Steampunk Annotation

A Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina; Series Magnificent Devices Book 1

Description: In London 1889, Claire Trevelyan, a privileged young lady, let's her curiosity for science gets her into trouble. As a daughter of a Viscount, she has been well versed in how to pour a cup of tea properly as a lady should and how to land a rich husband. Yet all she wants to do is drive her father's landau, a steam powered car of sorts. Her mother plans to marry her off by the fall until their world comes crashing down. Their father, loses everything and a riot causes the young Claire to flee leaving behind her home and a life style. In her flee to safety she runs into a band of young misfit children, whom she takes a liking to. Claire must use her  knowledge of chemistry to get back her possessions that were stolen. In the process Claire learns what it is like to live on the other side of the tracks. She also gets the chance to work in the lab of Andrew Malvern, member of the Royal Society of Engineers, a dream come true. This book leaves you lingering, ready to find out what adventures Claire will get herself into next.

Setting

In London 1889, steam is the main source of energy in this alternate world. There are landaus which are a steam powered cars or carriages. The landau is only available to the wealthy and they have drivers who understand steam power to drive them. They also have mail delivered through a tube service which sounds equivalent to the modern day tubes at the drive through at the bank. Claire uses her chemistry knowledge to make devices similar to tear gas, that she uses as weapons against her enemies. There is also an electric powered gun that electrocutes and kills used in the book. These gadgets are of great interest to Claire and their descriptions sometimes get a little technical. The steam powered machinery in an alternative historical time period make this novel steampunk, a sub genre of science fiction.

Tone

This Victorian time period, takes the reader to an age of ladies and gentlemen with their proper manners. Claire is expected, just after graduating school at the age of 17, to find a suitable husband. Going to college is an absurd idea for a young lady of Claire's social standing. Yet Claire is ahead of her time with an interest in science and chemistry with dreams of attending a University. This tone makes the reader feel as if they are in another world.

Characterization

 The focus and setting of this novel is steam- powered machinery in a Victorian period, not so much the characters. We learn a little about Claire but the focus of the story is her interest in these steam powered gadgets and teaching the misfit children about them. Another moral woven into the story is women can overcome their social status quo to be valued for their intelligence not their beauty. 

Read-a likes

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel
Fever Crumb by Philip Reeve
Agantha H. and the Airship City by Phil Foglio