I finally got to read one of Shelley Adina’s steampunk adventure novels!  I am not reviewing this book for any particular group.  I am reviewing it simply because I read it, and I like to write reviews for books I read.  This isn’t even the newest book in the series.  There are actually seven more after this one.

Lady of Devices is the first book in Shelley Adina’s “Magnificent Devices” steampunk adventure series.  It is the first steampunk novel I have ever read, and I must say that in the beginning I wasn’t sure I was going to like this genre, but as I read and began to care more and more about the main character, Lady Claire, I couldn’t put it down.  I finished the book in four evenings.  (I only have time to read for two or three hours an evening, and not every single evening either.)

In Lady of Devices, Lady Claire comes from a well-to-do family, but Lady Claire is more interested in science, chemistry to be exact, and inventions than she is in having her “coming out” party to find a husband.  Well, that gets put on the back burner anyway, when tragedy strikes her family, and her mother and little brother move to their other house some distance away.  Lady Claire is to follow after packing up the current house and wrapping up some loose ends.  However, other things happen to keep Lady Claire in London longer.

Lady Claire ends up in one adventure after another, and becomes of some interest to two young men, but one behaves quite oddly toward her.  I do really like the other young man and believe he is the type of young man that Lady Claire would find appealing, which she might if she weren’t distracted by other circumstances.

Shelley Adina did a wonderful job creating Lady Claire and the other characters in the book.  It is easy to like some of the characters and dislike a few of the others.  I also found myself reminiscing about Dickens’ Oliver Twist during certain scenes.

I liked this book very much and was a bit taken aback when Ms. Adina left me hanging at the end.  Smart marketing, leaving the reader wanting more when you’re writing a series.  🙂     Therefore, I cannot wait to get Her Devices and continue to follow Lady Claire on her further adventures.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good adventure, and to anyone who likes steampunk.  Also, anyone who likes a quick, easy read, and anyone with a love for Dickens will find reminiscences here, but this story definitely has much more action.