That Inevitable Victorian Thing

Representation, people! This book features a bisexual, intersex young woman. (I say woman, because she is female-presenting and uses female pronouns.) It also features a not-quite-love-triangle that turns into something more like polyamory. (Sorry, that's a bit of a spoiler, but you can see it coming from a mile away, and the cover description heavily implies the same.)

It's not realistic in the least - everything falls together nicely and it's a bit of a “princess saves the day by virtue of being a princess” kind of plot. But the twist on the history is a very pleasant one - and making the British Empire an Empire that values diversity and the melding of cultures and not looking down on anyone because they're different is a really nice change of pace. It's a WONDERFUL bit of escapist fantasy given today's world, I have to say.

I'd actually really like to see the darker side of this same world explored. One of the main plot points in the book is that there is a computer database of genetics. Everyone in the British Empire, when they turn 18, is encouraged to have their DNA sequenced and entered into the computer to find good genetic matches. They then have the opportunity to chat with those matches and eventually meet them. It's accepted custom, and you're definitely viewed as odd if you choose NOT to do it, though Helena's parents were a love match and never had their DNA matched through the computer. Helena's love interest is a boy she grew up with, she really only ran her DNA through the computer for kicks. So it's not mandatory - except for royals. But that this computer and database exists leaves room for a darker side. What about genetic modification? Forced marriages for certain genetic outcomes? That has to be happening somewhere. That Inevitable Victorian Thing really only looked at the fun, light-hearted, good uses of this technology. I'd love to see the other side.

Oh - while the book definitely has a Victorian flavor, it's definitely set in modern day, or perhaps a little past. It's not Victorian era.

Fun little book. A good escape from a racist, homophobic world to a more diverse, accepting one. But a little TOO fluffy bunny for my personal tastes.

You can find all my reviews at Goddess in the Stacks.

(Probably 2.5, rounding down - shelved on fantasy because I don't have an alternate history category)

Well, this was a book. I've had it out from the library since December and just could not get into it (to be fair to the book, I also had a baby in that time period, so it's not entirely the book's fault). I picked it up because I loved the cover design and the title amused me, but I don't think the actual book lived up to that, sadly. The worldbuilding and alternative history of the British Empire was intriguing, and it kind of feels like the author was more interested in that than in the characters - all three of the main characters were pretty flat to me, and I couldn't really get into their heads. Part of that may have been the narration, which is this semi-Victorian tone that I actually liked, but put them all at a remove. I don't know - there was plot, but things all seemed wrapped up quickly and without a whole lot of angst or drama, which would be great in reality but doesn't make for great reading. Like, I don't know, if I were realizing I were a lesbian or intersex and all my plans for the future depended on marrying and having children, it seems like there would be a bit more drama, even if it's just internal conflict. Also, the quick little "oh, no one has periods, that's why Helena didn't know" bugged me, and I don't know why, exactly. Also, I just didn't really care about August at all. This book wasn't offensive or anything, I just wanted it to be more than it was, I think.

I'm a bit conflicted on my rating of this book. On the one hand, I loved the characters and the overall concept of the world and the awesome representation. I really liked that understandable secrets led to rational discussions rather than misunderstandings and Big Explosions of Drama.

But on the other hand, the plot was... well, it kind of felt like it didn't exist? I mean, obviously things happened and the characters did things, but everything was so idyllic and the characters were all so sane and level-headed that it never felt like anything bad could even happen. And the pacing of events was so odd — sometimes slow and sometimes very abrupt — that it was hard to really get a feel for the movement of the plot. It felt more like a slice of life comic than a novel, I think.

So, bizarrely, it would seem that my favorite things about this book are also the things about it that ultimately left me feeling not totally satisfied. The world was so nice and the characters were so intelligent that the book just couldn't quite support a properly paced story arc. It definitely needed more conflict.

Overall, I would not recommend this book if you're looking to be kept on the edge of your seat or hit in the emotions, but I definitely would recommend it if you're looking to read something light and feel-good about a cool world of diversity and non-discrimination.