally sponsored transport dirigible is being violently pursued across the Rockies and Uncle Sam isn't pleased. The Clementine is carrying a top secret load of military essentials--essentials which must be delivered to Louisville, Kentucky, without delay.
Intelligence suggests that the unrelenting pursuer is a runaway slave who's been wanted by authorities on both sides of the Mason-Dixon for fifteen years. In that time, Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey has felonied his way back and forth across the continent, leaving a trail of broken banks, stolen war machines, and illegally distributed weaponry from sea to shining sea.
And now it s Maria's job to go get him.
He's dangerous quarry and she's a dangerous woman, but when forces conspire against them both, they take a chance and form an alliance. She joins his crew, and he uses her connections. She follows his orders. He takes her advice.
And somebody, somewhere, is going to rue the day he crossed either one of them.
Adding insult to injury, her first big assignment is commissioned by the Union Army. In short, a federally sponsored transport dirigible is being violently pursued across the Rockies and Uncle Sam isn't pleased. The Clementine is carrying a top secret load of military essentials--essentials which must be delivered to Louisville, Kentucky, without delay.
Intelligence suggests that the unrelenting pursuer is a runaway slave who's been wanted by authorities on both sides of the Mason-Dixon for fifteen years. In that time, Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey has felonied his way back and forth across the continent, leaving a trail of broken banks, stolen war machines, and illegally distributed weaponry from sea to shining sea.
And now it s Maria's job to go get him.
He's dangerous quarry and she's a dangerous woman, but when forces conspire against them both, they take a chance and form an alliance. She joins his crew, and he uses her connections. She follows his orders. He takes her advice.
And somebody, somewhere, is going to rue the day he crossed either one of them.
201 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Cherie Priest
72 books4,160 followersCherie Priest is the author of two dozen books and novellas, most recently The Toll, The Family Plot, The Agony House, and the Philip K. Dick Award nominee Maplecroft; but she is perhaps best known for the steampunk pulp adventures of the Clockwork Century, beginning with Boneshaker. Her works have been nominated for the Hugo and Nebula awards for science fiction, and have won the Locus Award (among others) – and over the years, they’ve been translated into nine languages in eleven countries. Cherie lives in Seattle, WA, with her husband and a menagerie of exceedingly photogenic pets.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 466 reviews
September 2, 2010
In an alternate America where the Civil War stretches on, a former Confederate spy turned Pinkerton agent and an escaped slave turned dirigible captain may be pursuing the man -- or are they both being tricked?
This book could have been a lot better with an extra few dozen pages. The characters and setting were interesting (although I was disappointed not to meet again with Briar and Ezekiel from the first volume), but the villains and their Evil Plot were introduced so late and briefly that it was quite anticlimactic, despite some decent gun fights and air battles.
One of the best-done aspects of the world-building was the unusual wealth of sensory details. In too many steampunk novels the technology seems too magical, too clean and easy. Here you get a good sense of the difficulty of wrestling with heavy, unwieldy contraptions while wearing bulky, ill-fitting protective gear, while gunpowder stings your eyes and nose and smoke obscures your vision.
This book could have been a lot better with an extra few dozen pages. The characters and setting were interesting (although I was disappointed not to meet again with Briar and Ezekiel from the first volume), but the villains and their Evil Plot were introduced so late and briefly that it was quite anticlimactic, despite some decent gun fights and air battles.
One of the best-done aspects of the world-building was the unusual wealth of sensory details. In too many steampunk novels the technology seems too magical, too clean and easy. Here you get a good sense of the difficulty of wrestling with heavy, unwieldy contraptions while wearing bulky, ill-fitting protective gear, while gunpowder stings your eyes and nose and smoke obscures your vision.
May 19, 2014
Clementine is a slim book, a fun romp, but in some ways unsatisfying, and in others, a little...troublesome. Which is perhaps too much thought to put into a book that seems to be intended as brain candy and little more. But still, doubts remain. Can you really keep slavery as an aspect of life in the Southern states during the Civil War, and yet then try to make the pre-eminent Confederate spy's motives all about states rights, and give her absolutely no prejudices against an escaped black slave?
Note: The rest of this review has been withheld due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
Note: The rest of this review has been withheld due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
February 6, 2013
What kind of book is this? Is it science fiction, alternate history, steampunk, or just madcap adventure? All of the above.
Clementine is is part of the Clockwork Century series, and I admit I cheated and read these out of order, starting with this book. The storyline was a huge draw, honestly.
I'm a sucker for Westerns, especially with a heroine at the helm. Maria Isabella Boyd is on the wrong side of the Civil War, as far as I am concerned, but I don't like her any less. She's a complex woman with her reasons for being a Rebel spy. Deep down, she's a decent human being. While I abhor slavery and all the injustice associated with it, it's a reminder that many on that side of the conflict weren't necessarily people who believed in the inferiority of black people and that they should stay slaves. Many believed in the right to maintain their way of life, and for their families. So, long story short, I still loved Maria despite her loyalties. When you're a young girl growing up, you often wish that Indiana Jones and The Lone Ranger had female counterparts. As a very grown-up girl, I still cherish the opportunity to read about larger-than-life heroines saving the day in a historical setting. Belle Boyd is for you if you are of a similar bent.
Similarly black children hear about the Civil War and think about how much it must have sucked to be deprived of your basics rights and to be treated as property. You want to hear about heroes with brown skin who fought for their own freedom and autonomy, and there are not enough stories about these heroes. It's disheartening to think that all blacks during that period were out of control of their own destinies and basically victims. Well, Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey is for those kids. He's answerable to no man but himself. It's made him into an outlaw, but at least he can be treated as a man and not a 'boy' or property. He's steaming mad when a redheaded thief steals his very own hard-won airship. And he'll go to hell and back to get his Free Crow ship back. When he encounters Belle Boyd, they end up becoming temporary allies, because she's after the cargo on his ship, and he's after his ship himself. Maybe at one time they might have been enemies, but today is a different day. Hainey is a tough, fearless, strong-willed hero. Even when he does questionable things, I still rooted for him for his sheer force of will and determination.
Clementine is for adventure-loving readers who wonder about the 'what ifs', or how what happened could actually have been a little different then the way it's written in the history books. I probably missed a few key points, since I read this out of order. But it's not terribly hard to follow, overall. I get the idea that technology is more advanced than it would have been back in the actual period. It makes this sort of a low tech Steampunk Science Fiction, with an emphasis on the actual adventure. I really liked the idea of this book, more than the execution, to some extent. On the good side, I loved the manner in which Priest conveys this time period. I did feel like I was right there in the book as I read. My biggest issue with this book lies in the confusing descriptions of the workings and machinery of the hydrogen-driven airships. It was a little dry for my tastes. When descriptions get too technical, my eyes start to glaze. I could have done with a little less of that and more focus on the action and characters. However, I liked what was there. I also feel that more interaction between Captain Hainey and Belle could have enhanced the books. I'm not saying that Priest was going for a romantic entanglement, but the chemistry was certainly there, and I would like to see how that would have been handled in her alternate version of history. Maybe that will come along later. There's always that possibility. I can see the Captain and Belle meeting again someday. Not as enemies, but perhaps as allies once again.
I loved Dreadful Skin, so my bar for this author is set high. That's why I couldn't give this one a higher rating. At 3.5 stars, Clementine is an enjoyable book with larger-than-life main characters, despite its flaws. I'll be paying another visit to the Clockwork Century series in the near future.
Clementine is is part of the Clockwork Century series, and I admit I cheated and read these out of order, starting with this book. The storyline was a huge draw, honestly.
I'm a sucker for Westerns, especially with a heroine at the helm. Maria Isabella Boyd is on the wrong side of the Civil War, as far as I am concerned, but I don't like her any less. She's a complex woman with her reasons for being a Rebel spy. Deep down, she's a decent human being. While I abhor slavery and all the injustice associated with it, it's a reminder that many on that side of the conflict weren't necessarily people who believed in the inferiority of black people and that they should stay slaves. Many believed in the right to maintain their way of life, and for their families. So, long story short, I still loved Maria despite her loyalties. When you're a young girl growing up, you often wish that Indiana Jones and The Lone Ranger had female counterparts. As a very grown-up girl, I still cherish the opportunity to read about larger-than-life heroines saving the day in a historical setting. Belle Boyd is for you if you are of a similar bent.
Similarly black children hear about the Civil War and think about how much it must have sucked to be deprived of your basics rights and to be treated as property. You want to hear about heroes with brown skin who fought for their own freedom and autonomy, and there are not enough stories about these heroes. It's disheartening to think that all blacks during that period were out of control of their own destinies and basically victims. Well, Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey is for those kids. He's answerable to no man but himself. It's made him into an outlaw, but at least he can be treated as a man and not a 'boy' or property. He's steaming mad when a redheaded thief steals his very own hard-won airship. And he'll go to hell and back to get his Free Crow ship back. When he encounters Belle Boyd, they end up becoming temporary allies, because she's after the cargo on his ship, and he's after his ship himself. Maybe at one time they might have been enemies, but today is a different day. Hainey is a tough, fearless, strong-willed hero. Even when he does questionable things, I still rooted for him for his sheer force of will and determination.
Clementine is for adventure-loving readers who wonder about the 'what ifs', or how what happened could actually have been a little different then the way it's written in the history books. I probably missed a few key points, since I read this out of order. But it's not terribly hard to follow, overall. I get the idea that technology is more advanced than it would have been back in the actual period. It makes this sort of a low tech Steampunk Science Fiction, with an emphasis on the actual adventure. I really liked the idea of this book, more than the execution, to some extent. On the good side, I loved the manner in which Priest conveys this time period. I did feel like I was right there in the book as I read. My biggest issue with this book lies in the confusing descriptions of the workings and machinery of the hydrogen-driven airships. It was a little dry for my tastes. When descriptions get too technical, my eyes start to glaze. I could have done with a little less of that and more focus on the action and characters. However, I liked what was there. I also feel that more interaction between Captain Hainey and Belle could have enhanced the books. I'm not saying that Priest was going for a romantic entanglement, but the chemistry was certainly there, and I would like to see how that would have been handled in her alternate version of history. Maybe that will come along later. There's always that possibility. I can see the Captain and Belle meeting again someday. Not as enemies, but perhaps as allies once again.
I loved Dreadful Skin, so my bar for this author is set high. That's why I couldn't give this one a higher rating. At 3.5 stars, Clementine is an enjoyable book with larger-than-life main characters, despite its flaws. I'll be paying another visit to the Clockwork Century series in the near future.
November 20, 2017
-Evita problemas anteriores, genera otros nuevos.-
Género. Ciencia ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro Clementine (publicación original: Clementine, 2010), el capitán Croggon Beauregard Hainey, delincuente culpable de muchas clases de delitos, persigue a su propia nave, que él mismo robó ocho años antes y que ahora ha sido robada por otra persona, desde Seattle hasta Kansas. El capitán sabe que la Cuervo Libre debería volar mucho más deprisa, porque conoce sus capacidades, pero por alguna razón se desplaza con una lentitud desacostumbrada y eso le permite mantener la persecución. Maria Isabella Boyd, polifacética profesional y espía que trabajó mucho tiempo para la Confederación pero que ahora está sin empleo, es contratada por la agencia Pinkerton y su primera misión, auspiciada por los intereses del gobierno de la Unión, consiste en asegurarse de que una nave, la Clementine, llegue a su destino en Kentucky sana y salva; pero es advertida de que la nave es perseguida por Croggon Beauregard Hainey. Segundo libro de la serie El siglo mecánico.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
Género. Ciencia ficción.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro Clementine (publicación original: Clementine, 2010), el capitán Croggon Beauregard Hainey, delincuente culpable de muchas clases de delitos, persigue a su propia nave, que él mismo robó ocho años antes y que ahora ha sido robada por otra persona, desde Seattle hasta Kansas. El capitán sabe que la Cuervo Libre debería volar mucho más deprisa, porque conoce sus capacidades, pero por alguna razón se desplaza con una lentitud desacostumbrada y eso le permite mantener la persecución. Maria Isabella Boyd, polifacética profesional y espía que trabajó mucho tiempo para la Confederación pero que ahora está sin empleo, es contratada por la agencia Pinkerton y su primera misión, auspiciada por los intereses del gobierno de la Unión, consiste en asegurarse de que una nave, la Clementine, llegue a su destino en Kentucky sana y salva; pero es advertida de que la nave es perseguida por Croggon Beauregard Hainey. Segundo libro de la serie El siglo mecánico.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
March 11, 2011
Clementine is a novel set in Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century world. It was entertaining but not as good as Dreadnought. Heck, it wasn't even as good as Boneshaker. Fortunately, it bears no connection to either of those novels and you can go ahead and skip it if you want to.
I really like the production of this audiobook. I like how they used a female narrator for the female protagonist's chapters and a male narrator for the male protagonist's chapters. It really got to be a lot of fun when the two came together and Dina Pearlman would do Belle Boyd's dialogue in Captain Hainey's chapters and vice-versa. Unfortunately, the story was pretty weak, and I found it fairly implausible.
If you've already read Boneshaker, just go ahead to Dreadnought and don't worry about this one unless you just can't get enough of The Clockwork Century.
I really like the production of this audiobook. I like how they used a female narrator for the female protagonist's chapters and a male narrator for the male protagonist's chapters. It really got to be a lot of fun when the two came together and Dina Pearlman would do Belle Boyd's dialogue in Captain Hainey's chapters and vice-versa. Unfortunately, the story was pretty weak, and I found it fairly implausible.
If you've already read Boneshaker, just go ahead to Dreadnought and don't worry about this one unless you just can't get enough of The Clockwork Century.
April 18, 2017
On the surface, the action in this story was a little too easy and the plot very simple, but I enjoyed it! It was fun.
I liked the characters, even if they were a little shallow. They had heart.
I liked the characters, even if they were a little shallow. They had heart.
September 9, 2011
My sister read and wrote a review of Clementine before I got to it, so I noticed things that she mentioned in her review that I wouldn't normally notice: It was a fast-paced book; it lacked the sharing of background and history that Boneshaker had; it could probably be called more superficial. But I don't mind. Sometimes, a slow, leisurely exploration of a new place or culture or universe is enjoyable, the way curling up in front of the fire with a cup of hot chocolate and a book on a snowy winter afternoon is enjoyable. But Clementine is not fire and cocoa and book on a snowy day; Clementine is more like when we were kids driving with my dad, and he would take the corners as fast as he dared (which ended up never being more than the speed limit, apparently), pressing us all against doors or floating us into the space between seats, suspended in the middle of things (depending on which side of the car we were on). Clementine is brief and maybe lacking depth, but that doesn't make it less fun.
May 5, 2019
Captain Hainey is chasing his stolen dirigible. While ex spy Maria Boyd is chasing him on behalf of her employers. Their paths cross in an unexpected fashion and action ensues. Excellent shoot em up steampunk.
November 11, 2011
http://www.rantingdragon.com/clementi...
Cherie Priest has been called the “High Priestess of Steampunk” for good reason. Her Clockwork Century world is a well-constructed alternate history version of 19th century North America. I reviewed Boneshaker recently, and was eager to read the next installment. With Clementine, the only disappointment I felt was when it ended.
Clementine tells the tale of Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey. A former slave and current air pirate, his airship���the Free Crow—has been stolen by the flame-headed pirate, Felton Brink. Hainey doesn’t like this one iota, so along with his first mate and engineer, he commandeers a new airship to chase down the thieves and retrieve what is rightfully his (well, his now—he did steal the Free Crow himself).
The second player in this exciting yarn is one Miss Maria Isabella Boyd (Belle for short), a sweet, southern lady with a body that can make a man quiver and a reputation that can make a man shake. In actuality, the character of Belle is based on a real life confederate spy turned actress (which is pretty awesome). Working for the Pinkerton agency, Belle’s mission is not so simple; she must make sure the Free Crow reaches its destination by any means necessary.
Obviously, this means stopping Captain Hainey from stealing back the Free Crow. I don’t reckon he’ll take too kindly to her interference. Eventually their paths cross, and what happens next… well, you’ll just have to read the book to find out.
Meet the players
As with Boneshaker, the characters in Clementine aren’t dripping with depth. They are, however, interesting and original—and so much fun. Hainey and his crew are some of the most likeable pirates this side of the Mississippi; Hainey in particular is one tough hombre. I wouldn’t cross him, but he is fair (as far as thieves go), and not one for taking a man’s life—unless he deserves it. His two-man crew, comprised of Lamar and Simeon, is loyal and dependable.
Belle steals the show with her sweet and sour attitude. She is tough, intelligent, and downright persistent. Her personality sparkles with life, making her a believable heroine of the times.
Priest’s characters, both major and minor, leave a lasting impression. Allan Pinkerton, the Scottish leader of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, is in just one chapter, yet I can’t forget the amusing interactions he had with Belle. And the debonair Pinkerton agent, Algernon Rice, was fun to read; his personal flying machine, the Flying Fish, was an interesting new addition to the technology of the Clockwork Century.
Dagnabbit!
Clementine has more twists than a tornado. As the novella picks up speed, pieces fall into place that I didn’t even realize were in motion. The story flows along a fairly comfortable course until Belle and the crew meet up. As they interact, new discoveries are made and new mysteries revealed. Priest’s revelations are introduced with a deft hand—fast enough to keep up the pace, and at just the right times to keep the reader guessing. Like Boneshaker, Clementine continues to showcase this effective method.
Rip-roaring adventure
I really wanted to use the phrase rip-roaring and Clementine hits the mark. Each chapter introduces a new element, be it an entertaining new character or a thrilling action sequence. She knows how to build a story, inserting intense action, cool characters, and plausible plot twists. Priest has a flair for rousing and creative storytelling. She knows how to entertain.
Why should you read this book?
Clementine is a novella, clocking in at just over 200 pages; it’s the shortest book in the Clockwork Century. Still, this novella packs all the punches. It’s a riveting adventure, adding depth to this well-developed steampunk universe while introducing some enjoyable new characters along the way. There are also name drops of people and places from the previous installment, enhancing the continuity of the books. I’m excited to read Dreadnought next and continue to explore this alternate world. You should “git” yourself a copy; else you may find yourself facing the dark eye of a Frontier Six-Shooter. (And we wouldn’t want that, now—would we?)
Cherie Priest has been called the “High Priestess of Steampunk” for good reason. Her Clockwork Century world is a well-constructed alternate history version of 19th century North America. I reviewed Boneshaker recently, and was eager to read the next installment. With Clementine, the only disappointment I felt was when it ended.
Clementine tells the tale of Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey. A former slave and current air pirate, his airship���the Free Crow—has been stolen by the flame-headed pirate, Felton Brink. Hainey doesn’t like this one iota, so along with his first mate and engineer, he commandeers a new airship to chase down the thieves and retrieve what is rightfully his (well, his now—he did steal the Free Crow himself).
The second player in this exciting yarn is one Miss Maria Isabella Boyd (Belle for short), a sweet, southern lady with a body that can make a man quiver and a reputation that can make a man shake. In actuality, the character of Belle is based on a real life confederate spy turned actress (which is pretty awesome). Working for the Pinkerton agency, Belle’s mission is not so simple; she must make sure the Free Crow reaches its destination by any means necessary.
Obviously, this means stopping Captain Hainey from stealing back the Free Crow. I don’t reckon he’ll take too kindly to her interference. Eventually their paths cross, and what happens next… well, you’ll just have to read the book to find out.
Meet the players
As with Boneshaker, the characters in Clementine aren’t dripping with depth. They are, however, interesting and original—and so much fun. Hainey and his crew are some of the most likeable pirates this side of the Mississippi; Hainey in particular is one tough hombre. I wouldn’t cross him, but he is fair (as far as thieves go), and not one for taking a man’s life—unless he deserves it. His two-man crew, comprised of Lamar and Simeon, is loyal and dependable.
Belle steals the show with her sweet and sour attitude. She is tough, intelligent, and downright persistent. Her personality sparkles with life, making her a believable heroine of the times.
Priest’s characters, both major and minor, leave a lasting impression. Allan Pinkerton, the Scottish leader of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, is in just one chapter, yet I can’t forget the amusing interactions he had with Belle. And the debonair Pinkerton agent, Algernon Rice, was fun to read; his personal flying machine, the Flying Fish, was an interesting new addition to the technology of the Clockwork Century.
Dagnabbit!
Clementine has more twists than a tornado. As the novella picks up speed, pieces fall into place that I didn’t even realize were in motion. The story flows along a fairly comfortable course until Belle and the crew meet up. As they interact, new discoveries are made and new mysteries revealed. Priest’s revelations are introduced with a deft hand—fast enough to keep up the pace, and at just the right times to keep the reader guessing. Like Boneshaker, Clementine continues to showcase this effective method.
Rip-roaring adventure
I really wanted to use the phrase rip-roaring and Clementine hits the mark. Each chapter introduces a new element, be it an entertaining new character or a thrilling action sequence. She knows how to build a story, inserting intense action, cool characters, and plausible plot twists. Priest has a flair for rousing and creative storytelling. She knows how to entertain.
Why should you read this book?
Clementine is a novella, clocking in at just over 200 pages; it’s the shortest book in the Clockwork Century. Still, this novella packs all the punches. It’s a riveting adventure, adding depth to this well-developed steampunk universe while introducing some enjoyable new characters along the way. There are also name drops of people and places from the previous installment, enhancing the continuity of the books. I’m excited to read Dreadnought next and continue to explore this alternate world. You should “git” yourself a copy; else you may find yourself facing the dark eye of a Frontier Six-Shooter. (And we wouldn’t want that, now—would we?)
July 8, 2014
Well wasn't this just a rollicking good time? And honestly, I think that this is quite literally the ONLY time I have ever used the word "rollicking". But if there was ever a time and a place for the word, Clementine would be both.
I can honestly say that I am kicking myself for not starting this one MUCH sooner. I thoroughly enjoyed Cherie Priest's first "Clockwork Century" novel years ago when I first read it, and I really missed the boat when this first follow-up was released. Still, better late than never, right?
Where Boneshaker was the calculated wind up (world building and a somewhat self-contained story), Clementine is the fastball pitch...fast, spirited, and straight to the glove. No longer contained to the beleaguered city of Seattle, this tale travels across several midwestern states, and features a new pair of 3rd person protagonists. Prior knowledge of the events in Boneshaker, while not wholly necessary, will definitely enhance the experience, as several characters and events are heavily referenced.
While Boneshaker felt like a more methodical and evenly paced story, Clementine is essentially a sprint from start to finish. We are quickly introduced to the main characters and what their purposes are...and then it's off to the races. I am not sure if this is a longer novel than the first "Clockwork Century" release, but I know I finished it much more quickly. I think that is mostly due to the breakneck pace that is set early on. Which, in other novels can kinda be a distraction. But here it served the tale and didn't pull me out of the experience. In fact, the only negative thing I can say about the pace of the story is, whether by mistake or design, Maria Boyd isn't really given enough backstory to put her into a set context. She references some personal events in a roundabout, vague sort of way, but I would have liked to see more meat on that proverbial bone. Croggon Hainey fares slightly better, especially after having read Boneshaker recently (where he was a supporting character, but still had some backstory explained).
Aside from a murky past, Maria Boyd is a GREAT addition to the lexicon. She's wily, she's tough, and she knows how to get what she wants. She is definitely the kind of character you want to root for. I always found myself wondering how I'd react to her, in the various circumstances described in the book, and just that fact alone means that she made an impact. Croggon Hainey was no less enjoyable as a protagonist, especially since we are occasionally privy to how his mind works as he solves through problems. He's a violent man who doesn't always want to resort to violence, and it's fun to read.
My only other complaint, which is minor at best, is that since this is such a character driven action tale, the villains of the piece really don't stand out or get a chance to shine. We hear a bit about them here, a bit about them there, and then we meet them and BAM...the story is over. We are on a roller coaster through the whole book, which tends to distract from those kinds of details, but after finishing it, I would have liked to have known more about the antagonists. Especially Steen, who we learn is a monster through and through, but has such short face time that he hardly registers.
But make no mistake...I honestly can't praise this one enough. I literally started it last night, and finished it today (even with work and sleep!). I am now ready to start the third book in the series, and I expect the greatness to continue.
I can honestly say that I am kicking myself for not starting this one MUCH sooner. I thoroughly enjoyed Cherie Priest's first "Clockwork Century" novel years ago when I first read it, and I really missed the boat when this first follow-up was released. Still, better late than never, right?
Where Boneshaker was the calculated wind up (world building and a somewhat self-contained story), Clementine is the fastball pitch...fast, spirited, and straight to the glove. No longer contained to the beleaguered city of Seattle, this tale travels across several midwestern states, and features a new pair of 3rd person protagonists. Prior knowledge of the events in Boneshaker, while not wholly necessary, will definitely enhance the experience, as several characters and events are heavily referenced.
While Boneshaker felt like a more methodical and evenly paced story, Clementine is essentially a sprint from start to finish. We are quickly introduced to the main characters and what their purposes are...and then it's off to the races. I am not sure if this is a longer novel than the first "Clockwork Century" release, but I know I finished it much more quickly. I think that is mostly due to the breakneck pace that is set early on. Which, in other novels can kinda be a distraction. But here it served the tale and didn't pull me out of the experience. In fact, the only negative thing I can say about the pace of the story is, whether by mistake or design, Maria Boyd isn't really given enough backstory to put her into a set context. She references some personal events in a roundabout, vague sort of way, but I would have liked to see more meat on that proverbial bone. Croggon Hainey fares slightly better, especially after having read Boneshaker recently (where he was a supporting character, but still had some backstory explained).
Aside from a murky past, Maria Boyd is a GREAT addition to the lexicon. She's wily, she's tough, and she knows how to get what she wants. She is definitely the kind of character you want to root for. I always found myself wondering how I'd react to her, in the various circumstances described in the book, and just that fact alone means that she made an impact. Croggon Hainey was no less enjoyable as a protagonist, especially since we are occasionally privy to how his mind works as he solves through problems. He's a violent man who doesn't always want to resort to violence, and it's fun to read.
My only other complaint, which is minor at best, is that since this is such a character driven action tale, the villains of the piece really don't stand out or get a chance to shine. We hear a bit about them here, a bit about them there, and then we meet them and BAM...the story is over. We are on a roller coaster through the whole book, which tends to distract from those kinds of details, but after finishing it, I would have liked to have known more about the antagonists. Especially Steen, who we learn is a monster through and through, but has such short face time that he hardly registers.
But make no mistake...I honestly can't praise this one enough. I literally started it last night, and finished it today (even with work and sleep!). I am now ready to start the third book in the series, and I expect the greatness to continue.
December 24, 2011
Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century series is rather refreshing in that the various books, thus far, don't follow the exact same set of characters. They're all set in the same universe, but the characters featured in each book are only tangentially related to each other. And things are slightly complicated by how the books in the series are not all exclusively with the same publisher. The main books in the series are via Tor, but Subterranean Press has the actual Book 2: Clementine.
Now, this one didn't grab me nearly as hard as Boneshaker, but that isn't really this book's fault; I loved Boneshaker so much that any other book in the series was naturally going to have to work extremely hard to measure up. And this is not to say that Clementine isn't good, because it is. There's some steampunky airship-and-battle-automaton goodness here, as well as the appeal of both of our lead characters, Maria Isabella Boyd and Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey, being people of color. But man, I missed the zombie action, as well as the bigger scope of Boneshaker (and, since I've since read it as well, Dreadnought).
Still, if you're a fan of the series, this one is worth finding. The hardcover edition is hard to find at this point, and expensive as well--but the book's also available electronically for very reasonable prices. So if you're electronically inclined in your reading, be sure to grab this one. Three stars.
Now, this one didn't grab me nearly as hard as Boneshaker, but that isn't really this book's fault; I loved Boneshaker so much that any other book in the series was naturally going to have to work extremely hard to measure up. And this is not to say that Clementine isn't good, because it is. There's some steampunky airship-and-battle-automaton goodness here, as well as the appeal of both of our lead characters, Maria Isabella Boyd and Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey, being people of color. But man, I missed the zombie action, as well as the bigger scope of Boneshaker (and, since I've since read it as well, Dreadnought).
Still, if you're a fan of the series, this one is worth finding. The hardcover edition is hard to find at this point, and expensive as well--but the book's also available electronically for very reasonable prices. So if you're electronically inclined in your reading, be sure to grab this one. Three stars.
August 23, 2010
Following the adventures of Croggon Beauregard Hainey, airship captain and thief from last year's fantastic Boneshaker, as he tries to recover his beloved airship from the hands of the pirate who swiped her. Of course being that things are never as easy as simply stealing back the ship he rightfully stole in the first place, Maria Isabella Boyd, former spy and newest member of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, is hot on his trail.
I love that Hainey's so unrepentantly possessive of his ship. He and his crew will do nearly anything to get her back. The only thing that gave me a sad face while reading was the lack of Rotters. Sure, we had a mention or two but I wanted more. Despite that, this was a fun little romp back in the world where the Civil War marches on and the sky is the preferred home for lawless men like Hainey. I'm looking forward to book 3 something fierce.
"Why are you chasing the Clementine? What's on board that you want so badly?"
"Not a goddamned thing," her told her. "I don't want anything that ship's carrying. I want the ship itself, because it's mine."
"Yours?"
The motion of the Valkyrie's new course made the floor under their feet swing slightly, and they both swayed as they spoke. "Yes," he said. "It's mine. I stole it fair and square, years ago, and I want it back."
I love that Hainey's so unrepentantly possessive of his ship. He and his crew will do nearly anything to get her back. The only thing that gave me a sad face while reading was the lack of Rotters. Sure, we had a mention or two but I wanted more. Despite that, this was a fun little romp back in the world where the Civil War marches on and the sky is the preferred home for lawless men like Hainey. I'm looking forward to book 3 something fierce.
April 10, 2012
Boneshaker, Priest's first book of her Clock work Century series, set an awfully high standard. It used the background a steampunk-style Seattle overrun by noxious gas and zombies, all while the Civil War continues to ravage the rest of the United States well into the 1880s. Clementine takes place immediately after the first book, though following different characters across the country. While I enjoyed the setting, the emotional punch simply wasn't there. Part of the appeal of Boneshaker was the sense of danger with every step, especially as a mother sought out her missing teenage son in the ruins of Seattle. No such motivation drove this plot.[return][return]Clementine is a short action-adventure novel involving dirigibles, a former-Confederate spy named Belle Boyd, and a escaped slave pirate who just wants his flying ship back. The characters are fun, but the stakes didn't feel high enough. It was implied that Very Bad Things could happen, but nothing did. Belle Boyd and Captain Hainey are both ruthless and shrewd, but not endearing in the slightest.[return][return]In all, it's not a bad story, but it doesn't have the luster of the first book. Maybe I set my expectations too high. If you enjoy steampunk and alternative histories, it's a good read--but wait until it's out in paperback.
October 3, 2016
Mon avis en Français
My English review
Ce roman est considéré en France comme étant le deuxième tome de la série Mécanique du Siècle et correspond à une nouvelle, placée entre le tome 1 et 2 à l’étranger. Ceci étant dit, je n’avais pas fait attention et j’ai été surprise par la faible épaisseur du livre quand je l’ai reçu.
Nous faisons suite à la première histoire et suivons d’autres personnages que nous avions eu la chance de découvrir. En effet, après s’être fait voler le Corneille Libre, le capitaine Hainey est bien décidé à récupérer son vaisseau quoi qu’il en coûte ! Pourtant, il ne s’attendait pas à ce qu’autant de personnes essaient de lui mettre des bâtons dans les roues et notamment Maria Boyd, espionne, envoyée pour l’immobiliser.
C’était intéressant de voir la détermination de Hainey face à son vaisseau mais aussi de voir la loyauté de Maria testée et finalement d’assister à une alliance hors du commun. Je n’ai pas été autant emportée que par le premier volume mais j’ai passé un très bon moment avec cette petite histoire. C’était très intéressant et fascinant de se retrouver une fois de plus dans l’univers de Cherie Priest.
My English review
Ce roman est considéré en France comme étant le deuxième tome de la série Mécanique du Siècle et correspond à une nouvelle, placée entre le tome 1 et 2 à l’étranger. Ceci étant dit, je n’avais pas fait attention et j’ai été surprise par la faible épaisseur du livre quand je l’ai reçu.
Nous faisons suite à la première histoire et suivons d’autres personnages que nous avions eu la chance de découvrir. En effet, après s’être fait voler le Corneille Libre, le capitaine Hainey est bien décidé à récupérer son vaisseau quoi qu’il en coûte ! Pourtant, il ne s’attendait pas à ce qu’autant de personnes essaient de lui mettre des bâtons dans les roues et notamment Maria Boyd, espionne, envoyée pour l’immobiliser.
C’était intéressant de voir la détermination de Hainey face à son vaisseau mais aussi de voir la loyauté de Maria testée et finalement d’assister à une alliance hors du commun. Je n’ai pas été autant emportée que par le premier volume mais j’ai passé un très bon moment avec cette petite histoire. C’était très intéressant et fascinant de se retrouver une fois de plus dans l’univers de Cherie Priest.
February 28, 2011
Hey, whaddya know, Priest actually improved upon her steampunk series in most of the ways that angered me in Boneshaker.
First of all, the story goes somewhere. It has characters who all want something other than to merely survive. There's a genuine thrust to the narrative.
The pacing goes along at a nice rate, the characters all have amusing back stories rather than just featuring a wide-eyed kid with a dark family history (the ultimate fantasy trope.)
What I still take issue with is Priest's dialogue. While it doesn't fail completely and has a certain utilitarian simplicity to it, it doesn't reflect the deeply southern and quite diverse origins of its characters. The best I can say about her characters talking is that they don't embarass her.
An issue I assume may always remain with Priest's writting is the plot structure. It has the arbitrary feel I can only equate to a dungeon master's whim. Characters end up in situations less because that's what they're driven to than because that's how we get to the next big set piece. Sometimes attitudes are bent slightly so as not to interfere with the fun direction she's hoping to take the story in. It's by no means a deal breaker, but it's awkward when you can see the seams in a narrative.
First of all, the story goes somewhere. It has characters who all want something other than to merely survive. There's a genuine thrust to the narrative.
The pacing goes along at a nice rate, the characters all have amusing back stories rather than just featuring a wide-eyed kid with a dark family history (the ultimate fantasy trope.)
What I still take issue with is Priest's dialogue. While it doesn't fail completely and has a certain utilitarian simplicity to it, it doesn't reflect the deeply southern and quite diverse origins of its characters. The best I can say about her characters talking is that they don't embarass her.
An issue I assume may always remain with Priest's writting is the plot structure. It has the arbitrary feel I can only equate to a dungeon master's whim. Characters end up in situations less because that's what they're driven to than because that's how we get to the next big set piece. Sometimes attitudes are bent slightly so as not to interfere with the fun direction she's hoping to take the story in. It's by no means a deal breaker, but it's awkward when you can see the seams in a narrative.
March 14, 2016
Intriguing characters, solid world-building, and if you told me Priest had actually been in an airship battle, I'd believe you -- she does a wonderful job with describing the imagined. The novella length makes for a fairly condensed plot -- by the time we've gotten through the set-up, the book is nearly over. Also, perhaps this says something about my own limitations, but even in alternative history, I have trouble sympathizing with the Confederacy, and thus I found the heroine difficult to understand. But it was tremendous fun and a quick, involving read. And I did love the other protagonist, an escaped slave turned airship pirate.
September 21, 2010
A fun adventure in Priest’s Clockwork Century a steam punk alternative history of the American Civil War (an underused idea since a war fought with gatling guns, ironclads, primitive submarines, and balloons should fire more steam punk imaginations).Pirates, Pinkertons, A woman confederate spy, escaped slaves, airship battles, and a doomsday weapon and the barest sketching of the historical background are along for entertaining a pulpy ride. I feel like I’m just getting tastes of this series so hurry with more Ms. Priest! For fans of Howard Waldrop, Mike Mignola, and Joe Lansdale’s weird west.
September 3, 2015
Guauuuu, está genial!!!
Me lo he pasado como una "enana".
El único problema que le veo es que la editorial española lo ha intentado colar como una novela y esto no es más que una historia corta a la que la autora, por cierto, es bastante aficionada.
(De ahi que le haya quitado una estrella.)
Y, para variar, la misma editorial te deja con la miel en los labios en referencia al siguiente de la serie.
Me lo he pasado como una "enana".
El único problema que le veo es que la editorial española lo ha intentado colar como una novela y esto no es más que una historia corta a la que la autora, por cierto, es bastante aficionada.
(De ahi que le haya quitado una estrella.)
Y, para variar, la misma editorial te deja con la miel en los labios en referencia al siguiente de la serie.
June 19, 2010
As much fun as I had with Boneshaker, I enjoyed reading Clementine even more, and my expectations are sky high for Cherie Priest’s Dreadnought, the third volume in the Clockwork Century, which is scheduled for publication on September 28, 2010 via Tor...
June 26, 2012
Not as good as the first. It still is a good adventure read, but does call upon the reader to take a feel things on faith. I also disliked how Priest sidestepped the whole question of morality of North and South. Still, a good adventure read.
Shelved as 'dnf'
July 11, 2015I am sure I could have finished it, but, I want to read books that I actually enjoy so DNF
January 20, 2016
2.5 stars.
November 1, 2017
Clementine is a steam-punk adventure set in Priest’s Clockwork Century. I have read only 220 pages of Boneshaker, so my exposure to that world was a bit limited. However, it was enough to want to read books in this universe. I enjoyed Boneshaker while I was reading it. The library just made me return it.
Clementine was an enjoyable read. It was quick, fun, and partially satisfying. And what I mean by partially satisfying is that while it was fun to read, there is not much meat on this bone. The characters of Hainey and Boyd, although intersting, don’t get much history and background to them. We never get to really know them. I would not call them flat, but they aren’t 3-dimensional characters either. We don’t know what motivates them beyond the basic plot of the novel. We don’t get to see the character as fully developed. Priest does give you enough that I would like to know more about Boyd, and maybe Hainey. This novelette is your typical steampunk fare with dirigibles gllore. But, unlike what I have read in Boneshaker, it is nothing new. You can tell that she did not spend the time to develop her world or characters much in this novelette. This is just a story set in the Clockwork Century, but she didn’t expand that world or its characters at all. I did not learn anything new about this world with this read, and that is disappointing. It could have been much better. She didn’t add much to her own world or to the steampunk genre as a whole.
Clementine was an enjoyable read. It was quick, fun, and partially satisfying. And what I mean by partially satisfying is that while it was fun to read, there is not much meat on this bone. The characters of Hainey and Boyd, although intersting, don’t get much history and background to them. We never get to really know them. I would not call them flat, but they aren’t 3-dimensional characters either. We don’t know what motivates them beyond the basic plot of the novel. We don’t get to see the character as fully developed. Priest does give you enough that I would like to know more about Boyd, and maybe Hainey. This novelette is your typical steampunk fare with dirigibles gllore. But, unlike what I have read in Boneshaker, it is nothing new. You can tell that she did not spend the time to develop her world or characters much in this novelette. This is just a story set in the Clockwork Century, but she didn’t expand that world or its characters at all. I did not learn anything new about this world with this read, and that is disappointing. It could have been much better. She didn’t add much to her own world or to the steampunk genre as a whole.
April 15, 2021
This one was probably my favorite of the short stories as it was most like the main stories rather than a tangentially related not really steampunk story like tanglefoot and Jacaranda. This was high adventure airship battles deadly secrets pirate captains and daring lady detectives.
The two narratives of the pirate airship Captain Croggon Hainey persuing his stolen craft and Maria Boyd’s mission from the Pinkertons to ensure the craft in question reaches its destination worked well the two very different characters using their very different skill sets to good effect.
Boyd the ex confederate spy essentially kicked out by the side she still supports in spirit wrestling with working for the Union via Pinkertons and balancing her personal loyalties with professional requirements and somewhat desperate being unable to make a living anywhere else was nicely handled. Using her skills where appropriate her wiles or deception or violence as the situation required it.
Hainey the rogue and wanted man in the Union and in the Confederacy all that plus being an escaped slave. Owing loyalty to no side and working through the underworld or black markets made for a nice contrast. His approach for the most part more that of a wreaking ball crashing through things.
A fun adventure story set in the same world and theme of the main books in the series.
The two narratives of the pirate airship Captain Croggon Hainey persuing his stolen craft and Maria Boyd’s mission from the Pinkertons to ensure the craft in question reaches its destination worked well the two very different characters using their very different skill sets to good effect.
Boyd the ex confederate spy essentially kicked out by the side she still supports in spirit wrestling with working for the Union via Pinkertons and balancing her personal loyalties with professional requirements and somewhat desperate being unable to make a living anywhere else was nicely handled. Using her skills where appropriate her wiles or deception or violence as the situation required it.
Hainey the rogue and wanted man in the Union and in the Confederacy all that plus being an escaped slave. Owing loyalty to no side and working through the underworld or black markets made for a nice contrast. His approach for the most part more that of a wreaking ball crashing through things.
A fun adventure story set in the same world and theme of the main books in the series.
November 9, 2017
On my quest to read all of Priest's works, I finally got my hands on ''Clementine'' - although as an audiobook.
I've wanted to read this book like forever!
Unfortunately, it didn't blow me away.
Not on its own because of the story, but for multiple reasons.
It was OK, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't what I hoped for.
Why I didn't like it.
This is an installment in one of my long time favorite series, but it's been a while since I read the main books in this series, and so I felt a few of the points made in his story were lost on me. On the other side, if I ever do a reread/relisten of this series, I think I will like this story more.
Also, I had some trouble with the narrators.
Yes, there were more of them, and usually, in a book with two POVs, of different sexes, I like it when there are two narrators - one male and one female. But something with the narrators of this story didn't really work for me. I can't really put my finger on what it was, seeing as they did as good as all the things I like with a good narrator.
OBS: On after thought, I think my problem was that one of the narrators mumbled a little at times, and so words were lost on me.
But looking away from these two (major) points, what did I think?
I found the story enjoyable, action packed and usually what I like in a story, although a little lacking in character growth.
I've wanted to read this book like forever!
Unfortunately, it didn't blow me away.
Not on its own because of the story, but for multiple reasons.
It was OK, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't what I hoped for.
Why I didn't like it.
This is an installment in one of my long time favorite series, but it's been a while since I read the main books in this series, and so I felt a few of the points made in his story were lost on me. On the other side, if I ever do a reread/relisten of this series, I think I will like this story more.
Also, I had some trouble with the narrators.
Yes, there were more of them, and usually, in a book with two POVs, of different sexes, I like it when there are two narrators - one male and one female. But something with the narrators of this story didn't really work for me. I can't really put my finger on what it was, seeing as they did as good as all the things I like with a good narrator.
OBS: On after thought, I think my problem was that one of the narrators mumbled a little at times, and so words were lost on me.
But looking away from these two (major) points, what did I think?
I found the story enjoyable, action packed and usually what I like in a story, although a little lacking in character growth.
June 12, 2019
El segundo libro en la serie The Clockwork Century (el siglo mecánico), es una novela intermedia entre Boneshaker y Dreadnought. Me ha gustado mucho. Y aunque es una obra menor en relación a Boneshaker, me parece mucho mejor que su hermana mayor.
No está situada en Seattle como su predecesora, pero tiene el mismo ambiente, comparte algunos personajes y utiliza los mismos elementos del subgénero steampunk o retrofuturista.
Los protagonistas, María Isabella Boyd y el capitán Hainey, intentan desmantelar los malvados planes de un malvado militar de la Unión para construir un arma capaz de destruir una ciudad entera. Una ciudad confederada, por supuesto. Bueno, esa es la misión de Boyd, mientras que el capitán está enfocado en recuperar su nave, la Cuervo Libre, que el malvado ladrón que se la arrancó de las manos ha rebautizado como Clementine.
Ambientada durante la guerra civil estadounidense, con personajes mucho más creíbles que Boneshaker y con una Cherie Priest que se nota mucho más cómoda con el universo que ha creado.
Una excelente novela, para quien guste de la ciencia ficción retrofuturista y de aventuras. De no ser por los elementos steampunk, sería simplemente un western muy decente.
No está situada en Seattle como su predecesora, pero tiene el mismo ambiente, comparte algunos personajes y utiliza los mismos elementos del subgénero steampunk o retrofuturista.
Los protagonistas, María Isabella Boyd y el capitán Hainey, intentan desmantelar los malvados planes de un malvado militar de la Unión para construir un arma capaz de destruir una ciudad entera. Una ciudad confederada, por supuesto. Bueno, esa es la misión de Boyd, mientras que el capitán está enfocado en recuperar su nave, la Cuervo Libre, que el malvado ladrón que se la arrancó de las manos ha rebautizado como Clementine.
Ambientada durante la guerra civil estadounidense, con personajes mucho más creíbles que Boneshaker y con una Cherie Priest que se nota mucho más cómoda con el universo que ha creado.
Una excelente novela, para quien guste de la ciencia ficción retrofuturista y de aventuras. De no ser por los elementos steampunk, sería simplemente un western muy decente.
September 11, 2011
I bought Clementine because I had just finished reading Boneshaker, which I thought was a clever and original story that reinvented American history and offered a plausible alternative timeline in which the American Civil War never ended and drags on through internecine fighting and skirmishes. While I think much of Clementine captures elements of this originality, it was a touch disappointing, primarily because there wasn’t enough narrative to develop either of the main characters or their place in the textured history Priest has created for her Clockwork Century novels. I find that this novel can more appropriately be described as a novella, and it almost felt like a short story whose expansion was forced, with somewhat unsatisfying results. Although Priest’s narrative in this novel is adequate, the characters never become truly interesting and, as a result, I had trouble developing emotional attachment to them, as well as the desire to see them succeed. This book definitely adds to the Clockwork Century series, and is worth owning, but it simply never transcends the problem with the flat character development.
The reader first meets Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey in Boneshaker: He’s a former slave who ‘liberated’ an airship from Confederate forces eight years before the start of the story and headed West with a crew of former slaves to make their way through piracy and smuggling of the highly addictive Yellow Sap. His airship, which he has rechristened the Free Crow, is stolen during Boneshaker by Felton Brink, who is using it to transport an important component for a superweapon being constructed in the North. Hainey takes this theft very personally—he stole the Free Crow fair and square, after all, and it’s a matter of personal honor. He’s not going to let Brink get away with renaming his ship Clementine and depriving him of his means of making a living.
Then the narrative shifts to Maria Isabella Boyd who, at nearly forty, has had too much success as a Confederate spy. Rather than retire her gracefully, however, the Confederate government sends her the dreaded “your services are no longer needed” letter, and leaves her to make her way as best as she can without a military pension, which is inexplicably withdrawn. Boyd is left with limited options for employment until she is hired by the Chicago-based Pinkerton National Detective Agency. Her boss knows she was a Confederate spy, but since his firm is no longer being given much work by the Union, he feels that the benefit of her particular skillset outweighs the potential for conflict of interest. For her first mission she is tasked with making sure that the airship Clementine makes it to Louisville, Kentucky. She isn’t told what’s on the ship, only that the ship has to make it to its destination by any means necessary, and if she can also capture Hainey, then she can turn him over to the Confederate authorities for extra consideration. Pinkerton isn’t necessarily aligned politically and, so long as she does the job she’s paid to do, he doesn’t really care what her political views are.
The story then alternates between Hainey and Boyd: Hainey, as he comes East from Seattle, and Boyd as she rushes West from Chicago. The two meet in the middle of a firefight in Kansas City and quickly discover they have common goals. Hainey doesn’t know where Brink is taking the Clementine, but he knows that its cargo will be used in the manufactory of a superweapon the Union plans to use to win the war. Boyd knows where the ship is heading, but was unaware of the weapon that will be used to destroy major Confederate cities in an effort to force the surrender of the South. The two decide to join forces to retrieve Hainey’s ship and prevent the Union from being successful.
As other reviewers have already pointed out, the story feels hurried and poorly developed, with a plot that feels thin and barely plausible. Cities are alluded to, but there is barely any mention of how the protracted civil war has restricted the westward expansion of the United States or how population growth has been changed. I assume that the American population would continue to grow, even given the ongoing civil war, and I can’t figure out where the populations are or why they would go in those directions. This created a disconnect with the characters: As a reader, I don’t understand why Boyd continues to be loyal to the South and its political goals, or who is buying the merchandise that Hainey is stealing and/or transporting. The story is action-filled and fast-paced, but it seems to be serving goals I can’t understand or support as a reader. In short, the story gives me few reasons to sympathize with or like these characters, and I just don’t care if they are successful.
Despite my complaints about the narrative, I enjoy Priest’s writing style, and I was entertained by the story. It’s all action-adventure, with nontraditional leading characters in an older heroine and black leading man. I appreciate that Priest resisted the urge to further muddle her novel with a romance, and the relationship between Hainey and Boyd remains properly focused on getting to Louisville so that they can go their separate ways. This is not to say that they don’t earn each other’s respect, because they do, but this story isn’t long enough for anything more sophisticated, like friendship, to develop. Because this story adds so little to the alternate history Priest has created, I would recommend that readers who are new to the Clockwork Century should focus on reading Boneshaker and Dreadnought first, and save this book for supplemental reading.
The reader first meets Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey in Boneshaker: He’s a former slave who ‘liberated’ an airship from Confederate forces eight years before the start of the story and headed West with a crew of former slaves to make their way through piracy and smuggling of the highly addictive Yellow Sap. His airship, which he has rechristened the Free Crow, is stolen during Boneshaker by Felton Brink, who is using it to transport an important component for a superweapon being constructed in the North. Hainey takes this theft very personally—he stole the Free Crow fair and square, after all, and it’s a matter of personal honor. He’s not going to let Brink get away with renaming his ship Clementine and depriving him of his means of making a living.
Then the narrative shifts to Maria Isabella Boyd who, at nearly forty, has had too much success as a Confederate spy. Rather than retire her gracefully, however, the Confederate government sends her the dreaded “your services are no longer needed” letter, and leaves her to make her way as best as she can without a military pension, which is inexplicably withdrawn. Boyd is left with limited options for employment until she is hired by the Chicago-based Pinkerton National Detective Agency. Her boss knows she was a Confederate spy, but since his firm is no longer being given much work by the Union, he feels that the benefit of her particular skillset outweighs the potential for conflict of interest. For her first mission she is tasked with making sure that the airship Clementine makes it to Louisville, Kentucky. She isn’t told what’s on the ship, only that the ship has to make it to its destination by any means necessary, and if she can also capture Hainey, then she can turn him over to the Confederate authorities for extra consideration. Pinkerton isn’t necessarily aligned politically and, so long as she does the job she’s paid to do, he doesn’t really care what her political views are.
The story then alternates between Hainey and Boyd: Hainey, as he comes East from Seattle, and Boyd as she rushes West from Chicago. The two meet in the middle of a firefight in Kansas City and quickly discover they have common goals. Hainey doesn’t know where Brink is taking the Clementine, but he knows that its cargo will be used in the manufactory of a superweapon the Union plans to use to win the war. Boyd knows where the ship is heading, but was unaware of the weapon that will be used to destroy major Confederate cities in an effort to force the surrender of the South. The two decide to join forces to retrieve Hainey’s ship and prevent the Union from being successful.
As other reviewers have already pointed out, the story feels hurried and poorly developed, with a plot that feels thin and barely plausible. Cities are alluded to, but there is barely any mention of how the protracted civil war has restricted the westward expansion of the United States or how population growth has been changed. I assume that the American population would continue to grow, even given the ongoing civil war, and I can’t figure out where the populations are or why they would go in those directions. This created a disconnect with the characters: As a reader, I don’t understand why Boyd continues to be loyal to the South and its political goals, or who is buying the merchandise that Hainey is stealing and/or transporting. The story is action-filled and fast-paced, but it seems to be serving goals I can’t understand or support as a reader. In short, the story gives me few reasons to sympathize with or like these characters, and I just don’t care if they are successful.
Despite my complaints about the narrative, I enjoy Priest’s writing style, and I was entertained by the story. It’s all action-adventure, with nontraditional leading characters in an older heroine and black leading man. I appreciate that Priest resisted the urge to further muddle her novel with a romance, and the relationship between Hainey and Boyd remains properly focused on getting to Louisville so that they can go their separate ways. This is not to say that they don’t earn each other’s respect, because they do, but this story isn’t long enough for anything more sophisticated, like friendship, to develop. Because this story adds so little to the alternate history Priest has created, I would recommend that readers who are new to the Clockwork Century should focus on reading Boneshaker and Dreadnought first, and save this book for supplemental reading.
January 13, 2020
I was happy to travel more with Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey as they set out to reclaim their precious airship, that they rightfully pirated years ago. We're introduced to Maria Boyde, an ex spy who after being turned away from her side of the civil war, still remains a woman not to be reckoned with as a fresh spy. I enjoyed how the story unfolded and the ending was satisfying
January 28, 2021
I blasted through this novel pretty quickly, and will admit I enjoyed it a lot more than I did Boneshaker, which I found to be a bit anemic, scattered, underutilized. Clementine (which I will admit I thought was book #2 in the series, since that's how audible had it listed) was a fun break from other novels - I don't think I'll be picking up Dreadnought immediately, but this has given me some reason to return to the series in the future.
October 18, 2017
This book is part of The Clockwork Century series and I enjoyed it. It kept me reading and the ending was satisfactory, if a little hurried, in my opinion.
The reason I didn't give it four stars is because it was a much shorter book than others; resulting in the characters not being given the depth needed as in her previous novels. But it was still an interesting read and well worth my time!
I look forward to reading other books in the series.
Oh, you don't have to have read the previous books in this series as this one can easily stand alone.
The reason I didn't give it four stars is because it was a much shorter book than others; resulting in the characters not being given the depth needed as in her previous novels. But it was still an interesting read and well worth my time!
I look forward to reading other books in the series.
Oh, you don't have to have read the previous books in this series as this one can easily stand alone.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 466 reviews