Sometimes I find a book that I *want* to love more than I do when I actually read it. It's a shame this has to be one of those since I've really enjoyed the other three novels I've read by D. H. Wilson. I mean, what's not to love? Ancient clockwork robots hanging out and consuming each other for the anima to keep them going a bit longer, all of whom are hidden from sight from the rest of us fleshbags. Sounds a bit like Highlander, others have said. Robot Highlander. And sure, it shares that as a...

Fun read.Every other chapter is from the past and does such a perfect job filling in the blanks for the chapters in the present time. It was ultimately a look through history, and what might be hiding among us today.Also, this cover is seriously one of the most beautiful I've ever seen.Last few pages had left me wanting more; however, the author has said this is a standalone for now which broke my heart. (please don't let this be the case)I could definitely see this story as a movie too! This ju...

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/07/31/...When I first heard about A Clockwork Dynasty, I confess I was intrigued. With its mix of steampunk and robotics and history and magic, it sounded like quite a departure from Daniel H. Wilson’s previous novels and I was curious to see how the author would tackle something different.Well, I’m happy to report that it turned out great. Weaving together the past and present, this story actually works on two levels, alternating

Evil robots who rule the world and keep knowledge of their existence secret at any cost. I wasn't as sold on the historical parts (the cultural and historical differences didn't strike me, and they really should have), and I thought overall there were some pacing issues. But hey, it was a blast.

The cover art was the first thing that attracted me to this novel, but it was the premise introduced in the blurb that had me intrigued. A ‘race’ of avtomats, sentient beings made from ‘clockwork’ mechanics, are trying to survive in our world and discover the mystery behind their creation, while keeping their nature and existence a secret. This is of course not always possible and a woman finds her life linked to theirs.The narration takes the form of two strands, one set in Peter’s past, the ot...

4,5 stars. So basically I don't know much about steampunk, but I LOVE the the whole aesthetics of the style. I've read a couple of books of the subgenre, namely The Aeronaut's Windlass and Retribution Falls and its sequels, had a ton of fun, so it's obvious I wanted more. Here comes this book, with a cute cover and I was basically sold on it. in the 1700's Russia the Tsar has some of the most brilliant of his scientists repair two ancient robots, both wonderfully complex and fantastic. On the

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.Now: June, an anthropologist who specializes in ancient technology, discovers a hidden world that lurks just below our own when she comes across a secret inside a three hundred year old mechanical doll. Before she knows it both her career and her life are at stake, and she finds herself on a worldwide adventure with a brand new ally in her corner. Russia, 1725: The Tsar's mechanician brings to life Peter and Elena, two human-like

"Leizu wears the anima of the vanquished. If she finds you, she will consume your soul.” Favorite audiobook of the year! The familiar voices of David Giuntoli and Claire Coffee from Grimm are a rare treat. Point in fact... David's voice is sexy as hell! The Clockwork Dynasty is an extraordinary and entertaining mix of genres: a legendary/science/shemno/urban fantasy - or simply a lost technology story. But nothing is simple here, nothing is what is seems. I've heard the past referred to a

Bwahahahahaha - all this massive build-up through the ages and THIS is how it ends? Now THAT's what I call anti-climactic.But first things first: this book is about avtomats, machines that can look very similar to humans but above all can talk and are conscious just like us! Apparently, they've existed for thousands of years and IF any human ever got wind of their existance (which wasn't often), they snuffed his or her light out. Nevertheless, they aren't exactly subtle because those that haven'...

A historical fiction, sci-fi, steampunk and urban book taking place over milenium. The automat are steampunk cyborgs who are fighting their own battle between themselves and humanity for survival. Some of them have been alive so long they've died, been revived but at the expense of memories. The concept is interesting enough and the overall story was ok. The first problem for me with this book is I didn't care about any of the characters. There was no connection to them. No empathy for them or f...

June is a specialist in ancient mechanical devices who stumbles across a race of mechanical beings who won't hesitate to kill to protect the secret of their existence. Protected by one and hunted by another, June's eyes are opened to way these centuries-old creatures have lived among humans and manipulated our civilizations. Meanwhile we get the backstory of her protector, Peter Alexyevich from when he and his sister Elena were first brought back from oblivion by the mechanician of Czar Peter th...

It seems that automatons have been "living" among us for ages. This book has an interesting concept but suffered in the execution. The story is told in alternating chapters by Peter, an automaton, and June, a young, American anthropologist. I much preferred the Peter chapters. All of the chapters are written in first person present tense (which I generally dislike), but the Peter chapters start in the 1700s while the June chapters are in the present day. Dual time period books usually don't work...

If you prefer your Russian history with a steampunk twist, The Clockwork Dynasty is for you. Robotics expert Daniel H. Wilson has used his vast knowledge of the field to write a variety of fictional nail-biters, and he’s at his best here, where he introduces robots into more than a few unexpected settings. The Clockwork Dynasty shifts between Russia in 1725 and the present day, as one woman unravels the centuries-old secrets about a war that’s raged between humans and machines.— Book of the Mont...

A quick note to say I really enjoyed this book. Mr. Wilson took a very unique path in his love of artifical intelligence. Wish the next book was available to read RIGHT NOW.

1 starI received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not persuade my actual opinion of the book.I'm sorry, I just couldn't get through this - and I feel so bad! I'm the only person who gave this book one star, and I hate doing that. I hate being the one to bring down a great overall rating. However, this book just had so much lacking. And when I mean 'so much' - I'm not exaggerating.First of all, I never knew what was going on. I tried to understand by re-reading an...

In Moscow, 1709: Giacomo Giuseppe Favorini or 'Favo' is the last mechanician to the Tsar Pyotr Alexeyevich. Ten years before, the tsar traveled throughout Europe and brought back many treasures and craftsmen, including mechanicians and a special artifact from which to build an avtomaton. The tsar's wife Catherine, who doesn't like the idea, has managed to have the other mechanicians exiled, but Favo has remained and has succeeded in creating an avtomaton in Tsar Pyotr's likeness and named him Pe...

to say i dont have the words seems like a cop out. yet after finishing such a beautifully written, suspenseful and action filled (ok not filled but enough action to excite me) novel its true. Wilson has created a world where hidden throughout history automata, kind of steampunk androids walk amongst humans. he has infused them with intelligence and personality making these clockwork beings almost i distinguishable from us and this is their story. the prose is so mature and descriptive, yet not d...

I was looking forward to reading this, and while the plot was quick-moving, I didn't really feel interested in the characters. I never got a good feel for June's character beyond her curiosity, while I found myself mostly irritated by super mono-focused and obstinate Peter/Pyotr. I was intrigued by Elena, but I found her flat. I found the idea of avtomats interesting, though I didn't buy the ancient beings or incredible engineering and tech developments living so under the radar thing. Pleasant

Absolutely dire.I honestly don't even know where to start with this one. The plot is both paper thin and somehow, simultaneously, very confusing; the characters are so flat they practically don't exist; the writing, which is workable at least on a sentence level, is a giant mess. The Clockwork Dynasty is, when it manages to be anything at all, incredibly trite. I'm a very critical reader, but I've worked in this industry for a long time - I can generally figure out what other people like about a...

This was fun. It's my first read by this author and I really enjoyed it. It felt like an Indiana Jones meets Terminator meets vampire kind of story. In fact...I'd like to see one of these clockwork motherfuckers go toe to toe with a Terminator. Can we make that a crossover event?There are two points of view in this tale. One takes place in the past and the other is in present day time. Both characters are interesting enough and the chapters are super short so you flick back and forth through dif...