The Mason of New Orleans

by Charles M. Ryan

Life in the Middle Ages can be tough. Nasty, brutish, and short, as they say. War, famine, torture. Plague and intolerance. People getting burned at the stake and all that. And nobody speaks English. All of which sucks if you’re from the 21st Century.

Martin’s just a regular guy. A job that’s going—well, not exactly nowhere, but not anyplace fast. A condo in the DC suburbs. A Ford Fusion. A couple of beers on a Friday night. But when Martin finds himself in the 12th Century—naked, unarmed, without a single friend or possession—things really take a turn for the worse.

And as if the medieval lifestyle isn’t enough of a problem, he’s caught between the Holy Roman Emperor and a ruthless local overlord, the plottings of a satanic cult, and the machinations of a self-styled sorcerer bent on dominating the world—or what’s been discovered of it so far.

Half the people he meets think he was sent by God or something to solve all those problems. The other half think he was sent from Hell. And a few don’t care—they just want him out of their way.

And all Martin wants is to get home. If he can just survive the 12th Century long enough to figure out how—and why—he got there to begin with.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction

572 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 10, 2012

About the author

Author of the well-reviewed novel The Mason of New Orleans, Charles M. Ryan also has more than 30 years' experience in the games industry. There he's created or contributed to nearly every class of tabletop game—board games, card games, trading card games, miniature games, and roleplaying games—and he’s garnered awards and recognition for game design, editing and development, graphic design, and fiction. As a businessman, he’s worked in every tier of the market, from running his own independent publishing firm, to serving as Hasbro’s global brand manager for Dungeons & Dragons, to heading up marketing at the UK’s Esdevium Games, one of the world’s largest game distributors. Charles served as Chairman of the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design, the professional organization of the games industry, from 1997 through 2001. For the past decade, he's been the COO and a partner at Monte Cook Games, publisher of innovative and imaginative roleplaying games such as Numenera, Invisible Sun, No Thank You, Evil!, and the Cypher System.

Reviews

[Jason Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was provided with a free review copy of this book, but asked to rate it honestly and fairly.

SUMMARY
The Mason of New Orleans is a rambunctious but lovingly researched time-travel road trip to Middle Ages Belgium. Readers will find themselves swept along in a layered and grotesquely humorous tale of political intrigue, lust and longing, military tactics, alchemy, dark rituals, and — construction management!?

The irreverence of the narrative voice took me a while to get used to, but the main character’s deflective banter serves to connect a modern audience to this impeccably-detailed historical setting. By the final chapters, I was fully caught up in Martin’s plight, having grown (right along with him) to understand and care about a time and place about which I previously had known very little.

MODERN NARRATIVE VOICE

In his hand he had a box, about the size of a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese. The deluxe kind, with the goop instead of the powder. Only this box was made of wood, with elaborate metal trim.

I raised an eyebrow the first (of two) times the book used the word “frickin’” and the first (of frankly countless) times the narrator referred to his own butt as a philosophically distinct being with essence and agency.

By a few chapters in, though, I understood that beyond making me audibly guffaw at times, author Charles Ryan is also just being a good host: that guy at the party whose disarming comments belie the actually-very-deeply-considered argument he’s about to make. Mason deftly paces its stepwise unveiling of a complex plot and detailed historical setting, using narrator Martin’s quirky humor as a bridge for a modern audience.

A LOVE LETTER TO THE MIDDLE AGES

Michel thought for a moment. “It will be cover-fire after the Compline bells,” he said after a moment. It took me a beat to parse what he meant: The actual words were couvre-feu. Literally cover-fire, but the meaning was closer to the sound than the translation: curfew.

It took me no time at all, though, to fall in love with the author’s obvious curiosity and deeply-researched care for Middle-Ages Belgium as a setting. Prior to reading this book, I had very little knowledge about the post-Rome-but-pre-Renaissance West — but I now feel like I could hold forth just a bit on contemporary… Feudal politics! Military tactics! Architectural construction! Tailoring! Calligraphy! French etymology! Weaponsmithing! Masonry!

I took particular delight in the novel’s tendency to thoughtfully drop breadcrumbs tying this far-away world to my own, often setting them up as one-two punchlines which allowed me to feel smart for having made the connection.

THE STORY

Then [they] leaned against me and wept.

You’ll forgive me for not giving away any further context, but — by the time this unnamed character was weeping, I was feeling some things too.

For me, the second half of the book moved faster than the first — in part because I had by then settled into the writing style, but also because multiple plot threads had started to emerge and result in well-crafted tensions I hadn’t seen coming. There is desire here, and high-stakes political intrigue; terrifying cultists, truly great MacGyver-y problem solving, shockingly compelling accounts of project management (?!), satisfying character growth, and plenty of lingering melancholy when it’s all said and done.

***

The Mason of New Orleans: I enjoyed myself! And learned a lot! And laughed! I look forward to an (implied!) sequel.

Content warning: The book contains plenty of graphic medieval wartime violence and general grotesquery, as well as scenes of sexual assault and child abuse — which might not be apparent at first given the jokey tone.

[Kermit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly should be considered a classic. This is one of the greatest pieces of fiction ever written and I think everyone should read it at least once. Kudos to the author!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is soooo good. Amazingly written and it was my favorite book i’ve read this year. I wish I could read it for the first time again.

[Jelena Rosic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is normally not my style of something that i’d read, but it was genuinely really good. I definitely recommend. I thought it was very well written and funny!

[M Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mason of New Orleans was an amazing read! This story blends time travel, history, and a bit of fantasy into a gripping adventure. The way Charles M. Ryan brings the medieval world to life is incredible. You can almost feel the grime, smell the food, and sense the tension in the air as Martin faces warlords, plagues, and a touch of the supernatural.

One thing I loved was the complexity of the characters, especially Martin’s evolving relationship with Lady Madeleine. Their dynamic adds a refreshing emotional layer to the action-packed story. Plus, the historical accuracy really grounds the more fantastical elements, making the whole thing feel strangely believable.

While some plot threads are left hanging by the end, it’s clearly setting up for more, which just made me excited for what’s to come. If you love historical settings with a twist of time travel and mystery, this is a must-read. It’s immersive, well-paced, and leaves you wanting more. Highly recommend!

[Taylor Zacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this book being advertised on tiktok through extremely well done fan art by the author's daughter, and was intrigued enough to buy it on kindle.

The Mason of New Orleans is a fascinating read, and I'm only halfway through so far. Martin is engaging as a protagonist, with a charming wit, and his situational awareness is something to be envied (I have ADHD, don't judge me). Stephen is hilarious, though I feel like Martin would disagree with me, and you're right, Celestine truly does not deserve what she goes through!

Everything else feels well researched, and very descriptive, I can follow along so well and envision everything! The additional touch of magic is a fun twist, and I can't wait to get to the end. If Charles M Ryan ever decides to keep writing, I am definitely going to be first in line for anything else he puts out there!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for the daughter or son pitching their dad’s book on TikTok. In the case the TikTok plea paid off. The Mason of New Orleans is a really fun ride of a book.

It is kind of like a Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court without the satire and arrogance. Martin is such a great character. A 21st century man dropped into 12th century Europe. And-instead of like every other time travel book-Martin is humble and doesn’t act like he knows everything and is superior to the people of the Middle Ages. The book is filled with strong characters-Lady Madeline, Celestine, and Lady Judith.

This book is rich with historical detail that delves into political regimes, guilds, local politics, religion, alchemy, etc.

I’m super excited to read the coming sequel and really Charles M. Ryan gifts us with more of Martin’s adventures!

[Maeve Neff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an absolute gem!! It was the perfect pace, absolutely hilarious yet keeping me on the edge of my seat the whole time!! Every character is so well written and has their own very distinct personality, the character growth was so rewarding too!! I am gnawing at the bars of my enclosure NEEDING the second book asap!!! This is a book I can definitely read multiple times and not ever get tired of it!

[Linden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this book! I think I’ve found my new fav author? It was truly amazing! By far one of the BEST books I have ever read. Whoever wrote this is truly talented. I have read hundreds and hundreds of books, and this is 100% in my top 3 all time favs. I ligit read this book for hours and hours straight because I could not put it down! I would definitely recommend this book too EVERYONE. The writing style is just beautiful. Would LOVE to see more books from this author soon! 10000/10

[Amelia O · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the character development in this book, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading this. Its so incredibly well written, you can see yourself inside the book. I usually am not very history orientated but I took a chance on reading this and it did not let me down, if you are thinking should I read this or not I would strongly advise you to. I will be keeping an eye out for a sequel anytime because this high quality book has me wanting more.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

i don’t usually write reviews but this was an exceptional piece of art. it was detailed, engaging and the best part was that it didn’t feel like a copy of another book somewhere. throughout the entirety of the book i didn’t feel like he was trying to impress or please the audience but rather pour his creativity and imagination onto oaoer, making it so much more authentic and real compared to a lot of authors nowadays. thank you for this book, you should be very proud of yourself.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw a post on booktok as I find that the place to get the very best ideas for my next adventure. I have not read a book like this before, and it was filled with unexpected twists and turns, leading to a surprising conclusion that will leave you on the edge of your seats. The author's vivid descriptions and storytelling make for a captivating read that is sure to keep you guessing until the very end.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable historical fantasy (at least as much as magic transplants a modern man back to the Holy Roman Empire days of yore) very well grounded in solid characters and loads of historical details I'd barely known (if ever before).

Highly recommended read from a fellow veteran of Wizards of the Coast who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Now I've got to buy the next one so I can find out what happens with Martin and Celestine and Madeline and Willem and…

[Joey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mason of New Orleans keeps you hooked from start to finish. The main character is not only hilarious, but endearing. I often found myself imagining myself in his shoes without realizing it!

I couldn’t put the book down - it’s one of those rare stories where the pacing and depth come together to create something truly special.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a pleasant surprise. I loved all the characters, especially Celestine (I just want to give her a big hug and let her know it will be okay). It was so funny and Martin’s inner dialogue was so relatable. I need to know more so if there could a whole series that would be great😂😂. I will be rereading very soon because I feel like there are so many details to focus on.

[Big Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is extremely well-written and hilarious. I love the humor, complexion and development. This might be one of my favorite books ever, I highly recommend this if you love well-written characters, good plotline and actually good humor. Please read this, if you are planning to, or you want a new book to keep you focused. It's a great piece of media.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of my favorites by far. From being often discouraged and uninterested mid way through books, this novel kept me gripped throughout the entirety of it. I hope Charles continues to write even more, not only to allow me to continue my reading journey, but to allow others as-well. You should definitely read this book!!!

[soupysaucepot · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the many books I found from Tik Tok. While I love my poorly written smut this was a lovely change of pace for me. The writing is genuinely beautiful. The characters were amazing. I am so impressed with this work and highly recommend it! I’ve been telling anyone and everyone who will listen to read this ASAP!

<3

[Elana Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading this book right now. So far, it's a page-turner. Charles Ryan captures you in the first pages and never lets you go. I'm going to finish this book and then write an in-depth review, but needless to say, it's well worth your time.

[Anna Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much! The main character was so funny and enjoyable to read about! Recommending this novel to all my friends at school right now lol. Such great immersive writing you'll kinda feel like you're watching a fun movie :) Totally recommend!!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely beautiful writing and amazing storytelling. great pacing, wonderful characters. this has been the best book i’ve read this year by far. i am excited to be on the lookout for your next work.

[Meghan Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a gem !!! Saw it advertised by the author’s daughter on Tiktok and I am a sucker for people from different worlds getting to know eachother and all the complications that come with that !! It was so funny and heartfelt ♥️

[Sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read a book in a while. I saw a video of a girl recommending this book. I did not expect much, but I used to enjoy reading books about the Middle Ages so much, so i gave it a try.
I'm glad I did. It really took me out of my reading block.

[emi ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey Author!
A friend recommended me your book and I read it in 3 days. It’s a really really good written book and I really enjoyed it. I hope that there’s going to be a sequel and if there is i’m sure that it’s gonna be just as great!
Keep writing author❤️
-Emi from Germany

[Celestial :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Splendid

[Nora Feldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging and humorous!

[Ellie Petch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely captivating I could not put it down!!! I Haven't enjoyed a book like this in quite a while. Amazing amazing amazing

[Alyssa Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this from a friend because she knows I’ve been in a reading slump and this totally cured it! The writing style is so captivating and enchanting. Very entertaining book :)

[Emma Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing book must read if you haven’t!!!! Writing is beautiful, it had me giggling.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good! I literally love it. I hope that this author writes more, I’ll be sure to read it :)