The Transference Engine

May 23, 2016
Verne St. John’s serviceable debut is a steampunk romp set in early 19th-century London. Madame Magdala has been hounded by Lord Byron, a necromancer whose otherworldly, soul-transplanting Transference Engine she destroyed a year earlier. With Byron’s only legitimate child, Ada Lovelace, by her side, Magdala must right the wrongs of the past and prevent a royal assassination. Verne St. John paints an intriguing portrait of London past and introduces a colorful cast of characters. The steampunk genre is difficult to refresh, but Verne St. John does a credible job with a new take on necromancy. However, the prose sometimes sounds too modern, which clashes with the setting. The characters are interesting, but their personal choices and moral ambiguity can make them difficult to root for. Verne St. John does not tread much new ground, but this is an enjoyable read nevertheless. Agent: Mike Kabongo, OnyxHawke Agency.

July 1, 2016
Madame Magdala is not the typical cookie-cutter female lead. She is strong, brave, independent, and on a mission to prevent Lord Byronyes, that Lord Byronfrom returning from the beyond by placing his soul into the body of an attractive young man. Calling herself Elise, she begins as the protector of Byron's daughter, Ada, but after Ada's marriage, she runs a library coffeehouse to stay informed of what necromancers are possibly reading. After some of her informants and employees go missing, she becomes suspicious that one of Byron's followers might be working to bring back the deceased poet, something Elise cannot let happen for the good of England. Also, Lord Byron was not a nice guy and will want to hurt his daughter, through the act of gaining a new body or after getting one. The adventure that follows is a delightful romp through early Victorian London, complete with prostitutes, street urchins, and magic. This lovely read has a bit of Anne Perry's Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series feel but with necromancy and more ass-kicking.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)