Heart of Light by Sarah Hoyt
In an alternate Victorian era where magic is commonplace, Nigel Oldhall is an agent of the Crown travelling to Africa with his Indian-born bride, Emily. What Emily doesn’t know, however, is that she was selected as Nigel’s bride because it was thought that her magic powers would let her imprint on a compass that will guide Nigel to a ruby that will secure Queen Victoria’s hold on Africa. In Cairo, however, Nigel finds his contact has been murdered and his safe house destroyed. He intends to send Emily home immediately, but Emily-looking through his things because she fears his neglect is because he has a lover-finds an imprints on the compass, forcing Nigel to keep her with him. They’re joined in their search by Peter, an old friend of Nigel’s, and Kitwana and Nassira, two Africans who are secretly a part of a militant group seeking to free Africa of European influence.
Unfortunately, this was ultimately an exercise in frustration for me. From the setup, it sounded almost perfect for me: historical fantasy with spies and mysteries that wasn’t “The Further Adventures of the White Man.” Actually, I rather suspect it’s a response to that. However, Nigel’s character frustrated me. Emily did too initially, but once she found out why Nigel married her, she grew a spine and started sticking up for herself, and doing things even though she was scared, and didn’t just immediately forgive him. Nigel, however, spent the entire book suspicious of Emily and expecting her to betray him. See, I don’t mind Emily being suspicious of Nigel because their marriage is based on his deceiving her. I mind Nigel being suspicious of Emily because his suspicion is based on the fact that he deceived her. And I didn’t feel like the author really knew what she was going to do with them until near the end, and what she did end up doing is one of my personal pet peeves.
The book and plot had a lot of potential, though, and the author seems to be specifically writing for women who like romance and fantasy, and want women to have more active roles in historical adventure fantasy. Nassira especially makes me think this. She’s consistently portrayed as the most competent person in the book, and it’s eventually revealed that she latches on to men who need someone to take care of them because she likes being the hero. However, aside from her and Peter, a lot of the characterization was aggravating. Err…and I should mention that the prose for the first 50 or so pages made me wonder if I’d picked up a mid-list paranormal romance by mistake and was very awkward, but it quickly improved. I'm interested enough, though, to check out the second book. Admittedly, that I already have it is an influence, but…
ETA: Spoilers in comments.
Unfortunately, this was ultimately an exercise in frustration for me. From the setup, it sounded almost perfect for me: historical fantasy with spies and mysteries that wasn’t “The Further Adventures of the White Man.” Actually, I rather suspect it’s a response to that. However, Nigel’s character frustrated me. Emily did too initially, but once she found out why Nigel married her, she grew a spine and started sticking up for herself, and doing things even though she was scared, and didn’t just immediately forgive him. Nigel, however, spent the entire book suspicious of Emily and expecting her to betray him. See, I don’t mind Emily being suspicious of Nigel because their marriage is based on his deceiving her. I mind Nigel being suspicious of Emily because his suspicion is based on the fact that he deceived her. And I didn’t feel like the author really knew what she was going to do with them until near the end, and what she did end up doing is one of my personal pet peeves.
The book and plot had a lot of potential, though, and the author seems to be specifically writing for women who like romance and fantasy, and want women to have more active roles in historical adventure fantasy. Nassira especially makes me think this. She’s consistently portrayed as the most competent person in the book, and it’s eventually revealed that she latches on to men who need someone to take care of them because she likes being the hero. However, aside from her and Peter, a lot of the characterization was aggravating. Err…and I should mention that the prose for the first 50 or so pages made me wonder if I’d picked up a mid-list paranormal romance by mistake and was very awkward, but it quickly improved. I'm interested enough, though, to check out the second book. Admittedly, that I already have it is an influence, but…
ETA: Spoilers in comments.