"He finds it extraordinarily difficult to trust another human being."
In Sharon Cameron's The Dark Unwinding, mental stability isn't the kind of thing that worries a family. In fact, when young Katharine Tulman is sent to ascertain whether her uncle is insane, all her aunt is interested in is stealing his fortune for her son. Katharine doesn't like the burden placed on her shoulders, but what is she to do? The house is in shambles, large sections of the land playing host to entire towns of freed warehouse laborers. Uncle Tully is right in the center of it all, playing with life-sized dolls that move, speak, and play music when activated, and which are painted to look like dead relatives. Despite his childlike demeanor and apparently careless attitude toward finance, however, it quickly becomes obvious that Tully is a mechanical genius. As relations with the staff begin to thaw and she gets to know her uncle, Katharine must choose whose side to take in this battle for the estate, and choose it fast. For her mind appears to be slipping, and if she doesn't make the decision soon, someone else will.
Katharine is a compelling protagonist with a head for numbers and a spirit that is decidedly ahead of her time. As the primary keeper of her aunt's finance books and the focus of the woman's constant irritation, she is keenly aware of the impact every penny has on her future. Once her cousin inherits, she can spend the remainder of her days in carefully calculated comfort. At least, that's the plan. She certainly isn't planning on growing attached to her queer old uncle or going mad herself, and forget about falling in love! It's fascinating to watch her personality morph, just as it's exciting to see the joy with which Uncle Tully tinkers with his inventions. Everyone in Cameron's tale is complex and dynamic, with the added upside of dark secrets and sinister plots hidden beneath layers of apparent friendliness.
While Katharine's world is distinctly steampunk, the style isn't as overt as it is in other narratives. Instead of wide-skirted gowns and mechanical arms, the pages are filled with robot fish and mannequin pianists. The prose is simple yet elegant, conveying emotion, action, and mystery with every word. Though her final choice seems obvious, there are some startling plot twists between exposition and denouement that make anything seem possible, even at the extent of a life, mind, or heart. Despite her efforts to remain aloof, Katharine finds herself falling for a young man she thought she disliked--a rare instance of a hate-turned-love that feels natural rather than rushed. Although there is a good deal of violence near the end, the romance is subtle and there is only one instance of mild profanity.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a delicious tale of madness, love, and loyalty. The setting is just steampunk enough to give Uncle Tully's eccentricities an intriguing twist without forcing Katharine into ball gowns, knife-heeled shoes, or steam-powered flying machines. The romance is a sweet thing that doesn't at all interfere with or subtract from the main plot, and there is just enough well-executed action to balance out the slow parts. Overall, Sharon Cameron's The Dark Unwinding is unique, captivating, and well-written, earning it a grand total of five stars.
Katharine is a compelling protagonist with a head for numbers and a spirit that is decidedly ahead of her time. As the primary keeper of her aunt's finance books and the focus of the woman's constant irritation, she is keenly aware of the impact every penny has on her future. Once her cousin inherits, she can spend the remainder of her days in carefully calculated comfort. At least, that's the plan. She certainly isn't planning on growing attached to her queer old uncle or going mad herself, and forget about falling in love! It's fascinating to watch her personality morph, just as it's exciting to see the joy with which Uncle Tully tinkers with his inventions. Everyone in Cameron's tale is complex and dynamic, with the added upside of dark secrets and sinister plots hidden beneath layers of apparent friendliness.
While Katharine's world is distinctly steampunk, the style isn't as overt as it is in other narratives. Instead of wide-skirted gowns and mechanical arms, the pages are filled with robot fish and mannequin pianists. The prose is simple yet elegant, conveying emotion, action, and mystery with every word. Though her final choice seems obvious, there are some startling plot twists between exposition and denouement that make anything seem possible, even at the extent of a life, mind, or heart. Despite her efforts to remain aloof, Katharine finds herself falling for a young man she thought she disliked--a rare instance of a hate-turned-love that feels natural rather than rushed. Although there is a good deal of violence near the end, the romance is subtle and there is only one instance of mild profanity.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a delicious tale of madness, love, and loyalty. The setting is just steampunk enough to give Uncle Tully's eccentricities an intriguing twist without forcing Katharine into ball gowns, knife-heeled shoes, or steam-powered flying machines. The romance is a sweet thing that doesn't at all interfere with or subtract from the main plot, and there is just enough well-executed action to balance out the slow parts. Overall, Sharon Cameron's The Dark Unwinding is unique, captivating, and well-written, earning it a grand total of five stars.
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