Great steampunk fantasy! Somewhat reminiscent of "The Golden Compass" since it mixes mechanized technology and religious ideas. Still trying to wrap my head around what the theme of the novel might be. Obviously the book is an expansive adaptation of sorts from Neil Peart's lyrics, but I'm not sure what lessons the main character learns other than to step outside his structured, mundane existence and embrace the possibilities created by challenging the order of his world. Perhaps it is that by embracing great risk we gain great rewards. An enjoyable read from an imaginative writer. Reminiscent of Candide's "the best of all possible worlds," this is a children's story at the best and dogerrel at the worst. Neil Peart, the lyricist who wrote the album the book is based off of, should have satisfied himself with being the inspiration for the book. Instead, not only did he help write the book, he reads it in the audio version.The book has some interesting ideas and excellent description but the dialogue is stilted, cumbersome, and dull. It leads the reader by the nose with no true feeling for the way people speak. Topping the problematic storytelling is the storyteller himself. Peart sounds like he's reading a bedtime story to his grand kids rather than providing a narration for a book shelved in Sci-Fi/Fantasy.
Do You like book Clockwork Angels (2012)?
close to 4 stars but the ending didn't make me think enough.
—GrymsinMiew
Interesting fun read. My first book involving steam punk.
—sandra
Good easy read, but a little too predictable.
—kj31325
