The Watchmaker of Filigree Street: A bewitching tale of historical fantasy, magic, love and a clockwork octopus

For readers of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, an enchanting, bestselling novel that sweeps readers into a magical Victorian London inhabited by a clockwork octopus and a mysterious watchmaker who is not at all what he first appears.

1883. Thaniel Steepleton returns home to his tiny London apartment to find a gold pocket watch on his pillow. Six months later, the mysterious timepiece saves his life, drawing him away from a blast that destroys Scotland Yard. At last, he goes in search of its maker, Keita Mori, a kind, lonely immigrant from Japan. Although Mori seems harmless, a chain of unexplainable events soon suggests he must be hiding something. When Grace Carrow, an Oxford physicist, unwittingly interferes, Thaniel is torn between opposing loyalties.

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street is a sweeping, atmospheric narrative that takes the reader on an unexpected journey through Victorian London, Japan as its civil war crumbles long-standing traditions, and beyond. Blending historical events with dazzling flights of fancy, it opens doors to a strange and magical past.

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Published May 3, 2016

336 pages

Average rating: 7.42

24 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Margie Pettersen
Oct 27, 2025
2/10 stars
This was decidedly a terrible waste of time. I almost stopped halfway nut I kept hoping things would make sense. They never did. I didn’t really like any of the characters. Thaniel is saved by the alarm of a mysterious gift watch. He seeks out the watchmaker, Mori, who is a clairvoyant. I actually thought Grace would be a good match for Thaniel. Just a weird book that now makes me angry with myself for spending so much time reading.
HumbugMum
Jun 27, 2023
5/10 stars
I wasn't a massive fan of this book. Natasha Pulley has a way of writing which on the surface sounds polished, but is actually "word salad". I frequently found myself having to re-read passages to try to make sense of them, only to find that they didn't become any clearer on re-reading. I wasn't particularly interested in any of the characters, and lots of the plot elements seemed quite random or weren't really followed through to their full extent. I did like her descriptions of London and of the watchmaker's house but the rest left me cold. Ultimately I felt the author tried to cram too much in, which meant some parts of the plot weren't developed as much as they could be, while others were given more page-room than they deserved.

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