This fantasy novel is original in many ways. The setting is one I have never before come across in fantasy literature - the start of an Industrial Revolution. And the characters and plot conform to no existing standards either, the author has chosen to forge her own unique type of fantasy and she has done so brilliantly.

The book's lead character is one Mina Cole, an indenture factory worker in the Kingdom of Niune who discovers her fae heritage and powers when a fellow factory slave is being dragged into one of the machines and she wills the machine to break, preventing the death of the trapped girl.

Her display of power does not go unnoticed though, and the court of Niune (who are also of the faery) send out forces to kill her. These forces are prevented from doing so by Duncan, a crippled middle-aged man of fae heritage who then begins to train her in the use and concealment of her powers.

The originality here extends beyond the world created. Where we do have definite 'bad guys', the good guys are not squeaky-clean by any means. The lead character has a gritty past and this reflects on her outlook towards the world and on some of the decisions and actions she takes through the story. You very quickly had the feeling that, although I wanted her to succeed, this was not going to be the heroine you would warm to or take to your heart, but a more realistic fighter who would be willing to sacrifice much to win.

There is intrigue and betrayal here, there is texture to the world and the people inhabiting it, all in all it should greatly satisfy the fantasy reader. The author has done a lot of research in order to write this book and it has most definitely paid off for her.