It took me a couple of months to even realise that I had already read this book, so I guess that says a lot about how memorable I found it. It wasn’t bad though, just not overly interesting.

Seren is an orphan on her way to her new home when a desperate man at the train station gives her a package. Seren arrives at the house to find the family away, the housekeeper secretive and strict, and the package to be pieces of a clockwork crow that can talk once it’s put together and wound. When she discovers that the boy, Tomos, has actually been missing almost a year, her determination to find him leads her on a dangerous adventure. Slow and creepy start to an interesting story.

Such a wonderful middle grade fantasy novel! I am such a huge fan of well put together fantastical worlds.

With a beautiful wintry quality, this story brings the warmth of a well lit hearth to the coldest environments.

A relatively quick middle grade book about fairies (or the others) who stole/tricked a little boy, a cursed/magical clockwork crow toy, and an orphan girl. Cute and easy to read! Definitely reminiscent of some of the old kids books like A Little Princess in some ways, which was so fun.

This was a really easy, quick middle grade read. It was a sweet story and I loved the crotchet crow character. I think this was on the young side of middle grade so didn't translate to well to an older reader but for the right audience it could be great.

A fantastical winter adventure that was perfect for someone like me who loves snow and the inherent magic of the winter.

My son and I really enjoyed this book. We read it together most nights and we enjoyed the story of Seren and her new life. It’s Christmas time and Seren is traveling to her new hone. When a stranger gives her a strange toy wrapped up. Seren is an orphan and when she gets to her nee home it is cold, dark and the staff are so sad. There is only two servants left and relatives are in London. She explores, puts together the toy and gets herself into a bit of trouble. She can not even imagine Play-s-Fran, being a happy place. Seren learns about Tomos, the young son of the family has been missing for a year & that is why everyone is so sad. A toy crow, becomes her friend and as she sets off to find Tomos.. Together with some help with magic, the two set off to make things right. We really liked the characters and the mystery. It was like an old fashioned fairy tale. This is the 1st book in the series and we can’t wait to read the 2nd book..

A relatively quick middle grade book about fairies (or the others) who stole/tricked a little boy, a cursed/magical clockwork crow toy, and an orphan girl. Nothing too original here but a solid story written by an author I adore.

Catherine Fisher has a way of writing children’s/teen books that is just engrossing. I never want to put them down! I wish more of her works were released in North America.
This series is actually a republish by Candlewick Books making it more available worldwide hopefully. Or at least here in Canada (where I live) it will be readily available from Candlewick.

The perfect book for boys or girls that maybe haven’t learned to love reading yet; but are competent enough to read at a 8-9 year-old reading level. I think Clockwork Crow easy enough for most kids but interesting enough to really get them liking reading. Especially if they’ve never read a fantasy/mystery like it before.

There are two further books in the series that I already grabbed e-books for and when the full series is out from Candlewick Press I hope to get the set as I can never have enough Fisher on my shelf!

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

I have many a fan of dark fantasy and this one fits the bill beautifully. The setting, the time period and perilous journey adds up to an evocative journey I just want to read aloud.

<i>"She almost woke once, deep in the night, thinking she heard the high, sweet note of a bell, silvery and sharp.
But it might have been a dream."</i>

Clocking in at 179 pages, I wanted a quick read to jump-start the new year. Aaaand, this may be the first time I've wished a book was longer. This is very much a plot-driven story, but even that is a little sparse and fast moving. The characters aren't particularly round, and there isn't much growth that happens for anyone.

The first chapter hooked me -- and I thought the first 2 or 3 chapters were particularly strong for a MG novel. I got total Secret Garden / Little Princess vibes, and all the ingredients were there for a Junior Gothic novel: the orphan girl coming to live in the big, lonely house + the mysterious secret + the prohibition not to go into the attic (o hai, Bertha!) + the mean housekeeper...it's all there.

Except...it was thin. All that potential -- it was like the first few chapters were developed and then it just barreled towards the end. Which was disappointing, because I was expecting something of a Gothic mystery, given the set-up. And the fact that it's MG doesn't really matter...I've read some of Fisher's other books before and don't remember being this disappointed.

✘ -- The Clockwork Crow. The note that was attached to the crow promised intrigue and darkness...and now I'm thinking that was just a Gothic twist a la Jane Austen (where Northanger Abbey isn't all that scary) because the Crow was more of a guide than the impetus for the adventure. And the magic was inconsistent. Sometimes he knew the answers, sometimes he knew magic, sometimes he didn't. And his voice was just off to me. He was rude and brusque, yes, but it felt very anachronistic.

✘ -- VERY thin plot. Girl arrives at house. Girl knows secret. Girl solves secret. Girl rescues boy. Not a lot of obstacles, not a lot of twisty turns. And for a story that draws on the Fair Folk, I would have thought there would be more mythology and backstory.

✘ -- VERY flat characters. Seren is headstrong and smart. Mrs. Viliers is mean -- except when she has a 180 degree change of heart. There's no growth in any of the characters, and the only real antagonist is the Fae, and they're not even really seen nor do they have any speaking lines. (See above.) Seren mentions wanting to be a writer, but then it never comes up again -- nor does her interest in education/reading.

✘ -- I'm not sure when this story takes place. I'm sure the lack of definitive time markers are intentional, but we know it has to be past 1865 (Seren mentions the Alice books) and past the 1890s (Seren also mentions Sherlock Holmes). The trains and gas lamps would fit, and I'm sure it's meant to be in some sort of Edwardian time-frame, but again, the Crow just speaks so out-of-place for that setting, it just messed with me.

This was a "fine" story -- but, if I was the target demographic, I could see it being a gateway book to Burnett or darker Faerie tales. I'll read the sequel(s) because I bought the second on the strength of the 2nd book alone, and hope Fisher complicates things a bit.

Also, this needs to be said: I don't know why they changed the cover design, because the hardback cover is absolutely stunning. Perhaps that's why I feel so let down...the cover promised me one thing, and I didn't get it.

I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. It was fun, mysterious, and engaging, and I was really compelled to keep reading. Now that I've finished it, I cannot wait for the next books!

Orphan Seren Rhys thinks she's being rescued from the orphanage when her mysterious godfather, Captain Jones, sends for her. His country mansion, Plas-y Fran, is just going to be wonderful, Seren knows it! She'll be the apple of Captain Jones and his wife, Lady Mair's eyes, have wonderful parties, and play with the couple's young son, Tomos. She realizes things are very different when she's picked up at the train station and arrives, late at night, at Plas-y Fran, which looks rundown and all but abandoned; Mrs. Villiers, the cold housekeeper, tells her that the family is in London for the foreseeable future. Seren turns to the mysterious package entrusted to her at the train station and discovers a mechanical crow. Upon assembly, the crow can talk, fly, and complain. A lot. But when Seren learns that Tomos has been taken by fairies, she decides to rescue him and restore life to Plas-y Fran: and the crow will help her do it. 

A fun fantasy with a bit of steampunk, which I always enjoy, this is a quick read with adventure and a warm family story at its heart. Seren is the hopeful orphan, and the cantankerous Crow is a great foil, making this a fine buddy comedy. Fairie lore amps up the action and the tension, and adds some dark fantasy and magic to the plot. A good choice for readers who loved the Nevermoor/Morrigan Crow series by Jessica Townsend.

This book was like a breath of fresh air from my childhood! A highly atmospheric novel that I would suggest reading around the winter to fully experience the setting.

Our young protagonist Seren is sent off to live with her Godparents in the country. On her way, she encounters a stranger at the train station who hands her a package that houses a mechanical crow. Why did she receive this strange package? After her arrival at the new home Seren realizes not everything in the house is as it seems, and she is determined to figure out where the mysterious Tomos has been hiding. How do the mechanical crow and Tomos fit together? I guess you will just have to read and find out.

This book reminded me so much of many novels I read back when I was a child and I absolutely loved it! I would highly recommend this novel to any person or child of any age.

Big thank you to NetGalley, Candlewick Press, and Catherine Center for allowing me to read an E-Arc of this novel! I will be picking up book 2 soon!

I received this as an E-arc from the publisher
via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know what it is about crows, but books with crows in them always draw me in.
The writing style was easy to follow and I liked it very much.
I really enjoyed Seren as a character. She is strong willed and very independent.
I also enjoyed the Victorian England setting.
The mystery was interesting, and I liked seeing how it developed, but I feel like it could have been drawn out more. I felt like we learned out the problem in one chapter and then in the next it was automatically solved.

IGNORE THE STARS!

I'm so sorry but I can't give a review of this book. For some reason I can't access it on my kindle-- which is really disappointing considering how much I was looking forward to reading this.

But, if you guys can read this book, I hope you enjoy it!

Read. Stay safe. Be happy.

Young Seren Rhys has led a difficult life. Losing both parents at a young age, she is shipped to an orphanage, to an elderly relative, back to the orphanage, to finally land at her Godfather's home. Except, when she gets there it's not exactly the warm, welcoming home she was anticipating. Plas-y-Fran is large, imposing and cold. The once grand home is now lifeless, literally. Not only has the family gone, but the servants have fled as well.

Seren is a plucky, imaginative orphan, dropped into a dark, secretive home. Can Seren get to the bottom of it all? What happened to the family's son, Tomos? What is the housekeeper hiding? Who is coming for the crow? Where are the sounds of the bells coming from? Will Seren ever get to celebrate Christmas?

This book is just the thing for the kids that like the page=turning, dark, quick read.

This was a charming, fun fantasy read! I enjoyed the plot, the quirky characters, and the mystery of what happened to the family. I found the magical charm of the clockwork crow to be enchanting and the perfect partner and friend for Seren. I can't wait to read more of the series and see what mischief Seren, Tomos, and the Crow will get into next. It is a perfect read for middle school readers! I plan on adding it to our school's book order list!
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

The Clockwork Crow is the first book in the self titled middle grade fantasy series by Catherine Fisher and is very well written with an interesting storyline.
Seren is a curious girl, but she's also ever so slightly annoying as little kids are and this makes her the character with the perfect personality to go on this particular adventure.
It's a quick read and there were times when my YA side of my mind kept looking for unexpected plot twists because it just felt like when I wasn't looking, something out of the blue would happen. But even with its minimalistic plot the author managed to gran on to my attention from the very beginning and hold it in place.
The ending wasn't as good as I was expecting it to be because the entire book was hyped on mystrey and drama but then at the end it was a lot more somber. No matter, it was still a very fascinating and entertaining read and I would highly recommend it.
This has the perfect cozy Christmas vibes and is just what someone might need during the winter cuddled up with hot glass of cocoa
🦄🦄🦄
Rated 8.5/10
Melina L.

I have known the name of Catherine Fisher for years, always took her books to my to-be-read piles but have never seem to get to it. When I saw a chance in Netgalley, I jumped to it and I am so glad I did.
Her story telling and world building both surprised and satisfied me. When an author is around as much as the Fisher, some readers (meaning "I") expect some kinda quality and good thing, she delivers it.

Though The Clockwork Crow published first in 2018, I never saw any spoilers, which is necessary for me to enjoy a book.

This middle grade fantasy book tells the story of orphan Seren Rhys, we meet with her in a train station. After series of unfortunate events, such as losing her parents, staying in orphanage and losing her previous guardian, she is making her way to her Godfather Captain Arthur Jones' home Plas-y Fran.
While she gets warm in the waiting room of the station, she meets with a strange man who hears voices and he trusts her a parcel and leaves. But he never returns and Seren decides to take parcel with her to her new home.

In the train, curiosity gets the better of her and inside parcel she finds several items and a note saying "... do not assemble The Clockwork Crow."

After arriving in the dead of night to station, Seren meets with a man who takes her to the Plas-y Fran but there is something really weird about this house. It is dark and without life. There is a mourning in the air.

In the morning, housekeeper Mrs Villiers explains that Mr. Arthur and his wife Lady Mair are in London and Mrs Villiers and several other workers are the only ones in the house. So another dreary Christmas waits Seren against all of her wishes.

Seren gathers from what is told her that there is something mysterious with her Godfather's son Tomos and decides to find what it is...

So, what does The Clockwork Crow offer?
A curious, hopeful, brave girl who likes books, Sherlock Holmes and has all the optimist in the world though life throw on her all the unfairness it can. Also, some mechanic, funny, lying and mouthy crow. Naughty crow indeed! Cute though...

This book is all about happy ending. With its tale, magical story and tone, it sends a sweet salute to all of classic middle grade books from Alice to Narnia, even maybe to A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Though orphan word brings to mind sad things, voice of the book is far from it since Seren is a cute girl who has a wide imagination and endearing paranoia.

Negative side of the book for me was, around the middle of the book, Mrs Villiers' actions and harsh voice became too much and learning process about Tomos whereabouts felt a bit flat, but the last 60 pages were good, so i am not thinking much of that.

Overall The Clockwork Crow is a sweet page turner. One you will want the rest right away, I do!

Who can read?
Anyone who loves middle grade and children's classic literature lovers. If you are looking for a nice Christmas book, this is for you. Though it is around 200 pages with an excerpt from the next book The Velvet Fox, the story can be read under two hours.

This was a really quick read, with a winter atmosphere and underlying tones of a fairy tale. I loved the banter between the main character and the crow. There were a few things that were a bit strange and did not seem to fit or make sense, but this could be due to the shortness of the book. It read more like a short story than a whole one to me. I definitely think it's worth a read! It's not perfect, but the writing was good and the story was enjoyable!