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Still the Sun
An ancient machine holds the secrets of a distant world’s past for two intimate strangers in the latest romantic fantasy adventure by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.
Pell is an engineer and digger by trade—unearthing and repairing the fascinating artifacts left behind by the mysterious Ancients who once inhabited the sunbaked planet of Tampere. She’ll do anything to help the people of her village survive and to better understand the secrets of what came before.
Heartwood and Moseus are keepers of a forbidding tower near the village of Emgarden. Inside are the remnants of complex machines the likes of which Pell has never seen. Considering her affinity for Ancient tech, the keepers know Pell is their only hope of putting the pieces of these metal puzzles together and getting them running. The tower’s other riddle is Heartwood himself. He is an enigma, distant yet protective, to whom Pell is inexplicably drawn.
Pell’s restoration of this broken behemoth soon brings disturbing visions—and the discovery that her relationship to it could finally reveal the origins of the towers’ strange keepers and the unfathomable reason the truth has been hidden from her.
Pell is an engineer and digger by trade—unearthing and repairing the fascinating artifacts left behind by the mysterious Ancients who once inhabited the sunbaked planet of Tampere. She’ll do anything to help the people of her village survive and to better understand the secrets of what came before.
Heartwood and Moseus are keepers of a forbidding tower near the village of Emgarden. Inside are the remnants of complex machines the likes of which Pell has never seen. Considering her affinity for Ancient tech, the keepers know Pell is their only hope of putting the pieces of these metal puzzles together and getting them running. The tower’s other riddle is Heartwood himself. He is an enigma, distant yet protective, to whom Pell is inexplicably drawn.
Pell’s restoration of this broken behemoth soon brings disturbing visions—and the discovery that her relationship to it could finally reveal the origins of the towers’ strange keepers and the unfathomable reason the truth has been hidden from her.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2024
About the author
Charlie N. Holmberg
48 books8,006 followersCharlie N. Holmberg is an award-winning, best-selling, and internationally published author of fantasy and romantic fiction. She was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters, who also have boy names. She is a BYU alumna, plays the ukulele, owns too many pairs of glasses, and finally adopted a dog. She currently lives with her family in Utah. Visit her at www.charlienholmberg.com.
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July 11, 2024February 2024
I almost don't even care about the summeries anymore.
Charlie N. Holmberg releases a new book - I read it. Indulge it. No questions asked.
Is it my kind of genre? Does the synopsis catch me? - it hardly matters. Charlie N. Holmberg is always a win (for me) and with everything of hers, that I have read, I have never been disappointed - She always captures me thoroughly and she is a master at making me FEEL.
Characters, world-building, emotions, sacrifices - Always amazing!
EDIT
July 2024
Charlie Holmberg is one of two, of my very favourite authors. I Absolutely loves her works, her characters who can be anything - unique, strict, complicated, quiet, mysterious, but all so full of heart.
Still the Sun is very much a dystopian tale, with gears and machines, mystery and even spiritual vibes.
And I adore Holberg for being able to create these more quiet men, who are comfortable in their skin, with no trace of toxic masculinity.
Should I be totally honest, I think this book is the first of Charlie Holmbergs that didn't quite capture me. And that's okay.
I didn't really connect with Pell, the main character, and I didn't feel much of the romance of the story. However, I appreciate the little hints thrown about. I liked the mystery and to see it unfold - the hidden agenda. Heartwoods actions and behaviour around Pell, the society of Emgarden and the setting.
This story was different. Holmberg has an ability to stretch beyond the norm, like Star Mother and The Hanging City, both of which I also see as different, but those worked more with my feelings and had stories that captivated me.
It might be a matter of taste (And I DID have a severe headache for 2 of the 3 days I read this. The first day being so bad it even hurt my teeth and I was nauseous - that could also be quite the hindrance), but I acknowledge her talent for create and narrate. Her fantasy and imagination are incredible and I am very much ready for the next book she will release! Just because Still the Sun and I didn't vibe, doesn't mean she lost me - I will forever be eager for a new release from Charle N. Holmberg!
I almost don't even care about the summeries anymore.
Charlie N. Holmberg releases a new book - I read it. Indulge it. No questions asked.
Is it my kind of genre? Does the synopsis catch me? - it hardly matters. Charlie N. Holmberg is always a win (for me) and with everything of hers, that I have read, I have never been disappointed - She always captures me thoroughly and she is a master at making me FEEL.
Characters, world-building, emotions, sacrifices - Always amazing!
EDIT
July 2024
Charlie Holmberg is one of two, of my very favourite authors. I Absolutely loves her works, her characters who can be anything - unique, strict, complicated, quiet, mysterious, but all so full of heart.
Still the Sun is very much a dystopian tale, with gears and machines, mystery and even spiritual vibes.
And I adore Holberg for being able to create these more quiet men, who are comfortable in their skin, with no trace of toxic masculinity.
Should I be totally honest, I think this book is the first of Charlie Holmbergs that didn't quite capture me. And that's okay.
I didn't really connect with Pell, the main character, and I didn't feel much of the romance of the story. However, I appreciate the little hints thrown about. I liked the mystery and to see it unfold - the hidden agenda. Heartwoods actions and behaviour around Pell, the society of Emgarden and the setting.
This story was different. Holmberg has an ability to stretch beyond the norm, like Star Mother and The Hanging City, both of which I also see as different, but those worked more with my feelings and had stories that captivated me.
It might be a matter of taste (And I DID have a severe headache for 2 of the 3 days I read this. The first day being so bad it even hurt my teeth and I was nauseous - that could also be quite the hindrance), but I acknowledge her talent for create and narrate. Her fantasy and imagination are incredible and I am very much ready for the next book she will release! Just because Still the Sun and I didn't vibe, doesn't mean she lost me - I will forever be eager for a new release from Charle N. Holmberg!
June 7, 2024
Wow. Just wow. I could not put this book down. Every word played out like a movie in my head, and I Devoured it. Holmberg always comes up with the most magical worlds, and this one is something I never could have fathomed.
I loved Pell and her little village. I loved the way her mind worked and all the little Easter eggs that were strung throughout the story. More than anything, I loved how this story unfolded, unfurling its secrets bit by bit until I was sucked in and unable to let go.
Heartwood had me intrigued from the very beginning. I loved how Casnia was portrayed and I love even more the reason behind it. Each of the characters were wonderful and I wish there was more. I would love to see a little more, a glimpse into the future to see how it all turned out after the end—partially because I think there is more story to tell, but mostly because I’m not ready to let it go.
Sigh. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time to come.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I loved Pell and her little village. I loved the way her mind worked and all the little Easter eggs that were strung throughout the story. More than anything, I loved how this story unfolded, unfurling its secrets bit by bit until I was sucked in and unable to let go.
Heartwood had me intrigued from the very beginning. I loved how Casnia was portrayed and I love even more the reason behind it. Each of the characters were wonderful and I wish there was more. I would love to see a little more, a glimpse into the future to see how it all turned out after the end—partially because I think there is more story to tell, but mostly because I’m not ready to let it go.
Sigh. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time to come.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 5, 2024
Let me start out with my standard disclaimer that I am a huge Charlie Holmberg fan. Having disclosed that, let me now say that this book was a huge disappointment.
I'll summarize in a way that’s not too spoilery. Actually, never mind, there really isn’t much to spoil. The first two-thirds of the book is Pell rebuilding the mysterious machine while trying to figure out the mystery of the mysterious machine; plus a romance is sort of hinted at. The final third is the big reveal of the mystery of the mysterious machine with a bit of actiony stuff toward the end, and the hinted at romance romanceses a little.
That’s pretty much the book in a nutshell.
I owe it to Charlie, or well, I owe it to my love of Charlie’s writing to reread this at some point and hope I enjoy it more the second time, because the first time through was a slog from beginning to end.
I'll summarize in a way that’s not too spoilery. Actually, never mind, there really isn’t much to spoil. The first two-thirds of the book is Pell rebuilding the mysterious machine while trying to figure out the mystery of the mysterious machine; plus a romance is sort of hinted at. The final third is the big reveal of the mystery of the mysterious machine with a bit of actiony stuff toward the end, and the hinted at romance romanceses a little.
That’s pretty much the book in a nutshell.
I owe it to Charlie, or well, I owe it to my love of Charlie’s writing to reread this at some point and hope I enjoy it more the second time, because the first time through was a slog from beginning to end.
June 4, 2024
This is my second Charlie N. Holmberg (after Smoke & Summons), and I give up now - her writing just doesn't work for me. The blurbs often sound like they might be interesting and I know they're popular but I've found the two I've read both boring and clunkily written.
In Still the Sun, the setting is really sparse - there's a village with a handful of villagers who do basic medieval fantasy style jobs (blacksmith/inn keeper/herbalist), a tower, a wall, and some mountains that are too far away to get to. We do learn a bit more but it all feels really thin, .
The main character, Pell, is a sort of engineer. A stranger, Moseus, arrives from the tower and asks her to fix the machines inside. The majority of the books is her going back and forth to the tower fixing bits of the machines and trying to decide if she likes the other stranger at the tower, Heartwood. At about 80% into the book, . There's more plot in the last 20% than in the whole rest of the book.
And the writing, ugh: "the discomfort undulates, smelling like cool, moist clay" - what does that even mean?! Or "his eyes... sit atop sunken sockets" - atop? Like, on his eyebrows?? Or "hope dances in the whites of his eyes" - that... is not a thing that happens!
So yeah - glad this was an Amazon First Reads choice and I didn't pay for it.
In Still the Sun, the setting is really sparse - there's a village with a handful of villagers who do basic medieval fantasy style jobs (blacksmith/inn keeper/herbalist), a tower, a wall, and some mountains that are too far away to get to. We do learn a bit more but it all feels really thin, .
The main character, Pell, is a sort of engineer. A stranger, Moseus, arrives from the tower and asks her to fix the machines inside. The majority of the books is her going back and forth to the tower fixing bits of the machines and trying to decide if she likes the other stranger at the tower, Heartwood. At about 80% into the book, . There's more plot in the last 20% than in the whole rest of the book.
And the writing, ugh: "the discomfort undulates, smelling like cool, moist clay" - what does that even mean?! Or "his eyes... sit atop sunken sockets" - atop? Like, on his eyebrows?? Or "hope dances in the whites of his eyes" - that... is not a thing that happens!
So yeah - glad this was an Amazon First Reads choice and I didn't pay for it.
July 3, 2024
4.5⭐️ Charlie N. Holmberg did it again! Still the Sun was so good! It was intense while also having a slow build up to all the answers I was asking myself the whole time. I loved the dynamic cast of characters and the worlds that were created. I struggled here and there with the machine/engineering jargon, but I am nothing but a wee peasant who knows nothing of that world 😂
The sweet slow burn romance didn’t really take off till about 60% but honestly, it was just right 🥰 I enjoyed the romance of course, but it was secondary to the very cool immersive story.
The last 30% packed a punch! Finding out so much toward the end had me mind blown 🤯
Bravo, Charlie!
Thank you NetGalley and 47North for a copy of this book.
The sweet slow burn romance didn’t really take off till about 60% but honestly, it was just right 🥰 I enjoyed the romance of course, but it was secondary to the very cool immersive story.
The last 30% packed a punch! Finding out so much toward the end had me mind blown 🤯
Bravo, Charlie!
Thank you NetGalley and 47North for a copy of this book.
June 5, 2024
I love Charlie Holmberg’s books… except this one. I don’t love this one. I like the idea. It was beautifully written as expected. I just could not get into the story. Too many machine details. Too much deliberate obfuscation throughout most of the book for the big reveal at the end.
I did like the characters and found the storyline interesting… but the book just didn’t work for me. Probably everyone will love the book, and I’m glad. I wanted to love it, too.
I did like the characters and found the storyline interesting… but the book just didn’t work for me. Probably everyone will love the book, and I’m glad. I wanted to love it, too.
June 8, 2024
I stuck with this book to the end, but it never got better. The fantasy world was too preposterous and ridiculous. The conclusion is even worse than I could have ever predicted. What a disappointment and am utter waste of time. I like fantasy and science fiction, but this one did not resonate with me.
The main character, Pell, is a tinkerer and engineer. She lives in a small society that struggles with existence due to lack of technology. There is little access to metals, making tool-making difficult. The planet's sun is always shining directly overhead doesn't move in the sky, so there is no night. One night, Moseus, a mysterious man approaches her and invites her to help him in the tower, a place she never knew was accessible. She is asked to repair the machine inside the tower and in return will be given the scrap metal she needs. However, she is asked to keep her work a secret and travel only when "the mist" is out. There's another man inside the tower, Heartwood, who seems familiar, yet is not. There is also a large wall that is impossible to cross and Heartwood says that his sister is trapped on the other side of the wall and that by fixing the machines, they will be able to open some kind of portal so he can rescue his sister. As she works on the machine, she gets glimmers of memory. Has she been in the tower before?
I could have accepted this whole fantasy world, but when you learn more about Moseus and the machine, you realize a lot of what you thought to be true, is not. I don't want to spoil this for those who might read this book, but the ending (the new reality you come to realize) is just so outrageously ridiculous that you have to say "what the heck?" I felt I had wasted time reading this book and find it difficult to believe anyone actually liked this book. The whole scenario is depressing - people struggling to exist by farming with little water and no tools. I think more could have been done to develop the relationships between the characters.
The main character, Pell, is a tinkerer and engineer. She lives in a small society that struggles with existence due to lack of technology. There is little access to metals, making tool-making difficult. The planet's sun is always shining directly overhead doesn't move in the sky, so there is no night. One night, Moseus, a mysterious man approaches her and invites her to help him in the tower, a place she never knew was accessible. She is asked to repair the machine inside the tower and in return will be given the scrap metal she needs. However, she is asked to keep her work a secret and travel only when "the mist" is out. There's another man inside the tower, Heartwood, who seems familiar, yet is not. There is also a large wall that is impossible to cross and Heartwood says that his sister is trapped on the other side of the wall and that by fixing the machines, they will be able to open some kind of portal so he can rescue his sister. As she works on the machine, she gets glimmers of memory. Has she been in the tower before?
I could have accepted this whole fantasy world, but when you learn more about Moseus and the machine, you realize a lot of what you thought to be true, is not. I don't want to spoil this for those who might read this book, but the ending (the new reality you come to realize) is just so outrageously ridiculous that you have to say "what the heck?" I felt I had wasted time reading this book and find it difficult to believe anyone actually liked this book. The whole scenario is depressing - people struggling to exist by farming with little water and no tools. I think more could have been done to develop the relationships between the characters.
June 14, 2024
amazing, unique and addictive
Charlie really has a gift. I have read a few of her books now, every single one pulls you in fast and leaves you not wanting to sleep or eat until you are done.
This story has romance for those that love that with adventure and intrigue if that's your thing. I really enjoyed this book, it took me back to my childhood, learning how things fit together and experimenting.
Charlie really has a gift. I have read a few of her books now, every single one pulls you in fast and leaves you not wanting to sleep or eat until you are done.
This story has romance for those that love that with adventure and intrigue if that's your thing. I really enjoyed this book, it took me back to my childhood, learning how things fit together and experimenting.
July 6, 2024
Fix the machines, fix myself.
I sat down to read some of this book while I ate my lunch, and when I looked up, it had been 4 hours and I'd finished the book. 😂 What an adventure this was! There are so many twists and secrets and questions that kept me flipping the pages to find out what the heck was going on. It's got a post-apocalyptic, science-fantasy feel that I really liked. The story motif of "something big and bad happened a long time ago and we're still dealing with the fallout from it" is one of my favorites, but here it has the extra twist that our main character doesn't remember what that thing was. Pell is a likeable character that I was rooting for from the very beginning, and she and the characters of this world are going to linger with me for a long time, I think. It's one I already want to read again.
5 stars from me!
*content warnings for mild language, some intensity of the villainous kind, and one fade-to-black scene (nothing graphic)
**I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
I sat down to read some of this book while I ate my lunch, and when I looked up, it had been 4 hours and I'd finished the book. 😂 What an adventure this was! There are so many twists and secrets and questions that kept me flipping the pages to find out what the heck was going on. It's got a post-apocalyptic, science-fantasy feel that I really liked. The story motif of "something big and bad happened a long time ago and we're still dealing with the fallout from it" is one of my favorites, but here it has the extra twist that our main character doesn't remember what that thing was. Pell is a likeable character that I was rooting for from the very beginning, and she and the characters of this world are going to linger with me for a long time, I think. It's one I already want to read again.
5 stars from me!
*content warnings for mild language, some intensity of the villainous kind, and one fade-to-black scene (nothing graphic)
**I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
February 29, 2024
WANT TO READ IMMEDITELY
I just found this and I am now dying to get my hands on it. I really enjoyed The Hanging City and have been itching hoping praying to get my hands on another one of Charlie N. Holmberg's books.
I just found this and I am now dying to get my hands on it. I really enjoyed The Hanging City and have been itching hoping praying to get my hands on another one of Charlie N. Holmberg's books.
July 17, 2024
It was an interesting book. The first half of the book was slow, and I couldn't grip where the book was going but all the good stuff was in the last 50%.
Heartwood and Moseus need help so they asked Pell, an engineer to help put a machine back together.
The author does a brillant job of building this elaborate story, filling in the sights and smells in such a rich and entertaining way.
I always find that sci-fi books do really well as audios and the narrator did a brillaint job of weaving the story into a bueatidul narrative.
The last part of the book is where all the magic happens. The first part is basically Pell figuring out the machines and the two men living in the tower.
I was really entertained by the book as a whole.
4 stars
Heartwood and Moseus need help so they asked Pell, an engineer to help put a machine back together.
The author does a brillant job of building this elaborate story, filling in the sights and smells in such a rich and entertaining way.
I always find that sci-fi books do really well as audios and the narrator did a brillaint job of weaving the story into a bueatidul narrative.
The last part of the book is where all the magic happens. The first part is basically Pell figuring out the machines and the two men living in the tower.
I was really entertained by the book as a whole.
4 stars
August 20, 2024
Would you like to read a romantic fantasy where the FMC is a mechanic/gravedigger? And there’s an ancient tower and then two otherworldly men appear, asking her to fix it? (The hot one doesn’t like her for some reason.)
Do you love the worldbuilding of Brandon Sanderson, but wish there was more kissing? Do you enjoy stories with a mythological feel? Do you want to read lines like “Waste your strength, you corrupted putrescence. I’m coming for you.”?
Then here is a book for you. Charlie N. Holmberg never disappoints. 🩷
(Content: two fade-to-black scenes but no on-page spice.)
Do you love the worldbuilding of Brandon Sanderson, but wish there was more kissing? Do you enjoy stories with a mythological feel? Do you want to read lines like “Waste your strength, you corrupted putrescence. I’m coming for you.”?
Then here is a book for you. Charlie N. Holmberg never disappoints. 🩷
(Content: two fade-to-black scenes but no on-page spice.)
June 14, 2024
What a little treasure to be unearthed. It's a rare alloy of sci-fi and steampunk fantasy.
With this author, I never know what kind of story I'll get, she's that creative, though what I do know is that I will be entertained beyond my expectations. It may start as almost cosy and local, yet it ends up being epic. What a story arc! Me? I'm impressed.
This tale seems to be a cool, undisturbed pond. However, it turns out it's hiding an undercurrent of deep mystery and eerie discoveries. The plot is as intricate and enigmatic as the machines that the main character, Pell, must understand and fix in order to help two men who dwell in the puzzling tower near her village. Through her steady ministrations, the convoluted heart of the machines starts spewing mystifying snippets that will build a truth full of tragedy, sacrifice, love and deadly secrets.
I didn't know what to expect from this book, really. The first chapter set a slow-paced, atmospheric tone. By the second chapter, the mystery reared its engaging head and would never set me free again. I was glued to Pell's mission to pull out the tower's secrets, to fix those incredibly perplexing machines with all their screws and odd parts and unyielding purpose. I had to know why the two men inside the tower were so strange and tormented. So the need to know kept me going forward effortlessly through all the fixing and the growing levels of awareness. What I didn't know is how incredible the journey would be when the plot twists kept coming up and I finally understood as Pell understood the whys and the whens and the whats. Wow!
I loved it. I loved Pell's determination, her piecing together of the truth and how she pushed till the end. I loved the intensely dramatic romance. I loved the terrible, catastrophic, monumental events that fill the final part of the story. It gives me food for thought as to how the author must have planned everything in her head in terms of organisation and revelations. It is a puzzle, a box inside a box. Beautifully crafted.
With this author, I never know what kind of story I'll get, she's that creative, though what I do know is that I will be entertained beyond my expectations. It may start as almost cosy and local, yet it ends up being epic. What a story arc! Me? I'm impressed.
This tale seems to be a cool, undisturbed pond. However, it turns out it's hiding an undercurrent of deep mystery and eerie discoveries. The plot is as intricate and enigmatic as the machines that the main character, Pell, must understand and fix in order to help two men who dwell in the puzzling tower near her village. Through her steady ministrations, the convoluted heart of the machines starts spewing mystifying snippets that will build a truth full of tragedy, sacrifice, love and deadly secrets.
I didn't know what to expect from this book, really. The first chapter set a slow-paced, atmospheric tone. By the second chapter, the mystery reared its engaging head and would never set me free again. I was glued to Pell's mission to pull out the tower's secrets, to fix those incredibly perplexing machines with all their screws and odd parts and unyielding purpose. I had to know why the two men inside the tower were so strange and tormented. So the need to know kept me going forward effortlessly through all the fixing and the growing levels of awareness. What I didn't know is how incredible the journey would be when the plot twists kept coming up and I finally understood as Pell understood the whys and the whens and the whats. Wow!
I loved it. I loved Pell's determination, her piecing together of the truth and how she pushed till the end. I loved the intensely dramatic romance. I loved the terrible, catastrophic, monumental events that fill the final part of the story. It gives me food for thought as to how the author must have planned everything in her head in terms of organisation and revelations. It is a puzzle, a box inside a box. Beautifully crafted.
July 2, 2024
Kind of engineering heavy, but it works. Interesting world. I saw some reveals coming, but a couple things were cool surprises.
All in all, a decent book, and another example of how Charlie Holmberg is really taking up some territory on my shelf. She's a terrific author, and I'd happily recommend anything she writes to anyone.
All in all, a decent book, and another example of how Charlie Holmberg is really taking up some territory on my shelf. She's a terrific author, and I'd happily recommend anything she writes to anyone.
March 6, 2024
I was so confused for most of the book. But I think that was on purpose. The main character has lost her memory, and it comes in flashes. But the book wraps up nicely and all the confusion was cleared up!
August 6, 2024
Three and a half
This was a total surprise and indeed quite a journey for the reader. A world that doesn't know night from day and people who exist in a very strange vacuum. Our heroine has a gift for puzzles and machinery and is asked by two strange men to help them repair machinery hidden away in a tower that truly doesn't want her to enter. As the story forges ahead so too does the sense of urgency but nothing is what it seems and apparently memories are not exactly truthful !
I particularly enjoyed how this also wrapped up and indeed it actually took on a life of its own and truly felt like a race at the end. Perhaps a little slow initially but nevertheless I very much enjoyed this book.
This was a total surprise and indeed quite a journey for the reader. A world that doesn't know night from day and people who exist in a very strange vacuum. Our heroine has a gift for puzzles and machinery and is asked by two strange men to help them repair machinery hidden away in a tower that truly doesn't want her to enter. As the story forges ahead so too does the sense of urgency but nothing is what it seems and apparently memories are not exactly truthful !
I particularly enjoyed how this also wrapped up and indeed it actually took on a life of its own and truly felt like a race at the end. Perhaps a little slow initially but nevertheless I very much enjoyed this book.
July 10, 2024
Solid 3.5 stars for me, I enjoyed this book albeit a little slow at times for me. I think the tinkering of machines is a good idea but a little dry reading. The plot had me hooked though, and I could not predict the story at all which I really liked!
July 5, 2024
Not my cup of tea. There are no animals but there was many mentions of todays animals like cats and birds. It’s a different planet so how would Pell know what a cats eye looks like? It was just too confusing and the author relies heavily of the “fantasy” part in excuse of actually making you feel like your in that world. It’s very lazy writing. Yes I know it’s fantasy but that doesn’t mean you can create a desolate world with a never ending sun, have your characters speak in our Stone Age jargon (or at least what the author thinks of how they would speak without doing research in it - just because you watched a Disney show doesn’t make you fluent in it) but refuse to build off that and rely on telling that it makes sense when it doesn’t. Like Pell and her people live in this village all their lives and some guy who totally looks different that you’ve never seen before storms into your house knowing your name and profession and you just…. Follow him? I don’t buy that Pell “tried before to open the door to the tower without luck” like they would climb in or something? They are literally dying trying to survive??? And nobody tried to travel?? It’s just so farfetched. If the author actually took the time to help us understand why the characters didn’t do the rational things instead of relying on us to trust their judgment then maybe I would finish it.
Just now Pell said “silent as a cat”. HOW DO THEY KNOW WHAT A CAT IS IF THEYVE NEVER KNOWN OF ANIMALS?!?!?!?
Just now Pell said “silent as a cat”. HOW DO THEY KNOW WHAT A CAT IS IF THEYVE NEVER KNOWN OF ANIMALS?!?!?!?
June 5, 2024
Stunning and thought provoking
Charlie N. Holmberg has once again gifted us with a book that is so alien in some ways, and so soothing in it's depiction of daily life in others. I felt somehow connected with Nophe and her group of fellow villagers, even when the story line took me into such intriguing alien spaces. A wonderful book of love and loss, dedication and commitment to preserving life, and our deep connections to each other that make us stronger together than alone. Always.
Charlie N. Holmberg has once again gifted us with a book that is so alien in some ways, and so soothing in it's depiction of daily life in others. I felt somehow connected with Nophe and her group of fellow villagers, even when the story line took me into such intriguing alien spaces. A wonderful book of love and loss, dedication and commitment to preserving life, and our deep connections to each other that make us stronger together than alone. Always.
July 5, 2024
Fantasy is not my genre of choice but I wanted to try something new, so I got this one from my Amazon First Picks. At first, I was frustrated because the writing style made it very hard for me to get lost in this book. I was constantly confused and trying to picture what was happening but I never could. Regardless the storyline is good and I liked the characters I just wish I could’ve gotten lost in this fantasy world.
May 19, 2024
"A mere tinkerer in a village of farmers will do."
Pell is an engineer and digger by trade—unearthing and repairing the fascinating artifacts left behind by the mysterious Ancients who once inhabited the sunbaked planet of Tampere. She’ll do anything to help the people of her village survive and to better understand the secrets of what came before.
Heartwood and Moseus are keepers of a forbidding tower near the village of Emgarden. Inside are the remnants of complex machines the likes of which Pell has never seen. Considering her affinity for Ancient tech, the keepers know Pell is their only hope of putting the pieces of these metal puzzles together and getting them running. But Pell’s restoration of this broken behemoth soon brings disturbing visions—what is her relationship to it and why has the truth has been hidden from her?
Something is missing.
4.5 stars. The thing that I love about Holmberg is that all of her books are unique. I'll say it again and again, pick up every single new book she puts out, and recommend her to others. Even if I don't re-read a large majority of her books, they will always be worth reading even a single time.
Most of the novel is spent describing the puzzle of the tower machines--musing over what they're for and ways to fix them. Holmberg explains the parts and repairs in a way that is (or at least sounds) technical but simple enough (and with enough context clues) to not lose a reader like me that doesn't know jack about fixing things.
While I was continually frustrated the first half of the novel with her flashbacks covering reality (I'm one of those people that needs spoilers like I need breath so this is definitely a me thing to be frustrated at learning at the pace of the character), once it hit the 42% mark I finally felt like we were rolling. The pieces started coming together, you started venturing your own guesses, and when you had alllllllmost everything but that ONE MISSING PIECE...ah, the excruciatingly satisfying FINISH.
This novel really makes me feel Charlie's growth as an author and I can't wait to see what else comes next.
Recommended for the tinker lovers and the "what's happening" lovers especially.
Thank you to Netgalley and Holmberg's street crew for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2024
There aren't enough words to express the magical quality of Charlie N. Holmberg's writing. I desperately need more people to read her books, because I am confident some day some studio will option her books for a movie or tv show. They're some of the most unique and creative books I have ever had the pleasure of reading, and this book is no exception. It's not what I would classify as easy reading; you have to pay attention to every detail and pick up on clues to help decipher what is truly going on behind the scenes. Nothing is ever as it seems. This story had the feel of a dystopian, science fiction novel with a dash of fantasy, although I can't go into too much detail without giving away major spoilers. Sadly, I read spoilers ahead of reading, which took away from my experience a bit. Don't be like me. Keep the mystery alive.
Our heroine, Pell, is a tinkerer, one of the only people in her small village to be able to build things from metal artifacts left behind by those they call the Ancients. With the sun never setting and crops frequently failing, they do all they can to survive in a world that seems to want to pick away at them with every turn. A huge, impenetrable tower resides near her village, and one day when the mists shroud the land, Pell receives a visitor who claims to reside in the tower and needs her help. Thus begins her journey to discovering what is really going on and how their world came to be the way it is. We have two main MMCs, although only one is a love interest. Heartwood is brusque with Pell, seemingly in dislike but what eventually seems to be more rooted in sadness and distrust. As they get closer, Pell begins to have what seem to be hallucinations, showing her visions that could be false...or could be memories. And Heartwood is in them, even though she has never met him before. Heartwood was written in a bit of a gothic romance manner - very mysterious and gloomy, seeming at once to have feelings for Pell and perhaps hating her. Pell was drawn to him, but she wasn't sure how. So this is assuredly a slow burn romance, with it culminating in a very tender moment between them. This is closed door, with just hints at what happens between them. But the kissing along will set you on fire, it was filled with so much emotion.
Highly recommend these books for anyone who enjoys fantasy romance - and if you like your fairytales a little on the dark side, then this author is a great one to read. Her entire backlist is full of that vibe and are sure to spark your inner child.
**I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest review.**
Our heroine, Pell, is a tinkerer, one of the only people in her small village to be able to build things from metal artifacts left behind by those they call the Ancients. With the sun never setting and crops frequently failing, they do all they can to survive in a world that seems to want to pick away at them with every turn. A huge, impenetrable tower resides near her village, and one day when the mists shroud the land, Pell receives a visitor who claims to reside in the tower and needs her help. Thus begins her journey to discovering what is really going on and how their world came to be the way it is. We have two main MMCs, although only one is a love interest. Heartwood is brusque with Pell, seemingly in dislike but what eventually seems to be more rooted in sadness and distrust. As they get closer, Pell begins to have what seem to be hallucinations, showing her visions that could be false...or could be memories. And Heartwood is in them, even though she has never met him before. Heartwood was written in a bit of a gothic romance manner - very mysterious and gloomy, seeming at once to have feelings for Pell and perhaps hating her. Pell was drawn to him, but she wasn't sure how. So this is assuredly a slow burn romance, with it culminating in a very tender moment between them. This is closed door, with just hints at what happens between them. But the kissing along will set you on fire, it was filled with so much emotion.
Highly recommend these books for anyone who enjoys fantasy romance - and if you like your fairytales a little on the dark side, then this author is a great one to read. Her entire backlist is full of that vibe and are sure to spark your inner child.
**I received a free copy from the author and this is my honest review.**
August 13, 2024
I wasn’t too sure about this story at first. It was hard to picture the machines (but I think that’s just my lack of mechanical knowledge), but it turned out to be a very cool and different concept. Love a powerful STEM FMC. The characters were easy to get invested in, and the idea that the love you have for your friends is just as important as romantic love is looped throughout beautifully.
September 13, 2024
Alot of it felt like watching some one read an ikea instruction manual. The last 4 chapters were the best (very much like an escape room puzzle, only the reader doesnt get to hear the logic thinking) if the rest of it was like those it would be atleast 4.5 stars
June 21, 2024
Wow! Loved this one! It was so different and not at all what I expected. But I was absolutely hooked and couldn’t stop. The audio was so good. Definitely a new favorite by Charlie! Such a good one! Loved the world and the characters. Loved how things were revealed over time. Loved the end and was sad it was over.
Romance: fade to black, closed door
Romance: fade to black, closed door
July 22, 2024
3.5
Note: I received an Audio Book from Netgalley in exchange for a review. This was also my very first and unique experience with Audio Book.
I have read and enjoyed many books by Charlie N. Holmberg. She was the first author I stumbled upon when I got my first subscription to Kindle Unlimited. I enjoyed her previous Paper Magician series a lot and was thrilled to get an opportunity to review her latest work, "Still The Sun."
As I was listening to the book for the first time, I struggled to grasp the names, but I eventually managed. The story started slow, with too much talk of machines, making me space out. Info dump, but perhaps it's necessary to understand. I would have preferred a slightly less technical approach, though I was impressed by the knowledge and details the author plugged into the story about machines. The genre feels like Steampunk fairytale sci-fi.
The protagonist, Pell, lives on a planet called Tampere, which only does daytime with a bit of mist instead of night for relief. She is an engineer fascinated by the tech left by the Ancients, who may also be responsible for the barrier surrounding her village, Emgarden.
The initially impenetrable tower near the village may hold secrets to help Pell save her people. The mysterious keepers of the Tower, Heartwood and Moseus, want Pell to fix the complex machine structure in the tower, which may be the key to solving the village's problems.
As Pell sets on the task of rebuilding and connecting the broken pieces of the machines, she is haunted by visions that may be more than just hallucinations.
I was relieved when the story picked up the pace after a few chapters, and the plot twist was exciting. The romance, yes, there is that too, was a slow build-up but in the sweetest way. Will there be a part two? The ending, though somewhat resolved, does give a little hint of more to come, and I look forward to it.
Note: I received an Audio Book from Netgalley in exchange for a review. This was also my very first and unique experience with Audio Book.
I have read and enjoyed many books by Charlie N. Holmberg. She was the first author I stumbled upon when I got my first subscription to Kindle Unlimited. I enjoyed her previous Paper Magician series a lot and was thrilled to get an opportunity to review her latest work, "Still The Sun."
As I was listening to the book for the first time, I struggled to grasp the names, but I eventually managed. The story started slow, with too much talk of machines, making me space out. Info dump, but perhaps it's necessary to understand. I would have preferred a slightly less technical approach, though I was impressed by the knowledge and details the author plugged into the story about machines. The genre feels like Steampunk fairytale sci-fi.
The protagonist, Pell, lives on a planet called Tampere, which only does daytime with a bit of mist instead of night for relief. She is an engineer fascinated by the tech left by the Ancients, who may also be responsible for the barrier surrounding her village, Emgarden.
The initially impenetrable tower near the village may hold secrets to help Pell save her people. The mysterious keepers of the Tower, Heartwood and Moseus, want Pell to fix the complex machine structure in the tower, which may be the key to solving the village's problems.
As Pell sets on the task of rebuilding and connecting the broken pieces of the machines, she is haunted by visions that may be more than just hallucinations.
I was relieved when the story picked up the pace after a few chapters, and the plot twist was exciting. The romance, yes, there is that too, was a slow build-up but in the sweetest way. Will there be a part two? The ending, though somewhat resolved, does give a little hint of more to come, and I look forward to it.
June 19, 2024
Okay, so this is my second time reading this author, and while I want to get into her work, I just can’t. There’s something about her world building that’s just…lacking.
It’s just not thorough enough, so the payoff never feels satisfying. It’s like playing a game you don’t know the rules to, so when you “win” there’s nothing to celebrate (if that even makes sense.) I have just wandered around in a fog with both this book and The Paper Magician, trying to figure out how things work instead of focusing on the plot.
It was free from Amazon this month, so that’s a bonus. But yeah, I’m done with Holmberg’s books. I thought it was just me last time, but I now know that’s not the case.
It’s just not thorough enough, so the payoff never feels satisfying. It’s like playing a game you don’t know the rules to, so when you “win” there’s nothing to celebrate (if that even makes sense.) I have just wandered around in a fog with both this book and The Paper Magician, trying to figure out how things work instead of focusing on the plot.
It was free from Amazon this month, so that’s a bonus. But yeah, I’m done with Holmberg’s books. I thought it was just me last time, but I now know that’s not the case.
May 16, 2024
Charlie does it again! (I feel like all my reviews of her books start that way 😂)
Still the Sun was a stunning fantasy book. Pell was a fantastic heroine and Heartwood and Moseus were so mysterious and intriguing. I loved all the machinery involved, even if I didn't really understand it. 😅
This book felt like a puzzle that I kept trying to piece together, and once it all clicked it created such a surprising finished work that made me want to read it again from the start to see if I could pick things out that I'd missed before.
I don't know how Charlie keeps coming up with such unique and interesting worlds and magic systems and characters, but I will be here to devour them as she continues churning them out.
*thank you to Charlie Holmberg for the review copy of this book!
Still the Sun was a stunning fantasy book. Pell was a fantastic heroine and Heartwood and Moseus were so mysterious and intriguing. I loved all the machinery involved, even if I didn't really understand it. 😅
This book felt like a puzzle that I kept trying to piece together, and once it all clicked it created such a surprising finished work that made me want to read it again from the start to see if I could pick things out that I'd missed before.
I don't know how Charlie keeps coming up with such unique and interesting worlds and magic systems and characters, but I will be here to devour them as she continues churning them out.
*thank you to Charlie Holmberg for the review copy of this book!
June 19, 2024
I did not finish this book. The juxtaposition of rustic farm community with knowledge of advanced technology felt jarring and out of place. I can suspend disbelief often, but having the narrator build a world of little exposure to much of anything, yet know what engineering and concrete are, just seemed out of place.
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