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Clockworkers
Samantha Chablon is a self-proclaimed “gadget girl”. She runs the family watch repair shop while her eccentric old father spends his days researching fantastical stories of elves. Sam loves her father, but his odd habits have always been a mystery and a burden on the family. But that all changes after her father dies, and she discovers what he left for her.
Sam has inherited a real elf.
Piv is his name, and he is far older than his boyish face and personality would imply. But he's also wise, and as an elf he is gifted with a preternatural proclivity for making things. Sam's father taught Piv everything he knows about making watches, and he works faster than human hands could ever move. Sam, being much more enterprising than her father, sees opportunity in Piv's talents. Soon Piv is not the only elf working for Sam as she goes about building a luxury watch empire powered by secret elf labor.
But the elves have remained hidden from humans for good reason, and it's not easy to keep a factory full of territorial elves secret in the middle of a metropolis. One night when someone attempts to break into the factory, the elves take matters into their own hands. The incident gives Sam a glimpse of a dark and twisted side of elves that no fairy tales ever mentioned. Samantha will soon discover that great ambition often comes with great risk, and although her elf partners have agreed to work without pay, there are other costly consequences involved in striking a deal with elves.
Sam has inherited a real elf.
Piv is his name, and he is far older than his boyish face and personality would imply. But he's also wise, and as an elf he is gifted with a preternatural proclivity for making things. Sam's father taught Piv everything he knows about making watches, and he works faster than human hands could ever move. Sam, being much more enterprising than her father, sees opportunity in Piv's talents. Soon Piv is not the only elf working for Sam as she goes about building a luxury watch empire powered by secret elf labor.
But the elves have remained hidden from humans for good reason, and it's not easy to keep a factory full of territorial elves secret in the middle of a metropolis. One night when someone attempts to break into the factory, the elves take matters into their own hands. The incident gives Sam a glimpse of a dark and twisted side of elves that no fairy tales ever mentioned. Samantha will soon discover that great ambition often comes with great risk, and although her elf partners have agreed to work without pay, there are other costly consequences involved in striking a deal with elves.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 20, 2013
4 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Ramsey Isler
7 books61 followersFor much of my life I wrote computer code, not stories. I was fairly successful at it, and I had a lot of fun doing it. But my true passion was writing books and stories that would inspire and ignite the light of creativity in others, just as my favorite storytellers had inspired me in my youth. I'm still in the early phases of my journey as an author, but it has been quite an adventure so far.
I write contemporary fantasy, epic fantasy, and sci-fi. My books The Remortal, Ghosts of ARCADIA, The Nightcrafters Trilogy, and Clockworkers are available on various digital book stores.
My favorite things include gadgets, science fiction, and cats.
I write contemporary fantasy, epic fantasy, and sci-fi. My books The Remortal, Ghosts of ARCADIA, The Nightcrafters Trilogy, and Clockworkers are available on various digital book stores.
My favorite things include gadgets, science fiction, and cats.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 29, 2014
Five stars.
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Clockworkers is a young adult dark-urban fantasy novel that takes the fairy tales you read as a kid, contemporary settings, and a set of well written characters and weaves them together into one great book from cover to cover. Tinkerer Sam Chablon runs a watch repair shop with her dad, whose quirky behavior in his old age includes researching elves. She thinks it's nothing more than a sign of his fraying mind, until she becomes acquainted with one herself. She quickly becomes thrust into a world where myth, fantasy, and reality become blurred as one, and she must decide who to trust, how far she will push her limits, and discover for herself if good really does beat evil, as fairy tales have come to teach us.
I'd like to first sum up my review of Clockworkers in one sentence; Books like this are the reason why I read independently published books. So many brilliant books go out into the world without enough of a bang, and for me this is one of them. I simply adored it.
First, the writing itself is really well done. There's a really dark, almost ominous and Grimm-esque feel to this book from very early on that follows throughout the story. The imagery is well detailed and the characters are too. I felt like I was really in the story with the Kith, and connected to the characters. So much so, in fact, that at one point I hated the main character because I connected with her. I don't want to give spoilers, but let's just say truth can be ugly when you look it in the eye.
Then, there is a tremendous amount of information about the impish little creatures referred to as the Kith, or elves, featured in this book. There are myths mentioned from each corner of the world, making it seem that much more real. It's a myth that many cultures share, which gives just that little glimmer of hope that maybe there is such a thing as fairy tales.
Plus, there are so many deeper themes at play here. Again, I wish to avoid spoilers as I greatly encourage you to read this for yourself, but there are huge conflicts of things like morals that come to play in a way that isn't always pleasant to read about, but that definitely are relevant in the modern, real world.
If you're a fan of dark fairy tales and fantasy with just a sprinkle of death and romance, Clockworkers is a book I can't recommend enough. I read it in one setting, and it flew by in the best possible way. Be warned that there is some language and violence, though nothing in my opinion that's too extreme for teens and higher. Thanks to the author who gave me a copy to read in exchange for my honest review. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
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Clockworkers is a young adult dark-urban fantasy novel that takes the fairy tales you read as a kid, contemporary settings, and a set of well written characters and weaves them together into one great book from cover to cover. Tinkerer Sam Chablon runs a watch repair shop with her dad, whose quirky behavior in his old age includes researching elves. She thinks it's nothing more than a sign of his fraying mind, until she becomes acquainted with one herself. She quickly becomes thrust into a world where myth, fantasy, and reality become blurred as one, and she must decide who to trust, how far she will push her limits, and discover for herself if good really does beat evil, as fairy tales have come to teach us.
I'd like to first sum up my review of Clockworkers in one sentence; Books like this are the reason why I read independently published books. So many brilliant books go out into the world without enough of a bang, and for me this is one of them. I simply adored it.
First, the writing itself is really well done. There's a really dark, almost ominous and Grimm-esque feel to this book from very early on that follows throughout the story. The imagery is well detailed and the characters are too. I felt like I was really in the story with the Kith, and connected to the characters. So much so, in fact, that at one point I hated the main character because I connected with her. I don't want to give spoilers, but let's just say truth can be ugly when you look it in the eye.
Then, there is a tremendous amount of information about the impish little creatures referred to as the Kith, or elves, featured in this book. There are myths mentioned from each corner of the world, making it seem that much more real. It's a myth that many cultures share, which gives just that little glimmer of hope that maybe there is such a thing as fairy tales.
Plus, there are so many deeper themes at play here. Again, I wish to avoid spoilers as I greatly encourage you to read this for yourself, but there are huge conflicts of things like morals that come to play in a way that isn't always pleasant to read about, but that definitely are relevant in the modern, real world.
If you're a fan of dark fairy tales and fantasy with just a sprinkle of death and romance, Clockworkers is a book I can't recommend enough. I read it in one setting, and it flew by in the best possible way. Be warned that there is some language and violence, though nothing in my opinion that's too extreme for teens and higher. Thanks to the author who gave me a copy to read in exchange for my honest review. This review can also be found on my blog, Bitches n Prose.
January 21, 2014
This has a fabulous feeling of fantasy. As I started reading I felt like I was reading a fairytale, something that I would want to share with my daughter and nieces. As the story progresses I started wondering when the crap was going to hit the fan! So much is in this that I wasn’t sure what to be scared of exactly, but I knew from the ominous feeling that something was going to happen, and it does! Ohhh it does!
Sam, the main character, has inherited her father’s clock shop. But unlike her father she is full of ambition. She can see where she wants to take the company, just not how. Then she meets Piv. She goes from not believing in fairies to believing but it definitely wasn’t an immediate thing. She even tries to shoot the poor little guy! But as we learn more about him and his little friends we find out that he’s an elf and that’s where the story really starts!
The plot was fabulous. I really enjoyed the growth, or even lack of growth, of the characters and where they went. I really was getting into the book and it’s at right around halfway when that ominous feeling starts to show it’s ugly face but then it wasn’t it feeling! Stuff starts happening and Sam can’t keep control of everything around her. It’s just crazy!
Much like the older fairy tales where they didn’t necessarily have a good ending, and where you’re not sure if the heroine is going to come out on top, this book is exactly like that. I was waiting with bated breath to see what was going to happen and didn’t get many answers until nearly the end.
And it was the way that Ramsey doesn’t spoon feed the information but made Sam work for it that I liked as well. We’ve all heard stories about elves but you never know which ones are true so Sam had to find her own way through the mess.
Absolutely brilliant writing. Just a few wordy spots that I wanted to skim through to get to the meat of the story but nothing that would detract from a great book.
4.5 / 5
Sam, the main character, has inherited her father’s clock shop. But unlike her father she is full of ambition. She can see where she wants to take the company, just not how. Then she meets Piv. She goes from not believing in fairies to believing but it definitely wasn’t an immediate thing. She even tries to shoot the poor little guy! But as we learn more about him and his little friends we find out that he’s an elf and that’s where the story really starts!
The plot was fabulous. I really enjoyed the growth, or even lack of growth, of the characters and where they went. I really was getting into the book and it’s at right around halfway when that ominous feeling starts to show it’s ugly face but then it wasn’t it feeling! Stuff starts happening and Sam can’t keep control of everything around her. It’s just crazy!
Much like the older fairy tales where they didn’t necessarily have a good ending, and where you’re not sure if the heroine is going to come out on top, this book is exactly like that. I was waiting with bated breath to see what was going to happen and didn’t get many answers until nearly the end.
And it was the way that Ramsey doesn’t spoon feed the information but made Sam work for it that I liked as well. We’ve all heard stories about elves but you never know which ones are true so Sam had to find her own way through the mess.
Absolutely brilliant writing. Just a few wordy spots that I wanted to skim through to get to the meat of the story but nothing that would detract from a great book.
4.5 / 5
June 12, 2014
*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Samantha Chablon is a miracle worker when it comes to time pieces. She loves to tinker with them and can usually fix just about anything. Over the years she and her father have fixed even the most tricky of pieces. Sam has no idea how her father manages it, but she never believes his claims of having an elf for a helper, so she just figures he has a few tricks he’s not shown her yet. After her father dies though she inherits his magical helper, Piv. Once she gets over the shock of discovering elves, or as they call themselves, the Kith, are real she decides it’s time to put her plans for world domination into motion.
Let me say this upfront and to the point…Sam is not likeable. At all. Wow. She is obstinate, bullheaded and so completely insensitive to the Kith that I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to beat the crap out of her. She has absolutely no qualms in exploiting the Kith in order to dominate the world market in watches and crush her competition to bits under her single-minded feet. She does what she wants and screw anyone else’s thoughts or opinions. She makes a great villain. I hated her.
The Kith, on the other hand, are great. They’d probably drive me a bit nuts, but I love them. What happens to Hamilton is…I have no words and I didn’t even like him. But, Sam does something that turns that situation even worse (remember I mentioned how insensitive she is?), and I didn’t think that could be possible. I spent most of the book on edge, wondering when the other shoe was going to drop. And it did. Wowzers. However, the ending was a bit too neatly tied up. Sorry, but I don’t think Sam had it in her to do the 180 she did. I wouldn’t trust her again. Ever. Overall though this is a great read that kept me on edge and made me grind my teeth over Sam’s behavior.
Samantha Chablon is a miracle worker when it comes to time pieces. She loves to tinker with them and can usually fix just about anything. Over the years she and her father have fixed even the most tricky of pieces. Sam has no idea how her father manages it, but she never believes his claims of having an elf for a helper, so she just figures he has a few tricks he’s not shown her yet. After her father dies though she inherits his magical helper, Piv. Once she gets over the shock of discovering elves, or as they call themselves, the Kith, are real she decides it’s time to put her plans for world domination into motion.
Let me say this upfront and to the point…Sam is not likeable. At all. Wow. She is obstinate, bullheaded and so completely insensitive to the Kith that I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to beat the crap out of her. She has absolutely no qualms in exploiting the Kith in order to dominate the world market in watches and crush her competition to bits under her single-minded feet. She does what she wants and screw anyone else’s thoughts or opinions. She makes a great villain. I hated her.
The Kith, on the other hand, are great. They’d probably drive me a bit nuts, but I love them. What happens to Hamilton is…I have no words and I didn’t even like him. But, Sam does something that turns that situation even worse (remember I mentioned how insensitive she is?), and I didn’t think that could be possible. I spent most of the book on edge, wondering when the other shoe was going to drop. And it did. Wowzers. However, the ending was a bit too neatly tied up. Sorry, but I don’t think Sam had it in her to do the 180 she did. I wouldn’t trust her again. Ever. Overall though this is a great read that kept me on edge and made me grind my teeth over Sam’s behavior.
December 1, 2015
I wish I we could record half stars as this book deserves 3.5. It would rate even more if the heroine was a bit more likable. As it was, I didn't understand how she rated such good friends (Jess and Yusef), or scored such an amazing boyfriend (Akida). It wasn't her ambition that was such a turn off, though admittedly, it sent her down the wrong path, but her complete inability to connect with people. To some extent, this was understandable considering how she lost her parents, but it went a bit too far. I kept thinking she was a borderline sociopath.
But enough of my complaints about Sam. There are many good things going on in the pages of this book. The very first paragraph hooked me. Much of the magic of the story was set up in this very first chapter and it held me sway even when I was grumbling over Sam's misuse of the gift her father left her. That leads us to Piv. He's an elf or kith as they're called in the book, and like the elves and the shoemaker, he and his people are friendly, helpful, clever and very different from humans. This aspect was one of the book's strongest aspects. Mr. Isler does a fantastic job of developing a likable race of people who look at the world in a completely different manner than humans. They're alien in many ways and yet that very strangeness makes them interesting and likable. And sometimes creepy and dangerous.
So how would I categorize this story? It's hard as it really isn't any one thing. It has a sense of the fantastic, yet it gets downright dark at times, bordering on horror. It's also full of hard lessons that might lead someone to think of this as a coming of age tale. It has a sense of hope that means a chance of new beginnings. So it's many things, and all of them are interesting. One might even learn a bit about the Detroit area by the end of the story as well.
I did not notice any formatting issues on the Kindle edition I read. It's easy to read. I found very few typos. Great care was definitely taken in putting this book together. If I were to quibble about anything, it would be the few times I noticed issues with past and present tense. They jarred me enough to make me take notice, but weren't so bad that I considered putting the book down. Overall, I enjoyed the story enough, I will definitely check out Mr. Isler's other works.
But enough of my complaints about Sam. There are many good things going on in the pages of this book. The very first paragraph hooked me. Much of the magic of the story was set up in this very first chapter and it held me sway even when I was grumbling over Sam's misuse of the gift her father left her. That leads us to Piv. He's an elf or kith as they're called in the book, and like the elves and the shoemaker, he and his people are friendly, helpful, clever and very different from humans. This aspect was one of the book's strongest aspects. Mr. Isler does a fantastic job of developing a likable race of people who look at the world in a completely different manner than humans. They're alien in many ways and yet that very strangeness makes them interesting and likable. And sometimes creepy and dangerous.
So how would I categorize this story? It's hard as it really isn't any one thing. It has a sense of the fantastic, yet it gets downright dark at times, bordering on horror. It's also full of hard lessons that might lead someone to think of this as a coming of age tale. It has a sense of hope that means a chance of new beginnings. So it's many things, and all of them are interesting. One might even learn a bit about the Detroit area by the end of the story as well.
I did not notice any formatting issues on the Kindle edition I read. It's easy to read. I found very few typos. Great care was definitely taken in putting this book together. If I were to quibble about anything, it would be the few times I noticed issues with past and present tense. They jarred me enough to make me take notice, but weren't so bad that I considered putting the book down. Overall, I enjoyed the story enough, I will definitely check out Mr. Isler's other works.
June 8, 2015
Clockworkers is a delightful, whimsical tale about a young woman who encounters an elf, originally a friend of her late father's.
The elf, whose name is Piv, is clever, and -- as it turns out -- he has a lot of little elf friends. Together, they apply their singular skills to help the young woman, Sam, build a thriving luxury watch company.
But Sam is headstrong, stubborn, and singleminded -- to the eventual detriment of the enterprise. Although, it's not her fault when, about halfway through the book, things take a decidedly dark turn involving the bossy senior partner in the watch venture.
Without giving too much away, let me just say that one of the elves turns out to not be as jolly as his compatriots, and grim results ensue.
I liked Clockworkers a lot. It's well-written and edited perfectly, and the plotline moves along nicely, keeping the reader engaged to the very end. Oh, and did I mention that it's also a love story?
The novel is a cautionary look at what happens when we get what we wish for sometimes, as the old saying goes. Sam is a fully fleshed-out character with plenty of flaws -- as any good protagonist should be, for credibility's sake.
There are several good lines:
"Sarah's couch was narrow and leathery, and it had serpentine curves that were pleasing to the eye, but tortuous on the human spine. Sleeping on it was like resting on the belly of a malnourished crocodile with scoliosis."
And another:
"It's the American way," Sam said. "Steal the best ideas from other cultures, remix them and make them your own."
The book is set in the Detroit area, not exactly known for its beauty, but the author somehow imbues the settings for the novel in ways that make me wish I could visit the area sometime. The elves love woods and flowers above all other settings, and all they could ever want are found right there in the middle of what I always thought was the Rust Belt. Who knew?
As I said, this novel captured my attention and held it for more than three hundred pages. The dialogue is brisk and always engaging.
I give Clockworkers five stars and recommend it as a good summertime read.
The elf, whose name is Piv, is clever, and -- as it turns out -- he has a lot of little elf friends. Together, they apply their singular skills to help the young woman, Sam, build a thriving luxury watch company.
But Sam is headstrong, stubborn, and singleminded -- to the eventual detriment of the enterprise. Although, it's not her fault when, about halfway through the book, things take a decidedly dark turn involving the bossy senior partner in the watch venture.
Without giving too much away, let me just say that one of the elves turns out to not be as jolly as his compatriots, and grim results ensue.
I liked Clockworkers a lot. It's well-written and edited perfectly, and the plotline moves along nicely, keeping the reader engaged to the very end. Oh, and did I mention that it's also a love story?
The novel is a cautionary look at what happens when we get what we wish for sometimes, as the old saying goes. Sam is a fully fleshed-out character with plenty of flaws -- as any good protagonist should be, for credibility's sake.
There are several good lines:
"Sarah's couch was narrow and leathery, and it had serpentine curves that were pleasing to the eye, but tortuous on the human spine. Sleeping on it was like resting on the belly of a malnourished crocodile with scoliosis."
And another:
"It's the American way," Sam said. "Steal the best ideas from other cultures, remix them and make them your own."
The book is set in the Detroit area, not exactly known for its beauty, but the author somehow imbues the settings for the novel in ways that make me wish I could visit the area sometime. The elves love woods and flowers above all other settings, and all they could ever want are found right there in the middle of what I always thought was the Rust Belt. Who knew?
As I said, this novel captured my attention and held it for more than three hundred pages. The dialogue is brisk and always engaging.
I give Clockworkers five stars and recommend it as a good summertime read.
June 4, 2014
Clockworkers by Ramsey Isler
Print Length: 345 pages
My Review~~
I received this book in exchange for a honest unbiased review.
If the cover shows you anything is that this book is a dark fantasy tale of elves. I like that it is the old wise tale about the elves and the shoemaker but with lots of new and different twists and turns like watches instead of shoes. Very entertaining read that I enjoyed. Very fast read full of interest and intrigue that will sweep you along on Sam's adventure. Great book.
Amazon Book Description~~
A modern, multicultural twist on elf stories of old
Samantha Chablon is a self-proclaimed “gadget girl”. She runs the family watch repair shop while her eccentric old father spends his days researching fantastical stories of elves. Sam loves her father, but his odd habits have always been a mystery and a burden on the family. But that all changes after her father dies, and she discovers what he left for her.
Sam has inherited a real elf.
Piv is his name, and he is far older than his boyish face and personality would imply. But he's also wise, and as an elf he is gifted with a preternatural proclivity for making things. Sam's father taught Piv everything he knows about making watches, and he works faster than human hands could ever move. Sam, being much more enterprising than her father, sees opportunity in Piv's talents. Soon Piv is not the only elf working for Sam as she goes about building a luxury watch empire powered by secret elf labor.
But the elves have remained hidden from humans for good reason, and it's not easy to keep a factory full of territorial elves secret in the middle of a metropolis. One night when someone attempts to break into the factory, the elves take matters into their own hands. The incident gives Sam a glimpse of a dark and twisted side of elves that no fairy tales ever mentioned. Samantha will soon discover that great ambition often comes with great risk, and although her elf partners have agreed to work without pay, there are other costly consequences involved in striking a deal with elves.
Print Length: 345 pages
My Review~~
I received this book in exchange for a honest unbiased review.
If the cover shows you anything is that this book is a dark fantasy tale of elves. I like that it is the old wise tale about the elves and the shoemaker but with lots of new and different twists and turns like watches instead of shoes. Very entertaining read that I enjoyed. Very fast read full of interest and intrigue that will sweep you along on Sam's adventure. Great book.
Amazon Book Description~~
A modern, multicultural twist on elf stories of old
Samantha Chablon is a self-proclaimed “gadget girl”. She runs the family watch repair shop while her eccentric old father spends his days researching fantastical stories of elves. Sam loves her father, but his odd habits have always been a mystery and a burden on the family. But that all changes after her father dies, and she discovers what he left for her.
Sam has inherited a real elf.
Piv is his name, and he is far older than his boyish face and personality would imply. But he's also wise, and as an elf he is gifted with a preternatural proclivity for making things. Sam's father taught Piv everything he knows about making watches, and he works faster than human hands could ever move. Sam, being much more enterprising than her father, sees opportunity in Piv's talents. Soon Piv is not the only elf working for Sam as she goes about building a luxury watch empire powered by secret elf labor.
But the elves have remained hidden from humans for good reason, and it's not easy to keep a factory full of territorial elves secret in the middle of a metropolis. One night when someone attempts to break into the factory, the elves take matters into their own hands. The incident gives Sam a glimpse of a dark and twisted side of elves that no fairy tales ever mentioned. Samantha will soon discover that great ambition often comes with great risk, and although her elf partners have agreed to work without pay, there are other costly consequences involved in striking a deal with elves.
June 4, 2014
**I received an ecopy of the book as a part of the Clockworkers blog tour organized by Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours**
I've never read anything like this before. Clockworkers is a very good urban fantasy that adds a dark and interesting twist to creatures we often find in fairy tales.
Awesome characters. The main character, Sam, is easy to dislike, but I admire her for being ambitious and practical. She knows what she wants and she works to get it. I also like that she's simple and refuses to be dictated by the norms just so she can sell her watches. And the Kith! I love Piv. I like his innocence and childlike nature. He's funny and smart and his elf-logic, though sometimes frustrating, is astonishing. The other Kith are amazing, too. They have different personalities but they're all interesting and talented. Even Hax is a colorful, albeit creepy, character.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the twists and turns of the story. There was a bit of a slack in the middle but I was really hooked into it that I didn't mind the dull parts that much. It had the right amount of mystery and suspense while sticking to the fantasy genre. There were bits of humor, too, courtesy of the Kith. The different tales about the Kith were rich and nicely delivered. The author did a good job in incorporating these tales to his own story.
Clockworkers is an amazing fantasy read. I definitely recommend this book to those who like their fantasy with a dark twist.
I've never read anything like this before. Clockworkers is a very good urban fantasy that adds a dark and interesting twist to creatures we often find in fairy tales.
Awesome characters. The main character, Sam, is easy to dislike, but I admire her for being ambitious and practical. She knows what she wants and she works to get it. I also like that she's simple and refuses to be dictated by the norms just so she can sell her watches. And the Kith! I love Piv. I like his innocence and childlike nature. He's funny and smart and his elf-logic, though sometimes frustrating, is astonishing. The other Kith are amazing, too. They have different personalities but they're all interesting and talented. Even Hax is a colorful, albeit creepy, character.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the twists and turns of the story. There was a bit of a slack in the middle but I was really hooked into it that I didn't mind the dull parts that much. It had the right amount of mystery and suspense while sticking to the fantasy genre. There were bits of humor, too, courtesy of the Kith. The different tales about the Kith were rich and nicely delivered. The author did a good job in incorporating these tales to his own story.
Clockworkers is an amazing fantasy read. I definitely recommend this book to those who like their fantasy with a dark twist.
August 3, 2014
I received this book to give an honest review.
So when I read the blurb I didn't figure this story to truly have a touch of darkness to it. I remember reading about elves and they were nice. Now not to say that the Kith's are not nice, but they do have a touch of evil to them I would say. They are not just all nice like they are portrayed.
Sam works in her father's shop which deals with fixing watches. And her father has always believed in elves even though Sam thinks he is crazy now.
When Sam is able to take over the shop she has big plans for it all. That is when she meets Piv! Piv is there to help her but it seems Sam bites off more than she can chew.
Sam went from a humble woman to one of greed! You could totally tell she changed with gaining fame. I don't want to call her rude but that is how she seemed to come across to me. And the way she treated the elves it is constantly work, work, work and not much of a thank you for helping her gain her fame thanks to Piv and his friends.
When the Kith do the unthinkable that Sam never though they could do it changes her world. But it is kind of like was it for the better or will it cause more problems?
Sam is a worker, she likes to work but I think towards the end she learns that work is not all that important and that is a lesson she needed to learn I feel.
Overall a really good read one that I enjoyed reading. It was different than I expected it to be and I like different!
So when I read the blurb I didn't figure this story to truly have a touch of darkness to it. I remember reading about elves and they were nice. Now not to say that the Kith's are not nice, but they do have a touch of evil to them I would say. They are not just all nice like they are portrayed.
Sam works in her father's shop which deals with fixing watches. And her father has always believed in elves even though Sam thinks he is crazy now.
When Sam is able to take over the shop she has big plans for it all. That is when she meets Piv! Piv is there to help her but it seems Sam bites off more than she can chew.
Sam went from a humble woman to one of greed! You could totally tell she changed with gaining fame. I don't want to call her rude but that is how she seemed to come across to me. And the way she treated the elves it is constantly work, work, work and not much of a thank you for helping her gain her fame thanks to Piv and his friends.
When the Kith do the unthinkable that Sam never though they could do it changes her world. But it is kind of like was it for the better or will it cause more problems?
Sam is a worker, she likes to work but I think towards the end she learns that work is not all that important and that is a lesson she needed to learn I feel.
Overall a really good read one that I enjoyed reading. It was different than I expected it to be and I like different!
January 19, 2015
When I saw Clockworkers' ominous cover, I was definitely intrigued. Then, after reading the book's description, I knew I had to read it!
I immediately fell in love with this book, as well as Piv, a member of the Kith. When he speaks of Sam's parents, I got teary-eyed.
"But if all humans are capable of the sort of adoration your parents had for each other, and for you, then your kind are the most fortunate of all nature's children."
With so much detail - not only in the modern world, but with the various myths and legends surrounding elves and similar fantastical creatures - it was impossible not to feel a connection with the story as well as the characters, which are three-dimensional and flawed. Flawed, in that they make real-world mistakes, which makes them feel real, not like characters at all.
Clockworkers is a fantastical read, and I encourage anyone who is a fan of paranormal or fantasy, especially dark fantasy, to read it. You won't be disappointed.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I immediately fell in love with this book, as well as Piv, a member of the Kith. When he speaks of Sam's parents, I got teary-eyed.
"But if all humans are capable of the sort of adoration your parents had for each other, and for you, then your kind are the most fortunate of all nature's children."
With so much detail - not only in the modern world, but with the various myths and legends surrounding elves and similar fantastical creatures - it was impossible not to feel a connection with the story as well as the characters, which are three-dimensional and flawed. Flawed, in that they make real-world mistakes, which makes them feel real, not like characters at all.
Clockworkers is a fantastical read, and I encourage anyone who is a fan of paranormal or fantasy, especially dark fantasy, to read it. You won't be disappointed.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
May 27, 2014
4 1/2 stars....
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you think this is going to be a happy book with happy little elves, like the Shoemaker and his elves, you are dead wrong. This definitely isn't horror, but has some horror qualities to it if you are expecting some sort of frolicking fairy type elves. These elves remind me of very true Dungeons and Dragons type elves. True neutral, with a nonchalance about the human world.
And Sam....oh, I hated her. The author really made me hate her, and that's the sign of a great author, the ability to force a visceral reaction towards a character. God, is she ever a USER! Oh, I so didn't like her. She deserved everything she got at the end, and even then, in my opinion, it was too little too late. Personally, I would have liked to see a less happy ending for her.
This book is so well written that I just wanted to keep reading, trying to see when she would get her just desserts. I absolutely loved this book.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you think this is going to be a happy book with happy little elves, like the Shoemaker and his elves, you are dead wrong. This definitely isn't horror, but has some horror qualities to it if you are expecting some sort of frolicking fairy type elves. These elves remind me of very true Dungeons and Dragons type elves. True neutral, with a nonchalance about the human world.
And Sam....oh, I hated her. The author really made me hate her, and that's the sign of a great author, the ability to force a visceral reaction towards a character. God, is she ever a USER! Oh, I so didn't like her. She deserved everything she got at the end, and even then, in my opinion, it was too little too late. Personally, I would have liked to see a less happy ending for her.
This book is so well written that I just wanted to keep reading, trying to see when she would get her just desserts. I absolutely loved this book.
June 10, 2014
This book veered from my expectations. It provided a deeper dedication to the elf legend than most though it focused heavily on the maturity and self-discovery of the main character, Samantha. Normally, I'd love this but Sam wasn't a character I could connect with.
When the elves came front and center, it was very entertaining. I loved Piv's quips and misunderstandings. I also enjoyed learning about the “Kith”, which is what the elves call themselves. The story behind it is fascinating and I appreciated the author taking the time to research and reinvent the lore.
I saw this listed was a YA (though don't see it now) and some commenters mentioned YA as well, but this book is more of a NA for me as the character was 26, there was some mild adult content and there were no young adults in the story at all.
This may be a higher rating as the Kith were really entertaining but Sam just wasn't a likeable main character and the business side of it drug on far too long.
When the elves came front and center, it was very entertaining. I loved Piv's quips and misunderstandings. I also enjoyed learning about the “Kith”, which is what the elves call themselves. The story behind it is fascinating and I appreciated the author taking the time to research and reinvent the lore.
I saw this listed was a YA (though don't see it now) and some commenters mentioned YA as well, but this book is more of a NA for me as the character was 26, there was some mild adult content and there were no young adults in the story at all.
This may be a higher rating as the Kith were really entertaining but Sam just wasn't a likeable main character and the business side of it drug on far too long.
June 5, 2014
I received this book from the author and from Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock.
Clockworkers is a fiction fantasy story.
Sam is an ambitious business woman who is in the business of watches. She loves designing and tinkering with watches. When her father passes she not only inherits his watch business but also an unlikely helper, Piv. But Piv is not human and soon she finds that she bit off more than she can handle and she might not be lucky enough to survive.
I liked the moral of the story. I also enjoyed Piv's character. He was interesting and had great wisdom that we could all learn from. The elves were interesting and exciting characters.
The story was slow for me. I didn't care much for the main character or the whole greedy business aspect of it.
I would recommend this books for those who enjoy stories that teach a lesson and it has an added fantasy element to it.
I would give this book 3 fangs.
Clockworkers is a fiction fantasy story.
Sam is an ambitious business woman who is in the business of watches. She loves designing and tinkering with watches. When her father passes she not only inherits his watch business but also an unlikely helper, Piv. But Piv is not human and soon she finds that she bit off more than she can handle and she might not be lucky enough to survive.
I liked the moral of the story. I also enjoyed Piv's character. He was interesting and had great wisdom that we could all learn from. The elves were interesting and exciting characters.
The story was slow for me. I didn't care much for the main character or the whole greedy business aspect of it.
I would recommend this books for those who enjoy stories that teach a lesson and it has an added fantasy element to it.
I would give this book 3 fangs.
December 28, 2014
An interesting read. One often hears fairy tales of elves and we have certain expectations when reading books with these little characters. This book certainly changed my perception and left a hint of fear. The book was well written and contained few grammatical errors. I did xxzfind the journey of the main character, Sam, rather interesting. Her character is not as well developed as she could be but her personal growth is interesting to see. Her dialogue could have been better as she appears to have great ideas and insights, which I would have liked to delve more into. There are many twists and turns through the story, which keep you busy, although I did find that the middle of the novel could have been more interesting. It started really well and the ending is great but it was a bit slow in the middle. It is worth the time to read it however as it all ties together well.
June 30, 2014
There's a creepiness to this book that tugs on the mind. You start out with Piv, the typical, happy-to-help elf who can think of nothing better to do with his time than tinker in a watch factory. But by the end of the book, there's a feeling of creepiness that niggles at you, daring you to keep reading. I sympathised with Sam, but in the end, I felt more sorry for Piv, Noc Noc and the others. Sam dug her way into the mess, and it's really only by sheer luck that she manages to dig her way out again.
But, I guess that's what you get if you put ambition before everything - and anyone - else.
A read that I think all teens - and even some of the adults I know - should read. The dangers of too much ambition play off well against the idea of your dreams coming true. But at what cost?
5/5
But, I guess that's what you get if you put ambition before everything - and anyone - else.
A read that I think all teens - and even some of the adults I know - should read. The dangers of too much ambition play off well against the idea of your dreams coming true. But at what cost?
5/5
September 1, 2016
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. After I started reading it, I realize it's a new take on the shoemaker and the elves; except with watches. That said, this is an entertaining book for all ages. If my kids were still little, I would read this with them. It's fun and interesting. While there are some dark spots, every good adventure needs those. It also has a good moral undertone, that is not too overt and doesn't become preachy as some books do.
I recommend this for anybody interested in an entertaining book for all ages.
I recommend this for anybody interested in an entertaining book for all ages.
May 30, 2014
Clockworkers is by far one of the best dark fantasy books I have read in a long time. The story is fun and has lots of twists and turns to make me want to keep reading. The author does an amazing job of giving each of the elves their own personality to make them unique. It’s a wonderful adventure that actual has a moral which is rare these days. All around great read.
June 11, 2014
Rich with mischief, dark twists and surprising outcomes this story was a joy to read.
It is not, however, for children.
Older teens and adults who enjoy adventure, romance, and dark fantasy are sure to find this book a Good Read.
It is not, however, for children.
Older teens and adults who enjoy adventure, romance, and dark fantasy are sure to find this book a Good Read.
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