Story in Review: The Charismatics by Ashley Carlson

After I read Merry’s story in It Begins Here, I had to read more about the world of Shinery. The Charismatics by Ashley Carlson is a whirlwind of a first novel, introducing characters, places, and plot lines that I’ve not found elsewhere. It’s a steampunk fantasy with dystopian flair, but filled less with extensive descriptions of the surroundings, and more about the main character, Ambrose, as she learns who she is and what she has to do to make the world right again.

Favorite Quotes:

“I’ve never stood up to him before—anyone, really—and it feels good.”

“Any filter I possess goes right out the window when I get emotional, always ending with me saying the wrong thing.”

“I realize that part of the reason I’m so drawn to him is because he reminds me of the sun; warm and bright. Someone who could light up the corners of my dark, lonely world.”

“I wonder if hearts can literally break inside one’s body, because if so, mine just might.”

What made this a good story? Everything was new! I really felt that Carlson was breaking some new ground, at least compared to what I read before. The plot moved quickly ahead, revealing backstories as necessary, creating a mystery and then moving forward toward solving it. Toward the end of the novel, there are a quite a few strands of suspense layered on top of one another as the story builds, until a moment of clarity for Ambrose brings what she has to do into sharp focus.

What could have made this a better story? I felt that some of the terminology and geographical names could have use a little bit more of an explanation at the beginning of the book. The world is a wholly new one, and I think having a small glossary or even slightly more in-text explanation of terms like “denizen” and “companion” – as they fit into this novel – would have been helpful from the get-go.

So… do you think you’ll read The Charismatics by Ashley Carlson?

Have you ever read a self-published novel that you fell in love with? Who is your favorite Indie author? I’d like to read it!