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Lingua Magika #1
Una fiera di spettri
Gli spettri invadono il selvaggio West in questa trilogia avventurosa che mescola i generi letterari. I lettori l'hanno definita "frenetica", "ad alto rischio" e piena di "colpi di scena da far girare la testa"!
IL LAVORO:
Doveva essere semplice. Aiutare il marshal Sebastian Hardin a scortare il suo prigioniero lungo la ferrovia, fino alla fermata successiva di Charter Oak. Solo una fermata. Ma se quel prigioniero è un savant che parla con gli spettri, anche i piani più semplici possono andare in fumo.
LA LEGGE:
L'agente Ruth Cortez fa sempre la cosa giusta. Lucky Boy è una città aziendale, dipendente dalla ricca e potente famiglia Carnarvon. Per di più, il carismatico Sebastian Hardin non è un uomo a cui è facile dire di no. Quando il treno in cui viaggiano deraglia nel mezzo della prateria, Ruth inizia un'implacabile caccia all'uomo che la porterà dritta al cuore oscuro dell'impero dei Carnarvon.
IL FUGGITIVO:
Lee Merriweather predilige abiti eleganti e treni veloci, soprattutto quando li ruba. Alla veneranda età di 18 anni, è riuscito a diventare il criminale più ricercato in tre territori. Lee non resiste alla tentazione e gioca al gatto e al topo con un'agente di un piccolo paese, ma quello che inizia come un gioco diventerà mortalmente serio.
IL RISOLUTORE:
Sebastian Hardin è il braccio destro dei Carnarvon, fedele fino alla morte e disposto a mantenere qualsiasi segreto pur di proteggere la famiglia. Vogliono Lee vivo, ma con le inquietanti capacità del giovane savant non sarà un'impresa facile. Chiunque catturi Lee avrà le chiavi del regno e i Carnarvon non sono gli unici a dargli la caccia. Sebastian ha già abbastanza problemi e non può pensare di innamorarsi dell'agente Cortez, ma non si può sempre scegliere chi amare.
GLI SPETTRI:
Hanno terrorizzato gli abitanti dei territori finché Calindra Carnarvon non ha imparato a parlare la loro lingua. Il suo impero si basa sul controllo dei loro poteri telecinetici, ma Lee Merriweather potrebbe distruggere tutto. E nemmeno Lee sospetta la sconvolgente verità sulla vera natura degli spettri.
IL LAVORO:
Doveva essere semplice. Aiutare il marshal Sebastian Hardin a scortare il suo prigioniero lungo la ferrovia, fino alla fermata successiva di Charter Oak. Solo una fermata. Ma se quel prigioniero è un savant che parla con gli spettri, anche i piani più semplici possono andare in fumo.
LA LEGGE:
L'agente Ruth Cortez fa sempre la cosa giusta. Lucky Boy è una città aziendale, dipendente dalla ricca e potente famiglia Carnarvon. Per di più, il carismatico Sebastian Hardin non è un uomo a cui è facile dire di no. Quando il treno in cui viaggiano deraglia nel mezzo della prateria, Ruth inizia un'implacabile caccia all'uomo che la porterà dritta al cuore oscuro dell'impero dei Carnarvon.
IL FUGGITIVO:
Lee Merriweather predilige abiti eleganti e treni veloci, soprattutto quando li ruba. Alla veneranda età di 18 anni, è riuscito a diventare il criminale più ricercato in tre territori. Lee non resiste alla tentazione e gioca al gatto e al topo con un'agente di un piccolo paese, ma quello che inizia come un gioco diventerà mortalmente serio.
IL RISOLUTORE:
Sebastian Hardin è il braccio destro dei Carnarvon, fedele fino alla morte e disposto a mantenere qualsiasi segreto pur di proteggere la famiglia. Vogliono Lee vivo, ma con le inquietanti capacità del giovane savant non sarà un'impresa facile. Chiunque catturi Lee avrà le chiavi del regno e i Carnarvon non sono gli unici a dargli la caccia. Sebastian ha già abbastanza problemi e non può pensare di innamorarsi dell'agente Cortez, ma non si può sempre scegliere chi amare.
GLI SPETTRI:
Hanno terrorizzato gli abitanti dei territori finché Calindra Carnarvon non ha imparato a parlare la loro lingua. Il suo impero si basa sul controllo dei loro poteri telecinetici, ma Lee Merriweather potrebbe distruggere tutto. E nemmeno Lee sospetta la sconvolgente verità sulla vera natura degli spettri.
302 pages, Paperback
First published March 17, 2020
62 people are currently reading
328 people want to read
About the author
Kat Ross
60 books806 followersKat Ross is an award-winning and bestselling fantasy author whose series range from the Persian-inspired Fourth Element to the cozy Ravencroft Hall books. She lives in Connecticut with her son and a gang (clowder?) of anarchist cats. When she’s not writing, you can find Kat wandering in the woods or poring over maps in the cartography turret. For more info, check out her website: www.katrossbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
November 17, 2025
Western + steampunk + ghost-inhabited guns and machinery + slightly scrumptious cast of characters + quite the very cool sidekick, thank you very much = one of the most entertaining and refreshingly original story I've read in a long time.
It's also short and fun and fast-paced and cheap, so what the fish are you waiting for?!
· Book 2: All Down But Nine ★★★★
· Book 3: Devil of the North ★★★★
It's also short and fun and fast-paced and cheap, so what the fish are you waiting for?!
· Book 2: All Down But Nine ★★★★
· Book 3: Devil of the North ★★★★
April 29, 2020
I received a review copy for the blog tour through Xpresso Book Tours; all opinions are my own and honest.
This is a solid start to a new series that I will be following eagerly. I absolutely adore the premise, which is unlike anything I can remember reading — though it’s worth noting that the synopsis feels like it’s for the series rather than this specific book, as several of its parts are introduced only briefly and/or towards the end.
But before we really get into it, let me just bask in the worldbuilding for a hot minute. The combination of western and steampunk and fantasy, with vivid settings and complex machinery and spooky phantoms — while it could seem like a lot to balance, Ross really makes it work. The reverence for language / communication and linguists — as a bilingual linguistics major, I absolutely adored it. The questions that remain to be answered in following books — do I ever look forward to investigating them.
Plot-wise the book is a little lighter; I imagine it gets more intense as the series goes on, but this installment felt quite expository. Still, there’s a decent amount of action, balanced by some humorous scenes; although I wouldn’t consider it particularly fast-paced, it has great flow that made it hard to put the book down! And the romance doesn’t really come into play until the later chapters, which I appreciated since it gave me the chance to really explore the world and get to know the characters.
It’s no small feat to make a staunchly-by-the-rules female lead both likable and consistent, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I immediately liked Ruth. Young woman in a big world with something to prove? I can relate. (Though I swear like a sailor whereas Ruth pointedly omits curse words throughout the narrative.)
Lee Merriweather: there’s a reason the prodigal prodigy is a popular trope, and he exemplifies it. Mischievous, mysterious, dangerous … even dreamy, perhaps? I like him a lot, in case you couldn’t tell.
On the other hand, Sebastian Hardin kind of faded in and out of narrative focus, at least as far as I’m concerned. But he made a pretty strong showing as this first book closed, and good things come in threes, so I’m optimistic that he’ll round out the trio nicely as the series progresses. Even if I’m not totally sold on him as a love interest.
(My favorite character isn’t even mentioned in the synopsis, but it's .)
All in all, there is so much to enjoy in A Feast of Phantoms, and I can’t wait to see how the series unfolds.
content warnings:
rep:
-----------
CONVERSION : 10.7 / 15 = 4 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact: 7 / 10
Development / Flow: 7 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 3 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: 3 / 5
Memorability: 4 / 5
This is a solid start to a new series that I will be following eagerly. I absolutely adore the premise, which is unlike anything I can remember reading — though it’s worth noting that the synopsis feels like it’s for the series rather than this specific book, as several of its parts are introduced only briefly and/or towards the end.
But before we really get into it, let me just bask in the worldbuilding for a hot minute. The combination of western and steampunk and fantasy, with vivid settings and complex machinery and spooky phantoms — while it could seem like a lot to balance, Ross really makes it work. The reverence for language / communication and linguists — as a bilingual linguistics major, I absolutely adored it. The questions that remain to be answered in following books — do I ever look forward to investigating them.
Plot-wise the book is a little lighter; I imagine it gets more intense as the series goes on, but this installment felt quite expository. Still, there’s a decent amount of action, balanced by some humorous scenes; although I wouldn’t consider it particularly fast-paced, it has great flow that made it hard to put the book down! And the romance doesn’t really come into play until the later chapters, which I appreciated since it gave me the chance to really explore the world and get to know the characters.
It’s no small feat to make a staunchly-by-the-rules female lead both likable and consistent, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I immediately liked Ruth. Young woman in a big world with something to prove? I can relate. (Though I swear like a sailor whereas Ruth pointedly omits curse words throughout the narrative.)
Lee Merriweather: there’s a reason the prodigal prodigy is a popular trope, and he exemplifies it. Mischievous, mysterious, dangerous … even dreamy, perhaps? I like him a lot, in case you couldn’t tell.
On the other hand, Sebastian Hardin kind of faded in and out of narrative focus, at least as far as I’m concerned. But he made a pretty strong showing as this first book closed, and good things come in threes, so I’m optimistic that he’ll round out the trio nicely as the series progresses. Even if I’m not totally sold on him as a love interest.
(My favorite character isn’t even mentioned in the synopsis, but it's .)
All in all, there is so much to enjoy in A Feast of Phantoms, and I can’t wait to see how the series unfolds.
content warnings:
rep:
-----------
CONVERSION : 10.7 / 15 = 4 stars
Prose: 5 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 8 / 10
Emotional Impact: 7 / 10
Development / Flow: 7 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10
Diversity & Social Themes: 3 / 5
Intellectual Engagement: N/A
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: 3 / 5
Memorability: 4 / 5
February 25, 2022
This was an interesting world, powered by demons who can only be communicated with by rare skilled human linguists. Im a real sucker for a weird western and this has undertones of Gunnie Rose.
November 1, 2023
Primo libro della trilogia steampunk western Lingua Magika di Kat Ross.
Mi è piaciuto moltissimo, ho riso dall'inizio alla fine, soprattutto per gli scambi tra Ruth e Doc.
Il sistema magico degli spettri, in cui gli umani imparano una o più lingue per poterli ammaestrare è davvero particolare e interessante, diverso dal solito. È stata infatti una bella ventata di aria fresca.
È un libro dal ritmo frenetico, è breve ma non per questo i vari eventi sono forzati per ragioni di trama. Anzi, sembra esserci molto di più di quello che in realtà è, e dimostra quanto Ross abbia costruito bene la sua storia.
Doc, Ruth e Lee sono i personaggi che mi sono piaciuti di più, per motivi diversi.
Doc è lo spettro che vive nella pistola di Ruth: sarcastico, intelligente, capriccioso e fissato con la grammatica, ma allo stesso tempo il suo animo buono si percepisce. E secondo me ci sarà tanto da scoprire su di lui.
Ruth è la protagonista, poco colta e da spesso errori grammaticali, ma è un'agente capace e in grado di comprendere lo sviluppo degli eventi. Non è una stupida.
Lee è il personaggio più misterioso e i suoi poteri mi affascinano un sacco.
In definitiva, consiglio questo libro per una lettura fresca ma non per questo banale, anzi.
Fremo per avere il secondo!
Mi è piaciuto moltissimo, ho riso dall'inizio alla fine, soprattutto per gli scambi tra Ruth e Doc.
Il sistema magico degli spettri, in cui gli umani imparano una o più lingue per poterli ammaestrare è davvero particolare e interessante, diverso dal solito. È stata infatti una bella ventata di aria fresca.
È un libro dal ritmo frenetico, è breve ma non per questo i vari eventi sono forzati per ragioni di trama. Anzi, sembra esserci molto di più di quello che in realtà è, e dimostra quanto Ross abbia costruito bene la sua storia.
Doc, Ruth e Lee sono i personaggi che mi sono piaciuti di più, per motivi diversi.
Doc è lo spettro che vive nella pistola di Ruth: sarcastico, intelligente, capriccioso e fissato con la grammatica, ma allo stesso tempo il suo animo buono si percepisce. E secondo me ci sarà tanto da scoprire su di lui.
Ruth è la protagonista, poco colta e da spesso errori grammaticali, ma è un'agente capace e in grado di comprendere lo sviluppo degli eventi. Non è una stupida.
Lee è il personaggio più misterioso e i suoi poteri mi affascinano un sacco.
In definitiva, consiglio questo libro per una lettura fresca ma non per questo banale, anzi.
Fremo per avere il secondo!
April 21, 2020
https://thecaffeinatedreader.com/2020...
I am a HUGE fan of Kat Ross’s Gaslamp Gothic books, so when the chance came to try out her new series, I almost literally jumped at the chance.
This is a freakin’ amazing Western steampunk fantasy full of adventure.
Ruth Cortez may be young but she’s determined and does things by the book. This time, her duty takes her elsewhere and Cortez leaves home to go hunt down a convict.
Except, the convict may not be what he seems and neither are his crimes.
Ross does such a great job with world-building in this, and I am dying to know more about the phantoms and to see more of the world as we saw only a slice in this first book.
The romance is there, it’s hinted at but it’s not the main focus. The main focus of this is catching bad guys and figuring out how to stop him before he can ‘bid’ the phantoms to destroy everything in their path.
All her characters are fleshed out as beautiful as always, even Ross’s secondary characters are full of life and personality and though I love Cortez, I have a sincere soft spot for Doc, her gun phantom.
Thank you SO much to Acorn Publishing and Xpresso Tours for an eARC in exchange for my honest review as part of this tour!
I am a HUGE fan of Kat Ross’s Gaslamp Gothic books, so when the chance came to try out her new series, I almost literally jumped at the chance.
This is a freakin’ amazing Western steampunk fantasy full of adventure.
Ruth Cortez may be young but she’s determined and does things by the book. This time, her duty takes her elsewhere and Cortez leaves home to go hunt down a convict.
Except, the convict may not be what he seems and neither are his crimes.
Ross does such a great job with world-building in this, and I am dying to know more about the phantoms and to see more of the world as we saw only a slice in this first book.
The romance is there, it’s hinted at but it’s not the main focus. The main focus of this is catching bad guys and figuring out how to stop him before he can ‘bid’ the phantoms to destroy everything in their path.
All her characters are fleshed out as beautiful as always, even Ross’s secondary characters are full of life and personality and though I love Cortez, I have a sincere soft spot for Doc, her gun phantom.
Thank you SO much to Acorn Publishing and Xpresso Tours for an eARC in exchange for my honest review as part of this tour!
December 10, 2020
Ladies and Gentlemen...
Please meet my possible next book crush!!
Okay I read this book over a month ago but--lot of shit happened and so I didn’t manage to write a review sooner. SOOO--where was I? Oh yeah, this series has the potential to rock!! A Feast of Phantoms is a brilliant, dazzling start of a new series.
This new world a mash up of western and steampunk is so fantastic, I adore it down to the smallest steam-punkish cog (? Is this a thing??)
SEBASTIAN
Who knows me won’t find surprising that I'm totally in love with Sebastian Hardin.Maybe because he reminds me of Tomas Shelby but with a westerner twist and a certain charm that’s hard to put into words *insert purr*.
LEE
It’s hard not to love him and his mischievous ass. Although for totally different reason that the guy mentioned above.
RUTH
So far, I have liked her most of the time--- Sometimes she feels too me a bit too good (like she tries a bit too hard maybe) so much that – for my taste - it borders on horribly prissy. Then again, I believe that she has good chances to end up in my good graces (Nazzafareen is definitely on that list, in the top ten in fact. Please refer to “The Fourth Element “ & “The Fourth Talisman” series to know more about her). Anyway-- that's all right, it is good to have different and varied main characters and-- I can't love everyone, can I? And YES! I do have a penchant for morally grey and hot guys, ok? (Hello Balthazar, I haven't forgotten you!!)
Long story short READ THIS BOOK (even if it’s not your usual cup of tea…).
PS: Someone has mentioned owing me a clone of Tommy Shelby. To that, I say:
Please meet my possible next book crush!!
Okay I read this book over a month ago but--lot of shit happened and so I didn’t manage to write a review sooner. SOOO--where was I? Oh yeah, this series has the potential to rock!! A Feast of Phantoms is a brilliant, dazzling start of a new series.
This new world a mash up of western and steampunk is so fantastic, I adore it down to the smallest steam-punkish cog (? Is this a thing??)
SEBASTIAN
Who knows me won’t find surprising that I'm totally in love with Sebastian Hardin.Maybe because he reminds me of Tomas Shelby but with a westerner twist and a certain charm that’s hard to put into words *insert purr*.
LEE
It’s hard not to love him and his mischievous ass. Although for totally different reason that the guy mentioned above.
RUTH
So far, I have liked her most of the time--- Sometimes she feels too me a bit too good (like she tries a bit too hard maybe) so much that – for my taste - it borders on horribly prissy. Then again, I believe that she has good chances to end up in my good graces (Nazzafareen is definitely on that list, in the top ten in fact. Please refer to “The Fourth Element “ & “The Fourth Talisman” series to know more about her). Anyway-- that's all right, it is good to have different and varied main characters and-- I can't love everyone, can I? And YES! I do have a penchant for morally grey and hot guys, ok? (Hello Balthazar, I haven't forgotten you!!)
Long story short READ THIS BOOK (even if it’s not your usual cup of tea…).
PS: Someone has mentioned owing me a clone of Tommy Shelby. To that, I say:
March 31, 2020
5 Cranky Stars
A mix of old west, manic, and modern times. This story takes place in a world with phantoms, ghost like creatures, that love the hum of machines. Ruth Cortez is a deputy sheriff in a prairie town far from anywhere. The only thing keeping the town alive is the railroad track. A marshal from the big city comes through with a prisoner, Lee Merriweather, states some of his marshal's are sick and he needs help to transport the prisoner to the city. Ruth is volunteered by her sheriff. Others was the prisoner for themselves, and attack the train, Ruth continues to track down Lee and is being chased, kidnapped, arrested, and more trying to track him down.
I love this book, Lee Merriweather is my kinda person. It was kinda hard at first to really understand the phantoms, but it is explained enough to get it. I couldn't put it down!!
A mix of old west, manic, and modern times. This story takes place in a world with phantoms, ghost like creatures, that love the hum of machines. Ruth Cortez is a deputy sheriff in a prairie town far from anywhere. The only thing keeping the town alive is the railroad track. A marshal from the big city comes through with a prisoner, Lee Merriweather, states some of his marshal's are sick and he needs help to transport the prisoner to the city. Ruth is volunteered by her sheriff. Others was the prisoner for themselves, and attack the train, Ruth continues to track down Lee and is being chased, kidnapped, arrested, and more trying to track him down.
I love this book, Lee Merriweather is my kinda person. It was kinda hard at first to really understand the phantoms, but it is explained enough to get it. I couldn't put it down!!
January 5, 2021
To be honest, I don’t know if I would have chosen this book if I had been randomly looking for something to read. It is not the style of book I usually read but I recently joined Veracious Readers and this book was offered, it sounded interesting, so I thought I would give it a go.
I am really glad I did. I really liked the book and read it over 2 days.
It has Suspense, Mystery and Adventure, I liked the characters and I really wanted to know where the story was going to go and what was going to happen next.
It takes place in a unique world, in the Wild West, where phantoms are drawn to and live within machines. Allowing people who can talk to phantoms a little more power and control over the things around them.
The story follows small town Deputy Ruth Cortez. When a train stops at her town she is recruited by Chief of Special Services Sebastian Hardin on a ride along after the Marshal’s guarding his prisoner fall ill. When a storm hits and the train derails, Ruth takes it upon herself to send word ahead of what has happened and later track down Lee Merriweather, their missing prisoner.
As her journey continues she sees that not all things are as they seem and that there is more going on than she realised. All Ruth wants to do is finish her job and return home to her town and community in Lucky Boy. But with more than one group hunting down Lee and now her, things aren’t going to be as simple as she hoped.
I really did like the story and I’m looking forward to the next one.
I do feel like this story was mainly to set up the next one but I don’t mind that because that usually means the next book will be better because you already understand the world it is set in and you’re invested in the characters.
I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the story and with the characters and would recommend this book to others to read.
I am really glad I did. I really liked the book and read it over 2 days.
It has Suspense, Mystery and Adventure, I liked the characters and I really wanted to know where the story was going to go and what was going to happen next.
It takes place in a unique world, in the Wild West, where phantoms are drawn to and live within machines. Allowing people who can talk to phantoms a little more power and control over the things around them.
The story follows small town Deputy Ruth Cortez. When a train stops at her town she is recruited by Chief of Special Services Sebastian Hardin on a ride along after the Marshal’s guarding his prisoner fall ill. When a storm hits and the train derails, Ruth takes it upon herself to send word ahead of what has happened and later track down Lee Merriweather, their missing prisoner.
As her journey continues she sees that not all things are as they seem and that there is more going on than she realised. All Ruth wants to do is finish her job and return home to her town and community in Lucky Boy. But with more than one group hunting down Lee and now her, things aren’t going to be as simple as she hoped.
I really did like the story and I’m looking forward to the next one.
I do feel like this story was mainly to set up the next one but I don’t mind that because that usually means the next book will be better because you already understand the world it is set in and you’re invested in the characters.
I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the story and with the characters and would recommend this book to others to read.
March 5, 2021
WOW! I loved this book. To be honest it took me so long to write the review because I went right on to the sequel. And I will definitely read the 3rd when it comes out.
It is always hit-or-miss with Steampunk books. On the one hand, throwing in a hot air balloon does not make it steampunk, but on the other, I am not going to go out and build the steam-powered vehicle the characters are riding in please don't give me THAT much detail.
Kat Ross gets it!! This author wrote a compelling story with steampunk elements, and the unique ideas in this book are abundant. There are things powered by clockwork, steam, and more… Ross’s characters are complex, interesting, and relatable. The story is different without being too bizarre, kind of familiar but still unpredictable, and there are some remarkable twists and turns. This author has built a world that totally makes sense while reading the book and then is completely crazy when you try to explain it to someone else… which makes you feel like you’re in on the secret because you get it. There is just enough exposition to understand what is happening, but still keep a good pace going. One thing I absolutely love about this book is how the author introduces all these completely new ideas without making the main character look like a bumbling idiot. Really, really well done. I have also added Gaslamp Gothic series by Kat Ross to my reading list.
It is always hit-or-miss with Steampunk books. On the one hand, throwing in a hot air balloon does not make it steampunk, but on the other, I am not going to go out and build the steam-powered vehicle the characters are riding in please don't give me THAT much detail.
Kat Ross gets it!! This author wrote a compelling story with steampunk elements, and the unique ideas in this book are abundant. There are things powered by clockwork, steam, and more… Ross’s characters are complex, interesting, and relatable. The story is different without being too bizarre, kind of familiar but still unpredictable, and there are some remarkable twists and turns. This author has built a world that totally makes sense while reading the book and then is completely crazy when you try to explain it to someone else… which makes you feel like you’re in on the secret because you get it. There is just enough exposition to understand what is happening, but still keep a good pace going. One thing I absolutely love about this book is how the author introduces all these completely new ideas without making the main character look like a bumbling idiot. Really, really well done. I have also added Gaslamp Gothic series by Kat Ross to my reading list.
December 12, 2020
I really wanted to like this book. 3 stars rounded up cause not once did I consider not finishing. Its an easy read with some pretty decent plot twists, some predictable.
I have no idea what year, or planet, or universe the story is supposed to take place, and though it gave Ross freedom, it also caused her to shove too much into one storyline.
The main character is from the wild west, where water heaters don't exist and everything is completed with a drawl. What I dont understand is how young Ruth can be so quick on her feet, went to some form of a school, and was raised by a man who studied math but presents as completely uneducated. She doesn't have grammar or spelling, but they explain definitions of words like mentor. There were several simple concepts that were explained.
Wild western meets ghost busters, cause yea the phantoms are everywhere and some people can talk to them and even those that don't communicate with the beings are aware of their existence, even in the western. I like the phantom side kick, and the concept of supernatural though its doesn't quite fit amongst everything else.
Add a kidnapping, a mom who ran off to join a circus, and some flirty dialog and we've touched the surface of everything going on. Its entertaining if not a bit hokey.
If I happen upon the next book, I will read it.
*received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only*
I have no idea what year, or planet, or universe the story is supposed to take place, and though it gave Ross freedom, it also caused her to shove too much into one storyline.
The main character is from the wild west, where water heaters don't exist and everything is completed with a drawl. What I dont understand is how young Ruth can be so quick on her feet, went to some form of a school, and was raised by a man who studied math but presents as completely uneducated. She doesn't have grammar or spelling, but they explain definitions of words like mentor. There were several simple concepts that were explained.
Wild western meets ghost busters, cause yea the phantoms are everywhere and some people can talk to them and even those that don't communicate with the beings are aware of their existence, even in the western. I like the phantom side kick, and the concept of supernatural though its doesn't quite fit amongst everything else.
Add a kidnapping, a mom who ran off to join a circus, and some flirty dialog and we've touched the surface of everything going on. Its entertaining if not a bit hokey.
If I happen upon the next book, I will read it.
*received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2024
Breve ma intenso!
Divertenti, irriverenti e a tratti sarcastici (Doc✨️), i personaggi di Kat Ross prendono vita in un'ambientazione per me del tutto nuova per un fantasy (America del XIX secolo con cawboy, banditi, criminali e sceriffi) e dotata di un sistema magico non del tutto innovativo, ma che si plasma perfettamente al contesto.
Scorre velocissimo, divorato in due giorni e ho già acquistato il seguito.
Una menzione speciale a Lee Merriweather che praticamente è il Jack Sparrow di questo libro! L'ho adorato!
Divertenti, irriverenti e a tratti sarcastici (Doc✨️), i personaggi di Kat Ross prendono vita in un'ambientazione per me del tutto nuova per un fantasy (America del XIX secolo con cawboy, banditi, criminali e sceriffi) e dotata di un sistema magico non del tutto innovativo, ma che si plasma perfettamente al contesto.
Scorre velocissimo, divorato in due giorni e ho già acquistato il seguito.
Una menzione speciale a Lee Merriweather che praticamente è il Jack Sparrow di questo libro! L'ho adorato!
January 4, 2021
This is a great book! I was initially super confused and I came into this knowing nothing about the plot or characters or even the genre- but it turned out well! This story, involving horses, guns, and phantoms, has a very interesting plot-line with fun characters, humor, and western elements. Lee, as questionable as he may be, is just great. Our main character Ruth is perfect, and it’s fun to see her change and adapt with the surrounding and circumstances. My only complaint would be that the set up to the fantasy elements confused me a lot, and at some points it seemed that plot or dialogue was missing? But that might have been my fault? This was a really satisfying read, and the ending perfectly sets up the premise for the sequel. Overall, this book was amazing, the characters are charming, the setting and phantoms are enticing, and I will definitely be checking out this author’s upcoming books!
Thank you to Voracious Readers Only and Kat Ross for a complementary copy of this novel!
Thank you to Voracious Readers Only and Kat Ross for a complementary copy of this novel!
December 5, 2020
A steampunk/Weird West that delivers on being a paranormal-infused adventure that snatches you be the eyeballs and refuses to let go. A slow start belies the action and mystery that is to come. I've never had much luck with steampunk flavoured books as they so often are paranormal romances or noir novels disguised by the odd mention of clockwork thingagummies and airships. Oh, there are thingagummies and zepplins, but the story is so much more than that.
Take a small town sherrif's deputy, throw in a corporate hardman bringing in a wanted fugitive and spice it up with clockwork devices powered by ghosts - including a slightly snooty haunted gun. Add a pinch of amazing world building and mix to get A Feast of Phantoms.
Ruth Cortez is a straight-laced kinda gal in the backwater Industrial company town of Lucky Boy. She's got the law, her dear ol' dad, and her gun complete with phantom Doc who loves nothing more than to correct her grammar. Nothing ever happens there - until Sebastian Hardin, head of security for Carnavon Industries arrives by train with criminal Lee Merriweather in chains. He needs some fresh blood to help keep an eye on him as they take him back to Carnavon City for trial. Reluctantly, Ruth is dragged along and discovers there's more to the outside world than she wanted to admit, and most of it is as dangerous as it is amazing. Surrounded by phantoms and liars, this small town girl's thrust into a murky mystery spanning the entire frontier and maybe beyond.
No lies; I found the beginning a bit slow. I wasn't sure if it was just me not gelling with main character Ruth in her town setting, but things going a lot more gripping once were got on that train. You knew there was more to Merriweather and Hardin than met the eye, and as soon as the whole "phantoms" system became apparent I was sold.
There's nothing better than great world building with original details, and the phantoms (otherwise referred to as "haints") are case in point. What they are exactly remains sketchy, but they're attracted to technology and used to power it. There are people who learn to speak their languages in order to direct them. There are all different of haints kinds too; some sullen and silent, others more chatty, but all of them are dangerous. Just how dangerous becomes clear as the story goes on. I loved those drip-fed details.
I didn't find the characters themselves as easy to connect with, though Ruth as the 100% honourable kid in a world of moral greyness made her stand out. She's a tad naive at times, but not too stupid to live. We don't get a lot of time with the taciturn Hardin, so I found him difficult to decipher - but all you need to know is he's a company man through and through. Merriweather is also a bit of a mystery, and puzzling out both these guys is part of the fun of the plot. It's also NOT A LOVE TRIANGLE. I cannot stress that enough. If it becomes one later, eh, at least we didn't rush headlong into it with hormones blazing. There's the hint that romance could become a thing, but it's so much at the end and so unexplored that it's not a major theme. Just for the record, Doc as the semi-snarky sidekick was awesome. I hope we see more of all the characters interacting after spending most of the story apart.
There are villains. There are monstrous spirits. There's a whole load of character interactions to unpick, from the Carnavon family to Ruth's own. Those hints at past indiscretions and possible machinations hover just under the surface maddeningly, teasing for the rest of the series.
I loved how this story was neither your usual romance-heavy crime drama nor a boy's own adrenaline-fuelled adventure. It struck just the right balance between the weirdness and the grounded characters, their journey made up of action set-pieces and more sedate plot discoveries. The ending is an open cliffhanger, but not one of those cut-mid-scene ones. This is how series starters should be done.
I have so many questions that need answering. This is definitely a series I'd be keeping on my (phantom-powered) radar.
-I received a free copy of this e-book in a giveaway by the author. This does not influence my review-
Take a small town sherrif's deputy, throw in a corporate hardman bringing in a wanted fugitive and spice it up with clockwork devices powered by ghosts - including a slightly snooty haunted gun. Add a pinch of amazing world building and mix to get A Feast of Phantoms.
Ruth Cortez is a straight-laced kinda gal in the backwater Industrial company town of Lucky Boy. She's got the law, her dear ol' dad, and her gun complete with phantom Doc who loves nothing more than to correct her grammar. Nothing ever happens there - until Sebastian Hardin, head of security for Carnavon Industries arrives by train with criminal Lee Merriweather in chains. He needs some fresh blood to help keep an eye on him as they take him back to Carnavon City for trial. Reluctantly, Ruth is dragged along and discovers there's more to the outside world than she wanted to admit, and most of it is as dangerous as it is amazing. Surrounded by phantoms and liars, this small town girl's thrust into a murky mystery spanning the entire frontier and maybe beyond.
No lies; I found the beginning a bit slow. I wasn't sure if it was just me not gelling with main character Ruth in her town setting, but things going a lot more gripping once were got on that train. You knew there was more to Merriweather and Hardin than met the eye, and as soon as the whole "phantoms" system became apparent I was sold.
There's nothing better than great world building with original details, and the phantoms (otherwise referred to as "haints") are case in point. What they are exactly remains sketchy, but they're attracted to technology and used to power it. There are people who learn to speak their languages in order to direct them. There are all different of haints kinds too; some sullen and silent, others more chatty, but all of them are dangerous. Just how dangerous becomes clear as the story goes on. I loved those drip-fed details.
I didn't find the characters themselves as easy to connect with, though Ruth as the 100% honourable kid in a world of moral greyness made her stand out. She's a tad naive at times, but not too stupid to live. We don't get a lot of time with the taciturn Hardin, so I found him difficult to decipher - but all you need to know is he's a company man through and through. Merriweather is also a bit of a mystery, and puzzling out both these guys is part of the fun of the plot. It's also NOT A LOVE TRIANGLE. I cannot stress that enough. If it becomes one later, eh, at least we didn't rush headlong into it with hormones blazing. There's the hint that romance could become a thing, but it's so much at the end and so unexplored that it's not a major theme. Just for the record, Doc as the semi-snarky sidekick was awesome. I hope we see more of all the characters interacting after spending most of the story apart.
There are villains. There are monstrous spirits. There's a whole load of character interactions to unpick, from the Carnavon family to Ruth's own. Those hints at past indiscretions and possible machinations hover just under the surface maddeningly, teasing for the rest of the series.
I loved how this story was neither your usual romance-heavy crime drama nor a boy's own adrenaline-fuelled adventure. It struck just the right balance between the weirdness and the grounded characters, their journey made up of action set-pieces and more sedate plot discoveries. The ending is an open cliffhanger, but not one of those cut-mid-scene ones. This is how series starters should be done.
I have so many questions that need answering. This is definitely a series I'd be keeping on my (phantom-powered) radar.
-I received a free copy of this e-book in a giveaway by the author. This does not influence my review-
January 14, 2022
Nice start for a new trilogy. A nice ride, with the usual mild mixture of fantasy and historical elements.
Enjoiable, a bit slow in the start, it takes ground midway and, towards the end, is a page-turner!
Honestly, I see a lot of the "Fourth Talisman" in here, in the relationships between people and ghosts, in the discovery of hidden truths by the main character, but it's definitely not a rewriting. The new world Kat Ross bring to us is rich, consistent, and needs further exploring.
That is the part I've enjoyed the most, the context. And, in my opinion, Kat Ross is a very good World Maker, and a very good guide through them.
Enjoiable, a bit slow in the start, it takes ground midway and, towards the end, is a page-turner!
Honestly, I see a lot of the "Fourth Talisman" in here, in the relationships between people and ghosts, in the discovery of hidden truths by the main character, but it's definitely not a rewriting. The new world Kat Ross bring to us is rich, consistent, and needs further exploring.
That is the part I've enjoyed the most, the context. And, in my opinion, Kat Ross is a very good World Maker, and a very good guide through them.
December 24, 2020
Spoilers:
In keeping with the tradition of giving the Holidays a supernatural, spiritual, and spooky bent I give my Readers, A Feast of Phantoms by Kat Ross, the first of her Lingua Magika series which combines a Steampunk Western with Dark Fantasy and creates a terrifying out of mesmerizing world that is brilliant to experience and immerse oneself into.
Ross' attention to detail and world building is beyond astounding. It's one of those literary worlds that one falls into and lives in, not just reads. The setting is filled with the Western tropes with out of the way dusty towns, like Lucky Boy, the one horse town that is the residence of protagonist, Deputy Ruth Cortez. There are also references to another town called Three Bars, which was destroyed by a tornado. (Don't you just love these Western small town names?)
By contrast, there is Carnarvon City, a city of industrialization and growth. It is headed by the Carnarvon Family, a mother and her children, who seem to have their fingers in every institution in town. They don't mind stretching those fingers to the rest of the state, maybe the whole country, despite rivalries with the equally wealthy but so far unseen Braga Family.
Where the small towns like Lucky Boy and Three Bars come out of the Western tradition, Carnarvon City is built on Steampunk. There are steam trains and airships, even a few experimental automobiles, the finest in late 19th century early 20th century technology. Of course the aesthetic would not be complete without gears, telescopes, goggles, top hats, and velvet.
What makes this setting isn't just the Steampunk aesthetic combined with Western theme. It's the fantastic aspects. This is not only a book where magic exists, but it is commonplace. So commonplace that phantoms are alive, well, and very active.
Ross clearly thought a lot about how to write about the phantoms and it shows. She provides little twists that show depths of the creatures such collective nouns (a group of Phantoms are called a feast) and classifications. There are lesser phantoms like Ruth's partner, Doc, who resides inside the deputy's gun and aids her when she requires information or defense. Then there are the larger classification level phantoms who can efficiently destroy a city in a matter of seconds.
Obviously, these phantoms are dangerous and uncontrollable. The hapless humans need help from those who can communicate and control these spirits. There are linguists, humans that can speak a few of the phantom's languages. Then there are savants, humans who can speak several of the phantom's languages. But, savants are not perceived as the sanest or trustworthy of humans as Ruth discovers when she is hired to leave Lucky Boy to guard apprehended savant, Lee Merriweather (not the actress).
Lee has been captured by Marshall Sebastian Hardin who is acting under orders from Calindra Carnarvon, matriarch of the powerful Steampunk Carnarvon Family. At first, Ruth willingly goes along with Lee's transfer to be tried by the Carnarvons' reps in a potential kangaroo court. However, after Lee escapes, Ruth questions just what exactly the Carnarvons' and Hardin are planning.
A benefit is that many of the characters are multifaceted and understandable, so that the Readers don't know who to side with. Ruth remains pretty likable and heroic throughout, but the others surrounding her are a curious bunch. Lee alternates between sinister and charismatic. There are also familial ties that he is protective of while others use him for their purposes.
Even Hardin and the Carnarvons who are the main antagonists show fascinating depths in character. Hardin and Ruth share a lot of chemistry implying that if they aren't yet a couple, then they will be. Calindra Carnarvon shows a lot of strength as a business minded woman in the Old West. Her children befriend Ruth possibly for genuine reasons, but just as possibly to keep a potential enemy closer.
Of course, the phantoms are also interesting characters as well. Doc is a deadpan snarker who will help Ruth at the slightest moment but not before getting the last word in. Another demon is terrifying in its powers and ability to hide in plain sight.
A Feast of Phantoms is a great and creepy world to fall into. It's creepiest to read when the nights are at their longest. It is a very commendable movable feast.
In keeping with the tradition of giving the Holidays a supernatural, spiritual, and spooky bent I give my Readers, A Feast of Phantoms by Kat Ross, the first of her Lingua Magika series which combines a Steampunk Western with Dark Fantasy and creates a terrifying out of mesmerizing world that is brilliant to experience and immerse oneself into.
Ross' attention to detail and world building is beyond astounding. It's one of those literary worlds that one falls into and lives in, not just reads. The setting is filled with the Western tropes with out of the way dusty towns, like Lucky Boy, the one horse town that is the residence of protagonist, Deputy Ruth Cortez. There are also references to another town called Three Bars, which was destroyed by a tornado. (Don't you just love these Western small town names?)
By contrast, there is Carnarvon City, a city of industrialization and growth. It is headed by the Carnarvon Family, a mother and her children, who seem to have their fingers in every institution in town. They don't mind stretching those fingers to the rest of the state, maybe the whole country, despite rivalries with the equally wealthy but so far unseen Braga Family.
Where the small towns like Lucky Boy and Three Bars come out of the Western tradition, Carnarvon City is built on Steampunk. There are steam trains and airships, even a few experimental automobiles, the finest in late 19th century early 20th century technology. Of course the aesthetic would not be complete without gears, telescopes, goggles, top hats, and velvet.
What makes this setting isn't just the Steampunk aesthetic combined with Western theme. It's the fantastic aspects. This is not only a book where magic exists, but it is commonplace. So commonplace that phantoms are alive, well, and very active.
Ross clearly thought a lot about how to write about the phantoms and it shows. She provides little twists that show depths of the creatures such collective nouns (a group of Phantoms are called a feast) and classifications. There are lesser phantoms like Ruth's partner, Doc, who resides inside the deputy's gun and aids her when she requires information or defense. Then there are the larger classification level phantoms who can efficiently destroy a city in a matter of seconds.
Obviously, these phantoms are dangerous and uncontrollable. The hapless humans need help from those who can communicate and control these spirits. There are linguists, humans that can speak a few of the phantom's languages. Then there are savants, humans who can speak several of the phantom's languages. But, savants are not perceived as the sanest or trustworthy of humans as Ruth discovers when she is hired to leave Lucky Boy to guard apprehended savant, Lee Merriweather (not the actress).
Lee has been captured by Marshall Sebastian Hardin who is acting under orders from Calindra Carnarvon, matriarch of the powerful Steampunk Carnarvon Family. At first, Ruth willingly goes along with Lee's transfer to be tried by the Carnarvons' reps in a potential kangaroo court. However, after Lee escapes, Ruth questions just what exactly the Carnarvons' and Hardin are planning.
A benefit is that many of the characters are multifaceted and understandable, so that the Readers don't know who to side with. Ruth remains pretty likable and heroic throughout, but the others surrounding her are a curious bunch. Lee alternates between sinister and charismatic. There are also familial ties that he is protective of while others use him for their purposes.
Even Hardin and the Carnarvons who are the main antagonists show fascinating depths in character. Hardin and Ruth share a lot of chemistry implying that if they aren't yet a couple, then they will be. Calindra Carnarvon shows a lot of strength as a business minded woman in the Old West. Her children befriend Ruth possibly for genuine reasons, but just as possibly to keep a potential enemy closer.
Of course, the phantoms are also interesting characters as well. Doc is a deadpan snarker who will help Ruth at the slightest moment but not before getting the last word in. Another demon is terrifying in its powers and ability to hide in plain sight.
A Feast of Phantoms is a great and creepy world to fall into. It's creepiest to read when the nights are at their longest. It is a very commendable movable feast.
April 24, 2020
Feast of Phantoms is the first book in Kat Ross' newest series- Lingua Magika. Set in a 'wild west' time frame, Feast follows Deputy Cortez as she is drafted from her small town of Lucky Boy to assist Marshal Hardin with a dangerous captive. All she was supposed to do was help get the captive to the next town. Life has other plans though. The captive gets free, and the train derailed. In an effort to regain the prisoner, Cortez is pulled into the high stakes world of the Carnarvon family. Can Cortez see her mission through without getting too tangled in the family's affairs? And what is up with her possessed gun?
Truth time- While I did enjoy Feast, it wasn't among my favourite of Ross' books. I LOVED the Fourth Talisman and Gaslamp Gothic series. I still need to read the Fourth Element series, but it's the precursor to Talisman, and has many of the same characters, so I have little doubt I'll adore that series too. So, what was it about this one? Part, I know, is that I'm just not a fan of the Old West, and Western books are not my normal fare. If it hadn't been a book by Kat Ross, who has become a 'must-read' author for me, then I'd probably have passed it by altogether. While I don't dislike the characters in Feast, most didn't pique my interest. The two I'm most interested in is Lee Merriwether, and Doc. Lee is a cheeky rogue. And young. He's a savant, with a gift for grim languages, and can charm nearly any phantom he comes across to do what he asks. Doc is the phantom that is attached to the gun Cortez carries. She's not formally trained or bonded with Doc, but he generally listens to her, and seems to care about her to a certain degree. He's very adamant at one point, that his gun belongs to Cortez.
All that being said, I will most definitely read the next in the series. I'm really looking forward to learning more about the phantoms, and especially about Doc. And… Roger. (It's priceless when the characters are incredulous that this powerful phantom has such a mundane name.) I'm also going to be keeping my fingers crossed for another Gaslamp Gothic novel, or even better, a book focusing on the Ava Vatra from the Fourth Talisman series. Bonus points if it has Nico in it!
Recommended for those who enjoy Kat Ross' books, and those who enjoy a dose of magic with their Westerns.
***Many thanks to the authors/ publisher for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for XPresso Blog Tours
Truth time- While I did enjoy Feast, it wasn't among my favourite of Ross' books. I LOVED the Fourth Talisman and Gaslamp Gothic series. I still need to read the Fourth Element series, but it's the precursor to Talisman, and has many of the same characters, so I have little doubt I'll adore that series too. So, what was it about this one? Part, I know, is that I'm just not a fan of the Old West, and Western books are not my normal fare. If it hadn't been a book by Kat Ross, who has become a 'must-read' author for me, then I'd probably have passed it by altogether. While I don't dislike the characters in Feast, most didn't pique my interest. The two I'm most interested in is Lee Merriwether, and Doc. Lee is a cheeky rogue. And young. He's a savant, with a gift for grim languages, and can charm nearly any phantom he comes across to do what he asks. Doc is the phantom that is attached to the gun Cortez carries. She's not formally trained or bonded with Doc, but he generally listens to her, and seems to care about her to a certain degree. He's very adamant at one point, that his gun belongs to Cortez.
All that being said, I will most definitely read the next in the series. I'm really looking forward to learning more about the phantoms, and especially about Doc. And… Roger. (It's priceless when the characters are incredulous that this powerful phantom has such a mundane name.) I'm also going to be keeping my fingers crossed for another Gaslamp Gothic novel, or even better, a book focusing on the Ava Vatra from the Fourth Talisman series. Bonus points if it has Nico in it!
Recommended for those who enjoy Kat Ross' books, and those who enjoy a dose of magic with their Westerns.
***Many thanks to the authors/ publisher for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for XPresso Blog Tours
April 23, 2020
Come visit me at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/
**4.5 Stars**
The story is narrated by Ruth, the most morally grounded character that I think I have ever met. There is no gray with this woman, only black and white and you will always find her on the true and moral side. I really enjoyed getting to know her and see how she reacts in every situation, how she chooses her actions with her calm demeanor and no frills attitude. I loved watching her relationship dynamics with the other characters, be it Doc who we never get to see and tries to educate Ruth, the stoic marshal who is not sure what to make of her or Lee, the charming yet devious mastermind. I will say though that I am curious to see if anything or anyone might be capable of shaking this girl up.
There are just so many cool details that the author used to create the story, seemingly subtle but well placed and important. Linguists are people who can speak to the spectral entities, using all kinds of sounds and speech patterns depending on the entities classification. And the phantoms are what help to power most things, be it a train or a city in general, given orders (suggestions?) by a linguist specializing in that certain tongue. It was honestly such a cool mix of Wild West gunslinger, meets steampunk world building meets the horror element of ghost and overall supernatural.
Also, the title is explained in the book and it really was super witty.
Ok, I just proved that I am a fan girl for this author and find her story crafting ability goes above and beyond what I expect- every time. Each book of hers that I have encountered gets better and better. I am 100% committed to continuing this journey with Ruth to catch the elusive bad guy (? I will go more with mischievous than actual bad) and will be back for the next book. I do hope though that there might be some kind or romance blossom in the next story (there was none here) because I am always a sucker for love and I enjoy both the two potential (in my opinion) love interests.
Overall A Feast of Phantoms was completely original and engaging, the perfect read for fans of westerns, mixed with action with danger, supernatural (can more books be cool fusions of all kinds of things like this was?), and a tough cookie of a main character.
**4.5 Stars**
The story is narrated by Ruth, the most morally grounded character that I think I have ever met. There is no gray with this woman, only black and white and you will always find her on the true and moral side. I really enjoyed getting to know her and see how she reacts in every situation, how she chooses her actions with her calm demeanor and no frills attitude. I loved watching her relationship dynamics with the other characters, be it Doc who we never get to see and tries to educate Ruth, the stoic marshal who is not sure what to make of her or Lee, the charming yet devious mastermind. I will say though that I am curious to see if anything or anyone might be capable of shaking this girl up.
There are just so many cool details that the author used to create the story, seemingly subtle but well placed and important. Linguists are people who can speak to the spectral entities, using all kinds of sounds and speech patterns depending on the entities classification. And the phantoms are what help to power most things, be it a train or a city in general, given orders (suggestions?) by a linguist specializing in that certain tongue. It was honestly such a cool mix of Wild West gunslinger, meets steampunk world building meets the horror element of ghost and overall supernatural.
Also, the title is explained in the book and it really was super witty.
Ok, I just proved that I am a fan girl for this author and find her story crafting ability goes above and beyond what I expect- every time. Each book of hers that I have encountered gets better and better. I am 100% committed to continuing this journey with Ruth to catch the elusive bad guy (? I will go more with mischievous than actual bad) and will be back for the next book. I do hope though that there might be some kind or romance blossom in the next story (there was none here) because I am always a sucker for love and I enjoy both the two potential (in my opinion) love interests.
Overall A Feast of Phantoms was completely original and engaging, the perfect read for fans of westerns, mixed with action with danger, supernatural (can more books be cool fusions of all kinds of things like this was?), and a tough cookie of a main character.
July 29, 2022
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All of the opinions shared in this post are my own.
If you like the crossover of genres in the likes of Stephen king’s The Dark Tower or Brandon Sanderson‘s second Mistborn trilogy, A Feast of Phantoms has a similar vibe. It is also set in a western type setting. The incorporation of steampunk elements reminded me of the technological advancements we see between the first and second Mistborn trilogy, which is why I have likened this book to that.
Ruth is a small-town girl happy with her quiet life as a deputy in the town of Lucky Boy. Life is fairly rudimentary, but it’s all she’s ever known. When she is conscripted to help the secret services transport a prisoner for trial, she doesn’t have much choice but to accept. From here on, Ruth world opens up to magic, intrigue, and danger that she couldn’t foresee.
I really liked Ruth as a character. I love that she has very strong, good morals. In a world that is clearly corrupt, Ruth is a breath of fresh air. She is also very headstrong, and despite her youth, she is able to make a decision and act upon it. Quite often characters of this age can be a bit wishy-washy or uncertain. A lot of the plot conflict derives from that issue.
That’s not the case in a feast of phantoms, however. Instead, Ruth is decisive and more often than not, it is this that gets her into more trouble… Despite her good intentions.
A Feast of Phantoms has a fast pace plot. Once the story has been set up, we are whisked upon the mission to escort Lee Merriweather to his fate, and all the drama and turmoil that unfolds thereafter., In true fashion, all is not as it seems. Hardly to be expected, given that the secret services are involved. Instead, Ruth finds herself dragged into a conflict she could never have imagined and is far away from her hometown.
A Feast of Phantoms is also a short read, and very easy to pick up. I managed to read this book in just a couple of days. The narrative style is easy to follow and get lost in. Reading this book was effortless, and the story keeps you hanging on to read just one more chapter… over and over again.
The good news is, for fans of this book, it is the first of a series. The book leaves us on a cliffhanger that will have us picking up the next one if we want to know what happens next!
If you like the crossover of genres in the likes of Stephen king’s The Dark Tower or Brandon Sanderson‘s second Mistborn trilogy, A Feast of Phantoms has a similar vibe. It is also set in a western type setting. The incorporation of steampunk elements reminded me of the technological advancements we see between the first and second Mistborn trilogy, which is why I have likened this book to that.
Ruth is a small-town girl happy with her quiet life as a deputy in the town of Lucky Boy. Life is fairly rudimentary, but it’s all she’s ever known. When she is conscripted to help the secret services transport a prisoner for trial, she doesn’t have much choice but to accept. From here on, Ruth world opens up to magic, intrigue, and danger that she couldn’t foresee.
I really liked Ruth as a character. I love that she has very strong, good morals. In a world that is clearly corrupt, Ruth is a breath of fresh air. She is also very headstrong, and despite her youth, she is able to make a decision and act upon it. Quite often characters of this age can be a bit wishy-washy or uncertain. A lot of the plot conflict derives from that issue.
That’s not the case in a feast of phantoms, however. Instead, Ruth is decisive and more often than not, it is this that gets her into more trouble… Despite her good intentions.
A Feast of Phantoms has a fast pace plot. Once the story has been set up, we are whisked upon the mission to escort Lee Merriweather to his fate, and all the drama and turmoil that unfolds thereafter., In true fashion, all is not as it seems. Hardly to be expected, given that the secret services are involved. Instead, Ruth finds herself dragged into a conflict she could never have imagined and is far away from her hometown.
A Feast of Phantoms is also a short read, and very easy to pick up. I managed to read this book in just a couple of days. The narrative style is easy to follow and get lost in. Reading this book was effortless, and the story keeps you hanging on to read just one more chapter… over and over again.
The good news is, for fans of this book, it is the first of a series. The book leaves us on a cliffhanger that will have us picking up the next one if we want to know what happens next!
April 28, 2020
Steampunk is not a genre that I find myself gravitating towards. I'm not sure what it is about it that just doesn't suit me. That being said, I'll read anything that Kat Ross writes. I don't know that I even read the blurb before I said yes.
A Feast of Phantoms is a strange matchup of western, steampunk, and paranormal fiction. As always, Kat Ross's worldbuilding is immense and totally enveloping. From the dirt town that Ruth lives to the technology ladened city, the details encompass you and draw you in. There's an account of this alternate history that we get details of along the way, little by little. The Phantoms are an interesting twist to this American Old West retelling. They threatened everyone until the Carnavons managed to learn their language and wrangle them to do their bidding. Mixing spooks and spaghetti western is a bold move but I have no doubt in the author's ability to devise a compelling tale.
The characters are wonderfully animated. Ruth, while young, is a real humdinger. She's brash and brave and a firm believer in law and order, which makes her a perfect deputy for the small frontier town of Lucky Boy. Her relationship with Sebastian is complex since he keeps his motivations and thoughts quiet. He's cautious but isn't as much for the straight and narrow as Ruth. Lee, however, is chaos in both of their lives. He has a good heart but is very much a free spirit. He proclaims to be innocent of his crimes. While there are typical elements of the white hat vs. black hat gunslinging western, Kat Ross's characters are always complex. What you see isn't always what you get in the end.
This one ends on a serious cliffhanger. This isn't a book that gives you a gratifying all-ends-tied up completion, proving that sometimes it's not about the destination in fiction, it's the journey.
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A Feast of Phantoms is a strange matchup of western, steampunk, and paranormal fiction. As always, Kat Ross's worldbuilding is immense and totally enveloping. From the dirt town that Ruth lives to the technology ladened city, the details encompass you and draw you in. There's an account of this alternate history that we get details of along the way, little by little. The Phantoms are an interesting twist to this American Old West retelling. They threatened everyone until the Carnavons managed to learn their language and wrangle them to do their bidding. Mixing spooks and spaghetti western is a bold move but I have no doubt in the author's ability to devise a compelling tale.
The characters are wonderfully animated. Ruth, while young, is a real humdinger. She's brash and brave and a firm believer in law and order, which makes her a perfect deputy for the small frontier town of Lucky Boy. Her relationship with Sebastian is complex since he keeps his motivations and thoughts quiet. He's cautious but isn't as much for the straight and narrow as Ruth. Lee, however, is chaos in both of their lives. He has a good heart but is very much a free spirit. He proclaims to be innocent of his crimes. While there are typical elements of the white hat vs. black hat gunslinging western, Kat Ross's characters are always complex. What you see isn't always what you get in the end.
This one ends on a serious cliffhanger. This isn't a book that gives you a gratifying all-ends-tied up completion, proving that sometimes it's not about the destination in fiction, it's the journey.
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April 21, 2020
A Feast of Phantoms is the first book in the Lingua Magika series, and it's definitely a fun, fast-paced read that will suck you right in and make you feel as though you've been transported back to the Old West.. If the Old West had phantoms and steampunk elements, of course.
Normally, steampunk is a genre that's hit or miss with me, and I rarely, if ever, read anything deemed Western (or set in the Old West), but as a Kat Ross fan, I figured I'd give it a whirl. I'm so happy I did.
I absolutely adored Ruth. She may only be eighteen, but she's a tough cookie who doesn't let anyone lead her astray. She's a stickler for the rules (maybe like 99.9% of the time), she's stronger than she looks, and she's a bit relentless when she has a task to complete. I wanted to be her friend.
Sebastian, who happens to recruit Ruth for a mission, is a bit opposite her. He's a little older, a bit more lax when it comes to following rules to a T, and he likes to keep things close to the vest.
Lee is a fun guy. He's a fugitive on the run. He's powerful. And he just doesn't care about much at all. Except clearing his name for crimes he's adamant he didn't commit.
There are a handful of other characters throughout the book that readers will either like or despise (and one I think most people will absolutely hate with a fiery passion). They're all well-written, fleshed-out characters that make the whole book a great read.
While the whole phantom aspect is a little hard to follow at first, once the story gets going, it all sort of comes together and clicks, and I found myself curious to know more about the types of phantoms. Especially Doc and Roger.
The world-building is vivid and immersive, and I could easily imagine myself traveling via train through open prairie lands into the city. It's all a fascinating mish-mash of technology, steampunk, and fantastical creatures. I quite enjoyed it.
Can't wait for book 2!
4.5 stars from me!
Normally, steampunk is a genre that's hit or miss with me, and I rarely, if ever, read anything deemed Western (or set in the Old West), but as a Kat Ross fan, I figured I'd give it a whirl. I'm so happy I did.
I absolutely adored Ruth. She may only be eighteen, but she's a tough cookie who doesn't let anyone lead her astray. She's a stickler for the rules (maybe like 99.9% of the time), she's stronger than she looks, and she's a bit relentless when she has a task to complete. I wanted to be her friend.
Sebastian, who happens to recruit Ruth for a mission, is a bit opposite her. He's a little older, a bit more lax when it comes to following rules to a T, and he likes to keep things close to the vest.
Lee is a fun guy. He's a fugitive on the run. He's powerful. And he just doesn't care about much at all. Except clearing his name for crimes he's adamant he didn't commit.
There are a handful of other characters throughout the book that readers will either like or despise (and one I think most people will absolutely hate with a fiery passion). They're all well-written, fleshed-out characters that make the whole book a great read.
While the whole phantom aspect is a little hard to follow at first, once the story gets going, it all sort of comes together and clicks, and I found myself curious to know more about the types of phantoms. Especially Doc and Roger.
The world-building is vivid and immersive, and I could easily imagine myself traveling via train through open prairie lands into the city. It's all a fascinating mish-mash of technology, steampunk, and fantastical creatures. I quite enjoyed it.
Can't wait for book 2!
4.5 stars from me!
August 5, 2022
I've read several of Ms. Ross's books and have never been disappointed. Her main characters always have complex depths and realistic emotions. They are far from paragons of every imaginable skill and virtue: they get tired; they make mistakes; they doubt themselves; they boast. It's a pleasure to get to know these fictional people.
Ruth, the main character and narrator, grew up in a frontier town. This is reflected in the exposition - there's just enough of a quaint twang within the word choices to keep the reader immersed in the setting, without descending into unintentional parody. I love the fact that there's a sharp brain behind all those "ain'ts" and "gonnas". This young sheriff's deputy is no one to underestimate.
Sebastian is still a bit of an enigma. Don't get me wrong, he's a fully developed character; he's just a tough nut to crack.
And I adore Lee, Ruth and Sebastian's opponent. Lee is a stylish outcast at the mercy of his gifts, hiding his isolation behind a quip, with a mind built to outsmart the quickest of thinkers. What can I say, I have a soft spot for tricksters.
The story itself is a bit of a trickster. It's not often that I'm surprised by plot twists, yet A Feast of Phantoms manages it more than once. The writing grabs the reader by the hand and says, "Run!" I found myself staying up far too late, enthralled, because this book is such a delight.
I almost deducted a star because the story continues over two more books, but that would not have been fair. Ms. Ross doesn't hide the fact that this is the first book in a planned trilogy. And I went into it knowing that I would more than likely want to read the other two. Honestly, I'm more than ready to start All Down But Nine. The story isn't over yet. I want to see what happens next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ruth, the main character and narrator, grew up in a frontier town. This is reflected in the exposition - there's just enough of a quaint twang within the word choices to keep the reader immersed in the setting, without descending into unintentional parody. I love the fact that there's a sharp brain behind all those "ain'ts" and "gonnas". This young sheriff's deputy is no one to underestimate.
Sebastian is still a bit of an enigma. Don't get me wrong, he's a fully developed character; he's just a tough nut to crack.
And I adore Lee, Ruth and Sebastian's opponent. Lee is a stylish outcast at the mercy of his gifts, hiding his isolation behind a quip, with a mind built to outsmart the quickest of thinkers. What can I say, I have a soft spot for tricksters.
The story itself is a bit of a trickster. It's not often that I'm surprised by plot twists, yet A Feast of Phantoms manages it more than once. The writing grabs the reader by the hand and says, "Run!" I found myself staying up far too late, enthralled, because this book is such a delight.
I almost deducted a star because the story continues over two more books, but that would not have been fair. Ms. Ross doesn't hide the fact that this is the first book in a planned trilogy. And I went into it knowing that I would more than likely want to read the other two. Honestly, I'm more than ready to start All Down But Nine. The story isn't over yet. I want to see what happens next!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 29, 2020
A Feast of Phantoms
Lingua Magika #1
By Kat Ross
( Ireceived this book for an impartial review)
I read my first Kat Ross book “Dead Ringer” a few months back. I knew then that I had found someone in my top 10 go to authors for a good read. This book is the first of a new trilogy about a post apocalyptic world run by 2 factions...both with great abilities to control phantoms (or as I see them: major and minor demons. Sorry Kat, don’t mean to rename!) Those trained to speak the most phantom languages (polygotes) control a whole lot of power and maybe some of them are a little tired of being controlled.
By a stroke of bad luck, Ruth Cortez (an 18 year old sheriff’s deputy) gets drafted to help transport a notoriously dangerous polygote by train to the Carnarvon City. Naive, ethical, loyal and insightful, Ruth proves that her position as Deputy in her small town of Lucky Boy is well deserved. She becomes the major player/pawn in this manhunt for the notorious renegade(because, yes, he escapes the train!). Is he good or bad? She has to decide while still performing her duties to the letter.
It took only a minute to acclimate myself to the new world and characters then I was hooked on this soft spoken intuitive young girl that wants nothing but to return to her small town and neighbors. BUT...she’s not afraid to kick some butt!
Hop on this train and ride because there are many memorable events and scenery. I am so looking forward to the next installment!
Jeanie G
Getting 4.25 “class x” sheep!
Lingua Magika #1
By Kat Ross
( Ireceived this book for an impartial review)
I read my first Kat Ross book “Dead Ringer” a few months back. I knew then that I had found someone in my top 10 go to authors for a good read. This book is the first of a new trilogy about a post apocalyptic world run by 2 factions...both with great abilities to control phantoms (or as I see them: major and minor demons. Sorry Kat, don’t mean to rename!) Those trained to speak the most phantom languages (polygotes) control a whole lot of power and maybe some of them are a little tired of being controlled.
By a stroke of bad luck, Ruth Cortez (an 18 year old sheriff’s deputy) gets drafted to help transport a notoriously dangerous polygote by train to the Carnarvon City. Naive, ethical, loyal and insightful, Ruth proves that her position as Deputy in her small town of Lucky Boy is well deserved. She becomes the major player/pawn in this manhunt for the notorious renegade(because, yes, he escapes the train!). Is he good or bad? She has to decide while still performing her duties to the letter.
It took only a minute to acclimate myself to the new world and characters then I was hooked on this soft spoken intuitive young girl that wants nothing but to return to her small town and neighbors. BUT...she’s not afraid to kick some butt!
Hop on this train and ride because there are many memorable events and scenery. I am so looking forward to the next installment!
Jeanie G
Getting 4.25 “class x” sheep!
April 11, 2021
Deputy Ruth Cortez is roped into helping Marshal Sebastian Hardin escort a prisoner via the railway to Charter Oak. So far so simple, however, in Cortez's world, spirits or demons called haints are a common feature and range from harmless A Class all the way to the feared X Class. The prisoner is a savant - a gifted speaker of the languages of the spirits - and he can persuade them to help him escape. A train wreck starts a chase across country to find the prisoner before he can cause more mayhem.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but I definitely did not expect such a great story. I really enjoyed this one and there were lots of great elements: steampunk, ghosts/spirits, and the wild west, to name a few. Cortez has a spirit of her own called Doc who is attached to an old gun she found as a child, and their, I suppose you could call it friendship, brings a lighter side to the story in their interactions. Overall it was a entertaining enthralling read & I have added the sequel to my TBR list.
I received a free copy of the ebook from the author via Voracious Readers Only, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but I definitely did not expect such a great story. I really enjoyed this one and there were lots of great elements: steampunk, ghosts/spirits, and the wild west, to name a few. Cortez has a spirit of her own called Doc who is attached to an old gun she found as a child, and their, I suppose you could call it friendship, brings a lighter side to the story in their interactions. Overall it was a entertaining enthralling read & I have added the sequel to my TBR list.
I received a free copy of the ebook from the author via Voracious Readers Only, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
April 24, 2020
This book was exactly what I've been looking for lately. If you love a book with a mashup of Western, gothic, steampunk, fantasy vibes, you should really add this one to your TBR!
I've been craving a story that was just 'different' while also providing a crazy, exciting twist, and I didn't realize that this was what I was looking for until I devoured it all.
Right away, this one gave me that sense of adventure as we are introduced to a Western, deserted, run-down town where a fugitive meets his match. And from there, I had no clue what was around each corner.
There were ghosts and railroads and just everything that makes for a great Western setting, and I was here for it! A solid 4 out of 5 stars from me, and I highly recommend it! I'll be sitting on my hands until Book 2 releases!!
*Disclaimer: I requested a free copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions only and are not influenced in any way.*
I've been craving a story that was just 'different' while also providing a crazy, exciting twist, and I didn't realize that this was what I was looking for until I devoured it all.
Right away, this one gave me that sense of adventure as we are introduced to a Western, deserted, run-down town where a fugitive meets his match. And from there, I had no clue what was around each corner.
There were ghosts and railroads and just everything that makes for a great Western setting, and I was here for it! A solid 4 out of 5 stars from me, and I highly recommend it! I'll be sitting on my hands until Book 2 releases!!
*Disclaimer: I requested a free copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions only and are not influenced in any way.*
March 13, 2021
This book was not something I would normally even think to read. I tend to prefer YA contemporary romance, so an adult western steampunk fantasy differs from my usual fare.
That being said, I LOVED this book! The main character Ruth is a woman of strict morals that cares deeply about others. Following her journey through this book was a lot of fun, and to me she's the definition of a strong female lead. She does her best not to compromise her morals, she's clever, and she understands that it's okay to be vulnerable at times. I'm excited to see where the next volume of the book leads her.
I was also drawn in by the layers to the story. Each time the main character and I thought we had an understanding of the situation, things were revealed to go deeper. I enjoyed delving deeper into the dark side of Carnarvon Lines alongside her.
Super excited to read the next book!
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review of the book.
That being said, I LOVED this book! The main character Ruth is a woman of strict morals that cares deeply about others. Following her journey through this book was a lot of fun, and to me she's the definition of a strong female lead. She does her best not to compromise her morals, she's clever, and she understands that it's okay to be vulnerable at times. I'm excited to see where the next volume of the book leads her.
I was also drawn in by the layers to the story. Each time the main character and I thought we had an understanding of the situation, things were revealed to go deeper. I enjoyed delving deeper into the dark side of Carnarvon Lines alongside her.
Super excited to read the next book!
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review of the book.
December 19, 2020
I received a complementary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
At first, this book began a little slow, but like a snowball rolling down a hill, it quickly gained momentum and kept me hooked. Kat Ross has created a world that draws you in with its familiarity of an old western, and with its creation of a different world that includes phantoms. The rules are simple, the higher you get in the alphabet, the stronger, and scarier, a phantom is. If you can speak the grim language then you have a chance at survival against a Class X. I absolutely loved Doc in this book, and can’t wait to see more of his backstory. One thing I would criticize this book on, would be that I wanted more of Lee Merriweather. But that it a minor complaint, considering how good the book is. I will definitely be reading the rest of the books in this series.
At first, this book began a little slow, but like a snowball rolling down a hill, it quickly gained momentum and kept me hooked. Kat Ross has created a world that draws you in with its familiarity of an old western, and with its creation of a different world that includes phantoms. The rules are simple, the higher you get in the alphabet, the stronger, and scarier, a phantom is. If you can speak the grim language then you have a chance at survival against a Class X. I absolutely loved Doc in this book, and can’t wait to see more of his backstory. One thing I would criticize this book on, would be that I wanted more of Lee Merriweather. But that it a minor complaint, considering how good the book is. I will definitely be reading the rest of the books in this series.
December 21, 2020
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
I loved this book! I finished it in just a couple hours. Ruth was one of my favorite characters and I love that she’s such a badass. It’s nice to see females being the badass main character.
Lee’s whole story is interesting. I’m glad he didn’t do half the stuff that the reverend and Mr. Carter did, but I’m still puzzled as to what’s his story with the family. There’s more to the plot then knowing him since he was 4.
Sebastian was a character I didn’t like a first. Towards the end of the book, I grew to like him. He seemed brash at the beginning. Towards the end you could tell that he’s not just a brash stick to the guns kind of guy.
I’m curious as to where the love story is going! Can’t wait to read the second!
I loved this book! I finished it in just a couple hours. Ruth was one of my favorite characters and I love that she’s such a badass. It’s nice to see females being the badass main character.
Lee’s whole story is interesting. I’m glad he didn’t do half the stuff that the reverend and Mr. Carter did, but I’m still puzzled as to what’s his story with the family. There’s more to the plot then knowing him since he was 4.
Sebastian was a character I didn’t like a first. Towards the end of the book, I grew to like him. He seemed brash at the beginning. Towards the end you could tell that he’s not just a brash stick to the guns kind of guy.
I’m curious as to where the love story is going! Can’t wait to read the second!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2025
This book right here is a prime example of why I love Kat Ross so much. I have never read a book like this before. I’ve read a couple of westerns. I’ve read some steampunk. This collaboration of the two, with the addition of the phantoms, is phenomenal.
The world building and the depth of the characters are outstanding as always, and I was pulled into this world right from the get-go. I loved Cortez immediately, her straight edge, follow the rules to a T, lack of sense of humor, personality was hilarious, and watching her character develop through this book was so much fun.
The whole idea of the phantoms was something completely new and refreshing for me, and I really can’t wait to see what more this world holds.
Kat Ross can do no wrong. She’s an auto buy author for me, even as I work through all of her stories.
The world building and the depth of the characters are outstanding as always, and I was pulled into this world right from the get-go. I loved Cortez immediately, her straight edge, follow the rules to a T, lack of sense of humor, personality was hilarious, and watching her character develop through this book was so much fun.
The whole idea of the phantoms was something completely new and refreshing for me, and I really can’t wait to see what more this world holds.
Kat Ross can do no wrong. She’s an auto buy author for me, even as I work through all of her stories.
April 26, 2020
I am not sure what I was expecting when I picked this book up but I don’t think I expected to love this so much. Once I got into the book I only put it down to sleep.
I like the character Ruth I just feel bad for her because I believe that she is going to be tested even more down the line. She has a things are either good or bad personality and the world does not work that way so I think the more this series goes on we are going to see her grow as she is thrown more and more grey areas.
I adore Lee Merriweather there is just something about him that I really like and I want a good ending for him. There are so many hints dropped around that I really wonder what is up this the main family. I think we are going to find a very interesting web as we see how the past meets the present. Maybe I am reading into it all to much (very likely) but I can’t help it. I also can not wait to see what Doc’s story is. I am sure we haven’t even touched the tip of that iceberg.
There is something that really bothers me regarding the grandchildren of the matriarch. I haven’t put my finger on it just yet but there is definitely something that does not sit well with me at this time. Mostly regarding the twins.
This was the read that I needed and I can not wait until the next one comes out I have already preordered book 2 because I enjoyed this one so much.
I like the character Ruth I just feel bad for her because I believe that she is going to be tested even more down the line. She has a things are either good or bad personality and the world does not work that way so I think the more this series goes on we are going to see her grow as she is thrown more and more grey areas.
I adore Lee Merriweather there is just something about him that I really like and I want a good ending for him. There are so many hints dropped around that I really wonder what is up this the main family. I think we are going to find a very interesting web as we see how the past meets the present. Maybe I am reading into it all to much (very likely) but I can’t help it. I also can not wait to see what Doc’s story is. I am sure we haven’t even touched the tip of that iceberg.
There is something that really bothers me regarding the grandchildren of the matriarch. I haven’t put my finger on it just yet but there is definitely something that does not sit well with me at this time. Mostly regarding the twins.
This was the read that I needed and I can not wait until the next one comes out I have already preordered book 2 because I enjoyed this one so much.
May 13, 2020
Another goodie from Ross
Kat Ross is consistently a good writer, though I may love some of her stories more than others, all of her work is well done and her pricing is very reasonable. I typically like a dash of romance mixed in with my high action fantasy but this one didn’t really have that but it does seem as if it may be setting up for that in the future. I’m intrigued to say the least. Doc was by far the most interesting character and the mc and him had a very interesting relationship that I look gory to learning more about. The action was well done and the story line moved smoothly. The world is interesting and reminiscent of some recent reads yet still fresh and all it’s own.
Kat Ross is consistently a good writer, though I may love some of her stories more than others, all of her work is well done and her pricing is very reasonable. I typically like a dash of romance mixed in with my high action fantasy but this one didn’t really have that but it does seem as if it may be setting up for that in the future. I’m intrigued to say the least. Doc was by far the most interesting character and the mc and him had a very interesting relationship that I look gory to learning more about. The action was well done and the story line moved smoothly. The world is interesting and reminiscent of some recent reads yet still fresh and all it’s own.
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