Book Review and Giveaway: Brilliant Devices: A steampunk adventure novel by Shelley Adina

A satisfying conclusion –for now– to a fun series.

Brilliant Devices: A steampunk adventure novel (Magnificent Devices)
Shelley Adina

• File Size: 462 KB
• Print Length: 254 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 193908704X
• Publisher: Moonshell Books (February 25, 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Genre: Steampunk
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: February 25, 2013
Book 4 of the Magnificent Devices series!
A lady of resources has the power to change the world—if she can stay alive long enough to do it.
Lady Claire Trevelyan had been looking forward to glittering balls, congenial society, and relief from pursuit during her stay with Lord and Lady Dunsmuir in the Canadas. Well, perhaps not entirely. Being pursued by a handsome airship captain is rather diverting, especially when it appears her erstwhile employer, Andrew Malvern, is becoming much too distracted by a certain blond mechanic.

But a shot fired in the night puts an end to such diversions, and instead plunges her and her orphaned band of children into a fight for their very survival. Between secret conversations at the highest levels of society and skullduggery in the diamond mines, Claire must discover who is behind a series of alarming attempts on her friends’ lives—before her mother is compelled to make funeral arrangements yet again.
“Great fun, extremely feel-good reads that make you share all of the protagonists’ journeys and victories … an excellent steampunk series.” —Fangs for the Fantasy: The latest in urban fantasy from a social justice perspective.

Review:
Lady Claire and her orphan crew and friends, Lady and Lord Dunsmuir, have finally made it to Canada. Alice has come along with her airship as she hopes to track down her father in the diamond mines.  Everyone is excited to meet the famous Count Von  Zeppelin. The action is full with labor unrest, assassination attempts, kidnapping, conspiracy, intrigue and betrayal. Claire, Alice and Tigg visit a native tribe in the wilderness and face a caribou rampage.

The romance for Claire is full of confusion and conflict as the handsome, nobleman, Captain Holly, shows her interest. Meanwhile Alice is still crushing on Andrew who is impressed by Alice’s automatons and other inventions. Claire is still intent on studying engineering and receives a surprising offer at the conclusion.

This is book four of the series that I read in a matter of two weeks. This one has lots of action and less of the children but I found it a satisfactory conclusion. I completely enjoyed the steampunk elements, the intrigue and adventure, the fun added by the orphans (and Rosie the  chicken), and the gentle, light romance through the four series.  My only disappointment is that the series is over so I have to find more books like these to enjoy.

I purchased the fourth book to complete the series and I am pleased to sponsor a giveaway of the set.

For those who aren't US you can purchase the first book, Lady of Devices, on Kindle for $.99 

US entrants ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the four book set:

 ENTRY FORM HERE

For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.
EXTRA 2 Entry BONUS IF YOU comment on one of the other reviews for this series.

* This contest is open US ONLY.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on May 24, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on May 25, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Book Review: Magnificent Devices, Steampunk Adventure by Shelley Adina

This is full of action and impressive steampunk creations.
Magnificent Devices, a steampunk adventure novel (Magnificent Devices)
by Shelley Adina

• File Size: 397 KB
• Print Length: 231 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1939087023
• Publisher: Moonshell Books (October 4, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Genre: Steampunk
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: October 4, 2012
An air voyage to remember turns into a disaster no one may survive.
With her orphaned charges, Lady Claire Trevelyan joins the Earl of Dunsmuir’s family on an airship voyage to the Americas. If she can stay out of Lord James Selwyn’s way until her eighteenth birthday, she will be of age and cannot be forced into marriage. What she doesn’t know is that Lord James is in the Americas, too, with Andrew Malvern closing in on him—and the wonderful device he stole. But when a storm cripples the airship and air pirates swoop in like carrion birds, Claire and the children must live by their wits to make their way across a harsh landscape. Will Andrew ever see her again and right the wrong he believes he has done? Will Lord James succeed in his monumental thievery? And how exactly does Rosie the chicken evade the soup pot?
Tighten your goggles, pull on your gloves, and prepare yourself for stratagems and strangeness in the third book in the series, Magnificent Devices!

Review:
Lady Claire and her young ‘flock’ of orphaned children travel in a fancy airship to America on the way to Canada. A storm blows them off course and cripples the ship allowing them to be captured by air pirates. When the pirates board their airship one of Claire’s companions appears to have betrayed them. The Mopsies and Tigg manage to hide to become a hidden weapon.

Claire ends up imprisoned by the head pirate in the Texican Territory. A flash flood presents a chance for escape with Claire being rescued by the pirate’s step-daughter, Alice. Alice is an inventor too, and surprised to learn that Claire works for Alice’s idol, Andrew Malvern. Alice maintains the pirate airship and creates automatons from the scrap pieces of ships diverted by the pirates. The pirates plan to divert another airship, one with Lord James who is coming after Claire.

Claire and the Mopsies have to make a daring break on another personal flying contraption that Alice built. They are all but lost in the desert until Alice and Jake swoop down to rescue them. Claire and Andrew are reunited at Santa Fe but the danger of the pirates and Lord James continues to follow them. Lord James kidnaps Claire and heads out on the railroad. while Andrew is put into a pinnacle cell - not a true jail cell but a cave on top of a mountain outgrowth. If the prisoner doesn’t roll off to his death he will starve there.  More fancy flying and daring rescues are needed to save Andrew and Claire.


The steampunk elements really abound in this story.  There is the fancy airship complete with moonglobe lighting and gondola cabins. Then there are the rough creations of the pieced together pirate ship, automatons and so much more. The plot is full of danger and action and woven throughout is the warmth of the children and the sweet romance building. There was a minor head hop that I noticed mostly because I was listening to the Kindle read to me. But it was a minor bump and didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.

I actually read this book, number 3, first and this one is my favorite. It was a great read on its own but I do think it would have been better read in order. I found this completely delightful.

I won books 1-3 of this series.

Book Review: Her Own Devices: A Steampunk Adventure (Magnivient Devices) by Shelley Adina

I love this series!

Her Own Devices: A steampunk adventure novel (Magnificent Devices)

Shelley Adina

• File Size: 384 KB
• Print Length: 223 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 146813437X
• Publisher: Shelley Adina (December 22, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Genre: Steampunk
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: December 22, 2011

Book 2 of the Magnificent Devices series!

Escaped lunatics, lost children, vengeful lords, and love. Really, the situation is becoming quite impossible.

Seventeen-year-old Lady Claire Trevelyan, left alone after the Arabian Bubble financial disaster claims home and family, now leads the cleverest gang in the London underworld. Between outwitting a rival gang, inventing a device that will net her and her scientist employer worldwide fame, and keeping her mother from marrying her off, she can almost forget that a powerful lord wants to get closer ... and if he succeeds, can destroy it all with a single word ...

Review:
Book two picks up and continues the story of Lady Claire - once a young girl of seventeen who is was scheduled to make her curtsey to the Queen a few weeks before her father died and she ended up living on the streets. Now she has become a lady of resources, known as “The Lady of Devices” with a ‘flock’ of orphans as her chargers and helpers.

She has begun working with Andrew, a young scientist who is looking to create a better combustion engine. Andrew does the design experiments while Lord James, his partner and the money man, talk to railroad moguls who would be interested in buying the invention if proven.

Claire learns that the lightning rifle she took from a rival gang has a mechanism that was designed by another female scientist. Unfortunately the brilliant Dr. Craig was shunned by her peers and committed to Bedlam. Lady Claire sets out to visit the Doctor and, learning that she has been wrongfully ‘imprisoned’, arranges a break out with her clever crew.

Lord James coerces Claire to become his fiancé. She reluctantly agrees with the terms that it will be a four year engagement while she attends University and she will get her name on the Patent for the new engine. Claire figures the engagement will protect her place in society and keep her mother at bay. That is until Claire learns that Lord James has no intention of keeping to the terms Claire set. He has gone to her mother and arranged to marry her before she can gain her independence at 18.

Claire and Andrew grow closer as they incorporate Dr. Craig's device to their engine. But now Claire must flee London to stay away from James. A surprising visit brings a family reunion and new friends, Lord Dunsmuir and his wife Lady Davina, who offer Claire a way escape by not just any travel but a luxury airship, the Lady Lucy. They are even willing to bring along the children. As they make plans for their next adventure to Canada news comes in of theft and betrayal.

This is a lively, fun read. Lady Claire is wonderfully brave and resourceful and the children, plus chicken, add spunk and sass.  I am enjoying the storyline and ready for the adventure in Book 3.

I am so glad I won books 1-3 in this series.

Book Review: Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina

This is the introduction to a charming series of steampunk stories with a brave Victorian heroine and her 'flock' of orphan children.

Lady of Devices, a steampunk adventure novel (Magnificent Devices)
by Shelley Adina

• File Size: 309 KB
• Print Length: 210 pages
• Publisher: Shelley Adina (May 29, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0053CYXS0

Genre: Steampunk
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: May 29, 2011
Book One of the Magnificent Devices series, a novel of 54,000 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. It’s not long before a new leader rises in the underworld, known only as the Lady of Devices.

When she meets Andrew Malvern, a member of the Royal Society of Engineers, she realizes her talents may encompass more than the invention of explosive devices. They may help her realize her dreams and his . . . if they can both stay alive long enough to see that sometimes the closest friendships can trigger the greatest betrayals . . .

Review
Claire Trevelyan would much rather experiment in a laboratory than chat over tea or dance at a ball. When her father dies and the family fortune is lost her mother retires to the country with Claire’s infant brother. Claire remains behind to sell off the property in London and, although her mother will object, to find employment.

Claire makes a wrong turn in her steampowered landau and is attacked and robbed. She is helped by a group of orphaned, street children, complete with a half starved chicken, Rosie.  The group has been guided and lead by Snouts who has taught them the fine arts of pickpocketing and living off the streets. The group includes 5-6 year old Willie who does not speak but adorably dragged the Lady from danger. The “Mopsies”, Maggie and Lizzie, are twin girls of 10 who are designated scouts. Tigg is a rapscallion who has a keen interest in learning mechanics and is quick to become Lady Claire’s ‘chauffeur.’ Then there is Jake, a sullen boy who doesn’t trust strangers but who has an almost photographic mind.  Claire determines to take the children under her wing and teach them skills that will allow them to earn their way.

Claire introduces the children to explosive weapons for protection and to assist in retrieving her stolen vehicle from another gang. Claire comes into possession of a “lightening” rifle during the battle and she also takes control of a house and a treasure as she becomes the Lady of Devices protecting her adopted “flock.”

Claire meets Andrew when she applies to be his office assistant. She is excited for the chance to work for a true scientist and hopes that she may earn a recommendation to enter University to study engineering. Unfortunately, Andrew’s partner turns out to be Lord James who has taken an interest in courting Claire and objects to her working for Andrew or going on to study.  Claire is not one to take orders well so Lord James has moved from a person of possible romantic interest to one in opposition.

This is a delightful story with enjoyable characters in the intrepid Lady Claire and her flock of children. The steampunk elements are wonderful, including, in addition to the vehicle and rifle, messages sent through vacuum tubes and mother’s helper robots that clean floors like a modern day “roomba”! The writing is easy and light so the reading moves quickly. Ms. Adina has set the stage for adventures to ensue in the next books and I am very glad I had book 2 so I didn’t have to wait to move along!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Claire teaches important but subtle lessons. She makes Lizzie return a stolen purse and the clerk is so grateful that Claire explains:

You have received thanks you did not deserve, and forgiveness that you did. Location 3226.

I am very glad to discover this author by winning books 1- 3 of this series.