Details:
This review is based on the first three books of the Magnificent Devices series: Lady of Devices #1, Her Own Devices #2, Magnificent Devices #3
Edition: Kindle
Price: $0.99 - $4.99 each (on Amazon)
Reading Challenges: Steampunk, Women Authors, Self Published
★★★★★★★★★☆
Note: I wrote this review twice and twice it somehow disappeared -- which totally SUCKS because I loved this series so much! I have wonderful words for it, but they keep disappearing! So, just know this is a freaking amazing series!
The Magnificent Devices series (Lady of Devices, Her Own Devices and Magnificent Devices) follows an action-packed storyline led by a clever female lead and accompanied by a fun cast of characters. I could hardly put the books down…
…which is surprising since it took me a few tries to even begin Lady of Devices. Initially, the story seems very – how should I put it? – technical? It began with a girl, Claire Trevelyan, and her clear obsession with, obviously, devices. Especially when it comes to steam landaus. The first few pages focus on the steam landaus and it seemed to read more like a manual to, well, steam landaus. Once I got through that, however, the story really began.
Basic synopsis (how the series begins):
Being the daughter of Viscount St. Ives in 1889 London, Claire’s penchant for chemistry and engineering (and ability to talk about things other than gossip and the latest fashions) is viewed with about as much love as one would have for chlamydia. After all, what man of decent breeding would want to marry a woman who didn’t sit down, shut up, and produce heirs?
Claire is almost at the age where she will be forced to marry, but some poor investment choices by her father led him to commit suicide – shaming the family and putting Claire and her mom out on their asses (which, in aristocrat terms, means they had to move to move with their servants to their other estate – oh the horror). Claire stays behind with the hopes of getting a job and pursuing her studies at the university, but the home is soon invaded by an angry mob her father owned money to. Claire escapes with only a few essentials, but soon finds she has nowhere to go and nobody to take her in.
Oddly enough, that's exactly who takes her in, the "nobodies" of society -- a gang of street kids. (In all fairness, they don't really tae her in, she more or less break in and, through mutual interest and some coercion, they find a way to cohabitate).
This begins Claire's new life as governess/leader/teacher to her flock of wayward children, secretary/assistant to hansom inventor Andrew Malvern, reluctant love interest of Lord James Selwyn, and (most importantly) the Lady of Devices.
From here, each of the books take Claire and her flock on an amazing journey dedicated to truth, knowledge and the steampunk way. There really isn't a dull moment and it's great to have a great leading lady like Claire that is both intelligent and "real."
I can't wait for the next book, Brilliant Devices, which is scheduled for release sometime this month. Uhm...it's already the 16th! So, get with it!
(There will be a longer review here if the review Gods decide to give me back my words!)
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