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Thieftaker (Thieftaker Chronicles #1)

by D.B. Jackson (Goodreads Author)

3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 · rating details · 396 ratings · 138 reviews

Boston, 1765: In D.B. Jackson's Thieftaker, revolution is brewing as the British Crown imposes increasingly onerous taxes on the colonies, and intrigue swirls around firebrands like Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty. But for Ethan Kaille, a thieftaker who makes his living by conjuring spells that help him solve crimes, politics is for others…until he is asked to recover...more

Hardcover, 327 pages

Published July 3rd 2012 by Tor Books

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Jun 10, 2012 Kara-karina rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5/5
Egalley thanks to Tor/Forge Books
If you noticed how many books are getting high grades from me in the last couple of months...it's not because I'm getting soft, I'm just being very lucky and keep finding really really enjoyable reads *fingers crossed, the luck will hold*

Thieftaker is one of such books. I enjoyed it immensely. Full of rich, well-rounded characters, extremely atmospheric and just riveting.

I loved Ethan Kaille. He is in his late thirties, tired, wise and bedraggled. In his y...more 4.5/5
Egalley thanks to Tor/Forge Books
If you noticed how many books are getting high grades from me in the last couple of months...it's not because I'm getting soft, I'm just being very lucky and keep finding really really enjoyable reads *fingers crossed, the luck will hold*

Thieftaker is one of such books. I enjoyed it immensely. Full of rich, well-rounded characters, extremely atmospheric and just riveting.

I loved Ethan Kaille. He is in his late thirties, tired, wise and bedraggled. In his young years he got involved in a riot and had been sent to Barbados for more than 10 years to an absolute hell of a prison on plantation where he had to do everything in his power to hide that he is a natural-born conjurer.

Now he is settled in Boston and making a living by finding stolen goods and catching thieves for middle-class clients. Another thieftaker, a dangerous criminal, Queen of the South End, Sephira Pryce has her pick of rich and powerful clients and Ethan tries hard not to cross her way.

Only when a young girl is found dead on the street without a mark on her, her powerful family goes to Ethan and ask him to recover brooch stolen from her body in hopes that he would lead them to the identity of the killer.

Ethan doesn't want to take the job, doesn't want to come to an attention of vicious Miss Pryce but when he sees the body he knows that another conjurer murdered the girl by a powerful spell, and he needs to be stopped.

Thus starts his extremely dangerous journey, full of political intrigue, powerful magic, cruel enemies, and all of this in a country on the verge of revolution where a conjurer can still get hanged as a witch.

The conflict between Ethan and an evil conjurer is intense, there are a lot of enemies and constant danger of dying, which keep you on the edge of your seat through the whole book.

Ethan is absolutely lovely and so very alive, like one of those lone rangers in old westerns. He is lonely and scarred and kind. He's got friends and a woman, Kannice, who love him and who can be used in a game against him, and he is desperate to keep all of them safe.

I do love this one-man-battle-against-all-odds type of book or movie, and with Ethan you don't really know until the very end if he wins or not (you know he will, because that's how the book is supposed to end, but try telling this to your heart which still goes to him).

I would recommend the book to all fans of Diana Gabaldon, because the period and the atmosphere reminded me of her books quite a bit.(less)

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Jul 25, 2012 E.K. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, historical

I'm always looking for fantasy novels set in different times and places than the traditional medieval European setting. Thieftaker by D.B. Jackson goes one further: it's historical fantasy, set in colonial Boston. While I'm a history lover, I prefer it ancient, and my memories of 1760s America involve memorizing boring dates and events while chained to a school desk. However, I'm very happy to say this novel isn't like that – at all.

Ethan Kaille isn't a typical thieftaker, making his living app...more I'm always looking for fantasy novels set in different times and places than the traditional medieval European setting. Thieftaker by D.B. Jackson goes one further: it's historical fantasy, set in colonial Boston. While I'm a history lover, I prefer it ancient, and my memories of 1760s America involve memorizing boring dates and events while chained to a school desk. However, I'm very happy to say this novel isn't like that – at all.

Ethan Kaille isn't a typical thieftaker, making his living apprehending thieves and returning stolen goods. He's also a conjurer and uses his abilities to aid his work, not harm innocent people. To Ethan, what he does isn't “witchcraft,” but less than a century after the Salem witch trials, folks have a hard time making the distinction, and witchcraft is still a hanging offense. This magic system isn't elaborate and blends well with the relatively modern time period.

The people of Boston are divided between those loyal to England and those opposed to the Stamp Act, Parliament's recent attempt to raise money from the colonies. Tempers flare. It's a time when Boston has only one sheriff, no deputies, and the men of the Night Watch can't be trusted.

The daughter of a wealthy merchant is murdered during a riot and Ethan is hired to recover her stolen necklace, but he's driven to continue on and find her killer.

During his investigation Ethan opens one powder keg after another. He finds himself in the midst of pre-Revolutionary politics and meets historical figures like Samuel Adams. He runs afoul of his only rival, the lovely but dangerous Sephira Pryce and her thugs and plays a cat-and-mouse game with a much stronger conjurer. Tenacious he may be, but in the end, death catches up with Ethan.

Mr. Jackson immerses the reader in the sights and smells of colonial times and sprinkles a few little-know historical tidbits through the narrative, which I appreciate. I find it makes the reading experience that much more fun. The twists kept me turning pages and the book ended quicker than I wanted it to.

I really enjoyed Thieftaker and am looking forward to the next Ethan Kaille novel, which I understand will be out next year.(less)

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Jun 04, 2012 Faith Hunter rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is one of those times that I need a sixth star. Thieftaker is one of the best debut books I have ever read. It has everything - wonderful writing, amazing world building (this isn't your mama's history) lovely magical system, sexual tension, intensity, conflict/plot tension, and a main character who is still with me. D.B.Jackson did a masterful job. It's like a modern urban fantasy set in an alternate history where magic is real.

I have known this author (writing under another name) in the p...more

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Jul 01, 2012 All Things Urban Fantasy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: july-2012-hotp, reviewed-by-abigail

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy

We don’t see an abundance of male protagonists in urban fantasy, and we see still fewer that are really great. Fortunately, D.B. Jackson’s Ethan Kaille falls into that category. THIEFTAKER, the first book in The Thieftaker Chronicles follows a conjurer, or wizard, in colonial America who uses his magic to eke out a living as a thieftaker. Everything in this book is meticulously researched. The time period feels completely real. The dialogue, clothing, a...more

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May 01, 2013 Jackie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I want to state up front that this isn't my usual genre: historical fiction generally leaves me cold (frustrates me), I rarely read science fiction (the label our local library stuck on the spine of this book) and fantasy is often too 'fantastical'. (Clear as mud?)

It was with a small sense of apprehension that I delved into the first few pages. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, or even if I could make sense of it. Then I had a sense of surprise that I was so drawn into this book.

The writing wa...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Gaeadd rated it 4 of 5 stars

This well-paced book creates a vivid alternate world woven through revolutionary Boston with a non-traditional protagonist and a believable magic system. The city itself comes alive with dirty streets and whitewashed walls.

The protagonist doesn't fit the usual young, strapping hero stereotype, which was a refreshing change. Instead, he aches when he gets hurt and wants the best for the children he views himself as a father figure for. He struggles with a non-traditional relationship and declari...more

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Jan 19, 2013 Cornerofmadness rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, urban-fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Thieftaker started out a little slowly and I thought this wasn’t going to be for me but the idea was interesting so I stayed with it. I’m glad I did. Once you get a chapter or two in, it takes off. Ethan Kaille is a thieftaker, which appears to be someone who is hired by families to help find things that were stolen from them (while the sheriff and his men are freed up to do other things). Ethan is also a disgraced Navy man who spent time in prison. Even more importantly it’s the mid-1700’s righ...more Thieftaker started out a little slowly and I thought this wasn’t going to be for me but the idea was interesting so I stayed with it. I’m glad I did. Once you get a chapter or two in, it takes off. Ethan Kaille is a thieftaker, which appears to be someone who is hired by families to help find things that were stolen from them (while the sheriff and his men are freed up to do other things). Ethan is also a disgraced Navy man who spent time in prison. Even more importantly it’s the mid-1700’s right before the revolution and Ethan is a conjurer. The idea of witchcraft in this alternative history is a bit convoluted. It can still get you hanged. Some people seem to believe it doesn’t exist. Others know it does but look the other way and so long as the conjurer isn’t too flashy they’re not likely to die. They also require a medium to help their spells. One of the most powerful (and the one Ethan uses most) is blood. Magic runs in family lines.

Ethan is more than a little down on his luck, hanging out at the Dowser with his not quite upstanding friend, Diver and Ethan’s lover, Kannice. The tavern is hers. As a former prisoner, work isn’t often tossed Ethan’s way. Worse, Sephira Pryce is Boston’s main thieftaker and she brooks no competition. She will beat/kill Ethan if he steps on her toes but she’s content to let him have the little jobs.

However, Ethan is asked to find a brooch taken from a dead young lady from a very wealthy family, because she was killed by a conjurer and Sephira knows nothing of magic. That doesn’t mean she’s happy about this and the running subplot is Ethan trying to stay out of her way before she and her men take him out. There is more at stake than a brooch as Ethan finds out and he is swept up into the revolutionary happenings going on in Boston at the time. Noted historical figures like Samuel Adams make an appearance. (There are several others but since I drink his beer, that’s the one I remember, poor Samuel, that’s all anyone knows of him now).

This is one of the more inventive books I’ve read in a while. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next one in the series. This is a bit of a spoiler but it’s also fair warning. At one point Ethan has to choose between the life of a person and the life of a pet. He loves both but only one can live. That said, it’s handled very well with real mental consequences down the road. It’s not done out of hand and forgotten.
(less)

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Jan 15, 2013 Chris Bauer rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm a sucker for any kind of historical fiction. This one happens to be in a delicious flavor - colonial America + sorcery.

Jackson has obviously spent a great deal of time researching the topics which are relevant to the background. Boston, prior to the Revolution. Notable characters, big and small, from history make cameo appearances and add significant depth and flavor to the tale.

Ethan, our intrepid protagonist, is a thieftaker; one charged with returning stolen possessions. He does have an e...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Kylara Jensen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cops-and-robbers

I really liked this book, but at the same time, I didn't. I loved the setting and the premise and the story. I even loved the characters. But at the same time, maybe I jsut felt that I should love it, because I wasn't really engaged in this book. It's such a study in differences.

I read the book really fast, and it kept me intrigued till the end. But it didn't feel like it was a quick read. It felt a little heavy and sluggish. The mystery was good, but not the kind where you have clues to figure...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Linda Baker rated it 4 of 5 stars

THIEFTAKER by D. B. Jackson is a book that has been sitting on my TBR list for quite a while. After speeding my way through this very impressive debut fantasy I could only smack myself in the forehead and ask, "what took me so long"? Set in an alternate 1765 Boston roiling with preRevolutionary fervor and magic, THIEFTAKER tells the tale of Ethan Kaille, a conjurer trying to make a living by using his talents to catch thieves.

Ethan has had a very tough life. He was convicted as a mutineer again...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Theophania Elliott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Thieftaker is the first book in a series by D.B. Jackson, introducing eighteenth-century Boston thieftaker Ethan Kaille. In the absence of a police force, if a citizen wants a thief, or stolen goods, found, then they must employ a thieftaker. Kaille, however, does not rely merely on traditional legwork - he can do magic.

Unlike many magic-is-real urban fantasy settings, this alternate 1767 Boston does not seem to have magic-users and magical beings all over the place. Magic-users - conjurers - ar...more Thieftaker is the first book in a series by D.B. Jackson, introducing eighteenth-century Boston thieftaker Ethan Kaille. In the absence of a police force, if a citizen wants a thief, or stolen goods, found, then they must employ a thieftaker. Kaille, however, does not rely merely on traditional legwork - he can do magic.

Unlike many magic-is-real urban fantasy settings, this alternate 1767 Boston does not seem to have magic-users and magical beings all over the place. Magic-users - conjurers - are not common, and they risk being arrested and convicted of witchcraft by the church. Kaille understandably keeps quiet about his gift, although it's clear that quite a few people know about it all the same. Obviously the church isn't too zealous in hunting conjurers down, or he'd be dead.

The current case revolves around the seemingly senseless death-by-magic of a rich young woman who was, for reasons unknown, out in the street during one of the riots due to the Stamp Act. It's clear that she was killed by a powerful conjurer, but who might this be, and why was she killed? And were other possibly-mysterious deaths related? And, again, why?

In the course of pursuing this case, Kaille gets repeatedly beaten up, kidnapped, threatened, etc. Although conjurers have the ability to heal themselves, the man must have a constitution of iron and the courage of a lion to make it to the end of the book without deciding to retire from thieftaking and take up some nice, safe, boring occupation like alligator dentistry.

The author is a historian, and he has consulted other historians in the writing of the book. The setting felt real; however, it is neither overloaded with unnecessary detail (meant to impress on the reader that the author Knows His Stuff) nor so lacking in detail that it felt bland. I was worried that the book might not make sense to someone who didn't know the period, but I needn't have worried. Although knowing what the Stamp Act actually was would have helped, just accepting that it was important to the characters was enough since it was only background, and not part of the plot.

On the down side, some of the dialogue was a little modern (I'm pretty sure people didn't say 'hi' in the eighteenth century), but I'm against the use of deliberately 'archaic' speech patterns in novels - I think it causes more interference with the reader's enjoyment of the book than it increases authenticity. I prefer to read dialogue I can just absorb rather than something I have to decode.

Although the book had a slow start for me, and I wasn't sure whether I was going to like Kaille enough to devote my evening to his problems, in the end he grew on me. I read the book pretty much in one sitting, and did not find myself stopping reading to do something aimless. I even carried on reading through dinner, which is one of my yardsticks of is-this-a-good-book (you can keep any comments on my table manners to yourself, thank you). So I will definitely be looking out for the second one in the series.

If you like urban fantasy, with fairly low-key magic in a historically realistic setting, then you'll probably enjoy this book.(less)

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Aug 24, 2012 Steve rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Judging by the critical praise this book has received, I expected more. After all, it's a murder mystery set in Boston in 1765 with magic. Really, what's not to like?

Well, the first problem for me was that the pre-Revolutionary Bostonian atmosphere had a tendency to slip away during chunks of the novel. At times, I felt I could have been reading a contemporary urban fantasy.

The other problem I had was that beyond the concept and the plot, there wasn't anything else. No exploration of the meaning...more

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Jul 29, 2012 E.C. Ambrose rated it 4 of 5 stars

A tense, engaging read.

There's been recent interest in historical fantasies with American settings, and this was a nice addition to that elite group.

Jackson creates an off-beat character with an intriguing, mysterious past--I felt a bit as if I were supposed to know about that past, either because it was based on a real event (possible--this book is set just prior to the Revolution, and thus a few centuries after my purview) or because it was the second book in a series, which is not the case....more

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Jul 13, 2012 Jana Oliver rated it 5 of 5 stars

With abundant skill, author D.B. Jackson draws us into this classic urban fantasy, given new life because of the unique setting (Boston 1765). The city is a powder keg where iron-fisted British rule is riding herd on independent streak of the colonists. Jackson's strong eye for detail makes you feel as if you're standing in the muddy and dung-strewn streets, watching as history works it's way toward a very special day in 1776.

But this isn't just a historical piece. Every story has to have a stro...more

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Jul 22, 2012 K.B. Inglee rated it 4 of 5 stars

My favorite author is often the one I am reading at the time.
I attended a signing at my local independent book store because I liked the picture on the postcard. Hearing what the author had to say solidified my intention to buy the book. Good move. I'm loving it.
The book is Thieftaker by D.B. Jackson. Set in Boston in the mid 1700s, the story takes place against the background of the early rumblings of the coming Revolution. I'd categorize this book as 70% historical and 30% paranormal. The thi...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Didi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Please see my full review at www.choicebookreviews.net, and check out other reviews and great suggestions!

A new historical fiction mixed with threads of magic...sounded good, and it was.
I came across this book on the best Fantasy reads of this year list. Seeing as how I've not read a ton of Fantasy this year I can't comment on whether it deserved to be on that list or not. However, I did enjoy it, so let's get on with the review.

Ethan Kaille is a conjurer and a thieftaker in 1765 Boston, on the...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Jim rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. It's not quite like anything else I've read before. Set in Boston in 1767 after the Stamp Act, it is a a combination of several things. It's a murder mystery--a woman has been killed, and nobody knows how or why; it's fantasy--the person trying to solve the mystery, Thieftaker Ethan Kaille, has the ability to conjure . . . to cast spells of various sorts. It's a historical novel, integrating the historical setting and the story in a way that involves the turbulent politics of...more I loved this book. It's not quite like anything else I've read before. Set in Boston in 1767 after the Stamp Act, it is a a combination of several things. It's a murder mystery--a woman has been killed, and nobody knows how or why; it's fantasy--the person trying to solve the mystery, Thieftaker Ethan Kaille, has the ability to conjure . . . to cast spells of various sorts. It's a historical novel, integrating the historical setting and the story in a way that involves the turbulent politics of the moment and the mystery in a way that sucked me in. It's a bit of a conspiracy novel. If it was set in the twentieth century, that element would definitely be of strong interest to readers. As it happens, there are a number of different elements that figure in the plot of the story. The politics of Ethan Kaille are not the point, but what is going on in and around Boston at the time is. "Rabble-rouser" Samuel Adams, Governor Thomas Hutchinson, Stephen Greenleaf, the sheriff of Suffolk County, and other real historical figures are involved in various ways in this story.

But even if they weren't, it's a juicy story about secrets, hidden agendas, magic, murder, class--Kaille is a man who was once of the upper class but because of choices he made earlier in his life is no longer a member of the class into which he was born. It's also about the way we deal with our own spirituality and religious beliefs. Being someone who can conjure makes Ethan something of a pariah in the eyes of many people with whom he has to interact, even his own sister. And yet there are others, even a minister, who know what he does and yet respect him for his integrity and ethics.

I don't want to give spoilers, but I will say that this is a colorful, engaging tale with a number of characters I felt I got to know well enough to really care about, even "Uncle Reg"--the ghost who appears whenever Ethan works a spell. And Ethan himself, a flawed, imperfect hero, is very sympathetic, someone I couldn't hep but root for as he navigates the various levels of Boston society, from the top to the bottom, as he does his "thieftaking" and gets himself deeper and deeper into situations that he doesn't expect.(less)

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Oct 25, 2012 Rusty rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Thieftaker

I have a problem. First, not that anybody would care, but I’m an aspiring author. I write spec fiction and had this brilliant idea about a year ago for a story. It was set in Colonial era Boston and was intended to send the reader on this rabbit hole of weirdness as the story’s protagonist uncovers upstanding members of the community aren’t quite what they seem.

So, over the summer I was putting my story through some editing touches and hanging out at Barnes & Noble and I saw this...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Bryan Schmidt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Imagine, if you will, the dark streets of Boston. Trouble is afoot, a revolution against the wealthy and the authorities. Equality and justice are demanded by protesting crowds, some of which get out of hand at times, leading to smoky, dark nights. Add to that ghosts and dark magic at hand, a secret sorcerer working his will in the midst of the chaos. Sounds like a pretty good urban fantasy, right?
Now imagine all this is occurring during the Stamp Act uprising in the 18th Century. Samuel Adams a...more Imagine, if you will, the dark streets of Boston. Trouble is afoot, a revolution against the wealthy and the authorities. Equality and justice are demanded by protesting crowds, some of which get out of hand at times, leading to smoky, dark nights. Add to that ghosts and dark magic at hand, a secret sorcerer working his will in the midst of the chaos. Sounds like a pretty good urban fantasy, right?
Now imagine all this is occurring during the Stamp Act uprising in the 18th Century. Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty, the original Tea Party, the Colonists stirring against the British Crown.

D.B. Jackson's debut alternate history novel is the tale of a thieftaker, one who hunts down stolen property for a fee and returns it to its rightful owners. What separates him from his competition, however, is Ethan's gift for conjuring. He was born with the gift, inherited from his mother, and now Ethan Kaille is called upon to investigate the theft of a brooch off the neck of a murdered daughter of one of Boston's wealthy merchants. Murders are not the sorts of crimes men like Ethan typically get involved with, but the girl's cause of death is undetermined and some believe conjuring was involved, and so Ethan promises to find the stolen brooch and return it, revealing what he also discovers about the murderer in the process.

But once he gets involved, finding himself haunted by ghosts and voices of not just the dead daughter but others who've died in similar fashion, attacked by his main rival, Sephira Pryce, a thieftaker who rules the city in ways less honorable than Ethan and many of her trade, and hunted by the authorities. Drawn into an unfolding mystery by his compulsion to understand and his desire to set things right, Ethan uncovers a dark conspiracy that brings him into encounters with the British leadership, upper crust merchants, and even Samuel Adams himself.

Jackson is the nom de plume of a well respected fantasy writer with numerous fantasies under his belt. And his skill at prose, worldbuilding, and character development shine through on every page. Add to this his degree in history and passion for that, and you have a book that drips with authenticity, despite the fantastical elements wove into the historical narrative. Colonial Boston really comes alive here, and the story draws you in quickly, compelling you to read onward with every page.

Alternate history is as tricky as working in a contemporary setting because so much documentation and knowledge exists that one has to study hard and tread carefully in order to use history both responsibly, meaningfully and fairly in weaving a fictional tale around and within it, while still crafting elements which would appeal to the genre fans for whom the book will be primarily targeted. But my opinion is that any fan of history, particularly Revolutionary War America, would love Thieftaker. And I think it's a not to be missed start of a new not to be missed series.

Jackson is scheduled to follow next year with Thieve's Quarry and everything from the beautiful cover art to the prose, dialogue and settings works together to bring this charming, authentic, well paced tale to life. It's unique and yet familiar. And it's one of my favorite reads of 2012 so far. Highly recommended!(less)

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Jul 06, 2012 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, alternate-history, boston, historic-fiction, series, urban-fantasy

I am a real sucker for a good Boston during the American Revolution story. So when this title showed up I snapped it up. I’m glad I did because it’s an interesting take on the Stamp Act Riots.

This is an interesting piece of historic fiction, because it’s more like urban fantasy historic fiction. Is that a genre? Can it be? What on earth would we call it? In any case, I was in heaven, because I love BOTH urban fantasy and history so having both in one book was heaven. I mean first it’s breeches a...more I am a real sucker for a good Boston during the American Revolution story. So when this title showed up I snapped it up. I’m glad I did because it’s an interesting take on the Stamp Act Riots.

This is an interesting piece of historic fiction, because it’s more like urban fantasy historic fiction. Is that a genre? Can it be? What on earth would we call it? In any case, I was in heaven, because I love BOTH urban fantasy and history so having both in one book was heaven. I mean first it’s breeches and three corner hats then it’s look at this illusion of a creepy little girl. Brilliant.

I struggled a bit with Ethan, which in retrospect wasn’t a bad thing. That shows he’s a realistic, well-rounded character. But let’s be honest. I’m more of a Sam Adams revolutionary type. Ethan served in the British Navy and is all “oh these hooligans.”

As a Bostonian, can I just say, I haven’t seen a book so intent on giving actual street names and buildings before, but it worked. They are totally accurate. I could completely visualize not just the streets but the entire routes Ethan was walking along. Granted, it was as if through a looking glass, since when I walk them they’re a bit different than in 1767, but still. It was very cool.

The magic portion of the book was also unique. Ethan has to cut himself to get blood to work the more powerful spells. The less powerful ones he can work with surrounding grasses, plants, etc… This makes the interesting problem that people struggle in fist-fighting him because if he bleeds he just uses it to work spells. It’s a nice touch.

So with all this glowing, why not five stars? Well, honestly, Ethan bugged me so much for the first 2/3 of the book that I kept almost stopping in spite of all the good things. He’s just such a…a…Tory. For most of the book. Being irritated almost constantly by Ethan kind of pulled me out of the world and the story, which I wish hadn’t happened, because it really is such a cool world. I get what Jackson was trying to do, character development wise, but the payoff in the end was almost missed because I kept stopping reading due to being irritated with Ethan. Perhaps if his change of heart had started to show up a bit sooner it would have worked better for me.

Overall, though, this is well-researched and thought out version of Boston during the Stamp Act Riots. Fans of historic fiction and urban fantasy will get a kick out of seeing the latter glamoring up the former.

Check out my full review. (Link will be live July 9, 2012).(less)

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Oct 03, 2012 Mara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, fantasy, revolutionary-war

This is a fun quick read with a likable hero and a lot of excitement and suspense, and I'm really glad I gave it a chance. The combination of an urban fantasy plot with the historic setting of 1765 Boston kept things consistently interesting, though I did wish Jackson had done even more to capitalize on the unique opportunities offered by his setting. (Maybe in the second book?)

There were a few "huh?" moments in terms of plotting and characterization, and I would hope that in the next book Jack...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Evelynne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-urban

Thieftaker by D.B. Jackson tells the story of Ethan Kaille, a man with a checkered past, who uses his conjuring skills to track down thieves and return stolen goods to their owners. When the daughter of a prominent citizen is found killed by non-conventional means, Ethan is hired to track down her missing brooch and to shed light on her murder. Tor McMillan was kind enough to send me a copy of this book to review, so here are my thoughts.

D.B. Jackson's writing style is light, easily accessible...more Thieftaker by D.B. Jackson tells the story of Ethan Kaille, a man with a checkered past, who uses his conjuring skills to track down thieves and return stolen goods to their owners. When the daughter of a prominent citizen is found killed by non-conventional means, Ethan is hired to track down her missing brooch and to shed light on her murder. Tor McMillan was kind enough to send me a copy of this book to review, so here are my thoughts.

D.B. Jackson's writing style is light, easily accessible and engaging. It was very easy to become drawn into the story and to empathise with Ethan, the protagonist.

Set in mid 18th century Boston, the book is a fun blend of historical drama, fantasy and murder mystery. Now, I am neither American nor a student of American history, so I am unfamiliar with the historical events referenced in this novel - The Stamp Act of 1765, The Sons of Liberty, the riots in Boston - but I was inspired to read more about this period of American history. I was intrigued to read in the author's note that the novel was originally set in a fictional world and that it was his editor who persuaded him to change the setting to 18th century Boston. It's remarkable how well that change worked and how seamlessly D.B. Jackson has woven historical events into his narrative.

The fantastical aspect of the novel is relatively subtle. D.B. Jackson's Boston is grounded in realism except that certain people can cast magic spells. The magic system is well thought out and reasonably well explained. I would have appreciated perhaps having the limitations of the system made clearer; sometimes it's as interesting knowing what a character cannot do as what he can do.

The plot is driven by the murder mystery aspect of the novel. It is what brings our protagonist into the situation, and all other action follows from his involvement. I felt it was nicely done that right from the beginning Ethan admitted he was out of his depth, that murder isn't usually something he investigates. Having said that, this was the aspect of the novel that I, personally, found the weakest. That is not to say it was poorly done; I suspect I just have very high standards when it comes to crime mysteries - I'm thinking of the BBC's recent adaptation of Sherlock Holmes. Perhaps I simply missed the clues, but I felt that the identity of the murderer came out of left field somewhat.

Naturally, when there is a mix of genres, some things get lost. The historical detail isn't quite as rich as it might have been in a pure historical novel; the murder mystery isn't quite as well planned out as a pure murder mystery; the magic system isn't quite as well developed as in a pure fantasy novel. (incidentally, regarding magic systems, it's well worth checking out Brandon Sanderson's article on their development).

All that being said, in the case of Thieftaker, the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts. The blend of genres that D.B. Jackson has created works extremely well and makes a fun, interesting read. I would definitely recommend it, and have also picked up the short story set in the same world from Tor.

I gave Thieftaker four out of five stars.
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Jun 16, 2012 Kassandra Carrillo rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Katia Carrillo

This book was fantastic. I absolutely loved it. Truth be told, this was my first time reading a historical fiction novel. Thanks to this book I'll be looking for more historical fiction to read. This book has everything you could ever hope for: awesome characters, flaws, magic, a mystery, ghosts. You name it. I'm so glad I read this book.

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Feb 19, 2013 Shannon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, magic, historical, mystery

The premise was interesting, the execution just didn't work for me. I didn't connect with or particularly care about any of the characters and the politics of the whole Boston-just-before-the-American-Revolution wasn't handled in a way that was inspiring or exciting. I will give kudos to the author for attempting the present the balanced approach to the mindset of those times (more people ambivalent rather than aggressive protestors). It wasn't badly written, just didn't impress me overly much.

I...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Aggie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Those who like historical, paranormal fiction

Recommended to Aggie by: Read a review in a literary magazine

Shelves: fantasy, e-book

An action packed, compelling read. Ethan Kaille is a wonderfully flawed human who can cast spells in 1765 Boston. This marks him as a witch in many peoples eyes and he constantly has to worry about being hanged or set on fire. When a young woman is found dead in the midst of a riot Ethan tries to find out who or what killed her. This sets in motion many run ins with his competition in thieftaking, Serphira Pryce and her henchmen, and the perpetrator of the crime.
I loved this book. Poor Ethan. H...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Mitch rated it 3 of 5 stars

Thieftaker is probably a little too complex for its own good. I mean, yes, it's about Ethan Kaille, a thieftaker in pre-Revolutionary Boston, and he's solving a murder with the rumblings of the American Revolution in the backdrop, but there are just so many things going on I'm not entirely sure they come together that well. I couldn't see a point to the story for about the first quarter of the book, and, even now that I'm finished, the ending feels rather anti-climatical and I still don't see th...more Thieftaker is probably a little too complex for its own good. I mean, yes, it's about Ethan Kaille, a thieftaker in pre-Revolutionary Boston, and he's solving a murder with the rumblings of the American Revolution in the backdrop, but there are just so many things going on I'm not entirely sure they come together that well. I couldn't see a point to the story for about the first quarter of the book, and, even now that I'm finished, the ending feels rather anti-climatical and I still don't see the point to half the scenes.

But Ethan Kaille sure is a busy character. He's a sorcerer in Boston. He's pitted against a ruthless rival in the thieftaking business. He's solving a murder. All of it’s sort of tied to the beginnings of the American Revolution. And that sort of really kills this book - the connections between these various plot threads are just too tenuous. For example, the sorcerer aspect, Kaille mentions the Salem Witch Trials of a century earlier, how it's still dangerous to be a sorcerer because of the still lingering threat of being burned at the stake. And yet, it seems like half of Boston already knows he's a sorcerer, and even with his identity being common knowledge with the clergy, there are really no repercussions for him because everyone who could do anything damaging with that information already knows. And I know much of it is personal politics at work too, but as he's going on about how important it is to hide his identity, I'm going so what, because nothing really tells me why it's so important for Kaille to conceal his identity from like the three or four people who still don't know.

Or Saphira Price, Kaille's ruthless rival. She and her gang of thugs come in and out of the picture, beating him up on a whim. I just don't get it. It's implied Price knows way more than what's revealed, and she has this long term plan up her sleeves plus some sort of connection to the murderer. But the ending really tells me nothing about her; apparently she really does just appear on a whim to beat him up, because whatever her connection to the murderer is, I couldn't see it. And her long term plans? I got nothing. If she really is just the antagonist that pops up every few chapters just to beat up the protagonist and leave, WTF?

And the murder. Hmmm. Well, at least Kaille's right, the murder is related to anti-British sentiments in Boston. There's that. So all the talk of angry mobs ransacking the homes of important colonial officials, it's connected, at least tangentially. I want to say the ending ties together the murder and the coming Revolution up nicely, but I can't, I don't think I'm satisfied by how it goes down, I'm just let down because it doesn’t seem like the murder effects the Revolution at all. I wanted to see more connections, the importance of the murder, the importance of being a thieftaker, the importance of being a sorcerer, but it's all like a massive series of tenuous leaps and coincidences.

I guess the saving grace is that at least Thieftaker is excellently researched with some really good world building. I thought I knew a lot about the beginnings of the American Revolution and eighteenth century Boston, but, by the time I finished, I had a pretty long list of things I had to look up. Figure out, is that historical or is that fiction? And surprisingly, a good deal of my list was historical. The descriptions of how magic works are really good too, if Kaille spent the entire book spelling instead of jumping around seemingly unrelated plotlines, I'd probably have liked this book way more.

He doesn't though, and I guess my problem with Thieftaker is that a lot goes on, but it's hard to see how it's all connected. And once I got to the ending and find out the connections I expected to see are not really there, it's not a great feeling.(less)

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Jul 12, 2012 Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was delightfully surprise when I picked up D.B. Jackson's Thieftaker. It's a Historical Fantasy set in Pre-Revolution Boston, and it was really well done. The main character, Ethan Kallie, is a Thieftaker and a Conjurer(Witch) that sets about trying to find a piece of jewelry stolen from a wealthy merchants daughter who was murdered. This leads about to a delightful romp through the streets of Boston with Ethan being set against another Thieftaker and her thugs, and another Conjurer. If you en...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Irene rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was so surprised by how much I loved the story and cant wait for the next one. It had just the right amount of Fantasy, History, Mystery, and Action to make me very happy- also, while there was no love story, there was a small hint/whiff which added to my enjoyment :0)
Ethan, an older-ish conjurer is investigating a murder in Colonial Boston and discovers its not as simple as one murder but something a little bigger. I really liked Ethan. He is not the best conjurer or strong or has any fighti...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Kim rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action, alternate-history, fantasy, historical, usa, male-author, 2010s, 2012

I was really looking forward to this book. A fantasy alt-history set just before the outbreak of the American War of Independence. Sounds right up my alley. But unfortunately it just wasn't quite good enough.

Telling the story of thieftaker Ethan Kaille, a conjurer with a dark past, who is living day-to-day as a man who works catching thieves for the lower parts of society. After a member of high society dies via suspicious causes Ethan is hired to investigate further and ends up in a complex wor...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Thieftaker is sure to be a huge success among genre fans looking for something a bit different. Not only is this different, but it’s also rather intelligent. I learned quite a bit from reading Thieftaker and I’m not ashamed to admit that this book started many-a-internet search for more information regarding certain historical events and details. Jackson is a practiced fantasy author with a true gift for wordsmithing. Pre-Revolutionary Boston shines in Thieftaker, and so does Ethan Kaille and th...more

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About D.B. Jackson

D.B. Jackson, author of historical fantasy

D.B. Jackson has been writing fantasy and science fiction under a different pen name for over fifteen years. He has published novels, short stories, and media tie-ins in more than a dozen languages. He also has a Ph.D. in American History, and now, for the first time in his career, he is combining his love of fantasy with his passion for history. His first historical fantasy, Thieftaker, will be p...more

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“Any noble cause will encounter its share of setbacks. The strength of that cause is measured in how the men who fight for it respond. We refuse to give up, which is why we will prevail eventually.” — 1 person liked it

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