What is SPFBO 9?  This is  a competition where authors of self-published fantasy can enter their work. The objective to find a winner out of the 300 entries submitted.  Ten judges (or judging teams) each receive 30 entrants.  Each judge/team will eventually submit one finalist to the second round where a winner will eventually be decided upon. Check out Mark Lawrence’s post here to look at this year’s entrants, judges and allocations list.  Also, check out this page to see all the lovely finalists and the scoreboard for Phase 2 of the competition.

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The Wickwire Watch was the second SPFBO Finalist that I picked up.  This is another coming of age story that blends gaslight fantasy and mystery with a little bit of magic, vengeful ghosts and found family.

As the story begins we meet Inkwell Featherfield,  Ink is on a self imposed mission searching for his parents (he isn’t sure at this point whether they are alive or not).  He travels from town to town, picking pockets along  the way and surviving as best he can – his light fingers actually catch the attention of a local reporter who is trying to find out more information about a murder that has just taken place.  Ink takes on the job of looking around the home of the victim but what starts out as a fairly simple affair soon sees him being chased by Spektors and rescued by a group of unlikely outlaws.

I will say that I really enjoyed the start of the story.  There was the mystery to solve, talk of ‘colonists’ – who are whispered about with much fear and of course we have a magical item that has been found.  The pacing at the start was good and quickly pulled me into the story.

That being said, once Ink was rescued I found the story, or the plot that I was expecting, came almost to a halt.  Instead we then have a good chunk of the book dedicated to showing us the life that Ink’s rescuers live.  I will give a mention to the ‘island’ that they live on – this was a great idea.  But, aside from that, I found these chapters pulled me out of the story.  I understand the idea is to let Ink and the readers get to know these new characters, to give them an opportunity to develop trust, but, it was a huge slice of life story that I didn’t particularly enjoy with a lot of attention on everyday life, picking apples, making breakfast, washing up, etc.  I don’t mind that detail, just to be clear, but I felt there was too much, and rather than demonstrate how well Ink’s would-be rescuers were surviving it seemed to show the opposite to a certain degree.  However, this is a very personal issue which other readers will probably love.  I simply felt it slowed the story down too much and eventually I felt myself losing interest.

What I liked about the Wickwire Watch was the period in which it’s set.  We have a Victorian style world where magic is fading and new technology is taking its place.  There are still magically imbued items and of course some people can still perform magic although I won’t try to describe the finer details as I’m not totally sure I understand how the magic worked but I really liked the setting.

I also really liked the way the author gives both sides of the story.  Ink is a character who doesn’t easily give people his trust which is completely understandable with him fending for himself and, much like Ink, the reader also doesn’t totally know who to trust. The outlaws are believed to have committed horrible crimes, people speak of them in hushed voices and Ink fears for his life when he discovers his rescuers are  none other than the infamous murdering Colonists.  But they tell a different story entirely.  So, who do you believe – and will Ink make the right choice ultimately. I really like this aspect of the book it adds to the intrigue.

I did have some issues that held me back with this book.  I already mentioned the pacing and the way the story slowed down for a good chunk of the book.  On top of this I failed to connect with Ink, which I can’t really explain  but I find it difficult to really sink into the story if I don’t get along well with the main character.

Small issues aside though, this is undoubtedly an enjoyable read.  I did feel it went off track a little but I had no problems returning to this book and I think it will easily find it’s target audience.

I received a copy from the author, for which my thanks.  The above is my own opinion.

My rating 3.5 of 5 or 7 of 10