The Hunchback Assignments
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Average rating3
A gripping new series combines Steampunk, spying, and a fantastic Victorian London.
The mysterious Mr. Socrates rescues Modo, a child in a traveling freak show. Modo is a hunchback with an amazing ability to transform his appearance, and Mr. Socrates raises him in isolation as an agent for the Permanent Association, a spy agency behind Brittania's efforts to rule the empire. At 14, Modo is left on the streets of London to fend for himself. When he encounters Octavia Milkweed, another Association agent, the two uncover a plot by the Clockwork Guild behind the murders of important men. Furthermore, a mad scientist is turning orphan children into automatons to further the goals of the Guild. Modo and Octavia journey deep into the tunnels under London and discover a terrifying plot against the British government. It's up to them to save their country.
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1 primary book#1 in The Hunchback Assignments
The Hunchback Assignments is a 1-book series first released in 2009 with contributions by Arthur Slade.
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I liked the setting. I liked the plotline. I didn't like the characters.
I should have read the various accolades the book had before the title page because one of them stated something about a ‘self-loathing hero'. I hate self-loathing heroes. Yeah, they do a pretty good job of hating themselves enough for everyone, but I cannot help but add to it whenever I get the chance. And I honestly hated Modo.
The other characters were barely alright. Octavia was okay, but her whole personality seemed to be ‘the girl'. Old Mr. Socrates was a cold one. It might have been entertaining to have Octavia and Socrates always playing off each other, but reading about Modo and Socrates was not fun at all. In fact, reading about Modo was never fun.
Therein lies the problem. I can handle dark stories well enough. I love plotlines that are based around scientists playing with and experimenting on human DNA to make ‘super soldiers' - people that are stronger, faster and sometimes better than humans, with a skewed morality. I love that. But I also want it tempered with a little humor. The breath of relief that they're still alive. Or the jaded, almost gallows humor. I love that kind of humor. I will say that the author tried. He attempted humor, but it was so forced and I didn't find it funny. I believe I never even chuckled while reading this book. And that's tragic.
Almost as tragic as hating the main character.
