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eol's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
beththebookdragon's review
3.0
First off, the magic system: using "magic squares" of numbers and a "grammar" of words is fascinating, but we're given precious few details of how it works until more than halfway through the book.
The mystery unfolds well, with tantalizing clues and a reasonable if slightly slow pace. As for the romance, it's a bit awkwardly written in at first, starting off as a "friendship with sex" relationship that both characters struggle with for cultural reasons (Victorian men, very much expected to marry and raise a family or at worst be chaste bachelors) without communicating well (very realistic for the time period)
The story is overall a bit rough sometimes in how the mystery and romance elements are braided together. Historical accuracy seems to abound, though.
Good for Victorian mystery and magic fans who are looking for stories with time-appropriate male couples.
The mystery unfolds well, with tantalizing clues and a reasonable if slightly slow pace. As for the romance, it's a bit awkwardly written in at first, starting off as a "friendship with sex" relationship that both characters struggle with for cultural reasons (Victorian men, very much expected to marry and raise a family or at worst be chaste bachelors) without communicating well (very realistic for the time period)
The story is overall a bit rough sometimes in how the mystery and romance elements are braided together. Historical accuracy seems to abound, though.
Good for Victorian mystery and magic fans who are looking for stories with time-appropriate male couples.
jennybeastie's review
4.0
Great world, with an interesting magical system, and a strong steampunk sensibility. I particularly like the vicious, roving plants. Heh. Also, hooray for gay romance, and man, boarding schools are the pits. Solid mystery, very entertaining.
pam_h's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 stars
This was the exact right book at the right time for me, and I am so glad I picked it up. (Yay Bingo!) The focus is on the investigation, and the guys do a solid, competent job in a way that feels very realistic even though this is a world with everyday magic practitioners. The magic is very grounded into the reality of that time period, so it still feels very much like a historical.
The romance is definitely the subplot but it carries a lot of weight, and there's something about it that feels really simple but deep at the same time while avoiding overdone angst traps and plot tropes. It's also the type of fade-to-black that works perfectly for me. Recommended to anyone who likes historicals and procedurals (with a little magic).
This was the exact right book at the right time for me, and I am so glad I picked it up. (Yay Bingo!) The focus is on the investigation, and the guys do a solid, competent job in a way that feels very realistic even though this is a world with everyday magic practitioners. The magic is very grounded into the reality of that time period, so it still feels very much like a historical.
The romance is definitely the subplot but it carries a lot of weight, and there's something about it that feels really simple but deep at the same time while avoiding overdone angst traps and plot tropes. It's also the type of fade-to-black that works perfectly for me. Recommended to anyone who likes historicals and procedurals (with a little magic).
bahnree's review
4.0
The magic system is casually magnificent!
I like the methodical way they solve the mystery but it is slow-paced at times. And so many telegrams!
I like the methodical way they solve the mystery but it is slow-paced at times. And so many telegrams!
ereid641's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
veethorn's review
3.0
It started out slow. The world building took quite a bit of time, much like one of the slower Heyers but without her gift for drawing characters quickly. But the second half was much better than the first, containing enough excitement and fast-paced unraveling of the mystery to satisfy anyone.
bowienerd_82's review against another edition
2.0
I think I had this one over-hyped to me a little, and so found it a bit disappointing. It's got a good set-up: a Victorian Urban Fantasy with a queer romance... but it just never all came together for me.
I felt like I didn't get a good enough demonstration/ explanation of magic in the world, despite how much of the book it took up. The romance wasn't a big component of the plot, and most of the obstacles Ned and Julian encountered were based on their communication issues. And I felt like the boarding school flashbacks took up entirely too much space in the plot, without ever getting a good resolution. Finally, I didn't actually like the main characters very much. I didn't emotionally connect with either of them, and so wasn't able to get as deeply into the book as one might want.
It certainly kept me reading, and had decent style, but I think in the end it felt like it was written by two people who didn't quite line it all up perfectly.
I felt like I didn't get a good enough demonstration/ explanation of magic in the world, despite how much of the book it took up. The romance wasn't a big component of the plot, and most of the obstacles Ned and Julian encountered were based on their communication issues. And I felt like the boarding school flashbacks took up entirely too much space in the plot, without ever getting a good resolution. Finally, I didn't actually like the main characters very much. I didn't emotionally connect with either of them, and so wasn't able to get as deeply into the book as one might want.
It certainly kept me reading, and had decent style, but I think in the end it felt like it was written by two people who didn't quite line it all up perfectly.
kristamccracken's review
5.0
Compelling murder mystery with a flare of magic and queer detectives. Loved the world building and quickly grew attached to the characters.
madgirl's review
4.0
The comparison of this book to Sherlock Holmes was what inspired me to read it (well, that, and my fondness for Lethe), though I was quickly pleased that the similarity is actually fairly superficial and this story goes far beyond that. Though it is still a tale of a great partnership (that, yes, is romantic as well) as well as a gripping mystery. The two main characters especially are very well drawn and fully realized, with a nice gradual reveal of some childhood incidents that helped shaped them. And the backdrop of the world, a sort of gaslight urban fantasy, is an interesting one. I would really look forward to move stories in this world.