“Things tend to fall into perspective when your life hangs in the balance.”
It follows a girl named India whose father has just died and has been cheated out of her inheritance in a world where women are undervalued. The story itself has a sort of historical/steampunk vibe. She meets a man named Matt who she can’t quite figure out. Is he an American outlaw? An English gentleman? Some unholy combination of the two? She bounces back and forth on her answer to this question. And yet, finds herself in his employ. He’s seeking a man he met a long time ago, the only one who can fix his special, glowing watch… and he believes India, with her longstanding knowledge of London watchmakers, can be of use. But India soon realizes she’s bit off more than she can chew. Because this watch isn’t just a watch and this man may just be more trouble than he’s worth.
Blending together an almost ordinary, almost familiar world with a hint of magic and steampunk, it’s got an almost Golden Compass/His Dark Materials sort of vibe which is different from your typical medieval fantasy so I can appreciate the originality.
The characters are intriguing with secrets that keep you guessing. My only issue with it is that there are portions in which the writing feels a bit rushed. The pacing is only slightly off for me. And some of the words choices feel a bit redundant. But for anyone looking for an interesting adventure in a strange new world, I would highly recommend The Watchmaker’s Daughter.
Author A. N. Horton 
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