Book Review: "The Doctrines of Fire" by C.L. Jarvis

 

An academic rivalry turns deadly.

Edinburgh, 1779. George Stephens was a decent soldier, but he's a lousy medical student. Lacking the social and financial resources to succeed in Edinburgh’s elite medical school, his dream of becoming a physician appears over before it began.

Then George comes to the attention of two famous professors, William Cullen and Joseph Black. Medical students are dying mysteriously - the professors suspect a disgraced former student is to blame - and they need George’s help uncovering the truth. Believing the partnership will bolster his academic standing, George agrees.

Their investigation pulls them into the murkiest, most dangerous corners of Enlightenment Edinburgh. The professors are secret wielders of fire magic, but their foes are courting even darker forces. With violence threatening to erupt, and George struggling to navigate this confusing city, getting justice for the dead will be harder than he imagined. - from Booksirens.com

This ARC was given to me by Booksirens.com and I am providing an unbiased review.

The story description and basic cover art brought my interest to bear when I requested this book. As I started it, I was immediately pulled into the story, and remained there most of the day as I pretty much read this in one sitting. Usually I am not one for historical fiction, but the author's telling of this tale, and the story itself were very well written.

The use of magic in this historical setting of the medical college in Edinburgh, is quite complicated, and just .... weird. I forget the term they used to describe it, but, as with much of the story, the word used fit in with all the other miscellaneous Latin jargon one would expect at a medical college in the past. Add in a mystery, an old rivalry, and some jealousy, you get this story.

I loved the plot twists, the wording specifically that fit with what I would guess Scots would pronounce words, and the 'high-bred' speech of professors of the time period in a medical college. Add in that our main character, George, was a "late" student, having served in the military prior to being accepted to the college. Plus, he, like many of us in this day and age, struggled financially to stay in school. Yeah. Just a great story. I see it is listed as a 'book one' so looking forward to more from this author.