Boston Metaphysical Society

A Storm of Secrets

Fiction - Paranormal
261 Pages
Reviewed on 11/02/2018
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

A TV, feature film and comic book writer, Madeleine is the winner of the Sloan Fellowship for screenwriting, and the Gold Aurora and Bronze Telly for a PSA produced by Women In Film. She also won numerous awards while completing the UCLA MFA Program in Screenwriting. Having run a number of successful crowdfunding campaigns for her comic, Boston Metaphysical Society, Madeleine has also published the book, Kickstarter for the Independent Creator.

Boston Metaphysical Society comic was nominated for BEST COMIC/GRAPHIC NOVEL at the 2014 GEEKIE AWARDS. The comic has also been nominated for a 2012 Airship Award as well as a 2013, 2014 and a 2015 Steampunk Chronicle Reader’s Choice Award. Her novella, Steampunk Rat, was also nominated for a 2013 Steampunk Chronicle Reader’s Choice Award.

Other comic projects include the short story, The Scout, which is part of The 4th Monkey anthology, The Sanctuary (The Edgar Allan Poe Chronicles anthology), and The Marriage Counselor ( The Cthulhu is Hard to Spell anthology). She is currently writing a four issue mini-series for SFC Comics/Evoluzione Publishing.

She also has an anthology of short stories and novellas called Boston Metaphysical Society: Prelude, based on the Boston Metaphysical Society. The Boston Metaphysical Society short story, Here Abide Monsters, is part of the Some Time Later anthology from Thinking Ink publishers.

Formerly a nationally ranked epee fencer, she has competed nationally and internationally. She is an avid reader of comics, steampunk, science fiction, fantasy and historical military fiction.

    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Boston Metaphysical Society: A Storm of Secrets is a work of steampunk fiction by author Madeleine Holly-Rosing, and is the prequel to the graphic novel collection, Boston Metaphysical Society: The Complete Series. Set in an alternate American history, as many steampunk tales are, Holly-Rosing takes us on a thrilling adventure as heroine Elizabeth Hunter investigates the disappearance of many people in the city of Boston. Whilst her husband, former Pinkerton detective Samuel, has traditional methods of discovering his clues, Elizabeth possesses the rare paranormal gift of mediumship. More than this, Elizabeth belongs to the Weldsmore family, one of the Great Houses of Boston, and if her paranormal gifts are discovered, a far graver fate may await her than those she is investigating.

I thoroughly enjoyed Madeleine Holly-Rosing’s alternative to Boston in 1890, where steampunk society, politics and the paranormal all collide in a dark and devastating Gaslamp adventure. Fans of the genre are sure to step straight into the Victorian style of it all, the descriptions being highly atmospheric and stylish. The dialogue was delightfully witty, sharp and direct, giving an accomplished sense of character so strong that Elizabeth, Samuel and Jonathan really leaped off the page. Alongside the actual mystery of the plot, the overarching story line of the Great Houses was an observant, intelligent addition. Overall, Boston Metaphysical Society: A Storm of Secrets is a superb read that fans of the steampunk genre are certain to love. And if you’re new to the genre in general, this would be a high quality example with which to begin your steampunk journey.