What I’m Reading: The Helm of Midnight

My next read is one I was approved for on NetGalley. I’ve actually got three more NetGalley reads to finish between now and mid-May. I’m slowly inching my way toward getting that badge for reviewing ten books on the platform. This will be book number seven I think.

Anyway you don’t care about that, you care about what it is that I’m reading. Well…it’s The Helm of Midnight by Marina Lostetter.

“A legendary serial killer stalks the streets of a fantastical city in The Helm of Midnight, the stunning first novel in a new trilogy from acclaimed author Marina Lostetter.

In a daring and deadly heist, thieves have made away with an artifact of terrible power–the death mask of Louis Charbon. Made by a master craftsman, it is imbued with the spirit of a monster from history, a serial murderer who terrorized the city with a series of gruesome murders.

Now Charbon is loose once more, killing from beyond the grave. But these murders are different from before, not simply random but the work of a deliberate mind probing for answers to a sinister question.

It is up to Krona Hirvath and her fellow Regulators to enter the mind of madness to stop this insatiable killer while facing the terrible truths left in his wake.”

Goodreads Synopsis

The Helm of Midnight
The Five Penalties #1
Marina Lostetter
Tor Books
Publication Date: April 13, 2021
Kindle ARC

I first encountered Marina Lostetter’s work with her sci-fi novel Noumenon published in 2017 by Harper Voyager. I read that book before I started the blog so it wasn’t one I ever reviewed, but I did really enjoy it. I didn’tt read any of the Noumenon follow-ups however, not because I didn’t think they’d be good, but because like many of you I just had too many other books on my plate.

When I saw Lostetter had written something more in the realm of fantasy I decided maybe I should finally read another one of her books. I’ve had my eye on this book for a while though I can’t remember when I first became aware of it. But when I saw it appear on NetGalley I jumped at the chance to request it. I was actually pretty surprised I was approved given my feedback ratio was a little bad and Tor had already rejected another request. But hey I’m not complaining!

The Helm of Midnight sounds dark. I mean we’ve got serial killers with magic death masks and a band of “Regulators” out to stop him and contend with the “truths” he’s exposing? There’s that “Evil blooms in darkness” line. And that cover…kinda creepy if you ask me.

I haven’t read many reviews yet so I don’t know if the setting is gaslamp or a little more modern or what. I just know I’m excited to dive into it. If you’ve read it let me know what you thought. Anyone have it on their TBR? Anyone read any of Lostetter’s other books? What did you think?