Hour of Mischief

The Clockwork God Chronicles #1

by Aimee Hyndman

Born in a whorehouse in the slums of Fortuna and burdened with a prosthetic arm, seventeen-year-old JANET REDSTONE doesn’t think she owes the Clockwork Gods anything—which is why she makes a living stealing from their temples. But when she lands her team in prison, making a pact with the God of Mischief, ITAZURA, is the only way to right her wrongs and free her friends.

Janet doesn’t trust Itazura as far as she can punch him, but with her soul in his hands, she has no choice but to do what he says. The clockwork gods and the bad-tempered elder gods of the ancient past are locked in a game of cat and mouse and the human realms are caught in the middle. If Janet can’t somehow convince the gods to step in a save the world, humanity is in an abyss of trouble.

Using her unconventional wits, an impressive tolerance to alcohol, and a strong right hook, Janet has to convince the gods that humanity is worth saving. Unfortunately, it’s a lot more difficult to stop an apocalypse when you’re slowly being driven crazy by the Lord of Mischief, especially when he starts growing on you.

Genres: Fantasy, Steampunk, Young Adult, Fiction, Science Fiction, Mythology

220 pages, Paperback

First published September 7, 2015

About the author

Aimee Hyndman has been writing ever since her toddler fingers could grasp a pencil. A lover of all things speculative fiction, she spent many a night penning the beginnings of novels that would never see the light of day. Now attending college in Iowa, double majoring in Creative writing and English, she has clearly never lost her love of the craft.

When not writing and avoiding her school work, Aimee enjoys reading, singing, and acting at her school’s theater department. She is also a lover of anime and all things Disney.

Her area of specialty is fantasy of all sorts but she dabbles in many genres— whatever she feels compelled to write at the moment. The plot bunnies are never ending but, luckily, so are the words!

Reviews

[Kirsty (Amethyst Bookwyrm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Curiosity Quills Press for giving this book to review.

17 year old Janet has not had a good start in life and does not believe that she owes the Clockwork Gods anything. When I heist goes wrong and her gang and her ends up in prison she makes a deal with Itazura, the God of Mischief. To get her friends out of a deadly prison she must convince the gods to warn humanity about the danger they face from the Elder Gods. It is a lot harder than Janet was expecting especially when she is sure that Itazura is keeping something important from her.

Hour of Mischief is a very good steampunk fantasy novel. It is fast paced, has action, twists, mystery and a hint of romance. While good, I did found that the solutions to the problems were a bit easy. I like the mythology in this book with the Clockwork and seasonal gods, and the world that was created.

Janet is reckless, impulsive and sarcastic, but also loyal to her friends, no nonsense and insecure about failure and her mum. However, I did feel that Janet’s name did not fit her character. Itazura is cocky, sneaky and charming but while annoying he is also witty and respects and is protective of Janet. Laelatia is a fun and caring character. I hope we get to see more of the Pendulum gang in the next book.

There are lots of unanswered questions left at the end of this book and I hope they are answered in the next book. I would recommend Hour of Mischief to fans of Raven by Pauline Creeden and Thief’s Covenant by Ari Marmell.

This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm

[Anna lost in stories *A* · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review :) what a fantastic read... :) I inhaled this story and already can't wait to know more... about everything and everyone :) but let me explain a bit more :) "Hour of mischief" is the first installment in this fantasy / steampunk series called The clockwork gods chronicles :) sounds cool, right? and it definitely is :) I inhaled this book and easily gave it 5 stars :) next one will follow the same main character, so it's definitely a series where you have to read books in order to truly understand all the events and connections :) so let me tell you a bit more about the world and our main character, and then let me gush about all the reasons why I adored this story :)

Like I said before, this is a phenomenal mix of fantasy and steampunk vibes :) our main character, Janet Redstone, is a daughter of a prostitute... and a thief with a prosthetic arm... I mean... come on, she sounds kick-ass :) and she is ;) she's the leader of this small group of thieves, and when one of their heists lands them in prison, she agrees to make a pact with one of the clockwork gods to save them... all she has to do is convince other gods to save all humans from the upcoming war / end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it types of situations... ;) how hard can it be? ;) now that we have this little explanation out of the way, let me tell you more about all the reasons why I adored this story :)

It is a fantastic start to a series :) a world so rich and full of details... so vivd and colorful... I feel like we just scratched the surface in this installment... :) both when it comes to places as well as people... ;) there are so many little teasers and glimpses into what may come in the future, what we may know about certain people and events... GAH!!! :) I have my guesses and predictions and am more than curious to see if I will be right or not ;) or how close to the truth I was... ;) Janet is a great main character... flawed, of course, but brave and clever... caring about her friends... and so full of secrets and mysteries... I want to know more :) in this story we also met several clockwork gods and let me tell you... :) I need more, especially about Itazura... ;) he's the god of mischief, and the one who made a pact with Janet :) as his domain suggests he's mischievous, chaotic and very clever... *sighs happily* he was not the only god we met in this installment, but I won't spoil you the rest :) the whole book was so entertaining that I just flew through it :) full of surprises and twists, action packed and fast paced I couldn't put it down ;) there are so many more things that I want to tell you, but I want to leave as many mysteries for you to discover by yourselves as I possibly can, so just trust me on this and go read this gem immediately :) the writing style is fantastic, the banter between characters, world building... I cannot recommend it enough ;) just... read it already and you won't regret that decision ;)

XOXO

A

[Marjolein (UrlPhantomhive) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

At first I wasn't too sure about this novel, and that's why it took some time for me to request the book. But I was wrong, and will admit it. It was exactly the kind of book I like, so with this I humbly apologize to Hour of Mischief.

Janet has a job gone terribly wrong and now her only chance is to make a deal with the God of Mischief, who's admittedly her God since she's a thief, but whom she has a lot of reasons not to trust. When she needs to help him stop a war with all the humans caught in the cross-fire, he might have a hidden agenda.

The best part: definitely the mythology. If you like to read books with all kinds of Gods thrown in, this is your pick. There's a lot of meddling with/between the humans, but it's more than just Greco-Roman style gods. Its focus is the so-called clockwork gods and the elder gods.

The story is entertaining to read, but it has been done before. Janet makes her tour around a bunch of the Gods for the God of Mischief, which is a great way to introduce more characters and setting. I particularly liked the library, wonderful!

However, there never was a lot of suspense because everything was just a little bit too convenient for my taste. Also, for me it is uncertain now whether or not this book belongs to a series, or that the ending is really quite open.

But please, should there come a sequel. I'd like to read it!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hour of Mischief by Aimee Hyndman

First book in The Clockwork God Chronicles

3.25 stars

Janet has a prosthetic arm and was born in a whorehouse in the city of Fortuna. She has made a living stealing from the Clockwork gods’ temple, but she finds herself in prison and must make a pact with the God of Mischief (Itazura) to free her friends. A battle between the clockwork and elder gods is surmounting passed its usual game of small offenses towards all out war. Janet must convince the gods that humanity is worth saving. I read this book in 2015 and I should’ve reviewed immediately. Sadly, that was a very busy year for me and I kind of forgot about this book. I don’t remember much about this book overall from my memory, so it didn’t leave a lasting impression. I do remember bits and pieces of the story and the overall impression is that I enjoyed the plot because of its fast-paced nail-biting speed. I was also a fan of the more mature YA heroine who bordered more along the lines of adult than young adult. The worldbuilding is fascinating and offers a strong promise when it comes to developing a sound and believable world structured around gods. The writing is solid and does a good job at setting up a story that hooks the reader. I remember that I really enjoyed the heist aspect of this novel as well as the community of friends looking to pull it off. But besides that, this review is not as helpful as it could’ve been years ago. I would recommend it for fans of mythology and the incorporation of warring gods in their literature.

Whimsical Writing Scale: 3.5

Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 3

Character Scale: 3

Plotastic Scale: 3.5

Cover Thoughts: I love this cover. It’s so beautifully illustrated and striking.

Thank you, Netgalley and Curiosity Quills Press, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The first thing that caught my attention about Hour of Mischief was the amazing cover, then the synopsis sealed the deal. I find Steampunk fascinating with its gears and gadgets. Add in mythology with an interesting twist, that makes it a must read.

Seventeen year old, Janet Redstone has not had an easy life living in the slums of Fortuna with her mom. In a world ruled by the Clockwork Gods Janet and a group of her friends earn a living by robbing their temples. In fact, Janet and her team are in high demand until a heist goes wrong that lands them in prison. Now, the only way out is to make a deal with the God of Mischief, ITAZURA. Will Janet be able to save her friends, or will this deal cost them their lives?

Janet may have had a rough childhood, but she is determined to make a better life for herself. In a world where prosthetic limbs are a symbol of status, Janet sees her prosthetic arm as a curse. It does come in handy in a fight. Itazura is not necessarily trustworthy since he is the god of mischief. Can Janet trust Itazura to fulfill his end of the bargain? What an intriguing world Aimee Hyndman has created! It is based on the clock face where each god rules a specific hour. I did find the word building a little slow in the beginning, but once the world with its compelling characters was established, the story flowed well. I would definitely recommend it, and I look forward to see what happens next.

[Carrie Mansfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

eARC provided by the publisher in exchange for review consideration

The first comparison that comes to mind after reading this book is Xena: Warrior Princess - but not for the reason you'd expect. The reason has nothing to do with Janet, actually, but rather the gods and their role within the book. They remind me greatly of the gods on that show: so human that you almost forget that they're actual gods. They have vibrant personalities (I love that the lush amongst them is a female), they interact with humans to varying degrees (I love how they're broken down into three tiers based on how much they interact with humans) and they clearly have the same kinds of petty squabbles that we do. Greco-Roman gods have always held an element of humanity that isn't too commonly seen in other pantheons and I always thought that show did a great job of personifying it, just as Aimee has done a great job of it here. If you ever enjoyed Hercules or Xena for the gods, you should enjoy this book.

You should also enjoy this book if you like fun, feisty heroines. She's made the most of the lot that she was given with, and that wasn't much. She's a thief, but she's loyal to her friends. The story behind how she got her metal arm is genuinely sweet and I love the relationship she slowly builds between the gods we do meet. I also love how the book ever so lightly touches on the havoc that prostitution can wreak on a family. It impacts the plot in a way that makes sense, and yet avoids preachiness which isn't always easy to do.

If I had any complaints about the book is that the ending seems a bit unsatisfying. The plot with her friends is only semi-tied up and the plot with the gods has practically no resolution at all - and given the nature of why Itazura wants her help, that's kind of a problem. The ending does very much reads like a cliffhanger, but I'm not sure yet if this is an actual series. I hope it is: Hyndman did a great job of genuinely investing me in this world and I do want to see what comes of it!

If you like your fantasy with a tiniest touch of steampunk (Edward Elric would love her arm), you like gods that feel human and are looking for a fun read, absolutely give this a shot. You should enjoy yourself as much as I did.

ETA: The publisher has confirmed this will be a quartet, so there is definitely more Janet and Itazura ahead.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

2.75 stars

It is with great sadness that I tell you that I did not like this book. I closed this book disappointed that I just couldn't like it because it has everything going for it. I'll start off with some of the positives:

B.A.D. A.S.S. Cover. I mean just look at it for goodness sakes! Everything about it screams FIERCE. So, at least it will look pretty on my shelves!

The concept of this book is an amazing one, I went into this with an expectation that it was going to give me Emperor's Edge vibes, but unfortunately that was not the case.

I honestly think this could be an amazing book if it went through a few more editing rounds because the idea the author has going - clockwork gods - is an original one that kept me curious, but the world building and characterization just killed it for me.

So let's start with the characters. Hell, there is a band of misfits and they love a little snark, and so automatically I'm hooked. Okay, while that all sounds beautiful, I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters. We're dropped into this world and everything felt foreign and disconnected. We have our protagonist, Janet, who is a supposed badass with a metal arm (I LOVE that concept!), but i was confused because Janet, for the longest time, kept threatening people with her metal arm and she talked about her metal arm, but I had no idea how the heck she got her metal arm! I felt like that should've been something mentioned early on in the book so I wouldn't have been so confused. Then, we learn that she's living in the slums, but we have no idea WHY she's living in the slums or any of her circumstances! I do remember early on Janet saying that she lived with her mom in an apartment, but I was still confused about Janet's past for the longest time.

The other characters in the squad all felt so stereotypical, the dialogue was bland and impersonal, I couldn't pick out any memorable lines. Most of the dialogue fell along the lines of

"Hey, what's up?"

"Oh, not much. How about you?"

"Oh, nothing, let's go kick ass today."

"Okay."

"Okay."

And then there is Itzarua (totally did not spell that right), who is supposed to be a CLOCKWORK GOD, whose supposed to have live for hundreds of years, but he acts like a 16 year old boy! Seriously, where is the appeal in this? I wish he would've been more of a dark, mature character because i just couldn't get aboard his train lol, again I loved the concept of his character, but I still felt him to be underwhelmingly developed.

Last thing I'll mention, world building. In some ways it was good, and in some ways it was meh. Again, we're just dropped in this world expected to figure things out and know who people are which only left me confused. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of the clockwork gods, it's original and anyone who knows me, knows that i'm in love with all things steampunk, so I will give the author credit for the unique idea! I believe the world will expand in book two, but i don't know if i'll stick around to read it, maybe on a kindle, unless the cover is as gorgeous as the first, maybe then I'll buy a paperback copy.

I'm really sad this wasn't a win for me, I hoped this to be the next Sora's Quest or Emperor's Edge for me, but it just wasn't. Maybe, in the future, if this ever goes through more editing rounds, and this story gets republished, I might consider rereading the story because I'll say it again and again, I'm intrigued by the concept Hyndman is going after! While this wasn't for me, maybe this will be for you! It's short and pretty fast-paced so maybe some of you will end up enjoying it!

[Barb Taub · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars out of 5 (I’d give more if I could, but instead I’ll just repeat—don’t bother with this review, just get your hands on the book. Now!)

Still reading? Seriously? Okay, here’s the review.

Who is your favorite Trickster? Loki? Puck? Anansi? Coyote? Willy Wonka? Fred and George Weasley? Or even (my personal favorite) Bugs Bunny? Whatever its form, I’m a sucker for the Trickster, those wily funny characters who just might save the hero or end the world—depending on which one they think would be most amusing, whether they can spare the time, or if it’s Tuesday. They mock authority, know rules exist to be broken (at least by them), and ignore societal conventions. But like ancient Prometheus stealing fire from Mt. Olympus to give to humans, they’re just as likely to be the ones to bring new wisdom and ideas—and to do so even despite horrific punishments such as Prometheus’ eternal torture, chained to a rock where his liver is eaten by eagles every day.

In Aimee Hyndman’s Hour of Mischief, the Trickster is one part of an incredibly creative pantheon of twelve gods, one for each hour of the clock. Janet Redstone is a typical seventeen-year-old girl—if a typical teen leads a successful team of thieves who rob temples. Born to a mother who works as a prostitute to put a roof over their heads, Janet sees no particular reason to thank any of the indifferent gods, even Itazura, the God of Mischief and patron of thieves. But when a routine job goes tragically wrong and her friends are captured, Janet is forced to make a pact with Itazura. She knows that approaching even one of the gods is incredibly dangerous. Going to all of them to stop a pantheon war? Suicide.

There were so many things I loved about this book that I can’t really list all of them. There’s the world building, where gears are the tools of magic, where stopwatches are godly symbols, and where there’s a complex social hierarchy from slums to palaces, overseen by indifferent gods. Then there are the characters, from very human Janet to various gods and goddesses. Janet is particularly well-drawn. We see her love and contempt for her mother’s lifestyle and the men who “visit” her. Janet sees herself as flawed and unimportant, but we get another picture from the way her friends, her enemies, and other supernatural creatures treat her. And we get to see Janet’s own growth from the leader she thinks she is at the beginning, to the self-reliant confidence she grows into.

As a YA novel, this is a coming of age story. It’s just that most teens’ journey to adulthood doesn’t include having their first kiss with the God of Love, challenging the Goddess of Merriment (and booze) to a drinking contest, or matching wits with the God of Mischief. Along the way, Janet battles supernatural creatures, faces the Goddess of Death, beats up shapeshifters with her mechanical arm, tries to figure out why she’s occasionally rescued by the wind, and tries to stop a war between gods.

The pace is perfect, with just enough backstory leaked into the action to answer questions without interrupting the flow. The cover? Seriously fabulous! And the story itself? COME ON! Go get a copy of Hour of Mischief, and we can talk about how great that is. And how much we wish the next book in this series was out.

What are you waiting for?



***I received this book for free from the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***

[Luz Balthasaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

TL;DR: Cerita oke, karakter oke, dunia oke. Steampunk ringan yang nggak pretensi cemacem. Cuma 200an halaman pula!

Buku ini salah satu hasil saia bertualang untuk nyari buku dari pengarang-pengarang yang relatif kurang dikenal di Indonesah.

Dan kembali, saia dapat jackpot.

Jeleknya dulu deh.

Pertama, ini buku ringan. Nggak ada plot jelimet atau politik. Tapi buat yang males baca fantasi berat atau sok berat, ini nilai plus.

Kedua, nama dewa usilnya bikin males. "Itazura" itu kan bahasa Jepang untuk "prank". Di tengah nama dewa-dewi lain yang cenderung kelatin-latinan (Axira, Laetatia, Kova, dan Amontillado, yang setahu saia nama sejenis sherry,) nama itu jadi salah tempat.

Ketiga, akhirnya gantung. Walau jujur ini pertama kali saia dikasi akhir gantung dan saia cukup peduli untuk bertanya, "trus bagaimana?"

Bagusnya? Nyaris semua sisanya. Saia suka Janet, karena reaksi pertamanya saat berhadapan dengan dewa-dewi rese adalah nonjok mereka. Atau nantang mereka lomba minum.

Itazura sendiri--terlepas dari namanya--sangat likeable; dia bisa ngeselin tanpa jatuh ke level brengsek.

Banter antara mereka berdua juga bagus. Nggak pernah kepanjangan, nggak dilakukan di waktu yang salah, dan nggak juga kerasa dipaksa untuk nunjukin karakter-karakter ini witty dan snarky.

Sedikit keluhan: cerita ini kayaknya mau nyerempet2 cosmic horror, tapi sejauh yang saia liat dewa-dewanya masih terlalu manusiawi.

Dunianya bisa sedikit lebih kaya, walau yang udah ada pun lumayan. Rasa keseluruhannya seperti gabungan antara steampunk dan distopia, berlatar suatu kota yang dihuni 12 dewa. Masing-masing dewa ini menguasai satu angka di dalam jam. Itazura sendiri menguasai jam 7, yang dikenal sebagai Hour of Mischief.

Menarik? Sangat. Malah dunianyalah yang paling menarik saia untuk baca. Mungkin karena ini buku pertama, sistem perdewaannya belum main banget. Tapi terlepas dari itu saia tetap tertarik untuk lanjut ke buku 2 dan seterusnya.

Intinya, kalau anda pengen bacaan ringan dan bisa dapat buku ini, disarankan ambil. Ini bukan steak mahal, cuman Chitato. Tapi sapa coba yang nggak suka Chitato?

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hour of Mischief was so cool! Steampunk has been pretty miss for me, but I finally found one that I really enjoyed! Janet is the leader of a team of teenage thieves. Their heists don't always go perfectly, but they've never been caught. Until now. While robbing a temple, Janet's teammate and best friend gets trapped, but she isn't going to leave her behind. The whole group is arrested and begin plotting their escape when Janet is taken for questioning only to be rescued by the God of Mischief who needs her to stop an impending apocalypse.

Hour of Mischief's world has a super cool concept: clocks. The people worship the Clockwork gods (there's 12 of them). The realms are laid out in a circle, which each one covering a different gods' turf. There's also minor gods who work for the Clockwork gods, then the Elder Gods who are the seasons, and of course, there's the creator, but no one believes that he exists. Some of the gods and their interactions really reminded me of Greek mythology which makes this new system easy to understand and follow. It's not a direct copy, so it also felt fresh and interesting.

The plot of Hour of Mischief was also a lot of fun. Itazura has been forbidden from discussing this upcoming apocalypse with his sibling gods, so he needs a human to do it for him. Janet is the chosen one, as she needs his help to rescue her friends from prison. The two set out to find the gods who will most likely be on their side, but also who would want to save the humans from being wiped away. Getting a meeting with a god is not easy though, especially as the creatures from the Abyss start appearing to terrorize the humans.

I really liked Hour of Mischief. I do wish it had been longer and had more world-building, because I seriously really like this world and wanted to know more about it. I also loved Janet. She's badass without being cocky. She knows when she's defeated, but that doesn't mean she's going to just give up. Itazura was hilarious and charming, and I need more of him! I can't wait to see what happens next!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/23/15

Hour of Mischief

Aimee Hyndman

5/5 Stars

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. Aimee Hyndman surprised me with this gem as her debut novel. It's fantastic story, deep and well rounded characters, and fluid writing all made me fall in love. I will be honest in saying most debut novels I have read have fallen short, mediocre at best, of impressing me. Hyndman sucks the reader in with her new world, lush with its very own gods and customs. The characters all stand out as well, and can being easily told apart with something as simple as dialogue. The story is unique and made up with the perfect mixture of adventure and romance. I very rarely give out 5 star reviews, so I highly recommend this one not only as a fantastic read, but to add to your bookshelf. I know it's going on mine! I can hardly wait for the next installment!

-Writings of a Walrus

[*Book Euphoria * · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** I would like to thank Netgalley, Curiosity Quills Press and the author Aimee Hyndman for sending me this digital copy of Hour of Mischief in exchange for an honest review***

Hour of Mischief starts of with our MC Janet and her friends trying to steal something from a museum. They are caught and put in prison. While being questioned, Janet meets Itazura , the God of the Hour of Mischief. He tells her that he will help her and her friends if she makes a deal with him. Janet didn’t know what she was getting into when she agreed to help Ita convince the other gods to help and stop the Elder gods who are going crazy causing chaos.

When I started reading this book I was a bit confused with who all the gods were, what the hours meant. It was new and different but as I kept reading you find out more about who everyone is, and about the past. This is the way I see it, The Clockmaker is God, Mother and Father are Adam and Eve, but there are more gods so it also reminds me of Greek mythology. Mother and Father are like the Olympians and the Elders god are like the Titans, and the Clockwork Gods are the children of the Olympians. I could be wrong. But what I do know is that many of the gods don’t really care what happens to the humans so there has to be someone who can convince them to help.

Janet was great, she was a poor girl, with a metal arm, and with a prostitute for a mom. She's stealing with her friends for a living. Janet is strong and brave, loyal to her friends, she doesn’t give up without a fight. Never backs down. She jumps into burning buildings to save strangers, that's the kind of person she is. I really liked reading about her, I liked her strength and wish I was more like her.

We don’t get to see much of her friends, but we learn a couple things about them, and they all seem cool, they are always there for each other. Itazura was interesting, I didn’t know if he could be trusted at first but he grew on me. He annoyed Janet a lot but I soon found him silly and entertaining :) Laetatia was cool, I'm glad that Janet has her as a girl friend. Lae was protective of Janet and took care of her, when other gods would've cared less. Lae is also a good fighter. I think all the gods know how to fight. We meet other gods, and a couple of the bad guys. Janet had assassins, shape shifters, Wendigoes, and gods come after her. It was pretty good.

When I read that this book was about a girl with a metal arm I thought Fullmetal Alchemist, then I read that the author likes anime and I was like yeeesss!!! :):) I love me some Fullmetal Alchemist.



I didn’t know what to expect but now I know that I want more :) I want more of this great unique world, I want more of Janet, her friends, more of the Clockwork Gods and especially more of Itazura :):) I'm so glad that this book will have a sequel, it was amazing, I thought it was a stand alone, but I'm glad it's not, I need more, but now I have to wait :(

***

[Dreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent steampunk fExcellent steampunk fantasy series opener. 12 Clockwork Gods vs 4 Elder Gods, all with magic abilities. 'Hour of Mischief' beautifully sets up the characters with witty banter, motives, and backstory, while moving the plot forward at a pleasant pace.

I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. Read more reviews! http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com

[Dave Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Combining a fast-paced, character-focused plot with a deep and complex world without either skimping or bogging down, Hyndman creates a story where humans can meet gods without being merely accessories.

Born to the underclasses, Janet Redstone and her friends both make their living and calm their anger by stealing from the rich. With the twelve major gods of her world having given her nothing, she instead gives passing worship to the creator of the universe, the Clockmaker. But when the ill-luck that has kept her from real success results in her entire gang being imprisoned, her only option is to make a deal with a man who claims to be the god of tricksters; a claim he seems both able and willing to prove as often as it takes to drive her mad.

Hyndman creates an interesting world. Half-steampunk and half-high fantasy, mechanical limbs and genetic alterations exist side-by-side with gods who walk openly among humans and monsters of legend.

Most intriguing of these variations on fantasy steampunk is the method of associating both the hours of the day with the major gods, and the areas of the map with the hours of the day. Religion suggests that this makes certain times and places more suitable for certain tasks. However – unlike many novels where the gods are openly present – different characters hold these beliefs more or less strongly, counteracting the reduction of free will that active deities can bring.

Where Hyndman’s metaphysical world-building is weaker is in the choice of name for the god of wealth: Amontillado. Although the image of expensive sherry fits well with a god of wealth, it is potentially too comical for the gritty feel of the rest of the novel; a niggle made more prominent by the other gods not having the same immediately referential names.

In addition to creating a complex and interesting world, Hyndman successfully provides the reader with enough about it to understand the wider picture without losing the immediacy of events beneath long expositions and asides.

The plot is similarly solid. Beginning with Janet’s very narrow concerns it expands swiftly but plausibly to a situation fitting for the involvement of gods. While it is firmly heroes-saving-the-world fantasy it avoids the distance from which epic fantasy can suffer.

This novel is the first in a series, so the major plot remains outstanding at the end. However, it does reach a natural break point, and the arc commenced with Janet’s arrest is resolved. As such, while it might leave the reader wanting to read on, it feels like a complete book rather than the first section of a part-work.

Janet makes a strong and sympathetic protagonist. Her dislike of the gods drives her to succeed, yet is also an obstacle when she meets them. Her upbringing has left her with a narrow view of the world, yet also given her an instinctive adaptability. Forced to be adult before her time, but too young to have real perspective, her actions are both flawed and entirely plausible.

Although a few of the walk-on parts, such as unnamed guards and party guests, are stock characters, the supporting cast shares Janet’s complexity. This dynamic balance is especially skilled in the gods: displaying an intensity befitting the physical embodiment of a concept, they nevertheless have the resonance of personality displayed by the deities of any pantheon in the real world.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. While it might be aimed at the young adult market, it is not simplistic; so I recommend it to any readers seeking a fast-paced fusion of steampunk and high fantasy.

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for the fair review.

[Alyce Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to my stop on the 'Hour of Mischief' blog tour! I hadn't read a high fantasy novel in a very long time, and a high fantasy with steampunk overtones? That's something I was unable to miss. The aesthetic of steampunk is one of my very favourite things, but I've never read a novel about it before - I was very interested to see how it would play out. Haven't heard of 'Hour of Mischief'? Here's the blurb:
Born in a whorehouse in the slums of Fortuna and burdened with a prosthetic arm, seventeen-year-old Janet Redstone doesn't think she owes the Clockwork Gods anything--which is why she makes a living stealing from their temples. But when she lands her team in prison, making a pact with the God of Mischief, Itazura, is the only way to right her wrongs and free her friends.
Janet doesn't trust Itazura as far as she can punch him, but with her soul in his hands, she has no choice but to do what he says. The clockwork gods and the bad-tempered elder gods of the ancient past are locked in a game of cat and mouse and the human realms are caught in the middle. If Janet can't somehow convince the gods to step in and save the world, humanity is in an abyss of trouble.
Using her unconventional wits, an impressive tolerance to alcohol, and a strong right hook, Janet has to convince the gods that humanity is worth saving. Unfortunately, it's a lot more difficult to stop an apocalypse when you're slowly being driven crazy by the Lord of Mischief, especially when he starts growing on you.
'Hour of Mischief' is definitely one of the more mind-blowing books I've ever read. There's an extreme amount to take in at the beginning, so I'm going to try to break it down a little bit for you...
In the world of Memoria, there are four hands on the clock face: the hours, the minutes, the seconds and the seasons. There are four human realms: Fortuna, the realm where we spend most of our time, Tiyata, the desert realm, Cambiare, the empty realm, and Kabila... Which we don't really find out anything about. There is the Clockmaster, the Mother and Father, and four elder gods, as well as countless minor gods, none of which we get too much backstory for. And then there are the twelve Clockwork Gods, listed below:

Itazura: the God of Mischief
Laelatia: the Goddess of Merriment
Kalite: the Goddess of Water
Kova: the Goddess of War
Axira: the Goddess of Death
Meroquio: the God of Love
Amontillado: the God of Abundance
Cheveyo: the God of Animals
Artifex: the God of Craftsmen
Celine: the Goddess of Night
Aelius: the Goddess of Day
Viden and Kaval: the twin Gods of Wisdom

Getting to terms with the geography and mythology of the world was the one thing that really hampered my enjoyment of the first half of the novel, because it felt like new gods were being introduced every couple of minutes - there are only fleeting references to Aelius, Celine and Cheveyo, but because the context of what god they are is important, the mentions didn't make sense until later in the novel. It would have been interesting to have a 'Who's who' introduction page at the beginning of the book, so that it was easier to immediately grasp.

Other than feeling the confusion - which, to be honest, I feel in any high fantasy book I read! - I really enjoyed this novel.

Read the rest of my review here!

[Ranu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find more book review on my blog, The Araliya Bookshelf

I don't usually read steampunk. I don't know why, but it's just not my thing. While Hour of Mischief was mainly fantasy, it did have touches of steampunk, which I strangely enjoyed. I have to admit that the badass cover and the blurb hinting at a strong heroine is what really drew me into the book.

What I Loved

The main characters. Janet and Itazura (the god of mischief) were PERFECT. I can't say they were extremely complex or as three-dimensional as I would have liked, but their personalities were so entertaining. Janet was every bit as kick-butt as the cover implies (and while we're at it, let's just agree on the fact that that is the most badass cover since Throne of Glass.) But although she's rough and tomboyish, she also has some weaknesses.

Itazura's personality is annoying. Like, holy-moly-go-stuff-your-head-where-the-sun-don't-shine annoying, but I loved that Janet took no nonsense from him. She punched the God of Mischief in the face. Thrice. (Probably the most momentous act of violence against a deity since Rachel Elizabeth Dare threw a blue plastic hair brush at the King of the Titans.)

The setting. The book is set in an alternate steampunk world where the people worship the Clockwork Gods. They have four hands on their clocks. Prosthetic, steel-enforced limbs are common there. I loved the wonderful descriptions of the various places and the attention paid to the details of the world.

The romance. I was totally not expecting the romance, and feel like an idiot for not seeing it's obviousness. Itazura and Janet have SO much of chemistry. I want to smack myself upside the head not realising what a perfect couple they would make. But then, it's kind of a good thing. Janet doesn't swoon at the first sight of Itazura, and the "there's something about him" cliche was NOT used at all. Pretty refreshing for a YA novel, actually.

The action. So. Much. Action. And intrigue and suspense and mystery. It wasn't all just Janet punching the face of everyone she dislikes. There wasn't a LOAD of action like in Red Rising or The Hunger Games, but there was just enough to keep me glued to the pages.

What Could've Been Better

The supporting characters. They could have been more developed. They felt a bit one-dimensional to me, and although I love their personalities, I could have done with a bit more complexity.

The ending. I have nothing against cliffhangers. But I don't think the one in this book is necessary. It felt like the book had been cut in half, and now I have to wait another year or so for the second half. Unnecessary cliffhangers aren't my thing.

Overall

Hour of Mischief was a great read with a strong heroine and an intriguing plotline. The characters were well-rounded, even if they were not complex, and the book has a great setting and romance. Steampunk fans might want to try this out.

[lex🪐 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Hour of Mischief" is an action-packed fantasy novel filled with a sassy, snarky heroine, gods, monsters, friendship, love, loss and any other thing you could look forward to in a novel. This book was a one-sitting read for me. Honestly, I lied on my bed for two hours staring at my phone screen reading this novel. It was that great.
The world Hyndman creates is unlike anything I have read before where a fantasy land is so focused on religion, where gods make up the entire backstory. The clockwork gods are the gods of this novel. The twelve gods for the twelve numbers on a clock, each representing a different category such as wisdom, mischief, and love.
Our heroine in this story is named Janet Redstone, a low born daughter of a whore who also happens to be the leader of a group of thieves called the Pendulum Thieves (more clock referencing!) When a heist fails, the group ends up in prison. Janet makes a pact with an unlikely suspect, Itazura, the god of mischief. Itazura sets Janice free of the prison and promises her friends' freedom if she helps him spread the word of the coming apocalypse, the gods have decided to keep secret from the humans.
This book had me laughing out loud at the small little jokes. The humor that flowed through out the book balanced perfectly with the rest of chaos that filled the pages of the novel. The gods to me were great aspects the way Hyndman switches the normal gender roles such as making the god to represent drunkenness and parties a woman was great. In normal novels, we would usually see this as a male, but Hyndman makes Laetatia one of the best characters in the novel.
I hope and pray a sequel for this book is in the making because I could deal with more books like this in my library. Itazura is officially on my list of fictional boyfriends. I praise Aimee for this novel and wish her luck in her future writing adventures. I will be along for the journey after this lovely novel.
Ratings: 5/5 stars 99.8%

[Shonna Kaldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hour of Mischief is a steampunk fantasy novel about a thief named Janet and the God of Mischief, Itazura battling against all the odds to save the world. This is not the typical type of novel I would normally read; however, I fell in love with the characters and the story line. I laughed at every jab she took at Itazura and hurt for Janet when she disappointed herself. These characters go through hell and back, literally, for the end game. Janet has experienced a ton of loss in her life, not the least of which was her arm, and yet, she is still damned determined in whatever she is working toward. She doesn't let anyone or anything get in her way, even her growing fondness for the God of Mischief.


The Hour of Mischief is an amazing story filled with action, adventure, chaos, and little bit of love thrown in for good measure. I was so disappointed that I don't have the next installment of the series because when this book ended I was screaming NO! NO! NO! at the Kindle app on my phone. I wanted to be able to continue the story and find out what happens with these characters. Will they survive the upcoming journey? Will they be able to save the world from utter destruction and the death of all humanity? I will be anxiously looking for the next book in this series.

[Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beware The Elder Gods


This book seems like it is part of a series and I really hope it is! I will be on the lookout for the next book as well as any others written by this author!

Janet is a thief who follows the Clockmaker instead of Itzura the God of Mischief. Living in the slums is hard and even thieving they barely scrape by. Loyalty to each other is the only real rule they have so when Sylvia gets trapped in a heist gone wrong they refuse to leave her. Ending up in jail was not optimal but Janet meets Itzura who promises to free them all for a price. Is this guy really the God of Mischief? Can she trust him to fulfil his end of the pact? How will she convince Gods to listen to her anyways?

***This series is suitable for young adult through adult readers who like a little apocalyptic mayhem in their new adult steam punk paranormal action adventures with a bit of horror :)

[Salla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I recieved this book via Netgalley and I have to say, it was everything it was promised to be.
I loved the snarky comments between Janet and Itazura and those were the best entertainment during the book. Also Janet's commitment towards her team was admirable and her courage and sassiness were great features.

I loved how Miss Hyndman has created the characters and the interaction between them. How she built relationships and narrated the story from Janet's point of view. Definetly recommending this to eveybody!

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received from: Curiosity Quills Press
Received Via: NetGalley.com

THE REVIEW

Why this book?

It seemed like a book for me

What I thought

I enjoyed this book alot. It was a fun fast paced read and I absolutely loved Itazura. The only problem I had was Janet I didn't really like her she came off as a rude brat. With that said it had a interesting premise and Its action packed. I didn't want to put it down I was hooked from the very beginning.Overall a great read!

[Lynndell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Curiosity Quills Press for the arc of Hour of Mischief by Aimee Hyndman! I enjoyed this story full of steampunk, mythology and fun banter! The characters are strong and developed and the steampunk world contains mythological gods. This combination made an enjoyable read!

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book I've read in 2016 and possibly best I will read this year. Dying for sequel

[A. J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this was an interesting read. I just finished it last night and I still don't know how to feel.  

Hour of Mischief is funny, it's fast paced and it has decently interesting characters. At times the writing felt like the book could have been for a younger audience, even the character's and their reactions felt like this too. Janet would say things like " Why did my cheeks get warm? I did not give them permission to do that."And though I laughed, the writing felt more middle grade than YA. Save for the few uses of the word "fuck" and the PG13 mentioning of Janet's mom being a prostitute.   
Also the plot was pretty predictable, which that's the other reason I found it sounded like a younger book. 
Janet herself was a good character. Strong, sarcastic, and a great thief. Everything I needed to be interested in her. Sadly the author threw in some problematic ideas that made me take off a full star. Janet, in response to a question about having relationships says she's never had any, and I felt very uncomfortable with this. It would have been one thing if this was just her own musings, but it felt like the tone of the book said it was a bad thing that she hadn't had relationships yet. It was sort of one of those "when she finds the right guy she'll good." 

The rest of the characters were good. There's an unnecessary romance between Janet and Itzura, but besides that I enjoyed reading the two's interaction. 
In the end I gave this book 3 stars, I wish I could have given it more.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed getting to know this world where the citizens believe in Gods part of a proverbial clock, Steampunk is the everyday thing and getting tossed into a jail can involve being stuck in dark, dank & damp cells.
Janet is a thief who has had a rough childhood so learned to grow up fast and became the leader of a group of kids who also had some tough times to get through.
When one of the members is caught during a heist, everyone bands together and is thrown into a prison until tried for their crimes. Janet finds herself making a deal with a God to help get everyone free though first she has to help him with something.
Seems easy enough... until he reveals the plot and things get really complicated.
Janet is about to find she's in way over her head but it's a good thing she's so tough, smart and stubborn because the higher Gods are about to throw a cog in the works.
It will take guts, determination and the help of unlikely people in a race against time because something is brewing and chaos is about to be unleashed.
Full of mystery, adventure, Steampunk and magic of Gods, this book was a lot of fun to read and I'm looking forward to finding out what's next in this series!

[Nay Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

Hour of Mischief is a YA steampunk novel about seventeen year old, Janet Redstone. She has not had an easy life living in the slums of Fortuna with her mom. In a world ruled by the Clockwork Gods, Janet and a group of her friends (the Pendulum Thieves) earn a living by robbing their temples. They usually do a good job of getting in and out on a heist until one goes wrong that lands them in prison. Now, the only way to save herself and her team is to make a pact with the God of Mischief.

Janet Redstone is so freaking awesome! I loved that her temper was so short and she was always ready to punch someone with her left hand. Why the left hand? She has a prosthetic left arm, which makes for a killer punch. Janet is sassy, spunky, snarky, sarcastic and everything in between. Learning about where she was born and what her mother does tore me apart, but I like that she didn't allow it to hinder her. Janet seems to always have to look after herself and really doesn't know how to enjoy life. I like that she learned to relax and enjoy life within the small moments. Janet was seriously phenomenal character. Strong, brave and determined in all things. She always had a surprise up her sleeve.

Itazura, god of mischief, was absolutely enjoyable. I loved everything about him -- his witty remarks to his conceited attitude were just funny. It added to him being a god and his character in general. I love how strong and gentle he was. Being a god he wasn't aware of certain human emotions, but in being around Janet he was able to learn and he respected her. I'm curious as to what he omitted and what his sister, goddess of death, knew that Janet and Laetatia didn't.

The budding romance between Janet and Itazura was unexpected, but at the same time I was hopeful. I thought it would be Janet to initiate any romance between the two of them, but for it to have been Itazura made it much more fascinating. He truly has such a strong liking towards Janet. He never used his status as a god to "overcome" her. Things gradually grew between them over the course of their journey. I love that he saved her multiple times and I love that she wasn't scared to speak her mind to a god or let alone punch him -- several times. Absolutely beautiful.

Meroquio, god of Love, is a true douchebag. I can't believe how rude he is. The way he treated Janet pissed me off. His powers, thankfully, never got the best of her. I really do not like him. Laetatia, goddess of festivities, is such a joy! She was fantastic from beginning to end. She became friends with Janet and not to mention her daughter is Janet's bestfriend -- how cool is that. For the goddess of festivities, she can be downright brutal when she needs too. Kaval and Viden, twin gods of wisdom, made me smile because of how sweet and tender they were. I like that they never looked at Janet as if she was beneath them. I love that they accepted the chance to help Janet in saving humanity. The twin gods were pretty damn awesome. I enjoyed the incorporation of wendigos and shape shifters. It added some drama to the story.

Elder gods are the 4 seasonal gods. They had there powers taken from them and are now planning an apocalypse. The 12 clockwork gods, who came after the elder gods, have ignored the elder gods destruction to keep their powers. The minor gods are helping elder gods because they were promised power. The whole idea behind the elder gods and clockwork gods is absolutely ingenious. I enjoyed reading about the different gods and their domains. I did however find them to be lazy, weak individuals. They were just willing to let the elder gods destroy humans when they should have fought against them. I'm interested to see how things progress now that the word has spread about the apocalypse.

This was an absolutely amazing story. I'm looking forward to a sequel because I need to know what happens next for Janet and Itazura. I need to know if they save Sylvia. I also need to now what the clockwork gods do against the elder gods. Finally, I need to know what the hell is up with Itazura and what his sister was talking about in the Abyss. I need answers! I'm hooked.

[Blood Rose Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aimee Hyndman: Hour of Mischief In her debut novel, Aimee Hyndman takes the reader to a steampunk world where the Gods are never finished meddling in the human's lives.
 
Seventeen year old Janet Redstone has had to fight for everything she has in her life, which has lead her to become the leader of one of the famous thief gangs within the city. Janet prides herself in her planning ability and keeping her friends and accomplishes in line and getting them out each job. When a job of stealing from the Clockwork God's temple goes wrong and Janet and her friends end up in prison she is willing to do anything to get them out. The God of Mischief  has comes calling right when Janet is the most desperate and offers her a deal that she knows she cannot refuse. Janet is going to have to use every skill she has developed in over the years in order to succeed as not only her life and that of her friends are at stake but that of the human race are all hanging in the balance
 
I liked this book, it has been a while since I have read a book that had Gods meddling in with humans' life, so for me it was a nice change. I also think that Hyndman did a good job at world building, it has a steampunk fantasy feel to it especially it seems like there are a lot of mechanical aspects in the world and also the main character, Janet's arm. I will say that the Gods at times became a bit confusing as Hyndman seems to mix a few different Gods from throughout history, but this was a minor point in the world building. I did like that the Gods that Hyndman did feature in the book were different interpretations of the classics, for example the God of love being Male and really more of a man whore than about love, lets say love is loosely interpreted in this book.
 
This book is a fairly fast paced read with Janet trying to complete the tasks that Itazura, The God of Mischief, has set out for her, in order to save her friends from prison. However, there were times when the tasks or trouble that Janet would get in were over too quickly and really Janet no worse for ware because of Itazura's power. For me this caused the suspense and at times the mystery to falter as you knew Janet was going to make it out alive and well, there was really no cause to worry over her. There is a hint of romance in this book, but it does not dictate the story (yet, I have feeling there is more to come) as Janet is all about loyalty to her friends and wanting to save them.
 
Janet is an interesting character and I loved that she had a mechanical arm, such a cool idea, and it gives her something special to rely on when dealing with gods and thugs as most of them do not expect it. I like that Janet has had to struggle to obtain everything that she has in life including her friends, who she is loyal to, to a fault. Janet is very street smart, able to think on her feet and while she may only have a rudimentary education she does not allow this to hold her back. It is also interesting that Janet scorns all the Gods, especially the God of love because of her mother being a whore but prays to him nonstop for the love she seeks but never receives it, and yet it is Janet who the God of Mischief seeks out. I do wonder how he chose Janet and I hope that this is explained in future books (I'm pretty sure this is going to be a series) as I am also pretty sure that Itazura rigged the job that Janet got caught for. This book ended in a weird place. I mean I'm all for a cliff hanger but in this book it felt like a strange place to end in a way that it felt like I only got half the book. Overall, this is a good read and I really liked Janet as a character as well as the steampunk world that Hyndman created. I would continue on in this series but I haven't seen any news for the next book to be released. I would recommend this book to those who like the steampunk feel and/or like books with Gods meddling with humans.
Enjoy!!!
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[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted On Powder & Page

First of all, I would like to point out that the cover art for Hour of Mischief is spectacular- Janet Redstone is the focal point and the muted colors and gears are attractive. When I’m browsing through books, a unique or aesthetic cover will draw me in before title or author will and I think that’s a wonderful way to discover something new. The inside of the book is equally appealing, with clocks and gear work as the chapter headers. But really, the true gem is the story which was highly imaginative and was incredibly fun to read. I found myself disappointed and a bit surprised that I was already at the end and now have to await the sequel!

I really loved Janet, Itazura, and Laetatia- Aimee wrote them to have such a great compatibility with one another and as a result they were a great deal of fun to read about. They would make awesome friends- I mean the God of Mischief and the Goddess of Merriment/Festivities? You literally can’t fit any more excitement and trouble into it, unless there was a God of poorly timed pyrotechnic displays. Janet Redstone, our protagonist, was strong, confident, loyal, and also a pretty good sport considering all she had to put up with. She could also really hold the liquor quite well and throw a strong left hook, both of which are good in bar fights (or street fights).

The storyline was well-developed and had a steady pace- there weren’t any dull moments, but at the same time my head wasn’t spinning from all the action. I like the Clockwork Gods- it’s very different than the portrayal of a pantheon than is traditionally done. The attributes of the gods was similar to Greek, Roman, and perhaps even Norse, but their personalities were a little more unique. The fact that several of them were so closely tied to humanity was something that I don’t see done very often in literature. The world building was one aspect of the book that I feel could have been given much greater detail. We learn that there are separate “realms” that may or may not be connected in a way that people can travel between them. I was a bit confused on this part, but I don’t remember reading specifically one way or the other. There is also very little detail regarding the society that Janet lives in- we know she is from the slums, but what about the other rings of the city? What do people in the other rings do for a living and how is the society governed? Perhaps we really don’t need all the details, but for me to fully invest into a story I like to know as much as possible.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story and found it to be entertaining enough to want to read the sequel. This is something I would definitely recommend to readers that already enjoy books from smaller publishers because it’s unusual and very different from mainstream novels. I look forward to reading more books from Aimee Hyndman in the future! You can purchase Hour of Mischief on Amazon US or Amazon UK.

I would like to thank Curiosity Quills Press for letting me join in on their September blog tour and for providing me with an ecopy of Hour of Mischief in exchange for an honest review!

[Katherine Paschal · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a world where the Clockwork Gods roam freely with man, the coming apocalypse is brewing and the humans are unaware. Janet is the leader of her band of thieves, but when they get caught and thrown into an underground dungeon, she will do all most anything to get her friends out, even make a deal with the God of Mischief himself. She is given a nearly impossible task by the God, one that will save not only her team, but all of humanity, but only if she succeeds.

I love myself some steampunk! When I saw this book and discovered it was my favorite topic/imaginary time period, I jumped on the chance to read it, regardless of knowing nothing about it. I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. This was a really fun adventure set in a world like nothing I have ever experienced before. I think that this book is classified as fantasy, which I am generally not really a big fan of. Personally, I would call this a steampunk action-adventure set in another world, which all of those things are right up my alley. I was completely swept up by this story and the new and different characters that the author brought to life, be it the quirky Gods, the supernatural beasts or the "regular" humans such as Janet. I thought that this would be geared (pun intended!) for a younger audience since the main character is only 17, but the book was really gritty dealing with topics such as prostitution, abuse, alcoholism and poverty. It was a slightly dark tone to accompany the non-stop action that made up the book.

There was so much secrecy and reveals that happened in the story that I don't want to give too much away. I will just mention how much I liked Janet and her personality, a true red-head with the fiery temper and impulsiveness to keep the reader on their toes. She was fiercely loyal to her band of friends/thieves, and would have gladly traded herself for the other's well-being. I feel like there is a lot more to Janet than was let on, and I have my speculations as to what the truth is and can't wait to see if I am right. I also feel like their is a little something brewing between Janet and Itazura, but that may just be wishful thinking on my part.

Overall, I was really impressed by what the author created and I can't wait to go back again for what I know will be a wild ride. I enjoyed this book and I am sure that others who like something completely outside the box, full of action and supernatural will have a hard time putting it down as well.
I received this title from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
For more reviews visit my blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Partiamo col dire che Hour of Mischief è davvero una bella storia.
So che ultimamente le recensioni dei titoli che mi inviava la Curiosity Quills erano sempre positivi, ma mai del tutto.
Questo invece mi ha soddisfatto in pieno e si aggiudica un meritatissimo voto positivo.
La copertina è fantastica, su questo non ci piove.
Abbiamo poi Janet, ragazza con un braccio meccanico, e la sua banda di amici. Insieme sono dei ladri, e pure piuttosto bravi, fino al giorno in cui li beccano durante un furto e li mettono tutti in galera.
Janet è molto preoccupata per Sylvia, la sua amica che soffre di crisi di panico, e si incolpa per il fallimento del furto.
Ma ecco che compare Itazura, il dio dei dispetti che la tira fuori di prigione stringendo un patto con lei e promettendole che avrebbero salvato anche i suoi amici. Ma lei deve aiutarlo as
Da qui inizia l'avventura vera e propria, il viaggio di Itazura e Janet alla ricerca degli altri dei in questo mondo diviso come le ore dell'orologio, assolutamente affascinante.
Le scene e i battibecchi tra i due sono molto divertenti, Janet è una protagonista coraggiosa e sarcastica, sempre pronta a menare le mani.
Itazura è un dio molto vicino agli umani, cerca di aiutarli quando può ma nel frattempo sembra celare qualcosa alla sua compagna d'avventure.
Tutti i personaggi, compresi i cattivi, sono ben strutturati e accattivanti, così come lo è il mondo fantastico in cui è ambientato, con moltissimi riferimenti steampunk, come il braccio meccanico di Janet.
E' scritta davvero molto bene, non ha un livello particolarmente difficile di inglese, la storia scorre agevolmente tra scene d'azione e dialoghi.
La storia non si conclude con questo libro, quindi presumo che sia una saga e spero vivamente di poter leggere anche il seguito.
Lo consiglio quindi a chi ama le storie movimentate, con un'ambientazione steampunk e una mitologia di dei particolare.
Ringrazio la Curiosity Quills per avermelo mandato.