Book Review: Emilie and the Hollow World (Emilie #1) by Martha Wells

Summary: 

While running away from home for reasons that are eminently defensible, Emilie’s plans to stow away on the steamship Merry Bell and reach her cousin in the big city go awry, landing her on the wrong ship and at the beginning of a fantastic adventure.

Taken under the protection of Lady Marlende, Emilie learns that the crew hopes to use the aether currents and an experimental engine, and with the assistance of Lord Engal, journey to the interior of the planet in search of Marlende’s missing father.

With the ship damaged on arrival, they attempt to traverse the strange lands on their quest. But when evidence points to sabotage and they encounter the treacherous Lord Ivers, along with the strange race of the sea-lands, Emilie has to make some challenging decisions and take daring action if they are ever to reach the surface world again.

Release Date:  April 2, 2013

Age Group: YA

Source: Review copy from publisher

Review:
What a neat book!  Emilie and the Hollow World was a fun, unique read.  It felt like a mix of steampunk and fantasy to me.  After reading the summary, I thought it sounded interesting, but I didn't expect to like it nearly as much as I did.

I loved the action---boy, the action was non-stop, which made the book really exciting---and the world Wells created.  Everything from the characters to the setting was so well-described.  I felt like I was right there along with Emilie.

My favorite thing about this book was Emilie's voice. She was smart, sassy and full of spunk.  I love that in a lead character!  Wells' sharp writing style was the perfect embodiment of Emilie's character.  The minor characters were so interesting and added a lot of depth to the story as well.

I really enjoyed Emilie and the Hollow World.  I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!