More fantasy novels should be set in Prague. What a great city - I hope someday I can visit it. If you're intimidated by the Czech words, the audiobook version was a good listen. I like seeing vampires get a more old-school interpretation where they are bloody creatures of the night at odds with humanity. I also like vampire hunters who are required to rethink their prejudices, and it's even better to get both in one story.

Looking forward to the sequel!

Received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this novel. I'm a sucker for fantasy, folklore, and supernatural fiction, but what I really loved was the setting of this book. My great grandfather was born in Prague, and my grandmother was the first person in my family to be born in America. We love our heritage and stories, but there aren't as many books set in central and eastern Europe, let alone Czechia, so this meant a lot to me. Plus, the story was fantastic! I loved the world building, creatures, and characters!

The Lights of Prague was a fantastically atmospheric book, and Jarvis really brought the gaslight- era Prague to life. The setting was so vividly realised, that it felt as though you just had to close your eyes to find yourself bathed in that lamplight, and skirting the alleys that the light didn’t quite touch. This was paired with an approach to vampires, and other critters that go bump in the night that felt unique and built upon the promise made by the setting and era, and I particularly enjoyed the use of will-o’-the-wisp, which are such underappreciated creatures. I wasn’t such a fan of the romanatic aspect- but that I suspect was just personal taste, as it was well written, and I enjoyed both Domek and Lady Ora as characters and their relationship before it is became a full blown relationship. All in all, this was an enjoyable read and to be honest I would revisit this book just for the setting and atmosphere, which were everything I could have asked for – and something I would love to see more of.

The Lights of Prague by Nicole Jarvis is a fantasy novel, set in Prague, where there are creatures such as pijavice (vampires), will o' the wisps, and other things that go bump in the night.  Domek is one of the lamplighters, those who protect humanity from these creatures.

His friend, Lady Ora Fischerová, also has things that go bump on the brain, and witnesses a pijovice go into the daylight, surely an act of suicide, but there's rumours of a cure.

This was a good story, set in the 19th Century, with secrets being unearthed.  I would be very happy to read more of these characters.  It made me think of Gail Carriger's Parasole Protectorate series, but without the steampunk!

 The Lights of Prague  was published on 25th May 2021 and is available from  Amazon ,  Waterstones  and  Bookshop.org .

You can follow Nicole Jarvis on  Twitter  and on her  website .

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to  Titan Books .

It took me a while to get to this, but I am so glad I did. With the beautiful gothic majesty of Prague as its backdrop this book drips with atmosphere. Nicole Jarvis brings this city to life with incredible vibrancy, its inhabitants, it is cobbled streets, it’s culture and history leap off the pages. No spoilers, but the book at its heart is monsters v man. The fabled lamplighters of Prague keep the street gas lamps burning, holding back the blood thirsty vampiric creatures of the night. It’s a gothic steampunkish, fantasy treat with a Witcher vibe.
This is a brilliant fantasy debut from Nicole Jarvis who obviously has a love of eastern European folklore as this shines through. The story is absorbing, and action packed and offers another point of view on my favourite monsters – the vampire.
Don’t hold back and add this to your must reads for 2021 four out of five stars.

It's funny how I think it is more difficult to review books I really enjoyed and I'll star saying how happy I am that I was approved to read this one.

I started a little worried that it was going to be another teen angst vampire story with a different set, but I was so wrong!

Even the touch of romance is spot on!

I loved the main characters, Ora is the best and her relationship with who she is and the world around her was really good.

I wish I could say more without spoiling the book for other readers, so I'll end saying that if you have any doubts, forget them and go read the lights of prague.

The Lights of Prague is an atmospheric tale of urban fantasy and paranormal horror, set in gaslight-era Prague that feels as authentic as it does fantastic. Nicole Jarvis nails the setting, the era, the personalities, and the mythology in a book that promised a lot, but delivered even more.

I loved Domek, and thought he was a fantastic protagonist, a man of morals and purpose whose bravery stands between humanity and he darkness. He's not your typical Alpha hero, but a sensitive man who thinks before he acts. It was Lady Ora, however, who fascinated me the most, which was a surprise because I would have said I've grown tired of the 'good' vampire trope. She has charm and personality, an interesting backstory, and serves a genuine purpose in the overall conflict as a kickass woman of strength and determination. Together, she and Domek are a fantastic couple (even if I wish we could have explored more of her sapphic past), and they easily carry the story.

As for the story, everything just worked for me - the setting, narrative, the pacing, the horror, the romance, the dramatic stakes, and the action-packed climax. Again, I would have said I was done with stories of vampire cures, of monsters who want to be men, but I thought Jarvis had an interesting approach to the dilemma of morality and mortality, and I like how it played out. I found it very easy to become immersed in The Lights of Prague, and found myself promising 'just one more chapter' far too long into the night.

This book is nothing extraordinary which is one of the best parts about it. The Lights of Prague knows what it is, a vampire-slayer romance, and that is what it gives you. The romance was cute and it was a nice quick summer read. My favorite parts were the descriptions of the setting and the fact that they used Czech words instead of the typical supernatural-labels we use.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

I adore historical fiction, paranormal/vampire books and queer characters, so when I first heard about this I was super excited. I liked a lot about this novel, but ultimately, the writing style didn't work for me and I found myself pretty bored throughout.

I really liked the romance, but I wanted a little more from it. I enjoyed reading about the main characters, but the pacing and the plot dragged for me.

Overall, I adored the premise and there were parts of this I loved, but it ended up not being entirely my cup of tea. I highly recommend checking out other reviews though!

Thank you firstly to Titan Books for granting me access to an e-arc via NetGalley, I really couldn't resist that cover! This book made me wish I could go back to Prague and walk the streets over Charles Bridge, it's always wonderful to have some kind of connection to a fantastical book because the setting is a real place you can experience and refer to.
We've got some classical paranormal creatures here, just with names I've never seen before. Pijavice (vampires) are the most common in the book and I very much enjoyed the complexity of their underworld. The last time I read about vampires was the midst of my teens when Twilight was at it's pinnacle. I've since enjoyed various films but not read too many books with the creatures, it feels like they were given a break after being in the limelight for so long and I am so excited to see them coming back to more popular books! We touch on a few other species and it's kept to few enough types that it's not an overwhelming amount of information like it can be for other fantasy books.
Domek is a really lovely character. Built like a bear and a softy with the drive to get the work done. His role as a lamplighter is the perfect base and job for a story like this to get going. The set up is quite seamless this way, who would even question that those with jobs starting in the dark of the night are actually specially equipped to battle the supernatural? This concept could honestly span a whole series and come out with incredible new content every single time. I wouldn't be mad if it went that way at all.
Another character we experience the story through is Ora, a lady ahead of her time. I understood all of her actions, there was no disagreeing with her rash decisions which I often do with female characters but she was logical whilst emotional. A character I could just really get along with, she's got all the situating she needs to be the kind of woman she is. Wealth, status, I might even have survived such terrible times for women if I had some of the freedom she did. Her status is not without it's own tragic backstory but I'll let you traverse that with her.
We have a small but plentiful range of other characters, charming, violent, manipulative. The whole lot. Kája and Cord were delectable, I wish we had more of them both. All I will say is not to become too attached to many of our characters. There is violence and distraught in this book, not too extreme but enough to keep the plot really moving.
We've got plenty of action in this book but I can't really comment on the pacing. I admit I was distracted by exams which meant I took a while reading this. I found it a little too easy to put down and leave so I don't have a clear picture of the pacing if I were to read it normally. Thinking back on the level of action it was probably fairly well paced with mystery and a little bit of complexity as we move in different circles between our two main characters. Crossing paths ever so often was very, very fun. These two have good chemistry throughout. I also really enjoyed the writing style, if I don't notice the writing it's generally a good thing. If I notice the writing style it's because it was too simple of overly complex, too much description or something else that's generally irritated me. When I don't notice anything it's because I'm enjoying it too much to take a minute to stop and really appreciate it.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and am hoping for more like it!

I picked this book because of the title. Being born in Czech Republic and knowing old Prague quite well I was able to picture the little side streets lined with cobblestones, the theatres, the castle and churches described in this book.

Great for any fantasy and all things supernatural lovers – it might be slightly more difficult to read for people not familiar with the Czech words – pijavica (vampire), vodnik (under water man) etc. But I loved it. It made the book homelier for me. And of course the good writing and story line really helped.

We are introduced to the world of lamplighters, really they are the monster hunters, hiding behind a simple job. They keep the streets and humans safe from the monsters lurking in the shadows. Domek is one of them and thinks he knows his job and friends well until he finds a small jar with a trapped soul in it.

Enter Olga Fisherova. Attractive widow with her eyes on the mysterious Domek. Slight problems is, she is one the monsters he hunts. They will have to find a way to settle their differences as they both fight for the good.

As far as vampire-vampire slayer romances go, this one isn't bad. Set in Prague and full of atmosphere, the novel finds a vampire woman seducing a human man, neither of them knowing what the other is. It's all hot and heavy until he sees her vampiric face and she sees his skill with a stake, no pun intended. But of course it turns out that they are on the same side, although it takes the slayer a while to realize that. Together they work to stop a threat that would see the rise of vicious vampires across the world. This was a fun read, with lots of good eastern European vampire and other supernatural lore, some very intense encounters with ghosts and a will-o-the-wisp, and a plot that moves quickly even when it's full of excellent descriptive passages of the city and fashion. A good book for a stormy summer night.

This was a refreshingly new and intriguing take on vampires, ghosts, and other legends, combined with a great story line, likable characters, and a fascinating look into the culture of the Czech Republic!

Thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fantastic. I love fantasy novels that take place in historical places. This book really made me want to learn more about Prague and the history of Bohemia. The story goes between two main characters Domek Myska, a lamplighter who not only lights the streets, but fights demons and Lady Ora Fischerová, an aristocrat and one of those aforementioned demons. I loved that the chapters themselves would switch between narrators as you followed both of our leads into the twisted underbelly of 19th century Prague. The characters themselves start as flirtatious friends, neither one aware of the other's true nature. Early on in the story Domek kills a pijavica (vampire) and finds a mysterious object in the its possession.

This object turns out to be a soul container, only the soul inside is really a will-o-the-wisp. This wisp is probably one of my favorite characters He is snarky and constantly pointing out the moral grey areas that Domek seems to occupy. Both Domek and Ora are sucked into investigating what the city's pijavica are really up to. Through the twists and turns of this novel, Nicole Jarvis ties together every plot point in the end in a beautiful albeit a little gruesome ending.

I would give this book 4.75 stars. The only reason I would deduct .25 stars is because I really wish there had been a pronunciation guide either at the beginning or end of the book.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the digital copy for this review.

Let me start by saying I'm not a big fan of Vampires... but I liked this so much!
I liked the setting (gas-lighted streets of Prague!) and the story. After the first 10 chapters it got all my attention and couldn't put it down : the characters were engaging and the plot itself, though simple, it's enough to keep moving everything forward and the action was entertaining. The reason for not giving 5 stars it's only that the big reveal at the end, I kind of guessed, so it lost a bit of the shock it was supossed to give.
But I defenitely recommend , a very entertaining read!!

This story had a fresh new perspective on vampires and the setting and time period were quite interesting. The audiobook narration was very good too.
Still, the dialogues sounded now and then too long, repetitive and explanatory, and stood in the way of the story development more than necessary. What also got repetitive were Domek's constant inner thoughts when I had already clearly understood from his actions that he was an honored hero.
I felt that if the book would have been two hundred pages shorter this would have made it more lively and better.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The setting of this novel was superb, and as someone that has visited Prague a couple of times, I feel like the author really captured the feel of the city. The way that the vampires functioned was also pretty original, and I liked the more cultural take on them - especially with the other supernatural elements that appear, like will-o-the-wisps and the White Lady of Prague. I also really liked that there was plenty of lgbtqa+ representation in this, even if it was not at the forefront.

Sadly, there were also alot of things that didn't work for me. The characters needed more time to develop, and I found it hard to care about the romance even though I did like both of the characters quite abit - especially the vampiric character. But I think many readers will love the vampire hunter/vampire romance, as it got that enemies to lovers aspect to it!
The plot itself I found kind of meh and predictable, but in the grand scheme of things this is not that bad. It is formulaic, and often I find that comforting, even if it wasn't to my taste here.

3.5/5 stars.

Words cannot express how much I adored this debut. Atmospheric and engaging, The Lights of Prague swept me away to another time and place. This is a must read for fans of immersive fantasy.

"With the gas lamps came the lamplighters to patrol and protect their routes, fighting back against the shadows of Prague."

Oozing with atmosphere that engages all of the senses, Jarvis transports the reader to Prague of the 1800s with its lush and vivid prose. I'll admit that it took me a bit of time to settle into this immersive historical fantasy (likely because of my mood), but it didn't take me long to fall in love with the characters and the world. The story really took off for me around 20% in. I love that the worldbuilding is vast and left no questions to pull me out of the story while maintaining a solid pace and avoiding info-dumps.

"Cobblestones gleamed underfoot from the rain earlier in the evening. Like a giant sated after a hearty meal, Prague after a storm was content and slow."

With two main characters seemingly on the opposite side of a supernatural battle in the dark streets of Prague, the book follows follows a lamplighter (and monster hunter) named Domek and a centuries-old bisexual vampire (pijavica) named Ora. Secret identities unknown to one another, their paths have crossed on occasion over the course of the last year, both having a bit of a crush but not moving beyond casual flirtations.

I love gentle ribbing and roasting among friends, and both Ora's and Domek's friends trade gentle barbs with one another. This gives life to the friendships beyond the parts of our character's lives confined within the pages.

"There are days when it seems like no matter what happens, everything stays the same. Maybe on a grand scale, it does. That doesn't mean that every minute in someone's life can't be important too."

I appreciate the discussion of class and privilege woven into the narrative. Despite being of the working class, Domek's been fortunate for people to judge him based on his character rather than station but there's still an undercurrent of how different his world is from Cord's or Ora's. High society in a way serves as a lens for the rigid boxes that he puts people into. Human or monster. Good or evil. Just and Ora and Cord look beyond his station, he needs to learn how to judge a person by their character. Meanwhile, Ora is a foil to Domek's selflessness and needs to help others. Their journeys are complex and compelling, as well as a bit messy.

"Give men weapons and tell them they have a righteous war, and they'll do anything."

No review by me would be complete without mentioning Kaja's philosophical musings. Who is worthy of saving? Good and bad are not purely black and white; some monsters are of the human variety, and some "monsters" act just as they did when they were human. I love that Domek's character development doesn't come from his relationship with Ora, but rather Kaja challenging his rigid notions of right and wrong.

Overall, I am wholly impressed with Jarvis' debut fantasy and look forward to reading more from this author in the future! I enjoyed the characters and world created, as well as the vivid and immersive prose. Fans of V.E. Schwab's writing style will certainly enjoy The Lights of Prague, just be sure you're in the right mood before picking this one up as I think it's one that you need to be in the right mood to read.

Representation: bisexual main character, gay side character, Romani rep
Content warnings: blood, classism (challenged), death, racism and antisemitism (challenged)

ARC provided by the publisher for my honest review. This has not affected my opinion nor the contents of my review. Quotations are from an unfinished proof and subject to change upon final publication.

The Lights of Prague was such a delightful read! The story follows Domek, a lamplighter who secretly protects the city from the monsters that roam the streets at night, and Lady Ora, a wealthy and seemingly eccentric widow. Despite their vast differences in class, the pair are inexplicably drawn to each other, though Domek does not realize that Ora is a pijavica - one of the creatures he is sworn to destroy. While Domek and Ora attempt to keep their secrets from each other, they both become embroiled in foiling a plot that would allow the monsters of Prague to overtake the city.

I love mythology and fairytales of all forms and I had not yet read anything featuring Czech myths so I really enjoyed reading about pijavice, bubáks and vodníks. I do wish that there had been a glossary of the mythological creatures at the end of the book that the reader could refer to, however, a quick google search of the Czech terms was easy enough.

I loved how Nicole Jarvis used the history and architecture of Prague as a part of the story - the setting was so vivid that the reader feels completely transported in both place and time. The characters were well written and there were also some plot twists that I had not anticipated. I was fully absorbed by the book and I sacrificed a good night's sleep so that I could finish reading because I just had to know what would happen next. I haven't read a vampire novel in a while and I'd honestly thought I was no longer interested in the trope, but The Lights of Prague was a fresh and thoroughly enjoyable take on the genre. I'm excited to see what else Nicole Jarvis has in store and I'd definitely read more of her books in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing an eARC of this book for review.

4.25 / 5 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2021/06/01/the-lights-of-prague-by-nicole-jarvis-review/

Prague, 1868.

The quiet streets of Prague hide a secret, one that haunts these passages in the dead of night. Ancient and mythic beasts lurk in the shadows, preying upon anyone unfortunate enough to be out past sunset. And only those paid to bring light to the city’s dark stand between the monsters and their prey.

Domek Myska is a lamplighter—a profession both dedicated to bring light to the darkened streets of Prague, but also to protect its citizens from the evil that walks it. With the advent of gas lamps, the lamplighter presence in Prague has changed. While the lamps themselves keep the night at bay better and longer, fewer souls are required to keep this army of lights burning. And where there are fewer lamplighters, there are more monsters. With little to no backup, Domek is forced to rely on his own wit and skill to survive the night, with stakes of hawthorn and daggers of silver to help even the odds. But when he discovers a strange jar one night on the corpse of a pijavice (a vampire), the young lamplighter discovers there’s more renaissance in the city then just that of gas lamps.

Lady Ora Fischerová is a permanent fixture amongst the city’s upperclass, but an enigmatic one at that. She’s known as an eccentric widow—having lost her husband a decade prior—albeit a beautiful one who hardly looks as though she’s aged since his passing. That’s because Ora harbors a secret of her own, hidden beneath layers only won by coin and eccentricity. She’s a pijavica, but lives a low-key life for one of her kind preferring venison and pork blood to that of humans. But while she calls some humans friend, some others would only see her as the demon that hunts in the night. Enter Domek, and a mutual hot-blooded attraction between the two. Neither knows about the other’s secret, but with the way things are going, it won’t be long before they find out. And what will happen when the cards fall—will either survive to see another sunrise, or will Prague itself fall into eternal darkness?

For the jar, and its wisp occupant, Kája, represent a new weapon—a hope and danger both. But could these fortunes be reversed? And whom (if anyone) would Domek trust to make that distinction?

With an atmosphere drenched in darkness and steeped in blood, The Lights of Prague represents the best of historical fantasy, combining a killer story, deep and meaningful characters, with a lush if claustrophobic setting. The backdrop of 1860’s Prague was breathtakingly beautiful: a city on the cusp of change from fire to gas; a city drenched in shadow but clinging to the light; a city built on the ruins of another that came before it, with the beings of the night lurking within. From tight back alleys to gilded opera halls to the mansions of the elite to the slums of the Jewish quarter, Nicole Jarvis sets the stage incredibly well! If not for the strength of its characters, I’d say the setting was the story’s strongest asset.

Pargue did not know Domek, did not need him, but his life was overlaid on the ancient streets in watercolor, the patterns sheer and impermanent.

But the characters are quite well done as well. Both Domek and Ora are well-fleshed, with their own history and motivations, intentions and ideals—so that while they may want in one another’s pants and/or gowns, they don’t necessarily want the same thing for Prague. And while the two may fall on the same side now and then, they definitely aren’t that way all the time. I loved their interactions—be they hot and heavy, violent, or even casual—and it was this that kept the story from ever feeling too weighed down or stagnant, even toward the end when the action-sequences sometimes threaten to override the plot. While Domek isn’t the brightest tool in the river, he makes up for it with his deep- and well-thought-out plans, his ingenuity and stubbornness. Ora’s just pretty amazing—no notes! But where these two are so strong, I found the supporting cast was a bit hit and miss. Some characters seemed deep enough to carry their own POVs, while others felt too hollow to be little more than set dressing. The POVs definitely carry the load, however, so there's relatively little to complain about, story-wise.

TL;DR

1860’s Prague provides an incredible backdrop for any fantasy adventure, at least when one plays it up as well as Nicole Jarvis does. The city was resplendent, despite the story mostly taking place in the dead of night, where the streets are quiet, dark, and claustrophobic, and the atmosphere one of tension. While the story might get a bit iffy later on, the interactions between the two POV leads Domek and Ora provide more than enough of a reason to press on. Turns out, the characters are just as impressive as the world-building. Come for the vampires and dark atmosphere, stay for the romance, action and characters. Heartily recommended!