The Clockwork Dagger: A Novel

Mystery, treachery, magic and mechanics provides a compelling tale in The Clockwork Dagger. Octavia Lender is breaking out on her own. Recently leaving Miss Percival's school for medicians, Octavia is making her way to a small town to help cure a plague. Octavia is an extremely gifted healer, causing many opposing factions vying to control her.  While traveling on an airship, the struggle to control Octavia turns deadly. Who is trying to take Octavia out and who is trying to imprison her.  I really enjoyed reading The Clockwork Dagger, but there were a few things that didn't work for me. While reading the story, I felt like I missing a previous book. The story speaks of a prior character activities that make you feel you should be acquainted with but are not. I also wasn't crazy about all of Octavia's constant religious chants. It did become a little distracting from the main storyline. What did make the story for me was the amazing world created by Beth Cato. We are brought into a world of mechanics, magic and the mayhem of war. The characters are intriguing and you never know who might be friend or foe.

My first venture into the Steampunk fiction category wasn't bad. Read this intriguing book during Barnes & Noble's March serial read. The story is about a gifted healer (called a "medician"), Octavia, sent by the Percival healing academy to Delford where, she's told, a lot of people are sick or injured due to the ongoing war between Caskentia & the Wasters from Dallow in the latter's claim for autonomy & their desire for Caskentia to literally heal their cursed land. Journeying by the airship, Argus, Octavia meets with various people, some of whom wish her dead, & some who will end up as her protectors. Why do they wish her dead? On the other hand, why would her protectors do everything to ensure she remains alive? Is she really that dangerous with her healing powers to those who want her dead, & extremely valuable to those who want her alive? This book only partially answers some of these questions, as Octavia battles with people with magical powers (infernals), mechanicals (humans with robotic body parts), & uses the help of magi to save herself & her friends so they can escape the evil dogging their heels. A very entertaining read, it blends mysticism, magic, faith, & the medieval on the cusp of the industrial revolution & ideas of a mechanical, clockwork universe.

This book captured my imagination immediately. The characters and settings are very well thought out. And I enjoy a book where I occasionally need to look up a word, too. I hope she continues this series past the Clockwork Crown with more full length novels!

Cato's debut novel is a well-crafted steampunk filled with magic and adventure. The characters are well-developed, and the world-building is detailed. Plus, this is the rare fantasy which takes religious faith seriously; I am curious to learn more about The Lady in the next book. Highly recommended to fans of Trudi Canavan and Devon Monk. -- lyradora

Love that the main character is a healer!

Clockwork Dagger was an excellent contribution to the Steampunk genre. Beth Cato created a world that feels as real as our own; a world that she filled with fantastic characters. Octavia loses her family at a young age and is doomed to live her young life on the streets until Ms. Percival takes her in and trains her as a medician (healer.) Once of age, Octavia helps to heal soldiers of both sides at the front. She eventually takes a job in a small town and this book takes place on her journey to that town but her trip doesn't go smoothly (what kind of novel what it be if everything went well) and she is saved and saves a steward on the airship on which she is travelling. The characters, plot, and world are fantastically rendered in this first book in the series. I absolutely loved every minute. I am glad that I didn't read it until there were two books out. Now, to start the second.

Very good. Original. Looking forward to more.

I throughly enjoyed the story and characters and can't wait for the next books in the series

His metal arm turns into a shotgun and is pressed to the side of ranger's skull.

Sits down petting a big black car