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Available
Call number
Series
Publication
Publisher Unknown
Description
Magic is out of fashion. Good manners never are. Jemis Greenwing returned from university with a broken heart, a bad cold, and no prospects beyond a problematic inheritance and a job at the local bookstore. Ragnor Bella is a placid little market town on the road to nowhere, where Jemis' family affairs have always been the main source of gossip. Having missed his stepfather's funeral, he is determined to keep his head down. Unfortunately for his reputation, though fortunately for several other people, he falls quickly under the temptation of resuming the friendship of Mr. Dart of Dartington, Squire-in-training and beloved local daredevil. Mr. Dart is delighted to have Jemis' company for what will be, he assures him, a very small adventure. Jemis expected the cut direct. The secret societies, criminal gangs, and illegal cult to the old gods--to say nothing of the mermaid--come as a complete surprise. Book One of Greenwing & Dart, fantasies of manners-and mischief.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member merrystar
Stargazy Pie is a madcap fantasy which moves incessantly from one event to the next with very little pause. It starts in the middle of Jemis Greenwing's story; largely because he himself does not understand his own history prior to the start. As he uncovers information both about his past, his
This is the first book in the Greenwing & Dart trilogy. Although I liked it enough to buy the rest of the trilogy, it was my least favorite of the three. There are many things that are unexplained at the end; as well as many things that are either mis-understood or not understood at all by both the characters and the reader. I recently re-read it and found I still really liked it; I may even like it a bit more now that I understand what is happening a bit better....
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family, and his present, he also falls from one piece of trouble into another. As a narrator he is not tremendously helpful - he doesn't understand himself most of what is happening. And yet there is a sense of charm and humor about him that meshes a rather unbelievable series of events into a fun read.This is the first book in the Greenwing & Dart trilogy. Although I liked it enough to buy the rest of the trilogy, it was my least favorite of the three. There are many things that are unexplained at the end; as well as many things that are either mis-understood or not understood at all by both the characters and the reader. I recently re-read it and found I still really liked it; I may even like it a bit more now that I understand what is happening a bit better....
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LibraryThing member quondame
We are thrown into a backwater with the Jemis, scion of a disgraced father who abandoned his college career after a devastating personal loss. But backwater that it is, the local ground of his home region soon surrounds Jemis in strange and dangerous goings on. Amusing and just different enough to
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whet the appetite. Show Less
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Weird but interesting. I do want to know more about this world - this book is a very narrow view of things.
LibraryThing member murderbydeath
My friend over at Tannat Reads reviewed the second book in this series awhile back and it sounded like fun, in spite of the caveats she shared with me.
She was right about the caveats, and it was a fun read.
The story takes place in an alternative universe I kept trying to plop into the UK because so
And speaking of this world, the author proves here, by it’s complete absence, that a little info dumping can be a good thing. I spend a third of the book trying to figure out what was going on and it kept me from getting lost in the book until pretty much the last third of the story. It’s alternate-universe fantasy – a little explaining would have been welcome.
So. much. sneezing.
The main character, Jemis Greenwing, has had a rather shitty life, in spite of having all the necessary ingredients for a charmed one. It takes way too long, but eventually you figure out that his father was branded a traitor, then a war hero, though nobody remembers that, and his mother a bigamist who went through her inheritance trying to support her and her son.
Both parents die when he’s still young and he goes to university, falls in love and excels at his studies, only to find out his true love betrayed him and his professor flunks him on his final paper. He ends up in hospital sick with a flu he can’t shake, and the confrontation he and his girlfriend had results in such an uproar, he’s run out of town, and while he’s on a walking tour (hiding), misses his step-father’s death and funeral. He’s back home, trying to hide from everyone who thinks he’s the son of a traitor, and working in a bookshop. His memory is hazy, he loses his train of thought, he’s certain he’s unworthy of any kindness, and omg, so much sneezing.
All of this is pretty much all the information you don’t get until about half way through the book, and only then in dibs and dabs. It made it very difficult for me to click with the main character. He was always unsure of himself, scattered, and, well, moist.
But once Mr. Dart arrived on the scene, and to a lesser extent Violet and Mrs. Etaris, things started picking up. By the halfway mark I was reasonable certain – as much as the plot allowed, which isn’t much – of what was going on. Mr. Dart was all the things Jemis wasn’t and it was a much needed boost to my enjoyment. The repartee between the two life-long friends made me feel like I could eventually like Jemis, and by the last third, I was completely hooked on the characters, if not the plot.
The plot came together all too chaotically and rapidly for my liking. I suppose that’s because Jemis was the MC, and not Mrs. Etaris. Had Mrs. Etaris been the MC of this book everything would have been far clearer, more organised, and events handled far more efficiently.
But in spite of all of that, there was something fun about this book. It was quirky, the dialog was smart and amusing, and interesting things happened at a fairly even pace. So, while I didn’t think I was going to like this book all that much at first, I ended it with a desire to read the second book.
All's well that ends with another book to read…
She was right about the caveats, and it was a fun read.
The story takes place in an alternative universe I kept trying to plop into the UK because so
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many of the names of towns and characters, and so much of the atmosphere, felt British. I was never really able to get past this, so I found it a bit difficult to imagine this world.And speaking of this world, the author proves here, by it’s complete absence, that a little info dumping can be a good thing. I spend a third of the book trying to figure out what was going on and it kept me from getting lost in the book until pretty much the last third of the story. It’s alternate-universe fantasy – a little explaining would have been welcome.
So. much. sneezing.
The main character, Jemis Greenwing, has had a rather shitty life, in spite of having all the necessary ingredients for a charmed one. It takes way too long, but eventually you figure out that his father was branded a traitor, then a war hero, though nobody remembers that, and his mother a bigamist who went through her inheritance trying to support her and her son.
Both parents die when he’s still young and he goes to university, falls in love and excels at his studies, only to find out his true love betrayed him and his professor flunks him on his final paper. He ends up in hospital sick with a flu he can’t shake, and the confrontation he and his girlfriend had results in such an uproar, he’s run out of town, and while he’s on a walking tour (hiding), misses his step-father’s death and funeral. He’s back home, trying to hide from everyone who thinks he’s the son of a traitor, and working in a bookshop. His memory is hazy, he loses his train of thought, he’s certain he’s unworthy of any kindness, and omg, so much sneezing.
All of this is pretty much all the information you don’t get until about half way through the book, and only then in dibs and dabs. It made it very difficult for me to click with the main character. He was always unsure of himself, scattered, and, well, moist.
But once Mr. Dart arrived on the scene, and to a lesser extent Violet and Mrs. Etaris, things started picking up. By the halfway mark I was reasonable certain – as much as the plot allowed, which isn’t much – of what was going on. Mr. Dart was all the things Jemis wasn’t and it was a much needed boost to my enjoyment. The repartee between the two life-long friends made me feel like I could eventually like Jemis, and by the last third, I was completely hooked on the characters, if not the plot.
The plot came together all too chaotically and rapidly for my liking. I suppose that’s because Jemis was the MC, and not Mrs. Etaris. Had Mrs. Etaris been the MC of this book everything would have been far clearer, more organised, and events handled far more efficiently.
But in spite of all of that, there was something fun about this book. It was quirky, the dialog was smart and amusing, and interesting things happened at a fairly even pace. So, while I didn’t think I was going to like this book all that much at first, I ended it with a desire to read the second book.
All's well that ends with another book to read…
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
Slightly crazy faux Victoriana set in what's almost a Fantasy distopia - there's been a Fall - and now no-one has magic anymore. But most people lived through it without too much trouble and life goes on. Some hark back to the 'better' old days and try to emulate the graces that magic allowed. And
Jervis Greenwing is a bit of both - he's returning home, somewhat in ignominy after several years studying the culture and influences of magic at university. However a very public disagreement with a former lover resulted in his abrupt departure. He toured various towns and so failed to hear of, or attend, an important family funeral. This was the last straw and refreshed everyone's memory of his ill-fated father and so his quiet home-town is all agog. Jervis is trying to repair his situation with menial work in a bookstore, and the fascinating Mrs Eavis. Not all of his friends have abandoned him, and so he has a few invitations to evening events, one of which culminates in him finding a resurrection of the old beliefs. A cult is re-instating ritual sacrifice to the Old Gods. Jervis is pretty sure there isn't actually any such power, but he's not quite sure what to do about it.
The world is a little odd, with an almost amusing high adherence to a courtly manners present at all levels of society, hence Jervis discomfort at such a menial position. However he soon learns to embrace the ideals he ensconced at university of a more egalitarian society. Th eplot is very confusing with Jervis not actually knowing very much at any stage, and becomes somewhat embroiled without his knowledge. Sadly this means the reader is left unaware of many details too - there is somewhat of a grand denouement, but a several critical points are still brushed under the carpet. But there's enough joy in the sheer craziness that this can be overlooked.
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some prefer to look forward. Jervis Greenwing is a bit of both - he's returning home, somewhat in ignominy after several years studying the culture and influences of magic at university. However a very public disagreement with a former lover resulted in his abrupt departure. He toured various towns and so failed to hear of, or attend, an important family funeral. This was the last straw and refreshed everyone's memory of his ill-fated father and so his quiet home-town is all agog. Jervis is trying to repair his situation with menial work in a bookstore, and the fascinating Mrs Eavis. Not all of his friends have abandoned him, and so he has a few invitations to evening events, one of which culminates in him finding a resurrection of the old beliefs. A cult is re-instating ritual sacrifice to the Old Gods. Jervis is pretty sure there isn't actually any such power, but he's not quite sure what to do about it.
The world is a little odd, with an almost amusing high adherence to a courtly manners present at all levels of society, hence Jervis discomfort at such a menial position. However he soon learns to embrace the ideals he ensconced at university of a more egalitarian society. Th eplot is very confusing with Jervis not actually knowing very much at any stage, and becomes somewhat embroiled without his knowledge. Sadly this means the reader is left unaware of many details too - there is somewhat of a grand denouement, but a several critical points are still brushed under the carpet. But there's enough joy in the sheer craziness that this can be overlooked.
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LibraryThing member N.W.Moors
This is one of those whimsical fantasies that pops you into the middle of the story without a lot of background to the characters and setting at first. I admit I was a bit lost at first, but I was hooked on the story by about a quarter of the way in. Jemis Greenwing is home from university and has
This is a type of fantasy that I like. The setting veers between Georgian and Victorian, though the land and places are fictional. There is magic, but it's been banned, at least in some places. Oh, and there's smuggling. And some odd religions. And mysteries to solve.
This book reminds me of Alexis Hall's The Affair of the Mysterious Letter. It takes the reader on a wild ride, and I'm happy to continue it in the next book.
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taken a job at the local bookstore. His scholastic career was pretty dismal, his heart was broken, and he's been sickly, sneezing at everything. He's not happy to be home, the place where scandal disrupted his family, but his friend Mr. Dart is pleased to see him, even though things go haywire quickly. Jemis finds a stargazy pie in the town square (it's a traditional Cornish dish, and I won't lie, it fascinates me and is the reason I bought the book because of the title alone). Events fall apart more with cults, fires, mermaids, and exotic dinner parties. This is a type of fantasy that I like. The setting veers between Georgian and Victorian, though the land and places are fictional. There is magic, but it's been banned, at least in some places. Oh, and there's smuggling. And some odd religions. And mysteries to solve.
This book reminds me of Alexis Hall's The Affair of the Mysterious Letter. It takes the reader on a wild ride, and I'm happy to continue it in the next book.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
I'm glad I started reading this series with a thorough grounding of the world already in my pocket, because I enjoyed it enormously. Would recommend reading The Hands of the Emperor first, and preferable a few more in that series before tackling this one. Also, why did I think it would be a
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novella? It's a full size book with several endearing characters stumbling around learning a bit more about who they are. I also love that the universities have separate traditions, like not ever revealing your last name/heritage at one. I'm very much enjoying Mr. Greenwing's story and his journey navigating coming home again after a transformative experience. The pie is also just wonderfully odd and perfectly hedge-witchery, and I really enjoyed the mysteries going on. Not at all sure about the mermaid, but she certainly adds some flavor. Show Less
LibraryThing member bell7
Jemis Greenwood has returned to Ragnor Bella in disgrace, having failed out of his university and broken up with his girlfriend. He works for Mrs. Etaris at the local bookstore and attempts to keep his head down, even knowing that he's at the fore of small-town gossip these days - and that, even if
This is the first in the Greenwood & Dart series, which is more lighthearted than The Hands of the Emperor and its immediate sequels, and was also written earlier. The characters were great, though, and there are hints of a more complex world than we see at first blush. As a result, I was willing to forgive some of the flaws, such as a general lack of "things happening" except when a lot of things happen, and the confused ending that I didn't follow at all. But I really love Jemis and his friends, and I'm curious to see what mysteries they come across next.
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his father, Jakory, hadn't been known as a traitor. Then a stargazy pie randomly shows up on the town square and Jemis, Mrs. Etaris, and old mate Mr. Dart decide to find out where it came from.This is the first in the Greenwood & Dart series, which is more lighthearted than The Hands of the Emperor and its immediate sequels, and was also written earlier. The characters were great, though, and there are hints of a more complex world than we see at first blush. As a result, I was willing to forgive some of the flaws, such as a general lack of "things happening" except when a lot of things happen, and the confused ending that I didn't follow at all. But I really love Jemis and his friends, and I'm curious to see what mysteries they come across next.
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LibraryThing member mikedowd
This was ok. Kinda over-confusing and under explained. Felt like the author was trying to build a really expansive world, but was unwilling to pay the groundwork for readers to really be able to understand it
Original publication date
2016-01-24
Local notes
Greenwing & Dart, 1
DDC/MDS
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