Gideon 'London' Tau and his rag tag team from the Delphic Division (his sidekick alcoholic talking dog and his boss, Armitage) leave South Africa and head to London to investigate Fae gangs, with Gideon determined to also find out what happened to his missing daughter Cally. The book was similar to the first one, fast paced urban fantasy with plenty of magic, wit and violence thrown in for good measure and some really weird and interesting characters. I really enjoyed Gideon and of course Dog. The series is entertaining, doesn't take itself seriously and is action packed. Looking forward to the next one!

After reading Poison City last year I knew I had to request Clockwork City as well. We're thrown straight back into the life of Gideon Tau. The same witty dialogue, and wonderful relationship between man and (talking) dog are abundant. Although the book is dark  at times, it's got an edge of very British humour to make the characters a bit more real. Most of the dialogue sounds like what real people say, and the relationships between characters are developed.

This book was great as we got to visit London. I love books set in England (and in a modern era!). Most books that I read are usually made up worlds or American based so this was a nice change of scenery. The world building is further expanded on. We get some myth/lore brought in around magic and the UK which is wonderfully written. Plus there's a different set of Fae over in Europe than the ones in Durban! There's also Mother London and the gang's of fae that roam the streets which were great additions to the plot-line and world.

I only really had two issues with the book. One was that there were a couple of predictable routes that Crilley could have taken London to, and he did end up taking them. Fortunately, these were written so well that even though you knew it was coming, it still felt like a shock to our characters and it didn't pull you away from the story. The second was that the ending was so fast paced that it felt a bit rushed. We just jumped from one issue to the next with quick solutions and action. This wasn't too bad, as it made me want to read faster and faster, but it did feel like it ended very abruptly afterwards.

I'm excited to be able to read the next book as we did get a bit of a cliffhanger ending. However, I don't think I can wait that long? But it's a great series for those who like darker urban fantasy. With so many different magical creatures, lore and myth included it's fantastic for fantasy lovers who love world building too!

POSITIVES
+ Same witty dialogue as first installment

+ London's world building with fae and magic

+ Fast paced throughout

NEGATIVES
– Ending felt rushed

– Sometimes predictable

This is the second instalment in the author’s Delphic Division series, an urban fantasy, crime, horror fiction mash-up that is thrilling in it’s scope. The series features Gideon Tau, who everyone calls London, who works for the Delphic Division, the occult investigative unit for the South African Police. With London is his spirit guide, an alcoholic, speaking dog. While his boss, Armitage, originally from Yorkshire, is some kind of undead being.

I first encountered this series when I read, and reviewed, Crilley’s first novel, Poison City. Set in South Africa it was a wild, fun, horrific ride through demons and folklore. The first novel had a lot of theology too, something some reviewers felt uneasy about. Personally I didn’t mind that at all, in fact I lauded it for being thought provoking. I gave Poison City four stars, with one caveat and reason for losing a star - that in my opinion the author tried to cram too much into one novel.

So what of its hotly anticipated sequel, Clockwork City? Well, we have the same mix that went into the first novel. London, Armitage and the Dog head of to London, UK, on a case which involves a lot more demons, deities, and this time, faerie gangs who control the city’s underworld.

Once again this is a madcap tale, but I found it lost something in it’s transition to the UK. Personally, perhaps because at one point the South African police really did have an Occult Crimes division (albeit normal police officers investigating humans involved in various unsavoury activities), I felt the novel lost a bit of it’s unique sparkle.

More critically, however, was a repeat of my criticism of the first book. I just feel the author squeezed too much into this novel. At no point was the story given time to breath, there’s just too much going on; if I’m honest, reading this book, I kinda came away feeling exhausted.

This is still a good book and the series is certainly original. No doubt there will be a third in the series and I will definitely give it a read. But I would advise the author to slow it all down a touch, focus the story more and not feel the need to cram so many supernatural beings and events into one tale.

An enjoyable follow-up to Poison City with the story moving to London this time. This is a really good series with great world building and I look forward to the next book.

Clockwork City is the sequel to Poison City, and follows supernatural detective Gideon Tau aka London, and his spiritual guide Dog as they continue to unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of London’s daughter three years prior.

I really enjoyed my reading of this book, and I think I definitely enjoyed it more than the first book. I’m not sure if it’s that I just was able to adapt to the world quicker because I already knew it, though I definitely needed a few chapters to refresh my memory of the first, or that the story just worked better for me, but I few through this one.

This story was really action-packed and I honestly didn’t know where to turn because poor London just wasn’t getting a break in either direction. There were some times where I wondered if there was any hope left because there were times that it seemed like everyone was just dying but I loved how the conclusion all wrapped up. I love that this series is so dark but really humorous as well, but it also has a lot of heart to it - like the tender relationship between Armitage and London, and how even the dog shows how much he cares for London and Cally on occasion as well.

I liked the addition of characters like Winters and Mother London as well - and I think the embodiment of cities in that way like Mother London and Mother Durban is genius.

I feel like the ending was a bit fast for me, and I’m also not really decided on what I think actually happened (apart from The Raven King bit). I don’t know if there will be another book but I hope there is, as I’m done with London and the Delphic Division yet.

I loved Paul Crilley's Poison City last year. Its irreverent take on the supernatural police procedural was a breath of fresh air. Crilley has followed it up with Clockwork City (review copy from Hodderscape), a direct sequel picking up on Gideon 'London' Tau's work with the Delphic Division and his search for his missing daughter.

One of the strengths of Poison City was its South African setting, and the wide range of gods, monsters and orisha that setting enables Crilley to draw on for the book. That felt fresh and new compared to the run of urban fantasy and supernatural police procedural clogging the shelves. So setting Clockwork City in London was a bold move. I'm not sure it completely works, as it loses the USP of these books.

Dealing with the aftermath of the events of Poison City, Tau finds himself sent to London to investigate the disappearance of two Delphic Division agents. But this is a London full of Fae, walking brazenly and openly through the streets. Four competing Fae gangs between them control London and its organised crime, but the Blessed are seeking to take over. And they seem to have some connection with the disappearance of Tau's daughter.

Clockwork City is a proper romp of a crime thriller, as Tau and his foul-mouthed dog spirit guide continue to unravel the mystery of the disappearance of Tau's daughter. It's an adventure that takes them to the heart of ancient London and the alternate world of the Fae. There's a host of new characters and a glorious heist that is the supernatural equivalent of Ocean's 11. This is fantastic fun, and a worthy sequel, even if not - quite - on a par with the first book.

Goodreads rating: 4*

This review appears on Goodreads. It might be cross-posted to my blog but, as I don't think it's particularly informative, it might not.

Okay, so. A little while ago I read the first book in this series and reviewed it (https://miriamjoyreads.wordpress.com/2018/02/02/poison-city-by-paul-crilley/). I liked the book, but I had a few issues with it on a theological level, since it brought Actual God into the equation and I always find that a dodgy proposition. I was hoping that, since book two focused on the fae and other things that I enjoy without having any sort of religious investment in, I would like it more.

However... I didn't. I should have done. Objectively, it contained a number of things that are usually winners in my book, not least creepy fairies. Okay, so one or two things would have annoyed me at the best of times. For example, there's a reference at one point to carved writing that the character identifies either as Scandinavian runes or Ogham. Those two things look nothing alike -- and if you can't tell the difference between runes and Ogham, you're probably not even going to recognise Ogham as writing in the first place. And the use of "Celtic" gods is kind of weird, and I'm fussy about that, so you know. Maybe I'd have had issues even on a good day. BUT those are minor annoyances, you know? No big deal.

And the book has a lot going for it. There's a great twist at the end, a really heartwrenching one, that ought to have blown me away. The characters' arcs are interesting and emotional and the plot has plenty of exciting turns. But I almost missed that twist altogether, because I put the book down with 8% left to go and then didn't pick it up again for a week.

The thing is: I don't know why.

I don't know why I was able to put this book aside at 92% and then almost abandon it completely. I don't know why it was only a sense of duty born of having it as an ARC that made me pick it up again. I don't know why I didn't connect with it on any emotional level whatsoever -- because I should have done!

And yet, I didn't.

Maybe I'm just in a reading slump and it's not the fault of the book at all. That's definitely possible. I've been ill, I'm tired, I've hardly been reading the last couple of weeks... perhaps this book just suffered from timing.

Or maybe it was the book. There were a few occasions where I felt it dragged, and then suddenly there'd be an explosion of action that would catch me off guard because I'd been lulled into inattention, meaning it was sometimes a struggle to get my brain back in gear quickly enough to figure out what was going on. But again, maybe that was just me. Maybe my brain was too sluggish this week.

I don't know. But something about it just did not work for me, and I'm annoyed by that, because it should have done.

Enjoyed I think...I different read for me. Fast paced, full of weird gooey monsters and creatures. Yep. I enjoyed it I think. 🤔

Gideon Tau (London) and 'Dog' are in Cape Town, South Africa on the trail of child disappearances, sort of. 'Dog' has London's back, sort of.
'Dog' is London's spirit guide, he's a Border Terrier! with attitude.
After Cape Town, London, 'Dog' and boss Armitage embark on a trip back to London's home town (guess where - London!).
But not before they pay a visit to one of the most, if not the most, important person in Delphic Division, although its not like they had a choice anyway, about either.
They get involved with Fae, royalty, sins(!), ancient gods and more. London hopes to find Cally, his daughter, as part of the investigation into the disappearing children. It doesn't stop here, there is much more!
 
Anyone who read and enjoyed Poison City will definitely want to read this. If possible, it may even be better. If you like supernatural and fantasy beings, I think you will enjoy this. If you like Border Terriers, and all the above, I'm sure that you'll love this. 'Dog' has Border Terrier attitude and then some.

London is telling the story, most of the time, it comes over well. There is cursing and swearing, which I don't usually like, but somehow it suits this book, it isn't overused (even though there is a lot of it).
 
I like that this book continues the story of London's search for the one who took his daughter. Initially, in Poison City, he believed her dead, but then found out that she was still alive, along with the name of the one who took her. But he gave up the information, and it has ground him down ever since.

I lived in this book the whole time I was reading it. I didn't want to write a review about it. I didn't want to have finished it already. And if I have finished it and I have written the review, then I want the next book now, please.

<blockquote>"The dog pads forward. ‘Drop me and I will unmake you.’‘You don’t have the power for that,’ I said, hooking my arm under his belly. He shifts around until he’s comfortable in the crook of my arm, his head right next to mine. ‘Try me,’ he whispers."</blockquote>

I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. NetGalley does not allow for paid reviews.

Thanks Hodder & Stoughton and netgalley for this ARC.


Very male dominated magic but in a unique cooler than school way

I love this series - downright dark and disturbing with a wonderfully twisted sense of humour.
Still trying to come to terms with the last couple of pages, there had better be a third book and I really hope it's soon.

while liking the confident, witty narrative voice of this one very much, I was left confused. girls are missing but then he sort of comes across a ghostly version of them (and his speaking companion is a dog??) - and he and companion are at odds, and then there seem to be other people who jump into the frame - it could be that i could not bring my attention sufficiently to bear to work it all out , but i was not intrigued enough to do so. perhaps it''s just not for me.

I LOVED Poison City the first novel in the “Delphic Division” series from Paul Crilley – but now I’ve read Clockwork City and I loved that more. MORE. It was pure, utter brilliance.

Fiendishly funny, yet incredibly dark, Paul Crilley is the king of dastardly dialogue and brilliantly awe inspiring action, all tempered with an emotional core that really digs into your heart. Clockwork City is fast and furious, set in a world where a wary peace is kept between humans and others by the Delphic Division – a force for good or, erm, a kind of rash and random group of people who do their godarn best.

We follow Gideon (more commonly known as London because that’s where he’s from, clever huh?) and his Dog (Oh Dog please come and live with me) plus some usual suspects from Poison City and a few new faces as they attempt to save actual London from a rather nasty looking doom. A missing oracle, some nefarious Faeries, a city in magical mayhem and an attempt to open a jail that really should stay shut are all in the mix here and it is beautiful, madly addictive, incredibly well written chaos.

The characters pop from the page, they are all so brilliantly drawn, I especially adore Armitage, but Gideon Tau is a truly remarkable creation, with his quest to find his daughter whilst trying not to destroy the world in the process . That theme continues in Clockwork City, all interspersed with the current big problem, some foreshadowing and an ending that made me practically leap from my seat – YOU CAN’T DO THAT – but yeah he just did, so my loyalty to this particular series is now solidly set – please don’t make me wait too long for more I shall get incredibly grumpy.

Creative, hilarious and dastardly – that is Clockwork City. Don’t miss it.

Highly Recommended.