The Clockwork Dynasty a fantastically different take on mechanical beings in which we are constantly moving forward through an action-packed story. I especially loved the mysterious overtones. While we never learn the true creation story of the avtomats, we have the opportunity to look back at Peter and Elena's lives as far as they can remember. The pacing is spot-on, and the story moved forward easily without moments that could potentially draw a reader out of the main plot. I would recommend this to readers looking for a unique and adventurous page-turner.

Think of Interview with a Vampire but instead of vampires you have ancient robots. I must say this was a very good book. The story never drags, always keeps you on the edge of the seat and you cannot put the book down.

The story follows two ancient machines, their 'creation,' struggles and coming to terms with humanity. Opposite their story is a story of a young woman who has been obsessed with ancient artifacts since the story from her grandfather of an 'angel.'

What I really loved about this book was the travel through time. You got to experience the old Rys with Catherine the Great and her husband Peter the Great, then see how Helsinki was born, onto London and then the new colonies in the New World. What I did not expect was how far back Mr. Wilson went when he introduced the story-line of ancient Chinese civilizations, but it really works!

If you enjoy sci-fi, history, fast paced action and a lot of fight scenes - this is a book for you. I promise - you will not be able to put it down!

Wow! I loved this book . I liked Wilson's other books but this one is superb. Part historical fiction part sci -fi this book is filled with adventure , history,robotics with a side of steampunk. Filled with extremely likeable characters this book had it all for me. brilliant book from the first page to the last.

Smartly written with fascinating characters and a interesting premise. Robots, adventure, history, science, gadgets and famial love. Fast paced a real page turner, I hope there is a sequel.

Excellent book. If you like steampunk stories, you willow this. Even if you don't, it's still a well written and interesting story.

There are many authors and many novels that try to send you to the past, bring you back to the present, and have every page be a different moment in the timeline, and few do this well; this is one of those books that does it perfectly! Without the use of flashbacks the story probably wouldn't have tied together so well. The combination of landscape description, development of characters, the accuracy of the history, and the utter insanity of the plot combine beautifully to wrap you in this potentially different version of your actual world. Also, the intensity and utter realism of the Avtomat will screw with your head, in a terrifyingly good way. As I finished this book I found myself hoping for a sequel or a series or a never ending epilogue because I could not give this book up easily. I read every single word on every single page, not in the fear of missing something but rather in the desperation that I wasn't ready for this story to end.

This book was enjoyable, you just feel in love with it and couldn't get enough.

Robots seem to be the way of our future, but they've also been an integral part of our past, too. Daniel H. Wilson's The Clockwork Dynasty explores a world where automatons have become nearly indistinguishable from humans.

June is fascinated by machinery, spurred into studying mechanical dolls and automatons after her grandfather gave her a relic from a World War II "angel" to protect and keep secret when she was a young girl. While examining a three hundred year old mechanical doll that was a gift to Tsar Peter, June learns the term avtomat, which is what these living machines call themselves. Learning their name draws June unknowingly into a war between these machines over the relic she wears around her neck. Saved from being killed at the hands of one avtomat by another called Peter, June works with Peter to find the vessel for the relic she carries in an effort to end the centuries-long war.

Alternating between June's experiences in current time with those of Peter throughout the centuries of his long life, the story intricately unfolds details in its portrayal of the hidden world of avtomats. I found it a bit annoying that there were things about Peter that were reiterated without adding meaning or anything new to his character, such as what his Word is and what it means, and describing in detail his rather unique dagger. Spanning across thousands of years, the continued presence of avtomats didn't seem too far-fetched and is quite an exciting prospect to consider given the contemporary growing dependence upon robotics and artificial intelligence.

Overall, I'd give it a 4 out of 5 stars.