Clock City

Realm of Elestra #2

by Rebekah Dodson

Since Mom died and left me with my abusive, drunkard of a father I don’t have much of a life. My only sanctuary’s hidden in the woods. At least until I find a jeweled dagger and it transports me to somewhere called Elestra. I seriously can’t believe this isn’t some crazy dream, with mechanical horses, cat people, demons, and even metal dragons.

I just want to go home, but everything is a disaster in Clock City.

Who’s this mysterious girl who appeared in Elestra? Alayna wears strange clothes and keeps complaining about something called a “cell phone.” She even has a demon with her who’s sworn a life debt, and now I’m bonded to her to help save the kingdom.

I’m just Sebastian, a secret tinkerer. How am I supposed to help her, and the rebellion, save the city? My life has flipped upside down, and I don’t know if I have what it takes.

No matter what happens it’s up to us to show the world what freedom truly looks like.

362 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2019

About the author

Rebekah Dodson is a prolific word weaver of romance, fantasy, and science fiction novels. Her works include the series Postcards from Paris, The Surrogate, The Curse of Lanval series, several stand alone novels, and her upcoming YA novel, Clock City. She has been writing her whole life, with her first published work of historical fiction with 4H Clubs of America at the age of 12, and poetry at the age of 16 with the National Poetry Society. With an extensive academic background including education, history, psychology and English, she currently works as a college professor by day and a writer by night.

Reviews

[TaniaRina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character has my daughter’s middle name – but I won’t let that bias me in any way whatsoever.
Speaking of children, this book calls out the atrocity of forced child labor; it’s mentioned quite a few times. I commend the author for including a serious topic that’s still going on today. May we all open our eyes and do something to stop the outrage of human trafficking.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The journey continues..

A great follow-up novel to Timekeeoer.


The story continues and follows the story of Lydia's daughter Alayna and her travels through clock city. Things are going well until Alayna meets the Timekeeper, a tyrant bent on getting revenge on her mother. Will Alayna be able to save Elestra?

Very well written with an array of unique characters who make the story hard to put down. I found myself up until the late hours just to finish one more chapter.

A story full of love, loss, action and betrayal. Clock City takes the reader through a myriad of emotions allowing the reader to really feel a part of each scene. Seeing the characters grow throughout this story is inspiring.

A definite must read and I cannot wait for the next one!

[Aizlynne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one I wanted to love. I adore steampunk and that it what caught me first. While I think that there could be a good story here, the writing and development of characters is too chaotic. The main character, in particular, never leaves you with a strong impression of her personality. The world building between realms needs a little more finessing, i.e. the difference in passage of time between realms is not consistent nor is there a reason given for it to be so The editing leaves much to be desired and gets worse the further into the book you get. This could be a diamond in the rough, however, it needs extensive polishing.

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allow two days for this contemporary urban fantasy steam-punk young adult coming-of-age quest to rescue children from slavery in the mines of Elestra involving interdimensional time-travel and seventeen-year-old Alayna Marie Winston's desire to escape the extreme physical abuse of her father in Texas. 4 1/2*.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rosie Wylor-Owen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The world of Clock City is a really vivid, colourful place and with a starkly different culture. I’m a big fan of steampunk worlds and with the likes of Sebastian’s homemade “car” Delilah clunking down the street, it’s a steampunk fan’s dream.

There are some really fun characters in Clock City, like Dinga, a demonic creature who has three wives, hundreds of children (whose names he can’t remember) and a thirst for adventure. And Sebastian, who comes up with the craziest inventions and has his own magical powers. He and Alayna really have a cool “Zelda-Link” vibe going on and it’s awesome.

The crux of the adventure involves somehow getting to a giant clock face inside the castle and getting inside it, in order to bring the Time Keeper’s reign to an end. The thing is, nobody ever says why they suspect this as nobody has a clue what’s in there. But throughout the book, everyone acts like it’s definitely the answer to their problems.

Also, as the story goes on, Alayna helps out here and there but in the end she does very little to destroy the Time Keeper as Dinga and Sebastian do a lot of the work. As the heroine of the story, I expected her to have a bit more of an active role in the action.

[Cterbogt · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I really wanted to like this story, and I did up to a point. I loved Sebastian and his inventions, and the adorable Dinga. Everything in the story was going well up until Alayna met the Queen. After this point, I struggled with several things like a number of inconsistencies (which I won't go into here *spoilers*), and under-developed characters in the beginning, that had pivotal roles later in the story, meaning their behaviour didn't make as much sense as it should have. It was also divided into three books, but the chapter numbers continued with no obvious break, which when you toss in a change of POV, and a time jump, it was confusing. A blank page separating the parts would have made things a whole lot clearer. All these things were disappointing because they took away from what had the makings of a really great story. Honestly, while it would take a little bit of work, this story already has the bones to make it really good.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lissette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alayna has lived a difficult life. Filching what she needs to survive, she knows nothing else. Determined to keep her head above the water, she soon makes a decision that changes her life forever. Transported to a place she never knew existed, her life is further torn asunder. If she's to make sense of what's going on around her, she'll need to uncover the secrets of her past. Doing so is harder than anything she could have ever imagined.


While I've started this series on book 2, I'm hooked. Rebekah has an awesome and unique way of telling a story that you're immersed in it from the moment you start reading. She's created a complex world where nothing is what it seems. It's full of pain and secrets. A world where lives are held in a fragile balance, one that can break at any given time.


Alayna's journey has barely just begun. I've the chemistry between her and Sebastian. They're opposites, yet they click in so many ways. I suspect there's more to come for the realm of Elestra. Can't wait to see it all unfold.

[Mary]

First I want to thank Xpresso Book Tours for letting me be a part of their book tour. The concept of this book is amazing and I was so happy when they sent it to me, but the delivery was not what I was hoping for. I did not feel that I could connect with any of the characters. I did not like how their personalities just seemed to switch depending on what the author wanted to accomplish at that time.

My biggest issue with the book is that it read like a first draft. Now I am not one to complain about grammar and spelling normally but the sheer amount of things that were missed kept taking me out of the story at one point I started marking them all thinking I was just over exaggerating and afterward it made me realize there was more than I thought instead of less. Honestly, if this would have not been the case I would have finished the book because I really do like the concept and the characters could have balanced out in the end...maybe.

[Joseph Lau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the story basis – alternative universe, an escape from a known evil, and a new world in peril.
Sebastian and Alayna are fun and interesting characters. Most of the rest are underdeveloped - people pop in and out, seemingly to just accomplish a plot goal.
Also, this book is categorized and marketed as steampunk, but there is very little in the world building. A random invention, some Victorian clothing, and a lack of modern knowledge and convenience. It just doesn't fit - this feels more like fantasy than steampunk.
And the world building. There are demons and Dragons in the steampunk world, but each of these is also underdeveloped. They're introduced as conveniences.
Lots of holes here, and could have used more planning or editing to deal with jumps in the plot, and confusing things that just appear.

[Philleys Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dystopian fantasy is set in the kingdom of Elestra, in the mystical Clock City, a place of ticks and tocks and many, many clocks. Where gears and machines seem to run the city and all around it. Where an abused girl from Texas is transported by an ancient relic to this confusing yet all consuming new world that mistakes her as their lost queen. A very entertaining story that is intriguing and funny, full of danger, adventures many times over, and a sweet romance between the intrepid heroine Alayna and the brilliant tinkerer Sebastian. There is even a cute devoted little purple demon named Dinga who I just love to pieces! The story is fantastic and worth the read. I loved it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lori Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received as a review copy, this is an honest review. Alayna has struggled to survive in the wake of her mother's death, with a father that cares little for her and leaving her to steal food to eat. After a brutal encounter with her father, Alayna flees to her secret place... discovers a beautiful dagger that takes her to a very unique city populated with eccentric people and creatures. In this Clock City, Alayna goes from a nobody in her world to an important individual that could help save the wondrous realm of Electra. With help of the eclectic creature named Dinga and the creative inventor Sebastian; Alayna may finally discover where she can fit in bit a destiny she never could have dreamed of... highly recommended.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 4th book I've read written by Rebekah Dodson; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I will definitely be reading more of her books.

The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.

I loved the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clock City is a time travel mystery and book two in the Realm of Elestra series. I definitely recommend you read Timekeeper before this one so you understand what's going on. Great writing, interesting characters and an intriguing storyline made Alayna's journey a great story. I look forward to reading more books by this author. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book which is like Wizard of Oz, a parallel world with wizards and dragons. Finding herself to be mistaken for a princess of Elestra, Alayna has to find her way home with the help of a demon and a tinkerer called Sebastian

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Teri Ruscak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebekah Dodson Clock City (Realm of Elestra Book 2) ARC REVIEW [SO] Alayna This book is an awesome steampunk dystopian story that will captivate from start to end. Alayna has had a hard life barely keeping her head above water. It is set the kingdom of Elestra, in the mystical Clock City. I love the characters.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really hard to put down! The quirky characters were strong and lovable. The storyline moved along at a great pace and was different and original. This was my first read by this author and I will be checking out more by her.

[Elizabeth McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and incredible journey into the world of Clock City. The characters are quirky and amazing and the story is unique and keeps you on your toes. Great read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Siyka · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of loss, time travel and hope.
I liked being in the world again. I liked the characters and their challenges.
The style is easy to read and follow.
I recommend the book to any fantasy fan.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pat Eroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this story in timekeepers and this is a great continuation of that story. Incredibly well-written with fabulous characters and a storyline that makes it difficult to put down.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.