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Thieftaker Chronicles #1
Thieftaker
In Thieftaker , D. B. Jackson delivers a thrilling debut tale of magic and intrigue that will leave readers breathless and eager for more Ethan Kaille. Boston, 1765: In D.B. Jackson's Thieftaker, revolution is brewing as the British Crown imposes increasingly onerous taxes on the colonies, and intrigue swirls around firebrands like Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty. But for Ethan Kaille, a thieftaker who makes his living by conjuring spells that help him solve crimes, politics is for others…until he is asked to recover a necklace worn by the murdered daughter of a prominent family. Suddenly, he faces another conjurer of enormous power, someone unknown, who is part of a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of power in the turbulent colony. His adversary has already killed―and not for his own gain, but in the service of his powerful masters, people for whom others are mere pawns in a game of politics and power. Ethan is in way over his head, and he knows it. Already a man with a dark past, he can ill afford to fail, lest his livelihood be forfeit. But he can't stop now, for his magic has marked him, so he must fight the odds, even though he seems hopelessly overmatched, his doom seeming certain at the spectral hands of one he cannot even see.
327 pages, Hardcover
First published July 3, 2012
83 people are currently reading
4482 people want to read
About the author
D.B. Jackson
26 books299 followers
D.B. Jackson has been writing fantasy and science fiction under a different pen name for over fifteen years. He has published novels, short stories, and media tie-ins in more than a dozen languages. He also has a Ph.D. in American History, and now, for the first time in his career, he is combining his love of fantasy with his passion for history. His first historical fantasy series, The Thieftaker Chronicles, includes Thieftaker, Thieves' Quarry, A Plunder of Souls (to be released in July 2014), and Dead Man's Reach (due out in 2015). The Thieftaker novels, which combine elements of fantasy, mystery, and historical fiction, are published by Tor Books. He is also at work on a new contemporary urban fantasy series, The Weremyste Cycle (written under the name David B. Coe), which will be published by Baen books. The first book, Spell Blind, will be out in January 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 484 reviews
August 8, 2013
This book started out okay. Ethan is a mildly interesting pseudo-noir detective in an alternative Boston pre-American Revolution. There's anger and mobs in the streets and lots and lots of political intrigue around home rule vs. loyalty to the king. Jackson does a decent job of invoking the times and the region feels solid in a way that bespeaks excellent research and a love of the city.
Unfortunately, it turns out that the protagonist, Ethan, is a blithering idiot. I'm not sure what I should expect from a "thieftaker" but somehow I thought he should be able to reason from clues to find answers to basic questions. Or even be able to ask reasonably intelligent questions. And now I face a conundrum: give spoilers and risk coming off like an arrogant jerk trying to prove how much smarter than the author he is or settle for vague, uninformative generalities that won't mean anything to somebody who hasn't read the book. Let me attempt a middle ground.
A girl is murdered. She was an uptown girl and was engaged to a wealthy merchant's son. Ethan gets so fixated on this fiancé that he completely fails to follow-up any of the half-dozen other angles practically screaming their significance in his face--some of them literally pounding his face into the pavement. But instead of pursuing any of those alternative avenues of inquiry, he wastes simply grundles of precious time trying to badger the fiancé for more "answers" (scare quotes because Ethan isn't even really sure what he wants to ask half the time).
Okay, I can't resist. I have got to get this out of my system. Spoilers because... reasons
Okay, I feel better now. So anyway, it's an evocative time and place. There are revolutionaries and Tories and sympathetic representatives on either side. And a magic system that is fascinating and that I was eager to explore. There are a lot of things that should have been entertaining... if you can get past a protagonist that needs to be prompted to ask where the bathroom is when he has to take a leak...
Unfortunately, it turns out that the protagonist, Ethan, is a blithering idiot. I'm not sure what I should expect from a "thieftaker" but somehow I thought he should be able to reason from clues to find answers to basic questions. Or even be able to ask reasonably intelligent questions. And now I face a conundrum: give spoilers and risk coming off like an arrogant jerk trying to prove how much smarter than the author he is or settle for vague, uninformative generalities that won't mean anything to somebody who hasn't read the book. Let me attempt a middle ground.
A girl is murdered. She was an uptown girl and was engaged to a wealthy merchant's son. Ethan gets so fixated on this fiancé that he completely fails to follow-up any of the half-dozen other angles practically screaming their significance in his face--some of them literally pounding his face into the pavement. But instead of pursuing any of those alternative avenues of inquiry, he wastes simply grundles of precious time trying to badger the fiancé for more "answers" (scare quotes because Ethan isn't even really sure what he wants to ask half the time).
Okay, I can't resist. I have got to get this out of my system. Spoilers because... reasons
Okay, I feel better now. So anyway, it's an evocative time and place. There are revolutionaries and Tories and sympathetic representatives on either side. And a magic system that is fascinating and that I was eager to explore. There are a lot of things that should have been entertaining... if you can get past a protagonist that needs to be prompted to ask where the bathroom is when he has to take a leak...
June 5, 2012
This is one of those times that I need a sixth star. Thieftaker is one of the best debut books I have ever read. It has everything - wonderful writing, amazing world building (this isn't your mama's history) lovely magical system, sexual tension, intensity, conflict/plot tension, and a main character who is still with me. D.B.Jackson did a masterful job. It's like a modern urban fantasy set in an alternate history where magic is real.
I have known this author (writing under another name) in the past, and this is the first book of his I've ever reviewed. And it is KILLER! Six-star-worthy. If you haven't reserved or preordered your copy, better go ahead. It will be swept off the shelves on release day. Just sayn'
I have known this author (writing under another name) in the past, and this is the first book of his I've ever reviewed. And it is KILLER! Six-star-worthy. If you haven't reserved or preordered your copy, better go ahead. It will be swept off the shelves on release day. Just sayn'
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March 21, 2014This is my first historical fantasy, the initial volume in my Thieftaker Chronicles. I hope you enjoy it. If you're interested in checking out the first three chapters for free (and who doesn't love free stuff?) please visit my web site and click on the "Freebies" link. Thanks! (Oh, and as for the "Currently Reading" status on my own book, I've still got copyedits and proofs to get through, so technically speaking, I am still reading it. )
June 10, 2012
4.5/5
Egalley thanks to Tor/Forge Books
If you noticed how many books are getting high grades from me in the last couple of months...it's not because I'm getting soft, I'm just being very lucky and keep finding really really enjoyable reads *fingers crossed, the luck will hold*
Thieftaker is one of such books. I enjoyed it immensely. Full of rich, well-rounded characters, extremely atmospheric and just riveting.
I loved Ethan Kaille. He is in his late thirties, tired, wise and bedraggled. In his young years he got involved in a riot and had been sent to Barbados for more than 10 years to an absolute hell of a prison on plantation where he had to do everything in his power to hide that he is a natural-born conjurer.
Now he is settled in Boston and making a living by finding stolen goods and catching thieves for middle-class clients. Another thieftaker, a dangerous criminal, Queen of the South End, Sephira Pryce has her pick of rich and powerful clients and Ethan tries hard not to cross her way.
Only when a young girl is found dead on the street without a mark on her, her powerful family goes to Ethan and ask him to recover brooch stolen from her body in hopes that he would lead them to the identity of the killer.
Ethan doesn't want to take the job, doesn't want to come to an attention of vicious Miss Pryce but when he sees the body he knows that another conjurer murdered the girl by a powerful spell, and he needs to be stopped.
Thus starts his extremely dangerous journey, full of political intrigue, powerful magic, cruel enemies, and all of this in a country on the verge of revolution where a conjurer can still get hanged as a witch.
The conflict between Ethan and an evil conjurer is intense, there are a lot of enemies and constant danger of dying, which keep you on the edge of your seat through the whole book.
Ethan is absolutely lovely and so very alive, like one of those lone rangers in old westerns. He is lonely and scarred and kind. He's got friends and a woman, Kannice, who love him and who can be used in a game against him, and he is desperate to keep all of them safe.
I do love this one-man-battle-against-all-odds type of book or movie, and with Ethan you don't really know until the very end if he wins or not (you know he will, because that's how the book is supposed to end, but try telling this to your heart which still goes to him).
I would recommend the book to all fans of Diana Gabaldon, because the period and the atmosphere reminded me of her books quite a bit.
Egalley thanks to Tor/Forge Books
If you noticed how many books are getting high grades from me in the last couple of months...it's not because I'm getting soft, I'm just being very lucky and keep finding really really enjoyable reads *fingers crossed, the luck will hold*
Thieftaker is one of such books. I enjoyed it immensely. Full of rich, well-rounded characters, extremely atmospheric and just riveting.
I loved Ethan Kaille. He is in his late thirties, tired, wise and bedraggled. In his young years he got involved in a riot and had been sent to Barbados for more than 10 years to an absolute hell of a prison on plantation where he had to do everything in his power to hide that he is a natural-born conjurer.
Now he is settled in Boston and making a living by finding stolen goods and catching thieves for middle-class clients. Another thieftaker, a dangerous criminal, Queen of the South End, Sephira Pryce has her pick of rich and powerful clients and Ethan tries hard not to cross her way.
Only when a young girl is found dead on the street without a mark on her, her powerful family goes to Ethan and ask him to recover brooch stolen from her body in hopes that he would lead them to the identity of the killer.
Ethan doesn't want to take the job, doesn't want to come to an attention of vicious Miss Pryce but when he sees the body he knows that another conjurer murdered the girl by a powerful spell, and he needs to be stopped.
Thus starts his extremely dangerous journey, full of political intrigue, powerful magic, cruel enemies, and all of this in a country on the verge of revolution where a conjurer can still get hanged as a witch.
The conflict between Ethan and an evil conjurer is intense, there are a lot of enemies and constant danger of dying, which keep you on the edge of your seat through the whole book.
Ethan is absolutely lovely and so very alive, like one of those lone rangers in old westerns. He is lonely and scarred and kind. He's got friends and a woman, Kannice, who love him and who can be used in a game against him, and he is desperate to keep all of them safe.
I do love this one-man-battle-against-all-odds type of book or movie, and with Ethan you don't really know until the very end if he wins or not (you know he will, because that's how the book is supposed to end, but try telling this to your heart which still goes to him).
I would recommend the book to all fans of Diana Gabaldon, because the period and the atmosphere reminded me of her books quite a bit.
April 23, 2014
A very well written historical fantasy, well reseached history of the era concerned.
if you fancy something different then this is for you.
if you fancy something different then this is for you.
July 20, 2012
Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!
I don't have much to say about Thieftaker upon finishing this medium length novel about a paranormal investigator of sorts. I wanted to love it, I was sold on the idea of the story itself (American historical fiction with magic! In Boston! In 1765!) but though I moderately liked this novel, it doesn't leave much of an impression upon finishing. I hate writing these kinds of wishywashy "wish I'd liked it better" reviews; they are the hardest to write and usually the least helpful to any other readers trying to decide to read a novel or not. With those warnings in mind, I would by no means say that D.B. Jackson's Thieftaker is bad novel - it's not that at all. It just didn't grab my attention and hold it the way I wished it would have.
Those three out of five stars are to show that this is a solid novel, one that will probably satisfy most urban fantasy fans. I liked this, I liked reading while I was doing so, but once I set the novel down, I felt little impulse to pick it right back up. I need to start a "it's not you, it's me" shelf. Sure, Thieftaker is original enough, but not enough is done with the unique setting and a large problem with the story lies with the pacing of the story itself. The fist 200 pages were a lot of set-up and very little momentum on the mystery aspect of the novel. It takes a little too long to get the ball rolling, plot-wise, and the mystery element suffers the most from its rushed conclusion. I didn't invest a lot of time or emotion on the plot or the characters here: sure, I liked the cast well enough, but none, not even the main character, stuck out as particularly memorable. There's something predictable at work here in Thieftaker, and it shows most when the focus is on the characters and not the supernatural.
Ethan Kaille is a more than serviceable protagonist. His voice is weary and he's had his share of bad times and mistakes; he's a world-weary conjurer wary of the society he lives in. The third person POV didn't do much to help me invest in him; this is a character that is distant from everyone, including the reader, for the duration. He comes off a lot of as an Old Timey Harry Dresden at times; there are several marked similarities between their characters, personalities and abilities (ghost spirit guides named Reg and Bob, respectively.) (In a fight, I think I'd give Ethan the win, because he's slightly more cagey and unpredictable than Harry. But this isn't a cage match. I digress.) Their jaded, hardened outlook on life is nothing new for the urban (colonial?) fantasy genre, and though Ethan might not be the most original character ever conceived, he definitely grows on the reader as he uncovers more and more about the seedy underside of Boston.
The magic aspect, one of the main concepts of the story that drew me to this novel as I don't read a lot of supernatural historical fiction ( Changeling does NOT count!), was solid but not spectacular or particularly innovative in nature. Latin and blood? Been done before, but it's not too bad a place to start, either. It's straightforward and easily understood, but hardly the most inventive route to conjure power. I felt that the fight scenes involving the magic left as little to be desired, but the draw in this for me after reading the first 200 pages was seeing who the overall antagonist was, not in the repeated altercations with Ethan's rival of Sephira Price.
With all that said, will I pick up book number two in this new series? Most likely. The good (and the okaaaay) outweigh the slightly bad in the case of Thieftaker and I will be interested to see where D.B. Jackson takes this character and this series. It's the first book and there's evidence that this author has talent, and will hopefully grow into a more detailed, evenly-paced writer. If you're interested in trying Thieftaker, there is a short novella, A Spell of Vengeance , written about Ethan. I'd suggest trying that $.99 ebook to see if this type of story and this particular character are a fit for you.
(I guess I had more to say than I thought!)
I don't have much to say about Thieftaker upon finishing this medium length novel about a paranormal investigator of sorts. I wanted to love it, I was sold on the idea of the story itself (American historical fiction with magic! In Boston! In 1765!) but though I moderately liked this novel, it doesn't leave much of an impression upon finishing. I hate writing these kinds of wishywashy "wish I'd liked it better" reviews; they are the hardest to write and usually the least helpful to any other readers trying to decide to read a novel or not. With those warnings in mind, I would by no means say that D.B. Jackson's Thieftaker is bad novel - it's not that at all. It just didn't grab my attention and hold it the way I wished it would have.
Those three out of five stars are to show that this is a solid novel, one that will probably satisfy most urban fantasy fans. I liked this, I liked reading while I was doing so, but once I set the novel down, I felt little impulse to pick it right back up. I need to start a "it's not you, it's me" shelf. Sure, Thieftaker is original enough, but not enough is done with the unique setting and a large problem with the story lies with the pacing of the story itself. The fist 200 pages were a lot of set-up and very little momentum on the mystery aspect of the novel. It takes a little too long to get the ball rolling, plot-wise, and the mystery element suffers the most from its rushed conclusion. I didn't invest a lot of time or emotion on the plot or the characters here: sure, I liked the cast well enough, but none, not even the main character, stuck out as particularly memorable. There's something predictable at work here in Thieftaker, and it shows most when the focus is on the characters and not the supernatural.
Ethan Kaille is a more than serviceable protagonist. His voice is weary and he's had his share of bad times and mistakes; he's a world-weary conjurer wary of the society he lives in. The third person POV didn't do much to help me invest in him; this is a character that is distant from everyone, including the reader, for the duration. He comes off a lot of as an Old Timey Harry Dresden at times; there are several marked similarities between their characters, personalities and abilities (ghost spirit guides named Reg and Bob, respectively.) (In a fight, I think I'd give Ethan the win, because he's slightly more cagey and unpredictable than Harry. But this isn't a cage match. I digress.) Their jaded, hardened outlook on life is nothing new for the urban (colonial?) fantasy genre, and though Ethan might not be the most original character ever conceived, he definitely grows on the reader as he uncovers more and more about the seedy underside of Boston.
The magic aspect, one of the main concepts of the story that drew me to this novel as I don't read a lot of supernatural historical fiction ( Changeling does NOT count!), was solid but not spectacular or particularly innovative in nature. Latin and blood? Been done before, but it's not too bad a place to start, either. It's straightforward and easily understood, but hardly the most inventive route to conjure power. I felt that the fight scenes involving the magic left as little to be desired, but the draw in this for me after reading the first 200 pages was seeing who the overall antagonist was, not in the repeated altercations with Ethan's rival of Sephira Price.
With all that said, will I pick up book number two in this new series? Most likely. The good (and the okaaaay) outweigh the slightly bad in the case of Thieftaker and I will be interested to see where D.B. Jackson takes this character and this series. It's the first book and there's evidence that this author has talent, and will hopefully grow into a more detailed, evenly-paced writer. If you're interested in trying Thieftaker, there is a short novella, A Spell of Vengeance , written about Ethan. I'd suggest trying that $.99 ebook to see if this type of story and this particular character are a fit for you.
(I guess I had more to say than I thought!)
July 26, 2012
I'm always looking for fantasy novels set in different times and places than the traditional medieval European setting. Thieftaker by D.B. Jackson goes one further: it's historical fantasy, set in colonial Boston. While I'm a history lover, I prefer it ancient, and my memories of 1760s America involve memorizing boring dates and events while chained to a school desk. However, I'm very happy to say this novel isn't like that – at all.
Ethan Kaille isn't a typical thieftaker, making his living apprehending thieves and returning stolen goods. He's also a conjurer and uses his abilities to aid his work, not harm innocent people. To Ethan, what he does isn't “witchcraft,” but less than a century after the Salem witch trials, folks have a hard time making the distinction, and witchcraft is still a hanging offense. This magic system isn't elaborate and blends well with the relatively modern time period.
The people of Boston are divided between those loyal to England and those opposed to the Stamp Act, Parliament's recent attempt to raise money from the colonies. Tempers flare. It's a time when Boston has only one sheriff, no deputies, and the men of the Night Watch can't be trusted.
The daughter of a wealthy merchant is murdered during a riot and Ethan is hired to recover her stolen necklace, but he's driven to continue on and find her killer.
During his investigation Ethan opens one powder keg after another. He finds himself in the midst of pre-Revolutionary politics and meets historical figures like Samuel Adams. He runs afoul of his only rival, the lovely but dangerous Sephira Pryce and her thugs and plays a cat-and-mouse game with a much stronger conjurer. Tenacious he may be, but in the end, death catches up with Ethan.
Mr. Jackson immerses the reader in the sights and smells of colonial times and sprinkles a few little-know historical tidbits through the narrative, which I appreciate. I find it makes the reading experience that much more fun. The twists kept me turning pages and the book ended quicker than I wanted it to.
I really enjoyed Thieftaker and am looking forward to the next Ethan Kaille novel, which I understand will be out next year.
Ethan Kaille isn't a typical thieftaker, making his living apprehending thieves and returning stolen goods. He's also a conjurer and uses his abilities to aid his work, not harm innocent people. To Ethan, what he does isn't “witchcraft,” but less than a century after the Salem witch trials, folks have a hard time making the distinction, and witchcraft is still a hanging offense. This magic system isn't elaborate and blends well with the relatively modern time period.
The people of Boston are divided between those loyal to England and those opposed to the Stamp Act, Parliament's recent attempt to raise money from the colonies. Tempers flare. It's a time when Boston has only one sheriff, no deputies, and the men of the Night Watch can't be trusted.
The daughter of a wealthy merchant is murdered during a riot and Ethan is hired to recover her stolen necklace, but he's driven to continue on and find her killer.
During his investigation Ethan opens one powder keg after another. He finds himself in the midst of pre-Revolutionary politics and meets historical figures like Samuel Adams. He runs afoul of his only rival, the lovely but dangerous Sephira Pryce and her thugs and plays a cat-and-mouse game with a much stronger conjurer. Tenacious he may be, but in the end, death catches up with Ethan.
Mr. Jackson immerses the reader in the sights and smells of colonial times and sprinkles a few little-know historical tidbits through the narrative, which I appreciate. I find it makes the reading experience that much more fun. The twists kept me turning pages and the book ended quicker than I wanted it to.
I really enjoyed Thieftaker and am looking forward to the next Ethan Kaille novel, which I understand will be out next year.
August 21, 2015
Interesting and unique setting. Reads a bit like Dresden Files in the times just before the American Revolutionary War started. For my liking, the plot evolved a bit too slow. Overall a solid read, but nothing that blew me away.
August 28, 2017
This review needs a Foreword, I think; I was writing this as I listened, enjoying the book less and less, until at a certain point about two thirds of the way in I gave up, closed the player, went to the link in my Audible library that says "Didn't like the last book you listened to? You can return it" – and got my money back. I'm going to discuss why with spoilers at the end of this, so be warned.
On the author's website it says that this series is "sure to appeal to readers who enjoy intelligent fantasy and history with an attitude." Unfortunately, the intelligent, the attitude, and the history all are lacking.
Intelligent? I don't think that pertains to the Hero, Ethan Kaille. A child, eight or nine years old, approaches Ethan out of nowhere, and proceeds to talk to him with a canniness and vocabulary well beyond her years, and apparently with an accent that is not that of a waif. Yet it takes Ethan till the end of a pretty lengthy conversation to realize that there's anything off about the child – the kid doesn't cast a shadow, and he never does seem to take any notice of anything else odd about her.
He is beaten soundly by his rival thieftaker's men, and uses his conjuring skills to heal some of his injuries. He refrains from healing more because his landlord, who doesn't know he's a conjurer, saw him right after; if all the bruises disappeared it would give him away. But … why not heal all of the injuries that aren't visible? He continues to straggle about aching and stiff, when … well, it's the 18th century. People wore a lot of clothes. The only things visible on a regular basis would be his face and hands. There's no earthly reason why every other injury couldn't be made to just go away. There's no reason in the world to traipse about with broken ribs.
And why, almost immediately after the beating, refrain from casting a spell because it meant drawing blood – when he was covered with injuries, since he did refrain from healing himself? There had to be a way to surreptitiously reopen one of his many cuts or scrapes and use that. (Which reminds me: instead of constantly hacking up one's arms with a knife, why not keep a hangnail open or something – so that every time one is cornered one doesn't have to draw one's knife, or get prevented from doing so?) And I have to say, blood magic makes me extremely uncomfortable, as does holding a ghost in thrall. It seems such a very short step from using one's own blood and whatever life is held in leaves and grass – to using something else's blood, or someone else's blood, and whatever life is held in more complex life forms. (The idea of a man using his own blood in spells, which means that if he is injured he can use blood from that injury to not only heal himself but to attack, and then can use his opponent's shed blood against them as well – it's fun. I like it. But it's not well used here.)
And I'm not too sure about the intelligence of the writing and the story. Example:
Page 175 – "…Those who paid for her services assumed that she used her powers to find matches for them. Ethan had asked her once if this was in fact true. Janna refused to answer."
Page 180 – "'Killed a goat once. For a love spell, I think it was.'"
(Then there's the rest of that last speech: "'Some wealthy man wanted a girl, an' she didn' wan' him. Took all th' power I've got.'" Really? That's pretty dark. Not only the animal sacrifice, but the fact that she agreed to coerce a girl into a match with a man she didn't want. She doesn't say anything about marriage, either, or that little thing called love (remember "love is magick"?); he wanted her. He apparently got her. What he did with her is left to the imagination. J.K. Rowling had it right with love spells – that's fairly evil.)
"Sephira Pryce had me to supper today." No, she didn't; it was midday. She had you to dinner.
"He heard the bone in the man's nose break." No, he didn't; there is no bone in one's nose. It's cartilage.
The humor in the book, like a little practical joke Kannis plays on Ethan … it's … not funny. At all. It's the definition of lame.
Apart from the predictable "shipping" of Ethan and Mr. Pell I've seen other reviewers talking about, I honestly see no reason for Pell to be brought into the story. His predicament - - is the most interesting thing about him, but if the relationship between him and "look how straight I am with all these girlfriends" Ethan isn't going the way of the shipped, then … I don't know. "Ethan needed to speak one last time with Mr. Pell" – why? What could the boy possibly know?
As to the "attitude" mentioned above … I don't see it. Ethan's not exactly a badass. He starts out pretty well, with a brief fight and a nifty illusion, but before long he's being beaten to a pulp for … really, no good reason except to make sure the reader knows Sephira Pryce is a stone cold bitch. It's the first of several beatings. Ethan's magic seems lightweight, severely limited. And, to quote a moldy oldy, he's "torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool". He occupies himself in Kannice's bed and is quite fond of her, and decides that he doesn't love his erstwhile fiancée anymore, but the former continues to be green-eyed hissing-and-spitting jealous of the latter anyway. Is this why some reviewers out there hate love triangles so much? I've never felt strongly one way or another about them, but this – this just feels worn and dusty.
Oh, lord, there he goes again – is this the fourth or the fifth time, at 62%, that Ethan is confronted by/threatened by Sephira's men? It's so boring. (And why don't they pinion him? I mean – duh. After the first time he manages to do his magicke without using his knife, um … duh?)
And surgeons make him queasy? A man who routinely cuts himself and uses the blood in spells is made queasy by a healer? How … odd.
In the middle of one of his fights, he creates a ring of fire around himself, and then realizes that wasn't such a great idea. Brilliant. I'll bet he's prone to painting himself into corners, too. Why wouldn't they just start shooting into the ring? Why wouldn't he carry the makings for spells with him? You'd think after the first – or second, or third – time he was set upon in the streets that he would take some kind of precautionary measures. You'd think.
And oo, how original: a female Black Hat who attempts to use sex as a weapon. It would have been so much more impressive if she had been a dumpy middle-aged spinster with mousy hair and the mien of a librarian. And spectacles. That I would read, and happily. Instead, there's hot-stuff Sephira – God, as I was writing that in some disgust, still listening to the book, came the line "Even now as she was threatening his life, she was as beautiful as any woman he had ever seen". Gag. She's petulant (of course! She's a woman, after all), ham-handed, as subtle as a sledge-hammer, and … really, really boring. And … why, exactly, does she have Ethan beaten up for taking a job when it was she who recommended him for the job?
"'I'm beginning to think you're not as good as thieftaking as I first thought." Right??
And going back to the history: I read Alexander Hamilton, and then re-watched the HBO John Adams miniseries, and found myself craving more. I wanted good, meaty fiction set in and around the Revolution. I had realized a long time ago, after reading a very dear old favorite called The Sherwood Ring, that there just isn't that much out there. I wanted gossip about Washington and Revolutionary zeal and tricorne hats and all that. I didn't want April Morning, or Johnny Tremain. I wanted something as good as Blindspot. So I was delighted when I remembered Thieftaker. Fantasy set in 18th century Boston? Perfect!
No … No, it's not. It's 1765, and those madmen who are beginning to talk about breaking away from England are just troublemakers and rabble-rousers. (Oh, look, there's Sam Adams. I didn't know he had a palsy.) Ethan is certainly not "one of those so-called Sons of Liberty" – he wants nothing to do with them. And apart from that, the setting, the incendiary time and the significant place, has very little impact on the story. There seems to be no real need to place this story in Boston in 1765. Ethan served a term of forced labor on a Caribbean sugar plantation – but he could very easily have been a thieftaker in 3rd Era Lorbarrow City, and not long ago forced into Dreamsalt excavation in the Lightmarshes. Or something. What a wasted opportunity.
It simply seems off that Sephira strides the streets in breeches, and Janna all but advertises herself as a conjurer, with absolutely no repercussions.
A lazy-sounding, muted, leisurely narration by Jonathan Davis – positively drowsy, at times – did not help matters. While adults doing children's voices can be horrible, Davis read that afore-mentioned young street urchin's part as if the eight or nine year old girl was a middle-aged upper-class businesswoman. On the whole it's not a terrible narration – other character voices are nicely done, for the most part, though I questioned a few accents – but it's extremely low-key. The touches of Bahston in a couple of his character voices are the only (probably anachronistic) things that tie this thing at all to a particular city.
There is only a weak back story for how Ethan comes to wield "dark arts" in a time and place where just about everyone assumes magic – oh, *sigh* sorry, "magick"; that's one of the benefits of audio, not having to look at that spelling – is one of the "forces of hell", and if he's doing good it's almost accidental.
("T. Windcatcher, Marriage Smith. Love is Magick." I'm going to be ill.)
The writing leans heavily on common tropes and phrases. Ethan is attacked (for the umpteenth time), hears a scream, and – say it with me – realizes it is his own. *sigh*
Interesting that Ethan refers to the Evil Conjurer as "he". That made me believe it's a woman.
Names are odd for Colonial Boston – Kannice Lester? Sephira Pryce? Kelf Fingarin? Even Jennifer doesn't seem right. (From Wikipedia: "Before 1906 the name was fairly uncommon, but it gained some recognition after George Bernard Shaw used it for the main female character in The Doctor's Dilemma.") Tarijanna Windcatcher has some basis in its character's background, but it's still oddball. And all the men's names are soft: Ethan, Devren "Diver" Jervis, Trevor, Holin, Nigel, Abner, Reginald. The fact that Nigel is a big rough tough thug just feels off-kilter.
Speaking of names, Ethan isn't exactly stellar in his creativity in that area. He sort of has two dogs named Shells – creatively nicknamed Shelly – and Pitch. Pitch is – wait for it – black. Shells is named for similarly-colored shells on the beach. Seems like there was another example, but I can't find it.
"Dressed only in his breeches, shirt, and waistcoat" – why, he's practically a streaker. It meant that he was out on a cold night without a coat - - but it sounded foolish.
I still don't understand the need for a ghost like "Uncle Reg".
I don't understand why an evil spell caster would decide to kill the girl who started this whole thing. Jennifer Berson was a rich girl, and – more importantly – a rich man's daughter. When she turns up dead, of course her father wants to move heaven and earth to find out who killed her, and he has the resources to do it. Why would a smart Evil Conjurer not use street kids or prostitutes or others who either would not be missed or who would be missed by those who could do nothing about it, in the time-honored tradition of the serial killer?
"'Get him already!' Sephira shouted"… meaning Ethan. Indeed. Please. And finish the job, you incompetent idiots.
I was writing this review as I listened. And here come the spoilers, in case you've made it this far into a long review and still care.
So… Here's the thing. Ethan is getting beaten up YET AGAIN (the book went beyond italics or boldface and required caps there) (I mean, it seems to be in the contract that an urban fantasy hero signs that he will be beaten up at least twice per book, but this? Ethan should sue his agent), and he's lying there on the ground, all hope is lost, the ghost/illusion Anna is looming over him in classic scary child fashion, a child that Ethan cares about is in trouble, oh dear oh dear whatever will happen. Then one of those dogs Ethan sort-of kind-of owns (though not really) comes along for no particular reason. My first reaction was "But the dogs hate the ghosts", which may or may not be valid; this Anna thing could well have been an illusion and not a ghost like "Uncle Reg", so – fine. But the dog shows up, and stands across the street. I … well, I've never had a dog that would have just stood there. In my world, when one of my dogs saw me sitting or lying on the floor, the first reaction has always been "Woo hoo! We're playing!" I would have expected Pitch to at least come trotting over to give Ethan a sniff. "Dude, you're acting weird, what's up?"
My initial impulse was to say that Ethan wasn't that powerful, but then I thought a little more about the pyrotechnics he managed by pulling the life force from a handful of grass. He was able to do quite a bit more with blood, his own or that spilled by others. But the dog, just standing there with his head cocked across the street, was not mentioned to be bleeding. Just standing there, minding his own business. So - my question here is twofold. If he could draw off the life of a dog across the street, why could he not draw on the life forces of the men attacking him, or Sephira Pryce as she manipulated them? Is it an all-or-nothing thing, where there's no way to do it without killing that from which the life is drawn unless the blood is flowing? Does it have to be a creature without the ability to speak and reason? Second question: if he was pretty powerful with leaves, and more powerful with blood, you'd think he'd be unstoppable using life. You'd think he'd want to spend his beloved sort-of-pet's life usefully. So what does he do? "Blindness, conjured from the life of this dog". Blindness. Not "Reduced to a charcoal briquet"; not "Every bone in body broken", not "Deader than the deadest dead thing" ... Blindness. Is this a temporary or permanent blindness? Who knows? (Actually someone who finished the book might.)
"Every conjuring had to draw upon its source, be it one of the elements - fire, water, earth, or air - for the simplest spells, or something drawn from a creature or plant for living spells." See, this makes no sense. "Something"? What? There seems to be no consistency. Ethan can use grass or a leaf to fuel a spell. I didn't notice and can't now find what happens to the leaves when he uses them. He uses them up, that I get, but - do they crumple into dust? Shrivel up? Anything? The dog just keels over when he drains him (bastard). Blood disappears. There's no logic to it that I can see. There are bacteria in the air and on surfaces; there are micro-organisms everywhere. Dust mites. Why can't they be used? I know, I know – in 1765 they don't know anything about things they can't see, but why aren't they being used without the conjurer realizing, perhaps assuming that there's a latent amount of energy in air or water or whatever that can be used … and why am I wasting time on this?
But then, to put the cherry on top of the nonsensicality of the magical "system": I was morbidly curious, wanted to see what benefit killing the dog gained the little twerp, and I'd already returned the book - it was gone from my library. So I went to Google Books. And apparently about fifty pages on he is attacked yet again, vomits from pain ... and then conjures a spell from "my sick".
Really?
REALLY?
On the author's website it says that this series is "sure to appeal to readers who enjoy intelligent fantasy and history with an attitude." Unfortunately, the intelligent, the attitude, and the history all are lacking.
Intelligent? I don't think that pertains to the Hero, Ethan Kaille. A child, eight or nine years old, approaches Ethan out of nowhere, and proceeds to talk to him with a canniness and vocabulary well beyond her years, and apparently with an accent that is not that of a waif. Yet it takes Ethan till the end of a pretty lengthy conversation to realize that there's anything off about the child – the kid doesn't cast a shadow, and he never does seem to take any notice of anything else odd about her.
He is beaten soundly by his rival thieftaker's men, and uses his conjuring skills to heal some of his injuries. He refrains from healing more because his landlord, who doesn't know he's a conjurer, saw him right after; if all the bruises disappeared it would give him away. But … why not heal all of the injuries that aren't visible? He continues to straggle about aching and stiff, when … well, it's the 18th century. People wore a lot of clothes. The only things visible on a regular basis would be his face and hands. There's no earthly reason why every other injury couldn't be made to just go away. There's no reason in the world to traipse about with broken ribs.
And why, almost immediately after the beating, refrain from casting a spell because it meant drawing blood – when he was covered with injuries, since he did refrain from healing himself? There had to be a way to surreptitiously reopen one of his many cuts or scrapes and use that. (Which reminds me: instead of constantly hacking up one's arms with a knife, why not keep a hangnail open or something – so that every time one is cornered one doesn't have to draw one's knife, or get prevented from doing so?) And I have to say, blood magic makes me extremely uncomfortable, as does holding a ghost in thrall. It seems such a very short step from using one's own blood and whatever life is held in leaves and grass – to using something else's blood, or someone else's blood, and whatever life is held in more complex life forms. (The idea of a man using his own blood in spells, which means that if he is injured he can use blood from that injury to not only heal himself but to attack, and then can use his opponent's shed blood against them as well – it's fun. I like it. But it's not well used here.)
And I'm not too sure about the intelligence of the writing and the story. Example:
Page 175 – "…Those who paid for her services assumed that she used her powers to find matches for them. Ethan had asked her once if this was in fact true. Janna refused to answer."
Page 180 – "'Killed a goat once. For a love spell, I think it was.'"
(Then there's the rest of that last speech: "'Some wealthy man wanted a girl, an' she didn' wan' him. Took all th' power I've got.'" Really? That's pretty dark. Not only the animal sacrifice, but the fact that she agreed to coerce a girl into a match with a man she didn't want. She doesn't say anything about marriage, either, or that little thing called love (remember "love is magick"?); he wanted her. He apparently got her. What he did with her is left to the imagination. J.K. Rowling had it right with love spells – that's fairly evil.)
"Sephira Pryce had me to supper today." No, she didn't; it was midday. She had you to dinner.
"He heard the bone in the man's nose break." No, he didn't; there is no bone in one's nose. It's cartilage.
The humor in the book, like a little practical joke Kannis plays on Ethan … it's … not funny. At all. It's the definition of lame.
Apart from the predictable "shipping" of Ethan and Mr. Pell I've seen other reviewers talking about, I honestly see no reason for Pell to be brought into the story. His predicament - - is the most interesting thing about him, but if the relationship between him and "look how straight I am with all these girlfriends" Ethan isn't going the way of the shipped, then … I don't know. "Ethan needed to speak one last time with Mr. Pell" – why? What could the boy possibly know?
As to the "attitude" mentioned above … I don't see it. Ethan's not exactly a badass. He starts out pretty well, with a brief fight and a nifty illusion, but before long he's being beaten to a pulp for … really, no good reason except to make sure the reader knows Sephira Pryce is a stone cold bitch. It's the first of several beatings. Ethan's magic seems lightweight, severely limited. And, to quote a moldy oldy, he's "torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool". He occupies himself in Kannice's bed and is quite fond of her, and decides that he doesn't love his erstwhile fiancée anymore, but the former continues to be green-eyed hissing-and-spitting jealous of the latter anyway. Is this why some reviewers out there hate love triangles so much? I've never felt strongly one way or another about them, but this – this just feels worn and dusty.
Oh, lord, there he goes again – is this the fourth or the fifth time, at 62%, that Ethan is confronted by/threatened by Sephira's men? It's so boring. (And why don't they pinion him? I mean – duh. After the first time he manages to do his magicke without using his knife, um … duh?)
And surgeons make him queasy? A man who routinely cuts himself and uses the blood in spells is made queasy by a healer? How … odd.
In the middle of one of his fights, he creates a ring of fire around himself, and then realizes that wasn't such a great idea. Brilliant. I'll bet he's prone to painting himself into corners, too. Why wouldn't they just start shooting into the ring? Why wouldn't he carry the makings for spells with him? You'd think after the first – or second, or third – time he was set upon in the streets that he would take some kind of precautionary measures. You'd think.
And oo, how original: a female Black Hat who attempts to use sex as a weapon. It would have been so much more impressive if she had been a dumpy middle-aged spinster with mousy hair and the mien of a librarian. And spectacles. That I would read, and happily. Instead, there's hot-stuff Sephira – God, as I was writing that in some disgust, still listening to the book, came the line "Even now as she was threatening his life, she was as beautiful as any woman he had ever seen". Gag. She's petulant (of course! She's a woman, after all), ham-handed, as subtle as a sledge-hammer, and … really, really boring. And … why, exactly, does she have Ethan beaten up for taking a job when it was she who recommended him for the job?
"'I'm beginning to think you're not as good as thieftaking as I first thought." Right??
And going back to the history: I read Alexander Hamilton, and then re-watched the HBO John Adams miniseries, and found myself craving more. I wanted good, meaty fiction set in and around the Revolution. I had realized a long time ago, after reading a very dear old favorite called The Sherwood Ring, that there just isn't that much out there. I wanted gossip about Washington and Revolutionary zeal and tricorne hats and all that. I didn't want April Morning, or Johnny Tremain. I wanted something as good as Blindspot. So I was delighted when I remembered Thieftaker. Fantasy set in 18th century Boston? Perfect!
No … No, it's not. It's 1765, and those madmen who are beginning to talk about breaking away from England are just troublemakers and rabble-rousers. (Oh, look, there's Sam Adams. I didn't know he had a palsy.) Ethan is certainly not "one of those so-called Sons of Liberty" – he wants nothing to do with them. And apart from that, the setting, the incendiary time and the significant place, has very little impact on the story. There seems to be no real need to place this story in Boston in 1765. Ethan served a term of forced labor on a Caribbean sugar plantation – but he could very easily have been a thieftaker in 3rd Era Lorbarrow City, and not long ago forced into Dreamsalt excavation in the Lightmarshes. Or something. What a wasted opportunity.
It simply seems off that Sephira strides the streets in breeches, and Janna all but advertises herself as a conjurer, with absolutely no repercussions.
A lazy-sounding, muted, leisurely narration by Jonathan Davis – positively drowsy, at times – did not help matters. While adults doing children's voices can be horrible, Davis read that afore-mentioned young street urchin's part as if the eight or nine year old girl was a middle-aged upper-class businesswoman. On the whole it's not a terrible narration – other character voices are nicely done, for the most part, though I questioned a few accents – but it's extremely low-key. The touches of Bahston in a couple of his character voices are the only (probably anachronistic) things that tie this thing at all to a particular city.
There is only a weak back story for how Ethan comes to wield "dark arts" in a time and place where just about everyone assumes magic – oh, *sigh* sorry, "magick"; that's one of the benefits of audio, not having to look at that spelling – is one of the "forces of hell", and if he's doing good it's almost accidental.
("T. Windcatcher, Marriage Smith. Love is Magick." I'm going to be ill.)
The writing leans heavily on common tropes and phrases. Ethan is attacked (for the umpteenth time), hears a scream, and – say it with me – realizes it is his own. *sigh*
Interesting that Ethan refers to the Evil Conjurer as "he". That made me believe it's a woman.
Names are odd for Colonial Boston – Kannice Lester? Sephira Pryce? Kelf Fingarin? Even Jennifer doesn't seem right. (From Wikipedia: "Before 1906 the name was fairly uncommon, but it gained some recognition after George Bernard Shaw used it for the main female character in The Doctor's Dilemma.") Tarijanna Windcatcher has some basis in its character's background, but it's still oddball. And all the men's names are soft: Ethan, Devren "Diver" Jervis, Trevor, Holin, Nigel, Abner, Reginald. The fact that Nigel is a big rough tough thug just feels off-kilter.
Speaking of names, Ethan isn't exactly stellar in his creativity in that area. He sort of has two dogs named Shells – creatively nicknamed Shelly – and Pitch. Pitch is – wait for it – black. Shells is named for similarly-colored shells on the beach. Seems like there was another example, but I can't find it.
"Dressed only in his breeches, shirt, and waistcoat" – why, he's practically a streaker. It meant that he was out on a cold night without a coat - - but it sounded foolish.
I still don't understand the need for a ghost like "Uncle Reg".
I don't understand why an evil spell caster would decide to kill the girl who started this whole thing. Jennifer Berson was a rich girl, and – more importantly – a rich man's daughter. When she turns up dead, of course her father wants to move heaven and earth to find out who killed her, and he has the resources to do it. Why would a smart Evil Conjurer not use street kids or prostitutes or others who either would not be missed or who would be missed by those who could do nothing about it, in the time-honored tradition of the serial killer?
"'Get him already!' Sephira shouted"… meaning Ethan. Indeed. Please. And finish the job, you incompetent idiots.
I was writing this review as I listened. And here come the spoilers, in case you've made it this far into a long review and still care.
So… Here's the thing. Ethan is getting beaten up YET AGAIN (the book went beyond italics or boldface and required caps there) (I mean, it seems to be in the contract that an urban fantasy hero signs that he will be beaten up at least twice per book, but this? Ethan should sue his agent), and he's lying there on the ground, all hope is lost, the ghost/illusion Anna is looming over him in classic scary child fashion, a child that Ethan cares about is in trouble, oh dear oh dear whatever will happen. Then one of those dogs Ethan sort-of kind-of owns (though not really) comes along for no particular reason. My first reaction was "But the dogs hate the ghosts", which may or may not be valid; this Anna thing could well have been an illusion and not a ghost like "Uncle Reg", so – fine. But the dog shows up, and stands across the street. I … well, I've never had a dog that would have just stood there. In my world, when one of my dogs saw me sitting or lying on the floor, the first reaction has always been "Woo hoo! We're playing!" I would have expected Pitch to at least come trotting over to give Ethan a sniff. "Dude, you're acting weird, what's up?"
My initial impulse was to say that Ethan wasn't that powerful, but then I thought a little more about the pyrotechnics he managed by pulling the life force from a handful of grass. He was able to do quite a bit more with blood, his own or that spilled by others. But the dog, just standing there with his head cocked across the street, was not mentioned to be bleeding. Just standing there, minding his own business. So - my question here is twofold. If he could draw off the life of a dog across the street, why could he not draw on the life forces of the men attacking him, or Sephira Pryce as she manipulated them? Is it an all-or-nothing thing, where there's no way to do it without killing that from which the life is drawn unless the blood is flowing? Does it have to be a creature without the ability to speak and reason? Second question: if he was pretty powerful with leaves, and more powerful with blood, you'd think he'd be unstoppable using life. You'd think he'd want to spend his beloved sort-of-pet's life usefully. So what does he do? "Blindness, conjured from the life of this dog". Blindness. Not "Reduced to a charcoal briquet"; not "Every bone in body broken", not "Deader than the deadest dead thing" ... Blindness. Is this a temporary or permanent blindness? Who knows? (Actually someone who finished the book might.)
"Every conjuring had to draw upon its source, be it one of the elements - fire, water, earth, or air - for the simplest spells, or something drawn from a creature or plant for living spells." See, this makes no sense. "Something"? What? There seems to be no consistency. Ethan can use grass or a leaf to fuel a spell. I didn't notice and can't now find what happens to the leaves when he uses them. He uses them up, that I get, but - do they crumple into dust? Shrivel up? Anything? The dog just keels over when he drains him (bastard). Blood disappears. There's no logic to it that I can see. There are bacteria in the air and on surfaces; there are micro-organisms everywhere. Dust mites. Why can't they be used? I know, I know – in 1765 they don't know anything about things they can't see, but why aren't they being used without the conjurer realizing, perhaps assuming that there's a latent amount of energy in air or water or whatever that can be used … and why am I wasting time on this?
But then, to put the cherry on top of the nonsensicality of the magical "system": I was morbidly curious, wanted to see what benefit killing the dog gained the little twerp, and I'd already returned the book - it was gone from my library. So I went to Google Books. And apparently about fifty pages on he is attacked yet again, vomits from pain ... and then conjures a spell from "my sick".
Really?
REALLY?
August 2, 2018
A great concept. Well-written, tightly plotted. I had done some research on colonial Boston for a story once--poring over maps and old books--so I slipped right into the descriptions of the area and time.
This story is highly entertaining, with a mystery to be solved throughout (a girl has been murdered...by magical means) which keeps you reading. It fits in neatly with historical facts of the time, interweaving the tale of these characters in between major events. Some historical players also come on stage for a few lines and key plot points.
Fast paced, there's some romance, protagonist is very likable, no anachronistic jolts, well-researched. The magical system was well thought-out--proper limits and abilities.
I loved it.
This story is highly entertaining, with a mystery to be solved throughout (a girl has been murdered...by magical means) which keeps you reading. It fits in neatly with historical facts of the time, interweaving the tale of these characters in between major events. Some historical players also come on stage for a few lines and key plot points.
Fast paced, there's some romance, protagonist is very likable, no anachronistic jolts, well-researched. The magical system was well thought-out--proper limits and abilities.
I loved it.
July 23, 2012
Imagine, if you will, the dark streets of Boston. Trouble is afoot, a revolution against the wealthy and the authorities. Equality and justice are demanded by protesting crowds, some of which get out of hand at times, leading to smoky, dark nights. Add to that ghosts and dark magic at hand, a secret sorcerer working his will in the midst of the chaos. Sounds like a pretty good urban fantasy, right?
Now imagine all this is occurring during the Stamp Act uprising in the 18th Century. Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty, the original Tea Party, the Colonists stirring against the British Crown.
D.B. Jackson's debut alternate history novel is the tale of a thieftaker, one who hunts down stolen property for a fee and returns it to its rightful owners. What separates him from his competition, however, is Ethan's gift for conjuring. He was born with the gift, inherited from his mother, and now Ethan Kaille is called upon to investigate the theft of a brooch off the neck of a murdered daughter of one of Boston's wealthy merchants. Murders are not the sorts of crimes men like Ethan typically get involved with, but the girl's cause of death is undetermined and some believe conjuring was involved, and so Ethan promises to find the stolen brooch and return it, revealing what he also discovers about the murderer in the process.
But once he gets involved, finding himself haunted by ghosts and voices of not just the dead daughter but others who've died in similar fashion, attacked by his main rival, Sephira Pryce, a thieftaker who rules the city in ways less honorable than Ethan and many of her trade, and hunted by the authorities. Drawn into an unfolding mystery by his compulsion to understand and his desire to set things right, Ethan uncovers a dark conspiracy that brings him into encounters with the British leadership, upper crust merchants, and even Samuel Adams himself.
Jackson is the nom de plume of a well respected fantasy writer with numerous fantasies under his belt. And his skill at prose, worldbuilding, and character development shine through on every page. Add to this his degree in history and passion for that, and you have a book that drips with authenticity, despite the fantastical elements wove into the historical narrative. Colonial Boston really comes alive here, and the story draws you in quickly, compelling you to read onward with every page.
Alternate history is as tricky as working in a contemporary setting because so much documentation and knowledge exists that one has to study hard and tread carefully in order to use history both responsibly, meaningfully and fairly in weaving a fictional tale around and within it, while still crafting elements which would appeal to the genre fans for whom the book will be primarily targeted. But my opinion is that any fan of history, particularly Revolutionary War America, would love Thieftaker. And I think it's a not to be missed start of a new not to be missed series.
Jackson is scheduled to follow next year with Thieve's Quarry and everything from the beautiful cover art to the prose, dialogue and settings works together to bring this charming, authentic, well paced tale to life. It's unique and yet familiar. And it's one of my favorite reads of 2012 so far. Highly recommended!
Now imagine all this is occurring during the Stamp Act uprising in the 18th Century. Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty, the original Tea Party, the Colonists stirring against the British Crown.
D.B. Jackson's debut alternate history novel is the tale of a thieftaker, one who hunts down stolen property for a fee and returns it to its rightful owners. What separates him from his competition, however, is Ethan's gift for conjuring. He was born with the gift, inherited from his mother, and now Ethan Kaille is called upon to investigate the theft of a brooch off the neck of a murdered daughter of one of Boston's wealthy merchants. Murders are not the sorts of crimes men like Ethan typically get involved with, but the girl's cause of death is undetermined and some believe conjuring was involved, and so Ethan promises to find the stolen brooch and return it, revealing what he also discovers about the murderer in the process.
But once he gets involved, finding himself haunted by ghosts and voices of not just the dead daughter but others who've died in similar fashion, attacked by his main rival, Sephira Pryce, a thieftaker who rules the city in ways less honorable than Ethan and many of her trade, and hunted by the authorities. Drawn into an unfolding mystery by his compulsion to understand and his desire to set things right, Ethan uncovers a dark conspiracy that brings him into encounters with the British leadership, upper crust merchants, and even Samuel Adams himself.
Jackson is the nom de plume of a well respected fantasy writer with numerous fantasies under his belt. And his skill at prose, worldbuilding, and character development shine through on every page. Add to this his degree in history and passion for that, and you have a book that drips with authenticity, despite the fantastical elements wove into the historical narrative. Colonial Boston really comes alive here, and the story draws you in quickly, compelling you to read onward with every page.
Alternate history is as tricky as working in a contemporary setting because so much documentation and knowledge exists that one has to study hard and tread carefully in order to use history both responsibly, meaningfully and fairly in weaving a fictional tale around and within it, while still crafting elements which would appeal to the genre fans for whom the book will be primarily targeted. But my opinion is that any fan of history, particularly Revolutionary War America, would love Thieftaker. And I think it's a not to be missed start of a new not to be missed series.
Jackson is scheduled to follow next year with Thieve's Quarry and everything from the beautiful cover art to the prose, dialogue and settings works together to bring this charming, authentic, well paced tale to life. It's unique and yet familiar. And it's one of my favorite reads of 2012 so far. Highly recommended!
April 30, 2017
Thieftaker is the first book in a series by D.B. Jackson, introducing eighteenth-century Boston thieftaker Ethan Kaille. In the absence of a police force, if a citizen wants a thief, or stolen goods, found, then they must employ a thieftaker. Kaille, however, does not rely merely on traditional legwork - he can do magic.
Unlike many magic-is-real urban fantasy settings, this alternate 1767 Boston does not seem to have magic-users and magical beings all over the place. Magic-users - conjurers - are not common, and they risk being arrested and convicted of witchcraft by the church. Kaille understandably keeps quiet about his gift, although it's clear that quite a few people know about it all the same. Obviously the church isn't too zealous in hunting conjurers down, or he'd be dead.
The current case revolves around the seemingly senseless death-by-magic of a rich young woman who was, for reasons unknown, out in the street during one of the riots due to the Stamp Act. It's clear that she was killed by a powerful conjurer, but who might this be, and why was she killed? And were other possibly-mysterious deaths related? And, again, why?
In the course of pursuing this case, Kaille gets repeatedly beaten up, kidnapped, threatened, etc. Although conjurers have the ability to heal themselves, the man must have a constitution of iron and the courage of a lion to make it to the end of the book without deciding to retire from thieftaking and take up some nice, safe, boring occupation like alligator dentistry.
The author is a historian, and he has consulted other historians in the writing of the book. The setting felt real; however, it is neither overloaded with unnecessary detail (meant to impress on the reader that the author Knows His Stuff) nor so lacking in detail that it felt bland. I was worried that the book might not make sense to someone who didn't know the period, but I needn't have worried. Although knowing what the Stamp Act actually was would have helped, just accepting that it was important to the characters was enough since it was only background, and not part of the plot.
On the down side, some of the dialogue was a little modern (I'm pretty sure people didn't say 'hi' in the eighteenth century), but I'm against the use of deliberately 'archaic' speech patterns in novels - I think it causes more interference with the reader's enjoyment of the book than it increases authenticity. I prefer to read dialogue I can just absorb rather than something I have to decode.
Although the book had a slow start for me, and I wasn't sure whether I was going to like Kaille enough to devote my evening to his problems, in the end he grew on me. I read the book pretty much in one sitting, and did not find myself stopping reading to do something aimless. I even carried on reading through dinner, which is one of my yardsticks of is-this-a-good-book (you can keep any comments on my table manners to yourself, thank you). So I will definitely be looking out for the second one in the series.
If you like urban fantasy, with fairly low-key magic in a historically realistic setting, then you'll probably enjoy this book.
Unlike many magic-is-real urban fantasy settings, this alternate 1767 Boston does not seem to have magic-users and magical beings all over the place. Magic-users - conjurers - are not common, and they risk being arrested and convicted of witchcraft by the church. Kaille understandably keeps quiet about his gift, although it's clear that quite a few people know about it all the same. Obviously the church isn't too zealous in hunting conjurers down, or he'd be dead.
The current case revolves around the seemingly senseless death-by-magic of a rich young woman who was, for reasons unknown, out in the street during one of the riots due to the Stamp Act. It's clear that she was killed by a powerful conjurer, but who might this be, and why was she killed? And were other possibly-mysterious deaths related? And, again, why?
In the course of pursuing this case, Kaille gets repeatedly beaten up, kidnapped, threatened, etc. Although conjurers have the ability to heal themselves, the man must have a constitution of iron and the courage of a lion to make it to the end of the book without deciding to retire from thieftaking and take up some nice, safe, boring occupation like alligator dentistry.
The author is a historian, and he has consulted other historians in the writing of the book. The setting felt real; however, it is neither overloaded with unnecessary detail (meant to impress on the reader that the author Knows His Stuff) nor so lacking in detail that it felt bland. I was worried that the book might not make sense to someone who didn't know the period, but I needn't have worried. Although knowing what the Stamp Act actually was would have helped, just accepting that it was important to the characters was enough since it was only background, and not part of the plot.
On the down side, some of the dialogue was a little modern (I'm pretty sure people didn't say 'hi' in the eighteenth century), but I'm against the use of deliberately 'archaic' speech patterns in novels - I think it causes more interference with the reader's enjoyment of the book than it increases authenticity. I prefer to read dialogue I can just absorb rather than something I have to decode.
Although the book had a slow start for me, and I wasn't sure whether I was going to like Kaille enough to devote my evening to his problems, in the end he grew on me. I read the book pretty much in one sitting, and did not find myself stopping reading to do something aimless. I even carried on reading through dinner, which is one of my yardsticks of is-this-a-good-book (you can keep any comments on my table manners to yourself, thank you). So I will definitely be looking out for the second one in the series.
If you like urban fantasy, with fairly low-key magic in a historically realistic setting, then you'll probably enjoy this book.
June 3, 2021
Thieftaker (Thieftaker Chronicles #1) by D.B. Jackson was a really solid historical fantasy novel set just before the American Revolution. Historical fantasy is one of my favorite genres, but this is the first time I've seen one set during this time period and I really enjoyed getting to know more of the world Ethan Kaille inhabits from what we know to the more fantastic. Overall, I think this is going to be one of those series that just gets better with time.
July 1, 2012
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
We don’t see an abundance of male protagonists in urban fantasy, and we see still fewer that are really great. Fortunately, D.B. Jackson’s Ethan Kaille falls into that category. THIEFTAKER, the first book in The Thieftaker Chronicles follows a conjurer, or wizard, in colonial America who uses his magic to eke out a living as a thieftaker. Everything in this book is meticulously researched. The time period feels completely real. The dialogue, clothing, and numerous historical characters all lend THIEFTAKER an authenticity that allowed this magical story to shine.
Set against the back story of increasing political unrest in mid 18th century Boston following the Stamp Act, Ethan is called upon to recover a missing broach and, more importantly, track down a murderer who is using spells to kill. Imagine Sherlock Holmes meets Harry Dresden and you have a pretty good idea of what this book is like. Ethan must rely on more than just magic to find this killer, and constantly be aware of the very real threat that his conjuring could get him burned at the stake. There’s some lovely personal conflict as well involving Ethan’s first love, his years spent in prison, and the new woman in his life who loves him fiercely.
THIEFTAKER was a completely immersive and thoroughly entertaining book. Jackson’s well-researched historical details coupled with his fresh and comprehensive worldbuilding are not to be missed. Jim Butcher fans take note: Ethan could be Harry Dresden’s forebearer. I’m anxious for more of Ethan’s story in the next book in The Thieftaker Chronicles, THIEVES’ QUARRY, which is scheduled for 2013.
Sexual Content:
Kissing. References to sex
We don’t see an abundance of male protagonists in urban fantasy, and we see still fewer that are really great. Fortunately, D.B. Jackson’s Ethan Kaille falls into that category. THIEFTAKER, the first book in The Thieftaker Chronicles follows a conjurer, or wizard, in colonial America who uses his magic to eke out a living as a thieftaker. Everything in this book is meticulously researched. The time period feels completely real. The dialogue, clothing, and numerous historical characters all lend THIEFTAKER an authenticity that allowed this magical story to shine.
Set against the back story of increasing political unrest in mid 18th century Boston following the Stamp Act, Ethan is called upon to recover a missing broach and, more importantly, track down a murderer who is using spells to kill. Imagine Sherlock Holmes meets Harry Dresden and you have a pretty good idea of what this book is like. Ethan must rely on more than just magic to find this killer, and constantly be aware of the very real threat that his conjuring could get him burned at the stake. There’s some lovely personal conflict as well involving Ethan’s first love, his years spent in prison, and the new woman in his life who loves him fiercely.
THIEFTAKER was a completely immersive and thoroughly entertaining book. Jackson’s well-researched historical details coupled with his fresh and comprehensive worldbuilding are not to be missed. Jim Butcher fans take note: Ethan could be Harry Dresden’s forebearer. I’m anxious for more of Ethan’s story in the next book in The Thieftaker Chronicles, THIEVES’ QUARRY, which is scheduled for 2013.
Sexual Content:
Kissing. References to sex
February 5, 2018
This is basically like if The Dresden Files had a lovechild with historical fantasy set in pre-Revolutionary America. If that sounds interesting to you, you'll probably love it. If it doesn't, you probably should pass. A similar analogue might be Assassin's Creed III, where there's enough magic around to make things interesting for the protagonist and antagonist, but everyday life is basically the same and where historical figures sometimes turn up.
I felt like the narrative voice of the main character was too similar to Harry Dresden, but aside from that, the cast of characters and their interactions was interesting and the plot was solid.
I've liked Jackson's work under his David B. Coe name (secondary/epic fantasy) so it wasn't surprising I liked this as well.
I felt like the narrative voice of the main character was too similar to Harry Dresden, but aside from that, the cast of characters and their interactions was interesting and the plot was solid.
I've liked Jackson's work under his David B. Coe name (secondary/epic fantasy) so it wasn't surprising I liked this as well.
July 16, 2012
lush descriptions, wonderful characters, and a lot of scenes in a pub! What more could a drunkard like me ask for? D.B. Jackson's new historical urban fantasy novel is a bag full of awesome!
July 24, 2012
Thieftaker is probably a little too complex for its own good. I mean, yes, it's about Ethan Kaille, a thieftaker in pre-Revolutionary Boston, and he's solving a murder with the rumblings of the American Revolution in the backdrop, but there are just so many things going on I'm not entirely sure they come together that well. I couldn't see a point to the story for about the first quarter of the book, and, even now that I'm finished, the ending feels rather anti-climatical and I still don't see the point to half the scenes.
But Ethan Kaille sure is a busy character. He's a sorcerer in Boston. He's pitted against a ruthless rival in the thieftaking business. He's solving a murder. All of it’s sort of tied to the beginnings of the American Revolution. And that sort of really kills this book - the connections between these various plot threads are just too tenuous. For example, the sorcerer aspect, Kaille mentions the Salem Witch Trials of a century earlier, how it's still dangerous to be a sorcerer because of the still lingering threat of being burned at the stake. And yet, it seems like half of Boston already knows he's a sorcerer, and even with his identity being common knowledge with the clergy, there are really no repercussions for him because everyone who could do anything damaging with that information already knows. And I know much of it is personal politics at work too, but as he's going on about how important it is to hide his identity, I'm going so what, because nothing really tells me why it's so important for Kaille to conceal his identity from like the three or four people who still don't know.
Or Saphira Price, Kaille's ruthless rival. She and her gang of thugs come in and out of the picture, beating him up on a whim. I just don't get it. It's implied Price knows way more than what's revealed, and she has this long term plan up her sleeves plus some sort of connection to the murderer. But the ending really tells me nothing about her; apparently she really does just appear on a whim to beat him up, because whatever her connection to the murderer is, I couldn't see it. And her long term plans? I got nothing. If she really is just the antagonist that pops up every few chapters just to beat up the protagonist and leave, WTF?
And the murder. Hmmm. Well, at least Kaille's right, the murder is related to anti-British sentiments in Boston. There's that. So all the talk of angry mobs ransacking the homes of important colonial officials, it's connected, at least tangentially. I want to say the ending ties together the murder and the coming Revolution up nicely, but I can't, I don't think I'm satisfied by how it goes down, I'm just let down because it doesn’t seem like the murder effects the Revolution at all. I wanted to see more connections, the importance of the murder, the importance of being a thieftaker, the importance of being a sorcerer, but it's all like a massive series of tenuous leaps and coincidences.
I guess the saving grace is that at least Thieftaker is excellently researched with some really good world building. I thought I knew a lot about the beginnings of the American Revolution and eighteenth century Boston, but, by the time I finished, I had a pretty long list of things I had to look up. Figure out, is that historical or is that fiction? And surprisingly, a good deal of my list was historical. The descriptions of how magic works are really good too, if Kaille spent the entire book spelling instead of jumping around seemingly unrelated plotlines, I'd probably have liked this book way more.
He doesn't though, and I guess my problem with Thieftaker is that a lot goes on, but it's hard to see how it's all connected. And once I got to the ending and find out the connections I expected to see are not really there, it's not a great feeling.
But Ethan Kaille sure is a busy character. He's a sorcerer in Boston. He's pitted against a ruthless rival in the thieftaking business. He's solving a murder. All of it’s sort of tied to the beginnings of the American Revolution. And that sort of really kills this book - the connections between these various plot threads are just too tenuous. For example, the sorcerer aspect, Kaille mentions the Salem Witch Trials of a century earlier, how it's still dangerous to be a sorcerer because of the still lingering threat of being burned at the stake. And yet, it seems like half of Boston already knows he's a sorcerer, and even with his identity being common knowledge with the clergy, there are really no repercussions for him because everyone who could do anything damaging with that information already knows. And I know much of it is personal politics at work too, but as he's going on about how important it is to hide his identity, I'm going so what, because nothing really tells me why it's so important for Kaille to conceal his identity from like the three or four people who still don't know.
Or Saphira Price, Kaille's ruthless rival. She and her gang of thugs come in and out of the picture, beating him up on a whim. I just don't get it. It's implied Price knows way more than what's revealed, and she has this long term plan up her sleeves plus some sort of connection to the murderer. But the ending really tells me nothing about her; apparently she really does just appear on a whim to beat him up, because whatever her connection to the murderer is, I couldn't see it. And her long term plans? I got nothing. If she really is just the antagonist that pops up every few chapters just to beat up the protagonist and leave, WTF?
And the murder. Hmmm. Well, at least Kaille's right, the murder is related to anti-British sentiments in Boston. There's that. So all the talk of angry mobs ransacking the homes of important colonial officials, it's connected, at least tangentially. I want to say the ending ties together the murder and the coming Revolution up nicely, but I can't, I don't think I'm satisfied by how it goes down, I'm just let down because it doesn’t seem like the murder effects the Revolution at all. I wanted to see more connections, the importance of the murder, the importance of being a thieftaker, the importance of being a sorcerer, but it's all like a massive series of tenuous leaps and coincidences.
I guess the saving grace is that at least Thieftaker is excellently researched with some really good world building. I thought I knew a lot about the beginnings of the American Revolution and eighteenth century Boston, but, by the time I finished, I had a pretty long list of things I had to look up. Figure out, is that historical or is that fiction? And surprisingly, a good deal of my list was historical. The descriptions of how magic works are really good too, if Kaille spent the entire book spelling instead of jumping around seemingly unrelated plotlines, I'd probably have liked this book way more.
He doesn't though, and I guess my problem with Thieftaker is that a lot goes on, but it's hard to see how it's all connected. And once I got to the ending and find out the connections I expected to see are not really there, it's not a great feeling.
June 27, 2016
There are a few different ways to describe this book. I settled on Dresden Files set in Colonial Boston about a decade before the American Revolution. Ethan Kaille works as a theiftaker, someone who specializes in recovering stolen property. It's sort of like a Colonial era private investigator. Thieftakers were real, by the way, just not really active in the Colonies at this point.
Kallie gets hired to recover a broach that vanished when a well to do young woman is murdered during a "Liberty riot." While he doesn't go after criminals as a rule, if happens to find who killed her, well, so much the better. Of course Ethan isn't just a thieftaker. He's a conjurer, a man skilled in spell work. This is something he tries to hide, with varying degrees of success, since there's always the possibility of being taken for a witch.
The case is far from simple. Sophia Pryce, a rival and powerful thieftaker, doesn't like Ethan getting a wealthy client, which she considers her exclusive territory. Ethan crosses paths with some of the influential and wealthy, including Governor Hitchings and Sam Adams. And then there's his own past, which keeps coming back to haunt him.
Ethan also has a complicated personal life with Kannice, owner of a tavern, Elli, the woman he was once engaged to, and some questionable friends. Things take dark turns when Ethan learns there's a rival conjurer behind the scenes, who is far more powerful than Ethan, and much more ruthless. Ethan has to make some hard choices to even manage to stay alive.
D.B. Jackson mixes historical reality with his own spin on things. I like the depth of the world he's made. Ethan is a good man struggling to do the right thing, even when there might not be a way to do that. It's a really interesting concept that he does well with.
There were very few things I didn't like, but there were a few. There's a lot of torture scenes which get treated very lightly. There's an animal death that's heartbreaking. And Ethan takes a brief foray into the dark side a bit more easily than I'd like.
But overall, this is a great read. I've also had the privilege of meeting the author a few times, and he's a very entertaining speaker who is very generous with his fans.
Kallie gets hired to recover a broach that vanished when a well to do young woman is murdered during a "Liberty riot." While he doesn't go after criminals as a rule, if happens to find who killed her, well, so much the better. Of course Ethan isn't just a thieftaker. He's a conjurer, a man skilled in spell work. This is something he tries to hide, with varying degrees of success, since there's always the possibility of being taken for a witch.
The case is far from simple. Sophia Pryce, a rival and powerful thieftaker, doesn't like Ethan getting a wealthy client, which she considers her exclusive territory. Ethan crosses paths with some of the influential and wealthy, including Governor Hitchings and Sam Adams. And then there's his own past, which keeps coming back to haunt him.
Ethan also has a complicated personal life with Kannice, owner of a tavern, Elli, the woman he was once engaged to, and some questionable friends. Things take dark turns when Ethan learns there's a rival conjurer behind the scenes, who is far more powerful than Ethan, and much more ruthless. Ethan has to make some hard choices to even manage to stay alive.
D.B. Jackson mixes historical reality with his own spin on things. I like the depth of the world he's made. Ethan is a good man struggling to do the right thing, even when there might not be a way to do that. It's a really interesting concept that he does well with.
There were very few things I didn't like, but there were a few. There's a lot of torture scenes which get treated very lightly. There's an animal death that's heartbreaking. And Ethan takes a brief foray into the dark side a bit more easily than I'd like.
But overall, this is a great read. I've also had the privilege of meeting the author a few times, and he's a very entertaining speaker who is very generous with his fans.
February 7, 2016
This is an enjoyable quick read, one of the books I call popcorn books- you devour them fast and don't think about them too hard. The idea of an urban fantasy set in colonial era America is a good one- I haven't read many books with that premise. The story is in the vein of a Harry-Dresden style detective story. Ethan Kaille works as a thieftaker- essentially a bounty hunter- in Boston at the sufferance of Sephira Pryce- he gets the little jobs and she takes the most prestigious ones. However, when magic seems to be involved in a wealthy young girl's death, Ethan ends up with the job. This is because he is also a spellcaster, and magic may be involved in this murder.
This is one of those books with informational scene, fight scene, informational scene, fight scene, lather rinse repeat, with the occasional character building scene in there too. The violence scales up quickly, to the point that I'm not sure how Ethan can logically stay in Boston after this book. And be warned, an animal does die in service of the plot- something I really don't like to read about in books. It feels like Ethan will "level up" after this book by learning more about the different styles of magic.
While this book was just fine and I didn't mind reading it, I don't feel compelled to seek out the next book.
This is one of those books with informational scene, fight scene, informational scene, fight scene, lather rinse repeat, with the occasional character building scene in there too. The violence scales up quickly, to the point that I'm not sure how Ethan can logically stay in Boston after this book. And be warned, an animal does die in service of the plot- something I really don't like to read about in books. It feels like Ethan will "level up" after this book by learning more about the different styles of magic.
While this book was just fine and I didn't mind reading it, I don't feel compelled to seek out the next book.
August 16, 2012
I was really looking forward to this book. A fantasy alt-history set just before the outbreak of the American War of Independence. Sounds right up my alley. But unfortunately it just wasn't quite good enough.
Telling the story of thieftaker Ethan Kaille, a conjurer with a dark past, who is living day-to-day as a man who works catching thieves for the lower parts of society. After a member of high society dies via suspicious causes Ethan is hired to investigate further and ends up in a complex world of conspiracy, conjurer and class.
I really feel this book could have been a lot better than it was. The world was interesting, the magic system well done but the big let down was the main character. He just seemed, even at the end of the book, a bit wet and weak. If he had been done better this book would have scored a lot higher. I won't rush into the next book when it comes out. I might read it, but I will wait to hear if he gets any better.
Telling the story of thieftaker Ethan Kaille, a conjurer with a dark past, who is living day-to-day as a man who works catching thieves for the lower parts of society. After a member of high society dies via suspicious causes Ethan is hired to investigate further and ends up in a complex world of conspiracy, conjurer and class.
I really feel this book could have been a lot better than it was. The world was interesting, the magic system well done but the big let down was the main character. He just seemed, even at the end of the book, a bit wet and weak. If he had been done better this book would have scored a lot higher. I won't rush into the next book when it comes out. I might read it, but I will wait to hear if he gets any better.
August 20, 2012
Thieftaker is sure to be a huge success among genre fans looking for something a bit different. Not only is this different, but it’s also rather intelligent. I learned quite a bit from reading Thieftaker and I’m not ashamed to admit that this book started many-a-internet search for more information regarding certain historical events and details. Jackson is a practiced fantasy author with a true gift for wordsmithing. Pre-Revolutionary Boston shines in Thieftaker, and so does Ethan Kaille and this fast moving plot. Perhaps the only true drawback will be that fans will have to wait until 2013 to read the second book in this series.
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2012/08/...
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2012/08/...
October 6, 2014
The story takes place in pre-American Revolution Massachusetts, where witchcraft is feared and can still result in hanging, and the main character- a conjurer who works to find lost items- interacts with locals including Samuel Adams and others protesting against British rule. The incipient rebellion figures into the mystery of who killed a young woman and stole her heirloom brooch. The protagonist is a patient, good hearted man, but I probably would have enjoyed the book more if he had been a little more exciting. Still, a good story.
August 27, 2016
I started reading Thieftaker but I just can't really get into it. The story is just meh and so are the characters. It also kind of bothers me that the main character is still in love with a former flame, but sleeping with someone else. It also bothers me that he seems to either be loyal to the crown or not care either way. Maybe that changes later in the book, I don't know, but it's not keeping my interest enough for me to want to find out. So I think I am abandoning this one.
August 11, 2015
Actually, I'm not decided between 4 and 5 stars. The Historical part is sound, the book is really well written, the characters are well developed, and the fantasy part weaves smoothly in the story.
Highly recommended to fellow readers that like historical fantasy.
Highly recommended to fellow readers that like historical fantasy.
February 19, 2019
3-3.5 stars
I am a fan of stories with elements of magic and i did really enjoy that aspect of this, it wasn't too much or too crazy. I really hated Sephira, she kind of ruined a lot for this book for me. I can handle evil characters and bitches that get on my nerves, but I really felt like every time I turned around there she is
There were other aspects and interactions I did enjoy. I will probably pick up the next one.
I am a fan of stories with elements of magic and i did really enjoy that aspect of this, it wasn't too much or too crazy. I really hated Sephira, she kind of ruined a lot for this book for me. I can handle evil characters and bitches that get on my nerves, but I really felt like every time I turned around there she is
There were other aspects and interactions I did enjoy. I will probably pick up the next one.
July 22, 2014
One of the things which drew me to this book was the time period that it was set in. I haven't encountered a lot of historical fiction books set around the Revolutionary War, and certainly none that don't deal with the war directly.
So it was rather disappointing that the time period felt barely relevant to the story. Aside from a reference to one historical event and a few historical personages (such as Samual Adams), it felt like the story could've taken place anywhere and when. More than that, the language never really evoked the period, either, and it felt too modern, in general.
And with that in mind, I wasn't entirely surprised when I came across the following in the Acknowledgements section:
So if the story felt like it was a bog-standard UF book that was shoe-horned into the time period - well, it seems that's exactly what it was.
Speaking of UF, the other thing that disappointed is that I sort of missed the fact that this was a UF book, albeit one set in the past. There seems to be a distinct style for UF books which makes it differ from even other Historical Mysteries - perhaps it's the abundance of the hardboiled detective tropes - and I was expecting more of a historical fiction and less a UF book.
But I think I could've gotten past all those issues if the book hadn't just fallen flat for me in general.
For one, Ethan was kind of stupid. I mean, I know he's a Thieftaker and, as such, doesn't usually end up investigating murders - but you would still think that he'd have some basic understanding of investigative techniques. But nope.
This is highlighted best, I think, in the following line from pg. 274: "[Ethan] knew there were spells that allowed conjurers to see in the dark and hear far beyond their normal abilities, but he hadn't learned them."
Seriously? A man whose job it is to hunt down thieves has never seen the need for spells that allowed him to see in the dark or hear at a distance? Are you effing kidding me?
So he mostly stumbles around in the literal and figurative dark, and still doesn't figure shit out and basically has the bad guy do the whole villain monologue at the end, because that's the only way we were gonna find out what the heck was going on.
Speaking of spells - the magic system doesn't seem particularly well developed. It's interesting - the blood magic being a sort of necromancy - but it doesn't seem to have any real limitations aside from imagination. Ethan cuts himself over and over again to fuel spells, and never seems to lose energy or flag from the strain, for instance.
Of course, he also goes from, essentially, a sort of dabbler to a master fucking magician by the end - but, then, I guess desperate times and all that... ô_o
And speaking on not showing strain - Ethan gets his ass handed to him regularly and repeatedly throughout the book, and yet doesn't really suffer any longterm effects aside from a few aches and pains. He's more troubled by an old injury from his leg, which repeaedly stiffens up as he's walking all around the city - but being beaten within an inch of your life on more than one occasion?
Not a problem.
Granted, he does heal some of this with magic - but not all of it, and he should certainly be showing some ill effects.
(Oh, also, they repeatedly point out how working magic is dangerous because you could be hung for a witch - and yet everyone and his mother seems to know Ethan is a conjurer, but it never seems to really matter except as a vague threat now and again.)
And, speaking of the beatings, how about Sephira? Ostensibly a rival thieftaker, but more like a mob boss, she's cartoonish in her posturings. She also makes no sense. I mean,
And, aside from that, I just got so tired of her routinely showing up, bandying about some threats, beating him up, then leaving. Rinse, wash, repeat - yawn.
And, lastly, the culprit. I don't even know what to say about him - sometimes he seems so menacing, and other times a pushover. Of course, he also fell into the villain's trap of not just killing the damn detective because
Also, I feel like some of his menace was kind of lost by the end, because a lot of it was based on the notion that his magic was so beyond Ethan's, but that seems to be more because Ethan's a prat than anything else.
Anyway -
I think I've decided that, overall, the hardboiled detective schtick just isn't for me. I prefer detectives who actually manage to have half a brain and figure things out. But if you like the hardboiled thing with vague references to history and a slipshod magic system - well, then, this wasn't a terrible book... just not a particularly good one...
I'll be passing on the sequels.
So it was rather disappointing that the time period felt barely relevant to the story. Aside from a reference to one historical event and a few historical personages (such as Samual Adams), it felt like the story could've taken place anywhere and when. More than that, the language never really evoked the period, either, and it felt too modern, in general.
And with that in mind, I wasn't entirely surprised when I came across the following in the Acknowledgements section:
"James Frenkel, my editor at Tor, was the first person to suggest that Ethan might be better off living in a historical setting rather than in an imaginary world. With his encouragement, I rewrote Thieftaker, and the rest is history. Or at least historical fantasy."
So if the story felt like it was a bog-standard UF book that was shoe-horned into the time period - well, it seems that's exactly what it was.
Speaking of UF, the other thing that disappointed is that I sort of missed the fact that this was a UF book, albeit one set in the past. There seems to be a distinct style for UF books which makes it differ from even other Historical Mysteries - perhaps it's the abundance of the hardboiled detective tropes - and I was expecting more of a historical fiction and less a UF book.
But I think I could've gotten past all those issues if the book hadn't just fallen flat for me in general.
For one, Ethan was kind of stupid. I mean, I know he's a Thieftaker and, as such, doesn't usually end up investigating murders - but you would still think that he'd have some basic understanding of investigative techniques. But nope.
This is highlighted best, I think, in the following line from pg. 274: "[Ethan] knew there were spells that allowed conjurers to see in the dark and hear far beyond their normal abilities, but he hadn't learned them."
Seriously? A man whose job it is to hunt down thieves has never seen the need for spells that allowed him to see in the dark or hear at a distance? Are you effing kidding me?
So he mostly stumbles around in the literal and figurative dark, and still doesn't figure shit out and basically has the bad guy do the whole villain monologue at the end, because that's the only way we were gonna find out what the heck was going on.
Speaking of spells - the magic system doesn't seem particularly well developed. It's interesting - the blood magic being a sort of necromancy - but it doesn't seem to have any real limitations aside from imagination. Ethan cuts himself over and over again to fuel spells, and never seems to lose energy or flag from the strain, for instance.
Of course, he also goes from, essentially, a sort of dabbler to a master fucking magician by the end - but, then, I guess desperate times and all that... ô_o
And speaking on not showing strain - Ethan gets his ass handed to him regularly and repeatedly throughout the book, and yet doesn't really suffer any longterm effects aside from a few aches and pains. He's more troubled by an old injury from his leg, which repeaedly stiffens up as he's walking all around the city - but being beaten within an inch of your life on more than one occasion?
Not a problem.
Granted, he does heal some of this with magic - but not all of it, and he should certainly be showing some ill effects.
(Oh, also, they repeatedly point out how working magic is dangerous because you could be hung for a witch - and yet everyone and his mother seems to know Ethan is a conjurer, but it never seems to really matter except as a vague threat now and again.)
And, speaking of the beatings, how about Sephira? Ostensibly a rival thieftaker, but more like a mob boss, she's cartoonish in her posturings. She also makes no sense. I mean,
And, aside from that, I just got so tired of her routinely showing up, bandying about some threats, beating him up, then leaving. Rinse, wash, repeat - yawn.
And, lastly, the culprit. I don't even know what to say about him - sometimes he seems so menacing, and other times a pushover. Of course, he also fell into the villain's trap of not just killing the damn detective because
Also, I feel like some of his menace was kind of lost by the end, because a lot of it was based on the notion that his magic was so beyond Ethan's, but that seems to be more because Ethan's a prat than anything else.
Anyway -
I think I've decided that, overall, the hardboiled detective schtick just isn't for me. I prefer detectives who actually manage to have half a brain and figure things out. But if you like the hardboiled thing with vague references to history and a slipshod magic system - well, then, this wasn't a terrible book... just not a particularly good one...
I'll be passing on the sequels.
December 26, 2020
2.75 stars
I love the setting because we get to see Boston and the period pre-revolution. And it is good. The author really shows us the place and the time. And this I appreciated quite a lot.
But then... then I was expecting more. I had some problems with the MC, he is not bad, but I was hoping for something more. Sometimes he seems quite... dumb. Or slow-witted. He often says things like "oh, how stupid I have been". And when he said that I could not disagree with him. At all. He should be this thieftaker (and the word is quite self-explanatory) and he should be at least experienced in that. But it doesn't' show. At all.
So yeah, I wasn't so invested in him, and I wasn't so invested in the story either. Sadly. I really wanted to like this one!
I love the setting because we get to see Boston and the period pre-revolution. And it is good. The author really shows us the place and the time. And this I appreciated quite a lot.
But then... then I was expecting more. I had some problems with the MC, he is not bad, but I was hoping for something more. Sometimes he seems quite... dumb. Or slow-witted. He often says things like "oh, how stupid I have been". And when he said that I could not disagree with him. At all. He should be this thieftaker (and the word is quite self-explanatory) and he should be at least experienced in that. But it doesn't' show. At all.
So yeah, I wasn't so invested in him, and I wasn't so invested in the story either. Sadly. I really wanted to like this one!
July 25, 2013
http://www.rantingdragon.com/review-o...
When the daughter of one of Boston's wealthiest is murdered with no apparent cause of death, her family goes to the only person they can: Ethan Kaille, conjurer. Upon investigation, it is readily apparent to Ethan that the girl was murdered with magic. However, he has competition that doesn't appreciate his being hired for this particular job.
Throw in two opposing factions, rising tensions both political and personal, a murderous antagonist so far out of Ethan's league that he's the next city over, and you've got the basics for a pretty typical kickass urban fantasy.
Except Thieftaker isn't your typical urban fantasy. I've got two words for you:
1765 Boston.
You say you want a revolution…
I'm not typically a fan of period works. When I am, they're usually infused with elements that put the historical aspects on the back burner. A prime example of this is Namoi Novik's Temeraire novels. Sure, it's the Napoleonic war, but with dragons. Dragons. 'Nuff said. Another example is Devon Monk's Age of Steam, a steampunk-slash-magic-slash-werewolf tale set in expansionary America. Again, the time period takes a back seat to everything else.
Thieftaker is different than both of those. The magic is subtle enough that you don't get pulled out of the setting. Not only that, but the reminders of the period are nuanced enough that they impart information, add to the story, and are a character in their own right—all while keeping the reader aware that this is not a recent time period. This is due in part to the style of prose Jackson writes. While he could have gone overboard and delved into the English syntax of the time, he didn't—at least, not for descriptions and narration. It's this combination of modern language patterns and period authenticity that really allowed me to stay enraptured.
History has its ghosts
However, I bet you weren't thinking of ghosts like these—for the ghosts in Jackson's alternative Boston seem to be the central part of magical power in the world. Whenever Ethan conjures magic, a ghostly spectre dressed in the garb of a knight appears to… help things along, I suppose. In this, the audience is limited by how much the protagonist knows, which isn't much more than expressed here. In my opinion, that's a smart move—I want to learn more about the magic in this world, now. However, the ghosts aren't the source of magical power, necessarily. Many things may be used to fuel a conjuring, from grass to herbs to blood, and we get to see Ethan experiment with all of these throughout the novel.
The primary antagonist of the novel is a big-league conjurer, someone way out of Ethan's depth. It's intriguing to see just how much more potent this conjurer's spells are than Ethan's. In turn, this forces Ethan to play smarter, not just harder—though that in and of itself is no guarantee of survival. All in all, Jackson has made some smart choices, but I was left wondering where else this world could go in terms of antagonists. Honestly, I don't know that there's really anything to top that sort of conflict, so I'm interested (and a little worried) to see what happens in a sequel.
So real, you could touch it
Thieftaker exhibits one of the most "real" environments I've ever experienced in a book. While partially due to the fact that I am fairly familiar with Revolutionary-era Boston because I actually paid attention in school (and am an American), I believe this is due mostly to Jackson's command of his craft. Most of the characters seem, well, like actual people. Shocking, I know. Yet even those who got very little screen time read as very vibrant people with whom I could actually see myself having conversations, were I in this particular world. This isn't just for characters of Jackson's creation—this is 1765 Boston, after all, and major players of American history are basically required to make appearances.
I love Samuel Adams. That is all.
On another note, Thieftaker features a cast with a decent portion of female players. Now, not all of these characters are strong, brook-no-nonsense women—because, let's face it, that didn't happen a lot in the eighteenth century. However, I will give Jackson this: he has a very accurate mix of personalities in his characters. There is the tough-as-nails innkeeper, who is absolutely brilliant, but then there is Ethan's ex, who is a more timid, stay-at-home-don't-ask-questions kind of woman, but is equally perfectly portrayed in her own right.
And then there's my favorite: the woman essentially in charge of Boston from the shadows. You know, devious, malicious, and utterly without many morals. If you've read Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files, she's akin to how Marcone would be if he were female and in 1765 Boston.
Why should you read this book?
There's a lot of good in Thieftaker with only a little bit of not-as-good to mix things up. If you're a fan of urban fantasy looking for something a little different, read this book. If you're a fan of mystery looking for something a little different, read this book. Heck, if you're a fan of fantasy in general looking for something a little different, read this book. With solid worldbuilding, magic system, and characters, Thieftaker is an engaging and intriguing blend of history, fantasy, and mystery that pulls you in and immerses you in its environment until you can't put it down. I eagerly look forward to the sequel, Thieves' Quarry, out on July 2, 2013 from Tor Books.
When the daughter of one of Boston's wealthiest is murdered with no apparent cause of death, her family goes to the only person they can: Ethan Kaille, conjurer. Upon investigation, it is readily apparent to Ethan that the girl was murdered with magic. However, he has competition that doesn't appreciate his being hired for this particular job.
Throw in two opposing factions, rising tensions both political and personal, a murderous antagonist so far out of Ethan's league that he's the next city over, and you've got the basics for a pretty typical kickass urban fantasy.
Except Thieftaker isn't your typical urban fantasy. I've got two words for you:
1765 Boston.
You say you want a revolution…
I'm not typically a fan of period works. When I am, they're usually infused with elements that put the historical aspects on the back burner. A prime example of this is Namoi Novik's Temeraire novels. Sure, it's the Napoleonic war, but with dragons. Dragons. 'Nuff said. Another example is Devon Monk's Age of Steam, a steampunk-slash-magic-slash-werewolf tale set in expansionary America. Again, the time period takes a back seat to everything else.
Thieftaker is different than both of those. The magic is subtle enough that you don't get pulled out of the setting. Not only that, but the reminders of the period are nuanced enough that they impart information, add to the story, and are a character in their own right—all while keeping the reader aware that this is not a recent time period. This is due in part to the style of prose Jackson writes. While he could have gone overboard and delved into the English syntax of the time, he didn't—at least, not for descriptions and narration. It's this combination of modern language patterns and period authenticity that really allowed me to stay enraptured.
History has its ghosts
However, I bet you weren't thinking of ghosts like these—for the ghosts in Jackson's alternative Boston seem to be the central part of magical power in the world. Whenever Ethan conjures magic, a ghostly spectre dressed in the garb of a knight appears to… help things along, I suppose. In this, the audience is limited by how much the protagonist knows, which isn't much more than expressed here. In my opinion, that's a smart move—I want to learn more about the magic in this world, now. However, the ghosts aren't the source of magical power, necessarily. Many things may be used to fuel a conjuring, from grass to herbs to blood, and we get to see Ethan experiment with all of these throughout the novel.
The primary antagonist of the novel is a big-league conjurer, someone way out of Ethan's depth. It's intriguing to see just how much more potent this conjurer's spells are than Ethan's. In turn, this forces Ethan to play smarter, not just harder—though that in and of itself is no guarantee of survival. All in all, Jackson has made some smart choices, but I was left wondering where else this world could go in terms of antagonists. Honestly, I don't know that there's really anything to top that sort of conflict, so I'm interested (and a little worried) to see what happens in a sequel.
So real, you could touch it
Thieftaker exhibits one of the most "real" environments I've ever experienced in a book. While partially due to the fact that I am fairly familiar with Revolutionary-era Boston because I actually paid attention in school (and am an American), I believe this is due mostly to Jackson's command of his craft. Most of the characters seem, well, like actual people. Shocking, I know. Yet even those who got very little screen time read as very vibrant people with whom I could actually see myself having conversations, were I in this particular world. This isn't just for characters of Jackson's creation—this is 1765 Boston, after all, and major players of American history are basically required to make appearances.
I love Samuel Adams. That is all.
On another note, Thieftaker features a cast with a decent portion of female players. Now, not all of these characters are strong, brook-no-nonsense women—because, let's face it, that didn't happen a lot in the eighteenth century. However, I will give Jackson this: he has a very accurate mix of personalities in his characters. There is the tough-as-nails innkeeper, who is absolutely brilliant, but then there is Ethan's ex, who is a more timid, stay-at-home-don't-ask-questions kind of woman, but is equally perfectly portrayed in her own right.
And then there's my favorite: the woman essentially in charge of Boston from the shadows. You know, devious, malicious, and utterly without many morals. If you've read Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files, she's akin to how Marcone would be if he were female and in 1765 Boston.
Why should you read this book?
There's a lot of good in Thieftaker with only a little bit of not-as-good to mix things up. If you're a fan of urban fantasy looking for something a little different, read this book. If you're a fan of mystery looking for something a little different, read this book. Heck, if you're a fan of fantasy in general looking for something a little different, read this book. With solid worldbuilding, magic system, and characters, Thieftaker is an engaging and intriguing blend of history, fantasy, and mystery that pulls you in and immerses you in its environment until you can't put it down. I eagerly look forward to the sequel, Thieves' Quarry, out on July 2, 2013 from Tor Books.
Read
February 25, 2015Thieftaker starts in 1765, eight years before the Boston Tea Party and eleven years before the Revolutionary War. Civil unrest is stirring, growing from a mewl to a roar, as the colonies begin to rebel against the taxes forced on them by the British crown.
The story centers around the thieftaker Ethan Kaille. As a thieftaker, Ethan is tasked with finding the stolen property of others in exchange for payment. Ethan’s true power rests in his ability to conjure spells–a power that damned him in his former life as a sailor, but has aided him in his current profession as a thieftaker.
During one of the late-night riots against the crown that are starting to plague the city, a wealthy businessman’s daughter is found dead in the streets without a mark on her, and a brooch is taken from her possession. While “witchcraft” is frowned on, Abner Berson, the businessman, is well aware that his daughter’s death is probably magical in nature and requires Ethan’s talents to find his daughter’s missing brooch and her murderer.
Finding the culprit proves to be quite the challenge as Ethan realizes he’s up against a conjurer of immense talent paired with the fact that a powerful rival thieftaker named Sephira Pryce has it out for him.
Could one book hold any more things that I love than this one? It’s a historical fiction, but wait, it’s also an urban fantasy set in historical Boston. Why don’t we just throw in a little alternate history to sweeten the pot?
As a history nerd, I liked that the story is set around factual historical events. Ethan may not be real, but his profession is seeded in historical fact. Jackson uses the events leading up to the Revolutionary War as the backdrop for his story, so there are cameos by people such Samuel Adams and James Otis, Jr.
Ethan’s case itself is tied heavily to the politics plaguing the city. Even though he tries not to get mired into politics himself, he’s finding it hard to avoid as his investigation seems to move deeper and deeper into politics. One thing I really enjoyed about the political aspects of this story of this story is that Ethan’s opinion of the historical events around him are very gray.
The history isn’t painted with a patriotic slant, if that makes sense. Ethan considers himself a servant of the crown, but he does understand the plight of the people in the colonies. The activities of Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty aren’t assumed to be correct and aren’t written to make a heart bleed red, white, and blue with all the patriotism. Instead it focuses more on the everyday man’s outlook and how it does or doesn’t affect his life.
Jackson also does a commendable job with combining the magic and history. He’s managed to make the magic feel believable without falling prey to some of the pitfalls of other stories that have taken a similar approach. It doesn’t feel forced or trite in contrast to its setting, which can often happens when trying to base a magical story around actual historical fact. Usually, I find with books like this that the magic feels out of place in the story, but that wasn’t a problem here.
This book features a colorful cast of characters, and I really liked Ethan whose trying to do the best he can after living a very hard life prior to returning to Boston. One thing that I’m often guilty of is giving male characters in an urban fantasy setting the “Harry Dresden” test and making unjust comparisons. I think part of this reason is because so many male urban fantasy leads have similar qualities that make it so easy to compare and contrast (and this is true of many female urban fantasy characters, too). I didn’t do this so much with Ethan because after a while he felt like a different breed of male protagonist. His experiences, his views on his own magic, really made his character feel a bit distinct. Jonathan Davis, who recently made it to my favorite narrators list, did a wonderful job of bringing Ethan to life with his narration, so that might’ve helped my view.
Some of the other supporting characters felt a little flimsy and really only served one purpose to the story, but they were mostly likable, just not the type of characters who’d stick with you with a few exceptions. While I’m on supporting characters, I should get a complaint out the way. Sephira’s role in the story started getting on my nerves a little after a while. Sephira is definitely a character that you love to hate, but her motivations after a while just felt a little weak. I think she’s a great antagonist and rival to Ethan, but her involvement in his investigation after a while just made me raise my eyebrow even after her explanation.
As ubiquitous as her presence and influence is in this story, it felt like she was a little too involved with the matter and her impact started to kind of diminish when she kept showing up to try to dominate Ethan’s life or whatever. Her motivations seemed rather flaky and conflicting. However, I am interested to see how she further complicates Ethan’s adventures, and that really is a minor complaint for an otherwise engaging story.
In short, I thought this was an excellent historical urban fantasy that managed to meld the magic and history in a way that felt realistic. The magic isn’t so fantastic and in-your-face that it doesn’t mesh weld with the gritty world its set. Ethan is a wonderfully interesting character whose flaws run a bit deeper than a self-deprecating self-view hidden behind quirky humor. I’ll definitely be reading the next book soon.
The story centers around the thieftaker Ethan Kaille. As a thieftaker, Ethan is tasked with finding the stolen property of others in exchange for payment. Ethan’s true power rests in his ability to conjure spells–a power that damned him in his former life as a sailor, but has aided him in his current profession as a thieftaker.
During one of the late-night riots against the crown that are starting to plague the city, a wealthy businessman’s daughter is found dead in the streets without a mark on her, and a brooch is taken from her possession. While “witchcraft” is frowned on, Abner Berson, the businessman, is well aware that his daughter’s death is probably magical in nature and requires Ethan’s talents to find his daughter’s missing brooch and her murderer.
Finding the culprit proves to be quite the challenge as Ethan realizes he’s up against a conjurer of immense talent paired with the fact that a powerful rival thieftaker named Sephira Pryce has it out for him.
Could one book hold any more things that I love than this one? It’s a historical fiction, but wait, it’s also an urban fantasy set in historical Boston. Why don’t we just throw in a little alternate history to sweeten the pot?
As a history nerd, I liked that the story is set around factual historical events. Ethan may not be real, but his profession is seeded in historical fact. Jackson uses the events leading up to the Revolutionary War as the backdrop for his story, so there are cameos by people such Samuel Adams and James Otis, Jr.
Ethan’s case itself is tied heavily to the politics plaguing the city. Even though he tries not to get mired into politics himself, he’s finding it hard to avoid as his investigation seems to move deeper and deeper into politics. One thing I really enjoyed about the political aspects of this story of this story is that Ethan’s opinion of the historical events around him are very gray.
The history isn’t painted with a patriotic slant, if that makes sense. Ethan considers himself a servant of the crown, but he does understand the plight of the people in the colonies. The activities of Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty aren’t assumed to be correct and aren’t written to make a heart bleed red, white, and blue with all the patriotism. Instead it focuses more on the everyday man’s outlook and how it does or doesn’t affect his life.
Jackson also does a commendable job with combining the magic and history. He’s managed to make the magic feel believable without falling prey to some of the pitfalls of other stories that have taken a similar approach. It doesn’t feel forced or trite in contrast to its setting, which can often happens when trying to base a magical story around actual historical fact. Usually, I find with books like this that the magic feels out of place in the story, but that wasn’t a problem here.
This book features a colorful cast of characters, and I really liked Ethan whose trying to do the best he can after living a very hard life prior to returning to Boston. One thing that I’m often guilty of is giving male characters in an urban fantasy setting the “Harry Dresden” test and making unjust comparisons. I think part of this reason is because so many male urban fantasy leads have similar qualities that make it so easy to compare and contrast (and this is true of many female urban fantasy characters, too). I didn’t do this so much with Ethan because after a while he felt like a different breed of male protagonist. His experiences, his views on his own magic, really made his character feel a bit distinct. Jonathan Davis, who recently made it to my favorite narrators list, did a wonderful job of bringing Ethan to life with his narration, so that might’ve helped my view.
Some of the other supporting characters felt a little flimsy and really only served one purpose to the story, but they were mostly likable, just not the type of characters who’d stick with you with a few exceptions. While I’m on supporting characters, I should get a complaint out the way. Sephira’s role in the story started getting on my nerves a little after a while. Sephira is definitely a character that you love to hate, but her motivations after a while just felt a little weak. I think she’s a great antagonist and rival to Ethan, but her involvement in his investigation after a while just made me raise my eyebrow even after her explanation.
As ubiquitous as her presence and influence is in this story, it felt like she was a little too involved with the matter and her impact started to kind of diminish when she kept showing up to try to dominate Ethan’s life or whatever. Her motivations seemed rather flaky and conflicting. However, I am interested to see how she further complicates Ethan’s adventures, and that really is a minor complaint for an otherwise engaging story.
In short, I thought this was an excellent historical urban fantasy that managed to meld the magic and history in a way that felt realistic. The magic isn’t so fantastic and in-your-face that it doesn’t mesh weld with the gritty world its set. Ethan is a wonderfully interesting character whose flaws run a bit deeper than a self-deprecating self-view hidden behind quirky humor. I’ll definitely be reading the next book soon.
May 19, 2014
Picked this one up at Dragon Con (read all about Dragon Con 2013 here), and since the author was there, I was able to have it signed! Check it out.
Book Info: Genre: Historical urban fantasy/mystery
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: those who enjoy historical fiction and urban fantasy
Trigger Warnings: murder, violence, torture
Animals: dog is killed
My Thoughts: This is a wonderfully twisty mystery, set in a fantastical version of history where magic and mayhem combine in an explosive manner. While Ethan didn't necessarily figure things out as quickly as I did, it's probably because I was seeing things from the outside and not being beaten up every few hours. That has to be a bit distracting, I would think.
While I saw complaints that Ethan didn't spend more time trying to track down the conjurer, I thought it was made pretty clear that the attempts he did make showed the conjurer to be too powerful to be tracked by normal means, and therefore probably not someone he wanted to confront before he was completely ready. I also saw complaints about Sephira's apparent lack of follow-through on her threats to kill Ethan, but again I thought it was made fairly plain that despite her attempts in anger, she actually found him to be valuable and preferred to have him around.
I really enjoyed the mixture of historical events with fantastical elements and a juicy mystery to solve. These sort of cross-genre books are always a lot of fun to read. While not perfect, it was all-in-all an entertaining and enjoyable read. If you like historical fiction, urban fantasy, and mysteries, then you should enjoy this blend of the three.
Series Information: The Thieftaker Chronicles
Book 0.5: A Spell of Vengeance
Book 1: Thieftaker
Book 2: Thieves' Quarry
Book 3: A Plunder of Souls, expected publication 7/8/2014 by Tor Books
Disclosure: I purchased this book for myself at Dragon Con 2013 and had it signed there. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Boston, 1767: In D.B. Jackson's "Thieftaker, "revolution is brewing as the British Crown imposes increasingly onerous taxes on the colonies, and intrigue swirls around firebrands like Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty. But for Ethan Kaille, a thieftaker who makes his living by conjuring spells that help him solve crimes, politics is for others... until he is asked to recover a brooch worn by the murdered daughter of a prominent family.
Suddenly, he faces another conjurer of enormous power, someone unknown, who is part of a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of power in the turbulent colony. His adversary has already killed—and not for his own gain, but in the service of his powerful masters, people for whom others are mere pawns in a game of politics and power. Ethan is in way over his head, and he knows it. Already a man with a dark past, he can ill afford to fail, lest his livelihood be forfeit. But he can't stop now, for his magic has marked him, so he must fight the odds, even though he seems hopelessly overmatched, his doom seeming certain at the spectral hands of one he cannot even see.
Book Info: Genre: Historical urban fantasy/mystery
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: those who enjoy historical fiction and urban fantasy
Trigger Warnings: murder, violence, torture
Animals: dog is killed
My Thoughts: This is a wonderfully twisty mystery, set in a fantastical version of history where magic and mayhem combine in an explosive manner. While Ethan didn't necessarily figure things out as quickly as I did, it's probably because I was seeing things from the outside and not being beaten up every few hours. That has to be a bit distracting, I would think.
While I saw complaints that Ethan didn't spend more time trying to track down the conjurer, I thought it was made pretty clear that the attempts he did make showed the conjurer to be too powerful to be tracked by normal means, and therefore probably not someone he wanted to confront before he was completely ready. I also saw complaints about Sephira's apparent lack of follow-through on her threats to kill Ethan, but again I thought it was made fairly plain that despite her attempts in anger, she actually found him to be valuable and preferred to have him around.
I really enjoyed the mixture of historical events with fantastical elements and a juicy mystery to solve. These sort of cross-genre books are always a lot of fun to read. While not perfect, it was all-in-all an entertaining and enjoyable read. If you like historical fiction, urban fantasy, and mysteries, then you should enjoy this blend of the three.
Series Information: The Thieftaker Chronicles
Book 0.5: A Spell of Vengeance
Book 1: Thieftaker
Book 2: Thieves' Quarry
Book 3: A Plunder of Souls, expected publication 7/8/2014 by Tor Books
Disclosure: I purchased this book for myself at Dragon Con 2013 and had it signed there. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Boston, 1767: In D.B. Jackson's "Thieftaker, "revolution is brewing as the British Crown imposes increasingly onerous taxes on the colonies, and intrigue swirls around firebrands like Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty. But for Ethan Kaille, a thieftaker who makes his living by conjuring spells that help him solve crimes, politics is for others... until he is asked to recover a brooch worn by the murdered daughter of a prominent family.
Suddenly, he faces another conjurer of enormous power, someone unknown, who is part of a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of power in the turbulent colony. His adversary has already killed—and not for his own gain, but in the service of his powerful masters, people for whom others are mere pawns in a game of politics and power. Ethan is in way over his head, and he knows it. Already a man with a dark past, he can ill afford to fail, lest his livelihood be forfeit. But he can't stop now, for his magic has marked him, so he must fight the odds, even though he seems hopelessly overmatched, his doom seeming certain at the spectral hands of one he cannot even see.
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