Witchmark

By C. L. Polk,

Book cover of Witchmark

Book description

In an original world reminiscent of Edwardian England in the shadow of a world war, cabals of noble families use their unique magical gifts to control the fates of nations, while one young man seeks only to live a life of his own. Moving at a brilliant pace and pulsingā€¦

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Why read it?

3 authors picked Witchmark as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

The first book in the Kingston Cycle series, Witchmark is set in a magic-powered Edwardian era just after the end of a World War. I loved the balance of soaring magic and gritty realism as well as the unexpected revelations surrounding each of the characters.

Miles ā€” a witch who is desperate to keep from being used as a power source by mages ā€” has faked his death and lives in hiding as a military doctor. However, when Tristan Hunter brings a dying man to Milesā€™ hospital, Milesā€™ secrets are threatened. But Tristan isnā€™t interested in blackmailing or exposing him.ā€¦

From Ginn's list on gay couples to fall in love with.

Now for the fiction! C. L. Polkā€™s Witchmark trilogy is one of the few books Iā€™ve encountered that shows a realistic nonviolent political movement in a fantasy setting. I also like this trilogy because it shows the choices people in power have in response to social movements as well as the role ordinary citizens play in supporting or impeding change.

From Erika's list on where nonviolence changes the world.

Witchmark is a gorgeous example of what some call ā€œgaslamp fantasyā€ā€”where sorcerers and the supernatural exist in fantastical but post-industrial worlds. Following the journey of witch-turned-veteransā€™-doctor Miles, Witchmark is set in Kingston, a city that relies on an element known as aether to power its lights, trains, and telephones. The question of aetherā€™s source is key to the conflict that Miles and his allies must untangle, so I wonā€™t give it away, but the mystery surrounding it expertly utilizes the fantastical and themes of magic to raise questions in the reader about the cost of modern comforts and which membersā€¦

From Jasmine's list on fantastical civic design.

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Truth told, folks still ask if Saul Crabtree sold his soul for the perfect voice. If he sold it to angels or devils. A Bristol newspaper once asked: ā€œAre his love songs closer to heaven than dying?ā€ Others wonder how he wrote a song so sad, everyone who heard itā€¦

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