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The Weather Woman
Neva Friezland is born into a world of trickery and illusion, where fortunes can be won and lost on the turn of a card.
She is also born with an extraordinary gift. She can predict the weather. In Regency England, where the proper goal for a gentlewoman is marriage and only God knows the weather, this is dangerous. It is also potentially very lucrative.
In order to debate with the men of science and move about freely, Neva adopts a sophisticated male disguise. She foretells the weather from inside an automaton created by her brilliant clockmaker father.
But what will happen when the disguised Neva falls in love with a charismatic young man?
It can be very dangerous to be ahead of your time. Especially as a woman.
She is also born with an extraordinary gift. She can predict the weather. In Regency England, where the proper goal for a gentlewoman is marriage and only God knows the weather, this is dangerous. It is also potentially very lucrative.
In order to debate with the men of science and move about freely, Neva adopts a sophisticated male disguise. She foretells the weather from inside an automaton created by her brilliant clockmaker father.
But what will happen when the disguised Neva falls in love with a charismatic young man?
It can be very dangerous to be ahead of your time. Especially as a woman.
496 pages, Hardcover
First published November 10, 2022
91 people are currently reading
4173 people want to read
About the author
Sally Gardner
115 books630 followersAKA Wray Delaney
Sally Gardner grew up and still lives in London. Being dyslexic, she did not learn to read or write until she was fourteen and had been thrown out of several schools, labeled unteachable, and sent to a school for maladjusted children. Despite this, she gained a degree with highest honors at a leading London art college, followed by a scholarship to a theater school, and then went on to become a very successful costume designer, working on some notable productions.
After the births of twin daughters and a son, she started first to illustrate and then to write picture books and chapter books, usually with fairytale- or otherwise magical subject matter. She has been called 'an idiosyncratic genius' by London’s Sunday Times.
Sally Gardner grew up and still lives in London. Being dyslexic, she did not learn to read or write until she was fourteen and had been thrown out of several schools, labeled unteachable, and sent to a school for maladjusted children. Despite this, she gained a degree with highest honors at a leading London art college, followed by a scholarship to a theater school, and then went on to become a very successful costume designer, working on some notable productions.
After the births of twin daughters and a son, she started first to illustrate and then to write picture books and chapter books, usually with fairytale- or otherwise magical subject matter. She has been called 'an idiosyncratic genius' by London’s Sunday Times.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
November 1, 2022
Well written historical fiction. Set in London and based around a woman who can predict the weather. Good story, great characters, although the second half of the book felt drawn out. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
November 11, 2022
The fact the heroine of the book, Neva, can predict the weather might give you the idea this is a book with a strong element of fantasy. However, although Neva’s gift is inexplicable, it seemed to me she just has a different way of seeing the world. In fact she struggles to comprehend that others cannot read the clouds as she can. ‘Her gift, she thinks, outdoes rational thought, making her an island utterly disconnected from others.’ Her gifts don’t stop with forecasting the weather because she also perceives people’s emotions in the form of colours – what we might now describe as synesthesia – and is a chess prodigy.
Initially her weather forecasts are treated with sceptism but gradually the person she has come to think of as her father, Victor Friezland, realises her predictions are always right. You could bet your house on the fact that if she says it’s going to rain at a certain hour on a certain day, it will. However Regency England isn’t ready for someone who can predict the weather, and certainly not if that person is a woman. And received ‘wisdom’ is that the weather is a product of chaos, not something that can be predicted by scientific, or any other, means.
Although constructed with the best of intentions in order to protect Neva’s identity, Victor’s Weather Woman automaton turns her predictions into purely a source of entertainment – or means of personal gain – for the aristocracy, not something that could be of genuine benefit. ‘Again she thinks of mariners who sail into storms and ships that are wrecked on rocks. What use is this gift, what use? she asks herself.’ And Neva longs to discuss her views with others, especially her observations on the impact of human activity on the weather. ‘I think perhaps the vapours produced by the industries of men can change the colours in the sky.’ However, as we are frequently reminded, this is a world run by men. As a result, Neva adopts a male persona – Eugene Jonas – whom she thinks of as her ‘second skin’, allowing her to go where a woman cannot. However, as it turns out, the brilliance of her disguise has unintended consequences.
From the early focus on Neva’s weather forecasting ability, the later part of the book introduces a mystery element and a number of romantic story lines. Some of these are incredibly touching and may leave you slightly tearful on occasions. The colourful cast of characters gives the book a real Dickensian feel with some of my favourites being Ebenezer Ratchet and his dog, Old Bones, and the formidable fixer-in-chief, Mrs Dent. I also had a soft spot for the lovelorn Mr Gutteridge, Victor’s legal advisor. And I particularly liked how the author included a number of characters in unconventional relationships (for the times) such as Mr James, who advises Neva on how to convincingly pass as a man, and Lady Elizabeth Wardell. There are characters for whom you will feel sympathy and those for whom you will feel no sympathy whatsoever.
There are wonderfully whimsical elements to the book, such as a chess-playing bear and a bet involving a live herring. There are also brilliant descriptions of London life including the frost fairs on the River Thames that open and close the book. All in all, The Weather Woman is a delightful historical novel with some unforgettable characters.
Initially her weather forecasts are treated with sceptism but gradually the person she has come to think of as her father, Victor Friezland, realises her predictions are always right. You could bet your house on the fact that if she says it’s going to rain at a certain hour on a certain day, it will. However Regency England isn’t ready for someone who can predict the weather, and certainly not if that person is a woman. And received ‘wisdom’ is that the weather is a product of chaos, not something that can be predicted by scientific, or any other, means.
Although constructed with the best of intentions in order to protect Neva’s identity, Victor’s Weather Woman automaton turns her predictions into purely a source of entertainment – or means of personal gain – for the aristocracy, not something that could be of genuine benefit. ‘Again she thinks of mariners who sail into storms and ships that are wrecked on rocks. What use is this gift, what use? she asks herself.’ And Neva longs to discuss her views with others, especially her observations on the impact of human activity on the weather. ‘I think perhaps the vapours produced by the industries of men can change the colours in the sky.’ However, as we are frequently reminded, this is a world run by men. As a result, Neva adopts a male persona – Eugene Jonas – whom she thinks of as her ‘second skin’, allowing her to go where a woman cannot. However, as it turns out, the brilliance of her disguise has unintended consequences.
From the early focus on Neva’s weather forecasting ability, the later part of the book introduces a mystery element and a number of romantic story lines. Some of these are incredibly touching and may leave you slightly tearful on occasions. The colourful cast of characters gives the book a real Dickensian feel with some of my favourites being Ebenezer Ratchet and his dog, Old Bones, and the formidable fixer-in-chief, Mrs Dent. I also had a soft spot for the lovelorn Mr Gutteridge, Victor’s legal advisor. And I particularly liked how the author included a number of characters in unconventional relationships (for the times) such as Mr James, who advises Neva on how to convincingly pass as a man, and Lady Elizabeth Wardell. There are characters for whom you will feel sympathy and those for whom you will feel no sympathy whatsoever.
There are wonderfully whimsical elements to the book, such as a chess-playing bear and a bet involving a live herring. There are also brilliant descriptions of London life including the frost fairs on the River Thames that open and close the book. All in all, The Weather Woman is a delightful historical novel with some unforgettable characters.
May 19, 2023
This was a really entertaining read: a book with heart. I loved the characters and the world created by an unusual found family and the context of regency London and the scientific debates of the time and the details of the last frost fairs. A really interesting plot to top it all! many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.
January 30, 2024
Was pleasantly surprised by this, but then increasingly disappointed as the story went on. Great premise, some very interesting topics, yet not executed perfectly.
The writing style was a choice, I'm sure, but its on that edge where its not clear to me (nor the writer, maybe) whether the vagueness serves a purpose. I'm also very confused as to why every romantic plotline was handled like a news report—without real chemistry, to the point, and quite forgettable. I'm no stranger to vaguely constructed stories, but I found no higher meaning in this one, sadly.
Of course I did love element of crossdressing, but I've difficulty understanding where this book stands on all the queer historical details it mentions in relation to it. I'll leave that one up for other readers to decipher.
I do think the main character was very interesting, but again, the plot and writing didn't provide the right scaffolding to carry her, and others. In short, could've been better, left me a bit confused for now.
The writing style was a choice, I'm sure, but its on that edge where its not clear to me (nor the writer, maybe) whether the vagueness serves a purpose. I'm also very confused as to why every romantic plotline was handled like a news report—without real chemistry, to the point, and quite forgettable. I'm no stranger to vaguely constructed stories, but I found no higher meaning in this one, sadly.
Of course I did love element of crossdressing, but I've difficulty understanding where this book stands on all the queer historical details it mentions in relation to it. I'll leave that one up for other readers to decipher.
I do think the main character was very interesting, but again, the plot and writing didn't provide the right scaffolding to carry her, and others. In short, could've been better, left me a bit confused for now.
September 13, 2022
Gambling dens and wagers, courtship and romance, society scandal and intrigue abound in this period piece set in Regency England – where science meets the supernatural.
Enter our protagonist – a woman blessed with the ability to forecast the weather accurately via an automaton – a moving mechanical device resembling a living creature.
It’s a well-written drama that captures the culture, sights and sounds of the period. Conversely, feminism, gender fluidity and what feels like a nod to The Queen’s Gambit combine to provide a little contemporary flavour.
A recommendation for my Book Club and Year 12 pupils!
My thanks to NetGalley and, as ever, Head of Zeus for granting this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Enter our protagonist – a woman blessed with the ability to forecast the weather accurately via an automaton – a moving mechanical device resembling a living creature.
It’s a well-written drama that captures the culture, sights and sounds of the period. Conversely, feminism, gender fluidity and what feels like a nod to The Queen’s Gambit combine to provide a little contemporary flavour.
A recommendation for my Book Club and Year 12 pupils!
My thanks to NetGalley and, as ever, Head of Zeus for granting this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2022
It started well enough, intriguing: a Russian circus family, a Russian clockmaker, a little girl with unusual powers. Almost like the start of a fairy-tale. But soon enough the story descended into yet another novel about women being victims, having to masquerade as male to gain access to science clubs and whatnot. Packing all sort of modern concerns like neurodivergent individuals, LGBT+ characters, human influence on the weather/climate, love stories pushing societal boundaries, with absolutely everything being nicely sorted by the end of it.
I guess this is going to be a success and loved by many, while I am going to be the minority that felt bored and unchallenged by this little novel ...
*Book from NetGalley with many thanks to the publisher!
I guess this is going to be a success and loved by many, while I am going to be the minority that felt bored and unchallenged by this little novel ...
*Book from NetGalley with many thanks to the publisher!
September 14, 2024
Est-ce que j’ai acheté ce livre parce qu’il sentait bon et que la couverture était belle ? Oui, peut-être.
J’ai été agréablement surprise, le livre est bien construit avec beaucoup de personnages attachants et des histoires différentes. Très moderne alors que l’histoire se passe au XIXème.
Bref, c’était original et bien sympa à lire 👍🏻
J’ai été agréablement surprise, le livre est bien construit avec beaucoup de personnages attachants et des histoires différentes. Très moderne alors que l’histoire se passe au XIXème.
Bref, c’était original et bien sympa à lire 👍🏻
January 28, 2023
This has been catalogued as science fiction by my library system, but I’d be more likely to describe it as historical fiction with a touch of magic realism, similar to The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock or Things in Jars. I loved the way the action is bookended by the frost fairs of 1789 and 1814. There’s a whiff of the fairy tale in the setup: when we meet Neva, she’s a little girl whose parents operate one of the fair’s attractions, a chess-playing bear. She knows, like no one else seems to, that the ice is shifting and it’s not safe to stay by the Thames. When the predicted tragedy comes, she’s left an orphan and adopted by Victor Friezland, a clockmaker who shares her Russian heritage. He lives in a wonderfully peculiar house made out of ship parts and, between him, Neva, the housekeeper Elise, and other servants, friends and neighbours, they form a delightful makeshift family.
Neva predicts the weather faultlessly, even years ahead. It’s somewhere between synaesthetic and mystical, this ability to hear the ice speaking and see what the clouds hold. While others in their London circle engage in early meteorological prediction, her talent is different. Victor decides to harness it as an attraction, developing “The Weather Woman” as first an automaton and then a magic lantern show, both with Neva behind the scenes giving unerring forecasts. At the same time, Neva brings her childhood imaginary friend to life, dressing in men’s clothing and appearing as Victor’s business partner, Eugene Jonas, in public.
These various disguises are presented as the only way that a woman could be taken seriously in the early 19th century. Gardner is careful to note that Neva does not believe she is, or seek to become, a man; “She thinks she’s been born into the wrong time, not necessarily the wrong sex. As for her mind, that belongs to a different world altogether.” (Whereas there is a trans character and a couple of queer ones; it would also have been interesting for Gardner to take further the male lead’s attraction to Eugene Jonas.) From her early teens on, she’s declared that she doesn’t intend to marry or have children, but . This was slightly disappointing, yet over the course of this rollicking story.
London charms here despite its Dickensian (avant la lettre) grime – mudlarks and body snatchers, gambling and trickery, gloomy pubs and shipwrecks, weaselly lawyers and high-society soirees. The plot moves quickly and holds a lot of surprises and diverting secondary characters. While the novel could have done with some trimming – something I’d probably say about the majority of 450-pagers – I remained hooked and found it fun and racy. You’ll want to stick around for a terrific late set-piece on the ice. Gardner had a career in theatre costume design before writing children’s books. I’ll also try her teen novel, I, Coriander.
[Two potential anachronisms: “Hold your horses” (p. 202) and calling someone “a card” (p. 209) – both slang uses that more likely date from the 1830s or 1840s.]
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
Neva predicts the weather faultlessly, even years ahead. It’s somewhere between synaesthetic and mystical, this ability to hear the ice speaking and see what the clouds hold. While others in their London circle engage in early meteorological prediction, her talent is different. Victor decides to harness it as an attraction, developing “The Weather Woman” as first an automaton and then a magic lantern show, both with Neva behind the scenes giving unerring forecasts. At the same time, Neva brings her childhood imaginary friend to life, dressing in men’s clothing and appearing as Victor’s business partner, Eugene Jonas, in public.
These various disguises are presented as the only way that a woman could be taken seriously in the early 19th century. Gardner is careful to note that Neva does not believe she is, or seek to become, a man; “She thinks she’s been born into the wrong time, not necessarily the wrong sex. As for her mind, that belongs to a different world altogether.” (Whereas there is a trans character and a couple of queer ones; it would also have been interesting for Gardner to take further the male lead’s attraction to Eugene Jonas.) From her early teens on, she’s declared that she doesn’t intend to marry or have children, but . This was slightly disappointing, yet over the course of this rollicking story.
London charms here despite its Dickensian (avant la lettre) grime – mudlarks and body snatchers, gambling and trickery, gloomy pubs and shipwrecks, weaselly lawyers and high-society soirees. The plot moves quickly and holds a lot of surprises and diverting secondary characters. While the novel could have done with some trimming – something I’d probably say about the majority of 450-pagers – I remained hooked and found it fun and racy. You’ll want to stick around for a terrific late set-piece on the ice. Gardner had a career in theatre costume design before writing children’s books. I’ll also try her teen novel, I, Coriander.
[Two potential anachronisms: “Hold your horses” (p. 202) and calling someone “a card” (p. 209) – both slang uses that more likely date from the 1830s or 1840s.]
Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.
January 15, 2023
This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. On the one hand I loved that this was a wonderful blend of historical fiction and fantasy, and the writing was fantastic. Gardner brought the setting and characters to life.
It just felt as though it lost it's way a bit in the second half and the elements that I loved were being buried beneath the romance which I wasn't a huge fan of. Still, there was a lot to enjoy about this book and I can see it's appeal, particularly if you are more invested in the romance than I was.
It just felt as though it lost it's way a bit in the second half and the elements that I loved were being buried beneath the romance which I wasn't a huge fan of. Still, there was a lot to enjoy about this book and I can see it's appeal, particularly if you are more invested in the romance than I was.
February 17, 2024
I found this novel tedious and inauthentic. The main characters were either exceptional in every way or dastardly to the depths. The "good" all had profoundly modern attitudes about sex, gender, the role of women, homosexuality etc. and were wealthy. They shared the modern Western social dynamic of pleasure and pain as the moral framework. All love was instant, soul changing and eternal.
There were glimpses of the realisation of the premise which had potential, and the writing was fine, although the concepts were belaboured to the point of dreariness.
I was desperate for it to end.
There were glimpses of the realisation of the premise which had potential, and the writing was fine, although the concepts were belaboured to the point of dreariness.
I was desperate for it to end.
October 2, 2022
The weather. Untameable. Unpredictable. Wild. Ethereal. Sacrosanct.
Neva Friezland is born into a world of trickery, illusion, smoke & mirrors, where the fortune of anyone from poor to rich can be won and lost on the simple turn of a card, a future torn down or made before their very eyes. But mainly lost, of course.
Neva is also born with something rather unique: she can predict the weather.
Not only can Neva predict the weather, but she can tell you years in advance when it shall rain, frost, snow, down to the very minute. She is never, ever in error.
In regency England, where the only proper goal for a gentlewoman is marriage and no one questions God’s whims when it comes to the weather, her talent is dangerous..
But also highly lucrative, given the correct set of circumstances.
Neva decides she must adopt a persona in which she can freely move around with the men of science, the minds of debate! Yes! She will create an alter ego!
Her father crafts his greatest masterpiece, the great mechanical weather woman which harnesses the power to predict the weather in which Neva truly holds the power.
This is all well and good, but what happens when Neva starts to fall for a charismatic young man, where she sees herself juggle with a long lost family member claiming his fortune that her father rightly owns, and the general public growing more suspicious of just what, or indeed who is the real weather woman, Neva must tread carefully if she has any hope of building a life of her own…
Hypnotic in her storytelling, the author has created a true masterpiece of identity, love, loss, life, devastation, and superstition. One not to be missed this winter!
Neva Friezland is born into a world of trickery, illusion, smoke & mirrors, where the fortune of anyone from poor to rich can be won and lost on the simple turn of a card, a future torn down or made before their very eyes. But mainly lost, of course.
Neva is also born with something rather unique: she can predict the weather.
Not only can Neva predict the weather, but she can tell you years in advance when it shall rain, frost, snow, down to the very minute. She is never, ever in error.
In regency England, where the only proper goal for a gentlewoman is marriage and no one questions God’s whims when it comes to the weather, her talent is dangerous..
But also highly lucrative, given the correct set of circumstances.
Neva decides she must adopt a persona in which she can freely move around with the men of science, the minds of debate! Yes! She will create an alter ego!
Her father crafts his greatest masterpiece, the great mechanical weather woman which harnesses the power to predict the weather in which Neva truly holds the power.
This is all well and good, but what happens when Neva starts to fall for a charismatic young man, where she sees herself juggle with a long lost family member claiming his fortune that her father rightly owns, and the general public growing more suspicious of just what, or indeed who is the real weather woman, Neva must tread carefully if she has any hope of building a life of her own…
Hypnotic in her storytelling, the author has created a true masterpiece of identity, love, loss, life, devastation, and superstition. One not to be missed this winter!
October 30, 2022
Absolutely beautiful, brilliant and engrossing, Sally Gardner proves she is an extraordinary storyteller with this twist on regency fantasy. With sharp and vivid characters and enchanting scenes The Weather Woman has quickly become one of my books of the year.
February 17, 2024
This was enchanting
May 1, 2025
To me, this was a beautiful book! I wow 4.5-5 stars.
I “blind listened” (without even knowing the plot) and it was such an interesting story. A story of genuine love, redemption, autism, magic, rage, hatred, insanity… I just feel like this book had it all. And it actually touched on uncomfortable topics like madness in a very artful but raw manner.
It’s not a PERFECT book, but it’s a darn good one (to me)
I “blind listened” (without even knowing the plot) and it was such an interesting story. A story of genuine love, redemption, autism, magic, rage, hatred, insanity… I just feel like this book had it all. And it actually touched on uncomfortable topics like madness in a very artful but raw manner.
It’s not a PERFECT book, but it’s a darn good one (to me)
August 12, 2023
5/5 ⭐
Such a delightful read. Wonderful setting, characters and descriptions..
A great story with a fab plot..
Would recommend 💕
Such a delightful read. Wonderful setting, characters and descriptions..
A great story with a fab plot..
Would recommend 💕
October 10, 2022
A charming regency novel is full of magic, and vivid enchanting characters who push the social, gender, and cultural boundaries of their time.
Little orphan Neva finds a new home with a sad clockmaker. He is a man of science and agrees with the importance of young women having a breadth of knowledge and, unlike many fathers who see the education of girls as unnecessary, he takes enormous pleasure in educating his daughter. Neva also has a gift, an extraordinary ability accurately to foretell the weather. She also thinks she’s been born into the wrong time, not necessarily the wrong sex.
A beautifully written story full of warmth with inventive and special protagonists.
Love it!
5/5
Little orphan Neva finds a new home with a sad clockmaker. He is a man of science and agrees with the importance of young women having a breadth of knowledge and, unlike many fathers who see the education of girls as unnecessary, he takes enormous pleasure in educating his daughter. Neva also has a gift, an extraordinary ability accurately to foretell the weather. She also thinks she’s been born into the wrong time, not necessarily the wrong sex.
A beautifully written story full of warmth with inventive and special protagonists.
Love it!
5/5
November 8, 2022
What a great book! A fantastic hictorical fic, set in Regency England. I loved the writing, it was immersive, I was hooked and I had to read half the book in one go!
I found Henri one of the most sweetest characters ever and I loved Neva as well.
Expect romance, will contesting, marriage proposals, grief, and greatest Showman vibes!
I found Henri one of the most sweetest characters ever and I loved Neva as well.
Expect romance, will contesting, marriage proposals, grief, and greatest Showman vibes!
June 30, 2024
DNF. I'm trying so hard to avoid DNF'ing books this year but this began killing the area of the brain that depends on critical thinking.
Clearly not the target demographic.
I need to avoid these girly books with their pretty cover designs. Been burned far too many times.
Plot/Story: 2* had all the things I ought to like, a Russian chess prodigy, clockmaker, an architecturally creative home and magic. Alas, no.
Instead of taking the protagonist to see the Pope, where the Pontif could declare her a living Saint, they go about turning her into a mechanical boy. The former would've made the story a little more convincing but the author went out of her way to make this "historical" fantasy as outlandish as possible.
Writing style: 0.5* very Young Adult.
For a historical novel, zero research was conducted, for example there's a Mrs Cora Dent (a poor woman who inherited wealth from a Lord Sutton upon his death and uses it for good deeds). According to Mrs Dent's solicitor "most houses in London end up, by default, being owned by women," which is interesting as the Married Women's Property Act didn't pass until 1870. That's 81 years from when the book timeline starts (the book starts in January 1789).
There's so many instances where the historical context was completely out of touch, from the aristocracy making bets on bedding the household help to scullery maids becoming Lady's Maids (the modern day equivalence would be the janitor becoming a make up artist to the rich and famous without training). Then there's the protagonist making a spectacle of herself at a soirée, there's little understanding of the strict societal norms.
Fantasy/World building: 0*, meh. I appreciate it's fantasy but it's meant to be based on historical England. The fantasy element is the protagonist's celestial-viewing abilities. Not a fantasy version of English people. Cognitive dissonance on steroids. Other than the descriptions of the ship house, there wasn't anything that felt magical.
Characters: 1* the "bad" characters have no redeeming features. Nuance isn't a concept that exists in this book. And the "good" characters are so progressive that it makes reading this book a contrived, artificial, cloying experience. Disney is bitter in comparison. But wait, you ask, what's wrong with progressive politics? Nothing, I'm all for it. But this is 17-hundred-homophobic-racist-sexist-era England. It took centuries of education, protesting, rioting and even wars to reach a level of equality and progressive thinking we have today, but the author just throws in these progressive characters who accept everything under the rainbow sun without pause.
Neva Friezland: nee Tarshin, protagonist born to Russian parents Andre & Olga Tarshin who perish away when the Inn they are staying in collapses. Olga was a chess prodigy as is Neva. Andre was an arm-wrestling champion.
Victor Friezland: adopted father of Neva and clockmaker, originally from St Petersburg who starts a relationship with his housekeeper. Even in this day and age that would be frowned upon due to the power dynamics of him being her employer. In those days respectable households housing young ladies most certainly would be keen to avoid such rumours otherwise homes all across England would have no employer/employee boundaries.
Elise Gibbs: housekeeper & lover of Victor Friezland. She even attends soirées where the nobility are invited, because society was obviously so liberal back then with no class distinction (sarcasm).
Eugene Jonas: Neva's disguise and imaginary friend.
Mr Cutter: aka Bosun, was a former friend of Neva's biological parents and becomes a friend to her adoptive father. Teaches her to row and self defense (didn't know that was even a concept back then).
Henri Denou: a french boy who lives with his obnoxious uncle Lord Wardell.
I need to avoid these girly books with their pretty cover designs. Been burned far too many times.
Plot/Story: 2* had all the things I ought to like, a Russian chess prodigy, clockmaker, an architecturally creative home and magic. Alas, no.
Instead of taking the protagonist to see the Pope, where the Pontif could declare her a living Saint, they go about turning her into a mechanical boy. The former would've made the story a little more convincing but the author went out of her way to make this "historical" fantasy as outlandish as possible.
Writing style: 0.5* very Young Adult.
For a historical novel, zero research was conducted, for example there's a Mrs Cora Dent (a poor woman who inherited wealth from a Lord Sutton upon his death and uses it for good deeds). According to Mrs Dent's solicitor "most houses in London end up, by default, being owned by women," which is interesting as the Married Women's Property Act didn't pass until 1870. That's 81 years from when the book timeline starts (the book starts in January 1789).
There's so many instances where the historical context was completely out of touch, from the aristocracy making bets on bedding the household help to scullery maids becoming Lady's Maids (the modern day equivalence would be the janitor becoming a make up artist to the rich and famous without training). Then there's the protagonist making a spectacle of herself at a soirée, there's little understanding of the strict societal norms.
Fantasy/World building: 0*, meh. I appreciate it's fantasy but it's meant to be based on historical England. The fantasy element is the protagonist's celestial-viewing abilities. Not a fantasy version of English people. Cognitive dissonance on steroids. Other than the descriptions of the ship house, there wasn't anything that felt magical.
Characters: 1* the "bad" characters have no redeeming features. Nuance isn't a concept that exists in this book. And the "good" characters are so progressive that it makes reading this book a contrived, artificial, cloying experience. Disney is bitter in comparison. But wait, you ask, what's wrong with progressive politics? Nothing, I'm all for it. But this is 17-hundred-homophobic-racist-sexist-era England. It took centuries of education, protesting, rioting and even wars to reach a level of equality and progressive thinking we have today, but the author just throws in these progressive characters who accept everything under the rainbow sun without pause.
Neva Friezland: nee Tarshin, protagonist born to Russian parents Andre & Olga Tarshin who perish away when the Inn they are staying in collapses. Olga was a chess prodigy as is Neva. Andre was an arm-wrestling champion.
Victor Friezland: adopted father of Neva and clockmaker, originally from St Petersburg who starts a relationship with his housekeeper. Even in this day and age that would be frowned upon due to the power dynamics of him being her employer. In those days respectable households housing young ladies most certainly would be keen to avoid such rumours otherwise homes all across England would have no employer/employee boundaries.
Elise Gibbs: housekeeper & lover of Victor Friezland. She even attends soirées where the nobility are invited, because society was obviously so liberal back then with no class distinction (sarcasm).
Eugene Jonas: Neva's disguise and imaginary friend.
Mr Cutter: aka Bosun, was a former friend of Neva's biological parents and becomes a friend to her adoptive father. Teaches her to row and self defense (didn't know that was even a concept back then).
Henri Denou: a french boy who lives with his obnoxious uncle Lord Wardell.
June 2, 2025
read this for a book club (and i took forever to read it) but it really surprised me!! it was really good and had a lot of themes of feminism and fighting for equality and lgtb rights which i didn’t expect based on the blurb. Very interesting plot and I recommend to anyone who wants to read something a bit out of the box.
January 10, 2024
I thought the premise seemed very original and enjoyed the first few chapters but it just went nowhere good imo.
It’s a pet peeve of mine when characters are perfect people. There were a big cast of main characters and almost all of them were absolutely beautiful, uncommonly clever or unfailingly and breathlessly good (if not all three). I also thought it was a bit of a cop out that all the major characters seemed to be so modern in their attitudes when Neva being an exceptionally clever woman in an age where women weren’t allowed to be exceptional is arguably the major narrative conflict. What’s the point of using different perspectives (or a historical setting) if all your characters think and act the same way and circumvent the biggest issue for the protagonist?
Another problem I had was that while the plot was very convoluted at times it was all too easy to solve and ended up making every problem encountered feel very low stakes. Every character always managed to be 10 steps ahead and was never surprised by anything and it seems any and all unwanted spouses, antagonists and general impediments to a happy ending are just killed off. It felt very predictable.
I didn’t enjoy the romances either, which took up far more of the book than the magical realism element. So much of the book was taken up with these two pivotal romances, so many subplots spidering off of them and they both felt so underwritten and undeveloped (but I’m not a big fan of love at first sight tropes so I’m biased!) but within 3 paragraphs of meeting Henri, when they’ve said about 5 perfunctory words to each other, Neva thinks he’s the “most interesting person” she’s ever met? I almost laughed out loud.
If you like YA romance this book could be for you, the prose is lovely and the magical realism element is great when that’s the focus but otherwise I’m afraid this was a disappointment for me.
It’s a pet peeve of mine when characters are perfect people. There were a big cast of main characters and almost all of them were absolutely beautiful, uncommonly clever or unfailingly and breathlessly good (if not all three). I also thought it was a bit of a cop out that all the major characters seemed to be so modern in their attitudes when Neva being an exceptionally clever woman in an age where women weren’t allowed to be exceptional is arguably the major narrative conflict. What’s the point of using different perspectives (or a historical setting) if all your characters think and act the same way and circumvent the biggest issue for the protagonist?
Another problem I had was that while the plot was very convoluted at times it was all too easy to solve and ended up making every problem encountered feel very low stakes. Every character always managed to be 10 steps ahead and was never surprised by anything and it seems any and all unwanted spouses, antagonists and general impediments to a happy ending are just killed off. It felt very predictable.
I didn’t enjoy the romances either, which took up far more of the book than the magical realism element. So much of the book was taken up with these two pivotal romances, so many subplots spidering off of them and they both felt so underwritten and undeveloped (but I’m not a big fan of love at first sight tropes so I’m biased!) but within 3 paragraphs of meeting Henri, when they’ve said about 5 perfunctory words to each other, Neva thinks he’s the “most interesting person” she’s ever met? I almost laughed out loud.
If you like YA romance this book could be for you, the prose is lovely and the magical realism element is great when that’s the focus but otherwise I’m afraid this was a disappointment for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2022
This review first appeared on my blog - https://nsfordwriter.com - on 8th November 2022.
An intriguing novel about a strong-willed character who has a talent for predicting the weather. It’s set in London in the late 18th and early 19th centuries with an emphasis on the Frost Fairs (when the Thames used to freeze over).
The main character, Neva, finds that the only way she can be taken seriously and have the career she wants is to dress as a male alter ego, Eugene. Her adoptive father makes clockwork and automatons; together they invent a machine which seems to predict the weather. But what happens when Neva falls in love? And what problems will her talents cause?
I would describe this book as a mixture of historical, romance and fantasy. I felt that the themes and dialogue were too politically correct and contemporary with our times to make this novel a believable work of historical fiction. It was an unusual read but turned out to be not quite my cup of tea. I’m sure there are many readers who will enjoy it, however.
Thank you to the publisher Head of Zeus for the advance copy via NetGalley.
An intriguing novel about a strong-willed character who has a talent for predicting the weather. It’s set in London in the late 18th and early 19th centuries with an emphasis on the Frost Fairs (when the Thames used to freeze over).
The main character, Neva, finds that the only way she can be taken seriously and have the career she wants is to dress as a male alter ego, Eugene. Her adoptive father makes clockwork and automatons; together they invent a machine which seems to predict the weather. But what happens when Neva falls in love? And what problems will her talents cause?
I would describe this book as a mixture of historical, romance and fantasy. I felt that the themes and dialogue were too politically correct and contemporary with our times to make this novel a believable work of historical fiction. It was an unusual read but turned out to be not quite my cup of tea. I’m sure there are many readers who will enjoy it, however.
Thank you to the publisher Head of Zeus for the advance copy via NetGalley.
August 15, 2024
Look. I was so excited about this novel because 1) the cover is insanely pretty and 2) the concept sounds like so much fun.
But then just nothing. freaking. happens. for like 400 pages.
The main character is absent for what feels like 80% of the plot and when she is there, she is telling people how she experiences things. I would've loved to read about the world from Neva's POV but nope, let's introduce another Mister idk who at this point that does the exact same thing as all the other Misters instead.
I think my main issue was that all characters felt extremely bland and way too woke for the struggle Neva was supposed to be facing?
Besides, literally every inconvenience was solved so quickly that not even the big scene at the end felt like the stakes were very high. I guess this issue is partially the consequence of so many stories being told in the background.
Neva was definitely the highlight of the story, when she had the chance to say more than one sentence she was actually quite funny.
Overall, love the concept, dislike the execution. I think this book from Neva's POV would've been fantastic.
But then just nothing. freaking. happens. for like 400 pages.
The main character is absent for what feels like 80% of the plot and when she is there, she is telling people how she experiences things. I would've loved to read about the world from Neva's POV but nope, let's introduce another Mister idk who at this point that does the exact same thing as all the other Misters instead.
I think my main issue was that all characters felt extremely bland and way too woke for the struggle Neva was supposed to be facing?
Besides, literally every inconvenience was solved so quickly that not even the big scene at the end felt like the stakes were very high. I guess this issue is partially the consequence of so many stories being told in the background.
Neva was definitely the highlight of the story, when she had the chance to say more than one sentence she was actually quite funny.
Overall, love the concept, dislike the execution. I think this book from Neva's POV would've been fantastic.
May 19, 2025
The Weather Woman is a thoroughly lovely book about a girl/ woman who can predict the weather. When she’s orphaned, she’s adopted by a clockmaker who helps her to go public with her predictions from within an automaton. When she wants to debate with scientists (all men), she wears the disguise of a man. No one sees through it.
And then she falls in love with a young man - except he doesn’t know that the man he knows is actually a woman.
Despite the fantastical element, there’s a real sense of the time in history (Regency), with the attitudes towards women, the poverty and entertainments. All of this was woven together really well, so that the supernatural blended seemlessly with the history.
It’s a lovely story, narrated perfectly on the audiobook by Sophie Roberts.
And then she falls in love with a young man - except he doesn’t know that the man he knows is actually a woman.
Despite the fantastical element, there’s a real sense of the time in history (Regency), with the attitudes towards women, the poverty and entertainments. All of this was woven together really well, so that the supernatural blended seemlessly with the history.
It’s a lovely story, narrated perfectly on the audiobook by Sophie Roberts.
September 29, 2023
Set in Regency London, The Weather Woman unfolds the story of Neva Tarshin, orphaned at three years old and adopted by a skilled clockmaker, Victor Friezland, and his housekeeper, Elise.
Neva is supremely intelligent and possesses a unique, and potentially lucrative talent, she can predict the weather. But, how can she share her remarkable gift and foresight as a woman?...
Like its heroine, The Weather Woman is a beautifully imagined and unconventional novel written in poised and elegant prose. Part One opens in early 1789 and effortlessly transports the reader straight onto the ice of the Thames Frost Fair. It’s immediately evocative and the reader instantly has a sense of curious little Neva.
Even at this early stage, there is a delicate yet definitive air of magical realism and a sprinkling of the supernatural. It’s intriguing, atmospheric, and strangely foreboding, enhanced by the darkly disconcerting chess-playing bear who becomes an evolving thread of symbolism connecting the beginning of the novel to the end.
Although The Weather Woman is Neva’s story, her narrative is driven and enabled by a wonderful wealth of engaging, authentic, and well-realized characters, each with their own journey and all richly brought to life.
Mr. Ratchet and Old Bones are particularly well-depicted. Elise develops into an interestingly textured individual and Mrs. Dent is appropriately flamboyant yet fiercely resourceful and staunchly loyal.
Neva is a deeply fascinating protagonist whose trajectory and personality never fail to convince. Full of depth and originality, she can be frustrating, but her intensity and impish, otherworldly spirit are compelling. Victor Friezland’s nuanced, avuncular depiction perfectly complements her portrayal.
Several plot strands waver out from the main narrative with some returning and others resolving. They all work well, bringing engrossing conspiracies, twists, and dramas. The dynamic that develops between the degenerately debauched Lord Wardell and the depraved yet pathetic Aubrey is, initially, unexpected but Gardner steers it with subtle ambiguity and, in the end, a decided touch of pathos.
As Neva begins to explore life through her deliciously inventive male alter-ego, Eugene Jonas, her harmoniously close relationship with Victor is gently threatened. Although expertly crafted with the very best intentions, his brilliant automaton creation for Neva to be disguised within has reduced her extraordinary ability to mere entertainment.
Indeed, through the Regency era lens, Gardner gently navigates issues that are relevant today, making The Weather Woman feel fresh to read. Blended families, neuro-divergence, gender identity, and women’s rights are at the forefront of Neva’s narrative whilst, in the background, is the mutual attraction between her and Henri that develops to become central toward the end of the novel.
Occasionally, before the surprisingly candid scenes between them in Hastings, the pace loses momentum but this is rebalanced and, as the plot and its tangents quicken, there are some quietly powerful and suspenseful scenes when events and characters dovetail or collide.
Gardner’s descriptive writing excels with the backdrop of Regency London. Thoroughly researched and full of geographical and historical insight, the setting is as integral to The Weather Woman as Neva’s capabilities. There are lovely, whimsical flourishes such as the eccentric Friezland house which is wondrously conjured without being overdone.
Vivid and beguiling, The Weather Woman is highly recommended.
Neva is supremely intelligent and possesses a unique, and potentially lucrative talent, she can predict the weather. But, how can she share her remarkable gift and foresight as a woman?...
Like its heroine, The Weather Woman is a beautifully imagined and unconventional novel written in poised and elegant prose. Part One opens in early 1789 and effortlessly transports the reader straight onto the ice of the Thames Frost Fair. It’s immediately evocative and the reader instantly has a sense of curious little Neva.
Even at this early stage, there is a delicate yet definitive air of magical realism and a sprinkling of the supernatural. It’s intriguing, atmospheric, and strangely foreboding, enhanced by the darkly disconcerting chess-playing bear who becomes an evolving thread of symbolism connecting the beginning of the novel to the end.
Although The Weather Woman is Neva’s story, her narrative is driven and enabled by a wonderful wealth of engaging, authentic, and well-realized characters, each with their own journey and all richly brought to life.
Mr. Ratchet and Old Bones are particularly well-depicted. Elise develops into an interestingly textured individual and Mrs. Dent is appropriately flamboyant yet fiercely resourceful and staunchly loyal.
Neva is a deeply fascinating protagonist whose trajectory and personality never fail to convince. Full of depth and originality, she can be frustrating, but her intensity and impish, otherworldly spirit are compelling. Victor Friezland’s nuanced, avuncular depiction perfectly complements her portrayal.
Several plot strands waver out from the main narrative with some returning and others resolving. They all work well, bringing engrossing conspiracies, twists, and dramas. The dynamic that develops between the degenerately debauched Lord Wardell and the depraved yet pathetic Aubrey is, initially, unexpected but Gardner steers it with subtle ambiguity and, in the end, a decided touch of pathos.
As Neva begins to explore life through her deliciously inventive male alter-ego, Eugene Jonas, her harmoniously close relationship with Victor is gently threatened. Although expertly crafted with the very best intentions, his brilliant automaton creation for Neva to be disguised within has reduced her extraordinary ability to mere entertainment.
Indeed, through the Regency era lens, Gardner gently navigates issues that are relevant today, making The Weather Woman feel fresh to read. Blended families, neuro-divergence, gender identity, and women’s rights are at the forefront of Neva’s narrative whilst, in the background, is the mutual attraction between her and Henri that develops to become central toward the end of the novel.
Occasionally, before the surprisingly candid scenes between them in Hastings, the pace loses momentum but this is rebalanced and, as the plot and its tangents quicken, there are some quietly powerful and suspenseful scenes when events and characters dovetail or collide.
Gardner’s descriptive writing excels with the backdrop of Regency London. Thoroughly researched and full of geographical and historical insight, the setting is as integral to The Weather Woman as Neva’s capabilities. There are lovely, whimsical flourishes such as the eccentric Friezland house which is wondrously conjured without being overdone.
Vivid and beguiling, The Weather Woman is highly recommended.
November 5, 2022
4.5 stars
An atmospheric and unique historical fiction with a touch of magic.
Set in Georgian/Regency England between the frost fairs of 1789 and 1814, we follow Neva who discovers at a young age that she can sing the weather and that this ability makes her 'other'. As she matures, Neva must determine a place for herself.
Neva's adopted father says to her when she is young:
"To see things differently is a gift, Neva. It makes you unique."
But in Regency England, many people would just see Neva as odd, and people fear and reject that which they cannot understand. Neva is "fabulously original" in so many ways, but will that be accepted?
There is also an Anne Lister feel to the story. Neva finds that, as a man, she can express scientific and meteorological ideas without fear of derision. But this deception beings further challenges and misunderstandings.
"An outsider, both as a woman and as a man. The bit of me that fits in nowhere."
The descriptions of the automatons were fabulous. Automatons may be considered quaint and a little silly in view of modern robotics, but at the time they were the height of sophisticated mechanics and held audiences mesmerised.
A beautifully descriptive novels in all aspects. The feel of the era definitely comes to life in the fashions, the architecture, the drawings rooms of the rich and the gambling dens and brothels of the underbelly of London.
But most gorgeously rendered of all are the passages relating to the weather. The weather becomes its own character.
Neva is totally captivating and her story was entrancing from beginning to end.
Thank you to Net Galley and Head of Zeus for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
An atmospheric and unique historical fiction with a touch of magic.
Set in Georgian/Regency England between the frost fairs of 1789 and 1814, we follow Neva who discovers at a young age that she can sing the weather and that this ability makes her 'other'. As she matures, Neva must determine a place for herself.
Neva's adopted father says to her when she is young:
"To see things differently is a gift, Neva. It makes you unique."
But in Regency England, many people would just see Neva as odd, and people fear and reject that which they cannot understand. Neva is "fabulously original" in so many ways, but will that be accepted?
There is also an Anne Lister feel to the story. Neva finds that, as a man, she can express scientific and meteorological ideas without fear of derision. But this deception beings further challenges and misunderstandings.
"An outsider, both as a woman and as a man. The bit of me that fits in nowhere."
The descriptions of the automatons were fabulous. Automatons may be considered quaint and a little silly in view of modern robotics, but at the time they were the height of sophisticated mechanics and held audiences mesmerised.
A beautifully descriptive novels in all aspects. The feel of the era definitely comes to life in the fashions, the architecture, the drawings rooms of the rich and the gambling dens and brothels of the underbelly of London.
But most gorgeously rendered of all are the passages relating to the weather. The weather becomes its own character.
Neva is totally captivating and her story was entrancing from beginning to end.
Thank you to Net Galley and Head of Zeus for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2025
3.5⭐️ rounded down
This one was so hard for me to rate… the first 350 pages were amazing, I loved the vibes. The story felt so unique, the writing style I felt was immersive, and I loved the way the themes of found family and unconventionality were intertwined. The lead character is clearly neurodivergent-coded and I appreciated the way the author went about this.
But something happened in the last 100 pages of this book that had me feeling… weird. For a book that centers its themes around unconventional people finding happiness in their own way, I was taken aback by how the characters were aggressively conventional by the end.
It’s giving… internalized homophobia?
It rubbed me the wrong way that the only queer characters who had any bearing on the plot were also the two most egregious, vile, villains. And I thought it was weird that the main character and main love interest make such a big deal of overtly separating themselves from queerness on no uncertain terms. It started to feel very pointed by the end which had me feeling uncomfortable and it just completely derailed the themes the book had been exploring up until that point.
It felt almost like the book was making up for engaging with unconventional themes in the first 3/4 by being aggressively heterosexual and conventional in the last quarter.
Overall disappointing :(
This one was so hard for me to rate… the first 350 pages were amazing, I loved the vibes. The story felt so unique, the writing style I felt was immersive, and I loved the way the themes of found family and unconventionality were intertwined. The lead character is clearly neurodivergent-coded and I appreciated the way the author went about this.
But something happened in the last 100 pages of this book that had me feeling… weird. For a book that centers its themes around unconventional people finding happiness in their own way, I was taken aback by how the characters were aggressively conventional by the end.
It’s giving… internalized homophobia?
It rubbed me the wrong way that the only queer characters who had any bearing on the plot were also the two most egregious, vile, villains. And I thought it was weird that the main character and main love interest make such a big deal of overtly separating themselves from queerness on no uncertain terms. It started to feel very pointed by the end which had me feeling uncomfortable and it just completely derailed the themes the book had been exploring up until that point.
It felt almost like the book was making up for engaging with unconventional themes in the first 3/4 by being aggressively heterosexual and conventional in the last quarter.
Overall disappointing :(
December 11, 2022
Neva is rescued by her adoptive father, Victor, as a tiny girl after her parents are killed. The clockmaker dotes on his little girl, who appears to have a striking talent: she can predict the weather (and 'sing the rain') in a way that defies logic, religion and science. As she becomes more determined to use her skill to help those for whom the weather poses a risk, Victor realises that Regency society will never accept the words of a young girl, no matter how accurate she is. So he designs an automaton, the Weather Woman, to deliver her forecasts. Soon, Victor and Neva are the toast of London high society- but Neva wants something more, even if she is unsure how she will ever get it. With a supporting cast of amazing characters, we move with her as she grows into her abilities and navigates her way through a sexist society and maneouvres her way through the maze of the Georgian class system.
This is such a delightful novel that I would never have picked up had I not been offered a review copy. There's everything- a couple of dastardly villains, a few gorgeous love stories, and a death involving live herring. There's a dash of magical realism mixed in with one of the best senses of places I've ever read. This is a perfect novel for reading on a rainy day.
This is such a delightful novel that I would never have picked up had I not been offered a review copy. There's everything- a couple of dastardly villains, a few gorgeous love stories, and a death involving live herring. There's a dash of magical realism mixed in with one of the best senses of places I've ever read. This is a perfect novel for reading on a rainy day.
March 14, 2025
A really entertaining book, jam-packed with storylines. Set in London at the end of 18th / beginning of 19th century, the River Thames ran through the book, the story beginning and ending with Ice Fairs on the frozen river. It was reminiscent of a Dickens novel, full of wonderful characters: a clock-making Russian emigre, a French aristocrat fleeing the French Revolution, Mr Ratchet the money lender and his dog Old Bones, the rich widow Mrs Dent and many more. As in many Dickens’ novels the law figures prominently in the storyline about Victor’s will and the role of Mr Gutteridge the lawyer and his clerk Mr Briggs. Gambling is another theme; beneficial for Henri as it enables him to meet Bos who becomes his good friend and to make his fortune. However, it leads to the downfall and ultimate death of his uncle Lord Wardell. There are also references to childhood poverty, mudlarking, body snatching, the impact of gin and opiates and the constraints on women’s lives at this time. All this going on beside the main storyline of Neva being able to predict the weather. This is quite a long book (over 450 pages) but there is so much in it and the suspenseful final chapters kept me interested to the very end.
December 5, 2022
Having previously read I, Coriander and The Red Necklace, I knew that I would be in for a gripping treat with a novel by Sally Gardner and this didn’t disappoint.
Neva is a very modern heroine, despite the historical setting of the novel. She is very much her own person, gender fluid in a way that reminded me a little of Woolf’s Orlando. The child of feckless parents, Neva is taken in by a fellow countryman, growing up in an unusual but loving environment, where her ability to hear and see the weather is recognised.
There is much that is charming and enjoyable in this novel, with some beautifully etched characters and a great deal of heart. I can happily forgive Gardner’s determination to give all of her characters an ending but did feel that the 3rd quarter dragged a little. Definitely an enjoyable read and I can think of lots of friends to recommend it to.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Apollo Fiction, for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Neva is a very modern heroine, despite the historical setting of the novel. She is very much her own person, gender fluid in a way that reminded me a little of Woolf’s Orlando. The child of feckless parents, Neva is taken in by a fellow countryman, growing up in an unusual but loving environment, where her ability to hear and see the weather is recognised.
There is much that is charming and enjoyable in this novel, with some beautifully etched characters and a great deal of heart. I can happily forgive Gardner’s determination to give all of her characters an ending but did feel that the 3rd quarter dragged a little. Definitely an enjoyable read and I can think of lots of friends to recommend it to.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Apollo Fiction, for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2023
I was recommended this title when I was last in the library, by a friend. Initially I was apprehensive as the blurb gave me the impression there might be a large element of fantasy involved, a genre that rarely appeals to me.
Within the first dozen or so pages I realised that the somewhat whimsical aspects of the storyline were just going to add to my enjoyment.
The protagonist is Neva Friezland, born into the fairground world of trickery and illusion is The Weather Woman of the title. Weather forecasting was not something that Regency England was ready for, especially as predicted by a woman. Turning her gift, or skill for making these predictions into a form of entertainment seems to be the way forward. Especially if she is not to be ridiculed.
Historical fiction threaded through with fantasy, mystery and romance with vivid descriptions of life in London during this period. An unusual mixture of themes this story will appeal to many and is definitely worth reading.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
Within the first dozen or so pages I realised that the somewhat whimsical aspects of the storyline were just going to add to my enjoyment.
The protagonist is Neva Friezland, born into the fairground world of trickery and illusion is The Weather Woman of the title. Weather forecasting was not something that Regency England was ready for, especially as predicted by a woman. Turning her gift, or skill for making these predictions into a form of entertainment seems to be the way forward. Especially if she is not to be ridiculed.
Historical fiction threaded through with fantasy, mystery and romance with vivid descriptions of life in London during this period. An unusual mixture of themes this story will appeal to many and is definitely worth reading.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
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