Published: March 01, 2011
Words: 71,761 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781458068385

Short description

Neo-Victorian ruffian is witnesses to a murder, and blackmails a nobleman. In exchange for his silence, he is introduced to the Hidden Institute. There, he learns to walk, talk, and act like a nobleman, so that he may infiltrate high society. But that type of fraud is punishable by death, and when the boy uncovers a plot to assassinate a head of state, he's hunted by more than just the aristocracy

Extended description

Rising above your station can be deadly.

Cliffy is a child born on the streets of a Neo-Victorian world. Witnesses to a murder, he blackmails a nobleman, receiving a unique bribe. In exchange for his silence, the nobleman introduces him to the Malcolm Rutherford Holden Institute of Regentrification. There, Cliffy learns to walk, talk, and act like a nobleman, so that he may infiltrate high society. But that type of fraud is punishable by death, and when Cliffy uncovers a plot to assassinate a head of state, he's hunted by more than just the aristocracy.

Royal intrigue, daring escapes, sub-dermal machines, and bear polo. A grand adventure in a not-so-distant world.

Tags

coming of age, science fiction, steampunk, alternate history, political fiction, bear polo

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Reviews

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Review by: TheSFReader on May 07, 2011 :
(Non native english reader here hence short review)
While I had quite liked "Tumbler", I find "The Hidden Institute" a much better book. I quite often read "Young Adults" novels (although I don't know if I can pretend to be one of them), and this Hidden Institute has some common points with the 3-6th Harry Potter's Hogwarts school : discovering a school, that is at the same time "Fantastic" and "Disconcertingly dark".

From the middle of the read though, I started to think tha author wouldn't be able to close all the "plots" he had opened. I should have trusted him, as he masterfully managed it. I however feel he could have produced some more "in depth exploration" of that world he created, and think he maybe should write (not a pre/sequel) an other book in the same settings. This may be my only point, explaining the "not 5 star" rating.

Surprises, a few memorable characters, romance ... Nothing really is missing for this book.
(reviewed long after purchase)

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