It was fun but not fabulous. The last story was a nice ending to the book and a touch spooky. I wish there was far more of that one and of about seven others. "Her Own Devices" rocked! I enjoyed it even though the last line stank. I'd love to have seen this one as the first story. "Lair of The Red Countess" was perfect! Both of these were worth the price of the book. Those stories felt like true Steampunk Erotica.
I think if Carnal Machines had fewer stories of simple smut with devices thrown in and more of the sensual and mysterious kind of erotic story, it would have blasted this book to fab level reading for me. Yet, because of this, I'm considering finding all of Anne Rice's old erotic works starting with rereading "The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty" to see how they measure up to what I just read.