MG Fantasy Early Review: Emilie and The Hollow World by Martha Wells

Emilie and The Hollow World by Martha Wells

ARC thanks to Strange Chemistry

Synopsis from Goodreads
While running away from home for reasons that are eminently defensible, Emilie’s plans to stow away on the steamship Merry Bell and reach her cousin in the big city go awry, landing her on the wrong ship and at the beginning of a fantastic adventure. 

Taken under the protection of Lady Marlende, Emilie learns that the crew hopes to use the aether currents and an experimental engine, and with the assistance of Lord Engal, journey to the interior of the planet in search of Marlende’s missing father. 

With the ship damaged on arrival, they attempt to traverse the strange lands on their quest. But when evidence points to sabotage and they encounter the treacherous Lord Ivers, along with the strange race of the sea-lands, Emilie has to make some challenging decisions and take daring action if they are ever to reach the surface world again.

Release date: April 2nd 2013.

Amazon  US/UK | Amazon kindle US| The Book Depository US/UK(£4.98) | Fishpond

8.5/10

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 I haven't read anything by Martha Wells before and you know that Strange Chemistry titles usually are hit or miss for me, and yet, Emilie and The Hollow World was just as delightful and refreshing as Pantomime.



This is pretty much a middle-grade book rather than YA, and Emilie is fifteen. There are also no controversial or sexual topics, there is no romance, so please do buy it for your child who loves fantasy and adventure without any sort of reservations.

Emilie is a wonderful character. She is a decisive young woman who takes her destiny in her own hands when her uncle and aunt refuse her to go and help her cousin with her school while constantly sneering and berating her for acting scandalous (they keep comparing her to her mother who was an actress or in their eyes - whore, despite her being married to Emilie's father).

Emilie doesn't act this way, she is bright, curious, dreams of adventure and wants to explore the world. She is not interested in boys or romantic relationship. So she ships her belongings secretly to her cousin and runs away planning to spend the rest of her money on buying a ticket on the ship to her cousin.

Unfortunately she ends up on Lord Engal's private ship which is under attack, and it escapes the battle by immersing itself in the sea and moving through aetheric currents to The Hollow World - a hidden second world in the core of Earth.

Martha Wells's description of this world is beautiful. I could easily imagine half-submerged into sea civilisations of vaguely humanoid species, different languages and strange creatures of the depth, - and through it all Emilie with her bravery manages to save her crew and her new friends a few times and help them win against their enemy so they can go back to her world.

Delightful, adventurous and quick summery read. Very much recommended for young girls and boys along with their parents. I'm definitely reading Martha Wells' other fantasy books soon.

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Очень приятное приключенческое фэнтэзи для школьного возраста! Я не ожидала, что эта книга окажется миддл-грэйд вместо подростковой литературы, однако читала её с большим удовольствием.

Марта Уэллс - талантливый фэнтэзийный автор, и это сказывается на её описаниях приключений Эмили в тайном мире, спрятанном в ядре Земли, где убежавшая из дома девочка оказывается случайно, спрятавшись на корабле лорда Ингала.

Решившись помочь своим новым друзьям спасти первооткрывателя, доктора Марленда из рук древних странных цивилизаций, погружённых в море, Эмили с её молниеностными храбрыми решениями поворачивает курс событий на выгоду команде множество раз. Девочка хочет, чтобы справедливость восторжествовала и чтобы друзья воссоединились со своими близкими и несмотря но собственные страхи и отчаянье не останавливается ни перед чем на своём пути!

Лёгкая, красивая и задорная книга, которая читается очень быстро. Советую как детям, так и их родителям.