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The Underwest
Alma has been taking care of everyone and everything her entire life, and it's left her an anxious, depressed wreck. When her mother announces they'll be moving in with Grandma, she's cautiously optimistic. It might bring the stability her autistic brother Waylon needs.
As expected, Grandma's place is peaceful and calm - but it turns out to be riddled with portals leading into a world of mutants and steam trains!
By accident, Alma and Waylon stumble through and find themselves stranded in the wilds of the Mutant Federation. There, they meet Sasha, a clockwork android with super strength, but with an unfortunate tendency to break down at the worst possible moments. Sasha promises to protect them until they can reach her guardian, who may be able to help them return home.
When Sasha suffers a catastrophic breakdown, the burden falls on Alma's shoulders once more. It doesn't help that she has no idea where she's going or that Waylon's condition is deteriorating under the strain.
Can Alma finally wrench control of a life that's always seemed to sweep her along?
As expected, Grandma's place is peaceful and calm - but it turns out to be riddled with portals leading into a world of mutants and steam trains!
By accident, Alma and Waylon stumble through and find themselves stranded in the wilds of the Mutant Federation. There, they meet Sasha, a clockwork android with super strength, but with an unfortunate tendency to break down at the worst possible moments. Sasha promises to protect them until they can reach her guardian, who may be able to help them return home.
When Sasha suffers a catastrophic breakdown, the burden falls on Alma's shoulders once more. It doesn't help that she has no idea where she's going or that Waylon's condition is deteriorating under the strain.
Can Alma finally wrench control of a life that's always seemed to sweep her along?
Paperback
Published January 28, 2021
12 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Grossmann
1 book7 followersVanessa is the author of The Underwest: The Tale of the Clockwork Girl published by Darkstroke Books 1/28/21
Vanessa lives in Northern Arizona with her daughter and two ill-behaved dogs. An unrepentant introvert, she writes fantasy and science fiction stories set in a world of mutants, sentient plants and steam trains.
Vanessa lives in Northern Arizona with her daughter and two ill-behaved dogs. An unrepentant introvert, she writes fantasy and science fiction stories set in a world of mutants, sentient plants and steam trains.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 27, 2021
This fantasy adventure is seriously 'fubar'. With a Mum struggling to cope, fifteen-year-old Alma Gishen steps up to care for her autistic brother Waylon (4) who needs a lot of attention, is prescribed heaps of meds, and mustn’t be parted from his farm animal toys. When they arrive at their grandmother’s ranchero Alma discovers they are staying at ‘a sinkhole in a desert full of magic doors’ and with a ‘dizzying swoop’ she finds herself in an almost birdless world full of strange mind-altering drugs, crazy looking creatures and rainbow sand. Alma and Waylon are now Offworlders, lost in the Federation outlands.
Grossmann’s imagination runs riot as she introduces you to a world filled with the most extraordinary characters. What I particularly love about this fantasy adventure is how each character is brought to life with vivid details; my head exploded trying to keep up with the pace of the story whilst imagining each creation I met along the way. There are too many to mention but here are some of my favourites: vampiric sheep, migrating rose-coloured oriole mites, a huge werebunny; purple ghost kitties and terrifying squirrel dragons.
As Alma and Waylon’s journey progresses the reader learns that thousands of years ago there was a terrible war which warped humans and now certain factions within mutantkind are looking for untainted beings to alter the course of the world they inhabit – Alma and Waylon are untainted. Just as things seem hopeless, Sasha, a clockwork girl, comes to their rescue and Alma begins to feel safe plus Sasha has a positive influence on Waylon. Sasha is going to take them to her guardian the elusive Suffolk Donphan who commands The Underwest. But Sasha has been created by Ingolph Donphan, to exploit the warring factions within the world and he wants his ‘wife’ creation back. But Sasha is far more evolved than anyone imagines and is fed up with being ‘tweaked to suit some man’.
There are some very funny moments; horse creatures called ghir who are terribly rude about Ingolph and an episode when Alma opens a jar of beautiful orange paste which combines to create an insecticide and forces the store to close for a week. I also love the reality within this crazy world; Alma still has to contend with having her period and Waylon still needs his medication, although what happens to him when it’s no longer available is interesting. The food is sometimes grey and phlegmy; sometimes it’s a poor replica of a McDonalds.
When the tables are turned Sasha, the ‘clockwork ninja’ becomes Alma’s charge and she cares for her and sees her true magnificent self – ‘sleeping she was a person – broken a machine’ – for me that notion sums up the essence of the book. I love how Alma’s guilt emerges whenever she remembers to think about her mother and the guilt she feels when she loses her temper with her brother – I just wanted to hug her and say: it’s okay to be a kid. The arrival of Marten and Wasmith add another layer of complication to Alma’s situation. The need to return home is accelerated, but it also frightens Alma because she has to contemplate what ‘home’ really means. The final, most dangerous leg of the journey up ‘The Nabe’ unleashes a whole load of pheromones into the mix and confuses Alma further, forcing her to make a momentous, life-changing decision.
This is a fantastic, fast-moving, and quirky adventure which has a deep heart. I found myself doing a lot of soul searching whilst imagining a place where everyone is used to keeping their head down and where everything Alma thinks is normal is turned upside down. I really like how Grossmann constantly asks the reader to define ‘normal’. I grew really fond of both Alma and Sasha and hated how both of them were let down all the time; both only existing to serve someone else’s purpose. This is a great journey of awareness and acceptance of self and others, all wrapped up in a truly spectacular world. A brilliant debut.
Grossmann’s imagination runs riot as she introduces you to a world filled with the most extraordinary characters. What I particularly love about this fantasy adventure is how each character is brought to life with vivid details; my head exploded trying to keep up with the pace of the story whilst imagining each creation I met along the way. There are too many to mention but here are some of my favourites: vampiric sheep, migrating rose-coloured oriole mites, a huge werebunny; purple ghost kitties and terrifying squirrel dragons.
As Alma and Waylon’s journey progresses the reader learns that thousands of years ago there was a terrible war which warped humans and now certain factions within mutantkind are looking for untainted beings to alter the course of the world they inhabit – Alma and Waylon are untainted. Just as things seem hopeless, Sasha, a clockwork girl, comes to their rescue and Alma begins to feel safe plus Sasha has a positive influence on Waylon. Sasha is going to take them to her guardian the elusive Suffolk Donphan who commands The Underwest. But Sasha has been created by Ingolph Donphan, to exploit the warring factions within the world and he wants his ‘wife’ creation back. But Sasha is far more evolved than anyone imagines and is fed up with being ‘tweaked to suit some man’.
There are some very funny moments; horse creatures called ghir who are terribly rude about Ingolph and an episode when Alma opens a jar of beautiful orange paste which combines to create an insecticide and forces the store to close for a week. I also love the reality within this crazy world; Alma still has to contend with having her period and Waylon still needs his medication, although what happens to him when it’s no longer available is interesting. The food is sometimes grey and phlegmy; sometimes it’s a poor replica of a McDonalds.
When the tables are turned Sasha, the ‘clockwork ninja’ becomes Alma’s charge and she cares for her and sees her true magnificent self – ‘sleeping she was a person – broken a machine’ – for me that notion sums up the essence of the book. I love how Alma’s guilt emerges whenever she remembers to think about her mother and the guilt she feels when she loses her temper with her brother – I just wanted to hug her and say: it’s okay to be a kid. The arrival of Marten and Wasmith add another layer of complication to Alma’s situation. The need to return home is accelerated, but it also frightens Alma because she has to contemplate what ‘home’ really means. The final, most dangerous leg of the journey up ‘The Nabe’ unleashes a whole load of pheromones into the mix and confuses Alma further, forcing her to make a momentous, life-changing decision.
This is a fantastic, fast-moving, and quirky adventure which has a deep heart. I found myself doing a lot of soul searching whilst imagining a place where everyone is used to keeping their head down and where everything Alma thinks is normal is turned upside down. I really like how Grossmann constantly asks the reader to define ‘normal’. I grew really fond of both Alma and Sasha and hated how both of them were let down all the time; both only existing to serve someone else’s purpose. This is a great journey of awareness and acceptance of self and others, all wrapped up in a truly spectacular world. A brilliant debut.
March 10, 2021
I received a reading copy for an honest review.
I am not a fan of Young Adult Urban Fantasy. I like books with main characters without adolescent behavior. But the synopsis sounded very interesting. Alma, a 15-year-old, with a pretty complicated childhood, who had to take care of herself at an early age as well as her now 4 years old autistic brother Waylon, is catapulted through a portal into a totally different world. Here she meets support, but again burden is dumped on her shoulder.
Regarding the adolescent behavior, I was unfortunately not disappointed, but I chose the book despite this "danger". Therefore, I do not include this point in my rating. It would not do the book its rightful justice.
The book is well written with interesting main and secondary characters. For me, there are too many hints about the background of the secondary characters and unfortunately, they are not told. I found that lacking. I personally like Waylon and his development the best. You can notice the expertise of the author.
The world building is interesting with an exciting past. It seems that the portal leads to the future of our planet.
I would be happy if the next instalment was set at a time when Alma is out of puberty. Then I would definitely read it.
I can absolutely recommend this book to YA UF fans.
I am not a fan of Young Adult Urban Fantasy. I like books with main characters without adolescent behavior. But the synopsis sounded very interesting. Alma, a 15-year-old, with a pretty complicated childhood, who had to take care of herself at an early age as well as her now 4 years old autistic brother Waylon, is catapulted through a portal into a totally different world. Here she meets support, but again burden is dumped on her shoulder.
Regarding the adolescent behavior, I was unfortunately not disappointed, but I chose the book despite this "danger". Therefore, I do not include this point in my rating. It would not do the book its rightful justice.
The book is well written with interesting main and secondary characters. For me, there are too many hints about the background of the secondary characters and unfortunately, they are not told. I found that lacking. I personally like Waylon and his development the best. You can notice the expertise of the author.
The world building is interesting with an exciting past. It seems that the portal leads to the future of our planet.
I would be happy if the next instalment was set at a time when Alma is out of puberty. Then I would definitely read it.
I can absolutely recommend this book to YA UF fans.
June 13, 2021
What fun! I loved Alma, Way, and Sasha
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews