REVIEW: “Clockwork Bargain” by Therese Woodson
ABOUT:
Aerial City: Book Two
Malachi Covington, sole heir to the Covington Shipping empire and raised sheltered by his uncle, has taken a daring step and departed as a crewman aboard the airship Mockingbird. He’s experiencing new places, new foods, and new cultures, and he’s in love for the first time. Life couldn’t be better.
Of course, his good fortune cannot last. His companion and pilot, Ian Molloy, comes down with Swamp Water Fever, a life-threatening illness. During their desperate attempts to save him, the Mockingbird is set upon by airship pirates. Malachi must take drastic action and strike a bargain with the pirate captain to ensure Ian’s safety.
REVIEW:
I love Therese Woodson’s stories – she was one of my first introductions to the joy of the Merlin/Arthur fan fiction world – and because of that, I’m always pretty happy to see a new one coming from her. This short story (less than 20k) is a follow-up to Clockwork Horizon that was released back in April.
This story opened a few months after Mac decided to join Ian for a new adventure aboard the Mockingbird airship. It felt so wonderful to them. Since it was only few months, Mac and Ian were pretty much still in their ‘honeymoon’ phase and I found them adorably lovey-dovey. Until Ian came down with a life-threatening illness and Mac must bargain with a pirate captain to ensure Ian receives treatment.
I was really fond of Mac before, but this time, I loved him even more. I thought Mac truly had grown up … he was no longer just the shy young man who filled his days with working and only lived his fantasy through dreams and dime novels. No siree! This Mac grew a spine! The way that he challenged Captain Bette of the Mockingbird to get Ian to the nearest airport so Ian could be treated, to the way that he dealt with the pirate captain and traded his own freedom, Mac just showed me what a strong young man he was.
The ending made me go all “awwww” because it was just sweet and lovely. Sure this was rather short, but the end experience that I had was just as satisfying as if I was reading a longer one. I hope there will be more adventures of Mac and Ian in the future.
RATING: 4 STARS
BOOK INFO:
Title: Clockwork Bargain (Aerial City #2)
Author: Therese Woodson
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages: 64
Release Date: November 12, 2014
Purchase Links: Dreamspinner, ARe, Amazon
About Ami
I haven’t read any of Therese Woodson’s stories before, and don’t remember reading any reviews about her, so I was glad to see you think highly of her writing. Do you think I need to read Clockwork Horizon before reading Clockwork Bargain? It sounds like the experience would be better if I do.
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I suggest that you do read Clockwork Horizon before this one. At least you will familiarize yourself with the characters and see their ‘progress’. Especially Mac. Whom I loved a LOT.
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Thanks, Ami. I wouldn’t want to miss out on any of the Mac love I might otherwise have. ;)
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