I've definitely not read a variation on Frankenstein's Monster as a hero, so double points for making it work. However, triple points off for the shoehorned-in romance. It felt not at all organic to the story or Matilda's character. ( )

A few annoying moments but overall quite enjoyed it. Felt like a cross between Ilona Andrews (On the Edge, Burn for Me), Divergent (why is the future color-coded?), and a sprinkle of Ticker and Hunger Games with a touch of the TV show Continuum. Not all to good effect.

Good: interesting world, quick-moving plot. Neat touches like the sheep and other beasts.

Bad: Matilda felt flat. My Hunger Games comparison? Tilly is a bit like Katniss (or Andrews's Edge series heroines): practical, rebellious on a personal level without much interest in changing the crappy world she lives in...but we don't get to much of Tilly's life before her Call To Adventure occurs, and she doesn't do much to fight the call for no reason other than resignation, I guess. (The Call comes in the form of handsome Obvious Love Interest literally knocking on her door.) She's fairly kind, brave...but not enough to warrant Love Interest praising her as such after a day or two of knowing her. The scenes with other Galvanized felt very Hunger Games, and interestingly there aren't any other female characters really on her level (off the top of my head, beautiful bitch, traitor, senile, traitor, bitch, kindly mother figure, non-interacted-with explicitly plain one, Effie Trinket.

Romance was light but maybe too much so? I don't see any reason for them to be getting together yet, and I'm already headcanoning it as novelty value on both their parts. Also I'm getting sick of love interests who may as well be walking around wearing Designated Love Interest billboards. Or may e I just thought Neds had a way more interesting character arc and personality. (Abraham was a bit of a Four character--- and I did NOT care for any part of Divergent.)

Oh yeah, and a cliffhanger/book just stops kind of non-ending.

All that said, I'll probably try out the sequel at some point this year. ( )

Three and a half stars. The world was very interesting but the story was meh and there was very little resolution. If I can find the next one for cheap (or free!) I'll read it, but I'm not paying eight or more dollars for it. ( )

3.5/5 stars. A very well planned alternate universe, spanning from the late 1800s to the early 2200s. A new look at a classic monster, one that fits surprisingly well in this AU. ( )

Matilda was saved by her brother, not an unbelievable act, until you find out that she was stitched together from parts other than her own. Thinking herself to one of a kind, she is startled to see another like her, and even more surprised when he says is there to save her. Thus starts this series. The author spends much of this book setting up the world Tilly inhabits and ones who people it. Interesting concept, remarkable characters, but a bit slow moving at times. And don’t expect an end – it finishes with the proverbial cliffhanger, setting up the next book in the series. ( )