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Sparks of Bright Matter
When ambitious apprentice chemist and secret alchemist Peter Woulfe is tasked with caring for a mysterious illustrated book, the Mutus Liber, he quickly realises that the grimy underworld of Georgian London is even more dangerous than he first believed. Soon the book is stolen by the light-fingered Sukie and Peter finds himself being pursued by threatening men who are willing to do anything to get the book back. Where in teeming London might Sukie be found? Why is Peter so enthralled by her? And what is it about the Mutus Liber that is so enticing? As the search for the book becomes an urgent game of cat and mouse, it seems that the key to Peter's present dilemma might only be found in half-remembered events from his childhood, and then further back still, in the mists of Irish myth.A spell-binding and unputdownable tale about spirit and matter, love and lust, and reality and magic.
400 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2024
45 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 23, 2024
I was lucky to win a copy of this book in a giveaway. It's written with verve + imagination, vividly evoking 18th century settings in London + Ireland. It reminded me a bit of Jeanette Winterson's 'Sexing the Cherry'.
Favourite line: "He feels a sob rise; he is so weary, too weary to be dead on top of everything else."
Favourite line: "He feels a sob rise; he is so weary, too weary to be dead on top of everything else."
April 20, 2024
This is a difficult book to review in some ways, not in a bad way, but in a way that you aren’t just telling the story. There are so many characters and the story tends to jump from one to another and I don’t want to give anything away. As It is a book that should be savoured and enjoyed. Full of magic and mystery. I was completely engtossed, it is a book I felt you need your full concentration although I did finish it at 5.30 this morning reading it through the night, as I wanted to know how it ended.
The story begins in 1780, London, a young apprentice who works for Peter Woulfe, Mal Burkis has just been out of Woulfe’s rooms to get some food, but on his return he realises that he has failed at one of his biggest jobs which means that months of Woulfe’s experiment is completely ruined, when Woulfe realises he goes into a blind rage, he throws a lump of quartz which he had in his hand at Mal, striking him on the side of his head, Mal drops to the floor, as Woulfe checks Mal he sees the blood, and the side of Mal’s temporal lobe caved in. Is Mal dead? Woulfe sends for a man he knows, although he cannot recollect where he knows him from, but when he arrives he confirms the boys death and arranges to dispose of the body. But are things quite as they seem. How much will Perle want from Woulfe for this job?
The timeline jumps back to London 1744, Peter is just 17, he is working for Josiah Sweetnam who is an apothecary and alchemist, Peter is there for the Summer. Sweetnam believes himself to be on the verge of a great discovery, But what? Peter is tasked with delivering a precious tome, wrapped several times in waxed linen. He is to deliver the book back to its owner, but as he reaches the area that the man lives in Fleet Street he is shocked to see a naked man in the street, the naked man is the Baron who he is to give the book to, another man is running around him desperately trying to get him to put his cloak on and cover himself up. The Baron is saying an Angel has spoken to him with a message for the Jews. The street is now filling up with spectators watching the baron and laughing. Peter feels he cannot deliver the book whilst the Baron is in such a state so he holds on to it.But as he walks along he feels different, the book feels heavier but he feels so much lighter, he feels like his feet are off the ground, his eyes feel different as well, as he looks around things appear different but why? As he strolls along the river a hand grabs him lifting him off his feet as he looks around to see who his attacker is he finds a small lady. Sukie Bulmer a lady of the night, He initially refuses her services, but it’s not long before he finds himself led down a smaller dark alley. He places the book on the floor by his feet completely entranced by this woman.When they have finished she charges him thruppence. Peter has forgotten the book it is now in the hands of Sukie Bulmer.
What is it about the book that when it is opened it affects the people looking at it so much. What power does the book have? Sukie is entranced by the pictures of angels with trumpets pointing to an inert man. As she turns to the next plate she finds the images even more beautiful than the first with lots of colours involved.
Peter wakes the following morning with nothing but Sukie on his mind. As he goes downstairs his boss Sweetnam is suspicious of Peters demeanour, because he is smiling. The day won’t be a good one. Sweetnam is jealous of Peter as it is as he is from money he has backing from his father and uncles, everything has been paid for. Whereas Sweetnam has had to work hard for everything. This morning Peter sees everything differently. Then when he is asked about the book, Peter realises he had completely forgotten about it, had left it on the floor in the alley, he cannot remember if he had picked it up and brought it back to his rooms, he cannot even remember his journey home. When Sweetnam asks again Peter says he gave it to the Dutchman who had been desperately trying to cover up the Baron.
Peter is going to try and find Sukie that night he needs more of her and he can enquire as to whether she has the book. He goes out looking for her, initially accosted by lots of other ladies first until Sukie and he literally bump into each other, he decides that pleasure should become before he asks about the book in case she runs. But he fails to ask.
Sukie decides to try and sell the book, but she doesn’t trust the bookseller she goes to and leaves with the book.
The timeline goes back to 1739 Mountain Gabriel, Cork, Ireland The great Frost.
Peter was born and raised in Ireland, he was the mother’s favourite son, he had been sickly as a baby and nearly died. It was with the help of Bridey O’Leary that he survived. At 13 Peter would go to her cold home to visit her sneaking out bits of food. He liked to listen to her stories he always had.
London– Peter dreams of Sukie he wants her, propositions her to stay in his rooms for 7 nights, offering her 3 guineas he feels he is in love with her. She accepts his offer, hiding the book that she brings with her. He bumps into Baron Swedenborg the owner of the book, he believes he knows Peter but Peter says no.
A man in a brown coat enters the apothecary, going straight to Sweetnam asking where the book is, before Sweetnam can speak he finds his head butted, breaking his nose, Sweetnam gets quite a beating and lies on the floor unconscious the man asks Peter if he thinks he is dead. Peter doesn’t believe so. The man leaves saying he will be back in fifteen minutes. Peter knows he must grab Sukie and leave immediately. He tells Sukie he is in danger as the man wants the book. As they try to leave Sweetnam asks Peter where the book is. Sukie runs with the book. She goes to see Shapsel Nicodemus Stein to ask if he can sell the book or at least find the baron and ask for a reward.
Men turn up and chop off sweetnams ears, what is so special about the book? They find book tear off the covers take a piece of paper from inside and discard the rest of the book in the street.
Paris Peter Woulfe, stays with his uncle Stephen and aunt Marie, he looks gaunt and ill. Due to finish training as a physician in Paris. Stephen is a banker.
Peter has the book and tries to understand it, on the 8th plate, he understands he can reunite 3 forces Mercury, Sulphur and salt a way of making order out of chaos. He needs to deepen his understanding of Earth Water Air and Fire, he needs to work through steps in the book. Words written in Latin translated to pray, read, read, read, read again, work hard and you will find.
Ireland. Peter sends packages which his mother who has no idea what they are but buys glass cabinets to put everything he sends in. He has a paper printed in the journal of the Royal Society of London he sends his mother a copy of. He has another article printed which he sends a copy to her.
The book Mutus Liber he keeps it away from hands of Robert Perle. Peter has studied the book over 30 years. No text just images.
Is Mal a healer or claiming to be one?
Peter sees Mal, he doesn’t recognise the person with him. Gives them all the money he has on him a fair amount. He has visited 17 countries remembers all rocks rivers and soil.
I was completely engrossed in this book from start to finish, with so many things happening I needed to know what it was that the book held. I would highly recommend this historical, gothic, mystery book. Beautifully written with a number of characters you will love and several you won’t.
The story begins in 1780, London, a young apprentice who works for Peter Woulfe, Mal Burkis has just been out of Woulfe’s rooms to get some food, but on his return he realises that he has failed at one of his biggest jobs which means that months of Woulfe’s experiment is completely ruined, when Woulfe realises he goes into a blind rage, he throws a lump of quartz which he had in his hand at Mal, striking him on the side of his head, Mal drops to the floor, as Woulfe checks Mal he sees the blood, and the side of Mal’s temporal lobe caved in. Is Mal dead? Woulfe sends for a man he knows, although he cannot recollect where he knows him from, but when he arrives he confirms the boys death and arranges to dispose of the body. But are things quite as they seem. How much will Perle want from Woulfe for this job?
The timeline jumps back to London 1744, Peter is just 17, he is working for Josiah Sweetnam who is an apothecary and alchemist, Peter is there for the Summer. Sweetnam believes himself to be on the verge of a great discovery, But what? Peter is tasked with delivering a precious tome, wrapped several times in waxed linen. He is to deliver the book back to its owner, but as he reaches the area that the man lives in Fleet Street he is shocked to see a naked man in the street, the naked man is the Baron who he is to give the book to, another man is running around him desperately trying to get him to put his cloak on and cover himself up. The Baron is saying an Angel has spoken to him with a message for the Jews. The street is now filling up with spectators watching the baron and laughing. Peter feels he cannot deliver the book whilst the Baron is in such a state so he holds on to it.But as he walks along he feels different, the book feels heavier but he feels so much lighter, he feels like his feet are off the ground, his eyes feel different as well, as he looks around things appear different but why? As he strolls along the river a hand grabs him lifting him off his feet as he looks around to see who his attacker is he finds a small lady. Sukie Bulmer a lady of the night, He initially refuses her services, but it’s not long before he finds himself led down a smaller dark alley. He places the book on the floor by his feet completely entranced by this woman.When they have finished she charges him thruppence. Peter has forgotten the book it is now in the hands of Sukie Bulmer.
What is it about the book that when it is opened it affects the people looking at it so much. What power does the book have? Sukie is entranced by the pictures of angels with trumpets pointing to an inert man. As she turns to the next plate she finds the images even more beautiful than the first with lots of colours involved.
Peter wakes the following morning with nothing but Sukie on his mind. As he goes downstairs his boss Sweetnam is suspicious of Peters demeanour, because he is smiling. The day won’t be a good one. Sweetnam is jealous of Peter as it is as he is from money he has backing from his father and uncles, everything has been paid for. Whereas Sweetnam has had to work hard for everything. This morning Peter sees everything differently. Then when he is asked about the book, Peter realises he had completely forgotten about it, had left it on the floor in the alley, he cannot remember if he had picked it up and brought it back to his rooms, he cannot even remember his journey home. When Sweetnam asks again Peter says he gave it to the Dutchman who had been desperately trying to cover up the Baron.
Peter is going to try and find Sukie that night he needs more of her and he can enquire as to whether she has the book. He goes out looking for her, initially accosted by lots of other ladies first until Sukie and he literally bump into each other, he decides that pleasure should become before he asks about the book in case she runs. But he fails to ask.
Sukie decides to try and sell the book, but she doesn’t trust the bookseller she goes to and leaves with the book.
The timeline goes back to 1739 Mountain Gabriel, Cork, Ireland The great Frost.
Peter was born and raised in Ireland, he was the mother’s favourite son, he had been sickly as a baby and nearly died. It was with the help of Bridey O’Leary that he survived. At 13 Peter would go to her cold home to visit her sneaking out bits of food. He liked to listen to her stories he always had.
London– Peter dreams of Sukie he wants her, propositions her to stay in his rooms for 7 nights, offering her 3 guineas he feels he is in love with her. She accepts his offer, hiding the book that she brings with her. He bumps into Baron Swedenborg the owner of the book, he believes he knows Peter but Peter says no.
A man in a brown coat enters the apothecary, going straight to Sweetnam asking where the book is, before Sweetnam can speak he finds his head butted, breaking his nose, Sweetnam gets quite a beating and lies on the floor unconscious the man asks Peter if he thinks he is dead. Peter doesn’t believe so. The man leaves saying he will be back in fifteen minutes. Peter knows he must grab Sukie and leave immediately. He tells Sukie he is in danger as the man wants the book. As they try to leave Sweetnam asks Peter where the book is. Sukie runs with the book. She goes to see Shapsel Nicodemus Stein to ask if he can sell the book or at least find the baron and ask for a reward.
Men turn up and chop off sweetnams ears, what is so special about the book? They find book tear off the covers take a piece of paper from inside and discard the rest of the book in the street.
Paris Peter Woulfe, stays with his uncle Stephen and aunt Marie, he looks gaunt and ill. Due to finish training as a physician in Paris. Stephen is a banker.
Peter has the book and tries to understand it, on the 8th plate, he understands he can reunite 3 forces Mercury, Sulphur and salt a way of making order out of chaos. He needs to deepen his understanding of Earth Water Air and Fire, he needs to work through steps in the book. Words written in Latin translated to pray, read, read, read, read again, work hard and you will find.
Ireland. Peter sends packages which his mother who has no idea what they are but buys glass cabinets to put everything he sends in. He has a paper printed in the journal of the Royal Society of London he sends his mother a copy of. He has another article printed which he sends a copy to her.
The book Mutus Liber he keeps it away from hands of Robert Perle. Peter has studied the book over 30 years. No text just images.
Is Mal a healer or claiming to be one?
Peter sees Mal, he doesn’t recognise the person with him. Gives them all the money he has on him a fair amount. He has visited 17 countries remembers all rocks rivers and soil.
I was completely engrossed in this book from start to finish, with so many things happening I needed to know what it was that the book held. I would highly recommend this historical, gothic, mystery book. Beautifully written with a number of characters you will love and several you won’t.
April 27, 2024
Sparks of Bright Matter is a novel combining descriptions of 18th century London with rural Ireland, the search for a missing object of importance and some unusual characters.
Sparks of Bright Matter is a book that quickly gets down to business. At the start of the novel, Peter Woulfe is a young apprentice chemist working in Georgian London, earning a basic wage and getting by. However, in his spare time he is obsessed with alchemy which he works on in his room.
Peter is given the task of delivering a book – the Mutus Liber – to a customer. He sets off with good intentions but upon meeting Sukie, a prostitute and a thief, he loses the book. The consequences of this are dramatic, for the book has secrets that others are willing to kill for. Whilst the book’s main plot is about the hunt for the book, until about halfway through the novel, the plot mainly focuses on things around this plot device.
We also spend time discovering details about Sukie, perhaps the most likeable character in the book. She finds the book and keeps it hoping to sell it for profit but realising that it may be worth more than she is willing to give.
On the first page we find that Peter is not a particularly nice young man. Obsessed with his studies and not someone who gets on well with others, his first action in the book is to throw something at Mal, his assistant, for disturbing his train of thought and seemingly killing him.
This unfortunate accident leaves Peter abandoning Mal’s body on the city streets – dead bodies on the streets are not too uncommon in London at this time, it seems. The author fills the book with grim descriptions of squalor and unpleasantness, with prostitution and gin palaces all over the poorer parts of London.
As the book progresses, we are told much of how Peter got to where he is now through backstory – his upbringing in rural Ireland, in a village where the mysterious witch Bridie lives, his apprenticeship in France and Europe and then in London, where he sees events related to the Jacobite rebellion. This Irish element of the story by comparison with urban London is also not easy, but seems somewhat gentler.
Much of the work is readable and makes the pages turn. However, there were elements I had issues with. Firstly, although the main characters are detailed, I couldn’t help but dislike some elements of them, The biggest issue here was Peter, who I felt I was meant to get to like by the end of the novel, but whom actually I really disliked. Sukie is more likable, yet even so would not be a person I wanted to meet, never mind want to find out more about. Other (admittedly minor) characters are used and then discarded without preamble, or at best a signing off sentence, their work in servicing the plot done.
Talking of plot, I finished the book feeling that it was imbalanced. There are elements of Peter and Sukie’s journeys that seem unnecessary – whether it be Peter’s sojourns to Europe as part of his apprenticeship or Sukie’s random relationship with a married woman. Whilst they give pleasant enough general background, they felt rather like filler.
In addition, there’s an abrupt about-turn in the latter part of the novel’s plot where what began as a search for knowledge becomes a rumination on personal history, This leads to an ending which can perhaps be best described as enigmatic – a damp squib of a conclusion that understandable but was clearly meant to mean more than it did to me.
This all sounds rather negative, but there is a lot to like here. This is because Sparks of Bright Matter is an ambitious book, if not totally successful. Whilst some of its details are engaging and exciting, the unevenness of the plot and the unlikability of some of its main characters tempered this one a little for me. Nevertheless, a novel from a debut author with potential, even if the book for me was not entirely triumphant.
Sparks of Bright Matter is a book that quickly gets down to business. At the start of the novel, Peter Woulfe is a young apprentice chemist working in Georgian London, earning a basic wage and getting by. However, in his spare time he is obsessed with alchemy which he works on in his room.
Peter is given the task of delivering a book – the Mutus Liber – to a customer. He sets off with good intentions but upon meeting Sukie, a prostitute and a thief, he loses the book. The consequences of this are dramatic, for the book has secrets that others are willing to kill for. Whilst the book’s main plot is about the hunt for the book, until about halfway through the novel, the plot mainly focuses on things around this plot device.
We also spend time discovering details about Sukie, perhaps the most likeable character in the book. She finds the book and keeps it hoping to sell it for profit but realising that it may be worth more than she is willing to give.
On the first page we find that Peter is not a particularly nice young man. Obsessed with his studies and not someone who gets on well with others, his first action in the book is to throw something at Mal, his assistant, for disturbing his train of thought and seemingly killing him.
This unfortunate accident leaves Peter abandoning Mal’s body on the city streets – dead bodies on the streets are not too uncommon in London at this time, it seems. The author fills the book with grim descriptions of squalor and unpleasantness, with prostitution and gin palaces all over the poorer parts of London.
As the book progresses, we are told much of how Peter got to where he is now through backstory – his upbringing in rural Ireland, in a village where the mysterious witch Bridie lives, his apprenticeship in France and Europe and then in London, where he sees events related to the Jacobite rebellion. This Irish element of the story by comparison with urban London is also not easy, but seems somewhat gentler.
Much of the work is readable and makes the pages turn. However, there were elements I had issues with. Firstly, although the main characters are detailed, I couldn’t help but dislike some elements of them, The biggest issue here was Peter, who I felt I was meant to get to like by the end of the novel, but whom actually I really disliked. Sukie is more likable, yet even so would not be a person I wanted to meet, never mind want to find out more about. Other (admittedly minor) characters are used and then discarded without preamble, or at best a signing off sentence, their work in servicing the plot done.
Talking of plot, I finished the book feeling that it was imbalanced. There are elements of Peter and Sukie’s journeys that seem unnecessary – whether it be Peter’s sojourns to Europe as part of his apprenticeship or Sukie’s random relationship with a married woman. Whilst they give pleasant enough general background, they felt rather like filler.
In addition, there’s an abrupt about-turn in the latter part of the novel’s plot where what began as a search for knowledge becomes a rumination on personal history, This leads to an ending which can perhaps be best described as enigmatic – a damp squib of a conclusion that understandable but was clearly meant to mean more than it did to me.
This all sounds rather negative, but there is a lot to like here. This is because Sparks of Bright Matter is an ambitious book, if not totally successful. Whilst some of its details are engaging and exciting, the unevenness of the plot and the unlikability of some of its main characters tempered this one a little for me. Nevertheless, a novel from a debut author with potential, even if the book for me was not entirely triumphant.
September 18, 2024
Sparks Of Bright Matter, as others have said, is a very eclectic mix of 'really compelling' and... not so great.
Young alchemist Peter Woulfe loses a book that he makes his whole personality, and makes it everyone else's problem trying to get it back. (Inconveniencing vastly more interesting characters in the process).
It has the merit of having some interesting character developments. Unfortunately they then either get time skipped, or abandoned, but we'll get to that. I found myself really enjoying Sukie's side of the story, and she really shines around the 50-70% mark. With perhaps only Katia to rival her she's possibly the best written character, I just wish we got more resolution to her story.
Which leads to my biggest gripe against the bool. Because of the way that it was written we flit between various timelines and storylines in strange fashion a lot of the interesting sub-plots are either left unresolved or straight up time-skipped to avoid properly discussing. A murder, an affair, the book hunt itself, are all not satisfyingly wrapped up. I finished this book over a week ago and I still want to know what happened with Nico, Katia and Sukie's whole deal.
The writing, however, was beautifully atmospheric. Despite a lot of run-on sentences there was definitely a lyricism that I enjoyed. This really complimented the overall intricacy to some of the character arcs; but again, none could properly conclude because they felt a little underwritten.
If you're a fan of queer, genre blending, historical fiction, then this may be the one for you, but ultimately I was left with too many unanswered questions and too little depth to our main character.
Young alchemist Peter Woulfe loses a book that he makes his whole personality, and makes it everyone else's problem trying to get it back. (Inconveniencing vastly more interesting characters in the process).
It has the merit of having some interesting character developments. Unfortunately they then either get time skipped, or abandoned, but we'll get to that. I found myself really enjoying Sukie's side of the story, and she really shines around the 50-70% mark. With perhaps only Katia to rival her she's possibly the best written character, I just wish we got more resolution to her story.
Which leads to my biggest gripe against the bool. Because of the way that it was written we flit between various timelines and storylines in strange fashion a lot of the interesting sub-plots are either left unresolved or straight up time-skipped to avoid properly discussing. A murder, an affair, the book hunt itself, are all not satisfyingly wrapped up. I finished this book over a week ago and I still want to know what happened with Nico, Katia and Sukie's whole deal.
The writing, however, was beautifully atmospheric. Despite a lot of run-on sentences there was definitely a lyricism that I enjoyed. This really complimented the overall intricacy to some of the character arcs; but again, none could properly conclude because they felt a little underwritten.
If you're a fan of queer, genre blending, historical fiction, then this may be the one for you, but ultimately I was left with too many unanswered questions and too little depth to our main character.
December 12, 2024
2.5. This was a bookclub choice (not mine) and it wasn't a hard read, but it was incoherent. I can't help wondering what the point of the book was. The plot was all over the place; there was no resolution to any of the many storylines; characters were linked together for no apparent reason. I didn't really engage with any of the characters, and Sukie's affair with Katia felt fairly crowbarred in. I'm giving it 2.5 stars because there were interesting aspects to the book, but I can't say I'd recommend this to anyone.
November 7, 2025
Devia ter desistido, mas houve um capítulo do qual gostei, talvez por não ter nada a ver com o personagem principal que me fez acreditar que iria melhorar. Não melhorou.
April 19, 2024
It doesn't take much and my poor brain was befuddled by the first few chapters until I became acquainted with the characters. I'm glad I persevered though as it turned out to be both an entertaining and enjoyable read.
It's very much a character driven read, with the two main characters Woulfe and Suki taking us on an epic journey with the Mutus Liber.
The story is haunting and atmospheric, melding fiction with fantasy, myth and elements of reality.
A brilliant debut from an author I'll definitely want to read more from.
FYI - Peter Woulfe was a real-life historical figure, chemist, inventor of the Woulfe bottle and Fellow of the Royal Society.
It's very much a character driven read, with the two main characters Woulfe and Suki taking us on an epic journey with the Mutus Liber.
The story is haunting and atmospheric, melding fiction with fantasy, myth and elements of reality.
A brilliant debut from an author I'll definitely want to read more from.
FYI - Peter Woulfe was a real-life historical figure, chemist, inventor of the Woulfe bottle and Fellow of the Royal Society.
January 14, 2024
Very much a mixed bag for me, some bits I very much enjoyed, others not so much.
I think these parts were character driven, as anything with Sukie in seemed to be my preference.
The settings were very much brought to life for me.
An enjoyable read, once I picked it up.
I think these parts were character driven, as anything with Sukie in seemed to be my preference.
The settings were very much brought to life for me.
An enjoyable read, once I picked it up.
April 18, 2024
I really wanted to like this book, but I didn’t. It was incoherent, largely incomprehensible, and uninteresting … which is quite an achievement given that the plot included alchemy, murder, secret plots, magic, fairies, sex, violence and angels.
June 28, 2025
Sometimes a book just hits the spot, the reader can tell from the first paragraph - even the first sentence - whether the author is one to follow trustingly, whether her book will appeal. Word choices, sentence construction, details of description and subject matter all come into this but the sense of an author in control of her story, doling out information sparingly but tellingly, leading the reader on and in, is more important. Sparks of Bright Matter had me from that first paragraph.
O’Donnell has taken as a starting point here the last true alchemist, Peter Woulfe, and let her novelistic imagination run. Her story of his life, told in a compelling present tense, begins in the London of 1780 before ranging back at various points to Woulfe’s younger days as an apprentice to Mr Sweetnam in 1744, his late childhood in 1739 in Mount Gabriel, Cork, Ireland, and his infancy in 1726. O’Donnell’s Woulfe is an avid believer in the goal of alchemy and its divine trappings but his search for the Elixir is doomed to failure by “want of piety and charitable acts.”
O’Donnell has Woulfe born in Ireland 1726 as a sickly child, helped to survive by the local folk healer, Bridey Leary, a woman with secrets of her own and with whom as an older child Woulfe has a wary friendship.
In 1780, frustrated by his assistant, Mal Burkiss, not keeping his furnaces warm enough he throws the lump of quartz he was holding at the lad and seems to kill him, necessitating the bringing in of Robert Perle to dispose of the body, giving the latter a hold over him. Unbeknownst to Woulfe, and possibly Perle, the boy, however, is not dead and is found naked in the street and revived by Sukie Bulmer, a woman who now collects dog shit from London’s thoroughfares to sell to the tanneries. The pair form an unusual partnership as Burkiss has healing powers and Sukie acts as his procurer, a double act suspect to the authorities.
Back in 1744 Woulfe was tasked by Sweetnam with delivering a mysterious book, the Mutus Liber, to a Baron Swedenborg, but in his efforts he is delayed by an encounter with a streetwalker and misplaces the book. In perhaps a coincidence too far that woman is a much younger Sukie Bulmer who then sets about trying to sell the book, eventually coming to the shop of pawnbroker Shapsel Nicodemus Stein, whose wife Katia she beguiles. The failed delivery of the Mutus Liber is a problem for Sweetnam - and therefore Woulfe - as concealed in its spine was a communication between plotting Jacobites. Many authors would have made this strand their book’s focus, it is 1744 after all, rebellious undertakings are afoot, but to O’Donnell it is merely incidental. Such worldly matters are not Woulfe’s concern. However, the contents of the book are.
In the Mutus Liber Woulfe discerns “a complex, sacred procedure, not evident to the uninitiated, not laid out clear and simple for anyone to understand,” but with time, with work, with prayer, all there to be understood, along with “how the processes, the combination of the materials, the grinding, the careful combining, the firing, the sparks of bright matter will bring his soul closer to God.” Later he realises, “This book demonstrates how to purify and make order out of chaos. How to put things back as they should be.” A life’s work, then. “Surely,” he thinks, “there is something true and beautiful underneath all this chaos … something golden and good that can emerge when things are put in the right order, when the right method is applied, when the divine energy is channelled?”
The book teems with well-drawn characters, Sukie Bulmer when troubled escapes to roofs, Burkiss treats a howling young girl with uncontrollable movements (and whose father has questionable motives,) Shapsel Nicodemus is considerate and fair but also wary, his wife Katia astounded at her response to Sukie, Sweetnam is full of repressed anger, Bridey Leary treads the line between being accepted or persecuted.
Full of gritty detail about Georgian London, street toughs, bawdy encounters and an incident set during the Gordon riots of 1780, the writing is nevertheless tinged with an air of weirdness, of things unseen, never quite delineated, never explicit, ending with Woulfe’s vision on his return to Ireland of a group of young women attending cattle on their journey up to their summer pastures - something that had ceased twenty years before.
Though there are occasional acts of violence in O’Donnell’s story fans of action-packed adventure will need to look elsewhere. For those of a more philosophical bent, interested in character interaction and reflection, Sparks of Bright Matter does the job to a tee.
O’Donnell has taken as a starting point here the last true alchemist, Peter Woulfe, and let her novelistic imagination run. Her story of his life, told in a compelling present tense, begins in the London of 1780 before ranging back at various points to Woulfe’s younger days as an apprentice to Mr Sweetnam in 1744, his late childhood in 1739 in Mount Gabriel, Cork, Ireland, and his infancy in 1726. O’Donnell’s Woulfe is an avid believer in the goal of alchemy and its divine trappings but his search for the Elixir is doomed to failure by “want of piety and charitable acts.”
O’Donnell has Woulfe born in Ireland 1726 as a sickly child, helped to survive by the local folk healer, Bridey Leary, a woman with secrets of her own and with whom as an older child Woulfe has a wary friendship.
In 1780, frustrated by his assistant, Mal Burkiss, not keeping his furnaces warm enough he throws the lump of quartz he was holding at the lad and seems to kill him, necessitating the bringing in of Robert Perle to dispose of the body, giving the latter a hold over him. Unbeknownst to Woulfe, and possibly Perle, the boy, however, is not dead and is found naked in the street and revived by Sukie Bulmer, a woman who now collects dog shit from London’s thoroughfares to sell to the tanneries. The pair form an unusual partnership as Burkiss has healing powers and Sukie acts as his procurer, a double act suspect to the authorities.
Back in 1744 Woulfe was tasked by Sweetnam with delivering a mysterious book, the Mutus Liber, to a Baron Swedenborg, but in his efforts he is delayed by an encounter with a streetwalker and misplaces the book. In perhaps a coincidence too far that woman is a much younger Sukie Bulmer who then sets about trying to sell the book, eventually coming to the shop of pawnbroker Shapsel Nicodemus Stein, whose wife Katia she beguiles. The failed delivery of the Mutus Liber is a problem for Sweetnam - and therefore Woulfe - as concealed in its spine was a communication between plotting Jacobites. Many authors would have made this strand their book’s focus, it is 1744 after all, rebellious undertakings are afoot, but to O’Donnell it is merely incidental. Such worldly matters are not Woulfe’s concern. However, the contents of the book are.
In the Mutus Liber Woulfe discerns “a complex, sacred procedure, not evident to the uninitiated, not laid out clear and simple for anyone to understand,” but with time, with work, with prayer, all there to be understood, along with “how the processes, the combination of the materials, the grinding, the careful combining, the firing, the sparks of bright matter will bring his soul closer to God.” Later he realises, “This book demonstrates how to purify and make order out of chaos. How to put things back as they should be.” A life’s work, then. “Surely,” he thinks, “there is something true and beautiful underneath all this chaos … something golden and good that can emerge when things are put in the right order, when the right method is applied, when the divine energy is channelled?”
The book teems with well-drawn characters, Sukie Bulmer when troubled escapes to roofs, Burkiss treats a howling young girl with uncontrollable movements (and whose father has questionable motives,) Shapsel Nicodemus is considerate and fair but also wary, his wife Katia astounded at her response to Sukie, Sweetnam is full of repressed anger, Bridey Leary treads the line between being accepted or persecuted.
Full of gritty detail about Georgian London, street toughs, bawdy encounters and an incident set during the Gordon riots of 1780, the writing is nevertheless tinged with an air of weirdness, of things unseen, never quite delineated, never explicit, ending with Woulfe’s vision on his return to Ireland of a group of young women attending cattle on their journey up to their summer pastures - something that had ceased twenty years before.
Though there are occasional acts of violence in O’Donnell’s story fans of action-packed adventure will need to look elsewhere. For those of a more philosophical bent, interested in character interaction and reflection, Sparks of Bright Matter does the job to a tee.
April 18, 2024
3.5-4*
We move from Ireland to England and back, briefly to Paris during the eighteenth century. Life is hard and for those who don’t inherit or marry it can mean separation from their family and travel to find a better life. Sadly, for many, life is little more than existence. In Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O’Donnell the settings, especially of London, are written so well that you can picture them, smell them, feel the cold, the tension and hear the noise and sounds. You are with the characters living their lives.
Sparks of Bright Matter Leeanne O’Donnell brings to life Peter Woulfe, (al)chemist; Sukie Bulmer, a young woman who earns her living in various occupations; Bridey Leary a teller of tales and more; Shapsel ‘Nico’ Nicodemus Stein pawn broker and his wife Katia; Danby Scott and his cousin Robert Perle; Mal Burkiss and many others. We come to know each to some degree and love or dislike them sometimes both but are always eager to follow their stories. Stories that are wonderfully written within the overarching and connective story of Peter.
This is partly a book about a book, the Mutus Liber, which becomes valuable to Peter when apprenticed to Sweetman, alchemist and bookbinder, one summer in London. It is a valuable book not only because of its content but because of what is hidden in it. For that it is valuable to Sweetman and to the Jacobite supporters of the 18th century. He entrusts Peter to deliver the book to Baron Swedenborg but due to a strange incident involving the Baron and his first meeting with Sukie not only does he fail to deliver it to the Baron he loses it. The consequences of which are far reaching. There is a reckoning that Peter didn’t see coming in quite the way it does.
The story however begins in London when an older Peter deals badly with his assistant Mal Burkiss when he lets the fire go out. Bringing in Robert Perle to help sort things out is a mistake Peter will surely regret.
From here we go back and forth between time and place as we learn about Peter and how he got to this situation. How his path crosses with the enigmatic Sukie when they are both younger. Of his childhood in the shadow of Mount Gabriel near Cork where he befriends Bridey Leary. How he comes to Paris and to London.
As characters appear and interact, as we move from childhood to youth and adulthood, from one place and back again Leeanne O’Donnell weaves a complicated, magical story that takes the reader into their worlds. She has taken Peter, a real person of that time, his world, some actual events and has given us a wonderful, immersive story of her own.
With scenes of minute detail, did you know there was such a thing as someone who collected dog faeces, which was used as a siccative for bookbinding leather, for sale to tanneries? To sweeping scenes of riots in London. From the beautiful Irish landscape to the putrid streets of London. Here is a story of life changing moments, of love, lust and obsession with a dose of political intrigue and a smattering of madness and magic.
It is a terrific read for anyone interested in historical fiction/faction, alchemy, magic, books about books, who enjoy wonderful characters and books set in Ireland and/or London.
I found this a fascinating book, a wonderful story, enjoyable and well worth reading.
Thanks
Many thanks to Tracy at CompulsiveReaders for the invite to this wonderful BlogTour and to Eriu Books via NetGalley for an eCopy of Sparks of Bright Matter to read and review. All thoughts are my own.
We move from Ireland to England and back, briefly to Paris during the eighteenth century. Life is hard and for those who don’t inherit or marry it can mean separation from their family and travel to find a better life. Sadly, for many, life is little more than existence. In Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O’Donnell the settings, especially of London, are written so well that you can picture them, smell them, feel the cold, the tension and hear the noise and sounds. You are with the characters living their lives.
Sparks of Bright Matter Leeanne O’Donnell brings to life Peter Woulfe, (al)chemist; Sukie Bulmer, a young woman who earns her living in various occupations; Bridey Leary a teller of tales and more; Shapsel ‘Nico’ Nicodemus Stein pawn broker and his wife Katia; Danby Scott and his cousin Robert Perle; Mal Burkiss and many others. We come to know each to some degree and love or dislike them sometimes both but are always eager to follow their stories. Stories that are wonderfully written within the overarching and connective story of Peter.
This is partly a book about a book, the Mutus Liber, which becomes valuable to Peter when apprenticed to Sweetman, alchemist and bookbinder, one summer in London. It is a valuable book not only because of its content but because of what is hidden in it. For that it is valuable to Sweetman and to the Jacobite supporters of the 18th century. He entrusts Peter to deliver the book to Baron Swedenborg but due to a strange incident involving the Baron and his first meeting with Sukie not only does he fail to deliver it to the Baron he loses it. The consequences of which are far reaching. There is a reckoning that Peter didn’t see coming in quite the way it does.
The story however begins in London when an older Peter deals badly with his assistant Mal Burkiss when he lets the fire go out. Bringing in Robert Perle to help sort things out is a mistake Peter will surely regret.
From here we go back and forth between time and place as we learn about Peter and how he got to this situation. How his path crosses with the enigmatic Sukie when they are both younger. Of his childhood in the shadow of Mount Gabriel near Cork where he befriends Bridey Leary. How he comes to Paris and to London.
As characters appear and interact, as we move from childhood to youth and adulthood, from one place and back again Leeanne O’Donnell weaves a complicated, magical story that takes the reader into their worlds. She has taken Peter, a real person of that time, his world, some actual events and has given us a wonderful, immersive story of her own.
With scenes of minute detail, did you know there was such a thing as someone who collected dog faeces, which was used as a siccative for bookbinding leather, for sale to tanneries? To sweeping scenes of riots in London. From the beautiful Irish landscape to the putrid streets of London. Here is a story of life changing moments, of love, lust and obsession with a dose of political intrigue and a smattering of madness and magic.
It is a terrific read for anyone interested in historical fiction/faction, alchemy, magic, books about books, who enjoy wonderful characters and books set in Ireland and/or London.
I found this a fascinating book, a wonderful story, enjoyable and well worth reading.
Thanks
Many thanks to Tracy at CompulsiveReaders for the invite to this wonderful BlogTour and to Eriu Books via NetGalley for an eCopy of Sparks of Bright Matter to read and review. All thoughts are my own.
April 19, 2024
Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O’Donnell published April 11th with Eriu (Bonnier) and is described as ‘spellbinding historical fiction with a golden touch.’ Set between the streets of London and West Cork in the 18th Century, it is a very impressive debut.
Sparks of Bright Matter centres around Peter Woulfe, an individual known, in certain quarters, as The Last True Alchemist. In his early years Woulfe, originally born in Ireland, divided his time between Paris and London and, in later years, he became devoted to the study of alchemy. This devotion led to some eccentric behaviour which was well-documented by some of his acquaintances of the time.
Leeanne O’Donnell, now living in West Cork, decided to create a fictional tale about Peter Woulfe interwoven with snippets of fact. She brings the reader back into the mystical landscape off the slopes of Mount Gabriel on the Mizen Peninsula near the now bustling town of Schull in West Cork. It is here that a young Peter Woulfe was immersed in the legends and the folklore of his ancestors. With an inquisitive mind and a bubbling curiosity, his mother knew that he would never remain in Ireland. Peter Woulfe was destined for greater things.
Eschewing a more traditional romantic plotline, O’Donnell has written an intriguing and colourful tale of death, passion, greed and lust. We are taken back to the beginning of Woulfe’s development as a scientist but his story is not told in a chronological fashion. We criss-cross back and forth across the decades, from his early years as a young boy in West Cork, to his time studying alchemy in London.
Sparks of Bright Matter delves into the fictional world of some of the women whose lives crossed paths with Peter Woulfe, in particular Sukie Bulmer. Unbeknownst to Peter, his relationship with Sukie would be a catalyst for a string of strange events involving a treacherous Jacobite plot, a mysterious book, dead bodies, blackmail, myths and legends, and an endless search for wisdom and understanding.
Leeanne O’Donnell is obviously a writer with a passion for Irish history and mythology. I recently listened to her 2013 RTE documentary/podcast about Lucia Joyce, Diving and Falling, which was a wonderful and transporting experience. Next up for me will be her 2021 podcast, The Ladies of Llangollen. I love to immerse myself in historical fiction as I always learn something new. In Sparks of Bright Matter I was astounded to hear about Ireland’s mini Ice-age, a two year freakish weather occurrence that wiped out up to half a million of the population from 1739. How did I not know this already?
Sparks of Bright Matter weaves a complex tale divided across multiple timelines. There isn’t a clear path through this book, nor is there the perfect ending tied up in a neat knot. There is little focus on the philosophy of alchemy itself with more attention given to the individual characters and the mystical air that surrounds them. Sparks of Bright Matter is a curious, captivating and unique debut. It is an extremely atmospheric and folkloric tale with a certain degree of genre-blending, an imaginative take on the life of Peter Woulfe.
“I had such fun resisting straightforward romantic plotlines and resolutions, going back and forth through time and following these characters the long way around through experiments in alchemy, obsessive lust and the echoes of ancient family curses as they try to find out what really matters.”
Leeanne O’Donnell, The Bookseller
Sparks of Bright Matter centres around Peter Woulfe, an individual known, in certain quarters, as The Last True Alchemist. In his early years Woulfe, originally born in Ireland, divided his time between Paris and London and, in later years, he became devoted to the study of alchemy. This devotion led to some eccentric behaviour which was well-documented by some of his acquaintances of the time.
Leeanne O’Donnell, now living in West Cork, decided to create a fictional tale about Peter Woulfe interwoven with snippets of fact. She brings the reader back into the mystical landscape off the slopes of Mount Gabriel on the Mizen Peninsula near the now bustling town of Schull in West Cork. It is here that a young Peter Woulfe was immersed in the legends and the folklore of his ancestors. With an inquisitive mind and a bubbling curiosity, his mother knew that he would never remain in Ireland. Peter Woulfe was destined for greater things.
Eschewing a more traditional romantic plotline, O’Donnell has written an intriguing and colourful tale of death, passion, greed and lust. We are taken back to the beginning of Woulfe’s development as a scientist but his story is not told in a chronological fashion. We criss-cross back and forth across the decades, from his early years as a young boy in West Cork, to his time studying alchemy in London.
Sparks of Bright Matter delves into the fictional world of some of the women whose lives crossed paths with Peter Woulfe, in particular Sukie Bulmer. Unbeknownst to Peter, his relationship with Sukie would be a catalyst for a string of strange events involving a treacherous Jacobite plot, a mysterious book, dead bodies, blackmail, myths and legends, and an endless search for wisdom and understanding.
Leeanne O’Donnell is obviously a writer with a passion for Irish history and mythology. I recently listened to her 2013 RTE documentary/podcast about Lucia Joyce, Diving and Falling, which was a wonderful and transporting experience. Next up for me will be her 2021 podcast, The Ladies of Llangollen. I love to immerse myself in historical fiction as I always learn something new. In Sparks of Bright Matter I was astounded to hear about Ireland’s mini Ice-age, a two year freakish weather occurrence that wiped out up to half a million of the population from 1739. How did I not know this already?
Sparks of Bright Matter weaves a complex tale divided across multiple timelines. There isn’t a clear path through this book, nor is there the perfect ending tied up in a neat knot. There is little focus on the philosophy of alchemy itself with more attention given to the individual characters and the mystical air that surrounds them. Sparks of Bright Matter is a curious, captivating and unique debut. It is an extremely atmospheric and folkloric tale with a certain degree of genre-blending, an imaginative take on the life of Peter Woulfe.
“I had such fun resisting straightforward romantic plotlines and resolutions, going back and forth through time and following these characters the long way around through experiments in alchemy, obsessive lust and the echoes of ancient family curses as they try to find out what really matters.”
Leeanne O’Donnell, The Bookseller
May 17, 2024
Sparks of Bright Matter is very much a character centric read, with a cast of fascinating characters that Dickens would be proud of. At the beginning of the book we are introduced to an older Peter and Suki, Peter working as an alchemist, looking to turn base metals into stone, whilst Suki is literally shovelling poop to sell to the tanneries; two people living in different worlds but in their past they are consumed by passion on Woukfe’s part and a mysterious book. Leeanne O’Donnell creates such fascinating and deep rooted characters, that seem so real that you are pulled into their lives. The names of the characters are just as wonderful; Peter Woulfe, reminding of Peter and the Wolf, Shapsel Nicodemus Stein a bookseller, Mr Sweetman who is anything but. Even the supporting cast are beautifully created with their own quirks.
The thing that stood out for me with Sparks of Bright Matter was Leanne O’Donnell’s wonderful descritive prose. She really brings to life eighteenth century London, Cork and Paris. She captures the atmosphere of these places, the buildings, people, the culture, the sights, sounds and smells making this a feast for the senses; the honey stone of Paris, the busseling London and the simple beauty of Cork. Whilst I loved the writing of this book I did feel that it didn’t flow, the plot jumped around a lot. I felt there were too many different threads to the plot and a lot of those were just left hanging and not explored, like the Jacobite angle, only a swift mention in relation to the missing book but not explored. However, I did enjoy the mystical part of the plot, the missing book and its effect on the characters, especially Suki, and there was also some kind of magic at play in Woulfe’s childhood and the mysterious Bridey.
Sparks of Bright Matter is an evocative and atmospheric read that brings the eigteenth century to life. I love the descriptions of both the characters and the settings of the book, drawing me in to the sights and sounds of the eighteenth century. This is an enchanting, evocative and all encompassing read for fans of historical fiction.
The thing that stood out for me with Sparks of Bright Matter was Leanne O’Donnell’s wonderful descritive prose. She really brings to life eighteenth century London, Cork and Paris. She captures the atmosphere of these places, the buildings, people, the culture, the sights, sounds and smells making this a feast for the senses; the honey stone of Paris, the busseling London and the simple beauty of Cork. Whilst I loved the writing of this book I did feel that it didn’t flow, the plot jumped around a lot. I felt there were too many different threads to the plot and a lot of those were just left hanging and not explored, like the Jacobite angle, only a swift mention in relation to the missing book but not explored. However, I did enjoy the mystical part of the plot, the missing book and its effect on the characters, especially Suki, and there was also some kind of magic at play in Woulfe’s childhood and the mysterious Bridey.
Sparks of Bright Matter is an evocative and atmospheric read that brings the eigteenth century to life. I love the descriptions of both the characters and the settings of the book, drawing me in to the sights and sounds of the eighteenth century. This is an enchanting, evocative and all encompassing read for fans of historical fiction.
April 11, 2024
This is a story about a book, the Mutus Liber. It’s also a story about a student of alchemy called Peter Woulfe. It’s not his book, he is supposed to be delivering it to Baron Swedenborg. And all the while he is trying to make gold out of lead, or something similar. It’s also a story about a prostitute called Sukie, with whom Peter is obsessed. But she has stolen the book and he must get it back at all costs.
But then again it’s about the Jacobite Rebellion and the men who will stop at nothing to put the rightful King on the throne. As an aside, when I was at school, I had a classmate who believed in the same thing. During assembly she would refuse to sing the National Anthem, instead, toasting the ‘King over the water’.
It’s also a story about the myths and magic of Peter’s birthplace and spiritual home in Ireland. Even though he travels extensively, he is always drawn back there, and to the strange woman called Bridey Leary who told him fantastical stories when he was a child.
The book moves back and forth through time, Peter as a child in Ireland in the early 1700s, as a young adult in 1744 when he discovers other pleasures with Sukie, then later in 1780 when he is older, and obsessed with his study of alchemy, to the exclusion of all else including having a wife and family. We also jump ahead some years later, when he is in his fifties.
Unlike a couple of other reviewers, I was far more interested in Peter than in Sukie. He’s an interesting character. He is fascinated by Sukie and the smell of her neck, but for me I can only imagine how everyone stank, especially a prostitute.
Sparks of Bright Matter is beautifully written, almost lyrical, with a style slightly reminiscent of The Night Circus. It’s got that whimsical feel about it, with a lightness of touch to the text. It won’t be for everyone and I accept that there are some loose ends that didn’t get tied up like Nico and Katia, but it’s a work of art and needs to savoured for its sheer beauty.
Many thanks to @Tr4cyF3nt0n for inviting me to be part of the #CompulsiveReaders #blogtour and to NetGalley for an ARC.
But then again it’s about the Jacobite Rebellion and the men who will stop at nothing to put the rightful King on the throne. As an aside, when I was at school, I had a classmate who believed in the same thing. During assembly she would refuse to sing the National Anthem, instead, toasting the ‘King over the water’.
It’s also a story about the myths and magic of Peter’s birthplace and spiritual home in Ireland. Even though he travels extensively, he is always drawn back there, and to the strange woman called Bridey Leary who told him fantastical stories when he was a child.
The book moves back and forth through time, Peter as a child in Ireland in the early 1700s, as a young adult in 1744 when he discovers other pleasures with Sukie, then later in 1780 when he is older, and obsessed with his study of alchemy, to the exclusion of all else including having a wife and family. We also jump ahead some years later, when he is in his fifties.
Unlike a couple of other reviewers, I was far more interested in Peter than in Sukie. He’s an interesting character. He is fascinated by Sukie and the smell of her neck, but for me I can only imagine how everyone stank, especially a prostitute.
Sparks of Bright Matter is beautifully written, almost lyrical, with a style slightly reminiscent of The Night Circus. It’s got that whimsical feel about it, with a lightness of touch to the text. It won’t be for everyone and I accept that there are some loose ends that didn’t get tied up like Nico and Katia, but it’s a work of art and needs to savoured for its sheer beauty.
Many thanks to @Tr4cyF3nt0n for inviting me to be part of the #CompulsiveReaders #blogtour and to NetGalley for an ARC.
March 30, 2024
This is a very busy book and it did take me quite a while to get into it as there are a lot of characters to get your head around. Set largely in London starting in 1780 and Paris and Ireland. With some flashbacks to 1744, London and early 1700’s Ireland. It is centred around Peter Woulfe and a strange illustrated book, the Mutus Liber, which a number of people are desperate to get their hands on. The book opens with Peter loosing his temper and killing his assistant, Mal, then selling his body to a body dealer. The writing is very descriptive, which I liked, and quite slow paced for the first half but it definitely ramped up in the second half.
Briefly, when Peter is tasked with delivering the Mutus Liber to its owner, on behalf of his master, he meets Sukie and has a brief sexual encounter with her and in his rapture he forgets to pick up the book and Sukie takes it. Unexplainably Peter is completely obsessed with Sukie after their brief meeting but he needs to finds the book, and quickly…
There are a number of different threads in the book all woven together; alchemy (turning lead into gold), Jacobite rebels, Irish legends and that magical book that seems to put a spell on anyone who comes into contact with it, and that’s just for starters. The book is very loosely based on a real character in Peter Woulfe who is believed to have been the last true alchemist. In the book this obsession ruled his life to the exclusion of everything. I didn’t find this an easy read but it was an interesting one and very atmospheric, quite compelling. A mix of historical fiction, fantasy and myth this is an transfixing and fascinating read.
Briefly, when Peter is tasked with delivering the Mutus Liber to its owner, on behalf of his master, he meets Sukie and has a brief sexual encounter with her and in his rapture he forgets to pick up the book and Sukie takes it. Unexplainably Peter is completely obsessed with Sukie after their brief meeting but he needs to finds the book, and quickly…
There are a number of different threads in the book all woven together; alchemy (turning lead into gold), Jacobite rebels, Irish legends and that magical book that seems to put a spell on anyone who comes into contact with it, and that’s just for starters. The book is very loosely based on a real character in Peter Woulfe who is believed to have been the last true alchemist. In the book this obsession ruled his life to the exclusion of everything. I didn’t find this an easy read but it was an interesting one and very atmospheric, quite compelling. A mix of historical fiction, fantasy and myth this is an transfixing and fascinating read.
April 11, 2024
I enjoyed this book, but I find it hard to describe. It's character-driven, that much I'm certain, and that's also where much of its beauty lies — aside from the writing, which is beautiful and atmospheric.
As someone neither English or Irish or French, I'm not familiar with the historical event/s or myth/s being referenced, so I kept going hoping to find answers or for the bigger plot to reveal itself eventually. But I reached the end and found none, only a sense of... mirroring confusion and awe. I feel like I've flipped through the pages of the Mutus Liber myself and absolutely did not comprehend it, but at the same time, something about the angels moved me. If that was the author's intent, then it worked with me.
There's a lot of going back and forth in terms of the timeline, so a word of caution for those who are bothered by this. I'm not, and I found it was weaved in a way that provided just the right insights at the right time.
Also, if you're diving into this for the alchemy bits, there's not as much about it as I expected. Peter Woulfe studied alchemy, sure, but apart from the snippets of his published studies and descriptions of the things he's done and items he's collected over the years, there's nothing really concrete. The whole thing feels more spiritual than anything.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, if you like character-centric historical fiction with a touch of the magical and spiritual. Yes, even if I still don't really get what I just finished reading. Because I feel like I've been touched by the spirits or the Mountain or the angels or whatever is up there on Mount Gabriel, and it's a good though bittersweet feeling.
As someone neither English or Irish or French, I'm not familiar with the historical event/s or myth/s being referenced, so I kept going hoping to find answers or for the bigger plot to reveal itself eventually. But I reached the end and found none, only a sense of... mirroring confusion and awe. I feel like I've flipped through the pages of the Mutus Liber myself and absolutely did not comprehend it, but at the same time, something about the angels moved me. If that was the author's intent, then it worked with me.
There's a lot of going back and forth in terms of the timeline, so a word of caution for those who are bothered by this. I'm not, and I found it was weaved in a way that provided just the right insights at the right time.
Also, if you're diving into this for the alchemy bits, there's not as much about it as I expected. Peter Woulfe studied alchemy, sure, but apart from the snippets of his published studies and descriptions of the things he's done and items he's collected over the years, there's nothing really concrete. The whole thing feels more spiritual than anything.
Do I recommend this book? Yes, if you like character-centric historical fiction with a touch of the magical and spiritual. Yes, even if I still don't really get what I just finished reading. Because I feel like I've been touched by the spirits or the Mountain or the angels or whatever is up there on Mount Gabriel, and it's a good though bittersweet feeling.
March 9, 2024
: He woke earlier with a start, his heart thundering in his chest, to a particularly clear visions of the dead lad's face gazing at him. A bad start. He rose and dressed. He prayed. He threw himself into his work. He would brook no distractions. Not from the living, not from the dead. ::
Peter Woulfe is such a interesting man. He hails from Ireland originally but has found his way into the groins of London's finest, first starting off in a chemists thanks to the investment from his uncle into his near (and what he hopes will be a very bright future!)
But handing out remedy's to people is not in Peter's future, no he is looking for something outworldly.. something you can't capture the essence off until it is within your grasp. Something.. that first starts off with a book.
A book that fell into his hands by accident.. then consequently.. left him.
Anyone who encounters this book is enamoured and has a spell put on them, images, words and feelings begin to bombard them and then they end up more than they want, less than they deserve.. outworldly.
It could simply be .. angelic.
But is the years of Peter's life taken up by the echo of something he simply could have found by returning home?
I loved everything about this book. It tipped me into the folklore Dreamland I remember being in as a child. I couldn't put it down and I'm so thankful to Netgalley, the publishers and to Leeanne for allowing me to read it and review it.
Peter Woulfe is such a interesting man. He hails from Ireland originally but has found his way into the groins of London's finest, first starting off in a chemists thanks to the investment from his uncle into his near (and what he hopes will be a very bright future!)
But handing out remedy's to people is not in Peter's future, no he is looking for something outworldly.. something you can't capture the essence off until it is within your grasp. Something.. that first starts off with a book.
A book that fell into his hands by accident.. then consequently.. left him.
Anyone who encounters this book is enamoured and has a spell put on them, images, words and feelings begin to bombard them and then they end up more than they want, less than they deserve.. outworldly.
It could simply be .. angelic.
But is the years of Peter's life taken up by the echo of something he simply could have found by returning home?
I loved everything about this book. It tipped me into the folklore Dreamland I remember being in as a child. I couldn't put it down and I'm so thankful to Netgalley, the publishers and to Leeanne for allowing me to read it and review it.
April 10, 2024
A historical fiction set in an intriguing historical time frame: the first half of XVIII century. The main character, Peter Woulfe, is one of the last alchemists and is tasked with an illustrated book, the Mutus Liber. It seems an easy task but if you go intro the Georgian London underground something will happen, like being robbed of your book.
It’s the start of an adventure that involves Peter, a man divided between magical and rational thinking, into the search for the book and an intriguing woman. There’s myth, there’re historical facts and the re’s a lot going on.
It’s a bit slow at the beginning introducing Peter and his world and it becomes fast paced after some chapters.
I’m fascinated by books about alchemists and the illustrated book is an added bonus.
I enjoyed it and appreciated the well-rounded characters and the vivid historical background. There’s twist and there’s a lot of surprises.
4.5 upped to 5
Many thanks to Eriu Books and Compulsive Readers for this digital copy, all opinions are mine.
It’s the start of an adventure that involves Peter, a man divided between magical and rational thinking, into the search for the book and an intriguing woman. There’s myth, there’re historical facts and the re’s a lot going on.
It’s a bit slow at the beginning introducing Peter and his world and it becomes fast paced after some chapters.
I’m fascinated by books about alchemists and the illustrated book is an added bonus.
I enjoyed it and appreciated the well-rounded characters and the vivid historical background. There’s twist and there’s a lot of surprises.
4.5 upped to 5
Many thanks to Eriu Books and Compulsive Readers for this digital copy, all opinions are mine.
April 16, 2024
Another historical fiction that I devoured!
SOBM is a fast paced novel about an Alchemist student who is tasked with transporting a very sought after book (not that he knows this) to its destination, only for it to be taken from him right under his nose. First off I really enjoyed Peters character, even though he comes across a bit all over the place you quickly warm up to this mc as you get to see him in the present and in the past; when he was younger, and really get to see why he is the way he is.
What I enjoyed most about this novel was the multiple timelines we get to see of this characters life. The author does an amazing job of telling Peters story so seamlessly that before you know it you think that you've known him all your life. Leeanne sets the scene so vividly and you will feel transported back in time to the 1700s while devouring this novel and I must say it's a page turner. Adventure packed and with a unique story line if you're a historical fiction lover you need to pick this book up asap!
SOBM is a fast paced novel about an Alchemist student who is tasked with transporting a very sought after book (not that he knows this) to its destination, only for it to be taken from him right under his nose. First off I really enjoyed Peters character, even though he comes across a bit all over the place you quickly warm up to this mc as you get to see him in the present and in the past; when he was younger, and really get to see why he is the way he is.
What I enjoyed most about this novel was the multiple timelines we get to see of this characters life. The author does an amazing job of telling Peters story so seamlessly that before you know it you think that you've known him all your life. Leeanne sets the scene so vividly and you will feel transported back in time to the 1700s while devouring this novel and I must say it's a page turner. Adventure packed and with a unique story line if you're a historical fiction lover you need to pick this book up asap!
September 16, 2024
This book was a mixed bag for me. I was genuinely intrigued by the premise, but something about the writing style didn't quite fit with me as a reader. The writing is incredibly descriptive and vivid, but I felt very disconnected from it. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I will say that the beginning is both compelling and interesting. Especially in the beginning, there were a lot of characters introduced quickly, and I kept confusing them. This book has an excellent style, it just wasn't for me.
April 9, 2024
A beautifully written & crafted book.
Too much timeline jumping throughout hence leaving any character building at a loss.
This could with a little more work on the structure & characters have been the start of a great series, instead I’m asking what was the point?
Historical fiction is great, if done right, I just feel a little let down by the ending.
Too much timeline jumping throughout hence leaving any character building at a loss.
This could with a little more work on the structure & characters have been the start of a great series, instead I’m asking what was the point?
Historical fiction is great, if done right, I just feel a little let down by the ending.
August 6, 2025
I don’t come across books I dislike as much as this one very often. I almost dnf it soooo many times but pushed through because I (wrongly) believed that the story would pick up at some point. I don’t understand the book’s purpose and I’m so confused by everything that happened. Genuinely wtf did I just read?
May 5, 2024
i tend to love books like this!! strange, elastic, nicely written, a little gay stuff going on???? YES. but this doesn’t hold together as a whole book particularly well. disappointing because it was so compelling!
August 20, 2024
An incredibly rewarding book. Like a Louis de Bernier, it can be hard to get in (I had one false start), but once in, it kept me guessing, chuckling, and losing myself in the story. One to savour, and re-read.
September 4, 2024
I found the book difficult to read and follow. I liked the plot line, but couldn’t really immerse myself into it or connect with the characters. I think I struggled a bit with the jumping characters and story line
October 15, 2024
The writing was beautiful. Very talented writer! The storyline jumped in too many directions. It became confusing and felt like I was ready two books in one. I would have liked it better if the editors had helped the writer to organize the chapters in a different way.
October 24, 2024
Leeanne O'Donnell vividly recreates eighteenth-century London and rural Ireland in a fascinating tale of discovery and emotions. A mixture of mysticism, character complexity, and religious unrest provides a compelling story for all readers.
June 3, 2025
Took me 12 chapters to fully get into but I enjoyed the mystical, esoteric and occultist elements of the book. It wasn’t all tied together as I thought it would be at the end and leaves much for the imagination to roam wild with, but a nice read for the most part.
July 27, 2024
I wanted more weirdness throughout the whole thing. Why only give me one bizarre rants about angels for the first hundred or so pages 😔
October 14, 2024
I really tried to get into this book - very character driven and well written. But there didn't seem to be much of a plot to follow, and I decided that this sort of story wasn't for me. Sorry.
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