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Lady Georgia Brunel Mysteries #2
The Automaton Empress: A historical cozy fantasy mystery
The Empress of Prussia is quite beside herself …
When Lady Georgia Brunel and her Aunt Millie are summoned before the Empress of Prussia, the brilliant young woman does not seem herself. They soon discover the reason—she has been replaced by one of her own inventions, an automaton so lifelike that it seems even the Cabinet has not detected the switch. If the news gets out, there will be chaos in the Empire, and the heir to the throne will be all too happy to put off his next hunting trip to accept the crown prematurely.
If ever Georgia needed the help of her friend Dustin Seacombe, it is now. But he has gone back to the Fifteen Colonies, leaving her with nothing but memories … and unanswered questions. So it is up to her and Millie to quietly sift truth from lies in an effort to find the Empress—and bring the villains behind the plot to light. When they hear whispers about an underground group of rogue inventors, Georgia wonders whether the Empress has actually abdicated of her own free will … or if her life is about to end in the destruction of an empire.
The Automaton Empress is the second novel in the Lady Georgia Brunel Mysteries series set in the Magnificent Devices steampunk world. Though the books can be read as standalones, there are threads of love and family running through them all. No strong language, just a very proper kiss or two and a satisfying solution. Enjoy!
When Lady Georgia Brunel and her Aunt Millie are summoned before the Empress of Prussia, the brilliant young woman does not seem herself. They soon discover the reason—she has been replaced by one of her own inventions, an automaton so lifelike that it seems even the Cabinet has not detected the switch. If the news gets out, there will be chaos in the Empire, and the heir to the throne will be all too happy to put off his next hunting trip to accept the crown prematurely.
If ever Georgia needed the help of her friend Dustin Seacombe, it is now. But he has gone back to the Fifteen Colonies, leaving her with nothing but memories … and unanswered questions. So it is up to her and Millie to quietly sift truth from lies in an effort to find the Empress—and bring the villains behind the plot to light. When they hear whispers about an underground group of rogue inventors, Georgia wonders whether the Empress has actually abdicated of her own free will … or if her life is about to end in the destruction of an empire.
The Automaton Empress is the second novel in the Lady Georgia Brunel Mysteries series set in the Magnificent Devices steampunk world. Though the books can be read as standalones, there are threads of love and family running through them all. No strong language, just a very proper kiss or two and a satisfying solution. Enjoy!
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2024
23 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Shelley Adina
91 books629 followersShelley Adina is the author of 24 novels published by Harlequin, Warner, and Hachette, and a dozen more published by Moonshell Books, Inc., her own independent press. She writes steampunk and contemporary romance as Shelley Adina, and as Adina Senft, writes Amish women’s fiction. She holds an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in Pennsylvania, where she teaches as adjunct faculty. She won RWA’s RITA Award® in 2005, and was a finalist in 2006. When she’s not writing, Shelley is usually quilting, sewing historical costumes, or hanging out in the garden with her flock of rescued chickens.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 26, 2024
This was a very fun second entry in the Lady Georgia Brunel steampunk mystery series. As with the first, Georgia and Millie face many dangers, are captured, threatened with death, and show themselves to be brave and intelligent. We get to see all of the main characters from the first book, including the children Marcus and Cora (who are probably my favorite characters in the series so far).
The book is filled with automatons, airships, and other wondrous steampunk inventions. I am excited to know there will be a third in the series, and look forward to reading it.
The book is filled with automatons, airships, and other wondrous steampunk inventions. I am excited to know there will be a third in the series, and look forward to reading it.
February 3, 2025
As much as I love all of Adina's other series, I do think this one is my favourite so far. Georgia and Millie are brilliant, and I love Louise, Cora, Marcus, Dustin, and Cornelius. (In fact, I sincerely hope that Adina has plans for an offshoot of this series featuring the adult Cora and Marcus, because they're my favourite characters of all she's written.)
The group's adventures in Prussia were wildly entertaining, with twists and plots and adversaries that were almost as brilliant as our heroes. It was a pleasure to see them getting into and out of sticky situations and winning through at the end.
One of the downsides of following an established author as they write is that when you catch up to their latest book, you have to wait for the next one to be finished. And that's where I find myself today, waiting impatiently to see what comes next for these intrepid characters.
The group's adventures in Prussia were wildly entertaining, with twists and plots and adversaries that were almost as brilliant as our heroes. It was a pleasure to see them getting into and out of sticky situations and winning through at the end.
One of the downsides of following an established author as they write is that when you catch up to their latest book, you have to wait for the next one to be finished. And that's where I find myself today, waiting impatiently to see what comes next for these intrepid characters.
March 7, 2026
Protecting the Empress from an Imposter
Suitable for middle school - adult
Genre- Steampunk fantasy
No sex, foul language, or graphic violence
Plenty of adventure
Setting: Europe 1895 -in the area of modern-day Austria
Main characters: Lady Georgia Brunel and Millie, Georgia's aunt by marriage
Plot no spoilers:
Lady Georgia and her aunt are summoned to attend the Empress of Prussia, but upon their arrival they detect that something is wrong. Soon it becomes apparent that the Empress has been replaced by a sophisticated automaton (robot). The story progresses as the two, with the help of friends, investigate the reason for the replacement: Was it a for convenience so the Empress's stand-in could dispense with mundane matters, or was it treason?
Was it possible that either the beautiful Baroness Emma Salzmann or her rather unattractive husband was plotting to somehow seize power? Was it other, unknown plotters? And WHERE was the Empress?
Clever plot.
I admit that for some reason, possibly my own busy schedule, I sometimes got characters confused, so I had to flip back several pages to figure out who was who.
This is why I gave it only 4 stars. Other readers may not have that problem at all.
Suitable for middle school - adult
Genre- Steampunk fantasy
No sex, foul language, or graphic violence
Plenty of adventure
Setting: Europe 1895 -in the area of modern-day Austria
Main characters: Lady Georgia Brunel and Millie, Georgia's aunt by marriage
Plot no spoilers:
Lady Georgia and her aunt are summoned to attend the Empress of Prussia, but upon their arrival they detect that something is wrong. Soon it becomes apparent that the Empress has been replaced by a sophisticated automaton (robot). The story progresses as the two, with the help of friends, investigate the reason for the replacement: Was it a for convenience so the Empress's stand-in could dispense with mundane matters, or was it treason?
Was it possible that either the beautiful Baroness Emma Salzmann or her rather unattractive husband was plotting to somehow seize power? Was it other, unknown plotters? And WHERE was the Empress?
Clever plot.
I admit that for some reason, possibly my own busy schedule, I sometimes got characters confused, so I had to flip back several pages to figure out who was who.
This is why I gave it only 4 stars. Other readers may not have that problem at all.
May 5, 2025
good read
I’m so glad I found this author. She has an engaging style of writing that doesn’t lag, the adventure keeps up it’s momentum with great plots and characters. 👍💜
I’m so glad I found this author. She has an engaging style of writing that doesn’t lag, the adventure keeps up it’s momentum with great plots and characters. 👍💜
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews