Witchmark
Jun 2018 · The Kingston Cycle Book 1 · Tor Books
4.5star
33 reviewsreport
eBook
272
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About this eBook
WINNER of the 2019 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, and a finalist for the Nebula Award, the Locus Award, and the Lammy Award!
One of the 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time, according to Time Magazine
One of the best books of 2018, according to NPR, Publishers Weekly, BuzzFeed, the Chicago Review, BookPage, and the B&N Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog.
The Kingston Cycle is One of Reader's Digest Top 25 Best Fantasy Series Ever Written
C. L. Polk arrives on the scene with Witchmark, a stunning, addictive fantasy that combines intrigue, magic, betrayal, and romance. The New York Times calls it “thoroughly charming and deftly paced... an accomplished and enjoyable debut.”
In an original world reminiscent of Edwardian England in the shadow of a World War, cabals of noble families use their unique magical gifts to control the fates of nations, while one young man seeks only to live a life of his own.
Magic marked Miles Singer for suffering the day he was born, doomed either to be enslaved to his family's interest or to be committed to a witches' asylum. He went to war to escape his destiny and came home a different man, but he couldn’t leave his past behind. The war between Aeland and Laneer leaves men changed, strangers to their friends and family, but even after faking his own death and reinventing himself as a doctor at a cash-strapped veterans' hospital, Miles can’t hide what he truly is.
When a fatally poisoned patient exposes Miles’ healing gift and his witchmark, he must put his anonymity and freedom at risk to investigate his patient’s murder. To find the truth he’ll need to rely on the family he despises, and on the kindness of the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
One of the 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time, according to Time Magazine
One of the best books of 2018, according to NPR, Publishers Weekly, BuzzFeed, the Chicago Review, BookPage, and the B&N Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog.
The Kingston Cycle is One of Reader's Digest Top 25 Best Fantasy Series Ever Written
C. L. Polk arrives on the scene with Witchmark, a stunning, addictive fantasy that combines intrigue, magic, betrayal, and romance. The New York Times calls it “thoroughly charming and deftly paced... an accomplished and enjoyable debut.”
In an original world reminiscent of Edwardian England in the shadow of a World War, cabals of noble families use their unique magical gifts to control the fates of nations, while one young man seeks only to live a life of his own.
Magic marked Miles Singer for suffering the day he was born, doomed either to be enslaved to his family's interest or to be committed to a witches' asylum. He went to war to escape his destiny and came home a different man, but he couldn’t leave his past behind. The war between Aeland and Laneer leaves men changed, strangers to their friends and family, but even after faking his own death and reinventing himself as a doctor at a cash-strapped veterans' hospital, Miles can’t hide what he truly is.
When a fatally poisoned patient exposes Miles’ healing gift and his witchmark, he must put his anonymity and freedom at risk to investigate his patient’s murder. To find the truth he’ll need to rely on the family he despises, and on the kindness of the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
33 reviews
Anne Trotter
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13 February 2019
no spoilers: a sweet m/m romance mixed into a bit of adventure and intrigue surroundjng magic and the troops returning from war. ************* few spoilers: a sweetly unrealistic m/m romance mixed into a snippet of the plot of fullmetal alchemist. If you want a modestly dark magical gay romance set in steampunk england with very little *real* grit, this is it: comfort reading. I enjoyed the writing fantastically. the military bit was a little fluff suitable for armchairs. *************"" critique w/ big spoilers: why did people support this war again? and turning ptsd into a magical affliction with a simple fast cure struck me as not particularly a good choice. it's a simple, fast, engaging story.
Sarah Kuklewicz
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27 September 2024
This was dark in places, but didn't seem gratuitously so. I *liked* the main character and wanted him to succeed. He isn't perfect white, but he is *very* light gray. This book made me happy.
Sylvain Hamel
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13 June 2021
Well written and imaginative but couldnt stand the illogical actions of the characters and stopped reading.
About the author
C. L. Polk (they/them) is the author of the World Fantasy Award winning novel Witchmark, the first novel of the Kingston Cycle. After leaving high school early, they have worked as a film extra, sold vegetables on the street, and identified exotic insect species for a vast collection of lepidoptera before settling down to write silver fork fantasy novels. Polk lives near the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta, in a tiny apartment with too many books and a yarn stash that could last a decade. They ride a green bicycle with a basket on the front. They spend too much time on twitter (@clpolk).
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