This gem is set in an alternate-England where magic has been contained and the Industrial Age never happened. Salamanders, water sprites, sylphs, and other dangerous magical creatures have been bent and shifted into items similar to an Edwardian England with both hackney cabs and winged coaches.
The Deathsniffer is Olivia Faraday, and her assistant is the penniless Christopher Buckley who finds himself thrust into service to pay for his sister, food and keep a roof over their heads. He has an old family friend who helps him along the way, but he's forced to take his gentlemanly ways and his magical ability with words to keep Miss Faraday's memories for her.
The British nobility is Old Blood in this book, and everyone else is forced at age 19 to have their abilities tried and tested. However, Christopher's younger sister is a truly gifted Spiritbinder, and she saves Christopher's life several times bringing them to national attention.
Christopher is a delightful, androgynous character. He hasn't ever kissed a girl, but he'd like to. He also has a couple of interactions with other androgynous male characters, and he is surprised by Olivia's reaction and the reaction of others in the time period. He's not a manly man, rather a clever, fashion conscious, very well mannered gentleman. He's uncomfortable crossing the rules of society, but he's surrounded by a whole host of women who are not bound by his fussy adherence to the same rules. These women are allowed to be policemen, detectives, and wizards. They are all as lovely and different as Chris and William and the other men in this book are different. Each character is distinct and well-formed.
His first case with Miss Faraday is solving the murder of a Duke, but his home life is swept up in keeping his sister safe. The case has several turns, and even if you can see the ending coming, you are already inside the beginnings of book two as this book ends.
Although I have a fairly good idea of where book two is going, it will still be enjoyable to see how the author gets there. I definitely will read the second novel in this series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
No comments:
Post a Comment