The Broken Lands

Arcana #1

by Kate Milford, Andrea Offermann (Illustrator)

A crossroads can be a place of great power.

So begins this deliciously spine-tingling prequel to Kate Milford’s The Boneshaker, set in the colorful world of nineteenth-century Coney Island and New York City. Few crossroads compare to the one being formed by the Brooklyn Bridge and the East River, and as the bridge’s construction progresses, forces of unimaginable evil seek to bend that power to their advantage. Only two orphans with unusual skills stand in their way. Can the teenagers Sam, a card sharp, and Jin, a fireworks expert, stop them before it’s too late?

A richly textured, slow-burning thriller about friendship, courage, love, and the age-old fight between good and evil.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fiction, Historical, Adventure

461 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Kate is the author of THE THIEF KNOT, GREENGLASS HOUSE, GHOSTS OF GREENGLASS HOUSE, BLUECROWNE, THE LEFT-HANDED FATE, THE BONESHAKER, THE BROKEN LANDS, THE KAIROS MECHANISM, and the forthcoming THE RACONTEUR'S COMMONPLACE BOOK (February 2021).

Originally from Annapolis, MD, Kate now lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband Nathan and son Griffin and their dogs, Ed and Sprocket. She has written for stage and screen and is a frequent travel columnist for the Nagspeake Board of Tourism and Culture (www.nagspeake.com).

Reviews

[Kate]

Again, grain of salt, cause, you know, I wrote the thing...but I like it a lot.

[Maggie Stiefvater · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite agreeable. I've ordered the next one.

[TheBookSmugglers · Rating 4 out of 5]

In these lands, these broken lands of these United States of America in 1877, the Civil War and the Reconstruction have left ugly scars. In these lands, these broken lands, the new cohabit with the old, poverty with riches, ancient traditions with wondrous technologies, bigotry with tolerance. In the crossroad formed by the Brooklyn Bridge and the East River, a man without a country wishes to claim this place for his own – by blood, by fire and by getting rid of its five pillars.

Teenagers Sam, the son of an Italian immigrant and a card player, and Jin, a Chinese girl and a fireworks expert are part of a group that stand on this man’s way: a group formed by people from all walks of life who embody these broken lands and are old and new, rich and poor, traditional and modern, prejudiced and tolerant.

A crossroads can be a place of great power; this should not come as any surprise. It is a place of choosing, of testing, of transition, and there is power in all of those things.

These motifs permeate The Broken Lands – a prequel to Kate Milfod’s excellent The Boneshaker – to tell a story that inevitably wishes for these broken lands to be mended and to be healed. Not that this is an easy thing. It can’t be an easy thing when so many different threads coexist. But a conscious effort is made by the characters that inhabit this story – they are tested to their limits, they are allowed to choose and they are central figures in a transitional moment of their story. I loved the themes of this novel as much as I loved the incredible characters and the development of the plot to thwart the villains – all of it blended together seamlessly.

If Boneshaker was definitely Middle Grade, The Broken Lands is firmly set in YA territory: its main characters are a bit older, its horrors are lot more graphic and a lovely romance develops between its two main characters. Just like its predecessor, The Broken Lands is a novel that seeks its inspiration in folklore and religious themes but which shapes and bends stories in a way that is both old-fashioned and extremely bold:

There is the development of an idea about a mythical as well as mystical creation of a country, via its cities and its people. In it, each place is held together by its community’s pillars – men and women who hold offices and positions like for example, that of a history/story-keeper. What is all the more interesting is that these pillars change over time, as do their functions: here, power is a fluid thing and as changeable as the times. It comes as no surprise that – without spoiling too much – the people that hold New York together are not simply old white folks but a mixture, an encounter of immigrants that helped shape America: from Ireland, from China, from Italy; as well as American born and bred, including African Americans. Its concept of family is that of bond rather than blood and heroism is what you choose to do rather than what you are.

Its central character, Jin, is a Chinese girl who is strong, determined, enterprising and fierce. Who takes to what she must do to save this city and its citizens with aplomb and only a little reluctance. Her Italian friend Sam shares the point of view in this story and is equally enterprising but functions more as a side-kick. Someone who is full of admiration for the very characteristics that make Jin so independent. These two develop a relationship – friendship and eventually something more – in a natural way that is superbly well-done.

There is also a lovely appreciation for the art of reading and for what a reader brings to and takes from a book.

And this is what I take from this book: The Broken Lands goes beyond formulas and clichés. It has an awesome plot, full of twists and turns and adventurous moments and also, EXPLOSIONS. It has romance and awesome characters left and right. It is truly scary as any horror novel should be. Ultimately, it is more than a simple story: it is a book that has heart and soul and whose ideas will engage each reader in a different way.

This is the sign of a True Book and Kate Milford is a Master of Methods.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

"You're in two halves at present," Clennan went on. "Often thought so. Come together, Moril, and there's no knowing what you might do."

The Broken Lands begins like Moril: in fragmented pieces. There's a piece that reads as a tribute to New York City, and a piece about a young boy making a living as a card shark in Coney Island, and a piece about a young girl who creates fireworks. They all have individual charms, but they don't come together well. They bump against each other. They jostle for space.

The tribute to New York City is especially awkward to me because mentioning "Atlantic Avenue" and "Front Street" does not a tribute make. It stands out because it sounds like a listing of dry facts, not like a well-integrated detail.

The story of the young boy fending for himself isn't especially notable, either. It isn't unique, and to its detriment, it's tied to Coney Island; there's nothing particularly New York about this story, and I think it's weakened by the determined parade of places that passes as Sam's intimate knowledge of the city. Also, it's contradicted by Sam becoming a pillar and then giving that up as soon as he could.

Jin, the firework girl, has some of the few good moments early on: a spectacular show, for one. But her story doesn't quite fit with everyone else's. There's a very quick acceptance from people who are supposed to be suspicious New Yorkers, and there's a very quick acceptance on her part, too, from someone who's been a loner for a long time.

There's also bits of social commentary that - well, they're certainly appropriate, but I don't know if they're appropriate for historical New York. Though that wouldn't bother me if they, too, didn't stand out as poorly-integrated elements.

And then, about two thirds into the book, all the parts come together. Really, really well. It's interesting that the book stops being a tribute to Brooklyn and New York and becomes essentially straight fantasy at that point. There's a card game - a really great card game. (At some point, probably between Shield of Stars and The Cardturner, I became a fan of great card games.) There's a daring fireworks display, a secret ritual, visions, and demons. And there are some fabulous quotes:

"If there was only one way to read a book," Burns said with a little smile, "any book in the world - if there was only one way to read and understand it, what would be the point of reading that book?"

And then there's the ending. Which manages to be about surviving a war and living in a broken world and understanding humanity, all while being overt but without being preachy. It almost reads as a fantasy trial, which funnily enough feels entirely fitting for a post-Civil War generation:

"I do not understand country."

"It's what we all thought we were fighting for on the killing fields."

..."So pain and anger - this is acceptable if done for this thing that is country?"

..."Nobody's saying that... Only that there is something we thought was worth fighting for, maybe the only thing both sides could agree on."

There's a degree of clear-sightedness coupled with empathy there that makes the entire scene sing with truth.

So the novel ends on a very high note: it goes from a New York with clumsily-integrated fantasy elements to a fantasy where demons are the prevailing threat. And then, funnily enough, it ends with a real tribute to New York.

"After a parade... when all that's left is confetti in the streets, everyone goes back to work. Somebody unhitches the horses, somebody sweeps up, and little by little, garbage starts to pile up in its usual places."

(I've seen Times Square after New Year's. If you haven't, be glad of that.)

And then there's this:

"Never expect the world to make sense before breakfast, kid."

Words to live by.

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow. Such an amazing book. The way the author can tell a story..wow. These books connect to not only The Bone Shaker, but Bluecrowne-book 3 in the Greenglass House series. So all the same world basically, but at different points & places in history. We follow Sam & Jin in this, & I loved them both w/my whole heart. This is way upper MG lol Sam is 15, but the violence & other things make me say this. It didn’t have things I don’t like about YA though, so I’d still say upper MG. I can’t say much, b/c all the books are so connected lol but this was full of danger, suspense, magic, everything. The suspense & tension was so much so, it made it nearly impossible to put down. This is set in NYC/Brooklyn/Coney Island in 1877. There are so many things the author took from facts of history at that & place, & made them apart of this story-it’s just amazing. She talks about it in the author notes in the back. America wasn’t in a good place at that time, & you could feel that tension along w/the tension from the fictional parts of the story. Her world building, & writing are just magic. She wrote a Chinese-American girl in 1877 America, & didn’t make her anything other than the amazing, brave, strong, force to be reckoned with girl she was. She didn’t do the girl needing saving bit. Loved that. Things that are happening in the America of this time, look unfortunately similar to the America of today in many ways. & how sad is that. If I tabbed books, these past 2 would have been filled. So many beautiful lines written. One of my favorite characters from the last book was in this one, & I was so happy to visit w/him again. Highly recommend. Another absolutely beautiful cover w/illustrations sprinkled throughout again by Andrea Offermann.💜

[Lisa B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Thoughts

This was excellent. I’ve been telling everyone this book is Stephen King-ish, a descriptive term meaning ookie spookie.

I fell in heavy like with Jin and Sam. For young teenagers, they have already experienced many of life’s unpleasant moments. Jin is resilient and strong. Sam is street smart and loyal. Together they must stand up against evil.

I was not aware when I requested this book that it was classified as juvenile fiction and honestly, I could not tell this from the writing. It was suspenseful, magical and just down right entertaining!


Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchnage for an unbiased review.


Publish date: September 4, 2012.

[Nicole Pramik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't have too many favorite modern authors, but there are a few I will intentionally keep an eye on for any future offerings. Among them is Kate Millford, who impressed me with The Boneshaker, which led me to seek out the Greenglass novels. The Broken Lands is set in the same universe as The Boneshaker and borrows some characters and terms from the Greenglass novels, but it occurs before the events of The Boneshaker in terms of in-world chronology (though the book itself was published after The Boneshaker). It is a different tale than its predecessor yet touches on some of the same topics of good versus evil, particularly demonic influence. This could serve as a stand-alone, but whether taken together with its sister novel or by itself, this is yet another work of impressive depth and storytelling.

The Broken Lands, by Kate Milford, mixes history with fantasy and real-world spiritual battles between good and evil, light and darkness. In New York City during the days after the Civil War, the effects of the conflict are still keenly felt. But a greater war is looming - a war between Earth and the powers of Hell. Caught in the middle are Sam, an orphaned teen who makes a living as a card shark, and Jin, a young girl trained in the art of fireworks. As they navigate the vast city they call home, a roaming evil named Jack Hellcoal seeks to make it his own personal Hell with the help of two conniving, murderous demons. The only powers standing in his way are the five pillars, guardians who, collectively, protect the city. If he can eliminate them, then New York City will be his. Before long, Sam and Jin's blossoming friendship lands them in some demonic minions' crosshairs. Can Sam's wits and Jin's incendiary skills be enough to protect the city and themselves from certain destruction?

To start, I should note that The Broken Lands falls more within the YA spectrum as opposed to middle grade, which is the target audience for the rest of Milford's books to date. This isn't intended as a criticism, as this novel avoids the usual cliche and trope pitfalls most YA seems to have. Rather it's meant to clarify this book's primary audience based on the ages of its lead characters, its topics, and some of its content, all of which feels suited for the 13+ crowd. Likewise, the genre in which this novel falls is tricky (in a good way) to pin down as it's equal parts fantasy, paranormal, and historical fiction, which will appeal to a range of readers. With all of that said, this is one novel that deserves to be appreciated as well as explored.

The Broken Lands has a seemingly simple premise - save the five guardians of New York City from demonic evil. But there is more going on both at the surface level and its deeper strata. The title alone refers not only a location within the story, but also to the country's fractured climate post-Reconstruction. Even though New York City is a melting pot of cultures, that doesn't mean everyone gets along. Discord and disharmony exist with divisions between race and class. Thus, the "broken lands" refer to both external and internal worlds torn asunder. And who better to take advantage of this than a pair of conniving demons?

The chief protagonists here are two young teens, Sam and Jin. Sam is an orphan of Irish ancestry who lost his father in an accident during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. Jin is a Chinese girl living with her uncle who puts on elaborate fireworks displays. Sam is a bit of a free spirit and a skillful card shark but cheats in order to win, though his actions are depicted as a means of survival, not simply a way to con people out of their money. In time, Sam finds that these skills prove useful in trying to outwit some demons who are far more cunning than he could ever dream of being nor would he want to be. In contrast, Jin adores her uncle and loves him like a father. They are both equally skilled in the art of crafting fireworks, but Jin harbors a special talent that could be labeled as magic (though the novel never uses that term).

Like Sam, Jin's talents are later put to use in order to stop a terrifying evil, alongside allies they acquire along the way. Together, she and Sam become a powerful force as they combine their abilities, wits, and courage to face a demonic threat and keep their city safe. As this is a YA novel, there is a dash of romance that blossoms between them, but it never turns into insta-love and feels organic and genuine. One other noteworthy aspect to their characters is that they both display a sense of personal agency, meaning Sam and Jin are active participants in the story rather than always having events happen to them. In this sense, the novel is more character-driven than plot-driven. But that works in its favor as all the characters we're introduced to, both the protagonists and antagonists, are compelling in their own right. We want to spend time with them, especially the heroes and heroines, and see how their individual and collective stories unfold.

The Broken Lands also serves up its own in-world folklore, much like how stories of the past play a role in The Boneshaker. Similarly here, stories and lore serve to remind characters of the past, dissect the present, and caution about the future. This causes the story's world to turn into a lived-in landscape. Not only do characters learn about their world through stories, so do readers, as most of these tales pertain to the primary plot. One in particular gives the backstory of Jack Hellcoal (who was first introduced as a enigmatic drifter in The Boneshaker). This becomes critical in understanding the novel's central conflict in which Jack, fueled by sheer wickedness, wants to establish a hellish paradise on earth - and New York City is as good a place as any.

The chief antagonists are all demonic in one way or the other. Walker and his companion Bones are actual demons, but Jack, who is human, is no better. Concerning the first two, Walker is an unabashed murderer who, when not engaging in bloodshed, likes to gamble. This becomes an important element to the story as he eventually engages Sam in various card games on more than one occasion, and the way it's carried out is, if you'll pardon the pun, well-played. Bones is otherwise an inanimate creature whose essence collects whatever physical element his cursed bones are exposed to (in this case, he forms himself out of sand).

Walker and Bones work together while under Jack's direction but eventually find themselves encountering a demon spawn called Bios. This is an interesting name for this creature as it designates his origins: he is of organic material and represents an earthly existence. Bios differs from zoe, which is associated with the righteousness and purity of eternal life. Thus, Bios, who declares himself to be a god and willfully spreads deceit, personifies how evil sees itself in the novel - it is corrupted and not a creator but, instead, abuses creation. In contrast, the underlying force of good is more along the lines of zoe - pure, selfless, and seeking to save and redeem.

In this way, in order to counteract the wicked devilry perpetuated by Walker, Bones, Jack, and Bios, the powers of fire and light come to the forefront. Naturally, this is where the focus on Jin's fireworks skills comes into play. The science of fireworks depicted here feels realistic and accurate, and when it's not being derived from actual science, it's dabbling in the sundry concepts of alchemy. Here, alchemy is used as a background metaphor for putrification, purification, and restoration as corrupt matter is burned away to reveal the redeemed soul underneath. So while the story's antagonists use destruction and death as a means to bring about their own "purification," Sam, Jin, and others seek to redeem a fallen city rather than hand it over to evil.

All of this lends itself to a worthwhile question - is The Broken Lands a Christian novel? Much like I remarked about The Boneshaker, the worldviews within both books seem to prescribe to the Christian/Biblical perspective on the nature of evil. While nothing becomes directly tied to Christian theology, the depiction of demons and the evil they cause doesn't contradict what the Bible teaches. Though neither novel could be marketed as a "Christian" book, their respective worldviews concerning the demarcation between good and evil lends itself to further discussion that welcomes a theological perspective. As Milford herself states in this novel's author's note: I hope that, first and foremost, you will read this book as the adventure tale I set out to write. But if you find something else there, that's okay, too. By reading it, you help to create its message and its meaning. The absolute best that I can hope for you is that...you will find 'The Broken Lands' to be not only a good story, but a True Book.

Overall, The Broken Lands is yet another compelling tale from the pen of Kate Milford, giving readers food for thought regarding the true nature of evil and how it's by no means strong enough to override the power of good. Fans of Milford would do well to pick this up, as should curious readers seeking an insightful, intelligent YA novel that avoids common YA tropes and traps. This is an intriguing story that offers a compelling look into the battle between good and evil on a fictional stage populated by folks and folklore that feel as real as they are unsettling.

Content:
Language - There are sporadic PG to PG-13-level profanities uttered, but these are not pervasive.

Violence - Demons and demonic beings serve as characters here, and such entities inflict harm upon humans. One such character is capable of shredding bodies into bits, and messages found near said bodies are composed in blood. Characters tell a lengthy story about a man who became so wicked, he was denied entrance into Hell. Another character creates demons that eventually turn on him and others. There are passing mentions made to some characters' parents passing away, but no further details are shared. Lastly, there are scenes of peril but most characters escape unharmed (albeit not everyone). One character discusses the Chinese act of foot binding, but nothing too graphic is shared.

Sexual Content - None. There are passing references to scandalous dancers and prostitutes but no further details are given. Sam and Jin dance on the beach and embrace and kiss a few times but nothing ever progresses. Lastly, Jin is harassed on the street by some boys, but she turns on her hecklers and they leave her alone.

[Audrey Nester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still enjoyed this book after my reread. I love the interesting hobbies that both Jin and Sam have in this book. The end battle wasn't as dramatic as I remembered which brought the rating down from my first time reading this book.

[Cleo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Kate Milford's The Boneshaker, so I was really looking forward to this one, which just came out on September 4th (I got a review copy from Harcourt Children's Books.) I wouldn't say it was quite as good as The Boneshaker, but nonetheless, I enjoyed it. The Broken Lands is set in 1877 in New York City (mainly in Brooklyn.) The Brooklyn is just going up, and dark forces are rising at the crossroads of the East River and the new bridge. The mysterious Jack wants to claim New York for his own. Somehow, Sam, a fifteen year old card sharp, and Jin, a Chinese girl who's a master with explosives, get drawn into the battle to protect the five pillars of the city (which are people by the way) and save New York and possibly the whole country. Jack himself doesn't show up until the very end, but you meet Walker and Bones, two evil henchman who come to scout out the city and get rid of the pillars. You see, Jack plans to replace the pillars with his own people. Jack's back-story is explained in the book.

I would say that this one is even darker than The Boneshaker, if that's even possible. There was killing in both, but in The Broken Lands it was a lot more graphic and violent. Still, I liked the book, and even though I'm not familiar with Brooklyn at all, it was nice that it was in New York. Also, Tom Guyot is a character in both stories.

I liked how the Civil War was incorporated into the story. The whole country is still reeling from the aftereffects of that calamity, so anything could set the whole country into more chaos. Something like the falling of New York City. I also liked the concept of the roamers, people (or perhaps not people) who drift here and there. I liked the plot and the fantasy elements as well as the characters. Overall, this was a solid fantasy read.

www.novareviews.blogspot.com

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read-alike: The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands

Oh, Kate Milford. Only you can write historical fiction/steampunk/fantasy replete with fireworks (lots of them), folktalke (some of them), and lots of Brooklyn-specific geography. You're one of the few who is writing speficially for smart, savvy, and snarky 7th-9th graders.

This book is a slow and atmospheric take on the old good v. evil tale, and in this case the good guys are a few plucky (and slighly unlucky) teens while the bad guys are permanent wanderers and henchmen extroadinaire. In the middle of this crisis our hero and heroine develop a purely awkward form of a quasi-romance that any upper middle grades reader will begin to understand.

Purely on character and cinematics, if you will, this book is one of the stronger fantasy reads I've encountered all year. However, its plotting and pacing were slow, even for that savvy teen reader, and I found the final battle scene underwhelming.... a lot of build-up for something I knew was coming.

I'll probably find a student who will be down for this kind of story, but that student is few and far between.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought THE BROKEN LANDS on a gut feeling. I found it alone on a shelf in my indie bookstore, saw the cover, and knew that I would like it. Bridges and card sharps and Coney Island and magic? Sold.

I couldn't have imagined that this book would remind me what it feels like to fall in love with a story. I mean, the way I used to when I was a kid reading every library book she could get her hands on. That's what this felt like. Remembering.

Milford's writing is magic. It's luxurious and rich, and she writes about Brooklyn the way I would write about Los Angeles - like she's in love with the city. The world-building is just gorgeous. Honestly, every time I picked this book up, I felt like I was dreaming. It was that vivid. I loved the characters, too (and can I just say THANK YOU to Milford for writing a Chinese American girl in historical fiction without making her a damsel. Actually, just thank you for writing ethnic diversity without making it all about how ETHNICALLY DIVERSE !!!! they are).

This book is one of the best purchases I've made this year. I will say that it's not one to speed read, but... who the hell cares. I didn't. You won't.

[༺Kiki༻ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ebook, as is typical for Houghton Mifflin, wasn't well proofed. It's missing a chunk of text in chapter 26. Thankfully, I was able to read the missing portion in Google's book preview. I'm becoming quite wary of HMH published ebooks; too many errors. The story was wonderful, no stars lost for publisher laziness.

If you liked this book, you might also enjoy:

✱ The Apothecary
✱ Beyond the Deepwoods
✱ Foundling
✱ The Night Circus

[Sophia Lande · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first got this book maybe two years ago. I was at the bookstore having just read the entire Greenglass House series and wanted more Kate Milford. For some reason this book just spoke to me, the characters, the world, New York City, where I live, but different, older, richer. And it was creative, all of Kate’s booms are none like I’ve read before, and I’ve read a ton of books using the same tropes, so much that it gets boring, but this and her other books are not like that at all.
Still my favorite/comfort book today and I’ve read it maybe 4 times already. Even though it’s ‘younger’ it’s still really really good. 10/10 would recommend.

[Saskia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is strange, in both the subject-matter and the writing. The story sounds as if it's tailored for middle schoolers -- it's clumsy. However, it discusses issues for an older audience, from racism to prostitution. I feel like the fantasy elements were a bit overdone, though I liked the way they were grounded in historical context and folklore. It seemed, too, that the author was attempting to create strong female characters, but they came off as timid and ineffectual in some moments. Overall, not a very strong book.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 2 out of 5]

In terms of the road trip genre, New York is one of the terminals for road trips: either being the starting point, or the ending point. New York isn't a city that can contain a road trip. A crossroads battle in the middle of a metropolis, even one that at the time was more than one city being in the process of becoming a single city, just doesn't work.

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2017/comm...

[Rachel Sears · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read!

I let my 11 yr old read all the books related to Greenglass House, but not this one. The imagery was a bit intense and pretty scary. That said, it's a great story. It will just have to wait until she's older.

[katayoun Masoodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars without the next to last chapters. must say I could have done with the end chapters and all that lectures and the meaning of the life and enlightenment like stuff!!! too lecture-y...

[Alicia Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Broken Lands was one of the best books I have read this year. All of it's qualities are interesting and unique, something I wish every book would possess. The characters have life to them and aren't just bland and boring.

Such as the main characters,...Sam and Jin were both impressive. Jin worked with Fireworks and Sam was a card sharper who outplayed tourists waiting to gain or lose some money. Even though Sam's life was entertaining, I found Jin's even more. I mean,...when do you read about a girl who entertains people with fireworks (aka explosives)?

The settings and character backgrounds were historically accurate. And because both characters come from such interesting backgrounds, it's like a whole new approach on History class.

Kate Milford (the author) has such a great writing style. It reminds me of Stephan King by how creepy it can get. Truly, the whole book is on the creepy side. Even if it is an action adventure there is demon conjuring, hell, and plenty of blood written on walls and dead bodies. Oh, and not to forget sand people with strange skeleton figures.

The pacing is well done, there wasn't a part that was too slow or too fast. The dialogue was well distributed across the pages and details didn't become info dumps. If I could change one thing in this novel though, it would be the second chapter.

It was confusing and awkward whilst the rest of the story was not. I don't really know why it was so poor in quality unlike the rest of the writing. But it was, so I guess that is that. The side characters were to quickly introduced and the setting was as well. And while I was trying to wrap my head around what was happening the dialogue was off and too much was going on. As if the author was trying to squeeze everything too tightly together for it to be in one chapter.

The romance was AMAZING. I loved how the character slowly came together as a newly formed couple. It wasn't just like, "hey, I have a crush on you!". Instead Sam and Jin had minor drawbacks with one another that made their new forming relationship actually REALISTIC.

How the story ended was also impressive. I mean, when was it that I read an ending like that?
It ended with them saving the world, but it wasn't all happy happy, cupcakes and rainbows. Instead Sam found out that saving the city doesn't make you entirely different then you were the day before. That people aren't just going to fall to their knees and be grateful or even be aware of you saving their lives.

There was also the question with Jin even staying with Sam. It was resolved, but Mr. Burns said that it was for a couple of months. Showing that there is still a future ahead with problems and flaws that have to be faced. Because of this, the story really becomes realistic, and, well,...majestic.

I really recommend you reading this book.

[Jordan Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having only read Milford's Greenglass House books before this and despite having been warned that the rest of her books are darker, I was still not prepared for just how creepy and ominous this book was.

The Broken Lands is a tale of good vs. evil filled with history, diversity, and lots and lots of fireworks, all set in a growing NYC. It's fantastical and supernatural, but also starkly realistic in terms of societal norms and the various -isms that plagued the country shortly after the Civil War. There's a clear sense of this tale being part of a larger story without overwhelming or downplaying Sam and Jin's own story, and the characters themselves are richly described and fleshed-out, with flaws and weaknesses as well as strengths and abilities that make them integral in saving the city.

On the other hand, Milford's fantastic writing means that the villains are thoroughly described as well, and they're what make this story so creepy, and not just for an older MG/younger YA reader. There's a genuine sense of evil from these characters, and although they do to some degree play by the rules, they aren't afraid to take out anyone who gets in their way, including children, and Milford's willingness to cross that line is what really makes my skin crawl.

My favorite thing about this book has to be Jin's pyrotechnics. Yes, her skills in making fireworks are an important part of the bigger story, but I just absolutely loved all the chemistry and the science behind her creations. Her use of smaller fireworks to protect herself was a blast, too, and it really showed the extant of her brilliance; it takes a lot more effort and precision to create small, mostly harmless explosions than it does to make a giant one.

The Broken Lands brings together Milford's more historical books with her Greenglass House series, both in terms of folklore and through Easter eggs here and there that make it so much fun to read. And while it's certainly darker than the Greenglass House books, that darkness is certainly needed to raise the stakes for the fate of NYC. The Broken Lands is another wonderful read in this fictional world of Roamers and magic and Jack Hellcoal; if you're a fan of Milford's and have yet to read this one, put it on your list for a good Halloween read.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was entranced by this book, and would've probably read it straight through had I not had things to get done. I'm always a fan of the subtle magic - where you can almost believe that it really exists, because the world created in the book is so utterly normal... until it isn't. It makes you think too, about the parallels that could be drawn about the role of evil and heroism in our world for real. There are the main monsters in this story, but the darker side of human nature also plays a part.

I am also always won over by the plots where fate, destiny, what-have-you plays a role, and helps the underdog win. Can't help but root for these kids as they volunteer to fight what they really have little hope of winning - because what they're fighting for is worth it. And having made that decision, they discover all the strengths they didn't know they had, and what their true potential is. It was about family and courage and overcoming their own past. Destiny just filled in the gaps that let things happen just so, to make it all work out. Fanciful, maybe, as the world rarely works that way, but it's nice to imagine that it would, when the stakes were that high.

Loved the angles of what would be interesting and exciting threads anyway, like making fireworks and card sharping. Add in that magic and it becomes even better. The historical tie-ins of the Brooklyn Bridge being built, and life in Coney Island at the time was very interesting.

Overall, I really enjoyed it, and have a full page of quotes that endeared themselves to me, so it's obvious I rather like the author's style. I'll definitely be checking out all her books!

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few spoilers ahead.

This is a prequel to the splendid The Boneshaker. Neither my son nor I were quite as enamored with this book. I think we preferred following one protagonist, and although both main characters were interesting, we didn't get to know either of them as well.

I wound up confused about the character of Jack, called Jack Hellcoal in this book (not sure he wasn't called that in the first one). After the threat of Jack's arrival looms over the evil ones the whole book, he has a disappointingly brief appearance, but it's a much different person than in the first book. In The Boneshaker, Jack seems like an ambitious but rather neutral third party: clever and cynical. In this prequel, he's presented as basically a second Satan, someone the lesser devils or whatever fear greatly. Didn't make sense to me.

Still, this is an enjoyable book, with plenty of close scrapes and, importantly to me, adult characters who are friendly and supportive, but also pragmatic and with a small tolerance for nonsense.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that unites Boneshaker and Greenglass into a series and it is my favorite of the seven. There are those special books that light your imagination on fire and this is one. I love the character of Jin, and as the supernatural thread from this series begins to flow through this story, it's hard not to race ahead to find out what happens to her. Liao is an old man in this book, but we knew him from Bluecrowne and Lefthanded fate. This story just leaves you wanting to know what went on between 1810 and this story because he has some special powers now. He has to fight some extremely evil characters and how he became so powerful is something I'd love to know. Sam's story is another that I would like to know more about. He's an important character in this book, especially in the game of Santine, but secondary to Jin. There is so much that goes on in this book, I can't spoil everything, but the story made my heart pound in a way that not too much does at this time of my life.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd read The Greenglass House and was quite taken with it. I even have the sequel on my to-read list, but for some reason, as I scrolled through Amazon looking at book reviews, this book popped up and I added it to my list. Bored again with my stack, I reserved it at the library, picked it up and dove in. Lovely, a big fat book with a very, very interesting illustrations. Big lover of fantasy that I am I got right into it. This "review" isn't going to sound as enthusiastic about the book as I am having finished it. Somehow all of the alchemy involved was off-putting and I read the entire Alchemist series as fast as they were published. Something about this one just didn't connect on that level. However, having said that I loved the characters. Sam and Jin are such an awesome duo and although I haven't looked at the synopsis of the first book of the series, if they are in it, I will read it too!

[Katharine Ott · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Broken Lands" - written by Kate Milford and published in 2012 by Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. In the Author's Note Milford writes, "I hope that, first and foremost, you will read this book as the adventure tale I set out to write." And this indeed was a first-rate adventure story infused with magical realism, a collection of delightfully fleshed out characters, and a common quest for the "good guys" to strive toward. The plot is too intricate to detail except to say that a city must be saved, and much of the fun of the book is to watch it form and develop. Somehow, Milford is able to make this story a tender romance, an exposition on firework construction, a light historical primer, a bringing-the-band-together tale and a scintillating fight between good and evil, and it all fits perfectly together. "The country is wide and strange." I recommend this to anyone looking for a rewarding story.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, gripping tale by Kate Milford. Crossroads are places of power and the one formed by the East River and the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge is incomparable.
Jack Hellcoal, of prior books (Bluecrown) has decided to make New York City his personal hell and has sent High Walker and Bones to lay the groundwork. They need to persuade the pillars of the city (the 5 people who hold the city intact) to their side or kill them and create new pillars. Or, they could find a conflagationeer to claim the city by fire.
The two people standing most in the way of this are 2 orphans. Jin, a young fireworks expert, protege of Liao (the same as in Bluecrown or a descendant?) and Sam, a young card sharp of Coney Island. They are helped by 2 veterans of the war between the states, ghosts, daemons, the one remaining pillar of NYC, and various other locals.
Mostly this is a battle between good and evil, and of courage, friendship, and love.

[Miriam Kahn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will admit to not reading any of The Boneshaker books or listening to them. BUT, this one was pretty confusing for a prequel or first book in the series (written last). According to the introduction, the series is for middle-graders (8-12) but the prequel is for young adults (12-16). As an adult, I couldn't get into the story.

There are teens who are the heroes and adults who are the villains and can conjure evil beings.
The book is set in Brooklyn, Coney Island to be exact, as the Brooklyn Bridge is set to open in 1877. And there's evil afoot.

The author seems to think Long Island is some other place rather than where Coney Island and Brooklyn are located. Shame on the author unless they were playing with geography. The characters are pretty flat as is the audio performance. Maybe the print version is better.

For more on the performance, see AudioFile Magazine http://www.audiofilemagazine.com

[Leselurch · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Worum geht's?*
Coney Island, 1877: Der junge Sam schlägt sich als listiger Kartenspieler, der Touristen die ein oder andere Münze aus der Tasche zieht, durchs Leben. Als eines Tages ein Trickser Sam mit seinen eigenen Waffen schlägt, geschehen plötzlich merkwürdige Dinge, die New York und Brooklyn in eine Hölle zu verwandeln drohen. Düstere Gestalten mit mächtiger, böser Magie wollen das zerbrochene Land für ihren Meister einnehmen, der schlimmer ist als der Teufel selbst. In dem wachsenden Chaos lernt Sam die Chinesin Jin kennen, ein Feuerwerksmädchen, das das Spiel mit dem Feuer liebt. Gemeinsam machen sie sich auf die Suche nach den Hütern, die New York und Brooklyn zusammenhalten. Der Kampf um die Zukunft der getrennten Städte beginnt. Doch es ist ein Rennen gegen die Zeit…

*Meine Meinung:*
In „Broken Lands“ spielt Autorin Kate Milford mit verschiedenen Genres. Die Geschichte spielt in unserer Welt, in Brooklyn und New York, allerdings viele Jahre vor unserer Zeit. Im Jahre 1877 begegnen wir Sam und Jin, denen ein großes Abenteuer bevorsteht – eines von jener Sorte, die den beiden mutigen Jugendlichen das Schicksal ganzer Städte auf die Schultern lädt. Und als wären die Probleme des Erwachsenwerdens und des täglichen Überlebens in einer gefährlichen Gegend noch nicht schwierig genug, tauchen plötzlich auch noch mysteriöse Gestalten mit bösen Absichten auf, die die Magie auf ihrer Seite haben. „Broken Lands“ ist eine wilde, aber gelungene Mischung mit historischen, fantastischen und kritischen Themen, die mit Spannung an die Seiten fesselt.

Kate Milford hat für ihre Leser eine neue Art von Fantasy geschaffen, auf die man so sicherlich noch nicht gestoßen ist. Milford verzichtet auf altbekannte Wesen und webt stattdessen neue Zauberfiguren in ihren Roman ein. So trifft man zum Beispiel auf magische Wanderer, Talgdämonen, Stadthüter und Flammenmeister. Obwohl mich die Autorin mit ihren Ideen sehr neugierig machen konnte, hatte ich besonders zu Beginn einige Schwierigkeiten, mich in der Welt von „Broken Lands“ zurechtzufinden. Die Fantasy-Elemente sind weder leicht verständlich noch problemlos zugänglich. Nichtsdestotrotz haben sie ihren eigenen Reiz, der einen fasziniert an den Seiten kleben lässt.

Sam, der trickreiche Kartenspieler aus Coney Island, und Jin, das Feuerwerksmädchen aus China, sind die beiden Protagonisten in „Broken Lands“. Die beiden jungen Heranwachsenden, die sich im Verlauf der Geschichte schrecklichen Dingen stellen müssen, haben zu Beginn der Geschichte noch wenig miteinander gemein. Die Ereignisse schweißen die beiden sympathischen und einzigartigen Protagonisten jedoch immer stärker zusammen, sodass zwischen Jin und Sam schließlich sogar zarte romantische Gefühle entwickeln. Sie sind ein mutiges, aufrichtiges Team, begeistern mit ausgeprägten Persönlichkeiten und durchdachten Hintergrundgeschichten. Obwohl mir beide Protagonisten ans Herz gewachsen sind, hat sich Jin, das Mädchen, das das Spiel mit dem Feuer liebt, als meine persönliche Favoritin durchsetzen können.

Neben Sam und Jin gibt es noch eine Menge weiterer Charaktere, die in „Broken Lands“ eine Rolle spielen. Tatsächlich sind es sogar so viele, dass man sich beinahe Sorgen darum machen muss, ob man sie nicht im Laufe der Geschichte durcheinander werfen wird. Kate Milford beweist ihren Lesern jedoch schnell, dass diese Angst unbegründet ist. Sie hat jede einzelne Figur mit so viel Leben entworfen und Individualität geformt, dass sie mit ihren einzigartigen Persönlichkeiten oft schon nach der ersten Begegnung im Gedächtnis bleiben. Verwechslungsgefahr besteht in „Broken Lands“ trotz der vielen relevanten Charaktere zu keinem Zeitpunkt!

Unterstützt wird die Geschichte von großartigen Illustrationen von der Künstlerin Andrea Offermann. Zahlreich sind ihre Zeichnungen zu meinem Bedauern zwar nicht, dafür tauchen sie immer in den wichtigen Momenten in der Handlung auf und heizen das Kopfkino mächtig an. Andrea Offermann schafft es in ihren Bildern, die Atmosphäre des Romans einzufangen und die Protagonisten und die Handlungsorte genauso aussehen zu lassen, wie sie Kate Milford ihren Lesern in den Kopf gezaubert hat.

Kate Milford hat zu „Broken Lands“ eine indirekte Fortsetzung geschrieben. „The Bone Shaker“, so der Titel im englischen Original, spielt in der gleichen Welt, erzählt jedoch die Geschichte anderer Charaktere. Jin und Sams Abenteuer wird in „Broken Lands“ trotz einiger offenen Fragen zu Ende geführt, sodass sich der Roman wie ein Einzelband lesen lässt. Trotzdem hat man nach der letzten Seite nicht wenig Lust, die Magie der Welt um 1877 weiter zu erforschen und sie gemeinsam mit neuen Charakteren zu entdecken. Bleibt zu hoffen, dass der Verlag auch „The Bone Shaker“ herausbringen wird und uns nicht mehr allzu lange warten lässt!

*Cover:*
Außergewöhnlich wie die Geschichte und ihre Facetten ist auch das Cover des Romans. Die verschiedenen Ebenen des Covers ergeben ein grandioses Gesamtbild, das dank der faszinierenden und passenden Illustrationen zu einem echten Eyecatcher wird.

*Fazit:*
Mit „Broken Lands“ ist Kate Milford ein einmaliges Fantasy-Spektakel gelungen, das sich mit seinem historischen Setting, seinen außergewöhnlichen magischen Elementen und seinen einzigartigen Charakteren deutlich von der Masse abhebt. „Broken Lands“ wartet mit neuen Ideen auf und wird selbst Vielleser mit seiner einzigartigen Magie an die Seiten fesseln. Allerdings macht es der Roman seinen Lesern vor allem zu Beginn nicht leicht, ihn zu durchschauen. Einige von Milfords Fantasy-Elementen sind schwer zugänglich und brauchen erst Zeit, um sich zu entfalten und zu etablieren, damit man in ihren vollen Genuss kommen kann. Wer sich durch den schwierigen Anfang schlägt, wird mit einem spannenden und mitreißenden Abenteuer belohnt. Für „Broken Lands“ gibt es 4 Lurche.

[Shazza Maddog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good gravy, can Kate Milford weave a story.

Sam is an Italian American card sharp living in Brooklyn in a boarding house with his friend, Constantine, with Mrs. Ponzi, their landlord, and her daughter, Ilona.

Jin is a Chinese American apprenticed to Liao, a fireworks expert with Fata Fortuna, a travelling explosives sideshow owned by Mr. Burns.

Walker and Bones are at a crossroads, determined to win a city for Jack Hellcoal, who wants to acquire a city to create Hell on Earth.

All of these characters and more have wound up in Brooklyn at the same time. Will a group of kids figure out a way to protect the city? Or will Jack Hellcoal have his way?

Delightful and fast-paced, there almost isn't any breathing room throughout the story but there are so many details included and it's just so good. Now on to The Boneshaker.

[Varsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't actually finish this book, but since I am probably never going to finish it, I thought I might as well review it. There was nothing wrong with the book, per say, it was just so incredibly boring. I brought this book to a doctor's appointment, and I literally had to force myself to continue reading it. In a doctor's office. With absolutely nothing else to do. I gave it three stars because the premise was really interesting and it was written well. However, it completely failed to grab my attention, the characters were flat and basically emotionless, and I had no connection with the story to make me want to finish reading it. I'm sure it would have gotten better, but with school starting and plenty of other books to read, I decided it was just not worth it. I hope some of you had a better experience with this book.

[Daphne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second Kate Milford book and I liked it quite a lot. I liked it even better than Greenglass House. The characters were well-drawn with adequate depth and uniqueness, I liked the setting and the time-period, I liked the hazy use of ghosts, I loved the fireworks and the Brooklyn Bridge lore, and I loved Sam and Jin. A nice, tense, not-too-scary story with a little bit of woo around the edges, just enough to make it fun. A sweet, sincere young romance. Some pretty badass adventuring. Nice Americana lore. Do I have any complaints? A little wordy in places, some red herrings, a little bit predictable (but I didn't mind). Overall, lots of fun, very engaging. I will keep my eye out for more Kate Milford! I'm interested in the Boneshaker books now.