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A review by theeditorreads
The Nightshade Cabal by Chris Patrick Carolan
4.0
Synopsis:
In Halifax, Nova Scotia; Isaac Barrow is a spellcaster. He deals with real magic, is one of the few who can sense it. He's a technomancer as well, researching the supernatural with the aid of his various scientific inventions. His expertise lies in "intertwining the transmundane with science and technology". Unlike The Nightshade Cabal, the underground organisation of necromancers who dabble in "blood magic, resurrectionism, and demon worship". He also an investigator who sometimes assists the constabulary in certain special cases.
Emily Skye is missing. When her elder sister Meredith approaches Barrow with the unique case, suspecting The Nightshade Cabal's hand in her disappearance, he agrees to attempt to find her.
Review:
The story begins in 1881. Barrow and Inspector Jonathon Eddings are watching Lai Jūn’s magic show, most probably the pretend kind. But then he sees something which piques his interest.
This is all I needed. A smoky, steamy, and misty Canada where steamcarriages were just introduced, where occult practices take place hidden from the public eye because they aren't comfortable or accepting of magic. People usually are not accepting of what they don't understand! Barrow regularly deals in the arcane, which takes him to the wealthy shipping magnate Henry Feele's residence. His autotype machine is malfunctioning, spewing out words no one typed. And that is where Barrow finds something astonishing, which unravels a pot full of mysteries!
There is the pain of rejection in a society that doesn't want to understand or accept someone's different ways, for Emily. But there is so much of thrill too, in the form of clashes between Lai Jūn and Barrow. And when Emily is finally introduced, what a delightful character she is! What a sassy fighter! There is slow investigative action as well as fast-paced chase sequences.
Reading about the way Barrow worked seemed like a magical MacGyver of the olden days. I was triply awed at the author's imagination, his conversion of that imagination to something so realistic and more importantly, in a historical setting. The entire story played out within a span of three weeks.
I adored the strong friendship between Eddings and Barrow and the camaraderie between Emily and Barrow. The language, the dated words, the entire historical setting, I can't wait to read more of [a:Chris Patrick Carolan|15556775|Chris Patrick Carolan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1555958032p2/15556775.jpg]'s works. And if the epilogue, which completely threw me off guard, is any indication; there is more to the story, even if the present t adventure ends here. I still can't believe this is the author's debut novel. Enter this magical world of spellcasters and prepare yourself to be spellbound!
P.S. The author's Historical Notes at the end clearly demarcate fact from fiction. This is my first steampunk and I just wanted to add for those who haven't yet read from or heard of this genre that it is a sub-genre of science fiction that has a historical setting and typically features anachronistic technologies.
Thank you to The Parliament House Press for an e-ARC of the book.
Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings
In Halifax, Nova Scotia; Isaac Barrow is a spellcaster. He deals with real magic, is one of the few who can sense it. He's a technomancer as well, researching the supernatural with the aid of his various scientific inventions. His expertise lies in "intertwining the transmundane with science and technology". Unlike The Nightshade Cabal, the underground organisation of necromancers who dabble in "blood magic, resurrectionism, and demon worship". He also an investigator who sometimes assists the constabulary in certain special cases.
Emily Skye is missing. When her elder sister Meredith approaches Barrow with the unique case, suspecting The Nightshade Cabal's hand in her disappearance, he agrees to attempt to find her.
Review:
The story begins in 1881. Barrow and Inspector Jonathon Eddings are watching Lai Jūn’s magic show, most probably the pretend kind. But then he sees something which piques his interest.
The lure of the forbidden is a powerful thing...
This is all I needed. A smoky, steamy, and misty Canada where steamcarriages were just introduced, where occult practices take place hidden from the public eye because they aren't comfortable or accepting of magic. People usually are not accepting of what they don't understand! Barrow regularly deals in the arcane, which takes him to the wealthy shipping magnate Henry Feele's residence. His autotype machine is malfunctioning, spewing out words no one typed. And that is where Barrow finds something astonishing, which unravels a pot full of mysteries!
There is the pain of rejection in a society that doesn't want to understand or accept someone's different ways, for Emily. But there is so much of thrill too, in the form of clashes between Lai Jūn and Barrow. And when Emily is finally introduced, what a delightful character she is! What a sassy fighter! There is slow investigative action as well as fast-paced chase sequences.
Reading about the way Barrow worked seemed like a magical MacGyver of the olden days. I was triply awed at the author's imagination, his conversion of that imagination to something so realistic and more importantly, in a historical setting. The entire story played out within a span of three weeks.
I adored the strong friendship between Eddings and Barrow and the camaraderie between Emily and Barrow. The language, the dated words, the entire historical setting, I can't wait to read more of [a:Chris Patrick Carolan|15556775|Chris Patrick Carolan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1555958032p2/15556775.jpg]'s works. And if the epilogue, which completely threw me off guard, is any indication; there is more to the story, even if the present t adventure ends here. I still can't believe this is the author's debut novel. Enter this magical world of spellcasters and prepare yourself to be spellbound!
P.S. The author's Historical Notes at the end clearly demarcate fact from fiction. This is my first steampunk and I just wanted to add for those who haven't yet read from or heard of this genre that it is a sub-genre of science fiction that has a historical setting and typically features anachronistic technologies.
Thank you to The Parliament House Press for an e-ARC of the book.
Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings