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Thursday, April 9, 2015

Name That Genre #6

TITLE: YA
GENRE: SECRET

Uncle William had returned over an hour ago, yet no summons had come.

Sage tugged her fingers as she paced the dark hallway, the rustle of her full skirt covering her footsteps. She’d seen the smugness on his face as he rode through the manor house gate and tossed the reins to the hostler. The look of having finally solved a vexing problem. Her lips twisted with satisfaction. An entire summer of pleading, obeying without complaint, being on her best behavior… all worth it today. They would finally be free of each other.

Someone in the village would need an apprentice— the herb shop or the candlemakers or weavers maybe. She’d sweep floors for the blacksmith if she had to. And she could keep her earnings. Most girls who worked had to support a convent orphanage or family, but the Broadmoors didn’t need the money, and Sage more than earned her keep as a tutor.

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29 comments:

  1. MarilynApril 9, 2015 at 10:22 AM

    I think this is historical fiction based on word choices such as "vexing", but also the full skirts, manor house, and hostler create a scene from long ago.

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  2. S.D.KingApril 9, 2015 at 12:04 PM

    historical fiction

    I am picturing Belle trying to escape from her provincial little town.

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  3. 1000th.monkeyApril 9, 2015 at 12:12 PM

    I Can't Tell

    I'm 50/50 whether this is historical or fantasy

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  4. SusanApril 9, 2015 at 12:41 PM

    Historical fiction. I wasn't sure at first, but 'village', 'candlemakers' and 'blacksmith' are mentioned in the second paragraph. That makes me think it takes place during the 18th or 19th century.

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  5. UnknownApril 9, 2015 at 12:46 PM

    Historical
    Manor house, full skirt, the hostler and the list of possible apprenticeships Sage might obtain -- all seem to point toward historical.

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  6. HeatherApril 9, 2015 at 12:46 PM

    Historical - but something is telling me there's more. Like also Thriller? Or Mystery? I get the feeling her uncle is smug for reasons she isn't guessing yet.

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  7. UnknownApril 9, 2015 at 2:09 PM

    Historical. I was leaning towards fantasy of a historical sort, due to the loads of historical terms that are so often also used in fantasy. But the word "Broadmoor" screams specifically historical, and (so far) there is no evidence of magic.

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  8. UnknownApril 9, 2015 at 2:09 PM

    Historical. I was leaning towards fantasy of a historical sort, due to the loads of historical terms that are so often also used in fantasy. But the word "Broadmoor" screams specifically historical, and (so far) there is no evidence of magic.

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  9. UnknownApril 9, 2015 at 2:24 PM

    Historical

    The full skirt, apprenticeship, etc.

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  10. Michele HelselApril 9, 2015 at 2:48 PM

    Historical Romance.
    Made me think of Jane Eyre.

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  11. Michele HelselApril 9, 2015 at 2:48 PM

    Historical Romance.
    Made me think of Jane Eyre.

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  12. AnonymousApril 9, 2015 at 3:25 PM

    Historical Fantasy.

    All the period terms made me think straight up historical fiction at first, but the name Sage combined with the circumstances of her becoming an apprentice when she's already earning money as a tutor swayed me over to Fantasy.

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  13. KathleeaApril 9, 2015 at 3:44 PM

    Historical.

    Based on the dress, the descriptions and the fact that she's working as a tutor.

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  14. Eisenman SoftwareApril 9, 2015 at 4:02 PM

    Historical?

    Hostlers died out in the victorian era. However, Sage is a modern name.

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  15. Mary HolmApril 9, 2015 at 4:05 PM

    Historical

    Because of the full skirt, the horses, herb shops and candlemakers. I'm guessing 18th century or before because of the mention of a possible apprenticeship in the village. Possibly Europe, because of the manor house. Perhaps it will be a historical fantasy because I don't think many girls were given apprenticeships at that time.

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  16. JAZApril 9, 2015 at 4:26 PM

    Historical
    The setting, clothing and overbearing uncle, not to mention the apprenticeship idea suggest an earlier time and perhaps a European environment.

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  17. Bonnie StaringApril 9, 2015 at 4:53 PM

    Historical
    The job options Sage is considering nailed it for me.

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  18. SussuApril 9, 2015 at 6:26 PM

    HISTORICAL.

    The manor, the position as a tutor, the full skirt dress. All contribute to indicate historical fiction.

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  19. LanetteApril 9, 2015 at 7:07 PM

    Historical

    You've done some nice world building with the clothes, blacksmith, pointing to the reasons why most girls work, etc.

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  20. Tracy GoldApril 9, 2015 at 10:51 PM

    I can't tell

    Agree that I'm torn on historical v. Fantasy. Herb shop stuck out as a bit strange--that would seem odd as the first example in a historical novel.

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  21. GinaApril 10, 2015 at 1:26 PM

    Historical. There's nothing that suggests fantasy to me. It's as if fantasy has become so ubiquitous that we assume it's fantasy until proven otherwise. Jeesh. And if it turns out this IS some kind of fantasy, I'll be eating my hat on Sunday!

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  22. RickApril 10, 2015 at 2:22 PM

    Historical.

    Manor and long dress.

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  23. shelleyApril 10, 2015 at 3:13 PM

    Historical. Romance maybe? Adventure maybe?

    Clues that it's historical: the m.c.'s dress, her employment options. Also the uncle riding a horse.

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  24. sbjamesApril 10, 2015 at 3:57 PM

    Blacksmith, long dress make me think historical but it could be fantasy.

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  25. C. R. BaileyApril 10, 2015 at 10:01 PM

    Historical. Full skirts, manor house, uncle on horseback.

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  26. AnonymousApril 10, 2015 at 10:35 PM

    Historical.

    Riding a horse up to a Manor House (tossing reins implies a horse is involved), full skirt, seemingly head strong girl, etc.

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  27. AnonymousApril 10, 2015 at 11:37 PM

    Historical

    Don't sense any magic or fantasy and the world seems real, just olden days

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  28. Rocket Ma'amApril 11, 2015 at 12:30 PM

    Thanks to everyone who commented.

    Honestly, I'm not sure how to pitch this. It's semi-historical (with a European-style society), but it differs from any particular culture and has it's own geography (which is actually critical to the plot). So in a way, it's fantasy, but being that's there's no actual MAGIC in this world, I hesitate to call it such.

    So I guess I'll call it historical fiction adventure. Has romance, too, but most books do.

    I was told my opening was weak on setting, but it sounds like I've fixed that since everyone seemed to be on the right track.

    Thanks again!

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  29. Rocket Ma'amApril 11, 2015 at 12:32 PM

    My readers have called it "Mulan meets Brave with a dash of Jane Eyre," and yeah, I can go with that :o)

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