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Dalanine #1
The Smoke-Scented Girl
In a world very much like our own Victorian England, the country of Dalanine is at war. The implacable, unstoppable Despot has been pushing northward for over a year, conquering everything in his path with military and magical force, leaving nothing but destruction in his wake. For Evon Lorantis, Dalanine’s most promising young magician, the war represents the same kind of work he’s always done, inventing and developing new spells for his country’s defense. But as good as he is, he’s still stumped by the mystery the government’s department of Home Defense brings him: a rash of spontaneously occurring fires, hotter than any natural force can produce, melting stone and vaporizing flesh wherever they strike. Home Defense believes it’s a weapon that will finally defeat the Despot. And they want Evon to harness it.
In investigating the problem, Evon discovers these fires are no accident; there’s a magician behind them, a woman using the fire to prosecute justice on her own terms. Evon sets off on a journey across Dalanine to track down this rogue magician, hoping to persuade her to turn aside from her vigilante crusade to serve her country, afraid of finding only a madwoman at the end of his quest. But the woman he does find is nothing like he expected, the mystery far greater--and older--than he’d imagined, and the secret of the fire more potent than anyone could have guessed. As Evon attempts to untangle fact from myth, what began as an assignment becomes a challenge that will require every ounce of magical ability he has--and will irrevocably change the course of his life.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 16, 2015
32 people are currently reading
406 people want to read
About the author
Melissa McShane
94 books860 followersMelissa grew up a nomad, following her family all over the United States, and ended up living in the shadow of the Wasatch Mountains with her husband, four kids, and three very needy cats. Her love of reading was always a constant during those uncertain years, and her love of writing grew out of that. She wrote reviews and critical essays for many years before turning to fiction, and was surprised at how much she liked it. She loves the fantasy genre and how it stretches the imagination.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 19, 2017
I don't pass out five star ratings lightly. But this fantasy intrigued me, amused me, and put me in a metaphorical headlock and forced me to spend way too much time reading it today.
Evon is a gifted young magician, working way too hard in the office on developing new spells for a nasty boss, when his friend Piercy turns up to shake up his life, asking Evon to help solve the mystery of some random-seeming fires that turn out to have been killing some particularly evil people. A young woman has been spotted on the scene of several of these fires. And the government of their country, threatened by an invading army, would particularly like to know the source of these fires and to have Evon and his friend figure out a way to weaponize the fire spell to use to attack their enemy.
So Piercy and Evon take off to try to find this girl, figure out her powers and maybe build their professional reputations in the process. But, of course, quests like this always get more complicated than everyone expects.
The magic in this book reminds me a little of the Harry Potter series, with Latin-like words being used to cast spells (no magic wands, though; just gestures. Also some very cool magical blue ribbons with ancient, powerful runes). Overall, though, the plot and setting struck me as unique, with some great world-building. There's a little romance, but it's a minor element. I really appreciated the friendships between the main characters and the way they cared about and looked out for each other.
The Smoke-Scented Girl is well-written, and I enjoyed it far more than any other YA fantasy that I've read lately. It may just possibly be my favorite self-pub book ever, right up there with The Martian, if you still can count that as a self-published book. A great read for both teens and adults.
Now on to the sequel!
I received a copy free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Evon is a gifted young magician, working way too hard in the office on developing new spells for a nasty boss, when his friend Piercy turns up to shake up his life, asking Evon to help solve the mystery of some random-seeming fires that turn out to have been killing some particularly evil people. A young woman has been spotted on the scene of several of these fires. And the government of their country, threatened by an invading army, would particularly like to know the source of these fires and to have Evon and his friend figure out a way to weaponize the fire spell to use to attack their enemy.
So Piercy and Evon take off to try to find this girl, figure out her powers and maybe build their professional reputations in the process. But, of course, quests like this always get more complicated than everyone expects.
The magic in this book reminds me a little of the Harry Potter series, with Latin-like words being used to cast spells (no magic wands, though; just gestures. Also some very cool magical blue ribbons with ancient, powerful runes). Overall, though, the plot and setting struck me as unique, with some great world-building. There's a little romance, but it's a minor element. I really appreciated the friendships between the main characters and the way they cared about and looked out for each other.
The Smoke-Scented Girl is well-written, and I enjoyed it far more than any other YA fantasy that I've read lately. It may just possibly be my favorite self-pub book ever, right up there with The Martian, if you still can count that as a self-published book. A great read for both teens and adults.
Now on to the sequel!
I received a copy free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 16, 2015
A note about the Author: I'm going to have to come up with a "standard" disclaimer for Melissa's books. I love them, of course, though not because we're married. Or because I get to read advanced copies. Or even because eventually one will be dedicated to me. What? . . . This one? Oh! So, um, anyway, take my review with all the grains of salt you like. For what it's worth, the rating and opinion are as honest as I can make them. And please don't hold it against Melissa or her very fine books that I just can't stop myself from talking about them in public (however gauche that turns out to be).
A country in an existential war they did not seek out needs the most powerful tools they can lay hands on, as quickly as they may be designed, discovered, or stolen. Evon is employed (through a cooperative) in magical research and development to this end and is very good at his job. Naturally, when word comes about a magic so powerful that it destroys entire buildings (melting them down to slag in the process), a lot of people are hot on the trail. Evon gets pulled in, at first, to help a buddy out. It doesn't take long, however, for the research nerd in him to become obsessed for his own reasons—and not just because a pretty girl turns out to be behind it all, somehow.
I loved Evon from the start. Melissa does a great job describing that obsession for finding answers that has a thirst for knowledge at its heart. I like his friendship with Piercy even more, and their interactions in the hunt for the dread fire mage are a lot of fun. Friends who connect despite (or because of) differences are always a draw, particularly as they leverage their separate strengths in reaching common goals. And when Kerensa gets added to the mix and turns out to be so not what they were expecting... well, that was its own layer of fun as well.
I'll leave others to describe the world-building and story pace. I'm afraid I'm a little close to the story to be rational there.
At any rate, if you're in the mood for a solid fantasy with a (very) light Victorian flavor I hope you'll give this one a shot...
A country in an existential war they did not seek out needs the most powerful tools they can lay hands on, as quickly as they may be designed, discovered, or stolen. Evon is employed (through a cooperative) in magical research and development to this end and is very good at his job. Naturally, when word comes about a magic so powerful that it destroys entire buildings (melting them down to slag in the process), a lot of people are hot on the trail. Evon gets pulled in, at first, to help a buddy out. It doesn't take long, however, for the research nerd in him to become obsessed for his own reasons—and not just because a pretty girl turns out to be behind it all, somehow.
I loved Evon from the start. Melissa does a great job describing that obsession for finding answers that has a thirst for knowledge at its heart. I like his friendship with Piercy even more, and their interactions in the hunt for the dread fire mage are a lot of fun. Friends who connect despite (or because of) differences are always a draw, particularly as they leverage their separate strengths in reaching common goals. And when Kerensa gets added to the mix and turns out to be so not what they were expecting... well, that was its own layer of fun as well.
I'll leave others to describe the world-building and story pace. I'm afraid I'm a little close to the story to be rational there.
At any rate, if you're in the mood for a solid fantasy with a (very) light Victorian flavor I hope you'll give this one a shot...
Read
March 9, 2015Thoroughly enjoyable romantic fantasy mystery. It's set in a vaguely early-nineteenth century sort-of England, with people who speak rather like Americans of Mark Twain's era; magic is a recognized part of life, and a great deal of the story includes sussing out, and using, various spells in order to solve the central mystery, which keeps getting steadily weirder along with the ever-ramping stakes.
Central is Evon, a brilliant young mage who keeps inventing new spells. He works for a very crabby, pinch-fisted woman who expects him to perform miracles while constantly constraining him, which contributes to an already focused geekoid compartmentalization. This focus shifts into high gear when he and his friend Piercy, a charming government agent whose ambition seems divided between enjoying life (and his many flirtations) and making certain that his old friend Evon does things like remember to eat and sleep.
They are sent to find some mysterious mage, a woman, who is burning swathes of the countryside. That spell is needed by the government as a weapon against a terrible invader steadily advancing from the south. Evon and Piercy are not the only ones on this mage's trail . . . and when they do catch up with the mage, everything changes.
The most delightful aspect for me was the banter and interaction between the characters. I also loved the imagination that went into the magic--anyone who adored the magic of Harry Potter should enjoy this right down to the Latinate spells. The romance was beautifully handled, too--totally believable arc for a couple of academic minds.
I really enjoyed her first novel, too--another winner like this, and she goes on my automatic buy list.
Central is Evon, a brilliant young mage who keeps inventing new spells. He works for a very crabby, pinch-fisted woman who expects him to perform miracles while constantly constraining him, which contributes to an already focused geekoid compartmentalization. This focus shifts into high gear when he and his friend Piercy, a charming government agent whose ambition seems divided between enjoying life (and his many flirtations) and making certain that his old friend Evon does things like remember to eat and sleep.
They are sent to find some mysterious mage, a woman, who is burning swathes of the countryside. That spell is needed by the government as a weapon against a terrible invader steadily advancing from the south. Evon and Piercy are not the only ones on this mage's trail . . . and when they do catch up with the mage, everything changes.
The most delightful aspect for me was the banter and interaction between the characters. I also loved the imagination that went into the magic--anyone who adored the magic of Harry Potter should enjoy this right down to the Latinate spells. The romance was beautifully handled, too--totally believable arc for a couple of academic minds.
I really enjoyed her first novel, too--another winner like this, and she goes on my automatic buy list.
Read
May 4, 20222/3/20: I had to re-read this as research for a project, and I couldn't help remembering the details of writing it, how so much of it came about as "and then THIS crazy turn of events happens!" and it still came together as a viable novel. The wonders of Creative Brain.
1/7/18: The title for this book arose from a brainstorming exercise in which you generate as many titles as you can and then see what books you can develop from that. I gave the list to my husband to mark his top five favorites while I did the same. This title was at the top of both our lists. (It was not until much later, thanks to Amazon's search engine, that I discovered the phrase "smoke-scented girl" also comes from Andrea Höst's book Hunting. It was the weirdest coincidence I've ever encountered with one of my books.)
Developing a book from a title is a very different process from choosing a title for an already-written book. To me, smoke suggested fire, and I had the idea of a young woman attached to some kind of fire from the beginning, but the first thing I wrote for this book was the magic system. I wanted a sort of early Victorian feel for the world, so I generated dozens of "command words" based on Latin (though not the obvious Latin roots) and worked out how magicians in that world would work magic. Enter Evon Lorantis, inventor of spells, obsessive and a bit of a nerd (though still very attractive). Once I had those three elements, the rest of the story--Evon investigating a mysterious spell that turned out to be rooted in myth--came together easily.
The greatest secret about this book, in which smell and taste play such crucial roles, is that I have virtually no sense of smell. I had to make up almost everything about the scent of Kerensa's spell, and my husband would sometimes prod me to include a smell detail in places because I hadn't for a while. Sometimes, in writing, you just have to fake it.
I wish I knew where Piercy Faranter came from. He's one of two characters I've created who seem to write themselves, as if they came fully-formed from some other place. I liked him enough that I've written another book in this world with him as the main character, rogue, spy, and man about town. I hope people like it, because I love Piercy and enjoyed showing a different side of him.
My son is currently reading this book aloud to his sisters. He's a budding voice actor and is using this book for practice in narration. Some of the voices he does are...interesting. I had to stop him doing Evon as a gravelly-voiced forty-year-old, for one. But it's been fun to listen in occasionally and be amazed that they're all willing to be entertained by something their mom wrote.
1/7/18: The title for this book arose from a brainstorming exercise in which you generate as many titles as you can and then see what books you can develop from that. I gave the list to my husband to mark his top five favorites while I did the same. This title was at the top of both our lists. (It was not until much later, thanks to Amazon's search engine, that I discovered the phrase "smoke-scented girl" also comes from Andrea Höst's book Hunting. It was the weirdest coincidence I've ever encountered with one of my books.)
Developing a book from a title is a very different process from choosing a title for an already-written book. To me, smoke suggested fire, and I had the idea of a young woman attached to some kind of fire from the beginning, but the first thing I wrote for this book was the magic system. I wanted a sort of early Victorian feel for the world, so I generated dozens of "command words" based on Latin (though not the obvious Latin roots) and worked out how magicians in that world would work magic. Enter Evon Lorantis, inventor of spells, obsessive and a bit of a nerd (though still very attractive). Once I had those three elements, the rest of the story--Evon investigating a mysterious spell that turned out to be rooted in myth--came together easily.
The greatest secret about this book, in which smell and taste play such crucial roles, is that I have virtually no sense of smell. I had to make up almost everything about the scent of Kerensa's spell, and my husband would sometimes prod me to include a smell detail in places because I hadn't for a while. Sometimes, in writing, you just have to fake it.
I wish I knew where Piercy Faranter came from. He's one of two characters I've created who seem to write themselves, as if they came fully-formed from some other place. I liked him enough that I've written another book in this world with him as the main character, rogue, spy, and man about town. I hope people like it, because I love Piercy and enjoyed showing a different side of him.
My son is currently reading this book aloud to his sisters. He's a budding voice actor and is using this book for practice in narration. Some of the voices he does are...interesting. I had to stop him doing Evon as a gravelly-voiced forty-year-old, for one. But it's been fun to listen in occasionally and be amazed that they're all willing to be entertained by something their mom wrote.
March 22, 2015
Very delightful - another thanks to Sherwood Smith for recommending this! A little bit of Victorian England meets heroic fantasy with magic and romance. I can never overestimate how pleasant it is to read about nice, sensible characters, who make mistakes, but honest ones, not just random "oh, I'm not going to trust this person because it doesn't suit the workings of the plot for me to believe what he's saying to me." I loved the familiar banter between friends, and the shy, can't-believe-it's-true development of the romance.
February 6, 2017
4.0 Stars!
This is a good quest-type book for folks who love to figure things out. Evon, the main protagonist has a tendency to get so involved in his work, he forgets he needs to co-exist with the rest of the world. Needless to say, his love life is non-existent. But thanks to his friend Piercy, who is much less focused and certainly more relaxed, he has a fighting chance at love.
I've read other books by this author and enjoyed this equally although I would say the romance is very tame and absolutely nothing untoward happens.
This is a good quest-type book for folks who love to figure things out. Evon, the main protagonist has a tendency to get so involved in his work, he forgets he needs to co-exist with the rest of the world. Needless to say, his love life is non-existent. But thanks to his friend Piercy, who is much less focused and certainly more relaxed, he has a fighting chance at love.
I've read other books by this author and enjoyed this equally although I would say the romance is very tame and absolutely nothing untoward happens.
February 16, 2015
Disclaimer: I know the author and read this book as an ARC. There was no other monetary or chocolate or even caramel compensation to say good things about her book. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone, muwahahaha...
Review:
The Smoke Scented Girl is a fun, fast, fantasy read. (Alliteration is awesome). This story takes place in the country of Dalanine where a war has been going on for some time against a Despot who seems fully unstoppable as he marches north towards the capital. Evon is a young magician who woks for the department of Home Defense. He has incredible talent in creating new spells and using well known spells to do unthought of things. Word is brought to him of a spell like no one has ever seen before, a fire so hot it melts stone attached to a woman who seems determined to use this fire to seek justice against those she thinks deserves it. Evon is ordered to find her and to learn the spell with the hopes it can be used to stop the Despot.
There are a lot of things to love about this book and my rating would really be somewhere between 4 and 4.5, but no half stars. :)
One of my favorite things is the setting which is a combination of a fantasy world and England around the Victorian era. This leads to some really interesting politics and the fun details of great coats and gowns, carriages and blossoming technology all with a magical twist. In ways it reminds me a little of steampunk, but where the focus there is gears and steam, magic fills those roles. (Magicpunk! New genre for the win! And for those who like the Glamour in Glass books or the Parasol Protectorate books you'll find a lot to like here.)
And the magical system is well put together, as it has to be for as central as it is, combining the idea of using arcane words, circles and foci to shape power into the affect that you want. Once everything is defined you can then teach others, but figuring out which words and foci to use to get the right effect isn't always easy.
The book is told from the point of view of Evon, who is one of the most accomplished young magicians of his age and acquaintance. This is a pro and a con for him because he's got good steady work, but he's also one of the most magically obsessed people anyone knows. He reminds me of a lot of the programmers I know who get a technical problem between their teeth and just cannot let it go until it's solved. This means he's still living in his parent's home, has precious few friends, and really can't remember the last time he courted anyone. Evon was not immediately my favorite character, maybe that level of nerdish obsession hits a little too close to home, but the more involved in the mystery he became the more I was drawn to him. And when he finally starts to figure out just how in love he is and how doomed it seems I was heartbroken for him. I wanted him to win out in the end and was very satisfied in how his story came together.
The Smoke scented girl (Kerensa) from the title of the book is interesting as well, though the reader comes to know her much in the same way Evon does. For the first part of the book she's more a curiosity than a character, and it's through his eyes that she becomes a person as well.
Then there's Piercy. I have to admit from the first time he appears on the page Piercy swept me away. He's charming and well spoken with an undeniable sense of style and self, but beyond that he proves very quickly to be a truly good friend as well. He's the one that steps in to make Evon slow down and eat, or bathe or get away from the work and he's loyal when it seems like everyone else is against Evon and Evon's ideas for both saving Kerensa and for stopping the Despot once and for all. I'd love to see more of Piercy's story including him finding a girl that's just right for him.
Beyond these pivotal three characters is a host of secondary's who do a lot more than just take up space on the page. There is certainly a feeling that each person who is introduced has their own life and their own goals, even if we only see them briefly. There are jealous baddies who we love to hate and people who are just so caught up in their own importance that they're blinded to the realities around them, but they make the story move.
As far as negatives there are a few little spots where the traveling gets bogged down, and sometimes Evon is a little too clever without being wise, which made me want to poke him a bit. And I wish we knew a little more about Kerensa's thought processes, but that's more a limitation of the third person limited pov and not so much a criticism of the piece all together.
So go read it already. :)
Review:
The Smoke Scented Girl is a fun, fast, fantasy read. (Alliteration is awesome). This story takes place in the country of Dalanine where a war has been going on for some time against a Despot who seems fully unstoppable as he marches north towards the capital. Evon is a young magician who woks for the department of Home Defense. He has incredible talent in creating new spells and using well known spells to do unthought of things. Word is brought to him of a spell like no one has ever seen before, a fire so hot it melts stone attached to a woman who seems determined to use this fire to seek justice against those she thinks deserves it. Evon is ordered to find her and to learn the spell with the hopes it can be used to stop the Despot.
There are a lot of things to love about this book and my rating would really be somewhere between 4 and 4.5, but no half stars. :)
One of my favorite things is the setting which is a combination of a fantasy world and England around the Victorian era. This leads to some really interesting politics and the fun details of great coats and gowns, carriages and blossoming technology all with a magical twist. In ways it reminds me a little of steampunk, but where the focus there is gears and steam, magic fills those roles. (Magicpunk! New genre for the win! And for those who like the Glamour in Glass books or the Parasol Protectorate books you'll find a lot to like here.)
And the magical system is well put together, as it has to be for as central as it is, combining the idea of using arcane words, circles and foci to shape power into the affect that you want. Once everything is defined you can then teach others, but figuring out which words and foci to use to get the right effect isn't always easy.
The book is told from the point of view of Evon, who is one of the most accomplished young magicians of his age and acquaintance. This is a pro and a con for him because he's got good steady work, but he's also one of the most magically obsessed people anyone knows. He reminds me of a lot of the programmers I know who get a technical problem between their teeth and just cannot let it go until it's solved. This means he's still living in his parent's home, has precious few friends, and really can't remember the last time he courted anyone. Evon was not immediately my favorite character, maybe that level of nerdish obsession hits a little too close to home, but the more involved in the mystery he became the more I was drawn to him. And when he finally starts to figure out just how in love he is and how doomed it seems I was heartbroken for him. I wanted him to win out in the end and was very satisfied in how his story came together.
The Smoke scented girl (Kerensa) from the title of the book is interesting as well, though the reader comes to know her much in the same way Evon does. For the first part of the book she's more a curiosity than a character, and it's through his eyes that she becomes a person as well.
Then there's Piercy. I have to admit from the first time he appears on the page Piercy swept me away. He's charming and well spoken with an undeniable sense of style and self, but beyond that he proves very quickly to be a truly good friend as well. He's the one that steps in to make Evon slow down and eat, or bathe or get away from the work and he's loyal when it seems like everyone else is against Evon and Evon's ideas for both saving Kerensa and for stopping the Despot once and for all. I'd love to see more of Piercy's story including him finding a girl that's just right for him.
Beyond these pivotal three characters is a host of secondary's who do a lot more than just take up space on the page. There is certainly a feeling that each person who is introduced has their own life and their own goals, even if we only see them briefly. There are jealous baddies who we love to hate and people who are just so caught up in their own importance that they're blinded to the realities around them, but they make the story move.
As far as negatives there are a few little spots where the traveling gets bogged down, and sometimes Evon is a little too clever without being wise, which made me want to poke him a bit. And I wish we knew a little more about Kerensa's thought processes, but that's more a limitation of the third person limited pov and not so much a criticism of the piece all together.
So go read it already. :)
April 4, 2017
The Despot is moving closer to Dalanine, conquering and destroying as he goes. Home Defense is desperate for a way to defeat him. They hope the answer can be found in the random fires, hotter than anything known, which are occurring across the country. Evon Lorantis, a bright, young magician, is sent to find the source of the fire. His only clue: a young woman has been seen leaving the areas where the fires occur. When he finds her, nothing is as he expected, and the mystery of the fire is much more complicated than anyone imagined. Now Evon must race to find the secrets of the fire before it’s too late.
I was completely engrossed in this story, especially once they found Kerensa. I wanted to know the answers. I found the spell and the way Evon worked on figuring it out so interesting. I wish I could have seen it myself! (That might sound like strange wording, but read the book and you’ll understand.)
This new world, filled with myth and magic, was developed beautifully. The similarities with Victorian England made it easy to understand, picture and believe. That is one of my favorite time periods. Add magic and that is a world I have to visit!
I loved the mythology in the story! The author did an amazing job of weaving myth with the present problems. What is fact? What is simply story? Is it even important? It all came together in an incredible way at the end!
The characters were great! They were well developed, each with strengths and weaknesses. The friendship between Evon and Piercy was something special. It was forged over years, and I could feel the depth of it. I liked the development of Evon and Kerensa’s relationship, and the way he always defended her. Other characters really added to the story with their personalities, links to the main characters and methods for finding answers.
This is another great book by Melissa McShane! I’m looking forward to her next one!!
I received a complimentary copy of the book. I have expressed my honest opinion.
I was completely engrossed in this story, especially once they found Kerensa. I wanted to know the answers. I found the spell and the way Evon worked on figuring it out so interesting. I wish I could have seen it myself! (That might sound like strange wording, but read the book and you’ll understand.)
This new world, filled with myth and magic, was developed beautifully. The similarities with Victorian England made it easy to understand, picture and believe. That is one of my favorite time periods. Add magic and that is a world I have to visit!
I loved the mythology in the story! The author did an amazing job of weaving myth with the present problems. What is fact? What is simply story? Is it even important? It all came together in an incredible way at the end!
The characters were great! They were well developed, each with strengths and weaknesses. The friendship between Evon and Piercy was something special. It was forged over years, and I could feel the depth of it. I liked the development of Evon and Kerensa’s relationship, and the way he always defended her. Other characters really added to the story with their personalities, links to the main characters and methods for finding answers.
This is another great book by Melissa McShane! I’m looking forward to her next one!!
I received a complimentary copy of the book. I have expressed my honest opinion.
July 16, 2015
This book was written by the friend of a friend who recommended it to me and asked for my honest review so I went into it with a different more critical mind set versus hey this looks like it might be fun mindset than I would normally.
Since others have fleshed out the plot and characters in their reviews I won't do that here
First off one of the best tests for me of a good book is if at the end of the book am I still thinking about it, did I get involved with the characters, do I wish the book could be a series or am I looking forward to more from the author or those characters. In this case the answers to all of the above is yes.
A couple observations however. It took me a few pages to figure out the basic setting and time period and to get the characters pictured correctly in it.
Overall it felt like the author had created a world that she was very familiar with but for those of us new to the world we didn't quite get enough introduction or background in it to let us move about as freely as the characters did.
The story line was intriguing and the characters interesting and well developed so I was willing to extrapolate meanings and press forward but could have used a bit more understanding of the world and how magic works in it and of the different philosophies of the groups involved.
I do wish I'd seen the command words and spells section at the back of the book in the beginning not as I finished the book and think it would have been better placed prior to the first chapter.
Over all this is a great start of a new author whose strengths for me were in her characters and her world building and I hope to read more from her.
Since others have fleshed out the plot and characters in their reviews I won't do that here
First off one of the best tests for me of a good book is if at the end of the book am I still thinking about it, did I get involved with the characters, do I wish the book could be a series or am I looking forward to more from the author or those characters. In this case the answers to all of the above is yes.
A couple observations however. It took me a few pages to figure out the basic setting and time period and to get the characters pictured correctly in it.
Overall it felt like the author had created a world that she was very familiar with but for those of us new to the world we didn't quite get enough introduction or background in it to let us move about as freely as the characters did.
The story line was intriguing and the characters interesting and well developed so I was willing to extrapolate meanings and press forward but could have used a bit more understanding of the world and how magic works in it and of the different philosophies of the groups involved.
I do wish I'd seen the command words and spells section at the back of the book in the beginning not as I finished the book and think it would have been better placed prior to the first chapter.
Over all this is a great start of a new author whose strengths for me were in her characters and her world building and I hope to read more from her.
July 3, 2015
So I am going to begin this review with a story. Once I picked up a book, the cover was beautiful and the description on the jacket intriguing. Once I was reading the book it was interesting, and the characters were like able and engaging, but I couldn't really get into the book. There as a nagging feeling that I just was missing most of the underlying jokes and relationships, I enjoyed it, but couldn't love it. When I finished I starting researching it and discovered why...because it was a sequel and I MISSED the entire back story.
That is how this book read to me. Although it is the first book (stand alone novel?) I don't feel like the author gave enough information both in the world building and back story. The world has a feeling of steam punk, but instead of steam, it's magic. I honestly didn't really understand all the rules to this world, how the magic worked, why some could utilize it and others could not, why it had all the feeling of Victorian England, but it wasn't England. There is also some allusions to some mythological lore but it was not utilized enough in the first part of the book to really give meaning to circumstances that happened later in the novel. This is one of those rare times that I actually wished there could have been more written on the subject. This is an intriguing world that is introduced, but as a reader I had only a vague sense of it.
The character development was interesting to me. The primary character is Evon who is obsessive, and clueless, but good at magic. (Better than everyone else, and he knows it, so he is kind of egotistical as well.) So I had a hard time really connecting to him. The female character Kerensa is a much better character IMO, she is witty, smart and completely haunted by her circumstances. And since Evon's story consisted of chasing her down over and over, I think it would have been good to actually have her perspective on the story, maybe even more than his.
My only other complaint is that there was a great deal of the book spent with nothing more happening than Evon studying spells, and obsessing over it, and falling for Kerensa and obsessing over it, which loses it's excitement quickly.
All this being said though, I enjoyed this book, it was a good debut novel and I look forward to reading more from Mrs. McShane! 3.5 stars
That is how this book read to me. Although it is the first book (stand alone novel?) I don't feel like the author gave enough information both in the world building and back story. The world has a feeling of steam punk, but instead of steam, it's magic. I honestly didn't really understand all the rules to this world, how the magic worked, why some could utilize it and others could not, why it had all the feeling of Victorian England, but it wasn't England. There is also some allusions to some mythological lore but it was not utilized enough in the first part of the book to really give meaning to circumstances that happened later in the novel. This is one of those rare times that I actually wished there could have been more written on the subject. This is an intriguing world that is introduced, but as a reader I had only a vague sense of it.
The character development was interesting to me. The primary character is Evon who is obsessive, and clueless, but good at magic. (Better than everyone else, and he knows it, so he is kind of egotistical as well.) So I had a hard time really connecting to him. The female character Kerensa is a much better character IMO, she is witty, smart and completely haunted by her circumstances. And since Evon's story consisted of chasing her down over and over, I think it would have been good to actually have her perspective on the story, maybe even more than his.
My only other complaint is that there was a great deal of the book spent with nothing more happening than Evon studying spells, and obsessing over it, and falling for Kerensa and obsessing over it, which loses it's excitement quickly.
All this being said though, I enjoyed this book, it was a good debut novel and I look forward to reading more from Mrs. McShane! 3.5 stars
June 17, 2015
Perfectly told! Kind of a King Arthur type of tale with a creative twist and unique voice. Witty, serious, light and dark. Mix of modern/Victorian and mythical/medieval. Dash of young love, and lots of friendship. Loved the hero, a genius, work-aholic magician. He was sweet, smart and heroic.
December 20, 2018
So good. I am so, so, SO happy to have found this author XD her world is amazing and magical and so well done that I don't understand a lot of it, but I loved it. Sometimes it felt a bit like the Wizarding World of HP, with the group of wizards that work for the government and all the Latin names for spells and the clothes (but maybe I am just imagining it, that they were wearing robes?). I loved that the story is narrated from the MC Evon's POV (a male POV, who is head over heels over the girl... how rare is that?). The romance is nice and cute, his friendship with Piercy, who is the sweetest and kindest friend and who would be an awesome beta hero in his own book, was lovely and Kerensa was superb as the smoked-scented girl.
There were times where I was a bit lost in regards to the plot and the world-building, hence the 4 stars, but overall I loved it, and for me Melissa McShane is THE author of 2018 XD
Read during flights, so extra points on the sentimental part ^_^
There were times where I was a bit lost in regards to the plot and the world-building, hence the 4 stars, but overall I loved it, and for me Melissa McShane is THE author of 2018 XD
Read during flights, so extra points on the sentimental part ^_^
November 5, 2024
I’ve really enjoyed this author’s books, so this was a big disappointment (and would’ve been two stars, really, but I rounded up in case it’s a “it’s not you it’s me” kind of thing).
Had high hopes in the beginning but then it just got boring. Most of the book is the main character trying and failing to figure out a spell. Occasionally they move around and occasionally other magicians interfere. It felt sort of like a video game. Just didn’t work for me.
Had high hopes in the beginning but then it just got boring. Most of the book is the main character trying and failing to figure out a spell. Occasionally they move around and occasionally other magicians interfere. It felt sort of like a video game. Just didn’t work for me.
March 31, 2015
Evon is a recent graduate of magic school, and his high marks earned him a prestigious job at a big-name magic cooperative where he creates new spells that earn the business money. Despite the prestige, he can’t help but feel like his life isn’t headed in the direction that would truly make him happy. Until one day his friend Piercy, who works for the government, brings him a riddle that begs to be solved: a mysterious pattern of burned-out houses around the country Dalanine.
They go off in search of what they believe is a new, powerful fire spell that could change the course of the war that threatens the border of their country–also knowing the consequences if they don’t find it.
What they find is something unexpected: a young woman who bears a curse that seeks out black-hearted individuals and pronounces judgment on them with a fiery death. Unfortunately for Kerensa, she has no control of the fire, and any attempt on her part to delay the conflagration results in the deaths of innocents. It takes time for Evon and Piercy to convince her that they want to help her, and when she finally agrees to cooperate, Evon discovers a magical mystery even greater than the one it took to find her.
THE SMOKE-SCENTED GIRL is Melissa McShane’s newest novel, and it’s set in a kind of Victorian-Harry-Potter where magic is a part of everyday living. The story is about the magic, how it works, even some of its history. We’re introduced to the mystery of the Kerensa’s curse and watch Evon as he unfolds it bit by bit. McShane handles these unfolding details with finesse without any infodumps or pauses in the pacing. There are carriages, swords, magic spells, inns, some tongue-twisting names, and all other sorts of the more traditional fantasy setting details. The setting isn’t groundbreaking, and the threat of invasion by a Despot doesn’t feel as immediate as it could. But the focus here is on how this particular magical mystery is solved, which I found fascinating–much like how we learn about the magic through the mystery in Carol Berg’s THE SPIRIT LENS.
Other than the prologue, Evon is our PoV narrator. He’s brilliant with magic, often to the detriment of his own health because he becomes easily obsessed in the riddle of how it works. He can be pretty single-minded in his objectives, but thank goodness he has his friend Piercy to keep him from over-extending himself. Piercy also reminds me of a character in THE SPIRIT LENS, Illario, whose sometimes foppish exterior hides a very capable man beneath. Unlike Illario (who is one of my favorite characters to read), Piercy’s character doesn’t go deeper than the superficial. There are other secondary characters with their quirks, although some felt like they were there only to thwart Evon’s purposes. It’s Kerensa’s role in Evon’s life that becomes the big player here as he at first admires her beauty, but then comes to appreciate her fortitude, kind-heartedness, and spirit.
Yes, this is a love story. Just warning you guys out there.
That is when Evon’s obsession to unravel the magical mystery becomes a race across Dalanine to save the woman he loves. Yes it gets mushy. But it’s sweet and adorable and you can’t help but root for Evon and Kerensa as they attempt to overcome what seems impossible odds.
THE SMOKE-SCENTED GIRL has a lot going for it, especially for you parents of teenage girls who are looking for clean, romantic stories for your daughters to read. Maybe she’s a fan of the Harry Potter books and has since grown up and is looking for something new. This would be for her.
Recommended Age: 14+
Language: Mild
Violence: Some, but not gory
Sex: References are mostly vague
***Find this and other reviews at Elitist Book Reviews***
They go off in search of what they believe is a new, powerful fire spell that could change the course of the war that threatens the border of their country–also knowing the consequences if they don’t find it.
What they find is something unexpected: a young woman who bears a curse that seeks out black-hearted individuals and pronounces judgment on them with a fiery death. Unfortunately for Kerensa, she has no control of the fire, and any attempt on her part to delay the conflagration results in the deaths of innocents. It takes time for Evon and Piercy to convince her that they want to help her, and when she finally agrees to cooperate, Evon discovers a magical mystery even greater than the one it took to find her.
THE SMOKE-SCENTED GIRL is Melissa McShane’s newest novel, and it’s set in a kind of Victorian-Harry-Potter where magic is a part of everyday living. The story is about the magic, how it works, even some of its history. We’re introduced to the mystery of the Kerensa’s curse and watch Evon as he unfolds it bit by bit. McShane handles these unfolding details with finesse without any infodumps or pauses in the pacing. There are carriages, swords, magic spells, inns, some tongue-twisting names, and all other sorts of the more traditional fantasy setting details. The setting isn’t groundbreaking, and the threat of invasion by a Despot doesn’t feel as immediate as it could. But the focus here is on how this particular magical mystery is solved, which I found fascinating–much like how we learn about the magic through the mystery in Carol Berg’s THE SPIRIT LENS.
Other than the prologue, Evon is our PoV narrator. He’s brilliant with magic, often to the detriment of his own health because he becomes easily obsessed in the riddle of how it works. He can be pretty single-minded in his objectives, but thank goodness he has his friend Piercy to keep him from over-extending himself. Piercy also reminds me of a character in THE SPIRIT LENS, Illario, whose sometimes foppish exterior hides a very capable man beneath. Unlike Illario (who is one of my favorite characters to read), Piercy’s character doesn’t go deeper than the superficial. There are other secondary characters with their quirks, although some felt like they were there only to thwart Evon’s purposes. It’s Kerensa’s role in Evon’s life that becomes the big player here as he at first admires her beauty, but then comes to appreciate her fortitude, kind-heartedness, and spirit.
Yes, this is a love story. Just warning you guys out there.
That is when Evon’s obsession to unravel the magical mystery becomes a race across Dalanine to save the woman he loves. Yes it gets mushy. But it’s sweet and adorable and you can’t help but root for Evon and Kerensa as they attempt to overcome what seems impossible odds.
THE SMOKE-SCENTED GIRL has a lot going for it, especially for you parents of teenage girls who are looking for clean, romantic stories for your daughters to read. Maybe she’s a fan of the Harry Potter books and has since grown up and is looking for something new. This would be for her.
Recommended Age: 14+
Language: Mild
Violence: Some, but not gory
Sex: References are mostly vague
***Find this and other reviews at Elitist Book Reviews***
February 4, 2024
I've become a Melissa McShane fan over the past little while. Her books consistently make it into my Best of the Year roundups, because they're well crafted, extremely well edited, and usually feature determined, principled, capable young women as protagonists (my favourite kind of protagonist).
This one is a little different in a few ways. The less important way is that the determined, principled, capable young woman is not the viewpoint character or the protagonist; that's a determined, principled, capable young man who eventually figures out he's in love with her. One of the more important ways in which it's different from other McShane books is that it achieves and sustains a higher level of tension. The slower beginning/action-packed ending pattern is still there, but I didn't notice it as strongly, because from early on we have a motivated protagonist in a dynamic situation, plenty at stake, and lots happening.
The other important difference in this book is that the world feels richer and deeper than in other McShane books I've read. Not that it's bad in those other books, just that this one has some extra touches that make me believe in it. The names, for instance; I pay a lot of attention to character names, and these feel like the author has paid attention to them as well. They don't fall into the trap of familiar biblical names in a world where Christianity doesn't exist; they're made up, but they're made up in a way that makes them both easy to remember and credible. There are repeating patterns to the surnames, for example, suffixes which several surnames have in common - the kind of thing that happens in real life.
The world feels three-dimensional and lived-in, not thrown together out of scenery flats like so many fantasy worlds, but this is achieved by a few subtle touches rather than a series of infodumps. It's broadly similar to, but not simply a version of, Napoleonic-era Britain (a period the author has researched as background for another series), and there's a good balance between elements of similarity and elements of difference. The whole thing feels both authentic and thought through, and given how often I ding books set in the 19th century or its equivalent for missing both of those marks, I appreciate that very much.
The characters are delightful: the brilliant young mage who doubts himself and has trouble getting people to take him seriously because he's so young; the cursed young woman dealing with her fate as best she can, and making a decent job of it; the seemingly foppish friend who is clearly much more competent than he lets on, loyal to the death, and closer than a brother; the petty bureaucrat pigheadedly determined to do the wrong thing; the jealous former teacher who contradicts the wunderkind at every turn; the no-nonsense, experienced older woman who trusts the young people to get it right; even the incidental, nameless characters met along the way have a sense of solidity to them.
These are new heights for an always-entertaining author, and I look forward to reading many more of her books.
This one is a little different in a few ways. The less important way is that the determined, principled, capable young woman is not the viewpoint character or the protagonist; that's a determined, principled, capable young man who eventually figures out he's in love with her. One of the more important ways in which it's different from other McShane books is that it achieves and sustains a higher level of tension. The slower beginning/action-packed ending pattern is still there, but I didn't notice it as strongly, because from early on we have a motivated protagonist in a dynamic situation, plenty at stake, and lots happening.
The other important difference in this book is that the world feels richer and deeper than in other McShane books I've read. Not that it's bad in those other books, just that this one has some extra touches that make me believe in it. The names, for instance; I pay a lot of attention to character names, and these feel like the author has paid attention to them as well. They don't fall into the trap of familiar biblical names in a world where Christianity doesn't exist; they're made up, but they're made up in a way that makes them both easy to remember and credible. There are repeating patterns to the surnames, for example, suffixes which several surnames have in common - the kind of thing that happens in real life.
The world feels three-dimensional and lived-in, not thrown together out of scenery flats like so many fantasy worlds, but this is achieved by a few subtle touches rather than a series of infodumps. It's broadly similar to, but not simply a version of, Napoleonic-era Britain (a period the author has researched as background for another series), and there's a good balance between elements of similarity and elements of difference. The whole thing feels both authentic and thought through, and given how often I ding books set in the 19th century or its equivalent for missing both of those marks, I appreciate that very much.
The characters are delightful: the brilliant young mage who doubts himself and has trouble getting people to take him seriously because he's so young; the cursed young woman dealing with her fate as best she can, and making a decent job of it; the seemingly foppish friend who is clearly much more competent than he lets on, loyal to the death, and closer than a brother; the petty bureaucrat pigheadedly determined to do the wrong thing; the jealous former teacher who contradicts the wunderkind at every turn; the no-nonsense, experienced older woman who trusts the young people to get it right; even the incidental, nameless characters met along the way have a sense of solidity to them.
These are new heights for an always-entertaining author, and I look forward to reading many more of her books.
December 10, 2015
My first introduction to Ms. McShane was in Emissary-- I liked it well enough to want a sequel, though perhaps with a new twist. This one surpassed it. I enjoyed the ambiance, which is saying something since I generally despise a Victorian feel. The pomp and propriety actually added character to the interactions instead of making it feel like something was being suppressed. McShane has a talent for character development, and I felt like I really knew each of the primary movers (except maybe the antagonist, who was really an archetype anyhow). The love interest felt just like that--a love interest instead of the Romance driving the novel (which often sets my teeth on edge, and is a particular turnoff in Victorian settings).
The pacing seemed stilted at times, which is why this isn't a 5-star review. That said, the one thing McShane really nails is the climax--this was true in Emissary too. Once you hit a certain point, it's very hard to put down. By the time I finished the last page, I *really* wanted more. I am truly looking forward to reading Servant of the Crown, which should give me more to look forward to when I finish.
The pacing seemed stilted at times, which is why this isn't a 5-star review. That said, the one thing McShane really nails is the climax--this was true in Emissary too. Once you hit a certain point, it's very hard to put down. By the time I finished the last page, I *really* wanted more. I am truly looking forward to reading Servant of the Crown, which should give me more to look forward to when I finish.
May 31, 2019
High fantasy set in a world so similar to Victorian England that I kept forgetting that it was not.
Our hero, Evon, is a young, brilliant magician, commissioned by the government to track a "Fearsome Firemage" who is creating havoc and deadly fires across the land. I don't want to write too much more about it, because there are a series of surprises as the story unfolds that I really enjoyed.
The world building is not present in huge amounts, which might be why my mind kept defaulting to Victorian England, but that also prevents the story from being bogged down with extraneous details.
The main characters are all very likable and believable, and the story is suspenseful while not being grimdark. Melissa McShane is really an undiscovered gem, and I look forward to reading her other book set in Dalanine and other worlds.
Our hero, Evon, is a young, brilliant magician, commissioned by the government to track a "Fearsome Firemage" who is creating havoc and deadly fires across the land. I don't want to write too much more about it, because there are a series of surprises as the story unfolds that I really enjoyed.
The world building is not present in huge amounts, which might be why my mind kept defaulting to Victorian England, but that also prevents the story from being bogged down with extraneous details.
The main characters are all very likable and believable, and the story is suspenseful while not being grimdark. Melissa McShane is really an undiscovered gem, and I look forward to reading her other book set in Dalanine and other worlds.
April 21, 2015
What starts as a mystery turns into a rescue tale, but then good development of primary characters and some magical plot twists result in a sweet, often funny, and full of things to talk about tale.
July 21, 2022
This is only the sixth book I've read from this author and the second series, but I can already tell that Melissa McShane writes such consistent quality.
Love the creativity here and the subversion of certain tropes (like the "woman scorned" antagonist that actually isn't!), and I really liked the characterization of our two leads (I think it's a testament to McShane's character work that I still liked Kerensa so much, when often a character with so much plot focused on them feels a little underdeveloped), plus Piercy (excited to read his book!)
I was SO invested in and fascinated by the mystery aspect related to the spell. I found that incredibly interesting and compelling, and it's making me conclude after my experience with Wondering Sight, which I really enjoyed and most people didn't, that I like the way McShane handles magical details / explorations of magic - I find it fascinating and not boring at all.
I also really liked the way stories and legends were used here.
The weak link for me here was the romance - I really liked their dynamic and some of their scenes together, but it just felt too quick? Otherwise, a really solid read that I would definitely recommend.
CW: Grief, fire, death by burning, suicidal thoughts / actions, murder, war
Love the creativity here and the subversion of certain tropes (like the "woman scorned" antagonist that actually isn't!), and I really liked the characterization of our two leads (I think it's a testament to McShane's character work that I still liked Kerensa so much, when often a character with so much plot focused on them feels a little underdeveloped), plus Piercy (excited to read his book!)
I was SO invested in and fascinated by the mystery aspect related to the spell. I found that incredibly interesting and compelling, and it's making me conclude after my experience with Wondering Sight, which I really enjoyed and most people didn't, that I like the way McShane handles magical details / explorations of magic - I find it fascinating and not boring at all.
I also really liked the way stories and legends were used here.
The weak link for me here was the romance - I really liked their dynamic and some of their scenes together, but it just felt too quick? Otherwise, a really solid read that I would definitely recommend.
CW: Grief, fire, death by burning, suicidal thoughts / actions, murder, war
March 11, 2018
Like a few other Melissa McShane novels, this one took me forever to finish. I had gotten to the 77% mark like a year ago, so when I went to pick it up again it became obvious that I had completely forgotten the plot. So I restarted from the beginning a few days ago and finally managed to finish. Every time I read one of this author's books, I an struck by how good she is at writing. There are so many little details that she puts in to make her characters and world feel more life-like, even though they're fantasy. I highly recommend this book, but I will say it's subtle, so if you're not in the mood for that kind of read, you may not get the same amount of enjoyment I (finally) did. 4 stars
September 8, 2021
I liked this story. It's an interesting attention holding tale, and although I'm happy it turned out pretty much the way I thought it should, it was still an interesting read, and since I had no idea it was book 1 of a series, now I have to find others in the series, as I had thought this was a stand-alone story.
Good story for most fantasy fans I think, though if you're not really a fantasy fan, it may still suit you since for the most part, the fantasy elements only enhance the story, but don't really define it, (well, perhaps except for the smoke part of course). Anyway, it's a good story, and you shouldn't let genre boundaries keep you from reading it if it sounds like a decent story to you.
Good story for most fantasy fans I think, though if you're not really a fantasy fan, it may still suit you since for the most part, the fantasy elements only enhance the story, but don't really define it, (well, perhaps except for the smoke part of course). Anyway, it's a good story, and you shouldn't let genre boundaries keep you from reading it if it sounds like a decent story to you.
March 3, 2025
Overall a good solid romantasy read. I enjoyed the MC, Evon, and his love interest. Their relationship was believable, and the story hooked me. The action was well paced, and the story never felt like it was rushed or dragging. I do wish some parts of the story had been better explained, though. You never get any backstory for the Despot - where'd he come from, why is he doing all this conquering, etc. Plus there's another antagonistic group, Speculatos, that I honestly could not tell you what their purpose is. Are they supposed to be rebels against the government? A mob-like crime syndicate? All I know is that they're shady but I couldn't tell you what their purpose is other than to help add action. But I didn't mind too much - the rest of the world building was good and engaging.
July 6, 2017
worth reading for the people
a little too wrapped up in the spell discovery process and so focussed on the Despot's needing to be defeated that we don't learn that much about the world, but interesting, well written and with good characters.
a little too wrapped up in the spell discovery process and so focussed on the Despot's needing to be defeated that we don't learn that much about the world, but interesting, well written and with good characters.
January 15, 2019
Better than expected
This story was much better than I expected. The story moves at a good pace even though the author can be over descriptive at times. The characters are interesting and charming. Worth the time.
This story was much better than I expected. The story moves at a good pace even though the author can be over descriptive at times. The characters are interesting and charming. Worth the time.
May 13, 2020
Lovely
An unexpected delight. The word girl in the title put me off reading this for far too long. This is not a YA nor is it about a girl. It’s about magic and myths and adventure with a side of romance.
An unexpected delight. The word girl in the title put me off reading this for far too long. This is not a YA nor is it about a girl. It’s about magic and myths and adventure with a side of romance.
September 30, 2018
4 stars. This is actually a pretty good book
June 14, 2019
I thought this was a bit disjointed. A bit too much crammed in and it didn’t always hang together.
January 19, 2023
i loved the beginning but the ending dragged for me.
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