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.

I’m a like time T Kingfisher fan and this was a fun addition to her catalogue. It features her usual quirky characters and blend of humour and action. The set up was great and while it was a quick read, I enjoyed every moment of it.

This is my first T.Kingfisher book and overall I loved the humour and the general adventure vibe it gave. The characters were unique and I loved the dynamic we saw in the band of adventurers. This was a great first installment to the adventure and left me wanting to know what happens next. Lighthearted and fun to read.

4 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2025/03/06/review-clockwork-boys-clocktaur-war-no-1-by-t-kingfisher/
My FIve Word TL:DR Review:The RIght Book/Right Time

I was really happy to pick up Clockwork Boys, I’m really enjoying Kingfisher’s books, she has such a lovely style and she writes such great characters. There’s always a bit of humour injected and more often than not a low stake style romance in the offing that never threatens to become all encompassing.

The story gets off to a quick start. We meet Slate as she peruses the inmates of a jail looking for a likely character to join an impossible mission. Slate has a mission, to travel across hostile land and infiltrate the neighbouring city that her country is currently at war with – and in dire need of help. The enemy have a robotic sort of army and Slate and her companions need to cross the country, secretly enter Anuket City, and find out the secrets of the Clockwork Boys.

This is quite a short story but there’s no shortage of action or likable characters.

Slate, and two of her companions, are criminals. Should they succeed on their mission pardons will be forthcoming and to keep them in line and prevent any wild ideas about absconding they’re tattooed with a magical image – a tattoo that will literally attack them should they veer from the mission.

So, Slate is a forger. Brenner is an assassin and Calliban (the newest recruit) is a disgraced paladin who seems to harbour a dead demon. To complicate matters further Slate and Brenner previously shared an intimate relationship which has now ended although Brenner still hopes for things to be rekindled. Calliban also fairly quickly forms an attraction to the prickly leader of the group and this adds an extra layer in the form of Brenner and Calliban constantly having a go at each other. The three are joined by a scholar with some very sheltered opinions when it comes to female leadership. Anyway, off they set, they have little hope and Slate is definitely harboring some sort of secret that will come to light in book 2.

What I really liked about this. The writing is lovely, which wasn’t a surprise given the author. The characters are actually really good fun. Kingfisher is adept at inserting humour into salty situations and I just love that about her work.

The characters are really put through the mill with all sorts of weird encounters – not least of which being attacked by vegetables, kidnapped by scary ‘deer’ beasts and traversing an unusual landscape that can change on a whim.

I would mention that this book is not a standalone and indeed finishes at what I would say is probably the halfway point. I didn’t find this a problem although I have a deep hankering for the next book already.

I had a very good time with this, it’s entertaining, the characters are easy to get along with, there’s enough adventure to make the pages practically turn themselves and, put bluntly, I had a lot of fun.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

I loved this. Kingfisher has a skill of taking very dark ideas and pumping them full of comedy to the point where it's entirely believable. Man eating tattoos and suicide missions with the handsome former knight and the joy of one sure thing in life. Everything will go wrong. Oh the rats, that was so creepy and twisted.

Except Kingfisher has a delightful trick up her sleeve where she writes good characters. In so many books, people are terrible for no reason but she understands that the default settings for most people is kindness. People do terrible things to survive, but that doesn't make it the whole self, and it's so refreshing reading books where people help each other out because that's what people like to do.

This is not her best work by far, but I think you can see the groundwork for her later books in it and when releasing older stories, its a delight to see how concepts first played with have been shined up in later novels. I look forward to reading the sequel too..

This was a really fun and light-hearted fantasy, about a group of criminals going on a seemingly impossible quest. The dynamics between the characters were all really fun, and I especially liked the trope of Knight fallen from grace. Slate was a fascinating character and had a lot of character depth that could be explored. I'd read mostly horror from the author previously, so I was incredibly impressed that they can also write a really good fantasy novel!

Clockwork Boys (and its sequel, Wonder Engine, together making up up the Clocktaur War duology) is probably the funniest thing T. Kingfisher has written. I am not saying this lightly: I am a big fan of the author's work, and find her ability to navigate the sliding scale of heart-warming romance to eldtrich decapitations, sprinkled generously with Pratchettian sense of justice and approach to humor, second to none. Here, she combining these all into a propulsive story about a forger, her trigger-happy ex, a disgraced demon-slaying paladin, and a sheltered snooty little scholar on a suicide mission -- and it's good at that, it's all of these things, but above all it's HILARIOUS, pause-reading-just-to-have-a-wheezing laugh kind of funny. I don't know how she does it, have such a capacity for humor that makes what could have been an egdy, sarcastic book into a darkly hilarious and warm one. It's also the duology that gave us the world of Swordheart and White Rat Temple stories, and you don't loose anything by reading the Clocktaur War after those like I did: they stand alone in their own right. I honestly may reread this more often than her fluffier books, it's just so enjoyable.

4 stars

This was so much fun!!! A lot of fantasy and adventures. The banter was perfection and my favorite part of the story.
It was interesting, fast-paced, and the magic system was fun to read, and it has the amazing T. Kingfisher writing style.
Overall, it was fantastic!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 3.75 stars.

What can I say, T Kingfisher is an auto buy/read author and always will be. This book is short and engaging, the characters are fun and witty with many different intentions. The only page the characters seem to all be on is that they want to live, this a weird and wonderful book and I look forward to reading more.

Clockwork Boys by T. Kingfisher is a darkly comic and thrilling fantasy adventure that combines espionage, steampunk elements, and a cast of morally complex characters. With its sharp wit, high-stakes plot, and unexpected moments of heart, this novel is perfect for fans of unconventional heroes and stories that blend humour with danger.

The story follows a ragtag group of criminals and a scholar who are thrown together on a suicide mission to uncover the secrets of the Clockwork Boys—mechanical soldiers from a neighbouring kingdom that threaten to bring ruin to their city. The team includes a paladin with a haunted past, an assassin with a sharp tongue, a forger with a knack for survival, and a scholar whose knowledge may be their only hope. If they succeed, they’ll earn rewards and pardons, but the journey through enemy territory is fraught with peril, and the biggest challenge may be surviving each other.

One of the standout features of Clockwork Boys is its richly drawn characters. Each member of the team is flawed, complex, and utterly compelling. The paladin, Slate, is a reluctant leader with a tragic history, while the assassin, Brenner, is as deadly as he is sarcastic. The forger, Caliban, brings a sense of practicality and resilience, and the scholar, Learned Edmund, provides both comic relief and crucial insights. The dynamic between the characters is electric, filled with tension, banter, and moments of unexpected camaraderie.

The world-building is equally impressive, with Kingfisher creating a vivid and immersive setting that blends fantasy and steampunk elements. The Clockwork Boys themselves are a fascinating and terrifying creation, adding a sense of urgency and danger to the mission. The journey through enemy territory is filled with action, intrigue, and unexpected twists, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

The tone of the novel is a perfect balance of dark humour and heartfelt moments. Kingfisher’s writing is sharp and witty, with a knack for turning even the most dire situations into opportunities for humour. At the same time, the story doesn’t shy away from the emotional weight of the characters’ pasts and the stakes of their mission, creating a narrative that is as touching as it is thrilling.

Thematically, Clockwork Boys explores issues of redemption, trust, and the power of unlikely alliances. The novel also delves into the idea of making the most of the time we have, even when the odds are stacked against us. These themes are woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding depth and resonance to the story.

If there is a minor critique, it is that some readers may find the pacing a bit uneven at times, with the focus on character development occasionally slowing the action. However, this is a small quibble in an otherwise masterfully crafted novel.

Clockwork Boys is a must-read for fans of fantasy and steampunk adventures. T. Kingfisher has created a story that is as entertaining as it is thought-provoking, offering readers a chance to lose themselves in a world of danger, humour, and heart.

A darkly comic and thrilling fantasy, Clockwork Boys is a standout novel that will appeal to fans of unconventional heroes and high-stakes adventures.

Ah, T. Kingfisher has yet to disappoint.

I mean, seriously, how does one come up with characters like this? A ninja accountant? A possessed, Arthurian-level paladin? A misogynist scholar who thinks any contact with a woman will turn his bowels to water, and yet still stitches up wounds despite this belief? The sex-obsessed assassin was the most normal character in this book, and even he was hilarious.

If you go into this expecting world-changing literature and purple prose, you're mistaken. Clockwork Boys is the tale of a disaster crew, moving towards a suicide mission, flailing about the countryside to their destination, trying not to get killed (or kill each other). The dialogue is exceptional, and the characters ... well, I already sang their praises above. This is banter, in the way that romance authors yearn to write and never manage, because these characters are so unique and so well rounded that I have a hard time coming up with anything similar. Building characters this rich in a book that's just barely over 200 pages ... Incredible.

The one thing I had to criticize is that Clockwork Boys felt like the prologue to a much larger book. It's basically just a travelogue, but fantasy. They don't really reach their goal in this book, and therefore, we're not really sure what the goal actually IS.
But there is a sequel. So, that's that.

I literally inhaled this, would have finished it in a day but sleep won out.

One of my favourite authors, T Kingfisher just has that secret ingredient that takes a good book to a whole different level. The warmth and humour is key, and there’s something so compelling about her writing.

This may sound like your typical quest, with some very atypical characters; there’s the Paladin who was once possessed, the holier than thou scholar, the assassin who isn’t a total ass and our leader Slate, who is a forger with hidden depths and some serious allergies. But nothing about this is quite what you’d typically expect. I’m so excited for the second half of this duology.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. Kingfisher is one of my favourite authors and this did not disappoint. A combination of great characters and a classic fantasy quest. For such a short book it amazing how much worldbuilding can be crammed in. Only minor point is the somewhat abrupt ending.

I will read absolutely anything T. kingfisher writes. I was so happy to get an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and publisher.

I cannot wait to read the second book! I was so invested in the quest our characters go on. This book blends T.Kingfisher’s signature humour, horror and fantasy. This one is more fantasy leaning but with some monstrous magic elements. I love T,Kingfisher’s imagination for the absurd macabre.

I love how down to earth and relatable our main character is. There are no superhuman, chosen one, 18 year olds who are going to save the world here. We have an intelligent, short, thirty year old forger who has sneezing fits when sensing danger. Amazing. I loved the main character and their will they/won’t they romantic tension with the disgraced paladin they took from a prison for this mission. All of the characters are flawed, interesting, recognisable. They take on the typical character classes from video game and role play fantasy but they are so charming and real! We have a forger, a paladin, an assassin and a religious scholar. They have clashing personalities, values and beliefs but they are on a shared quest. Their differences make for such humorous friction throughout their journey.

Huge fan of this and I immediately want more! I’ve read at least ten T.Kingfisher books now and they’ve all been phenomenal!