The Clockwork Century, book 1.1
Synopsis: Maria Isabella Boyd’s success as a Confederate spy has made her too famous for further espionage work, and now her employment options are slim. Exiled, widowed, and on the brink of poverty…she reluctantly goes to work for the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in Chicago.
Adding insult to injury, her first big assignment is commissioned by the Union Army. In short, a federally sponsored transport dirigible is being violently pursued across the Rockies and Uncle Sam isn’t pleased. The Clementine is carrying a top secret load of military essentials–essentials which must be delivered to Louisville, Kentucky, without delay.
Intelligence suggests that the unrelenting pursuer is a runaway slave who’s been wanted by authorities on both sides of the Mason-Dixon for fifteen years. In that time, Captain Croggon Beauregard Hainey has felonied his way back and forth across the continent, leaving a trail of broken banks, stolen war machines, and illegally distributed weaponry from sea to shining sea.
And now it s Maria’s job to go get him.
He’s dangerous quarry and she’s a dangerous woman, but when forces conspire against them both, they take a chance and form an alliance. She joins his crew, and he uses her connections. She follows his orders. He takes her advice.
And somebody, somewhere, is going to rue the day he crossed either one of them.
Review: This novel is considered in France as the second volume of the Clockwork Century series and presents a novella, but it is placed between Volume 1 and 2 abroad in the US. That said, I did not notice it at first and I was surprised by the thickness of the book when I received it.
We follow the first story and meet with other characters that we had the chance to discover before. Indeed, his ship stolen, the captain Hainey is determined to reclaim his own whatever the cost! Yet he did not expect that so many persons would try to prevent him from that, starting by Maria Boyd, a spy, sent to immobilize him.
It was interesting to see the determination of Hainey regarding his ship but also to see the loyalty of Maria tested and finally to attend to an unusual alliance. I have not been as carried away as with the first volume but I had a great time with this little story. It was very interesting and fascinating to see one more time the Cherie Priest universe.
Joy // Joyousreads
I don’t think I’ve heard of this series before but that’s not surprising considering the genre. I’m not a reader of anything remotely sounding like steampunk after all.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Melliane
it’s fun sometimes, he first one was really good
kindlemom1
Doesn’t sound like this one of her bests but glad you did still like it. Nice review!
Kim @ BookSwoon
I’ve only read one of Cherie Priest novels, Maplecroft and really enjoyed the gritty writing. This sounds like a enjoyable read, Melliane 🙂
Melliane
I liked it too
Heidi
I just read a novel by her, The Family Plot. I liked it and I want to try more. I will have to check into this series.
Lily Blain
not sure I seen this one around, sounds like a quick read that added to an ongoing storyline
Melliane
yes
Melissa (Books and Things)
Oh interesting. I’ll have to check out this series. I still have this author on my must read list. Need to get to it!
Melliane
book 1 is awesome
LilyElement
Glad you enjoyed, quick reads can really be hit or miss for me so it’s always good to see someone find a good one!
Melanie Simmons
I love that cover. It’s weird that series order is listed different in the US than France.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Rabid Reads
Melliane
right?
blodeuedd
Alas this series did not work for me
Sophia Rose
It sounds exciting and I haven’t read a good steampunk-style story in a while. Good to know about where it fits in the series.
Nice review, Melliane!
Melliane
it’s nice sometimes, book 1 was really great
Melissa (My World...in words and pages)
I read the first book and never got back to this series. I really should try to get to it again. 🙂
ShootingStarsMag
I don’t know this series – though I recognize the author’s name. Thanks for sharing!
Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum
Ah, this explains a lot, I was initially confused how this book fit into the sequence because I am not familiar with it, though I’ve heard of the series of course. I have not caught up with Clockwork Century yet, I hope to one day.
Melliane
yeah I was quite surprised about that
kimbacaffeinate
Interesting it is placed differently in both countries.. This is a series I have on my backlist. Great review 🙂
Lekeisha
This series is new to me, but I can see myself reading it. Glad you enjoyed it!
Tracy Terry
Loving the cover. I am however frustrated by the trend for these ‘.5 novels’ that slip in between other books in a series.
Melliane
yeah..
Mary Kirkland
Next time I’m in the mood for something different, I’ll check this out. It sounds interesting.
Carole Rae
Not for me. But I enjoyed the review! 😀
anna @ herding cats & burning soup
It does look interesting. I still have one of hers to finish. I need to find that!