47:100 Clockwork Boys by T. Kingfisher

Slate is a forger and has been given the choice between death and going on a suicide mission. Since a suicide mission has at least a slim chance at survival, she choose that.  Her assassin friend was given the same choice and also went for the suicide mission.  Now she is looking for one more person to round out their party and she has her pick of the prisoners. As luck would have it, she has just a wee bit of magic, a strong rosemary perfume that tells her when fate is trying to knock on her door and this time, it runs her straight into a formerly possessed former paladin who murdered several priests and nuns of his god.

Fate has a sick sense of humor.

Once they are joined by their scholar who is looking for a book that may contain information about the Clockwork Boys that the neighboring state is using to war upon them, they can start their journey.  Their quest, to discover how the Clockwork Boys are made and if possible, disrupt the process or bring back information on how to destroy them while there is still a kingdom to save.  Several other parties have been sent out but none have been heard from, let alone returned.  Slate and her small band may be the last hope there is.

Definitely darker and less whimsical than the last book of her's that I read and also a bit slow paced but still enjoyable.  The characters were fairly strong and complex although a little less of the fatalistic monologue would have been nice.  I think this is just a duology in which case I have the next book waiting for me to find some time.


Page count: 230p/8,471p ytd/300,488p lifetime

83:120 Summer in Orcus by T. Kingfisher

Summer has spent all of her 11yrs of life under the thumb of her mother's love. It's not easy being so loved and she tries not to be resentful of it but some days she just wants to break out and do something just a teeny bit dangerous just to prove that she won't die from it. Then one day a strange house walks into the neighborhood on chicken legs and she meets Baba Yaga who, in a generous mood that day, promises to grant her heart's desire. Having been so sheltered, Summer has no idea what that might be so Baba Yaga sends her through a door that leads to another world called Orcus, a world that has a darkness lying at its heart. Here Summer finds a tree that should produce frogs but can't, a talking bird that is a dandy but has a good heart, a wolf that turns into a house when the sun goes down, a Forester with the heart of a dragon, and so many others.  Some help, some trick, some try to stop her but still she does not know her heart's desire so keeps looking for her way which may just lead her to Queen in Chains whose darkness is corrupting Orcus.

A lovely version of a fairy tale that has all the elements of whimsy you could wish for with fun surprises scattered throughout. It's a tale of growing up but also of learning and most of all, how important it is to just stop and listen.  I hadn't heard of T. Kingfisher before but apparently one of my book club ladies loves her and based on that, Seanan McGuire's Wayward children series was recommended.  After reading this, I can absolutely see why and I look forward to reading more by her in the future.


Page count: 268p/17,313p ytd/288,445p lifetime