Muse by Brittany Cavallaro (review)

Cavallaro, Brittany Muse. Tegen/HarperCollins, 2021 [352p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780062840257 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780062840271 $9.99 Reviewed from digital galleys Ad Gr. 7-10

In Cavallaro's alternate history, the founding fathers decided against a republic and opted instead to create the First American Kingdom, crowning George Washington its ruler. In 1893, a fair, featuring wonders from around the world, is set to open in Monticello-by-the-Lake, and Claire's inventor father promises a creation to top them all, a huge cannon. Unfortunately, the cannon initially stalls, firing only after Claire lays her hand on it, convincing her unstable father she has some sort of magic and attracting the attention of the governor, Remy Duchamp, who demands that she stay with him until the end of the fair. Meanwhile, her best friend Beatrix is in cahoots with the Daughters of the American Crown, and they want to use Claire to get rid of the governor and place a woman in his stead, despite the fact that Claire has no interest in politics but is developing plenty of interest in Remy. The premise is absolutely fascinating, with an opening scene featuring George Washington choosing a royal rule, and then the book fast forwards over a century to a world marked by many of the familiar historical events (the World's Fair, women's suffrage) and figures (Tesla features prominently) of real history but with a revisionist twist. Unfortunately, the story falls flats beyond the world building: Claire's magic is never convincingly explained or even described, Remy is neither likeable nor in any sense redeemed, and their relationship lacks chemistry or appeal. Still, the shifting political alliances and shady plans to disrupt or end Remy's rule are intriguing, if a bit head spinning, and the ending finally sees Claire taking some agency in her own life and that of her kingdom. KQG