Isn't this cover art gorgeous?!
“I felt a surge of pride and admiration for this remarkable woman who had shown me vulnerability just moments ago. Now she stood before me as a mighty force, shining brighter than I’d ever seen her before. She was a true marvel, and I knew without a doubt that she would lead women to victory.”
(p. 92)
★★★★☆
🌶
Series: Reincarnated Souls, Book 1
Review:
First, I would like to thank the author and Ink Slinger PR for providing me with a free advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I also love the promotional materials I received in the mail: a character art sticker, bookmarks, a replica train ticket, and a thank you letter from the author.
Blending historical fact with fiction, with a dash of magic and sweet romance
It’s the early 1920s in the Midwest, amidst the Prohibition and the women’s suffrage movement. Bootlegger Alexander has fallen for Claudia, a feminist fighting for women’s rights and smuggling feminist “contraband” such as birth control. When the ship transporting Claudia and her friends vanishes, Alexander and Claudia’s mother, Marie, will stop at nothing to find them.
The concept of reincarnation was my favorite aspect of
Armored Hours. Marie and her family have lived many lives, but only Marie has memories of everything she has experienced, both in the past and in the future. The reason behind their reincarnation across multiple lifetimes, as well as that of their pursuer, the “counter” (someone who reincarnates out of a malicious need for vengeance), is fascinating.
Furthermore, the two ships that disappear in
Armored Hours–the
Carroll A. Deering and the
S.S. Hewitt–really disappeared within days of each other off the East Coast of the United States in January 1921, and no one has ever determined the cause or located the second ship. I appreciated this imagining of what may have transpired–it is eerie yet beautifully tragic what happens to the crew in Stephanie Hansen’s story.
The author, Stephanie Hansen, suffers from unilateral deafness, and she incorporated her lived experience into Claudia’s character. Reading about the way that unilateral deafness impacts sound perception was enlightening. My father is also deaf in one ear, but he chooses not to talk about it, so I wasn’t aware of how direction can become confused.
Overall, I enjoyed this story, especially the magic system and the empowerment and boundary-pushing of the female characters. Its themes were especially moving following last week’s presidential election results and the current climate of fear that women’s rights are in danger, so while I had intended to read this ARC before release day, I am really thankful that I read it when I did.
A note for the Kindle readers: This e-book is a print replica, which means that it cannot be read on a Kindle. It can only be read via the Kindle app on another device, such as a phone or tablet.
Audience: young adult
Trigger warnings: death, death of a sibling, violence, misogyny
Recommended for fans of: historical fiction, historical fantasy, magical realism, sweet romance, mystery, witches, reincarnation, feminism, women’s suffrage, women’s rights, the Prohibition Era, alternate dimensions, deafness representation, soulmates, protective hero, found family
Publisher's Synopsis:
Cable Girls meets
Peaky Blinders meets
Titanic
The girls had forged a bond together like iron that could not be broken. Claudia, Kiersten, Lina, and Florian were on the brink of making history with their powerful feminist movement, but then they suddenly disappeared without a trace.
Alexander was a desperate bootlegger who was willing to risk it all to search for them. Not only were they in cahoots with him to help smuggle feminist contraband and forbidden booze, but Claudia had also unknowingly captivated his heart. He vowed to find them at any cost, but little did he know that their disappearance was part of a much bigger and sinister plot from the upper echelons of society.
Set in 1920s Paris of the Plains,
Armored Hours is a thrilling tale of love and mystery interwoven with hints of magical realism.
Source:
Ink Slinger PR
©Hypothesis Books: October 15, 2024
Edition: Digital ARC, but read on Kindle Unlimited
284 pages
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Armored Hours on Kindle Unlimited!
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