The Watchmaker of Filigree Street

De: Natasha Pulley

Narrado por: Thomas Judd

Bloomsbury presents The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley, read by Thomas Judd.

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 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.©2015 Natasha Pulley (P)2022 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Not perfect but captivating

Clockwork and clairvoyance. Suspend disbelief on both. Atmospheric period piece. Worth trying. Not exactly the steampunk I'd thought it would be. A bit weird. Seems to break some storytelling protocols - a bit of an "oh so that's it?" ending.

Gives a Sherlock and Watson vibe

I wasn't sure where this story was going at first. but with each chapter my desire to know what's next became more intense. The way Thanial and Mori's freindship evolves is beautifully handled.

Confusing most of the time

This book would be better read than listening to it. I was often confused by who the characters were and if we were in past or present tense. Not planning on listening to sequel. I think the last line was really important but no idea what it even meant. I am just as confused at the end as I was at the beginning. Mars House was excellent and was trying another by the same author.

I enjoyed the book very much.

I enjoyed the book. The narrator did a great job. It's a strange type of book but I could picture England in the 1880s. The writer put a lot of work into the research of that period. I would recommend it if you like strange mysteries.

Very engaging

Really interesting characters and another fantastical story that I am now expecting from this author.

Plot Twists

This novel has great plot twists. The characters are interesting and three dimensional. The cultural differences and flashbacks really added to the plot. I enjoyed listening to the reader as well.

My favorite gay Christopher Nolan type writer !!

Breaks my heart into a million pieces !! Love it to death SCREAM SCREAM SCREAM !!! Middle aged men shouldn’t own my heart like this

Solid story, slow narration

I bought this book because it was described as being similar to Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, but it isn't anywhere close to that kind of world building or storytelling. That comparison notwithstanding, it's a solid book for it's own reasons. The narration is very, very slow. I listened at 1.4x speed, which wasn't the best listening experience. I would have enjoyed reading this one more than listening.

Magical and Captivating Storytelling

I loved this book. The story follows a young British civil servant, Thaniel, as he becomes caught up in a mysterious and complex mystery involving political terrorism in 19th century London. He is almost killed in a pub bombing and is only saved by an alarm from a beautifully crafted watch that mysteriously appeared in his flat one night. Eventually, he follows the clues to the watchmaker of the title, an ex-pat Japanese nobleman with a magical shop and dark secrets. As the story builds, Thaniel also becomes engaged to Grace, a nobleman’s daughter with a passion for science. Soon, Thaniel finds himself torn between the worlds of magic and science, while also racing against the clock to find the terrorist cell and prevent another attack. The audio performance is exceptional and really brought the characters to life.

Excellent Novel

Pulley’s characters are intriguing and empathetic, the world building impressive, and the intricate mechanical devices wondrously inventive. Looking forward to the next volume in the series!