Mary Anning wants to be a geomagician—a paleontologist who uses fossils to wield magic—but since the Geomagical Society of London refuses to admit women, she’s stuck selling her discoveries to tourists instead. Then an ancient egg hatches in her hands, revealing a lovable baby pterodactyl that Mary names Ajax, and she knows that this is a scientific find that could make her career—if she’s strategic.
But when Mary contacts the Society about her discovery, they demand to take possession of Ajax. Their emissary is none other than Henry Stanton, a distinguished (and infuriatingly handsome) scholar . . . and the man who once broke Mary’s heart. She knows she can’t trust her fellow scholars, who want to discredit her and claim Ajax for their own, but Henry insists he believes in the brilliant Mary and only wants to help her obtain the respect she deserves.
Now Mary has a new mystery to solve that’s buried deeper than any dinosaur skeleton: She must uncover the secrets behind the Society and the truth about Henry. As her conscience begins to chafe against her ambition, Mary must decide what lengths she’s willing to go to finally belong—and what her heart really wants.
In The Geomagician, Jennifer Mandula brings us a novel that is full of complex relationships and scientific wonder. In a world where magic exists and the bones of dinosaurs can be used for magic, science is the key. And as soon as you read about Mary, you fall in love with the character even as you soon discover that she is intelligent, passionate and as flawed as any human trying to earn the respect of other scientists.
The complex relationships were the biggest reason I loved this novel, that and Ajax, the baby pterodactyl. In Mary’s world, society is complex and much like our own, the rich and powerful walk on the backs of the downtrodden. Mary’s friend Lucy is attempting to change that and her interactions with Mary demonstrate how complex friendships and political leanings can be. Mary also shows us how ambition can be complex especially if you don’t stay true to yourself. I love that her relationship with Henry has ups and downs and while they repair the friendship, love is not the answer to the problems Mary faces.
If you like magical dinosaurs, political England and ambitious women scientists, this novel is for you. I loved the world building, how magic exists and why Ajax is alive along with the complex ending of the novel. I really hope that the author writes more in this fascinating world.
Rating: 5 of 5 baby pterodactyls
Leave a Reply