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2.93 AVERAGE
2.93 AVERAGE
I enjoyed reading Mainspring but it had some flaws that detracted from my enjoyment.
Mainspring takes place in an alternate universe with a Clockwork Creator. The religion bears similarity to the Christian tradition but the actual differences are never explained to my satisfaction. Some of that may be due to trying to only reveal what is known to the main character but it leaves the reader's understanding of the world lacking. It was clear that there was some really interesting world-building being done behind the scenes but it would have been nice to see more of it.
One of my biggest complaints was that until the last quarter of the story, the main character was just being carried along by events. He wasn't making any choices about what was happening in his life and once he starts making choices it's because there's no one left to make the decisions for him. None of the small conflicts seemed to have any effect on the greater story arc
Mainspring had really interesting world-building that I would have liked to see more fully developed and revealed. The main character had an interesting journey both physically and character arc-wise but it felt like there was something missing. I probably won't read Mainspring again and I might recommend it based on the world-building but I'm not sure that the strengths outweigh the flaws. It was an interesting look into a Steampunk world but there wasn't enough tension for my tastes.
Mainspring takes place in an alternate universe with a Clockwork Creator. The religion bears similarity to the Christian tradition but the actual differences are never explained to my satisfaction. Some of that may be due to trying to only reveal what is known to the main character but it leaves the reader's understanding of the world lacking. It was clear that there was some really interesting world-building being done behind the scenes but it would have been nice to see more of it.
One of my biggest complaints was that until the last quarter of the story, the main character was just being carried along by events. He wasn't making any choices about what was happening in his life and once he starts making choices it's because there's no one left to make the decisions for him. None of the small conflicts seemed to have any effect on the greater story arc
Mainspring had really interesting world-building that I would have liked to see more fully developed and revealed. The main character had an interesting journey both physically and character arc-wise but it felt like there was something missing. I probably won't read Mainspring again and I might recommend it based on the world-building but I'm not sure that the strengths outweigh the flaws. It was an interesting look into a Steampunk world but there wasn't enough tension for my tastes.
Ενω μεχρι ενα σημειο το παει καλα, προς το τελος καπου το χανει. Ευτυχως μετα τελειωνει γρηγορα.
SPOILERS KIND OF -
Not what I was looking for - I enjoy the clockwork elements of the story, but this does what many writers do that I hate - they have a main character who goes from point A to B to C to D, in a forced direction, and could not possibly have made the trip without going through certain steps - example, your hero starts in a clock-makers shop - then he goes to a library instead of a school, and then he is fired as a clock-maker's assistant so he go to see a priest - then is thrown in jail - and then ends up on a pirate ship - wait, huh? - how does that happen? - it happens because the writer FORCES the character to go through all of these points, and by the way - knowing how to fix and repair clocks and knowing how to navigate a ship - they are in no way similar enough to go from one to the other - sorry, but I cannot stand when a character is pushed into a situation that no one in their right mind would allow them to do - this book fails to deliver anything more than an interesting and beautiful world with contrived characters.
Not what I was looking for - I enjoy the clockwork elements of the story, but this does what many writers do that I hate - they have a main character who goes from point A to B to C to D, in a forced direction, and could not possibly have made the trip without going through certain steps - example, your hero starts in a clock-makers shop - then he goes to a library instead of a school, and then he is fired as a clock-maker's assistant so he go to see a priest - then is thrown in jail - and then ends up on a pirate ship - wait, huh? - how does that happen? - it happens because the writer FORCES the character to go through all of these points, and by the way - knowing how to fix and repair clocks and knowing how to navigate a ship - they are in no way similar enough to go from one to the other - sorry, but I cannot stand when a character is pushed into a situation that no one in their right mind would allow them to do - this book fails to deliver anything more than an interesting and beautiful world with contrived characters.
Lake has, I'll admit, created a wonderfully interesting world, and oftentimes interesting worlds are at the heart of the fantasy/adventure genre. I want to explore it. But not like this.
What Lake seems frustratingly, maddeningly incapable of here is providing us with any reason to care about the people and situations occurring in his interesting world. I don't care if the Mainspring is rewound. I don't care if Hethor dies in the attempt. I don't care if his enemies thwart him, because I have as little reason to dislike them as I have to like Hethor. I don't care about the Chosen People, other than to be mildly repulsed by the seemingly casual racism with which they are portrayed**. I just don't care.
This book was too disappointing too many times. Its premises hit me on a lot of levels: Victoriana, airships, and steampunk? Check. Divides of power along hemispherical lines (otherwise known as imperialism)? Check. Religious/spiritual/magical schisms? God's language? Angels? Checkity check check. I'm even an amateur watch collector for chrissakes. If Lake can't get me into this book, I don't see how anybody could enjoy it.
**Tiny black apes who play drums and make big fires and teach our White scion invaluable lessons about spirituality and love while still regarding him as the leader of their life's quest? Come on. That's pretty repulsive.
What Lake seems frustratingly, maddeningly incapable of here is providing us with any reason to care about the people and situations occurring in his interesting world. I don't care if the Mainspring is rewound. I don't care if Hethor dies in the attempt. I don't care if his enemies thwart him, because I have as little reason to dislike them as I have to like Hethor. I don't care about the Chosen People, other than to be mildly repulsed by the seemingly casual racism with which they are portrayed**. I just don't care.
This book was too disappointing too many times. Its premises hit me on a lot of levels: Victoriana, airships, and steampunk? Check. Divides of power along hemispherical lines (otherwise known as imperialism)? Check. Religious/spiritual/magical schisms? God's language? Angels? Checkity check check. I'm even an amateur watch collector for chrissakes. If Lake can't get me into this book, I don't see how anybody could enjoy it.
**Tiny black apes who play drums and make big fires and teach our White scion invaluable lessons about spirituality and love while still regarding him as the leader of their life's quest? Come on. That's pretty repulsive.
Conceptually, a very interesting world but the weak or rather non-existent character development really ruins it.
Great potential entirely wasted. No redeeming qualties. Both characters and story were lackluster. I read on in the hopes that the end would offer some kind of pay-off, but was sorely disappointed.
DNF. I almost always can push through quickly even in a book I'm not really into. Not this time. So incredibly boring. Hit about 50%, returned to library.
Hmm, not sure what to say about this book. I didn't personally like it that much but I don't have any specific reason. So other than saying I got bored with reading it there isn't anything else to say.
SPOILERS KIND OF -
Not what I was looking for - I enjoy the clockwork elements of the story, but this does what many writers do that I hate - they have a main character who goes from point A to B to C to D, in a forced direction, and could not possibly have made the trip without going through certain steps - example, your hero starts in a clock-makers shop - then he goes to a library instead of a school, and then he is fired as a clock-maker's assistant so he go to see a priest - then is thrown in jail - and then ends up on a pirate ship - wait, huh? - how does that happen? - it happens because the writer FORCES the character to go through all of these points, and by the way - knowing how to fix and repair clocks and knowing how to navigate a ship - they are in no way similar enough to go from one to the other - sorry, but I cannot stand when a character is pushed into a situation that no one in their right mind would allow them to do - this book fails to deliver anything more than an interesting and beautiful world with contrived characters.
Not what I was looking for - I enjoy the clockwork elements of the story, but this does what many writers do that I hate - they have a main character who goes from point A to B to C to D, in a forced direction, and could not possibly have made the trip without going through certain steps - example, your hero starts in a clock-makers shop - then he goes to a library instead of a school, and then he is fired as a clock-maker's assistant so he go to see a priest - then is thrown in jail - and then ends up on a pirate ship - wait, huh? - how does that happen? - it happens because the writer FORCES the character to go through all of these points, and by the way - knowing how to fix and repair clocks and knowing how to navigate a ship - they are in no way similar enough to go from one to the other - sorry, but I cannot stand when a character is pushed into a situation that no one in their right mind would allow them to do - this book fails to deliver anything more than an interesting and beautiful world with contrived characters.