An alchemist and his young nephew hunt down a legend in an arcane adventure through the wilderness of friendship and the rotten heart of the early empire. A dark and compelling novel where they attempt to understand the surreal nightmares and waking dreams created by this creature.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐤 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚

A haunting read set in the lush, magical wilderness of the American West that's not for the faint of heart. This book wasn't at all what I expected, and while it's not one that I would recommend to every reader, the writing is beautiful and heartbreaking.

The main character Gentle was realistic in his deep grief over the lost of his close friend and in his myriad of faults, and I enjoyed how his relationship to his nephew Kit slowly evolved throughout the story. Both characters felt tragic in different ways, and yet they remained hopeful to the end.

This is not an easy or uplifting read, but it's the kind that you'll be thinking about long after you finish. Includes themes of violence, suicide, and drug use.

I took this book on a vacation to the Pacific Northwest to add to the ambiance of the setting, but it truly needed no help evoking that thoroughly through writing alone. The lush descriptions of the forests and frontier towns painted the perfect landscape for my mind's eye, and every new character introduced only served to fill it out in the most interesting ways. Gentle is such a tragic character, even as he remains so hopeful about his goals. Witnessing his slow (and then rapid) descent into the salamander's thrall and his own vices whilst fighting to remain in the world of men around him was a riveting experience. And Kit, while just an earnest and naive boy who wants so badly to be what his uncle needs, is simultaneously a breath of fresh air and a horrific liability in the eyes of the reader and Gentle alike. The entire story is written with such an honest voice about the violence and cruelty of man and the unfeeling forward motion of the earth itself even as it is ravaged by its creations. This is definitely not for the squeamish reader, as that honesty extends to the reality of frontier living in the late 1800s, and does not shy away from the human body and all its innate inelegance.

The Great Work by Sheldon Costa is a thought-provoking and genre-blending novella that merges elements of dark academia, fantasy, and queer identity into a compelling and lyrical narrative. Set in a mysterious, gothic academic institution where students study arcane knowledge and forbidden magics, the story follows Gabriel, a queer student struggling to balance ambition, desire, and the haunting legacy of loss. At its core, The Great Work explores the tension between knowledge and power, and the cost of pursuing truth in a world shrouded in secrecy. Costa's prose is elegant and often poetic, weaving a dreamlike atmosphere that draws readers into the eerie, insular world of the academy. The novella is rich with symbolism and mythological undertones, evoking alchemical metaphors and occult imagery to reflect Gabriel's internal transformation.

What makes the novella especially striking is its emotional depth. Gabriel’s journey is as much about navigating grief, longing, and identity as it is about uncovering academic or magical mysteries. Costa handles queer themes with tenderness and complexity, avoiding clichés while portraying an authentic, deeply personal experience. Despite its brevity, the narrative feels expansive, raising philosophical questions about what it means to create, to sacrifice, and to endure. The relationships—especially the tension-laced dynamics between students and mentors—are nuanced and often unsettling, contributing to the story’s haunting tone.

Some readers may find the plot elusive or abstract at times, as Costa leans heavily into atmosphere and introspection over straightforward action. However, for those drawn to introspective, emotionally resonant speculative fiction, The Great Work is a rewarding and memorable read. Overall, Sheldon Costa delivers a haunting, beautifully written novella that lingers long after the final page—a meditation on knowledge, love, and the price of becoming.

This dragon hunt and tale of alchemy set in the American wild West winds through hostile settlers, Indians, frontier military, and various religious cults. It also deals with substance abuse, child neglect and domestic violence.

I've always found alchemy fascinating but as the book ran on, I found the main character, Gentle, spending most of his time grieving, depressed, and dosing himself on laudanum. His guilt over the loss of his best friend makes him incapable of guiding his nephew, who could have been a redemption to pull him out of his emotional pit.

Winding through the whole story is a moody, brooding philosophy of the salamander being a metaphor for corruption, leaving me wondering if the creature actually existed.

This book is very dark and has some self-destructive content.