You like fantasy novels more than I do. I promise you this is true. So why did I get a DRC of this title?

To see if there are cracks in my walls of resistance. And, well, I like this novel just fine. The ideas don't cause me to roll my eyes...the worldbuilding, in other words, does iits job with reasonable facility...but neither did the idea of an orphan-special-chosen-one meets scoobygroup cause me to get all excited. Executed well, or I'd've made tracks for the door; still, not the most energizing choice for this fantasy agnostic.

The faux-archaic tone, for some reason, hit me the right way. I was surprised by this, honestly because I usually find it arch and/or tedious. Author Griffin did a good job finding a middle ground between those unpleasant poles. As a result, I really enjoyed the read.

It moves slowly. The first half of the book is just not paced correctly, in that there were many times scenes went on way too long, and I was sorely tempted to shut the Kindle and move on to other things. That I didn't is honestly a little miracle. The Archivists kept me going. I wanted to know what the heck this was all connected to. But keep in mind I'm not a fantasy-novel reader as a rule. Maybe you fantasy aficionados will respond differently. Those who like the trend towards library- and archive-centered stories could, in particular, find something special.

Why I think you should give it a chance really boils down to that. You read the genre? Read widely! Wider than usual, for you "high-fantasy" folks. Much on a par for those who loved Susanna Clarke's magisterial Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Magic and fantasy, books and lore, people and quests, just belong together. Come get some more.

3.5 stars

Seeker is the first book in a new series following the adventures of Shay Bluefaltlow, an orphan originally sold to the surgeon Ridley but eventually becoming the assistant to archivist Penelope Etherington. Here Shay learns what her role will be concerning the return of the Sentinels - ancient guardians of the world .

There's a lot to unpack with this book and I'm sure that a lot of the storylines and character development will become clear in following novels in the series.

My only problems with this book is its extreme wordiness and the use of more complex language that, I presume, is meant to set it apart from English but ends up detracting from the plot. I confess to getting a bit lost several times trying to work out exactly what the author was trying to convey.

This is a purely personal point of view though and I'm aware that other readers will love the style.

Otherwise the plot is reasonably easy to follow and the start bodes well for future novels. I'm in two minds as to whether would read the rest of the series but I am intrigued as to what will happen to Shay next. I guarantee that fans of more historical series will enjoy it, despite it not being set in our history.

Thanks to Netgalley and Panthe Press for the advance review copy.

hank you to Netgalley and Panthe Press for the arc.

This was an interesting and unique debut that follows Shay, an orphaned teenage girl, through a regency style fantasy.

The language used by the author is exactly what you would imagine to be very true to this era, resulting in an atmospheric read. It was a little slow to get off the ground, but the slow world building does pay off in the second half. Shay was a relatable, believable character who navigates through her insecurities and fears in order to do what needs to be done.

One of the things I really loved was Shay's friendship with Peck, the parts where they were just being children were so well written and they made to story come alive.

Fantastic debut!

This story presents an interesting conundrum, one that must be explained before anyone can decide whether to give it a try or not. So, here it goes:
The book is written in a decidedly historical voice and pen. The author uses the language, technique and style that readers would find in such classics as Dickens, Collin’s, the Bronte’s and the like. It is almost lyrical and lovely to read. But, as with authors of earlier centuries, it can be longwinded, and what many modern day readers consider rambling. And that’s the crux. The authors of that day needed to write extensive descriptions and explanations because they lived in a world where that was the only way for readers to picture the story. In today’s flash-bang, internet immediate world, however, all those words are not necessary.

And that is where this book lands. There are so many words and so much to read that it is hard to find the actual story! Now, don’t get me wrong, the words and sentences are beautiful, often almost lyrical, but it can be a challenge to keep one’s attention long enough to actually find the story beneath! This is especially true throughout the first half of the book when all the aspects are being set up and the action hasn’t really occurred yet. Man, it was slow going! Even for one who appreciates the writing.

Still, if one can persevere, the actual story is a tremendously unique and creative one that has all the intrigue and twists one can hope for! From the creatures to the contraptions, to the actual people who populate this world, it is a feast. I would just recommend it for those who love to indulge in the written word just for the overall enjoyment of the experience , rather than those who like stories that progress at a mild or upbeat click.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Panthe Press for the opportunity to review this novel as an ARC.
Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. While I appreciate the flowery language and overall imagery used, the story was paced too slow and I could not adequately connect with the story or the characters to finish the story.
I will say that there were positive aspects. I did like Shay and her inquisitive nature. I also liked her nurturing nature with Puck. I do not have a lot of experience with Regency Era writing but I do recognize the skill and effort put forth in the world building and images used.
The italicized excerpts from journal entries were at times confusing and I had to look ahead to see who they were to understand their purpose.

"The Seeker" by Samuel Griffin, is a
flintlock fantasy. The narrative follows Shay Bluefaltlow, a young woman thrust into the arcane world of Sentinel Archivists, where she must navigate the complexities of forbidden knowledge and a society on the brink of war.

Shay's journey is one of self-discovery and resilience. Her character is etched with the nuances of vulnerability and determination, making her a relatable protagonist. The supporting cast, add depth and color to the tale, each with their own distinct personalities that challenge and complement Shay's own.

The book's problematic lies in its exploration of indentured servitude and the moral quandaries it presents. Griffin's prose flows with a fluidity that belies the weight of the story's themes.

In terms of critique, while the novel has a good world-building and character development, some readers may find the pacing uneven at times, with certain sections delving deep into the lore at the expense of narrative momentum.

Overall, "The Seeker" earns a solid 4out of 5 stars. It is a commendable debut that promises to leave readers both enchanted and reflective. Its few pacing issues are far outweighed by its strengths, making it a must-read for fans of flintlock fantasy and those yearning for a journey into a world rich with intrigue and wonder.

Thank you NetGalley and Panthe Press for the Arc. These opinions are my own.

Tis the year of leviathans in SFF. The Seeker is my second read to feature world-ending behemoths for collective horror and delight (first was The Tainted Cup).

Well, it takes a while for the beasties to arrive. Shay’s story ambles along on an ambiguous timeline, from an isolated orphanage to the sprawl of Fivedock and her mysterious duties to learn and assist, assigned by unknown patrons who seem to have her in mind for some higher purpose.

There's meticulous prose and an antiquated flavor which I enjoyed, and somehow it all winds up at the explosive ending. In retrospect, the chain of events becomes a bit clearer, but I still spent most of the book unsure where it was going and generally appreciating on a chapter by chapter basis. I often wondered, Why does this scene matter? It's nice and all, but why is this important? I’m steering clear of details because I’m not sure what all would be a spoiler.

Setting aside that ambiguity, the narrative sure knows how to set a scene and deliver ominous lines. The highlight for me was the last five chapters, which bring a welcome dose of purpose and action, and I’m curious to see how subsequent books build on that momentum.

**Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

Shay Bluefaltlow lives in a war orphans' home in this unusual start of a series. It would equate to the Regency and Napoleonic period in our history but since it's what is described as a 'Flintlock Fantasy' it's in a similar time period in this world. Out of the blue, Shay is indentured to Ridley, a surgeon who lives far away (over the sea) in a city called Fivedock. She is not told what exactly she is indentured to do but she is told that she has a lot of studying to do and the surgeon starts her off on a heavy course of study. Ridley's house is small and compact but includes a room for Shay, the first time she has had such a luxury. The only other inhabitant is a small boy named Peck who does all of the household chores. We find out later on that Peck cannot hear or speak but he and Ridley use some signs to communicate, and he has been taught to read.
Shay likes to learn but she really wants to understand why she has been brought there and eventually she is introduced to the Sentinal Archivist who is responsible in this world to communicate with some creatures that are almost mythical but that are important to winning a many hundreds year war. Shay is to be her apprentice. There is much to like in this book but there is also a lot that the reader does not know and it's hard to figure out what is happening. The fact that Shay is lonely, and that loneliness helps her make some poor decisions is abundantly clear but there is still so much to figure out even at the end of the book. Hopefully, the next volume in this series will help clear up some of these questions.

I received this book from Panthe Press on NetGalley for an honest review of the book.

This is the story of Shay Bluefaltlow who is an orphan who is forced into indentured servitude where she begins to training to become a Sentinel Archivist one of the few people who can fight back against the Ancient leviathans who have begun to stir their long slumber. Yes, like every good fantasy novel there always has to be an ancient evil for the hero to kill. It's required.

Unlike a lot of fantasy stories though this takes place in the Regency time frame rather than the popular Medieval one so many other fantasy stories use. I liked how this did spice things up and give Samuel Griffin a different place to build his world and have some fun. Flintlock Fantasy is something I am going to have to explore in the future.

Over all I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun and interesting story with the mystery behind why Shay is an orphan. There is a lot of good world building and lore in this which I liked. I know some people wrote that it slowed things down for them but I am a Fantasy Reader, so bring on all the Lore! The characters are also very likable in this. Sometimes I find myself wanting to strangle characters because of how dumb they can be. But with this one, I didn't feel that way, so that is a good thing.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fantasy book that is a little different than your typical fantasy book.

Fabulous book. It completely transported me to a different world. The detail and plot and characters were brilliant. Don’t hesitate to buy it and then sit down and prepare to be wowed

This is a complex story that develops slowly. It is an unusual world and characters motives are interesting. I do recommend it

4.25 ⭐
0 🌶️

Wow. This was quite the adventure. It started slow, but it definitely picked up in the second half. The author's writing style mirrored the time period of the book. Since the book is written in the first person, it gives it an almost autobiographical voice. It's unique, and I can't quite think of a book that left me with this feeling. In a sense, it reminded me of something written long ago. It was unique, and I enjoyed it. At times, it got a bit wordy, but it flowed well, and I didn't get bogged down.

This is a book you must read to grasp the plot. I am looking forward to more books in this series, just from the perspective I need to see where the author goes with this. Shay is a character with flaws and struggles with her place in the world. Being an orphan and sold into indentured servitude, she didn't have a lot of choices in her life. However, she ended up being in service to a surgeon and found herself in better circumstances than before. We go along with her on her journey, which is mundane and exciting. But it is all to get you to that last 25% of the book that is quite indescribable. Read the book and find out for yourself.

Thank you NetGalley and Panthe Press for the eArc. These opinions are my own.

The premise of this story seemed fascinating, but fell short in its execution. The prose is overwrought and the story underdeveloped. The worldbuilding had potential to be interesting, but I constantly felt like I was missing something. I can definitely imagine reading another book by this author in the future, but won’t be continuing the series.

This was an amazing read thru a fantasy on a different level. The author very obviously loved writing this book and it shows. I loved that this has magic and other fantasy elements. The characters are well developed and you get attached to them. This book was a bit slow to get thru. It is written as a regency style and I did have to push thru the first part of the book. This book was very atmospheric and the historical element gave it a certain vibe. I can’t wait for this story to continue. I feel this book was setting future books up for a grand adventure.

Complex relatable characters with high level writing plus deep worldbuilding.

If it's for you you will love it!

Seeker is a novel that has very specific ideas about what it wants to be and goes about achieving this in clunky, roundabout ways. The writing style is difficult to sink into and the story manages to be overwritten and underwritten at the same time, focusing far too much on irrelevant details to flesh out this swashbuckling world rather than the story trying to carve its way through the heavy-handed worldbuilding.
Even once you fight your way past the try-hard prose, the characters underneath don't have much to say for themselves. Our three main characters are held at arm's length and the author misses the obvious opportunities to introduce their quirks in a streamlined way, opting instead to man-handle chunks of excessively detailed description into seemingly random narratives throughout the story. This disruptive way of writing forces readers onto the defensive, never quite sure what obstacle the next paragraph will cough up.
This is a tough slog of a book to chew through with little reward at the other end. With more editing and better fleshed-out characters this could have been a great read.

As a fan of epic fantasy books, I was really intrigued to read the flintlock fantasy debut of author Samuel Griffin, but I was sadly disappointed. While the premise of the story was very interesting, overall, I found the writing to be very confusing. It is written in the first person and as a reader we expect to be drawn into the story as we learn more about the world in which the main character lives, and the situations they find themselves in. We want to fully grasp what is happening and get to know the characters and as a result feel a part of the story and feel empathy or anger and so on towards them. This is sadly lacking in ‘Seeker’ and I spent half the book trying to understand fully what was going on, trying to remember who some of the characters were and hoping that information was being intentionally held back for a big reveal at the end. This never fully happened and as a result I felt detached from the characters and ended the book feeling like I’d missed a few chapters somewhere.
It's a shame, as the premise is great, and the characters are intriguing. I would have liked to know more about Etherington and Peck. I think the lack of character dialogue also didn't help. Some of the passages are beautifully written, but I spent a lot of the book having to re-read sections to understand their meaning. This was partly due to lack of explanation as to what was happening, and partly due to the sentence structure, with sentences ending before I thought they should. It didn’t make for easy reading, and I don’t think I’ll be reading the next book.

Unfortunately I do not think this writing style is for me. I was captivated from the first chapter but found myself becoming confused more often than not and being left with more questions than answers. I DNF'd 60% in. Overall I think the book has a great premise and potential but the approach was hard for me to follow.

Thank you Samuel Griffin and Panthe Press for the ARC.

I have been reading historical fiction for more than forty years, primarily those set in Regency England. Never having read flintlock fantasy before, I was intrigued by the premise of Seeker, and eager to begin this story. Written in first person prose throughout with little dialogue in the beginning chapters, I can understand how this may make for a slow start to the book. However, I found this technique a valuable way for me to learn about Shay and see how her character, thoughts, intentions, and maturity change over time. I was able to clearly see in my mind’s eye the various environments, personalities, and interactions the author detailed. With descriptive language and a cast of supporting characters, some that it is unclear whether they are friend or foe, this story builds to its ultimate conflict. Setting the stage for the rest of the series, Seeker: The Sentinel Archives Book 1 lays the foundation for the books to come which I am eager to read.

This one sat weirdly for me. I enjoyed it, that much is sure. But I’m generally not a fan of the style of storytelling. I don’t like the almost-fourth-wall-breaking of lines like “I would later learn that…” and such like. There’s something about this style which is mesmerising to read but doesn’t sit well with me personally.

Beyond that - the characters were engaging and 3-dimensional. Wasn’t a massive fan of Shay, but there was something about her that was quite enjoyable to read. Would have liked to have seen more of Ridley. He was a good character that’s for sure.

The plot was interesting. Started off a little slowly but it picked up and was worth the payoff. There was plenty of world building needed anyway, I’d never experienced recency era fantasy before so I don’t begrudge a slower start. I think the beginning of the book - the first chapter - was on point. Really set the scene for Shay’s situation in life. A difficult thing to deal with and it was done well.