Brian Farrey's "The Counterclockwise Heart" revolves around Prince Alphonsus, a foundling who was adopted by the two empresses that rule over the kingdom of Rheinvelt (any German speakers will recognize this as "Rhine-world". Many of the names in this novel are based on German). Alphonsus is unique in that he has no heart. Where his heart should be rests a clock. At a certain point, his clockwork heart begins to tick backwards. Alphonsus goes on a quest to find answers, bid by his empress mother. Along the way, he meets Esme, a mage who is on a quest of her own. Together, they uncover the secrets of the Hierophants, a magical race that Esme belongs to, and grow into stronger versions of themselves in order to save their world.
A dark middle-grade fantasy perfect for 12+

I was excited for the opportunity to read this book, especially as the setting and premise reminded me of a clockwork heart movie. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get sucked in like I hoped.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

The Counterclockwise Heart is a really good, diverse middle grade fantasy, and I think it works for adult readers as well as kids. It tells the story of young Prince Alphonsus, who is the heir to a great empire. But he has a secret: he has a clock where his heart should be. When the clock starts to turn counterclockwise, Alphonsus must go on a journey to discover what's happening to him. He joins forces with a young magic user named Esme, who is on a quest to find and kill an evil sorceress.

It's a wonderful adventure with two relatable young characters. Esme is tough and clever, and Alphonsus is kind and compassionate. His compassion is seen by some as a weakness, but it turns out to be his greatest strength, which is a wonderful message for a children's book.

This was a great, middle-grade fantasy novel. I love the adventure you are taken on as Alphonsus tries to figure out where he came from and why he has a clock for a heart. Esme is great; her character has so many layers. I loved the inclusion of German words, I think it will encourage kids to ask google translate what they are and how to say them and will open them up to a language they may not have any experience with yet.

I could not put this book down! I find middle-grade stories to be so wholesome and heartwarming. A great middle-grade story is one that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages and I think this book fits into that category. I loved seeing how much the two main characters evolve over the course of the story. I can't wait to see what Farry writes next!

The Counterclockwise Heart
By Brian Farrey

I really enjoy a fun middle grade adventure book based on German fantasy folktale. I enjoyed the immersive narration and storyline with fun twists - with some elements of death and grief, but was still I think a great book for the young readers. I am always in search for middle grade books that I can recommend, and this definitely is super fun and one I will keep on suggesting.

Imagine the aesthetic and vibe of the book within Inkheart; this book encompasses that feeling.

Very magical and had a queer royal couple, which was refreshing!
It was a bit too slow for a good chunk of the book, and then it was too fast when the two paths connected. A few too many characters were introduced late into the story, but I was surprised that the Prince wasn't someone's son - I had a theory, and it was wrong.

This fun to read adventure story is about two kids who are both trying to save the magical kingdom where they live. Each them has a special gift that allows them different ways to solve this problem but they really have to work together, which they find difficult to manage. This is an interesting mystery with characters full of people you'd like to get to know better. I think the kids are going to like this one a lot!

"The Counterclockwise Heart" is a middle-grade fantasy novel following young Prince Alphonsus, the adoptive son of Empress Sabine as he attempts to reassure his people during wartime by speaking to a mysterious statue. However, Prince Alphonsus also has a secret: in his chest, there is a ticking clock that he must keep hidden for his own safety, for people tend to fear those who are different.

While it took me some time to get into the story, I'm so happy that I read this book. Even though the novel deals with darker themes, such as death, grief, war, and discrimination, it manages them very well for the age of the target audience. I enjoyed the fairytale-like writing style and the German folklore elements embedded in the story. I also enjoyed the plot twists at the end, and I would recommend this book for slightly older middle graders.

Unfortunately, I DNF'd this book. The lyrical writing did not grab my interest at the time. I'm also been in a horrible reading slump, which made it all the more difficult to engage in lyrical writing.

This is exactly the kind of dark fairy tale I needed when I was growing up. Sometimes it blurred the line between YA and middle grade, but never because of language or content. Mostly because of the sheer depth of story. I absolutely loved this book!

The Counterclockwise Heart is arguably one of the most unique novels I've read in quite some time. Written by Brian Farrey, it is already clear that this is a novel written to captivate children's imagination (and adults, of course).

Rheinvelt is running out of time. It has been running out of time ever since a mysterious statue appeared overnight. Given the size and sudden appearance of the statue, it is not man-made, which means that everyone has a right to be afraid of the warrior and her ready stance.

In hopes of finding a solution to the problem, Young Prince Alphonsus is sent to tell tales to the statue. His words quell the statue, while his mother works to suppress the rising threat at their borders. But are they merely buying time or saving their empire?

The Counterclockwise Heart was such a fun and endearing novel; I loved every single minute of it. I can also say, with complete sincerity, that I wish this book had been around when I was younger. A younger me would have devoured this book and honestly could have used something like this in her life.

Alphonsus' story is by far my favorite, though I was curious about the statue and everything she foretold (of course). I can easily see different readers picking up different elements as their favorite bits. That's arguably one of the many positives about this book.

Esme's story is the perfect balance for everything Alphonsus is going through. Her tale felt more straightforward (at times), but that helped to counter all of the questions I had about everything else happening in this world.

Long story short, The Counterclockwise Heart is a delightful read. Any young fantasy reader would undoubtedly be captivated by this tale, as a lot of imagination is stuffed into these pages.

The Counterclockwise Heart by Brian Farrey; Algonquin Books for Young Readers, 352 pages ($17.95). Ages 8 to 12.

A giant stone statue of a maiden appears overnight in the village of Somber End, seeming to signal something terrible is about to happen, at the start of this dazzling, epic fantasy. It's part fairy tale, part political fable and part coming-of-age tale, offering wisdom about power, bravery, compassion and the urgency of questioning accepted truths.

The Empire of Rheinvelt is ruled by the Imperatrix Dagmar and her wife, the Empress Sabine. Sabine discovers a baby cooing within the walls of the place in a strange bassinet "made of tarnished iron sprockets, old skeleton keys, twisted brass coils the width of a child's arm, and broken hammerheads.... as if cobbled together by someone who had no idea what a baby's bassinet should be." The dark-skinned boy has a working clock in his chest in place of a heart, and the name "Adolphus" is stitched into his blanket. Etched into the metal on the bottom of the bassinet are the words:

"When nights pass as hours the same/The end of time will start/A sacrifice is all that saves/The counterclockwise heart." The mystery behind these words, and the nature of the sacrifice, are not revealed until the end.

The royal couple adopts Adolphus, making him the prince and heir to the throne. Sabine warns Adolphus to keep the clock in his chest a secret; after Dagmar dies, the clock begins to tick backward, making Adolphus fear for his life. Meanwhile, powerful magic users known as Hierophants who have fled the kingdom, dispatch 12-year-old Esme to Rheinvelt with instructions to kill a sorceress known as the Nachtfrau. A greedy, power-hungry adviser – warped by his wretched childhood – has nefarious intentions.

Minnesota author Brian Farrey, author of "The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse," is a marvelous writer, creating a vivid landscape and concocting evocative names: the Hexen Woods, the fearsome Hinterlands where wild beasts including the Leichleben threaten. He has written an entirely original, suspenseful tale full of surprising twists, with memorable protagonists who have survived trauma and who struggle to overcome their fears and prejudices.

Birgit, the huntress, offers Adolphus a final lesson: "There are things you learn. And there are things you are told. Sometimes, they're the same. Sometimes, they're not. When they're the same, pay attention. When they're not, pay more attention."

This is an adventure and fantasy story that has steampunk vibes to it. It reminds me of another book I read, which I haven't been able to pinpoint, but another book I do remember that it reminds me of is The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill.
This is about a Prince with a clock for his heart and how he's trying to figure out what that means or how to deal with it and a statue of a maiden that helps him and Esme, who is on a mission searching for a sorceress. The bigger picture with this story is about loving and accepting yourself and others and learning how to have compassion and help others too. This is an uplifting Middle Grade read with some great twists and very imaginative and one of a kind in its telling. It does also have some darker topics in it that it touches on such as death/loss of a loved one/grief. There is also a little bit of violence and war and such so it's the kind of book that would likely be best to be read with a child or before letting them read it.
It has a good message and is enjoyable to read and think about as it is also thought-provoking. Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for letting me read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's really a page-turner. I love the alchemy between the characters. Alphonsus is such a bright and compassionate child, he always try to save people even those who are hateful.
The powerfull couple is a lesbian one. Empress Sabine is really a good ruler and and a good mother.
Il really love the story. It's captivating and well-written. I hope it would be translated into French, I want more people to discover Esme and Alphonsus' adventures.

An intriguing German folkore with steampunk vibes. This story was very compelling with a unique magic system and two likable characters who must find answers to save themselves and their world if they can learn to trust each other. I think this is a worthy read for middle grade and older readers alike!

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Algonquin Childrens books.

The Counterclockwise Heart is a middle grade fantasy novel about a prince called Alphonsus, who was adopted as a baby by his mother, who is the Empress of the land where they live. But Alphonsus is no ordinary Prince; he has a clock in the place where his heart should be. He has been told to ignore the prophecy he was found with as a baby.
One day, his clockwise heart begins to tick Counterclockwise, gradually counting down, but they don't know how, why, or until when.
Alphonsus fate collides with a girl called Esme, who is searching for a sorceress by the name Nachtfrau. Esme is from a magical community and has to find Nachtfrau urgently.
This book was so well blended and had some great little twists. I found it hard to pull away from, and the folklaw style of writing was amazing! There are some dark areas in the book, but I think the age group it is aimed at will enjoy these.

This was a really interesting book. I really enjoyed the way that the plot progressed and I found the characters fun. This is a great book!

4 stars

Ticking clocks, German folklore, and classic storytelling with a self-aware edge...this was a delight.

Concepts: ★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★
Characters: ★★★★

Y'all, I have been enjoying the heck out of Algonquin's middle grade line of novels these past few years. There is something about the niche of fantasy middle grade coming out of this publishing hosue that I just really, really enjoy. They tend to have that extra something, that extra oomph of world building mixed with lyrical folktale-esque writing structure, and they tend to have writer's humor mixed in with the narrative. I love it every time. The Counterclockwise Heart was no exception.

In this tale we have Alphonsus, a prince with a ticking clock where is heart is supposed to be. Raised by his adoptive mother, the empress of the land, he's told to hide his clock heart from the world and to ignore the prophecy that was attached to his newborn body when the empress found him one night in a gear-filled bassinet. The counterclockwise heart...

Of course, one day Alphonsus's heart stops ticking clockwise like normal. It starts winding backwards, counting down. But to what, and why?

In another thread of the story we have Esme, a young girl from the magical community of Hierophants. She enters Alphonsus's kingdom in search of Nachtfrau, a powerful sorceress. Esme has her own reasons for searching for Nachtfrau, and she has some fate-tied words of her own.

As Alphonsus and Esme twine closer and closer, their fates begin to unravel as well. The clock is ticking... literally.

This was such a fun ride! With the classic spins of a good middle grade adventure folktale, The Counterclockwise Heart surprised me with its self-aware narration, clever twists, and ultimate sense of grounded Germanic-based folktale. It was just a good blend.

I do think that this novel will appeal to certain types of fantasy readers over others—in particular, there were some darker themes and meandering elements to the storytelling that I think are dependent on personal taste. It worked for me, but I'm an adult fantasy reader who likes those things!

Recommended for fans of The Oddmire, Laini Taylor's writing style if she wrote a classic fairytale, and Seanan McGuire's obscure short stories.

Thank you to Algonquin for Young Readers for my copy in exchange for an honest review.