The Mapmaker's Apprentice

Glass and Steele #2

by C.J. Archer

When an apprentice from the Mapmakers' Guild goes missing, Matt and India are employed to find him. Going undercover as a married couple, they discover that not everyone at the guild is what they seem, and the lad's unearthly maps caused jealousy, suspicion and fear.

With one of the apprentice's magic maps in their possession, India and Matt must use their wits and India's fledgling, untried magic to find him. But the more they investigate, the more sinister plots they uncover, including a link between the Mapmakers' and Watchmakers' Guilds, and an ancient magical treasure buried beneath the streets of London.

As the net of suspicion widens and enemies draw closer, it's not just the apprentice's life that's in danger, but Matt's too. Someone will go to great lengths to prevent him discovering the name of the man who can fix the watch keeping him alive. Great lengths indeed.

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Magic

360 pages, ebook

First published October 25, 2016

About the author

C.J. Archer is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of historical mystery and historical fantasy novels including the GLASS AND STEELE series, the CLEOPATRA FOX MYSTERIES, the MINISTRY OF CURIOSITIES and THE GLASS LIBRARY series.

She has loved history and books for as long as she can remember and feels fortunate that she found a way to combine the two. She has at various times worked as a librarian, IT support person and technical writer but in her heart has always been a fiction writer. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, 2 children and Coco the black and white cat.

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Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due to a silly mistake I read this one out of order but since each book has it's own story this was not a problem. Plus India's romance and her magical skills progress at a snail's pace from book to book so I did not miss much.

The Mapmaker's Apprentice had a missing boy, a murder, hidden treasure, and a confusing number of bad guys, many of whom move forward into future books. For me the best parts are times spent with India, Matt and her gang and also anything to do with the developing theme of magic. As the title suggests this book involved magic maps which sounded delightful.

The author writes the London setting in this period well without over describing it. She has fun mixing the oh so proper upper class English with those brash young things from America. It all makes for an entertaining read and I look forward to moving on with the series.

[Roxy Carl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stop at one, or none

The first book was interesting, if a bit slow and anticlimactic. This second book is just absurd. Glass and his crew are supposed to be fantastic at infiltrating criminal gangs but I truly think they're more like five year olds. The plot is silly, they're unprofessional and make ridiculous mistakes. There might as well be nothing new in this book about India's magic because what we do learn is minuscule and really gives any further understanding of the magic in this world. I'm so frustrated I read this, I didn't realize until I'd already read a free copy of the first book that this is an author who writes series with a slew of books in them in which hardly anything happens, just to eek out as much money as they can.

If you've read the first and know like everyone knows, that Steele and Glass are going to get together, know that by the end of book two, it's still just angsty crap, with her liking him but denying to herself that he's actually looking at her like he's attracted to her. This book left me feeling annoyed, frustrated and had.

[TXGAL1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continued excitement from Matthew Glass and India Steele in 19th century London. Magic and mystery abound.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't remember the last time I read a book where the main characters behaved so idiotically. They jump to the most improbable of conclusions. They run into foolish situations they easily could avoid. They say: "Don't do the thing" and then they do the thing! And yet...I really enjoyed it.
It was improbable and stupid at times, and I really did have to turn my brain off for how they got from one plot point to the other, but I enjoyed it. I really like the main couple. I'm here for the slow burn. I've already downloaded the next book in the series. It is entertaining.
Ridiculous. But entertaining.

[mina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second book in the series is not going in a better direction, the writing is still weak and the characters are not well developed. I hoped the search for Chronos will be more fruit bearing which to my disappointment it was not. BUT the book has something; I enjoyed listening to it very much. I think I found my guilty pleasure.

[Maria V. Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book like I had for the first in the series. There's a change in the narrator, which I noticed, but decided to listen to this one right after I finish book 1. I probably shouldn't have done that as some of the voices were not matched up. I probably wouldn't have notice the differences if I waited a few months. Normally, it takes me a month to listen to an audiobook, but I'm signing endpages which goes faster when I'm listening to a book.

The plot, tho was just okay. The characters didn't really solve the mystery. I was annoyed when India and company did all the work to find and rescue Matt and Willy, and when they get there, the two of them are just walking down the street. What a let down! India should have at least freed them from the basement. Oh and I was annoyed that they didn't think to make a magic map of London so India can use her magic to find Chronos - she had tried to fix Matt's watch so she could possibly find the watchmaker that way.

I do have book 3 to listen to as I bought them in a bundle. I see there's more books in the series, but if they don't find Chronos in book 3, I'll be done with this series.

[Cookie M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I would like to ask for prayers today (4/25/19) for my niece's five month old baby Spencer who is hospitalized with probable meningitis. He is one of two precious twins. My niece is a nurse practitioner, so I'm sure she knows just enough to be terrified. Our whole family could use prayers for the best possible outcome and for peace.

I will edit this post when the news changes.


Now, the review:
This is the second book in the Glass and Steele epic, a sort of steampunky feeling Victorian adventure series where magic exists, but is inherited and is misunderstood and practiced in secret by people who can enchant certain objects. The normal people of the time, of course, fear them, and will do anything to stop them.
These books are rollicking good fun. "The Mapmaker's Apprentice" is almost as good as the first book, "The Watchmaker's Daughter." The banter between the two main characters could be a bit more witty, but I am still in board with this story.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series. The second installment in the glass and Steele series starts off right where the first one left off. India, whose watchmaker father recently died, works with an american cowboy/ English gentleman to solve a missing persons case.

This books is similar to her Rift series in that the books cover about a week and the books go one right to the next. They are basically a continuation of everything going on. The books are quick and fun reads.

SPOILERS >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

One thing that I am a little nervous about is the pace of the mystery and romance. I am afraid that the series will go on forever and never have an ending. It seems that there are various mysteries in each one, but then their is the overall mystery. I want the overall mystery to be solved, but it is going at a slow pace and doesn't really get furthered in this book. I know that their are at least 8 books in the series right now, and I hope that when I finish them that the overarching mystery will be solved.


Re-read 2/2/2021

I just love India and Matt's budding relationship in this one. I take back all the fears I had in my first review. Knowing that things are going to be okay really makes me enjoy it more. I can just enjoy the beginnings of a beautiful love.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the way the magic is taking shape in this world- combining different magics to create different effects. Very much enjoying this series so far.

[Laz the Sailor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the same quality as the first one, so I am giving it the same rating. However, the world-building which was started subtly in the first one, is now tedious. The interesting characters have become annoying caricatures. And no progress has been made toward the main plot goal.

I won't be reading the next one without encouragement.

[Wonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4...Falling for this world, hard! It's a little slow moving for me, but I love the characters...and I can't wait to see where the storyline goes...

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am still not AS entranced by this as I am the follow up series, BUT the scene where Matt and India are getting ready for bed together completely without thought, is the type of domesticity, particularly between an unmarried couple in historical times, that makes me absolutely FERAL. Big fan of that scene.

[Michelle Schroeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's a hint at the end, don't miss it 😉

[Shreyas Deshpande · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ratings-🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

[Karissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Glass and Steele series and I didn't like this quite as much as the first book in the series. The characters are still fun and engaging and I enjoyed the mystery (both the main mystery and the mystery around India's magic).However (aside from the smaller mystery featured in this story) the story doesn't make a lot of progress.

I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was very well done. I enjoy the narrator for this series quite a bit.

As for the story, I had hoped India's magic would feature more in this story but it really doesn't. The whole issue with Matt and his magical watch doesn't really go much of anywhere either. Matt and India do end up solving the mystery of a missing Mapmaker’s apprentice. However, this still kind of felt like part of a book rather than a complete novel.

While I do understand this is part of a series, I am beginning to feel like this story is being broken down into small sections just so the author can sell more books.

Overall I am uncertain whether or not I will continue this series right now. It's a pleasant series to listen to on audiobook and I like the quirky characters but it just doesn't feel like it's going anywhere.

[Violet Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I was disappointed in this book. It felt very stagnant. Even though there was magic in this book I didn't feel like I really learned anything. The rules and limits, that is. As for the romance with Glass and India I'm hoping it doesn't continue to drag on through the entire series. It's a bunch of back and forth with no real reason.

I'm still going to keep reading because I am curious but I'm pretty meh so far.

[Kim Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books that lead to gluttony

This series is great that I metaphorically gorge on each one as it appears. A motley crew of well drawn characters who reveal new facets over time. A self contained mystery in each one with a life or death quest running through the entire series. It is a pleasure to read something so beautifully written and engaging.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has everything I like, it is set in Victorian England, has mystery, magic, romance and colorful characters! Mr. Glas and Miss Steel continue to work together as a team to find a watchmaker, and then Mr. Glass is given a special missing persons job, by Captain Minroe which complicates things. Great read!

[Muzmuz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another marvelous story

The tension betweem india and matt had me all giggly and wanting more... the way they behave around each other and the way india has grown in confidence and character had me racing to read more of their moments... needless to say i will be reading book 3 as soon as i put my hands on it

[Nainika Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt and India need to hurry their love story up because that's all I care about now. Oh and the plot was great, too.

[pears ✧ ☽ ☼ ଳ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️2.75⭐️

[Hope Sloper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm completely taken with this series so far. I can't even put into words how much I love these characters. All of them, but Willie is without a doubt my favorite. Anyone who knows me and reads this story will know exactly why.
I did hope to see a little more development with Indie in this book, and this book didn't pack quite as big as a punch as its predecessor. Knowing there are two more books to read, as well as, at least a fifth in the making, I do understand the steady pace of the overall story development. Book two certainly wasn't boring. Not in the least. There is still plenty of mystery and plenty of story to be told. A little more magic, a little more character growth, a little more romance in the making.
In my opinion, all the series is lacking thus far is TNT. I'm hoping Willie will be the one to solve this issue.
I'm going to continue to read. I downloaded book three this morning.

[Nene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read, a bit less brilliant compared to the first instalment I would say, mostly because I'm starting to sense a pattern on how things develop.

All in all, I can say I always find myself quite surprised at the little twists in the story, which are usually represented by India's intuitions, and that's definitely a good thing, but there are no big twists or dramatic showdowns.

Still, entertaining read. But I am starting to get annoyed that nothing 'concrete' is happening between Glass and Steele. So much so that I'm starting to feel anxious that there is nothing between them, like India worries about xD. Two books with no development feels a bit too much to be honest.

[Annette Spratte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this second instalment of the series. Matt and India are great characters and I love how India is slowly discovering her magic. Amusing was the aunt's quest to find a wife for Matt, no matter how often he said he wasn't going to marry, since he's quite obviously in love with India, who is quite obviously in love with him but that's just a side plot raising its head here and there with a twinkle in its eye. Something I also enjoy immensely.
The focus is on riddles to be solved, persons to be found and hindrances to be overcome. Of course, new riddles keep popping up, so I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another very good audio book. I like everything about this series. The characters are fun and quirky. The romance is an extremely slow burn. The mysteries are engaging and the narration is good. Learning more about India's magic and the search for Chronos may seem to take back seat to the current mystery but Matt and India are always looking for the smallest clues about the magical watchmaker. On to

[Dea꧂ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is full of inexcusably stupid characters.
I don't know who is more irritating and with whose face I want to smash a hole in the wall with more. Willie, India, Matt and Miss Glass are just tstl.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second installment.
The characters are growing on me. So is the chemistry between Matt and India. Still, India thinking she's unworthy is making me roll my eyes. At 27 y/o she should not think like a 17 y/o, not even in Victorian London. (just saying)

[Nadishka Aloysius · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down - and was thrilled to realise there are many more types of magicians abroad on the streets of Victorian London...
The plot thickens...
And the next book beckons...

[Emily Bryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

So many eye rolls but had to know how it ended...

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun audio book :)