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The Spell Saga #3
The Tank
All Anton Seiber, newly-minted Master Thaumaturge, wants is to use his training to support himself out in the world. Well, that and to see the man he loves, Imperial Investigator Camille Lumière, more than once every six months.
What he gets instead is an invitation to visit L’Institut D’Ingénierie Technologique in Paris, the foremost research institution for thaumaturgy and the arts of war in the world. It’s an offer he can’t turn down…quite literally.
Getting to the Institute is a mess that Anton barely survives, and that’s just the beginning of his troubles. Drawn into a web of lies and betrayals, Anton will have to use every trick he can conjure to survive—and perhaps hand over the most diabolical spell in the world in exchange for saving the life of someone he loves.
What he gets instead is an invitation to visit L’Institut D’Ingénierie Technologique in Paris, the foremost research institution for thaumaturgy and the arts of war in the world. It’s an offer he can’t turn down…quite literally.
Getting to the Institute is a mess that Anton barely survives, and that’s just the beginning of his troubles. Drawn into a web of lies and betrayals, Anton will have to use every trick he can conjure to survive—and perhaps hand over the most diabolical spell in the world in exchange for saving the life of someone he loves.
110 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2020
21 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Cari Z.
136 books541 followersCari Z. is a Colorado girl who loves snow and sunshine. She has a wonderful relationship with her husband, a complex relationship with the characters in her head and a sadomasochistic relationship with her exercise routine. She feels like Halloween should happen every month, which is why you get this picture of her, and hopes that you enjoy reading what she's put out there as much as she enjoyed writing it in the first place.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 18, 2023
Each installment of this series gets better and better!
Love the progression of the relationship and how it is changed due to each of their circumstances. It feel very real and true to life.
Love the progression of the relationship and how it is changed due to each of their circumstances. It feel very real and true to life.
October 28, 2022
Beautifully written, memorable characters
Rating: 4.5 🌈
The Tank, third novel in Cari Z’s terrific steampunk romance adventure series is perhaps the best conceptualized, best written of the three stories so far.
It brings her characters great emotional growth, allowing for betrayals, thought provoking moments of ambivalence of the nature of the work that a Master of Thaumaturge finds himself and his associates engaged in for the services of war. And the cost to relationships of all kinds.
The histories of the war, the Enemies, and even main characters are filled in and given fuller dimension.
The series and the growing relationship between Anton Seiber and Imperial Investigator Camille Lumière becomes deeply layered within the restrictions of their service and the growing demands of an enlarging war.
I was absolutely engaged by the drama and poignant moments of the storylines here. The war that overtakes the needs and loyalties of many.
There’s another book to come. I can’t wait to read it .
I highly recommend this story and series but start with The Train and read through as they were written.
The Spell Saga series:
- [x] The Train #1
- [x] The Tower #2
- [x] The Tank #3
- [ ] The Trials #4 - Nov 8, 2022
Rating: 4.5 🌈
The Tank, third novel in Cari Z’s terrific steampunk romance adventure series is perhaps the best conceptualized, best written of the three stories so far.
It brings her characters great emotional growth, allowing for betrayals, thought provoking moments of ambivalence of the nature of the work that a Master of Thaumaturge finds himself and his associates engaged in for the services of war. And the cost to relationships of all kinds.
The histories of the war, the Enemies, and even main characters are filled in and given fuller dimension.
The series and the growing relationship between Anton Seiber and Imperial Investigator Camille Lumière becomes deeply layered within the restrictions of their service and the growing demands of an enlarging war.
I was absolutely engaged by the drama and poignant moments of the storylines here. The war that overtakes the needs and loyalties of many.
There’s another book to come. I can’t wait to read it .
I highly recommend this story and series but start with The Train and read through as they were written.
The Spell Saga series:
- [x] The Train #1
- [x] The Tower #2
- [x] The Tank #3
- [ ] The Trials #4 - Nov 8, 2022
July 4, 2020
4.5 Stars
While this isn't my usual read Cari is! This is the third installment in what I refer to as "The Train" series, as it was the first story of Anton and Camille. Where last we left off it's clear both men wish for more than they have but it doesn't seem like a future together is something they can have at the moment. Camille's post as "a Lumiere" the Emperor's investigator takes him whenever there is trouble and Anton is all invested in his academic studies. Please be advised, if you haven't read the first two installment you MUST start at the beginning but no worries, all three are free reads though Cari's blog.
Now that Anton Seiber has finished his Master training in Thaumaturgy (magic) in the Universitate Zurich he isn't sure what to do with his life. His previous "adventure" with Camille has brought him no more trouble but the association with the man who has tried to kill him has left him with no employment offers. On the eve of his graduation he wishes for a friendly face. He has contacted both his mother and his closest friend from childhood Caroline but both haven't replied to his letters. He would have LOVED for Camille to come but he doesn't even know how to contact him. Camille seems to appear out of the blue and stay for the shortest time. Yet before the evening ends two of the three appear with a promise of adventure, one he isn't really sure about..
Caroline has come to make him an offer he has NO desire to accept but the one Camille offers, or rather the one he predicts he is going to get, offers him exactly what he needs (especially with a prospect of having Camille near by). He is to be Professor's Grable (The head of the Thaumaturgy department) assistant in an urgent matter in Paris where both their abilities might be of use against the "Devoue", a nationalist group bent on rising against the French Empire. With Anton's last experience on a train (even if for a different destination) he was more relaxed than I would have been and as one would expect that's already the starting point of the mess Anton finds himself smack in the middle of - as usual.
At the L'Institut D'Ingenierie Technologique Anton finds quite a lot of interesting things and people. He also realizes this place is FAR more than just an academia and the secrets start with Camille as we finally get quite a piece about his past as well as a little of his current position. We already know of his position but there are more reasoning for his role as well as personal situation as someone who cannot use or be affected by magic. We also get quite the treat with a few chapters from Camille's POV allowing us to understand him a bit better. He might appear a bit cold hearted looking at his actions as well as most of his indifferent face expressions. Getting his POV allowed us to see that his actions towards Anton has always been the best he could manage at that certain time. He would have preferred not to get Anton into any dangerous situation but life seems to put him at harms way more times than not so he has to make his own decisions of how to protect him the best he can. It doesn't always looks like he is doing the right thing for Anton but he sure tries.
I really enjoyed seeing Anton and Camille's relationship evolve even if they still have a way to go. It has a lot to do with the circumstances but also both not knowing how to truly commit to one another when there are so many secrets Camille is unable to share which puts Anton in a place of uncertainty. He isn't sure if he can even ASK for what he wants and even if he did, he is too afraid to hear Camille's answer.
I haven't said anything about the Tanks but believe me they are there and not firing what you'd expect. But that's for you to discover as I'm not saying anything else!
This book was quite a ride. It's not that long and yet it managed to pack quite a lot in it. The mystery part was at times confusing but it was also deliciously complicated and well thought off. I can't wait to see where Cari takes this series in the next installment(s) as she put quite a lot of thought into the world building of these novels.
More Reviews HERE
While this isn't my usual read Cari is! This is the third installment in what I refer to as "The Train" series, as it was the first story of Anton and Camille. Where last we left off it's clear both men wish for more than they have but it doesn't seem like a future together is something they can have at the moment. Camille's post as "a Lumiere" the Emperor's investigator takes him whenever there is trouble and Anton is all invested in his academic studies. Please be advised, if you haven't read the first two installment you MUST start at the beginning but no worries, all three are free reads though Cari's blog.
Now that Anton Seiber has finished his Master training in Thaumaturgy (magic) in the Universitate Zurich he isn't sure what to do with his life. His previous "adventure" with Camille has brought him no more trouble but the association with the man who has tried to kill him has left him with no employment offers. On the eve of his graduation he wishes for a friendly face. He has contacted both his mother and his closest friend from childhood Caroline but both haven't replied to his letters. He would have LOVED for Camille to come but he doesn't even know how to contact him. Camille seems to appear out of the blue and stay for the shortest time. Yet before the evening ends two of the three appear with a promise of adventure, one he isn't really sure about..
Caroline has come to make him an offer he has NO desire to accept but the one Camille offers, or rather the one he predicts he is going to get, offers him exactly what he needs (especially with a prospect of having Camille near by). He is to be Professor's Grable (The head of the Thaumaturgy department) assistant in an urgent matter in Paris where both their abilities might be of use against the "Devoue", a nationalist group bent on rising against the French Empire. With Anton's last experience on a train (even if for a different destination) he was more relaxed than I would have been and as one would expect that's already the starting point of the mess Anton finds himself smack in the middle of - as usual.
At the L'Institut D'Ingenierie Technologique Anton finds quite a lot of interesting things and people. He also realizes this place is FAR more than just an academia and the secrets start with Camille as we finally get quite a piece about his past as well as a little of his current position. We already know of his position but there are more reasoning for his role as well as personal situation as someone who cannot use or be affected by magic. We also get quite the treat with a few chapters from Camille's POV allowing us to understand him a bit better. He might appear a bit cold hearted looking at his actions as well as most of his indifferent face expressions. Getting his POV allowed us to see that his actions towards Anton has always been the best he could manage at that certain time. He would have preferred not to get Anton into any dangerous situation but life seems to put him at harms way more times than not so he has to make his own decisions of how to protect him the best he can. It doesn't always looks like he is doing the right thing for Anton but he sure tries.
I really enjoyed seeing Anton and Camille's relationship evolve even if they still have a way to go. It has a lot to do with the circumstances but also both not knowing how to truly commit to one another when there are so many secrets Camille is unable to share which puts Anton in a place of uncertainty. He isn't sure if he can even ASK for what he wants and even if he did, he is too afraid to hear Camille's answer.
I haven't said anything about the Tanks but believe me they are there and not firing what you'd expect. But that's for you to discover as I'm not saying anything else!
This book was quite a ride. It's not that long and yet it managed to pack quite a lot in it. The mystery part was at times confusing but it was also deliciously complicated and well thought off. I can't wait to see where Cari takes this series in the next installment(s) as she put quite a lot of thought into the world building of these novels.
More Reviews HERE
November 1, 2022
Best in the saga thus far. Lord Jourdain is a great characters and I loved seeing the scales fall off of Anton’s eyes with regards to Camille. As usual, I wish we’d spend more time with Anton and Camille but the story is so well developed and interesting that this bothers me less and less with each book.
January 4, 2024
I love these books. The steampunk, the world building, it's all just great.
January 22, 2024
4.5
Me encantó que nos adentramos más en el mundo y como se maneja la magia y los pov's de Camille pero se me hizo más pesado que los otros
Me encantó que nos adentramos más en el mundo y como se maneja la magia y los pov's de Camille pero se me hizo más pesado que los otros
January 4, 2025
4.25 stars
February 1, 2025
Fun series. This definitely felt like a lead into the grand finale I’m sure book 4 will be.
June 26, 2025
Ahhhhhhhhh THIS SERIES IS SO FUN!!! 😄
January 16, 2023
Anton is finishing his Masters degree and is becoming quite concerned about his lack of job offers. That is until he is conscripted into service by his former teacher Dr. Grable, to assist the French empire's R&D weapons department start producing better weaponry. Of course, it is never as simple as that, when Anton's train is attacked on the trip and one of his companions, the Vicomte Voclain, is brutally assassinated. Luckily, Camille also happens to be on the train, and he quickly joins the investigation. Another royal dead, betrayal and spies around every bend, a healthy dose of magic, Victorian era sensibilities and a queer cast with some slow burn romance tossed in. Absolutely love this series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews