Let's be real. Could you have helped Mr. Darcy along? Wouldn't you have some tips and pointers that could have made things work just a bit smoother? In the historical fantasy novel, "Stasis," a floundering college student who has had a difficult past suddenly finds herself whirled into Regency England where she has the opportunity to help Mr. Darcy overcome some of his less sociable aspects. There was no way to prepare for this since up until the very moment she landed in England, she had no idea time travel existed. Oh, and she may have used her Taser on Mr. Darcy.
When a job offer is presented to travel through time and help at certain transitional moments in history, the heroine of "Stasis," by Alex Drevessa, cannot turn down the chance to explore some of her favorite people and time periods. Soon she is working with physicists, historians, mathematicians and computer scientists to keep England from being overtaken by Napoleon and to save priceless information from going up in flames during the Ming Dynasty. Side note: Who knew the Chinese explorer Zheng He was such a hottie? The heroine is caught off guard time after time and must deal with each situation the best she can, employing her own personal arsenal of information. Oh, and she also has to deal with an evil scientist and solve her own love story dilemma.
The heroine has spent much of her life struggling with Asperger syndrome, and due to her own mental wiring and efforts, she has accumulated a vast assortment of diverse information. This allows her to handle many odd situations most people would be ill-prepared for or simply flummoxed by. Her straightforward acknowledgment of the benefits and hardships of dealing with this particular neurodevelopmental disorder creates a heroine that will shock, amuse and tug at your heartstrings. Her Asperger symptoms give her an interesting insight into understanding people from other times and cultures. It gives the reader a novel look at a very unconventional heroine.
Alex Drevessa is a local author from Jefferson City. Drevessa's own experiences and exhilaration for the adventure of life shine through this romantic-historical- fantasy novel. "Stasis" is the first book in a series. Drevessa has created a fascinating website as a companion to each novel. The website contains further information regarding quotes and thoughts in the book, recipes and more history. "Stasis" is a journey well worth embarking on!
Mariah Luebbering works in teen and young adult services at the Missouri River Regional Library.