The Mad Scientist's Daughter

by Cassandra Rose Clarke

There's never been anyone - or anything - quite like Finn. He looks, and acts human, though he has no desire to be. He was programmed to assist his owners, and performs his duties to perfection. A billion-dollar construct, his primary task is to tutor Cat. When the government grants rights to the ever-increasing robot population, however, Finn struggles to find his place in the world.

• ISBN10: 0857662651
• ISBN13: 9780857662651
• Publish Date: 29 January 2013 (first published 1 January 2013)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Angry Robot
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 391
• Language: English

Reviews

[zyarose]

This book takes us on a journey through the life, successes, failures, learning and loves of a main character who isn't special in any way, isn't magical, or super intelligent, she just is. And what she is turns out to be someone with many flaws and mistakes, very human, very real, and very painful and beautiful to read in many different places. This isn't a book about scifi, or about the future, it isn't even really a romance, though it certainly has that as a central part of the story. I think it's more about seeing this character grow and develop, and suffer and break, and then come through the suffering put together in a new and different way. It's jarring, not because it's a lie or it's written badly, but because it's truth. And in that truth, I find hope.

This is one of those books that will stay with me for the rest of my life and I truly hadn't expected that.

I don't like writing reviews with spoilers (although I reserve the right to change my mind later on), but what I will say is that after I read this book I stared out through my spring filled window, and breathed, perhaps for the first time in a long time. I watched the journey of the main character, I saw her shatter and break, and then finally attain a sort of freedom... from herself. It was glorious, and heartbreaking, and it made me think about all my mistakes, and whether or not they will lead me to an eventual freedom.

This book made me feel, cliche, I know, but it pierced its way into my soul with its deftly written prose, its languorous descriptions that were just right and a tone that felt like wading through molasses at the speed of light (I may have taken some liberties with this metaphor, but I'm going to leave it there because it feels right).

I'll be over here drinking my cup of coffee, thinking about the book for the next few hours, while you should go out and get a copy and read it, because I said so.

[littleread1]

Heartbreaking is right. I would also describe the story as hauntingly beautiful, heart-wrenchingly sad, yet full of hope and promise. We follow Cat from childhood to adulthood, following the twists and turns growing up in a post-disaster world and all the trials and tribulations that come with it. Throw in a set of genius parents and the fact that Cat has somewhat of a learning disorder, and you've got the right recipe for strife.

And then there is Finn. At first Cat thinks he is a ghost, yet still trusts him very quickly. He is so human that she never sees him as anything other. It is a perfect mirror to our own world and the discrimination that exists.

I found myself aching for Cat over and over. From the outside she has a great life, yet we are continually brought into what is really going on. She is awkward, and socially inept. She has one constant in her life, Finn, and she has to come to terms with the fact he is a machine.

I was on the verge of tears throughout this whole story. It feeds you just enough hope that you keep reading, yet repeatedly takes the hope away, like pulling a rug out from under your feet.

I can't recommend this enough. Even if you don't like books on social commentary, read the story for what it is; a story about how life can knock you down, but there is always something worth getting back up for.

[Michael @ Knowledge Lost]

Cat’s life was not ever going to be normal; the daughter of a mad scientist can never be easy. When her father created an android to be her tutor, she was a little afraid to begin with but soon Finn became her best friend. While Finn is programmed to assist his owners, this billion dollar construction becomes a whole lot more to Cat. The Mad Scientist’s Daughter is a coming of age novel with a science fiction twist.

While this is a coming of age type novel, it’s both Cat and Finn that have to try and find their place in the world. Cat, as she grows up into an intelligent woman, and Finn, as the government look into granting rights to the increasing android population. As a young girl who grows up with only one person to talk to, it comes as no surprise to see that she forms a strong emotional bond with Finn, but I can’t help but wonder if the author took it a little too far. I can fully accept this young adult to fall in love with the android that has always been there when she needs it the most, but the sex, seemed a little weird and really threw me out of the story. I’m not going to debate the idea of sex and androids because I’m sure there a many thoughts on this concept; just for this novel it really threw me off.

There really are some interesting concepts coming through in this novel Firstly the interesting science fiction twist on the coming of age novel; not only does Cat grow and struggle though life, I really thought the idea of Finn finding himself in an evolving world was explored in a decent way. Then the concept of loving someone that can never love you back. It’s clear that Cat is in denial at times, hoping that Finn will return her feelings but always getting hurt by the fact that he doesn’t; this is a long struggle she deals with and created a great emotional impact for the protagonist and the reader. Finally the increased population with robotics; this was never explored as well as someone like Isaac Asimov did but it was still interesting to read Cassandra Rose Clarke on this subject.

At times this dragged on a long time, but I found myself being fully absorbed in the novel only to be yanked out with the sex scenes. I’m not sure if they really needed to be in the book; I think they could have portrayed the love Cat has for Finn without it. It was these sudden jerks that destroyed this book for me. I tend to think the author was adding a bit of controversy to get the book talked about but for me it didn’t make me want to ponder the concept, it just made me want to resort to skim reading.

This review originally appeared on my blog; http://literary-exploration.com/2013/02/09/book-review-the-mad-scientists-daughter/

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

Cat has always been different. Her parents kept her out of school, until they decided that her father's robot assistant, Finn, should tutor her. As a little girl, Cat's only friend was Finn, and then as she grew up, her parent's were worried about that and sent her off to high school. Sure, she made some friends, but Finn was always the one she came back to. Of course, that friendship grew into so much more, at least for Cat. Can a robot fall in love? Finn doesn't think he can, but the way he behaves with Cat suggests otherwise.

I was madly in love with this book from the very beginning. It reminded me a lot of Bicentennial Man, which happens to be one of my favorite movies. Both have seriously heartbreaking plots that I just can't help but be drawn to. Falling in love is hard enough without having to wonder if the other is even capable of it. Cat also struggles with the fact that it's not normal to love a machine, and she tries to fit into society as much as possible. This causes her to make some bad decisions throughout her life, and Finn even points out some of her bad behavior, which she just shrugs off.

Through the entire book we never know exactly what Finn is thinking or feeling, much like Cat. However, I do think his actions and choice of words easily express the more complex emotions that he so matter-of-factly says he does not experience, mainly jealousy, love, and frustration.

While the story did drag in the last third, I still am very much in love with this book. I kept hoping that things would work out for Cat and Finn, and I couldn't put my Kindle down until I found out. The ending made me cry like a baby, and I am so glad that I randomly requested this one! Five star reviews are so hard to write, so let's just say I loved it and suggest you all go read it.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.