Abigail Irene Garrett drinks too much. She makes scandalous liaisons with inappropriate men, and if in her youth she was a famous beauty, now she is both formidable and notorious! She is a forensic sorceress, and a dedicated officer of a Crown that does not deserve her loyalty. Sebastien de Ulloa is the oldest creature she has ever known. He has forgotten his birth-name, his birth-place, and even the year in which he was born, if he ever knew it. But he still remembers the woman who made him immortal. In a world where the sun never sets on the British Empire, where Holland finally ceded New Amsterdam to the English only during the Napoleonic wars, and where the expansion of the American colonies was halted by the war magic of the Iroquois, they are exiles in the new world - and its only hope for justice!
New Amsterdam
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. Learn more. |
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Seneska
Format:Paperback
I picked this book up on a whim. I have to admit I judged it by it's cover. The story starts on an airship and my initial impression was that is was steampunk-y. My opinion changed rapidly as it is in actual fact far more fantasy than science-fiction (And found in Waterstones horror section). It is made all the more individual by it's magic/scientific balance.
Set in an alternative history after the death of Queen Victoria, the main action takes place in "New Amsterdam" but it is not all set in the book's namesake. Indeed the city is the part that I loved, brought to life by excellent writing, and I was hoping either that the book would be longer, or that more story could occur there. Where sorcery meets crime, and myth clashes with politics it makes the story enthralling enough to keep you reading longer than you would think.
My one quibble is that I would prefer it if the story stayed in the main city for longer than it did. The characterisation never really got far for the secondary characters (the politicians) beyond stereotypical assumptions. However it is their actions that force the story forward. I think just an extra chapter or story section in New Amsterdam would have the entire story feel better explored. As it is it is still extremely enjoyable, and I will be looking at her other books.
Set in an alternative history after the death of Queen Victoria, the main action takes place in "New Amsterdam" but it is not all set in the book's namesake. Indeed the city is the part that I loved, brought to life by excellent writing, and I was hoping either that the book would be longer, or that more story could occur there. Where sorcery meets crime, and myth clashes with politics it makes the story enthralling enough to keep you reading longer than you would think.
My one quibble is that I would prefer it if the story stayed in the main city for longer than it did. The characterisation never really got far for the secondary characters (the politicians) beyond stereotypical assumptions. However it is their actions that force the story forward. I think just an extra chapter or story section in New Amsterdam would have the entire story feel better explored. As it is it is still extremely enjoyable, and I will be looking at her other books.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By M. R. N. Shackelford
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
An interesting alternative history novel that seems to have had to shoe-horn in too many ideas. A vampiric "Sherlock Holmes", with a Sorceress CSI, in a late Victorian USA where the English still rule, with airships crossing the Atlantic, and a string of were-wolves and other assorted nasties, not to mention a walk-on part for Nikolas Tesla (as himself).
Compared to the author's Promethean Age novels, this one seems a little thin, and there is not enough exploration of the potential behind the themes - the book seems to be more episodic - almost as if (like Dickens) it was written as a series for a magazine. There are enough ideas here to launch something of the order of the (glorious) Baroque cycle by Neal Stephenson - but sadly this seems a little rushed, and doesn't allow Ms. Bear's usual quality descriptive prose room to explore this universe.
I would recommend the author's "Blood and Iron" instead - where you can revel in an alternate (modern-day) history with an extraordinary cast of humans, faerie, goblins, warlocks, immortals and the occasional unicorn.
Compared to the author's Promethean Age novels, this one seems a little thin, and there is not enough exploration of the potential behind the themes - the book seems to be more episodic - almost as if (like Dickens) it was written as a series for a magazine. There are enough ideas here to launch something of the order of the (glorious) Baroque cycle by Neal Stephenson - but sadly this seems a little rushed, and doesn't allow Ms. Bear's usual quality descriptive prose room to explore this universe.
I would recommend the author's "Blood and Iron" instead - where you can revel in an alternate (modern-day) history with an extraordinary cast of humans, faerie, goblins, warlocks, immortals and the occasional unicorn.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars
18 reviews
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Wonderful Read
4 Jun 2007
By Lilith Saintcrow
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Sebastian de Ulloa is a vampire. He's lived for somewhere over a thousand years. He's left Europe, weary of the games the "blood" play to relieve the boredom of eternity. And oh yeah--Sebastian is an independent consultant when it comes to catching murderers. And he's very good at it.
Lady Abigail Irene Garrett is a forensic sorceress working for the Crown. She's utterly loyal to the King, and like all loyal principled people, is due for a shock when that loyalty is misused by the King's lieutenants. She lives in a world where magic is real and Britain never gave New Amsterdam back. Ever.
Plus, there's dirigibles. *drools with love*
Seriously, I loved this book. Each mystery is a novella in and of itself, which might be confusing to the average reader since the players are reintroduced each time. The midstream changes in point-of-view might also confuse an average reader, but they are handled very well and clearly. Bear handles the question of a very old vampire's psychology very well, by making Sebastian polyamorous by necessity and detached-as-possible by default. He's a necessary foil for the bluestocking Garrett, who manages to avoid social leprosy by being rich and very good at her job, not to mention uncaring about scandal. She's saved from Mary Sueness by having very definite vulnerabilities and a softer side.
The mysteries are well-plotted and create plenty of urgency. They're also devilishly clever, and it's obvious Bear has done her homework on magickal theory and folklore (she even mentions the beast of Gevaudan,) as well as forensic anthropology. And the writing is very good, very smooth, and very well done. I wanted to go back to the book each time I was pulled away to attend to that little thing called "life."
I can find very few cons in this review. There were a couple of homonyms the editor didn't catch (in particular, the ever-popular "hair-brained") and a few anachronisms, but if one has already accepted an alternate historical timeline verbal anachronisms present very little of a problem. All in all, a marvelous and highly-recommended read from a very talented author.
And there's dirigibles! Which just about make any story better. Heh.
Lady Abigail Irene Garrett is a forensic sorceress working for the Crown. She's utterly loyal to the King, and like all loyal principled people, is due for a shock when that loyalty is misused by the King's lieutenants. She lives in a world where magic is real and Britain never gave New Amsterdam back. Ever.
Plus, there's dirigibles. *drools with love*
Seriously, I loved this book. Each mystery is a novella in and of itself, which might be confusing to the average reader since the players are reintroduced each time. The midstream changes in point-of-view might also confuse an average reader, but they are handled very well and clearly. Bear handles the question of a very old vampire's psychology very well, by making Sebastian polyamorous by necessity and detached-as-possible by default. He's a necessary foil for the bluestocking Garrett, who manages to avoid social leprosy by being rich and very good at her job, not to mention uncaring about scandal. She's saved from Mary Sueness by having very definite vulnerabilities and a softer side.
The mysteries are well-plotted and create plenty of urgency. They're also devilishly clever, and it's obvious Bear has done her homework on magickal theory and folklore (she even mentions the beast of Gevaudan,) as well as forensic anthropology. And the writing is very good, very smooth, and very well done. I wanted to go back to the book each time I was pulled away to attend to that little thing called "life."
I can find very few cons in this review. There were a couple of homonyms the editor didn't catch (in particular, the ever-popular "hair-brained") and a few anachronisms, but if one has already accepted an alternate historical timeline verbal anachronisms present very little of a problem. All in all, a marvelous and highly-recommended read from a very talented author.
And there's dirigibles! Which just about make any story better. Heh.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantasy does have a future--in an imaginary past!
11 Aug 2007
By Brenopa
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
What if the Americans lost the Revolutionary War? Think of the politics of a Victorian America, still ruled by the British crown. Then add necromancers, vampire courts and a feisty female dectective--a woman of a certain age.
Well, actually, MY age! Crown Detective Abigail Irene is around the mid-century mark, and trust me, she is NOT on a quest to find herself, or discover her lost heritage. Thank goodness. Abigail Irene is a mature and self-confident woman whom men find very attractive. She attracts the the attention of an ancient vampire...don't roll your eyes! Wait--this vampire is much better written than most. There is a charming self-awareness about all the vampire stereotypes that makes the mysterious, "Spanish" vampire a lot more charming than most. And, more interesting.
This book is presented as a series of interlocked short stories. The stories build in drama and tension.The relationships between the primary characters develops to a very moving crescendo, as they work togother to solve crimes in a very different "New Amsterdam". HIghly recommended!
Well, actually, MY age! Crown Detective Abigail Irene is around the mid-century mark, and trust me, she is NOT on a quest to find herself, or discover her lost heritage. Thank goodness. Abigail Irene is a mature and self-confident woman whom men find very attractive. She attracts the the attention of an ancient vampire...don't roll your eyes! Wait--this vampire is much better written than most. There is a charming self-awareness about all the vampire stereotypes that makes the mysterious, "Spanish" vampire a lot more charming than most. And, more interesting.
This book is presented as a series of interlocked short stories. The stories build in drama and tension.The relationships between the primary characters develops to a very moving crescendo, as they work togother to solve crimes in a very different "New Amsterdam". HIghly recommended!
15 of 19 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
New Amsterdam
23 Jun 2007
By Eleanor Skinner
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
I started New Amsterdam because I live in New York, and because I was hoping to see some of those Iroquois war mages who kept the British back. I thought that would be interesting. The war mages don't appear in the book, but it's very good nevertheless. The vampire is passing as a European nobleman, an upper class amateur detective, kind of like Poirot. The forensic sorceress is a possibly alcoholic hard-boiled civil servant, who doesn't like some amateur messing with her case, and possibly implying she's not good enough. The vampire, of course, is fannishly eager to get involved in another mystery, as they're one reason he keeps alive (or undead). It was neat to see the two kinds of detectives juxtaposed. But they end up friends & associates anyway by the end of the 2nd novella. The book is made up of novellas about the same people; they start out semi-linked, and get more and more linked as they go on. There is actually an original (and scary) monster in one of the novellas, which was neat. It took me about half the first novella to get into the book, but I ended up loving it, and wanting more about the characters. The character interactions are a strength, and the writing is very good. There's also a nice orange cat named El Capitan, and very cool ghost wolves.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 18 reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
