Review: The White Pavilion by Ruth Fox

by MK French

Tierra Mejor, a world governed by clockwork, was built by La Relojero, the clockmaker. It has a Pattern and tiers within society, as well as seven major guilds to help the land run smoothly. The people believe in the myth, which is reenacted every year (known as cycle) by the dancers of the Pavilion. Imre had danced it before, but this time she had fallen and attracted the interest of the Prince, who demanded that she be placed in the Citadel within his Den full of concubines. The Prince has many enemies, and Imre doesn't know anything about this sort of politics and intrigue.
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December 2017; Curiosity Quills Press
ebook (521 pages); fantasy, steampunk

The Old World mentioned in the beginning of the novel is our current one, placing this steampunk world in our distant future. This explains the familiar words and professions of the people, as La Relojero had once lived in Spain. There's a very rigid patriarchal and classist social structure that is reminiscent of fantasy worlds that are based on Medieval Europe. The similarity ends there because Imre has clockwork installed in her temple, to help her keep time to dance. There are communication crystals, automatons and machinery to make the lives of the people easier, and the mysterious Brotherhood that keeps the sacred texts holy and prays for the populace. But the clockwork is slowing down, crops are failing, and the knowledge to repair everything was lost generations ago.

As an outsider to the politics and our entryway into this world, Imre is very likable and often full of questions about her world when many others are content to accept everything on faith. And like every good character that is caught up in the middle of a big conspiracy, others feels she is far more important than she does. She questions and is willing to act, which is more than what a lot of the others in the novel are willing to do. The action is fast-paced, and I lost track of time devouring this book all in one shot. If this is a start of a series, and I really hope it is, I eagerly look forward to what else is in store for the characters.

Buy The White Pavilion at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and golden retriever. 

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