Timekeeper

What an interesting world the author has built. Time is controlled by the clocks, not the other way 'round, and that change also led to a very Steampunk England in the late 19th century. First book in a series, but this story comes to an end here, a big plus.

The world also has a very interesting mythology, over and above what we have today, of time gods. The clash between that and monotheism is also a small part of this story. My favorite character was the inventor Cassie, a strong female character who frequently helps the protagonist.

...and that protagonist needs help. I didn't especially like the main character, who was too hotheaded and impulsive. There was only a hint of improvement at the very end. The plot felt a little slow at times, but maybe that is because the author was weaving in more romance than story.

While this wasn't the "time travel" novel I was looking for, I do plan to dig into the second book. The story moves to colonized India, and likely reveals more about this curious world.