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a_reader_obsessed's review
3.0
3.5 Stars
This initially teetered on the edge of too much too fast, putting signature Rhys Ford insta-lust into ott warp drive.
However, it gradually veered into something more poignant and wholly romantic, and I ended up loving it.
The steampunk historical elements interwoven with political intrigue, plus the hot smexy, only made this better and of course, I’m quite disgruntled that this is so short. I want more please!
This initially teetered on the edge of too much too fast, putting signature Rhys Ford insta-lust into ott warp drive.
However, it gradually veered into something more poignant and wholly romantic, and I ended up loving it.
The steampunk historical elements interwoven with political intrigue, plus the hot smexy, only made this better and of course, I’m quite disgruntled that this is so short. I want more please!
marlobo's review
3.0
Till 35-40 % seemed slow and a bit boring to me, after 40% it got better,
The story made me remember a few books of Amanda Quick. I like very much Amanda Quick's first period and I love as much the historical genre like science fiction. So, in spite of some too edulcorated passages, this was nice.
The story made me remember a few books of Amanda Quick. I like very much Amanda Quick's first period and I love as much the historical genre like science fiction. So, in spite of some too edulcorated passages, this was nice.
jamiesbookaddiction's review
2.0
I'm not sure this author is for me. This is the second book I've read, and while it wasn't a bad book, it wasn't a great one for me.
I had a hard time buying into the relationship with Marcus and Robin. It's very insta-love but it was really unrealistic. I mean, Robin is on the ground, beaten up really badly and Marcus "cursed himself for saving a man who sent a wave of desire down his belly and straight into his hardening cock." LOL What?!?!?!? And the ridiculousness just kept going throughout the rest of the 100 pages.
Wasn't really for me...
I had a hard time buying into the relationship with Marcus and Robin. It's very insta-love but it was really unrealistic. I mean, Robin is on the ground, beaten up really badly and Marcus "cursed himself for saving a man who sent a wave of desire down his belly and straight into his hardening cock." LOL What?!?!?!? And the ridiculousness just kept going throughout the rest of the 100 pages.
Wasn't really for me...
chloeinbooksland's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.0
It was quite good. I would have loved for it to be longer though. To delve deeper into the worldbuilding and the romance.
eb00kie's review
3.0
One encounters here the trademarks of [a:Rhys Ford|4968409|Rhys Ford|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1308678470p2/4968409.jpg]'s work so far:
Average characters - not bad
Average plot - needs be more succinct here, more complex in general
Slow pace - it is a novella, storytelling time has a limit
Weak conflict - conflict usually leads to at least one character getting angry
Altogether, a good effort into Steampunk, but that's just a different wrapping of the same old. Has the writing reached a plateau?
Average characters - not bad
Average plot - needs be more succinct here, more complex in general
Slow pace - it is a novella, storytelling time has a limit
Weak conflict - conflict usually leads to at least one character getting angry
Altogether, a good effort into Steampunk, but that's just a different wrapping of the same old. Has the writing reached a plateau?
susanmacnicol's review
5.0
I was given a copy of this ARC for a fair and impartial review.
With Clockwork Tangerine, Rhys Ford has written a story of such creativity and flair that for a while, I was lost in sheer , breath taking splendour with Marcus and Robin. It's no secret that I am very fond of Rhys' work. I have yet to read a book that didn't rate high on my meter for a writer's story telling flair, the incredibly memorable characters coupled with rich and vibrant settings and in every one of them, wit and flair for circumstances that are real and human and that make me laugh and chuckle at the absolute absurdity of some of them. I value fun in my books and when the author I'm reading tickles my fancy, then I tend to wax lyrical about their work.
Clockwork Tangerine is no different. It is a brilliant and imaginative journey into the world of Marcus Stenhill aka Viscount Westwood, a man from a wealthy background, and well versed in the roughness and violence that is on offer in the world. He is big of heart, fair and strong and sees the good in the man he finds being beaten to death in an alleyway. It's also the story of Robin Harris, teenage science prodigy, used and abused by many in his brilliance to create that which to others seems heretical and forbidden, his keen mind developing scientific remedies for those in corruptive power to put in use in ways that they were not meant to be used. Robin is punished for their sins and for the sin of loving other men.
The incredibly rich world building, the gadgets in the book, the descriptions of a world beset by strange contrivances and fears, a world in which two men in love can never be free to love each other in public for fear of being branded. It is also a world of rich and poor, of a great divide between the classes and those who 'have not got' are simply forgotten, trodden on and left to scrabble for shelter and food. The secondary characters, especially Marcus' grandmother,August Stenhill, and the eccentric Ducky, are beautifully detailed and showcased and add such a lot to the story.
Rhys writes her men with such in depth views into who they are and where they come from and writing from both Robin's and Marcus' perspective allows us to dig deep and see what these men are feeling as they fall deeper and deeper in love. She is a master story teller and a genius at moving her tales along until you are swept away by their passion and eloquence and when that last page is finally over, the disappointment is overwhelming. I wanted this to continue and would gladly have read further or bought the next book in the series if there was one.
I say bravo to Rhys for writing a beautifully evocative steam punk novel of bright imagery and imagination and I hope there are more to come.
With Clockwork Tangerine, Rhys Ford has written a story of such creativity and flair that for a while, I was lost in sheer , breath taking splendour with Marcus and Robin. It's no secret that I am very fond of Rhys' work. I have yet to read a book that didn't rate high on my meter for a writer's story telling flair, the incredibly memorable characters coupled with rich and vibrant settings and in every one of them, wit and flair for circumstances that are real and human and that make me laugh and chuckle at the absolute absurdity of some of them. I value fun in my books and when the author I'm reading tickles my fancy, then I tend to wax lyrical about their work.
Clockwork Tangerine is no different. It is a brilliant and imaginative journey into the world of Marcus Stenhill aka Viscount Westwood, a man from a wealthy background, and well versed in the roughness and violence that is on offer in the world. He is big of heart, fair and strong and sees the good in the man he finds being beaten to death in an alleyway. It's also the story of Robin Harris, teenage science prodigy, used and abused by many in his brilliance to create that which to others seems heretical and forbidden, his keen mind developing scientific remedies for those in corruptive power to put in use in ways that they were not meant to be used. Robin is punished for their sins and for the sin of loving other men.
The incredibly rich world building, the gadgets in the book, the descriptions of a world beset by strange contrivances and fears, a world in which two men in love can never be free to love each other in public for fear of being branded. It is also a world of rich and poor, of a great divide between the classes and those who 'have not got' are simply forgotten, trodden on and left to scrabble for shelter and food. The secondary characters, especially Marcus' grandmother,August Stenhill, and the eccentric Ducky, are beautifully detailed and showcased and add such a lot to the story.
Rhys writes her men with such in depth views into who they are and where they come from and writing from both Robin's and Marcus' perspective allows us to dig deep and see what these men are feeling as they fall deeper and deeper in love. She is a master story teller and a genius at moving her tales along until you are swept away by their passion and eloquence and when that last page is finally over, the disappointment is overwhelming. I wanted this to continue and would gladly have read further or bought the next book in the series if there was one.
I say bravo to Rhys for writing a beautifully evocative steam punk novel of bright imagery and imagination and I hope there are more to come.
scarletine6's review
4.0
Gorgeous.
Possibly the best Rhys Ford story I've heard. I usually think she over eggs her stories and makes them far too long. However, this story was so lovely and I really wanted more. There is a much bigger story in here. The narrator was fab too.
Possibly the best Rhys Ford story I've heard. I usually think she over eggs her stories and makes them far too long. However, this story was so lovely and I really wanted more. There is a much bigger story in here. The narrator was fab too.
kaa's review
Look, I do expect a certain amount of imperialist apologism in most steampunk, but this book was way beyond my current tolerance for it. I also didn't enjoy the writer's style, and the juxtaposition of heavy societal homophobia and Marcus's family's instant and complete acceptance was ridiculous and unrealistic. It felt as though homophobia (and the punishment the author invented for men convicted of sodomy) were used as a source of titillation, which is gross.
suze_1624's review
4.0
3.5* Audio book
A quick steampunk read.
I am too literal normally for steampunk but I did enjoy this one - I especially enjoyed Greg Tremblay's narrating, can see why he gets the accolades!
I would have liked more world building and a bit more on the contraptions Robin was devising - I prefer a theme over charcter based stories - but I did like their move from rescuer/ee to cautious friends to better friends to lovers.
Would read more from them
A quick steampunk read.
I am too literal normally for steampunk but I did enjoy this one - I especially enjoyed Greg Tremblay's narrating, can see why he gets the accolades!
I would have liked more world building and a bit more on the contraptions Robin was devising - I prefer a theme over charcter based stories - but I did like their move from rescuer/ee to cautious friends to better friends to lovers.
Would read more from them