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The Cartographer #1
Quill
The fate of empire is to crumble from within.
A heinous murder in a small village reveals a terrible truth. Sorcery, once thought dead in Enhover, is not. Evidence of an occult ritual and human sacrifice proves that dark power has been called upon again. Twisting threads of clues lead across the known world to the end of a vast empire, and then, the trail returns home.
Duke Oliver Wellesley, son of the king, cartographer, and adventurer, has better things to do than investigate a murder in a sleepy fishing hamlet. For Crown and Company, though, he goes where he’s told. As the investigation leads to deeper and darker places, he’ll be forced to confront the horrific spectres rising from the shadows of his past. When faced with the truth, will he sacrifice what is necessary to survive?
Samantha serves a Church that claims to no longer need her skills. She’s apprenticed to a priest-assassin that no one knows. Driven by a mad prophecy, her mentor has prepared her for a battle with ultimate darkness, except, sorcery is dead. When all is at stake, can she call upon an arcane craft the rest of the world has forgotten?
AC Cobble, the author of the fan-favorite Benjamin Ashwood series, crafts worlds of stunning-depth and breath-taking adventure. In Quill: The Cartographer Book 1, a pair of unlikely investigators walk a deadly path into the past, uncovering secrets best left alone.
The fate of empire is to crumble from within. Do not ask when, ask who.
A heinous murder in a small village reveals a terrible truth. Sorcery, once thought dead in Enhover, is not. Evidence of an occult ritual and human sacrifice proves that dark power has been called upon again. Twisting threads of clues lead across the known world to the end of a vast empire, and then, the trail returns home.
Duke Oliver Wellesley, son of the king, cartographer, and adventurer, has better things to do than investigate a murder in a sleepy fishing hamlet. For Crown and Company, though, he goes where he’s told. As the investigation leads to deeper and darker places, he’ll be forced to confront the horrific spectres rising from the shadows of his past. When faced with the truth, will he sacrifice what is necessary to survive?
Samantha serves a Church that claims to no longer need her skills. She’s apprenticed to a priest-assassin that no one knows. Driven by a mad prophecy, her mentor has prepared her for a battle with ultimate darkness, except, sorcery is dead. When all is at stake, can she call upon an arcane craft the rest of the world has forgotten?
AC Cobble, the author of the fan-favorite Benjamin Ashwood series, crafts worlds of stunning-depth and breath-taking adventure. In Quill: The Cartographer Book 1, a pair of unlikely investigators walk a deadly path into the past, uncovering secrets best left alone.
The fate of empire is to crumble from within. Do not ask when, ask who.
512 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2019
1201 people are currently reading
1092 people want to read
About the author
A.C. Cobble
31 books634 followersAC Cobble is the author of Wahrheit, The King's Ranger, Benjamin Ashwood, and The Cartographer series. Signed print copies of all of his books are available at Merrick Bookshop:
https://merrickbookshop.com/collectio...
Wahrheit is a classic epic fantasy adventure. It is packed full of political intrigue, epic battles, spies & assassins, ancient magic, a little humor, a young man and woman against impossible odds, and dragons. If you liked AC Cobble's other books, you will love this series.
The King's Ranger is a clean, action-packed adventure. Rew, the titular ranger, wants only to manage the wilderness he is responsible for, but the arrival of three youths in his jail cell force him to embark on an epic journey. To protect the youths, he's forced to confront a darkness in his past and join a swirling conflict that will envelope the entire kingdom.
Benjamin Ashwood is AC's take on the classic farm boy with a sword fantasy story. It starts much like they all do, but in Ben's world like the real world, heroes are made not born, and the good guys don't always win. Try it today and find out why this series has sold hundreds of thousands of copies!
The Cartographer is a little sexier and a little darker, but has the same sense of fun and adventure as Benjamin Ashwood. Think world spanning travel and exploration, occult rituals, dark seductresses, bodies dropping like flies, and bar fights. Fans of Rhys will love Oliver and Sam. Join the adventure today!
For series artwork, maps, the newsletter signup, the blog, and more, head over to: https://accobble.com/.
https://merrickbookshop.com/collectio...
Wahrheit is a classic epic fantasy adventure. It is packed full of political intrigue, epic battles, spies & assassins, ancient magic, a little humor, a young man and woman against impossible odds, and dragons. If you liked AC Cobble's other books, you will love this series.
The King's Ranger is a clean, action-packed adventure. Rew, the titular ranger, wants only to manage the wilderness he is responsible for, but the arrival of three youths in his jail cell force him to embark on an epic journey. To protect the youths, he's forced to confront a darkness in his past and join a swirling conflict that will envelope the entire kingdom.
Benjamin Ashwood is AC's take on the classic farm boy with a sword fantasy story. It starts much like they all do, but in Ben's world like the real world, heroes are made not born, and the good guys don't always win. Try it today and find out why this series has sold hundreds of thousands of copies!
The Cartographer is a little sexier and a little darker, but has the same sense of fun and adventure as Benjamin Ashwood. Think world spanning travel and exploration, occult rituals, dark seductresses, bodies dropping like flies, and bar fights. Fans of Rhys will love Oliver and Sam. Join the adventure today!
For series artwork, maps, the newsletter signup, the blog, and more, head over to: https://accobble.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
June 19, 2019
Read the full review at my blog Digital Amrit
This is an unbiased review of an ARC provided by the author.
Introduction
‘Quill’ is the first book in a new series - ‘The Cartographer’ by A.C. Cobble (author of the Benjamin Ashwood series). It is a fantasy wrapped in steampunk inside a buddy cop story - except that in this universe sorcery (spirits) is present alongside the industrial revolution.
Duke Oliver Wellesley, the youngest son of the king, and Samantha, a church assassin/exorcist, team up to solve a murder which seems to involve the occult. This leads them on a chase across the empire and the hints of a deeper conspiracy
Overall Feel
‘Quill’ has multiple things going for it - it has a decent murder mystery, it has a nice spooky atmosphere with a dash of Lovecraft and it has a good buddy cop movie vibe between our protagonists - Oliver and Sam.
Read the full review at my blog Digital Amrit
This is an unbiased review of an ARC provided by the author.
Introduction
‘Quill’ is the first book in a new series - ‘The Cartographer’ by A.C. Cobble (author of the Benjamin Ashwood series). It is a fantasy wrapped in steampunk inside a buddy cop story - except that in this universe sorcery (spirits) is present alongside the industrial revolution.
Duke Oliver Wellesley, the youngest son of the king, and Samantha, a church assassin/exorcist, team up to solve a murder which seems to involve the occult. This leads them on a chase across the empire and the hints of a deeper conspiracy
Overall Feel
‘Quill’ has multiple things going for it - it has a decent murder mystery, it has a nice spooky atmosphere with a dash of Lovecraft and it has a good buddy cop movie vibe between our protagonists - Oliver and Sam.
Read the full review at my blog Digital Amrit
June 19, 2019
Overall rating = 3.5 stars
Read dual review over at Fantasy Book Critic (With David Stewart)
ANALYSIS: I was attracted to Quill for three main reasons, firstly that it was a conspiracy thriller in the fantasy mode and secondly because of the underpinnings of the story as mentioned bythe author in our interview:
- “I spent a lot of time considering the implications for these cultures before/after colonial rule”,
- “there is a lighter nautical theme in my book. There are ships, airships, and even pirates”.
Lastly the series title which hints at the occupation of one of the protagonists, combined with my love of maps, I knew I HAD to read this book.
We have our two protagonist Duke Oliver Wellesley, a rake with a good heart and a cartographer to boot. Then there’s Samantha, apprentice priestess to Priest Thotham and a badass of her own might. We begin the story with these two and these two only come together because of a horrific murder. Things soon take a turn for the worse as the murder turns out to be related to the dark arts that have been outlawed. Things just spiral from there and our two protagonists find themselves swinging from location to location going down the rabbit hole and trying to make sense of it all.
This story was a real fast read and it very much read like a conspiracy thriller. The plot really takes off from the opening pages and with each POV change we are taken further and further down the rabbit hole. I liked this aspect and with the fast pace, there are quite a few twists within the story as well. The author also gives us protagonists who are refreshing good natured and its fun to see them spar. There’s a mild romantic angle that’s set up and I hope the author explores it in the sequels. Lastly the action is more on a personal level and so there’s not much to be found for those looking on an epic scale. But there’s enough hints and scenes provided within to keep the readers entertained.
There are a couple of things about this book that didn’t click for me. Particularly the world building which is there but only hinted at. Perhaps this was done for the expediency of the plot pace but I’m hoping the author reveals more in the sequels because the world is a very intriguing one. Lastly the author had mentioned this book was about the after effects of colonialism and I wish there was more about this as it would have brought a more interesting angle than the one presented. The author focuses on religion and secret societies as a means of the repressed to get back at their oppressors and I can’t wait to see what happens next as the ending is a mild cliffhanger.
Overall I really enjoyed AC Cobble’s writing style and the way this book ended, I wanted to read what happens next immediately. I think that’s a solid sign of AC’s ability to get readers hooked in. As a reader I don’t think I can ask more of an author. AC Cobble showcases himself as a writer to watch out for with his mix of thriller stories within a fantasy lens, read Quill to see why both David & I enjoyed it thoroughly.
May 25, 2019
I received an ARC from the author.
When trying to describe this book to a friend, I said it was steampunkish, except instead of the steam, technology is run on spirit-powered magic. Like floating rocks.
It's like a Sherlock Holmes murder mystery, except the characters are a roguish gentleman - son of the king, no less - and a dagger-wielding priestess (of a sort). A body has been found in the tiny town of Harwick, a sleepy place where normally nothing much happens. But instead of a rape or robbery, the unusual murder scene stinks of dark sorcery. Too big for a small-town inspector, the Crown is alerted, and representatives sent to help put the pieces together, especially as the victim was no ordinary woman.
The story is told mostly from the points of view of the two main characters Duke Oliver Wellesley and Samantha (prefers Sam), with occasional side characters to give added perspective. The pair become detectives against their will, yet once involved, they can't let go - even when advised, ordered or threatened away from the case. The other points of view mean the reader has just a bit more knowledge of what's going on than Sam and Oliver do, but we're still kept in the dark as to who the true enemy is. There are plenty of hints and clues, plots within plots, and dead bodies dropping like flies.
It's a real page turner, with some good descriptions and a fast pace. I loved the levitating islands especially. I did feel as though the duke's mapmaking seemed to have little relevance to the story, despite the title making me think his cartography would be of greater importance. Maybe in later books. There's quite a focus on sex (including some pretty explicit scenes) and half the women seem like nymphomaniac caricatures, although this does add a humourous element. Still, it might not be to everyone's tastes, and it was a bit uncomfortable to read on the bus at times.
I noticed a few phrases repeated a lot, but apart from a few mistakes, the writing isn't far off being polished.
Overall, I had a good time reading this and will definitely pick up the next.
When trying to describe this book to a friend, I said it was steampunkish, except instead of the steam, technology is run on spirit-powered magic. Like floating rocks.
It's like a Sherlock Holmes murder mystery, except the characters are a roguish gentleman - son of the king, no less - and a dagger-wielding priestess (of a sort). A body has been found in the tiny town of Harwick, a sleepy place where normally nothing much happens. But instead of a rape or robbery, the unusual murder scene stinks of dark sorcery. Too big for a small-town inspector, the Crown is alerted, and representatives sent to help put the pieces together, especially as the victim was no ordinary woman.
The story is told mostly from the points of view of the two main characters Duke Oliver Wellesley and Samantha (prefers Sam), with occasional side characters to give added perspective. The pair become detectives against their will, yet once involved, they can't let go - even when advised, ordered or threatened away from the case. The other points of view mean the reader has just a bit more knowledge of what's going on than Sam and Oliver do, but we're still kept in the dark as to who the true enemy is. There are plenty of hints and clues, plots within plots, and dead bodies dropping like flies.
It's a real page turner, with some good descriptions and a fast pace. I loved the levitating islands especially. I did feel as though the duke's mapmaking seemed to have little relevance to the story, despite the title making me think his cartography would be of greater importance. Maybe in later books. There's quite a focus on sex (including some pretty explicit scenes) and half the women seem like nymphomaniac caricatures, although this does add a humourous element. Still, it might not be to everyone's tastes, and it was a bit uncomfortable to read on the bus at times.
I noticed a few phrases repeated a lot, but apart from a few mistakes, the writing isn't far off being polished.
Overall, I had a good time reading this and will definitely pick up the next.
June 11, 2020
Note to Self: Take a long break before trying any other work by this author. Maybe try in 10 years and it has to be a new piece, not an older publication.
Audio/KU Notes:
Simon Vance was great. The narration pulled me into the story right away. The written words turned out to be the less appealing aspect.
The list of things that the book tried to do and failed to accomplish:
- Characters were inconsistent. We are told they are one way and they act in another.
- Setting: Exactly what kind of alternate European/etc world is this story taking place? Because the attitudes, actions and thoughts do not fit well for the supposed time period. Setting rules/boundaries are very flexible to nonexistent.
- Sexual scenes were like teenage hormones on a rampage. Did not fit well within the narrative & turned me off the characters & plot.
- Book intro with a murder case was nice. Then it all goes downhill from there.
- No actual mystery. Just characters running around & getting used or falling into answers.
- Despite Vance's narration, the story turned into plodding work to listen. I grabbed the KU and speed read the rest to see how the book ends. Totally not worth the effort.
Audio/KU Notes:
Simon Vance was great. The narration pulled me into the story right away. The written words turned out to be the less appealing aspect.
The list of things that the book tried to do and failed to accomplish:
- Characters were inconsistent. We are told they are one way and they act in another.
- Setting: Exactly what kind of alternate European/etc world is this story taking place? Because the attitudes, actions and thoughts do not fit well for the supposed time period. Setting rules/boundaries are very flexible to nonexistent.
- Sexual scenes were like teenage hormones on a rampage. Did not fit well within the narrative & turned me off the characters & plot.
- Book intro with a murder case was nice. Then it all goes downhill from there.
- No actual mystery. Just characters running around & getting used or falling into answers.
- Despite Vance's narration, the story turned into plodding work to listen. I grabbed the KU and speed read the rest to see how the book ends. Totally not worth the effort.
December 25, 2019
The disparity between the characters’ descriptions and actions is just far too wide.
Take Oliver, who is described as brilliant and tenacious by multiple secondary characters. I don’t know if it necessarily takes a brilliant author to create a brilliant character, but as far as I could tell, Oliver was actually quite dull. He could not think outside his sphere of wealth and power, was led more often by his dick than his brain, and had the tendency to assume women were fragile despite being surrounded by powerful women. As a starting point, these characteristics offer a huge potential for growth and development throughout the story. That never happened.
As for the two lead women...Sam was supposed to be a powerful church assassin. And she was indeed physically powerful during the fight scenes. She was also surprisingly naive for a woman in her 30’s accustomed to rough living, and always submissive to Oliver and her mentor in decisions which should have fallen in her area of expertise.
Isasandra (not sure of spelling as I listened to the audiobook) was by turns a dedicated student of the occult and (again) a naive girl who had bitten off more than she could chew. It bothered me that—despite being clever, rich, and ruthless—she remained helpless in discovering the answers behind her parents’ deaths until she started offering sexual favors to nasty old men. As if her sex appeal was her only means to knowledge and power.
Naturally both the women are beautiful and that’s the first thing Oliver notices about them.
So in the end, the “brilliant” hero of the story is a 2D Prince Charming, and the two “strong” women at his side are clueless and helpless on their own. It’s no wonder the story dragged on and on, carried by characters who couldn’t even carry the weight of their own descriptions.
Take Oliver, who is described as brilliant and tenacious by multiple secondary characters. I don’t know if it necessarily takes a brilliant author to create a brilliant character, but as far as I could tell, Oliver was actually quite dull. He could not think outside his sphere of wealth and power, was led more often by his dick than his brain, and had the tendency to assume women were fragile despite being surrounded by powerful women. As a starting point, these characteristics offer a huge potential for growth and development throughout the story. That never happened.
As for the two lead women...Sam was supposed to be a powerful church assassin. And she was indeed physically powerful during the fight scenes. She was also surprisingly naive for a woman in her 30’s accustomed to rough living, and always submissive to Oliver and her mentor in decisions which should have fallen in her area of expertise.
Isasandra (not sure of spelling as I listened to the audiobook) was by turns a dedicated student of the occult and (again) a naive girl who had bitten off more than she could chew. It bothered me that—despite being clever, rich, and ruthless—she remained helpless in discovering the answers behind her parents’ deaths until she started offering sexual favors to nasty old men. As if her sex appeal was her only means to knowledge and power.
Naturally both the women are beautiful and that’s the first thing Oliver notices about them.
So in the end, the “brilliant” hero of the story is a 2D Prince Charming, and the two “strong” women at his side are clueless and helpless on their own. It’s no wonder the story dragged on and on, carried by characters who couldn’t even carry the weight of their own descriptions.
June 5, 2019
Brand new release from me and I couldn't be more excited about it. This story is a bit darker and a bit sexier than my Benjamin Ashwood series, but has the same sense of fun & adventure. If you're a fan of Rhys, then I think you'll love Oliver & Sam.
Here's the blurb:
The fate of empire is to crumble from within.
A heinous murder in a small village reveals a terrible truth. Sorcery, once thought dead in Enhover, is not. Evidence of an occult ritual and human sacrifice proves that dark power has been called upon again. Twisting threads of clues lead across the known world to the end of a vast empire, and then, the trail returns home.
Duke Oliver Wellesley, son of the king, cartographer, and adventurer, has better things to do than investigate a murder in a sleepy fishing hamlet. For Crown and Company, though, he goes where he’s told. As the investigation leads to deeper and darker places, he’ll be forced to confront the horrific spectres rising from the shadows of his past. When faced with the truth, will he sacrifice what is necessary to survive?
Samantha serves a Church that claims to no longer need her skills. She’s apprenticed to a priest-assassin that no one knows. Driven by a mad prophecy, her mentor has prepared her for a battle with ultimate darkness, except, sorcery is dead. When all is at stake, can she call upon an arcane craft the rest of the world has forgotten?
The fate of empire is to crumble from within. Do not ask when, ask who.
Here's the blurb:
The fate of empire is to crumble from within.
A heinous murder in a small village reveals a terrible truth. Sorcery, once thought dead in Enhover, is not. Evidence of an occult ritual and human sacrifice proves that dark power has been called upon again. Twisting threads of clues lead across the known world to the end of a vast empire, and then, the trail returns home.
Duke Oliver Wellesley, son of the king, cartographer, and adventurer, has better things to do than investigate a murder in a sleepy fishing hamlet. For Crown and Company, though, he goes where he’s told. As the investigation leads to deeper and darker places, he’ll be forced to confront the horrific spectres rising from the shadows of his past. When faced with the truth, will he sacrifice what is necessary to survive?
Samantha serves a Church that claims to no longer need her skills. She’s apprenticed to a priest-assassin that no one knows. Driven by a mad prophecy, her mentor has prepared her for a battle with ultimate darkness, except, sorcery is dead. When all is at stake, can she call upon an arcane craft the rest of the world has forgotten?
The fate of empire is to crumble from within. Do not ask when, ask who.
August 9, 2019
A 3.5 starrer
This is one of those books that if maybe written by a more experienced author could have fared much better than what it did in retrospect. There are fantastic elements in the book - the steampunk-ish environment, the intersection of church and magic, the lead character's occupation - a cartographer - dont think we have seen the likes of that before. The plotting is suitably dark as well with a horror-tinge to certain elements. The shadowy secret societies serving the dark side and a secret society within the church hunting them also adds a lot of the book.
The elements that hinder the book lie in its flabby mid portion and more importantly through its depiction of women. Women characters get the rough end of the stick here - esp for their sexuality and it almost seems rather cheap. Which is a shame as Cobble does come up with a good pair of lead characters, incl a very competent woman who can hold her own and is more than a match in these supernatural matters. I am divided if I may pick up the next one due to these problematic issues. After all so little time, so much to read. Sigh
This is one of those books that if maybe written by a more experienced author could have fared much better than what it did in retrospect. There are fantastic elements in the book - the steampunk-ish environment, the intersection of church and magic, the lead character's occupation - a cartographer - dont think we have seen the likes of that before. The plotting is suitably dark as well with a horror-tinge to certain elements. The shadowy secret societies serving the dark side and a secret society within the church hunting them also adds a lot of the book.
The elements that hinder the book lie in its flabby mid portion and more importantly through its depiction of women. Women characters get the rough end of the stick here - esp for their sexuality and it almost seems rather cheap. Which is a shame as Cobble does come up with a good pair of lead characters, incl a very competent woman who can hold her own and is more than a match in these supernatural matters. I am divided if I may pick up the next one due to these problematic issues. After all so little time, so much to read. Sigh
May 25, 2019
Quill by A. C. Cobble
I was given a review copy by the author.
Quill is a story set in a different universe's version of the British Empire, one that seems very familiar, but is wholly different. It happens in a world with magic, and spirits, and also airships and trains. There are guns and bombs, and sorcerers and druids, too.
It is the story of nobleman adventurer Oliver Wellesley, the Cartographer of the series title, who is very far down in the line of royal succession so he is merely rich and aimless, and also apparently a sex-magnet. He is finagled into investigating a murder which smacks of the ancient, forbidden art of sorcery, and is partnered with beautiful, sex-hungry (this comes up a lot) sorcerer-killer priestess, Sam No-last-name.
They jaunt all over this not-at-all British Empire (which pays little heed to the true costs of empire and colonialism) and meet sorcerers and hedge witches and lustful heiresses and, generally, spill a whole lot of blood.
It's an adventure. It's a romp. It's two-fisted, leather-pantsed, drunken alley fighting fun.
There's a lot to recommend this book. It's got originality, it's got some very nice structural planning (the alternating viewpoints work very well, and the character tics turn out to be actually quite meaningful), and the dialog isn't weighed down by hyper-witty banter. People who like airships and hard-punching women will dig the story.
The pacing was nice, and never felt draggy either.
The writing is solid, if a bit too in love with certain turns of phrase (the euphemism "sanguine fluid" for blood appeared a few times, and bothers me still), and generally well-edited. There are more typos than you might find in a pro publication, but far less than in most self-pubs, so it's on the good side. I was pleasantly surprised by the overall quality of the prose, honestly. It's better than, say, Sanderson in many respects.
There are a few plot tunnels but they're really not that important overall. It's the kind of book that you should go into for a fun read, rather than looking for a deep reflection on human nature or what have you.
I liked it. I'd like to read the sequel, honestly, since the end kind of went for a semi-cliffhanger and I like these characters.
Thank you, A. C. Cobble, for the copy, and the fun read!
I was given a review copy by the author.
Quill is a story set in a different universe's version of the British Empire, one that seems very familiar, but is wholly different. It happens in a world with magic, and spirits, and also airships and trains. There are guns and bombs, and sorcerers and druids, too.
It is the story of nobleman adventurer Oliver Wellesley, the Cartographer of the series title, who is very far down in the line of royal succession so he is merely rich and aimless, and also apparently a sex-magnet. He is finagled into investigating a murder which smacks of the ancient, forbidden art of sorcery, and is partnered with beautiful, sex-hungry (this comes up a lot) sorcerer-killer priestess, Sam No-last-name.
They jaunt all over this not-at-all British Empire (which pays little heed to the true costs of empire and colonialism) and meet sorcerers and hedge witches and lustful heiresses and, generally, spill a whole lot of blood.
It's an adventure. It's a romp. It's two-fisted, leather-pantsed, drunken alley fighting fun.
There's a lot to recommend this book. It's got originality, it's got some very nice structural planning (the alternating viewpoints work very well, and the character tics turn out to be actually quite meaningful), and the dialog isn't weighed down by hyper-witty banter. People who like airships and hard-punching women will dig the story.
The pacing was nice, and never felt draggy either.
The writing is solid, if a bit too in love with certain turns of phrase (the euphemism "sanguine fluid" for blood appeared a few times, and bothers me still), and generally well-edited. There are more typos than you might find in a pro publication, but far less than in most self-pubs, so it's on the good side. I was pleasantly surprised by the overall quality of the prose, honestly. It's better than, say, Sanderson in many respects.
There are a few plot tunnels but they're really not that important overall. It's the kind of book that you should go into for a fun read, rather than looking for a deep reflection on human nature or what have you.
I liked it. I'd like to read the sequel, honestly, since the end kind of went for a semi-cliffhanger and I like these characters.
Thank you, A. C. Cobble, for the copy, and the fun read!
October 23, 2019
Strong start, book one, in a well written, evenly paced, engaging trilogy.
AS Cobble starts out strong in this clever, witty, suspense bound thriller. I enjoy the cutting humor, between the two lead characters, it is fresh, relevant and engages and furthers my interest. The world building is expansive, the magic system subtle and story expressive, while truly captivating. AC Cobble, I am a fan, look forward to beginning book two immediately! Thank you.
AS Cobble starts out strong in this clever, witty, suspense bound thriller. I enjoy the cutting humor, between the two lead characters, it is fresh, relevant and engages and furthers my interest. The world building is expansive, the magic system subtle and story expressive, while truly captivating. AC Cobble, I am a fan, look forward to beginning book two immediately! Thank you.
June 10, 2019
A must read!
I read the Benjamin Ashwood series and thoroughly enjoyed it so I picked up Quill not knowing what to expect. It was excellent. Very enjoyable characters and great story line. As far as what to expect, think of similar pace and depth of characters in Ben Ashwood combined with a splash of Sherlock Holmes.
I read the Benjamin Ashwood series and thoroughly enjoyed it so I picked up Quill not knowing what to expect. It was excellent. Very enjoyable characters and great story line. As far as what to expect, think of similar pace and depth of characters in Ben Ashwood combined with a splash of Sherlock Holmes.
July 16, 2019
after reading the bengamin ashwood series i grabbed this new one from A.C. Cobble. it kept me pretty interested but the more grown up situations were not something i was anticipating so they threw me. i probably will not continue with this series just for that reason. There is magic. fighting, and mystery and he is a good writer. just the adult situations were not my cup of tea.
thanks,
thanks,
June 6, 2019
Good book
If you were looking for a book like ashwood this is not it. I think it is for a little bit older audience as well. That is a good thing! I highly recommend this series as long as you keep those two things in mind!lol.
If you were looking for a book like ashwood this is not it. I think it is for a little bit older audience as well. That is a good thing! I highly recommend this series as long as you keep those two things in mind!lol.
June 8, 2019
Fantastic
This appears to be the beginning of a great series. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. I really hope that it doesn't take long for the second book to come out.
This appears to be the beginning of a great series. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. I really hope that it doesn't take long for the second book to come out.
October 11, 2021
Steampunk alternate England looks really good! Solid writing, very compact and true to period and style. Mature tale, so they brought the big guns: Simon Vance is masterful.
However...
Riveting investigation... in the beginning, but the heavy plot armour waters down the whole affair as the stakes climb.
An abundance of episodic POVs that, while giving more insight into the plot, spoil the investigation. I wish the author had made their mind up on either having a parallel narration, or done away with the extra POVs altogether. As it is, we get random "spoilers" for no reason.
The "initiate" girl is inconsistent in ways that cannot be explained by lust for power or naivety.
Sam got confusing. I was struggling to place her age halfway through the book. She started confident and mature, but ended up angsty and hesitant. I could pin some of that to being out of her depth. But not all of it. .
But all in all, I really enjoyed this book, and am already looking for the next one.
However...
Riveting investigation... in the beginning, but the heavy plot armour waters down the whole affair as the stakes climb.
An abundance of episodic POVs that, while giving more insight into the plot, spoil the investigation. I wish the author had made their mind up on either having a parallel narration, or done away with the extra POVs altogether. As it is, we get random "spoilers" for no reason.
The "initiate" girl is inconsistent in ways that cannot be explained by lust for power or naivety.
Sam got confusing. I was struggling to place her age halfway through the book. She started confident and mature, but ended up angsty and hesitant. I could pin some of that to being out of her depth. But not all of it. .
But all in all, I really enjoyed this book, and am already looking for the next one.
June 21, 2019
If you're expecting Benjamin Ashwood, you'll be surprised by the shift in tone from that series. This is much darker and at times, much more mature (think rated R). I loved it... Looking forward to the next.
April 27, 2020
A great start to a series and I definitely want to read more of it. The setting is a nice mix of familiar and unusual, and the chemistry between Oliver and Sam is an awesome buddy cop dynamic that I am so here for.
July 27, 2020
I enjoyed Oliver and Sam, though I got a little tired of all their sexual exploits, necessary or not. The plot is rich and exciting, though I felt the book weakened near the end. I'm certainly interested enough to continue on with the second book of the series.
August 9, 2019
I cannot say enough good things about Quill! I loved this book so much that I honestly don't even know where to begin with my review. It had literally everything I love in a fantasy book, with nothing I don't care for. In no particular order, here are some of the many things I loved about this book:
-The balance of adventure, magic, and political intrigue: Some fantasy novels tend to be heavy on the magic and light on interpersonal conflicts like political issues, so I really loved how Cobble balanced all of the elements in Quill. Sure, there was plenty of magic (after all, it is a fantasy novel), but I especially loved the exploration of new worlds, the daring adventures, and the political drama.
-The amount and nature of adult themes was just right: So, this is obviously going to be a matter of personal taste, but I personally dislike how most fantasy books I read tend to go to one extreme or the other when it comes to adult themes. On one extreme, many fantasy books I read have nothing more than kissing, or a fade-to-black approach to sex, and little graphic violence. On the other extreme, you've got the likes of GRRM who depict sex, violence, torture, and rape in grisly detail, which I personally dislike. So, I was very pleasantly surprised that Quill has what I would call a Goldilocks approach to adult themes -- not too much, not too little. Without giving any spoilers, rest assured that there is no rape or torture in this book. At the same time, there are many sex scenes which are depicted tastefully but definitely not G-rated.
-Queer representation: As a bisexual person myself, I especially loved the queer representation in this novel. Without giving too much away in terms of plot (because it does actually end up affecting the plot), one of the MCs happens to be bi. On that note, I also love that Cobble did not follow the trope of having the two MCs fall for each other right off the bat. Their odd-couple-esque banter is endearing and hilarious as it is.
-Steampunk elements: I will admit that I am a sucker for anything and everything steampunk flavored. So when I realized this novel was set in a late Victorian type era and involved airships, I was sold.
-Superb worldbuilding: Cobble's worldbuilding skills are beyond compare. I would liken his worldbuilding in this book to that of Sanderson or even GRRM. That is a high compliment!
-The POV-switching structure: Similar to how ASOIAF is structured, Quill is written such that each chapter is told from a different character's POV, with the chapter name indicating whose perspective we are getting. This lends itself well to dramatic irony throughout the novel, which I enjoyed.
Normally in my book reviews, I list the things I loved and the things that didn't work for me, but I am hard-pressed to say much in the way of constructive criticism for Quill. If pressed, here are the few, relatively minor, things that I would critique:
-Each chapter begins with pronouns, which was confusing in the beginning chapters. For example, the opening sentence may be "She opened the book and started reading." I found this confusing and unnecessary.
-Cobble seems to have been raised in the school of thought that "said is dead," which I vehemently disagree with. "Said" is an invisible word that allows your dialogue to stand on its own two feet. Throughout this novel I was constantly distracted from the dialogue by the use of non-"said" words (such as "reminded," "groused," "grumbled," etc).
Other than that, I cannot say enough good things about Quill! I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book! AC Cobble is a marvelous writer, and I wish I could have a drink at the Befuddled Sage with him! :-)
-The balance of adventure, magic, and political intrigue: Some fantasy novels tend to be heavy on the magic and light on interpersonal conflicts like political issues, so I really loved how Cobble balanced all of the elements in Quill. Sure, there was plenty of magic (after all, it is a fantasy novel), but I especially loved the exploration of new worlds, the daring adventures, and the political drama.
-The amount and nature of adult themes was just right: So, this is obviously going to be a matter of personal taste, but I personally dislike how most fantasy books I read tend to go to one extreme or the other when it comes to adult themes. On one extreme, many fantasy books I read have nothing more than kissing, or a fade-to-black approach to sex, and little graphic violence. On the other extreme, you've got the likes of GRRM who depict sex, violence, torture, and rape in grisly detail, which I personally dislike. So, I was very pleasantly surprised that Quill has what I would call a Goldilocks approach to adult themes -- not too much, not too little. Without giving any spoilers, rest assured that there is no rape or torture in this book. At the same time, there are many sex scenes which are depicted tastefully but definitely not G-rated.
-Queer representation: As a bisexual person myself, I especially loved the queer representation in this novel. Without giving too much away in terms of plot (because it does actually end up affecting the plot), one of the MCs happens to be bi. On that note, I also love that Cobble did not follow the trope of having the two MCs fall for each other right off the bat. Their odd-couple-esque banter is endearing and hilarious as it is.
-Steampunk elements: I will admit that I am a sucker for anything and everything steampunk flavored. So when I realized this novel was set in a late Victorian type era and involved airships, I was sold.
-Superb worldbuilding: Cobble's worldbuilding skills are beyond compare. I would liken his worldbuilding in this book to that of Sanderson or even GRRM. That is a high compliment!
-The POV-switching structure: Similar to how ASOIAF is structured, Quill is written such that each chapter is told from a different character's POV, with the chapter name indicating whose perspective we are getting. This lends itself well to dramatic irony throughout the novel, which I enjoyed.
Normally in my book reviews, I list the things I loved and the things that didn't work for me, but I am hard-pressed to say much in the way of constructive criticism for Quill. If pressed, here are the few, relatively minor, things that I would critique:
-Each chapter begins with pronouns, which was confusing in the beginning chapters. For example, the opening sentence may be "She opened the book and started reading." I found this confusing and unnecessary.
-Cobble seems to have been raised in the school of thought that "said is dead," which I vehemently disagree with. "Said" is an invisible word that allows your dialogue to stand on its own two feet. Throughout this novel I was constantly distracted from the dialogue by the use of non-"said" words (such as "reminded," "groused," "grumbled," etc).
Other than that, I cannot say enough good things about Quill! I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book! AC Cobble is a marvelous writer, and I wish I could have a drink at the Befuddled Sage with him! :-)
October 19, 2019
Another wonderful book!
I have read all of A.C. Cobble publishing's, I am grateful he took up the pen! Master of details, laying out the surroundings and the characters that he puts emotion into. Stepping into another underworld, witch craft, dark arts and druids. With some unlikely people of the right side of good, trying to fight back. Recommended you give it a try, what do you have to loose a day or two? Might find your imagination running wild!
I have read all of A.C. Cobble publishing's, I am grateful he took up the pen! Master of details, laying out the surroundings and the characters that he puts emotion into. Stepping into another underworld, witch craft, dark arts and druids. With some unlikely people of the right side of good, trying to fight back. Recommended you give it a try, what do you have to loose a day or two? Might find your imagination running wild!
July 13, 2019
Not as good as the Benjamin Ashwood series
Character development wasn't as good as it should have been. Seemed kind of shallow. Almost stopped reading at several points.
Character development wasn't as good as it should have been. Seemed kind of shallow. Almost stopped reading at several points.
June 11, 2020
1. Considering the series is named 'the cartographer' this guy does almost NO cartography. It should probably be called 'the duke' as he does plenty of 'duke-ing'.
2. Overly long complicated mystery that eventually just grinds you down and you lose track of 'what the hell is going on, who is doing what, too many names' and eventually leaves you not caring so much.
3. The prince is illogical vacillating between 'gosh is this a big conspiracy' and 'you've got 48 hours to solve this'. Get hold of yourself prince.
4. The dynamic between the two MC's (he's a duke - super power position/status, she's a super warrior) works. Aside from the strange attempt to explain males giving oral pleasure to women. That was a bit of 'do I need to be here for this weird conversation'?
Ten hours into the audio I found myself asking "Do I really care?" and the answer was 'not any more'.
I do like the idea of a magic/tech detective novel but this was too scattered for me.
2. Overly long complicated mystery that eventually just grinds you down and you lose track of 'what the hell is going on, who is doing what, too many names' and eventually leaves you not caring so much.
3. The prince is illogical vacillating between 'gosh is this a big conspiracy' and 'you've got 48 hours to solve this'. Get hold of yourself prince.
4. The dynamic between the two MC's (he's a duke - super power position/status, she's a super warrior) works. Aside from the strange attempt to explain males giving oral pleasure to women. That was a bit of 'do I need to be here for this weird conversation'?
Ten hours into the audio I found myself asking "Do I really care?" and the answer was 'not any more'.
I do like the idea of a magic/tech detective novel but this was too scattered for me.
July 9, 2019
Engaging, Enthralling and Excellent read.
Having read the Benjamin Ashwiod series I started this expecting another fantasy book of the same genre. Instead I discovered for the first time a steampunk orientated world that had all of the imagination and beautifully crafted world I enjoy in fantasy and fused it with a touch of magical technology. The writing was as good in fact better than Benjamin Ashwiod, clearly AC is refining his craft. The characters are deeply crafted and multi dimensional. I felt invested in the characters and story arc very early on and things just got better with every page turn. I am really looking forward to the rest of the series.
Having read the Benjamin Ashwiod series I started this expecting another fantasy book of the same genre. Instead I discovered for the first time a steampunk orientated world that had all of the imagination and beautifully crafted world I enjoy in fantasy and fused it with a touch of magical technology. The writing was as good in fact better than Benjamin Ashwiod, clearly AC is refining his craft. The characters are deeply crafted and multi dimensional. I felt invested in the characters and story arc very early on and things just got better with every page turn. I am really looking forward to the rest of the series.
July 13, 2019
Awesome!
Great book, I look forward to the next book in the series. I would recommend this book except for early teens due to a couple of the sex scenes. While waiting for the next book to come out, read the Ben Ashwood series.
Great book, I look forward to the next book in the series. I would recommend this book except for early teens due to a couple of the sex scenes. While waiting for the next book to come out, read the Ben Ashwood series.
July 17, 2019
I found this more boring than anything else. Very long winded in places making you say to yourself, "get on with it all ready". I did find it a ok read, just hard to stay awake in places. The ending was the best part of the whole book, which saved it in my eyes. An OK Read!
September 5, 2019
Great Story
I loved the characters and the twists in the story. I am a big fan of having strong male and strong female characters in the plot.
Just like Benjamin Ashwood A.C. Has brought to life the same magic here. I can't wait to read the next book
I loved the characters and the twists in the story. I am a big fan of having strong male and strong female characters in the plot.
Just like Benjamin Ashwood A.C. Has brought to life the same magic here. I can't wait to read the next book
June 4, 2023
I have given up on this and doubt I will ever return to finish it.
December 6, 2019
Swords and Sorcery, with a Steampunk Vibe
I have read and enjoyed each volume of the author’s previous series, but it appears I have come late to “The Cartographer” Series. The basic premise has a familiarity. The discovery of sorcerous activity in a world supposedly free of dark magic.
The dynamic swordsman, who happens to be of the blood royal, may seem to be a stock character. However, he is a world famous explorer and mapmaker as well as a Duke without portfolio. The sultry priestess is another stock character from conventional “Swords and Sorcery, but this character is not what you would ordinarily expect. She is expert in armed and unarmed combat, and an adept in some type of white or defensive magic.
These differences arise because they are not participating in a normal barbarian sword and sorcery story, even if there are swords, and some measure of sorcery. From the first line this is a mystery novel. It begins with a vicious murderous ritual mutilation of a once beautiful woman, and proceeds at breakneck speed over vast portions of their planet. They further the Duke and the Priestess proceed, the more complicated the plot gets, the fewer answers seem to fit their questions. It is a great whodunnit, and maybe a great whatdunnit!
The other source of wonder in this novel is the world in which it is set. It is an incongruous mix of Elizabethan England, and early Victorian England with oddly advanced technology added in. In all as I said in my title, somewhat “steampunk” in nature. The kingdom involved stretches from East to West and from temperate to Tropic. The economy is reminiscent of the Great East India Company in history. The best bit is the flying ships straight out of Edgar Rice Boroughs’ John Carter on Barsoom, without the Green Martians of course.
The climactic portion of this plot revolves around an ominous prophecy, arcane supernatural rituals, human sacrifice, and the ultimate evil. Two dauntless supernatural detectives versus he whose name must never be invoked. The suspense will have you on the edge of your seat - okay maybe it was just my imagination kicking in. As odd as the setting is, I has no problem with suspending disbelief for the length of this novel. No spoilers in my reviews. Just enjoy. Just one thing the shattering climax of this novel is a tense battle between our protagonists and ultimate evil. When the battle is over, they find that the war goes on.
This book is a great read, and I would heartily recommend it to any SciFi, or Epic Fantasy fan. The exact genre involved still escapes me, and that is a good thing. Don’t miss this one. I am going to move right along to the next volume, just released.
I have read and enjoyed each volume of the author’s previous series, but it appears I have come late to “The Cartographer” Series. The basic premise has a familiarity. The discovery of sorcerous activity in a world supposedly free of dark magic.
The dynamic swordsman, who happens to be of the blood royal, may seem to be a stock character. However, he is a world famous explorer and mapmaker as well as a Duke without portfolio. The sultry priestess is another stock character from conventional “Swords and Sorcery, but this character is not what you would ordinarily expect. She is expert in armed and unarmed combat, and an adept in some type of white or defensive magic.
These differences arise because they are not participating in a normal barbarian sword and sorcery story, even if there are swords, and some measure of sorcery. From the first line this is a mystery novel. It begins with a vicious murderous ritual mutilation of a once beautiful woman, and proceeds at breakneck speed over vast portions of their planet. They further the Duke and the Priestess proceed, the more complicated the plot gets, the fewer answers seem to fit their questions. It is a great whodunnit, and maybe a great whatdunnit!
The other source of wonder in this novel is the world in which it is set. It is an incongruous mix of Elizabethan England, and early Victorian England with oddly advanced technology added in. In all as I said in my title, somewhat “steampunk” in nature. The kingdom involved stretches from East to West and from temperate to Tropic. The economy is reminiscent of the Great East India Company in history. The best bit is the flying ships straight out of Edgar Rice Boroughs’ John Carter on Barsoom, without the Green Martians of course.
The climactic portion of this plot revolves around an ominous prophecy, arcane supernatural rituals, human sacrifice, and the ultimate evil. Two dauntless supernatural detectives versus he whose name must never be invoked. The suspense will have you on the edge of your seat - okay maybe it was just my imagination kicking in. As odd as the setting is, I has no problem with suspending disbelief for the length of this novel. No spoilers in my reviews. Just enjoy. Just one thing the shattering climax of this novel is a tense battle between our protagonists and ultimate evil. When the battle is over, they find that the war goes on.
This book is a great read, and I would heartily recommend it to any SciFi, or Epic Fantasy fan. The exact genre involved still escapes me, and that is a good thing. Don’t miss this one. I am going to move right along to the next volume, just released.
November 9, 2021
A. C. Cobble's writing style really resonates with me and I find his books a real pleasure to read and Quill was yet another book I was hooked into from the very first page. This story is a sort of whodunnit mystery case except that dark magic, sorcery is used, in a realm where sorcery was supposed to have been banished for good. Duke Oliver Wellesley, son of the King who had forbidden all kinds of sorcery is ordered by his brother the Prince to look into the murder, since the woman who was brutally killed was one of their peers. He embarks on his investigation with a priestess, representing the church, who goes by the name of Sam and they venture to a small fishing hamlet where the murder was carried out however when they realise that sorcery had been used their adventure takes them across the realm, travelling in airships to distant islands where they encounter more dark magic and dead bodies start turning up like flies. The Crown, Company and Church are invested in getting to the bottom of these heinous crimes but not every member of these three factions wants this. There are betrayers in every faction and Oliver and Sam must put a stop to the sorcery before the whole realm is endangered and they do this even at the cost to their own lives. The world building in the book is amazing and the characters very charismatic and the action is non-stop. This adventure mystery story is very intriguing and kept me hooked till the very last line which in fact makes me want to read book 2 immediately.
August 31, 2019
Great start to a series
I really like A. C. Cobble as an author. The Benjamin Ashwood series is terrific. This series has the potential to be even better, but it’s very different. Benjamin Ashwood is a
small town boy caught up in the machinations of the Powers That Be. Oliver Wellesley and Sam are part of the system, caught in the corruption. She is supposed to be inexperienced and he is the fourth son of the king. A playboy who refuses to marry, disposable, sent by the PTB because they need to make a show of the investigation and they believe he is too stupid to uncover anything. Happily for the story, Sam and Oliver are not what they seem.
The world building here is spectacular. It has a wonderful 19th century English Steampunk feel, but with magic. The magic system is very clear and easy to follow (a major problem for me with some authors). The political system is very familiar and easy to grasp. The characters are memorable and rich. It’s pretty gory, there’s a lot of occult imagery, and graphic sex scenes, both hetero and same sex. If you like your fantasy clean and pure you’ll have to skip this one. But if you like it down and dirty with a lot of mystery and magic thrown in, then drop everything and read this book. I gave it four stars because it’s the start of a series and it ends in such a way you want to grasp the author by the neck and shake the rest of the story out of him. But we know from experience, he won’t keep us waiting long.
I really like A. C. Cobble as an author. The Benjamin Ashwood series is terrific. This series has the potential to be even better, but it’s very different. Benjamin Ashwood is a
small town boy caught up in the machinations of the Powers That Be. Oliver Wellesley and Sam are part of the system, caught in the corruption. She is supposed to be inexperienced and he is the fourth son of the king. A playboy who refuses to marry, disposable, sent by the PTB because they need to make a show of the investigation and they believe he is too stupid to uncover anything. Happily for the story, Sam and Oliver are not what they seem.
The world building here is spectacular. It has a wonderful 19th century English Steampunk feel, but with magic. The magic system is very clear and easy to follow (a major problem for me with some authors). The political system is very familiar and easy to grasp. The characters are memorable and rich. It’s pretty gory, there’s a lot of occult imagery, and graphic sex scenes, both hetero and same sex. If you like your fantasy clean and pure you’ll have to skip this one. But if you like it down and dirty with a lot of mystery and magic thrown in, then drop everything and read this book. I gave it four stars because it’s the start of a series and it ends in such a way you want to grasp the author by the neck and shake the rest of the story out of him. But we know from experience, he won’t keep us waiting long.
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