The Steerswoman

aulacothele reviewed The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein

discovery fiction

4 stars

Content warning light conceptual spoilers

Michael Nielsen writes [about] discovery fiction. this isn't that, but what's most interesting to me here is close. how would you discover orbital mechanics if Newton had gotten his laws down without Kepler? except rather than use your answer—what anomalies does it resolve, what habits of thought and attention would lead you to notice them and develop that particular solution—to understand or teach the subject more deeply, what if you turn it into an extended worldbuilding exercise? sometimes mystery stories feel like they were grown from a seed of discovery like this, and theres historical fiction or 'lawful' fantasy and sf stories in which discoveries are made but usually without microscopic attention to their psychological and sociological unfolding. here we have a hint of a missing genre. what is the aesthetic structure of scientific revolutions?

anyway this is fun. the writing mostly has a good old fashioned genre fiction feel except the two main characters are women. (uh let me check something real quick "10 Works in Bel/Rowan (Steerswoman)" alright.) the discovery fiction aspect is more novel and nicely done if sometimes a bit belabored. I'll probably read the next one eventually

ju reviewed The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein

A quite brilliant introduction to something very very original

4 stars

So, take a few fantasy tropes (wizards, dragons, barbarians...), twist them a bit (two smart women travelling together, one of them a barbarian), add an interesting take on magic and knowledge and who has it and shares it -- or not, and you would have already a pretty interesting novel. But the author adds a deeper layer with hints and unsettling details, and a few more obvious clues near the end, and suddenly you're not entirely sure what story you've been reading. I think I'll get on the three following books, because I've grown very curious about how it will all be explained. So no, there won't be a lot of answers at the end of this one, which is frustrating. But it's a quite brilliant introduction to something very very original.

Robert Fromont reviewed The steerswoman. by Rosemary Kirstein

A seemingly classic quest across a land of wizards and dragons might not be what it first seems

4 stars

These days my threshold for seriousness in fantasy fiction is dialled to 'Terry Pratchett', so I was a little dubious about picking up a wizardy quest book with no jokes. I gave it a shot only because of its impeccable lineage of recommendations - Cory Doctorow (@pluralistic@mamot.fr), Randall Munroe, and Gretchen McCulloch (@gretchenmcc@xoxo.zone) - and now I'm hooked on this surprisingly satisfying series.

Steerswomen are a guild of learned travelers, cartographers, gatherers and disseminators of knowledge. Ask a question, and a Steerswoman will always answer, and will never lie. But if she questions you, you in turn must always answer, and never lie. Or suffer the Steerwomen's Ban, which no one wants. Everyone shows them deference and respect. Except the wizards who disdain their knowledge and jealously guard their own secrets.

Rowan is a Steerswoman on a quest to understand the mysterious blue jewels that have …

These days my threshold for seriousness in fantasy fiction is dialled to 'Terry Pratchett', so I was a little dubious about picking up a wizardy quest book with no jokes. I gave it a shot only because of its impeccable lineage of recommendations - Cory Doctorow (@pluralistic@mamot.fr), Randall Munroe, and Gretchen McCulloch (@gretchenmcc@xoxo.zone) - and now I'm hooked on this surprisingly satisfying series.

Steerswomen are a guild of learned travelers, cartographers, gatherers and disseminators of knowledge. Ask a question, and a Steerswoman will always answer, and will never lie. But if she questions you, you in turn must always answer, and never lie. Or suffer the Steerwomen's Ban, which no one wants. Everyone shows them deference and respect. Except the wizards who disdain their knowledge and jealously guard their own secrets.

Rowan is a Steerswoman on a quest to understand the mysterious blue jewels that have been scattered across the known world. As she travels, gathering clues and companions - a barbarian amazon and a blacksmith's son with an unusual talent - she begins to realise that she is being hunted. Why is there a price on her head? How can she protect herself and her fellow Steerswomen? Are the very principles they live by in peril?

Rosemary Kirstein unveils her fantasy realm unhurriedly, scattering isolated clues, like strangely familiar puzzle pieces, throughout the story. Clues for Rowan, and different clues for the reader, who is allowed the exquisite satisfaction of shadowy suspicions being gradually rounded out, without ever becoming expository.

loppear reviewed The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein

promising start and pace

4 stars

Content warning for some reason the slow steady conceptual reveal here wants to be hidden, but no plot spoilers

What a curious and lovely blend of stock fantasy and overturned expectations - a trudging journey of mysterious import through rival wizards realms, a steady unwrapping of a tension in the world between academic pursuit and dispersal of knowledge versus technological hoarding of power and secrets.

Chungledown Bim reviewed The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein

Not bad! 3.5

3 stars

Well-written if a little flat at times. If I'd discovered this series in the 90s I'd have been all about it, (TWO female leads!) but it just doesn't seem to have the social pith I'm after these days. Still, Bel is rad as hell, might give the next book a go one day.

Mickey reviewed The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein

Review of 'The Steerswoman' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

4/5

What a great story! Absolutely loved Rowan and Bel and their friendship as they travel together to understand what a set of mysterious crystals were and how they got into the strange places they were found.

The story is a true adventure with a great pair of characters who rely on each other. I love Rowan’s personality where she tries to dig into all information and uses logic and critical thinking to figure out the answers. It’s like a breath of fresh air.

Bel on the other hand is a great friend and strong woman who has her side throughout. She is courageous and just awesome and I am excited to learn more about her throughout the series.

The story has a very distinct style that’s fairly fast paced and brief in descriptions. It took a bit of getting used to but eventually it flowed well enough. There are …

4/5

What a great story! Absolutely loved Rowan and Bel and their friendship as they travel together to understand what a set of mysterious crystals were and how they got into the strange places they were found.

The story is a true adventure with a great pair of characters who rely on each other. I love Rowan’s personality where she tries to dig into all information and uses logic and critical thinking to figure out the answers. It’s like a breath of fresh air.

Bel on the other hand is a great friend and strong woman who has her side throughout. She is courageous and just awesome and I am excited to learn more about her throughout the series.

The story has a very distinct style that’s fairly fast paced and brief in descriptions. It took a bit of getting used to but eventually it flowed well enough. There are a few sections that were a bit too ambiguous but overall it was fine.

I am also super curious about this world as it’s clearly some sort of fantasy and sci-fi hybrid but it’s hard to tell where the line is drawn. There are dragons and a basilisk and yet the characters also find thing like electric lamps and wires. It’s very unusual and makes me super curious to see where this goes next.

Overall I am really enjoying the series and will continue on with the next book!

rainbowreckoner reviewed The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein

Review of 'The Steerswoman' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Thoughtful, patient, reasoned, slowly revealing itself bit by bit- the book itself is much like it's protagonist. A steerswoman goes where she wants, observes and asks about anything that piques her curiosity, supplies all people she meets with the fruits of the knowledge that those of her profession have gathered through the years... unless they lie or deny her an answer.

This book is unlike any others I've read. So refreshing to have a female hero who follows her own lights, who is not motivated by love, who is instantly seen as an authority wherever she goes, who experiences the freedom almost every male protagonist takes for granted but uses it to improve the world, not just to wring her own pleasure from it. I loved how many full-fledged female characters there were, and how there were incidental female side and background characters in traditionally male jobs like sailing crews …

Thoughtful, patient, reasoned, slowly revealing itself bit by bit- the book itself is much like it's protagonist. A steerswoman goes where she wants, observes and asks about anything that piques her curiosity, supplies all people she meets with the fruits of the knowledge that those of her profession have gathered through the years... unless they lie or deny her an answer.

This book is unlike any others I've read. So refreshing to have a female hero who follows her own lights, who is not motivated by love, who is instantly seen as an authority wherever she goes, who experiences the freedom almost every male protagonist takes for granted but uses it to improve the world, not just to wring her own pleasure from it. I loved how many full-fledged female characters there were, and how there were incidental female side and background characters in traditionally male jobs like sailing crews and soldiers. It's understated, but the impact is huge.

The mystery unravels slowly and the pacing is methodical, perhaps a touch slow in parts, but never dragging. The writing is capable, quietly intelligent, with moments of calm beauty. I thought of this book often when I had to put it down, and I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series- I want more of this world!

joeyh reviewed The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein

Review of 'The Steerswoman' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Maybe 3 and a half stars if you like well-written generic fantasy tropes.. But mostly worth reading because of what it sets up in later books.

state_electrician reviewed The Steerswoman by Rosemary Kirstein

Review of 'The Steerswoman' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Delightful, fast read and a great entry to an interesting world. I saw the series (which is apparently not finished yet) being mentioned in /r/fantasy and decided that the blurb sounded interesting enough. And I am really glad I did. Looking at the genres assigned to this book my suspicions about the wizards seem confirmed. I just can't wait to learn more!

I also learned that the author is fighting breast cancer at the moment which just further encouraged me to purchase her books. It helps that they're good!