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Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone Chronicles #1
Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone and the Clockwork Suitor
Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone never cared much for boys. She was too fixated on corsets or engines to give them much notice. An “inventor’s disposition” is how her uncle referred to it when she would forget basic necessities, like food or sleep.
But proper ladies don’t spend their days reinventing the steam engine, so Lady Ruth’s uncle helped her to create a new persona - The Owl: Britain’s Greatest Inventor!
The Owl is sought after but is Lady Ruth, and making sure she remains free to pursue her inventions may take every ounce of her cunning.
Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone and the Clockwork Suitor is the first in a trilogy of steampunk novellas following Lady Ruth’s adventures.
But proper ladies don’t spend their days reinventing the steam engine, so Lady Ruth’s uncle helped her to create a new persona - The Owl: Britain’s Greatest Inventor!
The Owl is sought after but is Lady Ruth, and making sure she remains free to pursue her inventions may take every ounce of her cunning.
Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone and the Clockwork Suitor is the first in a trilogy of steampunk novellas following Lady Ruth’s adventures.
78 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 27, 2017
31 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
L.C. Mawson
99 books247 followersSome say she's an ancient creature of nightmare that was unleashed from beneath the ocean, come to devour the souls of men. Others say that she's a cosmic being from the beyond the stars that has taken corporeal form to learn our ways for some unknown end...
In truth, L.C. Mawson lives in a tower in the middle of a haunted forest, far from civilisation and is definitely not a witch who curses those who trespass upon her land. And she definitely cannot turn into a dragon that flies over cities in the dead of night and whose cries are often mistaken for an approaching storm. Where did you hear that? That's absurd...
The only contact she has with humanity is publishing books every so often, which is definitely just for fun and not part of an ancient contract with a trickster god.
In truth, L.C. Mawson lives in a tower in the middle of a haunted forest, far from civilisation and is definitely not a witch who curses those who trespass upon her land. And she definitely cannot turn into a dragon that flies over cities in the dead of night and whose cries are often mistaken for an approaching storm. Where did you hear that? That's absurd...
The only contact she has with humanity is publishing books every so often, which is definitely just for fun and not part of an ancient contract with a trickster god.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 15, 2017
This is a 3.49 really. Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone and the Clockwork Suitor is a work of young adult fiction, at just over one hundred pages, set in the Victorian era and written to introduce a long-running character for a greater series. It is firmly part of the antique yet gorgeous steampunk tradition, nuts and bolts, steam and empire, yet it additionally addresses a cultural wrangle of old – the emancipation of women. The protagonist is a capable yet humble aristocratic woman in a man’s world, trying to apply her mind to engineering problems and simultaneously working her delicate fingers through the seam to get around the social straightjacket she was born into. Just imagine someone nowadays saying “You are of an age to get married. You must get married because that’s the only thing you are on Earth to do. Oh, and see to the laundry”. I’ve got a better idea. Bog right off.
The language is stilted and takes some adjusting to, which is correct because the tight Victorians really did converse like that. The only problem I had with the use of language in this book was that the high-up characters sometimes used expressions which would have been considered dead common, blemishes which would have marked them out as appalling social climbers. Examples of this are the very middle class “Pleased to meet you” (How do you do), “Got me beat” (have me beaten) and, unbelievably, “Me neither” from the lips of Queen Victoria herself (Neither can I). That latter is more suited to the blimey gawdhelpus stonethecrows Queen Victoria pub in Eastenders. Three brief examples then, no more, otherwise fine.
Apart from a couple of words to trip over (recluse – reclusive / place the tray down – placed) the story is positive, imaginative, constructed well and flows from one arrangement of characters to another like the indoor scenes of a theatrical performance. It has good stage-craft, so that’s one sign of a good writer. It also shows the application of social pressure, now thankfully punctured in most the world. I stayed engaged and completed this story in two sessions, then wondered how the rest of the series would go. London’s been done, so will she pop along to India or Africa? Although, as a reviewer, I sadly don’t have time to read every book in every writer’s series, I can see that readers of Lady Ruth Chapelstone will stay engaged and probably want to keep reading her adventures, so the series should grow into a success. As the greatest inventor in England, the character deserves no less, surely?
Lady Ruth is a creation that’s breaking the mould of a mouldy old social system, representing the glimmer of hope that when an era changes and enough judgemental steel-haired greylips go to their graves, the formal rules will loosen up and young people will be allowed to breathe. Lady Ruth will then be a pioneer, an inspiration for those to come after her. I’m not sure that the book did enough to also break the mould of storytelling in the same way that the character does for women in industry but I guess that is according to plan because this is supposed to compliment the steampunk genre, not reinvent it. The first instalment, Clockwork Suitor, is a reasonable start which I expect will now be built on for years to come. The second book in the series plunges Lady R into a travelling adventure on behalf of the Crown, so be sure to check that out too as this series can only get better.
The language is stilted and takes some adjusting to, which is correct because the tight Victorians really did converse like that. The only problem I had with the use of language in this book was that the high-up characters sometimes used expressions which would have been considered dead common, blemishes which would have marked them out as appalling social climbers. Examples of this are the very middle class “Pleased to meet you” (How do you do), “Got me beat” (have me beaten) and, unbelievably, “Me neither” from the lips of Queen Victoria herself (Neither can I). That latter is more suited to the blimey gawdhelpus stonethecrows Queen Victoria pub in Eastenders. Three brief examples then, no more, otherwise fine.
Apart from a couple of words to trip over (recluse – reclusive / place the tray down – placed) the story is positive, imaginative, constructed well and flows from one arrangement of characters to another like the indoor scenes of a theatrical performance. It has good stage-craft, so that’s one sign of a good writer. It also shows the application of social pressure, now thankfully punctured in most the world. I stayed engaged and completed this story in two sessions, then wondered how the rest of the series would go. London’s been done, so will she pop along to India or Africa? Although, as a reviewer, I sadly don’t have time to read every book in every writer’s series, I can see that readers of Lady Ruth Chapelstone will stay engaged and probably want to keep reading her adventures, so the series should grow into a success. As the greatest inventor in England, the character deserves no less, surely?
Lady Ruth is a creation that’s breaking the mould of a mouldy old social system, representing the glimmer of hope that when an era changes and enough judgemental steel-haired greylips go to their graves, the formal rules will loosen up and young people will be allowed to breathe. Lady Ruth will then be a pioneer, an inspiration for those to come after her. I’m not sure that the book did enough to also break the mould of storytelling in the same way that the character does for women in industry but I guess that is according to plan because this is supposed to compliment the steampunk genre, not reinvent it. The first instalment, Clockwork Suitor, is a reasonable start which I expect will now be built on for years to come. The second book in the series plunges Lady R into a travelling adventure on behalf of the Crown, so be sure to check that out too as this series can only get better.
September 13, 2020
I mean, were you really expecting me NOT to read a book about an ace/aro autistic inventor who loves fashion and just wants to be left the fuck alone? It's like you don't even know me...
So, raise your hand if you could tell Ivy was flirting with Ruth, because I sure as hell couldn't. This in and of itself, presents an interesting conundrum: when your protagonist has no interest in or capacity for flirting, how do you convey that others are interested in her and that it doesn't even register on her radar?
To that end, I have mixed feelings about the way it was handled: on the one hand, another character having to come out and bluntly explain it is probably true to life for many readers, but on the other hand, I wish that we had more time with these characters to lend more weight to these revelations, which leads me to my second main criticism of the book: I felt as though I was being rushed along from plot point to plot point and I wanted more time with these characters and this world.
Although steampunk isn't normally my thing, it worked well here to allow for the kind of story the author wanted to tell. However, I wanted to get a better idea for the scope and feel of the universe, to see the relationships get more fully and dramatically fleshed out, to explore ideas that were merely touched on within the book, as it brings up many interesting concepts such as an inventor's intent vs. an invention's potential misuse, the societal pressure to couple up and the almost deliberate misinterpretation of those who don't, and how less-than-understanding families and authority figures would react to being lied to. All of these factors have a hand in the plot of these novel, or perhaps novella would be more appropriate, but none of them get the chance to really breathe and stretch their legs, so to speak.
But despite what I perceive as "faults" simply because I'm greedy and want more information than I was given, where this book really shines is in its pacing and its main character. I was pleasantly surprised that the tone and pacing of this book perfectly emulate what it's like having to keep up with social niceties and how much tiresome, subtextual reading is required to fully master most social situations. Every time there was a ball scene, I felt exasperated right along with the heroine, because all I wanted was for them to let her get back to inventing.
That exasperation also carried through to the many explanations of the character's vibrant and hidden (thank you, Victorians) social lives. As the reader, we see the story from the perspective of someone who doesn't actively look for significance in every glance, which means the results of the near constant reveals of what person is hiding which secret is EXHAUSTING to keep up with and exasperating because it almost appears as though all the characters surrounding our protagonist (and by extension, the reader) have some sort of telepathic social superpowers. Again, I loved this element of the story, because in my experience, it ran incredibly true to life and, although frustrating, it was more frustrating in a validating way than an annoying one and for this reason was probably my second favorite element of the entire book.
My first favorite element of the book being Ruth herself (although Mech might be some though competition if his evolution continues into the next book.) From page one, the detail of having her corset ground her in the physical world was absolutely something I could relate to, both as someone who actually, literally forgets she exists in physical form occasionally, and as someone who also occasionally wears corsets. I have experienced that exact same constant reminder of your physical form and your physical safety (both metaphorically, as it's like a tight hug, and literally, as there are a multitude of news reports of corsets stopping knives and bullets and the like.)
However, I wish there were more of these small details present within the larger narrative. All in all, I think every criticism I have of this book comes back to the idea that I wanted more of everything. And because this is book one in a larger series, I am willing to let that criticism go on the hopes that book two is twice as long and twice as dense, which would leave room for the conflict that I thought was coming in book one.
For example, I absolutely did not expect Queen Victoria to react in the way she did and I feel like by writing it that way, we as readers missed an opportunity for our protagonist could really stand up and prove their worth to the world. In general, I wanted this character to be a bit more-not aggressive, more like assertive. I wanted society to push back against her ideas so that we could see the strength of her convictions.
Unfortunately, during the one instance we did see societal pushback, Ruth bowed to societal pressure fairly easily. I think could have been avoided easily by adding an extra beat to the end of that particular scene in which it is made clear that Ruth has agreed to bow to societal pressure just to buy herself time and that she is determined to outthink her opponent.
However, do not mistake my criticism for non-enjoyment, I loved every single page of this (admittedly short) novella and I'm so glad that L.C. Mawson put to paper many things I have never seen represented outside of my own mind, let alone on the page! So thank you, L.C. Mawson, I would gladly drink tea and discuss schematics with you (high praise indeed!)
If you're curious, this series is only available as ebooks and all of them are free from most major online ebook retailers. It's a short and enjoyable read that might help you contextualize issues that I'm not so great about putting into words.
So, raise your hand if you could tell Ivy was flirting with Ruth, because I sure as hell couldn't. This in and of itself, presents an interesting conundrum: when your protagonist has no interest in or capacity for flirting, how do you convey that others are interested in her and that it doesn't even register on her radar?
To that end, I have mixed feelings about the way it was handled: on the one hand, another character having to come out and bluntly explain it is probably true to life for many readers, but on the other hand, I wish that we had more time with these characters to lend more weight to these revelations, which leads me to my second main criticism of the book: I felt as though I was being rushed along from plot point to plot point and I wanted more time with these characters and this world.
Although steampunk isn't normally my thing, it worked well here to allow for the kind of story the author wanted to tell. However, I wanted to get a better idea for the scope and feel of the universe, to see the relationships get more fully and dramatically fleshed out, to explore ideas that were merely touched on within the book, as it brings up many interesting concepts such as an inventor's intent vs. an invention's potential misuse, the societal pressure to couple up and the almost deliberate misinterpretation of those who don't, and how less-than-understanding families and authority figures would react to being lied to. All of these factors have a hand in the plot of these novel, or perhaps novella would be more appropriate, but none of them get the chance to really breathe and stretch their legs, so to speak.
But despite what I perceive as "faults" simply because I'm greedy and want more information than I was given, where this book really shines is in its pacing and its main character. I was pleasantly surprised that the tone and pacing of this book perfectly emulate what it's like having to keep up with social niceties and how much tiresome, subtextual reading is required to fully master most social situations. Every time there was a ball scene, I felt exasperated right along with the heroine, because all I wanted was for them to let her get back to inventing.
That exasperation also carried through to the many explanations of the character's vibrant and hidden (thank you, Victorians) social lives. As the reader, we see the story from the perspective of someone who doesn't actively look for significance in every glance, which means the results of the near constant reveals of what person is hiding which secret is EXHAUSTING to keep up with and exasperating because it almost appears as though all the characters surrounding our protagonist (and by extension, the reader) have some sort of telepathic social superpowers. Again, I loved this element of the story, because in my experience, it ran incredibly true to life and, although frustrating, it was more frustrating in a validating way than an annoying one and for this reason was probably my second favorite element of the entire book.
My first favorite element of the book being Ruth herself (although Mech might be some though competition if his evolution continues into the next book.) From page one, the detail of having her corset ground her in the physical world was absolutely something I could relate to, both as someone who actually, literally forgets she exists in physical form occasionally, and as someone who also occasionally wears corsets. I have experienced that exact same constant reminder of your physical form and your physical safety (both metaphorically, as it's like a tight hug, and literally, as there are a multitude of news reports of corsets stopping knives and bullets and the like.)
However, I wish there were more of these small details present within the larger narrative. All in all, I think every criticism I have of this book comes back to the idea that I wanted more of everything. And because this is book one in a larger series, I am willing to let that criticism go on the hopes that book two is twice as long and twice as dense, which would leave room for the conflict that I thought was coming in book one.
For example, I absolutely did not expect Queen Victoria to react in the way she did and I feel like by writing it that way, we as readers missed an opportunity for our protagonist could really stand up and prove their worth to the world. In general, I wanted this character to be a bit more-not aggressive, more like assertive. I wanted society to push back against her ideas so that we could see the strength of her convictions.
Unfortunately, during the one instance we did see societal pushback, Ruth bowed to societal pressure fairly easily. I think could have been avoided easily by adding an extra beat to the end of that particular scene in which it is made clear that Ruth has agreed to bow to societal pressure just to buy herself time and that she is determined to outthink her opponent.
However, do not mistake my criticism for non-enjoyment, I loved every single page of this (admittedly short) novella and I'm so glad that L.C. Mawson put to paper many things I have never seen represented outside of my own mind, let alone on the page! So thank you, L.C. Mawson, I would gladly drink tea and discuss schematics with you (high praise indeed!)
If you're curious, this series is only available as ebooks and all of them are free from most major online ebook retailers. It's a short and enjoyable read that might help you contextualize issues that I'm not so great about putting into words.
September 12, 2022
This was a cute little story!
Most of my issues with it are just recurring issues I have with novellas (imbalanced pacing decisions, occasionally too heavy handed in stating themes, some resolutions feeling random, etc.), so I'm not going to waste time talking about that too in-depth. You've all heard the spiel before, and really, this is an "Oh, that's sweet!" 3-star and not a "It's okay, I guess" 3-star. Which are different, sue me.
Our main character, Ruth, is an autistic and aroace inventor who has to hide behind an alternate (read: male) persona so her uncle can help her sell her inventions for the betterment of humanity. But the latest deal they're conducting is headed by James, who is not only determined to meet "The Owl" but also to express romantic interest in Ruth. Obviously, both are problems. Obviously, Ruth can solve it with her newest invention, a thinking android.
The story was fun, and it was interesting to see Mech's gradual development throughout the story. (AI can be so much fun, especially in a steampunk setting.) Ruth's struggles with overstimulation also really resonated with me, notably more frequent and severe than my own sensory complications, but relatable all the same. (And shoutout to Thomas both respecting and helping her with these problems on her terms!)
A cute little read about a woman who creates an android that ends up serving simultaneously as her avatar and her suitor. Looking forward to reading the next installment!
Most of my issues with it are just recurring issues I have with novellas (imbalanced pacing decisions, occasionally too heavy handed in stating themes, some resolutions feeling random, etc.), so I'm not going to waste time talking about that too in-depth. You've all heard the spiel before, and really, this is an "Oh, that's sweet!" 3-star and not a "It's okay, I guess" 3-star. Which are different, sue me.
Our main character, Ruth, is an autistic and aroace inventor who has to hide behind an alternate (read: male) persona so her uncle can help her sell her inventions for the betterment of humanity. But the latest deal they're conducting is headed by James, who is not only determined to meet "The Owl" but also to express romantic interest in Ruth. Obviously, both are problems. Obviously, Ruth can solve it with her newest invention, a thinking android.
The story was fun, and it was interesting to see Mech's gradual development throughout the story. (AI can be so much fun, especially in a steampunk setting.) Ruth's struggles with overstimulation also really resonated with me, notably more frequent and severe than my own sensory complications, but relatable all the same. (And shoutout to Thomas both respecting and helping her with these problems on her terms!)
A cute little read about a woman who creates an android that ends up serving simultaneously as her avatar and her suitor. Looking forward to reading the next installment!
April 1, 2018
I enjoyed this book. A good mystery to keep your mind active for you dreams
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2018
Fun and fast, this story does a great job of setting up a steampunk Victorian London and introducing us to Lady Ruth and the people around her. I hope the rest of the series continues on the themes that this story touched on, such as non-traditional gender roles, non-hetero relationships, and, of course, the fact that the main character has autism. Definitely recommend this, and I'm looking forward to continuing this series.
April 12, 2018
A fun litle steampunk story centred on a great inventor who (unfortunately) happens to be a high born lady from Newcastle. Being as such, she's forced to work behind an alias with her uncle Thomas helping to sell her inventions on her behalf. A trip to London and a request from royalty could put pay to their nice little scheme unless Lady Ruth can invent something, or someone to help her out...
To be picky, there are some negatives: the occasional oddity in language/spelling, and I couldn't help but feel that the sexuality issues could have been dealt with in a more subtle way. Characters speak in a very upright Victoriana fashion, but then are incredibly open despite their own admissions that society finds sexuality of any kind a taboo subject. While it seems par for the course that the straight talking Lady Ruth would come out with these things, I couldn't square how the others could be quite so blunt. There's also one occasion where we are told not shown what should be a fairly important conversation which if the reader had been "present" would have help give the characters a little more flavour and give more weight to the topic discussed.
That aside, it's a well written, well paced story with easily managable chapters which wraps up neatly. It allows for continuation, but doesn't leave you frustrated that it's a series (some e-books have a nasty habit of feeling like chapters of a bigger book rather than stories in themselves). It's refreshing to have a character like Lady Ruth: blunt, single-minded, uninterested in romance, and couldn't give a fig what everyone else thinks. It's an interesting perspective, representing an autistic main character neither as a victim or prisoner defined by her condition.
A good short read, and one which leads nicely on to the rest of the series.
-I got this book free on Amazon-
To be picky, there are some negatives: the occasional oddity in language/spelling, and I couldn't help but feel that the sexuality issues could have been dealt with in a more subtle way. Characters speak in a very upright Victoriana fashion, but then are incredibly open despite their own admissions that society finds sexuality of any kind a taboo subject. While it seems par for the course that the straight talking Lady Ruth would come out with these things, I couldn't square how the others could be quite so blunt. There's also one occasion where we are told not shown what should be a fairly important conversation which if the reader had been "present" would have help give the characters a little more flavour and give more weight to the topic discussed.
That aside, it's a well written, well paced story with easily managable chapters which wraps up neatly. It allows for continuation, but doesn't leave you frustrated that it's a series (some e-books have a nasty habit of feeling like chapters of a bigger book rather than stories in themselves). It's refreshing to have a character like Lady Ruth: blunt, single-minded, uninterested in romance, and couldn't give a fig what everyone else thinks. It's an interesting perspective, representing an autistic main character neither as a victim or prisoner defined by her condition.
A good short read, and one which leads nicely on to the rest of the series.
-I got this book free on Amazon-
January 27, 2017
Great fun! Trapped in an era when women are so threatening that they are barred from being inventors and are expected to marry just to be considered respectable, Lady Ruth adopts an alias in order to pursue her calling. She is mechanically gifted and socially challenged, but even Queen Victoria recognizes her true worth. Until the exposure of her fiance as a clockwork man. Add in a vindictive wannabe suitor/ inventor, hijinks in France, and a gifted assistant who is not of the upper class, and you have the basis for lots of situational and verbal humor. I really enjoyed this one, and plan to read the next two as quickly as I am able!
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August 7, 2019Genre: historical fiction
2 LGBTQ main characters: 1 asexual and/or aromantic, 1 bisexual
Importance of Identity to Plot: 1/5
Romance: 1/5
Coming out: 2/5
Disabled character(s): Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone, main character
Disability type: autism
Notes: autism (and asexuality/aromanticism for that matter) not stated, but implied.
2 LGBTQ main characters: 1 asexual and/or aromantic, 1 bisexual
Importance of Identity to Plot: 1/5
Romance: 1/5
Coming out: 2/5
Disabled character(s): Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone, main character
Disability type: autism
Notes: autism (and asexuality/aromanticism for that matter) not stated, but implied.
September 4, 2017
Not the clean read I expected
I was anticipating an enjoyable clean read about a quirky autistic lady inventor. Instead I found a story talking an awful lot about sexuality in a variety of forms.
Some will say I am being prudish to point out the sexual references in this story but I want to save others the unpleasant surprise I felt when I was happily reading along about an inventor named Lady Ruth only to realize after a number of pages that the "hints" that had been being dropped about why Ivy (female assistant) was uncomfortable helping Ruth change were because Ivy was sexually attracted to Ruth - I was just as obtuse as Ruth was. Yes, there are no sex acts described in the book so it might be technically clean but many of the key aspects of the story revolve around sexuality and same-sex or bi-sexual attractedness. Fear of being "outed" is used to guarantee silence several times in the story. Bisexual relations and same-sex relations are presented in the story as being equivalent to heterosexual relations. And there is some swearing, probably only two or three times although I got distracted by the sexual references and stopped counting.
I am trying to figure out if the story would exist without the gay/bisexual component or not and am having a hard time deciding. Would there be any tension without the edge provided by the sexual references or is that what the story hangs on? Would there be any need for Lady Ruth to create a suitor if James didn't get so mad at her because of his sexual situation? Even though I was disappointed in this book I won't give a spoiler and tell which group he falls in.
There are some good ethical questions raised in this story (can an inventor have a say in how the inventions are used) and some parts I really liked but the sexual components were surprising and disappointing for me.
Sex - gay and bisexual characters
Language - some swearing
Violence - none
Religion - none
I was anticipating an enjoyable clean read about a quirky autistic lady inventor. Instead I found a story talking an awful lot about sexuality in a variety of forms.
Some will say I am being prudish to point out the sexual references in this story but I want to save others the unpleasant surprise I felt when I was happily reading along about an inventor named Lady Ruth only to realize after a number of pages that the "hints" that had been being dropped about why Ivy (female assistant) was uncomfortable helping Ruth change were because Ivy was sexually attracted to Ruth - I was just as obtuse as Ruth was. Yes, there are no sex acts described in the book so it might be technically clean but many of the key aspects of the story revolve around sexuality and same-sex or bi-sexual attractedness. Fear of being "outed" is used to guarantee silence several times in the story. Bisexual relations and same-sex relations are presented in the story as being equivalent to heterosexual relations. And there is some swearing, probably only two or three times although I got distracted by the sexual references and stopped counting.
I am trying to figure out if the story would exist without the gay/bisexual component or not and am having a hard time deciding. Would there be any tension without the edge provided by the sexual references or is that what the story hangs on? Would there be any need for Lady Ruth to create a suitor if James didn't get so mad at her because of his sexual situation? Even though I was disappointed in this book I won't give a spoiler and tell which group he falls in.
There are some good ethical questions raised in this story (can an inventor have a say in how the inventions are used) and some parts I really liked but the sexual components were surprising and disappointing for me.
Sex - gay and bisexual characters
Language - some swearing
Violence - none
Religion - none
August 25, 2020
I enjoyed this book immensely!
A brilliant female inventor, in a time before such inventions were dreamed of, makes for a terrific read. Add in the necessity of hiding her gender and the fact that she is clearly what we now understand to be autistic adds an entirely different aspect to the story. How she and her brother maneuver around the societal constraints and expectations that hamper her are very intriguing and entertaining. Of course, I'm going to read the next book in the series immediately!
A brilliant female inventor, in a time before such inventions were dreamed of, makes for a terrific read. Add in the necessity of hiding her gender and the fact that she is clearly what we now understand to be autistic adds an entirely different aspect to the story. How she and her brother maneuver around the societal constraints and expectations that hamper her are very intriguing and entertaining. Of course, I'm going to read the next book in the series immediately!
October 23, 2020
My only real critique is that the writing style felt clunky at times, like another editing pass might have smoothed it over. As to the story itself, I found it a fun and quick read, taking me about 2 hours in total. A nice evening, really. The very thing that got me interested, “autistic aroace woman as a steampunk inventor,” held true throughout, and I loved it. I especially love the details in Ruth’s interests and coping mechanisms. I believe I will be downloading book 2 shortly, as this ends on a bit of an abrupt note, and I’m interested to see what happens to Ruth next :)
September 6, 2021
An interesting and unique story, set in a steampunk mechanical Victorian era with inventions!
Our Lady Ruth is autistic (although that term isnt used) as well as a great inventor. Her uncle sells her designs under a pseudonym called The Owl, mysterious reclusive inventor persona they have created.
When the high social life in London means needing a stand in for The Owl, a mechanic man is built and much drama ensues.
It was fun and I really enjoyed the neurodivergent Ruth and her assistant Ivy.
Our Lady Ruth is autistic (although that term isnt used) as well as a great inventor. Her uncle sells her designs under a pseudonym called The Owl, mysterious reclusive inventor persona they have created.
When the high social life in London means needing a stand in for The Owl, a mechanic man is built and much drama ensues.
It was fun and I really enjoyed the neurodivergent Ruth and her assistant Ivy.
October 27, 2020
Lady Ruth is quite the character with real human frailties but great human strengths as well. James, the story antagonist, is quite untenable. Fortunately, the story ends with him being appropriately denounced. Overall an interesting read.
Entertaining. Funny. Great world building. Happily Ever After. Haunting. Inspirational. Scary. Tear-jerker. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
Entertaining. Funny. Great world building. Happily Ever After. Haunting. Inspirational. Scary. Tear-jerker. Tragic. Twisted. Unpredictable. Wonderful characters.
June 24, 2021
Lady Ruth Chapelstone is one of Victorian London's most eligible women. The Owl is the city's hottest inventor – and everyone wants to unmask him. Except the pair are the same person.
Top marks for writing style, inclusivity, characters, and autistic rep. One mark off because the Owl's latest invention stretches the bounds of credulity just a bit too far.
Top marks for writing style, inclusivity, characters, and autistic rep. One mark off because the Owl's latest invention stretches the bounds of credulity just a bit too far.
December 29, 2019
An intriguing surprise! This is a must-read for anyone who likes steampunk! You will meet a whole host of unique characters Including Lady Ruth, her uncle, her assistant and yet another interesting "being"...no spoilers! Lady Ruth's wonderful quirky uncle helps devise a way for her to continue her mechanical and scientific work (and more) under the name "Owl". Because, you see, it's not considered apropos for a young lady of marriageable age in polite society to engage in such activities! Lady Ruth is quite inventive, intelligent, and often ironic. Thank goodness, this is a series...I'm on to the next book!
February 13, 2017
Not available KU so must have gotten it through one of my free book places or permafree and led here. Autistic character, unusual in a book, but the writer's other books also feature this, in the Freya Snow series.
Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone and the Clockwork Suitor (The Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone Chronicles)
Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone and the Parisian Thief (The Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone Chronicles)
Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone and the American Escapade (The Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone Chronicles)
The Complete Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone Chronicles: Books 1-3
Trapped: A Snowverse Novella (Freya Snow Book 0) Hunt (Freya Snow Book 1) White (Freya Snow Book 2) Wings (Freya Snow Book 3)
The Freya Snow Pup Trilogy: Books 1-3 {Hunt, White, Wings}
Oracle (Freya Snow Book 4) Witch (Freya Snow Book 5) Freya Snow Short Story Collection
Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone and the Clockwork Suitor (The Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone Chronicles)
Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone and the Parisian Thief (The Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone Chronicles)
Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone and the American Escapade (The Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone Chronicles)
The Complete Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone Chronicles: Books 1-3
Trapped: A Snowverse Novella (Freya Snow Book 0) Hunt (Freya Snow Book 1) White (Freya Snow Book 2) Wings (Freya Snow Book 3)
The Freya Snow Pup Trilogy: Books 1-3 {Hunt, White, Wings}
Oracle (Freya Snow Book 4) Witch (Freya Snow Book 5) Freya Snow Short Story Collection
May 5, 2021
Quand j’ai lu le résumé de Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone and The Clockwork Suitor, j’ai su que je devais lire ce roman. Une inventrice de la Révolution Industrielle steampunk qui se fait passer pour un homme et refuse tout mariage ? Voilà qui sonne bien ! Par chance, le tome 1 est disponible en ligne et je me suis ruée dessus, tout en redoutant d’abandonner : je n’aime vraiment pas lire sur Wattpad.
Le prologue est un texte extrait d’une étude historique, expliquant qu’avant que le terme « autiste » soit posé au 20e siècle, on disait de ces personnes qu’elles avaient un « tempérament d’inventeur ». J’ai voulu voir si c’était vrai, et je suis tombée sur un article de l’autrice expliquant son approche de la représentation historique : utiliser des termes modernes ne serait pas réaliste, et elle se sert donc de « faux » textes historiques, ce qu’on appelle de la méta-fiction, pour informer les lecteurices. Je trouve ça super intelligent comme méthode !
Ruth, notre héroïne, a donc un tempérament d’inventeurice : elle n’est bien que dans son laboratoire. Dehors, les gens, les odeurs, le bruit, tout ça la blesse et l’épuise, et elle est passionnée par deux choses uniquement : la mode et la mécanique. Son oncle Thomas, qui la soutient et commercialise ses inventions, l’emmène à Londres pour négocier un contrat avec la reine, mais celle-ci tient à rencontrer le créateur. Or, celui-ci, surnommé The Owl, est inventé de toutes pièces pour couvrir Ruth. Comment maintenir l’illusion ?
Ça se lisait vraiment très bien, l’héroïne est attachante, son amie Ivy aussi, et j’étais totalement investie dans leurs problèmes.
La suite de ma chronique : https://elainevker.com/blog/2020/12/0...
Le prologue est un texte extrait d’une étude historique, expliquant qu’avant que le terme « autiste » soit posé au 20e siècle, on disait de ces personnes qu’elles avaient un « tempérament d’inventeur ». J’ai voulu voir si c’était vrai, et je suis tombée sur un article de l’autrice expliquant son approche de la représentation historique : utiliser des termes modernes ne serait pas réaliste, et elle se sert donc de « faux » textes historiques, ce qu’on appelle de la méta-fiction, pour informer les lecteurices. Je trouve ça super intelligent comme méthode !
Ruth, notre héroïne, a donc un tempérament d’inventeurice : elle n’est bien que dans son laboratoire. Dehors, les gens, les odeurs, le bruit, tout ça la blesse et l’épuise, et elle est passionnée par deux choses uniquement : la mode et la mécanique. Son oncle Thomas, qui la soutient et commercialise ses inventions, l’emmène à Londres pour négocier un contrat avec la reine, mais celle-ci tient à rencontrer le créateur. Or, celui-ci, surnommé The Owl, est inventé de toutes pièces pour couvrir Ruth. Comment maintenir l’illusion ?
Ça se lisait vraiment très bien, l’héroïne est attachante, son amie Ivy aussi, et j’étais totalement investie dans leurs problèmes.
La suite de ma chronique : https://elainevker.com/blog/2020/12/0...
February 7, 2017
A cute short tale of an eccentric social recluse from a wealthy british family during Victorian England that lives under a fake identity to avoid the social stigma because of her gender and sells bizarre mechanical inventions to a consort of Queen Victoria.
The problem is that everyone wants to meet The Owl and given she is almost finished building a robot with artifical intelligence... There is some humor, friendship and enough space for a sequel. A fun read.
The problem is that everyone wants to meet The Owl and given she is almost finished building a robot with artifical intelligence... There is some humor, friendship and enough space for a sequel. A fun read.
May 25, 2018
This book was such a fun little read. The autistic and queer representation made me very happy, but I also greatly enjoyed experiencing Lady Ruth’s adventures as an inventor. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series!
October 16, 2018
Instead of being fun and quirky it quickly became annoying.
For the sexual orientations of characters were too obviously put upon.
But mostly, the portayal of a woman with ASD was very obtuse.
It looked like the author only has knowledge of ASD from textbooks.
For the sexual orientations of characters were too obviously put upon.
But mostly, the portayal of a woman with ASD was very obtuse.
It looked like the author only has knowledge of ASD from textbooks.
July 7, 2023
an aroace, autistic inventor creating a robot man to pose as her husband to avoid having to marry? sign me up. and she lives with her black bisexual assistant and her gay uncle? awesome.
July 23, 2018
Clever
This book was a nice take on a feminist perspective in the steampunk era.
I can't wait to see how the story continues
This book was a nice take on a feminist perspective in the steampunk era.
I can't wait to see how the story continues
September 24, 2018
Wow, what a story. I really enjoyed it. I loved Lady Ruth and Mac, her mechanical man. It will entertain and grab your interest.,
October 17, 2019
3,5 stars
Nice and short story, liked it enough that I´ll read more.
Nice and short story, liked it enough that I´ll read more.
January 28, 2017
I thought Lady Ruth Constance Chapelstone and the Clockwork Suitor was an enjoyable read. It's relatively short (less than 100 pages, at least on the font settings my iPad used) but still has an intriguing plot and interesting characters. There were a few points where the plot moved a bit faster than expected, but I find that preferable to slower than expected. I look forward to reading the sequels.
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