"City of Iron and Ivy" by Thomas Kent West

 

"City of Iron and Ivy" by Thomas Kent West is an enticing historical fantasy that takes place in a fictionalized Victorian London alive with botanical magic. Think Bridgerton — but twisted, and with magic. What a heady combination!

The book follows Elswyth Elderwood, an intelligent, scarred academic interested in exploring botanical magic. After the disappearance and presumed death of her sister during the London season, she is forced to set aside her academic ambitions — even after being accepted to Oxford — and seek a husband instead, or marry her cousin, to save the family fortune. Not an easy task, as her sister was the beautiful one, and she the studious one. She is the thorn to her sister’s rose.

She is thrust into a London where floromancers weave gowns from living blooms, hedge witches sprout poisons from their fingertips, high society refuses to accept her, and a serial killer in the style of Jack the Reaper stalks the streets. At the same time, she is determined to uncover her sister’s murderer — and all the signs point to a powerful nobleman.

With Mrs. Rose by her side to guide her through the ins and outs of high society, her uncle Percival to support her, her uncle’s aide Kehinde teaching her the use of poisons, and the bastard-born archaeologist Silas Blackthorn dazzling her, she must navigate carefully — or risk becoming another victim of the Reaper.

I enjoyed the book immensely. The magic system is one of the most original I have encountered. I loved the use of floriography and the application of the language of flowers within the magic system. The idea of conjuring flowers and poisons from the skin is truly genius.

I loved the Frankenstein vibes, the plant-human hybrids, and the Ripper-inspired murder plot. I loved the FMC — flawed, stubborn, brave, and standing up for her principles. I did want to shout at her at times for the unnecessary risks she took. We get an eclectic cast of characters; even the side characters have compelling backstories, and each has enough personality to make this a truly memorable ensemble, with a satisfying story arc and a decent amount of emotional depth.

The book is presented as romantasy, but the romance feels more like an afterthought, and there is not enough of it to truly be considered as such. It is historical fantasy with fictional liberties, so take the history with a pinch of salt. The book explores themes of racism, colonization, class, women’s rights, found family, betrayal, the relationship between sisters, loss, grief, and embracing one’s power, all seamlessly integrated into the tale.

The author is an excellent storyteller who kept me engaged with gripping scenes and a creative plot that builds suspense. The pacing is steady and kept me engaged throughout. Some scenes genuinely unsettled me, and others required a suspension of disbelief — even for a fantasy. It is ambitious in scope, but I felt the author accomplished what he set out to do.

This book earns 4.5 out of 5 stars from me, rounded up to 5. The ending isn’t conventional in the usual sense, but it fits perfectly. I would love another book in this world, as some questions were left unanswered. If you like your fantasy dark, thorny, and laced with poison, this one is for you.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book:  "City of Iron and Ivy" by Thomas Kent West