The Raven and the Pig

Celwyn #2

by Lou Kemp

As the music dies, the magician Celwyn is mortally wounded. His darker, immortal brother Pelaez brings him back, barely, with his magic and the party of protagonists travel on the Nautilus to the Cape Verde Islands and the healer of immortals. During the journey, Professor Kang and Bartholomew cannot tell if Pelaez will keep his brother alive. Captain Nemo is ready to evict Pelaez forcibly, but keeping Celwyn alive is the only thing that restrains him.
After Celwyn is saved, the healer requests payment for his services. This sends the adventurers to the catacombs in Capuchin, going underground with ancient and fresh corpses, and an experience they will not forget. If it hadn't been for Captain Nemo's foresight, they would have been lost. Before it is over, several of the protagonists question why it seems everyone from warlocks and vampires to witches, seem to be congregating in their world. Through it all some of them become surprising allies, and a few of their allies turn against them.
In part II, work on the new flying machine begins in earnest bringing attention from the Mafioso and a cherub-like warlock called Duncan.

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2021

About the author

Although originally from California, Lou resides in the Pacific Northwest with family and a herd of cats who like to block her computer screen whenever possible. Before turning to writing full time, she was an engineer and project manager. When not writing, Lou quilts for charity and edits on a pro-bono basis for other authors.

Early work was horror and suspense, later work morphed into a combination of magical realism, mystery and adventure, all painted with a horrific element as needed.

She is one of those writers who doesn’t plan ahead, no outlines, no clue, and sometimes writes herself into a corner. Atmospheric music in the background helps entice the moodier muse that must be present. Listening to Black, by Pearl Jam, really helps.

Chronological milestones:

1988-1993: Short stories in small presses Crossroads, Eldritch Tales, Nightmares, Heliocentric Net, Cabal Asylum, Black October, and Pirate Writings.

1994: Santa Barbara Writers Conference SF/Fantasy/Horror award.

2002: Barnes and Noble anthology 365 Scary Stories

2003-2004: Ghost story anthologies Monsters From Memphis and More Monsters From Memphis. It is possible to find old copies on Amazon.

2003: Honorable mention from Ellen Datlow in The Years Best Fantasy and Horror for one of my short stories.

2009: Anthology story Sherlock’s Opera, Seattle Noir edited by Curt Colbert, Akashic Books. Available through Amazon or Barnes and Noble online.

May 1, 2009, Booklist published a favorable review of my contribution to the anthology. This was a very happy day.

2009: Three books written. Sea of the Vanities, Farm Hall, and Circle of Fifths.

2010: In Memory of the Sibylline, was accepted into the best-selling anthology edited by Charlaine Harris–Crimes by Moonlight. At the time I was the only non-agented, non-book published author accepted into the anthology. The Celwyn series begins. A few months later I hooked up with my agent, Justin Bell of Spectrum Literary.

2018: The story, The Violins Played before Junstan is published in the MWA anthology Odd Partners, edited by Anne Perry. The Celwyn Series begins.

The present: the Celwyn Series continues with books 1-5 available now, and book 6, Swango, available 12-29-24. The Sea of the Vanities is the first companion book, with others to follow. In 2025 Lucky and Mrs. Nemo, book 7 will be released. Book 8 is in draft now.

Reviews

[Rosie Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Raven And The Pig is book two of the Celwyn series of magical realism tales. These are also steeped in >b>steampunk and set around the turn of the twentieth century.


Celwyn is an immortal magician and the book opens with him suffering a terrible injury. He is aboard the Nautilus submarine owned by Captain Nemo, and is being taken to the Cape Verde Islands in search of a special healer. With Celwyn are his associates and friends from book one; Kang, an automaton, and Bartholomew, along with Jules Verne and Celwyn’s estranged brother.

There are many adventures for the travelers as they encounter immortals, witches, vampires and villains of the human kind; several are after the designs for a wonderful new flying machine which Kang and Bartholomew are working on.


As with book one this is a steady paced novel, sprinkled with details of the era which support the magical elements. Celwyn’s love of classical music continues and later his magic is enhanced which allows him to create new exciting abilities. Another good book from this writer.

[R.A. Hutchins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This continuation of Celwyn's journey does not disappoint! With more magic and suspense, an exploration of familial relationships, and the bitter taste of betrayal, Lou Kemp again proves to be a first class storyteller. The interplay between characters of different strengths and abilities, the challenges of whom to trust and which paths to follow, all contribute to a page turner which I couldn't put down! Highly recommend.

[Bob Laerhoven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Due to the appalling stream of media data nowadays, authors have more difficulties coming up with original stories that distinguish them from the mainstream. Lou Kemp not only does that with her Celwyn-series but presents on top of that her unique mixture of literature, magical realism, and mystery. The Raven and the Pig, book 2 in the series, is a bustling tale in which not only Captain Nemo and Jules Verne play their part, but also the peyote-eating, immortal magician Jonas Celwyn and his immoral – and also immortal - brother Pelaez and a colorful cast of foes and friends in the form of witches, vampires, wizards, a mechanical bird, and a nippy professor, part human and part machine. Kemp’s scope and setting, sending the Nautilus and its eclectic crew in quest of several wondrous adventures around half the world in the mid-1800s, is fierce and funny at the same time. Her novel reminded me of the time when “fantasy” was not a genre but a form of literature practiced by renowned, classical authors. I’m ravenous to read more of her series.

[Amy Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story in the Celwyn Stories

Kemp pens another great story in The Raven and the Pig. I have read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed it. This author brings the story to life. The characters had a lot of depth, and were very realistic. This author has a great imagination and I'm glad it's being shared with stories. It is a very well-written story, and I enjoyed it. It is always a joy to read this author's stories. The interesting part of the story is how it brings the reader back in time, and it's filled with magic and fantasy. The characters are really interesting, and have their share of flaws, and secrets. Definitely an unpredictable story, my favorite kind! The Raven and the Pig is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author.

[Sandra Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE RAVEN AND THE PIG is a story of magic and high adventure under the sea and above it. Jonas Celwyn travels with Nemo, author Jules Verne, Pelaez his dark immortal brother and his pet Qing—a unique bird—along with others, to reach and work on a new flying machine, where disaster ensues.
The writing flows with smooth grace and fluid sentences that capture the imagination. Such as: “The glow of the Nautilus’ lamps illuminated the ruins, then dissipated and the inky water enveloped everything.”
AND: “From beside him, Verne’s eyes bounced like excited fireflies.”
AND: “A restless sea sloshed against the window.”
This second in the Celwyn Series will be much enjoyed by Kemp fans.

[Sudeshna Banerjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the part 2 of the Celwyn series and as usual I must say that the author has captured my heart with her flawless writing skills. The characters are great and the plot development is also very interesting. This is the continuation of Celwyn's journey and it doesn't disappoint me for a bit. It has a touch of magical realism which makes you feel good.

I am eagerly waiting to read the next part. It is really interesting and quite gripping too. The storytelling is world class and I will definitely recommend this book to all Fantasy lovers but please do read book 1 before reading this one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chaz Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lou Kemp is a extreme writer and mental developer of intricately growing scenes. This book along with it's part 2 have proven that Lou Kemp skills only get sharper with age. This book is everything that you would have wanted smashed tight into 2 parts. When you read this book you won't rest until you have engulfed part 2 as well. I don't do spoilers so I will shut up now because I literally am bursting at the seams to say more. Author Lou Kemp thanks for doing it again and again plus please keep me in mind once you start production of your movie for the Books. You Are All That And More!

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3, this is a continuation from book 2. The story combines fact and fiction and develops a steampunk world with plenty of characters to remember and follow. This is adventure-heavy and has various character perspectives.


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jade Augustine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredibly well written, entertaining, and unique. I especially love the steampunk vibes this book emanates from its core.

I look forward to delving into the other books in this series.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read in the series! Unique and entertaining book. Kudos to the author. Lou Kemp is a talented author and has masterfully crafted this series. Hope to see more from this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Benjamin X. Wretlind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely do I start a series and run straight through all the books. I can count on one finger the number of times I’ve done that (1). It can be difficult to start a series knowing there is more coming but you can’t get to it. You read something, love the world you’ve been invited into, and then have to wait a few months or a year or more to return. And while I am glad to have been introduced to The Celwyn series by Lou Kemp and tore through the first three novels, I was informed at the very end that there will be at least two more. Foiled again.

The Celwyn series is pure steampunk, replete with classic villains, the scent of a good cigar and technological marvels that are fun to read about. The series centers around a unique magician named Jonas Celwyn and his journeys in the mid-1800s, and the inclusion of Jules Verne in the last two books is genius as the writer gets to glimpse things which could have definitely influenced his writing.

The Raven and the Pig picks up right where the previous novel, Music Shall Untune the Sky, left off. Accompanied by Captain Nemo, we are reintroduced to a mortally wounded Jonas and his companions Kang and Bartholomew on a quest to save Jonas’s life and a race to a flying machine before others get to it first. Jonas’s brother, another magician named Pelaez, has offered to help save Jonas. While they are together, their relationship unfolds. It is not unusual to find strained sibling relationships in literature, but this particular one between the two magicians was very well done.

This is a nonstop novel, one that starts with a bang and does not let up until the final page. Even if the characters are dining or strolling down a street, there is something going on in the background. Kemp’s ability to keep the reader entertained is apparent in The Raven and the Pig, and just like the previous two novels, it is the character arcs, the wit, and the building of relationships that really keeps the momentum going.

Kemp’s stylistic writing is on display here, and the descriptions paint a vivid picture of this imaginary world. The dialogue is tight, on par with the time period, and help move the story forward rather than stilt its growth.

Authors change. It’s as inevitable as the passage of time. Unless an author can pen a three-, four-, or five-book series in one sitting, the first book will not be the same as the last. In some cases, I have loved the first book (e.g., The Passage) and no longer felt impressed by the third (e.g., The City of Mirrors). In other cases, it’s the other way around. The latter is true in this case, at least so far as the third novel. The Raven and the Pig is my favorite read of the Celwyn series…until the next comes out. At that point, I will need to reevaluate my position.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book that takes you into a world of magic and fascinating characters, then open the pages of The Raven and the Pig. Don't be led astray by the unassuming title, this is not a book on animals. Instead, readers will encounter figures such as Captain Nemo and his ship Nautilus, author Jules Verne, magicians, witches, vampires, and other amazements. The adventure begins with one of the party lying near death and the rest determined to save him. Celwyn the magician is slipping away and only a legendary healer can restore him, so the group prepares to journey in search of the immortal Thales. But finding a way to save their friend is only part of the story. The group also must deliver an invitation to a mad magician, parlay with vampires, travel underground rivers, and complete their work on a marvelous new flying machine - all while avoiding thugs from the Mafioso and a centuries-old warlock.

The author has woven together existing characters such as Nemo, legends such as the ravens from the Tower of London, and the visitation of aliens to ancient Earth with new material to create an intriguing world. Could magicians be the descendants of aliens with powers (picture Ra from "Stargate" or demigods from "Percy Jackson")? Could Verne have written about things he actually saw, such as an incredible submarine? Along with all the fanciful elements, there are friendships, complicated sibling relationships, flirtations, descriptions of exotic ports of call and delicious meals. The skirmishes with their enemies show off various skills within the group - magical, tactical, and physical. And there are also hints of humor to offset the darker moments; Pelaez magically has a pig swimming the backstroke around the Nautilus and Celwyn decides to disguise a visiting scientist as a floozy in a floppy wig among other things.

There are many other bits of history and literature worked into the story; the Silk Road, Atlantis, the use of diving suits and sonar on the Nautilus, and the suggestion that once flying machines have been perfected the next step will be trips to the moon. Dryden's poetry and Shakespeare are referred to, and Verne seems particularly jealous that another character is reading the work of Lewis Carroll.

The story of Celwyn began with The Violins Played before Junstan and Music Shall Untune the Sky , and several more books are forthcoming. Part historical fiction, part magical mystery, and part steampunk - this series has something to offer readers of all sorts.

[Larry Landgraf · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Raven and the Pig is book two of Lou’s fantasy series. The fantasy/adventure story moves quickly with recognizable characters such as author Jules Verne whom you may have read or heard about... perhaps 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Jules Verne is traveling with Jonas Celwyn the magician who is dying and his brother Pelaez who is trying to help save him. You will also find the automat Professor Kang (mechanical man) aboard along with Qing, Celwyn’s mechanical pet bird, and the big man, Bartholomew, as they travel with Captain Nemo on his submarine, the Nautilus. Captain Nemo needs Jonas Celwyn alive to help him with his flying machine project. Besides, they are longtime friends.

Dive into the story as they fight vampires, warlocks, witches, and others who also seem to have an interest in the flying machine and are gathering in this part of the world. Join them as they secretly try to perfect and duplicate the airplane.

The story is humorous at times as the men, and women, face daunting tasks and are challenged frequently but a little magic always helps. I enjoyed this story very much and I highly recommend it.

[Taggart Rehnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I obtained an advanced reading copy from the author. Here is my take on the book:
Deliciously readable and imaginative, the narrative flows like a burbling fountain in a garden of action, adventure, magic, steampunk and uneasy family ties harkening back to a time of gods and kings. Onboard the “Nautilus” (yes, Captain Nemo’s—with Jules Verne onboard) brings together two magicians, an ‘automat’ (far more charming that what we might call an ‘android’), a brilliant strongman with fascinating phobias, a warlock, vampires and a few more organically interwoven characters, cohabiting, conflicting, confiding, coercing, conversing, collaborating, rather lushly travelling on a quest with treks and ambushes and deadly challenges that entertains the reader and never stops moving along, capturing one’s imagination. While the main characters are lively and artfully fleshed out, I enjoyed even more the yin and yang interplay between Celwyn and Pelaez, a well-served tasty slice of life for readers with siblings. Portends and a convivial atmosphere, perfectly placed doses of humour and sarcasm, plenty of magical tricks and sorcery challenging late XIX century positivist minds with a dogged determination to create new technological wonders—and, of course, the raven and the pig, as sprightly and different from one another as what they, in some ways, symbolize—make the story as compelling and rich as the bon vivant comforts, the friendship and camaraderie, the powerful imagery above and below the water and land surface; overall, delightful narrative with an unexpected (unless you paid very close attention to clues Kemp skillfully provided along the way) yet inevitable ending. Although the scenes are vivid and nicely rounded off, I was mildly disappointed one of the main confrontations wasn’t expanded a bit more, but presume it was so designed to both let the action flow as impeccably as it does and to leave the door open to new and even more fascinating adventures on volumes to follow.

[Julia Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the continuation of the Celwyn series, Lou Kemp has succeeded in making the second book even better than the first. Bartholomew and Kang are by Celwyn’s side once again, as are Captain Nemo and Jules Verne. Kemp brings Celwyn’s half-brother into the story, adding significant tension and humor between the characters. I found it hard to decide if Pelaez was a friend or foe.

There are a couple of plot strands that contribute to the exploits. The first is that Celwyn has been wounded and Pelaez is the one keeping him alive until they can get him to Thales, an immortal healer. The second is a flying machine that Captain Nemo, Kang, and Bartholomew are working to build and the third is that they are being hunted. The group is trying to protect the flying machine from both the Mafiosa and the warlock Duncan. Fortunately, Celywyn has had conflicts with Duncan before and is able to use his knowledge in a confrontation.

The Raven and the Pig works well as a stand-alone novel, but why prevent yourself from a truly marvelous reading experience? Lou Kemp is one author I have no problem encouraging you to read everything she has written

[Gina Rae Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Raven and the Pig by Lou Kemp is a continuation of the Celwyn series. The prequel is The Violins Played Before Junstan and Music Shall Untune the Sky is book one. While it’s not actually required to read the books in order, I always recommend that if possible you read a series in the author’s preferred order. I think this provides a nuance to the characters and storyline that the reader might otherwise miss.

Book two continues the adventures of Celwyn, Professor Kang, Bartholomew, Captain Nemo, Jules Verne, and a host of other characters we’ve previously met.

The author’s descriptive writing style places the reader deep in the story. You can see the exotic fish through the aquatic window of the submarine, Nautilus. You’ll marvel at the sight of Atlantis. But, most importantly, the reader feels intimately acquainted with the cast of characters.

I think Steampunk is a unique fantasy genre. With flying machines, mechanical birds, and automats you know you are in the midst of steampunk genius while reading this book.

I highly recommend The Raven and the Pig to all readers who enjoy a technology inspired steampunk tale with relatable characters and a superb storyline.

[Rose Walken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was riveting from the first few pages until the very last. Have you ever read an author’s writing that you would describe as elegant? Then you’ll know how I felt after reading The Raven and the Pig. It is the third book I’ve read by Lou Kemp, and the writing reached a wonderful balance of descriptive and compelling without feeling over-embellished or self-indulgent. From Chapter 6: “Clouds of small white fish with bulbous faces scattered before the ship, and a long Mako shark with prehistoric eyes swerved toward the glass, disappearing below the submarine”—I reread this a few times simply because it was so pleasant and transported me into the story. And that’s what I think most people will get out of Lou Kemp’s writing: a delightful journey into the worlds she so masterfully creates.

[Jennie Rosenblum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love good steampunk and this series is that. I read these books out of order which kept me jumping around in my mind so I would highly suggest reading them in order, even though I believe this one could be a standalone. This author not only has wonderful characters but throws into the mix other historical characters such as Captain Nemo and Jules Verne, giving even more richness to the plot.

Flying machines and mystery are just part of the read. There is magic and adventure around every turn of the page.

[Sarah Segall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book three in the series does not disappoint! Full of humor, fantastical creatures, magic, mystery, and a fairly high body count. The characters are engaging, plenty of adventure and exotic locales. Well paced with catch-your-breath moments between the did-not-see-that-coming ones. Lou Kemp tells a great story.

[Charmaine Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two continues the story and escalates the action. Pelaez has joined the party bringing his malicious humor and questionable motives.
The scene in the forest with the warlock will stay with you for a long time.
I love the characters and really understand Bartholomew's paranoia. A great read.

[Tanya Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting set of characters and events. Would have gone better if I had read the books previous in the series. Since this was the first book I have read in the series keeping track of the characters and events was challenging.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great entry in the Celwyn series. It had a great storyline and was what I was looking for in this series. It had what I was looking for from the author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Laura DeGrave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mysterious sceneries.
Intriguing characters.
Magic and science combined.
The saga continues, as Celwyn and his compatriots encounter new adventures with old rivals.
Step aboard the Nautilus for an unforgettable experience.