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mad_about_books's review
5.0
Putting down DREADNOUGHT and picking up this one... So easy on a Kindle!
I'm happy to say that starting DREADNOUGHT before CLEMENTINE did not detract from either book. Although there is an overlap in characters, CLEMENTINE is not exactly a sequel to BONESHAKER.
I do like the Civil War aspect of Cherie Priest's contribution to steampunk. Although Victorian England seems the natural venue, the Americas in the late 19th century also affords a great backdrop for steam creations.
From my experience, a definite aspect of steampunk seems to be the self-sufficient heroine. There is a strong, female figure heading the cast in every steampunk book or story that I've read so far.
Again, I'm not telling you the story. I will say that this cross-country dirigible chase keeps our heroine, Belle Boyd, on her toes.
I'm happy to say that starting DREADNOUGHT before CLEMENTINE did not detract from either book. Although there is an overlap in characters, CLEMENTINE is not exactly a sequel to BONESHAKER.
I do like the Civil War aspect of Cherie Priest's contribution to steampunk. Although Victorian England seems the natural venue, the Americas in the late 19th century also affords a great backdrop for steam creations.
From my experience, a definite aspect of steampunk seems to be the self-sufficient heroine. There is a strong, female figure heading the cast in every steampunk book or story that I've read so far.
Again, I'm not telling you the story. I will say that this cross-country dirigible chase keeps our heroine, Belle Boyd, on her toes.
kblincoln's review against another edition
3.0
Much like the other books in The Clockwork Century, Clementine is a mixed bag for me.
Love the action. Love the alternate history. Love the idea of each character.
Frustrated by not being able to spend in depth time with each tantalizing character and unhappy with the lack of attachment to the main heroine.
Still, totally worth reading.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: More tapas and turkey burgers (see my review of Boneshaker and Dreadnought) that look good, are enjoyable going down, but leave you vaguely unsatisfied at the end.
Love the action. Love the alternate history. Love the idea of each character.
Frustrated by not being able to spend in depth time with each tantalizing character and unhappy with the lack of attachment to the main heroine.
Still, totally worth reading.
This Book's Food Designation Rating: More tapas and turkey burgers (see my review of Boneshaker and Dreadnought) that look good, are enjoyable going down, but leave you vaguely unsatisfied at the end.
librovert's review
4.0
Audio Comments at End of Review
I was looking all over for a copy of this limited edition story in the Clockwork Century universe when I finally found it in Audible form. Connected to Boneshaker by Croggon Beauregard Hainey and his dirigible Clementine - both which make appearances in the first novel. Clementine also introduces us to Maria Isabella Boyd who is a quick-witted, independent southern woman who works for a detective agency.
Clementine is a fantastically written novella with the thrill of a western and all the propriety of the steampunk era.
Audiobook
Clementine is the second book in the series to be dual-narrated. I thought both narrators fit their part and made each of the characters come alive.
I was looking all over for a copy of this limited edition story in the Clockwork Century universe when I finally found it in Audible form. Connected to Boneshaker by Croggon Beauregard Hainey and his dirigible Clementine - both which make appearances in the first novel. Clementine also introduces us to Maria Isabella Boyd who is a quick-witted, independent southern woman who works for a detective agency.
Clementine is a fantastically written novella with the thrill of a western and all the propriety of the steampunk era.
Audiobook
Clementine is the second book in the series to be dual-narrated. I thought both narrators fit their part and made each of the characters come alive.
mferrante83's review against another edition
4.0
I missed out on Clementine’s initial release via Subterranean Press but discovered last week that Audible released an audio version via their Audible Frontiers SFF imprint. Clementine is a novella set in the Clockwork Century universe and centers on two main characters: Captain Croggon Beauregard Heaney (first met in Boneshaker) and former Confederate spy turned Pinkerton detective Maria Isabella Boyd. Clementine focuses on the narratives of these two characters featuring Heaney’s quest to recover his stolen vessel The Free Crow (now christened the titular Clementine) and Maria’s first job as a Pinkerton to ensure the Clementine’s safe arrival at its destination. Of course, not everything goes according to plan for either side…much to the delight of readers. While having read Boneshaker isn’t a requirement for reading Clementine the events that take place prior to the novella, namely the theft of the Free Crow from Captain Heaney and its rechristening as Clementine, are detailed towards Boneshaker’s conclusion. The how and why of it are less important than the fact that it did happen though and new readers (or listeners) will have little trouble jumping aboard with Clementine.
Both the lead characters of Clementine are vividly drawn. The massive Heaney driven and determined is a brigand through and through but not without some sense of justice and honor. Heaney, a former slave is first time the Priest really confronts the social situation of a 19th century America. The strong confident and deadly Maria Boyd is treated in a similar manner allowing for Priest to illuminate the prejudices faced by both women and non-whites. While it might be argued that Maria Boyd, as an unmarried woman, serves as a sort of rehash of Briar Wilkes from Boneshaker it don’t honestly think that is the case here. Maria, twice widowed and without child, is also something of a notorious figure given her role as Confederate spy. As a result in addition to the stigma of a being an unmarried woman the question of her loyalties to her former home adds an extra element of distrust when dealing with her new employer. The social politics aren’t a central concern of the novel and serve more as added element of tension rather than some sort of moral finger wagging.
The folks at Audible did a great job in casting two narrators: Dina Pearlman and Victor Bevine. Both narrators do a fantastic job of capturing the southern accents of both Maria and Captain Heaney; though Victor is much less adept at capturing the Jamaican accent of Heaney’s first mate. While the narratives remain separate during the early chapters the different narrators definitely help in forming a concrete picture of each character. Later, once the two leads have crossed paths the alternating of male and female narrators during dialogue definitely adds to immersion.
While I think Priest is extraordinarily adept at crafting distinct and memorable characters Clementine gives Priest a chance to flex her muscles with high octane action. Airship chases and gun fights are littered across the novella and Priest does a fantastic job at creating some intense action scenes. One in particular, which has Maria manning a ball turret on an airship, left me grinning and near breathless at the same time. The final half of the novella in particular was one great action set piece after another.
Clementine was a fun listen and I was more than a little disappointed that there wasn’t more once the novella was over. Not that things weren’t wrapped up in a satisfactory manner, they were, but mostly because I had enjoyed my time with the characters so much that I didn’t really want it to end. I hope we get to see Captain Heaney, his crew, and Maria Boyd again.
Both the lead characters of Clementine are vividly drawn. The massive Heaney driven and determined is a brigand through and through but not without some sense of justice and honor. Heaney, a former slave is first time the Priest really confronts the social situation of a 19th century America. The strong confident and deadly Maria Boyd is treated in a similar manner allowing for Priest to illuminate the prejudices faced by both women and non-whites. While it might be argued that Maria Boyd, as an unmarried woman, serves as a sort of rehash of Briar Wilkes from Boneshaker it don’t honestly think that is the case here. Maria, twice widowed and without child, is also something of a notorious figure given her role as Confederate spy. As a result in addition to the stigma of a being an unmarried woman the question of her loyalties to her former home adds an extra element of distrust when dealing with her new employer. The social politics aren’t a central concern of the novel and serve more as added element of tension rather than some sort of moral finger wagging.
The folks at Audible did a great job in casting two narrators: Dina Pearlman and Victor Bevine. Both narrators do a fantastic job of capturing the southern accents of both Maria and Captain Heaney; though Victor is much less adept at capturing the Jamaican accent of Heaney’s first mate. While the narratives remain separate during the early chapters the different narrators definitely help in forming a concrete picture of each character. Later, once the two leads have crossed paths the alternating of male and female narrators during dialogue definitely adds to immersion.
While I think Priest is extraordinarily adept at crafting distinct and memorable characters Clementine gives Priest a chance to flex her muscles with high octane action. Airship chases and gun fights are littered across the novella and Priest does a fantastic job at creating some intense action scenes. One in particular, which has Maria manning a ball turret on an airship, left me grinning and near breathless at the same time. The final half of the novella in particular was one great action set piece after another.
Clementine was a fun listen and I was more than a little disappointed that there wasn’t more once the novella was over. Not that things weren’t wrapped up in a satisfactory manner, they were, but mostly because I had enjoyed my time with the characters so much that I didn’t really want it to end. I hope we get to see Captain Heaney, his crew, and Maria Boyd again.
lorialdenholuta's review against another edition
3.0
A good enough plot, but for me, a trudge to read. If you are determined to read Cherie Priest, I suggest Boneshaker.
kluwes's review against another edition
3.0
While not as fleshed out as the last book in this series, this book had better characters. It's only 200 pages so not a lot of time to develope the plot but it was a fun spinoff story in the Clockwork Century Universe.
maryrobinette's review against another edition
5.0
I very much enjoyed this. It's non-stop action with two highly resourceful main characters. I would happily read more adventures with Belle and Hainey.