Because Empty Fame Is Evil. That's Why.

But see, that's the thing: absolutely nothing changed. According to what characters talked abt or mentioned in a casual way, everything that happened in our world up to 1846 happened in the book's 'verse too--with the additional quirk of some ppl having powers.

And, that's not only lazy as hell from a storytelling perspective, but also illogical. Ppl with powers would deffo alter a LOT. Mainly cuz there would be folks who are good natured but cowardly OR morally gray but cautious OR plain evil and greedy, etc.

Re Christian magic, this author lacks the necessary talent to present her own religion in her own writing without making a lot of plot and logic fails, so, you know, there is that. Asking her to do actually good worldbuilding would be like asking me to do NASA-levels of math. 🤣