For readers of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, an enchanting, bestselling novel that sweeps readers into a magical Victorian London inhabited by a clockwork octopus and a mysterious watchmaker who is not at all what he first appears.1883. Thaniel Steepleton returns home to his tiny London apartment to find a gold pocket watch on his pillow. Six months later, the mysterious timepiece saves his … mysterious timepiece saves his life, drawing him away from a blast that destroys Scotland Yard. At last, he goes in search of its maker, Keita Mori, a kind, lonely immigrant from Japan. Although Mori seems harmless, a chain of unexplainable events soon suggests he must be hiding something. When Grace Carrow, an Oxford physicist, unwittingly interferes, Thaniel is torn between opposing loyalties.The Watchmaker of Filigree Street is a sweeping, atmospheric narrative that takes the reader on an unexpected journey through Victorian London, Japan as its civil war crumbles long-standing traditions, and beyond. Blending historical events with dazzling flights of fancy, it opens doors to a strange and magical past.
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Oh my, this is a good one! I literally can’t say much about it without spoiling things, but if you like Victorian steampunk mysteries, Gilbert and Sullivan, and maybe a clockwork octopus, pick this one up! It does start pretty slowly, and it takes about a third of the book to really get into it, but after that it is a wild, twisty ride to the end.
Loved this book. The way the author uses words and humor grabbed me immediately. My k8nd of writing.
I love the book. The main character is very interesting, but in the end, you wonder what happened to the mechanical octopus that he created. The octopus was an original character and I would love to read a second book with the octopus and his Japanese owner.
It was well written
Not what I expected – really enjoyed it
Generally very good, but a couple of developments that didn’t seem to make sense beyond being required for the plot.
This is an interesting read and as you think you know where the story is going it goes off in a different tangent. The writer establishes a nice feel for the period and how the world was at the time of the story. Well worth your time to read.