4 out of 4 stars
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The Engine Woman's Light, by Laurel Anne Hill, takes place in a world that is somehow both supernatural and realistic feeling at the same time. Juanita’s story begins when she is just a baby, on a train destined for an awful place for the forgotten people of the world. She is being transported by an elderly woman, destined for the same horrid location, who discovers in route that she is the child’s Grandmother. With the help of her late husband’s spirit, she is able to get Juanita to a safe place, although it costs her her life. Juanita’s story picks up again 16 years later. She has grown into a strong young woman, and like the grandmother who rescued her, she can speak to her dead ancestors. Those ancestors have an important mission for her, one that will change the future of her people forever.
This book was my first step into the steampunk genre, so I’m afraid I have very little to compare it to, but I did find the story to be extremely enjoyable. Laurel Anne has a lot of talent, and she can describe her world so well that you can picture it vividly in your mind. Her characters are also very well written. None of them struck me as one-dimensional, which is something I really appreciate. The book was also well edited. I did not come across any grammatical errors while reading it.
There is a good deal of sexual content in this book, and some of it is quite graphic and violent, so I wouldn’t recommend it to younger readers. I feel like most adults would really enjoy this book, especially if they are already a fan of the genre. The story is fast-paced, but it is not predictable. There were many points where I thought I knew what was about to happen, only to find myself pleasantly surprised.
One of the things I like most about this book was the ending. I don’t want to give any spoilers, so all I will say is that it was another one of those unexpected moments I mentioned. Often, I find myself in love with the bulk of a novel, but kind of let down by the ending. This was not the case with The Engine Woman’s Light.
Overall, I would rate The Engine Woman’s Light as 4 out of 4 stars. The only way I could see someone not enjoying it is if they despise the steampunk genre, in which case I would be surprised that they picked up the book at all. For everyone else, it is an amazing read.
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The Engine Woman's Light
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