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Green Unpleasant Land
Fog shrouded Victorian London, but not the 1888 we’d recognise. There’s a whiff of revolution in the air, not to mention lycanthropy in the shires. As Mr Eiffel’s tower nears completion in Hyde Park, famed Egyptologist Sir Percy Tiverton returns with his latest find — a nameless book so mysterious not even the Royal College of Alchemists can decipher its runes.
Even less chance Alexander Faversham. England’s foremost champion of derring-do is not known for his brains. Good job he has loyal manservant Bill by his side — a circumspect fellow who might know more about his master’s heroics than either are letting on. When the nameless book is stolen, Bill’s entanglement threatens to bring his boss’s carefully constructed façade crashing down.
There’s something nasty lurking in the shadows and it wants its manuscript back. Who would dare confront the tentacles slithering from the sewers? When the Empire needs a hero, it doesn’t always get the one it expects.
Green Unpleasant Land. Lovecraftian shenanigans in an alternative Victorian London. Steampunk with added tentacles. Shambling eldritch horrors by gaslight.
Gothic/Cosmic Horror/Alternate History
Even less chance Alexander Faversham. England’s foremost champion of derring-do is not known for his brains. Good job he has loyal manservant Bill by his side — a circumspect fellow who might know more about his master’s heroics than either are letting on. When the nameless book is stolen, Bill’s entanglement threatens to bring his boss’s carefully constructed façade crashing down.
There’s something nasty lurking in the shadows and it wants its manuscript back. Who would dare confront the tentacles slithering from the sewers? When the Empire needs a hero, it doesn’t always get the one it expects.
Green Unpleasant Land. Lovecraftian shenanigans in an alternative Victorian London. Steampunk with added tentacles. Shambling eldritch horrors by gaslight.
Gothic/Cosmic Horror/Alternate History
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2025
40 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 7, 2025
Green Unpleasant Land by Matt Thomas is a rowdy and rollicking hybrid of Lovecraftian fantasy, action comedy, and Penny Dreadful-style alt/parallel history. I loved every page of this book, it's just fun from beginning to end, with a great sense of mystery and adventure throughout. Brilliantly written and full of characters interesting enough to warrant books of their own. Our heroes Bill and Gwen are immensely likeable and I couldn't help but cheer them on in their struggles against the dark forces threatening to overtake an alternative Victorian London. If a story full of witty dialogue, adventure, multiverse shenanigans, crazed occultists, black magick, and otherworldly monstrosities sounds like your cup of English tea, then Green Unpleasant Land is well worth the visit.
May 28, 2025
This eldritch fever dream of a novel plunges readers into a shadow-soaked version of England where tentacles rise from the Thames and reality is slipping like fog through fingers. Green Unpleasant Land is part cosmic horror, part social satire, and fully drenched in eerie atmosphere. Matt Thomas blends Lovecraftian terror with a distinctly British flavor of doom — think Orwell meets The Mist, with a dash of black comedy.
The story’s pacing is relentless, spiraling deeper into a green vortex of conspiracy, myth, and madness. The real horror? It’s not just the writhing beasts and apocalyptic skies — it’s the mirror the book holds up to our own decaying systems. Thomas writes with biting wit and poetic dread, and the world he’s created feels both ancient and all too current.
And can we talk about that COVER? Tentacled terror meets Big Ben in a nightmarish London skyline. Pure horror eye candy. If you love atmospheric horror with brains and bite, this one’s a must-read. Just don’t read it during a thunderstorm... or near any large bodies of water
The story’s pacing is relentless, spiraling deeper into a green vortex of conspiracy, myth, and madness. The real horror? It’s not just the writhing beasts and apocalyptic skies — it’s the mirror the book holds up to our own decaying systems. Thomas writes with biting wit and poetic dread, and the world he’s created feels both ancient and all too current.
And can we talk about that COVER? Tentacled terror meets Big Ben in a nightmarish London skyline. Pure horror eye candy. If you love atmospheric horror with brains and bite, this one’s a must-read. Just don’t read it during a thunderstorm... or near any large bodies of water
May 31, 2025
Green Unpleasant Land by Matt Thomas is so detailed and wildly imaginative that I’ll most definitely visit it a second and third time to see what I missed during the previous reads.
It took me a few chapters to catch on to the style, but once those hooks found their way in, I was mesmerized. Time travel, an alternate history, the occult, terrifying creatures, and comedic relief are just a sampling of the elements in store for you.
My favorite part of the entire story was a flashback that was heartbreaking but essential to understanding and connecting with our narrator, Bill.
It was the most impactful moment for me and offered more than enough emotional pull to satisfy my demand for depth.
This book is full of surprises, familiar places and faces, with an otherworldly twist. If you read this, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
It took me a few chapters to catch on to the style, but once those hooks found their way in, I was mesmerized. Time travel, an alternate history, the occult, terrifying creatures, and comedic relief are just a sampling of the elements in store for you.
My favorite part of the entire story was a flashback that was heartbreaking but essential to understanding and connecting with our narrator, Bill.
It was the most impactful moment for me and offered more than enough emotional pull to satisfy my demand for depth.
This book is full of surprises, familiar places and faces, with an otherworldly twist. If you read this, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
May 28, 2025
GREEN UNPLEASANT LAND: BY Matt Thomas
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4.5/5 ⭐️ Rating
•
The story is narrated by Bill, a personal valet and second hand man to aristocrat Alexander Faversham. His main duties being seeing to all Alexander’s needs, and cleaning up his messes. With Green Unpleasant Land, he’ll be putting out a lot more fires than he bargained for when things take a dark and eldritch turn…
•
The best way to describe this book is a Pulp Cthulhu/Cthulhu by Gaslight Investigation with some steampunk flare and I’m all about it. With the relentless dread of Lovecraft, sometimes it’s a welcome breath of fresh air to shoot first and ask questions later. The story is great, the horror and action are there, and with humor sprinkled in made reading the book so enjoyable and helped me get out of a reading funk. Thank you @mattt_author for giving me a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review!
•
4.5/5 ⭐️ Rating
•
The story is narrated by Bill, a personal valet and second hand man to aristocrat Alexander Faversham. His main duties being seeing to all Alexander’s needs, and cleaning up his messes. With Green Unpleasant Land, he’ll be putting out a lot more fires than he bargained for when things take a dark and eldritch turn…
•
The best way to describe this book is a Pulp Cthulhu/Cthulhu by Gaslight Investigation with some steampunk flare and I’m all about it. With the relentless dread of Lovecraft, sometimes it’s a welcome breath of fresh air to shoot first and ask questions later. The story is great, the horror and action are there, and with humor sprinkled in made reading the book so enjoyable and helped me get out of a reading funk. Thank you @mattt_author for giving me a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review!
August 12, 2025
How come I haven't already read this book? It's an extraordinary mix of alternate European history, Lovecraftian cosmic horror, steampunk, British mystery, and horror comedy! It starts a bit slow, but once THAT book appears (you know, the one full of incantations to summon the Old Ones and other eldritch horrors), the plot immediately becomes a sort of dark urban fantasy epic with strong spy thriller vibes: the magical tome is stolen, several important people go missing, cults get involved, and a female super-agent from a different Europe suddenly steps into the action! The cast soon gets larger and larger, as famous figures from the artworld of the late 1800s arts and the realm of the occult make brief but essential guest appearances, driving the story forward in even weirder directions. The good guys (they're just two, a kind of X-Files pair with the roles somewhat reversed) embark on a prolonged marathon to find the book before the bad guys (whose leader is incidentally named "Hotep," and is preparing a maddening play about a notorious royal personage in yellow, if you get my drift). Hopping from London to Paris and back again, the duo unearths a continent-wide conspiracy, and has to face otherworldly threats noone else is prepared for.
The narrator of the tale is Bill, the manservant of a British aristocratic douchebag. Bill is smart, honest, loyal, but he's no super-hero! This time around he'll have to be one, however, since the enemies of the Empire are devious, powerful, and many! Thankfully, he has Gwen on his side: an other-dimensional, time travelling warrior experienced in memetic wars and mental programming - what in Victorian London speak, counts as, well, "magic"! The enemy has tentacles, however, and draws power from dark monstrosities on a cosmic scale. Can such a creature really know defeat?
"Green Unpleasant Land" is not just a terrific adventure of the occult and the cosmic, it also touches on social matters as well, with impressive subtlety and skill. Bill's rough backstory, for example, growing up as a servant in a rich and snobbish people's house, will move even the most hardened readers (it did me, at least, and I don't get emotional easily). Gwen, on the other hand, is such an engaging character, I was happy to learn she's the star of another book by the same author.
This was an exciting, entertaining, and highly satisfying read, from start to finish. I unreservedly recommend it to all horror fans who enjoy dark stories with a touch of British humor, relatable main characters, lots of eldritch mischief, and over-the-top villainy!
The narrator of the tale is Bill, the manservant of a British aristocratic douchebag. Bill is smart, honest, loyal, but he's no super-hero! This time around he'll have to be one, however, since the enemies of the Empire are devious, powerful, and many! Thankfully, he has Gwen on his side: an other-dimensional, time travelling warrior experienced in memetic wars and mental programming - what in Victorian London speak, counts as, well, "magic"! The enemy has tentacles, however, and draws power from dark monstrosities on a cosmic scale. Can such a creature really know defeat?
"Green Unpleasant Land" is not just a terrific adventure of the occult and the cosmic, it also touches on social matters as well, with impressive subtlety and skill. Bill's rough backstory, for example, growing up as a servant in a rich and snobbish people's house, will move even the most hardened readers (it did me, at least, and I don't get emotional easily). Gwen, on the other hand, is such an engaging character, I was happy to learn she's the star of another book by the same author.
This was an exciting, entertaining, and highly satisfying read, from start to finish. I unreservedly recommend it to all horror fans who enjoy dark stories with a touch of British humor, relatable main characters, lots of eldritch mischief, and over-the-top villainy!
September 16, 2025
Inglorious Basterds meets 'Crypt of the Moon Spider' by Nathan Ballingrud
'Green Unpleasant Land' by Matt Thomas was an entertaining read. I was laughing from the moment Comte d’Artois slapped "the Honourable Alexander Faversham, England’s most celebrated ‘gentleman adventurer’ — hero of Kandahar, scourge of blushing debutants and darling of the press" and notorious con artist with his glove. The cockney and french accents were hilarious and I could visualize it all vividly. The era the book takes place is a speculative victorian England. It was so over the top, I couldn't help but to love it. Matt Thomas takes elements of urban fantasy, cosmic horror, historical fiction and twists it into a wildly weird, cohesive tale that if you can manage not to take any of it too seriously, is surprisingly fresh and original.
"‘. . . you mean . . . Satan?’ Burroughs gazed at him as if surveying a half-wit. ‘No man, a foe far worse than Lucifer — the bloody French!"
"Hotep’s show was no mere theatrical play, no turgid, pretentious melodrama. It was far, far worse than that. It was a musical."
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Prose: flowery
Pacing: slow
Scary: humorous and uncanny
Gore: some
Character Development:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
'Green Unpleasant Land' by Matt Thomas was an entertaining read. I was laughing from the moment Comte d’Artois slapped "the Honourable Alexander Faversham, England’s most celebrated ‘gentleman adventurer’ — hero of Kandahar, scourge of blushing debutants and darling of the press" and notorious con artist with his glove. The cockney and french accents were hilarious and I could visualize it all vividly. The era the book takes place is a speculative victorian England. It was so over the top, I couldn't help but to love it. Matt Thomas takes elements of urban fantasy, cosmic horror, historical fiction and twists it into a wildly weird, cohesive tale that if you can manage not to take any of it too seriously, is surprisingly fresh and original.
"‘. . . you mean . . . Satan?’ Burroughs gazed at him as if surveying a half-wit. ‘No man, a foe far worse than Lucifer — the bloody French!"
"Hotep’s show was no mere theatrical play, no turgid, pretentious melodrama. It was far, far worse than that. It was a musical."
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Prose: flowery
Pacing: slow
Scary: humorous and uncanny
Gore: some
Character Development:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2025
Wow! This book is a wild ride through an alternative Victorian London and it had me hooked!
I haven’t read any other books by Matt Thomas and it took me a couple of chapters to get into Matt’s extraordinary writing style but once I did this book had my imagination in overdrive!
The book follows Bill Higgins a PA, valet, and life saver to his honorable gentleman Alexander Faversham. They are invited to the unveiling of a mysterious book found in the depths of a newly discovered Egyptian tomb, and let’s just say it all goes down hill from there.
Bill finds himself entangled in a web of magic and mysterious with his new companion Gwen. Together they must use their skills to try and save the already broken world. The loveable characters travel through a fog ridden, disturbing London onto an out of bounds Paris which is overcome with ridiculous but brilliant horrors!
I fell in love with both Bill and Gwen and ultimately this book which has everything you could imagine, Gods, monks, wolves, snakes, magic and so much more! This book is witty, funny and has so many pop culture references - I loved it.
Thank you to Matt for sending me a copy of Green Unpleasant Land for an honest review!
I haven’t read any other books by Matt Thomas and it took me a couple of chapters to get into Matt’s extraordinary writing style but once I did this book had my imagination in overdrive!
The book follows Bill Higgins a PA, valet, and life saver to his honorable gentleman Alexander Faversham. They are invited to the unveiling of a mysterious book found in the depths of a newly discovered Egyptian tomb, and let’s just say it all goes down hill from there.
Bill finds himself entangled in a web of magic and mysterious with his new companion Gwen. Together they must use their skills to try and save the already broken world. The loveable characters travel through a fog ridden, disturbing London onto an out of bounds Paris which is overcome with ridiculous but brilliant horrors!
I fell in love with both Bill and Gwen and ultimately this book which has everything you could imagine, Gods, monks, wolves, snakes, magic and so much more! This book is witty, funny and has so many pop culture references - I loved it.
Thank you to Matt for sending me a copy of Green Unpleasant Land for an honest review!
November 9, 2025
There are a lot of books (mostly self-published) that work on the assumption that, if you throw around a few tentacles and the occasional 'fhtagn', then no matter how poor your material is, it will - somehow - pass muster with fans of H.P. Lovecraft. This is, of course, utter tripe. Thankfully this book gets it right and what emerges is almost as if John Buchan and H.P. Lovecraft collaborated: a late empire yarn of ripping deeds and derring-do with added monsters. There are a lot of very clever literary references, akin to the Easter eggs planted in videos and films, which show that the writer knows his sources. It's all great fun!
May 29, 2025
⚫️Matt Thomas’s Green Unpleasant Land takes readers on a brilliantly twisted adventure through an alternate Victorian London, shrouded in fog, folklore, and a delightful dose of fear. Right from the opening page, you’re thrown into a vividly crafted world where gaslights flicker not just against the soot and smoke, but also against creeping, shadowy terrors that defy understanding.
⚫️This is not your run-of-the-mill steampunk tale. It does have gears and goggles, of course, but Thomas adds a delightfully dark Lovecraftian twist think penny dreadfuls slamming into cosmic horror in a pub and then staggering off together into the sewer system. The result is a world that's eerily close to home, yet delightfully new.
⚫️At the heart of the story are Alexander Faversham, a charmingly clueless "hero" who's all style and no substance, and his enigmatic manservant Bill, who could easily be the true mastermind behind their antics. Their dynamic is humorous and moving, grounding the zany plot in something quite human. When a cryptic, unreadable book disappears and evil starts seeping in the shadows, the pair becomes entangled in a perilous mystery which not just jeopardizes their existence but also the core of this strange British Empire.
⚫️Thomas's prose is acutely witty and dripping in atmosphere. He cleverly swings between spine-tingling tension and witty humor, punctuating with social commentary, goofy heroics, and a suggestion of eldritch horror. Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett readers will feel most comfortable here although they may be a little more nervously aware of what lurks beneath the floorboards.
⚫️In short, Green Unpleasant Land is a gothically delightful romp that will thrill steampunk fans, horror fans, and anyone who loves the strange and fantastical. It's a book which doesn't take itself too seriously, but still boasts an abundance of imagination and storytelling ability.
Strongly recommended for those who enjoy their tea strong, their shadows long, and their escapades wonderfully strange!
Happy reading ❤️✨
July 27, 2025
This was a fun book. Although it owes more to Ambrose Bierce than to Lovecraft. The only tentacle doesn't even make an appearance until 90% through the book.
It starts out as a kind of Jeeves and Wooster story then quickly goes steampunk. I'm looking forward to more from this author.
It starts out as a kind of Jeeves and Wooster story then quickly goes steampunk. I'm looking forward to more from this author.
June 10, 2025
Loved it! A lot of fun and fantasy, with some great lead characters to take you on your adventures through the monster infested landscapes of Paris and London in an alternate dimension.
If I hadn’t been so busy, this is the kind of story I could have easily devoured in one sitting, and in places it was so funny I had to read it aloud to my other half so he would understand why I was sitting there giggling to myself.
If I hadn’t been so busy, this is the kind of story I could have easily devoured in one sitting, and in places it was so funny I had to read it aloud to my other half so he would understand why I was sitting there giggling to myself.
May 27, 2025
Thank you so much to the author of this novel, who reached out to offer me an ARC.
What a book! Lovecraft meets Conan Doyle, directed by Ridley Scott?! I don't think I knew I needed eldritch victoriana sci-fi until I was given it, and I'm so glad to have had this opportunity! There were so many delightful characters, and their adventures were wild. The author's style of writing was captivating, especially considering the differing backgrounds of the two main characters - there was some lovely juxtaposition. There were moments of real comedy, and the ending was incredibly satisfying for all parties. An excellent read!
What a book! Lovecraft meets Conan Doyle, directed by Ridley Scott?! I don't think I knew I needed eldritch victoriana sci-fi until I was given it, and I'm so glad to have had this opportunity! There were so many delightful characters, and their adventures were wild. The author's style of writing was captivating, especially considering the differing backgrounds of the two main characters - there was some lovely juxtaposition. There were moments of real comedy, and the ending was incredibly satisfying for all parties. An excellent read!
May 9, 2025
Green Unpleasant Land sees the return of superhuman Gwen from Anthracite – a cross between Gavin Stacey’s Nessa and 24’s Jack Bauer – with a new local (less useless – sorry, Kevin!) sidekick and a new mission: save the world from being overrun by Lovecraftian monstrosities and other assorted hostile mythological creatures.
Despite referencing the events in Anthracite briefly and bringing back one of the main characters, you don’t need to have read the previous book to follow what’s going on here as this story stands alone perfectly well.
Our new main character, Bill, gives off Blackadder the Third or Jeeves and Wooster vibes at first, as he schemes and masterminds in the background to keep his feckless master Sir Alexander Faversham out of trouble, gaol, and other people’s wives. But when Gwen turns up and local interest begins to focus on a mysterious magical tome unearthed from an Egyptian tomb, things cycle rapidly from farce, to Sherlock Holmes, to full-on Elder Gods Armageddon, with a touch of Quantum Leap on the side!
Packed with action, wry humour and more literary, historical and pop culture references than I could possibly keep track of, this is a fun dark romp through an alternate Victorian London. I particularly love Bill for his focus on the current action, his loyalties and surviving the day, rather than getting side-tracked into simpering over Gwen romantically (again, Kevin, I’m looking at you!). Their teamwork and camaraderie makes them a solid duo and I enjoyed watching them combine their respective talents to solve the case and save the distressed gentlefolk of the realm.
If your idea of a good time is suspending disbelief to plunge into a riotous adventure, fighting creepy monks and werewolves to stop otherworldly cultists getting their hands on a book of dark summoning and ripping apart the fabric of reality (by means of a really bad musical), then this is the book you’ve been waiting for.
Despite referencing the events in Anthracite briefly and bringing back one of the main characters, you don’t need to have read the previous book to follow what’s going on here as this story stands alone perfectly well.
Our new main character, Bill, gives off Blackadder the Third or Jeeves and Wooster vibes at first, as he schemes and masterminds in the background to keep his feckless master Sir Alexander Faversham out of trouble, gaol, and other people’s wives. But when Gwen turns up and local interest begins to focus on a mysterious magical tome unearthed from an Egyptian tomb, things cycle rapidly from farce, to Sherlock Holmes, to full-on Elder Gods Armageddon, with a touch of Quantum Leap on the side!
Packed with action, wry humour and more literary, historical and pop culture references than I could possibly keep track of, this is a fun dark romp through an alternate Victorian London. I particularly love Bill for his focus on the current action, his loyalties and surviving the day, rather than getting side-tracked into simpering over Gwen romantically (again, Kevin, I’m looking at you!). Their teamwork and camaraderie makes them a solid duo and I enjoyed watching them combine their respective talents to solve the case and save the distressed gentlefolk of the realm.
If your idea of a good time is suspending disbelief to plunge into a riotous adventure, fighting creepy monks and werewolves to stop otherworldly cultists getting their hands on a book of dark summoning and ripping apart the fabric of reality (by means of a really bad musical), then this is the book you’ve been waiting for.
April 24, 2025
Matt Thomas’s Green Unpleasant Land is a wildly entertaining romp through an alternate Victorian London, where occult intrigue and absurd heroism crash together with delightful results. Narrated by the wry and resourceful Bill, the long-suffering valet to the outrageously egotistical Alexander Faversham, the book skewers the British upper class with satirical precision while delivering a plot that’s equal parts pulp adventure and gothic horror. Thomas’s prose is punchy and clever. Highly recommended for fans of steampunk, sardonic humor and mythic mayhem.
August 21, 2025
Green Unpleasant Land has all the ingredients for a great read that pulls you in and gives your imagination a shot of adrenaline. I love how Bill, the gentlemen’s gentleman, moves from Alex to Gwen. Gwen, a badass time traveler, is written in the shadow of the ultimate monster annihilator, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She called the shots once on the scene, but took her heroine’s journey to a happy conclusion leading Bill to find his own independence and monster hunting desires. Which leaves Alex to “retirement” and down the aisle. Excellent book.
November 4, 2025
3.5/5 (rounded up)
Thank you to the author for giving me an electronic copy of this book.
Although this was a well written story, it was written in a style and genre that isn’t one I typically read. Because of that, it was difficult for me to get through it. I considered not finishing it at times, but I was invested in the story and I wanted to see how it ended, so I pushed through. Everything came together in the end, which I appreciate.
Thank you to the author for giving me an electronic copy of this book.
Although this was a well written story, it was written in a style and genre that isn’t one I typically read. Because of that, it was difficult for me to get through it. I considered not finishing it at times, but I was invested in the story and I wanted to see how it ended, so I pushed through. Everything came together in the end, which I appreciate.
February 24, 2026
DNF at 25%.
I really don't know, but this was so boring and slow, and the weird modern humour with fandoms was so annoying, so eh I just can't be bothered.
The premise about a mysterious book, an alternative steampunky-lovecraftian London and some Horrors sounded really good, but boi ... until page 69 there was NOTHING important happening, except showing off the MC and his guvnor, and how they work together (or how much work Bill, the MC, does, and how stupid his guvnor was.) I get it, show off your chars, but boi, NOT THAT SLOW.
Also it is chockfull of old british slang. I like reading about stuff like that, but there was so much in it, that i couldn't be bothered too look them up anymore. I didn't understand half the sentences because of that, but whatever. I got the idea of the meaning most of the time... maybe.
Also there are so many filler words. I don't even know how to describe it, but I was kinda annoyed by the slowness, and how much describing in the book was. If i was mean, i could say: someones knows that KU (Kindle Unlimited) Books are paid by how much a reader reads, so longer books more money? Who knows. I don't but ...
Also we get a not-named Sherlock Holmes and Watson chars, who got eaten by a monster... why bring characters like that into your book? Was it meant to be funny? It was just weird af.
And then the part that made me axe the book.
The amount of modern idioms and fandom slang and shit. Gwen, the woman, is definately some sort of time- or dimension-traveler, and she's using sentences like "No shit Sherlock" and "You send them to CSI Hogwarts?"
Just fucking no. That is not humour, thats annoying. I just can't stand something like that. Especially in a victorian, steampunklike London and the time travler is spewing modern lines like that? God no.
But hey, if you love very, very british-slang, some funny fanfic-genz-humour and a really slow pace. This books for you :)
(Also the cover looks a bit sus....)
I really don't know, but this was so boring and slow, and the weird modern humour with fandoms was so annoying, so eh I just can't be bothered.
The premise about a mysterious book, an alternative steampunky-lovecraftian London and some Horrors sounded really good, but boi ... until page 69 there was NOTHING important happening, except showing off the MC and his guvnor, and how they work together (or how much work Bill, the MC, does, and how stupid his guvnor was.) I get it, show off your chars, but boi, NOT THAT SLOW.
Also it is chockfull of old british slang. I like reading about stuff like that, but there was so much in it, that i couldn't be bothered too look them up anymore. I didn't understand half the sentences because of that, but whatever. I got the idea of the meaning most of the time... maybe.
Also there are so many filler words. I don't even know how to describe it, but I was kinda annoyed by the slowness, and how much describing in the book was. If i was mean, i could say: someones knows that KU (Kindle Unlimited) Books are paid by how much a reader reads, so longer books more money? Who knows. I don't but ...
Also we get a not-named Sherlock Holmes and Watson chars, who got eaten by a monster... why bring characters like that into your book? Was it meant to be funny? It was just weird af.
And then the part that made me axe the book.
The amount of modern idioms and fandom slang and shit. Gwen, the woman, is definately some sort of time- or dimension-traveler, and she's using sentences like "No shit Sherlock" and "You send them to CSI Hogwarts?"
Just fucking no. That is not humour, thats annoying. I just can't stand something like that. Especially in a victorian, steampunklike London and the time travler is spewing modern lines like that? God no.
But hey, if you love very, very british-slang, some funny fanfic-genz-humour and a really slow pace. This books for you :)
(Also the cover looks a bit sus....)
September 14, 2025
Cosmic horror is a genre that tends to be filled with dread and rather dreary, but Matt Thomas turns that notion on its head with Green Unpleasant Land. Make no mistake, the Eldritch existential dread is still there, but the story is also shot through with great moments of humor that will have you laughing out loud.
The tale takes place in Victorian London, but this is not the city that we have come to know via history and other novels set in that time. Instead, we are treated to an alternate universe, where things are still familiar, but also very different.
In this world, Paris is living under the gaze of a portal to another dimension, from which all manner of Lovecraftian creatures have emerged to create a no-go zone, although you will be delighted to hear that it does not stop the heroes of this piece making a trip across the English Channel to visit that blighted land.
The main hero is Bill, a man in service to Sir Alexander Faversham, a bit of a dullard that the London press adore due to his questionable heroics. Bill is tasked with recovering mysterious book that, in the wrong hands, could lead to London suffering a similar fate to Paris. He is aided by Gwen, a "woman" from another timeline who has been sent to stop the rise of a cult hell bent on bringing The King in Yellow into this dimension.
It is a rip-roaring story filled with great action set pieces and a host of quirky characters, some real, some imagined, that bring everything to life. Another great part of this genius little novel is the nods to all manner of pop culture things, from Sherlock Holmes to Blade Runner and Alien. The book is filled to the brim with Easter Eggs that you will love hatching.
Green Unpleasant Land is one of my favorite reads of the year to this point, and I am delighted to report that Bill will be returning for more adventures. We can only hope that Gwen also finds her way back to ride shotgun.
The tale takes place in Victorian London, but this is not the city that we have come to know via history and other novels set in that time. Instead, we are treated to an alternate universe, where things are still familiar, but also very different.
In this world, Paris is living under the gaze of a portal to another dimension, from which all manner of Lovecraftian creatures have emerged to create a no-go zone, although you will be delighted to hear that it does not stop the heroes of this piece making a trip across the English Channel to visit that blighted land.
The main hero is Bill, a man in service to Sir Alexander Faversham, a bit of a dullard that the London press adore due to his questionable heroics. Bill is tasked with recovering mysterious book that, in the wrong hands, could lead to London suffering a similar fate to Paris. He is aided by Gwen, a "woman" from another timeline who has been sent to stop the rise of a cult hell bent on bringing The King in Yellow into this dimension.
It is a rip-roaring story filled with great action set pieces and a host of quirky characters, some real, some imagined, that bring everything to life. Another great part of this genius little novel is the nods to all manner of pop culture things, from Sherlock Holmes to Blade Runner and Alien. The book is filled to the brim with Easter Eggs that you will love hatching.
Green Unpleasant Land is one of my favorite reads of the year to this point, and I am delighted to report that Bill will be returning for more adventures. We can only hope that Gwen also finds her way back to ride shotgun.
July 13, 2025
There is something special about finding stories that you can fall instantly in love with. But even more so if the author has a story-teller vibe.
It's the only way I can describe the feeling... There's good stories, and then there's that feeling of being told a story, and this is exactly what Green Unpleasant Land delivers.
Deciding where to drop this book genre wise has its challenges as the story covers a wide range.
History - fanstasy - Horror- steampunk - sc-fi? It throws everything into the plot pot, and I enjoyed it all.
Although a recognisable plot, in that a book of ancient power and ritual is about to cause chaos in the wrong hands, Green Unpleasant Lands drags you in for a rollercoaster of a story and delivers some gruesome, supernatural monsters for good measure.
Bill and Gwen are fantastic characters to read about - Gwen is definitely my favourite with her quips and comments. She's feisty and unpredictable, whilst Bill is a steadfast and cautious narrator.
All in all, this book promises a great adventure and doesn't disappoint.
With a great cast of characters and plot, I absolutely loved my time with this story, and if steampunk, portals, and kick ass characters are your vibe, I think you'll love this too 💚
My heartfelt thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review Green Unpleasant Land- I will definitely will be watching out for more.
It's the only way I can describe the feeling... There's good stories, and then there's that feeling of being told a story, and this is exactly what Green Unpleasant Land delivers.
Deciding where to drop this book genre wise has its challenges as the story covers a wide range.
History - fanstasy - Horror- steampunk - sc-fi? It throws everything into the plot pot, and I enjoyed it all.
Although a recognisable plot, in that a book of ancient power and ritual is about to cause chaos in the wrong hands, Green Unpleasant Lands drags you in for a rollercoaster of a story and delivers some gruesome, supernatural monsters for good measure.
Bill and Gwen are fantastic characters to read about - Gwen is definitely my favourite with her quips and comments. She's feisty and unpredictable, whilst Bill is a steadfast and cautious narrator.
All in all, this book promises a great adventure and doesn't disappoint.
With a great cast of characters and plot, I absolutely loved my time with this story, and if steampunk, portals, and kick ass characters are your vibe, I think you'll love this too 💚
My heartfelt thanks to the author for the opportunity to read and review Green Unpleasant Land- I will definitely will be watching out for more.
June 23, 2025
Over the past year, I’ve read four books about an alternative London—Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab, The Drowned World by JG Ballard, and now Green Unpleasant Land by Matthew Thomas. I had my doubts about Green Unpleasant Land because many of these other stories just didn’t quite stick well with me. But my patience was rewarded— Green Unpleasant Land, with a fraction of the fanfare of the other books, is by far the best one.
It is a tough book for me to describe the vibe of, but I’ll try—a funny novel version of the board game Elder Sign mixed with Penny Dreadful with some steampunk elements in late 1800s London. If that sounds like a wild ride, it very much is. But unlike some Lovecraftian tales, this one doesn’t feel stale or over done. I think the reason for this is in its mix of humor and heart (“HUMOR? And HEART? In MY Lovecraftian tale?!?” Yes, and it’s great).
I loved this offbeat weird book—it’s one of the wackiest, most fun books I’ve read in a long time!
It is a tough book for me to describe the vibe of, but I’ll try—a funny novel version of the board game Elder Sign mixed with Penny Dreadful with some steampunk elements in late 1800s London. If that sounds like a wild ride, it very much is. But unlike some Lovecraftian tales, this one doesn’t feel stale or over done. I think the reason for this is in its mix of humor and heart (“HUMOR? And HEART? In MY Lovecraftian tale?!?” Yes, and it’s great).
I loved this offbeat weird book—it’s one of the wackiest, most fun books I’ve read in a long time!
September 1, 2025
Green Unpleasant Land by Matt Thomas
So rarely does a book actually make me laugh out loud but this one did it. And it had me giggling in my seat like a lunatic. Which fits the story well. This is an alternative history story set in Victorian London with a cosmic horror twist. The references are well done. The story never takes itself too serious. The stakes are high. The main character was interesting and a great narrator to follow. All in all an excellent pulpy read. I would greatly enjoy a series with this character. If you need a blend of cosmic horror and great jokes then go check this out and enjoy!
So rarely does a book actually make me laugh out loud but this one did it. And it had me giggling in my seat like a lunatic. Which fits the story well. This is an alternative history story set in Victorian London with a cosmic horror twist. The references are well done. The story never takes itself too serious. The stakes are high. The main character was interesting and a great narrator to follow. All in all an excellent pulpy read. I would greatly enjoy a series with this character. If you need a blend of cosmic horror and great jokes then go check this out and enjoy!
September 21, 2025
Green Unpleasant Land, is a story set in Victorian London! Not the normal Victorian London but an alternative universe. The MMC Bill is set on an adventure to save London. If he doesn't, fate will be unimaginable. But luckily Bill has a companion with him named Gwen.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it took me some time to catch up, because the way in which this book is narrated is really different from the usual books. It's unique and really good. There is magic and many other things, which caught my attention. Thank you Matthew for giving me an opportunity to read this amazing book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it took me some time to catch up, because the way in which this book is narrated is really different from the usual books. It's unique and really good. There is magic and many other things, which caught my attention. Thank you Matthew for giving me an opportunity to read this amazing book.
May 8, 2025
Where to begin? This book is quite a trip, in every sense. If you’ve read the previous books by this author you know what to expect, but are still in for some surprises. Want to say more, but should stop there 😆
Green Unpleasant Land works as a standalone, but I really hope we get to see more of these characters. It’s fast paced, unnerving in a good way, and very darkly funny. 5/5 More please.
Green Unpleasant Land works as a standalone, but I really hope we get to see more of these characters. It’s fast paced, unnerving in a good way, and very darkly funny. 5/5 More please.
September 3, 2025
Green Unpleasant Land is witty, creepy, and wickedly clever. Matt Thomas is masterful at creating a sense of high-stakes creeping dread, while simultaneously making you laugh out loud. His characters are well-drawn, his atmosphere haunting, and he leaves you always wanting more. A great Halloween read!
November 26, 2025
What a treat!
Singularity portals? Check!
Multiverse interaction? Check!
Unique cast of characters? Check!
Victorian London and futuristic technology? Check!?
The best writing I've seen in ages! I loved the writing style as well as the winks at reality. This is going to be a fun ride!
Singularity portals? Check!
Multiverse interaction? Check!
Unique cast of characters? Check!
Victorian London and futuristic technology? Check!?
The best writing I've seen in ages! I loved the writing style as well as the winks at reality. This is going to be a fun ride!
August 20, 2025
Green unpleasant land
What a great read mysterious girl who hails from the future teams up with a manservant and embark on an adventure to bring down a mystery cult
What a great read mysterious girl who hails from the future teams up with a manservant and embark on an adventure to bring down a mystery cult
October 14, 2025
Great stuff!
Never a dull moment in this tale. Forward at pace with Bill and Gwen. Steaming and the occult delightfully blended. More please, Matt
Never a dull moment in this tale. Forward at pace with Bill and Gwen. Steaming and the occult delightfully blended. More please, Matt
January 18, 2026
loved this book! It's not just the setting that felt like stepping back in time but the writing itself reminded me of this first time I picked up a Sherlock Holmes novel and explored the smog covered streets of London. Beautifully descriptive and captivating throughout.
June 6, 2025
This is a work of fiction and any resemblance to actual persons, Old Ones or Elder Gods is purely coincidental.
Matt Thomas' "Green Unpleasant Land" is a fun, often mind-scrambling look into an alternate Earth, perhaps merely a few skips and jumps away via mystic tunnels from our own. In this bizarre reality - and history mind you - magick is very real and not in the good, "oh Dearest One, how can I grant your every gentle and innocent wish?" kind of way. For just as a brave, lantern-jawed Bruce Campbell found out himself, the evil shenanigans of Hotep, Highest Priest Dude and Summoner of The King (no, not Elvis) bodes only the very worst for mankind. This despite claiming that he is "just a humble shepherd; sent to this septic isle, this green unpleasant land" (ok, so we get the title now, right?). Still, if you can get past the language of the time - Queen Victoria still being seated with her ample royal bo… ttom planted firmly on the Throne - as well as some weird reimaginings, you'll be okay. Why even the admittedly enjoyable cultural references will serve to tickle whatever bone you're willing to display to the punters along the way.
There are so many other realities, some benign, many horrific.
In this world, Paris lies in ruins, having fallen prey to the great summoning of the King in Yellow and now filled with demons most foul under a spinning maelstrom of evil that blots out the City of Light (hint: IRONY!). But fear not, as at very least Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, everyone's favorite height-challenged painter of renown has taken up residence in London, living not a million miles away from the newly constructed Eiffel Tower (but luckily not apparently coming across Jack the Ripper during his Whitechapel-centered reign of terror). As you can see, you'll need to be on your toes as not only the language and history and even social justice reforms are quite different, but also keep your eyes peeled for cultural references the author makes throughout. I did manage to spot the nod towards Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness (one does not forgot the scars of "higher" learning so easily) that we're reminded of after the final scene.
In England weirdness stalks the land. The shires are beset with trade unionism and lycanthropy.
Furthermore, I am still convinced that I also caught at least one mention of the most famous scyfy classics beginning with the word "Star", though I'll be damned if I can find it now (UPDATE - here you go: "Resistance? Invalid!" Suck it Borg!). Maybe the salute to one Mick Jagger or even the cinematic masterpiece that is "C.H.U.D." knocked the sense away from me. And speaking of which, who would fail to applaud the dedication towards Monty Python's Flying Circus? "Tis but a flesh-wound" Sir Percy cries out to at one point to an injured dueller! Why it reminded me of another quote from that most hilarious of comic troupes, to whit: "Bicycle Repair Man! But...how?!" No, wait, that's a line from my own favorite sketch, what I meant to say was: "My brain hurts!" Which is honestly what I'll be saying repeatedly as I'm walking away from this fantasy/scyfy/what the hell was it adventure. Oh and I probably shouldn't touch on the fact that my wife is French what with the plethora (trust me, count them) of insults toward same scattered throughout.
He associates with the scum of humanity - refugees from the Paris demi monde, writers, Americans.
Though the book itself (ah, yes, we need to talk about that, don't we?) does not fly by at some as yet undiscovered speed, it is still a well-paced read. And that is with the confusing banter between particularly the two very, very different multiverse participants, namely, Bill Higgins - gentleman's gentleman and manservant to the somewhat (read: completely) irritating Alexander Faversham, youngest of Lord Bracknell’s sprawling brood (and thus of no true consequence to proper society except for keeping the papers loaded with bullshit adventures and other tales of derring-do-what-now?s). Still, Master Alex of course is known throughout the land as "England’s foremost gentleman adventurer and renowned chasseur de skirt". Mind you, Bill isn't exactly innocent as he is exceedingly opinionated about many things ("Not even the Baptists were this eccentric in their ways.") but if anything, he is a definitive example of his class and loyalty from the time and space he occupies. And then there's Gwen. Who is… someone… for sure… Did I mention that her boss seems to be a hologram taken directly from the set of The Matrix?
That was when the wheels of reality began to depart the rails.
Anyway, Gwen is of course of keen interest because she is obviously here at the behest of those "in the know" about this whole multiverse issue (hint: not Marvel Comics or Films! Though an appearance by Loki would have been very welcome!) and quite the kick-ass female protagonist that so many applaud with great, um, rousing clapping whenever one appears in fine literature. She's more than adept at battling demonic monstrosities and crazed psychopathic monks and has one of those guns with her that you can rely on more often than not to send the bullets in the proper direction. She also likes to call out things like "let's get ready to rock and roll" which, surprisingly, no one even bats an unbathed eyelash at in terms of comprehension and/or confusion. OK, OK, this is not at all to say brave Bill is totally useless - he's both well-read as well as being, quote, "master of my master’s cupboards - I kept the skeletons within all neat and tidy." So there's someone to pull for for just about every reader out there, n'est-ce pas?
Proper preparation prevents piss-poor performance… probably…
Their adventures then take them from obviously London through to the decrepit country-side of England (not an opinion but, again, with the social policies of this reality, pretty much everything outside of London is just plain gods awful!), where they even have to face quite nasty creatures of great fame and exposure. I'm not sure what to call the hairy - and tentacled! - beastly "hounds of the Tivertons" as the W-word is used only a grand total of one time in the book! Let's just say that you need to keep your eyes open - STILL! he reminded the audience - every time we see something constructed of silver. Then they - Bill and Gwen, not your eyes! - naturally catch a reinforced, armor-plated boat - the Nostromo - which should not be confused with the book they're seeking, namely, the Notsonomicon, which should not be confused with… ok, you get it. As I mentioned, by this point, my brain was threatening to squeeze itself out of my ear canals and make a run for it.
A bleakly-attired conjurer took the stage. He pulled hats out of rabbits…
(read it again!)
There are of course then climatic battle scenes with at least one utter bastard catching a bullet square in the middle of his forehead along with further confusion as to who (or is it whom?) is really the one - or ones - who saved the day. And I won't even mention the apparent gory death of Baker Street's most famous detective and his helpful assistant at one point, I really shan't (hm, tall guy with a cape, deer-stalker and over-sized pipe with a shorter companion who had a moustache…). That being said (even though I promised I wouldn't) it's a good ending where I have to admit to being relieved that we didn't have an utter "Phantom of the Opera" moment once Andrew Lloyd-Webber was name-dropped (speaking of dropping, I can't be the only one that expected the chandelier to do same). Again, fair readers, this is multi-verse action of which we speaketh, so things like exact locations, times, and even the laws of physics need to be taken with a grain of salt. Make it a full soup ladle full come to think of it…
His kingdom will be cannibalism . . . scientology . . . musical theatre. Hell on Earth!
Overall then, a fun adventure for my first foray into whatever qualifies as a "steampunk" re-imagining. I really enjoyed the author's sense of humo(u)r, no matter how xerothermically dry it got. And the book definitely has some really solid fantasy twists to it, especially once things started flying out of and then back into the giant swirling evil anus in the sky! The editing comes in at what I'd call "a little bit shaky" - some mixed up words or spellings (Hobs or Hobbs Lane he wondered) and also a few homophonic hiccups - but nothing that hurt my cranial material any worse than it was already feeling. If you'd like any comparisons to go with your post-review tea and biscuits, then you'll just have to accept my own opinion of this having somewhat of a "Laundry Files" vibe to it. And with that being said, I'm off to do my very best at not being seen. Oh bollocks, I'm still saying this out loud, aren't I….
Matt Thomas' "Green Unpleasant Land" is a fun, often mind-scrambling look into an alternate Earth, perhaps merely a few skips and jumps away via mystic tunnels from our own. In this bizarre reality - and history mind you - magick is very real and not in the good, "oh Dearest One, how can I grant your every gentle and innocent wish?" kind of way. For just as a brave, lantern-jawed Bruce Campbell found out himself, the evil shenanigans of Hotep, Highest Priest Dude and Summoner of The King (no, not Elvis) bodes only the very worst for mankind. This despite claiming that he is "just a humble shepherd; sent to this septic isle, this green unpleasant land" (ok, so we get the title now, right?). Still, if you can get past the language of the time - Queen Victoria still being seated with her ample royal bo… ttom planted firmly on the Throne - as well as some weird reimaginings, you'll be okay. Why even the admittedly enjoyable cultural references will serve to tickle whatever bone you're willing to display to the punters along the way.
There are so many other realities, some benign, many horrific.
In this world, Paris lies in ruins, having fallen prey to the great summoning of the King in Yellow and now filled with demons most foul under a spinning maelstrom of evil that blots out the City of Light (hint: IRONY!). But fear not, as at very least Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, everyone's favorite height-challenged painter of renown has taken up residence in London, living not a million miles away from the newly constructed Eiffel Tower (but luckily not apparently coming across Jack the Ripper during his Whitechapel-centered reign of terror). As you can see, you'll need to be on your toes as not only the language and history and even social justice reforms are quite different, but also keep your eyes peeled for cultural references the author makes throughout. I did manage to spot the nod towards Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness (one does not forgot the scars of "higher" learning so easily) that we're reminded of after the final scene.
In England weirdness stalks the land. The shires are beset with trade unionism and lycanthropy.
Furthermore, I am still convinced that I also caught at least one mention of the most famous scyfy classics beginning with the word "Star", though I'll be damned if I can find it now (UPDATE - here you go: "Resistance? Invalid!" Suck it Borg!). Maybe the salute to one Mick Jagger or even the cinematic masterpiece that is "C.H.U.D." knocked the sense away from me. And speaking of which, who would fail to applaud the dedication towards Monty Python's Flying Circus? "Tis but a flesh-wound" Sir Percy cries out to at one point to an injured dueller! Why it reminded me of another quote from that most hilarious of comic troupes, to whit: "Bicycle Repair Man! But...how?!" No, wait, that's a line from my own favorite sketch, what I meant to say was: "My brain hurts!" Which is honestly what I'll be saying repeatedly as I'm walking away from this fantasy/scyfy/what the hell was it adventure. Oh and I probably shouldn't touch on the fact that my wife is French what with the plethora (trust me, count them) of insults toward same scattered throughout.
He associates with the scum of humanity - refugees from the Paris demi monde, writers, Americans.
Though the book itself (ah, yes, we need to talk about that, don't we?) does not fly by at some as yet undiscovered speed, it is still a well-paced read. And that is with the confusing banter between particularly the two very, very different multiverse participants, namely, Bill Higgins - gentleman's gentleman and manservant to the somewhat (read: completely) irritating Alexander Faversham, youngest of Lord Bracknell’s sprawling brood (and thus of no true consequence to proper society except for keeping the papers loaded with bullshit adventures and other tales of derring-do-what-now?s). Still, Master Alex of course is known throughout the land as "England’s foremost gentleman adventurer and renowned chasseur de skirt". Mind you, Bill isn't exactly innocent as he is exceedingly opinionated about many things ("Not even the Baptists were this eccentric in their ways.") but if anything, he is a definitive example of his class and loyalty from the time and space he occupies. And then there's Gwen. Who is… someone… for sure… Did I mention that her boss seems to be a hologram taken directly from the set of The Matrix?
That was when the wheels of reality began to depart the rails.
Anyway, Gwen is of course of keen interest because she is obviously here at the behest of those "in the know" about this whole multiverse issue (hint: not Marvel Comics or Films! Though an appearance by Loki would have been very welcome!) and quite the kick-ass female protagonist that so many applaud with great, um, rousing clapping whenever one appears in fine literature. She's more than adept at battling demonic monstrosities and crazed psychopathic monks and has one of those guns with her that you can rely on more often than not to send the bullets in the proper direction. She also likes to call out things like "let's get ready to rock and roll" which, surprisingly, no one even bats an unbathed eyelash at in terms of comprehension and/or confusion. OK, OK, this is not at all to say brave Bill is totally useless - he's both well-read as well as being, quote, "master of my master’s cupboards - I kept the skeletons within all neat and tidy." So there's someone to pull for for just about every reader out there, n'est-ce pas?
Proper preparation prevents piss-poor performance… probably…
Their adventures then take them from obviously London through to the decrepit country-side of England (not an opinion but, again, with the social policies of this reality, pretty much everything outside of London is just plain gods awful!), where they even have to face quite nasty creatures of great fame and exposure. I'm not sure what to call the hairy - and tentacled! - beastly "hounds of the Tivertons" as the W-word is used only a grand total of one time in the book! Let's just say that you need to keep your eyes open - STILL! he reminded the audience - every time we see something constructed of silver. Then they - Bill and Gwen, not your eyes! - naturally catch a reinforced, armor-plated boat - the Nostromo - which should not be confused with the book they're seeking, namely, the Notsonomicon, which should not be confused with… ok, you get it. As I mentioned, by this point, my brain was threatening to squeeze itself out of my ear canals and make a run for it.
A bleakly-attired conjurer took the stage. He pulled hats out of rabbits…
(read it again!)
There are of course then climatic battle scenes with at least one utter bastard catching a bullet square in the middle of his forehead along with further confusion as to who (or is it whom?) is really the one - or ones - who saved the day. And I won't even mention the apparent gory death of Baker Street's most famous detective and his helpful assistant at one point, I really shan't (hm, tall guy with a cape, deer-stalker and over-sized pipe with a shorter companion who had a moustache…). That being said (even though I promised I wouldn't) it's a good ending where I have to admit to being relieved that we didn't have an utter "Phantom of the Opera" moment once Andrew Lloyd-Webber was name-dropped (speaking of dropping, I can't be the only one that expected the chandelier to do same). Again, fair readers, this is multi-verse action of which we speaketh, so things like exact locations, times, and even the laws of physics need to be taken with a grain of salt. Make it a full soup ladle full come to think of it…
His kingdom will be cannibalism . . . scientology . . . musical theatre. Hell on Earth!
Overall then, a fun adventure for my first foray into whatever qualifies as a "steampunk" re-imagining. I really enjoyed the author's sense of humo(u)r, no matter how xerothermically dry it got. And the book definitely has some really solid fantasy twists to it, especially once things started flying out of and then back into the giant swirling evil anus in the sky! The editing comes in at what I'd call "a little bit shaky" - some mixed up words or spellings (Hobs or Hobbs Lane he wondered) and also a few homophonic hiccups - but nothing that hurt my cranial material any worse than it was already feeling. If you'd like any comparisons to go with your post-review tea and biscuits, then you'll just have to accept my own opinion of this having somewhat of a "Laundry Files" vibe to it. And with that being said, I'm off to do my very best at not being seen. Oh bollocks, I'm still saying this out loud, aren't I….
May 14, 2025
Every so often you come across a new author and you think, where have you been all my life. This book had that effect.
This is such a difficult book to review without spoiling it. There is just so much going on.
This is an alternate England in 1888. And it is properly alternate. Paris is out of bounds, under siege from magical forces, the great universities now have magical departments, the lines between magic and science being blurred.
We're with Alexander Faversham, think Flashman, the final son of a honourable family, back from the wars, and cutting a swathe through society, especially the wives. Accompanied of course by his gentlemens gentleman, Bill, part valet, part PR, part schemer. It's Bill that normally gets Alexander out of his scrapes, quite reminiscent of Jeeves and Wooster.
Alexander is invited to a lecture on mysterious book found in an Egyptian tomb. Following an attempt to steal the book, foiled by Bill, but naturally, making it look like Alexander, our duo get mixed up in a plot with mad monks, magic, big guns, and possibly the end of London. Fortunately at one point they bump into the mysterious Gwen. Now this is a girl even John Wick wouldn't take on. Well not if he has any sense.
I adored this. It's got just about everything I enjoy in one big package. You know the characters fairly quickly, and Bill and Gwen become such likeable people you are cheering them on by the end. The main characters are beautifully portrayed, never quite getting to the point of parody, even the very French couple we bump into later.
Saying that, there is a clever satire of the upper classes hidden away in here, along with the power of messaging, and the power of the religion. It's done though with wit and humour. This isn't, with a few exceptions a laugh out loud book, more in the style of Fforde or Stross, it gives that wry sideways look at life. Although I will admit the scene with Sherlock Holmes had me actually laughing to myself. Keep an eye open, there's a few cute little name drops as well.
The plot itself fairly barrels along. This is one of those books I kept doing "one more chapter", I just couldn't put it down.
It feels like a pulp novel, but with modern sensibility, and a side order of horror, all wrapped up with a touch of wit. Highly recommended.
This is such a difficult book to review without spoiling it. There is just so much going on.
This is an alternate England in 1888. And it is properly alternate. Paris is out of bounds, under siege from magical forces, the great universities now have magical departments, the lines between magic and science being blurred.
We're with Alexander Faversham, think Flashman, the final son of a honourable family, back from the wars, and cutting a swathe through society, especially the wives. Accompanied of course by his gentlemens gentleman, Bill, part valet, part PR, part schemer. It's Bill that normally gets Alexander out of his scrapes, quite reminiscent of Jeeves and Wooster.
Alexander is invited to a lecture on mysterious book found in an Egyptian tomb. Following an attempt to steal the book, foiled by Bill, but naturally, making it look like Alexander, our duo get mixed up in a plot with mad monks, magic, big guns, and possibly the end of London. Fortunately at one point they bump into the mysterious Gwen. Now this is a girl even John Wick wouldn't take on. Well not if he has any sense.
I adored this. It's got just about everything I enjoy in one big package. You know the characters fairly quickly, and Bill and Gwen become such likeable people you are cheering them on by the end. The main characters are beautifully portrayed, never quite getting to the point of parody, even the very French couple we bump into later.
Saying that, there is a clever satire of the upper classes hidden away in here, along with the power of messaging, and the power of the religion. It's done though with wit and humour. This isn't, with a few exceptions a laugh out loud book, more in the style of Fforde or Stross, it gives that wry sideways look at life. Although I will admit the scene with Sherlock Holmes had me actually laughing to myself. Keep an eye open, there's a few cute little name drops as well.
The plot itself fairly barrels along. This is one of those books I kept doing "one more chapter", I just couldn't put it down.
It feels like a pulp novel, but with modern sensibility, and a side order of horror, all wrapped up with a touch of wit. Highly recommended.
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