Magnificent Devices (Magnificent Devices, #3)

by Shelley Adina

Magnificent Devices is a steampunk series centered around seventeen year old, Claire Trevelyan who is about to graduate from school and make her societal debut. The series has inventions and villains and lots of strong women who are resourceful and resilient and content to make their own way in life.

Claire Trevelyan is one of the best heroines I've seen and definitely one of the most realistic. She doesn't start out perfect - she lacks confidence, she makes mistakes and she is unwilling to stand up for what she believes in for fear of her mother and the society she doesn't actually believe in. But over the course of the series, she grows. She learns, she adapts and she molds herself a spine, becoming a fierce, kind spirited and intelligent woman who works hard and fights for what she believes in. I really love this series. It's funny, quirky and has a lot of heart.

The third book, Magnificent Devices, sees Claire on the run. Her engagement to James Selwyn is broken as far as she's concerned but her mother and fiancee disagree. Until she turns 18 she needs to keep out of sight. She plans to head to the Americas - unfortunately for her, it seems everyone else has the same idea! James has stolen the lightning device and has made a deal with a consortium of Texans. Andrew is following to bring James to account. And the Dunsmuir's are planning to tour their family holdings and enterprises. Luckily they have a private airship and can take Claire and all the children with them. Now if only she could manage not to run into anyone else...

But travelling by air has its own dangers; air pirates! Lol, I loved the idea of air pirates. Led by Ned Moses and his crew, the Lady Lucy is boarded and Claire and the Dunsmuirs are taken for ransom. Poor Jake. For all he talks a big game, he's a fourteen year old boy who has had a hard life. He doesn't always make the right decisions but he does try. He thought he was doing what's best and it does turn out okay in the end. But difficult or not, he so didn't deserve getting pushed out of the airship. That bit was terrifying. I was so glad he didn't die. Jake's not my favourite - but he's part of the flock. This book is a bit of a comedy of errors. It seems like everyone goes from one disaster to another. I loved that the Mopsies remain behind to find Claire and Rosie. I've got to say I wasn't very impressed with the Dunsmuirs at that point either - it's not like they knew for sure Claire was dead. Telling the girls that was kind of jumping the gun.

I loved meeting Alice though. She was awesome. I love that every woman in this series is capable and resourceful. And that they have such a respect and admiration for each other. There's none of this tearing other women down, just propping each other up and working together and cheering one another on. Or taking umbrage to the bad treatment of their fellow women.

The woman gazed at her, her brows slightly knit. “You ain’t a bit like Mr. Fremont said.”
Claire hardly dared ask, but the temptation was too great. “What did he say?”
“He said you’re a great heiress and you’re leading Lord Selwyn—”
“Lord James. Lord Selwyn would be his father.”
“— Lord James a merry dance. You’ve broken his heart so many times that he’s finally had to carry you off before your enraged father can stop the wedding.” A laugh bubbled up out of Claire before she could remember she was supposed to be civil and ladylike.
“My father would need to be enraged indeed to climb out of his grave to do so.” The woman’s eyes widened. “It is quite true that I am here against my will, and you are obligated to see that I stay. However, I am neither an heiress nor Lord James’s fiancée, much as he would like to think so.”
“But the carrying off part? That’s true?”
“Quite true.” Down the platform, James and Fremont were coming toward them.
“Why, those rascals,” the woman said in scandalized tones. “It’s one thing to assist in an elopement, but it’s quite another to aid in a kidnapping. What am I to do?” They were almost in earshot now.
“I shall not hold it against you.” Claire held out a hand. “I am Lady Claire Trevelyan, of Toll Cottage, Vauxhall Gardens, London.”
“Tessie Short, of Sand Street, Santa Fe.”
“Do give the impression you are restraining me,” Claire suggested. Tessie’s workworn hand slid around her wrist. She had a grip like iron, which under any other circumstances would have given Claire pause. But the frown had not left her forehead, which was a good sign. A lady of integrity, then. The stuff of which allies were made.

Adina, Shelley. Magnificent Devices: Books 1-4 Quartet: Four steampunk adventure novels in one set (Magnificent Devices Boxset) (Kindle Locations 8494-8508). Moonshell Books, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

I was sad she died. I would've liked her to escape. I liked that Claire makes sure her kids are looking after though.

Poor Andrew, always needing to be rescued. Although I did think they did it in style.

“Look sharp, ladies,” came her voice. “We’ve been spotted. Seems like they were expecting some kind of rescue— though maybe not from this angle.” Maggie doubted they expected anything like them at all— how could there be another airship flown by a girl who’d probably not even seen twenty summers, a boy who’d come back from the dead, a pair of nearly eleven-year-olds, half a dozen automatons, and a hen in a hatbox?

Adina, Shelley. Magnificent Devices: Books 1-4 Quartet: Four steampunk adventure novels in one set (Magnificent Devices Boxset) (Kindle Locations 8432-8435). Moonshell Books, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

The ending with James and the lightning device was explosive. Lol, literally - I couldn't resist. Frankly I was glad he got what was coming to him. Claire might have endless amounts of patience and forgiveness but he sucked.

This was fast paced and action packed and hilarious. I loved every minute. 5 stars.