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Maisey and the Lamplighter
In the heart of East London, a world of secrets begins to unfold. Meet James Braithwaite the lamplighter, a steadfast man of few words and fewer dreams, as he makes his twice-daily journey through the foggy streets of Wapping, where the clatter of steel-capped boots, the chatter of folk, and the squawking of seagulls orchestrate the rhythm of his life. Meanwhile, young Maisey, a fearless and resourceful girl, navigates the complex world of a mysterious institution where strange occurrences are the norm. From spiders to secret missions, Maisey's daring adventures lead her to a newfound friendship with James Braithwaite. As their worlds converge in this enigmatic and evocative narrative, Maisey and the Lamplighter explores the complexities of human connection, the power of dreams, and the relentless pursuit of light in the darkest corners of life.
310 pages, Paperback
Published April 24, 2025
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 2, 2025
Thank you to the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Based on the cover, blurb and name of this book you'd expect a mediocre middle-grade Victorian adventure story with fantasy elements. This is absolutely not the case and does a discredit to the story; and you actually get something very different.
While I think it leans more YA than adult, MatL has the dreamlike mystery of Piranesi, mixed with the eccentric randomness of The Library at Mount Char. It's an easy read and because it's so INCREDIBLY fast-paced and random you never know quite what happens next. Credit to the author too because despite this, it still sticks to its own lore and never feels unduly disorientating. The characters are fun, the humour is mildly amusing, and the mystery of what is going on and how it's going to resolve keeps you gripped.
My critiques would be: the ending feels rushed, some characters are given very unceremonious exits without any space to feel their loss, and the transition from London into the institute at the start is disorientating. You don't get all the answers, which is fine, but a little more behind the curtain would have left the questions we end with feel more satisfying. The sotry is injected with fun from the way it traverses genres, but at times suffers from a slight identity crisis as a result; the highs don't hit as hard and the lows lose their emotional resonance.
Overall however, I'm happy I read this. It won't be for everyone but there's a demographic of reader I would recommend this to. Personally, I would be encouraged to read more of Hand's work.
Based on the cover, blurb and name of this book you'd expect a mediocre middle-grade Victorian adventure story with fantasy elements. This is absolutely not the case and does a discredit to the story; and you actually get something very different.
While I think it leans more YA than adult, MatL has the dreamlike mystery of Piranesi, mixed with the eccentric randomness of The Library at Mount Char. It's an easy read and because it's so INCREDIBLY fast-paced and random you never know quite what happens next. Credit to the author too because despite this, it still sticks to its own lore and never feels unduly disorientating. The characters are fun, the humour is mildly amusing, and the mystery of what is going on and how it's going to resolve keeps you gripped.
My critiques would be: the ending feels rushed, some characters are given very unceremonious exits without any space to feel their loss, and the transition from London into the institute at the start is disorientating. You don't get all the answers, which is fine, but a little more behind the curtain would have left the questions we end with feel more satisfying. The sotry is injected with fun from the way it traverses genres, but at times suffers from a slight identity crisis as a result; the highs don't hit as hard and the lows lose their emotional resonance.
Overall however, I'm happy I read this. It won't be for everyone but there's a demographic of reader I would recommend this to. Personally, I would be encouraged to read more of Hand's work.
Displaying 1 of 1 review