A secret war of sorcerers threatens to tear the world apart.
The year is 1917, and the Russian Empire is on verge of collapse.Florence Cavell—codename Geist—takes her special forces team of sorcerers into allied territory in an effort to hunt down spies and keep the Russian royals alive. If the Russian Empire falls, the Germans and Austro-Hungarians will turn their full attention to France and … Austro-Hungarians will turn their full attention to France and Britain. That can’t be allowed to happen.
Unfortunately for Geist, the enemy has sent the Eyes of the Kaiser, specialists who hunt and destroy sorcerers. And they came prepared to eliminate not only the Russian royalty, but the Ethereal Squadron as well.
Praise for Ethereal Squadron:
“In tense, precise prose that skillfully conveys detailed descriptions, Stovall delivers this engrossing story of fantasy adventure with utmost precision. The Ethereal Squadron’s riveting fantasy world will fuel readers’ imaginations and leave them crave for the next book in the sequel.”
– The Prairies Book Review
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Welcome to Freakish Friday my fiery, fiction feasting Fafnirs. I bring you this evening a dark and smoky Gem, glowing with all the evils of war. Give me a moment whilst I pull on these chain gloves. I will not even allow my claws to touch the very lead-lined ancient ammunition box that holds it. Here it is. See how it still, to this very day, 100 years later, gives off tiny streams of sulfuric smoke? Notice the thinnest of glowing green and yellow lines that pulse and glow within? Do you feel as though something has been staring at you surreptitiously since I have drawn it from it’s leaden casket? Here, here, stop shivering now. I shall put it back while you pour us a cuppa and I will tell you about it. This is Gem Maker Shami Stovall’s “A Company Of Monsters”.
This is a tale of soldier Florence Cavell. She hides her identity as a soldier named Charles. The time is WWI. Females are not allowed in combat roles. Not even Sorcerer Soldiers. You see, Charles is part of an elite regiment called ‘The Ethereal Squadron‘. This squadron is made up of sorcerers. All have very distinct gifts. Some can see into the future. Some can walk through walls. Florence can. Her codename is ‘Geist‘ (German for Ghost) because of it. Some can make weaponry, some have great speed, others can boost another sorcerer’s power. All have codenames to protect themselves, their fellow soldiers and their families.
Geist, as we will refer to her from now on, leads a very elite band. They have a mission to get into Russia and get out with four of the leading sorcerer families while there is still time. While the Tsar is still fighting against the enemy. This is not an easy mission. Evil sorcerers fight with the enemy. They have developed a type of gas that turns humans and animals into mutated monsters. That person who was once your neighbor and friend is now a creature you would not recognize and who would glad eat you and your family for breakfast. Are you, yourself a sorcerer? Then you may look forward to being drained of your blood to further the enemy in making the gas better, stronger and in allowing the enemy to further it’s own powers.
Will Geist and her team succeed? Or will the enemy win? I loved this book! It is science fiction, fantasy and history all in one Dragon’s Feast of a tale. There are battles, sorcerers, magic, science and fantasy mixed in with real historical events, people and places, and new (at the time) technologies. Shami gives us all this on a golden platter of excellent writing. Her biography states she loves these genres and it is easy to tell because only a person who loves these subjects could give us so wonderful a story. I can see her sitting in front of a room with a blank book and a pen and saying .. “Come along with me, such wonders we will see! ” and off we go…
This series is available on Amazon and I do hope to bring you a review of the rest of the series. As you know I do not give 5 Flames until I have read the entire series..so do not be surprised if you see the 4 Flame rating here change in the next few months.
Until tomorrow, I remain, your humble Book Dragon, Drakon T. Longwitten
I received this copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
3.75 stars
“A Company of Monsters” by Shami Stovall is the second book in the ‘Ethereal Squadron/The Sorcerers of Verdun’ series that features a group of sorcerers, led by the intrepid person with the codename and abilities of Geist (a ghost), who comprise a special forces team fighting during World War I. Their journey across Russia to warn the great houses of sorcery that they are being hunted by the enemy is fraught with danger and potential betrayal.
This historical urban fantasy provides an alternate view of a dark period of history. Definitely not for the faint of heart, the adventures of this very unusual group test their control of their abilities as well as their loyalty. Not only are some of the villains horrendous in appearance and actions, but their abilities facilitate carnage and destruction.
It was fascinating to see historical events through the prism of magic that is a significant factor in many of the battles, and I think the author did a good job of bringing the struggles to life. I was a bit lost because I wasn’t familiar with this series, so it was a bit overwhelming to absorb so much information about these folks and their abilities as well as the arcane abilities of their foes. I had a hard time relating to the members of the strike force at first, but their struggles and interactions drew me into the story as tensions continued to rise. I do find it a little farfetched that they would be operating in a country where none of them speak the language without having found a way to communicate that did not depend on one person, and I’m still a little puzzled about the powers displayed by some of the villains, but some of the revelations were intriguing.
Those who enjoy historical battles and alternate history will probably enjoy the twists and turns of this imaginative story. Be advised that this is an ongoing series, so expect several dangling threads!
A copy of this title was provided for review