Review by J+Jenkins63 -- The Engine Woman's Light
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J+Jenkins63
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- Latest Review: The Engine Woman's Light by Laurel Anne Hill
Review by J+Jenkins63 -- The Engine Woman's Light
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Engine Woman's Light" by Laurel Anne Hill.]
3 out of 4 stars
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Airships, steam engines, and ancestral ghosts all play major roles in The Engine Woman’s Light by Laurel Anne Hill. The story begins in 1878 in an alternate version of California. The U.S. controls North California and England controls South California. An elderly woman named Zetta rescues her two-month old great-granddaughter from a train heading toward a workhouse and asylum for the poor, where all the “undesirable” people are sent. Sadly, Zetta doesn’t make it, but her great-granddaughter, Juanita, survives.
Time passes and we next meet Juanita when she is fifteen years old, living with a new family and is betrothed to a young man with a promising future. She is able to see and speak with her ancestral spirits and they entrust her with a mission. She is told by the spirits that she must stop all of the trains which transport the “undesirables” to the asylum. So, Juanita begins a long journey, one that is filled with tragedy and great peril. Her spirit guides are always with her but she’s not always certain they have her best interests in mind.
Although I enjoyed reading The Engine Woman’s Light, it is a flawed story. It succeeded in capturing my interest and kept me wanting to read more, but there were a few things that bothered me. The relationship between two of the characters did not feel believable to me and it didn’t go anywhere. A mysterious mechanical man plays a role in the story but it’s never explained where it came from or why it’s there.
There is some material in the story that certain readers may find offensive. There are mentions of several rape and near-rape incidents. One of the main characters is gay, which I commend the author on for including an LGBTQ character, but there may be those who find it objectionable.
On the positive side, I liked most of the characters. Juanita was a heroine I could root for. Billy had personality. Guide I found to be interesting. I did not care for the characterization of Antonio, though. His story arc did not ring true to me. I don’t recall finding any typos. If there are any they are few and far between. I think The Engine Woman’s Light would really appeal to people who like steampunk, westerns, or speculative fiction. Overall I would have to give The Engine Woman’s Light 3 out of 4 stars. Even though I did not notice any grammatical errors, the story was flawed. Still it is one that can be enjoyed.
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The Engine Woman's Light
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3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Airships, steam engines, and ancestral ghosts all play major roles in The Engine Woman’s Light by Laurel Anne Hill. The story begins in 1878 in an alternate version of California. The U.S. controls North California and England controls South California. An elderly woman named Zetta rescues her two-month old great-granddaughter from a train heading toward a workhouse and asylum for the poor, where all the “undesirable” people are sent. Sadly, Zetta doesn’t make it, but her great-granddaughter, Juanita, survives.
Time passes and we next meet Juanita when she is fifteen years old, living with a new family and is betrothed to a young man with a promising future. She is able to see and speak with her ancestral spirits and they entrust her with a mission. She is told by the spirits that she must stop all of the trains which transport the “undesirables” to the asylum. So, Juanita begins a long journey, one that is filled with tragedy and great peril. Her spirit guides are always with her but she’s not always certain they have her best interests in mind.
Although I enjoyed reading The Engine Woman’s Light, it is a flawed story. It succeeded in capturing my interest and kept me wanting to read more, but there were a few things that bothered me. The relationship between two of the characters did not feel believable to me and it didn’t go anywhere. A mysterious mechanical man plays a role in the story but it’s never explained where it came from or why it’s there.
There is some material in the story that certain readers may find offensive. There are mentions of several rape and near-rape incidents. One of the main characters is gay, which I commend the author on for including an LGBTQ character, but there may be those who find it objectionable.
On the positive side, I liked most of the characters. Juanita was a heroine I could root for. Billy had personality. Guide I found to be interesting. I did not care for the characterization of Antonio, though. His story arc did not ring true to me. I don’t recall finding any typos. If there are any they are few and far between. I think The Engine Woman’s Light would really appeal to people who like steampunk, westerns, or speculative fiction. Overall I would have to give The Engine Woman’s Light 3 out of 4 stars. Even though I did not notice any grammatical errors, the story was flawed. Still it is one that can be enjoyed.
******
The Engine Woman's Light
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like J+Jenkins63's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: The Engine Woman's Light by Laurel Anne Hill
