June Stefanov, anthropologist, and Pyotr (Peter) Alexeyevich (aka avtomat/robot) are destined to meet and discover the secrets they have lived with for so many years. June will find the origin of an old brass key her grandfather left her and Peter will find out what it means to be avtomat.

This is a story about the past and the future, about secrets and truths, about loyalty and betrayal, and about happiness and despair. It is fast-paced and exhilarating to find out about Peter’s past and how the avtomats came to be. A wonderful science fiction read for my collection!

Peter doesn’t know how old he is. He only remembers waking in the dim light of the basement of the palace of Peter the Great. Peter and his sister Elena do not recall how they came to be in this place, at this time. They are avtomat, human-looking beings animated by a mysterious clockwork device. The device not only keeps them alive, but provides them with a specific purpose for living.

Peter and Elena soon learn that danger haunts their existence. Avtomat have lived side-by-side with humanity for millennia, always keeping themselves secret. But now the avtomat have begun to disappear, and time may be running out to save them.

June is a scientist. Or, she was. Now that she’s lost her funding, she’s “just a lady with a really weird hobby”. She chases clockwork dolls across the world in an effort to preserve their delicate machinery for posterity. Lovely, intricate machines, far more advanced than we would think, yet hundreds of years old. When June stumbles into the knowledge that many of her “dolls” are not machines at all, she and Peter realize that she may hold the key to saving the avtomat from extinction.

I finished this book two months ago and that’s how long I’ve been unable to write a review for it. The publisher’s blurb describes it as a thriller, but it didn’t feel like a thriller to me. I was on the edge of my seat only at the very end, and the story didn’t have that inexorable build-up of pressure and/or terror that I expect from a thriller. I don’t even know how I’d describe it beyond the entirely unsatisfactory label of “science fiction”.

June and Peter’s stories are told chronologically, and in parallel. This means that Peter’s story begins three hundred years ago and June’s story is present day. This leads to complicated pacing. June’s story has the big action interludes because that’s where the story is coming to a head, and the reader learns context through Peter’s chapters. I don’t know how I feel about this: the story felt slow in the beginning because the action stops for backstory that I couldn’t see how it fit into the present. In my opinion, Wilson handles this well, and I didn’t even once consider putting the book down. However, I could see a less interested reader putting the book aside before things get good.

I really, really liked this book. I found the story engaging, and I loved the characters. June was difficult and pig-headed; I rooted for her from the first page to the last. I found Peter sad and sympathetic, and I wanted more Elena, a brilliant avtomat constrained by her child’s body. I want more of the world. Who were the First Men who built the avtomat? To what ends? Are they coming back? What happens now that June knows who they are?

The book had its problems. One might be the pacing. Another would be the reader’s willingness to suspend disbelief. While it’s relatively easy to imagine a present-day avtomat readily passing for human, it’s harder to imagine that leather skin pulled over a skeleton of unknown material would fool anyone three hundred years ago, even in dim lighting.

Ultimately, I didn’t care. I enjoyed this book. I’ve read it three times already. If Wilson writes more in this series, I’m absolutely here for it.

Now: June, an anthropologist who specializes in ancient technology, discovers a hidden world that lurks just below our own when she comes across a secret inside a three hundred year old mechanical doll. Before she knows it both her career and her life are at stake, and she finds herself on a worldwide adventure with a brand new ally in her corner. Russia, 1725: The Tsar's mechanician brings to life Peter and Elena, two human-like machines who are destined to serve empires. The two siblings have trouble assimilating into this pre-Victorian society and find themselves pulled right into the heart of a war that's been going on for centuries.

I've been wanting to try a Daniel H. Wilson story for a while now and when I heard about The Clockwork Dynasty I was instantly intrigued by the clockwork automatons. Plus, I couldn't resist the idea of the steampunk elements featuring in both the early 18th century and the present day settings. Overall, I loved the scenes from the 1700s focusing on Peter and Elena - the mythology behind the avtomats (the automatons) is richly detailed and creative. I couldn't resist seeing how real life history tied into the story. Although I enjoyed June's story which is set in the present day and is expertly tied into the flashbacks, I found myself much more intrigued by the past's secret history. Anyway, the story has just about the perfect ending - it wraps up the core storyline, but leaves room for plenty more. I have my fingers crossed for more! If done well, I would love to see a movie or tv adaptation of this novel - plenty of action, adventure, and intrigue to go around. If you like sci-fi, robots, steampunk, clockwork automatons, Peter the Great and the Russian Empire, and Georgian era England, you will love this fast-paced, adventure filled new novel from the author of Robopocalypse.

The Clockwork Dynasty by Daniel H. Wilson is a highly recommended blended steampunk/sci-fi thriller exposing the secret history of the avtomat, or automats/robots, living among us. A secret race of robots has been living alongside humans for centuries. The Clockwork Dynasty tells the past and present story of these beings through two timelines, the present day and in 1725 Russia.

June Stefanov is an anthropologist who specializes in ancient technology and she travels the world for her employer, the Kunlun Foundation, looking for rare antique automatons. She wears an old artifact around her neck that she inherited from her grandfather. The artifact is reminiscent of an intricate clockwork assembly and her grandfather told her to keep its existence secret. When she figures out how to activate a three-hundred-year-old mechanical doll, she is told the "wolves" are coming for her. She is rescued by Peter Alexeyvich, a robot, from certain death at the mechanical hands of Talus Silferström. Talus serves the avtomat called Leizu, the Worm Mother, who also seeks to kill Peter. Now the two are on the run together as June learns about the secret robots that live among us.

Peter's history begins in 1725 Moscow where Giacomo Favorini, the last mechanic of Czar Peter the Great, brings Pyotr/Peter Alexeyvich to life along with his sister Elena Petrova. Peter resembles a tall man, while Elena looks like a girl of around 12. Circumstances force them to flee Russia (when we are introduced to Talus) and travel to London where they struggle to blend into the world of humans. Peter becomes a soldier of fortune while Elena chaffs under the requirement that she stay hidden from humans - and Leizu.

Chapters alternate between Peter's story set in the past and the present day with June. I'm not convinced that the alternating chapters worked well here. It might have been good to develop June's character more while condensing the backstory of Peter and Elena. Currently June is undeveloped for a main character; however the novel is certainly set up for a continuation of the story so perhaps the next book will give us more insight into June and her amazing mechanical skills.

The writing is very good and there is a lot of fast-paced action to keep both stories moving along quickly. The battles all seem to have a violent, Terminator feel to them and, admittedly, sometimes it became just a bit too violent for me. It is an entertaining novel that shows an influence from other stories/movies, but still should please fans of robot/steampunk fiction.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Penguin Random House.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2017/07/the-clockwork-dynasty.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2076948326

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[4.5 stars]

I had already loved Daniel H. Wilson from his amazing work on "Robopocalyse". Here, he brings his fascination with robots to a more steampunk setting, exploring the lives of automaton who have been hidden among us for centuries.

This book really was amazing. The characters were sweet, the story was interesting, and the writing was just fantastic. I hope Wilson continues to write about what he loves, because he really has a knack for imagery, cliffhangers, and plot structure.

I'm at a 2.5 with this book, but leaning more towards a 2, so I'll round down.
This book had some real potential - a society of living automatons, a family relic, a dark secret, enduring characters living through countless historical events. Yet, somehow, it fell short. An interesting story was sub-par because of simple mistakes - undeveloped characters and far too much focus on the past.
The author tried very hard to develop his characters. In fact, he dedicated half the book to how Elena and Peter learned and grew over the course of a few centuries. However, these flashbacks were unfulfilling, uninteresting, and did little to contribute to either the character development or the plot. When Peter and Elena finally meet up again in present day, <spoiler>it's so anticlimactic - they've been separated for two hundred years, and yet there is no real emotion behind them meeting again. And their meeting isn't even integral to furthering the plot.</spoiler> The flashbacks are a way for the reader to learn how the avtomats work, but it's far too drawn out and unnecessary and takes away from the flow of the story more than anything else. The flashbacks are interesting, but they aren't needed and I feel that the book would have been better if June had learned this information from Peter as they went along.
The character I took the most issue with was June, the only main human character. She's a textbook Mary Sue - little personality and good at everything. June spends her life obsessing about automatons and then is suddenly thrown into a situation where she consistently (and without any real reason) insists that she's the only person who can solve the problems. She's obsessive, dull, and brave for no real reason. And because of the flashbacks, we rarely see June even though she is the narrator and main character. It seems that June functions to give the story an intriguing beginning and as a way to solve the problems that the avtomats can't fix. She has no real personality or quirks (besides a strange and too-convenient expertise in working with clockwork people). This book could have been so much more interesting if June had been a better character.
Recommended for those with an interest in science fiction or fantasy, but be warned that this is far more similar to the free books on the Amazon Lending Library than to beloved and classic SFF books.

In Moscow, 1709: Giacomo Giuseppe Favorini or 'Favo' is the last mechanician to the Tsar Pyotr Alexeyevich. Ten years before, the tsar traveled throughout Europe and brought back many treasures and craftsmen, including mechanicians and a special artifact from which to build an avtomaton. The tsar's wife Catherine, who didn't like the idea, has managed to have the other mechanicians exiled, but Favo has remained and has succeeded in creating an avtomaton in Tsar Pyotr's likeness and named him Peter. There is another avtomaton he has created named Elena, shaped like a small girl--Peter thinks of her as his little sister. Both have a 'word' that they must obey: Peter's is pravda (truth/justice) and he must be loyal to his tsar; Elena's is logika (logic) and she is equally good at thinking things through and making plans.

When Pyotr the Great dies on February 8, 1725, Peter and Elena must flee, for Catherine, thinking they are abominations, has sentenced them to death. Eventually they make it to London where they learn there are other avtomats in the world and not all are friendly--in fact, there is a war going on.

In Oregon, present day: June, a specialist in primitive mechanical antiquities, has been hired by the Kunlun Foundation to seek out and study antique automatons. The latest one has been found in an Old Believer community of the Pacific Northwest. When she is able to replace a part and set the doll-like creature in motion, all hell breaks loose in the church. Later in her motel room, June is attacked by a man who arrives on a motorcycle. He is after an artifact that he believes June has in her possession, one given her by her grandfather. It is soon apparent that the attacker is not human when another such 'man' arrives and they engage in a mighty battle. June flees with Peter, her rescuer, and she is now drawn into the war between avtomats.

The story switches back and forth between Peter's story in the past and June's in the present so the book is an intriguing mixture of historical fiction and fantasy. It is also a tremendous adventure story with lots of exciting action, so if someone doesn't snap up the movie rights, I'll be totally dumbfounded.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an arc of this fascinating new book.

The switching pov chapters weren't for me and the characters voices blended too much a like that I couldn't tell who was who and there was also too much action for my taste.

I wasn't really sure how I was going to like this one going in, but it actually surprised me! The writing style and pacing of the story itself allowed me to quickly get sucked in and truly engulf myself in the story. I love the mystical aspect of it, especially the fact that it was based heavily in 1975. Everything was intertwined with one another so seamlessly and I really enjoyed reading it.

Daniel H. Wilson's marvelous book is all that a blended sci-fi/fantasy genre tale should and can be. Those looking for simple steampunk novel are going to find a whole lot more. A sweeping, epic story of artificial intelligence like none I have read before, Wilson gives us two protagonists, Peter and June, whose alternating storylines cross decades and much, much longer, finally meeting in a commonality of purpose in the present day. Peter, a sentient form of artificial intelligence, is one of a created race called avtomats. June, granddaughter of a clockwork lover, has a fascination with automata and mechanical creations, borne of a story and legacy left her by her grandfather. While June's story evolves over decades, Peter's has evolved over a much longer time period. I don't want to steal thunder from the book, but a story that begins in Russia during the reign of Peter the Great (in 1700's) does not even begin to scratch Peter's history.

One of the central themes of the avotmats is the "word" that motivates their choices and actions. Peter's word, pravda (правда), or truth has many alternate meanings, including justice. Peter's evolution, in understanding his motivating "word," over the arc of this novel was one of the best facets of the book for me. Peter stands for the universal questions. What is truth? What is a truth-seeker? What happens when we forget what the truth really is? What if your truth and my truth are different? Who is right? What if no one is?

The avtomats of this book (Peter, Elena (logic), Hypatia (virtue), Talus, Leizu, Bauto and others) are not cold, programmed (beyond their guiding word) sentient machines. They are self-determinant, aspiring, evolving entities who have feelings of affection and loyalty, but also hatred, derision and greed. The mystery of their origins remains shrouded. Their incredible modern physical form is almost equally so.

Wilson, who has written largely about robots and robotics (he has a PhD in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon, but has also studied philosophy, and it certainly shows here) has written a marvelous book that I would hope could have sequels. Those with a love of automata books from Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret to Gaby Woods's Edison's Eve and Living Dolls will find a novel that takes us far beyond wind up toys or regular old robots.

It's a great journey.

I was pulled into this book right from the first chapter. The June, as a teenager, is caught trying to break into her grandfather's lock-box. She expects to get in trouble. She doesn't. Instead, she gets to touch an ancient and beautiful fragment of clockwork. Her grandfather can't explain how technology this advanced can be so old; he can only explain the extraordinary events of the day he found it. June is captivated.

Flash forward to June as a young scientist studying mechanical figures. When she gets too close to discovering the secrets that lie behind these figures, the plot ratchets into high gear.

The Clockwork Dynasty is one of the best books I've received from Netgalley. The pacing is fast and the action scenes are gripping. Both human and automaton characters are written with depth. The interweaving of the historical time periods the automatons live through with the present day action is well done. I highly recommend this book!

The review will post tomorrow on writerebeccawrite.wordpress.com

Do I really need to say how ravishing this cover is?  I've read several other books by this author and he has yet to disappoint me.  

The chapters alternate between past, present, and various settings in history and reveal how Peter and June are connected.  The history of the avtomats and how they each live by their 'word' is intriguing and I would have liked more details, but it looks like there's a sequel, so I'm assuming the author plans to expand on that in a future book.  With intricate avtomat design descriptions and vivid imagery, the action scenes played out like a movie (especially when June experiences claustrophobia) - and I can easily picture this as a movie.  

There's no doubt I enjoyed Clockwork Dynasty, but I admit the pacing was a bit slow in a few places and I skimmed through some pages.  While Peter's character was well-developed (I kept forgetting he wasn't human), June felt a little flat and other than her engineering talents, I knew next to nothing about her.        

If you're familiar with Wilson's books, you know they tend to revolve around artificial intelligence and robotics, so if that's your thing, this is your book.  If, however, you're looking for more of a steampunk feel, the cover is slightly misleading.  In my opinion, this book leans more toward sci-fi.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I got a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to give this book 4 stars, but I can't. The only real problem I found with the book was a frequent lack of commas. Everything else is just my opinion.

I didn't mind the bouncing back and forth between time and viewpoints (present day June to 18th-20th century Peter; both told in first person; shifting back and forth with every chapter). But that format really hindered the action of Peter's storyline. I found I didn't care about ANY of his fight scenes. Often, the author relies on interspersing action scenes or exciting events from one storyline in between calm scenes of the other. BUT since Peter is alive and well in the present, I didn't care at all about his close calls in the past. So what if he gets torn to shreds? I already know he'll be fine eventually.

Because of that, I really enjoyed the characterization much more than the "thriller" bits. Meaning...I was bored for much of the novel. I found it really easy to stop reading, even in the middle of an "exciting" scene. The action in the present day storyline felt forced at the beginning too (which comprises MOST of the action in that storyline). The first automaton bad guy who comes at June was straight up The Terminator to me. I am not familiar with the Terminator movies, so I'm probably wrong. But that connection was ALL I could think about, and I found it rather less than impressive. June, though, doesn't think about The Terminator or sci fi robots at all, which I thought was REALLY weird.

The cover is very steampunk, but this novel hardly felt steampunk at all. It's set in the real world, so the automats are the only steampunk objects. But they also have more-advanced-than-modern-human-science gear and skin and ancient ceramic innards. Hardly traditional steampunk.

Oh, and if cursing ruins books for you, this one might not be the best for you. June drops the F bomb a lot in the opening chapters. Then the swearing disappears for the majority of the book, only returning once or twice I think, waaaaay later. So if you can ignore the irregular stints of swearing, read on!

Another person's review noted that the "voice" of June and Peter was very similar, and I would have to agree. It's easy to remember which of them you're reading, because of the year/events taking place, but June's character never really leapt of the page in a distinct way. She really could have been replaced by anyone, any age, any gender.

Overall, I was less than "thrilled" with this thriller. I didn't find it exciting or captivating. It was very interesting, but not enough so to enthrall me.

*SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD*
I wanted to like how June was necessary to helping the automats, despite being human, but it didn't really ring true. When she defends her expertise to Elena later in the novel, it felt exaggerated and like June shouldn't and/or didn't believe it herself.

I was not impressed with the climax, either in Peter's storyline or in the present. Leizu just wasn't scary to me. Or maybe she was too scary, as in too much more advanced than Peter for me to believe he'd ever beat her. And the WAY he eventually beats her was a flat "hmm, okay" to me, and rather disappointing.

Also, why didn't Leizu's human army have night vision goggles?! They were in super advanced techie armor and busting into a CAVE, but they couldn't see in the dark? Weird.

This was my first ARC and Netgalley approval ever, so to say I was excited is an understatement. And what an action-packed, well-written, and original novel it was. The book is told in alternating chapters from the first person perspective of two characters – June, the modern day anthropologist, and Peter, a clockwork being of a race known as the avtomat.  In the present, we read as June discovers more about the avtomat and the war that has been going on between them for centuries, all while attempting to stay alive and protect an important artefact. Peter’s story, however, begins in Russia in 1725 and covers a number of different countries and events up until WWII. For the most part these constant jumps actually work fairly well as events in one storyline act to provide an introduction or clarification for events occurring in the other.

The chapters are definitely on the short side. While this was a great help in finding an easy place to stop, there were moments where it worked to a disadvantage. On many occasions, something important was happening or I could feel that some vital piece of information was about to be revealed before suddenly I was frustratingly forced back into the other character’s plotline where the pace was comparatively, at that point, slower. Although I can safely say that this frustration was only because I was so engaged by what was happening.

The Clockwork Dynasty is not a novel that suffers from slow pacing. It’s quite an action packed novel yet, as I said before, when one character’s story is moving quickly, the other’s is calmer which acts to provide balance and stop you feeling overwhelmed. The plot itself is an interesting one –a race of sentient machines who have existed for an extremely long time, fighting amongst themselves over differing ideas about how to extend their lifespans and fulfil their programmed purposes or ‘Words’. There’s a mix of everything going on here – history, action, mystery, science fiction, a little fantasy, even some steampunk, so there’s something for everyone. I have some minor issues with the ending but still can’t seem to pinpoint the exact reasons behind them beyond the slight feeling that it felt somewhat rushed and perhaps, a teensy bit silly. Overall though, Wilson’s style is enjoyable and easy to read. He seems very comfortable writing to these specific themes and genres. His action scenes are clear, characters’ emotions described to the right degree of detail, and settings well-constructed.

Despite introducing a number of interesting side characters, character wise, the novel’s focus very clearly remains on June, Peter, and Peter’s “sister”, Elena. Seeing the world through Peter’s eyes is quite fascinating and he definitely comes across as both a relatable and compelling character. Peter’s struggle to find his place in the world and fulfil his intended directive as well as protect Elena is an understandable one. I enjoyed seeing both he and Elena adapt to their surroundings as time went on. Elena, too, is quite a solid character – she’s smart, competent, and not afraid to speak her mind. I actually wish she’d been in the story a little more and having been a fan of hers and Peter’s bond, I was a little disappointed by its treatment in the second half of the novel. June, on the other hand, is a little bland. While we spend years with Peter and Elena, our time with June is limited to several days, maybe a few weeks max. In this time we don’t really get to know her very well. Sure, she’s smart, curious, and thinks well on her feet but I never really felt the strong connection or sense of understanding that I did with the others. The side characters, including the antagonist, were all intriguing and diverse, but with the length of the novel, sadly a little underdeveloped. I’m guessing that’s what sequels are for.

Overall, The Clockwork Dynasty was a fairly entertaining read and a nice change in pace from many of the other books I’ve read lately. I’m sure that there will be a large number of readers who really enjoy it when it is released in August.

3.5/5

Opening line:
"The age of the thing is in the feel of it."

I wasn't sure how much I would like this book but I then I couldn't put it down so I guess it's safe to say I did like.
The story is told in the past and present from two different viewpoints: Peter the avomat, or robot and June, the human. I liked the back and forth of the chapters and the telling of the history of our world. It intrigued me how the author wove our world and the avomat world together. He did a great job at world building.
Though I think the characters cold have been written with more depth, the way the avomats "lived" was detailed. I remembered the characters names and what place they had in the story. Spoiler: there is no romance. I just realized this as I was writing. Obviously, the story didn't need any. lol
I felt the ending came too quickly and maybe there will be another book? I'm not sure...

Thanks to netgalley for the early read!

Completely unlike anything I've read before, but I enjoyed it. Quite violent for my tastes, but nothing so gory that I didn't want to continue reading. There are some really gorgeous, atmospheric descriptions here, and I found myself drawn into this world despite being a complete novice to this genre. I think sci-fi fans in particular will love this one. The two things that came to mind when I was first starting this novel were Frankenstein and Terminator. And, I must say, Rock'em Sock'em Robots. Yet while there are plenty of battles here (maybe a few too many?), there are also bigger philosophical questions to consider: the search for meaning. The need for connection with one's own kind. The pull to understand where one comes from. The conflict between serving oneself and serving others. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did. I don't think it's converted me into a science fiction reader, but if there's a sequel (and it seems like there may be), there's a good chance I'll pick it up.

The Clockwork Dynasty by Daniel H. Wilson- Famous for his novels Roboapocalpse and Robogenesis, Daniel H. Wilson continues along those lines with a fast-paced story involving clockwork heroes and villains and a multi-millennium dynasty that goes on beneath the eyes of man. The book is made up of two 1st-person narratives, one by Peter, a clockwork artifact once owned by Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia in the mid-1700's, and the other by June, a present day human anthropologist, who has a fascination with any and all the clockwork relics from the past, and has around her neck an artifact so incredibly valuable, it makes her a target. There is a war going on among the clockwork automatons. A power struggle, and a cleansing. I found Peter's story to be more interesting at first, with glimpses of the historic times he shuffled through. June's story on the other hand was more or less chapter and verse: hide here- run there- look out, until the two team up. I enjoyed Wilson's few origin moments and asides, but there is a lot more going on here, so I'm assuming sequels will be in order. The book makes sense and is quite entertaining.

After June Stefanov’s grandfather gave her a small relic as a child, her insatiable curiosity led to a career in anthropology and a job hunting down antique automatons. But a secret within a three-hundred-year-old mechanical doll throws June into a world of highly sophisticated mechanical beings, living and fighting among humans. Cut to 1725 Russia, where newly born mechanical beings Peter and Elena struggle to serve their empire and the tsar, and find their own kind and purpose.

Billed as a scifi steampunk historical thriller, The Clockwork Dynasty is suspenseful action-packed speculative fiction about ancient robots living in a world less sophisticated than themselves. With elements of Interview of the Vampire and Highlander, Peter and Elana live to fulfill their Words, justice and logic, respectively, but they know nothing of their origins or the meaning of their existence. Their characters are immensely intriguing, flawed by their own programming, and achieves that aim of great science fiction—an examination of consciousness and what it means to be alive.

Unfortunately, June herself is more difficult to empathize with, as her desires and limitations are unclear, even for a human. Regardless, the chapter by chapter point-of-view and time shifts are expertly executed, enhancing the story with both timely exposition and an escalating pace until the past and present collide. All the technical elements are pulled off seamlessly, rendering a new story from old threads that feels young again.

Recommended for anyone who loves robots and action-packed science fiction!

Thanks to Netgalley and Double Day books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Mini review is now posted on my blog!