Review by Laura Del -- The Watchmaker’s Doctor

Laura Del · Post by **Laura Del** » 05 Sep 2018, 15:49

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Watchmaker’s Doctor" by G. M. T. Schuilling.]

4 out of 4 stars

Share This Review

Anaya has been through a lot in her thirty-five years of life. Suffering from Bipolar Disorder, not only is she self-medicating, but she believes she’s wasted the formative years of her life. Gregory, on the other hand, has lived a full and happy existence and believes that Anaya can do so as well by going back in time.

The Watchmaker’s Doctor by G.M.T. Schuilling is a fascinating story that delves into the realm of what it would be like if you could turn back time, and redo your life the minute it went wrong. It shows that one little decision can make or break a lifetime in the most epic way. This short sci-fi novella follows a less than remarkable woman, Anaya, back in time before it all went wrong, and shows how you can change the past but not change when your time is up.

This book is something out of a sci-fi geek’s dream. Being a sci-fi geek myself, I absolutely adored it. The story just draws you in and keeps you there the entire time. I loved the way Schuilling makes you empathize with Anaya from the beginning and keeps you on her side. She’s relatable, fun, funny, and very smart. A strong female character to the core and I love that.

There is legitimately nothing wrong with this book. It’s fast-paced, has great drama, holds the reader’s attention, and has just the right amount of explanation so that you’re not lost with the way it flows. Some sci-fi is bogged down with the science part and doesn’t have enough fiction, but The Watchmaker’s Doctor doesn’t encounter that problem. The author sets up what’s going to happen and just lets it happen, instead of describing the situation to death, which is such a breath of fresh air. Nothing is worse than when you’re looking forward to reading a book, and it’s mostly just the author grandstanding and telling the person reading it what they should be thinking, instead of letting them make up their minds. Thankfully, this novella lets the reader have an imagination, and I applaud the author for that.

Grammar wise, this is darn near perfect except for a couple of minor typo’s, which don’t detract from the story. I can tell that Schuilling had a professional editor go through this with a fine tooth comb, and I’d just like to thank the author again. Many a good book can be ruined by bad grammar, and luckily this is not one of them. Therefore, I’m so happy to give The Watchmaker’s Doctor a 4 out of 4 for an excellent plot, a fantastic heroine, and for keeping this reviewer entertained. The only bad thing about it was that it ended too soon and that I’m going to have to wait for the next one. I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves sci-fi, and to people who just want a fast and amazing read. Well done!

******
The Watchmaker’s Doctor
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Like Laura Del's review? Post a comment saying so!

Julie Green · Post by **Julie Green** » 27 Sep 2018, 01:23

I really like your bubbly review! I enjoyed this book too - a light read but one which made me think about life as well.

Laura Del · Post by **Laura Del** » 02 Oct 2018, 16:31

Julie Green wrote: ↑27 Sep 2018, 01:23 I really like your bubbly review! I enjoyed this book too - a light read but one which made me think about life as well.

I'm so glad you enjoyed the review and the book.

Espie · Post by **Espie** » 06 Dec 2018, 06:07

We all have the human propensity to err, and yet I hope we all get to have and maximise a chance at redemption. Thank you for your candid review.

Rwill0988 · Post by **Rwill0988** » 25 Jun 2020, 07:21

I just finished reading The Watchmaker's Doctor and hadn't even thought about how masterfully the author executed the sci-fi elements. It made me think of other novels I've read lately and they really do bog down on the details instead of just letting things happen. It shows a lot of trust in the readers. Are you going to read the second part of the series?