The first 250 pages or so were a ''sloooow'' burn, and I’ll admit, I was tempted to put it down. But I’m glad I pushed through because the second half really picked up and drew me in.

If you're in the mood for a gothic tale with an atmospheric vibe, it’s worth the read—just be prepared for a slow start!

Thanks to Orion Publishing Group & NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

#TheClockworkGirl #NetGalley

This book is atmospheric and creepy. The author has written a beautiful gothic novel. This is a spooky read with twists and turns. It is very mysterious

Unfortunately I have not been able to connect with this book and after multiple attempts have had to admit defeat and mark as dnf.

I am so sorry I came to this so late, this was so atmospheric, eerie, suspenseful and gripping.

I spent the whole book wondering what the clockmaker and his daughter were up to, in a good way! It kept me guessing because there are different strands and intrigues at work.

Set in 18th-century France, one of the things I really enjoyed was the way historical characters such as Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Duchesse de Pompadour, King Louis XV, the duc de Richelieu, and even a cameo from Voltaire were woven into the story. While they were not central characters, which was also clever, Jeanne, in particular added to the feeling of decay, entrapment, and the theme of agency, particularly for the female characters. Anna Mazzola, in including Jeanne's experiences, cleverly added to the sense of the women being trapped in something more sinister, Jeanne's illness and the peril and fear on several levels that that led to, and how it fed dark rumours which may or may not have been connected to the work of the clockmaker really added to the growing tension as we all, characters and reader alike, waited together for the reveal of 'the project'. Like Jeanne, like Madeleine, I had my morbid suspicions, how far would the clockmaker ultimately go for his king. Even the vanishing children of Paris was based on true events, as explained on Anna Mazzola's own blog:

"‘The wicked people … are calling me a Herod,’ whined Louis XV, the so-called ‘Well-Beloved’ whose popularity was rapidly dwindling. But with no official explanation forthcoming, the panic continued to mount. School-masters placed posters on walls warning parents ‘not to allow their children to go to school alone but to accompany them and collect them for we can take no responsibility for the consequences.’ Parisian glazier Jacques-Louis Ménétra later remembered being met from his primary school by his father, along with ‘seven strong cooper lads each carrying a crowbar over his shoulder’."

Madeleine is a great central character, street smart, but ultimately out of her depth when faced with the machinations of the upper classes, she helps to progress the plot, but many events unfurl outside of her control, meaning she is a witness to, not a controller of the events which she finds herself in, and this is a deliberate point Anna Mazzola makes, and a great parallel with the title subject of the Clockwork Girl. What is the difference between a machine and a human person, how much can one person be controlled by those with power over them and what happens when a clockwork girl starts to behave contrary to or in spite of the constraints placed upon her by her environment, her programming, her controllers?

Interesting on so many levels, it made me want to educate myself more on French history, Madame de Pompadour, the missing children, and automatons.

I read this in physical book and audiobook form, I recommend both, Penelope Rawlins does a fantastic job as narrator, she performs each character perfectly.

while slow and meditative, i think that the themes the novel engages with through its speculative elements are really well developed

WOW. I was not expecting this book to be so immersive, so atmospheric, and so downright creepy but it was truly brilliant!

The story is set in 18th Century Paris, with a nice mix of fictional and real characters. Using real historical figures is a difficult game, especially when they are not leading roles such as in this book, but I thought the author did a great job of introducing them and then balancing them with the rest of the story.

I loved the friendship between the main character, Madeleine, and the young woman she works for, Véronique. The way it developed over the course of the story felt very natural and was a lovely arc. There was also lots of very interesting family dynamics for both women, which were well depicted with all their complexities.

All of this is driven by a very cool but very creepy plot involving steampunk-style automata. It’s not a fantasy book or even magical realism, but there is a fantastical air to some it. The morbid fascination that some of the characters have with dissecting various creatures, in order to recreate them in clockwork form, has that occasional villainous tone to it but also draws you in as a reader with their own intrigue and obsession.

This book is not at all what I expected, but it was all for the best. It’s a perfect example of how to blend fact with fiction, and how to creep out your readers while ensuring they can’t look away.

I received a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Whilst it took a while for the threads of the plot to come together from the very first page the world building in this book is so vivid you're transported to the seedier, pungent underbelly of 18th century Paris. The scene is both visceral and magical as Madeline, our heroine, is transported first to the house of the unusual clockmaker she now must serve, his quiet daughter and his almost magical automatons, to the real truth of the outwardly glittering Palace of Versailles. Reading I was compelled forward like one of those machines to try and figure out the truth behind a mystery that is sure to keep you guessing. Brilliant for readers who like their historical fiction to have a sinister, gothic edge.

Wow what a gem this is! My first read by this author and definitely won’t be the last. I need more.
This is one I’ve devoured in just one sitting. I have adored it!

Oh wow am I late to the party on this one. I don't know what took me so long to pick this up, but I'm glad I finally did.

This book is beautifully balanced; Historical Fiction with thrilling, gothic and speculative tones that will keep you guessing to the end!

The writing is truly beautiful and you are fully transported to 1750, you explore the city, and wander down the alleyways. It is truly atmospheric and the sense of place really helps give you a sense of the people that lived there too. Both the rich and the poor.

Completely engaging, and one I will keep recommending to all Historical Fiction and mystery fans. This one lands that particular combo perfectly!

When Madeleine finds herself in desperate need for money to help her mother, she goes to work for a clockmaker in Paris. Little does she know she has no idea what she is letting herself in for.

It’s not long before she starts to have doubts about him. Just who is the infamous clockmaker she’s come to work for and what is he upto? Despite the warnings she is determined to stick at it. But she soon discovers that he’s conducting mysterious experiments and tries to get to the bottom of what he’s upto.

Children are also going missing off the street but no one knows as to who is taking them and why? And is it the Clockmaker?

#TheClockworkGirl is a book completely clouded in mystery. I was intrigued to find out where it was headed and what the clock maker was hiding. I whizzed through the book quite quickly but it was at the end that it got really exciting, completely having me gripped, I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. However, it was a lot more darker towards the end than I expected it to be. The book has a lot elements that reminded me of a lot of Frankenstein though the writing is very much different.

This book really transports you back to those times in 1750. I loved how she describes all the back streets and beautiful settings in Paris as well as seeing how things were during those times. She really captures the essence of Paris and the tough times that was had by people in poverty. There was a huge division during those times between those who were rich and those who were poor. The book also took place at a time where children actually was going missing and the person behind it was never discovered.

A dark and gritty read that will keep on enticing you to read more. If you love historical fiction with elements of mystery then you’ll really enjoy this one.

The Clockwork Girl has an ingenuity and imaginative streak that weaves in perfectly with the pitch perfect historical detail, conjuring up the contrast between the haves and the have nots. An extremely creepy central premise, peppered with interesting asides, this is another sensational read from the always excellent Mazzola.

I loved this book, combining historical fiction but taking a journey through Paris and Versailles, what more could you ask for. Great character development and you could also get the sense of how each lived. The focus and story telling of the women in that time and how they came over their own hurdles and paved the way for their future.

The cover is just sublime too!

What an incredible read. I absolutely loved the build up, the characters development and how it all wrapped up

I could not put it down

Such an addictive read, with characters you easily become involved with. The plot is full of many mysteries to keep you totally engrossed: missing children, the clockmakers secret task for the king and the "magic" behind his machines but to name a few. Dark, unexpected and cleverly written. I couldn't put it down! Loved it.

The Clockwork Girl is the first novel I’ve read by Anna Mazolla. It’s set in the mid-18th century and is partly based on the story of children quietly vanishing from the streets of Paris. The protagonist, Madeline, is sent to spy on a local clockmaker who is suspected of … that’s what she has to find out. The sights, sounds and smells are so vivid that it’s hard not to be totally immersed in loud, smelly Paris. The Palace of Versailles? I should have guessed. Themes of identity, corruption, social class, treatment of the poor and women, are all there. The plotting is brilliant, the characters, especially Madeline, are credible, the story creepy and thrilling. I loved it and would highly recommend.

Paris in 1750, is not the romantic city it is now known to be. Paris has a dark past where the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor and when someone from the slums goes missing, the authorities turn a blind eye.

Madeline Chastel has been coerced with the promise of money which will enable her to live a life of freedom, to spy on an infamous clockmaker by having her appointed as the chambermaid of his young 17-year-old daughter, Veronique. Madeline is to seek out the truth behind the clockmaker's experiments and report her findings to the police. On arrival at the house, she is greeted by an array of clocks and constant ticking and a feeling of unease. The clockmaker is certainly a talented man, as his intricate creations would make anyone be in awe even to this day. It’s the magnificence and impossibility of these creations which has raised suspicion amongst society., and to add fuel to the rumours, children are disappearing off the streets and people are beginning to make links to the clockmaker. But is there more to this mystery than what it seems?

I was sucked in and fully absorbed by this dark, intoxicating and vivid story. I would love to see some of the creations, although I could see them clear as day in my head, and they are spectacular. Although the story is fictional, there are aspects which are based on truth. Children did go missing from Paris at this time, but not for the same reasons. I also learnt a bit about Versailles, it wasn’t the beautiful, ostentatious palace as its viewed as today, it was rather disgusting and grubby sounding. All smoke and mirrors! I did end up going down the Wikipedia rabbit hole!

This book is a fast-paced, easy to ready dark historical mystery, with a bit of creepiness and a brilliant twist! It definitely kept me on my toes throughout.

Interesting premise and loved the cover design. Had a hard time getting into the story but would try other books by the author

A fantastic read, enticing and engrossing, I loved every beautifully written word of it. Completely transporting to the underworld of 1750's Paris, the sights, sounds and smells of the city are richly evoked. Madeleine is sent to a clockmaker's house to be a maid. However, she is also a spy, sent there to uncover the secrets of the clockmaker's experiments, especally his workings with automata. Madeleine is maid to the clockmaker's daughter, only slightly older than she and cosseted from the real world by the strict nuns in the convent school she attended. Now she is home and learning the skills of automata from her father. As different as the two young women are, they form a friendship which proves to be of great use to them both as the story develops and secrets are uncovered. There is peril, fabulous plot and plenty of drama in this marvellously gothic story of obsession, greed and deviousness. Highly recommend!

Really enjoyed this little gothic tale set in 1750's Paris. Full of contrasts, from the golden walls of Versailles to the streets full of dirt, this is a story full of mystery that makes you think about class differences, about life and death. .
@Anna_Mazz

The natural obsession of humans trying to trick death and the limits of experimenting. Creations that ultimately haunts every aspect of your life. From Pygmalion to Frankenstein. Really recommends if you like historical fiction with a little mystery! .
@orionbooks
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@NetGalley

'The Clockwork Girl' is out now in hardback!

There’s so much to enjoy in this story.

I loved the time in history! Anna Mazzola brings everything to life, from the danger on the Parisian streets to the sights, smells and sounds. I forgot where I was, totally absorbed in the story.

Madeline is a fabulous lead. The trauma she has already experienced in her life has given her motivation and strength to try to change where her life is going now. Before the offer from Monsieur Dacier, I admired her for what she was prepared to do to take care of Emile (even though I curled up inside). When she’s in the Reinhart’s home, her subterfuge often kept me tense and waiting for discovery!

Veronique and her father’s clockwork ‘toys’ kept me guessing throughout. I wasn’t ever sure of the truth and eagerly waited for the reveal.

The reveal is brilliant! I didn’t see any of it coming and was pretty shocked at those who were involved. Very, very clever resolution of how to get around what was insurmountable. I was totally hooked!

With an interesting cast of secondary characters (who are important), The Clockwork Girl is a story about the mistrust of those who are different to us, the misuse of power and the importance of fighting for freedom to find a safe haven in life.

I loved it!