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Magic & Steam #3
The Doctor
1882—Gillian Hamilton, magic caster and Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Magic and Steam, has been stripped of his title, badge, and freedom. Gillian’s true name and powers have been exposed, so now he’s kept under lock and key. To make a tragedy worse, Gunner the Deadly has returned to his life out in the Wild West and has not been heard from since.
Rumors of a doctor, known only as Sawbones, with access to illegal magic have persisted into the new year. Gillian believes that violence, chaos, and certain death will befall New York City if this criminal isn’t apprehended. And despite having lost his sense of purpose, Gillian knows he’s the only one capable of confronting this new madman—with or without the backing of the FBMS.
But such dangers should never be undertaken alone. Gillian will need both Gunner’s deadeye marksmanship, as well as his love, if he’s to detain Sawbones before irreparable damage is done to the magic of his world.
Rumors of a doctor, known only as Sawbones, with access to illegal magic have persisted into the new year. Gillian believes that violence, chaos, and certain death will befall New York City if this criminal isn’t apprehended. And despite having lost his sense of purpose, Gillian knows he’s the only one capable of confronting this new madman—with or without the backing of the FBMS.
But such dangers should never be undertaken alone. Gillian will need both Gunner’s deadeye marksmanship, as well as his love, if he’s to detain Sawbones before irreparable damage is done to the magic of his world.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2022
31 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Poe
41 books1,290 followersC.S. Poe is an author of gay mystery, romance, and speculative fiction. She’s a winner of the Next Generation and e-Lit book awards, as well as a finalist of the Lambda Literary award.
She resides in New York City and is a Gilded Age New York historian and board director for the Victorian Society of New York. She loves Romanticism artwork, the films of Buster Keaton, coffee in the morning and whiskey in the evening, true crime, and cats. She’s rescued two cats—Milo and Kasper do their best to distract her from work on a daily basis.
C.S. is an alumna of the School of Visual Arts.
Her debut novel, The Mystery of Nevermore, was published 2016.
cspoe.com
She resides in New York City and is a Gilded Age New York historian and board director for the Victorian Society of New York. She loves Romanticism artwork, the films of Buster Keaton, coffee in the morning and whiskey in the evening, true crime, and cats. She’s rescued two cats—Milo and Kasper do their best to distract her from work on a daily basis.
C.S. is an alumna of the School of Visual Arts.
Her debut novel, The Mystery of Nevermore, was published 2016.
cspoe.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
September 18, 2023
Audiobook Listen #2
Story & Narration: 5 stars
This series was even better the third time. I loved every moment of Gillian and Gunner’s story. This book has a ton of excitement and ends on quite the cliffhanger. I cannot wait for The Councilman!!!
___________________________________________________
Story: 5 stars
Narration: 5 Stars
If I could give this audiobook more stars I would. First of all, this series is fantastic. I love the world and characters and the research that C.S. Poe does to include true facts in her stories is mind blowing. Adding a great narrator like Declan Winters takes this already amazing story and magnifies how beautiful, tragic, magical and lovely it is.
I forgot how romantic Gunner can be and I don’t think I fully got that from just reading this. Add Declan Winters voice for Gunner, that gravely, smoky voice, and it gives me goosebumps. Every time he says “My dear” to Gillian I want to melt into a puddle of goo.
Here are a few examples:
I wiped my nose on the sleeve of my shirt. “You still love me?” “My dear, I never stopped.”
I drew in a breath like I’d been hit in the solar plexus by a pair of fighting gloves, and said, while staring at his face, “I-I dream about how blue your eyes are.” “I dream about all of you,” Gunner replied, profoundness in his blunt simplicity.
“Tell me something.” “What’s that?” “I don’t know. I don’t care. Anything. Just in case.” “This isn’t where our story ends, my dear.” Gunner drew close and cupped my face in one hand. “It’s only now begun.”
This was exciting and it tied so much together that was left unanswered in the first two books. We get Gillian’s tragic backstory and find out some things about Gunner, who is so mysterious. Together they work like a well oiled machine and their devotion to each other is stunning. There are so many sweet and endearing parts to this story plus some humor.
“My prick has more magic in it than you do.” “Well…,” Gunner murmured with a thoughtful nod before the comment trailed off and he left it open to considerable interpretation.
If you have read Poe before or even if you haven’t and you have not read this series I highly recommend it. I also encourage you to listen to the audiobook.
I can not end my review without mentioning two other characters that I hope get their own book. Together would be a dream come true! Addison O’Dea and Loren Moore.
Once again C.S. Poe has exceeded expectations with this story and if you haven’t listened to Declan Winters before then you’re missing out on a truly wonderful narrator.
***********************************************************
Original Review:
This series is so good! I love everything about Gillian and Gunner and this book explores more of their pasts and leaves us with quite the cliffhanger!
I love the world that Poe has created in this series, one of magic and steampunk mixed with historical facts and fiction. It all comes together perfectly. Poe does her research and she weaves this research into her books. I love following her on social media because she shares such interesting facts! These make her books more interesting to me.
In this book we find out more about Gillian and who he used to be, who he grew up as and what he was forced to do. His magic has always been used by those around him, not by choice, but he’s come into his own and he vows to not let others abuse his magic again.
Gunner has been a mysterious character for the most part, keeping things close to him silent. We know he’s been in love before and that he is good with keeping his cool at all times. Learning about his past was exactly what I’ve been yearning for and it’s quite a surprise. I love how everything is interwoven. His past has come back to haunt him and it includes Gillian now.
I love supporting characters in this series also, especially Loren Moore and Addison O’Dea! I’d love more about these two characters!!!!
I read this book much too quickly but I couldn’t help myself! I will definitely be getting the audiobook when it’s released because the audio is worth checking out! I will be waiting for the next book in this awesome series!!!!
**ARC provided by the author
**All thoughts and opinions are my own
Story & Narration: 5 stars
This series was even better the third time. I loved every moment of Gillian and Gunner’s story. This book has a ton of excitement and ends on quite the cliffhanger. I cannot wait for The Councilman!!!
___________________________________________________
Story: 5 stars
Narration: 5 Stars
If I could give this audiobook more stars I would. First of all, this series is fantastic. I love the world and characters and the research that C.S. Poe does to include true facts in her stories is mind blowing. Adding a great narrator like Declan Winters takes this already amazing story and magnifies how beautiful, tragic, magical and lovely it is.
I forgot how romantic Gunner can be and I don’t think I fully got that from just reading this. Add Declan Winters voice for Gunner, that gravely, smoky voice, and it gives me goosebumps. Every time he says “My dear” to Gillian I want to melt into a puddle of goo.
Here are a few examples:
I wiped my nose on the sleeve of my shirt. “You still love me?” “My dear, I never stopped.”
I drew in a breath like I’d been hit in the solar plexus by a pair of fighting gloves, and said, while staring at his face, “I-I dream about how blue your eyes are.” “I dream about all of you,” Gunner replied, profoundness in his blunt simplicity.
“Tell me something.” “What’s that?” “I don’t know. I don’t care. Anything. Just in case.” “This isn’t where our story ends, my dear.” Gunner drew close and cupped my face in one hand. “It’s only now begun.”
This was exciting and it tied so much together that was left unanswered in the first two books. We get Gillian’s tragic backstory and find out some things about Gunner, who is so mysterious. Together they work like a well oiled machine and their devotion to each other is stunning. There are so many sweet and endearing parts to this story plus some humor.
“My prick has more magic in it than you do.” “Well…,” Gunner murmured with a thoughtful nod before the comment trailed off and he left it open to considerable interpretation.
If you have read Poe before or even if you haven’t and you have not read this series I highly recommend it. I also encourage you to listen to the audiobook.
I can not end my review without mentioning two other characters that I hope get their own book. Together would be a dream come true! Addison O’Dea and Loren Moore.
Once again C.S. Poe has exceeded expectations with this story and if you haven’t listened to Declan Winters before then you’re missing out on a truly wonderful narrator.
***********************************************************
Original Review:
This series is so good! I love everything about Gillian and Gunner and this book explores more of their pasts and leaves us with quite the cliffhanger!
I love the world that Poe has created in this series, one of magic and steampunk mixed with historical facts and fiction. It all comes together perfectly. Poe does her research and she weaves this research into her books. I love following her on social media because she shares such interesting facts! These make her books more interesting to me.
In this book we find out more about Gillian and who he used to be, who he grew up as and what he was forced to do. His magic has always been used by those around him, not by choice, but he’s come into his own and he vows to not let others abuse his magic again.
Gunner has been a mysterious character for the most part, keeping things close to him silent. We know he’s been in love before and that he is good with keeping his cool at all times. Learning about his past was exactly what I’ve been yearning for and it’s quite a surprise. I love how everything is interwoven. His past has come back to haunt him and it includes Gillian now.
I love supporting characters in this series also, especially Loren Moore and Addison O’Dea! I’d love more about these two characters!!!!
I read this book much too quickly but I couldn’t help myself! I will definitely be getting the audiobook when it’s released because the audio is worth checking out! I will be waiting for the next book in this awesome series!!!!
**ARC provided by the author
**All thoughts and opinions are my own
Read
October 22, 2024Ebook, Paperback, and Audio
audio narrated by Declan Winters
French edition
with MxM Bookmark
coming soon... Italian edition with Triskell Edizioni
audio narrated by Declan Winters
French edition
with MxM Bookmark
coming soon... Italian edition with Triskell Edizioni
May 28, 2024
Audio: 4 stars, Declan Winters did a good job, but I still don’t know if I love Gunners voice haha
Book: 3-3.5 stars
Going in to this series you need to know all books end on cliffhangers! The 4th book still doesn’t have a release date, but it’ll be interesting to see where Gillian and Gunner go from here!
It was an entertaining story and it kept me engaged, I did feel like there was something missing to make me rate it higher, but overall a good fun time!
Book: 3-3.5 stars
Going in to this series you need to know all books end on cliffhangers! The 4th book still doesn’t have a release date, but it’ll be interesting to see where Gillian and Gunner go from here!
It was an entertaining story and it kept me engaged, I did feel like there was something missing to make me rate it higher, but overall a good fun time!
January 1, 2023
I'll write a more thorough review in the morning when I'm on my laptop, but for now, where's book 4? 😁
Edit:
It's now morning, and the start of a new year. May 2023 be better than the last three years. 🤞🏼
This was ended up being a great series to end 2022 on. Poe has a vivid imagination and takes elements of steampunk, fantasy and sci-fi, classical monsters and Wild West shenanigans, and weaves them all into a fun, fast-paced, action-packed series. From that opening chapter to the very last page, she delivers a gripping tale. Yes, there are
There is a lot revealed in this one. Gillian faces his past and finally starts talking about some of it, and Gunner even has some reveals that I partially expected but were thankfully not as bad as I had been theorizing. Another author would use these reveals to stir up melodrama, but Poe allows her characters to react like adults and be level-headed about them.
I continue to really like Moore, and even Plunkett has some good development. I hope we see her again. And Addison. I kind of really want Moore and Addison to hook up, lol. I also wouldn't mind seeing Winona and Lucy, , again in some capacity, though that's probably unlikely.
Thanks to Rosa for joining me on this impromptu BR. It was a success we weren't looking for, and now we both have to anxiously await the next book.
Edit:
It's now morning, and the start of a new year. May 2023 be better than the last three years. 🤞🏼
This was ended up being a great series to end 2022 on. Poe has a vivid imagination and takes elements of steampunk, fantasy and sci-fi, classical monsters and Wild West shenanigans, and weaves them all into a fun, fast-paced, action-packed series. From that opening chapter to the very last page, she delivers a gripping tale. Yes, there are
There is a lot revealed in this one. Gillian faces his past and finally starts talking about some of it, and Gunner even has some reveals that I partially expected but were thankfully not as bad as I had been theorizing. Another author would use these reveals to stir up melodrama, but Poe allows her characters to react like adults and be level-headed about them.
I continue to really like Moore, and even Plunkett has some good development. I hope we see her again. And Addison. I kind of really want Moore and Addison to hook up, lol. I also wouldn't mind seeing Winona and Lucy, , again in some capacity, though that's probably unlikely.
Thanks to Rosa for joining me on this impromptu BR. It was a success we weren't looking for, and now we both have to anxiously await the next book.
May 23, 2022
Oh, this book made me emotional. Poor Gillian! After the cliffhanger of the Gangster, I was thrown headlong into the whirlwind chase for madmen, long forgotten secrets and sweet love. Gunner and Gillian again proved to be a formidable team against evil magic and foiled their plans. But while doing so, both men were tested about who they used to be and who they are now.
There was plenty of action and heart to heart conversations, a good amount of steam and deadpan humor that I really enjoyed. The fast pace, consistent characters and well researched on point historical tidbits made this long awaited story a total gem for me. I really hope that Loren Moore gets his little spin off, he so deserves his HEA too. The story is not over yet because there are more villains and ghosts to slay, but with Gillian and Gunner on their trail, they stand no chance. I liked this continuation of the series.
There was plenty of action and heart to heart conversations, a good amount of steam and deadpan humor that I really enjoyed. The fast pace, consistent characters and well researched on point historical tidbits made this long awaited story a total gem for me. I really hope that Loren Moore gets his little spin off, he so deserves his HEA too. The story is not over yet because there are more villains and ghosts to slay, but with Gillian and Gunner on their trail, they stand no chance. I liked this continuation of the series.
October 5, 2024
I've given this an A at AAR
This third book in C.S. Poe’s Magic & Steam series is one of my most highly anticipated reads of 2022, and it absolutely did not disappoint. After the massive cliffhanger at the end of The Gangster, the author had some serious ground to cover in The Doctor in terms of furthering and pulling together the various plot-threads she laid out in the previous books, and in continuing to develop the romance between quietly-controlled lawman Gillian Hamilton and sexy outlaw Gunner the Deadly while also revealing more of their backstories. She pulls it all off with considerable aplomb, moving the story along at a swift pace and incorporating some superbly written set pieces and action scenes while also giving prominence to moments of insight, connection and tenderness between Gillian and Gunner that are heart-meltingly lovely in their understatedness.
Note: There are spoilers for the previous books in the series in this review.
The Gangster ended on a massive clliffhanger when the past Gillian has worked so long and so hard to hide finally caught up with him. In a last-minute bombshell, we learned his real name is Simon Fitzgerald and that he’s been a wanted war criminal since he was just a boy, for atrocities he was forced to commit during the Great Conflict (this universe’s version of the American Civil War.) Before he was arrested, Gillian sent Gunner away for his own protection (he’s a wanted man, after all) – and in the weeks since then, Gillian has been incarcerated at The Home for the Magically Insane on Blackwell’s Island.
Starved, humiliated, abused and assailed by horrific memories, Gillian fears for both his life and his sanity, knowing he’s destined to be locked away until such time as those in power – the non-magical politicians who founded the FBMS – want to make use of him and his unparallelled magical abilities. He also knows there’s much more at stake, a threat to the magical community he’s now powerless to do anything about, tears in the atmosphere that are damaging the undercurrent of power drawn on by magic users that he believes are being caused by quintessence, a new, illegal kind of magic he and Gunner had discovered being used by the gangster, Tick Tock.
The one person who takes Gillian’s concern seriously is Eugene Barrie, a visiting doctor who helps him to escape the asylum and arranges to accompany him to California, where Gillian believes he’ll be able to track down the architect (spell-creator) who built the illegal spells, and Sawbones, the man responsible for creating Tick Tock’s grotesque army of half-human, half-mechanical men. And maybe he’ll be able to find Gunner, too, and apologise for sending him away – although he can’t help worrying that Gunner might want nothing more to do with him. However, all is not as it seems, and just a couple of days into the journey, Barrie is revealed to have nefarious ulterior motives.
I don’t want to say too much more about the plot, so I’ll just say that my jaw dropped a little further with each revelation as more of the story’s intricately woven web of connections is slowly revealed. Gillian and Gunner are dramatically reunited, and I just adore how in tune they are with each other, how they continue to grow together and love each other with such ferocity and genuine devotion. They fit so well together, Gunner’s steadfast support and strong protective streak just what Gillian needs after having been so very alone all his life.
Gillian’s secrets aren’t the only ones to come to light in this book, however. Gunner has been an enigmatic figure so far, a man who doesn’t lie but who is always very careful about what he says, and I’m so glad we’re – finally – getting to know more about him. The truth of his past comes as a complete surprise (more jaw-dropping!) and I may have squealed in delight when the thread tying Gunner and Gillian together was revealed :) But there’s not too much time for wallowing in that connection as we hurtle towards a thrilling and high-stakes climax – which culminates in a shocking discovery that promises a greater threat, to both the magical world and Gillian and Gunner personally.
Both men are immensely likeable, complex, yet flawed characters who are easy to become invested in. Beneath the self-effacing stickler, Gillian is an endearingly sweet but prickly and vulnerable badass with a dry sense of humour and a driving need to do the right thing no matter the personal cost. He’s been through so much – his backstory is heartbreaking – but he’s a survivor, and I was so pleased to see him owning his truth and ready to love Gunner openly at last. I also loved that he’s no longer hiding his incredible power, and the moments when he really lets rip with his magic are deeply statisfying and vividly written, putting the reader right in the middle of the action. And while Gunner could easily have been a strong, silent stereotype, the affection for Gillian that radiates from him, the way he shows that affection in every word and deed, makes him so much more than a two-dimenstional cypher who’s there only to provide the muscle and the firepower. As is very clear, Gillian doesn’t need firepower, he needs someone to see him and believe in him – and Gunner is that someone.
I was pleased to catch up with some of the secondary characters from previous books, including Gillian’s boss, Loren Moore – his exchanges with Gunner provide some much-needed humour (and I couldn’t help sighing just a bit over Jealous!Gunner), and bare-knuckle fighter Addison O’Dea, who comes through for Gillian at a time of great need. The bad guys are the worst kind of evil – power-hungry, amoral, totally unscrupulous – who, at times, made my skin crawl. I can’t wait to see their plans thwarted, although right now, it’s looking like our heroes have a really tough road ahead.
It seems C.S. Poe loves to torment her readers, as The Doctor ends with another cliffhanger – this time relating to Gunner’s past (a clever mirror of the one in the previous book), which left me stunned, cursing and wondering just how much more heartache is in store for these two. But I’m in it for the long haul, so I’ll be here for book four, The Councilman, (the author recently confirmed this will be a five-book series) which honestly can’t get here soon enough.
The Doctor is a real edge-of-your-seat read; a fantastic combination of action, adventure and romance with loveable (and un-loveable!) characters and a skilfully developed steampunk world. The plot unfolds magnificently, the pacing is perfect, the writing evocative, and the emotional highs and lows will deliver happy sighs and punches to the gut. The Magic & Steam series one of the best ongoing series around, and with The Doctor, it gets even better.
This third book in C.S. Poe’s Magic & Steam series is one of my most highly anticipated reads of 2022, and it absolutely did not disappoint. After the massive cliffhanger at the end of The Gangster, the author had some serious ground to cover in The Doctor in terms of furthering and pulling together the various plot-threads she laid out in the previous books, and in continuing to develop the romance between quietly-controlled lawman Gillian Hamilton and sexy outlaw Gunner the Deadly while also revealing more of their backstories. She pulls it all off with considerable aplomb, moving the story along at a swift pace and incorporating some superbly written set pieces and action scenes while also giving prominence to moments of insight, connection and tenderness between Gillian and Gunner that are heart-meltingly lovely in their understatedness.
Note: There are spoilers for the previous books in the series in this review.
The Gangster ended on a massive clliffhanger when the past Gillian has worked so long and so hard to hide finally caught up with him. In a last-minute bombshell, we learned his real name is Simon Fitzgerald and that he’s been a wanted war criminal since he was just a boy, for atrocities he was forced to commit during the Great Conflict (this universe’s version of the American Civil War.) Before he was arrested, Gillian sent Gunner away for his own protection (he’s a wanted man, after all) – and in the weeks since then, Gillian has been incarcerated at The Home for the Magically Insane on Blackwell’s Island.
Starved, humiliated, abused and assailed by horrific memories, Gillian fears for both his life and his sanity, knowing he’s destined to be locked away until such time as those in power – the non-magical politicians who founded the FBMS – want to make use of him and his unparallelled magical abilities. He also knows there’s much more at stake, a threat to the magical community he’s now powerless to do anything about, tears in the atmosphere that are damaging the undercurrent of power drawn on by magic users that he believes are being caused by quintessence, a new, illegal kind of magic he and Gunner had discovered being used by the gangster, Tick Tock.
The one person who takes Gillian’s concern seriously is Eugene Barrie, a visiting doctor who helps him to escape the asylum and arranges to accompany him to California, where Gillian believes he’ll be able to track down the architect (spell-creator) who built the illegal spells, and Sawbones, the man responsible for creating Tick Tock’s grotesque army of half-human, half-mechanical men. And maybe he’ll be able to find Gunner, too, and apologise for sending him away – although he can’t help worrying that Gunner might want nothing more to do with him. However, all is not as it seems, and just a couple of days into the journey, Barrie is revealed to have nefarious ulterior motives.
I don’t want to say too much more about the plot, so I’ll just say that my jaw dropped a little further with each revelation as more of the story’s intricately woven web of connections is slowly revealed. Gillian and Gunner are dramatically reunited, and I just adore how in tune they are with each other, how they continue to grow together and love each other with such ferocity and genuine devotion. They fit so well together, Gunner’s steadfast support and strong protective streak just what Gillian needs after having been so very alone all his life.
Gillian’s secrets aren’t the only ones to come to light in this book, however. Gunner has been an enigmatic figure so far, a man who doesn’t lie but who is always very careful about what he says, and I’m so glad we’re – finally – getting to know more about him. The truth of his past comes as a complete surprise (more jaw-dropping!) and I may have squealed in delight when the thread tying Gunner and Gillian together was revealed :) But there’s not too much time for wallowing in that connection as we hurtle towards a thrilling and high-stakes climax – which culminates in a shocking discovery that promises a greater threat, to both the magical world and Gillian and Gunner personally.
Both men are immensely likeable, complex, yet flawed characters who are easy to become invested in. Beneath the self-effacing stickler, Gillian is an endearingly sweet but prickly and vulnerable badass with a dry sense of humour and a driving need to do the right thing no matter the personal cost. He’s been through so much – his backstory is heartbreaking – but he’s a survivor, and I was so pleased to see him owning his truth and ready to love Gunner openly at last. I also loved that he’s no longer hiding his incredible power, and the moments when he really lets rip with his magic are deeply statisfying and vividly written, putting the reader right in the middle of the action. And while Gunner could easily have been a strong, silent stereotype, the affection for Gillian that radiates from him, the way he shows that affection in every word and deed, makes him so much more than a two-dimenstional cypher who’s there only to provide the muscle and the firepower. As is very clear, Gillian doesn’t need firepower, he needs someone to see him and believe in him – and Gunner is that someone.
I was pleased to catch up with some of the secondary characters from previous books, including Gillian’s boss, Loren Moore – his exchanges with Gunner provide some much-needed humour (and I couldn’t help sighing just a bit over Jealous!Gunner), and bare-knuckle fighter Addison O’Dea, who comes through for Gillian at a time of great need. The bad guys are the worst kind of evil – power-hungry, amoral, totally unscrupulous – who, at times, made my skin crawl. I can’t wait to see their plans thwarted, although right now, it’s looking like our heroes have a really tough road ahead.
It seems C.S. Poe loves to torment her readers, as The Doctor ends with another cliffhanger – this time relating to Gunner’s past (a clever mirror of the one in the previous book), which left me stunned, cursing and wondering just how much more heartache is in store for these two. But I’m in it for the long haul, so I’ll be here for book four, The Councilman, (the author recently confirmed this will be a five-book series) which honestly can’t get here soon enough.
The Doctor is a real edge-of-your-seat read; a fantastic combination of action, adventure and romance with loveable (and un-loveable!) characters and a skilfully developed steampunk world. The plot unfolds magnificently, the pacing is perfect, the writing evocative, and the emotional highs and lows will deliver happy sighs and punches to the gut. The Magic & Steam series one of the best ongoing series around, and with The Doctor, it gets even better.
August 31, 2023
I've given this an A- for narration and an A for content at AudioGals
C.S Poe’s steampunk Magic & Steam series gets better and better with each instalment, delivering a cracking blend of romance, humour, high-stakes action and nail-biting tension as our two heroes – quiet, self-contained lawman Gillian Hamilton and sexy outlaw Gunner the Deadly – battle mad scientists, mechanical men and dangerous gangsters in a steampunk version of New York in the 1880s.
Note: There are spoilers for the previous books in the series this review.
The author dropped a massive bombshell at the end of The Gangster when the past Gillian has worked so long and hard to hide finally caught up with him and he was revealed to be Simon Fitzgerald, a wanted war criminal known as the Butcher of Antietam on account of the atrocities he was forced to commit during the Great Conflict when he was a ten-year-old boy. Just before he was taken into custody by agents of the Federal Bureau of Magic and Steam, a desperate Gillian urged Gunner to leave him to his fate – and when the book opens, Gillian has been spent almost two months incarcerated in the Home for the Magically Insane on Blackwell’s Island.
During those months, starved, abused, subjected to experimental ‘treatments’ and heartbroken over losing Gunner, Gillian is on the verge of giving up hope. Not only does he fear for his life and his sanity, he knows it’s just a matter of time before the Council – the non-magical politicians who regulate magic users – will want to use him as a weapon once more. Worse, he’s powerless to do anything about the very real danger to the magical community being caused by the use of the illegal magic Quintessence, which threatens the undercurrent of power drawn on by all magic users. But everything changes when a visiting doctor by the name of Eugene Barrie actually listens to his concerns and takes them seriously. Barrie helps Gillian to escape, and when Gillian explains his plan to travel to California to track down the architect – spell-maker – who created Quintessence, and the man known as Sawbones, who created Tick Tock’s gruesome army of man-machines, Barrie offers to accompany him – an offer Gillian gratefully accepts. He also hopes that maybe – just maybe – he’ll be able to find Gunner, too, and beg his forgiveness for sending him away.
Well, of course, Gillian and Gunner are reunited in a most satisfying and dramatic manner, and once that happens, everything kicks up a gear as our heroes discover the truth about Quintessence – what it’s really being used for and by whom – and learn more about each other and their pasts. The revelations come thick and fast in this one; it seems Gillian isn’t the only keeper of big secrets and more of Gunner’s backstory comes to light here. He’s always been enigmatic – he never lies, but is always careful about what he discloses – so the truth about his past comes as a complete surprise and the author plays a blinder when she reveals the exact nature of the thread tying Gillian and Gunner together.
Both characters are superbly characterised and developed. Gillian has spent the last ten years of his life hiding in plain sight, behind a nondescript appearance and a self-effacing persona, as a way of ensuring his survival. It’s been clear for some time that his magical abilities are way stronger than anyone has ever suspected – and he’s been very careful to keep it that way, only too aware of what could happen if he were to be found out. But beneath the proper lawman is an endearingly sweet yet vulnerable badass with a dry sense of humour and a yearning to love and be loved, and it’s wonderful to see him at last leaving behind that life of rigidity and repression to be himself – both in terms of his magic and who he loves. His backstory is heart-breaking and he’s been through a lot, but he’s a survivor. Gunner is his perfect match; he’s always seen through the mask Gillian wore to the man behind it struggling to remain unobtrusive and ordinary, and has clearly suspected the truth about his magic. He’s your classic strong, silent type, but he’s so much more than that; he may be an outlaw, but he has a big heart and a more deeply held idea of honour than most, and his love for Gillian is evident in everything he says and does. Best of all, he really sees Gillian and knows what he needs in a partner – someone to believe in him and have his back without question.
C.S. Poe does an absolutely fabulous job in The Doctor of combining a fast-paced, high-stakes plot with the unfolding of backstory, the development of the romance and some wonderfully evocative set pieces and action scenes. The series may be set in an AU, but this version of 1880s New York City is so meticulously researched as to have the real ring of authenticity about it. We get to catch up with series regulars Loren Moore (I may have sighed just a little bit over the emergence of Jealous!Gunner) – and bare-knuckle fighter Addison O’Dea, who is instrumental in helping Gillian to safety after his escape. There’s little let-up as we barrel towards the explosive – in more ways than one – climax in which Gillian and Gunner are confronted with the stuff of nightmares.
Declan Winters has very quickly become a favourite narrator – largely because of his work on this series – and he delivers another terrific performance here. Many of the people I know who are listening to these books are more than a little in love with his version of Gunner the Deadly (or is that just me?!), with those deep, gravelly tones that move between wry humour, tenderness and affection and cold-as-steel ruthlessness, sometimes in the blink of an eye. He adopts a slightly higher pitch and softer timbre for Gillian, expertly rendering the different facets of his character – his reticence and vulnerability, but also his determination and new-found confidence – and packs a real punch in the more intense and emotional moments, so that the listener is right there with Gillian as he brokenly stands before Addison, or pours out his heart to Gunner. Their interactions, their chemistry and their connection are all perfectly judged, the action scenes are imbued with just the right degree of urgency and tension, and the secondary characters are clearly differentiated (although Addison’s Irish accent can be a bit wobbly!).
The Doctor is another enthralling instalment in what is proving to be a truly excellent series. It’s a fantastic story full of action, adventure and romance with a well-realised setting and two protagonists who are easy to like and root for. Add in the superb performance by Declan Winters and you’ve got one of my favourite audiobooks of 2022 so far.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
C.S Poe’s steampunk Magic & Steam series gets better and better with each instalment, delivering a cracking blend of romance, humour, high-stakes action and nail-biting tension as our two heroes – quiet, self-contained lawman Gillian Hamilton and sexy outlaw Gunner the Deadly – battle mad scientists, mechanical men and dangerous gangsters in a steampunk version of New York in the 1880s.
Note: There are spoilers for the previous books in the series this review.
The author dropped a massive bombshell at the end of The Gangster when the past Gillian has worked so long and hard to hide finally caught up with him and he was revealed to be Simon Fitzgerald, a wanted war criminal known as the Butcher of Antietam on account of the atrocities he was forced to commit during the Great Conflict when he was a ten-year-old boy. Just before he was taken into custody by agents of the Federal Bureau of Magic and Steam, a desperate Gillian urged Gunner to leave him to his fate – and when the book opens, Gillian has been spent almost two months incarcerated in the Home for the Magically Insane on Blackwell’s Island.
During those months, starved, abused, subjected to experimental ‘treatments’ and heartbroken over losing Gunner, Gillian is on the verge of giving up hope. Not only does he fear for his life and his sanity, he knows it’s just a matter of time before the Council – the non-magical politicians who regulate magic users – will want to use him as a weapon once more. Worse, he’s powerless to do anything about the very real danger to the magical community being caused by the use of the illegal magic Quintessence, which threatens the undercurrent of power drawn on by all magic users. But everything changes when a visiting doctor by the name of Eugene Barrie actually listens to his concerns and takes them seriously. Barrie helps Gillian to escape, and when Gillian explains his plan to travel to California to track down the architect – spell-maker – who created Quintessence, and the man known as Sawbones, who created Tick Tock’s gruesome army of man-machines, Barrie offers to accompany him – an offer Gillian gratefully accepts. He also hopes that maybe – just maybe – he’ll be able to find Gunner, too, and beg his forgiveness for sending him away.
Well, of course, Gillian and Gunner are reunited in a most satisfying and dramatic manner, and once that happens, everything kicks up a gear as our heroes discover the truth about Quintessence – what it’s really being used for and by whom – and learn more about each other and their pasts. The revelations come thick and fast in this one; it seems Gillian isn’t the only keeper of big secrets and more of Gunner’s backstory comes to light here. He’s always been enigmatic – he never lies, but is always careful about what he discloses – so the truth about his past comes as a complete surprise and the author plays a blinder when she reveals the exact nature of the thread tying Gillian and Gunner together.
Both characters are superbly characterised and developed. Gillian has spent the last ten years of his life hiding in plain sight, behind a nondescript appearance and a self-effacing persona, as a way of ensuring his survival. It’s been clear for some time that his magical abilities are way stronger than anyone has ever suspected – and he’s been very careful to keep it that way, only too aware of what could happen if he were to be found out. But beneath the proper lawman is an endearingly sweet yet vulnerable badass with a dry sense of humour and a yearning to love and be loved, and it’s wonderful to see him at last leaving behind that life of rigidity and repression to be himself – both in terms of his magic and who he loves. His backstory is heart-breaking and he’s been through a lot, but he’s a survivor. Gunner is his perfect match; he’s always seen through the mask Gillian wore to the man behind it struggling to remain unobtrusive and ordinary, and has clearly suspected the truth about his magic. He’s your classic strong, silent type, but he’s so much more than that; he may be an outlaw, but he has a big heart and a more deeply held idea of honour than most, and his love for Gillian is evident in everything he says and does. Best of all, he really sees Gillian and knows what he needs in a partner – someone to believe in him and have his back without question.
C.S. Poe does an absolutely fabulous job in The Doctor of combining a fast-paced, high-stakes plot with the unfolding of backstory, the development of the romance and some wonderfully evocative set pieces and action scenes. The series may be set in an AU, but this version of 1880s New York City is so meticulously researched as to have the real ring of authenticity about it. We get to catch up with series regulars Loren Moore (I may have sighed just a little bit over the emergence of Jealous!Gunner) – and bare-knuckle fighter Addison O’Dea, who is instrumental in helping Gillian to safety after his escape. There’s little let-up as we barrel towards the explosive – in more ways than one – climax in which Gillian and Gunner are confronted with the stuff of nightmares.
Declan Winters has very quickly become a favourite narrator – largely because of his work on this series – and he delivers another terrific performance here. Many of the people I know who are listening to these books are more than a little in love with his version of Gunner the Deadly (or is that just me?!), with those deep, gravelly tones that move between wry humour, tenderness and affection and cold-as-steel ruthlessness, sometimes in the blink of an eye. He adopts a slightly higher pitch and softer timbre for Gillian, expertly rendering the different facets of his character – his reticence and vulnerability, but also his determination and new-found confidence – and packs a real punch in the more intense and emotional moments, so that the listener is right there with Gillian as he brokenly stands before Addison, or pours out his heart to Gunner. Their interactions, their chemistry and their connection are all perfectly judged, the action scenes are imbued with just the right degree of urgency and tension, and the secondary characters are clearly differentiated (although Addison’s Irish accent can be a bit wobbly!).
The Doctor is another enthralling instalment in what is proving to be a truly excellent series. It’s a fantastic story full of action, adventure and romance with a well-realised setting and two protagonists who are easy to like and root for. Add in the superb performance by Declan Winters and you’ve got one of my favourite audiobooks of 2022 so far.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
November 6, 2022
I've been looking forward to this book since the moment I finished The Gangster. It did not disappoint.
I greatly enjoyed the last book in the series, The Gangster, but even on my re-read I occasionally had to pause and work through, "Who's doing what now, and how did we get here?" I had no such issue with The Doctor. The plot was intricate but smooth and easy to follow.
We get to see Gillian coming to terms with his sexuality and his past, and it was satisfying to watch him slowly work toward acceptance. (CW for PTSD including flashbacks to child abuse.) We get to see Gunner being the steady, loving, badass he is—and there are some fascinating revelations about his past. We get to see Morse being a good friend. And we get some more time with Addison, which was a treat.
We also get a cliffhanger, fair warning.
There were a couple of scenes where I paused and thought, "Well that seems unlikely," but I always liked how those scenes worked into the story. It's already paranormal steampunk, after all.
I greatly enjoyed the last book in the series, The Gangster, but even on my re-read I occasionally had to pause and work through, "Who's doing what now, and how did we get here?" I had no such issue with The Doctor. The plot was intricate but smooth and easy to follow.
We get to see Gillian coming to terms with his sexuality and his past, and it was satisfying to watch him slowly work toward acceptance. (CW for PTSD including flashbacks to child abuse.) We get to see Gunner being the steady, loving, badass he is—and there are some fascinating revelations about his past. We get to see Morse being a good friend. And we get some more time with Addison, which was a treat.
We also get a cliffhanger, fair warning.
There were a couple of scenes where I paused and thought, "Well that seems unlikely," but I always liked how those scenes worked into the story. It's already paranormal steampunk, after all.
January 1, 2023
This series is being a blast. I'm so happy Linda came up with this unexpected BRead because otherwise I wouldn't have picked up this series on my own and I would have missed something quite good.
This book is action packed, the names continue to be hilarious and some secrets are revealed. I need the next one now!
This book is action packed, the names continue to be hilarious and some secrets are revealed. I need the next one now!
May 21, 2022
As the poets would say: oh, f*ck.
This book was magnificent. "The Doctor" was my most anticipated book of the year, and it did not disappoint, not one bit. On the contrary, it's the best one yet in a series that I was already thoroughly obsessed with.
We left our favourite, uber-powerful, prickly caster at the end of book two on a horrific cliffhanger: his real identity and his past have finally been discovered by the government. Gillian finds himself, at the start of this third book, in an even more horrific situation: he's been unjustly imprisoned, isolated and beaten, on the verge of giving up for good. But if we've learnt something about Gillian throughout this series, it's that he's a survivor, and he's also a tough son of b****: if there are villains that need to be brought to justice, he'll do anything to do just that, his health and life be damned. And yes, in this third book, there's a whole set of horrible villains, some well-known and some new, who need to be stopped at all costs, but thankfully Gillian isn't left alone for long.
I can't even begin to count the many, MANY things I utterly adored of this book, but, and this comes as a surprise to literally no one, Gillian Hamilton (né Simon Fitzgerald, AKA "the one who needs to be protected at all costs because he deserves all the love and care in the world"), was my absolute favourite. He's such a complex protagonist: self-loathing and broken and clinically insecure, prickly and salty and a badass to boot, but also vulnerable and surprisingly sweet, protective and self-sacrificing and honourable. He's the literal best, and throughout the entire book, we get so many details and new information about his (horrific) past, I just wanted to hug him to death and shield him from everything: he made me cry, ugh.
I adored Gunner before this third book, but I always thought he was a bit too mysterious and secretive for me to completely trust him with Gillian's heart. So let me tell you how damn pleased I was to discover so much about him this time: Constantine Gunner doesn't lie, but during the events of this book, he finally stops obfuscating too. His past was, I'm not going to lie, completely unexpected and I gasped out loud at some of the reveals. But everything about him is slowly making more sense, and my soul hurt for him so much by the end of the book. And, as usual, his gentleman-y attitude and his protective streak made him even more endearing.
I also loved how much their relationship has grown and flourished: the love they have for one another was really palpable, and I cried and swooned and screamed many, many, MANY times.
The side characters we've learnt to love in the second book make an even bigger appearence this time: Addison, as usual, was entertaining and lovable, but I loved witnessing his more humane and compassionate side so damn much; Moore was equally fantastic, honourable and fiercely protective of Gillian, and although I usually loathe any hint of a love triangle, I firmly believe Gillian Hamilton deserves all the love he can get in the world, and Moore's pining, and yes, okay, also Gunner's jealous streak, were VERY welcome additions to the story. Although Moore totally deserves his own HEA aswell.
The story was riveting: I inhaled this book in an afternoon. My heart would not stop racing and I was literally on the edge of my seat the whole damn time. There was action (so much action!) and magic, last-minute saves and daring escapes, twist and turns and shocking reveals, romance and a tiny bit of steam. The protagonists were fantastic and the villains were utterly monstrous, and I cannot wait to see what C.S. Poe will concoct for the fourth book.
That ending though? That was 100% the cruelest thing ever and I don't know if I should cry or scream or re-read the whole book right this minute. Or maybe all of the above.
[TW for: suicidal thoughts, PTSD, homophobia, suicide of a minor character (description, not on page), child abuse]
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book was magnificent. "The Doctor" was my most anticipated book of the year, and it did not disappoint, not one bit. On the contrary, it's the best one yet in a series that I was already thoroughly obsessed with.
We left our favourite, uber-powerful, prickly caster at the end of book two on a horrific cliffhanger: his real identity and his past have finally been discovered by the government. Gillian finds himself, at the start of this third book, in an even more horrific situation: he's been unjustly imprisoned, isolated and beaten, on the verge of giving up for good. But if we've learnt something about Gillian throughout this series, it's that he's a survivor, and he's also a tough son of b****: if there are villains that need to be brought to justice, he'll do anything to do just that, his health and life be damned. And yes, in this third book, there's a whole set of horrible villains, some well-known and some new, who need to be stopped at all costs, but thankfully Gillian isn't left alone for long.
I can't even begin to count the many, MANY things I utterly adored of this book, but, and this comes as a surprise to literally no one, Gillian Hamilton (né Simon Fitzgerald, AKA "the one who needs to be protected at all costs because he deserves all the love and care in the world"), was my absolute favourite. He's such a complex protagonist: self-loathing and broken and clinically insecure, prickly and salty and a badass to boot, but also vulnerable and surprisingly sweet, protective and self-sacrificing and honourable. He's the literal best, and throughout the entire book, we get so many details and new information about his (horrific) past, I just wanted to hug him to death and shield him from everything: he made me cry, ugh.
I adored Gunner before this third book, but I always thought he was a bit too mysterious and secretive for me to completely trust him with Gillian's heart. So let me tell you how damn pleased I was to discover so much about him this time: Constantine Gunner doesn't lie, but during the events of this book, he finally stops obfuscating too. His past was, I'm not going to lie, completely unexpected and I gasped out loud at some of the reveals. But everything about him is slowly making more sense, and my soul hurt for him so much by the end of the book. And, as usual, his gentleman-y attitude and his protective streak made him even more endearing.
I also loved how much their relationship has grown and flourished: the love they have for one another was really palpable, and I cried and swooned and screamed many, many, MANY times.
The side characters we've learnt to love in the second book make an even bigger appearence this time: Addison, as usual, was entertaining and lovable, but I loved witnessing his more humane and compassionate side so damn much; Moore was equally fantastic, honourable and fiercely protective of Gillian, and although I usually loathe any hint of a love triangle, I firmly believe Gillian Hamilton deserves all the love he can get in the world, and Moore's pining, and yes, okay, also Gunner's jealous streak, were VERY welcome additions to the story. Although Moore totally deserves his own HEA aswell.
The story was riveting: I inhaled this book in an afternoon. My heart would not stop racing and I was literally on the edge of my seat the whole damn time. There was action (so much action!) and magic, last-minute saves and daring escapes, twist and turns and shocking reveals, romance and a tiny bit of steam. The protagonists were fantastic and the villains were utterly monstrous, and I cannot wait to see what C.S. Poe will concoct for the fourth book.
That ending though? That was 100% the cruelest thing ever and I don't know if I should cry or scream or re-read the whole book right this minute. Or maybe all of the above.
[TW for: suicidal thoughts, PTSD, homophobia, suicide of a minor character (description, not on page), child abuse]
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2022
Me at the ending of book 1: Hell yes!
Me at the ending of book 2: No, what! No!
Me at the ending of book 3: Don't you dare!
Spoilers for the first two books in this review!
After the big reveal at the end of book 2 with heartbreak mixed in it all, I was terrified to read this book. I know C.S. Poe is not scared to torture us. Pain for breakfast! While this book starts with suffering following the events at the end of book 2, there's also a lot of emotions, good emotions, and yes, not all good but I'm focusing on those. We also have an action packed rollercoaster of a story. There was hardly time to catch my breathe. Gillian and Gunner were as usual incredible and I fall in love with them more at each book. They have come such a long way since their firsr encounter and I have hope, among the pain, that, by the end of book 5 which is going to be the last, they will be happy and in love and maybe sipping some kind of delicious drink by a secluded beach.
The last part of the book had me in a deadly grip by the heart! I need the sequel right this second!
Me at the ending of book 2: No, what! No!
Me at the ending of book 3: Don't you dare!
Spoilers for the first two books in this review!
After the big reveal at the end of book 2 with heartbreak mixed in it all, I was terrified to read this book. I know C.S. Poe is not scared to torture us. Pain for breakfast! While this book starts with suffering following the events at the end of book 2, there's also a lot of emotions, good emotions, and yes, not all good but I'm focusing on those. We also have an action packed rollercoaster of a story. There was hardly time to catch my breathe. Gillian and Gunner were as usual incredible and I fall in love with them more at each book. They have come such a long way since their firsr encounter and I have hope, among the pain, that, by the end of book 5 which is going to be the last, they will be happy and in love and maybe sipping some kind of delicious drink by a secluded beach.
The last part of the book had me in a deadly grip by the heart! I need the sequel right this second!
December 14, 2022
Love this but want more!!!!
June 9, 2022
When a smart character does stupid things, or fails to realize obvious things, for plot purposes, that's a sign, but worst, giving a villain time to speak when the MC could attack. No. I finished the book, but I'm done with this series.
June 15, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
Note: The Doctor picks up shortly after the end of The Gangster in the Magic and Steam series. This review (and the book blurb) has some spoilers for what happens at the end of that second book.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
Note: The Doctor picks up shortly after the end of The Gangster in the Magic and Steam series. This review (and the book blurb) has some spoilers for what happens at the end of that second book.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
May 18, 2022
This book is AMAZING! Best book in the series thus far but the wait for the next book might kill me. All I could say at the end was "f*ck you, Poe" as you think the ending of book two is mindblowing, this one is worse. I saw it coming a mile off as there were enough hints in the final few chapters, but suspecting and actually knowing are two very different things. Gillian. I have no idea what's to come in the next book as Gillian is still so fragile. He gained a lot of confidence in this book. But he's still fragile and will need more time with Gunner before he feels secure in their love and relationship.
Gunner is amazing as always in this book. Steadfast and deadly, he is the perfect counterbalance to Gillian's neurosis. We learn some of his past and secrets begin to unravel in this book, making him seem more human than just this great outlaw who seems to be able to do anything. It breaks my heart to think about what will happen in the next book as he's dragged back into a past he's determined to forget.
Gillian really comes into his own in this book. He has to do what he's always done best and survive. Not only that, but he has to defeat the bad guy. He's not in a good place in the first half of the book and my heart broke for him, though I was happy to see him stand up for himself and realize that he is so much more than what the government tried to make of him.
C.S. Poe told a fantastic story and she managed to take my poor heart through the wringer. I cried for Gillian and his pain in this book. I felt that he really shone in this one and though he's an interesting character in the previous books, it's this one you see past his walls. Wonderfully done.
Gunner is amazing as always in this book. Steadfast and deadly, he is the perfect counterbalance to Gillian's neurosis. We learn some of his past and secrets begin to unravel in this book, making him seem more human than just this great outlaw who seems to be able to do anything. It breaks my heart to think about what will happen in the next book as he's dragged back into a past he's determined to forget.
Gillian really comes into his own in this book. He has to do what he's always done best and survive. Not only that, but he has to defeat the bad guy. He's not in a good place in the first half of the book and my heart broke for him, though I was happy to see him stand up for himself and realize that he is so much more than what the government tried to make of him.
C.S. Poe told a fantastic story and she managed to take my poor heart through the wringer. I cried for Gillian and his pain in this book. I felt that he really shone in this one and though he's an interesting character in the previous books, it's this one you see past his walls. Wonderfully done.
May 30, 2022
Gillian is locked up in an insane asylum and is broken out by Dr Barrie. They escape o n an air ship and then Gillian realizes that the good doctor is actually a bad man. Gunner shows up and then Gillian has to use magic to get them off of the ship.
The rest of the book is then Gillian and Gunner going back to NYC and trying to capture Barrie. Quite gory in places but a good story.
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The rest of the book is then Gillian and Gunner going back to NYC and trying to capture Barrie. Quite gory in places but a good story.
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May 27, 2022
As I set down The Gangster, I immediately began anxiously awaiting this third book in the series. It's a slow reveal, but we eventually learn more of Gillian's background and just how far he has risen. And Gunner the Deadly? Can I just say how frickin' much I adore that name?
As always, CS Poe's world building is stellar in this series, and the plot she has crafted carries us through gun toting robots, magic perverted for nefarious reasons, gruesome battlefield atrocities, and the book ends in another cliffhanger of sorts, as they continue to look for answers.
Side note: I long for the series about Neil from the Snow & Winter series, and now I am adding Loren Moore to that wish list. He has developed into an intriguing character and I want to see him happy, damn it.
5 stars and I am again anxiously awaiting the next book in the series!
I received an ARC from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
Gunner the Deadly - the country's number-one wanted outlaw. The gentlemen thief. The vigiliante. Six fee of all-black wearing, deadeye marksmanship skills, with a penchant for Crown perfume and Black Jack chewing gum. A learned man of literature, with a husky voice from years of smoking Virginia Brights, and eyes so blue that sapphires paled in comparison. Constantine Gunner - the one man on God's green earth who'd considered me his. Who'd adored me without fear, without hesitation, without concern for the secrets that burdened my soul.We get more about Gunner's background as well, and as the secrets are revealed and explained, Gillian and Gunner are stronger together than ever. Gunner's trust and love ("Gunner has right here, reminding me to breathe, telling me it was never to late to begin anew") makes all the difference to Gillian.
As always, CS Poe's world building is stellar in this series, and the plot she has crafted carries us through gun toting robots, magic perverted for nefarious reasons, gruesome battlefield atrocities, and the book ends in another cliffhanger of sorts, as they continue to look for answers.
Side note: I long for the series about Neil from the Snow & Winter series, and now I am adding Loren Moore to that wish list. He has developed into an intriguing character and I want to see him happy, damn it.
5 stars and I am again anxiously awaiting the next book in the series!
I received an ARC from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
August 21, 2022
Gripping stuff! Wow, I love this series. I'm now stuck in that terrible time of having to wait for the next book to be written. This story has big action and big emotion, and I definitely was glued to the page. It's a big rollercoaster of excitement and peril with a moving romance and I loved every second.
June 29, 2022
Amidst the magic and mayhem typical for this steampunk series, we get to see more of Gillian's PTSD and traumatic childhood war-action experience with a gradual exposure to Gunner's hidden past (especially toward the last parts of the read). And any M-M action sequences did not disrupt the reading flow. Apparently there will be two more books left in the series which I presume will feature 3.5 stars.
May 4, 2025
Troisième opus de série, qu'il faut lire dans l'ordre, ce tome se situe dans la directe continuité du précédent et commence un peu plus d'un mois après les évènements qui s'y sont déroulés, risques donc de divulgâchages.
Gillian a tout perdu : son secret lui a éclaté au visage, forcé qu'il a été de tout mettre en œuvre pour arrêter l'Horloger. Et pire que tout, il a aussi perdu Gunner, qui a disparu (en même temps, c'est lui qui lui a demandé de partir, voulant lui éviter une arrestation qui l'amènerait au gibet).
Mais même du fond de l'abime dans lequel il est enfermé, il ressent les perturbations de la magie et il sait que quelque chose de terrible se prépare. Et après tout, le Chirurgien est encore en liberté.
Sur une temporalité encore assez courte, l'action se déroulant du 18 au 28 février 1882, l'auteur nous embarque encore dans une course folle, où le danger menace, où le danger se rapproche et se révèle encore plus effrayant. Mais heureusement, Gillian peut compter sur quelques alliés, notamment Gunner, qui n'a jamais cessé de le chercher.
L'intrigue et la traque se poursuit à vive allure, l'horreur des actions des antagonistes monte encore de plusieurs crans et Gillian va devoir puiser dans toutes ses réserves et ses talents. Mais ce tome est aussi une évolution énorme dans sa relation avec Gunner, où les deux hommes s'ouvrent vraiment à l'autre, où le passé se révèle, où l'on s'aperçoit que finalement, leurs routes auraient pu se croiser beaucoup plus tôt.
Et ce tome se finit une fois de plus sur une révélation qui va ouvrir le tome suivant, qui j'espère arrivera rapidement.
Bref, une série que j'apprécie de plus en plus, au rythme endiablé, aux personnages fouillés, profonds, au monde merveilleusement imagé qui nous fait sentir des relents de vapeur et entendre le grincement des roulements des machines.
Gillian a tout perdu : son secret lui a éclaté au visage, forcé qu'il a été de tout mettre en œuvre pour arrêter l'Horloger. Et pire que tout, il a aussi perdu Gunner, qui a disparu (en même temps, c'est lui qui lui a demandé de partir, voulant lui éviter une arrestation qui l'amènerait au gibet).
Mais même du fond de l'abime dans lequel il est enfermé, il ressent les perturbations de la magie et il sait que quelque chose de terrible se prépare. Et après tout, le Chirurgien est encore en liberté.
Sur une temporalité encore assez courte, l'action se déroulant du 18 au 28 février 1882, l'auteur nous embarque encore dans une course folle, où le danger menace, où le danger se rapproche et se révèle encore plus effrayant. Mais heureusement, Gillian peut compter sur quelques alliés, notamment Gunner, qui n'a jamais cessé de le chercher.
L'intrigue et la traque se poursuit à vive allure, l'horreur des actions des antagonistes monte encore de plusieurs crans et Gillian va devoir puiser dans toutes ses réserves et ses talents. Mais ce tome est aussi une évolution énorme dans sa relation avec Gunner, où les deux hommes s'ouvrent vraiment à l'autre, où le passé se révèle, où l'on s'aperçoit que finalement, leurs routes auraient pu se croiser beaucoup plus tôt.
Et ce tome se finit une fois de plus sur une révélation qui va ouvrir le tome suivant, qui j'espère arrivera rapidement.
Bref, une série que j'apprécie de plus en plus, au rythme endiablé, aux personnages fouillés, profonds, au monde merveilleusement imagé qui nous fait sentir des relents de vapeur et entendre le grincement des roulements des machines.
July 31, 2025
"Are you familiar with Soldier's Heart? They say it's an invisible illness."
Третя частина циклу позаду, і от тепер я точно залучена в історію по самі вуха. Звісно, коли продовження ще нема.
Далеко не все ідеально, я бачу багато речей, до який можна із легкістю і справедливо докопатись. І я не вкрашена, скоріше щемливо закохана. Воно шероховате, місцями не сходиться, але якесь чарівно-рідне. Пишаюся Гілліаном, жахливо переживаю за Ганнера. Мє, емоційно вийшло.
(О, а ще мені подобається, що в словниковому запасі героїв, в мові їх світу є ідіоми та метафори, пов'язані із паровими механізмами. Бо це базова частина навколишнього стімпанк середовища, частина повсякденного життя. Звісно, на мову це впливає. Приємна деталь, явна увага авторки до своєї справи.)
Третя частина циклу позаду, і от тепер я точно залучена в історію по самі вуха. Звісно, коли продовження ще нема.
Далеко не все ідеально, я бачу багато речей, до який можна із легкістю і справедливо докопатись. І я не вкрашена, скоріше щемливо закохана. Воно шероховате, місцями не сходиться, але якесь чарівно-рідне. Пишаюся Гілліаном, жахливо переживаю за Ганнера. Мє, емоційно вийшло.
(О, а ще мені подобається, що в словниковому запасі героїв, в мові їх світу є ідіоми та метафори, пов'язані із паровими механізмами. Бо це базова частина навколишнього стімпанк середовища, частина повсякденного життя. Звісно, на мову це впливає. Приємна деталь, явна увага авторки до своєї справи.)
May 26, 2022
A wonderful and gripping continuation of Gillian's and Gunner's odyssey to overcome the abuse and misuse of magic and magic users. Gillian, sent to rot in a mad house run by a power mad overseer, is helped to escape, but not through compassion or kindness. Rescued by Gunner from the clutches of a man determined to exploit magic aether and quintessence for his own gain, Gillian and Gunner start to hunt down the guilty men. But they have to find out what is at stake, and who is pulling the strings.
June 6, 2022
The Doctor is the third book in the Magic & Steam series and needs to be read in order.
After the evil cliffhanger Ms. Poe left us with in book 2, she throws us right into what happened to Gillian afterward and it was heartbreaking. Gillian has gone through so much throughout his life and it doesn't get easier for him when he lands in Bellevue or when he crosses paths with the newest villain, The Doctor known as Sawbones.
While some parts were difficult to read, I loved getting to know both Gillian and Gunner better. And especially discovering how much more intertwined their lives are than I expected. Of course, it also doesn't hurt that they're amazing together, both as partners and as lovers. I was very happy to see that Gillian was more open to fighting for their relationship, no matter what it entails.
I was completely engrossed with everything happening with The Doctor and the quasi-zombies and then later with what they really wanted to do. I definitely didn't see it coming and can't wait to see how things will unfold in the next book.
This was an action-packed, fast-paced, enthralling addition to the series. If you love steampunk romances, you definitely need to give the Magic & Steam series and allow Ms. Poe to transport you to an adventure-filled world through her words. Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
After the evil cliffhanger Ms. Poe left us with in book 2, she throws us right into what happened to Gillian afterward and it was heartbreaking. Gillian has gone through so much throughout his life and it doesn't get easier for him when he lands in Bellevue or when he crosses paths with the newest villain, The Doctor known as Sawbones.
While some parts were difficult to read, I loved getting to know both Gillian and Gunner better. And especially discovering how much more intertwined their lives are than I expected. Of course, it also doesn't hurt that they're amazing together, both as partners and as lovers. I was very happy to see that Gillian was more open to fighting for their relationship, no matter what it entails.
I was completely engrossed with everything happening with The Doctor and the quasi-zombies and then later with what they really wanted to do. I definitely didn't see it coming and can't wait to see how things will unfold in the next book.
This was an action-packed, fast-paced, enthralling addition to the series. If you love steampunk romances, you definitely need to give the Magic & Steam series and allow Ms. Poe to transport you to an adventure-filled world through her words. Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
July 10, 2022
4.5 stars. I love this world and the characters and can't wait for book 4.
March 26, 2024
Omg I love these two so much... I can't wait for the next book.
September 26, 2022
4,5 stars
May 26, 2022
God this book was PHENOMENAL!
We’re dropped right into the thick of it and things don’t slow down for a moment.
It’s almost ridiculous how much I love Gunner and Gillian. These two powerful and broken men who found each other and are so completely devoted to each other, it’s just.. 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼 Disney has nothing on CS Poe.
I’m certain it took me twice as long to finish the book because I kept rereading all of the sweet, gentle, comforting moments between Gillian and Gunner just so I could keep experiencing that giddy feeling of watching two people in love.
One thing I especially loved was how much freer Gillian is now that his secrets out. The man is a freakin powerhouse. Of course, it’s Gillian, and PTSD and anxiety are kind to no one, no matter how strong they are, but the difference between the first two books in the series and this one is amazing. It feels like he’s been holding his breath for 30 years and could finally let it go.
AND he’s in love 🥰 and he is loved in return 😭🥰 and I’m just such a fan of watching these two learn to fit together. C+G 4EVER!!
But the twist??? And that ending??? Ugh, knife through the heart.
Well, it wasn’t that bad actually. Butterflies in my belly? But not the good kind. The anxiety kind. Flying ants in the belly. I just need book 4 right now because I need to know wtf is happening!
We’re dropped right into the thick of it and things don’t slow down for a moment.
It’s almost ridiculous how much I love Gunner and Gillian. These two powerful and broken men who found each other and are so completely devoted to each other, it’s just.. 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼 Disney has nothing on CS Poe.
I’m certain it took me twice as long to finish the book because I kept rereading all of the sweet, gentle, comforting moments between Gillian and Gunner just so I could keep experiencing that giddy feeling of watching two people in love.
One thing I especially loved was how much freer Gillian is now that his secrets out. The man is a freakin powerhouse. Of course, it’s Gillian, and PTSD and anxiety are kind to no one, no matter how strong they are, but the difference between the first two books in the series and this one is amazing. It feels like he’s been holding his breath for 30 years and could finally let it go.
AND he’s in love 🥰 and he is loved in return 😭🥰 and I’m just such a fan of watching these two learn to fit together. C+G 4EVER!!
But the twist??? And that ending??? Ugh, knife through the heart.
Well, it wasn’t that bad actually. Butterflies in my belly? But not the good kind. The anxiety kind. Flying ants in the belly. I just need book 4 right now because I need to know wtf is happening!
February 18, 2024
I don't think this one made as strong of an impact on me as the second one did; it's definitely not a middle-book, but I do feel like we're Between things in the plot, and I wish we'd gotten a bit more about either of the leads; plus I was a little disappointed that we left New York, and then turned straight around and came back! I still like the characters and their relationship, I like Moore a lot, and I will follow along to the last book in the series. Though, I do think a tighter trilogy might have worked better for me, we'll have to see how much ground there is to cover in book four.
May 30, 2022
Magic and Steam
Could not put this book down. It’s one o’clock in the morning and I had to finish it. CS Poe created another masterpiece and I can’t wait for Book 4. Highly recommend The Doctor.
Could not put this book down. It’s one o’clock in the morning and I had to finish it. CS Poe created another masterpiece and I can’t wait for Book 4. Highly recommend The Doctor.
July 18, 2022
I loved this one. It's fun and engaging and Gillian is endearing. I liked Gunner and the advances in their relationship. It's not perfect but these types of books with so many characters and plot points seldom are.
Can't wait for the next ones.
Can't wait for the next ones.
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