Review by stephanieramrie -- The Watchmaker’s Doctor

[stephanieramrie]

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

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2 out of 4 stars

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The Watchmaker's Doctor is a young adult novel by G.M.T. Schuilling. It centers around Anaya, a doctor who is given the chance to go back in time by one of her patients. It's an original coming of age story that is a must read for people who love the genre.

I give this book 2 out of 4 stars. It was fair in my opinion, given the gripping plot. There are many high stakes that made me as a reader contemplate what I would do in Anaya's situation, which ultimately makes her a likable character. Although the aimed audience is young adults, this can resonate with people of all ages. I like that this book is a light, fast read. I also like that it disrupts cliches that are in a lot of time travel stories. This book is also very adaptable if it were ever to be turned into a movie; I'd certainly watch it.

This novel allowed me to personally think deeply about what I would do if I had the chance to go back. Funnily enough, though, I would be too scared to change anything about my past. I like when books cause me to think profoundly. However, there are a couple of points as to why this different take with a time travel plot didn't work so well.

First of all, given the high stakes of the story, the climax was revealed a little late into the book. Also, much of the story didn't involve much tension, and at times things were too easy for the character, which could potentially bore readers who don't like slow-building narratives. I didn't give this book higher or lower than a 2 rating because I wasn't ultimately impressed with it as a whole. The prose or syntax was at times too simplistic and excessively descriptive with arbitrary details. I would've liked it better if it was poetic and less like pure, action-descriptions.

Again, I liked this novel, but I didn't love it. Perhaps the fact that it made me feel like it was missing more tension was necessary, since it is the first in a series of novels. Perhaps it would take me reading all the novels in this series to reconsider my rating. Maybe the slowness of the events make sense, since this book is the foundation for the other books, but it is not likely that I will continue with the next novel.

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The Watchmaker’s Doctor
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