A Man With An Agenda

I enjoyed 'The Watchmaker of Filigree Street', but the plot lacked real stakes as far as I was concerned. There were also some other tics to the story that weren't satisfying. Pulley has delivered something spectacular this time around.

Character still comes first, which I found satisfying, but the foundations of the world Thaniel, Six and Mori live in are shaken. Thaniel is having trouble with his lungs and the air choking fog of London will be the end of him, however he receives a new diplomatic posting to Japan in time to go along with Mori as he returns home to fulfill a mission he set into motion ten years earlier. Electro-magnetic experiments, large quantities of owls, and political machinations threaten to undo Mori's work - his ultimate goal remains a secret to reader for most of the novel.

Grace Carrow, now married to Akira Matsumoto and teaching in Tokyo, plays a part in the book as well and is more humane this time around while staying true to her character. The most interesting character is Takiko Pepperharrow, Mori's wife. Pepper, was a close paralell to Thaniel in many ways. She brought herself up from nothing and proudly retains many of her working class mannerisms long after entering higher social circles. After having been rescued by Mori and brought into his life, the broader implications of his clairvoyance trouble her.

The novel visits Keita and Takiko's pasts as well as those of the historical Kuroda Kiyotaka. Japan is facing a direct military threat from Russia and from within Japan is still struggling with the changes brought by Western influence and through Meiji reforms.

Did I mention ghosts? There are ghosts. The book was a lot of fun to read, it only took me so long to finish because I misplaced the bag it was in for several weeks.

Keita Mori

Previous: 'The Watchmaker of Filigree Street'