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Pyre at the Eyreholme Trust
In Temperance City, the streets are ruled by spelled-up gangsters, whose magic turf wars serve as a constant backdrop to civilian life. With magic strictly regulated, Eli Coello—whip-smart jewelry salesman by day, sultry torch singer by night—has always found it advantageous to hide his magical affinity for ink.
All that goes up in smoke the day Eli is forced to use his magic to foil a jewelry heist, and in doing so unwittingly catches the eye of Duke Haven, leader of the fire-flinging Pyre gang. Seeing a useful asset, Duke promptly blackmails Eli into providing unregistered spellwork.
Duke needs Eli's ink-magic to help him pull a dangerous con against a rival gang. As the heist comes together, Eli finds himself drawn deeper and deeper into the Temperance underworld—and, perhaps most dangerously, to Duke himself.
All that goes up in smoke the day Eli is forced to use his magic to foil a jewelry heist, and in doing so unwittingly catches the eye of Duke Haven, leader of the fire-flinging Pyre gang. Seeing a useful asset, Duke promptly blackmails Eli into providing unregistered spellwork.
Duke needs Eli's ink-magic to help him pull a dangerous con against a rival gang. As the heist comes together, Eli finds himself drawn deeper and deeper into the Temperance underworld—and, perhaps most dangerously, to Duke himself.
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
October 11, 2018
Real Rating: 4.5* of five
Loved it. More to say, too spent to say it now.
***
I won't say this lovely urban fantasy was rushed, but the pace was quick and the world-building was dense. The 1920s-era Prohibition-y setting of Temperance (haw) and its shabby speakeasy culture was different and very welcome. Duke, a small-time grifter with ambitions and self-discipline issues meets Eli, a jewelry salesman with secrets galore, in the course of business: He robs Eli's employer. Hijinks ensue.
The magic system of this world is material-centered, like Charlie Holmberg's in The Paper Magician et alii; Eli's an inkman, a manipulator of all inks whatever they rest on. You can imagine that the authorities of this world view Eli as a threat, since forgery can have no better friend than a magician who can make ink do their bidding. Duke, on the other hand, is a fireman, whose entire body is a conductor and creator of fire that can be molded and shaped and directed. Needless to say, the authorities are as scared of what Duke can do as of what Eli can do, only more so. Both characters are viewed as Other because of their powers, though not because they're gay or bi or trans. They're those things as well. They just aren't considered important. We're given this certainty in the very first scene of the book, and that was when Author Darrow grabbed me. You're gay? Mm, that's nice, pass the salt. You're an unregistered inkman?! WORKING IN A JEWELRY STORE?! ZOMG THE SKY IS FALLING!!
That's how I like it. Gay = uh huh, but magic = fraught. In other words, unlike the world I inhabit (for all I know you're reading this in a parallel universe), who you love isn't as interesting as with whom you're gettin' it on...gossip still rules and riles. And my long-standing animus towards the sheer silliness of Magjickq and its attendant random capitalizations of words to Indicate their new Uses is shown to be soothed by placing it in the hands of gay men.
I fear I am as bad as those I've criticized for refusing even to expose themselves to a gay male perspective on the world: I no longer want to hear from straight people. Shut the fuck up, you've monopolized the conversation long enough.
This is especially distressing to me in light of the fact that I called a former friend out on her use of the offensive and sexist term "mansplain" recently. My point to her, which she roundly rejected, was that fighting sexism in language wasn't a one-way street. Her response was the perfect, textbook mirroring of condescending maleness when our sexist assumptions are called out.
And here I am doing the same thing to the vast cishet community. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to know what y'all long for in a mate because it involves me not at all. I don't care.
Just like the vast majority of y'all don't.
So while I'm reveling in hearing my worldview represented and my concerns addressed, I'm staunchly ignoring a huge swath of the world. Oh the hypocrisy. Oh the humanity, too.
So while Eli hid secrets from his employers, hid himself from Duke as best he could, and set in motion a trainwreck of a plot climax, I was purring contentedly. When the moment came for the Big Reveal, I was deeply enmeshed in the emotional undercurrents and sussing out the relationship complexities that each man had. The ending was lovely in that it included each character's full self, known and accepted as is, and set the stage for further explorations of how those complex traits could intertwine and grow.
Good fiction, in other words. And good storytelling, too. Look at my notes and you'll see if Author Darrow is singing in your key if not precisely your song. For me, there can't be more of Eli and Duke's world soon enough.
Loved it. More to say, too spent to say it now.
***
I won't say this lovely urban fantasy was rushed, but the pace was quick and the world-building was dense. The 1920s-era Prohibition-y setting of Temperance (haw) and its shabby speakeasy culture was different and very welcome. Duke, a small-time grifter with ambitions and self-discipline issues meets Eli, a jewelry salesman with secrets galore, in the course of business: He robs Eli's employer. Hijinks ensue.
The magic system of this world is material-centered, like Charlie Holmberg's in The Paper Magician et alii; Eli's an inkman, a manipulator of all inks whatever they rest on. You can imagine that the authorities of this world view Eli as a threat, since forgery can have no better friend than a magician who can make ink do their bidding. Duke, on the other hand, is a fireman, whose entire body is a conductor and creator of fire that can be molded and shaped and directed. Needless to say, the authorities are as scared of what Duke can do as of what Eli can do, only more so. Both characters are viewed as Other because of their powers, though not because they're gay or bi or trans. They're those things as well. They just aren't considered important. We're given this certainty in the very first scene of the book, and that was when Author Darrow grabbed me. You're gay? Mm, that's nice, pass the salt. You're an unregistered inkman?! WORKING IN A JEWELRY STORE?! ZOMG THE SKY IS FALLING!!
That's how I like it. Gay = uh huh, but magic = fraught. In other words, unlike the world I inhabit (for all I know you're reading this in a parallel universe), who you love isn't as interesting as with whom you're gettin' it on...gossip still rules and riles. And my long-standing animus towards the sheer silliness of Magjickq and its attendant random capitalizations of words to Indicate their new Uses is shown to be soothed by placing it in the hands of gay men.
I fear I am as bad as those I've criticized for refusing even to expose themselves to a gay male perspective on the world: I no longer want to hear from straight people. Shut the fuck up, you've monopolized the conversation long enough.
This is especially distressing to me in light of the fact that I called a former friend out on her use of the offensive and sexist term "mansplain" recently. My point to her, which she roundly rejected, was that fighting sexism in language wasn't a one-way street. Her response was the perfect, textbook mirroring of condescending maleness when our sexist assumptions are called out.
And here I am doing the same thing to the vast cishet community. I don't want to hear it. I don't want to know what y'all long for in a mate because it involves me not at all. I don't care.
Just like the vast majority of y'all don't.
So while I'm reveling in hearing my worldview represented and my concerns addressed, I'm staunchly ignoring a huge swath of the world. Oh the hypocrisy. Oh the humanity, too.
So while Eli hid secrets from his employers, hid himself from Duke as best he could, and set in motion a trainwreck of a plot climax, I was purring contentedly. When the moment came for the Big Reveal, I was deeply enmeshed in the emotional undercurrents and sussing out the relationship complexities that each man had. The ending was lovely in that it included each character's full self, known and accepted as is, and set the stage for further explorations of how those complex traits could intertwine and grow.
Good fiction, in other words. And good storytelling, too. Look at my notes and you'll see if Author Darrow is singing in your key if not precisely your song. For me, there can't be more of Eli and Duke's world soon enough.
April 24, 2020
reasons why i absolutely love this:
-the world building is amazing for a 96 page novella,,, the magic is so interesting i just wanted to know more and more and more
-eli literally manipulates ink!! name anything cooler than that,, YOU CAN'T
-even though it's short it doesn't feel rushed at all and the pacing was great!
-duke reminded me so much of jesper fahey that i immediately fell in love with him
-ENEMIES!!!! TO PARTNERS IN CRIME!!!! TO LOVERS!!!!
-bigender and pansexual rep
-the world building is amazing for a 96 page novella,,, the magic is so interesting i just wanted to know more and more and more
-eli literally manipulates ink!! name anything cooler than that,, YOU CAN'T
-even though it's short it doesn't feel rushed at all and the pacing was great!
-duke reminded me so much of jesper fahey that i immediately fell in love with him
-ENEMIES!!!! TO PARTNERS IN CRIME!!!! TO LOVERS!!!!
-bigender and pansexual rep
July 9, 2018
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley
This was such a fun story! I really enjoyed the world-building here. The story is set in a world that is very similar to the 1920s but where magic is very commonplace [think Legend of Korra]. I really liked the magic system as well. Magic users can control standard elements like fire, water, and lightning but there are also those that specialize in things like ink or paper, which is something that I haven't seen before. The characters are fun and heist actually had a few twists and turns that i wasn't expecting. Overall I would have liked it if there was a bit more focus on the romance, but it was still a really cute and enjoyable read.
This was such a fun story! I really enjoyed the world-building here. The story is set in a world that is very similar to the 1920s but where magic is very commonplace [think Legend of Korra]. I really liked the magic system as well. Magic users can control standard elements like fire, water, and lightning but there are also those that specialize in things like ink or paper, which is something that I haven't seen before. The characters are fun and heist actually had a few twists and turns that i wasn't expecting. Overall I would have liked it if there was a bit more focus on the romance, but it was still a really cute and enjoyable read.
November 30, 2019
Galley provided by publisher
Rep: bigender mc, pan li
Pyre at the Eyreholme Trust tells the story of Eli Coello, an unregistered inkman (he can manipulate ink), who works a job as a jeweller when his shop is the target of a heist. The leader of the heist, Duke Haven, then blackmails him into pulling a con on another gang.
What I really liked about this book is that, despite only being 75 pages long, it does still take the time to develop the relationship between Duke and Eli. Sure, there are some timeskips where you presume some more development happens, but on the whole, it feels realistic - not too fast like is the danger in short books, but also definitely there. I also really loved the worldbuilding. It's so well done for such a short story, and it's definitely immersive and so intriguing.
So, pretty much overall the only problem I had was that it was so short and I just wanted more of it.
Rep: bigender mc, pan li
Pyre at the Eyreholme Trust tells the story of Eli Coello, an unregistered inkman (he can manipulate ink), who works a job as a jeweller when his shop is the target of a heist. The leader of the heist, Duke Haven, then blackmails him into pulling a con on another gang.
What I really liked about this book is that, despite only being 75 pages long, it does still take the time to develop the relationship between Duke and Eli. Sure, there are some timeskips where you presume some more development happens, but on the whole, it feels realistic - not too fast like is the danger in short books, but also definitely there. I also really loved the worldbuilding. It's so well done for such a short story, and it's definitely immersive and so intriguing.
So, pretty much overall the only problem I had was that it was so short and I just wanted more of it.
October 28, 2018
Absolutely cracking!
Crisp world-building in a richly drawn 1920s-type city. Neat little heist/con plot and a totally credible relationship, to boot (extra points for a take-it-in-your-stride gender-fluid MC). Funny, enthralling and moving. In 30k words.
Need more of this world and this author. Thoroughly recommended.
Crisp world-building in a richly drawn 1920s-type city. Neat little heist/con plot and a totally credible relationship, to boot (extra points for a take-it-in-your-stride gender-fluid MC). Funny, enthralling and moving. In 30k words.
Need more of this world and this author. Thoroughly recommended.
March 23, 2022
4.5
eli after committing numerous crimes: they just hate me for my transgender swag and he's right<3
eli after committing numerous crimes: they just hate me for my transgender swag and he's right<3
October 7, 2018
This was enjoyable and entertaining and imaginative. I liked it, but I think I wanted more. The 1920's gangster atmosphere is well done and I really liked the magic system. Eli's an engaging character and it's neat that he's genderfluid. I never warmed to Duke and I didn't think there was any spark to the romance. I'll note the gorgeous cover. There's some great things here and I'll keep an eye on this author.
December 23, 2020
3 stars
A decent, slightly campy story that needed better character development and further editing to really make it shine. I liked the premise and I thought it had a good start, but it kinda fizzled out in the end. If you’re going to write a screwball caper, it needs a lot more humour and a lot more action to make it work properly, and this especially true if you’re going to toss around the 1920’s slang like an old second-rate gangster film. This book needs to embrace the cheesiness of the language and put way more capering into the story. As it stands, it’s an okay book but I think it could be better.
A decent, slightly campy story that needed better character development and further editing to really make it shine. I liked the premise and I thought it had a good start, but it kinda fizzled out in the end. If you’re going to write a screwball caper, it needs a lot more humour and a lot more action to make it work properly, and this especially true if you’re going to toss around the 1920’s slang like an old second-rate gangster film. This book needs to embrace the cheesiness of the language and put way more capering into the story. As it stands, it’s an okay book but I think it could be better.
November 7, 2021
3.5 stars
I love a good heist story, and this was a fun, campy 1920s caper with a really interesting magic system. I had a great time for most of the book, but unfortunately the ending wasn't as satisfying as it had the potential to be, which was a bit of a let-down.
I love a good heist story, and this was a fun, campy 1920s caper with a really interesting magic system. I had a great time for most of the book, but unfortunately the ending wasn't as satisfying as it had the potential to be, which was a bit of a let-down.
August 29, 2025
4 stars
Eli works at a jewelry store and keeps his magic hidden, because people with an affinity for ink are only allowed to have certain less savory jobs. When he (mostly) foils a robbery using his talents, he comes to the attention of the leader of the gang, Duke, who controls fire. Duke needs Eli's help to get out of the clutches of an evil gang, and isn't above blackmailing him to get that help. As Eli comes to know Duke and his gang of misfits, he realizes that he might just have found a place where he belongs.
I absolutely did not know what to expect from this one. What I got was, I thought, a well written, well edited (are we SURE this was published by Less than Three Press?) story with interesting characters and depth. The language itself threw me a little, as I was not expecting a 20s era movie gangster style, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment that much. I would have liked to have seen more of what happened after the big reveal, but that is just me being greedy. Overall, I enjoyed the story and the characters, and would definitely read another book by this author.
*I received a copy through Netgalley. These are my honest opinions.
Eli works at a jewelry store and keeps his magic hidden, because people with an affinity for ink are only allowed to have certain less savory jobs. When he (mostly) foils a robbery using his talents, he comes to the attention of the leader of the gang, Duke, who controls fire. Duke needs Eli's help to get out of the clutches of an evil gang, and isn't above blackmailing him to get that help. As Eli comes to know Duke and his gang of misfits, he realizes that he might just have found a place where he belongs.
I absolutely did not know what to expect from this one. What I got was, I thought, a well written, well edited (are we SURE this was published by Less than Three Press?) story with interesting characters and depth. The language itself threw me a little, as I was not expecting a 20s era movie gangster style, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment that much. I would have liked to have seen more of what happened after the big reveal, but that is just me being greedy. Overall, I enjoyed the story and the characters, and would definitely read another book by this author.
*I received a copy through Netgalley. These are my honest opinions.
August 25, 2021
I loved this oh my god, every single thing about this was absolutely perfect.
November 1, 2021
This was a wicked fun read. Set in an alt-1920s, Eli Coello, whip-smart jewelry salesman by day, sultry torch singer by night, hides his magical talent… until fiery gangster Duke Haven tries to rob his work! Set in a vividly crafted world, with masses of UST between Eli and Duke. and Darrow also manages to squeeze in a crackling-fast plot too. Utter joy to read and I hope Darrow publishes more in this universe!
October 16, 2021
I had a lot of fun with this: it’s basically a extra long short story starting a bigender magician, a criminal who’s softer than he seems and a lot of 1920s-esque slang. Unfortunately it doesn’t appear the author has published anything else in this world, but I’d be more than happy to read more.
August 4, 2018
A fun and dangerous romp through a fantastic world. I'm excited for more!
July 2, 2018
1920s-style queer magical gangster shenanigans. What could be better?
Eli works at a jewelry shop, hiding his affinity for ink magic, a highly restricted gift. Duke Haven and his gang rob the shop using fire magic, and Eli fights them back with ink magic, catching Duke's eye. Duke blackmails Eli into helping him get out of a debt he owes to a huge and influential gang. Eli accepts out of necessity, but also because being able to use his magic instead of hiding it is exciting...and so is Duke.
Basically this novella is just a lot of fun. There's a lot of people throwing magic at each other--fight between fire and ink and paper magicians, gunfights, running from the gang that's after you etc.--and a lot of gangster shenanigans, blackmail, secret fighting rings, theft, you name it. I enjoyed it largely for this Prohibition-era aesthetic (though I'm not sure it actually takes place in America in the 1920s, the setting being a fictional "Temperance City"), everything so slick and over the top. It's my kind of thing.
Eli's fun. At first you think he's kind of a rule-follower apart from his secret ink affinity but as the story goes on he becomes more and more a rebel type, and by the end he's a very ambitious and gutsy criminal. Duke's blackmailing him but he's largely unfazed--you feel like he's using the blackmail as an excuse to have some fun more than being controlled by Duke. Also, Eli's genderqueer and spends some nights as a female singer at a shady nightclub, which is not shown on-page (much to my distress) but is still pretty rad. Basically a badass. Also he has a habit of calling Duke "boss" very sarcastically because he resents people holding power over him but over time it becomes kind of an ironic endearment and I love that.
Duke you get less out of since the book's from Eli's point of view but he's a cutie. I mean, also a thief, kind of violent, and a blackmailer, but still a cutie. So, so impressed by Eli's ink talents. It's adorable. Also his name is not actually Duke it's something dorky but I won't reveal that here.
Anyways I basically recommend this book. Oh, but it's short, it's a novella, so be warned about that. I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Eli works at a jewelry shop, hiding his affinity for ink magic, a highly restricted gift. Duke Haven and his gang rob the shop using fire magic, and Eli fights them back with ink magic, catching Duke's eye. Duke blackmails Eli into helping him get out of a debt he owes to a huge and influential gang. Eli accepts out of necessity, but also because being able to use his magic instead of hiding it is exciting...and so is Duke.
Basically this novella is just a lot of fun. There's a lot of people throwing magic at each other--fight between fire and ink and paper magicians, gunfights, running from the gang that's after you etc.--and a lot of gangster shenanigans, blackmail, secret fighting rings, theft, you name it. I enjoyed it largely for this Prohibition-era aesthetic (though I'm not sure it actually takes place in America in the 1920s, the setting being a fictional "Temperance City"), everything so slick and over the top. It's my kind of thing.
Eli's fun. At first you think he's kind of a rule-follower apart from his secret ink affinity but as the story goes on he becomes more and more a rebel type, and by the end he's a very ambitious and gutsy criminal. Duke's blackmailing him but he's largely unfazed--you feel like he's using the blackmail as an excuse to have some fun more than being controlled by Duke. Also, Eli's genderqueer and spends some nights as a female singer at a shady nightclub, which is not shown on-page (much to my distress) but is still pretty rad. Basically a badass. Also he has a habit of calling Duke "boss" very sarcastically because he resents people holding power over him but over time it becomes kind of an ironic endearment and I love that.
Duke you get less out of since the book's from Eli's point of view but he's a cutie. I mean, also a thief, kind of violent, and a blackmailer, but still a cutie. So, so impressed by Eli's ink talents. It's adorable. Also his name is not actually Duke it's something dorky but I won't reveal that here.
Anyways I basically recommend this book. Oh, but it's short, it's a novella, so be warned about that. I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2025
i don't remember at all why this was on my to-read list as i am not really a romance-novel-reader, especially not nice romance novels, but whatever! it was on the list and i'm trying to build reading momentum with shortish easy reads from my list. so i read it.
this is a basically fine but nothing-special romance novel! i like that everybody talks in funny olde-timey slang the whole time, and the lead pair are reasonably cute without being really annoying. it's much too wholesome for my taste and has some kind of embarrassingly heavy-handed Message Moments that give it an oddly YA/afterschool special kind of vibe, which was annoying.
the magic is fun, and ink magic is a neat trick for a heist protagonist to have! & i like that the romance didn't completely overshadow the heisty magicky stuff. the ending was really corny and predictable, but that's kind of mandatory for romance novels i think so. shrug!
this is a basically fine but nothing-special romance novel! i like that everybody talks in funny olde-timey slang the whole time, and the lead pair are reasonably cute without being really annoying. it's much too wholesome for my taste and has some kind of embarrassingly heavy-handed Message Moments that give it an oddly YA/afterschool special kind of vibe, which was annoying.
the magic is fun, and ink magic is a neat trick for a heist protagonist to have! & i like that the romance didn't completely overshadow the heisty magicky stuff. the ending was really corny and predictable, but that's kind of mandatory for romance novels i think so. shrug!
October 5, 2021
Well, this is awkward. This book is a 1920s gay gangster fantasy. You know, the exact string of words that I keep yelling about because I want to read it so bad? But it just didn't click. I think the atmosphere just wasn't for me: too over-the-top and campy, with slang that was authentic but honestly really annoying. It's a short and fast-paced read with an interesting romance dynamic (ultra powerful genderfluid MC who just wants to keep his head down, outgoing mafioso who ropes-slash-blackmails him into joining his heist), but I just didn't care for the characters individually.
So yes. Loved the concept but not the execution. If you prefer your stories gay (queer) and gay (joyful) then this is for you. Sadly, it felt a little too immature for my taste.
So yes. Loved the concept but not the execution. If you prefer your stories gay (queer) and gay (joyful) then this is for you. Sadly, it felt a little too immature for my taste.
May 3, 2022
I loved the world building and characters of the novel. Almost every element of it was just perfect in my eyes. Only criticism I have is the pacing, most of the story seems to be going by really quick and sometimes left me a little confused. Otherwise it’s a fantastic read
did-not-finish
June 19, 2022DNF'd @ 51% because I haven't really connected with the characters and I have a lot of other books checked out.
August 2, 2024
Find this review & more on the blog.
Super cool queer magical heist noir novella that is free to read !
Content warnings include: violence, robbery, illegal magic, blackmail.
I loved pretty much everything about this! The magic and worldbuilding was fascinating and a very fresh take on the whole elemental magic theme, with focus on more than just fire and water, bringing in ink, smoke, paper, textiles and more.
The plot itself was exhilarating and exciting, with unexpected twists, made even better by protagonist Eli's... let's call it "criminal energy", which by far surpasses Duke's own affinity for breaking the law, despite the latter being the crime boss blackmailing Eli and not the other way around.
I also loved that Eli worked as a jewellry salesperson, though he also performs/sings at a bar/club at night. His latter occupation sadly didn't make it on page, which was a shame in my opinion.
The queer energy is equally great, with Eli being bigender and Duke pansexual, and the chemistry between the two sparking high despite neither of their magical abilities being tied to lightning.
If I have one complaint it's that it was way too short! I would have loved to read twice or three times as much about this setting, these characters and their misadventures.
More info on the book and background, some art of the characters and link to where to get it for free (or pay what you want) you can find here!
Super cool queer magical heist noir novella that is free to read !
Content warnings include: violence, robbery, illegal magic, blackmail.
I loved pretty much everything about this! The magic and worldbuilding was fascinating and a very fresh take on the whole elemental magic theme, with focus on more than just fire and water, bringing in ink, smoke, paper, textiles and more.
The plot itself was exhilarating and exciting, with unexpected twists, made even better by protagonist Eli's... let's call it "criminal energy", which by far surpasses Duke's own affinity for breaking the law, despite the latter being the crime boss blackmailing Eli and not the other way around.
I also loved that Eli worked as a jewellry salesperson, though he also performs/sings at a bar/club at night. His latter occupation sadly didn't make it on page, which was a shame in my opinion.
The queer energy is equally great, with Eli being bigender and Duke pansexual, and the chemistry between the two sparking high despite neither of their magical abilities being tied to lightning.
If I have one complaint it's that it was way too short! I would have loved to read twice or three times as much about this setting, these characters and their misadventures.
More info on the book and background, some art of the characters and link to where to get it for free (or pay what you want) you can find here!
August 1, 2018
This had such potential, but I personally am not into books about cross dressing or gender bending. In MF romance, MM is virtually nonexistent, and it's a sad, homophobic indictment that the reverse is not the same.
January 3, 2024
4.5/5
May 20, 2019
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Copy received through Netgalley
~
Pyre at the Eyreholme Trust, by Lin Darrow
★★★★☆
96 Pages
POV: 3rd person, one character
This was a really fun story, with a historical, 1920s mobster feel to it, with an added sprinkle of magic. The characters were well developed and intriguing, the plot was well paced and had a nice balance between showing/telling and didn't drag the timeline, despite it spanning over a few weeks.
My only complaints were that 96 is a lot of story without even a few chapter headings. It made the story feel like it dragged and took ages to read, when really it didn't. But it felt like that, because there was no breathing room, to stop and process what was happening. It also felt that there were a few places where the story didn't so much drag but lost its sparkle. I felt that a few places lacked the flow and compelling storytelling flair that the rest of the story had.
I loved that we had a gender-fluid MC and that Eli got to show both the male and female personalities in the story, without losing any of the chemistry with Duke. I loved that Duke was just as attracted to Eli as a male as he was when Eli presented as female. Duke came across as a playful hard-man, who had a flair for the dramatic and the crimes they were committing, but who also had a heart of gold. That softer side was nicely and slowly drawn out, through the story. In contrast, Eli was a wallflower who liked to remain off the radar, with a quick mind and smart mouth, but who had a hidden temper when pressed and a long-held need to use his magic. The chemistry was really nicely explored, a slow development from stranger to boyfriends, and a nice progression of their personalities and character growth with each new step forward.
Overall, it was a great story with a few flaws, but one that I'd read again.
~
Favourite Quotes
“Nobody had ever looked at him with such open, ravenous hunger. And it wasn't for the polish he regularly painted on, but for the corrupted threads beneath, the fraying parts of him that he fought every day to keep hid.
It was nice, Eli thought, not to have to hide. To be seen, just as he was.”
Copy received through Netgalley
~
Pyre at the Eyreholme Trust, by Lin Darrow
★★★★☆
96 Pages
POV: 3rd person, one character
This was a really fun story, with a historical, 1920s mobster feel to it, with an added sprinkle of magic. The characters were well developed and intriguing, the plot was well paced and had a nice balance between showing/telling and didn't drag the timeline, despite it spanning over a few weeks.
My only complaints were that 96 is a lot of story without even a few chapter headings. It made the story feel like it dragged and took ages to read, when really it didn't. But it felt like that, because there was no breathing room, to stop and process what was happening. It also felt that there were a few places where the story didn't so much drag but lost its sparkle. I felt that a few places lacked the flow and compelling storytelling flair that the rest of the story had.
I loved that we had a gender-fluid MC and that Eli got to show both the male and female personalities in the story, without losing any of the chemistry with Duke. I loved that Duke was just as attracted to Eli as a male as he was when Eli presented as female. Duke came across as a playful hard-man, who had a flair for the dramatic and the crimes they were committing, but who also had a heart of gold. That softer side was nicely and slowly drawn out, through the story. In contrast, Eli was a wallflower who liked to remain off the radar, with a quick mind and smart mouth, but who had a hidden temper when pressed and a long-held need to use his magic. The chemistry was really nicely explored, a slow development from stranger to boyfriends, and a nice progression of their personalities and character growth with each new step forward.
Overall, it was a great story with a few flaws, but one that I'd read again.
~
Favourite Quotes
“Nobody had ever looked at him with such open, ravenous hunger. And it wasn't for the polish he regularly painted on, but for the corrupted threads beneath, the fraying parts of him that he fought every day to keep hid.
It was nice, Eli thought, not to have to hide. To be seen, just as he was.”
August 7, 2018
I received a complementary copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Eli Coello is an unregistered inkman, which means that they have the power to control ink, and that they are keeping said power from the authorities. You see, in Temperance City, magic is accepted so long as it abides by the law, but Eli’s affinity for ink causes them to break the law multiple times a day. Despite their daily felonies, however, Eli has chosen to live a simple life and stay out of trouble, and took up a quiet job as a jewellery seller. But this is all about to change when Eli meets Duke Haven, a member of the Pyre gang (whose members have an affinity for fire) and Duke convinces Eli to help him pull of a heist at a renowned casino.
If I had to describe this book in one word it would be: complex. Once again, this is a really short book and I feel like there is so much to it that the story would have better fitted into a longer format. I can see that the author has created this incredibly complex world of magic, and there are so many characters and storylines going on that it gets a bit confusing. It is definitely an action-packed book, but I think the story could have done with more chapters, giving the reader a respite and a chance to take in everything that is happening. I felt myself losing the plot a good few times and that is because the action never stops and everything goes really fast. I really wished it was a longer book, and that the author had gone into more details regarding certain situations.
Apart from this though, it is a very interesting and original story, nothing like I’ve ever read before. The intrigue is well constructed, and it will grasp you until the end, where the author executed a beautiful and unexpected plot twist, and I do love a plot twist when I don’t see it coming!
I should also mention that this is another LGBT+ book!
Read the full review at: http://celinesbookcorner.com/2018/08/...
Eli Coello is an unregistered inkman, which means that they have the power to control ink, and that they are keeping said power from the authorities. You see, in Temperance City, magic is accepted so long as it abides by the law, but Eli’s affinity for ink causes them to break the law multiple times a day. Despite their daily felonies, however, Eli has chosen to live a simple life and stay out of trouble, and took up a quiet job as a jewellery seller. But this is all about to change when Eli meets Duke Haven, a member of the Pyre gang (whose members have an affinity for fire) and Duke convinces Eli to help him pull of a heist at a renowned casino.
If I had to describe this book in one word it would be: complex. Once again, this is a really short book and I feel like there is so much to it that the story would have better fitted into a longer format. I can see that the author has created this incredibly complex world of magic, and there are so many characters and storylines going on that it gets a bit confusing. It is definitely an action-packed book, but I think the story could have done with more chapters, giving the reader a respite and a chance to take in everything that is happening. I felt myself losing the plot a good few times and that is because the action never stops and everything goes really fast. I really wished it was a longer book, and that the author had gone into more details regarding certain situations.
Apart from this though, it is a very interesting and original story, nothing like I’ve ever read before. The intrigue is well constructed, and it will grasp you until the end, where the author executed a beautiful and unexpected plot twist, and I do love a plot twist when I don’t see it coming!
I should also mention that this is another LGBT+ book!
Read the full review at: http://celinesbookcorner.com/2018/08/...
August 26, 2020
I loved this story. I loved Eli, and how his identity intersected with the plot, both as a genderfluid character and as an inkman. I loved Duke, and the dimensions the story gave him as I continued reading. I enjoyed the world building and the writing style. I think my only criticism was that I wanted more - there were a lot of amazing scenes that tell us so much about the characters and the world itself, and there is so much action. However, I would have loved to see another scene closer to the end about how much Eli's mannerisms and thinking has changed at work, and how that environment has changed because of it. I would have loved expanded scenes of Eli getting to know Duke's crew instead of glossing over each member in a paragraph or two. I would have loved to see Eli and Kitty talking about what Eli is getting up to with Duke's crew. None of these scenes were necessary to my extreme enjoyment of this novella, but I feel like they would have grounded it more, and made it a full-length novel, which I would have immensely enjoyed as someone who fell in love with this world almost immediately.
Thank you for this incredible novella, and I hope to see more works from this author, and hopefully more stories in this world, potentially with these characters.
Thank you for this incredible novella, and I hope to see more works from this author, and hopefully more stories in this world, potentially with these characters.
January 20, 2020
This novella was a great read with an incredibly vivid setting (alternate 1920s noir) and a surprise nonbinary character. In fact, this is the only story I've read that has a character that comfortably alternates between genders due to the outfit they are wearing. And, given it's the 1920s landscape, the outfits are delicious.
Eli Coello (same name regardless of gender, just lean into the vowels about when she's a woman) is a mild mannered jewellery salesman by day, but unknown to most, he also has an affinity for ink. This magical affinity would mean that he's not allowed to work in retail if it were known.
And therefore, when Duke Haven confronts him about his magical affinity, he is reasonably put out.
At the beginning, he feels it's a clumsy attempt at blackmail, but it turns out that Duke wants his help to get out of blackmail that's being done to him!
This novella has rival gangs, magic, wonderfully authentic language for the time period and just a whole lot of fun hijinks. I really genuinely enjoyed it, and personally loved the character of Eli.
Eli Coello (same name regardless of gender, just lean into the vowels about when she's a woman) is a mild mannered jewellery salesman by day, but unknown to most, he also has an affinity for ink. This magical affinity would mean that he's not allowed to work in retail if it were known.
And therefore, when Duke Haven confronts him about his magical affinity, he is reasonably put out.
At the beginning, he feels it's a clumsy attempt at blackmail, but it turns out that Duke wants his help to get out of blackmail that's being done to him!
This novella has rival gangs, magic, wonderfully authentic language for the time period and just a whole lot of fun hijinks. I really genuinely enjoyed it, and personally loved the character of Eli.
August 30, 2018
The only reason this has taken me so long to finish is that real life caught up with me and I’ve had to read Dickens for a play I’m in, otherwise I’d have finished it the day I started it.
Pyre is a novella, which flows well and is easy to read. The characters are well fleshed out and distinguishable - from the oily Worth to the broken carnival grin of Duke, I loved the way each person was portrayed. Original concept with refreshing details and phrasing. I enjoyed learning about the world they lived in, which was rather like a parallel universe to Gangsterland Chicago or New York. There are twists and turns aplenty, and plenty of scope for a sequel in this universe.
Pyre is a novella, which flows well and is easy to read. The characters are well fleshed out and distinguishable - from the oily Worth to the broken carnival grin of Duke, I loved the way each person was portrayed. Original concept with refreshing details and phrasing. I enjoyed learning about the world they lived in, which was rather like a parallel universe to Gangsterland Chicago or New York. There are twists and turns aplenty, and plenty of scope for a sequel in this universe.
August 30, 2020
Campy queer romp in a world with an interesting magic system. I specifically say campy because the characters talk like Roaring 20's stereotypes amped up to 11, c'mon. Fun but didn't hold my attention as much as it could have - I think I didn't love all the characters, so I wasn't as invested there, and there were a several little places where the editing could have been tighter (I hate hate hate a sloppy midscene perspective shift that comes from an author not be conscientious enough about their chosen perspective). Overall, sure!
April 22, 2022
3.5 stars. pyre at the eryeholme trust is a fun, quick adventure full of intriguing world building and snappy old slang. the setup fascinates me SO much — i loved how the magical affinities (abilities to control elements of the world) that are primarily featured are not powers that are very commonly explored. people who manipulate ink or glass or paper don’t seem like they would be able to do much, but that couldn’t be further from the truth in this story, where 2/3 of the above affinities are shown to be quite powerful and in high demand. also, gotta love that fluid/bigender rep ✨
August 7, 2018
Oh my goodness, what an enjoyable read! A book I didn't even know I needed until I started it. Perfect length; clever world-building; and vibrant, well-developed characters. I could visualize everything in my head so clearly, and what a ride it took me on! More, please - either of this world, these characters, or both!
I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.
I received a digital ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.
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