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The Persephone Star
Postmistress Penelope Moser has recently settled with her father in the Wild West town of Fortuna. Shocked by the violence around her and the depressing lives of the town’s women, she throws herself into her job. She’s determined to make the best of it before she has to marry the odious town sheriff.
But when the Persephone Star is spotted in the territory, danger literally hits close to home. Its captain—the famed outlaw Mirage Currier—is fresh out of prison and gunning for revenge on Penelope’s fiancé for locking her up and sentencing her sister to death. Penelope’s pleas to avoid violence are ignored, and a bloody showdown seems inevitable. That is, until Penelope is kidnapped and held hostage on the Star.
Shockingly, Penelope finds intrigue rather than danger in the air. Mirage’s reputation as a hardened criminal doesn’t fit with the Star’s vibrant young captain whose only goal is to save her sister from the gallows. With her sympathies shifting, Penelope must decide whether to remain loyal to her father and the man she promised to marry, or face an uncertain future with an enthralling outlaw.
( This is a revised second edition, originally published elsewhere.)
But when the Persephone Star is spotted in the territory, danger literally hits close to home. Its captain—the famed outlaw Mirage Currier—is fresh out of prison and gunning for revenge on Penelope’s fiancé for locking her up and sentencing her sister to death. Penelope’s pleas to avoid violence are ignored, and a bloody showdown seems inevitable. That is, until Penelope is kidnapped and held hostage on the Star.
Shockingly, Penelope finds intrigue rather than danger in the air. Mirage’s reputation as a hardened criminal doesn’t fit with the Star’s vibrant young captain whose only goal is to save her sister from the gallows. With her sympathies shifting, Penelope must decide whether to remain loyal to her father and the man she promised to marry, or face an uncertain future with an enthralling outlaw.
( This is a revised second edition, originally published elsewhere.)
190 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 9, 2020
3.50 Stars. This was a fun read. A little bit of steampunk and the Wild West made this an entertaining read. After a nasty ice storm left me without power for two days, I was very happy that I had a charged Kindle to help with the boredom. This little read was able to keep my mind off reality for a few hours and that was exactly what I was hoping for.
The story is about Penelope, who followed her father out west to cash in on some of the gold rush with his new bank. Penelope is the local postmistress and librarian, although no one actually reads her books. Penelope doesn’t fit in very well and is biding her time until she must marry the local Sheriff who got her father’s permission for her hand. Penelope’s mundane life is shattered when she hears a band of female airship pirates are out to get her fiancé. Why is Penelope’s fiancé so obsessed with these outlaws and how did a bunch of women become pirates? Penelope needs to find out these answers and more, before it is too late.
This is a 2020 release of this story. It was originally released with a publisher that is no longer with us. I did not read the story when it first came out but it does look to be different. It looks like this used to be a novella, than Sullivan added 30+ pages so it’s now a quick-read full length book. I read a review for the older version and they mention the ending was rushed and that we didn’t get to see this and that. Well this book had all of those things the reviewer was missing so it looks like most if not all of the new content was added to make a non-rushed and satisfying ending. I’m glad I got to read this new version because I enjoyed this ending.
The wlw romance in this book is very PG. Penelope is a 27 tear-old virgin, a “lady” of the times so I’m actually glad that Sullivan kept the romance lighter as anything fast moving would not have been believable. They characters have some chemistry and a little heat, and that worked well enough for me.
While there was a lot in this book about how women were treated and suppressed, the overall storyline had some good feels. This is a story about a bunch of strong women and Penelope who does not know how strong she really can be. It’s not the deepest of stories but it was entertaining and had a good pace. It doesn’t take long to get into the story and once you do, you’ll want to read until the end.
I would recommend this to people who like Wild West stories. There is nothing really groundbreaking here but it was fun and entertaining so I’m glad I read it. I would definitely read another wlw story by Sullivan.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
The story is about Penelope, who followed her father out west to cash in on some of the gold rush with his new bank. Penelope is the local postmistress and librarian, although no one actually reads her books. Penelope doesn’t fit in very well and is biding her time until she must marry the local Sheriff who got her father’s permission for her hand. Penelope’s mundane life is shattered when she hears a band of female airship pirates are out to get her fiancé. Why is Penelope’s fiancé so obsessed with these outlaws and how did a bunch of women become pirates? Penelope needs to find out these answers and more, before it is too late.
This is a 2020 release of this story. It was originally released with a publisher that is no longer with us. I did not read the story when it first came out but it does look to be different. It looks like this used to be a novella, than Sullivan added 30+ pages so it’s now a quick-read full length book. I read a review for the older version and they mention the ending was rushed and that we didn’t get to see this and that. Well this book had all of those things the reviewer was missing so it looks like most if not all of the new content was added to make a non-rushed and satisfying ending. I’m glad I got to read this new version because I enjoyed this ending.
The wlw romance in this book is very PG. Penelope is a 27 tear-old virgin, a “lady” of the times so I’m actually glad that Sullivan kept the romance lighter as anything fast moving would not have been believable. They characters have some chemistry and a little heat, and that worked well enough for me.
While there was a lot in this book about how women were treated and suppressed, the overall storyline had some good feels. This is a story about a bunch of strong women and Penelope who does not know how strong she really can be. It’s not the deepest of stories but it was entertaining and had a good pace. It doesn’t take long to get into the story and once you do, you’ll want to read until the end.
I would recommend this to people who like Wild West stories. There is nothing really groundbreaking here but it was fun and entertaining so I’m glad I read it. I would definitely read another wlw story by Sullivan.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
May 3, 2020
I’m a fan of steampunk so I was looking forward to this one because they’re usually fun and if done well, they’re fueled by some high charged telling. Unfortunately, I felt let down with The Persephone Star because there isn’t enough substance in the book for me as a reader to sink into the story.
Penelope Moser is out west with her banker father living in a cowpoke town in Arizona. When the dubious local sheriff decides she’s to be his fiancée, she has no say and the decision comes down to a shake of the hands between the two men. Life is boring for everyone until the notorious Mirage Currier and her female gang are released from prison. They circle overhead in their airship and word is out that the criminal is seeking revenge. At this point, the story should have kicked into high gear but it does not and instead, there’s a lot of filler. Also, the trademark gadgetry and the irreverent tone is mostly missing so it’s a very lite steampunk.
I do like the ending where the characters finally have a specific mission. The tempo picks up and the mains start to show their personalities. Although I’m not a big fan of this book, something caught my attention so I’d like to give this author another try. I’ve already got my eye on an older book of hers called The Only Way so I’m hoping that one will be a winner.
3.5 stars rounded down. I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Penelope Moser is out west with her banker father living in a cowpoke town in Arizona. When the dubious local sheriff decides she’s to be his fiancée, she has no say and the decision comes down to a shake of the hands between the two men. Life is boring for everyone until the notorious Mirage Currier and her female gang are released from prison. They circle overhead in their airship and word is out that the criminal is seeking revenge. At this point, the story should have kicked into high gear but it does not and instead, there’s a lot of filler. Also, the trademark gadgetry and the irreverent tone is mostly missing so it’s a very lite steampunk.
I do like the ending where the characters finally have a specific mission. The tempo picks up and the mains start to show their personalities. Although I’m not a big fan of this book, something caught my attention so I’d like to give this author another try. I’ve already got my eye on an older book of hers called The Only Way so I’m hoping that one will be a winner.
3.5 stars rounded down. I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2020
Jamie Sullivan’s The Persephone Star was an okay read, no high flyer but still entertaining. The setting was mostly Wild West, with the Persephone airship as the Steampunk component. Main theme was a gang of wild women, painted as villains by the men in charge, are trying to break out one of their own out of prison before she gets hanged.
There is a lot of male misogyny in this book, keeping true to the time period I guess, but it still irked me that our heroine, Post Mistress Penelope Moser is so passive throughout the book. Only much later, at the edge of disaster, does she find her strength. The evil fiancé and sheriff of Fortuna was of the moustache twirling variety and I don’t understand her misplaced loyalty to him or her father, to be honest, for they did nothing to earn it.
The ship was cool, although I wondered about the science of keeping it in the air all this time. The family like bond between outlaw Mirage Cutter and her small crew of female misfits was sweet. The plot was a bit thin, the drama thick. So in short, The Persephone Star is entertaining if you don’t want to dig too deep.
f/f the romance part is very PG, a few kisses were shared. Penelope is a lady afterall.
Themes: Fortuna, Wild West meets a tiny bit of Streampunk, a kidnapping gone wrong, sky pirates, all men are evil, ‘little librarian’, wrongly accused.
3.4 Stars
* A free copy was provided by Netgalley and Riptide Publishing for an honest review.
There is a lot of male misogyny in this book, keeping true to the time period I guess, but it still irked me that our heroine, Post Mistress Penelope Moser is so passive throughout the book. Only much later, at the edge of disaster, does she find her strength. The evil fiancé and sheriff of Fortuna was of the moustache twirling variety and I don’t understand her misplaced loyalty to him or her father, to be honest, for they did nothing to earn it.
The ship was cool, although I wondered about the science of keeping it in the air all this time. The family like bond between outlaw Mirage Cutter and her small crew of female misfits was sweet. The plot was a bit thin, the drama thick. So in short, The Persephone Star is entertaining if you don’t want to dig too deep.
f/f the romance part is very PG, a few kisses were shared. Penelope is a lady afterall.
Themes: Fortuna, Wild West meets a tiny bit of Streampunk, a kidnapping gone wrong, sky pirates, all men are evil, ‘little librarian’, wrongly accused.
3.4 Stars
* A free copy was provided by Netgalley and Riptide Publishing for an honest review.
March 8, 2022
Good fun, very readable but not a lot of substance of plot and character. Just a bit too fast paced for any real emotion or connection. And the Villain was a bit too one-dimensional. But still very entertaining.
February 6, 2020
Wild, wild western... women? Oh yes, folks! She's the bandita by air ship robbing and pillaging and her crew has just taken hostage a timid librarian- telegraph operator who happens to be more than she seems. I was all in for this female western adventure romance.
The Persephone Star begins with somewhat naive and timid, but sensible and capable postmistress Penelope Moser living her days in a small western town secretly dreading when the wedding with the fiance her banker father chose for her. The virile and blustering sheriff might make every other woman's heart go pitter pat, but Penelope doesn't miss his promises that when they are marriaged things are going to change. Her life will be more confined to housekeeping and babies. Penelope dreams of being a librarian and inspiring literacy in the town. She loves her job as the postmistress and telegraph operator. She isn't unaware that the sheriff plans to keep up his bachelor lifestyle at the saloon with his cronies and the women there. Her father wants her settled and seems to have forgotten that she has a mind that was equal to his own when he talked his banking business with her. Their planned future for her is stifling.
But, then word of Mirage Currier and her Persephone Star are spotted in the next town. The residents of her town are terrified, but the sheriff who put Mirage behind bars and testified against her sister declares it will be a showdown and he'll gun Mirage and the whole crew of her ship down. Penelope seeks ways to avoid bloodshed in the town, but then she ends up a kidnapped hostage aboard the Persephone Star. A whole new world opens for her in the freedom of the skies with an outlaw crew of women no less. She can't understand her reaction to the woman known as Mirage at first and then has to decide if she can throw off everything she knows to embrace what she is feeling. But, the crew and captain are faced with the hanging of one of their own and Penelope just might be the only one to find a way through the danger.
The Persephone Star had the elements to make up a good western, but all seen through a feminine lens and a strong female-driven slant. I had the impression it was a steampunk and it is, but only a whiff. Not much alternate history or gadgetry like one usually sees. That didn't detract from the story, but just took some adjusting in my mind.
Penelope is the sole narrator and it was neat seeing her start out so parched and not seeing herself well to growing and flourishing as she faced each choice and event. She had to deal with a great deal of male braggadocio and chauvinism, but she still wanted to keep everyone safe even the ones who probably didn't deserve it.
I loved the colorful, eccentric outlaw crew and learning how they came to join together. The time aboard ship was my favorite part of the book.
The big climax was exciting and I loved how the author ratcheted up the tension in the last half.
It was a quick and didn't spend a long time developing the action and the character relationships, but I don't want to give the impression that it was devoid of development. It was fun and boisterous and had me wanting to yell with the Persephone Star crew, I am female, hear me roar. Haha! I would recommend this to those who enjoy a sweet sensual f/f western historical romance.
My thanks to Riptide Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Persephone Star begins with somewhat naive and timid, but sensible and capable postmistress Penelope Moser living her days in a small western town secretly dreading when the wedding with the fiance her banker father chose for her. The virile and blustering sheriff might make every other woman's heart go pitter pat, but Penelope doesn't miss his promises that when they are marriaged things are going to change. Her life will be more confined to housekeeping and babies. Penelope dreams of being a librarian and inspiring literacy in the town. She loves her job as the postmistress and telegraph operator. She isn't unaware that the sheriff plans to keep up his bachelor lifestyle at the saloon with his cronies and the women there. Her father wants her settled and seems to have forgotten that she has a mind that was equal to his own when he talked his banking business with her. Their planned future for her is stifling.
But, then word of Mirage Currier and her Persephone Star are spotted in the next town. The residents of her town are terrified, but the sheriff who put Mirage behind bars and testified against her sister declares it will be a showdown and he'll gun Mirage and the whole crew of her ship down. Penelope seeks ways to avoid bloodshed in the town, but then she ends up a kidnapped hostage aboard the Persephone Star. A whole new world opens for her in the freedom of the skies with an outlaw crew of women no less. She can't understand her reaction to the woman known as Mirage at first and then has to decide if she can throw off everything she knows to embrace what she is feeling. But, the crew and captain are faced with the hanging of one of their own and Penelope just might be the only one to find a way through the danger.
The Persephone Star had the elements to make up a good western, but all seen through a feminine lens and a strong female-driven slant. I had the impression it was a steampunk and it is, but only a whiff. Not much alternate history or gadgetry like one usually sees. That didn't detract from the story, but just took some adjusting in my mind.
Penelope is the sole narrator and it was neat seeing her start out so parched and not seeing herself well to growing and flourishing as she faced each choice and event. She had to deal with a great deal of male braggadocio and chauvinism, but she still wanted to keep everyone safe even the ones who probably didn't deserve it.
I loved the colorful, eccentric outlaw crew and learning how they came to join together. The time aboard ship was my favorite part of the book.
The big climax was exciting and I loved how the author ratcheted up the tension in the last half.
It was a quick and didn't spend a long time developing the action and the character relationships, but I don't want to give the impression that it was devoid of development. It was fun and boisterous and had me wanting to yell with the Persephone Star crew, I am female, hear me roar. Haha! I would recommend this to those who enjoy a sweet sensual f/f western historical romance.
My thanks to Riptide Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
The Persephone Star is a straightforward, feel-good romance set in the Wild West with a dash of steampunk thrown in by way of airship. Told from Penelope’s POV, the story follows our plucky heroine as she is spirited away by outlaw/pirate Mell and finds herself intrigued and attracted by the rogue’s charming grin, good heart, and family of rescued women. The majority of the story finds Penelope amongst her “captors,” learning the truth of what actually happened during the shootout and trying to find a way to save innocent lives, while also finding the simple acceptance she has always craved. Although feeling stifled by having her choices narrowed down to marriage and babies for no other reason than being a woman, Penelope nevertheless quietly accepted her fate until meeting the crew of the Star and finding a family that understood her, and more importantly saw her—a family that she never believed existed.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
The Persephone Star is a straightforward, feel-good romance set in the Wild West with a dash of steampunk thrown in by way of airship. Told from Penelope’s POV, the story follows our plucky heroine as she is spirited away by outlaw/pirate Mell and finds herself intrigued and attracted by the rogue’s charming grin, good heart, and family of rescued women. The majority of the story finds Penelope amongst her “captors,” learning the truth of what actually happened during the shootout and trying to find a way to save innocent lives, while also finding the simple acceptance she has always craved. Although feeling stifled by having her choices narrowed down to marriage and babies for no other reason than being a woman, Penelope nevertheless quietly accepted her fate until meeting the crew of the Star and finding a family that understood her, and more importantly saw her—a family that she never believed existed.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
March 10, 2016
I received an ARC of this book from Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
This was a bit different than my usual genre, but I found the book interesting and easy to get involved in. I found the dichotomy between Penelope's "normal" life and life aboard the dirigible interesting. It's true that men made the rules of polite society then, and didn't care much that they didn't follow the rules themselves. The lack of opportunity for women, the strict roles respectable women were forced into, the shaming and use of women who had no other options in life are all examples of things we've supposedly moved beyond in our more enlightened times. The author doesn't overtly state that we haven't overcome some of these things, but creates a way for us to think about the way things used to be and wonder how much they've really changed.
That said, it's obviously a major part of the story, and for the most part, Sullivan addresses it well, making it integral to the story and something that the main character ponders quite a lot. She does it in a way that makes it something that the characters are struggling with, and not preaching to the reader. But there is a lot of it, and sometimes it does become a bit overwhelming.
The end of the story, however, felt quite rushed. When this happens, I always wonder if the author hit her word count and needed to wrap up the story quickly, or if she just didn't want to expand on the end. And in this case, I think that's a bit of a shame. We don't know how the women of the Persephone Star treated Penelope's return. And we don't know if Penelope ever overcame her own inhibitions and allowed herself to explore how kissing Mell made her feel. We don't even know for sure that Corinna was saved and was able to rejoin the crew, other than what Penelope put in her rather short missive to her father.
All in all, an enjoyable read, but the ending leaves you a little less than satisfied.
This was a bit different than my usual genre, but I found the book interesting and easy to get involved in. I found the dichotomy between Penelope's "normal" life and life aboard the dirigible interesting. It's true that men made the rules of polite society then, and didn't care much that they didn't follow the rules themselves. The lack of opportunity for women, the strict roles respectable women were forced into, the shaming and use of women who had no other options in life are all examples of things we've supposedly moved beyond in our more enlightened times. The author doesn't overtly state that we haven't overcome some of these things, but creates a way for us to think about the way things used to be and wonder how much they've really changed.
That said, it's obviously a major part of the story, and for the most part, Sullivan addresses it well, making it integral to the story and something that the main character ponders quite a lot. She does it in a way that makes it something that the characters are struggling with, and not preaching to the reader. But there is a lot of it, and sometimes it does become a bit overwhelming.
The end of the story, however, felt quite rushed. When this happens, I always wonder if the author hit her word count and needed to wrap up the story quickly, or if she just didn't want to expand on the end. And in this case, I think that's a bit of a shame. We don't know how the women of the Persephone Star treated Penelope's return. And we don't know if Penelope ever overcame her own inhibitions and allowed herself to explore how kissing Mell made her feel. We don't even know for sure that Corinna was saved and was able to rejoin the crew, other than what Penelope put in her rather short missive to her father.
All in all, an enjoyable read, but the ending leaves you a little less than satisfied.
February 6, 2020
3.5 stars
Note: this is a re-released edition; The Persephone Star is previously released by (the now-defunct) Less Than Three Press. I don't know whether the story has been re-edited or re-written. Assumed that it is not, if you have bought/read the story that it is probably the same one
Penelope Moser has been living her life as a good girl -- she doesn't object much, even when she is betrothed to a man that she doesn't love. Penelope does her job as postmistress well and keeps her head down. The only thing she wants for herself is the library she is trying to build. Until she is kidnapped by the crew of The Persephone Star, said to be a bunch of female criminals lead by one Mirage Currier, who is gunning to release her sister from death sentence.
I think the story is pretty sweet and rather straightforward. I wish there's a little nuance though, because it seems that all the men are bed, and all the crew of the Star misunderstood. But I think it's also makes things easier for Penelope isn't it?
There isn't much time for relationship development between Penelope and Mell Currier, the captain of the ship. Because time is rather pressing with Mell trying to save her sister from being hanged. Still, it's a nice quick read... ... and Penelope manages to help find justice for Mell's sister and grabs her chance of true happiness.
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Note: this is a re-released edition; The Persephone Star is previously released by (the now-defunct) Less Than Three Press. I don't know whether the story has been re-edited or re-written. Assumed that it is not, if you have bought/read the story that it is probably the same one
Penelope Moser has been living her life as a good girl -- she doesn't object much, even when she is betrothed to a man that she doesn't love. Penelope does her job as postmistress well and keeps her head down. The only thing she wants for herself is the library she is trying to build. Until she is kidnapped by the crew of The Persephone Star, said to be a bunch of female criminals lead by one Mirage Currier, who is gunning to release her sister from death sentence.
I think the story is pretty sweet and rather straightforward. I wish there's a little nuance though, because it seems that all the men are bed, and all the crew of the Star misunderstood. But I think it's also makes things easier for Penelope isn't it?
There isn't much time for relationship development between Penelope and Mell Currier, the captain of the ship. Because time is rather pressing with Mell trying to save her sister from being hanged. Still, it's a nice quick read... ... and Penelope manages to help find justice for Mell's sister and grabs her chance of true happiness.
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
February 11, 2020
Let me start off by saying that I found this to be a good read. I also was confused in the beginning about what the Persephone Star was and I often found myself wondering was it accurate. I am a little lazy to look it up. Anyway, I found this to read more like scifi (IMHO).
The story is very interesting. Penelope has traveled with her banker father all over the country and have finally settle in Fortuna. She is engaged to marry the town sheriff and all is going fairly well. Except, it seems she really doesn't want to marry the sheriff but her father expects her too and she finds him to be crude. Since the story is told from her perspective we find the backstory of Mirage Currier who has come back to the area to save her sister from the death penalty. The sheriff wants to get his hands on Mirage and the rest of the crew of the Persephone and describes them as being ruthless villains. Penelope tries to find out why the sheriff really dislikes them, but no one wants to tell her the story.
Even though this is classified as a romance, I treat it more as fiction. There is a love connection between Mirage and Penelope once they meet, but that really isn't the focus. The focus is why is Mirage sister in jail and how will she get her out....well there really is a tad bit more on the Penelope side. Anyway, I found this to be a pleasant and fast read. I wish there was more romance and I wish that I had a clearer understanding of the Persephone star and if it was historically accurate.
3.5 stars
This arc was provided by the netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
The story is very interesting. Penelope has traveled with her banker father all over the country and have finally settle in Fortuna. She is engaged to marry the town sheriff and all is going fairly well. Except, it seems she really doesn't want to marry the sheriff but her father expects her too and she finds him to be crude. Since the story is told from her perspective we find the backstory of Mirage Currier who has come back to the area to save her sister from the death penalty. The sheriff wants to get his hands on Mirage and the rest of the crew of the Persephone and describes them as being ruthless villains. Penelope tries to find out why the sheriff really dislikes them, but no one wants to tell her the story.
Even though this is classified as a romance, I treat it more as fiction. There is a love connection between Mirage and Penelope once they meet, but that really isn't the focus. The focus is why is Mirage sister in jail and how will she get her out....well there really is a tad bit more on the Penelope side. Anyway, I found this to be a pleasant and fast read. I wish there was more romance and I wish that I had a clearer understanding of the Persephone star and if it was historically accurate.
3.5 stars
This arc was provided by the netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
January 26, 2026
This has been on my TBR shelf for so long and this year I really want to get around to clearing it out! For some reason the word "sheriff" in the synopsis didn't alert me that this would be a Wild West story, aha. I definitely expected something more sci-fi going into this and that Penelope's choice between Wiley and Mell would be more angsty and complex but it was pretty black and white! This was still a fun story, just not entirely my style overall. This did however take u-haul lesbianism to a whole new level that I can only respect.
April 21, 2020
Liked this a lot. The start grabbed my attention, and that's an excellent beginning. But then it meandered and grew repetitive. Once we were close to halfway then the plot came back and it moved sweetly through the rest of the story. The characters are more caricatures at this point, but I feel that another story would allow them all to stand out a little more.
Most important of all, I enjoyed the story. I hope there is more of this.
Most important of all, I enjoyed the story. I hope there is more of this.
August 6, 2020
If your novels tell you that only men can do heroic things, then you’re reading the wrong kind of books.
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3.5
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Thank you very much Netgalley and Riptide Publishing for the e-ARC!
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English (español abajo)
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The Persephone Star is one of those books I read because I was really interested in it from the first minute. I even felt a conection with it, but this review is not about me and my love for books. That's why now I'm mentioning the things I liked about this book: f/f romance + western + feminism, a combination that in The Persephone Star works perfectly and it entertains. It was nearly impossible not to think about the classic Hollywood western films while reading, but the only difference between those classic movies and this book is that in The Persephone Star there's no damsel in distress and the machismo is denounced. Sullivan was able to write a book where this genre is brand new and I love it SO MUCH. She took the western's tropes and cliches and started to change them, exposing the machismo and building badass women that can save themselves. I think it could have been awesome to read about the tribes and the white supremacist, but this book is about empowered women and I also understand why this topics weren't the protagonists. Anyway, I loved Sullivan's work on the western genre and the use of contemporary debates. I loved the romance too, even though I think it was a little love at first sight.
The writing is very simple and tho I liked the characters, I had the feeling that they weren't build very well. It was like, inmersed in the genre and the atmosphere, Sullivan forgot other essential parts of the story. Luckily the book is pretty interesting and the adventure helps you keep reading.
Another three things I didn't like so much: first, the steampunk. The Persephone Star is catalogued as a "steampunk western", but the only steampunk thing was the dirigible. The problem might be in the similar aesthetics between the steampunk and the western, and friendly reminder, the western in this book is so good that I think it overshadowed the other one. I was a little sad about this, because I love steampunk stories and I expected so much more.
The second thing was Penelope. It was a okay main character, but more than once I wanted to slap her. She was a little irrational sometimes.
The third thing I didn't like was the rythm of the story. Everything happened VERY quickly. Not even the reader, the story or the characters have a second to breath and the result is a feeling of void because things are really speed-up. The conflict had a good development, yes, but as I said it was a little speed-up.
But that's it. I liked this book and if you want to read a feminist-sapphic western, pick this book!
Español
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The Persephone Star es uno de esos libros que pedí porque realmente me llamó desde el minuto cero. Sentí casi una conexión mística con él, pero como no voy a hablar de mis vínculos emocionales con libros, voy a pasar a explayarme en las cosas que me engancharon en un primer momento y que no me decepcionaron para nada al leer la historia: f/f romance + western + feminismo. Una combinación que podría ser pensada como imposible, pero en la práctica me pareció súper lograda y entretenida, y acá viene una clase corta de cine estadounidense: el western es, por excelencia, uno de los géneros clásicos del cine norteamericano, sino EL género clásico. Y de todas las películas que vi (de los años 40-50, cabe aclarar), en todas me encontré el mismo patrón: hombres que reivindican su masculinidad tóxica, mujeres en apuros que tienen que ser salvadas, algún que otro tiroteo, buenos versus malos, la supremacía blanca ganando por sobre los pueblos originarios. Y es por todo esto que el cine western quedó tan obsoleto, y leyendo este libro me di cuenta de lo mucho que falta explotar el género.
Lo que Jamie Sullivan hace en su libro es agarrar todos los tropes y clichés del western, ponerlos en una bolsa y tirarlos a la basura. Lo cual me parece ESPECTACULAR, porque establece un diálogo directo con el género a la vez que lo discute. Expone el machismo, la supremacía blanca, construye a mujeres que no solo no están en apuros sino que pueden salvarse solas, sin hombres a sus espaldas; le da una vuelta al "buenos versus malos". Faltó explorar un poco más y denuncia directamente la white supremacist, pero la verdad es que con todo el feminismo eso habría quedado medio colgado (lo menciona muchísimas veces pero no ahonda en el tema). Pero en fin, adoré el trabajo sobre el género de Sullivan, más la inclusión de debates contemporáneos y del romance, que aunque me pareció medio love at first sight, me gustó mucho, I'm a sapphic trashcan after all.
La escritura es muy simple y aunque los personajes me gustaron mucho, sentía que les faltaba un poco. Como si al concentrarse tanto en la construcción del género y el ambiente, Sullivan hubiera descuidado otras partes esenciales de la historia, que también es simple pero a la vez emocionante. Porque, truth be told, el western es sobre la aventura, y este libro tiene una gran aventura que te mantiene enganchado hasta llegar al final.
Pasando a lo que le critico, son tres cosas, digamos. La primera de las tres es el steampunk. The Persephone Star se presenta como un "steampunk western", pero más allá del dirigible no vi al steampunk. Creo que esto pasó porque el steampunk y el western tienen aesthetics similares (especialmente en lo que es ropa y tonalidades), y al estar el western tan bien trabajado, eclipsó al otro, además de que todo lo que es tecnología coincide muchísimo con el momento histórico. Me dio un poco de pena, porque realmente esperaba una historia steampunk.
La segunda fue Penelope. Lo único que tengo que decir es que es una buena protagonista PERO tuvo momentos en los que quería agarrarla y cachetearla. La feminista en mí no podía evitarlo, qué quieren que les diga.
Y por último, el tercer aspecto a criticar es el ritmo de la historia. Todo pasó RAPIDÍSIMO. Ni el lector, ni la historia ni los personajes respiran y el resultado es una sensación de vacío porque las cosas son muy aceleradas. Creo que todo lo que fue conflicto y resolución tuvieron un buen desarrollo, pero a los ponchazos. Creo que habría estado bueno leer algo un poco más desacelerado.
En fin, el libro me gustó de todas formas, así que si quieren leer algo western les recomiendo al 100% The Persephone Star!!
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3.5
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Thank you very much Netgalley and Riptide Publishing for the e-ARC!
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English (español abajo)
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The Persephone Star is one of those books I read because I was really interested in it from the first minute. I even felt a conection with it, but this review is not about me and my love for books. That's why now I'm mentioning the things I liked about this book: f/f romance + western + feminism, a combination that in The Persephone Star works perfectly and it entertains. It was nearly impossible not to think about the classic Hollywood western films while reading, but the only difference between those classic movies and this book is that in The Persephone Star there's no damsel in distress and the machismo is denounced. Sullivan was able to write a book where this genre is brand new and I love it SO MUCH. She took the western's tropes and cliches and started to change them, exposing the machismo and building badass women that can save themselves. I think it could have been awesome to read about the tribes and the white supremacist, but this book is about empowered women and I also understand why this topics weren't the protagonists. Anyway, I loved Sullivan's work on the western genre and the use of contemporary debates. I loved the romance too, even though I think it was a little love at first sight.
The writing is very simple and tho I liked the characters, I had the feeling that they weren't build very well. It was like, inmersed in the genre and the atmosphere, Sullivan forgot other essential parts of the story. Luckily the book is pretty interesting and the adventure helps you keep reading.
Another three things I didn't like so much: first, the steampunk. The Persephone Star is catalogued as a "steampunk western", but the only steampunk thing was the dirigible. The problem might be in the similar aesthetics between the steampunk and the western, and friendly reminder, the western in this book is so good that I think it overshadowed the other one. I was a little sad about this, because I love steampunk stories and I expected so much more.
The second thing was Penelope. It was a okay main character, but more than once I wanted to slap her. She was a little irrational sometimes.
The third thing I didn't like was the rythm of the story. Everything happened VERY quickly. Not even the reader, the story or the characters have a second to breath and the result is a feeling of void because things are really speed-up. The conflict had a good development, yes, but as I said it was a little speed-up.
But that's it. I liked this book and if you want to read a feminist-sapphic western, pick this book!
Español
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The Persephone Star es uno de esos libros que pedí porque realmente me llamó desde el minuto cero. Sentí casi una conexión mística con él, pero como no voy a hablar de mis vínculos emocionales con libros, voy a pasar a explayarme en las cosas que me engancharon en un primer momento y que no me decepcionaron para nada al leer la historia: f/f romance + western + feminismo. Una combinación que podría ser pensada como imposible, pero en la práctica me pareció súper lograda y entretenida, y acá viene una clase corta de cine estadounidense: el western es, por excelencia, uno de los géneros clásicos del cine norteamericano, sino EL género clásico. Y de todas las películas que vi (de los años 40-50, cabe aclarar), en todas me encontré el mismo patrón: hombres que reivindican su masculinidad tóxica, mujeres en apuros que tienen que ser salvadas, algún que otro tiroteo, buenos versus malos, la supremacía blanca ganando por sobre los pueblos originarios. Y es por todo esto que el cine western quedó tan obsoleto, y leyendo este libro me di cuenta de lo mucho que falta explotar el género.
Lo que Jamie Sullivan hace en su libro es agarrar todos los tropes y clichés del western, ponerlos en una bolsa y tirarlos a la basura. Lo cual me parece ESPECTACULAR, porque establece un diálogo directo con el género a la vez que lo discute. Expone el machismo, la supremacía blanca, construye a mujeres que no solo no están en apuros sino que pueden salvarse solas, sin hombres a sus espaldas; le da una vuelta al "buenos versus malos". Faltó explorar un poco más y denuncia directamente la white supremacist, pero la verdad es que con todo el feminismo eso habría quedado medio colgado (lo menciona muchísimas veces pero no ahonda en el tema). Pero en fin, adoré el trabajo sobre el género de Sullivan, más la inclusión de debates contemporáneos y del romance, que aunque me pareció medio love at first sight, me gustó mucho, I'm a sapphic trashcan after all.
La escritura es muy simple y aunque los personajes me gustaron mucho, sentía que les faltaba un poco. Como si al concentrarse tanto en la construcción del género y el ambiente, Sullivan hubiera descuidado otras partes esenciales de la historia, que también es simple pero a la vez emocionante. Porque, truth be told, el western es sobre la aventura, y este libro tiene una gran aventura que te mantiene enganchado hasta llegar al final.
Pasando a lo que le critico, son tres cosas, digamos. La primera de las tres es el steampunk. The Persephone Star se presenta como un "steampunk western", pero más allá del dirigible no vi al steampunk. Creo que esto pasó porque el steampunk y el western tienen aesthetics similares (especialmente en lo que es ropa y tonalidades), y al estar el western tan bien trabajado, eclipsó al otro, además de que todo lo que es tecnología coincide muchísimo con el momento histórico. Me dio un poco de pena, porque realmente esperaba una historia steampunk.
La segunda fue Penelope. Lo único que tengo que decir es que es una buena protagonista PERO tuvo momentos en los que quería agarrarla y cachetearla. La feminista en mí no podía evitarlo, qué quieren que les diga.
Y por último, el tercer aspecto a criticar es el ritmo de la historia. Todo pasó RAPIDÍSIMO. Ni el lector, ni la historia ni los personajes respiran y el resultado es una sensación de vacío porque las cosas son muy aceleradas. Creo que todo lo que fue conflicto y resolución tuvieron un buen desarrollo, pero a los ponchazos. Creo que habría estado bueno leer algo un poco más desacelerado.
En fin, el libro me gustó de todas formas, así que si quieren leer algo western les recomiendo al 100% The Persephone Star!!
ugh
January 12, 2021DNF - PG 13 (approx)
You know, I was so pleased with myself. I grabbed the preview over at Amazon of this book. Then I was excited because I was really loving it. I love steampunk and F/F in the wild west sounds amazing. I was excited because the first guy we meet isn't a leering jackass and because our lady pirate is a captain of a crew of lady pirates.
About ten pages in I was so convinced I was going to love this book that I borrowed it from my library right then.
SIGH
We meet Penelope's fiance.
'[…]Wiley's eyes sliding proprietarily over her.'
'Wiley's fingers brushed hers as he took the papers, a lingering stroke over the back of her hand. She fought the urge to pull back, reminding herself that it was allowed. Expected even.'
'A cruel smirk twisted Wiley's lips. "'Just a girl'?" he parroted with delight. "From out own little postmistress?"'
'"You'll feel useful soon enough," Wiley said, softening his tone. "When there are young ones to take up all the time you waste on your job and your little library."'
…
Why is it that hard to find a nice, sweet F/F romance where I finally do not have to worry about creepy, lecher men? Why is this so difficult? If I wanted to read about asshole guys, I would read any alpha male F/M romance. I don't. So when I turn to F/F, why are they still infecting it?
You know, I was so pleased with myself. I grabbed the preview over at Amazon of this book. Then I was excited because I was really loving it. I love steampunk and F/F in the wild west sounds amazing. I was excited because the first guy we meet isn't a leering jackass and because our lady pirate is a captain of a crew of lady pirates.
About ten pages in I was so convinced I was going to love this book that I borrowed it from my library right then.
SIGH
We meet Penelope's fiance.
'[…]Wiley's eyes sliding proprietarily over her.'
'Wiley's fingers brushed hers as he took the papers, a lingering stroke over the back of her hand. She fought the urge to pull back, reminding herself that it was allowed. Expected even.'
'A cruel smirk twisted Wiley's lips. "'Just a girl'?" he parroted with delight. "From out own little postmistress?"'
'"You'll feel useful soon enough," Wiley said, softening his tone. "When there are young ones to take up all the time you waste on your job and your little library."'
…
Why is it that hard to find a nice, sweet F/F romance where I finally do not have to worry about creepy, lecher men? Why is this so difficult? If I wanted to read about asshole guys, I would read any alpha male F/M romance. I don't. So when I turn to F/F, why are they still infecting it?
January 21, 2020
Cute in fiction can go either way. I’ve used it in both negative and positive connotations. But generally it’s something to stay away from…unless, like this book, cute is done just right. So interestingly enough this is a mix of wild west, steampunk and romance (all genres I avoid) that somehow ended up being plenty entertaining. Persephone Star is a ship of outlaws, adorable all female bunch of outlaws with an adorable pint sized leader to (presumably cowboy) boot named Mirage Currier. According to the rumors these ladies present a formidable threat, so everyone is one high alert as the ship arrives. Their mission is to rescue Mirage’s sister, wrongly accused of murder and sentenced to be hung. The local sheriff, bastard that he is, is out to get the outlaws, wishing to see them all hung, or drawn and quartered or at the very least dead somehow. Penelope Moser, his quiet postmaster/librarian fiancée isn’t so sure. And then she gets mistakenly kidnapped and whisked away to the ship in the skies and nothing will ever be the same. Turns out there is entirely too much excitement to be had aboard Persephone Star. I mean, the ladies there are wearing trousers, how daring, how wild. So that’s the basics…you have all the shootouts and dust the western requires, plenty of action, plenty of adventure. There’s an awesome dirigible. Penelope and Mirage (call her Mell) are adorable together. It’s silly, but entirely too much fun. And such a quick read too. Recommended for the right mood. Thanks Netgalley.
July 5, 2020
4.5 stars
Loved this! It was a super quick read and fairly predictable, but sometimes you just want something comforting to sink your teeth into. This hit a lot of my buttons: steampunk feel, f/f romance, lots of feminism. Absolutely worth the read!
Loved this! It was a super quick read and fairly predictable, but sometimes you just want something comforting to sink your teeth into. This hit a lot of my buttons: steampunk feel, f/f romance, lots of feminism. Absolutely worth the read!
January 29, 2021
I genuinely don't think I've loved an indie f/f novel this much since Rescues and the Rhyssa. Just like in that romp, there are compelling characters, although these are a crew on a floating steampunk ship rather than a space ship.
Penelope Moser is the well to do daughter of Ashes Moser. Wealthy, both of them. And Ashes clearly loves his daughter, but he wants a good marriage for her most of all. Enter Cullen Wiley, the Sheriff of Fortuna, where they all live.
Only one problem: Wiley is... pretty awful. If I have any trigger warnings to give, it's that he's really damned uncomfortable to read. Although he doesn't actually hit her, the violence around his person is incredibly clear, as is the foreshadowing that should they marry, Penelope would become a battered wife. And the kisses he forces on her are none too pretty.
When she gets kidnapped by mistake, it's almost a relief. We come to meet Mirage Currier, a big, bad criminal who Wiley has made his mission to take down again now that she's out of jail.
But the person we meet is Mell Currier, a fairly unassuming woman who just wants to stop her little sister from being hanged for a crime she didn't commit. On board her ship of misfits are multiple women who have been saved from a variety of not particularly nice situations. Saved by Mell Currier.
And she very quickly begins to worm her way into Penelope's affections.
I won't lie, I've been a long time fan of this author's work, and it's an absolute pleasure to see her in print again.
~
Similar to: The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics
Penelope Moser is the well to do daughter of Ashes Moser. Wealthy, both of them. And Ashes clearly loves his daughter, but he wants a good marriage for her most of all. Enter Cullen Wiley, the Sheriff of Fortuna, where they all live.
Only one problem: Wiley is... pretty awful. If I have any trigger warnings to give, it's that he's really damned uncomfortable to read. Although he doesn't actually hit her, the violence around his person is incredibly clear, as is the foreshadowing that should they marry, Penelope would become a battered wife. And the kisses he forces on her are none too pretty.
When she gets kidnapped by mistake, it's almost a relief. We come to meet Mirage Currier, a big, bad criminal who Wiley has made his mission to take down again now that she's out of jail.
But the person we meet is Mell Currier, a fairly unassuming woman who just wants to stop her little sister from being hanged for a crime she didn't commit. On board her ship of misfits are multiple women who have been saved from a variety of not particularly nice situations. Saved by Mell Currier.
And she very quickly begins to worm her way into Penelope's affections.
I won't lie, I've been a long time fan of this author's work, and it's an absolute pleasure to see her in print again.
~
Similar to: The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics
February 14, 2020
**Big thanks to Riptide Publishing for providing me with an ARC for an honest review!**
3.75* How to describe this book: an F/F sky pirate story set in an Wild West type town? Penelope has followed her father as he moved west from New York, establishing banks in the West. She now works as a postmistress and self-installed librarian. Her father has also agreed to her engagement to the town Sheriff. She lives a life where women are supposed to know their place and allow the men to control their lives. Then, she hears news of a bunch of female-only criminals headed by Mirage Currier. They travel in an airship and can be described as sky pirates. The Sheriff's deepest wish is to kill Mirage and her gang. Penelope found herself kidnapped by the gang and starts to know their backstories. And what do you know, she even finds herself liking them!
This type of heroine meets dashing pirate and falls in love story is not uncommon. I've always found them quite fun to read. Who does not want to live vicariously and go on an adventure with a good-looking rake? The setting here is a bit different with the wild, lawless West but with airships. But, if there's one gripe I have, it's that the resolution came too quickly. It would be a good candidate for a sequel though, letting us get to know Mirage and her crew more deeply.
3.75* How to describe this book: an F/F sky pirate story set in an Wild West type town? Penelope has followed her father as he moved west from New York, establishing banks in the West. She now works as a postmistress and self-installed librarian. Her father has also agreed to her engagement to the town Sheriff. She lives a life where women are supposed to know their place and allow the men to control their lives. Then, she hears news of a bunch of female-only criminals headed by Mirage Currier. They travel in an airship and can be described as sky pirates. The Sheriff's deepest wish is to kill Mirage and her gang. Penelope found herself kidnapped by the gang and starts to know their backstories. And what do you know, she even finds herself liking them!
This type of heroine meets dashing pirate and falls in love story is not uncommon. I've always found them quite fun to read. Who does not want to live vicariously and go on an adventure with a good-looking rake? The setting here is a bit different with the wild, lawless West but with airships. But, if there's one gripe I have, it's that the resolution came too quickly. It would be a good candidate for a sequel though, letting us get to know Mirage and her crew more deeply.
September 5, 2016
This was just too much fun. A rollicking steampunk adventure with a gentle f/f romance tucked inside. A delightful light read from start to finish.
January 11, 2019
Rep: lesbian mcs
July 30, 2020
Thanks to Net Galley and Riptide Publishing for a free ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A fun, fierce and feminist adventure that features found family, found freedom and a queer romance that will set your heart beating faster.
Set in a wild west with steampunk inspired aspects The Persephone Star follows Penelope Moser from her safe and somewhat mind numbing role of postmistress to the deck of the famed airship, The Persephone Star itself, where she comes face to face with the famous outlaw Mirage Currier.
Throughout her unexpected journey our heroine, a book lover at heart and always sharp-minded, finds herself questioning what the men in her life have always told her is the right and lawful thing to do.
The variety of characters in this book is delightful, we meet women from every kind of background and all with a story to tell.
Mirage stole my heart a little with her quick wit, open mindedness and loyalty to her blood and her found family both.
The plot winds along, never particularly rushing or slowing, the first half of the book is mainly the setup and development of intrigue for the unfolding action in the second half.
The writing is straight forwards and evenly paced and while in a few places felt a little too plain it did not take away from the story itself.
We are given a clear sense of the backdrop and type of world our characters live in even though we do not travel far from the main setting of Fortune town.
All in all an easy and quick read with plenty of wild west shoot-out style action scenes and shady double-dealings as well as interesting characters and heart-warming moments.
A fun, fierce and feminist adventure that features found family, found freedom and a queer romance that will set your heart beating faster.
Set in a wild west with steampunk inspired aspects The Persephone Star follows Penelope Moser from her safe and somewhat mind numbing role of postmistress to the deck of the famed airship, The Persephone Star itself, where she comes face to face with the famous outlaw Mirage Currier.
Throughout her unexpected journey our heroine, a book lover at heart and always sharp-minded, finds herself questioning what the men in her life have always told her is the right and lawful thing to do.
The variety of characters in this book is delightful, we meet women from every kind of background and all with a story to tell.
Mirage stole my heart a little with her quick wit, open mindedness and loyalty to her blood and her found family both.
The plot winds along, never particularly rushing or slowing, the first half of the book is mainly the setup and development of intrigue for the unfolding action in the second half.
The writing is straight forwards and evenly paced and while in a few places felt a little too plain it did not take away from the story itself.
We are given a clear sense of the backdrop and type of world our characters live in even though we do not travel far from the main setting of Fortune town.
All in all an easy and quick read with plenty of wild west shoot-out style action scenes and shady double-dealings as well as interesting characters and heart-warming moments.
March 24, 2020
"The Persephone Star" by Jamie Sullivan is about the obedient Penelope (26) who is promised to the sheriff of the town as a fiancée. Because of a mix-up she is kidnapped by the everywhere feared outlaws Mirage Currier (24) and her crew.
Penelope has moved with her father to the Wild West to open banks. They have settled in the small town of Fortuna, where Penelope works as a postmistress. Her father has promised the local sheriff his daughter's hand in marriage.
Mirage Currier has a score to settle with the sheriff who put her little sister on death row. Due to a mix-up, Penelope, instead of the Sheriff, is kidnapped on the Persephone Star, the crew's airship.
While reading you are reminded that you should never judge people too quickly and that not everything is as it seems at first sight. Each member of the motley crew had their own motives and motivations to join the life of the outlaws.
The story, which I would count as steampunk, takes place in the Wild West, where the Mirage Currier and her crew move around with their airship.
I really liked the book. The characters had depth, but still it didn't dive too much into the soul life of the individuals. So it was an easy and amusing reading pleasure.
I received a copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Penelope has moved with her father to the Wild West to open banks. They have settled in the small town of Fortuna, where Penelope works as a postmistress. Her father has promised the local sheriff his daughter's hand in marriage.
Mirage Currier has a score to settle with the sheriff who put her little sister on death row. Due to a mix-up, Penelope, instead of the Sheriff, is kidnapped on the Persephone Star, the crew's airship.
While reading you are reminded that you should never judge people too quickly and that not everything is as it seems at first sight. Each member of the motley crew had their own motives and motivations to join the life of the outlaws.
The story, which I would count as steampunk, takes place in the Wild West, where the Mirage Currier and her crew move around with their airship.
I really liked the book. The characters had depth, but still it didn't dive too much into the soul life of the individuals. So it was an easy and amusing reading pleasure.
I received a copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read
February 4, 2020Normally I am not really into the western time period when it comes to books, but for some reason I did decide to read this one. And it was a nice, fun read about women outlaws in a zeppelin and a woman who is living her life like it's expected in that time. Given away to the sherrif to marry, but Penelope is not a docile woman and misses something in her life. So when the crew of Mirage Currier accidentally kidnaps her, it turns out to be a good thing that shows her that women can choose their own path as well.
Thrown in is the storyline about Mirage sister that's being hanged for a crime she didn't commit according to the crew which ties in with the romance and wraps up nicely in the end. Don't expect a challenging read with a big plot and a lot of angst or deeply delved into characters and let the whole superfast, quite unbelievable love connection slide...then you will have an enjoyable couple hours of reading to look forward to.
** an ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review **
Thrown in is the storyline about Mirage sister that's being hanged for a crime she didn't commit according to the crew which ties in with the romance and wraps up nicely in the end. Don't expect a challenging read with a big plot and a lot of angst or deeply delved into characters and let the whole superfast, quite unbelievable love connection slide...then you will have an enjoyable couple hours of reading to look forward to.
** an ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review **
February 28, 2020
I would classify this story as steampunk lite. It would be more accurate to say wild West with Dirigibles. The Persephone Star being said vehicle. I loved the wild West setting combined with a cast of fantastic women who refuse to be treated like property.
The characters of this story were fantastic. Penelope is such a strong and intelligent character even though she spends most of the book accepting her place just because it is all she has ever known. Her intellect, desires, and drive are all ignored by the men in her life. She is like a stick of dynamite just waiting for a match.
Mell and the crew of the Persephone Star are all amazing in their individual ways and each has a different story of breaking free of the box society has placed them in. I loved each of them so much and I can’t wait to see more of them in the future. They are a fantastic found family.
The dialogue was amazing. I loved all the witty banter.
I loved the message of finding yourself and being willing to break the rules to become who you’re meant to be, this is Penelope's journey through that process and it was well written.
Mell and Penelope has such a great connection and they mesh together so perfectly. They had wonderful chemistry and I loved seeing how their relationship grew.
The Persephone Star is a stellar read and I can’t wait the see these badass ladies return to the page.
The characters of this story were fantastic. Penelope is such a strong and intelligent character even though she spends most of the book accepting her place just because it is all she has ever known. Her intellect, desires, and drive are all ignored by the men in her life. She is like a stick of dynamite just waiting for a match.
Mell and the crew of the Persephone Star are all amazing in their individual ways and each has a different story of breaking free of the box society has placed them in. I loved each of them so much and I can’t wait to see more of them in the future. They are a fantastic found family.
The dialogue was amazing. I loved all the witty banter.
I loved the message of finding yourself and being willing to break the rules to become who you’re meant to be, this is Penelope's journey through that process and it was well written.
Mell and Penelope has such a great connection and they mesh together so perfectly. They had wonderful chemistry and I loved seeing how their relationship grew.
The Persephone Star is a stellar read and I can’t wait the see these badass ladies return to the page.
February 19, 2020
was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review of the story. This is a sweet period romance - a bit steampunk, a bit gold rush western. A young woman is engaged to marry the town sheriff against her will. A young woman ourlaw flying the western territory in a dirigible while trying to find a way to rescue her sister from the gallows. The two meet in an unorthodox manner but quickly change each other for the better. The romance is underscored by the truth of the times - women did as they were told, they didn't think independently, they didn't manage their own lives. Men often confused the law with power. I enjoyed this book - again, very sweet romance, a bit of suspense- will the sister be saved from the gallows, will justice be served, will love save the day? I look forward to reading more by this author.
April 21, 2020
This was a quick and easy read. Old west meets steam punk, the local postmistress and librarian finds herself involved with a dispute between her fiancee, the town sheriff, (who expects her to do nothing more than be a proper lady at home raising babies and keeping him happy) and a female gang leader, Mel "Mirage" Currier, who is determined to get her little sister out of jail before she is hanged for crimes Mel swears she had nothing to do with.
This wasn't a bad story, but I just felt that the entire plot was driven by a need to force a relationship onto Mel and Penelope. I truly love LGBTQA+ literature, and appreciate the representation, but those characteristics need to feel organic. I unfortunately didn't feel that from this novel. This felt like the need to have a f/f main characters was the purpose, and the plot was written around the characters.
This wasn't a bad story, but I just felt that the entire plot was driven by a need to force a relationship onto Mel and Penelope. I truly love LGBTQA+ literature, and appreciate the representation, but those characteristics need to feel organic. I unfortunately didn't feel that from this novel. This felt like the need to have a f/f main characters was the purpose, and the plot was written around the characters.
May 27, 2020
Based on what other people have said about this book, I really need to read more Steampunk because I. AM. INTO. IT. Robin Hood air pirates? Ships that fly? An all-female crew? A helmswoman of a FLYING BOAT named Byrdie? I've always appreciated the fashion but apparently I really need to get into the genre, especially when there is a wlw feminist af storyline.
This was a cute, fast read. It was very PG and not particularly slow burn. The characters were really interesting. There was a lot of great world building, character development, and exploration for such a short book. It felt fully realized and was entertaining. My only real complaint is that, for my personal preferences, I wish it had been longer.
This was a cute, fast read. It was very PG and not particularly slow burn. The characters were really interesting. There was a lot of great world building, character development, and exploration for such a short book. It felt fully realized and was entertaining. My only real complaint is that, for my personal preferences, I wish it had been longer.
December 10, 2020
What a brilliant Eead and Story
A story about a bunch of women outlaws led by Mirage Currier ( Mell) whose sister is I n prisonfor murderànd waiting to be hangè. Meek intends to get her out know matter wh.ard. The n we have Penelope Moser postmisþress/librarian whose engaged to Sherrif Wiley her father accepted his offer of marriage withooutt telling her.
This is as rory about how women hAd know rights then How men held the power and purse strings and got a way with beating there wives and nobody cared. MEN have a lot to learn even one day and age. .
This is a great story of one women fight for Justice and her freedom after been kidnapped bi Melland her gang.
Jamie Sullivan did an excellent job writing this story looking forward to reading more by her.
A story about a bunch of women outlaws led by Mirage Currier ( Mell) whose sister is I n prisonfor murderànd waiting to be hangè. Meek intends to get her out know matter wh.ard. The n we have Penelope Moser postmisþress/librarian whose engaged to Sherrif Wiley her father accepted his offer of marriage withooutt telling her.
This is as rory about how women hAd know rights then How men held the power and purse strings and got a way with beating there wives and nobody cared. MEN have a lot to learn even one day and age. .
This is a great story of one women fight for Justice and her freedom after been kidnapped bi Melland her gang.
Jamie Sullivan did an excellent job writing this story looking forward to reading more by her.
April 4, 2021
This book was okay. In an alternate old west with airships, a small-town postmistress is kidnapped by a group of lady bandits who aren't exactly what they seem.
The book is quite short and written in simple language that felt like a YA novel. There isn't much actual action until the end, the majority of the book is the main character’s conflicted thoughts and conversations with the bandits. The characters are interesting but mostly pretty shallow in terms of character traits. There's an attempt made to address some real-world topics like racism and domestic abuse, but the treatment is pretty superficial and fluffy due to the short runtime.
It was a fun little diversion, but ultimately forgettable.
The book is quite short and written in simple language that felt like a YA novel. There isn't much actual action until the end, the majority of the book is the main character’s conflicted thoughts and conversations with the bandits. The characters are interesting but mostly pretty shallow in terms of character traits. There's an attempt made to address some real-world topics like racism and domestic abuse, but the treatment is pretty superficial and fluffy due to the short runtime.
It was a fun little diversion, but ultimately forgettable.
November 2, 2024
4 stars. This was such a fun read. It's fast paced and I loved the character growth that the main character Penelope went through. She started off feeling so stifled in her life but meeting pirate Mirage Currier and her crew members on The Persephone Star after being kidnapped by them changes things for her. I really liked Mirage and her crew a lot and the light romance between Mirage and Penelope was sweet. There's not much of it but what's there was cute and I liked their chemistry. Penelope takes a stand in the end and kicks some ass which was great. This wasn't anything mind blowing but I thought it was entertaining and so much fun.
June 29, 2018
I'm not a fan of fantasy and science-fiction but I won this book and wanted to give it a fair chance. It took me a few pages to understand the setting of the story and with every page I got more and more interested so that I ended up reading the book within 24 hours. It was a fun story and the only thing I wasn't fond of, was the end. It was too sudden and I had wished for an epilogue to know if Penelope, Mell and the others had made it safely away from Fortuna and if they were able to free Corinna
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