Curio by Evangeline Denmark
ISBN: 0310729661
ISBN: 0310729661
Pages: 432
Source: BookLookBloggers
Source: BookLookBloggers
Publication Date: January 5, 2016
Appearance:
Grey Haward has always detested the Chemists, the magicians-come-scientists who rule her small western town. But she has always followed the rules, taking the potion the Chemists ration out that helps the town’s people survive. A potion that Grey suspects she—like her grandfather and father—may not actually need.
By working at her grandfather’s repair shop, sorting the small gears and dusting the curio cabinet inside, Grey has tried to stay unnoticed—or as unnoticed as a tall, strong girl can in a town of diminutive, underdeveloped citizens. Then her best friend, Whit, is caught by the Chemists’ enforcers after trying to protect Grey one night, and after seeing the extent of his punishment, suddenly taking risks seems the only decision she can make.
But with the risk comes the reality that the Chemists know her family’s secret, and the Chemists soon decide to use her for their own purposes. Panicked, Grey retreats to the only safe place she knows—her grandfather’s shop. There, however, a larger secret confronts her when her touch unlocks the old curio cabinet in the corner and reveals a world where porcelain and clockwork people are real. There, she could find the key that may save Whit’s life and also end the Chemists’ dark rule forever.
By working at her grandfather’s repair shop, sorting the small gears and dusting the curio cabinet inside, Grey has tried to stay unnoticed—or as unnoticed as a tall, strong girl can in a town of diminutive, underdeveloped citizens. Then her best friend, Whit, is caught by the Chemists’ enforcers after trying to protect Grey one night, and after seeing the extent of his punishment, suddenly taking risks seems the only decision she can make.
But with the risk comes the reality that the Chemists know her family’s secret, and the Chemists soon decide to use her for their own purposes. Panicked, Grey retreats to the only safe place she knows—her grandfather’s shop. There, however, a larger secret confronts her when her touch unlocks the old curio cabinet in the corner and reveals a world where porcelain and clockwork people are real. There, she could find the key that may save Whit’s life and also end the Chemists’ dark rule forever.
I was super excited to get my hands on Curio when I first heard about it. The premise is definitely something that I've never heard about before and it has an interesting mix of steampunk and alternate historical fantasy elements. The story follows Grey who lives in this world that is controlled by the Chemists who have created this potion which help the townspeople survive. Grey is different from the rest as she doesn't need the rations to survive. When the Chemists arrive to use her for their own purposes, she retreats into a world inside her grandfather's cabinet that she didn't know existed. There she meets the rich and perfect porcelain people who run on water and the downtrodden clockwork creatures. Honestly this book is unique on so many levels and the development of the characters and the plotline was really well done. I can't really state a direct problem I have towards this book, but at the moment and time when I was reading, I was in the midst of a slump and found getting through the book a bit difficult. Regardless, it's a fascinating story and I plan on trying to reread it again in the future.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Foreverly Obsessed,
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