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Bannon & Clare #1.5
The Damnation Affair
The West is a wild place, where the poison wind blows and the dead walk. But there is gold, and whiskey, and enough room for a man to forget what he once was -- until he no longer can.
Jack Gabriel's been the sheriff in Damnation almost since the town grew out of the dust and the mud. He keeps the peace -- sort of -- and rides the circuit every dawn and dusk with the chartermage, making sure the wilderness doesn't seep into their fragile attempt at civilization. Away from the cities clinging to the New World's eastern rim, he doesn't remember what he was. At least, not much.
But Damnation is growing, and along comes a schoolmarm. Catherine Barrowe is a right proper Boston miss, and it's a mystery why she would choose this town where everything scandalous and dangerous is probably too much for a quality lady like her. Sometimes the sheriff wonders why she came out West -- because everyone who does is running from something. He doesn't realize Cat may be prickly, delicate, and proper, but she is also determined. She's in Damnation to find her wayward older brother Robbie, whose letters were full of dark hints about gold, trouble. . .and something about a claim.
In a West where charm and charter live alongside clockwork and cold steel, where hot lead kills your enemy but it takes a blessing to make his corpse stay down, Cat will keep digging until she finds her brother. If Jack knew what she was after, he could solve the mystery -- because he was the one who killed Robbie.
The thing is, Cat's brother just won't stay dead, and the undead are rising with him. . .
Jack Gabriel's been the sheriff in Damnation almost since the town grew out of the dust and the mud. He keeps the peace -- sort of -- and rides the circuit every dawn and dusk with the chartermage, making sure the wilderness doesn't seep into their fragile attempt at civilization. Away from the cities clinging to the New World's eastern rim, he doesn't remember what he was. At least, not much.
But Damnation is growing, and along comes a schoolmarm. Catherine Barrowe is a right proper Boston miss, and it's a mystery why she would choose this town where everything scandalous and dangerous is probably too much for a quality lady like her. Sometimes the sheriff wonders why she came out West -- because everyone who does is running from something. He doesn't realize Cat may be prickly, delicate, and proper, but she is also determined. She's in Damnation to find her wayward older brother Robbie, whose letters were full of dark hints about gold, trouble. . .and something about a claim.
In a West where charm and charter live alongside clockwork and cold steel, where hot lead kills your enemy but it takes a blessing to make his corpse stay down, Cat will keep digging until she finds her brother. If Jack knew what she was after, he could solve the mystery -- because he was the one who killed Robbie.
The thing is, Cat's brother just won't stay dead, and the undead are rising with him. . .
304 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2012
26 people are currently reading
882 people want to read
About the author
Lilith Saintcrow
132 books4,513 followersLilith Saintcrow was born in New Mexico, bounced around the world as a child, and fell in love with writing stories when she was ten years old. She and her library co-habitate in Vancouver, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
February 7, 2013
Initial thoughts:I liked this better than The Iron Wyrm Affair. Kind of like a cross between a western steampunk/magic novel with a Stephen King-like scary thing hiding in the mines....
The review:
What a surprisingly entertaining read! Magic, the Wild West, and zombies combine to create a fast-paced, edge of your seat exciting book.
The Damnation Affair takes place in the New World, in the dusty and desolate Wild West town of Damnation. (Isn’t that just a great name for a Wild West town?) This book is part of Lilith Saintcrow’s Bannon & Clare series. It’s the same world as Bannon & Clare, the same magic, but it has a raw, lawless feel to it.
I devoured this book. I literally could not put it down. I adored the main characters. Catherine Barrowe Brown or Cat left her privileged life as a society lady in Boston to become the town of Damnation’s schoolmarm. Cat had ulterior motives; she was searching for her missing brother Robert. Sheriff Jack Gabriel is one of those no-nonsense western sheriffs – strong, rugged, and fiercely protective of his town. Sheriff Jack is also hiding a few secrets of his own and the town is a perfect place to hide out. The sheriff takes Cat under his protection and arranges for her to share a small home with Li-Ang, a young and very pregnant Chinoise woman. Li-Ang is also a force to be reckoned with, and she too has her secrets.
The steampunk elements in this book are mild and mostly in the background. The magical elements were intriguing. Magic or mancy is found everywhere in this world and some people have special talents for controlling the magic. Chartermages cast their magic to protect the people around them by keeping the wilderness and the dangers of the wilderness (namely zombies) away from the town. Special charter stones are placed outside the town as well. Cat had a Practicality for Light, meaning that she could create sparks of light. Daily tasks have some sort of mancy to ensure that the drudgery work would be done.
The narrative was well paced and there was a point where I didn’t know what was scarier – the townspeople, the undead, or that mysterious thing in the mines. Yes, there was a scary monster in the mines. A little ode to Stephen King, but awesome nonetheless.
The Damnation Affair was a pleasant surprise for me. I really wasn’t wowed by The Iron Wyrm Affair and I was hesitant to read this book. I’m glad I gave this series a second chance. I’m now looking forward to reading more books in this series, especially The Red Plague Affair coming out in late May of 2013.
The Damnation Affair is currently available as an inexpensive e-book. A paperback is planned for release in February 2013.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for a review copy of this book.
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
The review:
What a surprisingly entertaining read! Magic, the Wild West, and zombies combine to create a fast-paced, edge of your seat exciting book.
The Damnation Affair takes place in the New World, in the dusty and desolate Wild West town of Damnation. (Isn’t that just a great name for a Wild West town?) This book is part of Lilith Saintcrow’s Bannon & Clare series. It’s the same world as Bannon & Clare, the same magic, but it has a raw, lawless feel to it.
I devoured this book. I literally could not put it down. I adored the main characters. Catherine Barrowe Brown or Cat left her privileged life as a society lady in Boston to become the town of Damnation’s schoolmarm. Cat had ulterior motives; she was searching for her missing brother Robert. Sheriff Jack Gabriel is one of those no-nonsense western sheriffs – strong, rugged, and fiercely protective of his town. Sheriff Jack is also hiding a few secrets of his own and the town is a perfect place to hide out. The sheriff takes Cat under his protection and arranges for her to share a small home with Li-Ang, a young and very pregnant Chinoise woman. Li-Ang is also a force to be reckoned with, and she too has her secrets.
The steampunk elements in this book are mild and mostly in the background. The magical elements were intriguing. Magic or mancy is found everywhere in this world and some people have special talents for controlling the magic. Chartermages cast their magic to protect the people around them by keeping the wilderness and the dangers of the wilderness (namely zombies) away from the town. Special charter stones are placed outside the town as well. Cat had a Practicality for Light, meaning that she could create sparks of light. Daily tasks have some sort of mancy to ensure that the drudgery work would be done.
The narrative was well paced and there was a point where I didn’t know what was scarier – the townspeople, the undead, or that mysterious thing in the mines. Yes, there was a scary monster in the mines. A little ode to Stephen King, but awesome nonetheless.
The Damnation Affair was a pleasant surprise for me. I really wasn’t wowed by The Iron Wyrm Affair and I was hesitant to read this book. I’m glad I gave this series a second chance. I’m now looking forward to reading more books in this series, especially The Red Plague Affair coming out in late May of 2013.
The Damnation Affair is currently available as an inexpensive e-book. A paperback is planned for release in February 2013.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for a review copy of this book.
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
March 16, 2016
This is a stand-alone entry in the Bannon and Clare world, not the series, and though it combines some hints of steampunk with a whole lot of geomancy it's not nearly as successful a book as her
Iron Wyrm Affair
entry in the series.
Neither Bannon nor Clare are present in Damnation , instead it's set in an alternate-Earth Wild West … with zombies. There's a Wild West Zombie comic I've read, the name of which escapes me, which treats this same topic with a lot more verve, weirdness and humor: kinda needful when doing Six-Guns Meet Zombies.
Damnation is basically a Western Romance with magical oddities sprinkled throughout. The plot is fairly thin and the characters' motivations equally so. I kept waiting for it to go in a direction I hadn't anticipated or at least develop a bit more interest but alas, it wasn't to be. Also, for a Lilith Saintcrow book, there were a surprising number of times the male hero rescued the imperiled females. Meh. I suspect this book was cranked out hard and fast to meet a deadline because it really needs more work.
I'd recommend the actual Bannon & Clare books over this for plot, world-building and characterization; Damnation tried to be several things all at once and didn't manage to achieve any of them.
Neither Bannon nor Clare are present in Damnation , instead it's set in an alternate-Earth Wild West … with zombies. There's a Wild West Zombie comic I've read, the name of which escapes me, which treats this same topic with a lot more verve, weirdness and humor: kinda needful when doing Six-Guns Meet Zombies.
Damnation is basically a Western Romance with magical oddities sprinkled throughout. The plot is fairly thin and the characters' motivations equally so. I kept waiting for it to go in a direction I hadn't anticipated or at least develop a bit more interest but alas, it wasn't to be. Also, for a Lilith Saintcrow book, there were a surprising number of times the male hero rescued the imperiled females. Meh. I suspect this book was cranked out hard and fast to meet a deadline because it really needs more work.
I'd recommend the actual Bannon & Clare books over this for plot, world-building and characterization; Damnation tried to be several things all at once and didn't manage to achieve any of them.
January 3, 2019
While this is nominally set in the same universe as the Bannon & Clare trilogy, it's on another continent and features completely different characters. Definitely my least favorite of the books set in this universe, but still a pretty good read.
June 5, 2013
I started THE DAMNATION AFFAIR expecting a novella set in the series of Bannon & Clare (based on Goodreads’s characterization of this book as Bannon & Clare #1.5). What I found was a full length novel which, though nominally sharing the same universe as Bannon & Clare, had its own style and mythology entirely. Across the sea from everything familiar, THE DAMNATION AFFAIR is an enticing new take on the wild and dangerous West.
Perhaps due to this change of expectation, THE DAMNATION AFFAIR started a little slow for me. The first chapter paints Catherine as a prissy, delicate product of her upbringing, but she is quickly proven to be a plucky and kind beneath her stiff manners. It stretches the imagination a bit to have Catherine react so far outside the social norms around her, but I liked her too much to care.
The unfolding tension between Jack’s past, Catherine’s missing brother, and the dangerous events in Damnation were well paced alongside the unfolding mythology of charters and mancy and undead. This gritty Steampunk Western swept me away down the dusty streets and dangerous alleyways of Damnation, and culminated in a happily-ever-after I never saw coming. Now I’m not sure which side of the Atlantic I hope the next Bannon & Clare book is on.
Sexual Content: References to prostitution, kissing.
Perhaps due to this change of expectation, THE DAMNATION AFFAIR started a little slow for me. The first chapter paints Catherine as a prissy, delicate product of her upbringing, but she is quickly proven to be a plucky and kind beneath her stiff manners. It stretches the imagination a bit to have Catherine react so far outside the social norms around her, but I liked her too much to care.
The unfolding tension between Jack’s past, Catherine’s missing brother, and the dangerous events in Damnation were well paced alongside the unfolding mythology of charters and mancy and undead. This gritty Steampunk Western swept me away down the dusty streets and dangerous alleyways of Damnation, and culminated in a happily-ever-after I never saw coming. Now I’m not sure which side of the Atlantic I hope the next Bannon & Clare book is on.
Sexual Content: References to prostitution, kissing.
August 3, 2016
This book was mostly a fun, lighthearted read. There were some things I took issue with, though - first and foremost, can the book cover PLEASE be designed by someone who has ACTUALLY read the book and the character descriptions?? The cover was actually off-putting, which is a shame.
The other minor issues I had were in the development of the romance (was there any?) and the ending that seemed to come WAY FAR OUT of left field. I wasn't sure how I felt about that.
Otherwise, overall a fun read with good writing to match the tone and setting.
The other minor issues I had were in the development of the romance (was there any?) and the ending that seemed to come WAY FAR OUT of left field. I wasn't sure how I felt about that.
Otherwise, overall a fun read with good writing to match the tone and setting.
March 28, 2023
I am very conflicted about this book. On the one hand, I read it very fast and didn't want to put it down. On the other hand, there were some moments in it—including and especially the ending—that left me feeling flat.
For starters, this is set in an alternate-reality American West. (It's the same universe as the Bannon & Clare books, but those are set in alternate-reality England and really have no impact on this story at all.) As such, there is low-grade misogyny and racism that you would expect from that era. The author does write the book in a way to make it clear that she doesn't approve, but it's still there. On top of that, the plot deals with stopping the undead, and zombie books aren't usually something I choose to read. (I'm still not sure why I thought this book was my thing, even though I mostly enjoyed it.) And to cap it all off, the ending is packaged up so easily that it feels a bit too deus ex machina for my preferences.
Frankly, this is a Western fantasy novel with zombies, and I'm not sure why I thought it would be my kind of book. However, it was a fun read and I liked a lot of the side characters (even though we saw very little of any of them).
true rating 3.5 stars
For starters, this is set in an alternate-reality American West. (It's the same universe as the Bannon & Clare books, but those are set in alternate-reality England and really have no impact on this story at all.) As such, there is low-grade misogyny and racism that you would expect from that era. The author does write the book in a way to make it clear that she doesn't approve, but it's still there. On top of that, the plot deals with stopping the undead, and zombie books aren't usually something I choose to read. (I'm still not sure why I thought this book was my thing, even though I mostly enjoyed it.) And to cap it all off, the ending is packaged up so easily that it feels a bit too deus ex machina for my preferences.
Frankly, this is a Western fantasy novel with zombies, and I'm not sure why I thought it would be my kind of book. However, it was a fun read and I liked a lot of the side characters (even though we saw very little of any of them).
true rating 3.5 stars
September 19, 2014
While The Iron Wyrm Affair at least has some steampunk elements, in this one there isn't enough of it to satisfy me, but it will go on that shelf anyway.
Do not read the blurb. I shouldn't have read it. I was waiting for most of the things from the blurb to be revealed at least to us if not to the heroine. I wish I didn't know it. Some people are not bothered by blurbs like that, but I don't find it amusing if you can read about the events which happen at half of the book in the blurb! The thing is that blurb completely ruined my reading experience. It tells everything except the whys. The events are all there!
If you have already read the blurb, look at the genres and you'll see Romance there and you have the whole story. No need to read the book, nor there is any reason to continue reading anything I wrote here.
My thoughts (or an explanation why I didn't really like this book):
When she first arrived at Damnation, I didn't like Cat to put it mildly. There are a number of reasons why I couldn't connect to her.
People waited for her with a welcome sign and music. Horrible noise actually, but it's the thought that counts. She was there to teach their children after all. And one of the first thoughts that crossed her mind is to summon "her mother's Greet The Peasants smile". It was almost rewarding to see them start a fight over nothing. She and her brother were spoiled rich children, but nothing was as annoying as her memories of her mother and supposedly good lessons she left. Horrible woman. Horrible lessons. The moment I started thinking she was becoming a better person, she would do it again ("Her mother's Greet the Peasants smile had rarely been so useful"). The moment she started working as a teacher she was thinking of those children as young savages, older savages, tiny uncivilized animals. There are too many examples of that.
Next thing I didn't like here was the same as in the first book - the name changing is annoying (Wild Westron, Englene, San Frances), but that is not that bad after all those passive characters in the story. They are just ... there. Standing, observing. Some of them try to be more, but fail after a few scenes.
This is the slowest developing romance ever if you can even call it that. I have a feeling that it was supposed to be a slow building romance, but it didn't do much for me. Somewhere around forty percent of the book, you get a few thoughts here and there with Jack Gabriel being more honest with himself (and faster to realize it).
Do not read the blurb. I shouldn't have read it. I was waiting for most of the things from the blurb to be revealed at least to us if not to the heroine. I wish I didn't know it. Some people are not bothered by blurbs like that, but I don't find it amusing if you can read about the events which happen at half of the book in the blurb! The thing is that blurb completely ruined my reading experience. It tells everything except the whys. The events are all there!
If you have already read the blurb, look at the genres and you'll see Romance there and you have the whole story. No need to read the book, nor there is any reason to continue reading anything I wrote here.
My thoughts (or an explanation why I didn't really like this book):
When she first arrived at Damnation, I didn't like Cat to put it mildly. There are a number of reasons why I couldn't connect to her.
People waited for her with a welcome sign and music. Horrible noise actually, but it's the thought that counts. She was there to teach their children after all. And one of the first thoughts that crossed her mind is to summon "her mother's Greet The Peasants smile". It was almost rewarding to see them start a fight over nothing. She and her brother were spoiled rich children, but nothing was as annoying as her memories of her mother and supposedly good lessons she left. Horrible woman. Horrible lessons. The moment I started thinking she was becoming a better person, she would do it again ("Her mother's Greet the Peasants smile had rarely been so useful"). The moment she started working as a teacher she was thinking of those children as young savages, older savages, tiny uncivilized animals. There are too many examples of that.
Next thing I didn't like here was the same as in the first book - the name changing is annoying (Wild Westron, Englene, San Frances), but that is not that bad after all those passive characters in the story. They are just ... there. Standing, observing. Some of them try to be more, but fail after a few scenes.
This is the slowest developing romance ever if you can even call it that. I have a feeling that it was supposed to be a slow building romance, but it didn't do much for me. Somewhere around forty percent of the book, you get a few thoughts here and there with Jack Gabriel being more honest with himself (and faster to realize it).
March 3, 2013
Having read The Iron Wyrm Affair, I was expecting another as rich in detail and suspense. But unfortunately this failed to reach the mark. I found the transition between scenes rather disjointed and there appeared to me to be some rather annoyingly unexplained situations.
March 20, 2015
4.5 stars
Set in the same world as Bannon and Clare, but with a new set of characters. I loved the entire story, but do admit to be a tad disappointed by the ending. Not enough explanation or romance.
Maybe LS will revisit this part of her world again. I know I'd love to.
Set in the same world as Bannon and Clare, but with a new set of characters. I loved the entire story, but do admit to be a tad disappointed by the ending. Not enough explanation or romance.
Maybe LS will revisit this part of her world again. I know I'd love to.
July 16, 2019
Damnation – town center a single street framed with raw-lumber buildings, a dirt thoroughfare; stagecoach coming into town; her house, small and trim, at the edge of the town; Lucky Star – one of two saloons;
Catherine Elizabeth Barrowe-Browne: from Boston, wealthy family; in Damnation to find her brother; her parents died, though their voices are in her mind; comes to school as a teacher;
Jack Gabriel: Sheriff; ex-Priest; gave up priesthood to marry; but lost his wife (to bad magic) and lost his faith – though not the practices of it; takes Catherine into his care…and ultimately into his heart;
Robert ‘Robbie’ Barrowe-Browne: rebellious brother who chaffed under parent’s rules; went west to find excitement – and staked a claim in a wealthy mine, but one possessed of an evil spirit; ended up a vampire, though because initially buried in consecrated ground (by Jack) he retains a conscious; the vampire/evil thing that struck him can possess his brain sometimes, and forces him into bad things; I think he takes blood from animals; he tried to warn his sister to stay away, but she didn’t get the letter until in Damnation;
Li Ang: pregnant Chinese woman that Jack took into his care; her husband wanted a son, and had many wives, and beat them all; Jack places her in Cat’s house as her maid, thinking the Chinaman will stay away;
Russell Overton: town’s chartermage; keeps protections around the town;
Sometimes it was hard to follow the story, as many words, especially magic-related words, don’t get specifically defined;
Ultimately, Robbie gets Catherine into consecrated land after attacked by the entity, and wakes up a vampire… Robbie sends her to San Franciso with promises to meet up… but instead turns Jack (who will do anything to be with Cat), and allow self to die in the sun…
4 months later, Cat has set up LiAng and her son as her brother’s widow and son, and heir to their family money – sending her to Boston… and Jack finally catches up to her – both pledging themselves to the other, to live honorably… as ex-priest, Jack has inside knowledge on being a vampire;
Catherine Elizabeth Barrowe-Browne: from Boston, wealthy family; in Damnation to find her brother; her parents died, though their voices are in her mind; comes to school as a teacher;
Jack Gabriel: Sheriff; ex-Priest; gave up priesthood to marry; but lost his wife (to bad magic) and lost his faith – though not the practices of it; takes Catherine into his care…and ultimately into his heart;
Robert ‘Robbie’ Barrowe-Browne: rebellious brother who chaffed under parent’s rules; went west to find excitement – and staked a claim in a wealthy mine, but one possessed of an evil spirit; ended up a vampire, though because initially buried in consecrated ground (by Jack) he retains a conscious; the vampire/evil thing that struck him can possess his brain sometimes, and forces him into bad things; I think he takes blood from animals; he tried to warn his sister to stay away, but she didn’t get the letter until in Damnation;
Li Ang: pregnant Chinese woman that Jack took into his care; her husband wanted a son, and had many wives, and beat them all; Jack places her in Cat’s house as her maid, thinking the Chinaman will stay away;
Russell Overton: town’s chartermage; keeps protections around the town;
Sometimes it was hard to follow the story, as many words, especially magic-related words, don’t get specifically defined;
Ultimately, Robbie gets Catherine into consecrated land after attacked by the entity, and wakes up a vampire… Robbie sends her to San Franciso with promises to meet up… but instead turns Jack (who will do anything to be with Cat), and allow self to die in the sun…
4 months later, Cat has set up LiAng and her son as her brother’s widow and son, and heir to their family money – sending her to Boston… and Jack finally catches up to her – both pledging themselves to the other, to live honorably… as ex-priest, Jack has inside knowledge on being a vampire;
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2018
This book was selected in a OMG! I need some escapist books stat! snatch-and-grab mission - the name Lilith Saintcrow was sufficient for me. Plus, old west vampires?? Yes! So I had no idea this was in the universe of another series until I started to write that review. Good to know!
I loved the world, definitely. And the ridiculous romance was pretty fun.
I was less excited about the third act, although having read both her Dante Valentine series and the Jill Kismet series, I wasn't exactly shocked. Still an enjoyable read.
I loved the world, definitely. And the ridiculous romance was pretty fun.
I was less excited about the third act, although having read both her Dante Valentine series and the Jill Kismet series, I wasn't exactly shocked. Still an enjoyable read.
December 29, 2023
Not terribly steampunk, but definitely a solid Weird West story. The characters were decently fleshed out, the romance was a little clunky at times, I did like the variety of people living in Damnation. The end was pretty jumbled and not terribly well-explained - I needed a second read to be sure I'd worked out the author's intentions clearly. The twist at the end was fine, but felt a bit unnecessary.
June 26, 2018
Set in Bannon and Clare World
Set in the Bannon and Clare universe, the story is set in the US old west. Gabe is Damnation's sheriff when Cat comes to town as the new school marm. Both have other hidden reasons for being in Damnation.
Set in the Bannon and Clare universe, the story is set in the US old west. Gabe is Damnation's sheriff when Cat comes to town as the new school marm. Both have other hidden reasons for being in Damnation.
November 29, 2019
Calling it a Bannon &Clare novel is a misleading since there is no connection other than being set in the same world.
Other than that is wasn't bad, but not my cup of tea, kind of a gunsmoke meets monsters.
Other than that is wasn't bad, but not my cup of tea, kind of a gunsmoke meets monsters.
April 18, 2021
Sheriff Jack welcomes schoolmarm Cat secretly seeking her brother Rob who opens gold mine of immortal spirit that occupies body, rules zombies from unblessed ground. Asked by saloon ladies to teach them, Cat says town pays, but gals trust Gabe to protect from boss.
July 1, 2021
Unexpected ending
It did not quite feel as HEA as it could have — but it certainly feels like an excellent standalone story. I am somewhat curious what a sequel set in the 20th or 21st century might look like for this world and these characters and their descendants.
It did not quite feel as HEA as it could have — but it certainly feels like an excellent standalone story. I am somewhat curious what a sequel set in the 20th or 21st century might look like for this world and these characters and their descendants.
July 6, 2017
Good first half, didn't enjoy the second half.
July 25, 2017
Didn't really like this story. I just couldn't get into it like I did with the Dante Valentine and Jill Kismet series.
January 11, 2019
Enjoyed it!!
September 5, 2019
Not as good as the main books in the series.
December 4, 2019
A lovely sideways WTF, in all the best ways.
April 14, 2020
What an imaginative, gruesome, enthralling tale. I'd like to read another episode about these two characters. Lilith is quite the storyteller!
June 3, 2021
Aðrar söguhetjur. Stutt. Vestrið. Eiginlega síðri en fyrsta bókin.
January 20, 2025
A dark world with an interesting magic system (and zombies!)
October 28, 2024
An alternate history Wild West town, a schoolmarm with a secret and the handsome sheriff... Loved the world-building and as always the writing is top notch.
May 26, 2013
4.5 Stars. Only one thing could induce Miss Catherine Barrowe-Browne to forsake the comforts of civilized Boston and head Westron (West) -- the hope of finding her missing, impetuous brother Robbie. She applies for the position of schoolteacher in the town of Damnation, a godforsaken corner of the Westron territory every bit as uninviting as its name. The children are out-of-control hellions, the townspeople without culture, and the sheriff an infuriating (and attractive) enigma. When the undead breach the boundaries of the charter protecting the town, Cat quickly realizes that darker forces than she'd ever dreamed may have ensnared her brother, as a dark threat stalks Damnation's citizens, determined to destroy anyone in its way.
Sheriff Jack Gabriel headed Westron to escape his past, cloaking his identity behind a lawman's badge, a lazy drawl, and a manner that brooked no questions. He never expected the new schoolmarm to be so pretty or so wholly unsuited for life in a town constantly stalked by the threat of an undead uprising. The more he gets to know the delightfully stubborn Cat, the more he begins to dream of a future outside Damnation's borders. But dark forces threaten Jack's plans, and the cursed mancey (magic) swirling around Cat's search for her missing brother threatens to exact a sacrifice far greater than either is willing to pay.
After falling in love with Saintcrow's first entertaining and evocative steampunnk recreation of Victorian London in The Iron Wyrm Affair, I was left eager for sequels. In an interesting twist, Saintcrow chose to bridge the release of her first and second Bannon & Clare books with this full-length e-book set in the same universe, but halfway across the world with an entirely new cast of characters. The time period may be the same, but the manner in which magic, sorcery, and steampunk technology is employed is wholly new, fresh, and engaging. In the nineteenth-century Westron "New World" that passes for America, the culture of magic is rawer, less refined, and therefore more unpredictable. Saintcrow also adds a layer of religious faith, marrying a traditional 19th-century Christian worldview with the rules of mancey and charter-symbols that make her world-building so richly-drawn and fascinating.
Now I typically avoid prairie-themed romances, but Saintcrow's twisted take on the tropes of the genre is irresistable. Cat is the missish schoolmarm, wholly unprepared for the rigors of Westron life -- but determined to thrive and fearless when it comes to utilizing her magic Practicality, even if it means sacrificing her Reputation. Jack is the dedicated lawman, deliciously uncertain around women of Cat's ilk, and hiding a secret that threatens to destroy his place in Damnation. The two spar constantly, and electric chemistry between two such polar opposites kept my fingers flying to turn pages. This tale is more romance-heavy than its predecessor, and given the secrets involved and threats standing in the way of a happily ever after, I became quickly invested in the future of their will-they-or-won't-they relationship.
The Damnation Affair is a fast-paced, romantic adventure set in Saintcrow's deliciously eclectic, revisionist 19th-century world. While the impetus behind the undead menace is somewhat hazily realized, I loved Saintcrow's twist on zombie lore (a tad reminiscent of the recent film Warm Bodies) and its use as a threat in territories barely settled is wholly fitting to the tenor of the time period. While I enjoyed The Iron Wyrm Affair, I absolutely loved this book. Perfectly paced, thoroughly entertaining, and peopled with engaging characters set against the backdrop of a rich mythology, The Damnation Affair is my favorite Saintcrow novel yet. I loved this book -- and can only, desperately hope that Saintcrow will revisit Cat & Jack in sequels.
Sheriff Jack Gabriel headed Westron to escape his past, cloaking his identity behind a lawman's badge, a lazy drawl, and a manner that brooked no questions. He never expected the new schoolmarm to be so pretty or so wholly unsuited for life in a town constantly stalked by the threat of an undead uprising. The more he gets to know the delightfully stubborn Cat, the more he begins to dream of a future outside Damnation's borders. But dark forces threaten Jack's plans, and the cursed mancey (magic) swirling around Cat's search for her missing brother threatens to exact a sacrifice far greater than either is willing to pay.
After falling in love with Saintcrow's first entertaining and evocative steampunnk recreation of Victorian London in The Iron Wyrm Affair, I was left eager for sequels. In an interesting twist, Saintcrow chose to bridge the release of her first and second Bannon & Clare books with this full-length e-book set in the same universe, but halfway across the world with an entirely new cast of characters. The time period may be the same, but the manner in which magic, sorcery, and steampunk technology is employed is wholly new, fresh, and engaging. In the nineteenth-century Westron "New World" that passes for America, the culture of magic is rawer, less refined, and therefore more unpredictable. Saintcrow also adds a layer of religious faith, marrying a traditional 19th-century Christian worldview with the rules of mancey and charter-symbols that make her world-building so richly-drawn and fascinating.
Now I typically avoid prairie-themed romances, but Saintcrow's twisted take on the tropes of the genre is irresistable. Cat is the missish schoolmarm, wholly unprepared for the rigors of Westron life -- but determined to thrive and fearless when it comes to utilizing her magic Practicality, even if it means sacrificing her Reputation. Jack is the dedicated lawman, deliciously uncertain around women of Cat's ilk, and hiding a secret that threatens to destroy his place in Damnation. The two spar constantly, and electric chemistry between two such polar opposites kept my fingers flying to turn pages. This tale is more romance-heavy than its predecessor, and given the secrets involved and threats standing in the way of a happily ever after, I became quickly invested in the future of their will-they-or-won't-they relationship.
The Damnation Affair is a fast-paced, romantic adventure set in Saintcrow's deliciously eclectic, revisionist 19th-century world. While the impetus behind the undead menace is somewhat hazily realized, I loved Saintcrow's twist on zombie lore (a tad reminiscent of the recent film Warm Bodies) and its use as a threat in territories barely settled is wholly fitting to the tenor of the time period. While I enjoyed The Iron Wyrm Affair, I absolutely loved this book. Perfectly paced, thoroughly entertaining, and peopled with engaging characters set against the backdrop of a rich mythology, The Damnation Affair is my favorite Saintcrow novel yet. I loved this book -- and can only, desperately hope that Saintcrow will revisit Cat & Jack in sequels.
November 24, 2013
*Genre* Steampunk, Adult, Western
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
I am finally able to sift through some of my back log and read books that have been sitting patiently on my Kindle for nearly a year. Yes, I did received this LAST December! I'm thankful that Orbit still allows me access to titles even though I might not review them immediately! It helps, I think, not to decline or DNF books on a wholesale basis.
The Damnation Affair is set in the same universe as the Bannon & Clare series is, but, instead of being in England, it's set in the American Midwest. The story surrounds two characters who couldn't be further apart in class or character: Catherine Elizabeth Barrowe-Browne who is a fairly affluent woman who travels from Boston to Damnation in order to find her lost brother Robert and to be a school teacher (marm). Sheriff Jack Gabriel is a former Papist, or in this reality, a Knights Templar, who still feels the loss of his wife after she was turned into a ravaging zombie like creature and hides away in Damnation believing that his past will eventually fade into distant memory.
I often find that I need a dictionary in order to understand the things Saintcrow writes about. First, there is the fact that it's not English, it's Englene. Not Chinese, but Chinoise. Although it is considered a Steampunk novella, the story is actually more paranormal western with zombie like creatures and apparently vampires.
I will say that the first third of the Damnation Affair lured me to sleep to the point where I actually put the book (Kindle) down and ran and did some errands. The second half is definitely more suspenseful, and we get the full run down about Jack's past, as well as what really happened to Robbie. I think the ultimate romance aspect of this story takes awhile to get motivated. Cat really doesn't like that Jack is always around, and Jack knows that Cat clearly is someone who is out of his range, but can't repress his feelings of protection and perhaps a bit adoration.
In the end, The Damnation Affair is probably recommended for those who don't mind a paranormal, western, romance novel with two characters who aren't afraid of being who they are and fighting for what they believe in.
Recvd via Netgalley 12/08/2012 for Orbit
Published December 1st 2012 by Orbit
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
I am finally able to sift through some of my back log and read books that have been sitting patiently on my Kindle for nearly a year. Yes, I did received this LAST December! I'm thankful that Orbit still allows me access to titles even though I might not review them immediately! It helps, I think, not to decline or DNF books on a wholesale basis.
The Damnation Affair is set in the same universe as the Bannon & Clare series is, but, instead of being in England, it's set in the American Midwest. The story surrounds two characters who couldn't be further apart in class or character: Catherine Elizabeth Barrowe-Browne who is a fairly affluent woman who travels from Boston to Damnation in order to find her lost brother Robert and to be a school teacher (marm). Sheriff Jack Gabriel is a former Papist, or in this reality, a Knights Templar, who still feels the loss of his wife after she was turned into a ravaging zombie like creature and hides away in Damnation believing that his past will eventually fade into distant memory.
I often find that I need a dictionary in order to understand the things Saintcrow writes about. First, there is the fact that it's not English, it's Englene. Not Chinese, but Chinoise. Although it is considered a Steampunk novella, the story is actually more paranormal western with zombie like creatures and apparently vampires.
I will say that the first third of the Damnation Affair lured me to sleep to the point where I actually put the book (Kindle) down and ran and did some errands. The second half is definitely more suspenseful, and we get the full run down about Jack's past, as well as what really happened to Robbie. I think the ultimate romance aspect of this story takes awhile to get motivated. Cat really doesn't like that Jack is always around, and Jack knows that Cat clearly is someone who is out of his range, but can't repress his feelings of protection and perhaps a bit adoration.
In the end, The Damnation Affair is probably recommended for those who don't mind a paranormal, western, romance novel with two characters who aren't afraid of being who they are and fighting for what they believe in.
Recvd via Netgalley 12/08/2012 for Orbit
Published December 1st 2012 by Orbit
September 10, 2016
I'm not entirely sure how this book qualified as a standalone part of the Bannon and Clare series. I guess if you shut one eye and squinted through the other and looked at it sideways you might be able to place it in the same world as the Bannon and Clare books. Standalone? Definitely. But the "magic was totally different and the settings were totally different. Other than this one, I've only read the first book in the series so I don't know if later stories somehow tie this one in to the series. If not, I'm not sure why this is part of the series.
This book is more straighforward romance and less steampunk. It suffers from some of the same weird name inconsistencies as the Iron Wyrm: they mention French and German and Spanish, but the maid is "Chinee" instead of Chinese.
At the beginning of the book I found myself enjoying it much more than the Iron Wyrm, and that is why I rated it as 3 stars. The book didn't get bogged down quite as much with overdone descriptions. Andcwhile I didn't really feel that there was much chemistry between Cat and Jack, they both felt like much more human characters to me than Bannon and Clare are.
But the end of the book was barely 2 stars, IMO.
This book is more straighforward romance and less steampunk. It suffers from some of the same weird name inconsistencies as the Iron Wyrm: they mention French and German and Spanish, but the maid is "Chinee" instead of Chinese.
At the beginning of the book I found myself enjoying it much more than the Iron Wyrm, and that is why I rated it as 3 stars. The book didn't get bogged down quite as much with overdone descriptions. Andcwhile I didn't really feel that there was much chemistry between Cat and Jack, they both felt like much more human characters to me than Bannon and Clare are.
But the end of the book was barely 2 stars, IMO.
January 11, 2013
The Damnation Affair is set in the same world as Saintcrow’s Bannon & Clare books. This book is not connected to the Bannon & Clare characters (as far as I can tell, not having read the first book, The Iron Wyrm Affair). The Damnation Affair is a western, set in a backwater town surrounded by wild magic.
Catharine Barrowe has accepted the position of the schoolteacher in town because it is the last place she heard from her missing brother. Cat is hoping that being in Damnation will lead her to her brother, the only remaining member of her family. The town sheriff, Jack Gabriel, is immediately attracted to the prim and proper Catherine and goes above and beyond the call of duty to make her comfortable in town. But Jack has his own secrets and a past that will affect the town and a potential relationship with Catherine.
To be honest, this one was just not my cup of tea. I liked the western steampunk vibe and the world does make me somewhat interested in reading The Iron Wyrm Affair, but I did not like the characters in this one, especially Cat. Catherine was rather stuck up through the entire book. The biggest disappointment for me was the relationship between Jack and Catherine. It was obvious how much Jack cared for Catherine, but I never got the sense that Catherine felt the same. The romance aspect was a big reason I picked up this one, so I was disappointed that it fell flat for me.
While this book was not for me, I would recommend it to steampunk/Western fans. The combination of magic and a Western setting was similar to The Native Star and I think it would appeal to fans of that book.
Catharine Barrowe has accepted the position of the schoolteacher in town because it is the last place she heard from her missing brother. Cat is hoping that being in Damnation will lead her to her brother, the only remaining member of her family. The town sheriff, Jack Gabriel, is immediately attracted to the prim and proper Catherine and goes above and beyond the call of duty to make her comfortable in town. But Jack has his own secrets and a past that will affect the town and a potential relationship with Catherine.
To be honest, this one was just not my cup of tea. I liked the western steampunk vibe and the world does make me somewhat interested in reading The Iron Wyrm Affair, but I did not like the characters in this one, especially Cat. Catherine was rather stuck up through the entire book. The biggest disappointment for me was the relationship between Jack and Catherine. It was obvious how much Jack cared for Catherine, but I never got the sense that Catherine felt the same. The romance aspect was a big reason I picked up this one, so I was disappointed that it fell flat for me.
While this book was not for me, I would recommend it to steampunk/Western fans. The combination of magic and a Western setting was similar to The Native Star and I think it would appeal to fans of that book.
January 16, 2013
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A unique combination of steampunk, zombies and magic!
Lilith Saintcrow is one of my most favorite authors. I especially loved her Dante Valentine series, so I was pretty ecstatic when I chanced upon the ARC of The Damnation Affair in exchange for an honest review.
The beginning was of the story was slow. Actually, the whole first half of the story was slow except a few scenes which almost always included the banter between sheriff Jack Gabriel and Catherine Barrowe. I like how they always seem to clash but the chemistry was brewing beneath the surface. I also find Cat’s references to ‘her mother’s greet the peasants smile’ and other lessons of manner quirky and definitely unique.
The story was well-written and the minor details were clearly fleshed out. I love how the author filled in the details so well that I could just imagine everything happening. And each of the characters were distinct from each other.
Personally, I’d love to know more about Li Ang and baby Jonathan. The idea of having a Chinese girl in the middle of the Wild West is certainly different than usual.
Lastly, while the combination of steampunk and zombies is fairly new to me since this is the first book that I’ve ever read featuring such combination, the story taken as a whole, wasn’t as engaging as I hoped it would be. But hey, if one is looking for something different to read, then this definitely is one of those.
A unique combination of steampunk, zombies and magic!
Lilith Saintcrow is one of my most favorite authors. I especially loved her Dante Valentine series, so I was pretty ecstatic when I chanced upon the ARC of The Damnation Affair in exchange for an honest review.
The beginning was of the story was slow. Actually, the whole first half of the story was slow except a few scenes which almost always included the banter between sheriff Jack Gabriel and Catherine Barrowe. I like how they always seem to clash but the chemistry was brewing beneath the surface. I also find Cat’s references to ‘her mother’s greet the peasants smile’ and other lessons of manner quirky and definitely unique.
The story was well-written and the minor details were clearly fleshed out. I love how the author filled in the details so well that I could just imagine everything happening. And each of the characters were distinct from each other.
Personally, I’d love to know more about Li Ang and baby Jonathan. The idea of having a Chinese girl in the middle of the Wild West is certainly different than usual.
Lastly, while the combination of steampunk and zombies is fairly new to me since this is the first book that I’ve ever read featuring such combination, the story taken as a whole, wasn’t as engaging as I hoped it would be. But hey, if one is looking for something different to read, then this definitely is one of those.
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