Muse by Brittany Cavallaro
Feb 2, 2021

I was first drawn to this book by the incredible cover. Once I read the synopsis, I knew I had to give this one a read. 1893 Alternate America where we live in a monarchy instead of a Democracy? Slight fantasy vibes from our heroine, and a queer side character? I was hooked. In many ways, the book lived up to the hype I built for myself, but unfortunately in others it fell a bit flat.

Let’s start off with a quick overview. Claire lives in 1893 America, but in this America, we have the descendants of George Washington on the American throne. (For a country who fought like hell to escape a monarchy, we sure do write a lot of speculative fiction about being in a monarchy.... but I digress.) Her father is a horribly abusive inventor preparing a weapon to exhibit at the Chicago World’s Fair. He believes that Claire has some sort of magic ability to make his inventions better (like she is his Muse) so he keeps her under his thumb (Mother Gothel style.) Things don’t go to plan at the Fair, and Claire ends up basically kidnapped by the young Governor of her providence who also believes she is a Muse.

What I liked:
The premise itself is pretty interesting, and I’m loving this author’s writing style. It read easily and flowed well. My favorite part of the book was Beatrix. Queer inventor girl with a badass attitude who throws herself into the revolution? Yes please! I would have liked to have seen even more of her.

One thing I didn’t love:
Sometimes it just felt like this book was trying to do too many things at once. I’m all for enemies to lovers romance, I love a good speculative/alternative history fiction, and I’m totally here for light fantasy, but at times it felt like the author would just drop one of those threads for a couple chapters at a time and then force them back in, only to drop another. The romance didn’t feel super believable and the fantasy got a little confusing at times, which I think could all have been solved by just simplifying the complex bunch of things being accomplished.

Overall, I enjoyed this one but thought it needed a little bit more. The end sets it up for a nice sequel, but I’m unsure if I’ll be picking it up. I do recommend you give it a shot though, if you enjoy alternative history fiction. Maybe it will be more your cup of tea than mine!

3 Stars

Alternate history, science, female characters with actual personalities? Sign me up! Claire is a fascinating character, and her relationship with Beatrix (who really needs her own series, please) was a pleasure to read about. Sometimes a little hard to track what was happening, but overall a really fantastic read.

Muse was an interesting subversion of the "girl with a magic touch" trope, and though I was not a fan of the (almost instantaneous and out-of-left-field) romance and the politics were a bit muddy, the overall concept was enjoyable and leaves potential for an even more engaging sequel.

I adored the alternate-Chicago World's Fair setting, having grown up in Chicago myself and noticing the real life geographic details that remain despite the change in universe and time period. The American Monarchy idea has been explored in a few books I've read, but I especially enjoyed it in this historical timeline.

The friendship between Claire and Beatrix was one of my highlights - I loved that the girls could bicker and disagree, but loved each other dearly regardless. Beatrix would have been a far more compelling main character, and the more expected one given the genre, but I think the choice to make Claire our protagonist was to add to the overall feminist message that women don't need to be outwardly headstrong fighters in order to be the heroes of our stories.

This was a fantastic, brilliant, weird book. The setting/situation was fascinating and such a unique idea. Cavallaro has an absolute gift for wordcraft.

I didn't particularly care for the main character; she was much too passive for me. She has two choices: live with her semi-abusive father and do whatever he says, or find someone to marry and do whatever he says. Rather, I would have liked to see her take her fate into her own hands and create for herself a third option that included telling everyone else to go to hell. At least that way she'll be the one driving the story, rather than just being along for the ride.

Anyhoo, I love Cavalarro's books, and am ready for the next one.

Well, a 10 day for me is not a good sign of the book that I have just read, but I have to say that the 10-day read is not indicative of how good this book is or isn't. It's pretty good, is the bottom line. It's sort of a steampunk-y, alternate USA history, sort of a rip on our political systems, pro-feminist, anti-misogynist, screw the system, science is real, etc. etc. etc. type of book and it's good. It's a fun read and Claire is a cool character., but the build-up and the relationship between her and Remy, and all the this is this and that is that tended to get a little dry and boring. I dig the world-building and I dig the story as a whole, I just wish there was more there, and then there is the ending.

I know this is a duology (the "new" thing in YA lit) but man, a complete and utter cliffhanger that wasn't really a cliffhanger, it just sort of stopped and that was that. I will definitely read the next book in the series, but this was not the easiest read for me (only in terms of the pacing of the story, the writing is particularly well done and the reading level is right on for MS and HS readers). Cavallaro is a heck of an author and I'll keep coming back for more, even if the story is not really my thing.

I was fully prepared to give this a four star rating...until the last chapter, where almost every character behaved so uncharacteristically that I lost my hold on who any of them really were throughout the preceding narrative. But, I mean, it was okay until then.

I quite enjoyed Muse, once I got into it. I do love a historical book, even better when it's alternate history and I can see all the Easter eggs from the real history. I definitely liked more than I didn't in this one, so let's break it down!

The Yays:

►Very cool setting! I mean, 1893 World's Fair but like, Alt-World's Fair, in Alt-Chicago? Yes please! That is pretty great, frankly. Even more exciting because so much was happening from a technological perspective, with the invent of both auto and air travel, it must have been something special. Also, Tesla is involved. It's just fascinating, even as alternative history (perhaps because it's alternative history, even).

►Couldn't help but root for Claire. Wow does Claire need a better life, stat. I mean, things weren't great for women in the 1800s anyway, but they're even worse in Alt-merica. Women are still property, and Claire finds that her only options are living under her abusive father's rule, or marry some rando and live under his rule. Those sound like absolute trash choices, so you can see why Claire was desperate. I loved her having the chance to get out from under that oppression and finally make her own choices, at least a bit.

►Claire's father can go float himself. Idk why this is a positive, perhaps mostly that I just need to read the sequel in the hopes that this guy meets a tragic end? I hate him. He not only treats Claire like utter garbage, but he neglected her after her mother died, and is basically abusive to her now. Claire finally working against him is my favorite and that's the tea on that.

►I liked the political messiness. This is what happens when you just let whoever happened to genetically spawn first be in charge. It's a disaster, and only a mere 100 years into their little experiment, looks like the American Kingdom is facing a coup. It was a bit confusing at first, trying to figure out who was who (and why, see below), but I enjoyed all the backstabbing and plotting nonetheless.

►Beatrix. Claire's bestie Beatrix is kind of everything.

The Nays:

►Okay but George Washington didn't have any sons. Look, I get that it is alternate history, but when you say that the Washington kingdom is passed on from father to son... and George historically had no biological offspring... I am going to need an explanation at least. Make up a son, Idk. (I guess technically there is a made up grandson, but no details as to the why/how.) But it irked me the whole time, because dude was bummed he couldn't reproduce and now we have a whole kingdom based on him reproducing, so. You can see my distress. Admittedly, this is probably something that won't bother you even a fraction of as much as it did me, so take it with a grain of salt.

►Also, a map would have been solid. Basically just a little more fleshing out of the world in general, is what I am saying. I loved the basic idea, but I just kind of wanted a little more information, and perhaps a look into how places became the way they were. See, the thing that, coupled with the above bulletpoint, made it hard for me to believe was that the entire premise of the world is so wildly different from how our country actually formed. Don't get me wrong, it's plausible with the right backstories and explanations, but with just a couple pages giving me some barebones facts, I had to suspend my disbelief quite a bit.

►'Twas a bit slow in places. I did enjoy the story, but it took me a bit to get into it, I admit. But, it also picked up quite a bit as the story went on, so if you find yourself struggling for the first quarter, it did improve significantly for me.

►I felt like the story should have been narrated in first person, perhaps? This is why: in many, many places in the story, we get little glimpses into Claire's thoughts, little bits that are in first person- her inner monologue, basically. Problem was, sometimes these weren't italicized or really given any indication that there was a change in narration, so that lead to me being confused. And also, if you're going to use the inner thought process that much, might as well just go all-out and do first. That is just my own personal opinion, and I am hopeful that the confusion will be corrected in the finished copy, so it hopefully won't be an issue in that regard!

Bottom Line: An enjoyable alternate history which perhaps required a bit more development, still a solid and entertaining book with a sympathetic main character. I'm definitely curious enough to want to read the sequel.

I have a lot of feelings about this book.

I LOVE that Muse is a "What if?" book. Those happen to be one of my favorites - and this one explores 'What if George Washington listened when they asked him to become king?' And, even more exciting, this one takes place during that America's version of the Chicago World's Fair. But it's not Chicago because when America became a monarchy all of those who wanted to gain or hold on to power began to cater to the Washingtons.

This book is hard to talk about without giving away everything. At the center, we have a young woman desperate to have a life of her own making, not controlled by the men that she finds orbiting around her or the women desperately clawing for any semblance of power they can find. Add in a splash of unwanted romance, a job as a spy, and the possibility of having a magical power and Claire's story is one that is disturbing, engrossing, and addicting.

What sucked me in the most (besides the cool history reimagining) was the language that Cavallaro used in regards to the relationships between women and men. Claire is very open about language of the abuser and the position of the abused. We see very specifically the way men think about the women around them through some subtle and outwardly hostile conversations. It is a powerful reminder of the inequalities faced and the toxicity that comes with avoiding confronting it - and the danger that is possible if it is called into focus.

An interesting twist on American History. Set in the late 1800's using historical elements such as the World's Fair, Women's Rights, Tesla and other inventors, America is lead by King Washington and each territory/state's leadership is likewise passed down through blood. Although I found this story interesting, it was a slow start and I didn't feel very invested in the characters or the outcome. Also, the timing felt off. What seemed like days was suddenly referred to as the same day as earlier events. It all became jumbled. Enjoyable, but sometimes confusing. Just when it started to get better, it ended. Not sure if I will continue on with the series, but still glad I read it.3.5 stars for me.

Claire Emerson has never been allowed to decide for herself what she wants in life. It’s 1893 in the First American Kingdom, and all Claire can hope for the future is to marry a man who isn’t horrible to her. Unfortunately, her inventor father believes that her touch is magical, and he refuses to let her leave. As the young Governor opens the gates of the World’s Fair and people stream into the province of St. Cloud, Claire’s father prepares to reveal the vicious weapon he’s created. But when the weapon fails to fire on command, Claire is taken captive by the Governor and thrust into a world of political machinations with threats around every turn. Worse still, war is brewing between St. Cloud and their neighbor province, and the women’s resistance movement that Claire’s best friend is a part of is growing more and more dangerous. If Claire wants a chance to shape her future, she must choose her allies carefully, learn to control her mysterious ability, and finally step out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

Inventive and fiercely feminist, Muse is a bright historical fiction that’s not to be missed. With creative characters and a thoroughly developed plot that kept me guessing throughout the novel, I was on the edge of my seat as I devoured the twists and turns of this intriguing story. Claire is an admirable heroine as she fights to find her place in the world, and the push-and-pull romance was maddeningly enticing. Claire’s best friend Beatrix is also a fantastic character; a queer, feminist inventor full of courage, I found myself smiling every time she made an appearance. Additionally, the world itself is very well-built. The First American Kingdom is a fascinating backdrop, and the World’s Fair is a fun and innovative setting that made me wish I could explore it myself. Fans of imaginative YA historical fiction novels will love this powerful book.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing us with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change.)

As a major Charlotte Holmes fan, I eagerly awaited this new duology. While I am not typically a historical fiction fan, the alternate history and feminist aspects intrigued me. I struggled at the beginning to visualize this America ruled by a king and to understand the different storylines. However, I feel that the author did an excellent job of bringing together the various elements at the end, and I am anxious to read the final installment.

I had such high hopes for this book, and they were all fulfilled. I loved the intertwining of a revisionist history, a strong woman protagonist, and FEMINISM. This book checks all the boxes for me.

This fun work weaves a tale of an alternate America in which democracy failed within years and Washington and his followers overthrew the government to become King. Centuries later America is different from the one we know and our heroine is navigating the world against women, a father against her, and her hopes against her expectations.

This book was not what as good as I was hoping it would be. I just didn't understand what was going on in most of the scenes.

I liked the concept of this retelling of US history but feel like I didn't really understand it. I definitely had the feeling of being thrown into the middle of something like I was supposed to know what was going on. The feminist vibes were great but the main character was so passive that a lot of the feminism didn't come across as well as it could have. It felt more like the plot was happening to Claire, not like she was driving the plot, and that was really boring. I didn't like the instalove (if you can even call it that) and think the characters could have been more developed.

All that being said, I really liked the last 1/3 of the book. It was very action-packed, Claire was more interesting and strong, and book 2 was set up nicely. I will be reading book 2 and hope it is more like the ending of the first book.

It was a decent read, but at times it felt a little underwhelming. The world-building was probably my favourite part of the story, but the characters didn't quite grasp me.

If you enjoyed the perversity of Brittany Cavallaro’s Charlotte Holmes character then you will enjoy this work. The Charlotte Holmes books take place in a recognizable contemporary world so the author could mainly describe only what was relevant to the plot. Broad strokes peppered with significant details may work for a mystery but that does not hold true for a fantasy novel. I do feel that her world building here could be further detailed and rich. I would recommend it but warn the reader that this seems to be the beginning of a series. It could be a stand alone book, but if that is the case it has an indeterminate conclusion.

This is a beautiful cover and I love the Art Deco vibes to it and it's going to look great on bookshelves. Brittany is one of my favorite go to authors for recommendations for Mysteries, Girl Empowerment, Coming of Age, and so on. I read this and it was a bit of a stretch to finish; at some point either I became confused by the number of characters and which person was with what government.
This is set in an alternative history located in Chicago for the World's Fair. It's a what if America lost and is a monarchy where science is valued above everything else. Our muse is Claire and she is trapped in her father's home where she trying to leave and join up with her brother in the South. War is on the horizon and many people want Claire in their camp for good or bad. It will be interesting to see where Claire goes in the next book..... Thank you Katherine Tegen/Netgalley for the opportunity to read this advanced reader.

Unusual...in a good way. My only criticism would be it would take a mature middle school reader (my audience) to follow this more complex plot. The alternate time & political structure combined with the switching alliances makes this wonderful and confusing.

I have enjoyed Cavallaro's books in the past. This one missed the mark for me though. I felt like it was a little underdeveloped. The premise was really promising but I felt like there were too many answered questions. I'm intrigued to see book two to see if I get any answers to my questions.

Magical realism!! Amazing! I also loved the diversity amongst characters, as well as the plot twists and betrayal aspects. The romance felt a tad rushed but overall was still thoroughly enjoyable!