Review: A Refreshing Paranormal Read
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 22, 2013
I've been reading a lot of contemporary fiction lately, so it was a wonderful change to read the imaginative, intricate world building of Cecilia Robert's steampunk/paranormal work Homecoming. The author calls Homecoming "a Cloaked Devices short story," but I think that's selling this book a little short. Granted I am a slow reader, but I think this is definitely more of a longish novella/short novel, with a satisfying plot arc, character growth, and as I mentioned above, world building.Homecoming is the story of panther shifters Sera and Levian and of how they reconnect after, five years ago, Sera disappeared the night of her mating ceremony with Levian. Levian's twin brother, Tegue, is also a major player in the story, and we soon learn that both the past and the present of Sera's situation are full of secrets and complications.We get both Sera and Levian's points of view in Homecoming, which I appreciated not only because it allowed me to get to know both characters, but also because it introduced me to two very different environments within the steampunk world Cecilia Robert created. Levian lives in Korskan kingdom with the other panther shifters, while Sera has fled to the Outcast City of Varselles--a fascinating, gritty place with underground fighting rings and lots of unsavory characters.It's fun to see how much Sera has changed during her five years in Varselles, and how she reacts when Levian finally catches up with her. There is some steam, I'll tell you that!While Homecoming is satisfying on its own and has a great conclusion, there are still many aspects of this world I want to learn more about, including the Cloaked Devices books Sera is working so hard to acquire. I'm eager to read the next book in the series and find out what's in store for Levian, Sera, Tegue, and everyone else we met in Homecoming!