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, and numerous historical characters all lend THIEFTAKER an authenticity that allowed this magical story to shine.

Set against the back story of increasing political unrest in mid 18th century Boston following the Stamp Act, Ethan is called upon to recover a missing broach and, more importantly, track down a murderer who is using spells to kill. Imagine Sherlock Holmes meets Harry Dresden and you have a pretty good idea of what this book is like. Ethan must rely on more than just magic to find this killer, and constantly be aware of the very real threat that his conjuring could get him burned at the stake. There’s some lovely personal conflict as well involving Ethan’s first love, his years spent in prison, and the new woman in his life who loves him fiercely.

THIEFTAKER was a completely immersive and thoroughly entertaining book. Jackson’s well-researched historical details coupled with his fresh and comprehensive worldbuilding are not to be missed. Jim Butcher fans take note: Ethan could be Harry Dresden’s forebearer. I’m anxious for more of Ethan’s story in the next book in The Thieftaker Chronicles, THIEVES’ QUARRY, which is scheduled for 2013.

Sexual Content:
Kissing. References to sex