A private investigator and her assistant find themselves increasingly entangled in a never-ending web of secrets as they work to solve their biggest case in Quinn Lawrence’s fantasy novel CINNAMON SOUL.
A princess has disappeared, and her father wants her found for a hefty reward, which might be all Hokuren needs to save her almost bankrupt private investigation business, assuming she survives. The offer seems like a lifesaving opportunity, but as she and her elven assistant Cinna begin to solve the case, they discover betrayal, a legend held dear by the elves at play, and the presence of an evil, otherwordly being deeply entrenched in the city. As they dig deeper, angering various powerful forces and building enemies, they become the most wanted people in the city. However, they are determined not to quit. They always solve their cases, even if they mostly involve finding cats.
Cinna, a barefoot elf assistant with razor reflexes, sprints through Velles’s chaotic entertainment district in pursuit of the city’s most infamous thief, creating a propulsive start to the book. What initially seems like a simple bounty hunt pivots from noir-tinged detective work to courtly intrigue as the stakes deepen.
Lawrence’s characters are the novel’s backbone, driving its emotional weight and narrative momentum. Even minor characters pop, such as the princess’s lady-in-waiting, who has a breakdown that reveals critical information about the prince’s belief in divine prophecy. There’s also Captain Davenport—an armored phantom of a man—who oozes menace before appearing on-page.
Lawrence portrays Velles as a living, breathing city. From its cobbled alleys to the opulence of Prince Leopold’s castle, the setting is richly imagined, with castle politics, societal hierarchies, and magical relics woven seamlessly into the narrative. The setting never overwhelms; instead, it offers texture. Moments like Cinna’s reaction to the castle’s view—“When I lived in Velles before, my view was mainly gutters”—say more about class divides than pages of exposition could. The dialogue is another highlight of the book, as the characters don’t just speak; they spar, tease, and negotiate their way through conflict with quippy finesse. However, there is a tendency for over-explanation, such as Hokuren often repeating information internally after characters say it aloud, slightly slowing otherwise taut scenes. Also, despite the novel’s often sharp wit and mature mystery structure, some exchanges veer into a more juvenile tone that feels inconsistent with the darker, more grounded elements of the plot (such as the interaction with the revered goddess of the elves). And while the story is cleverly plotted overall, certain developments are quite easy to anticipate—lessening the impact of certain reveals.
Nevertheless, Lawrence’s CINNAMON SOUL is a beautifully executed genre mashup that serves a delightful blend of high fantasy, investigative drama, and character-driven storytelling.
Quinn Lawrence’s CINNAMON SOUL is a balanced, character-driven fantasy novel where secrets, subterfuge, and magic collide.
~Gabriella Harrison for IndieReader