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Industrial Magic #2
Weaver's Lament
Charlotte's magical adventures continue in Weaver's Lament, the sequel to Emma Newman's Brother's Ruin.
Charlotte is learning to control her emerging magical prowess under the secret tutelage of Magus Hopkins. Her first covert mission takes her to a textile mill where the disgruntled workers are apparently in revolt.
But it isn’t the workers causing the trouble. The real culprits are far more extranormal in nature.
And they have a grudge to settle.
Charlotte is learning to control her emerging magical prowess under the secret tutelage of Magus Hopkins. Her first covert mission takes her to a textile mill where the disgruntled workers are apparently in revolt.
But it isn’t the workers causing the trouble. The real culprits are far more extranormal in nature.
And they have a grudge to settle.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2017
16 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
About the author
Emma Newman
97 books1,778 followersEmma Newman writes short stories, novels and novellas in multiple speculative fiction genres. She is also a Hugo Award-winning podcaster and an audiobook narrator.
She won the British Fantasy Society Best Short Story Award 2015 for “A Woman’s Place” in the 221 Baker Streets anthology. 'Between Two Thorns', the first book in Emma's Split Worlds urban fantasy series, was shortlisted for the BFS Best Novel and Best Newcomer 2014 awards. Her science-fiction novel, After Atlas, was shortlisted for the 2017 Arthur C. Clarke award and the third novel in the Planetfall series, Before Mars, has been shortlisted for a BSFA Best Novel award. The Planetfall series was shortlisted for the 2020 Best Series Hugo Award.
Emma currently creates a podcast called 'Imagining Tomorrow' for Friends of the Earth. Her hobbies include dressmaking, LARP and tabletop role playing. www.enewman.co.uk.
She won the British Fantasy Society Best Short Story Award 2015 for “A Woman’s Place” in the 221 Baker Streets anthology. 'Between Two Thorns', the first book in Emma's Split Worlds urban fantasy series, was shortlisted for the BFS Best Novel and Best Newcomer 2014 awards. Her science-fiction novel, After Atlas, was shortlisted for the 2017 Arthur C. Clarke award and the third novel in the Planetfall series, Before Mars, has been shortlisted for a BSFA Best Novel award. The Planetfall series was shortlisted for the 2020 Best Series Hugo Award.
Emma currently creates a podcast called 'Imagining Tomorrow' for Friends of the Earth. Her hobbies include dressmaking, LARP and tabletop role playing. www.enewman.co.uk.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
October 3, 2017
3.5/5
I received an advanced copy of Weaver's Lament via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Emma Newman and Tor for the opportunity.
Following on from Brother's Ruin, Ben is now in Manchester fulfilling his studies and duties for the Royal Society (of magic). He is now an apprentice Mage and the lifestyle is treating him well. There's an issue though. He's running one of the mills where peculiar and unexplainable events have been happening. He seeks the aid of his sister Charlotte, a Mage herself but currently under the radar of the establishment. What should have been a nice holiday to Manchester doesn't quite transpire that way as Charlotte goes undercover in the mill to find out what on Earth is going on.
I read this book in a single afternoon. Occasionally a quality shortish tale is what I require in my bookish diet so this was perfect at approximately 160 pages. Newman fits a quality story, interesting characters, and magical complications within those limited pages. I'd say the world seems almost like a Dickensian alternative history with certain characters hiding/flaunting magical powers. 3 of the main characters return from the first book and a large number of new additions are introduced at the mill. I cared about a lot of the newly introduced individuals living in the squalor of their working environment. The story is written in the first person perspective and Charlotte is a very cool character. I'm unaware of how many stories Newman proposes to write in this series but she'll definitely always have a reader in me. It's difficult to say too much about this book without giving away the action, surprises, or revelations. I slightly preferred the first book but both have an interesting and intriguing mystery element. The Industrial Magic series is a treat to read. The world is gothic yet poetic. The characters are engaging. The story is weaved admirably. Perhaps my rating is too harsh- either way, this book's pretty awesome.
I received an advanced copy of Weaver's Lament via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Emma Newman and Tor for the opportunity.
Following on from Brother's Ruin, Ben is now in Manchester fulfilling his studies and duties for the Royal Society (of magic). He is now an apprentice Mage and the lifestyle is treating him well. There's an issue though. He's running one of the mills where peculiar and unexplainable events have been happening. He seeks the aid of his sister Charlotte, a Mage herself but currently under the radar of the establishment. What should have been a nice holiday to Manchester doesn't quite transpire that way as Charlotte goes undercover in the mill to find out what on Earth is going on.
I read this book in a single afternoon. Occasionally a quality shortish tale is what I require in my bookish diet so this was perfect at approximately 160 pages. Newman fits a quality story, interesting characters, and magical complications within those limited pages. I'd say the world seems almost like a Dickensian alternative history with certain characters hiding/flaunting magical powers. 3 of the main characters return from the first book and a large number of new additions are introduced at the mill. I cared about a lot of the newly introduced individuals living in the squalor of their working environment. The story is written in the first person perspective and Charlotte is a very cool character. I'm unaware of how many stories Newman proposes to write in this series but she'll definitely always have a reader in me. It's difficult to say too much about this book without giving away the action, surprises, or revelations. I slightly preferred the first book but both have an interesting and intriguing mystery element. The Industrial Magic series is a treat to read. The world is gothic yet poetic. The characters are engaging. The story is weaved admirably. Perhaps my rating is too harsh- either way, this book's pretty awesome.
December 29, 2017
ARC provided by Tor in exchange for an honest review.
1.) Brother’s Ruin ★★★
Weaver’s Lament picks right up where Brother’s Ruin left off; our main protagonist, Charlotte, is still reeling from the events that took place, while also trying to uncover secrets that many higherups are trying to keep hidden. Charlotte also lives in Great Britain in the 1850s, where people are still ignorant and believe that a woman’s place is in the house and only in the house. Charlotte is trying to appease her family and fiancé that feel this way, but Charlotte is a very talented illustrator, who sells her work under a man's pen name. Obviously, this book has a lot of social commentary about women’s rights and equality, but the main plot of each book is truly about Charlotte uncovering a mystery.
And this mystery is brought to Charlotte’s attention by her brother that she helps in Brother’s Ruin. I’ll be honest, I actually really hate her brother and I wish Charlotte wasn’t such a good sister to him. Charlotte’s brother, Ben, has finished his studies with the Royal Society and is now an apprentice that is overlooking the operation of a textile mill. Yet, someone or something is sabotaging the machines and the mill, so he asks Charlotte to go undercover to try to see who or what is causing the problem.
The Royal Society is for people with magical powers and it helps them learn to harness their powers in a way that won’t make them turn wild. Turning wild happens to magic users who don’t turn themselves in to the Royal Society for training. Oh, and Charlotte is a super powerful magic user who has yet to turn herself in.
Charlotte, while working with Magus Thomas Hopkins, quickly discovers what is happening behind the scenes of the mill. But more importantly, she discovers the unfair and inhumane treatment of the workers who have nowhere else to go and are stuck in a cycle of oppression working at the mill and eventually dying at the mill with no opportunity for advancement. This book beautifully talks about social constructs and the oppression cycles we put groups of people in, without a chance to better their lives, but while always belittling them for not “breaking the cycle.” Charlotte becomes very aware of her privilege, and I hope in book three we get to see her act on this information.
But this was a quick read that I really did enjoy. Also, the angst is just killing me between Charlotte and Hopkins at this point. I also feel like there are 100 different threads going in 1000 different directions, and I need to know all the secrets of the Royal Society and this world. I cannot wait to pick up the next installment in this series and I’m so thankful I was able to read this one before the end of 2017!
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1.) Brother’s Ruin ★★★
Weaver’s Lament picks right up where Brother’s Ruin left off; our main protagonist, Charlotte, is still reeling from the events that took place, while also trying to uncover secrets that many higherups are trying to keep hidden. Charlotte also lives in Great Britain in the 1850s, where people are still ignorant and believe that a woman’s place is in the house and only in the house. Charlotte is trying to appease her family and fiancé that feel this way, but Charlotte is a very talented illustrator, who sells her work under a man's pen name. Obviously, this book has a lot of social commentary about women’s rights and equality, but the main plot of each book is truly about Charlotte uncovering a mystery.
And this mystery is brought to Charlotte’s attention by her brother that she helps in Brother’s Ruin. I’ll be honest, I actually really hate her brother and I wish Charlotte wasn’t such a good sister to him. Charlotte’s brother, Ben, has finished his studies with the Royal Society and is now an apprentice that is overlooking the operation of a textile mill. Yet, someone or something is sabotaging the machines and the mill, so he asks Charlotte to go undercover to try to see who or what is causing the problem.
The Royal Society is for people with magical powers and it helps them learn to harness their powers in a way that won’t make them turn wild. Turning wild happens to magic users who don’t turn themselves in to the Royal Society for training. Oh, and Charlotte is a super powerful magic user who has yet to turn herself in.
Charlotte, while working with Magus Thomas Hopkins, quickly discovers what is happening behind the scenes of the mill. But more importantly, she discovers the unfair and inhumane treatment of the workers who have nowhere else to go and are stuck in a cycle of oppression working at the mill and eventually dying at the mill with no opportunity for advancement. This book beautifully talks about social constructs and the oppression cycles we put groups of people in, without a chance to better their lives, but while always belittling them for not “breaking the cycle.” Charlotte becomes very aware of her privilege, and I hope in book three we get to see her act on this information.
But this was a quick read that I really did enjoy. Also, the angst is just killing me between Charlotte and Hopkins at this point. I also feel like there are 100 different threads going in 1000 different directions, and I need to know all the secrets of the Royal Society and this world. I cannot wait to pick up the next installment in this series and I’m so thankful I was able to read this one before the end of 2017!
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October 11, 2017
This second novella in the Industrial Magic series picks up nicely where the previous leaves off... with one exception: we're left with a fairly interesting historical footnote but not much of that does our MC Charlotte much good in terms of character development or interesting plot other than something like a one-off.
I personally would have been ecstatic with a firmer grounding in the magic and the training if she's going to be bucking the Royal Society like this. Even an untraditional schooling is better than this, and just slapping the previous baddie onto this tale might work when we finally get down to it, but I thought there was enough possible growth in the world to make this tangent both unique and poignant without falling back on an already familiar plot point.
That being said, however, both the writing and story were interesting enough to negate a huge portion of my gripe and getting a heavy and oppressive feel of the Cotton Gin, even under the auspices of being a spy, was quite clever and cool.
I figure, as long as a consistent stream of new situations and chances to flex those magical UF muscles keeps coming along, I'm not going to have much of an issue.
I had fun, regardless!
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
I personally would have been ecstatic with a firmer grounding in the magic and the training if she's going to be bucking the Royal Society like this. Even an untraditional schooling is better than this, and just slapping the previous baddie onto this tale might work when we finally get down to it, but I thought there was enough possible growth in the world to make this tangent both unique and poignant without falling back on an already familiar plot point.
That being said, however, both the writing and story were interesting enough to negate a huge portion of my gripe and getting a heavy and oppressive feel of the Cotton Gin, even under the auspices of being a spy, was quite clever and cool.
I figure, as long as a consistent stream of new situations and chances to flex those magical UF muscles keeps coming along, I'm not going to have much of an issue.
I had fun, regardless!
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
January 16, 2018
This is book 2 in this novella series, and I always feel like these ones leave me wanting more. I love the concept of this world where the patriarchy is a terrible presence and the Royal Magical Academy is taking over much of the politics, governing and rule-making. There are plenty of men in high up positions who are evil or corrupted, and we're following a young woman called Charlotte Gunn and her brother Ben Gunn.
Charlotte is a character you can't help but to like even though she definitely has a naive streak to her. She's a privileged lady who hasn't had to work much and has been involved in one or two magical dark adventures, but nothing too wild. In this book she is asked to help her brother find out what's causing breakages in the cotton mill her brother is hoping to take over, and so she goes undercover there.
Ben, Charlotte's brother, is by this point in the Academy and learning to control his powers and follow in the footsteps of many of the men who work for the Academy, in particular Ledbetter who seems to be a very nefarious character according to Charlotte's own discoveries. Charlotte is skeptical of the Academy and despite having her own powers she's keeping them hidden whilst she investigates the mill.
I definitely enjoyed this one and I feel like it's a series I'll definitely keep reading. As I said before I always want more from these books as they are so short, so I hope I will get more of an overarching story as the novellas go on. :) 3.5*s overall.
Charlotte is a character you can't help but to like even though she definitely has a naive streak to her. She's a privileged lady who hasn't had to work much and has been involved in one or two magical dark adventures, but nothing too wild. In this book she is asked to help her brother find out what's causing breakages in the cotton mill her brother is hoping to take over, and so she goes undercover there.
Ben, Charlotte's brother, is by this point in the Academy and learning to control his powers and follow in the footsteps of many of the men who work for the Academy, in particular Ledbetter who seems to be a very nefarious character according to Charlotte's own discoveries. Charlotte is skeptical of the Academy and despite having her own powers she's keeping them hidden whilst she investigates the mill.
I definitely enjoyed this one and I feel like it's a series I'll definitely keep reading. As I said before I always want more from these books as they are so short, so I hope I will get more of an overarching story as the novellas go on. :) 3.5*s overall.
October 20, 2017
4.5 stars
Do you like petticoats, Victorians and magic?
What about a female heroine, who, while a little bit lost and flustered, is kickass despite not knowing it herself?
And would you care for a would-be love triangle that is forbidden in more ways than I care to list?
If you said YES, YES and YES, then I don't understand why you are STILL not reading this series. Especially seeing as how it's called Industrial Magic??? Even if I didn't know what it was about, the name of the series alone would hook me!
It's really hard for me to review this book because I'm evidently a fangirl. I reviewed the first part of this series when I was still but a wee blogger lass, and I do feel like maybe my review didn't really do it justice or reach a big enough audience. But that still doesn't explain why this book isn't more widely known??
So since this is the second book in the series, I'm not going to tell you much about the story. For that you'd have to read the first book. Plus, I don't want to take away the pleasure! Instead, I'm going to try and tell you why I love this series as much as I do.
Reason #1. The Magic System
Now I'm not your biggest specialist on magic systems in books, as I don't tend to read a whole lot of fantasy. But correct me if I'm wrong – I'm not sure magic is used as a means of production, powering engines and clocks and basically running the economy in any other fictional world? Or at least, maybe not in this way? Magic in this book is not a tool to assert status, to get your own end. Magic is almost an affliction, cause it means your only place in society is a... rich prisoner. The Magi are not allowed to marry (for reasons I will not spoil), nor are they allowed to even stay with their families. They are rich and strong (but not really powerful), they are the victims of their own power which they have not chosen to wield, and they can not run from it. But they can try. And this is largely what the second book in the series is about – trying to outwit your fate.
Reason #2. The Heroine
It might just be me, but I feel like Charlotte, our main character, is just the right amount of wit, smarts, capability, and yet childish egoism, naivete and klutziness. She's a wonderful heroine! She makes an equal amount of mistakes and blunders as feats. Which she tends to discount as belonging to her own abilities. She does not know her own feelings. Charlotte is as lost in her own wishes, her state and her romantic inclinations as any traditional Victorian novel heroine. I absolutely love that about her. Perhaps I feel like she's a little bit like me.
Reason #3. This Series Could Go On And On
And I hope it will! It's one of those series like The Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch – urban fantasies that have their own spectacular world that you want to get lost in again and again, and you're safe in the knowledge that it's not one of those books which has three parts and then ends. Oh no, this series will hopefully go on and on till I get tired of reading it, which, in turn, I hope to never do! So bring on the drama.
Dear Emma Newman, please keep writing this series. If only just for meeee! (I know, I am so selfish...) I know I will keep waiting for the third book just as much as I've waited for the second one.
I thank Tor Books and Emma Newman for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange to my honest review.
Read Post On My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
Do you like petticoats, Victorians and magic?
What about a female heroine, who, while a little bit lost and flustered, is kickass despite not knowing it herself?
And would you care for a would-be love triangle that is forbidden in more ways than I care to list?
If you said YES, YES and YES, then I don't understand why you are STILL not reading this series. Especially seeing as how it's called Industrial Magic??? Even if I didn't know what it was about, the name of the series alone would hook me!
It's really hard for me to review this book because I'm evidently a fangirl. I reviewed the first part of this series when I was still but a wee blogger lass, and I do feel like maybe my review didn't really do it justice or reach a big enough audience. But that still doesn't explain why this book isn't more widely known??
So since this is the second book in the series, I'm not going to tell you much about the story. For that you'd have to read the first book. Plus, I don't want to take away the pleasure! Instead, I'm going to try and tell you why I love this series as much as I do.
Reason #1. The Magic System
Now I'm not your biggest specialist on magic systems in books, as I don't tend to read a whole lot of fantasy. But correct me if I'm wrong – I'm not sure magic is used as a means of production, powering engines and clocks and basically running the economy in any other fictional world? Or at least, maybe not in this way? Magic in this book is not a tool to assert status, to get your own end. Magic is almost an affliction, cause it means your only place in society is a... rich prisoner. The Magi are not allowed to marry (for reasons I will not spoil), nor are they allowed to even stay with their families. They are rich and strong (but not really powerful), they are the victims of their own power which they have not chosen to wield, and they can not run from it. But they can try. And this is largely what the second book in the series is about – trying to outwit your fate.
Reason #2. The Heroine
It might just be me, but I feel like Charlotte, our main character, is just the right amount of wit, smarts, capability, and yet childish egoism, naivete and klutziness. She's a wonderful heroine! She makes an equal amount of mistakes and blunders as feats. Which she tends to discount as belonging to her own abilities. She does not know her own feelings. Charlotte is as lost in her own wishes, her state and her romantic inclinations as any traditional Victorian novel heroine. I absolutely love that about her. Perhaps I feel like she's a little bit like me.
Reason #3. This Series Could Go On And On
And I hope it will! It's one of those series like The Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch – urban fantasies that have their own spectacular world that you want to get lost in again and again, and you're safe in the knowledge that it's not one of those books which has three parts and then ends. Oh no, this series will hopefully go on and on till I get tired of reading it, which, in turn, I hope to never do! So bring on the drama.
Dear Emma Newman, please keep writing this series. If only just for meeee! (I know, I am so selfish...) I know I will keep waiting for the third book just as much as I've waited for the second one.
I thank Tor Books and Emma Newman for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange to my honest review.
Read Post On My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
December 29, 2017
Charlotte embarks on a secret mission to help her brother work out what is going on at the textile mill where he works for the villainous Ledbetter.
I really enjoyed the first one in this series, but I don't feel that this one adds anything to the story. In a lot of ways it's just a retread of the previous book with only one real revelation about magic-users and the Royal Society that could easily have been part of the first book.
Charlie continues to be used by her brother and under threat that he will expose her as a magician against her will (out of concern for her, not maliciously). It makes it hard to like him, and other revelations in this book don't help either. It's also unclear why Charlie is so devoted to getting married to George, and Hopkins is coming across as quite manipulative by this book.
I really enjoyed the first one in this series, but I don't feel that this one adds anything to the story. In a lot of ways it's just a retread of the previous book with only one real revelation about magic-users and the Royal Society that could easily have been part of the first book.
Charlie continues to be used by her brother and under threat that he will expose her as a magician against her will (out of concern for her, not maliciously). It makes it hard to like him, and other revelations in this book don't help either. It's also unclear why Charlie is so devoted to getting married to George, and Hopkins is coming across as quite manipulative by this book.
April 18, 2018
Weaver's Lament is a pleasant enough distraction, but it fails to deliver anything of real substance. I'm not enjoying the serialised nature of the series, as each instalment is too short to go into any real depth and ends up feeling a little unsatisfying as soon as I got to the end.
I think my real problem is that everything feels either a little too on-the-nose, or poorly thought out. The characters have no depth, and the world doesn't make sense. I like the Steampunk fantasy aesthetic of the alternate history that Weaver's Lament tries to convey, but the very nature of magic in the world fails to work for me. Magic serves no purpose other than to power machinery. That's not enough for me to believe in the inherent importance of it since there are still mechanics at work that don't require magic. There is no development of how and why magic works, what The Royal Society is, or how Charlotte, the protagonist, is learning to deal with her latent magical abilities. With how short the novellas are, there's simply not enough information provided for me to become involved in the characters or the story.
One of the most significant issues I'm having is that the characters are mostly non-characters. Charlotte is a typical 'Mary Sue' type, her fiance, George, is essentially absent, Magus Hopkins exists just to be handsome and to create a meaningless love triangle, and Charlotte's brother, Ben, has no real personality or depth. The antagonist, Ledbetter, was developed a little more in the first book, but in Weaver's Lament is again, largely absent. Charlotte goes undercover as a mill worker, meets some new characters, feels sorry for them, and moves on after literally two days with no real personal development except to think 'maybe I'm a socialist now?'. There was simply nothing to invest me in the plot, characters, or world of the series.
Weaver's Lament is short, so can be read in a single sitting, so it's a fun distraction. But I just wanted more from it. I said this about the first book as well. The series has potential, but the books need to be longer, self-enclosed and with a lot more character development and world building.
I think my real problem is that everything feels either a little too on-the-nose, or poorly thought out. The characters have no depth, and the world doesn't make sense. I like the Steampunk fantasy aesthetic of the alternate history that Weaver's Lament tries to convey, but the very nature of magic in the world fails to work for me. Magic serves no purpose other than to power machinery. That's not enough for me to believe in the inherent importance of it since there are still mechanics at work that don't require magic. There is no development of how and why magic works, what The Royal Society is, or how Charlotte, the protagonist, is learning to deal with her latent magical abilities. With how short the novellas are, there's simply not enough information provided for me to become involved in the characters or the story.
One of the most significant issues I'm having is that the characters are mostly non-characters. Charlotte is a typical 'Mary Sue' type, her fiance, George, is essentially absent, Magus Hopkins exists just to be handsome and to create a meaningless love triangle, and Charlotte's brother, Ben, has no real personality or depth. The antagonist, Ledbetter, was developed a little more in the first book, but in Weaver's Lament is again, largely absent. Charlotte goes undercover as a mill worker, meets some new characters, feels sorry for them, and moves on after literally two days with no real personal development except to think 'maybe I'm a socialist now?'. There was simply nothing to invest me in the plot, characters, or world of the series.
Weaver's Lament is short, so can be read in a single sitting, so it's a fun distraction. But I just wanted more from it. I said this about the first book as well. The series has potential, but the books need to be longer, self-enclosed and with a lot more character development and world building.
October 6, 2017
I have a bad habit of not reading very far outside the comfortable lines of my preferred genres. Usually when anything "steampunk"ish or that takes place in a Dickensian London comes around, I give it a pass. In the case of Emma Newman's "Industrial Magic" series, however, I'm glad that I took the chance. Both the first story and Weaver's Lament, the second in the series, have been just lovely to read.
Charlie, Ben, and Mage Hopkins return to the story, with Charlie continuing her secret mage training and again helping Ben out of a tight spot while trying to correct another social injustice. I find Charlie (and her oh-so-Victorian flirting with Mage Hopkins) to be quite charming. While I could easily see myself reading full-length novels in this setting, I do appreciate the fact that there is no unnecessary padding here. I suspect doing smaller vignettes such as this gives the author a lot more flexibility for where to take the story in the future. I'm quite satisfied with Weaver's Lament and look forward to the next one. I definitely recommend this series.
(Note: I received this ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)
Charlie, Ben, and Mage Hopkins return to the story, with Charlie continuing her secret mage training and again helping Ben out of a tight spot while trying to correct another social injustice. I find Charlie (and her oh-so-Victorian flirting with Mage Hopkins) to be quite charming. While I could easily see myself reading full-length novels in this setting, I do appreciate the fact that there is no unnecessary padding here. I suspect doing smaller vignettes such as this gives the author a lot more flexibility for where to take the story in the future. I'm quite satisfied with Weaver's Lament and look forward to the next one. I definitely recommend this series.
(Note: I received this ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)
March 9, 2018
There’s going to be a third one, yes?? I very much would like to keep reading this series, although full novels would be preferable :D
January 3, 2022
Awesome story world and characters, I hope this Novella series has more sequels in the future.
October 8, 2017
2.5 out of 5 stars -- see this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.
Weaver’s Lament, sequel to Brother’s Ruin (2017), brings us back to protagonist Charlotte in Victorian-era England, where she attempts to infiltrate a suspicious mill and expose the poor working conditions and nefarious magic at play there. This series continues to be delightfully British — with tea, cakes, cravats, and magic, of course.
The “gaslamp fantasy” environment of Brother’s Ruin was fascinating and rich for potential exploration, but there was never a satisfying level of sufficient worldbuilding. Weaver’s Lament does even less with this world, sticking Charlotte in a stuffy mill for the majority of the book. The story gets bogged down with more tedious discussions of looms than I thought possible in a novel, much less a novella. Proceedings are much more compelling when Newman shifts to discussing Charlotte’s personal conflicts and her interactions with the alluring Magus Hopkins. The ongoing chemistry between Charlotte and Hopkins is the best part of this series, so far.
I’m a bit unsure if each one of these novellas is a one-off adventure or if each subsequent novella is a continuation of a cohesive story, but Weaver’s Lament does little to push the overall plot forward, much to my chagrin. If there’s another novella in Charlotte’s world, I’d hope for more worldbuilding, more magic, continued love triangle romances…and fewer looms.
Weaver’s Lament, sequel to Brother’s Ruin (2017), brings us back to protagonist Charlotte in Victorian-era England, where she attempts to infiltrate a suspicious mill and expose the poor working conditions and nefarious magic at play there. This series continues to be delightfully British — with tea, cakes, cravats, and magic, of course.
The “gaslamp fantasy” environment of Brother’s Ruin was fascinating and rich for potential exploration, but there was never a satisfying level of sufficient worldbuilding. Weaver’s Lament does even less with this world, sticking Charlotte in a stuffy mill for the majority of the book. The story gets bogged down with more tedious discussions of looms than I thought possible in a novel, much less a novella. Proceedings are much more compelling when Newman shifts to discussing Charlotte’s personal conflicts and her interactions with the alluring Magus Hopkins. The ongoing chemistry between Charlotte and Hopkins is the best part of this series, so far.
I’m a bit unsure if each one of these novellas is a one-off adventure or if each subsequent novella is a continuation of a cohesive story, but Weaver’s Lament does little to push the overall plot forward, much to my chagrin. If there’s another novella in Charlotte’s world, I’d hope for more worldbuilding, more magic, continued love triangle romances…and fewer looms.
October 13, 2017
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings. If ye haven’t read the first book in this series, brother's ruin, then ye might want to skip this post and go read the first book. Worth the read. If ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . . . . .
It was excellent fun to get back to this next installment of Charlotte Gunn's story, and it was another quick read. Charlotte is asked by her brother, Ben, to visit in Manchester where he is currently studying and working in a mill. But it's not just a friendly family visit. Someone is sabotaging the mill and Ben needs Charlotte's help. Of course, Charlotte agrees because she is awesome and goes undercover to solve the case.
The mill was an interesting setting and I loved some of the new characters that were introduced. I enjoyed the mechanics of how the Royal Society of the Esoteric Arts's magic helps run and use the mill. I love Charlotte and Hopkins. Charlotte continues to struggle with her magic and the potential for going "Wild."
I personally would have preferred more character development and less naivete from Charlotte. I don't really like the developing love-triangle even though there was no question that it was going to happen from the very beginning. I would have loved more details and explanations of how the magic worked. That said, I was satisfied with how the novella ended and am interested in the tantalizing hints of what may happen next.
I certainly will be reading all the other books in this series and now consider Emma Newman an auto-buy author. Both her sci-fi and fantasy are great. So if ye haven't read any of her books, hoist those sails and get moving!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Macmillian-Tor/Forge!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
It was excellent fun to get back to this next installment of Charlotte Gunn's story, and it was another quick read. Charlotte is asked by her brother, Ben, to visit in Manchester where he is currently studying and working in a mill. But it's not just a friendly family visit. Someone is sabotaging the mill and Ben needs Charlotte's help. Of course, Charlotte agrees because she is awesome and goes undercover to solve the case.
The mill was an interesting setting and I loved some of the new characters that were introduced. I enjoyed the mechanics of how the Royal Society of the Esoteric Arts's magic helps run and use the mill. I love Charlotte and Hopkins. Charlotte continues to struggle with her magic and the potential for going "Wild."
I personally would have preferred more character development and less naivete from Charlotte. I don't really like the developing love-triangle even though there was no question that it was going to happen from the very beginning. I would have loved more details and explanations of how the magic worked. That said, I was satisfied with how the novella ended and am interested in the tantalizing hints of what may happen next.
I certainly will be reading all the other books in this series and now consider Emma Newman an auto-buy author. Both her sci-fi and fantasy are great. So if ye haven't read any of her books, hoist those sails and get moving!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Macmillian-Tor/Forge!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
August 1, 2017
Emma Newman continúa adentrándonos es esta curiosa revolución industrial apoyada y potenciada por la magia, en lugar de por las fuentes de energía conocidas.
Un absoluto placer que se lee como si nada. Además de con un giro muy interesante y más oscuro.
Ahora a esperar la siguiente :)
Un absoluto placer que se lee como si nada. Además de con un giro muy interesante y más oscuro.
Ahora a esperar la siguiente :)
September 17, 2018
* * *
3 / 5
~mini review~
Weaver's Lament picks up where Brother's Ruin left off, and is pretty similar to the first book in terms of length, characters, and the feeling of the book. Charlotte's brother is managing a mill under the guidance of a mage; when he sends her a secretive letter, she can't help but go to him. Charlotte is astonished by what Ben asks of her: someone is causing wanton destruction at the mill and he wants her to go undercover as a mill worker to figure out if this is the work of a rogue mage, socialists, or someone with a serious grudge.
There are several key threads to the plot of the book. One is Charlotte's infatuation with Mage Hopkins, despite her engagement to her quite, scholarly fiance George. There's a lot of lusting going on and it really wasn't my kind of thing! Then there's Charlotte's struggles with her hidden mage powers - this was interesting, but doesn't take up much of the book. Instead, Weaver's Lament is dominated by the mystery of the mills and the class clash between well brought up young Charlotte colliding with the world of the working class. The mill is a great setting and definitely not really something that I've encountered before, but Charlotte and Ben are frustrating in their naiveté.
I remain unimpressed by the love triangle and was hoping to see more development of Charlotte, particularly with respect to her magic going wild, but I enjoyed the plot of this short novella.
Read more of my reviews at: http://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.com
3 / 5
~mini review~
Weaver's Lament picks up where Brother's Ruin left off, and is pretty similar to the first book in terms of length, characters, and the feeling of the book. Charlotte's brother is managing a mill under the guidance of a mage; when he sends her a secretive letter, she can't help but go to him. Charlotte is astonished by what Ben asks of her: someone is causing wanton destruction at the mill and he wants her to go undercover as a mill worker to figure out if this is the work of a rogue mage, socialists, or someone with a serious grudge.
There are several key threads to the plot of the book. One is Charlotte's infatuation with Mage Hopkins, despite her engagement to her quite, scholarly fiance George. There's a lot of lusting going on and it really wasn't my kind of thing! Then there's Charlotte's struggles with her hidden mage powers - this was interesting, but doesn't take up much of the book. Instead, Weaver's Lament is dominated by the mystery of the mills and the class clash between well brought up young Charlotte colliding with the world of the working class. The mill is a great setting and definitely not really something that I've encountered before, but Charlotte and Ben are frustrating in their naiveté.
I remain unimpressed by the love triangle and was hoping to see more development of Charlotte, particularly with respect to her magic going wild, but I enjoyed the plot of this short novella.
Read more of my reviews at: http://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.com
November 6, 2017
https://koeur.wordpress.com/2017/11/0...
Publisher: Tor
Publishing Date: October 2017
ISBN:9780765394101
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.0/5
Publishers Description: Charlotte is learning to control her emerging magical powers under the secret tutelage of Magus Hopkins. Her first covert mission takes her to a textile mill where the disgruntled workers are apparently destroying expensive equipment. And if she can’t identify the culprits before it’s too late, her brother will be exiled, and her family dishonoured…
Review: Not much to say here. Good writing, interesting characters and a storyline that kept you interested. As this is a novella, it rates a max 3 stars due to the truncated nature of the work. There is a mild love tri-bangle that does not attempt to over run the plot which was refreshing. Why Charlotte is always dumbed down and confused is a state that could wear thin in a full length novel. As it is, this world begs for expansion.
Publisher: Tor
Publishing Date: October 2017
ISBN:9780765394101
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.0/5
Publishers Description: Charlotte is learning to control her emerging magical powers under the secret tutelage of Magus Hopkins. Her first covert mission takes her to a textile mill where the disgruntled workers are apparently destroying expensive equipment. And if she can’t identify the culprits before it’s too late, her brother will be exiled, and her family dishonoured…
Review: Not much to say here. Good writing, interesting characters and a storyline that kept you interested. As this is a novella, it rates a max 3 stars due to the truncated nature of the work. There is a mild love tri-bangle that does not attempt to over run the plot which was refreshing. Why Charlotte is always dumbed down and confused is a state that could wear thin in a full length novel. As it is, this world begs for expansion.
November 14, 2017
Emma Newman’s gaslamp fantasy series continues with a new mystery for secret mage-in-training Charlotte to puzzle through. Her brother Ben has settled into his role as an apprentice Mage, and he seems to be thriving at his new position at a mill in Manchester. The problem is that the mill seems to be haunted—either by ghosts or by rebellious workers—and Ben calls in Charlotte to go undercover and investigate. It’s a decent premise, and it’s never a bad time for a new book about workers’ rights, but everything about Weaver’s Lament feels a little rushed and its treatment of serious issues is perfunctory. Charlotte is a likable heroine, and she’s sensitive to the injustice and abuse she uncovers in Manchester, but secondary characters are given short shrift while Charlotte easily returns to her status quo at the end of the book.
Also, while I’m a fan of slow-burning will-they-or-won’t-they romances, it’s difficult to be invested in Charlotte and Magus Hopkins when they spend so little time together in stories that are so small in scope. Brother’s Ruin and Weaver’s Lament have both dealt heavily with uncovering largescale injustices that deeply affect the characters’ lives, and these things also form the primary barrier to the central romantic relationship of the series. However, there’s been very little forward movement on any front. The romance is limited to lingering glances and subtle chemistry, and the systemic injustice and probable evil of the Royal Society of the Esoteric Arts isn’t confronted head-on and doesn’t seem likely to be any time soon.
Though it’s not without problems, Weaver’s Lament is still an entertaining read. It just feels like it could have used about a hundred pages more of breathing room, mostly so that it could do a bit better justice to the new friends Charlotte makes at Manchester. It’s not always a good thing when a story leaves you hungry for more.
Read more reviews at SF Bluestocking.
Also, while I’m a fan of slow-burning will-they-or-won’t-they romances, it’s difficult to be invested in Charlotte and Magus Hopkins when they spend so little time together in stories that are so small in scope. Brother’s Ruin and Weaver’s Lament have both dealt heavily with uncovering largescale injustices that deeply affect the characters’ lives, and these things also form the primary barrier to the central romantic relationship of the series. However, there’s been very little forward movement on any front. The romance is limited to lingering glances and subtle chemistry, and the systemic injustice and probable evil of the Royal Society of the Esoteric Arts isn’t confronted head-on and doesn’t seem likely to be any time soon.
Though it’s not without problems, Weaver’s Lament is still an entertaining read. It just feels like it could have used about a hundred pages more of breathing room, mostly so that it could do a bit better justice to the new friends Charlotte makes at Manchester. It’s not always a good thing when a story leaves you hungry for more.
Read more reviews at SF Bluestocking.
October 25, 2017
This story is definitely a niche one, but none the less compelling for it! It’s by Emma Newman, the queen of short stories and generally excellent writing, following on from the first book in her Industrial Magic series, Brother’s Ruin.
The era is the 1800’s, a Victorian England with magic and magi who hold the country in almost a death grip. Charlotte Gunn, our heroine from the first story, heads to Manchester to meet up with her brother Ben, an apprentice Mage who has been put to work overseeing one of the mills. But something odd is going on: the looms are being destroyed by what looks like a dangerous Latent mage, and Charlotte, herself a Latent, agrees to go undercover and investigate for Ben. But before long it looks like she might be caught instead…
I loved the detail that Newman managed to cram into this very short book, which picks up very neatly from where the last one left off. The Victorian era is really brought to life, from the journeys by steam train to the mills- not something I’ve really seen addressed much beyond Elizabeth Gaskell- and is integrated very neatly with the magical elements to the story: the Royal Society, and the ways in which rich and essentially corrupt Mages hold sway in London and in Parliament. It feels like a living, breathing world… which is why it’s so frustrating that Newman doesn’t worldbuild a little more and explore the consequences of Charlotte’s actions in evading the Royal Society, the details of her training and perhaps a more fearsome nemesis than some grouchy factory hands and only the vaguest mention of the Big Bad from the first book.
As it is, the vast bulk of the story is about life in a cotton gin, which is fine. Newman packs the book full of plot: she really knows how to craft an interesting, well-written story, and it had me gripped for the whole time it took me to read it. Though quickly sketched, the characters like Mags well-drawn and instantly likeable, and Ben’s slow but steady slide towards some pretty murky morality that comes with being a Mage was also well done. Charlotte does come across as rather naïve sometimes- and the love triangle with her mentor is also a tad heavy-handed- though I suppose that’s unavoidable when you have so few pages to work with.
All in all, Weaver’s Lament is a self-contained, fun little read that drops some intriguing hints about where the story’s going to go next whilst offering a satisfying read in itself. More please!
The era is the 1800’s, a Victorian England with magic and magi who hold the country in almost a death grip. Charlotte Gunn, our heroine from the first story, heads to Manchester to meet up with her brother Ben, an apprentice Mage who has been put to work overseeing one of the mills. But something odd is going on: the looms are being destroyed by what looks like a dangerous Latent mage, and Charlotte, herself a Latent, agrees to go undercover and investigate for Ben. But before long it looks like she might be caught instead…
I loved the detail that Newman managed to cram into this very short book, which picks up very neatly from where the last one left off. The Victorian era is really brought to life, from the journeys by steam train to the mills- not something I’ve really seen addressed much beyond Elizabeth Gaskell- and is integrated very neatly with the magical elements to the story: the Royal Society, and the ways in which rich and essentially corrupt Mages hold sway in London and in Parliament. It feels like a living, breathing world… which is why it’s so frustrating that Newman doesn’t worldbuild a little more and explore the consequences of Charlotte’s actions in evading the Royal Society, the details of her training and perhaps a more fearsome nemesis than some grouchy factory hands and only the vaguest mention of the Big Bad from the first book.
As it is, the vast bulk of the story is about life in a cotton gin, which is fine. Newman packs the book full of plot: she really knows how to craft an interesting, well-written story, and it had me gripped for the whole time it took me to read it. Though quickly sketched, the characters like Mags well-drawn and instantly likeable, and Ben’s slow but steady slide towards some pretty murky morality that comes with being a Mage was also well done. Charlotte does come across as rather naïve sometimes- and the love triangle with her mentor is also a tad heavy-handed- though I suppose that’s unavoidable when you have so few pages to work with.
All in all, Weaver’s Lament is a self-contained, fun little read that drops some intriguing hints about where the story’s going to go next whilst offering a satisfying read in itself. More please!
April 15, 2018
A great continuation of the story. Love how our main character grows and finds out more about the flaws of her society.
October 24, 2017
I'm grateful to the publisher for an advance copy of this book via NetGalley
If it wasn’t for the weavers, what would you do?
You wouldn’t have your clothes that’s made of wool
You wouldn’t have your coat of the black or the blue
If it wasn’t for the work of the weavers
- Chartist song (see http://thejovialcrew.com/?page_id=1639)
Another adventure for Charlotte Gunn, following Newman's Brother's Ruin, published earlier this year, and again in novella form as is becoming increasingly popular in SFF.
This time, Charlotte's off to Manchester, Cottonopolis, seat of the Industrial Revolution, where vast profits are to be made by the mill-owners. In Newman's world these mills are driven by magic, not steam, so we can expect less smoke in the air, but the workers are nonetheless sweated by their overseers, put up in filthy, cramped conditions and doing fifteen hour shifts in stiflingly hot, dangerous conditions. And they face other threats, too, as looms shatter and the overseers wield their straps to maintain discipline.
Charlotte's brother, Ben, has summoned her to this living hell (what's the quickest way out of Manchester? Drink) to assist him. Once again, she puts love for her brother first and agrees to go undercover in the mill to investigate the nest of Socialists he believes responsible for the damage. But Ben is working for Ledbetter, the magus who Charlotte knows has dark secrets.
This book was great fun, if that's possible in something that also sets out grotesque inequalities and cruelties that are often lost in the soft focus, Hovis-ad language of drama and storytelling. In particular, fantasy, whether epic, pseudo-medieval fantasy or its edgier urban cousin, still too often sees curation of the social hierarchy as the greatest good. In contrast, what Charlotte discovers here will, I suspect, drive her to seek the otherthrow of the hierarchy. It remains to be seen if she will carry her brother with her in that - I fear not, Ben comes across as something of a milksop, a man keen to ingratiate himself with the bosses, wanting his own mill to run.
I'm even doubtful of Charlotte's mysterious ally/ tutor, Hopkins, who pops up Gandalf-like to give advice a couple of times. Is his heart really in a challenge to the authority of the Royal Society of Esoteric Arts or does he have an agenda of his own? (Charlotte certainly has an agenda of her own when it comes to Hopkins, even if she hasn't realised it yet, one her stuffy fiance George may not like much - I can see some of that absent steam reappearing before long...)
In short - and this is quite a short book - this is an eminently readable and at time unflinching view of the Industrial Revolution, blended skilfully by Newman with a dose of magic. Charlotte's awareness of the world around her is developing and she's pitted against a particularly nasty form of exploitation.
I will look forward to the new Industrial Magic, hoping, though, that Newman will be able to write some full-length stories set in this world. The novella form is great but it would be wonderful to let these stories breathe a bit more.
If it wasn’t for the weavers, what would you do?
You wouldn’t have your clothes that’s made of wool
You wouldn’t have your coat of the black or the blue
If it wasn’t for the work of the weavers
- Chartist song (see http://thejovialcrew.com/?page_id=1639)
Another adventure for Charlotte Gunn, following Newman's Brother's Ruin, published earlier this year, and again in novella form as is becoming increasingly popular in SFF.
This time, Charlotte's off to Manchester, Cottonopolis, seat of the Industrial Revolution, where vast profits are to be made by the mill-owners. In Newman's world these mills are driven by magic, not steam, so we can expect less smoke in the air, but the workers are nonetheless sweated by their overseers, put up in filthy, cramped conditions and doing fifteen hour shifts in stiflingly hot, dangerous conditions. And they face other threats, too, as looms shatter and the overseers wield their straps to maintain discipline.
Charlotte's brother, Ben, has summoned her to this living hell (what's the quickest way out of Manchester? Drink) to assist him. Once again, she puts love for her brother first and agrees to go undercover in the mill to investigate the nest of Socialists he believes responsible for the damage. But Ben is working for Ledbetter, the magus who Charlotte knows has dark secrets.
This book was great fun, if that's possible in something that also sets out grotesque inequalities and cruelties that are often lost in the soft focus, Hovis-ad language of drama and storytelling. In particular, fantasy, whether epic, pseudo-medieval fantasy or its edgier urban cousin, still too often sees curation of the social hierarchy as the greatest good. In contrast, what Charlotte discovers here will, I suspect, drive her to seek the otherthrow of the hierarchy. It remains to be seen if she will carry her brother with her in that - I fear not, Ben comes across as something of a milksop, a man keen to ingratiate himself with the bosses, wanting his own mill to run.
I'm even doubtful of Charlotte's mysterious ally/ tutor, Hopkins, who pops up Gandalf-like to give advice a couple of times. Is his heart really in a challenge to the authority of the Royal Society of Esoteric Arts or does he have an agenda of his own? (Charlotte certainly has an agenda of her own when it comes to Hopkins, even if she hasn't realised it yet, one her stuffy fiance George may not like much - I can see some of that absent steam reappearing before long...)
In short - and this is quite a short book - this is an eminently readable and at time unflinching view of the Industrial Revolution, blended skilfully by Newman with a dose of magic. Charlotte's awareness of the world around her is developing and she's pitted against a particularly nasty form of exploitation.
I will look forward to the new Industrial Magic, hoping, though, that Newman will be able to write some full-length stories set in this world. The novella form is great but it would be wonderful to let these stories breathe a bit more.
November 22, 2017
Weaver’s Lament is the second novella in Emma Newman’s Industrial Magic series, and it’s a stronger story than the first.
In the previous novella, Charlotte Gunn helped her brother Benjamin achieve a position in the Royal Society of mages while hiding her own considerable powers from their notice. Now Ben asks her to come see him even though family visits are forbidden by the Society. When Charlotte arrives, Ben begs her to help him learn whether labor unionists are responsible for sabotaging the looms in the mill where he uses his magic to support production. He’s afraid that if he can’t figure out what’s happening, his mentor (a villainous mage whose evil activities where revealed in the first story) will blame him, and he’ll be punished with transportation to Australia. So, Charlotte goes undercover as a mill worker to try to figure out what’s going on, with some assistance from Magus Hopkins, a member of the Society who is secretly helping Charlotte learn to control her magic.
One of the strengths of this series is how Newman marries the use of magic with an exploration of the actual social issues of Victorian Britain. Her description of the lives of mill workers in 1850 illuminates the reality of their miserable existence, although Newman adds a magical component that makes their mistreatment even worse. Ben’s belief that they should be grateful to have a job at all perfectly typifies the response of much of the Victorian middle and upper class to their suffering. The story really makes it perfectly clear why the rise of organized labor was necessary.
The position of women in the period is illustrated by Ben’s attitude toward Charlotte as well. He takes her support for granted and dismisses any concerns she might have about the treatment of the mill workers or the activities of his mentor or the Royal Society. Charlotte loves him too much to really challenge this treatment, but he clearly sees her as lesser. (I can’t help but hope he gets his comeuppance for that belief in the future.)
In this novella, readers also learn why Hopkins is defying the Society to secretly train Charlotte. Suffice it to say that the rot in the Royal Society goes deeper than Ben’s mentor, and the consequences for challenging them may be very high indeed.
The weakest element of the story is Charlotte’s romantic feelings for Hopkins. She goes giddy about him a bit too often, especially since she’s supposed to be in love and engaged to be married. Really, Charlotte needs to cut her fiancée George loose rather than string the poor sap along at this point.
If you liked Newman’s first novella or enjoy alternate world historical fantasy, you should give this book a try. I’m very much looking forward to reading the next in the series.
An eARC of this novella was provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
In the previous novella, Charlotte Gunn helped her brother Benjamin achieve a position in the Royal Society of mages while hiding her own considerable powers from their notice. Now Ben asks her to come see him even though family visits are forbidden by the Society. When Charlotte arrives, Ben begs her to help him learn whether labor unionists are responsible for sabotaging the looms in the mill where he uses his magic to support production. He’s afraid that if he can’t figure out what’s happening, his mentor (a villainous mage whose evil activities where revealed in the first story) will blame him, and he’ll be punished with transportation to Australia. So, Charlotte goes undercover as a mill worker to try to figure out what’s going on, with some assistance from Magus Hopkins, a member of the Society who is secretly helping Charlotte learn to control her magic.
One of the strengths of this series is how Newman marries the use of magic with an exploration of the actual social issues of Victorian Britain. Her description of the lives of mill workers in 1850 illuminates the reality of their miserable existence, although Newman adds a magical component that makes their mistreatment even worse. Ben’s belief that they should be grateful to have a job at all perfectly typifies the response of much of the Victorian middle and upper class to their suffering. The story really makes it perfectly clear why the rise of organized labor was necessary.
The position of women in the period is illustrated by Ben’s attitude toward Charlotte as well. He takes her support for granted and dismisses any concerns she might have about the treatment of the mill workers or the activities of his mentor or the Royal Society. Charlotte loves him too much to really challenge this treatment, but he clearly sees her as lesser. (I can’t help but hope he gets his comeuppance for that belief in the future.)
In this novella, readers also learn why Hopkins is defying the Society to secretly train Charlotte. Suffice it to say that the rot in the Royal Society goes deeper than Ben’s mentor, and the consequences for challenging them may be very high indeed.
The weakest element of the story is Charlotte’s romantic feelings for Hopkins. She goes giddy about him a bit too often, especially since she’s supposed to be in love and engaged to be married. Really, Charlotte needs to cut her fiancée George loose rather than string the poor sap along at this point.
If you liked Newman’s first novella or enjoy alternate world historical fantasy, you should give this book a try. I’m very much looking forward to reading the next in the series.
An eARC of this novella was provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.
April 17, 2018
The fact that book three has yet to be announced makes me WILD. I need to know how this all pans out. I care about everyone so much!
Wait, that's not true. MC's brother can just take a long walk off a short pier and then think about what he's done. I mean, not that being scared of your boss is unwarranted, even idiots with no moral centres or eyes in their head (LIKE YOU, BROTHER, I AM DESCRIBING YOU) can see that.
So mostly I care about our tutor, and these workers, they had better be fine or I will have to crawl through time and fix this personally.
Wait, that's not true. MC's brother can just take a long walk off a short pier and then think about what he's done. I mean, not that being scared of your boss is unwarranted, even idiots with no moral centres or eyes in their head (LIKE YOU, BROTHER, I AM DESCRIBING YOU) can see that.
So mostly I care about our tutor, and these workers, they had better be fine or I will have to crawl through time and fix this personally.
October 22, 2017
Second instalment in the series sees Charlotte investigate a mystery in a Manchester cotton mill. A mix of magical mysteries and exploring the social politics of the 19th century. Really well told and I’m keen to read the next part as the bigger mystery is fleshed out
November 5, 2017
3.5 Stars
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
June 15, 2019
I love this world and these characters, I need there to be more!
August 20, 2019
Loved it to the last page
May 20, 2020
Really really enjoyed this! It ends with so much more to be explored in this world and hinting at a big bad yet to be revealed. I hope there are more novellas coming in this series!
May 20, 2020
Good story, well told. As always characters are complex and on point. Quality expansion of the magic system. EN is still my favorite narrator but also writes some amazing word stuff.
December 31, 2020
I feel bad that I keep finding these books lackluster, but I do. I want to sock the brother, and I know this is a novella, but I feel like these would be better as short novels as I never feel like we fully gain traction before it ends.
October 19, 2017
Weaver’s Lament is the second installment in a series of novellas set in a fantastical alternate history, where magic meets Victorian England. If your not familiar with the series, the first book is Brother’s Ruin. I would suggest reading the series in order.
When Charlotte receives a letter from her brother Ben begging her to come visit, she assumes that something other than homesickness is at play. And she’s right; her brother is overseeing a factory where the machines keep being disrupted. The magus in charge believes the cause to be secret socialists among the workers, and if Ben doesn’t find the culprits, the magus threatens to deport him to Australia. So Ben asks Charlotte to go undercover as a worker in the mill and find the solution.
I like how Weaver’s Lament investigated another aspect of the Victorian era and talked about the extreme class differences and exploration of the poor by factory owners. I’m not sure I’ve read any other historical fantasy book that does quite the same. I guess laboring for sixteen hours a day in a factory doesn’t give many opportunities for magical adventures.
I’m liking Charlotte more and more (even if I’m liking her brother less and less). She’s very much a middle class Victorian woman, and prior to Weaver’s Lament, she’d bought into the assertions that the factories were ethical and treated the workers well. She hasn’t had much exposure to this sort of injustice (although she’s internalized a lot of the era’s sexism), and having her eyes opened leads her towards a passionate desire for social and systematic change.
Charlotte is convinced that she wants the life a woman of her station is supposed to have: she’s going to marry George and be a respectable, middle class woman. Yet at the same time, she’s secretly diverging from those norms by having a career as an illustrator (which she hasn’t told George about). I think as the series goes on, she’ll start to question things more and more. Especially because her growing crush on a certain handsome magus might throw a wrench in her wedding plans…
Weaver’s Lament also has a lot of juicy new revelations about magic and the society of mages. I don’t want to say too much more, but Emma Newman never disappoints, and I think I enjoyed Weaver’s Lament even more than the first installment.
Review originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
I received an ARC in exchange for a free and honest review.
When Charlotte receives a letter from her brother Ben begging her to come visit, she assumes that something other than homesickness is at play. And she’s right; her brother is overseeing a factory where the machines keep being disrupted. The magus in charge believes the cause to be secret socialists among the workers, and if Ben doesn’t find the culprits, the magus threatens to deport him to Australia. So Ben asks Charlotte to go undercover as a worker in the mill and find the solution.
I like how Weaver’s Lament investigated another aspect of the Victorian era and talked about the extreme class differences and exploration of the poor by factory owners. I’m not sure I’ve read any other historical fantasy book that does quite the same. I guess laboring for sixteen hours a day in a factory doesn’t give many opportunities for magical adventures.
I’m liking Charlotte more and more (even if I’m liking her brother less and less). She’s very much a middle class Victorian woman, and prior to Weaver’s Lament, she’d bought into the assertions that the factories were ethical and treated the workers well. She hasn’t had much exposure to this sort of injustice (although she’s internalized a lot of the era’s sexism), and having her eyes opened leads her towards a passionate desire for social and systematic change.
Charlotte is convinced that she wants the life a woman of her station is supposed to have: she’s going to marry George and be a respectable, middle class woman. Yet at the same time, she’s secretly diverging from those norms by having a career as an illustrator (which she hasn’t told George about). I think as the series goes on, she’ll start to question things more and more. Especially because her growing crush on a certain handsome magus might throw a wrench in her wedding plans…
Weaver’s Lament also has a lot of juicy new revelations about magic and the society of mages. I don’t want to say too much more, but Emma Newman never disappoints, and I think I enjoyed Weaver’s Lament even more than the first installment.
Review originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
I received an ARC in exchange for a free and honest review.
September 17, 2017
2.5/5.0
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews