4.25 ⭐
0 🌶️

Wow. This was quite the adventure. It started slow, but it definitely picked up in the second half. The author's writing style mirrored the time period of the book. Since the book is written in the first person, it gives it an almost autobiographical voice. It's unique, and I can't quite think of a book that left me with this feeling. In a sense, it reminded me of something written long ago. It was unique, and I enjoyed it. At times, it got a bit wordy, but it flowed well, and I didn't get bogged down.

This is a book you must read to grasp the plot. I am looking forward to more books in this series, just from the perspective I need to see where the author goes with this. Shay is a character with flaws and struggles with her place in the world. Being an orphan and sold into indentured servitude, she didn't have a lot of choices in her life. However, she ended up being in service to a surgeon and found herself in better circumstances than before. We go along with her on her journey, which is mundane and exciting. But it is all to get you to that last 25% of the book that is quite indescribable. Read the book and find out for yourself.

Thank you NetGalley and Panthe Press for the eArc. These opinions are my own.

The premise of this story seemed fascinating, but fell short in its execution. The prose is overwrought and the story underdeveloped. The worldbuilding had potential to be interesting, but I constantly felt like I was missing something. I can definitely imagine reading another book by this author in the future, but won’t be continuing the series.

This was an amazing read thru a fantasy on a different level. The author very obviously loved writing this book and it shows. I loved that this has magic and other fantasy elements. The characters are well developed and you get attached to them. This book was a bit slow to get thru. It is written as a regency style and I did have to push thru the first part of the book. This book was very atmospheric and the historical element gave it a certain vibe. I can’t wait for this story to continue. I feel this book was setting future books up for a grand adventure.

Complex relatable characters with high level writing plus deep worldbuilding.

If it's for you you will love it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and to Panthe Press for the ARC.

I'd heard nothing about this debut novel before I read it and I have to say I was extremely pleasantly surprised.

The setting is gorgeous, the characters interesting and the story was equal parts moving and absorbing.

I can see why some may find the prose a struggle but for me this was one of the strongest elements. Griffin's lyrical, beautifully constructed sentences are a far cry from the digestible, bland prose of the vast majority of modern speculative fiction.

I've never enjoyed a flintlock fantasy story so much - I found myself completely believing in the narrator and could not put the book down.

I would thoroughly recommend this to any fan of low, adult fantasy as well as historical fiction fans who are open to reading excellent fantasy.

I cannot wait for book 2 in the series!!!!!!

Seeker is a novel that has very specific ideas about what it wants to be and goes about achieving this in clunky, roundabout ways. The writing style is difficult to sink into and the story manages to be overwritten and underwritten at the same time, focusing far too much on irrelevant details to flesh out this swashbuckling world rather than the story trying to carve its way through the heavy-handed worldbuilding.
Even once you fight your way past the try-hard prose, the characters underneath don't have much to say for themselves. Our three main characters are held at arm's length and the author misses the obvious opportunities to introduce their quirks in a streamlined way, opting instead to man-handle chunks of excessively detailed description into seemingly random narratives throughout the story. This disruptive way of writing forces readers onto the defensive, never quite sure what obstacle the next paragraph will cough up.
This is a tough slog of a book to chew through with little reward at the other end. With more editing and better fleshed-out characters this could have been a great read.

As a fan of epic fantasy books, I was really intrigued to read the flintlock fantasy debut of author Samuel Griffin, but I was sadly disappointed. While the premise of the story was very interesting, overall, I found the writing to be very confusing. It is written in the first person and as a reader we expect to be drawn into the story as we learn more about the world in which the main character lives, and the situations they find themselves in. We want to fully grasp what is happening and get to know the characters and as a result feel a part of the story and feel empathy or anger and so on towards them. This is sadly lacking in ‘Seeker’ and I spent half the book trying to understand fully what was going on, trying to remember who some of the characters were and hoping that information was being intentionally held back for a big reveal at the end. This never fully happened and as a result I felt detached from the characters and ended the book feeling like I’d missed a few chapters somewhere.
It's a shame, as the premise is great, and the characters are intriguing. I would have liked to know more about Etherington and Peck. I think the lack of character dialogue also didn't help. Some of the passages are beautifully written, but I spent a lot of the book having to re-read sections to understand their meaning. This was partly due to lack of explanation as to what was happening, and partly due to the sentence structure, with sentences ending before I thought they should. It didn’t make for easy reading, and I don’t think I’ll be reading the next book.

Unfortunately I do not think this writing style is for me. I was captivated from the first chapter but found myself becoming confused more often than not and being left with more questions than answers. I DNF'd 60% in. Overall I think the book has a great premise and potential but the approach was hard for me to follow.

Thank you Samuel Griffin and Panthe Press for the ARC.

I have been reading historical fiction for more than forty years, primarily those set in Regency England. Never having read flintlock fantasy before, I was intrigued by the premise of Seeker, and eager to begin this story. Written in first person prose throughout with little dialogue in the beginning chapters, I can understand how this may make for a slow start to the book. However, I found this technique a valuable way for me to learn about Shay and see how her character, thoughts, intentions, and maturity change over time. I was able to clearly see in my mind’s eye the various environments, personalities, and interactions the author detailed. With descriptive language and a cast of supporting characters, some that it is unclear whether they are friend or foe, this story builds to its ultimate conflict. Setting the stage for the rest of the series, Seeker: The Sentinel Archives Book 1 lays the foundation for the books to come which I am eager to read.

This one sat weirdly for me. I enjoyed it, that much is sure. But I’m generally not a fan of the style of storytelling. I don’t like the almost-fourth-wall-breaking of lines like “I would later learn that…” and such like. There’s something about this style which is mesmerising to read but doesn’t sit well with me personally.

Beyond that - the characters were engaging and 3-dimensional. Wasn’t a massive fan of Shay, but there was something about her that was quite enjoyable to read. Would have liked to have seen more of Ridley. He was a good character that’s for sure.

The plot was interesting. Started off a little slowly but it picked up and was worth the payoff. There was plenty of world building needed anyway, I’d never experienced recency era fantasy before so I don’t begrudge a slower start. I think the beginning of the book - the first chapter - was on point. Really set the scene for Shay’s situation in life. A difficult thing to deal with and it was done well.

A big thank youbto Panthe Press & NetGalley for this fantastic book.

So excited to read this authors debute novel. I am a huge fan of magic, fantasy and historical fiction so this book was immediately a huge draw for me.

I loved the fantasy world created and the historical aspects were an added plus. The characters were very well developed. My favorite was Bamcroft. I really did not connect with Shay.

The book starts out slowly, but keep reading it picks up speed.

Looking forward to watching this author develop. A great start!

Recommend

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Samuel Griffin for providing me with a free review copy of this book. The following is my own opinion freely given.

Unfortunately, this was a no for me. The prose was so flowery that it made working through this a slog. The world building was so dense in some places and thin in others. The precursor to the magic system was so convoluted that I was confused and bored. I think this book could benefit from a Prologue providing some back story to the Sentinels as well as an edit to clean up the prose.

There is a lot of potential in this book, and there is good bones and the character development is good, but the ambitious way the author chose to try and evoke the time period in the writing was a step too far especially as the dialogue wasnt consistent to that period.

I would re-read this if the author made significant changes but not otherwise.

Thank you to Panthe Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of Seeker!

This is such a rich a luscious world that it’s impossible not to compare it to some of the greats. It’s a decadent fantasy with long luxurious prose that leaves me wanting more from Griffin! It’s expert craft level for a debut novel, intriguing in just the right ways.
I can see how this book isn’t for some people, if you don’t like tapestries of complex world building and characters and prefer a simplistic read, I would say that this story isn’t for you. Your loss.
It’s wonderful to read a fantasy book with elevation. Dedication to the good versus evil debate, and the mystery seeps through the words.
A fun but complex read, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next!

The author, Samuel Griffin, has had a ball and indulged himself to the full in writing this atmospheric and unusual novel and sharing his love of language. If you’ve got it, flaunt it. Wooed by the period style, enhanced with florid imageries, the story is a veritable whirligig as it pirouettes, reels, gyrates, spins and pivots through forbidden knowledge, loss, forthcoming disasters, betrayal, pending the reawakening of ancient leviathans, or possibly gods.
Beguiled as I was with the writing and the fantastical elements, I did wonder at times where it was all going, with diversions to the left, surprises to the right, key characters disappearing, with destiny (in this volume) detailed in the final few pages. But a great read overall.

3/3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Panthe Press for this ARC in exchanged for an honest review.

Really interesting concept for a regency era fantasy tale. I love the academic vibes to the story.

Very rich and atmospheric world building. The language used is gorgeous and helps place you in time the story is based.

Very excited to see where the series takes us as this was a really good first instalment.

I enjoyed watching our main character grow, build relationships and find her way through this new life she is in.

Would also like to appreciate the artwork sprinkled throughout for each chapter and at the beginning of the book.

This may book may not be for everyone but I definitely enjoyed my time in its world and would happily continue the story onwards.

Seeker is a well thought and incredibly fun steampunk novel with a likeable main cast of characters. Despite the deliberately Victorian style language, it reads quickly and is easy to keep up with.

My only gripe with the book is it takes a very long time to get where it’s going so to speak. The main plot takes a great deal of time to set up, but it’s well worth the wait!

Seeker” is a first-person fantasy novel with a rich, Regency-era flavor and a bewitching touch of strangeness. It is a sumptuous tale set in a world so vividly and authentically drawn that you’ll tumble right through the pages

Setting: The novel takes place in a world where ancient leviathans have stirred from their long slumber. Their scent song marks where they might be found, but only to those with the means to somewhat hear , the Sentinel Archivists.

Protagonist: Our main character is Shay Bluefaltlow, who finds herself training to become a specialist in this unique field. However, she is forced into indentured servitude in the city of Fivedock.

Companions: Shay’s new companions include a belligerent surgeon, a remarkable little boy, and a formidable Sentinel Archivist tasked with teaching her the terrifying ways of the trade.

Challenges: Shay’s unanticipated position requires forbidden knowledge, a sickening transformation, and the strongest constitution. She’s desperate to impress her superiors.

Betrayal and Secrets: When war subsumes the Concord, the office of the Sentinel Archivist is threatened by a terrible betrayal. And Shay has secrets of her own.

Samuel Griffin weaves an evocative fantasy that combines enchanting prose with a relentless engine of a story, leaving readers breathless. If you enjoy Fantasy with a touch of mystery and historical flair, “Seeker”might be a captivating read for you

“Seeker” is a delightful blend of fantasy and historical fiction. Samuel Griffin’s storytelling prowess shines through, making this a promising start to The Sentinel Archives series. If you enjoy richly detailed worlds, complex characters, and a touch of magic, don’t miss this enchanting read!

A surprise to be sure but a welcome one! I didn't have many expectations going into Seeker, but this was a well-written, exciting and thoroughly capable debut in the flintlock fantasy sub-genre, with an intriguing and novel conceit focusing on the hunt for mythical colossi thought extinct by many. Shay was a likeable and engaging protagonist, and though her numerous failures over the course of the story were sometimes cloying, they added a real sense of reality and intended long term storytelling over what I hope will be a long-running series.

I did feel at times that the world building was lacking a touch, the city of Fivedocks and the threat from the conspiracy not completely integrated into Griffin's narrative, but the overarching sense was one of future books in mind, and setting up the next books to come. Definitely one to watch!

Shay is an orphan, in the remote city of Quom, when the unexpected happens - a stranger buys her contract from the orphanage and takes her away to the city of Fivedock. Fearing the worst during her indenture, Shay - who, far from being mistreated, finds herself being educated to a level she'd never dreamed of - attempts to escape. Her attempt backfires, and she is told the story behind her being chosen; she is to be a Seeker, a person with the specialized skills needed to deal with Sentinels, mysterious beings of uncertain origin who have significant impact on the world of the Concord. So great is the influence of the Sentinels that Shay and her benefactors seek their intervention in a war between various states.

This is an interesting novel, with an unusual premise, in that the origin of the Sentinels, or much other information about them at all, is never explained; rather it is understood by the Sentinel Archivist, who is training Shay to assist her, using a mysterious substance that changes her perceptions, and, ultimately, her body, so that she is able, in some small way, to communicate with the Sentinels. Along the way, the orphan Shay learns about family and friendship, and, sadly, betrayal. I enjoyed this novel, although I did sometimes find the language usage a bit stilted, with its use of archaic terms that suited the story but were sometimes hard to decipher, adding to the ambience created by the author, but subtracting from the willful suspension of reality that the best stories create. Recommended for teen and adult readers.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Seeker
Is a Flintlock Fantasy, a genre I am unfamiliar with but intrigued to read.
Shay is bought as an indentured servant from an orphanage and taken to a strange land. It is very mysterious but she is treated well. After she tries to escape and is found out, Shay starts working with the Archivist and is told it is important and dangerous work . But she is still in the dark about why she has been chosen and does not feel qualified. She is naively trusting and doesn’t have much consideration for others. It was hard to like her. But she did develop some good qualities in the second half of the book.
The novel is charmingly written in an old fashioned style. But it was also frustrating to - possibly because the narration is from Shay so we really only see her point of view and she is a young girl.
The first half is slow paced but it is worth it to persevere.