This was a love letter to Notre Dams and I loved it too! The atmosphere was just like being at the cathedral. Anything with gargoyles, I’m totally there!

DNF at 54%. I started out by being initially very intrigued by the book. I found myself flying through chapters. And then somewhere in the middle, the pacing shifted. I was struggling to stay engaged and the dialogue was far too modern at times for the time period. I was hopeful but it ultimately fell short for me

"The Gargoyles of Notre Dame" by Greg Walters is a thrilling historical fantasy that intertwines the rich tapestry of Revolutionary France with the mystique of ancient magic. Set against the backdrop of 1789 Paris, the novel explores themes of oppression, rebellion, and the transformative power of hope, all while weaving in the enigmatic presence of gargoyles—stone guardians bound to the aristocracy by ancient spells.

The story centres on Henri, a young stonemason apprentice whose life takes a dramatic turn when he accidentally forms a sacred bond with one of Notre Dame’s gargoyles. This bond, traditionally reserved for the nobility, shatters centuries of tradition and marks Henri as a traitor in the eyes of both the aristocracy and the gargoyles themselves. Forced to flee into a city on the brink of revolution, Henri becomes an unwitting symbol of resistance for the oppressed masses.

Walters masterfully blends historical detail with fantastical elements, creating a vivid and immersive world. The gargoyles, with their ancient magic and loyalty to the aristocracy, serve as a powerful metaphor for the entrenched systems of power and control. Henri’s journey from a humble apprentice to a reluctant revolutionary mirrors the broader struggle of the French people against tyranny and inequality.

As Henri grapples with his newfound role, he faces a profound moral dilemma: should he hide from the chaos or embrace his destiny as a leader of the rebellion? His decision carries the weight of a nation’s hopes and the potential to reshape the course of history. The novel’s exploration of liberty, equality, and fraternity resonates deeply, drawing parallels to real-world struggles for justice and freedom.

"The Gargoyles of Notre Dame" is a compelling blend of action, intrigue, and emotional depth. Walters’ rich prose and well-drawn characters bring 18th-century Paris to life, from the grandeur of Notre Dame to the gritty streets teeming with revolutionaries. The novel’s unique premise and timely themes make it a standout in the historical fantasy genre, offering readers both an escape into a magical past and a reflection on the enduring fight for a better future.

Thanks to Net Galley I was able to read the book. I absolutely loved it. This story takes place during the start of the French Revolution. Keeping with this history, the gargoyles of Notre Dame play a role in the story. The main male character is a commoner who accidently bonds with a gargoyle. The main female character is a noble who wants change. Because of events, the female noble finds herself alone and on the road to Paris. The story is told from two view points. These are the views of both the main characters. I cannot wait to find out what happens after the events in this book.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

4 Stars – Vive la Gargoyle Revolution!

This book took Les Mis, threw in some magic, added a dash of Gargoyles (yes, the ‘90s cartoon, don’t judge me), and said, “What if the French Revolution had even more stone-cold drama?” And honestly? I ate it up.

Henri, our unsuspecting stonemason-turned-revolutionary, accidentally bonds with a gargoyle, which is a big no-no in aristocratic magical society. Cue immediate chaos, betrayal, and a city on the brink of tearing itself apart—because nothing spices up a revolution like magical creatures who have very strong opinions on class warfare.

The atmosphere? Chef’s kiss. The streets of Paris felt alive (and also very on fire). The tension? High enough to make me consider storming a metaphorical Bastille. And the action? Let’s just say that if you thought regular revolutionary mobs were intense, try adding sentient stone warriors into the mix.

Why not five stars? The pacing stumbled a little in the middle, like Henri tripping over his own destiny, and some characters could’ve had more depth (looking at you, certain aristocrats who shall not be named). But overall? This was an electrifying historical fantasy with magic, rebellion, and just the right amount of chaos.

Would I recommend? Absolutely. Grab a baguette, practice your best “Vive la révolution!” and prepare to never look at Notre Dame’s gargoyles the same way again.

After an accidental bonding, a peasant stone mason (Henri) is stuck to Nyron the gargoyle, the 'stone oppressors' that only bond the nobility. Catia's status goes the other way, from being born into nobility to having her entire life destroyed in a single day and having to run for her life. Combine this with the troubles during the French Revolution(s, which is explained in a great way after the story) and a few enjoyable side characters, and you have yourself a solid story about class warfare. IMO it's also a great commentary to today's politics in more than one country, with lots of parallels. The humor is not bad, and Nyron is a treasure. The rhyming is adorable.

Despite being solid, there are also a few points that made it a not-so-great read for me. For starters it was a very predictable story, including the character arcs. The language was also too modern for my taste. Lastly the pacing. Being completely immersed into the story and then getting a POV slice of life chapter about shopping is NOT a nice change of pace, au contraire.

I finished it, instead of DNF'ing, so it was at least good enough for that, but tbh I won't be reading the rest of the trilogy.

This is a 2.75⭐️ rounded up to 3.

The premise of this story immediately grabbed my attention, gargoyles, protectors bound to a rider, set during the beginning of the French Revolution.

This is a dual POV from Henri, a stone mason and Catia a young noble.
I enjoyed Henri’s chapters however I tended to struggle with Catia’s and found myself skimming at times.

While I may not have loved every chapter this was a decent read.

The Gargoyles of Notre Dame was an overall great read. Magical Gargoyles, French History, and interesting Main Characters.

I think my only reservations were the pacing, at points it was going fast, and the next chapter was all about shopping. The gargoyles and the mystery behind them were the biggest hooks.

I will keep an eye out for the next book and will hopefully answer some of the questions unanswered in the first.

Enjoyed this book. Found under the read now section and I’m glad it caught my eye. I enjoyed the story and the characters. Read it within one sitting.

I found this book under the read now tab on NetGalley and I’m so glad I decided to download it.

The book takes place during the eve of the French Revolution and culminates in the storming of the Bastille. The author does a fantastic job of blending history and fantasy among the stunning settings of Notre-Dame, Versailles, and Paris.

Henri is a stonemason’s apprentice, who while working on the cathedral manages to interrupt an age old tradition in which the son of a nobleman is legitimized by bonding with a gargoyle. Instead, Henri is bonded with a gargoyle, which had been previously unheard of, especially as he is a member of the Third Estate. On the run for his life, he and his gargoyle flee Notre Dame, only to end up under the wing of a kind nobleman who harbors revolutionary tendencies.

Catia, a young baroness, is the daughter of a knight. Growing up in a village away from Paris, she is disillusioned when her father is murdered in front of her. She flees her home with only the clothes on her body and makes her way to Paris with the help of an older courtesan who desires to return to the court’s favor. Throughought her stay in Paris, Catia is exposed to the revolution and its ideals, and begins to believe that a change is certainly overdue.

This seems to be the first book in a series and I can’t wait to read more! I definitely recommend it for fans of historical fiction and historical fantasy.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for a review.

I absolutely LOVE when real History and fantasy literature collide resulting in a very good reading piece. This book, the first one of a trilogy, Is a good example of an historical fantasy series.

Since I'm a huge fan of Gargoyles, gothic architecture and Notre Dame, this book's cover and title immediately captivated me.

Henri and Catia's stories are similar and yet different: the boy is a low class stonemason that's finally living his dream but, due to some envious boy's horrible actions, becomes a wanted criminal on the run; Catia's a noblewoman by birth but her family lost money, power and influence, and in a single day her entire world shatters before her eyes and she runs away looking for a way to survive.

I loved the setting of the story: it surely is charming to see the French Revolution touched by a gleam of magic and fantasy. I loved the idea of Notre Dame's Gargoyles being animated creature with a lifetime bond with one human each. Nyron, Henri's Gargoyle, is probably my favourite character; he's hilarious (he only talks in rhymes and I would love to see this book translated in my language only to read his rhymes in italian), clever, loyal and adorable.

One of the things I liked more about this book is the message that the story conveys: not all nobles were bad people (Count of Mirabeau is one great example) and not all the lower class' people were good. Everyone has their own reasons and their own way of thinking, their point of view based on their personal experiences.

Another interesting character is Mademoiselle de Morphy; I don't like her, but at the same time I also don't despise her. She's trying her best to gain power and influence to have a better life since she's not a noblewoman by birth.

I also liked the fact that this book is divided in three parts and each one of them takes her title from the famous French motto "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité".

“The Gargoyles of Note Dame” by Greg Walters is a history/fantasy book. Gargoyles are real - meaning protectorate animals - who help those of the king, first, and second estates. This book follows two stories - Henri, a stonemason apprentice, and Catia, the daughter of an aristocrat. The lead-up to the French Revolution is explored - taxes paid only by the poor, corrupt law enforcers, the voice of the Third Estate being ignored - so that could be interesting for those with little or limited knowledge of the problems France (in this case focused on Paris) that came to a head during the reign of Louis XVI. I’m not really a fan of fantasy, but I understood how the gargoyles could become protectorate creates, though it really gave me “Fourth Wing” vibes (but with gargoyles instead of dragons). I found the pacing to be a bit all over the place and, to be honest, found myself skimming some sections for this reason. I believe this book is the first in a new series by this author, but as I’m not really into fantasy, I wouldn’t be continuing with this series. However, if the French Revolution is your jam - and/or if you like to read fantasy, this could be something you’d enjoy.

TY to NetGalley for the digital arc
A serious disappointment. I believe the author was trying to capitalize on the Iron Flame/ dragon mythology here and failed . Potential for a fantastical reimagining of the French Revolution BUT… the language was way too NOW and you always knew where the main characters would end up….(“cute” boy meets girl….seriously we’re talking about the French Revolution). Obviously the author envisions a series but the ending was just nonsense.

This was a really imaginative story, and I think the historical setting around it was well done. I will say the pacing wasn't super consistent.

A brilliant fantasy set in the French Revolution which is one of my favourite periods. It features Henri, who bonds with a gargoyle, and he is helped by Mirabeau who was an important person in the Revolution. I loved the story and the characters and I would give more than five stars if it was possible.

I recently read Greg Walters first book in the Alaburg series and was impressed with his fantasy building. The Gargoyles of Notre Dame is another example of his skill in building a fantasy community and filling it with amazing characters. Set during the time of unrest in France, Walters has combined the mystic of the gargoyles with the magic of the era. Another great read by an author I didn't know much about.

Great read. Very vivid. Plot held my attention. The characters were memorable and likeable. Loved the setting and time period