I’m always on the lookout for the next up-and-coming fantasy so when I read the synopsis of Tom Miller’s “The Philosopher’s Flight” I felt that it had the potential to be a really incredible first novel.

There is plenty to love in this book. Robert is a great complex protagonist who undergoes change as you read and I really liked him. I enjoyed the supporting characters, particularly Dar and Jake. Dar was my favorite character. The addition of her took it from being a country-boy-big-city-school story to something with more depth and danger. Without her, I don’t know if I would have finished it.

The world-building of sci-fi combined with fantasy is innovative, the magic system is complexly developed, and the world itself is a neat mix of history and non-history. The subtle word changes (use of ‘she’ over ‘he’) are thought-provoking but fit well into the story.

The alternative history bit works and doesn’t work. To say Miller is liberal with historical fact would be generous. This is a completely different time line than our own world. If you can go into it thinking of this world as non-Earth, it will be more enjoyable. Otherwise, you have to question everything the characters do as it doesn’t fit the time period as we know it. Young adults wouldn’t be nearly as brash in our own turn-of-the-century, no matter what magic they have. Also, societal norms disappear in this book that were in place then. So, tell yourself it isn’t Earth and it’ll be better.

There are some issues I couldn’t ignore though. One, the language is incredibly dense, not just magical terms but the wording of the book itself. I found it to be over the top considering there is a lot of jargon to learn regarding sigilry itself. For something supposedly grounded on Earth, the words chosen should be more familiar.

Another issue is that the magic isn’t explained until well into the book. I personally prefer a walk-through of the magic as a fantasy reader but that could just be me. Tied to the alternative history bit, I found the upending of the gender roles to be questionable at times. Sometimes it really worked but other times it was clunky and I had a hard time believing people would act in such a way in that time period, war and magic or not.

As you can see, I’m on the fence with this book. There’s a lot of open room for a series and Miller does a masterful job inserting hints and small tastes of the characters’ future lives. The part that sold me on the book though wasn’t until fourth-fifths of the way through. It’s when Robert (learns that his flight sigil is wrong). It was the best description of emotion I’ve seen in a very long time: being both ecstatic and livid. The insertions of other people’s later words as he’s processing it really heightened the drama. It’s visual and raw and I loved it.


Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher Simon & Schuster, and the author Tom Miller for the opportunity to do so.

This was fascinating. I feel sorry for my coworkers because I started it during a quiet moment at work (should I have been reading…probably not but it was the end of the day and I was tired of dealing with the ins and outs of account maintenance) and after the prologue I was already telling me reading buddies “YOU HAVE TO READ THIS!”

What a wonderful concept, to have a sort of magic, it of course is science/alchemy, that allows you to fly, to transport, make things grow or to utterly destroy. Then take that one step further from our views of the world by making it a power that typically only women can wield. Sure, there are men who can do it with a bit of success, but the true power lies with the ladies. This sets up a lot of politics that is an interesting contrast to the world at the time (this takes place at the beginning of the 20th century) and can be a study in contrasts with certain cultures and industries that are around even until today. And because it’s looked at through a lens that is so incredibly alien to what we see today it is made that much more striking.

Robert does not have an easy go of it at Radcliffe. He faces harassment, misandry and all sorts of terrible actions done to him simply because he is a man who has the nerve to enter into a woman’s world. The Radcliffe women are an eclectic bunch. Robert though lucks out into finding some other fliers who instantly take him under their proverbial wing, and while it doesn’t stop the attacks on his person and his progress, he does have friends who stand up for him. It was a good School type of book, these are young students who are coming into their powers as sigilists and who are still growing up themselves.

With all that going on there is also the Trencher movement that has become more active and more deadly. Trenchers are the Anti-Philosophers. A group that wants women back where they belong and to know they have full control again. (I imagine it’s hard to put a woman down in a world where she could, with almost no effort at all dissolve your bones where you stand so that you die in a puddle of your own organs) This group has been pressing for more and more Anti-Philosopher Legislation at DC, has been doing random lynching’s of women and their families. Robert’s mother has been known to pick of more than one Trencher in her time and Robert needs to determine how he is going to face the political battles of his parents generation that are now a part of his own.

And there is a lovely and, in my opinion, real story of a relationship that blooms between him and Danielle Hardin. A heroine transporter who had saved the lives of countless men at war overseas. She is also African American and not at all what one would imagine a leading lady to look like nor act like. I loved them. Their story wasn’t first and foremost in the plot. It wasn’t the end goal, it simply happened, and the story was richer for it.

This just recently came out. I recommend it highly. It presents an interesting look at class warfare, gender warfare and the next book I am fairly certain will be looking into the actions taken in war and their consequences.

This is a fun and imaginative read. It's perfect for fans of Harry Potter and similarly styled magical fiction. Since it takes place in a past era (early 1900's), it presents an alternate history by incorporating real events and people with characters who specialize in a form of magic-real science called sigilry. People who have and use these talents specialize as smokeshapers, hoverers, and transporters, and they are able to use special formulas and powders to perform all kinds of magical effects, both good and bad. There is drama and romance, but nothing that is too heavy or overdone.
This story is original and well thought out creating an alternate reality that I found fascinating to read. It also turns the tables on gender discrimination in a fun and fanciful way. If you are intrigued, check it out. I would also consider it appropriate for YA readers.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

This song typically the type of book I read but the description was interesting and it did not disappoint. This was a great story and so well written. I will be recommending this to all of my friends.

When Fantasy meets Historical Fiction written well you soar out of the sky with Empirical Philosophical Fliers. Tom Miller has created such a wonderful turn of the century story that I couldn't put it down. This alternate reality of the history of America and her war involvement makes you wonder if we can ever stay out of war. Women have always been the strong sex, the ones calling the shots, the controllers of destiny in The Philosopher's Flight. Small town Robert Weekes has always dreamed of being a Rescue and Evacuation flier. This job has been only done by Women. Robert gets into the all woman's college Radcliffe, his only way of possibly getting into R&E. Being the son of a famous county Philosopher has it's perks. Robert has learned to fly and hover earlier than any male has. He has had first hand experience helping his mom get ready for her runs and has has been taught by his two older sisters things that no man has been taught.
Mr. Miller does a fine job of showing what it might have been like for the first woman to enter college, the military or other things men thought women shouldn't do. Robert's alternate reality experiences are maddening, fun and scary all at the same time. If you love magical fantasies and historical fiction this book is for you!
I especially enjoyed the "chapter snippets" based on things that happened in "alt reality" America. I would love to see a Philosopher's Flight book 2 based on those snippets from the chapter beginnings. I would be all over that like cheese on Pizza.

My thoughts: It's kind of like an origin story.

Call it personal taste, but books that are historical fiction should feel like historical fiction, and I'm glad to say this one did. The author dives straight into the story with Boober assisting his mother on local rescue missions, and I was highly engaged by the level of understated drama that was established right off the bat.

Furthermore, it was fascinating to see how this book tackled sexism. There are religious groups violently attacking female philosophers for daring to be outspoken and independent, yet Boober himself faces ridicule from philosophers who view their discipline as an exclusively "female" practice, and it was nice to see this case of reverse sexism as it further served to highlight women's struggles in our world today.

As for characters, I must admit I wasn't as attached to them as I'd hoped. I loved Boober's dilemma of being a talented male philosopher who dreams of joining the wholly female rescue corps, yet once he arrives at college, such struggles seem to dissipate once he's in an environment where everyone is less experienced than he, and this special snowflake treatment somewhat undermined his gritty uphill battle for me.

Not to mention, I hoped to see the effects of magic on the course of WWII in this world, yet we see Boober being more of a political activist rather than engaging in bombastic rescue missions, and that let me down just a bit. This was enjoyable on its own merits, yet I couldn't help feeling the plot would've benefited from continuing on the urgent note it had started on since the pacing felt tanked to some extent.

But to be fair, most of this skepticism was abated by the ending. The final notes of Boober's arc is wrapped up in quiet yet uplifting ways, and it made me realize that all the "special snowflake" aspects of his journey hadn't been shoehorned in: Boober is the sole ground-breaker of a new generation of male philosophers, and this story is meant to be an origin story that chronicles an underdog's road to success and heroism.

So if you're going into this book expecting to see flashy magic in the context of a war, don't. This book is a war hero's origin story rather than the events of the war itself, and you'll enjoy this book so much more once you accept that. It's rich and well-researched, and it's a college story that I found surprisingly focused.
__________

Recommended? Yes!

So my only issue with this book is that it's slightly less character-driven than I had expected it to be. The author delves deeply into the mechanics of sigilry and flight, yet it's fat I feel could've been trimmed to not only enliven the momentum of the plot, but also contribute to the depth of the side characters as they could've been fleshed out more.

However, the author does a terrific job incorporating his research on world wars into this story, so if you enjoy politically driven underdog stories, this book would be perfect for you: the plot is simple yet detailed, and it fits right in-between the feel-good classics. Not to mention, it's a contained standalone! Which I love.
__________

Bottom line: Sweet, thorough, realistic

This is a wholly unique debut featuring an underdog who defies all odds, and the themes of sexism and political activism are freshly addressed as the author tackles them with great knowledge and attention. Thus, I give this book 4 stars for some of its unnecessary fat, but 4.5 stars for its unrelentingly simple yet rich narrative.

My thoughts: It's kind of like an origin story.

Call it personal taste, but books that are historical fiction should feel like historical fiction, and I'm glad to say this one did. The author dives straight into the story with Boober assisting his mother on local rescue missions, and I was highly engaged by the level of understated drama that was established right off the bat.

Furthermore, it was fascinating to see how this book tackled sexism. There are religious groups violently attacking female philosophers for daring to be outspoken and independent, yet Boober himself faces ridicule from philosophers who view their discipline as an exclusively "female" practice, and it was nice to see this case of reverse sexism as it further served to highlight women's struggles in our world today.

As for characters, I must admit I wasn't as attached to them as I'd hoped. I loved Boober's dilemma of being a talented male philosopher who dreams of joining the wholly female rescue corps, yet once he arrives at college, such struggles seem to dissipate once he's in an environment where everyone is less experienced than he, and this special snowflake treatment somewhat undermined his gritty uphill battle for me.

Not to mention, I hoped to see the effects of magic on the course of WWII in this world, yet we see Boober being more of a political activist rather than engaging in bombastic rescue missions, and that let me down just a bit. This was enjoyable on its own merits, yet I couldn't help feeling the plot would've benefited from continuing on the urgent note it had started on since the pacing felt tanked to some extent.

But to be fair, most of this skepticism was abated by the ending. The final notes of Boober's arc is wrapped up in quiet yet uplifting ways, and it made me realize that all the "special snowflake" aspects of his journey hadn't been shoehorned in: Boober is the sole ground-breaker of a new generation of male philosophers, and this story is meant to be an origin story that chronicles an underdog's road to success and heroism.

So if you're going into this book expecting to see flashy magic in the context of a war, don't. This book is a war hero's origin story rather than the events of the war itself, and you'll enjoy this book so much more once you accept that. It's rich and well-researched, and it's a college story that I found surprisingly focused.
__________

Recommended? Yes!

So my only issue with this book is that it's slightly less character-driven than I had expected it to be. The author delves deeply into the mechanics of sigilry and flight, yet it's fat I feel could've been trimmed to not only enliven the momentum of the plot, but also contribute to the depth of the side characters as they could've been fleshed out more.

However, the author does a terrific job incorporating his research on world wars into this story, so if you enjoy politically driven underdog stories, this book would be perfect for you: the plot is simple yet detailed, and it fits right in-between the feel-good classics. Not to mention, it's a contained standalone! Which I love.
__________

Bottom line: Sweet, thorough, realistic

This is a wholly unique debut featuring an underdog who defies all odds, and the themes of sexism and political activism are freshly addressed as the author tackles them with great knowledge and attention. Thus, I give this book 4 stars for some of its unnecessary fat, but 4.5 stars for its unrelentingly simple yet rich narrative.

I loved this combination historical/fantastical tale! I went to an all-girl school, so I found this absolutely riveting! I'm hoping for a sequel.

It's not very often that I get to say Historical Fantasy in the same sentence, but man, I love it. This book was a refreshing change to the same old fantasy that we read so often. I've been waiting for a new take on the magical aspect and this book gave me everything I wanted.

Who doesn't want to fly? Who doesn't want to have a powerful story about discrimination and those who over came it? This book was powerful in its own way. The characters were fun and exciting. The story kept me engaged the whole time. To tell you the truth, I read this book from cover to cover in one day. All 432 pages of it.

Loved this book and I would recommend it to fans of J.K. Rowling and Garth Nix.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Okay, a book with alternate history and I was already there. But this is something incredible....a combination of fantasy, sci-fi, alternate history...and pure magic. Where women are best at magic? Very interesting look at American history. I loved this so much.

Unique and richly imagined; tightly woven plot and world description.

This is a fun read with a setting (around the time of World War I) that adds a great deal to the book's ethos. There are lots of action and adventure with rich character development and interaction.

Despite the historical perspective, most of our contemporary social issues are woven into Miller's book -- and are seen from a fresh and startling point of view.

The book's language is sometimes edgy, and one or two sentences in particular push this book beyond appropriateness for my younger high school readers.

Overall, The Philosopher's Flight is an engaging and thought-provoking read.

I owe this book an apology. I thought it sounded interesting, but when I first received a copy and started reading, I could not get into it. I found it difficult to understand and stopped reading. I thought it just wasn't for me and was going to skip it. A couple months later though, I felt quilty about not trying more after I agreed to review it in return for a copy. So, I started reading again and am so glad I did! It is not my usual book choice- fantasy and I don't mix often. It did take me a little to get into this story, but not long and once I was in, I was hooked. The fantasy side of philosophers was creative and fun and added magic to the story. I liked the characters and the different encounters they faced. I liked Robert and his goal of finding is place in a field dominated by and thought to be only for women. I ended up really enjoying this book and would read another in the series. This is a talented author and I am grateful for the opportunity to have read his book.

This is a very different book than what I have read this year.. A unique alternate history where "philosophers" use special combinations of chemical or compounds to do what we would consider magic. Women are the lead with some men having basic abilities and I like that spin on things. It's almost a role reversal where a son of one of the strong magical abilities women gets an opportunity to show that he is just a able as any other woman. Throw in the men who want things done the old way, and you have a interesting story layered with a gender debate.

This truly fantastical read is perfect for history buffs who enjoyed Harry Potter. Also, anyone who appreciates a good role reversal! After reading The Philosopher's Flight, Robert Weekes is officially one of my heroes.

Step back in time to World War I, and follow the journey of Robert Weekes from hopeful country boy to dedicated student to competitive hoverer. This is a true role reversal world, paralleling U.S. history in such a way that completely rivets the reader. In this world, Philosophy is an almost exclusively female talent. Robert Weekes longs to be a hoverer with the Rescue and Evacuation Corps, like his mother was. All his life he is told that he's "Okay, for a boy," but told in no uncertain terms that he will never be accepted to R&E. He won't even be accepted as an apprentice to his own mother in her civilian role as County Philosopher. A murderous attack against another philosopher drags Robert and his mother out in the middle of the night, leading to her injury and his unlikely rescue of multiple people ("Okay, for a boy" my foot!) sets of major changes for both of them. For Robert, the change is going to college.

At the school - and here, Harry Potter fans will find a sense of homecoming - Robert meets many other philosophers-in-training, many of whom despise him simply for being who he is. He faces every obstacle that women attempting to break into a male-dominated industry have ever faced. Hazing, sabotage, criticism, unfair testing, bigotry, violent attacks. Only Robert suffers these things at the hands of women. Even as he proves himself again and again, his every success only seems to make many of the women more angry.

Along his journey, Robert makes some truly spectacular friends. My absolute favorite is Unger - many of over 150 ties (by the end of the story). He is brilliant, but practically inept. I believe his inability to effectively use philosophy himself - except for one extremely memorable instance that truly had me do a spit-take - has caused him to be deeply analytical about all things philosophy. As such, he notices things that no one else does and, in this way, he is able to help his friends. he brings a whole new perspective to the phrase, "Those who cannot do, teach." I think that those who cannot do what they want to are the most deeply motivated to find out how that something works, and they often have the greatest insights into that field. A good combination of philosophical teachers (no pun intended) and practical teachers is the best for any student, in my humble opinion.

Another great friend is Jake. I truly thought that Jake would be a love interest for Robert - and he does make an attempt. The scene of Robert being laughed down and sent in another direction was written so beautifully, it was both cringe-worthy and endearing. I love that! Jake is a courageous flier, and everything you think of when you say somebody is a "firecracker."

And then there's Dar. She attended the college, then went to war and became a hero. Then she returns to school and finds everything changed. My heart breaks every time I read Dar. I feel like so many in her position would do the same - going to war and experiencing things that are traumatic and life-changing, then wanting nothing so much as to go back to a sense of normalcy. She does the logical thing, and goes back to where she was physically before she was in the war. Only now everything has changed, including herself, and she feels lost. Her friends are gone, she is bruised and broken from her war efforts, and she is treated as an outsider by virtually everyone. Her friendship with Robert starts when he very nearly bests her in a Cocks and Hens duel, and she realizes that here is someone who will treat her like a normal person.

There are so many wonderful things in this book. I absolutely adored it and am sure I will be coming back to read it again and again!

It's so hard to resist school stories, which to my surprise, this turns out to be like 15% into the book.

Robert Weekes is a rare creature - a male philosopher, where philosophy is a kind of magic (treated as science) that mostly women are proficient at, activated by drawing sigils. This is of course a set up at a gender flip look at discrimination, but the great part is, this book isn't as one dimensional as that. Although a lot of it IS about the struggles, discrimination and flat out dismissal that Robert faces as a minor in his chosen field, Philosophy overall is also heavily tied in with women's rights and equal rights for PoCs, which is <i>fantastic</i>. I feel that this kind of reflects how discrimination on both sides can exist simultaneously, which is what I think we're facing in the current state of the world.

So yes, excellent political drama in an alternate history US of about 1918, but also a school story, fun magic adventures with Brandon Sanderson levels of hard rules, and an excellent cast of characters. A great read overall.

I was interested enough in the book and storyline to want to read it. It was hard for me to totally believe in the "power" that Sigilists could use to make things happen....like flying and transporting people. It is probably a good book for someone who is into the sci fi genre of reading and the "possibilities" of magic. The story had lots of words in it that were unfamiliar, there was some language, sexual tones, and bullying. I do thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

THE PHILOSOPHER’S FLIGHT has a great opening scene, gripping, compelling and smart, with a world that is historically similar but fantastical enough to feed readers’ magical desires. With gender biases turned upside down, boys are less desirable for leadership roles than girls, magic and science are melded together in philosophy and serve peaceful and wartime purposes. Our protagonist is an under-appreciated young man, desperate to follow in his mother’s laudable footsteps, and serve in the military. But first he is accepted into an almost-all girls college for training; where he struggles to prove his worth. While the rest of the book fails to reach the heights of the opening scene, the world-building is fascinating and deep. The characters will appeal to young adult readers with ease, especially since the topics mostly deal with rites of passage set against various political issues reminiscent of our own age. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

What a fantastic read! I’d describe it as as mixture of Harry Potter, Grossman’s The Magicians and History. Hopefully we’ll see more stories from this universe.

I was worried this book would be a whiny-boy-feeling-discriminated-against, but that is not the case at all.

Robert is a wonderfully written main character. He's charming, sweet, and isn’t afraid to stand up for himself or his friends. Robert also begins to learn just how tough the woman philosophers have it when he encounters members of “The Trenchers”--a group of aggressive men, mad at the upset of power and looking to put woman back “in their place." I couldn't help but root for Robert and laugh at his small blunders along the way.

Miller did a fantastic job showing the struggle that the Philosopher's were facing and discussing the issues that arose when women became the stronger sex in a thoughtful and appropriate way. He also included just enough humor and fun situations that occur in college (like the Cock and Hen showdown!!) to level the seriousness this book had.

The women in this book were phenomenal, and I wanted more of each of them, especially Jake (I really hope we haven't seen the last of her!). Miller included woman from all walks of life, all types of personalities, and I loved each one more than the last. The other men in the story were well placed, and each added something to the story that would have been lacking without them (I love Freddy--you've got to admire that kid's passion).

A fascinating read. In some ways, similar to reading "Wicked," I knew the history but wasn't sure where the author was taking it. It was fun and thought provoking. At times, it was to drag a little but overall I really enjoyed it.