'In the Lives of Puppets' by T.J. Klune is a dystopian tale filled with deep reflections on humanity and what it means to be human. The story follows GIO Lawson, an android who escapes to the forest and finds peace but grows lonely until he is gifted a human son, Victor Lawson. The relationship between GIO and Victor is central to the plot, exploring themes of creation, forgiveness, and the complexities of humanity in a dangerous world. The book is a rollercoaster of emotions, blending fun, sadness, wit, humor, and beauty while also touching on LGBTQ representation, found family, romance, and character growth.
The writing style of T.J. Klune in 'In the Lives of Puppets' is praised for its deep insights, life lessons, and thought-provoking themes that make readers stop and think. The characters in the novel are highlighted for their banter and interactions, particularly Nurse Ratched and Rambo, who provide comic relief and emotional support. The book is described as a LGBTQ retelling of The Adventures of Pinocchio, merging elements of Wall-E and The Matrix to create a unique and engaging narrative.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings may include references to societal issues, mental health themes, and existential questions concerning humanity and identity.
From The Publisher:
A NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES AND INDIE BESTSELLER!
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New York Times bestselling author TJ Klune invites you deep into the heart of a peculiar forest and on the extraordinary journey of a family assembled from spare parts.
"An enchanting tale of Pinocchio in the end times." -P. Djèlí Clark
In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots-fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They're a family, hidden and safe.
The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled "HAP," he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio-a past spent hunting humans.
When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio's former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic's assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.
Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?
Inspired by Carlo Collodi's The Adventures of Pinocchio, and like Swiss Family Robinson meets Wall-E, In the Lives of Puppets is a masterful stand-alone fantasy adventure from the beloved author who brought you The House in the Cerulean Sea and Under the Whispering Door.
★ "An epic quest of rescue and discovery [with] the author's trademark charm, heart, and bittersweetness." -Library Journal, starred review
Praise for TJ Klune's previous work: "Like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket." -V.E. SCHWAB
"Very close to perfect." -SEANAN McGUIRE
"Utterly absorbing." -GAIL CARRIGER
"It will renew your faith in humanity." -TERRY BROOKS
"It healed me." -CASSANDRA KHAW
"Compassionate." -RYKA AOKI
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Ratings (30)
Incredible (9) | |
Loved It (8) | |
Liked It (6) | |
It Was OK (5) | |
Did Not Like (2) |
Reader Stats (81):
Read It (31) | |
Currently Reading (2) | |
Want To Read (38) | |
Did Not Finish (5) | |
Not Interested (5) |
3 comment(s)
I am not usually a fan of sci-fi or fantasy, so if I am recommending a book from that genre, it means I loved it. I absolutely LOVED The House in the Cerulean Sea by this author, so I was fairly confident I would likely be a fan of any other book written by Klune. I was right.
SYNOPSIS: Gio Lawson, an android who escaped civilization, lives in the forest in a Swiss Family Robinson-esque compound with his human son, Vic, and two machines, Rambo & Nurse Ratched. Gio & Vic are both creators and inventors. Vic salvaged & restored Rambo & Nurse Ratched after finding them in the Scrap Yards. Eventually, Hap, a decommissioned android, is found in the Scrap Yards, and saved by Vic. Shortly after, some unfortunate events happen, which lead to a journey to the City.
MY THOUGHTS
- Klune’s writing is top-tier. He has a way of making even fantastical characters feel truly human. I enjoy his writing style, and find it easy to read & easy to get into.
- I did not want to put down the book. Although it’s a lengthy book, it’s fast paced.
- I laughed out loud at many of Nurse Ratched’s lines/parts.
- The book has a lot of interesting themes, such as, what family means, love, changing for the better.
-This is well worth the read. 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Tor Books, NetGalley and author TJ Klune for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. It's due to be published on April 25, 2023.
I immediately fell in love with Rambo,Nurse Rached, and Vic. The entire first half of this book was addicting. Even the sudden appearance of HAP and Gio’s mysterious past had me hooked. I lost some interest when the squad began the trip to the City of Electric Dreams. Once in the city, the story became a bit too fantastical for my personal tastes. I, personally, felt that the ending dragged a bit. The reader of the audiobook kept my interest peaked with all his different character voices. I love TJ Klune’s books, and though this wasn’t my favorite, I will absolutely keep reading his content!
This is the second book I've read by T.J. Klune, and I was in the mood for a story of this kind. I'm delighted to say that this book provided exactly what I was looking for.
This author has a knack for crafting heartwarming stories that leave you with a warm feeling in your heart. Simultaneously, he has the ability to create a unique world and characters. Still, I must admit that I may not read too much science fiction, which could be why the entire concept felt refreshingly novel to me, I found this science fiction world highly engaging.
However, in this book, the standout feature is undeniably the wonderfully written story. T.J. Klune can tell a heart-tugging story without resorting to clichés or worn-out themes. He also doesn't turn this into just another tearjerker, which I appreciate. Although I have to admit that Nurse Machine and Vacuum occasionally grated on my nerves, I believe the author may have slightly overdone them at times.
While this book didn't captivate me as much as "The House in the Cerulean Sea" by the same author, I still think it's an excellent read, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it. T.J. Klune undoubtedly possesses a talent for crafting unique stories that linger in the reader's mind.
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In the Lives of Puppets?
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