Clockwork Samurai is such a wonderful tale. While not quite as strong as its predecessor I could not help but get lost in the vivid world Lin creates. I absolutely love the setting and the descriptive and authentic feel Lin brings to the story and characters. Jeannie Lin weaves in steampunk elements and danger as our heroine Jin Soling and her former intended Chen Chang-Wei embark on a mission to Japan.

When the story begins, Jin Soling is a physician for the Emperor’s concubines. Events force her to seek another position and she is astonished when she finds herself on board a ship accompanying Chen to Japan.

The characters have depth, and Lin pays particular attention to their behavior providing an authentic portrayal of characters from 1852 right down to mannerisms. I love getting inside Jin’s head. I have come to respect her wit, loyalty and quest for knowledge.

The plot unfolds slowly but I was so busy absorbing the world and catching up with Jin Soling that I did not mind the slower pace. As we enter, Japan things get interesting as the suspense and danger increase the further we travel into forbidden areas. I loved the karakuri automatons and the detail will delight fans of steampunk. Danger, new friendships and a wonderful look at Japan made this tale a worthy read.

There is a subtle romance and despite the lack of page time, I found it to be a powerful one. Lin has a wonderful “show not tell” approach giving scenes weight. It delivered all the feels despite the low-heat level. I am eager to see how the romance will progress.

Opium issues, and concerns for Western evasion along with the Emperor’s refusal to accept there is actually a threat are mentioned throughout. The ending completed the journey to Japan, strengthened our characters relationship and set us up for the next novel.

Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer

I haven't read the first one, but I enjoyed this book very much. It's gripping, well-imagined, and both Soling and Satomi are real heroines to root for.

Soling and Chang-wei travel to Japan, in the hope of convincing Japan to aid China in blocking the growing imperialism of Britain, France and America. Along the way, the pair are treated to aspects of samurai culture, as well as the prevalence of karakuri (automata), which were introduced in Jeannie Lin's The Warlord and the Nightingale.
It's nonstop assassination attempts and running across countryside. Also, Soling meets Sagara Satomi, a young woman who crafts elegant guns; the young woman has a very similar experience to Soling's, as Satomi's father was also murdered by his ruler for speaking uncomfortable truths.
The story moves well, and the romance deepens between Soling and Chang-wei, but things are complicated by Chang-wei persistently putting China's political and martial needs before anything else, while tradition keeps Soling from thwacking him upside the head.
Lots of fun, and my fave Yang makes an appearance.

Thoroughly enjoyed this second installment of the Gunpowder Chronicles, as Jin Soling and Chen Chang-Wei are sent from the troubled Forbidden City by the young emperor who seems trapped under the weight of his imperial title, to explore the possibility of contacting scientists in Japan.

But Japan has closed itself off quite thoroughly from the taint of foreign influence. Soling and Chang-Wei are in constant danger as they pursue their goals, which are complicated by clockwork samurai, figures with secret motivations, the insidious threat of the opium trade, and the outright threat of the invading Westerners.

Soling and Chang-Wei also have to come to terms with the complexities of their relationship, which neither can define, especially with so much going on.

This was a real page turner, filled with excellent period detail, the steampunk elements worked in believably. Foods--clothing--gestures--attitudes--felt realistic instead of a colorful veneer over basically a modern Western paradigm. I am looking forward to the next in the series.

Eh. Some parts of it were good, but the main character had remarkably little agency. The last thirty pages or so were the best.

A great continuation of the historical China/steam punk series. I loved the descriptions of court life, but what was even better was the whole Japan trip and the way the shogunate was introduced to the plot. The romance part was maybe a bit more in this book than the previous one, but still very rated G. I'm definitely going to put the next book on my To-Read list.