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Oliver & Jack #1
Fagin's Boy
In 1846 London, respectable young men do not fall for street thieves. This is the love story of Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger.
Oliver Twist has one desire: to own a bookshop and live a simple, middle-class life, far away from his workhouse-shadowed past. One thing stands in his way: Jack Dawkins--The Artful Dodger--who's just returned to London and is looking for Fagin’s old gang.
Jack's visits cause Oliver nothing but trouble, but he finds himself drawn, time and again, to their shared past, Jack's unguarded honesty, and those bright, green eyes.
Oliver craves respectability, which he won’t find with a forbidden love. Can Jack convince Oliver that having one doesn't mean losing the other?
A gay, m/m Victorian-era romance with grumpy/sunshine, hurt/comfort, opposites attract, emotional scars, and pure, sweet love. A little sweet, a little steamy, with a guaranteed HEA.
Oliver Twist has one desire: to own a bookshop and live a simple, middle-class life, far away from his workhouse-shadowed past. One thing stands in his way: Jack Dawkins--The Artful Dodger--who's just returned to London and is looking for Fagin’s old gang.
Jack's visits cause Oliver nothing but trouble, but he finds himself drawn, time and again, to their shared past, Jack's unguarded honesty, and those bright, green eyes.
Oliver craves respectability, which he won’t find with a forbidden love. Can Jack convince Oliver that having one doesn't mean losing the other?
A gay, m/m Victorian-era romance with grumpy/sunshine, hurt/comfort, opposites attract, emotional scars, and pure, sweet love. A little sweet, a little steamy, with a guaranteed HEA.
559 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
75 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
About the author
Christina E. Pilz
7 books35 followersChristina now writes under the pseudonym Jackie North.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
May 2, 2022
4.5 stars
I absolutely love classics. I have read and enjoyed so many of them over the years. So a MM retelling of Oliver Twist was always going to appeal to me, which is why I wanted to read this book and i’m so glad I did because I loved this one so much.
I don't really know what to say about this one because it kind of blew me away. I knew I was going to like this book based on the subject matter as it's something I already know I enjoy, but damn did I enjoy this book. I just got lost into this book and I couldn't stop reading it, I was just so invested in the characters and their stories.
The writing in this book was some of the best writing I have ever read. I just adored how descriptive and evocative it was. I just have endless praise to say about how this book was writen because it was absolutely wonderful to me. The writing style is super evocative and kind of long to read but I absolutely love that in books, so this book just really worked for me.
I absolutely adore good world-builiding in books and this book had so much of it and I loved every seconds of it. I was just so interested in all of the world-builiding in this one. And I loved how so much of the book built the characters and their lives.
I love reading emotional books and I love feeling for the characters, expecially when those are sad emotions and I felt this so much in this book. Oliver doesn't have the best life and his life is full of drama and him being beaten down by life, and I just loved reading about that so much. This book made me cry so many times while I was reading and I loved that so much.
I just really loved this book and i'm so excited for the next books in the series.
** I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.**
I absolutely love classics. I have read and enjoyed so many of them over the years. So a MM retelling of Oliver Twist was always going to appeal to me, which is why I wanted to read this book and i’m so glad I did because I loved this one so much.
I don't really know what to say about this one because it kind of blew me away. I knew I was going to like this book based on the subject matter as it's something I already know I enjoy, but damn did I enjoy this book. I just got lost into this book and I couldn't stop reading it, I was just so invested in the characters and their stories.
The writing in this book was some of the best writing I have ever read. I just adored how descriptive and evocative it was. I just have endless praise to say about how this book was writen because it was absolutely wonderful to me. The writing style is super evocative and kind of long to read but I absolutely love that in books, so this book just really worked for me.
I absolutely adore good world-builiding in books and this book had so much of it and I loved every seconds of it. I was just so interested in all of the world-builiding in this one. And I loved how so much of the book built the characters and their lives.
I love reading emotional books and I love feeling for the characters, expecially when those are sad emotions and I felt this so much in this book. Oliver doesn't have the best life and his life is full of drama and him being beaten down by life, and I just loved reading about that so much. This book made me cry so many times while I was reading and I loved that so much.
I just really loved this book and i'm so excited for the next books in the series.
** I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.**
February 9, 2017
Before reading: Oliver Twist/Artful Dodger gay romance SIGN ME UP!
First half of book: Wow, this Oliver is kind of a classist jerk. What kind of person ignores child abuse in your own home because it reminds you too much of what you suffered as child?
Second half of book: Oliver doesn't deserve Jack!! Jack is clearly the most pure-hearted and lonesome pick-pocket!
After reading: Yikes????? The ending?? Like I'm happy they're running away together, but did Oliver really need to go around stabbing/hitting people?
final note: if you want a sequel to Oliver twist with Oliver/Jack romance that takes an honest look at social inequality without being uselessly grimdark! and is true to the characters (eg remembering that Oliver is innately good and innocent, and Jack, clever and decent) i would recommend you read 'Penny Dreadful' by mickleditch on AO3 instead.
First half of book: Wow, this Oliver is kind of a classist jerk. What kind of person ignores child abuse in your own home because it reminds you too much of what you suffered as child?
Second half of book: Oliver doesn't deserve Jack!! Jack is clearly the most pure-hearted and lonesome pick-pocket!
After reading: Yikes????? The ending?? Like I'm happy they're running away together, but did Oliver really need to go around stabbing/hitting people?
final note: if you want a sequel to Oliver twist with Oliver/Jack romance that takes an honest look at social inequality without being uselessly grimdark! and is true to the characters (eg remembering that Oliver is innately good and innocent, and Jack, clever and decent) i would recommend you read 'Penny Dreadful' by mickleditch on AO3 instead.
April 3, 2022
Fagin’s Boy is an Oliver Twist / Artful Dodger romance novel, where the two leads (Oliver and Jack) are now adults - 5 years have passed since the original, and their lives have gone in totally different directions. Jack has just returned from [redacted] and he seeks Oliver when he is at a very low moment in his life. I thought this book was very well-written. The author was able to emulate Dicken’s writing style rather spot on, but they also were able to make it their own. The setting, the societal norms of the time, the restrictions of class, examining poverty vs the life of the wealthy… all of it was done so so well. This was not a time in history I liked reading about because it always felt very depressing to me. At least for the people who lived below the poverty line. Life was so cruel and harsh.
Oliver and Jack are complex characters, so imperfect individually & when put together they fit, albeit I felt also imperfectly. I have always found Dicken’s novels quite grim and depressing. Even though they have a satisfactory resolution at the end, it comes at a heavy cost and feels bittersweet. Similarly, this book had the same sort of flavor.
Perhaps it’s my current frame of mine, but the novel was a bit too grim for my heart. Oliver wants a certain kind of life and he so desperately seeks it. He is alone and the only person/people who love him or might care for him are gone, the shadow of his tough youth forever hangs over him like a curse. He tries so desperately to break from it and find a respectable life, but it seems to elude him. And then Jack blitzes into his life and at first I was so so frustrated that here was another noose around his neck. But my heart broke for Jack as well. What he seeks is in direct opposition to what Oliver seeks (although they also had needs they mutually shared), so while I loved them both together (because these two lonely people filled each other’s loneliness and shared a past), I also felt like the two together would end up in no good way. The cost of their love felt too great. Fagin’s Boy is that sort of book, where you want some things to happen but then you also wonder if just because you want them to happen doesn’t mean it should (or that it would be a good thing if it does).
I won’t lie, this was a hard book to get through, and that ending was quite a shocker. I have no idea where the two are going to go from here and how things are going to pan out, but they have a long dark road ahead of them so they best hang on to each other tight. But to make me, a reader, feel so deeply, and to have me keep turning the pages despite the grimness of this setting…is why I recommend folks pick this book up. That’s no easy feat.
A huge thank you to Jackie North & GRR for the arc of Fagin’s Boy in exchange for my honest review!
Oliver and Jack are complex characters, so imperfect individually & when put together they fit, albeit I felt also imperfectly. I have always found Dicken’s novels quite grim and depressing. Even though they have a satisfactory resolution at the end, it comes at a heavy cost and feels bittersweet. Similarly, this book had the same sort of flavor.
Perhaps it’s my current frame of mine, but the novel was a bit too grim for my heart. Oliver wants a certain kind of life and he so desperately seeks it. He is alone and the only person/people who love him or might care for him are gone, the shadow of his tough youth forever hangs over him like a curse. He tries so desperately to break from it and find a respectable life, but it seems to elude him. And then Jack blitzes into his life and at first I was so so frustrated that here was another noose around his neck. But my heart broke for Jack as well. What he seeks is in direct opposition to what Oliver seeks (although they also had needs they mutually shared), so while I loved them both together (because these two lonely people filled each other’s loneliness and shared a past), I also felt like the two together would end up in no good way. The cost of their love felt too great. Fagin’s Boy is that sort of book, where you want some things to happen but then you also wonder if just because you want them to happen doesn’t mean it should (or that it would be a good thing if it does).
I won’t lie, this was a hard book to get through, and that ending was quite a shocker. I have no idea where the two are going to go from here and how things are going to pan out, but they have a long dark road ahead of them so they best hang on to each other tight. But to make me, a reader, feel so deeply, and to have me keep turning the pages despite the grimness of this setting…is why I recommend folks pick this book up. That’s no easy feat.
A huge thank you to Jackie North & GRR for the arc of Fagin’s Boy in exchange for my honest review!
May 12, 2017
Christina E. Pilz must have wondered one day, "what happened to Oliver Twist later in life? And what if he was gay?", then proceeded to write a sequel for Oliver. If you've never read the original story, the details are woven into the narrative and I don't think it's necessary. At 17, Oliver's fortunes change once again with the death of Mr. Brownlee. After 5 years of a near idyllic life, and left with the irascible Mr. Grimwig, Oliver is aided by Mr. Brownlee's friends to take an apprenticeship. He Is also confronted by Jack Dawkins, the Artful Dodger, another one of "Fagin's Boys", who has somehow found his way back from Australia. The pull and push Oliver experiences from the reminders of his past life and the events he encounters in his apprenticeship, create absolute turmoil in Olivers mind. He's subject to situations in the story that bear some resemblances to the travails he suffered in the original Oliver Twist.
The pacing and rhythm of the writing captures the essence of Dicken's writing style, without the stiff, formal language and prose. It is a long book, as Oliver's day-to-day activities are chronicled and serve to delineate the influences and the repression that Victorian attitudes have on his behavior, Jack's actions, and on those of the other characters around him. They give context for his reactions, especially as those rigid views begin to conflict with his own desire to pursue the life he would prefer to lead. As the book progresses, he becomes unrecognizable as the Oliver that Dickens created. However, throughout, the author immerses us in the atmosphere of Victorian London, the sights, sounds and smells, the attitudes and habits of the time, and makes it more understandable. I had to remind myself often about the class distinctions that were so prevalent then, when I started to really dislike the actions and behavior of Oliver's character.
It's not an HEA ending, and the romance is barely begun, although it's the start of a future for Jack and Oliver. I'm going to read the read the next book series as soon as I can, because I am very intrigued about where and how their story continues. Recommended for those who enjoy Victorian historicals and might have a fondness for Dickens.
The pacing and rhythm of the writing captures the essence of Dicken's writing style, without the stiff, formal language and prose. It is a long book, as Oliver's day-to-day activities are chronicled and serve to delineate the influences and the repression that Victorian attitudes have on his behavior, Jack's actions, and on those of the other characters around him. They give context for his reactions, especially as those rigid views begin to conflict with his own desire to pursue the life he would prefer to lead. As the book progresses, he becomes unrecognizable as the Oliver that Dickens created. However, throughout, the author immerses us in the atmosphere of Victorian London, the sights, sounds and smells, the attitudes and habits of the time, and makes it more understandable. I had to remind myself often about the class distinctions that were so prevalent then, when I started to really dislike the actions and behavior of Oliver's character.
It's not an HEA ending, and the romance is barely begun, although it's the start of a future for Jack and Oliver. I'm going to read the read the next book series as soon as I can, because I am very intrigued about where and how their story continues. Recommended for those who enjoy Victorian historicals and might have a fondness for Dickens.
March 21, 2014
What a great way to revisit a Dickens classic! Full review available on MINA'S BOOKSHELF http://minadecaro.blogspot.com/2014/0...
If you think that writing your first book as a sequel to a timeless masterpiece could be an exceedingly ambitious project, bound to fail against the magnitude of a nineteenth-century master storyteller, you obviously have never heard of CHRISTINA E. PILZ, newcomer author of historical fiction. Newcomer she may be, but I honestly think you would hardly find a better way to revisit a Dickens classic other than reading Pilz's debut novel, FAGIN'S BOY. If you are familiar with the extraordinary British novelist and his work, chances are you will be genuinely enthralled by Pilz's ability to breathe new life into an iconic character of the Victorian realism. In her extremely well-executed novel, the author re-imagines, with exquisite richness of historical details, and penetrating understanding of character and social biases, the young adult life of Oliver Twist. The angel-face workhouse orphan, who refused to let his humble and troubled beginnings define his future, returns in Fagin's Boy to build new bridges and rehash old demons. The resolution of this riveting and vividly drawn tale will blow you away. Highly recommended.
If you think that writing your first book as a sequel to a timeless masterpiece could be an exceedingly ambitious project, bound to fail against the magnitude of a nineteenth-century master storyteller, you obviously have never heard of CHRISTINA E. PILZ, newcomer author of historical fiction. Newcomer she may be, but I honestly think you would hardly find a better way to revisit a Dickens classic other than reading Pilz's debut novel, FAGIN'S BOY. If you are familiar with the extraordinary British novelist and his work, chances are you will be genuinely enthralled by Pilz's ability to breathe new life into an iconic character of the Victorian realism. In her extremely well-executed novel, the author re-imagines, with exquisite richness of historical details, and penetrating understanding of character and social biases, the young adult life of Oliver Twist. The angel-face workhouse orphan, who refused to let his humble and troubled beginnings define his future, returns in Fagin's Boy to build new bridges and rehash old demons. The resolution of this riveting and vividly drawn tale will blow you away. Highly recommended.
April 19, 2022
What if years after Oliver Twist and the Artful Dodger fell in love? How would their lives be like years from the ending of the novel Oliver Twist?
This and more is the basic premise for Fagin's Boy. It's been ages since I last read Oliver Twist so my remembrance of what happened in that book is fuzzy at best. But what did stick is the writing style and tone of that book and its essence is captured in Fagin's Boy along with the writer's own unique style.
This is a very long book and can be a bit of a heavy read. It's well-written and heavy on the rich historical details that immerses the reader in the atmosphere of Victorian London, the social structures that existed in that time, the restriction of class and the general societal norms and views/attitudes of that period. It gave context toward the reactions and actions that the characters exhibited throughout the book.
Oliver and Jack are imperfect, complex individuals born out of the circumstances and choices they made. Together they fit but not as seamlessly as what one might want. The price that they paid for their love is just too much and I don't know where things will go after that ending.
I'd recommend giving this book a try if you are in the mood for some soul crushing Dickensian story.
This would be a 4.25 stars out of 5 stars for me.
I received an ARC of this book and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
This and more is the basic premise for Fagin's Boy. It's been ages since I last read Oliver Twist so my remembrance of what happened in that book is fuzzy at best. But what did stick is the writing style and tone of that book and its essence is captured in Fagin's Boy along with the writer's own unique style.
This is a very long book and can be a bit of a heavy read. It's well-written and heavy on the rich historical details that immerses the reader in the atmosphere of Victorian London, the social structures that existed in that time, the restriction of class and the general societal norms and views/attitudes of that period. It gave context toward the reactions and actions that the characters exhibited throughout the book.
Oliver and Jack are imperfect, complex individuals born out of the circumstances and choices they made. Together they fit but not as seamlessly as what one might want. The price that they paid for their love is just too much and I don't know where things will go after that ending.
I'd recommend giving this book a try if you are in the mood for some soul crushing Dickensian story.
This would be a 4.25 stars out of 5 stars for me.
I received an ARC of this book and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
April 21, 2022
Very intense, very enjoyable story of Oliver Twist and Jack Dawkins (Artful Dodger) years after the iconic "Oliver Twist" story by Charles Dickens. Loved these characters in the original and loved them here. This is a gritty story, but the feelings are there. Ms North transports you back in time to the streets of London, so be prepared for some disturbing realities of the period, but it is so worth the read.
June 6, 2017
I am done, maybe some other day, but this is definitely not that day. The constant repetition and level of unnecessary detail did me in. It's too bad because I think this could be a great story.
April 21, 2022
This is a nice new twist on a story I already fell in love with the story . Oliver reaches a certain age and he will try his best to walk the straight and narrow path to get his legacy, but history always has a way to catch up to you. This is a great book I cannot put down. . This ends with a little suspense in the story, but not between our protagonists. It's an intense and satisfying story and definitely worth reading, especially if you like Dickens or history books.
March 10, 2014
I have not read Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens - I have read Dickens and I feel that knowing his style and a bit about him and more importantly the times in which he wrote helped considerably with the understanding of this book. I know enough about the story of Oliver to keep up with Ms. Pilz's narrative but what I think is more important is the knowledge of the social structures of England in the Victorian Era. These mores are a character in Fagin's Boy as they were most certainly in Dickens' books. It was a time when orphans and the poor were treated as little more than detritus to be swept away. So in not having read Oliver Twist I do know that it has very little to do with the happy play and movie that is Oliver! Dickens allows for redemption but he shows the ugly side of humanity first.
Now on to the brilliant Fagin's Boy. Ms. Pilz manages to maintain Dickens' style yet make this book all her own. Oliver has been living quite happily with his "Uncle" Brownlow and has been living the life of a princeling as he calls it. A room all his own, all the books he can read, enough food to eat and love. But Uncle Brownlow dies and leaves Oliver in the care of man who doesn't see what Oliver has become only what he used to be and never fails to tell anyone who will listen what an awful child he is. Oliver wants only to escape, live long enough to get his inheritance from his father and open a bookstore. With the help of some friends of his Uncle he is given a marvelous opportunity - an apprenticeship at a haberdashery. He resolves to make the best of it and learn all he can for his future shop.
Yet in the midst of all of this upheaval in his life a bit of his past returns to haunt him; Jack, the Artful Dodger, from Fagin's gang returns and finds him. The last thing Oliver wants or needs is this reminder of what he was but something about Jack keeps pulling him in. Could it be that Jack was the only member of the gang who ever showed him the slightest bit of care? But Jack threatens his new life and his plans every time he appears in Oliver's life and he won't listen to Oliver - even when threats are made to call the Constables. Oliver suffers due to Jack's visits and he can't understand his inability to turn him in or his desire to keep his presence a secret.
This is an amazing book. If you have read any Dickens you will understand when I write that it carries the weight of the world and you feel it as you are reading it. It is not a happy book or always an easy book to read but the same can be said of any book covering subject matters such as the abuse of young orphans. It is true to the time in which it takes place. I had a very hard time putting it down once I started reading it and you can see that it is not a short tome. Ms. Pilz transported me to the poor underside of Victorian England with all of the dirt and stink that that entails. She continues Oliver's story yet takes it to a place that I doubt anyone would have expected. I read through the 624 pages and I was disappointed that it was over - despite the darkness and sometimes overwhelming oppression. Ms. Pilz has continued a masterpiece with another.
Now on to the brilliant Fagin's Boy. Ms. Pilz manages to maintain Dickens' style yet make this book all her own. Oliver has been living quite happily with his "Uncle" Brownlow and has been living the life of a princeling as he calls it. A room all his own, all the books he can read, enough food to eat and love. But Uncle Brownlow dies and leaves Oliver in the care of man who doesn't see what Oliver has become only what he used to be and never fails to tell anyone who will listen what an awful child he is. Oliver wants only to escape, live long enough to get his inheritance from his father and open a bookstore. With the help of some friends of his Uncle he is given a marvelous opportunity - an apprenticeship at a haberdashery. He resolves to make the best of it and learn all he can for his future shop.
Yet in the midst of all of this upheaval in his life a bit of his past returns to haunt him; Jack, the Artful Dodger, from Fagin's gang returns and finds him. The last thing Oliver wants or needs is this reminder of what he was but something about Jack keeps pulling him in. Could it be that Jack was the only member of the gang who ever showed him the slightest bit of care? But Jack threatens his new life and his plans every time he appears in Oliver's life and he won't listen to Oliver - even when threats are made to call the Constables. Oliver suffers due to Jack's visits and he can't understand his inability to turn him in or his desire to keep his presence a secret.
This is an amazing book. If you have read any Dickens you will understand when I write that it carries the weight of the world and you feel it as you are reading it. It is not a happy book or always an easy book to read but the same can be said of any book covering subject matters such as the abuse of young orphans. It is true to the time in which it takes place. I had a very hard time putting it down once I started reading it and you can see that it is not a short tome. Ms. Pilz transported me to the poor underside of Victorian England with all of the dirt and stink that that entails. She continues Oliver's story yet takes it to a place that I doubt anyone would have expected. I read through the 624 pages and I was disappointed that it was over - despite the darkness and sometimes overwhelming oppression. Ms. Pilz has continued a masterpiece with another.
February 10, 2015
Brilliant and rather bold for a debut novel!
Christina E. Pilz has imagined an outstanding story here. I don't know if Dickens would have approved of her "Fagin's Boy" but I certainly did love it enormously!
She has created a truly realistic Victorian mood and atmosphere for this sequel and as an homage to Dickens, it's skillfully done in my opinion. It encapsulates everything you would expect, tragedy, suspense, crime, poverty and hope. A perfect Victorian drama, intricate, captivating and moving.
This is a wonderfully written and well researched story with an impressive attention to detail ; each and every characters are minutely crafted. Whether you love them or hate them, whether you want to hug them or throttle them, you're simply forced to care about their predicament.
The relationship between Oliver and Jack is a slow-burner ; the love story is there but it's all very subdued and sweet. This book is about Oliver's "coming of age" which is far from being easy for him. All that Jack has to do is wait ... and he's very patient! They actually complement each other very well.
Both characters are so real and alive, I love them dearly but I've got a weakness for Jack! The author handled the delicate subject of Oliver an Jack's homosexuality with great finesse and credibility.
I can't recommend this book highly enough!!!
July 24, 2021
This is my second time reading this fabulous first volume of a six-part series. Here's my review of the first reading, which was the Kindle version (I have since bought the whole set.)
Damn. Now I'm hooked and there are several more sequels. Like I didn't have anything else to read. This is a stunning, brilliant read. Well done, Ms. Pilz, and thank you! reviewed Sept. 2016
Damn. Now I'm hooked and there are several more sequels. Like I didn't have anything else to read. This is a stunning, brilliant read. Well done, Ms. Pilz, and thank you! reviewed Sept. 2016
April 21, 2022
Fagin’s Boy is Jackie North’s own masterful continuation of Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens’ famous novel, which starts when Oliver is seventeen. The first of six novels in the Oliver & Jack series, written almost like a TV serial, it is true to Dickens, and I urge bookworms to read a summary of his original before tackling Ms. North’s addition. You will better appreciate Jackie North’s artistry, her consistency of style, plot, language and character.
Oliver Twist is a mess, created by a messy society. Like all orphans of the time, he was assumed to be immoral, and less than human, blamed for circumstances he didn’t create. Pleasant experiences have always led to tragedy, until he can’t determine his own responsibility from society’s mistreatment. Numbed by such pressures, he lurches from promising himself to behave better, to acting violently. “It was like being shoved into a dark room where the only moment of daylight was when someone came in with the lash to beat him, making him bend to the realization that it would always be dark like this. That he was alone. That he couldn’t be loved.”
Oliver’s only softness comes from his questionable friendship with Jack, the “Artful Dodger,” a thief his own age, who lives in the moment, doing what he needs to survive, much less troubled by ethics than Oliver. When they realize their attraction, they know it can’t last; they are too different. “Jack, who even if he’d come from quality people, would always be what he was, a child of the street. Nothing would ever change him, even if Oliver’s world whirled around him like a sandstorm…..” What dire circumstances might be required to change their outcome?
To the degree this unlikely slow burn relationship can be called a romance, it is in the power of affection to soothe Oliver’s internal warring. “Jack was a shared blanket on cold nights, a touch to his head, somehow gentle even amidst all of Jack’s street hardness. He’d been the recipient of all these gestures and words from Jack when he’d needed them most.”
I am in awe of Ms. North’s ability to use the environment to reveal what Oliver and Jack might not know of themselves. “Spring was coming, but it was butting heads with winter, rather like a spoiled child.”
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Ms. North must treasure Dickens. Like the original, chapter titles are almost full paragraphs, like, “A New Hat Represents a New Life, One That He Is Hesitant to Accept.” And the misery she concocts is similar to Oliver’s childhood abuse in the workhouse. Aye!
Be warned, Fagin’s Boy is not for the squeamish. But if you hunger to know how far we have come in this democracy and how far back we can fall, If you hunger to know how far we have come in this democracy and how far back we can fall, if you want to test your moral compass, and see the redemption of love, ‘Fagin’s Boy’ tells mankind’s painful truths in a beautiful, raw and comprehensive manner, written with a flare for dialogue, scenery, personalities and a brilliant respect for history.
Oliver Twist is a mess, created by a messy society. Like all orphans of the time, he was assumed to be immoral, and less than human, blamed for circumstances he didn’t create. Pleasant experiences have always led to tragedy, until he can’t determine his own responsibility from society’s mistreatment. Numbed by such pressures, he lurches from promising himself to behave better, to acting violently. “It was like being shoved into a dark room where the only moment of daylight was when someone came in with the lash to beat him, making him bend to the realization that it would always be dark like this. That he was alone. That he couldn’t be loved.”
Oliver’s only softness comes from his questionable friendship with Jack, the “Artful Dodger,” a thief his own age, who lives in the moment, doing what he needs to survive, much less troubled by ethics than Oliver. When they realize their attraction, they know it can’t last; they are too different. “Jack, who even if he’d come from quality people, would always be what he was, a child of the street. Nothing would ever change him, even if Oliver’s world whirled around him like a sandstorm…..” What dire circumstances might be required to change their outcome?
To the degree this unlikely slow burn relationship can be called a romance, it is in the power of affection to soothe Oliver’s internal warring. “Jack was a shared blanket on cold nights, a touch to his head, somehow gentle even amidst all of Jack’s street hardness. He’d been the recipient of all these gestures and words from Jack when he’d needed them most.”
I am in awe of Ms. North’s ability to use the environment to reveal what Oliver and Jack might not know of themselves. “Spring was coming, but it was butting heads with winter, rather like a spoiled child.”
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Ms. North must treasure Dickens. Like the original, chapter titles are almost full paragraphs, like, “A New Hat Represents a New Life, One That He Is Hesitant to Accept.” And the misery she concocts is similar to Oliver’s childhood abuse in the workhouse. Aye!
Be warned, Fagin’s Boy is not for the squeamish. But if you hunger to know how far we have come in this democracy and how far back we can fall, If you hunger to know how far we have come in this democracy and how far back we can fall, if you want to test your moral compass, and see the redemption of love, ‘Fagin’s Boy’ tells mankind’s painful truths in a beautiful, raw and comprehensive manner, written with a flare for dialogue, scenery, personalities and a brilliant respect for history.
April 22, 2022
Vivid Victorian Times Description
Charles Dickens created many long lasting, extraordinary and iconic characters ; and one of the most beloved is Oliver Twist.
Jackie North gives us a different view and narrative of Oliver. I found it to be interesting and intriguing but also sad and somewhat depressing as she kept historical accuracy. And that was the reality of poor people during that era.
To me this story is more historical fiction than romance and I am perfectly fine with it.
Charles Dickens created many long lasting, extraordinary and iconic characters ; and one of the most beloved is Oliver Twist.
Jackie North gives us a different view and narrative of Oliver. I found it to be interesting and intriguing but also sad and somewhat depressing as she kept historical accuracy. And that was the reality of poor people during that era.
To me this story is more historical fiction than romance and I am perfectly fine with it.
May 8, 2022
A wasted opportunity
Fagin‘s boy is a overly written diatribe of meaningless minutiae that is far to pedantic. The central romance is barely developed despite the novel’s length leaving the reader wondering why did I waste my time on this.
Fagin‘s boy is a overly written diatribe of meaningless minutiae that is far to pedantic. The central romance is barely developed despite the novel’s length leaving the reader wondering why did I waste my time on this.
March 17, 2014
Let me start by saying that I have always had a soft spot for Oliver Twist, the young orphan boy who only wanted a better life. I’ve read the book by Charles Dickens and watched the movies so when I heard about Christina E. Pilz’s novel Fagin’s Boy I knew I just had to read it! Fagin’s Boy gives us a glimpse into what Oliver Twist’s life may have been like after he grew up and most surprising is she takes his life in a direction I didn’t expect. Fagin’s Boy, like Oliver Twist before it, will capture your heart!
Oliver is seventeen years old and it’s been five years since his time in Fagin’s gang. Gone is the young orphan boy with no hope for his future other than thieving. Under Mr. Brownlow’s care Oliver is a fine young man of good breeding but when Mr. Brownlow passes on Oliver’s future is suddenly in question. Up until now Oliver has been leading a pretty easy life but now he will have to find a job and make his own way in life. With the help of a few of Mr. Brownlow’s friends Oliver gets a position in a well known haberdashery.
At first his new position and home seems to be really good. After all he’s got a roof over his head, money in his pocket, and good food to eat every day. Soon enough though a big problem arises in the form of Jack, also known as the Artful Dodger to Fagin’s gang. He shows up in Oliver’s life and no matter how many times Oliver tells him to leave him alone he just won’t go away and this is putting Oliver’s position and his dreams of one day owning his own bookshop in serious jeopardy. Yet at the same time Oliver can’t help but feel the pull of Jack and his memories of the past.
It isn’t until Oliver’s employer decides to get an orphan boy to work in the shop that Oliver truly begins to question everything. In this orphan boy Oliver sees everything he once was and it drives him crazy. These workhouse boys are never treated well, not fed well, and really overworked. Oliver knows this is wrong and eventually is own emotions cause him to lash out at the boy furthering Oliver’s downward spiral. Things come to a head when Oliver’s employer does something that Oliver simply can’t look away from and Oliver reacts. His life is never the same after that and he has no choice but to seek out Jack and his old life once again.
I found Fagin’s Boy to be a really interesting take on what may have happened to Oliver Twist after his happy ending. In Fagin’s Boy we see a darker side to his story. He is so haunted by his past especially with the return of Jack when all he really wants to do is avoid it. Can we ever really escape our past though? Doesn’t it always come back to haunt us in one way or another? Fagin’s Boy is a beautifully written tale with vivid descriptions of life on the streets of London making you feel as though you are right there alongside Oliver! Well worth reading especially if you’re a fan of Oliver Twist but also stands on its own quite well!
June 24, 2023
FAGIN'S BOY is the first book in the Oliver and Jack series, and as you may have gathered, it follows on from Oliver Twist. Oliver is now seventeen and the story starts with him attending the funeral of the man who took him in and looked after him, Mr Brownlow. Not knowing what will happen to him next, Oliver takes on an apprenticeship at a haberdashery, hoping it will give him experience for when he opens his own, long-dreamed-about, bookstore.
Jack has just returned to London after being hextricated to Australia. I had to suspend belief a little here as I've never heard of that happening before. He is still the cheeky chappie you may recognise but is altogether more fragile and hard. A paradox, for sure. He reminded me of a piece of flint.
Anyway, the story follows Oliver and Jack for a few months as circumstances change for Oliver. I thought the descriptions of the living conditions, plus how the children are treated in the workhouse, to be definitely in keeping with the original book by Dickens, as well as what was hinted at in the musical film.
Whilst Jack revelled in his circumstances, he was also desperate for stories about those he remembers. This leads him to a friendship with Noah, who Oliver doesn't like or trust. Oliver, on the other hand, wants more than he has right now. He wants his bookshop. He doesn't want to steal. He would like Jack to be with him but is prepared to make a break if Jack doesn't want to come.
There is a HFN ending to this first book and I am sure there will be plenty more adventures for our twosome. Although I have read and enjoyed other historical books by Ms North, I can't honestly say I enjoyed this one as much and I'm not sure why. All of the ingredients were there but, for me, they just didn't mix as well as I had expected. I am glad I have read this book and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in Oliver Twist and the hard, grimy Victorian times.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 14, 2022
Jack has just returned to London after being hextricated to Australia. I had to suspend belief a little here as I've never heard of that happening before. He is still the cheeky chappie you may recognise but is altogether more fragile and hard. A paradox, for sure. He reminded me of a piece of flint.
Anyway, the story follows Oliver and Jack for a few months as circumstances change for Oliver. I thought the descriptions of the living conditions, plus how the children are treated in the workhouse, to be definitely in keeping with the original book by Dickens, as well as what was hinted at in the musical film.
Whilst Jack revelled in his circumstances, he was also desperate for stories about those he remembers. This leads him to a friendship with Noah, who Oliver doesn't like or trust. Oliver, on the other hand, wants more than he has right now. He wants his bookshop. He doesn't want to steal. He would like Jack to be with him but is prepared to make a break if Jack doesn't want to come.
There is a HFN ending to this first book and I am sure there will be plenty more adventures for our twosome. Although I have read and enjoyed other historical books by Ms North, I can't honestly say I enjoyed this one as much and I'm not sure why. All of the ingredients were there but, for me, they just didn't mix as well as I had expected. I am glad I have read this book and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in Oliver Twist and the hard, grimy Victorian times.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 14, 2022
June 6, 2017
I Thoroughly enjoyed catching up with Oliver and Jack (Dodger) When the author asked for arc reviewers, I just had to offer. I love period drama's, I love Oliver Twist (who does not?) and I love gritty stories. And I am happy to say the author delivered them all. The story is well written and I felt as though I was there at Oliver's side. We first see Oliver living a good life, and he often turns a blind eye to those who are in the position he was once in. Not because he is ashamed and uncaring but because he is trying so hard to forget his past. But with Jack back on the scene and His Employer/ Master's disregard and meanness to an orphan's life. Something breaks in Oliver's mind and he stands up to his Master. And this sets off a series of events that lead to Oliver being back where he was on the streets as a thief. The good news is he and Jack become close and eventually get it on. But events force them to run from London..... And so I wait for book two lol.
So well written and the time period and characters are well portrayed. Great read.
This is a free and honest review given in return for a Arc Copy.
So well written and the time period and characters are well portrayed. Great read.
This is a free and honest review given in return for a Arc Copy.
January 26, 2015
So glad I read this, It was awesome. I was a little afraid of how it was going to end, but I'm happy with that too.
May 14, 2022
“The bad news is nothing lasts forever. The good news is nothing lasts forever.” ~ J. Cole
Oliver Twist, of 'Fagin’s Boy’ by Jackie North, has had many ups and downs in his life. Oliver's situation improves dramatically when a kind upper-class gentleman, Mr. Brownlow, takes him in. But when Mr. Brownlow dies, it leaves him at the mercy of Mr. Grimwig, “Uncle” Brownlow's best friend, who never lets Oliver forget his unfortunate past.
After his guardian's funeral, Oliver meets Mr. McCready, owner of a haberdashery. Mr. McCready offers him an apprentice position in his shop. Earning his own money is an appealing prospect and provides an opportunity to get away from the negativity of Mr. Grimwig, so Oliver accepts. Working as an apprentice is more challenging than Oliver has had for a while now, but it still has its benefits like delicious meals and a weekly paycheck. Things are going well until Jack shows up. McCready does not like his looks and warns Oliver to stay away from him, but Jack keeps showing up despite Oliver's efforts to dissuade him. Eventually, it ends up in a beating for Oliver because McCready thinks he deliberately disobeyed his orders. Oliver resents his punishment and changes his opinion of his master, but the last straw is McCready's treatment of a workhouse boy he employed.
When Oliver turns up looking for Jack of his own volition, Jack knows something is very wrong. As he did in the past, Jack takes Oliver under his wing. It's a culture shock for Oliver, who has lived in comparative luxury for the past five years. Jack's place and Jack are filthy. There's no water to wash up or fire to warm him and the available food and drink are substandard. Yet, Oliver is in no position to complain. However, he is adamant that he is not a thief and refuses to steal, which causes problems for him with Jack's boss. Oliver begins to realize that his feelings for Jack go beyond gratitude and border on physical desire as time goes by. Jack is more than receptive to his advances when Oliver acts upon them. But, Oliver knows that if he can't stay in London if he is to have any future, he also realizes that Jack will never go with him.
‘Fagin’s Boy’ is an adaptation of ‘Oliver Twist.’ It sticks relatively closely to the original. Jackie has done an excellent job of capturing the spirit of Dickens’s writing style, including the characters and stark contrasts between classes in the Victorian Era. In the original story, Jack and Oliver were best friends, so it's not a huge stretch to imagine them as lovers. Thanks, Jackie, for bringing Jack and Oliver together in a different, happier light.
Oliver Twist, of 'Fagin’s Boy’ by Jackie North, has had many ups and downs in his life. Oliver's situation improves dramatically when a kind upper-class gentleman, Mr. Brownlow, takes him in. But when Mr. Brownlow dies, it leaves him at the mercy of Mr. Grimwig, “Uncle” Brownlow's best friend, who never lets Oliver forget his unfortunate past.
After his guardian's funeral, Oliver meets Mr. McCready, owner of a haberdashery. Mr. McCready offers him an apprentice position in his shop. Earning his own money is an appealing prospect and provides an opportunity to get away from the negativity of Mr. Grimwig, so Oliver accepts. Working as an apprentice is more challenging than Oliver has had for a while now, but it still has its benefits like delicious meals and a weekly paycheck. Things are going well until Jack shows up. McCready does not like his looks and warns Oliver to stay away from him, but Jack keeps showing up despite Oliver's efforts to dissuade him. Eventually, it ends up in a beating for Oliver because McCready thinks he deliberately disobeyed his orders. Oliver resents his punishment and changes his opinion of his master, but the last straw is McCready's treatment of a workhouse boy he employed.
When Oliver turns up looking for Jack of his own volition, Jack knows something is very wrong. As he did in the past, Jack takes Oliver under his wing. It's a culture shock for Oliver, who has lived in comparative luxury for the past five years. Jack's place and Jack are filthy. There's no water to wash up or fire to warm him and the available food and drink are substandard. Yet, Oliver is in no position to complain. However, he is adamant that he is not a thief and refuses to steal, which causes problems for him with Jack's boss. Oliver begins to realize that his feelings for Jack go beyond gratitude and border on physical desire as time goes by. Jack is more than receptive to his advances when Oliver acts upon them. But, Oliver knows that if he can't stay in London if he is to have any future, he also realizes that Jack will never go with him.
‘Fagin’s Boy’ is an adaptation of ‘Oliver Twist.’ It sticks relatively closely to the original. Jackie has done an excellent job of capturing the spirit of Dickens’s writing style, including the characters and stark contrasts between classes in the Victorian Era. In the original story, Jack and Oliver were best friends, so it's not a huge stretch to imagine them as lovers. Thanks, Jackie, for bringing Jack and Oliver together in a different, happier light.
April 8, 2022
This book was incredibly hard to get through. I can't deny it was masterfully written; if you told me Dickens's ghost took the hands of Christina and Jackie and penned this Oliver Twist sequel himself, I would believe you. It is very much a direct sequel to the original Oliver Twist. However, in order for this book to happen, we need to rip away that hopeful ending, that "all shall be well now", because things will not go well for young Oliver in this novel. Anything that could go badly, most likely will. And it's a trial to the soul.
If this was a Hollywood sequel, we could easily name this "Oliver Twist 2: the trials aren't over yet". I was mentally thinking this review while reading, and inventing silly titles for it in my head, because if I didn't find something to laugh about I'd cry. I'm too stubborn to leave a book halfway, but I found myself leaving the book at times because I couldn't take it, and wondering if reading on would be worth it because there was likely nothing but pain for Oliver and Jack. Because Oliver reached high to the sky by simply having hopes and dreams, it seems.
If you are sensitive to themes like neglect, physical violence, corporal punishments, murder, death in general, extreme poverty, the prison system, systemic issues with unequal justice, violence toward children, and any of that sort of thing, this book is best avoided. The treatment of everyone is brutal at best. It just hurts too much. It's a good book, objectively, but I barely had enough mental fortitude to get through it (and I usually manage heavy themes pretty well).
But this was pretty much seeing Oliver be beaten while down, repeatedly, in any way victorian London could beat a 17 year old down. It made me feel lonely and alone and hopeless and feeling like truly, the world has not changed all that much. The "happy for now" ending is very much temporary, as there are several sequels still to be republished. And that is not the feelings I want to have once I finish a book.
If this was a Hollywood sequel, we could easily name this "Oliver Twist 2: the trials aren't over yet". I was mentally thinking this review while reading, and inventing silly titles for it in my head, because if I didn't find something to laugh about I'd cry. I'm too stubborn to leave a book halfway, but I found myself leaving the book at times because I couldn't take it, and wondering if reading on would be worth it because there was likely nothing but pain for Oliver and Jack. Because Oliver reached high to the sky by simply having hopes and dreams, it seems.
If you are sensitive to themes like neglect, physical violence, corporal punishments, murder, death in general, extreme poverty, the prison system, systemic issues with unequal justice, violence toward children, and any of that sort of thing, this book is best avoided. The treatment of everyone is brutal at best. It just hurts too much. It's a good book, objectively, but I barely had enough mental fortitude to get through it (and I usually manage heavy themes pretty well).
But this was pretty much seeing Oliver be beaten while down, repeatedly, in any way victorian London could beat a 17 year old down. It made me feel lonely and alone and hopeless and feeling like truly, the world has not changed all that much. The "happy for now" ending is very much temporary, as there are several sequels still to be republished. And that is not the feelings I want to have once I finish a book.
April 20, 2022
Before I get into the story itself, I have to point out that this book is not a quick read. First, it’s long just in pages and word count. But second, and most importantly, the writing style is heavy. This author is always absolutely phenomenal in using a writing style appropriate to the content of the book and, given that this is a spin-off of a Dickens novel, the author did this story justice; however, for a reader, do not expect to be able to read quite as fast as you would other books. The story is beautiful, the descriptions are abundant and well detailed, and every word choice pairs well with the time period and the Dickensian style.
As for the story itself, it’s complicated. Both MCs have a shared past but have been separated for 5 or 6 years. Oliver yearns for respectability, to own his own shop, selling what he loves most, but his past hangs over him, often announced to everyone by his horrible guardian. Jack yearns for his old life – his “family” in the gang, the thrill of the theft, the chase, the life he felt safe in. When they meet again, they clash and continue to clash, but Oliver is all that’s left for Jack, and Jack, despite his seeming immaturity, has the steadfastness and worldly knowledge to protect Oliver and give him a chance to grow.
Their story is extremely slow burn and there are a number of realizations that both have to make before they start to drift together. And even as they do, you may still wonder how they’ll work out, because they still don’t seem quite perfect for each other. Maybe more will be revealed in the future.
If period romances are your jam, and you can appreciate the writing style and complexity of the time, then this book is definitely for you.
As for the story itself, it’s complicated. Both MCs have a shared past but have been separated for 5 or 6 years. Oliver yearns for respectability, to own his own shop, selling what he loves most, but his past hangs over him, often announced to everyone by his horrible guardian. Jack yearns for his old life – his “family” in the gang, the thrill of the theft, the chase, the life he felt safe in. When they meet again, they clash and continue to clash, but Oliver is all that’s left for Jack, and Jack, despite his seeming immaturity, has the steadfastness and worldly knowledge to protect Oliver and give him a chance to grow.
Their story is extremely slow burn and there are a number of realizations that both have to make before they start to drift together. And even as they do, you may still wonder how they’ll work out, because they still don’t seem quite perfect for each other. Maybe more will be revealed in the future.
If period romances are your jam, and you can appreciate the writing style and complexity of the time, then this book is definitely for you.
April 26, 2022
I ended up liking this book alot. I am a huge Dickens fan and love historical MM. I also love books
and so was very much in sync with Oliver on that point. The writing is above average for MM romance. There is a strong plot with heavy angst throughout (and also a good deal of violence) before we reach a HFN ending that seems earned.
There are some issues, such as the length (I know, I know, Dickens is long too--but the author is no Dickens and the descriptions get repetitive). This is a very dirty book--and I mean that literally--there is soot, grime, grease, and manure, not to mention bad smells and rotten food, on pretty much every page. I would strongly recommend being very familiar with the original Oliver Twist since there are many mentions of events and characters from that book that the author expects you to remember. Oliver seems to be either incredibly passive (the book is essentially his slow slide from respectability into a life of crime) or violent. The second half seems to drag--will he leave London or not? will he be dragged into Cromwell's nasty business or not? The author slips in a number of stories involving characters from the past, like Bill Sikes and Nancy, that don't seem to add much to her story and add to the book's unnecessary length.
Despite these issues however, she does a wonderful job with the Oliver/Jack arc; will they be able to resolve their differences in background, remain true to themselves, and bridge the gap between respectability and a life of crime to find happiness together? The ending made me want to read the upcoming books in the series. These two MCs are so engaging that I am looking forward to seeing whether Oliver does in fact get his bookshop.
and so was very much in sync with Oliver on that point. The writing is above average for MM romance. There is a strong plot with heavy angst throughout (and also a good deal of violence) before we reach a HFN ending that seems earned.
There are some issues, such as the length (I know, I know, Dickens is long too--but the author is no Dickens and the descriptions get repetitive). This is a very dirty book--and I mean that literally--there is soot, grime, grease, and manure, not to mention bad smells and rotten food, on pretty much every page. I would strongly recommend being very familiar with the original Oliver Twist since there are many mentions of events and characters from that book that the author expects you to remember. Oliver seems to be either incredibly passive (the book is essentially his slow slide from respectability into a life of crime) or violent. The second half seems to drag--will he leave London or not? will he be dragged into Cromwell's nasty business or not? The author slips in a number of stories involving characters from the past, like Bill Sikes and Nancy, that don't seem to add much to her story and add to the book's unnecessary length.
Despite these issues however, she does a wonderful job with the Oliver/Jack arc; will they be able to resolve their differences in background, remain true to themselves, and bridge the gap between respectability and a life of crime to find happiness together? The ending made me want to read the upcoming books in the series. These two MCs are so engaging that I am looking forward to seeing whether Oliver does in fact get his bookshop.
April 25, 2022
A Twist to Oliver
Plot: Disclaimer: I never read Oliver Twist or know the story, and even though this series is written as a continuation, I didn’t feel too limited following this story. Slow burn romance; POV and mostly inner monologue of 17yr old Oliver as he learns to live in a new type of existence after the death of his Uncle Brownlow while waiting and dreaming of the day he can own a bookshop.
Feels: Be prepared halfway for utter despairing heartbreak (spoiler/trigger at the end of my review for why).
Drama: Noah…he’s that character that you want to kick off the island. I really hope he doesn’t show up again, but not holding my breath heh.
Heat: 1/5
Characters: Oliver was frustrating in the beginning and I had to keep reminding myself that he’s still a child at 17 with a hard past and childhood trauma and built-up anger needing an outlet… Jack was more of a mystery, but we begin to learn more about what drives him in the second half.
Pacing: Smooth flow, clear and concise descriptions that draws you into a story you can easily picture (this made the triggering scene all the more real)
Length: Long read at 500+ pages; with my needed break, took about 2 weeks to finish
Ending: Continuing series with this one having a “walking off into the sunset” ending. I look forward to continuing their journey to an HEA.
**Spoiler Warning/Trigger: Instances of child abuse and on-page death of a child. I never knew I had a trigger until this and I literally couldn’t look at this book for almost a week that I spent re-reading anything with super HEAs that included children.
Plot: Disclaimer: I never read Oliver Twist or know the story, and even though this series is written as a continuation, I didn’t feel too limited following this story. Slow burn romance; POV and mostly inner monologue of 17yr old Oliver as he learns to live in a new type of existence after the death of his Uncle Brownlow while waiting and dreaming of the day he can own a bookshop.
Feels: Be prepared halfway for utter despairing heartbreak (spoiler/trigger at the end of my review for why).
Drama: Noah…he’s that character that you want to kick off the island. I really hope he doesn’t show up again, but not holding my breath heh.
Heat: 1/5
Characters: Oliver was frustrating in the beginning and I had to keep reminding myself that he’s still a child at 17 with a hard past and childhood trauma and built-up anger needing an outlet… Jack was more of a mystery, but we begin to learn more about what drives him in the second half.
Pacing: Smooth flow, clear and concise descriptions that draws you into a story you can easily picture (this made the triggering scene all the more real)
Length: Long read at 500+ pages; with my needed break, took about 2 weeks to finish
Ending: Continuing series with this one having a “walking off into the sunset” ending. I look forward to continuing their journey to an HEA.
**Spoiler Warning/Trigger: Instances of child abuse and on-page death of a child. I never knew I had a trigger until this and I literally couldn’t look at this book for almost a week that I spent re-reading anything with super HEAs that included children.
October 3, 2017
4 stars
I suspect that if you're a Dicken's purist, you might not like this book but I have to say that I enjoyed this one. It's been many, many years since I read Oliver Twist, so I don't have a strong emotional connection to the original story or the wonderful characters that Dickens created. Therefore, it's easier for me to imagine a slightly older Oliver with some serious rage issues. But are they unjustified? Perhaps not, given that it seems he's always being dealt a shitty hand in life. In this case, it's the death of Oliver's beloved Mr. Brownlow that starts off the book and sets Oliver on a path back to the streets and into the protection of his old friend, Jack Dawkins.
Jack is as loyal to Oliver now as he was then and it's not long before Jack has taken Oliver under his wing and, eventually, into his bed. At first it's friendly, but the emotional connection between the two of them turns into something more and it's not long before their relationship turns physical.
At times, Oliver seems like his own worst enemy and it's the ever-practical Jack who is constantly saving him from situations that seem entirely avoidable. In fact, while Oliver seems almost unrecognizable from the plucky orphan we once new, Jack remains steadfast as ever.
There is no HEA here. In fact, there's barely an HFN but I am very curious to see what life has in store for these two as they make their way out of the London slums and into the unknown.
I suspect that if you're a Dicken's purist, you might not like this book but I have to say that I enjoyed this one. It's been many, many years since I read Oliver Twist, so I don't have a strong emotional connection to the original story or the wonderful characters that Dickens created. Therefore, it's easier for me to imagine a slightly older Oliver with some serious rage issues. But are they unjustified? Perhaps not, given that it seems he's always being dealt a shitty hand in life. In this case, it's the death of Oliver's beloved Mr. Brownlow that starts off the book and sets Oliver on a path back to the streets and into the protection of his old friend, Jack Dawkins.
Jack is as loyal to Oliver now as he was then and it's not long before Jack has taken Oliver under his wing and, eventually, into his bed. At first it's friendly, but the emotional connection between the two of them turns into something more and it's not long before their relationship turns physical.
At times, Oliver seems like his own worst enemy and it's the ever-practical Jack who is constantly saving him from situations that seem entirely avoidable. In fact, while Oliver seems almost unrecognizable from the plucky orphan we once new, Jack remains steadfast as ever.
There is no HEA here. In fact, there's barely an HFN but I am very curious to see what life has in store for these two as they make their way out of the London slums and into the unknown.
April 11, 2022
Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. Amazing read as it has so much going on Oliver and Jack reunion, Which is both moving and hilarious as he tries to stand up to Jack. The hurt and betrayal that is felt in here by Oliver in more then one event while dealing with Jack as well as joys of memories and moments.
In truth is it a retailing of a classic!?! If the story is of the older mature Oliver with more allowance of love, either way really it's a wonder to read, as what was a adventurous scoundrel childhood of Oliver is now behind him, as he makes his way in the adult world he finds himself alone in after the passing of Uncle Brownlow. If Mr. Grimwig had his way, Oliver would be in a workhouse or worse. With the helping hand of dear friends of Uncle Brownlow. Was Oliver deepest wish of a bookshop, about to go up in flames!?!
Staying on the straight and narrow was about to be a challenge as the mischievous Jack was a distinct memory of the his youth of a life with Fagin's, but now he's back. Together again the two are brought together to find the truth of Fagin and crew, but once it under way.. Willing or not Oliver has history that Jack brings back up along with the night terrors. Will the past repeat leaving Oliver alone in unforgiving world or will they have a future that is far different.
In truth is it a retailing of a classic!?! If the story is of the older mature Oliver with more allowance of love, either way really it's a wonder to read, as what was a adventurous scoundrel childhood of Oliver is now behind him, as he makes his way in the adult world he finds himself alone in after the passing of Uncle Brownlow. If Mr. Grimwig had his way, Oliver would be in a workhouse or worse. With the helping hand of dear friends of Uncle Brownlow. Was Oliver deepest wish of a bookshop, about to go up in flames!?!
Staying on the straight and narrow was about to be a challenge as the mischievous Jack was a distinct memory of the his youth of a life with Fagin's, but now he's back. Together again the two are brought together to find the truth of Fagin and crew, but once it under way.. Willing or not Oliver has history that Jack brings back up along with the night terrors. Will the past repeat leaving Oliver alone in unforgiving world or will they have a future that is far different.
April 18, 2022
This is a M/M twist of Charles Dickens’ story about our favorite orphan, Oliver Twist. Keep in mind, this is the author’s interpretation of what happened after the end of Oliver Twist. The author kept true to Charles Dickens’ writing style. It took a little bit of time to get used to this since I am accustomed to the author’s normal style of story telling. Also, as I was reading, I kept having to check to be sure it was a m/m story because the first half of the book, there wasn’t any indication of any feelings or camaraderie between Oliver and Jack. Later, it would be obvious. A great read! I understand that Fagin’s Boy is the first in a series of books that Jackie North has written. I look forward to the continuation of the m/m series about Oliver and Jack.
The story focuses on Oliver who aspires to own a bookstore because he loves to read books. He had been living with Mr. Grimwig who was not quite kind to him. As he became of legal age, he was hired to work at a haberdashery to learn the tool of the trade since he wanted to own and run a bookstore. Jack re-appeared in Oliver’s life and made his life frustrating since the owner of the haberdashery does not take kindly to swindlers and such. How can Oliver and Jack’s relationship last when they want each other’s but they have different lives. There’s a twist which you’ll have to read to find out.
The story focuses on Oliver who aspires to own a bookstore because he loves to read books. He had been living with Mr. Grimwig who was not quite kind to him. As he became of legal age, he was hired to work at a haberdashery to learn the tool of the trade since he wanted to own and run a bookstore. Jack re-appeared in Oliver’s life and made his life frustrating since the owner of the haberdashery does not take kindly to swindlers and such. How can Oliver and Jack’s relationship last when they want each other’s but they have different lives. There’s a twist which you’ll have to read to find out.
June 1, 2022
Incredibly well researched mm historical romance
Jackie North had a great idea. What happens after “Oliver Twist” ends. It is very evident that she did an incredible amount of research because this book brims with wonderful facts about what life was like back then for the middle and lower class. Luckily she has not fallen into the trap of so many people who do research and then write fiction, which is to cram ever interesting bit that they dug up into the book and making it either stilted or seeming like a history lecture. There have been so many historical romance books written about the higher class so it’s great to see this set within the world that the vast majority of people live in.
I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read more about the life journey that these two young men are embarking on. This is a long book but it’s absolutely fascinating and I sped through it because I could hardly put it down. I have done some reading of my own about what life was like for people back then but this story makes all of that come alive. The world building (world rebuilding?) and the descriptions of things and people are a big part of why I love this book so much. The push and pull between Oliver and Jack is both heartwarming and heartbreaking and this book actually made me cry at times for them. It does end part way through the story that sounds like it will be more interesting fun based on Jackie North’s description. Can’t wait!
Jackie North had a great idea. What happens after “Oliver Twist” ends. It is very evident that she did an incredible amount of research because this book brims with wonderful facts about what life was like back then for the middle and lower class. Luckily she has not fallen into the trap of so many people who do research and then write fiction, which is to cram ever interesting bit that they dug up into the book and making it either stilted or seeming like a history lecture. There have been so many historical romance books written about the higher class so it’s great to see this set within the world that the vast majority of people live in.
I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read more about the life journey that these two young men are embarking on. This is a long book but it’s absolutely fascinating and I sped through it because I could hardly put it down. I have done some reading of my own about what life was like for people back then but this story makes all of that come alive. The world building (world rebuilding?) and the descriptions of things and people are a big part of why I love this book so much. The push and pull between Oliver and Jack is both heartwarming and heartbreaking and this book actually made me cry at times for them. It does end part way through the story that sounds like it will be more interesting fun based on Jackie North’s description. Can’t wait!
April 19, 2022
Full disclosure: I was an English major. I’ve read my share of Dickens novels, and this book, which features Oliver and Jack (the Artful Dodger), reminded me of the awesome things about Dickensian fiction while letting me see iconic characters in a new, and deeply compelling, light. Oliver and Jack are older now, and they share a bond and a chemistry that’s complicated but strong. This is no easy or lighthearted romance, however, which is one of the things I love about it: like its inspiration, there’s a sometimes unflinching look at the hardships of Victorian attitudes and expectations. Rules about class and morality are strict and often suffocating— it helps, I think, in finding Oliver sympathetic despite some of the things he says and thinks, to understand, as the author lets us do here, exactly how much he’s been shaped by, and has to find the wherewithal to push back against, his time and place. There’s clearly a wealth of knowledge and careful research, both historical and literary, behind this book, which enhances the experience of an immersive plot and complicated, deeply interesting characters who clearly have much more ahead of them.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
April 19, 2022
I received an ARC of Fagin's Boy by Jackie North
Story of Oliver Twist, while I never actually read it, I knew enough about that world so when I became enthralled with Fagin's Boy it became the story I really wanted to read. Oliver had such a hard childhood and was happy that his painful life was heading towards his dream of one day running his very own bookstore. But like every past, it had a way of coming back to remind you that the path to his dream would be a harder path to achieve.
Jack returned to London expecting to find it the same way he left it. The life that he knew was no longer there and even worse the person he wanted to find was on a path that didn't fit him within it. Oliver was a part of Jack's past that he wanted a redo but while Oliver had a hard time keeping himself from the thieving life he couldn't seem to leave Jack behind.
The story told the struggle that they both were passionate enough to hold onto and in the process found that they couldn't be without the other. Olver refused to give up his dream and Jack was set on keeping Oliver in the life of being a thief. While Oliver and Jack's story may have ended with a new beginning I can't wait to see how their story would end. Fagin's Boy is certainly a wonderful twist of the original.
Story of Oliver Twist, while I never actually read it, I knew enough about that world so when I became enthralled with Fagin's Boy it became the story I really wanted to read. Oliver had such a hard childhood and was happy that his painful life was heading towards his dream of one day running his very own bookstore. But like every past, it had a way of coming back to remind you that the path to his dream would be a harder path to achieve.
Jack returned to London expecting to find it the same way he left it. The life that he knew was no longer there and even worse the person he wanted to find was on a path that didn't fit him within it. Oliver was a part of Jack's past that he wanted a redo but while Oliver had a hard time keeping himself from the thieving life he couldn't seem to leave Jack behind.
The story told the struggle that they both were passionate enough to hold onto and in the process found that they couldn't be without the other. Olver refused to give up his dream and Jack was set on keeping Oliver in the life of being a thief. While Oliver and Jack's story may have ended with a new beginning I can't wait to see how their story would end. Fagin's Boy is certainly a wonderful twist of the original.
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