I really enjoyed this book! For those who don't know, this is a branch off from the "Alice in the Country of Hearts" manga series that explores the possible romantic relationship between Alice and the taciturn clockmaker Julius. The manga series is based off a game that allows the player (as Alice) to form relationships with any of the other male characters, so there is no real "canon" pairing for Alice. The first Alice series, consisting of 6 volumes, I think pairs off Alice with Blood Dupre (the Hatter), and the subsequent series such as "In the County of Clover" are retellings or alternate storylines. "The Clockmaker's Tale" is one of those alternatives.

The Alice x Julius pairing is my favorite because he's the ONLY guy in this entire Wonderland universe who ISN'T a creeper. (Okay, Gowland isn't a creeper either, but we see a LOT more of Julius's interactions with Alice over the course of the manga. And honestly, I like Julius the best.) Julius actually considers Alice's feelings, doesn't try forcing himself or his restrictions on her, and generally treats her like a human being. The development of their relationship is both sweet and natural-feeling, although some readers might find it tame or even dull compared to the more violent or ridiculous courtships made by Blood Dupre, Peter White, or Boris the Cat. The sad part is, even though the story is high-quality, "The Clockmaker's Story" is only one volume. Which is great for my pocketbook, but means less time is spent exploring Julius with Alice than with other characters.

I definitely recommend reading this manga, but you should be acquainted with "Alice in the Country of Hearts" beforehand, otherwise you might be a little confused.