Wow, where to start?
Modo the shapeshifting super-strong super-awkward super-intelligent regenerating genius "orphan" son of a potter saving the British Empire from what now? Oh people who think the British shouldn't be in charge of the whole world.
Look, I don't agree with the means, these being among others child slavery and necromancy, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't agree with the ends of the Clockwork Guild... bring down the British Empire? Decolonization? As a still proud and very much aware of my own historical mistakes Afrikaans South African this could be an example of the Clockwork Guild maybe having a case against the inventors of the concentration camp.
The greater arc aside, it's cute; Modo's perceived ugliness and resulting self consciousness is the wheel that the whole character development revolves around. It "kind-of" works because society is so obsessed with what you look like but it's also a really thin angle for a whole three books. Enough with the masks, just get on with it.
I probably would not have bought it if it wasn't on a proper special and to be honest I don't regret giving it a listen. Still on my worst of 2023 list though...