DNF at about 30% or so...? Can't remember, and can't bring myself to care. All I do know is that I usually give a story about 100 pages or so before I'm done with it. That's a pretty excessive amount of pages, and plenty can be done to persuade me in that kind of space that the book is worth my time and effort to focus on it (when it's not a page-turner on its own, that is).

Sadly, this was not the case. The story did nothing to hold my interest, the characters were all dull, and don't even get me started on the descriptions and dialogues, ugh! I'm all for stories about young inventors - kinda like Timothy from The Un-Magician - but this story didn't make the genre any justice. It just took a kid, kept trying to make us believe he's some kind of genius (something he inherited from both his parents) and yet there was no such proof on the page, other than the author going on and on about a ton of things that could have been edited out of the book and let the tale breathe.

As this is clearly a book for younger readers, I fear it will prove difficult to attract their attention. If even a seasoned, adult reader found it hard to keep up with it in terms of interest, I don't know how someone of a smaller age number would fare any better...

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***

I can see the appeal of this one. .A kid raised in a controlled environment experiencing the larger world for the first time, discovering that reality isn't what he's been told. Lots of giant robots and the threat of complete destruction. Pretty exciting if you're into complex sci-fi.

DNF at about 50%. Yes, it had proven fairly interesting in spells before then, but I really was not enamoured enough (or free of enough time) to continue. Nothing is done to make Noah an unusual character, as he allegedly has spent his entire existence in a forever-being-built building, so his mother and robot companion – the only characters he has ever known – have done wonders to socialise him. Fluking a clue to his destiny, or his past at least, he is suddenly rushed off somewhere, where it's thought he's better in prison, although others disagree, and eventually he can engage in the quest he sets upon himself – to find his father, long thought (at least by him) dead.

This is certainly different in that it is MG steampunk, with everything robotic – even the things cribbed somewhat from elsewhere. "Wars of the Worlds" tripods have eight legs and are robots, but are more or less tripods all the same, and when the dad is met it's little surprise to find he is very much a Dr Moreau character. I certainly found the tech side of things different to many books for this age range, but I found the whole world-building, where either one of Noel's parents might have been the worst thing for him and/or his entire city, and the job is to work out which, rather clumsy. Also, it is far too wordy and wrapped up in itself – this could have lost a hundred pages, and I probably would have found the energy and life to finish it. As to whether I'd have wished to see the sequel I'm led to expect, the jury will remain out. I don't quibble at anyone liking this, but I remain convinced it's too stodgy for my tastes this time.

I've always been scared of robots, and tons of "vengeful" ones in this book didn't change that, but there's an underlying sentiment of growth and enlightenment which make this story an important read.

There's an instant sympathy with main character Noah who's never left the house he lives in with his mother. You can't help get caught up in his excitement when he goes on a hunt to find his father, the infamous inventor. He runs into many interesting characters along the way (including smugglers) with whom he establishes familial-like bonds.

As Noah interacts with each character, as well as the robots, he learns more about himself and humanity. To me, this book is really a study of evolving relationships, Noah's part in each of them and how he applies what he's learned to the next one. It's bitter sweet (but realistic) that his greatest enlightenment comes from time spent with the dispassionate antagonist and non-emotional robots. I love who he ultimately grows into and the people he pulls closer to him.

this was a strong start to this series from Sean Ferrell, it had everything I was looking for from the genre. I enjoyed the adventure elements and how well everything worked overall. The characters were what I was expecting and they felt like realistic people. It left me wanting to read more in this universe and I'm glad I got to read this one.

Rating: 4.5 stars

living in a house that grows bigger at night with an often absent mother and a ticking caretaker robot by the name of Elijah, 11 year-old Noah dreams of escaping the confines of his wooden prison to experience the world around him. why wont his mother take him with her when she goes on her daily trips to the city? why does Elijah not answer Noah's questions about his father or the growing house? why wont Noah's mother let him explore the upper floors of the house? and what are these machines that Noah's mother keeps asking him to work on? overwhelmed by curiosity and frustrated by the lack of answers he is getting from either his mother or Elijah, Noah uses an opportunity to his advantage to seek out the cause of the ever-growing building he calls home. what he finds on the upper floor catapults him into an adventure filled with ships and crew, machinery and humans, cogs and spanners and the family he finds along the way.

Noah is an intelligent 11 year-old boy, a prodigy mechanic. dealing with loneliness and what appears to be emotional neglect on behalf of his parents, he is disappointed regularly by his family. from his mother who keeps him locked inside a wooden house for 11 years, without any company aside from a ticking robot and a list of questions she refuses to answer, to his uncle who sends Noah to jail within minutes of meeting him for the first time, Noah is a child that is desperate for care, love and affection. when he finds out that his father is still alive and exiled to an abandoned island with his mechanical creations, Noah embarks on a quest to find his father and prove to his mother and uncle, as well as the people of his town, that his father is simply a misunderstood scientist. as it becomes clearer that Noah's father is not the caring and kind figure that Noah had been desperately hoping for, Noah is forced to return to the city in disappointment. only the crew of the smuggling ship he travels on, appear to genuinely care for his wellbeing, going out of their way to rescue him on multiple occasions.


this book is a promising first instalment of a middle grade series. it is fast passed, well written, adventurous, emotional and tells a story that, at its core, many children and adults can relate to. it centres themes of found family, and the lengths we would go to for the people we care about. I am very excited about the beginning of this series and am looking forward to reading future books as they come out.

the reason that i did not give this book the full 5 stars was that I sometimes got the feeling that the characters around Noah only showed up to further the plot, however, this is fairly normal in story telling. additionally, this is a middle grade book, so that is to be somewhat expected. I would also like to see a few more prominent female figures in the following books. (I believe there was 3 prominent female characters in 'The Sinister Secrets of Singe').

“He was angry with Elijah. Confused. And still, he could not imagine a day without Elijah beside him.”

Noah lives in a house that constantly grows every night, he didn’t really understands why and how until one day he stumbles upon a mysterious robot with a hidden message inside that leads him to his missing father…

The Sinister Secret of Singe was an adventurous, interesting, fun story about self discovery, the importance of family and acceptance.
I really enjoyed reading Noah’s adventures and the development he’s been through in this book was amazing to see.
This was a very sweet story, I highly recommend reading it to anyone!

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

🤖 Publication Date: June 6, 2023 🤖

** “No one deserves to be treated like a plaything. Or to be punished for others’ mistakes.” **

Sean Ferrell delivers a fun tale of sacrifice and finding one’s self in “The Sinister Secrets of Singe.”

Noah lives in a house that constantly grows every night. He doesn’t quite understand why and how until one day he stumbles upon a mysterious robot that solves the mystery as well as leads him toward his missing father. He soon finds himself on a journey with a group of smugglers to an island called Singe — where he may finally meet his elusive father and the mechanical creatures he has created, and that keep threatening to destroy the nearby city of Liberty.

Ferrell creates a fun and creative world filled with drama and adversity. He develops some intriguing characters, all while filling his book with several great themes, like dealing with blame; sacrifice; you choose the goal and then the path (“If you keep your eye on where you want to be, you can find the best way to get there”); order versus chaos; the impact of taking things and people for granted; don’t shrink from a challenge; actions have consequences; and acceptance and discovery of one’s self.

Fans of books like “Frances and the Monster” by Refe Tuma and “The Architect” by Jonathan Starrett will love “The Sinister Secrets of Singe,” due out June 6.

Five stars out of five.

Pixel+Ink provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

I love mysterious and hidden worlds, especially in middle grade. Everything sounds so thrilling and fantastical and this story had me in awe. Great storytelling, I loved this.