Stevie‘s review of Clockwork Heart (Clockwork Love, Book 1) by Heidi Cullinan
Gay Steampunk Romance published by Samhain Publishing, Ltd. 02 Feb 16
I love well-considered alternate histories, more so if they include steampunk elements. On the other hand, I can easily be thrown out of a story when the author includes an element of science or technology that feels out of place given when the fictional history diverged from actual history and how many years have passed since that point. As an aside, a whole host of subgenres fall under the steampunk umbrella (or parasol), and I’m partial to them all, including clockpunk, which tends to base its technology in Georgian, rather than Victorian, times. This book merges the two, since we’re in a time period that equates, more or less, to the Edwardian era of British history, the universes having diverged in Regency times, but clockwork is far more common than steam, which seems to be commoner than the internal combustion engine.
Sadly, although this story had a lot going for it, I never quite recovered from the use of antibiotics by one of our heroes in the very first chapter. If the author could have given us some sort of in-story reason for their early discovery in this version of history (or even mentioned their provenance in her introductory author’s note), then I might have got along with this book better. On the other hand, there is also a lot of confusion between aether, the mysterious element so beloved of steampunk universes, and ether, the now-outmoded anaesthetic gas.
Cornelius is a tinker – one who invents clockwork gadgetry from scrap and gears – but more importantly he is a tinker surgeon, using most of his skills to repair people damaged in the never-ending war between France and the alliance of Britain and Austria. Returning home from a night on the town in Calais, Cornelius spots a barge piled high with dead Austrian soldiers, one of whom, on closer inspection, appears to still be alive. Cornelius takes the man home and sets to repairing him, using his mentor’s prototype clockwork heart when it seems that his efforts would otherwise be in vain.
As the man, Johann, recovers, he and Cornelius tentatively become friends and then lovers, but the warring factions – especially the French under the leadership of Cornelius’ father – want to recover the clockwork heart to turn the war in their favour. Cornelius and Johann are forced to flee France with the help of their respective friends, and then discover that they aren’t the only ones sick of the ongoing war. There are some intriguing twists and turns, not all of which are fully resolved, but this is the first book in a series, and I expect some plot arcs are going to continue into later books.
The main plot, for the most part, had me firmly in its grip, although the romance plot did leave me cold at times. There are some well-developed female characters, intriguing sky pirates, and complex political machinations – none of which make up for my disappointment with the science, unfortunately. If I could escape my scientific niggles, I’d probably be grabbing the next book in the series as soon as it comes out. However, I think I’d be regretfully giving that one a miss.
Grade: C
Summary:
Love, adventure and a steaming good time.
As the French army leader’s bastard son, Cornelius Stevens enjoys a great deal of latitude. But when he saves an enemy soldier using clockwork parts, he’s well aware he risks hanging for treason. That doesn’t worry him half as much, however, as the realization he’s falling for his patient.
Johann Berger never expected to survive his regiment’s suicide attack on Calais, much less wake up with mechanical parts. To avoid discovery, he’s forced to hide in plain sight as Cornelius’s lover—a role Johann finds himself taking to surprisingly well.
When a threat is made on Cornelius’s life, Johann learns the secret of the device implanted in his chest—a mythical weapon both warring countries would kill to obtain. Caught up in a political frenzy, in league with pirates, dodging rogue spies, mobsters and princesses with deadly parasols, Cornelius and Johann have no time to contemplate how they ended up in this mess. All they know is, the only way out is together—or not at all.
Warning: Contains tinkers, excessive clockwork appendages, and a cloud-sweeping tour of Europe. A little absinthe, a little theft, a little exhibitionism. Men who love men, women who love women, and some who aren’t particular.
Read an excerpt.
