TOWN OF SHADOWS
Victorian (England) Fantasy
Jessica Scarlett
RELEASE DATE:
July 1, 2025
PUBLISHER:
Oliver Heber Book
ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
B0D2TC17HB
RATING:
4
AUTHOR LINK:
https://www.goodreads.com/jessicascarlett
Dorothy St. James cannot control her magic, so she keeps
herself at home to avoid the authorities. When the Rook kidnaps her father, she
wants to ask The Samaritan for help. The only person who seems to know the
masked hero’s identity is Ashley Gardner. Dorothy strikes a bargain with him: If
she can find and decipher his three clues, he will tell her who the Samaritan
is. Can Dorothy win the dangerous game that Ashley set? Or will she discover
far more than what she bargained for? And at what price?
Ashley Gardner uses his charismatic charm and magical
abilities to get what he wants. He flits between polite society and the dark
underworld, belonging to neither. Ashley fears that Dorothy could throw a
wrench into all his schemes and plans. The clever chit insists that he reveal
the Samaritan’s identity to her. Ashley knows the knowledge could put Dorothy’s
life in jeopardy, along with his. Can Ashley keep Dorothy from winning his
game? But at what expense?
I could not help but sympathize and empathize with
Dorothy. Her inability to keep her gift from activating whenever someone used
magic caused her to alienate herself. However, she did not spend all that time
being idle or playing the damsel in distress. She instead helped her father
with his scientific research. What I like the most is how Ashley gave Dorothy
the impetus to step outside her comfort zone. She found herself doing things
she ordinarily would not have before.
Ashley intrigues me! I am a sucker for the
wounded/tortured types. Ashley fits the criteria perfectly. I feel the author
barely scratched the surface with all that is troubling him. What I like the
most is Ashley and Miles’ dynamics (or their bromance as some would call it). The
two are opposites especially in behavior. They have also been through a lot
together.
Miles easily became my favorite character! I simply adore
his shyness around women. He fondly reminded me of an old role-playing
character of mine – who suffered from the same affliction.
TOWN OF SHADOWS is the first book in Jessica Scarlett’s
Victorian Fantasy series, SLANTED LONDON. I am new to this author’s works. The story’s
synopsis is what drew me to request the book from Booksprout. The idea of a
parallel universe set in a Victorian era yet intermeshed with magical elements.
It intrigued me enough to take a chance on a new author and new series. In some
ways, it reminds me of steampunk (one of my favorite genres) but without the
mechanical jargon and technology.
The ending is what kept me from rating the story higher. I
loved everything about the book until that point. It left me dissatisfied and
disappointed. Others may like the twist. It just did not sit well with me.
I am leery about continuing with this series. Which is
sad because half-way through I wanted the next book to center around Miles and
Emme. Then there is Nicholas. The man gave off serious creeper (and eck) vibes.