#BookReview – “Burning Lamp” by Amanda Quick

Blurb

The Arcane Society was born in turmoil when the friendship of its two founders evolved into a fierce rivalry. Nicholas Winters's efforts led to the creation of a device of unknown powers called the Burning Lamp. Each generation of male descendents who inherits it is destined to develop multiple talents-and the curse of madness.

Plagued by hallucinations and nightmares, notorious crime lord Griffin Winters is convinced he has been struck with the Winters Curse. But even has he arranges a meeting with the mysterious woman Adelaide Pyne, he has no idea how closely their fates are bound, for she holds the missing lamp in her possession.

But their dangerous psychic experiment makes them the target of forces both inside and outside of the Arcane Society. And though desire strengthens their power, their different lives will keep them apart-if death doesn't take them together.

Review

In book two of the Dreamlight Trilogy (an Arcane Society spin-off), Adelaide Pyne is a social reformer with shady connections. After rescuing some women from London brothels, she draws the attention of a notorious crime lord.

Griffin Winters, a descendant of alchemist Nicholas Winters, is the first in the Winters bloodline to have his ancestor’s psychical talent. Because Nicholas mutated his DNA and passed it along to his descendents, Griffin and two other men down the line are destined to develop multiple psychic talents and fall victim to insanity. The process has already begun and he’s desperate to stop it. He needs to find a dreamlight reader and a long-lost lamp that Nicholas created two centuries ago. To his relief, Adelaide has the lamp and the power to work it.

Adelaide and Griffin are strong, wonderful characters. Though their thoughts and opinions often differ, they respect one another and appreciate the other’s perspective.

The Arcane Society is a group of psychically talented people that work together to keep their talents controlled. Since Sylvester Jones, the founder of the society, and Nicholas Winter were deadly enemies, the Winters family has avoided Arcane and the Joneses for generations.

I wish Ms. Quick would’ve showed more of Griffin’s criminal side. He owns gambling hells and taverns, he’ll make people “disappear” if needed, and he’ll bribe anyone to get his way, but none of that seemed too bad since his rival owns brothels and opium dens. He can’t be all bad since he’s the hero of this story, but he didn’t seem much worse than several of the other take-charge, protective heroes in the previous books.

Caleb and Lucinda Jones (the H/h from The Perfect Poison, book 3 in the original series) return as the heads of the paranormal detective agency Jones and Jones. Needless to say, there’s tension between Griffin and Caleb, but mutual respect as well.

The mystery of the Burning Lamp and the Winters’ family curse exists in three time periods. This book takes place in London in the late Victorian era while book one is in the present day and book three is in the future.

I enjoyed the story more than I thought I would, and it was nice to have a historical heroine that wasn’t a virgin. I’ve read most of the Arcane books and I usually like the historicals the least. This one, however, is one of my favorites of the whole series. I definitely recommend it.

5 Stars

Disclaimer – I bought this book for my own enjoyment. I am not paid or compensated in any way, shape, or form for this honest review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.