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Hawthorn House #1
Ghost Electricity
A girl with a monster in her shadow. A warlock believed dead four years ago. A werewolf outcast from the London packs.
Rob wants a good job, friends to head to the pub with and a solid cage to lock himself in three nights a month. Julian dropped off the face of the Earth four years ago. He's back and trying to stay under the radar. But London after dark is full of dangers they cannot survive alone.
Fiona has a monster in her shadow but she doesn't know how it got there. A creature in the shape of a man is on her trail and he knows things about Fiona she doesn't know herself. Along with her inventor ten-year-old sister Jessica, Fiona will attempt to unravel the web of lies that surrounds them both.
And beneath their feet the plague dead of centuries stir in their graves, waiting for the spell that holds them to break...
Ghost Electricity is the first book in the epic urban fantasy series Hawthorn House.
Join the residents of Hawthorn House to discover this exciting new series today!
Rob wants a good job, friends to head to the pub with and a solid cage to lock himself in three nights a month. Julian dropped off the face of the Earth four years ago. He's back and trying to stay under the radar. But London after dark is full of dangers they cannot survive alone.
Fiona has a monster in her shadow but she doesn't know how it got there. A creature in the shape of a man is on her trail and he knows things about Fiona she doesn't know herself. Along with her inventor ten-year-old sister Jessica, Fiona will attempt to unravel the web of lies that surrounds them both.
And beneath their feet the plague dead of centuries stir in their graves, waiting for the spell that holds them to break...
Ghost Electricity is the first book in the epic urban fantasy series Hawthorn House.
Join the residents of Hawthorn House to discover this exciting new series today!
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 7, 2018
106 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 11, 2018
Actual rating: 3.75/5
Moving in with a werewolf was a mistake.
Because Julian made it, we may enjoy Hawthorne House series. And there’s a lot to enjoy. Titular house residents belong to an elite group of fictional characters that quickly won me over.
A warlock and a vampire share a flat next door to a ten-year-old esoteric physics genius and a supernatural weapon constructor - Jessica, and her sister Fiona. Only Fiona probably isn’t Fiona. Plus a monster is living in her shadow. Did I mention that Jessica owns two automatons: raven and a turtle? Because she does, and they bring a lot of freshness to the story.
Ghost Electricity takes all urban fantasy tropes (ghosts, werewolves, vampires, wizards, and more), shakes them, and creates something fresh and unexpected.
I’m sure the author had fun bringing characters to life, fleshing them out and making them breathe on the page. He made me cheer for them. Interesting and surprising plot helped to sustain my interest and engagement in the story. Colourful and diverse supernatural community hiding in plain sight in London tries to follow a special treaty that prevents bloodshed. Not an easy task as werewolves and vampires have their urges and instincts. Add malevolent ghosts and overpowered warlocks to the mix and prepare to see things explode.
Proper humour balances gory details and violence that appear here and there. Description of geography and care for the small details of world-building contribute to the feeling of reality. The climax and resolution satisfy but leave enough loose threads to make you almost instantly buy the sequel. It seems it’s just a start of an epic UF series and real problems are still ahead of us.
Intriguing plot and relatable characters made me burn through Ghost Electricity in two sittings. As long as you don’t expect Dostoyevsky’s level of psychological depth, you should appreciate character development.
I don’t want to make this review too long but I need to say that Jessica rocks. I adore her and her pragmatic no-nonsense approach to all things supernatural. Her train of thoughts is peculiar. I’m sure if someone shot at her, she wouldn’t experience any fear. Instead, she would think about joys of disassembling the gun to understand how it works. Here’s Jessica explaining Fiona why she allowed a vampire to leave:
While I have zero problems with plot and characters, I feel Cunningham’s writing skills are a little behind his imagination and clever plotting. Misspellings and awkward sentences appear here and there, and the prose lacks lightness in places. Additionally, the author introduces a lot of characters and I can’t say it’s always done skilfully. Omniscient POV transforms into third-person limited and in some paragraphs it’s unclear who’s doing an action. Another pass of editing should significantly improve the flow of the story and the quality of writing. I hope the author will find a balance between regular releases and polishing the final product.
That said, this smart, surprising series opener left me impatient for the next installment. I started the sequel immediately after finishing Ghost Electricity and I’m enjoying it a lot so far.
Moving in with a werewolf was a mistake.
Because Julian made it, we may enjoy Hawthorne House series. And there’s a lot to enjoy. Titular house residents belong to an elite group of fictional characters that quickly won me over.
A warlock and a vampire share a flat next door to a ten-year-old esoteric physics genius and a supernatural weapon constructor - Jessica, and her sister Fiona. Only Fiona probably isn’t Fiona. Plus a monster is living in her shadow. Did I mention that Jessica owns two automatons: raven and a turtle? Because she does, and they bring a lot of freshness to the story.
Ghost Electricity takes all urban fantasy tropes (ghosts, werewolves, vampires, wizards, and more), shakes them, and creates something fresh and unexpected.
I’m sure the author had fun bringing characters to life, fleshing them out and making them breathe on the page. He made me cheer for them. Interesting and surprising plot helped to sustain my interest and engagement in the story. Colourful and diverse supernatural community hiding in plain sight in London tries to follow a special treaty that prevents bloodshed. Not an easy task as werewolves and vampires have their urges and instincts. Add malevolent ghosts and overpowered warlocks to the mix and prepare to see things explode.
Proper humour balances gory details and violence that appear here and there. Description of geography and care for the small details of world-building contribute to the feeling of reality. The climax and resolution satisfy but leave enough loose threads to make you almost instantly buy the sequel. It seems it’s just a start of an epic UF series and real problems are still ahead of us.
Intriguing plot and relatable characters made me burn through Ghost Electricity in two sittings. As long as you don’t expect Dostoyevsky’s level of psychological depth, you should appreciate character development.
I don’t want to make this review too long but I need to say that Jessica rocks. I adore her and her pragmatic no-nonsense approach to all things supernatural. Her train of thoughts is peculiar. I’m sure if someone shot at her, she wouldn’t experience any fear. Instead, she would think about joys of disassembling the gun to understand how it works. Here’s Jessica explaining Fiona why she allowed a vampire to leave:
Oh, I had to let him go. I mean, what else could i do with him? I couldn’t keep him, mum would completely freak out. I thought about killing him too and Mr Shell says that vampires burn really well, but I couldn’t set him on fire in my room and the neighbours would see if I did it out in the backyard.
While I have zero problems with plot and characters, I feel Cunningham’s writing skills are a little behind his imagination and clever plotting. Misspellings and awkward sentences appear here and there, and the prose lacks lightness in places. Additionally, the author introduces a lot of characters and I can’t say it’s always done skilfully. Omniscient POV transforms into third-person limited and in some paragraphs it’s unclear who’s doing an action. Another pass of editing should significantly improve the flow of the story and the quality of writing. I hope the author will find a balance between regular releases and polishing the final product.
That said, this smart, surprising series opener left me impatient for the next installment. I started the sequel immediately after finishing Ghost Electricity and I’m enjoying it a lot so far.
October 23, 2018
My first official SPFBO review! As a guest judge this year, and one of six, my task is to read and review five of Booknest's batch of thirty books (no ratings), and forward my pick of the lot as a semifinalist. If all of them are as good as the first one I've read, Ghost Electricity by Sean Cunningham, I've got my work cut out for me. This could be a tough decision.
Ghost Electricity is easily one of the best urban fantasy books I've ever read, and that's saying something since I've read a whole lot and love so few. As far as story and feel goes, think Simon Green's Nightside meets Dr. Who, with a heavy dose of Hellboy and maybe even The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. It's got all the pacing, fun and humor of Shayne Silver's Nate Temple series, (funnier, actually, and better written, without all the ogling of physiques and knee-slapping man-laughs), with the weight of the later books in The Dresden Files--and then some. Now that I'm thinking about it, it has a sense of Clive Barker as well.
Ghost is more of an ensemble piece, though, with multiple protagonists, each very different and with distinct abilities, and all fully fleshed-out and extremely intriguing. There's a desultory young woman with a monster-guardian living in her shadow, her precocious ten year old sister who's a whiz with weird science and invents magical gadgets (including a guard drone that fires deadly flechettes at intruding vampires), her companions, a sentient robot tortoise and a glass raven that can fly between dimensions. There's a working class shape-shifter with hunger issues, a young wizard outcast, and a vampire bad-girl who may not be so bad after all. Each get pretty much equal screen time, but somehow Cunningham weaves them together in a story that is exciting, fast-paced, intriguing and incredibly unique.
Throw this unlikely bunch together against bad guys the likes of vampires, werewolves, truly bizarre demons, an incredibly ancient real vampire, corporate tycoons with sinister plans, and eldritch horrors from beyond space and time, put them in a London where the supernatural exists just below the surface of everyday existence, and set them on a race against time to stop any number of terrible things from happening, and you've got a hell of an adventure.
I realize much of that may sound like quite a few things you've already read, but take my word for it, it isn't. Cunningham's style, narrative invention, and ability to layer in a dozen levels of action and mystery make for an extremely readable story that is both exceptional and thrilling. I also cared about what happens to these characters, and that's honestly not the case for most of even my favorite urban fantasy reads. The main storyline alone would have made for a great book, but Cunningham weaves in a variety of interesting subplots, as well as multiple greater series arcs, that give Ghost Electricity much more depth and breadth than nearly every other UF book I've read.
The second book in the series, The Mortal Edge, is already out, and you'd better believe I'll shove it in my eye-holes as soon as I get the chance.
Ghost Electricity is easily one of the best urban fantasy books I've ever read, and that's saying something since I've read a whole lot and love so few. As far as story and feel goes, think Simon Green's Nightside meets Dr. Who, with a heavy dose of Hellboy and maybe even The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. It's got all the pacing, fun and humor of Shayne Silver's Nate Temple series, (funnier, actually, and better written, without all the ogling of physiques and knee-slapping man-laughs), with the weight of the later books in The Dresden Files--and then some. Now that I'm thinking about it, it has a sense of Clive Barker as well.
Ghost is more of an ensemble piece, though, with multiple protagonists, each very different and with distinct abilities, and all fully fleshed-out and extremely intriguing. There's a desultory young woman with a monster-guardian living in her shadow, her precocious ten year old sister who's a whiz with weird science and invents magical gadgets (including a guard drone that fires deadly flechettes at intruding vampires), her companions, a sentient robot tortoise and a glass raven that can fly between dimensions. There's a working class shape-shifter with hunger issues, a young wizard outcast, and a vampire bad-girl who may not be so bad after all. Each get pretty much equal screen time, but somehow Cunningham weaves them together in a story that is exciting, fast-paced, intriguing and incredibly unique.
Throw this unlikely bunch together against bad guys the likes of vampires, werewolves, truly bizarre demons, an incredibly ancient real vampire, corporate tycoons with sinister plans, and eldritch horrors from beyond space and time, put them in a London where the supernatural exists just below the surface of everyday existence, and set them on a race against time to stop any number of terrible things from happening, and you've got a hell of an adventure.
I realize much of that may sound like quite a few things you've already read, but take my word for it, it isn't. Cunningham's style, narrative invention, and ability to layer in a dozen levels of action and mystery make for an extremely readable story that is both exceptional and thrilling. I also cared about what happens to these characters, and that's honestly not the case for most of even my favorite urban fantasy reads. The main storyline alone would have made for a great book, but Cunningham weaves in a variety of interesting subplots, as well as multiple greater series arcs, that give Ghost Electricity much more depth and breadth than nearly every other UF book I've read.
The second book in the series, The Mortal Edge, is already out, and you'd better believe I'll shove it in my eye-holes as soon as I get the chance.
October 9, 2021
Some of the characters are fun but the whole thing bounces around like a cat in a bag. Reading it is making me feel neurotic.
January 28, 2018
I loved this. It was fantastically crafted with an array of interesting and thoroughly developed characters. I was invested in each and every one of them. Usually in a cast of this size I'd enjoy a couple and find the rest flat and bland, but that absolutely was not the case here.
The plot itself was beautifully woven together. It took a little bit to get into the hopping between characters, it could be a little jolting, but it all came together perfectly. My only little complaint is I'd have liked a scene marker to make it crystal clear a transition had happened.
I can't wait for the next book and will be following this author for more outstanding books!
The plot itself was beautifully woven together. It took a little bit to get into the hopping between characters, it could be a little jolting, but it all came together perfectly. My only little complaint is I'd have liked a scene marker to make it crystal clear a transition had happened.
I can't wait for the next book and will be following this author for more outstanding books!
July 20, 2021
This was a fantastic book and I enjoyed reading it. The characters were great and I enjoyed the storyline. I was glued to this book and I enjoyed reading it.
July 20, 2019
Good Urban Fantasy
Seriously enjoyed reading this and really liked the way the characters come together and develop. Well written and thought out; this was well worth the time to read. On to book two!
Seriously enjoyed reading this and really liked the way the characters come together and develop. Well written and thought out; this was well worth the time to read. On to book two!
April 13, 2019
This is a story Joss Whedon might have written if he had been part Australian, part British.
It’s got vampires, werewolves and monsters of all kinds and The Big Bad is something ghoulish, mega-powerful and not-of-this-world. Our plucky protagonists may have the same qualities as Buffy, resourceful, determined and with their own Scooby gang, but it looks like the nefarious beings are going to be just too big and bad.
The author maintains his story ‘blends fast-paced action, vivid characters and epic adventures in modern London.’ He is not wrong in that description and it’s why I loved this book. It is relentless in its pace, no mean achievement considering the amount of world building that goes on in it. Yes, it’s primarily set in London, evoked wonderfully too. But, like all good urban fantasy, we are in a world where there’s much more happening in the shadows and in the social make-up of this city.
This is the first book in the Hawthorn House series so the world building and its characters requires lots of seeds to be sown. I found this to be a little confusing at the outset, the story is told through multiple PoVs and keeping track of everything wasn’t easy. It’s not a story to put down and leave for a day or two – but to be honest – you won’t want to. Too much is happening as the threat level ramps up chapter by chapter.
The writing style is relaxed, easy to follow and that makes it so much easier to take everything in. It sits in the background, occasionally making itself known - like a demon in the shadows. I referenced Joss Whedon earlier because of the humour, it’s wry, slightly sarcastic at times, laconic too. Dialogue sparkles and left me with a grin on my face.
Characters might appear, on the surface, to be archetypes in the first act but don’t let this mislead you. The traditional tropes are cracked wide open here. Our protagonist werewolf turns out to be something more than that – there’s another Whedon twist here which I loved! (Probably the best part!) We have three female characters who are different takes on the Buffy model. One is a ten-year-old technological genius who admonishes herself at the end when she says, “I screamed like a little girl. Like a little damned girl!”
Another young woman undertakes her own dream walks, resonating with the journeys of self-discovery seen in the aboriginal cultures of North America and Australia. I mention this as an illustration of the inventiveness of the author’s imagination. It should serve to show that this story goes way beyond Joss Whedon’s Buffy in some ways but does so with a casual nod of affection.
It’s got vampires, werewolves and monsters of all kinds and The Big Bad is something ghoulish, mega-powerful and not-of-this-world. Our plucky protagonists may have the same qualities as Buffy, resourceful, determined and with their own Scooby gang, but it looks like the nefarious beings are going to be just too big and bad.
The author maintains his story ‘blends fast-paced action, vivid characters and epic adventures in modern London.’ He is not wrong in that description and it’s why I loved this book. It is relentless in its pace, no mean achievement considering the amount of world building that goes on in it. Yes, it’s primarily set in London, evoked wonderfully too. But, like all good urban fantasy, we are in a world where there’s much more happening in the shadows and in the social make-up of this city.
This is the first book in the Hawthorn House series so the world building and its characters requires lots of seeds to be sown. I found this to be a little confusing at the outset, the story is told through multiple PoVs and keeping track of everything wasn’t easy. It’s not a story to put down and leave for a day or two – but to be honest – you won’t want to. Too much is happening as the threat level ramps up chapter by chapter.
The writing style is relaxed, easy to follow and that makes it so much easier to take everything in. It sits in the background, occasionally making itself known - like a demon in the shadows. I referenced Joss Whedon earlier because of the humour, it’s wry, slightly sarcastic at times, laconic too. Dialogue sparkles and left me with a grin on my face.
Characters might appear, on the surface, to be archetypes in the first act but don’t let this mislead you. The traditional tropes are cracked wide open here. Our protagonist werewolf turns out to be something more than that – there’s another Whedon twist here which I loved! (Probably the best part!) We have three female characters who are different takes on the Buffy model. One is a ten-year-old technological genius who admonishes herself at the end when she says, “I screamed like a little girl. Like a little damned girl!”
Another young woman undertakes her own dream walks, resonating with the journeys of self-discovery seen in the aboriginal cultures of North America and Australia. I mention this as an illustration of the inventiveness of the author’s imagination. It should serve to show that this story goes way beyond Joss Whedon’s Buffy in some ways but does so with a casual nod of affection.
July 29, 2021
The thing about urban fantasy that sets it apart, is that it is generally set in a contemporary landscape – usually a city – and then peopled with otherworldly creatures. So a lot of the pleasure is derived from seeing our everyday settings collide with something other. I was immediately held by Cunningham’s opening sequence with Julian in the London Underground, which was very well done. Anyone who has ever stood on a crowded platform waiting for the train to come could visualise only too well how events unspooled. And that repeated question of Julian’s – Do you know what happens to ghosts in London? – was also nicely handled. Too much and that shiver of horror would have disappeared…
Initially, I was a bit fed up when I realised we wouldn’t be in Julian’s head throughout. But I soon found that I had no trouble bonding with the other protagonists, even when I wasn’t fully aware of what was going on. There’s plenty of tension in this urban fantasy adventure, which makes the sudden outbreaks of rather gory violence seem even more shocking. Underneath the bustling normality of London is a brutal world where mages, vampyres and shapeshifters jostle for power and far too often treat the rest of us as recreation and/or fodder. And in a stunning coincidence, Hawthorn House is where a number of these remarkable people pitch up. I liked all the protagonists, but I particularly bonded with poor old Rob, who just wants a nice normal life, where he rubs along with his work mates and can enjoy a night out down at the pub. Somehow, this never quite happens as all sorts of other distractions get in the way.
The rising tension was well paced and I loved a particular vampyre attack – and what happens to the van, afterwards. As with many urban fantasy tales, there are enjoyable shafts of humour that prevent it becoming too grim, which didn’t prevent the stakes rising such that I found this one difficult to put down as it reached its climax. Overall, this was a thoroughly entertaining read – and the good news is that there are two other books and a number of shorter stories already published in the Hawthorn House series. And I’ll certainly be tucking into them in the near future. While I obtained an arc of Ghost Electricity from Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10
Initially, I was a bit fed up when I realised we wouldn’t be in Julian’s head throughout. But I soon found that I had no trouble bonding with the other protagonists, even when I wasn’t fully aware of what was going on. There’s plenty of tension in this urban fantasy adventure, which makes the sudden outbreaks of rather gory violence seem even more shocking. Underneath the bustling normality of London is a brutal world where mages, vampyres and shapeshifters jostle for power and far too often treat the rest of us as recreation and/or fodder. And in a stunning coincidence, Hawthorn House is where a number of these remarkable people pitch up. I liked all the protagonists, but I particularly bonded with poor old Rob, who just wants a nice normal life, where he rubs along with his work mates and can enjoy a night out down at the pub. Somehow, this never quite happens as all sorts of other distractions get in the way.
The rising tension was well paced and I loved a particular vampyre attack – and what happens to the van, afterwards. As with many urban fantasy tales, there are enjoyable shafts of humour that prevent it becoming too grim, which didn’t prevent the stakes rising such that I found this one difficult to put down as it reached its climax. Overall, this was a thoroughly entertaining read – and the good news is that there are two other books and a number of shorter stories already published in the Hawthorn House series. And I’ll certainly be tucking into them in the near future. While I obtained an arc of Ghost Electricity from Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10
November 2, 2018
Ghost Electricity was lots of fun, with loads of engaging characters and action! Hawthorn House is a duplex in London, and four of the main characters live there, side by side - Fiona and her ten year old sister live in one half with their mother, and Rob and Julian live in the other half. Supernatural events and people - just about any type of monster you can imagine! - take you on a great ride. Highly recommended; I bought the next book, The Mortal Edge, immediately upon finishing this one!
May 4, 2019
Odd couples save the world.
This was so much fun to read. Wonders and mysteries abound. And a buddy script just has to have a road trip. Right??? Chases and fight scenes are big screen worthy. Scary monster searches. 😮 Even scarier multi-dimensional monster reveals. 😨 And so much more! Really.
At first I thought this would simply mirror a paranormal "buddy" adventure ala Orlando Sanchez's "Montague and Strong Case Files" (which I really like). That would've been fine with me. 😎 Howsomever... 😎 Same genre. Requisite tropes. But this has its totally own scenarios and some truly surprising nuances. The cast of characters should win a diversity prize. The main characters are a flat-sharing "not the usual werewolf" and a warlock. Paralleling their adventures, their neighbors, two younger "not sisters" sisters. (Who needs stuffed animals when there's Misters Shell and Beak?) Their activities intersect just in time to save the world together. Of course.
This was so much fun to read. Wonders and mysteries abound. And a buddy script just has to have a road trip. Right??? Chases and fight scenes are big screen worthy. Scary monster searches. 😮 Even scarier multi-dimensional monster reveals. 😨 And so much more! Really.
At first I thought this would simply mirror a paranormal "buddy" adventure ala Orlando Sanchez's "Montague and Strong Case Files" (which I really like). That would've been fine with me. 😎 Howsomever... 😎 Same genre. Requisite tropes. But this has its totally own scenarios and some truly surprising nuances. The cast of characters should win a diversity prize. The main characters are a flat-sharing "not the usual werewolf" and a warlock. Paralleling their adventures, their neighbors, two younger "not sisters" sisters. (Who needs stuffed animals when there's Misters Shell and Beak?) Their activities intersect just in time to save the world together. Of course.
July 18, 2021
This is a fun, face paced romp though a world of werewolves, vampires, magicians, and beings from other dimensions. Julian, a magician, has returned from a long, mysterious, unexplained absence to London, and ends up living with Rob, a lonely not-quite werewolf who has been rejected by the local werewolf community. They strike up an instant friendship and are very endearing. Next door, Fiona lives deafened and blinded to the supernatural by an invisible monster that lives on her head, and another in her shadow is her protector. Her precocious 10 year old sister Jessica has befriended some magical mechanical beings from other universes. Their stories evolve side by side and intersect as they get involved with a power play between some magicians in London and Paris, who have imprisoned powerful and dangerous beings from other universes. Alice, a 300 year old vampire, enjoys enthralling young magicians and has a past with Julian. The dynamics between the vampires, werewolves, and magicians are complex, and it's not clear who is good or bad, there's a lot of grey areas. This whole world is portrayed pretty well, while following along with the sort of bumbling yet enjoyable antics of Rob and Julian to please their boss, keep their job, and afford to eat copious amounts of burgers and bagels and have after work drinks at the pub, while being attacked constantly by vampires and alien beings.
April 17, 2019
For the first few chapters I wondered what on earth I was reading but the writing was strong and the numerous characters engaging enough to keep me reading and then it all fell into place.
Cracking good urban-fantasy with werewolves, vampires, magic, London etc. Steampunkish and witty as well as grimly dark in places.
It waffled a couple of times and some descriptions of fights were overdone and too complex to follow but how could I not give 5 stars to a novel that contains such gems as:
He thought of purple arrows and King Henry the Eighth at the steering wheel of a humvee.
Cracking good urban-fantasy with werewolves, vampires, magic, London etc. Steampunkish and witty as well as grimly dark in places.
It waffled a couple of times and some descriptions of fights were overdone and too complex to follow but how could I not give 5 stars to a novel that contains such gems as:
He thought of purple arrows and King Henry the Eighth at the steering wheel of a humvee.
October 16, 2018
This was a wild ride for me, at the beginning it was a bit slow, but then it turned in a very creative and rich story. I loved Julian and Rob they have great chemistry, Jessica and Fiona are still a mystery to me, I bet there is more to them, as for the other characters, all were really interesting even if they appear briefly.
A great read, I will read the next book.
A great read, I will read the next book.
November 2, 2021
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Ghost Electricity is the first full novel in the Hawthorn House urban fantasy series by Sean Cunningham. Originally released in 2018, this reformat and re-release is 244 pages and is available in ebook format. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.
This is an absolutely character driven chaotic urban fantasy which slams along chaotically like a zoetrope filmed strobe-lit mosh pit. The characters are worth the effort though. Warlock & vampire flatmates Julian & Rob respectively are living next door to a sort of Wednesday Addams/Flavia de Luce 10 year old metaphysics supergenius whose elder sister may-or-may-not-be possessed (and who undeniably has a monster in her shadow). Add lots of monsters, a huge amount of fighting and bloodshed, and stir.
Despite hopping from scene to scene like water droplets on an overheated griddle, there are some genuinely funny moments and the author has a deft touch writing comedy. There are fascinating glimpses of cohesive and potentially amazing world building here, but they're mostly obscured by the chaos and constantly changing scenes.
I feel that there is an impressive amount of potential here and recommend it to fans of UF. There is at least one other book and several shorter novella length works set in the same universe for readers who enjoy a binge series. (They all seem to currently be available for kindle unlimited subscribers).
Three and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Ghost Electricity is the first full novel in the Hawthorn House urban fantasy series by Sean Cunningham. Originally released in 2018, this reformat and re-release is 244 pages and is available in ebook format. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.
This is an absolutely character driven chaotic urban fantasy which slams along chaotically like a zoetrope filmed strobe-lit mosh pit. The characters are worth the effort though. Warlock & vampire flatmates Julian & Rob respectively are living next door to a sort of Wednesday Addams/Flavia de Luce 10 year old metaphysics supergenius whose elder sister may-or-may-not-be possessed (and who undeniably has a monster in her shadow). Add lots of monsters, a huge amount of fighting and bloodshed, and stir.
Despite hopping from scene to scene like water droplets on an overheated griddle, there are some genuinely funny moments and the author has a deft touch writing comedy. There are fascinating glimpses of cohesive and potentially amazing world building here, but they're mostly obscured by the chaos and constantly changing scenes.
I feel that there is an impressive amount of potential here and recommend it to fans of UF. There is at least one other book and several shorter novella length works set in the same universe for readers who enjoy a binge series. (They all seem to currently be available for kindle unlimited subscribers).
Three and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
July 24, 2021
****spoilers***
I was given an arc copy for a full and honest review. This book follows a number of creatures throughout London; with the main protagonists Rob (werewolf) and Julian (Warlock) and the many problems that they encounter.
Firstly I felt this book introduced a significant number of characters and settings with no real explanation; even now, after completing I’m not exactly sure what the flesh weaver console is…yet on the other-hand some of the descriptive language used when talking about creatures was excellent. I particularly liked a section regarding the athletic ability of vampires and their ability to scale walls; it sent a shiver down my spine.
One character I particularly loved Was Jessica; the young inventor. I loved her quick wit and skills. I’d quite happily read a book based around her adventures alone.
Another character (Fiona) had a monster in her shadow and she was unsure how it got there; to which in fact I’m left as baffled at the end on who “put” it there. I did however, feel it was an excellent metaphor for depression…. The character not always being aware it was there; yet not seeing the world clearly. I did like the interactions Fiona had with Damon (another Warlock) and how she came to discover the monster and see the world clearly.
Although we “followed” Fiona’s story I still felt like there were a lot of loose ends. What exactly was the point of the dreamworld? Why was she sent to her “current” life… maybe a following novel could explore how she came to be there more; I’d find that fascinating.
I loved Rob and Julians burgeoning friendship and the rapport they had together.
I did enjoy this book it often found that there were too many characters introduced in such a short space of time it was hard to process who was who for a while. I
Also felt there were sections missing and it jumped a little…like what happened in between… it could be hard to process and almost felt like there were missing links.
However, I did enjoy the book overall but I felt there could have been more focus and maybe losing some of the unnecessary characters; in order to make it more streamlined. I do think more focus on Rob and Julian as well as Jessica would have been great. Ultimately I was left thinking on some of the story arcs…why?
I was given an arc copy for a full and honest review. This book follows a number of creatures throughout London; with the main protagonists Rob (werewolf) and Julian (Warlock) and the many problems that they encounter.
Firstly I felt this book introduced a significant number of characters and settings with no real explanation; even now, after completing I’m not exactly sure what the flesh weaver console is…yet on the other-hand some of the descriptive language used when talking about creatures was excellent. I particularly liked a section regarding the athletic ability of vampires and their ability to scale walls; it sent a shiver down my spine.
One character I particularly loved Was Jessica; the young inventor. I loved her quick wit and skills. I’d quite happily read a book based around her adventures alone.
Another character (Fiona) had a monster in her shadow and she was unsure how it got there; to which in fact I’m left as baffled at the end on who “put” it there. I did however, feel it was an excellent metaphor for depression…. The character not always being aware it was there; yet not seeing the world clearly. I did like the interactions Fiona had with Damon (another Warlock) and how she came to discover the monster and see the world clearly.
Although we “followed” Fiona’s story I still felt like there were a lot of loose ends. What exactly was the point of the dreamworld? Why was she sent to her “current” life… maybe a following novel could explore how she came to be there more; I’d find that fascinating.
I loved Rob and Julians burgeoning friendship and the rapport they had together.
I did enjoy this book it often found that there were too many characters introduced in such a short space of time it was hard to process who was who for a while. I
Also felt there were sections missing and it jumped a little…like what happened in between… it could be hard to process and almost felt like there were missing links.
However, I did enjoy the book overall but I felt there could have been more focus and maybe losing some of the unnecessary characters; in order to make it more streamlined. I do think more focus on Rob and Julian as well as Jessica would have been great. Ultimately I was left thinking on some of the story arcs…why?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2021
There is quite a wide cast of characters in Ghost Electricity both main and supporting, all of whom are well crafted and nicely rounded. The story is complex, multi-layered and packed full of intrigue. There are lots of strands that are cleverly woven together at the end, but for much of the book I felt as though I was randomly hopping from one random scene to another.
There were over half a dozen different point of view, featuring only very briefly interactions with other protagonists, if there was one at all. Julian and Rob were together for the majority of scenes, Fiona and Jessica were occasionally together but also apart quite a lot, Alice occasionally interacted with Fiona and Julian, but also with other characters, Justin knew about all these players but was on the periphery or manoeuvring in the background. It all just got a little blurry and disjointed since each person had their own agenda and focus. Just as I got into one part of the story it flipped to another scene, then went back to the previous one.
I definitely enjoyed the author's voice, dialogue felt natural and descriptions were sufficiently detailed without being overly long and tediously complex. The world building was very smooth and felt very much an organic development of the story. Despite my issues this was still a good story, I really liked how the plot gradually unfolded, revealing new snippets of information, new clues or an answer to one question along with a new puzzle to be solved. If you like Urban Fantasy with a dash of humour I do recommend giving this a try, though it won't be a series I chose to continue reading.
There were over half a dozen different point of view, featuring only very briefly interactions with other protagonists, if there was one at all. Julian and Rob were together for the majority of scenes, Fiona and Jessica were occasionally together but also apart quite a lot, Alice occasionally interacted with Fiona and Julian, but also with other characters, Justin knew about all these players but was on the periphery or manoeuvring in the background. It all just got a little blurry and disjointed since each person had their own agenda and focus. Just as I got into one part of the story it flipped to another scene, then went back to the previous one.
I definitely enjoyed the author's voice, dialogue felt natural and descriptions were sufficiently detailed without being overly long and tediously complex. The world building was very smooth and felt very much an organic development of the story. Despite my issues this was still a good story, I really liked how the plot gradually unfolded, revealing new snippets of information, new clues or an answer to one question along with a new puzzle to be solved. If you like Urban Fantasy with a dash of humour I do recommend giving this a try, though it won't be a series I chose to continue reading.
July 25, 2021
I’ve been enjoying urban fantasy since around 2000, and it’s become my all-time favorite. I don’t have as much time to read even the authors I do read, but I still try new ones like this author. This was an intriguingly crafted book with a few “sets” of people whose lives we follow until they all collide towards the end. Cunningham wrote an interesting universe with a vast array of characters, and the genre is a mix of cyperpunk, urban fantasy, ghost story, noir, and horror, and there’s probably more I’m missing. While this book wasn’t perfect with not a lot of character development, a few awkward sentences/phrasing, and a couple other minors things, there was still more than enough to satisfy most readers, and I’m definitely going to read the next in the series. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
September 25, 2021
The Hawthorn House series is absolutely INCREDIBLE!!
If I'm totally honest, my mushy brain cells struggle to keep up with who's who - goodies/baddies. But I honestly don't care!!! I've not helped myself by reading out of order!
If you possibly can read:
FRACTURE LINES (free when subscribing)
GHOST ELECTRICITY
THE CLOCK STRIKES
THE MORTAL EDGE
IMMORTAL MAKE
These books action packed, clever as hell (and anyone with a normal brain would manage perfectly well! I sadly don't have one of those!! 😆)
I'm onto the next one and rubbing my hands with glee.
**DON'T MISS OUT**
If I'm totally honest, my mushy brain cells struggle to keep up with who's who - goodies/baddies. But I honestly don't care!!! I've not helped myself by reading out of order!
If you possibly can read:
FRACTURE LINES (free when subscribing)
GHOST ELECTRICITY
THE CLOCK STRIKES
THE MORTAL EDGE
IMMORTAL MAKE
These books action packed, clever as hell (and anyone with a normal brain would manage perfectly well! I sadly don't have one of those!! 😆)
I'm onto the next one and rubbing my hands with glee.
**DON'T MISS OUT**
July 23, 2021
GHOST ELECTRICITY by Sean Cunningham is one of the best Urban Fantasies I have ever read, combining as it does a deep comprehension of London's history, Science, Speculative Fiction, and Lovecraftian Cosmic "What's really Out There?" Horror.
Where do the Ghosts of London go? What's keeping Real Cosmic Evil at bay? And what happens when the metaphysical containment system breaks down? Lock your doors, turn off the phone, read on to find out!
Where do the Ghosts of London go? What's keeping Real Cosmic Evil at bay? And what happens when the metaphysical containment system breaks down? Lock your doors, turn off the phone, read on to find out!
September 9, 2020
Great book
Good story with interesting characters and enough mystery. Leaves you wanting more which is great.
It is one of those books that has you wondering how everything will come together, comes together satisfactorily at the end but with enough not explained that you want to read the next one to see how it develops
Good story with interesting characters and enough mystery. Leaves you wanting more which is great.
It is one of those books that has you wondering how everything will come together, comes together satisfactorily at the end but with enough not explained that you want to read the next one to see how it develops
July 13, 2021
“Do you know what happens to ghosts in London?” In answer there was a long hungry roar from outside the station, deep in the night.
This book has everything witches, vampires, werewolves, ghosts and a spell that would lay waste to the city if it ever escaped. It took me a while to understand what was going on but once I did it was a fun ride.
This book has everything witches, vampires, werewolves, ghosts and a spell that would lay waste to the city if it ever escaped. It took me a while to understand what was going on but once I did it was a fun ride.
October 17, 2021
Rob is a werewolf shunned by his own kind, Julian is a disgraced warlock and Fiona has no idea who she is, living in the mysterious Hawthorne House. Chuck in some vampires and a child genius and you have an assorted mix of characters. The start of the book was a bit tough, as it jumped around all the characters, but when the threads joined up, it made for a good final showdown.
March 26, 2021
A fast paced interesting read
A gritty fast paced urban fantasy. Well written characters and a new system of magic that I found to be hard to put down. I can't wait to read the next book in the series
A gritty fast paced urban fantasy. Well written characters and a new system of magic that I found to be hard to put down. I can't wait to read the next book in the series
June 19, 2020
It'll take time to sort out the characters
Full of interest
It will meed a sequel to fill on your backstory
I'm looking forward to the next one
Full of interest
It will meed a sequel to fill on your backstory
I'm looking forward to the next one
February 11, 2021
Hawthorn House
Good story, interesting characters, glad he put the names of the characters at the title for the chapters, makes it a lot easier when jumping between characters
Good story, interesting characters, glad he put the names of the characters at the title for the chapters, makes it a lot easier when jumping between characters
January 31, 2022
Really enjoyed it, interesting characters.
March 27, 2023
what more can you need in a book
What a book. Lots of action- great creatures- young humans with magical talents who could be ancient- wonderful “toys” who can do great things
What a book. Lots of action- great creatures- young humans with magical talents who could be ancient- wonderful “toys” who can do great things
July 11, 2021
This book is a delight for those fans of the supernatural world, as it has weres, vampires, magicians, and normal folk. there is excitement, and enough detail that your imagination can adjust the level of detail to your comfort.. It's a treat seeing some other sides of the supernatural life that are skimmed over in other books. And seeing how these things might be able to interface with modern life and its tools makes this a good read.
The way the story is presented is one of my least-favorite ones, but it also is done well-enough that it shows how effective this style can be. Hearing of the characters in separate sections might make this a tougher read for some, but when they are brought together, it is done well enough that the conclusion of this book is satisfying.
I'm thankful this is part of a series - otherwise there are too many loose ends to be a good stand-alone book.
The way the story is presented is one of my least-favorite ones, but it also is done well-enough that it shows how effective this style can be. Hearing of the characters in separate sections might make this a tougher read for some, but when they are brought together, it is done well enough that the conclusion of this book is satisfying.
I'm thankful this is part of a series - otherwise there are too many loose ends to be a good stand-alone book.
August 22, 2021
Julian Blackwood is a warlock from an ancient family, who has developed even more powers. Rob Cromwell, a lone werewolf, who is more than he seems. A young woman, Fiona, who has a protector that she doesn't know about and her 10 year old sister, Jessica, a mechanical wiz knows more than she lets on.
When Julian and Rob, working for a transport company, try to deliver a special cargo, they are targeted on the way but manage to get the job done. But when the project that the cargo is for goes horribly wrong, these four need to save the day.
This first Hawthorne House book in the series is an extremely entertaining paranormal fantasy with unique and quirky characters.
Thank you NetGalley for this e-galley of "Ghost Electricity".
When Julian and Rob, working for a transport company, try to deliver a special cargo, they are targeted on the way but manage to get the job done. But when the project that the cargo is for goes horribly wrong, these four need to save the day.
This first Hawthorne House book in the series is an extremely entertaining paranormal fantasy with unique and quirky characters.
Thank you NetGalley for this e-galley of "Ghost Electricity".
July 22, 2021
A fresh story with various people and variety of powers. I loved Jessica and her machines/toys they were just so fascinating. Even Julian was a treat to read. The premise and the characters are all so good and nothing can beat the feel of reading something totally new for the first time.It was on the whole an interesting reading experience.
Recommendation: Jessica kind of reminded me of Leo Valdez from the lost hero (The Heroes of Olympus #1) in the percy jackson series by Rick Riordan. Jessica plays with machines. For all Urban fantasy , Paranormal genre(s) fanatics this would be an amazing read.
Recommendation: Jessica kind of reminded me of Leo Valdez from the lost hero (The Heroes of Olympus #1) in the percy jackson series by Rick Riordan. Jessica plays with machines. For all Urban fantasy , Paranormal genre(s) fanatics this would be an amazing read.
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