The Janus Elixir: A Blackfire Story

The Strange Cases of Beaumont and Beasley #1

by Kyle Robert Shultz

You think you know the secret of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.You don't.Archaeologists are not often consulted by gods. However, Malcolm Blackfire is not a typical archaeologist—he’s also a dragon.

So, when the brain of the god Janus is stolen from Thanatos Abbey in the city of Talesend, Malcolm and his assistant Melody Nightingale are summoned by Hades himself to investigate.

Soon, a dark design behind the theft emerges. The mysterious Dr. Henry Jekyll is performing dangerous experiments. A powerful sorcerer named Hyde has arisen in the Talesend underworld. The answer to the mystery is clear…

…or is it?

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are not what they seem. But by the time Malcolm discovers the truth about them, it may be far too late.

This novella is also included in Beaumont and Beasley Book 4, The Hound of Duville and Other Stories, which continues the storyline of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Storylines introduced in this novella carry on through further books in the Beaumont and Beasley series.

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Mystery, Christian, Short Stories, Clean Romance, Humor

136 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2018

About the author

Kyle Robert Shultz is the creator of the Aftermythos, an interconnected collection of stories set in an alternate universe where fairy tales and mythology are history. Shultz is a completely ordinary human being with no remarkable qualities whatsoever. Accounts suggesting that he is a dangerous wizard exiled from a parallel reality, a cleverly-disguised magical creature passing off the history of another world as original fiction, a mysterious trickster entity described in the folklore of a circumscribed region of Wales, or a pseudonym adopted by three talking otters stacked up in a trench coat should be dismissed as not entirely accurate.

Note: I'm not active on Goodreads, so I may not see messages or other notifications. I only use this profile for business, so don't be offended if I don't accept your friend request. If you want to get in touch with me, email me at kyle@aftermythos.com.

Reviews

[Hallie Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another masterpiece by Kyle Robert Shultz!

All of Shultz's books are unlike any I've ever read before. From the world-building, to the characters, to the connections to famous legends/fairytales, he stuns every single time, and The Janus Elixir is no exception. Malcolm and Melody are exceptional characters, and I can't wait to read more of them! (Especially after that ending.)

[Grace T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start with how awesome this was.

Malcolm being very very Malcolm?

Afterverse history from almost the dawn of time?

Hades and Cerberus?

James du Maurier? (james omw james thoughhhh. BEAUTIFUL foreshadowing.)

Victor Frankenstein?

Cameo appearances from Ursula and Maui's fishhook?

Sorry, there's too much awesomeness for me to review--you're just going to have to read it for yourself. And then we can ooh and ahhh over it together. Because Kyle Robert Shultz has done it again.

[J.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[Katelyn Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to begin. I don’t think I’ve read anything by Shultz that I don’t like, and The Janus Elixir is no exception! It’s full of the offbeat sense of humor that characterizes Shultz’s writing, and the fact that he’s now strayed into the territory of literary classics is another huge plus… in my highly-biased, classics-loving opinion. :P

Anything based off the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is bound to be creepy, (especially when Frankenstein is thrown in for good measure), but it never went too far in that direction, since the aforementioned humor always buoyed it up. Plus, I loved watching Malcolm and Melody interact! I think what I like most about them is the fact that Melody is probably the only person who can get away with giving a dragon cheek, and not get burnt to a crisp. xD

Another thing I enjoyed seeing was the message that everyone matters, and that the history of the Afterverse was finally explained, all the way from its creation to the present, through one long-suffering reel delivered by Mr. Malcom Sass-Dragon Blackfire himself. I also liked that the “little g” gods were clearly differentiated from the “big G” God, and that the former were basically just immortal, extra-powerful people.

In closing, if you haven’t read anything by Shultz yet, you’re really missing out. The Janus Elixir packs a surprisingly twisty plot into a novella-sized package, filled with likable characters, literary references, and just enough creepy to keep you on the edge of your seat!

[K.M. Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh, this little novella made me want to run out and immediately buy the rest of this author's books. If you're a fan of mythology, this book is going to tickle your brain in all the right places. Like Hades saying, "Yeah, there's that OTHER god of death, Anubis, but I don't like to mess with him." Plus, it was so fun having a book from Malcom Blackfire's perspective. "Good morning, pathetic non-dragons!" And pitting Victor Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll against each other is just brilliant. Everything this author does is just brilliant. Highly recommend any book he writes.

[Beth Wangler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shultz's books just keep getting better! The Janus Elixir had everything I love about the Beaumont and Beasley books (well, everything minus the titular characters), PLUS it also deepened the history of Talesend and mixed mythology and Gothic lit in with the fairy tales.

And, of course, there's a dragon. And that dragon is Malcolm Blackfire. So of course it was epic. I loved the way Malcolm and Melody played off and balanced each other.

After reading this, I'm even more excited for the rest of the Strange Cases of Beaumont and Beasley!

[Stargazer R. L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

MALCOLM AND MELODY.

[Christine Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I. Loved. This. Story. Though this is the first of 6 novellas that will comprise Beaumont and Beasley book #4, if you've never read any of the Beaumont and Beasley books but want a sampling of them, this is a good one to start with. Some events in it may come into play later on, but it has no spoilers to previous books.

This story is about MALCOLM. In all his grumpy, dragon-y glory. ‘Cause yeah, HE’S A DRAGON. And a SHAPESHIFTING DRAGON. He can be in human form or dragon form at will. You really can’t get any cooler (hotter? lololol dragon puns) than that. We’ve met Malcolm a few times in previous stories, but this time he’s the protagonist and just SDKJFLJKSD YES. I LOVE Malcolm. We also get to see more of his associate, the mysterious Melody Nightingale, which I was thrilled about!

Every book in this series is a retelling or continuation of some some sort of fairytale or myth. This one is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, with some fun Greek mythology thrown in, and I seriously don’t see how you can ever go wrong with that.


THIS STORY INCLUDES


- MALCOLM. Oh wait, I’ve already mentioned that. But I’m saying it again. Because MALCOLM. It was so fun being in his head with this one. Though he most often is in his human form, he does not let others forget he is, in fact, a dragon. He does so love to threaten people and remind everyone he is much older and wiser and more dangerous then any of us puny humans. What’s not to love about a dude who threatens to eat everyone who crosses him? Really now. Also, he’s an archaeologists. And a dragon. Best combination ever? I think so.

- Melody Nightingale! I’ve been so wanting more of her ever since we met her in The Stroke of Eleven . And I finally got my wish! I adored how she’d put Malcolm in his place, while also being concerned for his wellbeing despite the fact that he’s an ancient dragon. I think she brought out the more human side of him, which I loved. Except there are certain thiiiings about her and just I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS. Ahem.

- BANTER. This would not be a true Beaumont and Beasley story without it! This may be the most quotable of the stories yet. I just want to quote everything that comes out of Malcolm’s mouth. I was choking on laughter all the way through.

- Plot twiiiists. Did this one have ‘em. O___O And that’s all I’m gonna say. But just…wow.

- Hilarious twists on some Greek mythology, soort of in the vein of Percy Jackson. But you’re going to have to read it to find out what kind of twists!

- A certain character who shall not be named but whom I realized was possibly supposed to be a Certain Someone and skdjflsjldjfljsdf. Wow. That was vague. XD You’re welcome. Let’s just say I had to set the book down to compose myself when it hit me WHO THIS PERSON IS. True story.

- Feels. Feels everywhere! I did not expect this many feels from this one novella. NOT AT ALL. But just…HOLD MY BLEEDING HEART BECAUSE WHAT IS HAPPENING???

- THE. ENDING. Um. Wut. WHAAAAAAT????? This kinda goes into the feels section. Just WHAT EVEN. I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS. AND FEELINGS. AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF. I just kind of sat there in shocked silence for several minutes once I got to the ending. IT WAS SO UNEXPECTED. Just…yeah. Get ready!

Basically, YOU NEED TO READ IT.

Review originally posted on my blog:
Musings of an Elf

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounding up to 5!

The Janus Elixir is one romp of a story!

I'll admit, the beginning made me a bit wary of how well Malcom would gell as a protagonist. While his snarky, slightly snobby personality has always been my favorite aspect of his character, I've also always enjoyed the mysterious side of him too. So I was unsure how I would feel about him losing some of that mystery. On the whole however, he made for a very delightful, fun protagonist, and was still very much the same Malcom as the one we've come to know and love (even though I do still like him better as a mentor).

Another great aspect of this novella was Melody. I already loved her character in Stroke of Eleven, and this story only furthered that. She's one of, if not the most relatable B&B characters, and is the absolute perfect compliment to Malcom (they're one if my favorite duos ever)! And I'm especially intrigued about some of the mysterious elements of her past that have yet to be explained.

It was also great to finally get an explanation of how the B&B universe was created (especially since Malcom told the story), and I loved Shultz's spin on how the Greek deities and capital G God coexist.

As far as critiques go, I only have one. I wish the story had had some overarching character arc. Considering how long before Beast of Talesend this story took place, it would've been nice to see a slightly different Malcom. Maybe see some growth from him that carries over to present day B&B. However, I get that this critique is more subjective, and it does not at all hinder what this story is meant to be: a fun little adventure that develops the world and connects to some plot points of Stroke of Eleven (Even though I don't know how yet) .

[K.L. + Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was fun to have Malcolm narrate this one! Full review coming soon!

[Hufflepuff Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kyle Robert Shultz has done it yet again! The Janus Elixir a brilliantly constructed and thoroughly charming blend of sharp satire piece, early 19th-century detective mystery, and fun fantasy adventure. Honestly, I think my favorite thing about the story might have been the way that Shultz blends all these genres together so seamlessly. It was just perfectly executed!

The Janus Elixir is told from the first-person perspective of Malcolm, everyone’s favorite sassy dragon. And, as another reviewer has mentioned, this can take some getting used to, after having seen him exclusively in the mentor role—but I ended up really enjoying him as a protagonist. I have come to love his character all the more after reading The Janus Elixir—which is something I would have previously doubted was even possible! The other characters in this story are great, too, though! Melody, who never made all that much of an impression on me in Stroke of 11, really grew on me in this installment! She is the textbook foil for Malcolm, providing the perfect sense of calm reason to balance out his hotheadedness. Not to mention, their banter is glorious! With the exception of Nick and Crispin, I’m not sure I’ve ever enjoyed two character’s interactions in the Beaumont and Beasley series quite as much as I enjoyed Malcolm’s and Melody’s! Yet another one of my favorite characters was James. Beyond his sheer sense of relatability, I’m not quite sure what it was about that him I loved so much, but he’s unexpectedly become one of my new favorite Beaumont and Beasley characters! I just find him highly relatable and completely hilarious.

I also really appreciate the way that Shultz added the Roman gods to his fictional universe while also making it clear that they are simply overpowered humans, as opposed to being the One God—who Malcolm seems certain exists. In a couple of his stories thus far, Shultz—as a Christian—has provided hints of his faith without ever putting all that much emphasis on it. Anyone, regardless of their religious beliefs, can enjoy Beaumont and Beasley—but, for a Christian, these references add such depth to the series!

My only major critique for the Janus Elixir would be the existence of one chapter that briefly switches to Melody’s third person point of view in order to better sustain narrative tension—while the rest of the story has been written exclusively from Malcolm’s first-person perspective. I’ve seen other authors attempt such things, and I’ve never been much of a fan. I feel like these kinds of singular POV switches will always cost a story in terms of narrative continuity. Maybe that’s just me, though. I initially had another critique for The Janus Elixir—one singular plot-point that just didn’t seem to add up or jive well with me—but a major reveal at the end got me suspecting that this plot-point might get better fleshed out in future installments.

All things considered, The Janis Elixir is a more than welcome addition to Beaumont and Beasley cannon! I ate the story with a smile on my face and can’t wait for the next installment! (I mean, seriously, Shultz, you can’t leave me hanging on that kind of cliffhanger!)

[H.S. Kylian · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, in this book, we have:


MALCOLM. Malcolm Blackfire is a dragon who can shape-shift into a human and he's also an archaeologist. He's sarcastic, gruff, has a heart of gold (Pun intended? Pun not intended?) and I'm pretty sure he's also got a protective mode built into him by instinct because no matter how many times he gets annoyed with humans, he still cares about them in his own, Malcolm-y way. He just won't admit it. Not out loud, at least.


Melody Nightingale. Aside from how pretty that name is, she's a former jewel thief with a mysterious past who works as Malcolm's assistant. BUT THAT QUIP BY HADES. LIKE, WHAT? AND THE CLIFFHANGER. I NEED MORE INFORMATION!!!


James. James is a precious cinnamon roll who helps Malcolm and Melody out, but given he might end up being who I think he'll end up being, I'll just leave it at that for now.


The Afterverse version of Hades. Yes, that Hades. Greek god of the dead, husband to Persephone, has a three-headed dog named Cerberus? He's just...so done with Malcolm's shenanigans. 😆


The Afterverse version of Anubis. Yes, that Anubis. Egyptian god of the dead. He's definitely not sweet and cuddly like Hades. But he has a library, so he's not too bad.

(I do believe I should take an interlude here to explain that they're not actually gods in here, they're just really powerful beings who live a long time and can die. Basically, like the Asgardians in the Marvel Cinematic Universe)


The Afterverse version of Victor Frankenstein. A bit kooky in the head.


The Afterverse version of Dr. Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde. I'm not saying anything more than that.


Humor. The humor is a dry, sarcastic, witty kind of humor, and it suits Malcolm perfectly.


Fantasy. To be more specific, this is in a parallel world called the Afterverse, where mythical, legendary, classical, and fairytale characters are real, and their stories are the history of that world. Plus, they're totally flipped on their heads and twisted up into each other so they're really NOT like the stories we know.


Noooo, the Afterverse is different. The Afterverse works like the Afterverse. It gives you feels. It throws plot twists that were so cleverly hidden, you don't even notice them until you re-read the story. It leaves you with cliffhangers that frustrate you but in a good way - they leave you with WANTING more.


They also leave you with screeching KYLE at the top of your inward lungs.


Anyway...I really enjoyed this book. The message about everyone having worth really does hit home when you think about the way humans treat other humans with disregard because of X, Y, or Z.


Now, I would divulge more, but I think I've said plenty already. If I say anything more, I might spoil it. Can't have that happen or else the rabbit will come after me. 😬

So, for now, I shall keep my lips 🤐 .


Content: No swearing, no sex, two kisses that aren't detailed, and some violence, but nothing too graphic.

[S.M. M. Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book. 3.5, rounded up to 4.

Me, being dyslexic, I absolutely love audio books. But, to be honest, although the narrators voice is beautiful, and fun to listen to, his accent was pretty thick, and it made it difficult for me to pick up certain words. I have auditory problems, and if there is an accent that I am not very familiar with, or is too thick, it is really difficult to follow along. I was a bit disappointed because of this.

That being said, I had to give my full attention to listen to this audio book. Maybe it was the narrative voice that threw me off, but this story isn't my favorite. I didn't really like the cliff hangar in the end and being left with so many questions.

However, the charming, quick wit of the characters is my happy place, and I am still excited to listen to, or read more Kyle Shultz stories in the future.

[H.S. Kylian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually reading this for the second time. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT ENDING??? KYLE YOU CAN'T JUST LEAVE CLIFFHANGERS LYING AROUND. SOMEONE'S LIABLE TO TRIP OVER THEM AND OBSESS OVER IT UNTIL THEY GET ANSWERS.

[Deborah O'Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was an editor for this story, and it’s so good! I’m not even biased, I promise. XD I’m just excited to have a whole novella told by Malcolm Blackfire, dragon and archaeologist. :D It’s super funny, features Malcolm and his… er… assistant Melody Nightingale, and is set in an alternate 1816 London, with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, some characters from mythology, and some other familiar names… You’ll just have to check it out, because it’s a blast. XD And it’s currently free if you sign up for the author’s newsletter. ;)

[E.B. Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, this story was very well written and full of wit and charm. I had a bit of trouble settling in, though. Shultz has packed an impressive amount of world-building, action, and mythology into this novella, and it's a testament to his skills as an author. It might help to go into this one thinking of it like a TV episode rather than a movie. It is the first of six novellas that are all connected into a single arc, and will eventually be combined into a book. For that reason, although there is an ending to this story, there is a lot left unresolved. It really feels like the preamble to the other novellas.

I very much enjoyed the grumpy dragon archaeologist threatening to eat everyone all the time. I'm looking forward to seeing where this adventure goes next and hopefully getting some answers to some of our questions (*cough MELODY *cough).

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This time, KRS takes on the lore of Jekyll and Hyde, plus Dr. Frankenstein, and even young James (with one hand, and a fondness for pirates), well... Remember, though: the tales we know have always gotten it wrong!

Dragon Malcolm Blackfire (able to take human form, but with no great opinion of its physical capacities) makes a great PoV/narrator, with Melody at his side, only sometimes as a restraining influence. We get a few interesting glimpses and clues about both of them, but mysteries remain for future stories, which is fine.

However, I was NOT satisfied with the way the killer's story ended, which is why I had no hesitation over giving this otherwise-good long novella a Goodreads 3, not 4.

I'm posting this review on TJE's individual Kindle edition, but I actually read it in The Return of Beaumont & Beasley 2-novellas-in-one e-book, currently (1/2019) available via Kindle Unlimited.

[Aria Maher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special thanks to the lovely Daley Downing for giving me a code for a free copy!

Yet ANOTHER Kyle Robert Shultz gem! Can this man do no wrong??? As always, this story is absolutely hilarious, fast-paced, and just a rollicking good time, tempered with serious and emotional moments that are just as well written as the witty dialogue. Kyle's take on Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (yes, both of those stories figure into this action packed little book) is fresh and new and very cool, and I just love how he takes elements from popular stories and legends and fairy tales and transforms them into something totally different; this isn't your average 'retelling'. Melody and Malcom's banter is PRICELESS, and I love that we're getting a bit more backstory for our favorite posh (and slightly arrogant) dragon friend.

I can't wait for the rest of The Strange Cases of Beaumont and Beasley!

[Jameson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Janus Elixir is the first of the Blackfire spinoff stories set in the Afterverse and what a fun story it is!

Malcolm quickly became one of my favorite characters in the Beaumont and Beasley series, full of sass and mystery, so learning more of his history was something I really enjoyed in this story. I loved learning more about his work as an archeologist, as well as his partnership with the equally mysterious Melody, and it was really cool to learn more about the ancient history of the Afterverse. Since the stories involved aren’t fairy tales, there is a slightly different feel to the story than some of the others, but I enjoyed seeing twists on familiar classics like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Frankenstein.

[C.O. Bonham · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Janus Elixir by Kyle Robert Shultz, flips the story of Jekyll and Hyde on it's head. You thought you knew Victorian horror. You don't know anything.

If you are a fan of classics like Frankenstein. Then you should read this. If you are just a fan of sarcastic dragons this is for you. If you just really like great plot twists then this book is for you.

So get it now.

[Jo-ann]

A story with an unhappy ending and more..

A god with duality brain is stolen, can Malcolm Blackfire and his assistant, Melody Nightingale be able to to stop a madman's evil plot before it is too late.

Jo-Ann Doyle

[The Jesus Fandom]

You can find a full review of all of the Afterverse books here.

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did some say Malcom Blackfire??

So this takes place about a hundred years before Nick, Cordelia, and Crispin. It follows Malcolm Blackfire and Melody Nightingale as they try to figure out who stole the brain of Janus.
I loved how Melody had to kind of hold Malcolm back from lighting people on fire whenever he didn't get his way. I loved Malcolm's impatience and snobbery(Come one, you can understand why).
Plus, we got Victor Frankenstein and Dr. Jekkyl. Honestly, I don't like either of those books. A little weird for me, but I loved the twist that this book put on them and it actually fit together really well.
I can't wait for the next one. More Malcolm! More Melody! Plus, the way it ended has me in agony. Blah.
But read this!


Sidenote: You don't have to read any of the other books to read and understand this. I've only read the first two Beaumont and Beasley and I got through this one easily. No danger of spoilers here.
Plus, there's an author's note at the beginning explaining everything about the reading order so make sure you read that.

[Julia Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things I loved:

Malcolm! Okay, I don't think it's a secret that I love dragons and Malcolm is probably my favorite. I love his character and the way he starts a tirade when he gets mad. Plus he's also an archaeologist.
Ever since childhood I've loved stories with archaeologists (i.e. Indiana Jones, The Cooper Kids series by Frank Peretti). So what do you do when you place a dragon archaeologist in a story? You love it.

Melody. Melody is a precious person. I love her wit and her compassion. She is a perfect companion for Malcolm. Also, I need some things cleared up now about her because I noticed more the second time round.

World-building. Shultz went crazy with the world-building and history here and I loved it! It was never too much and totally added to the story.

Things I didn't like:

Um... nothing except now I want more of Malcolm and Melody's story.

[Joseph Leskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The virtue of The Janus Elixir lies in the fact that, despite being relatively short, the story has exemplary development. It also does no harm to the story's quality, of course, that a dragon (who is often humanoid) is the narrator. He is quite my favorite dragon ever, incidentally.

The plot twists in this book are as fine as any that ever were, but they leave a person wanting a great deal more because these twists are the kind that could make a person say "whuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut?" biannually for the next seven or eight years. I suppose all will probably be revealed in good time. (I am waiting patiently for good time to be accomplished, by the way.)

And, naturally, the writing, plot, characters, concepts, stuff, and setting are all palpably marvelous.

[Emily Wrayburn]

This was a freebie with subscription to the author's newsletter and while I am still intrigued by the author's universe and I plan on checking out some more of his books, I don't think the Blackfire ones are quite for me.