The Mad Scientist's Daughter

The Mad Scientist’s Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received and ARC of this from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I can't actually remember what I imagined when I first read the blurb, but I know the book wasn't what I expected. It's like nothing I have ever read before. It's kind of mix of AI, Bicentennial Man, I Robot with Finn coming across a little like Data from star Trek, told from the perspective of 5-year-old Cat as she grows up.

The story is told over 3 parts. The first part reads like diary entries, sometimes with years between entries, and several entries being told in one chapter. At this point in the book I was mostly reading for the sake of reading, I didn't dislike it but it felt that nothing was really happening. Then I put the book down between chapters while I did some normal every day things around the house and I realised I was thinking about the story, thinking about Cat and Finn and how their relationship was developing. Wondering if Finn had any feelings for Cat, who I realised was falling in love with Finn even if she didn't realise it herself.

When Cat gets married its only because she wants to be normal, she knows she can't have Finn and she settles. When Finn refuses to see her now that she's married her heart breaks, and then it breaks some more when Finn decides he is going to work on the moon. I think my heart broke a little then too.

This is a completely unexpected love story. A story of two people who don't actually spend all that much time together but Cat is always thinking of Finn. The story doesn't race along, it seems to slowly unfold and draw you in without you realising.

The book is due for release in February next year, and is currently available for pre-order. For UK orders go here.

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Thank you for reading.