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The London Charismatics #2
The Shadow of Water
A drowned prince. An ancient prophecy. A cataclysmic threat.
Lily Albright can see the future, and it looks like hell.
As Europe lurches toward the brink of war, a corpse emerges from London’s sewers—and the long-forgotten oracle of an obscure medieval saint comes to fruition, threatening to obliterate the city in an apocalypse of smoke and ash.
Lily is determined to stop the catastrophe, and she’ll call on all her new friends to do it, from a boy who talks with birds to a woman who speaks with the dead—and the enigmatic Lord Strangford, whose ability to see into the darkest corners of Lily’s soul threatens to tear their relationship apart. Together, they’re pulled into a web of lies that winds from the gutters of Limehouse to the champagne-soaked ballrooms of Saint John’s Wood, where rumors of a mysterious white snake lead Lily to a choice that could cost her everything.
A sky of painted stars burns. A red hand is rising. And Lily’s powers are about to be put to the ultimate test.
Return to the arcane world of The London Charismatics as this riveting historical fantasy series continues with The Shadow of Water.
Lily Albright can see the future, and it looks like hell.
As Europe lurches toward the brink of war, a corpse emerges from London’s sewers—and the long-forgotten oracle of an obscure medieval saint comes to fruition, threatening to obliterate the city in an apocalypse of smoke and ash.
Lily is determined to stop the catastrophe, and she’ll call on all her new friends to do it, from a boy who talks with birds to a woman who speaks with the dead—and the enigmatic Lord Strangford, whose ability to see into the darkest corners of Lily’s soul threatens to tear their relationship apart. Together, they’re pulled into a web of lies that winds from the gutters of Limehouse to the champagne-soaked ballrooms of Saint John’s Wood, where rumors of a mysterious white snake lead Lily to a choice that could cost her everything.
A sky of painted stars burns. A red hand is rising. And Lily’s powers are about to be put to the ultimate test.
Return to the arcane world of The London Charismatics as this riveting historical fantasy series continues with The Shadow of Water.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2021
280 people are currently reading
932 people want to read
About the author
Jacquelyn Benson
16 books895 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 181 reviews
August 7, 2024
Historical Fantasy with a dash of romance is my kryptonite.
January 31, 2024
J'adore cette saga ! Mon coup de coeur pour la plume de Jacquelyn Benson, pour les personnages, l'époque, tout en fait, se confirme dans ce 2e tome !!!
On retrouve Lily, Strangford, Sam et les autres 5 mois après les événements du tome 1. Chacun se reconstruit comme il peut. Lily se rend au Refuge pour s'entraîner avec Robert Ash et apprendre à maîtriser, voire développer son pouvoir.
Mais une vision d'un Londres détruit remet tout en question ! Que va-t-il se passer ? Lily et ses amis peuvent-ils empêcher la catastrophe ?
L'intrigue est totalement différente du premier mais on retrouve le côté enquête qui me plaisait bien. Les personnages ont évolué ainsi que leurs relations et ça me plaît énormément ! On voit plus Sam dans ce tome et j'avoue que j'adore ce personnage. Bien sûr, Strangford, sa sensibilité, sa force, ont mon coeur jusqu'au bout 🥰
Et l'objet livre, on peut en parler ? Il est vraiment magnifique ! Bravo Rivka ! J'ai ouï dire que la suite sortait à la fin de l'année... Alors là, c'est sûr qu'il rejoindra ma bibliothèque aussitôt !!! Je vais me jeter sur la précommande comme la misère sur le pauvre monde (je sais, expression du 18e siècle)
On retrouve Lily, Strangford, Sam et les autres 5 mois après les événements du tome 1. Chacun se reconstruit comme il peut. Lily se rend au Refuge pour s'entraîner avec Robert Ash et apprendre à maîtriser, voire développer son pouvoir.
Mais une vision d'un Londres détruit remet tout en question ! Que va-t-il se passer ? Lily et ses amis peuvent-ils empêcher la catastrophe ?
L'intrigue est totalement différente du premier mais on retrouve le côté enquête qui me plaisait bien. Les personnages ont évolué ainsi que leurs relations et ça me plaît énormément ! On voit plus Sam dans ce tome et j'avoue que j'adore ce personnage. Bien sûr, Strangford, sa sensibilité, sa force, ont mon coeur jusqu'au bout 🥰
Et l'objet livre, on peut en parler ? Il est vraiment magnifique ! Bravo Rivka ! J'ai ouï dire que la suite sortait à la fin de l'année... Alors là, c'est sûr qu'il rejoindra ma bibliothèque aussitôt !!! Je vais me jeter sur la précommande comme la misère sur le pauvre monde (je sais, expression du 18e siècle)
September 5, 2021
5 stars - Historical Mystery/Thriller/Paranormal/Fantasy/Romance
This was such an intense read! I'm hooked on this series, and I can't wait for Bridge of Ash to come out!
“Fear the pain of grief. Fear neglecting to embrace life with both your arms and draw all the joy out of it that you can. Fear being stingy with your love or your compassion. But do not fear Death.”
This was such an intense read! I'm hooked on this series, and I can't wait for Bridge of Ash to come out!
“Fear the pain of grief. Fear neglecting to embrace life with both your arms and draw all the joy out of it that you can. Fear being stingy with your love or your compassion. But do not fear Death.”
September 15, 2024
4.5/5
Cette saga commence à faire partie de mes favorites !
J’ai encore une fois profiter de la version audio pour me plonger dans ce second tome qui est sur la lignée du premier.
Je suis fascinée par ces touches de pouvoir dans une Angleterre qui va rentrer dans la première guerre mondiale. D’idées terrifiante qui ne sont pas sans rappeler ce qui mènera à la seconde guerre mondiale ensuite.
Et puis ces personnages qui forme doucement mais sûrement un found family des plus attachants. Le Refuge n’est pas sans me rappeler Sous les étoiles de Bloomstone Manor que j’ai tout simplement adoré également.
La romance est légère et tellement douce, clairement mes bébés.
J’aime tellement la manière dont les dons de chacun sont exploités, l’urgence et le compte à rebours à chaque tome. Les émotions de Lily et sa justesse.
Clairement une saga incroyable qu’il faut découvrir 🥰
Cette saga commence à faire partie de mes favorites !
J’ai encore une fois profiter de la version audio pour me plonger dans ce second tome qui est sur la lignée du premier.
Je suis fascinée par ces touches de pouvoir dans une Angleterre qui va rentrer dans la première guerre mondiale. D’idées terrifiante qui ne sont pas sans rappeler ce qui mènera à la seconde guerre mondiale ensuite.
Et puis ces personnages qui forme doucement mais sûrement un found family des plus attachants. Le Refuge n’est pas sans me rappeler Sous les étoiles de Bloomstone Manor que j’ai tout simplement adoré également.
La romance est légère et tellement douce, clairement mes bébés.
J’aime tellement la manière dont les dons de chacun sont exploités, l’urgence et le compte à rebours à chaque tome. Les émotions de Lily et sa justesse.
Clairement une saga incroyable qu’il faut découvrir 🥰
July 30, 2025
4.25
Magic + HF + ❤️
Oh, is this a combo I can inhale and zero TBR regrets. 🥰
Magic + HF + ❤️
Oh, is this a combo I can inhale and zero TBR regrets. 🥰
March 31, 2024
Emotional. Tragic. Bittersweet. And romantic. This second installment in the London Charismatic series will make you ache with every flipped page.
I love the growth that Lily and the rest of the group has experienced, especially by the end of this book. War is coming. Loss and sacrifice constant watchwords and yet Benson does this beautiful job of weaving it through with a mystery of political intrigue and a race against time.
I can’t wait to jump into the next installment in this comfort read series.
I love the growth that Lily and the rest of the group has experienced, especially by the end of this book. War is coming. Loss and sacrifice constant watchwords and yet Benson does this beautiful job of weaving it through with a mystery of political intrigue and a race against time.
I can’t wait to jump into the next installment in this comfort read series.
April 30, 2021
1) The Fire in the Glass ★★★★☆
I received an ARC of this book for free from BookSirens.
A big thank you to them and the author.
When I requested an ARC of The Shadow of Water, I didn't realize it was the second book in a series. So I've picked up The Fire in the Glass before reading this one and it was a delightful read that made me really glad for this ARC!
The Shadow of Water begins very shortly after the end of the previous novel, and the stakes are higher than ever. Lily's visions warns her of London's destruction, but how will she and the others stop it from happening? This seems to be an impossible task, and Lily's visions seem like a curse more than ever. I really felt for her, and there's a lot of character development happening here. Her romance with Lord Strangford is still one I like and that's made even more interesting by his own ability, but that's also the reason their relationship is challenged. Another favorite character is Sam, like most readers I think, because it's impossible to not love him. The magic system is still strong, but what makes this book such a great read is the story and the author's narration. It's such a page-turner, I only took a break from reading it when I was needed somewhere else.
This second instalment in The Charismatics series confirms the author's talent to deliver great historical fiction with her attention for details and accuracy, as well as a great mystery and supernatural beings. If you love good historical mystery with a dash of romance, it's time you pick up that series.
The Shadow of Water will be released on April 1, 2021.
I received an ARC of this book for free from BookSirens.
A big thank you to them and the author.
When I requested an ARC of The Shadow of Water, I didn't realize it was the second book in a series. So I've picked up The Fire in the Glass before reading this one and it was a delightful read that made me really glad for this ARC!
The Shadow of Water begins very shortly after the end of the previous novel, and the stakes are higher than ever. Lily's visions warns her of London's destruction, but how will she and the others stop it from happening? This seems to be an impossible task, and Lily's visions seem like a curse more than ever. I really felt for her, and there's a lot of character development happening here. Her romance with Lord Strangford is still one I like and that's made even more interesting by his own ability, but that's also the reason their relationship is challenged. Another favorite character is Sam, like most readers I think, because it's impossible to not love him. The magic system is still strong, but what makes this book such a great read is the story and the author's narration. It's such a page-turner, I only took a break from reading it when I was needed somewhere else.
This second instalment in The Charismatics series confirms the author's talent to deliver great historical fiction with her attention for details and accuracy, as well as a great mystery and supernatural beings. If you love good historical mystery with a dash of romance, it's time you pick up that series.
The Shadow of Water will be released on April 1, 2021.
Read
March 26, 2021To leave a review for this book i thought it only fair to read the first book in the series which i found to be good with an unusual story with a paranormal theme.
The second book follows on from where the first book ends with another gripping mystery, it is a rather long book which has some predictable story lines and mystery characters, who in the vein of the story were not surprising at all.
Overall i found this book enjoyable, but i struggled to read it at times, for reasons i am unsure of, it just seemed overly complex in the storyline or areas were too descriptive. The character's in this book continue to develop and i am sure there will be a third book to complete their storylines and bring a satisfactory conclusion to all of the unfinished stories in this series
The second book follows on from where the first book ends with another gripping mystery, it is a rather long book which has some predictable story lines and mystery characters, who in the vein of the story were not surprising at all.
Overall i found this book enjoyable, but i struggled to read it at times, for reasons i am unsure of, it just seemed overly complex in the storyline or areas were too descriptive. The character's in this book continue to develop and i am sure there will be a third book to complete their storylines and bring a satisfactory conclusion to all of the unfinished stories in this series
November 13, 2023
Encore un excellent moment passé en compagnie des persos de ce roman ! 🥰 ce roman c’est comme retourner à la maison, on aime l’ambiance, le mystère, l’enquête et surtout les personnages.. que j’aime les persos du Lys de feu. Vraiment aucun membre du refuge a ma préférence, ils ont chacun leurs petit truc qui les rends attachants et le faites qu’ils soient tout en nuances, pleins de sentiments même négatifs, ça les rends humains et vivants.
L’ambiance du Londres des années 1918 est très bien représentée, les descriptions sont dosées à merveille et n’alourdissent pas le récit et le rythme parfois haletant de l’intrigue.
Bref lisez cette saga, la plume et l’histoire créée par Jacquelyn Benson mérite vraiment d’être mis en lumière et découverte ! En général les romans des éditions RIVKA, sont à découvrir !!!
L’ambiance du Londres des années 1918 est très bien représentée, les descriptions sont dosées à merveille et n’alourdissent pas le récit et le rythme parfois haletant de l’intrigue.
Bref lisez cette saga, la plume et l’histoire créée par Jacquelyn Benson mérite vraiment d’être mis en lumière et découverte ! En général les romans des éditions RIVKA, sont à découvrir !!!
February 4, 2024
Faisant suite à La Prophétesse, ce deuxième tome me comble d'aise car je suis complètement fan de cette série ! L'adaptation audio est extraordinaire. La voix d'Adélaïde Poulard nous précipite dans un récit qui déverse son trop-plein d'émotions et de rebondissements avec une efficacité redoutable.
Plus besoin de présentation. Lily a rejoint le Refuge pour explorer ses dons particuliers mais galère pas mal à contrôler son pouvoir. Malgré les encouragements de son mentor, elle se mélange les pinceaux et ne parvient pas à démêler ses visions. La tension à Londres est également au plus fort, les irlandais se mobilisent, la guerre en Europe se précise et une bombe devrait raser la capitale en causant des dommages irréparables.
Ça ne paraît pas au début, le rythme étant plus lent, mais l'action va vite grimper dans les tours. Lily et ses camarades Charismatiques s'impliquent, encore et toujours, se confrontant à tous les milieux sociopolitiques, visant sans cesse la justice et la paix. Mais j'ai surtout une grande tendresse pour les personnages, leurs relations qui entrelacent l'amitié, l'amour, les interdits, le passé et l'avenir si incertain. J'aime infiniment ce que la série propose, un mélange de romance et suspense, une alternance de sensibilité et de passion qui la rend si palpitante !
La fin de ce deuxième tome est poignante, parce qu'elle sonne l'heure de déclarations bouleversantes et celle de terribles séparations. Cela peut sembler sinistre, et pourtant il y a une telle flamme romanesque qui prend aux tripes. Je ne peux pas être indifférente aux destins de Lily, de Strangford et de Sam ♥ Et il me tarde déjà de découvrir la suite en audio. J'ai franchement la boule au ventre rien que d'y penser.
Plus besoin de présentation. Lily a rejoint le Refuge pour explorer ses dons particuliers mais galère pas mal à contrôler son pouvoir. Malgré les encouragements de son mentor, elle se mélange les pinceaux et ne parvient pas à démêler ses visions. La tension à Londres est également au plus fort, les irlandais se mobilisent, la guerre en Europe se précise et une bombe devrait raser la capitale en causant des dommages irréparables.
Ça ne paraît pas au début, le rythme étant plus lent, mais l'action va vite grimper dans les tours. Lily et ses camarades Charismatiques s'impliquent, encore et toujours, se confrontant à tous les milieux sociopolitiques, visant sans cesse la justice et la paix. Mais j'ai surtout une grande tendresse pour les personnages, leurs relations qui entrelacent l'amitié, l'amour, les interdits, le passé et l'avenir si incertain. J'aime infiniment ce que la série propose, un mélange de romance et suspense, une alternance de sensibilité et de passion qui la rend si palpitante !
La fin de ce deuxième tome est poignante, parce qu'elle sonne l'heure de déclarations bouleversantes et celle de terribles séparations. Cela peut sembler sinistre, et pourtant il y a une telle flamme romanesque qui prend aux tripes. Je ne peux pas être indifférente aux destins de Lily, de Strangford et de Sam ♥ Et il me tarde déjà de découvrir la suite en audio. J'ai franchement la boule au ventre rien que d'y penser.
April 25, 2024
I’m editing my initial review of this book after reading it a second time. I read it the first time the day it came out and I tend to rush through books when they’re new and I’ve been anticipating them and I believe that’s why my first review was so negative.
I took my time reading it again and actually really liked it. This book was very different from the first one and another reason I didn’t like it at first. However, I found myself engaged in this new and unfamiliar story and ended up enjoying it. I love historical fiction but am not a huge fan of politics and war. Of course they’re always present in history but I dislike when it’s the main focus of the story.
This sequel was very political-heavy and Not something I would normally enjoy. But, I found that with the characters I’ve come to know and love it made it interesting and worthwhile.
The only thing that irked me was that the author called Lady Strangford by the name Lady Torrington multiple times. I’m pretty sure that was an error but I could be wrong.
I took my time reading it again and actually really liked it. This book was very different from the first one and another reason I didn’t like it at first. However, I found myself engaged in this new and unfamiliar story and ended up enjoying it. I love historical fiction but am not a huge fan of politics and war. Of course they’re always present in history but I dislike when it’s the main focus of the story.
This sequel was very political-heavy and Not something I would normally enjoy. But, I found that with the characters I’ve come to know and love it made it interesting and worthwhile.
The only thing that irked me was that the author called Lady Strangford by the name Lady Torrington multiple times. I’m pretty sure that was an error but I could be wrong.
April 16, 2021
Lily Albright and her new family of charismatics are torn between duty, fate and chance. Can they do the impossible to thwart the threats of tragedy and war?
Book 2 of the series is even more of a runaway adventure than Book 1. The strands of fate are woven through everything and Lily struggles to determine her role and responsibility. Her relationship with Strangford and the one with her father become even more weighty and confusing. I loved the intervention of Strangford’s sister in their situation as it related to her and her brother’s strong and opinionated mother. And we see even further into Sam and the Liu family’s history and particular pain.
Lily is such a hero and I am totally in love with her. With action, intrigue, political and societal entanglements and, of course, the titillating lure of magic, this series absolutely shines.
Thank you to Book Sirens, the author and the publisher for a free copy. These opinions are my own.
Book 2 of the series is even more of a runaway adventure than Book 1. The strands of fate are woven through everything and Lily struggles to determine her role and responsibility. Her relationship with Strangford and the one with her father become even more weighty and confusing. I loved the intervention of Strangford’s sister in their situation as it related to her and her brother’s strong and opinionated mother. And we see even further into Sam and the Liu family’s history and particular pain.
Lily is such a hero and I am totally in love with her. With action, intrigue, political and societal entanglements and, of course, the titillating lure of magic, this series absolutely shines.
Thank you to Book Sirens, the author and the publisher for a free copy. These opinions are my own.
Read
January 30, 2023🎧Also available in audio!
Narrated by Alex Picard
Audible US: https://tinyurl.com/mwd5ynf5
Audible UK: https://tinyurl.com/msm4fmy4
iTunes: https://tinyurl.com/49knm726
Scribd: https://tinyurl.com/4j767yb7
Chirp: https://tinyurl.com/mwr8fsmy
Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/yck35vwa
Google Play: https://tinyurl.com/2peutu38
Barnes & Noble Audio: https://tinyurl.com/yvfbf37x
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2s3hc86z
Audiobooks.com: https://tinyurl.com/3c4xpcc3
Buy Direct from the Author: https://jacquelynbenson.gumroad.com/l...
Narrated by Alex Picard
Audible US: https://tinyurl.com/mwd5ynf5
Audible UK: https://tinyurl.com/msm4fmy4
iTunes: https://tinyurl.com/49knm726
Scribd: https://tinyurl.com/4j767yb7
Chirp: https://tinyurl.com/mwr8fsmy
Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/yck35vwa
Google Play: https://tinyurl.com/2peutu38
Barnes & Noble Audio: https://tinyurl.com/yvfbf37x
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2s3hc86z
Audiobooks.com: https://tinyurl.com/3c4xpcc3
Buy Direct from the Author: https://jacquelynbenson.gumroad.com/l...
October 18, 2022
C’était un bon livre en soit mais j’ai eu du mal à m’investir dans ma lecture. Le tome 1 était au dessus pour moi.
October 6, 2022
Encore un immense coup de cœur pour ce tome 2 ! C'était tellement bien ! Même si on est dans un tome un peu transitif il y a quand même énormément d'action et l'histoire a beaucoup avancé !
.
Et puis Lily et Stanford, mais WAOUH !!! Je les aime tellement, ils sont tellement mignons et tout !
Bref je veux le tome 3 ❤️❤️❤️
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Et puis Lily et Stanford, mais WAOUH !!! Je les aime tellement, ils sont tellement mignons et tout !
Bref je veux le tome 3 ❤️❤️❤️
July 20, 2025
Un peu lent à démarrer mais c’était bien
October 1, 2025
sam wu deserves the world
February 20, 2024
Free audiobooks for the rest of the series for Spotify Premium users 👍🏼
3.5 stars! I think the fact that I went full audio on this one really affected my enjoyment. I tend to only listen when I am driving and that coupled with the fact that you cannot skim read an audiobook really made this feel sloooowww to me (even at 1.8 listening speed).
This book would have benefited for a generous skim as it is very slow going until a least Ch. 17. Once it gets going we have some good momentum to take us to the end but man it took awhile to get there, and my favorite thing from last book (our romance) took a huge backseat in this one outside of the generous re-hashing of what we already know about our couple.
Books are still free for Premium users so I may try number 3 and see what I think but not feeling super eager to keep going.
Honestly Sam is the best character and you can't change my mind.
3.5 stars! I think the fact that I went full audio on this one really affected my enjoyment. I tend to only listen when I am driving and that coupled with the fact that you cannot skim read an audiobook really made this feel sloooowww to me (even at 1.8 listening speed).
This book would have benefited for a generous skim as it is very slow going until a least Ch. 17. Once it gets going we have some good momentum to take us to the end but man it took awhile to get there, and my favorite thing from last book (our romance) took a huge backseat in this one outside of the generous re-hashing of what we already know about our couple.
Books are still free for Premium users so I may try number 3 and see what I think but not feeling super eager to keep going.
Honestly Sam is the best character and you can't change my mind.
September 29, 2021
Book Two of the Charismatics Series
Lily needs to destroy the papers of a rogue doctor who wanted to gain her power for himself, through whatever vile method possible. A follower of the heinous discipline of eugenics, Dr Joseph Hartwell deserved his death. Now his research has to be put beyond use.
Lily is a 'charismatic', and is guided by Robert Ash, a kind of Charles Xavier from X-Men but operating in 1914 with a group of other charismatics - people with extraordinary abilities. Lily can see the future; her lover, Lord Strangford, can feel people's minds and memories from touching them skin to skin, and can even pick up remnants from objects such as chairs. Estelle is a clairvoyant and Sam can communicate with animals. These are the powers that Hartwell had wanted to harness for himself. Between them, they find an ancient prophecy that foretells the destruction of London, adding to images that Lily has seen. Together they have to find out what is going on, how this destruction can possibly come to pass, and then find some way to stop it.
This is part two of a three part series and it can't really be read as a stand alone - you'll want to read the up-coming part three. But when you start it, if you haven't read part one, you won't have a clue what is going on. There's no backstory for some time. Many readers will stop here and give up; that would be a mistake. Because the characters are so well written, once the back story comes in and you begin to be drawn into the world Lily inhabits, you'll get hooked.
I loved this, but the idea of people with these subtle powers fascinated me anyway, and the writing is very good. However, and there is usually a 'but', the writer, I believe, is American (I've just looked and yes she is) and it shows. She's writing about London but refers to 'blocks' rather than streets, 'candy' not sweets, train 'cars' not carriages, so she's not thought enough about place to use the English versions of words where they differ to the American. And her research into the Houses of Parliament omitted that they were burned down in 1834 and rebuilt up to and including 1876, so in 1914, they wouldn't have been 'ancient' but, at most, 70 years old. I live in a house older than that which doesn't feel 'ancient'. There is also a certain feel that suggests she's looking at maps and doesn't really know London. The selection of 'The Spaniards Inn' seems to be proving she knows about London rather than any real personal knowledge - it feels too obvious.
Otherwise, as I said, it takes time to get into but it is worth it - sort of The Thirty-Nine Steps meets X-Men.
Originally Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
Lily needs to destroy the papers of a rogue doctor who wanted to gain her power for himself, through whatever vile method possible. A follower of the heinous discipline of eugenics, Dr Joseph Hartwell deserved his death. Now his research has to be put beyond use.
Lily is a 'charismatic', and is guided by Robert Ash, a kind of Charles Xavier from X-Men but operating in 1914 with a group of other charismatics - people with extraordinary abilities. Lily can see the future; her lover, Lord Strangford, can feel people's minds and memories from touching them skin to skin, and can even pick up remnants from objects such as chairs. Estelle is a clairvoyant and Sam can communicate with animals. These are the powers that Hartwell had wanted to harness for himself. Between them, they find an ancient prophecy that foretells the destruction of London, adding to images that Lily has seen. Together they have to find out what is going on, how this destruction can possibly come to pass, and then find some way to stop it.
This is part two of a three part series and it can't really be read as a stand alone - you'll want to read the up-coming part three. But when you start it, if you haven't read part one, you won't have a clue what is going on. There's no backstory for some time. Many readers will stop here and give up; that would be a mistake. Because the characters are so well written, once the back story comes in and you begin to be drawn into the world Lily inhabits, you'll get hooked.
I loved this, but the idea of people with these subtle powers fascinated me anyway, and the writing is very good. However, and there is usually a 'but', the writer, I believe, is American (I've just looked and yes she is) and it shows. She's writing about London but refers to 'blocks' rather than streets, 'candy' not sweets, train 'cars' not carriages, so she's not thought enough about place to use the English versions of words where they differ to the American. And her research into the Houses of Parliament omitted that they were burned down in 1834 and rebuilt up to and including 1876, so in 1914, they wouldn't have been 'ancient' but, at most, 70 years old. I live in a house older than that which doesn't feel 'ancient'. There is also a certain feel that suggests she's looking at maps and doesn't really know London. The selection of 'The Spaniards Inn' seems to be proving she knows about London rather than any real personal knowledge - it feels too obvious.
Otherwise, as I said, it takes time to get into but it is worth it - sort of The Thirty-Nine Steps meets X-Men.
Originally Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
April 6, 2021
3.5 stars, if I could.
I received an ARC of this book for free from BookSirens. A big thank you to them and the author.
I am a huge fan of this author, the potential of this series and these characters. I read the first edition of the Charismatics and fell hard!
Ms. Benson writes these characters with depth - she shows them great love and has a clear commitment to their individual and combined stories. I find myself invested in Lucy, Sam, Strangford and the rest - impressed by Lord Tarrington and Ms. Eversleigh, broken by the losses, excited by introductions to new characters.
This latest installment in The Charismatics series fell short for me - it felt just a little less clear in the storyline than the first. There was a bit too much flourish and description throughout, making me struggle to get from point A to point B.
That said - the ending (last 100 pages or so) had me riveted and I am ready for the next installment in this series!!
I received an ARC of this book for free from BookSirens. A big thank you to them and the author.
I am a huge fan of this author, the potential of this series and these characters. I read the first edition of the Charismatics and fell hard!
Ms. Benson writes these characters with depth - she shows them great love and has a clear commitment to their individual and combined stories. I find myself invested in Lucy, Sam, Strangford and the rest - impressed by Lord Tarrington and Ms. Eversleigh, broken by the losses, excited by introductions to new characters.
This latest installment in The Charismatics series fell short for me - it felt just a little less clear in the storyline than the first. There was a bit too much flourish and description throughout, making me struggle to get from point A to point B.
That said - the ending (last 100 pages or so) had me riveted and I am ready for the next installment in this series!!
August 6, 2022
Après un premier tome haletant et plein de promesses, j'ai trouvé l'intrigue de ce second tome bien moins intéressante. J'ai bien entendu été ravie de retrouver les personnages que l'on creuse un peu plus en profondeur mais il manquait selon moi une bonne dose de fantastique pour que je le considère pas comme une tome de transition. À découvrir toutefois.
March 31, 2021
The Shadow of Water did not disappoint! I enjoyed this so so much!
I have to admit, I was worried going in, as The Fire in the Glass was one of my top books of 2020. How on earth would this compare?
I needn't have been worried though - this was an absolute delight, and I binged it once again.
Set on the cusp of World War I, the story oozes history - and I loved seeing glimpses of famous figures of the time in such "normal" (for aristocrats etc. - but away from the ravages of war) settings, reminding me that these were ordinary people too with lives beforehand. It really helped with the feeling that this really could have happened.
We once again follow Lily Albright as she struggles with mastering her power and coming to terms with all that she hasn't changed, as she desperately seeks to change her latest prophecy/vision - the cataclysmic destruction of London. My only wish is that some of the other characters we meet in book one featured a little more heavily, as the cast does feel narrowed down with more glimpses and snippets - but that's just as I love them all and just want to see as much as I can about them. It still plays out wonderfully.
I love that the wheels of the mystery about it all keep ever turning, as smaller ones are brought up and resolved - and new facets come into the greater one propelling the narrative. Even if I guessed parts, there was always something about the reveal I did not see coming. And the way things come full circle to earlier points made is so well done.
I am left fearing for the future of this amazing bunch of people - Benson does demonstrate that won't coddle her characters, or us. But as a fan of Jay Kristoff, I am up for my heart being broken by a book - give me all the feels! (...but also please don't! haha).
Thank you Jacquelyn Benson for sending me an early copy.
I have to admit, I was worried going in, as The Fire in the Glass was one of my top books of 2020. How on earth would this compare?
I needn't have been worried though - this was an absolute delight, and I binged it once again.
Set on the cusp of World War I, the story oozes history - and I loved seeing glimpses of famous figures of the time in such "normal" (for aristocrats etc. - but away from the ravages of war) settings, reminding me that these were ordinary people too with lives beforehand. It really helped with the feeling that this really could have happened.
We once again follow Lily Albright as she struggles with mastering her power and coming to terms with all that she hasn't changed, as she desperately seeks to change her latest prophecy/vision - the cataclysmic destruction of London. My only wish is that some of the other characters we meet in book one featured a little more heavily, as the cast does feel narrowed down with more glimpses and snippets - but that's just as I love them all and just want to see as much as I can about them. It still plays out wonderfully.
I love that the wheels of the mystery about it all keep ever turning, as smaller ones are brought up and resolved - and new facets come into the greater one propelling the narrative. Even if I guessed parts, there was always something about the reveal I did not see coming. And the way things come full circle to earlier points made is so well done.
I am left fearing for the future of this amazing bunch of people - Benson does demonstrate that won't coddle her characters, or us. But as a fan of Jay Kristoff, I am up for my heart being broken by a book - give me all the feels! (...but also please don't! haha).
Thank you Jacquelyn Benson for sending me an early copy.
March 24, 2021
This book was intense!!! Omg the last 150+ pages had my palms actually sweating. I didn't actually know books could do that to me 😂
The way fantasy is woven around history is just SO good and it really feels like legit, this happened 😂 I'll be honest that even living in England I really know nothing of our history so it felt like I was actually learning as well as having a ton of fun!
This book picks up shortly after the end of The Fire in the Glass. WW1 Is brewing and there's a lot of tension between the Irish Nationalists and the English Government. Lily is still trying to get to grips with her powers and having lessons with Ash, when she has a new vision of a cataclysmic event. The Charismatics are thrown into the thick of trying to prevent utter devestation!
I'm so happy we got to see more about Sam in this book. He's such an interesting character and we get some of his back story and more of him interacting with animals which is probably some of my favourite bits of the story!
Anyway the story takes a bit of time to build at the beginning. There's a lot of political intrigue etc but the last half was nail biting and action packed and I loved how tense it got. I cannot wait for book 3, I need it now!
The way fantasy is woven around history is just SO good and it really feels like legit, this happened 😂 I'll be honest that even living in England I really know nothing of our history so it felt like I was actually learning as well as having a ton of fun!
This book picks up shortly after the end of The Fire in the Glass. WW1 Is brewing and there's a lot of tension between the Irish Nationalists and the English Government. Lily is still trying to get to grips with her powers and having lessons with Ash, when she has a new vision of a cataclysmic event. The Charismatics are thrown into the thick of trying to prevent utter devestation!
I'm so happy we got to see more about Sam in this book. He's such an interesting character and we get some of his back story and more of him interacting with animals which is probably some of my favourite bits of the story!
Anyway the story takes a bit of time to build at the beginning. There's a lot of political intrigue etc but the last half was nail biting and action packed and I loved how tense it got. I cannot wait for book 3, I need it now!
April 29, 2025
Écouté en livre audio, en grande partie notamment sur un long trajet, et ça a bien fait le taf.
Du côté positif :
J’ai aimé le cadre historique de début du XX, à l’aube de la 1ere guerre mondiale.
J’ai adoré le développement de la found family et, en particulier, la relation amicale entre Sam et Lily. Mais j’ai aussi aimé rencontrer d’autres membres de la « famille » de Lily (on aime en savoir plus sur son père).
La romance est très mignonne également et ne prend pas le pas sur les enjeux de l’histoire (et ça, on valide !).
J’ai aussi apprécié que l’héroïne ait des difficultés à contrôler son don : tout n’est pas ultra facile pour elle et ça, c’était appréciable !
Et puis, je me suis surprise à avoir les larmes aux yeux deux ou trois fois à la fin…
Pourquoi ce n’est pas un 5 étoiles :
Je n’ai pas été surprise, tous les plot twists et/ou révélations étaient très prévisibles… donc le côté un peu convenu de la narration lui fait perdre une étoile, mais j’ai quand même passé un bon moment.
Du côté positif :
J’ai aimé le cadre historique de début du XX, à l’aube de la 1ere guerre mondiale.
J’ai adoré le développement de la found family et, en particulier, la relation amicale entre Sam et Lily. Mais j’ai aussi aimé rencontrer d’autres membres de la « famille » de Lily (on aime en savoir plus sur son père).
La romance est très mignonne également et ne prend pas le pas sur les enjeux de l’histoire (et ça, on valide !).
J’ai aussi apprécié que l’héroïne ait des difficultés à contrôler son don : tout n’est pas ultra facile pour elle et ça, c’était appréciable !
Et puis, je me suis surprise à avoir les larmes aux yeux deux ou trois fois à la fin…
Pourquoi ce n’est pas un 5 étoiles :
Je n’ai pas été surprise, tous les plot twists et/ou révélations étaient très prévisibles… donc le côté un peu convenu de la narration lui fait perdre une étoile, mais j’ai quand même passé un bon moment.
March 10, 2021
Thank you to BookSirens and Jacquelyn Benson for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
'The truth didn’t come in neat bands of black and white. It was far messier than that.'
This is the second in a series which I failed to realise before requesting however it can be read stand alone which is great.
The story follows Lily Albright and she can see glimpses of the future.
Along with a team of other 'charismatics' they discover a plot involving a bomb and a lot of destruction.
They investigate whilst using their abilities to seek the truth and the cause.
I felt that the characters are fantastic, they're deep they're broken and they're learning. It adds depth to each one of them.
I couldn't say what was wrong with this book but there was something about it which made It take me a while to finish.
However having finished it I can say it was a well planned and thought out book with plenty of depth and intrigue.
'The truth didn’t come in neat bands of black and white. It was far messier than that.'
This is the second in a series which I failed to realise before requesting however it can be read stand alone which is great.
The story follows Lily Albright and she can see glimpses of the future.
Along with a team of other 'charismatics' they discover a plot involving a bomb and a lot of destruction.
They investigate whilst using their abilities to seek the truth and the cause.
I felt that the characters are fantastic, they're deep they're broken and they're learning. It adds depth to each one of them.
I couldn't say what was wrong with this book but there was something about it which made It take me a while to finish.
However having finished it I can say it was a well planned and thought out book with plenty of depth and intrigue.
September 17, 2022
Je n’ai pas autant apprécié ce tome que le premier, ayant eu le sentiment que l’intrigue peinait à démarrer et que certains passages traînaient en longueur, rendant la lecture parfois ennuyante. Mais force est de constater que Jacquelyn Benson compense une gestion du rythme hasardeuse par une plume immersive et entraînante, et un don pour faire monter la tension et la pression jusqu’à ce que l’angoisse se fasse insurmontable. Entre l’éventualité d’un conflit mondial dévastateur et des dissensions intérieures, Londres est soumise à des dangers que notre héroïne et ses amis sont bien décidés à tenir éloignés, quitte à en payer le prix fort…
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Avis complet sur https://lightandsmell.wordpress.com/2...
December 22, 2023
Solid 4 for me!
This book provides a nice continuation from the events of the first with additional secrets and twists to known facts.
Lily's parents' relationship is provided more detail. Lily grows in her confidence and abilities. The relationships within The Refuge are strong.
I loved how water was used throughout the story, just like fire was used in the first book.
The mystery itself, really well thought out, but I did piece most of it together very early on.
This series is a delightful genre hybrid that I would call historical thriller with a side of romance and a dash of fantasy.
Very curious how WWI will change everything for the Charismatics!!
This book provides a nice continuation from the events of the first with additional secrets and twists to known facts.
Lily's parents' relationship is provided more detail. Lily grows in her confidence and abilities. The relationships within The Refuge are strong.
I loved how water was used throughout the story, just like fire was used in the first book.
The mystery itself, really well thought out, but I did piece most of it together very early on.
This series is a delightful genre hybrid that I would call historical thriller with a side of romance and a dash of fantasy.
Very curious how WWI will change everything for the Charismatics!!
April 30, 2025
Très sympa ce tome 2 ! J'ai bien aimé l'intrigue surtout dans la 2e moitié avec cette course contre la montre pour déjouer le futur. Ça m'a un peu saoulé qu'on repousse encore Lily dans ses retranchements, laissez la respirerrrrrr ! La romance se développe plus, toujours en pudeur, j'aurais préféré avoir peut-être plus d'émotion (même s'il y en a déjà !)
Tout ça m'a donné très envie de lire la suite !
Tout ça m'a donné très envie de lire la suite !
October 14, 2025
This book was SO good. I’m literally obsessed with anything this author writes!! I love Lily, Strengford, and Sam — their trio is just 🤭🤭
This book was so high stakes and i was on the edge of my seat listening to the audiobook. It was perfect!!
I’ll miss Ash a lot, and I MOURN the fatherly relationship he had with Sam :(
I can’t wait to see where the books go!!
This book was so high stakes and i was on the edge of my seat listening to the audiobook. It was perfect!!
I’ll miss Ash a lot, and I MOURN the fatherly relationship he had with Sam :(
I can’t wait to see where the books go!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2023
Utter and complete tosh. Should not have ever tried this one after the morass that was the first one. Characters became almost unbearable in this one and the plot was obvious and too convoluted at the same time. Gave up.
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