The Clockwork Queen

Sophie must play the role of the Clockwork Queen in order to free her chess grandmaster father in this page-turning historical adventure, inspired by a true story.

Chess prodigy Sophie Peshka inherited her love of the game from her grandmaster father. But now that he has been imprisoned in the dungeons of the Winter Palace in St Petersburg by powerful Empress Catherine the Great, Sophie must use all her strategic skill and cunning to help him escape.

Part of Sophie's plan involves an incredible chess-playing automaton called the Clockwork Queen, but will the Queen be able to outwit the Empress in a game where the stakes are a matter of life and death?

Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Reviews

"This rollercoaster adventure is a thrill ride not to be missed … Full of all the visual drama and rich imagination that have brought [Peter Bunzl] such success" – Lancashire Evening Post

"Imaginative, captivating and heart-warming … Sophie is a character that readers will take into their hearts" – Books for Topics

"An absolute cracker … Intrigue and mystery hang firmly in the air and exciting story-telling ensure a genuine page-turner … A superb piece of historical fiction" – A Word About Books

"Exciting and moves with pace. The language used by Peter Bunzl is accessible but challenging … When the action moves to St. Petersburg there is a brooding atmosphere of wealth and danger" – Just Imagine

"Eighteenth century Russia, Catherine the Great, high-stakes chess and Trojan horse style intrigue combine to create a gripping story you won't be able to put down" – Scope for the Imagination

About the author

Peter Bunzl started his career as an animator and film-maker. He is now best known as the award‑winning and bestselling children's author of the Cogheart series. Peter's debut novel, Cogheart, was nominated for several prestigious awards, including the Waterstones Children's Book Prize, the Branford Boase Award and the Carnegie Medal.