By Charlie N. Holmberg
This book is about an orphan, Elsie Camden, abandoned at a young age and forced to labor in the workhouse. There, she discovers an ability to unravel spells put in place around her. Coincidentally, a member of the elusive Cowls also spots her ability, removing her from the workhouse, and establishing her as a servant in a squire’s home nearby. Unable to process her good fortune other than crediting her saviors, Elsie begins training immediately to be able to undertake missions from them.
These missions call to Elsie’s innate sense of justice, as she often makes comparisons to the character of Robin Hood. Time progresses, she moves on to the village stonemason’s shop to escape the repugnant squire and his household. Her missions become more complicated, requiring more skill. Elsie also develops sincere, deep feelings for her new “family”, Cuthbert Ogden, the stone mason, and Emmeline, the often dotty but always goodhearted maid of the house. Proving invaluable to the household herself, Elsie is a secretary, errand-“boy”, and keeps the accounts and pricing strategy stable.
Elsie has done well for herself, until she is caught on one of her missions to foil the rich and enable the poor. The aspector (magician) who catches her senses her honest nature, outside of breaking and entering of course. To procure his silence, she must now also work for him, helping restore the grounds of the Duke’s property on which he is staying. Luckily Ogden is busy tending to the odious squire, but the Cowls seem to be doling out more and more missions, making her time and sleep both precious and rare.
As she and the taciturn Bacchus begin spending time together for her to pay off her debt, they begin to respect, have empathy, and then much more tender feelings for one another. Bacchus, an import from Barbados, encounters his own adversity in London. A foreigner, he encounters racial injustice and suspicion, along with class prejudice, though not to the extent that Elsie does as his wealth cushions the blow.
Elsie discovers spells hidden on Bacchus, a plot to kill off aspectors and take their powers, some details regarding her heritage, and that loyalty can be falsely placed. All in all, a great heroine that I followed quickly and happily to the end of the tale.
Pros & Cons & Potential Spoilers
Pros
- Sarcastic, scathing remarks win esteem from Elsie’s love interest
- Elsie is smart, pragmatic, and has a high morale compass even when her emotions and loyalty are tested
- I love a good stick-it-to-the-man-by-the-way-I’m-a-woman story
- She breaks lightning spells like a Marvel superhero
Cons
- I figured out the “bad guys”, and I knew Elsie and Bacchus would fall in love – but it didn’t make the journey any less great!!
- Pretty sure the Duke is the receiving end of the giving Rune 🙁
- The sequel doesn’t come out until March