A fascinating story

At first there were parts of this book that irritated me, and then as I thought about it, it was things that happened in books that featured a M/F romance and we come to not be ready to see them in M/M romances. I actually loved Miles and Tristan (again if my spellings are slightly off, I am dyslexic and listened to this book on audio), they are exactly what I needed to see. I know it is weird but this is the kind of book that you could easily do as a different romance. It was so good, and honestly it was great to see a book with many characters who are LGBT and don't have that as their primary characteristic. Miles is interested in Tristan, but he's also brave, a doctor, a rebel, inquisitive, intelligent and kind.

I loved the elements of politics in this, with the secondaries and primaries, it was something I loved to read about and wanted to know more about it. I loved understanding how the system worked, how it was flawed and how it needed to change and found myself just as frustrated as Miles was with the position he was dealt in life. I felt his struggle and could really relate to him.

I just loved this book so much, there is no way for my to express how much I loved it, although I found it, in part, predictable. I know that the sequel is a change of main character, and possibly a companion novel rather than a traditional sequel, but I am excited to read about Grace and what she does after the end of these events (and hope that there will be some more information about Miles and Tristan because I need to know).

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2 people found this helpful

unique

I'd heard this was good and ended up not being what I expected. Very involved with mental health and ptsd and institutions but a very interesting story and I ended up really enjoying it

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Fascinating!

What a clever story! I listened to the audiobook first, which I always find harder as I have to rely on the narrator to create voices and atmosphere; if I’ve read the book first, I’m able to use my imagination to fill in the gaps! That said, Samuel Roukin did a super job. There were a couple of times I stumbled and wasn’t sure which character was speaking, but on the whole, it all flowed well. The story was complex and I should have read it first to enable me to form a complete picture but instead, I listened to the complete story twice! What an unusual and interesting world C. L. Polk has created. There was a mystery to solve and as the story unfolded, the true horror of what lay beneath, revealed! The story was told through Miles, who was strong, steadfast and good. An unlikely partnership develops and we see the bonds of friendship grow and strengthen between the two leads as they unravel the strands of what begins as two mysteries, but which ultimately lead to the unveiling of all! All very well executed and a refreshingly good read (listen!)

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1 person found this helpful

Nice little male male fantasy romance adventure

Low on the romance, sweet though. High on the mystery and adventure. I liked this story about magic that must be kept secret. The intrigue of following the path towards discovering a murder made for a good plot line in a seemingly Steampunk Edwardian realm where people with magic have to keep it secret through a classist system.

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Fascinating worldbuilding, engaging characters, intriguing plot.

A very enjoyable vocal performance, and this was altogether a thoroughly gripping read: the story unfolded in directions I did not expect, and was all the more satisfying because of it.

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Good narrator and story

I liked that the narrator didn’t force a falsetto for female characters - it makes a change!

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Story deserved better

The content was great, but the narrator was so monotonous that I felt like I was trudging through mud to get through it

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Magic is a problem as much as a gift

Magic is a problem as much as a gift in the world of this novel, especially if you have an "inferior" type of it, and have to defend yourself from both popular beliefs and superior magic. But in Miles' job his secret, carefully handled inferior gift is precious, until his life is upset by a mysterious dead man and a new, soon special friend in search of answers. In their investigation on that death and on the man's last words, they meet dangerous opposition both from powerful relatives and from superstitious acquaintances. Eventually, as they learn to rely on each other's strengths, they uncover a terrible plot and, with the help of a few allies, fight to undo it at risk of their own lives. A great rollercoaster of a novel, as the protagonist seems to hit a predictable and sad dead end more than once but always ends up finding a convincing and unexpected way out. The relationship between the main characters is refreshingly sweet and defies preconceptions.

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Okay

Good narration though I found myself losing interest in the mystery aspect of the book. Though the playfulness between the protagonists was enjoyable.

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Really enjoyed this

Really great story and excellent narration. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

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