Spectred Isle by K.J. CharlesMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Brilliant
I loved this book. We read it for a Gothic lit book club and I loved the world of 1920s London and the lost generation worked so well for this. The depiction of the War and the various experiences of those who survived it was done well, and the side characters were just as intriguing as the two MCs. I never used to read romances often until I joined this book club, and I have yet to be disappointed with the selections.
The m/m romance is done so well, and both Saul & Randolph are so well fleshed out as people that they really pulled me through the story. I was intrigued by each of them, how their worlds would intertwine, and how each would respond to the backstories of the other as they unfolded.
I loved the arcane elements, the uses of folklore and Old English, the way the story is rooted in the fens of East Anglia and the city of London, and the ways in which Charles embeds the reader (as well as the story) in the time and landscape. I also loved the references to pulp fiction and other popular fictional series, scattered throughout. I might pick up more on a re-read!
I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.
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