by
Nikki McCormack
Page Count: 224
Stand Alone. (Horrible choice)
My Rating: ★ ★ ★
Current Average Rating on Goodreads: 4.05
Synopsis:
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.
**Thank you Entangled Teen Publishing for giving me a review copy!**
Unfortunately, it wasn't good as I hoped. If i'm being honest, I don't even know why I picked it up because I usually don't read steampunk.. oh wells. The story is centred in London with a "street rat", Maeko (half Japanese), who gets sucked into this mystery revolving around a cat with a clockwork leg. Interesting? Mehhh..
The mystery was a bit laggy. It didn't really feel like a mystery either... Just some gal and an attempt at a love triangle, running around places trying not to get caught. I was bored at times, and had to really push myself to carry on till the end. (*cough* That's why it took ages to finish this..) It wasn't like the "I can't continue on for the life of me, please kill me now" feeling though. Some parts were actually decent. Just I think the general story could have been improved.
aaaaand,
The romance didn't work.
Seriously, the love triangle just didn't make sense in this one. A plain one to one could have done fine! Just because most YA books have triangles these days, there is NO NEED to grab a random male character and stick it in a love interest position :/ It's like... Ash's interest was believable. Sorta.
He's never seen her before, he's in a higher social cast, and well, she's interesting enough. A teenage half Japanese spunky girl hiding around the streets of London getting herself involved with really dangerous situations. Okay, i'll take that as a reason for romancee? XD
But the second guy, Chaff, has been her mentor of how to survive since she was really young. They have a special bond.. and then *DUN* Ash comes in. Chaff gets jealous. He turns into a mentor/friend/family to 'love interest' overnight.
Right.
Well then.
And then Maeko's all conflicted like NO WHO WILL I CHOOOOSE D:
*ends up not choosing anyone*
*book is a standalone*
Wth?
(It bothered me that Maeko was always saying "i'm not a rat!" but then she always called herself a rat.. Self confidence is the first step, darlin'. But I did like you somewhat :D Strong laddyy)
The writing was cool, I must admit! McCormack did a good job portraying historic London ^.^ Well the language anyways. I didn't really read much about the setting.. maybe she thought "Hmm where shall this scene be set... Pffft. London language, steampunk, yeah. The readers will know where the characters are right now. Just some random place in London. *shrugs and continues with story*"
Me: Whattt *is a bit confused through out the book*
Oh, and since mine is an ARC copy, I hope they proofread this before publishing xD McCormack slipped up and used "mom" twice near the end.. *looks around for editor* HELLOOO?
The ending was terrible! and not in a good way.
I recently (as mentioned above) found out this was a standalone? From Lola's review?
Sigh.. This was a big mistake :/ I hope the author really changes this decision. You can't leave a standalone in a cliffhanger, unless you're planning on finishing it.
And it wasn't like even "Eleanor and Park"'s deliberate 'open ended' ending. (btw that was an overhyped book, people. Overhyped book. Jus saying XD) This was a real honest CLIFFHANGER. Not that I would read the second book, but you just can't do that! IT'S NOT THE WAY OF THE UNIVERSE. *pulls hair*
Mer.
Overall, it was a bit of a easily forgettable read with a dragging on mystery (ish) and characters that didn't stand out (notice I haven't said much about them. Ain't really anything to say..) , an unnecessary love triangle, and a confusing plot. Should really be a sequel even if I won't read it, and i'm immensely glad I managed to finish it.
Yay!
—MissOddball™ Over and Out.
0 comments:
Post a Comment