DNF from me, sorry. I couldn’t adapt to the writing style at all. I will try some of the authors other books.

FYI the netgalley version of this book on kindle came out in a very strange format which made it hard to read, unfortunately.

Some of the characters felt like they were for a younger audience, specifically the two robots that the main character lives with. There were some interesting ideas and plot points. Overall don't think I'm the target audience for this one, unfortunately! Loved the author's other book The House in the Cerulean Sea so will give other books a try.

This narrative is a delightful read, centered around the idea of living in beautiful treehouses in the woods. However, there is much more to the story than just that. The main characters, Victor and his father, are on a journey that turns out to be much more significant than they originally thought. The character development is skillfully done, and the story's pace is just perfect, building up until the very end. The trials and tribulations that the characters go through are full of excitement and emotion, leaving the reader engrossed until the last page.

As expected from TJK novels, I found myself shedding tears while reading it. However, the romance in this story was not as convincing as in other TJK books. Nonetheless, the novel is a wholesome read, full of love, hope, and acceptance. It follows an asexual main character and his robot family/friends on their journey to save Victor's father. The writing is beautiful, with witty dialogue and fantastic characterisation. The book also explores the found family trope, which is one of my favourites.

However, I did not connect with the characters as much as I would have liked, most likely due to my personal preference for stories without a sci-fi element like this one. Regardless, reading this story left me feeling hopeful and full of love.

#netgalley #inthelivesofpuppets #bookreview #fantasy #generalfiction #romance

TW: genocide, grief, violence, death

Amazing writer, for young readers and old.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Disclaimer: e-Arc provided by Pan MacMillan, Tor, via Net Galley for Review. All thoughts are my own. My thanks to Tor, for providing me with the arc for review.

DNF’d at 24%

I tried to read this physically, digitally and via audiobook and I just couldn’t get through it.

This is a queer science fiction retelling of Pinocchio.

There is nothing inherently wrong with this book but I’m so bored and my desire to pick this up is zero.

Emotions galore for a broken robot and a confused boy - a strange Pinocchio retelling that pulls at the heart strings in true TJK fashion.

I genuinely loved this narrative, the idea of living in the woods in treehouses was perfect but obviously there wouldn’t be a story if that was all there was! Victor and his dad are part of something much bigger than themselves and it was perfectly developed over the timeline to show us how important this story is. The trials and tribulations along the way were full of excitement and emotion and I was engrossed until the last page.

Crying is a given with TJK novels, this was no exception. I did feel less convinced by the romance than with other TJK books, it didn’t flow as easily as Hugo and Wallace or was as intense as Ox and Joe.

As always, TJ Klune has written such a wholesome novel full of love, hope, and acceptance. This retelling of Pinnochio follows an asexual main character and his robot friends/family on their journey to save his father. The writing throughout is so beautiful and funny and really illuminates the found family trope that I absolutely adore. It had amazing characterisation and development, funny dialogue, and an interesting plotline. Unfortunately, I just didn’t fall in love with it as much as I was expecting. For reasons unknown to me, I didn’t connect to the characters like I wanted to and that’s possibly due to the sci-fi element which is definitely a personal preference issue. In general, though, I loved reading this story and left it feeling hopeful and full of love.

TW: genocide, grief, violence, death

A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable and varied, the plot is one that is engaging and medium paced. I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.

I will never not buy a T J Klune book. The writing and the storytelling is just incredible, I can never put the books down and this one was no exception. I will be surprised if this book doesn’t make it as a movie because it was just incredible. I loved the world it created, the emotion it evoked, the deep thoughts it dragged out.. just everything! Easy 5 stars!

Pulling On The Strings Of In The Lives Of Puppets

…And it all sort of unravels. I desperately wanted to like this book, but I couldn’t wait for it to be over and that’s never a good sign. I received this from Netgalley in exchange for review– but I’m no marionette, so I’ve got to say my piece.

As a story it was a little all over the place. Perhaps the reason I didn’t like it was because it was trying to be too many things for too many people. In a post-human world, where robots rule and humans are extinct, this built its ideas using a plethora of literary and pop culture references. Starting off as Pinnochio and morphing into Frankenstein, it had a really strong premise. In theory, that could’ve been so cool, yet I think it ended up being a bit messy for me. It’s such a delicate operation to combine two differing concepts and making them work together- and I wasn’t convinced it pulled it off.

Plotwise, it was both fast moving and slow in parts. When the android is introduced, it picked up for sure and I got reasonably invested in their journey together. It was simultaneously life-affirming and pro-humanity… whilst also very anti-human and pessimistic. This could work- I am just not here for that level of apologia just for existing and didn’t think the ideas married well. Crossing themes from two disparate narratives simply didn’t mesh well. For instance, much of the book is preoccupied with rescuing the father figure from the belly of the whale- only he is also a god-like figure who has played with life and death. I was left feeling confused and out of sorts by the rather-too-chipper ending- especially after the backstory is revealed to be the genocide of all humanity by machines. A happy ending felt forced and forgiveness felt unearned.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t taken with the writing. Though I’ve enjoyed other books by the author, I found the humour distractingly immature and the dialogue placed the story firmly in the 21st century. It seems every single story nowadays, whether it’s supposed to be historic or futuristic, must have the programming of the modern era. As much as there are ways that could make sense, it prevented me fully feeling immersed in an unfamiliar world.

Overall, there were some nice ideas here, it just didn’t totally work for me.

Rating: 2½/5 bananas

I don’t even know how to describe the feels I get from Klune’s books.

He has a remarkable ability of putting into words the depths of the human soul. He’s an amazing writer and storyteller but this particular ability is that wins above all every time.

In this story, we meet Victor who is the last human living hidden from the rest of the world with his unconventional family of robots. When one day Victor will repair an android call HAP, his adventure will start to save his robot father Gio from the rest of the robots and he will untangle his own story and how he ended up being the last of the humans.

The story is so original, emotional and heartbreaking and also so amazing that is captivating. It has a very nice pace, delivering information about the world and the characters throughout the plot in a smooth way that melts everything together. Simple language but rich and meaningful. The characters are so lovely that I didn’t want to part with them at the end of the story. Finally, the ending is so heartwarming and full leaving the reader with a feeling of a strong fulfilment.

I absolutely adore TJ Klune's writing and the heartwarming messages in these books and In The Lives Of Puppets was no different. Adored it!

I love the story of Pinnochio and so as soon as I saw this was not only a retelling but a queer retelling of Pinocchio I knew I had to read it and oh my gosh what a book.
I refuse to spoil it for anyone and I could talk about it for ages so please believe me when I say read it

I love Klune's books. Every single one of them: there is something warm in them, and the humor... and.... damn, the writing is so good!

A wonderful yet melancholy sci-fi tale of what it means to be human and all kinds of love. My second TJ Klune read, it doesn’t beat Under the Whispering Door, but it still captured my heart.

You’ll be taken in by the characters, all of them intricately portrayed, and Nurse Ratched being my absolute favourite!

I’m not a big sci-fi reader but I was immersed in this book and was rooting for Vic’s happiness throughout.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

When I saw that this was a Pinocchio retelling, I wasn’t quite sure it would be for me. But having read Klune’s other work, I knew I would be in for a treat. And I was right! Much like Klune’s other work, In the Lives of Puppets really tugs at the heartstrings.

I don’t have much else to say other than this book is for you if you enjoy the found family trope, great character growth, and emotional storytelling.

TJ Klune has an incredible talent with characters and this story showcases that. This novel captured me right from the beginning and didn't let me go until the final words.
Though it is a light-hearted story, it really delves deep into what it means to be human, despite the majority of the characters being robots.
The world building is really intricate and atmospheric and Klune really makes you feel like you are traveling along with the characters. Klune is quickly becoming a must-buy for me!

The author never fails to deliver wonderful, empathetic characters wrapped up in heart-warming, humorous prose whilst at the same time delivering an important message.
On this occasion, the storyline is a riff on Pinocchio with robots and it is a work of beauty.
Many thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley

I'd heard great things about TJ Klune prior to requesting In the Lives of Puppets so I was overjoyed to be accepted.
Despite having a slight phobia of robots and AI, I put my fears aside and started reading... until a 100 pages in! Unfortunately this book just wasn't for me, it isn't bad it's just not my genre.

I think I'm probably more of a realist and dystopian worlds lose me quite quickly.

I DNF'd! Rated at average feedback for fairness.

This is a lovely twist on the Pinocchio story, turning it on its head in a sci-fi setting. It is very recognisable as Klune, with again some humor that I find works less and less for me. Somehow it feels more forced than natural. I enjoyed the adventure and the journey, and the considerations of what exactly makes us human. There is some queer rep, as expected, though for there being ace representation there were also an overwhelming amount of sex jokes and innuendo. I’m all for some spicy banter, but it would come from our robot companions, super-clinical and weird. Then there was Heaven as well. I didn’t find it funny (as it seems to be intended) and just uncomfortable, and felt very out of tone with the rest of the story and relationships.