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The Inside Story of the British Bureau for the Arcane: The Carolean Codex
Civil war is about to engulf the fae. The last time it happened, in 1666, it led to The Great Fire of London. This time, the presence of a mysterious third party promises disaster.
After saving the British Bureau for the Arcane from its enemies, Arlo Austin and his son Tayn are back. While they recovered in New Zealand, the Bureau has undergone huge changes, thanks to its new leader, Sylvia Kent. Having eliminated corruption, the Bureau is leaner, more efficient. It also lacks the experts needed to intervene in a civil war between the fae.
The only person able to prevent the conflict is Arlo. He knows all the potential combatants. Except that’s also the problem, he could be another source of corruption. It looks like the Bureau’s famous warrior compromised its neutrality in the past - and the consequences are dire. Especially when Tayn is drawn into the fae’s political machinations, on the opposite side.
Book 2 in the noir fantasy that's been described as "the fantasy version of Men in Black". Or "A grimdark version of James Bond with mythical monsters".
After saving the British Bureau for the Arcane from its enemies, Arlo Austin and his son Tayn are back. While they recovered in New Zealand, the Bureau has undergone huge changes, thanks to its new leader, Sylvia Kent. Having eliminated corruption, the Bureau is leaner, more efficient. It also lacks the experts needed to intervene in a civil war between the fae.
The only person able to prevent the conflict is Arlo. He knows all the potential combatants. Except that’s also the problem, he could be another source of corruption. It looks like the Bureau’s famous warrior compromised its neutrality in the past - and the consequences are dire. Especially when Tayn is drawn into the fae’s political machinations, on the opposite side.
Book 2 in the noir fantasy that's been described as "the fantasy version of Men in Black". Or "A grimdark version of James Bond with mythical monsters".
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 15, 2025
2 people want to read
About the author
Phil Parker
10 books31 followersPhil Parker herds words around the page. Sometimes they cooperate. Usually they don't.
He loves reading speculative fiction of all kinds, blogs and reviews at https://www.philparker-fantasywriter.com
Author of:
* The Chronicles of the Bastard, Robin Goodfellow (a prequel anthology leading into the Knight's Protocol trilogy)
* The Bastard from Fairyland
* The Bastard in the Dark
* Revenge for the Bastard
which form the Knights' Protocol trilogy - re-issued 2021
* The Valkyrie of Vanaheim (2022)
* City of Onyx (2023)
* The Inside Story of the British Bureau for the Arcane - The Dark Elf Dynasty File (2024)
He loves reading speculative fiction of all kinds, blogs and reviews at https://www.philparker-fantasywriter.com
Author of:
* The Chronicles of the Bastard, Robin Goodfellow (a prequel anthology leading into the Knight's Protocol trilogy)
* The Bastard from Fairyland
* The Bastard in the Dark
* Revenge for the Bastard
which form the Knights' Protocol trilogy - re-issued 2021
* The Valkyrie of Vanaheim (2022)
* City of Onyx (2023)
* The Inside Story of the British Bureau for the Arcane - The Dark Elf Dynasty File (2024)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 16, 2025
An excellent addition to this series by Phil. I do like his use of folklore which he moulds to suit his needs when telling the story of Arlo.
This book is well written and has great character development and lots of twists and turns to keep us readers guessing till the end.
Story has good pacing and doesn’t hang around, wish it could have been longer.
A real good example of urban fantasy noir.
Highly recommended.
This book is well written and has great character development and lots of twists and turns to keep us readers guessing till the end.
Story has good pacing and doesn’t hang around, wish it could have been longer.
A real good example of urban fantasy noir.
Highly recommended.
March 24, 2025
In the second instalment of The Inside Story of the British Bureau for the Arcane, Phil Parker seems to have found his target genre: James Bond, but make it urban fantasy and with parental issues. Tayn, Arlo’s son, who made his first gentle appearance in the first book, has taken over half of The Carolean Codex. His perspective is welcome and very different from Arlo’s sometimes irritating stoicism.
The worldbuilding I so enjoyed in The Dark Elf Dynasty File is sadly missing from The Carolean Codex. This book reads more like a thriller – but with fae and dark elves. Honestly, there should be fewer Tom Clancy and whossit that has all those ghostwriters, Patterson? – and more of this.
Apart from triggering some of my minor personal pet peeves related to commas ;) the only criticism I really have is the handling of the relationship between Tayn and Eldrick. The author works so hard on reminding us that they are nothing but friendly friends (this comes as certain surprise to Eldrick) that it feels like heavy and unnecessary foreshadowing of something that ultimately plays a very minor role in the book. Oddly, so does the actual Carolean Codex – we never get to see it before [spoiler removed]. What I really enjoyed was the mix between the modern and the fantasy – there are guns and flaming swords, Sylvia Kent and Gwyn, and the trusty tomb vacuum! (I still need one.)
I am not necessarily the right audience for this book, nevertheless I appreciated the steady pacing, quick action, and the fact that once again Parker proves that it’s possible to fit what other authors would need 600 pages for into only 166 (!) – this is not a book that overstays its welcome! I’ll be looking forward to the third book in the series and I expect to enjoy it.
(7/10, rounded up to 4/5 for Goodreads)
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I should have DNFed
1* = actively hostile towards the reader*
The worldbuilding I so enjoyed in The Dark Elf Dynasty File is sadly missing from The Carolean Codex. This book reads more like a thriller – but with fae and dark elves. Honestly, there should be fewer Tom Clancy and whossit that has all those ghostwriters, Patterson? – and more of this.
Apart from triggering some of my minor personal pet peeves related to commas ;) the only criticism I really have is the handling of the relationship between Tayn and Eldrick. The author works so hard on reminding us that they are nothing but friendly friends (this comes as certain surprise to Eldrick) that it feels like heavy and unnecessary foreshadowing of something that ultimately plays a very minor role in the book. Oddly, so does the actual Carolean Codex – we never get to see it before [spoiler removed]. What I really enjoyed was the mix between the modern and the fantasy – there are guns and flaming swords, Sylvia Kent and Gwyn, and the trusty tomb vacuum! (I still need one.)
I am not necessarily the right audience for this book, nevertheless I appreciated the steady pacing, quick action, and the fact that once again Parker proves that it’s possible to fit what other authors would need 600 pages for into only 166 (!) – this is not a book that overstays its welcome! I’ll be looking forward to the third book in the series and I expect to enjoy it.
(7/10, rounded up to 4/5 for Goodreads)
My ratings:
5* = this book changed my life
4* = very good
3* = good
2* = I should have DNFed
1* = actively hostile towards the reader*
February 20, 2025
The battle lines are drawn between the Fae Courts. Civil war looms.
Following the disastrous attack on the Bureau, Arlo and his son Tayn remain constant. Changes, retirements, and political machinations have blunted the Bureau’s resolve at a time when it’s most needed. A brewing civil war between the Fae threatens to spill over into the human realm and only the Bureau can stop it.
Against all odds, Arlo and Tayn follow their own paths to prevent bloodshed and uncover the truth about a rising dark power. Standing on the brink of destruction, they must utilise their unique skill sets and risk everything or die trying.
This is an excellent addition to what’s shaping up to be a fantastic series. It truly is the “Men In Black” of Fantasy with plenty of action, plot twists and fascinating world building.
Can’t wait for book 3!
Following the disastrous attack on the Bureau, Arlo and his son Tayn remain constant. Changes, retirements, and political machinations have blunted the Bureau’s resolve at a time when it’s most needed. A brewing civil war between the Fae threatens to spill over into the human realm and only the Bureau can stop it.
Against all odds, Arlo and Tayn follow their own paths to prevent bloodshed and uncover the truth about a rising dark power. Standing on the brink of destruction, they must utilise their unique skill sets and risk everything or die trying.
This is an excellent addition to what’s shaping up to be a fantastic series. It truly is the “Men In Black” of Fantasy with plenty of action, plot twists and fascinating world building.
Can’t wait for book 3!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews