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The Incredible Talking Machine
Pull back the curtain and enter a world where mystery and magic take centre stage...
Twelve-year-old Tig works at the Theatre Royale, cleaning, selling tickets and doing anything else that is asked of her by her tyrannical boss, Mr Snell. But Tig will do whatever it takes to get closer to her dream – to become a Stage Manager and spend her days inventing new ways to imagine and build the intricate machinery and props that bring the exciting productions to life!
But when a strange new act – a talking machine – arrives at the Theatre Royale, it moves and behaves in a way that Tig just can’t work out. It’s as though it’s alive somehow . . . And when the machine appears to be hiding a dangerous secret, Tig must race against time to solve the mystery, before everything and everyone she cares about is lost forever.
A gloriously gothic adventure from an original new voice in middle-grade.
A gloriously gothic adventure with a magical twist from an original new voice in middle-grade. Perfect for fans of Michelle Harrison, Sophie Anderson and Emma Carroll.
Twelve-year-old Tig works at the Theatre Royale, cleaning, selling tickets and doing anything else that is asked of her by her tyrannical boss, Mr Snell. But Tig will do whatever it takes to get closer to her dream – to become a Stage Manager and spend her days inventing new ways to imagine and build the intricate machinery and props that bring the exciting productions to life!
But when a strange new act – a talking machine – arrives at the Theatre Royale, it moves and behaves in a way that Tig just can’t work out. It’s as though it’s alive somehow . . . And when the machine appears to be hiding a dangerous secret, Tig must race against time to solve the mystery, before everything and everyone she cares about is lost forever.
A gloriously gothic adventure from an original new voice in middle-grade.
A gloriously gothic adventure with a magical twist from an original new voice in middle-grade. Perfect for fans of Michelle Harrison, Sophie Anderson and Emma Carroll.
- GenresMiddle GradeMystery
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
3 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Jenni Spangler
8 books28 followersTheatre school drop out, ex-999 operator and occasional forklift driver, Jenni writes children’s books with a magical twist. She loves to take real and familiar places and events and add a layer of mystery and hocus-pocus.
She was part of the first year of the ‘WriteMentor’ scheme, mentored by Lindsay Galvin, author of ‘The Secret Deep’. As well as her magical middle grade novels, Jenni writes short contemporary YA stories for reluctant and struggling readers, including Torn and Wanted for Badger Learning.
Jenni has an Open University degree in English Language and Literature, a 500 metre swimming badge and a great recipe for chocolate brownies. She lives in Staffordshire with her husband and two children. She loves old photographs, picture books and tea, but is wary of manhole covers following an unfortunate incident.
She was part of the first year of the ‘WriteMentor’ scheme, mentored by Lindsay Galvin, author of ‘The Secret Deep’. As well as her magical middle grade novels, Jenni writes short contemporary YA stories for reluctant and struggling readers, including Torn and Wanted for Badger Learning.
Jenni has an Open University degree in English Language and Literature, a 500 metre swimming badge and a great recipe for chocolate brownies. She lives in Staffordshire with her husband and two children. She loves old photographs, picture books and tea, but is wary of manhole covers following an unfortunate incident.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 10, 2021
I picked up a gothic/historical children's book by this author before. Although I had not enjoyed it completely, it intrigued me. This was enough for me to try out this one when I saw it.
I read a few scattered books aimed at a younger audience during any given year, and I try to keep in mind the target audience when I react to it. In this case, such forethought was not required. Although the primary characters of the narrative are children, and the plotline is quite straightforward, it was highly enjoyable.
As an adult, I appreciated the well rounded lead characters, especially Tig. She is a hard-working employee who loves her job. She finds herself fascinated with two things, the resident ghost of the theatre and the newly arrived talking automaton. She unearths shady doings to add to her troubles.
The whole narrative shows the varying degrees that characters can be 'good'. They are not all good in the same way, which adds flavour to it. The story is short and action-packed. I have a recently turned-nine-year-old who would be able to read the whole thing in one sitting. The way the revelations unfold, it is bound to keep a child's attention at all times - all the way through to the end. With the Halloween theme of this month (if you are into that sort of thing), this would be a worthy addition to a bookshelf. Also, this is historical fiction and provides enough background for a younger audience to be curious about other 'strange' behaviour of olden day England.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
I read a few scattered books aimed at a younger audience during any given year, and I try to keep in mind the target audience when I react to it. In this case, such forethought was not required. Although the primary characters of the narrative are children, and the plotline is quite straightforward, it was highly enjoyable.
As an adult, I appreciated the well rounded lead characters, especially Tig. She is a hard-working employee who loves her job. She finds herself fascinated with two things, the resident ghost of the theatre and the newly arrived talking automaton. She unearths shady doings to add to her troubles.
The whole narrative shows the varying degrees that characters can be 'good'. They are not all good in the same way, which adds flavour to it. The story is short and action-packed. I have a recently turned-nine-year-old who would be able to read the whole thing in one sitting. The way the revelations unfold, it is bound to keep a child's attention at all times - all the way through to the end. With the Halloween theme of this month (if you are into that sort of thing), this would be a worthy addition to a bookshelf. Also, this is historical fiction and provides enough background for a younger audience to be curious about other 'strange' behaviour of olden day England.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
July 18, 2021
Roll up! Roll up! Spangler’s literary spectacle chills and delights!
It’s 1848 and the cotton mills of Manchester clatter and cough. A new show has come to the Theatre Royale, for those who can afford the ticket. Inside, up in the flies, stagehand Tig Rabbit glimpses a ghost while lighting the lamps and accidentally drops her light-stick - damaging the star equipment of the new act: Faber’s fabulous talking machine.
As fast as the light-stick drops, Tig falls into trouble.
There are many marvellous cogs and keys here: a ghost, clockwork machines, inventions, illusions, predictions, greed and betrayal, and the great question: can you change your fate? Should you even try?
Jenni Spangler does a terrific job setting up the suspense and I was gripped from the moment we saw the ‘ugly spiderweb’ ruining the talking machine’s blue eye. And what an exciting finale!
At the centre of it all is Tig Rabbit. Heart-on-her sleeve, hair in a mess, spanner in hand. Tig is curious, brave, and selfless - and that’s saying something for a meddling mite who sleeps on the floor, downtrodden by those supposed to care for her. Can she change her destiny?
Loved it!
It’s 1848 and the cotton mills of Manchester clatter and cough. A new show has come to the Theatre Royale, for those who can afford the ticket. Inside, up in the flies, stagehand Tig Rabbit glimpses a ghost while lighting the lamps and accidentally drops her light-stick - damaging the star equipment of the new act: Faber’s fabulous talking machine.
As fast as the light-stick drops, Tig falls into trouble.
There are many marvellous cogs and keys here: a ghost, clockwork machines, inventions, illusions, predictions, greed and betrayal, and the great question: can you change your fate? Should you even try?
Jenni Spangler does a terrific job setting up the suspense and I was gripped from the moment we saw the ‘ugly spiderweb’ ruining the talking machine’s blue eye. And what an exciting finale!
At the centre of it all is Tig Rabbit. Heart-on-her sleeve, hair in a mess, spanner in hand. Tig is curious, brave, and selfless - and that’s saying something for a meddling mite who sleeps on the floor, downtrodden by those supposed to care for her. Can she change her destiny?
Loved it!
January 24, 2022
Middle grade. Theatre. Predictions.
Story: Tig works at the Theatre Royale in Manchester as a stage hand and doing odd jobs. On the day a new performer comes with an incredible Talking Machine, Tig sees the theater's ghost.
Language: Set in 1848 Manchester, this book uses its setting to provide backdrop and to educate young readers. With the poor, the factory workers, street food and living conditions, readers are drawn into a bleak world.
Characters: Tig is spunky, often disobeying orders and doing as she wishes. She is an orphan and her whole life has been in the theater. Other characters include the theater owners, other workers and the new performer.
I'm not much of a theater person, so I was a little hesitant starting this book. Then Chris Mould's illustrations leapt out at me and I was drawn in. I loved the setting and atmosphere and so much is packed into this 200 odd page book, I felt like I had been watching a two hour movie - in a good way. The ending was great with the possibility to continue the story and I was gripped in the action of the last few chapters. I was even surprised by a plot twist I didn't see coming. Incredible enjoyable, a whirlwind of fun.
Story: Tig works at the Theatre Royale in Manchester as a stage hand and doing odd jobs. On the day a new performer comes with an incredible Talking Machine, Tig sees the theater's ghost.
Language: Set in 1848 Manchester, this book uses its setting to provide backdrop and to educate young readers. With the poor, the factory workers, street food and living conditions, readers are drawn into a bleak world.
Characters: Tig is spunky, often disobeying orders and doing as she wishes. She is an orphan and her whole life has been in the theater. Other characters include the theater owners, other workers and the new performer.
I'm not much of a theater person, so I was a little hesitant starting this book. Then Chris Mould's illustrations leapt out at me and I was drawn in. I loved the setting and atmosphere and so much is packed into this 200 odd page book, I felt like I had been watching a two hour movie - in a good way. The ending was great with the possibility to continue the story and I was gripped in the action of the last few chapters. I was even surprised by a plot twist I didn't see coming. Incredible enjoyable, a whirlwind of fun.
October 15, 2021
Me and my son were huge fans of The Vanishing Trick and were so excited to share this one together at bedtime. One thing I found difficult about this was whether a the idea of a why a talking automaton would be so fascinating to people would make any sort of sense to a child who has grown up with tablets, mobile phones etc. ...and in truth, I did need to spend quite a bit of time explaining the context. Spangler is brilliant at creating atmosphere and a sense of the time period and it gave my son and I lots to talk about as well as being a great adventure. Very enjoyable to read aloud too. Great stuff!
July 23, 2021
Man does Jenni Spangler know how to do ‘creepy without being terrifying’ stories incredibly well. I loved her first story and had high hopes for this. Thoroughly enjoyed this! Danger, prophecies, theatres, stealing and an unlikely friendship. I just thought it was all kinds of good! I’d love to be Tig’s friend, but maybe without the danger! I loved Faber and the twists and turns were just brilliant. I hope their next adventure has a little less peril! Must also give a shout out to the illustrations by Chris Mould too. The occasional drawings in his signature style just made me so happy!
January 17, 2022
Another brilliant book by Jenni Spangler! This story is full of peril, excitement and superb historical detail, just like her other book The Vanishing Trick.
Personally I found it slower at the beginning than TVT, which grabbed me and pulled me in straight away, but this could have been down to me rather than the book itself.
The story is set in 1848 Manchester, where Tig works at the Theatre Royale (believed to be haunted). Although the work is hard and sometimes dangerous she has her only friend Nelson to keep her spirits up. One day, a new show comes to the theatre ‘The Incredible Talking Machine’ with its creator Professor Faber. This sets in motion a series of mysterious events which Tig must find her way though in order to save herself, her friends and The Theatre Royale itself.
I loved this story with its historical detail just at the right level for a middle grade book. The setting in Manchester is beautifully described, with its workers busy as bees, the scary and dangerous wooden mill, the new fangled gas lighting, the slums and the chemist making up his own beneficial concoctions. Jenni writes perfect villains, determined heroes and enough quirky characters to make you think. I love how, by the end of the book the villains have their just desserts and the heroes are off to continue their life adventures.
P.S.I also love Chris Mould’s fantastic illustrations!
Personally I found it slower at the beginning than TVT, which grabbed me and pulled me in straight away, but this could have been down to me rather than the book itself.
The story is set in 1848 Manchester, where Tig works at the Theatre Royale (believed to be haunted). Although the work is hard and sometimes dangerous she has her only friend Nelson to keep her spirits up. One day, a new show comes to the theatre ‘The Incredible Talking Machine’ with its creator Professor Faber. This sets in motion a series of mysterious events which Tig must find her way though in order to save herself, her friends and The Theatre Royale itself.
I loved this story with its historical detail just at the right level for a middle grade book. The setting in Manchester is beautifully described, with its workers busy as bees, the scary and dangerous wooden mill, the new fangled gas lighting, the slums and the chemist making up his own beneficial concoctions. Jenni writes perfect villains, determined heroes and enough quirky characters to make you think. I love how, by the end of the book the villains have their just desserts and the heroes are off to continue their life adventures.
P.S.I also love Chris Mould’s fantastic illustrations!
July 4, 2021
Evocative and mysterious, so descriptively composed, I could smell the musty costumes and gas lights as I followed Tig through the depths of the old theatre. Tig will be applauded by readers for her bravery, loyalty and boldness, Snell jeered for his greed and contempt. I love that history has been woven into this absorbing story which has all the elements to make children lose themselves between the pages.
July 4, 2021
What a lovely MG novel, with a fantasy (gothic) element and a real historical fact as background. Tig is a lovely protagonist, and while the book drags a bit at the start, it picks up later on. The detail of working in a theatre much before modern amenities like electricity was available is fascinating.
Will definitely be recommending this to young and old readers who like a bit of magic and spooks in their lives.
(Review copy from NetGalley)
Will definitely be recommending this to young and old readers who like a bit of magic and spooks in their lives.
(Review copy from NetGalley)
August 11, 2023
It’s official, I will absolutely read any Middle Grade from Jenni Spangler! I love her style and characters and the small, contained stories she spins so well! This one was no exception and I really enjoyed the theater setting and the lightly spooky tone. Vanishing Trick is still my favorite, but I thoroughly enjoyed all three of this author’s books!
June 28, 2021
This book was great fun. Tig is incredibly resourceful and pragmatic, trying to survive as a young girl in a Victorian Manchester theatre. With well described villains, ghosts, and a miraculous machine, there is something for every middle grade reader to enjoy here.
May 15, 2022
Loved this Victorian tale. Evocative language pulls you into the era. Total page-turner. I loved the Author’s note which explains the true story behind the novel. Have researched it more and am so pleased to learn about Faber and his inventions. Totally brilliant.
February 13, 2023
The Incredible Talking Machine had me wanting to yell at a heroine & hug a ghost. Kindness and art wrestling for survival in the face of greed in the Industrial Revolution. The vivid smells of wood & dust; gas & ginnels; intrigue & betrayal.
Loved it !
Loved it !
September 18, 2023
A fantastic story to set your imagination alight. A ghost, a bunch of baddies, a mad professor, a boy, a girl and a theatre, but mainly a marvellous talking machine that predicts the future. Can you work out what the predictions really mean? 5 stars for this wonderful story.
July 31, 2021
"All theatres are haunted."
Hooked from the start. Another excellent gothic adventure from the author of The Vanishing Trick.
Hooked from the start. Another excellent gothic adventure from the author of The Vanishing Trick.
September 22, 2021
Another fun one from Spangler!!
January 26, 2023
4.25 stars
July 8, 2024
Another incredible unputdownable tale from the peerless Jenni Spangler.
August 3, 2021
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book I have read by Jenni Spangler, and it is another delight. She is quickly becoming my go-to for mg gothic fiction.
The story is set in 1840s Manchester amidst the noise and bustle of a factory town. We follow Tig, a young stage hand, who lives and works at the Theatre Royale. Her life is far from easy as the owner, Mr Snell, forces his staff of children to work every moment of the day.
Despite this, Tig knows she is fortunate to have a job at the Theatre as this has saved her from the dangers of working in a cotton factory. Another perk of her job is getting to see all the wonderous acts that perform on the stage. The latest of these is an incredible talking machine. As audiences are fascinated and then repulsed by the strange contraption, something even more bizarre is occurring when Tig is alone with the machine. It seems to be talking on its own! Tig is thrust into a world of secrets and mysteries which she needs to solve before things go disastrously wrong.
Jenni Spangler is so good at world building and creating the perfect atmosphere in a book. The vivid descriptions put you right there in theatre, alongside Tig, precariously climbing above the stage and exploring its shadowy corners after dark. The supernatural elements of the story are woven in so seamlessly that instead of questioning if certain occurances are possible, you start to think that maybe they really did happen!
The author seems to have a talent for creating particularly nasty villains! This one is greedy and devious. I cheered every time our protagonist outwitted them and they were made to look rather silly at times. However, this ridiculousness did nothing to lessen their menace or the threat they posed - a perfect combination! Speaking of thwarting the villain, our protagonist, Tig, is delightful. She is kind and determined, with great curiosity and a belief in doing what is right. She makes the best of whatever situation she is in and within the first few pages she had completely stolen my heart!
This is a great book for readers aged 9+. Anyone who likes Victorian/gothic stories with lots of mystery should read it.
This is the second book I have read by Jenni Spangler, and it is another delight. She is quickly becoming my go-to for mg gothic fiction.
The story is set in 1840s Manchester amidst the noise and bustle of a factory town. We follow Tig, a young stage hand, who lives and works at the Theatre Royale. Her life is far from easy as the owner, Mr Snell, forces his staff of children to work every moment of the day.
Despite this, Tig knows she is fortunate to have a job at the Theatre as this has saved her from the dangers of working in a cotton factory. Another perk of her job is getting to see all the wonderous acts that perform on the stage. The latest of these is an incredible talking machine. As audiences are fascinated and then repulsed by the strange contraption, something even more bizarre is occurring when Tig is alone with the machine. It seems to be talking on its own! Tig is thrust into a world of secrets and mysteries which she needs to solve before things go disastrously wrong.
Jenni Spangler is so good at world building and creating the perfect atmosphere in a book. The vivid descriptions put you right there in theatre, alongside Tig, precariously climbing above the stage and exploring its shadowy corners after dark. The supernatural elements of the story are woven in so seamlessly that instead of questioning if certain occurances are possible, you start to think that maybe they really did happen!
The author seems to have a talent for creating particularly nasty villains! This one is greedy and devious. I cheered every time our protagonist outwitted them and they were made to look rather silly at times. However, this ridiculousness did nothing to lessen their menace or the threat they posed - a perfect combination! Speaking of thwarting the villain, our protagonist, Tig, is delightful. She is kind and determined, with great curiosity and a belief in doing what is right. She makes the best of whatever situation she is in and within the first few pages she had completely stolen my heart!
This is a great book for readers aged 9+. Anyone who likes Victorian/gothic stories with lots of mystery should read it.
April 1, 2023
Read through audiobook.
Step inside a world of magic.
Creepy, gothic, but not terrifying. Well balanced by using real historical facts as background.
Step inside a world of magic.
Creepy, gothic, but not terrifying. Well balanced by using real historical facts as background.
June 8, 2021
Pull back the curtain and enter a world where mystery and magic take centre stage in a gloriously gothic, Victorian era adventure.
Twelve-year-old Tig works at Manchester’s Theatre Royale, cleaning, selling tickets, crawling along beams to light the gas stage lamps and anything else that is asked of her by her deliciously villainous boss, Mr Snell.
A strange and intriguing new act, a talking machine, arrives and behaves in a way that Tig just can’t work out. The machine appears to be hinting at a dangerous secret, so Tig must race against time to solve the mysterious clues. Just when she thinks she has, it turns out she was wrong and, because of her impetuousness, problems occur and her close friends start to mistrust her.
An action packed Victorian adventure full of ghosts, gadgets and shifty villains.
Jenni Spangler has used a real story to create a tense, atmospheric tale involving a cast of characters, so well written that I read it in one afternoon.
There is plenty of action, from Tig balancing on beams high above the stage in the dark, lighting the new gas stage lamps to mysterious thefts, disappearances and races to try to prevent the machine’s possible predictions for catastrophe.
However, the strength of the story lies in the characters that Jenni has created.
Tig, the feisty, impetuous, determined heroine.
Nelson, the sensible, cautious friend.
Mr Snell, the villainous, permanently nagging boss.
Gus, the ambitious but sneaky stagehand.
Mr (oops, sorry, Professor) Faber, the eccentric German inventor of the talking machine.
Eliza, the stage manager, who does her best to look after Tig when her “act first, think later” attitude gets her in trouble.
Euphonia, the talking head…does she have a mind of her own?
Chris Mould’s brilliant illustrations capture perfectly the array of characters and the gothic feel of the time, adding even more texture to an already well woven story.
Twelve-year-old Tig works at Manchester’s Theatre Royale, cleaning, selling tickets, crawling along beams to light the gas stage lamps and anything else that is asked of her by her deliciously villainous boss, Mr Snell.
A strange and intriguing new act, a talking machine, arrives and behaves in a way that Tig just can’t work out. The machine appears to be hinting at a dangerous secret, so Tig must race against time to solve the mysterious clues. Just when she thinks she has, it turns out she was wrong and, because of her impetuousness, problems occur and her close friends start to mistrust her.
An action packed Victorian adventure full of ghosts, gadgets and shifty villains.
Jenni Spangler has used a real story to create a tense, atmospheric tale involving a cast of characters, so well written that I read it in one afternoon.
There is plenty of action, from Tig balancing on beams high above the stage in the dark, lighting the new gas stage lamps to mysterious thefts, disappearances and races to try to prevent the machine’s possible predictions for catastrophe.
However, the strength of the story lies in the characters that Jenni has created.
Tig, the feisty, impetuous, determined heroine.
Nelson, the sensible, cautious friend.
Mr Snell, the villainous, permanently nagging boss.
Gus, the ambitious but sneaky stagehand.
Mr (oops, sorry, Professor) Faber, the eccentric German inventor of the talking machine.
Eliza, the stage manager, who does her best to look after Tig when her “act first, think later” attitude gets her in trouble.
Euphonia, the talking head…does she have a mind of her own?
Chris Mould’s brilliant illustrations capture perfectly the array of characters and the gothic feel of the time, adding even more texture to an already well woven story.
September 2, 2021
I Really enjoyed this book.
Set in Victorian Manchester we meet Tig, an orphan who helps with the running of a theatre - the main mission to stop it closing down and being sold by dodgy and sneaky Mr Snell.
Hoping to re capture the audiences imagination and keep them visiting an extraordinary talking machine is the main attraction … powered by the mysterious and serious Professor Faber through pedals and bellows the machine seems pretty unspectacular… until one day it starts talking by itself giving cryptic predictions of events about to happen. Can Tig and the Professor work out its meaning and save the theatre and is the machine really talking by itself or is it something altogether paranormal.
The story built with the same tension and atmosphere you would experience in a theatre. Mirroring how the Tig slowly but surely lights up the auditorium the tension and excitement of the story builds until we reach the climax of the story.
The characters were all likeable and the illustrations were great too. I would recommend to others .
Set in Victorian Manchester we meet Tig, an orphan who helps with the running of a theatre - the main mission to stop it closing down and being sold by dodgy and sneaky Mr Snell.
Hoping to re capture the audiences imagination and keep them visiting an extraordinary talking machine is the main attraction … powered by the mysterious and serious Professor Faber through pedals and bellows the machine seems pretty unspectacular… until one day it starts talking by itself giving cryptic predictions of events about to happen. Can Tig and the Professor work out its meaning and save the theatre and is the machine really talking by itself or is it something altogether paranormal.
The story built with the same tension and atmosphere you would experience in a theatre. Mirroring how the Tig slowly but surely lights up the auditorium the tension and excitement of the story builds until we reach the climax of the story.
The characters were all likeable and the illustrations were great too. I would recommend to others .
June 7, 2021
The theatre is Tig’s whole world, she’s a curious girl who wants more than being at the beck & call of the horrid Mr Snell. But chaos always seems to follow her around no matter how hard she tries to do the right thing. A new unusual act, should bring the theatre some much-needed glory, after all who wouldn’t want to see a talking machine? Tig is determined to figure out the secrets behind the professor and his wonderful invention, no matter what kind of trouble it brings. And trouble is definitely on the way!
This is a Victorian adventure story like no other!
Tig is my kind of hero, she’s determined, kind & brave and has big aims in life. She’s a fantastic lead character and the sublime illustrations by the stellar Chris Mould add so much to an already entertaining story.
I received a copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
This is a Victorian adventure story like no other!
Tig is my kind of hero, she’s determined, kind & brave and has big aims in life. She’s a fantastic lead character and the sublime illustrations by the stellar Chris Mould add so much to an already entertaining story.
I received a copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
October 25, 2021
A lovely fantasy, gothic, historical MG story that will enthrall you and keep you reading.
Tig is the plucky, brave heroine of the story, who works in a theatre and is mesmerised by a strange gentleman who arrives one day with his incredible talking machine.
I really enjoyed this story, which reminded me of those school trips to the Victorian factories, the ones where you have to dress up and role play as a factory worker in Victorian times. Super story and illustrations. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this.
Tig is the plucky, brave heroine of the story, who works in a theatre and is mesmerised by a strange gentleman who arrives one day with his incredible talking machine.
I really enjoyed this story, which reminded me of those school trips to the Victorian factories, the ones where you have to dress up and role play as a factory worker in Victorian times. Super story and illustrations. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this.
July 4, 2021
Evocative and mysterious, so descriptively composed, I could smell the musty costumes and gas lights as I followed Tig through the depths of the old theatre. Tig will be applauded by readers for her bravery, loyalty and boldness, Snell jeered for his greed and contempt. I love that history has been woven into this absorbing story which has all the elements to make children lose themselves between the pages.
October 8, 2021
The incredible talking machine was a captivating gothic read that had mystery, adventure and many more!
The protagonist was feisty and bold which was nice to read about. The other characters also seemed realistic.
The plot was amazing and I loved the concept of a talking machine predicting the future! The concept was unique and I enjoyed reading about it!
Overall this was an amazing read and thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!
The protagonist was feisty and bold which was nice to read about. The other characters also seemed realistic.
The plot was amazing and I loved the concept of a talking machine predicting the future! The concept was unique and I enjoyed reading about it!
Overall this was an amazing read and thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2021
Adorable and brilliant middle grade book.
RTC
*ARC received via netgalley
RTC
*ARC received via netgalley
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews