Scan barcode
frmeden's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Police brutality, Sexism, and Misogyny
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Homophobia
libby_sarah's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
It took me a while to get into this book but once I was in, I was in. I liked the magical mystery of it all. Mysterious watch saving a life from a bomb explosion? Loved the idea of it.
I really liked the character Keita Mori, the watchmaker, he was great. He was aloof but friendly, normal but magical. So good. His ‘abilities’ were just so fascinating. I really could have had more of him, in fact, I wanted the whole story to be about him or from his pov. Thaniel Steepleton was a bit meh character, mainly just there to tell the story. He did have his moments though. Grace was the character that confused me the most. She was set up to be amazing but she fell a little flat for me and I’m still not sure if I was supposed to root for her or not.
The ending definitely had me gripped but did leave me a bit confused and I had to reread bits more than once to fully understand what was going on.
I really enjoyed the setting and how this book is not easily put into one genre. I liked the writing style and will be keeping my eye out for any other books by the author. I felt like I was challenged by this book and I enjoyed the feeling.
I really liked the character Keita Mori, the watchmaker, he was great. He was aloof but friendly, normal but magical. So good. His ‘abilities’ were just so fascinating. I really could have had more of him, in fact, I wanted the whole story to be about him or from his pov. Thaniel Steepleton was a bit meh character, mainly just there to tell the story. He did have his moments though. Grace was the character that confused me the most. She was set up to be amazing but she fell a little flat for me and I’m still not sure if I was supposed to root for her or not.
The ending definitely had me gripped but did leave me a bit confused and I had to reread bits more than once to fully understand what was going on.
I really enjoyed the setting and how this book is not easily put into one genre. I liked the writing style and will be keeping my eye out for any other books by the author. I felt like I was challenged by this book and I enjoyed the feeling.
vhlm's review against another edition
4.0
First comes first: the octopus was the best part in the book.
The characters were well written and had sone depth, however Grace in particular was not very consistent, in my opinion.Neither were the foreseeing-powers by Mori, it just felt like the author interpreted the powers to make her plot work, without properly considering how they work, especially in the long term. Having a scientist turn against science and trying to take out the one person who could help them further her studies and establish them as a proper scientist in academics (particulary at that time as well as her being a woman) does not make sense to me. Also, the plot could have been better, as there generally was very little - the book lived off the atmosphere - despite the Irish rebellion bits.
Pulley really succeeds in establishing a vivid atmosphere and sufficient detail, without the feeling of mere world-building passages coming up. The interplay of British and Japanese culture as well as the historic relations between the two countries was nicely shown.
Overall a nice book.
The characters were well written and had sone depth, however Grace in particular was not very consistent, in my opinion.
Pulley really succeeds in establishing a vivid atmosphere and sufficient detail, without the feeling of mere world-building passages coming up. The interplay of British and Japanese culture as well as the historic relations between the two countries was nicely shown.
Overall a nice book.
cydneydaniel's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
timinbc's review
3.0
I'll leave the plot summaries to others.
This book has some great ideas in it, and a good part of the plot moves along well.
But other parts drag, and the ending turned out to be a bit of a jumble. It was quite obvious who'd be in at the finish, but I'm still not entirely sure what happened at the end.
Mori especially ends up being confusing. Some work has obviously gone into his not-quite-clairvoyance, but there are conflicting explanations. At one point I wondered if he was doing a Merlin/River Song and living backwards in time, but apparently not. The whole randomizing/intent thing didn't work for me.
But there may be something to it. I just finished Stephenson's Seveneves, in which Morse code plays a major part. And I chose this book from the library just because I happened to see it; I'd never heard of it. A few pages in, what is our hero doing? Yep: Morse code. And I've not seen it in probably 100 books before that.
Still pretty good for a first novel. I'll watch for another Pulley.
This book has some great ideas in it, and a good part of the plot moves along well.
But other parts drag, and the ending turned out to be a bit of a jumble. It was quite obvious who'd be in at the finish, but I'm still not entirely sure what happened at the end.
Mori especially ends up being confusing. Some work has obviously gone into his not-quite-clairvoyance, but there are conflicting explanations. At one point I wondered if he was doing a Merlin/River Song and living backwards in time, but apparently not. The whole randomizing/intent thing didn't work for me.
But there may be something to it. I just finished Stephenson's Seveneves, in which Morse code plays a major part. And I chose this book from the library just because I happened to see it; I'd never heard of it. A few pages in, what is our hero doing? Yep: Morse code. And I've not seen it in probably 100 books before that.
Still pretty good for a first novel. I'll watch for another Pulley.
tregina's review against another edition
3.0
The beginning and end are both quite literary in a way, and quite strong story-wise, but the middle meandered and hopped and I lost the thread of things from time to time. I was tremendously fond of the characters, though, and am delighted to know that there is a coming sequel.
thepaperpauper's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Okay so Thaniel is a better person than me bc if I found out someone set an elaborate series of events including a bombing to make a racist “point” about my best friend and love interest only to isolate me for their own gains-I would be on the news.
All that aside, I was introduced to these characters through a short story that was included in The Haunting Season and felt like they were part of a larger series. Imagine my joy when I saw they were and my library had a copy. I was thrilled to start the book.
Overall, I thought it was a solid story with unique character motivations that were interesting to read. I’m all for a slower paced book but this one did take a while for me to get into. I enjoyed the descriptions throughout though and appreciated the pay off in the final act. There’s room for improvement with certain plot elements, but I’ll say this book was enough to entice me to pick up the next one in the series.
All that aside, I was introduced to these characters through a short story that was included in The Haunting Season and felt like they were part of a larger series. Imagine my joy when I saw they were and my library had a copy. I was thrilled to start the book.
Overall, I thought it was a solid story with unique character motivations that were interesting to read. I’m all for a slower paced book but this one did take a while for me to get into. I enjoyed the descriptions throughout though and appreciated the pay off in the final act. There’s room for improvement with certain plot elements, but I’ll say this book was enough to entice me to pick up the next one in the series.
lazareen's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
curiouscat17's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
aurelia04's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75