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Cold War Magic #1
Breach
The first novel in a new Cold War fantasy series, where the Berlin Wall is made entirely of magic. When a breach unexpectedly appears in the wall, spies from both sides swarm to the city as World War III threatens to spark.
AFTER THE WAR, THE WALL BROUGHT AN UNEASY PEACE.
When Soviet magicians conjured an arcane Wall to blockade occupied Berlin, the world was outraged, but let it stand for the sake of peace. Now after ten years of fighting with spies instead of spells, the CIA has discovered the unthinkable:
THE WALL IS FAILING.
While refugees and soldiers mass along the border, operatives from East and West converge on the most dangerous city in the world to stop the crisis or take advantage of it.
Karen, a young magician with the American Office of Magical Research and Deployment, is sent to investigate the breach in the Wall and see if it can be fixed. Instead she will discover that the truth is elusive in this divided city, and that even magic itself has its own agenda.
THE TRUTH OF THE WALL IS ABOUT TO BE REVEALED.
AFTER THE WAR, THE WALL BROUGHT AN UNEASY PEACE.
When Soviet magicians conjured an arcane Wall to blockade occupied Berlin, the world was outraged, but let it stand for the sake of peace. Now after ten years of fighting with spies instead of spells, the CIA has discovered the unthinkable:
THE WALL IS FAILING.
While refugees and soldiers mass along the border, operatives from East and West converge on the most dangerous city in the world to stop the crisis or take advantage of it.
Karen, a young magician with the American Office of Magical Research and Deployment, is sent to investigate the breach in the Wall and see if it can be fixed. Instead she will discover that the truth is elusive in this divided city, and that even magic itself has its own agenda.
THE TRUTH OF THE WALL IS ABOUT TO BE REVEALED.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
November 28, 2018
3.75 stars! What a way to spice things up! A genre-bending novel with historical science fiction leanings? Breach sounded like the perfect way to test out science fiction and fantasy again.
A wall is put in place to separate Soviet-occupied from unoccupied Berlin. After ten years, the CIA discovers the wall is being breached.
Here’s where the “fun” stuff enters…Karen is a magician with the American Office of Magical Research and Deployment (you mean we don’t have one of those already?! We should!), and she is sent to assess the breach and see if it can be fixed. What she discovers instead is much more than she planned for.
A dab of politics, a background of history, and an alternate world, make Breach an original stand-out read. Magic is the winner in this forum and discovering just how so is yet another mesmerizing facet of this book.
Quirky and complex characters abound, along with smooth writing, solid plotting, adding up to a total escape of a read!
Disclosure to my sci fi and fantasy friends: remember I’m not a regular in either of these genres, but as a newbie, I definitely found this quite enjoyable!
Thank you to Berkley/Ace Rock Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
A wall is put in place to separate Soviet-occupied from unoccupied Berlin. After ten years, the CIA discovers the wall is being breached.
Here’s where the “fun” stuff enters…Karen is a magician with the American Office of Magical Research and Deployment (you mean we don’t have one of those already?! We should!), and she is sent to assess the breach and see if it can be fixed. What she discovers instead is much more than she planned for.
A dab of politics, a background of history, and an alternate world, make Breach an original stand-out read. Magic is the winner in this forum and discovering just how so is yet another mesmerizing facet of this book.
Quirky and complex characters abound, along with smooth writing, solid plotting, adding up to a total escape of a read!
Disclosure to my sci fi and fantasy friends: remember I’m not a regular in either of these genres, but as a newbie, I definitely found this quite enjoyable!
Thank you to Berkley/Ace Rock Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
November 18, 2018
This was an interesting story of alternate history laced with magic...
This is definitely not my usual read, but it was a nice change of pace... as a child of the 70s and 80s and with a father who worked in aerospace I was always well aware of the Cold War... in fact after the age of 10 I was not allowed to go inside my father’s work, in case I were a Russian spy not even sure if I’m allowed to say this... They might have to kill me😉
This book was set after WWII in Germany, it took me a while to figure out exactly when this book took place... I’m not even sure how important this is? But because this is not my usual genre I was a little fixated on it.... so sometime after WWII and the Berlin wall being erected... but this is no ordinary wall, it is a wall built of magic.... it is a wall that is hiding something and keeping the peace.... without this wall there is a chance of a possible WWIII... kind of tough to wrap your head around, especially when you witnessed the wall coming down and thought of it as being a triumphant moment...
The female protagonist in this book was fantastic, a woman fighting her way in a man’s world.... really liked Karen and I was a little frustrated when the story switched to someoneelse’s point of view... I truly would have been happy had the story Ben told Soli from her viewpoint... The magic was fascinating, however I would’ve liked a little more information on the magic system... but seeing as though the characters themselves weren’t entirely clear on the magic, I guess it is understandable that I wasn’t either.... The last 25% of this book was pretty much nonstop action with lots of magic, and the ending.... a bit of a cliffy.....
All in all a good book a definite detour from my regular reads....
*** many thanks to the team at Berkley Publishing for bringing this book to my attention and for the copy ***
This is definitely not my usual read, but it was a nice change of pace... as a child of the 70s and 80s and with a father who worked in aerospace I was always well aware of the Cold War... in fact after the age of 10 I was not allowed to go inside my father’s work, in case I were a Russian spy not even sure if I’m allowed to say this... They might have to kill me😉
This book was set after WWII in Germany, it took me a while to figure out exactly when this book took place... I’m not even sure how important this is? But because this is not my usual genre I was a little fixated on it.... so sometime after WWII and the Berlin wall being erected... but this is no ordinary wall, it is a wall built of magic.... it is a wall that is hiding something and keeping the peace.... without this wall there is a chance of a possible WWIII... kind of tough to wrap your head around, especially when you witnessed the wall coming down and thought of it as being a triumphant moment...
The female protagonist in this book was fantastic, a woman fighting her way in a man’s world.... really liked Karen and I was a little frustrated when the story switched to someoneelse’s point of view... I truly would have been happy had the story Ben told Soli from her viewpoint... The magic was fascinating, however I would’ve liked a little more information on the magic system... but seeing as though the characters themselves weren’t entirely clear on the magic, I guess it is understandable that I wasn’t either.... The last 25% of this book was pretty much nonstop action with lots of magic, and the ending.... a bit of a cliffy.....
All in all a good book a definite detour from my regular reads....
*** many thanks to the team at Berkley Publishing for bringing this book to my attention and for the copy ***
January 21, 2019
Today I'm sharing my newest journey into different book genres with my review of the debut historical fantasy novel, Breach by W. L. Goodwater. In a reimagining of the Berlin Wall, Breach proposes a world where the wall was created after the war out of magic rather than a physical wall. Bringing a clever twist on an historical event, Breach is grounded in a real scenario, but with an entirely new take on history--an urban fantasy based in magical realism. This is a great entry into the fantasy genre!
There are men who are unknown because they are effusive, and men that are unknown because no one noticed them. Breach proposes the notion that the latter is more powerful. I found the dynamics of who is behind this breach in the wall and what it means in a time of war and in a time where magic is only partially accepted as a reality that must be captured to be fascinating! Karen is a young magician who has been somewhat cast aside by men her whole life. Having Karen as our lead was quite powerful. It is people like Karen, who are constantly brushed aside that may wield the true power to change the world.
I loved the way the magic was described here. Throughout the book is a conversation about magic and it's true mechanism. Most magicians do a lot of incantations and hand waving. But Karen proposes a lesson she once learned that all of that may not be needed. It is a way to help the magician focus, rather than a requirement for performing magic. And focus is the key to implementing magic. Magicians wear a locus around their necks, and it is a symbol near to their heart that helps them channel their magic. As a magical researcher, Karen enters the book trying to channel her magic towards healing. And because of this pureness to Karen's desires, Karen may be the only character who could have been sent to investigate the breach in the wall and save the warring people.
One aspect to this book that was compelling was the notion of an unforgivable, dark side to magic. Not all magic is good, just as not all magicians are good. But magicians are left to operate according to a code of honor that must be upheld for magicians to remain helpful and not destructive. Of course, there are always those tempted to cross over to the dark side of magic. I don't want to give away too much, but suffice it to say that this was one of the most fascinating aspects of this book for me.
The last scene was outstanding! I can't say more, but get to that last scene and you'll know what I mean. In fact, the very last line of the book is still buzzing through my head, making me think about the aftermath of such an event in a whole new way. I really enjoyed my first read in the historical fantasy genre!
I read this book with two of my book besties, Berit and Jennifer. This was something new for all of us and we had a really great time discussing it! Check out their blogs for their reviews of Breach (now live!)!
Thank you to Berkley for my copy of this book to review!
There are men who are unknown because they are effusive, and men that are unknown because no one noticed them. Breach proposes the notion that the latter is more powerful. I found the dynamics of who is behind this breach in the wall and what it means in a time of war and in a time where magic is only partially accepted as a reality that must be captured to be fascinating! Karen is a young magician who has been somewhat cast aside by men her whole life. Having Karen as our lead was quite powerful. It is people like Karen, who are constantly brushed aside that may wield the true power to change the world.
I loved the way the magic was described here. Throughout the book is a conversation about magic and it's true mechanism. Most magicians do a lot of incantations and hand waving. But Karen proposes a lesson she once learned that all of that may not be needed. It is a way to help the magician focus, rather than a requirement for performing magic. And focus is the key to implementing magic. Magicians wear a locus around their necks, and it is a symbol near to their heart that helps them channel their magic. As a magical researcher, Karen enters the book trying to channel her magic towards healing. And because of this pureness to Karen's desires, Karen may be the only character who could have been sent to investigate the breach in the wall and save the warring people.
One aspect to this book that was compelling was the notion of an unforgivable, dark side to magic. Not all magic is good, just as not all magicians are good. But magicians are left to operate according to a code of honor that must be upheld for magicians to remain helpful and not destructive. Of course, there are always those tempted to cross over to the dark side of magic. I don't want to give away too much, but suffice it to say that this was one of the most fascinating aspects of this book for me.
The last scene was outstanding! I can't say more, but get to that last scene and you'll know what I mean. In fact, the very last line of the book is still buzzing through my head, making me think about the aftermath of such an event in a whole new way. I really enjoyed my first read in the historical fantasy genre!
I read this book with two of my book besties, Berit and Jennifer. This was something new for all of us and we had a really great time discussing it! Check out their blogs for their reviews of Breach (now live!)!
Thank you to Berkley for my copy of this book to review!
December 8, 2018
"Magic was never the salvation of mankind. It was our undoing." I think that a reader's reaction to this book might depend on two things: first, their unconditional love for all things magical, and second, their enthusiasm/tolerance for books that aren't written very well and contain the clichéd phrase "something terrible had been released".
Karen O'Neil is a 26 year old magician doing research at the Office of Magical Research and Deployment in the United States. In this alternate reality story, the Berlin Wall was created and is maintained by magic, and Karen is sent to investigate a small breach that has opened in the Wall. Secretly, however, the purpose of the Wall is not crowd control, but we don't find out the "real" purpose of the Wall until the second half of the book. Up until that point the book is mostly a spy story with very little (and unimpressive) magic. The last third of the book gets more interesting when the characters enter a space where reality has shifted. The action speeds up and the images becomes very cinematic, with spectral presences, magic that feeds on blood and a breach that "twisted and thrashed like a living thing".
I tried to ignore the fact that the writing isn't terrific because I know this is not aiming to be great literature, but I just couldn't since it seemed to get worse and cheesier as the book progressed. For example: On the first page: "...a skeletal moon proved to be a disinterested accomplice..." and "The only other light came from the heavily curtained windows reluctantly overlooking the empty road." I don't know what a skeletal moon is and I don't see how inanimate objects can be either disinterested or reluctant. And how exactly is light coming from heavily curtained windows? Also: "Every step was like walking barefoot over broken shards of yourself." and "...the sun decided to burn off a morning mist."
From the beginning of the book I didn't think the writing was very good and the pacing was too slow, but near the end the book finally lost me forever. The book did have some interesting concepts, so I've rounded my rating up to 3 stars from 2.5, but I will not be continuing with the series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
Karen O'Neil is a 26 year old magician doing research at the Office of Magical Research and Deployment in the United States. In this alternate reality story, the Berlin Wall was created and is maintained by magic, and Karen is sent to investigate a small breach that has opened in the Wall. Secretly, however, the purpose of the Wall is not crowd control, but we don't find out the "real" purpose of the Wall until the second half of the book. Up until that point the book is mostly a spy story with very little (and unimpressive) magic. The last third of the book gets more interesting when the characters enter a space where reality has shifted. The action speeds up and the images becomes very cinematic, with spectral presences, magic that feeds on blood and a breach that "twisted and thrashed like a living thing".
I tried to ignore the fact that the writing isn't terrific because I know this is not aiming to be great literature, but I just couldn't since it seemed to get worse and cheesier as the book progressed. For example: On the first page: "...a skeletal moon proved to be a disinterested accomplice..." and "The only other light came from the heavily curtained windows reluctantly overlooking the empty road." I don't know what a skeletal moon is and I don't see how inanimate objects can be either disinterested or reluctant. And how exactly is light coming from heavily curtained windows? Also: "Every step was like walking barefoot over broken shards of yourself." and "...the sun decided to burn off a morning mist."
From the beginning of the book I didn't think the writing was very good and the pacing was too slow, but near the end the book finally lost me forever. The book did have some interesting concepts, so I've rounded my rating up to 3 stars from 2.5, but I will not be continuing with the series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
October 5, 2018
Controversial at best, the Berlin Wall may be dividing more than a troubled city. As East and West operatives swarm like locusts, one thing has been discovered, the wall is failing, it must be shored up or the world may soon discover its true purpose…
History, politics and an alternate universe bring a magical and new level of intrigue to the Berlin Wall in W.L. Goodwater’s BREACH. Magic, magicians and government machinations will collide as one U.S. agent fights stereotyping and magical menace.
What a clever twist on history as we are invited into another world where magic prevails! Great character development, some fresh, some crusty, some eccentric, but none prepared for the truths that have been hidden! A great escape from our reality!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Ace!
Series: Cold War Magic - Book 1
Publisher: Ace (November 6, 2018)
Publication Date: November 6, 2018
Genre: Historical Fantasy | Alternate History
Print Length: 368 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
History, politics and an alternate universe bring a magical and new level of intrigue to the Berlin Wall in W.L. Goodwater’s BREACH. Magic, magicians and government machinations will collide as one U.S. agent fights stereotyping and magical menace.
What a clever twist on history as we are invited into another world where magic prevails! Great character development, some fresh, some crusty, some eccentric, but none prepared for the truths that have been hidden! A great escape from our reality!
I received a complimentary ARC edition from Ace!
Series: Cold War Magic - Book 1
Publisher: Ace (November 6, 2018)
Publication Date: November 6, 2018
Genre: Historical Fantasy | Alternate History
Print Length: 368 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
December 6, 2018
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/11/27/...
I was surprised how much I liked Breach. Mostly, I wasn’t sure how I would take to the novel, given my last venture into a Cold War alternate history was met with mixed results, but I’m pleased to say W.L. Goodwater has delivered a fine thriller here, laced with just the right amount and balance of history, action and magic.
The novel opens on a world very different from our own. World War II happened, yes. But a generation later, even following the devastation, the world’s powers continued to clash—with war, ideology…and magic. Though thaumaturgy is widely seen as a weapon of the Germans because of how brutally the Nazi troops used magic to do horrible things during WWII, American researcher Karen O’Neil is trying to change that perception. To counter magic, she reasons, one must be able to understand it, and it need not be a tool for destruction either if its power and energy can be harnessed to do good.
As a woman and a magician, however, Karen’s quest is an uphill battle, given how wary the public is regarding anything to do with magic. Even her own father, a veteran who has experienced its destructive power in the war, despises the magical work she does for the State Department. Then one day, an urgent request for a magical expert arrives from Germany, warning of a breach in the Berlin Wall, which in this world is a massive construct made entirely of magical energy. Karen is tapped for the assignment, amidst backlash from her male co-workers who feel she would not be up to the rigors of the job. Determined to prove herself, Karen throws herself into finding an explanation and solution for the growing breach, despite increasing signs that the problem may be linked to greater dangers involving deadly conspiracies and powerful secrets.
For a debut, Breach was pretty solid. I was impressed by the flow of the writing, despite some over-embellishment and the occasional moment where I questioned word choice. I also enjoyed the voice of the main protagonist. The narrative follows a couple points-of-view besides Karen, but she was the character I latched onto the moment she stepped onto the page. A twenty-something-year-old woman and a magician, she faces pushback from many corners because of her sex and her ability to do magic. While the negativity she receives is great motivational factor, it also has a tendency to drive her to do impulsive things in her effort to prove she is up to the task, usually resulting in her doing something she regrets. However, her complexities—which include her flaws and personal weaknesses—serve to make her feel like a genuine and well-rounded character. On the whole, I found her to more memorable and developed than any of the other POVs, though I hope some—namely Jim, the CIA agent—will get more attention if there are future sequels.
To my relief, you also don’t have to be much of a history buff to get into this book. Cold War knowledge certainly isn’t my forte, but I made out fine anyway, mostly because Goodwater has devised a world that holds up reasonably well as its own creation. The presence of magic is a gamechanger, causing sweeping changes in history and the way people conduct their lives. The magic system described in the book itself isn’t anything too special (comprising of the usual hand gestures and incantations, special objects to act as a focal point for the magician’s power, etc.) but I felt the social implications of it were. Magicians are both admired and feared for what they can do, as represented by an early scene of Karen at a family gathering, showing off her magic to the delight of her young niece while Karen’s own father stands to the side, seething with disapproval. It is a time of great change in this world, and attitudes towards magic play a role in determining the impact of certain events and people in the story.
The plot reads like a mystery, with emphasis on investigations and spycraft early on, though there is a lot more action and suspense in the second half of the novel. There is also a surprise twist later on in the story that throws even more possibilities into the mix, making me re-evaluate what I thought I knew about this world. It seemed a bit over-the-top, for a novel already filled to the brim with a multitude of concepts, but as it was a genuinely fascinating plot development and the author didn’t let it get too out of hand, I was willing to disregard some of the more overreaching elements of the story. As well, the final page makes me think there will be more to follow, and as I alluded to earlier, if we’re fortunate enough to get a sequel, I will definitely be on board for more.
I was surprised how much I liked Breach. Mostly, I wasn’t sure how I would take to the novel, given my last venture into a Cold War alternate history was met with mixed results, but I’m pleased to say W.L. Goodwater has delivered a fine thriller here, laced with just the right amount and balance of history, action and magic.
The novel opens on a world very different from our own. World War II happened, yes. But a generation later, even following the devastation, the world’s powers continued to clash—with war, ideology…and magic. Though thaumaturgy is widely seen as a weapon of the Germans because of how brutally the Nazi troops used magic to do horrible things during WWII, American researcher Karen O’Neil is trying to change that perception. To counter magic, she reasons, one must be able to understand it, and it need not be a tool for destruction either if its power and energy can be harnessed to do good.
As a woman and a magician, however, Karen’s quest is an uphill battle, given how wary the public is regarding anything to do with magic. Even her own father, a veteran who has experienced its destructive power in the war, despises the magical work she does for the State Department. Then one day, an urgent request for a magical expert arrives from Germany, warning of a breach in the Berlin Wall, which in this world is a massive construct made entirely of magical energy. Karen is tapped for the assignment, amidst backlash from her male co-workers who feel she would not be up to the rigors of the job. Determined to prove herself, Karen throws herself into finding an explanation and solution for the growing breach, despite increasing signs that the problem may be linked to greater dangers involving deadly conspiracies and powerful secrets.
For a debut, Breach was pretty solid. I was impressed by the flow of the writing, despite some over-embellishment and the occasional moment where I questioned word choice. I also enjoyed the voice of the main protagonist. The narrative follows a couple points-of-view besides Karen, but she was the character I latched onto the moment she stepped onto the page. A twenty-something-year-old woman and a magician, she faces pushback from many corners because of her sex and her ability to do magic. While the negativity she receives is great motivational factor, it also has a tendency to drive her to do impulsive things in her effort to prove she is up to the task, usually resulting in her doing something she regrets. However, her complexities—which include her flaws and personal weaknesses—serve to make her feel like a genuine and well-rounded character. On the whole, I found her to more memorable and developed than any of the other POVs, though I hope some—namely Jim, the CIA agent—will get more attention if there are future sequels.
To my relief, you also don’t have to be much of a history buff to get into this book. Cold War knowledge certainly isn’t my forte, but I made out fine anyway, mostly because Goodwater has devised a world that holds up reasonably well as its own creation. The presence of magic is a gamechanger, causing sweeping changes in history and the way people conduct their lives. The magic system described in the book itself isn’t anything too special (comprising of the usual hand gestures and incantations, special objects to act as a focal point for the magician’s power, etc.) but I felt the social implications of it were. Magicians are both admired and feared for what they can do, as represented by an early scene of Karen at a family gathering, showing off her magic to the delight of her young niece while Karen’s own father stands to the side, seething with disapproval. It is a time of great change in this world, and attitudes towards magic play a role in determining the impact of certain events and people in the story.
The plot reads like a mystery, with emphasis on investigations and spycraft early on, though there is a lot more action and suspense in the second half of the novel. There is also a surprise twist later on in the story that throws even more possibilities into the mix, making me re-evaluate what I thought I knew about this world. It seemed a bit over-the-top, for a novel already filled to the brim with a multitude of concepts, but as it was a genuinely fascinating plot development and the author didn’t let it get too out of hand, I was willing to disregard some of the more overreaching elements of the story. As well, the final page makes me think there will be more to follow, and as I alluded to earlier, if we’re fortunate enough to get a sequel, I will definitely be on board for more.
October 30, 2018
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Breach was a wild ride. It took me a while to get into it, but I'm glad I pushed through the slow beginning (which could totally have been due to my currently-on-the-way-out-finally two month reading slump) and kept going. I read the last 70% in one sitting!
This was a crazy fun alternate history historical fiction magical realism urban fantasy. It's set mostly in Europe, in the city of Berlin, after the War has torn the world (and the city) apart. Only the wall in this one is magical, impenetrable, and supposedly never coming down... until the "good guys" find a hole in the magic. Uh oh. They call for some magical support from their counterparts in the US, and the main character shows up on the scene. From there, it's a storm of spies, betrayals, magical twists, and fighting against pure evil.
I'll say, it was highly entertaining with a dash of cliche. I'd probably pick up the next one, if there's a sequel, because it was fun. I do wish the magic had been a little more developed. But hey, after that ending, there's a chance for more.
I'd say overall, good book with some great action, definitely worth a read if historical fiction with a paranormal/fantasy twist is your thing.
Breach was a wild ride. It took me a while to get into it, but I'm glad I pushed through the slow beginning (which could totally have been due to my currently-on-the-way-out-finally two month reading slump) and kept going. I read the last 70% in one sitting!
This was a crazy fun alternate history historical fiction magical realism urban fantasy. It's set mostly in Europe, in the city of Berlin, after the War has torn the world (and the city) apart. Only the wall in this one is magical, impenetrable, and supposedly never coming down... until the "good guys" find a hole in the magic. Uh oh. They call for some magical support from their counterparts in the US, and the main character shows up on the scene. From there, it's a storm of spies, betrayals, magical twists, and fighting against pure evil.
I'll say, it was highly entertaining with a dash of cliche. I'd probably pick up the next one, if there's a sequel, because it was fun. I do wish the magic had been a little more developed. But hey, after that ending, there's a chance for more.
I'd say overall, good book with some great action, definitely worth a read if historical fiction with a paranormal/fantasy twist is your thing.
December 10, 2018
A Magical Wall
There’s a whole generation now who’ve grown up after the Berlin Wall fell. If you visit Berlin, it’s just a thin line of metal marking where it had been and a small section saved as part of a historical museum. Not that scary anymore. But, there was a time that this barrier divided the city, cleaving it in two. And, it was not designed to keep outsiders or invaders out so much as to keep the populace within where they could be subjected to the endless propaganda of the Communist Party.
Breach explores the dark period when freedom was stifled in East Berlin within sight of the West. Here, the American, French, and British directly confront the Soviet Empire before Gorbachev was told to tear down this wall. But, this wall in Breach was not constructed of cinderblock and mortar, but of spells and magic. And, there’s a breach in the wall, a pathway, and both the East and the West have magicians ready to confront the magic of the wall.
And, what if the Wall is meant not just to cut off East Berlin, but to hold something else at bay, something more treacherous.
Real interesting concepts, indeed. Part spy fiction, part science fiction, part alternate history. Featuring a lead character of magician extraordinary Karen O’Neill, a young, innocent, naive magician still feeling her land legs, but often showing other points of view as well. Although the storytelling was not always gripping, there were so many interesting ideas explored. Labeled as the first book in the series, so more are on the way.
There’s a whole generation now who’ve grown up after the Berlin Wall fell. If you visit Berlin, it’s just a thin line of metal marking where it had been and a small section saved as part of a historical museum. Not that scary anymore. But, there was a time that this barrier divided the city, cleaving it in two. And, it was not designed to keep outsiders or invaders out so much as to keep the populace within where they could be subjected to the endless propaganda of the Communist Party.
Breach explores the dark period when freedom was stifled in East Berlin within sight of the West. Here, the American, French, and British directly confront the Soviet Empire before Gorbachev was told to tear down this wall. But, this wall in Breach was not constructed of cinderblock and mortar, but of spells and magic. And, there’s a breach in the wall, a pathway, and both the East and the West have magicians ready to confront the magic of the wall.
And, what if the Wall is meant not just to cut off East Berlin, but to hold something else at bay, something more treacherous.
Real interesting concepts, indeed. Part spy fiction, part science fiction, part alternate history. Featuring a lead character of magician extraordinary Karen O’Neill, a young, innocent, naive magician still feeling her land legs, but often showing other points of view as well. Although the storytelling was not always gripping, there were so many interesting ideas explored. Labeled as the first book in the series, so more are on the way.
November 24, 2018
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The nitty-gritty: A slow-paced beginning turns into thrilling excitement at the end, which makes up for some of the more tedious sections.
I’ll admit that when I first saw the cover of Breach, I thought it was science fiction. Maybe that’s why I feel like I got off on the wrong foot with this book. Breach is a fantasy that takes place in an alternate post-WWII Europe where the Berlin Wall is actually made of magic. Cool idea, right? I thought so too, but unfortunately this was a very inconsistent read for me. It took a long time for the story to capture my attention—and when I say “a long time” I mean it wasn’t until about the last 25% that I finally started to enjoyed myself. It’s almost as if two different writers had written this book. The beginning is very slow and meandering, but the end was fantastic, and even the writing was better, in my opinion. Now, you’ll see plenty of 4- and 5-star ratings on Goodreads, so keep in mind this could be a “it’s not you, it's me” situation.
Karen is a magician who works for the Office of Magical Research and Deployment. She’s currently working on trying to develop a healing spell, when she’s asked to go on a secret assignment overseas. In Germany, a magical Wall stands between East and West Berlin, created with such strong magic that it is said its power will last forever. But something is happening to the Wall. A small breach has appeared, and it’s getting bigger by the day. Something has gone wrong with the magic, so the CIA decides to invite Karen to Berlin to see if she can fix the breach.
But there are other interested parties who will do whatever it takes to stop Karen and her team from interfering with the breach. As Karen delves deeper into the mystery of the magic behind the Wall, she discovers that the Wall is much more than just a magical barrier. Learning its secrets and trying to stay one step ahead of the Russians is not an easy task, and Karen finds herself in the worst sort of danger.
I’m not sure if the year is ever mentioned, but I’m assuming that the story takes place sometime after the War, maybe the 1950s or 60s. And if that’s the case, then I can understand the attitude towards women that rears its ugly head on every page of this book. Karen is the only female main character in the story. The rest of the book is populated by macho co-workers, Russian spies, and CIA agents who think they are God’s gift to women. Karen is chosen over a male co-worker to help with the Wall project, and that coworker insults her in every way possible. Karen herself, although a plucky go-getter who seems to have plenty of self-confidence, especially when she finds herself in the middle of a bunch of men with over-inflated egos, didn’t always act the way I expected her to. She is constantly apologizing to the men around her, and she even refers to herself at one point as “the weaker sex,” which I found extremely annoying. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I didn’t really connect much with Karen, and even at the end when she turns out to be stronger than everyone expected, she still didn’t completely win me over.
My favorite character turned out to be a magician named Erwin Ehle, trapped behind the Wall in East Germany. At one point he becomes critical to the outcome of the Wall and its breach, and I enjoyed the scenes where he and Karen work together. As for the other characters, it was hard to figure out which side everyone was on, because this is a tale full of spies, liars and cheats. The minute you think you’ve got someone figured out, they change sides, and I ended up more confused than entertained.
The magic itself is rather vague, and even the descriptions of the Wall left me with plenty of questions. I never got a clear sense of how magic actually worked in this story, other than at times magicians use spoken spells, and at other times they draw arcane symbols on surfaces in order to make something happen. Each magician has something called a locus, a personal item that they keep on them in order to focus their magic. I did love that Karen’s locus was a bunch of jacks that had personal meaning to her, a bit of her childhood that reminded her of her sister. I really wanted to know more about the ins and outs of the magic itself, though, especially the Wall, but perhaps in future books the author will delve a little deeper into specifics.
But then, the last quarter of the story completely blew me away! We get to experience exactly how high the stakes are for our characters and learn about the huge secret that the Wall is hiding. Goodwater also neatly ties up some loose ends from the beginning of the story, which made the ending even better. I much preferred the story when it takes place on the other side of the Wall, the dangerous side, because that’s where all the good stuff happens.
Readers who enjoy slow-building action, spy thrillers, feisty heroines and Cold War intrigue will love this book. If Goodwater had been able to infuse the beginning and middle of his story with the thrilling action of the ending, I would have enjoyed this a lot more. As it stands, though, after that finale, I’m certainly willing to see what he does next.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
I’ll admit that when I first saw the cover of Breach, I thought it was science fiction. Maybe that’s why I feel like I got off on the wrong foot with this book. Breach is a fantasy that takes place in an alternate post-WWII Europe where the Berlin Wall is actually made of magic. Cool idea, right? I thought so too, but unfortunately this was a very inconsistent read for me. It took a long time for the story to capture my attention—and when I say “a long time” I mean it wasn’t until about the last 25% that I finally started to enjoyed myself. It’s almost as if two different writers had written this book. The beginning is very slow and meandering, but the end was fantastic, and even the writing was better, in my opinion. Now, you’ll see plenty of 4- and 5-star ratings on Goodreads, so keep in mind this could be a “it’s not you, it's me” situation.
Karen is a magician who works for the Office of Magical Research and Deployment. She’s currently working on trying to develop a healing spell, when she’s asked to go on a secret assignment overseas. In Germany, a magical Wall stands between East and West Berlin, created with such strong magic that it is said its power will last forever. But something is happening to the Wall. A small breach has appeared, and it’s getting bigger by the day. Something has gone wrong with the magic, so the CIA decides to invite Karen to Berlin to see if she can fix the breach.
But there are other interested parties who will do whatever it takes to stop Karen and her team from interfering with the breach. As Karen delves deeper into the mystery of the magic behind the Wall, she discovers that the Wall is much more than just a magical barrier. Learning its secrets and trying to stay one step ahead of the Russians is not an easy task, and Karen finds herself in the worst sort of danger.
I’m not sure if the year is ever mentioned, but I’m assuming that the story takes place sometime after the War, maybe the 1950s or 60s. And if that’s the case, then I can understand the attitude towards women that rears its ugly head on every page of this book. Karen is the only female main character in the story. The rest of the book is populated by macho co-workers, Russian spies, and CIA agents who think they are God’s gift to women. Karen is chosen over a male co-worker to help with the Wall project, and that coworker insults her in every way possible. Karen herself, although a plucky go-getter who seems to have plenty of self-confidence, especially when she finds herself in the middle of a bunch of men with over-inflated egos, didn’t always act the way I expected her to. She is constantly apologizing to the men around her, and she even refers to herself at one point as “the weaker sex,” which I found extremely annoying. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I didn’t really connect much with Karen, and even at the end when she turns out to be stronger than everyone expected, she still didn’t completely win me over.
My favorite character turned out to be a magician named Erwin Ehle, trapped behind the Wall in East Germany. At one point he becomes critical to the outcome of the Wall and its breach, and I enjoyed the scenes where he and Karen work together. As for the other characters, it was hard to figure out which side everyone was on, because this is a tale full of spies, liars and cheats. The minute you think you’ve got someone figured out, they change sides, and I ended up more confused than entertained.
The magic itself is rather vague, and even the descriptions of the Wall left me with plenty of questions. I never got a clear sense of how magic actually worked in this story, other than at times magicians use spoken spells, and at other times they draw arcane symbols on surfaces in order to make something happen. Each magician has something called a locus, a personal item that they keep on them in order to focus their magic. I did love that Karen’s locus was a bunch of jacks that had personal meaning to her, a bit of her childhood that reminded her of her sister. I really wanted to know more about the ins and outs of the magic itself, though, especially the Wall, but perhaps in future books the author will delve a little deeper into specifics.
But then, the last quarter of the story completely blew me away! We get to experience exactly how high the stakes are for our characters and learn about the huge secret that the Wall is hiding. Goodwater also neatly ties up some loose ends from the beginning of the story, which made the ending even better. I much preferred the story when it takes place on the other side of the Wall, the dangerous side, because that’s where all the good stuff happens.
Readers who enjoy slow-building action, spy thrillers, feisty heroines and Cold War intrigue will love this book. If Goodwater had been able to infuse the beginning and middle of his story with the thrilling action of the ending, I would have enjoyed this a lot more. As it stands, though, after that finale, I’m certainly willing to see what he does next.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
November 29, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It's truly ambitious and fun: alternate history, urban fantasy, spy thriller (East vs. West), historical fiction, magic, good vs. evil. Great premise too: a re-imagined Berlin Wall, created after the WWII out of magic, rather than a physical materials. However, the Wall's super powerful magic is failing, starting with a small, but ever-growing breach, threatening global conflict. The CIA request assistance from the Office of Magical Research and Deployment, who sends a young magician (Karen O'Neil), whose research specialty is how magic could be used to heal, rather than harm. An odd choice, for sure. She quickly discovers that she is a lone woman in a man's world, and being untrained in spycraft, much is kept from her. Karen is a wonderful character, growing in many ways, and ultimately able to best the men at their own game (colleagues, allies, and adversaries alike), doing more than they ever thought possible.
An East German magician (Erwin Ehle) uses his prodigious skills to contact Karen, and promises to help fix the problem, if she helps him defect to the West. Meanwhile, the Soviets send their most powerful magician (the Nightingale) and enforcer to help find a extremely well hidden talisman of dark magic that could bring about the end of the world. The hiding place itself is wildly creative . Various factions among the Allied forces also seem to want this untold power in their hands, leaving the reader puzzled over who are the good guys. Karen and Erwin are the pivotal and most developed characters, but there are a number of strong supporting characters, especially Jim (the spy), Arthur (the spymaster), and even, Karen's mentor in the OMRD.
I thought the book was well-written, well-paced, even captivating, with escalating tension between the countries, characters, and even, the fundamental nature of magic itself. My two minor quibbles were: (1) the backstory of Karen's family was utterly unnecessary and (2) the mystery of how magic actually worked. There were simply too many variants: spoken spells, use of arcane symbols, a personal locus, mental manipulation, and especially, how Karen managed to grow her powers. Hopefully, we will learn more in a sequel.
An East German magician (Erwin Ehle) uses his prodigious skills to contact Karen, and promises to help fix the problem, if she helps him defect to the West. Meanwhile, the Soviets send their most powerful magician (the Nightingale) and enforcer to help find a extremely well hidden talisman of dark magic that could bring about the end of the world. The hiding place itself is wildly creative . Various factions among the Allied forces also seem to want this untold power in their hands, leaving the reader puzzled over who are the good guys. Karen and Erwin are the pivotal and most developed characters, but there are a number of strong supporting characters, especially Jim (the spy), Arthur (the spymaster), and even, Karen's mentor in the OMRD.
I thought the book was well-written, well-paced, even captivating, with escalating tension between the countries, characters, and even, the fundamental nature of magic itself. My two minor quibbles were: (1) the backstory of Karen's family was utterly unnecessary and (2) the mystery of how magic actually worked. There were simply too many variants: spoken spells, use of arcane symbols, a personal locus, mental manipulation, and especially, how Karen managed to grow her powers. Hopefully, we will learn more in a sequel.
November 11, 2018
I expected Breach to elicit mediocre feelings at best. I’m not usually a fan of spell-casting type books (with the exception of Harry Potter, weirdly enough) and it shows when you look at any of my reviews for urban fantasy.
Breach ended up being a far better novel than I expected because it gave me the real world with its real problems and didn’t let magic be the instant solution to all problems. If anything, it proved how difficult things could get when something like magic is thrown in the mix of politics and war. It was clever and it nicely rounded out the story.
I was surprised at how well the author wrote our female protagonist too. She wasn’t overly perfect or overly fragile; she was a real person who was smart and efficient but could also get upset or make mistakes. When she comes along and has to draw East and West Berlin together in a tangle of drama and plots, the book really starts to shine. It showed me up and I’m so glad it did.
Breach ended up being a far better novel than I expected because it gave me the real world with its real problems and didn’t let magic be the instant solution to all problems. If anything, it proved how difficult things could get when something like magic is thrown in the mix of politics and war. It was clever and it nicely rounded out the story.
I was surprised at how well the author wrote our female protagonist too. She wasn’t overly perfect or overly fragile; she was a real person who was smart and efficient but could also get upset or make mistakes. When she comes along and has to draw East and West Berlin together in a tangle of drama and plots, the book really starts to shine. It showed me up and I’m so glad it did.
February 12, 2022
When Karen, a young woman working in magical Research, is sent to Berlin, she finds that the magical Wall that separates east and west is beginning to fail.
3.5 stars This was a fun ride through an alternate universe in the Cold War era. The Wall was put up by Soviet magicians to put an end to the war but now a small breach is becoming bigger and bigger. I enjoyed the character of Karen who is constantly looked down on for being a woman in a man's world of magic and spy work. I'll read the next one in the series.
I've read two books by this author and I would rank them from most enjoyed as "The Liar of Red Valley" (published as Walter Goodwater) and "Breach".
If you like this book topic (magic and WWII), try "Bitter Seeds" by Ian Tregillis (so good!)
3.5 stars This was a fun ride through an alternate universe in the Cold War era. The Wall was put up by Soviet magicians to put an end to the war but now a small breach is becoming bigger and bigger. I enjoyed the character of Karen who is constantly looked down on for being a woman in a man's world of magic and spy work. I'll read the next one in the series.
I've read two books by this author and I would rank them from most enjoyed as "The Liar of Red Valley" (published as Walter Goodwater) and "Breach".
If you like this book topic (magic and WWII), try "Bitter Seeds" by Ian Tregillis (so good!)
October 12, 2023
“I’ll let you in on a secret, Karen.” [Arthur] said, his words echoing back toward Auttenberg. — “I just pretend they’re all good days.”
“We spend all our time trying to steal fire from the gods, and when we succeed we have to find something to burn with it.”
“We spend all our time trying to steal fire from the gods, and when we succeed we have to find something to burn with it.”
April 24, 2019
First of all, I have never read a book about the Cold war. I picked this book for the Magic part of it, but as I got more into the book, I couldn't put it down! I wanted to know more about the war and Berlin wall and it's history. I honestly loved it and I recommended it to everyone around me, and im definitely getting my own copy since its out now!
November 10, 2018
What a great story! I loved Breach, A new twist on The War, Germany, Britain, France, American. The wall, a magical wall. They are trying to stop World War lll from happening. An original plot with well thought out characters with genuine personalities. I loved Karen, Jim and Arthur. I enjoyed this Authors writing and am looking forward to his next book.
I give Breach 5 stars for its original content and great story.
I would recommend this book to everyone.
I give Breach 5 stars for its original content and great story.
I would recommend this book to everyone.
November 4, 2018
3.7-4/5 RTC
September 7, 2019
“His old bones told him something was up, that she was playing notes from a different song; he just didn’t know which key.”
I received this book in the Cre8ive Inspir8ions Indulge box back in December 2018 , when I first took it out of the box I didn't know what to expect just by the title of the book, I mean Breach is such a vague title that it could mean anything, but once I read the blurb of the book I was immediately interested.
I mean this book is set during the time of the Berlin Wall and there's magicians in it, how could you not win with this book?
The story follows our lead character Karen, she is an American magician scientist or scientist magician… look she is a magician but she is also a scientist whichever tile she wants to go with I’ll be on board, what you really need to know is that she is also a badass feminist and I love her to death.
I started this book and I was only like 24 pages in when I realised that I loved this woman and she was my queen! During the time this book is set women had to work really hard to gain respect in the workplace, if they got any at all, but Karen takes not crap and will stand up for herself to any man and I love her for it.
Anyway, Karen is chosen to travel to Germany to assist the CIA with an investigation, you see, the Berlin Wall which in this story is a magical barrier has started to crack and they need to know why this is happening and how to stop it. While Karen tries to help a mystery starts to unravel and she decides to figure it all out before it is too late.
As many of you know characters make the story for me, if the characters aren't well written I lose interest very fast and will often DNF the book. Well, the characters in Breach were amazing, I loved every one of them and each one was beneficial to the story.
Some of my favourites were Jim and Dennis the CIA agent, and the chief of the CIA, my grumpy dad, Arthur. I will admit that it didn’t take me long at all to claim them all as my children and threaten other characters for being mean to them. (I’m protective of my fictional children okay!?)
This book was full of history, comedy, action, and was so full of mystery that I seriously had no idea where we were going, I was just happy to be along for the ride.
I love the writing style it was very easy to read and very descriptive, while at the same time not being overly descriptive, the conversations the characters had ran smoothly and seemed like a conversation that would actually happen during that time, you know without the magic though.
Rating: 5/5 stars- Amazing! I loved it!
Now this was the first book in what I believe is a duology, with the next book, Revolution, coming out in November, I'm beyond excited to see what revolution brings. All I know is that we still follow our lead Karen into a brand-new location with brand new magic and I'm so excited.
I would highly recommend this book to people who enjoy fantasy or historical fantasies or for anyone looking for something a bit different to read.
This is probably one of my favourite books of 2019 and it is one I will be recommending to people for a while.
I received this book in the Cre8ive Inspir8ions Indulge box back in December 2018 , when I first took it out of the box I didn't know what to expect just by the title of the book, I mean Breach is such a vague title that it could mean anything, but once I read the blurb of the book I was immediately interested.
I mean this book is set during the time of the Berlin Wall and there's magicians in it, how could you not win with this book?
The story follows our lead character Karen, she is an American magician scientist or scientist magician… look she is a magician but she is also a scientist whichever tile she wants to go with I’ll be on board, what you really need to know is that she is also a badass feminist and I love her to death.
I started this book and I was only like 24 pages in when I realised that I loved this woman and she was my queen! During the time this book is set women had to work really hard to gain respect in the workplace, if they got any at all, but Karen takes not crap and will stand up for herself to any man and I love her for it.
Anyway, Karen is chosen to travel to Germany to assist the CIA with an investigation, you see, the Berlin Wall which in this story is a magical barrier has started to crack and they need to know why this is happening and how to stop it. While Karen tries to help a mystery starts to unravel and she decides to figure it all out before it is too late.
As many of you know characters make the story for me, if the characters aren't well written I lose interest very fast and will often DNF the book. Well, the characters in Breach were amazing, I loved every one of them and each one was beneficial to the story.
Some of my favourites were Jim and Dennis the CIA agent, and the chief of the CIA, my grumpy dad, Arthur. I will admit that it didn’t take me long at all to claim them all as my children and threaten other characters for being mean to them. (I’m protective of my fictional children okay!?)
This book was full of history, comedy, action, and was so full of mystery that I seriously had no idea where we were going, I was just happy to be along for the ride.
I love the writing style it was very easy to read and very descriptive, while at the same time not being overly descriptive, the conversations the characters had ran smoothly and seemed like a conversation that would actually happen during that time, you know without the magic though.
Rating: 5/5 stars- Amazing! I loved it!
Now this was the first book in what I believe is a duology, with the next book, Revolution, coming out in November, I'm beyond excited to see what revolution brings. All I know is that we still follow our lead Karen into a brand-new location with brand new magic and I'm so excited.
I would highly recommend this book to people who enjoy fantasy or historical fantasies or for anyone looking for something a bit different to read.
This is probably one of my favourite books of 2019 and it is one I will be recommending to people for a while.
October 21, 2019
2,5 stars for a great idea that was failed by the author's timidity
As a born Berliner the setting of this alternate history is of course near and dear to me. I don't think that the author successfully created a sense of place for anyone not familiar with the city though and that was the first of many missed opportunities to create something special with this book.
Mixing magic, old-school spycraft and alternate history should have made for a more entertaining and frankly thrilling ride than this turned out to be. It seemed to me that W.L. Goodwater was almost afraid to really commit to the more magical aspects of the world he created and it is to the story's detriment. Magic is know in the world, yes. There are schools for those magically inclined and the worldbuilding makes it clear it has always been a part of humanity. But then the author pumps the brakes and suddenly magical research seems to not have advanced much since the middle ages.
Our main character can perform charms and there are magical artifacts but in general magic is still regarded with superstition by the public and by the intelligence community in particular. The Russians and Germans are the ones who unleashed unholy hell during the war while the US and the other Western forces are apparently still very much behind on an organised effort into research and practical application.
This immediately dulls the story down to a run-of-the-mill spy story with an interesting setting that I still wouldn't have picked up without the promise of magic in the mix. Yes, the big mystery surrounding the wall is magical but in the end it is just the McGuffin the spy story revolves around and since the main characters are pretty much in the dark about the inner workings of its magic so are we as the reader.
As a born Berliner the setting of this alternate history is of course near and dear to me. I don't think that the author successfully created a sense of place for anyone not familiar with the city though and that was the first of many missed opportunities to create something special with this book.
Mixing magic, old-school spycraft and alternate history should have made for a more entertaining and frankly thrilling ride than this turned out to be. It seemed to me that W.L. Goodwater was almost afraid to really commit to the more magical aspects of the world he created and it is to the story's detriment. Magic is know in the world, yes. There are schools for those magically inclined and the worldbuilding makes it clear it has always been a part of humanity. But then the author pumps the brakes and suddenly magical research seems to not have advanced much since the middle ages.
Our main character can perform charms and there are magical artifacts but in general magic is still regarded with superstition by the public and by the intelligence community in particular. The Russians and Germans are the ones who unleashed unholy hell during the war while the US and the other Western forces are apparently still very much behind on an organised effort into research and practical application.
This immediately dulls the story down to a run-of-the-mill spy story with an interesting setting that I still wouldn't have picked up without the promise of magic in the mix. Yes, the big mystery surrounding the wall is magical but in the end it is just the McGuffin the spy story revolves around and since the main characters are pretty much in the dark about the inner workings of its magic so are we as the reader.
January 30, 2019
Penguin First-to-Read ARC.
2.5 stars.
I thought the book was an interesting concept, the way magic works was interesting as well. But the story just did not capture me. It bounced around a lot between characters so the flow was off and it sometimes got confusing. I found myself putting it down a lot and reading something else. I didn't feel like I knew any of the characters and therefore wasn't invested in them or their outcomes. I wanted to like it more and I think I will give book 2 a chance but this book was just okay for me.
2.5 stars.
I thought the book was an interesting concept, the way magic works was interesting as well. But the story just did not capture me. It bounced around a lot between characters so the flow was off and it sometimes got confusing. I found myself putting it down a lot and reading something else. I didn't feel like I knew any of the characters and therefore wasn't invested in them or their outcomes. I wanted to like it more and I think I will give book 2 a chance but this book was just okay for me.
January 29, 2020
Bit of a slow start with lots of side comments about Karen being treated like a secretary although she's actually a magician working for the CIA. But once she arrives in Berlin, which is divided by a magic wall instead of a physical one, she is more in her element.
I found it annoying that she was so dismissive of rules about travel and protection in Berlin but all that got swept away in the second half of the book, which I read in one sitting.
Good stuff and creative modification of "actual" history.
I found it annoying that she was so dismissive of rules about travel and protection in Berlin but all that got swept away in the second half of the book, which I read in one sitting.
Good stuff and creative modification of "actual" history.
February 14, 2019
Just meh. Felt like the writer made Karen with misunderstood ideas of strong women.
January 3, 2020
Hmm. I thought I'd like this novel more than I did. I think it's because I've read a lot of Cold War spy fiction that's much more realistic than this, e.g., Len Deighton's classic series (Game, Set, Match; Hook, Line, Sinker; Faith, Hope, Charity.)
Let me be clear on what I mean by "realistic." Obviously, a novel where magic is a foundation of the Berlin Wall is not meant to be "realistic." But what I wanted was a story that felt like it was taking place in Cold War Berlin. To me, this novel lacked verisimilitude, the feel of being there in that city at that time. The plot is quite good, I just didn't feel like I was in Berlin whilst reading it.
Let me be clear on what I mean by "realistic." Obviously, a novel where magic is a foundation of the Berlin Wall is not meant to be "realistic." But what I wanted was a story that felt like it was taking place in Cold War Berlin. To me, this novel lacked verisimilitude, the feel of being there in that city at that time. The plot is quite good, I just didn't feel like I was in Berlin whilst reading it.
August 29, 2020
4.5 stars-I bought this book a long time ago because it seemed like something I would read and like something my local library would never get a copy of. I'm always wary of buying books I've never read or am not familiar with the author, but this book proves to me why sometimes that's a really smart move. I felt like this book was made for me-the magic, the alternative history, the glimpses of occult Nazi-ism, and of course Karen who is an incredibly likable heroine. It's equal parts surprising and impressive that this is Goodwater's debut because it's assured, fast-paced and laugh out loud funny. Some writers never hit this stride, so I hope that he continues to write many more books and that I can keep buying them.
February 11, 2019
4.5 stars. Really enjoyed the book, can't wait to see where the story goes.
February 25, 2019
I devoured this book in a day. Cold War espionage, Berlin, a kickass woman as the heroine, and magic. It is surely a page turner. Anything further I write might be a spoiler.
August 31, 2019
it was just ok. like the underlying world
November 6, 2018
This fantasy novel is a terrific mix of Cold War intrigue and magic.
In the alternate world of the book, Berlin is divided, not by a physical wall, but by a magical one, and the United States and Russia are engaged in a Cold War that involves the talents of magical practitioners, an area where Russia has the edge. Karen, an American magician, is sent to Berlin when the wall develops a breach with orders to try to fix it. Nobody wants the wall to fall, given the potential for war to erupt if it does. That includes the Russians, who send their own operative, a man code named Nightingale, to do whatever is necessary to make sure the wall stands. What Karen finds is a city where no one can be trusted, even supposed allies, and a magical crisis that goes deeper than the failing wall. Because it turns out that the wall has a purpose that goes beyond separating the East and the West, and its fall could lead to a disaster for both sides.
The story is told from a variety of viewpoints, but Karen is the lynchpin of the action. As both a magician and a consultant to the CIA, she's a woman in a man's world. I cheered every time she took on the sexist jerks that surround her, which of course happens a lot. And although she is frequently dismissed by them, Karen ultimately bests the men at their own game, doing more than they ever thought possible.
I don’t want to say too much about the plot, because part of the fun of reading the novel is the twists and turns that it takes as agents of the different countries with a stake in Berlin attempt to come out on top in the search for a magical item that promises power to whoever holds it. But, just when you think it’s all over, that ending! Maybe I should have seen it coming, though.
This book is the first in the series, and I’m hoping to see more of Karen and Jim, one of the CIA agents Karen works with, in future volumes. I’ll definitely be looking out for the next one.
A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
In the alternate world of the book, Berlin is divided, not by a physical wall, but by a magical one, and the United States and Russia are engaged in a Cold War that involves the talents of magical practitioners, an area where Russia has the edge. Karen, an American magician, is sent to Berlin when the wall develops a breach with orders to try to fix it. Nobody wants the wall to fall, given the potential for war to erupt if it does. That includes the Russians, who send their own operative, a man code named Nightingale, to do whatever is necessary to make sure the wall stands. What Karen finds is a city where no one can be trusted, even supposed allies, and a magical crisis that goes deeper than the failing wall. Because it turns out that the wall has a purpose that goes beyond separating the East and the West, and its fall could lead to a disaster for both sides.
The story is told from a variety of viewpoints, but Karen is the lynchpin of the action. As both a magician and a consultant to the CIA, she's a woman in a man's world. I cheered every time she took on the sexist jerks that surround her, which of course happens a lot. And although she is frequently dismissed by them, Karen ultimately bests the men at their own game, doing more than they ever thought possible.
I don’t want to say too much about the plot, because part of the fun of reading the novel is the twists and turns that it takes as agents of the different countries with a stake in Berlin attempt to come out on top in the search for a magical item that promises power to whoever holds it. But, just when you think it’s all over, that ending! Maybe I should have seen it coming, though.
This book is the first in the series, and I’m hoping to see more of Karen and Jim, one of the CIA agents Karen works with, in future volumes. I’ll definitely be looking out for the next one.
A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
October 28, 2018
I received this book through First to Read in exchange for an honest review.
This book was fascinating. It was interesting to see a historical event told through the eye of magic. Watching different countries, with different priorities, work together to solve an issue that they didn't fully understand made for a very interesting story. The different points of views and the strong female lead made for a great read that showed the strengths, weaknesses, and desires of humans and how they can impact many. This book was enjoyable and felt realistic enough to be believable but magical enough to make for a fun read.
This book was fascinating. It was interesting to see a historical event told through the eye of magic. Watching different countries, with different priorities, work together to solve an issue that they didn't fully understand made for a very interesting story. The different points of views and the strong female lead made for a great read that showed the strengths, weaknesses, and desires of humans and how they can impact many. This book was enjoyable and felt realistic enough to be believable but magical enough to make for a fun read.
September 11, 2018
Interesting alternate history of the Berlin Wall with magic. My only complaint is the ending felt rushed, though it was left open so the author could continue if he wanted to write a sequel.
August 22, 2018
I very much enjoyed this book. It took awhile to get into. I felt the beginning was a little slow but it was setting up how magic works in this universe. Once things started happening it really picked up.
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