What do you think?
Rate this book
Magnificent Devices #1-4
Magnificent Devices: The Claire Quartet, #1-4
This four-book set contains the “Claire Quartet”—Lady of Devices, Her Own Devices, Magnificent Devices, and Brilliant Devices, an edition of over 250,000 words.
London, 1889. Victoria is Queen. Charles Darwin’s son is Prime Minister. And steam is the power that runs the world.
At 17, Claire Trevelyan, daughter of Viscount St. Ives, was expected to do nothing more than pour an elegant cup of tea, sew a fine seam, and catch a rich husband. Unfortunately, Claire’s talents lie not in the ballroom, but in the chemistry lab, where things have a regrettable habit of blowing up. When her father gambles the estate on the combustion engine and loses, Claire finds herself down and out on the mean streets of London. But being a young woman of resources and intellect, she turns fortune on its head …
A South Bank gang—Snouts, Tigg, Jake, 10-year-old twin girls called the Mopsies, Weepin’ Willie, and Rosie the chicken—soon becomes Claire’s flock. But concealing her secret life becomes increasingly difficult, particularly when a powerful lord proposes and she and her friends are forced to flee on an airship to the Americas. Will she achieve her goal of a university degree? Will her loyalty to her friends be her undoing when it jeopardizes the plans of powerful men who desire money more than honor? And just how many funerals will her unfortunate mother be forced to arrange?
London, 1889. Victoria is Queen. Charles Darwin’s son is Prime Minister. And steam is the power that runs the world.
At 17, Claire Trevelyan, daughter of Viscount St. Ives, was expected to do nothing more than pour an elegant cup of tea, sew a fine seam, and catch a rich husband. Unfortunately, Claire’s talents lie not in the ballroom, but in the chemistry lab, where things have a regrettable habit of blowing up. When her father gambles the estate on the combustion engine and loses, Claire finds herself down and out on the mean streets of London. But being a young woman of resources and intellect, she turns fortune on its head …
A South Bank gang—Snouts, Tigg, Jake, 10-year-old twin girls called the Mopsies, Weepin’ Willie, and Rosie the chicken—soon becomes Claire’s flock. But concealing her secret life becomes increasingly difficult, particularly when a powerful lord proposes and she and her friends are forced to flee on an airship to the Americas. Will she achieve her goal of a university degree? Will her loyalty to her friends be her undoing when it jeopardizes the plans of powerful men who desire money more than honor? And just how many funerals will her unfortunate mother be forced to arrange?
830 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 16, 2013
352 people are currently reading
526 people want to read
About the author
Shelley Adina
91 books628 followersShelley Adina is the author of 24 novels published by Harlequin, Warner, and Hachette, and a dozen more published by Moonshell Books, Inc., her own independent press. She writes steampunk and contemporary romance as Shelley Adina, and as Adina Senft, writes Amish women’s fiction. She holds an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania, where she teaches as adjunct faculty. She won RWA’s RITA Award® in 2005, and was a finalist in 2006. When she’s not writing, Shelley is usually quilting, sewing historical costumes, or hanging out in the garden with her flock of rescued chickens.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
April 10, 2014
The storytelling here is magnificent! I chose this because it said it was Steampunk, and I was curious what Steampunk fiction would be like. Turned out it was rich in detail, imaginative to the core, highly descriptive of the gadgets that are the defining characteristic of Steampunk, with historical details twisted into an alternate reality that is totally plausible and completely absorbing. Highly recommended!
December 17, 2018
Charming Steampunk Adventure
Shelley Adina's collection of Steampunk daring-do novels offer brisk, entertaining plots and charming, engaging characters. The adventures of Lady Claire offer a fine role model for young women before they know anything so beneficial has been presented. Teachers, parents and grandparents will enjoy this series. So will their charges.
Shelley Adina's collection of Steampunk daring-do novels offer brisk, entertaining plots and charming, engaging characters. The adventures of Lady Claire offer a fine role model for young women before they know anything so beneficial has been presented. Teachers, parents and grandparents will enjoy this series. So will their charges.
May 10, 2017
I love these books! This is one of the best series I have encountered, and I will certainly attempt to read the remaining books in the series as soon as possible.
These are some of the earliest examples of Steampunk literature I have purchased, and they utilize the steampunk theme to maximum effect. They begin in an alternative history 1889 where much of the technology we are familiar with is being co-opted by steam, early electric, and kinetic energy technology. Also in this alternative history a great many developments in the political sphere we take for granted apparently never happened. For example, the American Revolution. There is no United States, only the Fifteen Colonies (so far we haven’t been told what two other colonies besides the famous original thirteen are included in this lot). There is the Texican Territory, which appears to cover most of the American Southwest and Mexico, and appears to be an independent (and somewhat lawless) country. California appears to be still under the control of Spain, as is most of South America.
Men are still mostly in charge, but if the spirited women in this series have anything to say about it, that will not last long. We have in this series not only our spunky heroine, Lady Claire Trevelyan, but also the two girls she takes under her wing – the Mopsies, Lizzy and Maggie, Rosemary Craig, the inventor of the device that powers the lightning rifle, and Alice Chalmers, who is responsible for the airship Stalwart Lass.
Lady of Devices (5 stars)
Promptly upon graduating from St. Cecelia’s Academy for Young Ladies, Claire Trevelyan’s world is turned upside down. Her father loses everything when the Arabian Bubble bursts and his investments in research into the failed internal combustion engine come to nothing and takes his own life. Her house must be sold to cover the massive debts, and her family is to move to their country estate to live in relative poverty.
But Claire, who cherishes hopes of a university education in engineering, wants to remain in town and seek employment in hopes of fulfilling her dream. Her prospects of securing employment with a scientist seem good when his partner, a young Lord she has met at her parents’ house, charges in and begins to belittle her abilities. Claire refuses the job if it requires her to work for him.
Then her house is ransacked by a mob of ruined investors who blame her father for their troubles, and in the process of fleeing the crowd she is set upon by a gang of children, and her steam landau with all her belongings is stolen. Claire, with her talent for chemistry, strikes back and retrieves the contents of her trunk, only to discover that another gang has stolen the landau from the first one before they could sell it. She agrees to help the first gang learn how to make the gas bombs she used to get them to relinquish her belongings in exchange for their help in retrieving it and her more valuable items.
Her Own Devices (5 stars)
In this volume, Andrew Malvern’s mother recognizes Weepin’ Willie as the long lost son of Lord and Lady Dunsmuir who disappeared from their house two years before. Claire, Andrew, and Tigg return him to his family and earn their undying gratitude.
They learn that Rosemary Craig was the inventor of the device that powers the lightning rifle, but that she has been locked up in Bedlam for the past ten years. Claire and the gang break her out and take her to their house in Vauxhall Gardens where she helps them come up with the device for enhancing coal that Andrew has been trying to perfect.
In the meantime, Lady Claire has allowed herself to become engaged to Lord James Selwyn in spite of the fact that she frequently finds herself angry at him over his refusal to see her as an intelligent human being and a useful member of Andrew’s research team.
Magnificent Devices (5 stars)
Claire, along with the Mopsies, Tigg, Jake, and Rosie the chicken join Lord and Lady Dunsmuir in their private airship, the Lady Lucy on what is supposed to be a voyage to the Canadas. But their plans are changed when they are boarded by a crew of Texican air pirates.
Meanwhile, Lord James Selwyn, Claire’s former fiancé, has betrayed everyone – his partner Andrew, the railroad company he was negotiating with to buy his coal converter, and Lady Claire, and absconded with the Selwyn Kinetic Carbonator, evidently with the intention of selling it to a group of Texican businessmen instead. Andrew has followed him in hopes of bringing him back.
The pirates take them to an isolated town in the desert, where they intend to hold them for ransom. But Claire escapes by jumping out a window into a flash flood, where she is rescued by a young lady with a great deal of engineering aptitude who proves to be the head pirate’s step-daughter. While staying with the girl, Alice, Claire overhears the pirates planning to wreck James’ ship when (to her surprise) he comes to ransom her. Even though she wants nothing to do with him, she can’t, in good conscience, allow him to be killed like that, so she manages to foil that plan.
After many other adventures, everyone escapes, and they are reunited again in Santa Fe where they meet up with Andrew Malvern again. But they also meet up with Lord James again. Apparently oblivious of how Claire saved his life in the pirates’ desert town, James basically takes Claire prisoner and forces her to travel with him on the train that is to demonstrate the processed coal to the Texicans and the representatives of the Kingdom of Spain to which they are trying to sell their process this time. A trip that ends very badly.
Brilliant Devices (5 Stars)
Claire and her friends travel to Edmonton. Alice looks for her father. They make the acquaintance of Count von Zeppelin, inventor of the airship. Claire and Alice engage in a minor competition for the affections of Andrew Malvern. But they don’t have much time for squabbling because, by the time they come to the Dunsmuirs’ diamond mine, they seem to have gotten in the way of someone’s attempt to create an international incident and start a war. It is left to Claire and her friends to save Count von Zeppelin and the Esquimaux, not to mention Alice’s father who, along with the Dunsmuirs was designated to take the blame for the incident.
These are some of the earliest examples of Steampunk literature I have purchased, and they utilize the steampunk theme to maximum effect. They begin in an alternative history 1889 where much of the technology we are familiar with is being co-opted by steam, early electric, and kinetic energy technology. Also in this alternative history a great many developments in the political sphere we take for granted apparently never happened. For example, the American Revolution. There is no United States, only the Fifteen Colonies (so far we haven’t been told what two other colonies besides the famous original thirteen are included in this lot). There is the Texican Territory, which appears to cover most of the American Southwest and Mexico, and appears to be an independent (and somewhat lawless) country. California appears to be still under the control of Spain, as is most of South America.
Men are still mostly in charge, but if the spirited women in this series have anything to say about it, that will not last long. We have in this series not only our spunky heroine, Lady Claire Trevelyan, but also the two girls she takes under her wing – the Mopsies, Lizzy and Maggie, Rosemary Craig, the inventor of the device that powers the lightning rifle, and Alice Chalmers, who is responsible for the airship Stalwart Lass.
Lady of Devices (5 stars)
Promptly upon graduating from St. Cecelia’s Academy for Young Ladies, Claire Trevelyan’s world is turned upside down. Her father loses everything when the Arabian Bubble bursts and his investments in research into the failed internal combustion engine come to nothing and takes his own life. Her house must be sold to cover the massive debts, and her family is to move to their country estate to live in relative poverty.
But Claire, who cherishes hopes of a university education in engineering, wants to remain in town and seek employment in hopes of fulfilling her dream. Her prospects of securing employment with a scientist seem good when his partner, a young Lord she has met at her parents’ house, charges in and begins to belittle her abilities. Claire refuses the job if it requires her to work for him.
Then her house is ransacked by a mob of ruined investors who blame her father for their troubles, and in the process of fleeing the crowd she is set upon by a gang of children, and her steam landau with all her belongings is stolen. Claire, with her talent for chemistry, strikes back and retrieves the contents of her trunk, only to discover that another gang has stolen the landau from the first one before they could sell it. She agrees to help the first gang learn how to make the gas bombs she used to get them to relinquish her belongings in exchange for their help in retrieving it and her more valuable items.
Her Own Devices (5 stars)
In this volume, Andrew Malvern’s mother recognizes Weepin’ Willie as the long lost son of Lord and Lady Dunsmuir who disappeared from their house two years before. Claire, Andrew, and Tigg return him to his family and earn their undying gratitude.
They learn that Rosemary Craig was the inventor of the device that powers the lightning rifle, but that she has been locked up in Bedlam for the past ten years. Claire and the gang break her out and take her to their house in Vauxhall Gardens where she helps them come up with the device for enhancing coal that Andrew has been trying to perfect.
In the meantime, Lady Claire has allowed herself to become engaged to Lord James Selwyn in spite of the fact that she frequently finds herself angry at him over his refusal to see her as an intelligent human being and a useful member of Andrew’s research team.
Magnificent Devices (5 stars)
Claire, along with the Mopsies, Tigg, Jake, and Rosie the chicken join Lord and Lady Dunsmuir in their private airship, the Lady Lucy on what is supposed to be a voyage to the Canadas. But their plans are changed when they are boarded by a crew of Texican air pirates.
Meanwhile, Lord James Selwyn, Claire’s former fiancé, has betrayed everyone – his partner Andrew, the railroad company he was negotiating with to buy his coal converter, and Lady Claire, and absconded with the Selwyn Kinetic Carbonator, evidently with the intention of selling it to a group of Texican businessmen instead. Andrew has followed him in hopes of bringing him back.
The pirates take them to an isolated town in the desert, where they intend to hold them for ransom. But Claire escapes by jumping out a window into a flash flood, where she is rescued by a young lady with a great deal of engineering aptitude who proves to be the head pirate’s step-daughter. While staying with the girl, Alice, Claire overhears the pirates planning to wreck James’ ship when (to her surprise) he comes to ransom her. Even though she wants nothing to do with him, she can’t, in good conscience, allow him to be killed like that, so she manages to foil that plan.
After many other adventures, everyone escapes, and they are reunited again in Santa Fe where they meet up with Andrew Malvern again. But they also meet up with Lord James again. Apparently oblivious of how Claire saved his life in the pirates’ desert town, James basically takes Claire prisoner and forces her to travel with him on the train that is to demonstrate the processed coal to the Texicans and the representatives of the Kingdom of Spain to which they are trying to sell their process this time. A trip that ends very badly.
Brilliant Devices (5 Stars)
Claire and her friends travel to Edmonton. Alice looks for her father. They make the acquaintance of Count von Zeppelin, inventor of the airship. Claire and Alice engage in a minor competition for the affections of Andrew Malvern. But they don’t have much time for squabbling because, by the time they come to the Dunsmuirs’ diamond mine, they seem to have gotten in the way of someone’s attempt to create an international incident and start a war. It is left to Claire and her friends to save Count von Zeppelin and the Esquimaux, not to mention Alice’s father who, along with the Dunsmuirs was designated to take the blame for the incident.
April 3, 2014
A very well written series - nearly 5 star. Great dialog, surprises on almost every page, wonderful characters. The first book enchanted me and the rest kept me spellbound :)
My only quibble is entirely a personal one - authors must engage the reader, and they do so by putting the protagonist in difficult situations, but in my own view, these difficult situations need to be leavened with less difficult situations, and Ms Adina did not do sufficient leavening for me. As I read the stories, it was if every page was a new life or death disaster. With her talent for dialog and characterization, Ms Adina had plenty of ammunition in these stories to take the stories to 5 stars.
Which is not take away one iota of the enjoyment I had reading them!
My only quibble is entirely a personal one - authors must engage the reader, and they do so by putting the protagonist in difficult situations, but in my own view, these difficult situations need to be leavened with less difficult situations, and Ms Adina did not do sufficient leavening for me. As I read the stories, it was if every page was a new life or death disaster. With her talent for dialog and characterization, Ms Adina had plenty of ammunition in these stories to take the stories to 5 stars.
Which is not take away one iota of the enjoyment I had reading them!
November 12, 2016
This book kept me turning the pages, and wanting more after the end. I'd have given it a higher rating but for several plot holes, some more serious than others, and one key scene where both characters involved are left asking themselves afterwards why on earth they acted as they did.
Some errors on British titles are also a minor irritation - James Selwyn is described as a baronet which means he should be addressed as Sir James, not Lord James. A baronet is not a peer but a sort of hereditary knight.
Some errors on British titles are also a minor irritation - James Selwyn is described as a baronet which means he should be addressed as Sir James, not Lord James. A baronet is not a peer but a sort of hereditary knight.
April 9, 2014
I would give this 6 or 8 stars if I could! My introduction to the steampunk genre was a thrill ride of action and adventure. It had all the drama and likeable characters of any of my favorite TV shows. Like Doctor Who, Downton Abbey and Sherlock had a baby. Four stories wasn't enough. I'll be sure to look for continuing stories in The Magnificent Devices series. So glad I took a chance on a new (to me) genre.
May 17, 2020
Here's what I thought about the first book as posted originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over
This book is a cross between a Victorian Era romance in tone and steampunk in world. It is delightful, and I regret waiting so long to read it after I purchased a box set of the first four books on the recommendation of a friend. I have only read the first book so far, and the series feels more like an epic broken into parts than something where each stands wholly on its own. At the same time, this book contains a full story arc. Lady Claire’s circumstances undergo a radical change from the sheltered schoolgirl she is in the beginning, with dreams of convincing her father to send her to university rather than finding a husband on the marriage mart as society expects.
The beginning is well written, introducing the main character, Claire, along with what type of person she is and whom she chooses to befriend. It then gives us a clear look at her hopes and dreams, expanding that picture further and drawing the reader into her inner thoughts. We see how this society is similar to, and different from, traditional Victorian romances like those penned by Georgette Heyer. For all she’s in a finishing school that teaches young ladies their household duties, Claire prefers the classes in the sciences, especially chemistry.
The book also has much in common with the historical fiction from that era I enjoy with its attention to the blissful ignorance of the wealthy and the squalor of the poor. We learn about both the Royal Society of Engineers and an effort to push Britain to a combustion engine over steam, a tension in technology as well as society, and one with economic consequences.
The narrative tone is an overblown internal monologue much of the time, appropriate to the period and the main character. I found it delightful, and informative, along with enjoying Claire’s absorption with machinery and the practice of experimental science.
Possibly because I’m both a steampunk and Victorian Era literature fan, there are many humorous moments that poke fun at the deviations from our timeline, all without breaking the narrative stride. At the same time, the book remains true to the change in wealth from land-based to technology, with the added problems of failed investments rocking the traditional foundations of power. Speaking of the writing, the seeding of seemingly random events or information is well done. Some (but not all) of them become important, and we remember how Claire came to be knowledgeable when it would otherwise seem unlikely.
I failed to recognize the significance of James Selwyn until he is revealed again with his business partner, Andrew Malvern. I find this funny because I had the same reaction to how James met Claire that he did. My note reads, “She is accidentally an original” at that point, my attention drawn just as pointedly as his. This is both a similarity to the romance style and a difference because Claire remains oblivious to her effect and no one is there to point it out to her.
By virtue of having the viewpoint when no one else is present, Andrew makes up the third piece of the triangle from the start. I want to say more about Andrew, an engineer, and James, his idea and money man, but cannot for fear of spoilers. You’ll have to be happy with knowing only they have important parts to play.
The story takes a darker turn toward the end of the first quarter as her fortunes change, but Claire is not one to take things lying down. While the beginning is critical to set everything up and introduce key players, here is where her true story begins, and the book gets its title. However, I checked the blurb and key things are not mentioned there, so I will do the same. I’ll say only her nature meets the upheaval of London head-on. She makes mistakes, but she’s not one to wallow, and by the end, has brought us to a satisfying conclusion of book one’s plot arc while opening a hunger for more, of which there is plenty (I checked).
This book is a cross between a Victorian Era romance in tone and steampunk in world. It is delightful, and I regret waiting so long to read it after I purchased a box set of the first four books on the recommendation of a friend. I have only read the first book so far, and the series feels more like an epic broken into parts than something where each stands wholly on its own. At the same time, this book contains a full story arc. Lady Claire’s circumstances undergo a radical change from the sheltered schoolgirl she is in the beginning, with dreams of convincing her father to send her to university rather than finding a husband on the marriage mart as society expects.
The beginning is well written, introducing the main character, Claire, along with what type of person she is and whom she chooses to befriend. It then gives us a clear look at her hopes and dreams, expanding that picture further and drawing the reader into her inner thoughts. We see how this society is similar to, and different from, traditional Victorian romances like those penned by Georgette Heyer. For all she’s in a finishing school that teaches young ladies their household duties, Claire prefers the classes in the sciences, especially chemistry.
The book also has much in common with the historical fiction from that era I enjoy with its attention to the blissful ignorance of the wealthy and the squalor of the poor. We learn about both the Royal Society of Engineers and an effort to push Britain to a combustion engine over steam, a tension in technology as well as society, and one with economic consequences.
The narrative tone is an overblown internal monologue much of the time, appropriate to the period and the main character. I found it delightful, and informative, along with enjoying Claire’s absorption with machinery and the practice of experimental science.
Possibly because I’m both a steampunk and Victorian Era literature fan, there are many humorous moments that poke fun at the deviations from our timeline, all without breaking the narrative stride. At the same time, the book remains true to the change in wealth from land-based to technology, with the added problems of failed investments rocking the traditional foundations of power. Speaking of the writing, the seeding of seemingly random events or information is well done. Some (but not all) of them become important, and we remember how Claire came to be knowledgeable when it would otherwise seem unlikely.
I failed to recognize the significance of James Selwyn until he is revealed again with his business partner, Andrew Malvern. I find this funny because I had the same reaction to how James met Claire that he did. My note reads, “She is accidentally an original” at that point, my attention drawn just as pointedly as his. This is both a similarity to the romance style and a difference because Claire remains oblivious to her effect and no one is there to point it out to her.
By virtue of having the viewpoint when no one else is present, Andrew makes up the third piece of the triangle from the start. I want to say more about Andrew, an engineer, and James, his idea and money man, but cannot for fear of spoilers. You’ll have to be happy with knowing only they have important parts to play.
The story takes a darker turn toward the end of the first quarter as her fortunes change, but Claire is not one to take things lying down. While the beginning is critical to set everything up and introduce key players, here is where her true story begins, and the book gets its title. However, I checked the blurb and key things are not mentioned there, so I will do the same. I’ll say only her nature meets the upheaval of London head-on. She makes mistakes, but she’s not one to wallow, and by the end, has brought us to a satisfying conclusion of book one’s plot arc while opening a hunger for more, of which there is plenty (I checked).
May 11, 2021
#1 Lady of devices
This story takes place in Regency England, which is run on steam. All sorts of devices have been created in a time of technological evolution.
We have society segregated into Bloods, those of the inherited bureaucratic lines. On the the other hand we have the Witts, those using technologies to further growth and development.
Our young Lady Claire has just graduated from school, however, the same night of her graduation ceremony and consequent party, her father declares that he has lost their fortune in bad business investment, leaving Lady Claire and her mother, to deal with the fallout.
So, that starts the ball rolling, but what comes next is the foundation of the whole series.
It's looking good, at this stage.
#2 Her own devices
Although set in a Regency England run on steam power, this whole story is relative today as yesterday.
A very capable engineer is stuck on a protype problem that he cannot find a solution to.
Along comes our Lady of Devices, who is a master of problem solving.
What the problems are and they are solved, are definitely out of the square. That's what makes this an intriguing tale. Oh, and the infuriating cad of Lord, keeps your blood at boiling point, but again why, is part of the interesting tale, that I couldn't put down.
#3 Magnificent Devices
Headed to the Canadas, in the private airship of Wiĺlie's Aristocratic parents, Lady Claire and her fledgling human flock had fled England, at least until she reached her legal age of 18.
However, the trip is definitely eventful, and lives are placed in jeopardy in a number of situations.
Drama abounds, so reader be prepared, for an astonishing journey through the wild, wild West.
#4 Brilliant Devices
So our young adventurers have made it to Edmonton, after an almost disastrous situation in the wilds.
They again team up with the Dunsmuirs, and with a slight hiccup before venturing further north to the Diamond.
However, mischief is afoot and dramatic scenarios unfold, where our Lady of Devices is capable of finding and carrying out a solution.
Yes, I have enjoyed the four books so far in this series and hope to enjoy further reading of little flocks adventures in further books.
This story takes place in Regency England, which is run on steam. All sorts of devices have been created in a time of technological evolution.
We have society segregated into Bloods, those of the inherited bureaucratic lines. On the the other hand we have the Witts, those using technologies to further growth and development.
Our young Lady Claire has just graduated from school, however, the same night of her graduation ceremony and consequent party, her father declares that he has lost their fortune in bad business investment, leaving Lady Claire and her mother, to deal with the fallout.
So, that starts the ball rolling, but what comes next is the foundation of the whole series.
It's looking good, at this stage.
#2 Her own devices
Although set in a Regency England run on steam power, this whole story is relative today as yesterday.
A very capable engineer is stuck on a protype problem that he cannot find a solution to.
Along comes our Lady of Devices, who is a master of problem solving.
What the problems are and they are solved, are definitely out of the square. That's what makes this an intriguing tale. Oh, and the infuriating cad of Lord, keeps your blood at boiling point, but again why, is part of the interesting tale, that I couldn't put down.
#3 Magnificent Devices
Headed to the Canadas, in the private airship of Wiĺlie's Aristocratic parents, Lady Claire and her fledgling human flock had fled England, at least until she reached her legal age of 18.
However, the trip is definitely eventful, and lives are placed in jeopardy in a number of situations.
Drama abounds, so reader be prepared, for an astonishing journey through the wild, wild West.
#4 Brilliant Devices
So our young adventurers have made it to Edmonton, after an almost disastrous situation in the wilds.
They again team up with the Dunsmuirs, and with a slight hiccup before venturing further north to the Diamond.
However, mischief is afoot and dramatic scenarios unfold, where our Lady of Devices is capable of finding and carrying out a solution.
Yes, I have enjoyed the four books so far in this series and hope to enjoy further reading of little flocks adventures in further books.
August 8, 2019
Red-eye mornings after staying up too late reading
These books are immersive and enjoyable. The plot “rises in action” (punny!) and builds in intensity as Claire avoids one problem only to wind up with a handful more. The characters are likable, the ones on Claire’s side, anyway. However, most are only briefly described physically; but their outfits, including color, are more frequently mentioned. The male love interests need more physical description initially and throughout the story. I had pictured them as way too old for Claire and tried to find their original character details but could not as I wanted to revise my mental image of them. Claire also seems much older than 17, and her romance storyline is flaky. It needs more development as compared to the action scenes, which are fantastic.
Other than wishing the characters were more vividly sketched, the action in these stories is very exciting! There are steampunk vehicles and weapons as well as a few automatons. There are fight scenes, pursuits, rescue missions, kidnappings, pirates, crazy stunts, and dangerous chemical combinations. The novels take readers across cities, countries and continents. While some situations are resolved “off page,” which is disappointing, the majority of the important action happens with the reader present and immersed.
Claire is a clever, caring, and spunky role model, and she pursues “doing the right thing,” which is refreshing. I highly recommend these books for upper elementary and older readers. There are a few scenes with violence/death, references to “desert flowers” of the Wild West, some British-flavored slangy cursing, a few kisses, but they are pretty PG for the most part.
These books are immersive and enjoyable. The plot “rises in action” (punny!) and builds in intensity as Claire avoids one problem only to wind up with a handful more. The characters are likable, the ones on Claire’s side, anyway. However, most are only briefly described physically; but their outfits, including color, are more frequently mentioned. The male love interests need more physical description initially and throughout the story. I had pictured them as way too old for Claire and tried to find their original character details but could not as I wanted to revise my mental image of them. Claire also seems much older than 17, and her romance storyline is flaky. It needs more development as compared to the action scenes, which are fantastic.
Other than wishing the characters were more vividly sketched, the action in these stories is very exciting! There are steampunk vehicles and weapons as well as a few automatons. There are fight scenes, pursuits, rescue missions, kidnappings, pirates, crazy stunts, and dangerous chemical combinations. The novels take readers across cities, countries and continents. While some situations are resolved “off page,” which is disappointing, the majority of the important action happens with the reader present and immersed.
Claire is a clever, caring, and spunky role model, and she pursues “doing the right thing,” which is refreshing. I highly recommend these books for upper elementary and older readers. There are a few scenes with violence/death, references to “desert flowers” of the Wild West, some British-flavored slangy cursing, a few kisses, but they are pretty PG for the most part.
May 13, 2020
Lady of Devices
Her Own Devices
Magnificent Devices
Brilliant Devices
There are more to the series but decided to change it up a bit and move to different gendre.
It was an entertaining Steam Punk series.
I love these books! This is one of the best series I have encountered, and I will certainly attempt to read the remaining books in the series as soon as possible.
These are some of the earliest examples of Steampunk literature I have purchased, and they utilize the steampunk theme to maximum effect.
They begin in an alternative history 1889 where much of the technology we are familiar with is being co-opted by steam, early electric, and kinetic energy technology. Also in this alternative history a great many developments in the political sphere we take for granted apparently never happened. For example, the American Revolution. There is no United States, only the Fifteen Colonies (so far we haven’t been told what two other colonies besides the famous original thirteen are included in this lot). There is the Texican Territory, which appears to cover most of the American Southwest and Mexico, and appears to be an independent (and somewhat lawless) country. California appears to be still under the control of Spain, as is most of South America.
Men are still mostly in charge, but if the spirited women in this series have anything to say about it, that will not last long. We have in this series not only our spunky heroine, Lady Claire Trevelyan, but also the two girls she takes under her wing – the Mopsies, Lizzy and Maggie, Rosemary Craig, the inventor of the device that powers the lightning rifle, and Alice Chalmers, who is responsible for the airship Stalwart Lass.
Her Own Devices
Magnificent Devices
Brilliant Devices
There are more to the series but decided to change it up a bit and move to different gendre.
It was an entertaining Steam Punk series.
I love these books! This is one of the best series I have encountered, and I will certainly attempt to read the remaining books in the series as soon as possible.
These are some of the earliest examples of Steampunk literature I have purchased, and they utilize the steampunk theme to maximum effect.
They begin in an alternative history 1889 where much of the technology we are familiar with is being co-opted by steam, early electric, and kinetic energy technology. Also in this alternative history a great many developments in the political sphere we take for granted apparently never happened. For example, the American Revolution. There is no United States, only the Fifteen Colonies (so far we haven’t been told what two other colonies besides the famous original thirteen are included in this lot). There is the Texican Territory, which appears to cover most of the American Southwest and Mexico, and appears to be an independent (and somewhat lawless) country. California appears to be still under the control of Spain, as is most of South America.
Men are still mostly in charge, but if the spirited women in this series have anything to say about it, that will not last long. We have in this series not only our spunky heroine, Lady Claire Trevelyan, but also the two girls she takes under her wing – the Mopsies, Lizzy and Maggie, Rosemary Craig, the inventor of the device that powers the lightning rifle, and Alice Chalmers, who is responsible for the airship Stalwart Lass.
October 30, 2018
While i found most of this rather ridiculous, like Clair, our 17 year old protagonist, is James Bond on super miraculous, mentally and physically, performance enhancing drugs or something, it is still at the same time a rather enjoyable read. 12 days to get through 4 books isn't too shabby for me so it obviously kept me turning the pages.
If you're wanting a serious read then i would stay well clear. But if you're wanting something that just passes away the hours without you taking it seriously then this might be for you. I think, 'silly' might be a good term to use in describing these books. But that's not to use 'silly' in a bad way, sometimes a bit of 'silly' is a good thing in a world like ours - maybe we could all use a dose of 'silly' now and again.
The plus side is that the characters quite likeable, although the baddies always seem to be a complete bunch of buffoons while the goodies are simply incredible in every possible way - again, making one not take it at all too seriously.
Am i going to read the rest of the series? Yes, i'll certainly come back for more at a later date when i'm in the mood for something silly like this. But right now i really do need to read something a bit more complex and beleiveable.
If you're wanting a serious read then i would stay well clear. But if you're wanting something that just passes away the hours without you taking it seriously then this might be for you. I think, 'silly' might be a good term to use in describing these books. But that's not to use 'silly' in a bad way, sometimes a bit of 'silly' is a good thing in a world like ours - maybe we could all use a dose of 'silly' now and again.
The plus side is that the characters quite likeable, although the baddies always seem to be a complete bunch of buffoons while the goodies are simply incredible in every possible way - again, making one not take it at all too seriously.
Am i going to read the rest of the series? Yes, i'll certainly come back for more at a later date when i'm in the mood for something silly like this. But right now i really do need to read something a bit more complex and beleiveable.
July 15, 2019
Lady Claire
Claire is not your average debutant. She's rather be working on her father's steam engine car or anything else mechanical. Her goal is to enter the college of engineering. But her father's company bottoms out and their fortune is lost and her options are no more. She works with a band of orphans and alley mice and teaches them how to take care of themselves and the others in the group. She gets a job working with an engineer on a combustion engine with one of her boys assisting. She is instrumental in getting the engine working, and the engine is a great success. It is stolen by Lord James who funded it, and forces her to be his fiancee. The adventures continue, and little Willies parents are found and he starts talking. They all go on an airship adventure, after they rescue Claire from Lord James. They meet new friends along the way : Alice another fellow mechanical inventor, and Count von Zepplin the inventor of the zepplin airship whose life they save. The count then offers for Claire to go to engineering school in Prussia.
Claire is not your average debutant. She's rather be working on her father's steam engine car or anything else mechanical. Her goal is to enter the college of engineering. But her father's company bottoms out and their fortune is lost and her options are no more. She works with a band of orphans and alley mice and teaches them how to take care of themselves and the others in the group. She gets a job working with an engineer on a combustion engine with one of her boys assisting. She is instrumental in getting the engine working, and the engine is a great success. It is stolen by Lord James who funded it, and forces her to be his fiancee. The adventures continue, and little Willies parents are found and he starts talking. They all go on an airship adventure, after they rescue Claire from Lord James. They meet new friends along the way : Alice another fellow mechanical inventor, and Count von Zepplin the inventor of the zepplin airship whose life they save. The count then offers for Claire to go to engineering school in Prussia.
April 28, 2018
I listened to the first 10 on Audible. This review applies to the entire series.
I just binge listened to the entire Magnificent Devices series on Audible (how else to spend 12 credits?).
I look forward to, “Fields of Iron” and “Fields of Gold” being released in audio format. Other than the fact that the reader cannot do a decent American accent, they are fabulous. I do not fault that as most people in England would say the same about an American doing their accents. 🤣
I appreciate the author keeping this series fun and clean. (Though there is war violence) I love steampunk but have a hard time with the pervasive sexuality of so many series. I don’t need the selacious to distract from writing ability, story line, character development.
I highly recommend this series.
I just binge listened to the entire Magnificent Devices series on Audible (how else to spend 12 credits?).
I look forward to, “Fields of Iron” and “Fields of Gold” being released in audio format. Other than the fact that the reader cannot do a decent American accent, they are fabulous. I do not fault that as most people in England would say the same about an American doing their accents. 🤣
I appreciate the author keeping this series fun and clean. (Though there is war violence) I love steampunk but have a hard time with the pervasive sexuality of so many series. I don’t need the selacious to distract from writing ability, story line, character development.
I highly recommend this series.
March 7, 2019
Magnificent Devices
I enjoyed this series but thought that it ended too abruptly. I was left questioning “was she the only survivor of The. train
wreck? “ “ what was Malvern’s next project?” “ what happened to Jake and Alice and the Eskimos? “ what about Count Zeplin?” There were many strings left untied. I am sure they will be dealt with in future novels butI felt that 4 volumes were plenty to address them.
All in all she kept true to the events as they occurred and the story line was good. I think her writing style is typical of English. I liked the Steampunk era and found myself wondering if any of those magnificent devices really existed. I will consider her other novels in the series.
I enjoyed this series but thought that it ended too abruptly. I was left questioning “was she the only survivor of The. train
wreck? “ “ what was Malvern’s next project?” “ what happened to Jake and Alice and the Eskimos? “ what about Count Zeplin?” There were many strings left untied. I am sure they will be dealt with in future novels butI felt that 4 volumes were plenty to address them.
All in all she kept true to the events as they occurred and the story line was good. I think her writing style is typical of English. I liked the Steampunk era and found myself wondering if any of those magnificent devices really existed. I will consider her other novels in the series.
October 17, 2019
Four stars for the first two books - I loved getting to know Claire, a feisty Victorian feminist scientist, and her found family. The author provides a detailed and fascinating steampunk universe, and some fun and interesting characters. I would recommend this bundle of novels to a young reader who liked some character with their rollicking adventure and nefarious bad guys.
But as the series progressed the number of characters and action sequences diluted my interest in the protagonist. For me the focus on, and subversion of, Victorian mores and events was lost. The second two books became something like a "Perils of Pauline" serial for me. Too much of a YA angst level for me to continue the series.
But as the series progressed the number of characters and action sequences diluted my interest in the protagonist. For me the focus on, and subversion of, Victorian mores and events was lost. The second two books became something like a "Perils of Pauline" serial for me. Too much of a YA angst level for me to continue the series.
February 16, 2019
#SpoilerWarrior
My. Goodness. So much happens in these books that I don’t even know where to begin. While I enjoyed the first book, it was easily the least favorite of mine in the series. I loved watching Claire grow into this young woman who loves and protects and fires a fun way more than she ever thought she would. I love more how...broad the story is. It does not stay in London and grow stale. It travels and expands and gains characters left and right.
Maybe my only complaint was how many different POVs the last book started to have. Andrew’s POV annoys me and I need him to change with the tide.
I cannot wait to keep reading along.
My. Goodness. So much happens in these books that I don’t even know where to begin. While I enjoyed the first book, it was easily the least favorite of mine in the series. I loved watching Claire grow into this young woman who loves and protects and fires a fun way more than she ever thought she would. I love more how...broad the story is. It does not stay in London and grow stale. It travels and expands and gains characters left and right.
Maybe my only complaint was how many different POVs the last book started to have. Andrew’s POV annoys me and I need him to change with the tide.
I cannot wait to keep reading along.
May 23, 2020
Wonderful Series
Lady Claire is a fictional character who I so admire. From riches to rags in book one. She takes care of her young group of street orphans while trying to make enough money to support them all and save enough to go to engineering academy. In the course of her endeavors she has remarkable adventures with her kids. She kills in defense, she saves the lives of important people, she makes valuable allies. She teaches her kids how to make money legally, mostly, to better themselves. She teaches her kids to read, write, do math, etc. And every book they have a new adventure. I loved each book.
Lady Claire is a fictional character who I so admire. From riches to rags in book one. She takes care of her young group of street orphans while trying to make enough money to support them all and save enough to go to engineering academy. In the course of her endeavors she has remarkable adventures with her kids. She kills in defense, she saves the lives of important people, she makes valuable allies. She teaches her kids how to make money legally, mostly, to better themselves. She teaches her kids to read, write, do math, etc. And every book they have a new adventure. I loved each book.
February 13, 2017
Magnificent Adventures
I loved these books that have different kind of heroes. A woman and children have adventures and support each other throughout them all. I liked the fantasy of a world where science had evolved in a different way to our world. I am looking forward to reading the next two books in the series. I have only just been introduced to this author, and am grateful for the opportunity.
I loved these books that have different kind of heroes. A woman and children have adventures and support each other throughout them all. I liked the fantasy of a world where science had evolved in a different way to our world. I am looking forward to reading the next two books in the series. I have only just been introduced to this author, and am grateful for the opportunity.
February 22, 2018
So TOTALLY AMAZING
This is an amazing adventure! This world SHELLEY ADINA ha giving us is so real . Her characters are very unique and together they make the best story . I could not put this set of books down. I laughed and cried. Some great sarcasm. Great characters completeness, she does great give you back ground for the characters its all rolled in to the amazing tale that I recommend to every on who loves strong female lead character and. Fun adventure!!!
This is an amazing adventure! This world SHELLEY ADINA ha giving us is so real . Her characters are very unique and together they make the best story . I could not put this set of books down. I laughed and cried. Some great sarcasm. Great characters completeness, she does great give you back ground for the characters its all rolled in to the amazing tale that I recommend to every on who loves strong female lead character and. Fun adventure!!!
August 11, 2019
This was my second time through these...I wanted to read them straight through. I had been reading recommended books and/or authors and just decided I wanted some fun, easy reading for the summer. These definitely fit the bill. The characters are fun and steampunk London is an interesting/different kind of setting. All the imaginative steam technology, while impractical, is interesting to think about what would the world look like.
These are geared more for YA and are clean reading.
These are geared more for YA and are clean reading.
January 29, 2018
Entertaining and absorbing
The first four novels are well crafted and compelling. I found myself almost too eager to finish them before I realized that they were only half of the series. The leading Lady, Claire, is an interesting mix of scientst, young lady unsure of herself, and mother to her charges. I enjoyed my time in this Steampunk Universe.
The first four novels are well crafted and compelling. I found myself almost too eager to finish them before I realized that they were only half of the series. The leading Lady, Claire, is an interesting mix of scientst, young lady unsure of herself, and mother to her charges. I enjoyed my time in this Steampunk Universe.
February 28, 2018
Great read!!
I enjoyed reading these books very much and found them hard to put down. The characters were well developed and by the end of the first book I wanted to read more. Definitely by the end of the last book I wanted to find out more about what they are doing. Will definitely want to read more of Shelley Adina's books.
I enjoyed reading these books very much and found them hard to put down. The characters were well developed and by the end of the first book I wanted to read more. Definitely by the end of the last book I wanted to find out more about what they are doing. Will definitely want to read more of Shelley Adina's books.
December 27, 2020
Magnificent story
Set in the exciting steam-punk universe these books are a combination of adventure, dangerous situations, coming of age, and "never underestimate a woman"
Cant wait to read the rest and find out what happens to all the wonderful characters
I would recommend this to any Steam-punk fan or any fan of an exciting adventure
Set in the exciting steam-punk universe these books are a combination of adventure, dangerous situations, coming of age, and "never underestimate a woman"
Cant wait to read the rest and find out what happens to all the wonderful characters
I would recommend this to any Steam-punk fan or any fan of an exciting adventure
April 5, 2022
Love these books
I truly enjoyed these booms and I think every girl and woman should about the courage of the lady.of devices. Even though it's fiction it truly shows females that they can do anything if they set their mind to it. I usually never give a book a 5 star, but I couldn't put these volumes dow.
I truly enjoyed these booms and I think every girl and woman should about the courage of the lady.of devices. Even though it's fiction it truly shows females that they can do anything if they set their mind to it. I usually never give a book a 5 star, but I couldn't put these volumes dow.
January 14, 2017
A Monumental effort in Victorian sreampunk.
I had read the first volume some time ago, and was about to dig out that one for a re-read when J saw this four-volume set, this work is amazing especially In its consistency in creating an alternate universe..
Q
I had read the first volume some time ago, and was about to dig out that one for a re-read when J saw this four-volume set, this work is amazing especially In its consistency in creating an alternate universe..
Q
July 5, 2017
Adventuresome
I am enjoying this series, continuous adventure, changing landscapes, all done with great
fun and descriptions. The characters are developing and scattering leaving a lot of room for ever expanding storylines.
I am enjoying this series, continuous adventure, changing landscapes, all done with great
fun and descriptions. The characters are developing and scattering leaving a lot of room for ever expanding storylines.
July 21, 2017
Read this for my reading challenge category of Steampunk. Boy, was I surprised and discovered a new series I just love! Seriously devoured this books.
Great story and plotlines, wonderful dialogue, woman of strength and integrity who take action to right the wrongs.
Great story and plotlines, wonderful dialogue, woman of strength and integrity who take action to right the wrongs.
February 10, 2018
Great series
I recommend this series. Interesting, fast paced, developed characters, gender equalizing, clean and entertaining. It devoured many of my hours this week, as I couldn't put it down.
I recommend this series. Interesting, fast paced, developed characters, gender equalizing, clean and entertaining. It devoured many of my hours this week, as I couldn't put it down.
April 10, 2019
I love the world in witch these stories happen.
Victorian with a touch of steam, centered upon a character that is positively the role model i wish i had when i was a teen.
i love steampunk, but i also love that it's just part of the world, not front and center.
Victorian with a touch of steam, centered upon a character that is positively the role model i wish i had when i was a teen.
i love steampunk, but i also love that it's just part of the world, not front and center.
February 9, 2020
This is such a fun series to pick up. I had been recommended by several to read Shelley Adina's books and I'm glad to have listened. She hits on some of my favorite topics: steampunk, Victorian manners, science, and women who are strong characters. I look forward to reading more of her adventures.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews