Considering that the House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door are some of my favorites and comfort reads, I had really high expectations for this new book. Unfortunately, it did not do work me, and it truly breaks my heart.

In the Lives of Puppets is a retelling of Pinocchio, but you can easily see some references to Matrix and other classics from the Pop Culture.

If the writing style and the characters are as lovable as usual (I truly loved the humor and banter between the characters), the setting was a change with a SCI-FI/ dystopian vibes.

I must admit that Pinocchio and robots are not my favorites things, so it's part the reason i did not enjoy the book as much as i thought, but i also felt there was something lacking. The pacing and story were not as fluid as needed (especially around the second tier of the book) and it did not deliver his magic as usual.

Anyway, if you are a fan of the genre and the author, I believe it's a solid book and you should go for it.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor Books for the ARC and the opportunity to give my honest review.

I have learned to never judge a book by it's cover. But, let's be honest, these covers are pretty amazing.

When I first picked up The House in the Cerulean Sea I was pretty sure it wasn't going to be for me. But boy, was I ever wrong. It made me realize that this author was really something special.

I'll admit, the premise of this book was a little weird sounding. Robots and the human who will save them, the themes throughout are heartwarming, even amidst some grief and heartache. This is a true go to author for me and one I look forward to reading time and time again.

A warm hug. As to be expected with TJ Klune's newest novel.

Each character with their own unique personality quirks and -isms that make you fall in love with them.

Nurse Ratched will make you laugh out loud several times throughout this book. Her honesty, candour and quick dry wit will stick with you long after you've read this book.

Rambo, the little Roomba that could, is like an innocent, charming puppy dog who only sees the world through brightly coloured glasses. These two are true opposites but come together with their love for Vic.

Victor Lawsons origin is truly one of a kind, and will grip you from the moment that you start reading this book. Vic has a great head on his shoulders, is persistent and kind beyond words. He ends up becoming an inventor or sorts, just like his father, Giovanni Lawson (or Gio). Their bond and relationship tugged at my heart strings.

Gio has a past that we learn about from the introduction of HAP (hysterically angry puppet), and proves himself to be a wonderful, caring and patient father.

This adventure will touch on all of your senses. Making their way to the City of Electric Dreams will make you feel as though you're right alongside our main characters, rooting for them and wishing for them to be a bit more cautious, but to still BE BRAVE!

In The Lives of Puppets is a magical, whimsical, heartwarming story that I am proud to add to my collection of TJ Klune novels. I would highly recommend you decide to take on the adventure that Vic, Nurse Ratched, Rambo and HAP go on!

This is one that I cannot WAIT for on audio!

A very special thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy and the amazing opportunity to dive into a magical world created by TJ Klune.

Thank you to @netgalley and #torpublishing for the #gifted copy of this book!

I will be a forever reader of Mr. Klunes novels because they are so darn creative and addictive. This sweet adventure includes a ragtag group of friends/family that are not all human. In fact, most are robots made of metal found in the scrap yards and most are built with love either from Gio, Vic’s father or Vic himself. They live in a far off treehouse far away from the rest of civilization to make sure they are safe from the living machines and beings in The City if Electric Dreams.

One day, Gio is taken against his will, his memory wiped and unfortunately reprogrammed to destroy all humans. Vic and the rest of the family set off the find Gio and bring him back.

💭 Klune is such a skillful master of painting such descriptive characters and settings. I honestly can envision all the magic he writes. The world and setting from scrapyard, treehouse to being shoved in a box….I was right there with them on this adventurous journey. The characters in this story were so endearing I wanted to hug each and every one of them.

And let me tell you, holy moly I need a Nurse Ratched in my life! My favorite part of the book is when Nurse Ratched deploys her empathetic behavior, followed by immediately taking it away. I cannot tell you how many times in this book that alone made me laugh out loud. The loving relationship between Vic and Gio, Vic and Hap and the rambling Rambo were enough to just squeeze my heart. Simply perfection!

I certainly cannot wait for more from Klune! He is 100% and autobuy author for me! Thank you for sharing your magic!

I previously read The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune and really enjoyed it. I was really looking forward to having the same experience this time around but was sadly disappointed. I made it 50% through before DNF'ing. I really hate not following through until the end but was confident that not much would change after already making it half way.
The dialogue and humor this time around just didn't do it for me. I didn't find any of it to be funny or witty at all : (
I'm glad others enjoyed it. Will hold out for another book that can match his first.

Very disappointed...,.,...........to have finished this book. I've been utterly swept away by the world T J Klune has artfully sculpted. What on earth am I going to do, now I no longer have Nurse Ratched and Rambo in my life! The characters and settings are so skillfully carved, you can almost reach out and touch them!

I genuinely laughed out loud unexpectedly so many times, that my dog refused to sit on my knee anymore, and took himself off to bed.

There is sooooo much humanity and humour in this book, which is ironic as it is essentially about machines. But it also has some really important things to say about what humans are doing to this planet. And it raises really interesting questions, such as what makes us human? What makes a family?

The dialogue between characters is exceptional, and allows the reader to really appreciate the quirky personalities and behaviours of our protagonists. But did I really fall in love with an anxious hoover, and a sociopathic mechanical nurse? Well Yes. Yes I did!

I haved loved T J Klune's previous work and genuinely feel he is one of the most under appreciated authors of our time. This book only served to cement my high opinion of his work. Bravo!

Not my favorite of Klune’s books, but still worth a read. It’s a twisted retelling of Pinocchio, where the only human in a world of puppets has to find his dad and become the hero. His two companions were by far the best part and had me laughing throughout. I felt like the plot dragged a bit in places and some of the parts felt forced to fit the Pinocchio narrative, but it was still a nice story. I also appreciated the ace rep that wasn’t entirely aromantic. Very nice touch.

"What are the rules?"
"Stick together. Run if we have to."
"No dallying," she said. "No drilling, though that is the dumbest rule."
He finished: "And above all else, be brave."

***

Giovanni "Gio" Lawson, a 'retired' and lonely inventor, stumbles over an abandoned and run-down building in the middle of the woods and knows immediately that he's found the place he wants to call home. he lovingly fixes it up and, once he's filled the house with all his little gadgets and leftovers, he expands upward in a variety of treehouses that are carefully settled among the branches of the biggest fir tree in the clearing.

3 slow (and painfully lonely) years later, Gio hears a noise outside and finds a man and woman fleeing from the cover of the nearby trees. the woman carries a baby in her arms and begs Giovanni to take him and keep him safe; they swear they'll be back for him as soon as they can safely return, and then quickly exit under the pressing anxiety of whoever or whatever is chasing them catching up.

they never come back. Giovanni names the baby Victor, who grows up to become an inventor himself. Vic has a terrible habit of going to the local Scrap Yards to scavenge, a place that is very dangerous as it's crowded with giant non-sentient machines called Old Ones who just dump scrap metal and tech garbage in enormous unstable piles. Vic goes nonetheless, because sometimes he can find robots that he can actually repair. this is where he recovered the rest of his family; Nurse Ratched, an old medical bot with sociopathic tendencies and a hilarious sense of humor, and Rambo, a tiny robot vacuum with terrible anxiety who always tries to be brave.


"The squirrel has been treated," she announced, her screen displaying the words ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL PATIENT INTERACTION. "It no longer has rabies and has gone to stay at a farm in the mountains with other squirrels where it will live happily ever after. Disengaging Empathy Protocol. I feel empty inside."
"Is it your sociopathy?" Rambo asked nervously as Vic turned his face toward the sky, praying to whatever would listen for the strength to go on.


Vic's relationships with Nurse Ratched, Rambo and Giovanni are at the heart of this book. he loves them all tremendously and they love him in return and when things go sideways the whole family takes off on the adventure together. their loyalty to one another was truly unparalleled. found family is my absolute favorite trope and nobody does it like Klune.

I particularly loved the way Nurse Ratched spoke to Vic. there were some hilarious moments, such as this one:


"See?" he told them as they left the Old One behind. "Nothing to it."
"Yes," Nurse Ratched said. "Absolutely nothing to it. I would be impressed except I do not find idiocy impressive. If I did, I would flirt with you."


but there were also some really touching ones. Vic is canonically asexual, which is absolutely lovely to see because it's so rarely featured in big publisher books. and apart from the representation itself being awesome to see, there's this really sweet passage with Vic thinking back to when he first understood what asexuality was, and Nurse Ratched talking him through it.


It wasn't until Nurse Ratched explained that sexuality was on a spectrum that it started to make more sense. She said it wasn't unheard of for people to identify as asexual, meaning those who were "ace" didn't experience attraction in the same way others did. Sex-positive or sex-repulsed, there was no wrong way to be.
"So I'm not malfunctioning?" Vic had asked nervously, mulling the word "asexual" over in his mind.
"You are not," Nurse Ratched had replied. "I also do not experience sexual attraction, and I am perfect. The same could arguably be said about you."


apart from Nurse Ratched being genuinely hilarious, the emotional gutpunch of the conversation was amazing! there's something refreshing about reading books that take place in non-heteronormative worlds that make it easier to exist in the crappy one we have.

and also, this book's nuanced commentary on mortality and death and grief were just incredible. Klune has a way of writing when it comes to grief. (his previous book, Under the Whispering Door, was extremely timely for me as I read it shortly after my dad passed. it was immensely healing to see death portrayed as a new door being opened.)

I'm so excited to recommend this book to people at the library and cannot wait for it be to published so I can start sharing it. I'm giving this book a confident 5/5 rating and believe wholeheartedly that it's the least it deserves.

***

"It is not a flaw, Victor. There must be no greater feeling in the world than to know that this isn't forever."

queer rep - achillean asexual mc, achillean love interest, bg nonbinary (they/them) characters
thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc ✨

Thank you to Netgalley and TOR for the ARC!

At its core, good sci fi makes us consider what it means to be human. How far we can push the limit of idealism and compassion before we’re confronted with what is left in the wake. Klune does this and so much more. He has so much to say about love, consciousness, forgiveness, and identity - all of which is delivered with a tact that doesn’t pander or condescend.

I was wary at first of a book where most of the characters were robots. Not that I don’t enjoy those elements of sci fi, but I feel that it takes a lot for a robot to be written well. Klune manages to expertly evoke empathy without any hint of tackiness or stereotype. I genuinely grew to love the mechanical ensemble and found that each had a distinct and lovable personality.

The elements of suspense and romance were both well structured. Nothing felt rushed or slow enough that I was desperate for the plot to pick up. In fact if I had to complain about anything, it’s that every letter of the book is steeped in an earnestness that I have yet to find anywhere else. At times it can feel a bit saccharine, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

TJ is my favorite author so I knew I would love Puppets, it was just a matter of how much. Puppets is a gorgeous exploration of humanity when things seem most dire, and the value of relationships during those hard times. I loved this book.

If you are searching for a heartwarming, feel good story look no further. When I thought I couldn’t love a book more then the first book this author wrote I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of his newest and loved it even more.

In this book the world has been taken over by machines and in the forest lives Gio, his son Victor, and two loveable robots. I loved the characters and their love for each other, even though all but one were robots. It’s truly a story about unconditional love and the lengths we go to for those we love.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this amazing book.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

I really enjoy TJ Klune's writing for being whimsical and fantastical in a very particular way that reminds of me Neil Gaiman, another of my favorites. But I didn't love In the Lives of Puppets.

There were a few times when I wondered why, as the creator of this dystopian world, Klune chose to create some elements. There were some things that seemed like they would be challenges for his main character, Victor, but then Victor would move past them without interacting with them in any way or learning anything from them.

However, there were also moments when I was emotionally invested in Victor and the characters around him. There were very heartfelt moments and questions about humanity and forgiveness that I thought were interesting.

It took me a while to get through this one. I didn't often want to read more than one chapter at a time. But overall, there were moments that I will think back on and moments that did make me emotional. So I have very middle-of-the-road feelings about this one.

4.5 rounded up! I should not be surprised at this point that TJ Klune manages to write books that get to my heart. I loved House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door, so no surprise when I also loved this one!

In the Lives of Puppets follows Vic, a main character out of place what once was his world. He has an odd band of hilarious, laugh out loud characters that surround him and make up his family. Vic is faced with making his world his own, forging friendships and finding family in the most unique of circumstances.

This book, while some may say has elements of a new-age Pinocchio, I didn’t feel was quite equivalent other than the invention aspect. I’m not saying that is a bad thing, and in my mind is actually preferable.

I truly enjoyed how the characters in this book made dark moments incredibly hilarious, while bringing a sense of true humanity to the humanless. Without giving too much away, Vic deals with the most human of life events - life, death, creation, confusion, and love - while only being able to process it all in a way he learned from a robot. The juxtaposition of life and invention was really interesting and made all emotions you get reading this book feel all the more genuine. I was left feeling like the end was perhaps a bit rushed compared to the beginning, but overall satisfied and happy. Big fan of TJ Klune!

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for this eARC!

In the lives of puppets

“What I would give to witness such a thing. There is nothing more powerful than a heart.”

Oh MY heart 😍. This book, y’all 👏🏻 TJ Klune melted my heart again with a fun adventure, quirky characters, and themes that pull at your heartstrings. This book felt like a warm hug, the kind that makes you happy cry.

Vic Lawson is a human who lives in the forest with three robots - his inventor Dad Giovanni, their trusty and pure-hearted vacuum Rambo, and a morbid humored medical robot Nurse Ratched. When Vic finds a new machine, Hap or Hysterically Angry Puppet, to add to their family at the scrap yard, he unleashes a chain of events that takes them all on an adventure to the City of Electric Dreams.

Check this one out if you are looking for:
🎭 A queer fantasy / sci-fi adventure
🎭 Themes of found family, love, and choosing who you want to be
🎭 Hilarious cast of characters with quotes like, “Enough talking about feelings that I absolutely do not have. They are pointless.”

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Books for this ARC! In the Lives of Puppets is on shelves April 25!

I really struggled with this one. I love Klune’s writing and was excited to dig into this one but it just fell flat for me. I found it hard to connect with the characters, it felt rushed in spots, and dragged on in others— just lacked the magic from his other works.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an eARC of this book

TJ Klune, you absolute LEGEND. I can't believe you blessed me with a Pinocchio retelling that is at the same time also a perfect WinterIron AU*. I cannot wait for this to come out and tell all my fellow shippers to get on this book ASAP! I will also believe there was an intended Hannibal reference.

Also, the gender reveal call-out? chef's kiss I honestly don't believe we deserve an author like Klune, but fuck am I going to be grateful for him. We have suffered enough, we deserve amazing robots who are sassy and enthusiastic. We also deserve [a sweet story between a human and a machine, even if I can't believe he got me to read that. Maybe I'll actually read Wolfsong one day, who knows? (hide spoiler)]

The strength of this book for me, lay in the side characters. No offense to Victor, but Rambo and Nurse Ratched were the absolute highlights of this book for me. I adore everyone of our beloved cast, but Nurse Ratched above all, was my favorite. I would die for her, and she would let me.

Seriously though, the relationships between these characters make the book. They're so strong, it radiates found family (shocker in a Klune book, right?) and because I am also currently making my way through Moby-Dick, I am extra, extra grateful for the perfectly distinctive voices all these characters have.

I do feel that maybe the actual story, leading up to the climax and the climax itself, was rushed a tiny bit in places, and dragged out in others, as if the pacing was off. It made it a bit more difficult to truly get immersed in the story. I think it might be because of my current state of mind that I wouldn't have minded just reading about them in their home, all cozy and warm, instead of everything else that happened, haha!

I went into this book fairly blind, so I did not expect what was basically a Quest. It was a good one, though, and once again I want this on my screen to watch. My brain can't really see things while reading, but with Klune's books it's so visceral to me, it's just out of reach for me. This book just screams colors to me, warm, cozy; a big hug. And that's the power of Klune to me.

I cannot wait to get my printed copy and reread this, and listen to the audio; hopefully this time without distractions taking me away from it, and without wishing we could have stayed in the first part of the story. Who knows, maybe then it'll feel like a full 5 stars to me.

Out of his three recent books, this had the least impact on me, but that's literally saying fuck all when the other two are Cerulean Sea and Whispering Door, both of which I read at the exact right time. This book still had me swiping the final page with a literal squeak and hand clutching at my chest.

4-4,5/5

P.S. Rabbit screams are terrible, and having to read about one gave me literal chills. Wouldn't wish that sound on anyone.
P.P.S. Rabbit droppings are dry and odourless unless it's urine, diarrhoea, or the droppings they have in the morning to eat again. Basically, Hap was fine ;) (stress might only cause diarrhoea after the event, not during)
P.P.S. Thanks for coming to my bunny mom ted talk

*(view spoiler)

TJK has done it again!

This is a story that radiates pure love, family, humanity, and the freedom to choose who we want to be. 

These are themes that have become synonymous with TJK's storytelling and I love the comforting familiarity I experience every time I pick up one of his books. 

This is yet another story that will warm the heart and fill the soul.

What do you do when you’ve forgotten all you know? You start again from the beginning.

Which is exactly what I want to do right now. Start again from the beginning. This book made my heart hurt in so many ways I didn’t know possible. It wasn’t what I expected but also exceeded any expectation I could’ve had, if that makes sense? I was completely unaware of the plot before reading it and was surprised by the sci-fi elements. It’s definitely more futuristic when I expected old-time class. I loved every second of this book. From the dark humor to the heart warming family moments to the heart-wrenching sadness of grief and coping with the reality of humanity. The commentary on humanity and what it means to feel and have emotions, was so eloquently done. There were moments that I seriously looked at my life, wondering if I’m making the most of my time. This book was so beautiful, everything pieced together perfectly in a way that was so satisfying. I loved The House on the Cerulean Sea, but I think this is better.

I love TJ Klune! He writes so beautifully and weaves heartwarming and serious topics, while also balancing amazing character development.

This book has Pinnochio retelling vibes; "Victor is a real boy, raised by a robot dad and other robot friends. Victor discovers another robot that he makes work again. He's discovered, father kills his "soul"
to save Victor, then Victor and group go on trip to save dad."

A huge thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for a copy of this story in an exchange for a honest review.

I loved this book! I found myself tearing up at the humanity found in robots, who had learned to love. At one point Nurse Ratched makes a promise to Victor, knowing it is something that can't be promised but will make him feel better...and to me, that was it. I will say that I've seen this advertised as a LGBTQ Fantasy Romance, and I don't see that. There is a slight bit of romance in it; Victor being asexual feeling love for Hap (a robot) and that robot also returning the feelings - but to me, the story isn't about that. It's about loving humanity, and the beauty that is found in others, in the unknown parts of being human, having feelings, and being able to be guided by those feelings which are not concrete.
Quick recap - Pinnochio retelling; Victor is a real boy, raised by a robot dad and other robot friends. Victor discovers another robot that he makes work again. He's discovered, father kills his "soul"
to save Victor, then Victor and group go on trip to save dad. And a whole lot of emotions/feelings along the way!