What do you think?
Rate this book
The Clockwork Chronicles #1
The Girl in the Clockwork Tower
A tale of espionage, lavender hair, and pineapples.
Welcome to Daiwynn where magic is dangerous, but hope is more dangerous still.
For Persinette—a lavender-haired, 24-year-old seer dreaming of adventure and freedom—the steam-powered kingdom of Daiwynn is home. As an Enchanted asset for MOTHER, she aids in Collecting Enchanted and sending them to MOTHER’s labor camps.
But when her handler, Gothel, informs Persi that she will be going out into the field for a Collection, she decides it's time to take a stand. Now she must fight her fears and find a way to hide her attempts to aid the Enchanted or risk being sent to the camps herself.
Manu Kelii, Captain of the airship The Defiant Duchess, is 26-years-old and hasn't seen enough excitement—thank you very much. His charismatic smile and flamboyant sense of style earned him a place amongst the Uprising, but his fickle and irresponsible nature has seen to it that their leader doesn't trust him.
Desperate to prove himself, Manu will stop at nothing to aid their mission to overthrow MOTHER and the queen of Daiwynn. So, when the Uprising Leader deposits a small unit of agents on his ship, and tasks him with working side by side with MOTHER asset Persinette to hinder the Collection effort, he finds himself in over his head.
The stakes are high for this unlikely duo. They have only two options; stop MOTHER or thousands more will die—including themselves.
Welcome to Daiwynn where magic is dangerous, but hope is more dangerous still.
For Persinette—a lavender-haired, 24-year-old seer dreaming of adventure and freedom—the steam-powered kingdom of Daiwynn is home. As an Enchanted asset for MOTHER, she aids in Collecting Enchanted and sending them to MOTHER’s labor camps.
But when her handler, Gothel, informs Persi that she will be going out into the field for a Collection, she decides it's time to take a stand. Now she must fight her fears and find a way to hide her attempts to aid the Enchanted or risk being sent to the camps herself.
Manu Kelii, Captain of the airship The Defiant Duchess, is 26-years-old and hasn't seen enough excitement—thank you very much. His charismatic smile and flamboyant sense of style earned him a place amongst the Uprising, but his fickle and irresponsible nature has seen to it that their leader doesn't trust him.
Desperate to prove himself, Manu will stop at nothing to aid their mission to overthrow MOTHER and the queen of Daiwynn. So, when the Uprising Leader deposits a small unit of agents on his ship, and tasks him with working side by side with MOTHER asset Persinette to hinder the Collection effort, he finds himself in over his head.
The stakes are high for this unlikely duo. They have only two options; stop MOTHER or thousands more will die—including themselves.
430 pages, Paperback
First published September 23, 2020
About the author
Lou Wilham
37 books176 followersBorn and raised in a small town near the Chesapeake Bay, Lou Wilham grew up on a steady diet of fiction, arts and crafts, and Old Bay. After years of absorbing everything, there was to absorb of fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi she's left with a serious writing/drawing habit that just won't quit. These days, she spends much of her time writing, drawing, and chasing a very short Basset Hound named Sherlock.
When not, daydreaming up new characters to write and draw she can be found crocheting, making cute bookmarks, and binge-watching whatever happens to catch her eye.
Learn more about Lou and her future projects on her website: https://louinprogress.com
Or follow her on social media @lou.wilham on Instagram or @louwilham on Facebook.
When not, daydreaming up new characters to write and draw she can be found crocheting, making cute bookmarks, and binge-watching whatever happens to catch her eye.
Learn more about Lou and her future projects on her website: https://louinprogress.com
Or follow her on social media @lou.wilham on Instagram or @louwilham on Facebook.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 22, 2021
Did someone say fairytale retelling? I'm not entirely sure if my shelf with fairytale retellings is complete. It's very possible that I've read more than I shelved properly and yet I never grow tired of them. I think that it's the mix of having something known mixed with something new and exciting. I think it's because fairytales always promise magic in some way. And I think it's because they always give me a warm feeling. When BookSirens offered me this arc, there was no way I was gonna say no.
Let me start with saying that this book might not be for you if you need a lot of actual action in your book. Although the stakes are high and although our characters end up in quite a lot of dangerous situations, most of those issues are solved cleverly and not violently. I personally loved that. Those characters weren't hotheads rushing into something and winning because of plot-armor. These characters had to scheme and plan and think and learn and grown.
And while our main characters were doing all that, we got to know the world they were living in. Even though the book isn't action packed, it's not filled with long info dumps either. On the contrary. Since our characters have lived in this world their entire lives, we're not getting explanations at all. We're being shown the world. And that's so much better! Everything we need to know, we learn because it happens, because we're witnessing it or because our characters are dealing with the consequences.
However, it were the characters I loved most about this book. Especially our little seer is an amazing character. She's not the fighter type, but so often we're shown how brave she is, how kind she is and how she's willing to fight for herself AND this world. Luckily she has a great captain fighting for her too and helping her wherever he can. It was easy to fall in love with them and to root for them! Even though we all know that the tale of Rapunzel isn't always happy and the author does keep all the core elements.
Let me start with saying that this book might not be for you if you need a lot of actual action in your book. Although the stakes are high and although our characters end up in quite a lot of dangerous situations, most of those issues are solved cleverly and not violently. I personally loved that. Those characters weren't hotheads rushing into something and winning because of plot-armor. These characters had to scheme and plan and think and learn and grown.
And while our main characters were doing all that, we got to know the world they were living in. Even though the book isn't action packed, it's not filled with long info dumps either. On the contrary. Since our characters have lived in this world their entire lives, we're not getting explanations at all. We're being shown the world. And that's so much better! Everything we need to know, we learn because it happens, because we're witnessing it or because our characters are dealing with the consequences.
However, it were the characters I loved most about this book. Especially our little seer is an amazing character. She's not the fighter type, but so often we're shown how brave she is, how kind she is and how she's willing to fight for herself AND this world. Luckily she has a great captain fighting for her too and helping her wherever he can. It was easy to fall in love with them and to root for them! Even though we all know that the tale of Rapunzel isn't always happy and the author does keep all the core elements.
December 19, 2020
Thank you Midnight Tide publishing for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review...
Pineapple...that's all...
But in all seriousness, haha, I really loved this book! The characters, the storyline, the adventure they go on is definitely magical and you find yourself wanting to run alongside them and learn some magic spells. While there is a nod to the "steampunk" genre with airships and goggles, I definitely would not peg it as such. It is a futuristic fantasy filled with magical creatures of all kinds, yes for sure, but other than that I really don't get a steampunk vibe. That is not to say that that differs my opinion of it being any less fantastic though!
I'm not sure if any adjustments or edits have been made since I've received this copy, but there were a lot of sentences missing words or punctuation that disrupted the flow of the story. For me, having to pause and reread a sentence and filling in the missing pieces myself really pulls me out of the adventure and it isn't always easy to jump right back in. It was a bit distracting but I believe with one more run-through from someone with a keen eye, they could be fixed quickly.
Overall this was such a fun story! I loved the colorful display throughout the entire novel and I just wish there was more, haha, I didn't want the story to end...and I really want to hangout with Manu and talk pineapple...
Pineapple...that's all...
But in all seriousness, haha, I really loved this book! The characters, the storyline, the adventure they go on is definitely magical and you find yourself wanting to run alongside them and learn some magic spells. While there is a nod to the "steampunk" genre with airships and goggles, I definitely would not peg it as such. It is a futuristic fantasy filled with magical creatures of all kinds, yes for sure, but other than that I really don't get a steampunk vibe. That is not to say that that differs my opinion of it being any less fantastic though!
I'm not sure if any adjustments or edits have been made since I've received this copy, but there were a lot of sentences missing words or punctuation that disrupted the flow of the story. For me, having to pause and reread a sentence and filling in the missing pieces myself really pulls me out of the adventure and it isn't always easy to jump right back in. It was a bit distracting but I believe with one more run-through from someone with a keen eye, they could be fixed quickly.
Overall this was such a fun story! I loved the colorful display throughout the entire novel and I just wish there was more, haha, I didn't want the story to end...and I really want to hangout with Manu and talk pineapple...
October 26, 2020
Unique Rapunzel Twist
Wilham takes the Rapunzel story we all know and gives it a steampunk twist in this easy read. I liked Persinette, but for me, Manu really stole the show. It was refreshing to see an upbeat, supportive male lead instead of the usual broody hero. His scenes really helped balance Persinette’s life inside the tower, adding extra insight into Wilham’s extensive world building.
Wilham takes the Rapunzel story we all know and gives it a steampunk twist in this easy read. I liked Persinette, but for me, Manu really stole the show. It was refreshing to see an upbeat, supportive male lead instead of the usual broody hero. His scenes really helped balance Persinette’s life inside the tower, adding extra insight into Wilham’s extensive world building.
July 23, 2022
Persinette is a 24-year-old seer who lives in the kingdom of Daiwynn. She's an Enchanted and an asset for MOTHER, helping them Collecting other Enchanted with her visions. But Persi feels bad having to send people of her own kind to MOTHER's labor camps, and she dreams of freedom. When her handler, Gothel, tells her she will go out on the field on their next Collection, Persi first gets scared. Then she decides it's time to stand up and do whatever she can for the Enchanted. Without tippning MOTHER off...
Manu Kelii is the 26-year-old captain on the airship The Defiant Duchess. He does missions for the Uprising, with the goal of overthrowing MOTHER. But when he's assigned to work with Persi to obstruct the Collecting, Manu's in for a tough challenge...
This is a steampunk retelling of Rapunzel! I love the premise and the world building, and that there's a lot of different creatures, such as pixies, werewolves, unicorns, fairies, trolls and kelpies. But... I'm not that fond of the main characters. Persi and Manu mix chapters, and to begin with I enjoy the humorous tone.
"A shrill, angry noise broke the silence of the early morning, startling Persi and setting her heart racing once more. With narrowed eyes, she glared at the offending alarm clock on her bedside table."
Pretty soon I think that both Persi and Manu is behaving rather childish, considering their age. Persi is also very naive. After spending 16 years as a prisoner at MOTHER I would think she's learned a thing or two, but no. I also find it unrealistic that she never gets better when she's assigned physical training in preparation for field duty. After several weeks she still hasn't made ANY progress?! Agnes can't be a very good trainer, even though he's portraited as such. I also wish that someone told the author to delete a big chunk of Persi's "giggles"... Manu is acting kind of dandy-like and I'm having trouble seeing how he was chosen as captain. But I adore his closest man, Benard!
* I received a free copy of the book from BookSirens and I'm giving my honest review. *
Manu Kelii is the 26-year-old captain on the airship The Defiant Duchess. He does missions for the Uprising, with the goal of overthrowing MOTHER. But when he's assigned to work with Persi to obstruct the Collecting, Manu's in for a tough challenge...
This is a steampunk retelling of Rapunzel! I love the premise and the world building, and that there's a lot of different creatures, such as pixies, werewolves, unicorns, fairies, trolls and kelpies. But... I'm not that fond of the main characters. Persi and Manu mix chapters, and to begin with I enjoy the humorous tone.
"A shrill, angry noise broke the silence of the early morning, startling Persi and setting her heart racing once more. With narrowed eyes, she glared at the offending alarm clock on her bedside table."
Pretty soon I think that both Persi and Manu is behaving rather childish, considering their age. Persi is also very naive. After spending 16 years as a prisoner at MOTHER I would think she's learned a thing or two, but no. I also find it unrealistic that she never gets better when she's assigned physical training in preparation for field duty. After several weeks she still hasn't made ANY progress?! Agnes can't be a very good trainer, even though he's portraited as such. I also wish that someone told the author to delete a big chunk of Persi's "giggles"... Manu is acting kind of dandy-like and I'm having trouble seeing how he was chosen as captain. But I adore his closest man, Benard!
* I received a free copy of the book from BookSirens and I'm giving my honest review. *
July 15, 2021
What a super cute steampunkish Rapunzel retelling! The Girl in the Clockwork Tower follows Persi, a seer forced to work for the evil and anti-magic MOTHER agency, and quirky goofball, Captain Manu, Persi's assigned Uprising point of contact in a world filled with all manner of familiar magical people (Mermaids, Werewolves, Unicorns etc) and a few subtle pop culture references peppered in.
I absolutely loved the characters. Persi is super sweet, but shows a lot of courage as she tries to subvert MOTHER from the inside, and Manu is just this dramatic, pineapple-loving dandy airship Captain that you really can't help but love. I absolutely loved the tongue-in-cheek banter between he and his grumpy goblin first mate, Benard. And Manu and Persi were super cute together—just a heroic pair of cinnamon rolls. And I also really liked that even though Manu and Persi are wholesome and have this innocence to them, the story really didn't shy away from the horridness of MOTHER.
The only thing that was a little off for me was the pacing. I thought the middle dragged a bit, and then the ending felt rushed—without the full closure I was expecting. It sounds like this is going to be the first book in a series, but I still felt there were some threads of the story that seemed to be left hanging. I would totally recommend to fantasy fans looking for a unique retelling with loveable characters, fun banter, and a clean, sweet romance.
Thanks so much to Booksirens and the publisher for the free ARC!
I absolutely loved the characters. Persi is super sweet, but shows a lot of courage as she tries to subvert MOTHER from the inside, and Manu is just this dramatic, pineapple-loving dandy airship Captain that you really can't help but love. I absolutely loved the tongue-in-cheek banter between he and his grumpy goblin first mate, Benard. And Manu and Persi were super cute together—just a heroic pair of cinnamon rolls. And I also really liked that even though Manu and Persi are wholesome and have this innocence to them, the story really didn't shy away from the horridness of MOTHER.
The only thing that was a little off for me was the pacing. I thought the middle dragged a bit, and then the ending felt rushed—without the full closure I was expecting. It sounds like this is going to be the first book in a series, but I still felt there were some threads of the story that seemed to be left hanging. I would totally recommend to fantasy fans looking for a unique retelling with loveable characters, fun banter, and a clean, sweet romance.
Thanks so much to Booksirens and the publisher for the free ARC!
July 8, 2021
Steampunk Rapunzel-inspired tale? Check.
Dashing captain of an airship? Check.
Magic? Check.
Weird obsession with pineapples? Check!
The Girl in the Clockwork Tower is a steampunk Rapunzel-inspired tale full of adventure and magic and great, well-developed characters.
Persinette was brought to MOTHER headquarters at the age of 8 and has since been used as a seer, tracking the ‘Enchanted’ so that they can be captured by MOTHER’s agents and placed in concentration camps. 16 years later, Persinette, or Persi, doesn’t take the entrapment of her own kind lightly but is under constant threat from her controlling agent Gothel who makes it clear that once Persi is no longer useful to MOTHER, she will be disposed of.
Luckily for Persi, the Enchanted are not completely defenceless and the ‘Uprising’ have also noticed her talents. Captain Manu Kelii is tasked with recruiting Persi to their cause but can the charming airship captain protect the Seer from the formidable MOTHER?
Lou Wilham’s characters are so well developed you will feel as if you have known them forever. Persinette begins her adventure as a timid, downtrodden, lavender haired girl: used as an asset for as long as she can remember. However, by the closing pages, Persi is a survivor, wielding her new-found magic and is unwilling to be an “asset” for anyone but herself.
Despite Persi’s evolution from broken to badass, Captain Manu Kelii steals the show. Manu is a puppy dog, so eager to please and very confident in himself. When he finally receives a mission from the leader of the Uprising he is like a kid at Christmas and his bizarre obsession with pineapple provides both humour and an almost arrogant air about him. However, Manu’s clear adoration and care for Persi really cause him to grow as a character: this is potentially the first time Manu has worried for someone other than himself.
I would have liked a little more backstory from Manu, we know how he came to be on the ‘Duchess’ and we know him now but what happened in the meantime? It would be nice to have a little more insight into our pirate captain’s previous adventures.
Some reviewers have said this book is not a true Rapunzel retelling and I can see what they mean to a certain extent. I can certainly appreciate that the towns of Pascal and Maximus, the organisation Mother and agent Gothel do feel quite forced. However, Persinette was the “maiden in the tower” of literature before Grimm’s Rapunzel grew her first curl and when you think that Wilham’s Persi is imprisoned in a tower, desperate to explore the outside world but, most importantly, to discover who she truly is, you start to realise that the stories aren’t a million miles apart after all.
That being said, the cute Disney-esque details weren’t really needed, they certainly weren’t what made this story great: The Girl in the Clockwork Tower would have easily stood its own ground without any affinity to Rapunzel being made.
It shouldn’t need adding but sadly the lack of diversity in other novels means that readers find it refreshing and reassuring when LGBTQIA characters are included and Lou Wilham does not disappoint. Eddi, the leader of the uprising uses gender neutral pronouns and Benard and Owen are the cutest “gay dads” to Manu.
I really appreciated how these characters’ genders or sexuality were not under a spotlight: pronouns were used and relationships were explained, just as they were with Manu and Persi and that is just how it should be.
The Girl in the Clockwork tower is a gritty fairytale; complete with love, magic, villains, airships, concentration camps and a fair amount of alcohol on Manu’s part! Persi’s adventure sees her discovering her strength, her magic and maybe even finding love: this is one damsel who doesn’t need a man to save the day!
Thank you to Booksirens. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Dashing captain of an airship? Check.
Magic? Check.
Weird obsession with pineapples? Check!
The Girl in the Clockwork Tower is a steampunk Rapunzel-inspired tale full of adventure and magic and great, well-developed characters.
Persinette was brought to MOTHER headquarters at the age of 8 and has since been used as a seer, tracking the ‘Enchanted’ so that they can be captured by MOTHER’s agents and placed in concentration camps. 16 years later, Persinette, or Persi, doesn’t take the entrapment of her own kind lightly but is under constant threat from her controlling agent Gothel who makes it clear that once Persi is no longer useful to MOTHER, she will be disposed of.
Luckily for Persi, the Enchanted are not completely defenceless and the ‘Uprising’ have also noticed her talents. Captain Manu Kelii is tasked with recruiting Persi to their cause but can the charming airship captain protect the Seer from the formidable MOTHER?
Lou Wilham’s characters are so well developed you will feel as if you have known them forever. Persinette begins her adventure as a timid, downtrodden, lavender haired girl: used as an asset for as long as she can remember. However, by the closing pages, Persi is a survivor, wielding her new-found magic and is unwilling to be an “asset” for anyone but herself.
Despite Persi’s evolution from broken to badass, Captain Manu Kelii steals the show. Manu is a puppy dog, so eager to please and very confident in himself. When he finally receives a mission from the leader of the Uprising he is like a kid at Christmas and his bizarre obsession with pineapple provides both humour and an almost arrogant air about him. However, Manu’s clear adoration and care for Persi really cause him to grow as a character: this is potentially the first time Manu has worried for someone other than himself.
I would have liked a little more backstory from Manu, we know how he came to be on the ‘Duchess’ and we know him now but what happened in the meantime? It would be nice to have a little more insight into our pirate captain’s previous adventures.
Some reviewers have said this book is not a true Rapunzel retelling and I can see what they mean to a certain extent. I can certainly appreciate that the towns of Pascal and Maximus, the organisation Mother and agent Gothel do feel quite forced. However, Persinette was the “maiden in the tower” of literature before Grimm’s Rapunzel grew her first curl and when you think that Wilham’s Persi is imprisoned in a tower, desperate to explore the outside world but, most importantly, to discover who she truly is, you start to realise that the stories aren’t a million miles apart after all.
That being said, the cute Disney-esque details weren’t really needed, they certainly weren’t what made this story great: The Girl in the Clockwork Tower would have easily stood its own ground without any affinity to Rapunzel being made.
It shouldn’t need adding but sadly the lack of diversity in other novels means that readers find it refreshing and reassuring when LGBTQIA characters are included and Lou Wilham does not disappoint. Eddi, the leader of the uprising uses gender neutral pronouns and Benard and Owen are the cutest “gay dads” to Manu.
I really appreciated how these characters’ genders or sexuality were not under a spotlight: pronouns were used and relationships were explained, just as they were with Manu and Persi and that is just how it should be.
The Girl in the Clockwork tower is a gritty fairytale; complete with love, magic, villains, airships, concentration camps and a fair amount of alcohol on Manu’s part! Persi’s adventure sees her discovering her strength, her magic and maybe even finding love: this is one damsel who doesn’t need a man to save the day!
Thank you to Booksirens. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 16, 2022
Love the writing style of Lou and the worlds created by her so much! And I enjoyed this book just like the other ones I've read so far by Lou Wilham.
There is a sharp distinction between humans and a wide variety of magical creatures like goblins, unicorns, seers, etc. And humans capture the magical ones and treat them very poorly. Our main character is a Seer called Persinette who is forced to work for them since she was a child and the other main character is a pirate captain named of the rebels named Manu Kelii. I did not like Persi much yet I absolutely adored Manu Kelii and his family/crew.
The first 3/4 of the book was too slow for me. I sincerely even thought that might be a 0.5th book instead of the first book in the series yet the last quarter was better at pace and gave me mostly what I wanted. That and the fact that there are several parts I found utterly unlogical. And also there is another character named Agnes and I feel the lack of his POV deeply. So these are the reasons why I decided not to give it a five star.
Will definitely continue the series both because of THAT ENDING and I wanna, nope slash that, I NEED to know what will happen next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There is a sharp distinction between humans and a wide variety of magical creatures like goblins, unicorns, seers, etc. And humans capture the magical ones and treat them very poorly. Our main character is a Seer called Persinette who is forced to work for them since she was a child and the other main character is a pirate captain named of the rebels named Manu Kelii. I did not like Persi much yet I absolutely adored Manu Kelii and his family/crew.
The first 3/4 of the book was too slow for me. I sincerely even thought that might be a 0.5th book instead of the first book in the series yet the last quarter was better at pace and gave me mostly what I wanted. That and the fact that there are several parts I found utterly unlogical. And also there is another character named Agnes and I feel the lack of his POV deeply. So these are the reasons why I decided not to give it a five star.
Will definitely continue the series both because of THAT ENDING and I wanna, nope slash that, I NEED to know what will happen next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 8, 2026
Persinette is a seer living in the tower, a Nazi-esc organization intent on collecting and wiping out all the Enchanted folks in the world and exploiting them. Manu is an attractive pirate captain who's charged with converting Persi to the side of the uprising and using her to get information to help stop collections and maybe even get more folks out—he doesn't expect to be instantly smitten with her.
There's a lot I could say about this book. It's indicative that the author, in the acknowledgements, does not thank any editors. Frankly, if I were the editor, I'd be embarrassed to see my name in this book. Yes, there are the typos that any basic grammar checker should have caught. But there are also the random plot arcs, the lack of worldbuilding, the missing foreshadowing, the strange ways that characters react emotionally, the cheesy dialogue, and of course, the instalove. Yes, I've read books whose writing was technically worse. But they usually aren't published yet. This book had some fun concepts, and I honestly could see it as a webseries. But it wasn't ready to be a novel yet.
There's a lot I could say about this book. It's indicative that the author, in the acknowledgements, does not thank any editors. Frankly, if I were the editor, I'd be embarrassed to see my name in this book. Yes, there are the typos that any basic grammar checker should have caught. But there are also the random plot arcs, the lack of worldbuilding, the missing foreshadowing, the strange ways that characters react emotionally, the cheesy dialogue, and of course, the instalove. Yes, I've read books whose writing was technically worse. But they usually aren't published yet. This book had some fun concepts, and I honestly could see it as a webseries. But it wasn't ready to be a novel yet.
January 20, 2021
I’ll say this forever and ever: I love fairy tale retellings. And this one is an extremely charming and enchanting version of Rapunzel. Fans of Tangled will see similar themes, such as MOTHER being an organization that keeps Persi locked away and Gothel, the apathetic handler. And yes, don’t forget the long hair.
I also love a good character development that depicts a shy, timid character growing into a strong, driven one. This growth was so relatable to me; I enjoyed reading along and watching Persi light up as she discovers her abilities, her goodwill, and her passions.
Manu is also a delight. Very much the smolder-master Flynn Ryder, Manu also learns to fight his battles his way without losing sight of why he’s in the fight in the first place. Persi and Manu are surrounded by other delightful fairy tale creatures to create quite the magical steampunk aesthetic.
Wilham tells a great story of resistance and acceptance. Next to Persi, we learn a bit more about accepting what makes other people special and letting those traits blossom instead of diminishing it. Everyone’s got a little spark of something to fight for.
This book is ideal for YA readers but I think even New Adult readers will enjoy this retelling of Rapunzel. There’s also some LGBTQTIA+ representation that will appeal to inclusive readers.
I also love a good character development that depicts a shy, timid character growing into a strong, driven one. This growth was so relatable to me; I enjoyed reading along and watching Persi light up as she discovers her abilities, her goodwill, and her passions.
Manu is also a delight. Very much the smolder-master Flynn Ryder, Manu also learns to fight his battles his way without losing sight of why he’s in the fight in the first place. Persi and Manu are surrounded by other delightful fairy tale creatures to create quite the magical steampunk aesthetic.
Wilham tells a great story of resistance and acceptance. Next to Persi, we learn a bit more about accepting what makes other people special and letting those traits blossom instead of diminishing it. Everyone’s got a little spark of something to fight for.
This book is ideal for YA readers but I think even New Adult readers will enjoy this retelling of Rapunzel. There’s also some LGBTQTIA+ representation that will appeal to inclusive readers.
December 29, 2020
Lou Wilham’s The Girl in the Clockwork Tower is a steampunk, fairytale retelling of a trapped, tender-hearted Rapunzel. This Rapunzel is named Persinette or Persi, and an evil organization (MOTHER) forces her to use her abilities to find and oppress people of her kind.
Meanwhile, riding high above the population, Manu Kelii, a pirate captain who is part of the faction who oppose MOTHER known as the Uprising, sets off on his next mission in his airship. He is to make contact with Persi and have her feed him information. Captain Manu is a flamboyant flirt and one of the more humorous characters in the novel.
An enjoyable interpretation, Wilham builds a lot on the short Rapunzel story and creates a lavender-haired main character who is both loveable and admirable—a great heroine. As the novel progresses, Persi’s situation becomes more and more dire, and Manu is forced to make a hard decision. The author keeps the tension high to the action-packed climax. Wilhem promises more novels in this series and here’s to hoping she continues. This richly-rendered first offering deserves a full-on series.
Meanwhile, riding high above the population, Manu Kelii, a pirate captain who is part of the faction who oppose MOTHER known as the Uprising, sets off on his next mission in his airship. He is to make contact with Persi and have her feed him information. Captain Manu is a flamboyant flirt and one of the more humorous characters in the novel.
An enjoyable interpretation, Wilham builds a lot on the short Rapunzel story and creates a lavender-haired main character who is both loveable and admirable—a great heroine. As the novel progresses, Persi’s situation becomes more and more dire, and Manu is forced to make a hard decision. The author keeps the tension high to the action-packed climax. Wilhem promises more novels in this series and here’s to hoping she continues. This richly-rendered first offering deserves a full-on series.
September 19, 2020
First things first: if you're reading this book without a pinapple flavored drink in your hand, you're reading it wrong.
Now, to the real review: A diverse cast creates a wonderful famiy and story against this steampunk dystopian background.
Persi is adorable, and it was a joy to watch her grow from a naive girl to a fearless leader. As for Manu, he matures as he comes to realize his responsibility in his role in the Uprising, and understanding when to go with it, and when to follow his heart and do something different.
I am excited for the series to continue to see how the battles between MOTHER and the Uprising continues, deepening the setting and making the people around the situation question what is really best for society.
Now, to the real review: A diverse cast creates a wonderful famiy and story against this steampunk dystopian background.
Persi is adorable, and it was a joy to watch her grow from a naive girl to a fearless leader. As for Manu, he matures as he comes to realize his responsibility in his role in the Uprising, and understanding when to go with it, and when to follow his heart and do something different.
I am excited for the series to continue to see how the battles between MOTHER and the Uprising continues, deepening the setting and making the people around the situation question what is really best for society.
May 19, 2021
Thank you to Lou (the author) for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read and chose to review.
I will be the first to admit that steampunk has never been my genre, perhaps Lou is trying to change that?
Omg... okay. My two favorite characters have to be Bernard and Owen. Seriously, I could just smoosh them.
This book has quirky characters (Looking at you Manu), pompous a**holes, seriously despicable characters (ugh... too many) but all serve a purpose.
If you love quirky characters, loose retellings, battle scenes, awkward moments, snarky a** unicorns or pineapples (yes pineapples) then this may be for you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
I will be the first to admit that steampunk has never been my genre, perhaps Lou is trying to change that?
Omg... okay. My two favorite characters have to be Bernard and Owen. Seriously, I could just smoosh them.
This book has quirky characters (Looking at you Manu), pompous a**holes, seriously despicable characters (ugh... too many) but all serve a purpose.
If you love quirky characters, loose retellings, battle scenes, awkward moments, snarky a** unicorns or pineapples (yes pineapples) then this may be for you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
December 16, 2020
There is much that can be said about this book, and all of it good. If you're looking for adventure; emotional moments; dynamic, multi-faceted, and interesting characters; drama; and all-around fun... this is the book for you. It's fast paced without feeling rushed or incomplete. This is the sort of story you won't want to put down, and which is satisfying but at the same time makes you want more. There are little nods to other things throughout, which I will leave you to discover for yourself. ;) The book is suitable for most ages, and will make a fine addition to any library... physical or electronic, public or personal.
January 28, 2021
A really good read, WE WAAAANT MOOOREEE
April 19, 2021
I truly loved this book. This novel tells the story of a young woman discovering her powers and herself as she finally learns to stand up for what she believes in.
The characters were all well developed and the story was very interesting. I can hardly wait to read what happens to Persinette yet.
Despite my enthusiasm, I'm giving this novel 4 stars instead of 5 because of a few minor details that might be of importance only to me.
First of all, when I picked this novel up, I was sold the idea of a twisted fairy tale and it is completely misleading. To me, a twisted fairy tale must comprise enough elements of the original fairy tale to identify it and enjoy fully the twists. Here there were only small allusions in the names of places and characters. And they were allusions to the Disney adaptation of the original, which bothered me a little. To me, this book had an existence of its own and didn't enter this definition of a rewriting or re-reading of another story. The plot was truly original and those allusions seemed forced and unnecessary.
The second thing deals with the main character. While I absolutely loved the characters of this novel, I felt like there were too many giggles in some situations (which I will not spoil) but it ruined them for me.
But as I said, this might only bother me so I strongly encourage you to read this book because it is completely worth it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characters were all well developed and the story was very interesting. I can hardly wait to read what happens to Persinette yet.
Despite my enthusiasm, I'm giving this novel 4 stars instead of 5 because of a few minor details that might be of importance only to me.
First of all, when I picked this novel up, I was sold the idea of a twisted fairy tale and it is completely misleading. To me, a twisted fairy tale must comprise enough elements of the original fairy tale to identify it and enjoy fully the twists. Here there were only small allusions in the names of places and characters. And they were allusions to the Disney adaptation of the original, which bothered me a little. To me, this book had an existence of its own and didn't enter this definition of a rewriting or re-reading of another story. The plot was truly original and those allusions seemed forced and unnecessary.
The second thing deals with the main character. While I absolutely loved the characters of this novel, I felt like there were too many giggles in some situations (which I will not spoil) but it ruined them for me.
But as I said, this might only bother me so I strongly encourage you to read this book because it is completely worth it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 9, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this steampunk retelling of Rapunzel with call backs to the original tale with depth added through the background conflict. Persinette takes her name from the French telling of Rapunzel, and her MOTHER handler is Agent Gothel, taking the name from the witch in the original tale.
These characters were amazing! Persi is sweet, curious, and left me remembering the sense of awe at learning new things about the world. Owen and Bernard are my favorite side characters! Their sass rivals Captain Manu's shameless flirting. They are the gay adoptive uncles we all need; unconditional love and support, but won't hesitate to call you out for rash choices and being ridiculous.
The best part of this retelling was the connection of the world outside of the tower to Persi's character growth. MOTHER is rounding up Enchanted members in hiding (pixies, unicorns, goblins, etc.) and the Uprising is trying to stop them from collecting the Enchanted and putting them in labor camps. Persi and Manu must work together for espionage to save others. This thinly veiled reference to the Holocaust sets the stage for the themes of morality, choice, survival, sacrifice, and loss.
The ending left me satisfied and excited for more work by Lou.
Read Alike: "Cress" from the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
Romance was totally G- Small kisses
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
These characters were amazing! Persi is sweet, curious, and left me remembering the sense of awe at learning new things about the world. Owen and Bernard are my favorite side characters! Their sass rivals Captain Manu's shameless flirting. They are the gay adoptive uncles we all need; unconditional love and support, but won't hesitate to call you out for rash choices and being ridiculous.
The best part of this retelling was the connection of the world outside of the tower to Persi's character growth. MOTHER is rounding up Enchanted members in hiding (pixies, unicorns, goblins, etc.) and the Uprising is trying to stop them from collecting the Enchanted and putting them in labor camps. Persi and Manu must work together for espionage to save others. This thinly veiled reference to the Holocaust sets the stage for the themes of morality, choice, survival, sacrifice, and loss.
The ending left me satisfied and excited for more work by Lou.
Read Alike: "Cress" from the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
Romance was totally G- Small kisses
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 8, 2021
Persinette, an Enchanted asset for an organization known as MOTHER, feels guilty each time she is forced into helping with the Collection of other Enchanted. As she secretly learns magic in order to try and save the Enchanted that are being Collected, she is suddenly pulled into partnering with sky pirate Captain Manu Kelii, who is part of the Uprising against MOTHER. Together, they race against the clock before more innocent are harmed.
What I liked:
– The banter in between Manu and Benard. As a fan of banter, there was plenty of it in between the captain and his first mate.
– Relating some names to Disney’s Tangled. The organizations, the characters, the cities…I loved making the connections!
– The concept. As far as fairy tale retellings go, this was definitely an interesting take!
What I didn’t like:
– The pacing. I often found myself wondering if a lot of the events were really necessary to get the point across.
– The lack of closure. The author makes mention that the adventures of Persi and Manu are far from over—so things could probably eventually be further expanded upon later—but in the end I was left wondering what was the point of bringing certain things up if the author wasn’t going to do anything with it. The way things wrapped up was unfulfilling for certain characters, as well.
– This had no effect on the rating, just a little personal pet peeve: the constant use of Persi’s asset number. Almost every sentence out of Agnes’s mouth ended with her asset number. Purposely tantalizing or not, nobody speaks someone’s name (or asset number, in this case) that often. Gah!
– Also had no effect on the rating but still needs mention: the errors. It wasn’t just punctuation and missing words, but plenty of what seemed to be the author starting to write something, changing her mind and writing it a different way, then not deleting the previous part. As a slow reader, it was very distracting and pulled me out of the adventure so many times.
Overall:
– Though it wasn’t quite what I expected it to be (and definitely not steampunk enough!), The Girl in the Clockwork Tower was still an enjoyable read.
What I liked:
– The banter in between Manu and Benard. As a fan of banter, there was plenty of it in between the captain and his first mate.
– Relating some names to Disney’s Tangled. The organizations, the characters, the cities…I loved making the connections!
– The concept. As far as fairy tale retellings go, this was definitely an interesting take!
What I didn’t like:
– The pacing. I often found myself wondering if a lot of the events were really necessary to get the point across.
– The lack of closure. The author makes mention that the adventures of Persi and Manu are far from over—so things could probably eventually be further expanded upon later—but in the end I was left wondering what was the point of bringing certain things up if the author wasn’t going to do anything with it. The way things wrapped up was unfulfilling for certain characters, as well.
– This had no effect on the rating, just a little personal pet peeve: the constant use of Persi’s asset number. Almost every sentence out of Agnes’s mouth ended with her asset number. Purposely tantalizing or not, nobody speaks someone’s name (or asset number, in this case) that often. Gah!
– Also had no effect on the rating but still needs mention: the errors. It wasn’t just punctuation and missing words, but plenty of what seemed to be the author starting to write something, changing her mind and writing it a different way, then not deleting the previous part. As a slow reader, it was very distracting and pulled me out of the adventure so many times.
Overall:
– Though it wasn’t quite what I expected it to be (and definitely not steampunk enough!), The Girl in the Clockwork Tower was still an enjoyable read.
December 9, 2021
Reading this book reignited my love for fantasy adventures. Without giving too much away, I can say a few things about the storyline first and then about why I loved this book so much.
The main character Persi is a tender-hearted magic wielding seer kept in a type of prison and forced to divulge the whereabouts of magical people to a sinister organization called MOTHER. MOTHER takes the people who are magical to labor camps and forces them to work until they die. Persi does not want to participate in this atrocity, so when she is given the opportunity to save some people, she jumps at the chance. Around her are angry unicorns, loving giants, tender goblins and one handsome were-tiger.
I liked the book so much because it blended pirates, witches, fairies, goblins and other magical creatures, but in their world the enemy was evil because it was intolerant and hate-mongering not just because it wanted to do away with good. There are ambiguities and questions about whether war is moral even though it might be considered for the right cause.
This was one great tale and promises to be an entertaining series. Keep writing, Wilham.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main character Persi is a tender-hearted magic wielding seer kept in a type of prison and forced to divulge the whereabouts of magical people to a sinister organization called MOTHER. MOTHER takes the people who are magical to labor camps and forces them to work until they die. Persi does not want to participate in this atrocity, so when she is given the opportunity to save some people, she jumps at the chance. Around her are angry unicorns, loving giants, tender goblins and one handsome were-tiger.
I liked the book so much because it blended pirates, witches, fairies, goblins and other magical creatures, but in their world the enemy was evil because it was intolerant and hate-mongering not just because it wanted to do away with good. There are ambiguities and questions about whether war is moral even though it might be considered for the right cause.
This was one great tale and promises to be an entertaining series. Keep writing, Wilham.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 15, 2022
I loved this version of Rapunzel it is probably my favorite version of Rapunzel I have read. ( Tangled probably takes the cake for overall favorite adaptation but this novel does as excellent job of capturing the banter from tangled.)
I know some people might be wary of the steampunk elements but in this novel the steampunk elements are used mostly for atmosphere ( airship pirates!)
I loved that both Captain Manu and Persinette refused to overlook the individuals being hurt by MOTHER in the name of greater good. Thematically it was a wonderful nuanced point that often gets overlooked in resistance stories. And I thought this point was a lovely bit of connection that served as the foundation for the Captain Manu/Persinette friendship and romance.
Also Persinette's characteristic excitement for new experiences is wonderfully counterpointed by Captain Manu's ability to remain take pleasure in the simple things (like pineapple cocktails) despite the grimness of the world. (Honestly, I wish I was a little more like Captain Manu in this regard).
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review.
I know some people might be wary of the steampunk elements but in this novel the steampunk elements are used mostly for atmosphere ( airship pirates!)
I loved that both Captain Manu and Persinette refused to overlook the individuals being hurt by MOTHER in the name of greater good. Thematically it was a wonderful nuanced point that often gets overlooked in resistance stories. And I thought this point was a lovely bit of connection that served as the foundation for the Captain Manu/Persinette friendship and romance.
Also Persinette's characteristic excitement for new experiences is wonderfully counterpointed by Captain Manu's ability to remain take pleasure in the simple things (like pineapple cocktails) despite the grimness of the world. (Honestly, I wish I was a little more like Captain Manu in this regard).
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review.
November 16, 2022
The Girl in the Clockwork Tower by Lou Wilham is a quirky steampunk aesthetic retelling of Rapunzel that mixes humor with magic in an Oceans Eleven type caper. The story is a dual narrative following Persi, a magical seer who is under the thumb of an evil corporation MOTHER, and Captain Manu, a goofy and lovable member of the Uprising who wants MOTHER gone. The story is full of scheming and subterfuge that culminates in an epic battle. Persi and Manu share information via magic mirror and their plans are full of checkpoints involving magical creatures like goblins, unicorns, and pixies. I especially loved the scenes in the library of the TOWER where Persi lives. The world building is well done and the story kept my interest from start to finish. This is a fun, interesting Fairytale retelling that you're sure to love!
August 5, 2022
So you've got Rapunzel, right? And all sorts of other magical creatures--unicorns, fairies, goblins, werewolves--right? And they're being hunted, right? Except the big bad anti-magic organization MOTHER is hypocritically using said hunted magical beings and their magic to hunt down other magical beings and put them in magical concentration camps under the assumption that the magical beings will not be able to fight back, and that the resistance headed by one ship captain with a pineapple addiction will not meet, fall for, and subsequently wreak absolute havoc on behalf of any of their beautiful, purple-haired agents.
Got all that?
Good. Now make it steampunk, and you've got this book.
It's got unique magic. It's got high-stakes adventure. It's got secret agents falling in love. It's got a vast world full of fantasy references I am always DELIGHTED to catch on to. And, most importantly, it's got a sequel you can read right now and a third installment right around the corner!!
Would absolutely recommend for fans of fairytale retellings (or revampings), heist-type adventure, or pineapples.
Got all that?
Good. Now make it steampunk, and you've got this book.
It's got unique magic. It's got high-stakes adventure. It's got secret agents falling in love. It's got a vast world full of fantasy references I am always DELIGHTED to catch on to. And, most importantly, it's got a sequel you can read right now and a third installment right around the corner!!
Would absolutely recommend for fans of fairytale retellings (or revampings), heist-type adventure, or pineapples.
April 3, 2026
Don't waste your money, don't waste your time. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, but I genuinely can't think of a single good thing about this book. Besides the multitude of spelling and grammar errors, the world-building was abysmal and the characterisation bland. I read the full 385 pages and could not tell you the point of this book - what the plot (if you can even call it that) was even trying to achieve.
I could probably write an entire essay about everything I disliked about this book, but I'm afraid enough of my time has already been wasted.
I could probably write an entire essay about everything I disliked about this book, but I'm afraid enough of my time has already been wasted.
September 25, 2020
An imaginative retelling! Fun, quirky, and action packed. If you love Tangled, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Stardust, I think you'll love this novel!
April 12, 2026
Honestly, this book gets one star for the cover and one for pineapples. I feel that with some editing, this story would be better.
October 17, 2020
Pineapples, damsels in distress trying to save others and a big bad Organization. Lastly, it’s a loosely based retailing in a steampunk world.
Well, this book checked off a number of boxes for me and I’m glad it worked. However, not going to lie, not the biggest fan of DIDs but there was growth for Persi and that made it worth cheering her on. I even liked the problematic unicorn. (Who knew that was even possible to put in a sentence together?!)
I could go on but then that would be spoiling it so let’s just say I enjoyed it and can’t wait for more.
Well, this book checked off a number of boxes for me and I’m glad it worked. However, not going to lie, not the biggest fan of DIDs but there was growth for Persi and that made it worth cheering her on. I even liked the problematic unicorn. (Who knew that was even possible to put in a sentence together?!)
I could go on but then that would be spoiling it so let’s just say I enjoyed it and can’t wait for more.
September 30, 2020
I really wish Goodreads had a half star rating! I think this book is more a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I was not sure how I would feel about this story since it's a little out of my comfort zone. I highly recommend grabbing some pineapple and reading this story!
I was definitely not disappointed with The Girl in the Clockwork Tower though! I don't even know where to beginning with this review. The characters were great and almost relatable even though they are magical beginnings mixed with humans living at MOTHER.
I really liked Persi but I thought she was a little naive at times. Guess that's what happens when you are trapped in a tower since you were a child. So many characters in this story but it wasn't hard to keep everyone in line. Manu was an interesting character that seemed like a child/young man at times but then seemed far older than he was. I really enjoyed Bernard and the friendship he had with Manu.
I LOVED the character development that Persi developed throughout this story. It's gradual as the story progresses but then she really shows it at the end.
I did feel that this story dragged a little in the middle but it makes sense with how the Collections were spread out and you definitely couldn't move fast with some of these plans.
I was kinda expecting this story to end the way it did but the author still threw in somethings that I was not at all expecting. I had to go back and read a few parts over just to make sure I read things right and hadn't missed anything. I was thankful for the epilogue and the fact that this story doesn't end on a cliffhanger. The author perfectly left this story with a good ending that could be continued into a second book.
I was left with some questions about certain characters and things that happened but I have a feeling the second book will answer most of them.
I was definitely not disappointed with The Girl in the Clockwork Tower though! I don't even know where to beginning with this review. The characters were great and almost relatable even though they are magical beginnings mixed with humans living at MOTHER.
I really liked Persi but I thought she was a little naive at times. Guess that's what happens when you are trapped in a tower since you were a child. So many characters in this story but it wasn't hard to keep everyone in line. Manu was an interesting character that seemed like a child/young man at times but then seemed far older than he was. I really enjoyed Bernard and the friendship he had with Manu.
I LOVED the character development that Persi developed throughout this story. It's gradual as the story progresses but then she really shows it at the end.
I did feel that this story dragged a little in the middle but it makes sense with how the Collections were spread out and you definitely couldn't move fast with some of these plans.
I was kinda expecting this story to end the way it did but the author still threw in somethings that I was not at all expecting. I had to go back and read a few parts over just to make sure I read things right and hadn't missed anything. I was thankful for the epilogue and the fact that this story doesn't end on a cliffhanger. The author perfectly left this story with a good ending that could be continued into a second book.
I was left with some questions about certain characters and things that happened but I have a feeling the second book will answer most of them.
October 12, 2020
Love a fairy tale retelling? Then this steampunk Rapunzel retelling is just for you! Persi has had enough of MOTHERs orders, and is tired of being used to roundup other Enchanted beings. Just as she is trying to find a way to help her kind, the Uprising is looking for a new "man" on the inside. Is this the answer that Persi has been looking for?
I loved all the details in this story. From how I was able to see Daiwynn, to how I was able to hear all of the steam-powered aspects, and feel attached to some beloved characters. I can't wait for Persi's next adventure!
I loved all the details in this story. From how I was able to see Daiwynn, to how I was able to hear all of the steam-powered aspects, and feel attached to some beloved characters. I can't wait for Persi's next adventure!
May 18, 2021
I'm the biggest fan of fairytale retellings, so it's no wonder that I picked up this book when I saw it offered as an Arc read. First off, I've read many cinderellas or the little mermaid retellings but not many Rapunzel ones, which was what first grabbed my interest in this book. The author writes in a way that makes you feel like you are joining the character's adventures and journey. On top of that, we get hints of the steampunk genre throughout, such as airships/ goggles. I was pleased with the character growth as well and felt that the way the characters were written was also relatable and likable. Honestly, this story was quite charming and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
September 30, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and quirky. This book is a mix of Tangled, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Steam Punk all rolled into one interesting retelling. This definitely kept my attention all the way through.
I received this as a free ARC copy, but all opinions are my own!
I received this as a free ARC copy, but all opinions are my own!
July 13, 2022
Rapunzel retelling? Check!
Steampunk? Check!
Flying ships and espionage? Check and check!
This series is full of sweet adventures and found family. Cute characters you'll remember long after you finish the book.
Steampunk? Check!
Flying ships and espionage? Check and check!
This series is full of sweet adventures and found family. Cute characters you'll remember long after you finish the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews