Hummingbird

This was a fun read for me, and I really needed that after the last few months. Helen Harper always delivers and once again, super happy I picked this up. (It was sight unseen as I saw the author's name and did not look any further. *click*. Sold.)
Since I stayed up reading and barely know the English language right now, I'll say this:
This book holds your attention. It keeps you engaged, and Helen Harper creates a world that you are drawn into. You ignore your real life and important things like sleep and possibly eating.
I cannot wait for book 2.
Now, I'll go catch up on my zzz's.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

In the world of Hummingbird, there are two things known to be true. Mages are the only ones who can wield magic and a Mage can only be a man. However, Mairi discovers that she too can wield magic, in spite of the fact that she is a woman. She works in a small tartan shop during the day and studies to become an apothecary at night. She is a mute, orphan girl, who comes to realize she may be the spark to kindle a true change in the society of the city. There is also the mystery of the "Afflicted" who roam the streets at night and are one of the reasons the Mages have such an iron grip on the city and its population. I ended up liking this novel show more even more than I thought I would. The story is quick-paced and never goes slower than a jog. I liked Mairi's drive to accomplish her goals, and the cunning she uses to do so. However, a few of her decisions felt a tad foolish to me. Why take such a high risk for practically no reward? There were several scenes that had what I felt to be a deus ex machina. That could be my personal bias clouding my view, but it really did feel that way. I did enjoy the mystery elements of the story! I don't want to describe them for fear of spoiling them, but it was interesting to read. The magic system in this story, while one most would have heard of before, was very interesting! I couldn't tell what real-life language the magic language was based on, though perhaps it's based on Latin? There were several world-building details that were fuzzy, such as if this story is set in modern-day or historical? I ran under the assumption of historical because Mairi mentioned breeches and stays, but beyond that, I have no idea about the time period. Also not quite sure where in the city of Glasgow this takes place, but if it's ahistorical I guess it doesn't matter. The only major gripe I have is with the singular sex scene in the book. Why did there need to be a sex scene? Like, I guess it makes sense for a plot point near the end of the book but that sex scene felt so out of place. I literally read it going "Why is this happening? What is the point of this? Is this in here because of the ladies on BookTok?" One of my huge annoyances in stories is pointless sex scenes, and thankfully this book only had the one. Asides from my mild annoyances with parts of this book, I will definitely be watching out for the second part in the series. The first novel ends on a pretty big cliffhanger, so of course, I want to know what happens next. show less

The most unique part is the MC being mute. While there is no complete copout as in some other form of easy communication, I don't feel like the author dealt with this self-imposed limitation very well either.
Everyone basically just asked the MC exactly what she wanted to say so she just has to nod. This doesn't happen every time but it happens way too much and in a much too convenient way to be believable so the barrier never really gets in the way at all.
I can kind of understand the rationale here. While it is of course an interesting challenge to write a mute first-person pov and the author did a decent job, reading about a mute not being able to express herself is probably just frustrating and annoying.
I just think that writing a show more book like that, without an elegant solution to the self-inflicted problem, ultimately just takes away from the story.

The story itself is very unoriginal and stereotypical full of two-dimensional clichéed characters. Bad authoritative ruling faction against underground rebel faction infiltrating and killing the evil overlords. This might create a wrong impression. This is not about assassins or heist breaking and entering badasses. It's more like clueless young adult gets hired into evil people castle.
The MC is painfully innocent and an absurdly idealistic goodie-two-shoes and this doesn't ever change. In terms of character development, I think the author was aiming for more confident but in reality the MC just becomes more stupid and reckless instead.
The plot is plastered full of conveniences left and right.

And while this sounds really bad the very good overall writing quality actually still makes a decent read out of it all.
The ending is the weakest part by far. show less