Review: The steampunk/time travel that could
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 26, 2012
I requested this book for review based on the interesting cover and premise, and was excited to get to read it. The first thing I noticed about Prehistoric Clock was that it was surprisingly well-written. Although I am a big fan of steampunk books, I wasn't entirely sure what I was going to get from a London-based steampunk novel with time travel and dinosaurs. It could be great fun, executed smoothly like Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century series, or it could have left much to be desired. I am happy to report that Prehistoric Clock was far from a disappointment.The novel follows the stories of three different protagonists, each very different from the next. First, you have your the strong female figure, captain of an airship in a time when male dominance presides. She is beginning to question the motives behind some of her life decisions, and whether she truly wants to follow in the footsteps of her family. Then, there's the son of a marquess. His uncle and father were executed after a false trial rife with judicial conspiracy and forged evidence. He is doing his best to keep his enemies at bay and find out the truth behind the secret that led to his father's death. Finally, you have a jaded scientist devoting his time into developing a method of time manipulation to save his family à la The Butterfly Effect. Their paths become intertwined through a simple case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.Prehistoric Clock has a lot going for it. The action scenes are heart-pounding. The suspenseful sequences are thrilling, leaving the reader with an appreciable growth of dread to rival the characters'. The mysterious elements of the plot leave you with niggling questions pricking at the back of your mind . The romantic scenes are sweet, not unnecessarily forced or over-the-top.  It is a well-crafted, adeptly compiled and thoroughly entertaining novel.  Fans of science fiction, steampunk, and time travel will delight in this wonderful gem.  I know I am anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series.This book was obtained freely from the publisher, Carina Press, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.