Dark City Rising

by C.L. Jarvis

He wanted to fix the archaic medical education system. He ended up changing the world.

Scotland, 1748. Professor William Cullen has a secret: he’s developing a new, egalitarian system of magic. If Scotland’s aristocrats learn he threatens their stronghold of power – upheld through dark magical means and buy-in from the Edinburgh’s illustrious medical school – he’s dead. When a noble is murdered for daring to champion Cullen, he realises confrontation is inevitable and he must take his fight to the enemy.

Aided by his prodigious former student Joseph Black, Cullen must navigate a hostile academic system, locating the source of the aristocrats’ power before his secret abilities are uncovered and the assassins return for him.

Fans of The Embroidered Book and The Baroque Cycle will be enthralled by this sweeping reimagining of 18th century Edinburgh on the cusp of scientific and philosophical revolution.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical, Historical Fiction, Mystery

420 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2024

About the author

CL Jarvis holds a PhD in chemistry and worked as a science journalist, healthcare copywriter, and medical writer before sitting down to write her first novel. Originally from Scotland but living in Philadelphia, USA, she's held together by cat hair and double espressos.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was listed as not part of a series but I believe the characters and world have appeared in earlier books and I feel that a little bit of scene setting and context would have been very helpful to get a sense of the story and some background to the characters and their connections would have been useful. I became engaged with the main characters quite early on, Cullen and Black particularly and the university setting, the natural philosophy and alchemical experiments and discussions were fascinating. It was hard however to discern a plot apart from a vague impression of good against evil. This developed gradually as political manoeuvring and power struggles were revealed but some specificity regarding the intent of the evildoers would have raised the tension. It is quite easy to read despite rather a lot of typos which I hope will be ironed out before publication.

There is a good sense of historical perspective and the scientific and political thinking of the period has been well researched and is clearly presented to the reader from the characters' perspectives without appearing didactic. The black arts are integrated so as to be both believable and natural.

An interesting read which I would have enjoyed more had I read the earlier books.

Thank you to booksirens for an advanced copy.

[stephanie cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark City Rising by C.L. Jarvis is a stunning historical novel that effortlessly blends dark world magic and medicine in 18th century Scotland. From the very first page, Jarvis’s writing draws you in with its captivating flow, making it hard to put the book down once you start. The characters are complex and compelling, each one adding layers to the intriguing plot.

Jarvis has always had a unique talent for storytelling, ever since her early works like How to Be Popular, and she does not disappoint here. The way she intertwines the historical setting with elements of dark magic and medicine is both immersive and thought-provoking. The attention to detail in the descriptions of medical practices is especially fascinating and enhances the gritty atmosphere of the story.

The chemistry between the characters is electric, and the way their relationships unfold is just as gripping as the plot itself. Dark City Rising is a beautifully written and highly entertaining tale that will keep readers hooked until the very end. Highly recommend it for fans of historical fiction with a twist of magic!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark City Rising is a beautifully written historical novel the dives deep into dark world magic and medicine in 18th century Scotland.

Jarvis has always had a way with word ever since her earliest publications ( How to be popular) the drawn the reader in so flawlessly that you barley realise you have nearly finished the story. Dark City Rising is no exception, the descriptive nature of medical practices and the chemistry between the characters weaves a highly exciting and entertaining tale.

Thank you to booksirens for the advanced copy

[S. Kaeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I had a lot to say about this book! While I don't think I was quite the target audience for this book, I still enjoyed it. I think lovers of historical fiction with a dash of magic who also love lots of dark political machinations would love this book. This book is meant for you! I went in hoping for more magic and especially more assassins than I got.

I loved the incredible atmosphere of this book. The author did a fantastic job of creating a cohesive mood and tone to the story with setting details that drew me in. Descriptions, voice, mood, all combine to transport the reader back in time. I love how history details, people, and even quotes are all woven in so deftly and naturally. I especially got a thrill of glee when I recognized a Scottishism. It makes it feel immersive. The decision to use real historical figures for the main and side characters (as opposed to only side characters) worked fantastically for this story, I thought. There were some really great quotes in here too!

There’s a lot of distance in the storytelling, and a lot of telling compared to what I typically enjoy, so it disconnected me from the narrative at times. However, this may have been by design and it might be genre appropriate, to evoke the tone and mood of the period. There was also a lot of slipping out of the established PoV to tell about the inner state of another character who may or may not be in the scene, which simply confused me at times.

The pacing was something I struggled with. At times it felt slow, and at times it felt uneven. Slow paced novels aren't always an issue for me, but in this case, it dragged for me in some places because there were some scenes that seemed not to exist for any purpose other than to set a scene, and then we were on to the next scene without anything actually happening or changing. There were also several places where I didn’t feel we needed the scene or point of view at all- I didn’t feel it added to the story at all, and I thought it might be more powerful to see from the main characters’ points of view instead. Now, some of these scenes did, in fact, add to the narrative later on and were absolutely necessary, and it's possible that someone reading with a more detail oriented mindset would see things in every scene I thought was extraneous that proves their need to be there, but I didn't always see it.

Another thing was some jolting scene changes. Often a chapter or scene would end a little before I’d expect, leading the narrative to feel like beads on a chain, with just the barest hint of danger connecting them (compared to what I was expecting). Again, a reader with an eye more toward the subtle than myself may read this and enjoy the thrill of the hints. But because of the frequent scene and point of view changes, to various side characters included, to me the danger kept getting chopped off at the knees instead of being allowed to creep up and loom. Over and over, I struggled to orient myself instead of just being carried along by the story’s flow like I wanted to be. Some flashbacks didn’t seem to matter, and it was sometimes unclear when the flashback had ended, especially when, for instance, we go from one meeting to another farther back in time. It left me disoriented.

Pacing and tension ebbed and flowed throughout the book. Sometimes information isn’t shown to the reader when the character gets it, but has to be explained in later and that feels a bit clunky to me. I personally prefer things to be very chronological in stories (usually-- there are exceptions, but unfortunately this one was not an exception).

Going along with this, I wasn't always sure I understood the intricate details of the politics, with so many players and so brief time spent with some of the minor ones, so whole scenes revolving around introducing a new player with nothing else changing just further disoriented me. It’s possible some of the scenes that seemed like they moved nowhere did in fact portray something but so subtly I missed it. All the broad strokes political machinations did make sense to me and created great tension that did work well for me.

I wanted more magic! The magic tests and sigils and everything were fascinating but large stretches of no magic stretched throughout the book, so when it did pop up again, it surprised me and felt jolting. I did like the dark society, though I thought it strange they’d refer to themselves that way too. Every female character could be cut without impacting the story at all. The treatment of Black slaves gets called out, but not that of women. However, that could maybe be because of the times.

When threads came together, they came together with a satisfying subtlety. Cause and effect I had not seen nevertheless became plain in hindsight, just as I think was intended, and just as the characters experience. That was so cool, and really well done for the author. I did often dream about the story setting so it definitely got into my head.

The ending-- I'm not going to spoiler it too much, but I found there were some coincidences I didn’t really buy, but some threads came together really nicely at the end, and I did like the redemption arc for one character. The key in particular was very, very cool, even though it was only in the book for a few pages. Sudden illogic for logical characters strained my suspension of disbelief, as well as abilities that had never before been mentioned suddenly appearing in the perceptions of characters. Especially the idea of not losing sleep over losing track of the deranged assassin that’s been hunting them.

All in all, I think this might be a great book for historical fantasy lovers, and a great entry point into what seems to be a connected world with these characters. There were things that didn't work for me, but other things that worked quite well for me.

[Ergative Absolutive · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had so many good elements to it that could have made a kick-ass book, but instead just fell limp and flat. Dark academia with anatomists and chemists developing secret magical uses of phlogisten and aether and sigils? Yes please! 18th century Glasgow vs. Edinburgh medical professors fighting Scottish enlightenment battles? Yes please! Secret societies engaging in hidden power plays of town vs. gown to determine who runs the universities? Private assassins who are risen from the dead in arcane rituals? Hidden libraries with magical portals? Yes yes yes please!

And yet none of it actually came together in any kind of meaningful plot. William Cullen and Joseph Black spend most of their time playing musical chairs between positions at Glasgow and Edinburgh. The secret societies and various aristocratic patrons engage in murderous battles to support Cullen and/or Black for one positiin or another, except when they go away for ten years for reasons that are never entirely clear. Really, a lot of the power structures and motivations that drive all of the plot of this book are murky. What do the dark chymists actually want besides power that makes them so anti-Cullen? How do the institutional politics of university governance, split apparently between town councils, aristocratic meddlers, funding bodies, and--I guess--secret evil dark societies---how does that all actually work? Department meetings and wars of public opinion would be a lot more interesting if I actually understood the stakes and mechanisms of decision making.

Overall, there was a weird combination of too much telling and also not enough telling. I spent a lot of time being told about people's various alliances, but I still wanted more exposition. What were the stakes behind the rivalries? Some of the ultimate stakes are so secret that nobody can actually be basing their alliances on them, and others are so entirely secondary to the main power struggles (like, road repairs, or the logistics of translation in smallpox inoculation projects) that it's baffling that they can be behind the deadly power struggles at the universities. I saw a lot of ticking, but none of the mechanism behind it, and so the experience of reading the book was about as interesting as watching the second hand on a clock go around in circles.

I think the problem here is that all the people are real: William Cullen was a real dude; Joseph Black is so real that there's a campus building named after him at the University of Glasgow. So the seemingly aimless switchy swapping between Glasgow and Edinburgh and the weird 10-year delays between plot points are presumably constrained by actual historical records. I imagine the Cumbernauld Road repairs and Highland smallpox inoculation projects were likewise based on real history. But the result is that the pacing was lumpy and the plot dragged and clumped.

Oh, and the attempt to include women in the very dude-heavy plot was so miserably contentless that I would prefer they'd been left out entirely. It felt almost insulting to have token female characters with pointless appendix plots assigned to them thrown in my face, as if that would be enough to mitigate the fact that this is a book entirely about men doing men things.

So: great conceit; lousy execution.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Review of Dark City Rising by C.L. Jarvis

Rating: 4 Stars

Pray, allow me to regale you with my thoughts on Dark City Rising, a most captivating tome penned by the talented C.L. Jarvis. As I turned each page, I found myself transported to the enchanting yet perilous realm of 18th-century Edinburgh, a city on the cusp of profound transformation in the realms of medicine and philosophy.

In the year of our Lord 1748, we are introduced to the astute and daring Professor William Cullen, a man possessed by a fervent desire to overhaul the antiquated medical education system. However, unbeknownst to many, this noble academic harbors a secret that could very well alter the course of history: he is concocting a new magical system, one that aims for egalitarianism in an age dominated by the aristocracy’s darkly enchanted grip on power. Alas, as fate would have it, murder strikes when a brave nobleman who dares to support Cullen faces dire consequences. This ignites a fierce realization within Cullen that confrontation with the nefarious forces arrayed against him is not merely probable; it is inevitable.

Accompanied by his exceptionally gifted former pupil, Joseph Black, our protagonist delves into an academic world rife with hostility, all while racing against time to unearth the source of the aristocracy's power before his own secrets are laid bare before the ever-looming threat of assassination.

Now, let me express how utterly beguiled I was by the cover of this splendid volume—it is simply perfection! The fusion of medicine and magic amidst the backdrop of a city on the brink of enlightenment creates an irresistible allure. Within its pages lies a fascinating exploration of medical practices intertwined with mystical elements, enriching our understanding of history while indulging our thirst for fantasy.

Moreover, Jarvis has masterfully woven together a tapestry populated by both real historical figures and imaginative creations that breathe life into this epic narrative. The pacing is impeccable, and the character development is such that each figure feels vividly real and engaging. It is a rare pleasure to encounter a work that strikes such a fine balance between historical accuracy and fantastical elements.

In conclusion, dear reader, if thou art in search of an enthralling escapade filled with well-crafted characters and an intriguing plot, look no further than Dark City Rising. It is a delightful blend of history and magic that shall surely satisfy your literary cravings. I bestow upon it a hearty four stars for its brilliance and charm! What more could one possibly desire?

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Nikkiya Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this spoiler-free review voluntarily.

Dark City Rising
By C.L. Jarvis

I would characterize this novel as historical magical realism. I did not know while reading this book that it is based loosely on real 18th-century Scottish scientists. This fact makes me like the book even more. I am going to round up my 4.5 to a 5.

I enjoyed the easily identifiable characters and the personalities that belonged to each character. The magic system was easy to understand, which gave the plot a faster pace. There were no long explanations of the magic system or within the politics of the academic setting.

My only negatives are more about personal taste such as; I would have enjoyed if Jarvis had used some alternate spellings of words that are easily identifiable in English, but give it an 18th-century Scottish flare. Maybe added in some not too complicated forms of diction that give a sense of a Scottsh accent.

I plan on reading the other books that continue the story and adventures of our main characters as well as meeting new ones. I believe these novels are considered stand-alones even though they follow a timeline order. The other novels are:

Dark City Rising (begins in 1748)
The Doctorines of Fire (begins in 1779)
A Treatise of Air (begins in 1784)
The Chronicles of Earth begins in (begins in 1785)
A Codex of Metal (begins in 1787)
I found these dates above on the book descriptions provided on Goodreads.

Thank you to C. L. Jarvis for allowing me to review your book through booksirens.

[Nairn Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars from me - but maybe more from fans of the series this serves as a prequel to???

First off, this was me experimenting with a somewhat new-to-me genre. I do enjoy some historical fiction and some magic; also, as an erstwhile academic, and based in Scotland, this book sounded intriguing. But I'm not sure the genre's for me...

I found the writing a bit stolid, with too many character names repeated over and over: it felt a bit like a lot of 'backstory' or exposition, from the start - and for quite a while. And while it was perfectly well written (unlike a lot of books, so yay for that!), it didn't draw me in enough to make me want to follow all the ins and outs. It also felt very... uncritical of the milieu.

I enjoyed having real-life 'characters' alongside fictional ones, and the whole general setting of changing views around medicine and more. But it just didn't draw me in - intellectually, or emotionally - as I'd hope from a novel. Too much exposition and plotting, and not enough actual *storytelling* and use of language, for me. But you might love it! :)

I read an ARC and left this review voluntarily.

[Jewel Carrie Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book. As someone who studies the history of medicine, I was intrigued by its inclusion of historical figures like Joseph Black and William Cullen, among others. I understand that this is a prequel. I have not read the others in this series, but I am now convinced of reading the others. This work includes mild cursing and some violence. The violence did not dissuade my reading. However, the book discusses in short some scientific pursuits and medical experimentation on animals. As a historian who has written about these very figures, I understand that, but I feel that the average reader may benefit from some trigger warning at the start of the book.

*I received this work as an advanced reader copy, and this is my honest review.

[Ivana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read any other books from this series before, so this was all new to me. I would have not guessed there are other books written before this one, so it is a fine start for the series.

I enjoyed the book, though I found it too slowly paced for me and sometimes hard to follow who is who, especially when plot switches to be in two cities.

It is very interesting to read about Scotland in this time and to learn how medicine was viewed. I really enjoy reading historical fiction set outside of wars and courts. I also greatly enjoy academia, so this book fits my interests very well.

I stopped it at about 40%, as my reading mood is not into it right now. I do plan to finish it later, and I am only leaving the review already as I got it as an ARC.

[Stephanie | read_renew_repeat · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It's not dark magic, then. Whatever you're playing with, it's something different. Something far more dangerous."

I loved this book! It felt like it was written just for me. The witty, humorous characters, the British landscape, the medical school setting, and the magical fantasy elements were all fantastic. The author masterfully spins well-written prose into dynamic, beautiful imagery.

William Cullen is ambitious, generous, and headstrong. Having been a nurse for 15 years, I would have loved to work with a healthcare professional like him—caring, thoughtful, and dedicated to his craft and patients. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys rooting for the underdog.

The ending was somewhat abrupt, but the Epilogue provided a satisfying closure to the story! You know how I love a good Epilogue!

Read if you like:
-Medical context
-Short chapters
-Gaslamp fantasy
-Entertaining, eccentric characters
-Unapologetically irreverent, witty banter
-Old-school British settings

TW: Some profanity (but pretty humorous, honestly), death scenes, violence

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

CL Jarvis does a great job in writing this type of book, it had that gaslamp fantasy element that I hoped for. It uses the historical element perfectly and had that element that I wanted from the description. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and thought the magical element worked. I was engaged with the storyline and how everything worked. I hope there is more in this world.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review!
I really liked the narrative that very easily pulls you into the story and doesn't let you go until the very end. There's a good balance between science, history and magic. Overall I liked the book.

[Kitty G Books]

Read as a judge for #spfbo. Review and rating to come.

[M.L. Dunker · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of C L Jarvis’. Edinburgh Doctrine books have been solid four stars for me, except this one. Dark City Rising fell into the merely likable. For me, a prequel should stand alone in the storytelling with vivid characters compelling in their own right and not how they fit into the narrative later.
I struggled with the info dumps in the beginning where Jarvis previously let the backstory develop more organically. The series itself is amazing with the unfolding of history and magic in Scotland. knowledge is power in the doctrine of medical science and the social constraints are balanced nicely against the innovations in industry and social awareness. Would I recommend the rest of the series? Absolutely.