In The Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

 In The Lives of Puppets

 by TJ Klune


In The Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
was published in paperback on 14th March 2023.

My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part on the tour.




Synopsis


In a small home, built into the branches of a tree, live a human named Victor and three robots. These are a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, a small vacuum desperate for love and attention, and a fatherly inventor-android named Giovanni Lawson. Together they’re a family, hidden and safe. Then Vic salvages an unfamiliar android labelled ‘HAP’. He learns that Hap and Gio share a dark past, where they hunted humans. And Hap unwittingly gives away Gio’s location. Before they know it, robots from Gio’s former life arrive – to capture and return the android to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. The rest of the unconventional family must travel across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommissioning. Or worse, reprogramming. Along the way, Vic must decide if he can handle his feelings for Hap – even if they come with strings attached. Inspired by Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, In the Lives of Puppets is a masterful standalone fantasy adventure from the author who brought you The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door. Special Paperback Feature: This paperback edition includes the beautifully poignant short story 'Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!' set in the extraordinary world of In the Lives of Puppets.





My Review

First , and foremost, I am a HUGE fan of TJ Klune and his books have a special place on my bookshelf. From the time I opened the pages of The House In The Cerrulean Sea to closing the pages of Under the Whispering Door I was hooked and couldn't wait for the next book from this incredible author who has the ability to draw you in and study characters, and personalities, in such a way that has you realising the world can, and needs to, be a better place in which all of us can live. TJ Klune also has the extraordinary ability to leave you feeling as though you have been enveloped in a huge, warm hug at the end of each of his books and that we can all do our part in creating a brighter, all inclusive future.

In The Lives of Puppets is no exception to the above and you will find yourself warming to some characters, disliking others and changing your mind about some of them along the way. Nurse Ratched, who says one thing, and displays another is a clever persona and you will all know someone like that in your life. And this is the very thing with TJ's books , even though the majority of the characters are not "human", in this case android and robot, apart from Vic, you will still identify with them and recognise traits that you have already come across in the world around you.

Klune has the ability to draw you into a character, for instance Hap, and making you feel as though you know them,before very subtly, without you even realising, changing  your relationship with them.

I was very fortunate to meet TJ Klune last year at The Wave of Nostalgia for a book signing and he is such an interesting author who has the ability to create unbelievable characters that draw the reader into their world whilst leaving you wanting so much more from him when you have turned the last page.

If you have never read any of his books you must and if at first you find them strange, persevere, I did , and I am so thankful that I did because he is one of those rare authors  who dares to be different.


About the Author




TJ Klune is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Awardwinning author of Under the Whispering Door, The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Extraordinaries, Wolfsong and more. Being queer himself, TJ believes it’s important – now more than ever – to have accurate, positive, queer representation in stories.

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