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The Philosopher's War
The Philosopher's War: A Novel | Tom Miller
100 posts | 67 read | 3 reading | 102 to read
Two parts Harry Potter and one part Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, The Philosophers War is a thrilling, epic historical fantasy that melds science and magic into a single extraordinary artheralding a major new voice in literary fiction. Like his characters, Tom Miller casts a spell. (Matthew Pearl, author of The Dante Club and The Last Bookaneer) Eighteen-year-old Robert Weekes is an empirical philosopherhe practices an ancient, female-dominated branch of science indistinguishable from magic. Though he dreams of fighting in the Great War as the first male in the Elite United States Sigilry Corps, Robert is resigned to mixing batches of silver chloride and keeping the books for the family business in rural Montana. But when a deadly accident puts his philosophical abilities to the test, Robert wins a scholarship to study empirical philosophy at Radcliffe College. Far from home, Robert hones his skillshovering, smoke carving, and stasisryand struggles to earn the approval of his all-female classmates, including Danielle Hardin, a disillusioned young war hero turned political radical. They begin a tenuous romance, but Danielles activism and Roberts recklessness attract the attention of a fanatic anti-philosophical group. With his life in mounting danger, Robert strives to find his place in the struggle for philosophers rights at home and abroad. In the tradition of Lev Grossman and Naomi Novik, Tom Miller is a writer with unrivaled imagination, ambition, and talent. His wondrous portrayal of America during the First World War reinvents history by weaving empirical philosophy into a magical, fantastical coming-of-age tale.
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theokiereader
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Panpan

Fantasy is one of my least favorite genres. This book felt like fantasy mixed with feminism and a sprinkle of historical fiction for good measure. I had a hard time following the specialized terms, and it made the book feel like a slow read. Plus, Robert and his roommate Freddie were some of the only likable characters in the book. The women were written to sound petty and insufferable. 🌟🌟.

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thegirlwiththelibrarybag
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Saw this when shelving today - was very tempted to borrow it but will resist (for now)

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TheSpineView
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#FestiveFilms @Klou
Day 10: Harry Potter

Klou Awesome!! Sounds so good! 4y
53 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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AReedCollett
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Yes, those dastardly city women preying on the delicate male flowers of the American youth... 🙄

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HeyT
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I think this has to be one of my more productive reading months for the entire year. In large part it was due to me reading more lighter fare like, romance and middle grade, but even without those I read a bunch more than I usually have.
7 eBook
11 Physical
I've now accrued 10,780 points in my #BuriedAliveChallenge with an average of 105 points per qualifying book.
#OctoberWrapUp

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HeyT
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book about a scientific magic system. The gender dynamic twist intrigued me and I found Robert‘s story endearing. All in all I can‘t wait to start the next one. #CatsOfLitsy
#BuriedAliveChallenge

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HeyT
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I‘m enjoying the tagged very much so far. Interesting gender dynamics in relation to the magic system. I also love that Simon decided to keep me company while the girls are hanging out in other areas.
#CatsOfLitsy

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HeyT
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I started The Carpetmakers but it was a little too Debbie Downer to read all in one sitting so I decided to mix it up with the tagged as a counterpoint. Storygraph keeps telling me to read this so I figured why not.

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ShelbyA7
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Mehso-so

Book #7 - It took me a while to read this one. The reverse sexism felt a little odd to read. I didn‘t like that aspect of the book much.

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bookishkai
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Monday Monday, diving into my #botm backlog. Other Half is in bed again, having a bad pain day; I have nothing to do except take the trash to the curb and nobody to answer to except for myself. Not that I don‘t read every day, but there‘s something about a day with no expectations, you know?

8little_paws I LOVE a day with no expectations. We're hoping our upcoming weekend is like that so me and the spouse can spend our time on our various hobbies together! 5y
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imabusybee
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Mehso-so
britt_brooke Always feels good to tick one off the list! 5y
imabusybee @britt_brooke Yes it does! 5y
51 likes2 comments
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BookBumming
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July Wrap Up!
This has been a month of visiting dear old friends and making new friends! Old releases and new releases! I would recommend all 4 of these reads!

In chronological order of date finished!

Lord of the Rings The Return of the King (final book) by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Farm by Joanne Ramos 🤰🏽💰🤱🏽

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
🎪✨🖤🎩

The Philosopher‘s War by Tom Miller
(Released in July 2019) (a sequel)
🧚🏼‍♀️🌀💣✈️

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BookBumming
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Pickpick

Handsdown the most unique (and magical) perspective of World War 1 I‘ve ever read. Heart racing, heartbreaking, and humorous! Dozens of lovable characters that I quickly became attached to. I absolutely love this series and I‘m so grateful that this sequel was everything I had hoped for. I‘ve never read anything like it! Tom Miller truly has an outstanding imagination with a strong ability to make fantasy feel like fact!

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BookBumming
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Look who showed up on its release date.. THE PHILOSOPHER‘S WAR!! I‘ve been waiting for an entire year! Thank you Tom Miller for keeping your release dates close. I don‘t know if I could take a longer wait! 😍❤️🧚🏼‍♀️💣

BookBumming Synopsis; The second book in the thrilling series that began with The Philosopher‘s Flight finds Robert Canderelli Weekes as a rookie Rescue and Evacuation flier on the front lines of World War I in France. He came to save lives, but has no idea how far he‘ll have to go to win the war. 5y
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Bookwurmz
Pickpick

Loved this as much as Philosopher‘s Flight. Such an interesting new concept of magic and military history.

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BookBumming
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Pickpick

The Philosopher‘s Flight by Tom Miller is truly an adventure of it‘s own. As soon as I turned the final page I had to jump on the internet and make sure there will be a sequel. Thankfully all is well in the world and there is an additional book coming in 2019. It‘s a historical fantasy with a big dose of romance. Do yourself a favor, and read this book. 🌪🧚🏼‍♀️✨

StrangeWool Sounds so good 6y
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Bookwurmz
Pickpick

So much fun this book! Really enjoyed the perspective of a man trying to get by in a woman‘s world! I liked the technical ways of using essentially magic, in everyday work and living. Incorporating historical perspective and historical happenings as if this magic existed back to the 1700‘s was great.

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TsundokuAleax
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Pickpick

This was a fascinating read with a wonderful inversion. In this alternate world, magic exists but is largely the domain of women with a few men with some talent for it. Weekes is trying to go to school to practice this form of science and eventually go into the military for it as well. Seeing a man deal with the microaggressions and hardships that women still have to deal with in male dominated fields, was fascinating.

TsundokuAleax I cannot wait to read the next book and see where this goes. It should be in the mail later today. #lmpbc @Schlinkles @bookandcat 6y
Schlinkles Dread Nation will be on its way back to you tomorrow! 6y
TsundokuAleax @Schlinkles yay! I totally forgot to hit the post office today so mine is going out tomorrow as well 6y
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danimgill
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Pickpick

This was an interesting alt-history debut novel that I ended up liking after quite a slow start. While some of the characters felt underdeveloped even by the end, the plot and worldbuilding pulled me in enough that I‘ll definitely check out the sequel.

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danimgill
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I‘m loving the accidental color coordination of my two newest library holds! 💙💛 Sometimes it‘s really the little things that brighten up a long Tuesday 😊

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LitLove79
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Just starting this book after finishing Ruby by Cynthia Bond. Ruby was achingly beautiful but soooooo dark! Here's to hoping Philosopher's Flight will be a bit more playful 😁

Craftylikefox Welcome to Litsy 😊 6y
Libby1 Welcome to Litsy! ❤️📚❤️ 6y
LitLove79 Thank you! 6y
See All 13 Comments
Texreader I‘ll look forward to your review! This looks fascinating! And welcome to Litsy! 6y
the.bookish.valkyrie Good luck with your current read! And welcome to Litsy!🎉📚💕 6y
RaimeyGallant Loving the cover. And welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon Some of us put together Litsy tips to help new Littens navigate the site. It's the link in my bio on my page in case you need it. Or if you prefer how-to videos, @chelleo put some together at the link in her bio. 6y
AlwaysForeverReading Welcome to Litsy!!!💜💙♥️💕💚 6y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 🌺 6y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 📖💙 6y
BridgetteM Welcome to Litsy! 6y
Crazeedi Welcome to,Litsy !🎉🎉 6y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Welcome to Litsy!! 6y
34 likes13 comments
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TsundokuAleax
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Got this month's #lmpbc yesterday. Hoping that I will be able to get it started this weekend.
@Schlinkles @bookandcat

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Schlinkles
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Pickpick

What a fantastic #lmpbc pick @bookandcat
I feel less behind since I finished this on the day I received the next one in the mail. This was a fun alternative history, I requested an ARC of the next one in the series from my Simon & Schuster rep since I enjoyed this so much. Headed your way @TsundokuAleax

bookandcat Ah! Got instant approved for the sequel on NetGalley, huzzah! Can't wait to read it and glad you enjoyed book 1!! 6y
TsundokuAleax Yay! I was getting worried that it might have gotten lost in the mail (which happened to me recently). 6y
Schlinkles @TsundokuAleax Sorry, I was behind this time. 6y
TsundokuAleax @Schlinkles no worries. 6y
23 likes4 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Revisiting this on #audiobook to prepare for the sequel coming out in 2019.

Amandajoy There‘s a sequel coming?! 6y
BookishMarginalia @Amandajoy In July 2019 — I got it through #NetGalley (it‘s called The Philosopher‘s War) (edited) 6y
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Amandajoy
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It was a disappointing year as far as the number of books read (worst year since I started keeping track 10 years ago ☹️), but I did read some really great ones. So it was quality versus quantity. Hopefully next year I get both.

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lauren.lerner
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Pickpick

Set in a WWI-era America in an alternate world where magic is a branch of science called empirical philosophy or sigilry, & it is a field almost entirely dominated by women. 18yo Robert Weekes is a talented (“for a male”) practitioner with ambitions of serving in the US Sigilry Corps Evac & Rescue Service. But first he‘ll attend all-female Radcliffe as one of a few male students.

[I‘m glad this one survived my #readersblock!!]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ • #botm

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lauren.lerner
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“Gd put big sisters on Earth to keep little brothers out of trouble,” she said. “But sometimes when you‘re trying to be good, trouble finds you anyway. So, use this when it does. And then go save lives instead of taking them.”



[I‘m a big sister to two younger brothers and this is incredibly #relatable...though I‘ve never advised my brothers with regards to managing casualties.]
#currentlyreading #botm

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bookandcat
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Pickpick

A fantastic WWI era alternate history in which women are powerful "philosophers" (users of a scientific school of sigilry which allows them to do things like fly and more). Men are considered to be poor at these things, especially flying, but the main character is determined to break glass ceilings and join the Sigilry Corps. I loved seeing the gender microaggressions flipped. I'll be sending it along for #LMPBC, @TsundokuAleax @Schlinkles #botm

Schlinkles You knocked that out quickly! 6y
TsundokuAleax Man that was fast! I now feel like I am slacking 6y
bookandcat @Schlinkles @TsundokuAleax I had a lot of downtime so I could actually make notes since my husband was off of work the past few days and there's no IRL book club for me this month! I also put all the other books I am reading on hold for this because I tend to fall behind in my reading pace when I dabble across books 😂 6y
60 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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1. Hard to tell but the blanket is blue and one of the critters on the other blanket is light blue.
2. 6?
3. Milk
4. Every 3 ish months. Maybe. It‘s been a while.
5. Yes I would recommend.
@MinDea #humpdaypost

Crazeedi Sweet kitty❤️ 6y
OrangeMooseReads @Crazeedi thank you 😸 6y
39 likes2 comments
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OrangeMooseReads
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Back to my #botm catch up.

Joriebooks I loved this book. Can‘t wait for the sequel next summer! 6y
38 likes1 stack add1 comment
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lauren.lerner
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Haven‘t had much time to read this week with Rosh Hashanah (L‘shanah tovah to my Jewish Littens! 🍏🍯💗) on top of Little Dude‘s first playgroup AND first music class.... After a visit with my new nephew & a two mile #audiowalk, the last stop of today‘s #mommysdayoff is lunch with a book. Hoping to make some headway in this #BOTM before I go pick up my buddy from grandma!! 🤞🏻🤞🏻

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lauren.lerner
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I picked this one. 📖🍵 #morningread #BOTM

2BR02B I'm reading this for my book club in the next few months! The author lives in my town, so I'm going to invite him to attend the meeting. Since his day job is ER doctor, he might be a little too busy though. 6y
lauren.lerner I didn‘t realize he was an ER doc! Very cool. I‘m a bit stuck right now, need to get over the hump to power through. What are your thoughts on this one, @2BR02B? 6y
lauren.lerner @2BR02B — I‘m just finally getting back into this after being stuck for almost three months (#readersblock is tough af) and I am wondering how your book club went?? 6y
36 likes3 comments
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lauren.lerner
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One of these is my next read. 📚 #BOTM

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Shibbyfruitfly
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What‘s better than coming home at the end of a long day? Coming home to bookmail! While I was expecting the “Read Like a Girl” @BookBeau which I‘m in love with, Iwas surprised by The Philosopher‘s Flight which I won during @24in48 and the 20th Anniversary Ravenclaw edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher‘s Stone which was technically a gift since I used a WalMart gift card. This definitely made my day!

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SusieLMNOP1
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Pickpick

A new kind of magic in an alt-history story? Yes please! This was a really fun read and I look forward to more of this world.

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Joriebooks
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I started this book a couple of days ago and I‘m really enjoying it. I find the premise intriguing. Philosophy is a woman dominated field and everyone knows that men do not have the aptitude for it. Robert is one of the few men who practice it and he wants to be the first man to join the US Sigilry Corps Rescue and Evacuation Department.
❤️🤓📚

BethM I love the cover! 6y
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suzanne.literarylife
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Pickpick
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BookishMarginalia
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Pickpick

Entertaining enough to read the second one when it comes out. (Interesting author photo, by the way.)

137 likes2 stack adds
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BookishMarginalia
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Just got our brand new library card!

saguarosally Excellent! 6y
MayJasper I wish you well in your new home and employment. Many blessings 6y
ofclumsywords I just checked out the Summer Hours as the Robbers Library too! Sounds like a really good summer read! 6y
See All 6 Comments
LeahBergen How exciting! 👏🏻👏🏻 6y
Bookzombie Cool! 6y
Gissy 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 6y
140 likes6 comments
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Linsy
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Pickpick

A fun twist on historical fiction! I found it somewhat slow and difficult to connect with one moment, then quite exciting the next. The unique and detailed magic system kept me going. #bookreview #netgalley

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Caksf
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Mehso-so

I‘m conflicted. There are parts of this book where the writing is great, there are parts where the story line is clever and creative. But there were also parts of this book that felt rushed, like I was reading the outline. Also, the story has some nastiness to it that I thought was out of place. Villains that were mean without cause or purpose. All told, I don‘t really recommend this book, and I don‘t know why. 3/5

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TheSpineView
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Pickpick

I was hooked by the end of page two. It is a wonderful coming of age story. Imaginative and beautifully told. Loved the character of Robert. I was able to relate to him and felt at times as if I was standing beside him in the thick of things.

bibli0phagist Yay! I have this on my TBR list. I got a free copy of it from my library as a summer reading prize. 😍 6y
TheSpineView Love free books! Enjoy! 🌞 6y
21 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Purrsistently
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My #freebies from #botm and #pagehabit 😻#riotgrams June 13, Freebie

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gossamerchild
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robinb Nice one! 6y
58 likes2 comments
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DoctorMirabilis1267
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RaimeyGallant Nice haul! And welcome back to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon Some of us put together Litsy tips to help new Littens navigate the site. It's the link in my bio on my page in case you need it. Or if you prefer how-to videos, @chelleo put some together at the link in her bio. @LitsyWelcomeWagon 7y
Chelleo 🤗 hi! 7y
DoctorMirabilis1267 Hello @Chelleo I am very much looking forward to reading this book! I will definitely have to let everyone know how I like it. (edited) 7y
DoctorMirabilis1267 @RaimeyGallant Thank you so much for the helpful information! 7y
9 likes1 stack add5 comments
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ablachly
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This is apparently some sort of alternate history with magic and science and WWI... can‘t wait to read.

Swe_Eva I just read the first sentence in the prologue. 😂 Sold! 7y
25 likes4 stack adds1 comment