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Moonshine
Daisy's starting a new job and stylish city life, but mage-hunters out for her dark magic threaten to destroy her vogue image.
In the flourishing metropolis of Soot City (a warped version of 1920s Chicago), progressive ideals reign and the old ways of magic and liquid mana are forbidden. Daisy Dell is a Modern Girl - stylish, educated and independent - keen to establish herself in the city but reluctant to give up the taboo magic inherited from her grandmother.
Her new job takes her to unexpected places, and she gets more attention than she had hoped for. When bounty hunters start combing the city for magicians, Daisy must decide whether to stay with her new employer - even if it means revealing the grim source of her occult powers.
File Under: Fantasy
In the flourishing metropolis of Soot City (a warped version of 1920s Chicago), progressive ideals reign and the old ways of magic and liquid mana are forbidden. Daisy Dell is a Modern Girl - stylish, educated and independent - keen to establish herself in the city but reluctant to give up the taboo magic inherited from her grandmother.
Her new job takes her to unexpected places, and she gets more attention than she had hoped for. When bounty hunters start combing the city for magicians, Daisy must decide whether to stay with her new employer - even if it means revealing the grim source of her occult powers.
File Under: Fantasy
320 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2018
51 people are currently reading
1678 people want to read
About the author
Jasmine Gower
7 books20 followersJasmine Gower, author of Moonshine and other queer fantasy works, hails from Portland, Oregon. Jasmine received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Portland State University and is currently enrolled in Portland State University’s Book Publishing graduate program as a member of Ooligan Press.
Inspired to write by a childhood filled with fantasy novels, 90s video games, and the curious experience of growing up in the rural Willamette Valley, Jasmine has a passion for exploring themes of gender, sexuality, and disability through the conventions of speculative fiction, mythology, and fantasy world-building.
Inspired to write by a childhood filled with fantasy novels, 90s video games, and the curious experience of growing up in the rural Willamette Valley, Jasmine has a passion for exploring themes of gender, sexuality, and disability through the conventions of speculative fiction, mythology, and fantasy world-building.
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September 11, 2018An extremely diverse (racially and queer rep) fantasy set in a 1920s city that's very like Chicago with prohibition and speakeasies, but for magic. The premise is that most magicians drink mana, a highly addictive substance that causes serious physical damage, to get magical energy; some people who aren't magicians are just hooked on the stuff which has the effect of maxi-cocaine. Daisy, our main protagonist, joins a group of manufacturer/suppliers of mana. However, her own magic instead uses trinkets made by the faeries, which get their energy because each one was made via the sacrifice of a human being.
You may be thinking "KJ, is this in fact a book about a gang of drug dealers plus someone exploiting other people's horrific murders for their own convenience?" Yes, yes it is. The heroes also have no compunction about torturing their antagonists (off page) and kill ruthlessly including characters we've come to like. The antagonists led by female mercenary Ming Wei torture too, and murder innocent people for money. All of this is...not excused, but acknowledged in the three times repeated phrase, "A girl's gotta eat."
It's a deeply amoral dog-eat-dog world of politics, manipulation, cruelty, selfishness. What's intriguing is how Daisy is cast in the role of the naive heroine and moral centre, but it's apparent that she's no such thing. She is deeply self-centred, with the extreme sensitivity to perceived slights that comes from not having much, she handwaves her own complicity in using magic powered by murder. She comes to look self-deceiving and weak by comparison to Ming Wei, the hired killer, who at least faces up to her own deeds and knows why she does them, and it's notable that Daisy--who for most of the book is entirely reactive and buffetted by events--only finds a moral core and takes control of what's going on when she's face to face with Ming Wei.
I've seen several reviews saying the book lacks plot and drive. It doesn't, there's tons going on, but Daisy's passivity could well give it that feel if you demand a take-charge protagonist. IMO what's going on here is in large part within the characters, alongside the action plot. There's a few other things that I felt could have been smoothed out in the storytelling--the world is set on land which was blighted by volcanic eruptions, where ash falls constantly, and I felt that the amount of set up that got should have resulted into it playing some kind of role in the story.
Still though, for a first novel it has a ton of complexity and lovely imagery, some great world building, good action scenes, genderfluid and aro characters just because in a world with, I think, no bigotry. I enjoyed it a lot. And what a glorious cover.
You may be thinking "KJ, is this in fact a book about a gang of drug dealers plus someone exploiting other people's horrific murders for their own convenience?" Yes, yes it is. The heroes also have no compunction about torturing their antagonists (off page) and kill ruthlessly including characters we've come to like. The antagonists led by female mercenary Ming Wei torture too, and murder innocent people for money. All of this is...not excused, but acknowledged in the three times repeated phrase, "A girl's gotta eat."
It's a deeply amoral dog-eat-dog world of politics, manipulation, cruelty, selfishness. What's intriguing is how Daisy is cast in the role of the naive heroine and moral centre, but it's apparent that she's no such thing. She is deeply self-centred, with the extreme sensitivity to perceived slights that comes from not having much, she handwaves her own complicity in using magic powered by murder. She comes to look self-deceiving and weak by comparison to Ming Wei, the hired killer, who at least faces up to her own deeds and knows why she does them, and it's notable that Daisy--who for most of the book is entirely reactive and buffetted by events--only finds a moral core and takes control of what's going on when she's face to face with Ming Wei.
I've seen several reviews saying the book lacks plot and drive. It doesn't, there's tons going on, but Daisy's passivity could well give it that feel if you demand a take-charge protagonist. IMO what's going on here is in large part within the characters, alongside the action plot. There's a few other things that I felt could have been smoothed out in the storytelling--the world is set on land which was blighted by volcanic eruptions, where ash falls constantly, and I felt that the amount of set up that got should have resulted into it playing some kind of role in the story.
Still though, for a first novel it has a ton of complexity and lovely imagery, some great world building, good action scenes, genderfluid and aro characters just because in a world with, I think, no bigotry. I enjoyed it a lot. And what a glorious cover.
January 28, 2018
DISCLAIMER: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher. This does not in any way impact my review.
tw:
The moment I heard of MOONSHINE, I was excited to read it. Magical speakeasies, aromantic representation, political dealings, and an ensemble cast of queer characters? Heck yes! So I requested an ARC, even though I'm not really a book blogger.
All in all, I am glad that I did. MOONSHINE is a greatly enjoyable story with well-defined, flawed, and relatable characters, an intriguing setting (think 1920s Chicago but in a city by a volcano under constant ashfall, and with magic!), and the found family/team feel that I love. I did found it slower and less interesting in the second half, but I think a lot of that is because of the introduction of a second plotline that I cared a lot less for, and that half-replaced, half-stalled the "politicians have hired mercenaries to assassinate a magician and create a scandal that can benefit them" story. I wish the focus had been kept tighter, but stories don't always go where you want them to, and it was still greatly enjoyable.
So for queer rep, off the top of my head, this book has polyamorous characters, lesbians, a genderfluid character, and Mr Swarz, a bisexual aromantic disabled grumpster! I really enjoyed him, mostly because I love slightly-stuck-up characters who make mistakes because they have no idea how to help others without lining up social faux-pas and sounding slightly condescending. He's flawed, but he's not flawed in a way that has anything to do with his aromanticism, and the latter is clearly established and respected by everyone. So I really have nothing to say on this except: yay!
There are a few elements that bothered me throughout the book, though, but a lot of it is out of my lane so I will mention them, and if you need details to make your own decisions, let me know. Most of it surrounds way "mana", a source of magic and a highly addictive drug, is discussed. I understand that this creating and selling of mana is kind of part of everyone's life here, but it's really, really... casual, no big deal, we're just selling candies? There are a lot of instances where the book fails to acknowledge the gravity of things it contains, and the lighter tone bugged me. I am, however, glad that it didn't go down a super judgmental route.
There's also an entire conversation about how nice the weight loss from the addiction has been that really left me uncomfortable.
Finally, as another blogger noted (I'll link once her review is up), there are two creatures that are literally named after the colour of their skin. Which. I'm white, and I missed it on my own, but that doesn't feel like a great idea.
That covers it! Overall, I think this is worth the read, and I'm looking forward to book two!
tw:
The moment I heard of MOONSHINE, I was excited to read it. Magical speakeasies, aromantic representation, political dealings, and an ensemble cast of queer characters? Heck yes! So I requested an ARC, even though I'm not really a book blogger.
All in all, I am glad that I did. MOONSHINE is a greatly enjoyable story with well-defined, flawed, and relatable characters, an intriguing setting (think 1920s Chicago but in a city by a volcano under constant ashfall, and with magic!), and the found family/team feel that I love. I did found it slower and less interesting in the second half, but I think a lot of that is because of the introduction of a second plotline that I cared a lot less for, and that half-replaced, half-stalled the "politicians have hired mercenaries to assassinate a magician and create a scandal that can benefit them" story. I wish the focus had been kept tighter, but stories don't always go where you want them to, and it was still greatly enjoyable.
So for queer rep, off the top of my head, this book has polyamorous characters, lesbians, a genderfluid character, and Mr Swarz, a bisexual aromantic disabled grumpster! I really enjoyed him, mostly because I love slightly-stuck-up characters who make mistakes because they have no idea how to help others without lining up social faux-pas and sounding slightly condescending. He's flawed, but he's not flawed in a way that has anything to do with his aromanticism, and the latter is clearly established and respected by everyone. So I really have nothing to say on this except: yay!
There are a few elements that bothered me throughout the book, though, but a lot of it is out of my lane so I will mention them, and if you need details to make your own decisions, let me know. Most of it surrounds way "mana", a source of magic and a highly addictive drug, is discussed. I understand that this creating and selling of mana is kind of part of everyone's life here, but it's really, really... casual, no big deal, we're just selling candies? There are a lot of instances where the book fails to acknowledge the gravity of things it contains, and the lighter tone bugged me. I am, however, glad that it didn't go down a super judgmental route.
There's also an entire conversation about how nice the weight loss from the addiction has been that really left me uncomfortable.
Finally, as another blogger noted (I'll link once her review is up), there are two creatures that are literally named after the colour of their skin. Which. I'm white, and I missed it on my own, but that doesn't feel like a great idea.
That covers it! Overall, I think this is worth the read, and I'm looking forward to book two!
May 18, 2018
I was really intrigued by the idea of a Prohibition-like place where magic is illicit. Added to this, the city the story takes place in suffers from a constant fall of ash thanks to a nearby volcano, so two interesting elements forming the backdrop of the story. And the story has a varied set of characters from different countries and races, with most of the characters being on the lower end of the economic spectrum.
I enjoyed this book till about the halfway point, then the questions I had at the back of my mind came to the forefront, and I kept expecting the author to answer them and she did not. I kept wondering:
-Why did people from neighbouring countries escape to Ashland; was there no other place to run to from war? I got no sense of the geography of this world.
-How did Ashland integrate the people into the existing population? There seemed to be little to no tensions remaining from this influx, which looked to be at most 50 years or so old.
-There seemed to be no tensions or the usual behaviour of one group lording it over another even though there were people from many cultures bumping up against one another. I'm not averse to reading of a utopia where people aren't denigrated for their skin colour, or the food they eat, or any other of the many ridiculous reasons people discriminate against each other; however, I couldn't get a good sense of Ashland's history from the author.
-Though it might have been somewhat obliquely hinted at, there seemed to be classes in Ashland, with humans at the top and ogres occupying the bottom?The ogres in the story were truck drivers and bouncers, but didn't seem to be in charge of businesses or other organizations.
-And, finally, I had a hard time keeping the characters straight in my head. The main character interacts with a number of supporting characters at a business making an illegal drink granting magical powers to individuals, and I just could not figure out who was who at the bar and office.
I enjoyed this book till about the halfway point, then the questions I had at the back of my mind came to the forefront, and I kept expecting the author to answer them and she did not. I kept wondering:
-Why did people from neighbouring countries escape to Ashland; was there no other place to run to from war? I got no sense of the geography of this world.
-How did Ashland integrate the people into the existing population? There seemed to be little to no tensions remaining from this influx, which looked to be at most 50 years or so old.
-There seemed to be no tensions or the usual behaviour of one group lording it over another even though there were people from many cultures bumping up against one another. I'm not averse to reading of a utopia where people aren't denigrated for their skin colour, or the food they eat, or any other of the many ridiculous reasons people discriminate against each other; however, I couldn't get a good sense of Ashland's history from the author.
-Though it might have been somewhat obliquely hinted at, there seemed to be classes in Ashland, with humans at the top and ogres occupying the bottom?The ogres in the story were truck drivers and bouncers, but didn't seem to be in charge of businesses or other organizations.
-And, finally, I had a hard time keeping the characters straight in my head. The main character interacts with a number of supporting characters at a business making an illegal drink granting magical powers to individuals, and I just could not figure out who was who at the bar and office.
March 12, 2019
3.5 stars.
Moonshine is a standalone adult fantasy book set in Soot City, a place inspired by Chicago during the 1920s - if only magic had been banned instead of alcohol and Chicago had a lot more volcanoes.
I picked it up mostly because of its cover and because I knew there was an aromantic (ownvoices) major side character in it, but as I had heard nothing about it, I went into it with very low expectations. I wasn't disappointed, but I think this had the potential to be a lot better.
Let's start with what I liked: this book is just as bright and colorful as the cover made me think. The cover is the best part of the book, and I don't mean that in a bad way: John Coulthart's illustrations are phenomenal and I think I may like this cover even more than Under the Pendulum Sun's (which is one of my favorites ever). It represents the book's content perfectly, because Moonshine is a book about beautiful, dangerous parties in which the only ugly thing is the price of magic.
What really worked for me was the portrayal of bigots and how bigotry itself works. Who doesn't want to read about queer friends forming their own communities and protecting each other against bigots? This book said a lot of interesting things about that and it reminded me (in a good way) of Creatures of Want and Ruin, another 1920-inspired book I read earlier this month that had a completely different tone but similar themes.
The portrayal of the main antagonist herself was really interesting, as it's clear that she's just an instrument of bigoted rich people. There are a lot of terrible things that happen in this book, from shootings to torture, and while none of it is ever really explicit, I liked how Moonshine talked about what poor and marginalized people have to do just to survive.
I also really appreciated the diversity: while the main character's sexuality and ethnicity are never stated outright, she's brown-skinned and I read her as queer. There are also (explicitly, this time) polyamorous side characters, a fat side character, an f/f couple, and two trans side characters (one is a trans woman, the other is genderfluid). Some of them are also people of color. Then there's Andre, the disabled aromantic bisexual character and the main reason I read this book. I love finding stories in which there are aro characters who are not asexual, and Andre explicitly isn't: there's only one sex scene in this book, which is m/m, and Andre is one of the two men.
However, I didn't love that Andre was the only one who is bad at understanding other people's emotions. At some point Daisy even says that Andre has "a heart like a machine". I just... eh. I don't think it would have affected me had this book been told in Andre's PoV, but as it was Andre's main character trait, I was a bit iffy on that. But I'm still glad I found another aro book.
My main problem with Moonshine was the main character, Daisy Dell. I really liked her - she's an independent "Modern Girl" (which I think is their name for Flappers) who may be a bit naive but isn't a coward, and doesn't have a romantic subplot.
However, she was very passive, she didn't make any decisions that had a direct repercussion on the plot until the last 20 pages, and I finished the book wondering why she was the main character. She didn't have a character arc, not really.
Also, for a book in which several characters are addicts, it... barely talked about the consequences of addiction? I'm glad this book had a lighter tone that it could have had, but I think it should have explored this topic more.
I often thought Moonshine needed more editing, as the narration often tells the reader things that are obvious from the dialogue or from what had just been said by the narration itself, and sometimes I would have deleted whole paragraphs of that. I liked the writing - it was the perfect balance between "not too modern" and "readable" and the dialogues didn't feel forced to me.
(But was it necessary to have so many characters whose names started with an A? There were at least three and I kept confusing them.)
Moonshine is a standalone adult fantasy book set in Soot City, a place inspired by Chicago during the 1920s - if only magic had been banned instead of alcohol and Chicago had a lot more volcanoes.
I picked it up mostly because of its cover and because I knew there was an aromantic (ownvoices) major side character in it, but as I had heard nothing about it, I went into it with very low expectations. I wasn't disappointed, but I think this had the potential to be a lot better.
Let's start with what I liked: this book is just as bright and colorful as the cover made me think. The cover is the best part of the book, and I don't mean that in a bad way: John Coulthart's illustrations are phenomenal and I think I may like this cover even more than Under the Pendulum Sun's (which is one of my favorites ever). It represents the book's content perfectly, because Moonshine is a book about beautiful, dangerous parties in which the only ugly thing is the price of magic.
What really worked for me was the portrayal of bigots and how bigotry itself works. Who doesn't want to read about queer friends forming their own communities and protecting each other against bigots? This book said a lot of interesting things about that and it reminded me (in a good way) of Creatures of Want and Ruin, another 1920-inspired book I read earlier this month that had a completely different tone but similar themes.
The portrayal of the main antagonist herself was really interesting, as it's clear that she's just an instrument of bigoted rich people. There are a lot of terrible things that happen in this book, from shootings to torture, and while none of it is ever really explicit, I liked how Moonshine talked about what poor and marginalized people have to do just to survive.
I also really appreciated the diversity: while the main character's sexuality and ethnicity are never stated outright, she's brown-skinned and I read her as queer. There are also (explicitly, this time) polyamorous side characters, a fat side character, an f/f couple, and two trans side characters (one is a trans woman, the other is genderfluid). Some of them are also people of color. Then there's Andre, the disabled aromantic bisexual character and the main reason I read this book. I love finding stories in which there are aro characters who are not asexual, and Andre explicitly isn't: there's only one sex scene in this book, which is m/m, and Andre is one of the two men.
However, I didn't love that Andre was the only one who is bad at understanding other people's emotions. At some point Daisy even says that Andre has "a heart like a machine". I just... eh. I don't think it would have affected me had this book been told in Andre's PoV, but as it was Andre's main character trait, I was a bit iffy on that. But I'm still glad I found another aro book.
My main problem with Moonshine was the main character, Daisy Dell. I really liked her - she's an independent "Modern Girl" (which I think is their name for Flappers) who may be a bit naive but isn't a coward, and doesn't have a romantic subplot.
However, she was very passive, she didn't make any decisions that had a direct repercussion on the plot until the last 20 pages, and I finished the book wondering why she was the main character. She didn't have a character arc, not really.
Also, for a book in which several characters are addicts, it... barely talked about the consequences of addiction? I'm glad this book had a lighter tone that it could have had, but I think it should have explored this topic more.
I often thought Moonshine needed more editing, as the narration often tells the reader things that are obvious from the dialogue or from what had just been said by the narration itself, and sometimes I would have deleted whole paragraphs of that. I liked the writing - it was the perfect balance between "not too modern" and "readable" and the dialogues didn't feel forced to me.
(But was it necessary to have so many characters whose names started with an A? There were at least three and I kept confusing them.)
October 20, 2019
There is a lot going on here in a re imagined version of 1920's Chicago where magic is outlawed just as much as liqueur and the illegal selling of a brand of magic called 'mana' is rife. I couldn't really take to this one. Normally I like fantasy but I just felt the whole thing was messy. I lost track of a lot of who the characters were as Daisy meets a lot of people in her line of work. There's also not a lot of plot or character development either for me.
On the plus side for anyone who prefers the genre there are a lot of characters that fall under LGBTQ. It's very representative. I think overall it had a great premise (and promise) but ended up just not being a book for me.
On the plus side for anyone who prefers the genre there are a lot of characters that fall under LGBTQ. It's very representative. I think overall it had a great premise (and promise) but ended up just not being a book for me.
January 30, 2018
Moonshine is a debut fantasy novel inspired by the roaring twenties.
Daisy wants to be the perfect embodiment of the Modern Girl, stylish and independent. However, she also uses arcana — and magic is outlawed in Soot City. When mercenaries start targeting magicians, Daisy will find herself right in the middle of the bull’s eye.
Moonshine‘s biggest failing is plot. It’s just not compelling, and I think this is due to a number of reasons. For one, Daisy isn’t driving the plot, she’s reacting to it. This partly falls under characterization, but Daisy does not have strong motivation. She wants to be a Modern Girl, but it’s not like there’s a whole lot of conflict inherent in her desire to be stylish and independent. She wants to keep using the arcana her grandmother gave her… but it’s never clear why she’s so determined to hang on to it. For the most part, the artifacts her grandmother left her with seem to be no more than conveniences that make her life a little bit easier. They keep the soot off her clothes, help her water plants, and catch things she accidentally drops. Is using them really worth the risk of discovery that she’s supposedly so worried about?
Also, the plot (the mercenary after Daisy) felt contrived and more like an events happening in a roughly sequential order instead of events following naturally from each other. It feels like the author created the world and characters and then remembered that she needed to have some sort of plot and threw this in at the last minute. And it takes forever to get rolling! There’s a lot of time spent twiddling thumbs and setting things up, and it ended up feeling undeniably boring. If I wasn’t reading this for review, I would have DNF’ed.
Onto characters! I think the biggest issue with them was lack of motivation, which I’ve already talked about. I also found them to be fairly static. Daisy might learn more about the co-workers at her new job, but I didn’t see her changing or growing through the story. All in all, I would have liked more character development.
Actually, “more development” could be applied to most aspects of Moonshine, including the world building. One of the draws is the setting based on 1920’s Chicago. The influence is clear, but Moonshine doesn’t delve much beyond the aesthetics. There’s a number of fantasy books inspired by the 20’s that have magic be outlawed instead of alcohol. Moonshine doesn’t do much to distinguish itself from the pack.
However, there is one big positive when it comes to Moonshine: it’s got a ton of queer rep. Daisy read to me as bi or pan, and there’s also a gender fluid character and an aromantic character. In fact, Moonshine is actually an #ownvoices aro book. I’d heard that Moonshine dealt with gender and sexuality, and that was one of the key reasons I requested an ARC. Happily, I didn’t find this aspect disappointing.
On the whole Moonshine had a lot of promise, but it is plagued by inherent structural issues. It’s not a book I’m planning to recommend, but that said, there may be other readers who enjoy it more than me.
Review from The Illustrated Page.
I received an ARC in exchange for a free and honest review.
Daisy wants to be the perfect embodiment of the Modern Girl, stylish and independent. However, she also uses arcana — and magic is outlawed in Soot City. When mercenaries start targeting magicians, Daisy will find herself right in the middle of the bull’s eye.
Moonshine‘s biggest failing is plot. It’s just not compelling, and I think this is due to a number of reasons. For one, Daisy isn’t driving the plot, she’s reacting to it. This partly falls under characterization, but Daisy does not have strong motivation. She wants to be a Modern Girl, but it’s not like there’s a whole lot of conflict inherent in her desire to be stylish and independent. She wants to keep using the arcana her grandmother gave her… but it’s never clear why she’s so determined to hang on to it. For the most part, the artifacts her grandmother left her with seem to be no more than conveniences that make her life a little bit easier. They keep the soot off her clothes, help her water plants, and catch things she accidentally drops. Is using them really worth the risk of discovery that she’s supposedly so worried about?
Also, the plot (the mercenary after Daisy) felt contrived and more like an events happening in a roughly sequential order instead of events following naturally from each other. It feels like the author created the world and characters and then remembered that she needed to have some sort of plot and threw this in at the last minute. And it takes forever to get rolling! There’s a lot of time spent twiddling thumbs and setting things up, and it ended up feeling undeniably boring. If I wasn’t reading this for review, I would have DNF’ed.
Onto characters! I think the biggest issue with them was lack of motivation, which I’ve already talked about. I also found them to be fairly static. Daisy might learn more about the co-workers at her new job, but I didn’t see her changing or growing through the story. All in all, I would have liked more character development.
Actually, “more development” could be applied to most aspects of Moonshine, including the world building. One of the draws is the setting based on 1920’s Chicago. The influence is clear, but Moonshine doesn’t delve much beyond the aesthetics. There’s a number of fantasy books inspired by the 20’s that have magic be outlawed instead of alcohol. Moonshine doesn’t do much to distinguish itself from the pack.
However, there is one big positive when it comes to Moonshine: it’s got a ton of queer rep. Daisy read to me as bi or pan, and there’s also a gender fluid character and an aromantic character. In fact, Moonshine is actually an #ownvoices aro book. I’d heard that Moonshine dealt with gender and sexuality, and that was one of the key reasons I requested an ARC. Happily, I didn’t find this aspect disappointing.
On the whole Moonshine had a lot of promise, but it is plagued by inherent structural issues. It’s not a book I’m planning to recommend, but that said, there may be other readers who enjoy it more than me.
Review from The Illustrated Page.
I received an ARC in exchange for a free and honest review.
February 11, 2018
This is a hard review to write as I feel I’m almost picking on it for things the book didn’t do. This is an extreme case of “it’s not you, it’s me,” as I would in no way classify this book as a “bad” novel. It was just disappointing at every turn.
Look at that plot description (I’ll wait until you get back). To say I was excited for this book was an understatement. I read an article about it off some website (Maybe Barnes and Noble sci-fi blog, I can’t honestly remember) but I saved the title and author and kept checking on it. My mind ran with all the possibilities of where this book could go. Well… it didn’t go any of those places. None of them. I can’t actually describe the plot, because anything other than the plot blurb above would be a spoiler, but let me tell you a few places this doesn’t go, so that if you want it for the same reason I did, you can give it a pass.
This is not an alternate history novel, so there will be no exploration of how the US would change from a historic standpoint with an introduction of magic (this is your classic fantasy world, just set in the 1920s American setting rather than medieval Europe style world). This is not a cops vs. bootleggers novel, so we will not be examining how the police have to change tactic to deal with magic (or how if the police used magic, they would have to deal with the conflicting need for mana vs. the difficultly/illegal nature of obtaining it). Do not expect a magic version of the Untouchables. There are also no rival bootleggers starting a mob war for the territory of this fantasy Chicago.
None of these things matter? Check it out. As I said, the book isn’t really bad, it just wasn’t what I wanted to read or even a book I would be interested in had I known what it was actually about. I can understand the positive reviews, this is just simply not a book for me. This is a case where the author wrote the book that she wanted, as well she should, and good on her for getting it published. I’m sure there are plenty of people looking for this story, and I truly hope they enjoy it.
Look at that plot description (I’ll wait until you get back). To say I was excited for this book was an understatement. I read an article about it off some website (Maybe Barnes and Noble sci-fi blog, I can’t honestly remember) but I saved the title and author and kept checking on it. My mind ran with all the possibilities of where this book could go. Well… it didn’t go any of those places. None of them. I can’t actually describe the plot, because anything other than the plot blurb above would be a spoiler, but let me tell you a few places this doesn’t go, so that if you want it for the same reason I did, you can give it a pass.
This is not an alternate history novel, so there will be no exploration of how the US would change from a historic standpoint with an introduction of magic (this is your classic fantasy world, just set in the 1920s American setting rather than medieval Europe style world). This is not a cops vs. bootleggers novel, so we will not be examining how the police have to change tactic to deal with magic (or how if the police used magic, they would have to deal with the conflicting need for mana vs. the difficultly/illegal nature of obtaining it). Do not expect a magic version of the Untouchables. There are also no rival bootleggers starting a mob war for the territory of this fantasy Chicago.
None of these things matter? Check it out. As I said, the book isn’t really bad, it just wasn’t what I wanted to read or even a book I would be interested in had I known what it was actually about. I can understand the positive reviews, this is just simply not a book for me. This is a case where the author wrote the book that she wanted, as well she should, and good on her for getting it published. I’m sure there are plenty of people looking for this story, and I truly hope they enjoy it.
March 1, 2018
Check out my book blog for more book reviews and other bookish posts!
I received an ARC of Moonshine from Netgalley. Some people had been mentioning that it was an #ownvoices book for aromantic representation, and I’m always looking for more of that.
It’s ownvoices for aromantic, asexual, genderfluid, and disabled rep (major characters).
__
The part that struck me most was the fantastic worldbuilding. Damn! It was so elaborate and within the first pages, I could already picture what Soot City looked like and what people in the city wore.
There are different types of magic, and it was intriguing to read how they interacted with each other. I would have liked a bit more insight into the origin of magic, and whether the different types are can be learned or if certain people have the talent innately.
I seem to be reading so many books at the moment, that mention characters that wear glasses and how the set-up of the world affects glasses wearers. Loved that!
I also loved how the story casually mentions menstruation. Please, let’s have more books that actually mention that menstruation is something that happens to a lot of people!
The dynamic between the different characters was wonderful. It felt very realistic, especially the fluctuations between uncertainty about a new person and the progression to trusting the newcomer and including them in the inner circle.
Two of the characters are given names by Daisy, and these were based on their skin colour. Spoiler for the character names (highlight to see): Cyan and Lavender. I’d have liked to know how she decided to use those names, and whether her grandmother called one of them by a different name. It did bother me that the names were chosen just based on the colour of their skin and feathers.
The story mentions that “ogre” is a slur, however it never mentions what the politically correct term is. I would have liked to know, and I think that this could have flowed into the story easily.
__
Moonshine was a beautiful read. My favourite aspect of it is without a doubt the worldbuilding. It’s got so many queer characters in it, which was just awesome!
Trigger warning: murder.
I received an ARC of Moonshine from Netgalley. Some people had been mentioning that it was an #ownvoices book for aromantic representation, and I’m always looking for more of that.
It’s ownvoices for aromantic, asexual, genderfluid, and disabled rep (major characters).
__
The part that struck me most was the fantastic worldbuilding. Damn! It was so elaborate and within the first pages, I could already picture what Soot City looked like and what people in the city wore.
There are different types of magic, and it was intriguing to read how they interacted with each other. I would have liked a bit more insight into the origin of magic, and whether the different types are can be learned or if certain people have the talent innately.
I seem to be reading so many books at the moment, that mention characters that wear glasses and how the set-up of the world affects glasses wearers. Loved that!
I also loved how the story casually mentions menstruation. Please, let’s have more books that actually mention that menstruation is something that happens to a lot of people!
The dynamic between the different characters was wonderful. It felt very realistic, especially the fluctuations between uncertainty about a new person and the progression to trusting the newcomer and including them in the inner circle.
Two of the characters are given names by Daisy, and these were based on their skin colour. Spoiler for the character names (highlight to see): Cyan and Lavender. I’d have liked to know how she decided to use those names, and whether her grandmother called one of them by a different name. It did bother me that the names were chosen just based on the colour of their skin and feathers.
The story mentions that “ogre” is a slur, however it never mentions what the politically correct term is. I would have liked to know, and I think that this could have flowed into the story easily.
__
Moonshine was a beautiful read. My favourite aspect of it is without a doubt the worldbuilding. It’s got so many queer characters in it, which was just awesome!
Trigger warning: murder.
April 15, 2019
People of colour, queer characters, and a fantasy setting reminiscent of the 1920s - what more can a girl want?
Moonshine starts as a slice-of-life kind of story, following Daisy (a nod to The Great Gatsby, I'm assuming) as she gets a new job as an assistant. Daisy carries little trinkets made by her grandmother that she can pull on and do small magic with - but being a magician in Soot City is heavily frowned upon, and she is careful not to show her trinkets to anyone.
It takes a while for the plot to develop, and I feel that is why the book has a relatively low rating on Goodreads. At page 50, I still had no idea what the main hook/plot was, and this is a problem that will make many people put it down. I kept going, because I thought the reimagined 1920s setting was quite fabulous, including speakeasies and dancing, and I don't regret it. Once the story starts to unfold, it is well-paced and interesting, with some small twists that I thought were well-done and appropriate to the narrative.
Moonshine isn't just diverse, it is also just a good story which happens to feature people from several different ethnicities (though they're fantasy ones, they have resonances with real-life regions), a genderfluid person, a bi/pan poly character, a trans character, and a character on the aromantic spectrum. The best thing about this is that these characters are just there. Their sexuality is not a plot point. Their ethnicity doesn't determine their character. It was quite great to read fantasy that isn't built on the (rather boring) pillars of white Western heteronormativity.
---
Trigger warnings:
Moonshine starts as a slice-of-life kind of story, following Daisy (a nod to The Great Gatsby, I'm assuming) as she gets a new job as an assistant. Daisy carries little trinkets made by her grandmother that she can pull on and do small magic with - but being a magician in Soot City is heavily frowned upon, and she is careful not to show her trinkets to anyone.
It takes a while for the plot to develop, and I feel that is why the book has a relatively low rating on Goodreads. At page 50, I still had no idea what the main hook/plot was, and this is a problem that will make many people put it down. I kept going, because I thought the reimagined 1920s setting was quite fabulous, including speakeasies and dancing, and I don't regret it. Once the story starts to unfold, it is well-paced and interesting, with some small twists that I thought were well-done and appropriate to the narrative.
Moonshine isn't just diverse, it is also just a good story which happens to feature people from several different ethnicities (though they're fantasy ones, they have resonances with real-life regions), a genderfluid person, a bi/pan poly character, a trans character, and a character on the aromantic spectrum. The best thing about this is that these characters are just there. Their sexuality is not a plot point. Their ethnicity doesn't determine their character. It was quite great to read fantasy that isn't built on the (rather boring) pillars of white Western heteronormativity.
---
Trigger warnings:
April 21, 2018
I started this book with some optimism--the Prohibition era is full of possibilities, after all, and the heroine's optimism at starting a new job is as relatable as her glumness at celebrating alone. However, the writing is full of not-quite-correct word choices I wouldn't expect from the author's English-major credentials, and the alternate history threw me for even more of a loop with its attempt to erase the grim foundations of the United States by building Ashland on a continent not previously populated by humans, with immigrants from continents clearly based on Europe, Africa and Asia displacing not Native Americans, but gray-skinned ogres. The human cost of America's colonization in slavery and genocide is replaced by dependence on the technology of ogres and assimilation of them into the general population. While the plot, focusing on Daisy's integration with her new coworkers under the threat of assassination by a hitwoman paid to kill a member of the local magician population by two different politicians, is fairly compelling, some of the sexual dynamics made me uncomfortable, and I'm not even sure whether that was the author's intent. I think Daisy's boss is supposed to be a sympathetic character by the end, but I honestly am not sure. In short, I think Gower has a lot of potential, and I appreciate what she was trying to do with this book regarding queer and disabled representation, but I think her endeavor at racial representation would have benefitted from some closer editorial attention, and so would her phrasing.
February 3, 2018
I received this book through the publisher via Netgalley.
In this secondary world-set riff inspired by the 1920s, Prohibition is in full swing--but the prohibited substance isn't alcohol, but mana, also known as moonshine: addictive stuff that gives normal folks magical powers while the buzz lasts. Daisy is a young woman with a goal of being independent and sophisticated. When she takes on a new secretarial position, she has no idea the company is really peddling mana out of their so-called warehouse. Daisy isn't an addict like so many others, though--her family knows a secret about magically enchanting items. But when one of Daisy's charms goes missing and is found by a mage-hunter with an aim to kill a magic-user to boost a local politician, Daisy finds herself in the crosshairs.
I enjoyed the unique setting and era of the book, and the cast of characters is incredibly diverse. There's a genderfluid character and an MxM love scene. I love the friendships that developed between Daisy's co-workers--that was a highlight of the book for me. However, I was left hungry for a deeper understanding of the world and its history. A persistent fall of ash was the only consistent reminder that this wasn't Earth. There are also beings like fairies and ogres, and I was left wanting to know more about ogres in particular.
In all, a fun read! Also, kudos to Angry Robot for creating such a fun art deco cover that acts as the perfect intro for the content.
In this secondary world-set riff inspired by the 1920s, Prohibition is in full swing--but the prohibited substance isn't alcohol, but mana, also known as moonshine: addictive stuff that gives normal folks magical powers while the buzz lasts. Daisy is a young woman with a goal of being independent and sophisticated. When she takes on a new secretarial position, she has no idea the company is really peddling mana out of their so-called warehouse. Daisy isn't an addict like so many others, though--her family knows a secret about magically enchanting items. But when one of Daisy's charms goes missing and is found by a mage-hunter with an aim to kill a magic-user to boost a local politician, Daisy finds herself in the crosshairs.
I enjoyed the unique setting and era of the book, and the cast of characters is incredibly diverse. There's a genderfluid character and an MxM love scene. I love the friendships that developed between Daisy's co-workers--that was a highlight of the book for me. However, I was left hungry for a deeper understanding of the world and its history. A persistent fall of ash was the only consistent reminder that this wasn't Earth. There are also beings like fairies and ogres, and I was left wanting to know more about ogres in particular.
In all, a fun read! Also, kudos to Angry Robot for creating such a fun art deco cover that acts as the perfect intro for the content.
abandoned
January 27, 2018There’s a brilliant concept here but the execution drags and at 50% I feel like there’s half a plot and no characters I’m more than mildly interested in. There’s aspects of the world building that I like, but that’s about it. Just not for me.
DNF
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
DNF
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2018
Fast paced, a fantasy twist on Chicago in the 1920s, an unpredictable plot, with darling characters & fabulous writing - what more could a reader want?! Seriously, I absolutely loved this read; world-building is so important to me & the world-building in Moonshine was phenomenal - I'm totally obsessed with the world that Jasmine has created & I want MORE of it. The characters were incredible as well & the plot was super original too, so basically this book is near on perfect.
Disclaimer: I was sent an advanced copy of this book by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2rL
Disclaimer: I was sent an advanced copy of this book by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2rL
April 1, 2025
Very cool world with interesting magic system(s). Maybe some of the plot development could have been more robust, but I do wish there was more to read set in this universe.
March 22, 2018
This was a really fun idea for a novel - Prohibition-era urban fantasy, full of jazz-era character archetypes and a classic pulpy story about corrupt politicians, land deals, and murder. Once you get beyond that surface level of fun concepts, though, they don't actually meld together very well - they different threads make friction rather than harmony. Not a bad read, but one that feels like it could have been better than was.
November 26, 2017
4.5 stars
Another book from the #DVsquad and #DVpit! Woohoo! I'm delighted that I got a chance to review an ARC. As with CITY OF BRASS, this was an enchanting fantasy with a deep connection to its time period.
Daisy is a Modern Girl in a sort of post-apocalyptic version of the Roaring Twenties, where faeries and ogres and magic all exist. Not a magician herself, Daisy has inherited some trinkets from her grandmother that are imbued with magic--not enough to cause trouble, but enough to keep soot off her clothes and hide her personage when needed. She takes a job as a clerical worker at an (unbeknownst to her) magical mana factory (all very underground, you see, because in this Prohibition, it's magic juice that's outlawed) and looks forward to a very average life. But working for a magical speakeasy is anything but safe, and Daisy soon finds herself the target of a hit, as well as in charge of an exiled faerie her boss may have accidentally freed. Good thing Grandma's blood magic trinkets are still around!
The strong sense of setting was my favorite part of this book. Every image evokes a sense of yearning at an era those from the USA often romanticize, but it is if we are viewing this history through a distorted lens. There are speakeasies, but they deal in magic mana. There are hit people, but they have cannons that block magical ability. There are all the same horrible social stratifications, but here they revolve around magic users, both human and other.
The plot is a bit slow to get started, which is the only real negative of this book. At first I assumed the story arc would involve something with the underground mana business, but about halfway through the book it becomes clear that cleanup of the boss' mess (releasing the faerie) is the primary arc. With the strength of the characters (which the author carries well) and the setting, I think the narrative could have handled something heavier than 'return faerie to his dimension' plot, but I was not unhappy with it. I think I just wanted more, and was upset to so quickly leave this world.
The writing was strong and even, and Daisy's voice was easy to connect with. Her desires and goals resonated quickly with me, and I also appreciated the unique voices of the secondary cast. There was a great deal of queer diversity in the book as well, spanning gender fluidity, pansexuality, ace and aro characters, etc.
MOONSHINE is a quirky, often surprising take on the Prohibition Era of the USA, drenched in fresh fantasy elements and strong characterization. It deserves a place on every fantasy-lover's bookshelf, and is a strong addition to the #DVsquad archive.
Another book from the #DVsquad and #DVpit! Woohoo! I'm delighted that I got a chance to review an ARC. As with CITY OF BRASS, this was an enchanting fantasy with a deep connection to its time period.
Daisy is a Modern Girl in a sort of post-apocalyptic version of the Roaring Twenties, where faeries and ogres and magic all exist. Not a magician herself, Daisy has inherited some trinkets from her grandmother that are imbued with magic--not enough to cause trouble, but enough to keep soot off her clothes and hide her personage when needed. She takes a job as a clerical worker at an (unbeknownst to her) magical mana factory (all very underground, you see, because in this Prohibition, it's magic juice that's outlawed) and looks forward to a very average life. But working for a magical speakeasy is anything but safe, and Daisy soon finds herself the target of a hit, as well as in charge of an exiled faerie her boss may have accidentally freed. Good thing Grandma's blood magic trinkets are still around!
The strong sense of setting was my favorite part of this book. Every image evokes a sense of yearning at an era those from the USA often romanticize, but it is if we are viewing this history through a distorted lens. There are speakeasies, but they deal in magic mana. There are hit people, but they have cannons that block magical ability. There are all the same horrible social stratifications, but here they revolve around magic users, both human and other.
The plot is a bit slow to get started, which is the only real negative of this book. At first I assumed the story arc would involve something with the underground mana business, but about halfway through the book it becomes clear that cleanup of the boss' mess (releasing the faerie) is the primary arc. With the strength of the characters (which the author carries well) and the setting, I think the narrative could have handled something heavier than 'return faerie to his dimension' plot, but I was not unhappy with it. I think I just wanted more, and was upset to so quickly leave this world.
The writing was strong and even, and Daisy's voice was easy to connect with. Her desires and goals resonated quickly with me, and I also appreciated the unique voices of the secondary cast. There was a great deal of queer diversity in the book as well, spanning gender fluidity, pansexuality, ace and aro characters, etc.
MOONSHINE is a quirky, often surprising take on the Prohibition Era of the USA, drenched in fresh fantasy elements and strong characterization. It deserves a place on every fantasy-lover's bookshelf, and is a strong addition to the #DVsquad archive.
January 27, 2018
Moonshine is a fantasy with jazz age pizazz. Ashland lies at the foot of a volcano, and Soot City is a bustling metropolis complete with gangsters, speakeasies and Modern Girls (flappers straight from the mold). But there is something else that defines Soot City - the existence of magic.
Daisy Dell is the quintessential modern girl, fashionable, educated and ready to take on the world. She also has a few tricks up her sleeve - the trinkets left to her by her grandmother are magic. Her new job seems to be a simple office job, typing letters and filing reports. She soon discovers her job isn’t quite what it seems and the people aren’t quite what she expects. But as a Modern Girl she isn’t one to back down when the going gets dangerous. When she and her friends are targeted by an assassin hired by a conniving politician, she learns just what type of a family she’s joined. Be prepared for a wild gin and magic fueled ride.
Moonshine is a fantasy that has a unique spark and an unusual premise. It is definitely a standout fantasy that will leave readers thirsting for more of its special blend. The characters and the story are unforgettable.
5 / 5
I received a copy of Moonshine from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Daisy Dell is the quintessential modern girl, fashionable, educated and ready to take on the world. She also has a few tricks up her sleeve - the trinkets left to her by her grandmother are magic. Her new job seems to be a simple office job, typing letters and filing reports. She soon discovers her job isn’t quite what it seems and the people aren’t quite what she expects. But as a Modern Girl she isn’t one to back down when the going gets dangerous. When she and her friends are targeted by an assassin hired by a conniving politician, she learns just what type of a family she’s joined. Be prepared for a wild gin and magic fueled ride.
Moonshine is a fantasy that has a unique spark and an unusual premise. It is definitely a standout fantasy that will leave readers thirsting for more of its special blend. The characters and the story are unforgettable.
5 / 5
I received a copy of Moonshine from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
February 22, 2018
This was such a fun book. I am a sucker for the 1920s, and while this is a secondary world setting, Soot City definitely has a 20s feel. Daisy Dell is a 'Modern Girl' with a new job as a typist in Soot City, but her boss's company is not all that it seems.
In Soot City, there are illicit ways of getting mana, an illegal substance that can get you high, or, if you're a magician, power your magic. Daisy has a secret of her own--her grandmother passed down certain articles that can do magic without mana, and the dark secret to making them. When an assassin starts targeting magicians, Daisy seems to be on the list. But why, and will she and her new friends and coworkers be able to save themselves?
If you enjoy flappers, bootleggers, and corrupt politicians, along with ogres, fairies, and magic, this book is for you.
In Soot City, there are illicit ways of getting mana, an illegal substance that can get you high, or, if you're a magician, power your magic. Daisy has a secret of her own--her grandmother passed down certain articles that can do magic without mana, and the dark secret to making them. When an assassin starts targeting magicians, Daisy seems to be on the list. But why, and will she and her new friends and coworkers be able to save themselves?
If you enjoy flappers, bootleggers, and corrupt politicians, along with ogres, fairies, and magic, this book is for you.
March 2, 2018
If we were to look at a map of where this story takes place, I get the sense that it would not just be a map of our works with the names changed.
Though I’m usually not a fan of books based on a somewhat recent historical time period being in a different world, this book made it work really well.
This is essentially set in the 1920s, but it’s not the world as we know it (or...knew it).
There is a lot of unique world building, complete with fantasy races, and society is nothing like the 1920s would have been like. Hence the need for it to be a fantasy world.
Queer people and bi-gendered people are very commonplace, and there is much more tolerance of women and people of color than just a historical fantasy would have. There are female politicians, female hit men, etc.
So overall, this was a fun read with a unique take on a lot of things, but I would have loved to have seen more of the world. We don’t get to see all that much of the magic system, and though there are fantasy races, we only see two but it is implied that there are more of them present in this world.
Though I’m usually not a fan of books based on a somewhat recent historical time period being in a different world, this book made it work really well.
This is essentially set in the 1920s, but it’s not the world as we know it (or...knew it).
There is a lot of unique world building, complete with fantasy races, and society is nothing like the 1920s would have been like. Hence the need for it to be a fantasy world.
Queer people and bi-gendered people are very commonplace, and there is much more tolerance of women and people of color than just a historical fantasy would have. There are female politicians, female hit men, etc.
So overall, this was a fun read with a unique take on a lot of things, but I would have loved to have seen more of the world. We don’t get to see all that much of the magic system, and though there are fantasy races, we only see two but it is implied that there are more of them present in this world.
Read
March 10, 2018I heard about this book from a blog newsletter. Roaring 20’s, Magic, ogres, and other element made it seem unique and one to try. I found nothing compelling about any of the characters to feel in interest in continuing to read.
DNF at 21% - No Rating
Coolcurry’s review was very helpful and honest. She identified my main issues with the mere 21% I read. Of course she read the whole book, so there are many more details. (Review link added with permission from CoolCurry. Thanks!)
Library Digital Loan
DNF at 21% - No Rating
Coolcurry’s review was very helpful and honest. She identified my main issues with the mere 21% I read. Of course she read the whole book, so there are many more details. (Review link added with permission from CoolCurry. Thanks!)
Library Digital Loan
July 20, 2018
Bof bof ... Je voulais mettre 2 mais je ne suis jamais entrée dans l'histoire, les personnages m'ont laissée de glace et l'intrigue aurait pu être très bien si elle n'avait pas été aussi superficielle.
April 2, 2018
Well written. However I felt it was more Voodoo New Orleans than 20s Chicago and I found it a bit too creepy. Also it just sort of stopped with no satisfactory end. Nearly gave it a four.
November 23, 2018
It may be a fantasy but this story feels entirely real. Gower provides quality worldbuilding without indulging in the massive tangential exposition dumps that fantasy is famous for. The main characters are intriguing and sufficiently well developed to be multidimensional. While the cast is too large to get a lot of details on all of them, but each gets enough spotlight that I could differentiate them. This is one of the better first novels I've read, and I hope the publisher picks her up for another.
January 7, 2018
*Free book for an honest review.
This book was not what I was expecting, and that's a good thing. I genuinely thought this was an alternate, historical fantasy that would take place in 1930's USA. What I got was a fantasy world with as much magic as any other high fantasy world, but with prohibition era aesthetics. It was really cool!
The world is incredibly interesting and I want to know more about it. I greatly appreciated the difference in approach between Mr. Swarz and Daisy. His academic, political views of the world versus her aesthetic, social perspective really helped to flesh out the world. She's more likely to note the combined uses of magic and ogre technology where he is more likely to note the local politics and economic climate. The fact that this city of Ashland actually exists near a dying volcano that frequently covers the city in ash provided an interesting mental picture. Combine that with a culture that has incorporated (however begrudgingly) ogres and fauns, and you've got my attention. I really do want to read more about this world.
Then there are the characters. We only get to read the book from three character's perspectives: Daisy, Mr. Swarz and Ming Wei. These three are kinda all we need, though. As different as they each are, they are also surprisingly similar. All three have had to work from nothing to something, but Daisy and Mr. Swarz had plenty of family support while Wei needs to support her family. Daisy and Wei have good health while Mr. Swarz is physically disabled. Wei and Mr. Swarz are in charge of their groups while Daisy has never had any kind of influence or power. I really liked how Daisy and Wei almost bonded over their shared understanding of "a girl's gotta eat."
This book was a very enjoyable introduction to a very new world that I would really like to read more of. I'm eager to read more of Gower's works and encourage you to pick up a copy of Moonshine. 4 hoots!
This book was not what I was expecting, and that's a good thing. I genuinely thought this was an alternate, historical fantasy that would take place in 1930's USA. What I got was a fantasy world with as much magic as any other high fantasy world, but with prohibition era aesthetics. It was really cool!
The world is incredibly interesting and I want to know more about it. I greatly appreciated the difference in approach between Mr. Swarz and Daisy. His academic, political views of the world versus her aesthetic, social perspective really helped to flesh out the world. She's more likely to note the combined uses of magic and ogre technology where he is more likely to note the local politics and economic climate. The fact that this city of Ashland actually exists near a dying volcano that frequently covers the city in ash provided an interesting mental picture. Combine that with a culture that has incorporated (however begrudgingly) ogres and fauns, and you've got my attention. I really do want to read more about this world.
Then there are the characters. We only get to read the book from three character's perspectives: Daisy, Mr. Swarz and Ming Wei. These three are kinda all we need, though. As different as they each are, they are also surprisingly similar. All three have had to work from nothing to something, but Daisy and Mr. Swarz had plenty of family support while Wei needs to support her family. Daisy and Wei have good health while Mr. Swarz is physically disabled. Wei and Mr. Swarz are in charge of their groups while Daisy has never had any kind of influence or power. I really liked how Daisy and Wei almost bonded over their shared understanding of "a girl's gotta eat."
This book was a very enjoyable introduction to a very new world that I would really like to read more of. I'm eager to read more of Gower's works and encourage you to pick up a copy of Moonshine. 4 hoots!
March 21, 2018
D-I-V-E-R-S-I-T-Y
This book checked so many boxes for me. Reading Moonshine was like a breath of fresh air.
✔ Own Voices
✔ Queer rep
✔ Polyamorous characters
✔ Genderfluid characters
✔ 1920's Chicago
✔ Magic
✔ Fantastical creatures (Orgres & Fairies)
✔ Outlaws & Bounty Hunters
✔ Unlikeable characters
Disclaimer: I was sent this book for review, which in no way effects my honest opinion.
Daisy Dell, the protagonist is a modern girl of the time. She takes a job in an office doing the usual secretarial job women would be allowed to do in the 1920's, she quickly learns not everything is as it seems.
The plot begins to unfold after Daisy and her friends find themselves in trouble and she learns some serious truth and comes face to face with danger.
The whole city is filled with magic, danger, secrets all on the brink of a collision. Moonshine is an incredibly diverse, magical and flawed read. The characters are everything I have wanted in fantasy & much more. I hope this the future of fantasy!
This book checked so many boxes for me. Reading Moonshine was like a breath of fresh air.
✔ Own Voices
✔ Queer rep
✔ Polyamorous characters
✔ Genderfluid characters
✔ 1920's Chicago
✔ Magic
✔ Fantastical creatures (Orgres & Fairies)
✔ Outlaws & Bounty Hunters
✔ Unlikeable characters
Disclaimer: I was sent this book for review, which in no way effects my honest opinion.
Daisy Dell, the protagonist is a modern girl of the time. She takes a job in an office doing the usual secretarial job women would be allowed to do in the 1920's, she quickly learns not everything is as it seems.
The plot begins to unfold after Daisy and her friends find themselves in trouble and she learns some serious truth and comes face to face with danger.
The whole city is filled with magic, danger, secrets all on the brink of a collision. Moonshine is an incredibly diverse, magical and flawed read. The characters are everything I have wanted in fantasy & much more. I hope this the future of fantasy!
September 4, 2023
this one was fun, not very gripping, but honestly even just seeing an allo-aro character on page - it felt so damn good.
February 11, 2018
I'm grateful to the publisher for an advance e-copy via NetGalley
This is a strange, mixed-up yet nevertheless joyful book. Set in a world going through something like 1920s-era US Prohibition, it strongly evokes the spirit of the Jazz Age: our heroine, Daisy Dell, is "the very picture of a Modern Girl - slender of frame; her short, tight curls coifed with a shiny pomade; heeled dance shoes dressing either foot; and her dark skin complemented by the contrast of daisy yellow, so vibrant as though it was part of her identity. This she supposed it was."
Daisy is making her way in Soot City, capital of Ashland, a nation recently resettled after centuries of volcanic eruptions - think Iceland, but with a gentler climate. The portrayal of Ashland, its social and political tensions, the hints at a wider world - many of the citizens have fled there to escape from vaguely described trouble elsewhere ("Mr Blaine's family fled to Ashland presumably to escape the fascist regime in Berngi"), most of all the morality campaign aimed at suppressing magic - for, reader, this is very much a fantasy world - are all done very well. And as we might expect, Dell pretty soon falls in with gangsters, dealers in the illegal substance mana ("the blue stuff") essential for magicians. From then on it gets a bit Bugsy Malone with shootouts, political shenaniganns, a ruthless hitwoman and romantic entanglements.
The plot is pretty linear and restricted - we're not dealing here with world changing conspiracies, Dark Lords or the fate of the Universe. Some may dislike that: for my part I found it rather refreshing, allowing time and space for Gower to develop her characters - she gives Dell, and her boss, Swarz, plenty of backstory (Daisy's eventually reveals a rather horrifying secret that counterbalances the less pleasant aspects of the speakeasy gang - no-one in this book has clean hands) and a nicely complicated relationship. It was a slight disappointment that the plot is pretty transparent, with the antagonist and their motivations identified to the reader (not to Dell) early on. To set against that, there is, as I have said, a satisfying atmosphere of moral murkiness to the book. The same phrase - "a girl's got to eat" - is used of both Dell and her Nemesis. Motivations here are mundane, about making rent or keeping food on the table or just having good time at the end of the week, not about fulfilling ancient prophecies or crusading against evil.
The book is also nicely observed. Early on, Swarz challenges Dell's motivations, wondering if she shouldn't spend a bit less money on partying and move into a better flat. Dell is having none of it and basically tells him to mind his own business. Gower also has a nice line in hard-boiled one-liners ("She had to admire his nonchalance in approaching someone... younger... drinking alone like she was contemplating revenge", "Daisy held forth the letter, putting on a smile she was too weary for"). The book is unashamedly progressive and pro-diversity, with, for example, a character who presents sometimes as male and sometimes as female ("Well, sure, when I am a man. I'm not now") and with the treatment of both the native ogres and the magicians a proxy for the results of ethnic and social privilege ("Magic, alongside ogre technology... had probably built half the city.")
Overall this was a great read. the world building is second to none, the characters plausible, and if there's a bit less plot then I might ideally have liked, that also has its attractions and Gower never, never lets the pace of events slacken with several viscerally realised set-piece battles before the end.
A great debut, and I hope that Gower writes more about this intriguing world soon and especially about Daisy Dell. (Also, just take a moment to appreciate that gorgeous, glamorous cover!)
This is a strange, mixed-up yet nevertheless joyful book. Set in a world going through something like 1920s-era US Prohibition, it strongly evokes the spirit of the Jazz Age: our heroine, Daisy Dell, is "the very picture of a Modern Girl - slender of frame; her short, tight curls coifed with a shiny pomade; heeled dance shoes dressing either foot; and her dark skin complemented by the contrast of daisy yellow, so vibrant as though it was part of her identity. This she supposed it was."
Daisy is making her way in Soot City, capital of Ashland, a nation recently resettled after centuries of volcanic eruptions - think Iceland, but with a gentler climate. The portrayal of Ashland, its social and political tensions, the hints at a wider world - many of the citizens have fled there to escape from vaguely described trouble elsewhere ("Mr Blaine's family fled to Ashland presumably to escape the fascist regime in Berngi"), most of all the morality campaign aimed at suppressing magic - for, reader, this is very much a fantasy world - are all done very well. And as we might expect, Dell pretty soon falls in with gangsters, dealers in the illegal substance mana ("the blue stuff") essential for magicians. From then on it gets a bit Bugsy Malone with shootouts, political shenaniganns, a ruthless hitwoman and romantic entanglements.
The plot is pretty linear and restricted - we're not dealing here with world changing conspiracies, Dark Lords or the fate of the Universe. Some may dislike that: for my part I found it rather refreshing, allowing time and space for Gower to develop her characters - she gives Dell, and her boss, Swarz, plenty of backstory (Daisy's eventually reveals a rather horrifying secret that counterbalances the less pleasant aspects of the speakeasy gang - no-one in this book has clean hands) and a nicely complicated relationship. It was a slight disappointment that the plot is pretty transparent, with the antagonist and their motivations identified to the reader (not to Dell) early on. To set against that, there is, as I have said, a satisfying atmosphere of moral murkiness to the book. The same phrase - "a girl's got to eat" - is used of both Dell and her Nemesis. Motivations here are mundane, about making rent or keeping food on the table or just having good time at the end of the week, not about fulfilling ancient prophecies or crusading against evil.
The book is also nicely observed. Early on, Swarz challenges Dell's motivations, wondering if she shouldn't spend a bit less money on partying and move into a better flat. Dell is having none of it and basically tells him to mind his own business. Gower also has a nice line in hard-boiled one-liners ("She had to admire his nonchalance in approaching someone... younger... drinking alone like she was contemplating revenge", "Daisy held forth the letter, putting on a smile she was too weary for"). The book is unashamedly progressive and pro-diversity, with, for example, a character who presents sometimes as male and sometimes as female ("Well, sure, when I am a man. I'm not now") and with the treatment of both the native ogres and the magicians a proxy for the results of ethnic and social privilege ("Magic, alongside ogre technology... had probably built half the city.")
Overall this was a great read. the world building is second to none, the characters plausible, and if there's a bit less plot then I might ideally have liked, that also has its attractions and Gower never, never lets the pace of events slacken with several viscerally realised set-piece battles before the end.
A great debut, and I hope that Gower writes more about this intriguing world soon and especially about Daisy Dell. (Also, just take a moment to appreciate that gorgeous, glamorous cover!)
June 14, 2018
Moonshine is the debut novel from Jasmine Gower, and what a debut it is. I must start by confessing to an innate love of magic- give me a solid magic system, and I’m ten times more likely to pick up your book. Gower delivered in spades.
Her world of magic has two main schools- methodical magic, and ritual magic. Methodical magic is used in the majority, with ritual magic on the outskirts of society. However, all magic is looked down upon by society, with many politicians looking to blame wizards for all the world’s evils.
Our protagonist is Daisy Dell, a Modern Girl. From the moment I met her, I was enraptured. Gower’s prose brought her characters to life in a way that I found myself feeling as though I had met these people on the streets- they were that real. Her being “educated” is also clear on the page, as seen in this encounter with her new boss:
Magazines aren’t for breaking news, no, but they provide social commentary on the current cultural climate. Essays and interviews… even advertisements can be a valuable lens into the values of a society.
Every word brought these characters more to life. While Daisy starts as the main character, and the character through which we are introduced to this world, we also spend some time seeing things through the eyes of Mr Swarz, Daisy’s new boss, and Ming Wei, a woman who was
...small, plain, and tomboyish. She didn’t dress or conduct herself as women were expected to, which gave everyone around her the sense that they were right to ignore her existence as a fellow human. Insulting, but it was to her benefit when she needed to drive a blade or a bullet into someone.
On that note- Moonshine has a level of diversity which I have yet to seen in another story. Gower has not shied away from filling her world with a variety of characters, few of whom stick to your stereotypical mould. Daisy is a woman of colour; her boss is a disabled, queer man (possibly aromantic); two of her female work colleagues are in a relationship; another colleague is genderqueer, presenting as both male and female within the story. All of this helps to create a world that, while being a fantasy, is believable in it’s own right.
Setting her story in the Prohibition Era, but not this Earth’s Prohibition Era, allowed Gower to showcase a brilliant story that doesn’t shy away from asking the tough questions- several characters make choices that are morally grey, but their reasons are relatable;
Daisy wasn’t the rich, though, and she had her own needs, and as long as she could justify the partying aspect of her persona and increasing social networks with coworkers as a “need”, she was able to choke down the guilt and disgust.
Who hasn’t had to weigh up public appearances vs inner values?
As the story reveals more about Daisy’s exact brand of magic, and how that influences her life, you really begin to emphasise with Daisy, and want her to win, so to speak.
Her world of magic has two main schools- methodical magic, and ritual magic. Methodical magic is used in the majority, with ritual magic on the outskirts of society. However, all magic is looked down upon by society, with many politicians looking to blame wizards for all the world’s evils.
Our protagonist is Daisy Dell, a Modern Girl. From the moment I met her, I was enraptured. Gower’s prose brought her characters to life in a way that I found myself feeling as though I had met these people on the streets- they were that real. Her being “educated” is also clear on the page, as seen in this encounter with her new boss:
Magazines aren’t for breaking news, no, but they provide social commentary on the current cultural climate. Essays and interviews… even advertisements can be a valuable lens into the values of a society.
Every word brought these characters more to life. While Daisy starts as the main character, and the character through which we are introduced to this world, we also spend some time seeing things through the eyes of Mr Swarz, Daisy’s new boss, and Ming Wei, a woman who was
...small, plain, and tomboyish. She didn’t dress or conduct herself as women were expected to, which gave everyone around her the sense that they were right to ignore her existence as a fellow human. Insulting, but it was to her benefit when she needed to drive a blade or a bullet into someone.
On that note- Moonshine has a level of diversity which I have yet to seen in another story. Gower has not shied away from filling her world with a variety of characters, few of whom stick to your stereotypical mould. Daisy is a woman of colour; her boss is a disabled, queer man (possibly aromantic); two of her female work colleagues are in a relationship; another colleague is genderqueer, presenting as both male and female within the story. All of this helps to create a world that, while being a fantasy, is believable in it’s own right.
Setting her story in the Prohibition Era, but not this Earth’s Prohibition Era, allowed Gower to showcase a brilliant story that doesn’t shy away from asking the tough questions- several characters make choices that are morally grey, but their reasons are relatable;
Daisy wasn’t the rich, though, and she had her own needs, and as long as she could justify the partying aspect of her persona and increasing social networks with coworkers as a “need”, she was able to choke down the guilt and disgust.
Who hasn’t had to weigh up public appearances vs inner values?
As the story reveals more about Daisy’s exact brand of magic, and how that influences her life, you really begin to emphasise with Daisy, and want her to win, so to speak.
August 28, 2019
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.25 of 5
** WARNING - THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS**
It is interesting how much a person's mood or previous reading experience might impact a reader as they open a book. I had just finished two books in a row that I very much did not enjoy (not necessarily the most recent books posted on this blog) and I was not particularly looking forward to another book by an author unfamiliar to me. Fortunately, Jasmine Gower's Moonshine quickly caught my attention and I was drawn into the story with some fresh characters and a bit of mystery and magic.
Daisy Dell is a very modern girl in this 1920's-like time period. She has some modern thoughts about being a single girl looking for work in Soot City. She lands a job as the personal assistant to a man who runs a warehouse elsewhere in the city. She is encouraged to socialize with the workers, who look on her with some trepidation - it seems she is the one of the first people hired who didn't have a direct connection with someone already associated with the business.
What Daisy comes to learn is that they are bootleggers, of a sort. They are bottling mana - a highly addictive drug to some and the source of magic abilities for others. This comes as a bit of a shock to Daisy at first, since this is illegal, but her boss insists she make a choice to stay with the company, knowing full well what they do, or move on, keeping their secret or face assassination. But Daisy has her own secret, which her boss suspected, about using magic and the source of her own powers (passed down through generations of her family line).
I really liked the character of Daisy who comes off as a simple, likable, almost Mary Tyler Moore-like girl, but who has a darker side than she lets on. Yet not so dark that she's secretly amoral or the villain of the story.
All the characters here at first appear somewhat 'simple' but actually have a good deal of depth to them as we get further into the book.
The story, too, is surprisingly complex. We are lulled into thinking this a jazz-age style alternative history style fantasy but Gower weaves a magical web giving us glimpses of something much bigger and more intricate. I really liked how this story and these characters developed. I think that there's a story here much deeper than what it appears to be on the surface and this is one of those rare books that will really want a second reading to get the most out of it.
I look forward to more by Gower and I hope we get back to this world soon.
Looking for a good book? Moonshine by Jasmine Gower is a rich alternate history, urban fantasy that provides wonderful characters with strong story development.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
** WARNING - THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS**
It is interesting how much a person's mood or previous reading experience might impact a reader as they open a book. I had just finished two books in a row that I very much did not enjoy (not necessarily the most recent books posted on this blog) and I was not particularly looking forward to another book by an author unfamiliar to me. Fortunately, Jasmine Gower's Moonshine quickly caught my attention and I was drawn into the story with some fresh characters and a bit of mystery and magic.
Daisy Dell is a very modern girl in this 1920's-like time period. She has some modern thoughts about being a single girl looking for work in Soot City. She lands a job as the personal assistant to a man who runs a warehouse elsewhere in the city. She is encouraged to socialize with the workers, who look on her with some trepidation - it seems she is the one of the first people hired who didn't have a direct connection with someone already associated with the business.
What Daisy comes to learn is that they are bootleggers, of a sort. They are bottling mana - a highly addictive drug to some and the source of magic abilities for others. This comes as a bit of a shock to Daisy at first, since this is illegal, but her boss insists she make a choice to stay with the company, knowing full well what they do, or move on, keeping their secret or face assassination. But Daisy has her own secret, which her boss suspected, about using magic and the source of her own powers (passed down through generations of her family line).
I really liked the character of Daisy who comes off as a simple, likable, almost Mary Tyler Moore-like girl, but who has a darker side than she lets on. Yet not so dark that she's secretly amoral or the villain of the story.
All the characters here at first appear somewhat 'simple' but actually have a good deal of depth to them as we get further into the book.
The story, too, is surprisingly complex. We are lulled into thinking this a jazz-age style alternative history style fantasy but Gower weaves a magical web giving us glimpses of something much bigger and more intricate. I really liked how this story and these characters developed. I think that there's a story here much deeper than what it appears to be on the surface and this is one of those rare books that will really want a second reading to get the most out of it.
I look forward to more by Gower and I hope we get back to this world soon.
Looking for a good book? Moonshine by Jasmine Gower is a rich alternate history, urban fantasy that provides wonderful characters with strong story development.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2018
A roaring '20s style misadventure centered around an adventurous young career girl who joins a gang of mana hustlers during magical prohibition; I feel like I may have been specifically targeted for this one! Overall, it's a compelling and unique setting, full of fun ideas and a strong story about politics and repression, with interesting characters and intriguing mysticism. It's well worth the read.
It's a compelling fantasy world of diverse magic, where magicians have been forced into hiding by an uneasy populace, much akin to the world of speakeasys and bootleggers in the US during Prohibition. In many ways, Moonshine feels like an intimate side-story in a setting we're expected to be familiar with already. The narrative avoids fantasy's common pitfalls of over-the-top stakes, and instead focuses on the plight of a compelling protagonist and her friends, struggling against a politically hostile non-magic majority as it turns increasingly violent.
The biggest downside was that I really wanted more of its setting; the over-sized ogres work technology, and favor exposed gears, the various other nations are at war, or recently were, the city itself abuts an active volcano that constantly spews ash... there's so much fascinating detail, and by the end I still wanted to see more of it. The clubs visited, the farms on the outskirts, the desolated countryside in recovery, they all left me intrigued, but not entirely satisfied I had seen as much as I'd like to.
That I rate this less than five stars is entirely a matter of my personal tastes showing through; we easily see enough of the world to understand all the action taking place, and the characters interacting in it. My hunger for more should be read as a great testament to the author's imagination in the setting, but the sliver between four and five for me here is that as a reader I'd have loved to see the setting highlighted with a bit more tourism. For example, the diversity among the hero's acquaintance was featured, but it would have been nice to have a clearer idea of to what degree that was natural to everyone in this world, or if it represented a camaraderie encouraged by their shared clandestine association to overcome traditional social barriers. We get the sense such things may exist, but we don't see enough of the everyday world to be sure where the lines usually are, exactly.
Within a unique setting, it's always an awkward balance between overwhelming the audience with details of the alien world and leaving them confused with a dearth of information. Here, I wanted just a bit more. Everything feels right in context, but for me in particular, I suppose I just love an excess of context, and so while the story had everything I needed, it had slightly less than I wanted.
It's a compelling fantasy world of diverse magic, where magicians have been forced into hiding by an uneasy populace, much akin to the world of speakeasys and bootleggers in the US during Prohibition. In many ways, Moonshine feels like an intimate side-story in a setting we're expected to be familiar with already. The narrative avoids fantasy's common pitfalls of over-the-top stakes, and instead focuses on the plight of a compelling protagonist and her friends, struggling against a politically hostile non-magic majority as it turns increasingly violent.
The biggest downside was that I really wanted more of its setting; the over-sized ogres work technology, and favor exposed gears, the various other nations are at war, or recently were, the city itself abuts an active volcano that constantly spews ash... there's so much fascinating detail, and by the end I still wanted to see more of it. The clubs visited, the farms on the outskirts, the desolated countryside in recovery, they all left me intrigued, but not entirely satisfied I had seen as much as I'd like to.
That I rate this less than five stars is entirely a matter of my personal tastes showing through; we easily see enough of the world to understand all the action taking place, and the characters interacting in it. My hunger for more should be read as a great testament to the author's imagination in the setting, but the sliver between four and five for me here is that as a reader I'd have loved to see the setting highlighted with a bit more tourism. For example, the diversity among the hero's acquaintance was featured, but it would have been nice to have a clearer idea of to what degree that was natural to everyone in this world, or if it represented a camaraderie encouraged by their shared clandestine association to overcome traditional social barriers. We get the sense such things may exist, but we don't see enough of the everyday world to be sure where the lines usually are, exactly.
Within a unique setting, it's always an awkward balance between overwhelming the audience with details of the alien world and leaving them confused with a dearth of information. Here, I wanted just a bit more. Everything feels right in context, but for me in particular, I suppose I just love an excess of context, and so while the story had everything I needed, it had slightly less than I wanted.
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