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Cogling
When fifteen-year-old Edna Mather tears an expensive and unfamiliar pocket watch off her little brother’s neck, he crumbles into a pile of cogs right before her eyes. Horrified, Edna flees for help, but encounters Ike, a thief who attempts to steal the watch before he realizes what it is: a device to power Coglings—clockwork changelings left in place of stolen children who have been forced to work in factories.
Desperate to rescue her brother, Edna sets off across the kingdom to the hags’ swamp, with Ike in tow. There, they learn Coglings are also replacing nobility so the hags can stage a rebellion and rule over humanity. Edna and Ike must stop the revolt, but the populace believes hags are helpful godmothers and healers. No one wants to believe a lowly servant and a thief, especially when Ike has secrets that label them both as traitors.
Together, Edna and Ike must make the kingdom trust them or stop the hags themselves, even if Ike is forced to embrace his dark heritage and Edna must surrender her family.
Desperate to rescue her brother, Edna sets off across the kingdom to the hags’ swamp, with Ike in tow. There, they learn Coglings are also replacing nobility so the hags can stage a rebellion and rule over humanity. Edna and Ike must stop the revolt, but the populace believes hags are helpful godmothers and healers. No one wants to believe a lowly servant and a thief, especially when Ike has secrets that label them both as traitors.
Together, Edna and Ike must make the kingdom trust them or stop the hags themselves, even if Ike is forced to embrace his dark heritage and Edna must surrender her family.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2016
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September 11, 2016
4,5 « good surprise » stars
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review and I must say it’s been a very good surprise!
I had already read Escape from Witchwood Hollow, also given by Jordan Elizabeth and rated it 3 stars as it was not my privileged kind of story (crossing time and ghosts). So when I began Cogling I was a little bit apprehensive as “steampunk novels” is not my usual genre either.
As I promised to read and review, I thought I would read some chapters then read another book and go back to Cogling etc. Except that I did not plan for the book to hook me right from the start! I read it literally in one sitting to my delighted astonishment!
Based on Wikipedia steampunk is “a subgenre of science fiction or science fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery”. Yes, I went to Wikipedia as I had no idea what steampunk was!
This story has a kind of Victorian edge with the social classes, the factories, the nobility and servants, the clothes but it also has a science fiction or rather paranormal feel with a very colorful “bestiary”. You have hags (witches), trolls, foxkins, tomtars (hybrid between a man and a chicken), mechanic spiders working as spies, dragons… and I fell in love with this totally new world. Maybe fans of the genre are used to it but I popped my steampunk cherry here and it was not orgasmical exactly but still really good! And we all know first times are not always the best so consider me a happy reader.
Edna comes from one low social class and is working as a servant for the nobility. She’s fifteen and on a fateful day, her little brother of eight years old desintegrates under her horrified eyes when she tried to retrieve a clock hanging around his neck.
Panicked, she runs to the police to explain her brother exploded only leaving cogs behind. He must have been stolen but of course no one wants to believe her. Desperate and erring on the streets she’ll encounter a thief trying to steal the clock, her only remaining clue of what happened to her brother. The thief, Ike, will promise to help her find her little brother against a fee. He tells Edna Harrisson has been kidnapped by the hags to work in factories with other stolen children.
From that moment on, their quest will be filled with obstacles, traps to evade and they still have to find means to beat the magical hags and free the children. They will be helped by Ike’s family and unexpected allies but their journey will be a very adventurous one.
Edna is harboring a secret she’s never told anyone and we only learn about it in the last stretch of the book. Ike is also not who he seems to be and we have to guess between clues and half-truths who he really is.
They began as forced allies, each having his/her own goal, not trusting the other but soon they’ll join their forces to beat a common enemy and of course, feel something sweet for the other.
There’s never a dull moment and as I said I was swept of my feet and thrown into Jordan Elizabeth’s universe filled with mythical creatures.
Well done!
Oh, one last word: this book is definitely suitable for kids and teens as there is zero sex or swearing or… so if you have kids wanting to read a captivating story, this is one I would certainly recommend! Now, I don’t want to be accused of discrimination as I definitely am adult (even if I behave like a five years old brat sometimes) and you can see I loved this story so you’re welcome to read it too ;-)
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review and I must say it’s been a very good surprise!
I had already read Escape from Witchwood Hollow, also given by Jordan Elizabeth and rated it 3 stars as it was not my privileged kind of story (crossing time and ghosts). So when I began Cogling I was a little bit apprehensive as “steampunk novels” is not my usual genre either.
As I promised to read and review, I thought I would read some chapters then read another book and go back to Cogling etc. Except that I did not plan for the book to hook me right from the start! I read it literally in one sitting to my delighted astonishment!
Based on Wikipedia steampunk is “a subgenre of science fiction or science fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery”. Yes, I went to Wikipedia as I had no idea what steampunk was!
This story has a kind of Victorian edge with the social classes, the factories, the nobility and servants, the clothes but it also has a science fiction or rather paranormal feel with a very colorful “bestiary”. You have hags (witches), trolls, foxkins, tomtars (hybrid between a man and a chicken), mechanic spiders working as spies, dragons… and I fell in love with this totally new world. Maybe fans of the genre are used to it but I popped my steampunk cherry here and it was not orgasmical exactly but still really good! And we all know first times are not always the best so consider me a happy reader.
Edna comes from one low social class and is working as a servant for the nobility. She’s fifteen and on a fateful day, her little brother of eight years old desintegrates under her horrified eyes when she tried to retrieve a clock hanging around his neck.
Panicked, she runs to the police to explain her brother exploded only leaving cogs behind. He must have been stolen but of course no one wants to believe her. Desperate and erring on the streets she’ll encounter a thief trying to steal the clock, her only remaining clue of what happened to her brother. The thief, Ike, will promise to help her find her little brother against a fee. He tells Edna Harrisson has been kidnapped by the hags to work in factories with other stolen children.
From that moment on, their quest will be filled with obstacles, traps to evade and they still have to find means to beat the magical hags and free the children. They will be helped by Ike’s family and unexpected allies but their journey will be a very adventurous one.
Edna is harboring a secret she’s never told anyone and we only learn about it in the last stretch of the book. Ike is also not who he seems to be and we have to guess between clues and half-truths who he really is.
They began as forced allies, each having his/her own goal, not trusting the other but soon they’ll join their forces to beat a common enemy and of course, feel something sweet for the other.
There’s never a dull moment and as I said I was swept of my feet and thrown into Jordan Elizabeth’s universe filled with mythical creatures.
Well done!
Oh, one last word: this book is definitely suitable for kids and teens as there is zero sex or swearing or… so if you have kids wanting to read a captivating story, this is one I would certainly recommend! Now, I don’t want to be accused of discrimination as I definitely am adult (even if I behave like a five years old brat sometimes) and you can see I loved this story so you’re welcome to read it too ;-)
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January 24, 2016
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Ok. So. Review.
This book is one anyone can read, regardless of their age. It doesn't contain any (much) inappropriate language.
It was a no-nonsense book, with admirable characters. Ike and Edna, and even Rachel, teach us good stuff. They're perfect models.
Tho' one thing i didn't really like was how Edna thought of the "evil" inside, even though it had to do with her upbringing and time period.
I do have one question: what year was it set in?
Quote time.
Short review say what?
Ok. So. Review.
This book is one anyone can read, regardless of their age. It doesn't contain any (much) inappropriate language.
It was a no-nonsense book, with admirable characters. Ike and Edna, and even Rachel, teach us good stuff. They're perfect models.
Tho' one thing i didn't really like was how Edna thought of the "evil" inside, even though it had to do with her upbringing and time period.
I do have one question: what year was it set in?
Quote time.
Scowling, she stepped away. Behind her, Ike knocked. Perhaps the occupants wouldn’t answer, thinking they were criminals. Well, he was, but she wasn’t. If Ike thought they couldn’t get in, he wouldn’t have suggested it.
“He could open public schools,” Ike mused. “Education wouldn’t depend on families and tutors.”Good idea, girl.
Her country’s past kings and queens had once treaded the same hallway she walked; Edna bowed her head.
Short review say what?
August 10, 2015
This is a fun YA Steampunk novel. It's very different than many other Steampunk stories I've read. Basic plot is Edna's brother is kidnapped by hags and replaced with a "cogling" and she's on a mission to find and rescue her brother. The world is a Victorian-era with a strict class system for the humans and for those with magic. The woman with magic are called hags and the men with magic are orges and they're not nice and are planning to change the system. I really enjoyed learning about the world and the characters are well drawn and engaging. My only complaint - the ending. The book needed another chapter or two for the "clean up" from the big climax before jumping ahead.
This is also another book I was asked to blurb and it seems I'm on a roll as I've been getting some great ones recently (wish I could say it for ALL the books that come my way!). I haven't come up with a good quote yet, but when I do, I'll post it here.
This is also another book I was asked to blurb and it seems I'm on a roll as I've been getting some great ones recently (wish I could say it for ALL the books that come my way!). I haven't come up with a good quote yet, but when I do, I'll post it here.
January 24, 2016
Children are being stolen and forced to work in factories, while being replaced by Coglings, clockwork changelings that are imbued with the child’s characteristics and mannerisms. Their power source? A watch that “holds” them together. Edna found out the hard way that her brother was gone. She tore an unfamiliar timepiece from her brother’s neck. The result, he became a pile of cogs right before her eyes.
Edna sets off for help when Ike, a young thief recognizes what it is. Together they undertake a journey to rescue her brother. Some say the hags, are responsible, but most say they are a godsend to the people, who is right? Where have they taken the stolen children and how will Edna rescue her brother?
Follow along on their mission through treacherous territories, meeting up with the seedier side of life in a desperate attempt to expose the hags, destroy their factories and save the children. Will they be labeled traitors for speaking ill of the hags? Will their mission succeed or will they meet their own dark fate in the swamps?
Cogling by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek is part young adult fantasy, part steampunk and part adventure as two unlikely heroes set off to save the innocents and expose the sham the hags have hidden from the people. Edna is a delightfully strong character with a sense of right and wrong that is admirable. Ike, is a charmer, a thief with a heart of gold, brave, daring and ever-watchful over Edna. Add in the rest of the cast, sometimes quirky, sometimes evil, sometimes a little too pampered, and out comes a tale of fantasy that is sure to please young adults and tweens alike.
Beautiful descriptions place the reader within the story, each setting is almost perfectly visible, as are the interesting animals and creatures along the way. This is the type of fantasy to get lost in, these are the type of characters to remember. As far as target age group? You be the judge, but no matter how old you are, this is a wonderful escape.
I received an ARC edition from Jordan Elizabeth Mierek in exchange for my honest review.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication Date: January 25, 2016
Genre: YA Steampunk Fantasy
Print Length: 333 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Edna sets off for help when Ike, a young thief recognizes what it is. Together they undertake a journey to rescue her brother. Some say the hags, are responsible, but most say they are a godsend to the people, who is right? Where have they taken the stolen children and how will Edna rescue her brother?
Follow along on their mission through treacherous territories, meeting up with the seedier side of life in a desperate attempt to expose the hags, destroy their factories and save the children. Will they be labeled traitors for speaking ill of the hags? Will their mission succeed or will they meet their own dark fate in the swamps?
Cogling by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek is part young adult fantasy, part steampunk and part adventure as two unlikely heroes set off to save the innocents and expose the sham the hags have hidden from the people. Edna is a delightfully strong character with a sense of right and wrong that is admirable. Ike, is a charmer, a thief with a heart of gold, brave, daring and ever-watchful over Edna. Add in the rest of the cast, sometimes quirky, sometimes evil, sometimes a little too pampered, and out comes a tale of fantasy that is sure to please young adults and tweens alike.
Beautiful descriptions place the reader within the story, each setting is almost perfectly visible, as are the interesting animals and creatures along the way. This is the type of fantasy to get lost in, these are the type of characters to remember. As far as target age group? You be the judge, but no matter how old you are, this is a wonderful escape.
I received an ARC edition from Jordan Elizabeth Mierek in exchange for my honest review.
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication Date: January 25, 2016
Genre: YA Steampunk Fantasy
Print Length: 333 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
January 15, 2016
After being disturbed by strange noises in the night, fifteen year old Edna Mather wasn’t in the mood to rush to her job as a maid, dragging her reticent brother Harrison along with her. Lady Rachel was only eighteen years old herself, but always did her utmost to make the lives of the servants difficult. But with Harrison acting strangely; unresponsive and dour, the order to take him home satisfied Edna, though she knew she’d have to hurry. The appearance of a pocket watch on Harrison’s person though had Edna worried – her intense shock and horror as she pulled it from Harrison’s clothing and watched him disintegrate before her eyes had her rushing from their home in terror.
During her desperate search for help she was accosted by a thief who wished to remove the pocket watch from her person – but when he saw what it was and listened to Edna’s story, they became allies of a sort. Edna wasn’t sure if she could trust a thief; but no one else believed her story…
As Ike explained what would have happened to Harrison; that the hags would have stolen him and replaced him with a Cogling, and Harrison would join the other stolen children to work in the hag’s factory – Edna grew more and more horrified. She was determined to search for and find Harrison, and was more than grateful for Ike’s offer of help. As the pair of them trekked their way across the kingdom heading for the hag’s swamp, they encountered many dangers along the way. Their story was laughed at – after all who would believe the word of a servant and a thief – everyone knew the hags worked for the good of the community…
Would Edna’s quest to save her brother succeed? And would they eventually persuade the king to stop the hags from decimating the human race? Or would the magical darkness end up taking away everything?
Cogling by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek is directed toward a young adult audience in the steampunk/fantasy genre. A thoroughly enjoyable and fun filled magical adventure for Edna and Ike, it was well written with strong and likeable characters. I have enjoyed Mierek’s previous novels, and this one didn’t disappoint. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
During her desperate search for help she was accosted by a thief who wished to remove the pocket watch from her person – but when he saw what it was and listened to Edna’s story, they became allies of a sort. Edna wasn’t sure if she could trust a thief; but no one else believed her story…
As Ike explained what would have happened to Harrison; that the hags would have stolen him and replaced him with a Cogling, and Harrison would join the other stolen children to work in the hag’s factory – Edna grew more and more horrified. She was determined to search for and find Harrison, and was more than grateful for Ike’s offer of help. As the pair of them trekked their way across the kingdom heading for the hag’s swamp, they encountered many dangers along the way. Their story was laughed at – after all who would believe the word of a servant and a thief – everyone knew the hags worked for the good of the community…
Would Edna’s quest to save her brother succeed? And would they eventually persuade the king to stop the hags from decimating the human race? Or would the magical darkness end up taking away everything?
Cogling by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek is directed toward a young adult audience in the steampunk/fantasy genre. A thoroughly enjoyable and fun filled magical adventure for Edna and Ike, it was well written with strong and likeable characters. I have enjoyed Mierek’s previous novels, and this one didn’t disappoint. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.
August 23, 2023
The idea behind this book really appealed to me. While I enjoy the genre I am not a big fantasy reader and have read little steampunk fantasy. However from the start I found myself engaged with this book. There is a Dickensian feel here which has aspects of Victorian society in its basic structure. Edna finds that her young brother has been taken by the hags (witches in many senses) and replaced by a Cogling – an automation. She sets off to get him back and this book follows Edna and the companion she acquires, Ike, on their journey to find Harrison and bring him home.
This fantasy world has strict class structures with people such as Edna and her brother at the lower end of society although there are those who are probably lower still. There are some – to me at least – original creatures and creations. The descriptive writing was excellent and highly evocative. Aimed at the YA (young adult) market this tale is very well paced and well written. The book really is action packed – no one will get bored reading this! There are plenty of twists, turns and mystery and I lost count of the number of chapters that end in “cliff hangers”.
I was completely engrossed in this book. It was very hard to put down and was not an easy book to stop reading at all. I guess in the end it is a fairly simple story however the writing really lifts it to another level for me. I even found the chapters well present with a beautiful fob watch at the head of each – it is a fob watch that kept the Cogling that replaced Harrison “alive” – nice touch. Please don’t be put off by the YA tag – it is a while since I was one and I loved it! If fantasy and particularly steampunk appeal give it a try. I will certainly take a good look at previous books by this author.
Note – I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
This fantasy world has strict class structures with people such as Edna and her brother at the lower end of society although there are those who are probably lower still. There are some – to me at least – original creatures and creations. The descriptive writing was excellent and highly evocative. Aimed at the YA (young adult) market this tale is very well paced and well written. The book really is action packed – no one will get bored reading this! There are plenty of twists, turns and mystery and I lost count of the number of chapters that end in “cliff hangers”.
I was completely engrossed in this book. It was very hard to put down and was not an easy book to stop reading at all. I guess in the end it is a fairly simple story however the writing really lifts it to another level for me. I even found the chapters well present with a beautiful fob watch at the head of each – it is a fob watch that kept the Cogling that replaced Harrison “alive” – nice touch. Please don’t be put off by the YA tag – it is a while since I was one and I loved it! If fantasy and particularly steampunk appeal give it a try. I will certainly take a good look at previous books by this author.
Note – I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
February 5, 2016
This was a very refreshing read. The author did a fabulous job of throwing me into a world of fantasy. I especially loved the hags.
They gave the story more depth.
Edna's brother is kidnapped by a hag, named Simone and replaced with a "cogling," a replicate of the boy. Edna soon discovers that the cogling is not her brother she’s makes it her mission to find and rescue you him. Edna’s journey takes us into a magical world. Is she successful in finding her brother? You will have to read to find out.
They gave the story more depth.Edna's brother is kidnapped by a hag, named Simone and replaced with a "cogling," a replicate of the boy. Edna soon discovers that the cogling is not her brother she’s makes it her mission to find and rescue you him. Edna’s journey takes us into a magical world. Is she successful in finding her brother? You will have to read to find out.
August 24, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. Edna and her family live in the working class section of town. They are barely making it to the point that Edna and her little brother also work to help make ends meet. One night a hag (witch) sneaks into their room and replaces Harrison with a Cogling. A Cogling looks like the person it is replacing but doesn’t quite act like the person. The Hags are using the children in a factory to build things. As the children work, their dreams are slowly drained from them, which is slowly killing them. Edna quickly discovers the Cogling and sets out to find her brother. She meets Ike who knows where Harrison is and promises to help her rescue Harrison. There is lots of adventures and scary moments on their journey as they encounter ogres, Nix, Foxkin and other unusual characters. This is a great young adult fantasy story that kept my attention and had me cheering for Edna and Ike. Well worth the read.
I thank the author for an electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.
I thank the author for an electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2016
Stolen by Hags...
Cogling is a steampunk/fantasy story about evil Hags that are using their dark magic to kidnap children to work in their factories which they then replace with Coglings to mask their dissappearance. The hags felt like they were wronged by humans so they are dead set on getting revenge and ultimately want to take over the kingdom. A girl named Edna, who's brother, Harrison, was stolen by the hags, sets out on a perilous journey to reclaim her brother and stop the hags once and for all.
First off, I absolutely love the cover-it's gorgeous! I also thought the premise of the story was pretty unique and I liked the steampunk and fantastical elements that were throughout the story however I thought the actual writing style did not align appropriately with the content. I went into this book thinking it was a YA book but the writing style itself, from a technical standpoint, was very simplistic and really way more appropriate for younger children, however, some of the content itself was not. It's more geared toward older teens and young adults. So I really just think there needs to be some adjustments so that the writing style and the audience the story is appealing to, meshes together. It's a cute story though and with a little polishing I think it has a lot of potential.
*I received this ARC from the author, Jordan Elizabeth, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Cogling is a steampunk/fantasy story about evil Hags that are using their dark magic to kidnap children to work in their factories which they then replace with Coglings to mask their dissappearance. The hags felt like they were wronged by humans so they are dead set on getting revenge and ultimately want to take over the kingdom. A girl named Edna, who's brother, Harrison, was stolen by the hags, sets out on a perilous journey to reclaim her brother and stop the hags once and for all.
First off, I absolutely love the cover-it's gorgeous! I also thought the premise of the story was pretty unique and I liked the steampunk and fantastical elements that were throughout the story however I thought the actual writing style did not align appropriately with the content. I went into this book thinking it was a YA book but the writing style itself, from a technical standpoint, was very simplistic and really way more appropriate for younger children, however, some of the content itself was not. It's more geared toward older teens and young adults. So I really just think there needs to be some adjustments so that the writing style and the audience the story is appealing to, meshes together. It's a cute story though and with a little polishing I think it has a lot of potential.
*I received this ARC from the author, Jordan Elizabeth, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
February 9, 2016
I received a free copy from the author in an exchange for an honest review
Such a brilliant idea. I loved everything about what the story and characters where written to be. Though saying that, I felt the execution was a little lacking. Character development and world development needed a boost and dialogue needed to be a bit more mature.
However, the book is still worth the read. And fans of steampunk will love this.
Such a brilliant idea. I loved everything about what the story and characters where written to be. Though saying that, I felt the execution was a little lacking. Character development and world development needed a boost and dialogue needed to be a bit more mature.
However, the book is still worth the read. And fans of steampunk will love this.
February 28, 2016
3 Stars
Full Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was an enjoyable, fun steampunk-fantasy mash-up!
The plot was steady and kept me interested, and the twists were fantastic. I saw one or two of them coming, but others I didn't see coming at all, though they made sense once I knew about them.
The characters were also good, definitely the go-get-em types, making plans and jumping into action to do what they thought was right and save the ones they loved, rather than sitting around waiting for things to happen to them. And Ike was lovable and interesting with his mysterious past, his protectiveness of Edna and even some of the other characters, and his willingness to keep fighting.
I'm not sure the book was quite for me though. Maybe I'm just comparing to other protagonists of the same age I've read, or maybe I expected something different because of Edna's rough life, but Edna herself seemed younger than 15. (Then again, I don't spend much time around teenagers and don't really know how they act or think at different ages.) And even though Edna was 15 and Ike was a few years older than that, the whole book felt kind of young for my taste. I think it'd be wonderful for readers who are young (I can see my younger self loving this, and Edna is a great role model) or who simply like younger protags, but it just wasn't quite right for me.
I was also confused by the world-building. It was steampunk, so there were automation robots, blimps, locomobiles, coglings, etc., but there were also dragons, soot demons, trolls, hags, ogres, and other fantasy creatures of, I believe, the author's own creation. I've read steampunk-fantasy before, I just found the array of creatures to be a bit random as I never knew what might pop up next. (But I did think the baby dragon was adorable!)
Overall though, this was an entertaining read with a good story and idea behind it, and if you like the steampunk-fantasy aspects I described, I think you'll like it even more than I did!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes YA/middle grade and steampunk-fantasy mash-ups.
Original Review on Blog
Full Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was an enjoyable, fun steampunk-fantasy mash-up!
The plot was steady and kept me interested, and the twists were fantastic. I saw one or two of them coming, but others I didn't see coming at all, though they made sense once I knew about them.
The characters were also good, definitely the go-get-em types, making plans and jumping into action to do what they thought was right and save the ones they loved, rather than sitting around waiting for things to happen to them. And Ike was lovable and interesting with his mysterious past, his protectiveness of Edna and even some of the other characters, and his willingness to keep fighting.
I'm not sure the book was quite for me though. Maybe I'm just comparing to other protagonists of the same age I've read, or maybe I expected something different because of Edna's rough life, but Edna herself seemed younger than 15. (Then again, I don't spend much time around teenagers and don't really know how they act or think at different ages.) And even though Edna was 15 and Ike was a few years older than that, the whole book felt kind of young for my taste. I think it'd be wonderful for readers who are young (I can see my younger self loving this, and Edna is a great role model) or who simply like younger protags, but it just wasn't quite right for me.
I was also confused by the world-building. It was steampunk, so there were automation robots, blimps, locomobiles, coglings, etc., but there were also dragons, soot demons, trolls, hags, ogres, and other fantasy creatures of, I believe, the author's own creation. I've read steampunk-fantasy before, I just found the array of creatures to be a bit random as I never knew what might pop up next. (But I did think the baby dragon was adorable!)
Overall though, this was an entertaining read with a good story and idea behind it, and if you like the steampunk-fantasy aspects I described, I think you'll like it even more than I did!
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes YA/middle grade and steampunk-fantasy mash-ups.
Original Review on Blog
September 4, 2019
I got a free copy of this wonderful book from the author in exchange for an honest review :) and I am more than thankful for that, because I absolutely loved it :) it was such a fantastic mix of steampunk and fantasy vibes with all sorts of unexpected and surprising turns of events :) the story really went in a few directions I absolutely did not see coming :) and I always love that :) those gasps-in-surprise moments :) especially when it all leads to a good ending :) and since this story have so many things I can't tell you about, because of spoilers, obviously ;) don't be discouraged by the fact that this review will be a bit shorter and vague :) that is done totally on purpose :)
So let me tell you a bit more about our main characters :) both Edna and Ike are teenagers, but believe me, they are not that whiny, overdramatic and angsty type of teenagers I cannot stand in books :) they are actually both much more mature than their age suggests :) Edna is a young girl, from one of the poor families, working with her eight-year-old brother Harrison, to help their parents... that is until one night, her brother is kidnapped and in his place a cogling is left... let me take a quick break for a short explanation :) like I mentioned before, this is a world with steampunk / fantasy vibes... at the beginning there is a very cool explanation about the origin story of hags and ogres, only a few creatures that are different from people or have magical abilities... I'm not gonna go into details about all of them, but I will say that hags are a bit like witches... it's a very vague and simple explanation, but I will leave you the rest to discover for yourselves ;) and the hags are replacing all sorts of people so they can stage a rebellion against humans :) it's all of course much more complicated, but again... no spoilers, so no more details from me ;) and Edna learns all that from Ike, a thief she meets when he wants to rob her... ;) I know, a great first impression, right? :) but despite the rough start, he agrees to help her save her brother... and if you guys think that is all this book is about, think again... ;) cause there is soooo much more... unfortunately I can't tell you what exactly, because that would include me spoiling you some of those massive and surprising twists along the way :) what I can say is that I actually really liked both Edna and Ike :) her, with the love and determination she has to save her beloved brother :) and Ike... *sighs* he uses my favourite term of endearment ever... *luv* :) so naturally I am a fan ;) like I said, even though both of them are young, they are actually much more mature than I expected :) not to mention that both of them have some very interesting secrets... and I mean like I-almost-fell-from-my-chair surprising ;)
Besided Edna and Ike there are quite a few important secondary characters... unfortunately for you guys, I can't tell you their names :) because that would, again, involve spoiling you some pretty surprising events from the book... I know, I know... it's a theme with this review, but what can I say? ;) but I have to admit, that some of them really surprised me... in a good way :) not to mention that I absolutely loved a very unexpected but lovely "pet" that sort of joined them for parts of their journey :) again, no details because of my "no spoilers" rule ;) trust me guys, it's really better if you know less :)
I really enjoyed this book :) the whole world created by the author was vast and original... the more I got to know about it, the more curious I got, and wanted to know even more :) the story surprised me quite a few times, and this sort of thing does not happen to me as often as you might think :) I am sitting here writing this review and really wishing I could tell you a bit more about this whole book... :) I really want to :) but I know that the story will be so much better if you know less going into it :) so let me just say this :) if you want entertaining writing style, interesting world full of all sorts of creatures, amazing and brave characters and twists and turns that will make you gasp in surprise, definitely give this book a try :)
XOXO
A
So let me tell you a bit more about our main characters :) both Edna and Ike are teenagers, but believe me, they are not that whiny, overdramatic and angsty type of teenagers I cannot stand in books :) they are actually both much more mature than their age suggests :) Edna is a young girl, from one of the poor families, working with her eight-year-old brother Harrison, to help their parents... that is until one night, her brother is kidnapped and in his place a cogling is left... let me take a quick break for a short explanation :) like I mentioned before, this is a world with steampunk / fantasy vibes... at the beginning there is a very cool explanation about the origin story of hags and ogres, only a few creatures that are different from people or have magical abilities... I'm not gonna go into details about all of them, but I will say that hags are a bit like witches... it's a very vague and simple explanation, but I will leave you the rest to discover for yourselves ;) and the hags are replacing all sorts of people so they can stage a rebellion against humans :) it's all of course much more complicated, but again... no spoilers, so no more details from me ;) and Edna learns all that from Ike, a thief she meets when he wants to rob her... ;) I know, a great first impression, right? :) but despite the rough start, he agrees to help her save her brother... and if you guys think that is all this book is about, think again... ;) cause there is soooo much more... unfortunately I can't tell you what exactly, because that would include me spoiling you some of those massive and surprising twists along the way :) what I can say is that I actually really liked both Edna and Ike :) her, with the love and determination she has to save her beloved brother :) and Ike... *sighs* he uses my favourite term of endearment ever... *luv* :) so naturally I am a fan ;) like I said, even though both of them are young, they are actually much more mature than I expected :) not to mention that both of them have some very interesting secrets... and I mean like I-almost-fell-from-my-chair surprising ;)
Besided Edna and Ike there are quite a few important secondary characters... unfortunately for you guys, I can't tell you their names :) because that would, again, involve spoiling you some pretty surprising events from the book... I know, I know... it's a theme with this review, but what can I say? ;) but I have to admit, that some of them really surprised me... in a good way :) not to mention that I absolutely loved a very unexpected but lovely "pet" that sort of joined them for parts of their journey :) again, no details because of my "no spoilers" rule ;) trust me guys, it's really better if you know less :)
I really enjoyed this book :) the whole world created by the author was vast and original... the more I got to know about it, the more curious I got, and wanted to know even more :) the story surprised me quite a few times, and this sort of thing does not happen to me as often as you might think :) I am sitting here writing this review and really wishing I could tell you a bit more about this whole book... :) I really want to :) but I know that the story will be so much better if you know less going into it :) so let me just say this :) if you want entertaining writing style, interesting world full of all sorts of creatures, amazing and brave characters and twists and turns that will make you gasp in surprise, definitely give this book a try :)
XOXO
A
January 31, 2016
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
While Edna is fifteen, she read like a younger person. I also thought the story was more middle grade than young adult. It was not just the writing, but also the story (as in everything was happening very easy and the problems were also solved with considerable ease). This set me back at first, because I was expecting YA.
While I liked certain parts of the story, the main drive felt forced. I never completely got the animosity between the Hags, Ogres and humans and what it all meant. There should have been more explaining about it. In the end, Ike's revelations were too much for me and I couldn't help but chuckle a bit.
I always try not to be too suspicious, and trust me - I do hope I'm wrong this time - but I find it at least a little bit strange but as I'm writing this review, the ratings for this book on GR are very high (maybe too high). I'm so far (out of 69 ratings on January 24th) the only one with a rating under 4 stars. While I may very well be the odd one out not enjoying this novel so much, it is my experiences that when there are over 10 rating for a book, never everyone is going to like it.
What was bothering me even more about it is that I was contacted a few weeks back by someone claiming to be from the author's 'street team' looking for reviewers for another of her books. I thought this was a bit odd, as usually I'm contacted via Curiosity Quills when they want reviewers, and since the sender also didn't take time to check my profile, which showed that I was already currently reading one of her books and had previously read another one (but as she made no reference to this, I'm quite sure she didn't bother to check), I just kind of ignored the mail.
Now I'm not sure what to think of it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review during this blog tour!
While Edna is fifteen, she read like a younger person. I also thought the story was more middle grade than young adult. It was not just the writing, but also the story (as in everything was happening very easy and the problems were also solved with considerable ease). This set me back at first, because I was expecting YA.
While I liked certain parts of the story, the main drive felt forced. I never completely got the animosity between the Hags, Ogres and humans and what it all meant. There should have been more explaining about it. In the end, Ike's revelations were too much for me and I couldn't help but chuckle a bit.
I always try not to be too suspicious, and trust me - I do hope I'm wrong this time - but I find it at least a little bit strange but as I'm writing this review, the ratings for this book on GR are very high (maybe too high). I'm so far (out of 69 ratings on January 24th) the only one with a rating under 4 stars. While I may very well be the odd one out not enjoying this novel so much, it is my experiences that when there are over 10 rating for a book, never everyone is going to like it.
What was bothering me even more about it is that I was contacted a few weeks back by someone claiming to be from the author's 'street team' looking for reviewers for another of her books. I thought this was a bit odd, as usually I'm contacted via Curiosity Quills when they want reviewers, and since the sender also didn't take time to check my profile, which showed that I was already currently reading one of her books and had previously read another one (but as she made no reference to this, I'm quite sure she didn't bother to check), I just kind of ignored the mail.
Now I'm not sure what to think of it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review during this blog tour!
September 29, 2024
The first 2/3 of the story was stellar! In fact, I was getting ready to put it on my blog sidebar as my favorite book so far this year. It was beautifully detailed in setting and the characters were full and vibrant; the magical beings were wonderful. So what happened? At about 60% the story turned very sexual with talk about intact virginity, and two scenes with forced sexual intentions. Neither of which were needed for the story in any way. After that turning point the book became very drugstore romance-ish, with lots of tongues, lacivious looks and innuendos. Imagine reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and all of a sudden Draco pins Hermione down and shoves his tongue in her mouth, or Professor McGonagall asks Ginny if she is a virgin before letting her be on the quidditch team; with the rest of the book being filled with Harry's sexual thoughts about Ginny, and Ron's innuendos about Hermione. Good grief.
Along with this change in tone the story began to fall apart. All of a sudden people who weren't supposed to be magic were, and there was no explanation why before the end of the story. This is a standalone so it is never going to be explained. Plus, there was a very violent battle scene; gratuitously gruesome and cliché. It was almost like a different author was writing the last third of the story. I tend to be harder on books which are fabulous in the beginning and then implode. This author dropped me on my head, hard.
I was approved for an eARC, via NetGalley, in return for an honest review.
Along with this change in tone the story began to fall apart. All of a sudden people who weren't supposed to be magic were, and there was no explanation why before the end of the story. This is a standalone so it is never going to be explained. Plus, there was a very violent battle scene; gratuitously gruesome and cliché. It was almost like a different author was writing the last third of the story. I tend to be harder on books which are fabulous in the beginning and then implode. This author dropped me on my head, hard.
I was approved for an eARC, via NetGalley, in return for an honest review.
July 31, 2017
Thanks to Netgalley and Curiosity Quills Press for giving me this book to review.
Cogling is fast paced and each chapter ended on a small cliff-hanger which made me want to read just a bit more. This book had action, romance and adventure but it is also predictable and need more world building. However, the tone changed about two thirds way through the book as while it is a YA book it became more adult in its violence and romance.
Edna is kind, caring and naïve but also courageous and stubborn. Ike is secretive, resourceful and charming. There are a few secondary characters like Harrison, Rachel and Hilda.
I found the ending rushed and I would recommend Cogling to fans of YA steampunk books.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
Cogling is fast paced and each chapter ended on a small cliff-hanger which made me want to read just a bit more. This book had action, romance and adventure but it is also predictable and need more world building. However, the tone changed about two thirds way through the book as while it is a YA book it became more adult in its violence and romance.
Edna is kind, caring and naïve but also courageous and stubborn. Ike is secretive, resourceful and charming. There are a few secondary characters like Harrison, Rachel and Hilda.
I found the ending rushed and I would recommend Cogling to fans of YA steampunk books.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
December 18, 2016
Cogling by Jordan Elizabeth is a young adult steampunk fantasy that even old codgers like me would love! I love steampunk, fantasy, magic, creatures of fae, dragons, trolls, and a touch of romance (not too much), adventure, action, mystery, and this book has all of this and more! Wow, I was so surprised at the depth of each character, the wonderful weaving of the plot, and the vivid fantasy. I can't say enough of about this book. It is made for young adults, I think, but anyone that age and older will love it! I hope there is a Cogling 2! Lots of twists, surprises and fun. Great read. I received this book for a honest review and it in no way effected my review or rating, it is just darn great!
May 15, 2017
Review coming soon!
September 19, 2020
This was a fun little adventure full of hags, ogres and nix. Throw in some magic and clockwork and you have some coglings as well. The characters were interesting and the plot held my attention. Overall, a fun way to spend a few hours.
June 2, 2016
*I received a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Rating ~2.5
Overall the book is okay. For some reason I feel like the breaks within each chapter are oddly placed, as if they were random breaks in thought. Although I did enjoy the book enough to continue until the end but there were some missteps along the way.
The premise itself was definitely interesting. With hags kidnapping human children and replacing them with machines, humans forcing creatures known as tomtars into slavery and hunting foxkins this book has some great material to work with. But unfortunately most of these key subplots were never not developed.
Some of my initial issues with our protagonist Edna
1. Edna's internal dilemmas never seemed pressing because immediately after she'd ask herself a "hard" question she'd immediately come to a decision. It somewhat negates all the internal conflict.
2. She has to constantly remind herself, and us, that she really needs Ike. That he's the only way to get Harrison back. Without him there's no way to find Harrison. Like okay I get it. I don't need to be reminded every five seconds about how essentially useless she'd be at finding Harrison without Ike.
3. Constantly begging the question if she can trust someone only to immediately decide to trust them because there's no other choice.
Fortunately, for me, she has a redeeming quality that basically stops me from wanting to shake her in anger. She is a genuinely good person. She loves her brother fiercely, and is willing to put him above all else. And not only that, she's willing to risk her life for others, even at risk to herself. Such as helping the foxkins escape captivity. Edna does grow a bit throughout the book and I am happy to see she her have more faith in herself toward the end.
Ike - I liked him. Of the two I definitely liked Ike more initially. But as soon as he started somehow having all the answers I knew he wasn't just some street kid. He was probably meant to be a mysterious, loner/harbors a dark secret love interest but seeing as this isn't my first rodeo I could see what was coming.
What I saw coming: Ike is the king's son - I knew that the moment they mentioned his father being a human of noble blood. Honestly, I'd have been shocked if the king wasn't his father. Crazy hag lady who gave Edna the cameo to protect her son was actually Ike's mother.
Did not see coming: Mother Sambucus turning everyone against them before any of them manage to return home to Moser City. I did not think that lady would work so fast. Mother Sambucus having already taken over the kingdom and replacing the king, along with other key figureheads with coglings. Man that was easy. And Edna being half hag...hmm...I guess that does make sense.
Again, I am honestly sad this book only ended up being okay because I know it could've been great, there were so many great elements to work with. But the book left with me so many unanswered questions like: Will the humans and hags ever reach a some sort of truce? Will Tomtars be freed from their enslavement? Will Foxkin hunting finally be banned in the kingdom? Before she finally got married to the king did they manage to bring Ike's mother out of her insanity? Or did the king just love her enough to marry her anyway? Also, why did he never come for his family since he loves them so much? I know it's implied that Ike's father is a good man, trying to do right by his kingdom, but the book ended before we got any indication of what he intended to do to solve any of the kingdom's problems. Yes Edna rescued Harrison and defeated the hags but that does not solve the underlying issue. Mother Samcubus may have been the mastermind behind the revolt, but she was not the true cause. At the end of the day the issue lies with the social injustices between the races. Just doesn't feel right to walk away from this when there is still so much wrong that needed to be set right.
Unfortunately, none of these questions will ever be answered and therein lies my biggest issue with this book.
Rating ~2.5
Overall the book is okay. For some reason I feel like the breaks within each chapter are oddly placed, as if they were random breaks in thought. Although I did enjoy the book enough to continue until the end but there were some missteps along the way.
The premise itself was definitely interesting. With hags kidnapping human children and replacing them with machines, humans forcing creatures known as tomtars into slavery and hunting foxkins this book has some great material to work with. But unfortunately most of these key subplots were never not developed.
Some of my initial issues with our protagonist Edna
1. Edna's internal dilemmas never seemed pressing because immediately after she'd ask herself a "hard" question she'd immediately come to a decision. It somewhat negates all the internal conflict.
2. She has to constantly remind herself, and us, that she really needs Ike. That he's the only way to get Harrison back. Without him there's no way to find Harrison. Like okay I get it. I don't need to be reminded every five seconds about how essentially useless she'd be at finding Harrison without Ike.
3. Constantly begging the question if she can trust someone only to immediately decide to trust them because there's no other choice.
Fortunately, for me, she has a redeeming quality that basically stops me from wanting to shake her in anger. She is a genuinely good person. She loves her brother fiercely, and is willing to put him above all else. And not only that, she's willing to risk her life for others, even at risk to herself. Such as helping the foxkins escape captivity. Edna does grow a bit throughout the book and I am happy to see she her have more faith in herself toward the end.
Ike - I liked him. Of the two I definitely liked Ike more initially. But as soon as he started somehow having all the answers I knew he wasn't just some street kid. He was probably meant to be a mysterious, loner/harbors a dark secret love interest but seeing as this isn't my first rodeo I could see what was coming.
What I saw coming: Ike is the king's son - I knew that the moment they mentioned his father being a human of noble blood. Honestly, I'd have been shocked if the king wasn't his father. Crazy hag lady who gave Edna the cameo to protect her son was actually Ike's mother.
Did not see coming: Mother Sambucus turning everyone against them before any of them manage to return home to Moser City. I did not think that lady would work so fast. Mother Sambucus having already taken over the kingdom and replacing the king, along with other key figureheads with coglings. Man that was easy. And Edna being half hag...hmm...I guess that does make sense.
Again, I am honestly sad this book only ended up being okay because I know it could've been great, there were so many great elements to work with. But the book left with me so many unanswered questions like: Will the humans and hags ever reach a some sort of truce? Will Tomtars be freed from their enslavement? Will Foxkin hunting finally be banned in the kingdom? Before she finally got married to the king did they manage to bring Ike's mother out of her insanity? Or did the king just love her enough to marry her anyway? Also, why did he never come for his family since he loves them so much? I know it's implied that Ike's father is a good man, trying to do right by his kingdom, but the book ended before we got any indication of what he intended to do to solve any of the kingdom's problems. Yes Edna rescued Harrison and defeated the hags but that does not solve the underlying issue. Mother Samcubus may have been the mastermind behind the revolt, but she was not the true cause. At the end of the day the issue lies with the social injustices between the races. Just doesn't feel right to walk away from this when there is still so much wrong that needed to be set right.
Unfortunately, none of these questions will ever be answered and therein lies my biggest issue with this book.
February 12, 2016
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
**Mild Spoilers Ahead**
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book, but the premise had me hooked from the start. Hands down, Jordan Elizabeth’s greatest strength is her world building. She is effortlessly immersive in her style, and the steampunk fantasy world of Cogling truly came alive for me.
At only 15 years of age, Edna shoulders many burdens, whether it be earning money to support her family, taking care of her younger brother or worrying about the state of her country. She’s far kinder to other species kept as slaves, and her kindness throughout the book helps her get out of some particularly difficult scrapes. Many of these scrapes come out as tense action sequences, both magical and/or violent, and Elizabeth has a particular gift for writing a gripping action sequence.
I did find the more emotional passages to be a little stilted. When I originally began the book, I thought it was intended for more ambitious middle grade readers. The internal monologues and narration felt aimed towards a much younger reader than the violence at the end is suitable for. The romance felt very arbitrary at first, but by the end I really enjoyed their interactions.
I take serious issue with the doctor who seemed to exist only to insert sexual assault as another violence in the narrative. It truly felt random and was never dealt with again. They rescued their friend, stuck a complete stranger in there to be assaulted instead and moved on with their lives. Especially when recommending this book to someone, I think this brief character and set of choices should be strongly kept in mind.
I was deeply disappointed in the end of the book. Our heroes seem to have plotted a mini-genocide, and then instead of dealing with any of the social issues that have been so close to Edna’s heart through the book, she finally gets to live a life of luxury with her family. That’s the end. I was completely surprised that there was no talk of social reform, no moving forward with the king to release the slaves or help the poor- just a giant party.
I would say this book is well suited for more mature middle grade readers as well as high school. I do recommend this book because I think that authors with a talent for world building like Elizabeth are hard to find- if you like steampunk or fantasy you will love being immersed in Cogling.
**Mild Spoilers Ahead**
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book, but the premise had me hooked from the start. Hands down, Jordan Elizabeth’s greatest strength is her world building. She is effortlessly immersive in her style, and the steampunk fantasy world of Cogling truly came alive for me.
At only 15 years of age, Edna shoulders many burdens, whether it be earning money to support her family, taking care of her younger brother or worrying about the state of her country. She’s far kinder to other species kept as slaves, and her kindness throughout the book helps her get out of some particularly difficult scrapes. Many of these scrapes come out as tense action sequences, both magical and/or violent, and Elizabeth has a particular gift for writing a gripping action sequence.
I did find the more emotional passages to be a little stilted. When I originally began the book, I thought it was intended for more ambitious middle grade readers. The internal monologues and narration felt aimed towards a much younger reader than the violence at the end is suitable for. The romance felt very arbitrary at first, but by the end I really enjoyed their interactions.
I take serious issue with the doctor who seemed to exist only to insert sexual assault as another violence in the narrative. It truly felt random and was never dealt with again. They rescued their friend, stuck a complete stranger in there to be assaulted instead and moved on with their lives. Especially when recommending this book to someone, I think this brief character and set of choices should be strongly kept in mind.
I was deeply disappointed in the end of the book. Our heroes seem to have plotted a mini-genocide, and then instead of dealing with any of the social issues that have been so close to Edna’s heart through the book, she finally gets to live a life of luxury with her family. That’s the end. I was completely surprised that there was no talk of social reform, no moving forward with the king to release the slaves or help the poor- just a giant party.
I would say this book is well suited for more mature middle grade readers as well as high school. I do recommend this book because I think that authors with a talent for world building like Elizabeth are hard to find- if you like steampunk or fantasy you will love being immersed in Cogling.
January 26, 2016
This book is a part of a Review Tour presented by Curiosity Quills.
Jordan Elizabeth has a way of depicting creepy scenes so wonderfully. She takes an idea, makes it her own and creates an entirely new world. This is a prime example, a tale full of hags [witches,] Nix, Ogres, and dragons! This isn't your typical Steampunk.
Edna Mathers discovers something horrifying, her little brother has been replaced by a Cogling and she must find him. Hags have him and what they use him as well as other children happens to be equally eerie. They're used in a factory to knit their dreams into powerful blessings and spells.
Along the way she finds an unlikely friend named Ike and a new journey begins as Ike promises to help her, but Ike has some secrets that he's keeping from her.
This story really is imaginative and I adore the wicked haunting quality to it, but there were some issues I had, too. Edna doesn't seem to be like a fifteen-year-old, rather she comes across as a twelve-year-old. I had this issue with Elizabeth's other story, Escape from Witchwood Hollow. She doesn't make it believable that she is older as Edna comes across as immature as a whole until the end where she seems to have aged a few years.
The other aspect of it that I found a little trying was that there was constantly a mention of the evil inside of Edna and even on page 215 you have yet to see what said evil is. You don't find out until oh the last 20ish pages. I felt like we could have done away with the repetitive mention of this, because while yes it does add a question as to what it is, it also adds frustration because you constantly are on the verge of learning only to have it snapped away.
The end seemed a bit rushed, but there are twists and turns that had me sitting back in my chair going "Huh?!"
All in all, this is a fairly adventurous read, fun and goes by relatively quickly.
Definitely recommended for those who enjoy a supernatural twist on Steampunk.
3.8 Stars!
Book Savvy
Jordan Elizabeth has a way of depicting creepy scenes so wonderfully. She takes an idea, makes it her own and creates an entirely new world. This is a prime example, a tale full of hags [witches,] Nix, Ogres, and dragons! This isn't your typical Steampunk.
Edna Mathers discovers something horrifying, her little brother has been replaced by a Cogling and she must find him. Hags have him and what they use him as well as other children happens to be equally eerie. They're used in a factory to knit their dreams into powerful blessings and spells.
Along the way she finds an unlikely friend named Ike and a new journey begins as Ike promises to help her, but Ike has some secrets that he's keeping from her.
This story really is imaginative and I adore the wicked haunting quality to it, but there were some issues I had, too. Edna doesn't seem to be like a fifteen-year-old, rather she comes across as a twelve-year-old. I had this issue with Elizabeth's other story, Escape from Witchwood Hollow. She doesn't make it believable that she is older as Edna comes across as immature as a whole until the end where she seems to have aged a few years.
The other aspect of it that I found a little trying was that there was constantly a mention of the evil inside of Edna and even on page 215 you have yet to see what said evil is. You don't find out until oh the last 20ish pages. I felt like we could have done away with the repetitive mention of this, because while yes it does add a question as to what it is, it also adds frustration because you constantly are on the verge of learning only to have it snapped away.
The end seemed a bit rushed, but there are twists and turns that had me sitting back in my chair going "Huh?!"
All in all, this is a fairly adventurous read, fun and goes by relatively quickly.
Definitely recommended for those who enjoy a supernatural twist on Steampunk.
3.8 Stars!
Book Savvy
March 8, 2016
*I received a digital copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was my third time reading Jordan's novels and I'm still amazed at the characterization,the reality of each of their voices,the beautiful writing, and the undoubtedly intriguing plot.
I loved how the plot was twisted and unexpected,as we find hags more evil and clever than we could expect. But at points,the twists took a a little while to take in.
Warning: Before reading this book,you might want to know that Jordan writes adventure perfectly . This is exactly how adventure is supposed to be written; running continuously, never stopping to catch a breath while still untried and wanting more.
Even though I knew it was about rescuing Harrison,still the responsibility Edna feels towards her brother and how much she loves and cares for him was admirable.
I liked the romance and loved Ike and Edna as a couple! They were so cute together. I think the romance could've been more even throughout,though. It kept building up.
And the character development of each of them was amazing. I especially loved Rachel's. I loved how she grew more selfless.
The book was g-rating initially, but the violence intensified in the last chapters, which was not for young adults. I didn't have a problem, but young adult readers might not be comfortable with all the gore. Though I might be wrong.
I had some problems with the ending. I wanted there to be more than a brief chapter to it. And there were left unanswered questions like
This was my third time reading Jordan's novels and I'm still amazed at the characterization,the reality of each of their voices,the beautiful writing, and the undoubtedly intriguing plot.
I loved how the plot was twisted and unexpected,as we find hags more evil and clever than we could expect. But at points,the twists took a a little while to take in.
Warning: Before reading this book,you might want to know that Jordan writes adventure perfectly . This is exactly how adventure is supposed to be written; running continuously, never stopping to catch a breath while still untried and wanting more.
Even though I knew it was about rescuing Harrison,still the responsibility Edna feels towards her brother and how much she loves and cares for him was admirable.
I liked the romance and loved Ike and Edna as a couple! They were so cute together. I think the romance could've been more even throughout,though. It kept building up.
And the character development of each of them was amazing. I especially loved Rachel's. I loved how she grew more selfless.
The book was g-rating initially, but the violence intensified in the last chapters, which was not for young adults. I didn't have a problem, but young adult readers might not be comfortable with all the gore. Though I might be wrong.
I had some problems with the ending. I wanted there to be more than a brief chapter to it. And there were left unanswered questions like
July 14, 2016
In a kingdom where humans ruled hags for years, the hags are staging a revolt. Caught in the mess is Edna, whose younger brother Harrison was taken by a hag and replaced with a Cogling, an automation changeling. Since the police did not believe her story about her brother being switched with a Cogling, she had to go look for him herself. At the start of her journey she encounters Ike, a thief, and they manage to form an unusual alliance to find the hag factory, rescue Harrison, and try to repress the revolt.
The idea of a world combining technology and magic is intriguing, and the story progresses in an exciting way. This book was fast paced, and new things always kept happening. I did not know what to expect, and so it kept me guessing the whole time. The main character Edna is hiding a secret, and we got clues every now and then of what it might be. Additionally, throughout the book we were introduced to a mixture of interesting characters, and we got to know more about Ike’s backstory, which took me by surprise.
However, my problem was that I felt uninterested in the world of hags, ogres and humans. The concept of the book is compelling, but since I felt detached to the world, it affected my enjoyment. One thing that bugged me was that Edna was very confident from the start that the king would listen to her case about the hags replacing humans with Coglings, when one of the characters mentioned the king is oblivious and apparently was never seen by the public. Plus, I was not able to decide whether the story was set in the past or the future, because from what I got it could have been either.
Overall, it’s a quick read, and even though I was not interested in the world, I was still griped by the story, and was kept curious to know what would happen the whole way through.
*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
The idea of a world combining technology and magic is intriguing, and the story progresses in an exciting way. This book was fast paced, and new things always kept happening. I did not know what to expect, and so it kept me guessing the whole time. The main character Edna is hiding a secret, and we got clues every now and then of what it might be. Additionally, throughout the book we were introduced to a mixture of interesting characters, and we got to know more about Ike’s backstory, which took me by surprise.
However, my problem was that I felt uninterested in the world of hags, ogres and humans. The concept of the book is compelling, but since I felt detached to the world, it affected my enjoyment. One thing that bugged me was that Edna was very confident from the start that the king would listen to her case about the hags replacing humans with Coglings, when one of the characters mentioned the king is oblivious and apparently was never seen by the public. Plus, I was not able to decide whether the story was set in the past or the future, because from what I got it could have been either.
Overall, it’s a quick read, and even though I was not interested in the world, I was still griped by the story, and was kept curious to know what would happen the whole way through.
*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
August 27, 2016
This is a young adult, steampunk- fantasy. This is a stand alone, but I would love to read what happens in the future for Edna and Ike and while I am thinking about it what happened to Silver... I am so curious?! This is an exciting read, just when you think you have it all figured out... well the author throws you through a loop. A roller coaster read!!! I really adore the dedication and love Edna has towards her little brother, I personally can relate. This is a must read.
Edna doesn't have much, but she has heart. She is devoted to her family, and does what she can to help take care of them all. Harrison is her responsibility while her parents are working and he is missing. Well the real him is missing, the cogling him is in pieces on the floor. She has a watch, a shady friend, a hurried plan, and a few coins.
Favorite passages:
"Steam locomobiles radiating scalding heat roared by; the sleek brass contraptions shining as brightly as the steel spokes inside the black tires."
"The stench of sage and earth wafted from his leathery skin, a dark tan that reminded her of caramel."
"In the dreaming, I am seeing."<3
"The evil coiled through her body as though it had become one with her blood."
"A baby dragon with scales the color of emeralds perched on the man's shoulder."
"Yellow mist rose from the trees, congealing around their ship."
"A hole had formed in her glove, another rip on her heart, beside the missing hunk that belonged to Harrison."
"The moon smile upon your strength."
"You look in my eyes and say you see the true me."
Edna doesn't have much, but she has heart. She is devoted to her family, and does what she can to help take care of them all. Harrison is her responsibility while her parents are working and he is missing. Well the real him is missing, the cogling him is in pieces on the floor. She has a watch, a shady friend, a hurried plan, and a few coins.
Favorite passages:
"Steam locomobiles radiating scalding heat roared by; the sleek brass contraptions shining as brightly as the steel spokes inside the black tires."
"The stench of sage and earth wafted from his leathery skin, a dark tan that reminded her of caramel."
"In the dreaming, I am seeing."<3
"The evil coiled through her body as though it had become one with her blood."
"A baby dragon with scales the color of emeralds perched on the man's shoulder."
"Yellow mist rose from the trees, congealing around their ship."
"A hole had formed in her glove, another rip on her heart, beside the missing hunk that belonged to Harrison."
"The moon smile upon your strength."
"You look in my eyes and say you see the true me."
January 31, 2016
I received a free book for an honest review. My review isn't compromised in any way.
This was a fun book to read and I enjoyed it very much! I don't know if it is a series or a standalone but I sure hope the author would continue with the characters and the story line.
One of the strong points of the story was the cast of characters. Everyone had something to add to the story and I didn't feel any character was superfluous. Edna came across as a brave but at times naive person. She did make up for her naivety with her unflinching courage and her determination to find her brother. Ike meanwhile was the perfect hero with his helping Edna out on her quest inspite of starting off as a thief and a somewhat anti character with hidden agenda in the beginning. The antagonist, Mother Sambucus and her group were well crafted and they added the necessary oomph to the adventure.
The world building was descriptive enough to get the imagery right and the different types of species introduced were innovative in some areas and pretty regular in others. But the concept was unique and a bit different from others. I haven't read many steampunk based books but this has made me more eager to try out the genre. I am looking forward to more of the authors' books. I have another of hers on my review pile so I can't wait now to get to it!
My rating : 5/5
This was a fun book to read and I enjoyed it very much! I don't know if it is a series or a standalone but I sure hope the author would continue with the characters and the story line.
One of the strong points of the story was the cast of characters. Everyone had something to add to the story and I didn't feel any character was superfluous. Edna came across as a brave but at times naive person. She did make up for her naivety with her unflinching courage and her determination to find her brother. Ike meanwhile was the perfect hero with his helping Edna out on her quest inspite of starting off as a thief and a somewhat anti character with hidden agenda in the beginning. The antagonist, Mother Sambucus and her group were well crafted and they added the necessary oomph to the adventure.
The world building was descriptive enough to get the imagery right and the different types of species introduced were innovative in some areas and pretty regular in others. But the concept was unique and a bit different from others. I haven't read many steampunk based books but this has made me more eager to try out the genre. I am looking forward to more of the authors' books. I have another of hers on my review pile so I can't wait now to get to it!
My rating : 5/5
January 31, 2016
I loved Cogling!
What I liked: It’s been quite some time since I’ve read steampunk and this novel was perfect for me. It’s not tremendously on the steampunk side, it’s a solid young adult fantasy.
Ike and Edna are perfect characters. They’re fun, flawed, and very interesting. Their supporting characters, Harrison, Rachel, and others are perfect and show character growth while not taking away from the plot but instead adding new dimensions.
Cogling is not romantic, though there is a bit of a thing between Ike & Edna, but instead it’s a grand adventure complete with hags, ogres, and a quest to see the king.
What I didn’t like: I think Cogling would appeal to so many more if it weren’t for a few scenes. There is a bit of kissing but the talk of virginity and rape brings this book out of the realm of appropriateness for middle-graders. I’d been hoping to share it with my daughter & neices, but it’ll have to wait.
Learn more on my thoughts of Cogling on my website: http://www.hottbooks.com/review-cogling/
What I liked: It’s been quite some time since I’ve read steampunk and this novel was perfect for me. It’s not tremendously on the steampunk side, it’s a solid young adult fantasy.
Ike and Edna are perfect characters. They’re fun, flawed, and very interesting. Their supporting characters, Harrison, Rachel, and others are perfect and show character growth while not taking away from the plot but instead adding new dimensions.
Cogling is not romantic, though there is a bit of a thing between Ike & Edna, but instead it’s a grand adventure complete with hags, ogres, and a quest to see the king.
What I didn’t like: I think Cogling would appeal to so many more if it weren’t for a few scenes. There is a bit of kissing but the talk of virginity and rape brings this book out of the realm of appropriateness for middle-graders. I’d been hoping to share it with my daughter & neices, but it’ll have to wait.
Learn more on my thoughts of Cogling on my website: http://www.hottbooks.com/review-cogling/
February 28, 2016
Hags are stealing children and leaving clockwork replacements behind, Coglings. When Edna Mathers’ discovers her younger brother Harrison has been replaced with a Cogling, she will stop at nothing to get him back. Edna teams up with street urchin, Ike, who originally tries to rob her at gunpoint. She needs Ike, she can’t go up against an army of Hags alone. Can Ike be trusted? Is Ike actually willing to help her save her brother or does he have ulterior motives?
From the very beginning, Cogling pulls you into its unique magical world. I knew immediately I was going to love this book. The small details are really what make it a great read. I loved the unique jargon, It really breathes life into the characters. Towards the end things started to feel a little rushed. I didn’t like some of the coincidences used to get the characters out of danger. They weren’t believable to me. However; Jordan kept me guessing. Just when I would think I had it figured out: PLOT TWIST! The ending completely makes up for the suspicious coincidences. All in all, a very enjoyable read.
From the very beginning, Cogling pulls you into its unique magical world. I knew immediately I was going to love this book. The small details are really what make it a great read. I loved the unique jargon, It really breathes life into the characters. Towards the end things started to feel a little rushed. I didn’t like some of the coincidences used to get the characters out of danger. They weren’t believable to me. However; Jordan kept me guessing. Just when I would think I had it figured out: PLOT TWIST! The ending completely makes up for the suspicious coincidences. All in all, a very enjoyable read.
February 14, 2016
Wow! Let me just catch my breath before I write a review, because this book just took it away! Yes it's THAT good. ;)
Wait for it.....
I loved this amazing adventure of a girl to find and save her brother. When hags took Edna's brother, leaving a Cogling in his place, she went after them. She had to save him, she couldn't fail him. She promised herself she would bring him home. Ike helped her but he had reasons of his own to go after the hags. Hags must be stopped and Edna and Ike planned to do just that. But their journey was full of dangers and many experiences neither of them ever anticipated. Would they reach their destinations unscathed or even return back once they saved Harrison.
It's an awesome story which takes readers into a very well written fantasy you wouldn't want to leave. It's full of adventures, twists and turns which will keep you on your toes. Once I started reading I simply couldn't put it down.
Wait for it.....
I loved this amazing adventure of a girl to find and save her brother. When hags took Edna's brother, leaving a Cogling in his place, she went after them. She had to save him, she couldn't fail him. She promised herself she would bring him home. Ike helped her but he had reasons of his own to go after the hags. Hags must be stopped and Edna and Ike planned to do just that. But their journey was full of dangers and many experiences neither of them ever anticipated. Would they reach their destinations unscathed or even return back once they saved Harrison.
It's an awesome story which takes readers into a very well written fantasy you wouldn't want to leave. It's full of adventures, twists and turns which will keep you on your toes. Once I started reading I simply couldn't put it down.
January 30, 2016
*I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
I don't think I've ever read a book like this before......when once the hags were almost destroyed by humans they now vow revenge and start with stealing children and replacing them with Coglings, things that look and act exactly like the stolen child.
The story is very well written with believable characters, even the Nix, and my favourite Silver, the baby dragon. Ike and Edna make for great main characters and you can feel the attraction coming off the pages.
Absolutely loved this book
I don't think I've ever read a book like this before......when once the hags were almost destroyed by humans they now vow revenge and start with stealing children and replacing them with Coglings, things that look and act exactly like the stolen child.
The story is very well written with believable characters, even the Nix, and my favourite Silver, the baby dragon. Ike and Edna make for great main characters and you can feel the attraction coming off the pages.
Absolutely loved this book
November 22, 2016
The opening of this book was fast-paced and attention-grabbing, and I was immediately sucked into the story with the amazing, fantasy / steampunk world. With hags and ogres and machine-children, this definitely wasn’t your typical “magic and magical creatures” type of story. Edna and her new friend Ike’s adventure to save her little brother was the most exciting part of the story for me, but it felt like it came to a climax way too quickly and then just sort of lost its steam from there. I enjoyed the book, but I probably wouldn’t read it again.
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