Amy Griswold

3 stars.
I'm not sure how a book about magic and investigating a murder, with a interesting shared past for the characters can be dry, but that's what it felt like to me. Unlike other books, I would keep looking, sure that I had read quite a bit and would always be surprised that I was only 5 or 10 percent ahead of where I was the last time I looked. The story was interesting, and so were the characters, but I didn't really connect with the writing itself.

Despite some minor editing issues, this is an enjoyable fantasy in an alternate London set at some point in the late 1800s.

Great world, with an interesting magical system, and a strong steampunk sensibility. I particularly like the vicious, roving plants. Heh. Also, hooray for gay romance, and man, boarding schools are the pits. Solid mystery, very entertaining.

Another solid mystery in a magical alt-victorian world. Ned and Julian's romance continues to deepen, and their magical and detection partnership as well. Great read!