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The Great Work
An alchemist and his young nephew hunt down a legend in this profound and unsettling speculative Western, for fans of Karen Russell and Victor LaValle.
Alone in a frontier town in the nineteenth-century Northwest, Gentle Montgomery is grieving his best friend. Liam was an alchemist, killed when he tried to capture a creature that shouldn’t exist: a giant salamander that drives men mad. When Gentle’s teenage nephew Kitt arrives at his doorstep, the two set out together to track the monster down, so they can use its blood in an alchemical formula that will bring Liam back to life.
It's a hard and haunted journey. The salamander produces surreal nightmares and waking dreams of a blighted, burning future. And Gentle and Kitt soon find themselves pursued by a bloodthirsty hunter, a sadistic judge, and a doomsday cult, all of whom have their own plans for the river monster. Armed with nothing but Liam’s alchemical notebooks, they must not only find the salamander but learn to understand it—and the terrifying visions it causes—before it’s too late. And as Gentle struggles to comprehend the creature, his lost friend, his nephew, and his fellow seekers, it becomes clear that the Great Work of the alchemists may pale in comparison to the small work of human connection.
Sheldon Costa’s dark, vivid, and strangely hopeful debut novel is a supernatural adventure through the wilderness of friendship and the rotten heart of the early American empire.
Alone in a frontier town in the nineteenth-century Northwest, Gentle Montgomery is grieving his best friend. Liam was an alchemist, killed when he tried to capture a creature that shouldn’t exist: a giant salamander that drives men mad. When Gentle’s teenage nephew Kitt arrives at his doorstep, the two set out together to track the monster down, so they can use its blood in an alchemical formula that will bring Liam back to life.
It's a hard and haunted journey. The salamander produces surreal nightmares and waking dreams of a blighted, burning future. And Gentle and Kitt soon find themselves pursued by a bloodthirsty hunter, a sadistic judge, and a doomsday cult, all of whom have their own plans for the river monster. Armed with nothing but Liam’s alchemical notebooks, they must not only find the salamander but learn to understand it—and the terrifying visions it causes—before it’s too late. And as Gentle struggles to comprehend the creature, his lost friend, his nephew, and his fellow seekers, it becomes clear that the Great Work of the alchemists may pale in comparison to the small work of human connection.
Sheldon Costa’s dark, vivid, and strangely hopeful debut novel is a supernatural adventure through the wilderness of friendship and the rotten heart of the early American empire.
336 pages, Paperback
First published November 4, 2025
74 people are currently reading
8981 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
November 17, 2025
I was optimistic when I picked this book up, but it turns out that alchemists hunting a giant salamander in the late 1800s America isn't really my thing. It certainly was not the magical adventure that I had hoped for and it was overall more of a grounded historical fiction read. At first I was intrigued, because the book starts with the sighting of an enormous white salamander that's causing obsession, madness and destruction wherever it goes. It's currently causing trouble in the small town of Dalton Lake which is also the home of our protagonist Gentle Montgomery. He is spending his time looking for immortality and embalming the dead when the death of his best friend starts his own obsession with the salamander. With his recently acquired nephew Kitt by his side, Gentle embarks on an unusual dragon hunt, following the salamander across the country and meeting different groups of people along the way. Some want to kill the beast for revenge, for others it's a religious endeavor and the key to immortality. I was looking forward to the alchemical aspect of the story, but the execution didn't exactly hook me. It didn't go in a magical, fascinating direction and felt more like a textbook on natural science instead. The whole plot was a bit unexciting to me, because Gentle and Kitt are mostly just traveling and gathering information. The most interesting passages were about hallucinations and dreams and all other plot was seriously dragging. I did like how I slowly warmed up to the characters while reading, though. At first I had no opinion on anyone, but learning more about the Montgomery family was interesting and it was lovely to see how Gentle and Kitt formed a bond as the story went on. Gentle is also reflecting on his relationship with his dead best friend and that was a strong part as well. Still, I couldn't have cared less about any other character that came up. I mostly wanted to try the book after seeing the cool cover, but it really wasn't my genre in the end and I continuously lost interest while reading. That's hardly the book's fault, though, and I would still recommend it if it already sounds interesting to you.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Quirk Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Quirk Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2025
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
I received a digital ARC to review this for Booklist, and I confess I didn't think this book was going to be for me. I'm not into historical fiction or westerns, though I thought maybe a weird western like this might come at me sideways.
I was right. It came at me sideways and knocked me over. This book is good. It has gravitas. It has incredible writing. It's a weird but perfect mix of philosophical and thrilling, gritty and poetic. While telling a small, human story about a grief-stricken man and a runaway boy tracking a mythic beast across the dwindling American frontier, it confronts heady topics like the horrors of war, the myth of progress, the destruction of the environment, and the existential dread of losing faith in the "conviction that their lives had some meaning beyond the drudgery and injustice of their everyday existence". All centered around the Great Work of alchemy, the philosopher's stone, the reward for a life of suffering and end to death.
Honestly the more I think about this book, the more I'm struck by it. I read a lot and forget a lot of what I read, but this one has stuck with me.
I received a digital ARC to review this for Booklist, and I confess I didn't think this book was going to be for me. I'm not into historical fiction or westerns, though I thought maybe a weird western like this might come at me sideways.
I was right. It came at me sideways and knocked me over. This book is good. It has gravitas. It has incredible writing. It's a weird but perfect mix of philosophical and thrilling, gritty and poetic. While telling a small, human story about a grief-stricken man and a runaway boy tracking a mythic beast across the dwindling American frontier, it confronts heady topics like the horrors of war, the myth of progress, the destruction of the environment, and the existential dread of losing faith in the "conviction that their lives had some meaning beyond the drudgery and injustice of their everyday existence". All centered around the Great Work of alchemy, the philosopher's stone, the reward for a life of suffering and end to death.
Honestly the more I think about this book, the more I'm struck by it. I read a lot and forget a lot of what I read, but this one has stuck with me.
November 3, 2025
Thank you to Quirk Books for giving me an ARC at SD Comic Con! All opinions are my own.
What to expect *⁀➷
➳ Speculative western
➳ Late 19th-century
➳ Adventure through the Northwest
➳ Doomsday cult
➳ Alchemy
➳ A giant salamander that drives men mad
Description *⁀➷
The Great Work takes place in the late 1880's, in a frontier town where men have started killing themselves after sightings of a giant salamander. It follows Gentle who believes that his best friend, Liam—an alchemist, died because of this creature. When Gentle's teenage nephew suddenly arrives with no warning, the two embark on a journey to find this salamander, harvest its blood, and resurrect Liam from the dead.
I actually really enjoyed this and I wasn't expecting to. The Great Work is not the kind of book I would usually pick up. I enjoyed it in a subtle way—not in my usual romantasy-action-smutty type of way. While this book did have action scenes and strange, fantastical happenings, it was it's introspection and character development that gradually snuck up on me. There was something about it that really moved me.
I wouldn't call this a straight fantasy novel. A lot of this book is firmly routed in reality, even though it contains a giant salamander that drives men crazy. Fundamentally, it is a story of man's folly. These characters are layered and fragile and the world is the same.
Recommendation *⁀➷
I don't think this novel is for everyone. I found it to be a subtler story than my usual selection. But, if you are in the mood for a novel that subtly sneaks up on you, and has strange, unsettling imagery and even more unsettling beings, this one's for you.
What to expect *⁀➷
➳ Speculative western
➳ Late 19th-century
➳ Adventure through the Northwest
➳ Doomsday cult
➳ Alchemy
➳ A giant salamander that drives men mad
Description *⁀➷
The Great Work takes place in the late 1880's, in a frontier town where men have started killing themselves after sightings of a giant salamander. It follows Gentle who believes that his best friend, Liam—an alchemist, died because of this creature. When Gentle's teenage nephew suddenly arrives with no warning, the two embark on a journey to find this salamander, harvest its blood, and resurrect Liam from the dead.
I actually really enjoyed this and I wasn't expecting to. The Great Work is not the kind of book I would usually pick up. I enjoyed it in a subtle way—not in my usual romantasy-action-smutty type of way. While this book did have action scenes and strange, fantastical happenings, it was it's introspection and character development that gradually snuck up on me. There was something about it that really moved me.
I wouldn't call this a straight fantasy novel. A lot of this book is firmly routed in reality, even though it contains a giant salamander that drives men crazy. Fundamentally, it is a story of man's folly. These characters are layered and fragile and the world is the same.
Recommendation *⁀➷
I don't think this novel is for everyone. I found it to be a subtler story than my usual selection. But, if you are in the mood for a novel that subtly sneaks up on you, and has strange, unsettling imagery and even more unsettling beings, this one's for you.
September 30, 2025
The Great Work is a powerful piece of fiction that delves deep into the human condition about an alchemist and his nephew searching for the blood of an ancient creature. While it explores some fantastical elements, its primary focus is more on the extraordinary mundane.
The synopsis of The Great Work can be a little misleading. While there is a self-proclaimed “alchemist,” it doesn’t go much further than the label. There aren’t magical concoctions or ancient rituals—just a search for a primordial being stalking the land, whose blood might bring the dead back to life. The first half of the book feels mystical and otherworldly, while the second half shifts to something more humanistic, diving into various fractions warring over a region of land.
This shift in perspective could’ve been jarring, but Sheldon Costa did the work of laying down some solid characters whose individual journeys I felt invested in. (But don’t get me wrong—there’s still a big supernatural element to this book in the form of a giant salamander.)
All in all, The Great Work was a wholly original novel that left me emotional and hopeful when I flipped the last page.
The synopsis of The Great Work can be a little misleading. While there is a self-proclaimed “alchemist,” it doesn’t go much further than the label. There aren’t magical concoctions or ancient rituals—just a search for a primordial being stalking the land, whose blood might bring the dead back to life. The first half of the book feels mystical and otherworldly, while the second half shifts to something more humanistic, diving into various fractions warring over a region of land.
This shift in perspective could’ve been jarring, but Sheldon Costa did the work of laying down some solid characters whose individual journeys I felt invested in. (But don’t get me wrong—there’s still a big supernatural element to this book in the form of a giant salamander.)
All in all, The Great Work was a wholly original novel that left me emotional and hopeful when I flipped the last page.
November 3, 2025
This book was an absolute rollercoaster of emotion and quiet heartbreak. Gentle is such a deeply layered character, and I loved seeing him step into a caring role for Kitt, even as he carries the heavy grief of losing Liam. The writing is philosophical and hauntingly beautiful. It makes you pause and really think as you read. There’s something so raw and original about this story. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever Sheldon Costa writes next.
May 5, 2025
sheldon costa is a legend. this novel is brilliant, brutal, and written with the kind of prose you’d follow anywhere.
November 3, 2025
Actual Rating: 4.5/5 stars
“Romantic love was a clear-cut institution, bolstered by orthodoxy and ritual. When a man lost his wife, it was expected that his world would unravel. But friendship… friendship was a wilderness with no guide. There were no courting rituals one might follow to pursue it, and little sympathy for the gut-wrenching horror of its loss.”
Who would have thought that I could enjoy a western as much as I enjoyed this one! Honestly, I went in with mixed expectations, but wonderfully surprised by this imaginative, original and immersive genre-bender. Historical fiction meets fantasy/alchemy on the Northwest American Frontier, and it somehow works. Perhaps more character-driven and philosophical than you’d first think, but exactly my cup of tea because of it!
The Story:
Alone in a frontier town in the nineteenth-century Northwest, Gentle Montgomery is grieving his best friend. Liam was an alchemist, killed when he tried to capture a creature that shouldn’t exist: a giant salamander that drives men mad. When Gentle’s teenage nephew Kitt arrives at his doorstep, the two set out together to track the monster down, so they can use its blood in an alchemical formula that will bring Liam back to life. What follows is an incredible journey of friendship and adventure, through a landscape speckled with myths and legends, doomsday cults and unexpected alliances.
What I loved:
Sheldon Costa proves to be a bit of a literary alchemist himself with this debut novel. He mixes so many themes and elements that seemingly shouldn’t work together, and somehow transformed it into gold.
From page one, I was drawn in by the vivid atmosphere and setting of the American wild-west with a light fantasy-twist. The promise of an epic adventure was there immediately and already after the first chapter, and although it delivers on that promise, it does so in a way that’s different enough from your classic “hero’s-journey” to feel completely original.
Gentle is far from your classic fantasy-hero. He’s a surly older man; trialed and seasoned by the harsh conditions of life on the frontier, and still actively grieving the loss of his best friend. Through his character, we explore deeply human themes of depression, addiction, the loneliness of grief, and the questions of “the meaning of it all” in the face of overwhelming adversity. I love how Costa doesn’t shy away from the uglier sides of these themes, but simultaneously balances them out with the warmer themes of friendship, trust and the caring-bond he builds with his nephew over the course of the story. By the end of the story, Kitt, Gentle and his mule Abe felt like a small (found-) family I truly came to care about, which made me even more invested in the trials and tribulations they face.
The world of The Great Work isn’t a friendly one and its exploration of moral (and religious) corruption, futility of war and the disillusionment of progress can hit even harder for it. Contrasted against it, the moments of true friendship, cooperation and companionship, shine even brighter. It’s rare to see friendship – rather than romantic love - take center-stage in a fantasy, but this book does it beautifully. Because of that, it created a cast and story that will stick with me for a long time to come.
What you might not love:
Personally, this was the exact story wished for, but I can see how it isn’t a book for everyone. Maybe reconsider picking this one up if:
- you’re looking for a pistol-blazing, action packed monster-hunting-western. This definitely has element of that, but leans far more to the character-driven and psychological side.
- you like your protagonists to be easily likable. Although I ended up loving them as layered characters, Gentle and Kitt definitely need some warming up to.
- you’re sensitive to themes of addiction, depression/suicidal thoughts, or violence and suffering (both towards humans and animals).
Thanks to Quirk Books and Dreamscape Media for providing me with an (audio-)ARC in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend the fantastically narrated audio-version for an extra layer of immersion. All opinions are my own.
“Romantic love was a clear-cut institution, bolstered by orthodoxy and ritual. When a man lost his wife, it was expected that his world would unravel. But friendship… friendship was a wilderness with no guide. There were no courting rituals one might follow to pursue it, and little sympathy for the gut-wrenching horror of its loss.”
Who would have thought that I could enjoy a western as much as I enjoyed this one! Honestly, I went in with mixed expectations, but wonderfully surprised by this imaginative, original and immersive genre-bender. Historical fiction meets fantasy/alchemy on the Northwest American Frontier, and it somehow works. Perhaps more character-driven and philosophical than you’d first think, but exactly my cup of tea because of it!
The Story:
Alone in a frontier town in the nineteenth-century Northwest, Gentle Montgomery is grieving his best friend. Liam was an alchemist, killed when he tried to capture a creature that shouldn’t exist: a giant salamander that drives men mad. When Gentle’s teenage nephew Kitt arrives at his doorstep, the two set out together to track the monster down, so they can use its blood in an alchemical formula that will bring Liam back to life. What follows is an incredible journey of friendship and adventure, through a landscape speckled with myths and legends, doomsday cults and unexpected alliances.
What I loved:
Sheldon Costa proves to be a bit of a literary alchemist himself with this debut novel. He mixes so many themes and elements that seemingly shouldn’t work together, and somehow transformed it into gold.
From page one, I was drawn in by the vivid atmosphere and setting of the American wild-west with a light fantasy-twist. The promise of an epic adventure was there immediately and already after the first chapter, and although it delivers on that promise, it does so in a way that’s different enough from your classic “hero’s-journey” to feel completely original.
Gentle is far from your classic fantasy-hero. He’s a surly older man; trialed and seasoned by the harsh conditions of life on the frontier, and still actively grieving the loss of his best friend. Through his character, we explore deeply human themes of depression, addiction, the loneliness of grief, and the questions of “the meaning of it all” in the face of overwhelming adversity. I love how Costa doesn’t shy away from the uglier sides of these themes, but simultaneously balances them out with the warmer themes of friendship, trust and the caring-bond he builds with his nephew over the course of the story. By the end of the story, Kitt, Gentle and his mule Abe felt like a small (found-) family I truly came to care about, which made me even more invested in the trials and tribulations they face.
The world of The Great Work isn’t a friendly one and its exploration of moral (and religious) corruption, futility of war and the disillusionment of progress can hit even harder for it. Contrasted against it, the moments of true friendship, cooperation and companionship, shine even brighter. It’s rare to see friendship – rather than romantic love - take center-stage in a fantasy, but this book does it beautifully. Because of that, it created a cast and story that will stick with me for a long time to come.
What you might not love:
Personally, this was the exact story wished for, but I can see how it isn’t a book for everyone. Maybe reconsider picking this one up if:
- you’re looking for a pistol-blazing, action packed monster-hunting-western. This definitely has element of that, but leans far more to the character-driven and psychological side.
- you like your protagonists to be easily likable. Although I ended up loving them as layered characters, Gentle and Kitt definitely need some warming up to.
- you’re sensitive to themes of addiction, depression/suicidal thoughts, or violence and suffering (both towards humans and animals).
Thanks to Quirk Books and Dreamscape Media for providing me with an (audio-)ARC in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend the fantastically narrated audio-version for an extra layer of immersion. All opinions are my own.
November 3, 2025
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review!
I’ve known about this book for awhile now and even received a physical ARC copy as a Goodreads giveaway at some point but I never got around to reading it until I got the opportunity to listen to the audiobook and let me just say wow the narrator was fantastic. What an amazing story in general this book was.
This book was definitely original and interesting, I mean the whole thing starts out with a hunt for a giant salamander! This book was definitely on the quicker read side of things for me but I absolutely loved it. It was gorey, gruesome and heartbreaking at times.
The love our MMC has for his partner who has passed on is incredible, so incredible he tries to hunt down a giant mythical being to bring him back. I loved the view that the humans are the danger and how people treat each other and this earth is what is being neglected. There are so many important topics kind of woven into this book it was just beautifully written.
I’ve known about this book for awhile now and even received a physical ARC copy as a Goodreads giveaway at some point but I never got around to reading it until I got the opportunity to listen to the audiobook and let me just say wow the narrator was fantastic. What an amazing story in general this book was.
This book was definitely original and interesting, I mean the whole thing starts out with a hunt for a giant salamander! This book was definitely on the quicker read side of things for me but I absolutely loved it. It was gorey, gruesome and heartbreaking at times.
The love our MMC has for his partner who has passed on is incredible, so incredible he tries to hunt down a giant mythical being to bring him back. I loved the view that the humans are the danger and how people treat each other and this earth is what is being neglected. There are so many important topics kind of woven into this book it was just beautifully written.
August 17, 2025
The Great Work is unlike anything I’ve ever read—a striking mix of genres that blends frontier grit with alchemy, philosophy, and deeply human struggles. Sheldon Costa weaves a story that is both imaginative and haunting, delivering a message that comes through with clarity while never overshadowing the characters themselves.
The relationships between the characters and the battles they face, both external and internal, kept me turning pages. I especially loved the animal presence in the novel—Abe the mule was an absolute delight and brought warmth to an otherwise dark and often brutal world.
That said, a word of caution: this book does not shy away from gore, and there are moments of animal cruelty that may be difficult for sensitive readers, particularly horse lovers.
Thematically, The Great Work explores heavy topics such as the hardships of frontier life, the mysteries of alchemy, and the shadows of depression, suicide, and death. It’s a challenging but rewarding read.
I would gladly read more from this author in a heartbeat. Costa has created something rare and powerful, and I can’t wait to see what he writes next.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The relationships between the characters and the battles they face, both external and internal, kept me turning pages. I especially loved the animal presence in the novel—Abe the mule was an absolute delight and brought warmth to an otherwise dark and often brutal world.
That said, a word of caution: this book does not shy away from gore, and there are moments of animal cruelty that may be difficult for sensitive readers, particularly horse lovers.
Thematically, The Great Work explores heavy topics such as the hardships of frontier life, the mysteries of alchemy, and the shadows of depression, suicide, and death. It’s a challenging but rewarding read.
I would gladly read more from this author in a heartbeat. Costa has created something rare and powerful, and I can’t wait to see what he writes next.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2025
Part Wild West adventure tale, part ruthless takedown of humankind's incessant greed and destruction, all original, moving, and magical.
December 27, 2025
3/3.5⭐️
I liked and disliked this book in largely equal measures. Much to discuss below, with no real organization or structure, so buckle in Caroline (who I buddy read this with and I assume will see this review)
It tackles a lot of themes, and not in very subtle ways exactly. With manifest Destiney, the forceful westward expansion that devastated the nature and native habitants of the America’s, the west felt like final frontier, the last scrap of wild land which was untamed, yet to be placed under the thumb of human kinds rule. WHITE puritanical human kind, btw.
And, then, the salamander, whose existence is a matter of speculation for much of the book. I see the salamander as being a metaphor, an embodiment of nature itself, writhing and choking against the parasite of man which has embedded itself in the earth. It is revealed, that the salamander is as old as natural life itself, and only upon the encroachment of man did it become disturbed. The veil between its mind and the human mind was thin (for some reason), and while visions and dreams were placed in the minds of men, driving them mad, soon too the salamander began absorbing things from them, learning words for things never before named, developing a more intelligent sentience and with it, fear, a disturbing deviation from the peace it had felt it’s whole life. It was no longer balanced, much like humans themselves. So is this a commentary that any being with a certain level of intelligence and awareness will develop either greed or despair?- The two most common traits in this book. I’m not sure, as it’s mentioned multiple times that the Americans Native to the land had before lived in harmony with nature, with respect for it.
The book also discusses faith. Gentles faith in Liam, the Sons faith in Adam. A devotion so blind and sure, that their belief in the individual, resulted in a belief in a system. Gentle is not a believer of anything but Liam (and they were roommates), he is not an alchemist until they meet, he does not believe in the Salamander until Liam is found dead. Liam’s death, along with Adam’s, spirits along a movement that only a Martyrs death can catalyze. Their “followers”, devestated without the loss of the “leader”, feel compelled to follow in their footsteps, to see a “mission” through. This belief become faith becomes religion becomes cultish and obsessive. Commentary on religion, specifically weaponized religion in my humble opinion.
For much of the book, man feels entirely apart from nature. One moment which changes this perspective I feel, is when Gentle goes out to the ocean with Liam’s body to drift out and die beside his “friends” corpse. (They’re in love or I don’t know what love is). However, after a frankly depressing epiphany, Gentle realizes that even though his life will likely continue to be relentless despair, that his body wants to live in spite of that. It is the impulse all living things have to survive, regardless of if you are a small wiggling thing in the mud, or standing on two legs and wearing a nice suit, all creatures are the same in their base impulse. Live. Survive. Apart from purpose, legacy, power, the urge to simply continue is the great unifier.
After Gentle realizes that humans are simply a blip in the timeline, an animal like all other animals, but one which will destroy themselves and the world, he is distraught. Man is nature then, the snake eating its own tail, a tree hacking at its roots, a fish trying to boil the ocean.
Things I didn’t love about the book? It felt meandering at times for sure. It felt like they were just falling from one pit stop to the other, no planned intention, and simply failing their way through this path. It hit lulls and many moments I found redundant or unnecessary. Additionally, I did not care about the characters. I was really looking forward to Gentle and Kitts dynamic growing and evolving, however, Gentle is so emotionally stunted I never really FELT like they got closer. (Ellie and Joel from the last of us are the gold standard for this). Not caring for the characters, meant none of the beats had as much weight. You want to drown yourself? Alright. You might freeze to death and die from drug withdrawal? Why not.
Side note, like everyone in this book is gay, and I can’t tell if that’s commentary, or just a good time, but either way I’m here for it.
I liked and disliked this book in largely equal measures. Much to discuss below, with no real organization or structure, so buckle in Caroline (who I buddy read this with and I assume will see this review)
It tackles a lot of themes, and not in very subtle ways exactly. With manifest Destiney, the forceful westward expansion that devastated the nature and native habitants of the America’s, the west felt like final frontier, the last scrap of wild land which was untamed, yet to be placed under the thumb of human kinds rule. WHITE puritanical human kind, btw.
And, then, the salamander, whose existence is a matter of speculation for much of the book. I see the salamander as being a metaphor, an embodiment of nature itself, writhing and choking against the parasite of man which has embedded itself in the earth. It is revealed, that the salamander is as old as natural life itself, and only upon the encroachment of man did it become disturbed. The veil between its mind and the human mind was thin (for some reason), and while visions and dreams were placed in the minds of men, driving them mad, soon too the salamander began absorbing things from them, learning words for things never before named, developing a more intelligent sentience and with it, fear, a disturbing deviation from the peace it had felt it’s whole life. It was no longer balanced, much like humans themselves. So is this a commentary that any being with a certain level of intelligence and awareness will develop either greed or despair?- The two most common traits in this book. I’m not sure, as it’s mentioned multiple times that the Americans Native to the land had before lived in harmony with nature, with respect for it.
The book also discusses faith. Gentles faith in Liam, the Sons faith in Adam. A devotion so blind and sure, that their belief in the individual, resulted in a belief in a system. Gentle is not a believer of anything but Liam (and they were roommates), he is not an alchemist until they meet, he does not believe in the Salamander until Liam is found dead. Liam’s death, along with Adam’s, spirits along a movement that only a Martyrs death can catalyze. Their “followers”, devestated without the loss of the “leader”, feel compelled to follow in their footsteps, to see a “mission” through. This belief become faith becomes religion becomes cultish and obsessive. Commentary on religion, specifically weaponized religion in my humble opinion.
For much of the book, man feels entirely apart from nature. One moment which changes this perspective I feel, is when Gentle goes out to the ocean with Liam’s body to drift out and die beside his “friends” corpse. (They’re in love or I don’t know what love is). However, after a frankly depressing epiphany, Gentle realizes that even though his life will likely continue to be relentless despair, that his body wants to live in spite of that. It is the impulse all living things have to survive, regardless of if you are a small wiggling thing in the mud, or standing on two legs and wearing a nice suit, all creatures are the same in their base impulse. Live. Survive. Apart from purpose, legacy, power, the urge to simply continue is the great unifier.
After Gentle realizes that humans are simply a blip in the timeline, an animal like all other animals, but one which will destroy themselves and the world, he is distraught. Man is nature then, the snake eating its own tail, a tree hacking at its roots, a fish trying to boil the ocean.
Things I didn’t love about the book? It felt meandering at times for sure. It felt like they were just falling from one pit stop to the other, no planned intention, and simply failing their way through this path. It hit lulls and many moments I found redundant or unnecessary. Additionally, I did not care about the characters. I was really looking forward to Gentle and Kitts dynamic growing and evolving, however, Gentle is so emotionally stunted I never really FELT like they got closer. (Ellie and Joel from the last of us are the gold standard for this). Not caring for the characters, meant none of the beats had as much weight. You want to drown yourself? Alright. You might freeze to death and die from drug withdrawal? Why not.
Side note, like everyone in this book is gay, and I can’t tell if that’s commentary, or just a good time, but either way I’m here for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2025
A moving exploration of loss, belief, and identity, blending philosophy, alchemy, and perhaps a little bit of magic in the harsh frontier of the American West.
Unmoored in the wake of his best friend and mentor Liam’s death, Gentle Montgomery is forced to contend with his past and identity when his young nephew Kitt arrives at the door to the home he and Liam used to share. Armed with a copy of a rare alchemical text, a bag of tinctures, and a mule named Abe, Gentle and Kitt set out to hunt down a myth, find themselves, and just maybe bring Liam back to life.
From the moment I heard about this book - a speculative Western featuring alchemy, a mythical salamander, and doomsday cult - I could not wait to pick it up. Not to mention the absolutely gorgeous cover (props here to Maryann Held and Andie Reid for the art and design, respectively).
I went in expecting to have a great time with this, and I definitely did. What I didn’t expect was for the themes of loss, grief, and personal identity to hit so hard. Protagonist Gentle is given a lot to run from within this story, but more than anything he is running from the truth of himself. The loss of his one anchor in Liam sets Gentle on the path to confronting his own past and learning how to derive meaning from an ‘ordinary’ life. His struggles with grief and addiction, while perhaps challenging for sensitive readers, felt appropriately and realistically handled.
Similarly, the interactions between Gentle and his nephew Kitt felt really authentic. I enjoyed how the relationship between the two evolves over time, as Gentle attempts to give Kitt the kind of familial support that he himself never received.
Running concurrent to introspective and human-centred themes is a fascinating rumination on the effects of colonial expansion on a previously untouched natural world. As Gentle grapples with his belief in the power of alchemy when faced with scientific progress, so too does the encroachment of order and industrialisation threaten to rob the world of the majesty, and ‘magic’, of unsullied nature. The novel ultimately positions humanity as the true ‘alchemist’, reshaping the world to our collective will.
The Great Work is a fascinating novel, condensed into a breathless 340 pages, and I know that I’ll be thinking about it for a very long time to come.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk Books for providing this digital reviewer copy, in exchange for my honest opinion.
Unmoored in the wake of his best friend and mentor Liam’s death, Gentle Montgomery is forced to contend with his past and identity when his young nephew Kitt arrives at the door to the home he and Liam used to share. Armed with a copy of a rare alchemical text, a bag of tinctures, and a mule named Abe, Gentle and Kitt set out to hunt down a myth, find themselves, and just maybe bring Liam back to life.
From the moment I heard about this book - a speculative Western featuring alchemy, a mythical salamander, and doomsday cult - I could not wait to pick it up. Not to mention the absolutely gorgeous cover (props here to Maryann Held and Andie Reid for the art and design, respectively).
I went in expecting to have a great time with this, and I definitely did. What I didn’t expect was for the themes of loss, grief, and personal identity to hit so hard. Protagonist Gentle is given a lot to run from within this story, but more than anything he is running from the truth of himself. The loss of his one anchor in Liam sets Gentle on the path to confronting his own past and learning how to derive meaning from an ‘ordinary’ life. His struggles with grief and addiction, while perhaps challenging for sensitive readers, felt appropriately and realistically handled.
Similarly, the interactions between Gentle and his nephew Kitt felt really authentic. I enjoyed how the relationship between the two evolves over time, as Gentle attempts to give Kitt the kind of familial support that he himself never received.
Running concurrent to introspective and human-centred themes is a fascinating rumination on the effects of colonial expansion on a previously untouched natural world. As Gentle grapples with his belief in the power of alchemy when faced with scientific progress, so too does the encroachment of order and industrialisation threaten to rob the world of the majesty, and ‘magic’, of unsullied nature. The novel ultimately positions humanity as the true ‘alchemist’, reshaping the world to our collective will.
The Great Work is a fascinating novel, condensed into a breathless 340 pages, and I know that I’ll be thinking about it for a very long time to come.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk Books for providing this digital reviewer copy, in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 28, 2025
3.4 (in the sense that I liked it more than Project Hail Mary, but less than my other 3.5s). This isn’t a book I would normally pick up, and though it wasn’t perfect, I’m glad I got to read it.
The good: Atmosphere. Costa depicts the humid vitality, dreariness and decay of the Pacific Northwest so you feel like you’re lost among the ancient trees. There is something mystical about a temperate rainforest that he bleeds into the story. It coats the characters so they retain a heaviness, obscurity.
The okay: everyone here gay as hell, which I found interesting. Homophobia was part of the foil of conformist cultures vs. natural complexity refusing to exist conformed. The queer relationships highlight a beauty in embracing these natural expressions instead of fighting them. But otherwise the interpersonal dynamics between characters felt a little underdeveloped. I think that was intentional for Liam and Gentle because Liam functions more like an ideal, than a love interest: we get little objective evidence of how Liam felt about or treated Gentle, they certainly co-existed with unhealthy habits. But generally, the characters were unwilling to understand themselves as unformed, or consciously engage the influence of close relationships or the environment to interact with their identity.
SPOILERS FOLLOW:
The bad: Themes. The story had disjointed momentum, so by the time Gentle has his revelations I felt we were left in shallow waters. Gentle decides to live because his body doesn’t want to die, and despite his journey (through isolation, severe physical strain, withdrawal, grief, internalized homophobia, and an out of body-experience to boot) he doesn’t unravel his ego to accept the duality; the beauty and terror of everything. Maybe that was intentional, but if so I’m not sure what the story is trying to express about coming to terms with mortality.
The good: Atmosphere. Costa depicts the humid vitality, dreariness and decay of the Pacific Northwest so you feel like you’re lost among the ancient trees. There is something mystical about a temperate rainforest that he bleeds into the story. It coats the characters so they retain a heaviness, obscurity.
The okay: everyone here gay as hell, which I found interesting. Homophobia was part of the foil of conformist cultures vs. natural complexity refusing to exist conformed. The queer relationships highlight a beauty in embracing these natural expressions instead of fighting them. But otherwise the interpersonal dynamics between characters felt a little underdeveloped. I think that was intentional for Liam and Gentle because Liam functions more like an ideal, than a love interest: we get little objective evidence of how Liam felt about or treated Gentle, they certainly co-existed with unhealthy habits. But generally, the characters were unwilling to understand themselves as unformed, or consciously engage the influence of close relationships or the environment to interact with their identity.
SPOILERS FOLLOW:
The bad: Themes. The story had disjointed momentum, so by the time Gentle has his revelations I felt we were left in shallow waters. Gentle decides to live because his body doesn’t want to die, and despite his journey (through isolation, severe physical strain, withdrawal, grief, internalized homophobia, and an out of body-experience to boot) he doesn’t unravel his ego to accept the duality; the beauty and terror of everything. Maybe that was intentional, but if so I’m not sure what the story is trying to express about coming to terms with mortality.
December 29, 2025
The Great Work is about an uncle and his nephew seeking a mythical salamander. It is a quest western historical fiction novel reminiscent of Karen Russell's The Antidote in vibe. I also think the layout and tone is similar to Mark Twain's Huck Finn. The overall voice of the novel though is too detached for what feels like a character novel. There's a lot of theoretical, quasi-religious conversation between characters. I really thought based on the description that I'd really enjoy this novel, but I unfortunately had to restart this one multiple times. I am not nearly as interested as I expected to be, and I feel like this is a result of narration more than the story, which has some interesting bits. It just isn't enough to resonate with me. As a debut, I massively respect the author, and I'd be interested in the evolution of this author's future work as a storyteller.
I listened to Jonathan Sleep's audiobook for most of this story, and I enjoyed his pacing and cadence. He reads with reverence for the story that I appreciated and enjoyed.
Thanks to NetGalley, Quirk Books, and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copies to review.
I listened to Jonathan Sleep's audiobook for most of this story, and I enjoyed his pacing and cadence. He reads with reverence for the story that I appreciated and enjoyed.
Thanks to NetGalley, Quirk Books, and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copies to review.
December 31, 2025
I didn't cry until the very last line of the book!
This book tackles so much in a fairly short amount of time, and it does it all so well. There was environmentalism and horror and themes of queerness and discussions of addiction and it was all woven together into a beautiful, terrifying tapestry that was truly unlike anything I've read before.
The Great Work does not shy away from discomfort, whether it be some disgusting horror style imagery or protagonists with unlikable traits and backwards views. Pretty much every character was given a level of nuance and complexity that I found really fascinating. Even though there were times where I cringed at Gentle and his worldview or had to grimace at an opinion voiced by Kitt, the characters felt real and honest, and their development, both as individuals and together, was wonderfully done.
I was initially drawn to this book because of it's gorgeous cover, but now that I've finished it, I can safely say that it lives up to the macabre, beautiful vision that the cover promises.
This book tackles so much in a fairly short amount of time, and it does it all so well. There was environmentalism and horror and themes of queerness and discussions of addiction and it was all woven together into a beautiful, terrifying tapestry that was truly unlike anything I've read before.
The Great Work does not shy away from discomfort, whether it be some disgusting horror style imagery or protagonists with unlikable traits and backwards views. Pretty much every character was given a level of nuance and complexity that I found really fascinating. Even though there were times where I cringed at Gentle and his worldview or had to grimace at an opinion voiced by Kitt, the characters felt real and honest, and their development, both as individuals and together, was wonderfully done.
I was initially drawn to this book because of it's gorgeous cover, but now that I've finished it, I can safely say that it lives up to the macabre, beautiful vision that the cover promises.
September 23, 2025
This was such a good book!
Alchemy (understand: try to bring a loved one back to life), travels in the american wilderness, and likeable characters... And most of all the quest for a supernatural salamander!
Eventually, the message in the book also hit home for me (but no spoilers).
Alchemy (understand: try to bring a loved one back to life), travels in the american wilderness, and likeable characters... And most of all the quest for a supernatural salamander!
Eventually, the message in the book also hit home for me (but no spoilers).
November 10, 2025
"To be a man is to be cursed, so we've taught ourselves to be animals again, to be innocent again"
This is perhaps one of the most vivid books I've ever read. Every scene, every sentence, played in my mind like a beautiful movie. So relevant, so necessary. I actually kept drawing parallels between this and The Last of Us, especially the tender and complicated relationship between Gentle and his nephew, Kitt. I'll be thinking about this for a long, long time.
This is perhaps one of the most vivid books I've ever read. Every scene, every sentence, played in my mind like a beautiful movie. So relevant, so necessary. I actually kept drawing parallels between this and The Last of Us, especially the tender and complicated relationship between Gentle and his nephew, Kitt. I'll be thinking about this for a long, long time.
August 27, 2025
What an amazing debut. The writing, the characters, everything was executed brilliantly. This book expertly balances the personal experiences of being human with the bigger picture of humanity, the mundane with the magical, putrefaction with purification, hopelessness with hope. I get the feeling that this story is gonna be stuck in my head for a long time. Within the first 100 pages, I knew this would be the kind of ARC that inspires me to text all my friends on release day to convince them to get a copy. I can't wait to see Sheldon Costa's future work.
I received this book for free. This review is my honest opinion. The Great Work releases on November 4th, 2025.
I received this book for free. This review is my honest opinion. The Great Work releases on November 4th, 2025.
November 27, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Quirk Books for an advanced copy of this book. I enjoyed the historical elements and the look into alchemical beliefs and practices, and I enjoyed the ending. There was a bit too much preaching from various characters for my taste. but was otherwise an interesting read.
July 18, 2025
Old west meets mysticism is def not something I would normally have picked up but I’m glad I did. This is a book about found family and grief and coming out the other side all wrapped in the hunt for a mystical giant salamander and an end to the bad dreams.
November 23, 2025
A haunted journey? A magical giant salamander? Described as a speculative western historical fiction? That gorgeous cover? I was so excited to get started.
What I didn’t expect was how profound it would be. A gruff frontier man named Gentle and the nephew he never knew he had (and doesn’t really want) go on a dangerous journey through the Pacific Northwest in the 19th century to locate a giant salamander. The elusive amphibian is responsible for many deaths in the surrounding area, including Gentle’s best friend and savior named Liam. During this journey, tons of action happens. But we also get the time to think about deforestation, pollution, racism, toxic masculinity, unhealed psychological trauma. and evangelical crazies. On the flip side, we also get feminism, the importance of platonic friendships, and healthy portrayals of queerness and asexuality.
I liked that it was fast paced and how it gripped me right from the start. Abe and Kitt stole my heart and I don’t want it back. The audiobook was narrated flawlessly, with each character having a distinct voice and even a distinct cadence. Those who crank up the audio speed will be happy to know that I didn’t lose anything at all with a 1.8x speed. I am usually anywhere between 1.5-2x, depending on the accents and the complexity of the story. I fully enjoyed the book and found myself excited to return to it after finishing work or after breaks. 4 stars.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media, Sheldon Costa (author), and Libro.fm for providing a free audiobook of The Great Work narrated by Jonathan Sleep. Getting free stuff does not influence my reviews in any way. I read an ebook version in tandem with the audiobook.
What I didn’t expect was how profound it would be. A gruff frontier man named Gentle and the nephew he never knew he had (and doesn’t really want) go on a dangerous journey through the Pacific Northwest in the 19th century to locate a giant salamander. The elusive amphibian is responsible for many deaths in the surrounding area, including Gentle’s best friend and savior named Liam. During this journey, tons of action happens. But we also get the time to think about deforestation, pollution, racism, toxic masculinity, unhealed psychological trauma. and evangelical crazies. On the flip side, we also get feminism, the importance of platonic friendships, and healthy portrayals of queerness and asexuality.
I liked that it was fast paced and how it gripped me right from the start. Abe and Kitt stole my heart and I don’t want it back. The audiobook was narrated flawlessly, with each character having a distinct voice and even a distinct cadence. Those who crank up the audio speed will be happy to know that I didn’t lose anything at all with a 1.8x speed. I am usually anywhere between 1.5-2x, depending on the accents and the complexity of the story. I fully enjoyed the book and found myself excited to return to it after finishing work or after breaks. 4 stars.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media, Sheldon Costa (author), and Libro.fm for providing a free audiobook of The Great Work narrated by Jonathan Sleep. Getting free stuff does not influence my reviews in any way. I read an ebook version in tandem with the audiobook.
August 29, 2025
This novel somehow felt like The Last of Us meets Fullmetal Alchemist, set in the woods of late 1800s Washington. And if that premise doesn't already pique your interest, then add in unexplained beasts affecting the people of the area, including a giant salamander rumored to be the key to making a philosopher's stone. Of course, all of this sounded amazing to me, and I enjoyed reading something that felt simultaneously fun and horrifying, along with its messages about identity, progress, addiction, and grief.
After the death of his best friend and mentor, Gentle Montgomery sets out to find the creature that he believes killed him, a giant salamander that has been driving people insane all over Washington's frontier. Gentle has followed Liam in the paths of both alchemy and embalming since he ran away at fourteen, and the salamander may have been the chance for Liam to create the Great Work, a philosopher's stone. However, an unexpected traveling companion comes in the form of Gentle's runaway nephew, Kitt, and together they must face the others drawn in by the salamander's strange dreams. This book's historical setting, impactful themes, and intriguing mystery will draw people in and keep them reading!
The setting of this novel was super unique, the edge of the frontier soon after Washington was made a state. It really made the messages about progress and the environment have more of an impact, especially when the protagonist has to wrestle with the truths about science that were coming into light at that time and his own beliefs. I also loved all of the characters that are shown throughout the journey. While Gentle was already a great protagonist, Kitt, Manon, Cora, and everyone else gave the book even more personality and added to the weight of Gentle's choices. My only critique is that I wish we got to see more of Kitt in the second half, where the focus was on Gentle most of the time. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for something full of strange creatures and revelations, along with some great found family and a distinctive setting.
After the death of his best friend and mentor, Gentle Montgomery sets out to find the creature that he believes killed him, a giant salamander that has been driving people insane all over Washington's frontier. Gentle has followed Liam in the paths of both alchemy and embalming since he ran away at fourteen, and the salamander may have been the chance for Liam to create the Great Work, a philosopher's stone. However, an unexpected traveling companion comes in the form of Gentle's runaway nephew, Kitt, and together they must face the others drawn in by the salamander's strange dreams. This book's historical setting, impactful themes, and intriguing mystery will draw people in and keep them reading!
The setting of this novel was super unique, the edge of the frontier soon after Washington was made a state. It really made the messages about progress and the environment have more of an impact, especially when the protagonist has to wrestle with the truths about science that were coming into light at that time and his own beliefs. I also loved all of the characters that are shown throughout the journey. While Gentle was already a great protagonist, Kitt, Manon, Cora, and everyone else gave the book even more personality and added to the weight of Gentle's choices. My only critique is that I wish we got to see more of Kitt in the second half, where the focus was on Gentle most of the time. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for something full of strange creatures and revelations, along with some great found family and a distinctive setting.
October 21, 2025
Rating 4.5 Rounded up
Nineteenth-century American west but add monsters and alchemy! Its a western with magic! So it had my attention right away. This is not just a wild west fantasy horror is does present some heavy themes such as ecological or moral collapse, alchemy as a practice as well as a metaphor for transformation and family trauma and grief. This story definitely crosses genres, moving from western, to magical realism, to science fiction to horror with ease.
The atmosphere in this story is full of melancholy and decay. The author does an great job at creating a setting that feels old west 1800’s yet mythical at the same time. A fascinating world where science and superstition blend together creating a truly unique world I was immediately immersed in. he character development is handled well, creating likable characters and believable dialogue that evoke genuine emotion. The journey through wilderness can feel slow and meandering at times but I believe that is because it is full of symbolism and allegory that can sacrifice clarity. The ending is ambiguous and forces the reader to think and even ask harder questions so I imagine this will be considered a weakness in the story to some.
Overall this debut shows real ambition and in my opinion pays off in ways more subtle than action packed. The book does demand the readers full attention and will make you very pensive but well worth the read for me.
Nineteenth-century American west but add monsters and alchemy! Its a western with magic! So it had my attention right away. This is not just a wild west fantasy horror is does present some heavy themes such as ecological or moral collapse, alchemy as a practice as well as a metaphor for transformation and family trauma and grief. This story definitely crosses genres, moving from western, to magical realism, to science fiction to horror with ease.
The atmosphere in this story is full of melancholy and decay. The author does an great job at creating a setting that feels old west 1800’s yet mythical at the same time. A fascinating world where science and superstition blend together creating a truly unique world I was immediately immersed in. he character development is handled well, creating likable characters and believable dialogue that evoke genuine emotion. The journey through wilderness can feel slow and meandering at times but I believe that is because it is full of symbolism and allegory that can sacrifice clarity. The ending is ambiguous and forces the reader to think and even ask harder questions so I imagine this will be considered a weakness in the story to some.
Overall this debut shows real ambition and in my opinion pays off in ways more subtle than action packed. The book does demand the readers full attention and will make you very pensive but well worth the read for me.
October 31, 2025
I recently decided to explore the fantasy genre and requested an ARC of The Great Work based on nothing more than the synopsis and the cover and I struck gold! This is a striking blend of genres that delivers a kaleidoscopic Western where alchemy and eco-mythology collide, crafting something wholly original and profound.
The writing is phenomenal! It's expressive, vivid, and purposeful without becoming gratuitous or overindulgent. Costa’s prose has rhythm and clarity; every image and line serves the story. The narrative has weight and intention, pairing philosophical reflection with genuine momentum. It’s both sobering and poetic, making it stand out in a very cluttered genre.
There’s so much happening in this novel: magical realism, historical detail, Western grit, cults, gore, social and environmental commentary, religious critique, and the timeless mysteries of alchemy. It’s also a story about the hardships of frontier life and the darker corners of the human mind: depression, death, and the search for meaning. Despite juggling so many elements, Costa pulls them together with impressive precision and control.
The Great Work was the perfect entry point for me as someone dipping my toe into fantasy. It’s a remarkable debut that I won’t forget anytime soon. Whatever Costa releases next is an automatic buy for me!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The writing is phenomenal! It's expressive, vivid, and purposeful without becoming gratuitous or overindulgent. Costa’s prose has rhythm and clarity; every image and line serves the story. The narrative has weight and intention, pairing philosophical reflection with genuine momentum. It’s both sobering and poetic, making it stand out in a very cluttered genre.
There’s so much happening in this novel: magical realism, historical detail, Western grit, cults, gore, social and environmental commentary, religious critique, and the timeless mysteries of alchemy. It’s also a story about the hardships of frontier life and the darker corners of the human mind: depression, death, and the search for meaning. Despite juggling so many elements, Costa pulls them together with impressive precision and control.
The Great Work was the perfect entry point for me as someone dipping my toe into fantasy. It’s a remarkable debut that I won’t forget anytime soon. Whatever Costa releases next is an automatic buy for me!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2025
I enjoyed this historical Western story with a whimsical touch of magic, despite being quite grounded in a grim reality.
I especially liked the focus on Gentle and his nephew, Kit, and how the two slowly get to know each other and grow closer when their paths cross.
The way trauma was handled in this was really nice and subtle.
Probably my favourite part was Gentle's relationship with Liam, even though the latter dies before the book even begins. The way Gentle questions was their relationship even was, how he carfully deliberates any romantic intention, but how it's still firmly rooted in platonic love was pretty nice to see. Despite the abundance of prominent male characters in popular media, and my person bubble of queer media, platonic male friendships full of love are kinda rare? In a way, Gentle and Liam aren't even a good representation here, as one of them is dead and even when alive it's very questionable if the two ever really showed affection. But I still enjoyed what we got.
The whole plot around the salamander and alchemy was just ok to me. I am not someone who is spiritual or really cares about the meaning of life, etc. but if you do, then you may be more invested into that part of the book.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I especially liked the focus on Gentle and his nephew, Kit, and how the two slowly get to know each other and grow closer when their paths cross.
The way trauma was handled in this was really nice and subtle.
Probably my favourite part was Gentle's relationship with Liam, even though the latter dies before the book even begins. The way Gentle questions was their relationship even was, how he carfully deliberates any romantic intention, but how it's still firmly rooted in platonic love was pretty nice to see. Despite the abundance of prominent male characters in popular media, and my person bubble of queer media, platonic male friendships full of love are kinda rare? In a way, Gentle and Liam aren't even a good representation here, as one of them is dead and even when alive it's very questionable if the two ever really showed affection. But I still enjoyed what we got.
The whole plot around the salamander and alchemy was just ok to me. I am not someone who is spiritual or really cares about the meaning of life, etc. but if you do, then you may be more invested into that part of the book.
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
October 6, 2025
One of my favorites this year. This novel covers a lot of ground in 336 pages. It is as historically and emotionally vivid as a Peter Mathiesen novel, except set in the Pacific Northwest, while managing to contain the speculative horror of Victor LaValle and the climate fiction of Paolo Bacigalupi. This book takes place in Washington state shortly after the Civil War, a world in which men are pitting their plans, ideas and visions against the last of the American frontier and making a terrible mess of it. The hubris of their ideals crumbles in the face of the flawed men spouting them. This novel reads as historical fiction but is very of the moment. It does this without losing the authenticity of its setting. It is also genuinely terrifying. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
November 21, 2025
3.5 stars
August 11, 2025
The Great Work is a haunting, hallucinatory speculative Western where alchemy meets frontier myth. Sheldon Costa delivers a dark and mesmerizing debut about an uncle and nephew hunting a monstrous river salamander whose blood might bring the dead back to life. Lyrical, eerie, and strangely hopeful.
August 11, 2025
This is a really neat upcoming fall release that focuses on an alchemist and his nephew hunting down a giant salamander through the upstate forests of the northwest while also running into anarchists, a doomsday cult run by an insane local judge, with a dose of alchemy and the end days tossed in. And even though it focuses on these mythical aspects, it also focuses on the importance of human connection in making the world to come. This book has been caught up in Quirk's massive layoff of staff, so pick this up if you can!
October 12, 2025
4.25 🌟
Not my usual read, but I grabbed this ARC at work
Took a while for me to finish but I loved it!
A journey to find a mythical creature & the philosophers stone
Not my usual read, but I grabbed this ARC at work
Took a while for me to finish but I loved it!
A journey to find a mythical creature & the philosophers stone
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