Natasha Pulley

Natasha Pulley is a British author of historical fantasy whose novels are set in meticulously researched historical periods and infused with magic, queer romance, and a distinctive blend of warmth and intellectual ambition. Her work has been praised for its originality, its diverse settings, and its ability to make real history feel enchanted. Born in 1988, Pulley studied English at the University of Oxford and creative writing at the University of East Anglia. She has lived in Tokyo and is deeply knowledgeable about Japanese history and culture, which informs several of her novels. The Watchmaker of Filigree Street (2015) was her debut — a novel set in 1884 London and Tokyo, following a telegraphist who receives a mysterious gold watch that saves his life, leading him to the enigmatic Japanese watchmaker Keita Mori. The novel blends historical fiction with elements of magical realism and was praised for its intricate plotting, its evocation of Victorian London and Meiji Japan, and its tender same-sex romance. The Bedlam Stacks (2017) was set in 1850s Peru. The Lost Future of Pepperharrow (2020) continued the story of The Watchmaker of Filigree Street. The Kingdoms (2021) explored alternate history and time travel. The Half Life of Valery K (2022) was set in a Soviet-era nuclear research facility in Siberia. Pulley writes with historical precision and imaginative freedom, creating novels that feel both deeply researched and wonderfully strange. The audiobook editions of Pulley's novels are atmospheric and immersive. Her books and audiobooks are essential for readers who love historical fiction infused with magic, queer romance, and settings that range from Victorian London to Soviet Siberia.