Jemis Greenwood has returned to Ragnor Bella in disgrace, having failed out of his university and broken up with his girlfriend. He works for Mrs. Etaris at the local bookstore and attempts to keep his head down, even knowing that he's at the fore of small-town gossip these days - and that, even if his father, Jakory, hadn't been known as a traitor. Then a stargazy pie randomly shows up on the town square and Jemis, Mrs. Etaris, and old mate Mr. Dart decide to find out where it came from.

This is the first in the Greenwood & Dart series, which is more lighthearted than The Hands of the Emperor and its immediate sequels, and was also written earlier. The characters were great, though, and there are hints of a more complex world than we see at first blush. As a result, I was willing to forgive some of the flaws, such as a general lack of "things happening" except when a lot of things happen, and the confused ending that I didn't follow at all. But I really love Jemis and his friends, and I'm curious to see what mysteries they come across next. ( )

I'm glad I started reading this series with a thorough grounding of the world already in my pocket, because I enjoyed it enormously. Would recommend reading The Hands of the Emperor first, and preferable a few more in that series before tackling this one. Also, why did I think it would be a novella? It's a full size book with several endearing characters stumbling around learning a bit more about who they are. I also love that the universities have separate traditions, like not ever revealing your last name/heritage at one. I'm very much enjoying Mr. Greenwing's story and his journey navigating coming home again after a transformative experience. The pie is also just wonderfully odd and perfectly hedge-witchery, and I really enjoyed the mysteries going on. Not at all sure about the mermaid, but she certainly adds some flavor. ( )

https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2023/01/2023015-stargazy-pie-victoria-goddard.htm... ( )

This is one of those whimsical fantasies that pops you into the middle of the story without a lot of background to the characters and setting at first. I admit I was a bit lost at first, but I was hooked on the story by about a quarter of the way in. Jemis Greenwing is home from university and has taken a job at the local bookstore. His scholastic career was pretty dismal, his heart was broken, and he's been sickly, sneezing at everything. He's not happy to be home, the place where scandal disrupted his family, but his friend Mr. Dart is pleased to see him, even though things go haywire quickly. Jemis finds a stargazy pie in the town square (it's a traditional Cornish dish, and I won't lie, it fascinates me and is the reason I bought the book because of the title alone). Events fall apart more with cults, fires, mermaids, and exotic dinner parties.
This is a type of fantasy that I like. The setting veers between Georgian and Victorian, though the land and places are fictional. There is magic, but it's been banned, at least in some places. Oh, and there's smuggling. And some odd religions. And mysteries to solve.
This book reminds me of Alexis Hall's The Affair of the Mysterious Letter. It takes the reader on a wild ride, and I'm happy to continue it in the next book. ( )

Slightly crazy faux Victoriana set in what's almost a Fantasy distopia - there's been a Fall - and now no-one has magic anymore. But most people lived through it without too much trouble and life goes on. Some hark back to the 'better' old days and try to emulate the graces that magic allowed. And some prefer to look forward.

Jervis Greenwing is a bit of both - he's returning home, somewhat in ignominy after several years studying the culture and influences of magic at university. However a very public disagreement with a former lover resulted in his abrupt departure. He toured various towns and so failed to hear of, or attend, an important family funeral. This was the last straw and refreshed everyone's memory of his ill-fated father and so his quiet home-town is all agog. Jervis is trying to repair his situation with menial work in a bookstore, and the fascinating Mrs Eavis. Not all of his friends have abandoned him, and so he has a few invitations to evening events, one of which culminates in him finding a resurrection of the old beliefs. A cult is re-instating ritual sacrifice to the Old Gods. Jervis is pretty sure there isn't actually any such power, but he's not quite sure what to do about it.

The world is a little odd, with an almost amusing high adherence to a courtly manners present at all levels of society, hence Jervis discomfort at such a menial position. However he soon learns to embrace the ideals he ensconced at university of a more egalitarian society. Th eplot is very confusing with Jervis not actually knowing very much at any stage, and becomes somewhat embroiled without his knowledge. Sadly this means the reader is left unaware of many details too - there is somewhat of a grand denouement, but a several critical points are still brushed under the carpet. But there's enough joy in the sheer craziness that this can be overlooked. ( )