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aprillen's review against another edition
4.0
Fairly good detective story set in an alternate Victorian London where magic is real (and is called metaphysics). The romance between the two MCs was realistic and credible. I could have done without the Victorian "morals" and the very painful flashbacks to past boarding-school bullying, abuse and torment, but I suppose some moral quandaries and bonding experiences might not have been the same without them. Basically, this was the Victorian society of our world in all its rotten glory, with the addition of magic spells.
suzig's review against another edition
5.0
*swoon* This is the gay Holmes and Watson analogue I’ve been waiting for.
Content Notes: Hazing, whipping, sexual harassment, all in the context of an all boys school.
Content Notes: Hazing, whipping, sexual harassment, all in the context of an all boys school.
joreads7's review against another edition
4.0
A nice read with an interesting setting. Suffers from having one of the worst covers, which I didn't realize until I went to put it on goodreads. Really does the book a disservice since its pretty good!
libgremlin's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed this book a lot. I was expecting "Sherlock Holmes, but with magic" I think, but it's so much more than that. The authors' slightly alternate Victorian London is drawn vividly. I especially enjoyed the secret underworld of clubs that Julian Lynes frequents. Both main characters are compelling and I liked how the novel weaves together their present with their past so they make sense as people, and the way the case and their relationship are given equal weight within the narrative. I also liked that they are firmly established as gay but their sexuality isn't sensationalised - they're characters who happen to be gay, if that makes sense. In the same way, magic is a thing that just exists in the universe but is used in quite an understated way. The plot had a few ropey elements but it is a good Victorian mystery story. I would recommend it to anyone who's into Victoriana or urban fantasy.
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely, well-crafted universe, with two really interesting characters and a realistic portrait of how difficult can be to go from friends-with-benefits to something more.
The mystery was interesting, but I knew who was the culprit around the first half of the book. Nevertheless, it still managed to hold my interest, mostly because there was a lot of danger for our heroes and I didn't actually know how they would go about making public what had really happened.
I'll be reading the second book in this series pretty soon :D
The mystery was interesting, but I knew who was the culprit around the first half of the book. Nevertheless, it still managed to hold my interest, mostly because there was a lot of danger for our heroes and I didn't actually know how they would go about making public what had really happened.
I'll be reading the second book in this series pretty soon :D
mrella's review against another edition
5.0
Solid writing; a few typos don't count. An excellent historical with a dash of magic.
Non-romantic relationship (not for the lack of interest on both MCs part), mystery suspense and scenes of past abuse dominate this story.
The two MCs-wizard-detectives do get together closer to the end, but as far as I recall all sex scenes fade into black.
5 stars for a great historical fantasy mystery-suspense :D
Non-romantic relationship (not for the lack of interest on both MCs part), mystery suspense and scenes of past abuse dominate this story.
The two MCs-wizard-detectives do get together closer to the end, but as far as I recall all sex scenes fade into black.
5 stars for a great historical fantasy mystery-suspense :D
regulardragon's review against another edition
4.0
This was a lot of fun! Gay victorians in magical London, what else could you want (more lesbians).
The mystery itself dragged along at some points and went by too quickly in others, but I had a lot of fun imagining them boarding horse carried buses in all their dignified tophatted glory.
I was here though, for the banter, the silly clubs and obtuse detectives in love. Looking forward to the second book, hoping miss Frost will play a bigger part next time.
(I'll say the heavy parts are HEAVY, some of what's described to have happened to Ned and Julian at their school is horrifying and I don't know if it was sufficiently resolved, like emotionally??? IDK QUICK THOUGHTS.)
The mystery itself dragged along at some points and went by too quickly in others, but I had a lot of fun imagining them boarding horse carried buses in all their dignified tophatted glory.
I was here though, for the banter, the silly clubs and obtuse detectives in love. Looking forward to the second book, hoping miss Frost will play a bigger part next time.
(I'll say the heavy parts are HEAVY, some of what's described to have happened to Ned and Julian at their school is horrifying and I don't know if it was sufficiently resolved, like emotionally??? IDK QUICK THOUGHTS.)
lillian_francis's review against another edition
4.0
Okay. Need to think about this review. My heart wants to give it a 5 but my gut is saying hold off and think about it!
4 stars. Excellent alt Victorian London with magic. The world building and mystery is superb. Lost a star because, although the two leads are endearing, the actual romance felt like it played second fiddle and I wanted more to be made of it.
For those who are interested their is low/no on page sex.
4 stars. Excellent alt Victorian London with magic. The world building and mystery is superb. Lost a star because, although the two leads are endearing, the actual romance felt like it played second fiddle and I wanted more to be made of it.
For those who are interested their is low/no on page sex.
katayoun's review against another edition
2.0
first off please note that 2 starts means ok, it's not bad. as I said to a friend, you can definitely not read it and not miss anything, or you can read it and not suffer!! it was ok
kake's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Child abuse