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A review by thepeachmartini
Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina
3.0
I've had this on my "to read" list for a while now, but never bothered to pick it up…quite honestly because I thought the cover looked cheesy. I know, I know…how's that for shallow and judgmental?! I managed to snag it as a free download on Amazon, which made me happy. I don't know if this review contains spoilers, so consider yourself warned.
Right - on to the review. I feel like someone took "The Sound of Music" or "Mary Poppins" and mingled it with "Pride and Prejudice" and then glued gears and cogs all over it. I read this in two days (it helped our county was under an emergency-only travel advisory because of the weather and I couldn't go anywhere); it wasn't a bad read at all. It wasn't a great read. It held my attention, but I found myself getting irritated with all the babysitting and whatnot and just wanted Clare to get on with things.
I found it a bit hypocritical that Clare was so concerned with the ruffians she took under her wing doing the right thing by not stealing, etc…yet she clearly had no qualms about assuming the role of guardian and leader of the group, and imposing on them to shelter/feed her, etc. She used chemicals to get into their home…and was OK with them using the same chemicals on other people…but I guess we all have to draw the line somewhere.
I feel like the gang was too accepting of her…and she was too desperate - at the beginning of the book, she comes across as someone headstrong and sure of herself, but once she realizes she's on her own, she's a hot mess of neediness. I feel like taking on this gang wasn't really necessary to advance her in the story, but maybe it will come together with the rest of the series…I feel like it creates too much baggage for her, when she's so worried about going to university and making her own way. Like I said, maybe it is setting us up for something later down the road.
Will I read more in the series? Probably, just because I can't leave it well enough alone. Would I recommend it to anyone? Meh, maybe…though it's not at the top of my list.
What I liked:
Independent/Educated/Self-Assured Clare
steampunk aspects
The gentleman offering her as assistant's position in his lab…I am more intrigued by this story line than that of the gang she's trying to rescue.
What I didn't care for:
Needy Clare
Assaulting folks with noxious chemicals…just doesn't seem right.
The back-and-forth of righteousness and self-interest; does she really need to carry that ridiculous rifle around with her when she's trying to get the gang to clean up their act?
3 out of 5 stars
Spoiler
Right - on to the review. I feel like someone took "The Sound of Music" or "Mary Poppins" and mingled it with "Pride and Prejudice" and then glued gears and cogs all over it. I read this in two days (it helped our county was under an emergency-only travel advisory because of the weather and I couldn't go anywhere); it wasn't a bad read at all. It wasn't a great read. It held my attention, but I found myself getting irritated with all the babysitting and whatnot and just wanted Clare to get on with things.
I found it a bit hypocritical that Clare was so concerned with the ruffians she took under her wing doing the right thing by not stealing, etc…yet she clearly had no qualms about assuming the role of guardian and leader of the group, and imposing on them to shelter/feed her, etc. She used chemicals to get into their home…and was OK with them using the same chemicals on other people…but I guess we all have to draw the line somewhere.
I feel like the gang was too accepting of her…and she was too desperate - at the beginning of the book, she comes across as someone headstrong and sure of herself, but once she realizes she's on her own, she's a hot mess of neediness. I feel like taking on this gang wasn't really necessary to advance her in the story, but maybe it will come together with the rest of the series…I feel like it creates too much baggage for her, when she's so worried about going to university and making her own way. Like I said, maybe it is setting us up for something later down the road.
Will I read more in the series? Probably, just because I can't leave it well enough alone. Would I recommend it to anyone? Meh, maybe…though it's not at the top of my list.
What I liked:
Independent/Educated/Self-Assured Clare
steampunk aspects
The gentleman offering her as assistant's position in his lab…I am more intrigued by this story line than that of the gang she's trying to rescue.
What I didn't care for:
Needy Clare
Assaulting folks with noxious chemicals…just doesn't seem right.
The back-and-forth of righteousness and self-interest; does she really need to carry that ridiculous rifle around with her when she's trying to get the gang to clean up their act?
3 out of 5 stars