Audiobook Review – The Watchmaker’s Daughter (Glass and Steele, Book 1) by C.J. Archer, Narrated by Emma Powell (4/5 stars)

Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Steampunk/Historical Fantasy
Length: 9 hours and 21 minutes (300 pages)
Publisher: C.J. Archer
Release Date: December 21, 2016
ASIN: B01MZ1JDY5
Stand Alone or Series: 1st book in the Glass and Steele series
Source: Audiobook from Audible.com
Rating: 4/5 stars

“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.”

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 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.