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The Lady Astronomer
Lucretia's quiet life as an astronomer and hat-maker is quickly turned on its head by her brother. He is commanded by the king to build the grandest telescope in the land. Unfortunately for Lucretia, she is introduced to his majesty as her brother's assistant. Her nights spent on rooftops gazing at the stars are replaced by adventure and danger. In a race to build the Forty-foot telescope on time for the king, her misfortunes take their toll. When Lucretia finds herself held hostage at the Clockwork Court, the innocent country girl doesn't know who to trust. The lady astronomer finds court life to be more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. Even if her brothers manage to build the telescope on time, she might not live to earn her freedom.
With the help of her brothers, Freddie and Al, and her constant companions Leibniz the Lemur and Orion the Eagle Owl, Lucretia embarks on a journey that could change her life forever. Can she find the strength inside to balance her new life and overcome the obstacles threatening her destiny? Only the stars will tell.
* * *
Special Note:
We are proud to publish our first novel from an author who lives outside of North America. Katy hails from Ireland. When reading this novel, please keep in mind that English is not spelled the same everywhere! Because she is from Ireland and her characters also dwell in Europe, we maintained her uses and spellings. Enjoy!
With the help of her brothers, Freddie and Al, and her constant companions Leibniz the Lemur and Orion the Eagle Owl, Lucretia embarks on a journey that could change her life forever. Can she find the strength inside to balance her new life and overcome the obstacles threatening her destiny? Only the stars will tell.
* * *
Special Note:
We are proud to publish our first novel from an author who lives outside of North America. Katy hails from Ireland. When reading this novel, please keep in mind that English is not spelled the same everywhere! Because she is from Ireland and her characters also dwell in Europe, we maintained her uses and spellings. Enjoy!
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2011
8 people are currently reading
446 people want to read
About the author
Katy O'Dowd
4 books46 followersKaty is an arts and entertainment journalist and has worked for Time Out, Associated Newspapers and Comic Relief and her articles have appeared in The Times (London), Metro (London) and many other arts and entertainment publications, paper and online.
Alongside writing with her Dad under the pen-name Derry O’Dowd, whose first book ‘The Scarlet Ribbon’ was chosen to launch the History Press Ireland’s fiction line, she writes under her own name.
Katy reviews for the Historical Novels Review and the British Fantasy Society.
Alongside writing with her Dad under the pen-name Derry O’Dowd, whose first book ‘The Scarlet Ribbon’ was chosen to launch the History Press Ireland’s fiction line, she writes under her own name.
Katy reviews for the Historical Novels Review and the British Fantasy Society.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
October 17, 2023
I wasn't expecting very much from this to be honest, and as soon as I'd read four or five pages, I knew I wasn't going to like it, let alone be blown away. Once again, this was a gift from some years ago when I was just getting discovering my love of steampunk. I can see why the person bought it, but now I'd like to discreetly give it back to them.
Apart from the pleasant looking cover, there were many problems with the book, and one that was glaringly obvious was the writing, and the distinct lack of quality editing. I've read a few dreadful editing jobs, and unfortunately, this book is up there with those. The overuse of full stops was almost painful.
I was raising an eyebrow on every other page at the terrible comedy attempts that just weren't funny. It actually felt forced and slightly awkward, and even though I didn't enjoy the book, I found myself questioning the author's motive here.
The characters had no depth to them, not even 'The Lady Astronomer' herself which caused me to feel even more detached from the book. They lacked charisma and they were all so tedious to read about.
I felt like 'My sweet' was ridiculously overused, and definitely in the wrong context, especially when apparently siblings call one another this. It didn't feel right, and when it was constant, I found it to be more than just an irritation.
Sometimes I'm able to push through these kind of books and see the positives in them, even if that positive is minuscule in size, but with this, it was impossible. It is such a shame as the idea was there, but it failed to take off.
Apart from the pleasant looking cover, there were many problems with the book, and one that was glaringly obvious was the writing, and the distinct lack of quality editing. I've read a few dreadful editing jobs, and unfortunately, this book is up there with those. The overuse of full stops was almost painful.
I was raising an eyebrow on every other page at the terrible comedy attempts that just weren't funny. It actually felt forced and slightly awkward, and even though I didn't enjoy the book, I found myself questioning the author's motive here.
The characters had no depth to them, not even 'The Lady Astronomer' herself which caused me to feel even more detached from the book. They lacked charisma and they were all so tedious to read about.
I felt like 'My sweet' was ridiculously overused, and definitely in the wrong context, especially when apparently siblings call one another this. It didn't feel right, and when it was constant, I found it to be more than just an irritation.
Sometimes I'm able to push through these kind of books and see the positives in them, even if that positive is minuscule in size, but with this, it was impossible. It is such a shame as the idea was there, but it failed to take off.
October 1, 2012
An enchanting read for adults & children
The Lady Astronomer is one of those books I suspect parents will buy for their children and read themselves because it's so absorbing and rekindles memories of the fairytales our parents read to us when we were children.
A delightful read, The Lady Astronomer transports the reader into the life of Lucretia The Astronomer and her unusual family of a Lemur called Leibniz, Orion the European eagle owl and her two human brothers Al and Freddie as they head to the English city of Bath by Royal appointment to construct the largest telescope in the land. However, life has is full of surprises and they're not all good - Lucretia finds herself held hostage at one point.
The dialogue rolls along at a cracking pace and it's as though you're listening in on a conversation and not reading dialogue.
The highlight for me was the letter they wrote to the King in which they referred to him as 'Your maj.' That had me hooting with laughter.
The other thing I really liked about this book is that the main character is a strong woman in a traditionally male dominated career. Its important young girls and women have strong role models to inspire them to achieve and break down the barriers that still exist. It's also important that young boys also see that girls can do anything and be anything. That's why we need more books like this one and more characters like Lucretia.
If you want to discover if Lucretia and friends get the happy ending they deserve, you'll need to read this book.
The Lady Astronomer is one of those books I suspect parents will buy for their children and read themselves because it's so absorbing and rekindles memories of the fairytales our parents read to us when we were children.
A delightful read, The Lady Astronomer transports the reader into the life of Lucretia The Astronomer and her unusual family of a Lemur called Leibniz, Orion the European eagle owl and her two human brothers Al and Freddie as they head to the English city of Bath by Royal appointment to construct the largest telescope in the land. However, life has is full of surprises and they're not all good - Lucretia finds herself held hostage at one point.
The dialogue rolls along at a cracking pace and it's as though you're listening in on a conversation and not reading dialogue.
The highlight for me was the letter they wrote to the King in which they referred to him as 'Your maj.' That had me hooting with laughter.
The other thing I really liked about this book is that the main character is a strong woman in a traditionally male dominated career. Its important young girls and women have strong role models to inspire them to achieve and break down the barriers that still exist. It's also important that young boys also see that girls can do anything and be anything. That's why we need more books like this one and more characters like Lucretia.
If you want to discover if Lucretia and friends get the happy ending they deserve, you'll need to read this book.
October 3, 2013
Lucretia, the lady astronomer of the title, is actually a hat-maker, at least to begin with, albeit a hat-maker who spends her nights on rooftops gazing at the stars. When her brother, a renowned astronomer, is commissioned by the king to build a grand telescope, she is pulled into the enterprise after being introduced to the king as her brother’s assistant.
Adjusting to the machinations of life within the court is challenging for fish-out-of-water Lucretia, uncertain of the protocols, her place in proceedings and whom to trust. Without giving out too much of a spoiler, soon events take a precarious turn and Lucretia finds herself in dire jeopardy. Will the huge telescope be built in time? Even if it is, will Lucretia be able to earn her release?
But fear not! Lucretia is aided by her brother the astronomer, her other brother (a notable inventor), an eagle owl named Orion and a lemur called Leibniz – both of which are surprisingly intelligent companions, bringing to this reviewer’s mind the relationship between Lyra Belacqua and her daemon Pantalaimon. The colourful cast does not end there: the world is also populated by bizarre clockwork automatons, a seven-strong gang of height-disadvantaged not-so gentlemen and their height-advantaged boss, and others besides.
So far, so far-fetched, and deliberately so. This is a tall tale well-told, full of imagineering and eccentricity. If there are times when the incredible is not particularly… um, credible, the story’s lightness of touch carries the reader along; don’t worry too much whether your disbelief is still hanging where you left it, just go with it and enjoy the tale’s exuberance.
The setting is picaresque and quirky with flavours of steampunk in the mechanized automata and other touches of tech (and the obligatory eyepiece); this intermingles with a dash of fantasy in a world sufficiently well realized for a book which sets out to entertain without being overly concerned with world-building. The hint of romance jarred slightly but didn’t linger long enough to mar the broth.
The plot is somewhat disjointed at first; early chapters are rather fragmented with no certain sense of events and several leaps between storylines that take a little while for the reader to catch up with. Whilst this could be a tactically deliberate move to create intrigue, the lack of definition regarding ‘who, what and why’ means this is a strategy that could potentially backfire, leaving some readers behind. Past the first third of the book the plot’s engine fires on all cylinders and is well oiled with incidents and intrigues; from this point forward the story runs like clockwork, changing gears and moving at a brisk enough pace to its conclusion.
This is a fresh and diverting read aimed at a YA readership, though the younger end of this market will enjoy this the most. This is the author’s debut novel and she demonstrates that fantasy has more to offer than swords, wizards and dragons, and although I have nothing against those this made a refreshing alternative.
Adjusting to the machinations of life within the court is challenging for fish-out-of-water Lucretia, uncertain of the protocols, her place in proceedings and whom to trust. Without giving out too much of a spoiler, soon events take a precarious turn and Lucretia finds herself in dire jeopardy. Will the huge telescope be built in time? Even if it is, will Lucretia be able to earn her release?
But fear not! Lucretia is aided by her brother the astronomer, her other brother (a notable inventor), an eagle owl named Orion and a lemur called Leibniz – both of which are surprisingly intelligent companions, bringing to this reviewer’s mind the relationship between Lyra Belacqua and her daemon Pantalaimon. The colourful cast does not end there: the world is also populated by bizarre clockwork automatons, a seven-strong gang of height-disadvantaged not-so gentlemen and their height-advantaged boss, and others besides.
So far, so far-fetched, and deliberately so. This is a tall tale well-told, full of imagineering and eccentricity. If there are times when the incredible is not particularly… um, credible, the story’s lightness of touch carries the reader along; don’t worry too much whether your disbelief is still hanging where you left it, just go with it and enjoy the tale’s exuberance.
The setting is picaresque and quirky with flavours of steampunk in the mechanized automata and other touches of tech (and the obligatory eyepiece); this intermingles with a dash of fantasy in a world sufficiently well realized for a book which sets out to entertain without being overly concerned with world-building. The hint of romance jarred slightly but didn’t linger long enough to mar the broth.
The plot is somewhat disjointed at first; early chapters are rather fragmented with no certain sense of events and several leaps between storylines that take a little while for the reader to catch up with. Whilst this could be a tactically deliberate move to create intrigue, the lack of definition regarding ‘who, what and why’ means this is a strategy that could potentially backfire, leaving some readers behind. Past the first third of the book the plot’s engine fires on all cylinders and is well oiled with incidents and intrigues; from this point forward the story runs like clockwork, changing gears and moving at a brisk enough pace to its conclusion.
This is a fresh and diverting read aimed at a YA readership, though the younger end of this market will enjoy this the most. This is the author’s debut novel and she demonstrates that fantasy has more to offer than swords, wizards and dragons, and although I have nothing against those this made a refreshing alternative.
May 31, 2014
I received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Lucretia shares her time between hat making and star gazing, living with her equally inventive and talented brothers. When they are tasked with the building of a huge telescope by none other than the king, Lucretia finds herself spirited away at the royal court, where intrigue and danger await her…
It's a delightful story that stands on the dividing line between YA and something younger children would love very much: not my cup of tea - not by a long way - but I must say up front that the feather-like hand with which the story is written, and the amused smile that peeks out of the lines will not fail to reach the book's younger audience and at the same time captivate the soul of any adult reading it to them, because both elements will speak clearly to the child still lurking inside.
My own "inner child" seems to have gone AWOL some time ago, unfortunately, so I could not appreciate the story as it deserved: nonetheless I believe I can recommend it for its intended audience, because it will deliver all of its promises.
The tone and narrative voice, coupled with the presence of sentient animals and interacting mechanical toys, give The Lady Astronomer the distinct flavor of a bedtime story, one that's full of wonders like mechanical pigs, suits of armor that act as royal butlers and a set of working dwarves that offer a more than passing wink to the Snow White legend.
Unfortunately, the same reasons that make this book a perfect fairytale are the same ones that prevented me from fully enjoying it: first, it's more like a series of sketches than an organically developed story, and characters are pictured through dialogue rather than examined in depth - and it's often a dialogue carried in breathless, overlapping sentences, that leave little room to delve to a satisfactory depth into characters, and what makes them tick, so that it was quite difficult for me to form a connection with them as a reader.
And then there was my major nitpick, i.e. the author's choice of using a surname's initial when mentioning a person: it felt just quirky at first, but then the excessive use of it skirted the middle ground between bothersome and annoying. I understand it might have been the norm for that time period, but to my ears it sounded contrived - and a bit too much.
Nonetheless, the story is pleasant and - of course - in the end good triumphs and the evil-doers get their rightful punishment, so if you are looking for a story to read to your kids, one that will leave them with a good feeling, this will be the right choice.
http://spaceandsorcery.blogspot.it/20...
Lucretia shares her time between hat making and star gazing, living with her equally inventive and talented brothers. When they are tasked with the building of a huge telescope by none other than the king, Lucretia finds herself spirited away at the royal court, where intrigue and danger await her…
It's a delightful story that stands on the dividing line between YA and something younger children would love very much: not my cup of tea - not by a long way - but I must say up front that the feather-like hand with which the story is written, and the amused smile that peeks out of the lines will not fail to reach the book's younger audience and at the same time captivate the soul of any adult reading it to them, because both elements will speak clearly to the child still lurking inside.
My own "inner child" seems to have gone AWOL some time ago, unfortunately, so I could not appreciate the story as it deserved: nonetheless I believe I can recommend it for its intended audience, because it will deliver all of its promises.
The tone and narrative voice, coupled with the presence of sentient animals and interacting mechanical toys, give The Lady Astronomer the distinct flavor of a bedtime story, one that's full of wonders like mechanical pigs, suits of armor that act as royal butlers and a set of working dwarves that offer a more than passing wink to the Snow White legend.
Unfortunately, the same reasons that make this book a perfect fairytale are the same ones that prevented me from fully enjoying it: first, it's more like a series of sketches than an organically developed story, and characters are pictured through dialogue rather than examined in depth - and it's often a dialogue carried in breathless, overlapping sentences, that leave little room to delve to a satisfactory depth into characters, and what makes them tick, so that it was quite difficult for me to form a connection with them as a reader.
And then there was my major nitpick, i.e. the author's choice of using a surname's initial when mentioning a person: it felt just quirky at first, but then the excessive use of it skirted the middle ground between bothersome and annoying. I understand it might have been the norm for that time period, but to my ears it sounded contrived - and a bit too much.
Nonetheless, the story is pleasant and - of course - in the end good triumphs and the evil-doers get their rightful punishment, so if you are looking for a story to read to your kids, one that will leave them with a good feeling, this will be the right choice.
http://spaceandsorcery.blogspot.it/20...
October 26, 2013
"The Lady Astronomer" by Katy O'Dowd reminded me of the fairy-tales I used to read as a child, with all the unusual animals and fun plots twists. I loved all the gadgets and clockwork animals, especially the mechanical orchestra.
Lucretia, the main character, is interesting and appealing. She's witty, active, strong, yet feminine, and knows what she wants.
The story moves along at a brisk pace (perfect for kids!), with lots of engaging dialogue and brief yet vivid descriptions.
The idea that no dream is impossible (a great message for anyone, kids and adults!) and the spirit of magic and exploration of "The Lady Astronomer" reminded me of "The Little Prince" by Antoine de St. Exupery who wrote:
"All men have stars, but they are not the same things for different people. For some, who are travelers, the stars are guides. For others they are no more than little lights in the sky. For others, who are scholars, they are problems..."
For Lucretia and her companions (including all the fun clockwork creatures!), stars are all of that, at different times in the book: guides, problems, and lights in the sky. I loved Katy O'Dowd's beautiful writing style, especially when she described the mystery of the night sky and the stars. Just take a look:
"Though stars peppered the skies with diamond dust, their light would no more have illuminated the predator than a candle at one end of a particularly dank, gloomy tunnel."
"...there are as many uncharted islands as there are stars and planets in the skies."
"The air was cold and the sky was completely clear, stars winking and blinking in the blackness."
The book also provides a fun way to look at the British society and royalty. I loved "your maj" as a way to address the king! A wonderfully whimsical, humorous, and fun book.
Lucretia, the main character, is interesting and appealing. She's witty, active, strong, yet feminine, and knows what she wants.
The story moves along at a brisk pace (perfect for kids!), with lots of engaging dialogue and brief yet vivid descriptions.
The idea that no dream is impossible (a great message for anyone, kids and adults!) and the spirit of magic and exploration of "The Lady Astronomer" reminded me of "The Little Prince" by Antoine de St. Exupery who wrote:
"All men have stars, but they are not the same things for different people. For some, who are travelers, the stars are guides. For others they are no more than little lights in the sky. For others, who are scholars, they are problems..."
For Lucretia and her companions (including all the fun clockwork creatures!), stars are all of that, at different times in the book: guides, problems, and lights in the sky. I loved Katy O'Dowd's beautiful writing style, especially when she described the mystery of the night sky and the stars. Just take a look:
"Though stars peppered the skies with diamond dust, their light would no more have illuminated the predator than a candle at one end of a particularly dank, gloomy tunnel."
"...there are as many uncharted islands as there are stars and planets in the skies."
"The air was cold and the sky was completely clear, stars winking and blinking in the blackness."
The book also provides a fun way to look at the British society and royalty. I loved "your maj" as a way to address the king! A wonderfully whimsical, humorous, and fun book.
November 11, 2012
The Lady Astronomer is a fast read that’s hard to put down, so you’ll want to make sure you have an afternoon or two to devote to it. The main character, Lucretia, is quirky and fun to relate too, and her animal friends add interesting depth to the story and her character. She is an astronomer who pays the bills by making outrageous hats for the “fashionable” ladies. She lives with her brothers, one of whom named a planet after the king. This naming sets off a string of events that changes their lives. The king is apparently quite taken with having a planet named after him and chooses to move the family, pets and all, closer to him so they can build the “forty footer” – the largest telescope created. Many mishaps delay construction, some of them humorous and some of them much more serious. Along the way Lucretia finds out who her friends really are, and a potential love, faces tragedy and comes through it all with her wit and humor intact.
I really enjoyed this story. I always enjoy reading about strong women in history and adding in the steampunk gadgets, balloon rides, excellent characterization, slightly over the top but believable situations, and good fun humor, and I was really turning the pages. I did think it a bit odd that the characters referred to other characters as Mr. W, Mrs. W, etc instead of using real last names, but there may have been a cultural context I missed. I highly recommend this if you enjoy fast paced steampunk stories.
I really enjoyed this story. I always enjoy reading about strong women in history and adding in the steampunk gadgets, balloon rides, excellent characterization, slightly over the top but believable situations, and good fun humor, and I was really turning the pages. I did think it a bit odd that the characters referred to other characters as Mr. W, Mrs. W, etc instead of using real last names, but there may have been a cultural context I missed. I highly recommend this if you enjoy fast paced steampunk stories.
August 7, 2013
"The Lady Astronomer" by Katy O'Dowd is a quirky and very entertaining story that reads in parts as a regular historical novels and in parts like a fantasy tale.
Set in exciting Georgian times of geographical and technological discoveries it carries the spirit of the "no dream impossible" of those times.
Equipped with highly intelligent and helpful animals the heroine Lucretia tries to accomplish her mission to assist her brother.
Lucretia is an interesting character herself, with many more bows to her string. She is based very loosely on a real lady astronomer.
The writing is engaging, the pace just right and the story line charming and beautifully over the
top. The portrayal of British society and Royalty feels authentic but never dry.
This is a fascinating and compelling read.
Set in exciting Georgian times of geographical and technological discoveries it carries the spirit of the "no dream impossible" of those times.
Equipped with highly intelligent and helpful animals the heroine Lucretia tries to accomplish her mission to assist her brother.
Lucretia is an interesting character herself, with many more bows to her string. She is based very loosely on a real lady astronomer.
The writing is engaging, the pace just right and the story line charming and beautifully over the
top. The portrayal of British society and Royalty feels authentic but never dry.
This is a fascinating and compelling read.
February 13, 2016
Loved this! Based in part on female Astronomer Caroline Herschel who lived from 1750 to 1848. I had never heard of Herschel before but after reading this I am intrigued and will look up more information about her. The story however is actually about Lucretia who lives with her two brothers and the adventures she becomes involved in. Moving to Royal Court, taking a balloon ride, exploring the stars and even a small romance. This was well-written and I loved all the characters. I especially loved Lucretia's "snarky" side, she makes some very funny comments in conversations with other characters. Hoping that there will be more adventures to follow for Lucretia. This was too fun to stop.
I forgot to mention that the cover art was actually what drew me in, it's a wonderful illustration.
I forgot to mention that the cover art was actually what drew me in, it's a wonderful illustration.
dnf
December 6, 2018DNF 12/4/2018 @ 5%
I didn't read enough of this to review or rate it. I did read enough to comment on it. I love the concept. The execution didn't interest me, though. First off, I think starting the story with a flea in search of a meal was intended to be an amusing way to introduce the lemur sidekick. I found it distracting instead of amusing. Ditto the antics in the hat shop. Probably supposed to be funny, but I found them annoying.
I didn't read enough of this to review or rate it. I did read enough to comment on it. I love the concept. The execution didn't interest me, though. First off, I think starting the story with a flea in search of a meal was intended to be an amusing way to introduce the lemur sidekick. I found it distracting instead of amusing. Ditto the antics in the hat shop. Probably supposed to be funny, but I found them annoying.
January 1, 2017
I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. There. That’s done.
The Lady Astronomer by Katy O’Dowd is a steampunk tale of a young woman – Lucretia - and her two brothers. One brother is almost a recluse, and the other is a bit of a troublemaker. Lucretia is fascinated by astronomy and tries to focus her life around that. Not much luck when one brother pesters the king enough to get the king to pay for building an enormous telescope. When things go wrong, Lucretia ends up in hot water over it.
Likes:
I must say, this is my first foray into steampunk and I had fun. I’ve always meant to find some, but just had not gotten there yet. Overall, this is a quick, but enjoyable read. The overall storyline was fun. The pacing felt good. The events lined up and made sense even as they continued to feel a bit off the wall, which worked for me in the context of the story.
I loved Lucretia’s personality. She came off as a good mix of intelligent and feisty woman, yet a little naïve and uncertain of herself at times. Lucretia made a good foil for her two brothers. I also loved that she had a pet owl and a pet lemur, whom she scolded and treated like her children and it felt believable to me.
Finally, I enjoyed the balance of detail and action. O’Dowd did a nice job of adding in just enough detail to create the world and give it that Victorian/technological vibe while making sure the action was not sacrificed in the process.
Dislikes:
The one thing that bothered me about Lucretia at times was that it felt like most of the story happened to her, rather than Lucretia acting to move the story along. While I get that happens at times, it felt like Lucretia had some opportunities to change things, but did not. She seemed a little too passive to me at times.
The other thing I struggled some with was the king and his behaviors. He had been played up as this somewhat crazy Willy Wonka type character. Then, toward the end of the book, his behavior changes quite a bit. I didn’t see anything to have spurred that change, so it ended up feeling a little jarring to me.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. For my first foray into the steampunk world, I think this gave me a good introduction. And I love the fact there was a pet lemur in the story. A solid 4-star book. Check it out!
The Lady Astronomer by Katy O’Dowd is a steampunk tale of a young woman – Lucretia - and her two brothers. One brother is almost a recluse, and the other is a bit of a troublemaker. Lucretia is fascinated by astronomy and tries to focus her life around that. Not much luck when one brother pesters the king enough to get the king to pay for building an enormous telescope. When things go wrong, Lucretia ends up in hot water over it.
Likes:
I must say, this is my first foray into steampunk and I had fun. I’ve always meant to find some, but just had not gotten there yet. Overall, this is a quick, but enjoyable read. The overall storyline was fun. The pacing felt good. The events lined up and made sense even as they continued to feel a bit off the wall, which worked for me in the context of the story.
I loved Lucretia’s personality. She came off as a good mix of intelligent and feisty woman, yet a little naïve and uncertain of herself at times. Lucretia made a good foil for her two brothers. I also loved that she had a pet owl and a pet lemur, whom she scolded and treated like her children and it felt believable to me.
Finally, I enjoyed the balance of detail and action. O’Dowd did a nice job of adding in just enough detail to create the world and give it that Victorian/technological vibe while making sure the action was not sacrificed in the process.
Dislikes:
The one thing that bothered me about Lucretia at times was that it felt like most of the story happened to her, rather than Lucretia acting to move the story along. While I get that happens at times, it felt like Lucretia had some opportunities to change things, but did not. She seemed a little too passive to me at times.
The other thing I struggled some with was the king and his behaviors. He had been played up as this somewhat crazy Willy Wonka type character. Then, toward the end of the book, his behavior changes quite a bit. I didn’t see anything to have spurred that change, so it ended up feeling a little jarring to me.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. For my first foray into the steampunk world, I think this gave me a good introduction. And I love the fact there was a pet lemur in the story. A solid 4-star book. Check it out!
April 22, 2014
What a sweet story!
The Lady Astronomer by Katy O'Dowd is a throwback to classic fairytales of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth. And I loved it! This story revolves around Lucretia and her brothers Freddie and Al. Freddie and his sister are astronomers for the King and have been commissioned to make a forty-foot telescope and chart the skies. Unfortunately for them this means a move, and after several unlikely mishaps Lucretia finds herself away from her family and in the King's court until the telescope is completed.
The characters are so charming and well written. Lucretia is a petite woman with no physical beauty due to malformations from disease as a child. She also must wear a mono scope fashioned by her brother Al. This has never bothered her. She is strong-willed, stubborn, and very loyal to her brothers. Freddie is the eldest brother and also in many ways the father to his sister and Al. He is also quite smart and unable it seems to do anything without his sister. Al is the middle child and an inventor. He is very imaginative and always thinking up new ideas and creations. But I can't forget Orion the owl and Leibniz the lemur, Lucretia's pets but in many ways they are her children.
The story itself is very much like a fairytale and the style of writing puts me in the mind of Neil Gaiman and C.S. Lewis. Very classic and completely magical! Al's creations, like his clockwork orchestra, come to life with their own thoughts and ideas even though they are simply made of metal. But this magical component is so well blended with the everyday that it feels as if this world exists!
With strong characters and such a well thought out world, the book is captivating and I personally can't wait for my son to be old enough to enjoy this book as much as I have. It is truly a fairytale for all ages!
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Lady Astronomer by Katy O'Dowd is a throwback to classic fairytales of the late nineteenth century and early twentieth. And I loved it! This story revolves around Lucretia and her brothers Freddie and Al. Freddie and his sister are astronomers for the King and have been commissioned to make a forty-foot telescope and chart the skies. Unfortunately for them this means a move, and after several unlikely mishaps Lucretia finds herself away from her family and in the King's court until the telescope is completed.
The characters are so charming and well written. Lucretia is a petite woman with no physical beauty due to malformations from disease as a child. She also must wear a mono scope fashioned by her brother Al. This has never bothered her. She is strong-willed, stubborn, and very loyal to her brothers. Freddie is the eldest brother and also in many ways the father to his sister and Al. He is also quite smart and unable it seems to do anything without his sister. Al is the middle child and an inventor. He is very imaginative and always thinking up new ideas and creations. But I can't forget Orion the owl and Leibniz the lemur, Lucretia's pets but in many ways they are her children.
The story itself is very much like a fairytale and the style of writing puts me in the mind of Neil Gaiman and C.S. Lewis. Very classic and completely magical! Al's creations, like his clockwork orchestra, come to life with their own thoughts and ideas even though they are simply made of metal. But this magical component is so well blended with the everyday that it feels as if this world exists!
With strong characters and such a well thought out world, the book is captivating and I personally can't wait for my son to be old enough to enjoy this book as much as I have. It is truly a fairytale for all ages!
I received a copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2013
If I had to pick one word to describe this book it would be whimsical. The very first chapter of this book is told from the strangest point of view. Pretty much everything that happens has an almost playful feel to it, like I can't take it seriously, though that line of thought doesn't last forever.
I get into little groves when I read, depending on the feel of the book is how I end up reading it. I read this one really fast because to me whenever anyone talked to someone it seemed that they would have been talking really fast to me. And that they just moved at a very high pace. I can't say why it seemed this way to me, but I really just pictured everyone walking really fast while they talked even faster.
I'm tempted to call this book silly, but doing that would take to much away from it. It isn't necessary the most serious read you will come across, and a lot that happens is just plain strange but for the most part there is just this under laying feeling that you have to keep reading this book. It made me smile, a lot, and you know I came very close to shedding a few tears as well. Its not everyday that a book and evoke such strong emotions out of me.
I don't feel like there was really a point to the book, more that the author sat down and just wrote what ever came to mind. But it works really well. I'm honestly having a very hard time writing a review for this book, mainly because it was a good read, but I can't really say exactly what it was about the book that I liked so much.
I can say that I didn't like how everyone was a Mr. or Mrs. K, or some other letter. It made it very hard to keep track of who was who.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, if you are looking for a quick fun read this would be a good one to pick up.
http://zephyrbookreviews.blogspot.com/
I get into little groves when I read, depending on the feel of the book is how I end up reading it. I read this one really fast because to me whenever anyone talked to someone it seemed that they would have been talking really fast to me. And that they just moved at a very high pace. I can't say why it seemed this way to me, but I really just pictured everyone walking really fast while they talked even faster.
I'm tempted to call this book silly, but doing that would take to much away from it. It isn't necessary the most serious read you will come across, and a lot that happens is just plain strange but for the most part there is just this under laying feeling that you have to keep reading this book. It made me smile, a lot, and you know I came very close to shedding a few tears as well. Its not everyday that a book and evoke such strong emotions out of me.
I don't feel like there was really a point to the book, more that the author sat down and just wrote what ever came to mind. But it works really well. I'm honestly having a very hard time writing a review for this book, mainly because it was a good read, but I can't really say exactly what it was about the book that I liked so much.
I can say that I didn't like how everyone was a Mr. or Mrs. K, or some other letter. It made it very hard to keep track of who was who.
Would I recommend this book? Yes, if you are looking for a quick fun read this would be a good one to pick up.
http://zephyrbookreviews.blogspot.com/
March 10, 2014
What a fabulous story !
Let me start by saying that this is not what I usually read, but… it was completely awesome sauce. Oh yes it was!
The steampunk universe the author created was quite a unique one with all its clockwork automatons (big thumbs-up for the mechanical orchestra! How I wish I could have one just like that!). It makes you want to spend all the time you have in this world to see what is going to happen next The storyline was so particularly well written and witty, that believe me, a lot happens. Not to mention that the way the author describes British society and royalty is absolutely hilarious!
The reason why I loved this book so much was because of all the characters that were in it. They are SO incredibly unique. Lucretia is a spunky heroine, and the trio she forms with her two brothers, Freddie and Al, is such an entertaining one! Try to picture this: a hat maker, an astronomer and an inventor. It’s got to be interesting, right? I must mention their animal companions, an owl named Orion and a lemur, Leibniz! Those two were so cute to read about! The life of those amazing characters completely changes overnight when they have to move out to build a forty-foot telescope (good luck with that!) for the King, also known as “Your Maj”, which is when their troubles begin… You do not want to miss that!
Children will absolutely fall in love with this world, and parents will most definitely enjoy it just as much. It’s a novella for readers of all ages. It made me burst out laughing! :D
It was such an enchanting journey. Thank you, Katy O’Dowd, for the magical ride!
Let me start by saying that this is not what I usually read, but… it was completely awesome sauce. Oh yes it was!
The steampunk universe the author created was quite a unique one with all its clockwork automatons (big thumbs-up for the mechanical orchestra! How I wish I could have one just like that!). It makes you want to spend all the time you have in this world to see what is going to happen next The storyline was so particularly well written and witty, that believe me, a lot happens. Not to mention that the way the author describes British society and royalty is absolutely hilarious!
The reason why I loved this book so much was because of all the characters that were in it. They are SO incredibly unique. Lucretia is a spunky heroine, and the trio she forms with her two brothers, Freddie and Al, is such an entertaining one! Try to picture this: a hat maker, an astronomer and an inventor. It’s got to be interesting, right? I must mention their animal companions, an owl named Orion and a lemur, Leibniz! Those two were so cute to read about! The life of those amazing characters completely changes overnight when they have to move out to build a forty-foot telescope (good luck with that!) for the King, also known as “Your Maj”, which is when their troubles begin… You do not want to miss that!
Children will absolutely fall in love with this world, and parents will most definitely enjoy it just as much. It’s a novella for readers of all ages. It made me burst out laughing! :D
It was such an enchanting journey. Thank you, Katy O’Dowd, for the magical ride!
December 27, 2015
I immediately fell in love with this book. It was so cleverly written! The beginning especially. I did not expect it to start that way. The storyline is absolutely wonderful, and again, well played out.
I liked the era that this book was written into. It isn’t language that we typically use every day. Although, I am from Canada, and we don’t talk like that. Maybe in another part of the world they do? Either or, I really did enjoy the change in language.
There was a moment that I was very emotional. Katy sure had a way to show wickedness and make you feel what others felt. I may have even shed a few tears. But you have to read to find out what it was I was overwhelmed by!
There were many amazing moments that made a good impression. I will definitely be re-reading this book!
Another thing I noticed was the Snow White and The Seven Dwarves reference. I thought it was cute and I always love little twists like that in stories.
The ending was just perfect. I don`t think that there could have been a better end to this wonderfully written story.
*The only thing that I did not really like about this book was that it had tons of pauses in the story. Yes, the story goes on for a long time, but I feel like a lot was skipped. But other than that, the book was great! I give it 5 out of 5 stars! :)
I liked the era that this book was written into. It isn’t language that we typically use every day. Although, I am from Canada, and we don’t talk like that. Maybe in another part of the world they do? Either or, I really did enjoy the change in language.
There was a moment that I was very emotional. Katy sure had a way to show wickedness and make you feel what others felt. I may have even shed a few tears. But you have to read to find out what it was I was overwhelmed by!
There were many amazing moments that made a good impression. I will definitely be re-reading this book!
Another thing I noticed was the Snow White and The Seven Dwarves reference. I thought it was cute and I always love little twists like that in stories.
The ending was just perfect. I don`t think that there could have been a better end to this wonderfully written story.
*The only thing that I did not really like about this book was that it had tons of pauses in the story. Yes, the story goes on for a long time, but I feel like a lot was skipped. But other than that, the book was great! I give it 5 out of 5 stars! :)
February 1, 2013
I did what readers are told never to do. I judged a book by its cover; I loved the illustration and took the chance that I might like the contents. When I first started reading, I had no idea how to classify the story; for some help, I looked at a few reviews and saw "steam punk" mentioned several times. Obviously, since I had to look up a definition for the genre, it's one I haven't read before. There are those elements,(clockwork animal orchestras, clockwork pigs, fleas, and crocodiles) but so much more. I'm not sure if this was intended as a young adult offering, but I am WAY past young adult and thoroughly enjoyed it. There are references to fairy tale characters (the 7 dwarfs who whistled while they worked) as well as dialogue during a fencing scene that reminded me of The Princess Bride. So, I think this is a steam punk, fantasy, fairy tale story. It was delightful fun and a great way to escape from the problems of everyday reality for a few hours. Lucretia, the heroine, was a spunky, intelligent, and likeable protagonist. There were a few grammatical errors; mostly confusion with lie/lied in the context of being in a horizontal position rather than telling an untruth, but still a fun read.
The book was inspired by the life of Caroline Herschel who lived from 1750-1848.
The book was inspired by the life of Caroline Herschel who lived from 1750-1848.
November 7, 2012
This book is such a cute story. The main character is Lucretia who is so interesting, strong and persuasive. She has a pet Eagle Owl - Orion and a pet Lemur - Leibniz. She seems to have strong control over animals and by their choice. The story is a very fast paced story moving from one adventure to another. Her brothers are Al and Freddie and together they must build this massive telescope for the king AND within the deadline established. This story is unlike any story that I can ever remember reading. For some reason Pipi Longstocking comes to mind - just the fun, adventure, being held hostage and being strong throughout it all. Lucretia is a very likable character with a strong bond with her brother. Another reviewer commented that she loved the correspondence with the king and I must say I certainly agree. Reminds me of some of my nieces and nephews - your maj.... crack me up! This is a great book. I have read it through once but now that I know the story I feel I must add this to my library of books to read with my children. I know they will also love the fairytale nature of this story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Untold Press.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Untold Press.
January 10, 2013
Young Lucretia is on a wondrous adventure aong with her two brothers, Al and Eddie, and her two animal friends Leibniz and Orion, to the King's city of Slough. Their job is to build a monumental telescope for the King, but it's not going to be quite as easy as they might think. Problem after problem abounds as they begin work on their telescope and they realize this is going to be no easy feat.
This was a gripping read; page after page held my attention and I couldn't stop reading. The world Katy creates is marvelous, a true gem for the young adult crowd. I felt her woes during Lucretia's stay at the King's castle, and her relief at their being amended. In the end I felt a little nostalgic that the book had to end, but pleased that it all came together so well.
Rating: 5/5 crescents
In closing, I had a great time reading and reviewing The Lady Astronomer, and I highly recommend Katy's works to those of any age group!
~Elora
This was a gripping read; page after page held my attention and I couldn't stop reading. The world Katy creates is marvelous, a true gem for the young adult crowd. I felt her woes during Lucretia's stay at the King's castle, and her relief at their being amended. In the end I felt a little nostalgic that the book had to end, but pleased that it all came together so well.
Rating: 5/5 crescents
In closing, I had a great time reading and reviewing The Lady Astronomer, and I highly recommend Katy's works to those of any age group!
~Elora
April 6, 2014
Book Review - The Lady Astronomer by Katy O'Dowd
I had the lovely experience of spending a recent Saturday afternoon with no internet access. To pass the time I picked up my copy of The Lady Astronomer and dove in. I can say without a doubt that the book and its characters are charming and inviting.
The story follows Lucretia, a studious and budding astronomer, her pets (An owl and a lemur) and her brothers, an astronomer and an inventor as they work to build a Forty Foot Telescope for the king.
I feel like this is a good book for young adults. From start to finish it took me about three hours to read. Parts of the story line feel a bit contrived, and I feel like some of the place descriptions could have been fleshed out a bit more, but the characters are likable, and it made for an afternoon's pleasant reading. Also, I now want a lemur. Not an actual lemur, but rather one like the one Ms. O'Dowd writes about.
I had the lovely experience of spending a recent Saturday afternoon with no internet access. To pass the time I picked up my copy of The Lady Astronomer and dove in. I can say without a doubt that the book and its characters are charming and inviting.
The story follows Lucretia, a studious and budding astronomer, her pets (An owl and a lemur) and her brothers, an astronomer and an inventor as they work to build a Forty Foot Telescope for the king.
I feel like this is a good book for young adults. From start to finish it took me about three hours to read. Parts of the story line feel a bit contrived, and I feel like some of the place descriptions could have been fleshed out a bit more, but the characters are likable, and it made for an afternoon's pleasant reading. Also, I now want a lemur. Not an actual lemur, but rather one like the one Ms. O'Dowd writes about.
May 5, 2014
This is a charming piece of steampunk/Victoriana that is both fantastical and well-fashioned, like a Forty Foot telescope. The book follows the adventures of Lucretia H and her two brothers. The whole family has a knack for inventing, creating, science, and attracting a wide and varied menagerie of persons, animals, and clockworks. The story was well-paced, the characters were vividly drawn, and thoroughly enjoyable. There were parts that even had me laughing out loud. When the story takes a darker turn, one can't help but worry for Lucretia and root for her as her family and friends turn the tables on the people who are trying to raise themselves at her expense. The genre is YA, but I feel this could be enjoyed by an adult reader as well - I know I did.
July 29, 2013
To be honest this must have been my first book in this type, getting to know steampunk novels because my daughter has been a big fun of those for a bit already.
As I didn't know what to expect, the book was full of surprises, but none of them where unpleasant. It's nice to find a different world, people trying to live in a different way. And to find the interactions between the main characters and their environment. What I found really fun was the way how family names were not used at all, just initials.
The book has some action, some funny things and some sad and desperate moments. Was a very entertaining read!
Certainly a writer to keep in mind for future books!
As I didn't know what to expect, the book was full of surprises, but none of them where unpleasant. It's nice to find a different world, people trying to live in a different way. And to find the interactions between the main characters and their environment. What I found really fun was the way how family names were not used at all, just initials.
The book has some action, some funny things and some sad and desperate moments. Was a very entertaining read!
Certainly a writer to keep in mind for future books!
January 31, 2015
I've just finished this magical romp through Life, the universe and everything and am reluctantly saying goodbye to Lucretia's delightful family; including the rascal lemur, Leibniz and the beautiful Orion owl.
Katy O' Dowd has put together an amazing mixture of Historical fiction and Fairytale wonder. I found myself lost in a fantastic journey; so full of real life problems and solutions.
Beautifully written novel which I recommend for young adults of thirteen upwards. But don't be surprised if your parents rob this and can't put it down. Best to hide it until you're finished reading...
Katy O' Dowd has put together an amazing mixture of Historical fiction and Fairytale wonder. I found myself lost in a fantastic journey; so full of real life problems and solutions.
Beautifully written novel which I recommend for young adults of thirteen upwards. But don't be surprised if your parents rob this and can't put it down. Best to hide it until you're finished reading...
December 29, 2012
An absolutely delightful story with elements of fantasy and history blended in a steampunkian fashion. O'Dowd is now on my authors to follow list.
May 18, 2013
Nice shorter book, very fun! Good fantacy, steam punk.
September 13, 2013
Enjoyable and pure escapism. It was the first steampunk I'd ever read and I really liked it.
October 24, 2013
Steampunk , with lots of fun.
April 7, 2019
~Great historically based Steampunk fantasy adventure story!
~While it is a Steampunk fiction story, it is based, loosely, on several real-life people and events. A real astronomer Caroline Herschel, (first woman to discover a comet) and her astronomer brother, William, (he discovered Uranus). King George III, (who financed the real Forty-Foot telescope), his wife, Queen Charlotte, and their thirteen children. The mechanical pig, clockwork butler, and the clockwork orchestra are all works of fantasy from the mind of author Katy O’Dowd.
~This book presents a fast-moving story line…with some interesting twists. No spoilers…but, there was one sad part in the story, though it was eventually resolved. There were a number of interesting side characters…both adorable, honorable, and dastardly.
~This book was written with the YA (Young Adult) audience in mind…however, I, a senior reader, found it thoroughly enjoyable! I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an enjoyable story to read.
~While it is a Steampunk fiction story, it is based, loosely, on several real-life people and events. A real astronomer Caroline Herschel, (first woman to discover a comet) and her astronomer brother, William, (he discovered Uranus). King George III, (who financed the real Forty-Foot telescope), his wife, Queen Charlotte, and their thirteen children. The mechanical pig, clockwork butler, and the clockwork orchestra are all works of fantasy from the mind of author Katy O’Dowd.
~This book presents a fast-moving story line…with some interesting twists. No spoilers…but, there was one sad part in the story, though it was eventually resolved. There were a number of interesting side characters…both adorable, honorable, and dastardly.
~This book was written with the YA (Young Adult) audience in mind…however, I, a senior reader, found it thoroughly enjoyable! I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an enjoyable story to read.
July 31, 2014
I think I overestimated The Lady Astronomer when I first snagged it for free on Amazon. The synopsis sounded promising – A girl having a normal life as an astronomer by night and hat maker by day suddenly working for the king thanks to her brother? Then that girl gets held hostage by not just ANY court, but a clockwork court in which her life is in danger? DING! A winner! But when I actually got the review request and started the book, I found it... disappointing. HIGHLY disappointing.
The book follows Lucretia H, an amateur astronomer, and her brothers, Freddie and Al. The brothers are inventors. They receive a letter from the king to move near the castle – in a place called the Slough – to build a megascope, which is apparently a forty foot long telescope.
My biggest problem were the characters. The last names in particular. While I understand European English is completely different from American English, the last names being letters in the alphabet are a huge problem for the following reasons:
~ There's only 26 letters. Thus, there can only be 26 families. It's very limited if you ask me, and could possibly cause problems in the long run, especially if it's a series. What if you needed MORE than 26 families? Sometimes writing drives you to other plans than the original one. You may have planned for 10 but end up with... 30. That's 4 more, although I'm sure the LOL family don't laugh a lot. Unless you laugh when a loved one dies. Or you're a clown, but some would beg to differ about clowns being funny. Besides, it's possible to die of laughter. That's not a good thing, to be born laughing and then you die of laughing within a few hours. Poor kid. (I'm not afraid of clowns.)
~ If I were simply Sophia L, this world would be chaos in trying to figure out who's related to who. I could be mistaken as... *picks a random author* Nikolas Lee's daughter (I'm not) if he were Nikolas L. I could even be related to Pittacus Lore or Jennifer Lawrence! That might be a cool thing to some, but I'm sure the lot of us don't want to be mistaken as possible criminals because we're part of the H family. H in reference to Adolf Hitler. "Oh, you're part of the H family. You must be interested in restarting the Third Reich, but this might be the Fourth Reich. We got problems then buddy. BIG problems because World War III may be in the horizons."
~ The characters won't be memorable. What's so memorable about characters with letter last names and not like Herondale or Drew? Chances are, I'll forget who the characters are if I'm asked about my thoughts on The Lady Astronomer. "Um, it's about a lady astronomer... and is interested in studying the stars and planets..? O_o"
~ Isn't it weird that the O family works for the H family? It spells OH. Sort of a, "Hey, reader. The answer's right there. You just need to find the problem." Problem is.... (see second point in next section.)
It sort of tells me O'Dowd didn't take much time on characters. And not taking time on characters worries this reader. VERY worried.
I had other problems as well – it's not just the characters:
~ The story switches views a lot. Generally I don't have a problem, but I do with The Lady Astronomer because...
~ It doesn't have a plot to me. Where art thou?! The Catcher in the Rye didn't have a plot, but it was at least interesting, even though Holden Caulfield was a total pain in the butt (he was annoying).
~ This didn't sound funny. Personally, this isn't a huge problem. While it's easier to make me laugh in verbal conversations, it's not easy to make me laugh on paper. In fact, it's difficult, so it's a good try. I did find the pets funny though... they're simply adorable. Katy, you wouldn't mind if I stole Orion, would you? ;)
~ The "What, what" doesn't sound very realistic. It certainly catches my attention, but a king saying that is well... not exactly proper?
The "dears" and "my sweets" and so on and so forth feels REALLY weird. Especially when they're among siblings. It's like they're a married couple. Ew. INCEST.
While I loved Leibnez the lemur, Orion the owl, and the inventions O'Dowd came up with, The Lady Astronomer really could have used more plot and character development.
-----------------------
Updated review copy provided by author
Original Rating: 1.5
This review and more posted over at Bookwyrming Thoughts
The book follows Lucretia H, an amateur astronomer, and her brothers, Freddie and Al. The brothers are inventors. They receive a letter from the king to move near the castle – in a place called the Slough – to build a megascope, which is apparently a forty foot long telescope.
My biggest problem were the characters. The last names in particular. While I understand European English is completely different from American English, the last names being letters in the alphabet are a huge problem for the following reasons:
~ There's only 26 letters. Thus, there can only be 26 families. It's very limited if you ask me, and could possibly cause problems in the long run, especially if it's a series. What if you needed MORE than 26 families? Sometimes writing drives you to other plans than the original one. You may have planned for 10 but end up with... 30. That's 4 more, although I'm sure the LOL family don't laugh a lot. Unless you laugh when a loved one dies. Or you're a clown, but some would beg to differ about clowns being funny. Besides, it's possible to die of laughter. That's not a good thing, to be born laughing and then you die of laughing within a few hours. Poor kid. (I'm not afraid of clowns.)
~ If I were simply Sophia L, this world would be chaos in trying to figure out who's related to who. I could be mistaken as... *picks a random author* Nikolas Lee's daughter (I'm not) if he were Nikolas L. I could even be related to Pittacus Lore or Jennifer Lawrence! That might be a cool thing to some, but I'm sure the lot of us don't want to be mistaken as possible criminals because we're part of the H family. H in reference to Adolf Hitler. "Oh, you're part of the H family. You must be interested in restarting the Third Reich, but this might be the Fourth Reich. We got problems then buddy. BIG problems because World War III may be in the horizons."
~ The characters won't be memorable. What's so memorable about characters with letter last names and not like Herondale or Drew? Chances are, I'll forget who the characters are if I'm asked about my thoughts on The Lady Astronomer. "Um, it's about a lady astronomer... and is interested in studying the stars and planets..? O_o"
~ Isn't it weird that the O family works for the H family? It spells OH. Sort of a, "Hey, reader. The answer's right there. You just need to find the problem." Problem is.... (see second point in next section.)
It sort of tells me O'Dowd didn't take much time on characters. And not taking time on characters worries this reader. VERY worried.
I had other problems as well – it's not just the characters:
~ The story switches views a lot. Generally I don't have a problem, but I do with The Lady Astronomer because...
~ It doesn't have a plot to me. Where art thou?! The Catcher in the Rye didn't have a plot, but it was at least interesting, even though Holden Caulfield was a total pain in the butt (he was annoying).
~ This didn't sound funny. Personally, this isn't a huge problem. While it's easier to make me laugh in verbal conversations, it's not easy to make me laugh on paper. In fact, it's difficult, so it's a good try. I did find the pets funny though... they're simply adorable. Katy, you wouldn't mind if I stole Orion, would you? ;)
~ The "What, what" doesn't sound very realistic. It certainly catches my attention, but a king saying that is well... not exactly proper?
The "dears" and "my sweets" and so on and so forth feels REALLY weird. Especially when they're among siblings. It's like they're a married couple. Ew. INCEST.
While I loved Leibnez the lemur, Orion the owl, and the inventions O'Dowd came up with, The Lady Astronomer really could have used more plot and character development.
-----------------------
Updated review copy provided by author
Original Rating: 1.5
This review and more posted over at Bookwyrming Thoughts
February 28, 2019
Charming if fluffy, and then something horrible happens. A little on the twee side for me.
September 14, 2016
Three eccentric siblings living in Bath, England get pulled into a grandiose scheme to construct a giant telescope. Lucretia, a hat maker and astronomer, Freddie, her brother and a hopeless businessman, and Al, the youngest and a clockwork inventor, face everything from court politics to rock-hard tea biscuits. That’s to say nothing of the other adventures, mishaps, and catastrophes standing between the trio and their telescope.
Unfortunately, a host of issues makes it difficult for the reader to appreciate this novel. The plot is a series of predicaments rather than a chain of connected events, the frantic pace never allows the reader time to adjust, a host of characters prevent each other from standing out, and the cluttered writing obscures the finer details. The author’s passion, though clear, is insufficient to offset the various problems.
The telescope’s construction is a framing device rather than the central thrust of the plot. Although it serves as an excuse to periodically move the characters around and set certain events in motion, it’s usually in the background playing second fiddle to a manufactured crisis. This prevents the story as a whole from being particularly focused, and only a handful of the one to three chapter dilemmas the characters encounter are ever entertaining enough to stand on their own. The result is a loosely connected series of events which fail to engage the reader.
In addition, the pacing never leaves the reader a moment’s peace to digest what has just happened. There are rarely more than a handful of paragraphs separating one flurry of chaos from the next. Worse, a decent portion of the events feel contrived, such as when Lucretia’s pet lemur and owl repeatedly wreak havoc for no other reason than to make sure something is happening. More prolonged, frequent breathers would have done a great deal to even the book out.
There is also an overabundance of characters. The vast majority are irrelevant caricatures who are of momentary importance at best. Those who have a higher purpose, Lucretia and her siblings included, never have a chance to establish themselves because of the other characters clogging the pages. Worst of all, Lucretia has little agency and instead spends most of the book reacting to the people confronting her. A later segment in which she’s held captive is particularly bad about this.
My final issue with the novel is the amount of general clutter. I’ve already mentioned the excess of adventures and characters, but the dialogue and description of Lucretia’s physical surroundings presented similar difficulties to me. Before I continue, I should mention that the era and style of literature is not one I’m fond of unless it’s being written by Oscar Wilde, so there are friendlier audiences than me.
That said, most of the dialogue runs around in polite circles without amounting to much of anything. Even when a character has something important to say, his or her words make an artificial fuss beyond what the manners of the era require. As for the description of the world, it focuses on fantastical details instead of the mundane ones which could make the otherwise fairytale take on England more tangible. As its stands the bizarre world gets in the way of the story rather than assisting it.
All of these criticisms aside, the author’s passion shines through. Her writing speaks of a genuine joy in the act itself, but it isn’t enough to rescue this work from the issues plaguing it. The loose plot, frantic pace, excessive cast, and general clutter undermine the end product. I give it a 2/5.
Unfortunately, a host of issues makes it difficult for the reader to appreciate this novel. The plot is a series of predicaments rather than a chain of connected events, the frantic pace never allows the reader time to adjust, a host of characters prevent each other from standing out, and the cluttered writing obscures the finer details. The author’s passion, though clear, is insufficient to offset the various problems.
The telescope’s construction is a framing device rather than the central thrust of the plot. Although it serves as an excuse to periodically move the characters around and set certain events in motion, it’s usually in the background playing second fiddle to a manufactured crisis. This prevents the story as a whole from being particularly focused, and only a handful of the one to three chapter dilemmas the characters encounter are ever entertaining enough to stand on their own. The result is a loosely connected series of events which fail to engage the reader.
In addition, the pacing never leaves the reader a moment’s peace to digest what has just happened. There are rarely more than a handful of paragraphs separating one flurry of chaos from the next. Worse, a decent portion of the events feel contrived, such as when Lucretia’s pet lemur and owl repeatedly wreak havoc for no other reason than to make sure something is happening. More prolonged, frequent breathers would have done a great deal to even the book out.
There is also an overabundance of characters. The vast majority are irrelevant caricatures who are of momentary importance at best. Those who have a higher purpose, Lucretia and her siblings included, never have a chance to establish themselves because of the other characters clogging the pages. Worst of all, Lucretia has little agency and instead spends most of the book reacting to the people confronting her. A later segment in which she’s held captive is particularly bad about this.
My final issue with the novel is the amount of general clutter. I’ve already mentioned the excess of adventures and characters, but the dialogue and description of Lucretia’s physical surroundings presented similar difficulties to me. Before I continue, I should mention that the era and style of literature is not one I’m fond of unless it’s being written by Oscar Wilde, so there are friendlier audiences than me.
That said, most of the dialogue runs around in polite circles without amounting to much of anything. Even when a character has something important to say, his or her words make an artificial fuss beyond what the manners of the era require. As for the description of the world, it focuses on fantastical details instead of the mundane ones which could make the otherwise fairytale take on England more tangible. As its stands the bizarre world gets in the way of the story rather than assisting it.
All of these criticisms aside, the author’s passion shines through. Her writing speaks of a genuine joy in the act itself, but it isn’t enough to rescue this work from the issues plaguing it. The loose plot, frantic pace, excessive cast, and general clutter undermine the end product. I give it a 2/5.
June 25, 2014
It would be a great shame to waste a story like "The Lady Astronomer" on children, but I fear many will take a cursory glance at it, see its youthful and exuberant protagonists, with their wild pets and wilder pursuits, and dismiss it as being beneath them, part of the publisher-created "genre" of YA (a marketing ploy to bamboozle our label-obsessed world). If readers interested in fantasy, science fiction, alternate history, Georgian/Regency romance or steampunk/clockwork fiction (yes, I know, all publisher labels, but they are useful all the same) were to pass by "The Lady Astronomer" simply because they have no children to justify its purchase, they would be denying themselves a wonderful and whimsical story with highly engaging characters, a well-plotted storyline, and a worldview that is as solidly steampunk as it is historical.
The action takes place in the Georgian Era of England, and is based upon the construction of the Great Forty-Foot Telescope by William Herschel, which George III financed. The lady astronomer of the title is Caroline Herschel, the great astronomer's sister, but for the purposes of fictionalization she is Lucretia H and he is Freddie H, and they have another brother called Al. The King is, of course, "Your Majesty," though Freddie does at one point try to call him "Your Maj," to expected results...royalty is so easily not amused by things that are truly amusing.
Through persistent letter writing, Freddie gets a royal commission to build the largest telescope in the world, so the H family (one of the book's many quirks is that surnames are all letters, but, then, the King's children are all numbers, so there you are) pulls up roots in Bath, where Lucretia designed hats, Freddie built telescopes and Al invented wonderful clockwork mechanisms with otherworldly sentience, and move to a two-horse dorp called Slough. There they start a new life in service to the mercurial monarch, who is very impatient for the completion of his astronomical wonder.
It is the impatience on the part of Your Maj that leads to Lucretia becoming an unwilling guest of the King, where she earns the friendship and admiration of Princess 13 and Wodehouse, an animated suit of armor; she also earns the malice of evil-minded social climbers ensconced within the Castle. This animosity leads to Lucretia's incarceration and the most intense conflict of the book.
The world envisioned by author Katy O'Dowd captures the wild and enthusiastic spirit of the times, when England was scouring the skies looking for new worlds and sending naturalists to Unnamed Islands to study unknown animals. Though the activities of the characters are solidly historical, they are presented within a technological framework that allows dirigible flights above the clouds, clockwork creatures such as steam-pigs and eagle-owls possessed of a sentience not based on anything as clumsy as a Babbage engine, and the sort of reanimation written of by young Mary Shelly.
"The Lady Astronomer" is an exciting and well-written book which will engage and delight readers of ALL ages. If you know something about the period, the construction of the world's greatest telescope (a title it held for 50+ years), and the characters involved, you will doubly rewarded, but the author includes a short background essay at the conclusion of the story. Its whimsical style and breakneck narrative pace will quickly absorb the attention of even the most dour reader, and maintain that interest all the way through. It will appeal to readers of steampunk, alternate history and fantasy, as well as to fans of Regency romances, who will no doubt find some familiar faces amongst the rogues gallery of characters trying to curry the favor of Your Maj.
The action takes place in the Georgian Era of England, and is based upon the construction of the Great Forty-Foot Telescope by William Herschel, which George III financed. The lady astronomer of the title is Caroline Herschel, the great astronomer's sister, but for the purposes of fictionalization she is Lucretia H and he is Freddie H, and they have another brother called Al. The King is, of course, "Your Majesty," though Freddie does at one point try to call him "Your Maj," to expected results...royalty is so easily not amused by things that are truly amusing.
Through persistent letter writing, Freddie gets a royal commission to build the largest telescope in the world, so the H family (one of the book's many quirks is that surnames are all letters, but, then, the King's children are all numbers, so there you are) pulls up roots in Bath, where Lucretia designed hats, Freddie built telescopes and Al invented wonderful clockwork mechanisms with otherworldly sentience, and move to a two-horse dorp called Slough. There they start a new life in service to the mercurial monarch, who is very impatient for the completion of his astronomical wonder.
It is the impatience on the part of Your Maj that leads to Lucretia becoming an unwilling guest of the King, where she earns the friendship and admiration of Princess 13 and Wodehouse, an animated suit of armor; she also earns the malice of evil-minded social climbers ensconced within the Castle. This animosity leads to Lucretia's incarceration and the most intense conflict of the book.
The world envisioned by author Katy O'Dowd captures the wild and enthusiastic spirit of the times, when England was scouring the skies looking for new worlds and sending naturalists to Unnamed Islands to study unknown animals. Though the activities of the characters are solidly historical, they are presented within a technological framework that allows dirigible flights above the clouds, clockwork creatures such as steam-pigs and eagle-owls possessed of a sentience not based on anything as clumsy as a Babbage engine, and the sort of reanimation written of by young Mary Shelly.
"The Lady Astronomer" is an exciting and well-written book which will engage and delight readers of ALL ages. If you know something about the period, the construction of the world's greatest telescope (a title it held for 50+ years), and the characters involved, you will doubly rewarded, but the author includes a short background essay at the conclusion of the story. Its whimsical style and breakneck narrative pace will quickly absorb the attention of even the most dour reader, and maintain that interest all the way through. It will appeal to readers of steampunk, alternate history and fantasy, as well as to fans of Regency romances, who will no doubt find some familiar faces amongst the rogues gallery of characters trying to curry the favor of Your Maj.
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