In the Lives of Puppets By TJ Klune (2023)

"In the Lives of Puppets" by TJ Klune invites readers on an extraordinary journey into a peculiar forest, introducing a family assembled from spare parts. Inhabiting a strange home nestled in the branches, this family comprises three robots—a fatherly inventor android named Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love. Alongside them lives Victor Lawson, a human member of their unique family.

The narrative unfolds when Victor salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android named "HAP," unraveling a dark shared past between Hap and Gio, spent hunting humans. As Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio's former life to their location, the family's hidden and safe existence is shattered. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. The rest of Vic's assembled family embarks on an unforgiving and otherworldly journey to rescue Gio from decommission or worse, reprogramming.

Inspired by Carlo Collodi's "The Adventures of Pinocchio," the story is akin to "Swiss Family Robinson" meeting "Wall-E." TJ Klune infuses the narrative with his signature charm, heart, and bittersweetness. The tale explores themes of love with strings attached, acceptance, and the renewal of faith in humanity. A Library Journal starred review describes it as an "epic quest of rescue and discovery," solidifying Klune's reputation for compassionate storytelling.

"In the Lives of Puppets" promises to be an enchanting stand-alone fantasy adventure, delivering a spellbinding tale that captivates with its characters, dark past, and an epic quest for redemption. 📚❤️