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Like Clockwork - A Complete Adventure Serial

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An adventure for readers aged 199 – 9, stuffed with magic, mystery, derring-do and generally ill-advised behaviour.

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 17, 2013

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Damien Love

9 books28 followers

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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
1,148 reviews38 followers
August 20, 2013
An exciting escapade involving the mechanical and mysterious, with a sprinkling of magic and mystery!

This thrilling adventure story will delight fans of doctor who or those who enjoy mechanical fantasy like Leviathan for example. Set within a modern-day world that is invaded by the mysterious, this is the story of how a young boy’s toy Robot turns out to be the catalyst for something momentous. His acquisition is no ordinary Robot for when Alex (the young boy) encounters an alien attack; he is plunged headlong into a frightening reality wherein nightmares come to life. Fleeing across Europe Alex and his grandfather are pursued by deadly assassins both human and mechanical, who ultimately stem back to that one toy. Brought to mind instantly was the Cyberman invasion on Earth or some such similar, wherein our planet (this date and year) is endangered by otherworldly forces that are both fantastical and macabre.

Like clockwork ~ a complete adventure serial brings past literary genre’s back into fashion, complete with sketches and illustrations that are simply enchanting and which bring the author’s vision to life. A serialized novel is something that I do hope will be put back onto our bookshelves, as the cliffhangers and intricately detailed plots sustain you for hours on end whilst leaving you sat in suspense. This six-part serial novel is a compelling, addictive read that grabs your attention almost instantly with fast-paced action and intense drama to loose yourself within. Damien Love’s suggestion that a more exciting world exists a mere millimeter away from our own is sure to enchant readers with vivid imaginations, especially children and those who revel in adventures that can easily slot-into our busy lives.

The novel is structured in such a way so as to make it easier to read in smaller chunks or sections if you want to, like for example whilst I was on the train or when I had a spare half an hour. I felt like this explosive story could have continued on forever, as it is definitely one of those tales that remains with you always and which lingers in your mind for a long time afterwards. With memorable, interesting characters and the threat of danger lurking behind every turned page I was totally hooked on this book reminiscent of a comic strip unfolding before your very eyes. I was very impressed by this wonderful story that I would highly recommend, and which pleasantly exceeded and surpassed all expectations!

*I won a copy of ‘Like Clockwork’ by Damien Love through a Goodreads, first-read book giveaway*

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Profile Image for Chandni.
1,492 reviews21 followers
February 27, 2017
I can't remember the last book I read that had pictures in it. After reading this book, it kind of made me long for the days of picture books. I was prepared to write this book off as just a children's book, but I was thoroughly impressed by it. Not only did it have action, adventure and a mystery, I was surprised by the amount of myth it included. It also included a great representation of family dynamics.

Alex seems a lot older than his twelve years, but in the best possible way. He's intelligent and capable of thinking quickly. He's resilient, strong and can adapt easily. Even though his grandfather is enigmatic and holds a lot back from his grandson, Alex seems to figure it out anyway. It was also really interesting to see Prague and Paris through Alex's eyes. The plot moves at a great pace and it completely captivated me. I never found myself thinking the book was too juvenile, and perhaps that's because this book is more than just a novel about robots. I highly recommend this book for all ages.

I received this book through the Goodreads FirstReads program.
Profile Image for S.P. Moss.
Author 4 books18 followers
April 8, 2020
MONSTROUSLY GOOD
In this thrill-a-millisecond adventure story, young Alex is plunged from the everyday world of homework and school bullies into a phantasmagoria of crazed robots, ancient folklore and a very unusual, un-pc but quite charming grandfather.

The story bounds along at a cracking pace, yet somehow manages to incorporate beautifully wistful and melancholic moments. The action takes place across a snow-covered Europe, from Paris to Prague, and the atmosphere is reminiscent of the best of 1960s films and TV shows, from Batman to The Avengers to early Dr Who.

My only little criticism is that referring to the grandfather throughout as "his grandfather" or "the old man" felt slightly odd and stood in the way of feeling involved with the character.

"Like Clockwork" has recently been republished as "Monstrous Devices" https.//damienlove.com/monstrous-devices/ . I haven't read the new version yet, but I'm pleased that this imaginative and inventive story will deservedly be finding a wider audience.
Profile Image for Misty Ray.
37 reviews2 followers
August 27, 2013
With Damien Love’s “Like Clockwork”, it is as if Remi’s “Tintin” and Stevenson’s “Treasure Island” had mated and produced a marvelously steampunk offspring.

Alex’s grandfather is an adventurer, a collector of rare and unusual things, and has spurred Alex’s love for old robots. He mails a particularly curious robot to Alex, and its arrival portends a strange and magical event in the young man’s life. Grandfather arrives shortly after, a wondrous hybrid of Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Who and Indiana Jones, and the pair set off on a whirlwind voyage across Europe. They are chased by a motley collection of thugs both mechanical and humanoid, forced to think on their feet and dance along the edge of danger. “Like Clockwork” ends many adventurous pages later, leaving the reader desperately craving more.

With only a few references to modern technology, the tale remains predominantly timeless, a thrill for both young and old readers alike. Love’s writing style is wondrously cinematic; the reader can smell the snow in the air and feel the metal robot flesh in their own hands. “Like Clockwork” intrigues as it entertains, and still manages to firmly grasp the humanity at the core of the machine. Damien Love is a force to observe closely, and with great interest.
117 reviews5 followers
September 26, 2013
Very charming book, a delightfully fun read once you decide to take things with a grain of salt (ha! tip of the hat to the book) and suspend disbelief. Alex and his grandfather are a good combination, the enigmatic grandfather and the pragmatic grandson. I liked "seeing" Paris and Prague through their eyes.

The ending threw me a bit but not so that it took away my enjoyment.

The first chapter or two where things are set up are a bit of a slog but once you get into the story (for me, on the train to Paris), it really becomes a page-turner.


For fairness sake, I did receive this book through a Goodreads giveaway and I was torn between giving it 4 stars and 5 but chose to round up.

My 7 year old is dying to read it. I think she's a bit young but I may try to read it out loud to her to edit out a few bits that might be disturbing.
Profile Image for Danielle Hamilton.
351 reviews49 followers
February 9, 2014
* I received a free copy of this via the Goodreads First Reads program. The review is wholly my own opinion and was not paid for.*

This was a neat adventure!

Like Clockwork reminds me a lot of the TV show Fringe. It's an immersive book, with an out of this world story, but somehow you feel like it's completely believable and that you are just glimpsing into this boy's (Alex) life. Add in a British feel and a unique grandfather, and you've got an interesting read.

The relationship between Alex and grandpa is a really nice one as well. I feel like this could easily be a movie that anyone from children to grandparents could enjoy and relate to in some way.

I recommend this to anyone who wants to be sweep into an adventure for a couple of hours that traipses across Europe, includes robots, and lots of delicious food descriptions (which always makes a book better ;P).
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

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