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Library's review
Very enjoyable book, although I did think India sometimes seemed very determined to grab the wrong end of the stick with regards to all the different plot threads. Any time she came up with a theory for what was going on, I could tell it was a wrong theory, but I don't think that was all her fault.
Despite disagreeing with her assessment of what was actually going on at every turn though, I did quite like India and enjoyed the relationship she's starting to build with Matt.
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For example, she spent a good portion of the book convinced the watchmakers in London were afraid of her because two years ago they denied her entrance to the watchmaker's guild. There's no reason why she should think there's an alternate explanation in book, but from the reader's perspective it's obvious that there's something else going on.Despite disagreeing with her assessment of what was actually going on at every turn though, I did quite like India and enjoyed the relationship she's starting to build with Matt.
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Series
Publication
[United States] : Findaway Voices, 2016.
Description
USA Today bestselling series. 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 bestselling Ministry of Curiosities, Freak House, and Emily Chambers Spirit Medium book… (more)
Language
Original language
English
User reviews
LibraryThing member DTChantel
Having loved all of CJ Archer's books that I've read so far, I couldn't wait to dive into this newest series of books featuring Steele & Glass and I was not disappointed. In "The Watchmaker's Daughter," we are introduced to India Steele, who has just been swindled out of her late father's watch
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shop by a man she thought she could trust, her now "ex-fiance." From the moment she comes face-to-face with Matthew Glass, events transpire to turn India's world upside down. As she confronts each new situation, and each new revealing fact about herself and the world around her, we are introduced to a fascinating world and an intriguing cast of characters. This is a light-hearted romp that has some laugh out loud moments, especially revolving around Matt's clan of cohorts, Willie, Duke and Cyclops. If you like mystery and romance, gaslights and foggy London streets, you will love this new series by a much-loved and very talented author. Show Less
LibraryThing member courtneygiraldo
Thoughts on this booked in a word? OBSESSED!
This one has been on my TBR since Christmas and once I finally got to it this week, I DEVOURED IT!
After India Steele's fiance stole her inheritance and promptly dumped her, she is desperate. It isn't easy for a woman alone in 1890's London and things are
Stellar read guys! A superbly well written novel that was the perfect blend of mystery and fantasy. C.J Archer did a phenomenal job of playing her cards close to her chest with this one; I found myself rooting for India and Mr. Glass from page one even despite his shady past and uncertain agenda. The supporting characters were so well written and likable I found myself not even caring that we (the reader) weren't too sure of their past or intentions. The plot was well paced and interesting. There were quite a few moments of heart pounding action ranging from intense fight scenes to steamy lust. I'll just go ahead and let you all know now that I have a major literary crush on Matthew Glass.... I'm not even gonna lie.....as far as fictional characters go he's swoon worthy.
I am jumping into the next in the series, The Mapmaker Apprentice now and can't wait to follow along in India and Matthews next adventure!
This one has been on my TBR since Christmas and once I finally got to it this week, I DEVOURED IT!
After India Steele's fiance stole her inheritance and promptly dumped her, she is desperate. It isn't easy for a woman alone in 1890's London and things are
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about to be a whole lot worse as she's kicked out of her rented room for her inability to pay. A gifted watchmaker/repairer like her father before her, India fortuitously meets the enigmatic Matthew Glass. Mr. Glass not only offers India a paying job for a weeks time, but provides her with lodgings while he is in London from America looking for a mysterious watchmaker he met five years prior who has all but vanished. Mr. Glass's obsession with finding this watchmaker seems odd at first, but when India spys Mr. Glass' watch emitting strange green light that seems to seep into his veins when he appears tired and ill, rejuvenating him, she begins to wonder if there is more to his story then he is letting on. Using her connections from her previous work as her fathers assistant, India and Matthew make their rounds to all the watchmakers in London to inquire about this mysterious man who Matthew is desperate to find. When her once fellow colleagues begin to shun her, and some worse, seem to fear her, India isn't sure what to think. When rumors swirl of a dangerous American outlaw on the loose in London, India thinks she may have made a bargain with a very dangerous man indeed. Stellar read guys! A superbly well written novel that was the perfect blend of mystery and fantasy. C.J Archer did a phenomenal job of playing her cards close to her chest with this one; I found myself rooting for India and Mr. Glass from page one even despite his shady past and uncertain agenda. The supporting characters were so well written and likable I found myself not even caring that we (the reader) weren't too sure of their past or intentions. The plot was well paced and interesting. There were quite a few moments of heart pounding action ranging from intense fight scenes to steamy lust. I'll just go ahead and let you all know now that I have a major literary crush on Matthew Glass.... I'm not even gonna lie.....as far as fictional characters go he's swoon worthy.
I am jumping into the next in the series, The Mapmaker Apprentice now and can't wait to follow along in India and Matthews next adventure!
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LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the first book in the Glass and Steele series. I believe there are eight books in this series right now. I enjoyed this historical fantasy/steampunk novel. This is mainly a Victorian fantasy set in London with some mystery and magic, there is a bit of romance as well.
I listened to this on
This is about a watchmaker's daughter (India Steele) who's been left destitute by the death of her father and the betrayal of her fiance'. As a result she ends up offering to help an American (Mr. Glass) find a certain watchmaker. Things get more intriguing when India finds out Mr. Glass might be an American outlaw in hiding and catches him clutching a watch that makes his veins glow and seems to heal him. As India plunges deeper and deeper into this mystery, she finds out that strange things seem to happen to timepieces when she is near them.
This was a fun and entertaining read. I enjoyed the quirky characters, the snappy dialogue, the setting, the magic and the mystery. There is a bit of a slow burn type of romance going on here as well and this was well done.
Things are just getting really interesting as India starts to discover her own magical powers when the story ends. So, although the main mystery is completed, this is just an introduction to these characters and this story.
Overall I really enjoyed this and plan on continuing the series. I would recommend to those who enjoy historical fantasies set in London in the Victorian age that have some magic, steampunk, and romantic elements to them.
I listened to this on
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audiobook and it was very well done. I enjoyed listening to it immensely and would recommend listening to this story on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.This is about a watchmaker's daughter (India Steele) who's been left destitute by the death of her father and the betrayal of her fiance'. As a result she ends up offering to help an American (Mr. Glass) find a certain watchmaker. Things get more intriguing when India finds out Mr. Glass might be an American outlaw in hiding and catches him clutching a watch that makes his veins glow and seems to heal him. As India plunges deeper and deeper into this mystery, she finds out that strange things seem to happen to timepieces when she is near them.
This was a fun and entertaining read. I enjoyed the quirky characters, the snappy dialogue, the setting, the magic and the mystery. There is a bit of a slow burn type of romance going on here as well and this was well done.
Things are just getting really interesting as India starts to discover her own magical powers when the story ends. So, although the main mystery is completed, this is just an introduction to these characters and this story.
Overall I really enjoyed this and plan on continuing the series. I would recommend to those who enjoy historical fantasies set in London in the Victorian age that have some magic, steampunk, and romantic elements to them.
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LibraryThing member jamespurcell
Good start for what could be an interesting series. A damsel in distress, a mysterious stranger and a touch of magic create a story worth reading and a series worth pursuing.
LibraryThing member CPolk625
India Steele is a victim of one of the oldest scams in Victorian England. She is a woman left alone by the death of her father and dismissed out of hand by her fiancé. Her fiancé, who has worked himself into her father’s good graces, inherits the father’s watch and clock shop, the shop in
Matt Glass is a mysterious American with a problem. He must find a particular watchmaker in London to repair his watch; a particular watchmaker with particular skills. He has no idea of the man’s name or location, only that he is from England and was in Broken Creek, New Mexico five years previously. He encounters India and hires her to help him find the mysterious watchmaker. Having no options, she works for Glass but has reservations that he is all he seems to be. Along the way to seeking the missing watchmaker, India encounters many surprises, threats, and adventures, barely surviving many of them. One of the keenest surprises and greatest threats to her is the vulnerability of her own heart.
Flawlessly written, with excellent characterization and brimming with twists and turns, The Watchmaker’s Daughter kept me guessing until the end. It is an entertaining book with both a storyline and a lesson about people and the social conditions of the time. 5-Stars.
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which India apprenticed under her father and which she had expected to run. But alas, in Victorian England women cannot inherit or own property of their own, and the Watchmaker’s Guild is unanimous in their refusal to admit a woman as a practicing watchmaker. India is homeless with nowhere to go and no real prospects for a job.Matt Glass is a mysterious American with a problem. He must find a particular watchmaker in London to repair his watch; a particular watchmaker with particular skills. He has no idea of the man’s name or location, only that he is from England and was in Broken Creek, New Mexico five years previously. He encounters India and hires her to help him find the mysterious watchmaker. Having no options, she works for Glass but has reservations that he is all he seems to be. Along the way to seeking the missing watchmaker, India encounters many surprises, threats, and adventures, barely surviving many of them. One of the keenest surprises and greatest threats to her is the vulnerability of her own heart.
Flawlessly written, with excellent characterization and brimming with twists and turns, The Watchmaker’s Daughter kept me guessing until the end. It is an entertaining book with both a storyline and a lesson about people and the social conditions of the time. 5-Stars.
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LibraryThing member NTKova
The good: it takes place in the late 1800’s in London and our protagonist is a (like the title suggests) Watchmaker’s Daughter. Unfortunately for her, her dad just died and her fiancé broke off the engagement after receiving her dad’s store in the will. So, our protagonist is screwed. No
Then, she meets a mysterious man from America… ahhh!, I realized, this is a romance! People label your books properly, so i know what to expect. I found the book under the Science Fiction and Fantasy category, but it’s more like Romance > mystery >> fantasy. Now, if this kind of book is your thing, I would totally say read it! But if not, then meh.
I got to say that after I realized what I was reading, I actually did enjoy it. There are challenges and mystery and the fact that it’s Victorian England the romance is intertwined in subtleties. Another good thing, is that our protagonist is not Upper Class, which is a breath of fresh air.
It does have it’s eye-roll moments, but not too much, some of the side characters are one dimensional, and the side stories get all wrapped up in the last few pages, so it feels smushed together and cheesy. Other than that, pretty good.
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work, no money, no one to turn to. The book gets points for an interesting start for our protagonist and for making us care about her quite fast. Then, she meets a mysterious man from America… ahhh!, I realized, this is a romance! People label your books properly, so i know what to expect. I found the book under the Science Fiction and Fantasy category, but it’s more like Romance > mystery >> fantasy. Now, if this kind of book is your thing, I would totally say read it! But if not, then meh.
I got to say that after I realized what I was reading, I actually did enjoy it. There are challenges and mystery and the fact that it’s Victorian England the romance is intertwined in subtleties. Another good thing, is that our protagonist is not Upper Class, which is a breath of fresh air.
It does have it’s eye-roll moments, but not too much, some of the side characters are one dimensional, and the side stories get all wrapped up in the last few pages, so it feels smushed together and cheesy. Other than that, pretty good.
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LibraryThing member HeatherLINC
I was on the Kobo app looking at the free ebooks available when this one caught my eye. The front cover is stunning! Not finding a blurb, I put my keen powers of observation to use and made the assumption that this novel was going to have an historical setting and would feature the daughter of a
I loved India. She was sassy and intelligent and had me smiling all through this novel with her antics and snarky comments. The dialogue between her and Mr Glass was a highlight. If fact all the characters were great - Matt, Willie, Cyclops and Duke. It was obvious they weren't who they appeared to be so I enjoyed learning about their backstories.
I was actually surprised when I came to the end as I was expecting at least one more chapter. Set in Victorian England, "The Watchmaker's Daughter" was a light, entertaining read with a good mystery, lots of adventure, a touch of magic and a gentle romance. India Steele and Matt Glass are perfect together and I want to discover what adventures the author next has planned for the two of them.
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watchmaker. "The Watchmaker's Daughter" turned out to be a delightful read, from the first page.I loved India. She was sassy and intelligent and had me smiling all through this novel with her antics and snarky comments. The dialogue between her and Mr Glass was a highlight. If fact all the characters were great - Matt, Willie, Cyclops and Duke. It was obvious they weren't who they appeared to be so I enjoyed learning about their backstories.
I was actually surprised when I came to the end as I was expecting at least one more chapter. Set in Victorian England, "The Watchmaker's Daughter" was a light, entertaining read with a good mystery, lots of adventure, a touch of magic and a gentle romance. India Steele and Matt Glass are perfect together and I want to discover what adventures the author next has planned for the two of them.
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LibraryThing member whybehave2002
I love historicals and that was just the first taste of this book. You get colorful characters who all have a dark history and give the book just a bit of a noir western feel while taking place in London. There is a wonderful, magical mystery and some sweet romantic chemistry. I am thrilled to have
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discovered this series! Show Less
LibraryThing member travelgirl-fics
interesting cozy set in late victorian london. main characters were well-developed, while compatriots and evil counterparts were rarely much more than scenery... perhaps better introductions to these characters will happen in later books. still, the story was interesting and decently plotted...
LibraryThing member humouress
{First of 13 in Glass and Steele series; fantasy, magic} (2016)
India Steele, the watchmaker's daughter with a talent for fixing timepieces, expected to inherit her father's business. Instead, her fiancé tricked her out of it and dumped her, leaving her with no money and no home and, as a woman,
Matt Glass - tall, dark, handsome and well muscled - is half English, half American and has come to London with his friends and his very American cousin to find a particular watchmaker who is the only one who can mend his special watch - but time is running out.
India can help him with her knowledge of the watchmakers of London and so he employs her. However things don’t go smoothly for them as they realise that the watchmakers' guild has something against India when their members are reluctant to talk to her. And, as they travel around London, someone seems to be following Matt.
India realises that Matt and his friends are keeping information from her; his watch has strange properties, though he tries to hide it, and the newspapers are full of articles about ‘the Dark Rider’, a dangerous outlaw from America who arrived in England at around the same time as Matt.
On top of all this, there is the unexpected addition to Matt’s household of his very English aunt, Miss Letitia Glass, who is also the sister of the Baron of Rycroft.
What has India got herself into?
The book is set in Victorian times though it cheerfully ignores the strict propriety of the era to focus on the story of Matt’s unusual watch and the unfairness of the guild’s treatment of India. There are some moments of ...er ... close contact between the protagonists, though mild enough that the story still qualifies as young adult.
Oddly, for an Australian author writing about Victorian London, there were some Americanisms scattered around in odd places (not necessarily from the American characters) such as when the upper class English Miss Glass mentioned that someone had ‘fixed a meal’ for her.
These were small issues. On the whole, this was lighthearted and fun and easy to read. I'm looking forward to following India's and Matt's further adventures.
3.5 stars
India Steele, the watchmaker's daughter with a talent for fixing timepieces, expected to inherit her father's business. Instead, her fiancé tricked her out of it and dumped her, leaving her with no money and no home and, as a woman,
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India has no recourse. And, though her father was a member of the watchmakers' guild, they refused to accept India as a member, since she's a woman, so she has no professional support.Matt Glass - tall, dark, handsome and well muscled - is half English, half American and has come to London with his friends and his very American cousin to find a particular watchmaker who is the only one who can mend his special watch - but time is running out.
India can help him with her knowledge of the watchmakers of London and so he employs her. However things don’t go smoothly for them as they realise that the watchmakers' guild has something against India when their members are reluctant to talk to her. And, as they travel around London, someone seems to be following Matt.
India realises that Matt and his friends are keeping information from her; his watch has strange properties, though he tries to hide it, and the newspapers are full of articles about ‘the Dark Rider’, a dangerous outlaw from America who arrived in England at around the same time as Matt.
On top of all this, there is the unexpected addition to Matt’s household of his very English aunt, Miss Letitia Glass, who is also the sister of the Baron of Rycroft.
What has India got herself into?
The book is set in Victorian times though it cheerfully ignores the strict propriety of the era to focus on the story of Matt’s unusual watch and the unfairness of the guild’s treatment of India. There are some moments of ...er ... close contact between the protagonists, though mild enough that the story still qualifies as young adult.
Oddly, for an Australian author writing about Victorian London, there were some Americanisms scattered around in odd places (not necessarily from the American characters) such as when the upper class English Miss Glass mentioned that someone had ‘fixed a meal’ for her.
These were small issues. On the whole, this was lighthearted and fun and easy to read. I'm looking forward to following India's and Matt's further adventures.
3.5 stars
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