Old Time Religion

Wisconsin Gothic #2

by E.H. Lupton

What's one more deadline?

Ulysses Lenkov is on the verge of finishing his PhD when his ex-girlfriend shows up with a problem. It's been six months since the murder of her husband, Hugh, and Livia is plagued by strange noises in the night, poor sleep, and a magic book that may be cursed. The more Ulysses delves into the events that led her back to Madison, the more concerned he becomes.

Ulysses's boyfriend Sam Sterling, jealous and unhappy about Livia's return, suspects that she may not be telling them the whole truth. In the meantime, he's starting to worry that he may not have left Dionysus as far behind as he thought—with odd effects for him and Ulysses. When Ulysses's academic advisor suggests their relationship is a problem, magically speaking, he's suddenly forced to make decisions he never wanted to face: break up with Ulysses to keep him safe, or stay together despite the risks.

As Ulysses's defense bears down on them, the questions start to stack up. What really happened to Hugh? Does his death tie in to secrets from deep in Sam's family's past? And will Ulysses be able to figure it all out before he winds up a victim?

Genres: Fantasy, Historical, Romance, Paranormal, Fiction, LGBT, Urban Fantasy

358 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 15, 2024

About the author

E. H. Lupton (she/they) lives in Wisconsin. She is a writer, playwright, artist, runner, and experimental baker. She is the producer/co-host of the hit podcast, Ask a Medievalist. Visit her website at ehlupton.com.

Reviews

[Kathleen in Oslo · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Even better than book one! Sam's toxic family was more-or-less absent (not a loss to lament); instead, we got more of Ulysses's family, a group of people who collectively have zero fucks to give, in ways both admirable and hackles-raising -- at least for those whose (correct) impulse is to defend Ulysses at all costs.

I appreciate how Livia was just a bad seed. Not a scenery-eating supervillain. Not really attempted to be redeemed. She acted horribly because she had reason to; she was not forgiven, nor did she ask for forgiveness. Just a plain old shitty person. Sometimes a villain is just a villain. (Although I personally would not have been as noble as Sam at the end. Sam. Vengeance could have been yours.)

On that note, I have (evidently futile) aspirations to one day be as chill as Sam and Ulysses. And not just when they're in mortal peril, which they meet with almost alarming levels of equanimity. But also in, like, the day to day. Just got your dream job? Well done, buddy! Turned in your final draft of your dissertation? Bet you're tired! Defended said dissertation? Here, have a hug. It's not that they're arrogant or uncaring, they're just super fucking calm about everything (except communicating with each other, c'mon boys). We stan two understated kings.

Seriously, though: this is a series about hot archivist magic book nerds, there is literally nothing not to like.

[ancientreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously have to finish and review a bunch of ARCs, no time to write a real review, but this one's even better than the first and I'm dying for the next installment. I love these guys to pieces and they should talk more, JFC stop assuming things, you're desperately in love with each other and everybody can see it.

[Smutty Sully · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic combination of new relationship insecurities and growth, and unraveling the new mystery, that comes with an attractive ex and zombies. In 1970.

Full RTC. Highly, highly recommend.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ohhh, Ulysses is one of those *dumb* smart boys. I should have seen that earlier.

I didn't find this quite as complex and surprising as the first book, but it was still very enjoyable.

The star off is for the ending, which left me annoyed.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk more and fret less.
Harried grad student defends,
saves ex, moves out, heals.

[Cait · Rating 4 out of 5]

(even) better than the first one!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first one, with Sam and Ulysses figuring out their relationship in the aftermath of the events of book one, plus career changes, Ulysses’ dissertation, family secrets, a theater production and the unexpected arrival of Ulysses’ ex-girlfriend. Probably my one complaint was that Livia never got any kind of comeuppance for her murdery plans. Motivated by love or not, she was irredeemably awful and I wanted her to face some form of consequences other than getting yelled at for a few minutes. Other than that, much love. I really enjoy the moments when Ulysses communes with buildings, and the 1970 college town atmosphere. Most of all I adored Ulysses and Sam together, which is kind of the important thing in a romance.

[Talya · Rating 5 out of 5]

super fun, super smart, super hot

[Fiona Tewson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book about Sam and Ulysses.

Ulysses is trying to finish his PhD, Sam is hoping they are going to become more to each other as he helps his friends get ready for opening night of their play. Ulysses former girlfriend comes onto the scene (and Sam is jealous) with a problem and she's not happy about Sam's involvement.

Sam and Ulysses are still trying to sort out their relationship, but with all these external problems, is it too little too late?

Really good concept, great magic and a good setting that EH Lupton is obviously knowledgeable about. Good writing and prose - a pleasure to read.

[A I · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generally speaking I am always hesitant about sequels because they are so rarely better than the first in a series. This book is a lovely, surprising exception.

I didn’t think I could love Ulysses and Sam more than I already did. All the dramatic twisty feelings and define-the-relationship moments thrown in with PhD defense and bodysnatching created a mind-bending plot that, again, made me keep guessing until the very last.

And I still have so many questions.

The author has done their work well. Off to read the next book. Be back soon.

[Lauren Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute delight. The writing is very intelligent and academic, without being pretentious. Lupton writes this romantic relationship very realistically and tenderly, and the character development so excellent. The story took a nice juicy turn, but I don’t feel like I had whiplash. So happy to have found this series - it has easily become one of my very favorites!

[Taylor Brannan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this series! I’m speeding through it. And as much as I enjoy the romance between Sam and Ulysses, I’m equally invested in the world building and magic system that the author has created. And as a librarian, I really do love the way the role libraries and archives play throughout the story!

[tillie hellman · Rating 5 out of 5]

great sequel, think i liked it even more than the first. some great (magical) academia in this one, my beloved, and the plot didn’t feel as scary but still had good tension. love a good “we’re together but still figuring out our relationship” moment too!

[Skyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better writing than the first, but didn’t find the story as gripping — i was definitely less invested and lacked the read-in-one-sitting motivation from the first.

But it’s cute and I want to keep reading and support the author

[Maryann Kafka · Rating 5 out of 5]

A year has passed and it’s now 1970. Ulysses Lenkov is about to turn thirty. He lives in a Wisconsin household that is of Russian and Bohemian culture, with his Babushka Ekaterina, and his father Virgil and Aunt Cass. His mother Mariah moved back to Paris as she and Virgil never really got along. He has two siblings Celeste who is married to Obe and owns her own shop. His younger brother Lazurus wanted to fly, he joined the Air Force Academy and then the Air Force. Ulysses does well for himself, he teaches in the Department of Magic Studies at UW. After his and Sam’s harrowing and terrifying experience, he changed his dissertation to demi-gods in hope to get a Doctors degree. Even all that they’ve been through Ulysses can’t believe that Sam is still with him. He also has doubts about himself, still living at home and if he would ever accomplish a position with his dissertation.

Sitting outside behind the Student Union, his thoughts are disturbed by a voice. He can’t believe it’s his ex Livia. All the bad feelings run through him: anger, sorrow, anxiety and then a calmness. She tells him she’s moved back to Madison and has a job at the hospital and is looking for an apartment. Livia had also been staying with his sister Celeste, which he couldn’t be surprised as they were friends way before he and Livia’s relationship. Livia is very domineering and sneaky, she want’s to take Ulysses to dinner. He had already plans with Sam to celebrate his birthday. Ulysses makes a big mistake when he faces Sam, he lies to Sam. The situation doesn’t get better and Sam is very suspicious of Livia.

Livia pleads her case how she fell in love with Hugh Pwyll and they married. They were together two years and then they felt like they were being watched. Watching even lead to the feeling that something had been in their apartment. After Hugh died, Livia found a book having magic skills with a mysterious note.

Sam became a young professor at the age of 25. He worked hard to get where he is now. He’s very much disliked and never got support by his family and very seldom goes home. The only one he seems to get along with his younger half-brother, Troy who travels with his band. His Mother Diana died at the age of twenty-six and it leads back to Julius Sterling the Grandfather of the Sterling’s. Sam has two very good friends in Harry and Ellen. They both teach at UW and have plays that they produce in the evenings. Most of all they are life savers for Sam. Sam has also changed physically after his encounter with Dionysus. Sam always believed he didn’t have any magic like Ulysses, but there’s an odd connection between them.

What will Sam and Ulysses face this time? What of the mysterious book and the dangerous blood magic? What of Ulysses’ night mares of the strange man? What connections will they make from all the research on Julius Sterling? Is Livia being truthful or just using Ulysses? So many mysteries and danger to uncover, can Sam and Ulysses survive, once again?


E.H. Lupton does not miss a beat with “Old Time Religion” the second book of the “Wisconsin Gothic” series. The epic novel is a blend of the 1970’s, a world where magic talents exist, and Greek, Welsh, Latin and English mythology surround Ulysses and Sam. There’s not only sigils, ghosts, demons, and creepy creatures but there are also things like: books and places that have ghostly connections. The research that went into this book and the first one is just amazing.

The author does extremely well in presenting Sam’s family history as they follow his grandfather, Julius Sterling. I was also impressed with the interpretation of the Shakespeare play that Sam, Ellen and Harry present. As with the first book, I love the relationship between Ulysses and Sam, the intimate moments are so beautifully written and it brings out the sincerity of both characters.

I like that there’s many mysteries that go into the story. It still left me wondering about:
Ekaterina, Dr. Pearlman, Dr. Lesko. They seem to like Sam, but there’s just a bit that makes me suspicious. Ekaterina has labeled him Mr. Trouble, but Sam has always given Ulysses love and support. They also seem to know everything, but don’t always share what they know. Livia was very well written, she is just plain evil!

I found the Acknowledgements from both novels very interesting and worth reading.

I highly suggest reading “Old Time Religion” starting with “Dionysus of Wisconsin”. The “Wisconsin Gothic” series is outstanding. I think it was brilliant for E.H. Lupton to bring academia, mythology and modern times of the 70’s together. I like that she added in more of the dangers of blood magic to this paranormal/historical/fiction series. I hope that E.H. Lupton has another novel in the works for the “Wisconsin Gothic” series.

[Ulysses Dietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old Time Religion (Wisconsin Gothic, 2)
By E.H. Lupton
Winnowing Fan Press, 2024
Five stars

Ulysses and Sam are settling into a routine; but you know, they’re not really settled in at all. In spite of all they’ve been through together, and although they each know the other loves him; it hasn’t all quite gelled.

Ulysses has saved Dionysus’s life—by killing him. That seems like a big commitment, right? But Ulysses lives at home, while Sam has his little bachelor apartment in an old house in Madison. Ulysses can’t quite get out from under his family’s thumb. It’s a loving (if weird) thumb, but he still feels like the least favored child (I’m not sure why, but insecurity is often irrational).

Sam hasn’t quite made peace with his family, where he is a sort-of-pariah, through no fault of his own. The nefarious work of his grandfather Julius Sterling continues to haunt both him and Ulysses, and forms a kind of dark undertone to the narrative. Oh, and Sam’s been offered a research librarian job at the university’s main library—a big step up, both in status and in his sense of independence from the pressures of his family.

Interestingly, Ulysses’s PhD dissertation is about his experience with Sam/Dionysus, and it seems to have made him a celebrity in the small world of Magic Studies graduate research. There might even be a job in the offing, which would mean that Ulysses would have to at least partially abandon his James Dean pose and join the world of adult academics. We know he’s a good teacher, and we also know he’s a skilled magic user—probably better than he understands.

And then Livia shows up—Ulysses’s ex, and a longtime friend of his sister Celeste. Names are important to the author, and I felt from the start that Livia’s reappearance would have consequences that Ulysses would regret.

What I didn’t anticipate is how convoluted and fascinating this would get. As Ulysses is drawn deeper into Livia’s predicament, Sam’s presence is both his anchor and a distraction from his own sense of confusion at where his life is going. Sam has achieved a kind of serenity, and his only major worry is Ulysses, the man he loves, who seems to keep tripping over the actions of Sam’s grandfather when they were only children.

Once again, the setting of the university in Madison is a vivid and significant player in the emotional seduction of this book. Lupton’s characters (especially Sam and Ulysses) are deeply felt and lovingly drawn; but even the minor characters are important as the twisted plot unravels.

The finale sort of blew me away, underscoring how profoundly good a man (and a magician) Ulysses is. It also made it seem like there might be another book in the future. What fun.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

...there was something delightful about being able to feel Ulysses’s emotions, even if it was also sort of terrifying. Ulysses had big, messy, complex feelings that reminded Sam of dahlias, so bright and intricate. [p. 153]

As soon as I'd finished Dionysus in Wisconsin I went on to this sequel, set a few months later. Ulysses has almost finished his dissertation (which is about Sam and 'the problem of demigods') and winter is over. All seems promising until Livia, Ulysses' ex, turns up with a tale of woe about a murdered husband. She flirts outrageously, and meets up with Ulysses and Sam 'wearing a dress that looked like someone had crocheted it, and stopped early because they’d run out of yarn'. 

Cue jealousy from Sam -- though, to be fair, he and Ulysses do discuss this and agree that Sam has no reason to feel threatened -- and self-doubt from Ulysses. To complicate matters, there's a cursed book; further discoveries about Sam's grandfather and his nefarious plots; and compost zombies. And the concern, raised by Dr Lesko -- Ulysses' formidable thesis adviser -- that the magical bond between Sam and Ulysses may have negative effects.

A great deal changes in the course of the novel: Sam is still experiencing the side-effects of being possessed by a god, while Ulysses is forced to reassess his life, his ambition and even his family. (The Lenkovs are delightful, and we get more of their history, including Cambridge and Paris: Sam's family are conspicuous by their absence, which is nice.) There is philosophy, blood magic (not a good thing) and a play about Macbeth and the witches. And the majority of the characters are likeable, imperfect, and interesting. The perfect read for a dull winter's day.

[Rhode PVD · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a bitch of a reviewer, so my enjoyment of this series is out of the ordinary. Partly it’s the setting. A university town on the cusp of the 1970s reminds me of my favorite parts of the world as a young child near Cambridge Mass. That feeling of coming home is magnified by the intellect and education of the characters. When our hero briefly thinks of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town as he walks through a graveyard at night, and humorously references Plato when arguing for his life, I knew here are people I’d fit with. I also like that our heroes consider ethical challenges on a level more nuanced than the good/evil binary in most books.

That said, this is not dry or heavy, it’s a fun, well-paced urban fantasy, with a satisfying continuation of the romantic element from the first book in this series.

Also, a shout out to the sheer quality of the writing. It’s deeply charming and loving without being at all cloying. And despite this being a fantasy, the author ties each moment to our world with so many realistic details…the shy child mumbling hello to strangers, the ducks in the water, what it’s like to defend your dissertation, the hero’s t-shirts, the windows of the cafe, etc. Lastly, this book has a feminist and queer-friendly world view.

As always, the cover DOES NOT REFLECT the setting or style of this book in the least. Please don’t judge this series by the covers. If you like KJ Charles Jackdaw series or Cat Sebastian’s 20th century books, you are likely to enjoy this series.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Second book in an urban fantasy series set in 1970 Wisconsin, about two young male academics. I thought this would be a new story, and it kinda is, but also it's a continuation of Bk 1's storyline as well. (Dionysus in Wisconsin). So I think it's not really a standalone, and reading Bk 1 first is recommended.

I like the world Lupton has created, with its everyday magic practitioners who live alongside non-magic people as well. Sam and Ulysses, the likeable MCs, live in the worlds of academia and of magic. Ulysses in fact is just completing his Ph.D. in Magic Studies.

I enjoyed this revisit to that world, although the story was a little creepy and scary for me at times. Fortunately before things became too violent or full-on 'horror', the story moved on to a satisfactory conclusion. Although it wasn't a super-gripping incredible book, overall I liked the read, and plan to go on and read the two further sequels. I like the freshness and originality of this world, compared with other more typical urban fantasies that I've read.

[thefourthvine · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this one, Ulysses's ex-girlfriend arrives and brings extensive complications with her. I still love this world and this setting, and I still enjoy how Lupton writes. For the rest of the review, I am afraid it's spoiler cut time. Major spoilers follow!

Okay so first: if you want to convince me that a relationship is healthy and the people in it are doing great, don't have one of them lie to the other one about talking to his ex. Now, I'm fairly sure Lupton was not, in fact, trying to convince me of that, because it sets up this entire book of Ulysses being Dumb About His Ex. Like. My dude. I get that you are self-sacrificing and determined to think the best of people, but you are literally dreaming about being sacrificed and your ex-girlfriend is CLEARLY setting you up for that. I spent basically the last half of the book mentally shrieking at him to just USE HIS BRAIN for one single second. Which is why this lost a star.

But man, everything else about this series I fully love.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! A fantastic (maybe even better?) sequel to Dionysus in Wisconsin. I adore Ulysses and Sam's relationship. It feels warm and familiar and I so appreciate how kind they are to each other (without being sickly sweet or overly fawning) and the absence of any miscommunication tropes. Just two people with fantastic chemistry, very realistically navigating a new - if somewhat unconventional - relationship.

The world building that began in book 1 and continues in book 2, is great as well. The fantasy elements are very realistically woven, as opposed to forcefully crammed, into a familiar time and space. No one's power is so unbelievably strong that it feels unbalanced, I really enjoy the academic spin, and the idea that buildings having feelings and memories is *chefs kiss*

To sum up my feelings about the series so far - it's cozy and comfortable in all the right ways while still being sexy, exciting, and unpredictable. Keep them coming! Fingers crossed this is a long series!

[Sarah Hoodlet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great continuation of the series!

I think what I enjoyed most was the character development. Watching Ulysses and Sam's relationship grow was both sweet and a little heartbreaking at times. They struggle, they love, they misunderstand, and they overcome. It was well thought out, and honestly everything about them was realistic (well, save the magic, but even that...).

As with the first novel, the narrative was crisp and the dialogue was witty. The plot was mysterious, spooky, and intriguing, and the magic felt more advanced. The pressure Ulysses is under as he works toward finishing his PhD adds tension to this seemingly higher-stakes plot, making it a page-turner that I couldn't put down.

In summary, I really enjoyed this novel, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next!

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually I'm not a big fan of some of the things this book does - things like introducing new challenges into a relationship that was resolved in book one, bringing back an ex for romantic tension purposes, REFUSING TO TALK ABOUT OR ACKNOWLEDGE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT ARE TIME SENSITIVE, not to mention retreading other, non-romantic, plot threads from book one and being like, "I know we resolved this, but I've decided to now introduce further complications." For the last one I'll admit maybe I didn't pick up on hints within book one that would have made that an easier pill to swallow.

This book did do all these things. THAT BEING SAID. I LOVED THIS BOOK. ULYSSES IS A FUCKING MESS. HONESTLY. He gets it mostly together, finally, after [waves hands at book] ALL OF THAT. I can't wait for him to find new, more exciting things to be a fucking mess about in the next book. My god. These are so much fun.

[Alexandra Almond]

I’m used to romance series moving onto the next couple each book, so it was a delight to dive deeper into Ulysses and Sam’s relationship instead. There are ups and downs and insecurities, with the appearance of an ex-lover and them trying to figure out how to cope with Sam’s hangover godliness. I do wish they were better at talking to each other, but it is true to the characters that they're not, and at least they're aware that not talking is probably a bad thing.

My main quibble is that Livia and Hugh got off lightly I mean, they planned and very nearly executed Ulysses’ murder. They didn't face any consequences, and nobody even seemed really mad at them. As if it was okay because bad stuff had happened to them and they were just responding.

[Beneli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old Time Religion is an excellent sequel to Dionysus in Wisconsin! Lupton has once again succeeded in crafting a magical world set in real-life Madison, Wisconsin in 1970. The magical elements are believable and play a solid role in the novel, while the Madison setting and time are well-researched. The characters are strongly developed, and the relationships between Sam, Ulysses, and Livia feel absolutely realistic. Additionally, Lupton’s signature dry but laugh-out-loud humor keeps the book from becoming too dark. The plot is driving and kept me up way too late wanting to know what happened next. Great writing!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series - the magical experiments of Sam's grandfather are explored further in this book and Ulysses and Sam's relationship deepens as they deal with Ulysses ex-gf and attacking plant zombies. The writing and setting are so well done that the book just zips along. I didn't love the end - Livia was an awful person who was scheming to sacrifice her ex-boyfriend (who didn't do anything wrong to her - she broke up with him because she wanted more from him) and then basically got what she wanted with no consequences.

[E.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's got that "what is my ex-girlfriend doing back here" vibe, and "how do I keep my boyfriend from killing her," and also plant zombies and a musical version of Macbeth. And did you realize that between March and April 1970, the Beatles broke up and also Apollo 13 happened? History! It's crazy.

Anyway, I wrote it and it's awesome. Please go read it.

[Rowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam and Ulysses are basically part of my family now. I love them with my whole entire heart and this book puts them THROUGH IT.

It's got a love-to-hate-her character, it's got a sweet and considered continuing relationship, it's got more realistically complex familial relationships, it's got ghosts. It's got so much heart, and more soul than you can shake a stick at.

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25 stars. This is the second book in this series, and another most enjoyable combination of academia, magic, and the supernatural in a 1970s setting. I found it even better than the first, as Sam's toxic family wasn't in the forefront. Not that Livia was a nice character... There were some unexpected plot twists, and I love how I can't predict what will happen next.

[lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked this one better than book one! i do think setting a book in the united states in 1970 and then also having characters be gay married is a bit of a choice. because on the one hand, i love not having homophobia. but on the other hand, why are you setting a book fifty years ago if you wanted your side character lesbians to be married? idk, but i will keep reading.