What do you think?
Rate this book
Osric Fingerbone and the Boy Murderer
Londun, Anglund, 1864.
Twelve-year-old Edward Sax has just become a murderer. The criminal underworld he enters is full of mysterious characters, none cutting a greater dash than Osric Fingerbone, alchemist and expert killer.
Edward's sister, Eleanor, has been sold into captivity. Edward must search for her, from city society, to the nightmarish world of tunnels and labs that lie beneath Londun’s streets.
This is a world where the Anglish Empire holds sway. Londun is it's dark heart - a dark heart full of knives and alchemy and some other seriously weird stuff that would, frankly, be ungentlemanly even to mention...
Twelve-year-old Edward Sax has just become a murderer. The criminal underworld he enters is full of mysterious characters, none cutting a greater dash than Osric Fingerbone, alchemist and expert killer.
Edward's sister, Eleanor, has been sold into captivity. Edward must search for her, from city society, to the nightmarish world of tunnels and labs that lie beneath Londun’s streets.
This is a world where the Anglish Empire holds sway. Londun is it's dark heart - a dark heart full of knives and alchemy and some other seriously weird stuff that would, frankly, be ungentlemanly even to mention...
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2014
5 people want to read
About the author
Michael-Israel Jarvis
9 books42 followersBorn in Cambridge on the 3rd of November 1989.
Educated at The Christian School in Takeley, Birchwood High School and Oriel High School.
Further educated at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, where he wrote "The Maker's Bloodline: Land Rising".
Even further educated at the University of Northampton, attaining a First in Creative Writing.
Married his wife, Kate Jarvis, summer of 2010. They have a painted conure together, called Bowie.
Wrote "Gravedigger" while attending University, publishing through Amazon on 2nd November 2012.
Michael-Israel Jarvis is an author of fantasy fiction, which varies from relatively traditional old world fantasy, to dark urban fantasy, to science fiction and beyond. He likes to follow stories across genre boundaries. There's nothing quite so intriguing as a hybrid.
Educated at The Christian School in Takeley, Birchwood High School and Oriel High School.
Further educated at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, where he wrote "The Maker's Bloodline: Land Rising".
Even further educated at the University of Northampton, attaining a First in Creative Writing.
Married his wife, Kate Jarvis, summer of 2010. They have a painted conure together, called Bowie.
Wrote "Gravedigger" while attending University, publishing through Amazon on 2nd November 2012.
Michael-Israel Jarvis is an author of fantasy fiction, which varies from relatively traditional old world fantasy, to dark urban fantasy, to science fiction and beyond. He likes to follow stories across genre boundaries. There's nothing quite so intriguing as a hybrid.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 28, 2017
Disclaimer: The author of this book is an indie writer friend of mine. However, I’ve done my best to be impartial and to provide an honest review.
I thought this book was excellent, and the best of the three books that Jarvis has on the market. The others are more likely to be of interest to die-hard fantasy fans, while this book has a mainstream appeal – it’s a little bit steampunk, a little bit young adult, and it reminds me of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, except with more of a sense of humour.
In this book, we follow young Edward Sax, who runs away from home after killing his abusive uncle, and Osric Fingerbone, the charismatic ne’er-do-well who dwells in the under city and seems to know about all sorts of interesting subjects, from alchemy and assassination to the import of a new illegal drug which bad people are using to do bad things.
I’m not going to go too far into the story line, but what I will say is that while it’s gripping and highly imaginative, it’s also easy enough to read and understand. The look and feel of the book, as well as the layout and the pagination, makes it feel like a professional release, even though Mr. Jarvis is an indie writer, and I powered right through it in just a couple of days. It was a lot of fun, and I’d totally recommend it. So what are you waiting for? It’s recommended by me!
I thought this book was excellent, and the best of the three books that Jarvis has on the market. The others are more likely to be of interest to die-hard fantasy fans, while this book has a mainstream appeal – it’s a little bit steampunk, a little bit young adult, and it reminds me of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, except with more of a sense of humour.
In this book, we follow young Edward Sax, who runs away from home after killing his abusive uncle, and Osric Fingerbone, the charismatic ne’er-do-well who dwells in the under city and seems to know about all sorts of interesting subjects, from alchemy and assassination to the import of a new illegal drug which bad people are using to do bad things.
I’m not going to go too far into the story line, but what I will say is that while it’s gripping and highly imaginative, it’s also easy enough to read and understand. The look and feel of the book, as well as the layout and the pagination, makes it feel like a professional release, even though Mr. Jarvis is an indie writer, and I powered right through it in just a couple of days. It was a lot of fun, and I’d totally recommend it. So what are you waiting for? It’s recommended by me!
September 15, 2014
Beyond the compelling front cover lies a world of alchemy and intrigue, an alternative version of London ("Londun"), and a surprising friendship between an alchemist and a 12 year old murderer. The novel is dark and gruesome from the first sentence, but has its fair share of lighter moments, with witty, quotable banter and touching friendship between the main characters. It's not a heavy read, the level of mystery and suspense ensuring the pages turn quite quickly. It is more than plausible that if you have a spare afternoon, you will plough through in one sitting, and find yourself eagerly awaiting the next installment in the trilogy. I am a fan of "Gravedigger" and "Landrising" but "Osric Fingerbone" is definitely Michael-Israel Jarvis' best work yet!
February 16, 2019
With full marks going to author, Michael-Israel Jarvis, for the highly compelling title of this, the first in a series of urban fantasy YA novels set in the dark and twisted world of this alternative version of 19th century England. A world very much set in the tradition of Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere or Jennifer Bell’s Uncommoners, Jarvis treats us to a trip deep into the twisted underworld where the laws both of the land and of science hold little sway.
Our protagonist is Edward, the boy murderer, a boy who takes his fate into his own hands in the opening chapter, earns his title, and is forced into the life of a criminal. Intelligent, calculating and yet awkwardly adolescent, Edward makes for a attractive and relatively down to earth lead for this story.
Osric Fingerbone, who is ostensibly our anti-hero, feared by the law and the underworld, is attractive and witty, but ultimately on the side of the angels. If I have a complaint about his character, it is that he never quite lives up to the reputation he is alleged to have had.
The story has a multitude of players, and twists and turns whilst our hapless protagonist stumbles blindly through a world about which he knows little. That world is vast and the story clearly sets us up for a series as we get a only the slightest taste for its potential: a brief explore under the city and its complex system of alliances and dangers; some time dabbling in the corruption of high society, politics and monarchy; a secret society of alchemists; and our band of Robin Hood-like misfits who’ve taken the law and morality into their own hands.
Occasionally it feels like there is too much. Elements of the story are sometimes set up and then seemingly forgotten and there are certainly a few times when I would have liked a slightly slower pace and a more considered exploration the current plot point, particularly when paired with the narrative's continual jumping between different points of view. That said, it must be said that it gives you very little time to get bored; this is a fast paced, page turner of novel, that you really don't want to put down.
All in all, Osric Fingerbone and the Boy Murderer is compelling read and leaves you wanting more. A very enjoyable read.
Our protagonist is Edward, the boy murderer, a boy who takes his fate into his own hands in the opening chapter, earns his title, and is forced into the life of a criminal. Intelligent, calculating and yet awkwardly adolescent, Edward makes for a attractive and relatively down to earth lead for this story.
Osric Fingerbone, who is ostensibly our anti-hero, feared by the law and the underworld, is attractive and witty, but ultimately on the side of the angels. If I have a complaint about his character, it is that he never quite lives up to the reputation he is alleged to have had.
The story has a multitude of players, and twists and turns whilst our hapless protagonist stumbles blindly through a world about which he knows little. That world is vast and the story clearly sets us up for a series as we get a only the slightest taste for its potential: a brief explore under the city and its complex system of alliances and dangers; some time dabbling in the corruption of high society, politics and monarchy; a secret society of alchemists; and our band of Robin Hood-like misfits who’ve taken the law and morality into their own hands.
Occasionally it feels like there is too much. Elements of the story are sometimes set up and then seemingly forgotten and there are certainly a few times when I would have liked a slightly slower pace and a more considered exploration the current plot point, particularly when paired with the narrative's continual jumping between different points of view. That said, it must be said that it gives you very little time to get bored; this is a fast paced, page turner of novel, that you really don't want to put down.
All in all, Osric Fingerbone and the Boy Murderer is compelling read and leaves you wanting more. A very enjoyable read.
December 18, 2022
DNF, it didn't do anything for me. It reminded me of Neil Gaimans Neverwhere, so if you like that then you might like this!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews