ARC Review: Timekeeper (Timekeeper #1) by Tara Sim

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader's copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: November 1, 2016 

Summary: 

Source: Goodreads 

Two o’clock was missing. 

In an alternate Victorian world controlled by clock towers, a damaged clock can fracture time—and a destroyed one can stop it completely.

It’s a truth that seventeen-year-old clock mechanic Danny Hart knows all too well; his father has been trapped in a Stopped town east of London for three years. Though Danny is a prodigy who can repair not only clockwork, but the very fabric of time, his fixation with staging a rescue is quickly becoming a concern to his superiors.

And so they assign him to Enfield, a town where the tower seems to be forever plagued with problems. Danny’s new apprentice both annoys and intrigues him, and though the boy is eager to work, he maintains a secretive distance. Danny soon discovers why: he is the tower’s clock spirit, a mythical being that oversees Enfield’s time. Though the boys are drawn together by their loneliness, Danny knows falling in love with a clock spirit is forbidden, and means risking everything he’s fought to achieve.

But when a series of bombings at nearby towers threaten to Stop more cities, Danny must race to prevent Enfield from becoming the next target or he’ll not only lose his father, but the boy he loves, forever.

The stunning first novel in a new trilogy by debut author Tara Sim, Timekeeper is perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Victoria Schwab.

Review: 

              I commend the author for giving us a detailed description and background of the world in the book. I guess that is my problem with other fantasy books is that some authors create amazing worlds but failed to give us a brief history or background of the world (or the magic system if there is any) and how it came to be, and that is important in order to add more dimension in the story. The uniqueness of the story is also astonishing. I have never read a fantasy book like this, which highlights clock towers, and that is what makes this book stand out from other books. Having read many fantasy books, this is a very refreshing story due to its extraordinary plot. 

             Furthermore, I love the dynamics of the characters. They are well thought of and well created. Danny is very relatable in a way that he represents a person who is going through a lot of changes with falling in love and his father being stuck in a stopped town. And he reacts in a humane way wherein he is in denial at first and he reacts in an angrily manner in confronting those changes and problems, which is what normal people do in reality. I also like how the author presented the problem in regards with discrimination towards the LGBT community. Even though the world is starting to accept them, there are still some people around throwing homophobic jokes and not really accepting them. But in the end, they are still people and we should love one another despite our differences in religion, sexuality, race, and so on and so forth. 

                In addition, one of the problems I had with this book is that it started really slow for me. I had a hard time getting hook on it and I had to read a couple of chapters just get the flow of things. Another problem is the some of the plot twists were predictable but in the end it was an entertaining read. The romance between Danny and Colton is just pure and sweet. Their personality complimented one another and Colton turned Danny from a broken boy to someone who is whole again and is capable of truly living his life. 

‘‘You’re chaos and order and everything in between. Like sunshine kept back by clouds. Like the entire world’s imploded inside you, but all I see are the stars are sewn into your skin. You’re filled with soft, dark music.” His smile was gentle. “I hear it all the time. Your music.”

                  Lastly, this book reminded me of my childhood wherein I was fascinated with clock towers. There was something magical about them when I was a child (I thought they were ran by elves). This book made me fell in love with clock towers again. 

Lesson learned: Love makes us do crazy things (yup I'm look at you Matthias)

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More About The Author

Tara Sim is a YA author found in the wilds of the Bay Area, California. When she's not writing about magic, clocks, and boys, she drinks tea, wrangles cats, and sings opera.

Tara grew up in California, but braved the elements of Virginia to study English/Creative Writing at Hollins University.
Half-Indian and full geek, she eats too many samosas and awkwardly dances to Bhangra music.
TIMEKEEPER (Sky Pony Press, Fall '16) is her debut YA novel.
Purchase your book on: Amazon  and Book Depository



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XOXO,
Isabel