Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Klockwerk Movement

Klockwerk Kabaret

Rate this book
Mainspring – a quaint town removed from time and era. Powered by steam and clockwork, Mainspring has enjoyed decades of peace and prosperity … until, from a far-away land known as The Keep of Keys, Hieronymus Ebauche unleashes Hell.

Born of a long-forgotten vendetta, Ebauche transports his clockwork demons through a trans-dimensional portal to exact his revenge. Mainspring's only hope – Nathan Gage and Olivia Nightingale; the proprietors of the Klockwerk Kabaret, where desire is brought to life with flesh and clockwork. When the doors to the Kabaret close, Gage and Nightingale slip into the shadows as vigilante crime fighters. The fight leads them to The Keep of Keys where they discover a much darker truth.

As the clock winds down, so too does the hope of Mainspring.

355 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 11, 2013

5 people are currently reading
15 people want to read

About the author

Jack Wallen

114 books117 followers
Jack Wallen is what happens when a Gen Xer mind-melds with present day snark. Jack is a seeker of truth and a writer of words with a quantum mechanical pencil and a disjointed beat of sound and soul. Although he resides in the unlikely city of Louisville, Kentucky, Jack likes to think of himself more as an interplanetary traveler, on the lookout for the Satellite of Love and a perpetual movie sign...or so he tells the reflection in the mirror (some times in 3rd person). Jack is the author of numerous tales of dark, twisty fiction including the I Zombie series, the Klockwerk Movement, the Fringe Killer series, Shero, The Nameless Saga, and much more.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
13 (72%)
4 stars
4 (22%)
3 stars
1 (5%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Profile Image for Giles Batchelor.
29 reviews2 followers
November 20, 2014
this book intrigued me from the prologue, the sound of a world populated by Bios, Winders, Perps and steamers was fascinating. it lived up to my hopes and expectations, the author has created a fantastic tale, with interesting unique characters and a fantastically immersive world.

the author is a master of words, and uses them to draw you deep into a world that you dont want to leave at the end of the book.
Profile Image for Alina.
Author 14 books66 followers
November 8, 2014
I love steampunk and victorian inspired books and Fashion.
This book was like the ticking of a clock from start to the end, it was just perfect in tune.
You can see true the eyes of the author, see the kabaret, the winds, perps and bios, the perfect dolls with there porcelan face.
I also loved the curses that the author uses:lawyer, banker, son of a acountant, very funny, i must say!
The storyline is steamy and easy to follow. If you like Dr WHO ,or for the older ones, Brisco County JR, you will adore the gadgests and the props, the mix btw Magic, chemestry and steampunk Techno.
I do hope there will be a sequal.
Profile Image for Amy Miller.
27 reviews1 follower
June 24, 2015
If you know me at all, you know that I'm a HUGE fan of Jack Wallen's work! I've read most of the I Zombie series and a good number of his other works as well. Prior to Klockwerk Kabaret, I had no experience with the steampunk genre. I knew the basics, that steampunk combines technology with steam-powered machinery and aesthetic designs, and I'd seen images of steampunk costumes that are simply gorgeous! Klockwerk Kabaret was my very first novel in that genre; oddly enough, it was Jack's first novel in that genre as well, but you'd never be able to tell that from reading the story.

 

Klockwerk Kabaret is set in a town called Mainspring and its dark counterpart, the Keep of Keys. Nathan Gage runs the Klockwerk Kabaret with his beloved wife, the mysterious and alluring Olivia. The Klockwerk Kabaret is the only of its kind, featuring the exotic and almost otherworldly Klockwerk Dolls as a prelude to the ethereal musical performances by Olivia. When the ladies take the stage, there isn't a dry seat in the house.  After the curtain comes down and the lights go out, Nathan and Olivia engage in their secret pastime, fighting criminals to keep the streets of Mainspring safe. During one such outing, they come across someone (or something) that will bring chaos to Mainspring and threaten their very existence.

 

Klockwerk Kabaret is fast-paced, but not so fast that you can't keep up with what's happening. The dialogue is witty and charming, completely perfect for the amazing cast of characters in the story. The action is thrilling, and the writing is so well done that you can easily visualize this fictional world. I highly recommend this novel, whether you're already familiar with the genre or not. If not, this is a perfect choice to dive into the 'punk-pool with!

 

Klockwerk Kabaret is available from Amazon in e-book and paperback formats.

And, lucky us, the sequel, Tick Tock Girl, is available for pre-order for Kindle! Click the links and grab both! You'll be very happy that you did!
Profile Image for S. Nash.
Author 6 books23 followers
July 30, 2015
Enter the world of Mainspring, where human Bios and clockwork-powered Perps and Winders walk the gaslight-spangled streets. They fear only the Steamers, a class of violent Winders reviled for the steam-powered engines that keep them perpetually wound. In the center of this city, Nathan Gage and his ethereally beautiful wife Olivia Nightingale operate the Klockwerk Kaberet, offering the finest adult entertainment.

"Our entertainment will astonish, stun and maybe even–dare I say–arouse you. For not only do we offer you the one and only, the delicious and lascivious, Olivia Nightingale, but the Kaberet has something in store not one man, woman, Winder, or Perp has laid eyes on."

This introduction also raises the curtain on a novel that's a delightful blend of genres. The plot unfolds with layers of mystery, humor, coal-powered action, a touch of time travel and romance. Klockwerk Kaberet didn't take long to immerse me in this world of gaslight, vigilante justice and a threat of dark chemistry that could end it all.

I particularly enjoyed the distinct sense of place that the author created. It's telling when a society reveres The Great Watchmaker, or sends their thanks to Chronos for a disaster averted. For hurling epithets in times of crisis, "Oh, bankers!" seems to be a bit milder than "Damn lawyers!" I admit, it made me laugh.

Klockwerk Kaberet could be categorized as a superhero story set in a steampunk world, but there's more to it than that. The heroes don't have superhuman powers; insteal they rely on intelligence, engineering, and problem solving to fight back against the dark chemistry-wielding villain, Hieronymus Ebauche. There were enough hints planted along the way to foreshadow a larger mystery, and that kept my imagination engaged and looking for more..

The author writes with a flamboyant style that reminds me of an Edwardian novel. In some cases, it veers towards purple prose, but I have to say that in this context, it works. Just like a cabaret show, the players on the stage need that time to deliver their verbal ripostes

This is the first book in a series, and the second volume, Tick Tock Girl was released in June of 2015

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 at bookiemonster.com
Profile Image for Pheebz.
275 reviews
April 16, 2015
A Remarkable Read.
Klockwerk Kabaret By Jack Wallen
What an enjoyable book. It is unlike anything I have ever read before. I love the way Jack Wallen's brain works when he gets an idea and the way he puts his stories together, they become a living breathing entity in their own right.
This story is character driven in the Steampunk world where others might dwell heavily on the clothing and gadgets, Mr. Wallen uses his well-developed characters to tell the story in an alternative Victorian area, but there are also some unique gadgets and devices in the story.
I would love to see this book turned into a movie.
Before the story begins Jack Wallen lays the groundwork by explaining the difference between the Winders, Bios, Steamers, and Perps. The world he created in this story would be something incredible to see in real life.
Mainspring and the Klockwerk Dolls as well as the Klockwerk Kabaret Owned by Olivia Nightingale (Gage) and Nathan Gage. They team up with Nathan's old friend Jarbo Jaurach (Who knows more then he is willing to disclose ) after a man was killed in the Kabaret that Nathan and Olivia had not seen before his death,but who could have been Nathan Gages Father. You can't have good without some bad, There is the " Ministry", The “Keep of the Keys” and the use of Dark Chemistry to rule and threaten the lives of the people they had do their dirty work. It was either death or sent to the minds for failure, not only the one that failed but their whole family would be dealt with in the same manner of punishment. The dark plan was made and set into motion to right a long ago wrong. The sweetest of revenge, upon the town that wronged them.
This is a very engaging story that pulls you in right away and takes you along with Olivia and Nathan on their secret life they live after the sun goes down to keep the town of Mainspring and the people safe.There is so much more to this story but I would hate to spoil it for you. Pick up your copy of Klockwerk kabaret.
Jack Wallen has his own brand of steampunk, his vision is truly amazing. I can hardly wait to read Tick Tock Girl when it comes out later this year.
Profile Image for Michael Hicks.
26 reviews
August 11, 2015
I gave a 3 star review, but I am more leaning towards 2.5.

Klockwerk Kabaret is an adventure story based in a Steampunk alternate world. There is a sense of intrigue and other possible avenues that can keep you guessing.

The main character is written in First person, while the other scenes are written in Third person limited.

I would have been more interested in the story, if the characters were more believable or had something they were really looking to accomplish. I didn't feel there was any character arc or tension between the protagonist and the antagonist. Nothing seemed to compel me to root for either side.

The protagonist was working through each scene, just going through the motions, and it didn't seem like he really had anything to fight for, even for his wife. The happy perfect couple with no flaws in their relationship or any flaws of themselves.

If I had to decide on a character I liked, I would have to say Olivia, the Protagonist's wife. If she had more depth and reasons to do what she did, there might be a character worth reading about.

I felt there was too much doing, and not enough struggles or trying to figure out a way to get past something.

If you like reading books that are just action, taken place in world of clocks and almost everything referencing a clock, then you would enjoy this book, it was a quick read, but the depth wasn't there for a reader such as me.
Profile Image for Eric Lahti.
Author 21 books46 followers
November 7, 2016
Like SciFi and Cyberpunk before it, the world of Steampunk can take over a story if not handled correctly – think balancing a xenomorph egg on a spatula – and as soon as the story takes a back seat to the world it lives in, you no longer have much of a story. Wallen’s hand kept the world alive and breathing, but never let the technology and gears fully take over.

Klockwerk Kabaret reads a lot like some of the stories of classic heroes of pulp from back in the day. Imagine a Doc Savage or Shadow tossed into clockwork world. It’s got all the action and amazing gadgetry that’s to be expected from the golden age of action, but also has that tantalizing hint of magic. And Klockwerk Kabaret is set in a Steampunk world. Frankly, it’s a pretty incredible bit of genre-bending.
Profile Image for Halima (Starlight_and_blooms).
716 reviews31 followers
May 18, 2015
This book is amazing! I can not wait for the next instalment. I've been a big fan of Jacks Wallen's I zombie series but never thought I would be such a huge lover of the steampunk genre. Jack has opened my eyes to a whole new world that I love! This is definitely up there as one of my all time favourites - Love Love Love!!!

Tick Tock Girl - here I come!!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.