A Furnace Sealed

The Adventures of Bram Gold #1

by Keith R.A. DeCandido

An Ancient Evil Threatens to Awaken in the Bronx
Bram Gold is a Courser—a hunter-for-hire paid to deal with supernatural creatures, mystical happenings, and things that go booga-booga in the night. A typical day is dealing with crazed unicorns, local charlatans trying to bind the loa, and werewolves running around the dog park…
But when binding spells begin to fail around the Bronx, and the borough’s immortals start turning up dead, Bram must prevent more magical murders, before an ancient god awakens to level the city.
***
The first in a new series of urban fantasy thrillers that take place in the Boogie-Down Bronx from best-selling, award-winning author Keith R.A. DeCandido.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

182 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2019

Reviews

[Fiona Knight]

I haven't read any of Keith R.A. DeCandido's fiction before, despite greatly enjoying his pieces on Tor. For some reason, this book seems to have flown under everyone's radar - which is a shame, because it's a great new piece of urban fantasy.

Bram Gold, aka Abraham Goldblume, is an MD two days a week, and a courser the next, hunting "monsters and magickal creatures and people who abuse magick" - all while building a new relationship with an anxiety-ridden werewolf, feeding (and scritching) his decidedly non-supernatural cat, and trying to figure out just what is causing a sudden spike in immortals losing their im-.

It all sounds like it could be a lot. And yet it's all slotted in to a completely coherent - and surprisingly affecting - storyline. While the ending might not be too hard to spot coming, it's the reaction to that reveal that really got me - and it was absolutely perfect. I'm already thoroughly attached to these characters, so I'll be hoping that Bram Gold is back for another round before too long. And if you're a fan of Ilona Andrews, Craig Schaefer, or any of the other wonderful UF authors working today, I highly recommend you add this book to your TBR - Keith R.A. DeCandido absolutely deserves a place alongside them.

[Ay]

This was good. I’ll read more by this author.

...it’s a bit of a novel of place. So if you hate the bronx, or get sick of writers crapping on about streets etc, you may not like this one much.

[Mary Dean]

*** audio book review ***
This was not my usual read. I like urban fantasy but I am really picky. This book did not disappoint. I loved the real life feel with the fantasy aspect. And I found myself laughing out loud so many times. Before I knew it the book was over and I'm wanting more of Bram Gold! This narrator does a great job with different accents. I forgot that it was one person and not multiple people. This is a must read/listen for all urban fantasy fans. You will be hooked and wanting more, like me. Thankfully this is a series.

[Sctechsorceress]

I reallly enjoyed this book! It is the first of a series, and I will be looking for the next book.
This is an Urban Fantasy, set in the Bronx. That was what appealed to me at first, since I spent my childhood in the Bronx.
It was the characters, and the plot that made me stay. These are not High Nobles destined to battle evil. The main character feels like any working man. It's just that his job involves occasional unicorn wrangling.

[Susan]

Bram Gold is a Courser. A Courser is a hunter-for-hire paid to deal with supernatural creatures, mystical happenings and things that happen in the middle of the night. Bram has been hired to get an escaped unicorn from a tapestry. Bram is successful and then another creature escapes from a tapestry. How is this happening? Bram goes to the wardiem. Her name is Miriam. She keeps order in her section of the magical ward — the Bronx. An evil ancient god is about to become alive. Why? Binding spells are failing around the Bronx. The borough’s immortals are starting to die. Bram must prevent any more magical deaths. Who is killing the immortals? Will the ancient evil become alive so it can level the city?

This novel is the first one in a new series of urban fantasy that takes place in the Bronx. It is a mystery in that one doesn’t know what is causing the magical experiences to happen. I love Bram’s not giving up even when the problems seemed to piled up on top of each other with only left him more puzzled on why it was happening. I can’t wait to read the next book to find out what will be Bram’s challenges will be.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Cameron Toney]

I love a good urban fantasy novel. Its a genre rich in stories, some good, some bad, and here I am delighted to announce a winner.
What an interesting story. It looks, from the surface, simple enough. You know the sort of work Bram Gold does (hell, he references both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Supernatural in the second chapter, so you know the author is in on the joke), he's a monster hunter for hire. He weeds out the supernatural hidden in plain sight, part of a semi-hidden magical underworld.
But where this books really shines is how well these elements are handled. Bram is more than a badass monster hunter. In fact, none of those words really apply. He's thoughtful, careful, a total dork, but with his heart solidly in the right place.
And, when I reached the inevitable conclusion to this book, I found the best part of it. It handles the aftermath of the usual Urban Fantasy dust up with intelligent, emotional weight, and complex sensitivity.
I'm irked that there is only one of these right now. I want more, asap, please!

[Nichole Scanlon]

I'll start with, send me the second installment - I love this new series!

Now, I'll qualify that remark. I am always in awe of an author who can create an entire fantastical, magical world from their head. I also enjoy learning about new magical creatures or how the rules of the universe might be different from other books I've read. I learned a TON about some magical creatures in this world based in the real world Bronx. This brings me to another aspect I love and that is a story set in a real place. I had so much fun looking up locations in the story on google maps. It made feel even more a part of the story.

Our main character, Bram Gold, is not magical himself but does wrangle some magical creatures gone awry in his job as a Courser in addition to being an ER doctor part time. I feel like the first installment gives us a really good look into the characters we will see in upcoming volumes and I'm excited to know them better.

[Leah Szepesi]

I'm always excited for a new urban fantasy series, and this one didn't disappoint! From the diverse cast of characters tot he new magical laws and systems to the fun (if slightly predictable) mystery afoot, this book is sure to satisfy any fans of "The Dresden Files" or "Tallow Jones". I'm loving this new wave of mystery/adventure novels with complex male leads that don't use sexism as a character crutch. Great characters all around, and it was fun to hear the masterful TJ CLark doing a whole new set of diverse accents. Seriously, is there any voice he can't do? Give this guy an Addie or something! And if you can't give him an Audie, then at least go listen to the audiobook version of this book, because it's really that good!

[Reva Fowler]

A Furnace Sealed caught me from the first sentence, which is its own enticing paragraph. De Candido writes his story with a witty first-person narration by the main character, who is a self-effacing, hilarious, and unapologetic New Yorker of distinct and endearing Jewish flavor. This book was a joy to read, making me laugh and pulling my heartstrings and carrying me on a wonderfully imaginative adventure. De Candido presents a fresh twist on the interface between the mundane and the supernatural, and I reached the end of the book perfectly primed for the next chapter of Bram Gold’s journey.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily submitting a review.

[BRT]

Fun urban fantasy set in the Bronx about a magical creature hunter trying to resolve a series of magical creature escapes, immortals murders, and mysterious physical phenomenon. Reads like an insiders guide to the streets of the Bronx and the behind the scenes magical world. A few references that only locals might get but just adds to the realistic flavor. My biggest complaint; it is too short!

[Eric Haas]

Keith R.A. Decandido's A Furnace Sealed, The Adventures of Bram Gold, Volume 1 was an entertaining read. This is an urban fantasy novel that is well written and develops some very compelling characters. Those interested in the urban fantasy genre should definitely check it out.

[Smalltowncat]

Smart humor, mystery, monsters and loss. All the best tropes are here. You'll love the main character who's just trying to be a good mensch. Did not put this book down until it was finished. Looking forward to reading the next in this series.

[Mandy PS]

Bram is a Courser, aka a hunter of supernatural beings. Someone has started murdering the Immortals of Bronx, and Bram’s has to figure out who and why. A fun urban fantasy.

[Wendy]

Part time ER doctor Bram Gold is a Courser. He and his counterparts make sure their city is safe from supernatural creatures. Some are simply mischievous, while others deadly. He uses his skills and purchased talisman to do his work.

Things seem to be hinky when binding spells begin to break. It gets concerning when an immortal actually is murdered. You see, in this universe, magic, spells are strictly restricted for only trained professionals. Whomever is mucking up the city, is no professional.

This is a world were there are vampires and werewolves. Coursers are trained by elder Coursers and there doesn't seem to be any set regulations on the training. Coursers serve within their community. For Bram, it's the Bronx. They are supervised by a main leader. No one is allowed to practice magic or do spells without proper training or permission.
This may have been a past giveaway, but do not recall who gave it to me

[Tealanas]

I've been reading bits of the novel that were released on the author's Patreon for months now, and the book was worth the wait!

This is a delightful urban fantasy blending real life New York with the fantastic in a great way. The fantastical bits created remind me very much of Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Speaking of which there’s a great reference to Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the second chapter that is fabulous!

The author is a born and bred New Yorker and the love for his city practically oozes from the pages. It’s so refreshing to see other parts of New York, besides Manhattan, represented in prose. There are a slew of tidbits about the city thrown. They showcase the history of the city and the flavour of the different neighbourhoods. The tidbits also add depth to the story, and as a history lover, they make me want to go read up more on the topics mentioned.

The dialogue is witty and I could “hear” individual voices for each character in my head. “Moose fuckin’ a dead octopus” is one of the best lines from the book and one I continue to chuckle over each time I read it.

If you’re a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Anita Blake series (minus the sex), or The Nightside series you’ll definitely enjoy this book.

Merged review:

I've been reading bits of the novel that were released on the author's Patreon for months now, and the book was worth the wait!

This is a delightful urban fantasy blending real life New York with the fantastic in a great way. The fantastical bits created remind me very much of Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Speaking of which there’s a great reference to Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the second chapter that is fabulous!

The author is a born and bred New Yorker and the love for his city practically oozes from the pages. It’s so refreshing to see other parts of New York, besides Manhattan, represented in prose. There are a slew of tidbits about the city thrown. They showcase the history of the city and the flavour of the different neighbourhoods. The tidbits also add depth to the story, and as a history lover, they make me want to go read up more on the topics mentioned.

The dialogue is witty and I could “hear” individual voices for each character in my head. “Moose fuckin’ a dead octopus” is one of the best lines from the book and one I continue to chuckle over each time I read it.

If you’re a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Anita Blake series (minus the sex), or The Nightside series you’ll definitely enjoy this book.

[J.L.]

Disclaimer: I am friends with the author; however, I purchased a hardcopy version of this book for full price.

Sometimes a book is really easy to review. I started it about an hour before I went out with friends for the night. I spent the entire evening wishing I was back home reading the book. And I promptly finished it the next morning, because I knew I wouldn’t get anything else done until then.

Oh, you want more information about the book itself? Okay, okay.

I’ve been a fan of DeCandido’s media tie-in works for years, long before I could consider calling him my friend. He’s done great work with both Star Trek and Supernatural. A Furnace Sealed is actually the first long-form work of original fiction that I’ve read by him, and I have no idea why I waited so long.

The reason I reject a lot of urban fantasy tropes in my own writing is because they annoy me. In this book, DeCandido does the opposite, by embracing those tropes and twisting them just enough, writing with enough familiarity of both the world he’s created and the audience he’s invited in, to create an appealing story with memorable characters. So much of traditional urban fantasy also defaults to Judeo-Christian mythology that I was extra pleased when this book used the setting of New York City to employ local mythology in the greater plot rather than importing Euro-centric bad guys. In an urban fantasy setting, New York City should definitely be a melting pot for more than just it’s human inhabitants. (Extra bonus points for secondary character representation of race, sexual orientation, and mobility issues.)

I adored the main character, Bram Gold, from page one. The obvious reason is that I have a soft spot for Jewish protagonists. The less-obvious reason is because Bram Gold is not your typical suave, sexy monster hunter — in fact, he’s kind of a mess. The fabulous first-person narration pulls you along so that you don’t get a chance to do more than roll your eyes occasionally, because you’re still rooting for Bram to win in every scenario.

And finally, the ultimate twist is that the Big Bad isn’t Bram’s biggest problem in this book. No spoilers, but I will always appreciate a story where the heroes don’t get to just go back to their normal life unchanged by the events that have occurred.

Don’t worry: I’ve already started poking Keith for more stories about my favorite Courser.

[Jordan Falcon]

I read half of this on audible before dropping it

The author seemed obsessed with going on random political rants, the characters were boring. And the story was cliche. Do yourself a favor and pick up Dresden Files instead

On the plus side the narration was nice