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Huntsmen #1
Uncanny Times
Huntsmen, according to the Church, were damned, their blood unclean, unholy. Yet for Rosemary and Aaron Harker the Church was less important than being ready to stand against the Uncanny as not being prepared could lead to being dead.
The year is 1913. America—and the world—trembles on the edge of a modern age. Political and social unrest shift the foundations; technology is beginning to make its mark.
But in the shadows, things from the past still move. Things inhuman, uncanny.
And the Uncanny are no friend to humanity.
But when Aaron and Rosemary Harker go to investigate the suspicious death of a distant relative, what they discover could turn their world upside down—and change the Huntsmen forever
The year is 1913. America—and the world—trembles on the edge of a modern age. Political and social unrest shift the foundations; technology is beginning to make its mark.
But in the shadows, things from the past still move. Things inhuman, uncanny.
And the Uncanny are no friend to humanity.
But when Aaron and Rosemary Harker go to investigate the suspicious death of a distant relative, what they discover could turn their world upside down—and change the Huntsmen forever
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2022
49 people are currently reading
7468 people want to read
About the author
Laura Anne Gilman
122 books824 followersLaura Anne Gilman’s work has been hailed as “a true American myth” by NPR, and praised for her “deft plotting and first-class characters” by Publishers Weekly. She has won the Endeavor Award for THE COLD EYE, and been shortlisted for a Nebula, (another) Endeavor, and a Washington State Book Award. Her work includes the Devil’s West trilogy, the Cosa Nostradamus urban fantasy series, the Vineart trilogy, and the story collection WEST WINDS’ FOOL. Her upcoming move, UNCANNY TIMES, will be out from Saga Books in 2022.
She lives in Seattle with a cat, a dog, and many deadlines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
December 10, 2022
I finished this one a while back and forgot to write a review, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Brother and sister monster hunters set around the turn of the 20th century. Squarely urban fantasy with a historical twist. Their supernatural hound dog, Botheration, was especially likeable (and what a great name) and I'd read more in this world. Nothing too deep going on. Just good fun fantasy.
July 27, 2024
3.5 stars (maybe even a little more)
This is my second time trying a Laura Anne Gilman novel. She has ideas that attract me, combinations of fantasy, supernatural, and mystery that I think ought to be excellent, but somehow I don't attach properly. This one has the Uncanny—all the supernatural creatures like werewolves and vampires—but they hide in the shadows. If they threaten humans, Huntsmen get sent to investigate and eliminate.
Aaron and Rosemary are siblings of a Huntsman family. They have been trained since they were children to wield weapons, to master the arcane knowledge, and to conceal their mission from regular humans. I loved their huge hound, Botheration, who is protection, early warning system, tracker, and defender, all wrapped in one furry body.
The Harkers get called to the scene of a cousin's death to determine its cause. They get mixed messages from both the clues and from the townsfolk. It's 1913 and industrialization is going strong. There's a new mill in town and no one wants to lose this economic driver. However, workers are thinking about unionization and women are active in the suffrage movement. It's enough to make a businessman cranky and there are a couple of grouchy movers and shakers staying at the same boarding house as Aaron and Rosemary.
The surname Harker may be suggest some relationship to the Harkers in Dracula? If so, it's very subtle. The siblings acknowledge that the Huntsman genome probably owes something to Fey ancestors, giving them a sensitivity to the Uncanny. Among their landlady's employees are two young women with a touch of the Sight and who end up helping them out in small but significant ways.
I like all of the ingredients, but the finished product failed to delight. It's good, but I am left reluctantly with the feeling that something crucial and unidentified is missing from the recipe.
This is my second time trying a Laura Anne Gilman novel. She has ideas that attract me, combinations of fantasy, supernatural, and mystery that I think ought to be excellent, but somehow I don't attach properly. This one has the Uncanny—all the supernatural creatures like werewolves and vampires—but they hide in the shadows. If they threaten humans, Huntsmen get sent to investigate and eliminate.
Aaron and Rosemary are siblings of a Huntsman family. They have been trained since they were children to wield weapons, to master the arcane knowledge, and to conceal their mission from regular humans. I loved their huge hound, Botheration, who is protection, early warning system, tracker, and defender, all wrapped in one furry body.
The Harkers get called to the scene of a cousin's death to determine its cause. They get mixed messages from both the clues and from the townsfolk. It's 1913 and industrialization is going strong. There's a new mill in town and no one wants to lose this economic driver. However, workers are thinking about unionization and women are active in the suffrage movement. It's enough to make a businessman cranky and there are a couple of grouchy movers and shakers staying at the same boarding house as Aaron and Rosemary.
The surname Harker may be suggest some relationship to the Harkers in Dracula? If so, it's very subtle. The siblings acknowledge that the Huntsman genome probably owes something to Fey ancestors, giving them a sensitivity to the Uncanny. Among their landlady's employees are two young women with a touch of the Sight and who end up helping them out in small but significant ways.
I like all of the ingredients, but the finished product failed to delight. It's good, but I am left reluctantly with the feeling that something crucial and unidentified is missing from the recipe.
July 5, 2024
I don't know if this is supposed to be Young Adult but it is definitely appropriate to that age. Taking place in the early part of the 1900s, it was a nice urban fantasy with a bit of horror thrown in. I enjoyed this first book in the series. It was a quick read. It would make an excellent palate cleaner!
I also won this from the publisher in a Goodreads Giveaway.
I also won this from the publisher in a Goodreads Giveaway.
June 21, 2022
Siblings Aaron and Rosemary Harker hunt the monsters in 1913 United States. When an extended relative dies, they travel to investigate the Uncanny that killed him.
The best part of this book is our two main characters. They are both our Points of View, and the dynamic between them is fascinating. Aaron is neurodivergent (a quirk that Rosemary blames on on the Fey in their ancestors), and so his mind doesn’t run on the same track as Rosemary’s. In their hunts, they often unbalance each other and disagree. However, they are all the other one has, and so they stick together as a dynamic duo.
For Aaron, being a Huntsman is a privilege. He is good at it, and finds satisfaction there. He likes to use it as an excuse for not participating fully in society.
For Rosemary, being a Huntsman is a burden. She wants to participate in society. In another life, she could have been a suffragette, but her job taking care of the monsters always has to be her priority instead.
This push and pull between the siblings (in personality and motivation) was so fun. The more I got to know them, the more I enjoyed this book.
The book also nailed the stetting. The vocabulary and societal norms are suitably from 1913.
In the end, the plot was okay. The ending, though the mystery was wrapped up, felt more tragic than happy. It fit the dramatic and somber mood of the rest of the story.
A video review including this book will be on my Youtube channel in the coming weeks, at https://www.youtube.com/chloefrizzle
Thanks to Gallery/Saga Press and NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
The best part of this book is our two main characters. They are both our Points of View, and the dynamic between them is fascinating. Aaron is neurodivergent (a quirk that Rosemary blames on on the Fey in their ancestors), and so his mind doesn’t run on the same track as Rosemary’s. In their hunts, they often unbalance each other and disagree. However, they are all the other one has, and so they stick together as a dynamic duo.
For Aaron, being a Huntsman is a privilege. He is good at it, and finds satisfaction there. He likes to use it as an excuse for not participating fully in society.
For Rosemary, being a Huntsman is a burden. She wants to participate in society. In another life, she could have been a suffragette, but her job taking care of the monsters always has to be her priority instead.
This push and pull between the siblings (in personality and motivation) was so fun. The more I got to know them, the more I enjoyed this book.
The book also nailed the stetting. The vocabulary and societal norms are suitably from 1913.
In the end, the plot was okay. The ending, though the mystery was wrapped up, felt more tragic than happy. It fit the dramatic and somber mood of the rest of the story.
A video review including this book will be on my Youtube channel in the coming weeks, at https://www.youtube.com/chloefrizzle
Thanks to Gallery/Saga Press and NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book to review. All opinions are my own.
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July 21, 2022DNF at 45%.
The blurb for this sounded so promising, and I loved that book cover... unfortunately, the content of the book was a disappointment.
The story moves at a snail pace. None of the characters are interesting enough to be memorable. I mean, a duo of supernatural hunters, brother and sister at that, should be fun, right? Wrong. Probably because their POVs sound so similar that I can barely tell them apart. The other characters are not memorable at all.
And as I said, the story is so slow that nothing really happened by the time I reached the almost halfway mark.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The blurb for this sounded so promising, and I loved that book cover... unfortunately, the content of the book was a disappointment.
The story moves at a snail pace. None of the characters are interesting enough to be memorable. I mean, a duo of supernatural hunters, brother and sister at that, should be fun, right? Wrong. Probably because their POVs sound so similar that I can barely tell them apart. The other characters are not memorable at all.
And as I said, the story is so slow that nothing really happened by the time I reached the almost halfway mark.
PS: I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2022
3.5 stars
The description of this book sounded just up my alley: siblings who hunt supernatural creatures. Bonus, takes place in the early 20th century, and I usually like this type of historical fantasy. And the setup is good, the plot is interesting, but I felt meh about the characters. And for me, feeling a connection with the characters is one of the most important things about a book. So without that feeling of connection, I just wasn't as into the book as I had hoped to be. I did rather like the dog, Bother, though.
I do think that this is a good story and other readers will really enjoy this book. It just wasn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy of the ebook for review.
The description of this book sounded just up my alley: siblings who hunt supernatural creatures. Bonus, takes place in the early 20th century, and I usually like this type of historical fantasy. And the setup is good, the plot is interesting, but I felt meh about the characters. And for me, feeling a connection with the characters is one of the most important things about a book. So without that feeling of connection, I just wasn't as into the book as I had hoped to be. I did rather like the dog, Bother, though.
I do think that this is a good story and other readers will really enjoy this book. It just wasn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy of the ebook for review.
January 27, 2024
Uncanny Times
by Laura Anne Gilman
Huntsmen #1
Fantasy Mystery
Everand (Scribd) Audio
Goodreads Giveaway
14+
In 1913, twenty-something-year-old siblings Rosemary and Aaron Harker are Huntsmen, those who the Church claim are damned because their blood is tainted, but are still relied on to hunt the Uncanny, creatures of folklore and myths.
When a message arrives from the wife of a distant cousin, claiming that upon her husband's death, she was to contact them, which leads the Harkers to suspect that an Uncanny had something to do with it. And they are right, but it does not act like any known Uncanny.
Keeping at a steady pace, and reminding me of the TV show 'Supernatural', Uncanny Times opened quickly with the two MCs and their dog, which is not quite your typical dog, and the plot quickly developed.
I liked the story but wish there'd been more history about the Uncanny and the Huntsmen. Enough was given for the reader to understand who, what, why, and the such about the two groups, but it wasn't a deep dive into the background.
Aaron and Rosemary both have their own personalities and quirks, but they also share some of the same traits as siblings do, but their dog, Botheration, or Bother, is an interesting character because he is a special breed.
The Uncanny that were introduced needed more descriptions because they did not leap off the page as they should have.
If the story had more action, instead of walking around asking questions, this could've been a lot more entertaining, but that is how a mystery is solved.
Not a lot of violence but there is some gore. Overall it's suitable for readers 14 and older.
3 Stars
by Laura Anne Gilman
Huntsmen #1
Fantasy Mystery
Everand (Scribd) Audio
Goodreads Giveaway
14+
In 1913, twenty-something-year-old siblings Rosemary and Aaron Harker are Huntsmen, those who the Church claim are damned because their blood is tainted, but are still relied on to hunt the Uncanny, creatures of folklore and myths.
When a message arrives from the wife of a distant cousin, claiming that upon her husband's death, she was to contact them, which leads the Harkers to suspect that an Uncanny had something to do with it. And they are right, but it does not act like any known Uncanny.
Keeping at a steady pace, and reminding me of the TV show 'Supernatural', Uncanny Times opened quickly with the two MCs and their dog, which is not quite your typical dog, and the plot quickly developed.
I liked the story but wish there'd been more history about the Uncanny and the Huntsmen. Enough was given for the reader to understand who, what, why, and the such about the two groups, but it wasn't a deep dive into the background.
Aaron and Rosemary both have their own personalities and quirks, but they also share some of the same traits as siblings do, but their dog, Botheration, or Bother, is an interesting character because he is a special breed.
The Uncanny that were introduced needed more descriptions because they did not leap off the page as they should have.
If the story had more action, instead of walking around asking questions, this could've been a lot more entertaining, but that is how a mystery is solved.
Not a lot of violence but there is some gore. Overall it's suitable for readers 14 and older.
3 Stars
October 21, 2022
Uncanny Times feels like it’s set in the ‘Weird West’, but it’s not. Still feels that way though. Rather, it’s set in a kind of alternate early-20th century New England, but the New England that grew out of Washington Irving’s creepy folklore-ish stories such as Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Rosemary and Aaron Harker might never have hunted a ‘headless horseman’ but whatever they’re after in tiny Brunson, New York, on the shores of Lake Ontario – in November! – is certainly equally uncanny. They just don’t know exactly what it is – at least not yet.
It’s their job to find out. The Harkers are Huntsmen, from a long line of people who have the ability to deal with the uncanny. They go where they are sent, figure out the nature of the threat they have to face – and eliminate it without involving local law enforcement or putting the local populace in danger – or at least in any more danger than they already are.
But this case is different from the beginning. They are summoned, not by one of their superiors in the Huntsmen but rather by an old family friend who always knew about the uncanny and those who are tasked with fighting it.
Or rather, by the man’s widow, who makes it clear that his death was as uncanny as the creatures that Rosemary and Aaron usually hunt. One of the man’s last requests was that if there was anything suspicious about his death that his wife ask the Harkers to come. There was and she has.
And the man was right – his death was at the hands of something uncanny. Something that doesn’t seem to be recorded in the rather extensive records of the Huntsmen. But whatever it is, or was, or wants to gorge itself into becoming, it’s up to Rosemary and Aaron to take it out – or go down trying.
Escape Rating B-: Uncanny Times is kind of a gothic version of historical and/or urban fantasy, with a bit of alternate history thrown in for bodies and spice. I call it gothic because the creeping horror is very slow burn, and it’s imbued in the atmosphere of the town long before we see it manifest as any sort of creature that the story can sink its teeth into – or that can sink its teeth into the characters.
This also doesn’t read like the version of 1913 that history records. Instead, it reads like the Weird West, an alternate version of the late 19th century – or what followed in this case – where the things that go bump in the night are real and history has gone down a different – and much creepier – leg of the trousers of time.
So this may be pre-World War I by our calendar, and Woodrow Wilson is President – but he’s no pacifist in this version of history. So it’s 1913 by way of something like Cherie Priest’s Boneshaker – we just haven’t seen what the equivalent of the massive earthquake was. At least not yet. The world of the Huntsmen reads more like that of Charlaine Harris’ Gunnie Rose, or Lindsay Schopfer’s Keltin Moore than it does the pre-WW1 world we’re familiar with. While the Huntmen organization and what it fights reads as very similar to the Circuit Riders of The Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley’s alternate world.
The story in Uncanny Times is a slow build of creeping horror mixed with more than a bit of confused investigation. It takes quite a while to get itself going, but that feels like its a necessary part of the entire story. Not only is this the first book in a projected series, but the creature that the Harkers are hunting for isn’t something that is supposed to exist even in their version of the world.
Added to that, they have to operate in plain sight while concealing pretty much everything they really are and really do. Most people don’t believe, and the ones that do mostly can’t be trusted. They even have to hide the true nature of their dog, because he isn’t just a dog. Botheration (best name ever!), besides being a VERY good boy, is also a hellhound and an expert tracker of both ordinary humans AND the creatures that the Huntsmen hunt.
And he steals pretty much every scene he’s in. Botheration is an awesome dog. (Don’t worry about Botheration, he’s bigger and stronger than most things that he hunts – and he comes out of this story every bit as fine as he went into it. I promise!)
I recognize that I’m a bit all over the map about Uncanny Times. I picked this up because I loved the author’s Retrievers series, which still has a place in my heart and on my physical bookshelf even 20 years later. But I have to confess that the lightning hasn’t struck again in that I’ve tried some of her later series but haven’t gotten hooked.
And I have to say that I liked Uncanny Times but didn’t love it as much as I hoped. It takes a long time to get itself going, and its two points of view characters are very private people. We don’t get to see nearly enough of what makes either of them tick. A lot of their investigation is obscured by fogs of various kinds and it makes the story murky as well.
But I loved Botheration. And the setting is fascinating because it feels like alternate history but the reviews don’t make it sound like it actually is – which really makes me wonder if I read the same thing everyone else did. So I’m torn, but whole in my conviction that I’ll pick up the next book in the series, whenever it comes out, at least to see what Botheration is bothering next!
Originally published at Reading Reality
Rosemary and Aaron Harker might never have hunted a ‘headless horseman’ but whatever they’re after in tiny Brunson, New York, on the shores of Lake Ontario – in November! – is certainly equally uncanny. They just don’t know exactly what it is – at least not yet.
It’s their job to find out. The Harkers are Huntsmen, from a long line of people who have the ability to deal with the uncanny. They go where they are sent, figure out the nature of the threat they have to face – and eliminate it without involving local law enforcement or putting the local populace in danger – or at least in any more danger than they already are.
But this case is different from the beginning. They are summoned, not by one of their superiors in the Huntsmen but rather by an old family friend who always knew about the uncanny and those who are tasked with fighting it.
Or rather, by the man’s widow, who makes it clear that his death was as uncanny as the creatures that Rosemary and Aaron usually hunt. One of the man’s last requests was that if there was anything suspicious about his death that his wife ask the Harkers to come. There was and she has.
And the man was right – his death was at the hands of something uncanny. Something that doesn’t seem to be recorded in the rather extensive records of the Huntsmen. But whatever it is, or was, or wants to gorge itself into becoming, it’s up to Rosemary and Aaron to take it out – or go down trying.
Escape Rating B-: Uncanny Times is kind of a gothic version of historical and/or urban fantasy, with a bit of alternate history thrown in for bodies and spice. I call it gothic because the creeping horror is very slow burn, and it’s imbued in the atmosphere of the town long before we see it manifest as any sort of creature that the story can sink its teeth into – or that can sink its teeth into the characters.
This also doesn’t read like the version of 1913 that history records. Instead, it reads like the Weird West, an alternate version of the late 19th century – or what followed in this case – where the things that go bump in the night are real and history has gone down a different – and much creepier – leg of the trousers of time.
So this may be pre-World War I by our calendar, and Woodrow Wilson is President – but he’s no pacifist in this version of history. So it’s 1913 by way of something like Cherie Priest’s Boneshaker – we just haven’t seen what the equivalent of the massive earthquake was. At least not yet. The world of the Huntsmen reads more like that of Charlaine Harris’ Gunnie Rose, or Lindsay Schopfer’s Keltin Moore than it does the pre-WW1 world we’re familiar with. While the Huntmen organization and what it fights reads as very similar to the Circuit Riders of The Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley’s alternate world.
The story in Uncanny Times is a slow build of creeping horror mixed with more than a bit of confused investigation. It takes quite a while to get itself going, but that feels like its a necessary part of the entire story. Not only is this the first book in a projected series, but the creature that the Harkers are hunting for isn’t something that is supposed to exist even in their version of the world.
Added to that, they have to operate in plain sight while concealing pretty much everything they really are and really do. Most people don’t believe, and the ones that do mostly can’t be trusted. They even have to hide the true nature of their dog, because he isn’t just a dog. Botheration (best name ever!), besides being a VERY good boy, is also a hellhound and an expert tracker of both ordinary humans AND the creatures that the Huntsmen hunt.
And he steals pretty much every scene he’s in. Botheration is an awesome dog. (Don’t worry about Botheration, he’s bigger and stronger than most things that he hunts – and he comes out of this story every bit as fine as he went into it. I promise!)
I recognize that I’m a bit all over the map about Uncanny Times. I picked this up because I loved the author’s Retrievers series, which still has a place in my heart and on my physical bookshelf even 20 years later. But I have to confess that the lightning hasn’t struck again in that I’ve tried some of her later series but haven’t gotten hooked.
And I have to say that I liked Uncanny Times but didn’t love it as much as I hoped. It takes a long time to get itself going, and its two points of view characters are very private people. We don’t get to see nearly enough of what makes either of them tick. A lot of their investigation is obscured by fogs of various kinds and it makes the story murky as well.
But I loved Botheration. And the setting is fascinating because it feels like alternate history but the reviews don’t make it sound like it actually is – which really makes me wonder if I read the same thing everyone else did. So I’m torn, but whole in my conviction that I’ll pick up the next book in the series, whenever it comes out, at least to see what Botheration is bothering next!
Originally published at Reading Reality
May 4, 2022
Book Review: Uncanny Times
Author: Laura Anne Gilman
Publisher: Gallery Books/Gallery Saga Press
Publication Date: October 18, 2022
Review Date: May 4, 2022
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
From the blurb:
“Huntsmen, according to the Church, were damned, their blood unclean, unholy. Yet for Rosemary and Aaron Harker the Church was less important than being ready to stand against the Uncanny as not being prepared could lead to being dead.
The year is 1913. America—and the world—trembles on the edge of a modern age. Political and social unrest shift the foundations; technology is beginning to make its mark.
But in the shadows, things from the past still move. Things inhuman, uncanny.
And the Uncanny are no friend to humanity.
But when Aaron and Rosemary Harker go to investigate the suspicious death of a distant relative, what they discover could turn their world upside down—and change the Huntsmen forever.”
————
This is a fascinating, unusald book about things that unpleasantly go bump in the night. Things not seen by most, though effects by these creepy one are Hunted by the Huntsmen.
The plot of this book was first class; the characters we so very, very well developed, including Bother aka Botheration, their dog, who travels with Aaron and Rosemary, the Huntsmen.
I’m always a sucker for books that feature a canine protagonist. By protagonist. I mean the trio of Aaron, Rosemary and Bother.
I’d classify the genre of this book as Horror, though Gallery Books/Gallery Saga Press classified as Sci-Fi & Fantasy.
I found the book quite compelling, and see that the author has been quite prolific, so I scout out more books by her.
Thank you to Gallery Books/Saga Press for giving me early access to this book. And best of luck to the author, Laura Anne Gilman with her continued literary career.
This review will be posted on NetGalley and Goodreads.
#netgalley #uncannytimes #gallerypress #lauraannegilman
Author: Laura Anne Gilman
Publisher: Gallery Books/Gallery Saga Press
Publication Date: October 18, 2022
Review Date: May 4, 2022
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
From the blurb:
“Huntsmen, according to the Church, were damned, their blood unclean, unholy. Yet for Rosemary and Aaron Harker the Church was less important than being ready to stand against the Uncanny as not being prepared could lead to being dead.
The year is 1913. America—and the world—trembles on the edge of a modern age. Political and social unrest shift the foundations; technology is beginning to make its mark.
But in the shadows, things from the past still move. Things inhuman, uncanny.
And the Uncanny are no friend to humanity.
But when Aaron and Rosemary Harker go to investigate the suspicious death of a distant relative, what they discover could turn their world upside down—and change the Huntsmen forever.”
————
This is a fascinating, unusald book about things that unpleasantly go bump in the night. Things not seen by most, though effects by these creepy one are Hunted by the Huntsmen.
The plot of this book was first class; the characters we so very, very well developed, including Bother aka Botheration, their dog, who travels with Aaron and Rosemary, the Huntsmen.
I’m always a sucker for books that feature a canine protagonist. By protagonist. I mean the trio of Aaron, Rosemary and Bother.
I’d classify the genre of this book as Horror, though Gallery Books/Gallery Saga Press classified as Sci-Fi & Fantasy.
I found the book quite compelling, and see that the author has been quite prolific, so I scout out more books by her.
Thank you to Gallery Books/Saga Press for giving me early access to this book. And best of luck to the author, Laura Anne Gilman with her continued literary career.
This review will be posted on NetGalley and Goodreads.
#netgalley #uncannytimes #gallerypress #lauraannegilman
February 28, 2023
Electronic ARC provided by NetGalley.
Do you really like Supernatural but wish that it came with more respect for female characters and a cool historical fiction setting? If so then this is the series for you. Uncanny Times sets up a world where Huntsmen pursue the Uncanny against the backdrop of pre-WWI era New England. As this book begins, siblings Rosemary and Aaron Harker are summoned to investigate the death of a distant relative. The mystery of what killed him is set nicely amidst the workings of a New England town full of local color--including growing tensions between industrial investors and labor advocates.
Uncanny Times is an engaging entry into a new historical fiction supernatural series. I loved Rosemary and Aaron; they are both realistically flawed characters, and there were enough hints dropped about each of their personalities that I know there will be plenty to explore in later books. I was especially interested to see Rosemary as the elder sibling. Historical settings like this almost always give us an older brother taking care of his younger sister, so the dynamic of the older sister paired with the younger brother (who is still more generally respected as the man of the pair), feels fresh and puts the two characters on more equal footing. Along those same lines, the book is conscious of class and gender conventions of the early 1900s but in what feels like a more realistic fashion to many other books I've read. People are treated like people, not caricatures of old timey sexism.
This story is a complete and satisfying mystery, but one of the most exciting part of the book is how it sets up the world and lays the ground for future stories. There is a lot going on behind the scenes and I'm looking forward to seeing what Rosemary and Aaron deal with next.
Do you really like Supernatural but wish that it came with more respect for female characters and a cool historical fiction setting? If so then this is the series for you. Uncanny Times sets up a world where Huntsmen pursue the Uncanny against the backdrop of pre-WWI era New England. As this book begins, siblings Rosemary and Aaron Harker are summoned to investigate the death of a distant relative. The mystery of what killed him is set nicely amidst the workings of a New England town full of local color--including growing tensions between industrial investors and labor advocates.
Uncanny Times is an engaging entry into a new historical fiction supernatural series. I loved Rosemary and Aaron; they are both realistically flawed characters, and there were enough hints dropped about each of their personalities that I know there will be plenty to explore in later books. I was especially interested to see Rosemary as the elder sibling. Historical settings like this almost always give us an older brother taking care of his younger sister, so the dynamic of the older sister paired with the younger brother (who is still more generally respected as the man of the pair), feels fresh and puts the two characters on more equal footing. Along those same lines, the book is conscious of class and gender conventions of the early 1900s but in what feels like a more realistic fashion to many other books I've read. People are treated like people, not caricatures of old timey sexism.
This story is a complete and satisfying mystery, but one of the most exciting part of the book is how it sets up the world and lays the ground for future stories. There is a lot going on behind the scenes and I'm looking forward to seeing what Rosemary and Aaron deal with next.
December 25, 2022
The time is the early 1900's with all the clashes of modernization.
The Harkers are Huntmen, tasked with killing the Uncanny that decide humans are acceptable prey. A letter summons them to a distant relative's town where a number of men have turned up dead. What killed and why. Can they figure out what is going on and stop it before they themselves end up dead.
The Harkers are Huntmen, tasked with killing the Uncanny that decide humans are acceptable prey. A letter summons them to a distant relative's town where a number of men have turned up dead. What killed and why. Can they figure out what is going on and stop it before they themselves end up dead.
October 15, 2022
3.5 stars. Uncanny Times is a delicious combination of historical, fantasy, mystery, and horror. I love the setting, 1913 rural New York, and really enjoyed the sibling dynamic between Aaron and Rosemary. And Botheration! Possibly my favorite name ever for a fictional canine.
The story begins with Aaron and Rosemary responding to a strange summons from their father's cousin — in the event of his death, he has requested that they come to town. Strange, but not so strange for a family full of Huntsmen. Aaron and Rosemary, though young, are well-trained in their roles as hunters of the Uncanny, and are eager to get to Brunson, New York to search out the uncanny responsible for three recent deaths. What they find is not what they expect, and certainly nothing they've ever encountered before. Will they be able to stop the monster from attacking more innocents, or will they fall prey to it as well?
This was a super fun concept, gothic in atmosphere and with plenty of banter between the characters. Rosemary is a strong, intelligent female, and her brother is a nice counterbalance to her personality. I did find the book to be a bit slow, but I generally find that's to be expected with the first book in any series. There is much more character defining and world building in the first book than in later installments. I also relished the lack of romance in this book, as it is refreshing from time to time to focus on a relationship that is not romantic in nature. I think it wrapped up a bit quickly, but this is a minor gripe.
Thank you to Laura Anne Gilman, Gallery / Saga Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
The story begins with Aaron and Rosemary responding to a strange summons from their father's cousin — in the event of his death, he has requested that they come to town. Strange, but not so strange for a family full of Huntsmen. Aaron and Rosemary, though young, are well-trained in their roles as hunters of the Uncanny, and are eager to get to Brunson, New York to search out the uncanny responsible for three recent deaths. What they find is not what they expect, and certainly nothing they've ever encountered before. Will they be able to stop the monster from attacking more innocents, or will they fall prey to it as well?
This was a super fun concept, gothic in atmosphere and with plenty of banter between the characters. Rosemary is a strong, intelligent female, and her brother is a nice counterbalance to her personality. I did find the book to be a bit slow, but I generally find that's to be expected with the first book in any series. There is much more character defining and world building in the first book than in later installments. I also relished the lack of romance in this book, as it is refreshing from time to time to focus on a relationship that is not romantic in nature. I think it wrapped up a bit quickly, but this is a minor gripe.
Thank you to Laura Anne Gilman, Gallery / Saga Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
September 24, 2022
This new turn-of-the-20th-Century supernatural hunter series boasts engaging characters, a gigantic magical hound, and a murder mystery. Siblings Rosemary and Aaron Harker come from a long tradition of hunting monsters. When an elderly cousin dies under mysterious circumstances, they journey to a small town, along with their oversized hound, Botheration. On the surface, the death appears to be natural, but as Hunters of the uncanny, the Harkers know something sinister is at work. At every turn, their investigation leads nowhere, even when one corpse after another turns up.
That’s the setup, but it falls short of conveying my experience of reading the book. Gilman’s a skillful writer, and here she perfectly balances the tension of a murder mystery with exploring a world that’s just enough skewed from the mundane to be endlessly fascinating, and best of all, to hang out with three really interesting characters (I definitely include the dog in this category!) Even the minor characters bring vivid quirks that deepen the journey through this town and its mysteries.
Despite the dramatic elements, plot twists, and escalating danger, the pacing is measured rather than thriller-taut, yet I found myself turning page after page, reluctant to put the book down. If the opening of a novel is an invitation to the reader, Uncanny Times provides superb hospitality, chapter after chapter. I hope this is only the beginning of a long-running series of the Huntsmen adventures.
That’s the setup, but it falls short of conveying my experience of reading the book. Gilman’s a skillful writer, and here she perfectly balances the tension of a murder mystery with exploring a world that’s just enough skewed from the mundane to be endlessly fascinating, and best of all, to hang out with three really interesting characters (I definitely include the dog in this category!) Even the minor characters bring vivid quirks that deepen the journey through this town and its mysteries.
Despite the dramatic elements, plot twists, and escalating danger, the pacing is measured rather than thriller-taut, yet I found myself turning page after page, reluctant to put the book down. If the opening of a novel is an invitation to the reader, Uncanny Times provides superb hospitality, chapter after chapter. I hope this is only the beginning of a long-running series of the Huntsmen adventures.
April 11, 2022
I'm so excited to see a new series from Laura Anne Gilman, and the world she creates is intriguing -- WWI era America, with siblings who hunt murderous uncanny beings. Great characters, including the Hound, solid mystery storyline that leaves many new questions unanswered, and lots of backstory to explore in the future. I particularly like how well she evokes the day-to-day life in small town New England -- incorporating boarding houses, neighborhood gossip, the precarious position of the police, and the rampant underlying fight for unionization. Skillfully done, and with a storyline I did not want to put down.
Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.
Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.
May 17, 2022
The richly drawn early 19th century world of UNCANNY TIMES perfectly encompasses a story of humanity wrapped in inventive fantasy. Immersion reading! (ARC review)
October 19, 2022
The cover is what initially caught my eye, and the blurb solidified that. This is quite an odd duck of a book (as the characters would say), a slowly paced historical fantasy mystery that at times feels more focused on the main character relationships than the murder plot. But I found it absolutely fascinating and very enjoyable!
Rosemary and Aaron were raised since birth to be Huntsmen. Charged with protecting regular humans from the the uncanny, they’re skilled at combat and subterfuge. When a distant relative reaches out after the suspicious death of her husband, Rosemary and Aaron arrive to find that all is not as it seems in the small upstate New York town of Brunson, and not everything they’ve been led to believe is true.
While I’m a huge fan of romance, it was nice change of pace to have a pair of siblings be the main characters. The book switches between Rosemary and Aaron’s POVS, giving insight into both characters’ thoughts. They don’t always see eye to eye but they work well as a team, balancing each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Rosemary is the older sibling and naturally protective of Aaron. She’s thoughtful and methodical, preferring to use logic and technology against the often unexplainable uncanny. Aaron on the other hand prefers sigils and spells and is much more impetuous. He’s written as neurodivergent, mostly with a disregard for social conventions. He tends to be a bit callous, for instance, focusing more on the excitement of a new hunt than that a relative has just died. Rosemary’s father had an interesting theory for why he’s that way, but no matter what, he’s a Huntsman to his core. And while Rosemary wonders what her life would be like if she weren’t a Huntsman or even how much more freedom she’d have if she wasn’t a woman, she feels the same way, and can’t imagine life without her brother as her partner.
And of course there’s Botheration, their hound. He’s much than a simple dog and he’s almost as much a part of the team as the siblings, helping detect traces of the uncanny that are too small for them to find. His relationships with Rosemary and Aaron – not to mention the reactions of other people when they meet him – were one of my favorite parts of the book.
Northeast America in 1913 is a wonderful setting for the book. There’s union uprisings, suffragettes, and the lure of easy travel by rail. But there’s also the uncanny, who greatly outnumber humans. They mostly keep to themselves or only go where they’re invited (if you’re foolish enough to invite a brownie) so the Huntsmen only go after the ones that become dangerous. There’s tantalizing hints about various types of uncanny and magic and it’s definitely something I hope to see more of in future books! The book is slowly paced with sudden action scenes surrounded by lots of more mundane research. As the first book in the series, a lot of time is spent learning the characters of Rosemary and Aaron, enough that it overshadows the actual murder mystery at times.
Overall, a delightful read but not the type of book for someone looking for high tension in the plot. This book is much more suited for a snowy afternoon and a cup of tea, so if that’s what you’re looking for, highly recommended!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Content notes:
“To be Huntsmen was to be quiet, to be known only to your prey, and never those around you, to never speak freely of the things you had done.”
Rosemary and Aaron were raised since birth to be Huntsmen. Charged with protecting regular humans from the the uncanny, they’re skilled at combat and subterfuge. When a distant relative reaches out after the suspicious death of her husband, Rosemary and Aaron arrive to find that all is not as it seems in the small upstate New York town of Brunson, and not everything they’ve been led to believe is true.
While I’m a huge fan of romance, it was nice change of pace to have a pair of siblings be the main characters. The book switches between Rosemary and Aaron’s POVS, giving insight into both characters’ thoughts. They don’t always see eye to eye but they work well as a team, balancing each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
“You have the worst habit of jinxing us.”
“It’s a simple grave desecration,” he said. “What could possibly go wrong?”
“I hate you so much right now.”
Rosemary is the older sibling and naturally protective of Aaron. She’s thoughtful and methodical, preferring to use logic and technology against the often unexplainable uncanny. Aaron on the other hand prefers sigils and spells and is much more impetuous. He’s written as neurodivergent, mostly with a disregard for social conventions. He tends to be a bit callous, for instance, focusing more on the excitement of a new hunt than that a relative has just died. Rosemary’s father had an interesting theory for why he’s that way, but no matter what, he’s a Huntsman to his core. And while Rosemary wonders what her life would be like if she weren’t a Huntsman or even how much more freedom she’d have if she wasn’t a woman, she feels the same way, and can’t imagine life without her brother as her partner.
“Anyone wandering this late likely deserves to see a hellhound pacing through the streets.”
“Don’t call him that,” Rosemary said, walking a little faster to keep up with the tug of the lead. “It’s unkind.”
And of course there’s Botheration, their hound. He’s much than a simple dog and he’s almost as much a part of the team as the siblings, helping detect traces of the uncanny that are too small for them to find. His relationships with Rosemary and Aaron – not to mention the reactions of other people when they meet him – were one of my favorite parts of the book.
Northeast America in 1913 is a wonderful setting for the book. There’s union uprisings, suffragettes, and the lure of easy travel by rail. But there’s also the uncanny, who greatly outnumber humans. They mostly keep to themselves or only go where they’re invited (if you’re foolish enough to invite a brownie) so the Huntsmen only go after the ones that become dangerous. There’s tantalizing hints about various types of uncanny and magic and it’s definitely something I hope to see more of in future books! The book is slowly paced with sudden action scenes surrounded by lots of more mundane research. As the first book in the series, a lot of time is spent learning the characters of Rosemary and Aaron, enough that it overshadows the actual murder mystery at times.
Overall, a delightful read but not the type of book for someone looking for high tension in the plot. This book is much more suited for a snowy afternoon and a cup of tea, so if that’s what you’re looking for, highly recommended!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Content notes:
December 4, 2023
Review originally appearing on FanFiAddict.com
Hello again dear reader or listener, we are gathered here today to eagerly sit up for what promises to be a great new series by long time author Laura Anne Gilman.
With a big thanks to Ms. Nalen at Simon & Schuster for offering me a double review copy of this first instalment and of book two that releases in a couple of days, let’s get to it! My thoughts remain honest.
Now dear reader, here’s the thing, I grew up with Supernatural the TV series (we do not speak of the atrocity that was the finale). It is my comfort show and Dean Winchester is arguably one of the best characters written for tv in this century, I’m not even exaggerating. Even when the show was a shambles, Dean was there to keep it going.
So, when I read a blurb promising monster hunting siblings I simply could not resist. The similarities do not end there however but also, I don’t want to go too much down that road so I’ll just say that if you’re a fan of the show like me, just run to grab a copy now, you don’t need to know anything else. Trust me.
Fun comp title aside, I found this first entry in the Huntsmen series an excellent start to a hopefully long saga that promises good times, feels, sibling shenanigans, and lots of action. Also, there’s a molosser dog with one upturned and one downward ear as the animal companion and his name is Botheration. Need I say more?
Gilman’s prose flowed as much as historical fiction using accurate terms will allow and, bar some repetitiveness here and there, it made for a speedy read, building up pace as it went along, to finally reach the action-packed climax. Her worldbuilding was the kind you can feel is extensive off page but you only scratch the surface of while reading this first book. The hints of the wider Huntsmen society and how they’re an organised system etc. was as much intriguing as it keeps you wanting to learn more about them all. I actually quite enjoyed the author’s loyalty to her chosen time period of the early 1900s in regards to how limiting it was for women and thus an extra thing Rosemary had to always contend with aside from monsters. It was definitely not a case of ‘author picks historical period for that aesthetic tm but then their protags are fully modern with vague general explanation as to why, if there even is one’. And similarly, Aaron, while certainly forward thinking in lieu of the special circumstances of his family, was also most definitely a man of his time, always taking care to act and look a certain way to fit in with the correct tier of society. I actually think that for now at least he’s my favorite of the duo. Gilman excels at sibling banter and I have not read any of her other work to know if this is a running thing or new with this series of hers, but class A sibling dynamics right there. I can only amusedly applaud.
I think this first entry was a solid balance between character and plot driven, and I was eagerly following along trying to solve the mystery, which for once didn’t reveal itself to me too early, (always refreshing). The reveal is only obvious with hindsight and that’s on clever plot and hint weaving on the author’s part. At the same time however, I found this story more of a setting up of expectations to be surpassed and built upon. This book feels like only that first small step introducing us to the two protags and hinting at the wider happenings, and it will hopefully continue to grow in scope, stakes, and depth along with its protagonists. There is so much hinted at that I cannot wait for the author to explore in future instalments and I’m especially happy I get to jump into the sequel right away after finishing book one this afternoon. Also I am a sucker for certainties being shaken and we see the beginnings of it here when Rosemary and Aaron start to see that what they’ve been taught and trained in their whole lives may not be entirely true.
So dear reader or listener, if you’re looking for awesomely written sibling dynamics, an organised society of monster hunters operating on the downlow, early 1900s sass and aggravation, lots of things that go bump in the night and one excellently trained but finnicky about his food massive hound, then this book is for you! For my part I have really high hopes for this series and cannot wait to be proven right.
Until next time,
Eleni A. E.
Hello again dear reader or listener, we are gathered here today to eagerly sit up for what promises to be a great new series by long time author Laura Anne Gilman.
With a big thanks to Ms. Nalen at Simon & Schuster for offering me a double review copy of this first instalment and of book two that releases in a couple of days, let’s get to it! My thoughts remain honest.
Now dear reader, here’s the thing, I grew up with Supernatural the TV series (we do not speak of the atrocity that was the finale). It is my comfort show and Dean Winchester is arguably one of the best characters written for tv in this century, I’m not even exaggerating. Even when the show was a shambles, Dean was there to keep it going.
So, when I read a blurb promising monster hunting siblings I simply could not resist. The similarities do not end there however but also, I don’t want to go too much down that road so I’ll just say that if you’re a fan of the show like me, just run to grab a copy now, you don’t need to know anything else. Trust me.
Fun comp title aside, I found this first entry in the Huntsmen series an excellent start to a hopefully long saga that promises good times, feels, sibling shenanigans, and lots of action. Also, there’s a molosser dog with one upturned and one downward ear as the animal companion and his name is Botheration. Need I say more?
Gilman’s prose flowed as much as historical fiction using accurate terms will allow and, bar some repetitiveness here and there, it made for a speedy read, building up pace as it went along, to finally reach the action-packed climax. Her worldbuilding was the kind you can feel is extensive off page but you only scratch the surface of while reading this first book. The hints of the wider Huntsmen society and how they’re an organised system etc. was as much intriguing as it keeps you wanting to learn more about them all. I actually quite enjoyed the author’s loyalty to her chosen time period of the early 1900s in regards to how limiting it was for women and thus an extra thing Rosemary had to always contend with aside from monsters. It was definitely not a case of ‘author picks historical period for that aesthetic tm but then their protags are fully modern with vague general explanation as to why, if there even is one’. And similarly, Aaron, while certainly forward thinking in lieu of the special circumstances of his family, was also most definitely a man of his time, always taking care to act and look a certain way to fit in with the correct tier of society. I actually think that for now at least he’s my favorite of the duo. Gilman excels at sibling banter and I have not read any of her other work to know if this is a running thing or new with this series of hers, but class A sibling dynamics right there. I can only amusedly applaud.
I think this first entry was a solid balance between character and plot driven, and I was eagerly following along trying to solve the mystery, which for once didn’t reveal itself to me too early, (always refreshing). The reveal is only obvious with hindsight and that’s on clever plot and hint weaving on the author’s part. At the same time however, I found this story more of a setting up of expectations to be surpassed and built upon. This book feels like only that first small step introducing us to the two protags and hinting at the wider happenings, and it will hopefully continue to grow in scope, stakes, and depth along with its protagonists. There is so much hinted at that I cannot wait for the author to explore in future instalments and I’m especially happy I get to jump into the sequel right away after finishing book one this afternoon. Also I am a sucker for certainties being shaken and we see the beginnings of it here when Rosemary and Aaron start to see that what they’ve been taught and trained in their whole lives may not be entirely true.
So dear reader or listener, if you’re looking for awesomely written sibling dynamics, an organised society of monster hunters operating on the downlow, early 1900s sass and aggravation, lots of things that go bump in the night and one excellently trained but finnicky about his food massive hound, then this book is for you! For my part I have really high hopes for this series and cannot wait to be proven right.
Until next time,
Eleni A. E.
November 15, 2022
15 Nov 2022
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
1. Monster hunting brother and sister in 1910s USA get called into a monster problem by a distant relative. They do some investigating, talk to anti-union folks, have some atypical encounters with supernatural stuff, get into fights, and solve the mystery. And most importantly, they have a dog, who is a very large and very good boy. Who's a good boy? You are, Bother! (Also, Botheration is a great name for a dog.)
2. I have mixed feelings about this book, and I can't quite tell if this is because of problems with the book or what I was unconsciously expecting of it. So everything here is even more subjective than usual.
4. I didn't see nearly enough of the characters to form proper opinions on them? Especially Rosemary, whose identifying trait is mostly "woman chafing at social restrictions but not doing anything about it because of secrecy (TM)". Idk man, I'm a little tired of stories where misogyny is an out and proud problem- it usually tends to be more subtle (and therefore, less easily solved) than that.
5. Whatever. The thing is, I can't see any traits in either sibling that are not hunting-related. Everything in their life revolving around their job would not necessarily be a bad thing (it may even be a good thing) but not when we know so little about them in the first place. It makes them feel flatter than the side characters, and the lack of information on the magic system is not helping. Again, I can see why this might be a feature and not a bug, but it made me less interested in the overall story so it's a net negative.
6. Similar issues with the antagonist. We should have seen more of them, especially because it had the potential to be an emotionally charged plot. Hell, we should have HEARD more about them in asides (because I can see why Bother might sniff out the antagonist) but we did not so everything felt disjointed again.
7. I'm gonna put book 2 on the to-read list because I get the feeling that the whole story just needs tweaks to be something I'd actively like. It needs tweaks, and the protagonists interacting with familiar things on their own turf, and I don't suppose extended worldbuilding would hurt. But as it is, it's not a book I'll be revisiting.
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
1. Monster hunting brother and sister in 1910s USA get called into a monster problem by a distant relative. They do some investigating, talk to anti-union folks, have some atypical encounters with supernatural stuff, get into fights, and solve the mystery. And most importantly, they have a dog, who is a very large and very good boy. Who's a good boy? You are, Bother! (Also, Botheration is a great name for a dog.)
2. I have mixed feelings about this book, and I can't quite tell if this is because of problems with the book or what I was unconsciously expecting of it. So everything here is even more subjective than usual.
4. I didn't see nearly enough of the characters to form proper opinions on them? Especially Rosemary, whose identifying trait is mostly "woman chafing at social restrictions but not doing anything about it because of secrecy (TM)". Idk man, I'm a little tired of stories where misogyny is an out and proud problem- it usually tends to be more subtle (and therefore, less easily solved) than that.
5. Whatever. The thing is, I can't see any traits in either sibling that are not hunting-related. Everything in their life revolving around their job would not necessarily be a bad thing (it may even be a good thing) but not when we know so little about them in the first place. It makes them feel flatter than the side characters, and the lack of information on the magic system is not helping. Again, I can see why this might be a feature and not a bug, but it made me less interested in the overall story so it's a net negative.
6. Similar issues with the antagonist. We should have seen more of them, especially because it had the potential to be an emotionally charged plot. Hell, we should have HEARD more about them in asides (because I can see why Bother might sniff out the antagonist) but we did not so everything felt disjointed again.
7. I'm gonna put book 2 on the to-read list because I get the feeling that the whole story just needs tweaks to be something I'd actively like. It needs tweaks, and the protagonists interacting with familiar things on their own turf, and I don't suppose extended worldbuilding would hurt. But as it is, it's not a book I'll be revisiting.
October 21, 2022
This was a fascinating start to a new series. Set in 1913, during an era of some upheaval ( think suffragettes) we have a brother and sister team (Aaron and Rosemary Harker) who are what is called Huntsmen. They search for the "Uncanny," better known to us as werewolves, Fey, Vampires, Brownies, and other creatures that go bump in the night.
This is, first and foremost, a mystery, and the who did it and why was a wonderful twist.
Because this is the first book in this series, we do get a bit bogged down in minutia, but I can see that it is necessary to the story. A lot of things aren't explained, so I hope that they will be later on in this series. A lot of hinting about the couple's back story -just enough to make you want to read more about them.
A satisfying read, and I look forward to reading the second book when it comes out.
*ARC supplied by the publisher Gallery / Saga Press, the author, and ATTL/Edelweiss.
This is, first and foremost, a mystery, and the who did it and why was a wonderful twist.
Because this is the first book in this series, we do get a bit bogged down in minutia, but I can see that it is necessary to the story. A lot of things aren't explained, so I hope that they will be later on in this series. A lot of hinting about the couple's back story -just enough to make you want to read more about them.
A satisfying read, and I look forward to reading the second book when it comes out.
*ARC supplied by the publisher Gallery / Saga Press, the author, and ATTL/Edelweiss.
January 12, 2023
I have loved some of this author's other series so I thought I would try it. It was a Supernatural rip off. Basically siblings hunting monsters. It does take place in 1913ish. Some of the dialog contains modern vernacular (disrespected, seriously?) and the word Huntsmen was so overused--we get it, they are Huntsmen. The pace was very slow and the wrap up was 2 rushed chapters. I'm not a fan and I'm surprised I got through it.
August 3, 2024
A variation on Supernatural, siblings hunting for monsters...complete with a backup fact checker. All together lots of fun. Botheration is, of course, the very best boy.
March 17, 2025
It was a little drawn out, but pretty good monster hunting book. Interesting take on monsterhunting. Would probably make a popular TV-series.
October 11, 2022
Meh. The whole thing took too long.
June 15, 2022
One of the best things about this book is suspense building and the hound Bother. From the arrival to town to the hunt, the dog amazed me the most. As for the Rosie and Aaron, they were okay and the whole veil of mystery was a nice touch but the plot dragged a bit. I felt bored at times and while i loved all the conversations and altercations, i think that this book lacks more info on the uncanny creatures, how everything actually works. It needed more showing and less telling and i must say that i was a bit disappointed that the main event happened at the end of the book in 3 chapters which left me unsatisfied on so many levels. The story has potential and the characters have a room for growth but as for this book i can't rate it higher than this in good conscience. Since it's a first book in the series i hope we'll see more positive changes in the next installment.
Thank you Edelweiss for sending me ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Edelweiss for sending me ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up.
What a fun way to get into the mood for spooky season, as we follow a pair of sibling monster hunters on the trail of an unusual killer in early 20th century New York!
To most eyes, Rosemary and Aaron Harker are an orphaned brother and sister living quietly as adults in New Haven, Connecticut, with their over-sized dog, Botheration. Sometimes they travel, as when they're summoned north to the town of Brunson by Margaret Lovelace, the widow of their distant relative, Uncle Tucker. Aunt Margaret herself is only passing on one of his final requests: should he die, Rosemary and Aaron must be summoned to investigate.
For the Harkers are Huntsmen, a bloodline that specializes in hunting the Uncanny, the catch-all term for the supernatural creatures that prey on humanity. Their remit is to use deadly force against those that kill, and to be prepared to act in self-defense. Castigated by the Church as unclean, Huntsmen form a worldwide network dedicated to protecting humankind against killers that very few want to admit are real. Usually, they're called in by others of their association to investigate reports of Uncanny slayings, or to assist in the termination of same. Being invited on the vague terms of their aunt by marriage is something new, but a summons they're ready and willing to answer.
Brunson seems like your ordinary small town, a former logging center looking to transition into more modern industries. Something strange is definitely going ongoing on tho. Uncle Tucker's death has been written off as a wild animal attack, but the police are being surprisingly cagey, refusing to return the journal they took away as evidence from his estate. In order to properly investigate, the siblings take on roles that are only slightly different from their reality: Aaron poses as a young man of means helping his Aunt Margaret settle her late husband's affairs while Rosemary slips into her tried and true persona of amateur folklorist.
They soon learn that their uncle was right to suspect the worst, as his was only the latest in a string of weird deaths plaguing this otherwise ordinary place. But what, exactly, killed him, and why? More importantly, can the Harkers stop whatever it is from killing again?
I love monster hunting books, especially when done well. The Harkers are a wonderfully drawn pair, siblings who both rely on, irritate and look out for one another as they pursue their unusual calling. I loved how they weren't stereotypical, with Rosemary being the more confrontational and Aaron the more calculating, despite being penned in by the gender roles demanded by their times. It was also nice to see so many non-standard monsters, especially referred to in passing. The 1913 setting is also pretty great, as the Harkers find themselves caught in the middle of labor conflicts caused by selfish industrialists.
In terms of action and pacing, I was reminded somewhat of Jim Butcher's first Dresden Files novel, Storm Front. I do think that this book's major confrontation could have taken more space in the narrative, but overall, this was a solidly entertaining series debut, and just a really fun Halloween read.
Uncanny Times (Huntsmen #1) by Laura Anne Gilman was published October 18 2022 by Gallery/Saga Press and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
What a fun way to get into the mood for spooky season, as we follow a pair of sibling monster hunters on the trail of an unusual killer in early 20th century New York!
To most eyes, Rosemary and Aaron Harker are an orphaned brother and sister living quietly as adults in New Haven, Connecticut, with their over-sized dog, Botheration. Sometimes they travel, as when they're summoned north to the town of Brunson by Margaret Lovelace, the widow of their distant relative, Uncle Tucker. Aunt Margaret herself is only passing on one of his final requests: should he die, Rosemary and Aaron must be summoned to investigate.
For the Harkers are Huntsmen, a bloodline that specializes in hunting the Uncanny, the catch-all term for the supernatural creatures that prey on humanity. Their remit is to use deadly force against those that kill, and to be prepared to act in self-defense. Castigated by the Church as unclean, Huntsmen form a worldwide network dedicated to protecting humankind against killers that very few want to admit are real. Usually, they're called in by others of their association to investigate reports of Uncanny slayings, or to assist in the termination of same. Being invited on the vague terms of their aunt by marriage is something new, but a summons they're ready and willing to answer.
Brunson seems like your ordinary small town, a former logging center looking to transition into more modern industries. Something strange is definitely going ongoing on tho. Uncle Tucker's death has been written off as a wild animal attack, but the police are being surprisingly cagey, refusing to return the journal they took away as evidence from his estate. In order to properly investigate, the siblings take on roles that are only slightly different from their reality: Aaron poses as a young man of means helping his Aunt Margaret settle her late husband's affairs while Rosemary slips into her tried and true persona of amateur folklorist.
They soon learn that their uncle was right to suspect the worst, as his was only the latest in a string of weird deaths plaguing this otherwise ordinary place. But what, exactly, killed him, and why? More importantly, can the Harkers stop whatever it is from killing again?
I love monster hunting books, especially when done well. The Harkers are a wonderfully drawn pair, siblings who both rely on, irritate and look out for one another as they pursue their unusual calling. I loved how they weren't stereotypical, with Rosemary being the more confrontational and Aaron the more calculating, despite being penned in by the gender roles demanded by their times. It was also nice to see so many non-standard monsters, especially referred to in passing. The 1913 setting is also pretty great, as the Harkers find themselves caught in the middle of labor conflicts caused by selfish industrialists.
In terms of action and pacing, I was reminded somewhat of Jim Butcher's first Dresden Files novel, Storm Front. I do think that this book's major confrontation could have taken more space in the narrative, but overall, this was a solidly entertaining series debut, and just a really fun Halloween read.
Uncanny Times (Huntsmen #1) by Laura Anne Gilman was published October 18 2022 by Gallery/Saga Press and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
September 29, 2022
It's 1913. Rosemary and Aaron Harker, sister and brother, are Huntsmen. Their blood isn't entirely human, and they have the ability to hunt and kill the Uncanny, unnatural creatures of the night who sometimes hunt humans.
The Uncanny don't hunt humans often, because of the Huntsmen. When they do, the Huntsmen respond, and kill the offender against a long, uneasy truce. The Huntsmen don't try to wipe out the Uncanny, because there are too many of them, and humanity would be the losers.
Rosemary and Aaron receive a letter, telling them a distant cousin, knowledgeable about the Huntsmen but not quite one himself, has died. He left a note saying that if he died in unusual circumstances, Rosemary and Aaron should be summoned. They quickly pack and leave, with their hound, Botheration, for a small town in upstate New York.
They arrive to find a very charming small town, which has recently had a new influx of money, due to the new mill. The bed & breakfast where they are staying is lovely, charming, and run by a kind and friendly woman, who nevertheless is in firm control. Other guests include two businessmen, who are there to investigate possible real estate developments.
The Harkers' cousin was a doctor, and well-respected. He treated many of the less prosperous in town, and was sympathetic to the union movement. That made him less popular with some of the wealthier in town. He was killed taking a late night walk, and the police have concluded that he was killed by a cougar. However, they have also, oddly, taken the good doctor's journal, written in Latin to protect his more outré observations--because the doctor was knowledgeable, somewhat sensitive, and observant on matters of the Uncanny. His wife, though, although not of Huntsman blood, is intelligent, strong, and somewhat in her husband's confidence about the Uncanny. He was worried about something seemingly haunting the area.
And, it turns out, there were two previous deaths, also attributed to a cougar.
But a cougar would eat its prey, not leave it. especially since the other two were in more isolated places.
Rosemary discovers a nest of brownies in a local bakery. Brownies are relatively harmless, but they're an indicator that there are in fact Uncanny in the town. In a more adventurous part of their investigation, they learn both that the doctor's injuries are not at all consistent with a cougar attack, and that there are also ghouls.
The local librarian says that there are no stories about monsters or strange events, but she's also very nervous about something.
And then Botheration, who has had little to do on this hunt, does scent one. It's a mercreature, with a message for them. It seems the local Uncanny are worried about what's afoot in the town. think the humans have brought it, and want the Harkers to solve the problem.
There's something in town that scares the Uncanny.
The atmosphere gets creepier and creepier, and meanwhile, the real estate investors have convinced the police that the Harkers are connected to the union organizing at the mill. So they are trying to avoid getting kicked out of town, while hunting something even the other Uncanny can't identify for them.
It's a story with good characters, solid world-building, and an atmosphere that keeps building.
Recommended.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
The Uncanny don't hunt humans often, because of the Huntsmen. When they do, the Huntsmen respond, and kill the offender against a long, uneasy truce. The Huntsmen don't try to wipe out the Uncanny, because there are too many of them, and humanity would be the losers.
Rosemary and Aaron receive a letter, telling them a distant cousin, knowledgeable about the Huntsmen but not quite one himself, has died. He left a note saying that if he died in unusual circumstances, Rosemary and Aaron should be summoned. They quickly pack and leave, with their hound, Botheration, for a small town in upstate New York.
They arrive to find a very charming small town, which has recently had a new influx of money, due to the new mill. The bed & breakfast where they are staying is lovely, charming, and run by a kind and friendly woman, who nevertheless is in firm control. Other guests include two businessmen, who are there to investigate possible real estate developments.
The Harkers' cousin was a doctor, and well-respected. He treated many of the less prosperous in town, and was sympathetic to the union movement. That made him less popular with some of the wealthier in town. He was killed taking a late night walk, and the police have concluded that he was killed by a cougar. However, they have also, oddly, taken the good doctor's journal, written in Latin to protect his more outré observations--because the doctor was knowledgeable, somewhat sensitive, and observant on matters of the Uncanny. His wife, though, although not of Huntsman blood, is intelligent, strong, and somewhat in her husband's confidence about the Uncanny. He was worried about something seemingly haunting the area.
And, it turns out, there were two previous deaths, also attributed to a cougar.
But a cougar would eat its prey, not leave it. especially since the other two were in more isolated places.
Rosemary discovers a nest of brownies in a local bakery. Brownies are relatively harmless, but they're an indicator that there are in fact Uncanny in the town. In a more adventurous part of their investigation, they learn both that the doctor's injuries are not at all consistent with a cougar attack, and that there are also ghouls.
The local librarian says that there are no stories about monsters or strange events, but she's also very nervous about something.
And then Botheration, who has had little to do on this hunt, does scent one. It's a mercreature, with a message for them. It seems the local Uncanny are worried about what's afoot in the town. think the humans have brought it, and want the Harkers to solve the problem.
There's something in town that scares the Uncanny.
The atmosphere gets creepier and creepier, and meanwhile, the real estate investors have convinced the police that the Harkers are connected to the union organizing at the mill. So they are trying to avoid getting kicked out of town, while hunting something even the other Uncanny can't identify for them.
It's a story with good characters, solid world-building, and an atmosphere that keeps building.
Recommended.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
August 7, 2023
The first I’ve read by Gilman, and I’m fairly impressed! It’s a slow burn of a story, atmospheric and immersive, with the supernatural aspects largely hinted at for much of the book, and with relatively little action until the final hundred pages or so. But the plot is expertly constructed and leads the reader perfectly into the final frenetic and climactic events.
The writing is stylish and polished, even if there’s maybe a bit too much detail about mundane matters like clothing and etiquette. There’s also a perhaps excessive emphasis on the quirks in the relationship between the brother and sister protagonists, not to mention the dog. I think it’s clear that they are different characters with different styles and yet they trust and rely on one another despite their differences - no need to belabor the point.
I didn’t realize before reading this that it’s set in a fictional town in upstate NY near Lake Ontario, an area I’m now pretty familiar with, and the depiction rings true, although I’ll have to take Gilman’s word for what it was like in 1913.
Reminds me favorably of a few different things: Cherie Priest’s early books (Four and Twenty Blackbirds, etc.) for the subtle magic; the recent historical fantasies by David Liss (The Peculiarities, The Twelfth Enchantment) for the tone; and Something Red by Douglas Nicholas for the deceptively calm yet edgily spooky winter atmosphere.
Quite an enjoyable read, and I’ll consider continuing with the series and possibly tracking down more of Gilman’s books.
The writing is stylish and polished, even if there’s maybe a bit too much detail about mundane matters like clothing and etiquette. There’s also a perhaps excessive emphasis on the quirks in the relationship between the brother and sister protagonists, not to mention the dog. I think it’s clear that they are different characters with different styles and yet they trust and rely on one another despite their differences - no need to belabor the point.
I didn’t realize before reading this that it’s set in a fictional town in upstate NY near Lake Ontario, an area I’m now pretty familiar with, and the depiction rings true, although I’ll have to take Gilman’s word for what it was like in 1913.
Reminds me favorably of a few different things: Cherie Priest’s early books (Four and Twenty Blackbirds, etc.) for the subtle magic; the recent historical fantasies by David Liss (The Peculiarities, The Twelfth Enchantment) for the tone; and Something Red by Douglas Nicholas for the deceptively calm yet edgily spooky winter atmosphere.
Quite an enjoyable read, and I’ll consider continuing with the series and possibly tracking down more of Gilman’s books.
February 11, 2023
Huntsmen just gotta hunt the uncanny, and I just gotta read more in this series!
I’ve read and enjoyed Laura Anne Gilman’s Devil’s West series, so I was excited to learn of this new series. It has the same flavor as the Devil’s West series—a story set in an America of the past but with some fantasy elements, a main character that has to fight against evil, and a plot that moves along.
I really enjoyed the characters in Uncanny Times. Aaron and Rosemary Harker are brother and sister, veteran Huntsmen who track down and kill those Uncanny who threaten humans. The Harkers do not make the mistakes of young heroes; they are adults who are competent, intelligent, and experienced in dealing with threats. They work well together, anticipating each other’s moves and thought processes. Their expertise is what moves the story—they are facing a threat no one else has encountered, and it has a strength never-before-seen. It’s a situation that tests them, and because they are so skilled, the reader knows this new force is a serious menace. They are aided by Botheration, one of my new favorite guard dogs, and I hope Bother accompanies them on their next assignment!
The world-building is just right. We discover the fantastical elements as needed, while the world of 1913 still exists. It is a time of discrimination against women, new technologies and industries, and unrest in Europe. (In fact, there are hints from Europe as to where a later book in this series might go.) There is a feeling of the world being “slightly different” than what is recorded in the history books, but the transportation, industry, and suffragette movement ground it in the correct decade.
I approached this novel as wanting an easy, escapist, fun read (without heavy moralizing or pedantic overtones), and Uncanny Times delivered on that hope. I received a copy of the book in a Goodreads giveaway. My thanks to Saga Press for giving me this opportunity to start a new series.
I’ve read and enjoyed Laura Anne Gilman’s Devil’s West series, so I was excited to learn of this new series. It has the same flavor as the Devil’s West series—a story set in an America of the past but with some fantasy elements, a main character that has to fight against evil, and a plot that moves along.
I really enjoyed the characters in Uncanny Times. Aaron and Rosemary Harker are brother and sister, veteran Huntsmen who track down and kill those Uncanny who threaten humans. The Harkers do not make the mistakes of young heroes; they are adults who are competent, intelligent, and experienced in dealing with threats. They work well together, anticipating each other’s moves and thought processes. Their expertise is what moves the story—they are facing a threat no one else has encountered, and it has a strength never-before-seen. It’s a situation that tests them, and because they are so skilled, the reader knows this new force is a serious menace. They are aided by Botheration, one of my new favorite guard dogs, and I hope Bother accompanies them on their next assignment!
The world-building is just right. We discover the fantastical elements as needed, while the world of 1913 still exists. It is a time of discrimination against women, new technologies and industries, and unrest in Europe. (In fact, there are hints from Europe as to where a later book in this series might go.) There is a feeling of the world being “slightly different” than what is recorded in the history books, but the transportation, industry, and suffragette movement ground it in the correct decade.
I approached this novel as wanting an easy, escapist, fun read (without heavy moralizing or pedantic overtones), and Uncanny Times delivered on that hope. I received a copy of the book in a Goodreads giveaway. My thanks to Saga Press for giving me this opportunity to start a new series.
May 17, 2024
What hooked me was the title and the cover art. But other than that...
The writing style is not for me. Overly verbose. Pretentious. Awkward. I couldn't tell if the writer failed to have command of the language, or if she was striving so hard for some original turn of phrase that she got lost. She was in love with her own words and forgot that they should work toward telling a story.
There was so much repetition I quite literally fell asleep on multiple occasions while reading, only to jolt awake when the book slipped from my grasp. I lost count of how many scenes of walking about took place. The characters didn't interest me either. At first, the concept made me think they would, but...no.
As an illustration of some of the unfortunate choices in language, here are a few examples:
"...set the whole applecart over." Upset the applecart is the usual wording and would have been far better. Why make the reader's brain stumble over awkward phrases? It only impedes the progress of the story.
"...a wet-eared clerk." Wet behind the ears, or inexperienced would be a better choice, again.
"...ape-based memory." I think the standard description is lizard brain.
These are just a few instances, but the whole book is peppered with them. Maybe that's Gilman's attempt at originality, but for me it was an exercise in clumsiness and left a bad taste in my mouth. As well did the wavering between the use of "Huntsmen" and "Huntsman." She couldn't seem to decide on the proper usage when referring to single hunters or a group. At any rate, I'm not going to seek out any more of her work.
The writing style is not for me. Overly verbose. Pretentious. Awkward. I couldn't tell if the writer failed to have command of the language, or if she was striving so hard for some original turn of phrase that she got lost. She was in love with her own words and forgot that they should work toward telling a story.
There was so much repetition I quite literally fell asleep on multiple occasions while reading, only to jolt awake when the book slipped from my grasp. I lost count of how many scenes of walking about took place. The characters didn't interest me either. At first, the concept made me think they would, but...no.
As an illustration of some of the unfortunate choices in language, here are a few examples:
"...set the whole applecart over." Upset the applecart is the usual wording and would have been far better. Why make the reader's brain stumble over awkward phrases? It only impedes the progress of the story.
"...a wet-eared clerk." Wet behind the ears, or inexperienced would be a better choice, again.
"...ape-based memory." I think the standard description is lizard brain.
These are just a few instances, but the whole book is peppered with them. Maybe that's Gilman's attempt at originality, but for me it was an exercise in clumsiness and left a bad taste in my mouth. As well did the wavering between the use of "Huntsmen" and "Huntsman." She couldn't seem to decide on the proper usage when referring to single hunters or a group. At any rate, I'm not going to seek out any more of her work.
October 21, 2022
This new turn-of-the-20th-Century supernatural hunter series boasts engaging characters, a gigantic magical hound, and a murder mystery. Siblings Rosemary and Aaron Harker come from a long tradition of hunting monsters. When an elderly cousin dies under mysterious circumstances, they journey to a small town, along with their oversized hound, Botheration. On the surface, the death appears to be natural, but as Hunters of the uncanny, the Harkers know something sinister is at work. At every turn, their investigation leads nowhere, even when one corpse after another turns up.
That’s the setup, but it falls short of conveying my experience of reading the book. Gilman’s a skillful writer, and here she perfectly balances the tension of a murder mystery with exploring a world that’s just enough skewed from the mundane to be endlessly fascinating, and best of all, to hang out with three really interesting characters (I definitely include the dog in this category!) Even the minor characters bring vivid quirks that deepen the journey through this town and its mysteries.
Despite the dramatic elements, plot twists, and escalating danger, the pacing is measured rather than thriller-taut, yet I found myself turning page after page, reluctant to put the book down. If the opening of a novel is an invitation to the reader, Uncanny Times provides superb hospitality, chapter after chapter. I hope this is only the beginning of a long-running series of the Huntsmen adventures.
That’s the setup, but it falls short of conveying my experience of reading the book. Gilman’s a skillful writer, and here she perfectly balances the tension of a murder mystery with exploring a world that’s just enough skewed from the mundane to be endlessly fascinating, and best of all, to hang out with three really interesting characters (I definitely include the dog in this category!) Even the minor characters bring vivid quirks that deepen the journey through this town and its mysteries.
Despite the dramatic elements, plot twists, and escalating danger, the pacing is measured rather than thriller-taut, yet I found myself turning page after page, reluctant to put the book down. If the opening of a novel is an invitation to the reader, Uncanny Times provides superb hospitality, chapter after chapter. I hope this is only the beginning of a long-running series of the Huntsmen adventures.
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