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Mainspring is much like the fantasy books I came of age with - a story of a young man of humble origins, who goes on a grand quest to save the world. Along the way, he discovers things about himself and the world around him, grows as a man and a character, and maybe even finds love. Of course, there's adventure and peril and betrayal at every turn, to keep things exciting.
There's just one big difference between this and the books I grew up with - instead of sword-and-sorcery, this is a steampunk book set in a very alternate Victorian-era America (and beyond) in which the world is part of a giant orrery.
The main character is a young man named Hethor, an orphaned clockmaker's apprentice living in the city of New Haven. His master's sons don't like him, his time is all devoted to school and work, but Hethor is pretty content with his life - until the night that the Archangel Gabriel comes to him and charges him with the task of finding the Key Perilous to wind the Mainspring of the world.
Oh, did I forget to mention that this is a religious book? Not in that watered-down Christian fiction sort of way, though. No, Mainspring offers not just an alternative history, but an alternative Christianity, where God is seen as a master clockmaker, and the Brass Christ was broken on a wheel. Some might find this sacrilegious, but I enjoyed this facet of the story, and how Hethor's faith is a large part of the story without being preachy. There's nothing I hate more than preachy religious fiction.
From a technical point of view, this is a very competently-written book. A likable main character, surrounded by interesting secondary characters, in a well-developed world, all written down with a clear voice. I don't recall any errors or annoying devices sticking out and pulling me from the story. I was pretty much engrossed from start to finish. In fact, Mainspring, along with the other two novels I've read this month, is partially responsible for me almost forgetting to write my chapter of League of Explorers this month. Hey, who has time to write when there are so many good books to read?
Mainspring is published as an adult novel, but it could probably safely be given to a young adult - the language, violence, and sexual situations all felt comfortably PG-13 to me. I'd recommend it for anyone looking for a new twist on the fantasy coming of age story, or looking for new steampunk fiction.
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