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mallorypen 's review for:
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street
by Natasha Pulley
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a gentler take on steampunk (if one could call it that) and after a slow start, I really enjoyed the storytelling.
The whole concept of a clairvoyant masterminding his entire life to meet his best friend and lover? Glorious. I’m 1000% here for it. That same clairvoyant foiling assassination plots with the same diligence as setting up his best friend’s surprise return to a beloved passion he thought he’d given up for good? Also glorious. I really loved that Mori just wanted to be a watchmaker who lives in domestic happiness even though he had the capacity to literally shadow rule the world.
Thaniel’s development from sad, ex-pianist government clark to confident, clever and back to following his passions was nicely done. I also found his reaction to learning what Mori could do was realistic, even with allowing for Thaniel to essentially decide he didn’t care about the precognition because he saw Mori’s kindness, first and foremost.
Grace. Oh, Grace. First, I really liked her character (badass scientist who crossdressed to get into libraries unescorted, hell yes) and then I was mildly annoyed by her (not into the suffragette movement because it was a lot of talking? Hmm. Generally a little racist? Sign of the times, to be fair) and then I vehemently disliked her (essentially trying to manipulate Thaniel because she was afraid of Mori manipulating him instead, and taking away Thaniel’s agency because she didn’t think him smart enough to see villainy if it happened, just like the men in her life took HER agency away under the assumption she wasn’t smart enough herself) to being mildly annoyed by her again (at least her intentions were good; trying to protect herself and Thaniel, and she had been mistreated all her life because of her gender and interests, which isn’t an excuse but still).
All in all, my biggest peeve was the pacing. I got LOTS of detail in some places, and basically time skips where I’m meant to assume large chunks of the story in others.
The whole concept of a clairvoyant masterminding his entire life to
Thaniel’s development from sad, ex-pianist government clark to confident, clever and back to following his passions was nicely done. I also found his reaction to learning what Mori could do was realistic, even with allowing for Thaniel to essentially decide he didn’t care about the precognition because he saw Mori’s kindness, first and foremost.
Grace. Oh, Grace. First, I really liked her character (badass scientist who crossdressed to get into libraries unescorted, hell yes) and then I was mildly annoyed by her (not into the suffragette movement because it was a lot of talking? Hmm. Generally a little racist? Sign of the times, to be fair) and then I vehemently disliked her (essentially trying to manipulate Thaniel because she was afraid of Mori manipulating him instead, and taking away Thaniel’s agency because she didn’t think him smart enough to see villainy if it happened, just like the men in her life took HER agency away under the assumption she wasn’t smart enough herself) to being mildly annoyed by her again (at least her intentions were good; trying to protect herself and Thaniel, and she had been mistreated all her life because of her gender and interests, which isn’t an excuse but still).
All in all, my biggest peeve was the pacing. I got LOTS of detail in some places, and basically time skips where I’m meant to assume large chunks of the story in others.