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The Spell Saga #2
The Tower
Anton Seiber is on the cusp of finishing his Doctorate of Thaumaturgy, ready to leave university life behind and set out to make his own way in the world. His careful plans are interrupted by the arrival of Camille Lumière, the emperor’s investigator—and Anton’s lover.
Camille is in pursuit of a murderer, and needs Anton’s special talents to help track him down. Worse yet, the killer is targeting foreigners with magical abilities—men like Anton himself. If he and Camille don’t find him before he find Anton, his every plan for the future could be in jeopardy…not to mention his life.
Camille is in pursuit of a murderer, and needs Anton’s special talents to help track him down. Worse yet, the killer is targeting foreigners with magical abilities—men like Anton himself. If he and Camille don’t find him before he find Anton, his every plan for the future could be in jeopardy…not to mention his life.
118 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 16, 2018
32 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Cari Z.
133 books536 followersCari Z. is a Colorado girl who loves snow and sunshine. She has a wonderful relationship with her husband, a complex relationship with the characters in her head and a sadomasochistic relationship with her exercise routine. She feels like Halloween should happen every month, which is why you get this picture of her, and hopes that you enjoy reading what she's put out there as much as she enjoyed writing it in the first place.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 27, 2023
Really enjoyed this second installment of the series... it was even more suspenseful than the first. Love Anton and Camille's ongoing and deepening relationship and can't was to see where it goes in book three!
June 21, 2023
There was a small amount of steam in this installment, but I'm still not feeling the romance. I had the bad guy pegged from his first on-page appearance. Liked the story ok.
January 8, 2023
Engaging storytelling continues in this follow-up title of the series. Intriguing alt-historical geopolitical shenanigans and magic structures/practice also add to the reading enjoyment. The MCs are sympathetic but Camille continues to be a bit of a cipher IMO. 3.5 stars and onto the next book.
January 16, 2023
Second book follows Anton in his studies at the University of Zurich, making some headway into the mysterious palimpsest left with him by Camillle once the train murders had been solved. Camille reappears in Anton's life as he has come to investigate a series of new murders, and once again Anton appears to be involved. In fact he might actually be the target said killer is looking for. Can the two solve the mystery in time to save Anton's life? Will they get past some heavy petting too? Of course, co course. Serial murders in Zurich, a healthy dose of magic, Victorian era sensibilities and a queer cast with some slow burn romance tossed in. Absolutely love this series.
October 8, 2019
4.5 Stars
This is the sequel to "The Train" which I've read almost a year ago. It's not my usual read for sure, but as usual Cari manages to hold me to the edge of my seat with the most unexpected (for me) stories. This one was no different!
We've met Anton Seiber in the previous installment, back then he was on his was to Zurich to become a student of Thaumaturgy there. Thaumaturgy basically means magic. Most people have some magical abilities in this post WWI world Cari created but only some can actually manipulate it and use it to any advantage.
On his was to Zurich - on the train - he met Camille Lumiere an investigator to the Emperor and there he found himself helping him uncover a murderer. Now, 3 months after they depart, Camille is back and though Anton's immediate reaction is pure joy, it changes when he realizes Camille is here to let him know his life is in danger.
Upon Camille and Anton's departure from the train, Anton takes with him a manuscript of a VERY powerful spell. He is still working on uncovering the way it works and both he and Camille realize the person who is murdering Englishmen who arrived to Zurich recently must be looking for Anton. It's only a matter of time before he finds him, better to look for the murderer together.
It's not Anton's usual occupation but he enjoys spending his time with Camille even it's a grim circumstance. We only get Anton's POV (except for the Epilogue) but it's obvious Camille wishes for more as well but he has his reasons to keep a sort of distance. Which means this book is mostly about the investigation - a sort of mystery novel - and less of a romantic one even if there is always the current of attraction and interest from both of their parts.
I enjoyed the ride. While there was a sort of conclusion to the story there is a HUGE part left unresolved and right now Cari is writing the continuing of the story called "The Tank". I'm not going to read it now as I don't like reading books in parts so I'll wait till it's finished then delve into it!
More Reviews HERE
This is the sequel to "The Train" which I've read almost a year ago. It's not my usual read for sure, but as usual Cari manages to hold me to the edge of my seat with the most unexpected (for me) stories. This one was no different!
We've met Anton Seiber in the previous installment, back then he was on his was to Zurich to become a student of Thaumaturgy there. Thaumaturgy basically means magic. Most people have some magical abilities in this post WWI world Cari created but only some can actually manipulate it and use it to any advantage.
On his was to Zurich - on the train - he met Camille Lumiere an investigator to the Emperor and there he found himself helping him uncover a murderer. Now, 3 months after they depart, Camille is back and though Anton's immediate reaction is pure joy, it changes when he realizes Camille is here to let him know his life is in danger.
Upon Camille and Anton's departure from the train, Anton takes with him a manuscript of a VERY powerful spell. He is still working on uncovering the way it works and both he and Camille realize the person who is murdering Englishmen who arrived to Zurich recently must be looking for Anton. It's only a matter of time before he finds him, better to look for the murderer together.
It's not Anton's usual occupation but he enjoys spending his time with Camille even it's a grim circumstance. We only get Anton's POV (except for the Epilogue) but it's obvious Camille wishes for more as well but he has his reasons to keep a sort of distance. Which means this book is mostly about the investigation - a sort of mystery novel - and less of a romantic one even if there is always the current of attraction and interest from both of their parts.
I enjoyed the ride. While there was a sort of conclusion to the story there is a HUGE part left unresolved and right now Cari is writing the continuing of the story called "The Tank". I'm not going to read it now as I don't like reading books in parts so I'll wait till it's finished then delve into it!
More Reviews HERE
October 16, 2022
3.5. Felt even shorter than the first, still very enjoyable. The relationship is decidedly secondary to the mystery, which felt predictable. I’ve come to really appreciate this author, I just wish her books were longer and afforded the reader the possibility to further immerse themselves in the world she creates.
October 12, 2022
lacking in world building but terrific characters
Rating: 4🌈
The Spell Saga continues with the The Tower, a book that , unlike The Train, starts to show how little or how flawed the world building is here.
While The Train’s plot and tight storylines were held to the constraints of a moving train, and the exposition was used to move forward the mystery there. Here the series arc, the characters background, even the very foundation of the nation’s rulers are highlighted and the lack of information is apparent.
Now whether this is by flaw or author’s choice I don’t know but it makes for a oddly murky, disconnected story because we keep trying to pull pieces of a puzzle together that just won’t fit.
Even the timeline seems off.
It appears to pickup weeks after the events on the train. Anton Seiber is soon to finish his Doctorate of Thaumaturgy, even though he just got there. That feels inordinately fast given his work to get there. And the high stature of the College and the students around him.
Anton is still got the highly dangerous , one of a kind, magical palimpsest that was used in making spells for the gun that never missed and knife that always killed.
Having Anton keep that never made sense but otherwise we wouldn’t have this book where he’s clearly the target of a killer who’s victims have all been young men who have resemblances to Anton.
Enter Lord Camille Lumière, the French Emperor’s spy. A man of rare talents, including that of missing a soul, he’s assigned to the murders and Anton.
Several issues should be addressed. If you haven’t read the first book (it’s a must for this), his soulless condition isn’t explained here. But it’s important arc element . His background is a mystery, is further enlarged with only the smallest of hints.
But it’s his relationship to Anton that is. They go from first attraction to full on sexual relationship here. But without the depth of partnership we saw and got to explore with them in The Train.
There’s so much narrative “traffic “ here that their partnership in investigating the crimes gets lost midway through. That’s the real heft here . The how’s, the why’s, the neat tools of thaumaturgy in investigating the murders and their minds working it out, that’s the fascination.
But it’s a criminal we could spot immediately, side characters we didn’t connect with, and more storylines added in that took us away from what I initially thought was the couple that we were focused on.
That’s a shame because there’s so many terrific ideas and themes here.
I’m definitely awaiting the next in the series The Tank. But I do wish this had lived up to the first book promise.
Still I’m recommending it. Read The Train and then The Tower before moving forward.
The Spell Saga series:
- [x] The Train #1
- [x] The Tower #2
- [ ] The Tank #3-October 25, 2022
Rating: 4🌈
The Spell Saga continues with the The Tower, a book that , unlike The Train, starts to show how little or how flawed the world building is here.
While The Train’s plot and tight storylines were held to the constraints of a moving train, and the exposition was used to move forward the mystery there. Here the series arc, the characters background, even the very foundation of the nation’s rulers are highlighted and the lack of information is apparent.
Now whether this is by flaw or author’s choice I don’t know but it makes for a oddly murky, disconnected story because we keep trying to pull pieces of a puzzle together that just won’t fit.
Even the timeline seems off.
It appears to pickup weeks after the events on the train. Anton Seiber is soon to finish his Doctorate of Thaumaturgy, even though he just got there. That feels inordinately fast given his work to get there. And the high stature of the College and the students around him.
Anton is still got the highly dangerous , one of a kind, magical palimpsest that was used in making spells for the gun that never missed and knife that always killed.
Having Anton keep that never made sense but otherwise we wouldn’t have this book where he’s clearly the target of a killer who’s victims have all been young men who have resemblances to Anton.
Enter Lord Camille Lumière, the French Emperor’s spy. A man of rare talents, including that of missing a soul, he’s assigned to the murders and Anton.
Several issues should be addressed. If you haven’t read the first book (it’s a must for this), his soulless condition isn’t explained here. But it’s important arc element . His background is a mystery, is further enlarged with only the smallest of hints.
But it’s his relationship to Anton that is. They go from first attraction to full on sexual relationship here. But without the depth of partnership we saw and got to explore with them in The Train.
There’s so much narrative “traffic “ here that their partnership in investigating the crimes gets lost midway through. That’s the real heft here . The how’s, the why’s, the neat tools of thaumaturgy in investigating the murders and their minds working it out, that’s the fascination.
But it’s a criminal we could spot immediately, side characters we didn’t connect with, and more storylines added in that took us away from what I initially thought was the couple that we were focused on.
That’s a shame because there’s so many terrific ideas and themes here.
I’m definitely awaiting the next in the series The Tank. But I do wish this had lived up to the first book promise.
Still I’m recommending it. Read The Train and then The Tower before moving forward.
The Spell Saga series:
- [x] The Train #1
- [x] The Tower #2
- [ ] The Tank #3-October 25, 2022
October 28, 2022
The Tower
The plot thickens, Anton’s studies in Zurich are progressing and it is several months since his adventure with Camille, Lord Luminiere, when a series of murders draws them back together. A series that implies deadly consequences for Anton.
The plot thickens, Anton’s studies in Zurich are progressing and it is several months since his adventure with Camille, Lord Luminiere, when a series of murders draws them back together. A series that implies deadly consequences for Anton.
January 19, 2023
The Tower
What a fantastic story! I love reading mysteries, and Cari Z has written a Wonderful book full of intrigue. This series is just perfect. I’m really looking forward to reading the next book in the series!! Highly Recommended
What a fantastic story! I love reading mysteries, and Cari Z has written a Wonderful book full of intrigue. This series is just perfect. I’m really looking forward to reading the next book in the series!! Highly Recommended
October 30, 2023
captivating story
If not for it’s short length I would have given it 5 stars. The book is full of clever ideas of equal parts magic and science and religion. It compels you to think of the vast applications of it all from the subtle to the extraordinary
If not for it’s short length I would have given it 5 stars. The book is full of clever ideas of equal parts magic and science and religion. It compels you to think of the vast applications of it all from the subtle to the extraordinary
October 23, 2023
I maybe didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one, but I'm invested now, so I'll be seeing it through.
January 16, 2024
Nmms,este definitivamente estuvo muy bueno ya quiero leer el siguiente
January 17, 2024
Goddamn but Anton does go through the wringer, doesn’t he?
July 23, 2024
A nice addition to the series. I appreciate the two MCs and their romance mixed in with the mystery of the magical crime investigation. Who doesn’t love a gay steampunk romance.
June 25, 2025
Ooooh, this one was even more fun than the first! Although maybe that's just because I'm getting more invested in these two 🤣
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews