The Native Star
In the tradition of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, this brilliant first novel fuses history, fantasy, and romance. Prepare to be enchanted by M. K. Hobson’s captivating take on the Wild, Wild West. The year is 1876. In the small Sierra Nevada settlement of Lost Pine, the town witch, Emily...
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In the tradition of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, this brilliant first novel fuses history, fantasy, and romance. Prepare to be enchanted by M. K. Hobson’s captivating take on the Wild, Wild West. The year is 1876. In the small Sierra Nevada settlement of Lost Pine, the town witch, Emily Edwards, is being run out of business by an influx of mail-order patent magics. Attempting to solve her problem with a love spell, Emily only makes things worse. But before she can undo the damage, an enchanted artifact falls into her possession—and suddenly Emily must flee for her life, pursued by evil warlocks who want the object for themselves. Dreadnought Stanton, a warlock from New York City whose personality is as pompous and abrasive as his name, has been exiled to Lost Pine for mysterious reasons. Now he finds himself involuntarily allied with Emily in a race against time—and across the United States by horse, train, and biomechanical flying machine—in quest of the great Professor Mirabilis, who alone can unlock the secret of the coveted artifact. But along the way, Emily and Stanton will be forced to contend with the most powerful and unpredictable magic of all—the magic of the human heart.
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Format: mass market paperback
ISBN:
9780553592658 (0553592653)
ASIN: 553592653
Publish date: August 31st 2010
Publisher: Spectra
Pages no: 387
Edition language: English
Series: Veneficas Americana (#1)
Story is set in 1876, our world but with a few magical additions. The story is full on action once it gets going, with the romance taking a backseat up until the last chapter or so.Clever, inventive world. Non-stop action. Great bad guys. Feisty, independent heroine. Stubborn, different kind o...
Reminds me a little bit of Tamora Pierce's The Immortals quartet.
Native Star is set in 19th century America, an America which is vaguely steampunky, but much more magical. Both sides in the Civil War used magic, which is presently divided into three schools: animancy (that may not be right, but it's close), traditional magic using herbs and things from the earth....
This just didn't hold my attention. at all.
I became aware of this book through sporadic listening to the Escape Pod Podcasts which is basically an audio zine that publishes short fantasy, science fiction and horror fiction. M.K. Hobson is an occasional contributor and host of the podcast and ever since the book was announced a couple years ...