What do you think?
Rate this book
Puppet
Penelope never dreamed she’d become a superhuman experiment masquerading as a puppet.
She never dreamed everything would be taken from her; even her ability to lie.
Nor did she ever dream that she would become something so unreal.
Penelope lives in a world of advanced technology. Marionettes have advanced in the form of robots; lifelike creations remote controlled to perform super human tasks.
When Penelope makes a deal with Jed, a marionette-obsessed scientist, she doesn’t fully realize what she’s getting herself into. In order for Jed to take her away from the orphanage she lives in, she must first agree to undergo his experiments and tests, ultimately creating something no one ever dreamed possible; the first living marionette.
As Jed shows off his scientific creation to the world, concerns arise surrounding Penelope’s abilities and what she’s capable of doing. Ordered to somehow lessen her abilities, Jed makes a desperate attempt to change Penelope to make her more human, more vulnerable. After Penelope lies to the officials about her past, Jed makes sure it’s the last one she’ll ever utter. The truth is now the only thing she is capable of telling.
As Penelope struggles with her past, her disturbingly new present, and her uncertain future, she is thrust into a magically twisted world of mayhem in search of the one thing she wants, but knows she can never have. The chance to be just a girl again. To be normal. To be real.
She never dreamed everything would be taken from her; even her ability to lie.
Nor did she ever dream that she would become something so unreal.
Penelope lives in a world of advanced technology. Marionettes have advanced in the form of robots; lifelike creations remote controlled to perform super human tasks.
When Penelope makes a deal with Jed, a marionette-obsessed scientist, she doesn’t fully realize what she’s getting herself into. In order for Jed to take her away from the orphanage she lives in, she must first agree to undergo his experiments and tests, ultimately creating something no one ever dreamed possible; the first living marionette.
As Jed shows off his scientific creation to the world, concerns arise surrounding Penelope’s abilities and what she’s capable of doing. Ordered to somehow lessen her abilities, Jed makes a desperate attempt to change Penelope to make her more human, more vulnerable. After Penelope lies to the officials about her past, Jed makes sure it’s the last one she’ll ever utter. The truth is now the only thing she is capable of telling.
As Penelope struggles with her past, her disturbingly new present, and her uncertain future, she is thrust into a magically twisted world of mayhem in search of the one thing she wants, but knows she can never have. The chance to be just a girl again. To be normal. To be real.
ebook
First published October 1, 2014
5 people are currently reading
649 people want to read
About the author
Pauline C. Harris
8 books46 followersPauline C. Harris is the author of middle grade and young adult science fiction novels and published her first book at the age of fourteen. She's currently working toward a degree in English. Other than writing, her time is consumed mainly by reading, playing the violin, watching old black and white movies, and trying to survive her college classes.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
April 4, 2016
Puppet has a very interesting premise. Definitely a different twist on the Pinocchio tales. More opposite in fact. Pauline C Harris lays out an interesting foundation for storytelling. Sadly, though, I feel it fell a bit short of it's potential.
Penelope (Pen for short) is an orphan girl taken in by a man named Jed. In return for a home, she had agreed to his experiments on her. Now she is a living marionette. Now I fell this is a bit of a futuristic time because marionettes are not dolls on strings. They are instead control by remote control. They are faster and stronger than humans. But Pen her has a mind and heart of her own.
When Jeb starts showing her off to the public, the authorities begin to view her as a threat. So to attempt to erase some of that threat Jeb "programs" her so that she cannot lie. As things go from bad to worse, Pen feels like she is losing her rights as a person.
It is obvious she is, She cares, loves and has a sense of being that a doll would not have. The one she loves most is Jeb's son, James. Even though they have been raised together for a period of time, she in no way looks to him as a sibling. He is her romantic interest and to protect him, she may have to reveal more than is smart to.
Again, like I said, potential with the marionette concept but I feel that so many questions were overlooked. Things that come into question are her time at the orphanage. Does she have human limbs or now looking more like the cover? How does the science work? What is up with the government? I felt that so many things were glossed over and the time should have been taken to go over more. It is a very short read and more information would have added so much to the story. As it is, I often felt very confused in the purpose of everything.
**I received a copy of this book from Patchwork Press in exchange for a fair/honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**
Penelope (Pen for short) is an orphan girl taken in by a man named Jed. In return for a home, she had agreed to his experiments on her. Now she is a living marionette. Now I fell this is a bit of a futuristic time because marionettes are not dolls on strings. They are instead control by remote control. They are faster and stronger than humans. But Pen her has a mind and heart of her own.
When Jeb starts showing her off to the public, the authorities begin to view her as a threat. So to attempt to erase some of that threat Jeb "programs" her so that she cannot lie. As things go from bad to worse, Pen feels like she is losing her rights as a person.
It is obvious she is, She cares, loves and has a sense of being that a doll would not have. The one she loves most is Jeb's son, James. Even though they have been raised together for a period of time, she in no way looks to him as a sibling. He is her romantic interest and to protect him, she may have to reveal more than is smart to.
Again, like I said, potential with the marionette concept but I feel that so many questions were overlooked. Things that come into question are her time at the orphanage. Does she have human limbs or now looking more like the cover? How does the science work? What is up with the government? I felt that so many things were glossed over and the time should have been taken to go over more. It is a very short read and more information would have added so much to the story. As it is, I often felt very confused in the purpose of everything.
**I received a copy of this book from Patchwork Press in exchange for a fair/honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**
January 27, 2016
**I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.**
Basic Info
Format: Kindle ARC
Pages/Length: n/a
Genre: Young Adult; Retelling
At A Glance
Love Triangle/Insta Love/Obsession?: no
Cliff Hanger: no
Triggers: n/a
Rating: 3 Stars
Score Sheet
All out of ten
Cover: 8
Plot: 7
Characters: 8
World Building: 5
Flow: 6
Series Congruity: n/a
Writing: 7
Ending: 8
Total: 7
In Dept
Best Part: A good retelling for modern day
Worst Part: A bit confusing in the middle.
Thoughts Had: What crime?!; Who are you??; Awe!
Conclusion
Continuing the Series: n/a
Recommending: yes
Short Review: This was a pretty good retelling for a modern look on an old fairy tale. Reminded me of Cinder a little bit. I was kinda confused at first, i missed whatever crime she committed to end up in the orphanage. The slight twist on the "can't tell a lie" was nice as well. The middle part confused me a bit, why was she in this "center" and how are these people making her hurt others and asking all these questions?! The ending was very clean and a happily ever after happened!
Misc.
Book Boyfriend: None
Best Friend Material: Penelope!
Review in GIF Form:
Basic Info
Format: Kindle ARC
Pages/Length: n/a
Genre: Young Adult; Retelling
At A Glance
Love Triangle/Insta Love/Obsession?: no
Cliff Hanger: no
Triggers: n/a
Rating: 3 Stars
Score Sheet
All out of ten
Cover: 8
Plot: 7
Characters: 8
World Building: 5
Flow: 6
Series Congruity: n/a
Writing: 7
Ending: 8
Total: 7
In Dept
Best Part: A good retelling for modern day
Worst Part: A bit confusing in the middle.
Thoughts Had: What crime?!; Who are you??; Awe!
Conclusion
Continuing the Series: n/a
Recommending: yes
Short Review: This was a pretty good retelling for a modern look on an old fairy tale. Reminded me of Cinder a little bit. I was kinda confused at first, i missed whatever crime she committed to end up in the orphanage. The slight twist on the "can't tell a lie" was nice as well. The middle part confused me a bit, why was she in this "center" and how are these people making her hurt others and asking all these questions?! The ending was very clean and a happily ever after happened!
Misc.
Book Boyfriend: None
Best Friend Material: Penelope!
Review in GIF Form:
November 30, 2014
I’m rating this somewhere between a 3.5 and a 3.75
“I like to watch silly videos from years and years ago of marionettes and their thick, enslaving strings. The puppeteer’s fingers flying in odd positions as they manipulate the life of their doll.”
Puppet follows a young girl named Penelope who is adopted to be a volunteer participant in scientific experiments to turn her into the first living marionette. A living marionette is a person that has robot like abilities (strength, speed) but is still fully human. When the government finds out what has been done to Penelope they have concerns about her trustworthiness so Penelope is made to not be able to tell lies.
As you can probably tell this book is a retelling of Pinocchio. It’s a very unique and fun adventure as the reader follows Penelope’s life as she slowly loses more and more control over her life. There were a lot of things that I liked about this book and few things that I didn’t.
First off, I loved the idea and concept behind the story. I’ve never read anything like it and the only comparison I can make is to Cinder by Marissa Meyer simply because they are both fairy tale retellings.
Second, I thought the characters were well written and developed however there were moments I questioned their decisions, especially the main character’s decision to agree to the experiment.
Third, the writing style flowed nicely with the pace of the book. The dialogue between characters felt real rather than rehearsed or tense, which added to the overall effectiveness of the book.
The only real problem I had with this book was the world building. There was absolutely zero world building in this book. I know that some books do not need world building in order for it to be a good book, however I think that Puppet would have been vastly improved if there was more world building. The lack of world building was like a neon sign always in the back of my mind while reading the book. There are many moments in this book where having a firmer understanding of the world would have improved what was happening and given the reader solid ground to walk on while exploring this world further.
Near the end there are hints at what is going on in the world that I wish were expanded upon. The hints were incredibly interesting, but were brushed aside.
Also, there was instalove. I personally do not like instalove. It’s rushed and unrealistic. So if you don’t mind it then you won’t have a problem.
Overall, this is a pretty solid and fun read. If you enjoyed Cinder my Marissa Meyer you will definitely not regret picking up Puppet. It’s exciting and fast paced with a twist you won’t see coming!
“I like to watch silly videos from years and years ago of marionettes and their thick, enslaving strings. The puppeteer’s fingers flying in odd positions as they manipulate the life of their doll.”
Puppet follows a young girl named Penelope who is adopted to be a volunteer participant in scientific experiments to turn her into the first living marionette. A living marionette is a person that has robot like abilities (strength, speed) but is still fully human. When the government finds out what has been done to Penelope they have concerns about her trustworthiness so Penelope is made to not be able to tell lies.
As you can probably tell this book is a retelling of Pinocchio. It’s a very unique and fun adventure as the reader follows Penelope’s life as she slowly loses more and more control over her life. There were a lot of things that I liked about this book and few things that I didn’t.
First off, I loved the idea and concept behind the story. I’ve never read anything like it and the only comparison I can make is to Cinder by Marissa Meyer simply because they are both fairy tale retellings.
Second, I thought the characters were well written and developed however there were moments I questioned their decisions, especially the main character’s decision to agree to the experiment.
Third, the writing style flowed nicely with the pace of the book. The dialogue between characters felt real rather than rehearsed or tense, which added to the overall effectiveness of the book.
The only real problem I had with this book was the world building. There was absolutely zero world building in this book. I know that some books do not need world building in order for it to be a good book, however I think that Puppet would have been vastly improved if there was more world building. The lack of world building was like a neon sign always in the back of my mind while reading the book. There are many moments in this book where having a firmer understanding of the world would have improved what was happening and given the reader solid ground to walk on while exploring this world further.
Near the end there are hints at what is going on in the world that I wish were expanded upon. The hints were incredibly interesting, but were brushed aside.
Also, there was instalove. I personally do not like instalove. It’s rushed and unrealistic. So if you don’t mind it then you won’t have a problem.
Overall, this is a pretty solid and fun read. If you enjoyed Cinder my Marissa Meyer you will definitely not regret picking up Puppet. It’s exciting and fast paced with a twist you won’t see coming!
December 15, 2014
This review and others are also available to read on my blog Diary of a Teen Writer.
Puppet by Pauline C. Harris promised a fantastic concept, but the majority of the novel fell awfully flat. I really wanted to like it, and there were parts of it that I enjoyed, but overall it didn’t reach my expectations. I have to admit that I was definitely curious about this novel from the get go considering the author’s young age. That and I love retellings.
I’ll start off with something positive: the author’s writing is wonderful. I’d probably read another book of the author’s based on that alone.
The first issue I had with the novel was the limited worldbuilding. I was confused as to what sort of world the author was trying to get across — sci fi? Dystopia? I wish this part of the story had been fleshed out more, so I could actually picture the world. The sci-fi “cell manipulation” talk in the novel seemed rather forced to me, as if the writer didn’t really know what she was talking about and was making it up as she went along. I’m not scientist, so perhaps I can’t judge accurately, but it all seemed very vague and confusing. In order for a science fiction-esque novel to feel real, explanations need to be somewhat understandable to the reader. A lot of it was glazed over, and only explained when absolute necessary — which may not be a bad thing, exactly, but the explanations given felt rather flimsy. If the novel’s world had been explained more, I think it would have been much more enjoyable to read, as well as creating a vivid, intriguing world.
The characters, too, felt pretty flat, and perhaps this was because the novel itself was very short? I thought the author had more room to elaborate on character motives, especially when it came to the villains of the story. I also wanted to know more about Jed. In saying that though I did enjoy the romance between James and our main character, Pen, and there were some interesting twists and revelations at the end which kept my interest.
Overall, Puppet was an interesting concept. I also enjoyed the “gender-bending” aspect of it all — something I wish I saw more in YA. I wish I could have said I liked this more, but there were just too many elements of the story that I felt needed to be revised before publication.
Puppet by Pauline C. Harris promised a fantastic concept, but the majority of the novel fell awfully flat. I really wanted to like it, and there were parts of it that I enjoyed, but overall it didn’t reach my expectations. I have to admit that I was definitely curious about this novel from the get go considering the author’s young age. That and I love retellings.
I’ll start off with something positive: the author’s writing is wonderful. I’d probably read another book of the author’s based on that alone.
The first issue I had with the novel was the limited worldbuilding. I was confused as to what sort of world the author was trying to get across — sci fi? Dystopia? I wish this part of the story had been fleshed out more, so I could actually picture the world. The sci-fi “cell manipulation” talk in the novel seemed rather forced to me, as if the writer didn’t really know what she was talking about and was making it up as she went along. I’m not scientist, so perhaps I can’t judge accurately, but it all seemed very vague and confusing. In order for a science fiction-esque novel to feel real, explanations need to be somewhat understandable to the reader. A lot of it was glazed over, and only explained when absolute necessary — which may not be a bad thing, exactly, but the explanations given felt rather flimsy. If the novel’s world had been explained more, I think it would have been much more enjoyable to read, as well as creating a vivid, intriguing world.
The characters, too, felt pretty flat, and perhaps this was because the novel itself was very short? I thought the author had more room to elaborate on character motives, especially when it came to the villains of the story. I also wanted to know more about Jed. In saying that though I did enjoy the romance between James and our main character, Pen, and there were some interesting twists and revelations at the end which kept my interest.
Overall, Puppet was an interesting concept. I also enjoyed the “gender-bending” aspect of it all — something I wish I saw more in YA. I wish I could have said I liked this more, but there were just too many elements of the story that I felt needed to be revised before publication.
September 11, 2014
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Patchwork Press and NetGalley.)
This was an imaginative retelling of Pinocchio, and I enjoyed it.
I felt quite sorry for Pen, she hadn’t had the happiest life, and it was awful how things kept getting worse and worse for her. All she wanted was to feel like she had a family and someone who cared about her, and instead she just got used, and had her emotions toyed with.
The storyline in this was pretty good, and I was really impressed by how the ‘inability to tell a lie’ plotline was worked in. I liked how the story both mimicked that of Pinocchio, and had its own originality, and it most reminded me of the way Cinderella’s story was retold in Cinder.
There was a bit of romance, but it wasn’t all that big of a storyline really, and fitted in well with the rest of the book.
The ending to this was good, and I was really pleased that Pen finally got a happy ending!
Overall; imaginative retelling of Pinocchio,
7 out of 10.
This was an imaginative retelling of Pinocchio, and I enjoyed it.
I felt quite sorry for Pen, she hadn’t had the happiest life, and it was awful how things kept getting worse and worse for her. All she wanted was to feel like she had a family and someone who cared about her, and instead she just got used, and had her emotions toyed with.
The storyline in this was pretty good, and I was really impressed by how the ‘inability to tell a lie’ plotline was worked in. I liked how the story both mimicked that of Pinocchio, and had its own originality, and it most reminded me of the way Cinderella’s story was retold in Cinder.
There was a bit of romance, but it wasn’t all that big of a storyline really, and fitted in well with the rest of the book.
The ending to this was good, and I was really pleased that Pen finally got a happy ending!
Overall; imaginative retelling of Pinocchio,
7 out of 10.
December 8, 2015
The author kindly provided me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Puppet is a young adult retelling of Pinocchio that follows Penelope, a girl growing up in an orphanage until a scientist adopts her, wanting to make her a sort of living marionette.
I really enjoyed this book. I'd describe it as a mixture of sci fi and dystopia and it was really interestingly done. In the beginning we have a bit of an information dump to set up the world which could have been done more elegantly, but it wasn't really terrible, especially since the world Penelope lives in isn't that different from ours. The only other thing that bothered me was that the romance felt a bit rushed and unnecessary to me. Apart from that though, the story was very interesting and well-executed as well.
Puppet is a young adult retelling of Pinocchio that follows Penelope, a girl growing up in an orphanage until a scientist adopts her, wanting to make her a sort of living marionette.
I really enjoyed this book. I'd describe it as a mixture of sci fi and dystopia and it was really interestingly done. In the beginning we have a bit of an information dump to set up the world which could have been done more elegantly, but it wasn't really terrible, especially since the world Penelope lives in isn't that different from ours. The only other thing that bothered me was that the romance felt a bit rushed and unnecessary to me. Apart from that though, the story was very interesting and well-executed as well.
October 2, 2014
I haven't read this yet, but it sounds like something that I would absolutely LOVE, and I'm excited for it. Someone said it was "Creepy"(which to me is ALWAYS a positive thing/compliment, and of course there's the mechanical/steampunk aspect which I'm obsessed with also, so I'm definitely game to read this. It sounds super creative too. A living marionette? Yes please. This sounds like the kind of fiction book I search everywhere for and want to read. So I'm looking forward to release day so I can grab a copy and check it out.
November 26, 2016
i liked the second half of the book better. though concept was interesting, first half was just boring!
April 12, 2016
Puppet is a retelling of Pinocchio, but almost in the opposite way. You see, Penelope is very much human, until she willingly goes to live with Jed the scientist and his son James. She agrees to that because she wants to get out of that orphanage more than anything else, and throughout the book we see that she is very thankful to Jed for that, even though she doesn't appreciate what she is becoming, but she feels it's the least she can do for her saviour. But becoming superhuman will have consequences.
First of all, that cover is gorgeous, and what drove me to the book in the first place. Now, I'm going to be straight here: this was in large part a pretty disappointing read. The character development and world building in Puppet are pretty close to null. The book is written in first person, so sort of like a diary entry by Penelope, which is fine in some cases, when the author manages to give us both the characters thoughts/feelings AND a good notion of the environment they're in. But that didn't happen here.
For a long time, we are stuck with the same 3 characters. Jed is James' father but so often he is portrayed as the child amongst them, at least in terms of behaviour and reactions. James is so much more mature and composed than his father, and he obviously cares about Penelope but, to me, in a sibling, protective sort of way. So as you can imagine, the romance developing between those two was beyond disappointing because it was so unrealistic, especially since I could smell it since the first few pages. Yet another book where there just has to be a romance, no matter how implausible. I would have been so much happier with the book if they had become true brother and sister, watching that relationship unfold would be a pleasure. And Pen... Well, she's like a broken record. Saying the same things over and over again. I could not relate to her in the least and could not even care what happened to her.
Especially during the first quarter of the book, I found some descriptions just so repetitive... Like the paragraph about Penelope's parents and the cross; how we are told time and time again that marionettes, and then Penelope, can shuffle cards so much faster than humans and crush things like rocks with their bare hands; how, for at least the first 5 chapters, we hear Penelope, in every single one of them, saying she is not pleased with what she'd become but she owed so much to Jed that she wouldn't do it any other way and she really wanted to make him happy. All this and more made me go Ok, I got it the first time, give me something new.... The book stretched on forever because of this, even though it is fairly short and in more than one occasion I pondered quitting - which I never do because I am that stubborn.
Apart from the repetitiveness, most of the time I just felt very disappointed because there was so much telling and not enough showing. Though she keeps going on and on about how awful the orphanage was, the fact is we don't really know much about what Pen went through, or even what her deal with Jed was exactly, the specifics of it, only that he kept asking her if she was sure she was okay with it and that his smile was lovely (*sigh*). Saying that all he did was due to 'cell manipulation' was overly simplistic and the whole process felt that way as well. Such a thing had never been attempted and yet Jed got it the first time. There is talk about side effects that he subdues with pills but what are said side effects? How did he detect them? Was there any pain involved? What about the whole trial and fail process that usually comes with trying something for the first time? What was the process? Was there one in the first place? No, just shots of a yellow liquid. I mean, for a book which tries to contradict people's opinion of it all being magic instead of science, it sure doesn't focus on the science part much!
After the first 25% the book finally started to pick up some memento. The administrators stop by, having heard about Penelope's abilities. That's when Jed sneakily takes away her inability to lie. I have to give kudos to the author here. The way it was done was clever, and the way Pen gradually realized what had happened is well achieved.
The narrative continues with lots of action and finally we get a plot twist. It wasn't my cup of tea and I have to admit I did not fully grasp the explanation and how it affected what I had read up to that point. The ending was overly simplistic as well. It was very disappointing that the 'powers' Pen had bore down to shuffling cards super fast, crushing things with her bare hands and being fast. Those three things were mentioned to exhaustion and I didn't get why Jed didn't, for instance, make her more resistant, if cell manipulation is as easy as it is portrayed. Especially after mentioning marionettes' bodies were indestructible. Alas, there is plenty more that I can no longer remember at the time and also some misspellings which should be addressed.
So, at the end of the day I felt disappointed because the concept was really interesting. For a long time, I felt more excited when reading the synopsis than the book itself. But it did end up picking up a bit and I am glad I trudged on instead of quitting. It's a fairly enjoyable read, if you can get past that first quarter and the plot issues and the fact that a lot of the time the story seems to keep revolving around the same things instead of exploring many others. I find the book wants to be, more than a sci-fi story, one about a lonely girl who doesn't really know how to love or what a family is. That's all she really wants and it takes her a while to realize it's already there. But it tries too much to be YA, making caricatures out of pretty much all adult characters and focusing so much on the romance. This book could have been so much more.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
First of all, that cover is gorgeous, and what drove me to the book in the first place. Now, I'm going to be straight here: this was in large part a pretty disappointing read. The character development and world building in Puppet are pretty close to null. The book is written in first person, so sort of like a diary entry by Penelope, which is fine in some cases, when the author manages to give us both the characters thoughts/feelings AND a good notion of the environment they're in. But that didn't happen here.
For a long time, we are stuck with the same 3 characters. Jed is James' father but so often he is portrayed as the child amongst them, at least in terms of behaviour and reactions. James is so much more mature and composed than his father, and he obviously cares about Penelope but, to me, in a sibling, protective sort of way. So as you can imagine, the romance developing between those two was beyond disappointing because it was so unrealistic, especially since I could smell it since the first few pages. Yet another book where there just has to be a romance, no matter how implausible. I would have been so much happier with the book if they had become true brother and sister, watching that relationship unfold would be a pleasure. And Pen... Well, she's like a broken record. Saying the same things over and over again. I could not relate to her in the least and could not even care what happened to her.
Especially during the first quarter of the book, I found some descriptions just so repetitive... Like the paragraph about Penelope's parents and the cross; how we are told time and time again that marionettes, and then Penelope, can shuffle cards so much faster than humans and crush things like rocks with their bare hands; how, for at least the first 5 chapters, we hear Penelope, in every single one of them, saying she is not pleased with what she'd become but she owed so much to Jed that she wouldn't do it any other way and she really wanted to make him happy. All this and more made me go Ok, I got it the first time, give me something new.... The book stretched on forever because of this, even though it is fairly short and in more than one occasion I pondered quitting - which I never do because I am that stubborn.
Apart from the repetitiveness, most of the time I just felt very disappointed because there was so much telling and not enough showing. Though she keeps going on and on about how awful the orphanage was, the fact is we don't really know much about what Pen went through, or even what her deal with Jed was exactly, the specifics of it, only that he kept asking her if she was sure she was okay with it and that his smile was lovely (*sigh*). Saying that all he did was due to 'cell manipulation' was overly simplistic and the whole process felt that way as well. Such a thing had never been attempted and yet Jed got it the first time. There is talk about side effects that he subdues with pills but what are said side effects? How did he detect them? Was there any pain involved? What about the whole trial and fail process that usually comes with trying something for the first time? What was the process? Was there one in the first place? No, just shots of a yellow liquid. I mean, for a book which tries to contradict people's opinion of it all being magic instead of science, it sure doesn't focus on the science part much!
After the first 25% the book finally started to pick up some memento. The administrators stop by, having heard about Penelope's abilities. That's when Jed sneakily takes away her inability to lie. I have to give kudos to the author here. The way it was done was clever, and the way Pen gradually realized what had happened is well achieved.
The narrative continues with lots of action and finally we get a plot twist. It wasn't my cup of tea and I have to admit I did not fully grasp the explanation and how it affected what I had read up to that point. The ending was overly simplistic as well. It was very disappointing that the 'powers' Pen had bore down to shuffling cards super fast, crushing things with her bare hands and being fast. Those three things were mentioned to exhaustion and I didn't get why Jed didn't, for instance, make her more resistant, if cell manipulation is as easy as it is portrayed. Especially after mentioning marionettes' bodies were indestructible. Alas, there is plenty more that I can no longer remember at the time and also some misspellings which should be addressed.
So, at the end of the day I felt disappointed because the concept was really interesting. For a long time, I felt more excited when reading the synopsis than the book itself. But it did end up picking up a bit and I am glad I trudged on instead of quitting. It's a fairly enjoyable read, if you can get past that first quarter and the plot issues and the fact that a lot of the time the story seems to keep revolving around the same things instead of exploring many others. I find the book wants to be, more than a sci-fi story, one about a lonely girl who doesn't really know how to love or what a family is. That's all she really wants and it takes her a while to realize it's already there. But it tries too much to be YA, making caricatures out of pretty much all adult characters and focusing so much on the romance. This book could have been so much more.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 19, 2014
I received an ARC of this book via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, I feel awful for giving this book such a low rating because I could really tell that the author was trying so hard to write a good book, but the unfortunate truth is, this book is not a good book and I would not recommend it to anyone.
1. Not Pinocchio related.
The most glaring issue here was that I walked into the book with the misconception that this would be a clever Pinocchio re-telling that Cinder was of Cinderella. Unfortunately, it seems that only actual relationship between the two stories shrinks down to two minimal facts - 1. the book contains marionettes and 2. the MC of the book, Pen, wants to become “real” (which isn’t all that related because other than having superpower abilities, Pen isn’t actually any less “real” than anyone else, she’s just different).
Not only so, the whole book seemed to have completely missed the moral of the story for Pinocchio - to be a responsible kid - which just made them even less related to each other.
This story is NOT a Pinocchio retelling. It’s a book about the future and marionettes.
2. Awful Characters
One of the biggest problems with this book that it’s characters are pretty awful. Most specifically Pen. Even after finishing the book, I still had no clue what kind of person she is and whether she would be the type of person I would like to be friends with or not.
She’s randomly sarcastic at times, randomly mopey at times. Sometimes she acts like a 12 year old, sometimes a 22 year old. There were many times where I had to remind myself that, oh right, this kid is suppose to be my age. And then I wonder if anyone I knew or just anyone in general would act like this. Realistically saying, probably not.
In fact, she feels just like an emotionless robot the way she narrates everything.
The sad fact is that the secondary characters have more of a defining personality than Pen does. At least we know that James is that “normal” teenage kid. Jed is the over obsessed scientist. Eledin is the typical evil guy. While none of these are very well created original characters, they fare better than Pen. At least I know I would like to be friends with James and probably stay away from Eledin.
I don’t even know what to say about Pen.
3. The prose.
Is no good.
Honestly, there’s way too much telling rather than showing. Multiple times we’re told that Pen was trying to be sarcastic. Rather, it would have been many times better if we were just told “I smirked” or “I sneered”, both which portray sarcasm perfectly.
The plotline was not paced out very well either. The story was slow in the beginning and it almost was as if the author got really tired towards the end and just tossed the ending out in one sitting. It’s too much to ask the reader to be able to swallow the whole plot twist in such a short amount of time, especially when the book just ends less than 30 pages after with not enough explanation. Instead of going “oh shit”, I went “what the fuck?” and then rage quitted for a day.
There was no character development and the romance was probably thrown in there because typical YA.
And, it was totally insta-love.
Conclusion
The author really tried with this book, but it just really is not good. This would be a nice example of a book that should have gotten a few more beta readers.
Honestly, I feel awful for giving this book such a low rating because I could really tell that the author was trying so hard to write a good book, but the unfortunate truth is, this book is not a good book and I would not recommend it to anyone.
1. Not Pinocchio related.
The most glaring issue here was that I walked into the book with the misconception that this would be a clever Pinocchio re-telling that Cinder was of Cinderella. Unfortunately, it seems that only actual relationship between the two stories shrinks down to two minimal facts - 1. the book contains marionettes and 2. the MC of the book, Pen, wants to become “real” (which isn’t all that related because other than having superpower abilities, Pen isn’t actually any less “real” than anyone else, she’s just different).
Not only so, the whole book seemed to have completely missed the moral of the story for Pinocchio - to be a responsible kid - which just made them even less related to each other.
This story is NOT a Pinocchio retelling. It’s a book about the future and marionettes.
2. Awful Characters
One of the biggest problems with this book that it’s characters are pretty awful. Most specifically Pen. Even after finishing the book, I still had no clue what kind of person she is and whether she would be the type of person I would like to be friends with or not.
She’s randomly sarcastic at times, randomly mopey at times. Sometimes she acts like a 12 year old, sometimes a 22 year old. There were many times where I had to remind myself that, oh right, this kid is suppose to be my age. And then I wonder if anyone I knew or just anyone in general would act like this. Realistically saying, probably not.
In fact, she feels just like an emotionless robot the way she narrates everything.
The sad fact is that the secondary characters have more of a defining personality than Pen does. At least we know that James is that “normal” teenage kid. Jed is the over obsessed scientist. Eledin is the typical evil guy. While none of these are very well created original characters, they fare better than Pen. At least I know I would like to be friends with James and probably stay away from Eledin.
I don’t even know what to say about Pen.
3. The prose.
Is no good.
Honestly, there’s way too much telling rather than showing. Multiple times we’re told that Pen was trying to be sarcastic. Rather, it would have been many times better if we were just told “I smirked” or “I sneered”, both which portray sarcasm perfectly.
The plotline was not paced out very well either. The story was slow in the beginning and it almost was as if the author got really tired towards the end and just tossed the ending out in one sitting. It’s too much to ask the reader to be able to swallow the whole plot twist in such a short amount of time, especially when the book just ends less than 30 pages after with not enough explanation. Instead of going “oh shit”, I went “what the fuck?” and then rage quitted for a day.
There was no character development and the romance was probably thrown in there because typical YA.
And, it was totally insta-love.
Conclusion
The author really tried with this book, but it just really is not good. This would be a nice example of a book that should have gotten a few more beta readers.
July 10, 2015
Puppet Review on K-Books <- Review goes live July 16th 2015
Puppet was one of those books that I had never heard of before being asked to review it and I thought it sounded to interesting. I am a huge fan of fairytale retellings. I love fairytales and I love seeing them told in a new more modern or fantastical way and when I saw this was a retelling of Pinocchio I instantly wanted to read it. I have read so many retellings and not once had I come across one of Pinocchio and I remember thinking that'll be so interesting and different and unique. And yes, it was all of those things but it was also one thing that I never even imagined it would be: Disappointing.
I'm so sad to say it but I was so disappointed with this book. Incredibly so. I wanted to enjoy it and love it so much. I started off liking the book and thinking ohh this is different and the more than I read the more that I just thought there was something lacking. The key thing when telling fairytales, whether original or a retelling there needs to be some sort of magical feeling. It doesn't need to have fairies in it or magic but they have that magical feeling or that spark. Puppet completely lacked that. I remember just feeling a bit 'meh' about it and the more I read thinking it'll get better, the more I just started getting bored. I would put this book down for days at a time and have absolutely no motivation to read it. And I hate that feeling.
Puppet will be loved by many I am sure but this was just not the book for me. I was bored and disappointed and for me, this was a miss. I couldn't recommend it.
Puppet was one of those books that I had never heard of before being asked to review it and I thought it sounded to interesting. I am a huge fan of fairytale retellings. I love fairytales and I love seeing them told in a new more modern or fantastical way and when I saw this was a retelling of Pinocchio I instantly wanted to read it. I have read so many retellings and not once had I come across one of Pinocchio and I remember thinking that'll be so interesting and different and unique. And yes, it was all of those things but it was also one thing that I never even imagined it would be: Disappointing.
I'm so sad to say it but I was so disappointed with this book. Incredibly so. I wanted to enjoy it and love it so much. I started off liking the book and thinking ohh this is different and the more than I read the more that I just thought there was something lacking. The key thing when telling fairytales, whether original or a retelling there needs to be some sort of magical feeling. It doesn't need to have fairies in it or magic but they have that magical feeling or that spark. Puppet completely lacked that. I remember just feeling a bit 'meh' about it and the more I read thinking it'll get better, the more I just started getting bored. I would put this book down for days at a time and have absolutely no motivation to read it. And I hate that feeling.
Puppet will be loved by many I am sure but this was just not the book for me. I was bored and disappointed and for me, this was a miss. I couldn't recommend it.
September 24, 2014
My Review:
I received an e ARC copy of puppet from Patchwork press via Netgalley in exchange with an honest review.
Puppet is a retelling of the classic Pinocchio.
The author finds such an exquisite and unique plot filled with advanced technology & action and weavers it perfectly with many Pinocchio aspects.
It took me a bit to see the Pinocchio resemblance,but once i saw it, there was no going back. It is magnificent !
I loved how the author kept going back and forth between the life she gave away, and was what she signed up for really worth it.
The Self discovery journey is mind blowing,especially when everyone seems to control you , except for you.
I think the romance element was a bit rushed. There were literally no signs to show that those two certain characters both had feelings for each other.
Also, there was that one description that was repeated way more than it needed to convey the message.
However, this was definitely an enjoyable read, a perfect retelling, and a great self discovery story.
I gave Puppet 4/5 stars and a B according to my own rating scale.
I received an e ARC copy of puppet from Patchwork press via Netgalley in exchange with an honest review.
Puppet is a retelling of the classic Pinocchio.
The author finds such an exquisite and unique plot filled with advanced technology & action and weavers it perfectly with many Pinocchio aspects.
It took me a bit to see the Pinocchio resemblance,but once i saw it, there was no going back. It is magnificent !
I loved how the author kept going back and forth between the life she gave away, and was what she signed up for really worth it.
The Self discovery journey is mind blowing,especially when everyone seems to control you , except for you.
I think the romance element was a bit rushed. There were literally no signs to show that those two certain characters both had feelings for each other.
Also, there was that one description that was repeated way more than it needed to convey the message.
However, this was definitely an enjoyable read, a perfect retelling, and a great self discovery story.
I gave Puppet 4/5 stars and a B according to my own rating scale.
September 11, 2015
3 STARS
I was SO EXCITED when Pauline first contacted me about her book, and I'm certainly glad she did! The concept of this book is so highly intriguing and thought provoking, as one of its major themes is the similarities between the belief of magic and the world of science. This book is filled with surprises and twists that I did not expect when I first read the synopsis, such as the surprising amount of action in this novel.
Though I did enjoy the concept of this book I did have a few minor issues with the novel as a whole. As a reader, I did not connect to the characters as well as I'd like to have. At times I felt that the conclusions that the characters would jump to were often incoherent and irrational, compared to how they acted in the past.
Despite my minor issues with this book, I still found myself thoroughly enjoying the plot and concept of this novel and the surprises it encased. If you are looking for a quick and light, but adventurous book, then definitely give this book a read!
Review on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fadF8...
I was SO EXCITED when Pauline first contacted me about her book, and I'm certainly glad she did! The concept of this book is so highly intriguing and thought provoking, as one of its major themes is the similarities between the belief of magic and the world of science. This book is filled with surprises and twists that I did not expect when I first read the synopsis, such as the surprising amount of action in this novel.
Though I did enjoy the concept of this book I did have a few minor issues with the novel as a whole. As a reader, I did not connect to the characters as well as I'd like to have. At times I felt that the conclusions that the characters would jump to were often incoherent and irrational, compared to how they acted in the past.
Despite my minor issues with this book, I still found myself thoroughly enjoying the plot and concept of this novel and the surprises it encased. If you are looking for a quick and light, but adventurous book, then definitely give this book a read!
Review on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fadF8...
September 14, 2014
Interesting premise but story is a bit bland. I do not really feel myself being drawn to the characters, nor feeling too much concern for their health and well-being. Indeed, for much of the book I was pondering why the Administrators seemed to be looking to destroy her, when her immense strength could be exploited instead. That question was, thankfully, answered about 2/3s of the way through. The romance thread seemed kind of weak, almost gratuitous to the plot. It was clear that the two had a kinship, which felt more brother/sister to be honest, yet suddenly they're spouting "I love you's" at one another.
I was expecting it to have a little more in similarity with Pinocchio, but it does not really even follow the same typical plot - this is not about a puppet becoming human, but about a human becoming a puppet. Aside from the lying thing there was actually very little connecting the two.
Overall, this was an unremarkable story.
I was expecting it to have a little more in similarity with Pinocchio, but it does not really even follow the same typical plot - this is not about a puppet becoming human, but about a human becoming a puppet. Aside from the lying thing there was actually very little connecting the two.
Overall, this was an unremarkable story.
February 18, 2016
Actual rating 3.5 Stars.
**I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts/opinions are my own.**
I really liked the premise of this book. I love fairytale retellings and this is the first book that I've read that is a retelling of Pinocchio. I thought that the plot was usual and engaging. I liked the characters and their relationships, especially Pen and James'. Pen was an interesting narrator and I enjoyed learning more about her as the story progressed.
My main problem with this book was the world building. The world was interesting but I feel like it was rushed and could have done with more fleshing out. I would have liked to learn more about her time in the orphanage. I also would have loved to have the marionette concept explained more. I have so many questions that I would love to have answers to.
I think Pauline C. Harris has a lot of potential as a writer and I look forward to seeing what else she writes!
**I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts/opinions are my own.**
I really liked the premise of this book. I love fairytale retellings and this is the first book that I've read that is a retelling of Pinocchio. I thought that the plot was usual and engaging. I liked the characters and their relationships, especially Pen and James'. Pen was an interesting narrator and I enjoyed learning more about her as the story progressed.
My main problem with this book was the world building. The world was interesting but I feel like it was rushed and could have done with more fleshing out. I would have liked to learn more about her time in the orphanage. I also would have loved to have the marionette concept explained more. I have so many questions that I would love to have answers to.
I think Pauline C. Harris has a lot of potential as a writer and I look forward to seeing what else she writes!
August 8, 2015
Rating - 3.25
~ I was sent this book from the author for an honest review ~
A fairy tale re-telling of Pinocchio, I found the whole concept of the book really interesting and I thought the whole premise of the book was great. The plot was unusual and something different, I like how it wasn't a typical fairytale retelling however still had the ties and references. One of my main problems with the book was that it felt very rushed. Something like this I could have easily seen being spread out into a trilogy where we really had the chance to learn more about the government, Penelope's life when she is in the orphanage and I wish we could have seen a little more especially before she was turned into a living marionette. Overall the book was unique quick read recommended for younger readers (middle grade, younger YA) who like fast pace action reads. TW: The book does contain violence so be cautious of that for young readers.
Video review coming soon
~ I was sent this book from the author for an honest review ~
A fairy tale re-telling of Pinocchio, I found the whole concept of the book really interesting and I thought the whole premise of the book was great. The plot was unusual and something different, I like how it wasn't a typical fairytale retelling however still had the ties and references. One of my main problems with the book was that it felt very rushed. Something like this I could have easily seen being spread out into a trilogy where we really had the chance to learn more about the government, Penelope's life when she is in the orphanage and I wish we could have seen a little more especially before she was turned into a living marionette. Overall the book was unique quick read recommended for younger readers (middle grade, younger YA) who like fast pace action reads. TW: The book does contain violence so be cautious of that for young readers.
Video review coming soon
September 11, 2014
(I received a copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.)
Actual rating - 3.5
Puppet was a decent read.
I felt really sorry for Pen. The poor girl just couldn't catch a break! It was one bad thing after another for her, and i really wanted her to have a bit of good luck for a change.
I felt a bit sorry for her when she chose a middle name for herself as well. Penelope Mae Trump really doesn't go well together!
There was a few times where i started to lose interest a bit, but something always happened shortly after, so it wasn't too bad.
Overall, a good retelling.
Actual rating - 3.5
Puppet was a decent read.
I felt really sorry for Pen. The poor girl just couldn't catch a break! It was one bad thing after another for her, and i really wanted her to have a bit of good luck for a change.
I felt a bit sorry for her when she chose a middle name for herself as well. Penelope Mae Trump really doesn't go well together!
There was a few times where i started to lose interest a bit, but something always happened shortly after, so it wasn't too bad.
Overall, a good retelling.
January 20, 2015
Puppet is a really interesting pinochio retelling with a lot to offer. I enjoyed the story line quite a bit, and felt the characters were really interesting. It was so interesting to see the struggle Pen had with what she was going through, and how hard it was to lose control of herself. I do feel the story could have been spread out over two or three books where we really learn the background of the marionettes, and get a little more action with the government. Other than that I really enjoyed the story and would recommend it!
You can see a full review on my youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb0T8...
You can see a full review on my youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb0T8...
December 13, 2014
This book was very good. The concept seemed really unique to me and felt like I had not read anything so creative in quite a while. Penelope was a very strong character and I really liked how she tried so hard to be real, but there were always some kind of set backs or difficulties that held her back, which reminded me of how things are actually in real life. I think that that those who love sci fi and dystopia mixed up with a bit of adventure and slight very slight romantic love will enjoy this book very much! Great job Pauline Harris, I will definitely read more of your books!!
June 14, 2022
I don’t think I have ever read a retelling of Pinocchio before Puppet. This fact is what drew me to the book quite a few years ago, and I finally read it in September. Sadly Puppet didn’t really hit the mark for me.
The story of Puppet was told in two parts and these two parts were so dissimilar it was hard to reconcile them as the same story. The first part of the novel was quite low key, and was mainly back story as well as Penelope figuring out some of her mannequin abilities. Most of this part was set at Penelope’s home, with some scenes of her showing off her skills at shows as well as visiting a doctor who was interested in her abilities.
The second part of the story was set in a prison/hospital ward and there were some political aspects suddenly introduced. It gave me reading whiplash to go from a story based at a girl’s home with no mention of politics to a story about this same girl being used for political gain.
I think Puppet would have benefited from bridging these two separate stories together. If there had been some world building and discussion about politics in the first half then it wouldn’t have come as such a surprise when the second half focussed so much on it. But as it stands there was no world building at all so I wasn’t even sure of the relevancy of the different political heads in the second half.
My favourite part of the novel was the middle where Penelope and James attempted to run away from the people who were after Pen and wanted to use her abilities. I thought this section of the novel was the most descriptive, and there was also a lot more development of both Pen and James’s characters as well as their relationship. I must admit I was sad that this part of the book was so short because I would have been happier if it had been longer.
I think with some work Puppet could have ended up being a really good novel, but in the end it just lacked quite a number of things. It needed more world building to set the scene for the second half. It also needed more development of Pen’s character, as well as James and Jed’s. Relationship development between the three of them would have gone far, as well. Unfortunately Puppet was lacking these things and in the end I just didn’t fall in love.
© 2020, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
trigger warning: human experimentation, loss of body autonomy, reference to death of parents, mild blood and gore, abduction, use of ableist language, car crash
The story of Puppet was told in two parts and these two parts were so dissimilar it was hard to reconcile them as the same story. The first part of the novel was quite low key, and was mainly back story as well as Penelope figuring out some of her mannequin abilities. Most of this part was set at Penelope’s home, with some scenes of her showing off her skills at shows as well as visiting a doctor who was interested in her abilities.
The second part of the story was set in a prison/hospital ward and there were some political aspects suddenly introduced. It gave me reading whiplash to go from a story based at a girl’s home with no mention of politics to a story about this same girl being used for political gain.
I think Puppet would have benefited from bridging these two separate stories together. If there had been some world building and discussion about politics in the first half then it wouldn’t have come as such a surprise when the second half focussed so much on it. But as it stands there was no world building at all so I wasn’t even sure of the relevancy of the different political heads in the second half.
My favourite part of the novel was the middle where Penelope and James attempted to run away from the people who were after Pen and wanted to use her abilities. I thought this section of the novel was the most descriptive, and there was also a lot more development of both Pen and James’s characters as well as their relationship. I must admit I was sad that this part of the book was so short because I would have been happier if it had been longer.
I think with some work Puppet could have ended up being a really good novel, but in the end it just lacked quite a number of things. It needed more world building to set the scene for the second half. It also needed more development of Pen’s character, as well as James and Jed’s. Relationship development between the three of them would have gone far, as well. Unfortunately Puppet was lacking these things and in the end I just didn’t fall in love.
© 2020, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
trigger warning: human experimentation, loss of body autonomy, reference to death of parents, mild blood and gore, abduction, use of ableist language, car crash
February 6, 2017
Overall this was a decent read. I really enjoyed the premise of the book and thought it was a clever twist on the original fairy tale. There were a few spelling errors and grammar errors though, and I didn't like the formatting of the book (too much blank space). One other thing that bothered me was that there was a lot of repetition and I didn't really click with any of it. I did finish it, and I think that Pauline Harris has some fantastic potential as a writer, but it definitely needed to be cleaned up and edited a bit more.
January 18, 2025
I apologize for the extremely late review, life happened. I ended up DNF around the 8% mark as I soon realized the writing and story wasn't for me. I had trouble imagining the characters and wasn't invested in them enough for me to care what happened to them. It seemed to be more telling than showing and I couldn't continue on. I think it could been a good story but needed some more editing and revisions.
1 out of 5 rating for me!
(An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. I leave this review voluntarily and I was not compensated in any other way.)
1 out of 5 rating for me!
(An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. I leave this review voluntarily and I was not compensated in any other way.)
October 9, 2020
Have you thought about Pinocchio lately? Neither have I. But this retelling of the story sheds new light on it, following an orphaned sixteen year old girl who finds herself with superhuman powers, as she's whisked into a world she would have never been able to imagine, and she's forced to do things she would never have been able to do in her daily life.
Check out my full review here!
https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpr...
Check out my full review here!
https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpr...
October 24, 2014
My review is also available on my Blog:
http://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com/2014...
I received a copy of Puppet via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. Even though I enjoyed Puppet there were a few issues with the book. Initially I felt that the first two chapters told us too much about Penelope too early on. These ‘facts’ could have been fed into the narrative slowly rather than been thrust into the opening chapters of the book. In some ways, chapter three felt like the perfect place to begin the narrative, suddenly the story took me by surprise, and began to capture my attention. Also there was a definite tendency for Pauline C Harris to tell rather than show which is a typical error that new writers, myself included, often make when beginning to write. So in my opinion, I do think that Pauline could have benefited from tighter editing from a professional in order for this novel to reach its full potential.
On the plus side I do think that the premise for Puppet is an interesting concept, an imaginative twist on the Pinocchio tale. Penelope is a troubled teenager living in an orphanage when Jed, a mad scientist offers to take her away in exchange for agreeing to be his experimental guinea pig! Under Jed’s scientific care Penelope becomes a human marionette and “her strings” are not physical attachments controlling her but the result of a drug administered to give her the ability to exert super human powers. When the “Administrators” find out about her abilities, and her lying, they threaten to take her away from Jed and James, so in desperation Jed takes away her ability to lie to compensate the Administrators. I found Penelope’s reaction to this interesting, she was distressed that this freedom which we take for granted is no longer something she is capable of. The pain of this loss is intense because in Penelope’s eyes lying is evidence of the last scrap of her humanity. Can you imagine never being able to lie? Lying isn’t always necessarily a wicked thing to do, sometimes we lie because we want to protect people’s feelings, e.g. when someone asks us if we like the way they dress! Ultimately the “Administrators” and in particular the evil Edelin’s intentions towards Penelope become clear. Her powers are forcibly used in a way that she finds abhorrent and distressing. She no longer has any control over her body’s potential for cruelty. The plot twists at the end of the narrative are unexpected and a welcome aspect of the fast paced story line, characterised by short punchy chapters.
I didn’t quite buy into the romance between Penelope and James, somehow it seemed a bit forced to me. Also it seemed a bit odd because I had considered them to be more like brother and sister, up until the point when they kissed each other!
I was surprised that Penelope didn’t have more qualms about participating in Jed’s experiments, after all who would want to? I know that she felt grateful for being released from the Orphanage and her debt to them, but somehow this just didn’t seem enough cause for her to allow Jed to inject her with a cocktail of unknown and potentially dangerous chemicals. Somehow she just seemed a little too compliant. In addition, I think that the characterisation of the characters could have been developed more as could the setting and background to the story. More detail about the science in the story and world building in this futuristic land would undoubtedly have made the story a richer read.This novel had a lot more to give and I was a little disappointed that it just didn’t quite get to the giddy heights that I had expected.
Having said all of this, I did enjoy the premise for the story, and the pace of the novel. I found it a quick read, gripping at times, and I do think this author has such potential. Pauline C Harris is a young writer, she is the same age as my eldest daughter who also loves to write! So well done to her for publishing at such a young age. Incidentally this is not her first novel she has already written a trilogy in 2013: Mechanical, Perfect, and Flawed, as well as children’s/middle grade fiction, The Secret’s of Evelyn Taylor, and another fairy tale retelling is coming out in 2015, Hourglass. Oh and she loves Star Trek and tea, so she gets a high five for that!
So if you like a quick read, and an unusual re-telling of Pinocchio pick up Puppet. For readers of Young Adult, Romance, and Fantasy.
Favourite quotes:
“We won’t kill you,” the administrator repeats. “But …if you forgive the pun…” he trails off, smiling to himself at some internal joke. “There will be strings attached.”
Being forced to tell the truth doesn’t make me better than a criminal with a lie detector. Choice is what matters and my choice has been taken away.
I can feel panic slowly pulsing through my veins like venom.
The marionettes’ bodies are indestructible. They are capable of shuffling and dealing cards faster than the eye can perceive, of crushing rocks in the palms of their hands, of darting across rooms in the blink of an eye.
And now I am too.
It scares me more than it empowers me.
http://kyrosmagica.wordpress.com/2014...
I received a copy of Puppet via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. Even though I enjoyed Puppet there were a few issues with the book. Initially I felt that the first two chapters told us too much about Penelope too early on. These ‘facts’ could have been fed into the narrative slowly rather than been thrust into the opening chapters of the book. In some ways, chapter three felt like the perfect place to begin the narrative, suddenly the story took me by surprise, and began to capture my attention. Also there was a definite tendency for Pauline C Harris to tell rather than show which is a typical error that new writers, myself included, often make when beginning to write. So in my opinion, I do think that Pauline could have benefited from tighter editing from a professional in order for this novel to reach its full potential.
On the plus side I do think that the premise for Puppet is an interesting concept, an imaginative twist on the Pinocchio tale. Penelope is a troubled teenager living in an orphanage when Jed, a mad scientist offers to take her away in exchange for agreeing to be his experimental guinea pig! Under Jed’s scientific care Penelope becomes a human marionette and “her strings” are not physical attachments controlling her but the result of a drug administered to give her the ability to exert super human powers. When the “Administrators” find out about her abilities, and her lying, they threaten to take her away from Jed and James, so in desperation Jed takes away her ability to lie to compensate the Administrators. I found Penelope’s reaction to this interesting, she was distressed that this freedom which we take for granted is no longer something she is capable of. The pain of this loss is intense because in Penelope’s eyes lying is evidence of the last scrap of her humanity. Can you imagine never being able to lie? Lying isn’t always necessarily a wicked thing to do, sometimes we lie because we want to protect people’s feelings, e.g. when someone asks us if we like the way they dress! Ultimately the “Administrators” and in particular the evil Edelin’s intentions towards Penelope become clear. Her powers are forcibly used in a way that she finds abhorrent and distressing. She no longer has any control over her body’s potential for cruelty. The plot twists at the end of the narrative are unexpected and a welcome aspect of the fast paced story line, characterised by short punchy chapters.
I didn’t quite buy into the romance between Penelope and James, somehow it seemed a bit forced to me. Also it seemed a bit odd because I had considered them to be more like brother and sister, up until the point when they kissed each other!
I was surprised that Penelope didn’t have more qualms about participating in Jed’s experiments, after all who would want to? I know that she felt grateful for being released from the Orphanage and her debt to them, but somehow this just didn’t seem enough cause for her to allow Jed to inject her with a cocktail of unknown and potentially dangerous chemicals. Somehow she just seemed a little too compliant. In addition, I think that the characterisation of the characters could have been developed more as could the setting and background to the story. More detail about the science in the story and world building in this futuristic land would undoubtedly have made the story a richer read.This novel had a lot more to give and I was a little disappointed that it just didn’t quite get to the giddy heights that I had expected.
Having said all of this, I did enjoy the premise for the story, and the pace of the novel. I found it a quick read, gripping at times, and I do think this author has such potential. Pauline C Harris is a young writer, she is the same age as my eldest daughter who also loves to write! So well done to her for publishing at such a young age. Incidentally this is not her first novel she has already written a trilogy in 2013: Mechanical, Perfect, and Flawed, as well as children’s/middle grade fiction, The Secret’s of Evelyn Taylor, and another fairy tale retelling is coming out in 2015, Hourglass. Oh and she loves Star Trek and tea, so she gets a high five for that!
So if you like a quick read, and an unusual re-telling of Pinocchio pick up Puppet. For readers of Young Adult, Romance, and Fantasy.
Favourite quotes:
“We won’t kill you,” the administrator repeats. “But …if you forgive the pun…” he trails off, smiling to himself at some internal joke. “There will be strings attached.”
Being forced to tell the truth doesn’t make me better than a criminal with a lie detector. Choice is what matters and my choice has been taken away.
I can feel panic slowly pulsing through my veins like venom.
The marionettes’ bodies are indestructible. They are capable of shuffling and dealing cards faster than the eye can perceive, of crushing rocks in the palms of their hands, of darting across rooms in the blink of an eye.
And now I am too.
It scares me more than it empowers me.
April 18, 2019
Those that have followed me for some time know that I love reading fairytale retellings. So no surprise here that I would be happy to pick up a book that labelled itself a retelling of Pinocchio. Not my most favorite of fairy tales, but I was excited about it nonetheless.
Well, folks, this was a bit of a let down. It was bit like Pinocchio I guess, in the loosest of terms, and backwards! Jed wasn't interested in turning a marionette into a human girl, but turning a human girl into a marionette. And for the first part of this book, that is all that it was focused on. Characters were dull and had no substance. They were underdeveloped as was everything else in the story. Not sure where they were, whether it was set in a futuristic society or not... the synopsis claims this story is set in a world of advanced technology, yet there was very little of the actual world in what I read.
This story felt like it could have had much potential but the foundation was cracked and crumbling. The world buildup can be as important to holding a reader, as the set up of characters and plot, and that too was not as strong as I had hoped it would be.
Unfortunately, this was not the right retelling for me.
* Many thanks to Netgalley, Authors and Publishers for making copies available for review. No compensation was accepted and my opinions are 100% my own. *
For more reviews please visit Bookluvrs Haven
Well, folks, this was a bit of a let down. It was bit like Pinocchio I guess, in the loosest of terms, and backwards! Jed wasn't interested in turning a marionette into a human girl, but turning a human girl into a marionette. And for the first part of this book, that is all that it was focused on. Characters were dull and had no substance. They were underdeveloped as was everything else in the story. Not sure where they were, whether it was set in a futuristic society or not... the synopsis claims this story is set in a world of advanced technology, yet there was very little of the actual world in what I read.
This story felt like it could have had much potential but the foundation was cracked and crumbling. The world buildup can be as important to holding a reader, as the set up of characters and plot, and that too was not as strong as I had hoped it would be.
Unfortunately, this was not the right retelling for me.
* Many thanks to Netgalley, Authors and Publishers for making copies available for review. No compensation was accepted and my opinions are 100% my own. *
For more reviews please visit Bookluvrs Haven
July 1, 2015
This review and more can be found at The A P Book Club!
*I received this book from Patchwork Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
It's no secret that I love a good retelling. Especially when the bones of the original story are there, but they've been manipulated into something new and exciting. That's what I was really looking forward to most about this book - a new take on Pinocchio, with all sorts of twists to make it futuristic and something entirely its own.
For the most part, this story really delivers. I loved the way that puppets are incorporated into the story, and how Penelope is like the story of Pinocchio in reverse in that she starts out human, ends up something not quite human, and then wants to be a real girl again. So maybe a back-and-forth Pinnochio? Regardless, I really enjoyed the way Pauline twisted the story and the idea of a "puppet," especially in this futuristic sense. I also enjoyed how Penelope's ability to lie is taken away in a completely different way than Pinocchio's. I mean, it would be pretty ridiculous for a (mostly) human girl's nose to just start growing every time she tells a lie.
Things move fairly quickly, although there were a few times when I felt like the story dragged a little bit and the pacing was off. I definitely spent most of the book feeling like I should read just one more page, or just one more chapter, since I was anxious to know what was going to happen next. Even though some parts were slow, that underlying nervousness about what was going to happen next kept me turning pages well past my bed time! I think that everything flows nicely, but maybe some of the more exposition-y world-building sections could have been incorporated somewhere else to let the plot move along more quickly.
I was unsure about the romance at first, since Penelope's love interest is kind of her adopted brother. It was a little weird, but then it definitely grew on me, especially as I saw more of their friendship turning into something more. I think this story could have still done without the relationship, but it isn't too overwhelming and is just another facet of Penelope, so it ended up being alright. Maybe that's what made this book feel like it was dragging in some places? I don't know.
Overall, this was a really interesting and unique take on the classic Pinocchio story. Pauline totally recreates marionettes and makes them more sci-fi than anything, and I really enjoyed reading about them and learning more about how people could be turned into a marionette. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a sci-fi retelling of Pinocchio, and am looking forward to reading more from Pauline! 3/5.
*I received this book from Patchwork Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
It's no secret that I love a good retelling. Especially when the bones of the original story are there, but they've been manipulated into something new and exciting. That's what I was really looking forward to most about this book - a new take on Pinocchio, with all sorts of twists to make it futuristic and something entirely its own.
For the most part, this story really delivers. I loved the way that puppets are incorporated into the story, and how Penelope is like the story of Pinocchio in reverse in that she starts out human, ends up something not quite human, and then wants to be a real girl again. So maybe a back-and-forth Pinnochio? Regardless, I really enjoyed the way Pauline twisted the story and the idea of a "puppet," especially in this futuristic sense. I also enjoyed how Penelope's ability to lie is taken away in a completely different way than Pinocchio's. I mean, it would be pretty ridiculous for a (mostly) human girl's nose to just start growing every time she tells a lie.
Things move fairly quickly, although there were a few times when I felt like the story dragged a little bit and the pacing was off. I definitely spent most of the book feeling like I should read just one more page, or just one more chapter, since I was anxious to know what was going to happen next. Even though some parts were slow, that underlying nervousness about what was going to happen next kept me turning pages well past my bed time! I think that everything flows nicely, but maybe some of the more exposition-y world-building sections could have been incorporated somewhere else to let the plot move along more quickly.
I was unsure about the romance at first, since Penelope's love interest is kind of her adopted brother. It was a little weird, but then it definitely grew on me, especially as I saw more of their friendship turning into something more. I think this story could have still done without the relationship, but it isn't too overwhelming and is just another facet of Penelope, so it ended up being alright. Maybe that's what made this book feel like it was dragging in some places? I don't know.
Overall, this was a really interesting and unique take on the classic Pinocchio story. Pauline totally recreates marionettes and makes them more sci-fi than anything, and I really enjoyed reading about them and learning more about how people could be turned into a marionette. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a sci-fi retelling of Pinocchio, and am looking forward to reading more from Pauline! 3/5.
November 6, 2014
I received this book for a review.
Penelope lives in a world of advanced technology but many claim society has yet to catch up. Marionettes have advanced in the form of robots; lifelike creations remote controlled to perform super human tasks.
When Penelope makes a deal with Jed, a marionette-obsessed scientist, she doesn’t fully realize what she’s getting herself into. In order for Jed to take her away from the orphanage she lives in, she must first agree to undergo his experiments and tests, ultimately creating something no one ever dreamed possible; the first living marionette.
As Jed shows off his scientific creation to the world, concerns arise surrounding Penelope’s abilities and what she’s capable of doing. Ordered to somehow lessen her abilities, Jed makes a desperate attempt to change Penelope to make her more human, more vulnerable. After Penelope lies to the officials about her past, Jed makes sure it’s the last one she’ll ever utter. The truth is now the only thing she is capable of telling.
As Penelope struggles with her past, her disturbingly new present, and her uncertain future, she is thrust into a magically twisted world of mayhem in search of the one thing she wants, but knows she can never have. The chance to be just a girl again. To be normal. To be real.
First of I want to say I really loved this book! It was very creative, very inventive, this was definitely a one of a kind book. I could see the love Pen had for Jed. I think most people could relate to the feelings she had for Jed, wanting to make him proud, even if it wasn't what she wanted.
One of my favorite parts of the book, was when she was on stage, and she got slapped by one of the scientist. Just because she was a "marionette" or "living marionette" she didn't act like a robot she slapped him.
It was so sad when Pen found out the truth about her role in becoming they was she had.
Pauline did an excellent job of creating this masterpiece. Her idea's flowed with the book, there wasn't unnecessary information, going on and on about one point or another. Everything about this book made you want to jump into it, and become a character. The last thing I want to mention is that I genuinely liked that the Author incorporated her religion into the book but didn't overly kill you with the idea.
Four Out Of Five Stars
Thanks you Pauline C. Harris for this wonderful story!
Recommend to everyone!!
Penelope lives in a world of advanced technology but many claim society has yet to catch up. Marionettes have advanced in the form of robots; lifelike creations remote controlled to perform super human tasks.
When Penelope makes a deal with Jed, a marionette-obsessed scientist, she doesn’t fully realize what she’s getting herself into. In order for Jed to take her away from the orphanage she lives in, she must first agree to undergo his experiments and tests, ultimately creating something no one ever dreamed possible; the first living marionette.
As Jed shows off his scientific creation to the world, concerns arise surrounding Penelope’s abilities and what she’s capable of doing. Ordered to somehow lessen her abilities, Jed makes a desperate attempt to change Penelope to make her more human, more vulnerable. After Penelope lies to the officials about her past, Jed makes sure it’s the last one she’ll ever utter. The truth is now the only thing she is capable of telling.
As Penelope struggles with her past, her disturbingly new present, and her uncertain future, she is thrust into a magically twisted world of mayhem in search of the one thing she wants, but knows she can never have. The chance to be just a girl again. To be normal. To be real.
First of I want to say I really loved this book! It was very creative, very inventive, this was definitely a one of a kind book. I could see the love Pen had for Jed. I think most people could relate to the feelings she had for Jed, wanting to make him proud, even if it wasn't what she wanted.
One of my favorite parts of the book, was when she was on stage, and she got slapped by one of the scientist. Just because she was a "marionette" or "living marionette" she didn't act like a robot she slapped him.
It was so sad when Pen found out the truth about her role in becoming they was she had.
Pauline did an excellent job of creating this masterpiece. Her idea's flowed with the book, there wasn't unnecessary information, going on and on about one point or another. Everything about this book made you want to jump into it, and become a character. The last thing I want to mention is that I genuinely liked that the Author incorporated her religion into the book but didn't overly kill you with the idea.
Four Out Of Five Stars
Thanks you Pauline C. Harris for this wonderful story!
Recommend to everyone!!
February 11, 2015
I was given an advance reader copy from Netgalley and Patchwork Press in exchange for an honest review.
Generally I don't give one star reviews. I always try to find a redeeming quality in any book I read. There's always something that makes me like the book, even a little bit. No such luck here.
This is a really hard book to review for me. I'm trying not to be snarky and mean in this review, because I do understand that the author worked hard on this and is proud of her accomplishments. But, simply put, this book was awful.
I feel like this book needed to be edited, rewritten, and then edited again. And maybe buried deep in a drawer somewhere so that no one has to suffer through this.
My main problem with this book is the writing. The story is told to me instead of having me experience it. I never for one moment had to figure out what any particular character was feeling. They told me. Pen (our MC) felt afraid of herself and her marionette abilities? I wasn't told from a sickening feeling her stomach or chills down spines at the thought. No, I was told by "I'm afraid of myself and what I can do." Over and over. And the delivery of dialogue made me want to shoot myself. The lines are just there. The characters forced to say whatever was written for them with no passion, no feeling. Kind of makes me wonder if Pen was the puppet, then was everyone else a robot? Because they all sound like they are.
The book immediately throws us into a world where nothing is familiar. Is this our world or somewhere else? Is it futuristic? Does it take place in the present? I don't know. I'm assuming the futuristic world, but then again, I'm not entirely sure. And who/what is Head Devere? Heck if I know. She kind of appeared there all of a sudden when Harris needed a plot device.
I'm not going to talk about the story because there wasn't a story. There were bland characters who went through the motions of events, feeling nothing, feeding me stale dialogue to ultimately get to a forced happy ending where there are no consequences or problems. Everything is solved. Everything is perfect. Except for every sentence between the first and the last.
I'd say that this book just wasn't for me, but it's hard to imagine people enjoying such a stale, boring story. This poorly written disaster should have stayed on the editing board a while longer. A long, long while.
Generally I don't give one star reviews. I always try to find a redeeming quality in any book I read. There's always something that makes me like the book, even a little bit. No such luck here.
This is a really hard book to review for me. I'm trying not to be snarky and mean in this review, because I do understand that the author worked hard on this and is proud of her accomplishments. But, simply put, this book was awful.
I feel like this book needed to be edited, rewritten, and then edited again. And maybe buried deep in a drawer somewhere so that no one has to suffer through this.
My main problem with this book is the writing. The story is told to me instead of having me experience it. I never for one moment had to figure out what any particular character was feeling. They told me. Pen (our MC) felt afraid of herself and her marionette abilities? I wasn't told from a sickening feeling her stomach or chills down spines at the thought. No, I was told by "I'm afraid of myself and what I can do." Over and over. And the delivery of dialogue made me want to shoot myself. The lines are just there. The characters forced to say whatever was written for them with no passion, no feeling. Kind of makes me wonder if Pen was the puppet, then was everyone else a robot? Because they all sound like they are.
The book immediately throws us into a world where nothing is familiar. Is this our world or somewhere else? Is it futuristic? Does it take place in the present? I don't know. I'm assuming the futuristic world, but then again, I'm not entirely sure. And who/what is Head Devere? Heck if I know. She kind of appeared there all of a sudden when Harris needed a plot device.
I'm not going to talk about the story because there wasn't a story. There were bland characters who went through the motions of events, feeling nothing, feeding me stale dialogue to ultimately get to a forced happy ending where there are no consequences or problems. Everything is solved. Everything is perfect. Except for every sentence between the first and the last.
I'd say that this book just wasn't for me, but it's hard to imagine people enjoying such a stale, boring story. This poorly written disaster should have stayed on the editing board a while longer. A long, long while.
July 29, 2015
Actual rating: 3.75
I was given an ARC of this book by Patchwork Press in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book. It was a fun read, for the most part, though sometimes (during action scenes especially) I felt a sort of disconnect between the narrator and I. The story is heavily mediated so there's no mistaking everything you read is from her point of view, which got tiresome at times because it seemed like Penelope was the least aware of everything going on except as it related to how she felt (mentally or physically).
This was a very fresh Pinocchio story-- simultaneously Pinocchio and something altogether new and original. I had absolutely no problem with it, and I liked how the sci-fi setting mixed with the quaint little town setting absolutely seamlessly. I wish there had been a little more world building, but I loved what I got.
Pen as a narrator frustrated me overall, but when I was trying to think of why I didn't like how she saw or described things, I realized her sort of analytical tone, the way she thought of things super suddenly all the time, just reinforced who she was meant to be as a character. (Or how I saw her as a characterr)
The romance, which I saw some reviews complaining about, is a) cute & believable, and b) not even that big of a deal anyways. Geez.
The story starts off really fresh and new and interesting, but hits a lull in the middle. Head Devere is supposed to be this big baddie, but doesn't show up until 3/4 of the way through. The story starts off so complex, refusing to acknowledge right and wrong (scientific experiments and brain surgery on children? No biggie.) But all of a sudden, with Admin. Edelin we're introduced to a mwahahaha-evil character... And it's really jarring. And then the novel gets a bit preachy and I didn't quite know what to do with that.
I want to talk about Head Devere because she was my favorite character. But I can't at risk of spoilers. So I'll just say I think a lot could've been cleared up from the get go had we heard more of Head Devere.
Overall, it was a fun, interesting take on Pinocchio that I'd never imagined before and really enjoyed, inhibited mostly by the constraints of a first person narrator in present time which I almost never enjoy reading anyways.
I was given an ARC of this book by Patchwork Press in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book. It was a fun read, for the most part, though sometimes (during action scenes especially) I felt a sort of disconnect between the narrator and I. The story is heavily mediated so there's no mistaking everything you read is from her point of view, which got tiresome at times because it seemed like Penelope was the least aware of everything going on except as it related to how she felt (mentally or physically).
This was a very fresh Pinocchio story-- simultaneously Pinocchio and something altogether new and original. I had absolutely no problem with it, and I liked how the sci-fi setting mixed with the quaint little town setting absolutely seamlessly. I wish there had been a little more world building, but I loved what I got.
Pen as a narrator frustrated me overall, but when I was trying to think of why I didn't like how she saw or described things, I realized her sort of analytical tone, the way she thought of things super suddenly all the time, just reinforced who she was meant to be as a character. (Or how I saw her as a characterr)
The romance, which I saw some reviews complaining about, is a) cute & believable, and b) not even that big of a deal anyways. Geez.
The story starts off really fresh and new and interesting, but hits a lull in the middle. Head Devere is supposed to be this big baddie, but doesn't show up until 3/4 of the way through. The story starts off so complex, refusing to acknowledge right and wrong (scientific experiments and brain surgery on children? No biggie.) But all of a sudden, with Admin. Edelin we're introduced to a mwahahaha-evil character... And it's really jarring. And then the novel gets a bit preachy and I didn't quite know what to do with that.
I want to talk about Head Devere because she was my favorite character. But I can't at risk of spoilers. So I'll just say I think a lot could've been cleared up from the get go had we heard more of Head Devere.
Overall, it was a fun, interesting take on Pinocchio that I'd never imagined before and really enjoyed, inhibited mostly by the constraints of a first person narrator in present time which I almost never enjoy reading anyways.
October 24, 2014
This review was originally posted on my blog, Hiver et Cafe
I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. This fact does not affect my opinion in any shape or form. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated for this review in any way.
There were definitely unique aspects to this one, especially since this is the first Pinocchio retelling I've ever read. Penelope is an orphan who's done some bad things and in order to get away from them, she agrees to undergo Jed's experiments. He turns her into a living marionette and takes away her ability to tell the truth. Because she's deemed as dangerous, the "administrators" want to lock her up so that she's no longer a danger to society.
I really wish this were longer. By a significant amount. Everything felt really rushed and squished together. I wish it were drawn out longer and things were less compacted, because I feel as though there wasn't enough world building done. I don't know much about this society/world other than that there are marionettes in it that are humanoid robots who are essentially "puppets". Everything happened so quickly that I didn't get to enjoy the build up. Things just happened one right after another.
God did Pen irritate the crap out of me. She's so incredibly impulsive that she doesn't think before she acts. She got into some potentially dangerous situations because of this and James, her sidekick and the rational one, is always telling her not to do these things. And of course she does them anyways. She does keep seem to end up drawing the short end of the stick though. She keeps falling into a bigger and bigger hole of trouble. I definitely enjoyed that bit though because then I could see what Pen was made of.
I really liked the parallels between her being a living marionette and her becoming a puppet, figuratively. It was almost like the reverse of Pinocchio as she's going from being a real person to becoming a puppet.
Anyways, this was an entertaining and action packed read that you can flip through in no time. I just really wish it were longer.
I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. This fact does not affect my opinion in any shape or form. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated for this review in any way.
There were definitely unique aspects to this one, especially since this is the first Pinocchio retelling I've ever read. Penelope is an orphan who's done some bad things and in order to get away from them, she agrees to undergo Jed's experiments. He turns her into a living marionette and takes away her ability to tell the truth. Because she's deemed as dangerous, the "administrators" want to lock her up so that she's no longer a danger to society.
I really wish this were longer. By a significant amount. Everything felt really rushed and squished together. I wish it were drawn out longer and things were less compacted, because I feel as though there wasn't enough world building done. I don't know much about this society/world other than that there are marionettes in it that are humanoid robots who are essentially "puppets". Everything happened so quickly that I didn't get to enjoy the build up. Things just happened one right after another.
God did Pen irritate the crap out of me. She's so incredibly impulsive that she doesn't think before she acts. She got into some potentially dangerous situations because of this and James, her sidekick and the rational one, is always telling her not to do these things. And of course she does them anyways. She does keep seem to end up drawing the short end of the stick though. She keeps falling into a bigger and bigger hole of trouble. I definitely enjoyed that bit though because then I could see what Pen was made of.
I really liked the parallels between her being a living marionette and her becoming a puppet, figuratively. It was almost like the reverse of Pinocchio as she's going from being a real person to becoming a puppet.
Anyways, this was an entertaining and action packed read that you can flip through in no time. I just really wish it were longer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews