I’m not quite sure how to review this book. Two perspectives come to mind: how a middle grade audience might view the book and how I actually feel, personally, about the book.

I’ll start with the targeted audience review. For a reader who’s really into steampunk and does not care about the plot, this book will be awesome. It is full of coggy, steam-driven mech terminology that borders on a techocentric plot with hardly a story line to be read. Every page has a description of tech. I know, it is a steampunk novel; however, I have read at least one that was a story with steampunk tech in it and not the other way around.

Additionally, the villains in this novel are particularly evil. How they look, how they act, and what they do to some of the characters is pretty graphic. If you feel especially sinister villains who commit detailed murder, using weapons such as fire and guns, is okay for your middle grader, this book should be okay.

As for my opinion, I felt the story dragged on waaayy to slowly. I feel much of this is from the over abundance of tech description (subjectively, I value one more than the other). Much of the plot takes place in about 5 locations. I also felt the introduction to one of the pivotal characters was a little thinly incorporated. It felt too convenient. I can’t write much more without “spoilering” stuff.

Once I found out what the whole big deal was about and what the villains were after in the book, I knew immediately who, what, and where all the stuff was and what all the twisty end stuff would be. The end was not a surprise for me, which made the book even less enjoyable. To be fair, I have an uncanny ability to do that when reading books, which is why I don’t like thrillers very much and why no one likes to watch movies or TV with me.

With all that written, I still cannot give this a low star rating because the words themselves that are configured to compose the book are done so in a way that does not impose an assumption of stupidity or ignorance on the reader. The descriptions are elegant (though in the beginning, I was a little scared the repetitive use of alliteration and assonance would plague the whole story-it does not). I like the female lead—she’s spunky but not smug, and neither she, nor the writer, treat any of the male characters with a measure of vengeful disdain that usually accompanies stories with similar circumstances.

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, for which I give my honest review, posted on Goodreads on 15 Jan 2019 at the link below.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2623590160

I recieved my copy through Netgalley and Publishers, in exchange for my honest review...

When 13-year-old Lily's inventor father vanishes after a Zeppelin crash, Lily's determined to hunt down the truth behind his disappearance, helped by Robert, the local clockmaker's son, and her wily mechanical fox Malkin.
But shadowy figures are closing in and treachery lurks among the smoky spires of London - along with a life-changing secret.

Be swept away by airships and flabbergasted by dastardly plots in this extraordinary and wildly imaginative debut, bursting with invention and adventure!! With a steampunk asthetic to die for!! This book is amazing, not at all what I was expected from it at first. I fell in love with the story line and characters rather quickly. Once it picked up I did not want to put it down, also a great read for younger readers, as well as older!!

When 13-year-old Lily's inventor father vanishes after a Zeppelin crash, Lily's determined to hunt down the truth behind his disappearance, helped by Robert, the local clockmaker's son, and her wily mechanical fox Malkin. But shadowy figures are closing in and treachery lurks among the smoky spires of London - along with a life-changing secret. Be swept away by airships and flabbergasted by dastardly plots in this extraordinary and wildly imaginative debut, bursting with invention and adventure.

Peter Bunzl's ambitious debut is set in Victorian England, 1896. But it's an alternative history, almost steampunk, with clockwork servants, silver airships and mechanical animals.

The story is quick to begin and filled with exciting chases and air piracy. While I did feel that it slowed down a little towards the middle, the climatic fight atop Big Ben was truly thrilling and the mystery builds well throughout the story, leaving enough clues that an eagle-eyed reader may guess the identity of the villain while still taking its audience's intelligence very seriously. The novel is apparently intended to be the first part of a series but still stands alone very well, leaving most loose ends neatly tied up.

Yet the dialogue in the novel never read quite right. It often came across as being forced and melodramatic, with characters often breaking into lengthy detailed and inspirational monologues that just didn't come across as natural speech. While I liked lighthearted way that the book was written, this didn't really carry across into the way that the characters interacted with each other.

Yet I did feel that some of the characterisation was a bit lacking. Most of the protagonists felt a little flat, their motivations not really fleshed out in full. For example, Robert's fears never play much into the story. Despite it being established that he's terrified of heights, he barely hesitates when swinging between airships. Similarly, Anna is surprisingly passive given her incredible profession. She's a female reporter, aviator and writer of penny dreadfuls in Victorian London. Why does she not get more invested in the chance to live out her air pirate fantasies?

I was also ultimately a little disappointed by Lily. While she started out the novel incredibly strong yet ultimately did need to be rescued from the villain by the male characters. I was also surprised that her discoveries over the climax didn't seem to really affect her at all. I mean, the villain's motivation actually turned out to be pretty damn strong. He had a really legitimate reason for wanting revenge against Lily's family. Yet she did not seem to acknowledge this at all.

All in all, I did enjoy Cogheart and would recommend it. It was really only let down by some clumsy dialogue and flat characterisation. It was still an exciting read with some great world building and I'm sure that young science fiction fans will love it.

An enjoyable read for middle school ages. It's a good steampunk adventure story. The characters are engaging. The story is predictable but still fun.

I am a sucker for anything that has clockwork animals and this one did not disappoint.

A bit predictable for older readers but you still get caught up in the steampunk adventures, actions and shenanigans of Lily (who thinks a proper education should teach piracy and air combat instead of deportment and etiquette), Robert, and Malkin, the grumpy and sulky mechafox. Very fun and enjoyable read. Will definitely be picking up the next in the series.

There are a number of words or topics that I would consider buzzwords for me, one of them being steampunk.  Any books that include steampunk elements can peak my interest, so I was very excited to receive a copy of Cogheart by Peter Bunzl from NetGalley.  Though I had never heard of this book, the synopsis was enough to draw me in.  This middle grade steampunk adventure was full of twists and turns and interesting characters. 

Cogheart follows Lily Hartman, the daughter of a famous inventor who has gone missing in an airship crash.  Very quickly the reader is made aware of nefarious characters having ulterior motives towards Lily and her father.  Lily is a feisty girl who pines for adventure and to be the heroine of her story.  Throughout the book she is accompanied by her new friend Robert and her mechanical fox, Malkin, whose quick wit and sharp tongue made me laugh more than once.  

The story itself was a tad predictable regarding the final outcome, but the journey to get there was worth it and full of character building and depth.  Bunzl's descriptions of settings, vehicles, different people and mechanicals were rich and full of the whimsy that I love to associate with steampunk in general.  With such vivid details it was easy to see the story play out in one's mind and made the read even more enjoyable.  

If you're looking for a fun middle grade adventure that is sure to suck the reader into a unique and whimsical world I would definitely recommend picking this up.  I greatly look forward to getting the opportunity to read the following stories as well.

I was given an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cogheart by Peter Bunzl is a middle grade steampunk adventure story about a girl named Lily who is searching to see if her missing father is dead. Along the way she makes friends and has high flying fun running from bad guys and discovering her own families secrets.

I enjoyed this book. I was first attracted to the title by the cover art. I found it entirely charming. I really enjoyed reading about this little steampunk world. I haven't read a lot in this genre but I really enjoyed all the mechanicals and the mechianimals. That was really cool. Especially since it seemed like they seemed to have feelings and personalities and weren't just emotionless robot. This plot was pretty simple and I am sure any middle grade reader will love this book. I found it to be a bit one dimensional at times but still enjoyed the novel. My favorite character was Malkin, the mechianimal fox. I wish he was in the book more. I also loved Robert. It was nice seeing him conquer his fears over the course of the novel.

Overall a decent middle grade novel that I would recommend to fans of the genre.

— I received an eARC via Netgally in exchange for a honest review. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this opportunity. —

This book was such a fun romp through steampunk-inspired England! I loved Lily and her stubborn and independent attitude, and her mechanical fox, Malkin was the cutest. However, story-wise, it is very clearly a children’s book, which leads to characterizations that are not detailed enough and storytelling that is rather simple. Without spoiling anything, there are a couple of events in the story where the characters don’t seem to react to trauma at all, lacking visible emotion, which I found dissapointing. Sadly, the big plot twist was also rather predictable.
Nevertheless, it is a fun, gripping read for light entertainment!

What is it about?

Lily is a 13 year old girl sent to a boarding school in Victorian England by her father. But when her father disappears she gets dragged out of school and into the kind of adventure she’s always enjoyed reading about. Experiencing it first hand is a little more frightening.

This is a steam punk world with mechanical servants, mechanimal pets, hybrids, steam cars, boats, and zeppelins.

Was it good?

Yes, it was a very interesting story. I really loved the mechanical and steam powered world. The biggest negative about the book would be that the title of the book gives away the big mystery, so there’s really no surprise when you find out that what everyone wants is the “Cogheart”.

A lot of readers on goodreads are classifying this as a middle grade story. It does deal with death and has lots of action in it, some of which gets a bit violent. I’m 29 and I still enjoyed reading it.

I received an ARC copy from netgalley for my honest review, so thank you netgalley and publishers for offering me this book! ♡
The cover and title is what originally drew me to this book.
Thirteen-year-old Lily Harman always dreamed of adventure. A strong-willed girl, Lily felt trapped in a life of Victorian stuffiness at her prim boarding school. But after her father-a famous inventor-disappears on a routine zeppelin flight, Lily's life gets turned upside down.

Now cared for by her guardian, the heartless Madame Verdigris, Lily is quite certain that she's being watched. Mysterious, silver-eyed men are lurking in the shadows, just waiting for their chance to strike. But what could they possibly want from her?

There are rumors, Lily learns, that her father had invented the most valuable invention ever made-a perpetual motion machine. But if he made such a miraculous discovery, he certainly never told Lily. And all he left behind is a small box-with no key, no hinges.

With the help of a clockmaker's son, Robert, and her mechanimal fox, Malkin, Lily escapes London in search of the one person who might know something about her father's disappearance-and what he left behind.
This was my first book by this author. It was alltogether an easy read. ♡ I give this book a
4.5 star rating!

Some secrets change the world in a heartbeat....Lily’s life is in the mortal peril. Her father is missing and now silver-eyed men stalk her through the shadows, What could they want from her? With her friends- Robert, the clockmaker’s son, and Mallon her mechanical fox- Lily is plunged into a murky and menacing world. Too soon Lily realizes that those she holds dear may be the very ones to break her heart. Murder, mayhem and mystery meet in this gripping Victorian adventure.

This is the first in the Cogheart series (all of which has already been published in the UK), a children's steampunk series set in an alternative Victorian period. The mystery at the heart of the novel is rather simplistic so most readers will likely guess the end long before it arrives, but they should be nonetheless charmed by a world of clockwork animals and mechanical automatons. There's a fair bit of tragedy and violence, including the deaths of several adult characters, but it's not described in detail so only the most sensitive of readers should be impacted. I've not read the rest of the series and don't plan to do so, but I can easily envision the sort of reader who would adore this novel and (I assume) the follow up books.

A little shallow on the world building but very good pacing and development. I was sucked into the story from the beginning.

This book felt like a beautiful combination of many beloved children's stories; (there were even traces of A Little Princess in the opening!) Lily's journey with Robert was inspired, a charming adventure that had me smiling throughout and I loved so many of the creative characters - the mirror eyed men were terrifically eerie!

My thanks to NetGalley and North Star Editions and Jolly Fish Press for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When Lilly's father goes missing, it is up to her, along with her mechanimal fox, Malkin, and her new friend, Robert, to take dangerous risks to find him. Budding fans of steampunk will enjoy this world where mechanical beings are as lifelike as people. Savvier readers may find the plot predictable, but younger readers will find plenty to love about this action packed alternate history.

Hello, I will add the review to my Instagram, blog, and Goodreads two weeks before publication date. I will add review to Amazon and Barnes & Noble (if applicable) on publication date. Links to reviews will be added when they are public, thanks.

Title: Cogheart
Author: Peter Bunzl
Publication Date: February 12th, 2019
Rating: 4 stars
eARC provided by publisher through NetGalley

Cogheart follows Lily as she attempts to find out what happened to her father with the help from Robert, a clockmaker's son. It is a charming middle grade read and is good for both boys and girls who love science fiction/steam punk or even inventing things. Lily and Robert are both wonderful characters and they grow throughout the book, especially Robert. I think to most kids they would be very relateable. 

I love when books have a bit of steam punk and the mechanical fox in this book was great! I wish I had one myself. The setting is also fantastic as it is set in Victorian London. The setting and some of the mechanical elements reminds me a lot of Philip Reeve's book, The Mortal Engine. 

Although some parts felt a little too slow, it was still a great read and would recommend to anyone who has kids or for people who just like to read middle grade books!

“How it takes quick thinking and a brave heart to win great battles”

I highly recommend this book to elementary and middle school librarians and teachers with students who enjoy science fiction, adventure, and mystery stories. This is one of those rare middle grade books that will appeal to both boys and girls. Lily and Robert are the kind of characters that are not only easy to like, but root for as well. Both of them exhibit empathy for others and fight for those who need their help (with little concern for themselves). Lily never gives up, even when things are looking pretty dire and Robert overcomes his own fears and losses to do what he believes is right. The villains in the story are definitely the types you would not want to run into in real life, but not so scary they will give young readers nightmares. I was also a fan of the secondary characters – humans, mechanicals, and mechanimals alike.

The effortless writing style and pace of the story makes this an easy and enjoyable read. The alliterative exclamations from the mechanicals were amusing. The action sequences are exciting and have stakes high enough to keep readers on edge. The twist involving the cogheart was clever and not something that would be obvious to the reader. For adults the big villain reveal was predictable given clues in the story, but younger readers may not pick up on them, and so it will still be a surprise.

The events involving Thaddeus is never fully discussed or dealt with. It is mentioned and acts as a catalyst for some characters, but the full emotional affect is never handled. Although, I am assuming it will come up again in other books in the series. My only other criticism of the book is that some of the dialogue was used for exposition and came across a bit stiff and unnatural.

I’m looking forward to seeing what the other books in the series have in store for these characters!

Poor formatting of the e-copy made for slow reading and a slight dip in my enjoyment. I'd like to try the next book in paper copy.

A steampunk middle-grade with a twist I didn't see coming. The plot was easy to follow and I quite liked the direction it went concerning the Cogheart. The villain was almost a bit over-the-top, and his viciousness actually took me a bit by surprise, but overall, he was done pretty well.

Nothing exceptional in my opinion; a pleasant enough read, so I'll give the sequel a go at some point.

Usually I base my choice of books on the title, the genre, the blurb. This book I purely picked because it had a mechanical fox on the cover. I also felt like an easy read, and this is a middle-grade book, so it seemed like something I'd want at this time. I requested it on <a href="www.netgalley.com"> and it got approved. Hurray! Here's the blurb:


A mystery, adventure, and a strongwilled girl as a protagonist in a steampunk-victorian setting. Lovely! This book could have used a content warning for parental death, gries, and some torture. I was surprised how some of those things were suddenly sprung on me, especially seeing that the book is aimed at 8 tot 12 year olds. What also rubbed me the wrong way is that the gender of Lily is really strongly affirmed a few times. She goes to a girl-school (which makes sense, at that part of the story), but later on a whole paragraph is needed to explain why she wants to get a (technical) education and not just ettiquette and posture, even though she's a girl. She says she is more of a tomboy, when she wears boy clothes. Her friend Robert even says it's weird to see her on those clothes. He is also very taken aback when she wears a fancy dress. Just... let Lily be, do and wear what she liked without it being a /thing/. I did like there was no love/crush-subplot going on though.

The story itself is fastpaced, many twists and turns (albeit some are seen from a distance; then again I'm way older then the expected demographic), and lovely ways of using language. I especialy loved the mechanicals and mechanimals (that pun, you folx! <3), with their thematic saying like "cogs and chronometers" and "punchcards and pistons". The description of the world is vivid and descriptive: I could see the scenes play out before my eyes while reading.

The book came out in the UK in 2016, but will be published in the US at the 12th of February. So if you have a kid in your life that can handle some hard topics, and would like to nudge them towards steampunky interests, this might be right up your alley.

The blogpost will appear on readinghthething.wordpress.com on 11/02/2019.

What a great discovery! I love steampunk and I loved this book.
It's fun to read, entertaining and engaging. It can be appreciated by children and adults.
I look forward to reading other books by this author,
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC