Flint in the Bones - Eva St. John *****
By Brian Clegg
For some inexplicable reason, police procedural and fantasy work well together. Before later flabbiness, for example, the Rivers of London series was excellent. And so far, Eva St. John’s Flint in the Bones is, if anything, even better.
It starts in present day London, where magical practitioners are commonplace (if overly self-important) members of society, and much modern technology – smartphones and laptops, for instance – are powered by ‘engineered magic’.
Eliza Barnaby is a successful young police detective who doesn’t fit in because she comes from Norwich. The city was devastated and is now isolated because the practitioners made a huge error involving maps, resulting in the melding of different buildings and their inhabitants from different centuries, bringing chaos, plague and magical disruption to the city.
We venture into Norwich with Barnaby who is sent in pursuit of a rogue practitioner. The whole scene is beautifully realised, from the difficulties of, say, a 17th century puritan family suddenly plunged into the present, to Barnaby’s gradual realisations of her own relationship with magic. What happens is suitably twisty, but never loses its sense of humour. My only complaint about the book is it took a few chapters to get going – but that’s quickly pushed aside by the rest.
It’s not often this happens, but I immediately got the second in the series, Fire in the Flint, and read straight on when I finished the first book (and I would have carried on with the third if it had been on sale yet). The book is richly detailed with clever ideas, yet St. John never forgets the importance of keeping the reader entertained. Brilliant.
You can buy Flint in the Bones from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com
These articles will always be free – but if you’d like to support my online work, consider buying a virtual coffee or taking out a membership:
Now Appearing is the blog of science writer Brian Clegg (www.brianclegg.net), author of Inflight Science, Before the Big Bang and The God Effect.
Source: http://brianclegg.blogspot.com/2026/04/flint-in-bones-eva-st-john.html
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
| Visits: | 1,795,448,319 |
| Stories: | 8,619,554 |
Whistler Blowers, Insiders
