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Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Clock mechanic Danny Hart knows he's being watched. But by whom, or what, remains a mystery. To make matters worse, clock towers have begun falling in India, though time hasn't Stopped yet. He'd hoped after reuniting with his father and exploring his relationship with Colton, he'd have some time to settle into his new life. Instead, he's asked to investigate the attacks.
After inspecting some of the fallen Indian towers, he realizes the British occupation may be sparking more than just attacks. And as Danny and Colton unravel more secrets about their past, they find themselves on a dark and dangerous path--one from which they may never return.
Review:
It's taken me a while to write this review. While I loved Timekeeper, the first book in this series by author Tara Sim, I was less enthralled by Chainbreaker. I've been going back and forth on why this is so. Even though I really liked reading the backstory of Colton, and the history of how clock spirits came to be, some of the elements that made the first book so special were missing.
What I Liked:
Colton's Backstory:Colton's backstory is told through his dreams. At first, we don't really know what these dreams mean. Are they just dreams or memories? When did this take place? As the novel progresses, we learn a great deal about Colton and how he became a clock spirit. This is both beautiful and heartbreaking.
Characters:
Colton: We also learn that Colton was gay even as a mortal. I wondered about this when I read the first book. Do all clock spirits try to connect with their mechanics in a sexual way? Did clock Spirits have a gender, or did clock spirits appear to mechanics as male or female based on who the mechanic is attracted to? Learning that Colton was gay as a human, answered so many questions.
Daphne:
This character, introduced in the first book, was of mixed British / Indian heritage. She was also one of the few women working in a male-dominated profession. She epitomized much of the societal conflict of the times. Because she had lighter skinned, British people often showed their racist tendencies towards Indians, forgetting that she was part Indian. She can also see that not all British people are racist. So she is very conflicted in the book.
Setting:
I loved how most of the story is set in India, especially at a time when there was so much tension in the region. India was a British colony and at the time the novel is set, there was a serious rebellion. I liked that the author didn't shy away from the terrible racism and injustices that occurred in that time period.
What I Didn't Like:
Romance:One of the joys of the first book was the romance between Danny, the clock mechanic, and clock spirit, Colton. They were such a fun couple. I loved how they were getting to know each other, their chemistry, and their looming issues in the first book. But in this story they are kept apart through much of the novel. While I understood that this created the needed tension in the story, it also robbed the reader of the magical swoon-worthy romance. Daphne's interest in Akash doesn't go very far, and did not make up for the lack of romance in this book.
Ending:
Like the first book, the ending in Chainbreaker was very abrupt. There is no resolution to the story. This is frustrating to me as a reader. I don't need a happy ending, but I do was at least some of the conflicts in a book to be resolved. I really don't want to wait a year or more to find out what happened. I felt like this was a tease. If the author needed to, I would have happily read a longer book, rather than be strung along and frustrated.
via GIPHY
Rating:
Release Date: January 2nd, 2018
Genre: YA Steampunk / LGBTQ romance
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Page Length: Page 488
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: While I like the characters and setting, this was a frustrating book, at times. If you are already invested in the characters of Danny and Colton, then you will enjoy this book. This would make a good library selection.
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