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The Dark Unwinding
The Dark Unwinding
The Dark Unwinding
Audiobook9 hours

The Dark Unwinding

Written by Sharon Cameron

Narrated by Fiona Hardingham

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

A spine-tingling tale of steampunk and spies, intrigue and heart-racing romance!

When Katharine Tulman's inheritance is called into question by the rumor that her eccentric uncle is squandering away the family fortune, she is sent to his estate to have him committed to an asylum. But instead of a lunatic, Katharine discovers a genius inventor with his own set of rules, who employs a village of nine hundred people rescued from the workhouses of London.

Katharine is now torn between protecting her own inheritance and preserving the peculiar community she grows to care for deeply. And her choices are made even more complicated by a handsome apprentice, a secretive student, and fears for her own sanity.

As the mysteries of the estate begin to unravel, it is clear that not only is her uncle's world at stake, but also the state of England as Katharine knows it. With twists and turns at every corner, this heart-racing adventure will captivate readers with its intrigue, thrills, and romance.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateApr 30, 2013
ISBN9780545622882
The Dark Unwinding

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Rating: 4.215719084280936 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I was deeply drawn into this amazing and secret world that Katherine found herself in. Almost immediately I became attached to Uncle Tully and his toys, and completely sympathetic to Katherine and her plight. The dark richness of the grand but decaying house and complex grounds, and the family secrets which came to light all gave vivid depth to the world. An interestingly set teen mystery with a gothic feel and a satisfying resolution, though with an open end that leads to a second book which I'm definitely looking forward to! I definitely recommend to the historical, steampunk, mystery fan.


  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Review originally posted on A Reader of Fictions.

    Sometimes I can tell immediately that I'm going to enjoy a book. There's just something in the writing, the tone, the way the words flow in those first sentences that declares the book an utter delight. For me, The Dark Unwinding was one of these books. That first sentence shown above hit the perfect level of amusement and concern for me as a reader. Cameron hooked me with that and sustained my interest consistently all the way through.

    Katharine differs greatly from the majority of YA heroines: she's very practical. Though this practicality is not perhaps her natural way of being, she learned to be so in order to get through her life with minimum fuss. After her father's death, left to the guardianship of her Aunt Alice, Katherine serves essentially as a drudge. Aunt Alice reminded me heavily of the Dursleys, utterly devoted to her piggish, stupid son. With all of Alice's affection going to her precious child, she has no interest in Katharine except in what she can do for her, like manage the accounts or run errands.

    Another thing that nieces are good for? Sending off to the family estate to ascertain the truth of rumors of insanity, so that one can enjoy the season. Katharine's Uncle Tulman has, so it is said, been wasting the family fortune on the interests of his diseased mind. Clearly, this cannot be allowed to stand or Alice's precious Robert will inherit less. Thus is Katherine sent off to Stranwyne, since family members can report insanity and have the touched party sent to an asylum.

    Once at Stranwyne, Katherine discovers that the situation pales in comparison to what she and her Aunt were expecting. Her Uncle Tully does appear to be quite mad, but the scale of his madness surpasses anything anticipated. He spends his time in the production of toys, clockwork creatures. In order to do so, two whole towns have grown up around the estate. Where she expected to find twenty-some perhaps in his employ, she finds hundreds.

    Out of practicality, out of a desire to save the estate's fortunes for Robert, who she has some hope of manipulating enough to gain some amount of independence for herself, Katherine plans to depart and report her Uncle immediately. Before she can do so, however, she finds herself charmed by several townsfolk, all of whom work to convince her not to do so, as does the family solicitor, who swears that things are on the mend.

    Due to their pleas, Katherine agrees to stay for a full month, ignoring her aunt's letters and getting to know her Uncle. What she discovers is that Stranwyne is a magical place, full of tunnels and secret rooms. I want so badly to explore this estate! Plus, she finds out that Uncle Tully, while certainly a special snowflake, sees the world with childlike eyes, able to see beauty where others do not. At his best, he is utterly sweet, funny and disarming.

    Plot-wise, very little came as any sort of a surprise to me. I had the antagonist pegged from the first appearance, as well as the romantic lead. I say this not to denigrate the story, but to stress that the plotting is not where the magic lies. The beauty of The Dark Unwinding is in the characters, who were all brilliantly well-drawn, with perhaps one notable exception. The most charming scene for me, without a doubt, made me wish I knew how to roller skate; there was magic in that scene.

    If you're looking for an action-packed, steampunk adventure, The Dark Unwinding is not the book you want. However, if you're looking for a well-written story populated by quirky characters and brilliant setting, look no further.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    In The Dark Unwinding, Sharon Cameron crafts a new Victorian-era novel that could easily be considered a cinematic adventure to those who are into the story it has to tell. Living in a well-crafted world, Katherine is sent to analyze her uncle, who most think has finally gone of the deep end, and should the case be, have him committed to an asylum.It has been a long time since I've read a novel that is set in a version of the past. I tend to stick mostly to present or futuristic novels, but rarely do I ever dapple into the past. But after reading the synopsis, I knew I just had to read it. It was entirely enthralling to me and as soon as I opened the book I was transported to another world that I was perfectly fine living in, if only for a short time. Not to say this book was without little moments that could have been a little more colorful or feathered, or that the romance, while ever-present throughout the majority of the novel, left me craving more. I knew from the very first moment some characters entered the story I would adore them, not care for them, or despise them (in a good way).With discussing characters, I must say that Katherine was a character I couldn't quite enjoy in some parts. The main instances being mostly present the beginning where she acts less than tasteful. However, as the page numbers grew and the story came to an end, I did end up liking her enough. I found myself favoring other characters just a tad more than the protagonist.Nevertheless, I think Mrs. Cameron has written a great novel that will do fairly well and I'm practically dying at how beautiful the cover is, too! It can easily be adapted into a film (should the rights be sold) and has great potential if put in the right hands that will do The Dark Unwinding justice, and lead it into territories already covered, and those that have yet to be.I give The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron a 4 out of 5 and recommend reading this book (if interested) on rainy or cold days/nights when you can snuggle up with a cozy blanket and escape to an intriguing world. A great Fall read!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Dark Unwinding is a unique steam punk mystery that will leave readers begging for more. This story has it all, , an intriguing plot, well-developed characters, complex mysteries, and romance. From the first page, I was hooked. Once you pick up The Dark Unwinding, you will not be able to put it down until you've figured out all of the mysteries of Stranwyne, the community where Katharine's uncle lives. The plot is very different from the other steam punk novels I've read. Yes, there are clockwork inventions that are considered advanced for the time period, but these devices are simply Uncle Tully's "toys." There is no advanced form of transportation or communication. There is also no advancement in social norms. Women wear dresses and act like "ladies." Men are expected to take care of women. The class system is rigid and immovable, and if women don't marry well, then they are doomed to an unfortunate life. In a way, it was refreshing to read a book that kept the social norms of the time in tact. It was interesting to see the characters maneuver within these restrictions instead of simply ignoring them. Speaking of characters, they are the highlight of the book, especially the supporting cast. None of these characters were flat. They each had their own unique and believable personality. Uncle Tully is my absolute favorite secondary character ever, I do believe. He is adorable and child-like. I loved him from the start. There is just this innocence about him that makes you want to protect him from the world. I felt the same way about Davy. My heart broke for him because he was mute, and I loved Bertram. Mrs. Jeffries is more complicated than I originally thought. She cares deeply and is loyal to those who she feels are worthy. Mr. Babock was a canny character whom I enjoyed getting to know. Also, Mary was very unique and endearing. Lane is one of the best male leads I've read in a long time. He is complex, thoughtful, and protective, although he is also temperamental and harsh at times. He's never abusive, though, and he loves deeply. He also feels as if the responsibility of the entire village rests on his shoulders. His interactions with Uncle Tully and Davy really won me over... along with the fact that he's part French and fluent in the language. Hello hotness!Katharine is a complex narrator and heroine. As intelligent as she is, she doesn't know herself very well. She comes to decisions emotionally before she ever recognizes them mentally. That was frustrating at times, but it made the story more interesting. Moreover, she was honest. I trusted her to tell me the objective truth about a situation because she operated on logic. That makes for a good, and interesting narrator. Most narrators show more biases. However, since she was unaware of how she felt about many things, perhaps she wasn't as honest as I first believed. Her words could have been tainted with an unknown, and unintentional bias. Either way, she did not have an agenda. On that note, I should inform you that this book makes you think. I loved that! I couldn't figure out exactly what was going on at any given time (I always had at least three possible ideas in my head for the mysteries of Stranwyne), and while some characters are less trustworthy than others, some of the "bad guys" surprised me. Additionally, I was forced to constantly question the narrator, even though she meant to be honest. I really enjoyed trying to figure out her biases. And finally, the explanations and descriptions of the area and the time period are spot-on. The village itself is wonderful and whimsical. Cameron did an amazing job with the world building. The only reason this book received an A- instead of an A+ is that the pacing was slightly off during the first 100 pages. Certain points during these pages dragged a little, which made the first third of the novel a bit slow going. However, once I got past the first hundred pages or so, I was rewarded! The last 200 pages are fast-paced, intense, and emotional. I could not put the book down! On a random note, the ending wraps up the main problem of this novel nicely, but is a bit open-ended. I hope this means that a sequel is in the works. I would really love to read more about this world and these characters!Overall, I'd recommend this book to almost anyone. If you're a fan of steam punk, historical fiction, or mysteries, you will adore The Dark Unwinding.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Steampunk novels are really hit or miss with me. Sometimes I find them too mired down in heavy detail, and then sometimes I find that the plot and character development are lost and/or totally overshadowed by the world and all the gadgets. I'm happy to say that The Dark Unwinding did not suffer from either of these problems, mainly because the story is very light in Steampunk elements and heavier on the Gothic mystery (which I love).The story revolves around young Katherine Tulman. Katherine is sent by her greedy aunt to live with her uncle and evaluate his mental state. It's made clear that Katherine is expected to deem her uncle mentally incompetent in order to secure her cousin Robert's inheritance, therefore securing Katherine's lifestyle once her aunt passes away. Katherine makes the journey to her uncle's estate expecting to meet a lunatic, but what she finds instead is a brilliant, though slightly eccentric inventor who employs hundreds of out of place workers by building his inventions. It's then that Katherine must make a tough decision -- save her uncle and the workers of Stranwyne, or commit her uncle and secure her own financial future by committing him.What most captivated me about this book was our lead character. I really believed in Katherine and I could feel her inner conflict. She didn't feel like a caricature, or like your typical, cookie-cutter YA heroine. She's strong and determined, yet has a good heart. I especially loved Uncle Tully. It's obvious that he is autistic, and Ms. Cameron portrays him wonderfully without turning him into a poster child. Another major plus to the novel is the world Ms. Cameron has invented and the mystery surrounding Katherine's family. I didn't expect the Gothic mystery that I found between the pages and it was a very well-written surprise.While I did feel the plot dragged in places, overall I really enjoyed this one. Creepy and atmospheric, The Dark Unwinding was a refreshing read and one I highly recommend to fans of Gothic mysteries and light Steampunk.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Dark Unwinding was definitely one of my favorite books of 2012 so far. I wanted more than anything to give it 5 stars, but in the end, I couldn't. The writing wasn't perfect and I did find it dry in a couple of places. I found it a little too simple as well. I thought there were a couple of places in toe book where things could have been explained better, and I was left confused trying to interpret events for myself. I had to go back and re-read and I hate that more than anything. To me, that's an automatic one star deduction. And it makes me mad that I had to do that. But as far as the negative goes, those are really the only complaints I have. Now I get to talk about the fun stuff. And the one thing that blew me away in this book more than anything were the characters. WOW. WOW. I cannot express in words how much they won me over. Especially Uncle Tully. I mean...I have no words. He is possibly one of the sweetest, most intelligent, and wonderful characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. He jumps off the page. He is so well-developed, and he is REAL. What's that? He's not real? *punches you in the face for saying that* I was so emotionally involved in this book that I was worried I was going to be devastated. The other characters were great too but Uncle Tully was the best. My favorite thing was how he called Katharine "Simon's baby." It just warmed my heart. I do believe Uncle Tully was Autistic. It was never specifically stated (unless I missed it) but implied. And I absolutely LOVED the portrayal of the disorder. I think the author did a FANTASTIC job painting it in a respectful way. Uncle Tully is a character you will absolutely fall for. You WILL NOT feel sorry for him because he is a unique character with wonderful traits. The other characters respect him and treat him as an equal which is as it should be. The story was incredibly entertaining. There is a mystery to solve, but also, Katherine has a decision to make. You will know right away which decision it is going to be, but it is an enormous amount of fun getting there. You will fall in love with the setting which is a character in itself, and you will want to walk this estate and be a part of this story. The Dark Unwinding is the type of book you escape into and do not want to put down. For me, the rest of the world fell away, and it was just me and this great, GREAT book. Like I said earlier, in places the writing was a little too simple for me and I wish a couple of things had been explained better, but it's a memorable book that you will want to add to your personal library immediately. I don't re-read many books but I can easily see myself re-reading this one.I know some are classifying this one as steampunk, but I don't really agree with that. There are a few steampunk elements, but for me it needs more than that to fit the genre. It's more of a historical novel for me, and it certainly isn't fantasy which is another genre classification I am seeing. As for the romance in the book, it was sweet and I loved it. I usually don't care for the romance in YA books, but this one never overpowered the story. It was always about the story first, then the romance, which is just how it should be. Lane as a character is a love interest you can get behind. He is respectful, romantic, and he genuinely cares about the estate and Uncle Tully. He wants what is best for every character in this book, and yet he is still brooding and sexy. He had personality, and whenever her showed up in the book, he lit up the scene. He is one of many reasons you should read this book. I loved almost everything about The Dark Unwinding. I would recommend it to anyone who loves heartfelt characters, an intricate story, an atmospheric setting, and strong world-building.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I wasn't sure what to make of this book, but turned out to be rather lovely in the end. Set in a Victorian world, Katharine feels worthless, living with her aunt and cousin, trapped in a society she cannot escape without money, and she has none. Her aunt sends her on a mission to have her uncle committed. What she finds changes her life and her future. I've read several steampunk/Victorian type books recently that seem to straddle the line between straight up fiction and fantasy, and The Dark Unwinding strides along that line quite confidently. I usually get frustrated with main characters who keep going against what they (and we) know is right. But Katharine was written with such fantastic character growth and a mostly sympathetic voice, that I was not as annoyed as I could've been. The secondary characters, from Katharine's family (even the cousin we never meet) to the lawyers and people who live on her uncle's estate, are all given personalities. The resolution seems to take a long time, but a series of interesting twists (none of them the truly surprising kind, until the very end), keeps things from working out too perfectly -- until the end. But since this is a young adult novel and I do crave a happy ending, Cameron gives us a completely satisfying ending and doesn't leave us hanging, wanting more -- at least in the cliffhanger sense. There's also a slight love story -- two boys, one girl and one hell of a twist. There's a tiny of of cliff hanger involved here, but if Cameron chooses not to write another novel, the ending works, too. Hopefully she will, though. Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and will be buying it for my library when it comes out.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The characters are so wonderfully complex and interesting; it's hard not to become drawn into this world.

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great narration, great story, a real treat after all the cheesy romance/fantasy I have been recommended by Scribd.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I loved the sweet ending, the suspense and the feeling thss was a fairytale unfolding chapter by chapter.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book was an odd pleasure, an 1800s techno mystery complete with evil aunt, clever servants, handsome strangers, a genius uncle with the mind of a child, a silent child who knows more than anyone suspects, a tricky civil servant, and a young woman at the center of it all. Once I got used to the archaic attitude of the characters I enjoyed the story and got into it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It’s splendid & the right way!!! Always the right way!! As it should!!!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Fabulous! I completely fell in love with the narration, plot and characters. Can't wait to read the sequel!!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A beautiful sensible book with likeable characters and gripping turns in the second half. Quite austenesque. And a great production, too!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Not what I expected.
    The description of the book is incorrect but I still chose to read it. Still entertaining and mysterious.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Was so good! Well written, well read! Can't wait to listen to the sequel.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I love the characters, especially the child like uncle. Good story.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Very interesting book! Hope there’s a sequel. I’ll definitely read if there is.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Excellent story: strong plot with lots of twists, interesting characters who have depth, and positive treatment of people who don’t fit in the norm or who lack resources. I couldn’t stop listening!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I found out about this series when browsing through books from BEA 2013 — where the sequel was being offered as an ARC. For the most part, I just can’t read series out of order (knowingly, at least), so I left it alone and put this book on the to-read list. And yes, 3 years later, I’m just now reading it. Us bibliophiles have a problem with overly long to-read lists, yes?I have to say that this one gets off to an incredibly slow start. It tries to be too creepy too fast, to the point where I really just didn’t understand what was going on in the first few chapters. Is it trying to be paranormal? Is it trying to be just average-run-of-the-mill creepy? No idea. I think that was the point, but I personally wasn’t into it. By the first 30 pages, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to get through it, but I powered on, and it turned out to get better. Yay! It also doesn’t help that there seems to be a wide variety of genres used for this book, but by my judgment, it’s more alternate history/gothic than anything. (Especially steampunk — um, what?!) There are so many creep factors to it that it just feels dark the way only gothic books do. Anyway, once the book figures out what its story is supposed to be, it gets pretty good.One of my favorite things is how the main character, Katharine grows. It happens a little too suddenly, I think, but it is nice to see. Her uncle seems to be on the spectrum of autism in a time when that wasn’t something that was diagnosed, and she recognizes that while he has some difficulties, he’s a really nice person who cares a lot about his friends and family. I think this is a good thing for a middle grade book to bring up, and it’s done beautifully — incredibly subtle, which I appreciated.The book skims over some of the issues of factories and poverty during the era it’s supposed to take place — I don’t think it goes in depth enough to be used as a companion to any of those topics in the classroom, but it certainly can’t hurt as an outside reading-for-fun suggestion if students seem interested in the ideas.Overall, this was a fine read. It interested me enough that I want to see if the sequel gets any better, but it’s not something I’d highly recommend people to read. If you happen by it and have some free time, it’s not terrible and it’s kind of quick. I think middle grade readers would kind of enjoy it, but it’s not super amazing. The sequel is now on my to-read list, so I’ll get back to you on how it develops! (Hopefully sooner than 3 years.)Originally posted on Going on to the Next.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Enjoyed the evolving plot. The many excellent voices of narrator made the book come alive.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    (Review edited after second reading--I enjoyed it SO MUCH this go-round!)

    Overall I enjoyed this story and I fully intend to read whatever sequels may arrive. I liked the characters (the primary and secondary characters were well fleshed out).

    I will add that I found parts of "The Dark Unwinding" to be exquisitely emotional. The anger born from grief, the way the love interest deals with that anger, and the way grief lingers, I found to be particularly resonant.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I got a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was a simple, yet well done story that had a gothic/steampunk feel to it. I really enjoyed reading it.Katharine is sent by her rather unkind aunt to her old uncle’s dark and gloomy mansion; her purpose is to prove that her uncle is mentally unfit. Upon her arrival she finds big secrets in the creepy old house and the village surrounding it. This was a quick and fun read. The book has kind of a gothic Victorian/steampunk/mystery feel to it. The house she is sent to is very dark and gloomy; the people who tend the house are quirky and mysterious.I loved how the mysteries behind the house and the village surrounding it are slowly revealed to Katharine and at how she struggles with whether or not to reveal the secrets to her unlikable Aunt. Katharine was an excellent heroine who was smart, gutsy, and fun to read about. She carefully considers her options and really steps up to the challenges that come to face her. There is a small amount of romance in the story as she comes to better know her uncle’s apprentice Lane.The steampunk portion of the story is mainly focused on the interesting clockwork contraptions her uncle makes. That was really it for steampunk; the story is much more Victorian in feel than steampunk.There are some interesting questions raised about madness versus genius; but outside of that this isn’t really a book that involves a lot of deep thought. The plot is well done with some unexpected twists and turns that will definitely keep the reader engaged and interested.Although the book isn't anything absolutely spectacular it was a fun, quick read and is very well written. I found it very engaging and read the whole book in one day.Overall this was a great, yet simple, story. I enjoyed the subject, the mystery, the setting, and the characters. Katharine was an excellent heroine and I enjoyed the way she interacted with the world and characters around her. This is a beautifully written Victorian mystery with a dash of steampunk flavor. Highly recommended to those who enjoy Victorian mysteries. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This story combines gothic mystery, British classes, a bit of steampunk, and even a disability that looks distinctly like autism with brilliance. Katherine is prickly but also like able. The romance feels odd, but that might because most of it is conducted while Katherine is not in her right mind! There's a nice bit of deux ex machine in the end.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    If you love YA and you love historical with a slightly steampunk flair, I think you will love this book. The author brings some very unusual and extremely cool elements into both the characters and the plot of this book, which make it intriguing and compelling. I stayed up extremely late last night reading because I just had to know what happened, and usually sleep compels me long before that eventuality. Can't wait for the next in the series!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I was really pleased with this one—it’s the first in a trilogy (of course). Catherine Tulman lives with her aunt and cousin in London, where she is basically her aunt’s accounting slave. Her cousin is set to inherit everything, and she is constantly reminded of that fact and she is only allowed there at his generosity (little brat). Her aunt becomes concerned that her uncle, on whom their financial legacy rests, is becoming unhinged and is spending all of his (their) money, so she sends Catherine to see just how crazy he is and wants him placed in an asylum. She discovers that he isn’t crazy, just eccentric, and a brilliant inventor of these interesting little steampunkish creations. And clocks, he loves clocks. Unlike the other estates in the area, he has moved all of his workers into the walled area of his estate and takes care of them. He and Catherine take to each other immediately, and she knows there is no possible way she can commit him to an asylum—it wouldn’t be fair to him or to the people he takes care of. In the meantime, as with all geniuses, there are those who would pray on his innocent eccentricities and steal his work. Catherine falls in love with one of the young men who live on the property—her uncle simply takes lost people in and provides for them. I liked Catherine as a character—she is young and not always sure what is best or what to do, but she’s not sure how else to do things. She has been so stifled living with her aunt, her aunt has managed to suck most of the curiosity and interest in life out of her, but it’s still there, and it reawakens at her uncle’s. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next one in this series
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really enjoyed the Gothic feel of this. It wasn't quite steam punk, but it did have a bit of machinery inventiveness. This wrapped up the main situation but left the characters with a bunch of loose ends. I will be reading the next to see what happens.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This historical fiction novel with a touch of steampunk is a solid YA read. In particular:- I like how her uncle is most certainly on the severe end of the autism spectrum, but how it is shown in a very positive light. Most everyone loves him and fiercely protects him. Within the context of the period, perhaps that attitude is almost too optimistic, but as the mother of an autistic child I really appreciated the way it was handled.- there's a romance there, but it's not handled in a traditional way, nor is it a pat "happily ever ever" in that regard.- it's a fast read with a good pace.On the more negative side, I did find the villain to be predictable, though there were still other twists and turns at the end that I did not expect.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron is a YA novel published by Scholastic Inc. in 2012. It is aimed at readers ages 12 and up, but due to the language, I'd recommend this book to readers who are advanced at age 12. The language is similar to something like an amateur version of the language of Tolstoy or Edith Wharton. The language came across as a little off-putting to me, largely because it did nothing for the likability of the protagonist.Katharine Tulman is a little spoiled, a little self-centred, and a little rude. She is poorly treated by her aunt, who is also her guardian, and she is treated like a servant girl in her own home; poor little rich girl! She is a difficult character to like, but she DOES redeem herself by the end of the novel, transforming from an entitled girl of misfortune to a heroic and brave young woman.The characterization of Katharine's mad uncle was interesting, but at times, a little off-putting as his character and his background wasn't really developed. Sometimes I even found the uncle to be a touch offensive. I have a grandparent with Dementia--this character comes across more as silly than unstable. As this novel is aimed at a younger audience, I think the author chose to keep the text very "PG" and light, and while I can respect that, his madness needs to have rhyme and reason. I'm sad to say he wasn't a very convincing character who harboured my interest or sympathies--usually he harboured my disdain.While the analogy of the clock bound up with one's sanity was very good, and as the action leading to the end of the book was gripping, the character development was lacking and I found the "romantic, London language" to affect my enjoyment of the text.I think this book would have done better if it had been written for an older audience. Considering the themes and some of the shocking revelations, it could have been a teen read. I think it would have been much better as a teen read.I didn't dislike this book, but it was nothing special for me. The beginning is a little dry, and I dislike books where I need to work to like the protagonist, the book picks up about halfway through and sets up a promising sequel. A Spark Unseen was published Oct 2013 by Scholastic Inc.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A person whose opinion I trust was really high on this book. It was solid, not like anything I've read in awhile, but just slightly off the mark. It dragged in some places, went triple quick in others, maybe by design, I'm not sure. A good read, but not overly great.