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The London Charismatics #1
The Fire in the Glass
London, 1914. Someone is draining the blood of the city’s mediums. Lily Albright knows who’s next.
The unacknowledged bastard daughter of the Earl of Torrington, Lily is haunted by visions of the future that she can never change. When she foresees the death of her dearest friend, she realizes the circumstances of that yet-to-be murder match those of a series of brutal and mysterious crimes.
If she can find the killer before he strikes, maybe this time she can finally thwart fate and save someone she loves.
As Lily's investigation takes her to a bedchamber where one of society’s most desirable widows lies dead, she realizes she can’t do this alone. She needs help from the reclusive Lord Strangford, a man haunted by his own unusual powers. To pursue the path of a killer, Lily must ask Strangford to face unimaginable horrors – and is compelled to reveal her darkest secrets to a man she has little reason to trust.
Somewhere in the city lies a murderer hell-bent on an unspeakable harvest, one that could reshape the future of the human race. To stop him, Lily must face a past rife with betrayal—and embrace the power she has spent her entire life trying to escape.
The unacknowledged bastard daughter of the Earl of Torrington, Lily is haunted by visions of the future that she can never change. When she foresees the death of her dearest friend, she realizes the circumstances of that yet-to-be murder match those of a series of brutal and mysterious crimes.
If she can find the killer before he strikes, maybe this time she can finally thwart fate and save someone she loves.
As Lily's investigation takes her to a bedchamber where one of society’s most desirable widows lies dead, she realizes she can’t do this alone. She needs help from the reclusive Lord Strangford, a man haunted by his own unusual powers. To pursue the path of a killer, Lily must ask Strangford to face unimaginable horrors – and is compelled to reveal her darkest secrets to a man she has little reason to trust.
Somewhere in the city lies a murderer hell-bent on an unspeakable harvest, one that could reshape the future of the human race. To stop him, Lily must face a past rife with betrayal—and embrace the power she has spent her entire life trying to escape.
496 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2020
892 people are currently reading
7427 people want to read
About the author
Jacquelyn Benson
16 books900 followersJacquelyn Benson writes smart historical thrillers where strong women confront the stranger things that occupy the borders of our world.
She once lived in a museum, wrote a master’s thesis on the cultural anthropology of paranormal investigation, and received a gold medal for being clever. She owes a great deal to her elementary school librarian for sagely choosing to acquire the entire Time-Life Mysteries of the Unknown series.
Her debut novel, The Smoke Hunter, was nominated for Best Historical Fiction by RT Times. When not writing, she enjoys the company of a tall, dark, and handsome English teacher and practices unintentional magic.
If you’d like to be friends, you may find her everywhere @jbensonink or join the email list at jacquelynbenson.com.
She once lived in a museum, wrote a master’s thesis on the cultural anthropology of paranormal investigation, and received a gold medal for being clever. She owes a great deal to her elementary school librarian for sagely choosing to acquire the entire Time-Life Mysteries of the Unknown series.
Her debut novel, The Smoke Hunter, was nominated for Best Historical Fiction by RT Times. When not writing, she enjoys the company of a tall, dark, and handsome English teacher and practices unintentional magic.
If you’d like to be friends, you may find her everywhere @jbensonink or join the email list at jacquelynbenson.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 550 reviews
April 3, 2021
Smart plotting and great writing with an empowered heroine, unique magic, and a hero worthy of any Charlotte Brontë novel. Plus, just look at that gorgeous cover. Loved this read, and can't wait for book 2 to come out!
November 9, 2023
Did you know that you needed a spooky, surreal Edwardian fantasy in your life? Now you do. You can thank me later.
The Fire in the Glass blends fantastic storytelling, exacting research, and scathing social commentary—with a satisfying dash of magic and mystery. Jacquelyn Benson's careful eye for historical detail shines through on every page, especially on the subject of Edwardian mediums, mysticisms, and occult matters.
The Fire in the Glass explores the concept of "charismatics," in the more mystical sense of the word—human beings with an inherent talent which transcends the mundane. The main character, Lily Albright, is a Cassandra-esque prophetess; though she often catches surreal glimpses of the future, she has never been able to prevent their occurrence. When a serial killer targets someone she loves, however, Lily decides to try and prevent her awful visions one last time. This determination leads her down a dark path, where she confronts both the semi-state sponsored eugenicists of the time period and the unsettling understanding that not all victims are considered equally valuable by English society. The magic system was fascinating, but it was this storyline which inevitably gripped me and kept me reading far past my bedtime. I am obviously a great proponent of un-romanticising history, and this book does a fantastic job of exposing ugly issues which parallel real crimes from the period.
That said, Lily also discovers that she is not the only one in London who is possessed of strange abilities, and this was another real delight. Though the romantic interest, Lord Strangford, has another very compelling ability and a fantastic storyline to go with it, I was surprised to find myself unreasonably attached to Sam Wu, a less prominent charismatic who nonetheless played a large role in the investigation. Sam is a polylingual Chinese immigrant with the ability to speak with animals—an Edwardian-era Saint Francis of Assisi. I immediately thought of the comparison, and was pleased to see it referenced directly! I found Sam intriguing and compelling, with just enough hints of his character that I'll be happy to read more in this series in the hopes of diving deeper beneath the surface (and I feel it is implied that we will be seeing more of each charismatic in turn, so I am confident that I will get my wish).
I feel it would be remiss of me not to mention the romance—there is one, and it is very lovely. I did not initially warm up to Lord Strangford, but the complexities of his ability drew me in and made me feel for him, and I became absolutely fascinated by his conflict. There was at least one genuinely moving conversation between him and Lily that sold me entirely on their relationship. If you are not as enamoured of romance, however, I would implore you to keep reading past the initial setup, for the investigation itself is full of magic, intrigue, and crunchy historical social commentary. The romance is by no means the only draw to this story.
Overall, I was charmed and gratified by this book, and I look forward to further instalments in the series.
The Fire in the Glass blends fantastic storytelling, exacting research, and scathing social commentary—with a satisfying dash of magic and mystery. Jacquelyn Benson's careful eye for historical detail shines through on every page, especially on the subject of Edwardian mediums, mysticisms, and occult matters.
The Fire in the Glass explores the concept of "charismatics," in the more mystical sense of the word—human beings with an inherent talent which transcends the mundane. The main character, Lily Albright, is a Cassandra-esque prophetess; though she often catches surreal glimpses of the future, she has never been able to prevent their occurrence. When a serial killer targets someone she loves, however, Lily decides to try and prevent her awful visions one last time. This determination leads her down a dark path, where she confronts both the semi-state sponsored eugenicists of the time period and the unsettling understanding that not all victims are considered equally valuable by English society. The magic system was fascinating, but it was this storyline which inevitably gripped me and kept me reading far past my bedtime. I am obviously a great proponent of un-romanticising history, and this book does a fantastic job of exposing ugly issues which parallel real crimes from the period.
That said, Lily also discovers that she is not the only one in London who is possessed of strange abilities, and this was another real delight. Though the romantic interest, Lord Strangford, has another very compelling ability and a fantastic storyline to go with it, I was surprised to find myself unreasonably attached to Sam Wu, a less prominent charismatic who nonetheless played a large role in the investigation. Sam is a polylingual Chinese immigrant with the ability to speak with animals—an Edwardian-era Saint Francis of Assisi. I immediately thought of the comparison, and was pleased to see it referenced directly! I found Sam intriguing and compelling, with just enough hints of his character that I'll be happy to read more in this series in the hopes of diving deeper beneath the surface (and I feel it is implied that we will be seeing more of each charismatic in turn, so I am confident that I will get my wish).
I feel it would be remiss of me not to mention the romance—there is one, and it is very lovely. I did not initially warm up to Lord Strangford, but the complexities of his ability drew me in and made me feel for him, and I became absolutely fascinated by his conflict. There was at least one genuinely moving conversation between him and Lily that sold me entirely on their relationship. If you are not as enamoured of romance, however, I would implore you to keep reading past the initial setup, for the investigation itself is full of magic, intrigue, and crunchy historical social commentary. The romance is by no means the only draw to this story.
Overall, I was charmed and gratified by this book, and I look forward to further instalments in the series.
May 25, 2020
4 stars
You can read all of my reviews at https://www.NerdGirlLovesBooks.com.
This was a very good historical fiction fantasy book set in 1914 London about a young girl that has visions of the future but is powerless to do anything to prevent the tragedies she sees. The book immediately captured my attention and I wound up reading it in one sitting.
Lily is the bastard daughter Earl of Torrington. Ever since a young girl, she's had visions of terrible things happening to people. Despite all her valiant efforts to stop the events from occurring, she is never able to stop them. Lily has kept her secret her entire life and believed she was the only one with mysterious powers, so when she is introduced to a group of people with their own unique talents, she realizes she's not alone.
When Lily foresees the death of a dear friend in the same manner as a string of brutal murders, she realizes that she needs to step out of her comfort zone to do everything she can to prevent it -even if that means accepting help from others. Lily's quest to save her friend will take her down a dangerous path, and force her to learn things about her past better left unknown.
I really enjoyed this book. The story grabbed me right from the start and I couldn't put it down. Lily is a strong, stubborn, independent woman making her own way in the world. I enjoyed watching her grow into a person that allows herself to rely on other people and trust. One of the people that she interacts with most, Lord Strangford, is a man with unusual talents that make his life extremely difficult - and lonely. He, too, has isolated himself from society, but finds himself going out of his way to help Lily save her friend.
The story is filled with unique characters and an intriguing mystery. Although I figured out part of the mystery early on, certain aspects of how it played out took me by surprise and were exciting to read. The book is very well written and flowed smoothly. There is plenty of action and twists and turns to keep the reader interested until the very end. I've never read this author before, but will definitely read more of her books in the future. If you like your historical fiction mysteries with a little supernatural flair to them, I highly recommend you read this book.
I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.
You can read all of my reviews at https://www.NerdGirlLovesBooks.com.
This was a very good historical fiction fantasy book set in 1914 London about a young girl that has visions of the future but is powerless to do anything to prevent the tragedies she sees. The book immediately captured my attention and I wound up reading it in one sitting.
Lily is the bastard daughter Earl of Torrington. Ever since a young girl, she's had visions of terrible things happening to people. Despite all her valiant efforts to stop the events from occurring, she is never able to stop them. Lily has kept her secret her entire life and believed she was the only one with mysterious powers, so when she is introduced to a group of people with their own unique talents, she realizes she's not alone.
When Lily foresees the death of a dear friend in the same manner as a string of brutal murders, she realizes that she needs to step out of her comfort zone to do everything she can to prevent it -even if that means accepting help from others. Lily's quest to save her friend will take her down a dangerous path, and force her to learn things about her past better left unknown.
I really enjoyed this book. The story grabbed me right from the start and I couldn't put it down. Lily is a strong, stubborn, independent woman making her own way in the world. I enjoyed watching her grow into a person that allows herself to rely on other people and trust. One of the people that she interacts with most, Lord Strangford, is a man with unusual talents that make his life extremely difficult - and lonely. He, too, has isolated himself from society, but finds himself going out of his way to help Lily save her friend.
The story is filled with unique characters and an intriguing mystery. Although I figured out part of the mystery early on, certain aspects of how it played out took me by surprise and were exciting to read. The book is very well written and flowed smoothly. There is plenty of action and twists and turns to keep the reader interested until the very end. I've never read this author before, but will definitely read more of her books in the future. If you like your historical fiction mysteries with a little supernatural flair to them, I highly recommend you read this book.
I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2021
5 stars - Historical Mystery/Thriller/Paranormal/Fantasy/Romance
I'm so glad this lived up to such a gorgeous cover. I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend this for fans of historical mysteries/thrillers with supernatural elements and the promise of romance.
I'm glad it didn't have a cliffhanger ending, but I'm still completely sucked in and ready for more Charismatics! I'm off to download The Shadow of Water.
I'm so glad this lived up to such a gorgeous cover. I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend this for fans of historical mysteries/thrillers with supernatural elements and the promise of romance.
I'm glad it didn't have a cliffhanger ending, but I'm still completely sucked in and ready for more Charismatics! I'm off to download The Shadow of Water.
January 31, 2022
ALERTE COUP DE COEUR
Encore un coup de coeur pour finir ce mois de janvier. Quelle lecture! J’avoue que je ne m’attendais pas à ça en le commençant… j’ai tout aimé dans ce livre : le lieu, l’intrigue, les personnages, les pouvoirs, etc etc. Je ne suis pourtant pas fan des enquêtes mais là tout était si bien amené.
Déjà je suis tombée amoureuse de la plume de l’autrice. Alors certes elle a été traduite mais je ne sais pas j’ai l’impression qu’on la sent quand même très bien transparaître, et rien que ça c’est addictif.
Ensuite le lieu : j’adore Londres. C’est d’ailleurs ma ville préférée parmi toutes celles que j’ai visitées. Mais alors se plonger dans le Londres de 1914? C’était génial. Il faut savoir qu’il y a énormément de descriptions de la ville dans ce bouquin, et bien que je ne sois pas fan de ce genre de passages habituellement, ici j’avais l’impression de me balader dans le vieux Londres. J’avais envie d’y être et de croiser des passants habillés en tenue d’époque, de voir des fiacres plus présents que des voitures, des manières entre personnes qu’on ne connaît plus… rien que pour cette retranscription de l’époque ce livre vaut le coup d’être lu!
Les personnages. Que dire? Déjà qu’ils ont tous leur importance, je me suis attachées aussi bien aux personnages principaux qu’aux personnages secondaires. Lily, jeune femme qui a appris à vivre par ses propres moyens devient plus forte à travers le roman, elle se détaches de ses vieux démons ou plutôt apprends à vivre avec sans que ceux ci l’empêche d’avancer. Strangford… encore un nouveau bookboyfriend j’ai envie de dire? Un véritable gentleman, tout simplement gentil, mais qui garde sa part de mystère, lui aussi ayant un passé difficile. Coeur sur Sam 🖤🖤
L’intrigue : on essaye de découvrir qui est la personne qui s’attaque à des femmes médiums, les tuant pour les vider de leur sang… un vampire? Non. Bien que nous soyons dans le paranormal on pourrait le penser (ce n’est pas un spoil). Mais j’ai adoré le lien avec la médecine.
Je n’en dirais pas plus. Certes ce livre contient quelques lenteurs mais quel livre n’en as pas du tout? Ça reste un coup de coeur et je n’ai qu’une hâte : lire la suite! A quand la traduction 🖤
Encore un coup de coeur pour finir ce mois de janvier. Quelle lecture! J’avoue que je ne m’attendais pas à ça en le commençant… j’ai tout aimé dans ce livre : le lieu, l’intrigue, les personnages, les pouvoirs, etc etc. Je ne suis pourtant pas fan des enquêtes mais là tout était si bien amené.
Déjà je suis tombée amoureuse de la plume de l’autrice. Alors certes elle a été traduite mais je ne sais pas j’ai l’impression qu’on la sent quand même très bien transparaître, et rien que ça c’est addictif.
Ensuite le lieu : j’adore Londres. C’est d’ailleurs ma ville préférée parmi toutes celles que j’ai visitées. Mais alors se plonger dans le Londres de 1914? C’était génial. Il faut savoir qu’il y a énormément de descriptions de la ville dans ce bouquin, et bien que je ne sois pas fan de ce genre de passages habituellement, ici j’avais l’impression de me balader dans le vieux Londres. J’avais envie d’y être et de croiser des passants habillés en tenue d’époque, de voir des fiacres plus présents que des voitures, des manières entre personnes qu’on ne connaît plus… rien que pour cette retranscription de l’époque ce livre vaut le coup d’être lu!
Les personnages. Que dire? Déjà qu’ils ont tous leur importance, je me suis attachées aussi bien aux personnages principaux qu’aux personnages secondaires. Lily, jeune femme qui a appris à vivre par ses propres moyens devient plus forte à travers le roman, elle se détaches de ses vieux démons ou plutôt apprends à vivre avec sans que ceux ci l’empêche d’avancer. Strangford… encore un nouveau bookboyfriend j’ai envie de dire? Un véritable gentleman, tout simplement gentil, mais qui garde sa part de mystère, lui aussi ayant un passé difficile. Coeur sur Sam 🖤🖤
L’intrigue : on essaye de découvrir qui est la personne qui s’attaque à des femmes médiums, les tuant pour les vider de leur sang… un vampire? Non. Bien que nous soyons dans le paranormal on pourrait le penser (ce n’est pas un spoil). Mais j’ai adoré le lien avec la médecine.
Je n’en dirais pas plus. Certes ce livre contient quelques lenteurs mais quel livre n’en as pas du tout? Ça reste un coup de coeur et je n’ai qu’une hâte : lire la suite! A quand la traduction 🖤
January 17, 2022
I am surprised no one on my goodreads friends' list has reviewed this book. It is actually pretty darn good. I love fantasy, but one of my biggest gripes is that many fantasy writers go off the deep end with overly descriptive passages of landscapes or diverge into POV chapters of characters that don't really drive the plot. The pacing in The Fire in the Glass was just right. I loved the free thinking independent main character, Lily, and her love interest Mr. Strangford. The author carefully crafted a interesting magic system into a gaslight mystery. I will be back for more from this author and I highly recommend this book to people who like historical fiction and fantasy mashups.
May 23, 2020
I’m going to start w a digression, but bear with me....
The last book I reviewed was gorgeously written - the sentences crafted meticulously, making me want to read the aloud - to myself or anyone who would listen. But the plot ... well, there really wasn’t any. But I still gave it 4 stars and recommend it to others.
The Fire in the Glass, however, is the opposite. The plot was fresh, the pacing good, the characters interesting. But the craft of the writing drove me bonkers.
So why am I tempted to rate this book much lower? Am I just a snob? Do I care more about sentences than story? Probably. Or, perhaps I just got tired of re-reading the same sentiments over and over...
My main gripe would be that the wring is all “tell, don’t show.” Benson should trust the reader and her characters enough that she can introduce a few facts and then let their import shine through their actions. By Chapter 2, we KNOW how Lily feels about her birth status, her upbringing, her family. We KNOW how she feels about her power. We KNOW (well, we can pretty much guess) what the deal w Strangford will be. We don’t have to have Lilly’s interior monologue disrupting the flow of the narrative every other page.
What I did really like about the story is the interesting twists it brought about in its resolution. I was pretty sure I knew the “who” but I sure didn’t expect the “why”. I also enjoyed how Benson drew such unique personalities for the main cast of characters. Estelle, Sam, even the butler at Deverel’s house had their own voice, their own tone. And their actions and reactions played true.
I enjoyed the book and might pick up another one of Benson’s work. Especially if she gets a different editor...?
PS - did anyone else keep thinking “Historical X Men”?
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The last book I reviewed was gorgeously written - the sentences crafted meticulously, making me want to read the aloud - to myself or anyone who would listen. But the plot ... well, there really wasn’t any. But I still gave it 4 stars and recommend it to others.
The Fire in the Glass, however, is the opposite. The plot was fresh, the pacing good, the characters interesting. But the craft of the writing drove me bonkers.
So why am I tempted to rate this book much lower? Am I just a snob? Do I care more about sentences than story? Probably. Or, perhaps I just got tired of re-reading the same sentiments over and over...
My main gripe would be that the wring is all “tell, don’t show.” Benson should trust the reader and her characters enough that she can introduce a few facts and then let their import shine through their actions. By Chapter 2, we KNOW how Lily feels about her birth status, her upbringing, her family. We KNOW how she feels about her power. We KNOW (well, we can pretty much guess) what the deal w Strangford will be. We don’t have to have Lilly’s interior monologue disrupting the flow of the narrative every other page.
What I did really like about the story is the interesting twists it brought about in its resolution. I was pretty sure I knew the “who” but I sure didn’t expect the “why”. I also enjoyed how Benson drew such unique personalities for the main cast of characters. Estelle, Sam, even the butler at Deverel’s house had their own voice, their own tone. And their actions and reactions played true.
I enjoyed the book and might pick up another one of Benson’s work. Especially if she gets a different editor...?
PS - did anyone else keep thinking “Historical X Men”?
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 29, 2020
DNF at 70%. This is so close to being a great book. The plot, the characters and theme are great. The author writes well. Sadly the main character is so frustrating that I had to stop. After a while, you just don’t care about her so it really takes the fun out of it. I can see the author of as trying to portray a deep internal struggle. She was unsuccessful. Especially in light of her spunk (yay), her ‘Bohemianism’ (also yay). She’s also smart but uses it to get in her own way every step. She ignores facts right in front of her so that when she finally twigs, it’s annoying. When Strangfort finally yells at her, I’m like yes, yes,yes! But does that cause her to rethink? No! I give up. I no longer care. Too bad because I wanted to know how the story ends. 😢
November 22, 2023
4.25⭐️ I was looking for something a littler “lighter” and with humor when I started this. My fault. But, I couldn’t stop reading once I started. It was so unexpected how much I got invested. This was so good. Looking forward to continuing this series.
September 14, 2025
I have found a new series to obsess over! This is spooky and gothic with conspiracies, and a compelling mystery.
The Raiders of Arcana series by Jacquelyn Benson is one of my favorite series of all time, so it is shocking that it took me so long to read this book! The first installment of the London Charismatics series has solidified Jacquelyn Benson as one of my favorite authors!
Lily has a power, she has seen visions of the future and now her visions may stop a killer and the death of one of her best friends. She can’t do it alone though and turns to the people of the “Refuge”, a place where those with hidden abilities.
I love that Jacquelyn Benson writes tough independent women in a time when that wasn’t the norm. Lord Strangford is a wonderful complement to her independence and he accepts her for who she is. This is a slow slow burn so I can’t wait to get more of these two in the next book.
This was such an amazing first installment and I can’t wait to see what Lilly and the people of the Refuge get up to in the rest of the series.
Read if you like:
- Gothic WWI Vibes
- Weird Birds
- Edwardian X-Men
- Hidden Powers
- Dark Visions
- Motorcycle riding FMC
- Bohemian Aristocratic MMC
- Dark Conspiracies
The Raiders of Arcana series by Jacquelyn Benson is one of my favorite series of all time, so it is shocking that it took me so long to read this book! The first installment of the London Charismatics series has solidified Jacquelyn Benson as one of my favorite authors!
Lily has a power, she has seen visions of the future and now her visions may stop a killer and the death of one of her best friends. She can’t do it alone though and turns to the people of the “Refuge”, a place where those with hidden abilities.
I love that Jacquelyn Benson writes tough independent women in a time when that wasn’t the norm. Lord Strangford is a wonderful complement to her independence and he accepts her for who she is. This is a slow slow burn so I can’t wait to get more of these two in the next book.
This was such an amazing first installment and I can’t wait to see what Lilly and the people of the Refuge get up to in the rest of the series.
Read if you like:
- Gothic WWI Vibes
- Weird Birds
- Edwardian X-Men
- Hidden Powers
- Dark Visions
- Motorcycle riding FMC
- Bohemian Aristocratic MMC
- Dark Conspiracies
May 26, 2021
I had fun reading this historical fantasy. There's nothing really new here as far as plot, but it was a fun and distracting read. An evil villain (possibly vampiric), some characters each with specific supernatural powers (see the future/read a person or thing through touch/communicate with animals, etc.) who need to work together to find and stop the evil villain, some personal background for the MCs (such as the heroine being the illegitimate daughter of an earl and an actress), even a romantic subplot for two of the superpowered "charismatics."
But there's really nothing new here. That romantic subplot can be found in any number of historical romances (pairing of an illegitimate man or woman with a member of the aristocracy). The villain's murderous ways and obsession with blood are very similar to many books I've read, including Lydia Kang's Opium and Absinthe and Anne Perry's Corridors of the Night. And the special powers of several MCs is a universal favorite in comics and movies and fiction everywhere.
The writing is okay. Nothing special but it moves the story along well enough, although we get a bit too much "I'm a bastard, woe is me" thinking from the heroine, repeated throughout the story.
I don't recommend this as great literature. Just as an alternative to an entertaining yet superficial movie. I don't regret buying and reading this and even downloaded the second book of the series to find out what's in store in future for the characters.
But there's really nothing new here. That romantic subplot can be found in any number of historical romances (pairing of an illegitimate man or woman with a member of the aristocracy). The villain's murderous ways and obsession with blood are very similar to many books I've read, including Lydia Kang's Opium and Absinthe and Anne Perry's Corridors of the Night. And the special powers of several MCs is a universal favorite in comics and movies and fiction everywhere.
The writing is okay. Nothing special but it moves the story along well enough, although we get a bit too much "I'm a bastard, woe is me" thinking from the heroine, repeated throughout the story.
I don't recommend this as great literature. Just as an alternative to an entertaining yet superficial movie. I don't regret buying and reading this and even downloaded the second book of the series to find out what's in store in future for the characters.
January 3, 2024
Une fantasy historique comme je les aime
Ça faisait un moment que ce livre était dans ma pal et que la saga me tentait ! Quand j'ai vu qu'un audio était disponible j'ai sauté dessus sans trop me poser de question. On plonge dans un Londres à l'aube de la 1ère guerre mondiale avec une héroïne qui peut voir le futur sans pour autant arriver à le changer.
J'ai bien aimé l'ambiance historique sur fond de féminisme couplé à une enquête sur une série de meurtres et disparitions de femmes, un combo gagnant pour moi qui adore tout ce qui est investigation ! Quelques longueurs se font néanmoins ressentir, surtout au début. Dommage car le rythme aurait eu le mérite de gagner en dynamisme si on se délestait de certains moments de blanc.
Lily est une protagoniste loin de se laisser marcher sur les pieds ! Imparfaite, elle laisse pourtant exploser de temps en temps son tempérament la rendant assez réaliste. J'avais quand même parfois envie de la secouer pour qu'elle accepte (et reconnaisse) ENFIN ses pouvoirs. Autrement c'est un personnage sympa à suivre.
Puis, il y a évidemment la romance. Strangford a tout du parfait gentleman. Il m'a d'ailleurs peut-être plus émue que Lily. J'ai adoré leur développement tout en retenu et pudeur. Et pardon mais si à ça vous rajoutez les pouvoirs du lord donnant un coté dramatique à leur relation, outre leur différence de statut social, c'est bon je suis vendue.
En somme c'est un premier tome engageant qui réunit plein de bonnes choses donnant envie de lire la suite !
Ça faisait un moment que ce livre était dans ma pal et que la saga me tentait ! Quand j'ai vu qu'un audio était disponible j'ai sauté dessus sans trop me poser de question. On plonge dans un Londres à l'aube de la 1ère guerre mondiale avec une héroïne qui peut voir le futur sans pour autant arriver à le changer.
J'ai bien aimé l'ambiance historique sur fond de féminisme couplé à une enquête sur une série de meurtres et disparitions de femmes, un combo gagnant pour moi qui adore tout ce qui est investigation ! Quelques longueurs se font néanmoins ressentir, surtout au début. Dommage car le rythme aurait eu le mérite de gagner en dynamisme si on se délestait de certains moments de blanc.
Lily est une protagoniste loin de se laisser marcher sur les pieds ! Imparfaite, elle laisse pourtant exploser de temps en temps son tempérament la rendant assez réaliste. J'avais quand même parfois envie de la secouer pour qu'elle accepte (et reconnaisse) ENFIN ses pouvoirs. Autrement c'est un personnage sympa à suivre.
Puis, il y a évidemment la romance. Strangford a tout du parfait gentleman. Il m'a d'ailleurs peut-être plus émue que Lily. J'ai adoré leur développement tout en retenu et pudeur. Et pardon mais si à ça vous rajoutez les pouvoirs du lord donnant un coté dramatique à leur relation, outre leur différence de statut social, c'est bon je suis vendue.
En somme c'est un premier tome engageant qui réunit plein de bonnes choses donnant envie de lire la suite !
September 11, 2025
Lily has had the gift of premonition since she was a child; she can see the future, but to her, this gift is a true curse. She has always tried to change these visions, which often foretell the death of a loved one, but each time she fails. However, after having a vision of her dear friend Estelle being murdered in the streets of London, she decides to investigate and find the killer before the fatal act occurs. The task will prove to be far more difficult than it seems, for in a world dominated by men, what chance does she have of being heard?
Lily’s character shows great strength, and I admire her for standing up to the men of her time. As the daughter of a prostitute and a Lord who seems to have abandoned her after her mother’s death, she has managed to stay strong. Right from the beginning of the novel, we discover her dressed in trousers and riding a moped, a striking detail. Moreover, her gift truly feels like a curse to me; being able to see the future but not change it seems like a terrible power… I felt truly sad when I thought of little Lily trying in vain to save a cat, only to find it run over the next day. Or again, when she foresaw her mother’s death and knew she couldn’t do anything to stop it.
Lily’s story also showed us how difficult it is for a child to find her place in society when she is the daughter of a woman who sold her charms to a Lord. This past follows her like a shadow, making her struggle to be taken seriously all the more difficult.
Strangford was also an intriguing character. His gift seemed just as dreadful as Lily’s, but I thought they complemented each other perfectly. Unlike the other men in the story, he genuinely considered what Lily said and thought. I also appreciated that their relationship progressed gradually and that he didn’t fall for her instantly. It developed naturally, and it’s easy to grow attached to both of them. Sam was also a sweet character, and I hope to see more of him in the next book.
The story is quite captivating and sprinkled with a touch of magic. It remains mysterious and feels perfect for this time of year. I can clearly imagine a foggy London, dark and full of danger. This story blends historical elements with fantasy, and that’s something I truly appreciated. The narrative skillfully mixes the fantastic with suspense, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere.
Lily’s character shows great strength, and I admire her for standing up to the men of her time. As the daughter of a prostitute and a Lord who seems to have abandoned her after her mother’s death, she has managed to stay strong. Right from the beginning of the novel, we discover her dressed in trousers and riding a moped, a striking detail. Moreover, her gift truly feels like a curse to me; being able to see the future but not change it seems like a terrible power… I felt truly sad when I thought of little Lily trying in vain to save a cat, only to find it run over the next day. Or again, when she foresaw her mother’s death and knew she couldn’t do anything to stop it.
Lily’s story also showed us how difficult it is for a child to find her place in society when she is the daughter of a woman who sold her charms to a Lord. This past follows her like a shadow, making her struggle to be taken seriously all the more difficult.
Strangford was also an intriguing character. His gift seemed just as dreadful as Lily’s, but I thought they complemented each other perfectly. Unlike the other men in the story, he genuinely considered what Lily said and thought. I also appreciated that their relationship progressed gradually and that he didn’t fall for her instantly. It developed naturally, and it’s easy to grow attached to both of them. Sam was also a sweet character, and I hope to see more of him in the next book.
The story is quite captivating and sprinkled with a touch of magic. It remains mysterious and feels perfect for this time of year. I can clearly imagine a foggy London, dark and full of danger. This story blends historical elements with fantasy, and that’s something I truly appreciated. The narrative skillfully mixes the fantastic with suspense, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere.
February 3, 2024
A Truly Mysterious Story that keeps You Guessing
I have to admit it took me awhile to start reading this - the cover image really didn't impress me very much - but once I started reading this I got hooked on the bizarre situation that Lily found herself in... But perhaps more important than the plot is Lily herself. She made a big impression on me. No way is she one of those cardboard characters you find in so many books. She's real. She has spunk and in 1914 she is riding a motorcycle when you first meet her - and she is speeding too! And she's brave enough to take a spill. She is very independent, doesn't want help from anyone (even if she needs it). But maybe the most important thing about her is how far she will go to protect her friends from harm. She is willing to do very risky, life threatening things - like sneak into places she doesn't actually belong to try and get information. It doesn't matter that she has no idea what she is doing. Yes, Lily is playing Detective without a badge and she is on the trail of a serial killer.
And this is part fantasy too. Lily and a few other characters in here are gifted with powers. Lily has visions that show her the future. And one such vision has showed her best and only friend is about to die at the hands of the blood stealing "vampire". But unfortunately the visions do not show the killer's identity! This is a well written mystery worth sinking your teeth into.
Along the way Lily meets a rich Lord who wants to help her, Lord Strangford.
While the story was not exactly suspenseful there were plenty of twists that kept my mind very entertained while reading. Nothing in here was easy to guess. The plot is rich and complicated. Lots of action and danger too. The characters were likeable as well. And the plot races to a big climax near the end too!
The setting of 1914 London really was brought to life by the author's words...
I definitely look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I have to admit it took me awhile to start reading this - the cover image really didn't impress me very much - but once I started reading this I got hooked on the bizarre situation that Lily found herself in... But perhaps more important than the plot is Lily herself. She made a big impression on me. No way is she one of those cardboard characters you find in so many books. She's real. She has spunk and in 1914 she is riding a motorcycle when you first meet her - and she is speeding too! And she's brave enough to take a spill. She is very independent, doesn't want help from anyone (even if she needs it). But maybe the most important thing about her is how far she will go to protect her friends from harm. She is willing to do very risky, life threatening things - like sneak into places she doesn't actually belong to try and get information. It doesn't matter that she has no idea what she is doing. Yes, Lily is playing Detective without a badge and she is on the trail of a serial killer.
And this is part fantasy too. Lily and a few other characters in here are gifted with powers. Lily has visions that show her the future. And one such vision has showed her best and only friend is about to die at the hands of the blood stealing "vampire". But unfortunately the visions do not show the killer's identity! This is a well written mystery worth sinking your teeth into.
Along the way Lily meets a rich Lord who wants to help her, Lord Strangford.
While the story was not exactly suspenseful there were plenty of twists that kept my mind very entertained while reading. Nothing in here was easy to guess. The plot is rich and complicated. Lots of action and danger too. The characters were likeable as well. And the plot races to a big climax near the end too!
The setting of 1914 London really was brought to life by the author's words...
I definitely look forward to reading the next book in this series.
September 22, 2023
I have not fallen in love this hard since the rise of Barney Snaith.
February 15, 2024
Highlight! Absolutely adore this. Already bought the next book. 😍
March 13, 2021
First novel in a series of four books, The Fire in the Glass has many things I love: historical setting, fantasy, an interesting intrigue and main female character, and even the romance is good. It was such a great read for me, and very hard to put down.
The author choses to dive into action right from the beginning and gets you hooked, which is sometimes a poor choice as some books doing the same thing could use some time to introduce the world-building and the characters, but Jacquelyn Benson doesn't forget those important points and has obviously thought very carefully the details of her story. She's obviously familiar with the themes included in her novel as well as the Edwardian era, and doesn't shy away from also talking about the issues of this period. There's no sugarcoating, which is true historical fiction. The magic system was a delight and the plot and characters wonderfully compelling.
We're introduced to Lily Albright, a "charismatic" (someone with a mystical ability), who believes to be the only one. Her glimpses of the future always happened, until she's determined to prevent it in order to save a loved one. Will she succeed, of is this gift truly a curse? What is the secret of the mysterious Lord Strangford?
I don't want to say more about happens as I feel it would spoil your enjoyement of the book if you're interested in reading it. I went it without having read any review and I'm glad I did so I could enjoy this story even more. Olivia Atwater praised this book as, I quote: "fantastic storytelling, exacting research, and scathing social commentary--with a satisfying dash of magic and mystery" which is exactly what The Fire in the Glass is. I'll be reading the second book right away and hope this series will be as great as this first instalment promises!
Trigger warnings from the author:
The author choses to dive into action right from the beginning and gets you hooked, which is sometimes a poor choice as some books doing the same thing could use some time to introduce the world-building and the characters, but Jacquelyn Benson doesn't forget those important points and has obviously thought very carefully the details of her story. She's obviously familiar with the themes included in her novel as well as the Edwardian era, and doesn't shy away from also talking about the issues of this period. There's no sugarcoating, which is true historical fiction. The magic system was a delight and the plot and characters wonderfully compelling.
We're introduced to Lily Albright, a "charismatic" (someone with a mystical ability), who believes to be the only one. Her glimpses of the future always happened, until she's determined to prevent it in order to save a loved one. Will she succeed, of is this gift truly a curse? What is the secret of the mysterious Lord Strangford?
I don't want to say more about happens as I feel it would spoil your enjoyement of the book if you're interested in reading it. I went it without having read any review and I'm glad I did so I could enjoy this story even more. Olivia Atwater praised this book as, I quote: "fantastic storytelling, exacting research, and scathing social commentary--with a satisfying dash of magic and mystery" which is exactly what The Fire in the Glass is. I'll be reading the second book right away and hope this series will be as great as this first instalment promises!
Trigger warnings from the author:
February 27, 2023
3.75⭐️/5
Une introduction à l’univers qui régale.
⚜️ Je me suis lancée dans cette lecture, un peu à l’aveugle sans savoir à quoi m’attendre et uniquement à cause des bons retours que j’ai vu passer et franchement, j’ai beaucoup aimé ! J’ai vraiment tout découvert, je ne savais même pas que ça ds passait au début du XXe siècle, ça a été une bonne surprise.
⚜️ Bien sûr je le dis tout de suite : il y a des longueurs que je regrette. Je ne sais pas si c’est dû au style de l’autrice ou plutôt au fait que ce soit un tome 1, mais le fait est qu’il y a eu des descriptions que j’ai lu en diagonale car elles alourdissaient un peu l’ensemble (à mon goût). Mon deuxième petit regret repose sur l’amitié entre Lily et Estelle, qui est le point de départ de l’histoire et que je n’ai malheureusement pas vraiment ressenti. Mon esprit s’est rapidement focalisé ailleurs !
⚜️ Mis à part ça, c’était un vrai régal. On est plongés dans l’ambiance britannique de 1914 (avant le début de la guerre), et c’est quelque chose que j’adore. J’ai trouvé que l’intrigue était bien pensée et l’enquête suffisamment poussée pour qu’elle soit chouette à suivre. On frôle presque le paranormal sans jamais y basculer et j’ai été sensible au lien effectué avec la médecine : c’est une thématique qui m’a plue et qui était bien ficelée.
⚜️Lily est trop chouette à suivre puisque c’est un personnage qui s’affirme dans une société aux mœurs étriquées, j’ai forcément adoré qu’elle se défende avec autant de force et la tête haute. Et puis bien sûr, l’argument principal de cette saga : Strangford. Miam miam. J’ai toujours eu un faible pour les gentlemen et je suis clairement restée pour lui. J’aurais même adoré que la romance prenne une place un peu plus importante !
Une introduction à l’univers qui régale.
⚜️ Je me suis lancée dans cette lecture, un peu à l’aveugle sans savoir à quoi m’attendre et uniquement à cause des bons retours que j’ai vu passer et franchement, j’ai beaucoup aimé ! J’ai vraiment tout découvert, je ne savais même pas que ça ds passait au début du XXe siècle, ça a été une bonne surprise.
⚜️ Bien sûr je le dis tout de suite : il y a des longueurs que je regrette. Je ne sais pas si c’est dû au style de l’autrice ou plutôt au fait que ce soit un tome 1, mais le fait est qu’il y a eu des descriptions que j’ai lu en diagonale car elles alourdissaient un peu l’ensemble (à mon goût). Mon deuxième petit regret repose sur l’amitié entre Lily et Estelle, qui est le point de départ de l’histoire et que je n’ai malheureusement pas vraiment ressenti. Mon esprit s’est rapidement focalisé ailleurs !
⚜️ Mis à part ça, c’était un vrai régal. On est plongés dans l’ambiance britannique de 1914 (avant le début de la guerre), et c’est quelque chose que j’adore. J’ai trouvé que l’intrigue était bien pensée et l’enquête suffisamment poussée pour qu’elle soit chouette à suivre. On frôle presque le paranormal sans jamais y basculer et j’ai été sensible au lien effectué avec la médecine : c’est une thématique qui m’a plue et qui était bien ficelée.
⚜️Lily est trop chouette à suivre puisque c’est un personnage qui s’affirme dans une société aux mœurs étriquées, j’ai forcément adoré qu’elle se défende avec autant de force et la tête haute. Et puis bien sûr, l’argument principal de cette saga : Strangford. Miam miam. J’ai toujours eu un faible pour les gentlemen et je suis clairement restée pour lui. J’aurais même adoré que la romance prenne une place un peu plus importante !
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March 14, 2021An epic historical fantasy mystery set on the eve of World War I. Lily Albright has a gift - she sees visions of the future, but since failing to prevent her mother's death, she's spent her adult life hiding from her own abilities. Now her visions are warning her that another close friend is threatened. Lily should know better than to interfere, but she can't help wanting to fight fate.
There was plenty to love in this story. For one thing, the obsession with eugenics in the early 20th century deserves a whole lot more notoriety, and I loved how Benson tackled this subject. For another, I really enjoyed the character of Strangford, who is everything I particularly like about Tasha Suri's romantic heroes - characterised by deep vulnerability as well as profound strength of character (and awesome wizard powers). Then there's the detail and thought put into the worldbuilding, which evidently makes use of the author's academic work on anthropology. I loved the almost Connie-Willis-esque theme of fate/providence. And finally, I really loved watching Lily accept and level up with her powers, and the sense of coming doom and supernatural conflict surrounding the looming World War I was delightfully epic.
If I had a complaint, it might be that the book ran a little long for my tastes - but fear not, there was absolutely a payoff, and plenty of fun to be had along the way.
There was plenty to love in this story. For one thing, the obsession with eugenics in the early 20th century deserves a whole lot more notoriety, and I loved how Benson tackled this subject. For another, I really enjoyed the character of Strangford, who is everything I particularly like about Tasha Suri's romantic heroes - characterised by deep vulnerability as well as profound strength of character (and awesome wizard powers). Then there's the detail and thought put into the worldbuilding, which evidently makes use of the author's academic work on anthropology. I loved the almost Connie-Willis-esque theme of fate/providence. And finally, I really loved watching Lily accept and level up with her powers, and the sense of coming doom and supernatural conflict surrounding the looming World War I was delightfully epic.
If I had a complaint, it might be that the book ran a little long for my tastes - but fear not, there was absolutely a payoff, and plenty of fun to be had along the way.
did-not-finish
May 18, 2025DNF at 27%.
I could see why some might like this. I was struggling with the historical aspect first. Somehow, I'm not feeling a historical setting, at least not this one.
But what made this go to the nope was Lily's suggestion to "read" a buried body rather than just "reading" the frickin' murder weapon. I really have no clue why that wasn't done at the scene. But to not even think of it later!? I just couldn't.
I could see why some might like this. I was struggling with the historical aspect first. Somehow, I'm not feeling a historical setting, at least not this one.
But what made this go to the nope was Lily's suggestion to "read" a buried body rather than just "reading" the frickin' murder weapon. I really have no clue why that wasn't done at the scene. But to not even think of it later!? I just couldn't.
January 2, 2022
On commence bien 2022 avec un coup de cœur ! J'ai tout bonnement adoré ce roman.
On avait tout ! L'action n'a pas mis de temps à démarrer, sans que ce soit précipité, les personnages sont vraiment intéressants, et vraiment tous sans exception ! L'intrigue a été très bien menée ! Bref je n'attends qu'une chose, la suite !
On avait tout ! L'action n'a pas mis de temps à démarrer, sans que ce soit précipité, les personnages sont vraiment intéressants, et vraiment tous sans exception ! L'intrigue a été très bien menée ! Bref je n'attends qu'une chose, la suite !
October 17, 2024
Lorsqu’il y a fiction historique avec un protagoniste féminin, on a le choix entre deux types de personnages : la femme prude et littéraire, naïve et innocente qui est douée en art mais complétement teuteu sur tout le reste OU la femme ultra badass, grande gueule, très très en colère, qui porte des PANTALONS et FAIT DE LA MOTO (ou du cheval, tout dépend l’époque). Là on est sur le deuxième type de protagoniste – et ça me gonfle très vite, parce que l’essentiel de ce livre fonctionne sur le fait que l’héroïne est tellement en colère qu’elle en devient débile et est donc incapable de résoudre quoi que ce soit sous son nez. L’intrigue et les arcs narratifs tiennent sur quelques trucs, notamment : qu’elle va faire des bêtises parce qu’elle est en colère, a peur ou a des hypothèses foireuses.
Et on en soupe de sa colère, on sait tout sur tout sur elle, comme si on était Strangford lui-même à ce point. Je sais que j’ai tendance à dire qu’il faut partir du principe que le lecteur est un peu bête et qu’il faut expliquer des choses, mais il faut aussi avoir confiance en lui et le laisser comprendre ou ne pas tout savoir. Tout y passe, sa lignée, sa naissance, son enfance, son éducation, ses parents, sa relation avec son statut social, etc. et qu’est-ce qu’elle passe de temps à juger (alors qu’elle aurait pu avoir un esprit moins étriqué, vu sa vie).
Je passe outre les trucs un peu racistes ici et là, du rythme qui est étrange, des descriptions interminables au milieu d’une scène d’action. Plusieurs fois j’ai dû me demander « mais qui c’est encore ce personnage », alors qu’il avait été introduit quelques chapitres plus tôt. Tout ça m’a tellement fait soupirer que les personnages, que j’aurais pu aimer, m’ont semblé lourds et convenus, alors que vraiment sur le papier, chacun c’est mon idée du personnage favori. Bref, chocue.
Et on en soupe de sa colère, on sait tout sur tout sur elle, comme si on était Strangford lui-même à ce point. Je sais que j’ai tendance à dire qu’il faut partir du principe que le lecteur est un peu bête et qu’il faut expliquer des choses, mais il faut aussi avoir confiance en lui et le laisser comprendre ou ne pas tout savoir. Tout y passe, sa lignée, sa naissance, son enfance, son éducation, ses parents, sa relation avec son statut social, etc. et qu’est-ce qu’elle passe de temps à juger (alors qu’elle aurait pu avoir un esprit moins étriqué, vu sa vie).
Je passe outre les trucs un peu racistes ici et là, du rythme qui est étrange, des descriptions interminables au milieu d’une scène d’action. Plusieurs fois j’ai dû me demander « mais qui c’est encore ce personnage », alors qu’il avait été introduit quelques chapitres plus tôt. Tout ça m’a tellement fait soupirer que les personnages, que j’aurais pu aimer, m’ont semblé lourds et convenus, alors que vraiment sur le papier, chacun c’est mon idée du personnage favori. Bref, chocue.
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December 12, 2023🎧Also available in audio!
Narrated by Alex Picard
Audible US: https://tinyurl.com/espc5d44
Audible UK: https://tinyurl.com/48p5srj2
iTunes: https://apple.co/3HqNGDU
Scribd: https://tinyurl.com/38u4wxfw
Chirp: https://tinyurl.com/4fuhzv5r
Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/4jse8zk6
Google Play: https://tinyurl.com/2p877x2p
Barnes & Noble Audio: https://tinyurl.com/5n6jdpdc
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2p9fxx26
Audiobooks.com: https://tinyurl.com/mr2yze9p
Buy Direct from the Author: https://jacquelynbenson.gumroad.com/l/fitg-audio
Narrated by Alex Picard
Audible US: https://tinyurl.com/espc5d44
Audible UK: https://tinyurl.com/48p5srj2
iTunes: https://apple.co/3HqNGDU
Scribd: https://tinyurl.com/38u4wxfw
Chirp: https://tinyurl.com/4fuhzv5r
Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/4jse8zk6
Google Play: https://tinyurl.com/2p877x2p
Barnes & Noble Audio: https://tinyurl.com/5n6jdpdc
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2p9fxx26
Audiobooks.com: https://tinyurl.com/mr2yze9p
Buy Direct from the Author: https://jacquelynbenson.gumroad.com/l/fitg-audio
September 14, 2025
･ﾟ 𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ·˚˖‧
𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝑽𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑾𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝑳𝑪!
❝ What you and I do is still dangerous. People are as likely to fear it now as they did then. They just have different weapons at their disposal.
❞
╰𝚂𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝙵𝚛𝚎𝚎╮
✦ Name: The Fire in the Glass by
✦ Pub Date: Apr 01 2020 (new cover 2025)
✦ Rating: 4,25/5
✦ Genre: Historical Fantasy, Mystery
✦ POV: 1
✦ Spice: 0/5
✦ Age: 15+
✦ CW: D*ath, Bl*od, D*ath of parent (past)
⋆｡°The London Charismatics series°｡⋆
1)The Fire in the Glass
2)The Shadow of Water
3)Bridge of Ash
4)What the Ravens Sing
࣪ ִֶָ 𝙸𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘 ·˚˖
She can see the future, but she has never been able to change it. Now her friend is in danger, so she’ll do everything she can to find the “vampire” killer, as well as uncover her own abilities and discover many things that will change her life, because she is not alone.
·˚˖ 𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 ˖˚·
I giggled and melted with joy, there’s so much atmosphere and emotion here. I had no idea who the killer was in this story. I didn’t get a shocking twist, but that’s not a bad thing.
This book also reminds me of X-Men and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. People with abilities: seeing the future, glimpsing the past, talking to and controlling animals, reading objects, I love this theme!
The story is set at the end of winter, but it feels perfect for late autumn, when it’s chilly and rainy.
I’ve loved the author’s style ever since Empire of Shadows. It’s like drinking hot tea with cookies, it never gets old and just makes you want more!
·˚˖ 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 ˖˚·
The characters feel alive, and their interactions are delightful. The romance is slow-burn. What I don’t love as much is when a character keeps repeating that they can’t be with someone because of their status, and so on. I’d prefer more teamwork between them, so I’m glad there’s more to read.
·˚˖ 𝙰𝙻𝙲 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ˖˚·
Honestly, the audiobook was such a smooth listen. The narrator’s voice is clear, expressive, and never boring, every character actually feels alive. The pacing is perfect for binging, and the sound quality is super clean, no weird pauses or background noise. It didn’t just tell the story, it made the whole vibe stronger. Totally worth going for the audio version.
𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝑽𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑾𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔 𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝑳𝑪!
❝ What you and I do is still dangerous. People are as likely to fear it now as they did then. They just have different weapons at their disposal.
❞
╰𝚂𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛 𝙵𝚛𝚎𝚎╮
✦ Name: The Fire in the Glass by
✦ Pub Date: Apr 01 2020 (new cover 2025)
✦ Rating: 4,25/5
✦ Genre: Historical Fantasy, Mystery
✦ POV: 1
✦ Spice: 0/5
✦ Age: 15+
✦ CW: D*ath, Bl*od, D*ath of parent (past)
⋆｡°The London Charismatics series°｡⋆
1)The Fire in the Glass
2)The Shadow of Water
3)Bridge of Ash
4)What the Ravens Sing
࣪ ִֶָ 𝙸𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘 ·˚˖
She can see the future, but she has never been able to change it. Now her friend is in danger, so she’ll do everything she can to find the “vampire” killer, as well as uncover her own abilities and discover many things that will change her life, because she is not alone.
·˚˖ 𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜 ˖˚·
I giggled and melted with joy, there’s so much atmosphere and emotion here. I had no idea who the killer was in this story. I didn’t get a shocking twist, but that’s not a bad thing.
This book also reminds me of X-Men and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. People with abilities: seeing the future, glimpsing the past, talking to and controlling animals, reading objects, I love this theme!
The story is set at the end of winter, but it feels perfect for late autumn, when it’s chilly and rainy.
I’ve loved the author’s style ever since Empire of Shadows. It’s like drinking hot tea with cookies, it never gets old and just makes you want more!
·˚˖ 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 ˖˚·
The characters feel alive, and their interactions are delightful. The romance is slow-burn. What I don’t love as much is when a character keeps repeating that they can’t be with someone because of their status, and so on. I’d prefer more teamwork between them, so I’m glad there’s more to read.
·˚˖ 𝙰𝙻𝙲 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 ˖˚·
Honestly, the audiobook was such a smooth listen. The narrator’s voice is clear, expressive, and never boring, every character actually feels alive. The pacing is perfect for binging, and the sound quality is super clean, no weird pauses or background noise. It didn’t just tell the story, it made the whole vibe stronger. Totally worth going for the audio version.
September 1, 2020
I love historical fiction. I especially love historical fiction with strong, unconventional female characters, with mystery and a bit of fantasy added, and The Fire in the Glass completely hit the jackpot for me! Set in 1914 London, The Fire in the Glass follows Lily, a young woman with a gift for seeing the future, as she desperately tries to save a friend from the grisly death she sees in one of her visions. This book is filled with wonderful descriptions of World War I-era London and the surrounding countryside, as well as an assortment of interesting characters, "charismatics," who have unusual gifts. Very well written and interesting plot, and I look forward to reading more of the author's work.
Thanks to Booksirens for a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Booksirens for a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 6, 2025
J’ai découvert, assez récemment, la maison d’édition Rivka. Après avoir refermé l’un de leurs titres, complètement bouleversé par ma lecture, j’ai eu cette envie presque instinctive d’explorer le reste de leur catalogue. Et c’est là que les choses se sont compliquées. Comment choisir, quand chaque roman semble promettre une expérience unique ? Après de longues hésitations – ce qui, je l’avoue, est le piège des maisons d’édition qui regorgent de pépites –, mon choix s’est arrêté sur Le Lys de Feu, tome 1 : La Prophétesse de Jacquelyn Benson. Une plongée dans le Londres du début du XXᵉ siècle, une époque que j’affectionne tout particulièrement pour ses contrastes entre progrès et mysticisme, entre science et superstition.
Dès les premières pages, l’autrice nous emporte dans la brume, dans ce Londres des années 1910 où les pavés suintent, où la lumière des réverbères hésite entre éclat et pénombre, et où l’on pressent déjà le grondement lointain de la guerre à venir. Mais sous cette brume se cache une autre obscurité, bien plus inquiétante : celle du destin. Et c’est précisément là qu’entre en scène Lily Albright, prophétesse malgré elle, femme d’une rare intensité, dont la clairvoyance n’est pas un don mais un fardeau. Elle voit. Elle sait. Et, paradoxalement, elle demeure impuissante.
Dans une époque où les femmes sont censées se taire, Lily parle.
Là où on attend d’elle l’obéissance, elle agit.
Là où la société la voudrait docile, elle s’impose.
Et c’est sans doute ce qui fait d’elle l’un de ces personnages féminins que la littérature aime offrir à ceux qui doutent encore de la force des femmes. Lily n’a rien de la “femme-ombre” qui vit à travers le regard des autres : elle brûle, elle éclaire, elle résiste. Elle est ce Lys de feu, symbole de pureté et de rébellion, éclatant dans un monde d’hommes englué dans ses certitudes.
Mais que vaut une flamme seule dans la nuit, si ce n’est pour attirer les ténèbres ?
Lorsque son don la conduit à entrevoir la mort de son amie, Lily n’a d’autre choix que de plonger dans une enquête fascinante, tissée avec un soin d’orfèvre. Rien n’y est laissé au hasard. Chaque scène, chaque geste, chaque regard compte. Jacquelyn Benson fait preuve d’une maîtrise narrative rare, d’une précision presque mathématique — sans jamais sacrifier la part de mystère.
Le lecteur, lui, avance à ses côtés, cherchant à comprendre avant elle, et se heurte au même mur d’incertitudes. On croit deviner, on croit savoir — notamment ce qui se cache derrière ces meurtres d’un autre sang, ces crimes dont le rhésus semble couler plus épais que la logique — et pourtant, tout nous échappe. C’est une lecture qui envoûte comme un épisode de Columbo découvert par hasard à une heure tardive : on croit n’en regarder que le début, puis soudain, on réalise qu’on ne peut plus détourner le regard.
La réussite du roman tient aussi dans la plume immersive de Benson, d’une sensibilité presque cinématographique. Elle écrit comme on peint : chaque phrase a la texture d’un décor, chaque mot porte une odeur, une lumière, un souffle. On entend les roues des fiacres, on sent le froid de la pierre, on goûte la peur. Le Londres qu’elle décrit n’est pas celui des cartes postales, mais celui des âmes — ce Londres intérieur où se mêlent les désirs, la foi, les cauchemars.
Et au cœur de cette toile, ses personnages vivent.
Lily, bien sûr, mais aussi Lord Strangford, ce baron aussi énigmatique que séduisant, dont la présence oscille entre lumière et ombre. Entre eux, il y a une tension, non pas seulement amoureuse, mais existentielle. Ce sont deux âmes qui se reconnaissent sans se comprendre, deux êtres que le destin lie sans leur consentement.
Jacquelyn Benson joue ici une partition fine : l’amour n’y est pas un refuge, mais une interrogation. Dans cet entre-deux où les sentiments côtoient le surnaturel, chaque émotion devient suspecte. L’autrice ne cherche pas à rassurer son lecteur, elle le trouble — et c’est précisément là que réside son talent.
Ce premier tome agit comme une porte entrouverte. Il dévoile un monde où la science flirte avec la magie, où les dons surnaturels sont moins des bénédictions que des malédictions. L’autrice ne nous dit pas tout — elle promet, elle insinue, elle suggère. Et l’on referme ce livre avec cette sensation rare : celle d’avoir commencé quelque chose de grand, quelque chose dont les prochains volumes viendront déployer toute la splendeur.
En refermant ce premier tome, j’ai eu cette impression d’avoir lu un roman à la croisée des genres : une fresque historique, une enquête policière, une romance, et une réflexion sur le destin. Benson écrit comme on rêve : avec conviction et lucidité à la fois. Elle ne nous raconte pas seulement une histoire, elle nous en fait sentir les battements, les doutes, les fièvres. Et lorsque je repense à Lily, je me dis qu’elle incarne ce que la littérature devrait toujours être : une main tendue vers l’avenir, même lorsqu’elle tremble sous le poids du passé.
Benjamin L. Urbanski – Le Parfum des Mots
6 octobre 2025
Dès les premières pages, l’autrice nous emporte dans la brume, dans ce Londres des années 1910 où les pavés suintent, où la lumière des réverbères hésite entre éclat et pénombre, et où l’on pressent déjà le grondement lointain de la guerre à venir. Mais sous cette brume se cache une autre obscurité, bien plus inquiétante : celle du destin. Et c’est précisément là qu’entre en scène Lily Albright, prophétesse malgré elle, femme d’une rare intensité, dont la clairvoyance n’est pas un don mais un fardeau. Elle voit. Elle sait. Et, paradoxalement, elle demeure impuissante.
Dans une époque où les femmes sont censées se taire, Lily parle.
Là où on attend d’elle l’obéissance, elle agit.
Là où la société la voudrait docile, elle s’impose.
Et c’est sans doute ce qui fait d’elle l’un de ces personnages féminins que la littérature aime offrir à ceux qui doutent encore de la force des femmes. Lily n’a rien de la “femme-ombre” qui vit à travers le regard des autres : elle brûle, elle éclaire, elle résiste. Elle est ce Lys de feu, symbole de pureté et de rébellion, éclatant dans un monde d’hommes englué dans ses certitudes.
Mais que vaut une flamme seule dans la nuit, si ce n’est pour attirer les ténèbres ?
Lorsque son don la conduit à entrevoir la mort de son amie, Lily n’a d’autre choix que de plonger dans une enquête fascinante, tissée avec un soin d’orfèvre. Rien n’y est laissé au hasard. Chaque scène, chaque geste, chaque regard compte. Jacquelyn Benson fait preuve d’une maîtrise narrative rare, d’une précision presque mathématique — sans jamais sacrifier la part de mystère.
Le lecteur, lui, avance à ses côtés, cherchant à comprendre avant elle, et se heurte au même mur d’incertitudes. On croit deviner, on croit savoir — notamment ce qui se cache derrière ces meurtres d’un autre sang, ces crimes dont le rhésus semble couler plus épais que la logique — et pourtant, tout nous échappe. C’est une lecture qui envoûte comme un épisode de Columbo découvert par hasard à une heure tardive : on croit n’en regarder que le début, puis soudain, on réalise qu’on ne peut plus détourner le regard.
La réussite du roman tient aussi dans la plume immersive de Benson, d’une sensibilité presque cinématographique. Elle écrit comme on peint : chaque phrase a la texture d’un décor, chaque mot porte une odeur, une lumière, un souffle. On entend les roues des fiacres, on sent le froid de la pierre, on goûte la peur. Le Londres qu’elle décrit n’est pas celui des cartes postales, mais celui des âmes — ce Londres intérieur où se mêlent les désirs, la foi, les cauchemars.
Et au cœur de cette toile, ses personnages vivent.
Lily, bien sûr, mais aussi Lord Strangford, ce baron aussi énigmatique que séduisant, dont la présence oscille entre lumière et ombre. Entre eux, il y a une tension, non pas seulement amoureuse, mais existentielle. Ce sont deux âmes qui se reconnaissent sans se comprendre, deux êtres que le destin lie sans leur consentement.
Jacquelyn Benson joue ici une partition fine : l’amour n’y est pas un refuge, mais une interrogation. Dans cet entre-deux où les sentiments côtoient le surnaturel, chaque émotion devient suspecte. L’autrice ne cherche pas à rassurer son lecteur, elle le trouble — et c’est précisément là que réside son talent.
Ce premier tome agit comme une porte entrouverte. Il dévoile un monde où la science flirte avec la magie, où les dons surnaturels sont moins des bénédictions que des malédictions. L’autrice ne nous dit pas tout — elle promet, elle insinue, elle suggère. Et l’on referme ce livre avec cette sensation rare : celle d’avoir commencé quelque chose de grand, quelque chose dont les prochains volumes viendront déployer toute la splendeur.
En refermant ce premier tome, j’ai eu cette impression d’avoir lu un roman à la croisée des genres : une fresque historique, une enquête policière, une romance, et une réflexion sur le destin. Benson écrit comme on rêve : avec conviction et lucidité à la fois. Elle ne nous raconte pas seulement une histoire, elle nous en fait sentir les battements, les doutes, les fièvres. Et lorsque je repense à Lily, je me dis qu’elle incarne ce que la littérature devrait toujours être : une main tendue vers l’avenir, même lorsqu’elle tremble sous le poids du passé.
Benjamin L. Urbanski – Le Parfum des Mots
6 octobre 2025
June 17, 2025
Um- why have I been sitting on this series? Will happily remedy this in the next few months.
Think a dash of Libba Bray + J.M. Miro
Add a complicated budding romance –👩🍳💋. This is a supernatural delight.
4.25/4.5 - 5
Think a dash of Libba Bray + J.M. Miro
Add a complicated budding romance –👩🍳💋. This is a supernatural delight.
4.25/4.5 - 5
November 13, 2024
Un peu longuet mais très cool
August 23, 2022
Je suis la première déçue de ne pas avoir apprécié ce roman mais ça ne marche pas à tous les coups.
L’intrigue à la dimension fantastique a du potentiel : on est sur une uchronie d’avant guerre avec une jeune femme en quête d’émancipation et de réponses. Un personnage autonome et à l’image d’une société, d’une caste (les femmes) qui veut voir sa voix compter.
Des dons particuliers cachés à la vue du Londres normal couplé à une enquête sur le progrès scientifique avait tout pour me plaire.
Sauf que j’ai trouvé que la narration manquait cruellement de dynamisme, que les descriptions étaient trop nombreuses et répétitives, m’endormissant plus qu’ éveillant mon intérêt, les personnages trop en surface…
Résultat ? J’ai terminé ma lecture en diagonale 🤷🏼♀️
L’intrigue à la dimension fantastique a du potentiel : on est sur une uchronie d’avant guerre avec une jeune femme en quête d’émancipation et de réponses. Un personnage autonome et à l’image d’une société, d’une caste (les femmes) qui veut voir sa voix compter.
Des dons particuliers cachés à la vue du Londres normal couplé à une enquête sur le progrès scientifique avait tout pour me plaire.
Sauf que j’ai trouvé que la narration manquait cruellement de dynamisme, que les descriptions étaient trop nombreuses et répétitives, m’endormissant plus qu’ éveillant mon intérêt, les personnages trop en surface…
Résultat ? J’ai terminé ma lecture en diagonale 🤷🏼♀️
July 31, 2020
If you are interested in a book that has a girl who has That's so raven like future visions, but only about people dying and a guy who can know past just by touching a person or an object, this is the book for ya. The fantasy read is focused on vampire like killings and hence the mystery about who might the killer be. So the two main characters use their visions to get to the killer. Also there is a family back story, for the female main character. And there are people who can talk to ghosts. This book was an advance reviewer's copy provided to me and all the opinions are my own.
It was a delightful and mysterious read, kept me guessing till the end!
It was a delightful and mysterious read, kept me guessing till the end!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 550 reviews