Coppelia is an excellent puppeteer and passable petty thief, though the way in which these two skills interact was not what I expected, and the same can be said for plenty more here, Tchaikovsky once again demonstrating his knack for rearranging familiar components to create a whole that feels new. When her skills, and her little helpers, inevitably come to the attention of those far more powerful and dangerous than her, Made Things shifts gear into a heist story, albeit less the larky sort than one of the terrifying ones which is always firmly aware of the iron structures of hierarchy, and how the people who have react when those who don't display the temerity to try clawing a little back. And in the real world, that would be where it ended, but in fantasy the little people might yet have, or be, a trick up the sleeve.
(And, given the bulk of the fantasy I've read from Tchaikovsky, I did spend much of the book expecting the Pals to march over the horizon and give the magic-rich city of Loretz something bigger still to worry about)

Also included, at least in this edition, is the short but epic prequel Precious Little Things, leading up to the homunculi's first encounter with the outside world. It occasionally bumps into the problem I frequently find in stories of miniature folk, where the scale doesn't stay wholly consistent, but further brings out the theme of inequality, power, heedlessness and greed, only here with more of an emphasis on the caste system among the homunculi, based on the materials of their manufacture.

(Netgalley ARC)

This short novel is set in a world of magic - at least for some. Coppelia is a young thief and puppet-maker, who is one of few people aware of the existence of tiny, mechanical but autonomous people powered by magic and setting up their own society alongside humans. She is roped into a daring heist at the very centre of power, that will expose her to secrets that she could never have imagined. Will her the small homunculi that have befriended her help her, or do they have an agenda of their own?

It's an easy to read story that draws you in very quickly. Tchaikovsky has a great writing style that is engaging and often funny, and he writes good dialogue. I quickly came to care about the characters, and Coppelia is a sympathetic protagonist. The world depicted is well imagined and very vivid - the puppets and automatons give it a 'steampunk' feel. Tchaikovsky is good at twists and turns in the plot and things don't turn out as you might expect. It doesn't pack a strong emotional punch, but it is a pleasant enough sci-fi diversion.

The novel itself only takes up about 80% of the length, the rest is a short story set in the same world. A nice bonus, although a bit more meat in the main novel might have upped its impact.

If you enjoy science fiction and fantasy, especially with a steampunk feel, this is well worth reading.

4.5 stars, rounded up!

Adrian Tchaikovsky doesn't miss! Made Things was such a delightful story, that wonderful mixture of whimsical and dark that I think is a trademark of Tchaikovsky's fantasy.
Made Things is a very short book (more of a novella really) following Coppelia: a thief and puppet maker who has become an unexpected partner to a group of magically animated tiny people. Made out of wood, metal, paper, bone and all kinds of materials and objects left over from the human world, they seek the magic that Coppelia steals while remaining wary of the human world and the dangers it entails. It's a good system for them all, but a chance discovery on a mission turns everything on its head and the puppets find themselves having to venture into the human world for the first time to save Coppelia and their city.

As always, Adrian Tchaikovsky packs a lot into such a short book! There's found family, heists, humour, wizards and some lovely fantastical worldbuilding. I really liked the worldbuilding. On the surface, it was quite typical 'medieval England' fantasy, but there was a lot of complexity and depth to it that I really liked, particularly the diversity of the puppets and the mysticism of the magic. I also loved the contrasts in the world: very whimsical and fairytale-like with magical puppets and old-school wizards, but then also criminal underworlds, a corrupt government and gang violence. Coppelia was a really great protagonist, I loved how practical and smart yet idealistic and kind she was. The diversity of all of the side characters was also really lovely to see, I adore found family in books and Tchaikovsky is so good at it! He's also just so excellent at dialogue and character dynamics, everything was so sharp and witty.

The plot was pretty simple on the surface but, again, hid a lot of layers and depth within it. There were brilliant action sequences, lots of suspense and also some great plot twists! The antagonist (I won't say who - spoilers!) was so intimidating and powerful, just really effective. He leant into cartoonishly evil a little bit, but I don't think that mattered because of the slightly whimsical (if grimy) nature of the story.

The short story included at the end of the book expanded the world in a really lovely way and was just a great inclusion! I think my only gripe is that I think the book could have been much longer and we'd have had more time to delve into the social issues that are commented on, but never really discussed in depth. It was quite simple and quick and for that reason just 'fun' rather than 'mind-blowing', but I'd really like to see more of this world!

This was quite a short review, but I don't really have much to say other than this was really fun and I can't wait to read more by Adrian Tchaikovsky! Epic fantasy fans and cosy fantasy fans alike are going to really love this book.

A storming adventure, full of characters you can root for and twists and turns a plenty! The best kind of fantasy inspired fast ride.