A review by catpingu
Muse by Brittany Cavallaro
3.0
I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't entirely this.
Taking place in the backdrop of the World Fair in an alternate universe where George Washington became the first King of the American Kingdom, Claire lives with her mad lonely father and an adopted sister-turned-servant in a dingy little tenement as he develops some sort of new weapon for the General and the Governor for the good of her little province of St. Cloud. Every success her father has is attributed to her, and every failure as well; because one touch and a blessing from Claire somehow grants wishes. But Claire doesn't want to be an ornamental doll anymore. She wants to escape her father's abuse and have a chance to be normal. Fueled by the industrial revolution and women's suffrage movement, Claire knows something big is changing, but she doesn't want to be a part of it. When she catches the eye of the new young governor Duchamp, she has little choice in the matter. Now, she needs to escape her gilded cage surrounded by misogynistic men and zealot feminists.
I was so focused on what Claire was planning and how she was hoping to leave the Governor, I completely missed! Quite good work, I didn't even know it had happened until suddenly Claire brings it up. I suppose it makes sense considering the tactical approach is to
I argue that the suffragettes' stance here is weak. I wonder if this is meant to be drawing some sort of parallel between the controversy of elections, when some people are forced to compromise to choose one bad ruler of the other over a slim margin of difference.
Taking place in the backdrop of the World Fair in an alternate universe where George Washington became the first King of the American Kingdom, Claire lives with her mad lonely father and an adopted sister-turned-servant in a dingy little tenement as he develops some sort of new weapon for the General and the Governor for the good of her little province of St. Cloud. Every success her father has is attributed to her, and every failure as well; because one touch and a blessing from Claire somehow grants wishes. But Claire doesn't want to be an ornamental doll anymore. She wants to escape her father's abuse and have a chance to be normal. Fueled by the industrial revolution and women's suffrage movement, Claire knows something big is changing, but she doesn't want to be a part of it. When she catches the eye of the new young governor Duchamp, she has little choice in the matter. Now, she needs to escape her gilded cage surrounded by misogynistic men and zealot feminists.
I was so focused on what Claire was planning and how she was hoping to leave the Governor, I completely missed
Spoiler
the coup that happenedSpoiler
revolt when the legal authority is weak, like when Remy was shot. Claire was sequestered with him and holding his hand so he wouldn't die, but I want to know why Margarete hadn't said anything and if she really truly hates Claire?I argue that the suffragettes' stance here is weak.