Early Review: Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell

Mechanica

Author: Betsy Cornwell

Release Date: August 25, 2015

Publisher: Clarion

ISBN:  0547927711

ISBN13: 9780547927718

Genre: YA/Science Fiction/Steampunk

Review Copy Source: Edelweiss

Nicolette’s awful stepsisters call her “Mechanica” to demean her, but the nickname fits: she learned to be an inventor at her mother’s knee. Her mom is gone now, though, and the Steps have turned her into a servant in her own home.

But on her sixteenth birthday, Nicolette discovers a secret workshop in the cellar and begins to dare to imagine a new life for herself. Could the mysterious books and tools hidden there—and the mechanical menagerie, led by a tiny metal horse named Jules—be the key to escaping her dreary existence? With a technological exposition and royal ball on the horizon, the timing might just be perfect for Nicolette to earn her freedom at last.

Gorgeous prose and themes of social justice and family shine in this richly imagined Cinderella retelling about an indomitable inventor who finds her prince . . . but realizes she doesn't want a fairy tale happy ending after all.

I feel like I have to start this review by saying that MECHANICA is NOTHING like CINDER by Marissa Meyer because let's face it, people are still commenting on it being a rip-off of that story. If you're thinking that by reading the blurb, I can honestly tell you that they are nothing alike, so go ahead and grab a copy and enjoy Cornwell's take on Cinderella.

We all know the story of Cinderella, but MECHANICA gives it a new little spin. Nicoletta has lost both of her parents and is at the mercy of her evil stepmother. She yearns to follow in her mother's footsteps and finding her mothers secret workshop on her sixteenth birthday makes her dreams possible. She is very strong willed, willing to get her hands dirty and very determined to become self-sufficient so she can leave her stepmothers home and do what she loves. I really loved that Nicolette's happily ever after was her own and not what everyone was expecting. Nicolette was 100% her own person and she followed her dreams the way she saw them happening.

MECHANICA was a smooth and easy read with very likable characters. I did find that some parts of the story were a little dull which made it hard to get excited about the things that were happening. I also wasn't into the romance part of the book. It wasn't anything really big, but I wasn't buying the insta-love. If you love Cinderella re-tellings, I think you will probably enjoy MECHANICA, if you're just not that into them, I would probably skip it.

I gave it 3/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.