Review by Bookcool123 -- The Engine Woman's Light

Bookcool123 · Post by **Bookcool123** » 18 Sep 2018, 12:06

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Engine Woman's Light" by Laurel Anne Hill.]

3 out of 4 stars

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The Engine Woman's Light by Laurel Anne Hill tells a journal about a mystic, Juanita, destined to save the hopeless and the damned. The time setting is in the year 1800s. Apparitions from biblical figures as well as her spiritual ancestors give her instructions and guidance about her life-saving mission in the world of the living. At that early age of 16, she has mixed character of impulsiveness, uncontrolled fits of anger, and reluctant behavioral tendencies which sometimes irritate or angered the spirits. Eventually, it made her doubtful whether she could save the village, being part of the mission, who adopted her as a baby after finding her in the desert alongside her lifeless grandmother. Her mission, as the spirits had instructed, was to intercept a train traveling to the California asylum. For it carries unfortunate babies abandoned by their parents much like Juanita when she’s just a suckling. Still, a warning about her future is inevitable to happen as prophesied by the spirits. That is, her village will cease to exist and her plan ends in a failure.

Two years after, Guide, a nearly immortal man, took Juanita under the cover of his roof and tended to her physical injuries as well as her broken-down spirit because of the failed mission. Eventually, when romance is about to take full blossom between the two, her ancestors give her a far greater plan. This includes conniving with a member of the Mendoza family who has a hand in running the same asylum as mentioned in the early chapters. Consequently, the later chapters reveal a far more perilous journey and heartwarming acts of redemption.

First and foremost, I love how the author presents the story of the heroine in a journal mode. Secondly, she embeds in your senses the individual identity of the characters mentioned. Third, it is fascinating how the heroine determines who the otherworldly being she is interacting with. For example, her grandmother’s spirit smells like that of a chocolate. Her uncle Billy and grandfather Raul smelled like tobacco and alcohol respectively. In other instances, she could decipher who that spirit is by means of their habit or even what their favorite is like a song. An example of this habit is that demonstrated by her friend Magdalena when she would exhibit giggling or other girly thingy behavior inside Juanita's head when dealing with more or less appealing men. Additionally, an intriguing part of this book that I like is how the spirits and even objects could materialize in the real world to help Juanita in times of trouble. Lastly, she briefly categorizes spiritual possession, the journey to the spirit as well as the dream world, and other various supernatural manifestations not to disrupt the main plot of the story.

Another funny thing in the book, which amazes me by the way, is how Juanita's uncle asks one famous biblical character to appear and convince her about a life-saving mission. Nevertheless, this just proves that the author has an in-depth religious knowledge and a bit of humor to at least give the story a lighter side.

Furthermore, I admire the author for giving a detailed view of the parts and functions of trains during the 1800s which is a focal point in the progress of the story. And great job in giving a picturesque landscape of the Californian desert during the wild west era.

As to the bad side of the book, I just noticed that spirits aside from the heroine’s ancestors can give judgment unto the living at later chapters. This could have easily bypassed the life and death trials the heroine have gone through. Add to it, how I got dismayed by what has happened to Juanita in the hands of unjust men. A dark representation of the wild west in those olden times.

I give this book a rate of 3 out of 4 stars This book is for mature audiences because of the graphics use of words and phrases not suitable for all genre. There are also adult scenes which may be lewd for some readers. Also, religious conservatives may find some parts of the story less appealing.

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The Engine Woman's Light
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Sweet Psamy · Post by **Sweet Psamy** » 03 Oct 2018, 07:11

Juanita seems like an interesting character. Aside the lewd adult scenes, I would love to read this book. Wonderful review. Blessings!

Debjani Ghosh · Post by **Debjani Ghosh** » 04 Oct 2018, 01:26

Good review! This book had a lot of potential but the author could not pull it off.

Noraine Alissa Poria · Post by **Noraine Alissa Poria** » 10 Oct 2018, 12:32

This sounds like a really good book, it just needs a lot furnishing. Juanita's character is really interesting, and I would love to read more about her.