The Watchmaker of Filigree Street - Natasha Pulley

Blurb:  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.

My Rating: 4 stars

Genre: Science Fiction, Historical Fiction

My thoughts:  A strange book, good strange but very odd nether-the-less.

As a whole, the book made sense although in parts it was a mix of both confusing and predictable. The genre of the book is also equally perplexing - a mystery, a love story, a historical drama, a coming of age (Thaniel)? 

Mori is somewhat an enigma, his character and his intentions - strange and confusing and certainly not straight forwards. Nathaniel (Thaniel) is straightforwards, predictable, likeable and genuine. Grace - unrelenting, boyish and selfish. All three completely different and manage to bring out the best and worst of each other. Katsu the octopus was a fantastic addition although he somewhat cartoonises Mori and Williamsons characterisation as a police officer was great.

I can say no more at the moment as I'm still to involved in London in the 19th century to think of it objectively. 

Except that I love the cover.

Read: 9-29 September 2015