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Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians
As an assistant editor at the prestigious Hanhat Publishers, Evie Southiel is entrusted with fine-tuning the manuscripts of the company’s most important authors. Her skills as a book witch allow her to manipulate the stories she reviews and bring them to life.
When her girlfriend steals the secret manuscript of Hanhat’s best-selling author and leaks it to the press, Evie is exiled to become a journey carrier with the Pack-Horse Librarians in the eastern mountains.
Timid city mouse Evie doesn’t know the first thing about surviving in the wilderness, riding a horse, or dealing with the rugged mountain folk and coal miners surrounding the town of Hevis. She does know books, though, and she’s determined to do the best job she can. But that goal is jeopardized when her horse gets spooked on her first solo run, sending her tumbling out of the saddle and into a mysterious woman’s life.
When her girlfriend steals the secret manuscript of Hanhat’s best-selling author and leaks it to the press, Evie is exiled to become a journey carrier with the Pack-Horse Librarians in the eastern mountains.
Timid city mouse Evie doesn’t know the first thing about surviving in the wilderness, riding a horse, or dealing with the rugged mountain folk and coal miners surrounding the town of Hevis. She does know books, though, and she’s determined to do the best job she can. But that goal is jeopardized when her horse gets spooked on her first solo run, sending her tumbling out of the saddle and into a mysterious woman’s life.
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First published March 13, 2019
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About the author
Laurel Beckley
18 books20 followersLaurel Beckley is a writer, Marine Corps veteran and librarian. She lives with her wife, fur creatures, and a collection of gently neglected houseplants.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
August 13, 2020
3.50 Stars. This was a cute, NA, WLW, light fantasy novella. This was originally published by Less than 3 Press under the name of The Book Woman, so if you read it than I believe it is the same story. It says republished not revised or reedited. This story was new to me and it was a sweet, quick read. I really wanted to read more of this story so my biggest complaint really is that I wished it was longer.
Evie is a book witch. Her magic makes books come alive so she quickly rose in the ranks to become assistant editor at a prestigious publisher. When she is stabbed in the back by someone she cares about, Evie is exiled to become a journey carrier with the Pack-Horse Librarians. It looks like Evie’s first run in the wilderness alone might end in totally disaster until she meets a woman that could change her life forever.
I liked that this world that had a historical fantasy feel. While I am putting the fantasy tag on this it is very light. Besides a few people with magic abilities and items, and a little surprise that comes later in the book, this could almost be a normal historical fiction book. I loved the old time librarian feel and the whole premise put a smile on my face.
There is a romance in this book but it is also very light and very sweet. The relationship moves faster than I would like, but with this being a novella there is only so much time so I’m trying not to complain too much. I did like both characters and liked them as a potential couple. Evie is pretty wimpy and spineless in the beginning, which I’m not a fan of, but it was nice to see her growth and she eventually grew on me too.
I think most of us hardcore readers enjoy stories about librarians. I know I do and this was a sweet novella that fit that bill. I would recommend this to readers looking for a quick and sweet fantasy read. This would also be good for readers who want to dip their toes into fantasy but don’t want anything too overwhelming or heavy. With its NA feel, this was a short story that I could easily see in school libraries.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
Evie is a book witch. Her magic makes books come alive so she quickly rose in the ranks to become assistant editor at a prestigious publisher. When she is stabbed in the back by someone she cares about, Evie is exiled to become a journey carrier with the Pack-Horse Librarians. It looks like Evie’s first run in the wilderness alone might end in totally disaster until she meets a woman that could change her life forever.
I liked that this world that had a historical fantasy feel. While I am putting the fantasy tag on this it is very light. Besides a few people with magic abilities and items, and a little surprise that comes later in the book, this could almost be a normal historical fiction book. I loved the old time librarian feel and the whole premise put a smile on my face.
There is a romance in this book but it is also very light and very sweet. The relationship moves faster than I would like, but with this being a novella there is only so much time so I’m trying not to complain too much. I did like both characters and liked them as a potential couple. Evie is pretty wimpy and spineless in the beginning, which I’m not a fan of, but it was nice to see her growth and she eventually grew on me too.
I think most of us hardcore readers enjoy stories about librarians. I know I do and this was a sweet novella that fit that bill. I would recommend this to readers looking for a quick and sweet fantasy read. This would also be good for readers who want to dip their toes into fantasy but don’t want anything too overwhelming or heavy. With its NA feel, this was a short story that I could easily see in school libraries.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
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June 18, 2021FOLKS, NINESTAR PRESS IS RE-PUBLISHING!!
The new title is Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians, and the release date is August 17, 2020.
I am beyond excited!
And check the new cover 😍😍
This is mine, so no review from me :)
I had a wonderful time writing it, and I really hope that you all fall in love with Evie, Katalin and my ridiculously sarcastic favorite, Csaba.
• Lesbian romance
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• Pack Horse Librarians
• Very Opinionated Cats Accustomed to a Certain Standard of Living
• Book Witches
• Cute, fluffy romance!
This is a novella, complete at about 22,000 words.
Enjoy!
The new title is Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians, and the release date is August 17, 2020.
I am beyond excited!
And check the new cover 😍😍
This is mine, so no review from me :)
I had a wonderful time writing it, and I really hope that you all fall in love with Evie, Katalin and my ridiculously sarcastic favorite, Csaba.
• Lesbian romance
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• Pack Horse Librarians
• Very Opinionated Cats Accustomed to a Certain Standard of Living
• Book Witches
• Cute, fluffy romance!
This is a novella, complete at about 22,000 words.
Enjoy!
March 8, 2022
I enjoyed this a lot. It's almost like a cosy read, not high stakes and lovely characters. An interesting and unique premise and worldbulding, but I do so wish it were longer!
This is a novella and unfortunately that means it ends all too quickly. Just when you get really invested. I just wanted that bit more!
I got this onsale at Smashwords.
This is a novella and unfortunately that means it ends all too quickly. Just when you get really invested. I just wanted that bit more!
I got this onsale at Smashwords.
August 14, 2020
Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians is cute, light fantasy romance with lovable characters and a creative premise. Evie is a bookwitch, which makes her a valuable editor at Hanhat Publisher, but she is exiled to a remote location when her girlfriend leaks an important manuscript to the press in order to steal her position at the company. I enjoyed this book, but as with many novellas, I wish it could have been fleshed out more, so I had more time to connect with the characters.
3 stars
*I received a free eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
3 stars
*I received a free eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
September 10, 2019
This book was given by the publisher and Love Bytes in exchange for an honest review.
This review was first posted at Love Bytes: LGBTQ Book Reviews.
It’s nice to read a warm, sweet fantasy story that still introduces unique elements to the genre. Evie, an exiled book editor who is forced to become a rural library carrier, follows the path of many literary heroines before her—she must adapt into new surroundings to survive, and in turn, finds true love. But interesting magic and worldbuilding elements keep the story fresh and interesting.
As Evie struggles with her new surroundings, she learns more about the world, and also learns how other people from different backgrounds view books. When she takes a nasty fall and becomes injured on her first solo journey, a mysterious woman takes her in and offers her a new perspective on home and family. A lot of unique characters were introduced in the first half of the story, so until the second half, I wasn’t even sure who the love interest was going to be. But the romance between Evie and Katalin, the gruff woman who lives in a cave with her precocious son Lajos, develops sweetly and naturally. Evie is strong, but the natural world still baffles her, and Katalin’s protectiveness makes for a perfect match.
Evie’s magic—weaving visual tales out of written books—is so cool, but we needed so much more of it! I love how her magic is used to bring interest in literacy to poorer communities, and that message fits in well with the book and character, but I feel like Beckley could’ve taken it even further. I actually want more stories about Evie’s life before she became a journey carrier, because her magic mixed with book editing would be a really cool skill.
You’ll also be very happy with how LGBT-inclusive this world is! There are many trans and non-binary characters, and most characters seem to be bisexual or pansexual. And all family types are represented, from single parent households to big polyamorous families. In addition, all characters are unique—they come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and abilities. It’s a wonderfully diverse story, and I hope Beckley continues this world and expands on some of these characters.
This story ends on a sweet and happy note. It is all about finding yourself and finding your family in unexpected places. It isn’t a new type of story, but it’s a cozy one, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This review was first posted at Love Bytes: LGBTQ Book Reviews.
It’s nice to read a warm, sweet fantasy story that still introduces unique elements to the genre. Evie, an exiled book editor who is forced to become a rural library carrier, follows the path of many literary heroines before her—she must adapt into new surroundings to survive, and in turn, finds true love. But interesting magic and worldbuilding elements keep the story fresh and interesting.
As Evie struggles with her new surroundings, she learns more about the world, and also learns how other people from different backgrounds view books. When she takes a nasty fall and becomes injured on her first solo journey, a mysterious woman takes her in and offers her a new perspective on home and family. A lot of unique characters were introduced in the first half of the story, so until the second half, I wasn’t even sure who the love interest was going to be. But the romance between Evie and Katalin, the gruff woman who lives in a cave with her precocious son Lajos, develops sweetly and naturally. Evie is strong, but the natural world still baffles her, and Katalin’s protectiveness makes for a perfect match.
Evie’s magic—weaving visual tales out of written books—is so cool, but we needed so much more of it! I love how her magic is used to bring interest in literacy to poorer communities, and that message fits in well with the book and character, but I feel like Beckley could’ve taken it even further. I actually want more stories about Evie’s life before she became a journey carrier, because her magic mixed with book editing would be a really cool skill.
You’ll also be very happy with how LGBT-inclusive this world is! There are many trans and non-binary characters, and most characters seem to be bisexual or pansexual. And all family types are represented, from single parent households to big polyamorous families. In addition, all characters are unique—they come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and abilities. It’s a wonderfully diverse story, and I hope Beckley continues this world and expands on some of these characters.
This story ends on a sweet and happy note. It is all about finding yourself and finding your family in unexpected places. It isn’t a new type of story, but it’s a cozy one, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
September 29, 2020
CW: racial slights, mentioning of amputation
If you want a very cute fantasy novella featuring a joyous cast of LGBTQ+ people, Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians should be your top choice.
Evie Southiel (18, BIPOC) is sent away by her publishing company in the city into the countryside as a pack-horse librarian after her now ex-girlfriend leaked an important manuscript. Unaccustomed to rural settings, Evie struggles with her new job, and ends up with a disastrous first solo journey delivering books. But Katalin (19, BIPOC) and her son Lajos (4, BIPOC, arm loss) take her in and make sure she is safe.
Despite the fantastical settings, there are brief acknowledgments of racial slights and economic inequalities between cities and rural areas that are prominent in our world. Beckley has done a wonderful job of incorporating people with different backgrounds and identities into the story. I love how everyone is queer and no one bats an eye. Sexualities are not defined. Multiple characters use they/they/theirs pronouns and one minor character is a transwoman. There is also one big polyamorous family consisting of five grownups.
The build-up of the story is slow, and the ending comes a little too quickly for me. Evie's love interest doesn't even show up until the latter half, and that sort of stunted the story arc because it is a novella and inherently short. Though marketed as a romance, I find it more enjoyable not reading it as one.
Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians is a novella about a female librarian on a horse. What’s not to like?
I received an e-ARC from NineStar Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you want a very cute fantasy novella featuring a joyous cast of LGBTQ+ people, Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians should be your top choice.
Evie Southiel (18, BIPOC) is sent away by her publishing company in the city into the countryside as a pack-horse librarian after her now ex-girlfriend leaked an important manuscript. Unaccustomed to rural settings, Evie struggles with her new job, and ends up with a disastrous first solo journey delivering books. But Katalin (19, BIPOC) and her son Lajos (4, BIPOC, arm loss) take her in and make sure she is safe.
Despite the fantastical settings, there are brief acknowledgments of racial slights and economic inequalities between cities and rural areas that are prominent in our world. Beckley has done a wonderful job of incorporating people with different backgrounds and identities into the story. I love how everyone is queer and no one bats an eye. Sexualities are not defined. Multiple characters use they/they/theirs pronouns and one minor character is a transwoman. There is also one big polyamorous family consisting of five grownups.
The build-up of the story is slow, and the ending comes a little too quickly for me. Evie's love interest doesn't even show up until the latter half, and that sort of stunted the story arc because it is a novella and inherently short. Though marketed as a romance, I find it more enjoyable not reading it as one.
Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians is a novella about a female librarian on a horse. What’s not to like?
I received an e-ARC from NineStar Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2020
3.5 Stars for this fantasy novella by Laurel Beckley. It was previously published in 2019 as The Book Woman. In the acknowledgments the author explained that she changed the name when she found a book with the same name and similar subject matter.
This was a light fantasy novella about a young book editor, Evie Southeil. She was a very talented editor who was betrayed by her girlfriend, now ex-girlfriend who leaked one of Evie’s books she was editing to the press. As a consequence, Evie was reassigned to the Librarian’s Guild as a pack-horse Librarian. Think bookmobile but on pack horses. She is assigned to travel on pack horses visiting mining families living deep in the Tartas Mountains. Evie has a secret. She is also a Book Witch. She is able to open a book and she can turn the words into images bringing the book to life. She especially loves children’s books, which along with her two cats, she lugged on her long journey to her new assignment.
Evie is given some training (“This is a horse”), but most of her horse riding skills is learned when she accompanies her predecessor’s last weeklong trip into the mountains. Unfortunately, on her first lone trip, Evie falls down a ravine – lost, hurt and separated from her horses she is rescued by a mother and son.
I enjoyed this story. I knew this was a novella going in, but it still ended too soon. She does a remarkable job of world building in a short amount of time, such that it makes me wonder what she could do writing a novel length story.
An ARC was given to me by Nine Star Press and Netgalley for an honest review.
This was a light fantasy novella about a young book editor, Evie Southeil. She was a very talented editor who was betrayed by her girlfriend, now ex-girlfriend who leaked one of Evie’s books she was editing to the press. As a consequence, Evie was reassigned to the Librarian’s Guild as a pack-horse Librarian. Think bookmobile but on pack horses. She is assigned to travel on pack horses visiting mining families living deep in the Tartas Mountains. Evie has a secret. She is also a Book Witch. She is able to open a book and she can turn the words into images bringing the book to life. She especially loves children’s books, which along with her two cats, she lugged on her long journey to her new assignment.
Evie is given some training (“This is a horse”), but most of her horse riding skills is learned when she accompanies her predecessor’s last weeklong trip into the mountains. Unfortunately, on her first lone trip, Evie falls down a ravine – lost, hurt and separated from her horses she is rescued by a mother and son.
I enjoyed this story. I knew this was a novella going in, but it still ended too soon. She does a remarkable job of world building in a short amount of time, such that it makes me wonder what she could do writing a novel length story.
An ARC was given to me by Nine Star Press and Netgalley for an honest review.
August 16, 2020
I found this to be a really sweet novella. I don't normally read fantasy books but had heard good things about this one so thought I would give it a try and I'm really glad I did. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and would have loved the story to have gone on for longer.
When we meet Evie she is experiencing her worst nightmare - the loss of her role as an assistant editor at a prestigious publisher due to underhanded tactics by her soon to be ex-girlfriend. Evie is banished to the mountains to join the librarians guild and become a member of the pack-horse librarians, with only her books and her cats to keep her company.
I found the world building to be done really well and found myself enjoying imagining the world Evie was experiencing, even though it is somewhat bleak. The romance in the book is meaningful and sweet, but very quick. It isn't the focus of the book at all and that isn't a bad thing. I loved how this book encounters many different types of characters and for the most part they all seem accepting of each other. I've read quite a few heavy books recently and this made for a really pleasant read for me because of this.
Evie is described as a "timid city mouse" and this is an accurate depiction of her at the start of the story. I liked her journey to a more confident character and would have enjoyed a little bit more of this to delay the ending of the book. I also thought it was a shame we didn't get to experience more of Evie's own magic on the page. I would have liked to have spent more time with the other librarians too.
The length of the book naturally means it's a quick read and I would recommend to anyone looking for a sweet, inclusive book with some fantasy overtones. It's also a great read if like myself you wouldn't normally read fantasy.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When we meet Evie she is experiencing her worst nightmare - the loss of her role as an assistant editor at a prestigious publisher due to underhanded tactics by her soon to be ex-girlfriend. Evie is banished to the mountains to join the librarians guild and become a member of the pack-horse librarians, with only her books and her cats to keep her company.
I found the world building to be done really well and found myself enjoying imagining the world Evie was experiencing, even though it is somewhat bleak. The romance in the book is meaningful and sweet, but very quick. It isn't the focus of the book at all and that isn't a bad thing. I loved how this book encounters many different types of characters and for the most part they all seem accepting of each other. I've read quite a few heavy books recently and this made for a really pleasant read for me because of this.
Evie is described as a "timid city mouse" and this is an accurate depiction of her at the start of the story. I liked her journey to a more confident character and would have enjoyed a little bit more of this to delay the ending of the book. I also thought it was a shame we didn't get to experience more of Evie's own magic on the page. I would have liked to have spent more time with the other librarians too.
The length of the book naturally means it's a quick read and I would recommend to anyone looking for a sweet, inclusive book with some fantasy overtones. It's also a great read if like myself you wouldn't normally read fantasy.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2025
Cute little story, very queernormative and with a librarian protagonist. That's a recipe that definitely works for me. I agree with the many other readers who wanted the story to be longer. Without a doubt, I would've loved a whole book about Evie and Katalin and their awesome found family.
April 2, 2024
Delightful. Just go along for the ride, it is light, cozy and sweet.
September 28, 2020
3,25 stars. This was a cute light fantasy novella. I enjoyed this fast read, but I just needed a bit more text. Fantasy is probably one of the most difficult genres to write in a short format, as there is almost no time for world building and that was what I was missing here.
The story starts with Evie being reprimanded by her boss for something that she did not do. In fact, her (ex-)girlfriend was the culprit and Evie had been too trusting. She is demoted from assistant editor to a traveling librarian in a place somewhere at the end of the earth and she’s also dumped by her girlfriend. On top of that she discovers that outdoor life is not her friend (she’s a real city mouse) and she has a hard time adjusting.
I really liked the premise of the book, but I would have liked a bit more info on the world Evie lives in. There was a lot of poverty and oppression and the librarian gild was somehow monitored by a person/government? in charge and I was wondering how the land was ruled and what the influence of magic was on the way people live. There was a little bit of magic in the book, but I felt it did not really add much to the story. I was hoping for a more pronounced role of the magic.
Due to the poverty and the general misery of Evie, the first part of the book was rather gloomy. Later, I read in the acknowledgments that the author was in a dark place when writing this book and I thought the first part of the book really reflected these dark feelings. However, the acknowledgements also noted that she needed a happy ending, which is what the second part of the book works toward. As the story develops Evie starts to adapt and grow stronger as a person, which was very nice to read. There is also a short romance in the second part and I won’t say too much about the person (spoilers) but I just loved her. The romance itself was sweet but too insta-love for me. Again, I would have liked a longer book, so there would be more time to let the romance develop. My review may sound quite critical, but in fact the story kept me interested and entertained from beginning to end and had me thinking of these additions that I would like to see, so I see that as a positive thing.
All in all, an enjoyable book, I just wished it was a bit longer. I am curious about the next book by Beckley.
The story starts with Evie being reprimanded by her boss for something that she did not do. In fact, her (ex-)girlfriend was the culprit and Evie had been too trusting. She is demoted from assistant editor to a traveling librarian in a place somewhere at the end of the earth and she’s also dumped by her girlfriend. On top of that she discovers that outdoor life is not her friend (she’s a real city mouse) and she has a hard time adjusting.
I really liked the premise of the book, but I would have liked a bit more info on the world Evie lives in. There was a lot of poverty and oppression and the librarian gild was somehow monitored by a person/government? in charge and I was wondering how the land was ruled and what the influence of magic was on the way people live. There was a little bit of magic in the book, but I felt it did not really add much to the story. I was hoping for a more pronounced role of the magic.
Due to the poverty and the general misery of Evie, the first part of the book was rather gloomy. Later, I read in the acknowledgments that the author was in a dark place when writing this book and I thought the first part of the book really reflected these dark feelings. However, the acknowledgements also noted that she needed a happy ending, which is what the second part of the book works toward. As the story develops Evie starts to adapt and grow stronger as a person, which was very nice to read. There is also a short romance in the second part and I won’t say too much about the person (spoilers) but I just loved her. The romance itself was sweet but too insta-love for me. Again, I would have liked a longer book, so there would be more time to let the romance develop. My review may sound quite critical, but in fact the story kept me interested and entertained from beginning to end and had me thinking of these additions that I would like to see, so I see that as a positive thing.
All in all, an enjoyable book, I just wished it was a bit longer. I am curious about the next book by Beckley.
April 22, 2021
This is my second read and I loved it just as much as the first time. <3 Laurel is such a skilled writer and just brings so much to the table here in such a small word count! The lore and worldbuilding is extensive enough to feel vast despite this being a novella and the characters feel so real. The stakes are high and Evie doesn't have an easy time of it, and I was rooting for her the whole way! I love the lgbtq representation in this book and how it's not a big thing, it's just that everyone is themselves and openly so. The kind of world that I wished I lived in.
Highly recommend this creative fantasy novella, especially if you're looking for a feel-good sweet romance with a twist of magic.
Highly recommend this creative fantasy novella, especially if you're looking for a feel-good sweet romance with a twist of magic.
August 13, 2020
Fans of Sarah Gailey's Upright Women Wanted may thoroughly love this book! ❤️
RTC!!!
RTC!!!
August 30, 2020
ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was a really, really cute novella but I think it would’ve been so much better as a full novel! It’s this cute sapphic story about Evie who loses her job at a publishing firm because of a mishap, and also ends up losing her girlfriend (read top 3 anime betrayal of all time). She gets assigned to this group of pack-horse librarians who live in the middle of nowhere in this really small mining town, and this is just a story of how she goes from dreading being there to finding her place in this really bizarre-seeming environment!
I think this story had a really good premise, and so much potential, but because it was a short novella, everything felt a little rushed. I loved Evie’s character, but because we spent so little time with her, we couldn’t get to know her. The same goes for the librarians in Hevis and the townsfolk and even Katalin and Lajos! The romance that was in there was so adorable, but again, there just wasn’t enough time to have a proper development so that it would feel even more….heart-warming! We missed out on a bit of yearning there, and come on, we love yearning in this household!
I’m also sad that the magic system in this novel was so underused and unexplained. It was interesting there were were-bears instead of the usual wereWOLVES and Evie’s powers of making stories come to life were so..refreshing because you don’t usually see that anywhere. BUT, AGAIN, there just wasn’t enough elaboration?
I know I sound like I’m repeating myself, but I honestly have only one issue and it is that there wasn’t enough time to get attached to anything in this novella! It was cute, but it has the potential to be a full-blown novel. And if it were, there would even be so much scope for actual high-stakes conflict that would help this story carry some weight and make it more solid!
That aside, the causal visibility of asexuality, bisexuality, sapphic relationships, polyam families, transgender folk, etc., was very sweet! I wish there was more of that in, like, all books ever! Check it out if you’re interested, because it is super short and you’ll probably finish it in a couple of hours anyway!
This was a really, really cute novella but I think it would’ve been so much better as a full novel! It’s this cute sapphic story about Evie who loses her job at a publishing firm because of a mishap, and also ends up losing her girlfriend (read top 3 anime betrayal of all time). She gets assigned to this group of pack-horse librarians who live in the middle of nowhere in this really small mining town, and this is just a story of how she goes from dreading being there to finding her place in this really bizarre-seeming environment!
I think this story had a really good premise, and so much potential, but because it was a short novella, everything felt a little rushed. I loved Evie’s character, but because we spent so little time with her, we couldn’t get to know her. The same goes for the librarians in Hevis and the townsfolk and even Katalin and Lajos! The romance that was in there was so adorable, but again, there just wasn’t enough time to have a proper development so that it would feel even more….heart-warming! We missed out on a bit of yearning there, and come on, we love yearning in this household!
I’m also sad that the magic system in this novel was so underused and unexplained. It was interesting there were were-bears instead of the usual wereWOLVES and Evie’s powers of making stories come to life were so..refreshing because you don’t usually see that anywhere. BUT, AGAIN, there just wasn’t enough elaboration?
I know I sound like I’m repeating myself, but I honestly have only one issue and it is that there wasn’t enough time to get attached to anything in this novella! It was cute, but it has the potential to be a full-blown novel. And if it were, there would even be so much scope for actual high-stakes conflict that would help this story carry some weight and make it more solid!
That aside, the causal visibility of asexuality, bisexuality, sapphic relationships, polyam families, transgender folk, etc., was very sweet! I wish there was more of that in, like, all books ever! Check it out if you’re interested, because it is super short and you’ll probably finish it in a couple of hours anyway!
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August 13, 2020Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians
Thank you to netgalley, the author and Ninestar press for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Description-
Evie is a book witch with a power she trusts few people to know about. Her power makes her gifted in her line of work and assured she got a promotion however when she places her trust in her girlfriend who betrays her, her whole life is pulled out from under her. She is exiled and forced to move to the mountains, far away from her home and everything she knows. On her first solo run at her new job Evie finds herself lost, her horses have bolted and she finds herself thrust into a mysterious woman’s life.
Review
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5/5 (overall)
❤️❤️.5/5 (Romance)
🧭 🧭🧭/5 (Adventure)
This book was short and sweet with a little magic thrown in. I feel that whilst this book had a lot of potential, the idea of the magic wielding librarians with book related powers is something avid readers would thoroughly enjoy and would like to see explored, there was too much was shoved into one small book.
The book is labelled as fantasy romance/lgbtqia romance however I expected more...well, romance. The romance occurred right towards the end and the couple shared one kiss, so I was left a little disappointed. While I genuinely loved the premise of this book it felt a little rushed, I would’ve like to learn more about each character and the world in which they live but there’s little exploration. However, we see a lot of diversity (same sex/polyamorous relationships, trans, non-binary characters) which is absolutely great!
All in all, it would make a good easy read and is very YA friendly. I definitely would’ve loved to see this as a series there are so many options to explore in this world! If the author were to return to this world for more exploration i would definitely read!
Thank you to netgalley, the author and Ninestar press for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Description-
Evie is a book witch with a power she trusts few people to know about. Her power makes her gifted in her line of work and assured she got a promotion however when she places her trust in her girlfriend who betrays her, her whole life is pulled out from under her. She is exiled and forced to move to the mountains, far away from her home and everything she knows. On her first solo run at her new job Evie finds herself lost, her horses have bolted and she finds herself thrust into a mysterious woman’s life.
Review
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5/5 (overall)
❤️❤️.5/5 (Romance)
🧭 🧭🧭/5 (Adventure)
This book was short and sweet with a little magic thrown in. I feel that whilst this book had a lot of potential, the idea of the magic wielding librarians with book related powers is something avid readers would thoroughly enjoy and would like to see explored, there was too much was shoved into one small book.
The book is labelled as fantasy romance/lgbtqia romance however I expected more...well, romance. The romance occurred right towards the end and the couple shared one kiss, so I was left a little disappointed. While I genuinely loved the premise of this book it felt a little rushed, I would’ve like to learn more about each character and the world in which they live but there’s little exploration. However, we see a lot of diversity (same sex/polyamorous relationships, trans, non-binary characters) which is absolutely great!
All in all, it would make a good easy read and is very YA friendly. I definitely would’ve loved to see this as a series there are so many options to explore in this world! If the author were to return to this world for more exploration i would definitely read!
October 18, 2020
Read for Sapphic Saturday!
This follows Evie, an assistant editor, who exiled to ride with the Pack-Horse Librarians after her ex-girlfriend leaks the company's most prestigious author's manuscript to the press. However, when Evie gets there, she has to work out how to survive in the wilderness, especially when, during her first solo ride, her horse spooks and knocks her out of the saddle in the middle of the rain and in bear territory! I'm not sure what it was about this one that made me love it so much - it could be the lovely queer found family or it could be the Wild West-inspired setting (I think I might also be a sucker for this setting in general now!) - but it really found its way into my heart! For such a short novella, this one really felt like it contained so much with regards to character development, plot and worldbuilding and I can't help but wish that it was longer! That being said, I'll definitely be checking out more by Laurel Beckley in the future!
Thanks to Netgalley and NineStar Books for an eARC copy in return for an honest review!
This follows Evie, an assistant editor, who exiled to ride with the Pack-Horse Librarians after her ex-girlfriend leaks the company's most prestigious author's manuscript to the press. However, when Evie gets there, she has to work out how to survive in the wilderness, especially when, during her first solo ride, her horse spooks and knocks her out of the saddle in the middle of the rain and in bear territory! I'm not sure what it was about this one that made me love it so much - it could be the lovely queer found family or it could be the Wild West-inspired setting (I think I might also be a sucker for this setting in general now!) - but it really found its way into my heart! For such a short novella, this one really felt like it contained so much with regards to character development, plot and worldbuilding and I can't help but wish that it was longer! That being said, I'll definitely be checking out more by Laurel Beckley in the future!
Thanks to Netgalley and NineStar Books for an eARC copy in return for an honest review!
August 13, 2020
This novella was a quick, fun read and ticked a lot of the boxes for things I love in books - nerdy librarians (with book magic!) who understand the importance of children's books; a diverse, all queer cast; snooty cats; horses; adorable children; and a really sweet love story. The prose flows easily and Evie is a very relatable heroine; I was definitely wincing in sympathy after her long days on horseback.
My biggest (really only) complaint is that this book tries to do far too much for a novella, and I really wish it had been longer. There were a lot of characters introduced (particularly in the first half of the book), and we didn't really get to know any of them enough to warrant trying to keep track of all the various names. I also wish the magic system had been more explored - both Evie's book magic and the - the inclusion of fantasy elements was a big draw of this novel for me, but I never really understood how Evie's magic worked or where it had come from.
This book is definitely worth a read, provided you temper your expectations for the shorter format!
Note: I received an arc from NineStar Press/Netgalley in exchange for a review.
My biggest (really only) complaint is that this book tries to do far too much for a novella, and I really wish it had been longer. There were a lot of characters introduced (particularly in the first half of the book), and we didn't really get to know any of them enough to warrant trying to keep track of all the various names. I also wish the magic system had been more explored - both Evie's book magic and the - the inclusion of fantasy elements was a big draw of this novel for me, but I never really understood how Evie's magic worked or where it had come from.
This book is definitely worth a read, provided you temper your expectations for the shorter format!
Note: I received an arc from NineStar Press/Netgalley in exchange for a review.
August 14, 2020
This is a sweet and cozy fantasy adventure novella that has been republished. I love the new title - anything with librarians in the title will get me to read it. And I was surprised as to how much I liked the characters and the world building. It did take a little while to get to the really interesting stuff, but once there, I had a lot of fun.
As an aside, when the librarians were talking about specifics like budgeting or why they didn't have books for a reader group, I thought to myself that the author had to be a librarian, too. Those details may not always make it into plotlines, so it set off my librarian radar. Turns out she is, and I was pretty proud of myself.
Either way, this is just a nice, short fantasy that has some sweet characters and intriguing political systems and magic systems. It is a little slow, but I enjoyed some of the details thrown in.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
As an aside, when the librarians were talking about specifics like budgeting or why they didn't have books for a reader group, I thought to myself that the author had to be a librarian, too. Those details may not always make it into plotlines, so it set off my librarian radar. Turns out she is, and I was pretty proud of myself.
Either way, this is just a nice, short fantasy that has some sweet characters and intriguing political systems and magic systems. It is a little slow, but I enjoyed some of the details thrown in.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 9, 2020
This romance is a supernatural/ fantasy short story about an assistant editor (Evie) who is fired from her job after her girlfriend steals a manuscript and releases information about it. She is in turn sent to work as a traveling librarian in a far off place and she has a hard time acclimating to the area because she is a city girl at heart.
Since this is a novella this read went by really quick. I could never decipher what era this was in which bothered me a little but did not take away from the story. I found myself really feeling sorry for Evie. She is young and basically sent out to a job that she likely would have a tough time with. I did like the supernatural side of this story and really liked how it ended. I do feel this story would have made for a good full length romance with more emphasis put on the romance side.
I will rate it 3.5 stars.
This arc was provided by the publisher for an honest review.
Since this is a novella this read went by really quick. I could never decipher what era this was in which bothered me a little but did not take away from the story. I found myself really feeling sorry for Evie. She is young and basically sent out to a job that she likely would have a tough time with. I did like the supernatural side of this story and really liked how it ended. I do feel this story would have made for a good full length romance with more emphasis put on the romance side.
I will rate it 3.5 stars.
This arc was provided by the publisher for an honest review.
March 25, 2019
This short read packs a lot into it. Evie is forced to move to the country and take a job as a librarian who travels on horseback. There are new people, new friends, adventure, danger, and excitement (maybe not for her). There's lots of queer rep - lesbians, nonbinary folks, a polyam marriage and so on. Things work out eventually for Evie. It's just a fun story to read.
November 9, 2020
This was so cute!! Fun, beautifully written, romantic, and hopeful.
December 14, 2021
A short novella with intriguing characters and lovely storyline ❤️
Thank you for the ARC
A 4 star 🌟 read for me
Thank you for the ARC
A 4 star 🌟 read for me
January 29, 2021
There are a lot of great story elements in here but it’s too short and some of the descriptions of the brown characters read like textbook examples of how NOT to write characters of color.
August 15, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and NineStarr Press for the ARC of this book.
4.25 stars. This was a sweet, whimsical, feel-good fantasy novella that left me wanting more. Any story with books as a central theme is a win for me, and Evie's status as a book witch is totally awesome. Every character Evie meets along her journey is lovable, and I just wanted to be friends with them all! Plus, there are so many cute cats and horses!
I guess I thought that...maybe it was too short? I wanted to know more about everything: all the cities of the fantasy world, the names of the months, characters' backstories, etc. This could have been a great full-on novel, but as a novella it was also lovely.
There is also so much representation packed into such a short story, and it's truly marvelous. Evie is a shy, introverted, sapphic woman of color; there are several nonbinary and trans characters; and both monogamous and polyamorous relationships are shown. Everything is just so wonderfully normalized, and I loved it!
4.25 stars. This was a sweet, whimsical, feel-good fantasy novella that left me wanting more. Any story with books as a central theme is a win for me, and Evie's status as a book witch is totally awesome. Every character Evie meets along her journey is lovable, and I just wanted to be friends with them all! Plus, there are so many cute cats and horses!
I guess I thought that...maybe it was too short? I wanted to know more about everything: all the cities of the fantasy world, the names of the months, characters' backstories, etc. This could have been a great full-on novel, but as a novella it was also lovely.
There is also so much representation packed into such a short story, and it's truly marvelous. Evie is a shy, introverted, sapphic woman of color; there are several nonbinary and trans characters; and both monogamous and polyamorous relationships are shown. Everything is just so wonderfully normalized, and I loved it!
November 29, 2020
This novella is one of the most casually diverse books I have ever read. Evie, the main character, is a woman of color who is attracted to women, and Beckley just carries on from there. All of the families portrayed in the novella are headed by adults who are either part of a polycule or else are a queer couple. A prominent supporting character is nonbinary, and another is transgender. All of this is totally accepted, and nobody bats an eye at non-cishet identities.
Instead, most of the characters are concerned with ensuring that there’s enough food for their children’s next meal. Evie Southiel is not a rich city girl, but she’s a city girl who has never needed to worry about fulfilling her basic needs the way most of the other characters do. When Evie leaves her urban home for Hevis, she is entering a totally different world dominated by rural poverty. Beckley continually returns to this motif of how little the people living in and around Hevis have, and how they don’t receive as much education. Evie, in her own way, is trying to improve this, but Beckley’s chosen form of a novella means that the scope of the book is too small for any significant change.
Evie’s story is not, however, about leading revolutions or changing the nature of the world. It’s about finding happiness in small things, even in the face of adversity. Beckley says in the acknowledgements at the end of the book that she was in “a fairly dark place and needed to write something with a happy ending.” That really shines through.
Evie hits some very low points during the course of her story, and where some authors would have things get even worse for her, Beckley is always careful to keep the light at the end of the tunnel shining brightly. This isn’t to say that hardship is glossed over, or that the trials and tribulations faced by the characters are insignificant, but rather that there is this unwavering, rock-hard core of optimism and goodness that the reader unearths, over and over, through the course of the book. Considering how grim and uncertain the real world is at present, I was grateful to feel able to pour myself into Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians and trust Beckley to steer a course that wouldn’t betray me.
My only real complaint is that the ending of the novella feels too abrupt. In just a few paragraphs, everything is resolved, and the events of the ending are told to the reader rather than shown. Other than that, however, I really enjoyed my reading experience; it was heartwarming, it was comforting, and it had just enough unpleasantness to ensure that I wasn’t overwhelmed by the sugary sweetness of the overall narrative.
Instead, most of the characters are concerned with ensuring that there’s enough food for their children’s next meal. Evie Southiel is not a rich city girl, but she’s a city girl who has never needed to worry about fulfilling her basic needs the way most of the other characters do. When Evie leaves her urban home for Hevis, she is entering a totally different world dominated by rural poverty. Beckley continually returns to this motif of how little the people living in and around Hevis have, and how they don’t receive as much education. Evie, in her own way, is trying to improve this, but Beckley’s chosen form of a novella means that the scope of the book is too small for any significant change.
Evie’s story is not, however, about leading revolutions or changing the nature of the world. It’s about finding happiness in small things, even in the face of adversity. Beckley says in the acknowledgements at the end of the book that she was in “a fairly dark place and needed to write something with a happy ending.” That really shines through.
Evie hits some very low points during the course of her story, and where some authors would have things get even worse for her, Beckley is always careful to keep the light at the end of the tunnel shining brightly. This isn’t to say that hardship is glossed over, or that the trials and tribulations faced by the characters are insignificant, but rather that there is this unwavering, rock-hard core of optimism and goodness that the reader unearths, over and over, through the course of the book. Considering how grim and uncertain the real world is at present, I was grateful to feel able to pour myself into Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians and trust Beckley to steer a course that wouldn’t betray me.
My only real complaint is that the ending of the novella feels too abrupt. In just a few paragraphs, everything is resolved, and the events of the ending are told to the reader rather than shown. Other than that, however, I really enjoyed my reading experience; it was heartwarming, it was comforting, and it had just enough unpleasantness to ensure that I wasn’t overwhelmed by the sugary sweetness of the overall narrative.
August 18, 2020
3.5 Stars.
Evie Corsair is a dark-skinned female near twenty who's girlfriend of four years, Anda, has just back-stabbed her right out of a job. Evie has rare magic that brings stories to life--which is super helpful in her role as a book editor. But, she's promptly demoted to a librarian, and sent to the northern reaches of the nation, a mining mountain town called Hevis, to work as a journey librarian. Evie has literally no experience as a horse-riding book deliverer all over a rural countryside, and that's her new job.
Evie is shattered by the weeks-long journey by train to the station of her new disgrace. And, she's barely able to communicate with her new colleagues. They think she's a little nutty, honestly, bringing trunks full of picture books and her two cats hundreds of miles to a nowhere coal mining town of barely literate folk. The station Head Librarian doesn't think the picture books are a good idea, the cats are a problem with other Librarians, the route is barely more than a rut in the grass, and her first solo run is...disastrous. An animal startles her on the route, and she's thrown into a ravine. Injured and miles from her destination, she's lucky to find a big bear of a woman, Katalin, who takes her into a rudimentary cave-home and nurses her back toward health. Evie is captivated by Katalin, and her maimed but rambunctious son. Once they track down her errant horse and mule, Evie is sure she won't see Katalin again. But the little boy's uncontrolled magic puts their trio in danger, until Evie finds her voice. The rest is, well, a bit magical.
I loved the little glimpses of magic, and how playful it was. I loved poor Evie, who has so many calamities to endure. Her trials to bring wonderful, beloved, books to the tender denizens of the shacks surrounding Hevis is so chaotic and slapstick, it was easy to be sympathetic. Evie's disorientation allows the suspense to build around Katalin's, and her son's, powers and the revelation is more joyful than anyone could have imagined. The fantasy setting is lush with characters all over the LGBTQ-spectrum, and as the story is meant to begin a trilogy, I'm sure we will get some follow us on all those folks. Don't expect any steam in this read. It's light-hearted and whimsical, but, while Katalin and Evie make a true connection, there aren't any sexytimes on the page.
Evie Corsair is a dark-skinned female near twenty who's girlfriend of four years, Anda, has just back-stabbed her right out of a job. Evie has rare magic that brings stories to life--which is super helpful in her role as a book editor. But, she's promptly demoted to a librarian, and sent to the northern reaches of the nation, a mining mountain town called Hevis, to work as a journey librarian. Evie has literally no experience as a horse-riding book deliverer all over a rural countryside, and that's her new job.
Evie is shattered by the weeks-long journey by train to the station of her new disgrace. And, she's barely able to communicate with her new colleagues. They think she's a little nutty, honestly, bringing trunks full of picture books and her two cats hundreds of miles to a nowhere coal mining town of barely literate folk. The station Head Librarian doesn't think the picture books are a good idea, the cats are a problem with other Librarians, the route is barely more than a rut in the grass, and her first solo run is...disastrous. An animal startles her on the route, and she's thrown into a ravine. Injured and miles from her destination, she's lucky to find a big bear of a woman, Katalin, who takes her into a rudimentary cave-home and nurses her back toward health. Evie is captivated by Katalin, and her maimed but rambunctious son. Once they track down her errant horse and mule, Evie is sure she won't see Katalin again. But the little boy's uncontrolled magic puts their trio in danger, until Evie finds her voice. The rest is, well, a bit magical.
I loved the little glimpses of magic, and how playful it was. I loved poor Evie, who has so many calamities to endure. Her trials to bring wonderful, beloved, books to the tender denizens of the shacks surrounding Hevis is so chaotic and slapstick, it was easy to be sympathetic. Evie's disorientation allows the suspense to build around Katalin's, and her son's, powers and the revelation is more joyful than anyone could have imagined. The fantasy setting is lush with characters all over the LGBTQ-spectrum, and as the story is meant to begin a trilogy, I'm sure we will get some follow us on all those folks. Don't expect any steam in this read. It's light-hearted and whimsical, but, while Katalin and Evie make a true connection, there aren't any sexytimes on the page.
August 23, 2020
I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novella in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a sweet read! I don't read novellas very often, so this was definitely a new format to get used to... but it was nice enough to make me really enjoy the format and appreciate the storytelling.
In addition to being a brand new format, it was also a fairly low stakes book -which in fact, shows the competency of the writer. Instead of taking this relatively low-stakes story and stretching it into a full-length novel, this book does exactly what it needs to do, tells us the kind of story it's here to tell and ends at the right place. As a result of this, the pacing was in general very enjoyable, and the story itself was simple and refreshing.
Due to its short structure, I, a usual novel-reader, did feel like relationships could have been built up a little more. The characterizations on the other hand, for the length of the story, was fairly well done and I had a good idea about every single character by the end of the story. They were distinct and endearing, and managed to stand out in such a short while.
My favourite part was definitely the representation and the ease with which it was done. The book normalizes sapphic relationships and also normalizes polyamorous families. The natural way in which this was woven into the story was commendable.
The story itself was fairly simple, and very sweet to read. It was a quick read, but it still managed to bring forth plenty of emotion and was filled with heart. While reading novellas is something I personally need to get more comfortable reading, I'm glad I started with this particular book. However, do check out reviews by own voices readers to know how good the representation and story really was!
This was such a sweet read! I don't read novellas very often, so this was definitely a new format to get used to... but it was nice enough to make me really enjoy the format and appreciate the storytelling.
In addition to being a brand new format, it was also a fairly low stakes book -which in fact, shows the competency of the writer. Instead of taking this relatively low-stakes story and stretching it into a full-length novel, this book does exactly what it needs to do, tells us the kind of story it's here to tell and ends at the right place. As a result of this, the pacing was in general very enjoyable, and the story itself was simple and refreshing.
Due to its short structure, I, a usual novel-reader, did feel like relationships could have been built up a little more. The characterizations on the other hand, for the length of the story, was fairly well done and I had a good idea about every single character by the end of the story. They were distinct and endearing, and managed to stand out in such a short while.
My favourite part was definitely the representation and the ease with which it was done. The book normalizes sapphic relationships and also normalizes polyamorous families. The natural way in which this was woven into the story was commendable.
The story itself was fairly simple, and very sweet to read. It was a quick read, but it still managed to bring forth plenty of emotion and was filled with heart. While reading novellas is something I personally need to get more comfortable reading, I'm glad I started with this particular book. However, do check out reviews by own voices readers to know how good the representation and story really was!
August 15, 2020
What a sweet, brilliant, bearhug (pun intended) of a novella that was!
I really loved Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians by Laurel Beckley. The author crafted a world with fascinating layers that surprised me in every turn, rich with magical realism and comforting as a warm mug of cocoa. After being fired from her big-city gig as an editor, Evie is being sent into the wilderness, to become a book carrier through the mountains. Although weak and definitely not suited to this new life that was thrown upon her, Evie is a fascinating character — and her relationship with her cats is just adorable.
I don't want to give too much away re the romance element of the story, but let's just say it was unexpected and sweet. I really enjoyed how, despite being in a world reminiscent of the 1800s, everyone in this novella is delightfully queer and polyamorous families seem to be the norm.
My only comment really, is that I would like more. More of this world and how everything works, more of Evie and her magic — and more of the pack-horse librarians, as well as Katalin and her people.
You know a novella is really great when people are complaining it should be a full-length novel, right?
P.S. Thank you to NetGalley and NineStar Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians by Laurel Beckley. The author crafted a world with fascinating layers that surprised me in every turn, rich with magical realism and comforting as a warm mug of cocoa. After being fired from her big-city gig as an editor, Evie is being sent into the wilderness, to become a book carrier through the mountains. Although weak and definitely not suited to this new life that was thrown upon her, Evie is a fascinating character — and her relationship with her cats is just adorable.
I don't want to give too much away re the romance element of the story, but let's just say it was unexpected and sweet. I really enjoyed how, despite being in a world reminiscent of the 1800s, everyone in this novella is delightfully queer and polyamorous families seem to be the norm.
My only comment really, is that I would like more. More of this world and how everything works, more of Evie and her magic — and more of the pack-horse librarians, as well as Katalin and her people.
You know a novella is really great when people are complaining it should be a full-length novel, right?
P.S. Thank you to NetGalley and NineStar Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2020
Thank you to @netgalley and @NineStar Press for a copy of Evie and the Pack-Horse librarians in exchange for an honest review.
Evie Southiel, the protagonist of this story, finds her life being directed down a new path when her girlfriend leaks a manuscript to the press and untimely gets her fired.
In turn, Evie gets sent to a new job where she finds herself delivering books. This plot line was very similar to Giver of Stars for me, and I felt myself thinking that a bit too often.
I enjoyed the world that this book was set in, and the special gift that Evie has, but I truly wish more time was dedicated to those two components. Evie’s gift could have added even more dimension to this novel if the time was taken to explore it more.
The relationships in the book, although very sweet, felt rushed and forced in a way that had me annoyed they even happened. I’m huge on character development, and I felt they could have been fleshed out more.
Overall, it’s a quick read that wasn’t unenjoyable to read, but there were too many areas in which the novel felt surface level.
2.5
Evie Southiel, the protagonist of this story, finds her life being directed down a new path when her girlfriend leaks a manuscript to the press and untimely gets her fired.
In turn, Evie gets sent to a new job where she finds herself delivering books. This plot line was very similar to Giver of Stars for me, and I felt myself thinking that a bit too often.
I enjoyed the world that this book was set in, and the special gift that Evie has, but I truly wish more time was dedicated to those two components. Evie’s gift could have added even more dimension to this novel if the time was taken to explore it more.
The relationships in the book, although very sweet, felt rushed and forced in a way that had me annoyed they even happened. I’m huge on character development, and I felt they could have been fleshed out more.
Overall, it’s a quick read that wasn’t unenjoyable to read, but there were too many areas in which the novel felt surface level.
2.5
August 19, 2020
Evie has had a hell of a day - she has lost her job, her girlfriend, and been transferred to the mountains to avoid scandal. That is where we begin. Evie is living a second chance as a library courier for remote communities, as part of mandated literacy initiatives.
As an introduction, I am not sure how that plays, but as a story it is an enjoyable read. This is a quick novella that I had finished in one sitting - and I was a bit sad when I did finish, because I wanted to know more about her world and her journey.
The story included elements of an industrial nation, magic, and a level of acceptance and understanding for individual differences that should be the norm but is currently something that is being fought for and dreamed of. Sexuality, gender, relationship preferences - these were all unquestionably part of characters, but they were not driving forces or plot points.
This was a wonderful fantasy novella, and I would recommend it to anyone with an inherent love of books.
As an introduction, I am not sure how that plays, but as a story it is an enjoyable read. This is a quick novella that I had finished in one sitting - and I was a bit sad when I did finish, because I wanted to know more about her world and her journey.
The story included elements of an industrial nation, magic, and a level of acceptance and understanding for individual differences that should be the norm but is currently something that is being fought for and dreamed of. Sexuality, gender, relationship preferences - these were all unquestionably part of characters, but they were not driving forces or plot points.
This was a wonderful fantasy novella, and I would recommend it to anyone with an inherent love of books.
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