Review: Medieval or Modern? Which is it?
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 06 4, 2014
I think the book was well done. The characters, pacing and plot points actually seem coherent. I was able to finish the book.BUT...why 2 stars then? Let me list the reasons.Is this a book set in a world similar to ours in the past or future or present? Because we've  got a hodge podge of weird cultural references throughout the book. In my experience, fantasy alternative settings should either be medieval in tech and cultural references or advanced to a point that their magic is really advanced science.  UNLESS, it's a world that is modern 21st century that somehow blended the two. The writer never did clearly or even bothered to state that.See this list of cultural references I saw that jarred me out of the story alot:words and phrases used:"Tractor" - not invented until the 1900s"Lunch Lady" - a mid 20th century slang term.- see "cafeteria""cheese burger" joint - again 20th century item"judo flip" - implies Japanese cultural influences. yet Japan is NOT mentioned at all in story."Pink flamingoes" lawn ornaments - 20th century product of plastics and tech level again. Yet in medieval setting."paper plate" - again 20th century tech used in a lunchroom setting"using horse drawn carriages vs having tractor machines that plow the field" - why use one form of high tech and yet still have low tech? that needs explaining or removing."dumbbell" - early 20th century concept item related to health and exercise."clock" on wall - to get that miniature design to fit a wall requires a high level of tech. again 20th century."Rapunzel" of the brothers grimm fairytail was mentioned - Is this Earth? when or where?All these issues bugged the heck out of me. Yet I kept reading in the hopes that Mr. St. Clair would explain later in the book. Like that this is an Earth world, but some great EVENT destroyed much of our tech and people were slowly rebuilding with the help of the rediscovery of magic and science techs were found here and there in the rubble. BUT NOPE. NADA. Nothing was explained.So be warned. If you read this book, you'll notice these odd 20th century references splattered throughout the book.Don't get me wrong, the premise is sound. You just need to get rid of the editor/proofreader and hire someone who would have noticed these odd 20th century references and said "lets get rid of these and use other less 20th century cultural references".I'm sorry, but I have to say: You CAN write. But I will NOT buy unless you re-edit.