Book Review: The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear by M. Pax

Title: The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear
Author: M. Pax
Published: November 12, 2012
Genre: NA Speculative Fiction

Format Read: Ebook
Length: Novel
Source: Purchased

The journey into adulthood is stranger than she expects. Graduation from community college isn’t the magic elixir Hetty Locklear counts on for becoming an adult. Her parents, who work the Renaissance fair circuit, insist she spend part of the summer with them. Hetty doubts pretending to live in the Middle Ages will help her find her way. To make it worse, an entity haunts her at her dead-end job, warning her of a dangerous man she doesn’t know. The ghost leads her to a lover who has a lot of secrets. He pulls her farther into peril and into a strange, hidden world of genetic experimentation. New Adult contemporary fantasy with a contemporary sci-fi twist. Some mature content. 

 

Teasers: She felt better until she became conscious of all the unfulfilling calories she had just mindlessly stuffed into her body. Guilt built up, demanding to be drowned, so she picked up a cinnamon scone. [5% Ebook. I totally get what’s Hetty’s going through here.]

When they left, her stoicism fled, her vision swam, and she felt the last three days washing her hopes for a better adult life down a big cosmic drain. Graduation had been such a let down. [31% Ebook. Graduating college is definitely difficult, especially when you’re at a loss of what will come next.]

Just Hetty’s luck, to get stuck with a ghost who had the afterlife as messed up as she had her present life. “A wayward poltergeist.” She snorted. [41% Ebook. This teaser had me laughing too.]

Did he really want to watch television? What if he didn’t? Worse than that, what if he did? [63% Ebook. Hetty’s questioning herself once again.]

How decadent and adult to be half-dressed with a man holding her, wanting her, and speaking with her mother. “Hi, Mom. Are you in Green Bay?” [66% Ebook. I love Hetty’s awkward moments.] 

Review: Hetty Locklear soon discovers being an adult isn’t as magical as she’d hoped it would be in M. Pax’s The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear.

Hetty Locklear is unlike any character I’ve ever read about. She’s awkward, a tad shy, and a bit lost on what she wants to do with her life, but she’s also a very cool geek, who’s very loyal. Her best friends have so much character and add to the storyline. And the men vying for Hetty’s attention make this novel a fun and sometimes quite steamy read. And having spent many hours role-playing online, I love that Hetty and her friends enjoy that too. It definitely brought back memories of good times.

Sometimes the wordy descriptions had me skimming a bit here and there, and the plot could’ve been a bit tighter. The worldbuilding was fascinating, but I would’ve liked to learned more about it as some of the plot threads had a science fiction feel with a hint of fantasy. I liked how Hetty slowly grows more confident in who she is toward the end as well. As for the ending, it had me on the edge of my seat, and I hope Pax gets around to writing book two, so I can see what happens next.

Overall, The Renaissance of Hetty Locklear by M. Pax is an enjoyable read and sure to bring out the geek in us all.

 

Four Bookworms = I really liked it!