This Monstrous Thing
by Mackenzi Lee
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: September 22nd 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Steampunk, Retelling, Historical, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Fantasy
In 1818 Geneva, men built with clockwork parts live hidden away from society, cared for only by illegal mechanics called Shadow Boys. Two years ago, Shadow Boy Alasdair Finch’s life shattered to bits.
His brother, Oliver—dead.
His sweetheart, Mary—gone.
His chance to break free of Geneva—lost.
Heart-broken and desperate, Alasdair does the unthinkable: He brings Oliver back from the dead.
But putting back together a broken life is more difficult than mending bones and adding clockwork pieces. Oliver returns more monster than man, and Alasdair’s horror further damages the already troubled relationship.
Then comes the publication of Frankenstein and the city intensifies its search for Shadow Boys, aiming to discover the real life doctor and his monster. Alasdair finds refuge with his idol, the brilliant Dr. Geisler, who may offer him a way to escape the dangerous present and his guilt-ridden past, but at a horrible price only Oliver can pay…
“Yes. Don’t you?”
“Who taught you?”
“My father. He always said women should be allowed to do what they pleased, and one Christmas I wanted to learn billiards so he bought a table and he taught me. Don’t look so surprised.”
Oliver laughed again. “Mistress Mary, quite contrary.”
The corners of her lips turned up. “There’s nothing contrary about it. I simply wanted to learn and I did.”
I had never played billiards before. Oliver was rather good at it, though I hadn’t a clue where he’d learned—it was likely something he’d picked up from the gang he ran about with in Paris. Mary outdid us both though. She was the only woman in the place, but as much as the men eyed her for it, she seemed unconcerned. She would lean against the wall while she waited for her turn, skimming her lips over a mug of cheap beer, and I marveled at how I had yet to see her somewhere that she didn’t seem perfectly tailored to. She looked as at home here as she did by the lake or in our shop or at the museum we had gone to the week before, where I had shuffled my feet and felt awkward and shabby the whole while.
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Mackenzi Lee holds a BA in history and an MFA from Simmons College in writing for children and young adults. She loves Diet Coke, sweater weather, and Star Wars. On a perfect day, she can be found enjoying all three. She currently lives in Boston, where she works as a bookseller and almost never reanimates corpses. Almost.
Blog Tour Prize Pack (US ONLY):
One winner will receive...
A hardcover copy of THIS MONSTROUS THING
A pair of Frankenstein socks
A copy of the Color Your Own Graphic Novel Frankenstein
THIS MONSTROUS THING postcards, bookmarks, and buttons
I would LOVE to read this one--it sounds so good! Thank you for the chance to win :)
ReplyDelete-Amber Terry-