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Malykant Mysteries #1
The Rostikov Legacy
An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
Detective. Judge. Executioner.
In an icy, Victorianesque world, a harsh god rules, and He has one law: a life for a life.
Konrad Savast is the Malykant: detective, judge and executioner in one. It's kill and be killed in Konrad's world, and his unhappy duty to mete out his Master's implacable justice.
The body of an aristocrat lies in the mist-shrouded reaches of the Bone Forest. Her killer has signed their own death warrant; but first, Konrad must learn who could have wanted the delightful Lady Rostikova dead...
With a pair of bloodthirsty ghosts to assist him, Konrad will hunt her ladyship's killer the length and breadth of the city — and stop at nothing to finally bring them down.
The supernatural meets classic murder mystery in this tale of dark justice, deduction and black magic.
Detective. Judge. Executioner.
In an icy, Victorianesque world, a harsh god rules, and He has one law: a life for a life.
Konrad Savast is the Malykant: detective, judge and executioner in one. It's kill and be killed in Konrad's world, and his unhappy duty to mete out his Master's implacable justice.
The body of an aristocrat lies in the mist-shrouded reaches of the Bone Forest. Her killer has signed their own death warrant; but first, Konrad must learn who could have wanted the delightful Lady Rostikova dead...
With a pair of bloodthirsty ghosts to assist him, Konrad will hunt her ladyship's killer the length and breadth of the city — and stop at nothing to finally bring them down.
The supernatural meets classic murder mystery in this tale of dark justice, deduction and black magic.
127 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2012
127 people are currently reading
696 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte E. English
76 books352 followersEnglish both by name and nationality, Charlotte hasn’t permitted emigration to the Netherlands to change her essential Britishness. She writes colourful fantasy novels over copious quantities of tea, and rarely misses an opportunity to apologise for something. Spanning the spectrum from light to dark, her works include the Draykon Series, Modern Magick, The Malykant Mysteries and the Tales of Aylfenhame.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 55 reviews
June 23, 2023
Who is the Malykant?
Konrad is the Malykant. I’m still unsure as to the meaning of the word, but it seems that he is a person who lives a long time.
He is a solver of mysteries, particularly murder. He is called upon to solve a murder in this book.
He answers to the Malkyt, whom he works for. The Malkyt is a demanding owner of his soul and he must do as he is told.
This is not all that I have to say. I have to say that the book is very good reading. It moves at a fast pace and has a lot happening. You’re finished before you know it.
A fabulous five stars. 💫💫💫💫💫
Konrad is the Malykant. I’m still unsure as to the meaning of the word, but it seems that he is a person who lives a long time.
He is a solver of mysteries, particularly murder. He is called upon to solve a murder in this book.
He answers to the Malkyt, whom he works for. The Malkyt is a demanding owner of his soul and he must do as he is told.
This is not all that I have to say. I have to say that the book is very good reading. It moves at a fast pace and has a lot happening. You’re finished before you know it.
A fabulous five stars. 💫💫💫💫💫
December 31, 2024
The Rostikov Legacy
By Charlotte E. English
Konrad is a Malykant who is a servant who obeys a powerful being, his boss. His bosses scary and demanded Konrad, as acting as the Malykant, to be judge, jury, and executioner for murders/serious crimes.
This is one of those cases. Very interesting!
By Charlotte E. English
Konrad is a Malykant who is a servant who obeys a powerful being, his boss. His bosses scary and demanded Konrad, as acting as the Malykant, to be judge, jury, and executioner for murders/serious crimes.
This is one of those cases. Very interesting!
Read
July 19, 2019Picked this free series-starter up entirely at random, and enjoyed it a lot. The mystery was short but pleasingly tied up, and the concept and setting are lots of spooky fun with a secret murder-avenger for a very cold god, in a Russianesque setting. Weird Gothic entertainment. I will get another.
May 18, 2022
Konrad Savast is a Malykant. When someone gets killed, it’s his mission to find the murderer and deliver swift and deadly justice.
The murder mystery plot is quite straight forward, it moves at a rapid pace and everything gets wrapped up nicely in the end. This is quite a short story so there isn’t much time to properly flesh out all the characters and there is no need for it here, as the plot very much drives the story forward. The protagonist definitely has potential though. What stands out most is the setting. It’s an atmospheric cold and harsh world. The fantasy elements are quite cool and the fantasy part seems like something that could be further explained and expanded on in later installments.
This is a well written little fantasy murder mystery story with plenty of potential as a series. And while it’s short, this story is able to stand on its own, which is very much appreciated.
The murder mystery plot is quite straight forward, it moves at a rapid pace and everything gets wrapped up nicely in the end. This is quite a short story so there isn’t much time to properly flesh out all the characters and there is no need for it here, as the plot very much drives the story forward. The protagonist definitely has potential though. What stands out most is the setting. It’s an atmospheric cold and harsh world. The fantasy elements are quite cool and the fantasy part seems like something that could be further explained and expanded on in later installments.
This is a well written little fantasy murder mystery story with plenty of potential as a series. And while it’s short, this story is able to stand on its own, which is very much appreciated.
March 8, 2015
Konrad Savast is a man with a very peculiar mission: when someone is murdered, his job is to kill the killer. But first he has to figure out who's resposible, meaning this story is at its heart a murder mystery, albeit set in a fantasy world. The fantasy elements mesh perfectly with the mystery plot: Konrad has two spirit serpents who accompany and assist him, and his work is all at the behest of the Malykt, a cold power who has bound Konrad in his service.
I really liked the interactions between Konrad and his only friend, Irinanda (who doesn't know about his secret identity, and also has secrets and powers of her own). This is the first in the Malykant series, so I'm looking forwards to seeing how future books will develop this relationship. The bad guys were a bit less believable, but such a short format doesn't leave much space for developing all the minor characters, and this didn't really detract from my enjoyment.
I really liked the interactions between Konrad and his only friend, Irinanda (who doesn't know about his secret identity, and also has secrets and powers of her own). This is the first in the Malykant series, so I'm looking forwards to seeing how future books will develop this relationship. The bad guys were a bit less believable, but such a short format doesn't leave much space for developing all the minor characters, and this didn't really detract from my enjoyment.
June 18, 2013
This is actually pretty good. It's an interesting take on the mystery genre with fantasy elements. Konrad has to solve a murder, and the setting evokes not only the Victorian writing of Wilke Collins, but also the tradition of the best ghost stories.
Enjoyable, with great world building.
Enjoyable, with great world building.
Read
October 2, 2014I LOVED IT
So this was extremely short, but absolutely delightful. There was a melancholy tone to English’s writing that ensnared me rather quickly. Given that and the fact the main character acts on behalf of Death is pretty nifty. This reads primarily as a mystery with a nice dose of fantasy. I found the balance wonderful.
The world is slowly revealed. I like how things evolve very naturally. There was no long winded backstory, but we received wonderful hints that there is more to our main character and world than what we were provided.
Konrad’s ability with the ethereal plane, his two ghostly type servants, and his connection with the God of Death make him a fun character to follow. Except for one short chapter, we’re in his PoV. It kept me close to him and his quiet personality, creating a nice connection to him rather quickly. We’ve just gotten a glimpse into Konrad’s life—which is part servant to the God of Death and part aristocrat, a combination I enjoyed—and there is a promise of much more to come in future books. I must say, I’m already hooked and plan on reading the next book very soon. Since they are short, it makes them great reads to fit in between my longer ones, something light to whisk me away from reality for a short time.
The main female character is another delight. She’s not afraid and challenges Konrad’s secrecy. She gets herself in a world of trouble and I was happy to see her try to work her way out of it instead of tumbling into a ball of tears. I actually found her to be extremely interesting. There’s a quirkiness to her that adds some good depth to her character.
I would have liked a bit more description on some of the sensations Konrad was feeling. Some scenes seemed a bit glossed over in that aspect. Otherwise, I had a good picture in my head and was along for the ride. I read it in one evening. Once I got a quarter way into it, there was no chance I was putting it down. Things moved at a wonderful speed. Since we’re learning about Konrad, the God of Death, and the city with each scene, it made them more important and held my attention. Again, the benefit of not doing back story.
For me, the writing was fluid and kept me in my beloved reading trance. While I don’t think it was earth-shattering, it certainly held my interest and was smooth enough that I didn’t get hung up on verbiage or the prose. My only complaint is one I had a book or two ago: single quotations vs double. It’s just taxing on my eyes. However, this is the third book I’ve read like this, so I guess I just need to get over it.
So overall, I recommend this book. Especially if you’re looking for a quick, entertaining read.
You can see this and other reviews on my website: http://booksbylkevans.com
So this was extremely short, but absolutely delightful. There was a melancholy tone to English’s writing that ensnared me rather quickly. Given that and the fact the main character acts on behalf of Death is pretty nifty. This reads primarily as a mystery with a nice dose of fantasy. I found the balance wonderful.
The world is slowly revealed. I like how things evolve very naturally. There was no long winded backstory, but we received wonderful hints that there is more to our main character and world than what we were provided.
Konrad’s ability with the ethereal plane, his two ghostly type servants, and his connection with the God of Death make him a fun character to follow. Except for one short chapter, we’re in his PoV. It kept me close to him and his quiet personality, creating a nice connection to him rather quickly. We’ve just gotten a glimpse into Konrad’s life—which is part servant to the God of Death and part aristocrat, a combination I enjoyed—and there is a promise of much more to come in future books. I must say, I’m already hooked and plan on reading the next book very soon. Since they are short, it makes them great reads to fit in between my longer ones, something light to whisk me away from reality for a short time.
The main female character is another delight. She’s not afraid and challenges Konrad’s secrecy. She gets herself in a world of trouble and I was happy to see her try to work her way out of it instead of tumbling into a ball of tears. I actually found her to be extremely interesting. There’s a quirkiness to her that adds some good depth to her character.
I would have liked a bit more description on some of the sensations Konrad was feeling. Some scenes seemed a bit glossed over in that aspect. Otherwise, I had a good picture in my head and was along for the ride. I read it in one evening. Once I got a quarter way into it, there was no chance I was putting it down. Things moved at a wonderful speed. Since we’re learning about Konrad, the God of Death, and the city with each scene, it made them more important and held my attention. Again, the benefit of not doing back story.
For me, the writing was fluid and kept me in my beloved reading trance. While I don’t think it was earth-shattering, it certainly held my interest and was smooth enough that I didn’t get hung up on verbiage or the prose. My only complaint is one I had a book or two ago: single quotations vs double. It’s just taxing on my eyes. However, this is the third book I’ve read like this, so I guess I just need to get over it.
So overall, I recommend this book. Especially if you’re looking for a quick, entertaining read.
You can see this and other reviews on my website: http://booksbylkevans.com
May 25, 2012
I was actually pleasantly surprised by The Rostikov Legacy. While there were some editing issues, they were very few. Not at all what I expected from a self-published book. The plot was well done, the characters generally well rounded and interesting, the dialogue flowed well, and the setting fairly well developed. There was some awkward phrasing here and there, but it wasn't enough to stop me from reading. The author managed to keep the mystery going, and the events all made sense. There's tension between Konrad and Nanda, but the author thankfully didn't allow it to take over the story.
There were a couple of bits that did make me stumble, however. First, I was initially confused about what Konrad actually was as there were a few spots where it seemed like he was being referred to as Malykt. I did finally figure it out, and again, it wasn't enough to stop me from reading. I also wasn't sure of Nuritov's position as he was never clearly identified as part of law enforcement. Bot of these things did sort themselves out eventually, but I felt the author could have been more clear early on without adding too much in terms of word count. And finally, I felt the magic wasn't clearly defined and came far too easy. Not that I was looking for anything incredibly difficult, but as easy breezy as a thought was too simple. And there seemed to be some contradiction in how the magic worked: it was easier for Konrad, but the killer's use of magic required chanting and calling upon evil spirits. The reasons for the differences (which could be as simple as the kinds of magic they were doing) aren't made apparent.
Beyond those things, however, the book was pretty well done. The story line was solid, there were very few technical errors, and it was a quick read that I enjoyed. I think if the problems noted above had been addressed, I'd be able to give it another star. As it is, I recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable paranormal mystery.
There were a couple of bits that did make me stumble, however. First, I was initially confused about what Konrad actually was as there were a few spots where it seemed like he was being referred to as Malykt. I did finally figure it out, and again, it wasn't enough to stop me from reading. I also wasn't sure of Nuritov's position as he was never clearly identified as part of law enforcement. Bot of these things did sort themselves out eventually, but I felt the author could have been more clear early on without adding too much in terms of word count. And finally, I felt the magic wasn't clearly defined and came far too easy. Not that I was looking for anything incredibly difficult, but as easy breezy as a thought was too simple. And there seemed to be some contradiction in how the magic worked: it was easier for Konrad, but the killer's use of magic required chanting and calling upon evil spirits. The reasons for the differences (which could be as simple as the kinds of magic they were doing) aren't made apparent.
Beyond those things, however, the book was pretty well done. The story line was solid, there were very few technical errors, and it was a quick read that I enjoyed. I think if the problems noted above had been addressed, I'd be able to give it another star. As it is, I recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable paranormal mystery.
May 2, 2020
I really liked this book. I even managed to ignore the fact it was an e-book (don't come at me, I'm not being a snob, I find e-books hard to read because of my eyes). It had a little bit of everything. Murder, action, flirting that could eventually lead to a romance. What more could I want?
Well... like with most books I review, apparently, I want more. I'll explain (with spoilers)
I really did enjoy this book, despite it taking me quite so long to read for a short book, and I really look forward to reading more in the series. If only they could all be published in paperbacks!
Well... like with most books I review, apparently, I want more. I'll explain (with spoilers)
I really did enjoy this book, despite it taking me quite so long to read for a short book, and I really look forward to reading more in the series. If only they could all be published in paperbacks!
April 8, 2021
Read all the books in the Malykant Series just the right amount of creepiness and mystery in these gothic tales by Charlotte E. English my all time new favourite writer, worth the read.
October 18, 2025
A solid novel, though the mystery was fairly predictable, and the relationship with the apothecary could have developed more gradually.
3,5/5
3,5/5
December 22, 2018
The Rostikov Legacy
3.5/5 (rounded to 3 on Goodreads)
100 pages| Fantasy/ mystery
I received an electronic copy of this novella as part of the TBRindr programme.
The digest: a shorter story with an interesting bit of worldbuilding, I reckon most fantasy lovers would enjoy this. As with other ebook novellas, don’t expect too much depth and you will probably have an enjoyable reading experience.
The Rostikov Legacy is the first entry in The Malykant Mysteries series of fantasy mystery novellas written by Charlotte E. English, the main character, Konrad, being the Malykant: the world’s servant of the God of Death. It is Konrad’s job (along with his two serpent spirit familiars) to find murderers and ensure that they are properly punished in this life *and* the next, serving them up to The Malykt (aforementioned death god) through legal means or otherwise.
The story takes place in two main locations – a not unfamiliar Victorian-esque city with the usual trappings of nobility and horse-drawn carriages, and the Bone Forest (which to nobody’s great surprise, is a forest). Nothing too original, but the reliance on familiar territory works in the author’s favour as it means that within the 100 pages no time is spent describing the more mundane aspects of the storyworld. The plot is, of course, fantastical and has its fair share of religion (along with a present god) and magic (stemming from the god’s own power, it would seem), with at least one solid mechanic used sparingly but appropriately in order to progress the story without unnecessary delay or complication.
I would have probably rated the book slightly higher had there been more of a focus on magic and the power of the god(s), as what little we are presented with is interesting but lacking clarity. There isn’t really any indication of what can and cannot be done, but there is a slight hint of a larger magical world that what our protagonist knows of and the history of his familiars could very well be a story worth telling on its own. It is worth pointing out that herbology and the study of poisons play quite a large role in the story and I appreciated these passages more than most others. I don’t think I’m alone is wanting some sort of explanation for how things work in fiction – I much prefer (for example) a magic system like Sanderson’s over Rowling’s. Even if authors don’t want to create a hard magic system, I still enjoy learning what is possible even if we don’t learn the full extent of what can be done.
Well-paced, the plot never slows down too much for a prolonged period, English knowingly using language techniques to increase or decrease the tempo at a few select sections. She did this well and at one point (toward the conclusion of the novella) I was tearing through the pages to see what could be done (if anything) to save one of the characters. The time-sensitive nature of the events of the opening pages also means that to prevent more death Konrad has to get a move on and solve the mystery as to who this murderer is and what motivations they have. Again, this is standard for the mystery novels I have read but if the formula works then why change it? The mystery itself is again nothing too ground-breaking but what can you expect in a 100-page self-published novella? I have no complaints here.
The characters are quite well developed considering the sense of urgency that sweeps through the narrative – there is a tension between Konrad and a side character called Nanda which isn’t overbearing (though I can see it potentially becoming more important in future books), and the supporting cast (suspects, victims, etc) again isn’t too two-dimensional. The dialogue doesn’t really have any issues beyond Konrad’s serpents, who can be a bit stiff at times (even for a formal style of speaking). As with the Industrial Magic series by Emma Newman, the character development and portrayal will probably not sweep anyone off their feet, but a solid effort has been put in to make them seem interesting enough. In future books I’d expect the author to put more emphasis on this growth to prevent the characters from stagnating and just filling a role for the plot.
All in all, The Rostikov Legacy was an interesting story on the outskirts of my reading tastes. Would I recommend it? At 3.5/5 I would recommend it for those who are looking for a short fantasy-mystery, but encourage anyone else to read more review/ try a chapter before fully committing. Will I be continuing with the series? There are currently four other books out at the time of writing this review and they are all quite short so maybe if at some point I have some spare reading time. Right now, however, I just wasn’t engrossed enough to commit to having them on any TBR.
3.5/5 (rounded to 3 on Goodreads)
100 pages| Fantasy/ mystery
I received an electronic copy of this novella as part of the TBRindr programme.
The digest: a shorter story with an interesting bit of worldbuilding, I reckon most fantasy lovers would enjoy this. As with other ebook novellas, don’t expect too much depth and you will probably have an enjoyable reading experience.
The Rostikov Legacy is the first entry in The Malykant Mysteries series of fantasy mystery novellas written by Charlotte E. English, the main character, Konrad, being the Malykant: the world’s servant of the God of Death. It is Konrad’s job (along with his two serpent spirit familiars) to find murderers and ensure that they are properly punished in this life *and* the next, serving them up to The Malykt (aforementioned death god) through legal means or otherwise.
The story takes place in two main locations – a not unfamiliar Victorian-esque city with the usual trappings of nobility and horse-drawn carriages, and the Bone Forest (which to nobody’s great surprise, is a forest). Nothing too original, but the reliance on familiar territory works in the author’s favour as it means that within the 100 pages no time is spent describing the more mundane aspects of the storyworld. The plot is, of course, fantastical and has its fair share of religion (along with a present god) and magic (stemming from the god’s own power, it would seem), with at least one solid mechanic used sparingly but appropriately in order to progress the story without unnecessary delay or complication.
I would have probably rated the book slightly higher had there been more of a focus on magic and the power of the god(s), as what little we are presented with is interesting but lacking clarity. There isn’t really any indication of what can and cannot be done, but there is a slight hint of a larger magical world that what our protagonist knows of and the history of his familiars could very well be a story worth telling on its own. It is worth pointing out that herbology and the study of poisons play quite a large role in the story and I appreciated these passages more than most others. I don’t think I’m alone is wanting some sort of explanation for how things work in fiction – I much prefer (for example) a magic system like Sanderson’s over Rowling’s. Even if authors don’t want to create a hard magic system, I still enjoy learning what is possible even if we don’t learn the full extent of what can be done.
Well-paced, the plot never slows down too much for a prolonged period, English knowingly using language techniques to increase or decrease the tempo at a few select sections. She did this well and at one point (toward the conclusion of the novella) I was tearing through the pages to see what could be done (if anything) to save one of the characters. The time-sensitive nature of the events of the opening pages also means that to prevent more death Konrad has to get a move on and solve the mystery as to who this murderer is and what motivations they have. Again, this is standard for the mystery novels I have read but if the formula works then why change it? The mystery itself is again nothing too ground-breaking but what can you expect in a 100-page self-published novella? I have no complaints here.
The characters are quite well developed considering the sense of urgency that sweeps through the narrative – there is a tension between Konrad and a side character called Nanda which isn’t overbearing (though I can see it potentially becoming more important in future books), and the supporting cast (suspects, victims, etc) again isn’t too two-dimensional. The dialogue doesn’t really have any issues beyond Konrad’s serpents, who can be a bit stiff at times (even for a formal style of speaking). As with the Industrial Magic series by Emma Newman, the character development and portrayal will probably not sweep anyone off their feet, but a solid effort has been put in to make them seem interesting enough. In future books I’d expect the author to put more emphasis on this growth to prevent the characters from stagnating and just filling a role for the plot.
All in all, The Rostikov Legacy was an interesting story on the outskirts of my reading tastes. Would I recommend it? At 3.5/5 I would recommend it for those who are looking for a short fantasy-mystery, but encourage anyone else to read more review/ try a chapter before fully committing. Will I be continuing with the series? There are currently four other books out at the time of writing this review and they are all quite short so maybe if at some point I have some spare reading time. Right now, however, I just wasn’t engrossed enough to commit to having them on any TBR.
Read
March 22, 2025The Rostikov Legacy has an original mythology that was very well developed and easily read! I enjoyed this concept and hope that this author continues these characters' journeys!
February 6, 2017
something different I found it an easy read and the story of the Malykant is interesting and a descrptive take on extracting vengeance and justice to those that deserve it, think of him as death's support staff and somebody you wouldn't ever want to meet
February 10, 2012
Written in a decidedly eerie and creepy style, this wonderfully spooky story follows Konrad, a detective working for a mysterious being called the Malykt. Followed everywhere by two spirit snakes, Konrad begins to investigate the case of a noblewoman murdered and left out in the swamps... if you love fantasy, creepy stories in general, and beautiful and witty writing, you should enjoy this one!
October 28, 2024
4 – 4.5 Stars
The Rostikov Legacy is the first gripping book in the Malykant Mysteries series by Charlotte E. English. This is a fantastic, atmospheric paranormal mystery with lots of dark and dramatic tones which I loved.
This has an historical setting with a Gothic Russian or Eastern European vibe. The world-building is highly original with dark and moody tones that really help to set the ‘atmosphere’ and make the story come to life.
Konrad Savast is The Malykant, the servant of the God of Death. His ‘job’ comes with some supernatural abilities, exceptional detective skills, wealth and standing in the community, as well as two bloodthirsty and macabre ‘familiars’, in the form of spirit serpents who are both prone to some petulant antics at times. It is Konrad’s job to seek ‘justice’ for the souls who have met their death prematurely, by being murdered. He investigates their death/s, using good old detective work coupled with some supernatural skills, and hunts down the killer/killers and ‘sends’ them to his master, The Malykt, the God of Death.
When Konrad discovers the body of a wealthy society hostess lying in the cold, mist-shrouded reaches of the Bone Forest, the pressure is on to find her killer. Can he catch the killer without revealing himself as the Malykant?
With murder investigation, monsters, mayhem, ghosts, tension, secrets, action, adventure, friendship, intensity, suspense, and so much more, this became quite a riveting read.
There are 12 books in this series, or three volumes each with four stories- and I read them all, back-to-back. The individual stories are quite short, being mostly under 100 pages each- which allowed me to devour the entire series quite quickly.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Charlotte E. English!
The Rostikov Legacy is the first gripping book in the Malykant Mysteries series by Charlotte E. English. This is a fantastic, atmospheric paranormal mystery with lots of dark and dramatic tones which I loved.
This has an historical setting with a Gothic Russian or Eastern European vibe. The world-building is highly original with dark and moody tones that really help to set the ‘atmosphere’ and make the story come to life.
Konrad Savast is The Malykant, the servant of the God of Death. His ‘job’ comes with some supernatural abilities, exceptional detective skills, wealth and standing in the community, as well as two bloodthirsty and macabre ‘familiars’, in the form of spirit serpents who are both prone to some petulant antics at times. It is Konrad’s job to seek ‘justice’ for the souls who have met their death prematurely, by being murdered. He investigates their death/s, using good old detective work coupled with some supernatural skills, and hunts down the killer/killers and ‘sends’ them to his master, The Malykt, the God of Death.
When Konrad discovers the body of a wealthy society hostess lying in the cold, mist-shrouded reaches of the Bone Forest, the pressure is on to find her killer. Can he catch the killer without revealing himself as the Malykant?
With murder investigation, monsters, mayhem, ghosts, tension, secrets, action, adventure, friendship, intensity, suspense, and so much more, this became quite a riveting read.
There are 12 books in this series, or three volumes each with four stories- and I read them all, back-to-back. The individual stories are quite short, being mostly under 100 pages each- which allowed me to devour the entire series quite quickly.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Charlotte E. English!
dnf
August 23, 2019I think I kind of knew what this was before I picked it up but the cool cover and brief glance I gave it made me WANT to like it more than I did. Picked it up and put it down several times and even when I actually sat down to go for it, it just didn't hold my interest.
Leaving it unrated because it's fine. I'm sure someone will love this. Someone who likes slick, more clever than you characters and mysteries with an overabundance of colourful worldbuilding. It just came off as dry for me personally. I'm not wowed by cool magicians with no personalities. And there was nothing other than this empty, detective tone to the internal narrative. There was no "character". If I had to define a trait for the main character, it would be "detective" and that's it.
But as I said, I'm certain someone will like this for the story and the dark, mystery way things are framed.
Leaving it unrated because it's fine. I'm sure someone will love this. Someone who likes slick, more clever than you characters and mysteries with an overabundance of colourful worldbuilding. It just came off as dry for me personally. I'm not wowed by cool magicians with no personalities. And there was nothing other than this empty, detective tone to the internal narrative. There was no "character". If I had to define a trait for the main character, it would be "detective" and that's it.
But as I said, I'm certain someone will like this for the story and the dark, mystery way things are framed.
May 7, 2021
Konrad Savast is Nathaniel Garrett in a Victorian era as a cleric (in the D&D sense), not a sorcerer with the attitude and the detecting skills of Markhat (of Frank Tuttle's imagination). This hit all the right buttons - strange magics, Victorian mores, conflicted anti-hero, would-be companion/sidekick, head-scratching puzzles. If you like detective murder mysteries set in a fantasy world, you need to read this. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys "The Angel of the Crows" by Katherine Addison or Dan Willis' 1920s-esque private detective books.
June 14, 2019
This was a cool novella: a dark fantasy/murder mystery hybrid. The mystery isn't much (kind of lacking in suspects), but the dark fantasy aspects are compelling. Both main characters are intriguing, and the language, particularly in describing the haunting settings, is evocative. Everything is easy to visualize, and it doesn't shy away from being ghoulish when it needs to. It's well told.
Interested as I am in the MCs, I'm certainly going to pick up part two.
Interested as I am in the MCs, I'm certainly going to pick up part two.
October 23, 2017
The Legacy
What an interesting story. I must say, I really enjoyed it. It was short but we'll written and edited. There are several books in this series and although they are more than what I paid for this book I enjoyed this one so much that I am going to continue to buy and read them.
What an interesting story. I must say, I really enjoyed it. It was short but we'll written and edited. There are several books in this series and although they are more than what I paid for this book I enjoyed this one so much that I am going to continue to buy and read them.
August 16, 2019
Very dark in tone yet humanly relate-able, this story of a man conscripted to the service of the Overlord of death & justice is intriguing in it's somewhat different take on murder mystery. In this first in the series, Konrad Savast must solve the murder of a young socialite and bring her murderer to the Overlord's justice.
November 29, 2019
3.5 stars
After the Llandry fiasco, I was a bit nervous coming into this, but was incredibly relieved that I quite like Konrad and as well as the story and world-building (which goes without saying, since English seems to excel there).
I quite like a good murder mystery and having it marry with magic was just the icing on the cake. Definitely keen to see what other mysteries Konrad solves!
After the Llandry fiasco, I was a bit nervous coming into this, but was incredibly relieved that I quite like Konrad and as well as the story and world-building (which goes without saying, since English seems to excel there).
I quite like a good murder mystery and having it marry with magic was just the icing on the cake. Definitely keen to see what other mysteries Konrad solves!
January 13, 2020
Interesting introduction to a new world
This is the first book in the Malykant series and it really delivered! The setting is an intriguing eastern European town in the era of Tsars and aristocrats. The main character, Konrad, and his only friend, Nanda, are both hard-core badasses!
This is the first book in the Malykant series and it really delivered! The setting is an intriguing eastern European town in the era of Tsars and aristocrats. The main character, Konrad, and his only friend, Nanda, are both hard-core badasses!
January 7, 2025
The Rostikov Legacy is a wonderful introduction to a great new world and filled with wonderful world building. Plus, it’s an easy read that I really enjoyed. The idea of a historical, regency type world filled with magic pulled me in from the very beginning. Plus, this is one of the few books I’ve read that features a male as the primary character. A nice change of pace that I definitely needed to add to my shelves.
Konrad is an intriguing protagonist. There are obviously layers upon layers to unpack as this series unfolds. Plus, he lives very comfortably alongside of all of his secrets. The lack of feeling hurts my heart, but it’s an angle that I haven’t read in quite some time. Plus, I love that he beginning to look at a different life, one in which he isn’t restricted by the lack of feeling and the position of being the Malykant.
The position of Malykant is kind of intense – being the detective, judge and executioner is a whole lot of responsibility to place upon a person. I understand why it is that when Konrad took up the mantle, he was also asked to give up his emotions. I can’t imagine the weight of the world on my shoulders like this. Whilst the culprit in this was fairly clear, it did open up a whole lot of moral thoughts and questions. Which I absolutely loved. Anything that makes me think and ponder is a good story in my books.
I can’t wait to read more of The Malykant Mysteries, there is so much world building in this shorter novel. And the potential for so much more mischief and mayhem to unfold. I want to know more about the mythological structure of this world and how Konrad’s friendship with the apothecary will unfold.
Konrad is an intriguing protagonist. There are obviously layers upon layers to unpack as this series unfolds. Plus, he lives very comfortably alongside of all of his secrets. The lack of feeling hurts my heart, but it’s an angle that I haven’t read in quite some time. Plus, I love that he beginning to look at a different life, one in which he isn’t restricted by the lack of feeling and the position of being the Malykant.
The position of Malykant is kind of intense – being the detective, judge and executioner is a whole lot of responsibility to place upon a person. I understand why it is that when Konrad took up the mantle, he was also asked to give up his emotions. I can’t imagine the weight of the world on my shoulders like this. Whilst the culprit in this was fairly clear, it did open up a whole lot of moral thoughts and questions. Which I absolutely loved. Anything that makes me think and ponder is a good story in my books.
I can’t wait to read more of The Malykant Mysteries, there is so much world building in this shorter novel. And the potential for so much more mischief and mayhem to unfold. I want to know more about the mythological structure of this world and how Konrad’s friendship with the apothecary will unfold.
November 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this book.
I will be looking for more in this series.
There is a lot that I want to know about the background of this world. I was pulled in from the very start, and I'm very happy that they did not put too much information in, there were no info dumps, no huge dives into backgrounds, it just was and it was delightful
I will be looking for more in this series.
There is a lot that I want to know about the background of this world. I was pulled in from the very start, and I'm very happy that they did not put too much information in, there were no info dumps, no huge dives into backgrounds, it just was and it was delightful
October 9, 2017
When I first starting reading, I didn't think I would enjoy this book. But, it was amazing. There were so many twists and turns I didn't see coming! It was such a shame what happened to those two babies and the result of what happened years later.
January 12, 2018
Good book, well written, intriguing, with interesting characters. My only quibble would be that the book is too short. It does not lend itself to the reader being allowed to work out the mystery before it is revealed, with too few hints.
September 13, 2019
I loved this book. Especially the writer's voice, it felt like an old time fairy tail. The characters are so interesting and complex.
And I like that they are super short reads. You can read one in an evening or two easily.
And I like that they are super short reads. You can read one in an evening or two easily.
January 26, 2021
I really enjoyed this book, and I searched the entire internet for a place to read the rest of them. The language is well written and clear, and the characters are well placed. High recommend for readers looking for a short, but rewarding mystery to pass the time.
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