Nimira is a "trouser girl" who works as a singer in a music hall for little money and even less respect. When Hollin Parry, a mysterious sorcerer, offers her a position singing to accompany a piano-playing automaton, Nimira decides to take a chance for better luck. When Nimira gets to Parry's country estate, however, nothing is quite what it seems. Parry attempts to build a tentative romance with Nimira even though he has never gotten over the death of his wife - who may not actually be dead, after all. The automaton is rumored to be "haunted" and Nimira begins to suspect that there may be some truth to the gossip. Meanwhile, all of the rumors are part of larger political problems and Nimira wonders if she'll be able to find happiness after all.
This story was interesting and engaging although it did feel rather familiar. The main plot is almost identical to Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, retold in a fantasy world, although it does take a completely different direction somewhere around the middle. Nimira's character is fairly well developed and it's easy to sympathize with her, even though some of the other characters did not seem quite as deep. I was definitely curious to see what direction the story would take at the end of the book, and there did seem to be a definite set up for a sequel, though nothing has been said about one yet that I know of. I would recommend this to fantasy fans looking for something quick and slightly less fluffy, particularly if you want a story about romance.
- If this book sounds interesting, consider these: Cecilia and Kate, Bewitching Season, A Posse of Princesses, or Reserved for the Cat
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