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Dark Talents #1
At the Table of Wolves
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy meets X-Men in a classic British espionage story. A young woman must go undercover and use her superpowers to discover a secret Nazi plot and stop an invasion of England.
In 1936, there are paranormal abilities that have slowly seeped into the world, brought to the surface by the suffering of the Great War. The research to weaponize these abilities in England has lagged behind Germany, but now it’s underway at an ultra-secret site called Monkton Hall.
Kim Tavistock, a woman with the talent of the spill —drawing out truths that people most wish to hide—is among the test subjects at the facility. When she wins the confidence of caseworker Owen Cherwell, she is recruited to a mission to expose the head of Monkton Hall—who is believed to be a German spy.
As she infiltrates the upper-crust circles of some of England’s fascist sympathizers, she encounters dangerous opponents, including the charismatic Nazi officer Erich von Ritter, and discovers a plan to invade England. No one believes an invasion of the island nation is possible, not Whitehall, not even England’s Secret Intelligence Service. Unfortunately, they are wrong, and only one woman, without connections or training, wielding her talent of the spill and her gift for espionage, can stop it.
In 1936, there are paranormal abilities that have slowly seeped into the world, brought to the surface by the suffering of the Great War. The research to weaponize these abilities in England has lagged behind Germany, but now it’s underway at an ultra-secret site called Monkton Hall.
Kim Tavistock, a woman with the talent of the spill —drawing out truths that people most wish to hide—is among the test subjects at the facility. When she wins the confidence of caseworker Owen Cherwell, she is recruited to a mission to expose the head of Monkton Hall—who is believed to be a German spy.
As she infiltrates the upper-crust circles of some of England’s fascist sympathizers, she encounters dangerous opponents, including the charismatic Nazi officer Erich von Ritter, and discovers a plan to invade England. No one believes an invasion of the island nation is possible, not Whitehall, not even England’s Secret Intelligence Service. Unfortunately, they are wrong, and only one woman, without connections or training, wielding her talent of the spill and her gift for espionage, can stop it.
421 pages, Hardcover
First published July 11, 2017
75 people are currently reading
1458 people want to read
About the author
Kay Kenyon
43 books254 followersKay Kenyon is a fantasy and science fiction author. She is now working on her 21st novel, a fantasy. She has been a finalist for the Philip K. Dick Award and several others and recently had a trilogy optioned for film, The Dark Talents: At the Table of Wolves.
Her newest fantasy series is The Arisen Worlds quartet. Book 1, The Girl Who Fell Into Myth, Book 2, Stranger in the Twisted Realm, Book 3, Servant of the Lost Power and Book 4, Keeper of the Mythos Gate. "A story of powers and magic on a grand scale.” —Louisa Morgan, author of The Secret History of Witches.
Her acclaimed 4-book series, The Entire and The Rose, has been reissued with new covers: Bright of the Sky. Called "a splendid fantasy quest" by The Washington Post.
She loves to hear from readers, and you can contact her at http://www.kaykenyon.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
Her newest fantasy series is The Arisen Worlds quartet. Book 1, The Girl Who Fell Into Myth, Book 2, Stranger in the Twisted Realm, Book 3, Servant of the Lost Power and Book 4, Keeper of the Mythos Gate. "A story of powers and magic on a grand scale.” —Louisa Morgan, author of The Secret History of Witches.
Her acclaimed 4-book series, The Entire and The Rose, has been reissued with new covers: Bright of the Sky. Called "a splendid fantasy quest" by The Washington Post.
She loves to hear from readers, and you can contact her at http://www.kaykenyon.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
September 11, 2017
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/09/10/...
At the Table of Wolves is the first book I’ve ever read by Kay Kenyon. It’s also the beginning of a new historical paranormal fantasy series set in the prelude to World War II, starring an extraordinary woman who uses her superpower to go undercover to spy for the British. Following the “bloom” in the aftermath of the Great War which resulted in the appearance of psychic talents in about one in a thousand people, Kim Tavistock has manifested the “spill” ability to compel others to reveal their deepest, darkest secrets to her. Not wanting to alienate her friends who might shy away from her if they ever find out, she has always kept her true nature close to her heart. After all, few people find themselves comfortable around a spill—for obvious reasons—though as an intelligence agent, Kim’s unique power would make her a formidable weapon indeed.
Upon her return to England in 1936 to visit her father after an unsuccessful journalism career in America, Kim is troubled by the political upheaval in Germany and the headway the Nazis have made on the research involving military uses for those affected by the bloom. Inspired to help the British, she decides to report to a facility to have her power tested, and is promptly recruited by her caseworker for a dangerous mission to expose a possible German spy. Eager to lend a support, Kim agrees to infiltrate the estate of an aristocratic family during a weekend where she will get meet some of England’s most prominent fascist sympathizers and even a visiting Nazi officer, the seductive and enigmatic Erich von Ritter.
It’s no secret that alternate history fiction set around the time of World War II has always been popular, but believe it or not, the theme of paranormal superpowers versus Nazis has become a growing trend in the subgenre too. Thus, the big question I asked as I sat down to read this novel was, what does it bring to the table? We have a protagonist who has no experience in espionage who unsurprisingly ends up committing a number of mistakes and falling into a bunch traps, always appearing to be outsmarted, outclassed, and outgunned at every turn. As such, the book doesn’t quite meet the typical requirements of a spy novel, and neither is it a satire, so we are presented with none of the humor despite Kim’s bumbling incompetence. Nor does At the Table of Wolves read much like a thriller, for that matter; the majority of the story has little action or suspense, not to mention the pacing was on the slower, plodding side. So, what is it that makes this one stand out? What makes it special?
In truth, I had a rough time getting a bead on this novel, which made answering these questions difficult. The story is pretty decent, light and fluffy enough to provide some entertainment, but now that I’m finished with it, I just can’t help thinking it could have been more. A good example is Kim, who would have been an admirable protagonist, except her character was constantly being undermined by her own poor decisions and inconsistencies. To her credit, she is strong-willed and brave—though I find it hard to truly admire someone who charges headlong into danger while disregarding orders and advice from more experienced agents, and then is shocked when everything blows up in her face. I was also somewhat let down by how little her spill came into play. The effects of that particular power was supposed to give Kim a strong advantage in her spying, but even in this area she underperformed and became overshadowed.
I should mentioned too that the story is told via two main POVs: Kim, as well as her father, Julian. Kenyon attempts to build tension by injecting potential friction between her two main characters, making Kim suspect that her father may be a Nazi sympathizer, when in truth he is actually working on the same side—as one of Britain’s most senior intelligence agents, no less—a development that the reader discovers very early on. For the entire novel though, we are kept in suspense for the epiphany in which estranged father and daughter will finally learn the truth, but alas, the moment never comes. While I understand this is the first of a new series, and that the priority is the resolution of the book’s main story line, still, the situation left unresolved between Kim and Julian felt to me like a glaring loose end. This robbed the conclusion of its emotional impact, which was something the book desperately needed, so hopefully the sequel will take big steps to address this.
Speaking of which, I’ve decided I may continue with the series, despite my issues with this one. For all its flaws, At the Table of Wolves is not a bad book, mainly because the entertainment value is there along with room for the premise to grow beyond what it is now. I didn’t see anything to get really excited about, but given the direction of the last couple of chapters, I have a feeling that may soon change with the next installment.
At the Table of Wolves is the first book I’ve ever read by Kay Kenyon. It’s also the beginning of a new historical paranormal fantasy series set in the prelude to World War II, starring an extraordinary woman who uses her superpower to go undercover to spy for the British. Following the “bloom” in the aftermath of the Great War which resulted in the appearance of psychic talents in about one in a thousand people, Kim Tavistock has manifested the “spill” ability to compel others to reveal their deepest, darkest secrets to her. Not wanting to alienate her friends who might shy away from her if they ever find out, she has always kept her true nature close to her heart. After all, few people find themselves comfortable around a spill—for obvious reasons—though as an intelligence agent, Kim’s unique power would make her a formidable weapon indeed.
Upon her return to England in 1936 to visit her father after an unsuccessful journalism career in America, Kim is troubled by the political upheaval in Germany and the headway the Nazis have made on the research involving military uses for those affected by the bloom. Inspired to help the British, she decides to report to a facility to have her power tested, and is promptly recruited by her caseworker for a dangerous mission to expose a possible German spy. Eager to lend a support, Kim agrees to infiltrate the estate of an aristocratic family during a weekend where she will get meet some of England’s most prominent fascist sympathizers and even a visiting Nazi officer, the seductive and enigmatic Erich von Ritter.
It’s no secret that alternate history fiction set around the time of World War II has always been popular, but believe it or not, the theme of paranormal superpowers versus Nazis has become a growing trend in the subgenre too. Thus, the big question I asked as I sat down to read this novel was, what does it bring to the table? We have a protagonist who has no experience in espionage who unsurprisingly ends up committing a number of mistakes and falling into a bunch traps, always appearing to be outsmarted, outclassed, and outgunned at every turn. As such, the book doesn’t quite meet the typical requirements of a spy novel, and neither is it a satire, so we are presented with none of the humor despite Kim’s bumbling incompetence. Nor does At the Table of Wolves read much like a thriller, for that matter; the majority of the story has little action or suspense, not to mention the pacing was on the slower, plodding side. So, what is it that makes this one stand out? What makes it special?
In truth, I had a rough time getting a bead on this novel, which made answering these questions difficult. The story is pretty decent, light and fluffy enough to provide some entertainment, but now that I’m finished with it, I just can’t help thinking it could have been more. A good example is Kim, who would have been an admirable protagonist, except her character was constantly being undermined by her own poor decisions and inconsistencies. To her credit, she is strong-willed and brave—though I find it hard to truly admire someone who charges headlong into danger while disregarding orders and advice from more experienced agents, and then is shocked when everything blows up in her face. I was also somewhat let down by how little her spill came into play. The effects of that particular power was supposed to give Kim a strong advantage in her spying, but even in this area she underperformed and became overshadowed.
I should mentioned too that the story is told via two main POVs: Kim, as well as her father, Julian. Kenyon attempts to build tension by injecting potential friction between her two main characters, making Kim suspect that her father may be a Nazi sympathizer, when in truth he is actually working on the same side—as one of Britain’s most senior intelligence agents, no less—a development that the reader discovers very early on. For the entire novel though, we are kept in suspense for the epiphany in which estranged father and daughter will finally learn the truth, but alas, the moment never comes. While I understand this is the first of a new series, and that the priority is the resolution of the book’s main story line, still, the situation left unresolved between Kim and Julian felt to me like a glaring loose end. This robbed the conclusion of its emotional impact, which was something the book desperately needed, so hopefully the sequel will take big steps to address this.
Speaking of which, I’ve decided I may continue with the series, despite my issues with this one. For all its flaws, At the Table of Wolves is not a bad book, mainly because the entertainment value is there along with room for the premise to grow beyond what it is now. I didn’t see anything to get really excited about, but given the direction of the last couple of chapters, I have a feeling that may soon change with the next installment.
December 5, 2017
In an alternate Europe where paranormal talents began to appear in the general population after the Great War, tensions are building between England and Germany again. The rise of the Nazis and their advanced research into the talents they have available have created opportunities for them that England is ill-prepared for.
Kim Tavistock has recently returned to England from work in America as a journalist. At the secret English talent research facility of Monkton Hall where she is a test subject she becomes involved is espionage when it is suspected that the head of the facility is a German spy. Soon she is swept up in activities outside of the facility, and with the unknown involvement of her own father who is part of British Intelligence. Whether she realizes it or not, Kim is a player in a deadly game.
I thought this was terrific, and fairly typical of Kenyon's work. She has a genius for creating interesting characters and putting them in prolonged positions of jeopardy. The small flaw being the "prolonged" part, where the suspense is maintained for a long time because different players in the action are simply unaware of knowledge that the others are party to. Like very few writers that tend to drag things out though, Kenyon's writing is good enough to make the suspense worthwhile sitting through, and while this book is the first of a series, it does have a satisfying conclusion in this volume.
Highly recommended.
Kim Tavistock has recently returned to England from work in America as a journalist. At the secret English talent research facility of Monkton Hall where she is a test subject she becomes involved is espionage when it is suspected that the head of the facility is a German spy. Soon she is swept up in activities outside of the facility, and with the unknown involvement of her own father who is part of British Intelligence. Whether she realizes it or not, Kim is a player in a deadly game.
I thought this was terrific, and fairly typical of Kenyon's work. She has a genius for creating interesting characters and putting them in prolonged positions of jeopardy. The small flaw being the "prolonged" part, where the suspense is maintained for a long time because different players in the action are simply unaware of knowledge that the others are party to. Like very few writers that tend to drag things out though, Kenyon's writing is good enough to make the suspense worthwhile sitting through, and while this book is the first of a series, it does have a satisfying conclusion in this volume.
Highly recommended.
August 29, 2017
Elements of story: Good.... Movement of story speed: Molasses, painfully slow.... I think Book 2 would be a lot better, the build up to anything took FOREVER.... But the world is good. 3 stars for me.
August 27, 2017
There's nothing I enjoy reading more than novels that are:
Set in WWII
Involve supernatural powers
With fierce heroines
So when I realized At the Table of Wolves had all three, I immediately knew that this was the book for me.
Author Kay Kenyon introduces us to Kim Tavistock, an American woman who has the talent of spill, or the ability to make others confess their darkest secrets. She's in Britain working as a journalist, but is drawn into a case to expose a potential German spy. However, there are many players in this game of cat and mouse, and Kim finds herself caught up with individuals and situations she never expected...
At the Table of Wolves was described as a cross between John le Carré and X-Men, and I could definitely feel tones of the latter echoing throughout the book. The powers described by Kenyon have an obvious genesis - they were developed from the trauma of the Great War - which dovetails neatly with how some of the X-Men developed their powers.
Because the powers are borne out of trauma, they're often treated with confusion and suspicion, a theme that Kenyon explores deftly throughout the book via Kim and the secondary characters. Most of those with powers struggle with the idea of having a certain set of responsibilities and obligations that those around them don't need to concern themselves with, impacting their actions and their thinking as a result. It's not surprising that as a consequence, there are those who can be convinced to use their powers for the Germans.
As Kim delves deeper and deeper into trying to figure who the Germany spy is, Kenyon does a deft job of increasing the action and the stakes. We realize that seemingly inconsequential characters are all interwoven into this plot, with the ramifications even greater than possibly imagined. There's a neatness to how many layers Kenyon has put into her plot, and the inevitable payoff is thrilling, and worth it.
Kim herself is a sharp heroine who isn't afraid to take on unknown odds, and joins the rank of fierce heroines that all readers will look up to. Highly recommend, full stop.
Set in WWII
Involve supernatural powers
With fierce heroines
So when I realized At the Table of Wolves had all three, I immediately knew that this was the book for me.
Author Kay Kenyon introduces us to Kim Tavistock, an American woman who has the talent of spill, or the ability to make others confess their darkest secrets. She's in Britain working as a journalist, but is drawn into a case to expose a potential German spy. However, there are many players in this game of cat and mouse, and Kim finds herself caught up with individuals and situations she never expected...
At the Table of Wolves was described as a cross between John le Carré and X-Men, and I could definitely feel tones of the latter echoing throughout the book. The powers described by Kenyon have an obvious genesis - they were developed from the trauma of the Great War - which dovetails neatly with how some of the X-Men developed their powers.
Because the powers are borne out of trauma, they're often treated with confusion and suspicion, a theme that Kenyon explores deftly throughout the book via Kim and the secondary characters. Most of those with powers struggle with the idea of having a certain set of responsibilities and obligations that those around them don't need to concern themselves with, impacting their actions and their thinking as a result. It's not surprising that as a consequence, there are those who can be convinced to use their powers for the Germans.
As Kim delves deeper and deeper into trying to figure who the Germany spy is, Kenyon does a deft job of increasing the action and the stakes. We realize that seemingly inconsequential characters are all interwoven into this plot, with the ramifications even greater than possibly imagined. There's a neatness to how many layers Kenyon has put into her plot, and the inevitable payoff is thrilling, and worth it.
Kim herself is a sharp heroine who isn't afraid to take on unknown odds, and joins the rank of fierce heroines that all readers will look up to. Highly recommend, full stop.
June 30, 2017
(Note: I was offered an uncorrected galley proof of this book in advance of publication, for purposes of an honest review.)
Kay Kenyon's "At the Table Of Wolves" begins with a premise: the trauma of World War I released previously hidden talents among some people--talents which an ascendant Nazi Germany is keen to exploit for military purposes. Not exactly superpowers, but certainly beyond the ordinary.
Kenyon's protagonist is Kim, born British, raised in America, and now returning to her birthplace in possession of "Spill"--a gift that means in her presence, people will often "spill" their deepest secrets.
She's working for the British government. So is her father, although he's so deep undercover, he appears to Kim to be pro-German. But she's new and not really a spy--she's just a Talent they're working with, to see what applications her power might have. Uninitiated and untrained, she finds herself in the middle of a mission to prove a conspiracy between a member of her own governmental unit, without realizing just how deep is the hole into which she's venturing.
The tension in this book never lets up, and as the mystery unravels, one painstaking step at a time, the misunderstandings between Kim and her father get more tightly knotted. It's beautifully plotted and beautifully written.
Being a member of a family full of superhero fans, the concept drew me immediately, but as a writer of contemporary women's fiction, I appreciated how realistically the "extra" element was handled. No one is impaling people with ice shards from their hands or blasting fire from their eyes; Kenyon's concept of Talents is easy to imagine happening in the real world.
One of the most enjoyable books I've read in the past year.
Kay Kenyon's "At the Table Of Wolves" begins with a premise: the trauma of World War I released previously hidden talents among some people--talents which an ascendant Nazi Germany is keen to exploit for military purposes. Not exactly superpowers, but certainly beyond the ordinary.
Kenyon's protagonist is Kim, born British, raised in America, and now returning to her birthplace in possession of "Spill"--a gift that means in her presence, people will often "spill" their deepest secrets.
She's working for the British government. So is her father, although he's so deep undercover, he appears to Kim to be pro-German. But she's new and not really a spy--she's just a Talent they're working with, to see what applications her power might have. Uninitiated and untrained, she finds herself in the middle of a mission to prove a conspiracy between a member of her own governmental unit, without realizing just how deep is the hole into which she's venturing.
The tension in this book never lets up, and as the mystery unravels, one painstaking step at a time, the misunderstandings between Kim and her father get more tightly knotted. It's beautifully plotted and beautifully written.
Being a member of a family full of superhero fans, the concept drew me immediately, but as a writer of contemporary women's fiction, I appreciated how realistically the "extra" element was handled. No one is impaling people with ice shards from their hands or blasting fire from their eyes; Kenyon's concept of Talents is easy to imagine happening in the real world.
One of the most enjoyable books I've read in the past year.
March 21, 2018
This book was pitched as a thriller involving Nazis, spies, and superpowers with the fate of the free world at stake – a very intriguing idea and promising plot. Instead, the most interesting character is killed off within the first quarter of the book, some key characters fail to just talk to each other under the guise of what turns out to be turgid spying activities and thus unnecessarily prolonging everything, and having a revelation about a character be so bleeding obvious one wonders if the other key characters who missed it did so out of incompetence or wilful blindness (I don’t know what is worse). Few, if any, books have had such a mismatch between the promise and the woeful underdelivering. I kept reading in the ultimately forlorn hope that there would be something, a moment, for this book to rise to, but the ending was both frustrating in still failing to provide an enjoyable read and merciful in just finishing.
This is a closest I’ve come to throwing a book across the room in frustration (I didn’t because it was a library book and because I just don’t do that), and writing this review just makes me angry about it again. If there was a dis-recommendation feature, I would do it for this book.
This is a closest I’ve come to throwing a book across the room in frustration (I didn’t because it was a library book and because I just don’t do that), and writing this review just makes me angry about it again. If there was a dis-recommendation feature, I would do it for this book.
August 4, 2017
Disappointing.
The blurb compares this alternative history book to John Le Carre'. That's a mistake on the part of the marketers since the book is nowhere as good, and it is poor marketing to raise unrealistic expectations. I don't usually give poor recommendations, but I am giving one here to warn off readers.
It isn't a bad book. It just isn't very good and looks bad when compared to Le Carre'. Of course most spy novelists look bad when compared to Le Carre': he's state of the art. But some can stand up: Furst, Steinhauer. This book is written by someone who knows no more about spying than any reader of minor spy novels. There's no depth. It reads like a treatment for a made-for-TV plot summary.
If I had gone in with low expectations, I might still be reading. I like light literature, a good yarn, something that engages attention without engaging my brain too much. But this book, even though the writing is okay, just got annoying. And it got more annoying as it proceeded.
So...I don't know how others will react. Forget Le Carre'. Forget the spy novel aspect. Read it as light alternative history with a fantasy element, some character and relationship development, the occasional right-on metaphor and the occasional spurt of really, really clunky dialog, and enjoy the plot. If you go in with that in mind, you will may have a good time.
The blurb compares this alternative history book to John Le Carre'. That's a mistake on the part of the marketers since the book is nowhere as good, and it is poor marketing to raise unrealistic expectations. I don't usually give poor recommendations, but I am giving one here to warn off readers.
It isn't a bad book. It just isn't very good and looks bad when compared to Le Carre'. Of course most spy novelists look bad when compared to Le Carre': he's state of the art. But some can stand up: Furst, Steinhauer. This book is written by someone who knows no more about spying than any reader of minor spy novels. There's no depth. It reads like a treatment for a made-for-TV plot summary.
If I had gone in with low expectations, I might still be reading. I like light literature, a good yarn, something that engages attention without engaging my brain too much. But this book, even though the writing is okay, just got annoying. And it got more annoying as it proceeded.
So...I don't know how others will react. Forget Le Carre'. Forget the spy novel aspect. Read it as light alternative history with a fantasy element, some character and relationship development, the occasional right-on metaphor and the occasional spurt of really, really clunky dialog, and enjoy the plot. If you go in with that in mind, you will may have a good time.
October 15, 2018
I really wanted to like this book, but it just wasn't lively enough for me.
The idea of spies using supernatural powers to fight covertly just before WWII is a great idea. The "bloom" apparently happened around the time of WWI, and some people began to manifest powers like "trauma view" or "cold cell" (the ability to manipulate weather to create storms). Kim, our protagonist, has "the spill". This means that people will involuntarily tell her secrets, sometimes without even realize how odd it is that they've confided in her. Cool for a spy, right? But Kim begins the book with significant qualms about the ethics of using her ability. She does overcome this by the end of the book, but really, it doesn't seem like it even comes into play much.
Kim is recruited by one of the agents who is registering and testing people who have manifested "the bloom" because he fears that someone high up in the intelligence service is a double agent. Kim ends up essentially running herself, and frankly is pretty horrible at being a spy. She doesn't have much ability to lie convincingly and doesn't think through the logic of her actions much. She acts as a sort of catalyst, bringing things out into the open the same way that a puppy might drag your slippers out of the closet.
The book felt a bit... bloodless to me. All the characters felt very Britishly buttoned-up, and the emotional stakes felt low even with attempted seductions, plotted invasions, and young girls being carted off to asylums. I felt remote from the characters and wasn't ever really worried that our main characters would come to harm, despite their perilous situations. That's why I thought the book was just okay. The concept didn't play out in an exciting way, and the "bloom" didn't figure directly into the book that much, although it was part of the German invasion plot.
I much preferred Ian Tregillis's Milkweed trilogy, which explored the darker aspects of developing psychic powers for war and which had fascinating characters and a plot that kept me turning pages. This was sort of a cozy thriller, if there can be such a thing.
The idea of spies using supernatural powers to fight covertly just before WWII is a great idea. The "bloom" apparently happened around the time of WWI, and some people began to manifest powers like "trauma view" or "cold cell" (the ability to manipulate weather to create storms). Kim, our protagonist, has "the spill". This means that people will involuntarily tell her secrets, sometimes without even realize how odd it is that they've confided in her. Cool for a spy, right? But Kim begins the book with significant qualms about the ethics of using her ability. She does overcome this by the end of the book, but really, it doesn't seem like it even comes into play much.
Kim is recruited by one of the agents who is registering and testing people who have manifested "the bloom" because he fears that someone high up in the intelligence service is a double agent. Kim ends up essentially running herself, and frankly is pretty horrible at being a spy. She doesn't have much ability to lie convincingly and doesn't think through the logic of her actions much. She acts as a sort of catalyst, bringing things out into the open the same way that a puppy might drag your slippers out of the closet.
The book felt a bit... bloodless to me. All the characters felt very Britishly buttoned-up, and the emotional stakes felt low even with attempted seductions, plotted invasions, and young girls being carted off to asylums. I felt remote from the characters and wasn't ever really worried that our main characters would come to harm, despite their perilous situations. That's why I thought the book was just okay. The concept didn't play out in an exciting way, and the "bloom" didn't figure directly into the book that much, although it was part of the German invasion plot.
I much preferred Ian Tregillis's Milkweed trilogy, which explored the darker aspects of developing psychic powers for war and which had fascinating characters and a plot that kept me turning pages. This was sort of a cozy thriller, if there can be such a thing.
September 22, 2017
For 400-some odd pages, the book flies by. Good pacing and plot development, but I'd like to see more character development, and a whole heap more explanation of the various Talents and the Bloom. Perhaps that will be the focus of the rest of the series? Regardless, an enjoyable spy read with a fantasy twist.
October 24, 2017
This was a fun and reasonably suspenseful read - an alternate/fantasy history version of a classic 1930s British mystery/thriller. The heroine, a woman in her early 30s, is a little too naive for belief, but not to throw-the-book-across-the-room levels, at least for me.
July 24, 2017
A solid start to a new series. I look forward to reading more, and am wondering if future books will follow the same characters or a different set.
April 27, 2019
I think I must have been exactly in the target audience for this one because it just hit all the right beats for me. Set in an alternate pre WWII Britain, At the Table of Wolves follows young journalist, Kim Tavistock as she negotiates the shadowy world of British Intelligence. Yorkshire born, Philadelphia raised Kim, is still recovering from a personal loss which happened while she was a child during WWI. This has sharpened her sense of moral obligation and loyalty to her country, as well as her hatred of the growing Nazi regime in parts of Europe. So what makes this alternate history? Well, in this world, certain people are born with 'talents' - mental abilities which give them an edge over ordinary people. Kim is possessed of a talent called 'the spill' - which in essence means that whatever someone most wishes to hide or keep secret, will be the very thing they confess to her. Other talents include the ability to move objects telekinetically, future view and trauma view, as well as various others. This slight deviation in normal human progression has very subtly altered a few tiny pieces of history. (So this could be classified as urban fantasy- alternate history)
Where some of the luke warm or negative reviews are coming from is, I think, because this is not your typical X-Men style of powered individuals. We're not talking superhumans here. The talents are subtle, and while they are essential to the plot, there's comparatively little in the way of massive, psychic powered explosion or action sequences. So if you're looking for that, or for the more typical strains of urban fantasy with supernatural humans, then this isn't going to deliver. Personally, I found the pre-war setting, the historical detail and the subtle supernatural angle to fit really well with what is essentially a spy thriller. Minor point here, I know we've all seen at least one James Bond film and as fun as they are, let's be honest, real spy work is 90% puzzle solving to 5% frustrated boredom to 5% actual action. This is far more of the George Smiley order of spies than anything created by Ian Fleming. Which really worked for me but if you're a fan of frenetic pace and not having to do too much thinking, this might not hit the spot for you!
I loved the characters. They were all well developed. No one was entirely a white hat or a black hat, and everyone had motivations for what they did. This was especially apparent with Herr von Ritter, who was a very enjoyable antagonist and more than a little chilling. I also loved the way Kenyon captured the feel of the time both in the upper and lower classes. No one really likes to admit it, but until Germany invaded Poland, Britain contained a lot of people sympathetic to the Nazi cause. (Thank the gods Edward was forced to abdicate!) This is a great book. Deftly woven, subtle and exciting. It makes you wait for the action but the tension is spot on and when it finally does give you an action scene, it really delivers. Intelligent work by an author who really knows whats she's doing and understand what she's writing about. Highly recommend.
Where some of the luke warm or negative reviews are coming from is, I think, because this is not your typical X-Men style of powered individuals. We're not talking superhumans here. The talents are subtle, and while they are essential to the plot, there's comparatively little in the way of massive, psychic powered explosion or action sequences. So if you're looking for that, or for the more typical strains of urban fantasy with supernatural humans, then this isn't going to deliver. Personally, I found the pre-war setting, the historical detail and the subtle supernatural angle to fit really well with what is essentially a spy thriller. Minor point here, I know we've all seen at least one James Bond film and as fun as they are, let's be honest, real spy work is 90% puzzle solving to 5% frustrated boredom to 5% actual action. This is far more of the George Smiley order of spies than anything created by Ian Fleming. Which really worked for me but if you're a fan of frenetic pace and not having to do too much thinking, this might not hit the spot for you!
I loved the characters. They were all well developed. No one was entirely a white hat or a black hat, and everyone had motivations for what they did. This was especially apparent with Herr von Ritter, who was a very enjoyable antagonist and more than a little chilling. I also loved the way Kenyon captured the feel of the time both in the upper and lower classes. No one really likes to admit it, but until Germany invaded Poland, Britain contained a lot of people sympathetic to the Nazi cause. (Thank the gods Edward was forced to abdicate!) This is a great book. Deftly woven, subtle and exciting. It makes you wait for the action but the tension is spot on and when it finally does give you an action scene, it really delivers. Intelligent work by an author who really knows whats she's doing and understand what she's writing about. Highly recommend.
October 17, 2020
Most of this book was pretty good. Really cool premise and foundation. Sometimes the narration got annoyingly introspective or poetically reflective, which I didn't think worked very well for a book that was meant to be more of a spy thriller than anything else. But the writing style moved quickly so it was pretty easy to overlook those moments.
I liked that as an amateur spy, the MC made a lot of mistakes, but I got exhausted by the sheer quantity of mistakes. It seems like everything she did or uncovered had little to no bearing on the ultimate outcome of the book. Her spill ability had very little part to play in this volume (maybe it will have more bearing in the sequels?), she has no control over it anyway, and everything she learned with it was found out by other characters by other means. I also thought her empathy and soft interactions with her Nazi foil got very uncomfortable and problematic and that did not sit well with me at all. Ultimately I ended up far more interested in some of the side characters (Rose, Alice, and Elsa) and did not get nearly as much of them as I wanted.
The quality of the last 40ish pages also went very downhill imo. The final villain monologue was almost cartoonish and all of the final decisions and reveals seemed to all have serious tactical flaws on both sides.
Overall a lot of potential, but iffy execution at times. Glad I read it, but not life-changing, and I see a lot of ways it could have been great.
I liked that as an amateur spy, the MC made a lot of mistakes, but I got exhausted by the sheer quantity of mistakes. It seems like everything she did or uncovered had little to no bearing on the ultimate outcome of the book. Her spill ability had very little part to play in this volume (maybe it will have more bearing in the sequels?), she has no control over it anyway, and everything she learned with it was found out by other characters by other means. I also thought her empathy and soft interactions with her Nazi foil got very uncomfortable and problematic and that did not sit well with me at all. Ultimately I ended up far more interested in some of the side characters (Rose, Alice, and Elsa) and did not get nearly as much of them as I wanted.
The quality of the last 40ish pages also went very downhill imo. The final villain monologue was almost cartoonish and all of the final decisions and reveals seemed to all have serious tactical flaws on both sides.
Overall a lot of potential, but iffy execution at times. Glad I read it, but not life-changing, and I see a lot of ways it could have been great.
August 24, 2017
I finished this book because the story was suspenseful so I wanted to know how it would end, but I was screaming at the characters and their inconsistencies the entire time. Like, on page x, it would be stated that the main character never forgot anything, then on page x+1, she'd forgotten something. And at one point it's important that she always wears one kind of watch given to her by her mother but at at least one point she's wearing an Elgin (which I only noticed because Chicagoland what up), so like...why?
It just also was not a satisfying spy novel unless you like novice spies who make so many mistakes that they're only still alive at the end due to the weird, out of character, and unexplained benevolence of the enemy (spoilers? But it's a series so...). I'll admit I've been reading Mick Herron lately and reminiscing about John Le Carre, so the spy bar is pretty high and I know this is someone kind of bumbling into spy life but my god, this main character should have been dead on like page 50 and the British government's secret operations were compromised so many times that if the series ends with them winning WWII I'd be shocked.
The cringe level of non-resolution of the father-daughter relationship was also painful to sit through, if important (I guess?) for plot and story accuracy.
It just also was not a satisfying spy novel unless you like novice spies who make so many mistakes that they're only still alive at the end due to the weird, out of character, and unexplained benevolence of the enemy (spoilers? But it's a series so...). I'll admit I've been reading Mick Herron lately and reminiscing about John Le Carre, so the spy bar is pretty high and I know this is someone kind of bumbling into spy life but my god, this main character should have been dead on like page 50 and the British government's secret operations were compromised so many times that if the series ends with them winning WWII I'd be shocked.
The cringe level of non-resolution of the father-daughter relationship was also painful to sit through, if important (I guess?) for plot and story accuracy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2017
This book started off a bit slow but once it got going, it kept going. Now I must say that I have a preference for this style of a book. Pre WWII, alternate history, with paranormal elements and spy’s. They book had a couple spots, where things happened just a bit too coincidentally, but I did not mind in the least. Overall, a very fun and enjoyable read for me. I will be looking forward to the next book in this series.
December 30, 2017
Interesting premise and I'm looking forward to checking out the sequel coming out in the next few months!
February 13, 2019
I didn't actually finish, it wasn't for me.
March 4, 2018
Alright, I really enjoyed this, there was enough issues that I shouldn't, but over all, yes I am going to read the next book in series. This book essentially for me was the combination of Bletchley Circle and Daniel O'Malley's Rook series.
February 5, 2018
As you know, I was a big fan of Kay Kenyon's The Entire and the Rose and I've always felt that she never got the credit she deserved for that science fiction series. In any event, I wasn't even aware that she had started writing a new project titled the Dark Talents. I never received a galley for the first volume, At the Table of Wolves, so I was surprised when the author emailed me to inquire if I'd be interested in an ARC of the second installment.
Kenyon quickly hooked me up with digital editions of both books and I was happy to upload them on my tablet so I could bring them along for my Central American adventure. And since I've been going through my reading material at an alarming rate, I was glad to have them with me. The more so because I went through At the Table of Wolves in just a few sittings.
I was a bit concerned that it would be too similar to Ian Tregillis' excellent Milkweed Triptych trilogy, which is one of the very best speculative fiction series of the new millennium, but Kay Kenyon's series is a totally different beast. The premise might bear resemblance to that of Tregillis, true, but the plots are completely different.
Here's the blurb:
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy meets X-Men in a classic British espionage story. A young woman must go undercover and use her superpowers to discover a secret Nazi plot and stop an invasion of England.
In 1936, there are paranormal abilities that have slowly seeped into the world, brought to the surface by the suffering of the Great War. The research to weaponize these abilities in England has lagged behind Germany, but now it’s underway at an ultra-secret site called Monkton Hall.
Kim Tavistock, a woman with the talent of the spill—drawing out truths that people most wish to hide—is among the test subjects at the facility. When she wins the confidence of caseworker Owen Cherwell, she is recruited to a mission to expose the head of Monkton Hall—who is believed to be a German spy.
As she infiltrates the upper-crust circles of some of England’s fascist sympathizers, she encounters dangerous opponents, including the charismatic Nazi officer Erich von Ritter, and discovers a plan to invade England. No one believes an invasion of the island nation is possible, not Whitehall, not even England’s Secret Intelligence Service. Unfortunately, they are wrong, and only one woman, without connections or training, wielding her talent of the spill and her gift for espionage, can stop it.
The worldbuilding was quite interesting and opens up countless possibilities. Nobody is quite sure just how the bloom came about, but it is generally believed that the deaths and the suffering engendered by World War I generated the birth of the Talents, those supernatural abilities, in ordinary men and women the world over. The Nazis have risen to power and Germany is rearming, preparing for what is to come. The British, with their heads up their asses, refuse to face the fact that war is coming again. Which is why they are about a decade behind the Germans in terms of training people with Talents for warfare. There is so much room for growth concerning the Talents and I'm looking forward to see where Kenyon will take her story in the sequels. What we saw in At the Table of Wolves barely scratches the surface and the potential for more is enormous.
I enjoyed the fact that the military and the secret services screwed up their only chance to discover what the Germans are preparing and it comes down to an ordinary woman with a peculiar Talent to try to save her country. Intelligence warns of an impending attack and something that has to do with a storm, but the British have few details to help them pinpoint the time and the place where the invasion would be staged. Moreover, the British government refuses to take the threat seriously, claiming that their superior fleet could handle whatever the Germans can send their way. Hence, a few people with very little resources must find a way to obtain proof of the danger by putting their lives on the line. Ordinary people who must now accomplish extraordinary things.
Kim Tavistock, a former journalist who got fired in the USA, is back home and now works for the British government. Unbeknownst to her father, who is also a spy deep undercover, due to her Talent she has been recruited by Monkton Hall. Untrained in the arts of espionage, due to the spill she nevertheless finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy that goes well beyond what she ever imagined possible. Her innocence will burn her a few times, but when her life is at risk and the odds are stacked against her Kim will have no choice but to bite the bullet and try to make the best of numerous bad situations. She will soon realize that she must quickly get out of the hole she dug herself into, or else become a casualty in a war that is about to begin.
The supporting cast is made up of a number of compelling characters, chief among them Julian, Kim's father, Erich von Ritter, the German spy, Georgi Aberdare, the femme fatale, and Owen Cherwell, her colleague who's in over his head with this spying mission. There are also some poignant scenes involving Rose, a mentally challenged maid. Kim and her father offer the dominant perspectives throughout the novel, but there are additional POVs that allow readers to witness events unfolding through the eyes of other protagonists. All in all, the balance between the points of view worked rather well.
At the Table of Wolves is paced just right. As the misunderstandings between Kim and her father pile up, for both are undercover and can't tell the other the truth about themselves, the tension builds up toward an endgame that delivers a satisfying finale.
In many ways, At the Table of Wolves is an introduction to a bigger and more ambitious tale. It will be interesting to see how the aftermath plays out in the forthcoming second volume, Serpent in the Heather.
There is a lot to love about this alternate history fantasy novel, and for some reason it has flown under the radar since it was released a few months back. Here's to hoping that this review will entice readers to give it a shot.
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com.
Kenyon quickly hooked me up with digital editions of both books and I was happy to upload them on my tablet so I could bring them along for my Central American adventure. And since I've been going through my reading material at an alarming rate, I was glad to have them with me. The more so because I went through At the Table of Wolves in just a few sittings.
I was a bit concerned that it would be too similar to Ian Tregillis' excellent Milkweed Triptych trilogy, which is one of the very best speculative fiction series of the new millennium, but Kay Kenyon's series is a totally different beast. The premise might bear resemblance to that of Tregillis, true, but the plots are completely different.
Here's the blurb:
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy meets X-Men in a classic British espionage story. A young woman must go undercover and use her superpowers to discover a secret Nazi plot and stop an invasion of England.
In 1936, there are paranormal abilities that have slowly seeped into the world, brought to the surface by the suffering of the Great War. The research to weaponize these abilities in England has lagged behind Germany, but now it’s underway at an ultra-secret site called Monkton Hall.
Kim Tavistock, a woman with the talent of the spill—drawing out truths that people most wish to hide—is among the test subjects at the facility. When she wins the confidence of caseworker Owen Cherwell, she is recruited to a mission to expose the head of Monkton Hall—who is believed to be a German spy.
As she infiltrates the upper-crust circles of some of England’s fascist sympathizers, she encounters dangerous opponents, including the charismatic Nazi officer Erich von Ritter, and discovers a plan to invade England. No one believes an invasion of the island nation is possible, not Whitehall, not even England’s Secret Intelligence Service. Unfortunately, they are wrong, and only one woman, without connections or training, wielding her talent of the spill and her gift for espionage, can stop it.
The worldbuilding was quite interesting and opens up countless possibilities. Nobody is quite sure just how the bloom came about, but it is generally believed that the deaths and the suffering engendered by World War I generated the birth of the Talents, those supernatural abilities, in ordinary men and women the world over. The Nazis have risen to power and Germany is rearming, preparing for what is to come. The British, with their heads up their asses, refuse to face the fact that war is coming again. Which is why they are about a decade behind the Germans in terms of training people with Talents for warfare. There is so much room for growth concerning the Talents and I'm looking forward to see where Kenyon will take her story in the sequels. What we saw in At the Table of Wolves barely scratches the surface and the potential for more is enormous.
I enjoyed the fact that the military and the secret services screwed up their only chance to discover what the Germans are preparing and it comes down to an ordinary woman with a peculiar Talent to try to save her country. Intelligence warns of an impending attack and something that has to do with a storm, but the British have few details to help them pinpoint the time and the place where the invasion would be staged. Moreover, the British government refuses to take the threat seriously, claiming that their superior fleet could handle whatever the Germans can send their way. Hence, a few people with very little resources must find a way to obtain proof of the danger by putting their lives on the line. Ordinary people who must now accomplish extraordinary things.
Kim Tavistock, a former journalist who got fired in the USA, is back home and now works for the British government. Unbeknownst to her father, who is also a spy deep undercover, due to her Talent she has been recruited by Monkton Hall. Untrained in the arts of espionage, due to the spill she nevertheless finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy that goes well beyond what she ever imagined possible. Her innocence will burn her a few times, but when her life is at risk and the odds are stacked against her Kim will have no choice but to bite the bullet and try to make the best of numerous bad situations. She will soon realize that she must quickly get out of the hole she dug herself into, or else become a casualty in a war that is about to begin.
The supporting cast is made up of a number of compelling characters, chief among them Julian, Kim's father, Erich von Ritter, the German spy, Georgi Aberdare, the femme fatale, and Owen Cherwell, her colleague who's in over his head with this spying mission. There are also some poignant scenes involving Rose, a mentally challenged maid. Kim and her father offer the dominant perspectives throughout the novel, but there are additional POVs that allow readers to witness events unfolding through the eyes of other protagonists. All in all, the balance between the points of view worked rather well.
At the Table of Wolves is paced just right. As the misunderstandings between Kim and her father pile up, for both are undercover and can't tell the other the truth about themselves, the tension builds up toward an endgame that delivers a satisfying finale.
In many ways, At the Table of Wolves is an introduction to a bigger and more ambitious tale. It will be interesting to see how the aftermath plays out in the forthcoming second volume, Serpent in the Heather.
There is a lot to love about this alternate history fantasy novel, and for some reason it has flown under the radar since it was released a few months back. Here's to hoping that this review will entice readers to give it a shot.
For more reviews, check out www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com.
September 24, 2017
This story was an interesting look at an alternate history of 1930s Europe. With a slight fantastical slant to things.
The characters were interesting, and the plot moved nicely. The "Talents" are the product of what's been called a "bloom" that occurred after the first World War. People can do extraordinary things, like precognition, and telekinesis. The underlying premise of the story is what would happen if these "talents" were weaponized.
The characters were interesting, and the plot moved nicely. The "Talents" are the product of what's been called a "bloom" that occurred after the first World War. People can do extraordinary things, like precognition, and telekinesis. The underlying premise of the story is what would happen if these "talents" were weaponized.
December 9, 2017
You had me at, "It's like Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy meets X-Men." Honestly, it's not a perfect book. No one's going to mistake it for Shakespeare, or even the best of the genre. But then I feel like nitpicking too much at the issues I had with it is somewhat missing the point. It's a fun enough read about an awesome mutant spy lady fighting Nazis. And we need more good stories about fighting Nazis right now.
July 31, 2017
Fascinating and imaginative novel of the run-up to the Second World War in Great Britain. Full of spy details and British color, the plot starts slowly (my favorite way) so the reader gets to know the characters and then rockets off with the highest of stakes for all concerned. Beautifully written and plotted. Highly recommended!
December 6, 2018
In 1936, Germany's invasive streak is starting to become more noticeable. Weeks earlier, Rhineland was taken. While most of Europe is questioning what to do, England hasn't officially taken a position. But, of course, their espionage teams have begun monitoring for a Jerry invasion.
Since the end of World War I, a new resource is available: Talents. It's not entirely clear why, but supernatural abilities have begun to bloom, sometimes in the most unexpected people.
Kim Tavistock is one of those people. A British/American dual citizen, she has returned to her father's homeland. Her career as an investigative reporter in America has collapsed, and she's looking for a way to put her skills to use. Her Talent is spill; people share private, personal information with her. Just the perfect ability for a spy to have.
This book has a great story, but it's far less action-packed than what I expected. I think that was due to the cover. It's got an imposing, tense air. Those planes flying across bring up mental images of the bombing of London. The portrait of Kim is reminiscent of Hayley Atwell as Agent Carter. The promo copy on Simon and Schuster's website actually name checks Agent Carter along with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. I was expecting more behind-the-lines burglary and espionage flavored by superpowers.
Instead, the book has a high amount of social interaction, making the le Carré comparison more apt. Many of the important scenes are set in high society countryside weekends and fancy luncheons. The crux of information gathering in the story is gossip. Due to her Talent, Kim excels at this. Kenyon makes a fascinating choice, though, by making Kim uncomfortable with her ability. She has no issues with her former role as an investigative reporter; but she wants people to like her for who she is. Kim doesn't want to betray people's trust, even unintentionally.
A major theme of the book is the dangers of a spy's life. By dint of the craft, one can't share information with those close. Kim isn't the only one who faces this issue. Her father, Julian, is a spy as well. Unlike Kim, Julian is working for H.R.M.'s government. The conflict between these two spies is at the crux of the story. They've been estranged for years. Now, both want to develop a closer relationship with each other. However, they each feel their secrets are too insurmountable. Kenyon is familiar with the theme of daughter/father conflict. It's a huge driver in her epic science fantasy series, The Entire and the Rose. It's not surprising to see her return to it in The Dark Talents.
One thing I particularly appreciated about At the Table of Wolves was the examination of modern events of the time. It's easy to look back at WWII and draw clear, black-and-white ideological lines. Kenyon captures the confusion of the time, though. A lot of people around the world thought that Hitler wasn't so bad. Even King Edward VIII (who reigned from January to December 1936) had pro-Nazi tendencies. After his abdication, Edward and his wife actually visited Hitler in Germany, and there were numerous rumors. Early in the book Kim mistakenly believes that her father is actually a supporter of Hitler, describing him as "something of a Nazi."
While the book is largely well done, there are a few flies in the ointment. The largest is the written use of accents in the story. The Tavistocks, being landed gentry, have servants. Their accents are thick and hard to read. It comes down to personal taste, but I have a hard time reading accents as they're written. It looks awful on the page. Also, it immediately hearkens back to the first time I saw it done -- the moles of Redwall. If it didn't make me think immediately of a children's book, I may be more lenient.
Overall, though, the story is breezily written, and is easy to follow. As mentioned before, the intrigue is a bit low-key compared to expectations, but it's very well paced and enjoyable.
Since the end of World War I, a new resource is available: Talents. It's not entirely clear why, but supernatural abilities have begun to bloom, sometimes in the most unexpected people.
Kim Tavistock is one of those people. A British/American dual citizen, she has returned to her father's homeland. Her career as an investigative reporter in America has collapsed, and she's looking for a way to put her skills to use. Her Talent is spill; people share private, personal information with her. Just the perfect ability for a spy to have.
This book has a great story, but it's far less action-packed than what I expected. I think that was due to the cover. It's got an imposing, tense air. Those planes flying across bring up mental images of the bombing of London. The portrait of Kim is reminiscent of Hayley Atwell as Agent Carter. The promo copy on Simon and Schuster's website actually name checks Agent Carter along with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. I was expecting more behind-the-lines burglary and espionage flavored by superpowers.
Instead, the book has a high amount of social interaction, making the le Carré comparison more apt. Many of the important scenes are set in high society countryside weekends and fancy luncheons. The crux of information gathering in the story is gossip. Due to her Talent, Kim excels at this. Kenyon makes a fascinating choice, though, by making Kim uncomfortable with her ability. She has no issues with her former role as an investigative reporter; but she wants people to like her for who she is. Kim doesn't want to betray people's trust, even unintentionally.
A major theme of the book is the dangers of a spy's life. By dint of the craft, one can't share information with those close. Kim isn't the only one who faces this issue. Her father, Julian, is a spy as well. Unlike Kim, Julian is working for H.R.M.'s government. The conflict between these two spies is at the crux of the story. They've been estranged for years. Now, both want to develop a closer relationship with each other. However, they each feel their secrets are too insurmountable. Kenyon is familiar with the theme of daughter/father conflict. It's a huge driver in her epic science fantasy series, The Entire and the Rose. It's not surprising to see her return to it in The Dark Talents.
One thing I particularly appreciated about At the Table of Wolves was the examination of modern events of the time. It's easy to look back at WWII and draw clear, black-and-white ideological lines. Kenyon captures the confusion of the time, though. A lot of people around the world thought that Hitler wasn't so bad. Even King Edward VIII (who reigned from January to December 1936) had pro-Nazi tendencies. After his abdication, Edward and his wife actually visited Hitler in Germany, and there were numerous rumors. Early in the book Kim mistakenly believes that her father is actually a supporter of Hitler, describing him as "something of a Nazi."
While the book is largely well done, there are a few flies in the ointment. The largest is the written use of accents in the story. The Tavistocks, being landed gentry, have servants. Their accents are thick and hard to read. It comes down to personal taste, but I have a hard time reading accents as they're written. It looks awful on the page. Also, it immediately hearkens back to the first time I saw it done -- the moles of Redwall. If it didn't make me think immediately of a children's book, I may be more lenient.
Overall, though, the story is breezily written, and is easy to follow. As mentioned before, the intrigue is a bit low-key compared to expectations, but it's very well paced and enjoyable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2018
In brief: In an alternate 1930s Britain, Kim Tavistock has the spill, the ability to draw secrets out of people, which she’s anxious to hide. Then she’s asked to get close to a suspected spy to uncover a Nazi mole and suddenly she’s holding more secrets than she can safely handle. First in a series.
Thoughts: I didn’t go into this expecting a spy thriller, but I probably should have. (I’d heard “superpowers” and “World War II” and “fans of Agent Carter and Captain America” and imagined a full-on superheroic battle.*) I liked it though, once my expectations adjusted. Didn’t love, because it could’ve been a bit more thrilling, but definitely liked.
Oh, it’s well-paced and well-written, with interesting characters and tensions and a good spread of espionage set pieces, but it also feels very much like a British drawing room drama. It’s an interesting angle to take a story like this, and proof that you can write a spy novel without constant action and by prioritizing female experiences, but … again, not what I was expecting. I wasn’t expecting multiple POVs either, but they helped keep the tension up, so that’s all right.
I did like Kim, who’s just clever enough to pull things off but naïve enough to get into trouble, and I liked how her subplots ended up meshing at the end. (I always like books that pull that off.) The subplot with Rose, her family’s developmentally delayed maid, is especially sweet and important, and everything between Kim and her father is … intriguing, let’s say. It’ll be interesting seeing how that, and Kim herself, develops as the series continues.
I also found the superpower-related world-building pretty neat, though a bit surface. They come from a unique event, they’re still new enough to the world to be mysterious, they’re not the usual slate of powers, and they’re not all solely good or solely evil, though Kenyon doesn’t shy from pointing out the darker and more disturbing sides all the same.
All the same, nothing really struck me enough about this to make it stand out or get me to rush out in a few months when the sequel drops. I suspect this is more a me problem more than a book problem, and there’s a decent chance I’ll pick the sequel up at some point, when I’m in the mood.
* Which is probably coming at some point in the series, mind you.
Warnings: Nazis, it almost goes without saying. Specifically, Nazi and similarly conservative views of homosexuality and mental disability, including slurs for the latter. One gay character, killed partway through for plot. Slight redemption of main Nazi character.
6.5/10
Thoughts: I didn’t go into this expecting a spy thriller, but I probably should have. (I’d heard “superpowers” and “World War II” and “fans of Agent Carter and Captain America” and imagined a full-on superheroic battle.*) I liked it though, once my expectations adjusted. Didn’t love, because it could’ve been a bit more thrilling, but definitely liked.
Oh, it’s well-paced and well-written, with interesting characters and tensions and a good spread of espionage set pieces, but it also feels very much like a British drawing room drama. It’s an interesting angle to take a story like this, and proof that you can write a spy novel without constant action and by prioritizing female experiences, but … again, not what I was expecting. I wasn’t expecting multiple POVs either, but they helped keep the tension up, so that’s all right.
I did like Kim, who’s just clever enough to pull things off but naïve enough to get into trouble, and I liked how her subplots ended up meshing at the end. (I always like books that pull that off.) The subplot with Rose, her family’s developmentally delayed maid, is especially sweet and important, and everything between Kim and her father is … intriguing, let’s say. It’ll be interesting seeing how that, and Kim herself, develops as the series continues.
I also found the superpower-related world-building pretty neat, though a bit surface. They come from a unique event, they’re still new enough to the world to be mysterious, they’re not the usual slate of powers, and they’re not all solely good or solely evil, though Kenyon doesn’t shy from pointing out the darker and more disturbing sides all the same.
All the same, nothing really struck me enough about this to make it stand out or get me to rush out in a few months when the sequel drops. I suspect this is more a me problem more than a book problem, and there’s a decent chance I’ll pick the sequel up at some point, when I’m in the mood.
* Which is probably coming at some point in the series, mind you.
Warnings: Nazis, it almost goes without saying. Specifically, Nazi and similarly conservative views of homosexuality and mental disability, including slurs for the latter. One gay character, killed partway through for plot. Slight redemption of main Nazi character.
6.5/10
August 7, 2017
You have heard the cliché "Never judge a book by its cover!". Thank goodness I did. I saw the cover at a recent writers conference. It had a couple of icons that I recognized - Big Ben in London, WWII aircraft and a woman dressed as a WWII spy. In the cover copy, I saw the word "paranormal" and almost put it down. I am not a fan of paranormal thrillers. I am so glad I let my original instincts carry the day. The book is more a pre-WWII spy thriller than anything else and a darn good one at that.
Kim Tavistock is the daughter of a successful Yorkshire gentleman and his divorced American wife. Kim has returned to her Father's estate after living for more than a decade with her mother in Philadelphia. She had started a career in journalism that she hopes to expand in England. The time is 1936. Europe is gearing up for war, again. A madman is ruling Germany. Kim's brother had been killed during a cavalry charge early in 1914 at Ypres in Belgium and that hangs heavily over her. He was older than Kim by several years and was her idol.
After the end of WWI, many people in Europe started developing psychic powers called Talents. Their abilities were ranked on a scale of 1 to 10. Kim's Talent is The Spill, getting people to tell secrets without their knowledge. Her skill level is 6.5 which is significant. Kim and her father, Julian, are somewhat estranged. Kim thinks Julian is actually working for German interests. Both the British and Germans are working on special projects to develop these skills as weapons. Both countries have operatives in the other's homeland trying find out what the other is doing. It is this spy versus spy that gives the story its focus.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this story. Do not be turned off by the word "paranormal" because that aspect is underplayed but is important to the story. The atmosphere of England under the threat for yet another war is told magnificently. Although the book is about 400 pages it is a page turner.
GO! BUY! READ!
Kim Tavistock is the daughter of a successful Yorkshire gentleman and his divorced American wife. Kim has returned to her Father's estate after living for more than a decade with her mother in Philadelphia. She had started a career in journalism that she hopes to expand in England. The time is 1936. Europe is gearing up for war, again. A madman is ruling Germany. Kim's brother had been killed during a cavalry charge early in 1914 at Ypres in Belgium and that hangs heavily over her. He was older than Kim by several years and was her idol.
After the end of WWI, many people in Europe started developing psychic powers called Talents. Their abilities were ranked on a scale of 1 to 10. Kim's Talent is The Spill, getting people to tell secrets without their knowledge. Her skill level is 6.5 which is significant. Kim and her father, Julian, are somewhat estranged. Kim thinks Julian is actually working for German interests. Both the British and Germans are working on special projects to develop these skills as weapons. Both countries have operatives in the other's homeland trying find out what the other is doing. It is this spy versus spy that gives the story its focus.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this story. Do not be turned off by the word "paranormal" because that aspect is underplayed but is important to the story. The atmosphere of England under the threat for yet another war is told magnificently. Although the book is about 400 pages it is a page turner.
GO! BUY! READ!
September 23, 2023
Confession time: in the case of books and wine, they both have to be really wretched before I won't finish them. Another confession is that I may be rating this book so negatively since it isn't in a genre or style that meets what I read for when reading an alternative history or the like. This isn't the fault of the author necessarily, but the marketing forces. I picked this book up after seeing it on a variety of bookseller tables at WorldCon when it was held in San Jose, California (circa 2018, so the book was on my TBR pile for awhile).
The alternative history aspect of this book is it is set in 1936 in a Europe that had suffered some sort of psychic power manifestation during WWI. Not everyone, but a certain percentage of the population exhibits some sort of psychic powers--in the case of Kim Tavistock, the protagonist, she has the ability of the spill, whihc allows her to elicit information from people who don't realize it. Others have the ability to manipulate emotions, and as the story proceeds some have the ability to transport objects long distances. The other element to this novel is that the British government has a clandestine agency that even other government agencies are unaware of, that is recruiting and developing the people with psychic abilities for espionage and possible warfare.
This world still has the rise of Nazism and in the case of Britain, a faction that are pro-Nazi in Britain.
The plot of the novel is essentially Kim's first mission is to attempt to ferret out Nazis and Nazi-symapthizers in the British government and British aristocracy. I guess what I found a bit off-putting is the mish-mash of genres as the story unfolds--at times melodramatic romance genre, at times a bit of an espionage novel, at times a watered-down adventure novel. Yes, the writing is serviceable, some of the characters--particularly Kim's father, are well-developed characters, and then others like the nazi agent von Ritter are just stereotypes.
The alternative history aspect of this book is it is set in 1936 in a Europe that had suffered some sort of psychic power manifestation during WWI. Not everyone, but a certain percentage of the population exhibits some sort of psychic powers--in the case of Kim Tavistock, the protagonist, she has the ability of the spill, whihc allows her to elicit information from people who don't realize it. Others have the ability to manipulate emotions, and as the story proceeds some have the ability to transport objects long distances. The other element to this novel is that the British government has a clandestine agency that even other government agencies are unaware of, that is recruiting and developing the people with psychic abilities for espionage and possible warfare.
This world still has the rise of Nazism and in the case of Britain, a faction that are pro-Nazi in Britain.
The plot of the novel is essentially Kim's first mission is to attempt to ferret out Nazis and Nazi-symapthizers in the British government and British aristocracy. I guess what I found a bit off-putting is the mish-mash of genres as the story unfolds--at times melodramatic romance genre, at times a bit of an espionage novel, at times a watered-down adventure novel. Yes, the writing is serviceable, some of the characters--particularly Kim's father, are well-developed characters, and then others like the nazi agent von Ritter are just stereotypes.
May 2, 2018
I found this book pretty boring, and I finally gave up about 150 pages from the end and skipped to the last 30 pages.
The book has a pretty good premise: it’s set in the ’30s and trauma from the Great War unleased psi talents in the population. The Nazis have taken over in Germany and are maybe considering invading England. There are Nazi sympathizers at home. The plot seemed like it should be good: spying on Nazis! dastardly plans! psi talents!
And yet this book managed to be boring. I just didn’t really care what happened to any of the people. And there were two groups of spies trying to foil the Nazis and each thought the other was working with the Nazis and maybe that’s realistic and probably that was supposed to increase the drama/tension but I just found it really annoying.
Also it kind of bothers me that the Great War seems to be the first mass trauma event to unleash these latent psi powers. Like, there were a lot of traumatic events before it: the American genocide of the Native Americans. Slavery. The british colonization of India. The Belgian Congo! Like, the author could have tied this in with the racism of the time and had people be like, of course the lower races showed these power, but now they’re appearing in white people! Or it could have been like, something something chlorine gas is necessary to activate these powers but once they’re activated they can spread, so like Joe who was at the front gets the powers but then he goes home to heal and his kid sister gets them and one of the nursing sisters, etc.
Anyway this book seemed like it should have been good but actually it was pretty boring, the end.
The book has a pretty good premise: it’s set in the ’30s and trauma from the Great War unleased psi talents in the population. The Nazis have taken over in Germany and are maybe considering invading England. There are Nazi sympathizers at home. The plot seemed like it should be good: spying on Nazis! dastardly plans! psi talents!
And yet this book managed to be boring. I just didn’t really care what happened to any of the people. And there were two groups of spies trying to foil the Nazis and each thought the other was working with the Nazis and maybe that’s realistic and probably that was supposed to increase the drama/tension but I just found it really annoying.
Also it kind of bothers me that the Great War seems to be the first mass trauma event to unleash these latent psi powers. Like, there were a lot of traumatic events before it: the American genocide of the Native Americans. Slavery. The british colonization of India. The Belgian Congo! Like, the author could have tied this in with the racism of the time and had people be like, of course the lower races showed these power, but now they’re appearing in white people! Or it could have been like, something something chlorine gas is necessary to activate these powers but once they’re activated they can spread, so like Joe who was at the front gets the powers but then he goes home to heal and his kid sister gets them and one of the nursing sisters, etc.
Anyway this book seemed like it should have been good but actually it was pretty boring, the end.
November 2, 2017
The first third (or so) of this is fantastic, but the long middle section is dull and mostly unnecessary until a rather rushed climax partially redeems things. I liked Kim and didn't find her bumbling to be as frustrating as many other readers apparently did, but there are quite a few inconsistencies that I wish had been tidied up.
For example, the story takes place in a world like ours where an event called the bloom has awakened supernatural Talents in a small but significant percentage of the population. Since these abilities are largely weak and unreliable (and apparently no one has found a way to commodify them), their society has progressed exactly as ours - at least until the events of this story. Fine. Here's the problem: it's unclear how long ago the bloom happened - WW1 may have been a factor, but there is a reference to people having abilities for hundreds of years, and at one point a character wonders if Jesus was a Talent. In spite of this, characters often muse about the bloom, and how it changed everything. It actually changed pretty much nothing, and why would the characters talk about a situation that has existed far longer than any of them have been alive? "Gee, isn't it weird how industrialization changed everything," is not a conversation I have very often.
Anyways, overall, it's fine. I guess. Not good enough that I would read another, which is disappointing because I really did enjoy the set-up, with the gay German officer on the run, and Kim sleuthing around the manor house to find the high society traitor.
For example, the story takes place in a world like ours where an event called the bloom has awakened supernatural Talents in a small but significant percentage of the population. Since these abilities are largely weak and unreliable (and apparently no one has found a way to commodify them), their society has progressed exactly as ours - at least until the events of this story. Fine. Here's the problem: it's unclear how long ago the bloom happened - WW1 may have been a factor, but there is a reference to people having abilities for hundreds of years, and at one point a character wonders if Jesus was a Talent. In spite of this, characters often muse about the bloom, and how it changed everything. It actually changed pretty much nothing, and why would the characters talk about a situation that has existed far longer than any of them have been alive? "Gee, isn't it weird how industrialization changed everything," is not a conversation I have very often.
Anyways, overall, it's fine. I guess. Not good enough that I would read another, which is disappointing because I really did enjoy the set-up, with the gay German officer on the run, and Kim sleuthing around the manor house to find the high society traitor.
August 16, 2017
I have been a WW2 buff for a long time and when you combine the settings of WW2 with something straight out of X-Men, you definitely have a winning hand as far as I am concerned. The Milkweed Triptych by Ian Tregillis was the last good one I had read in this genre. A fab series but also one was that remarkably gloomy and dire. In that regards, At the Table of Wolves brings back elements of yore infusing a grain of dash and gallantry to the proceedings and notably makes it a better book. Combined with the fact that it has a female lead allows it to bring other elements of spycraft than the traditional male-centric ones
Kim Tavistock, our lead with powers of her own, uncovers a conspiracy as well as a dashing charming Germany spy. With the powers that be refusing to believe in fancy stories of people with powers or the fact that they can be used on something large scale as the invasion of Britain, it falls on her to take steps. She isnt a professional but what she has is oodles of grit, a clever brain and the ability to adapt to the situation. Not knowing whom to trust, including her dad, Kim is often forced into a corner but makes her own stand. While it is set up as a series, the book functions well as a one-off as well and is quite an engaging read
Kim Tavistock, our lead with powers of her own, uncovers a conspiracy as well as a dashing charming Germany spy. With the powers that be refusing to believe in fancy stories of people with powers or the fact that they can be used on something large scale as the invasion of Britain, it falls on her to take steps. She isnt a professional but what she has is oodles of grit, a clever brain and the ability to adapt to the situation. Not knowing whom to trust, including her dad, Kim is often forced into a corner but makes her own stand. While it is set up as a series, the book functions well as a one-off as well and is quite an engaging read
March 13, 2023
Action-packed and nerve-wracking with characters well-drawn to avoid stereotypes, Key Kenyon's At the Table of Wolves marks the beginning of a good series.
I forget why I added this to my "to-read" list, whether it was something I read or a recommendation I got from someone else. I was honestly a little put off by the book cover, as it looks very cheesy. Thankfully, the old adage holds true and the book is better than its cover. The strongest element of the writing is the shifting of perspective; since we are not stuck in Kim's perspective, we are able to know more about the given situation. This creates some painful dramatic irony, as the reader knows more than the characters. It took me a while to read this book because of this tension; I typically read at night and couldn't handle the stress. I liked how the Talents were handled, particularly with Kim's uncertain relationship with her own Talent. If she was more confident or assertive, I think I would like her less, as she would be written into a stereotypical "girlboss" kind of character. Her reluctance, fear, and mistakes make her human, which makes the reader like her more.
I'm looking forward to the next in the series - if you like alternate history, ignore the cover and pick it up!
I forget why I added this to my "to-read" list, whether it was something I read or a recommendation I got from someone else. I was honestly a little put off by the book cover, as it looks very cheesy. Thankfully, the old adage holds true and the book is better than its cover. The strongest element of the writing is the shifting of perspective; since we are not stuck in Kim's perspective, we are able to know more about the given situation. This creates some painful dramatic irony, as the reader knows more than the characters. It took me a while to read this book because of this tension; I typically read at night and couldn't handle the stress. I liked how the Talents were handled, particularly with Kim's uncertain relationship with her own Talent. If she was more confident or assertive, I think I would like her less, as she would be written into a stereotypical "girlboss" kind of character. Her reluctance, fear, and mistakes make her human, which makes the reader like her more.
I'm looking forward to the next in the series - if you like alternate history, ignore the cover and pick it up!
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