Rebel Mechanics

by Shanna Swendson

[Angie]

Rebel Mechanics was a lot of fun! When it starts, Verity is on her way from New Haven to New York City to find a job as a governess. She gets lucky and is hired by a very wealthy magister to act as governess and chaperone to his nieces and nephew. Verity also happens to fall in with the Rebel Mechanics, a group of inventors aiming to fight the British for America's independence. She starts out simply as a secondary reporter, but then winds up as a spy due to her position. Verity's life just got a lot more complicated and exciting.

I loved the idea of magic altering America's history, but I did spend a fair bit of Rebel Mechanics distracted by questions. Basically, Britain has kept its rule over the colonies because of magic, so American rebels are building machines in order to fight back. What kept bothering me was that this didn't feel like American colonies versus Britain, but more like non-magisters versus magisters, so shouldn't there also be unrest in Britain? It just seemed odd to me, because it was almost like all British people without magic are now in America, even though there are also plenty of magical citizens as well. Also are the British the only people with magic in their bloodlines?

I also couldn't help but wonder about what else is different in this world. The author's note says that Britain abolished slavery in 1833, so therefore it was also abolished in the colonies. But what about the aftermath? There was one mention of African American people being present, but that's it. And you never would have known about slavery in this alternate history at all if you don't read the author's note, so their mention stands out even more. Were their ancestors slaves? Are they treated differently by the white people? And what about the Native Americans? How did the British coming over with magic affect how they were treated? It seems like colonization proceeded as it did historically, so what about them? Maybe I'm overthinking all of this, but it felt like important stuff to know.

Now that my world-building nitpicking is out of the way, I did enjoy Rebel Mechanics. Mostly because I came to really adore Verity. She's out on her own, and she's just trying to make a life for herself. But once she learns about what's going on around her, she can't sit idly. She has to help however she can! Verity does get swept into the rebel movement fairly quickly because of this, but soon she starts realizing that they're not 100% the good guys. And she won't sit by idly for that either! After the initial awe wears off, Verity does stand up to them. She doesn't give up on the cause, but she knows there's better ways to go about things. Other than that, I also wanted her to get to kissing her employer!

In the end, I thought Rebel Mechanics was quite good. The plot is fast paced and intriguing. I loved Verity and Lord Henry. I even warmed up to young Olive! My questions about this new history were the only thing that kept me from loving it. I had trouble believing that the Native Americans and slaves (except for in the optional author's note) were overlooked as if they didn't exist.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.