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jackiijackii's review
5.0
I'd heard Breath of Earth was great, but when I read its summary, I was afraid it would be too much like Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy, the main character a black woman who gets immense power from the earth. But it was not like it at all, and I'm elated, because Breath of Earth is also fantastic. It's more like a D&D earth wizard being dropped into steampunky San Francisco in the early 1900's, and it reminds me most of Gail Carriger's books: paranormal beings in a slightly steampunk, but still very proper, setting, with a dash of romance and humor. Also, about 80% into it, is one of the goriest scenes I've ever read, and it was so unexpected and such a departure from everything else in the book up to that point, it shook me out of the story for a minute but it was undeniably awesome. Putting book 2 on my to-read list right now.
prationality's review
4.0
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.
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.
brookenomicon's review
4.0
4.5* awesome characters, unique world building in both the fantasy and steampunk sides, can't wait for the next one
everydaymagic's review
4.0
Alt-historical YA fantasy romance. Make no mistake, this book is a romance, first and foremost. It infiltrates every part of the story, in a PG-rated fashion. BUT...there is also an amazing form of magic called geomancy that is _utterly fascinating_ and so well drawn. And the wonderful characters of historical San Francisco that are Chinese, Japanese, American, British, and mixed-race, along with political lines drawn differently due to the influences of this magic. And the steampunk element, mainly present in the airships and their technology (which geomancy powers), which I found so fascinating. This is the first book of the series, and as such, leaves much more left for the heroine and her companions--and their foes--to accomplish. Very enjoyable.
madameaskew's review
5.0
After reading this, I will read anything by Beth Cato. It was such an engrossing read with tremendous characters, a fantastic re-imagining of the past, and a wonderful story.
bethanycrowepowell's review
4.0
A compact, fascinating alternate history with a heroine who has devastating powers that are going to make all the difference in San Francisco's earthquake disaster.
(This review brought to you by a free advance copy!) Breath of Earth is a fantasy set in the time of the great San Francisco earthquake--but in a world where seismic activity fuels magicians and technology.
Igrid works as an assistant to one of these "geomancer" magicians, who is a father figure to her--and knows she has more power than any of the male-only geomancers. She chafes in being sidelined while less powerful men look down on her. When disaster strikes, though, she finds out her power is greater than she could have imagined--and more dangerous.
I loved the concept of this alternate history--the idea of earthquake activity as a source of power shifts the world's politics and the technology just far enough to feel excitingly different to explore.
I also thought one of the best elements of it was not erasing the social injustices and racial enmities of the time and place. Instead they were given new roles that make sense in this context.
Ingrid herself is not white, though it’s not clear what her father’s background is. This plays into how she is viewed, and this both affects how she acts, and how she thinks. She was raised in a household of a Japanese man, and is surrounded by people from all over the world--this book is a great example of using the diversity of the real world in a way that’s organic, even in historical fiction.
I was a little sad that we don't find out exactly what it is that gives the heroine her unique abilities. The book is being marketed as a stand-alone but seems to have room for follow-up, both in that area, and in the things left undone by the end of the book.
I am also curious why only men were geomancers. Ingrid seems to be something else entirely, so that doesn't really make a strong argument against it as merely a societal norm. If there's a follow-up I'd love to see that addressed, too!
The romance was an interesting bit for me--I was along for Ingrid's attraction, and enjoyed that she was pretty clear about it. At the same time, I thought the emphasis on her physical attraction rather than an emotional one was a little ambiguous. Is she non-romantic? I was left with some questions about that, and wanted a bit more to make me sure it wasn't just an unevenness in treatment, but an intentional choice.
Aside from that, the glimpses of fantastical creatures that exist were tantalizing, and well-enmeshed with the rest of the worldbuilding. The book pulled me in and kept me reading even as heavy world-building was going on--and it was a very tactile, fully-fleshed world of magic and reality entwined.
(This review brought to you by a free advance copy!) Breath of Earth is a fantasy set in the time of the great San Francisco earthquake--but in a world where seismic activity fuels magicians and technology.
Igrid works as an assistant to one of these "geomancer" magicians, who is a father figure to her--and knows she has more power than any of the male-only geomancers. She chafes in being sidelined while less powerful men look down on her. When disaster strikes, though, she finds out her power is greater than she could have imagined--and more dangerous.
I loved the concept of this alternate history--the idea of earthquake activity as a source of power shifts the world's politics and the technology just far enough to feel excitingly different to explore.
I also thought one of the best elements of it was not erasing the social injustices and racial enmities of the time and place. Instead they were given new roles that make sense in this context.
Ingrid herself is not white, though it’s not clear what her father’s background is. This plays into how she is viewed, and this both affects how she acts, and how she thinks. She was raised in a household of a Japanese man, and is surrounded by people from all over the world--this book is a great example of using the diversity of the real world in a way that’s organic, even in historical fiction.
I was a little sad that we don't find out exactly what it is that gives the heroine her unique abilities. The book is being marketed as a stand-alone but seems to have room for follow-up, both in that area, and in the things left undone by the end of the book.
I am also curious why only men were geomancers. Ingrid seems to be something else entirely, so that doesn't really make a strong argument against it as merely a societal norm. If there's a follow-up I'd love to see that addressed, too!
The romance was an interesting bit for me--I was along for Ingrid's attraction, and enjoyed that she was pretty clear about it. At the same time, I thought the emphasis on her physical attraction rather than an emotional one was a little ambiguous. Is she non-romantic? I was left with some questions about that, and wanted a bit more to make me sure it wasn't just an unevenness in treatment, but an intentional choice.
Aside from that, the glimpses of fantastical creatures that exist were tantalizing, and well-enmeshed with the rest of the worldbuilding. The book pulled me in and kept me reading even as heavy world-building was going on--and it was a very tactile, fully-fleshed world of magic and reality entwined.
panxa's review
2.0
I really liked the concept of this world, but the story itself fell short for me.
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