Grayson Steel and the Shrouded Council of London

Nebula Convicto, Book 1

By: Torsten Weitze

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

Length: 13 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

In modern London, Detective Grayson Steel works on Scotland Yard’s most uncomfortable cases.

While investigating the mysterious death of a young woman, he discovers secrets that normal people are oblivious to and is dragged into a hidden society that exists alongside the human world. The Nebula Convicto has to deal with secret councils, magical assaults, and beings that usually exist only in fables and myths.

Within this magical community, Steel is supposed to take on the role of a special investigator in order to find a girl who has been kidnapped as quickly as possible. If he doesn’t succeed before a new leader of the Nebula Convicto is elected, the whole world will descend into the Dark Ages...for a second time. His abilities as an investigator and his newly discovered power to resist magic will help Steel find his way through the London underground among ghouls, vampires, and other magical creatures.

©2020 Torsten Weitze (P)2020 Podium Audio

Can’t wait for the rest to be translated!

Thoroughly enjoyed this storyline. I liked the careful crafting of the characters as well as the world build. So much more to learn about it. I look forward to the next one being translated.

Truly engrossing

A terrific story which makes it seem like you are there watching it all unfold. Characters are rich in depth and personality. Magic is well developed. Setting is realistic. A real gem!

excellent read

A great detective story combined with magic. if you're a fan of Torsten Weitzes other series the 13th Paladin you'll love this as well.

A London detective has to admit there is magic ...

I don't usually write reviews, but, this exceptional work definitely needs to be discovered by more people.

First, the narration - Gildart Jackson's voicing for the main character, the London detective, is just rough enough to be realistic. He gives him the growly voice of a detective who's got a lot of years in on the mean streets. And, for the rich, sophisticated, elegant Mage, the voicing is also perfect -- slightly snooty, slightly aristocratic, and with that "my dear chap" perfect tone. I give full credits to the narrator, an excellent choice for this book.

Then, the sense of the story -- it's a complex, multilayered, multicombantants, many forks in the road mystery. A well conceived, well laid out, well laced with stinky red herrings, mystery.

And the characters -- well, there's definitely a lot of well designed, well portrayed magical beings in this book. Sirens, hybrid sirens, giant worms, fairies, trolls, wolves, and lots of unnamed weirdnesses populate this book. Oh, and there's also a Knight, still alive since the 1200's ... oh, and vampires, yep, you shake this box, you'll get lots of interesting pieces.

I liked the way the author brought the main character to life ... if your average Joe detective had to face the fact that he was dealing with magic, repeatedly dealing with it, no way to convince himself he was crazy, had to turn his perception of the world upside down and admit to having to deal with magic and help magical beings save a young kidnapped girl, I'm sure his reactions would be just as the author has written them in this novel. A tough mental adjustment under pressure of saving a young girl's life, while dealing with Minotaurs, Knights, Mages, and blood sucking eels, not to mention a very irritated Lady of the Lake.

I really enjoyed this book ... I'm looking forward to the series continuing. So, give this book a chance - no reason not to, you know if it doesn't satisfy your reading needs, Audible will give you your credit back. So, go for it, it's a great chance to meet a whole raft full of new characters, magical beings of friendly and unfriendly natures, a new magical governmental council, and a clever new author.

Love the character structure and narration

The author weaves a fascinating story filled with a myriad of details, analogies and sayings all brought together very eloquently.
I look forward to listening to more once they are translated!!!

Hidden Magic in Contemporary London

I really enjoyed this book. I hope there are more books to come. Very fun. Nice way to pull a 'normal' inspector into the magical world.

read

I recommend this book to all who enjoy intrigue and fantasy ..please read and review !!!

Quite entertaining mix of “real” and fantasy!

As an avid listener to British detective series and of The 13th Paladin series, I found this book to be a very creative and fun mix of the two genres. I felt the author did a really good job of keeping the “real” elements quite authentic despite there being magic in the picture. Loved how he tied some of the challenges and surprises back to the magic realm.

Really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next books in the series.

Really great start to a series

This was a really interesting take on a "hidden" magic in London story. A veteran investigator unlocks latent anti-magic ability during the course of an investigation and gets pulled into the Magic world to help find a kidnapped girl and save the world. The writing and characters are great with only some slight translation issues since the book was originally in German. If you're a fan of Harry Dresden or Alex Verus you'll enjoy this book, same Urban Fantasy but a fresh take with the MC and his investigative team. Really looking forward to the next books getting translated. And of course, Gildart Jackson is a great narrator as always.

only one complaint...the next books aren't out yet

very unique story line. my son finally got his wish that there is magic and guns and fighting. can't wait until the rest are translated and released.