This was my first ever T. Kingfisher's book, and I can assure you that this will not be my last! I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and I am already eager for the next book!

I really liked our ragtag group, formed mostly of criminals, who have been sent on an impossible misson, and I loved their humour and interactions. Slate is a fantastic character who has a great sense of humour and wit. With her danger-sensing sneezes and her ability in document forgery, Slate isn't your usual main character, but Kingfisher somehow manages to do an amazing job at making her the lead with an amazing character development

I liked seeing her friendship with Caliban grow and the banter between them. I think Caliban has the most interesting backstory, and I really liked getting to know his story and seeing how he is still coping and trying to deal with the events. I hope we get to learn a bit more about our other two members, Brenner and Learned Edmund, as I've enjoyed what we've learnt so far.

Clockwork Boys is a funny and incredibly gripping fantasy book that I had a great time reading! I definitely recommend this one to those who are looking for a smaller fantasy or are even thinking about starting their high fantasy journey!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Today is my stop on the tour for Clockwork Boys by T.Kingfisher 💖 Thank you so much to the lovely Amy & Titan Books for my gorgeous copy and for my stunning bracelet!

I’ve heard so many good things about T.Kingfisher and after reading Clockwork Boys I completely get it and I’m so excited to dive in to all of her other books soon too!

One of my favourite things about reading this was the brilliant cast of characters! I love the trope of a group of people becoming unlikely friends and this story executed that perfectly! The banter between them all and the quips and sarcasm was so funny, I couldn’t stop laughing!
Each characters personality was so well developed and I also really enjoyed seeing the growth as well that they go through!

Also, the worldbuilding is very interesting and I’m hoping we get to explore even more of it in the sequel!

Clockwork Boys is a hilarious and delightful adventure with lots of adventure and great characters! I’m excited to see what happens next! 💖

Clockwork boys is the first book in T. Kingfisher’s new series- Clocktaur War. This short book packs a lot of punch, with plenty of memorable characters and action. As all good books do, we follow a band of (mostly) criminals who have to come together to unravel a mystery. They have to uncover the secrets of the clockwork soldiers- a mission that could cost them their lives.

It’s not a surprise but I loved T. Kingfisher’s writing in this book. As in other novellas like What moves the dead, she manages to create a full world, compelling characters and a strong plot in a very short amount of time. It is honestly because of Kingfisher that I’ve grown so fond of short fantasy stories. I appreciate a 700-page epic novel every now and again, but there is something so magical about getting sucked into a world in less than 200 pages.

I feel like this series has more in common with her Nettle and Bone book and Paladin series than some of her more recent horror and fairytale stories. There is a quest and a focus on found family which I love. Also, the steam-punk vibes are immaculate!

I would recommend this book to all fantasy fans, but particularly to people who enjoy darkly humorous books like Dreadful and rag tag groups of criminals like in Six of Cows and Five Broken Blades.

Clockwork Boys is the first book in The Clocktaur War Duology by T Kingfisher. And despite having only just finished the book last night, I am eagerly waiting for the publication of the second book in the series!
Our tale begins with Slate, a former forger who has been convicted of treason and is facing the death penalty. However, Slate earns herself a reprieve as she is capable of sniffing out magic and teams up with a paladin possessed by a demon, her murderous ex-lover, and an irritating sexist scholar. Now that's a motely crew that is bound to both cause chaos and be a lot of fun. And believe me, plenty of shenanigans are to be had in this fast-paced and fun filled tale.
To say more, would involve spoiling the tale so let's just say that you should grab a copy from your local bookshop as 'Clockwork Boys' is out today.

Clockwork Boys is my first ever step into the world of T. Kingfisher and I don’t think I could have chosen a better book. I read it over the weekend and it just hooked me straight away.

This book is the first part of two and it’s left me wanting to read the second half immediately - the writing is charming, funny, and full of high stakes.

Clockwork Boys is essentially about a ragtag group of criminals and a demon-possessed paladin on a quest to save the world, there’s high stakes, the most likeable anti-heroes, and so much good character background.

First I want to thank netgalley and titan books for this e-ARC of Clockwork Boys. I had such a good time with this!

This was such a good read. The writing was amazing. The characters were so well written. I actually really want to reread this book in summer.

T. Kingfisher is definitely starting to become an auto buy/read for me.

(Please note, this isn’t a large review as my brain just isn’t allowing me to put down the words, I want to 🙄)

Thanks to Titan Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

As I work through T. Kingfisher’s back catalog (and loving every book so far), The Clockwork Boys stood out as a refreshing change of pace. Unlike her gothic horror and fairytale-inspired stories, this one leans more into adventure with a touch of romance. It’s a compelling blend of humor, heart, and high-stakes action, wrapped in Kingfisher’s signature wit and sharp character work.

At the heart of The Clockwork Boys is its wonderfully dysfunctional ensemble cast. We have Slate, a practical, sharp-witted forger who’s spent most of her life trying to survive in a world that doesn’t leave much room for people like her. Then there’s Caliban, a disgraced paladin haunted by the remnants of a demonic possession. His solemn nature and moral struggles contrast perfectly with the rest of the group. Rounding them out is Brenner, a dryly amusing assassin who kills with unnerving efficiency but isn’t as cold as he pretends to be, and Learned Edmund, a naïve and hilariously out-of-his-depth scholar who quickly realizes his monastery hasn’t prepared him for real life.

Thrown together on a near-impossible mission, and watching them clash, grow, and begrudgingly form a bond is one of the book’s biggest strengths. Their interactions are full of sharp dialogue, reluctant camaraderie, and moments of surprising vulnerability. Kingfisher does a fantastic job of showing how they bring out both the best and worst in each other—whether it’s through biting banter, unexpected kindness, or deep-seated personal wounds that come to the surface.

With its mix of adventure, character-driven storytelling, and just a hint of romance, The Clockwork Boys is a fantastic entry point into this part of Kingfisher’s world. Titan Books is releasing it with a new cover in the UK this month, making now the perfect time to pick it up. And if you enjoy this one, you’ll want to continue with The Wonder Engine before diving into Swordheart and the Paladin books.

Another cracking read from T. Kingfisher that I loved.

Thank you to T. Kingfisher, Titan Books, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The premise was interesting and the beginning was promising until… literally nothing happened for half the book. The characters seemed to just be sitting / standing / disappearing / twiddling their thumbs. No fantasy / sci-fi elements or adventuring to be seen, just badly forced romance that didn’t work. The writing style itself was good though, just a shame the plot / characterisation let it down. I had to dnf at 40% and I’m glad because it seems the book actually cuts off before any real action happens. I’ll definitely try their other books.

I am biased when ever I read a Kingfisher book because I usually love their writing. They often mange to combine a bit of comedy into whatever they write and it’s usually very unique. I’m glad to say that is true of Clockwork Boys. I adored the motley cast of characters that are brought to life with Kingfisher’s usual flair. The story keeps you hooked and wanting to read more. I am also a sucker for anything a bit steampunk like and it certainly had elements of that. This is a must read for fans of Kingfisher or fantasy who love unique characters and a compelling story.
As always thank you to Titan Books for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

We're back in the world of Paladins and the Dreaming God in this story and I completely ate it up. I love this world, and it was a nice twist to see it from the angle of outcasts and criminals this time. This unusual group made up of a master of forgery, a deadly assassin, an ex-knight, and a young scholar brings a real mix of personalities and dynamics on this dangerous journey, one they don't expect to return from. This book gets off to a strong start, bringing some curiosity and a little magic from the beginning, and keeps delivering as it progresses. There's plenty of humour, great banter, and interesting characters that really drew me in. It's safe to say, this is another T Kingfisher book that completely hooked me into its story and its characters. We don't necessarily get too far into the heart of the story just yet, so it did feel a little early to finish where it did but I also understand the reasoning and it doesn't take away from how much I enjoyed it - it only means I was left wondering what was going to happen when I next picked up the book and realising that I'd have to wait for the sequel. I really hope it's not a long wait because I can't wait to pick up this adventure where we left off, find out what Slate's ominous hints were about, and see if they add any more people to their rag tag bunch.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

This is my first T. Kingfisher book and I went in excited for adventure....then I got bored of waiting.
The adventure doesn't really start until 40%, prior to that there's a lot of explaining and set up. I almost gave up.
Once it gets started it's ok. A little adventure, a few fantasy creatures and the titular Clockwork boys all make an appearance.
The mix match group gets better as the story goes. The attempt romance element feels a little forced and awkward, I don't think it added anything to the story.
My main issue with the book was the POV it was told from. Sort of a 3rd person point of view with insight into most characters thinking. It was a little jarring at first and different from other narratives I've read.
This book ends at a half way point of the characters journey without a cliffhanger. Will I read book 2? Maybe
Grab this book for a slow journey or a weekend read. Pack tissues for the sneezing.

I haven't been as eager to pick up a book and get immersed in it for a while! Kingfisher is a better fantasy writer than she is a horror one, but her fantasy works best if she adds some uncanny to it. If you only read one Kingfisher book, make it Nettle&Bone, but The Clockwork Boys, her older novel due to be published in the UK this week, does something in my opinion equally valuable - it provides exactly what I am in the mood for.

The author does not hide the main influences on the novel - Neverwinter Nights and Dragon Age. Reading this book felt like an old-school Bioware RPG-lite experience. We have quite established tropes - a thief, an assassin, a paladin, and a scholar go on and quest - but Kingfisher managed to bring them to life and make me care about them, if not about their world. I felt like this is a particular playthrough of a mutilate choice game; the reader can even pinpoint where a video game writing team would have placed decision-making opportunities. You can even see the different romance options (with Slate, the protagonist, quite clearly choosing a particular one of those). A Bioware game would have had much more time to develop the story and the lore, so TCB feels much thinner on the ground.

Whilst Slate and Caliban came across as three-dimensional enough, I wish Brenner and Learned Edmund were a bit more fleshed out. From Zevran to Astarion, the neutral/evil charismatic rogue is my favourite type of character in these kinds of stories, but Brenner didn't get enough of a chance to shine. The world itself also needs a bit more depth, and whilst I liked the whole artificer focus, I am looking forward to more of it. The world came to life when Kingfisher chose to add something a bit more macabre to it (the dancing rat corpses were particularly memorable), and I hope she brings together her fantasy and horror sides a bit more in the second volume (yes, it is a duology, although old-school fantasy writers would have easily made this length of a text into one volume).

I chose to read this book because I am currently obsessed with BG3, and it delivered. It does not offer anything innovative, but it is really well executed.

4.75/5
This was a reread for me as I have read the Indie pub version...and no surprise, I still love it! Do a lot of T. Kingfisher male love interests blend together? Sure, but I eat it up every time! I also think this duology could've been one book, so the ending is pretty abrupt, but those are my only complaints.

Slate is tasked with the suicide mission of trying to stop the Clockwork Boys, mechanized soldiers who are wreaking havoc. She sets out with an assassin who had a fling with her in the past, an ex-paladin who is possessed by a demon and accidentally killed a bunch of nuns, and a very prudish scholar. Of course, there are many obstacles along the way and there is a lot of mutual pining between her and Sir Caliban, the hot ex-paladin. Caliban also has to come to terms with what it means to have been cast out of his order and forsaken by his god. Slate has to come to terms with the fact that she doesn't actually want to die and probably will at some point in their quest. I'm excited to see where the next book picks up!

Fun, funny in only the way that T. Kingfisher books are, sometimes disturbing, and always adventurous, this is a must read for fans of lighthearted fantasy.

I have recommended this to everyone i have spoken to since finishing.
This is such a fun fantasy
-amazing character
-amazing humour
-fun adventure
-quick paced
-i could picture everything perfectly

Cant wait to finish this story in the next book

This book continued the trend of loving every book I read by T Kingfisher. The way she writes characters is wonderful and I love the way some are older and don’t fit into the usual boxes for fantasy main characters. This one followed a 30 year old forger who is too old for this sh*t, her ex lover who is an assassin, a paladin possessed by a dead demon, and a young naive scholar who is scared of women. They are a rag tag team on a quest to find out about the clockwork boys to stop the ongoing war. There were tensions between some of the characters, some romantic notions too and plenty of hilarious dialogue ensues. It is a fantasy quest as you would expect but with humour, steampunk elements and some interesting additional characters and creatures. I like how she brings in elements I find cute or cozy or wholesome and how she brings in darker or sometimes horror elements and melds them together into a story and it really works. I will absolutely read everything and anything she publishes

Assassins, thieves, demons, carnivorous tattoos ( imagine your tattoo trying to eat you 😂!!), funny moments, mystery, and adventure.

A mission lead by an unlikely group:
⚙️Slate - a forger with a great sense of humour and a nose that can smell magic ( literally)
⚙️Caliban - a demon possessed paladin, or a shambling wreck of a paladin ( in his own words)
⚙️Learned Edmund - a misogynist scholar, who is actually quite naive to the ways of the world
⚙️Brenner - Slate’s murderous ex-lover and an assassin
Can they find the secret of the Clockwork Boys?

I finished this fun and fast-paced fantasy in two days. What I liked the most were Slate and Caliban’s interactions, they were hilarious! As well Caliban’s sudden speech in demon tongues which sounded so funny while being slightly unsettling 😅.

I think this book contained some great interesting ideas, but I hoped for more world-building, you are more or less thrown in the middle of the story and the book is quite short. That being said I will probably pick up the next one because I do love T Kingfisher’s slightly odd ideas, like carnivorous tattoos, that’s just brilliant!😂.

Thank you Titan Books for the review copy. All thoughts are my own.

Clockwork Boys is the really fun, first part of a duology that tells the story of a band of mostly criminal misfits sent to find out what makes the Clockwork Boys, a kind of marauding, four- or six-legged almost unbeatable army from the nearby city-state, function. This first book covers their formation as a group, and an eventful journey across enemy lines, to put themselves in a position to discover more about the Clockwork Boys.

The story is comic and mainly told from two of the group's key characters; Slate, a treasonous forger (she's in charge), and Caliban, a paladin previously possessed by a demon and convicted of murdering multiple nuns. Brenner, an assassin, and Learned Edmund, a scholar, make up the rest of the band. The group gets themselves into several scrapes, and there's plenty of banter and shenanigans between them. The whole book has the feel of a Terry Pratchett story (which I mean as the highest compliment) with crazy creatures, oddities occurring and a certain degree of sarcasm and weirdness. For example, Slate has huge amounts of allergies which lead to Caliban constantly buying and providing handkerchiefs for her, but also sneezes in the presence of magic – she senses it by smelling rosemary, which overpowers her senses, and sends her into a sneezing fit!

This was a great start to the story, though it felt a little unfinished, presumably because of where it had to be cut to make the duology, which is why I have only rated it a four. However, I suspect once I've read the second book, the whole of the duology might be five stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Titan Books for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

4.5 ⭐️

I did not know what to expect going into this book. The plot sounded interesting, but with like all other T.Kingfisher books I've read, nothing will ever go how you think it will.

This book definitely has a slow pace and a lot of unanswered questions, but the budding formed family is starting to take place, and my heart is full.

Once again, there are the weird and magical elements that come along with any T.Kingfisher book, and this one was no exception. I think, though, the weird and the magical threw me off guard by just how completely bizarre they were.

I am super excited to check out the second book in the series, and hopefully, the pacing picks up more compared to this one🤭

As expected this was EXCELLENT! A forger, an assassin, a paladin and a scholar all get sent off on a mission to try and save the world (essentially) and hilarity ensues. I loved the hints at back story for Slate, always hapy to see gnoles popping up, a disgraced paladin - yes please! Roll on part two I need to find out what happens to our gang!!

Review: Clockwork Boys by T. Kingfisher

T. Kingfisher’s Clockwork Boys is a refreshing blend of fantasy, heist adventure, and dark humor, featuring a ragtag group of criminals and misfits sent on a near-suicidal mission. The book follows Slate, a forger with a sharp tongue, Brenner, a deadly assassin, Caliban, a disgraced paladin haunted by a demon, and Learned Edmund, an overly innocent scholar. Together, they must infiltrate enemy territory to uncover the secrets of the terrifying Clockwork Boys—unstoppable mechanical constructs devastating their homeland.

What sets Clockwork Boys apart is its tone. While the premise leans dark, Kingfisher’s writing is filled with wit, sarcasm, and dry humor that balance out the bleakness. The characters are all deeply flawed yet compelling, and their interactions—especially the reluctant camaraderie between them—are one of the novel’s highlights. Slate’s pragmatic leadership and Caliban’s struggle with his past add emotional depth, while Brenner’s deadpan menace and Edmund’s obliviousness provide comedic contrast.

The worldbuilding is intriguing but not overly complex, with a mix of magic, religious orders, and steampunk-like elements. The pacing leans more on character dynamics and setup rather than high-action sequences, making it feel more like a road trip adventure than a traditional heist novel. Since it’s the first book in a duology (followed by The Wonder Engine), it ends on an unfinished note, but the journey is engaging enough to make the next book a must-read.

Overall, Clockwork Boys is a fun, character-driven fantasy with sharp dialogue, a bit of romance, and just the right amount of darkness. If you enjoy found family dynamics, morally gray protagonists, and a plot that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this book is worth picking up.