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kathflynn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
weweresotired's review against another edition
3.0
This was fine? The writing was generally solid*, the magical system was interesting, and I overall liked the mystery that had to be solved. I wanted more romance between Ned and Julian -- the book leans much more towards mystery than romance -- and so much of their issues result from the classic Failure to Communicate trope, one of my least favorites. I did like that the book starts with them already knowing each other, as they went to school together as children. These two have a lot of shared history which comes through really well, but which also makes the "we didn't talk about anything and have both come to our own incorrect assumptions" aspect more frustrating. I think if you go in expecting this to be a standard Victorian murder mystery with a dash of romance, you'll have a better time than I did.
*I very rarely notice typos or errors in books but there was a notable amount of errors in this. It didn't change my enjoyment of it -- and I don't fault the authors for this, I know full well how hard it is to get clean copy, I sometimes look back at things I wrote 10 years ago and have re-read multiple times and STILL find errors -- but frustrates me from a "what are your editors even doing?" perspective.
*I very rarely notice typos or errors in books but there was a notable amount of errors in this. It didn't change my enjoyment of it -- and I don't fault the authors for this, I know full well how hard it is to get clean copy, I sometimes look back at things I wrote 10 years ago and have re-read multiple times and STILL find errors -- but frustrates me from a "what are your editors even doing?" perspective.
menshevixen's review against another edition
4.0
I admit I did not start off LOVING Julian (Ned is God's perfect himbo) but by the end of this very charming, fantastical gaslamp mystery, I was all in on the duo both romantically and professionally, and appreciated the development of Julian's character. I'm generally not smart enough to guess the murderer in any given mystery; I enjoyed the winding path this novel took, and the cast of characters that steadily filled its pages. I'm torn on whether I want the next volume to be another Mathey and Lynes-POV story, or if my bluestocking worship wants Miss Frost front and center (perhaps paired with Annie Makins? one can dream!!). A great long-weekend read.
emilyrpf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jugglingpup's review against another edition
1.0
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I know, I need to stop reading murder mysteries and thinking I am going to like them. I am always lulled into this false idea that maybe I have just read bad murder mysteries, but almost every single time I am just left baffled by how much I hate the genre and why I keep trying. So please keep my obvious lack of sense in mind when you read my thoughts.
The murder itself was whatever. The father of someone who physically and maybe sexually assaulted the two male leads is dead. Why am I supposed to care about this? I don’t know. I read the whole book and the idea was never made clear to me. I just don’t give even the slightest amount of a care that someone was murdered or why. There was no reason for me to. At least sometimes I can get into the feelings behind why a murder is significant. I just couldn’t with this one.
The magic/fantasy aspect of the book was ok, I guess. The way that the magic worked gave it clear limitations. It made it something that could be studied and learned by someone. I liked the idea of the magic and how it could apply. The way it worked in the book just drained the fun that magic is supposed to have away. It was much too practical. I was amused by the magic, but the magic was nothing that I would spend any deal of time on if I was in their world. I also wouldn’t use it as a selling point to get people to read the book.
This book was sold to me on the idea that there was a gay romance at the heart of the book. I am all about gay romances, so I caved. So the romance was the only reason I was reading this book.Yet, by the last page I could not tell the two main romantic leads apart. Every time their names were mentioned, I had to check the back cover to see who was who again. I know one of them was into sports, but I couldn’t tell you which one. There really was nothing that made me ship them. They didn’t treat each other well. This was another romance that really was all physical and not emotional. I need emotions. I need FEELINGS in my romance. I couldn’t care less when it seems the entire relationship is based on physicality that is then hidden and not discussed, except when drunk.
So this book had nothing for me. It took me forever to get through this book and I had to stop every few pages, because it just didn’t hold my attention at all. I was rewarding myself after each chapter. I couldn’t read at night, because it did put me to sleep more than once when I tried. This isn’t to say the writing was bad. It had a pleasant tone and I enjoyed the word choices. It is one of the better written books I have read in the murder mystery genre. It still wasn’t something that was engaging or something I would recommend.
I know, I need to stop reading murder mysteries and thinking I am going to like them. I am always lulled into this false idea that maybe I have just read bad murder mysteries, but almost every single time I am just left baffled by how much I hate the genre and why I keep trying. So please keep my obvious lack of sense in mind when you read my thoughts.
The murder itself was whatever. The father of someone who physically and maybe sexually assaulted the two male leads is dead. Why am I supposed to care about this? I don’t know. I read the whole book and the idea was never made clear to me. I just don’t give even the slightest amount of a care that someone was murdered or why. There was no reason for me to. At least sometimes I can get into the feelings behind why a murder is significant. I just couldn’t with this one.
The magic/fantasy aspect of the book was ok, I guess. The way that the magic worked gave it clear limitations. It made it something that could be studied and learned by someone. I liked the idea of the magic and how it could apply. The way it worked in the book just drained the fun that magic is supposed to have away. It was much too practical. I was amused by the magic, but the magic was nothing that I would spend any deal of time on if I was in their world. I also wouldn’t use it as a selling point to get people to read the book.
This book was sold to me on the idea that there was a gay romance at the heart of the book. I am all about gay romances, so I caved. So the romance was the only reason I was reading this book.Yet, by the last page I could not tell the two main romantic leads apart. Every time their names were mentioned, I had to check the back cover to see who was who again. I know one of them was into sports, but I couldn’t tell you which one. There really was nothing that made me ship them. They didn’t treat each other well. This was another romance that really was all physical and not emotional. I need emotions. I need FEELINGS in my romance. I couldn’t care less when it seems the entire relationship is based on physicality that is then hidden and not discussed, except when drunk.
So this book had nothing for me. It took me forever to get through this book and I had to stop every few pages, because it just didn’t hold my attention at all. I was rewarding myself after each chapter. I couldn’t read at night, because it did put me to sleep more than once when I tried. This isn’t to say the writing was bad. It had a pleasant tone and I enjoyed the word choices. It is one of the better written books I have read in the murder mystery genre. It still wasn’t something that was engaging or something I would recommend.
sheasullivan's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
booksthatburn's review
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Ned and Julian went to a boarding school as teenagers, where they were bullied and tormented by the prefects, particularly Victor Nevett. Now adults, they find themselves in the strange position of trying to prove that this thoroughly detestable person didn't kill his own father. Throughout the present day narrative are shorter sections, showing what Ned and Julian went through in school. These sections help to frame their current moral quandary as something more viscerally understandable. They’re trying to find the real murderer, not to help Victor or avenge his father, but because Ned doesn’t want the real murderer to get away with it. There’s an awareness of class issues and the sexism built into their society, the way concerns of propriety get in the way without actually addressing the harms they’re meant to prevent.
Because Ned and Julian already are in a habit of physical intimacy when the book begins, the arc of their romance is more one of realizing that they like each other as people, not just as fuck buddies. They're parsing through whether they’re both willing to entangle their lives in ways that might draw looks towards two confirmed bachelors.
I like Miss Frost, and in this stratified society where the book is set it could’ve been easy to not have any significant female characters. Instead, Miss Frost is competent and thorough, gradually appearing more as things progress. She seems poised to become more relevant in later books, and I'm looking forward to reading more with her.
The magic system is described in enough detail to give a sense of what it looks like for someone to work spells, but it’s not so strict as to invite disbelief when some detail is too specific. I enjoyed the murder mystery, it’s sufficiently twisty and interesting to keep me guessing all the way through, while still having an answer that makes sense and doesn’t require outside information to be able to put things together as the characters do. I also like the way that Ned keeps having to work on other cases for other clients in a way that fit his situation as someone who only recently took over a business. It’s just enough to make it feel like his job exists outside of this one case, while avoiding the generation of plot threats that go nowhere.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, and am excited for the sequel.
Because Ned and Julian already are in a habit of physical intimacy when the book begins, the arc of their romance is more one of realizing that they like each other as people, not just as fuck buddies. They're parsing through whether they’re both willing to entangle their lives in ways that might draw looks towards two confirmed bachelors.
I like Miss Frost, and in this stratified society where the book is set it could’ve been easy to not have any significant female characters. Instead, Miss Frost is competent and thorough, gradually appearing more as things progress. She seems poised to become more relevant in later books, and I'm looking forward to reading more with her.
The magic system is described in enough detail to give a sense of what it looks like for someone to work spells, but it’s not so strict as to invite disbelief when some detail is too specific. I enjoyed the murder mystery, it’s sufficiently twisty and interesting to keep me guessing all the way through, while still having an answer that makes sense and doesn’t require outside information to be able to put things together as the characters do. I also like the way that Ned keeps having to work on other cases for other clients in a way that fit his situation as someone who only recently took over a business. It’s just enough to make it feel like his job exists outside of this one case, while avoiding the generation of plot threats that go nowhere.
I thoroughly enjoyed this, and am excited for the sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Bullying, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Medical content, Sexual content, Classism, Alcohol, Murder, Drug use, Grief, Ableism, and Death
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Sexism, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Fire/Fire injury, Suicide, and Racism
hpstrangelove's review against another edition
5.0
Audiobook review. Narrator: Matthew Cresswell
This was my very first book that I purchased at Audible. I'm not sure how I even came across it, but it sounded good. It took me a while to get around to listen to it, although I'm not sure why. I really enjoyed it and wish I would have listened to it sooner. A m/m historical paranormal mystery, it had some unique ideas and world building. Glad I had book two ready, even though it's a self-contained story - I wanted more.
This was my very first book that I purchased at Audible. I'm not sure how I even came across it, but it sounded good. It took me a while to get around to listen to it, although I'm not sure why. I really enjoyed it and wish I would have listened to it sooner. A m/m historical paranormal mystery, it had some unique ideas and world building. Glad I had book two ready, even though it's a self-contained story - I wanted more.
wishingfish's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5