By Naomi
One day I picked up a book from a new-to-me author, with a gorgeous cover and a wacky premise. I fell in love with reading all over again.
I don’t know what India Holton puts in her books (actually, I do know, and I’ll talk about it below), but the way she writes, her characters and her plots, just do it for me. The joy jumps off the pages, and I can’t help being sucked into whatever magical world she creates.
Holton has published four books: three in the Dangerous Damsels Series and one in the Love’s Academic Series, with a second coming out in April. Both series are historical fantasy set in an alternate version of Victorian England.
Each book in the series centers around a different couple, but there is an overlap in characters and settings within the series. She writes about fierce women who are very good at what they do, be it thieving or piracy or academia. They are adored and celebrated by the men they fall in love with.
Now, what is it about her books? First, the author is neurodivergent. Holton experiences the world differently and that translates to the way she writes and the way her humor is expressed. Her writing tickles my own neurodivergent brain in exactly the right way. The dialogue, the descriptions—it all just works for me.
She writes with a very dry wit that’s in excellent contrast to the ridiculous situations the characters find themselves in. And when I say ridiculous, I mean it. The Dangerous Damsels Series features witches and pirates (read: thieves) doing battle in flying houses, all while sipping tea and evading assassins. The Love’s Academic Series has academics (read: scoundrels) doing scientific research while sipping tea and evading assassins.
While it isn’t stated in the books that the characters are neurodivergent, they very clearly are. You can tell from their mannerisms and the way they interact with other characters and the outside world. (It’s also been confirmed by the author on social media.) It’s very comforting to read about characters who are a little bit like me (plus have magical abilities), celebrated for just being themselves. Add to that interesting, unique and fun world-building, and you have a recipe for success.
There’s also no way you as a reader can predict any of the things that will happen. Every word out of a character’s mouth is an unexpected delight; I frequently laughed out loud and was honestly kicking my feet with joy. It seems to me that Holton had great fun while writing her books, and that translates onto the page. I eagerly await her next release, because I know I can trust her to entertain and delight me.
I always recommend her books to people in a reading slump, or people who want to get back into reading, because they’re so different and fun and unexpected.
That’s why I am recommending all her books to you as well: it’ll make you fall in love with reading (again).