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Lincoln's Wizard
Washington has fallen! Legions of 'grays'—dead soldiers reanimated on the battlefield and pressed back into service of the Southern Cause—have pushed the lines as far north as the Ohio River. Lincoln has moved the government of the United States to New York City. He needs to stop the juggernaut of the Southern undead 'abominations' or the North will ultimately fall. But Allan Pinkerton, his head of security, has a plan...
The Northern newspapers are heralding Braxton Wright as the Hero of Parkersburg, but the engineer who designed the Northern walking monitors—Tall Guns—knows the truth. He acted more out of panic than heroism and is certain he got his best friend, physician Lawrence Hancock, killed in the cold waters of the Ohio as a result. What he would like is to be forgotten.
But at Pinkerton's urging, Lincoln sends Braxton on a mission aboard General Sherman's airship deep into Southern territory. He will find Hattie Lawton, the woman who is the North's most capable spy, and together, they must stop the Southern undead from rising again!
The Northern newspapers are heralding Braxton Wright as the Hero of Parkersburg, but the engineer who designed the Northern walking monitors—Tall Guns—knows the truth. He acted more out of panic than heroism and is certain he got his best friend, physician Lawrence Hancock, killed in the cold waters of the Ohio as a result. What he would like is to be forgotten.
But at Pinkerton's urging, Lincoln sends Braxton on a mission aboard General Sherman's airship deep into Southern territory. He will find Hattie Lawton, the woman who is the North's most capable spy, and together, they must stop the Southern undead from rising again!
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2023
179 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Dan Willis
62 books316 followersDan is an award-winning, best-selling author who has been writing for most of his life. He wrote for the long running DragonLance series and has worked in the board game and video game industries as well. His current work is the Arcane Casebook series, a fantasy twist on the 1930’s noir detective story.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 20, 2024
Robots forever!
Rip rowing story of an alternate timeline, A bit of steam punk craziness. Add a petty spy and stir with a Pinkerton. Go team engineer.
Rip rowing story of an alternate timeline, A bit of steam punk craziness. Add a petty spy and stir with a Pinkerton. Go team engineer.
April 5, 2025
I've always liked alternate history novels and “Lincoln's Wizard” definitely fits the bill.
It's set during the American Civil War only we're talking steampunk and sorcery.
The Union has airships, bigger and better artillery, and somewhat useful robots.
The Confederates have legions of the dead (bodies gathered from the battlefield and re-animated), and fire-breathing dragons (thoughtfully supplied by France).
The sides are not evenly matched, the Confederates are slowly but surely winning.
The Union needs a hero!
Enter engineer and inventor Braxton Wright, the Hero of Parkersburg (he isn't but he has to be for propaganda purposes).
He's sent on a dangerous mission deep behind enemy lines in an attempt to disrupt the enemy rail network and to disrupt the supply of the drug which keeps the 'dead' alive and fighting.
What he doesn't know, well that would be giving the game away.
Of course he'll need an oddball sidekick as well as a female version of James Bond and Indiana Jones …
It's a fast and fun read.
3 Stars.
It's set during the American Civil War only we're talking steampunk and sorcery.
The Union has airships, bigger and better artillery, and somewhat useful robots.
The Confederates have legions of the dead (bodies gathered from the battlefield and re-animated), and fire-breathing dragons (thoughtfully supplied by France).
The sides are not evenly matched, the Confederates are slowly but surely winning.
The Union needs a hero!
Enter engineer and inventor Braxton Wright, the Hero of Parkersburg (he isn't but he has to be for propaganda purposes).
He's sent on a dangerous mission deep behind enemy lines in an attempt to disrupt the enemy rail network and to disrupt the supply of the drug which keeps the 'dead' alive and fighting.
What he doesn't know, well that would be giving the game away.
Of course he'll need an oddball sidekick as well as a female version of James Bond and Indiana Jones …
It's a fast and fun read.
3 Stars.
August 20, 2023
DNF 46%
In general I liked this book concept. The first battle and bouncing between two PPV was confusing. I personally found the addition of dragons distracting and not so interesting to read about a fight between zeppelins and dragons, especially since they were mentioned ahead of time and heavily foreshadowed to arrive. In fact, halfway through this book every single thing was foreshadowed fully making nothin a surprise. My other ciritque is the characters, there is one POV and he is quite vanilla, no quirks, bad habits, poor decisions. Just a genius engineer who is brave and patriotic with no real desires or motivations other than serve the country.
In general I liked this book concept. The first battle and bouncing between two PPV was confusing. I personally found the addition of dragons distracting and not so interesting to read about a fight between zeppelins and dragons, especially since they were mentioned ahead of time and heavily foreshadowed to arrive. In fact, halfway through this book every single thing was foreshadowed fully making nothin a surprise. My other ciritque is the characters, there is one POV and he is quite vanilla, no quirks, bad habits, poor decisions. Just a genius engineer who is brave and patriotic with no real desires or motivations other than serve the country.
March 5, 2025
3.5 Stars
Lincoln’s Wizard has a mighty interesting premise. American Civil War. Steampunk. Zombies. Dragons. But much of that is put aside for a decent story about a propped up war hero meeting up with a Union Spy. The story and characters are both pretty good. Dan Willis excels at this. But whereas the Arcane Casebook series heavily incorporates its fantastical elements into a detective story, Lincoln’s Wizard’s fantastical elements are more secondary in nature. There’s still plenty of fantastical stuff here, but I eagerly wanted to know more about them. Maybe the second book will have more of what I’m looking for. Only time will tell.
Lincoln’s Wizard has a mighty interesting premise. American Civil War. Steampunk. Zombies. Dragons. But much of that is put aside for a decent story about a propped up war hero meeting up with a Union Spy. The story and characters are both pretty good. Dan Willis excels at this. But whereas the Arcane Casebook series heavily incorporates its fantastical elements into a detective story, Lincoln’s Wizard’s fantastical elements are more secondary in nature. There’s still plenty of fantastical stuff here, but I eagerly wanted to know more about them. Maybe the second book will have more of what I’m looking for. Only time will tell.
May 16, 2023
A little formulaic but a great read
I am a fan of Dan Willis having read some of his other series. I thought the setting was novel, but at the same time a bit formulaic with a magic versus machinery type vibe.
Similar to this author's other books the characters are intriguing, and I appreciate the way the writing is set up so that it keeps hooking you in and makes you want to read just one more chapter.
I am a fan of Dan Willis having read some of his other series. I thought the setting was novel, but at the same time a bit formulaic with a magic versus machinery type vibe.
Similar to this author's other books the characters are intriguing, and I appreciate the way the writing is set up so that it keeps hooking you in and makes you want to read just one more chapter.
July 10, 2023
Rollicking good fun, just like its sequel, The Georgia Alchemist. Both tell the tales of a team of Union spies and sympathizers trying to keep the rebellious South from winning the decade-long Civil War. The South, with its zombie-like “Grays” and the only Dragons in the Western Hemisphere, may have a thing or two to say about that plan…
I sincerely hope that the authors can get back together and continue the story, which is ripe for multiple follow-ups.
Fingers crossed!
I sincerely hope that the authors can get back together and continue the story, which is ripe for multiple follow-ups.
Fingers crossed!
August 15, 2024
A Great Beginning for Promising New Series
Lincoln’s Wizard is a very enjoyable read with a truly unique plot concept. It’s a combination of historical fiction and science fiction. Add to that a collection of interesting characters and a touch of mystery. It’s well worth investing your time in.
Lincoln’s Wizard is a very enjoyable read with a truly unique plot concept. It’s a combination of historical fiction and science fiction. Add to that a collection of interesting characters and a touch of mystery. It’s well worth investing your time in.
May 12, 2023
Steam punk engineering + dragons
Fun World except It's war. The editing is bad. Many typos,, and words dropped. I hope they're not going for the obvious romance trope.
Great possibilities.
Fun World except It's war. The editing is bad. Many typos,, and words dropped. I hope they're not going for the obvious romance trope.
Great possibilities.
May 24, 2023
Steam punk civil war
I think this is the first time I've seen steam punk mixed with the civil war and I found it really intriguing. Overall it's a good book with an interesting concept.
I think this is the first time I've seen steam punk mixed with the civil war and I found it really intriguing. Overall it's a good book with an interesting concept.
June 30, 2023
A fantasy steampunk look at the American Civil War where the Confederacy has dragons and undead soldiers while the Union has Captain Braxton Wright... A very quick and enjoyable read, but it could have used one more look from an editor and editor.
July 24, 2023
Alternate reality. Pretty cool.
Looks like technology came along a little faster in this reality.
An Air Force in the Civil War! But it still comes down to characters and the authors have done well. Looking forward to the next book.
Looks like technology came along a little faster in this reality.
An Air Force in the Civil War! But it still comes down to characters and the authors have done well. Looking forward to the next book.
July 26, 2023
good civil war steampunk
I like the development of the two main characters; Braxton’s enthusiasm matches that of most inventors/tinkerers I know. There’s a few clunky passages, but overall very entertaining. I’m buying book 2!
I like the development of the two main characters; Braxton’s enthusiasm matches that of most inventors/tinkerers I know. There’s a few clunky passages, but overall very entertaining. I’m buying book 2!
July 27, 2023
Lincoln’s Wizard
Well written with intriguing characters. Only negative is that the book does not stand alone - it ends in the middle of the storyline. Regardless, I would recommend it as as good read
Well written with intriguing characters. Only negative is that the book does not stand alone - it ends in the middle of the storyline. Regardless, I would recommend it as as good read
July 27, 2023
Adventure in the Civil War
A great start to a new series, I was slightly confused by the title as I didn't come across any wizards yet. Great fun though and can't wait for the next 😀
A great start to a new series, I was slightly confused by the title as I didn't come across any wizards yet. Great fun though and can't wait for the next 😀
October 10, 2023
half a book
It’s a good piece of world-building. Too many characters to make any of them three-dimensional or for the amount of plot. It’s not so much a novel as the set-up for a novel.
It’s a good piece of world-building. Too many characters to make any of them three-dimensional or for the amount of plot. It’s not so much a novel as the set-up for a novel.
November 2, 2023
Intriguing
Lost a star for the beyond obvious cliffhanger!!! Ach phoeey! But gained stars for the unique take and great characters. I was hooked and well caught up in tale. Pacing excellent and well done.
Lost a star for the beyond obvious cliffhanger!!! Ach phoeey! But gained stars for the unique take and great characters. I was hooked and well caught up in tale. Pacing excellent and well done.
December 11, 2023
A fascinating and slightly subversive alternative history take. Boats don't wotk as well? Use three leggeded tripod heavy artillery.
The North has you beat in industrial capability? Import French Dragons and make a literal Air Calvary.
Just zany enough to work, as the saying goes.
The North has you beat in industrial capability? Import French Dragons and make a literal Air Calvary.
Just zany enough to work, as the saying goes.
August 18, 2024
I kind of took a year off from reading this book. I was able to pick it up again well enough. I found the proposed alternate history here to be very interesting. The twists into steampunk, undead, and dragons--while remaining essentially sci-fi--was pretty cool.
May 21, 2023
as expected
Very interesting storyline. I wasn’t actually keen to have dragons in my steampunk novel but that’s my only quibble. Otherwise a very good read.
Very interesting storyline. I wasn’t actually keen to have dragons in my steampunk novel but that’s my only quibble. Otherwise a very good read.
June 8, 2023
US civil war
With machines, airships, french dragons, spies, and more. The delightful start of a retelling of the middle of the civil war, only there is no Grant.
With machines, airships, french dragons, spies, and more. The delightful start of a retelling of the middle of the civil war, only there is no Grant.
October 21, 2023
This was a fun read. Loved the premise and the alternative history of it. It anything, I with it has been longer.
January 9, 2024
Robots and Zombies in the Civil War?
A very cool alternative history novel set in
the American Civil War. I can't wait to see what happens next.
A very cool alternative history novel set in
the American Civil War. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews