Rust in the Root by Justina Ireland

Content Tags: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Racism, Murder, LGBTQIA+

Description from Storygraph:

It is 1937, and Laura Ann Langston lives in an America divided—between those who work the mystical arts and those who do not. Ever since the Great Rust, a catastrophic event that blighted the arcane force called the Dynamism and threw America into disarray, the country has been rebuilding for a better future. And everyone knows the future is industry and technology—otherwise known as Mechomancy—not the traditional mystical arts.

Laura disagrees. A talented young mage from Pennsylvania, Laura hopped a portal to New York City on her seventeenth birthday with hopes of earning her mage’s license and becoming something more than a rootworker.

But four months later, she’s got little to show for it other than an empty pocket and broken dreams. With nowhere else to turn, Laura applies for a job with the Bureau of the Arcane’s Conservation Corps, a branch of the US government dedicated to repairing the Dynamism so that Mechomancy can thrive. There she meets the Skylark, a powerful mage with a mysterious past, who reluctantly takes Laura on as an apprentice.

As they’re sent off on their first mission together into the heart of the country’s oldest and most mysterious Blight, they discover the work of mages not encountered since the darkest period in America’s past, when Black mages were killed for their power—work that could threaten Laura’s and the Skylark’s lives, and everything they’ve worked for.

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This book is making me rethink how I rate books. I frequently rate books 5 stars because I enjoyed it, no matter how much enjoyed it. But this book? It was absolutely 5 stars! So... maybe all other books need to be downgraded to 4 stars as a default unless they meet the standards this book just set for me.

Everything was so thoughtfully crafted. The historical context and elements were expertly interwoven with the fantasy to really amplify the historical atrocities. And all of the fantasy aspects were based on realistic practices, behaviors, and beliefs which added another layer. Nothing felt forced or out of place and the introduction to the fantasy was not confusing or overly complicated at all. And the pacing, writing, point of views, and everything else flowed so well.

The chapters shifted between Laura and the Skylark periodically and I enjoyed that Laura's chapters were from her POV while the Skylarks was about her, but not from her POV as the narrator. It really made it clear that the focus is Laura's journey. The shifting also played into the pacing really well, so that it didn't feel strange to have gaps or having to piece together things that happened away from Laura.

Finally, it was really refreshing to me that the main character meeting someone, falling in love, or being overcome with romance or something along those lines wasn't a main focus or feature of the story. That happens a lot in dystopian-type books or stories and it always feels so unnecessary to me. While there was mention of Laura's sexuality or interests, it was never more of a priority or focus than anything else. It was a feature of Laura's character which felt much more natural to me.

Book Reflection Wrap-up:

What did you think of the writing? Are there any standout sentences?

The writing was some of the most powerful I've read in a long time. There were many sentences that made me stop in my tracks because of how much emotion they captured. One example is: "The only people who will profit will be the same ones who always do: those powerful enough to not be anywhere near the damage." Out of context, this sentence seems simple, but in the context of the book it really drives home the emotions of the moment and everything the characters are going through.

Would you ever consider re-reading it? Why or why not?

Yes, absolutely. I think the message of this book is important and it was delivered in a brilliant way.

June Book Club Book