The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley
Opening in the middle of the 18th century and moving between London, rural England and Constantinople, this novel is historical fiction laced with whimsy and magical realism. Zachary’s birth is tinged with sadness, as it leads to his mother’s death; his father is almost broken by despair, but in his son, he finds new purpose. The boy is precocious and wildly intelligent and possesses a powerful ability to see the future. Just holding another person’s hand allows him a window into their soul. This uncanny ability is heightened when a terrible accident causes Zachary to lose an eye and, fearing that he would do better in the country with his wealthy aunt, Zachary is sent away. His father, a prodigiously talented maker of clocks and automata, comes to the attention of powerful men and is sent on a spying mission to Constantinople. Years later Zachary uses his gifts to travel across Europe to discover what became of his father, with his ferociously determined aunt hot on his trail.
Sean Lusk’s writing is exquisite, and his characters are powerful and poignant creations which leap from the page. This story has all the elements of a fairy tale and is a must read for fans of Carlos Ruiz Zafón, David Mitchell, and Natasha Pulley.
