Town of Shadows

Slanted London, Book 1

De: Jessica Scarlett

Narrado por: Lauren Baldwin, Will M. Watt

In Victorian London, magic earns you a noose.

Eighteen-year-old Dorothy St. James can't control her magic. To avoid arrest, she locks herself at home and buries her nose in her experiments. But a kidnapper called the Rook is on the loose, and his victims keep turning up insane. When Dorothy's father is taken, she must exchange her beakers for bravery and find the Rook's trail—the problem is, only one person ever has: a mysterious masked hero.

Ashley Gardner unabashedly casts illusions, using his charm to flit between the upper ton and the magical underbelly below. When Dorothy accuses him of knowing the masked hero's identity, he flatly denies it. Until the clever beauty intercepts a communique he desperately needs.

They strike a bargain: she'll give him the message in exchange for three clues to point her in the right direction. But Ashley won't make them easy. In fact, he'll make them impossible, because he has his own dangerous reasons for keeping Dorothy away—and Ashley always gets what he wants.

Through dazzling ballets, wild carnivals, and death-defying train rides, Dorothy must use her wits and magic to solve Ashley's riddles and unravel her budding feelings for the illusionist mastermind behind them. The masked hero isn't who she believes, and the Rook is closer than she suspects. While the game was always rigged against her, returning her father—mind intact—might just cheat her out of a heart, too.

©2025 Jessica Scarlett (P)2026 Podium Audio

My Mind is Still Reeling!!

Overview:

Language 🤐: mild (bloody and hell used (mostly in reference to the place, Oh Gods used once )

Romance ❤️‍🔥: kisses only LV1-2 (non descriptive, imagined deepening of a kiss)

Violence ⚔️: fantasy violence shooting, stabbing, limb being cut off, pg-13 level

⚠️kidnapping, beating, abusive family, SA(unwanted kiss on neck), suicidal thoughts, trafficking, prejudice against magic users, smoking and drug use mentioned, gambling ⚠️

Tropes/Micro tropes
- Multiple POV
- Reluctant allies
- Mystery
- Riddles/high stakes games
- so many secrets

My Thoughts:

AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! THAT ENDING! 🤯 I mean maybe I should have seen a few more of the twist coming then I did but goodness I need the next story ASAP! Luckily it’s out!

This book took me through all the twist and turns and reminds me again why I’d never survive in a musketeer world as I am not as good at riddles as I wish I was. The multiple POVs added a lot to the story! Our main focus is Dorthy and Ashely’s POVs. I thoroughly enjoyed the chase and the games they were playing. It kept me guessing up to the end. I honestly still feel like I am processing what has happened!

This book is full of magic, mystery, feels a bit Sherlock Holmes ish. With a small romance subplot that I’m just not sure what’s going to be going on in the next book! There’s so many questions left unanswered with so many hints that I do have theories about but I’m looking forward to reading the next book!

The audiobook is Dual narrated and was excellently done and enjoyable to listen to!