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A review by aceinit
The Native Star by M.K. Hobson
3.0
I found this book after stumbling upon its sequel. Overall, it was a delightful and quick read.
I found the world wonderfully crafted and realized, and it was the world building and Stanton, more than anything, that kept me reading. The magic system is intriguing, though sometimes too bogged down in its own scientific language to be enjoyable.
The novel's unfortunate weak spot is it's protagonist. Emily Edwards is a Witch, a small-town girl and the sole provider for her blind, adoptive father. And, like many female protagonists, her role is that of the Fiesty, Independent, Strong-Willed woman. Unfortunately, these traits are painted too strongly in the opening third of the novel. Instead of adorable and adventurous, Em struck me as immature, loud, bratty and highly abrasive—traits I found hard to reconcile with a young woman used to shouldering enormous personal and professional responsibility, including keeping herself and her “Pap” from starving to death during a particularly harsh winter.
I am still undecided on whether or not the author realizes exactly how annoying she made her heroine in the opening chapters. There are times when Emily’s flaws seem quite deliberate, and other when the author doesn’t seem to realize quite how far Emily’s ridiculous behavior is trying the reader’s patience with her.
As a narrator, I found her insufferable, a word she uses quite frequently about the novel’s co-star, Dreadnought Stanton. There were times when Emily grated me so much that the only reason I kept reading was for Stanton, a man whose secrets are slowly unraveled as the story progresses. Thankfully, as Emily’s situation grows more dire she matures and becomes far more bearable, though she never became a sympathetic character to me.
The only other real rough spot in the narrative comes as we are approaching the climax of the story. Emily and Stanton have arrived in New York after many near-death experiences, double-crosses and other adventures, and it is obvious by this time that Emily’s life in grave danger due to the stone embedded in her hand. However, instead of barreling ahead with the narrative to a thrilling conclusion, the author chooses to abruptly half the narrative flow and spend much time talking of ballgowns, corsets and other matters while the characters prepare for a thrilling and climactic…conference.
Though the conference does turn out to be more than just another boring meeting of the minds (so much more), the sudden switch from all the building action to a slower, largely insignificant narrative flow is jarring.
Still, I am looking forward to the next installment in the series, The Hidden Goddess. This is a fun and promising series, and I hope Emily and Dreadnought have many more adventures.
I found the world wonderfully crafted and realized, and it was the world building and Stanton, more than anything, that kept me reading. The magic system is intriguing, though sometimes too bogged down in its own scientific language to be enjoyable.
The novel's unfortunate weak spot is it's protagonist. Emily Edwards is a Witch, a small-town girl and the sole provider for her blind, adoptive father. And, like many female protagonists, her role is that of the Fiesty, Independent, Strong-Willed woman. Unfortunately, these traits are painted too strongly in the opening third of the novel. Instead of adorable and adventurous, Em struck me as immature, loud, bratty and highly abrasive—traits I found hard to reconcile with a young woman used to shouldering enormous personal and professional responsibility, including keeping herself and her “Pap” from starving to death during a particularly harsh winter.
I am still undecided on whether or not the author realizes exactly how annoying she made her heroine in the opening chapters. There are times when Emily’s flaws seem quite deliberate, and other when the author doesn’t seem to realize quite how far Emily’s ridiculous behavior is trying the reader’s patience with her.
As a narrator, I found her insufferable, a word she uses quite frequently about the novel’s co-star, Dreadnought Stanton. There were times when Emily grated me so much that the only reason I kept reading was for Stanton, a man whose secrets are slowly unraveled as the story progresses. Thankfully, as Emily’s situation grows more dire she matures and becomes far more bearable, though she never became a sympathetic character to me.
The only other real rough spot in the narrative comes as we are approaching the climax of the story. Emily and Stanton have arrived in New York after many near-death experiences, double-crosses and other adventures, and it is obvious by this time that Emily’s life in grave danger due to the stone embedded in her hand. However, instead of barreling ahead with the narrative to a thrilling conclusion, the author chooses to abruptly half the narrative flow and spend much time talking of ballgowns, corsets and other matters while the characters prepare for a thrilling and climactic…conference.
Though the conference does turn out to be more than just another boring meeting of the minds (so much more), the sudden switch from all the building action to a slower, largely insignificant narrative flow is jarring.
Still, I am looking forward to the next installment in the series, The Hidden Goddess. This is a fun and promising series, and I hope Emily and Dreadnought have many more adventures.