Girl on Fire

Pelted Universe #1

by M.C.A. Hogarth

A PELTEDVERSE NOVEL The Eldritch live hundreds of years, which means Sediryl Nuera Galare isn't going to inherit the management of her family's noble house--and all its rich farmland--anytime soon. So when she discovers that her world is only one among many, she doesn't hesitate to kick off the dust of her provincial estate. That it gets her away from her oppressive mother and a smothering society is only a bonus. But wonder isn't the only thing waiting for a young woman trying her wings for the first time. When Sediryl finds love among the aliens, she's faced with a difficult choice between duty and her heart's desire. Girl on Fire introduces Sediryl, the woman who will go on to figure so powerfully in the future of the Peltedverse. But before she was a firebrand, she had to be set on fire....

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 5, 2018

About the author

Daughter of two Cuban political exiles, M.C.A. Hogarth was born a foreigner in the American melting pot and has had a fascination for the gaps in cultures and the bridges that span them ever since. She has been many things—-web database architect, product manager, technical writer and massage therapist—-but is currently a full-time parent, artist, writer and anthropologist to aliens, both human and otherwise.

Her fiction has variously been recommended for a Nebula, a finalist for the Spectrum, placed on the secondary Tiptree reading list and chosen for two best-of anthologies; her art has appeared in RPGs, magazines and on book covers.

Reviews

[erforscherin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, quick read, perfect for a lazy holiday. I enjoyed seeing a little more of Sediryl’s origin story, and I’m always a sucker for this sort of outsider-meets-strange-new-world plot; her reactions to the Alliance’s people and technology were charming and quite believable.

My main complaint is that I wish the plot had just slowed down a bit, especially towards the end when so much happened all at once at breakneck speed. I guess I just wasn’t quite sold on the romance-novel-hating Sediryl being willing to rush into marriage so quickly, nor that knowing her mother’s attitude toward the Alliance she didn’t even consider that she might be disowned. The breakup and sudden rebound also felt a bit oddly placed — I was expecting to end on a sadder-but-wiser note post-breakup and leave it at that, so the riding-sparkly-unicorns-into-the-sunset was a bit of tonal whiplash.

So, maybe not perfect, but this was still a nice break from a pretty hectic week. Sometimes you just need some fluff, and this delivered. :)

[James Hogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book of this author's I've read - believe I saw it recommended somewhere online! It is a fantastical sci-fi adventure full of whimsy and bursting at the seams with imagination. Yet somehow I didn't love it? This is an origin story of Sediryl, a fascinating character of the Eldritch variety. Most of the characters were relatively flat and static and Sediryl was by far the most interesting of the lot! I groaned at many of the silly decisions she ends up making throughout the book, but I suppose those decisions are only to be expected, with her coming from a quite insular society. Of course she's going to be naïve and poor at making decisions! Still though, this first book of her journey (which I'm told continues in many other books) really didn't inspire me to read more in this series. Alas. If anything, this book has a veneer of the fantastic yet at its core the story seems very much a creation of our present age, not being nearly other enough for my taste. My favourite parts were probably the descriptions of food, which while seeming suspiciously too similar to many of the dishes we eat and enjoy today, still made me smile and hungry to enjoy myself!! I greatly did like reading Sediryl's early adventures in a new place - wandering about, every step evincing new wonders, eating lots of yummy food...too bad that bit couldn't last longer!

[zjakkelien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it better than I expected. Sediryl was not my favourite in the princes' game books. Not because there was a problem with her, really, but because I liked Jahir a lot more. This was a nice story about her discovery of the alliance, even though I already knew where it was going because I read the other books first.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elf girl meets high tech aliens

Amazing book! It's so much fun to see Sediryl go from her cloistered world to the immense and overwhelming Alliance. The people and tech and food (oh, the food!) she meets there only serves to make the story more vibrant and memorable. And the love stories are well done too. Finding a place between the worlds is more difficult than Sediryl expected, but it's worth it, even when it hurts. Because there's always family and friends there to support you, and new things to see and do.

[Joyce Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

This is part of such a great story written by someone with a vivid imagination. Kept me up late reading, again and again.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have previously read the Dreamhealers saga and I really wished to know more. Unfortunately I liked those books a lot better than this one.

There are many enjoyable aspects, still. I liked seeing Sediryl discover technology and cultural norms we take for granted, and her wonder at the smallest thing in the starbase is certainly a good reminder that one should find joy in everything. And I really think I would have loved this book if I hadn't kind of disliked Sediryl herself.

I don't like how she thinks of every other Eldritch, especially some of the female ones. I don't know, it kind of gave me "not like the other girls" vibes. And girl what were those decisions??? The second half of the book was full of actions that were so plainly dumb. Like giving up everything to marry a man you met five months ago without even asking him the question!

Overall I still enjoyed this, it's a light, nice read and it expands on the Eldritch, which is what I wanted after reading the Dream Healers saga and really liking Jahid

[Pamela Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I loved this story about Sediryl's decision to leave home and explore the larger world beyond. I especially appreciate that her choices, both good and bad, have consequences, not only for her, but for others.

[Peggy Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

PMB

so far have loved all the books. The introduction to the characters and how their personalities progress through the story. I really like the way the language makes the story flows and the use of beautiful words.

[Catherine Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sediryl

Love that they did an origin story for her. I read it after Farmer's Crown and I'm glad I read it after that story, as it mad

[Alayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable story, this one featuring Sediryl's back story, from MCA Hogarth. Very entertaining and with touches of references to future happenings in other books.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew going in that it had to end poorly - given what we were told of her story in the “Family” novella. I really liked all the bits that came before the trouble, and some of the bits after. The trouble itself will keep this from being a favourite to reread much.

[Zeta Syanthis · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I read this /after/ Farmer's Crown, so some of events had already happened or made a bit more sense, but Sediryl's mom? She is horrid, and I kind of hope she gets everything that's coming to her, even after the events of Farmer's Crown.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these books! .

So interesting and very detailed world/people.I wish more of this authors work were available on kindle unlimited but I still treat myself to one occasionally