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Fablenoir #1
Fablenoir
Fifteen years after climbing the beanstalk, giants are the least of Jack’s concerns…
Twisted fairy tale figures roam our world in this deliciously dark, exhilarating new Urban Fantasy series, featuring familiar characters from mythology and fables clashing and conniving in a metropolitan cesspit that runs on chaos.
Surrounded by corruption, depravity, and dark magick, down-and-out Detective Jackson Slade of the NYPD is at his lowest. With nothing left to fight for, he finds himself winding up in the same grimy bars every night, nearly drinking himself to death and relying on mysterious magick beans to pick himself back up.
Until one night, he stumbles upon a gruesome crime scene that will change the course of his life dramatically. When he finds the shattered corpse of egg-shaped media mogul Dick Dumpty, Jack finds himself reluctantly teaming up with the notoriously cold-blooded outlaw Goldilocks, and together they spiral into the horrifying magickal underbelly of New York City, caught in the middle of a war between the corrupt and the even more corrupt.
Coming up against forces such as the grizzly gang leader Papa Bear and the crooked giant-descendant head of the NYPD Chief Cole, Jack and Goldilocks set in motion an explosive chain of events that will change the world, for better or for so much worse…
Twisted fairy tale figures roam our world in this deliciously dark, exhilarating new Urban Fantasy series, featuring familiar characters from mythology and fables clashing and conniving in a metropolitan cesspit that runs on chaos.
Surrounded by corruption, depravity, and dark magick, down-and-out Detective Jackson Slade of the NYPD is at his lowest. With nothing left to fight for, he finds himself winding up in the same grimy bars every night, nearly drinking himself to death and relying on mysterious magick beans to pick himself back up.
Until one night, he stumbles upon a gruesome crime scene that will change the course of his life dramatically. When he finds the shattered corpse of egg-shaped media mogul Dick Dumpty, Jack finds himself reluctantly teaming up with the notoriously cold-blooded outlaw Goldilocks, and together they spiral into the horrifying magickal underbelly of New York City, caught in the middle of a war between the corrupt and the even more corrupt.
Coming up against forces such as the grizzly gang leader Papa Bear and the crooked giant-descendant head of the NYPD Chief Cole, Jack and Goldilocks set in motion an explosive chain of events that will change the world, for better or for so much worse…
462 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
June 20, 2025
This was an amazing gritty crime story with a fantasy layer on top of it where the characters will make you giggle thinking of old Time nursery rhymes. At the base of it all is Jack the giant slayer 15 years, passed his prime at the police department with all the officers in his precinct turned corrupt. It’s up to him to figure out what’s at the bottom of all of this and Goldilocks came and she’s not here to play Her and Papa Bear 🐻 have bad history and he is a bad man. The story had me giggling it had me biting my fingernails with so many plot twist and I didn’t see that coming moments . It was a really good book and very entertaining.
September 19, 2024
Fablenoir is nothing short of a joy to read. I literally couldn't put this one down, which isn't something I've said about a book in a long time. I love the twisted fairy tale vibe, and the way this author mixed the fairy tale campiness and darker elements of the story just sucked me in. It is fast paced, unexpected, and the twists at the end HAD ME. The ending seems like its leading up to a sequel with the perfect open-ended cliffhanger that makes me hope that there is another one without making me mad that I'm left there.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 14, 2024
"There is a path, Jack. I see it, through the haze, the fog, the sorrow, the fear. The demons you have to face, they are far from here."
3.5 stars
About: Detective Jackson Slade is known as the Giantslayer, but he's a long way from the beanstalk that made his name and the small village he outgrew. In the mean streets of New York, his glory days are behind him. He might have been a good cop once but now he needs a drink and magick beans to get through the day. Until one night he's first on the scene to what looks like a suicide but soon becomes an investigation into missing girls, murder, and dark, twisted magic.
Thoughts
This is a really cool world to step into. It has characters from fairy tales in an urban fantasy setting with film noir vibes. If you've played The Wolf Among Us or Heavy Rain, I think you could really have fun with this book. It would also make a great game as there's a lot of mystery, action, and some really cool magic. I loved the heightened senses the magick beans gave Jack and how they tied into witchcraft and prophecies. I also think the Hatter's experiments added some extra darkness to the magic and hinted to more world-building in future books with Wonderland being somewhere to explore possibly?
So the setting and characters were definitely really interesting to me. Where I think this book missed the mark was in its pacing. The writing was immersive and had some great lines, but it's incredibly over-written. There was just too much detail. Every action, every thought, every sound or smell would be given to the reader. We'd get so many meaningless details in a scene that it would distract from the scene itself. Conversations would be similarly stretched out with so much back and forth before anything useful was said. Although the descriptions and dialogue match in with the world, they felt like overkill at times and made me lose focus on the actual story.
I also wasn't sold on the ending. I do appreciate that it's made super clear that this is a series so of course I'd expect to have some loose threads by the end, but I didn't get a lot of satisfaction from the big show down. Throughout the book there are hints of Jack's destiny and he himself gives this very cool line about how the giant made the mistake of underestimating him, but his role in the end is more of a To Be Continued moment. Which is fine that he has a bigger role to play in later books, but I would have liked to have seen him have a more significant moment in this one - he felt a little too much like a spectator towards the end.
Overall, I think this series has a lot of potential and it's highly imaginative but the story itself could have been a lot tighter if bigger edits had been made to the prose.
*** Thank you to Reedsy Discovery and the author for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. ***
3.5 stars
About: Detective Jackson Slade is known as the Giantslayer, but he's a long way from the beanstalk that made his name and the small village he outgrew. In the mean streets of New York, his glory days are behind him. He might have been a good cop once but now he needs a drink and magick beans to get through the day. Until one night he's first on the scene to what looks like a suicide but soon becomes an investigation into missing girls, murder, and dark, twisted magic.
Thoughts
This is a really cool world to step into. It has characters from fairy tales in an urban fantasy setting with film noir vibes. If you've played The Wolf Among Us or Heavy Rain, I think you could really have fun with this book. It would also make a great game as there's a lot of mystery, action, and some really cool magic. I loved the heightened senses the magick beans gave Jack and how they tied into witchcraft and prophecies. I also think the Hatter's experiments added some extra darkness to the magic and hinted to more world-building in future books with Wonderland being somewhere to explore possibly?
So the setting and characters were definitely really interesting to me. Where I think this book missed the mark was in its pacing. The writing was immersive and had some great lines, but it's incredibly over-written. There was just too much detail. Every action, every thought, every sound or smell would be given to the reader. We'd get so many meaningless details in a scene that it would distract from the scene itself. Conversations would be similarly stretched out with so much back and forth before anything useful was said. Although the descriptions and dialogue match in with the world, they felt like overkill at times and made me lose focus on the actual story.
I also wasn't sold on the ending. I do appreciate that it's made super clear that this is a series so of course I'd expect to have some loose threads by the end, but I didn't get a lot of satisfaction from the big show down. Throughout the book there are hints of Jack's destiny and he himself gives this very cool line about how the giant made the mistake of underestimating him, but his role in the end is more of a To Be Continued moment. Which is fine that he has a bigger role to play in later books, but I would have liked to have seen him have a more significant moment in this one - he felt a little too much like a spectator towards the end.
Overall, I think this series has a lot of potential and it's highly imaginative but the story itself could have been a lot tighter if bigger edits had been made to the prose.
*** Thank you to Reedsy Discovery and the author for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. ***
August 31, 2025
Jack the Giantslayer can't seem to shake his past, nor to make something of his present as a NYC detective. When he stumbles upon a conspiracy going all the way to the top he partners up with outlaw Goldielocks to take everyone down. Unfortunately while the promise really appealed to me the story fell flat. I was hoping for Fables (the comic), but it was more a gritty but disjointed Once Upon a Time.
What I disliked:
- Sinclair set the story in a modern day alternate universe NYC, but was probably better off being vague about the setting. I'd expect realism from this setting, but not that the public enemies number one and two have time to get druk in a bar and just casually go to a motel after. Also Jack wants to erase his search history in the police databank by taking apart the computer (in the middle of the day in the police precinct mind you) and then destroying the motherboard. That's not how it works.
- Jack is a weak protagonist. At no point was it ever proven that he was "different from all the others". His magic beans seem to have infinitely more drawbacks than positives, and he didn't even make use of the positives until the end. Also he was stumbling his way through the story without really being proactive himself. Things happened to him and he reacts to it (sort of, because a lot of the time he just freezes).
- All the cameos of fairytale and nursery rhyme figures are cute, but also just that. There doesn't seem to be a reason behind all of it.
In the end I found the book shallow and drawn out and unfortunately didn't have a great time. I will not be continuing the series. Thanks to NetGalley and Vic Sinclair. All opinions are my own.
What I disliked:
- Sinclair set the story in a modern day alternate universe NYC, but was probably better off being vague about the setting. I'd expect realism from this setting, but not that the public enemies number one and two have time to get druk in a bar and just casually go to a motel after. Also Jack wants to erase his search history in the police databank by taking apart the computer (in the middle of the day in the police precinct mind you) and then destroying the motherboard. That's not how it works.
- Jack is a weak protagonist. At no point was it ever proven that he was "different from all the others". His magic beans seem to have infinitely more drawbacks than positives, and he didn't even make use of the positives until the end. Also he was stumbling his way through the story without really being proactive himself. Things happened to him and he reacts to it (sort of, because a lot of the time he just freezes).
- All the cameos of fairytale and nursery rhyme figures are cute, but also just that. There doesn't seem to be a reason behind all of it.
In the end I found the book shallow and drawn out and unfortunately didn't have a great time. I will not be continuing the series. Thanks to NetGalley and Vic Sinclair. All opinions are my own.
March 31, 2026
4.5 stars Fablenoir by Vic Sinclair
If fairy tales grew up and everything got a lot darker...
Fablenoir is a dark urban fantasy novel (published in 2024) that mixes fairy tales, crime noir and gritty modern city life in New York. The story follows Jackson “Jack” Slade (yes, that Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk, but years later as a burned-out NYPD detective). who is struggling with addiction, corruption, and failure. He resides in a crime filled New York packed with dubious characters of fairy-tale fame. He is on the hunt following a shocking murder involving a twisted version of Humpty Dumpty, which pulls him into a deeper conspiracy in the dark underbelly of the city. Jack teams up with a dangerous outlaw (Goldilocks) in a move that sees him.just on the right side of the law. The book flaunts wonderfully complex characters. Jack is flawed, addicted and morally grey, while Goldilocks is an outlaw, and not a typical “heroine”. It is a fast-paced and action-filled narrative with lots of twists, chases, and violent encounters that keep momentum strong. There is a strong noir atmosphere as Sinclair exposes a dark, gritty, and morally grey world with corrupt police officials, crime syndicates, and themes like addiction.I love its unique concept of fairy-tale characters reimagined as criminals, cops, and outlaws. It feels like a fresh fantasy read. You’ll like it if you enjoy dark retellings of fairy tales, crime/detective stories with fantasy elements and anti-hero main characters.It blends detective fiction with fantasy in a way similar to Neil Gaiman-style dark myth worlds. At 460 pages, it is a modest fantasy reads. it is the first book in the series with book 2 due for release in May 2026. I cannot wait to read the next installement in this exciting new fantasy series. #fablenoir #vicsinclair #blogtour #breakevenbooks #fantasy
If fairy tales grew up and everything got a lot darker...
Fablenoir is a dark urban fantasy novel (published in 2024) that mixes fairy tales, crime noir and gritty modern city life in New York. The story follows Jackson “Jack” Slade (yes, that Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk, but years later as a burned-out NYPD detective). who is struggling with addiction, corruption, and failure. He resides in a crime filled New York packed with dubious characters of fairy-tale fame. He is on the hunt following a shocking murder involving a twisted version of Humpty Dumpty, which pulls him into a deeper conspiracy in the dark underbelly of the city. Jack teams up with a dangerous outlaw (Goldilocks) in a move that sees him.just on the right side of the law. The book flaunts wonderfully complex characters. Jack is flawed, addicted and morally grey, while Goldilocks is an outlaw, and not a typical “heroine”. It is a fast-paced and action-filled narrative with lots of twists, chases, and violent encounters that keep momentum strong. There is a strong noir atmosphere as Sinclair exposes a dark, gritty, and morally grey world with corrupt police officials, crime syndicates, and themes like addiction.I love its unique concept of fairy-tale characters reimagined as criminals, cops, and outlaws. It feels like a fresh fantasy read. You’ll like it if you enjoy dark retellings of fairy tales, crime/detective stories with fantasy elements and anti-hero main characters.It blends detective fiction with fantasy in a way similar to Neil Gaiman-style dark myth worlds. At 460 pages, it is a modest fantasy reads. it is the first book in the series with book 2 due for release in May 2026. I cannot wait to read the next installement in this exciting new fantasy series. #fablenoir #vicsinclair #blogtour #breakevenbooks #fantasy
September 13, 2026
Fablenoir is aptly named: dark, gritty and laden with fairy tale characters, though not as we know them.
The premise of this series was immediately gripping. I love anything with a fairy tale motif and my masters' dissertation hinged on retellings of the traditional tales gathered by the brothers Grimm, so, naturally, I was excited to add this to my TBR.
The synopsis promises a dark, urban fantasy, layered with crime and corruption and it certainly delivers. From the outset, the seedy underworld of this alternate version of New York City is exposed, and we can see how easily our protagonist (Jack of the Beanstalk) has fallen into his helplessness and addiction, despite joining the NYPD, presumably so that he could bring some virtue to this tainted city, ridding it of a few villains along the way.
Contrasting detailed, often gruesome, violence and crimes with surreal reminders that these are indeed fairy tale characters, there were moments of this book that truly felt like some sort of fever dream. The mania and strangeness of the world and figures within it lent themselves well to narrating the inner thoughts of a magick-bean-addicted, traumatised, and guilt-ridden main character, as we saw him desperately trying to cling to his morals and his sanity amidst a criminal underworld, largely controlled by a gangster bear and a seven-foot-tall egg. (I told you it was surreal!) Not to mention the mad(hatter) scientist conducting strange human experiments and initiating some truly terrifying body-horror scenes.
If you're looking for something different, this will certainly hit the mark. Perfect for fans of Once Upon a Time, but looking for something grittier and with higher stakes. I'm so looking forward to reading the second book (Rose Red Undead) and seeing which rabbit hole Jack will wander down next!
The premise of this series was immediately gripping. I love anything with a fairy tale motif and my masters' dissertation hinged on retellings of the traditional tales gathered by the brothers Grimm, so, naturally, I was excited to add this to my TBR.
The synopsis promises a dark, urban fantasy, layered with crime and corruption and it certainly delivers. From the outset, the seedy underworld of this alternate version of New York City is exposed, and we can see how easily our protagonist (Jack of the Beanstalk) has fallen into his helplessness and addiction, despite joining the NYPD, presumably so that he could bring some virtue to this tainted city, ridding it of a few villains along the way.
Contrasting detailed, often gruesome, violence and crimes with surreal reminders that these are indeed fairy tale characters, there were moments of this book that truly felt like some sort of fever dream. The mania and strangeness of the world and figures within it lent themselves well to narrating the inner thoughts of a magick-bean-addicted, traumatised, and guilt-ridden main character, as we saw him desperately trying to cling to his morals and his sanity amidst a criminal underworld, largely controlled by a gangster bear and a seven-foot-tall egg. (I told you it was surreal!) Not to mention the mad(hatter) scientist conducting strange human experiments and initiating some truly terrifying body-horror scenes.
If you're looking for something different, this will certainly hit the mark. Perfect for fans of Once Upon a Time, but looking for something grittier and with higher stakes. I'm so looking forward to reading the second book (Rose Red Undead) and seeing which rabbit hole Jack will wander down next!
May 5, 2026
Whoa! What have I just read? Fablenoir is an urban fantasy fairy tale and I've never read anything like it before - I loved it! This isn't a retelling but it is filled with recognisable characters from fairy tales, nursery rhymes and children's literature as you've never seen them before. Prepare to fall down the rabbit hole into Fablenoir.
Jack (of beanstalk fame) is a detective in New York but his addiction to magick beans sees him fall from grace. Talking of falls, that's what happens to Dick Dumpty and Jack is first on the scene. It should be Jack's case but Chief Cole sends him packing...right into the path of Goldilocks who is doing her own unofficial investigation. Jack and Goldilocks are such a great team and I loved how their (non-romantic) relationship developed over the course of the book.
The writing is incredibly atmospheric and it's like watching an old black and white detective movie coming to life before my eyes as I read Vic Sinclair's evocative and immersive words. I absolutely loved the refreshing and unique take on such well-known characters as they are rewritten very firmly into the dark side.
Dark, imaginative and atmospheric, Fablenoir is impossible to put down once you pick it up. I was completely mesmerised from the very first page and loved ever second of this original, bumpy and wild ride. I can't wait to continue the adventure in book two, Rose Red Undead.
Jack (of beanstalk fame) is a detective in New York but his addiction to magick beans sees him fall from grace. Talking of falls, that's what happens to Dick Dumpty and Jack is first on the scene. It should be Jack's case but Chief Cole sends him packing...right into the path of Goldilocks who is doing her own unofficial investigation. Jack and Goldilocks are such a great team and I loved how their (non-romantic) relationship developed over the course of the book.
The writing is incredibly atmospheric and it's like watching an old black and white detective movie coming to life before my eyes as I read Vic Sinclair's evocative and immersive words. I absolutely loved the refreshing and unique take on such well-known characters as they are rewritten very firmly into the dark side.
Dark, imaginative and atmospheric, Fablenoir is impossible to put down once you pick it up. I was completely mesmerised from the very first page and loved ever second of this original, bumpy and wild ride. I can't wait to continue the adventure in book two, Rose Red Undead.
September 16, 2025
What a pulse pounding, suspenseful and fast paced read- Fablenoir is a unique story that turns the beloved fairy tales of old and nursery rhyme characters on their head and flips it for a modern day detective mystery set in a world steeped in greed and corruption where every one is a bad guy with ulterior motives and only the main character and his newfound accomplice seem to be out for justice for the good guy.
Jack Slade (aka Jack and the beanstalk or Jack the giant killer turned brooding alcoholic police officer), finds himself thrown head first into a case of missing women along with entering the belly of the beast after the untimely death of the sadistic and cruel Dick Dumpty. It is up to Jack (with the help of Goldilocks an outlaw trying to out run her past) to bring the crooks to justice and avenge the innocent victims in order to bring safety back to the city.
However, they are in for a rude awakening when they come into contact with a number of deadly foes from different parts of the city determined to cover up what has happened and to continue to cause havoc and violence when they feel like it. The additional elements of supernatural forces added extra depth to the story along with the various dark and dank settings within the book.
I found this to be a fun, compelling and immersive read and I look forward to reading the sequel.
Thankyou to Net galley, the publisher and the author Vic Sinclair for an early arc of this unique and well written mystery thriller/ fantasy book.
Jack Slade (aka Jack and the beanstalk or Jack the giant killer turned brooding alcoholic police officer), finds himself thrown head first into a case of missing women along with entering the belly of the beast after the untimely death of the sadistic and cruel Dick Dumpty. It is up to Jack (with the help of Goldilocks an outlaw trying to out run her past) to bring the crooks to justice and avenge the innocent victims in order to bring safety back to the city.
However, they are in for a rude awakening when they come into contact with a number of deadly foes from different parts of the city determined to cover up what has happened and to continue to cause havoc and violence when they feel like it. The additional elements of supernatural forces added extra depth to the story along with the various dark and dank settings within the book.
I found this to be a fun, compelling and immersive read and I look forward to reading the sequel.
Thankyou to Net galley, the publisher and the author Vic Sinclair for an early arc of this unique and well written mystery thriller/ fantasy book.
June 26, 2025
Thankyou to lovebookstours and Vic Sinclair for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book. A fantastic retelling of classics. I adored the setting of this book.
The brutal world is very vivid and I felt immersed from the very first page. Jack, I really felt for him, he’s got a pretty miserable life to be honest, and that comes off really well. There’s a sadness seeping through the pages throughout this book and it made for a fantastic reading experience. I loved that fablenoir didn’t shy away from things that even though Jackson Slade is one of the good ones, he still has to do some pretty not so good stuff, the way this is explored through jacks POV was really interesting and again, I really did feel for him. The storyline was excellent. And the way all the characters like king Cole, papa bear, Goldilocks fit in was so cleverly done! I could not put this book down.
I loved this book. A fantastic retelling of classics. I adored the setting of this book.
The brutal world is very vivid and I felt immersed from the very first page. Jack, I really felt for him, he’s got a pretty miserable life to be honest, and that comes off really well. There’s a sadness seeping through the pages throughout this book and it made for a fantastic reading experience. I loved that fablenoir didn’t shy away from things that even though Jackson Slade is one of the good ones, he still has to do some pretty not so good stuff, the way this is explored through jacks POV was really interesting and again, I really did feel for him. The storyline was excellent. And the way all the characters like king Cole, papa bear, Goldilocks fit in was so cleverly done! I could not put this book down.
June 23, 2025
I don’t think that I’ve ever read such a unique crime book. Set in an alternate world in New York City, Fablenoir features many famous characters from familiar nursery rhymes and fairytales. Detective Jackson Slade (yes that Jack!) finds himself neck deep in a game of corruption, seemingly the only police officer who actually cares about preventing crime. When Dick Dumpty , a well known businessman is murdered, it’s just the beginning. Jack teams up with outlaw Goldilocks to try to bring down the gang leader Daddy Bear and his gang, who are responsible for all the corruption in the city. This is such a good read; I loved the whole concept. The way the familiar characters acted and were described was absolutely brilliant. I was hooked from the beginning and got through it very quickly. The story is well written with lots of action, twists and excitement. I can’t wait for the next book!
June 4, 2026
‘Fablenoir’ is an eerily beautiful read, it isn’t your average fluffy fairytale, it’s full of gore and sarcasm!!
I absolutely loved the combination of horror and fairytale, this is my first horror read and I’d definitely love to read more! I found this to be a fascinating plot especially with the crime and mystery element, everything flowed seamlessly. Everything was described in such detail which I really appreciate as I could fully immerse myself in the book! I’m excited to see what happens in book two especially with Goldilocks as I loved her character the most, my favourite part about her is how she’s portrayed as feisty with a hard exterior, gets things done but she also has a softer side to her.
If horror, gore and dark fairytales are your vibe then add this to your TBR!!
I absolutely loved the combination of horror and fairytale, this is my first horror read and I’d definitely love to read more! I found this to be a fascinating plot especially with the crime and mystery element, everything flowed seamlessly. Everything was described in such detail which I really appreciate as I could fully immerse myself in the book! I’m excited to see what happens in book two especially with Goldilocks as I loved her character the most, my favourite part about her is how she’s portrayed as feisty with a hard exterior, gets things done but she also has a softer side to her.
If horror, gore and dark fairytales are your vibe then add this to your TBR!!
January 6, 2026
This was a clash of Grimm fairytales but make it super urban, New York City urban. Every character is not what they seem or what you think they should be. Goldilocks is an outlaw, Jack is addicted to magick beans, and Hansel runs a night club.
Fairytales already have a twist but Vic Sinclair took that and turned it just a bit more. It made for an exciting read, if not a bit grotesque at points, as Jack and Goldilocks team up to fight crime.
I loved that these characters represented their modern day self but still were in their true forms. For example, Humpty Dumpty is still an egg and doesn’t bleed red but bleed yolk. I’m truly fascinated to see where this goes next!
Fairytales already have a twist but Vic Sinclair took that and turned it just a bit more. It made for an exciting read, if not a bit grotesque at points, as Jack and Goldilocks team up to fight crime.
I loved that these characters represented their modern day self but still were in their true forms. For example, Humpty Dumpty is still an egg and doesn’t bleed red but bleed yolk. I’m truly fascinated to see where this goes next!
July 16, 2025
This book was fantastic to read for anyone who grew up loving the fantasy stories that were told to the majority of us as kids. The main character is Jack, from Jack and the Beanstalk, and he is a detective in the NYPD dealing with all types of corruption. From the start, the author grabs the reader's attention by setting up a dark world where there are no good guys. From there you get deeper into the mystery surrounding the plot and you even get to meet other fantasy characters. Great read from start to finish and I can't wait to read the sequel!
August 30, 2026
Urban fantasy done Very Well Indeed. Gritty, engrossing and with enough action interspersed with thoughtful moments that allow the characters to all breathe (sometimes if only for a moment!).
My only quibble was how often people said something along the lines of 'you don't know the whole story'. I know this is a series and I'm fully invested, but stop taunting both the protagonist and the reader!
Harry Dresden by way of Grimm Fairytales. Excellent stuff.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book but the above opinions are entirely my own.
My only quibble was how often people said something along the lines of 'you don't know the whole story'. I know this is a series and I'm fully invested, but stop taunting both the protagonist and the reader!
Harry Dresden by way of Grimm Fairytales. Excellent stuff.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book but the above opinions are entirely my own.
June 22, 2025
I absolutely loved everything about this book.
As a newbie to the horror genre and I will definitely be exploring it more after this introduction. It captured the real visceral feeling of a horror movie for me.
The story line was so engaging and I adored the story book character concept. The writing style kept the pace up to create a frenetic and thrilling story. One that ended too soon. I really think this story can only get bigger and better in book 2… I for one can’t wait!
As a newbie to the horror genre and I will definitely be exploring it more after this introduction. It captured the real visceral feeling of a horror movie for me.
The story line was so engaging and I adored the story book character concept. The writing style kept the pace up to create a frenetic and thrilling story. One that ended too soon. I really think this story can only get bigger and better in book 2… I for one can’t wait!
June 10, 2025
Fablenoir is, without a doubt, the most twisted and original fairy tale reimagining that I've ever read. I thought it was a very clever idea and the writing was fantastic.
There were a lot of fairy tale inspired characters but with a much darker twist, including the main character Jackson. Detective Jackson Slade's days of giant slaying are behind him, and he needs magick beans just to get through the day.
I felt immersed in this fantasy world. The author gives us a lot of detail, and there are a lot of action scenes that kept a fast pace going.
The end was fantastic and really set up for potentially more books to create a series.
There were a lot of fairy tale inspired characters but with a much darker twist, including the main character Jackson. Detective Jackson Slade's days of giant slaying are behind him, and he needs magick beans just to get through the day.
I felt immersed in this fantasy world. The author gives us a lot of detail, and there are a lot of action scenes that kept a fast pace going.
The end was fantastic and really set up for potentially more books to create a series.
October 9, 2024
A promising debut.
Vic does a good job setting the scene. On the first page the line "Faded posters promoting bands that had broken up five years ago peeled away from the wooden walls" tells us everything about the bar in which we find ourselves and by extension our protagonist, a sad, drunk cop who used to be something. So far so noir.
Unfortunately this skill is not really applied to the bigger picture. While individual scenes are painted well throughout and Vic has a great flair for strong imagery, we never get to know Fablenoir's alt New York well as a setting. Worldbuilding is fed to us in vague tidbits and this harms the story. We're told the stakes frequently. Women and children are disappearing, Chief Cole and the NYPD's corruption is tearing the city apart. Were' told this, but with the exception of one woman whose kid has gone missing, , we're not shown it. We have no chance to form any emotional attachment to the city or its inhabitants because other than the villains we simply don't know any of them. So when the fate of the city hangs in the balance the tension that is supposed to generate just isn't there.
The characters we do meet are largely plucked from fairytales and folklore and twisted into various flavours of scumbag . This juxtaposition of the whimsical and the grimy is really what makes the novel interesting and Vic walks the tonal tightrope well.
As a protagonist I think Jack is pretty aimless and lacking in agency, the plot carries him along like a stick in a river. This is not partiulary unusual in crime fiction but it feels a little odd when he's paired with a sidekick in Goldilocks who has clear wants, takes action that impacts the plot, and has a personal history with the main villain to boot.
Jack has a magick bean addiction, while they are slowly killing him the beans also give him super senses. Pretty handy for a detective. I wish Jack would put them to more use. The description of the power in action is good though, and Vic does well sticking to Jack's voice throughout.
Fairly deep in the novel we meet Jack's second major ally, Ilsa Corral. She's another cop and she's a bit of a slave to the plot. From here on out the progression of the plot feels pretty contrived as we move towards an ending that poses a boatload of new questions, as you might expect from book 1 in a series. So many of the questions we've already been carrying throughout the novel are left unanswered, however and that leaves the ending feeling unsatisfying. The reader's emotional investment feels taken for granted when in truth it must be hard earned.
I realise this review might come across as harsh but I don't write it to be discouraging. I see a lot of potential in Vic's writing and I'm confident he can go on to write something really good.
Thanks to Vic for the ARC he provided for this review.
Vic does a good job setting the scene. On the first page the line "Faded posters promoting bands that had broken up five years ago peeled away from the wooden walls" tells us everything about the bar in which we find ourselves and by extension our protagonist, a sad, drunk cop who used to be something. So far so noir.
Unfortunately this skill is not really applied to the bigger picture. While individual scenes are painted well throughout and Vic has a great flair for strong imagery, we never get to know Fablenoir's alt New York well as a setting. Worldbuilding is fed to us in vague tidbits and this harms the story. We're told the stakes frequently. Women and children are disappearing, Chief Cole and the NYPD's corruption is tearing the city apart. Were' told this, but with the exception of one woman whose kid has gone missing, , we're not shown it. We have no chance to form any emotional attachment to the city or its inhabitants because other than the villains we simply don't know any of them. So when the fate of the city hangs in the balance the tension that is supposed to generate just isn't there.
The characters we do meet are largely plucked from fairytales and folklore and twisted into various flavours of scumbag . This juxtaposition of the whimsical and the grimy is really what makes the novel interesting and Vic walks the tonal tightrope well.
As a protagonist I think Jack is pretty aimless and lacking in agency, the plot carries him along like a stick in a river. This is not partiulary unusual in crime fiction but it feels a little odd when he's paired with a sidekick in Goldilocks who has clear wants, takes action that impacts the plot, and has a personal history with the main villain to boot.
Jack has a magick bean addiction, while they are slowly killing him the beans also give him super senses. Pretty handy for a detective. I wish Jack would put them to more use. The description of the power in action is good though, and Vic does well sticking to Jack's voice throughout.
Fairly deep in the novel we meet Jack's second major ally, Ilsa Corral. She's another cop and she's a bit of a slave to the plot. From here on out the progression of the plot feels pretty contrived as we move towards an ending that poses a boatload of new questions, as you might expect from book 1 in a series. So many of the questions we've already been carrying throughout the novel are left unanswered, however and that leaves the ending feeling unsatisfying. The reader's emotional investment feels taken for granted when in truth it must be hard earned.
I realise this review might come across as harsh but I don't write it to be discouraging. I see a lot of potential in Vic's writing and I'm confident he can go on to write something really good.
Thanks to Vic for the ARC he provided for this review.
September 20, 2025
Jack climbed the beanstalk, and slayed the giant. That was fifteen years ago, that seems like a life time to Jack. Being a giant slayer is a lot to live up to, even if it is him living up to his own reputation.
These days, Jack would take a giant over his day to day life as a has been detective hooked on magick beans. The city he loves is now corrupted down to the very core, him along with it. Jack Slade , NYPD detective was once a revered and honorable detective. As the saying goes the bigger they are the harder they fall, and for Jack, well it applies to more than giants.
Jack spends his days doing beet work for the NYPD and the bottom of the barrel cases that no one else takes, at night he spends his time in hole in the wall bars, drinking till he cant remember and hoping one day he may just stop feeling any thing at all. Hes got nothing , and no one to loose.
One night, changes everything. When Jack is on his way home he comes across a crime scene that sets him on a path to change his life and maybe change everything. To solve this case he will team up with a wanted outlaw who shows him the real and darkest parts of NYC and the people who are behind some of the darkest deeds.
Jack and his new partner stumble into something that has the ability to change everything, either for the better or worse.
This story is full of so many of the characters that we grew up loving, however there isn't a happily ever after. Combining so many fairytale stories and characters into a real Noir crime novel wasn't something i had seen before. However I am so glad i picked up this book. The story is very well paced and you don't have to read to far to get the action started. The way the stories from childhood are twisted in to a dark modern day world was really cool. You get the feel of a true urban fantasy / fairytale with a Sin city sort of nior feel.
The world that was built has so much potential for more books in this series as well as spin offs or other stories that can take place in the world of Fablenoir following other childhood favorites in this modernized dark urban fantasy setting. Im not typically one to pick up an urban fantasy but i am so glad i did, and i cant wait to see where book two takes us!
Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC for review.
These days, Jack would take a giant over his day to day life as a has been detective hooked on magick beans. The city he loves is now corrupted down to the very core, him along with it. Jack Slade , NYPD detective was once a revered and honorable detective. As the saying goes the bigger they are the harder they fall, and for Jack, well it applies to more than giants.
Jack spends his days doing beet work for the NYPD and the bottom of the barrel cases that no one else takes, at night he spends his time in hole in the wall bars, drinking till he cant remember and hoping one day he may just stop feeling any thing at all. Hes got nothing , and no one to loose.
One night, changes everything. When Jack is on his way home he comes across a crime scene that sets him on a path to change his life and maybe change everything. To solve this case he will team up with a wanted outlaw who shows him the real and darkest parts of NYC and the people who are behind some of the darkest deeds.
Jack and his new partner stumble into something that has the ability to change everything, either for the better or worse.
This story is full of so many of the characters that we grew up loving, however there isn't a happily ever after. Combining so many fairytale stories and characters into a real Noir crime novel wasn't something i had seen before. However I am so glad i picked up this book. The story is very well paced and you don't have to read to far to get the action started. The way the stories from childhood are twisted in to a dark modern day world was really cool. You get the feel of a true urban fantasy / fairytale with a Sin city sort of nior feel.
The world that was built has so much potential for more books in this series as well as spin offs or other stories that can take place in the world of Fablenoir following other childhood favorites in this modernized dark urban fantasy setting. Im not typically one to pick up an urban fantasy but i am so glad i did, and i cant wait to see where book two takes us!
Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC for review.
April 30, 2026
This is book one in the Fablenoir series and follows the downward spiral of NYPD Detective Jackson Slade. We find him quickly approaching rock bottom, he is an alcoholic, barely surviving on magic beans. Once a hero who took down a giant, and an ace detective, a shining star who was expected to go places. Now he has been froze out and ostracised by his colleagues. He spends his days and nights drinking himself into oblivion then relying on magic beans to pick him up enough to function, and basically feeling sorry for himself. He is struggling with all of this when late one night he finds the body of Billionaire media mogul Dick Dumpty. This is the start of a dangerous path for Jack, ands he doesn’t know who to trust, he finds himself caught between two warring factions, both trying to take control of New York, and he isn’t sure if he will make it out alive, but he does know that the outcome will change the world, one way or another.
Now I’m not really sure what I was expecting, maybe something a little bit more fairytale-like perhaps, but I can tell you right now that this is not that, like at all, it couldn’t be further from a fairytale if it tried. Think Grimm Brothers rather than Disney! Whilst it is jam packed full of fairytale characters we all know and love, their names are about the only similarity. It is dark and twisted and disturbing, it’s full of corruption, lies, secrets, gangs, outlaws, with a thread of mystery running through it in terms of missing women and children. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. On a morals scale the “good guys” start at morally grey and we move up that scale until we get to a completely moralless blackhole.
I really enjoyed Vic’s writing style and world building. I loved the whole flipping the fairytale characters on their heads to something much darker and more disturbing. This book was a great rollercoaster ride from the first page to the last, with some great plot twists and red herrings. From the end of this book I get the impression that Jack’s journey is far from over, and I for one am very glad because I need to know more about this world. I can’t wait to discover what Vic has in store for us next. This was a great 4 star read for me and I would definitely recommend.
Now I’m not really sure what I was expecting, maybe something a little bit more fairytale-like perhaps, but I can tell you right now that this is not that, like at all, it couldn’t be further from a fairytale if it tried. Think Grimm Brothers rather than Disney! Whilst it is jam packed full of fairytale characters we all know and love, their names are about the only similarity. It is dark and twisted and disturbing, it’s full of corruption, lies, secrets, gangs, outlaws, with a thread of mystery running through it in terms of missing women and children. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. On a morals scale the “good guys” start at morally grey and we move up that scale until we get to a completely moralless blackhole.
I really enjoyed Vic’s writing style and world building. I loved the whole flipping the fairytale characters on their heads to something much darker and more disturbing. This book was a great rollercoaster ride from the first page to the last, with some great plot twists and red herrings. From the end of this book I get the impression that Jack’s journey is far from over, and I for one am very glad because I need to know more about this world. I can’t wait to discover what Vic has in store for us next. This was a great 4 star read for me and I would definitely recommend.
June 22, 2025
I was initially drawn to read this book as I adored the Jasper Fforde Thursday Next series which is a similar vein of a detective investigating fairy tale crimes. But Fablenoir takes it to a darker, grittier, twisty setting. Fablenoir reads like a dark crime novel but moves at the pace of a Hollywood blockbuster action film (think Sin City or Max Payne). There are car chases, gun fights and lots of tension!
We meet Jackson Slade, a burnt-out NYPD cop with an addiction to magick beans and alcohol, fading from favour after slaying the Giant (yes, he’s Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk). Jackson is fighting crime and his own internal demons. Stumbling one night across the corpse of Dick Dumpty it leads Jack on a terrifying, blood-soaked journey of crime and corruption in the heart of the city he calls home.
The book tackles some big themes including corruption, addiction, abuse and trafficking against a backdrop of famous literary fairy-tale characters.
I loved the kick-ass, can-do attitude of Goldilocks, all grown up into a outlaw, gun-slinging action heroine, battling to bring down her former boss Papa Bear, who has his own humorous moment brandishing a Tommy Gun as he directs his gang in a gun battle!
A word of caution, there is a fair amount of swearing in this novel and gratuitous violence, which in my opinion would not make it suitable for passing to teen readers.
If you are a fan of brooding detectives who are a shell of their former selves, battling the police and political system and their own demons to stay just on the right side of the law then this is THE story for you. But hold on to your hat, you are in for a wild ride!
Book one has a lot of open endings to be resolved, and I am looking forward to seeing what happens in future stories.
We meet Jackson Slade, a burnt-out NYPD cop with an addiction to magick beans and alcohol, fading from favour after slaying the Giant (yes, he’s Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk). Jackson is fighting crime and his own internal demons. Stumbling one night across the corpse of Dick Dumpty it leads Jack on a terrifying, blood-soaked journey of crime and corruption in the heart of the city he calls home.
The book tackles some big themes including corruption, addiction, abuse and trafficking against a backdrop of famous literary fairy-tale characters.
I loved the kick-ass, can-do attitude of Goldilocks, all grown up into a outlaw, gun-slinging action heroine, battling to bring down her former boss Papa Bear, who has his own humorous moment brandishing a Tommy Gun as he directs his gang in a gun battle!
A word of caution, there is a fair amount of swearing in this novel and gratuitous violence, which in my opinion would not make it suitable for passing to teen readers.
If you are a fan of brooding detectives who are a shell of their former selves, battling the police and political system and their own demons to stay just on the right side of the law then this is THE story for you. But hold on to your hat, you are in for a wild ride!
Book one has a lot of open endings to be resolved, and I am looking forward to seeing what happens in future stories.
June 24, 2025
HisBook REVIEW 🔵
Fablenoir by Vic Sinclair
🪓Years after his triumphant slaying of the giant, Jackson “Jack” Slade is a Detective with the NYPD.
🚔Once a respected officer of the law, he’s now dependent on “magick” beans in order to cope with day to day life. Working under the detestable Chief Cole - a descendant of giants - he’s become disillusioned by the corruption within his department and his powerlessness to invoke real change.
🥚But after stumbling upon the yolk-splattered corpse of Dick Dumpty scrambled on the pavement, Jack is pulled deeper into the seedy underworld - uncovering a mystery far bigger than he could’ve imagined.
🌃Set in New York - presented here as a dirty, gritty metropolis with shady characters around every corner - the “noir” style works well, with our protagonist Jack - heavily flawed but with good intentions, desperate to step out of his own shadow. He’s joined along the way by outlaw Goldilocks who’s on a personal mission against Papa Bear after the abuse she suffered at the hands of his twisted right-hand man, Bluebeard.
💭Fablenoir is a dark, imaginative re-telling of classic fairy tales and nursery rhymes. The cast is full of familiar names - but not as we remember them. Here, they’re exaggerated versions of themselves and often bound by the very vices from their stories.
The plot flows well, full of twists and plenty of action. I especially enjoyed how the author reimagines these age-old tales in a way that feels both fresh and grounded in the noir genre.
This is book one in a series, and I’m eager to see where it goes next. The ending was satisfying but left me wanting more - in the best possible way!
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
—
Thank you to @vicsinclairv and @lovebookstours for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
#Ad #LBTCrew #Bookstagram #FreeBookReview #LBTVirtualBookTour #Gifted
Fablenoir by Vic Sinclair
🪓Years after his triumphant slaying of the giant, Jackson “Jack” Slade is a Detective with the NYPD.
🚔Once a respected officer of the law, he’s now dependent on “magick” beans in order to cope with day to day life. Working under the detestable Chief Cole - a descendant of giants - he’s become disillusioned by the corruption within his department and his powerlessness to invoke real change.
🥚But after stumbling upon the yolk-splattered corpse of Dick Dumpty scrambled on the pavement, Jack is pulled deeper into the seedy underworld - uncovering a mystery far bigger than he could’ve imagined.
🌃Set in New York - presented here as a dirty, gritty metropolis with shady characters around every corner - the “noir” style works well, with our protagonist Jack - heavily flawed but with good intentions, desperate to step out of his own shadow. He’s joined along the way by outlaw Goldilocks who’s on a personal mission against Papa Bear after the abuse she suffered at the hands of his twisted right-hand man, Bluebeard.
💭Fablenoir is a dark, imaginative re-telling of classic fairy tales and nursery rhymes. The cast is full of familiar names - but not as we remember them. Here, they’re exaggerated versions of themselves and often bound by the very vices from their stories.
The plot flows well, full of twists and plenty of action. I especially enjoyed how the author reimagines these age-old tales in a way that feels both fresh and grounded in the noir genre.
This is book one in a series, and I’m eager to see where it goes next. The ending was satisfying but left me wanting more - in the best possible way!
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
—
Thank you to @vicsinclairv and @lovebookstours for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
#Ad #LBTCrew #Bookstagram #FreeBookReview #LBTVirtualBookTour #Gifted
June 2, 2026
⭐ 4 Stars
Fable Noir delivers a creative and memorable take on familiar fairy tale characters by placing them inside a dark urban fantasy setting filled with mystery, corruption, and magic.
The story follows Jackson Slade, a former giant slayer who now works as a detective while struggling with the weight of his past. He is far from a perfect hero, which made him feel authentic and engaging throughout the story. Watching him navigate dangerous investigations while dealing with his own personal challenges added an emotional layer that kept me invested.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is its atmosphere. The blend of noir detective fiction and fantasy works surprisingly well. The setting feels gritty, unpredictable, and alive, creating a world that stands apart from many traditional fantasy novels.
The reimagined fairy tale characters were another highlight. Rather than relying on familiar stories, the author reshapes these characters into complex individuals with their own motivations and flaws. This approach helped the world feel fresh and original.
I also appreciated that the book balanced its darker themes with occasional moments of humor. Those lighter moments provided relief without taking away from the overall tone of the story.
My main criticism is that the story introduces a large number of characters, plotlines, and worldbuilding elements. While the ambition is impressive, there were times when the amount of information slowed the pacing and required extra attention to keep track of everything.
Overall, Fable Noir offers an imaginative twist on classic fairy tales while delivering an engaging mystery and an immersive fantasy world. Readers who enjoy dark fantasy, urban fantasy, detective stories, and morally complex characters will likely find a lot to enjoy here.
Fable Noir delivers a creative and memorable take on familiar fairy tale characters by placing them inside a dark urban fantasy setting filled with mystery, corruption, and magic.
The story follows Jackson Slade, a former giant slayer who now works as a detective while struggling with the weight of his past. He is far from a perfect hero, which made him feel authentic and engaging throughout the story. Watching him navigate dangerous investigations while dealing with his own personal challenges added an emotional layer that kept me invested.
One of the strongest aspects of the book is its atmosphere. The blend of noir detective fiction and fantasy works surprisingly well. The setting feels gritty, unpredictable, and alive, creating a world that stands apart from many traditional fantasy novels.
The reimagined fairy tale characters were another highlight. Rather than relying on familiar stories, the author reshapes these characters into complex individuals with their own motivations and flaws. This approach helped the world feel fresh and original.
I also appreciated that the book balanced its darker themes with occasional moments of humor. Those lighter moments provided relief without taking away from the overall tone of the story.
My main criticism is that the story introduces a large number of characters, plotlines, and worldbuilding elements. While the ambition is impressive, there were times when the amount of information slowed the pacing and required extra attention to keep track of everything.
Overall, Fable Noir offers an imaginative twist on classic fairy tales while delivering an engaging mystery and an immersive fantasy world. Readers who enjoy dark fantasy, urban fantasy, detective stories, and morally complex characters will likely find a lot to enjoy here.
December 27, 2025
Enter into the gritty urban fantasy world of Fablenoir by Vic Sinclair. The book follows NYPD detective Jackson Slade, most famously known as Jack and the giant beanstalk, who slayed the giant 15 years ago. Following this stint, Jack becomes a detective to solve crimes. However, the NYPD has changed dramatically over the years due to the influence of corrupt chief of police, Cole. As a result, New York is overrun with corrupt and depraved figures and so much crime, and Jack cannot do anything about it despite being one of the best detectives in the force. He drinks every night and takes magik beans to cope with this dark world as he is relegated to desk duty and solving minor incidents. Until one night when he accidentally stumbles upon the corpse of Dick Dumpty, a high-profile media mogul. He flees from the scene knowing that no police report will be filed or any news will be reported because of the likelihood the NYPD will cover this crime up. Jack does not want to let this case go because he knows that this murder goes much deeper than anyone actually knows. This leads him to outlaw Goldilocks and former member of the notorious Papa Bear’s gang. They reluctantly team up to uncover the truth and expose the crimes of the corrupt leaders in New York.
I was immediately drawn to this book once I heard about the book being a dark fairytale retelling. I love that they included so many different classic fairytale characters and instead of using the same story/personality from the fairytales, the author made it seem like they were their own character. For instance, Goldilocks is not your typical Goldilocks, instead she is a badass fmc who does what it takes to survive but also makes sure she is doing the right thing. I also enjoyed the portrayal of Jack as an antihero; he is a dedicated detective wanting to solve crimes but also has a dark side to him. He often abuses alcohol and magik beans (drugs) to make in such a corrupt world, but it never impacts his moral compass. This book is action-packed and will constantly keep you on your toes wanting more. I had a fun time reading this book and cannot wait for more in the series. Thank you to R & R Book Tour and Vic Sinclair for this gifted copy of Fablenoir!
Visit my blog for more book reviews: https://christinaschapterblog.wpcomst...
I was immediately drawn to this book once I heard about the book being a dark fairytale retelling. I love that they included so many different classic fairytale characters and instead of using the same story/personality from the fairytales, the author made it seem like they were their own character. For instance, Goldilocks is not your typical Goldilocks, instead she is a badass fmc who does what it takes to survive but also makes sure she is doing the right thing. I also enjoyed the portrayal of Jack as an antihero; he is a dedicated detective wanting to solve crimes but also has a dark side to him. He often abuses alcohol and magik beans (drugs) to make in such a corrupt world, but it never impacts his moral compass. This book is action-packed and will constantly keep you on your toes wanting more. I had a fun time reading this book and cannot wait for more in the series. Thank you to R & R Book Tour and Vic Sinclair for this gifted copy of Fablenoir!
Visit my blog for more book reviews: https://christinaschapterblog.wpcomst...
June 24, 2025
Unique, gritty, packed with action and characters from fables and fairy tales, I can honestly say I never knew what was going to happen next in this book. This is an urban fantasy that is a retelling mixed a crime novel with film noir vibes. I know, right? Honestly, you can't picture it, so you might as well pick it up. The chapters were a bit long, I would have liked more inherent breaks, because honestly? I had to set it down to wrap my head around what all was going on. It was a really good story, and the start of a series, so the next book I won't have to figure out the lay of the land like this one. I can't wait to check out the next one!
Detective Jack Slade was known as The Giant Slayer back when he was growing up, but those days are long behind him. He used to be one of the few good detectives on NYPD, not corrupt and looking the other way. But somewhere along the way he has become cynical and started coping with magic beans and alcohol. But on a drunken walk home, he stumbles upon the body of Dick Dumpty, one of the kingpins of the city. Despite Chief Cole ordering him off the case and sweeping it under the rug, he feels the urge to investigate, to try and do some good. And his first step is tracking down the woman that was standing over Dumpty's body when he got there. The one with long golden hair.
Thank you to Love Books Tours for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
Detective Jack Slade was known as The Giant Slayer back when he was growing up, but those days are long behind him. He used to be one of the few good detectives on NYPD, not corrupt and looking the other way. But somewhere along the way he has become cynical and started coping with magic beans and alcohol. But on a drunken walk home, he stumbles upon the body of Dick Dumpty, one of the kingpins of the city. Despite Chief Cole ordering him off the case and sweeping it under the rug, he feels the urge to investigate, to try and do some good. And his first step is tracking down the woman that was standing over Dumpty's body when he got there. The one with long golden hair.
Thank you to Love Books Tours for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
June 1, 2026
This is nothing like I’ve read before. Gritty Crime mixed with dark fairytale. It had me turning pages pretty fast to see what and who we were going to meet next.
It starts off with NYPD Jack (the giant slayer. Aka Jack & the beanstalk) in a bar with posters of bands that broke up 5 years ago. Who’s burnt out with an addiction to alcohol and magick beans. That seems to give him heightened senses and a new lease of his body. He stumbles out of the bar and witnesses a corpse on the floor., Dick Dumpty. (Humpty Dumpty had a great fall) And here, the dark tale begins.
I liked how Humpty, when found ‘cracked’ was an actual egg inside. Despite being a character of power.
The seven dwarfs had a mouth on them. That’s definitely not how I remember Doc to be 😆 shocking.
You also get to meet other fairytale characters and folklore along the way, but not as we knew them growing up. So I was intrigued to see who and what they would be like.
Like Jack himself, sometimes I had no idea what was going on.
Goldilocks was bad ass. A dangerous gun slinging outlaw. Woman on a mission. Who always appeared when Jack was in trouble with a quick tongue.
The world building was a little intense for my liking. I’m not one for in-depth world building. As I’m not one for imagination. I just like the story.
Nonetheless it was an interesting read and it left the ending open so it will be exciting to see what’s in store next for Jack and Goldie.
It starts off with NYPD Jack (the giant slayer. Aka Jack & the beanstalk) in a bar with posters of bands that broke up 5 years ago. Who’s burnt out with an addiction to alcohol and magick beans. That seems to give him heightened senses and a new lease of his body. He stumbles out of the bar and witnesses a corpse on the floor., Dick Dumpty. (Humpty Dumpty had a great fall) And here, the dark tale begins.
I liked how Humpty, when found ‘cracked’ was an actual egg inside. Despite being a character of power.
The seven dwarfs had a mouth on them. That’s definitely not how I remember Doc to be 😆 shocking.
You also get to meet other fairytale characters and folklore along the way, but not as we knew them growing up. So I was intrigued to see who and what they would be like.
Like Jack himself, sometimes I had no idea what was going on.
Goldilocks was bad ass. A dangerous gun slinging outlaw. Woman on a mission. Who always appeared when Jack was in trouble with a quick tongue.
The world building was a little intense for my liking. I’m not one for in-depth world building. As I’m not one for imagination. I just like the story.
Nonetheless it was an interesting read and it left the ending open so it will be exciting to see what’s in store next for Jack and Goldie.
September 9, 2024
Right from the start, as you step out of the bar with Jack into immediate action with a gang of oddly familiar faces, you know it's gonna be everything you'd want from a gritty crime noir with some delicious twists. The extent of the difference between Jack's world and ours steadily reveals itself in ways that feel totally natural even as they surprise, perfectly integrated into the narrative. A setting full of possibilities keeps you guessing, and the stakes slowly ramp up for the characters, a compelling mix of contrasting values, personal conflicts and motivations ranging from the hopelessly valiant to the utterly deranged. Absolutely loving the takes on classic figures appearing as back-alley doctors, sleazy bar managers and the like, don't wanna give anything away but they just work in a way that's so totally satisfying.
Definitely found myself more and more attached to Jack and Goldilocks, you get to ride along in a way that really lets you feel and hope for them, especially as their struggles take them down roads full of decisions you'd never be able to make yourself.
Written with a wry sense of humour to begin with, quickly becoming grim and sometimes gory, at the story's heart is a thrilling mystery that leaves you eager for more, and I can't wait to see where it goes next!
Thanks to the author for my arc copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Definitely found myself more and more attached to Jack and Goldilocks, you get to ride along in a way that really lets you feel and hope for them, especially as their struggles take them down roads full of decisions you'd never be able to make yourself.
Written with a wry sense of humour to begin with, quickly becoming grim and sometimes gory, at the story's heart is a thrilling mystery that leaves you eager for more, and I can't wait to see where it goes next!
Thanks to the author for my arc copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2024
I received a copy of the novel from Viracious Readers Only. It is a fantasy/thriller story and I loved the author’s noir version of notable fairy tale and other characters.
Jackson Slade, the famed giant slayer, is a NYPD detective, who’s very unsatisfied with the easy to solve cases he’s being assigned. Part of this is his own fault because he is addicted to magick beans. His boss is a descendant of King Cole but is not a jolly old man. One night, he comes across a disturbing scene. Dick Dumpty (yes, as in Humpty Dumpty) is dead on the cement, his egg body splattered on the pavement. Jack seizes the opportunity to claim it as his crime scene. Did Dumpty commit suicide or was it murder? Alas, Cole shows up at the scene and tells Jack to cease any investigation and that he was taking the case over.
Undaunted, Jack continues his investigation. This leads to him meeting Jess Robicheaux, also known as Goldilocks. She’s a tenacious woman, who doesn’t mince words and takes action when necessary.
I won’t delve into the story because I don’t reveal spoilers. The book does end on a cliff hanger and I can’t wait to read the next novel! The only reason why I didn’t give the book a 5* is because I hate when a book jumps between characters.
Jackson Slade, the famed giant slayer, is a NYPD detective, who’s very unsatisfied with the easy to solve cases he’s being assigned. Part of this is his own fault because he is addicted to magick beans. His boss is a descendant of King Cole but is not a jolly old man. One night, he comes across a disturbing scene. Dick Dumpty (yes, as in Humpty Dumpty) is dead on the cement, his egg body splattered on the pavement. Jack seizes the opportunity to claim it as his crime scene. Did Dumpty commit suicide or was it murder? Alas, Cole shows up at the scene and tells Jack to cease any investigation and that he was taking the case over.
Undaunted, Jack continues his investigation. This leads to him meeting Jess Robicheaux, also known as Goldilocks. She’s a tenacious woman, who doesn’t mince words and takes action when necessary.
I won’t delve into the story because I don’t reveal spoilers. The book does end on a cliff hanger and I can’t wait to read the next novel! The only reason why I didn’t give the book a 5* is because I hate when a book jumps between characters.
August 27, 2025
This book caught my eye mainly because of the cover and after reading the description I was genuinely excited.
What I liked about the book:
The complexity of the characters- the main character is a troubled detective with an addiction, similar to Harry Hole and other detectives like that. The female side character is original, courageous and also a criminal
The setting- I really like dark corrupted cities with a rich underworld and this delivered exactly that, although perhaps some more creepy descriptions of the city wouldn't hurt instead of so many thoughts and feelings
The concept- a world full of well-known fairytale characters doing shifty stuff and having real jobs was really interesting and I appreciate the creativity with which the original character stories were worked into the world
What I didn't like that much:
I didn't expect the book to be quite so dark and brutal. Some of the death scenes were really wild. I also got confused a couple of times between the characters. Overall I felt like something was missing throughout the story, and I wasn't very emotionally attached to anyone.
I'm sure the next book/s in this series will be even better.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC
What I liked about the book:
The complexity of the characters- the main character is a troubled detective with an addiction, similar to Harry Hole and other detectives like that. The female side character is original, courageous and also a criminal
The setting- I really like dark corrupted cities with a rich underworld and this delivered exactly that, although perhaps some more creepy descriptions of the city wouldn't hurt instead of so many thoughts and feelings
The concept- a world full of well-known fairytale characters doing shifty stuff and having real jobs was really interesting and I appreciate the creativity with which the original character stories were worked into the world
What I didn't like that much:
I didn't expect the book to be quite so dark and brutal. Some of the death scenes were really wild. I also got confused a couple of times between the characters. Overall I felt like something was missing throughout the story, and I wasn't very emotionally attached to anyone.
I'm sure the next book/s in this series will be even better.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC
January 11, 2026
Fablenoir by Vic Sinclair is book 1 in the new FableNoir urban fantasy series by the author.
The book follows Detective Jackson Slade of the NYPD, set in a world of fabled characters. I really enjoyed that twist on the world of Jack. I also liked the message about Jack being THE Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk and him being a hero, but then inevitably having a fall from grace and struggling with just living as a 'normal person'. One night while Jack is struggling with drug addictions and alcohol, he witnesses a horrible crime with billionaire media man Dick Dumpty and is immediately ushered away from the scene of the crime by the superiors of the police department. There are missing girls and women and unanswered questions all leading back to Dumpty and very dirty cops. This was an interesting and unique story that follows a cop finding his way back to being a success and also teaming up with Goldilocks who is an outlaw in this book, loved that it was so perfect for her character. I loved that ending where we get a wrap on the first book but there is obviously much more to the story and I can not wait to read it! I highly recommend this one of fans of action packed thrillers and also a great fable/fairy tale built world with excellently written characters!
The book follows Detective Jackson Slade of the NYPD, set in a world of fabled characters. I really enjoyed that twist on the world of Jack. I also liked the message about Jack being THE Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk and him being a hero, but then inevitably having a fall from grace and struggling with just living as a 'normal person'. One night while Jack is struggling with drug addictions and alcohol, he witnesses a horrible crime with billionaire media man Dick Dumpty and is immediately ushered away from the scene of the crime by the superiors of the police department. There are missing girls and women and unanswered questions all leading back to Dumpty and very dirty cops. This was an interesting and unique story that follows a cop finding his way back to being a success and also teaming up with Goldilocks who is an outlaw in this book, loved that it was so perfect for her character. I loved that ending where we get a wrap on the first book but there is obviously much more to the story and I can not wait to read it! I highly recommend this one of fans of action packed thrillers and also a great fable/fairy tale built world with excellently written characters!
May 26, 2026
Review time for Fablenoir!
Author: Vic Sinclair
Booktour: QP book tours
I enjoyed Fablenoir. It was fast-paced and a unique take on the fairytales that I grew up on. It made the world feel more exciting with all the different characters.
I enjoyed the storyline and how the characters were detailed, especially Jack and Goldilocks. They were my favorite characters in this book. Both of them have a past, and both of them are dealing with it in their own way.
I can’t wait to see what the rest of the series holds. I am excited to see more moments between Jack and Goldilocks.
One thing that I thought was cool is how magic is spelled: magick. Vic Sinclair told me why he chose the unique spelling. He wanted “magick” to have an ancient feel and for it to be intentionally mysterious. Well, it definitely does feel ancient and mysterious.
There is some content that might not be for everyone:
-drug use
-murder
-death
-profanity
The only thing I didn’t like was the profanity. There was just so much profanity that it was hard to read at times. I do get that this book is a darker book, but I felt that most of the words didn’t have to be used.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book. I loved the different take on the fairytales.
Author: Vic Sinclair
Booktour: QP book tours
I enjoyed Fablenoir. It was fast-paced and a unique take on the fairytales that I grew up on. It made the world feel more exciting with all the different characters.
I enjoyed the storyline and how the characters were detailed, especially Jack and Goldilocks. They were my favorite characters in this book. Both of them have a past, and both of them are dealing with it in their own way.
I can’t wait to see what the rest of the series holds. I am excited to see more moments between Jack and Goldilocks.
One thing that I thought was cool is how magic is spelled: magick. Vic Sinclair told me why he chose the unique spelling. He wanted “magick” to have an ancient feel and for it to be intentionally mysterious. Well, it definitely does feel ancient and mysterious.
There is some content that might not be for everyone:
-drug use
-murder
-death
-profanity
The only thing I didn’t like was the profanity. There was just so much profanity that it was hard to read at times. I do get that this book is a darker book, but I felt that most of the words didn’t have to be used.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book. I loved the different take on the fairytales.
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