This was really enjoyable! I was really struggling to put it down, and it has a charm to it I can't quite place. It didn't feel like a conventional story to me, it almost felt like a play, which gave it a vibe I really dug. I'd requested an arc of this what feels like forever ago and haven't had the focus to really let myself get absorbed into a fiction book, so going into it I really wasn't sure what to expect. It didn't quite match what I thought the book would be about, but I was charmed by it all the same!

Thank you to Random Things Tours & Double Day books for having me along in the tour and for my gifted copy.

Opening with the tragedy of a mother lost to childbirth and a father left to care for his newborn son, this book is filled with the bonds of family and what it means to love your family.

Zachary is an unusual child from birth, always calm and seeming to observe all that goes on around him. You ever heard the phrase “they’ve been here before” in reference to a baby? This was said about my own two children as newborns and is exactly what sprung to mind when reading the descriptions of Zachary and his observing behaviour. The same comparisons were made when Zachary was asking his many questions 😂

The descriptions within the book really do work well for readers like me who see things very clearly in their minds eye!! I loved this!

Whilst the story is not in its totality about Zachary’s ‘Second Sight’ I felt this fit with the magical realism of the book really well as, like in the real world, a persons talents and gifts are not all they are and there are many other factors at play in their lives.

I cannot wait to receive my Goldsboro edition of this beautiful book and I have also ordered the audio of this so that I can listen to the story again.

Great historical fiction book with excellent research and knowledge shared of the time!!

The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley by Sean Lusk
I have recently read The Clockwork Girl by Anna Mazzola and Sean Lusk’s story has some similarities. Both of them feature automata and the world of clockwork. The story opens with the birth of Zachary and the death of his mother. His father Abel Cloudesley is bereft and is overwhelmed by grief as he strives to raise his son on his own.
He is in desperate need of a wet nurse and so Grace Morley, a widow with a young child enters his life. She and her daughter Leonora move into the household. The other important influence in Abel’s life is his wife’s Aunt. She is a fiercely independent woman of learning and they discuss books and philosophers at length. She is very keen to have a major role in Zachary’s life. As Zachary grows he seems to possess some interesting powers and following the terrible accident at the age of 6 (he is blinded in one eye) in his father’s workshop these strange powers develop.
Another interesting character is Tom, the gifted created of automata who conceals her gender in order to work in Abel’s workshop. Tom has a very close bond with Zachary and also feels responsible for the accident in which Zachary was injured. Zachary’s father finds it hard to develop a relationship with his son and he is then persuaded by an old friend’s employer to take on a difficult role in Constantinople. Zachary waits for news of his father and when his letters cease he sets off in search of him. A perilous journey across Europe which is vividly described. Zachary finds an interesting way to fund his journey across Europe and the denouement of the novel is satisfying. The novel has memorable characters a fantastic setting and an involving storyline. I will be recommending it to lovers of historical fiction.
Many thanks to the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.

The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudlesly is the author Sean Lidl’s first book, and he has delivered an accomplished and extremely well researched historical novel. It provides us with a cast of fascinating characters from the stars of the show down to the supporting roles. The children and the women are particularly well portrayed, especially from a male author. While a historic novel it has a very contemporary feel, which I really liked.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the places that featured, from 18th Century London, via Constantinople, to the Isles of Scilly. I didn’t have to work hard to imagine the amazing sights, sounds and smells.
The use of different voices in different chapters, with quirky and helpful chapter headings, worked particularly well.
I didn’t know anything about the 18th Century fashion for automations, but I am looking forward to finding out more.
I highly recommend this uplifting, emotional and entertaining

I found writing a review for this book incredibly difficult because I absolutely adored the description and I also usually love work by this publisher so I persisted.

It is entirely possible I was in a strange place when reading it, but I just couldn't get into it. It took me three attempts to finally break into the novel, beyond page 20. I had thought there was going to be more of a magical realism/ fantasy element to it and while the book is undoubtedly well-written, it wasn't at all what I had expected. I had actively wanted to read something outside my usual reading comfort zone and I hd thought this book would provide that. I also thought we would spend more time in Constantinople, again because of the description and gorgeous cover.

Others have clearly really enjoyed this book and I do think, as one other reviewer has said here, that this is possibly more down to reader expectation than to the writing, that I would have given a higher review here had I felt I knew what I was getting from the outset.

I would recommend this novel to those who enjoy literary fiction (I am one of the those people too!) and who enjoy character-driven work that takes its time to unfold.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s 1754 and Abel Cloudesley, clockmaker and automaton builder has just lost his wife in childbirth. He raises his son Zachary with the help of wetnurse Mrs Morley who also has a young daughter Leonora. From infancy Zachary shows astonishing intelligence and insight and seems to see things no one else does. When an accident in his workroom injures his son, Abel decides to send him to his Aunt Frances for safekeeping. Abel is then persuaded to go to Constantinople for a job but he never returns.

Years later Zachary will use his extraordinary gifts to travel east and finally find out what happened to his father.

This debut novel from Sean Lusk is an absolute delight. The writing is beautiful and the world building is wonderful - it’s hard to believe that this is the author’s first book. We spend a large part of the novel with Zachary as he is growing up, spending time in the world of Abel’s magical workshop. This was my favourite part of the novel and although I did enjoy the parts set in Constantinople, I felt the earlier sections were stronger.

The secondary characters were all fantastic and Mrs Morley might just be one of my favourite literary characters ever; the touches of humour from the independently minded woman are brilliantly done. Aunt Frances was also marvellously eccentric and forward thinking for her time.

The plot itself was good but for me it was the weakest part of the novel. There were certain parts I wasn’t entirely sure about and though I loved the gifts Zachary had I'm a little undecided as to how I feel about the way that all played out.

Ultimately this is a book about love, the many different kinds of love we have with the people we encounter during our lives, and how we show that love. This is a gorgeous novel, both inside and out and I'll definitely be watching out for more of the author’s work.

"I like the idea of a name that begins with the end," says Abel, a clockmaker, husband and prospective father now facing tragedy. This was only the first chapter and I was already in tears....
There is wonderful imagery from the author as the plot sweeps from London to Constantinople. So much of interest to learn about the 18th century Ottoman Empire that was both fascinating and page turning.
The link with clocks was one that interested me and made the magical mystery of parts of the novel so much more believable. Time itself was suspended for me with all the characters.
Fascinating insight into the structures and power of the people in charge in Constantinople.
Great characters to live with....and love.
One of my top books this year.

Abel Cloudesley is a renowned maker of clocks and mechanical marvels in 18th century London. Left devastated by the death of his wife in childbirth, he tries his best to bring up his son Zachary with the help of a wet nurse, Mrs Morley, and occasional interference from his wife's eccentric aunt Frances, but an accident in the workshop leaves six year old Zachary blind in one eye, and everyone agrees that Aunt Frances's country house with its weird collection of birds and animals would be a better place for a young inquisitive boy.
Zachary has always been wise beyond his years, and able to randomly forecast future events. Now, seemingly aided by an artificial eye created by Abel's most skilled assistant, he seems able to read thoughts and hopes, and when his father is lost on a government mission to Constantinople, Zachary is the only one who believes he's still alive and in need of rescue.

I'm trying hard to not give away the whole plot, but this is one of those books that seem difficult to give a feel for without doing so! Part historical fiction, part fantasy, it wasn't quite as I expected (I had hoped for a greater fantasy element), but I still enjoyed it immensely. From Abel's workshop to the crowded streets and luxurious palaces of Constantinople it's a very atmospheric read that will cast its spell over you; it's not one to dash through, but to sink into and savour. The cast of characters are equally numerous and varied, from Abel's old school friend now up to something shady in the British government to the black eunuch in charge of the seraglio, who's possibly the real power in Constantinople. I particularly liked the inclusion of LGBTQ characters as people just getting on with life and love, being accepted by others for who they were without any fuss.

It's an adventure story but also one about love and the ties that bind family, friends and lovers.

The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudlesly more than lived up to my expectations. When I started this book I realised that it reminded me of Charles Dickens in certain aspects. The idea of a young motherless boy, with special gifts, is certainly Dickensian as is an eccentric aunt, an outspoken wet nurse and a father who will do anything to protect his son. We follow Zachary as he grows from inquisitive child to highly intelligent, empathetic, and curious young man. His love of nature comes from being around his Aunt Frances, whose house is more like a menagerie than a home. To say she is eccentric is an understatement, she travels with her birds, goes shooting, and has a house and business that is in complete disarray. However, she teaches Zachary about the world around him, discusses politics and philosophy all of which she deems more important than a regular education One of my favourite characters was Mrs Morley, origionally hired as a wet nurse for Zachary, as she also has a three month old daughter Leonora. She is a larger than life character, straight talking and has no airs and graces. Her comments and musings certainly made me smile. Interestingly Sean Lusk has his female characters being independent, confident women, living their lives by their own rules.

It is hard to believe that this is Sean Lusk’s debut novel as it is so well written and researched. I thought the chapter headings fabulous , again in the manner of classic literature, so you have an idea of what is going to happen in each chapter. The setting of 1750’s which was an unstable England, seemingly at war with everyone is really interesting, the different political allegiances that ultimately catch an unwilling Able in their net, sending him to Constantinople on a mission he doesn’t want. Sean Lusk’s descriptive prose made me feel I was there with the characters, could see the beautiful minarets of Constantinople, the Hagia Sophia, the Ottoman Palace and the smell the beautiful spices in the air, which are all in complete contrast with the dullness of London and it’s not so pleasant aromas. I was fascinated by the descriptions of the fabulous creations in Abel’s workshop, especially the automon, which were popular at the time. The plot was pretty fast paced and I enjoyed reading not just Zachary and Abel’s stories but also those of the other characters, adding different dimensions to the book, and told with wit, comapssion and care.

The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudlesely is a fabulous, imaginative and magical read. The prose flows beautifully and Sean Lusk writes with a warmth and wit that makes this an immersive and exciting read. At the heart of this novel is the love of family, an aunt for her nephew, but most importantly the love between a father an son, a bond where they will do anything for each other. This is a truely bewitching book, heartwarming and atmosheric and one I highly recommend.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for giving me this ebook in return for a review.

This was an utterly fascinating, beautifully written novel that took me to a place I’ve never been. I was just completely charmed by it.

The story follows Abel Cloudsley and his strange son who when he touches them can see their thoughts or future or past. We also meet Mrs Morley, Zachery’s wet nurse and we often hear from her directly, as it is from her point of view we are told several parts of the story.

The story covers a number of years, from Zachery’s birth until he is in his late teens but it is never dull. It is not weighed down by extraneous historical detail and the author has a very light touch when creating atmosphere.

I liked the effect of a non binary character but do wonder how historically accurate it is and what it added to the story overall. Perhaps it was just added to make the book seem more current. The gay romance also concerned me, as there seemed no hint of the consequences of what was at the time considered a crime in all the countries mentioned. Whilst bringing a homosexual relationship to life in a novel is a noble thing in many ways, pretending that all would consider it normal shows little respect for the hundreds of people in the past who had to face extreme hardships because of their sexuality.

I really enjoyed this novel and would definitely recommend it to everyone.

This book is beautiful. It is such a heart warming and charming story. All the characters are so well written and come to life brilliantly on the page. This is at its heart a historical novel with a little bit of magic mixed in making it a truly unique and special story.

Now this is a rollercoaster of a ride.
What an absolute gem of a book.
The story involves Zachary and his father Abel, the book is set in London in the 18th century.
Abel owns a clock makers shop and after losing his wife in childbirth to Zachary Abel needs a wet nurse for his son and Mrs Morley and her baby daughter Leonora.
As the story progresses you get emerged into every characters lives.
Brilliantly written.

I was gifted an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest, at first, I had it difficult to make sense of what seemed to be a disjointed series of incidents. However, reading further into the novel the incidents merged into a cleverly constructed work of fiction in which the reader, along with the protagonist, is whisked on various global adventures. The title reflects the content of the novel with some surprising twists. Well worth a read.

This is such an original and unique tale, the perfect blend of magical realism with historical fiction and a pinch of steampunk for good measure! Bringing all this together is a credit to the author who has done a marvelous job in plot, character development and writing style.

‘How can a day, an hour, a minute change a life so completely? Why can these clocks not be made to run backward and take him to the day before, to the life he had supposed he would have?’

As the synopsis states, ‘brilliantly bonkers one moment and poignant the next’, there is quite a cast of characters that are sure to speak to a wide audience. However, for me, at its heart this is a novel about the relationship between a father and son. The widowed clockmaker/inventor and his gifted son. There are many elements to this story, taking place from England to Turkey with the trip alone making it worth the read as the author presents all the sights and sounds. At times it does get a little slow but I found the writing to be so rich and descriptive overall.

‘He was unattached to anything, it seemed, yet was so obviously striving for something more than this ordinary world could provide.’

The author states that he was inspired to write this novel when he came across an old Ottoman clock in an Istanbul bazaar. The clock had been made by an Englishman in 1750 and the author was intrigued as to how a clock from England had ended up there. From this stimulus, Sean has ultimately produced a tale rich in meaning and symbolism.

‘The weary distribution of time itself feels joyless and without meaning; the hours, he has come to understand, cannot be captured and regulated.’

The Second Sight of Zachary is all about familial love and, indeed, love in all its forms as shown through a strong cast of characters. The locales are rich and inviting with a plot that involves taking the reader on both a figurative and literal journey with emotions that range from joyous to incredible sadness at times. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something new and unusual, with a story that is both vivid and courageous.

‘You are unusual, and think your own thoughts, thoughts that no man could put in your heart. I know this. It was always true, Zachary. You are unique.’








This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

What an interesting and colourful book! Set in 18th century London and later, Constantinople, the story tells of a man and his son coping with life after the man’s wife dies in childbirth. The boy is different - he is more intelligent and knowledgable than normal children and he has visions. The other characters in the story all interact with the boy differently and they are written so well that we understand each character’s intention and reason for his or her actions. The characters all have something in their lives to deal with or overcome and the story allows them to do that leading to an ending that I found satisfying. I

A quirky and imaginative adventure, just the kind of book I love! Set in the 18th century England and Constantinople, the book commences with the birth of the enponymous Zachary Cloudesley, who was remarkable from the moment of his birth, a strangely quiet child who could talk and reason well before he should have been able to, born to Abel and Alice Cloudesley of Leadenhall. Alice has strange gifts herself but dies giving birth to Zachary, leaving Abel, a clockmaker, sole care of his son, with help from a quirky aunt and the wet nurse, Mrs Morley. Abel’s workshop is an Aladdin’s cave of amazing mechanical wonders, including automata and steam experiments. Abel dotes on his son but an accident in the workshop causes a guiltridden Abel to send Zachary to live with his aunt, while he accepts a position that sends him to Constantinople. Zachary warns his father not to go, courtesy of the strange prescience inherited from Alice, but Abel goes anyway and runs into great danger.
The clockwork in the book is a marvel and
yet apparently there were such devices around in the 18th century, which was one of the main inspirations behind the story. The setting of Constantinople is also a really enjoyable part of the book, I liked reading about somewhere new and also about the past of somewhere I’ve been. I also think one of the triumphs of the book is the well rounded characters - my favourites being Mrs Morley, and Tom, though there are plenty of others worth mentioning!

My thanks to #NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the look of this book and the description had me hooked.

Unfortunately, it was a bit downhill from there.
"[Zachary] is also the bearer of an extraordinary gift; at the touch of a hand, Zachary can see into the hearts and minds of the people he meets." This plays actually less of a role than you'd think given it is mentioned in the short description. The actual time in the book this would have been useful to him its not working and that's sort of briefly hummed over and then not again.

"His father will have to make a journey to Constantinople that he will never return from" which is not entirely true and doesn't happen until just over the halfway point in the book. "And, years later, only Zachary can find out what happened." but the readers find out well before Zachary does.

The description reads like the book will follow Zachary with his strange gift to find the mystery of his father. That might be my fault for putting so much stock into the description but what I actually read was a lot of background about his father, Abel, his wetnurse and her daughter and his crazy aunt. Zachary actually seems to feature very little in this book and for all the mention of his 'extraordinary gift' it really plays a very minor role aside from getting him some money and the trust of the Grand Vizier. Then also he has a boyfriend for reasons I didn't totally figure out.

"A beautifully crafted historical mystery that will take the reader from 18th century London, across Europe and, finally, to the bustling city of Constantinople." also isn't entirely accurate because Constantinople again plays a fairly minor role in the grand scheme of the book. It's not finally ends in Constantinople, mystery solved and the story wraps up. That's almost a mid point and after they return to England. I would say the book spends more time discussing Mrs Morley on Lundey than in Constantinople.

I had high hopes for this book but whether it was my expectations or the description that needed/needs adjusting, it is definitely one of them. A lot of others seem to like the story, so maybe it is just me.

This is a lovely story about a clock maker and his gifted son in 18th Century London and Constantinople.  A beautifully written piece of historical fiction with a touch of magical realism and little mentions of mythology, Greek in particular. A gorgeous read.

A fast, beautifully written, thought provoking , unforgettable, atmospheric read. Stories within a story, giving insights into uncharted worlds carrying us from London to Constantinople, back to the UK with the hint of future adventures but bestowing upon the reader a gratifying ending. Highly recommend.
#lovestrory#automata#thegift#fathers#historical#original

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book or if it was my kind of thing but I shouldn't have worried because I loved it!
Once it gets going, the story moves on well and there is no unnecessary hanging around at any one point in time. I found the characters to be interesting rather than sympathetic, Zachary was my favourite and I do feel that I would have liked to get to know him better. I didn't feel that the supernatural element was particularly over emphasized, it was more just another way of describing the mindset of the main character.
The setting moves from London to Hertfordshire then on to Istanbul and gradually winds it's way back and forth. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the places, their contents and what went on there. Altogether a lovely book to lose oneself in. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this review copy in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.