Fabulous read!

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Burning Bright (The Extraordinaries #1) by Melissa McShane
Extraordonaires is an interesting series set in a Regency era where magical talent is manifest. I must admit I kept thinking about the Sharon Shinn's Twelve Houses books and Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters series. I really enjoyed this and am sad it took me so long to get around to it. In fact I purchased the next in the series, 'Wandering Sight', after reading 'Burning Bright.'
What more do you need? A young, talented woman, Elinor Pembroke, trodden down by an autocratic, self seeking father, a handsome captain, Pirates, treachery, Lords of the Admiralty who see not the person, or disregard the person, a couple of navy Lordlings with helicopter relatives who pave their way.
Elinor is a Scorcher (fire adept) whose talent develops late. Being suddenly treated by her father as a genetic experiment to be married off to the highest bidder (think Earl or Viscount) with another talented family in order to produce prodigies, Elinor seeks another path, The Navy. As her powers increase Elinor must learn control or suffer the consequences.
A fascinating story of self awareness and development, gender discriminations of the age, all wrapped in a tightly honed package.
Those I appreciated are the ordinary seaman she works with who come to understand and accept Elinor's efforts.

 A NetGalley ARC

*****

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