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The Mechanical Maestro
London, 1857.
Brothers George and Douglas Abernathy are clockmakers who are barely scraping a living in their family's shop. They are also brilliant inventors with a sideline building custom-built androids and other technology ahead of its time. Their 16-year old sister, Molly, is also a genius specialising in transformative plant biology but earns her keep by sewing.
The Abernathys' fortunes improve dramatically when the brothers invent a clockwork automaton composer named Maestro, whose musical artistry takes London by storm. But there are those who believe Maestro is a fake and others who think him a monstrosity.
As Maestro tries to make sense of the world of London's high society which he is thrown into, he incites the interest of sinister figures who would go to any lengths to discover what makes him tick.
Brothers George and Douglas Abernathy are clockmakers who are barely scraping a living in their family's shop. They are also brilliant inventors with a sideline building custom-built androids and other technology ahead of its time. Their 16-year old sister, Molly, is also a genius specialising in transformative plant biology but earns her keep by sewing.
The Abernathys' fortunes improve dramatically when the brothers invent a clockwork automaton composer named Maestro, whose musical artistry takes London by storm. But there are those who believe Maestro is a fake and others who think him a monstrosity.
As Maestro tries to make sense of the world of London's high society which he is thrown into, he incites the interest of sinister figures who would go to any lengths to discover what makes him tick.
- GenresSteampunk
320 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2020
18 people want to read
About the author
Emily Owen
4 books5 followersI studied English Language and Literature at the University of Leeds and completed my Masters by Research in 2018.
I am a vintage-loving history geek who's mad about the steampunk subculture (and its music).
II published my debut novel, The Mechanical Maestro, in 2020. The sequel, The Copper Chevalier, was published in 2022.
I am a vintage-loving history geek who's mad about the steampunk subculture (and its music).
II published my debut novel, The Mechanical Maestro, in 2020. The sequel, The Copper Chevalier, was published in 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 29, 2022
But then sweeter, softer notes for introduced into the melody, like a scattering of bright blossoms on the air, and were carried across the city, gradually giving way to far more dulcet tones and the song seemed to guide itself.
🦄🦄🦄
London, 1857. Brothers George and Douglas Abernathy are clockmakers who are barely scraping a living in their family’s shop. They are also brilliant inventors with a sideline building custom-built androids and other technology ahead of its time. Their sixteen-year-old sister, Molly, is also a genius, specialising in transformative plant biology, but earns her keep by sewing. The Abernathys’ fortunes improve dramatically when the brothers invent a clockwork automaton composer named Maestro, whose musical artistry takes London by storm. But there are those who believe Maestro is a fake, and others who think him a monstrosity. As Maestro tries to make sense of the world of London’s high-society which he is thrown into, he incites the interest of sinister figures who would go to any lengths to discover what makes him tick.
🦄🦄🦄
The Mechanical Maestro: 1 (The Abernathy Series) is a Teen & YA Steampunk Fantasy novel by Emily Owen.
With extraordinary worldbuilding and creative writing, the author manages to create a perfectly plot derived book where the use of music makes the story even more magical. I do have a fondness for the characters, especially young Molly and her mind and how she seems to have a shell that needs to be removed, but everything about the plot captivated me from the very beginning. The details that have been used to create the perfect set of 1850s London, feels like you're living in the time period and breathing their air and the use of the diallect from that time period creates wonders for your imagination.
At first when I started reading this book I was under the impression it would be rather slow with a historical contemporary feel to it, but I was proved wrong as it turned out to be an unexpected page turner with no full moments. The invention of 'Maestro' and it's subsequent ripple effects may not be one of immense shock but couple that with how the author manages to create waves with the story and we are looking at a huge success in the YA Steampunk genre.
I loved this book and I cannot wait to see what happens next. If you're a fan of YA or Steampunk novels (with musical influences) I would highly suggest you give this book a try.
🦄🦄🦄
Rated 9.5/10
Melina L.
🦄🦄🦄
London, 1857. Brothers George and Douglas Abernathy are clockmakers who are barely scraping a living in their family’s shop. They are also brilliant inventors with a sideline building custom-built androids and other technology ahead of its time. Their sixteen-year-old sister, Molly, is also a genius, specialising in transformative plant biology, but earns her keep by sewing. The Abernathys’ fortunes improve dramatically when the brothers invent a clockwork automaton composer named Maestro, whose musical artistry takes London by storm. But there are those who believe Maestro is a fake, and others who think him a monstrosity. As Maestro tries to make sense of the world of London’s high-society which he is thrown into, he incites the interest of sinister figures who would go to any lengths to discover what makes him tick.
🦄🦄🦄
The Mechanical Maestro: 1 (The Abernathy Series) is a Teen & YA Steampunk Fantasy novel by Emily Owen.
With extraordinary worldbuilding and creative writing, the author manages to create a perfectly plot derived book where the use of music makes the story even more magical. I do have a fondness for the characters, especially young Molly and her mind and how she seems to have a shell that needs to be removed, but everything about the plot captivated me from the very beginning. The details that have been used to create the perfect set of 1850s London, feels like you're living in the time period and breathing their air and the use of the diallect from that time period creates wonders for your imagination.
At first when I started reading this book I was under the impression it would be rather slow with a historical contemporary feel to it, but I was proved wrong as it turned out to be an unexpected page turner with no full moments. The invention of 'Maestro' and it's subsequent ripple effects may not be one of immense shock but couple that with how the author manages to create waves with the story and we are looking at a huge success in the YA Steampunk genre.
I loved this book and I cannot wait to see what happens next. If you're a fan of YA or Steampunk novels (with musical influences) I would highly suggest you give this book a try.
🦄🦄🦄
Rated 9.5/10
Melina L.
July 26, 2020
Set in Victorian London, The Mechanical Maestro is a mix of historical fiction and steampunk with lots of music too. It’s the tale of the Abernathy family and their wondrous inventions. It’s aimed at young adults, but I feel there is something for any age to enjoy.
The Abernathy’s, George, Douglas and Molly are inventors.
The brothers work in the clockmaker shop, but they spend a lot of time creating mechanical marvels, such as a clockwork mouse and a chess playing automaton with mixed results. But when challenged to create an automata that can play and create its own music they rise to the challenge and the mechanical maestro comes into being. His incredible music touches the soul.
Meanwhile Molly is working on her botanical inventions which are just as amazing.
A wealthy Lord takes ownership of Maestro, and begins to show him off to London, some believe him to be a trick, others believe he is an abomination….
I love this tale, from the beautiful descriptions of the Victorian world, the vast differences between the wealthy and the poor is clear, to seeing the world through Maestro’s eyes, the beauty in simple things and the sounds around him is a reminder of what we take for granted sometimes. Like seeing the world through the eyes of a child.
I can’t wait to see what the Abernathy family creates next….I’ll be watching for the next book in this series, that’s for sure.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and an eARC of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
The Abernathy’s, George, Douglas and Molly are inventors.
The brothers work in the clockmaker shop, but they spend a lot of time creating mechanical marvels, such as a clockwork mouse and a chess playing automaton with mixed results. But when challenged to create an automata that can play and create its own music they rise to the challenge and the mechanical maestro comes into being. His incredible music touches the soul.
Meanwhile Molly is working on her botanical inventions which are just as amazing.
A wealthy Lord takes ownership of Maestro, and begins to show him off to London, some believe him to be a trick, others believe he is an abomination….
I love this tale, from the beautiful descriptions of the Victorian world, the vast differences between the wealthy and the poor is clear, to seeing the world through Maestro’s eyes, the beauty in simple things and the sounds around him is a reminder of what we take for granted sometimes. Like seeing the world through the eyes of a child.
I can’t wait to see what the Abernathy family creates next….I’ll be watching for the next book in this series, that’s for sure.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and an eARC of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
July 20, 2021
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Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Mechanical Maestro is Emily Owen‘s debut novel, which surrounds the lives of the Abernathy family, as they strive to create unique androids. It is set in Victorian London (1857).
The first thing that stood out to me with The Mechanical Maestro was the musical details. Maestro’s story reminded me of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s – a Western Classical composer, who like Maestro, was constantly being dubbed as a ‘fake’, as he was composing high quality works from such a young age. I really enjoyed this aspect, as it linked together so many elements of music throughout this story. The descriptions of the music that Maestro was creating was also something that I really enjoyed, as it helped to bring the story to life throughout the novel.
Throughout The Mechanical Maestro, no stone was left unturned when it came to details. I loved how everything was described in this way, as it brought the story to life, as well as showing off each character for who they really were. Due to this, I was constantly visualising Maestro, to the point where I had many alternating pictures of Maestro in my mind throughout reading this book! I loved this, as it added to the sense of mystery surrounding certain elements of the book.
The plot was also so thick and detailed, which aided the story’s development throughout. I was surprised at how quickly the story developed from the blurb at first, as I had assumed that the majority of the story would be dedicated to George and Douglas building Maestro, then the remainder to be based on those who oppose Maestro. However, I did really like this though, as I enjoyed seeing the development of Maestro’s story throughout, and the story did take some very unexpected turns.
However, I did find the language used a bit difficult in places, which meant that it did take me a while to fully get my teeth into The Mechanical Maestro. Once I did get past this difficulty, I did thoroughly enjoy this book though. I did also feel that the tension was mostly at the end of the book, I feel that The Mechanical Maestro could have benefitted from some more moments of nail-biting tension in other parts of the book.
As I had some background knowledge of Victorian London before reading The Mechanical Maestro, I loved the way that Emily Owen conveyed the culture and life of this period. I also found it incredible that George and Douglas were able to create their creations to the standard that they were able to, when I consider the lack of technological developments in Victorian London, in comparison to today.
I loved the cover of The Mechanical Maestro as well – although I did not realise at first, it showcases the Abernathy’s creations. This was something that I really like on reflection of the novel, as everything they make is right in front of you from the moment you pick up the book – but you do not understand the significance of each creation until you have finished the book. I also love the colours used in the cover.
I also loved Molly’s character – although she seemed so far removed from her brothers’ mechanical creations, there was definitely more to her than initially met the eye. This was proven towards the end, when I wanted to cheer her on in every action she took towards the end of this novel.
The Mechanical Maestro is the first book in a series surrounding the Abernathys and their creations. After reading the ending of The Mechanical Maestro, I can not wait to read about the next stage of each character’s journey.
Overall, I would recommend The Mechanical Maestro to any fans of Western Classical Music, and to fans of Historical Fiction. I believe that this book is suitable for a Young Adult audience (as well as any adults who fancy reading The Mechanical Maestro)!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Mechanical Maestro is Emily Owen‘s debut novel, which surrounds the lives of the Abernathy family, as they strive to create unique androids. It is set in Victorian London (1857).
The first thing that stood out to me with The Mechanical Maestro was the musical details. Maestro’s story reminded me of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s – a Western Classical composer, who like Maestro, was constantly being dubbed as a ‘fake’, as he was composing high quality works from such a young age. I really enjoyed this aspect, as it linked together so many elements of music throughout this story. The descriptions of the music that Maestro was creating was also something that I really enjoyed, as it helped to bring the story to life throughout the novel.
Throughout The Mechanical Maestro, no stone was left unturned when it came to details. I loved how everything was described in this way, as it brought the story to life, as well as showing off each character for who they really were. Due to this, I was constantly visualising Maestro, to the point where I had many alternating pictures of Maestro in my mind throughout reading this book! I loved this, as it added to the sense of mystery surrounding certain elements of the book.
The plot was also so thick and detailed, which aided the story’s development throughout. I was surprised at how quickly the story developed from the blurb at first, as I had assumed that the majority of the story would be dedicated to George and Douglas building Maestro, then the remainder to be based on those who oppose Maestro. However, I did really like this though, as I enjoyed seeing the development of Maestro’s story throughout, and the story did take some very unexpected turns.
However, I did find the language used a bit difficult in places, which meant that it did take me a while to fully get my teeth into The Mechanical Maestro. Once I did get past this difficulty, I did thoroughly enjoy this book though. I did also feel that the tension was mostly at the end of the book, I feel that The Mechanical Maestro could have benefitted from some more moments of nail-biting tension in other parts of the book.
As I had some background knowledge of Victorian London before reading The Mechanical Maestro, I loved the way that Emily Owen conveyed the culture and life of this period. I also found it incredible that George and Douglas were able to create their creations to the standard that they were able to, when I consider the lack of technological developments in Victorian London, in comparison to today.
I loved the cover of The Mechanical Maestro as well – although I did not realise at first, it showcases the Abernathy’s creations. This was something that I really like on reflection of the novel, as everything they make is right in front of you from the moment you pick up the book – but you do not understand the significance of each creation until you have finished the book. I also love the colours used in the cover.
I also loved Molly’s character – although she seemed so far removed from her brothers’ mechanical creations, there was definitely more to her than initially met the eye. This was proven towards the end, when I wanted to cheer her on in every action she took towards the end of this novel.
The Mechanical Maestro is the first book in a series surrounding the Abernathys and their creations. After reading the ending of The Mechanical Maestro, I can not wait to read about the next stage of each character’s journey.
Overall, I would recommend The Mechanical Maestro to any fans of Western Classical Music, and to fans of Historical Fiction. I believe that this book is suitable for a Young Adult audience (as well as any adults who fancy reading The Mechanical Maestro)!
July 28, 2020
This was a truly brilliant book to delve into from start to very end, the writing as wonderfully done as the cover itself contained in! Certainly one to grab soon, I can’t wait to see what the rest of the series brings!
The first thing that pulled me into the book was the beautiful cover, and I’m confident so many of you will agree that it’s often a positive when considering a book. Gorgeous covers are such a huge selling point! Having seen it and been curious, I had a read of the blurb, and by that point I was sold. It sounded so GOOD, and so unique.
The book didn’t disappoint! The writing style is perfect, easy to read and sink into, full of wonderfully rounded imagery that leaves you so entirely immersed in the world the Author describes for you that someone speaking to you leaves a moment of confusion! It’s like stepping wholly into a different time and place, then suddenly being yanked back to the real world, and that has to be my favourite thing about reading. It’s so important that we feel transported elsewhere for a slice of our time, and wow does this Author deliver in glorious fashion!
I have previously read many stories set in Victorian London, and I generally find they fall into two areas. Either the tone of the time goes too deep and leaves a disconnect from the story, needing more concentration and in some cases an amount of translation, trying to capture the tone and style reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice.... or they lack the research and feel like the story is actually placed in recent times with occasional suggestions of previous society. However, I found that this was the perfect in-between! The attitudes and societal considerations are accurately portrayed in a way that’s comfortable to digest. It’s the perfect balance for Historical Fiction in my opinion!
There’s so much humour throughout the book I often found myself smiling or outright chuckling at the variety of witty comments and interactions between the characters! The story manages to have smaller and larger plots interweaving seamlessly and forming a very clever tapestry of plot that somehow remains comfortable to follow. The story never follows the path you expect, keeping it fun, surprising and yet still a relaxing read to wind down with.
The characters are very varied within the Abernathy family, each easily distinguishable from the others for their own personalities and entertaining quirks.
Although the story is Young adult, this really will appeal to so many people for a huge variety of reasons. Whether the historical element, the fictional, societal, or the unique storyline and brilliant sense of family recreated. This was a truly wonderful story, and I can’t wait to see where the rest of the series will take me!
The first thing that pulled me into the book was the beautiful cover, and I’m confident so many of you will agree that it’s often a positive when considering a book. Gorgeous covers are such a huge selling point! Having seen it and been curious, I had a read of the blurb, and by that point I was sold. It sounded so GOOD, and so unique.
The book didn’t disappoint! The writing style is perfect, easy to read and sink into, full of wonderfully rounded imagery that leaves you so entirely immersed in the world the Author describes for you that someone speaking to you leaves a moment of confusion! It’s like stepping wholly into a different time and place, then suddenly being yanked back to the real world, and that has to be my favourite thing about reading. It’s so important that we feel transported elsewhere for a slice of our time, and wow does this Author deliver in glorious fashion!
I have previously read many stories set in Victorian London, and I generally find they fall into two areas. Either the tone of the time goes too deep and leaves a disconnect from the story, needing more concentration and in some cases an amount of translation, trying to capture the tone and style reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice.... or they lack the research and feel like the story is actually placed in recent times with occasional suggestions of previous society. However, I found that this was the perfect in-between! The attitudes and societal considerations are accurately portrayed in a way that’s comfortable to digest. It’s the perfect balance for Historical Fiction in my opinion!
There’s so much humour throughout the book I often found myself smiling or outright chuckling at the variety of witty comments and interactions between the characters! The story manages to have smaller and larger plots interweaving seamlessly and forming a very clever tapestry of plot that somehow remains comfortable to follow. The story never follows the path you expect, keeping it fun, surprising and yet still a relaxing read to wind down with.
The characters are very varied within the Abernathy family, each easily distinguishable from the others for their own personalities and entertaining quirks.
Although the story is Young adult, this really will appeal to so many people for a huge variety of reasons. Whether the historical element, the fictional, societal, or the unique storyline and brilliant sense of family recreated. This was a truly wonderful story, and I can’t wait to see where the rest of the series will take me!
February 20, 2022
Book Name: The Mechanical Maestro
Genre: Sci-fi/ Fantasy
Summary: London, 1857. Brothers George and Douglas Abernathy are clockmakers who are barely scraping a living in their family’s shop. They are also brilliant inventors with a sideline building custom-built androids and other technology ahead of its time. Their sixteen-year-old sister, Molly, is also a genius, specialising in transformative plant biology, but earns her keep by sewing. The Abernathys’ fortunes improve dramatically when the brothers invent a clockwork automaton composer named Maestro, whose musical artistry takes London by storm. But there are those who believe Maestro is a fake, and others who think him a monstrosity. As Maestro tries to make sense of the world of London’s high-society which he is thrown into, he incites the interest of sinister figures who would go to any lengths to discover what makes him tick.
My Opinion: I loves this book so much that I narrated it to my little one too. This is a blissful read that made me relive the days where I had that passion to go after my dreams. This is a story which explores so many elements, emotions and lives that were lived in different forms. The plot is set in a setting which demands a vintage feel and the author did justice to the writing and the story that her words just immersed in me while I read it.
Good and Bad: The best thing is definitely the Abernathy bloodline, it's all in the genes and hardwork and the magic that comes along.
My favorites from the book:
All of them have a place in my heart but George is one of my most favorite character, I can relate so much with him, he left a mark in my heart.
Target Audience: It's an entertaining sci-fi that has a touch of fantasy, so it's meant for anyone and everyone.
What to expect: Fantasy, emotions and the power of science.
Final verdict: This is my favourite read of the month so for sure I'd recommend it to my fellow book lovers.
Rating: 5 /5
Genre: Sci-fi/ Fantasy
Summary: London, 1857. Brothers George and Douglas Abernathy are clockmakers who are barely scraping a living in their family’s shop. They are also brilliant inventors with a sideline building custom-built androids and other technology ahead of its time. Their sixteen-year-old sister, Molly, is also a genius, specialising in transformative plant biology, but earns her keep by sewing. The Abernathys’ fortunes improve dramatically when the brothers invent a clockwork automaton composer named Maestro, whose musical artistry takes London by storm. But there are those who believe Maestro is a fake, and others who think him a monstrosity. As Maestro tries to make sense of the world of London’s high-society which he is thrown into, he incites the interest of sinister figures who would go to any lengths to discover what makes him tick.
My Opinion: I loves this book so much that I narrated it to my little one too. This is a blissful read that made me relive the days where I had that passion to go after my dreams. This is a story which explores so many elements, emotions and lives that were lived in different forms. The plot is set in a setting which demands a vintage feel and the author did justice to the writing and the story that her words just immersed in me while I read it.
Good and Bad: The best thing is definitely the Abernathy bloodline, it's all in the genes and hardwork and the magic that comes along.
My favorites from the book:
All of them have a place in my heart but George is one of my most favorite character, I can relate so much with him, he left a mark in my heart.
Target Audience: It's an entertaining sci-fi that has a touch of fantasy, so it's meant for anyone and everyone.
What to expect: Fantasy, emotions and the power of science.
Final verdict: This is my favourite read of the month so for sure I'd recommend it to my fellow book lovers.
Rating: 5 /5
February 5, 2022
☕Now that what I call a good book, firstly, I can't stop admiring the very pretty cover, it is truly magical just like the storyline. This is one of those books that didn't leave me even when I wasn't reading it. Right from the very first page, I was intrigued not that it has very thrilling mysteries hidden but it's uniquely addictive, I was glued to it till the end. The writing style is so so gripping, as the author narrates, I felt like I was transported to a different place, to every paragraph in the book I plotted a virtual shop, a virtual space and characters were in front of my eyes.
.
.
Emily is surely a master storyteller, her words are simple, sophisticated yet very magical, it really felt like a enchanting vintage epic story that's been told since ages and is being passes on from generations. The storyline and characters has depth, they feel so real, Molly, George, Douglas every character is crafted amazingly. I love how innovative the storyline and the concept is. I loved Molly for a lot of reasons, a character I wouldn't forget in my life.
.
.
The Mechanical Maestro is journey of discoveries, a story of believing and it also taught me that magic has to be created, it comes from within. Get ready to meet Mastero through this wonderful tale. This book also reminds me of the very famous movie, "Jingle Jangle", it's really charismatic like it and if you have watched the movie then you know what I mean. If you love books that carve a mark in your heart and are heartwarming then this is it, it's adventurous, unpredictable and highly addictive. Full of magic, full of life. Definitely recommended.
.
Rating: 4.5⭐️
March 26, 2022
🍂The book "The Mechanical Maestro:1 ( The Abernathy series)" is a really amazing book depicted by the author Emily Oven. The plot starts in London in 1857 where two protagonists George and Douglas Abernathy are brothers who hardly spend their lives in a family's store.
🍂I loved how perfectly Author has described the plot where the music has made the story more magical. They are clockmakers who hardly wringing a living in their family’s shop. There is another protagonist Molly which is also an interesting character in the story. Their fate takes an unexpectedly impressive turn when they develop a clockwork automaton composer named Maestro.
🍂The impacts of their invention bring massive alterations in London. The author has an extraordinary capacity to weave words so that reader can feel the scene, breathe the incidents through it. The cover of the book is nicely modelled with a stunning theme & a title that just captivates your attention in one go.
🍂The writing style is so easy and the storyline is amazing which compels the readers to complete the book with an urge. The language is simple, lucid and easily comprehensible. It is without a doubt an extraordinary work superbly written down.
🍂Right from the beginning, I was immersed in the story and the world that the author generated was bewildering. Clear presentation of the plot and an enigmatic picturesque that was flawlessly created. I loved this book and can't wait to read what happens next.
🍂I loved how perfectly Author has described the plot where the music has made the story more magical. They are clockmakers who hardly wringing a living in their family’s shop. There is another protagonist Molly which is also an interesting character in the story. Their fate takes an unexpectedly impressive turn when they develop a clockwork automaton composer named Maestro.
🍂The impacts of their invention bring massive alterations in London. The author has an extraordinary capacity to weave words so that reader can feel the scene, breathe the incidents through it. The cover of the book is nicely modelled with a stunning theme & a title that just captivates your attention in one go.
🍂The writing style is so easy and the storyline is amazing which compels the readers to complete the book with an urge. The language is simple, lucid and easily comprehensible. It is without a doubt an extraordinary work superbly written down.
🍂Right from the beginning, I was immersed in the story and the world that the author generated was bewildering. Clear presentation of the plot and an enigmatic picturesque that was flawlessly created. I loved this book and can't wait to read what happens next.
June 11, 2020
Prepare to fully immerse yourself in a Steampunk version of 1857's London.
I don't know where to start, as this book truly makes you feel like you are there, working alongside the Abernathy brothers, feeling the music as Maestro plays and delving into plant biology with Molly.
The world-building in The Mechanical Maestro is like no other book I have read. You walk into every room with each character, visualizing the small details with them, which allows you to make connections in your head about where and how the story progressors.
The small stories within the larger plot kept me on my toes, and allowed me the question 'where will the story go next?' I have to say, the chapters involving the high-society and mechanical creations have to be my favourite though. (You'll have to read the book to discover what the mechanical inventions are).
I loved following Maestro as he unravelled the mystery of the world and seeing how he tried to find his place within it. The combination of action, historical details, lines that will make you laugh and characters you will want to revisit, meant I did not want to put this book down.
If you are looking for a book that pulls you into the pages and allows you to see the world that Maestro lives in clearly in your head, give this book a read.
"You yourself once said that talent cannot be taught...Why should they be excluded because of external circumstances they cannot help?" - Favourite line 🕰
I don't know where to start, as this book truly makes you feel like you are there, working alongside the Abernathy brothers, feeling the music as Maestro plays and delving into plant biology with Molly.
The world-building in The Mechanical Maestro is like no other book I have read. You walk into every room with each character, visualizing the small details with them, which allows you to make connections in your head about where and how the story progressors.
The small stories within the larger plot kept me on my toes, and allowed me the question 'where will the story go next?' I have to say, the chapters involving the high-society and mechanical creations have to be my favourite though. (You'll have to read the book to discover what the mechanical inventions are).
I loved following Maestro as he unravelled the mystery of the world and seeing how he tried to find his place within it. The combination of action, historical details, lines that will make you laugh and characters you will want to revisit, meant I did not want to put this book down.
If you are looking for a book that pulls you into the pages and allows you to see the world that Maestro lives in clearly in your head, give this book a read.
"You yourself once said that talent cannot be taught...Why should they be excluded because of external circumstances they cannot help?" - Favourite line 🕰
July 31, 2020
I loved this! I was halfway through before I realised it.
Ms Owen has faithfully created a London we recognise, and some brilliant characters who quickly find a way into the heart. The Maestro himself is a wonderful character, full of innocence and naivete, endearing and marvellous.
The Steampunk-y elements are great, the patrons are suitably grandiose and eccentric, and the villains are 'proper' - earning instant suspicion from the reader.
The writing flows very well - I experienced no 'editing-brain' hiccups at all! :) Truly a wonderful thing!
This is a smooth and thoroughly enjoyable read, and one I'd recommend to anyone looking for steampunk, history or creative invention.
I'll be looking forward to Ms Owen's future works. This is an amazing debut and has set a brilliant standard.
If you're looking for a fun read, with engaging characters, witty dialogue, thought-provoking automatons and buckets of creativity, The Mechanical Maestro by Emily Owen is for you.
Ms Owen has faithfully created a London we recognise, and some brilliant characters who quickly find a way into the heart. The Maestro himself is a wonderful character, full of innocence and naivete, endearing and marvellous.
The Steampunk-y elements are great, the patrons are suitably grandiose and eccentric, and the villains are 'proper' - earning instant suspicion from the reader.
The writing flows very well - I experienced no 'editing-brain' hiccups at all! :) Truly a wonderful thing!
This is a smooth and thoroughly enjoyable read, and one I'd recommend to anyone looking for steampunk, history or creative invention.
I'll be looking forward to Ms Owen's future works. This is an amazing debut and has set a brilliant standard.
If you're looking for a fun read, with engaging characters, witty dialogue, thought-provoking automatons and buckets of creativity, The Mechanical Maestro by Emily Owen is for you.
August 1, 2020
When you pick up The Mechanical Maestro, you enter a beautifully detailed world, and meet a cast of extraordinarily colourful characters. Alongside this, you have a story of discovery and intrigue as people plot to get their hands on the titular Maestro.
The eccentric Abernathy family are instantly appealing, George and Douglas with their incredibly advanced automata, and Molly with her (sometimes out of control) botanical experiments. I was particularly fond of Douglas and Molly, but George is a character I found a little harder to fathom – I look forward to getting to know him better in the upcoming books in this series. In my mind their home and shop is a higgeldy-piggeldy affair full of nooks and crannies and strange contraptions. It felt like the kind of place you could spend hours exploring and still not discover all of its secrets.
As well as being story about the talented Abernathys, The Mechanical Maestro is also a tale of their most advanced creation to date, the wonderful Maestro himself, and I was delighted to see that there were chapters in the book told from his point of view. As I was reading, I could almost here the music he composed, and it created a kind of ache to hear it for real. Watching him discover the world and his place in it, and his attachment to Douglas was incredibly endearing.
Emily Owen’s writing has a charm to it that put me in mind of both The Binding and The Toymakers in different ways, and I know she is an author I will return to time and again.
The eccentric Abernathy family are instantly appealing, George and Douglas with their incredibly advanced automata, and Molly with her (sometimes out of control) botanical experiments. I was particularly fond of Douglas and Molly, but George is a character I found a little harder to fathom – I look forward to getting to know him better in the upcoming books in this series. In my mind their home and shop is a higgeldy-piggeldy affair full of nooks and crannies and strange contraptions. It felt like the kind of place you could spend hours exploring and still not discover all of its secrets.
As well as being story about the talented Abernathys, The Mechanical Maestro is also a tale of their most advanced creation to date, the wonderful Maestro himself, and I was delighted to see that there were chapters in the book told from his point of view. As I was reading, I could almost here the music he composed, and it created a kind of ache to hear it for real. Watching him discover the world and his place in it, and his attachment to Douglas was incredibly endearing.
Emily Owen’s writing has a charm to it that put me in mind of both The Binding and The Toymakers in different ways, and I know she is an author I will return to time and again.
July 29, 2020
I love steampunk. It is always impressive to me, yet I don’t read a ton of it. I am so glad I agreed to read The Mechanical Maestro by Emily Owen. It is such a cool concept and I was absolutely immersed in the world building.
Let’s talk about this world building. It is absolutely breathtaking how immersed you get in this story. I am just blown away by the attention to detail.
This is written really uniquely as well. I love the little stories inside the main story. It was so intriguing and well-written. Not a single part of me was confused.
I am obsessed with this book. All I can say is that I highly recommend it. Give it a read!
Rating:
5/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from Random Things Tours in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
Let’s talk about this world building. It is absolutely breathtaking how immersed you get in this story. I am just blown away by the attention to detail.
This is written really uniquely as well. I love the little stories inside the main story. It was so intriguing and well-written. Not a single part of me was confused.
I am obsessed with this book. All I can say is that I highly recommend it. Give it a read!
Rating:
5/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from Random Things Tours in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
June 4, 2020
Review by E age 8:
It is 1857. London is stormed by a clockwork humanoid robot that has something near an inkling of human conscience... The Sons Of Adam League(S.O.A.L.)is bad enough, but they are harmless compared to some people...
Even if you are a 107, you will probably enjoy this book.
😃 means half a star
😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃
I felt fustrated when I was told to put it down-it is a real pageturner!
It is 1857. London is stormed by a clockwork humanoid robot that has something near an inkling of human conscience... The Sons Of Adam League(S.O.A.L.)is bad enough, but they are harmless compared to some people...
Even if you are a 107, you will probably enjoy this book.
😃 means half a star
😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃
I felt fustrated when I was told to put it down-it is a real pageturner!
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