★★★☆☆ Average
(Steampunk) Rivka hates how Mr. Cody makes goblin cyborgs for fights in the arena, but what can a foreign teen-age girl in a strange city do to stop him? (28,000 words; Time: 1h:33m)
Recommended By: 🏆Nebula+2 (Q&A)
Although this novella takes place in the author's "Clockwork Dagger's" universe, it stands alone perfectly well.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Review: 2015.172 (A Word for Authors)
Pro: The author makes her world of magic and science very real. She also makes the uncertain friendship between Rivka and Tatiana very real. Her dialogue is good, and her characters always seem to make natural decisions. Even Mr. Cody isn't entirely a bad guy. "Science is brutal, but I don't want to torture them."
Con: There's zero tension in the story past the first half, and a great deal of material is introduced for no clear purpose. For example, a big point is made that Grandmother hired guards to accompany them to the arena, but then the guards are never used for anything.
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Beth Cato Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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Pro: The author makes her world of magic and science very real. She also makes the uncertain friendship between Rivka and Tatiana very real. Her dialogue is good, and her characters always seem to make natural decisions. Even Mr. Cody isn't entirely a bad guy. "Science is brutal, but I don't want to torture them."
Con: There's zero tension in the story past the first half, and a great deal of material is introduced for no clear purpose. For example, a big point is made that Grandmother hired guards to accompany them to the arena, but then the guards are never used for anything.
Other Reviews: Search Web, GoodReads.com
Beth Cato Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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