Ghostlight

The Reflected City #1

by Rabia Gale

Trevelyan Shield would rather fight demons and exorcise haunts than deal with debutantes, alive or dead. But when he encounters the charming but ghostly Arabella Trent, his duty is clear: send the young woman into the afterlife. Otherwise, she risks attracting the denizens of the Shadow Lands, who hunger for mortal souls.

Arabella doesn’t remember the runaway carriage that hit her and left her for dead. Nor does she know why her body was found so far from her. But something—or someone—is preventing her from returning to it, and she’s determined to find out why.

As Arabella and Trey race to unravel the mystery, a sinister plot unfolds and the boundary between the demon and mortal worlds grows thin. If they don’t act soon, Arabella won’t be the only one to fall prey to the Shadow Lands.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Ghosts, Regency, Romance, Historical

212 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 29, 2018

About the author

I break fairy tales and fuse fantasy and science fiction. I love to write about flawed heroes who never give up, transformation and redemption, and things from outer space. In my spare time, I read, doodle, eat chocolate, avoid housework, and homeschool my three children.

A native of Pakistan, I grew up in hot, humid Karachi. I then spent almost a decade in Northern New England where I learned to love fall, tolerate snow, and be snobbish about maple syrup and sweet corn. I now live in Northern Virginia.

Reviews

[Suzannah Rowntree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh wow, this was terrific! The story starts out as a fairly light Heyer-flavoured regency gaslamp fantasy but then it just keeps getting darker and twistier and by the second half I seriously couldn't put the book down. The angsty hero with untold failures in his past has an otherdimensional shadow sword named Sorrow, people. Also the irritatingly cheerful debutante heroine has SECRETS that may or may not explain why she's such a crusader for orphans.

The atmosphere is wonderfully chilly and eerie and dangerous. This is an alternate London-ish setting where ominous shadow dimensions ooze around every corner, where churches can only be accessed through barriers of deadly purifying fire, where everyone is a tightly-buttoned-up mass of dark secrets and sorrowful pasts. Gorgeously written and addictive, and I can't WAIT to get my hands on the sequel.

[Savannah Jezowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and Intriguing

If Jane Austen and Cassandra Clare coauthored a book, this would be it. Loved it and looking forward to book two.

That is all.

[Sally Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghost stories plus the Regency... I love that combination, so long as it's not TOO scary. I don't do scary well. THIS book is a perfect balance of fantasy, ghost story, and Regency, with just a hint of romance (more to come in the series, I'd imagine), and I love it.

Ghostlight, Book One in The Reflected City Series, was super interesting. It drew me in quickly. We have a titled ghost-hunter/warrior, Trey, a viscount and a grump. I love grumps in stories. Then we have poor Arabella, a young miss with a background we never-quite-learn (I sense more to come in future books), and she is the very definition of a sunny disposition - despite being temporarily disembodied.

I LOVED this story. I spent all afternoon on Tuesday devouring it. I've downloaded the next, and I'm hoping to get through some of the books that have been on my #tbrpile a bit longer before returning to this incredibly world that is part Regency London and part Netherworld....

[J.M. Stengl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that story was a lot of fun! Think regency romance overlaid with a ghostly otherworld of ghouls, wraiths, barghests, and frightening dead things, which are constantly trying to break through and corrupt "reality."
Our heroine, a naive debutante who has been separated from her comatose body without realizing it or having any idea why, encounters a skilled phasmatist who helps solve her mystery, return to her body, and save the city from a miasma incursion . . .
And it is a fun little read! Creepy but never horrifying, touches of regency romance but not too much, and the battle against the Shadowlands continues in book two.
Which I will be reading, for sure.

[Christina Baehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discovered this through W.R. Gingell’s author newsletter. I enjoyed this fluffy, mysterious Gaslamp on a long haul flight, a welcome relief from wrangling my kids. I particularly liked the inclusion of sylphs and undines in this world. Also, the two main characters were just so darn likeable. I feel like I’ve read a bunch of novels with anti heroes lately, and it was nice to spend a little time with these guys. I’m actually not a huge fan of ghosts and ghouls, but I liked the lighthearted, Georgette Heyer feel, and the protagonists won me over. Looking forward to reading the second book.

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun adventure! I think the world building was my favorite part, but also a big motivation to continue the series is watching where the characters go from here...

Content concerns are very low--parts of it venture into creepy territory that could be scary for very young readers, but even though the elements of the story were creepy, it wasn't written in a way that actually creeped me out at all (and I have a fairly low tolerance for horror/creepy stuff). There's some banter, that edges up to low level innuendo once, and a few passing references to places like brothels. Depending on tolerances though, I could see some younger readers really enjoying this one.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, a secret gem! Ghostlight encompasses so much worldbuilding in only a little more than 200 pages, I can't even begin to comprehend how Rabia Gale did it. This was my first gaslight story, set in the vaguely Regency-era like city of Lond-, ugh, Lumen, which has it all: more or less dangerous entities living alongside its human inhabitants, ghost hunters working for the Phantasm Bureau, an elite university for the magically gifted, barely legal necromancers, rune-fueled lamps and wards, and of course the average country debutante arriving in town for the Season.

This was f u n. Trey and Arabella are protagonists of true Georgette Heyer fashion: the grumpy yet indulging and above all wealthy bachelor with a title (plus supernatural abilities) and the feisty, naive heroine of slightly lower social standing (only this time, she's a spirit that must be returned to her barely-alive body before it is too late). Alas, they soon discover that someone - or something - is trying to prevent Arabella from being restored to her physical form, mere days before the Vernal Rites are performed to renew Vaeland's magical protection from the Shadow Lands for another year.

I'm already a fan of Gale's writing. Do you know that feeling when you're getting just enough information from the story that you're satisfied, but still absorbing every new bit of in-universe trivia eagerly, trying to complete the picture? That's exactly what happens in Ghostlight, and I'm here for it. You have to earn the worldbuilding. And I can't stress it enough: this isn't some wild mix of erotica and urban fantasy. Instead there is an extremely nuanced, slow-progressing romance barely budding in this first installment, staying true to Regency etiquette and sentiments. HAL-LE-LU-JAH.

If you like Heyer's romances and alternate history with a spicy dash of horror, this should be just the summer read for you!

[Lemon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was a fun and easy read. It had intriguing characters, secrets, a very established regency-esque world (pardon me if I'm misusing that word), and GHOSTLY STUFF.

While everything was interesting and very prettily written, some parts felt...perhaps a bit confusing/not as immersive as it could have been. But I did read this while tired and distracted, and I enjoyed the book and managed to glean all the important bits, anyway.

Solid read. And again, you can't go wrong with spooky things. :))

Content: well, this is a book about ghosts and spirits...so make of that as you will. There was very mild swearing (d--- and bas----) but in appropriate context

[Rosemary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very light but fun twist on the paranormal Regency set in fantasy realm that still has a Prince Regent as well as similar politics and mannerisms of the English Regency (if you don't know what a Regency is, proceed directly to Georgette Heyer to find out). This is a set up for a longer series so the relationships are still at flirtation stage by the end of the book. Enjoy with a crumpet and a cup of tea.

[Jenelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't think of any words to describe this better than "charmingly chilling." This is a ghost story, with plenty of intrigue and spooky flare, and a villain who sticks close to the shadows and is just present enough to add an "edge of your seat" factor. This is the kind of story that will give you a delightful little shiver down your spine as you read it, but also won't keep you up at night with the covers clutched around your throat debating whether or not it's safe to cross the room in the dark to get to the bathroom.

And that might be the first time I've ever used that sort of analogy in a review.

Suffice to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and am looking forward to reading the sequel.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

Ghost and Ghoulies oh my!




This is a paranormal historical fiction set in England with the usual debutants and Dukes with societal worries and political machinations. But we also have out leads Arabella- who has unfortunately met with a suspicious carriage accident that left her body in a comma and her spirit set to wandering, and Trey who works in a sort of supernatural branch of the government and is tasked with slaying beasts, ghouls, and sending ghost back to the Shadows Lands.

But when he happens across Arabella (who doesn't know she's even a ghost) he is reminded of a painfully memory of his past, and even though he has shut himself off from societal niceties he can't help but help the effervescent young lady find her way back to her body.

However, accomplishing that task isn't as easy as they first thought when the events surrounding Arabella's "accident" seemed to be tied up in a larger plot to destroy their world. Can these two opposites come together to save not only Arabella's life but stop a catastrophic event in time? And also spare a moment for a little romance in-between?


x-------------------------------------------x

So I enjoyed the story, the historical and the magical background but I think I just wasn't gripped enough to continue on with the series- but I will say this is on KU so if your looking for a historical pnr romance I would suggest giving it a try.

[Laurie Lucking · Rating 5 out of 5]

Witty and spooky and just such a fun read! Here are my short video reviews:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLaurie...
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/B4S6KXKgpC2/

[Jolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ghost adventure story but not for me

This story was quite an adventure story with a plucky heroine who took some beatings and a somewhat reluctant hero who still sets about to save said heroine. However I had some problems with the mixing of faith and magic/paranormal in the story so decided this story and the sequels weren't for me but those who don't mind this issue will probably enjoy the characters and the story.

Sex - none
Language - some swearing
Violence - fighting and killing as one expects in an adventure story. The details are not very graphic even when people are hurt or killed.
Religion - a religion with a god father who characters pray to, saints that they patronize and a priest knowledgeable about magic is intregal to the story

[Teddi Deppner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rabia Gale caught my attention with her free short stories, and I've been on her email list for a while. Once again, it was a short story that hooked me: one featuring Trey and Arabella who are the stars of this book, Ghostlight. I mention this because 1) I hope Gale will continue to write short stories and 2) I want to encourage readers to sample short stories as a way to find authors they'll love.

The story world that Gale has created is fascinating and utterly absorbing. Familiar enough to be easy to read, but chock-full of delightful twists on a standard historical setting (Sherlockian era?). The fantasy creatures, the many layers of social hierarchy, the fascinating Shadow Lands, and then there's the MAGIC. So much promise in the magical bits that are used in this book; it's obvious that there is much, much more that we have yet to see. That's one of the things I like in a speculative fiction tale: the unfolding of a new world rich with multi-layered complexity. But it takes skill to strike the right balance and not overwhelm the reader with too much. Gale handles it beautifully.

And then there are the characters! Trey Shield is gruff, manly, and very good at his job. He has skills that no one else seems to have--yet this "super power" is balanced by the fact that others also have skills he lacks (he admits that his boss's runecrafting is much better than his own), and the fact that the enemies he faces are very powerful. Even with his skills, there is no guarantee of success. Arabella Trent is plucky, smart, and determined. And although she's somewhat the victim in need of rescue during the entire book, it doesn't feel that way. She's brave, resourceful, and proactive, and responsible for several breakthroughs for the good guys. I expect we'll see great things from her in the coming books.

And then there's the banter and attraction between Trey and Arabella. While I do not care for romance novels, I very much enjoy a light romantic thread in any story. Gale once again strikes the right balance for my tastes.

I cannot possibly do justice in a review to the immersion and enjoyment I experienced while reading this book. I'm usually a slower reader, savoring details and not able to set aside much time to progress in a book. But I couldn't wait to get back into this story, so I put aside a lot of reading time for it. If I were into hyperbole, I'd say, "I couldn't put it down!"

Be aware, there's a ton of fantasy-world magic, runes, spells, and potions used by both good and bad guys. There are ghosts, ghouls, and other evil creatures. There is occasional prayers to a "God-Father" and "Risen Lord" that sound like analogs of the Christian God and Jesus, and this is not in conflict with magic use within the context of this story world. If that sort of thing bothers you, steer clear.

I've already purchased and begun reading the second book. I rarely give out five stars, but aside from the caveats in the previous paragraph, I can whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone who likes the genre or the historical period.

[J C Steel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trey's job is to keep Lumen safe from marauding spirits. After the Great Incursion, that job is something that cannot be taken lightly. So when he comes across the spirit of a young lady on his way home from a night out, his duty is apparently quite clear; send her on. Somehow, it doesn’t quite happen as he expects, and instead, Trey and Arabella find themselves in the position of having to work together to defend Lumen from a much greater threat - and form an unlikely alliance in so doing.

Ghostlight is the first in the Reflected City series, and as always when I open a Rabia Gale novel, I found myself hooked from the first page. Whether it's steampunk sci-fi or gaslamp fantasy, the author's story-telling ability is unquestionable. It's also refreshing to read novels where the interaction between characters is based on personalities and common goals, rather than who's going to fall into bed with whom. The world-building is excellent, evoking a solid sense of place and period without getting hung up on the details. Trey is a most original protagonist; he manages to embody the somewhat crotchety 'get off my lawn' personality in the person of the young and highly eligible Lord St. Ash, and the conflict between society's expectations of him and his personal inclinations adds ongoing hilarity to the read. Overall, I highly recommend this book; I was laughing and reading out bits to my partner within minutes of opening it.

Reviewed for By Rite of Word.

[Karie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an expertly crafted alternative Regency setting, where the supernatural and the ton blend as one! The riveting mystery and captivating characters leave me anxious to read more.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore both regency romance and fantasy, especially the tiny genre of gaslamp fantasy, so this book is very much my cup of tea. The magical worldbuilding is intriguing and feels fully fleshed out and integrated with the regency-style society, and I look forward to seeing it explained further in future books. The exception is the religious magic the heroine calls on for help, which gets a tad hand-wavey in places, but the book is atmospheric enough to pull it off for the most part. The main plotline of this book (will-Arabella-get-her-body-back?) is resolved by the end, with plenty of plot-threads leftover for the sequel. I find mind-magic intriguing, so I'm very interested in a villain who can make people forget them.

The romance is fairly light, so clean it squeaks, and not resolved in this book, which took me somewhat by surprise. For some reason I thought that it was setting up a series of standalone-romances about different couples rather than a series about the same couple (IF YOU'RE READING THIS, MS GALE, I WILL 100% READ A BOOK ABOUT MR WINTER; JUST SAYING). Ahem.

The heroine is a bit bland to start with, her personality consisting of being generically nice and good-humoured, but she gets slightly more interesting by the end as we get hints that her bland-personality is a mask for the more complicated Arabella underneath. The hero is very dashing, HAS A SEXY ANGST SWORD NAMED SORROW, and clearly also has a lot of Inner Pain(TM) about his Dark Past. I'm a sucker for that sort of thing.

Overall, a very enjoyable start to a series. Will look forward to more.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this started off feeling like Georgette Heyer fan-fiction fantasy mashup, and if I didn't embarassingly enjoy Heyer, Urban Fantasy and Indie fiction for escape (*ahem*) I probably wouldn't have bothered. (Can you even see a ghost blush in the dark, or that she has dimples?) Yet the book grew on me and by the end I was thoroughly enjoying myself. The romance and character are really minor threads, with supernatural thriller being the main line. Plus side: the pace was good and this book's "act 1" structure sets up a promising series. Heroine is developing well. Minus side: our rugged hero is still a sort of Sir Launcelot-by-way-of-Mr. Darcy and needs to be less ruggedly handsome, competent and ever so attractively emotionally damaged, and grow some actual character depth. Otherwise let the ghoul eat him. There is still time...

[C.O. Bonham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghostlight takes place in an alternate time, similar to England during it's regency period but Vealand not England and Lumin not London. Magic is real and spirits walk among the living.

I loved the atmosphere of this novel, spooky and gothic but still full of Hope. I'd classify it as horror light.

I loved the character of Trey. Strong , smart and witty. He has been doing his job of protecting the living from the dead for too long. And you can tell it's a conflict for him when he meets a spirit he knew in life.

Arabella on the other hand is kind of a damsel in distress type. But there are hint that she is dealing with a lot of baggage from her past. So maybe she'll grow on me in future books.

I am looking forward to the next book if only to learn more about Trey and the mysterious Mastermind that is out to get him.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and well written

I love Rabia Gale. Her worlds are unique and interesting and her characters are complex and flawed, like most of us. :) This book was up to par with the rest of her writing. Loved it and am impatiently waiting for the next one. I recommend all of her books. Yes, I've read them all. She is an excellent writer. All her books are unique, complex and multi-layered. She's an indie writer so she doesn't have the big machine behind her, but she's one of the best out there. Rabia keep up the good work!

[Alias · Rating 3 out of 5]

The world is interesting and well-developed. You can't help but like Arabella- a heroine who when faced with ominous circumstances beyond her control, instead of doing something stupid, trusts the person who promised to help her and bakes a cake. And she does it without being passive or weak, since we later see her very capably taking things into her own hands when the situation calls for it. I liked that. Still, there wasn't anything in this story that left me wanting more. It was good, but just not quite my thing, all told.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but needs work

I would have given more stars, b/c the story was interesting albeit confusing. Most of the time I had no idea what the characters were talking about or what any of their terms meant. It read like I entered the story late and had no way to get caught up. I actually had to double check that this was the first book. Other than that, both MC's were like-able. The villain in the story was predictable, but you find out that he's just a lackey. Hopefully the next book is easier to read.

[D.G. Driver · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover for this book is gorgeous, and it has tempting me from my Kindle TBR list for a while. I love a good ghost story, and the way this one started was absolutely terrific. I loved the two main characters and the way they interacted with each other. It got really involved with world building and higher fantasy as the book went along, and I wasn't expecting all of that. I thought it was very well written and moved along at a great pace. Definitely a good choice if you're a fan of Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials.

[福ちゃん · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun frolic through a Victorian-age world filled with spirits, demons, and the Shadow Lands. I love when authors work bits of magic into history, and while this was, I believe, firmly in a "different land" and not actually England near the Regency era, it felt enough like it for me to still call it alternative history. I had a great time reading about Trey and Arabella and their exploits, and it sets up a second book quite nicely.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really skeptical about this book because frankly I'm not big into the ghosts/demon genre but this story was so well written and captivating. Faith was woven throughout. Loved the characters and the plot was well executed. Will read the entire series and check out other books by this author. She has an incredible way with words and weaves a great story!

Content:
Sexual: none
Violence: mild/mid
Language: D***

[Laura/Raadelma · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5. stars.

Ghostlight has a lot of potential, but sadly it doesn't quite reach it. The main characters' dynamic is fun to read and I liked the atmospheric mix of regency and fantasy, the latter being occasionally almost horror - Gale writes all that very well. However, the main plot and high conflict, aside from Arabella's ghost-situation, wasn't at all captivating, and too much action happens too fast at the end of the book.

[Juneta Key · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The regency atmosphere, the unusual protagonist that was well written and the light romance that let a fascinating plot play out. I love a good story involving ghosts that is not horror. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.

[Kim Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging from the first word.

What a wonderful, original world. A mashup of Regency and paranormal muystery. This story comes to a concu,Simon, but it sets the scene for the sequel. I really enjoyed Trey and Arabella, and I look forward to meeting them again. Well written and edited, I have a new favourite author.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and exciting

I really really enjoyed this book. The way it was written was the catching and the characters never blurred together, always independently themselves. The otherworldly aspect of this book was interesting and I'm excited to see how everything will play out in the next book.

[Wendy Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

The first book in a series is often weighed down with introductions and the like. This book contains those, but the author weaves them into the meat of the story, just like wraiths. Arabella and Trey have a rough go of it, direct conflicts notwithstanding. I can't wait to see what happens next!