Chris Patrick Carolan

All Isaac Barrow wants is to be left alone to pursue his supernatural research and tinker with his inventions. But when you're the only technomancer openly practicing the craft in 1880s Halifax, trouble has a way of finding you. When a routine mechanical service call reveals the grisly handiwork of the Nightshade Cabal - an underground cult of necromancers - Barrow finds himself in a race against time to put a stop to the Cabal's depredations before they can kill anyone else and turn them into... office machinery?Then there's the mystery of Emily Skye, a missing teenager with strange abilities of her own. Believing her disappearance to be connected to the Nightshade Cabal, Barrow agrees to help track down the missing girl. But even if he can find her, will Miss Skye aid him in his struggle against the Cabal? Or might she turn out to be the deadliest threat of all?

The Nightshade Cabal

Sheila Goicea

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, The Parliament House, in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.



All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication. 

Content Warning: Abduction, Gore, Death, Murder, Overall morbid theme

  The inspector always says there are two main motivations for murder, love or money.

Halifax, Nova Scotia is an atmospheric place in the 1880’s, especially when steampunk machines rumble down the streets of the Victorian city. The Nightshade Cabal is an urban fantasy with solid world building set in this intriguing era. 

Isaac Barrow is one of the last technomancers by trade, but transitions into a detective reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes, when his path unwillingly crosses the devious Nightshade Cabal on one of his routine jobs. Magic is very real, and good, when used for such means. The Nightshade Cabal, however, prove that their fiendish work with necromancy only leads down a path of disaster. Two missing persons, a mysterious malfunctioning contraption, and a plea from a distraught sister thrusts Isaac into a fast-paced chase through the streets of Halifax to track down Emily Skye. 

Barrow’s tinkering will appease any steampunk lover, as it’s rather advanced gadgets are consistently present in daily living. I found it easy to dive into this well-written story and remained on the edge of my seat for the entire duration. I appreciated Barrow’s inquisitive nature, and how he shared his ruminations throughout the entire case. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more by this author, as his unique voice is inquisitive, descriptive, and unique.

Vulgarity: Minimal.
Sexual content: Minimal.
Violence: Moderate - the overall theme encompasses some gruesome details and investigating them further.

My Rating: ★★★★

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The Nightshade Cabal

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