Critical Praise for Thieves' Quarry:
"With solidly developed characters, the vivid depiction of 18th-century Boston, and a seamless blend of realism and fantasy, this sequel to Thieftaker should interest fans of historical fantasy, alternate history, and period mysteries." -- Library Journal
"At once a gripping historical mystery and an inventive urban-style fantasy, the book should appeal to a wide spectrum of readers. Jackson, who has a Ph.D in American history, does an excellent job of making us feel like we’re in Boston not long before the War of Independence. More Ethan Kaille adventures would be most welcome." -- Booklist
"Splendid period detail and spell-casting in church Latin combine felicitously with the contemporary gumshoe-noir tone . . . An unusual series of great promise." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Jackson deftly blends history and fiction in a tangle of alliances (including loyalist Ethan teaming with a Royal Navy surgeon sympathetic to the rebels) amid Ethan’s moral conflicts over the uses of magic and drawing friends into the dangers of questionable work." -- Publisher's Weekly
"Thieves’ Quarry is to me one of those rare novels that you’ll love from the first page til you close the book, an instant classic. Would I be a reviewer that rated books with stars, I would give Thieves’ Quarry the full five stars." -- Fantastical Imaginations
"In all honesty, there was nothing I didn’t like about Thieves’ Quarry. I found it a solid followup to Thieftaker, with an interesting setting, engaging characters and an intriguing plot. . . Five Stars." -- Scottish Bookworm in Quebec
"I literally read this book in one sitting. Its fast pace, shocking crime, vivid historical setting, and the twists and turns of intrigue and suspicion totally absorbed me." -- Kate Elliott, author of King’s Dragon
"D.B. Jackson's writing is amazing and Thieves' Quarry is even better than the first book. Absolutely enthralling and I couldn't put it down. It's a wonderful read!" -- Kat Richardson, author of Greywalker
"The Thieftaker series is a tour de force. There is no way to get enough of it-- and I LOVE Thieves' Quarry. This is definitely the best new series of the decade!" -- Faith Hunter, author of the Jane Yellowrock books
Critical Praise for Thieftaker:
Named one of the Best Fantasy Books of 2012 by SciFiChick.com
Named "Best First Book in a Series" for 2012 (one of two books so honored) by the Word Nerds.
"The author does an impressive job of weaving fantasy into historical fiction, and even introduces a few familiar names from . . . the Stamp Act from American history . . . With plenty of adventure, mystery, magic, drama, and thrills – genre fans won’t want to miss this one. Thieftaker is a fantastic series debut that I can’t wait to see continue." -- SciFiChick.com
"Thieftaker is a bit like the Dresden Files meets Johnny Tremain, combining magical crime-solving with the Revolutionary War. At first, it sounds like a strange combination, but it works and I’m already looking forward to the sequel . . . A fun read." -- The Word Nerds Book Banter
"Jackson has an enviable gift for detail, the ability to put his reader smack-dab in a location (Boston, 1765) with such intensity that you can hear the burr in voices, smell the smoke and tea in the air, and wince when the hero gets punched in the face . . . Thieftaker is a delicious murder mystery sundae, with a sprinkle of supernatural bravado and a few famous historical figures for cherries on top." -- Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show
"Thieftaker is an intriguing new book . . . Its unusual setting, winning characterizations, and unique mix of historical fiction, mystery (with a real noir tinge) and fantasy . . . left me looking forward to spending more time in this world . . . The real strength of Thieftaker, though, lies in its characterization. Rather than the usual young or sheltered protagonist awakened to a world of danger and/or magic, Ethan is delivered up sort of in media res . . . He’s lived an entire life already. All these interesting tidbits of his past make him a more intriguing and a more fully realized character . . . Other characters, ones whom I assume we’ll certainly see again in a follow-up, are equally winning, especially the several strong female characters, which include Sephira (who is pretty much a step ahead of Ethan the whole way), Ethan’s significant other Kannice, who runs her own tavern and does so with an iron will, and Ethan’s former love." -- FantasyLiterature.com
"Thieftaker is a solid piece of historical fantasy. Jackson presents an excellent world in which powers of magic and the Boston we learned about in high school American history class can co-exist. The system of magic Jackson developed for Thieftaker is well-explained and fleshed out." -- Bookshelf Bombshells
"D.B. Jackson has struck several different notes and struck them all well, combining just the right amount of historical veracity and magical alteration. I highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction, crime thrillers, urban fantasy, and anyone else looking for a great way to spend a weekend. Thieftaker is just a fantastically fun novel." -- A Dribble of Ink
"Inventive . . . Blending genres is seldom easy, but the historical and supernatural elements work together seamlessly. The plot is lively with period color . . . and vivid support characters, notably the seductive Pryce and the ghost girl Anna. It's essentially a well-turned mystery whose supernatural elements add to the intrigue . . . Entertaining." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Everything in this book is meticulously researched. The time period feels completely real. The dialogue, clothing, and numerous historical characters all lend Thieftaker an authenticity that allowed this magical story to shine. . . Imagine Sherlock Holmes meets Harry Dresden and you have a pretty good idea of what this book is like. . . . [A] thoroughly entertaining book. Jackson’s well-researched historical details coupled with his fresh and comprehensive worldbuilding are not to be missed. Jim Butcher fans take note: Ethan could be Harry Dresden’s forebear. (4 bats out of 5)” -- All Things Urban Fantasy
"D.B. Jackson brings readers an evocative and captivating urban fantasy set in pre-Revolutionary Boston. Thieftaker is a fast-paced, visceral ride. A historical fiction with embers of fantasy, it’s an authentic and surprisingly relatable adventure." -- Authorlink.com
"Full of rich, well-rounded characters, extremely atmospheric and just riveting. (9 out of 10)" -- Nocturnal Book Reviews
"Thieftaker, the fabulous first installment in The Thieftaker Chronicles series, proves a rousing mix of fantasy and history . . . a highly satisfying and tremendously effective blending of genres, [that] should please fans of historical fiction as well as fantasy. This reviewer eagerly awaits the next volume in Ethan’s story, Thieves' Quarry, due in 2013. (5 Gravestones out of 5)" -- Bitten By Books
"This diverting, fast-paced “what-if” debut novel set in colonial America will appeal to fans of genre-benders." -- Booklist
"Hard-boiled . . . A noteworthy series opener." -- Publishers Weekly
"The blend of genres that D.B. Jackson has created works extremely well and makes a fun, interesting read. I would definitely recommend it...Four Stars." -- Scottish Bookworm in Quebec
"Thieftaker is a superb blend of fantasy and alternate history, set in a period that seldom gets visited by either." -- Eric Flint, author of 1632.
"Thieftaker is a gripping mystery, full of magic, and human emotion, that just happens to be set in 1765. Pre-Revolutionary War America has never been so exciting. How exciting? I missed my bus stop because I was reading this book. The level of historical detail makes it seem totally plausible that thieftakers and conjurers were active in Boston in 1765. What I particularly enjoyed was that the history didn't slow the story down, it just enriched it." -- Mary Robinette Kowal, author of Shades of Milk and Honey
"D.B. Jackson has masterfully woven history and fantasy to create a pre-Revolutionary Boston that should have been. Peopled by an array of entertaining characters from conjurers to revolutionaries, Thieftaker is a compelling novel by a writer who knows what he's doing. I look forward to reading more of Ethan Kaille's adventures!" -- C.E. Murphy, author of the Walker Papers
"Thieftaker is an elegant, intricate tale of a multilayered, tortured conjurer and a world on the brink of war. With skillful, clever plotting and prose sharper than a spelled blade, D.B. Jackson has woven real history with imagination and created a character and a story to believe in and cheer for." -- Faith Hunter, author of the Jane Yellowrock books
"What a marvelous book! A beautiful balance of magic and crime, history and fantasy that was fast-paced, compelling, and completely absorbing. Historical fantasy that reads like an old-school crime novel, as if Raymond Chandler were channeling Jonathan Swift. I loved it!" -- Kat Richardson, author of Greywalker
"D.B. Jackson emerges as a leader of the new American Revolution in historical fantasy. Thieftaker is a fresh, original adventure set in a colonial America that is at once familiar and unlike any version in history or fiction that you’ve seen before. I read this book in one day and can’t wait to read the next book in the series!" -- C.C. Finlay, author of the Traitor to the Crown series
"D.B. Jackson's Thieftaker brings colonial Boston to life -- with a twist of magic. And that's not the safest trade in a place and time not so far from the Salem witch trials. Engaging characters and vivid description make this a refreshingly original read. Well done!" -- Lynn Flewelling, author of Casket of Souls
"Thieftaker is an excellent blend of mystery and magic set in the turmoil of Colonial Boston as revolution brews and political factions collide. The setting is vividly painted, and the story is a fine portrait of a man caught between his bitter past and its legacy, and the constant dangers and reversals that dog his attempts to build a new life for himself." -- Kate Elliott, author of Cold Magic
“This is sort of an uncomfortable page, and yet one of which I’m quite proud. No one likes a braggart, which is where the discomfort comes in. But I have been fortunate enough to have people I respect say some very nice things about my work, and if you’re trying to make up your mind about reading one of my books or stories, you might like to check out what others have said. That’s the theory, anyway…”
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