Genre: Mystery, Historical, Fantasy
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
The city of Astreiant is full of magic, danger and bureaucracy, and never moreso than when something or someone is making guild apprentices disappear without a trace. Philip Eslingen has just been discharged from his mercenary company and as a Leaguer and a stranger, makes an ideal suspect.
Fortunately for him, Pointsman Nicolas Rathe from the Point of Hopes station doesn’t agree, but he knows the only way to prove that is to find the missing children and the real culprits. Together they must follow a twisted trail of deceit and magic in a city on the brink of exploding into violence.
If they can’t learn to work together, the results could be catastrophic, even fatal. And if they can’t trust each other, the price could be higher than either of them realize.
The Review
In the city of Astreiant, the Queen of Chenedolle has been the object of speculation for years. She’s childless state, and has not yet produced an heiress.
Lt. Philip Eslingen has only been in the city for two days. He was finally promoted by the young Prince-marshal de Coindarel, who has a tendency to indulge in certain men of the troop. Eslingen had worked his way through ranks, but promotion to lieutenant came by way of Coindarel’s roving eye.
He and his Coindarel’s Dragons have spent two days at camp along Horse Road. The troops had been waiting to be paid off that very morning by the paymaster company. Captain Connat Bathias oversees the payout to be sure there was no trouble, even though Eslingen doesn’t expect any.
Enslingen has other responsibilities he needs to attend to before heading into the city. He checks on the return of mounts from the troops to the Horsemaster, and for people who could buy back weapons. After all is done and he gets paid, he goes on search of lodging and finds it at the Old Brown Dog, where Leaguers are accepted – the Astreiants generally think of Leaguers as the enemy.
At the inn, he meets owner Aagte Devynck, who served as a Leaguer during the war, and her daughter Adriana. He was born of the sign of air and water, and so he sets up his altar – a statue of Phoebe, guardian of health, and Seidos, sign of the horse and Patron of Nobility. He plans to see a magist to have his stars read, and to buy more candles for the Hearthmistress and himself.
After a nap, he heads for dinner. He is hailed by Dausset Cijnitien, a man that he worked under before. Dausset is now a trader leading a caravan. He wants to hire Eslingen as a guard. Midsummer is the perfect time to hire. Not feeling comfortable in Astreiant, he decides that it would be ideal to work for Dausset again, but ultimately he turns his old friend down – the thought of being aboard six months to a year just did not suit him. Instead, he takes a job as a knife for the Old Brown Dog, the perfect job for Eslingen until he decides to move on.
Nicolas Rathe works as an Adjunct Pointsman under the Chief Pointmaster, Monteia. With the Fair Season and Midsummer Fair, there are always a fair amount of runaways reported. He receives a visit from Badge Guild Master Bonfais Mailet, who has come to report a prentice of two years missing. The twelveyear-old, Herisse Robion, was content with his job and had no problems. It all seems highly suspicious.
Rathe’s investigation takes him to Point of Sichs, and and hr meets with the Quentiers, where he’s reminded that there’s also a fourteen year old boy – Gavaret Cordiere – missing. On his return to the office, Chief Point Monteia waits for him. They discuss the rising issue of runaways and abductions. Rathe decides to seek the advice of his friend and necromancer Istre b’Estorr, who has the ability to touch ghosts.
Rathe and Eslingen have a rocky beginning, but they eventually become friends. When Eslingen loses his job, Rathe has a situation that Eslingen can help him with. Rathe is keeping his eye on Hanselin Caiazzo, long distant trader, merchant venturer and paymaster of illegal businesses, but he’s never been caught doing anything wrong. With children still missing, swirling conspiracies, and a town ready to explode, will Rathe and Eslingen be able to solve the mystery?
Scott and Barnett spin an epic tale that blends astrology, predictions from stars, a land of two moons and magic. The world building is stellar, especially when it comes to the society – a hierarchal culture that relies heavily on each individual’s nativity and star alignments, right to the second when and individual was born.
Not that I need to have romance in a novel, but for those who do, there isn’t one here, and just a touch of LGBTQ+ content. This is the story of two men from different walks of life who become friends. It’s a time when both men are disliked because of their professions; Eslingen a Legionnaire and Rathe a pointsman. But I liked both of these characters and was glad that a friendship grew between them. Eslingen and Rathe are the glue that holds this story together
Point of Hopes is a complex tale that held my attention throughout. I can’t wait to see what Scott and Barnett come up with for the next story in the land of Astreiant.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
