Curio

                                   

Summary:   Grey Haward has always detested the Chemists, the magicians-come-scientists who rule her 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.


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This is Evangeline Denmark's first book, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. This was a unique kind of book. It is set in a different world, with a steampunk style (a genre I am starting to enjoy more and more). The authoress did an excellent job creating her characters and maintaining them.
I loved getting to know Grey more, and enjoyed how the book was split up in different perspectives, thus adding more to the story. There were many interesting characters, along with other creative and exciting things. I loved the porcelain and clockwork people there. They were so cool!

There isn't anything I can think of at the moment that I didn't like. Though I did wish to know a little bit more. There were a couple times I was confused on who her grandfather and the rest of her family were (since I had read the short prequel beforehand) So my only thing would be to know more details about her. Though, perhaps more shall be explained in the sequel.

For those wanting more of Evangeline Denmark, there is a free short prequel to Curio called Mark of  Blood and Alchemy set many years before the events in Curio. You can find it on just about any site for eBooks (Amazon, B&N, and others).


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I received this book free from the publisher for an honest review.