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The War in the Dark #2
The Spider Dance
A genre-defying page turner that fuses thriller and speculative fiction with dark fantasy in a hidden world in the heart of Cold War Europe.THE TRUE COLD WAR IS FOUGHT ON THE BORDERS OF THIS WORLD, AT THE EDGES OF THE LIGHT.It's 1965 and Christopher Winter is trying to carve a new life, a new identity, beyond his days in British Intelligence. Recruited by London's gangland he now finds himself on the wrong side of the law - and about to discover that the secret service has a way of claiming back its own. Who is the fatally alluring succubus working honeytraps for foreign paymasters? What is the true secret of the Shadowless, a fabled criminal cabal deadlier than the Mafia? And why do both parties covet long- buried caskets said to hold the hearts of kings? Winter must confront the buried knowledge of his own past to survive - but is he ready to embrace the magic that created the darkness waiting there?
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2019
18 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
About the author
Nick Setchfield
3 books38 followersNick Setchfield is a writer, editor and entertainment journalist whose work has appeared in SFX and Total Film. He's also been a film reviewer for the BBC and a scriptwriter for ITV's Spitting Image. Over a 20 year career he's interviewed untold actors, writers and directors, along with assorted Jedi, superheroes, starship captains, diabolical masterminds and the occasional quotable Dalek.
The War in the Dark is his first novel. Combining a lifelong love of spy thrillers, international adventure and occult weirdness, it begins the adventures of Christopher Winter, a British Intelligence agent battling demonic forces in the Cold War of the 1960s. The Spider Dance is set to continue Winter's story.
The War in the Dark made the preliminary ballot of the 2018 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel.
Nick Setchfield was born in Cardiff, lives in Bath and lets his mind wander.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 22, 2019
I'm grateful to Titan Books for a free advance copy of The Spider Dance to review as part of its blogtour.
"Know first thyself..."
This is the second book in Setchfield's series about British agent Christopher Winter. In the War in the Dark, Winter discovered a new and unsuspected front on which the Service was fighting, a supernatural front, and that he had, in a now lost persona, been intimately involved in that struggle.
In The Spider Dance, we learn more about magician Tobias Hart, the man Winter used to be. Winter has attempted to escape the Service and start a new career as hired muscle to a firm of gangsters (this is London in the Swinging 60s) - but when things go wrong, he's drawn back in to the deadly dance...
I loved it that the central character in these stories has had, and lost, great power; is disgusted by that power and what it can do, and reluctant to awaken it; yet is forced to do so. Winter is a partial hero, a man more seeking to survive, to find safety, and to come to terms with his past, than to triumph - at one point in this story he effectively becomes a well paid hitman in the supernatural world. He's caught in a world where allies, ex friends, and enemies all seem to know who he was and what he could do, yet he doesn't know himself. In a vicious world filled with monsters and the supernatural, Winter seems well out of his depth and it isn't clear there he'll find the knowledge power he needs - or whether he even wants to.
Anton aspect that caught my fancy is Setchfield's skilful blessing of the tropes of the gangster novel - a "gentlemanly" crime family head with all trappings of piety, but whose hands are nonetheless filthy, an illicit trade in certain substances (though not quite what you'd think), a city in fear - with those of horror, in this case horror associated with particular monsters. This one is more crime than espionage, despite some early chapters behind the Iron Curtain (which nonetheless capture the authentic atmosphere of a 60s Cold War thriller).
In some respects it's a simpler story that The War in the Dark. There, it wasn't clear exactly what was going on, Winter's secret history was still, well, secret, and there were clearly several factions but we didn't know who they were. Now, a lot is out in the open (if if details remain obscure) and it's less a matter of Winter learning that his supposed life was a lie than of him living with the consequences. So The Spider Dance is more straightforward, but no less readable and the character of Christopher Winter, as Setchfield draws him, is a fascinating and subtle one.
Great fun whether you're into thrillers or horror and - of course - just the thing if you like a blend of the two.
"Know first thyself..."
This is the second book in Setchfield's series about British agent Christopher Winter. In the War in the Dark, Winter discovered a new and unsuspected front on which the Service was fighting, a supernatural front, and that he had, in a now lost persona, been intimately involved in that struggle.
In The Spider Dance, we learn more about magician Tobias Hart, the man Winter used to be. Winter has attempted to escape the Service and start a new career as hired muscle to a firm of gangsters (this is London in the Swinging 60s) - but when things go wrong, he's drawn back in to the deadly dance...
I loved it that the central character in these stories has had, and lost, great power; is disgusted by that power and what it can do, and reluctant to awaken it; yet is forced to do so. Winter is a partial hero, a man more seeking to survive, to find safety, and to come to terms with his past, than to triumph - at one point in this story he effectively becomes a well paid hitman in the supernatural world. He's caught in a world where allies, ex friends, and enemies all seem to know who he was and what he could do, yet he doesn't know himself. In a vicious world filled with monsters and the supernatural, Winter seems well out of his depth and it isn't clear there he'll find the knowledge power he needs - or whether he even wants to.
Anton aspect that caught my fancy is Setchfield's skilful blessing of the tropes of the gangster novel - a "gentlemanly" crime family head with all trappings of piety, but whose hands are nonetheless filthy, an illicit trade in certain substances (though not quite what you'd think), a city in fear - with those of horror, in this case horror associated with particular monsters. This one is more crime than espionage, despite some early chapters behind the Iron Curtain (which nonetheless capture the authentic atmosphere of a 60s Cold War thriller).
In some respects it's a simpler story that The War in the Dark. There, it wasn't clear exactly what was going on, Winter's secret history was still, well, secret, and there were clearly several factions but we didn't know who they were. Now, a lot is out in the open (if if details remain obscure) and it's less a matter of Winter learning that his supposed life was a lie than of him living with the consequences. So The Spider Dance is more straightforward, but no less readable and the character of Christopher Winter, as Setchfield draws him, is a fascinating and subtle one.
Great fun whether you're into thrillers or horror and - of course - just the thing if you like a blend of the two.
January 7, 2020
Having distanced himself from the troubling history (and soul) of Tobias Hart, ex-British Intelligence operative Christopher Winter is making a seedy living as hired muscle for a notorious London gangster. When he’s lured back into the field by the service, what should be a straightforward mission quickly turns dangerous and Winter starts to realise that whatever he wants, the memory and magic of Tobias Hart hasn’t finished with him.
With a simpler structure and a single consistent narrative, and Winter’s character more clearly defined, this is if anything even better and more entertaining than The War in the Dark, broadening and deepening this intriguing world of vampires, demons and paranormal secrets in the Cold War-affected Europe of the 60s. It’s a pacy, action-packed thriller first and foremost, and you could happily enjoy it on that level alone, but add in the compelling occult elements and the sense of a character balancing on the fringes of two worlds, and you’ve got the recipe for a story that’s as dark and mysterious as it is exciting and entertaining.
Read the full review at http://www.britishfantasysociety.org/...
With a simpler structure and a single consistent narrative, and Winter’s character more clearly defined, this is if anything even better and more entertaining than The War in the Dark, broadening and deepening this intriguing world of vampires, demons and paranormal secrets in the Cold War-affected Europe of the 60s. It’s a pacy, action-packed thriller first and foremost, and you could happily enjoy it on that level alone, but add in the compelling occult elements and the sense of a character balancing on the fringes of two worlds, and you’ve got the recipe for a story that’s as dark and mysterious as it is exciting and entertaining.
Read the full review at http://www.britishfantasysociety.org/...
March 17, 2021
If it weren't R-rated, this might be Belle's favorite book: daring swordfights, far-off places, magic spells, a prince in disguise. Okay, maybe not all of that, but not far off. Plus, ghoulish creatures, fantastic notions of all sort! Shake it (don't stir) and set it to the tune of a Cold War-era song and you've got "The Spider Dance," which promises a lot and delivers a lot. If you've not read the first of British spy Christopher Winter's exploits, "The War in the Dark," you needn't worry -- Nick Setchfield covers everything you need to know, while offering an even more fulfilling adventure. While I've read that it's "genre-defying," that's not quite true -- it's genre-transcending. Nick Setchfield knows his way around a James Bond movie, an Indiana Jones flick and the Hammer library, and he's taken the best of all of them and added his own clever mind, resulting in a novel that will please all but those who like their adventure slightly less gory. It's globe-trotting fun with a dash of history, all written with a flair that would make Dan Brown blush. Great fun!
September 4, 2019
This is a well written and lively book. The plot bounces along and I read the whole book in a single sitting.
But ...
I have to admit I was a bit disappointed that the plot seemed a bit formulaic. As a plot device "secret service vs the supernatural" has been done a lot, and authors have to work hard to to dredge anything new and interesting out of it. And I just don't think Setchfield manages it. As a result I found my interest waning towards the end of the book. In particular the 100 or so pages about the battles with vampires in Naples dragged and I found myself skipping paragraphs.
There is still a bit of blood to be squeezed from this particular stone. For example Lavie Tidhar manages it. But if Setchfield plans a third book I think he is going to have to come up with something more innovative.
But ...
I have to admit I was a bit disappointed that the plot seemed a bit formulaic. As a plot device "secret service vs the supernatural" has been done a lot, and authors have to work hard to to dredge anything new and interesting out of it. And I just don't think Setchfield manages it. As a result I found my interest waning towards the end of the book. In particular the 100 or so pages about the battles with vampires in Naples dragged and I found myself skipping paragraphs.
There is still a bit of blood to be squeezed from this particular stone. For example Lavie Tidhar manages it. But if Setchfield plans a third book I think he is going to have to come up with something more innovative.
November 22, 2020
A sequel that truly takes leaps from the initial instalment! The action is faultless and technically engaging. The characters all exist within a state of jeopardy, none of them are safe and Setchfield makes the audience aware of that from the very beginning. It's an engaging read from start to finish. My only possible gripe is that the final twists of the story didn't quite feel deserved; even though upon a second reading, they were set-up in previous chapters so subtly that I didn't even realise them. Which might be a testament to the author - but it didn't leave me satisfied as a reader. Luckily the plot itself and the woven occult ideas, re-interpreting and integrating a variety of lore from different nations, kept me engaged throughout!
December 15, 2020
Basically, this book is what would happen if James Bond met vampires.
I think I actually liked this better than the first book, which doesn't seem like the popular opinion... 😅
I actually loved the relationships between the characters, and how Winter delves deeper into his personal history.
Also, the action was described really well, which was incredibly important, considering the amount of fight scenes.
I wish this was an entire series, because I adore the premise, and just gobbled this up!
I think I actually liked this better than the first book, which doesn't seem like the popular opinion... 😅
I actually loved the relationships between the characters, and how Winter delves deeper into his personal history.
Also, the action was described really well, which was incredibly important, considering the amount of fight scenes.
I wish this was an entire series, because I adore the premise, and just gobbled this up!
September 25, 2020
Just as good as, but quite different from, the first. Really enjoyed it.
If the author writes more, I'll be reading them.
If the author writes more, I'll be reading them.
December 26, 2020
Loved it! A good old fashioned adventure blending spy fiction with horror. I enjoyed this one even more than The War in the Dark. Such a fun world. Would love to see more in this series.
July 24, 2019
It is 1965 and ex-British Intelligence operative Christopher Winter is trying to establish himself in a new career - as a London gangster.
Winter finds it ironic to now be on the other side of the law, but is making a name for himself in the Jack Creadley gang, and his past contacts have been useful in acquiring a certain valuable item for their latest shady deal.
Unfortunately, the valuable item in question - the heart of an ancient vampire - proves to be more of a hot commodity than they realised, and the deal has dire consequences for the other members of Jack Creadley's gang.
Winter finds himself re-claimed by the Secret Service after being aided by a young spy called Libby Cracknell, who is eager to make a name for herself as a rare female agent in the male-dominated world of espionage. Winter is needed for a new mission after an alluring succubus is apparently desperate to defect to the West, bringing her secrets with her, and she has demanded that Tobias Hart - Winter's old identity - be the man to come and get her.
This mission will involve Winter in the web of secrecy surrounding the Shadowless - a criminal organisation much older and far more deadly than the Mafia - as he tries to fathom what his real mission is and who he is actually working for.
Along the way he will uncover the forgotten truth about his alter-ego Tobias Hart and must decide if he is ready to once more embrace the dark magic he used to be able to master.
This book brings a whole new meaning to the term Cold War!
Winter is a spy who believes he has escaped the world of British Intelligence, but it is patently clear from almost the very beginning of this story that he is not going to be allowed to walk away as easily as he thought.
Although Winter cannot remember much of his life as Tobias Hart, or the details of the supernatural intrigue surrounding Operation Paragon he was involved in during World War Two, the legacy of his past is about to come back and - quite literally - bite him!
Winter is a competent and well-trained spy, but he is so much more - if only he could remember - and this scares him. It takes the alluring succubus, Alessandra, who remembers Tobias Hart as the powerful and dangerous mage he was, to get Winter to confront the darkness at the heart of his being and reawaken the magic that still lives within him. This is a very interesting development in the life of Winter and leads to some pretty exciting confrontations with the bad guys!
I also very much enjoyed that it was Winter's somewhat rocky relationship with the eager Libby that forces him to take control of his own darkness and start to become the man he is destined to be - not the Tobias Hart of old, but someone new....someone with integrity, who will not be a slave to his past.
I absolutely loved this genre-busting Cold War horror tale. The idea that the real cold war is actually being fought on the borders of the world, beyond the comprehension of the general population is a tantalising and compelling one.
There are all sorts of influences that can be seen in these pages - hints can be found of great spies like James Bond, but with the dry humourous delivery of a Harry Palmer in all his glorious, behind-the-iron-curtain adventures; mixed up with the tense truth-questing feel of a bit of Frederick Forsyth, or Robert Ludlum in their post-WWII stories; and the chill of an Ira Levin or James Herbert - with a bit of added Indiana Jones. This gives this novel a real sense that it is a classic, right from the off.
I must admit that I have not read anything quite like this book before, which I find enormously refreshing. It has all the best features of a Cold War spy story, with a delicious undercurrent of a supernatural horror tale. Why settle for single genre novels when you can have it all?
I did not realise that this was actually the second book in the Christopher Winter series when I started reading it, but I had not read much before I knew I would have to go back and read the first book to fill in the back story - so book one, The War In The Dark, now has pride of place on one of my many bookshelves and I will be getting to this one soon.
What a great read! I am looking forward to more from Nick Setchfield.
Winter finds it ironic to now be on the other side of the law, but is making a name for himself in the Jack Creadley gang, and his past contacts have been useful in acquiring a certain valuable item for their latest shady deal.
Unfortunately, the valuable item in question - the heart of an ancient vampire - proves to be more of a hot commodity than they realised, and the deal has dire consequences for the other members of Jack Creadley's gang.
Winter finds himself re-claimed by the Secret Service after being aided by a young spy called Libby Cracknell, who is eager to make a name for herself as a rare female agent in the male-dominated world of espionage. Winter is needed for a new mission after an alluring succubus is apparently desperate to defect to the West, bringing her secrets with her, and she has demanded that Tobias Hart - Winter's old identity - be the man to come and get her.
This mission will involve Winter in the web of secrecy surrounding the Shadowless - a criminal organisation much older and far more deadly than the Mafia - as he tries to fathom what his real mission is and who he is actually working for.
Along the way he will uncover the forgotten truth about his alter-ego Tobias Hart and must decide if he is ready to once more embrace the dark magic he used to be able to master.
This book brings a whole new meaning to the term Cold War!
Winter is a spy who believes he has escaped the world of British Intelligence, but it is patently clear from almost the very beginning of this story that he is not going to be allowed to walk away as easily as he thought.
Although Winter cannot remember much of his life as Tobias Hart, or the details of the supernatural intrigue surrounding Operation Paragon he was involved in during World War Two, the legacy of his past is about to come back and - quite literally - bite him!
Winter is a competent and well-trained spy, but he is so much more - if only he could remember - and this scares him. It takes the alluring succubus, Alessandra, who remembers Tobias Hart as the powerful and dangerous mage he was, to get Winter to confront the darkness at the heart of his being and reawaken the magic that still lives within him. This is a very interesting development in the life of Winter and leads to some pretty exciting confrontations with the bad guys!
I also very much enjoyed that it was Winter's somewhat rocky relationship with the eager Libby that forces him to take control of his own darkness and start to become the man he is destined to be - not the Tobias Hart of old, but someone new....someone with integrity, who will not be a slave to his past.
I absolutely loved this genre-busting Cold War horror tale. The idea that the real cold war is actually being fought on the borders of the world, beyond the comprehension of the general population is a tantalising and compelling one.
There are all sorts of influences that can be seen in these pages - hints can be found of great spies like James Bond, but with the dry humourous delivery of a Harry Palmer in all his glorious, behind-the-iron-curtain adventures; mixed up with the tense truth-questing feel of a bit of Frederick Forsyth, or Robert Ludlum in their post-WWII stories; and the chill of an Ira Levin or James Herbert - with a bit of added Indiana Jones. This gives this novel a real sense that it is a classic, right from the off.
I must admit that I have not read anything quite like this book before, which I find enormously refreshing. It has all the best features of a Cold War spy story, with a delicious undercurrent of a supernatural horror tale. Why settle for single genre novels when you can have it all?
I did not realise that this was actually the second book in the Christopher Winter series when I started reading it, but I had not read much before I knew I would have to go back and read the first book to fill in the back story - so book one, The War In The Dark, now has pride of place on one of my many bookshelves and I will be getting to this one soon.
What a great read! I am looking forward to more from Nick Setchfield.
July 23, 2019
The obvious – lazy (?) – way of describing this novel is James Bond meets Vampires, but it doesn’t quite have that brand awareness of Fleming. And whilst we travel to an exotic location or two (by 1960s standards) it never feels luxurious. Setchfield’s agent, Christopher Winter, doesn’t have that Bond’s panache. This isn’t a criticism by the way because the comparison I would make isn’t to James Bond. It is to the Ipcress File. Winter feels more like Harry Palmer than James Bond. So, if you want a quick elevator pitch for this book it is Harry Palmer goes Buffy.
Which is slightly unfair as this book is a serious one. There’s not much lightness of touch here. Again, not a criticism. Perhaps Buffy isn’t right either.
Anyway, this is a Cold War spy story with occult trappings. In this 1965 there are Vampires – and vampires with a class structure, which is nice – and there are succubi and incubi. There’s a certain implication that God is real too, but a cold and distant figure. Magic exists here too. But the examples we see in this book are dark. It’s used for killing and healing.
When we join Winter at the beginning of the book he no longer works for SIS. He’s gone freelance and ended up working for some London gangsters. (And that line of thought via Guy Ritchie to Gangster No. 1 makes me think that if they get around to making a film of this book then Paul Bettany might make a good Winter. But I digress.) There’s a transaction going down. An odd transaction. It’s about a heart. As is the case with these things it doesn’t go quite to plan, and all hell breaks loose. Not quite literally.
Winter then finds himself drawn back into the realm of SIS. After all, in fiction no agent ever truly escapes the grip of his former employer. And he’s sent off on a mission to bring in a defecting spy. Except it turns out there’s more to it than that. Of course.
It’s an assured bit of story-telling is ‘The Spider Dance’. Setchfield’s alt-world feels possible, even though it is impossible. The main characters all feel like they are anchored in a reality of sorts. Winter is joined Alessandra and Libby Cracknell at points. Neither is an obvious femme fatale. Neither would make a good Bond girl.
The story twists and turns and the final confrontations are nicely played out and the bad guys have what feels like proper motivation for what they are trying to do. Setchfield also writes a number of nice little set pieces, which will play out lovely when the film/television series gets made.
So, if you’re looking for a bit of gothic Harry Palmer then this might be the book for you. It’s certainly neatly written and perfectly paced. This, to my surprise, was the second book in the series. I don’t think you need to have read that book to read this one. I certainly felt like I was stepping into something new. I assume then that there are more Winter tales to be told?
Which is slightly unfair as this book is a serious one. There’s not much lightness of touch here. Again, not a criticism. Perhaps Buffy isn’t right either.
Anyway, this is a Cold War spy story with occult trappings. In this 1965 there are Vampires – and vampires with a class structure, which is nice – and there are succubi and incubi. There’s a certain implication that God is real too, but a cold and distant figure. Magic exists here too. But the examples we see in this book are dark. It’s used for killing and healing.
When we join Winter at the beginning of the book he no longer works for SIS. He’s gone freelance and ended up working for some London gangsters. (And that line of thought via Guy Ritchie to Gangster No. 1 makes me think that if they get around to making a film of this book then Paul Bettany might make a good Winter. But I digress.) There’s a transaction going down. An odd transaction. It’s about a heart. As is the case with these things it doesn’t go quite to plan, and all hell breaks loose. Not quite literally.
Winter then finds himself drawn back into the realm of SIS. After all, in fiction no agent ever truly escapes the grip of his former employer. And he’s sent off on a mission to bring in a defecting spy. Except it turns out there’s more to it than that. Of course.
It’s an assured bit of story-telling is ‘The Spider Dance’. Setchfield’s alt-world feels possible, even though it is impossible. The main characters all feel like they are anchored in a reality of sorts. Winter is joined Alessandra and Libby Cracknell at points. Neither is an obvious femme fatale. Neither would make a good Bond girl.
The story twists and turns and the final confrontations are nicely played out and the bad guys have what feels like proper motivation for what they are trying to do. Setchfield also writes a number of nice little set pieces, which will play out lovely when the film/television series gets made.
So, if you’re looking for a bit of gothic Harry Palmer then this might be the book for you. It’s certainly neatly written and perfectly paced. This, to my surprise, was the second book in the series. I don’t think you need to have read that book to read this one. I certainly felt like I was stepping into something new. I assume then that there are more Winter tales to be told?
October 2, 2019
Magic, mystery and thrills combined excellently.
The Spider Dance tells the story of Christopher Winter, an ex-secret service operative who has forgotten his magical past and is attempting to forge a new life as a muscle for hire in 1965. When a simple job encounters destructive supernatural interference, Christopher finds himself thrown back into the mystical world he tried so hard to escape and must try to remember the abilities and contacts that made him infamous. The story twists and turns as Christopher delves deeper into his history and realises the deep web of connections that exist between vampires, humans and the clashing superpowers of the Cold War.
The story begins at an incredibly fast pace with dramatic action sequences from the first chapters which continue throughout the book. I didn’t realise that this was the second book in the series until after I had finished it; perhaps this explains the fast start and although there is a lot of information given to the reader at times, it is certainly possible to follow the book without having read the previous one. The writing is full of clever metaphors and powerful descriptions. The monsters and demons of the magical world are well fleshed out; I particularly liked how they weren’t necessarily good or evil and had elements of character to them that weren’t one dimensional. The abilities of these creatures were often familiar, but the author has some interesting takes and has created enough of a backstory for his magical creatures to keep them fresh.
Christopher also possesses some magical abilities, retained from his forgotten past as Tobias Hart. The memory loss is a clever way to provide exposition to the reader, as often magic and demons have to be explained to Christopher throughout the book, yet it doesn’t seem overly forced. The book also has some shocking moments, although I did find it a bit unrealistic that the vampires instantly kill the majority of their victims while always enjoying a fight with Christopher himself.
My main problem with the book is the variety of different elements; although it made it an exciting read, there seemed to be a few too many concepts such that none of them got fully explored. I almost wish the book had been a hundred or so pages longer so that we could have a full exploration of the vampires, the succubuses, the magic, the memory loss, the Cold War and everything else. The magic, in particular, seemed unexplored and only really came into play when Christopher needed to get out of an otherwise inescapable situation. He also seemed very unmoved by the deaths surrounding him, which made me feel a little unconnected to him.
Overall, the book is an excellent and different exploration into an exciting world. I want to read the others in the series!
Boromir
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
The Spider Dance tells the story of Christopher Winter, an ex-secret service operative who has forgotten his magical past and is attempting to forge a new life as a muscle for hire in 1965. When a simple job encounters destructive supernatural interference, Christopher finds himself thrown back into the mystical world he tried so hard to escape and must try to remember the abilities and contacts that made him infamous. The story twists and turns as Christopher delves deeper into his history and realises the deep web of connections that exist between vampires, humans and the clashing superpowers of the Cold War.
The story begins at an incredibly fast pace with dramatic action sequences from the first chapters which continue throughout the book. I didn’t realise that this was the second book in the series until after I had finished it; perhaps this explains the fast start and although there is a lot of information given to the reader at times, it is certainly possible to follow the book without having read the previous one. The writing is full of clever metaphors and powerful descriptions. The monsters and demons of the magical world are well fleshed out; I particularly liked how they weren’t necessarily good or evil and had elements of character to them that weren’t one dimensional. The abilities of these creatures were often familiar, but the author has some interesting takes and has created enough of a backstory for his magical creatures to keep them fresh.
Christopher also possesses some magical abilities, retained from his forgotten past as Tobias Hart. The memory loss is a clever way to provide exposition to the reader, as often magic and demons have to be explained to Christopher throughout the book, yet it doesn’t seem overly forced. The book also has some shocking moments, although I did find it a bit unrealistic that the vampires instantly kill the majority of their victims while always enjoying a fight with Christopher himself.
My main problem with the book is the variety of different elements; although it made it an exciting read, there seemed to be a few too many concepts such that none of them got fully explored. I almost wish the book had been a hundred or so pages longer so that we could have a full exploration of the vampires, the succubuses, the magic, the memory loss, the Cold War and everything else. The magic, in particular, seemed unexplored and only really came into play when Christopher needed to get out of an otherwise inescapable situation. He also seemed very unmoved by the deaths surrounding him, which made me feel a little unconnected to him.
Overall, the book is an excellent and different exploration into an exciting world. I want to read the others in the series!
Boromir
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
November 18, 2019
I love it when the second book in a series is better than its predecessor. And make no mistake, this is not a standalone novel, despite the odd lack of signalling otherwise. You'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't start with Nick Setchfield's The War In The Dark, which sets the scene for why our 1960s spy Christopher Winter is, in this book, working as a hired thug for London mobsters after his none-too-gracious parting of ways from British Intelligence. A transaction gone wrong sees him back in contact with the SIS, however, who require his services once more. Seems an Italian spy working behind the Iron Curtain has requested extraction to the west, and has specifically asked for Winter. Well, not technically: she's specifically asked for whom Winter used to be.
Winter thought he'd left that all behind, but several factors, including a lack of gainful employment, persuade him to go undercover once more to help Alessandra Moltini escape. Aided by one of the service's first female field agents, the utterly charming Libby Cracknell, he travels to Hungary and meets Alessandra, then things quickly go haywire. Double-crossed and forced to flee for Vienna, Alessandra brings the trio to her own masters, who set them on a chase through Europe to take down one of the most powerful figures of a rival establishment, mightier even than the SIS.
Standard spy stuff, deftly handled, but with an added twist: Alessandra is a demon who knew Winter when he was a death-dealing sorcerer, and needs his help in a game between ancient inhuman races jockeying for power over the mortal world. Mr Setchfield takes all the terrific stuff from his first novel -- occult world-building, stylish espionage with a side of Bourne Identity amnesia -- and adds greater depth in this follow up. I cared about the characters this time around, felt invested in their goals. I'm still kinda mad about the one death! The only thing I did want to see in this book that wasn't there was Karina, but I'm hoping she shows up again in future novels. This was great stuff, and I'm only hoping Mr Setchfield continues to get better and better.
Winter thought he'd left that all behind, but several factors, including a lack of gainful employment, persuade him to go undercover once more to help Alessandra Moltini escape. Aided by one of the service's first female field agents, the utterly charming Libby Cracknell, he travels to Hungary and meets Alessandra, then things quickly go haywire. Double-crossed and forced to flee for Vienna, Alessandra brings the trio to her own masters, who set them on a chase through Europe to take down one of the most powerful figures of a rival establishment, mightier even than the SIS.
Standard spy stuff, deftly handled, but with an added twist: Alessandra is a demon who knew Winter when he was a death-dealing sorcerer, and needs his help in a game between ancient inhuman races jockeying for power over the mortal world. Mr Setchfield takes all the terrific stuff from his first novel -- occult world-building, stylish espionage with a side of Bourne Identity amnesia -- and adds greater depth in this follow up. I cared about the characters this time around, felt invested in their goals. I'm still kinda mad about the one death! The only thing I did want to see in this book that wasn't there was Karina, but I'm hoping she shows up again in future novels. This was great stuff, and I'm only hoping Mr Setchfield continues to get better and better.
August 26, 2019
The Spider Dance (Great title!) is Nick Setchfield's second novel and is a follow up to his debut The War in the Dark. Firstly, the cover is incredible - draws you straight to the book and intrigues you immediately. This is a book about spies, vampires, demons, magic and lots more!
The Spider Dance starts off two years later from The War in the Dark book, in the year 1965, in the heart of Cold War Europe. The main character is the fascinating British Spy Christopher Winter although in this book he does get mixed up with the wrong side of the law, working for London gangsters. The book has been written so cleverly seeing how Christopher Winter sees life from both sides. However he is then pulled back working as a spy with a new mission ...
The Spider Dance is so skilfully written with such a fast pace - a real action packed page turner, keeping the reader engaged from the very first page right through to the end. It captures the period so realistically and you can imagine yourself in the locations that Christopher Winter visits as they are described so vividly.
I could write so much more but I do not want to give away any spoilers! It is full of unexpected twists and turns. The Spider Dance is an incredible book which I highly recommend. If you are fan of fantasy fiction then this must be the next book you read!
The War in the Dark and The Spider Dance would make a brilliant film! I hope there are more Christopher Winter adventures to be told and that this is going to be a great long series!
The Spider Dance starts off two years later from The War in the Dark book, in the year 1965, in the heart of Cold War Europe. The main character is the fascinating British Spy Christopher Winter although in this book he does get mixed up with the wrong side of the law, working for London gangsters. The book has been written so cleverly seeing how Christopher Winter sees life from both sides. However he is then pulled back working as a spy with a new mission ...
The Spider Dance is so skilfully written with such a fast pace - a real action packed page turner, keeping the reader engaged from the very first page right through to the end. It captures the period so realistically and you can imagine yourself in the locations that Christopher Winter visits as they are described so vividly.
I could write so much more but I do not want to give away any spoilers! It is full of unexpected twists and turns. The Spider Dance is an incredible book which I highly recommend. If you are fan of fantasy fiction then this must be the next book you read!
The War in the Dark and The Spider Dance would make a brilliant film! I hope there are more Christopher Winter adventures to be told and that this is going to be a great long series!
July 17, 2019
What an interesting second book in the series. We are back with Christopher Winter but this time he knows a bit more about his history. There are many twists and turns in this story, some I have to admit I was expecting but there were one or two that took my by surprise and I loved that!
I always find it hard to put a full description of what happened in a second book in a series as I don't want to spoil the story for those who have not read it yet, but I am thoroughly enjoying this series - I am hoping this is going to be a series rather than just a duology! For me, this was fast paced and action packed, along the same pace as the first book, The War in the Dark. This is a great mix of mystery, thriller, action, supernatural-ish and something that I just can't put my finger on but I am sure there are many more genres mixed into this that I didn't realise at the time!
Would highly recommend picking this up but maybe read the first book in the series up first (The War in the Dark) so you can get the bigger picture of the story, in particular the back story of the main character Christopher Winter, before delving into this one.
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
I always find it hard to put a full description of what happened in a second book in a series as I don't want to spoil the story for those who have not read it yet, but I am thoroughly enjoying this series - I am hoping this is going to be a series rather than just a duology! For me, this was fast paced and action packed, along the same pace as the first book, The War in the Dark. This is a great mix of mystery, thriller, action, supernatural-ish and something that I just can't put my finger on but I am sure there are many more genres mixed into this that I didn't realise at the time!
Would highly recommend picking this up but maybe read the first book in the series up first (The War in the Dark) so you can get the bigger picture of the story, in particular the back story of the main character Christopher Winter, before delving into this one.
For more reviews, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
May 15, 2020
The Spider Dance, which is the sequel to Nick Setchfield's excellent The War in the Dark, is an absolutely blast of a read. Take some James Bond, Indiana Jones, espionage, sorcery, and vampires, blend them all together and you've got a cracking good read!
Our protagonist, Christopher Winter, is one of the coolest literary creations I've encountered in quite a while, and Setchfield peels back some more layers from him in this adventure. He also opens up the world he created in The War in the Dark, bringing in a really cool take on Vampires. Setchfield writes in a very cinematic way and I could certainly see this as a series on Netflix or Amazon Prime. It's also compulsively readable. I tore through this in a few days.
If you're looking for a cool new series to pick up this is the one. Start with The War in the Dark and then move onto The Spider Dance. You won't be disappointed.
Our protagonist, Christopher Winter, is one of the coolest literary creations I've encountered in quite a while, and Setchfield peels back some more layers from him in this adventure. He also opens up the world he created in The War in the Dark, bringing in a really cool take on Vampires. Setchfield writes in a very cinematic way and I could certainly see this as a series on Netflix or Amazon Prime. It's also compulsively readable. I tore through this in a few days.
If you're looking for a cool new series to pick up this is the one. Start with The War in the Dark and then move onto The Spider Dance. You won't be disappointed.
February 18, 2020
A great sequel to the first amazing book! I really hope there will be more books in this series. The story was so well crafted and definitely explored a different side of the supernatural Cold War. It truly has the grit and feel of a spy thriller. I loved all the rich characters and can’t wait to read what comes next!
July 23, 2019
A strong second entry in a tale of magic and 60’s spies - inventive and at times scary
Full review -, https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review -, https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
September 30, 2019
A really fun read, Extremely well paced throughout. I found the story really intriguing with plenty to keep me reading and wanting more. A Must read for all fans in the Fantasy genre.
December 16, 2019
I enjoyed this book better than the previous. The jams that Winter gets out of seem hopeless but Setchfield surprises the reader with exciting outcomes.
March 15, 2020
Another amazing book,Nick Setchfield's attention to detail is stunning,laying out details some people don't think about. A bloody good part 2 😍
March 23, 2020
A fast read with many friends of the dark....
November 17, 2023
Finally done!! It took almost three months but I’m very excited to have finished this book, AND to reach my good reads goal for the first time! 🙌🥳
Let me be clear, this book was really quite good. I continued reading it, if sporadically, throughout the trials and stress of your typical college semester, and that’s more than enough proof. Fun fact, I didn’t know this was a sequel until I was already into it, so I just read it without even reading the first volume. It wasn’t that bad though, the story fills you in on the important parts of the first book.
{Spoilers after this}
I liked the ending, it was satisfying in that it tied up the most pressing conflicts and storylines, while leaving others open to speculation. Like what about the Glorious? And I was expecting Winter’s love interest from book one to show up, but she never did. (Who knows, she might be dead or maybe she dumped him).
I will say, my slightly sadistic self wanted Winter to explore his magic more and surrender to it, which we got a few scenes of, but that guy is just too cautious now to go over board with his powers. And in the end he did accept himself as both a magician and Christopher Winter, when he started out separating that aspect of his younger self from who he is now. All in all, I like how he and Libby ended up, her a vampire, him a reawakened magic user, driving recklessly into an unplanned future.
{End spoilers}
On a side note, at the time I was reading this book I was also taking a class about ancient Mediterranean landscapes, and so I really enjoyed how the author incorporated actual characteristics of the deep time scale that exists in Europe and for this story in Italy into his story. The Greek land surface is actually a few feet below the ground level of today, and it was fun how he turned that into a sacred shrine for vampire kind.
Let me be clear, this book was really quite good. I continued reading it, if sporadically, throughout the trials and stress of your typical college semester, and that’s more than enough proof. Fun fact, I didn’t know this was a sequel until I was already into it, so I just read it without even reading the first volume. It wasn’t that bad though, the story fills you in on the important parts of the first book.
{Spoilers after this}
I liked the ending, it was satisfying in that it tied up the most pressing conflicts and storylines, while leaving others open to speculation. Like what about the Glorious? And I was expecting Winter’s love interest from book one to show up, but she never did. (Who knows, she might be dead or maybe she dumped him).
I will say, my slightly sadistic self wanted Winter to explore his magic more and surrender to it, which we got a few scenes of, but that guy is just too cautious now to go over board with his powers. And in the end he did accept himself as both a magician and Christopher Winter, when he started out separating that aspect of his younger self from who he is now. All in all, I like how he and Libby ended up, her a vampire, him a reawakened magic user, driving recklessly into an unplanned future.
{End spoilers}
On a side note, at the time I was reading this book I was also taking a class about ancient Mediterranean landscapes, and so I really enjoyed how the author incorporated actual characteristics of the deep time scale that exists in Europe and for this story in Italy into his story. The Greek land surface is actually a few feet below the ground level of today, and it was fun how he turned that into a sacred shrine for vampire kind.
June 12, 2020
I bought The Spider Dance along with The War In The Dark. This was one of the first times I ever bought a “series” sight unseen. Well…I did check to make sure they were both third-person, past-tense. In this regard, the author wrote solid limited point of view which made the story that much better.
On the other hand, he tended to bog down a bit with exposition here and there. Also, the title doesn’t really have anything to do with the story except the named subject is mentioned twice near the latter half of the story, but doesn’t really have any significance to anything. So be it, it’s a title.
My biggest beef with the story is that it devolved into a vampire story, which I’m no big fan of. As it became evident where this was going, I had to let out a big sigh and go, “oh not another one of those.” While I enjoy good icky bug, vampires are at the bottom of the list. The first book had none of that. The one creature I grew to like from the first book was killed off way too soon.
In the end, it turned out okay, but I have a feeling the next one is going to have a return of the blood suckers, so he’s lost me from this point on. If another one comes out, I may check it out, but then again, the first book’s synopsis was misleading, so I can’t really go by that anyway.
Overall, the writing was pretty decent, but it was the subject matter that left me kind of flat. The ending somewhat redeemed things, but not enough to want me to continue on. For vampire lovers, I think you’ll find this series has some merit. A very good writer.
On the other hand, he tended to bog down a bit with exposition here and there. Also, the title doesn’t really have anything to do with the story except the named subject is mentioned twice near the latter half of the story, but doesn’t really have any significance to anything. So be it, it’s a title.
My biggest beef with the story is that it devolved into a vampire story, which I’m no big fan of. As it became evident where this was going, I had to let out a big sigh and go, “oh not another one of those.” While I enjoy good icky bug, vampires are at the bottom of the list. The first book had none of that. The one creature I grew to like from the first book was killed off way too soon.
In the end, it turned out okay, but I have a feeling the next one is going to have a return of the blood suckers, so he’s lost me from this point on. If another one comes out, I may check it out, but then again, the first book’s synopsis was misleading, so I can’t really go by that anyway.
Overall, the writing was pretty decent, but it was the subject matter that left me kind of flat. The ending somewhat redeemed things, but not enough to want me to continue on. For vampire lovers, I think you’ll find this series has some merit. A very good writer.
June 27, 2021
Ive not read the first book so I’m not totally sure if I’ve missed something or this stands as an individual book but I felt the lead character is rather cold and unlikeable spy. With no past he lacked a certain depth of character. I imagined him like Sean Connery’s James Bond - Arrogant, confident and a good British stiffness but as another character describes…He’s a bit of a w***er. However he suits the image of that post war British spy we’ve grown up with the 007 and Man from Uncle franchises. The locations and other characters were well captured and visualise the Cold War spy era wonderfully. The integration of magic and mythical creatures is woven in extremely well and I feel Christopher Winter ends suitably fleshed out for a return though dare I say it… I want a book about Libby’s adventures in this old boys club a lot more.
July 7, 2023
This is the second book in a series where I haven't read the first, but it didn't seem like a problem. It was a perfectly good read, but I quickly started having the problem I always seem to have with books like this. I start out thinking it sound so cool to have a historical espionage book set in a historical time period that's a plus but then I just start thinking it would probably be better if it was just historical fiction with no fantasy.
The background tying it to the Cold War makes sense, but it quickly becomes clear this is just more about the magical creature's concerns. I think at one point one of them says something about not caring about humans' petty concerns and that seems accurate. But the supernatural wars are always by nature simpler and less rich than the human war that would be going on.
The background tying it to the Cold War makes sense, but it quickly becomes clear this is just more about the magical creature's concerns. I think at one point one of them says something about not caring about humans' petty concerns and that seems accurate. But the supernatural wars are always by nature simpler and less rich than the human war that would be going on.
October 26, 2022
The continuing misadventures of Christopher Winter
If you enjoyed Nick Setchfield's, "The War in the Dark," then you'll likely enjoy this followup novel. For those not familiar, these are cold war espionage stories mixed with a touch of fantasy horror. Think Ian Fleming, mixed with Anne Rice. I liked this story, despite some slightly irritating factual errors regarding the function of firearms. I liked Alessandra, and wonder if she was privy to the big picture. It does seem that Chris Winters has a problem keeping interesting women in his orbit....
If you enjoyed Nick Setchfield's, "The War in the Dark," then you'll likely enjoy this followup novel. For those not familiar, these are cold war espionage stories mixed with a touch of fantasy horror. Think Ian Fleming, mixed with Anne Rice. I liked this story, despite some slightly irritating factual errors regarding the function of firearms. I liked Alessandra, and wonder if she was privy to the big picture. It does seem that Chris Winters has a problem keeping interesting women in his orbit....
December 4, 2021
This one went pretty quick. Interesting creatures and a pretty simple premise that twists and turns across 1960s Europe. Total fantasy but stays pretty grounded. If you liked the first one you won't be disappointed.
February 24, 2020
It was ok.
November 17, 2023
2.5 stars
Definitely not one of my favourite books. Christopher Winter himself I preferred in this book, but I just didn’t care for the plot.
Definitely not one of my favourite books. Christopher Winter himself I preferred in this book, but I just didn’t care for the plot.
February 5, 2022
This next installment of Mr. Winter's adventures was seeking to build upon the previous success in the first book. But I kinda felt it fell flat in the grandness or overall scope of what this world could offer. Some of the supernatural elements just felt simple or childish, but again not terrible enough to make me dislike it. This was nonetheless and enjoyable story, and I was once again pulled into rooting for Winter to get through his adventure and reach his ending.
It's been a while since I finished reading this book, and I think I'll likely come back to it soon. But from what I remember I did not enjoy this book as much as the first one.
3.5/5*
It's been a while since I finished reading this book, and I think I'll likely come back to it soon. But from what I remember I did not enjoy this book as much as the first one.
3.5/5*
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