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Well wasn't this just a rollicking good time? And honestly, I think that this is quite literally the ONLY time I have ever used the word "rollicking". But if there was ever a time and a place for the word, Clementine would be both.

I can honestly say that I am kicking myself for not starting this one MUCH sooner. I thoroughly enjoyed Cherie Priest's first "Clockwork Century" novel years ago when I first read it, and I really missed the boat when this first follow-up was released. Still, better late than never, right?

Where Boneshaker was the calculated wind up (world building and a somewhat self-contained story), Clementine is the fastball pitch...fast, spirited, and straight to the glove. No longer contained to the beleaguered city of Seattle, this tale travels across several midwestern states, and features a new pair of 3rd person protagonists. Prior knowledge of the events in Boneshaker, while not wholly necessary, will definitely enhance the experience, as several characters and events are heavily referenced.

While Boneshaker felt like a more methodical and evenly paced story, Clementine is essentially a sprint from start to finish. We are quickly introduced to the main characters and what their purposes are...and then it's off to the races. I am not sure if this is a longer novel than the first "Clockwork Century" release, but I know I finished it much more quickly. I think that is mostly due to the breakneck pace that is set early on. Which, in other novels can kinda be a distraction. But here it served the tale and didn't pull me out of the experience. In fact, the only negative thing I can say about the pace of the story is, whether by mistake or design, Maria Boyd isn't really given enough backstory to put her into a set context. She references some personal events in a roundabout, vague sort of way, but I would have liked to see more meat on that proverbial bone. Croggon Hainey fares slightly better, especially after having read Boneshaker recently (where he was a supporting character, but still had some backstory explained).

Aside from a murky past, Maria Boyd is a GREAT addition to the lexicon. She's wily, she's tough, and she knows how to get what she wants. She is definitely the kind of character you want to root for. I always found myself wondering how I'd react to her, in the various circumstances described in the book, and just that fact alone means that she made an impact. Croggon Hainey was no less enjoyable as a protagonist, especially since we are occasionally privy to how his mind works as he solves through problems. He's a violent man who doesn't always want to resort to violence, and it's fun to read.

My only other complaint, which is minor at best, is that since this is such a character driven action tale, the villains of the piece really don't stand out or get a chance to shine. We hear a bit about them here, a bit about them there, and then we meet them and BAM...the story is over. We are on a roller coaster through the whole book, which tends to distract from those kinds of details, but after finishing it, I would have liked to have known more about the antagonists. Especially Steen, who we learn is a monster through and through, but has such short face time that he hardly registers.

But make no mistake...I honestly can't praise this one enough. I literally started it last night, and finished it today (even with work and sleep!). I am now ready to start the third book in the series, and I expect the greatness to continue.