A review by samusc
The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

It's surprising that this book has less than 30 reviews! I hope more people pick it up based on the cover alone. The shutter-stock bats reminded me of the flying bats in the Castlevania animated series opening and are super eye catching.
In The Lights of Prague a vampire Ora, and a lamplighter/monster hunter Domek, find themselves caught up in conspiracies to cure or kill all vampires, respectively. 
The true strength of this book is the characters. I wanted Ora to be okay and she's having a hell of a week! It was really satisfying to see Domek reflect on his actions and gain self awareness over time (we love a man that is capable of unlearning). The reader can see why characters made decisions they did, and the characters themselves are messy, which I love.
The mystery aspect of this was incredibly engaging, and I found myself heavily invested in the wisps' well-being as well. Yes, vampires are the main monster focus here, but knowing that there were other paranormal creatures involved makes the world feel full. I can absolutely see the comparison to The Witcher, based on the theme of finding humanity among monsters.
The romance plot line was handled tastefully and was a key component to the overall story.
This historical fantasy included vivid details on a city that I'm not too familiar with, which was an added bonus.
The conclusion does feel a little rushed, with bringing every character back one after the other, but overall it was great fun.
I can't wait to see where Nicole Jarvis takes us next.


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