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Emilie #1-2
The Emilie Adventures
Two novel-length YA steampunk adventures from the author of the wildly successful Murderbot Diaries
Together in one volume for the first time:
Emilie and the Hollow World
Running away from home, and stowing away on the wrong ship, Emilie embarks on a fantastic adventure.
Emilie learns that the crew hopes to use an experimental engine to journey to the interior of the planet, but when the ship becomes damaged on arrival, and evidence points to sabotage they encounter the treacherous Lord Ivers, along with a strange new race.
Can Emilie and her new-found friends possibly reach the surface world again?
Emilie and the Sky World
When Emilie arrives in Silk Harbor, Professor Abindon, an old colleague of her friend Lady Marlende, warns them of something strange and potentially deadly in the sky, a disruption in an upper air aether current. On further investigation they realize it’s a ship from another aetheric plane.
How to determine if it’s a friendly explorer, or something far more sinister… Nothing less than a journey into the dangerous air currents will do.
Join Emilie and she navigates the strange landscapes of the upper air, and the deadly menace that inhabits the Sky World.
Together in one volume for the first time:
Emilie and the Hollow World
Running away from home, and stowing away on the wrong ship, Emilie embarks on a fantastic adventure.
Emilie learns that the crew hopes to use an experimental engine to journey to the interior of the planet, but when the ship becomes damaged on arrival, and evidence points to sabotage they encounter the treacherous Lord Ivers, along with a strange new race.
Can Emilie and her new-found friends possibly reach the surface world again?
Emilie and the Sky World
When Emilie arrives in Silk Harbor, Professor Abindon, an old colleague of her friend Lady Marlende, warns them of something strange and potentially deadly in the sky, a disruption in an upper air aether current. On further investigation they realize it’s a ship from another aetheric plane.
How to determine if it’s a friendly explorer, or something far more sinister… Nothing less than a journey into the dangerous air currents will do.
Join Emilie and she navigates the strange landscapes of the upper air, and the deadly menace that inhabits the Sky World.
416 pages, Paperback
First published May 13, 2025
117 people are currently reading
1371 people want to read
About the author
Martha Wells
104 books25.1k followersMartha Wells has been an SF/F writer since her first fantasy novel was published in 1993, and her work includes The Books of the Raksura series, the Ile-Rien series, The Murderbot Diaries series, and other fantasy novels, most recently Witch King (Tordotcom, 2023). She has also written media tie-in fiction for Star Wars, Stargate: Atlantis, and Magic: the Gathering, as well as short fiction, YA novels, and non-fiction. She has won Nebula Awards, Hugo Awards, Locus Awards, and a Dragon Award, and her work has appeared on the Philip K. Dick Award ballot, the British Science Fiction Association Award ballot, the USA Today Bestseller List, the Sunday Times Bestseller List, and the New York Times Bestseller List. She is a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame, and her books have been published in twenty-five languages.
She is also a consulting producer on The Murderbot Diaries series for Apple TV+.
She is also a consulting producer on The Murderbot Diaries series for Apple TV+.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
July 26, 2025
The Emilie Adventures by Martha Wells have a bit of a vintage classic feel to them, like a throwback to Jules Verne and Co. Maybe it’s the airships, or intrepid explorers with their rivalries, or the overall excitement about scientific discoveries - whatever it is, they have that vintage sense of scientifically magical flavored wonder. I kept having to remind myself that these were written in the 21st century specifically because of this classic timeless feel.
Emilie is an adolescent stowaway on a ship, running away from a difficult home situation and instead finding herself in the unexpected expedition on an aether current into the depths of Hollow Earth, and in the second book of this omnibus takes another aether current into the sky. Despite Emilie’s adolescence, there’s a blissful lack of teenage hormones or brooding adolescent heartthrobs. Instead, fast-paced steampunk adventures and family issues and the focus on levelheaded problem solving take center stage with the resultant decidedly and refreshingly non-YA feel (which to me pretty much came to mean a hormonally-fueled paranormal love-triangle romance with a quasi-plucky heroine).
I liked Emilie as a character, and liked her growing confidence and competence, even if she consistently read younger than her stated age. But the worldbuilding lacked something, needing a bit more detail to come to life, especially in the second story in the duology. This is exactly when the plot could have used a bit more meat on its figurative bones, with slowing down the pace and allowing the reader to take in the scenery as well as developing some side characters. And yet I would have adored it when I was twelve or so, especially the first story of the two.
It’s charming and sweet and delightfully vintage without the cringeworthy second-hand-embarrassment that’s often seen in actual classics die to changing attitudes with passing of times. It’s no Frances Hardinge, but nobody but her can reach those heights.
3.5 aether airships.
——————
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tordotcom for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Emilie is an adolescent stowaway on a ship, running away from a difficult home situation and instead finding herself in the unexpected expedition on an aether current into the depths of Hollow Earth, and in the second book of this omnibus takes another aether current into the sky. Despite Emilie’s adolescence, there’s a blissful lack of teenage hormones or brooding adolescent heartthrobs. Instead, fast-paced steampunk adventures and family issues and the focus on levelheaded problem solving take center stage with the resultant decidedly and refreshingly non-YA feel (which to me pretty much came to mean a hormonally-fueled paranormal love-triangle romance with a quasi-plucky heroine).
“As if all her life she had thought her world was one thing, closed-in and solid with carefully defined boundaries, so much so that running away to a relative with a respectable girls’ school in Silk Harbor was almost unimaginably daring. Now the boundaries had fallen away, leaving a broad vista that was stranger than anything she had read in a gothic novel. Going back behind the walls would be very hard.”
I liked Emilie as a character, and liked her growing confidence and competence, even if she consistently read younger than her stated age. But the worldbuilding lacked something, needing a bit more detail to come to life, especially in the second story in the duology. This is exactly when the plot could have used a bit more meat on its figurative bones, with slowing down the pace and allowing the reader to take in the scenery as well as developing some side characters. And yet I would have adored it when I was twelve or so, especially the first story of the two.
It’s charming and sweet and delightfully vintage without the cringeworthy second-hand-embarrassment that’s often seen in actual classics die to changing attitudes with passing of times. It’s no Frances Hardinge, but nobody but her can reach those heights.
3.5 aether airships.
——————
Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group | Tordotcom for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2025
The Emilie Adventures
by Martha Wells
Emilie #1 & #2
YA Fantasy Steampunk
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: May 13, 2025
Tor
Ages: 14+
~Emilie and the Hollow World #1~
Because of her uncle, Emilie runs away, sneaking onto a ship that will take her to the town where her cousin runs a school, but she ends up on the wrong ship, one that is heading in to the planet on a rescue mission. But Lord Ivers wants all the credit, so he will do anything to strand them all.
~Emilie and the Sky World~
There is something strange in the sky, and it seems to be getting bigger. To make sure it isn't a threat, Emilie and the Marlendes must ride the dangerous air currents into the aetheric plane.
I couldn't help but compare these stories to 'Journey to the Center of the Earth', '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea', & 'The Mysterious Island'.
They are both cute and adventurous stories, with a touch of cozy, about a young girl who becomes a stronger version of herself as the first story progresses, and even though this is set in a time when it's extremely frowned upon, she stands up for herself.
The first book moved at a great pace but did have a few places get bogged down by telling instead of showing... 'They did this, then they did that.' A little more descriptions, feelings, etc., would have done more for the story. The second book didn't have as much telling, so it flowed at a much faster pace.
While there is violence, it's not too descriptive or graphic, and sure, there's a hint of romantic interest, but it does not take over the story. There is some language/verbal abuse, and younger readers may not understand the true meaning of the situation, but I think it's suitable for readers fourteen and older.
Because these books were originally released back in 2013 and 2014, I'm hoping that with the release of this omnibus, that there are a few more in the works.
Both get...
3 Stars
by Martha Wells
Emilie #1 & #2
YA Fantasy Steampunk
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: May 13, 2025
Tor
Ages: 14+
~Emilie and the Hollow World #1~
Because of her uncle, Emilie runs away, sneaking onto a ship that will take her to the town where her cousin runs a school, but she ends up on the wrong ship, one that is heading in to the planet on a rescue mission. But Lord Ivers wants all the credit, so he will do anything to strand them all.
~Emilie and the Sky World~
There is something strange in the sky, and it seems to be getting bigger. To make sure it isn't a threat, Emilie and the Marlendes must ride the dangerous air currents into the aetheric plane.
I couldn't help but compare these stories to 'Journey to the Center of the Earth', '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea', & 'The Mysterious Island'.
They are both cute and adventurous stories, with a touch of cozy, about a young girl who becomes a stronger version of herself as the first story progresses, and even though this is set in a time when it's extremely frowned upon, she stands up for herself.
The first book moved at a great pace but did have a few places get bogged down by telling instead of showing... 'They did this, then they did that.' A little more descriptions, feelings, etc., would have done more for the story. The second book didn't have as much telling, so it flowed at a much faster pace.
While there is violence, it's not too descriptive or graphic, and sure, there's a hint of romantic interest, but it does not take over the story. There is some language/verbal abuse, and younger readers may not understand the true meaning of the situation, but I think it's suitable for readers fourteen and older.
Because these books were originally released back in 2013 and 2014, I'm hoping that with the release of this omnibus, that there are a few more in the works.
Both get...
3 Stars
May 13, 2025
I absolutely love Martha Wells Murderbot series and have since been reading her earlier published works as they are re-released. The Emilie Adventures offers two novel length YA steampunks perfect for everyone young and old who enjoys adventures on the high sea and in the air.
In the first story, Emilie and the Hollow World, our young heroine is frustrated with the way her uncle has been treating her and runs away from home. She is headed to her cousin’s school, hoping for a position there when she finds herself a stowaway on an experimental ship headed to a world below the sea. On board the ship she befriends Lady Marlende, who is traversing worlds to rescue her father, who made the trip before her. We’ve got villains, strange sea creatures and plenty of danger. The story is well paced and kept me engaged. I love steampunk and gadgets used. Emilie proves her worth when she rescues her new friends.
In the second story, Emilie and the Sky World, Professor Abindon, an old colleague of her friend Lady Marlende, warns them of something strange and potentially deadly in the sky, a disruption in an upper air aether current. Emilie, the professor, and Lady Marlende travel with the crew. On this adventure, they encounter a strange creature, find themselves in grave danger and go on a rescue mission to save a crew believed to be dead. There is even a confrontation with Emilie’s uncle. This was my favorite of the two tales, although both were winners. I loved meeting Flower and thought the villains in this tale scary. Once again, the technology and gadgets impressed me.
The Emilie Adventures were delightful and I highly recommend the novel for fans of steampunk, science fiction and fantasy who love an adventure. Watch out for pirates!
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
In the first story, Emilie and the Hollow World, our young heroine is frustrated with the way her uncle has been treating her and runs away from home. She is headed to her cousin’s school, hoping for a position there when she finds herself a stowaway on an experimental ship headed to a world below the sea. On board the ship she befriends Lady Marlende, who is traversing worlds to rescue her father, who made the trip before her. We’ve got villains, strange sea creatures and plenty of danger. The story is well paced and kept me engaged. I love steampunk and gadgets used. Emilie proves her worth when she rescues her new friends.
In the second story, Emilie and the Sky World, Professor Abindon, an old colleague of her friend Lady Marlende, warns them of something strange and potentially deadly in the sky, a disruption in an upper air aether current. Emilie, the professor, and Lady Marlende travel with the crew. On this adventure, they encounter a strange creature, find themselves in grave danger and go on a rescue mission to save a crew believed to be dead. There is even a confrontation with Emilie’s uncle. This was my favorite of the two tales, although both were winners. I loved meeting Flower and thought the villains in this tale scary. Once again, the technology and gadgets impressed me.
The Emilie Adventures were delightful and I highly recommend the novel for fans of steampunk, science fiction and fantasy who love an adventure. Watch out for pirates!
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
February 1, 2025
The Emilie Adventures contains two full-length fantasy novels. Teenaged Emilie lives with her uncle and brothers and is extremely unhappy at home. Her uncle insults her and her brothers don’t respect her. She decides to run away from home and go help her cousin run a school for girls. But things don’t go exactly to plan.
What follows is two adventures right out of Jules Verne. The tales remind me very much of Journey to the Center of the Earth and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, only updated and featuring a female main character. Emilie plans to stow away on a ship to get to her cousin but accidentally stows away on the wrong ship – the very wrong ship. During an attack by another crew, Emilie sees her first non-human (with black fur, glittery scales, and pointed teeth) and finds herself delving under the sea to another world. The second adventure features an ascent into the sky and yet another world.
The best way I can describe The Emilie Adventures is sweetly old-fashioned. I was surprised to see that the two stories were originally published in 2013 and 2014. They feel like they were written forty years ago. They are also marketed as young adult, but they feel more like kids books than teen books to me. (The only thing any parent could possibly object to in The Emilie Adventures is the barely mentioned-in-passing fact that two men were in love years ago before breaking up and marrying women.)
Emilie is plucky and resourceful but also very smart. She meets magicians and adventurers, sailors and more aliens. Most of the people are some shade of brown, and there are plenty of other resourceful women. Emilie is also a reader of romantic adventures stories and draws on them when she finds herself inside of one. The tales were a lot of fun – both familiar and unfamiliar.
I read an advance reader copy of The Emilie Adventures from NetGalley.
What follows is two adventures right out of Jules Verne. The tales remind me very much of Journey to the Center of the Earth and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, only updated and featuring a female main character. Emilie plans to stow away on a ship to get to her cousin but accidentally stows away on the wrong ship – the very wrong ship. During an attack by another crew, Emilie sees her first non-human (with black fur, glittery scales, and pointed teeth) and finds herself delving under the sea to another world. The second adventure features an ascent into the sky and yet another world.
The best way I can describe The Emilie Adventures is sweetly old-fashioned. I was surprised to see that the two stories were originally published in 2013 and 2014. They feel like they were written forty years ago. They are also marketed as young adult, but they feel more like kids books than teen books to me. (The only thing any parent could possibly object to in The Emilie Adventures is the barely mentioned-in-passing fact that two men were in love years ago before breaking up and marrying women.)
Emilie is plucky and resourceful but also very smart. She meets magicians and adventurers, sailors and more aliens. Most of the people are some shade of brown, and there are plenty of other resourceful women. Emilie is also a reader of romantic adventures stories and draws on them when she finds herself inside of one. The tales were a lot of fun – both familiar and unfamiliar.
I read an advance reader copy of The Emilie Adventures from NetGalley.
March 18, 2025
Omgosh, where to start. This was such an epic adventure! The detail of the story made it play like a move in my head. What an amazing world the author created. It flowed effortlessly and I couldn’t stop reading to see what happens next.
If your a fan of the authors murderbot series and journey to the center of the earth, but high octaine levels, this story is for you. Perfect for younger teen and adults of all ages
If your a fan of the authors murderbot series and journey to the center of the earth, but high octaine levels, this story is for you. Perfect for younger teen and adults of all ages
May 7, 2025
This is a collected edition of two YA steampunk novels from Martha Wells’s backlist, and as a certified Wells fan, I was looking forward to reading. Unfortunately I don’t think I was the target audience for these stories, which feel very young in tone and scope. While there is a lot of imagination and potential in these Jules-Verne-esque adventures (Aether currents! New worlds! Alien life forms! Airships!), I kept feeling frustrated by the over-explained problem-solving and the under-explained settings, so my overall experience was disappointing despite the exciting scenes. This felt like the wrong time for me, however I do think a younger audience would find much to enjoy with Emilie and her companions.
3.5 stars
Thanks to Tor/Forge and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
3.5 stars
Thanks to Tor/Forge and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 14, 2025
4/5 stars. A delight!
Because I'm Martha Wells #1 True Fan, I knew that she had written a YA duology, and I suspected even before it was announced that said YA duology would be republished as part of her six-book deal with Tor. But that being said, I do feel like the Emilie Adventures are bit obscure even to readers of Martha Wells' fantasy (which is obviously a bit obscure to people who have only read the Murderbot Diaries). But if you like Martha Wells' fantasy, I think you'll find a lot to like here. And actually, I also think these books will be really enjoyable for fans of T. Kingfisher, Frances Hardinge, Diana Wynne Jones, and Studio Ghibli (specifically, Castle in the Sky was the movie I thought about the most while reading. I think it was the airships).
So, what's the deal with Emilie and the Hollow World and the Sky World? Emilie is a teen runaway who doesn't have entirely enough money for a ferry ticket, so she's planning to stow away on a ship to get to her cousin Karthea and begin a new life for herself. Alas, she is caught and ends up having to change plans. Instead of stowing away on an ordinary ferry, she stows away on a ship that is magically outfitted to travel to the bottom of the ocean, where there is a strange portal to another world (kind of - it's actually aether currents, but you can read the book to get the real explanation). A lady academic named Miss Marlende and an otherworldly guy have enlisted the help of a lord to try and rescue Miss Marlende's father and his expedition from the fabled Hollow World.
And then along comes Emilie!
I liked Emilie as a protagonist. I've read other reviews of the earlier edition of the book that rightfully point out that she's a little bit of a passive observer for large parts of the beginning of this story, but I liked her even so. It was very funny to me when Kenar, the nonhuman from the Hollow World, was introduced, because he's very familiar to me as Martha Wells' usual archetype. Someone competent, nonhuman, and a bit exasperated by the incompetence/distrust/etc of those around him. (She needs ONE trademark Martha Wells Protagonist per book, even if he's not the true lead). Emilie is not really a Martha Wells Protagonist. She's a pragmatic and quick-thinking teenage girl who does her best, even when she's wildly out of her depth in a world with carnivorous plant people and other dangers. She's not as hyper competent in combat situations as Murderbot or Moon; she's not an academic or magical expert like Khat or Kai; but she is keeping a level head and doing her best. This, to me, made her enjoyable to read about.
I think people who have read Martha Wells' other fantasy will recognize certain trademarks, even outside of Kenar's familiar archetype (and in case it's not clear, I LOVE his archetype and I love that Martha Wells keeps writing it). Strange new worlds occupied by sometimes unknowable civilizations, lots of action and adventure, and, funnily enough, .
If you want a fairly light, fast-paced steampunk fantasy adventure duology with the unique settings commonly found in Martha Wells' writing, definitely try this one! I think it's a little faster-paced than some of her other fantasy books, so it may provide a more fun/accessible starting point to those who have been wanting to try her fantasy, even if it's not 1:1 with her usual style.
And as previously mentioned, the touch of whimsy and focus on practical characters doing their best to stay level-headed reminded me of T. Kingfisher (what I've read of her, which definitely isn't everything), so I think her fans should check this one out specifically. The unique worlds are what reminded me of Frances Hardinge (although the character work is a little different and I don't know if anyone can touch Frances Hardinge's gift for metaphor, as much as I'm a stan for Martha Wells).
Additionally, this book reads a little more like an upper middle grade book than what I would consider the current YA writing style, even though it was originally sold as YA. Based on Edelweiss, it seems like Tordotcom is basically just going to label it as general fantasy/sci fi, which I am admittedly a LITTLE apprehensive about. But I think this duology would have crossover appeal to both middle grade and adult readers. I just don't know if every YA reader would be totally satisfied, based on current YA genre expectations. I'm pretty sure I would have liked it as a teen, but I was also much more interested in middle grade as a teen than I was in the paranormal romances, Hunger Games knock offs, and love triangles that infested the YA scene when I was still a teenager. (These things have their place, of course, but 15-year-old me was not impressed).
All in all, I really liked this one. It was a very pleasant respite from a very long week.
(I'm marking it as read twice because it's a bindup of two books and I didn't feel like writing separate reviews on the pages for the two original editions).
Because I'm Martha Wells #1 True Fan, I knew that she had written a YA duology, and I suspected even before it was announced that said YA duology would be republished as part of her six-book deal with Tor. But that being said, I do feel like the Emilie Adventures are bit obscure even to readers of Martha Wells' fantasy (which is obviously a bit obscure to people who have only read the Murderbot Diaries). But if you like Martha Wells' fantasy, I think you'll find a lot to like here. And actually, I also think these books will be really enjoyable for fans of T. Kingfisher, Frances Hardinge, Diana Wynne Jones, and Studio Ghibli (specifically, Castle in the Sky was the movie I thought about the most while reading. I think it was the airships).
So, what's the deal with Emilie and the Hollow World and the Sky World? Emilie is a teen runaway who doesn't have entirely enough money for a ferry ticket, so she's planning to stow away on a ship to get to her cousin Karthea and begin a new life for herself. Alas, she is caught and ends up having to change plans. Instead of stowing away on an ordinary ferry, she stows away on a ship that is magically outfitted to travel to the bottom of the ocean, where there is a strange portal to another world (kind of - it's actually aether currents, but you can read the book to get the real explanation). A lady academic named Miss Marlende and an otherworldly guy have enlisted the help of a lord to try and rescue Miss Marlende's father and his expedition from the fabled Hollow World.
And then along comes Emilie!
I liked Emilie as a protagonist. I've read other reviews of the earlier edition of the book that rightfully point out that she's a little bit of a passive observer for large parts of the beginning of this story, but I liked her even so. It was very funny to me when Kenar, the nonhuman from the Hollow World, was introduced, because he's very familiar to me as Martha Wells' usual archetype. Someone competent, nonhuman, and a bit exasperated by the incompetence/distrust/etc of those around him. (She needs ONE trademark Martha Wells Protagonist per book, even if he's not the true lead). Emilie is not really a Martha Wells Protagonist. She's a pragmatic and quick-thinking teenage girl who does her best, even when she's wildly out of her depth in a world with carnivorous plant people and other dangers. She's not as hyper competent in combat situations as Murderbot or Moon; she's not an academic or magical expert like Khat or Kai; but she is keeping a level head and doing her best. This, to me, made her enjoyable to read about.
I think people who have read Martha Wells' other fantasy will recognize certain trademarks, even outside of Kenar's familiar archetype (and in case it's not clear, I LOVE his archetype and I love that Martha Wells keeps writing it). Strange new worlds occupied by sometimes unknowable civilizations, lots of action and adventure, and, funnily enough, .
If you want a fairly light, fast-paced steampunk fantasy adventure duology with the unique settings commonly found in Martha Wells' writing, definitely try this one! I think it's a little faster-paced than some of her other fantasy books, so it may provide a more fun/accessible starting point to those who have been wanting to try her fantasy, even if it's not 1:1 with her usual style.
And as previously mentioned, the touch of whimsy and focus on practical characters doing their best to stay level-headed reminded me of T. Kingfisher (what I've read of her, which definitely isn't everything), so I think her fans should check this one out specifically. The unique worlds are what reminded me of Frances Hardinge (although the character work is a little different and I don't know if anyone can touch Frances Hardinge's gift for metaphor, as much as I'm a stan for Martha Wells).
Additionally, this book reads a little more like an upper middle grade book than what I would consider the current YA writing style, even though it was originally sold as YA. Based on Edelweiss, it seems like Tordotcom is basically just going to label it as general fantasy/sci fi, which I am admittedly a LITTLE apprehensive about. But I think this duology would have crossover appeal to both middle grade and adult readers. I just don't know if every YA reader would be totally satisfied, based on current YA genre expectations. I'm pretty sure I would have liked it as a teen, but I was also much more interested in middle grade as a teen than I was in the paranormal romances, Hunger Games knock offs, and love triangles that infested the YA scene when I was still a teenager. (These things have their place, of course, but 15-year-old me was not impressed).
All in all, I really liked this one. It was a very pleasant respite from a very long week.
(I'm marking it as read twice because it's a bindup of two books and I didn't feel like writing separate reviews on the pages for the two original editions).
September 25, 2025
I have definitely read both Emilie and the Hollow World and Emilie and the Sky World, but I couldn’t resist the reread when this volume combining both books came out. And the cover is so gorgeous!
Stong female characters, unique worlds. No spice and very little romance—hints more than anything else. In my opinion, it’s quite possible to infer that Emilie is queer.
The story was gripping and the characters were all gripping, even the ones that weren’t relatable or main characters.
“Shouldn’t we let someone official do that?”
Miss Marlende lifted a brow at him. "Just who do you think we are, young man? Tourists?"
Favorite quotes:
This boardwalk was empty except for the occasional armed watchman, and if Emilie was stopped, she couldn't very well say indignantly, "I'm not a thief, I'm a stowaway, thank you very much!"
One threw her a confused glance but they clearly didn't have time to stop and question stray girls, whether there were supposed to be any aboard the ship or not.
"I don't understand," Emilie said, too shocked to do anything but stare upward. She thought it was a remarkable understatement consid ering the circumstances.
He doesn't look monstrous, Emilie thought. He looks like this is how he's supposed to look.
She didn’t know much about aetheric magic, but she could do tea.
"When you get back to your own world, will you really be content to sit meekly in a school after all this?"
Miss Marlende, engrossed with her spyglass again, snorted. "Whatever she does, I doubt she'll do it meekly."
"But I hate to throw you out a window on such short acquaintance.”
“You mistake me for someone you have the right to order around.”
“You would shoot a man in cold blood—“
Dr. Marlende was unimpressed. "My blood is hardly cold. Release my daughter. Now."
Favorite characters: Kenar in the first book, and Hyacinth in the second. What can I say, I’m a sucker for the unusual.
If you like this book, I would recommend Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll, Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift, and The Steampunk Chronicles by Kady Cross.
Stong female characters, unique worlds. No spice and very little romance—hints more than anything else. In my opinion, it’s quite possible to infer that Emilie is queer.
The story was gripping and the characters were all gripping, even the ones that weren’t relatable or main characters.
“Shouldn’t we let someone official do that?”
Miss Marlende lifted a brow at him. "Just who do you think we are, young man? Tourists?"
Favorite quotes:
This boardwalk was empty except for the occasional armed watchman, and if Emilie was stopped, she couldn't very well say indignantly, "I'm not a thief, I'm a stowaway, thank you very much!"
One threw her a confused glance but they clearly didn't have time to stop and question stray girls, whether there were supposed to be any aboard the ship or not.
"I don't understand," Emilie said, too shocked to do anything but stare upward. She thought it was a remarkable understatement consid ering the circumstances.
He doesn't look monstrous, Emilie thought. He looks like this is how he's supposed to look.
She didn’t know much about aetheric magic, but she could do tea.
"When you get back to your own world, will you really be content to sit meekly in a school after all this?"
Miss Marlende, engrossed with her spyglass again, snorted. "Whatever she does, I doubt she'll do it meekly."
"But I hate to throw you out a window on such short acquaintance.”
“You mistake me for someone you have the right to order around.”
“You would shoot a man in cold blood—“
Dr. Marlende was unimpressed. "My blood is hardly cold. Release my daughter. Now."
Favorite characters: Kenar in the first book, and Hyacinth in the second. What can I say, I’m a sucker for the unusual.
If you like this book, I would recommend Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll, Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift, and The Steampunk Chronicles by Kady Cross.
December 18, 2024
The Emilie Adventures!!
Next in line for the Martha Wells update and republishing by @tordotcompub
The Emilie Adventures starts with 16 year old Emilie running from her home. Her Aunt and Uncle (who mostly raised her) are sure she will end up being “flighty” like her mother was and Emilie is determined to break free of them. But her plans to assist her cousin at her school fall to pieces as she ends up an accidental stowaway on a steampunk adventure to the Hollow World with a team of sorcerer philosophers. It’s here that she finally figures out what she’s made of and dares to start dreaming bigger.
The second story includes one of her brothers and is a lovely start to some family healing.
Both of these stories was phenomenal. I’ve come to expect great nuanced characters and world building from Martha Wells and this ticked those boxes and then some.
If you want a Jules Verne-esque YA adventure, look no further!
Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Next in line for the Martha Wells update and republishing by @tordotcompub
The Emilie Adventures starts with 16 year old Emilie running from her home. Her Aunt and Uncle (who mostly raised her) are sure she will end up being “flighty” like her mother was and Emilie is determined to break free of them. But her plans to assist her cousin at her school fall to pieces as she ends up an accidental stowaway on a steampunk adventure to the Hollow World with a team of sorcerer philosophers. It’s here that she finally figures out what she’s made of and dares to start dreaming bigger.
The second story includes one of her brothers and is a lovely start to some family healing.
Both of these stories was phenomenal. I’ve come to expect great nuanced characters and world building from Martha Wells and this ticked those boxes and then some.
If you want a Jules Verne-esque YA adventure, look no further!
Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2025
Maybe if I were in the target audience age group, I might have liked this duology more. Spoiler: the aliens were cool. Too much breathless, breakneck, unending action for my taste. 3* mostly for the aliens.
July 15, 2025
Some fun YA books!
Want to read
November 11, 2024Had no idea that Martha Wells wrote any YA. Neat!
May 17, 2025
The Emilie Adventures is a 2025 omnibus re-release of Martha Wells's YA Fantasy duology from 2013/2014. They are available as single titles on audiobook as well.
Emilie and the Hollow World:
Emilie is stifled by the expectations of her uncle, and runs away...but kind of botches her escape and accidentally ends up on a ship with an experimental engine bound to the center of the planet. Adventure ensues!
Emilie is headstrong, adventurous, and above all curious about the world around her. She's absorbed a lot of knowledge about her new vessel, but ultimately needs to rely on her courage to persevere through her adversity. I found this to be on the plot heavier side - the action is nonstop!! - but really enjoy Emilie's growth as a character too.
Emilie and the Sky World:
Emilie is a whole adventure wiser (i.e. warier but also has had a taste for the wider world and wants more) and this time, she and the Marlendes discover that the disruption in the upper aether current is actually a ship from another aetheric plane! And there is a creature on board who resembles a flower! But weird things are happening in the currents, and Emilie and her crew are swept away, and of course it's up to Emilie to use her courage and her inquisitive nature to help them out.
I love the youthful nature - it's YA and very appropriate for an adventurous younger reader, specifically not romantic - and Emilie has a really insightful growth arc as a character. She's navigating the complicated barriers of being an unmarried young woman and the daughter of an actress with a "reputation", in a world where most women aren't educated or encouraged in sciences. The tone works really well overall, and Martha Wells captures the joy of adventure paired with coming of age in a nod to some classics but in a way that she makes her own.
Thank you to Tor for an eARC of the Emilie Adventures omnibus, which releases 5/20/25.
Emilie and the Hollow World:
Emilie is stifled by the expectations of her uncle, and runs away...but kind of botches her escape and accidentally ends up on a ship with an experimental engine bound to the center of the planet. Adventure ensues!
Emilie is headstrong, adventurous, and above all curious about the world around her. She's absorbed a lot of knowledge about her new vessel, but ultimately needs to rely on her courage to persevere through her adversity. I found this to be on the plot heavier side - the action is nonstop!! - but really enjoy Emilie's growth as a character too.
Emilie and the Sky World:
Emilie is a whole adventure wiser (i.e. warier but also has had a taste for the wider world and wants more) and this time, she and the Marlendes discover that the disruption in the upper aether current is actually a ship from another aetheric plane! And there is a creature on board who resembles a flower! But weird things are happening in the currents, and Emilie and her crew are swept away, and of course it's up to Emilie to use her courage and her inquisitive nature to help them out.
I love the youthful nature - it's YA and very appropriate for an adventurous younger reader, specifically not romantic - and Emilie has a really insightful growth arc as a character. She's navigating the complicated barriers of being an unmarried young woman and the daughter of an actress with a "reputation", in a world where most women aren't educated or encouraged in sciences. The tone works really well overall, and Martha Wells captures the joy of adventure paired with coming of age in a nod to some classics but in a way that she makes her own.
Thank you to Tor for an eARC of the Emilie Adventures omnibus, which releases 5/20/25.
February 10, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for providing me an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review!
The Emilie Adventures is two separate books by Martha Wells. Emilie and the Hollow World and Emilie and the Sky World.
In the first novel, Emilie is running away from home. She’s lived with her aunt and uncle and at the age of 16 she’s finally had enough. She attempts to run away to a school where her cousin is but accidentally boards the wrong ship! Shortly after casting off, the ship goes to a new world within the planet, the Hollow World. While there, the ship is damaged and it’s believed to be sabotage. Will the crew be able to fix the ship and return home?
This books is like Journey to the Center of the Earth meets Treasure Planet, except the treasure is more like a discovery, so maybe Atlantis?? It has a ton of found family vibes for sure. This book was fun and I enjoyed the expansive characters. The world building wasn’t my favorite and I feel Wells does a better job in a sci-fi setting than a fantasy setting when it comes to this. Her characters were enjoyable, however, everything does not need to be spoon fed to the reader. Overall, I gave the first book 4/5 stars.
In the second novel, the crew is back together along with some new faces. This time, instead of going down, we are going up! The crew discovers a lost ship in the sky and is thrust into a whole new adventure with new creatures and new worlds!
With a similar feel of the first book, we get the same comparison as the first (JttCotE/Treasure Planet/Atlantis) but with a new twist! This book wasn’t as strong as the first and gave a lot less for the reader to imagine and more hand feeding the information. The story felt geared for a younger audience than the first book which was a bit of a drawback. Overall, I gave the second book 3/5 stars!
The Emilie Adventures is two separate books by Martha Wells. Emilie and the Hollow World and Emilie and the Sky World.
In the first novel, Emilie is running away from home. She’s lived with her aunt and uncle and at the age of 16 she’s finally had enough. She attempts to run away to a school where her cousin is but accidentally boards the wrong ship! Shortly after casting off, the ship goes to a new world within the planet, the Hollow World. While there, the ship is damaged and it’s believed to be sabotage. Will the crew be able to fix the ship and return home?
This books is like Journey to the Center of the Earth meets Treasure Planet, except the treasure is more like a discovery, so maybe Atlantis?? It has a ton of found family vibes for sure. This book was fun and I enjoyed the expansive characters. The world building wasn’t my favorite and I feel Wells does a better job in a sci-fi setting than a fantasy setting when it comes to this. Her characters were enjoyable, however, everything does not need to be spoon fed to the reader. Overall, I gave the first book 4/5 stars.
In the second novel, the crew is back together along with some new faces. This time, instead of going down, we are going up! The crew discovers a lost ship in the sky and is thrust into a whole new adventure with new creatures and new worlds!
With a similar feel of the first book, we get the same comparison as the first (JttCotE/Treasure Planet/Atlantis) but with a new twist! This book wasn’t as strong as the first and gave a lot less for the reader to imagine and more hand feeding the information. The story felt geared for a younger audience than the first book which was a bit of a drawback. Overall, I gave the second book 3/5 stars!
September 11, 2025
I have loved and will always love the way that Martha Wells does story building. There is very rarely any info dumping, a lot of the geography, culture, and history comes out in dialogue between characters and is typically spread out throughout the story so that you learn enough to understand what is going on but you don’t have to know literally everything. I really did love the world being built in these two stories but wish I had gotten a little bit more the two alternate worlds because I am just hungry to learn more about these interesting and helpful creatures. I was in love with Hyacinth by the end of the second story and want to know so much more about it’s culture. I will also always appreciate Wells’ attention to inclusive details like queer relationships, nontraditional gender roles, and exploration of how other species may have completely different social constructs or gender or no construct at all!
One of the biggest struggles for me with these books is that Emilie more often than not places the role of observer rather than the active participant in events. This makes sense in the context of the story since both adventures happen before Emilie has any real experience or knowledge, but it makes for a boring story at times. This is especially true in the first book where Emilie just has a lot of things happen to and around her but only places a pivotal role in a few moments. The second story was more enjoyable in this respect because Emilie was forced to be on her own and take charge of her younger brother for a good portion of the book which was a nice change of pace.
Overall, while this was an enjoyable read and I liked the opportunity to read a young adult novel from Martha Wells but I think there was something missing that would have made it more exciting and capture my attention more completely.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given freely.
One of the biggest struggles for me with these books is that Emilie more often than not places the role of observer rather than the active participant in events. This makes sense in the context of the story since both adventures happen before Emilie has any real experience or knowledge, but it makes for a boring story at times. This is especially true in the first book where Emilie just has a lot of things happen to and around her but only places a pivotal role in a few moments. The second story was more enjoyable in this respect because Emilie was forced to be on her own and take charge of her younger brother for a good portion of the book which was a nice change of pace.
Overall, while this was an enjoyable read and I liked the opportunity to read a young adult novel from Martha Wells but I think there was something missing that would have made it more exciting and capture my attention more completely.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given freely.
February 19, 2025
This was my first time reading Martha Wells' fantasy books. I am obsessed with The Murderbot Diaries so I was very interested when I saw The Emilie Adventures. Overall I really enjoyed The Emilie Adventures! This book contains two full length novels and follows a teenaged Emilie.
In the first book Emilie is unhappy with her life and decides to run away from her aunt and uncle in an attempt to meet up with her cousin. Of course it all goes wrong with Emilie boarding the wrong ship and ending up in a new world. I was really reminded of Jules Verne novels with the adventure, world, and creatures. I really enjoyed Emilie's character but felt the world building wasn't as strong as Wells' sci-fi books.
The second book for me wasn't as strong as the first but I still really enjoyed the adventure. I love that we see two different experiences with Emilie. I did enjoy seeing the crew again and love their found family relationship.
Overall I enjoyed The Emilie Adventures and loved reading some of Martha Wells fantasy books for the first time. I think the writing style and worlds are really creative and unique, but this story is definitely for a younger audience. Very excited to read more from Martha Wells!
Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this eARC!
In the first book Emilie is unhappy with her life and decides to run away from her aunt and uncle in an attempt to meet up with her cousin. Of course it all goes wrong with Emilie boarding the wrong ship and ending up in a new world. I was really reminded of Jules Verne novels with the adventure, world, and creatures. I really enjoyed Emilie's character but felt the world building wasn't as strong as Wells' sci-fi books.
The second book for me wasn't as strong as the first but I still really enjoyed the adventure. I love that we see two different experiences with Emilie. I did enjoy seeing the crew again and love their found family relationship.
Overall I enjoyed The Emilie Adventures and loved reading some of Martha Wells fantasy books for the first time. I think the writing style and worlds are really creative and unique, but this story is definitely for a younger audience. Very excited to read more from Martha Wells!
Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this eARC!
September 26, 2025
Fun and wildly inventive YA fantasy.
December 27, 2025
Fairly by-the-book young adult adventuring. An odd mix of trying to be Verne and modernity. Cerebral to a fault.
January 7, 2026
[really 4.5, 5 stars for the first and 4 for the second]
The first Emilie book is a delightful updating of a familiar variety of Victorian or Edwardian adventure story. Wells’s orphan teenage protagonist runs away from oppressive relatives and the stultifying atmosphere of life in Victorian England to find adventure at sea, as many fictional protagonists have done before. But unlike most of them, Wells’s is a girl. Also, she doesn’t actually live in Victorian England, but a magical steampunk version of it, so the ship she stows away on turns out to be a vessel intended to explore the realms of the Hollow Earth. This necessitates a certain amount of techno-magico-babble about ether, but no more than needed to set the stage, and the rest is adventures: monsters, hostile natives — the reason for using the Hollow Earth is that these can be merpeople — and their deceitful queen, and a competing expedition led by an evil scientist-adventurer, who is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that he gets credit for being the first person to explore the Hollow Earth. As any good hero should be, Emilie is brave and quick-thinking, and the crew quickly comes to accept her: Wells also includes a twenty-something woman, Miss Marlende — the ship is also searching for her missing father, who is needed for the necessary repairs to allow it to return home; Wells is checking all the adventuring boxes with ruthless efficiency — to ease Emilie’s adaptation to her new circumstances by serving in an older-sister role. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s nice to see new life breathed into an old form by leaving some of its more objectionable aspects behind.
Given how successful the first book is, it’s a little surprising that the second book takes a somewhat different tack, moving away from adventure to focus more on trauma, one of Wells’s favorite, though seemingly not very relevant here, themes. Or at least dealing with the past, in the form of two new characters, Emilie’s younger brother and Miss Marlende’s mother (her father turns out to be divorced, rather than a widower). While this isn’t their only role, it’s clear that a big part of the reason for adding them to the cast is to force Emilie and Miss Marlende to reckon with their backstories. I was a bit skeptical at first, but this works pretty well, perhaps because Emilie and her brother Efrain are both still kids. Their characters are still in formation, and a traumatic event like an older sibling running away — something that both have experienced, as their oldest brother, Erin, ran away to sea years before the first book started — would absolutely loom large. On the other hand, because of their youth it’s entirely believable their adventure together would give them a chance to resolve their differences and bond. To clear space for this, Wells removes most of the worldbuilding that featured so heavily in the first book, instead opting for a well-executed variation on the stranded spaceship story that cuts the number of important characters down quite a bit.
What makes the second book slightly less enjoyable than its predecessor, then, is not the overall scheme, but the places where it feels like the scheme is being allowed to override the worldbuilding, rather than work within it. Most prominently, this occurs at the end of the book, when Wells extends her everything-is-trauma interpretation of characters to Emilie’s Uncle Yeric. It’s a puzzling decision, because by this point Yeric’s motivations have been very well established. He doesn’t want to give Emilie control over her life because that would mean giving her control over her sexuality, and he believes that it’s wrong for women to have control over their sexuality. Since in his worldview Emilie’s desire for independence can only be understood in terms of her sexuality, her insistence on asking for more independence — and, not at all incidentally, on defying his authority — simply prove that she’s incorrigibly bad. But then again, given her actress mother, not to mention runaway older brother, what else can you expect? It’s a worldview that hangs together, and is something that many people believed in the Victorian era that Wells is obviously using as a basis for her world. And frankly, it makes a lot more sense that Yeric is behaving the way he does because of his beliefs than because he’s so upset about Erin having run away. In fact, to argue that it’s really his unhappiness over Erin that drives his treatment of Emilie is to let him off the hook for his misogyny: somehow I doubt that’s what Wells meant to do, but that’s where she ends up.
Something similar, if less consequential, occurs at an earlier stage of the story, when Miss Marlende mentions that her father and a young man were very close at one point in time and Emilie casually asks, as if it’s no big deal, if they were lovers. Now, we know that Emilie was brought up largely by a man who was just as conservative and repressed as the description “Victorian” is usually taken to imply, and in a milieu where he was not an outlier. It seems almost certain that this was not an environment where a question about whether a man might have had a male lover could ever have been a friendly one. Of course, Emilie has run away from that environment, and she might well be trying to adopt the more cosmopolitan outlook of her new friends. But it still can’t be a casual question, because Emilie has to be very conscious that she’s asking a question that she would never have dreamed of asking in her previous life. (Also, it seems unlikely that the answer would be quite so casual, either. Miss Marlende likes Emilie, but she hasn’t known her for very long, and presumably would be wary of discussing a potentially dangerous subject without sounding out her feelings first.) And if Wells had done it this way — as an illustration of how Emilie is changing under new influences — it would have worked really well. But instead, she ignores the context, and as a result the incident comes off as a ham-fisted attempt to shoehorn some additional queerness into the book. (Neither Professor Marlende’s sexuality nor his possible long-ago affair have any relevance to the plot, and are never referred to again.) It’s not all that important of an incident, but it’s the kind of thing that throws you out of a story because of the contrast between what happens and the worldbuilding that had previously been established over 1.5 books. I suspect that this is part of the explanation for why Wells only wrote two novels in this series: if she had come to dislike the world in which it was set, much better to create a different world then try to write a novel while constantly fighting its setting. I would have enjoyed a third book, but this duology is quite good, and I can only hope that the success of the Murderbot books encourages more people to find it.
The first Emilie book is a delightful updating of a familiar variety of Victorian or Edwardian adventure story. Wells’s orphan teenage protagonist runs away from oppressive relatives and the stultifying atmosphere of life in Victorian England to find adventure at sea, as many fictional protagonists have done before. But unlike most of them, Wells’s is a girl. Also, she doesn’t actually live in Victorian England, but a magical steampunk version of it, so the ship she stows away on turns out to be a vessel intended to explore the realms of the Hollow Earth. This necessitates a certain amount of techno-magico-babble about ether, but no more than needed to set the stage, and the rest is adventures: monsters, hostile natives — the reason for using the Hollow Earth is that these can be merpeople — and their deceitful queen, and a competing expedition led by an evil scientist-adventurer, who is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that he gets credit for being the first person to explore the Hollow Earth. As any good hero should be, Emilie is brave and quick-thinking, and the crew quickly comes to accept her: Wells also includes a twenty-something woman, Miss Marlende — the ship is also searching for her missing father, who is needed for the necessary repairs to allow it to return home; Wells is checking all the adventuring boxes with ruthless efficiency — to ease Emilie’s adaptation to her new circumstances by serving in an older-sister role. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s nice to see new life breathed into an old form by leaving some of its more objectionable aspects behind.
Given how successful the first book is, it’s a little surprising that the second book takes a somewhat different tack, moving away from adventure to focus more on trauma, one of Wells’s favorite, though seemingly not very relevant here, themes. Or at least dealing with the past, in the form of two new characters, Emilie’s younger brother and Miss Marlende’s mother (her father turns out to be divorced, rather than a widower). While this isn’t their only role, it’s clear that a big part of the reason for adding them to the cast is to force Emilie and Miss Marlende to reckon with their backstories. I was a bit skeptical at first, but this works pretty well, perhaps because Emilie and her brother Efrain are both still kids. Their characters are still in formation, and a traumatic event like an older sibling running away — something that both have experienced, as their oldest brother, Erin, ran away to sea years before the first book started — would absolutely loom large. On the other hand, because of their youth it’s entirely believable their adventure together would give them a chance to resolve their differences and bond. To clear space for this, Wells removes most of the worldbuilding that featured so heavily in the first book, instead opting for a well-executed variation on the stranded spaceship story that cuts the number of important characters down quite a bit.
What makes the second book slightly less enjoyable than its predecessor, then, is not the overall scheme, but the places where it feels like the scheme is being allowed to override the worldbuilding, rather than work within it. Most prominently, this occurs at the end of the book, when Wells extends her everything-is-trauma interpretation of characters to Emilie’s Uncle Yeric. It’s a puzzling decision, because by this point Yeric’s motivations have been very well established. He doesn’t want to give Emilie control over her life because that would mean giving her control over her sexuality, and he believes that it’s wrong for women to have control over their sexuality. Since in his worldview Emilie’s desire for independence can only be understood in terms of her sexuality, her insistence on asking for more independence — and, not at all incidentally, on defying his authority — simply prove that she’s incorrigibly bad. But then again, given her actress mother, not to mention runaway older brother, what else can you expect? It’s a worldview that hangs together, and is something that many people believed in the Victorian era that Wells is obviously using as a basis for her world. And frankly, it makes a lot more sense that Yeric is behaving the way he does because of his beliefs than because he’s so upset about Erin having run away. In fact, to argue that it’s really his unhappiness over Erin that drives his treatment of Emilie is to let him off the hook for his misogyny: somehow I doubt that’s what Wells meant to do, but that’s where she ends up.
Something similar, if less consequential, occurs at an earlier stage of the story, when Miss Marlende mentions that her father and a young man were very close at one point in time and Emilie casually asks, as if it’s no big deal, if they were lovers. Now, we know that Emilie was brought up largely by a man who was just as conservative and repressed as the description “Victorian” is usually taken to imply, and in a milieu where he was not an outlier. It seems almost certain that this was not an environment where a question about whether a man might have had a male lover could ever have been a friendly one. Of course, Emilie has run away from that environment, and she might well be trying to adopt the more cosmopolitan outlook of her new friends. But it still can’t be a casual question, because Emilie has to be very conscious that she’s asking a question that she would never have dreamed of asking in her previous life. (Also, it seems unlikely that the answer would be quite so casual, either. Miss Marlende likes Emilie, but she hasn’t known her for very long, and presumably would be wary of discussing a potentially dangerous subject without sounding out her feelings first.) And if Wells had done it this way — as an illustration of how Emilie is changing under new influences — it would have worked really well. But instead, she ignores the context, and as a result the incident comes off as a ham-fisted attempt to shoehorn some additional queerness into the book. (Neither Professor Marlende’s sexuality nor his possible long-ago affair have any relevance to the plot, and are never referred to again.) It’s not all that important of an incident, but it’s the kind of thing that throws you out of a story because of the contrast between what happens and the worldbuilding that had previously been established over 1.5 books. I suspect that this is part of the explanation for why Wells only wrote two novels in this series: if she had come to dislike the world in which it was set, much better to create a different world then try to write a novel while constantly fighting its setting. I would have enjoyed a third book, but this duology is quite good, and I can only hope that the success of the Murderbot books encourages more people to find it.
July 15, 2025
Too much action, too little plot.
August 26, 2025
Really did not like this one, it reades very childish, as if it was written by or for a 12 year old. The characters are quite flat, the world is a great idea but there is no diving under the surface at all. DNFed after about 50% of the first book as the 2nd seems to be worse according to Goodreads. DNF would be 1 stare but gave it 2 as it is supposed to be YA so I am not the intended audience.
May 3, 2025
DNF: I just didn't care about Emile, and her first adventure started to feel as though the author just threw things in because they sounded neat without thinking about coherence.
eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
June 22, 2025
4 1/2 stars rounded up
Emilie and the Hollow World
Emilie is sick and tired of hearing what her aunt and uncle have to say about her life. So she packed up and ran away. That sounds all dangerous, but she has a plan. She’s going to travel to where her cousin works at a school and help out there. She’s already sent ahead her supplies and everything.
There’s just one problem. She doesn’t have money to hire a ship, and the one she’s snuck onto isn’t going her way. In fact, the destination isn’t anywhere in this world. Emilie may have just begun a magical journey, entirely by mistake.
I am slowly (oh so slowly) working my way through Martha Wells’ back catalog. It helps that Tor has kindly been republishing a lot of her older works, giving me the motivation to pick up the pace (and the books!). Enter The Emilie Adventures! The first book in this series, Emilie and the Hollow World, is a fantastical tale that not only sets the scene but also introduces us to a young and determined character.
It’s a highly entertaining adventure, from start to finish. We’re talking about a world beneath the sea, plenty of action, and even a daring escape or two. The historical fantasy element adds a nice touch, putting Emilie in a world where women aren’t expected to behave this way.
This novel is a bit more YA than the rest of Martha Wells’ works, and that’s not a bad thing. Emilie is charming, and her story is great fun. The stakes felt real, though the pacing was perhaps a bit faster than it needed to be. More time to explore the world (and the magic/tech) would have been appreciated, but then again, I’m always greedy like that.
The supporting cast helped to make this story shine, especially Kenar and Rani. I would give just about anything to see a novel or novella from their perspective. Even a short story telling more of their world would be delightful!
Emilie and the Sky World
Emilie has only just gotten back from her first real adventure, and she’s still reeling from it all. She’s lucky enough to have two choices in front of her: work for her cousin at a local school or continue her adventure for the Marlendes family.
It’s not hard to guess which option Emilie picked. Her second adventure wasted no time in showing up on her door, and now Emilie is about to be whisked off into yet another world, this time one high up in the sky. Who could have guessed?!
Emilie’s adventures were a whirlwind read, and I’m sad to see her story come to an end here. I may have even checked (a few times) to be sure that Emilie and the Sky World was the conclusion to this series. Maybe with the reprinting, we’ll see more someday?
Where the first novel was fun, Emilie and the Sky World felt more settled. It’s still a chaotically entertaining adventure, but there’s less worry about having us get to know the characters.
Emilie and the Sky World has a little bit of everything, from technology that feels like magic to alien (otherworldly?) races and complex situations. It was a magical read, pun intended. I especially loved the new character introduced for this one, but I won’t spoil it here.
Much like the first, this novel is a bit more YA than Wells’ other works. That said, it did work in a whole bunch of subplots into the main plot, some of which touch upon deeper themes and subjects. So I wouldn’t say that Wells underestimated her audience.
I will say that Emilie’s bright and joyful personality is a breath of fresh air. She’s excited about her adventures, and it’s easy to get swept up in her. Likewise, it’s nice to see strong female characters outside of the typical adventurer build.
Highlights:
Steampunk World
Layers of Worlds
Determined/Defiant Young Lady
Historical Fantasy
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Emilie and the Hollow World
Emilie is sick and tired of hearing what her aunt and uncle have to say about her life. So she packed up and ran away. That sounds all dangerous, but she has a plan. She’s going to travel to where her cousin works at a school and help out there. She’s already sent ahead her supplies and everything.
There’s just one problem. She doesn’t have money to hire a ship, and the one she’s snuck onto isn’t going her way. In fact, the destination isn’t anywhere in this world. Emilie may have just begun a magical journey, entirely by mistake.
I am slowly (oh so slowly) working my way through Martha Wells’ back catalog. It helps that Tor has kindly been republishing a lot of her older works, giving me the motivation to pick up the pace (and the books!). Enter The Emilie Adventures! The first book in this series, Emilie and the Hollow World, is a fantastical tale that not only sets the scene but also introduces us to a young and determined character.
It’s a highly entertaining adventure, from start to finish. We’re talking about a world beneath the sea, plenty of action, and even a daring escape or two. The historical fantasy element adds a nice touch, putting Emilie in a world where women aren’t expected to behave this way.
This novel is a bit more YA than the rest of Martha Wells’ works, and that’s not a bad thing. Emilie is charming, and her story is great fun. The stakes felt real, though the pacing was perhaps a bit faster than it needed to be. More time to explore the world (and the magic/tech) would have been appreciated, but then again, I’m always greedy like that.
The supporting cast helped to make this story shine, especially Kenar and Rani. I would give just about anything to see a novel or novella from their perspective. Even a short story telling more of their world would be delightful!
Emilie and the Sky World
Emilie has only just gotten back from her first real adventure, and she’s still reeling from it all. She’s lucky enough to have two choices in front of her: work for her cousin at a local school or continue her adventure for the Marlendes family.
It’s not hard to guess which option Emilie picked. Her second adventure wasted no time in showing up on her door, and now Emilie is about to be whisked off into yet another world, this time one high up in the sky. Who could have guessed?!
Emilie’s adventures were a whirlwind read, and I’m sad to see her story come to an end here. I may have even checked (a few times) to be sure that Emilie and the Sky World was the conclusion to this series. Maybe with the reprinting, we’ll see more someday?
Where the first novel was fun, Emilie and the Sky World felt more settled. It’s still a chaotically entertaining adventure, but there’s less worry about having us get to know the characters.
Emilie and the Sky World has a little bit of everything, from technology that feels like magic to alien (otherworldly?) races and complex situations. It was a magical read, pun intended. I especially loved the new character introduced for this one, but I won’t spoil it here.
Much like the first, this novel is a bit more YA than Wells’ other works. That said, it did work in a whole bunch of subplots into the main plot, some of which touch upon deeper themes and subjects. So I wouldn’t say that Wells underestimated her audience.
I will say that Emilie’s bright and joyful personality is a breath of fresh air. She’s excited about her adventures, and it’s easy to get swept up in her. Likewise, it’s nice to see strong female characters outside of the typical adventurer build.
Highlights:
Steampunk World
Layers of Worlds
Determined/Defiant Young Lady
Historical Fantasy
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August 26, 2025
The Emilie Adventures are a steampunk-with-magic duology of young adult novels. Our Protagonist is Emilie, a young girl running away from an extremely toxic home situation. (Her uncle is convince that since her mother became an actress, that Emilie will be no better than she should be. He is kind of horrible.) Her plans to become an assistant at a girl’s school run by a cousin are rear-ended by The Call To Adventure.
In Emilie and the Hollow World, Emilie’s attempt to stowaway on a ship (due to not having enough money for passage) leads to her accidentally ending up on an exploratory vessel. This particular ship is leaving to explore the “Hollow World” discovered by a sorcerer-philosopher named Dr. Marlende. A sorcerer whose ship broke down, and has gone missing.
In Emilie and the Sky World, Emilie briefly goes to visit her cousin, to visit and explain that she’s taken on a job as a secretary to Miss Marlende, the daughter of the sorcerer-philosopher who went missing in the previous book. (Miss Marlende is extremely involved with her father’s work, so Emilie is going to be going on More Adventures.) The visit is cut short by the appearance of a strange vessel appearing in the sky.
(From here, we learn that this setting doesn’t just have a hollow world. It’s actually a series of layers more or less tied together by magic streams called “Aetheric Currents.” The ship is empty except for one plant-like alien.)
So, what I like the most aside from the adventures themselves is what seems to be the underlying message of the series: sometimes family is great. Sometimes it is toxic and unpleasant. Sometimes it’s simply estranged.
Another thing I liked is that Emilie isn’t expected to forgive her uncle because “he means well.” She is allowed to be angry when he rudely turns up and tries to drag her away from her new job. (And then goes to get a constable because he thinks that’s going to help.) She is allowed to be angry with her younger brother for siding with her uncle. This is a thing that tends not to happen in young adult or even adult novels where family is concerned.
A few aspects of “you are allowed to be angry with a parent-figure,” also shows up in the relationship between Miss Marlende and her mother. Professor Abindon is a member of the Philosophical Society, but when she had been a student, she had only been allowed to audit classes, and hadn’t been allowed to earn a degree. She divorced Dr. Marlende for unstated reasons (that are most likely because he takes absolutely insane risks). The Professor has a strained relationship with many other characters, and seems to be extremely abrupt with no patience for the mistakes/stupidity/general obtuseness of others.
I liked this book for the “found family” and adventure aspects! Well’s worldbuilding is always fascinating, and I am intrigued by the cultures she comes up with. I also liked the “bio-family is why found family exists” themes. This review was based on a copy received from NetGalley.
In Emilie and the Hollow World, Emilie’s attempt to stowaway on a ship (due to not having enough money for passage) leads to her accidentally ending up on an exploratory vessel. This particular ship is leaving to explore the “Hollow World” discovered by a sorcerer-philosopher named Dr. Marlende. A sorcerer whose ship broke down, and has gone missing.
In Emilie and the Sky World, Emilie briefly goes to visit her cousin, to visit and explain that she’s taken on a job as a secretary to Miss Marlende, the daughter of the sorcerer-philosopher who went missing in the previous book. (Miss Marlende is extremely involved with her father’s work, so Emilie is going to be going on More Adventures.) The visit is cut short by the appearance of a strange vessel appearing in the sky.
(From here, we learn that this setting doesn’t just have a hollow world. It’s actually a series of layers more or less tied together by magic streams called “Aetheric Currents.” The ship is empty except for one plant-like alien.)
So, what I like the most aside from the adventures themselves is what seems to be the underlying message of the series: sometimes family is great. Sometimes it is toxic and unpleasant. Sometimes it’s simply estranged.
Another thing I liked is that Emilie isn’t expected to forgive her uncle because “he means well.” She is allowed to be angry when he rudely turns up and tries to drag her away from her new job. (And then goes to get a constable because he thinks that’s going to help.) She is allowed to be angry with her younger brother for siding with her uncle. This is a thing that tends not to happen in young adult or even adult novels where family is concerned.
A few aspects of “you are allowed to be angry with a parent-figure,” also shows up in the relationship between Miss Marlende and her mother. Professor Abindon is a member of the Philosophical Society, but when she had been a student, she had only been allowed to audit classes, and hadn’t been allowed to earn a degree. She divorced Dr. Marlende for unstated reasons (that are most likely because he takes absolutely insane risks). The Professor has a strained relationship with many other characters, and seems to be extremely abrupt with no patience for the mistakes/stupidity/general obtuseness of others.
I liked this book for the “found family” and adventure aspects! Well’s worldbuilding is always fascinating, and I am intrigued by the cultures she comes up with. I also liked the “bio-family is why found family exists” themes. This review was based on a copy received from NetGalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2024
3.5 Stars. The Emilie Adventures is a duology of Emilie and the Hollow World and Emilie and the Sky World. It is a middle grade steampunk novel that follows a teen girl running away from home. Trying to get out from under the thumb of her bully Uncle, Emilie finds herself as a stowaway on a ship headed to a place she’s never heard about: The Hollow World. This Hollow World resides at the core of her world (a nod to Jules Verne) and the only way to get there is to travel along the aether currents connecting the two. Along the way, Emilie meets new friends, mentors, allies, and enemies in this unique adventure novel. Book two picks up exactly where book one leaves off. Emilie finds herself as the assistant to Ms. Marlendes and finds a portal to another world: The Sky World.
Emilie is a girl I would have worshiped if I had this book around in my tween years. She is smart, confident, stubborn, and a go-getter. She sees a problem and instead of freezing, she does her best to fix it, even when she doesn’t have a ready answer. I spent so many days fantasizing about happening upon an adventure and traveling the world. Emilie got to live this daydream.
I did have a few issues with this book. One being Emilie does read younger than her age. I went back twice to double check her age because I kept visualizing her as 11-13, maybe 14 at the oldest and not 16. Which in turn made me wonder several times “why are they just letting a child do this??” But then realizing she is nearly an adult and might have come across as more mature to the crew. This leads to my other issue of it being a bit unrealistic that as a stowaway on a research ship with zero education, she is allowed in several discussions that were meant to be private to only a few researchers. For me, it reads as something tween me wouldn’t have batted an eye at and believed Emilie just belonged. But as an adult, I’m side-eyeing all of these adults for even letting this child be in very precarious situations, let alone leave the ship at all.
Martha Wells writes beautiful scenery and descriptive passages so well. I loved her worldbuilding and could picture every detail. Her conflict scenes are also amazing and easy to visualize. With how small this book is though, it has taken away from character development. There are so many wonderful characters that are brought in, only to just remain a name and description.This could easily have been a two part, 5-book series (think Fablehaven/Dragonwatch) with just exploring The Hollow World and then the Sky World and all of the beauty each holds. I think that would allow for us to get to know Emilie more and watch her develop deeper emotional connections to the other characters.
Anyone that loves middle-grade steampunk fantasy and/or loves Martha Wells will devour this book. I do think it is geared towards the younger crowd and would be loved by tweens.
Thank you NetGalley and TorPublishing for allowing me to read this book!
Emilie is a girl I would have worshiped if I had this book around in my tween years. She is smart, confident, stubborn, and a go-getter. She sees a problem and instead of freezing, she does her best to fix it, even when she doesn’t have a ready answer. I spent so many days fantasizing about happening upon an adventure and traveling the world. Emilie got to live this daydream.
I did have a few issues with this book. One being Emilie does read younger than her age. I went back twice to double check her age because I kept visualizing her as 11-13, maybe 14 at the oldest and not 16. Which in turn made me wonder several times “why are they just letting a child do this??” But then realizing she is nearly an adult and might have come across as more mature to the crew. This leads to my other issue of it being a bit unrealistic that as a stowaway on a research ship with zero education, she is allowed in several discussions that were meant to be private to only a few researchers. For me, it reads as something tween me wouldn’t have batted an eye at and believed Emilie just belonged. But as an adult, I’m side-eyeing all of these adults for even letting this child be in very precarious situations, let alone leave the ship at all.
Martha Wells writes beautiful scenery and descriptive passages so well. I loved her worldbuilding and could picture every detail. Her conflict scenes are also amazing and easy to visualize. With how small this book is though, it has taken away from character development. There are so many wonderful characters that are brought in, only to just remain a name and description.This could easily have been a two part, 5-book series (think Fablehaven/Dragonwatch) with just exploring The Hollow World and then the Sky World and all of the beauty each holds. I think that would allow for us to get to know Emilie more and watch her develop deeper emotional connections to the other characters.
Anyone that loves middle-grade steampunk fantasy and/or loves Martha Wells will devour this book. I do think it is geared towards the younger crowd and would be loved by tweens.
Thank you NetGalley and TorPublishing for allowing me to read this book!
March 5, 2025
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These are two fun steampunk novels best suited for middle grade (the heroine is around 14 or so) rather than YA. Author Wells has fun with the genre and writes a very Jules Verne/H.G. Wells type of book, just for a younger audience. Included are two full length novels, published originally in 2013 and 2014.Story: Emilie is dissatisfied with her life at home and runs away to help a relative run a school. But she finds herself on the wrong ship and about to embark on an amazing adventure as a stowaway on an airship into the Center of the Earth! Later, she finds herself fighting creatures from another dimension as they try to take over the crew of the ship she is on.
So yes, swashbuckling adventure awaits here. Honestly, the book skews a bit young and I feel it would be a stretch to call this YA. Think more along the lines of a Harry Potter book that is fun for kids but should be (just) entertaining enough for adults. The setting is a pseudo Victorian era (aka Steampunk). Emilie is a solid heroine - full of strengths who uses her brains to help the adults out of sticky situations. Wells nicely arranges for Emilie to be a stowaway and then a crew member, all the while eventually dealing with her situation at home with a hated Uncle, her annoying younger brothers, and an older brother who ran away to sea.
I was greatly reminded of similar novels: Westerfeld's Leviathan and Larklight by Philip Reeve. Admittedly, both those books were better than Emilie by providing more interesting characters and situations. While those books had arcs, Emilie just faces adventures. And the side characters in the other books were similarly more interesting. So I found I didn't enjoy Emilie as much as I had hoped. Everything is very straightforward without the nuances in the other books.
That said, Wells has a wonderful way of writing that draws you in. The pacing is clear and easy and you want to root for the characters. The bad guys are suitably dastardly for the steampunk genre. Expect Aether pirates, Aether flying ships, and a lot of fun with these two Emilie books. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
July 7, 2025
This was such a sweet, engaging YA steampunk duology that reminded me of books I loved in my preteen/teen years, like Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. As an adult reading this, I was definitely reminded of the way T. Kingfisher writes her fantasy books. The language is a bit removed and prone to stating slightly obvious things, but I think that's totally appropriate for a YA level book. This would be great for kids who enjoy Westerfeld's Leviathan series, Oppel's Matt Cruse/Airborn series, or Colfer's Airman novel.
If you pick up this duology expecting Murderbot, you'll certainly be disappointed. This is a fantasy YA series, Murderbot is adult sci-fi. I know people may pick this up because they want to read more from Wells, but I think it's quite unfair to rate this lower just because it has a younger tone, etc without acknowledging that it was written for a very different audience and genre.
I would've adored this duology as a young teen. Emilie is bold, stubborn, and adventurous even when the world around her tells her not to be. I love that Wells allows her to feel, express, and embrace her anger—sometimes, YA literature seems to shy away from allowing their characters to feel real anger and grief and betrayal, all emotions Emilie experiences repeatedly throughout the duology. She grows immensely across the two books, both in confidence and in emotional maturity. I'm hoping the re-release of the duology as one set means Wells might return to this universe, because I think Emilie is a wonderful heroine for kids to read about. Plus, we just don't get enough steampunk literature these days!
Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you pick up this duology expecting Murderbot, you'll certainly be disappointed. This is a fantasy YA series, Murderbot is adult sci-fi. I know people may pick this up because they want to read more from Wells, but I think it's quite unfair to rate this lower just because it has a younger tone, etc without acknowledging that it was written for a very different audience and genre.
I would've adored this duology as a young teen. Emilie is bold, stubborn, and adventurous even when the world around her tells her not to be. I love that Wells allows her to feel, express, and embrace her anger—sometimes, YA literature seems to shy away from allowing their characters to feel real anger and grief and betrayal, all emotions Emilie experiences repeatedly throughout the duology. She grows immensely across the two books, both in confidence and in emotional maturity. I'm hoping the re-release of the duology as one set means Wells might return to this universe, because I think Emilie is a wonderful heroine for kids to read about. Plus, we just don't get enough steampunk literature these days!
Thank you to Tor and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 2, 2025
Ahoy there mateys! This is an omnibus of the two YA steampunk novels about Emilie. In the first book she stows away on a vessel that goes under the sea / into the planet to the Hollow-World. In the second novel she goes on a rescue mission on an airship to the Sky-World. The world building is the highlight here. I wanted more!
Both books feel like something Jules Verne would have written. There is science and a bit of magic. It is very steampunk and takes place in an alternate Victorian setting. There are steamships, telescopes, a bustling scientific community, and new horizons to be explored. There are merpeople, plant based people, and monsters. Younger me would have adored this.
Emilie is a great character who starts out more as an observer but gains experience and becomes crucial to survival. She is plucky and thoughtful. It was lovely to watch her grow and carve out a life better suited to her wishes. The only small problem was that she feels more like 12 than 16 years old.
These books are light and fluffy. I enjoyed them but would have like a little more of everything from characterization, to descriptions, and more complex plotting. The old-fashioned feel worked well but I couldn't help but want writing more in line with Well's adult works. Arrr!
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Both books feel like something Jules Verne would have written. There is science and a bit of magic. It is very steampunk and takes place in an alternate Victorian setting. There are steamships, telescopes, a bustling scientific community, and new horizons to be explored. There are merpeople, plant based people, and monsters. Younger me would have adored this.
Emilie is a great character who starts out more as an observer but gains experience and becomes crucial to survival. She is plucky and thoughtful. It was lovely to watch her grow and carve out a life better suited to her wishes. The only small problem was that she feels more like 12 than 16 years old.
These books are light and fluffy. I enjoyed them but would have like a little more of everything from characterization, to descriptions, and more complex plotting. The old-fashioned feel worked well but I couldn't help but want writing more in line with Well's adult works. Arrr!
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2025
These stories are fabulous and great reading for young adults (and adults too!) Set in a world of airships and futuristic occurrences, young Emilie accidentally falls into a fantastic adventure. Emilie has run away from her uncle, who she lives with, because he thinks she is worthless and wants to be like her mother ,who ran away to be an actress. He wants Emilie to make a good marriage or become a respectable governess as young women do in Victorian times. Emilie plans to join her cousin at her school in the next port, but when she gets to port she doesn't have enough money for the ferry. She stows away on a ship. Unfortunately the ship is an unusual vehicle that can travel on the aethereal flows and takes her to a land below the earth's surface. She meets strange creatures, get shot at , has all kind of dangerous adventures and barely makes it back to the surface before she takes off in an airship on more dangerous adventures!
It's a raucous blend similar to 200,000 Leagues under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth.
They are enjoyable type of adventures that I wish more authors were skilled at writing. I have also read the author's Murderbot series and find it wonderful reading as well!!!
It's a raucous blend similar to 200,000 Leagues under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth.
They are enjoyable type of adventures that I wish more authors were skilled at writing. I have also read the author's Murderbot series and find it wonderful reading as well!!!
May 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for access to an advance reading copy.
This edition of the Emilie Adventures collects book 1 and book 2 of the series, which was originally published in 2013/14. The Steampunk story has Emilie as the main protagonist, who finds her way as a stowaway on a special ship. The ship can travel through the aether to other worlds within and outside our world. There, she has grand adventures and faces danger.
Emilie reads as much younger than she is meant to be. She's meant to be 16, but the way she acts and talks reads much closer to a precocious 11 or 12. This can be jarring when the adults in the adventure let her do dangerous things until you remember she's 16, which isn't that young.
The world Martha Wells builds is interesting and the travel to other worlds is interesting. I had some trouble picturing some of the creatures and people they meet. Illustrations would be a great addition to the book.
Overall, I found myself wanting to skip over some parts to get the story over with, and there were few surprises later in both stories. Murderbot Diary fans won't find much here to keep them reading, as the story and main character aren't as impactful.
This edition of the Emilie Adventures collects book 1 and book 2 of the series, which was originally published in 2013/14. The Steampunk story has Emilie as the main protagonist, who finds her way as a stowaway on a special ship. The ship can travel through the aether to other worlds within and outside our world. There, she has grand adventures and faces danger.
Emilie reads as much younger than she is meant to be. She's meant to be 16, but the way she acts and talks reads much closer to a precocious 11 or 12. This can be jarring when the adults in the adventure let her do dangerous things until you remember she's 16, which isn't that young.
The world Martha Wells builds is interesting and the travel to other worlds is interesting. I had some trouble picturing some of the creatures and people they meet. Illustrations would be a great addition to the book.
Overall, I found myself wanting to skip over some parts to get the story over with, and there were few surprises later in both stories. Murderbot Diary fans won't find much here to keep them reading, as the story and main character aren't as impactful.
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