User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Picked this free series-starter up entirely at random, and enjoyed it a lot. The mystery was short but pleasingly tied up, and the concept and setting are lots of spooky fun with a secret murder-avenger for a very cold god, in a Russianesque setting. Weird Gothic entertainment. I will get another.
Rating: really liked it
Konrad Savast is a man with a very peculiar mission: when someone is murdered, his job is to kill the killer. But first he has to figure out who's resposible, meaning this story is at its heart a murder mystery, albeit set in a fantasy world. The fantasy elements mesh perfectly with the mystery plot: Konrad has two spirit serpents who accompany and assist him, and his work is all at the behest of the Malykt, a cold power who has bound Konrad in his service.
I really liked the interactions between Konrad and his only friend, Irinanda (who doesn't know about his secret identity, and also has secrets and powers of her own). This is the first in the Malykant series, so I'm looking forwards to seeing how future books will develop this relationship. The bad guys were a bit less believable, but such a short format doesn't leave much space for developing all the minor characters, and this didn't really detract from my enjoyment.
Rating: really liked it
This is actually pretty good. It's an interesting take on the mystery genre with fantasy elements. Konrad has to solve a murder, and the setting evokes not only the Victorian writing of Wilke Collins, but also the tradition of the best ghost stories.
Enjoyable, with great world building.
Rating: really liked it
I LOVED ITSo this was extremely short, but absolutely delightful. There was a melancholy tone to English’s writing that ensnared me rather quickly. Given that and the fact the main character acts on behalf of Death is pretty nifty. This reads primarily as a mystery with a nice dose of fantasy. I found the balance wonderful.
The world is slowly revealed. I like how things evolve very naturally. There was no long winded backstory, but we received wonderful hints that there is more to our main character and world than what we were provided.
Konrad’s ability with the ethereal plane, his two ghostly type servants, and his connection with the God of Death make him a fun character to follow. Except for one short chapter, we’re in his PoV. It kept me close to him and his quiet personality, creating a nice connection to him rather quickly. We’ve just gotten a glimpse into Konrad’s life—which is part servant to the God of Death and part aristocrat, a combination I enjoyed—and there is a promise of much more to come in future books. I must say, I’m already hooked and plan on reading the next book very soon. Since they are short, it makes them great reads to fit in between my longer ones, something light to whisk me away from reality for a short time.
The main female character is another delight. She’s not afraid and challenges Konrad’s secrecy. She gets herself in a world of trouble and I was happy to see her try to work her way out of it instead of tumbling into a ball of tears. I actually found her to be extremely interesting. There’s a quirkiness to her that adds some good depth to her character.
I would have liked a bit more description on some of the sensations Konrad was feeling. Some scenes seemed a bit glossed over in that aspect. Otherwise, I had a good picture in my head and was along for the ride. I read it in one evening. Once I got a quarter way into it, there was no chance I was putting it down. Things moved at a wonderful speed. Since we’re learning about Konrad, the God of Death, and the city with each scene, it made them more important and held my attention. Again, the benefit of not doing back story.
For me, the writing was fluid and kept me in my beloved reading trance. While I don’t think it was earth-shattering, it certainly held my interest and was smooth enough that I didn’t get hung up on verbiage or the prose. My only complaint is one I had a book or two ago: single quotations vs double. It’s just taxing on my eyes. However, this is the third book I’ve read like this, so I guess I just need to get over it.
So overall, I recommend this book. Especially if you’re looking for a quick, entertaining read.
You can see this and other reviews on my website: http://booksbylkevans.com
Rating: really liked it
I was actually pleasantly surprised by
The Rostikov Legacy. While there were some editing issues, they were very few. Not at all what I expected from a self-published book. The plot was well done, the characters generally well rounded and interesting, the dialogue flowed well, and the setting fairly well developed. There was some awkward phrasing here and there, but it wasn't enough to stop me from reading. The author managed to keep the mystery going, and the events all made sense. There's tension between Konrad and Nanda, but the author thankfully didn't allow it to take over the story.
There were a couple of bits that did make me stumble, however. First, I was initially confused about what Konrad actually was as there were a few spots where it seemed like he was being referred to as Malykt. I did finally figure it out, and again, it wasn't enough to stop me from reading. I also wasn't sure of Nuritov's position as he was never clearly identified as part of law enforcement. Bot of these things did sort themselves out eventually, but I felt the author could have been more clear early on without adding too much in terms of word count. And finally, I felt the magic wasn't clearly defined and came far too easy. Not that I was looking for anything incredibly difficult, but as easy breezy as a thought was too simple. And there seemed to be some contradiction in how the magic worked: it was easier for Konrad, but the killer's use of magic required chanting and calling upon evil spirits. The reasons for the differences (which could be as simple as the kinds of magic they were doing) aren't made apparent.
Beyond those things, however, the book was pretty well done. The story line was solid, there were very few technical errors, and it was a quick read that I enjoyed. I think if the problems noted above had been addressed, I'd be able to give it another star. As it is, I recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable paranormal mystery.
Rating: really liked it
Konrad Savast is a Malykant. When someone gets killed, it’s his mission to find the murderer and deliver swift and deadly justice.
The murder mystery plot is quite straight forward, it moves at a rapid pace and everything gets wrapped up nicely in the end. This is quite a short story so there isn’t much time to properly flesh out all the characters and there is no need for it here, as the plot very much drives the story forward. The protagonist definitely has potential though. What stands out most is the setting. It’s an atmospheric cold and harsh world. The fantasy elements are quite cool and the fantasy part seems like something that could be further explained and expanded on in later installments.
This is a well written little fantasy murder mystery story with plenty of potential as a series. And while it’s short, this story is able to stand on its own, which is very much appreciated.
Rating: really liked it
[There is a lot of mystery in the book, and it definitely has the first-book-in-a-series vibe. Who is t
Rating: really liked it
To be perfectly honest I wasn’t expecting much from this relatively short kindle freebie and I was very pleasantly surprised to read such an interesting and well written little novel. The book is set in an unusual sort of Victorianesque fantasy world which I absolutely adored as it’s a combination of two of my favourite genres.
The main character is Konrad Savast who lives a strange double life – by day he is a rich, society gentleman but by night he is the Malykant: bound to the God of Death to seek justice for those who have been wrongfully murdered. In the Rostikov legacy he must contend with the brutal murder of a rich, aristocratic woman and is assisted in this by his ghostly snake like familiars as well as by the mysterious apothecary Nanda who may have inadvertently sold the poison which was used in the murder. Can he find the killer before they strike again?
I really liked the writing style and the world building and you really get a sense of this strange world that the author has created. The book is genuinely creepy and disturbing in places and I was a little scared for the characters during certain scenes. Konrad is an intriguing character and I look forward to seeing how his character develops over the next books and how his relationships with other characters develop as well. The book is very readable and once you start you have to find out what happens – I highly recommend this and I just wish it were longer.
Rating: really liked it
Read all the books in the Malykant Series just the right amount of creepiness and mystery in these gothic tales by Charlotte E. English my all time new favourite writer, worth the read.
Rating: really liked it
The Rostikov Legacy
3.5/5 (rounded to 3 on Goodreads)
100 pages| Fantasy/ mystery
I received an electronic copy of this novella as part of the TBRindr programme.
The digest: a shorter story with an interesting bit of worldbuilding, I reckon most fantasy lovers would enjoy this. As with other ebook novellas, don’t expect too much depth and you will probably have an enjoyable reading experience.
The Rostikov Legacy is the first entry in The Malykant Mysteries series of fantasy mystery novellas written by Charlotte E. English, the main character, Konrad, being the Malykant: the world’s servant of the God of Death. It is Konrad’s job (along with his two serpent spirit familiars) to find murderers and ensure that they are properly punished in this life *and* the next, serving them up to The Malykt (aforementioned death god) through legal means or otherwise.
The story takes place in two main locations – a not unfamiliar Victorian-esque city with the usual trappings of nobility and horse-drawn carriages, and the Bone Forest (which to nobody’s great surprise, is a forest). Nothing too original, but the reliance on familiar territory works in the author’s favour as it means that within the 100 pages no time is spent describing the more mundane aspects of the storyworld. The plot is, of course, fantastical and has its fair share of religion (along with a present god) and magic (stemming from the god’s own power, it would seem), with at least one solid mechanic used sparingly but appropriately in order to progress the story without unnecessary delay or complication.
I would have probably rated the book slightly higher had there been more of a focus on magic and the power of the god(s), as what little we are presented with is interesting but lacking clarity. There isn’t really any indication of what can and cannot be done, but there is a slight hint of a larger magical world that what our protagonist knows of and the history of his familiars could very well be a story worth telling on its own. It is worth pointing out that herbology and the study of poisons play quite a large role in the story and I appreciated these passages more than most others. I don’t think I’m alone is wanting some sort of explanation for how things work in fiction – I much prefer (for example) a magic system like Sanderson’s over Rowling’s. Even if authors don’t want to create a hard magic system, I still enjoy learning what is possible even if we don’t learn the full extent of what can be done.
Well-paced, the plot never slows down too much for a prolonged period, English knowingly using language techniques to increase or decrease the tempo at a few select sections. She did this well and at one point (toward the conclusion of the novella) I was tearing through the pages to see what could be done (if anything) to save one of the characters. The time-sensitive nature of the events of the opening pages also means that to prevent more death Konrad has to get a move on and solve the mystery as to who this murderer is and what motivations they have. Again, this is standard for the mystery novels I have read but if the formula works then why change it? The mystery itself is again nothing too ground-breaking but what can you expect in a 100-page self-published novella? I have no complaints here.
The characters are quite well developed considering the sense of urgency that sweeps through the narrative – there is a tension between Konrad and a side character called Nanda which isn’t overbearing (though I can see it potentially becoming more important in future books), and the supporting cast (suspects, victims, etc) again isn’t too two-dimensional. The dialogue doesn’t really have any issues beyond Konrad’s serpents, who can be a bit stiff at times (even for a formal style of speaking). As with the Industrial Magic series by Emma Newman, the character development and portrayal will probably not sweep anyone off their feet, but a solid effort has been put in to make them seem interesting enough. In future books I’d expect the author to put more emphasis on this growth to prevent the characters from stagnating and just filling a role for the plot.
All in all, The Rostikov Legacy was an interesting story on the outskirts of my reading tastes. Would I recommend it? At 3.5/5 I would recommend it for those who are looking for a short fantasy-mystery, but encourage anyone else to read more review/ try a chapter before fully committing. Will I be continuing with the series? There are currently four other books out at the time of writing this review and they are all quite short so maybe if at some point I have some spare reading time. Right now, however, I just wasn’t engrossed enough to commit to having them on any TBR.
Rating: really liked it
something different I found it an easy read and the story of the Malykant is interesting and a descrptive take on extracting vengeance and justice to those that deserve it, think of him as death's support staff and somebody you wouldn't ever want to meet
Rating: really liked it
Written in a decidedly eerie and creepy style, this wonderfully spooky story follows Konrad, a detective working for a mysterious being called the Malykt. Followed everywhere by two spirit snakes, Konrad begins to investigate the case of a noblewoman murdered and left out in the swamps... if you love fantasy, creepy stories in general, and beautiful and witty writing, you should enjoy this one!
Rating: really liked it
I think I kind of knew what this was before I picked it up but the cool cover and brief glance I gave it made me WANT to like it more than I did. Picked it up and put it down several times and even when I actually sat down to go for it, it just didn't hold my interest.
Leaving it unrated because it's fine. I'm sure someone will love this. Someone who likes slick, more clever than you characters and mysteries with an overabundance of colourful worldbuilding. It just came off as dry for me personally. I'm not wowed by cool magicians with no personalities. And there was nothing other than this empty, detective tone to the internal narrative. There was no "character". If I had to define a trait for the main character, it would be "detective" and that's it.
But as I said, I'm certain someone will like this for the story and the dark, mystery way things are framed.
Rating: really liked it
Konrad Savast is Nathaniel Garrett in a Victorian era as a cleric (in the D&D sense), not a sorcerer with the attitude and the detecting skills of Markhat (of Frank Tuttle's imagination). This hit all the right buttons - strange magics, Victorian mores, conflicted anti-hero, would-be companion/sidekick, head-scratching puzzles. If you like detective murder mysteries set in a fantasy world, you need to read this. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys "The Angel of the Crows" by Katherine Addison or Dan Willis' 1920s-esque private detective books.
Rating: really liked it
This is one single story, in a grouping of 12 total stories. Each is somewhere between a long short story in length or a short novella.
There is a kindle compilation under the title of Death's Detective. My 4 star review is for the first compilation, which includes the first 4 books in the 12 book series.
Fabulous writing, believable characters, well built world, good mysteries, and absolutely fabulous side-kicks!
Setting: parallel-ish Victorian-ish England.
