The Lights of Prague
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4.2 • 33 Ratings
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
For readers of VE Schwab and The Witcher, science and magic clash in atmospheric gaslight-era Prague.
In the quiet streets of Prague all manner of mysterious creatures lurk in the shadows. Unbeknownst to its citizens, their only hope against the tide of predators are the dauntless lamplighters – secret elite of monster hunters whose light staves off the darkness each night. Domek Myska leads a life teeming with fraught encounters with the worst kind of evil: pijavice, bloodthirsty and soulless vampiric creatures. Despite this, Domek finds solace in his moments spent in the company of his friend, the clever and beautiful Lady Ora Fischerová - a widow with secrets of her own.
When Domek finds himself stalked by the spirit of the White Lady - a ghost who haunts the baroque halls of Prague castle – he stumbles across the sentient essence of a will-o’-the-wisp captured in a mysterious container. Now, as its bearer, Domek wields its power, but the wisp, known for leading travellers to their deaths, will not be so easily controlled.
After discovering a conspiracy amongst the pijavice that could see them unleash terror on the daylight world, Domek finds himself in a race against those who aim to twist alchemical science for their own dangerous gain.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Hungering for a sweeping historical fantasy with a touch of something dark and sinister? Nicole Jarvis’ moody, atmospheric debut novel puts a modern, inclusive spin on the kind of historical vampire thrillers written by Anne Rice. Domek patrols the dark, cobblestoned alleys of 19th-century Prague, fighting the bloodthirsty creatures that hide in the shadows of the city’s creepy underground tunnels. He also enjoys the company of the elegant Lady Ora, a beautiful older woman with a mysterious attraction to him. When Domek gains possession of a clever and devious spirit, he finds an unlikely ally in his ongoing fight against Prague’s vampires—who are looking for a way to break out of the city’s underground and take their reign of terror to the streets. You’ll get chills when some of the baddies in this gothic fantasy appear (and when Jarvis describes the ensuing blood spatters), but you won’t want to put The Lights of Prague down.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Jarvis debuts with a refreshing historical fantasy about class and the hunger for power. In 19th-century Prague, Domek Myska is part of the Lamplighters' Guild, which keeps the city's gas lamps burning and protects citizens from supernatural predators. After killing a pijavica, the Czech cousin of the vampire, Domek discovers that the creature was carrying something unheard of: a captive will-o'-the-wisp. Hoping to make a name for himself in the Lamplighter's Guild, he pursues the mystery of the wisp's origins and befriends the scene-stealing wisp along the way. Meanwhile, Lady Ora Fischerov , a wealthy, glamorous pijavica who has forsworn human blood, investigates rumors that some pijavica are developing a cure for their sunlight allergy. Jarvis's Prague is steeped in history and shadows, mourning its recent fall from power and teetering on the edge of modernity, and her wearily well-intentioned characters feel like old friends. Domek and Ora are delightfully sensible, even as they are sucked into byzantine conspiracies. The action-packed plot sometimes requires them to make nonsensical decisions, but readers will be too entertained to mind. Fantasy fans will gobble up this moody, philosophical adventure.
Customer Reviews
Excellent Read
Spooky Prague has a vampire problem and the Lamplighter’s job is to light the gas lamps and stake them. I really enjoyed this historical fantasy and highly recommend it.
Romantically thrilling and Violently pleasant.
I was immediately endeared to the protagonists of this story. From start to finish, I was enthralled by the plot. How a book could sway and swim from romance to horror and then to suspense just to circle back to a bloody and bittersweet end was absolutely incredible. I was highly pleased.
Prague, murders and monsters…
Fantastic ! Excellent setting and character development. A wonderful story NOT your YA type of vampire garbage. Do read!