Gina Rae Mitchell

The Violins Played Before Junstan (The Celwyn Series Book 1) by Lou Kemp | Book Review ~ Guest Post

Book Details

Violins Played Before Junstan by Lou Kemp
Series: Celwyn #1
Published by 4 Horsemen Publications on 09/17/2022
Genres: Alternate History, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Magical Realism
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 500

Celwyn has avoided caring about anyone for hundreds of years, but he's about to learn the advantage, and cost, of true friendship.

While on a mission to avenge the death of his lover, the immortal peyote-eating magician Celwyn is hired to deliver an automat, Professor Kang, to a priest. But Celwyn quickly learns that everything the priest told him was a lie.

Now his ship, the Zelda, is stuck in a horrific storm and Celwyn knows he must reconsider his allegiance if he is to steer his vessel in the right direction and continue his quest. Choosing Professor Kang, the pair journey west, hunting for revenge.

To deflect the attention of the city's police, they allow an American heiress to join their party as she escapes matrimony in search of adventure. When the trio encounters an intelligent but superstitious widower--their misfit group is complete.

Through battles against malevolent forces and dangerous rescues, the companions start to feel like family to Celwyn, but he has lost someone he loves before and is in no hurry to watch it happen again.

Source: Received from the author or publisher for review.

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Excerpt from The Violins Played Before Junstan

San Francisco, 1865

Late in the evening, thick ribbons of fog moved like a living animal, breathing, then thinning to vapor before revealing the shadows between the wooden barrels that lined the docks. Beyond the Opera House’s silhouette, oily glimmers of the bay cut through the darkness, only to be obscured by the fog again.

As Celwyn neared the docks, he heard virulent cursing above the commotion from a carriage as it charged down the cobblestones toward him. When the coach drew level, the driver raised a whip above his horse. On its descent to the horse’s back, the tip suspended mid-air and snake-like, the whip shimmied out of the coachman’s hand.

The man steered the hackney to a stop. As he slithered out of the high cab, the whip followed him, wrapping around his ankles, lifting him feetfirst into the air. His cursing echoed to screams as he disappeared into the night sky. A moment later, a splash could be heard, and a satisfied smile crossed Celwyn’s lips; he couldn’t stand to see anyone mistreating an animal. The horse trotted down the street, rather jauntily, back toward the stable yard as the magician stepped around a snoring drunk and into Salty’s tattered and dingy atmosphere. Celwyn could have sworn it was the same drunk he stepped over last night.

Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.

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Purchase Links for The Violins Played Before Junstan

Amazon – OneLink for every country   

Bookshop/IndieBound

BN     The Book Depository

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My thoughts on The Violins Played Before Junstan

I adored this story. Learning of the early adventures of Celwyn, the magician, and his found family was an entertaining tale.

I found the wit and humor of Celwyn engaging and his companions were endearing. From Annabelle’s desire to flaunt traditions with her behavior and cigarettes to the professor and his logical thinking, the many characters add richness to the story.

Traveling from San Francisco on a magnificent ship called the Zelda, and then trekking across Europe on an Orient Express-type train, the magician and company encounter vampires, witches, demons, and overprotective relatives.

Just like the modes of travel, the story evolves steadily toward the ultimate crescendo, with incredible sights, sounds, magic, and humor along the way. While the author puts death, danger, and a multitude of evils in the path of the main characters, you know the story will end on a happier note.

Threads of themes on women’s rights, orphans, revenge, and racism, are woven throughout this fantastic tale. The inclusion of cameos by figures such as Jules Verne adds yet another layer of subtle entertainment.

Taking place in the late 1800s, The Violins Played Before Junstan by Lou Kemp fits into many genres. It should appeal to lovers of historical fiction and fantasy. It also has a decidedly Steampunk feel at times and even a slight bit of romance.

I enjoyed this look into an earlier time when Celwyn and Kang first meet and begin their fantastical adventures.

I received a copy of the book from the author, publisher, or it’s a personal copy. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

You can find my thoughts on other Lou Kemp books here:

The Raven and the Pig (Celwyn #3)

Music Shall Untune the Sky (Celwyn #2)

This series is being re-issued by 4 Horsemen Publications. Watch this space for updates.

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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!

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Guest Post from Lou Kemp

Choice of topic: Being grateful

Before 2021, I had no idea of the roles and contributions of everyone in the publishing industry. Of course, there are the big publishers and agents, and I’d met many of them at conferences. But what if you had not signed with an agent, or decided to go it on your own?

A new author usually does not rate a big bonus to sign with Tor, Harper, Minotaur, etc., and it can take up to a year or more for an author’s first book to hit the shelves. It can be months more to receive royalty checks. There is also the limbo status: you receive many ‘almosts’ from agents, or they take the author on and can’t sell their book. All of this happened to me.

The heroines of the process are great people like Gina Rae Mitchell. She answers questions, helps authors (I think she works at this 24 hours a day), and reviews their books. That is gold. She also reviews book videos for YouTube.

Earlier this year, I signed with 4 Horsemen Publications. So far, I’m pleased with how things are going. There are no restrictions like I had with Kindle, and no frustrations either. It is wonderful to know there are people like Gina out there when I need them. Authors thank you, Gina!

(Aww, thank you, Lou. You can’t see it, but I’m blushing.)

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Purchase The Violins Played Before Junstan online from a local bookstore.

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Amazon – OneLink for every country   

If the above link does not take you to your country, here are a few more:

Amazon – Canada

Amazon – France

Amazon – Germany

Amazon – UK

If your country isn’t listed and you would like to purchase using my links, please send me a note. Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share. 

 

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