By: Arthur Slade
Hunchback Assignments series book 1
Born badly deformed Modo was bought from a traveling freak show when still very young. Bought up in seclusion he only has contact with those who are training him to be a special agent. Modo has no contact with the outside world until he turns 14 and is taken to London.
His first task is to learn to survive unaided in an unknown, even hostile, environment. Before long his ability to shapeshift and travel easily across the rooftops of London has him investigating The Young Londoners Exploratory Society. This in turn leads him to the mysterious Clockwork Guild, a secret organisation who are planning something devastating for the country.
Mixed up with all of this is the strange disappearances of many children. Teaming up with another young agent, Octavia Milkweed, Modo is plunged into a dark world filled with evil figures who will stop at nothing to see their plans realised.
A darkly twisting adventure story, filled with mystery and action. Modo is a fascinating character, well trained with a deep running torment. He is at times clever, at times innocent and his motivations are more pure than those of his handler. Octavia is a good counterpoint for Modo; brash, bold and roughly raised, she learnt to survive on her own from a very young age. These two make for an interesting pairing.
Slade’s London is well depicted, gritty and layered. The good guys are good but definitely not shallow in their characterisation, and the bad guys are very twisted and bad. An excellent read for any steampunk fan.
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd
Published: 01 December 2009
Format: Paperback 288 pages
Categories: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Steampunk, Adventure, Mystery
ISBN 13: 9780732290443
Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on the side of the page
TheKylieVerse 
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