Category: Historical Paranormal/Fantasy

The Mapmaker’s Apprentice by C.J. Archer

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Part of a Series, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Mapmaker's Apprentice (Glass and Steele, #2)

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Glass and Steele #2
Publication Date: 10/25/16
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 313

A LOT is going on in each of the books in this series – and these things will run through most, if not all, of the books. There is the issue of the people with magic and those without. There is the issue of the sheriff from America who is out to destroy and/or kill Matthew. There is the issue of finding the magical watchmaker who can repair the watch keeping Matthew alive. Then, of course, there is a story specific to each book – and the ongoing development of the relationship between India and Matthew.

The business of Victorian England is run by Guilds – The Watchmaker’s Guild, The Mapmaker’s Guild, the Toymaker’s Guild, etc. If you want to open a business or sell a product of any kind, you must be licensed by the Guild for that product. Sometimes nasty shenanigans are happening in those guilds – I know that surprises you. 😊 Those Guilds will not admit nor license anyone who is magical to the guild. People with magical abilities are feared and reviled

India, Matthew, and their compatriots are getting more and more frustrated at being unable to find the watchmaker known as Chronos. As Matthew’s watch becomes less and less effective at keeping him alive, it is becoming more and more imperative to find him. Yet, they hit a blank wall everywhere they turn. Where can he be?

Police Commissioner Munro asks them to find a young man who has gone missing – his son – who has magical abilities as a mapmaker. Though we never actually meet the young man, Daniel, what we do learn of him doesn’t make him sound very likable. India and Matthew are afraid he’s been kidnapped by someone in the employ of the Watchmaker’s Guild because of his abilities. Was he kidnapped or did he just take off on his own to make his fortune? Hmmm – you’ll need to read the book to find out.

This could have been, for me anyway, a dark book – except, the matchmaking schemes of Matthew’s Aunt Letitia kept throwing bits of humor into the mix. You’ll love Aunt Letitia – who is class-conscious and a stickler for the proprieties – and is perhaps not always in her right mind.

India struggles with her magical abilities and learning how to use and control them. She’s been told her abilities are strong – very strong – but she has no idea how to cast a spell or use her abilities. However, when the chips are down and it is a matter of life and death, she tries something – and it works. So, it will be fun to watch India learn how to control her abilities.

If you are looking for an interesting read with a missing boy, murder, hidden treasure, and a plethora of bad guys, along with magic, mischief, and mayhem, then this is the book for you. I can’t wait to see how many books it will take before we find Chronos. Will he be able to repair Matthew’s watch? Or – maybe India will become so powerful she can do it herself. I can hardly wait to start the next book – and the next – and the next to find Chronos, to see the nasty Sheriff brought to justice, and to see Matthew and India finally get their HEA.

Golden Lord by Mary Jo Putney

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Non-Traditional Romance, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Romantasy, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Golden Lord (Dangerous Gifts, #2)Golden Lord by Mary Jo Putney

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars (I’m being generous)

Series: Dangerous Gifts, #2

Release Date: November 26, 2024

When Caden “Cade” Tremayne, an agent for the crown and the eldest of Rhys & Gwen Tremayne’s foster children was informed of his new mission, he knew that this was going to be a mission unlike any before. He is “gifted” and has a strong sense of foreboding and feels anger directed at him specifically. But with England and France on the brink of war, it is imperative to get the English ambassador and him family out of Paris as quickly as possible. He is delighted to learn that his foster sister Lady Tamsyn will be his partner, as they have a close bond and work extremely well together. They set out and both feel the gathering danger, but it isn’t until they are almost ready to board a ship back to England that the danger he had sensed is manifested. Cade is captured by a French agent who is also gifted, and his mind is blocked causing him to forget who and what he is, but Tamsyn manages to mentally connect with him and promises to save him. He believes that she is his wife and when they are finally reunited and his mind is cleared, he is horrified to realize that now Tamsyn knows his secret. A secret that could either be downfall of the “Tribe of Tremayne” or one that could bond them in ways they never imagined.

Lady Tamsyn “Tam” Tremayne is the eldest child and heir to the Tremayne earldom, she is also powerfully gifted and an agent for the home office. Her gift is primarily healing of the mind and body, but she also has a strong gift of intuition. She too senses danger in the upcoming mission and great change, but nothing prepares her for Cade’s secret. She isn’t sure if she can accept the change, but soon knows her heart is with Cade and hopes she will not have to choose between him and her family. But before she can worry about that, she senses that their mission is far from over, they need to get back to England in one piece and thwart Napoleon’s plans!

WARNING: The rest of this review might be a little “Spoilerish” and is definitely opinionated.

I will be honest, this book was not for me, I LOVED the first book but this one… I could not get past the brother/sister thing – I grew up in a family that took in foster children and adopted children, for me they were (and still are) my brothers and sisters – the idea of romantic love between two people who have been raised as brother and sister since they were very young children, is repulsive to me – maybe if they hadn’t met until they were young adults, I could get past it, but the story is clear, they met as very young children and have always considered each other as siblings – in fact most of the book they call each other brother/sister – I just can’t pretend that I am all right with that. That said, yes, I am aware that I have a personal bias – so, please make up your own mind, there are lots of rave reviews for this book and I will not deny that it is an interesting story with very likable characters. And the author makes a good attempt to explain that Cade never really considered her as a sister and always loved her (it just didn’t matter to me – it still felt wrong) the gifted part of the story is good and if they hadn’t been siblings, I probably would have enjoyed it. This is the second book in the series, and I would strongly recommend reading this series in order.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *