The Inventor’s Secret by Andrea Cremer

Title: The Inventor’s Secret

Author: Andrea Cremer

Series: The Inventor’s Secret #1

Publisher: Philomel Books

Publication Date: April 22, 2014

Genre: Fiction; Fantasy; Historical Fiction; Steampunk; Romance; Young Adult

Pages: 368

Format: Hardcover
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In this world, sixteen-year-old Charlotte and her fellow refugees have scraped out an existence on the edge of Britain’s industrial empire. Though they live by the skin of their teeth, they have their health (at least when they can find enough food and avoid the Imperial Labor Gatherers) and each other. When a new exile with no memory of his escape or even his own name seeks shelter in their camp he brings new dangers with him and secrets about the terrible future that awaits all those who have struggled has to live free of the bonds of the empire’s Machineworks.

The Inventor’s Secret is the first book of a YA steampunk series set in an alternate nineteenth-century North America where the Revolutionary War never took place and the British Empire has expanded into a global juggernaut propelled by marvelous and horrible machinery. Perfect for fans of Libba Bray's The Diviners, Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel, ScottWesterfeld's Leviathan and Phillip Reeve's Mortal Instruments.

Am I the only one that’s getting sick of the whole “steampunk” fad that’s going around right now?

It’s the nineteenth century—around the time the Revolutionary War should’ve happened but didn’t. Instead, the British have expanded into the dictatorial leaders us Americans always knew they would become, and things are worse than ever—especially the wealth and power of the rich. And of course, they’ve invented super robots with terrifying powers and scary tools to track down and punish the Patriots. Charlotte is the younger sister of the one of the leaders of the rebellion, and she’s predictably juvenile and short-sighted. Her immaturity grated on my nerves, and she just never seemed to take a hint. And no one likes someone who can’t take a hint.

It’s not that I’m against steampunk. It’s just that it’s been talked about ad nauseam. Like, come on, get a new idea. It’s no longer cool. It’s been used too many times, and it’s getting old. Find some other type of “punk” to overuse and drive into the ground.

Usually I have a blind spot for romance. If a bad story has a really well formed romance, I usually give it more credit than it deserves. I really shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. In this case, the lovey stuff was good, but it wasn’t enough. It was too quick and too predictable. First of all, we started off with the whole “if he bullies you, it’s just because he likes you” thing going on. Because, as we all know, if a boy likes you, he has to be mean to you. I feel like the author tried to do a fake out on the reader of where the romance was leading, but failed miserably and just ended up falling on her face in the attempt. It was obvious. Strike one. Secondly, it happened too fast without any build up. Not enough conflict. It was too easy, and it’s really not fun to read a romance that’s too easy. It makes the readers feel like they didn’t work for it. What’s the point of continuing to read if we already know that boy gets the girl and good defeats evil? I mean, come on. Give me a little of anxiety while reading. Emotion make the world go round after all.

So there were bad things. There were also good things too. There was humor. Point for Cremer. And the cover was pretty cool too. Not the best, but pretty cool, but only this cover. The other covers suck. And, if I’m being completely honest, the plot line was not a total fail. It was, however, one that I’ve read a million times and probably could recite in my sleep. Can we thing of another story line besides a tom boy turning into lady and getting the guy? And please, for the love of God, do not put it against a steampunk backdrop, whatever you do. I beg you.

Overall, it wasn’t so bad. Let’s just say it’s not my go-to book for recommendations. And I probably won’t read the sequel.