Magnificent Devices: A steampunk adventure novel
Book 3 in the Magnificent Devices series!
An air voyage to remember turns into a disaster no one may survive.
With her orphaned charges, Lady Claire Trevelyan joins the Earl of Dunsmuir’s family on an airship voyage to the Americas. If she can stay out of Lord James Selwyn’s way until her eighteenth birthday, she will be of age and cannot be forced into marriage. What she doesn’t know is that Lord James is in the Americas, too, with Andrew Malvern closing in on him—and the wonderful device he stole. But when a storm cripples the airship and air pirates swoop in like carrion birds, Claire and the children must live by their wits to make their way across a harsh landscape. Will Andrew ever see her again and right the wrong he believes he has done? Will Lord James succeed in his monumental thievery? And how exactly does Rosie the chicken evade the soup pot?
Tighten your goggles, pull on your gloves, and prepare yourself for stratagems and strangeness!
“An immensely fun series with some excellent anti-sexist messages, a wonderful main character (one of my favourites in the genre) and a great sense of Victorian style and language that’s both fun and beautiful to read.” —Fangs for the Fantasy: The latest in urban fantasy from a social justice perspective, on Magnificent Devices
“The Magnificent Devices series continues to wow me book after book—this time around with pirates, automatons, trains and explosions and the wild, wild west!” —Amy’s Book Den, on Magnificent Devices
Not magnificent, but certainly pretty good!,
Having said that, I have to admit that I’m really enjoying the series, and find the characterisation first rate, although there are enough other strong characters appearing that the author may have to work hard to keep Lady Claire as a worthwhile heroine. While she can come across as strong-willed and determined, there are instances when her ability to drift off into points of morality or just daydreams when her attention should be elsewhere, and her anguish when she feels she should be following the very conventions she’s trying so hard to avoid, simply become an irritation, and certainly add nothing to the pace of the story. For part of this tale, Maggie is the one whose thoughts and actions are followed, and Claire will have to look to her laurels, as she does not come out the winner against Maggie’s realism and common sense – and understated heroism.
Once again, there are some interesting new characters, although I still take great enjoyment out of Rosie, the hen.
Having brought the story across to America, the author may well feel more comfortable than she did in Victorian England, but I’m not sure that, even in America, the ladies retired from dinner to allow men to smoke and drink port, then rejoin the ladies in order to eat dessert together – presumably from dishes in their laps, since they were no longer in the dining room.
The plot is busy, with lots of incidents, all extremely interesting, but there’s a very abrupt ending, and I’m not entirely sure that the author has laid our minds to rest about James Selwyn.
Despite the above criticisms, I will still be buying the next instalment when it comes out. The very fact that I’m making those criticisms really means that I’m taking the author’s work seriously, and it certainly deserves that. It’s entertainment of a high order.
More Steampunk please!!!!!,
I had never heard of Steampunk before and after a short period of reading was able to follow this fantasy genre.
I loved it! and as I was on holiday and had time to read, I was able to get this book, the third in the series, instantly for my Kindle as well. Oh my the stories run on so well. I am now at an impass having to wait for her next book!
I won’t say anything about the story or characters as I always find that spoils a read, so have a go and I hope you enjoy, as much as I have, reading these books. I’ve had Kindles for a number of years now, I got the new paperwhite for Christmas this year. This has to be the best thing out!! I don’t get told to “Turn the light out” now!!
Magnificent in more than the title,
simon211175 (UK) –
Having read this now, in only a couple of days – I can definitely add it to my favourites list. Magnificent Devices is full of adventure, with twists and turns everywhere. My only bad point with these books, as they are too short – I always want more when I’m done with one, and now I have to wait until spring 2013 for the 4th to be released!
I hope this series continues for many an episode, I’d recommend these to anyone. Go, read them. Now.