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booksandsalt's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thecanary's review
3.0
This author has been on my radar ever since I first came across the happy chatter surrounding her debut novel Boneshaker. So when I saw this latest book pop up on my radar, I had to read it. That the blurb promised a character with a tortured past was just icing on the cake.
Set against a backdrop of 1920’s spiritualism in small-town Florida, this book follows the two characters as they come to terms with what the spirit haunting Tomas is about. On the one hand we have 22-year-old spinster and budding psychic Alice Dartle, traveling to a spiritualist haven in Florida. On the other, local town tailor and World War I veteran Tomas Cordero who is haunted not just by fire, but by his war experiences and the untimely death of his beloved wife and best friend.
As Alice takes her first tentative steps as a psychic amid a supportive spiritualist community, Thomas is plagued with mysterious fires that ignite around his home. Is he doing it himself? Is it a restless spirit? Is he in danger?
(This is a book. Of course we are all in grave danger.)
The back of the book blurb codes for dramatic and epic storyline, while the actual story falls more along the lines of mystery and historic suspense, with little-to-no romance. It builds steadily, slowly, but without the high octane energy of an action thriller that I had expected from the author of Boneshaker.
In her 2011 review of Boneshaker, my reading partner in crime said that this author was one to watch. I agree. Priest’s prose and world building continue to be exceptional. And whereas all of Boneshaker’s characters suffered from a mild case of one-dimensionality, Brimstone gives us, on the whole, a fully fleshed out Tomas and a fully realized plot. The jury is still out on Alice and her friends, who developed that odd tendency to act in whatever way the plot needs at about the half-way mark.
If you’re a fan of alternative histories with magic elements, this one might be for you. Get this book for its paranormal mystery amid a gorgeous backdrop of historical Florida, and for the many ways the book makes you worry and agonize over Tomas’ plight, right up to the final resolution.
Book provided for review by the publisher.
Set against a backdrop of 1920’s spiritualism in small-town Florida, this book follows the two characters as they come to terms with what the spirit haunting Tomas is about. On the one hand we have 22-year-old spinster and budding psychic Alice Dartle, traveling to a spiritualist haven in Florida. On the other, local town tailor and World War I veteran Tomas Cordero who is haunted not just by fire, but by his war experiences and the untimely death of his beloved wife and best friend.
As Alice takes her first tentative steps as a psychic amid a supportive spiritualist community, Thomas is plagued with mysterious fires that ignite around his home. Is he doing it himself? Is it a restless spirit? Is he in danger?
(This is a book. Of course we are all in grave danger.)
The back of the book blurb codes for dramatic and epic storyline, while the actual story falls more along the lines of mystery and historic suspense, with little-to-no romance. It builds steadily, slowly, but without the high octane energy of an action thriller that I had expected from the author of Boneshaker.
In her 2011 review of Boneshaker, my reading partner in crime said that this author was one to watch. I agree. Priest’s prose and world building continue to be exceptional. And whereas all of Boneshaker’s characters suffered from a mild case of one-dimensionality, Brimstone gives us, on the whole, a fully fleshed out Tomas and a fully realized plot. The jury is still out on Alice and her friends, who developed that odd tendency to act in whatever way the plot needs at about the half-way mark.
If you’re a fan of alternative histories with magic elements, this one might be for you. Get this book for its paranormal mystery amid a gorgeous backdrop of historical Florida, and for the many ways the book makes you worry and agonize over Tomas’ plight, right up to the final resolution.
Book provided for review by the publisher.
rkstumblingbear's review
medium-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
5.0
selfwinding's review
4.0
I love it when books are set in Florida, especially parts of Florida I know well. I love it when books are set in the late 19th or early 20th century. I love it when books are written by Cherie Priest. So it's no surprise Brimstone was a near homerun for me.
Weaving together two characters separated by the width of Central Florida, Priest uses the backdrop of the spiritualist camp in Cassadaga, Florida to tell an intriguing story about spirits, faith, and loss. The characters are the center of this novel, and even though I tend to be drawn to young upstarts like Alice Dartle, I found myself equally moved by the chapters from Tomás Cordero's point of view. Priest does a wonderful job of bringing these different voices to life, distinguishing their world views and syntax clearly enough that I didn't need the character titles at the start of each chapter, it was so obvious which character was speaking.
The setting is vibrant. Having visited modern day Cassadaga many times, it was interesting to see it filtered through the lens of historical fiction (and identify which things haven't changed). Priest does an excellent job not just with the geography, but with the character of the town, proving that the right location matched with the right story can make magic happen.
The story moves a little slowly, but given the way details unfold it's the right pace for this novel. Just be prepared for the slow burn (ha, ha), and know that everything pays off by the end.
I stalled on reading more Priest after Boneshaker (because it terrified me), but after reading Brimstone (which I would classify as "light horror") I'm feeling a bit more confident about reading more of her work.
Weaving together two characters separated by the width of Central Florida, Priest uses the backdrop of the spiritualist camp in Cassadaga, Florida to tell an intriguing story about spirits, faith, and loss. The characters are the center of this novel, and even though I tend to be drawn to young upstarts like Alice Dartle, I found myself equally moved by the chapters from Tomás Cordero's point of view. Priest does a wonderful job of bringing these different voices to life, distinguishing their world views and syntax clearly enough that I didn't need the character titles at the start of each chapter, it was so obvious which character was speaking.
The setting is vibrant. Having visited modern day Cassadaga many times, it was interesting to see it filtered through the lens of historical fiction (and identify which things haven't changed). Priest does an excellent job not just with the geography, but with the character of the town, proving that the right location matched with the right story can make magic happen.
The story moves a little slowly, but given the way details unfold it's the right pace for this novel. Just be prepared for the slow burn (ha, ha), and know that everything pays off by the end.
I stalled on reading more Priest after Boneshaker (because it terrified me), but after reading Brimstone (which I would classify as "light horror") I'm feeling a bit more confident about reading more of her work.
ssejig's review
3.0
The description of this book on Get Booked was "plucky flapper witch." And that was, indeed, an apt description of this book. Alice Dartle is just looking for a place to call her own. A gifted clairvoyant, her family doesn't understand her, so she writes to a commune in Cassadega, Florida, known for its studies of the paranormal. It is here she finds acceptance if not peace. Her life seems to be entwined with that of an unknown man; one who has fire stalking him.
Tomas Cordero once fought with fire, a new technology that helped win a world war. But he awakened something terrible.
An okay story that I sped through.
Tomas Cordero once fought with fire, a new technology that helped win a world war. But he awakened something terrible.
An okay story that I sped through.
beckylej's review
4.0
Cherie Priest's latest is out on shelves, readers! I mean, a new Cherie Priest release is always cause for celebration, right? I certainly think so.
Alice Dartle has a gift. It's this gift that has brought her to Cassadega, Florida, where she hopes others like her will help her hone her skills. Cassadega offers Alice not only a chance to learn, but a chance to finally fit in. To feel at home amongst those who share abilities akin to her own. But while there, Alice begins to tap into dreams of fire. Dreams that belong to a widowed war veteran who is haunted by the events of his past.
Tomás dreams of fire, but the fire isn't confined to just his dreams. The fires have spread into real life. As the damage intensifies and begins to threaten others, Tomás is convinced it must be the ghost of his dead wife. But Alice isn't so sure. Together they'll have to find the root of these conflagrations if they're to survive.
So not only is Brimstone set during the 20s, which is super cool, it's set around the very real Cassadega Spiritualist Camp, which still exists today. Called "the psychic capital of the world" Cassadega is, according to Wikipedia, "... a small, unincorporated community located in Volusia County..." According to the website, the camp is over a century old and still offers readings and other services including history tours.
So yeah, a super cool setting x 2. And it's a setting - both time and place - that Priest brings to life beautifully!
The narrative is split between Alice and Tomás, the latter of whom is a lonely haberdasher in Ybor City. Alice, of course, is psychically gifted - something that runs in her mother's family (prior generations of women in the family have been burned or hanged for such gifts). Surprisingly, though, it's Alice's father who offers her the most support.
Tomás himself has a good support system, but he know full and well that no one is going to believe that his dead wife is haunting him. Which is why he not only undertakes his own experimentation in secret, but contacts the spiritualists at Cassadega as well. And it's Alice's name that speaks to him, leading to their finally meeting.
As the story progresses, the creepiness increases dramatically. What, for Alice, begins with a tenuous connection to someone else's dreams, becomes a very real threat to her personally. And of course Tomás stands to lose everything if he can't find the true cause of the haunting and stop the fires.
I love Cherie Priest's work and look forward to each new release with great anticipation. So of course there's a lot of expectation for each new book to bear. Fortunately, she has yet to disappoint! Brimstone is no exception, proving once again that Cherie Priest is one of the best and brightest in speculative fiction!
Alice Dartle has a gift. It's this gift that has brought her to Cassadega, Florida, where she hopes others like her will help her hone her skills. Cassadega offers Alice not only a chance to learn, but a chance to finally fit in. To feel at home amongst those who share abilities akin to her own. But while there, Alice begins to tap into dreams of fire. Dreams that belong to a widowed war veteran who is haunted by the events of his past.
Tomás dreams of fire, but the fire isn't confined to just his dreams. The fires have spread into real life. As the damage intensifies and begins to threaten others, Tomás is convinced it must be the ghost of his dead wife. But Alice isn't so sure. Together they'll have to find the root of these conflagrations if they're to survive.
So not only is Brimstone set during the 20s, which is super cool, it's set around the very real Cassadega Spiritualist Camp, which still exists today. Called "the psychic capital of the world" Cassadega is, according to Wikipedia, "... a small, unincorporated community located in Volusia County..." According to the website, the camp is over a century old and still offers readings and other services including history tours.
So yeah, a super cool setting x 2. And it's a setting - both time and place - that Priest brings to life beautifully!
The narrative is split between Alice and Tomás, the latter of whom is a lonely haberdasher in Ybor City. Alice, of course, is psychically gifted - something that runs in her mother's family (prior generations of women in the family have been burned or hanged for such gifts). Surprisingly, though, it's Alice's father who offers her the most support.
Tomás himself has a good support system, but he know full and well that no one is going to believe that his dead wife is haunting him. Which is why he not only undertakes his own experimentation in secret, but contacts the spiritualists at Cassadega as well. And it's Alice's name that speaks to him, leading to their finally meeting.
As the story progresses, the creepiness increases dramatically. What, for Alice, begins with a tenuous connection to someone else's dreams, becomes a very real threat to her personally. And of course Tomás stands to lose everything if he can't find the true cause of the haunting and stop the fires.
I love Cherie Priest's work and look forward to each new release with great anticipation. So of course there's a lot of expectation for each new book to bear. Fortunately, she has yet to disappoint! Brimstone is no exception, proving once again that Cherie Priest is one of the best and brightest in speculative fiction!
rcsreads's review
4.0
Reasonably frightening.
The book follows medium Alice Dartle and war veteran Tomas Cordero who meet in a dream and battle evil in the spiritualist town of Cassadaga.
I liked Tomas` side of the story from the outset while Alice initially came across as a bit of an annoying wet blanket. She seemed much younger than her years and while I slightly warmed to her the Tomas chapters were always preferable and he was a much more fleshed out and rounded character.
The fires and the big bad we're genuinely scary at points and Priest had clearly done her research into Spiritualism.
Well written, enjoyable and decently scary but the ending was slightly too cheesy for my tastes.
3.5/5
The book follows medium Alice Dartle and war veteran Tomas Cordero who meet in a dream and battle evil in the spiritualist town of Cassadaga.
I liked Tomas` side of the story from the outset while Alice initially came across as a bit of an annoying wet blanket. She seemed much younger than her years and while I slightly warmed to her the Tomas chapters were always preferable and he was a much more fleshed out and rounded character.
The fires and the big bad we're genuinely scary at points and Priest had clearly done her research into Spiritualism.
Well written, enjoyable and decently scary but the ending was slightly too cheesy for my tastes.
3.5/5
candiebella's review
3.0
It was interesting but not grabbing. I put it down several times but never with the intention to abandon it.