2 out of 4 stars
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The Engine Woman's Light by Laurel Anne Hill is a fictional novel in the steampunk genre, a sub-genre of science fiction and fantasy. With the Victoria era and the arid American West as a backdrop, the story tells of a young girl named Juanita and her mystical travels. Juanita is instructed on a mission to save California's 'thrown-away' people from the fate of the asylum. In true steampunk style, this involves a steam train, Jules Verne-like contraptions and a mystical alternate realm. The tale of this girl's coming of age is dark and involves instructions from the mysterious Shadow World.
The beginning of the book began with an elderly woman saving her great-granddaughter from being given away as an orphan. It was one of the few times I felt I really had a grip on the storyline. However, her conversations with her deceased husband gave me the first insight into what was to come. At that point, I still innocently wondered whether she was mad or not. From then onwards, I was scooped up and taken on a maelstrom of a ride into an alternate time and place.
I felt a mix of emotions reading this book. The writing was truly adventurous and read very smoothly. The grammar and sentence construction was good. There were times when I felt in touch with the story. I enjoyed the first scenes on the train. I felt the hot and arid landscape very vividly. The smell and taste of tobacco was a repeated theme and could easily be imagined. However, there were other times when I felt rather irritated with the protagonist and her mission. I felt her relationships with other men were rather detached. I wondered if she really cared for any of them. Sometimes I wanted her to simply walk away and get on with a normal life.
For those who are taking their first tentative steps into this genre, something lighter might be in order. This book is complex and dark. The otherworldly scenes and mystical flavour often left me feeling a little dazed. I felt like I needed to hang on to the arm of the chair I was sitting in just to ground myself before attempting the next chapter. At times, I really didn't know what was going on.
The Engine Woman's Light is aimed at young adult readers. However, I would only recommend this to adult audiences because of the scenes of sex and rape. I give this book 2 out of 4 stars. Those interested in an adventurous read and have a passion for a gritty sub-genre of science fiction, namely steampunk, should enjoy this book.
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The Engine Woman's Light
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