allietriestoread's review against another edition
5.0
THIS BOOK MADE ME SOB LIKE A BABY AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!
I have a soft spot for stories that make me feel like I’m growing up with the characters so this one was exactly what I needed.
I adored Cat. She had my heart right from the very beginning to the very last sentence. Her relationship with Finn was so pure and true that I could wholeheartedly feel the love they had for each other and also the pain that they had to go through.
I loved the relationship between Cat and her parents, (especially her father) the way she dealt with grief, and the way she fought for herself and managed to get out of toxic and abusive relationships to take control of her own life.
The writing was beautiful. The plot was intriguing. The characters were so...human.
This is definitely a solid 5-star read and worth every single tear I’ve cried.
I have a soft spot for stories that make me feel like I’m growing up with the characters so this one was exactly what I needed.
I adored Cat. She had my heart right from the very beginning to the very last sentence. Her relationship with Finn was so pure and true that I could wholeheartedly feel the love they had for each other and also the pain that they had to go through.
I loved the relationship between Cat and her parents, (especially her father) the way she dealt with grief, and the way she fought for herself and managed to get out of toxic and abusive relationships to take control of her own life.
The writing was beautiful. The plot was intriguing. The characters were so...human.
This is definitely a solid 5-star read and worth every single tear I’ve cried.
djinnia's review against another edition
2.0
I was really disappointed in the book. I loved the premise of this story. It's the ultimate star-crossed love story, but I lost interest when Cat grew up and started sleeping around. It bugged me. And then the rest of the story i had to skim 'til near the end.
cuddlesome's review against another edition
2.0
DNF at 30% in. Maybe I'll come back to this at some point, maybe not. As with so many books that I end up giving up on I really wanted to like this, but despite the subject matter (I really love androids/robots/etc and romance) and at times fun writing style I just can't get into it.
The main character, Cat, doesn't appeal to me. Being attached to her as a POV character stopped being bearable once she went from being a rebellious artsy child to a rebellious artsy high schooler. I'm sure some people like this archetype, but it grates on me pretty badly.
The issue of Finn (the android's) sentience and ability to consent were hazy. It's lampshaded that he's basically a really obedient butler. It made me uncomfortable in a way that I think is intentional but still unpleasant to experience. If I remember right, Cat is six at the beginning of the book, and by the time she's graduated from high school she's which would make him around twelve-ish. I know that he's a robot and doesn't necessarily have the same mental age as the amount of time he has spent "alive," so to speak, but still, weird. To ramble about the TMI stuff a bit more--
Maybe the worldbuilding gets more developed as time goes on, but I felt like I had no idea what's going on with robot technology in this world. People seem aware that they exist but it's insisted that Finn is the only one of his kind. But why, though? Why is this apparently super-unique marvel being relegated to being a kid's tutor and a lab assistant? Maybe this gets answered further along in the story, but I'm not really engaged enough to care.
The title felt irrelevant to the plot of the story, at least from what I read. Cat's father is barely a character and the only indication of him being a mad scientist is given by a minor character who Cat promptly beats up and we never hear from him again. Capitalizing on the "The ___'s Daughter" title trend? Probably.
If I can say one good thing about this book, beyond liking the premise, there is some really pretty imagery to be had here, things that will stick with me for a while, I'm sure. "The dresses looked like rows of ice cream" and "...any ghost who could retrieve an extinct species of butterfly, extracting it from the blossoms of graveyard flowers, was the sort of ghost it might be handy to have around" I thought were especially pretty. I'm so bummed out that the characters and strange handling of the sci-fi elements don't measure up to this imagery.
The main character, Cat, doesn't appeal to me. Being attached to her as a POV character stopped being bearable once she went from being a rebellious artsy child to a rebellious artsy high schooler. I'm sure some people like this archetype, but it grates on me pretty badly.
The issue of Finn (the android's) sentience and ability to consent were hazy. It's lampshaded that he's basically a really obedient butler. It made me uncomfortable in a way that I think is intentional but still unpleasant to experience. If I remember right, Cat is six at the beginning of the book, and by the time she's graduated from high school she's
Spoiler
having sex with himSpoiler
it's explained that he "can" have sex but not really well-explained or even implied how beyond penetration being hinted at. Not that I want a super detailed pornographic description of his junk, but it's made clear he doesn't have a heart and therefore probably doesn't have blood. How do you get it up, robot man? It just felt odd to me that this book, which has a lot of sex, by the way, went to the trouble of having scenes like this even take place when they hardly make sense in any capacity.Maybe the worldbuilding gets more developed as time goes on, but I felt like I had no idea what's going on with robot technology in this world. People seem aware that they exist but it's insisted that Finn is the only one of his kind. But why, though? Why is this apparently super-unique marvel being relegated to being a kid's tutor and a lab assistant? Maybe this gets answered further along in the story, but I'm not really engaged enough to care.
The title felt irrelevant to the plot of the story, at least from what I read. Cat's father is barely a character and the only indication of him being a mad scientist is given by a minor character who Cat promptly beats up and we never hear from him again. Capitalizing on the "The ___'s Daughter" title trend? Probably.
If I can say one good thing about this book, beyond liking the premise, there is some really pretty imagery to be had here, things that will stick with me for a while, I'm sure. "The dresses looked like rows of ice cream" and "...any ghost who could retrieve an extinct species of butterfly, extracting it from the blossoms of graveyard flowers, was the sort of ghost it might be handy to have around" I thought were especially pretty. I'm so bummed out that the characters and strange handling of the sci-fi elements don't measure up to this imagery.
cher_n_books's review against another edition
4.0
Very unique and different plot which is so refreshing, here lately especially it seems. I absolutely love fiction that makes you think, which is exactly what Cassandra Clarke does with this novel. What exactly is humanity? Where does the line get drawn that defines sentience and the rights that naturally should go along with it? I enjoyed this one and recommend it to anyone wanting to read something outside the box.
samiism's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book in four hours on 9/8/14. Nonstop, while at work. My head is reeling right now, and so is my heart. I don't even know how to properly describe the emotional rollercoaster this book put me in.
The writing is poignant and simple. The characters are well-fleshed out without drowning the readers into too much detail. Cat the ice queen was especially tragic; I didn't know if I liked her or hated her. Finn broke my heart. The relationship felt real. I understood Cat's selfish actions because I've been there, and I understood why Finn did what he did, because I would have done the same. They were both relatable, and this kind of realism was what made me not want to put the book down.
If you liked the film Bicentennial Man, you'll most likely adore this book, too. They're very similar. And if you haven't seen that movie, you should ASAP.
The writing is poignant and simple. The characters are well-fleshed out without drowning the readers into too much detail. Cat the ice queen was especially tragic; I didn't know if I liked her or hated her. Finn broke my heart. The relationship felt real. I understood Cat's selfish actions because I've been there, and I understood why Finn did what he did, because I would have done the same. They were both relatable, and this kind of realism was what made me not want to put the book down.
If you liked the film Bicentennial Man, you'll most likely adore this book, too. They're very similar. And if you haven't seen that movie, you should ASAP.
ginnikin's review against another edition
I don't know what to do with this. If Carry had been male, it would have been a cliché white male angst "literary " story. Still, I enjoyed the writing.
catpingu's review against another edition
5.0
At first, I found it really disturbing. I couldn't help but picture androids like C-3PO, but painted with human skin. So, reading the parts involving intimate details slightly unnerved. Hence, I have concluded that the trick to keeping sanity while reading this book is to imagine an immortal teenage boy with no sense of pop culture.
This entire novel is just a tragic love story of self-discovery. No kidding. Not a lot of happy moments, just sort of depressing moments and old-fashionedness. Caterina Novak is dubbed "The Mad Scientist's Daughter" because her father, Dr. Daniel Novak is an esteemed cybernetiicist. This novel is her life story, growing up in a world where androids are the immigrants to her society's nativists.
At least at the end, I actually got sorrowfully attached to Finn. Like very, very seriously attached like I've never been in a novel character (only fanfiction characters). Like, I literally began to see Finn in a new light. And this novel was LITERALLY Cat's life story: high school, sex, drugs, marriage, divorce, birth, and rekindling of love.
This entire novel is just a tragic love story of self-discovery. No kidding. Not a lot of happy moments, just sort of depressing moments and old-fashionedness. Caterina Novak is dubbed "The Mad Scientist's Daughter" because her father, Dr. Daniel Novak is an esteemed cybernetiicist. This novel is her life story, growing up in a world where androids are the immigrants to her society's nativists.
At least at the end, I actually got sorrowfully attached to Finn. Like very, very seriously attached like I've never been in a novel character (only fanfiction characters). Like, I literally began to see Finn in a new light. And this novel was LITERALLY Cat's life story: high school, sex, drugs, marriage, divorce, birth, and rekindling of love.
tehani's review against another edition
5.0
A quiet character piece at heart, backed by science fiction on a semi-dystopic, grandly domestic scale. I really enjoyed the slow reveal world-building and the unfolding character growth. There are similarities here to Tanith Lee's Silver Metal Lover and Asimov's "Bicentennial Man" – what does it mean to be human, and what humanity can androids take on?
I read this as a Kindle ebook, and was a bit disappointed in some of the formatting errors, but either I'm getting used to such things, or the book was simply good enough for them not to impact on my reading experience as much as they usually do. I loved this book.
I read this as a Kindle ebook, and was a bit disappointed in some of the formatting errors, but either I'm getting used to such things, or the book was simply good enough for them not to impact on my reading experience as much as they usually do. I loved this book.
the_lady_reads's review against another edition
5.0
As seen on Ed and Em's Reviews!
You know those novels where you want to keep reading because it is so, so good, but you don't want to keep reading because you know it can't end well? That's how I felt from the start of this novel. I knew I would love it, but I was scared of what was going to come next. It's suspenseful, and gritty and is so wonderful that you really will invest in the story and its characters.
The Mad Scientist's Daughter surprised me at every turn. It was completely unpredictable. The writing was addicting and absolutely phenomenal, as expected from Cassandra Rose Clarke. I knew it would be good, but the author really blew my expectations out of the water.
When Caterina Novak, or Cat as she is more often referred to as, was very young, her father brought home a man named Finn to be her tutor. The thing about Finn is that he's not actually human. He's a robot. As Cat grows older and spends more time with Finn, her feelings toward him develop beyond friendship.
There isn't much else I can say about the plot without giving a lot about the book away. This novel isn't about one period in a person's life, but rather decades. You don't just see Cat fall in love with Finn, but you see her grow and make a life for herself. She is her own person and while she is consumed by her love of Finn, she knows can live without him, she just doesn't want to. That's rare in novels released this day and age. We often see characters who think they will just die if they can't be with the person they loved. The way the plot played out was brilliant and it felt real for the time that it was placed in. We may not know what the future holds, but this book will make anything seem possible.
This isn't your average romance and not just because one of the characters isn't human, or because it takes place in the future, but because of the way it develops and the situations surrounding the relationship. This novel will break your heart and slowly sew it back together. It's not an easy journey for our main characters and more often than not, you'll think that it will end unhappily. Keep the faith, people. It's worth it, I promise.
From the moment I heard of The Mad Scientist's Daughter, I looked forward to it. Not only because I adored the author's debut novel, but because the blurb completely captivated me. And now, after reading it, I can honestly say that Cassandra Rose Clarke can do no wrong in my eyes. This is only her second released novel and she's already become an insta-buy author for me. She has a beautiful writing style that works with her stories and enchants you from the first page.
This book was phenomenal. Everything about it drew me in and I honestly have nothing bad to say about it. I'm sure there were faults, but none come to mind because I just loved it so much. My only thought in regards to The Mad Scientist's Daughter is: Perfect book is perfect. I am so thankful to Angry Robot for providing me with a copy because this is now one of my favorite novels.
I received an ARC from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.
You know those novels where you want to keep reading because it is so, so good, but you don't want to keep reading because you know it can't end well? That's how I felt from the start of this novel. I knew I would love it, but I was scared of what was going to come next. It's suspenseful, and gritty and is so wonderful that you really will invest in the story and its characters.
The Mad Scientist's Daughter surprised me at every turn. It was completely unpredictable. The writing was addicting and absolutely phenomenal, as expected from Cassandra Rose Clarke. I knew it would be good, but the author really blew my expectations out of the water.
When Caterina Novak, or Cat as she is more often referred to as, was very young, her father brought home a man named Finn to be her tutor. The thing about Finn is that he's not actually human. He's a robot. As Cat grows older and spends more time with Finn, her feelings toward him develop beyond friendship.
There isn't much else I can say about the plot without giving a lot about the book away. This novel isn't about one period in a person's life, but rather decades. You don't just see Cat fall in love with Finn, but you see her grow and make a life for herself. She is her own person and while she is consumed by her love of Finn, she knows can live without him, she just doesn't want to. That's rare in novels released this day and age. We often see characters who think they will just die if they can't be with the person they loved. The way the plot played out was brilliant and it felt real for the time that it was placed in. We may not know what the future holds, but this book will make anything seem possible.
This isn't your average romance and not just because one of the characters isn't human, or because it takes place in the future, but because of the way it develops and the situations surrounding the relationship. This novel will break your heart and slowly sew it back together. It's not an easy journey for our main characters and more often than not, you'll think that it will end unhappily. Keep the faith, people. It's worth it, I promise.
From the moment I heard of The Mad Scientist's Daughter, I looked forward to it. Not only because I adored the author's debut novel, but because the blurb completely captivated me. And now, after reading it, I can honestly say that Cassandra Rose Clarke can do no wrong in my eyes. This is only her second released novel and she's already become an insta-buy author for me. She has a beautiful writing style that works with her stories and enchants you from the first page.
This book was phenomenal. Everything about it drew me in and I honestly have nothing bad to say about it. I'm sure there were faults, but none come to mind because I just loved it so much. My only thought in regards to The Mad Scientist's Daughter is: Perfect book is perfect. I am so thankful to Angry Robot for providing me with a copy because this is now one of my favorite novels.
I received an ARC from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.
storytimed's review against another edition
2.0
Frankly insufferable heterosexual robot nonsense. Tries to be about free will and consciousness and hope and all that but doesn't quiiiiiiite make it.
Brought to you by my intense frustration at Cat's passivity.
Brought to you by my intense frustration at Cat's passivity.