The Native Star

The Native Star transports readers to an alternate 1876 America where magic and technology intertwine. Emily Edwards serves as the witch of Lost Pine, a small Sierra Nevada settlement, where she struggles to maintain her business against the rising tide of mass-produced patent magicks. A mishap with a love spell forces Emily to partner with Dreadnought Stanton, a New York warlock whose formal education clashes with her practical approach to magic. Their journey takes them from San Francisco's Barbary Coast across the continent by rail and flying machine, while mysterious parties pursue a magical artifact in Emily's possession. The novel blends historical fantasy with romance, incorporating both the grit of the American frontier and the sophistication of East Coast magical institutions. The alternate history setting features biomechanical inventions, complex magical systems, and the political tensions of post-Civil War America. This Nebula Award-nominated work explores themes of class division, the conflict between tradition and progress, and the price of power in a rapidly industrializing magical society.

Readers describe this book as a fusion of fantasy and Western elements with unique magic worldbuilding. The romance between the main characters develops naturally without overshadowing the plot. Readers appreciated: - Fresh take on familiar magic tropes - Strong female protagonist who feels authentic to the time period - Historical details and American frontier setting - Humor and witty dialogue - Fast pacing and action sequences Common criticisms: - Some found the magic system confusing - Middle section drags - Supporting characters lack depth - Romance elements predictable Ratings: Goodreads: 3.71/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (90+ reviews) Review quotes: "A distinctive voice in a genre full of copycats" - Goodreads reviewer "The worldbuilding saves it from being just another paranormal romance" - Amazon review "Creative magic system but takes work to understand" - LibraryThing review

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🌟 The term "Dreadnought" in character Dreadnought Stanton's name shares its origin with the famous 1906 HMS Dreadnought, both inspired by the phrase "fear nothing" 🌟 M.K. Hobson drafted significant portions of The Native Star during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), completing the initial manuscript in just 30 days 🌟 The Sierra Nevada setting reflects a real gold rush era migration route, where thousands of settlers traveled through treacherous mountain passes between 1848-1855 🌟 Victorian-era "patent medicines" and traveling salesmen, which inspire elements of the novel's "mass-produced magic," often contained dangerous ingredients like morphine and cocaine 🌟 The book's magical system draws inspiration from both Native American folk traditions and 19th-century spiritualist movements that were popular in New York society