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The Stockholm Octavo

by Karen Engelmann (Goodreads Author)

3.55 of 5 stars 3.55 · rating details · 864 ratings · 236 reviews

Life is close to perfect for Emil Larsson, a self-satisfied bureaucrat in the Office of Customs and Excise in 1791 Stockholm. He is a true man of the Town—a drinker, card player, and contented bachelor—until one evening when Mrs. Sofia Sparrow, a fortune-teller and proprietor of an exclusive gaming parlor, shares with him a vision she has had: a golden path that will lead...more

ebook, 432 pages

Published October 23rd 2012 by Ecco (first published January 1st 2012)

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Dec 07, 2012 sanshow rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: firstreads, suspense-mystery

On the outset, this seemed to be a book tailored for divination + mystery buffs like me. And historical fiction has always held its charm for me as I'm quite fond of ye olde days settings involving historical figures that add a layer of realism to a fantastical backdrop of a time long gone by.

Alas, the offerings fell short in this book, although it began very promisingly. The Stockholm Octavo narrates the adventures of a certain Emil Larsson, a sekretaire in 1791 Stockholm, in finding the 8 infl...more

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Feb 11, 2013 Emily rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, fiction

This book starts quite promisingly, but I abandoned it two-thirds of the way through. It tells the story of Emil Larsson, an ambitious bureaucrat in Stockholm in 1791 who lacks only for a wife to solidify his social ascendance. At a fashionable gambling party, he meets Mrs. Sparrow, who lays a tarot-like "octavo" for him, which alludes to eight people who will influence his future. Now he has to discover who those eight people are and find out how they will connect him to his future wife. Meanwh...more This book starts quite promisingly, but I abandoned it two-thirds of the way through. It tells the story of Emil Larsson, an ambitious bureaucrat in Stockholm in 1791 who lacks only for a wife to solidify his social ascendance. At a fashionable gambling party, he meets Mrs. Sparrow, who lays a tarot-like "octavo" for him, which alludes to eight people who will influence his future. Now he has to discover who those eight people are and find out how they will connect him to his future wife. Meanwhile, most of his new connections are enigmatically embroiled in a brewing anti-monarchist movement that pits the king against his brother.

The setting and writing style are skillful. There is a nice ongoing comparison of card-playing and the language of fans--visually, in the way you old your hand of cards, and in the opportunities for intrigue that both offer. I liked the evocation of the wintry city, the dark glittering nights, and the sleigh rides, all very Tolstoyan. The portrayal of Stockholm is also good, if not quite David Liss-worthy, in its docks and shops and population of shaken French émigrés. Early in the book, I highlighted a number of nice passages or spot-on historical details (drinks, clothes, gestures).

Still, for everything this novel gets right in its setting, there is something profoundly lacking in its characterizations that had me reflexively checking how many pages were left. What I found most disappointing was my lack of interest in Emil. I mean that in a specific way: that he didn't arouse any feelings of empathy that made me want what he wants, like the people he liked, distrust his enemies, or enjoy his opponents' defeats. In a great character-driven novel, you can inhabit the protagonist's interests keenly; I find myself rooting for Scarlett O'Hara, no matter how different our personalities may be. Here, we read that Emil is laughing with someone, or nervous or angry, and his reaction appears to come out of nowhere, simply because I felt no emotional involvement with his world or outlook.

Another issue is the role of the occult. Emil spends time and effort trying to interpret and follow the octavo's instructions. Why though? The novel doesn't really account for his faith in this exotic project. If his pious boss wants him to marry, why not just find some lady and marry her, especially since the boss must disapprove of fortune-telling even more than bachelorhood? I can certainly understand why a man trying to rise in society would appear to take interest in the fashionable occult doings of a fascinating lady who runs a rather edgy salon. I can't understand why he would actually lend credence to them.

Finally, when this author likes an image or turn of phrase, she is like a dog with a bone. How many times did we hear about the sekretaire's red cloak? How many paragraphs are spent mulling along the lines of "Carlotta was in my grasp, and the Octavo would bring her to me if I pushed my eight in that direction"? You could cut forty pages out of this book if you edited for repetition.

When I started this book, I was impressed by it, but frankly grew bored. Usually I finish books when I've this much, but numerous reviews on Goodreads are assuring me that it's not going to pick up.(less)

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May 04, 2013 Leah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Love and connection...

This beautifully written novel hides its dark heart under a multi-layered confection of sweet scents, glowing colours and dazzling displays of the art of attraction. Our hero, Emil Larsson, is ordered by his superior in the Customs Office to marry and is guided in his quest for love and connection by his friend Mrs Sparrow, cardsharper and mystic. It is she who lays the Octavo, a form of divination based on cards, sending the seeker to look for the eight people who will inf...more Love and connection...

This beautifully written novel hides its dark heart under a multi-layered confection of sweet scents, glowing colours and dazzling displays of the art of attraction. Our hero, Emil Larsson, is ordered by his superior in the Customs Office to marry and is guided in his quest for love and connection by his friend Mrs Sparrow, cardsharper and mystic. It is she who lays the Octavo, a form of divination based on cards, sending the seeker to look for the eight people who will influence the outcome of his quest. Mrs Sparrow’s own Octavo is darker – she is driven to find a way to save King Gustav from the threat of assassination.

The art of the folding fan takes centre stage and Engelmann tells us of the craftsmanship that goes into their making, the silent language of attraction used by those who hold them and the dark purposes to which they can be put. With an air of mysticism throughout, the book just manages to stay this side of the supernatural. Engelmann uses language lovingly, as careful in her own crafting as the artists she describes. There are some lovely illustrations of the cards in Emil’s Octavo, which lets the reader visualise them as Mrs Sparrow explains each one.

I found that sometimes there was a little too much froth for my taste, an explosion of adjectives, a little too much sugar in the icing. While the descriptive writing is very fine and gives a convincing impression of the ultimate decadence of the aristocracy she describes, I found myself longing for the plot to move a little faster, and felt that sometimes we could have done with fewer mentions of lemon-scented rooms and orange-scented hair. Because the book is based round a historical event, the outcome of Mrs Sparrow’s Octavo is never in doubt and I found Emil’s own search for love somewhat overly prolonged and rather unsatisfying in the end.

However the skill of the writing and above all the fascination of the fans drew me in and meant that overall this book gave me a sense of deep enjoyment. I look forward to more from this author in the future. Recommended.

NB This book was provided for review by Amazon Vine UK.

www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com (less)

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Apr 20, 2013 Anthony Pacifico rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a very interesting book about Stockholm in the late 18th century.

At this time, Sweden is a monarchy, but monarchies throughout the world are in trouble. The British Colonies in America just overthrew their monarch, King George III, and the French monarchy is in the throes of a major rebellion, with the Emperor and his wife, Marie Antoinette, being held captive by the French revolutionaries.

Against this backdrop, we follow the story of Emil Larsson, a customs inspector in Stockholm, wh...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Lyndsay rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Lately I've had a run of books that are super interesting to read, but don't hold up in the end. I didn't mind the slow pace of this book, because the story holds enough promises to keep you wondering. I felt it would all wrap up correctly in the end.

And it did? I don't know. The book said it ended correctly. I don't really believe that. I actually felt like the author is asking to reader to have a lot of faith in this idea of the octavo. Just go with it. Don't ask questions. I honestly don't fe...more

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Mar 16, 2013 Julia Drosten rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: verschiedene-bücher

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Das Stockholm Oktavo ist kein historischer Roman wie viele andere. Schon der Titel hat unsere Aufmerksamkeit geweckt. Stockholm klang verlockend, Oktavo geheimnisvoll. Das Buch selbst ist sehr schön gestaltet in Blau- und Silbertönen mit einer kecken Rokokozeichnung.
Auch die Zeit in der das Buch spielt ist ungewöhnlich - das ausgehende Rokoko. Soweit wir wissen gibt es nicht viele Bücher, die in dieser Zeit spielen, geschweige denn in Stockholm.
Im Mittelpunkt einer Geschichte, die aufrührerische...more Das Stockholm Oktavo ist kein historischer Roman wie viele andere. Schon der Titel hat unsere Aufmerksamkeit geweckt. Stockholm klang verlockend, Oktavo geheimnisvoll. Das Buch selbst ist sehr schön gestaltet in Blau- und Silbertönen mit einer kecken Rokokozeichnung.
Auch die Zeit in der das Buch spielt ist ungewöhnlich - das ausgehende Rokoko. Soweit wir wissen gibt es nicht viele Bücher, die in dieser Zeit spielen, geschweige denn in Stockholm.
Im Mittelpunkt einer Geschichte, die aufrührerische Turbulenzen um den Schwedenkönig Gustav mit der Revolution in Frankreich und dem Sturz Ludwig XVI. verknüpft, steht der Sekretär Emil Larsson, der durch ein geheimnisvolles Kartenspiel - das Oktavo - gegen seinen Willen eine Schlüsselrolle bei den politischen Ereignissen in Stockholm bekommt. Dabei entwickelt Emil sich von einem oberflächlichen, frauenjagenden Lebemann zu einem gereiften Mann mit Tiefgang, der lernt, den Wert von Freundschaft und Loyalität zu schätzen. Dabei wird sein Schicksal mit den anderen acht Figuren seines Oktavos verknüpft, von denen jede nicht nur eine bestimmte Rolle, z.B. Kurier, Gefangener, etc. einnimmt, sondern diese auch erfüllt und wie im Falle von Johanna überwindet. Alle acht Figuren sind dabei eng mit dem Attentat auf König Gustav verknüpft. Da ist die Baronesse Uzanne, die im Laufe der Handlung immer böser und fanatischer wird und am Ende einen hohen Preis dafür bezahlt, ihre skrupellose Komplizin Anna Maria, die ebenso wenig wie die Uzanne vor Mord zurückschreckt und Johanna, die erst in ihrem Elternhaus, später bei der Uzanne von ihren Lebensumständen gefangen ist, sich am Ende aber befreien kann. Madame Sparv, die Gegenspielerin der Uzanne, bekämpft diese mit ihren Spielkarten, während die Uzanne ihren Fächer Kassiopeia als Waffe einsetzt.
Beim Lesen wurde uns ziemlich schnell klar, dass die Autorin Karen Engelmann mit Leib und Seele bei der Sache gewesen ist. Das Buch strotzt vor wunderschönen atmosphärischen Beschreibungen, vielen kleinen interessanten alltagshistorischen Details und ungewöhnlichen Blicken auf ihre Figuren. Dennoch dauerte es ziemlich lange, bis der Funke ganz und gar bei uns übersprang. Das lag einerseits daran, dass wir die Figuren, die die Rolle der "Guten" spielen lange nicht sympathisch fanden. Außerdem ist die Handlung am Anfang sehr verwirrend, verdichtet sich aber immer mehr bis hin zum spannenden Höhepunkt.
In vielen Szenen fühlten wir uns an ein Theaterstück erinnert oder an den Film "Gefährliche Liebschaften". Die Idee Fächer und Spielkarten als sehr weibliche Waffen zu wählen, war toll und bot viele interessante Informationen. Die leichtlebige "Tanz auf dem Vulkan" Atmosphäre des Rokoko wurde ebenfalls sehr schön getroffen. Was dagegen noch ein bisschen klarer hätte werden dürfen, waren die politischen Verhältnisse in Schweden zu dieser Zeit und wie sie sich auf das Leben und Denken dort ausgewirkt haben. Und Romantikerinnen werden im Roman das Fehlen einer wirklichen Liebesgeschichte vermissen.(less)

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Mar 04, 2013 Stuart McRoberts rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Stockholm Octavo is a historical fiction novel set in 1790s Sweden with links to the French Revolution thrown in for good measure. The main character, Emil Larsson, is tasked by his employers at the Office of Customs and Excise in Stockholm, to find himself a wife. Emil is a drinker and gambler who is content to remain single, but with the threat of losing his job as 'sekretaire' if he doesn't comply with the directive, he enlists the help of his gambling partner and confidant, Mrs. Sparrow....more

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Jan 31, 2013 Danny rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-book

Emil Larsson is on a quest to find a wife and happiness in Stockholm, "the Venice of the North." The year is 1789 and political rumblings are coming from nearby France. The people there are in revolution. The monarchy is in danger. The King of Sweden has decided to make peace at home by assuaging the common people before they revolt, but the aristocracy isn't pleased. The Uzanne, a powerful lady, decides to train the young women of the town in the treacherous and seductive art of fans. With a fl...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Mysterious Bookshop rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Although Ms. Engelmann has received numerous rave reviews for this debut novel, I wasn’t sure it was a book that would appeal to me. Boy was I wrong! Much like Zafon’s Shadow of the Wind, Engelmann’s The Stockholm Octavo covers a lot of ground: mystery, conspiracy, romance, adventure, etc., and it does so masterfully. The novel follows bureaucrat and man-about-town Emil Larsson in 18th century Stockholm. In an attempt to raise his station in life he contacts a fortune-teller named Mrs. Sofia Spa...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this book. I read it during the holiday season and found it to be exactly the “escape into the past” that I wanted. The plot is interesting and fun and well-paced throughout the novel, which by the end, is a stay-up- and- finish- it page- turner. On top of that (and for me, what makes this novel an absolute must-read), is the quality of writing. Engelmann has mastered the art of the sentence in a way that sets her apart from most modern authors and puts her up there with writers...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Richard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rating: 4* of five

The Book Description: Life is close to perfect for Emil Larsson, a self-satisfied bureaucrat in the Office of Customs and Excise in 1791 Stockholm. He is a true man of the Town—a drinker, card player, and contented bachelor—until one evening when Mrs. Sofia Sparrow, a fortune-teller and proprietor of an exclusive gaming parlor, shares with him a vision she has had: a golden path that will lead him to love and connection. She lays an Octavo for him, a spread of eight cards that...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Robin Carter rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

Im still not sure how and why i managed to read this book. Its nothing like any of the books i normally read, and i think i have a fairly eclectic taste in reading. This seems to be part historical fiction, part love story, part crime part mystery book. There are chapters in this book that just talk about fans, how they are made how they are used etc..The plot is quite slow at times, and makes the book very much a slow burn read.
But all of that said, you start with a very attractive book, no dus...more Im still not sure how and why i managed to read this book. Its nothing like any of the books i normally read, and i think i have a fairly eclectic taste in reading. This seems to be part historical fiction, part love story, part crime part mystery book. There are chapters in this book that just talk about fans, how they are made how they are used etc..The plot is quite slow at times, and makes the book very much a slow burn read.
But all of that said, you start with a very attractive book, no dust jacket, but a beautiful design embossed on the book boards. That's draws you in, then there is the Octavo, part maths part mysticism. Then the characters who are surprisingly real, the descriptions of Stockholm are impressive enough that i could feel the cold, at one point one character is slowly freezing at the road side, and i could feel my toes getting cold and a shiver of chill.
The story is one of those involved intricate things that leaves you thinking about it hours after you put the book down.
So even writing this review i cannot tell you why to read it... except that, a couple of weeks later, its still making me think, i still remember the characters and the plot, so its stays with you, long after you finish.

(Parm)

Book Description

In 18th century Stockholm, as the winds of revolution rage through the great capitals of Europe, the key to a nation's fate rests in the hands of an unlikely hero.

Emil Larsson is a drinker, card player and contented bachelor until he is told that his position at the Office of Excise and Customs depends on his settling down and finding a wife. Mrs Sparrow, proprietor of an exclusive gaming house, fortune teller (and confidante of King Gustav III) offers to lay an Octavo for him - a form of cartomancy which can divine his future if he can find the eight individuals who can help him realise his vision.

When Mrs Sparrow wins a mysterious fan in her card game, the Octavo's deeper powers are revealed. No longer just a game of the heart, collecting his Eight is now crucial to pulling his country back from the brink of rebellion and chaos.

A debut novel full of opulent period detail, brilliantly interweaving history, romance and intrigue, in which one man's fortune holds the key to a nation's precarious fate(less)

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Sep 13, 2012 Nick_britten rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a seriously good looking book and it is almost to nice to read…It is unusual in that it doesn’t have a dust cover but it is a stunning design. A big plus mark!

I must say this was a very strange book for me. First off I won’t say too much about the plot because I don’t want any spoilers.

Suffice to say, Card playing, Divination, Conspiracy, Courtly love and suspense feature quite a lot.
The positives were that, it is very well written, the story is intelligent and engaging and the plot is w...more

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May 14, 2012 Lynn Grant rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fiction readers, historical fiction

Recommended to Lynn by: reviewed

Review: Stockholm Octavo
By Lynn Wiley Grant

Karen Engelmann’s soon to be released (October, 2012) novel is wonderful.
And I mean this in the strictest sense of the word—the world she creates is one of wonder. Stockholm, under King Gustav, in the 1790’s is gritty and fantastical, a place of intrigue. How often are we granted a vibrant, idiosyncratic, mystical heroine who lies behind the making of history? How often are we dealt full, complex, flawed but redemptive characters that you wish were rea...more Review: Stockholm Octavo
By Lynn Wiley Grant

Karen Engelmann’s soon to be released (October, 2012) novel is wonderful.
And I mean this in the strictest sense of the word—the world she creates is one of wonder. Stockholm, under King Gustav, in the 1790’s is gritty and fantastical, a place of intrigue. How often are we granted a vibrant, idiosyncratic, mystical heroine who lies behind the making of history? How often are we dealt full, complex, flawed but redemptive characters that you wish were real so you could befriend them? I read a lot; sometimes it is with pleasure and other times with a sense of duty, but I sailed through the Octavo, delighted and entertained. The reasons:
• The history. I wanted all of it; the history is expeditiously rendered, well summarized, and integral to the story, not merely a decorative aside. The book is carefully researched yet there was no sense of the author shoving in superfluous factoids just because she has note cards to spare. This is often the downfall of an historical novel—the story in competition with the details, where one often feels she is being made to sit still and be taught a history lesson. Instead, I felt like I was in an historical candy shop.
• The pacing. The Octavo is nimble. Each page contains a vibrant description, an important disclosure, a plot turn, an embellishment of character, an historical detail. Forward movement in a novel is vital to my reading pleasure and this book delivers.
• The characters. Each one feels unique, never type, never stock. How do you know you are in the hands of a good author? When you can’t forget the characters: the Nordens—downward and upward looking Christian who doesn’t understand how anyone could not value beauty, and Margot unapologetic supporter of art and her husband; Lars the unenlightened; Louisa who knows upon which side her bread is buttered; Hinken, low life or moral man (?); Frederik Lind who blossoms from youthful knave to loyal friend; Anna Maria Plomgren—conniving, nasty, and so good at it; the Uzanne, manqué, clever, unrepentantly bad, and unstoppable; Emil Larsson, narrator, card player, too ambitious to be a libertine, Emil takes on the challenge of Seeker, but will he prove worthy?; Mrs. Sparrow—ah, Sparrow, savvy, wise, visionary—as unique a character as I’ve ever come across.
• The texture. The rich, ample detail and careful description provides the immediacy of place. Whether of the severe conditions of Stockholm in winter, the clothes, the fans, the card play, the food—I was immersed in the smells, textures, sounds, taste, and sight of the Town. This is one of the strongest elements in the novel.
• The tone. I liked the slightly seedy, grotesque, raunchy, rowdy, whimsical undertone that serves to heighten the elements of beauty and earnest drama. By avoiding every writers trap—cliché—Engelmann treats us to a story, set in sixteenth century Sweden in which the dialogue feels natural and the language fresh.

Beyond that, I felt confidence in an author whom I could sense was in control. As a reader I felt I could relax and enjoy the fictive journey. Stockholm Octavo is a unique creature—an historical novel that feels current, a serious novel that is bawdy, a well-spun yarn with a clever plot, and altogether a special treat.

(less)

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Dec 02, 2011 Mike rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Stockholm Octavo is an excellent historical novel, set during the final years of King Gustav III, before he was assassinated in 1793. He was a great king for Sweden and ushered in an era of enlightenment when he decreased the power of the nobility and increased that of the commoners. This of course set him up for a target by nobles who were not happy with this state of affairs.

We meets Emil Larssen, a Sekretaire in Customs and Excise. This is a plum position that he has bought in the civil s...more The Stockholm Octavo is an excellent historical novel, set during the final years of King Gustav III, before he was assassinated in 1793. He was a great king for Sweden and ushered in an era of enlightenment when he decreased the power of the nobility and increased that of the commoners. This of course set him up for a target by nobles who were not happy with this state of affairs.

We meets Emil Larssen, a Sekretaire in Customs and Excise. This is a plum position that he has bought in the civil service. He receives 10% of the value of all illegal goods he seizes. Emil is also a man about town, loves playing cards (at which he is a very good player-and cheater) and enjoys his single life. His best friend is the owner of a gaming establishment. Her name is Mrs. Sparrow. They often work together to increase their odds of winning.

Mrs. Sparrow is a Royalist, a supporter and friend of King Gustav. She is also a person subject to visions, and an adept at the language of fans. Emil comes to her one day with a problem. His Superior at the Customs and Excise office insists that he get married, that such an office as his is unsuitable for a bachelor. To assist him in finding his way Mrs. Sparrow tells him she can show him his path to love and connection if she lays out for him what she calls “An Octavo.” These are cards from a special deck, much like a Tarot, that will show him the 8 people who can help him achieve his ends.

Needless to say there is much more to this novel than that. We have spies, plots against the King by Patriots (nobles who want the old ways of doing things returned), Freemasons, the language and art of Fans, sex, poison, assumed identities, and intrigue all through the novel. Emil finds that his Octavo takes him straight into the middle of major political events. There is a wide cast of characters, including (but not limited to) the Fan Maker, the Engraver, the buxom wench, the apothecaire and finally The Uzanne-one of the chief conspirators against the King. It is a wonderful, completely absorbing read.

Pick this one up-it will be hard to put down.

As we often like comps, I don’t know of any direct ones but The Eight by Katherine Neville pops into my head because of the mysticism and use of historical events (although this doesn’t go back and forth through time like The Eight does). Also Octavo= Eight so that seems a little obvious. It’s a little Philippa Gregory in some ways, a little Graham Greene too. The genre is not unique but her approach to the story is singular.(less)

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Jan 25, 2013 Shari rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I like a book that teaches me things I didn't know and, as a Swede, I'm ashamed to say I didn't know them. To set the scene, King Gustav III of Sweden established the Act of Unity and Security in 1789, which gave "unprecedented rights to the commoners and near-absolute power to the monarch." The aristocracy of Sweden, who had been running the country, were incensed and a party, known as the "Patriots," made up of these disgruntled nobles, arose in fierce opposition to the passing of this new act...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Marti rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

As someone who enjoys historical fiction, I thought I would really enjoy this book and the great reviews, both editorial and reader ones reinforced that belief. However, I wound up being quite disappointed. For one thing, with so very many characters populating the book with almost equal emphasis, I found that I wasn't really getting to know any of them and the only one I really cared about, The uzanne, was in hoping that she would get the comeuppance she deserved before the novel ended. A custo...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Simon Turney rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Stockholm Octavo is a complex piece to consider or review. My opinion of the book has been high all the way through, though I have had trouble nailing down why I enjoyed it as much as I did.

Engelmann’s writing is fluid, graceful and highly emotive. It is very hard not to get sucked into the story and the prose that conveys it, and the descriptions, locations, activities and conversation evoke a feeling of another time and place, totally removed from the reader’s world. I suspect that this is...more The Stockholm Octavo is a complex piece to consider or review. My opinion of the book has been high all the way through, though I have had trouble nailing down why I enjoyed it as much as I did.

Engelmann’s writing is fluid, graceful and highly emotive. It is very hard not to get sucked into the story and the prose that conveys it, and the descriptions, locations, activities and conversation evoke a feeling of another time and place, totally removed from the reader’s world. I suspect that this is the fact that will make or break the book for a lot of people. To be honest, for me the way the book was written made the actual reading of the book hard work, requiring a lot more concentration than much historical fiction. Fortunately, the plot and setting are so intriguing that I found that even when I put the book down I was wondering what was coming next and had to pick it back up again.

The story revolves around a plot against the King of Sweden in the late 18th century, tied in with the ambitions of a gambler with a career in the city bureaucracy and an Octavo that is drawn for him – an Octavo is an unusual form of Cartomancy where eight cards are drawn on consecutive nights and represent the eight persons that are intimately tied into a great event, and which, if worked correctly, can control that event and bring it about. Beyond that I shall say no more – I am all for avoiding spoilers in a review.

One thing that really did enthral me in the book is the setting Sweden in the age of Revolution is about as alien an environment for me as I could find, and therefore every page brought me new learning and fascinating facts, painting a picture of a world I have never considered. Moreover, in the background, the world is undergoing great events following the revolutions in France and America. It really is a deep and fascinating situation for a writer and I am now amazed that so little has previously been written about it.

Two things that detracted a little for me and which I think were over-emphasised more than necessary for the story were the nature of the period’s folding ladies’ fans and their use and meaning, and the details of the card games played in the seedy gaming house. Both were a little too in-depth for me and slowed the story to a sluggish pace at times. Yet (and this is what confirms that this is all a matter of personal opinion) the detail of the cartomancy and the laying and interpretation of the octavo I found fascinating.

All in all, I would say that if you’re looking for fast paced, action packed historical fiction, this book will leave you wanting considerably. If, however, you’re looking for an immersive experience that tells a complex tale in a beautiful manner and brings to life a strange and intricate time and place, then you’ll enjoy the Stockholm Octavo.

End result: Not for everyone, but a fascinating look at an unusual setting.(less)

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Dec 03, 2012 Daniel Duckett rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

I just finished this book a couple of days ago and decided to write my review to explain why I only have it three stars.
While the premise of the story is a very good one (though similar to other novels) the plot at points seems to be a little lacking. As stated by others, the narrative shifts from first- to third-person at whim which helps to confuse the point of the book: Emil's search for his Octavo. If it's his story and search, why are we being let in on the goings on of others? It's as if...more

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Feb 11, 2013 John Lester rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Normally when you lay your cards on the table you read them and weep or collect the pot. When the cards are finally shown here, you have a mystery. What do the cards mean, who is really involved, will our hero find love, who will fan a murder most foul and how hangs the fate of Europe in the late 18th century?
This is a tale of upward mobility dreamth by a young customs agent caught in a storm of kings, charming rouges, gambling hall seers, French artisans and the wicked witch of Sweden (or at le...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Brenda Clough rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is quite good -- a not-usual setting and period, a fascinating occult concept, and some heavy-duty political plotting at a good brisk pace. I can assure you that you will never think of fans in quite the same way, and the entire concept gives me craft-y ideas -- surely it is possible to carry other, more 21st-century things in fans. A data stick would be easy. How about a cell phone? an Ipad?

All I know of the Swedish court in the 18th century I have derived from the novel DESIREE by AnneMar...more

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Oct 24, 2012 Rick F. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Life is close to perfect for Emil Larsson, a self-satisfied bureaucrat in the Office of Customs and Excise in 1791 Stockholm. He is a true man of the Town—a drinker, card player, and contented bachelor—until one evening when Mrs. Sofia Sparrow, a fortune-teller and proprietor of an exclusive gaming parlor, shares with him a vision she has had: a golden path that will lead him to love and connection. She lays an Octavo for him, a spread of eight cards that augur the eight individuals who can hel...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Pam rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

18th century Sweden, a bachelor befriends a fortune teller, who reads his cards. The cards reveal 8 people (his Octavo) that will help him to find his enlightened path (in his case, love), if only he can identify the 8 people the cards represent. In the midst of all this, his Octavo intertwines with the fortune teller's own Octavo, and a plot to murder King Gustave of Stockholm during the French Revolution. Can the bachelor find love, and can they both stop the assassination plot?
Unfortunately t...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Gregory Koprowski rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

This book will reward the patient reader. Although the title suggests magic and the back cover suggests action and adventure the magic is rather subtle and the action and adventure take up only a small part of that narrative way back in the book towards the end. Instead this is primarily a book about relationships and the power that can be found in making, exploiting, and breaking the bonds between people. All of this is embellished with excellent written descriptions and set on a very well rese...more

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Nov 22, 2012 Anom Birowo rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Well, it's an interesting book. It has potential. But I found some things are not as strong as I expected.

The octavo, with its divine geometry and its divination, is quite weak. I'm not satisfy with the explanation and how it goes along the story. When I started reading this book, I had an impression that the octavo (and Emil Larsson's journey to find his eight) somewhat like the butterfly effect, where small change can result in large differences to a later state, and a fractal (ah, you'll see....more

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Oct 07, 2012 Kate Mayfield rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am very pleased to recommend Karen Engelmann's compelling novel, THE STOCKHOLM OCTAVO. The author takes us on a gorgeous ride through Stockholm at the end of the 18th century alongside vibrant, memorable characters, each of whom struggle and scheme, either for or against the current reign of Gustav III.

Karen Engelmann sets the plot in motion when her hero's Octavo is laid by the proprietress of a gambling house. The cards reveal eight people who have been divined to help him realize the events...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This intriguing and delightful novel is set in Stockholm during the time of the French Revolution, in an unsettled and tense Europe. King Gustav had taken a provincial outpost and transformed it into a beacon of culture and refinement, but his brother Duke Karl is the leader of a group of Patriots who are trying to force change. They resent the King's attempts to reconstruct the government and grant the commons the majority, turning the nobility against their monarch. Meanwhile, Emil Larsson is...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The setting - late 18th Century Stockholm - is a nice change from what I usually read.

I did find that the book to be a bit slow…the build up to anything took pages and pages of description, of playing cards, reading the Octavo, using fans. . .

That being said, the dabbling in the occult and the descriptions of the fans themselves and their use as for communication (and courting) are interesting. Some characters, such as the powerful Uzanne, were quite vivid. So, while I was complaining that it...more

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Dec 23, 2012 Lcitera rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was fascinating. Historical fiction set in Sweden rather than in the UK, focused on the pre Bernadotte years. The author ties together the revolutionary forces in bothSweden and France at the end of the 1700s. The plot focuses on the practice of fortune telling via cards that form the "octavo". An added bonus to the amazing plot with a never ending cast of characters is the art work. From the brilliantly illustrated cover to the end pages which provide an extended octavo listing ALL ch...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Beatnik Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

http://www.cozylittlebookjournal.com/...

The Stockholm Octavo is unlike any book I've read, at least in recent memory. The publisher promoted it as "for fans of Patrick Suskind's Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" and that's one of my favourite books, so I was excited to read it. I'm not sure if it reminded me so much of Suskind's novel, but it's definitely intriguing. Set in Sweden at the end of the 18th century, around the time of the French Revolution, The Stockholm Octavo follows the intrigues...more http://www.cozylittlebookjournal.com/...

The Stockholm Octavo is unlike any book I've read, at least in recent memory. The publisher promoted it as "for fans of Patrick Suskind's Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" and that's one of my favourite books, so I was excited to read it. I'm not sure if it reminded me so much of Suskind's novel, but it's definitely intriguing. Set in Sweden at the end of the 18th century, around the time of the French Revolution, The Stockholm Octavo follows the intrigues and politics behind the scenes of powerful players in the political realm. Actually, it deals with political players in the realm of play. Most of the action takes place in the back rooms of gambling houses, with characters manipulating each other over cards.
The "octavo" is a particular kind of card set up, similar to tarot cards, that are meant to determine one's future through a series of eight readings on eight consecutive nights. Each card represents an important person in the life of the person having the reading, people who will shape the future. In the midst of political and social uncertainty every character in the story is looking for the key to a powerful future. But who is actually holding the power? Is it the person who holds the throne...or the person who holds the cards?

If anything, this novel reminds me a little of The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern, or the movie The Affair of the Necklace (if you haven't seen it, it's about a series of behind-the-scenes events involving women, servants and a necklace that ultimately contributes to the execution of Marie Antoinette...it's not bad).

One thing I will say, though, is that The Stockholm Octavo is a little longer than it needs to be. The descriptions of the card readings drag on a little bit. It's kind of a hundred pages of set up for the rest of the book so it's hard to stay interested. I mean, it's not MY card reading, so it's hard to care about the details.

Still, it's an interesting and unusual premise. I think a movie version could be fantastic, though I'm sure a director would choose to tell the story out of sequence from how it was told in the book to increase the drama.

Disclaimer: I received a digital galley of this book free from Edelweiss (Above the Tree Line). I was asked to write an honest review, though not necessarily a favourable one. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
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About Karen Engelmann

I was born, raised and educated in Iowa, concentrating on the visual arts. I have a BFA in design and drawing from the University of Iowa in Iowa City (missed the Writers Workshop altogether... too bad!) I then moved to Sweden to do graduate work in scene painting. I never completed that degree or painted a single set, but worked as an illustrator and designer in Malmö, Sweden for nine years. New...more

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