Of Constellations and Clockwork by Alexandra Wendt explores the clockpunk fantasy genre, intertwining elaborate machinery with human ambition in a vividly imagined world. Set in an Italian Renaissance-inspired city-state on the brink of collapse, the novel explores themes of loyalty, morality, and the price of ambition. Clemenza Giudice, a talented clockmaker and displaced noblewoman, drives the story with her unwavering determination to restore her family’s honor. Her character is relatable and complex, balancing vulnerability with shrewd cunning as she navigates a web of political intrigue and societal decay. Wendt skillfully crafts tension as Clemenza grapples with the moral compromises demanded by her quest, illustrating that even the most intricate gears of a clockwork heart can fail under pressure.

Clemenza’s companions are vividly drawn, each with motivations and flaws. From the sharp-witted smuggler to the enigmatic architect, they form an uneasy alliance bound by necessity. Their dynamic interactions, layered with moments of humor, camaraderie, and betrayal, lend depth and humanity to the narrative. Wendt’s world-building is well done and helps unravel the sometimes complex narrative. The attention to detail and ethereal mechanics create a tactile, nearly magical realism that grounds the fantastical elements. Of Constellations and Clockwork is a story of redemption, ambition, and the intricate machinery of the human soul. Alexandra Wendt’s vivid characters and unique setting make this a must-read for adult fans of more complex novels with a touch of clockpunk ingenuity. It’s a good start to The Stelnove Saga, which promises to be an engaging series.

Of Constellations and Clockwork is the first entry in Alexandra Wendt's The Stelnove Saga, a mind-blowing, neatly wrought literary creation for fantasy fans with sophisticated characters and ingeniously crafted conflict. Clemenza Giudice is at a crossroads in the crumbling city-state of Selvascura. Once a noble, now a skilled clockmaker, her family’s legacy lies in shambles. Driven by desperation to restore her family's honor, Clemenza strikes a dangerous bargain: steal forbidden technology for the man who destroyed her family. Her journey plunges her into the capital's underbelly, a place rife with forbidden aether experiments and criminal activities. Accompanied by an eclectic group—a rival clockmaker, a flamboyant smuggler, a captive sister, an adept thief, and a secretive architect—Clemenza battles her demons as she navigates a world built on treachery. Can she succeed in outwitting the villains and restoring the honor her family once enjoyed?

Alexandra Wendt is a master storyteller who writes in gorgeous prose. The descriptions are terrific, and the dialogue captures the drama of the story. Readers will enjoy the family dynamics and how well the author crafts the portrait of Clemenza’s family. Characters like Ade and Beatrice are well explored, and readers will keep watching their relationships. The setting is stunningly accomplished, a world that is a monster in itself, complex in its structure with an underbelly of crime that is not easily noticeable on the surface. The conflict focuses on Clemenza’s struggle to restore the dignity of her family and the dangerous games she gets involved in. Of Constellations and Clockwork is a wonderful treat for fantasy fans, a fast-paced narrative with intriguing characters and unpredictable plot twists.