"The Steerswoman" First Impressions *No Spoilers*

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

Come chat about our SF pick of the month! Don't forget to check out the author Q&A as well! And as always, please leave all discussion of the details, story beats, characters and so on for the spoiler thread. Continue discussing the other books in the series in the series thread.

Content warnings for those who want them: (view spoiler)[ torture, body horror, abduction, casual racism (hide spoiler)]

[Rosie]

One thing that really caught my attention when reading this, is the wonderfully casual way the society and world building is introduced. It's not long descriptions to set the scene, but feels very organic and natural and drops in lovely surprises in passing.

It also feels like a fully realised world, with customs, cutlures, people and life that feels genuine.

[Richard]

I’ve just decided to start it today. Must be the first time in years that I’m actually reading a book club book along with you all. I’ll really try to join in the discussion.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

woohoo!!

[Richard]

Allison wrote: "woohoo!!"

Indeed

[Kaa]

Rosie wrote: "One thing that really caught my attention when reading this, is the wonderfully casual way the society and world building is introduced. It's not long descriptions to set the scene, but feels very ..."

Yes, I really agree with this! It's a very comfortable introduction, but you start to get a feel for the world right away.

[Mareike]

I agree with both Rosie and Kaa!

[Brittany]

I'm back after a couple months hiatus while buying a house and planning a wedding and hastily read the summary of this book and ordered it. I started reading it wondering how it falls in the sci fi genre, so I looked up the book again and saw alternate covers with what looks like computers and tech under the guise of the Middle Ages. I'm getting the feeling of lost knowledge and tech in the far future. I'm super excited to see where this goes as more of the world is uncovered!

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

congrats on your life changes!! glad you're back and excited!

[Christopher]

I'm enjoying the start of this.

[Clyde]

Completed the first two chapters and it has quickly drawn me into the story. Wonderful character introductions. I appreciate so far the more casual beginning. Looking forward to absorbing the entire story.

[Stephen]

I read the book and enjoyed it. I’ve been meaning to read it for a while because I’ve been aware of how much some people like it. However I hadn’t read or heard any actual discussion and for some reason I had a vague mistaken idea that the story involved space travel and the steerswoman had some role in navigating the spaceship. Of course that’s not at all accurate.

[Mindy]

I am really enjoying the story, the characters, and the world building!

[Robert]

Am enjoying it - about half finished. So far, Steerswoman reminds me a bit of Sellenria: The Starship and the Citadel (awkward title). It too is an excellent blend of SciFi and Fantasy.

[Rachel]

I intend to read this but I got several holds of desired recent releases all at once so must finish them before the library gets angry

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

we'll be here when you're ready!

[Beth]

Like the others, I like how gracefully the world building is done in this early part of the story. The relationship between the two women is off to a nice start as well: two people from very different cultures trying to get along and learning from each other (I'm certain that Rowan will learn more than she expects to!). The mystery is fairly interesting, though as per my usual I'm much more anticipating how its twists might affect the characters than for its own sake.

[Richard]

I hadn’t realised we were reading this as our SF pick, but the further I go the more sense it makes. I love the struggle towards a scientific approach and hints of knowledge lost or hidden.

[Beth]

I've been reading the two-in-one edition The Steerswoman's Road, and out of curiosity took a closer look at the cover of the older Del Rey paperback edition of the first book. I went into this book blind, not reading the back cover text on my edition or here on GR, and there are a couple of (what I would consider) spoilers on that Del Rey cover! Both in the illustration, and in the eyecatch text next to the title. There have been hints about both spoiler-y things in the first few chapters of the book, so they're more minor than major, imo, but for those who are very sensitive to such things, avoid doing what I did, I guess...

[Brittany]

Beth wrote: "I've been reading the two-in-one edition The Steerswoman's Road, and out of curiosity took a closer look at the cover of the older Del Rey paperback edition of the first book. I went ..."

I did the same thing bc I was curious as to how this fit in with the sci fi category. I came across the old cover but I didn't look close enough to read the text. it has made me more eager to unravel some of the mystery in the book

[Paul]

I'm a quarter of the way in and starting to see why this could be a sci-fi book. At present it is a great standard fantasy world setup and I'm very intrigued to read on and find out where it goes.

[DivaDiane]

I have read only about 20 pages, but I really enjoy the style. I agree with you, @Paul that it seems more a Fantasy set-up than SF.

[Colleen]

I agree with everyone above. The world building is so easily done and very compelling. I find the storytelling a bit stilted at times but otherwise I am loving the characters and the premise.

[Carro]

I've read and re-read the whole series and was going to hold off on my next re-read until the next book was out.
However, I needed a good book and as well as the buddy read discussion there are two more threads and I came down to deciding to re-read now while the conversations are busy. I can always re-read again.
Anyway, first impression re-reading after a long time - I'm up to page 74 Del Ray trade paperback and I had forgotten how fast it gets going. I'd remembered some of the events like the Inn (no further details as spoiler) but had thought that was later in the book.
I love the descriptions that are vivid, but don't over burden you and the warmth of it - the main character's immersion in detail and level of observation gives you a real connection to the world.
Bel's critical view of the society, coming from her very different background and values is a lovely counterpoint that gives both more depth to the world you are currently in, and also expands its boundaries further by hinting at the Outskirters.

A further echo for me is the previous book I just re-read was AWOL on the Appalachian Trail - modern account of one man's journey on foot along the Appalachian Trial which is both interested in the world around him and gives accounts of trouble with walking shoes and the like. I rather liked the throwaway mention of Rowan in Steerswoman, re-doing the resin on the soles of her boots - the practical details are attended to in the Steerswoman.

[Oleksandr]

I've initially planned to post my first impressions as I've read but I finished before I managed it. For me is was a nice SF masquerading as fantasy, but I'd prefer Lord of Light as the ultimate player in this sub-genre.

One of the drawbacks, it is not a standalone book if one wants all answers. More in spoiler thread

[Sebastian]

I'm a little late to this but I've just started reading again after a month of distractions. This book is so much fun! It reads like a D&D campaign which I just love. It literally starts with a "You meet your traveling companions at an inn..." Really looking forward to where this is goes.

[Ryan, Your favourite moderators favourite moderator]

The series will not disappoint you, AMG.

[Anushree]

I loved it, I am so disappointed that the series was not continued by the publishers!!! I also think the passing of book compared to the rest of the series is quite odd

[Carro]

Anushree wrote: "I loved it, I am so disappointed that the series was not continued by the publishers!!! I also think the passing of book compared to the rest of the series is quite odd"

There's four books in the series, with the author currently writing the fifth, which she is self-publishing. They've also all been re-released by the author.

[Cheryl]

Just a reminder, I have the first four (in three volumes, the first an omnibus of the first two novels) in slightly used trade paperback. I would love to ship them to any US member gratis, to get them in the hands of someone who would like them.

[Olga]

I'm 25% in and until a few moments ago (when I read some of the comments above) I had absolutely no idea that it's sci-fi *facepalm*.
Now I'm kind of even more curios about how it gets technological. Are the wizards just so much ahead technologically that what they do seems like magic to everybody else? Are the jewels actually memory banks? Were they thrown not by a giant, but from the orbit?

Overall I'm enjoying the story so far. Events are unfolding at quite a rapid pace, which keeps me on my toes. And I agree with basically everyone above, the worldbuilding is great - subtle but deep.

[Carro]

Glad you are enjoying it. I've been a fan since picking up the first volume second hand in 1990something. Then the Meisha Merlin editions came out. Now there are the author's republished editions.

[Ryan, Your favourite moderators favourite moderator]

I read this entire series at least once a year, every year now. I don't quite pick up new insights that I missed on previous reads although I have developed an outlook of the story that is contrary to popular opinion, which makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. :)

[Carro]

I meant to say earlier - the first time I read it I was very much thinking fantasy, the edition I had, had a rather dramatic cloaked woman in a bare branched dark wood on it. Was in discussion with someone on a Usenet group - it was that long ago - and I said "fantasy" when they said "sf" and gave "my" cover details. They had an edition with a different cover that made the sf side rather clearer. (Which I won't spoiler.) But yes, same experience as Olga.

[DivaDiane]

I think that’s perfectly natural to think it’s fantasy right up until the very end. There’s no indication at all that the technology that the wizards use is anything but magic.

[Melanie, the neutral party]

...the cover kind of gives it away.

[DivaDiane]

I read the ebook and can’t even remember the cover.

[Sarah]

I’m almost at the 75% mark!!

I shouldn’t have scrolled thru this thread bc now all my guesses at the wizard secrets are proven! :P

[Rosie]

I also thought it was a fantasy when I was first reading the first book. The cover on my copy doesn't give any hints to the sci-fi at all.

[Rosie]

Ryan wrote: "I read this entire series at least once a year, every year now. I don't quite pick up new insights that I missed on previous reads although I have developed an outlook of the story that is contrary..."

I'm very curious as to this outlook now, I've been planning a reread in between a bunch of other books lately.