Brilliant Devices (Magnificent Devices, #4)

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 "final" book in the Claire quartet starts with Lady St. Ives once again planning and attending a funeral that wasn't necessary. I kind of want a short story from her point of view of all Claire's "deaths".

Maggie laid a hand on Claire’s arm. “Yer mum’ll be happy to ’ear you ent dead again, Lady. Funeral or no funeral.” “She’s going to stop believing in reports of my demise after this, that is certain.”

Adina, Shelley. Magnificent Devices: Books 1-4 Quartet: Four steampunk adventure novels in one set (Magnificent Devices Boxset) (Kindle Locations 8830-8832). Moonshell Books, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

I mean it is starting to get a bit ridiculous.

There was a pounding in the corridor outside the salon and Willie burst into the room. “Lady!” He dashed over to Claire and flung himself against her skirts. “I knew you’d come back!” “Yes, I do seem rather like the proverbial penny. I’m very glad to see you, darling.”

Adina, Shelley. Magnificent Devices: Books 1-4 Quartet: Four steampunk adventure novels in one set (Magnificent Devices Boxset) (Kindle Locations 9121-9123). Moonshell Books, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

The romance in this series sucks. I hated James. I'm not particularly fond of Andrew. I don't care about Ian Holly at all. But what this series does really well, is female solidarity.

“Claire, please say I haven’t hurt you. I couldn’t bear it. It was so sudden, and— and it was my first time, and—”
“I know what you mean. Andrew was my first kiss, too.”
“We’ll have to form a club.” That startled her into a laugh. Rosie, who had settled onto the nightstand in sphinx-like repose, looked alarmed until Claire passed a soothing hand over her feathers.
“You have not hurt me. If anything, you’ve made me see something about myself that I hadn’t before.”
“And what’s that? We both have excellent taste in men?” Another smile.
“That … and the fact that we can admire the same man and still be friends.”
How was that possible? If the flickers were any authority to go by, they should hate each other. “That’s rather remarkable, don’t you think?”

Adina, Shelley. Magnificent Devices: Books 1-4 Quartet: Four steampunk adventure novels in one set (Magnificent Devices Boxset) (Kindle Locations 10344-10350). Moonshell Books, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Other books, movies, tv shows, real life, show women clashing over men and jealousy and whatever else, but this series argues for women sticking together and it's totally #lifegoals. I love that Claire and Alice worry about each other first and foremost before concerning themselves with the romance. They do get jealous - but they also overcome it, rising above it to be better than that. And I loved every minute of it.

“I knew you would help me.”
“Didn’t you tell me once that we women must stick together?”

Adina, Shelley. Magnificent Devices: Books 1-4 Quartet: Four steampunk adventure novels in one set (Magnificent Devices Boxset) (Kindle Locations 10359-10360). Moonshell Books, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

The action was full on. Like the last book, it seemed very much a comedy of errors, going from one dangerous situation to the next. Alice is busy searching for her father. Davina and John are trying to get to their diamond mines to take a tour. There's balls and dresses and dinners and shootings and gambling. I love Claire clearing out the poker table and getting an escort. Poor George. He's having all his assumptions turned upside down.

Claire patted the rifle affectionately and holstered it. “Did you think it just for show?”
“I don’t make no assumptions about a man’s ordnance,” George said. “Guess there was a few I shouldn’t have made about a woman’s, neither.” He grasped Jake’s shoulder and shook him. “I’d best not find out that rock was meant for me.”
“Course not,” Jake said. “You stepped practically in its path. I were aimin’ at that miscreant, obviously, or I would’ve ’it you instead of ’im.”
“Do unhand my navigator, George,” Claire said.
“Navigator?” the man snorted.
“Assumptions, George,” she reminded him gently.
“Fine. Fine. You’re her navigator and—” He swung to Claire. “— you need about as much protection as a wolverine and—” He set off. “— I’m going to the Tiller right now and ordering up the biggest whiskey they got.”
“I shall stand you all the first round,” Claire called after him, and then pointed up ahead.

Adina, Shelley. Magnificent Devices: Books 1-4 Quartet: Four steampunk adventure novels in one set (Magnificent Devices Boxset) (Kindle Locations 9393-9401). Moonshell Books, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

My favourite part was the Meriwether-Astor airship - it was hilarious.

She lifted her chin. “I have stolen a coach and a scientist. It cannot be any more difficult to steal an airship.” * * * “You cannot mean to steal Meriwether-Astor’s ship.” Andrew’s eyes practically stood out on stalks. “Of course not. After Tigg has what he needs, I mean to steal the one with all the guns on it.”

Adina, Shelley. Magnificent Devices: Books 1-4 Quartet: Four steampunk adventure novels in one set (Magnificent Devices Boxset) (Kindle Locations 11995-11999). Moonshell Books, Inc.. Kindle Edition. The only bit that might've been better was when Claire came up with the idea to modify the airship with voice commands via the automatons. (Although I'm definitely with Claire on them being creepy.)

Just because something had never been done did not mean that it could not be done.

Adina, Shelley. Magnificent Devices: Books 1-4 Quartet: Four steampunk adventure novels in one set (Magnificent Devices Boxset) (Kindle Locations 12093-12094). Moonshell Books, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Honestly, I just adore this series. All the characters are fantastic. The female solidarity is inspiring. The flock is heartwarming. And the rest is hilarious. Even though the series continues, I love that this book is a nice stopping point and wraps up all the plot points and dramas. Claire's come a long way and I love that she's well on her way to achieving her dreams and goals and is surrounded by her flock. And I really love the focus on being a lady of resources, of intellect, of spirit. It's total girl power and I loved it.

It was an amazing offer— one prompted by affection as well as appreciation and faith. Faith, the substance of things hoped for. Claire could not remember anyone— save perhaps Polgarth the poultryman— ever having faith in her. And now look. She was rich in people who possessed it. The Mopsies. Andrew. The count. Alice. Perhaps even the Dunsmuirs, whom she hoped would regain their faith in her once the Meriwether-Astor affair was settled for good. She had been through some perilous times, it was true. She had learned and grown and was no longer that shy, unsure, untried girl she had been when Snouts had pulled her from her landau outside Aldgate station. She was a woman now. A lady of resources, of intellect— and of faith in herself and the ones she loved.

Adina, Shelley. Magnificent Devices: Books 1-4 Quartet: Four steampunk adventure novels in one set (Magnificent Devices Boxset) (Kindle Locations 12237-12243). Moonshell Books, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

A perfect end to the Claire quartet, Brilliant Devices wraps up the main part of Claire's story - leaving her on the verge of achieving her dreams and setting the stage for future adventures. 5 stars.