The Watchmaker's Daughter

By: C. J. Archer

Narrated by: Emma Powell

Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's Summary

India Steele is desperate. Her father is dead, her fiancé took her inheritance, and no one will employ her, despite years working for her watchmaker father. Indeed, the other London watchmakers seem frightened of her. Alone, poor, and at the end of her tether, India takes employment with the only person who'll accept her - an enigmatic and mysterious man from America, a man who possesses a strange watch that rejuvenates him when he's ill. Matthew Glass must find a particular watchmaker, but he won't tell India why any old one won't do. Nor will he tell her what he does back home, and how he can afford to stay in a house in one of London's best streets. So when she reads about an American outlaw known as the Dark Rider arriving in England, she suspects Mr. Glass is the fugitive. When danger comes to their door, she's certain of it. But if she notifies the authorities, she'll find herself unemployed and homeless again - and she will have betrayed the man who saved her life. With a cast of quirky characters, an intriguing mystery, and a dash of romance, The Watchmaker's Daughter is the start of a thrilling new historical fantasy series from the author of the best-selling Ministry of Curiosities, Freak House, and the Emily Chambers Spirit Medium books.

©2016 C.J. Archer (P)2016 C.J. Archer

Outstanding Start to Historical Fantasy Series!

Any additional comments?

Words cannot adequately express how much I truly enjoyed this audiobook. I started listening this morning on my day off and I couldn't stop listening to it until I was finished nine hours later! It has everything that I look for in a story -- part romance, part mystery, and part mystical fantasy.

Set during Victorian Era London, the story has several amazing characters. The heroine is the watchmaker's daughter, India Steele, who is smart and resourceful, but who has fallen on hard times after the death of her father. If that was not bad enough, her fiancé dumps her the following day after inheriting her father's business. The hero is American Matthew Glass who owns a home in Mayfair and who is the grandson of an Earl. Matthew hires India to help him find the watchmaker of his unique timepiece, which has special powers and emits a purple glow. And Mr. Glass's cousin Willie is a gun-toting gambler, as if she was Annie Oakley from America's Wild West. Not only are they trying to find the watchmaker, but they explore who tried to break into his home, and why the members of the watchmakers guild refuse to talk with India.

I listened to the Audible version of the story narrated by Emma Powell and enjoyed it tremendously. In fact, I felt like I was watching a movie and couldn't help but remember how I felt the first time I watched the Librarian or Warehouse 13, where objects possess special powers. Thankfully the Watchmaker's Daughter is the first book in a new historical fantasy series, Glass and Steele, so I can look forward to listening to other great adventures in this compelling new series!

55 of 55 people found this review helpful

Great New Series!!!

This is a new exciting historical fiction series. It is an engrossing mystery with a little bit of magic and romance on the horizon. I was fascinated with India. She is intelligent, educated, strong, and unconventional. She is a survivor over her purported inferior circumstances imposed by the male Victorian society. She is a violent cannon in the watch maker’s guild, which is all male.

These Victorian characters are faced with the crude, rude and uncouth Americans. They are boorish with their familiar (using first names or casual touching) with their betters and they lack the veracity of the British.

When India is a young English woman who has been ostracized from the watcher maker community and had her birth right stolen. Her father died and left the family watch making business to India’s fiancé with the understanding that India has employment and a home. Unfortunately, her fiancé was not an honorable man. Penniless and homeless her options were going to the work house or take an offer from an American, Mathew Glass.

Glass needs help to navigate the watchmakers to locate the maker for his watch. Glass is mysterious about his past life, illness and the watch. Willie, his female cousin wears men cloths, carries a gun and gambles. Cyclops is a one-eyed carriage driver, and Duke, is the irascible butler/men’s servant.

Now there is a rumor of American outlaws being in England and a big reward is offered, enough to improve India’s living conditions. Are these the outlaws?

Glass and India play game of asking questions and providing little information. The story precedes with each character learning about each other through a set of questionable circumstances. There is the usual conflict between a strong independent woman and a chivalrous, according American standard, man. The mysterious illness of the American, and the wariness of the watchmakers to India.

If you have read many Victorian novels you are aware that family rank will determine the character of an individual. That factor and aide and hinder interactions with people. That fallacy moves within the plot and precipitates much of the action.

Much of the story centers around India snooping for answers about the intention of Glass and his posse. It is heighten with the declining health of Glass and their the departure in four days. I found the book to be very enjoyable. There is a lot of potential for a unique series. You will see that with the ending.

19 of 19 people found this review helpful

Plodding Pace, but with Potential

I listened to the audio version of this book, which I found Ms. Powell's voice excellent to listen to. Just her accent really carried the Victorian England across very well--I'm an American and I think we're all hypnotized by English accents!--but when it came to the American voices in the book, it was less... good. Not bad, mind you, but definitely not American accents.

For the book itself? It started out with a lot of promise, throwing us right into the action! I enjoyed that as we got to meet the protagonist India Steele, showing us her fire! However, as the book went on... but I get ahead of myself.

We open in the Watchmaker's Daughter with Ms. Steele confronting her ex fiance Eddie who did her wrong... he convinced her to marry him and had her father sign over his shop to him after a promise that he would marry India. The father died, and Eddie broke the engagement. My modern sensibilities were like, "Wouldn't you want to put that in a contract, dad?" but perhaps it wasn't' done that was in Victorian England. India was kicked out of her own home, left with nothing. It was during this confrontation that we also met Mr. Glass, who was inquiring about a watch at Eddie's shop when India stormed in. After it was over, Mr. Glass offered to hire Ms. Steele to help him track down a certain watchmaker to repair his watch. Only that particular watchmaker would do, but he has no idea where to go looking. She accepts, and that's the premise of the book.

It's inferred in quite a few places that the watch is special, and that something is special about India, but nothing is said right out until the very end. We meet a fair large cast of characters, including Mr. Glass' cousin Willie, a regular rough and tumble frontier woman, and ... really that was about the only other character who interested me. Mr. Glass' aunt is potentially crazy, but could potentially be a source of answers. Duke is pretty much interchangeable with Willie in attitude, but that attitude on a woman is far more interesting. Cyclops might have an interesting story, but we never get to hear it, and so on and so on. The plot... moves... like... a.... glacier. It was so slow. I have no idea what the word count of the book is as I listened to the audio version, but I bet at least three hours of material could have been cut out easily to make a stronger story which moved along more quickly. This is not to say I dislike long books. I love long books... just not when it feels like a chore to read them.

That being said, I did very much enjoy the chemistry with Ms. Steele and Mr. Glass. I also enjoyed the... well the reveal, when it *finally* came at the end, and the explanation thereof. There's potential in the book and the series, and I think this could be a historical fantasy done right... if it wasn't filled with so much unneeded details and filler. I get so frustrated when I see shining gems like that surrounded by dross because I really think there's a story here I want to know.

Victorian romance is not necessarily my thing, but I DO love historical romance/stories, though most of them that I've read have been based in America. I don't think the setting detracted, but perhaps this is how Victorian English romances are--slow moving and slow building over multiple books--and I'm not quite... a perfect fit for that particular genre. Overall, I give the audio book 3 stars--the audio really was quite wonderful but those American accents need work--with a recommendation to give it a try if you enjoy slow building romances.

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

reader does terrible accents but still good read

good read terrible accents threaten to reck enjoyment but I still managed to enjoy. the English accent is spot on but when she tries to do several different American ones, it's awful

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Great Start to an addictive Series

Would you listen to The Watchmaker's Daughter again? Why?

Yes, this was a great listen, the narrator did a superb job with all the voices and accents.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I truly never considered the art of watchmaking all that fascinating. However, this book incorporated history, craftsmanship and enough mystery to keep you guessing.

What about Emma Powell’s performance did you like?

The author left a little bit too much of a cliff hanger for me. I have quite a few unanswered questions that I feel could have been acknowledged prior to the conclusion, rather than waiting for the following installment.

If you could rename The Watchmaker's Daughter, what would you call it?

Nothing, it was great!

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Could Be Less

I was given this book via audiobook boom, I felt like I was listening to War and Peace. there was so much unnecessary detail. The story just kept going and going. I listened to the book and there were so many places where I did not know if they were talking or thinking. The story is a strong story but could have been done in less time than it took to do it. I can't imagine more books that drag like this one. The whole gambling scene took so much time I started yawning. I can't say I enjoyed this one.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

so slow

nothing much happens in this book that you cannot guess after the first few chapters. no surprising revelations. no interesting plot twists. the heroine spends half the book trying to decide whether or not to do something and then she doesn't even make the decision!!! not my cup of tea. on the other hand I really enjoyed the characters and the world of middle class England was fun to explore.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Excellent performance, weak story

Contrived mystery, predictable plot and weak story line combine to make a disappointing, though mildly amusing, read.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Story maybe, but probably NO; narrator-never again

Would you try another book from C. J. Archer and/or Emma Powell?

No.

What could C. J. Archer have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I am unsure that much could have been done to improve a very slow, plodding story with a narrator who was all wrong for this story.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator's style was simpering and prissy. And her American (old west) accents were so awkward and awful I found myself rolling my eyes whenever she spoke as one of those characters. This pulled me completely out of the story.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Watchmaker's Daughter?

Too many to list...this book was overly-long for the actual plot line. In the end, it ended up without resolution. I was not satisfied with this audible purchase.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I am definitely not the target audience

I am a man, and this book was clearly intended for women. I should have figured that out from the summary, but I have enjoyed clockwork-based fantasies in the past, so I thought I would try it. The story has a lot less of the protagonist actually doing anything than I would like, but that is likely a conscious choice by the author to focus on what the protagonist is thinking and feeling about her world being turned upside down. I considered stopping listening, and returning the book, but I found it amusing to see an author cater so much to women when I am so used to stories catering to men. The portrayal of romance from a woman's perspective involved far more emotional conflict than I was used to, but her struggle with mistrust of external affirmation and her own internal insecurity is still believable; it is just completely unlike the thought processes of the stereotypical man. It was an enlightening experience, though I don't think I will purchase any more of the series.

14 of 18 people found this review helpful

Excellent storyline, shame about the OTT romance

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed the original and interesting storyline, but I cringed at the really over-the-top heaving bosoms, smoldering eyes, Harlequinesque romance. It's such an engaging story, it deserved better.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the guild framework. It's different but still recognisable.

What does Emma Powell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Her narration was good and it was easy to discern the different people.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

Not sure. Maybe.

Any additional comments?

As I said. I wanted to love it (and there were parts I really, really enjoyed), but that whole 'draw in a sharp breath' and 'his smoldering eyes' bit really let it down. I'm not averse to a bit of romance, but the romantic bits felt as if they were written by another person than the rest of the book. A person who is about 14 years old.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Enjoyable

Enough story to keep me interested. Characters interesting and like able and mystery was very good. Narrator added a lot to the story so looking forward to the next book.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Really enjoyable

I got this book on a whim and I thoroughly enjoyed it, the narrator was excellent and the story had good pace and action.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Ticks along nicely

The author maintains an air of uncertainty throughout regarding the relationship between the watchmakers daughter and Mr Glass and the watch of Mr Glass concluding both nicely. The narration was very good and added to the enjoyment of the book. I am pleased to find that there is a second book that follows on.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

The Watchmaker's Daughter

I was hooked from the first sentence!Loved it!It is full of old timey mentality with a dash of modernism tossed in.India is a watchmakers daughter engaged to the man who would inherit her fathers shop.Women can not be watchmakers.After her dad dies her future is up in the air until a mysterious man and his entourage enter the scene.Emma Powell is the perfect narrator.I was given this book free by the author, narrator or publisher.I can not wait to get book 2!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Delightfully entertaining and enjoyable

Loved this story, it had a 'steampunk' feel, without the steam! I really like the assortment of characters. India is sweet but feisty, Mr Glass is very charismatic and mysterious, and the others range from slightly excentric to downright weird, in a good way. I thought the narration was beautifully done, and Emma Powell managed to portray each character with an individual voice and tone without 'going over the top'. My only criticism is that it ended too soon - but I was glad to see this was part of a series, so am now listening to the second book! I'm sure I'm going to be compelled to read them all!

Not impressed with this story

I will admit, I was getting bored with the story before the end, but persevered to the bitter end, the plot seemed to drag on interminably, not really my cup of tea

Enjoyed this book loads

Enjoyed this book loads. It was easy to listen to. Previous books I've listened to have had American narrators which really grate on my ears and turn me off. Loved the story too.

Easy listening

This is a slightly whimsical but easy to listen to book which doesn't demand much in the way of concentration from the reader and therefore makes it a good book when you just want a bit of easy escapism.
Having said that I must want a bit more light relief from real life as I have ordered the second in the series!

just for too far fetched.

narration was good. began well and was intrigued by characters. but by the end, the tying up of loose ends felt very rushed. the magic bit started with good mystery, but later felt laboured. not sure I'll read the second or not. I would hope it would explain some of the outstanding questions. a bit meh.