Karissa E. (ophelia99) reviewed Lady of Devices (Magnificent Devices, Bk 1) on + 2527 more book reviews I listened to this on audiobook and the audiobook was very very well done. I highly recommend this on audiobook.
Claire Trevelyan is the daughter of a Viscount and her mother is trying her best to get her married off to a fine gentleman. However Claire would rather go to University and spend time talking to Wits about steam engines. Disaster strikes when Claires father goes bankrupt and dies. Claires mother and brother are forced to flee the city to escape angry investors, while Claire is left to deal with tying things up in the city. Claire sees this as an opportunity to take control of her own life.
There are a ton of interesting steampunk elements in this novel that I really enjoyed. This is a story that isnt all that original; a young woman prefers science/knowledge over marriage and decides to go her own way...but it is the type of story I never tire of reading.
Claire is a wonderful balance of a proper lady and a young woman who wants to make her own way. She is at times pretty and soft, but also extremely determined, smart and stubborn. Shes one of my favorite types of heroines to read about. I love how she makes a family for herself and finds a place to call home even in the worst of situations.
This book mainly follows Claire as she deals with the aftermath of her family disaster and loss of place in society and starts to find her own way in life. I loved the steampunk elements, found Claires story to be very engaging, and really enjoyed the story overall.
There is a somewhat complicated love interest here. A gentleman who was interested in Lady Claire ends up being the same man who is financing the research of Andrew Malvern, a young inventor who wants to hire Claire as his secretary. It makes for a bit of a love triangle of sorts, although I will say the story definitely isnt driven by romance there is some romance subtly woven in.
The story ties up nicely, but there are definitely more elements of the story that still need to be resolved.
Overall I really enjoyed this story and thought it was a very fun read. It is not a story that is all that creative, but it is fun and well done. If you enjoy steampunk novels I definitely recommend this book. The story is bit of a Pride and Prejudice meets steampunk kind of read. I definitely plan on listening to more audio books in the Magnificent Devices series!
Claire Trevelyan, 17, is bright, spunky and determined to make her own way despite a controlling mother. With ingenuity and determination, she manages to emerge from disasters that befall her. When her father commits suicide after gambling the family's fortune on the future of combustible engines, she finds herself penniless and on the streets. Her home has been burned by angry investors while her vehicle and belongings are stolen.
Everything seems almost too easy for a heroine whose encounter and gutsy reactions with criminals of the street only strengthen her character. Claire experimented in school chemistry class where curiosity resulted in occasional explosions. Using her mind and her experimental experience, she chooses to becomes a Lady of Devices in London's Underground, a name that disguises her societal background as a Viscountâs daughter. That is a story in itself as she earns the trust and respect of âfriendlyâ thieves who she educates as she leads them in their endeavors.
In short, this is a jolly good romp in an alternat world where imaginary machines reign.
Kathleen K. (katydid597) - Got this Kindle book free, (thank you Bookbub) and immediately upon finishing it I purchased all the rest of the series. We are introduced to Lady Claire as she is attending a "kitchen" chemistry class, and blowing up her experiment. Not at all a docile daughter, she has learned to drive the steam-powered landau, and wants to become an engineer. Her mother, a proper Victorian lady, is, of course, totally aghast at this life plan.
We don't really meet her father, just in passing as he is trying to salvage his company (he champions the gas engines, rather than the current steam power), and he doesn't fare well when his sponsorship fails, along with his company and investments. After his death, when his gun "accidentally" discharges, Claire's family must flee the city. She is supposed to join them at the country home, but can't accept the future her mother would plot for her, so, after her house is torched by unhappy investors of her late father's interests, she decides to stay with a gang of ingenious children/teens that she had the misfortune to encounter while fleeing from her home. They stopped her and stole her landau and possessions, and when she recovered consciousness, she took off to recover everything. The story follows her attempts, and believe me, this girl doesn't take no for an answer and never backs down!
She earns her moniker "Lady of Devices", and finds herself a defacto mother to the youngest in the gang, and an equal, or bettor, than the rest as she helps them acquire housing and funds. She also finds herself quite changed by the experience, and life is no longer so black and white.
I can't wait until I have read the series, and look forward to even more books by Shelly Adina.
Margaret Y. (frogslady) - 