Monstrous Devices

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Right. There are robots in this story. Maybe not the kind of robots you’re thinking about. But robots all the same. This is quite an obvious choice, then. But that’s no reason not to choose it. A great read. The descriptive writing really created an incredible image in my mind of what was happening. Can't wait for the sequel.' * Max, aged 14 * Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments I love to read stories of machinations, robots, artificial intelligence; you name it. Can’t get enough of it. But this book, while it certainly had many robots and machinations, took a very odd and unexpected twist towards religion. It thankfully did not offer absolutes to theological questions (nor did the book delve into theology aside from a few brief conversational instances) but it was very much out of the blue.

Monstrous Devices: THE TIMES CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK

In the sequel to Monstrous Devices, young Alex joins his mysterious and eccentric grandfather for another high-octane adventure, battling against old foes and an army of sinister robots. A superbly assured debut…truly sinister villains and an effortless, atmospheric evocation of place and history combine in an unforgettable, immersive reading experience.” – THE GUARDIAN An ingenious tale, the familiar fights and flight scenario kept interesting by the figure of grandfather, a kind of ageing James Bond.' * Books for Keeps *The toy robot accompanies Alex and Grandpa to Paris and as the story unfolds we discover its history and why the evil villains in the story will stop at nothing to get it. But Alex’s robot isn’t the only robot, there are also armies of toy robots, life sized robots and fliers (drone like robots). Time and time again Alex and his grandfather have to defend themselves from the robots and the girl who unleashes them.

Monstrous Devices by Damien Love · Story Snug Blog tour: Monstrous Devices by Damien Love · Story Snug

Adventure, mystery and tin-toy terror! An absolutely ripping read from start to finish.' -- Tom Huddleston, author of Floodworld And we’re off: Alex’s grandfather takes him on the run, leaving little Britain behind and heading out into the big, wild, snowy world. The much-missed Broadcast drew a lot from the old film and TV music that haunted them, and this is like the theme from a jet-setting 1960s mystery that was never made, and should have been. When twelve-year-old Alex receives an old tin robot in the post, the note from his grandfather simply reads: ‘This one is special’. But as strange events start occurring around him, it doesn’t take Alex long to suspect that the small toy is more than special; it might also be deadly. I enjoyed everything about Damien Love’s debut.’ Anthony Horowitz, bestselling author of the Alex Rider series Mysterious and frightening...a well-crafted adventure that's filled with desperate chases, narrow escapes, fight scenes, and twists.' - Publishers Weekly, starred review

LoveReading4Kids Says

It snows a lot in Monstrous Devices. This is a Yoko Ono/ John Lennon song, but I think this slow-motion-then-raging cover by Galaxie 500 might be the best version. Right from the prologue, Damien Love instils a sense of mystery in us readers, giving us the sense of an impending doom. You start thinking 'oh lovely, sweet' and it soon turns into 'oh damn, that was dark'! There wasn't a miss in the adventurous tone of the story and throughout, we journey along as our MC face challenges after challenges. Hugely original, exciting debut novel by Damien Love. He has built a fantastical but entirely believable world with scary killer robots oiled to perfection with automaton history, surprising characters and dry humour... Get hold of a copy, wind it up and let yourself go.' * The Times * Alex, who is twelve, receives a gift from his grandfather of what appears to be an old tin robot, with a note saying ‘this one is special’ but it does not take too long for Alex to begin to wonder just what it is his grandfather has sent him, as things in his already somewhat abstract world, are becoming more so, horribly, terribly, dangerously so! What fun! An evil villain, a host of scary robots, big and small, and a hero with commendably bad personal habits. Loved it!' - John Flanagan, New York Times bestselling author of the Ranger's Apprentice series