“Cat, this is Finn. He’s going to be your tutor.”
He looks and acts human, though he has no desire to be. He was programmed to assist his owners, and performs his duties to perfection. A billion-dollar construct, his primary task now is to tutor Cat. As she grows into a beautiful young woman, Finn is her guardian, her constant companion… and more.
But when the government grants rights to the ever-increasing robot population, however, Finn struggles to find his place in the world.
Following her acclaimed Young Adult debut for our sister imprint Strange Chemistry, The Assassin’s Curse, the very talented Cassandra Rose Clarke moves on to more adult themes, in a heartbreaking story of love, loss … and robots.
First of all, I think this has to be one of my favourite covers, it makes me sigh every time I see it. I was luck enough to receive an ecopy to review, but I think I shall need a physical copy too, just so I can have it on my shelf!
Anyway, onto the story, which opens with a young Cat being introduced to Finn, a robot who seems a little different to the others we are introduced to. The story is set in a time when robots are quite common, helping to rebuild a world affected by severe climate changes. Most are though, fairly simple beings, designed only for a certain role. Finn, however, looks and acts just like a human.
The events of the book happen over a long period, as we share in Cat’s life as she grows. There is the underlying scientific feel, touching on the rights of the robots as they evolve, but the emphasis is on the characters and their relationships. At it’s heart, it’s a beautifully written story, not only exploring the complexities between Cat and Finn, but also her changing relationships with her parents, and the other men who enter her life.
This is a rather unusual love story, which you will, well, fall in love with!
The Mad Scientist’s Daughter will be published by Angry Robot – visit here for further info.
BCF Book Reviews 