From beginning to end, this book was enthralling. It had a host of interesting, full rounded characters, and their trials and travels, from Tring to Turkey, were full of surprises. Zachary was the star of the novel and we see him grow up from a boy who has extraordinary talents and abilities, to a young man in search of his father and also, along the way, to discover his own identity. This is the first novel from this author but he has shown himself to be a great storyteller. I look forward to the second.

What an unusual yet captivating story. The characters were intriguing and all had such different tales to tell and yet their lives were inextricably linked.
The story takes us across continents and leads to captivation and imprisonment for one which leads the others to attempt a rescue fraught with danger. Along the way our travellers share sorrow and misfortune. Will there be any happiness when the story is finally concluded? Set in the 18th century, it is truly a lovely story. Share in their trials and hardships and see where it takes them.

I’ve seen this book described as Dickensian and I can see exactly what they mean. While not set in Victorian times, this has the same mix of larger than life but relatable characters, the mixture of good and ill fortune and the same blend of triumph and tragedy. I was absolutely spellbound and the ‘psychic’ element was woven in so deftly, it still felt more like a historical novel than anything else. Simply beautiful

This is a wonderful debut - imaginative and heartfelt, rich in historical detail and plot, but all of it worn lightly. Zach and Abel's relationship is especially well drawn, showcasing all the love, misunderstanding and vulnerability of fathers and sons/parent and child, but even walk-on characters earn their place - on the page and in the heart - quickly. Highly recommend.

This is an intriguing story that pulled me in instantly. Abel Cloudelsey, a clock maker and fabricator of automata, is the subject of a number of calamities in life, which continue as the book progresses. His son, Zachary, seems to have an ability outside the ordinary in knowing what will happen in the future. He suffers an accident in childhood, for which his father blames himself. Set in the 18th century, this book takes us to Constantinople and the history is well related. I don’t want to give spoilers, but so much happens in the book and I felt I was there with the characters. An exceptional story, brilliantly told.

This story felt like I was reading a classic. The opening chapter is one of tragedy as when Zachary Cloudsley enters the world, his mother leaves it. His father, Abel is grief-stricken, in need of a wet nurse for his son, and has a business to run. Enter the wonderful and straight-talking Mrs Morley and her baby daughter Leonora. Both to become larger than life characters in the story. I laughed so much at this pair.

Zachary is like a sponge soaking up everything around him, curious, bright and a child far beyond his years. Abel is the owner of a company that makes unusual clocks and life-like creatures that move. His workforce is loyal, and employment there is something to be treasured. Tom is a first-class worker with secrets that Abel is unaware of, all Abel sees is that Tom is bright and a hard worker.

When a life-changing accident happens to Zachary, Abel blames himself but, it leaves Zachary with yet another gift, one where he can see the future. To protect his son Abel makes a bad choice that is jumped upon by someone in high government and puts Abel in a terrible position.

I was mesmerised by this whole story, Zachary and his second sight and the inventions that were part of his life. There are so many personal stories going on in the book. Yet because each of these characters is so unique, it never became overpowering or confused.

I liked how when a new character appeared, so did a description of them. It cemented each one in my mind straight away. The story isn’t just set in England, it travels much further through a perilous Europe. The weeks and months that it took kept me rooted in the 1700s. These days we forget just how big the world is.

I could read this book over and over and still be thrilled and terrified with the inventions and welcome each character back into my life again. A fabulous timeless story that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I wish to thank the publisher and Net Galley for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.

A very interesting debut! It is fairly fast-paced, with loveable characters and an original plot. The writing is unfortunately not very consistent, and some pacing issues make me feel that the author was ambitious but not (yet) up to the task to pull it off perfectly. However, I definitely enjoyed reading it!

A luscious journey through 18th century, London and Constantinople is the first thing that sprung to mind once I finished reading this book. It's very well written and easy to get into. It has everything eccentric geniuses, cunning cads and full lustre landscapes. The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley is a wonderful debut novel by Sean Lusk and is written in full vim and vigour of it's equally colourful phase in history. In this case its the Ottoman empire in it's final years. The novel effectively takes you on a journey from the birth of Zachary Cloudesley through to this time as a young man and how the world around him evolves and changes during this time. His father from his perspective has disappeared without a trace and reason and as he grows up on a country estate of his aunt, his connectedness to this father never leaves him, that in turn sets him on an adventure to find out what really happened. There are lots of wonderful characters, boldly drawn and controversial for the time in which this is set, but I liked that - it gives us a glimpse (even if its somewhat fictional) how diverse a place like Constantinople may have been. It's a really good read and for a debut novel a solid effort and a very enjoyable read.

A suitably satisfying gothic tale of tragedy and triumphs.

It's London 1754 and this wonderful story beings with the birth of Zachary Cloudesley, and the death of his mother. His distraught Father, Abel, a clockmaker of some renown, struggles to cope with the events that have left him a sole parent. However, as the child grows, it becomes clear Zachary is special - a genius, certainly, but also with the ability to foresee future events. When an accident in his Father's workshop leaves him partially blind, both their lives change forever.

This tale is the second I have read recently where automata feature as central plot devices. Abel isn't just a clockmaker, he is an inventor of machines which mimic life, and this leads him to dark places, figuratively and actually. The struggles and choices he faces are nicely presented and I really sympathised with a man not completely in control of his destiny.

"The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley" introduces us to a broad cast of characters to love and hate - a rich and caring, but demanding matriarch, a strong, no-nonsense nanny-cum-fixer, an apprentice who is more than they seem, a manipulative and self-serving government minister, and a Moor-ish genius who has a past.

The story moves along at a fair pace, and the tone is certainly fitting for the period. The characters are well enough drawn that I genuinely felt their woes, and the plot unfurls nicely.

Definitely one to look out for - I was lucky to receive a Netgalley ARC, but this is another book I look forward to reading again in hardback. Recommended for fans of Anna Mazzola, Beth Underdown and Stacey Halls.

This novel was slow for the first few pages, at least I thought it was, then I could appreciate that the author was introducing characters, and the plot grew more and more gripping, until I had to finish the novel. There were many insights in the book, for instance I had no idea why the air is warmer when it snows, and now I know. The characters were developed so well that I found myself in tears, often, and identified with some of them. They were so real. The plot is exciting and a compulsive read. Altogether it was an impressive accomplished novel, and it is recommended highly.