[Emily’s Review] In the Lives of Puppets by T.J. Kline

In the Lives of Puppets
Pages: 432
Published by Tor Books
Release Date: April 25, 2023
Genres: Fiction, LGBTQ+, M/M, Sci-Fi, Urban Fantasy
Source: Publisher
Format Read: ARC, Paperback
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In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots—fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They’re a family, hidden and safe.

The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled “HAP,” he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio–a past spent hunting humans.

When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio’s former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic’s assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.

Along the way to save Gio, amid conflicted feelings of betrayal and affection for Hap, Vic must decide for himself: Can he accept love with strings attached?

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

“Stick together
Run if we have to
No dallying
No drilling
And above all else, be brave”

In the Lives of Puppets was delightfully bittersweet with loads of food for thought.

In the Lives of Puppets is a Pinocchio meets Swiss Family Robinson retelling. It was fresh and new and creative and a very entertaining read.
There was so much humor, and so much heart and just so much of everything.
It’s one of my favorites TJ Klune has written in… maybe ever? Definitely top three worthy.

There were so many references to current events. Things that while present in our current political and sociological environment, were also very relevant to the plot.
Meaning: never once did this book feel preachy. It was a fine line that Klune rode, and he did it masterfully.

Let’s talk surprises… SO MANY EASTER EGGS. I loved the Easter eggs! Epic and Awesome and Cerulean blues and “Don’t you wish you were here?”. It was a TJ Klune fan’s wet dream.

I loved the genuine connections made between characters.
I loved the idea that family is made not inherited.
I loved that Vic didn’t give up on anybody and his family never gave up on him.

I loved, loved, loved the ending.
It was oh so melancholic.
I adored it.

Per usual: one does an “oh” moment like Klune does.
If you’re a fan, then you know exactly what I mean.

Nurse Ratched might be my spirit animal.
Rambo was the cutest
And, I thought Vic was a sensitive soul who deserved nothing but the best.

Every character mentioned had layers upon layers of backstory and personality.
I thought this was such a clever twist on Pinnochio and on current events and on different types of love and what family looks like.

Just great

Super fantastic

As always TJ fuckin nailed it