4.25 / 5 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2021/06/01/the-lights-of-prague-by-nicole-jarvis-review/

Prague, 1868.

The quiet streets of Prague hide a secret, one that haunts these passages in the dead of night. Ancient and mythic beasts lurk in the shadows, preying upon anyone unfortunate enough to be out past sunset. And only those paid to bring light to the city’s dark stand between the monsters and their prey.

Domek Myska is a lamplighter—a profession both dedicated to bring light to the darkened streets of Prague, but also to protect its citizens from the evil that walks it. With the advent of gas lamps, the lamplighter presence in Prague has changed. While the lamps themselves keep the night at bay better and longer, fewer souls are required to keep this army of lights burning. And where there are fewer lamplighters, there are more monsters. With little to no backup, Domek is forced to rely on his own wit and skill to survive the night, with stakes of hawthorn and daggers of silver to help even the odds. But when he discovers a strange jar one night on the corpse of a pijavice (a vampire), the young lamplighter discovers there’s more renaissance in the city then just that of gas lamps.

Lady Ora Fischerová is a permanent fixture amongst the city’s upperclass, but an enigmatic one at that. She’s known as an eccentric widow—having lost her husband a decade prior—albeit a beautiful one who hardly looks as though she’s aged since his passing. That’s because Ora harbors a secret of her own, hidden beneath layers only won by coin and eccentricity. She’s a pijavica, but lives a low-key life for one of her kind preferring venison and pork blood to that of humans. But while she calls some humans friend, some others would only see her as the demon that hunts in the night. Enter Domek, and a mutual hot-blooded attraction between the two. Neither knows about the other’s secret, but with the way things are going, it won’t be long before they find out. And what will happen when the cards fall—will either survive to see another sunrise, or will Prague itself fall into eternal darkness?

For the jar, and its wisp occupant, Kája, represent a new weapon—a hope and danger both. But could these fortunes be reversed? And whom (if anyone) would Domek trust to make that distinction?

With an atmosphere drenched in darkness and steeped in blood, The Lights of Prague represents the best of historical fantasy, combining a killer story, deep and meaningful characters, with a lush if claustrophobic setting. The backdrop of 1860’s Prague was breathtakingly beautiful: a city on the cusp of change from fire to gas; a city drenched in shadow but clinging to the light; a city built on the ruins of another that came before it, with the beings of the night lurking within. From tight back alleys to gilded opera halls to the mansions of the elite to the slums of the Jewish quarter, Nicole Jarvis sets the stage incredibly well! If not for the strength of its characters, I’d say the setting was the story’s strongest asset.

Pargue did not know Domek, did not need him, but his life was overlaid on the ancient streets in watercolor, the patterns sheer and impermanent.

But the characters are quite well done as well. Both Domek and Ora are well-fleshed, with their own history and motivations, intentions and ideals—so that while they may want in one another’s pants and/or gowns, they don’t necessarily want the same thing for Prague. And while the two may fall on the same side now and then, they definitely aren’t that way all the time. I loved their interactions—be they hot and heavy, violent, or even casual—and it was this that kept the story from ever feeling too weighed down or stagnant, even toward the end when the action-sequences sometimes threaten to override the plot. While Domek isn’t the brightest tool in the river, he makes up for it with his deep- and well-thought-out plans, his ingenuity and stubbornness. Ora’s just pretty amazing—no notes! But where these two are so strong, I found the supporting cast was a bit hit and miss. Some characters seemed deep enough to carry their own POVs, while others felt too hollow to be little more than set dressing. The POVs definitely carry the load, however, so there's relatively little to complain about, story-wise.

TL;DR

1860’s Prague provides an incredible backdrop for any fantasy adventure, at least when one plays it up as well as Nicole Jarvis does. The city was resplendent, despite the story mostly taking place in the dead of night, where the streets are quiet, dark, and claustrophobic, and the atmosphere one of tension. While the story might get a bit iffy later on, the interactions between the two POV leads Domek and Ora provide more than enough of a reason to press on. Turns out, the characters are just as impressive as the world-building. Come for the vampires and dark atmosphere, stay for the romance, action and characters. Heartily recommended!

Set in 19th century Prague, Nicole Jarvis’ historical fantasy debut opens on a world at the cusp of great change. Society has been introduced to countless wonderful new scientific technologies, paving the way for an era of cultural and artistic development. Residents of the city are enjoying a revolution of sorts, with everything around them changing quickly, becoming better and more modern. However, unbeknownst to its citizenry, Prague is still a dangerous place, hiding many secrets in its shadows. Thanks to men like Domek Myska and his fellow Lamplighters though, everyone can sleep a little more soundly. Our protagonist is part of a guild of monster hunters who patrol the streets at night, keeping the gas lamps burning, vanquishing any supernatural creature unfortunate enough to cross his path. As the story begins, Domek has just had a run-in with a particularly nasty pijavica, a vampire-like predator. After killing it, he discovers what the creature had been transporting—a mysterious container with a will-o’-the-wisp trapped inside. Curious about his find, Domek contemplates taking the wisp to the guild scientists, but winds up befriending it instead, learning that its name is Kája.

Along the way, he also becomes drawn to Lady Ora Fischevá, our other major POV character who is a wealthy widow with a reputation for being a little eccentric. What no one realizes though, is that the noblewoman actually cultivates that image to her advantage, in order to prevent people from looking too deeply into her affairs. The truth is, she is a pijavica, currently working on her own investigation into rumors about a possible cure for vampirism. Having survived for centuries, Ora has mostly turned away from the more violent and baser instincts of her kind, but for some, it won’t matter—she’ll always be a soulless monster. Unaware of Domek’s affiliation with the Lamplighters, she strikes up a relationship with the young man, while he also finds himself growing more attracted to her, completely clueless as to her true nature. As the bond between our two main characters deepens, so too does the urgency to expose those behind the conspiracy that has bought them together, but of course, it’s also only a matter of time before they find out the truth about each other.

Drenched in history and atmosphere, The Lights of Prague is an intelligent and moody work of fiction combining supernatural and urban fantasy elements. Nicole Jarvis has a way with words, bringing the setting to life with flowing, confident prose. Her world-building feels at once strange and wonderful, from the grand museums and lavish opera halls in which we find Lady Ora and the upper class circles she runs in, to the dank crypts and alleyways where Domek often hunts his prey. I loved that our two main characters come from different worlds, in more ways than one, as it allowed readers to experience so much more of the author’s version of Prague—both its fantastical side, as well as the mundane.

I was also fascinated by the characters, as individually they were each quite compelling, though I confess I was probably more impressed with how well the two clicked with they were together. Domek is a level-headed man of purpose and principles, but he’s not so rigid as to be unwilling to consider other ways of doing things. That makes him a pretty good match for Ora, who is charming and vivacious, for all that she is secretly a pijavica. I was a huge fan of her character, the way she flouted social norms and expectations, following her heart wherever it leads her. Despite her socialite ways, there’s also a depth to her that’s only revealed in her more private moments. Ora has something of a heartrending backstory, one that gives her current mission quite a bit more meaning and substance. It’s when she and Domek are in each other’s presence, however, that things get really interesting, as neither are aware they are on opposite sides of a primal conflict.

And when their investigative paths coincide, that’s when the story really heats up. Prior to that, the pacing was more of a slow burn, but the action ticks up noticeably after the halfway point, as does the intrigue in the overall mystery. For me, Kája was a highlight as well, and I enjoyed how such a seemingly minor side character came to occupy such a large place in my heart by the end of the book! Bottom line, there were so many moving parts to this book, I was quite amazed Jarvis was able to weave them all together while losing none of the gothic elements or atmospheric vibes.

All in all, I had a good time with The Lights of Prague, a historical fantasy I would recommend to readers looking for a more sophisticated kind of vampire and monster hunter story.

I was surprised at some of the negative feedback I had previously read about this book. Various negative reviews mentioned that the characters are setting didn't work, and that the novel was boring and unoriginal. I have to say that I disagree wholeheartedly. I thought the setting and characters were extremely unique and fleshed out. Lamplighters in Prague fighting vampires and other creatures of the night? Where exactly has that been done before? This book also doesn't shove down readers throughts the fact that one of its main characters is queer. Rather it does so in a way that serves the story foremost. I'm super happy that many authors are going out of their way to include queer characters in their stories however sometimes I feel like it's done with the intention of getting sales and catering to a specific audience. I'd much rather see it happen organically in a way that feels natural to (and serves) the story. Exactly like in this book. I loved it and want more... Like now, please. 🙂. 5 out of 5! Go read this book!

When I saw that this was being marketed V.E. Schwab meets The Witcher, I knew I had to check it out. So, I went in with pretty high expectations. The book didn’t quite meet them, but was still engaging and interesting.

I didn’t know that much about the city of Prague during this period, so that aspect was really intriguing to me. However, it also meant that there were some sections that were a bit confusing since I lacked the background knowledge. However, I was always able to figure things out with a quick google search.

Overall, I really did enjoy the book, I just wanted a bit more from it.

Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so up my alley! You’ve got 1800s Prague, a city that has an air of mystery even in the 21st century, a secret society of demon hunters who light the night (literally), and a vampiric whodunit.
Initially, I couldn’t figure out if I loved Ora, our centuries old pijavica who’s half in love with humanity. She’s sweet, but still very out of touch with humanity and the class system. And Domek, our noble lamplighter who has sworn to slay all the demons he can in Prague. Yes, the gender swapped Buffy and Angel vibes were real! But overall, I think the character who stole the show was Kàja, the wisp Domek accidentally saved.
The story was a little slow to start, but once the pace picked up, it picked up QUICK! I loved how the queer characters were just considered a part of the story, not treated differently based on the time period.
Overall, this story was so fun, and it read like a film novelization in the very best way! I give The Lights of Prague 4 out of 5 hawthorn stakes. Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for review!

I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
This was not what I was expecting at all. I did not care for it. The main theme of the novel was intriguing but the writing was dull and long winded.

There are many reasons why I wanted to read this book. From the pretty cover, to the title, setting and blurb. But the real winner for me, was the word "pijavica".

In my language (and in Czech too, I'd imagine, as our languages aren't so different) it means leech. I thought that was a really endearing way to say vampire. Then again endearing probably isn't the right word, since the vampires in this story are anything but cuddly...either way I thought it was cool and a tiny bit funny. I kept giggling for the first several mentions (and there were many in chapter one).

It was nice to see a book set somewhere familiar, both culture and location wise. I've been to Prague a couple of years ago. It's one of the most beautiful cities in the world and The Lights of Prague did it justice with the descriptions. I felt like I was back exploring everything because it was so vivid.

AND THE NAMES! Domek Myska??? THAT'S SO ADORABLE!!! The names were done right for once. My Slavic soul is happy.

It was interesting to see the differences between Czech and Serbian in the names too. For example Kaja would be a female name here, always...and more of a nickname really, but in the book it's male.

Still, this book is not without its faults. The first half is slow. The next 20% gets better and then the rest is amazing. So it's a bit hard to rate.

On top of that, the characters gave me mixed feelings. I liked Domek better than Ora, but I didn't love him. He was nice, but I wanted him to have more depth.

Ora was alright, just not that interesting. Lina for example, was a lot more interesting (and Romani rep!).

Kaja was the best character. A little ball of light, literally. He was written so well and I cried during his scene at the end. I think it's a unique concept for will-o'-the-wisps to be bound, I haven't come across that before. Bonus points.

The storyline could've been fleshed out better. I liked it though. Especially when the twists come in the final third.

As for the length, I think the book would've benefited from being a tad shorter. Somewhere from 30-50% scenes could be cut. It's still worth the read if you can look past the slower parts.

*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

My thanks to Titan Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Lights of Prague’ by Nicole Jarvis in exchange for an honest review. On publication I purchased its ebook and audiobook editions.

There was a great deal in this novel’s description that appealed to me. It is set in 1868 Prague where all kinds of mysterious creatures lurk in the shadows. The Lamplighters are a secret group of monster hunters that protect the citizens against these predators. Domek Myska is a lamplighter whose life is filled with encounters with the pijavice, bloodthirsty and soulless vampiric creatures.

Domek has two unusual encounters that changes his life. First, he finds himself shadowed by the White Lady, a ghost who haunts the baroque halls of Prague castle. Then he comes into possession of the sentient essence of a will-o’-the-wisp, captured in a mysterious container. As the wisp’s bearer Domek now in theory wields its power. Yet the wisp resists being controlled.

Domek has a close friend in Lady Ora Fischerová - a widow with secrets of her own. Together they uncover a conspiracy amongst the pijavice that could see them unleash terror on the daylight world.

Definitely this historical urban fantasy was a strong debut. I felt that Domek and Lady Ora were well developed protagonists and I quickly became very invested in their stories. I also felt that Nicole Jarvis recreated the shadowy streets of Prague brilliantly incorporating its cityscape and history to great effect.

Overall, ‘The Lights of Prague’ appealed to the deepest cockles of my Gothic heart. I shall be looking forward to news of Nicole Jarvis’ future projects.

On a side note, the cover designed by Julia Lloyd is wonderful and captures the essence of this atmospheric novel.

Highly recommended.

The Lights of Prague is an atmospheric tale of urban fantasy and paranormal horror, set in gaslight-era Prague that feels as authentic as it does fantastic. Nicole Jarvis nails the setting, the era, the personalities, and the mythology in a book that promised a lot, but delivered even more.

One of my favorite scenes is a relatively minor one in terms of plot and significance, but it captures so much of what make the book work for me. Domek, our lamplighter protagonist, protector of the city against the vampiric pijavica, steps into an alley that even the gaslights can't illuminate. There we meet a bubák, a creature of shadow that feeds on fear and is quite literally the monster under the bed. It is with his captive will-o’-the-wisp that Domek vanquishes the monster, and in doing so he learns that even the best intentioned words can have fatal consequences. It's such a great scene in the way it illuminates the darkness and the monsters, and the way it casts such light on what kind of a man Domek is.

I loved Domek, and thought he was a fantastic protagonist, a man of morals and purpose whose bravery stands between humanity and he darkness. He's not your typical Alpha hero, but a sensitive man who thinks before he acts. It was Lady Ora, however, who fascinated me the most, which was a surprise because I would have said I've grown tired of the 'good' vampire trope. She has charm and personality, an interesting backstory, and serves a genuine purpose in the overall conflict as a kickass woman of strength and determination. Together, she and Domek are a fantastic couple (even if I wish we could have explored more of her sapphic past), and they easily carry the story.

As for the story, everything just worked for me - the setting, narrative, the pacing, the horror, the romance, the dramatic stakes, and the action-packed climax. Again, I would have said I was done with stories of vampire cures, of monsters who want to be men, but I thought Jarvis had an interesting approach to the dilemma of morality and mortality, and I like how it played out. I found it very easy to become immersed in The Lights of Prague, and found myself promising 'just one more chapter' far too long into the night.

The Lights of Prague has all the elements that makes my heart sing: queer main characters, vampires or pijavica, and historical fiction. So it's no surprise that I had a thoroughly enjoyable time reading. In fact I finished this book a lot sooner than I thought because I was just so entranced in the action. Normally for me, the characters are the first element I am drawn to, but for The Lights of Prague it's the story. The monster hunting vibes meets the multiple secret societies and vampire world is fascinating. I'd read more books in this world because I loved both the premise, and also potential for more.

A big thanks to #netgalley and #titanbooks for this eARC!

#TheLightsofPrague is a stellar debut. It’s a sophisticated vampire story that’s slow burn, built word by word, with a vast cast of characters you wish you got more of, and an interesting story that engages until the end.

It’s set in 1800s Prague. It follows Lady Ora, an independent, bold monster, and Domek, a blushing monster hunter, who are friends but don’t know about the other's alter ego. Fighting a pijavica, Domek finds a highly coveted Will-o-the-Wisp that is enslaved to whoever bears its jar 🏺 and Ora finds herself at odds with other pijavice 🧛‍♀️.

Trying to think of comp titles has me stumped because the story and the author’s voice are unique but if I had to I’d say Van Helsing and HBOs Nevers meet a Darker Shade of Magic and Down Comes the Night.

If you like magic 🪄 , fantasy , historicals, vampires, or monster 👹 hunters pick this one up!

An interesting historical fantasy meets horror, I enjoyed the Lights of Prague. Vampires have always been my kryponite, and this book gives the supernatural creatures a new twist which was something very pleasantly surprising.

I found Domek and Ora very interesting characters, and the way that they're brought together time and time again kept me wanting to read more. The writing was lovely too, and I look forward to more from Nicole Jarvis.

2.5 Stars ~

Nicole Jarvis opens her debut novel, The Lights of Prague, so beautifully; the tension of that scene is outstanding, the atmosphere drew me in from the first paragraph, and its intensity kept me anxiously turning pages in anticipation of what the author had up her sleeve for Domek Myska, the intrepid lamplighter and defender of Prague’s citizenry from the monsters that stalk the streets at night. Unfortunately, much of what happened from that point on was, in a word, dull. The story didn’t inspire interest in or a connection to its characters; though the action and suspense, once everything came to a head and the battle was on to save the city and defeat the enemy, did salvage my reading experience somewhat.

Jarvis explores some of Prague’s history and the descriptions of the city are vivid, but this also worked against the story’s pacing, offering lots of exposition but little to advance the action. I did enjoy some of the more picturesque views of the late 19th century setting (the cover is stunning) and was fascinated by its architecture, especially its underground tunnel system. I was also intrigued by the various paranormal entities existing in the city and the ways they were incorporated into the overall message the author imparts—i.e., “Monsters come from humanity,” and that sometimes a little compassion and understanding goes a long way. Leaning into the black and white of these entities without allowing for exceptions is a lesson Domek eventually learns, some might say the hard way.

For romance readers, I wouldn’t recommend going into this book with the expectation of there being a full-fledged romantic arc to the story. Domek and Ora have already met before the story begins, so the initial spark of attraction upon first meeting is unquestionably missed, but that’s the least of the issues as their relationship is emotionless and flat. Some of that can be attributed to the secret Ora is keeping and the myriad ways in which its revelation would complicate matters. I do hate to use the word boring to describe them, but I simply was not invested in their budding connection. I found the dialogue mundane, overall, which was a problem for me as a reader who loves quick-witted and interesting conversation in her storytelling. I did, however, grow to like Ora quite a lot as a strong female lead; I liked her a good deal more than Domek, if I’m being honest. I might credit that to intention, as his name translates to something like “small house mouse”, which is an oxymoron since he’s a large man who fights monsters, but he is soft-spoken and prefers to be inconspicuous. Ora’s backstory was sympathetic, and I loved her independent streak in a time when women weren’t duly afforded many freedoms.

I had such high hopes for this book, which makes it all the more disappointing that I failed to engage with it. I was unquestionably drawn in by the premise of The Lights of Prague and regret I can’t sing its praises, but, sadly, the story didn’t captivate me like I’d hoped it would.

The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis tells the tale of a man forced to reckon with all he knows in order to save his city.

Prague’s lamplighters consider all non-human creatures to be demons, however Domek’s black and white view of the world finds itself constantly challenged as he’s forced to acknowledge shades of grey. His character arc was very interesting, chiefly because he resisted this change. For most of the book, he openly condemns anyone who he doesn’t perceive as good while he is blind to the actions of peers. It’s only once he reaches rock bottom that he starts expanding his point of view.

Ora Fischerová becomes a catalyst to this change. A wealthy widow with an eye for Domek, she spends her nights enjoying the many sights Prague has to offer until she is pulled into the pijavice conspiracy herself. Her character is almost the complete opposite of Domek. She’s appears to be incredibly lively, yet she’s still shadowed by the death of her husband. Despite the image she projects, her grief and loneliness are often suffocating. Throughout the book she is forced to reckon with it and the fact that it has rendered her stagnant in life. However, it’s not her growing relationship with Domek brings on the change, but rather her involvement in the plot and the threats to her loved ones.

I really liked that the romance wasn’t the reason for her coming to terms with her grief. Domek helps, but she ultimately starts the process of healing on her own.

While the two of them are the main characters, they don’t actually team up until the end. This means that the book is made up of two converging plot lines, giving the readers the full image. I especially liked one part of The Lights of Prague where Ora is working against the pijavice, while Domek is following Ora thinking she’s part of them. Despite the gravity of those scenes, I did enjoy how well Jarvis pulled off this miscommunication trope.

I also enjoyed the plot as a whole. While the story is condensed into a small number of days, it doesn’t feel forced or overwhelming. Jarvis slowly builds the action, balancing it out with scenes of Domek and Ora hanging out with loved ones or each other, giving the story an excellent pace.

Late 19th century Prague comes alive with Jarvis’ writing. She takes care not just to describe the scenery, but to include small details that make the whole more authentic. The worldbuilding isn’t overwhelming, but rather rely on our own history with an added layer of magic. I also appreciated that the creatures kept their Slavic names.

As for the LGBTQ+ representation, while Ora doesn’t label herself, she is unabashedly queer with frequent mentions of previous lovers of all kinds. One, Darina, even comes to play a role in the story. Her previous relationship with her husband and her budding one with Domek do not erase her sexuality, rather they are just as much a part of it.

The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis is a fantastic adventure. It’s a great introduction to elements of Czech mythology, with dynamic main characters and a captivating story. I do hope to see more of Jarvis’s works in the future.

The Lights of Prague is Nicole Jarvis’ debut historical fantasy novel with a delicious gothic tinge to it and tells a haunting story drawn from long-established Eastern European mythology. Otherworldly creatures of dark myth roam the streets of the city and only the lamplighters of Prague offer protection against this conspiracy of vampiric pijavica, the Czech cousin of the vampire. Domek Myska walks the dingy, cobblestone streets of 19th century Prague as a member of the Lamplighters’ Guild, a group responsible for ensuring that the city’s many gas lamps continue to burn - protecting the population from bloodthirsty supernatural beings roaming for easy prey. He helps fight against the creatures that hide out in darkened alleys and among the shadows in Prague’s vast underground tunnel system shying away from the light that up until now has hindered their existence. But after killing a pijavica, Domek is shocked to discover the creature had been in possession of a captive will-o’-the-wisp, a rare spirit, and decides to attempt to track its origins.

He befriends Lady Ora Fischerová, an affluent and elegant older woman who also happens to be a pijavica and is currently investigating rumours that some of her kind are developing a cure for their allergy to sunlight. Could the monsters be evolving? This is a riveting, enthralling and richly atmospheric vampire novel steeped in a creepy history and aura and alluring worldbuilding including such vivid descriptions of the city are so superb that you can transport yourself there amongst the culture, food and people almost instantly. It's a refreshing fantasy and actually the first story I have read that didn't come across as juvenile when using vampires and monster hunters as the main thrust of the sinister plot. It touches on the class system and thirst for power and is peopled with complex characters who feel like old friends as well as protectors. It's also a surprisingly action-packed and high-intensity adventure with an unsettling moodiness and unease underpinning it all. A thoroughly entertaining gothic historical fantasy. Highly recommended.

<a href="http://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/TheLightsOfPrague.png"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5758" src="http://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/TheLightsOfPrague-198x300.png" alt="" width="198" height="300" /></a>How to make the now well-worn trope of vampires and monster hunters feel fresh and new again? Set the proceedings in historic Prague, with a firm eye on local history and mythology free of the influence of the too-standard figures of modern, Western-European-leaning pop culture, while also infusing a 21st-century sensibility to the proceedings.

We open on Domek Myska, a lamplighter who takes his responsibilities of keeping night-time Prague safe for pedestrians both seriously and to their logical conclusion. While lamplighters have historically acted as a de facto policing force in many cities, Domek and his fraternity also guard against the literal monsters that haunt Prague, most often in the form of deadly pijavice (the book never uses the word vampire but that's their closest analog.) When Domek dusts a pijavice one night, the strange urn the monster was carrying transfers itself to his ownership, forcing Domek to reassess not only his abilities and his loyalties, but also to question what it means to be a monster.

To complicate matters further is his relationship with the rich and widowed Lady Ora Fischerova. Beautiful and eccentric, she's spent long years hiding a secret of her own. Coming back to Prague, however, has unearthed a past that she wants to remain buried yet can't stay away from. She's also finding it hard to resist Domek's aura of solidity and kindness. Will her attractions, to him and to her past ties, prove her undoing?

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<a href="http://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/LightsofPrague_blog-tour.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5734" src="http://www.thefrumiousconsortium.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/LightsofPrague_blog-tour-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a>The atmospheric setting provides a wonderfully solid base from which to spin a yarn of monsters and mayhem, as Domek and Ora must join forces to defeat a series of diabolical plans to enslave the innocents of Prague. Nicole Jarvis spurns Western European conventions to not only tell a fascinating, wholly Eastern European tale but also to matter-of-factly deal with the universal topics of power dynamics, emancipation and sexuality in a progressively 21st century way. It's a breath of fresh air to read what feels like a traditional tale in a gaslit setting told in a manner shorn of repressive politics and mores (at least on the good guys' side!) I was also really impressed that this was a debut novel: it feels so assured, never giving us too little or, almost as bad, overdoing it with first-timer info dumps. And all this while clearly conveying a fascinating mythology that may be little known outside of circles already familiar with Czech folklore! Whether Ms Jarvis chooses to continue with this fictional universe or to write something brand new after, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for her next works.

We're so pleased to kick off the book tour for this terrific novel, and recommend checking out some of the other sites in the infographic above to learn more!

The Lights Of Prague by Nicole Jarvis will be published in the US tomorrow May 25 2021 by Titan Books and is available from all good booksellers, including

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Light on scares, but heavy on adventure; The Lights of Prague is an interesting combination of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen meets Sherlock Holmes, the Guy Ritchie version. Though disappointing in it’s lack of true terror, it is still a fun read with secret societies, hidden monsters, and a hint of steampunk.
Based on the description, I originally expected this to be a lot more horror orientated. However, despite the fact there is a little bit of gore and some nasty vampires, this read a lot more action adventure making it more akin to a fast-paced mystery than Dracula. Unfortunately, the plot was a little predictable, but the cute romance between Domek and Ora and the overall pacing and fun of the book more than makes up for it.
Personally, I found the language of the writing over-flourished for my taste, but I can see someone that enjoys historicals and is looking to branch out into paranormal or fantasy really enjoying this. I also liked the fact that this is set sort of around the late 19th-early 20th century (the Victorian era, for the Anglo-familiar reader), but it takes place somewhere other than England or the Americas, and the culture and folklore within the world building reflects that. It was nice to have a taste of something different among the literary familiar.

https://lynns-books.com/2021/05/24/the-lights-of-prague-by-nicole-jarvis/
3 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review : I wanted to love this

I really did expect to love this one. Prague.. Vampires. Gothic. This is my catnip In fact it’s what I’ve been waiting for. And, to be fair to Jarvis, there’s a lot of positive vibes here, but somehow, although I liked the story it failed to make me connect with either the characters or the place.

To the story. Basically, we follow Domek Myska. This is the gaslight era where science was starting to play a part in everyone’s lives for example here, the dark streets of Prague, lit by gas lamps, forcing the monsters to retreat even further into the darkness. At the same time the monsters here are still hidden, the majority of the population are unaware of the vampires or pijavice that they are known as. Now, the gaslighters are more than they seem. They act as a kind of monster hunter force, lighting the streets whilst eliminating monsters and keeping people safe.

In terms of plot, we have a vampire slayer and a vampire. The two have been circling each other in a romantic way, unaware that they are natural enemies. On top of this, following a late night attack, Domek has stumbled onto something secret that will change things in the worst possible way – for humans at least.

Lady Ora Fischerová is part of the nobility but she is also a pijavice or vampire and for some time she’s been flirting with Domek, blissfully unaware of the danger he could pose to her. Ora was turned hundreds of years ago but she now resists the natural life of a vampire. In fact she loved and married a human who she still mourns. Ora is about to be pulled back into the vampire underworld against her own better judgement.

Prague lends itself naturally to the supernatural elements of the story. A beautiful city with dark tunnels beneath where danger lurks. This is a city with ghosts, vampires and much more.

So, I enjoyed this but it didn’t ‘wow’ me in quite the way I hoped for or expected. It’s difficult to put my finger on why that is exactly. I think it boils down to two things. I failed to really engage with either Domek or Ora and this led to a lack of fear or tension when they stepped into the fray. And the two of them certainly face danger as the story progresses. Basically, this was certainly not a bad story, or difficult to read, but it didn’t deliver the gothic fantasy I was eager for and in some ways the plot was a little obvious. I was hoping for a little more menace from the vampires but felt the threat was never quite realised, even when they were striving to become something much more dangerous.

Overall, I think this could possibly be down to my own reading mood or the fact that I over hyped this one to such an extent that it would always be difficult to live up to such notions.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

First off, I really love the cover which was originally what drew me to this book. The design is simple yet effective and it manages to capture the attention of the onlooker through its clean design and the use of black, white, and red only to a rather striking effect.

I quite enjoyed this historical fantasy novel set in Prague, one of the most interesting, beautiful, and mysterious cities in Europe. I've loved this setting in literature in the past and this book is no exception. The setting gave the story, a mystery, an additional touch of mysteriousness and atmosphere and added greatly to the vampire fantasy plot.

I enjoyed Jarvis's style of writing and storytelling as well as the characterization and development of the main characters, although I was a bit irritated by the fact that Domek Myska literally means "House Mouse". Intentional decision or not, this fact regularly threw me out of the story because I couldn't forget about the meaning of the name. Other than that, the writing is quite descriptive and atmospheric and manages to paint a vivid mental picture, adding a lot to the plot.

The pacing of the story is somewhat slow, so it is not one to be rushed and be done with in a couple of hours, but this is not necessarily a bad thing, just something to consider. There is not a lot of action going on, but on the other hand I did enjoy the lgbtq+ representation and implementation of mental health themes, namely depression.

All in all, this book is a remarkable debut that has quite a lot of potential so that I could imagine this becoming a series, or at least getting a spin-off set in the same world.

RATING: 3.5 stars

The Lights of Prague is a book I’ve been looking forward to for a long time, and it did not disappoint. Set in a gaslamp-era, monster-riddled Prague, the dual POVs of Domek—lamplighter and monster-slayer—and Lady Ora—eccentric bisexual pijavica/vampire—work perfectly to illustrate the setting of a city in dire need of rescue. Both of them were fully fleshed-out protagonists with rich backstories, although I wished a little more time had been spent developing their budding relationship (what can I say, I’m a sucker for a slow burn). The first two-thirds or so of the book were quite slow-paced, which I don’t normally mind, but I do wish that the POVs would have intertwined more during this time. However, the pacing was entirely made up for by the luscious descriptions and utterly gorgeous writing style.

The large cast of side characters was another huge strength of the novel, with some of them almost being even more interesting than the protagonists (yes, I’m still waiting on a spin-off about Cord). They really helped to add depth to the peripheral of the world, though I have to admit that certain characters felt a little bit purposeless other than acting as a “red herring” to the real villain. When the villain reveal came, I ended up being slightly underwhelmed by their motives. Even though the surprise factor was there, I definitely would have liked to have seen more clues leading to their descent.

One of my favourite characters was Kája, a will-o-the-wisp who falls into the possession of its reluctant master Domek. Initially a mischievous spirit who comes to blows with our protagonist, the unfolding story of his past life soon makes him a sympathetic character. The mythical creatures the novel introduces really add life to the story and its rich lore, and Kája was by far its crowning glory. Overall, this was a strongly written debut with an enjoyable premise and an intriguing cast of characters right at home against the backdrop of Prague.