Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

. In the city of Lovecraft, the Proctors rule and a great Engine turns below the streets, grinding any resistance to their order to dust. The necrovirus is blamed for Lovecraft's epidemic of madness, for the strange and eldritch creatures that roam the streets after dark, and for everything that the city leaders deem Heretical—born of the belief in magic and witchcraft. And for Aoife Grayson, her time is growing shorter by the day.

Aoife Grayson's family is unique, in the worst way—every one of them, including her mother and her elder brother Conrad, has gone mad on their 16th birthday. And now, a ward of the state, and one of the only female students at the School of Engines, she is trying to pretend that her fate can be different..

Review

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge was a steampunk novel revolving around the life of young Aoife Grayson. This novel was my first that I consider having actually been a steampunk novel. I, however, am familiar with the genre. To me, this book was the epitome of what a steampunk novel should be. It combined Aoife's love of the machinery so perfectly with magic that it seemed almost flawless. The city was built completely around the machines, making it a huge part of not only the setting, but the plot itself. The way Caitlin described the machinery in the novel was also fantastic, but as always her descriptions were spot-on. When reading, one can actually see the gears of the machines, the swirls of the aether. It's almost as though the machines in the book are something tangible that Catilin was holding when she wrote it. Not only do the clothing and machines match the genre, however, but the magic as well. For the first couple chapters, I had no idea it was even coming. There were allusions of course, but when finally the magic and machines mixed, the affects were fantastic.

Throughout the novel you see sophisticated vocabulary and well-written explanations of the setting. There's never any doubt about what exactly is going on in the book, in my opinion, as Ms. Kittredge managed to write the setting so well that you can feel the steam of the machines while you read. The plot itself reflects her sophisticated writing as well, and we see not just one, but several plot twists throughout the book. Once you've finished reading, you'll wonder if it was the same book you began. You'll go back and think "Was it always like that? How did I miss that?"

All-in-all, Caitlin's fantastic writing style, her sophisticated use of grammar and vocabulary, the plotline (twists, cliffhangers and all), and the genre make for an incredibly interesting read. It's a page-turner for sure, and you won't be able to put it down until the very end (I know I wasn't). I'd give this book a 5/5, for sure. I can't wait for the sequel!

Reviewed by Dakota Unger (Koda)