The Springsweet (edition 2012)

The Springsweet lovely, bittersweet and vibrant, with strong characters and some nice character development. Zora is sent to stay with her aunt and cousin in Oklahoma, and it's like The Little Town on the Prairie, with magic! And romance! (So perhaps I should describe it as These Happy Golden Years with magic?)

I liked this much more than the first book in this trilogy, The Vespertine. While I enjoyed The Vespertine, neither the romance nor the impression I had of the setting quite came alive for me. But that was not the case here - I loved both the romance, and the vivid portrayal of the hopes and tensions of Zora's new community. The only thing I didn't entirely love was the ending, which seemed somehow teenage-impulsive, if understandable. Still, there's going to be a third book... so perhaps Zora's story hasn't really ended, not yet.

"I think you should tell me who you are," I said. I brushed the brim of his hat against my lips and shivered. The felt was creamy soft, and warm - it felt like the promise of a kiss. "And I'll tell you who I am. Then we can both be sure we're a risk we care to take." ( )

Originally published here

I was going to talk about Siobhan Vivian's The List today, and I still will because I have Thoughts, but then I read The Springsweet and I can't talk about anything else, so that's what you're getting.

Because this book is fantastic. I was a bit worried, in that sequel-to-a-good-book way. Will it live up to the first book? Will I wish the story had gone in another direction? Answer: yes, and no.

After the events of The Vespertine, Zora Stewart has to get away from Baltimore, any way she can. If that means ruining her reputation and being sent to her aunt in Oklahoma Territory, so be it. But in Oklahoma, she will find that she has talents she didn't know she possessed.

Okay, first of all, I love the voice. Just as in The Vespertine, Mitchell absolutely nails the flavor of the language, the syntax and the rhythms, without making it sound all olde timey. It's a book where the writing is subtle, where the similes slip in almost unnoticed.

Second, there's a sort-of love triangle, except that it's never really in question. Zora knows her own mind and the tension that keeps the plot going comes, not from her own indecisive dilly-dallying, but from her aunt's insistence that she do the sensible thing. And the real love interest? Is awesome. I won't say anything else, because I don't want to risk spoilers, but trust me.

Speaking of Zora's aunt, I loved Birdie. The fact that she's not that much older than Zora, that she's tough without being hard, that she manages to carve a life for herself and her daughter (her husband has died). I believed in her as a real person, as someone who might easily have existed at that point in our history.

And finally, there's Zora. Zora who acts petulant sometimes, but who is also putting on act. Zora who's still grieving, but trying to find a way past her grief. She's a wonderful example of a character who feels absolutely of her time, while at the same time being very spunky and easily relatable to a modern audience. I read past most of this at the time and then realized that when she first takes her corsets off, she feels strange, where most characters in historical fiction would immediately feel liberated. She doesn't mind sewing. She's competent, in short, in the ways in which even a well-off girl of her time would have been. And all of that without sacrificing one ounce of agency or strength.

And I loved the descriptions of the magic, which are just pure loveliness.

So all that is basically to say, I loved this book! Go read it!

Book source: public library
Book information: Harcourt, 2012 (today!); YA fantasy

My brief review of The Vespertine

Other reviews of The Springsweet:
Proud Book Nerd
Red House Books
Leila Roy at Kirkus ( )

A quick, sweet, romantic read. c: I really enjoyed this book, and nothing really bothered me.
I'm quite excited for the third book in this series, to see Zora and Amelia reunited. ( )

REVIEW ORIGINALLY POSTED http://hobbitsies.net/wordpress/2012/05/the-springsweet-by-saundra-mitchell/

I read The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell several months ago and I still can’t get over how amazing it was.

If you’ve read The Vespertine, you know how beautiful Saundra Mitchell’s writing truly is – and The Springsweet was even better. I mean, my biggest complaint with The Vespertine was that I wanted to know more about what happened to Zora, and voila, a whole book about Zora!

I loved Zora Stewart. I may or may not have loved her more than Amelia, I plead the fifth. I just thought Zora was amazing and going through so many hard things yet still managed to awesome. And her elemental power things were super cool, and helpful to the community she lived in.

Also, I loved the setting! Old western, Little House on the Prairie like times? Sign me up! I thought Saundra Mitchell described the setting and reflected the emotion of the time beautifully.

Seriously – if you’re looking for a beautiful historical fiction with paranormal elements, here you go! The Vespertine and The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell are some of my favourite books that I’ve read in the past few years, and I am dying to read Aetherborne. ( )

For those that haven’t read The Vespertine, The Springsweet might be a bit confusing at first. After the first two chapters, though, The Springsweet comes into its own and focuses on Zora’s new life on the prairie. Even so, I’d recommend reading The Vespertine first for context. (Saundra Mitchell doesn’t waste time playing catch-up, so be warned.)

For those who have read The Vespertine, you’re in for a treat with The Springsweet. Like its cover, The Springsweet is summery and hopeful in overall tone—it contrasts the darker setting of The Vespertine. Saundra Mitchell’s writing is as beautiful as ever; she has such a handle on writing historical fiction that readers feel instantly transported to the time period. I like that the setting isn’t traditional, either: The Springsweet takes place on the prairie, many miles away from the big houses and glamorous balls we’re used to. I’m always up for a unique setting, and I’m sure readers will love learning about roughing it in a sod house, too.

This particular setting puts Zora in the right situation for some good old-fashioned character-building. Zora was one of my favorite characters in The Vespertine, but I like her even more in The Springsweet. We get to see more of her quick wit and hardworking attitude (which she keeps up despite her sorry state of heartbreak). Readers will enjoy Zora’s narration immensely.
But what’s a historical novel without a dashing young gentleman? Perfectly fine, apparently. The love interest in The Springsweet is one lady readers will definitely fall for, despite his lack of tie and tails.

If you’re looking for a slower-paced, yet completely absorbing read, try The Springsweet. If Zora’s narration doesn’t wheel you in, the concept of a springsweet—and the touches of magic in the story—definitely will. ( )

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: City girl Zora Stewart moves out west to search for who she is and what she wants to do with her life after the tragedies she experienced in this companion novel to The Vespertine.

Opening Sentence: That I went a little mad, I could not deny.

The Review:

The Springsweet is Saundra Mitchell’s second novel featuring the character of Zora Stewart. Zora has been mourning for a year, and can’t find the will to move on with her life in Baltimore. She starts looking for an escape by marriage answering ads for widowed farmers out west, but cannot go through with it once she is faced with the reality of what that life would entail. Instead, Zora decides to move to the sparsely populated Oklahoma Territory to help her recently widowed aunt with housework and raising her young cousin. I read The Springsweet before The Vespertine, so I did not fully appreciate this book and the character of Zora until I had finished both. This novel is a complete turn from The Vespertine because we now have a new narrator that we had only seen through Amelia’s eyes before, and it is set as far from a city as possible. The strong and eloquent writing style is still very evident in this sequel.

The Zora we see in this novel has experienced terrible tragedies from losing friends, family, and loved ones. I won’t say who so I don’t spoil The Vespertine, but Zora is a changed young woman. She is no longer carefree and playful, but somber and reserved. There is a spark of her former self that comes out when she encounters male characters like Theo de la Croix and Emerson Birch that gets her into trouble with her family and society. When Zora goes to a dance in the beginning of the book, Theo surprises her and she falls into a well. She surprises him by kissing him, ruining her reputation in Baltimore, and catalyzing her move to the Oklahoma Territory. This is a book about Zora finding who she really is after her former life is taken from her as she sets out to make her own way in the world.

Once in West Glory, Zora realizes that her whole life has been easy compared to living in a soddy and hauling water from the well multiple times a day. Her main job is to look after her three-year-old cousin Louella so her Aunt Birdie can take in washing and mending for money. Since travel was expensive and time consuming, Zora has never met her aunt and cousin that she is sent to live with. She learns about them, and comes to understand how much life has hardened her aunt, but that she is still kind. The girl Louella is a stereotypical young girl who has the whole prairie to play in. One thing I found interesting was how well Zora mothers Louella even though she has no younger siblings or much experience with children that we know of. She treats Louella as if she was her own daughter. This raised my esteem of Zora since it showed that she has evolved to be able to take care of others.

In the vast prairie, Zora finds that she has a talent for finding water underground. The magic within her works so she can see and sense where water is, and her aunt sets her up to find potential well spots on other people’s land for money. Her talent turns sour when some people are unhappy with her discovery (or lack of) on their property. She finds a kindred spirit in Emerson Birch because he has the ability to make plants grow. Zora isn’t new to the paranormal. In The Vespertine, her cousin Amelia could predict the future. Zora and Emerson’s paranormal talents complement each other just like Amelia and Nathaniel’s did in The Vespertine.

Zora has two love interests in The Springsweet. The first is Theo de la Croix, the young man from Baltimore that Zora kissed after falling in the well. He followed her all the way to the Oklahoma Territory to unsuccessfully court her. Zora doesn’t dislike Theo, but she is not interested in pursuing a relationship with him. She doesn’t feel like she would be a good match for him, and wants him to do better. It works out well for both of them in the end. The other love interest is Emerson Birch, the scorned solitary Sooner. When her stagecoach is robbed and leaves Zora stranded on the side of the road, Emerson takes her in for the night and gets her to her aunt’s house the next day. The town, and especially her Aunt Birdie, all look down on Emerson since he cheated when getting his land in the land run. This was humorous to me as an Oklahoman since Sooner is a revered mascot for my University’s rival, the University of Oklahoma. It shows how much times have changed when the stigma attached to the term initially kept Zora from pursuing a relationship with Emerson, and now is a source of pride for many people. Besides being a Sooner, Zora cannot find fault with Emerson. He is just a quiet and thoughtful young man who wants to live his life, and Zora can understand this very well.

The novel ends with Zora making up her mind about what she wants to do in life and she goes for it. In the last few pages, Zora receives a letter from someone she thought she would never see again, and now I honestly can’t wait for the next installment in the series. I would recommend this novel for anyone interested in historical romances based in rural mid-America with a taste of the paranormal to tie it all together.

Notable Scene:

Whim clicked in me, like the pin in a door finally catching. Raising my skirts, I stepped onto the fountain’s wide, low wall and closed my eyes. The water sang now, breathing soft against my face.

A thousand icy pinpoints touched my cheeks, the well-deep chill streaming over me in waves. To the strains of a waltz, I walked the edge of the fountain. No peeking, my imp insisted. My chest felt full of bees, all buzzing wildly as I covered my eyes with my hand.

One step, and then a second. The little danger thrilled me and my senses turned keen. Intimately, I knew the water, the sureness of the stone — I wouldn’t fall in, I couldn’t –

I did, when Theo de la Croix called out to me.

Deceptively deep, the fountain swallowed me entirely. My beaded gown dragged me into the depths, and night, so appealing in the air, seemed a dark cap when filtered through icy water.

And yet, I felt peace. The cold, so sudden, the loss of breath, so complete — I struggled just once against it, then sank in grace.

Hard hands found me. They pulled me from he frigid water that seemed not so much cold as tight around me. It was leaving it that racked me with a chattering, shuddering convulsion.

Laid on the lawn, rolled on my side, I felt very much a rag doll and coughed helplessly when the water drained from my nose and mouth.

The Vespertine Series:

1. The Vespertine

2. The Springsweet

3. Aetherborne

FTC Advisory: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt provided me with a copy of The Springsweet. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ( )

I just finished "The Vespertine" and had to jump right into "The Springsweet". I gave "The Vespertine" a five star review but I wish Amazon went higher because I loved "The Springsweet" even more.
Why? I liked Amelia from "The Vespertine" a lot, but I love Zora. The book opens with Zora grief stricken and 'a little bit crazy' after the closing events in the first novel. Readers of "The Vespertine" might remember that Zora was a fun, flirty, and frivolous girl in that book. By the end of "The Springsweet", she has grown into a woman that works hard and cares even more about people. With Amelia, I always liked her but I didn't always understand her. Its different with Zora. Another reason I loved "The Springsweet" more is the setting. I love stories of the west and fighting for, claiming and working the homesteads. I loved reading about Zora, her young Aunt Birdie and Birdie's young daughter. Three women having to fight for everything they have? Yes, please. Also, Ms. Mitchell's 'voice' is even stronger here. The writing was beautiful in "The Vespertine"...I was sucked into that tale right away. Here the writing is still gorgeous, but its more mature. The story is even tighter and clearer than in the first novel.

I don't think that "The Springsweet" is nearly as dramatic as the first book either. There were some twists but they seemed more mild here. That is a good thing because it fit with the overall mood of the story. I loved Thomas from the first book, but I also loved Emerson here. Emerson wasn't quite the 'dandy' that Thomas was and I think that he brings out the strong woman in Zora and I liked that a lot. I enjoyed watching the two of them meet and get to know each other. I loved Zora's crazy scheme at the beginning of the book to get away from her obligations to get out of mourning and find someone to marry. When Zora's 'gift' shows itself, its almost like an afterthought. The story would have been just as wonderful without the element. Still it does add to the story and puts some of the last bits of the story into play.

As with most of my favorite books, I find myself having a hard time writing this review. I don't want to give a single thing away. I found the book to be such a treat (The Vespertine as well) and I can only encourage you to pick up this series. Both books are so different than any I have read before. I am truly excited by these gems and I eagerly await the next book by Ms. Mitchell. ( )

After her adventures in turn-of-the-century Baltimore, Zora finds herself in an odd place. Her life isn't the same, and there's no way she can go back. To help her find her way, Zora is sent out west to live with her aunt in the newly-opened Oklahoma territory. While the hope is that this will allow Zora to get away from all the drama, drama -and romance -always manages to find her. As Zora gets settled into her new life, she finds that she has the ability to help settlers find the right place to dig for water. Her aunt starts to hire her out as a "springsweet," but in her adventures she crosses paths with a mysterious and somewhat dangerous Sooner, and romance inevitably blossoms.

I loved The Vespertine. It was one of my favorite YA historical fiction novels of 2011, and I found myself in love with the gothic romance tones and the wonderful characters and scandalous plots that graced the book's pages. I was excited for The Springsweet, but something about getting so far from Baltimore just didn't work for me. We lost the grandeur, beauty and high-class scandals of classy Baltimore and are thrown into the frontier. While I thought I could survive the sudden setting change, it was too much. The tone was gone, the gothic romance style destroyed.

Despite this, The Springsweet still had its moments. The story is still well-written and enjoyable to read with a great historical backdrop that hasn't been explored very often in literature. The writing style is simple and straight-forward, and the plot is entertaining. But Springsweet just didn't have the same spark for me as Vespertine. ( )