A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

A Curse of Ash and Iron by Christine Norris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Curse of Ash and Iron is an exciting gaslamp fantasy book that draws on fairytales and illusions to build a vibrant and magical world. Ellie and Ben are enjoyable leads!

Ben is skeptical about the magic that has Ellie trapped in a curse. He has devoted himself to studying magic tricks and illusions, dreaming of being a performer, and believes there is a practical explanation for everything. But he is also loyal to Ellie and keen to help her in spite of his reservations. This perspective balances the story as he is wary and critical at every turn.

I love the setting of the Centennial Exposition! It’s such a fun, rich space to explore along with the characters, marvelling with them at the wonders on display. The author describes all settings well, it’s really an immersive read!

For me, this is a five star read. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would recommend it to all gaslamp fantasy fans, as well as fans of other historical fantasy looking for something new.

View all my reviews