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Rebel Mechanics

(Rebel Mechanics #1)

Shanna Swendson (Goodreads Author)

3.84 · Rating details · 2,736 ratings · 541 reviews

A sixteen-year-old governess becomes a spy in this alternative U.S. history where the British control with magic and the colonists rebel by inventing.

It’s 1888, and sixteen-year-old Verity Newton lands a job in New York as a governess to a wealthy leading family—but she quickly learns that the family has big secrets. Magisters have always ruled the colonies, but now an und ...more

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Hardcover, 310 pages

Published July 14th 2015 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

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Jan 27, 2015 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it liked it

Shelves: arcs-and-galleys, netgalley, alternate-history, fantasy, magic, historical-fiction, young-adult, review-copy, steampunk

2.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/07/11/y...

“Magic vs. Machines” seems to be a recurring theme in my YA lately, and Shanna Swendson’s alternate history steampunk fantasy novel Rebel Mechanics is my latest venture. In it, we go back to 1888 New York City in the American colonies still under British rule. The revolutionary war never happened because the Britain have magic on their side, but the desire for independence cannot be extinguished. Instead, a new faction o 2.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/07/11/y...

“Magic vs. Machines” seems to be a recurring theme in my YA lately, and Shanna Swendson’s alternate history steampunk fantasy novel Rebel Mechanics is my latest venture. In it, we go back to 1888 New York City in the American colonies still under British rule. The revolutionary war never happened because the Britain have magic on their side, but the desire for independence cannot be extinguished. Instead, a new faction of rebels calling themselves the Rebel Mechanics have emerged, determined to invent machines to prove that science and technology can not only match the might of magic, they can also replace it. If the colonies are no longer dependent on the British and their Magisters, America can win her freedom.

Sixteen-year-old Verity Newton arrives in the city in the early days of the rebellion, seeking a position as a governess. Overwhelmed by the new sights and sounds, she is unexpectedly befriended by a group of young men and women from the Rebel Mechanics who notices her plight and helps her out. Verity ends up being hired by the brilliant but absent-minded Magister Lord Henry who tasks her to look after his nieces and nephew. Recognizing an opportunity to aid her Rebel Mechanics friends, Verity agrees to become a spy, gathering intelligence from Lord Henry’s household as well as the various Magister events she would be invited to. However, that was before she discovers that her employer might actually be more sympathetic to the rebels than anyone thought.

The beginning of this novel showed real promise. I loved the writing style, the time period, as well as the idea that a showdown between Magisters and Mechanics is being set up as the catalyst for this alternate world’s version of the American Revolution. But as the story progressed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing for me, something vital. Eventually, I realized what it was: I could not connect at all with any of the characters in this book.

Let’s start with Verity – an independent, ambitious and determined young woman. So far so good. Throw a dreamy green-eyed boy in her path, however, and that whole persona promptly shatters. She goes from being an interesting character to an exasperating one in the span of two seconds it takes for her to fall head over heels in lust with a Rebel Mechanic named Alec. After this, it’s “I wonder if Alec feels the same way about me?” or “Oh I do hope Alec will be at this party!” Alec this and Alec that. Verity becomes blinded to everything around her, even though as the reader, all kinds of alarm bells were ringing in my head warning me that our poor besotted protagonist might be walking into various traps. Verity is oblivious of course, because her brain stopped working as soon as Alec stepped into the picture.

It was also hard to sympathize with the Rebel Mechanics, which didn’t help. Regardless of their cause, I lost whatever respect I had for them the moment they put the lives of children at risk to forward their agenda. The scene was somewhat glossed over, but it didn’t lessen my disbelief or revulsion at the selfishness of these characters. Even Lord Henry, who was by far my favorite character in this novel, goes gallivanting off on his clandestine nightly adventures without much thought to the future of his young niece and nephew, though admittedly his situation is a lot different. But with all the deceit and trickery and dishonesty flying around, I was feeling just done with everyone in this book. Perhaps all the subterfuge was supposed to make the book more suspenseful, but it completely backfired on me.

Still, despite the issues I had with this book, it had its moments. Rebel Mechanics had a great premise and the writing was great, creating a rich atmosphere. I felt the spirit of independence in this story, and interestingly, I read most of it over the 4th of July weekend so it added to the vibe. If I hadn’t felt so aggravated by the vast majority of characters in this novel, I might be writing a completely different review, but there was still the awkward romance which ruined much of the enjoyment. For now I have doubts that I will continue with the series. ...more

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Apr 13, 2015 Paige Bookdragon rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, needs-a-bit-substance, read-2015, young-adult, mystery, teen, got-a-copy

All is fair in love and revolution.

First of all, I thought Verity is a few months away from 18, which means she's already 17. So that mojo that she's 16 yrs old is weird.

Anyway, Rebel Mechanics is an okay read despite the fact that the characters (all of them) are kinda bland. There wasn't any witty remark, any funny scenes or any thrilling part in the book. It's a tad boring for me, but some of my friends enjoyed it.

This book has:

No foul language.
No gory scenes.
No sex scenes.
Possible love ...more

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Dec 18, 2014 Kristen rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-or-galley, 2015-releases, macmillan-2015

This and other reviews on my blog My Friends Are Fiction

My Thoughts:
I went into Rebel Mechanics with a bit of trepidation. I haven’t had the best luck with steampunk books so I was thinking this would fall into the same traps. I was so surprised with how enjoyable I found this story to be. I enjoyed that the book combined an alternate history with steampunk. This combination made for a really enticing read.

I was immediately absorbed into the world and main character, Verity. The pacing was fas This and other reviews on my blog My Friends Are Fiction

My Thoughts:
I went into Rebel Mechanics with a bit of trepidation. I haven’t had the best luck with steampunk books so I was thinking this would fall into the same traps. I was so surprised with how enjoyable I found this story to be. I enjoyed that the book combined an alternate history with steampunk. This combination made for a really enticing read.

I was immediately absorbed into the world and main character, Verity. The pacing was fast and the steam-punk aspects were a good amount of the story but it didn’t drive the writing. I find that a lot of times it feels like a story was created to feature the steampunk machines but for this book it seemed like an aside to the story-line. I really loved that.

The society in Rebel Mechanics was broken into classes- the Magisters and then the folks with no magical ability. Of course there was division and hatred between the groups and really this drove the story. I found this not to be an entirely unique concept but it worked incredibly well and really, magic= happiness for Kristen. Swendson really captured a revolutionary atmosphere and it gave the book a historical feel though it was an alternate reality.

My favorite character hands down was Lord Henry. He reminded me a bit of the 10th Doctor which I adored. I couldn’t help but see him as David Tennant. Not a bad thing at all.

tumblr_mpuiccNdUX1spm3w2o1_500
Lord Henry was such a fun character and I’d be happy reading a story solely about him. His interactions with Verity were perfect and so cute. The other characters, like the children Verity is governance for, are well rounded and incredibly likeable. The rebels were understandable in their motives even if I didn’t always love the way they approached their cause.

As for the story in this one it was fun and not too heavy. It was a tad easy to predict and I saw the twists playing out before the reveals but honestly that didn’t detract from the story for me. I just found this book to be so engaging and really refreshing.

Final Thoughts:
I really loved Rebel Mechanics. I thought it was such an entertaining read that kept me glued from start to finish. I’m completely sold on these characters and can’t wait for more (there had better be a sequel).
...more

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Dec 18, 2014 Rachel (APCB Reviews) rated it it was ok

Shelves: disappointments

Initial Thoughts: Maybe I foolishly thought the life of a spy would be a bit more exciting. That aspect really let me down. I liked all of the characters except for the main character, Verity. She was so plain and dull in comparison to the others. I liked the setting and the premise of the story, I felt we only skimmed the surface of everything though. Overall I was bored with this book and couldn't wait for it to be over. Full review to come.

Read the full review @ A Perfection Called Books

I'm Initial Thoughts: Maybe I foolishly thought the life of a spy would be a bit more exciting. That aspect really let me down. I liked all of the characters except for the main character, Verity. She was so plain and dull in comparison to the others. I liked the setting and the premise of the story, I felt we only skimmed the surface of everything though. Overall I was bored with this book and couldn't wait for it to be over. Full review to come.

Read the full review @ A Perfection Called Books

I'm a fan of steampunk novels and those elements of the novel were well executed. There's lots of machinery showcased throughout this novel, as we see there's a struggle between the wealthy wanting and hoarding the magically-powered technology and the middle and poor class wanting fairer, mechanically-powered technology. Swendson did a wonderful job researching and describing New York City in 1888. I loved seeing the references to places familiar to us now. I was also fascinated by the concept of the colonies losing the Revolutionary War and still being under the influence of Great Britain. She included subtle elements like coffee houses, boycotting tea drinking, illegal newspapers without the Stamp Act-implemented stamps, etc...

The characters were great with the exception of the main character, Verity. She was dull and easily fooled. I honestly have no idea how she didn't get caught as a spy. And speaking of spying, she really was just at the right place at the right time. She wasn't really trying that hard, and I wasn't impressed or thrilled or on the edge of my seat whenever she was "spying." It was all pretty low-action and low-risk. Henry is the lord of the house, the younger brother who is watching over his deceased older brothers three children: Olive, Rolland, and Flora. Henry is aloof and thoughtful and sweet.

The romance is pretty light in this book, and I'm glad it's not the focus of the novel. I was rooting for a certain ship all throughout the book, and from the ending I have high hopes!! I will go down with this glorious ship. The second half of the book definitely piqued my interest as more things started to develop. I felt like we finally established some groundwork by the time the story ended (even though it was all on the last 20% of the book) so there's that. The writing was fair, yet the plot was a bit predictable. I hope the plot becomes a bit more intricate in the following book(s).

Overall I was disappointed by this book, but the romance ship and the ending left enough promise that I think I'll continue the series. ...more

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Mar 07, 2015 Gillian rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs-i-own, cuter-than-puppies, favorites, romance-to-root-for, ship-a-dee-do-da, 2015, bookish-boyfriends, fantasy, historical, need-to-review

4.5 stars

I adored reading that! My god, was that some delightful fun. Adorable boy, fun rebel shenanigans, a feisty yet practical heroine, plays on a bunch of tropes, and alternate history to boot.. If you love stories about governesses, nobility, magic, New York City, steampunk gadgets, or--must be said again--completely adorable boys, read Rebel Mechanics, because reading it was pure pleasure. It's short and zippy and not too deep, but sometimes that's perfect. I'm so full of SQUEE. (And I too ...more

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Dec 18, 2014 Shelley rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015-release, young-adult, received-for-review, steampunk, alternative-history

**I received this book for free from Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

*Genre* Steampunk, Alternate History
*Rating* 4.0

*My Thoughts*

Rebel Mechanics is an Alternate History/Steampunk driven novel that takes place in the 1888 American Colonies. Yes, you did read that right. In this universe, the Americans lost the Revolutionary War, the British still rule, and those with Magic, magisters, are ...more

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Dec 22, 2014 Michelle rated it really liked it

4 stars

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I really liked the main character, Verity. I also enjoyed the alternative world in 1888, New York where non-magical mechanics want to start a revolution against magisters (people with magic). I wish there was a bit more magic rather than just powering machines and transportation though. I really like Henry and I wasn't super surprised that he wasn't just a magister. I wasn't sure who to trust because everything wasn't black and w ...more

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Jan 26, 2015 Stacee rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2015

This was a clever alternative reality having to do with magic.

I loved Verity and her feistiness. She knows what is expected of her position, but it doesn't stop her from doing the things she thinks are right. The kids are adorable and Lord Henry was quite fun. There are a few of the rebels who were also fun characters.

The description of the magic and the machines was easy to follow and I didn't feel overwhelmed at the history portion of the book. Even the ending was satisfying.

All in all, a q ...more

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Jan 16, 2019 Hallie (Hallie Reads) rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobooks, beat-the-backlist-2019, mount-tbr-2019

Reading Challenge Categories:
-#Ampersand2019 Reading Challenge: A book with a two-word title
-Beat the Backlist Reading Bingo: Alternate history or future
-Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge: A book you've been meaning to read
-Read Harder Challenge: An alternate history novel
-#ReadingUSA: New York ...more

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Jul 15, 2015 Karen rated it it was amazing

When I heard about Rebel Mechanics, I was quite eager to read it. I've recently discovered that I like these types of steampunk books and I was hoping that this series would have a similar feel to the Enchanted, Inc. series. So I pre-ordered the book and when I noticed it on my Kindle yesterday, I immediately started reading it.

I'll start off the review by saying that what I was hoping for this book was exactly what I got--perhaps even better than I had hoped for. It's a fantastic steampunk ligh When I heard about Rebel Mechanics, I was quite eager to read it. I've recently discovered that I like these types of steampunk books and I was hoping that this series would have a similar feel to the Enchanted, Inc. series. So I pre-ordered the book and when I noticed it on my Kindle yesterday, I immediately started reading it.

I'll start off the review by saying that what I was hoping for this book was exactly what I got--perhaps even better than I had hoped for. It's a fantastic steampunk light (not super heavy on the mechanical details) story with some great characters that echoes the charm of the Enchanted, Inc. series yet is truly its own story and series. My only disappointment was that it ended and now I'm back to waiting before I can read more!

The protagonist, Verity, could have been a stereotypical character, but Swendson breathes life into the character to take her off the page and make her fully fleshed out and interesting. Although young (17), Verity has set out to make her way in the world as a governess. But she truly doesn't know much about the world, having lived her whole life so far through books. So her notion of what a governess does has been created by the governesses she has read about in fiction; in fact, the very idea of becoming a governess came to her because that's what girls in her situation do in books. At one point, she thinks that had there been more books about girls like her becoming journalists, then she would have considered that option instead. Having a character who is quite brilliant but not very worldly having to navigate her way through the various situations she encounters sets up the narrative quite nicely.

The characters she encounters are also really well written with various relationships and connections, some of which become more apparent after various secrets are revealed. I want to stay spoiler free, but Verity does get herself right into the middle of everything and as a result has to contain quite a few secrets herself, but there are secrets that others are keeping from her as well and how she handles the reveals of those secrets is quite fitting with her character. (Sorry to be so vague.)

The background world that Swendson has created is quite interesting, with the idea that the American colonies had not been successful with their revolution against the British and so were still British subjects. But a new revolution is on the horizon and this book is setting the stage for that larger-scale revolution. I really enjoyed this look into an alternative history (even more alternative because the higher echelons of society are able to do magic, which is pitted against the mechanicals created by the rebels).

After reading this book and The Rooftop Inventor by Nooce Miller, I want more of these "steampunk light" types of books (so I'm thinking young adult steampunk is what I'm after). I love the feisty heroine, the alternate history, the clothing, and the adventure. I'll be looking forward to the follow-up books from both of these authors. ...more

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Oct 25, 2016 Gardenia L rated it liked it

Shelves: 2nd-nine-weeks

Verity Newton is a young lady who is going to be a governess for a wealthy family. She decides to take the train to the interview. On the train, a robbery takes place. Verity only notices that the Masked Bandits' leader has icy, pale blue, cold, hard eyes. She leaves the train station to see horse-drawn carriages and omnibuses and magical horseless carriages. When her bus ride stops at the farthest point it can go, she gets on a steam powered bus, where everyone onboard has a red ribbon tied to ...more

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Jul 14, 2015 Cari rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, ya, 2015, steampunk, romance

Rebel Mechanics is really more deserving of about 2.5 stars but I'm rounding up, because while the story lacks depth and subtlety, it's a rollicking read and there's so much potential here that I'm definitely signing on to read the next book in the series. I wish Swendson had gone into more detail with her characters, with their motivation and the plot itself, and hadn't hurried things along so much; I suspect she got sidetracked by world building and I think all will likely improve in future in ...more

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Jul 21, 2015 Forever Young Adult added it

Shelves: fantasy, reviewed-by-mandy-c, historical-fiction, steampunk

Graded By: Mandy C.
Cover Story: Fancy Gear
BFF Charm: Yay
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: What If, With Magic
Bonus Factors: Steampunk, Robin Hood
Anti-Bonus Factor: Series Starter
Relationship Status: Let’s Be Friends (No, Really)

Read the full book report here. ...more

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Apr 05, 2015 Brandy Painter rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult

3.5 stars

Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.

Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson caught my attention with the title and held it with the synopsis. This sounded like a great fit for me and the perfect read for the mood I was in at the time. While I have a few quibbles, it is a fun read that brought me much enjoyment.

Verity Newton is newly arrived in New York City after being not so gently pushed out the door by her father. Her trip to the city was eventful as the train she wa 3.5 stars

Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.

Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson caught my attention with the title and held it with the synopsis. This sounded like a great fit for me and the perfect read for the mood I was in at the time. While I have a few quibbles, it is a fun read that brought me much enjoyment.

Verity Newton is newly arrived in New York City after being not so gently pushed out the door by her father. Her trip to the city was eventful as the train she was riding on was robbed by the infamous Masked Bandits. Then upon her arrival, she meets up with the equally troublesome Rebel Mechanics who are not so quietly rebelling against the against the Magisters who are the ruling class of British aristocracy in the American Colonies. The Rebel Mechanics are trying to prove that they can build even better machines that run on science and engineering. Verity procures a position as governess in the home of the a young Magister who has the guardianship of his nieces and nephew (the three children also happen to be the grandchildren of the Governor). Verity becomes friends with several members of the Mechanics and is drawn to their cause, writing articles for the illegal newspapers they circulate. At the same time, she is being drawn deeper into the world of her employerShe soon finds herself torn between what she knows of both worlds she is straddling. And she is keeping secrets that could destroy her own life as well as the causes of her closest friends.

Rebel Mechanics takes place in an alternate 1888 where the American Revolution never occurred due to the ruling class of British having magic when the lower class citizens did not. But now that science and invention have taken hold in those classes, there is a fighting chance for actual change. Many of the Magisters don't even really know how to use their own powers relying on the ingenuity and work of their ancestors to keep their world running. It is a fascinating and fun concept, and I enjoyed how well Swenson drew her world without over explaining it. The machines the Mechanics have invented are interesting. The Masked Bandits add a dash of exciting capers to the mix. The politics are interesting and colored in exactly the right shades of gray to show the complexities of revolution.

Verity is a heroine I enjoyed following and rooting for. She is incredibly intelligent but has led a very sheltered life in her parents' home. She has had no interactions with Magisters and only faintly heard about the revolutionary aspects of her country. There is a sense of wide-eyed innocence about her. She is incredibly trusting. There were times as a reader where I knew she was being taken advantage of, but she didn't even suspect. It worked because it made sense for her. Verity is savvy though and she figures things out quickly enough that I never lost my belief in her as a character.

Talking about the rest of the characters is now hard without spoilers. I will say these things:
I loved the three children. (Even Flora in all her teenage elitist snobbery.)
I ship the ship VERY MUCH.
I had a hard time liking the people taking advantage of Verity because I thought the way they were deceiving her was particularly gross and underhanded.

This leads me to my main quibble with the book. I found myself really frustrated through the middle because even though I understood how Verity would not see how she was being manipulated, I still wanted to move past all that and get to the part where she realized and did something about it. Also it was interfering with my full enjoyment of my ship.

I am definitely in for the rest of this series though and am looking forward to the sequel.

I read an ARC made available by the publisher, Farrar Straus and Giroux (BYR), via Edelweiss. Rebel Mechanics goes on sale July 14th. ...more

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Aug 26, 2015 Dark Faerie Tales rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed-by-zed

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales (http://darkfaerietales.com/)

Quick & Dirty: Steampunk historical fiction mixed with magic, an unconventional governess and plenty of secrets.

Opening Sentence: If I’d let myself think about what might lie ahead for me, I’d have been terrified.

The Review:

Rebel Mechanics has the ideal mix of historical fiction and magic. I love a gutsy heroine who is conscious of society expectations but will overlook this for the people that matter. And that is exactly what Ver Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales (http://darkfaerietales.com/)

Quick & Dirty: Steampunk historical fiction mixed with magic, an unconventional governess and plenty of secrets.

Opening Sentence: If I’d let myself think about what might lie ahead for me, I’d have been terrified.

The Review:

Rebel Mechanics has the ideal mix of historical fiction and magic. I love a gutsy heroine who is conscious of society expectations but will overlook this for the people that matter. And that is exactly what Verity does in her attempt to help her mechanic friends. From her very first day in the new city she encounters danger, adventure and more excitement than she could ever have dreamed. A proper, ‘normal’ young lady would be appalled but Verity is an odd one and thrives on it.

On one side are her friends, the rebel mechanics secretly working against the government, and on the other side lies her duty to the magister family she works for. To add to the confusion, she has a nagging suspicion that her employer, Lord Henry, isn’t the aloof scientist everyone believes him to be, but is an active member of the masked bandits, another rebel group that rob the rich magisters to feed the poor. Oh and to top all that, she has to hide from everyone the fact that she is half magister, in other words an abomination that would be hated by magisters and mechanics alike.

Henry is the cutest and funniest character ever. He hides his true identity brilliantly, and I fell in love with his eccentricities. I was annoyed about the budding romance between Verity and Alec the engineer (purely because it was an inconvenience to my imagination) but glad to see it come to an end because I can sense the sparks between her and Henry. They are just too funny together!

With some trepidation about being so forward with my employer, I grabbed his arm and gave him a sharp pull, just before he fell into the arms of a naked marble woman. He blinked at me over the tops of his glasses, then pushed them up his nose with his forearm.
“Oh dear, you seem to have rescued me from a rather improper embrace, Miss Newton,” he said with a rueful smile. “I’m afraid my glasses slipped, and I’m quite blind without them.” I thought that if he’d been the one with me in the park, he’d have fallen headlong into the carriage’s path and we’d both have been killed.

This book has such a great mix of everything that I cannot understand why anyone would give it amiss. I am eagerly awaiting the next in the Rebel Mechanics series and I’m positive that you’ll feel the same once you read this book too.

Notable Scene:

I was surprised to realize I felt slightly disappointed. If I had to be a governess working for a bandit would make my life much more exciting. Now I supposed I had to hope for something like a madwoman in the attic, or perhaps a ghost.

FTC Advisory: Farrar, Straus and Giroux/Macmillan provided me with a copy of Rebel Mechanics. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ...more

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Sep 24, 2016 Blake T rated it really liked it

Shelves: first-nine-weeks

When this book started out I thought it was just another book. This is not just another book! When a 17-year-old girl named Verity seeks a job in New York City, her train is robbed and she notices that the lead bandit has icy blue eyes that anyone could notice from a mile away. When she arrives in New York she goes to selected houses to apply for a governess position. Verity decides to take a bus downtown and notices a boy selling newspapers. Verity walks over to him, purchases a paper, and asks ...more

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Jan 23, 2015 Stacie (Shy Book Nerd) rated it really liked it

Shelves: owned-hardcovers, favorites, 2015-releases

I'm not one who is usually into historical fiction type of books, but right away this one caught my eye. This was historical fiction yet with a twist that had captivated me from beginning to end. Instead of technology becoming a huge thing, Magisters are the ones in control. This caught my eye because wouldn't it be wonderful to live in a world full of magic? Well it didn't disappoint.

First we meet Verity Newton, the main character. She had just moved to New York in fetch of a job because she no I'm not one who is usually into historical fiction type of books, but right away this one caught my eye. This was historical fiction yet with a twist that had captivated me from beginning to end. Instead of technology becoming a huge thing, Magisters are the ones in control. This caught my eye because wouldn't it be wonderful to live in a world full of magic? Well it didn't disappoint.

First we meet Verity Newton, the main character. She had just moved to New York in fetch of a job because she no longer wanted to live with her father. Right off the bat I loved Verity. She was smart, independent, feisty when she needed to be, and knew how to take things under control. She was a very likable character that I could connect with right away. It also had her catching the eye of two handsome gentleman. One, was her boss, Lord Henry. The other man was Alec, a rebel mechanic. I liked both men, but Lord Henry was by far my favorite. I just loved the way the two interacted better and how well they got along. He was far more pleasant and friendly. Plus, they handled each others secrets well that made them all the more cute together. Alec was friendly enough, yet I always felt like he was hiding something. I loved her decision in the end on that matter. You'll have to read it to find out! Verity was also good at solving problems. When someone was in dire need of help, she was quick to come up with a solution.

The part that I felt lacked a little was more action scenes. Everything seemed like it came too easily for Verity to get or solve. I get that I want her to be safe and all, but I wanted there to be more obstacles for her to push through. Almost all her problems seemed to end too perfectly which left me a little let down. Even when Verity and her friends were running from the authorities, I did not feel scared or worried in the slightest because I already knew it was going to end fine. Either way, I was rooting for her no matter what.

Overall, I enjoyed this book so much. I loved the way everyone spoke because I actually felt like I was there in that time. Yes it may have been slow a tad, but it did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying the book. It would be nice to see a sequel or some kind of continuation about Verity because I really like her character. I doubt there would be but I would not hesitate to read another story by this author. If you like books about magic, and cool gadgets, with a little bit of history, then I highly recommend reading it! ...more

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Jun 26, 2015 Lenna the Unicorn Cat rated it it was ok

Actual rating: 2.5 stars

I feel like I can't truly give this book 3 stars because of how predictable it was. It would try and play like there are mysteries and so many twists, and that the character was oh so clever, but she wasn't with disregarding the intelligent possibilities and jumping to odd conclusions. Plus I didn't really care for the love triangle. I knew it would try and pull a Jane Eyre as soon as the first love interest (the wealthy Lord Magistrate Henry Lyndon) was mentioned to be a Actual rating: 2.5 stars

I feel like I can't truly give this book 3 stars because of how predictable it was. It would try and play like there are mysteries and so many twists, and that the character was oh so clever, but she wasn't with disregarding the intelligent possibilities and jumping to odd conclusions. Plus I didn't really care for the love triangle. I knew it would try and pull a Jane Eyre as soon as the first love interest (the wealthy Lord Magistrate Henry Lyndon) was mentioned to be a bachelor and very near her age. The whole prejudice against magic and machinery wasn't touched upon that well, so the whole book felt like a little kid's creation with dolls. There was no true feeling of characters, just adjectives to describe them and lure you in. I will read the second book when it comes out because this one wasn't so terrible that I wanted to throw it. It just felt like it was missing some important pieces. But I'll give the author the benefit of the doubt because this is her first YA. Other than that, it was a quick entertaining read. I just felt like there were a lot of pieces missing.
I will also say that I didn't like Verity's jump to espionage and becoming the rebels spy so quickly when she was in such a conflict about it the first few times. She didn't give herself a reasonable explanation to just jump into it, and I didn't like that there was never much of a struggle for any of the characters. Shit would start to go down and someone would have the answers and get them out before anyone suffers at all. It was all cleaned up a little too nicely. And maybe this is just me being picky, but if the main character loves libraries and is a book hoarder, you'd think to send her spying in there, to collect as much info there as possible, as well as pass messages from there. That doesn't really happen until the end, but even then it's not done well. There are better YA steampunk espionage books out there, like Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger. This one needs quite a bit of improvement. I'll give the second book a chance to see how it goes from there, but I didn't really feel it with this book. ...more

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Oct 01, 2016 Rebecca (pagescollective) rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, fantasy, young-adult, historical-fantasy

4.5 stars

Brilliant really!

Steam punk has alway seemed interesting, but I haven't had too much success with this genre. I was looking for something a little different to read, and this was perfect! The steam punk elements fit seamlessly into the story and it doesn't feel like the plot is just built around the steam punk.

The Characters
I don't think I have read a character more like myself than Verity. I was almost weird to read about at times! She pretty much thought and acted the same way I would ...more

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Jan 24, 2015 Britt rated it really liked it

Shelves: i-own-these, to-review

Rebel Mechanics had all the things I love about books. There was an imaginative alternate US where the British were still in power. They also have a strict divide among classes, those Magisters who have power and the common people who don't. There was masked swoony bandits and some good old fashioned espionage! It all came together really well in this unique steampunk-esque setting.

Read full review here - http://winterhavenbooks.blogspot.com/... ...more

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Jan 23, 2015 Alicia Batista (Addicted Readers) added it

Shelves: war, romance, magic, young-adult, dystopia, science-fiction, fantasy, r2r, can-t-wait-for-the-sequel, adventure

This was not my normal kinda read, but it turned out to be pretty dam awesome! I'm sooo excited to see where this revolution goes, and if machines will prevail over magic! BRING IT SHANNA SWENDSON, I'M READY!!!

description

Rating & Review To Come... ...more

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Jul 28, 2016 Sarah K rated it it was amazing

This book was everything! Seriously, you need to read it if you haven't!

The writing was fantastic, the action and romance were spot on. I wished I lived in this world of revolutionaries and magic. I will absolutely buy book 2! ...more

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Oct 03, 2014 Lisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015, arc, read-in-2015, macmillan, netgalley

Excellent steampunk adventure with spies, magic and all manner of shiny machines. A bit dense with strategy at times but overall so enjoyable.

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Aug 13, 2021 Daphne rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-star, fantasy, read-in-2021, historical-fiction, reviewed, young-adult

I've been wanting to read this book for ages and I'm glad I finally did. It was so fun! The atmosphere was great and it had a simple but compelling plot. I loved the setting and the characters. Verity was a fun main character to follow and I liked the way her position as a governess was explored.

I read most of it in one go and really enjoyed it, I'm looking forward to the next one. Definitely a recommendation for anyone who is into alternate history or historical fantasy books. ...more

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Feb 19, 2021 Olivia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own

4.5 stars!
Couldn't put the book down. A good page turned. An easy reader. ...more

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Feb 03, 2021 Melissa Marie rated it really liked it

Shelves: trumans-for-2017-2018

4.5 stars! I probably wouldn’t read it again, but I LOVED the plot, loved the undertones of rich vs. poor battling it out about the simple fact that we are all humans, and the possibilities that lay ahead for our heroine! So much amazing focus on her as an individual while still throwing in a hint of romance, and a whole lot of espionage! Not what I expected in the best way! 👏🏼

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Jun 14, 2015 Anne rated it liked it · review of another edition

It is hard for me to believe this, but Rebel Mechanics is my very first Steampunk story! Somehow with my mission to try out different genres, I’ve always managed to miss this one. The closest I’ve come is the New Weird genre with the excellent Unwrapped Sky, which had some Steampunk elements to it, but overall was nothing in comparison to Rebel Mechanics. So this was a very fresh experience!

First off, I connected with Verity [whose name always made me think of Code Name Verity, a very fabulous s It is hard for me to believe this, but Rebel Mechanics is my very first Steampunk story! Somehow with my mission to try out different genres, I’ve always managed to miss this one. The closest I’ve come is the New Weird genre with the excellent Unwrapped Sky, which had some Steampunk elements to it, but overall was nothing in comparison to Rebel Mechanics. So this was a very fresh experience!

First off, I connected with Verity [whose name always made me think of Code Name Verity, a very fabulous story I insist you read] who pretty much stood for what she believed in and was generally very thoughtful about her choices. It was refreshing to read a story about a young woman new to the big city that also didn’t completely lose herself when she arrives.

Soon after getting her position as a governess for a magister and his family, Verity does develop a strange infatuation with a rebel named Alec. This was kind of off to me, as in I didn’t get the appeal and it seemed to come out of nowhere (view spoiler). Verity becomes a spy for the rebels with little convincing, perhaps because of Alec’s proximity or because she felt the cause was just. The exact reasoning was a little thin here, but after the rebels pull a stunt that put the safety of children in danger, Verity does the right thing by questioning those around her. And despite the quickness and depth of her crush on Alec, she still doesn’t take crap from him and does always expect to be treated well. This is why overall, I liked Verity.

There’s a lot going on outside of the rebels too – Verity has three charges, one of whom is scarcely younger than her. I did roll my eyes a bit that an 16-year-old would really be well suited to safeguard a 14-year-old (I think), but the story must go on. Her boss, Lord Henry, is also the children’s young uncle, who took them on after the death of their parents. He is a bumbling, friendly sort, but Verity knows it is all an act, as he also moonlights as a robber who is supporting the Rebel Mechanics’ cause.

There’s one other aspect to the story that I wished would have been delved into a bit deeper. Magisters (the ruling, wealthy class) have magical powers, but the lower classes do not. Governesses are essential because they keep the youth from fraternizing with lower classes, thus keeping the magical lines to the rich. Verity holds a secret, as she has magical power despite being lower class. This could have been a very strong plotline, with her struggling to keep the secret and overcoming whatever prejudices there were against her magic, but it was mostly glossed over. She learns a spell/technique to hide the fact that she has power and it takes her all but a day.

Little details like this kept me from loving the story. Challenges seem to be very easily overcome, and she had no problem keeping huge secrets from everyone around her. Also, the rebels are kind of jerks and pretty ineffective at rebellion. We discover late in the story that this might not be the case after all, but mostly they run around and spread rumors and act as rabble-rousers [I am so pleased to use that word :D].

Despite liking Verity, and Lord Henry, I am not sure I will continue on with the series. I think I also need to give Steampunk another shot before giving a final verdict, because this felt like a lot of random machines thrown into a historical story line. I was expecting… more?
...more

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Oct 01, 2014 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, the-adorbs, surprisingly-awesome-moppet, on-my-shelves, nerd-bait, owned-print-copy, owned-ebook-other

4.5 stars

Before I talk about Rebel Mechanics and while I have you here reading my review, I want to talk about Shanna Swendson’s Enchanted, Inc. series. Back when I was in high school, I found Enchanted, Inc. at the library. I was into so-called chick-lit at the time, and I grabbed it. Of all the novels I found randomly perusing the library shelves, that one was my favorite. I’ve only read the first four books in the series, not having managed to find time to read the self-published books that c 4.5 stars

Before I talk about Rebel Mechanics and while I have you here reading my review, I want to talk about Shanna Swendson’s Enchanted, Inc. series. Back when I was in high school, I found Enchanted, Inc. at the library. I was into so-called chick-lit at the time, and I grabbed it. Of all the novels I found randomly perusing the library shelves, that one was my favorite. I’ve only read the first four books in the series, not having managed to find time to read the self-published books that came several years later. They’re shippy, fun, and clever. I hoped that Rebel Mechanics would be similar to Enchanted, Inc. in that respect, and it so is.

Rebel Mechanics takes place in an alternate history nineteenth century, in which the upper crust have magical powers and the British still rule the colonies. Though deeply unhappy with both the upper classes and the British, the Americans have not been able to revolt because they’ve been so outclassed by magic and military might. Now, with the advent of steam technologies, the Rebel Mechanics are planning to overthrow both the magical system and the foreign rulers. Swendson had this same deft hand with a unique New York City in Enchanted, Inc. and I’m much impressed.

Verity Newton, meanwhile, comes to New York City seeking employment as a governess. Thoroughly-educated by her father, a professor at Yale, Verity’s ready to stand on her own two feet and be independent. Though without big dreams of adventure, Verity immediately gets caught up in a bunch of it. Her train is robbed by bandits, and she gets a ride north to her job interview from the rebel mechanics.

I adore Verity. She’s rather prim and proper at times, but underneath she has nerves of steel. Clever and intuitive, Verity cannot stay out of the rebel movement once she’s been drawn in. Her biggest flaw, I think, is that she’s very trusting, but I suspect that’s a flaw that won’t last forever. This is her first time out in the world, and she handles it admirably. Verity is strong of brain and heart, and I love adventuring with her.

The romance is adorable, and I’m so on board this airship. Now, I’ve seen some people talking about a love triangle, but I think that’s a bit misleading for the realities of things. What I will say is that I totally got what Verity was feeling at any given point, and I understood the choices she made. That’s all I can really ask honestly. People make mistakes all the time, so I don’t mind them in fiction so long as I feel as the character does and know why they would make that choice. That got a bit off on a tangent, but my point is YES SHIP YES.

There’s more than romance, though. So much more. Verity’s relationships with the family for which she governesses are very important. Lord Henry is adorably clueless, and, despite my feelings on moppets, I feel quite attached to Verity’s young charges. I’m excited to watch Flora, Rollo, and young Olive grow up in the coming novels. Lady Elinor is a surprise and a delight, and I do hope they continue their book club. The Rebel Mechanics have fabulous members too: flirty Colin, brash Lizzie, impish Mick, and scene-stealing Nat. You know a book is wonderful when you love all the supporting characters too.

Shanna Swendson’s Rebel Mechanics will no doubt charm fans of Gail Carriger’s novels. I also highly recommend it for those looking for novels on the fluffier side. ...more

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Sep 03, 2015 Roxanne (The Novel Sanctuary) rated it liked it

Rebel Mechanics is about an alternate universe where the 13 Colonies have not rebelled against the British Empire and the Brits control the colonies and its people with the use of magic. Our protagonist is Verity, a young girl who comes to New York to find work and finally be off on her own. In the process she becomes involved in an underground world where many geniuses come together to rebel against the upper class, the British, and the ‘magpies’ (all pretty much the same people).

My feelings ab Rebel Mechanics is about an alternate universe where the 13 Colonies have not rebelled against the British Empire and the Brits control the colonies and its people with the use of magic. Our protagonist is Verity, a young girl who comes to New York to find work and finally be off on her own. In the process she becomes involved in an underground world where many geniuses come together to rebel against the upper class, the British, and the ‘magpies’ (all pretty much the same people).

My feelings about this book are mixed, ultimately I was able to get into the story and grow to enjoy it but I did have some issues with the book that may have prevented me from liking it as much as I thought I would. It bugs me how up and down Verity’s personality is. When we first meet her she seems to be this spunky book-lover who I think many of us can relate to and be automatically drawn to. She’s curious and in the search of becoming her own person in this totally new world. All of that was super awesome and had she consistently been this way I’d have loved her more. Yet, as the story goes on there are a couple of things about the way she was written that put me off. When she starts to fall for a guy (one she literally just met) it is too reminiscent of insta-love. She does cliche things like smelling his handkerchief at night and is so taken by him she can barely talk when she first sees him. I just thought we were at a point in YA where we were past these silly things. I also hated how quickly she flip flopped to another guy as soon as she became a bit unhappy with her initial love interest.

Verity is smart and she thinks things like “she had the potential to be more than just a decorative object.” (pg. 35) when her new boss wants her to educate the girls so that they have more to offer than news about the latest fashions. She is quick to figure things out, she loves to read, she’s brave and incredibly curious. Again, all things I think we love in our protagonists and can relate to, which is great. It’s just annoying to always have lead characters that are logical, sassy, etc. in every situation except when it comes to love interests.

I did enjoy the idea of the world, I love magic and spies but I wish we knew more about the magic. We barely know anything except the fact that those with magic have control and most of the ‘magpies’, as they’re called, don’t really know how to use the magic, they just use devices that make it convenient for them to perform the magic. I wish we were told how it came to be, can you lose your powers, can a ‘pure’ magic family have offspring without magic, can non-magic have magic children, etc. I feel these are all things that would have added to the development of the world. Maybe if there are more books written we will find out more.

The resolution came about at a good pace, I feel. I will probably read future books because I was able to get more into the story after the first half, and I hope they capture me quicker than the first. Admittedly, the fact that I read two absolutely fantastic books before this one may have something to do with why it was hard for me to get into and I am being more critical than usual, hah! ...more

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Mar 12, 2015 Jennifer rated it liked it

While not a bad book, because it was certainly entertaining, Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson was utterly predictable. I knew how it was going to end probably before the author did. So let's talk about what made it tick - and what didn't.

Verity Newton as the main character was boring. Seriously, Swendson couldn't have chosen a more tedious character to narrate this novel, despite being a half-breed that can potentially cause conflict down the road. And while she wasn't unlikeable per se, she lacked that badass quality that every main character should have. She was, for the most part, meek and unsure of herself, almost until the very end.

Lord Henry was delightful and enigmatic, with his bespectacled eyes and his nose shoved in books. But his secret is given up early on in the novel and I would have liked to have seen it drawn out more for the reader. He is much more than an entomologist, and I wanted to know even more about him than we got.

Alec, one of the Mechanics, I never found trustworthy or worth Verity's schoolgirl crush. He came off as conceited and as if he disregarded all of Verity's feelings about their situation and how she might have been used by the rebels.

Likewise, Lizzie struck me as a little two-faced, despite knowing she did have benevolent intentions. She simply justified her actions a little too much for me to like her.

I actually liked Flora and the children, despite Flora's vanity. Shallow waters run deep, and all that. I'm looking forward to seeing where her character goes in the second book, and if she is also involved unbeknownst to the rest of the rebels, Henry and Verity. The kids were genuine and inquisitive.

I sense a love triangle brewing. Although I usually don't feel one way or another regarding them, they still need to be organic. I have a feeling there will be romantic conflict in the second book and I'm not really looking forward to that. I hate when an author creates one where it's obvious that the main character should be with one character and not the other.

The plot was interesting: this is an alternate reality where the American colonists did not successfully overthrow the British control, and Red Coats still patrol NYC while the colony is under the thumb of the monarchy. It begins quickly, with a robbery on Verity's train by masked bandits, which leads her straight into the hands of conflict, but she handles herself well. I'm kind of excited to see where Swendson takes it next.

Overall, not a terrible book, but it could be made better with improved characterization and less obvious plotlines.This book may have been provided in exchange for an honest review, and therefore will be noted on the original post. ...more

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Hobbs Spring & Suspension Inc	1	1	Aug 09, 2018 10:50AM
Flights of Fantasy: May 2016 - YA/MG: Rebel Mechanics by Shanna Swendson	18	21	May 31, 2016 08:39AM
Crazy for Young A...: Rebel Mechanics (Rebel Mechanics #1) by Shanna Swendson → Start Date: December 7th, 2015	21	21	Dec 10, 2015 01:37PM
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About Shanna Swendson

Shanna Swendson

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Once upon a time ...

A little girl learned to amuse herself by making up stories in her head. She turned everyday activities into exciting adventures, and she made up new adventures for characters from her favorite movies, TV shows and books. Then one day she realized that if she wrote down those stories, she'd have a book! But that was crazy, she thought. Real people don't become novelists. That w ...more

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Rebel Mechanics (4 books)

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Quotes from Rebel Mechanics

“To be perfectly honest, I think she became sick of Society during her debut season. Better to lock herself in her room with her books than to spend her life paying calls and going to balls.” — 4 likes

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