I have lost interest in this book. I will not be reading and reviewing it at this time but may do so in the future.

In a post-ecological-disaster world, Cat has been her own teacher, wandering nature. But her dad, a cyberneticist, brings home Finn, a being Cat initially took for a ghost. Finn becomes her teacher, a great resource for stories, math and science. At a party it becomes clear Finn is a robot although Cat remains convinced of his being a ghost until he admits what he is.



As she gets older, she becomes more and more fond of Finn. She gets in a fight at school with a kid who calls Finn an "it." She dates other boys, but they are all dis-satisfactory. One night she kisses Finn with disastrous consequences. Her father doesn't seem to buy her excuses but also doesn't seem to mind, either.



She goes to college. Her mother dies, and there is a see-saw between Finn and human lovers.



While it isn't heavily science fiction, it is SF--hypnotically told. Although Clarke's exploration of tropes is limited, she can tell a good tale. Because of the romantic nature and the serious treatment of romancing an AI, the novel doesn't seem well named except for her father's reaction to her kiss (not that he knows for certain what happened--or does he?). What's fascinating is what remains unstated but holds Cat's riveted to Finn. It must be unquestioning devotion. Even when she takes on other lovers, he does not. He remains faithful and hurries to her side when he's needed.



The narrator voice opens wonderfully childlike, aging as the narrator ages, and the detail is precise and evocative. The story title is predated by one written by Theodora Goss (I will review (re-review?) it as part of this JJ Adams' Mad Scientist anthology). They seem to have little overlap, and this has a stronger narrative thread, perhaps due to focusing on one character and being a novel. 



I don't read many love stories as I don't find them realistic. Strange then that I was taken in by this one with an automaton. The ending did push character credibility, but still recommended if you're in the mood for a good storyteller.

Once again Clarke delivers a new world setting with a new way of looking at the people in our world.

I expected more but the main character was super interesting to read about.

This is another one of those books where I am torn.

There were aspects of this book that I LOVED. Clarke's writing was incredibly vivid.  I can't quite put my finger on it, but her writing was such that I was able to picture with absolute clarity the settings and situations Clarke described.  One of the scenes that sticks out for me is the instance in which Cat rode some sort of desert taxi to a distant location.  I could see her flying through this desolate location in my mind.  And the relationship between Cat and her father was incredibly poignant.

However...

It took me months to finish this book.  The writing was amazing!  Clarke can certainly turn a phrase.  But I dreaded reading this book and had to reward myself for finishing a few pages.  I attribute it to this: I could NOT stand Cat.  I don't mind an annoying MC as long as their personality forwards the plot.  That was definitely not the case here. Cat was tedious and I don't understand why Finn found her at all attractive.

It's weird for me to say this, but I would definitely read another book by Cassandra Rose Clarke.  But I hated this book.

Spec fic at its best! It is brilliant. If you love science fiction, robots or even better, both, you will adore The Mad Scientist's Daughter. It has a great storyline with tragedy, robots, and romance. Definitely not one I will forget in a hurry.

Since receiving this book my interests have changed. Also time constraints means that I'm limited to the amount of books I can read. I won't be able to give this title the attention that it needs and deserves. Therefore I will no longer be reading or reviewing this title. Thank you.