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Crystal Cage
Alyssa’s father wants her to settle down and become a happy wife and mother, as befitting a woman from one of the noble Houses, but Alyssa has other ideas: she wants to be an inventor. Her first invention, the crystal-powered teacup warmer, has earned her an invitation to study at the Institute and she accepts, hoping to meet her personal heroine Lady Isabelle and to be herself outside the confines of her rigid upbringing.
Left disappointed when Lady Isabelle proves to be dismissive, Alyssa is soon captivated anew by Prince Artan, who hides a secret himself and teaches Alyssa far more than the technology she's come to study. But relationships between teachers and students are forbidden by the Institute, and they aren't the only ones who will suffer should they get caught.
Left disappointed when Lady Isabelle proves to be dismissive, Alyssa is soon captivated anew by Prince Artan, who hides a secret himself and teaches Alyssa far more than the technology she's come to study. But relationships between teachers and students are forbidden by the Institute, and they aren't the only ones who will suffer should they get caught.
ebook
First published October 3, 2016
37 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Zagar
37 books39 followersThis author account is largely defunct as I have transitioned gender and no longer wish to keep this name. Some titles may remain under this name, but this profile will not be updated and no new titles will be released under this name.
In addition, the website Infinite Love has closed.
See Reis Asher for my new titles.
In addition, the website Infinite Love has closed.
See Reis Asher for my new titles.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 8, 2017
This is a short story, maybe an hours worth or reading. That has a Victorian vibe, and almost a little steampunk. The main character Alyssa, does not want to conform to societal roles of being a woman. She has trouble identifying herself as either a man or a woman. The best way to explain is that she sees herself as a mixture of both. In order not to damage the name of her house, with her behavior, she joins the institute as an inventor. She meets her teacher, Prince Artan and they soon become friends. But Prince Artan, has a secret, that could take down Alyssa with him.
I thought this book was interesting. It is rare to have a book that takes place in a Victorian type setting, that has a character who is transgendered and a character who sees themselves as belonging to both sex. I also liked the steampunk type device to allow the character to transition.
I did have a little trouble with the storyline. It felt rushed, and when conflict arrived, it was soon fixed. I also didn't really feel much of a connection in the two mains relationship. Alyssa, was so gung-ho on being independent, then all of a sudden, she totally changes her mind. I did think the overall message, of the book, was good and the ending happy. Things just got a little jumbled in the middle. I can only imagine how hard it can be to write a short story, and it's probably why things got a bit rushed.
An ARC was given to me from NetGalley and LT3 Press, for a honest review.
I thought this book was interesting. It is rare to have a book that takes place in a Victorian type setting, that has a character who is transgendered and a character who sees themselves as belonging to both sex. I also liked the steampunk type device to allow the character to transition.
I did have a little trouble with the storyline. It felt rushed, and when conflict arrived, it was soon fixed. I also didn't really feel much of a connection in the two mains relationship. Alyssa, was so gung-ho on being independent, then all of a sudden, she totally changes her mind. I did think the overall message, of the book, was good and the ending happy. Things just got a little jumbled in the middle. I can only imagine how hard it can be to write a short story, and it's probably why things got a bit rushed.
An ARC was given to me from NetGalley and LT3 Press, for a honest review.
November 29, 2016
This book got me in immediately, which is good because it was very short. It feels very steampunk, which I feel like I would have liked to seen in the cover art.
The main character is a person who doesn't fit into the gender binary the way she thinks she ought to. Certainly she doesn't want a life of marriage and children to 'fix' her. In an attempt to find something more suited to her, she convinces her father to let her take up the offer she's been given to study at the Institute and become a real inventor.
Her father is a great character, and even in the shortness of this story, enough is given of the relationship between Alyssa to offer depth and sympathy to both characters.
Immediately upon arriving at the Institute, she meets Prince Artan and Lady Isobelle, making an instant friend of the former, and an enemy of the latter. If I thought that Isobelle's character was a little bit shallow despite the backstory of hers that we are given by Artan, it's probably not the worst thing in the world as every other character was so well fleshed out.
I loved Prince Artan only more as I came to realise his backstory, the history that the whole royal family had managed to keep. There was enough intrigue at this point of the book to keep it interesting. I really didn't need the announcement of Artan's feelings for Alyssa to happen so soon.
But, I suppose that is the downside of a short story. Apart from the sudden appearance of romantic feelings between these two, I thought the story was near perfect. The relationships that both Alyssa and Artan had with their genders were expertly written, but the story was also strong separate to that.
The main character is a person who doesn't fit into the gender binary the way she thinks she ought to. Certainly she doesn't want a life of marriage and children to 'fix' her. In an attempt to find something more suited to her, she convinces her father to let her take up the offer she's been given to study at the Institute and become a real inventor.
Her father is a great character, and even in the shortness of this story, enough is given of the relationship between Alyssa to offer depth and sympathy to both characters.
Immediately upon arriving at the Institute, she meets Prince Artan and Lady Isobelle, making an instant friend of the former, and an enemy of the latter. If I thought that Isobelle's character was a little bit shallow despite the backstory of hers that we are given by Artan, it's probably not the worst thing in the world as every other character was so well fleshed out.
I loved Prince Artan only more as I came to realise his backstory, the history that the whole royal family had managed to keep. There was enough intrigue at this point of the book to keep it interesting. I really didn't need the announcement of Artan's feelings for Alyssa to happen so soon.
But, I suppose that is the downside of a short story. Apart from the sudden appearance of romantic feelings between these two, I thought the story was near perfect. The relationships that both Alyssa and Artan had with their genders were expertly written, but the story was also strong separate to that.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews