Scan barcode
A review by megaeralwrites
Restless Spirits by Jordan L. Hawk
5.0
Restless Spirits was a delightful read on which to end the year. It has so many elements I love—mediums, nightmarish ectoplasmic phantasms, fantastical 19th-century technology, and clever characters combining their unique talents to solve impossible problems. Not to mention a lovely sweet-and-spicy romance between the two leads.
Henry Strauss is a scientist who believes in ghosts, but not in mediums. Scarred by a past experience with a charming charlatan, he throws himself into the task of developing a machine that can detect and exorcise ghosts, rendering mediums obsolete: the Electro-Séance. He’s starting to despair of anyone taking his invention seriously when wealthy benefactor Dominic Gladfield invites him to put the device to the test at Gladfield’s ancestral home, Reyhome Castle. If Henry can successfully banish the violent spirit that haunts the castle, he’ll take home a $500 prize. He envisions using this small fortune to ensure a secure future both for himself and especially for his beloved teenage cousin/ward/assistant, the bright and spirited Jo.
There’s just one catch—Henry and Jo will have competition, in the form of a pair of traditional occult mediums named Vincent Night and Elizabeth Devereaux. And only one pair of would-be exorcists will take home the prize money.
Henry comes to Reyhome dead certain that his competitors are frauds. But it soon becomes clear that their abilities are all too real, as are the troubled spirits that haunt the castle. To make matters more complicated, Henry is instantly attracted to the wry, flirtatious, and devastatingly handsome Vincent, and the feeling seems to be mutual. As the haunting becomes more dangerous and the barriers between the two men begin to erode, they are forced to form an unlikely alliance against powers far beyond anything they anticipated.
Restless Spirits is by turns funny, heartbreaking, terrifying, and sizzling hot. It’s a genre-blending romp that combines elements of romance, horror, and gaslamp fantasy, and even manages to work in a classic whodunnit subplot. The supernatural elements are described in delightful, spine-tingling detail, and the characters are memorable and beautifully drawn. The arrogant, stubborn, but good-hearted Henry is both frustrating and endearing. Meanwhile, Vincent’s wry charm and bravery belie an underlying vulnerability that adds to his appeal. I was especially fascinated by his ability to taste spirits, a surprising and visceral twist on the typical extrasensory abilities of fictional mediums.
The story also doesn’t shy away from the complexities of prejudice and discrimination. Henry, for instance, understands all too well the trials of living as a gay man in 19th century America, and is also fiercely protective of his mixed-race cousin despite the disapproval of his family. And yet (watch out for vague spoilers ahead),.
As frustrating as they are, these personal blind spots lend a refreshing note of realism to the story and characters. And while it’s clear that both Henry and Vincent have some growing and healing to do before they can fully love and trust one another, we leave them on a hopeful note. I’m so glad that I have more of their adventures to look forward to.
Henry Strauss is a scientist who believes in ghosts, but not in mediums. Scarred by a past experience with a charming charlatan, he throws himself into the task of developing a machine that can detect and exorcise ghosts, rendering mediums obsolete: the Electro-Séance. He’s starting to despair of anyone taking his invention seriously when wealthy benefactor Dominic Gladfield invites him to put the device to the test at Gladfield’s ancestral home, Reyhome Castle. If Henry can successfully banish the violent spirit that haunts the castle, he’ll take home a $500 prize. He envisions using this small fortune to ensure a secure future both for himself and especially for his beloved teenage cousin/ward/assistant, the bright and spirited Jo.
There’s just one catch—Henry and Jo will have competition, in the form of a pair of traditional occult mediums named Vincent Night and Elizabeth Devereaux. And only one pair of would-be exorcists will take home the prize money.
Henry comes to Reyhome dead certain that his competitors are frauds. But it soon becomes clear that their abilities are all too real, as are the troubled spirits that haunt the castle. To make matters more complicated, Henry is instantly attracted to the wry, flirtatious, and devastatingly handsome Vincent, and the feeling seems to be mutual. As the haunting becomes more dangerous and the barriers between the two men begin to erode, they are forced to form an unlikely alliance against powers far beyond anything they anticipated.
Restless Spirits is by turns funny, heartbreaking, terrifying, and sizzling hot. It’s a genre-blending romp that combines elements of romance, horror, and gaslamp fantasy, and even manages to work in a classic whodunnit subplot. The supernatural elements are described in delightful, spine-tingling detail, and the characters are memorable and beautifully drawn. The arrogant, stubborn, but good-hearted Henry is both frustrating and endearing. Meanwhile, Vincent’s wry charm and bravery belie an underlying vulnerability that adds to his appeal. I was especially fascinated by his ability to taste spirits, a surprising and visceral twist on the typical extrasensory abilities of fictional mediums.
The story also doesn’t shy away from the complexities of prejudice and discrimination. Henry, for instance, understands all too well the trials of living as a gay man in 19th century America, and is also fiercely protective of his mixed-race cousin despite the disapproval of his family. And yet (watch out for vague spoilers ahead),
Spoiler
he struggles to understand and sympathize with a transgender character, or with Vincent’s need to construct a new identity in order to move beyond his own troubled past and survive in a harsh and bigoted worldAs frustrating as they are, these personal blind spots lend a refreshing note of realism to the story and characters. And while it’s clear that both Henry and Vincent have some growing and healing to do before they can fully love and trust one another, we leave them on a hopeful note. I’m so glad that I have more of their adventures to look forward to.