Beth CatoRezensionen

I liked this book a lot! Ada and Solenn are both compelling characters in tough situations, trying to make the best of things. There's a unique magic system tied in with a really interesting set of mythology, which is deeply woven into the cultures in the book. And several big unexpected plot twists! I'm glad there's more of this series.½

Lovely fantasty, steam punky, different story. Loved the characters and now I want a gremlin.

Overall I enjoyed this first entry and found it to be mostly engaging.

Some of my problems lay in the fact so very much happens with so many different pieces. They would overlap and caused some confusion for me as I couldn't quite keep a grasp of who was working with who while betraying who else.

I also wasn't keen on how many guys SQUEALED. Lee was big on this and it got annoying.

I loved Fenris and tolerated Cy. He sometimes was a bit milquetoast for me and the section with his past catching up to him at the theatre dragged done the pacing.

What a lovely bit of an escape reading that was. What an interesting choice she made. I wonder what I'd choose. The author often makes me wish I was the character in the story. This one as well.

Available here: Abyss & Apex Magazine, Issue 87, 3rd Quarter 2023, https://www.abyssapexzine.com/2023/05/birds-of-london/

Children's story.
A girl beyond her years doesn't take the candy from the stranger.

Found online at Stupefyingstories.blogspot.com

I eagerly looked forward to the second book in this series and it did not disappoint. The world building and fantasy elements only got richer and tastier, like a decadent cheesecake full of surprise flavors and unique pairings. I devoured it almost too quickly, leaving me to wonder if I'd get to experience a third course set in this world. I hope so, because there are so many adventures that could happen, with allies new and old. I'm not sure the geopolitical conflicts are eased, but we do end the book with a sense of closure and a feeling that everything will indeed, turn out, well served.

Trying to avoid spoilers with this review, so I will leave it short and sweet. A very excellent book to read, indeed.

DNF at 34%

I've been bringing the story along to appointments but never choosing to read it at home when I have other things I can do. Bad sign.

Each chapter is a bit of work with new characters, new info, a new environment then it alternates to another character with the same bits of TMI. When we finally realize how the characters are related, I get a bit excited knowing there will be a reunion eventually. But to get there I am stuck with all the TMI and with pickled fairies, animal abuse (to make magic), human suffering (to make magic), fighting countries... it's not what I'm interested in reading about these days. It's just that I'm not interested in any "wars", "adventures", "action", etc... so if you are interested in these things please don't let it dissuade you. I'm just getting old af and looking for other things to read about.

I do adore the author and I was pumped to get a free copy during a time when I had Amazon Prime but I'm going to let it go. ETA: it has some Tamora Pierce vibes which is a good thing.

Such intricate detail, such originality! I love the way Ms. Cato combines her finer appreciation and understanding of food with consummate storytelling to bring a tale both original and enjoyable. The complexity rivals that of a gourmet meal and makes it ever so difficult to set the book aside for other obligatory matters, like work and sleep. Of course, there is something to be said for being forced to enjoy this tale in carefully measured portions, allowing one to savor the nuances that might be missed in a binge. While magic and food are not a new pairing, A Thousand Recipes for Revenge manages to set its distinctive mark on the trope that stands out against the other examples I have encountered.

Highly recommended!

{First of Clockwork Dagger duology +3; fantasy, steampunk, magic, adventure}(2014)

I read this at the beginning of the year and recently borrowed the second book but I couldn't remember the story well enough so I borrowed this again.

The country of Caskentia has been embroiled in civil war for most of Octavia Leander's lifetime and she was orphaned when her village was a casualty. She is now one of the strongest medicians who uses the Lady's power to heal and is travelling incognito by airship to help a town which is suffering with the ongoing war. But it seems that someone wants to harm her as there are several attempts on her life onboard the dirigible which continue even once she's on the ground. Octavia is no shrinking damsel in distress and can take care of herself, although the help of a handsome Clockwork Dagger - one of the queen's elite assassin-spies - doesn't come amiss.

I initially read this earlier this year but I re-read it because I've just borrowed the second book but I didn't review it or rate it properly and I can't remember what happened (I find that happens a lot these days). I skipped the entire first half of the first chapter with the puppy (though it does also introduce Octavia's craft and powers) since I did note 'Just starting this as the protagonist saves a puppy's life only to find that he's destined for the dinner table' the first time around. I could really have done with a map as there's a lot of geography involved; the characters cover a lot of territory by airship as well as on the ground and several countries, cities and towns are mentioned and are integral to the story.

This book is a lot of fun (except for the collateral damage to animals and small children) and the touch of young-adult (PG-rated) romance doesn‘t hurt. Neither does the inclusion of a lost princess out of fairytales, flying gremlins and action and quick thinking by Octavia.

February 2023
June 2023 (re-read)

3.5-4 stars (but rounding down for animal cruelty)

Thoughts: Previous to reading this book I had read Cato's Clockwork Dagger duology (loved it) and the first two books in her Blood of Earthe series (loved the first book, thought the second book was just okay). I liked this, but did think the beginning was slow. However, the story really picked up in the second half. I usually really enjoy the steampunk elements Cato adds to her story but that wasn't a theme of this book.

This story alternates POV between Ada and Solenn. Ada was a Chef (has magical perception of food called an epicurean gift) in service to the Five Gods, but left that service and went rogue after many years in service to the army. Solenn is a foreign princess that is being married to a prince of Verdania in order to unite the two nations; however things change for her when she finds out she has the magic of a Chef.

This book starts out pretty slow. Ada is fleeing from assassins with her Grand-mere but she doesn't know exactly why they are after her now (after many year of hiding) and starts out by trying to figure out why rogue Chefs are suddenly being targeted. This is a lot of her running from place to place trying to put facts together. Solenn's start is also a bit slow; she is trying to adjust to the new foreign court and befriend both her future husband (who is 14 years old and pretty much a boy still) and his friends. Things get complicated for Solenn when she finds out she has the epicurean gifts of a Chef. It takes a while for these pieces to come together and really get interesting.

I struggled to stay engaged and interested in the first half of the book. I did enjoy the unique magic system and the world-building here but I didn't actually start to enjoy the story until halfway through the book. There are some big reveals halfway through the book and as we learn more about where epicurean (a magical substance) comes from, things start to get really intriguing. The characters were mediocre to me, I didn't really engage with them or care about them that much. This may have been because of the constant POV switching, which broke up the story quite a bit.

This book is hugely politically driven. A lot of page space is given to discussing alliances with other nations and past and potential future wars. I am not huge into reading fantasy that focuses on politics. Again, there are some other interesting elements that come into play later in the book but it was a bit too little to late for me to love this.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I ended up liking this but didn't love it. I am glad I finished it because there are some very intriguing fantasy/magic elements that come into play later in the book. However, the first half of the book was slow for me and I didn't like the political focus. I am on the fence about whether I will continue this series right now. I am leaning towards not continuing it because the first half of this book felt like a chore to get through, but I did enjoy some of the twists revealed in the second half. This also did not include the heavy steampunk themes that I really love Cato for, so that was a bit disappointing.

I've enjoyed this author's books before, so I was eager to read this one. Set in an alternate version of Europe, that's still recognizable for all the players, this story follows a young princess as she's betrothed to a younger prince and discovers that her family isn't exactly as it seems.

This book read like a lush, streaming period drama, full of characters you'll want to love (and some you'll be happy to loathe), and comeuppance aplenty. Filtered throughout the story are snippets from a book from the world talking about cooking, and talk of the food will have your mouth watering. If you enjoy cheese--and who doesn't?--the many varieties which find themselves in this story will have you wishing for your own platter.

The book ends with a good resolution--no cliffhangers here--but certainly ready to pick up next installment when it releases. I can't wait to return to this world.

After the alien invasion - "To preserve the ancient ways was to foment rebellion." We learn some ways humans are trying to preserve the ancient ways in the face of terrible repercussions.

I just love this author.

Read it here: https://www.flashfictiononline.com/article/the-recipe-keeper/

A brave, clever little girl figures out how to get a letter to the underworld.

A maintenance crew member has to figure out what a noise is that is coming from the duct system.

Loved it. Will read again someday.

If you LOVE cats, don't miss it! You'll likely wish you were the MC.

Audio available on Overcast #153

An attempt to listen to this was made but it was revealing itself as outside my interest and the narrator's voice wasn't working for me. YMMV

Victorian era, rough roller derby, alien in human flesh.

https://mermaidsmonthly.com/2021/11/28/field-trip-to-the-museum/

Mermaids Monthly emag is new to me. I browsed their back catalog and picked some out.
I'm not much of a poem reader but I do enjoy Beth Cato's work, so I gave it a go. It's a quick read and more of a story vs. a poem IMHO.

It was a naughty girl that went on the field trip depending on who is deciding.

I knew next to nothing about steampunk, other than the fact that it attracts a devoted following and looks like a really interesting genre. I wasn't even completely certain how attracted I would be once I truly explored it, but, finding the visual aesthetic appealing in the handful of films I've watched, and the conventions that some friends attend, I wanted to explore what steampunk was like on the printed page, how it played out in deeper story-telling. The Clockwork Dagger seemed a popular choice, so I decided to make it my entry point.

This is Beth Cato's first full-length novel, and we all know that first novels deserve a certain understanding in some areas. Many authors are still finding their voice with that first publication, and so some faults are to be expected. That said, I was impressed with how strongly our protagonist, Octavia Leander’s, voice came through. I could hear this character speaking clearly on the first page, the cadences and tone of her voice clear in my perception, and growing clearer with each chapter. I'm quite impressed with how Cato developed Leander through the course of these 200 pages, and I felt that I had met a character that I truly knew by the time I closed the book. The other primary characters receive an equally just treatment..all are developed thoroughly and carefully. Occasionally, a piece of reflective or introspective dialogue felt forced, but this was rare, and ultimately never broke my suspension of disbelief. The greatest strength of Cato's writing in this debut is the care with which she permits her characters to come to life. This is accomplished in no small regard due to her handling of the language, which is clever and inventive, merging well a period piece and modern language as seems a requirement for this genre.

Second would be the world-building. This novel is as steampunk as they come. We're introduced to a nice balance of Victorian dialogue, whirring machinations and inventions, magical spells and curses, and a mystery playing out aboard a dirigible. I was surprised by the magical components of the book...surprised in a good way. It's just that I hadn't really known how much a part of steampunk that magic is, but there you have it...this was a part of my education. I’m actually surprised with the depth of complexity that Cato captures in this world, given that the novel is relatively concise in length, but every nuance of the political structure, the economic issues between nations, and an industrial revolution run amok in war are designed with each detail considered and completely working. The warring nations and corrupt leadership form a fascinating backdrop to the story, without becoming overly didactic in their metaphor.

What Cato tackles head-on in this work is the seeming conflict between faith and science.

Octavia Leander, you see, is a medician...a healer who understands the natural ways to heal that the earth provides, as well as possessing magical means of mending broken people. More than this, these magical abilities are derived from a religious faith, a faith in the Lady and her Tree. Legend holds that the Lady received her power after asking God for the ability to heal more people, and the medicians follower her order. Octavia is ridiculed by many who trust in the rapid new technological developments of the age, yet her abilities cannot be questioned. She is a gifted healer, perhaps the most gifted known in recent memory, and it is for this reason that she is hunted. Most simply end up accepting her abilities with some awe, while concluding that such a path is not for them, thus walking away and attempting to reconcile the visible effects of an unseen faith with the measurable, quantifiable and tactile world of technological advances around them. That reconciliation seems to occur on mostly a surface level, never delved into too deeply...just as in our culture today. I think that this faith in a more ancient knowledge is the thesis of the novel, and what I especially appreciate is that Cato handles it adeptly without ever leaving the reader groaning or resentful. She never develops this into any sort of theology. She is content with the imagery that she is presenting, and it does its job well.

There's a romantic sub-plot that the book could simply live without. Each development in this regard feels forced and un-natural, and, on the rare occasions in which I did feel that something was out of place, it was in those moments. That said, I have no interest (and barely any tolerance) for the romantic genre, so this could just be my own clouded perceptions, and I'm willing to own that.

The ending feels a bit...stretched...but not to a point in which I feel anything is lost. Simply, proportions of things seem to become very large and epic very quickly, an abrupt step from the heavily interpersonal plot that Cato has developed up to that point. I think that it would have worked better with a bit more transition, but, while trying to avoid spoilers, I’ll say that this could also be seen as a device to further her emphasis on the power of faith.

I expected steampunk to be a bit of escapism, as it has always felt a bit whimsical in my previous (brief) experiences. I certainly didn’t expect it to deal with something deeper and thought-provoking, but I was pleasantly surprised here. I’m certain that, if you’re already a fan, this is already on your list or on your shelf. If, like me, you’re just exploring what this whole thing is all about, then this is a good first read…the kind of novel that stays with for a bit after you’ve finished. I think Cato’s future works will get better, but I’m glad that I’ve met Octavia Leander.

DNF p.200. This just failed.

In general, I'm a fan of Beth Cato, although she walks the line of too much stuff going on to the detriment of the story. However, I definitely feel like her writing just keeps getting better and better, so this is an exciting new world from her.

Very original, very interesting weaving of San Francisco history with a magical influences and I like the pointed exaggeration of the brutal havoc caused by colonialism in India and China, and the oppression of Chinese immigrants to the US-- not that her world exaggerates the reality all that much, but that the alternative history is set up to focus on it in a way that most history books do not.

I appreciate the diversity of the characters (asian, hawaiian, unknown, trans) the strong heroine, the interesting the magics (geomancers!) and the airships (yay). I like both the compassion displayed and the thorny-ness of the problems they face. Also, btw, kick-ass adventure. I can't wait to see where this goes next.

Finally a steampunk novel that doesn't let the setting get in the way of the storytelling! Set mostly on a zepplin, in a dystopian, war-torn kingdom, with all the gears and fashion one could hope for, the book focuses on a young girl with a healing gift who is suddenly catapulted into a web of intrigue. The only goofy thing about it is the term "clockwork dagger" and I can forgive that easily if I get to find out what happens next. Pleasing, also, in that one adventure thoroughly wraps up, leaving space for the next chapter, but not a cliffhanger.

I had a hard time getting into it and had to give myself a "trust the author" pep talk. It led me in some surprising ways but overall, the story didn't hit my sweet spots.

A "xenoarbitrator" (mediates between different species) gets hired to investigate a murder (this is not her line of work). So we got the murder mystery, it's off planet so it's also SF, then where her investigation takes her is pure Fantasy. She also has a "felizard" perched atop her head that speaks telepathically.... It was just a bit much for me.

Eh, 2.5 stars.

That amazing cover was done by Kazuhiko Nakamura. It's gorgeous IMO. Beth Cato must have been pumped!


Another he has done is here:
https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/artbio_38/

There are 34 shorts/poems in this collection. I will read them all but so far only read/listened to:

-- Bread of Life (2015) short story
Loved it. Very clever. And Beth always includes a bit of baking and this one features baked bread right up front and bold.

-- Clouds Gleam Across Her Eyes (2019) flash fiction - 5*
Not in this book but available on DSF.com: https://dailysciencefiction.com/fantasy/fantasy/beth-cato/clouds-gleam-across-he......
Lovely! A mother's love mixed into a fantasy story. I don't know if I'd recommend to everyone but it got me in the feels. Comment made by this author but not in this book: "So many stories focus on the Chosen One. I'm a mom. I'm interested in what the mom thinks about all this destiny nonsense. Even as a kid, though, I found that aspect of Terminator 2 to be the most fascinating by far. What can a mom do to prepare their child for what is to come? At what point does it become abusive? I wanted to study that dilemma, but through the perspective of a portal fantasy rather than apocalyptic sci-fi. "

-- Beat Softly, My Wings of Steel (2016) short story - 2*
Available from Podcastle.org
Two countries at war. If you catch the soul of a dead horse you can make a Pegasus, steampunk style. The soul she caught was human, therefore a surprise.

-- Maps (2013) - 3*
Available on DSF.com
I think the story spoke more to the author then it did for me.
Here are her notes about it which make perfect sense after you read the story:
This story came together surprisingly fast for me, I think because my own personal experience factored in. I've been stuck on maps of my own creation for years at a time, where life looked like an old-school, dungeon-crawler video game. Go left, right, straight. Find treasure. Monsters can attack the front or flank. Go on. But real life--fully lived life--is scarier and much more vulnerable. There's a lot more treasure to be found, but those monsters can attack from every which way.

-- A Lonesome Speck of Home (2013) short story - 4.5*
Available on StarShipSofa #414 Narrated by: Krista Sorta (also available on podcastle and viewable online)
That was a fun story. I'd like to read it to a grandchild someday.
The last man still living in his destroyed neighborhood is our MC and he is witnessing regular fights between 2 giant aliens. The government can't help so after another alien lies in the desert destroyed, he goes to investigate with the help of his grandson. What he discovers is really going on is quite entertaining and his 80 years of life experience helps him navigate what needs to be done.

! If you like this kind of story, make sure you google for and read INSTRUCTIONS by Bob Leman !

-- Toilet Gnomes at War (2012) short story - The Overcast #133 Narrated by J.S. Arquin - 3*
Grandma is in the hospital and there is an issue at her house. There is an issue with the "toilet gnomes". Takes her granddaughter a bit to figure it out and the reason is adorable. (Idky they are called "toilet" gnomes)

-- Cartographer's Ink (2012) short story DSF.com - DNF
I tried to listen on a podcast (Far-Fetched Fables #119, narrated by Martin Reyto I think)
The audio production wasn't very good, an older gentleman which isn't the issue, the issue is he sounded like he was speaking into a tin can. I struggled to hear all the words and eventually lost interest. I don't really understand the "world" but I think I can say, an older man who is suffering from hand arthritis maybe, is procrastinating on his duties with adding magic lines to maps. (that part I definitely couldn't understand). When he finally gets to the map room he sees he's been having some help.

-- Overlap (2012) short story - 3*
StarShipSofa #464, Narrated by: Christiana Ellis
A brilliant scientist without much money is trying to win a contest for money, a job, etc... . She records her experiment according to all the rules but unfortunately the results make her miss the deadline but I believe she made out just fine.

-- Red Dust and Dancing Horses (2012) short story - Escape Pod #464, Read by Marguerite Kenner - 2.5*
Some of the details are fading a bit because I wasn't too fond of the story. iirc it is set in the far future where horses are extinct and some people live on Mars or perhaps it's just that there are no horses on Mars. A young girl living on Mars loves horses and ends up making a clockwork one. Not as beautiful as the one on the cover but it's ridable. Somehow the taxidermized horse of Roy Rogers is there. Trigger was loved when he was alive but forgotten about some time after his death. The little girl vows to get people to remember.

-- Hat Trick (2013) short story Cast of Wonders #183, narrated by Rachael K. Jones - 2*
Not my reading interest but the "mom", in this author of course would write it. A lesson about not needing super powers to be awesome. I already learned this in the movie Sky High /s

-- Stitched Wings (2013) short story - The Overcast #27, Read by J.S. Arquin - 3*
It's a good story. Has all the right stuff but I want to read stories with adult MCs so my enjoyment was limited. ymmv.
A young girl finds a fairy in a trap outside her home. As the story progresses we learn who is setting the traps and why.
Author notes which I enjoyed: As far as I'm concerned, everything is better with a dash of magic.... Oh yes and some baked goods too. I had to add some important little cakes to my plot. And, that is one of the reasons I love her!

-- Headspace (2015) short story - The Overcast #153, Read by Steve Quinn - 5*
A maintenance crew member has to figure out what a noise is coming from the duct system. Loved it. Will keep and listen again some day. If you LOVE cats, don't miss it! You'll likely wish you were the MC.

To Read, hidden under spoiler
- The Souls of Horses (2016) short story
- What We Carry (2013) poem
- Hunter (2013) poem
- The Death of the Horse (2016) poem
- What Happened Among the Stars (2015) poem
- Biding Time (2009) short story Toatsted Cake #45
- Blue Tag Sale (2012) short story
- Nisei (2014) poem
- Minor Hockey Gods of Barstow Station (2016) short story
- An Echo in the Shell (2013) short story
- 213 Myrtle Street (2012) short story - Toasted Cake #122
- The Human Is Late to Feed the Cat (2016) short story
- The Sweetness of Bitter (2013) short story
- Post-Apocalyptic Conversations with a Sidewalk (2014) short story
- A Dance to End Our Final Day (2011) short story
- La Rosa Still in Bloom (2011) short story
- A Recipe for Rain and Rainbows (2010) short story
- Bread of Life (2015) short story
- My Brother's Keeper (2015) short story
- Deeper Than Pie (2016) poem
- Maps (2013) short story DSF.com
- Moon Skin (2016) short story
- The Cartography of Shattered Trees (2014) short story
- Roots, Shallow and Deep (2015) short story
- The Quest You Have Chosen Defies Your Fate (2015) short story DSF.com - Far Fetched Fables #119 Narrated by Geoffrey Welchman I think

Toasted Cake podcast.

Suppose to be humorous and make you think your real cat is actually something ancient because "it does all these things" and "you do all these things."

Nope my cat is a regular cat, you can't trick me.

I liked Avi's story BORED TOM in Strange Happenings: Five Tales of Transformation

Loved it. Very clever. And Beth always includes a bit of baking and this one features baked bread right up front and bold.