Scan barcode
ecolh's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I enjoyed it, but felt it lagged in comparison to the first one, but it is a fun read.
handful_of_frogs's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
thebakersbooks's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.0
Some things seem off to me about how this was written. Not just some clumsy sentence-level stuff and and least one plot hole. I don't recommend it, or the first book.
floatingbubblepops's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i felt so many emotions throughout this book i kid you not.. going into it already knowing the characters made me so much more invested. there were times where i just couldn’t stop.. i really don’t have any complaints about this book.. and it really feels like a 5 star
i loved the higher stakes of the plot compared to the certain book, i loved the idea ofthe lines of dust shaping the future and mori being able to see it , i loved the layers of the story and how everything kinda fits into place, i could just keep going tbh
i loved the higher stakes of the plot compared to the certain book, i loved the idea of
errodiel's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.5
b00kh0arder's review against another edition
5.0
I loved The Watchmaker of Filligree Street and The Bedlam Stacks, and The Lost Future of Pepperharrow (a direct sequel to the former) is SO worth the wait!!!
Beautifully written (as with Watchmaker, all the seemingly disparate narrative threads are pulled beautifully together towards the end, rewarding you with quite a few wonderful "aha!"moments of understanding; I'd also like to mention the language - Even though, text-wise, everyone is nearly always speaking 'English', Pulley does a great job of differentiating things like accents and class, simply through dialogue - her note on language at the end of the book is very interesting and enlightening) with wonderfully complex characters - several of whom, Mori and Takiko in particular, seem to be who the term "complex characters" was invented for (Me? I'm like Thaniel in that I love Mori so I'll forgive anything, which probably doesn't say good things about me as a human being, but oh well... ;D). The relationship between Thaniel and Mori is, understandably, understated but quietly and deeply pasionate at the same time (a particular scene near the end almost moved me to tears), Six is a delight and Katsu surely deserves a series of adventures on his own of some sort.
I hope that a return to these characters in the future is possible, maybe with some more of Grace and Matsumoto, or even those from The Bedlam Stacks (which this book does link to neatly), but if not, where Pepperharrow ends is a good place to leave it (on a high note). I'll still be hoping though. XD
I'm currently listening to the audiobook of The Watchmaker of Filligree Street on iTunes & I hope this follows soon!
Beautifully written (as with Watchmaker, all the seemingly disparate narrative threads are pulled beautifully together towards the end, rewarding you with quite a few wonderful "aha!"moments of understanding; I'd also like to mention the language - Even though, text-wise, everyone is nearly always speaking 'English', Pulley does a great job of differentiating things like accents and class, simply through dialogue - her note on language at the end of the book is very interesting and enlightening) with wonderfully complex characters - several of whom, Mori and Takiko in particular, seem to be who the term "complex characters" was invented for (Me? I'm like Thaniel in that I love Mori so I'll forgive anything, which probably doesn't say good things about me as a human being, but oh well... ;D). The relationship between Thaniel and Mori is, understandably, understated but quietly and deeply pasionate at the same time (a particular scene near the end almost moved me to tears), Six is a delight and Katsu surely deserves a series of adventures on his own of some sort.
I hope that a return to these characters in the future is possible, maybe with some more of Grace and Matsumoto, or even those from The Bedlam Stacks (which this book does link to neatly), but if not, where Pepperharrow ends is a good place to leave it (on a high note). I'll still be hoping though. XD
I'm currently listening to the audiobook of The Watchmaker of Filligree Street on iTunes & I hope this follows soon!
badlydrawnroy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
Elaborately plotted like the other books in the series, with characters who really drew me in and a really sharp sense of humour. Yet again I don't think she writes female characters as well as she writes male ones but this was still an excellent end to the series.
rowboot's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
joyfulreading's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
debchan's review
3.0
natasha pulley write a strong complex compelling female character challenge (fail!)
the two extra stars are for grace carrow and akira matsumoto ONLY. i get matsumoto bc i too would love to marry grace. i'd even agree to just be in her general presence. i might even be fine if she killed me. i'm not joking she is the SOLE reason i picked up this book.
it's still hazy to grasp mori's full powers and he's a bit confused to with the past and the present and the future. the setting is in japan now. and as someone who's lived in both london and yokohama, ummm yeah this hit so close to home. i thought pulley's narrative description was fine. her prose was neat and tidy (just like thaniel) which is great, straight to the point without becoming too clinical and stale. the plot was just as murky as what mori sees mostly because it was quite abstract. the ghosts and then with going back and forth between the past (except at one point it's just one month ago) and i guess i don't care much about a plot without grace as the focus oops.
thaniel: he's so ordinary, so not special. and this is what grace thinks about him. but (though it pains me to say it) she is wrong. he's struggling, knowing his time is short, loving someone who may be 1)trying to kill him and 2)doesn't even appreciate him in the same way. and yet thaniel is willing to die for this and actually willing to do pretty much anything for mori. like grow a spine and live your own life. but another part of me appreciates the sheer pathetic-ness of that (call it love maybe). i always appreciate the Wet Sad Dog characters and so, since mori was away from him a lot, i liked thaniel again just as i did at the very beginning of The Watchmaker of Filigree Street before he met mori.
mori: i'm sorry i'm a big ouran fan so excuse me but all i could hear was mori-senpai. anyway i think pulley did manage to frame him in a better light... for others mind you, i still don't like him. yeah i understand him, i understand what he had to do, why he did what he did, given that kind of power who wouldn't right? i could see where he's coming from and still not like him. how many times have i said this recently? i was on board with a mori who coldly dictated events that led to deaths and killed innocent women bc that would be awful and it would be different. but no not really he becomes just like everyone else, orchestrating things and in the end oh, it was for a good cause? oh he spoke with the woman before he let her die? oh he doesn't actually want to kill thaniel and actually loves him and wants to help out? how routine.
takiko pepperharrow: Paranoid Neglected Pushy Wife? where have we seen this before? i've seen reviews of pulley's other books to see that all her female characters are one of the same, lacking depth and true character. it seems in this series they exist as a barrier, as an obstacle, as an obstruction between the main gay couple and that puts a sour taste in my mouth. grace was the prototype and not a breakthrough then. anyway, i will always side with pulley's female characters bc though they are portrayed in this way, somehow the absurdity of it makes me want to back them up, like they're my own friends who i know better than pulley, who are more than written words, real actual women who in the late 1800s are trying to survive. just as much as thaniel is terrified of being sent to an asylum or getting hanged. all that to say she deserved better. and much better than dying like that. ugh. she owed mori nothing, she didn't have to die just to snap mori out of whatever he was going through. she deserved more than a plot point for thaniel to get back with his love. how was she to know the truth about the death? how could she blame herself? she married mori to save herself and in the end all the women ever do in these books is serve the interests and goals of the men. i'm in equal parts mad and grieving her.
grace carrow: omg girl ilysm. icb she married akira too wow my absolute favorites. are they perhaps one of my fav relationships in literature? how fitting i quite dislike these books but grace/akira are the saving points. she's doing more science things, very confidential, not allowed to leave. i'm glad they see her brain is very useful. but then there's grace's potential, just like takiko's isn't there? that she only served a purpose to once again bring thaniel to mori (whereas in book 1 she was just used to drive them apart) together and then later to help thaniel at the very end. and she always kept thaniel's secret even if that very secret was the reason she was running around in book 1 trying to save her own life from mori. but at least she got a semi-happy ending.
akira matsumoto: he's here by default. that one cameo he had was enthralling i was so hooked on his every word. his relationship with grace is so fascinating to me i want whole books on them. the way he supports her unconditionally and was always someone she could rely on to be there wow. i hope they're very happy.
six: another different plucky child with a special name. not that i'm absolutely against the Child in books but i have to be really convinced to warm up to them. six was fine here; she was smart and was a new relationship with thaniel to be treasured. i just had no particular interest in the six/mori/thaniel family oops.
i just know that those who liked the first book would love this one too. and it's great that the natasha pulley fans can continue to enjoy her books. i rarely enjoy a fantasy series set in the real world and this one falls into that line. i wish we got more complex mori and not whitewashed clean PG version where his deeds are revealed to not be actually that bad after all. pulley creates such poorly written female characters it's actually surprising and it's not something i can look over in this case. mostly because the plot relies on it to move forward so when i consider it, the whole story crumbles (like that last jenga piece). but i will thank her for writing grace carrow the woman you are and her relationship with akira matsumoto (the man you are) bc they are absolutely divine.
the two extra stars are for grace carrow and akira matsumoto ONLY. i get matsumoto bc i too would love to marry grace. i'd even agree to just be in her general presence. i might even be fine if she killed me. i'm not joking she is the SOLE reason i picked up this book.
it's still hazy to grasp mori's full powers and he's a bit confused to with the past and the present and the future. the setting is in japan now. and as someone who's lived in both london and yokohama, ummm yeah this hit so close to home. i thought pulley's narrative description was fine. her prose was neat and tidy (just like thaniel) which is great, straight to the point without becoming too clinical and stale. the plot was just as murky as what mori sees mostly because it was quite abstract. the ghosts and then with going back and forth between the past (except at one point it's just one month ago) and i guess i don't care much about a plot without grace as the focus oops.
thaniel: he's so ordinary, so not special. and this is what grace thinks about him. but (though it pains me to say it) she is wrong. he's struggling, knowing his time is short, loving someone who may be 1)trying to kill him and 2)doesn't even appreciate him in the same way. and yet thaniel is willing to die for this and actually willing to do pretty much anything for mori. like grow a spine and live your own life. but another part of me appreciates the sheer pathetic-ness of that (call it love maybe). i always appreciate the Wet Sad Dog characters and so, since mori was away from him a lot, i liked thaniel again just as i did at the very beginning of The Watchmaker of Filigree Street before he met mori.
mori: i'm sorry i'm a big ouran fan so excuse me but all i could hear was mori-senpai. anyway i think pulley did manage to frame him in a better light... for others mind you, i still don't like him. yeah i understand him, i understand what he had to do, why he did what he did, given that kind of power who wouldn't right? i could see where he's coming from and still not like him. how many times have i said this recently? i was on board with a mori who coldly dictated events that led to deaths and killed innocent women bc that would be awful and it would be different. but no not really he becomes just like everyone else, orchestrating things and in the end oh, it was for a good cause? oh he spoke with the woman before he let her die? oh he doesn't actually want to kill thaniel and actually loves him and wants to help out? how routine.
takiko pepperharrow: Paranoid Neglected Pushy Wife? where have we seen this before? i've seen reviews of pulley's other books to see that all her female characters are one of the same, lacking depth and true character. it seems in this series they exist as a barrier, as an obstacle, as an obstruction between the main gay couple and that puts a sour taste in my mouth. grace was the prototype and not a breakthrough then. anyway, i will always side with pulley's female characters bc though they are portrayed in this way, somehow the absurdity of it makes me want to back them up, like they're my own friends who i know better than pulley, who are more than written words, real actual women who in the late 1800s are trying to survive. just as much as thaniel is terrified of being sent to an asylum or getting hanged. all that to say she deserved better.
grace carrow: omg girl ilysm. icb she married akira too wow my absolute favorites. are they perhaps one of my fav relationships in literature? how fitting i quite dislike these books but grace/akira are the saving points. she's doing more science things, very confidential, not allowed to leave. i'm glad they see her brain is very useful. but then there's grace's potential, just like takiko's isn't there? that she only served a purpose to once again bring thaniel to mori (whereas in book 1 she was just used to drive them apart) together and then later to help thaniel at the very end. and she always kept thaniel's secret even if that very secret was the reason she was running around in book 1 trying to save her own life from mori. but at least she got a semi-happy ending.
akira matsumoto: he's here by default. that one cameo he had was enthralling i was so hooked on his every word. his relationship with grace is so fascinating to me i want whole books on them. the way he supports her unconditionally and was always someone she could rely on to be there wow. i hope they're very happy.
six: another different plucky child with a special name. not that i'm absolutely against the Child in books but i have to be really convinced to warm up to them. six was fine here; she was smart and was a new relationship with thaniel to be treasured. i just had no particular interest in the six/mori/thaniel family oops.
i just know that those who liked the first book would love this one too. and it's great that the natasha pulley fans can continue to enjoy her books. i rarely enjoy a fantasy series set in the real world and this one falls into that line. i wish we got more complex mori and not whitewashed clean PG version where his deeds are revealed to not be actually that bad after all. pulley creates such poorly written female characters it's actually surprising and it's not something i can look over in this case. mostly because the plot relies on it to move forward so when i consider it, the whole story crumbles (like that last jenga piece). but i will thank her for writing grace carrow the woman you are and her relationship with akira matsumoto (the man you are) bc they are absolutely divine.