This was actually a re-read as I'm planning to finish the series now that all three books are out. I enjoyed Timekeeper even more on my second read; I'm sometimes slow to absorb worldbuilding details, and reading this again allowed me to fully appreciate the steampunk setting. It was also nice how the story focused on friendship and family connections at least as much as romance.

I found the story and setting more compelling than the characters, but I liked Daphne a lot and I think she's going to have a bigger role in the sequels, so I'm looking forward to that. Also, I appreciated how the author dealt with PTSD (the main character was in a job-related accident pre-book, and the mental repercussions affect him throughout the story).

As far as tone and content go, I'd consider this 'light' steampunk (at least in Book 1)—if you've read and enjoyed the Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld, you'll likely enjoy this. I recommend Timekeeper to fans of steampunk and historical fantasy, and/or for anyone looking for a unique adventure.

content warnings: accident-related PTSD, grief related to the loss of a parent, emotional neglect by a grieving parent