The Resurrectionist of Caligo

May 20, 2019
Tremboli and Zaloga’s cumbersome quasi-Victorian debut has the bones of an intriguing fantasy, but is bogged down by excessive worldbuilding minutia. Myrcnia’s royal family rules by divine right, tied to their magical blood, but science is beginning to challenge magic’s supremacy. Resurrectionist (which is to say, corpse robber), aspiring physician, and ex-convict Roger Weathersby suspects a connection between peculiar manifestations in recent corpses and the notorious Greyanchor Strangler, who’s been terrorizing Caligo, the capital of Myrcnia. Roger and Divine Maiden Sibylla, the returned-from-exile granddaughter of the reigning queen, shared a childhood romance but are only in occasional communication via Roger’s half-brother, Sibylla’s warden, Capt. Harrod Starkley. Nonetheless, the story supposedly pivots on their connection. Roger’s odd friendship with an impoverished nine-year-old girl somewhat redeems his generally unappealing character, but there’s little insight into what draws Sibylla to him and vice versa. Readers who persevere through the extensive details of the unpleasantries and challenges of Victorian-era life will eventually be rewarded by the development of political intrigues that enliven the last section of the book. This is far from the top echelons of steampunk, but its unusual concepts (fungus magic, blood magic) will be of interest to genre aficionados.

August 1, 2019
Roger Weathersby is a resurrectionist, a man of science?NOT a grave robber, thank you very much?unearthing the deceased for the local medical school in return for instruction in the medicinal arts. When he unearths his latest body, Roger is horrified to see signs that the victim was buried alive. Could this be the doings of the infamous serial killer, the Greyanchor Strangler? When Roger is framed for the crimes, he must rely on his childhood friend, Princess Sibylla of Myrcnia, and her blood magic to help him solve the murders. Can one man of science and one magical princess work together to find the killer before another victim is claimed? Trimoboli and Zaloga skillfully deliver a debut that uses alchemy to combine scientific logic, magical elements, and a whodunnit that gives off Sherlock Holmes-ian, gaslamp vibes. The novel is artfully written from dual perspectives but with one fluid style, and will appeal to readers of sf, fantasy, and historical mystery, or those who just can't choose.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)