What do you think?
Rate this book
Arcana #3
The Kairos Mechanism
September, 1913. The crossroads town of Arcane, Missouri, is a place where strange things happen, and lately those strange things have a habit of happening to thirteen year-old Natalie Minks. It's Natalie who first encounters the two boys who arrive in town seemingly out of nowhere, carrying a dead man between them. Odder still, a few of her older neighbors immediately recognize the dead man as a fellow citizen who's been missing for fifty years--and who doesn't appear to have aged in all that time. When another newcomer, a peddler called Trigemine, arrives in town, Natalie learns why the two boys and the peddler have really come to Arcane. And, of course, she realizes she has to stop them.
160 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2012
8 people are currently reading
1401 people want to read
About the author
Kate Milford
17 books1,099 followersKate is the author of THE THIEF KNOT, GREENGLASS HOUSE, GHOSTS OF GREENGLASS HOUSE, BLUECROWNE, THE LEFT-HANDED FATE, THE BONESHAKER, THE BROKEN LANDS, THE KAIROS MECHANISM, and the forthcoming THE RACONTEUR'S COMMONPLACE BOOK (February 2021).
Originally from Annapolis, MD, Kate now lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Nathan and son Griffin and their dogs, Ed and Sprocket. She has written for stage and screen and is a frequent travel columnist for the Nagspeake Board of Tourism and Culture (www.nagspeake.com).
Originally from Annapolis, MD, Kate now lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Nathan and son Griffin and their dogs, Ed and Sprocket. She has written for stage and screen and is a frequent travel columnist for the Nagspeake Board of Tourism and Culture (www.nagspeake.com).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 11, 2021
I couldn’t find any copies of this anywhere-there aren’t that many I guess. But the author has the ebook for $5 on Gumroad, & she donates the money from it. This one continues from The Boneshaker, but is also connected to BlueCrowne & The Left Handed Fate lol it’s so crazy how they’re all connected but so different. I swear, this author is a genius. This one is a lot shorter, but man she packed a lot of punch in this book. It was great to be back w/Natalie again. Got to see some people I didn’t care for from other books as well. Definitely can’t say ANYTHING about it lol w/so many books connected I don’t want to spoil any of them. But just as much danger & suspense. A tiny glimpse of war back then & what those men & sometimes BOYS had to witness & go through. Hurts my heart, b/c those things really happened-still happen really. Another beautiful cover by Andrea Offermann. There are illustrations throughout from 13 different people the author had sent the manuscript to asking them to pick a chapter to illustrate for. Amazing. Highly recommend these all. After Greenglass House & Ghosts of Greenglass House, they do get A LOT darker. Just so you know. Love them.💜
December 8, 2017
The Kairos Mechanism is AWESOME. It's a fantastically wondrous piece of historical fiction set in Milford's richly imagined Arcane, Missouri, circa 1913, where only the strangest, most terrifying, jaw dropping of events tend to occur.
I may have even enjoyed The Kairos Mechanism more than its predecessor, The Boneshaker, which is equally as imaginative and a must read in order to fully appreciate this yarn. Natalie Minks, lead protagonist of both Boneshaker and Mechanism, is one brave, scrappy, curious, smart, and funny young lady. It's obvious she's "destined for greatness" and I truly hope her adventures continue in future Milford tales.
I may have even enjoyed The Kairos Mechanism more than its predecessor, The Boneshaker, which is equally as imaginative and a must read in order to fully appreciate this yarn. Natalie Minks, lead protagonist of both Boneshaker and Mechanism, is one brave, scrappy, curious, smart, and funny young lady. It's obvious she's "destined for greatness" and I truly hope her adventures continue in future Milford tales.
Read
October 26, 2012So once again, you should remember that I am a not-unbiased reader of this book. Just wanted to throw that out there.
December 25, 2023
My wintery return to the Nagspeake universe - with a Kickstarter project from Milford!
This is my 5th Milford (previously the 2 GG house books, then the sea-faring books) and an introduction to the Arcana portion of her universe.
In it we follow Natalie. Natalie is daughter of a very special woman who holds some sacred place in the town's structure. But Natalie's mother has been ill for a while now so she has taken to spending time out of the house. She used to spend time with her best friends but recently they've stopped inviting her to play ball because she is a girl. One afternoon she's sitting in a field and sees two boys carrying a stretcher between them..
I loved the writing and characters of this novella. Milford writes middle-grade characters everyone can identify with: kids who are trying to do the right thing and make their way in the world. And the world itself is full of intrigue. Initially it seems to be a boring midwestern dirt bowl but soon we learn about people with special power, although Natalie as a child isn't told what that power is. And a huge magical garden! And a strange mechanism...
I enjoyed this but the reason it only gets 3.5 stars is that it felt a little too short and the balance was off. The book is mostly build-up through conversation such that the action, when it comes, is crammed in at the end. We barely got to the intrigue before the plot was resolved. I wanted more from Natalie and her parents. Perhaps this is all explained in the Boneshaker or Broken Lands? I'll have to read them next and find out.
On to the next!
This is my 5th Milford (previously the 2 GG house books, then the sea-faring books) and an introduction to the Arcana portion of her universe.
In it we follow Natalie. Natalie is daughter of a very special woman who holds some sacred place in the town's structure. But Natalie's mother has been ill for a while now so she has taken to spending time out of the house. She used to spend time with her best friends but recently they've stopped inviting her to play ball because she is a girl. One afternoon she's sitting in a field and sees two boys carrying a stretcher between them..
I loved the writing and characters of this novella. Milford writes middle-grade characters everyone can identify with: kids who are trying to do the right thing and make their way in the world. And the world itself is full of intrigue. Initially it seems to be a boring midwestern dirt bowl but soon we learn about people with special power, although Natalie as a child isn't told what that power is. And a huge magical garden! And a strange mechanism...
I enjoyed this but the reason it only gets 3.5 stars is that it felt a little too short and the balance was off. The book is mostly build-up through conversation such that the action, when it comes, is crammed in at the end. We barely got to the intrigue before the plot was resolved. I wanted more from Natalie and her parents. Perhaps this is all explained in the Boneshaker or Broken Lands? I'll have to read them next and find out.
On to the next!
June 6, 2023
The numbering in this series confuses me, so perhaps I was wrong to read this one without having read book one in a different series first…? Either way, the weak writing killed this one for me, despite a very promising plot.
August 21, 2020
I loved this book! That's all there is to say. Amazing, subtle worldbuilding and a page-turning plot. Not to mention the cover design is to die for.
January 13, 2017
If you liked this book, you might also enjoy:
✱ The Boneshaker
✱ The Broken Lands
✱ The Boneshaker
✱ The Broken Lands
September 1, 2024
The shortest in the Nagspeake/Arcana/etc books - and the hardest to get your hands on as it's out of print and only available as a downloadable (and illustrated by kids) PDF. Still, for a shelter book, Milford managed to pack a lot in. It did leave me wanting me - more of this universe that I've come to love now 9 books in. Please.let there be more?
I also did want slightly more in this book too! I'm bad with tie-ins and had to look a couple characters up to remember them so I am sure there's even more here than I picked up on.
I also did want slightly more in this book too! I'm bad with tie-ins and had to look a couple characters up to remember them so I am sure there's even more here than I picked up on.
September 27, 2018
a lovely time-travel follow up to The Boneshaker that begins with a girl named Natalie meeting two Union soldiers, both boys, bringing home a casualty of the Civil War. The man was killed in Georgia, in 1863, but Natalie lives in 1913, in Missouri...there is clearly magic at work, and it is a lovely fast read of rich detail and compelling characters.
May 13, 2019
(this review is for the Illustrated Kairos Mechanism, the 86-page PDF format)
hi and welcome to my review where i just yell about how much i love simon coffrett, it involves a lot of crying and a sincere wish to be transported into this world
the one line that made me lay down emotionally and scream because of who said it: "I'm very proud of you. And it's true, Natalie; you are precious. To me, and to all of Arcane."
hi and welcome to my review where i just yell about how much i love simon coffrett, it involves a lot of crying and a sincere wish to be transported into this world
the one line that made me lay down emotionally and scream because of who said it: "I'm very proud of you. And it's true, Natalie; you are precious. To me, and to all of Arcane."
February 7, 2018
A wonderful follow up to The Boneshaker, though I don't think it works entirely as a stand alone, which the author has said was her intention. Regardless, it satisfied my need to know more about the mythology of the walking world, and there was a pretty awesome time travel loop.
September 30, 2019
A quick, entertaining read. I recommend it, but also wish it had been longer and gone deeper into the storyline.
March 3, 2018
The Kairos Mechanism by Kate Milford is the sequel to The Boneshaker and the keystone holding together her Bradburyesque historical horror with her more Pratchettesque modern day fantasies.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2018/comm...
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2018/comm...
August 19, 2016
Basically I'm playing a game called "Catch up on reading the rest of Kate Milford's Books" because The Left-Handed Fate is about to be released and I'm going early in the morning to get my copy from the store.
This book expanded on a lot of what I loved about The Boneshaker. I loved Natalie and Miranda and the mysterious magic of Arcane, Missouri and each of those elements is out in full force in this book. I want to see more of this world and these characters because they are brave and daring and able to breathe in a way that makes them feel real. The book was bittersweet and poignant, leaving me with a sense that I almost can't put into words when I think about the almost tragic beauty of Natalie and her friends and the world they live in.
It almost hurt to get to the end of this book and take in what had been shown and think about what could possibly be in store for the futures of these characters. I can only hope there is more to come about each of them in Milford's other books.
This book expanded on a lot of what I loved about The Boneshaker. I loved Natalie and Miranda and the mysterious magic of Arcane, Missouri and each of those elements is out in full force in this book. I want to see more of this world and these characters because they are brave and daring and able to breathe in a way that makes them feel real. The book was bittersweet and poignant, leaving me with a sense that I almost can't put into words when I think about the almost tragic beauty of Natalie and her friends and the world they live in.
It almost hurt to get to the end of this book and take in what had been shown and think about what could possibly be in store for the futures of these characters. I can only hope there is more to come about each of them in Milford's other books.
January 27, 2017
amazing! this novella took me right back to the Broken Lands, which i loved reading about in Milford's two books... wonderful and fresh to have a female heroine, one that is smart and tough and wily and brave and emotional AND cute... another fantastic addition to the world(s) Milford has created... the drawings were a beautiful addition to the text, each with its own idea of the Broken Lands and what lies within...
June 9, 2016
A great little story to tide us over until the next book comes out. Natalie continues to be a wonderful character and I like seeing Miranda continue to show her depth. We get plenty of little clues into the mysticism of this world. I can't wait to learn more.
November 4, 2015
I loved Greenglass House, really enjoyed Boneshaker, and raced through this, so I certainly need to give Broken Lands another go. Will certainly get Bluecrowne at some point.
(This was on sale, but can't recall if it was a Daily Deal or publisher's special)
(This was on sale, but can't recall if it was a Daily Deal or publisher's special)
March 2, 2019
I love Natalie Minks. She is one of my favorite literary characters, and she is one of my role models. She is the perfect mix of brave, loyal, and smart.
I was lucky to get my hands on a copy of this book (funny story, we’ll save it for later) but I am so glad that I did!
I was lucky to get my hands on a copy of this book (funny story, we’ll save it for later) but I am so glad that I did!
October 30, 2012
Awesome! A must-read novella for fans of Milford's world, and especially for those who wanted more Natalie after they finished The Boneshaker.
April 23, 2014
3.5 Stars
on-hold-bored-lost-interest
November 7, 2014On hold till I read Boneshaker...
February 10, 2015
It's wonderful when a book turns out to be exactly what you'd hoped it would be in style, setting, and characters. I'm hooked.
September 3, 2018
Sequel to The Boneshaker. I really loved this book because of what it made me want, which is more Arcane, and more Natalie Minks, Simon Coffrett, Tom, Guyot, and the rest. The plot was very interesting, but it is the unfolding of Natalie's potential and life that grab your attention. What is going to happen, gosh-darnit?! Kate Milford needs to write faster. There are some plot details that I need to have resolved, like are Ben and Amory going to show up in Arcane as old men? Is Foulk Trigmine going to pass through another story? What's the deal with all the secrets? I bought this book on Kindle by-the-way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews