Firstly, I adore this cover. I think its stunning, and it is the first thing that really drew me to the book.

The story itself starts of really promising - a train crash in Paddington Station and the immediate aftermath are written in a slightly graphic but completely unflinching way. Plenty of questions are raised and none answered, but I didn't feel like that mattered because I was engaged enough to keep pushing through.

Unfortunately, after this strong start the book became a bit of a struggle. There was lots of long winded and detailed world building which quickly became confusing a difficult to follow. I was quite fond of the characters as the story went on, but it took so long for everything to happen that I couldn't stay interested in the book for more than a few pages, and it became a bit of a hard slog.

The writing is beautiful - Martyn Carey has a gift for descriptions. Its just a real shame that this seemed to hold back the plot. However, I would definitely recommend that people give the book a try!

I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Matador and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
To start off I must disclose that I DNF this book at 26%. I really wanted to like this book. I mean it starts train crash at Paddington station that is pulled off by evil wizards unknown. Poor Mike Frost is somehow caught in the middle and used as a tool for said bad guys.
Sounds exciting right?? Unfortunately, It was anything but. There was so must telling and not showing in the first 20% of the book that I really had to fight to get that far. Parts where Mike is explaining magic to the reader sound like he’s quoting textbooks. I did learn some exciting British colloquialisms. Such as “I don’t need to cheat to beat you, you great streak of piss.” and “You do think a lot of cock.” I just wish the magic was as exciting.
Even Mike Frost says so when explaining magic to his dad... Dad looked at me for a long moment“ You hoped you could do more.” “I hoped I could do something. Still do, but every time I get deeper into it, the more I realize that what we can actually do is surprisingly little. We can heal to some extent _ It’s very good for emergency first aid and the advanced stuff is used to deal with things that can’t be treated otherwise, as problems in the brain or inoperable tumors.” Mike talks a lot about healing magic but his specialty is actually each Earth magic, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t find his fucus untill something like 18% into the book.
There is a lot of going from one place to another and conversations about attacks that Mike hears about second hand. There is somehow suspicion that Mike is connected to these attacks. There is really nothing that really moves the story along and very little to connect me to any characters.
Around 20% things looked like they might pick up a little. But alas more long drawn out telling not showing.