The Clockwork Dynasty is one of those books I thoroughly enjoyed while reading it. Yet, as I sit down and think about the story, I struggle to find the words of why I enjoyed it so much. While there is a lot of action, there are not very many surprises. Plus, the idea that June can solve a mystery that robots have not been able to solve is, frankly, ludicrous. However, it does make for a good story, and Daniel H. Wilson always entertains.

Where I struggle with the story is the idea that humans (or aliens - we really have no idea) were so advanced, they created these robots that run off of this special force trapped in a futuristic metal but that wear down like batteries over millennia. However, the outer trappings are all wood, leather, porcelain, and later plastic and polymers. Plus, these advanced humans (or aliens) created this race of superior robots and left. Then these superior robots were to serve the one trait/word they each harbor in their "heart." This word gives them purpose, and if they do not live by this word it causes them physical pain. To top it off, all of this first occurred while humans were not much more evolved than Neanderthals. See? Weird.

But that's not all! Then, there is this great schism of robot power, and they split into sides that are battling each other off and on over the centuries. When June first happens across the plot, the robots' "batteries" are running out of juice, and they cannot figure out how to stop it. June is the only person or thing who may hold the answer to this mystery - because hundreds of thousands of years is not long enough for the robots to solve the mystery. Of course she partners with a good robot - as opposed to the bad robots who are trying to kill them - and rushes across the world to save the day.

Despite the absolutely bonkers plot, I loved this novel. I loved the inventiveness of it. The story begins slowly, but as it picks up speed it does so almost exponentially. Suddenly, there are fights and tactics and plane rides and rushing to stay one step ahead of the bad robots. It is the most ridiculous and yet engaging story I have read in a long, long time. The best part is that it is a series, so there will be more crazy robot history with the lone human female as the robots' savior. I am way too excited about the possibilities!

A beautiful complex story that shifts from flashbacks of Peter the Great's Russia through the British wars in India and World War II to a future where sentient mechanical beings live among the population masquerading as humans. June , a young woman who has an expertise and passion for mechanical beings is on a quest to find and restore these automated creations from the past. She stumbles upon the trail of these special creations who have "lived' through many centuries as humans and their quest to restore the energy that gives them life.Humans are not trusted or wanted in their quest.
The book is a dangerous adventure as these creatures are fighting among themselves to achieve the goal of restoring their energies to continue "living".
This is an intriguing, lyrical book that catches and hold the attention as it unfolds.

This is a very quick read. There were a lot of wonderful things about it. To give a brief summary: the premise of this book is that there was a race of ancient humans that came before us, that utilized technology beyond our capability. They created clockwork automatons, powered by relics that basically gave them thoughts and feelings, and allowed them to do more than simple tasks like writing/copying letters. Each automaton has a word that defines their actions in the world. One of our main character's word is Justice (Pravda in the book). Another's is Logic. If they do not fulfill the tasks of their word, they feel empty, unfulfilled, as close to pain as an automaton can get. Our other main character, June, has spent her life studying these ancient relics, and gets pulled into this secret silent war between the automatons, which other humans don't even realize exist.

However, the format/pacing of the book really hindered my enjoyment of what I think would have otherwise been at least a 4 star read. The problem was that the chapters were very short (often less than 5 minutes to read) and every other chapter was one of two alternating timelines. So, you read five minutes of Peter in 18th century Russia, then you read five minutes of June in present day.

It prevented me from really becoming invested in either storyline. Something interesting happens in each one, but I really would have liked to read each story line in chunks rather than fleeting pages. By halfway through I was forgetting the format and sometimes I had to stop and reset and remember that I was now looking through one character's eyes and not the other's. It stinks because this would have been such a simple fix. Nothing else really needed changing, just the format, shuffling the order of chapters.

I really enjoyed reading Peter's character. It was interesting to see his flashbacks (the historical timeline) as he waded through our world trying to determine the meaning of justice. Justice for who? Justice for what? Whose side is he supposed to fight for? Who does he owe loyalty to? He often thinks he knows the answer but he's ridden by feelings of guilt and emptiness, forever chasing his purpose in life.

I think the author did a great job with the settings. We see Peter the Great and his wife Catherine, 18th century London, India, and China. This was a world hopping adventure and I don't often read novels with such a multitude of settings so I really loved this aspect.

As the two storylines merge together, the ending of the book was really great. I loved the overall arc, even if the format of the book left something to be desired. There were some character motivations I find questionable, mostly in regard to the Emperor. I'm not really sure why Peter acted the way he did if he knew what he knew. That's all I can really say without spoiling it.

The automaton aspect was also lots of fun. There are several fights between the automatons and they were written very well. It was reminiscent of a Transformers battle scene which was awesome!

All in all, an okay read. If you think you'd be okay with the alternating timelines moving in such short bursts, and like a good action oriented novel with historical aspects, I'd highly recommend it.

Thank you to DoubleDay and NetGalley for providing an eARC for me to review.

This book was awesome! Keep them coming!! I love how the book tells the story both in the present and the past. Steampunk is quickly becoming my new favorite genre!

When I first heard about The Clockwork Dynasty, I was very intrigued. The blend of science fiction, historical fiction, and steampunk seemed very promising. I ended up enjoying this book but I do wish that I had been able to emotionally connect with the characters more.

The Clockwork Dynasty begins with June Stefanov, a young anthropologist specializing in ancient technology, pursuing an antique clockwork relic. Her story, which soon becomes a series of action scenes, alternates with that of Peter and Elena, two mechanical beings brought to life in 1725 in Russia. The author does a wonderful job of interweaving the past and the present, doling out just enough information to keep you hooked. This book is an intriguing blend of existential musings, high-stakes conflicts, and amazing technology. I liked how the author explored some deeper questions such as the search for a purpose and a sense of belonging.

It's very clear that the author has done a significant amount of historical research, the scenes in the past feel incredibly realistic and are beautifully written. Additionally, Wilson continues to write the same fantastic science fiction as he did in the past, albeit with a more fantasy twist. However, the world-building here was slightly confusing at first and I would have liked to have ended the book with more answers than we did, particularly considering that this one is a standalone. I also wasn't really able to emotionally connect with the characters, which made it hard for me to connect with the novel as a whole, despite the excellent plot.

The Clockwork Dynasty was a story full of wonder, mystery, and adventure. I would recommend this one to fans of science fiction who are willing to try something a little different.

June Stepanov is sixteen when her grandfather, a veteran of the Seige of Stalingrad, presents her with an odd relic and the tale of an "angel" who saved him on the battlefield. His savior dropped the relic, and the grandfather has hidden it away ever since. He gives it to June in the belief that she can find out its secrets but warns her to never show it to anyone. June has become an anthropologist specializing in ancient technologies and while working under a grant from a mysterious conglomerate and examining a mechanical doll, is plunged into a world of violence and beings that she could never have imagined. There are robots, "avtomat," immensely old and powerful walking in her world, and what they are seeking is the very relic she possesses. She is saved from what assuredly would be death by another avtomat, Peter.

June and Peter embark on a trip back in time through Peter's memories ranging from 3000 BC China, the reign of Peter the Great and London in 1725 right up to World War II and the present day. Told in alternating chapters, Peter's life, and that of his "sister" Elena, are a fascinating tale of blending into the human populace with greater or lesser success. However, the avtomat are finally dying out, cannibalizing and waging war on each other. The factions think that June's relic will be the answer to survival.

I have read some steampunk in the past and enjoyed it, but I have to admit that the gorgeous cover of Clockwork Dynasty sold me. It is a genre-bending, high action fantasy read that kept me immensely entertained throughout. I need to point out that there is a lot of graphic violence that should be taken into account by sensitive readers. I recommend it for fantasy lovers of all kinds looking for something different, and those who prefer a strong female lead.

Thanks to Doubleday and NetGalley for an advance digital copy. The opinions above are my own.

After an engrossing, excellent written prologue, the next three chapters were pretty slow for me, and I got a little harder in the story. After that, all went smooth.

The book is a mix of steampunk and clockwork, robots (called here avtomatons), magic and history/alternate history, fit for a movie. It’s written in a structure of alternate chapters, in two PoVs, two distinct voices, both written in the 1st person: (1) June in Oregon, present days, (2) the avtomaton, in the past (spaning from ~1700 to ~1900, from Russia, to London and beyond). It alternates between history scenes, with facts and hints from the WWs, and action packed scenes, some very alike the Terminator movies.
The best developed characters – and, hence, the most interesting - are the avtomatons, while the human counterpart, namely June, is somehow overlooked, not much is known about her, so I practically related better with a 'robot' instead of a human..

Each avtomaton has a certain Word that drives them (reminded me somewhat of Asimov’s Laws of Robotics).
Unfortunately, there are not too many details about how they work or what exactly powers them and how can they ‘recharge’ (yes, we’re told about the anima, it seems to involve some magic, but that’s about all we know; would have liked to see this part developed more); how do you know how to match the body and the anima; what happens if the body is severely damaged; also, who made them remains unknown..

Overall, an interesting read, will check more of the author’s works: 3.5★

The first thing I would like to mention is just how wonderful the cover is – it caught my attention right away and immediately made me read the quick blurb along with it. It’s pretty much the perfect steampunk cover, between the details, texture, and color palette.
The Clockwork Dynasty blends technology with history into a seamless and interesting read about the purpose we all carry. Two characters with different histories, perspectives, and goals show us that despite these differences they have the same question: “what is my purpose?”
Warnings first: This is a story that crosses centuries at a time, and sometimes that fact results in showing wars or other historical events. Animals are hurt and killed, though you can typically see it coming, if that helps at all. Additionally there are some kidnap scenes, where the kidnapper clearly intends to rape a minor. Unnamed side characters are shown being kept prisoners in a brothel, some of them are children. Thankfully not much detail is provided, but it still happens and is talked about. So please keep this in mind.
I pretty much devoured this book from cover to cover (or whatever the ebook equivalent of that is). I was immediately drawn into June and Peter’s (aka Pyotr) stories. Part of the reason why I got sucked into it is because I really loved the blend of history and technology. I think my favorite quote from the book sums that up pretty well: “We came striding out of the past, yet our bones are made of the future.”
The other reason I found myself enjoying the novel was because of the choice in storytelling style. The chapters rotate back and forth between June (the present) and Peter (the past). This not only kept it from getting dry, but also helped keep things from getting confusing - you know that June’s perspective will always be the present, even without having to be directly told this. Likewise it’s safe to assume that Peter’s will always involve the past.
The Clockwork Dynasty is an experience, one I truly believe you need to have read to be able to fully appreciate what it is trying to say. Any fan of science fiction with a focus on more steampunk elements will likely enjoy this read.

Full review is posted on the Pixelated Geek website: http://pixelatedgeek.com/2017/04/review-the-clockwork-dynasty/

While doing field research and trying to unlock a mystery from her childhood, anthropologist June Stefanov makes a startling discovery: For millennia automatons have lived among us, hiding their presence while trying to understand the nature of their own existence. But their time is drawing to an end and Stefanov may be a key, if unlikely, ally in their survival.


The Clockwork Dynasty (Doubleday, digital galley) is a thrilling and original steampunk fantasy with a touch of Laura Croft thrown in. Daniel H. Wilson, the author of Robopocalypse and Robogenesis, cleverly uses flashbacks to tell a story that develops over thousands of years. Considering the timespan the book covers, it moves at a breakneck pace and is hard to put down.

While Robopocalypse was a cautionary tale about the danger of runaway artificial intelligence, The Clockwork Dynasty is pure fantasy dealing with the familiar struggle of good vs evil. Wilson has proven repeatedly in his novels that he knows how to breathe life into the mechanical bodies of robots.

You can read interviews with Wilson discussing The Clockwork Dynasty at Syfy and Unbound Worlds. Yesterday he was on Reddit answering questions about all of his books.

Clockwork Dynasty held my interest from the first page. A unique plot and an attractive heroine (if a bit too capable to be completely believable) make this book a real winner. I assume that there will be a second volume. I also hope it will be published soon, as I would love to read more.

In my mind, the word “clockwork” in the title of a novel evokes an expectation of a steampunk novel. The Clockwork Dynasty isn’t a steampunk novel. Once I got over that mild disappointment, I found I really enjoyed the story.

In chapters alternating between the past and the present, and two different narrators, we follow the origins and struggle of automated human-like beings.

I really liked the two main characters. They had interesting internal struggles and felt well constructed. Peter has a much more fleshed out backstory since the past chapters are literally his backstory, so his character feels much more developed than June does, but June doesn’t feel flat in comparison. The way the story bounced back and forth between present day and the past, combined with the “mysterious, ancient origins” of the automated beings reminded me heavily of the Assassin’s Creed video games.

The way the story bounced back and forth between present day and the past, combined with the “mysterious, ancient origins” of the automated beings reminded me heavily of the Assassin’s Creed video games.

I had a hard time with the pacing of the story. The present day sections are fast paced and move along quickly, but just as soon as something happens, a chapter break appears and the story slows down. The sections set in the past are slower going. They’re very valuable backstory, but they do disrupt the feverish pace of the present day storyline in a way I found frustrating at times.

A solid three-star story. It was a fun read but didn’t leave me with that “Aaah, that was so good” feeling.

Sometimes, you read the description of a book and say to yourself “I have no idea if I’m going to like this or not, but I absolutely need to know for sure.”

That was where I came down on Daniel H. Wilson’s new book “The Clockwork Dynasty” when I first read about it. Wilson is best known for the best-selling “Robopocalypse,” but this new offering looked like a bit of a genre departure.

History marks a period when the notion of automata - mechanical men and women that could be made to act real through elaborate machination using springs, clockwork and the like – was very big in the courts of Europe. Rulers from all over the world were fascinated by these meticulously-constructed devices that mimicked human behavior.

But what if they could do more than just mimic?

“The Clockwork Dynasty” tells the story of a group of automata – they call themselves “the long-lived” or the “Avtomat” – that have been operating in the shadows behind human history for centuries. They are driven by their anima, a sort of soul that gives them both consciousness and purpose.

Peter is one such being. He awakes in the workshop of a mechanician serving the Russian ruler Peter the Great in the early 18th century. His anima – his Word – is “Pravda,” or justice. Along with his sister Elena – a child-shaped being of vast intellect steered by logic – he serves his master, whose plan is to install his clockwork namesake on the throne following his demise, thus ensuring his name shall live forever. This plan goes awry, however, with Peter and Elena forced to flee into a world from which they must hide their true nature.

In the present day, June is a scientist/historian specializing in the nature of these automatons, relics of a moment in time; her interest springs from strange battlefield stories and an odd keepsake courtesy of her grandfather.

But when one particular investigation goes too deep, June finds herself in the middle of the centuries-old battle amongst the long-lived. See, the power is running out. And there’s no one left alive who knows how to fix it. The only choice – steal life from your fellow Avtomat.

Circumstances dictate that June joins forces with Peter, whose largest struggle is to find the right way to be true to his purpose. Unfortunately, justice isn’t always so easy to find when you’re fighting for your very existence.

It’s a battle between factions that know each other like family – a battle that can ultimately have only one victor. The Avtomat have long been hidden from humanity, but desperation have forced them out of the shadows for a final confrontation.

“The Clockwork Dynasty” is a lot of things. It has a steampunk sensibility. There are elements of both science fiction and fantasy at work. There’s even a whiff of historical fiction. Plus there’s some deep-down conspiracy thriller stuff.

It’s a lot – but it works.

The idea of others operating behind the scenes of history isn’t a new one for speculative fiction. We’ve seen all manner of stories told about aliens and/or monsters pulling the strings from the shadows. But Wilson has approached the idea from a new place, lending the situation a freshness that it might not otherwise have had.

The richness of the world-building comes through in the alternating narrative timelines. The story moves between the present and various touchstone points in Peter’s past, allowing for a welcome degree of storytelling flexibility. Each timeline allows Wilson the opportunity to more fully develop this intricate universe through details and expanded context.

Of course, the propulsive nature of the story is what really makes “A Clockwork Dynasty” tick. Without that, all the world-building in the … world … won’t save you. But Wilson has a great knack for pace and engaging action; it’s a book that is very difficult to put down.

It’s an exceptional piece of speculative fiction, set in a world that I would very much like to visit again. Steampunk and other genre fiction fans should give it a whirl.

This book was an interesting mix of Pinocchio, The Terminator, and Jason Bourne if you can imagine such a thing. The historical elements were interesting and it was pretty action packed. I wouldn't necessarily say that I liked it more like I was compelled to keep reading. I would recommend this to someone who says they are looking for something different.

One of the coolest and engrossing books I've read in awhile. Literally, after reading the first chapter I was sucked in and had me staying up till 3 am to finish it. This book covers so many genres from sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, historical fiction and horror-it has something for everyone.

Every other chapter is from the past and does such a perfect job filling in the blanks for the chapters in the present time. It was ultimately a look through history, and what might be hiding among us today.

Also, this cover is seriously one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. I read this on my kindle-but I am for sure buying a hardback version.

Last few pages had left me wanting more; however, the author has said this is a standalone for now which broke my heart. (please don't let this be the case)

I could definitely see this story as a movie too! This just felt so unique-the characters (I love hated a few) and story line.

I will have a book hangover for awhile.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest opinion. My thanks to Daniel H. Wilson and Doubleday Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

From the publisher: An ingenious new thriller that weaves a path through history, following a race of human-like machines that have been hiding among us for untold centuries.

The main characters in The Clockwork Dynasty are June, a young human woman who researches mechanical antiquities, and Peter, an automaton or avtomat (a Russian word that means both “automatic” and “machine”). Peter has a “sister,” another avtomat, who looks like a doll but is determined, intelligent and logical.

The world building in The Clockwork Dynasty is amazing. It opens with June exploring a mechanical doll, which pulled me in right away as a doll collector. The story covers the lives of the two avtomats and others like them across continents and millennia. June gets dragged into an avtomat civil war against her will, but she has the knowledge and skills to alter the course of something that has gone on for thousands of years. I would describe the book as a sort of steampunk mystery. Why are the avtomats fighting? It was refreshing to read a book that didn’t dwell on a romantic trilogy – or any romance for that matter.

Wilson does a great job of painting images throughout the book. There are many little believable details about the construction of the automatons. Wilson draws them in such a way that they felt both real and inhuman to me. I felt I came to know Peter and his sister Elena better than the human June. The narrative jumps between Peter’s past and June’s present, but not in a way that seemed at all confusing.

The Clockwork Dynasty is not a perfect book – parts of it were a bit slow, and a lot of questions remained after I finished it. But I very much enjoyed this unusual read. The Clockwork Dynasty is available at the Galesburg Public Library as a print book and an audiobook, and it will be available as an ebook shortly.

Let me start by saying that I originally wasn't sure about this book. I had seen it on Netgalley a while back and loved the cover but after reading the description I just wasn't sure if it was something I would enjoy. I love fantasy and enjoy some sci-fi but humanoid clockwork type robots...not so sure. So I kept it on my radar but didn't request it until I read Mogsy's review on the bibliosanctum. I started it immediately and was so engrossed that I finished it in one day. It. Is. Amazing!

June is a character that I related to from the start. Her incessant curiosity and intelligence were refreshing and her love for her grandfather was endearing. I really enjoyed learning about Peter's story. The non linear storytelling, with flashbacks of his memories alternating with the present, was easy to follow. When Peter and June start working together the pacing really picks up and I couldn't put it down, I had to know what happened. The ending leaves room for a sequel but not with a cliffhanger, which is nice but I still want the sequel now lol. I really have no complaints about any part of this story. It's a wonderful adventure that makes you think. Anyone on the fence about this book like I was should just go ahead and read it, it's worth it.

**Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.**

Oregon (present)
Moscow 1709
Saint Petersburg 1725
Great European plains 1725
Helsinki 1725
London 1725-1758
Seattle (present)
India 1751/57
Stalingrad 1942
China 3000 BC
China present
London present

June
Peter
Elena
Giacomo Giuseppe Favorini
Tsar Pyotr Alexeyevich
Catherine Alexseyevna
Leizu . . . the Worm Mother.”
Hypatia
Talus
Batuo
Huangdi



Epic, it does feel that, as the title is Clockwork Dynasty, you are taken through a dynasty in the lives of two main automat Elena and Peter, and in the present with the human June.
The story is divided into chapters between the machines Automat and with Jane, Indian Jones like with a whole load tech know how. She begins the ball rolling a shift in the timelines fate, with a 3D printer ability to add a piece to a relic.
This dynasty story, this telling of these machines, but more than machines, they have been raised to some codes, one a warrior trained in arts of fighting, sabre, lance and musket of old, and over centuries to modern present with vast funds and technologies, weapons.
Technology advanced forward their form changed but their essence the same, a race for survival unfolds and while us great glorious humans try to play catch up with these machines they need help from Jane, hope for a way to extend, give strength to what is at there core, like us with hearts and souls they have a main source too that needs strength they feel too but without blood or heart.

The author had done a great work with his debut Robopocalypse and its robot uprising, this is more about a history of something more than just robots and its finding itself, and its survival.
Ernest Cline mentioned in his praise about this tale as being a hybrid of Highlander and Terminator I see that and also that of Hugo, Indian Jones and some parts Game of Thrones, without the sex and profanities he has kept violence in but cleaner that other tales.

Daniel Wilson, the author, vividly takes you through the timelines of the automat alternating to the present with our hero June. They served many leaders from Tsar to kings but what they need also are answers to the code they live, the real truth, and anarchy of sorts a journey within a robot at battle with its self, why serve, why not live for us some tell in this tale. A vivid sense of place and journey, the scenes, the thrill, the battles all told from first person narrative, captivating everything evoked within the reader with skill, the right scenes, the write chapters never lulling in its immersiveness and visceral state.

http://more2read.com/review/clockwork-dynasty-daniel-h-wilson/

I just finished THE CLOCKWORK DYNASTY, a new fantasy/sci-fi novel by Daniel H. Wilson (author of Robopocalypse and Robogenesis). It's a story that stretches across the ages, involving "futuristic" technology that was developed eons ago. Avtomats, or thinking and feeling machines which can operate independently of humans, were created to each serve a word. For Pyotr (or Peter), who was revitalized in the early 1700's at the court of Peter the Great, the word is Pravda, truth and justice. He has struggled through the centuries to honor what he sees as his mission, including participating in WWII's Battle of Stalingrad. It was there that a human soldier found a strangely carved relic inadvertently left behind. That relic shaped the life of the soldier's granddaughter, June, who is now a scholar trying to learn more about the mechanized clockwork and capabilities of avtomats. Unfortunately for her, they are at war amongst themselves and she is in BIG danger. In typical Wilson fashion, THE CLOCKWORK DYNASTY is full of action, violence and adventure. It received starred reviews from both Booklist and Kirkus. Happily, there are rumors of a forthcoming movie and the ending is ambiguous enough to suggest the likelihood of an exciting sequel.

The Clockwork Dynasty is a very interesting steampunk novel that I requested from Netgalley on whim and ended up loving! The story follows two different stories set in two different timelines that are intertwined. The first follows Peter and Elena, two siblings in 1770s Russia with a secret about who they are and how they endure. The second is set in the present day and follows an anthropologist who specializes in historical technology and finds a secret in a three-hundred-old mechanical doll. June, the anthropologist, ends up setting out on the adventure of a lifetime, accompanied by a stranger with an unbelievable secret.

I've always admired steampunk aesthetic, but this is the first steampunk-ish novel I think I've really read. I found the worldbuilding to be fascinating, and I would honestly love a sequel that just explored the history of the world. It was amazingly well written and fairly well developed. I loved the politics of the society uncovered by June, and the inner workings of just what that society means to ours. I found the concepts behind the society and its inhabitants very interesting and thought provoking as well. I'm not sure if there's a sequel planned, but I would love to read anything else I could get my hands on from this world. I also realize I'm being super vague, but I'm really trying not to give anything away!

I also felt like the tandem stories were very effective. The past allowed me to draw conclusions about the present and vice versa. Once I had read enough to draw a conclusion, I was usually treated with the answer to if I was right in the next chapter. The stories work beautifully together, but the best part was that either likely could've stood on its own. The pacing is good. It starts out a little slow, and then it's not slow at all for the rest of the book really. I was also very fascinated by the characters, particularly those from the secret society I referenced earlier. Elena was really the character I was most fascinated by. Her life and yearning for things beyond what she can have was rather poetic, and you could just feel her wistfulness coming through the page, as well as the impact her life has on Peter's. I really want to read more about them!

Overall, this was an amazingly well done science fiction/steampunk novel. The world building is excellent. The characters are intriguing, and it was really hard to put down. I don't read a ton of books like this, but it was so well-written and well-done that I'll probably check out the rest of Wilson's books as well. While I'm doing that, I'll just be really hopeful that there is a sequel or more stories or anything set in this world. Wonderful!