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Caelestis #1
Between Mountain and Sea: Paradisi Chronicles
Between Mountain and Sea, a science fiction coming of age novel, introduces Mei Lin Yu, a young New Eden girl, and Mabel, her ancestor who took the journey to New Eden from Earth over a century and a half earlier. This work is part of the Paradisi Chronicles. Mei Lin Yu should have been looking forward to the next stage in her life. As a descendant of one of the ten Founding Families who led the exodus from a dying Earth and now rule New Eden, her choices are endless. But she has never felt part of that Founding Family or the world of technological marvels and genetic perfection they created. All that will change the summer she spends at Mynyddamore, her ancestral home in western Caelestis, wedged between Mynyddeira, New Eden’s highest mountain, and the Sapphire Sea. Here, living among the Ddaerans, the original inhabitants of New Eden, she will discover secrets her family want to keep buried and a truth about herself that will forever change her destiny.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2015
961 people are currently reading
1447 people want to read
About the author
Louisa Locke
8 books1 follower
M. Louisa Locke
is recently retired from over 20 years as a professor of U.S. Women's history, and she is now embarked on s second career writing historical fiction. The first book in her Victorian San Francisco Mystery series, Maids of Misfortune, is a best-seller in the historical mystery category.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
March 1, 2016
I loved Between Mountain and Sea, and really didn’t want to leave the characters behind. Fortunately it’s the first of a sci-fi series that’s part of the Paradisi Chronicles, an intriguing multi-author project about 10 extended families who exit our devastated home world to set up colonies in New Eden, an Earth-like planet that already has native hominids. These original people are an interesting human variation, and several of them play important roles in the novel.
M. Louisa Locke, author of the Victorian San Francisco Mystery series that starts with Maids of Misfortune, is here telling the story of the Yu family, who have their roots in China. Mabel Yu was one of the original settlers and traveled from Earth as a young teenager. About 150 years later Mei Lin Yu, Mabel’s descendant, discovers Mabel’s diary, a fascinating document that tells the real history of the colony, not what Mei Lin has been taught at school. These new insights help Mei Lin question the path that’s been laid out for her, one that doesn’t suit her at all. Though Mei Lin is YA age, romance plays almost no role in the action--it’s more a coming of age book. As indicated by the title, the setting is vivid and wild, and while parts of the plot were a little predictable, I was so caught up in the world and the lives of the characters that I didn’t care.
M. Louisa Locke, author of the Victorian San Francisco Mystery series that starts with Maids of Misfortune, is here telling the story of the Yu family, who have their roots in China. Mabel Yu was one of the original settlers and traveled from Earth as a young teenager. About 150 years later Mei Lin Yu, Mabel’s descendant, discovers Mabel’s diary, a fascinating document that tells the real history of the colony, not what Mei Lin has been taught at school. These new insights help Mei Lin question the path that’s been laid out for her, one that doesn’t suit her at all. Though Mei Lin is YA age, romance plays almost no role in the action--it’s more a coming of age book. As indicated by the title, the setting is vivid and wild, and while parts of the plot were a little predictable, I was so caught up in the world and the lives of the characters that I didn’t care.
May 8, 2018
This is so much the kind of scifi I love! A character-driven, a bit mystical, coming-of-age story. Very much about sustainability, in a proclaimed new utopia (they call it the Paradisi project, ffs!) and the inevitable disillusionment of the resulting de-facto oligarchy, founded by rich powerful dynasties who never cared about anything but their own prospering. But, to deal with all this shit, our protagonist Mei gets put in a loving, supportive, strong community, which makes her thrive and grow beyond her own concept of herself.
Mei, a seventeen-year old girl, member of the Yu ruling family, starts the story bullied, alone and unhappy. Her aloof, unloving parents dictate her future education, her brother outright bullies her constantly, she can't stand being around people, has no friends, feels like a freak and does not dare to stand up to her tormentors. Her life sucks!
In this story Mei, luckily, gets to spend a few months with a much more loving branch of her family, at Mynyddamore. This is a shared settlement of humans and the native Ddaerans, which are pretty much humans + psychic powers (how those two species from different galaxies are related and can interbreed is never explained, hinting at a bigger myth arc about precursors or an earlier human civilisation falling).
Here Mei meets her great-grandmother, her grandfather, local Ddaeran girl Tesni and her brother Hefni. She gets to spend more time outdoors, in nature, with the plants and animals, which her body sorely missed. She finds she is good with animals and befriends Eurig, a gwynddoeth, sapient animals which can telepathically talk to Ddaerans. She experiences a strange, instant connection with several of the animals.
Mei's parents have her study under the tutelage of her strict grandmother, but what really gives her a purpose is finding a diary which her ancestor, who founded Mynyddamore, started over a hundred years ago and which contains many truths buried and withheld from her by her family and even the world government. The more she reads the diary, the more she comes to love this settlement and the people around her, who, unlike her parents, are really there for her.
The more Mei finds out about her ancestors the more she grasps her true roots, her own hidden strength and power and a better future for herself. Not dictated by her nuclear family, but enabled by her true family at Mynyddamore.
Just as she came to love and trust this place and those people, I came to love and trust this story more and more. It's so good to see the once alone Mei aqcuire a network of friends and family and how that support helps her grow up so much better than the coldness of her parents.
I want to read the next book right now. I also still have work to do today. Dammit!
Mei, a seventeen-year old girl, member of the Yu ruling family, starts the story bullied, alone and unhappy. Her aloof, unloving parents dictate her future education, her brother outright bullies her constantly, she can't stand being around people, has no friends, feels like a freak and does not dare to stand up to her tormentors. Her life sucks!
In this story Mei, luckily, gets to spend a few months with a much more loving branch of her family, at Mynyddamore. This is a shared settlement of humans and the native Ddaerans, which are pretty much humans + psychic powers (how those two species from different galaxies are related and can interbreed is never explained, hinting at a bigger myth arc about precursors or an earlier human civilisation falling).
Here Mei meets her great-grandmother, her grandfather, local Ddaeran girl Tesni and her brother Hefni. She gets to spend more time outdoors, in nature, with the plants and animals, which her body sorely missed. She finds she is good with animals and befriends Eurig, a gwynddoeth, sapient animals which can telepathically talk to Ddaerans. She experiences a strange, instant connection with several of the animals.
Mei's parents have her study under the tutelage of her strict grandmother, but what really gives her a purpose is finding a diary which her ancestor, who founded Mynyddamore, started over a hundred years ago and which contains many truths buried and withheld from her by her family and even the world government. The more she reads the diary, the more she comes to love this settlement and the people around her, who, unlike her parents, are really there for her.
The more Mei finds out about her ancestors the more she grasps her true roots, her own hidden strength and power and a better future for herself. Not dictated by her nuclear family, but enabled by her true family at Mynyddamore.
Just as she came to love and trust this place and those people, I came to love and trust this story more and more. It's so good to see the once alone Mei aqcuire a network of friends and family and how that support helps her grow up so much better than the coldness of her parents.
I want to read the next book right now. I also still have work to do today. Dammit!
July 14, 2021
DNF
I reached 32%. I kept going thinking something would happen.
I used to have a 50 page rule. I have to go back to that but make it 30 pages.
Nothing wrong with this, but it's not for me. I think this more of YA or even middle grade read. Fourteen , maybe even thirteen years old. I hear that today they're like we were when we were age 10 back in the Stone Age.
It's a character driven story and she's young and doesn't fit in and can't find the courage to rebel or assert herself against family, historical and societal expectations.
Maybe she reminded me of myself and not in a good way.
And it's on the info-dumpy side, and if you find the world interesting, it would be quite well done, but I didn't, so it stuck out and began to annoy me.
I reached 32%. I kept going thinking something would happen.
I used to have a 50 page rule. I have to go back to that but make it 30 pages.
Nothing wrong with this, but it's not for me. I think this more of YA or even middle grade read. Fourteen , maybe even thirteen years old. I hear that today they're like we were when we were age 10 back in the Stone Age.
It's a character driven story and she's young and doesn't fit in and can't find the courage to rebel or assert herself against family, historical and societal expectations.
Maybe she reminded me of myself and not in a good way.
And it's on the info-dumpy side, and if you find the world interesting, it would be quite well done, but I didn't, so it stuck out and began to annoy me.
August 3, 2018
Excited to get back into the Paradisi books! Full review to come.
November 25, 2021
BETWEEN MOUNTAIN AND SEA is a pretty serene YA book. Written in 3rd person, past tense, dual POV, the story takes place in the Paradisi Chronicles, an open-source science fiction world created by multiple authors.
BETWEEN alternates between Mei Lin’s time in Mynyddamor mountains, and Mabel Yu’s journal entries about the Founding Families traveling to and settling New Eden. This is a quiet book, there isn’t a lot of tension, which is absolutely fine, not every sci-if story needs to have blasters, battles and explosions! There’s room for quiet books in every genre.
I loved the gwynddoeths and the Ddaerans (the original inhabitants of New Eden) and how the author handled some of the moral/ethical issues that arose during first contact with new species on an alien planets.
If you like quiet, slow burn books, first contact stories and strong female characters, you will adore BETWEEN MOUNTAIN AND SEA!
BETWEEN alternates between Mei Lin’s time in Mynyddamor mountains, and Mabel Yu’s journal entries about the Founding Families traveling to and settling New Eden. This is a quiet book, there isn’t a lot of tension, which is absolutely fine, not every sci-if story needs to have blasters, battles and explosions! There’s room for quiet books in every genre.
I loved the gwynddoeths and the Ddaerans (the original inhabitants of New Eden) and how the author handled some of the moral/ethical issues that arose during first contact with new species on an alien planets.
If you like quiet, slow burn books, first contact stories and strong female characters, you will adore BETWEEN MOUNTAIN AND SEA!
did-not-finish
May 13, 2022In the end I DNF'd (thought I did skim through the last 40% or so to see the plot). This would be a great middle grade sci-fi read, very much on the slow and slice-of-life side of things. The pace didn't grab me, and the writing style felt too oldschool 90s to hold my interest. The more engaging parts were the diary entries from the past, and I really wanted to know more about the family "mystery" that got glossed over in the present day sections in favor of events that added to the world but not so much the plot. I don't feel like a lot really happened for the page count. While I'd love to get into the Paradisi world, I'm not sure this is the right read for someone like me who's looking for something a little deeper and focussed.
But for the right reader, the world described is curious and detailed, full of soft sci-fi wonders with just the hint of family politics. One for fans of the older 90s writing style and a sedate pace.
But for the right reader, the world described is curious and detailed, full of soft sci-fi wonders with just the hint of family politics. One for fans of the older 90s writing style and a sedate pace.
August 2, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It took a while to get going, but that seems reasonable as so many new situations, places, concepts and relationships needed to be introduced and understood. The reader’s increasing understanding paralleling that of the main character, Mei Lin Yu. Spending the time gaining this understanding allowed great connection with the characters. I found the combination of Hakka Chinese origins, futuristic sci-fi and a distant indigenous population unusual but refreshingly satisfying.
I’m now looking forward to reading the second book of the series.
I’m now looking forward to reading the second book of the series.
May 3, 2019
I have to admit that my expectations for this book were fairly low going into it. I've read a LOT of sci-fi, and after awhile it all starts to blend together. But I was happily surprised by "Between Mountain and Sea" -- it's a well-written and compelling story, with a likable heroine and a well-realized new world, as well as some important lessons about learning from the errors of humanity's past. And like any good book, it has me hungry to read more about this world and its characters.
On the planet of New Eden, a group of wealthy and influential families known as the Founders have settled the planet as a new home away from the dying Earth... and have conquered the natives as a result. Mei Lin, a daughter of one of these founding families, feels like an outcast among her own family, especially among the tech-heavy and crowded cities. After a botched operation she is sent to the family's ancestral home at Mynyddamore, placed in the care of her grandparents and the natives who call Mynyddamore home. There she uncovers secrets about herself... and a family legacy that will change everything she thought she knew about both her family and New Eden.
This book actually tells two stories in one -- it also incorporates journal entries by Mei Lin's ancestor, Mabel, one of the original settlers. And I greatly enjoyed both stories and their heroines. There's quite a bit of worldbuilding here, and the author manages to establish it without too much info-dumping or bringing the story to a complete halt in order to explain things. And while some elements of it are fairly standard to this sort of sci-fi tale (humanity fleeing a ruined Earth, psychic natives, humanity learning nothing of its troubled past in settling a new world, etc.), here Locke manages to take well-used elements and make them her own, giving us something fresh and enjoyable.
Mei Lin is a relatable protagonist, and one who starts off letting herself be pushed around but sees real growth and development into her own character as the story progresses. And her ancestor, Mabel, is given a compelling story arc as well, from the spoiled daughter of a wealthy family to a settler woman who has seen her share of hardship but come out stronger for it. Most of the rest of the characters aren't as well-developed, and it was kind of painful seeing Mei Lin's family almost uniformally described as semi-abusive jerks.
I'm always a little wary of starting a new series, because way too often the author opts to not resolve much of anything at the end in order to urge (or rather, trick) the reader into buying the sequel. This volume, thankfully, doesn't pull such a cheap trick. Yes, it leaves a few questions unanswered, but it still manages to give a satisfying ending while still leaving the reader hungry for more. Well done, Locke.
A satisfying sci-fi story that leaves me wanting more, "Between Mountain and Sea" is an enjoyable read, and I grew to love both its protagonist and the world she calls home. This book is also part of a shared universe between multiple authors, and it definitely makes me curious about the rest of this universe and how different authors have left their mark on it...
On the planet of New Eden, a group of wealthy and influential families known as the Founders have settled the planet as a new home away from the dying Earth... and have conquered the natives as a result. Mei Lin, a daughter of one of these founding families, feels like an outcast among her own family, especially among the tech-heavy and crowded cities. After a botched operation she is sent to the family's ancestral home at Mynyddamore, placed in the care of her grandparents and the natives who call Mynyddamore home. There she uncovers secrets about herself... and a family legacy that will change everything she thought she knew about both her family and New Eden.
This book actually tells two stories in one -- it also incorporates journal entries by Mei Lin's ancestor, Mabel, one of the original settlers. And I greatly enjoyed both stories and their heroines. There's quite a bit of worldbuilding here, and the author manages to establish it without too much info-dumping or bringing the story to a complete halt in order to explain things. And while some elements of it are fairly standard to this sort of sci-fi tale (humanity fleeing a ruined Earth, psychic natives, humanity learning nothing of its troubled past in settling a new world, etc.), here Locke manages to take well-used elements and make them her own, giving us something fresh and enjoyable.
Mei Lin is a relatable protagonist, and one who starts off letting herself be pushed around but sees real growth and development into her own character as the story progresses. And her ancestor, Mabel, is given a compelling story arc as well, from the spoiled daughter of a wealthy family to a settler woman who has seen her share of hardship but come out stronger for it. Most of the rest of the characters aren't as well-developed, and it was kind of painful seeing Mei Lin's family almost uniformally described as semi-abusive jerks.
I'm always a little wary of starting a new series, because way too often the author opts to not resolve much of anything at the end in order to urge (or rather, trick) the reader into buying the sequel. This volume, thankfully, doesn't pull such a cheap trick. Yes, it leaves a few questions unanswered, but it still manages to give a satisfying ending while still leaving the reader hungry for more. Well done, Locke.
A satisfying sci-fi story that leaves me wanting more, "Between Mountain and Sea" is an enjoyable read, and I grew to love both its protagonist and the world she calls home. This book is also part of a shared universe between multiple authors, and it definitely makes me curious about the rest of this universe and how different authors have left their mark on it...
September 1, 2015
I love the layers of story being built in this first installment-- the air of mystery about what happened to the 11th shuttle, who Jaxon is (and what became of him) and of course, why Mei has similar gifts to the native (to the alien planet she lives on) Ddaerans… all blended with Mei’s ancestor, Mabel’s, story of their initial settlement on a new planet. I love this idea of fleeing from Earth to another planet/world which happens to be inhabited by a different species of human and how this very much parallels the settlers who first came to America which was actually already inhabited by Indians... and all the ways we/they fouled things up, but the few who were able to make it work, etc... Sorry, that was a bit of a run-on. Basically, I love that there is a bigger picture and message here! And, the world building was great-- very visual and the author managed to cover a lot of the cultural history/nuances without bogging the pace down. Mei is a very relatable main character and it is a joy to watch her growth throughout the book. Though the initial story/conflict presented was wrapped up, the ending still left just enough questions to require a sequel. Ultimately, I loved it and will be looking forward to the sequel! I am definitely invested enough to want to know what happens …
****possible spoilers ahead***
with Mei and her new-found personal strength and purpose-- and to get those answers about the SS Challenge and Jaxon.
Also, the “Cast of Characters” and “Pronunciation Guide” at the beginning were extremely helpful!
****possible spoilers ahead***
with Mei and her new-found personal strength and purpose-- and to get those answers about the SS Challenge and Jaxon.
Also, the “Cast of Characters” and “Pronunciation Guide” at the beginning were extremely helpful!
April 21, 2023
Not for me.
Chapter 1 overloaded with info dumps about useless information regarding the MC's childhood.
Also lots of the MC asking herself how she knows something without being told. (Gender of an animal, for example).
Breaking point was when the first two characters, who we've been told were telepathic, make the MC wonder how they communicated.
I'll go out on a very short limb and assume grandmother is part of the native race and the MC has inherited her genetics.
Note to the author if these are ever read: info dumps mean you've told your story before there's a chance to get into it.
Chapter 1 overloaded with info dumps about useless information regarding the MC's childhood.
Also lots of the MC asking herself how she knows something without being told. (Gender of an animal, for example).
Breaking point was when the first two characters, who we've been told were telepathic, make the MC wonder how they communicated.
I'll go out on a very short limb and assume grandmother is part of the native race and the MC has inherited her genetics.
Note to the author if these are ever read: info dumps mean you've told your story before there's a chance to get into it.
August 11, 2020
It's just a DIARY!
The entire book is just a diary of futuristic human life in a modern-day environment, read in first-person, missing numerous details. Each chapter appears to be only a diary entry. Overall plotline is flat. The word "diary" should have been part of the book's title. The current title implies earth's environment as the story, not a diary of family life. This book is great for those that enjoy reading diaries, but unfortunately, I am not one of those people.
The entire book is just a diary of futuristic human life in a modern-day environment, read in first-person, missing numerous details. Each chapter appears to be only a diary entry. Overall plotline is flat. The word "diary" should have been part of the book's title. The current title implies earth's environment as the story, not a diary of family life. This book is great for those that enjoy reading diaries, but unfortunately, I am not one of those people.
September 8, 2021
This first book in the Caelestis Series is a great follow up to the
Chronicle Worlds: Paradisi which I read before starting this book. Easy to read and engaging. This continues the story of Mabel Yu that was started with the short story Aelwyd Home. I liked the format of this first book in the series.
Chronicle Worlds: Paradisi which I read before starting this book. Easy to read and engaging. This continues the story of Mabel Yu that was started with the short story Aelwyd Home. I liked the format of this first book in the series.
June 7, 2020
Wanted to like it, but found nothing compelling about the read, and became bored and tossed it about 20% in. I don't like to invest too much time in a book that can't at least get me interested by then.
March 9, 2021
I was unable to finish this. After months of trying to stay interested, I just couldn't.
August 12, 2021
Good plot, terrible, distracting names
This story has a lovely plot, but the labels of things and names of people and animals are so bizarre that they distract from the story.
This story has a lovely plot, but the labels of things and names of people and animals are so bizarre that they distract from the story.
December 8, 2023
I feel like this world has a story to tell…if only I’d been told one. Unique concepts of a space-faring humanity, I just wish I’d heard more of that and less of the teenage girl-esque narratives.
September 3, 2021
Between Mountain and Sea is a genuinely moving look at a human diaspora fitted around a coming of age and sins-of-the-father (or in this case great-great grandparent, but also kinda father, really) drama. Some initial difficulty with past and present tense in the prologue was really the only writing issue I spotted here, and it was absolutely minor. From there, we move into a really nice structure of present-day personal adventure with an unfolding distant-past drama in the form of diary entries from a long-gone spacefaring ancestor.
The story takes place on New Eden, continuing our theme of planets humans move to and call "Eden" which - okay, this is only the second one so far and it's totally fair enough. An all-too-realistic premise of ten Bezosian / Gatesesque / Musky-arse super-rich corporate families and their space-peons forming an armada to escape Earth as it drowns in their excess fuels the plot, along with a gut-wrenching eleventh ship promised to the normies that was absolutely scuttled for parts and left to die in space, or something equally horrible. But there are more stories in the Caelestis Series (and / or the Paradisi Chronicles), so there is definitely more to learn here.
Upon this ugly foundation, a literal and allegorical New World is built, complete with oppressed and victimised natives, destroyed cultures, colonisers and a dynamic between sentients, sapients and the natural world that was extremely compelling and at the same time very uncomfortable to read. I enjoyed the Welsh-leaning ddaeran language and - despite some initial hesitancy - the Chinese and Hakka cultural background of the coloniser characters.
But most important of all was the story of Mei Lin and her struggle to reconcile her past, her parents' expectations, and her own feelings and desires. Within five minutes I wanted Mei Lin to murder her parents and become a meddalwyn herder. It was so enjoyable to read her journey, and if I can relate to this character I think it's safe to say anyone can. There are twists and revelations aplenty, but I won't spoil them here - except to say there's so much satisfaction in seeing Mei Lin's shitty parents getting hoist on their own "respect your shitty parents" petard by Mei Lin's grandparents and great-grandmother, I can't even tell you.
The story as a whole seemed like a none-too-thinly-veiled criticism of un-empathic people, for the empathic and people who consider themselves empathic alike to enjoy. And enjoy it I did. So much so, I will even excuse Locke for cheekily working a reference to her own series of San Francisco mysteries into the narrative.
You'd be forgiven for being confused over the naming of the series, since the worldbuilding seems to have been made in a group workshop situation and is shared between several authors and story-streams. This "open source" setting is really interesting although it also left me a little bit at a loss as to how (if at all) I should credit or criticise Locke for her creative efforts. I concluded, ultimately, that all fiction worldbuilding is dependent on the author's read, viewed and lived experiences, and this is really nothing more than a facet of that truth. It's all good.
Sex-o-meter
No sex in this one, unless you count references to marriages and parentage and genealogies to be sexy. And I don't. And this is my sex-o-meter and my review. So I'm giving this book one coquettishly winking and provocatively sheared meddalwyn out of a possible Shore Up The Genetic Diversity Of The Species Post-Planetfall Ten Ship Boink-a-thon.
Gore-o-meter
No gore either, really, because this wasn't that sort of story. Zero flesh-gobbets out of a possible five, and that's alright.
WTF-o-meter
WTF aplenty in this story, but again it wasn't really the point of the story, so much as a lovely sensation of added depth to what is clearly a lovingly realised and shared world. Military scientists working on Tenebra, you say? Tantalising. The rule about not using the wormhole was instantly suspicious and fascinating, but not fully explored. The other nine settler ships and their respective cultures obviously weren't Locke's to mess with, and that left us with a cleverly isolated and tribal feeling to the Yu-family-based cultural slice of New Eden. Absolutely great. I'll take that coquettishly winking and provocatively sheared meddalwyn from the sex-o-meter and give Between Mountain and Sea that out of a possible same but with a hen ddynion sitting on its back, wearing a saucy hat.
My Final Verdict
This was an excellent story. Screw it, I'll give it five stars on the Amazon / Goodreads scale. No notes. You know, aside from all the notes *gestures vaguely at the wall of text above*. Really interesting and enjoyable read, good job and thank you!
The story takes place on New Eden, continuing our theme of planets humans move to and call "Eden" which - okay, this is only the second one so far and it's totally fair enough. An all-too-realistic premise of ten Bezosian / Gatesesque / Musky-arse super-rich corporate families and their space-peons forming an armada to escape Earth as it drowns in their excess fuels the plot, along with a gut-wrenching eleventh ship promised to the normies that was absolutely scuttled for parts and left to die in space, or something equally horrible. But there are more stories in the Caelestis Series (and / or the Paradisi Chronicles), so there is definitely more to learn here.
Upon this ugly foundation, a literal and allegorical New World is built, complete with oppressed and victimised natives, destroyed cultures, colonisers and a dynamic between sentients, sapients and the natural world that was extremely compelling and at the same time very uncomfortable to read. I enjoyed the Welsh-leaning ddaeran language and - despite some initial hesitancy - the Chinese and Hakka cultural background of the coloniser characters.
But most important of all was the story of Mei Lin and her struggle to reconcile her past, her parents' expectations, and her own feelings and desires. Within five minutes I wanted Mei Lin to murder her parents and become a meddalwyn herder. It was so enjoyable to read her journey, and if I can relate to this character I think it's safe to say anyone can. There are twists and revelations aplenty, but I won't spoil them here - except to say there's so much satisfaction in seeing Mei Lin's shitty parents getting hoist on their own "respect your shitty parents" petard by Mei Lin's grandparents and great-grandmother, I can't even tell you.
The story as a whole seemed like a none-too-thinly-veiled criticism of un-empathic people, for the empathic and people who consider themselves empathic alike to enjoy. And enjoy it I did. So much so, I will even excuse Locke for cheekily working a reference to her own series of San Francisco mysteries into the narrative.
You'd be forgiven for being confused over the naming of the series, since the worldbuilding seems to have been made in a group workshop situation and is shared between several authors and story-streams. This "open source" setting is really interesting although it also left me a little bit at a loss as to how (if at all) I should credit or criticise Locke for her creative efforts. I concluded, ultimately, that all fiction worldbuilding is dependent on the author's read, viewed and lived experiences, and this is really nothing more than a facet of that truth. It's all good.
Sex-o-meter
No sex in this one, unless you count references to marriages and parentage and genealogies to be sexy. And I don't. And this is my sex-o-meter and my review. So I'm giving this book one coquettishly winking and provocatively sheared meddalwyn out of a possible Shore Up The Genetic Diversity Of The Species Post-Planetfall Ten Ship Boink-a-thon.
Gore-o-meter
No gore either, really, because this wasn't that sort of story. Zero flesh-gobbets out of a possible five, and that's alright.
WTF-o-meter
WTF aplenty in this story, but again it wasn't really the point of the story, so much as a lovely sensation of added depth to what is clearly a lovingly realised and shared world. Military scientists working on Tenebra, you say? Tantalising. The rule about not using the wormhole was instantly suspicious and fascinating, but not fully explored. The other nine settler ships and their respective cultures obviously weren't Locke's to mess with, and that left us with a cleverly isolated and tribal feeling to the Yu-family-based cultural slice of New Eden. Absolutely great. I'll take that coquettishly winking and provocatively sheared meddalwyn from the sex-o-meter and give Between Mountain and Sea that out of a possible same but with a hen ddynion sitting on its back, wearing a saucy hat.
My Final Verdict
This was an excellent story. Screw it, I'll give it five stars on the Amazon / Goodreads scale. No notes. You know, aside from all the notes *gestures vaguely at the wall of text above*. Really interesting and enjoyable read, good job and thank you!
May 9, 2025
I'm going to start this review by saying I saw M. Louisa Locke was the author, and I snatched it up. Her Victorian mysteries are that good. And I love the little nod to them in this story
This book starts off with two pages of character names and how they fit in the family tree. I literally didn't even understand those pages. It wasn't a great start for me.
The story takes place very far in the future, where a bunch of rich people have decided Earth is done for , and they found another planet to ruin.
The story takes place from two perspectives. One is Mabel's journal as she leaves Earth and her friend Jaxon behind, hoping to reunite someday. She has quite a life filled with more than her fair share of loss.
The other is Mei, who is confused about who she is and what she wants. She has eye surgery, and it doesn't heal as fast as it should, so her rude, arrogant parents send her off to live with her grandmother and great grandmother in a remote part of the planet.
This is where those pages of names come in handy because the names come fast and furious.
Mei finds Mabel's journal and begins to read it. She also slowly realizes she might have an ability to speak to animals, and she gets along better with her extended family than any of her close family.
As Mei reads this journal, she gets more attached to Mabel , her story, and the people who live and die in this story.
I can't claim that I even understood parts of this story. Was Jaxon never found? Did I fall asleep reading? Why did Mabel wantca girl to find her journal? Because she would live longer? I think I'm just not smart enough for this very intricate story.
This book starts off with two pages of character names and how they fit in the family tree. I literally didn't even understand those pages. It wasn't a great start for me.
The story takes place very far in the future, where a bunch of rich people have decided Earth is done for , and they found another planet to ruin.
The story takes place from two perspectives. One is Mabel's journal as she leaves Earth and her friend Jaxon behind, hoping to reunite someday. She has quite a life filled with more than her fair share of loss.
The other is Mei, who is confused about who she is and what she wants. She has eye surgery, and it doesn't heal as fast as it should, so her rude, arrogant parents send her off to live with her grandmother and great grandmother in a remote part of the planet.
This is where those pages of names come in handy because the names come fast and furious.
Mei finds Mabel's journal and begins to read it. She also slowly realizes she might have an ability to speak to animals, and she gets along better with her extended family than any of her close family.
As Mei reads this journal, she gets more attached to Mabel , her story, and the people who live and die in this story.
I can't claim that I even understood parts of this story. Was Jaxon never found? Did I fall asleep reading? Why did Mabel wantca girl to find her journal? Because she would live longer? I think I'm just not smart enough for this very intricate story.
March 28, 2023
This futuristic coming of age novel is a good slow burn - not a lot of tense action, but really good world building, character growth, and excellent treatment of family issues.
As a descendant of one of the ten Founding Families who led the exodus from a dying Earth and now rule New Eden, Mei Lin Yu is compelled by her parents to succeed at the college entance exam and take her place in their economic empire.
But she has never felt part of that Founding Family or the world of technological marvels and genetic perfection they created. All that will change the summer she spends at Mynyddamore, her ancestral home in western Caelestis, wedged between the mountains and the Sapphire Sea. Here, living among the Ddaerans, the original inhabitants of New Eden, she discovers secrets her family want to keep buried and a truth about herself that will forever change her destiny.
One of the things I enjoyed about this was that of the ten Founding Families, Locke could ahve focused on any family story but she chose to focus on the Yu's, a Chinese dynasty. Each Family sets up their own country on New Eden, and in true Chinese fashion, the Yu's country is not a democracy. In this, it resembles the China of Earth and the book takes on a lot of the attributes of Chinese fiction.
As a descendant of one of the ten Founding Families who led the exodus from a dying Earth and now rule New Eden, Mei Lin Yu is compelled by her parents to succeed at the college entance exam and take her place in their economic empire.
But she has never felt part of that Founding Family or the world of technological marvels and genetic perfection they created. All that will change the summer she spends at Mynyddamore, her ancestral home in western Caelestis, wedged between the mountains and the Sapphire Sea. Here, living among the Ddaerans, the original inhabitants of New Eden, she discovers secrets her family want to keep buried and a truth about herself that will forever change her destiny.
One of the things I enjoyed about this was that of the ten Founding Families, Locke could ahve focused on any family story but she chose to focus on the Yu's, a Chinese dynasty. Each Family sets up their own country on New Eden, and in true Chinese fashion, the Yu's country is not a democracy. In this, it resembles the China of Earth and the book takes on a lot of the attributes of Chinese fiction.
November 14, 2020
3.5*
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but it's a great sci-fi/fantasy novel! I know it's the first in a series but I think it could easily be read on it's own, there's no cliffhanger at the end of the book so you don't have to read on if you don't want to. I was surprised and excited to find the use of welsh in this book. I know many fantasy lanaguages use welsh or other Celtic influences in their conlangs but this one uses actual Welsh words. I loved it! And such a strange combination with the Chinese names, but somehow, it worked!
I didn't realise this was YA before I read it so there's a a lot of teen-angst and worrying about what the parents think, but overall the story is interesting enough to see get past this. I would have liked some fmaily trees somwhere in the book. There is a website that has maps and explanations of the founding families, but it would hav been useful to have a family tree of this section of the Yus.
This book is science fiction but the focus is on family drama/secrets, which I found interesting. I enjoyed the uncovering of the story of the founding of New Eden and the letters to Jaxon at the start of each chapter.
A solid sci-fi/fantasy novel, and a quick read.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but it's a great sci-fi/fantasy novel! I know it's the first in a series but I think it could easily be read on it's own, there's no cliffhanger at the end of the book so you don't have to read on if you don't want to. I was surprised and excited to find the use of welsh in this book. I know many fantasy lanaguages use welsh or other Celtic influences in their conlangs but this one uses actual Welsh words. I loved it! And such a strange combination with the Chinese names, but somehow, it worked!
I didn't realise this was YA before I read it so there's a a lot of teen-angst and worrying about what the parents think, but overall the story is interesting enough to see get past this. I would have liked some fmaily trees somwhere in the book. There is a website that has maps and explanations of the founding families, but it would hav been useful to have a family tree of this section of the Yus.
This book is science fiction but the focus is on family drama/secrets, which I found interesting. I enjoyed the uncovering of the story of the founding of New Eden and the letters to Jaxon at the start of each chapter.
A solid sci-fi/fantasy novel, and a quick read.
June 6, 2020
The science fiction basis of the story is amateurish. Later in this century humans will settle a planet in another galaxy. That would be okay if this were a Buck Rogers pulp, but this is a book that begs to be taken more seriously. Another problem is that a big part of the story involves ESP, a concept that belongs to psychic hucksterism, not sci-fi. A third problem is that the aliens are exactly like the humans except for the ESP. It's like the author got her idea of science fiction from comic books and movies. As a lifelong sci fi reader I expect serious authors to have more respect for the genre.
It's a testament to how strong the writing is that I'm giving it 4 Goodreads, not Amazon, stars. However to me it reads more like a fantasy novel. The character of Mei reminds me of Emi in Annette Marie's amazing Red Winter fantasy set in Japan. Interesting that the 2 characters names are anagrams of each other. What Mei and Emi have in common is that their characters strengths are the strengths of their characters. I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the type of heroine who overcomes her obstacles primarily with her integrity, courage, honesty.
It's a testament to how strong the writing is that I'm giving it 4 Goodreads, not Amazon, stars. However to me it reads more like a fantasy novel. The character of Mei reminds me of Emi in Annette Marie's amazing Red Winter fantasy set in Japan. Interesting that the 2 characters names are anagrams of each other. What Mei and Emi have in common is that their characters strengths are the strengths of their characters. I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the type of heroine who overcomes her obstacles primarily with her integrity, courage, honesty.
August 7, 2020
Great world building, interesting story told in a very engaging way, totally belieavable characters. It reads a bit like a coming of age story, but it's written so well, I didn't mind. I fell in love with the description of the Great Mountains (or whatever was the name) and the Saphire sea and from then on, that love was only growing. Very beautiful place, very beautiful planet and I guess not so surprising progess of humans anywhere you put them. The story by itself is not super original at all, it is the execution that is marvelous. The sci fi part is very little, actually, but the parents-dauther tension, the loneliness, the dream of finding home, that's eternal. And I found myself wondering how the story will go on in the other books and coming with crazy ideas of why people on this planet are ginger and well, hard sci fi fan in my spoke - time loops, wormholes etc :) Anyway, it's a great book by itlself, I don't know about the rest of the trilogy, but I definitely liked this one.
September 26, 2021
Mei Lin Yu, a descendant of one of the ten families that fled a dying Earth for a planet they call New Eden, knows she’s different from her peers and has disappointed her parents. When her eye surgery prevents her from taking a college entrance exam, her nasty older brother sends her off to her grandparents who live at the Yu ancestral home at the base of the Mynyddamore mountains, the word meaning between mountain and sea in the language of the native peoples of the planet. There she’s tutored by her grandparents and gets to know her great-grandmother and the Ddaerens, even their animals. She finds the diary of her many times great grandmother, Mabel Yu. Each chapter starts with a piece from that diary. The world-building and characters are wonderful. Mei Lin’s growing awareness of her true heritage alone is beautifully executed. I’m excited to read the rest of this series and other books by other authors but set in the same world and following a few of the other families.
February 2, 2021
Captivating
This story captured me from the start, beautifully written with descriptions of place & persons forming pictures in my mind.
Mei is 16, feels like an outcast & has a difficult relationship with her parents & older brother, all of this changes when following problems with laser surgery her brother takes her to stay, for the first time, at the ancestral home. Here she makes an extrodinary find, the diary of Mabel the ancestor who made the journey from earth.
So we hear from Mabel & Mei, the story intertwining, Mei slowly learning an important part of her inheritance.
It's a coming of age story, a dip into a cultures & how they can form you. All in all a captivating book & I immediately bought the second book & can't wait to start it, though I'm going to have to as I need some sleep!
This story captured me from the start, beautifully written with descriptions of place & persons forming pictures in my mind.
Mei is 16, feels like an outcast & has a difficult relationship with her parents & older brother, all of this changes when following problems with laser surgery her brother takes her to stay, for the first time, at the ancestral home. Here she makes an extrodinary find, the diary of Mabel the ancestor who made the journey from earth.
So we hear from Mabel & Mei, the story intertwining, Mei slowly learning an important part of her inheritance.
It's a coming of age story, a dip into a cultures & how they can form you. All in all a captivating book & I immediately bought the second book & can't wait to start it, though I'm going to have to as I need some sleep!
February 22, 2025
YA adventure story set on another planet, where some people from earth settled amongst the original inhabitants after Earth's destruction.
Clean, no language. No sex.
Maybe I missed it, but i didn't read any clear description of some of the "characters" whom I thought were people, only to find out they are some sort of sentient creature or animal (not the cats). The book didn't really grab me, so I've been reading it in spurts over a couple of months. Also, some of the names are so different than usual names, but then are also very similar to each other, that I have a hard time remembering who/what that is and who/what they belong with. Again, this is probably just me since I'm not reading this is one sitting.
The main character is 17 or 18yo, and the leader of her group- of course very unbelievable, although she is mature and leads well. I wish the author just aged her as upper (or even middle) 20's.
I read this as an omnibus that never differentiated when book 2 or 3 transitioned. So I will post a very similar review for book 2 as well and then edit it for book 3 if i have any further comments.
Clean, no language. No sex.
Maybe I missed it, but i didn't read any clear description of some of the "characters" whom I thought were people, only to find out they are some sort of sentient creature or animal (not the cats). The book didn't really grab me, so I've been reading it in spurts over a couple of months. Also, some of the names are so different than usual names, but then are also very similar to each other, that I have a hard time remembering who/what that is and who/what they belong with. Again, this is probably just me since I'm not reading this is one sitting.
The main character is 17 or 18yo, and the leader of her group- of course very unbelievable, although she is mature and leads well. I wish the author just aged her as upper (or even middle) 20's.
I read this as an omnibus that never differentiated when book 2 or 3 transitioned. So I will post a very similar review for book 2 as well and then edit it for book 3 if i have any further comments.
March 12, 2019
Great Read
Thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Locke other books, but this adventure into science fiction genre is truly a page turning fun read. It is interesting to see how the projection of climate change, over population and advances in science lead to this outer space community and family. Even with advances in science I loved the basic struggle for food, protection, interaction and struggle between male and female, children who are different with special abilities and the need to understand through the historical reading of ' the diary' blended together. I've already purchased the sequel and audio. Using kindle Whispersync greatly enhanced my enjoyment. Highly recommend Ms. Locke's work.
Thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Locke other books, but this adventure into science fiction genre is truly a page turning fun read. It is interesting to see how the projection of climate change, over population and advances in science lead to this outer space community and family. Even with advances in science I loved the basic struggle for food, protection, interaction and struggle between male and female, children who are different with special abilities and the need to understand through the historical reading of ' the diary' blended together. I've already purchased the sequel and audio. Using kindle Whispersync greatly enhanced my enjoyment. Highly recommend Ms. Locke's work.
May 12, 2019
What a great book this is. Very reminiscent of the character-driven Pern stories by Anne McCaffrey. Every single character is rich, superbly developed, and has their own story to tell, woven into the tapestry of a dynasty that left a failing Earth to settle a new world. I particularly enjoyed that Mei (the main character) reads the diary of her distant ancestor, one of the first to arrive on this new world. This is interspersed with the present day story to provide a fascinating perspective of history.
The world building is phenomenal, down to the language, creatures and indigenous population of the new world, and the story interacts with them in a organic, natural way. Nothing forced.
Super read.
The world building is phenomenal, down to the language, creatures and indigenous population of the new world, and the story interacts with them in a organic, natural way. Nothing forced.
Super read.
November 25, 2024
Science fiction and fantasy are not my usual genres for reading, but I enjoyed this book. I like the back and forth between Mabel's journal entries and Mai's current narrative.
I did get a chuckle about Mabel's secret disk containing copies of the detective stories set in ancient San Francisco.
Once I finished and thought more about the plot there were a few things I wondered about. Why were the other members of Mai's family so callous, unsupportive, and so uncaring.
Out out the 10 founding families, it was hard to believe that only one would strive to stick to the mission about not repeating the problems that destroyed Earth.
I an curious to see if the mystery about the Challenge gets resolved in the other books in this series.
I did get a chuckle about Mabel's secret disk containing copies of the detective stories set in ancient San Francisco.
Once I finished and thought more about the plot there were a few things I wondered about. Why were the other members of Mai's family so callous, unsupportive, and so uncaring.
Out out the 10 founding families, it was hard to believe that only one would strive to stick to the mission about not repeating the problems that destroyed Earth.
I an curious to see if the mystery about the Challenge gets resolved in the other books in this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2018
Why did I wait so long
As a fan of Louisa Locke's Victorian books, I have been reluctant to try this series. This series could be described as a cautionary tale of what could/will happen to our earth as we continue to ignore global warming and our continued ignorance of the effects of pollution.
The new world the Yu family has found to cohabit with the "Originals" is enthralling and draws the reader deeper into its history and it's Destiny. Will earth's people destroy life and the ecology of another planet? I can hardly wait to start the next book to find out.
Thank you Louisa Locke for encouraging me to try this series!
As a fan of Louisa Locke's Victorian books, I have been reluctant to try this series. This series could be described as a cautionary tale of what could/will happen to our earth as we continue to ignore global warming and our continued ignorance of the effects of pollution.
The new world the Yu family has found to cohabit with the "Originals" is enthralling and draws the reader deeper into its history and it's Destiny. Will earth's people destroy life and the ecology of another planet? I can hardly wait to start the next book to find out.
Thank you Louisa Locke for encouraging me to try this series!
February 27, 2019
I think I've read some other stories by this author, but the first of hers in Sci Fi mode. I liked the way she brought the past & present (future present??) together through two young girls, and therein lies the tale. It's beautifully done, and I got the feel of the defensive round house brought forward from the Hakka people of China to the world so far from Earth. In this case, the people who lived in that abode made it a home not just a potential fortress. I really do want to find the follow on in the Paradisi Chronicles just to see if the author was able to maintain the quality in the story line. Well done, Ms. Locke, well done!
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