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Wisconsin Gothic #1
Dionysus in Wisconsin
A graduate student and an archivist work together to fight a god.
Fall, 1969. Ulysses Lenkov should be working on his dissertation. Instead, he's developing an unlucrative sideline in helping ghosts and hapless magic users. But when his clients start leaving town suddenly—or turning up dead—he starts to worry there's something afoot that’s worse than an unavenged death or incipient insanity. His investigation begins with the last word on everyone's lips before they vanish: the mysterious Dionysus.
Sam Sterling is an archivist who recently moved back to Madison to be closer to the family he's not too sure he likes. But his peaceful days of teaching library students, creating finding aids, and community theater come to an end when the magnetic, mistrustful Ulysses turns up with a warning. There's a god coming, and it looks like it's coming for Sam.
Soon the two are helping each other through demon attacks, discovering the unsavory history of Sam's family, and falling in love as they race to find a solution. But as the year draws to a close, they'll face a deadly showdown as they try to save Sam—and the city itself.
Fall, 1969. Ulysses Lenkov should be working on his dissertation. Instead, he's developing an unlucrative sideline in helping ghosts and hapless magic users. But when his clients start leaving town suddenly—or turning up dead—he starts to worry there's something afoot that’s worse than an unavenged death or incipient insanity. His investigation begins with the last word on everyone's lips before they vanish: the mysterious Dionysus.
Sam Sterling is an archivist who recently moved back to Madison to be closer to the family he's not too sure he likes. But his peaceful days of teaching library students, creating finding aids, and community theater come to an end when the magnetic, mistrustful Ulysses turns up with a warning. There's a god coming, and it looks like it's coming for Sam.
Soon the two are helping each other through demon attacks, discovering the unsavory history of Sam's family, and falling in love as they race to find a solution. But as the year draws to a close, they'll face a deadly showdown as they try to save Sam—and the city itself.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2023
37 people are currently reading
906 people want to read
About the author
E.H. Lupton
8 books85 followersE. H. Lupton (she/they) lives in Wisconsin. She is a writer, playwright, artist, runner, and experimental baker. She is the producer/co-host of the hit podcast, Ask a Medievalist. Visit her website at ehlupton.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
January 7, 2024
It feels weird to write a review of my own book, but I cannot have Goodreads telling me I didn't read this when I HAVE READ IT MORE TIMES THAN ANYONE IN THE WORLD. I don't quite know what all to say about it. It's sweet and funny and sexy, sometimes a little creepy, sometimes a little poetic. I'm so pleased to get to share it with the world.
October 11, 2024
A fascinating and sympathetic melange of urban fantasy, mythology, historical fiction (1969!), academia, and understated romance. Dionysus is coming; we learn that much immediately. But coming for whom, and why, and what does that mean for Madison?
Read
March 20, 2024The magic in this book is deliciously weird and there’s so much wonderful stuff about digging for answers in rare books and private archives. In case you are not a library rat delighted by same, I promise the characters also fight demons and do freaky rituals and go to riotous dance parties and kiss. There’s also really good, poignant stuff here about complicated family relationships, parents and step-parents and siblings and grandparents, and what if the pressure you felt to conform was not just from your parents’ disapproval but also an actual curse they put on you? By the end, I was really invested and wanted more of these characters, so it’s good news for me that the next book in the series is also about them. This one does end happily, though—I just wanted to hang out.
(Full review originally posted at Word Suitcase.)
(Full review originally posted at Word Suitcase.)
May 12, 2025
I am going to keep shaming myself about holding onto piles of Smashwords sale books.
I should not have sat on this since last year's sale. Such a fantastic book and I can't wait to read the next one.
EH Lupton is now on Itch, where you can buy her books (best author payout option), buy gift copies, and add extra money to your purchase, if you want. This book is also available everywhere else, Books2Read, including Smashwords.
They are adorable. I loved the 1969 setting!
I should not have sat on this since last year's sale. Such a fantastic book and I can't wait to read the next one.
EH Lupton is now on Itch, where you can buy her books (best author payout option), buy gift copies, and add extra money to your purchase, if you want. This book is also available everywhere else, Books2Read, including Smashwords.
“What’s with your family’s names?” Sam asked as they went outside.
“You tell me, Dionysus,” Ulysses muttered.
They are adorable. I loved the 1969 setting!
January 16, 2025
I admire an author who has, let's face it, a bonkers idea (archivist demigod + smoking hot building medium in Madison, Wisconsin) and commits fully to the bit. Honestly, I didn't follow all the magic going on here (my toxic trait is reading every MM magic book I can get my hands on and then complaining that I don't understand the magic), but who cares when the characters are this likable, interesting, and nerdy? The pacing was a bit uneven -- it dragged in parts -- but overall the writing was competent and effective, and the world feels fully developed.
Looking forward to the rest of the series!
Looking forward to the rest of the series!
August 29, 2024
I felt compelled to ding a star because of places where the plot's chronology didn't quite make sense (why did days pass between episodes in what would seem to have been an urgent investigation?), or the plot seemed a little off (why ), or where the growth of Ulysses and Sam's relationship could have used a little more space, but the truth is that I loved the magical worldbuilding, I loved the scholarly underpinnings, and I especially loved the characters -- Sam and Ulysses centrally, of course, but also their friends and Ulysses' family.
So four stars for "official" rating purposes but five stars in my heart, and also I wound up going straight on to the second book, never mind that I'm sitting on several ARCs with pub dates early next month. Oops.
So four stars for "official" rating purposes but five stars in my heart, and also I wound up going straight on to the second book, never mind that I'm sitting on several ARCs with pub dates early next month. Oops.
April 13, 2024
I feel like the author wrote this book just for me - recent grad student, archivist, Madison grad… am.. am I Dionysus?? Anyway this will be my personality for the foreseeable future.
Read
August 2, 2025DNF @ 34%
"He tried to sit up, and Ulysses put a forearm on his shoulder. "People could walk in," Sam muttered uselessly, but subsided.
"No one cares." Ulysses leaned his head against the back of the sofa. "Let me rephrase that. My family members all have specific things they care about a lot. The Vietnam War. The Cold War. The movement of the markets. Who I happen to be sleeping with isn't on that list." (Chapter 22. p. 12)
At the back of this book, E.H. Lupton thanks various Boomers for advising them on what life was like in the late 1960s. I can only assume either that said Boomers are fictional, or Lupton completely ignored everything they said, because here is just a sampling of what's in this book:
-the main (gay) couple appear to be out to not only their families but the wider community, with zero fear of social or legal reprisals. At one point they get caught kissing at a house party and their response is a sheepish "whoops, our bad" instead of a "oh fuck what if someone calls the cops."
-the characters wear "hoodies" and "sweats." Now, both of these garments did exist in 1969, but I challenge you to find any photos of people wearing them at the time outside of a football field.
-one of the main characters has a sister in an interracial relationship (marriage) with a Haitian-American man. Again, this has caused zero social blowback for them. (Her husband's only characterization note is punctuating every sentence with "man," because I guess Lupton confused Haiti for Jamaica?)
-a character speaks of "trying to marshal my two remaining brain cells."
-another character refers to a kiss he just shared with his love interest as "hot."
"Why does any of this matter," you ask. Well, because I'm an insufferable pedant, that's why. But also, why are you even setting this book in 1969 if you have no interest in the era? It's not just the modern language and attitudes: there's nothing to situate this book in the political-cultural landscape of 1969 on a fucking college campus. In 1967, students at the University of Wisconsin began protesting the university's ties to the Dow Chemical company, which was responsible for manufacturing Agent Orange. These protests went on for three straight years, culminating in the bombing of Sterling Hall in 1970. During the time this novel is set, the campus should be swarming with the police and the National Guard! But if that's the case, then neither the author nor her characters have any interest: they float around in a bubble, entirely unconcerned with the world around them.
Vietnam gets mentioned four times, all in passing - in fact, only to note that there had been strikes earlier, but everything (in October of 1969) is "quiet" now. Stonewall (which happened less than six months ago in this book's timeline) not at all. Students For A Democratic Society? The 1968 Chicago riots? Woodstock? The Newport Folk Festival? Forget it. There is no texture here, no setting. But for the lack of cell phones and computers, it could be set on a modern campus. It's almost like the author stripped the story of any identifying detail so as to not potentially alienate anyone in the audience who doesn't want politics in their gay fantasy. And if that's the case, I have to ask again, WHY DID YOU SET IT IN 1969? I might have to apologize to Reluctant Immortals after this, because at least an attempt was made there.
Now, you may say, "this book is an alternate universe, maybe that stuff didn't happen." Which just brings me back to my original question of why this book is set in the time and place that it is, because I genuinely cannot make heads or tails of it. And if you don't take any steps to set up the world your characters are living in beyond "there's magic," then I'm sorry, but you have failed step one as an author. If you don't care, why should I?
"He tried to sit up, and Ulysses put a forearm on his shoulder. "People could walk in," Sam muttered uselessly, but subsided.
"No one cares." Ulysses leaned his head against the back of the sofa. "Let me rephrase that. My family members all have specific things they care about a lot. The Vietnam War. The Cold War. The movement of the markets. Who I happen to be sleeping with isn't on that list." (Chapter 22. p. 12)
At the back of this book, E.H. Lupton thanks various Boomers for advising them on what life was like in the late 1960s. I can only assume either that said Boomers are fictional, or Lupton completely ignored everything they said, because here is just a sampling of what's in this book:
-the main (gay) couple appear to be out to not only their families but the wider community, with zero fear of social or legal reprisals. At one point they get caught kissing at a house party and their response is a sheepish "whoops, our bad" instead of a "oh fuck what if someone calls the cops."
-the characters wear "hoodies" and "sweats." Now, both of these garments did exist in 1969, but I challenge you to find any photos of people wearing them at the time outside of a football field.
-one of the main characters has a sister in an interracial relationship (marriage) with a Haitian-American man. Again, this has caused zero social blowback for them. (Her husband's only characterization note is punctuating every sentence with "man," because I guess Lupton confused Haiti for Jamaica?)
-a character speaks of "trying to marshal my two remaining brain cells."
-another character refers to a kiss he just shared with his love interest as "hot."
"Why does any of this matter," you ask. Well, because I'm an insufferable pedant, that's why. But also, why are you even setting this book in 1969 if you have no interest in the era? It's not just the modern language and attitudes: there's nothing to situate this book in the political-cultural landscape of 1969 on a fucking college campus. In 1967, students at the University of Wisconsin began protesting the university's ties to the Dow Chemical company, which was responsible for manufacturing Agent Orange. These protests went on for three straight years, culminating in the bombing of Sterling Hall in 1970. During the time this novel is set, the campus should be swarming with the police and the National Guard! But if that's the case, then neither the author nor her characters have any interest: they float around in a bubble, entirely unconcerned with the world around them.
Vietnam gets mentioned four times, all in passing - in fact, only to note that there had been strikes earlier, but everything (in October of 1969) is "quiet" now. Stonewall (which happened less than six months ago in this book's timeline) not at all. Students For A Democratic Society? The 1968 Chicago riots? Woodstock? The Newport Folk Festival? Forget it. There is no texture here, no setting. But for the lack of cell phones and computers, it could be set on a modern campus. It's almost like the author stripped the story of any identifying detail so as to not potentially alienate anyone in the audience who doesn't want politics in their gay fantasy. And if that's the case, I have to ask again, WHY DID YOU SET IT IN 1969? I might have to apologize to Reluctant Immortals after this, because at least an attempt was made there.
Now, you may say, "this book is an alternate universe, maybe that stuff didn't happen." Which just brings me back to my original question of why this book is set in the time and place that it is, because I genuinely cannot make heads or tails of it. And if you don't take any steps to set up the world your characters are living in beyond "there's magic," then I'm sorry, but you have failed step one as an author. If you don't care, why should I?
December 17, 2023
SO MUCH FUN!!! What a great, clever, funny, thoughtful and entertaining read. I highly recommend. Can’t wait to read the next in the series.
August 20, 2023
For a first full-length novel, I’d say this author has done a smashing job! My curiosity was already piqued with the title since I love mythology, but the further into the book I got, the more totally enraptured I became. Yes, there are some romantic elements, but the focus here is more on the magic—and the fact that the god Dionysus is coming for Sam. By the way, this book has a great title; I mean sure…why not Wisconsin for the return of a god?
Magic is known in this world, which is a parallel of our own circa 1969. Sam doesn’t know much about magic, and he goes about his days buried in collections in the archives. Ulysses on the other hand has magical abilities and it’s just a daily fact of life for him and his family. The odd happenings around town keep pointing him towards Sam, and thus starts the unraveling of the mystery of what—or who—is coming for him. Their romance develops along the way, but doesn’t overshadow the magical and mythological elements.
What I loved about this story was that it was something unique for me, I don’t recall reading anything in this type of setting with these elements of magic and mythology. It was intriguing and the author did an excellent job of continually holding my attention. I was absorbed in the magic and mystery, with the romance being a nice side arc.
I’m definitely keeping this author on my radar, and knowing this is the first book in a series has me eagerly waiting for more. Dionysus in Wisconsin was a 4.5-star read for me, and I absolutely recommend this to any reader of urban fantasy, magic/paranormal, or even just M/M romance in a historical setting.
Magic is known in this world, which is a parallel of our own circa 1969. Sam doesn’t know much about magic, and he goes about his days buried in collections in the archives. Ulysses on the other hand has magical abilities and it’s just a daily fact of life for him and his family. The odd happenings around town keep pointing him towards Sam, and thus starts the unraveling of the mystery of what—or who—is coming for him. Their romance develops along the way, but doesn’t overshadow the magical and mythological elements.
What I loved about this story was that it was something unique for me, I don’t recall reading anything in this type of setting with these elements of magic and mythology. It was intriguing and the author did an excellent job of continually holding my attention. I was absorbed in the magic and mystery, with the romance being a nice side arc.
I’m definitely keeping this author on my radar, and knowing this is the first book in a series has me eagerly waiting for more. Dionysus in Wisconsin was a 4.5-star read for me, and I absolutely recommend this to any reader of urban fantasy, magic/paranormal, or even just M/M romance in a historical setting.
August 1, 2023
I wrote a whole, long LOVE THIS BOOK review and then my iPad blipped one second before I could save it. It’s nearly 1am. So um, you get this instead.
It’s great fun. There’s no homophobia/racism/sexism, although it’s quite suspenseful and the other details of grad school life in 1969 Madison Wisconsin feel believable. The magical system - gods, demons, ghosts - feel real and not silly or hokey. (I loved how buildings like libraries had a bit of consciousness.) The characters are marvelous, especially Ulysses’ family. The romance is absolutely grand. It’s not too sudden or too sweet; it’s just right.
This strikes me as an intelligent, fun book that KJ Charles would enjoy, if that means anything to you.
So - highly recommend.
P.s. I hate the cover. It’s nothing like the cover. Don’t let the cover put you off.
It’s great fun. There’s no homophobia/racism/sexism, although it’s quite suspenseful and the other details of grad school life in 1969 Madison Wisconsin feel believable. The magical system - gods, demons, ghosts - feel real and not silly or hokey. (I loved how buildings like libraries had a bit of consciousness.) The characters are marvelous, especially Ulysses’ family. The romance is absolutely grand. It’s not too sudden or too sweet; it’s just right.
This strikes me as an intelligent, fun book that KJ Charles would enjoy, if that means anything to you.
So - highly recommend.
P.s. I hate the cover. It’s nothing like the cover. Don’t let the cover put you off.
May 29, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this! This is an urban fantasy set in 1969 Madison Wi that is really smart and well done. I liked how the story unfolded and I really liked the characters. The relationship with Sam and Ulysses was very sweet.
There was a nice bit of mystery that unfolded and the reader learned along with Ulysses and Sam on what exactly they need to do to save Sam and stop Dionysus from rampaging.
I also enjoyed the side characters and hope to see more of them in the next book.
Additionally the details of Madison were super fun for me and I feel like I need to take a trip to Memorial Library.
100% recommend!
There was a nice bit of mystery that unfolded and the reader learned along with Ulysses and Sam on what exactly they need to do to save Sam and stop Dionysus from rampaging.
I also enjoyed the side characters and hope to see more of them in the next book.
Additionally the details of Madison were super fun for me and I feel like I need to take a trip to Memorial Library.
100% recommend!
March 12, 2025
Man, it's one thing to go, "Oh hey, this modern fantasy book is set in my state, neat" (the man motivation for me to pick up this book), but it's another to be reading said fantasy and start recognizing street name and knowing where everything takes place in because of your proximity to it. Its like when I watched an episode of Best of the Worst from Red Letter media and they land on a old VHS recruitment video from a nudist's club in my hometown, its a little jarring every time they name drop a street I recognize. Not a bad thing, just a weird thing to go through reading this.
I thought Sam and Ulysses' relationship was very cute. Like the descriptions of the little acts of tenderness they gave each other were wonderul, and yeah, it seemed like they fell for each other kind of fast, but it never felt unnatural despite that. I also really enjoyed how Ulysses' family interacted with them. I felt like however, despite being a big part of the plot, there wasn't enough of Sam's family. The plot itself moved very slowly, I think because of this.
I liked how the magic system is approached via the academic system. This is not necessarily a dark academia, but it is still a fun academic fantasy, and I think the way magic works and is weaved seamlessly into society. Overall it was a fun read.
I thought Sam and Ulysses' relationship was very cute. Like the descriptions of the little acts of tenderness they gave each other were wonderul, and yeah, it seemed like they fell for each other kind of fast, but it never felt unnatural despite that. I also really enjoyed how Ulysses' family interacted with them. I felt like however, despite being a big part of the plot, there wasn't enough of Sam's family. The plot itself moved very slowly, I think because of this.
I liked how the magic system is approached via the academic system. This is not necessarily a dark academia, but it is still a fun academic fantasy, and I think the way magic works and is weaved seamlessly into society. Overall it was a fun read.
April 27, 2025
As I am a fanboy of books by Dan Ackerman, David R. Slayton, K.D. Edwards and Scott Thrower - this new series has been a totally delightful find (and read) so far. Almost but not quite 5 stars for a riveting Magical realism / urban paranormal read - 4.75 stars. I cannot wait to get to the next book!
April 9, 2025
cute, but I wanted more tension, romantic and otherwise (I did not fear dionysus coming to wisconsin I'm afraid)
as someone who grew up in the county next door to san joaquin, I did go, "oh hey, ugly local history" @ the use of the altamont speedway free festival as historical texture
as someone who grew up in the county next door to san joaquin, I did go, "oh hey, ugly local history" @ the use of the altamont speedway free festival as historical texture
April 6, 2025
I’m so glad this was not the magical realism/fantasy book I thought it was going to be. It’s so much better. Within the first fifty pages I was completely invested in Sam and Ulysses, enchanted by their endearing awkwardness and the deeply concerning misfortunes they seem to have landed in. I NEEDED to know what was going to happen, and the author kept me hanging on to the last page. The characters, setting, and plot are so beautifully created and developed, seemingly built from the author’s familiarity rather than imagination. The historical research that the setting, both physical and time period, has been created by is rich and thorough without being bogged down with minutiae.
August 15, 2024
A fun read. More romance than I thought and the worldbuilding wasn't as original as I would prefer but I loved reading a book set in the city I live in (Madison!). Definitely worth the read if you're from the Madison area and are into the genre.
February 19, 2025
My book green flag is when I can’t stop thinking about when I’m going to read said book, and that was the case here. My inner Percy Jackson kid ate this story up, and the main characters had me screaming, crying, throwing up with their chemistry. I can’t wait to continue reading the series!
November 25, 2024
This book was a lot of fun. It's set in a world where magic is "real" - and there are things like demons and gods waiting to be reborn. The main character Ulysses Lenkov is a doctoral student and makes his living by solving magical problems. He keeps hearing of a danger coming with the name Dionysus. It's also set in the late 1960s which is interesting, no cell phones!
Read
February 14, 2025DNF @ 22%. Perfectly fine, just not of interest to me.
June 8, 2025
3.5 stars
This was quite charming in a nerdy way. A peculiar yet intriguing blend of academia settings (libraries and archives), magic, ghosts, and Greek mythology. You can tell from the story that the author knows what she’s doing, and takes great pleasure in it, which alone makes for an enjoyable reading experience.
Why not four stars, then?
- The brisk pacing worked well for the “Dionysus is coming” plotline, but less so for the romance. I know lives were at stake, but even so, their relationship progressed too fast and lacked emotional tension. I think this ultimately comes down to characterisation problem—both Ulysses and Sam felt too rational to fall into a whirlwind romance.
- While E.H. Lupton’s restrained, matter-of-fact prose fit the tone of the story, it also made it harder for me to emotionally connect with the characters.
- The world-building was a bit confusing. It seemed like magic practitioners and academia existed in a bubble, disconnected from the real world of the late 1960s, a time marked by war and prevailing homophobia. The mention of Ulysses’ brother Lazarus, who’s in the Air Force, and the role of magic users in the Vietnam War felt like a promising plot thread. I hope we get to know more of this in the sequels.
Despite all my quibbles, I never once found this book boring, and I loved seeing Ulysses and Sam in love (some scenes were quite lovely). I’ll definitely be continuing with the series.
This was quite charming in a nerdy way. A peculiar yet intriguing blend of academia settings (libraries and archives), magic, ghosts, and Greek mythology. You can tell from the story that the author knows what she’s doing, and takes great pleasure in it, which alone makes for an enjoyable reading experience.
Why not four stars, then?
- The brisk pacing worked well for the “Dionysus is coming” plotline, but less so for the romance. I know lives were at stake, but even so, their relationship progressed too fast and lacked emotional tension. I think this ultimately comes down to characterisation problem—both Ulysses and Sam felt too rational to fall into a whirlwind romance.
- While E.H. Lupton’s restrained, matter-of-fact prose fit the tone of the story, it also made it harder for me to emotionally connect with the characters.
- The world-building was a bit confusing. It seemed like magic practitioners and academia existed in a bubble, disconnected from the real world of the late 1960s, a time marked by war and prevailing homophobia. The mention of Ulysses’ brother Lazarus, who’s in the Air Force, and the role of magic users in the Vietnam War felt like a promising plot thread. I hope we get to know more of this in the sequels.
Despite all my quibbles, I never once found this book boring, and I loved seeing Ulysses and Sam in love (some scenes were quite lovely). I’ll definitely be continuing with the series.
September 29, 2025
A truly lovely book— gay, mythological, urban fantasy. I was glued to this from start to finish and strongly recommend it!
My only criticism is the somewhat strange pacing and rather blunt writing style. At times, it felt like the scenes never had much space to sit or tension to build. The narrative kept moving at breakneck speed, as if someone were summarizing the plot point by point, rather than letting the reader experience it. For example, it could feel as immediate as: "The protagonist was looking for an altar. The altar was to his left."
I’d also say that the time period doesn’t exactly make sense - this could easily have just been set in present day.
Despite that, the magic, the plot, and the characters were all engaging, and it absolutely makes me want to keep reading.
Think of it as T. J. Klune mixed with The Dresden Files.
My only criticism is the somewhat strange pacing and rather blunt writing style. At times, it felt like the scenes never had much space to sit or tension to build. The narrative kept moving at breakneck speed, as if someone were summarizing the plot point by point, rather than letting the reader experience it. For example, it could feel as immediate as: "The protagonist was looking for an altar. The altar was to his left."
I’d also say that the time period doesn’t exactly make sense - this could easily have just been set in present day.
Despite that, the magic, the plot, and the characters were all engaging, and it absolutely makes me want to keep reading.
Think of it as T. J. Klune mixed with The Dresden Files.
January 2, 2025
gay gay gay gay gay gay gay
April 2, 2025
Skimmed the last 20-30% because I was just so over the writing and lack of movement in the plot. The central conflict for this story is so overshadowed by lounging about and hitting up various restaurants and diners - yet the characters constantly talk about about how pressing the matter is. Is bad plot progression just a thing with M/M romance? Man, this was stupid.
August 24, 2025
Lacking a little artfulness - in writing style and structure/pacing, with the last third of the book almost jarring in its shift to antiquity versus the very modern magic of the bulk of the story up to that point, the demon attacks growing a tad repetitive, and a slightly baffling number of pauses in diners - but five stars because, despite those elements not aligning with my expectations/personal taste, I absolutely loved this.
It's a relatively straightforward little book, but I fell in love with Ulysses and Sam and their relationship. The setting and emotions are equally vivid, and the dynamics and stakes only grow more and more interesting as the story develops.
I didn't know this was the first in a series of (currently) four when I picked it up, with two of the sequels focusing on Ulysses and Sam too it looks likes, but I'm thrilled - will be getting my grubby little hands on all three ASAP.
It's a relatively straightforward little book, but I fell in love with Ulysses and Sam and their relationship. The setting and emotions are equally vivid, and the dynamics and stakes only grow more and more interesting as the story develops.
I didn't know this was the first in a series of (currently) four when I picked it up, with two of the sequels focusing on Ulysses and Sam too it looks likes, but I'm thrilled - will be getting my grubby little hands on all three ASAP.
June 22, 2023
Sam & Ulysses are both delights. The magic swirling around them is fascinating and scary. And I also loved the secondary characters who served as emotional support and as sources of magical knowledge--the network of acquaintances and relatives and friends made the main characters feel like real people with LIVES. Great fun!
November 1, 2024
I wanted to like this. A seemingly normal guy falling in with an occult detective because a powerful entity is after him has legs, as far as premises go, but it's hobbled when demons and witches are no more remarkable than microwaves or the draft. If anything, characters seem more ticked off about Vietnam than they do maenads living among them... seemingly one rowdy party away from rampant slaughter.
The 1969 university setting isn't something I've seen before, though instead of immersion, it felt oddly discordant every time it was brought up. There is no racism or homophobia or sexual revolution in this book. No Cold War. No nuclear arms race. Which, fine, great, but there are communists and capitalists and the Vietnam war is happening in the background... hell, one character's brother even got drafted.
And yet barring some passing mentions about anti-war protests, no one seems particularly pressed about anything outside of their little university bubble. Why choose one of the most contentious and socially volatile times in US history to set your story in if you're not going to engage with it?
Why have all of Ulysses' occult detecting that doesn't 100% revolve around Sam happen off-page, as well? Those anecdotes sound fun!
Between the insta-attraction that quickly turns to insta-love and the curious lack of tension in the world building, this wound up feeling longer than its page count.
The 1969 university setting isn't something I've seen before, though instead of immersion, it felt oddly discordant every time it was brought up. There is no racism or homophobia or sexual revolution in this book. No Cold War. No nuclear arms race. Which, fine, great, but there are communists and capitalists and the Vietnam war is happening in the background... hell, one character's brother even got drafted.
And yet barring some passing mentions about anti-war protests, no one seems particularly pressed about anything outside of their little university bubble. Why choose one of the most contentious and socially volatile times in US history to set your story in if you're not going to engage with it?
Why have all of Ulysses' occult detecting that doesn't 100% revolve around Sam happen off-page, as well? Those anecdotes sound fun!
Between the insta-attraction that quickly turns to insta-love and the curious lack of tension in the world building, this wound up feeling longer than its page count.
June 9, 2025
I really wanted to like this more than I did, but I felt like the pacing was molasses-in-a-Wisconsin-winter slow and that the tension -- both romantic and narrative -- just doesn't offer sustaining interest. There are some intriguing developments at about the 2/3rds mark, but the climax, which should have been intimate and personal, loses itself in more silly demon nonsense.
Three stars, very generously. I have heard this series gets better, but I don't know if I can summon the will to continue.
Three stars, very generously. I have heard this series gets better, but I don't know if I can summon the will to continue.
December 15, 2023
Loved Mad-town setting,
but... why 1969?
Cluttered, jumpy book.
but... why 1969?
Cluttered, jumpy book.
November 5, 2025
I picked this book up genuinely at random off the recommendation of a stranger in a TikTok comment section and then I read the whole thing in 4 hours. This book was genuinely so much fun? Once again, I love a concept that really makes me go "How did you even think of this?" and in this case, an iteration of 1969 Madison, WI but with magic and demigods really made me ask that question.
My likes: The magic in this world was interesting and complex but also not fully explained, which somehow just made it feel even more realistic, like the characters have no need to mull on how magic works because it's just such a normal part of their lives.
I also was a little worried, based on the time period, that there would be quite a bit more overt homophobia, and I was pleased to be wrong about that—there are some oblique intimations that maybe someone else out there might care about two men in a relationship, but none of that ever shows up from a key character, not even the ones with whom the MCs have tense relationships. As someone who generally prefers not to run into much homophobia in my fantasy (because there's enough of it in the real world) that was really refreshing for me.
Lastly, I just really enjoyed the personalities of the two MCs. I like that they're very different people with very different backgrounds but it's also clear how and why they would be attracted to each other, magical spoiler reasons notwithstanding. And even though the progression of their relationship is... somewhat nontraditional and definitely not super linear, it's still a believable relationship that isn't forced through any contrived misunderstandings in order to drag out the will-they won't-they tension.
My gripes: Honestly, none really? I guess maybe it would have been fun to see a little more about where the magic system actually comes from, and I could make a case for dragging the climactic scenes out a little bit just to build suspense, but overally I thought this was a fun and quick-paced book.
Super glad I took that random TikTok comment rec and now have a new series to hyperfixate on!
My likes: The magic in this world was interesting and complex but also not fully explained, which somehow just made it feel even more realistic, like the characters have no need to mull on how magic works because it's just such a normal part of their lives.
I also was a little worried, based on the time period, that there would be quite a bit more overt homophobia, and I was pleased to be wrong about that—there are some oblique intimations that maybe someone else out there might care about two men in a relationship, but none of that ever shows up from a key character, not even the ones with whom the MCs have tense relationships. As someone who generally prefers not to run into much homophobia in my fantasy (because there's enough of it in the real world) that was really refreshing for me.
Lastly, I just really enjoyed the personalities of the two MCs. I like that they're very different people with very different backgrounds but it's also clear how and why they would be attracted to each other, magical spoiler reasons notwithstanding. And even though the progression of their relationship is... somewhat nontraditional and definitely not super linear, it's still a believable relationship that isn't forced through any contrived misunderstandings in order to drag out the will-they won't-they tension.
My gripes: Honestly, none really? I guess maybe it would have been fun to see a little more about where the magic system actually comes from, and I could make a case for dragging the climactic scenes out a little bit just to build suspense, but overally I thought this was a fun and quick-paced book.
Super glad I took that random TikTok comment rec and now have a new series to hyperfixate on!
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