carleneslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is not my usual genre but I liked it more than I expected. I went into it hoping for more history but it was largely a historical fantasy using the American Revolution as a backdrop, so that was a bit of a let down.
I enjoyed the way the magic worked, though, and the whodunit mystery. It was an enjoyable read but I don't think I'll read the rest of the series.
I enjoyed the way the magic worked, though, and the whodunit mystery. It was an enjoyable read but I don't think I'll read the rest of the series.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
Ethan has a girlfriend of sorts. They have sex a few times, but there are no details - it's as brief as "they went upstairs and made love."abigcoffeedragon's review against another edition
5.0
Thieftaker is my kind of story. There is magic, which makes this very much a fantasy, and it is alternate history in the sense of real time and a real place. There are a few true to life events and people, but it is so minor to the story, that it is not jarring at all. My favorite thing about this novel is that when you finish the book, you are finished. There is no, ‘what happens now?’ moment. You have character and plot closure. Sure, you are ready to see what COULD happen next, if there were another book (which there is, I know). Authors who try to compel you to continue their series, trilogy, or whatever by leaving the ending hanging have stung me too much lately. Cliffhangers work for television, but not novels, because I want to close the book and move on.
I like the magic system, because it has rules and it makes sense. However, I have a small caveat to this, but I will not write it so as not to spoil, but I think that if one were to do too much magic, well, it would be obvious I would think. But this is not a flaw, just a thought.
I also like the whole Noir feel in the American Colonies time-period feel to it as well. This is a time when guns are inaccurate and one-shots, so magic stands a good chance against a pistol.
Overall, this is a fun read, and one that I did in 2 days of reading, though there were three days in between that I was too busy to be able to read, and I was itching to get back to the adventures of Mr. Kaille, which is another sign that this is a great read. 5 stars through and through.
I like the magic system, because it has rules and it makes sense. However, I have a small caveat to this, but I will not write it so as not to spoil, but I think that if one were to do too much magic, well, it would be obvious I would think. But this is not a flaw, just a thought.
I also like the whole Noir feel in the American Colonies time-period feel to it as well. This is a time when guns are inaccurate and one-shots, so magic stands a good chance against a pistol.
Overall, this is a fun read, and one that I did in 2 days of reading, though there were three days in between that I was too busy to be able to read, and I was itching to get back to the adventures of Mr. Kaille, which is another sign that this is a great read. 5 stars through and through.
perch15's review against another edition
3.0
More 3.5 than 3 stars. A magical murder mystery set in pre-Revolutionary Boston? Yes please. This is certainly a fantastical book, but there isn't much in the way of worldbuilding. Well written, it shades more toward mystery than fantasy, and relatively uncomplicated mystery at that. That being said, I enjoyed it. A fun little paperback. I'll be glad to continue the series.
djinnia's review against another edition
5.0
You enter Ethan's world and occupation from the first pages. It's Pre-Revolutionary America and Ethan is a thieftaker, someone who hunts thieves and returns the stolen items to their owners. Only he uses abilities beyond the those of normal people.
He soon gets embroiled in a complex job that involves more than just the theft of a brooch.
Oh my gosh! I loved this book. It was so different from what I normally read. Not only is it a murder mystery, it's a history period I don't much. I found it interesting in both the characters and the world. The magic is unique
He soon gets embroiled in a complex job that involves more than just the theft of a brooch.
Oh my gosh! I loved this book. It was so different from what I normally read. Not only is it a murder mystery, it's a history period I don't much. I found it interesting in both the characters and the world. The magic is unique
wisecraic's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kblincoln's review against another edition
4.0
Ethan Kaille is a Thieftaker in pre-Revolutionary war Boston. He is an ex-convict, having endured imprisonment and slavery in the West Indies, a broken engagement, and now walks a fine line between Boston's underside and gentility.
But more than that, Ethan is a witch. He uses blood, leaves, or wood to cast small spells--but tries very hard not to be discovered in the process. The Salem witch trials weren't so very long ago.
But when the daughter of a rich merchant is found dead in an unsavory place, and Ethan is hired to find the culprit, his secret isn't going to stay that way for long. There's another witch in town-- one that has no problem using death for his own gain.
So if you like Jim Butcher's Dresden novels-- you'll like this book. Most of the book is focused equally on Ethan running around to different unsavory places and being beat up or hunted by various characters. The other parts of the book focus on the actual nature of spell-casting in Jackson's Revolutionary Boston. With a fine glaze on top of this alternate-history of Sam Adams politics and Ethan's tragic past.
It was kind of fun. I'm not the biggest fan of books that focus so much on runnning to and fro on endless errands to talk to people, nor where the main character is constantly beat up and hunted by various factions that in the end turn out to never quite catch him at all. Alot of the simmering politics and bad-guy plots hyped during the book were just explained with a few sentences at the end. Like when Ethan says to himself "well I guess the Queen of East End who is super-powerful and beat me up in the beginning of the book and who I REALLY irritated and seems me as a rival to her power is just going to leave me alone now that the bad guy is dead"....and that's what happens.
On the other hand...Sam Adams! Color me history geek, but I get all excited about the appearance of historical figures in alternate histories.
But more than that, Ethan is a witch. He uses blood, leaves, or wood to cast small spells--but tries very hard not to be discovered in the process. The Salem witch trials weren't so very long ago.
But when the daughter of a rich merchant is found dead in an unsavory place, and Ethan is hired to find the culprit, his secret isn't going to stay that way for long. There's another witch in town-- one that has no problem using death for his own gain.
So if you like Jim Butcher's Dresden novels-- you'll like this book. Most of the book is focused equally on Ethan running around to different unsavory places and being beat up or hunted by various characters. The other parts of the book focus on the actual nature of spell-casting in Jackson's Revolutionary Boston. With a fine glaze on top of this alternate-history of Sam Adams politics and Ethan's tragic past.
It was kind of fun. I'm not the biggest fan of books that focus so much on runnning to and fro on endless errands to talk to people, nor where the main character is constantly beat up and hunted by various factions that in the end turn out to never quite catch him at all. Alot of the simmering politics and bad-guy plots hyped during the book were just explained with a few sentences at the end. Like when Ethan says to himself "well I guess the Queen of East End who is super-powerful and beat me up in the beginning of the book and who I REALLY irritated and seems me as a rival to her power is just going to leave me alone now that the bad guy is dead"....and that's what happens.
On the other hand...Sam Adams! Color me history geek, but I get all excited about the appearance of historical figures in alternate histories.
librovert's review against another edition
3.0
I'm so torn on the rating I want to give this book, so I'm going to stick with my neutral three stars and explain.
I was in love with the idea of an urban fantasy that took place in 1760s Boston during the time of the Sons of Liberty, so I was super excited about this book.
I thought the main character, Ethan Kaille, was great. He had depth of character, he had inner struggle and a bit of a sarcastic wit (the sarcastic wit always gets me). I liked the idea of him being a Thieftaker AND a conjurer, giving him an interesting niche to fill in his world. I liked the hints that Jackson dropped about where his powers to conjure actually come from. I liked the side characters, even the villains were well crafted.
But, I was so disappointed with the historical fiction aspect of the book. There was nothing really tying the story to 1765 Boston, outside of the fact that the book gives you the when and where. Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty do make an appearance in the book and have a pretty large role to fill, but they could have just as easily been any patriotic organization in any situation similar to the conflict between the colonies and Great Britain.
I don't feel any compulsion to read further into the series.
I was in love with the idea of an urban fantasy that took place in 1760s Boston during the time of the Sons of Liberty, so I was super excited about this book.
I thought the main character, Ethan Kaille, was great. He had depth of character, he had inner struggle and a bit of a sarcastic wit (the sarcastic wit always gets me). I liked the idea of him being a Thieftaker AND a conjurer, giving him an interesting niche to fill in his world. I liked the hints that Jackson dropped about where his powers to conjure actually come from. I liked the side characters, even the villains were well crafted.
But, I was so disappointed with the historical fiction aspect of the book. There was nothing really tying the story to 1765 Boston, outside of the fact that the book gives you the when and where. Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty do make an appearance in the book and have a pretty large role to fill, but they could have just as easily been any patriotic organization in any situation similar to the conflict between the colonies and Great Britain.
I don't feel any compulsion to read further into the series.
nlord's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mparker546's review against another edition
3.0
This was a very interesting novel.
I enjoyed the world, and how the character used real history and presented the historical figures as real characters. I felt the plot of the book dragged a bit, with us waiting for the story while the author/main character showed us Colonial Boston. I will follow the series, but I'm not rushing to read next novel.
I enjoyed the world, and how the character used real history and presented the historical figures as real characters. I felt the plot of the book dragged a bit, with us waiting for the story while the author/main character showed us Colonial Boston. I will follow the series, but I'm not rushing to read next novel.
pldean's review against another edition
4.0
Thieftaker does several things well. It's a well-paced and -constructed novel that builds to an intense climax - I stayed up late to finish it. It's also a convincing recreation of pre-Revolutionary Boston in the beginnings of its political turmoil. Finally, it seamlessly incorporates fantasy, making the protagonist a conjurer, with supernatural powers - as is his deadly enemy.
I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, "Thieves' Quarry."
I'm looking forward to reading the sequel, "Thieves' Quarry."