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Magnificent Devices #10
Fields of Air
Book 10 in the Magnificent Devices steampunk series!
Her father started a war. She intends to stop it.
Her father may have sacrificed his own life to save hers, but heiress Gloria Meriwether-Astor is finding it difficult to forgive him. After all, how many young ladies of her acquaintance will inherit wealth, beauty, and a legacy of arms dealing? Now the Royal Kingdom of Spain and the Californias is about to declare war on the Texican Territory and Gloria simply will not allow it.
In company with Alice Chalmers and the crew of Swan, along with a lost young Evan Douglas seeking reparation for his own sins, she takes to the air. Her intention—to stop the train carrying the final shipment of monstrous mechanicals into the Wild West. But they should have known that making a deal with air pirate Ned Mose in exchange for his help could never end well.
What is a lady of principle to do? For the lives of thousands may depend on her ability to stop the war … even if it means losing everything and everyone she has come to love …
“It’s another element I love about these books; from Claire to Gloria to Alice to Lizzie and Maggie to Lady Dunsmuir, the women in this series generally like and respect each other. Other women are not required to be lesser—weaker, more cowardly, less intelligent—in order for Claire to be awesome. She is not an exceptional woman, she is an awesome woman among awesome women.” —Fangs for the Fantasy: The latest in urban fantasy from a social justice perspective
Her father started a war. She intends to stop it.
Her father may have sacrificed his own life to save hers, but heiress Gloria Meriwether-Astor is finding it difficult to forgive him. After all, how many young ladies of her acquaintance will inherit wealth, beauty, and a legacy of arms dealing? Now the Royal Kingdom of Spain and the Californias is about to declare war on the Texican Territory and Gloria simply will not allow it.
In company with Alice Chalmers and the crew of Swan, along with a lost young Evan Douglas seeking reparation for his own sins, she takes to the air. Her intention—to stop the train carrying the final shipment of monstrous mechanicals into the Wild West. But they should have known that making a deal with air pirate Ned Mose in exchange for his help could never end well.
What is a lady of principle to do? For the lives of thousands may depend on her ability to stop the war … even if it means losing everything and everyone she has come to love …
“It’s another element I love about these books; from Claire to Gloria to Alice to Lizzie and Maggie to Lady Dunsmuir, the women in this series generally like and respect each other. Other women are not required to be lesser—weaker, more cowardly, less intelligent—in order for Claire to be awesome. She is not an exceptional woman, she is an awesome woman among awesome women.” —Fangs for the Fantasy: The latest in urban fantasy from a social justice perspective
Audible Audio
First published January 28, 2016
65 people are currently reading
329 people want to read
About the author
Shelley Adina
90 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 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 29, 2018
Wasn't bad, but hated the fact that it left everything up in the air - NOTHING was resolved, it was like a longer book had just been chopped up into parts so that they could be sold individually....
June 30, 2019
This is the first book that Lady Claire Trevelyan is pretty much absent for most of the story line. It's up to Alice Charmers to take the reigns and come to the aid of their friend, Gloria Meriwether Astor. Even so, it is still just as adventuress and engaging as the other books in the series and definitely a must read. I would recommend starting from book one though to get the full story line and progression of the characters.
February 17, 2016
Half a book - I have enjoyed this series and was delighted when this arrived. However I can't give it more than 3 stars as it is short, most plot threads unfinished and an abrupt stop. I am quite dissapointed and I feel I was mislead in the description and that the author is taking advantage of loyal readers. After the last very short 'novella' and now this I don't plan to preorder or buy early next time.
December 13, 2019
Once again we go back to the Colonies, this time to see how Gloria is doing. She struggles with being her father's heir and trying to change the direction of the company. She meets resistance of course and that's how she ends up in the Texican Territory with Alice and the crew of Swan on another adventure that includes trying to stop a war with the Californios and the King of Spain.
These are fun addictive stories and this one doesn't disappoint....another cliffhanger ending but at least I have the next one ready to go. Fun.
Listened to the audio this time around, Fiona Hardingham is wonderful.
These are fun addictive stories and this one doesn't disappoint....another cliffhanger ending but at least I have the next one ready to go. Fun.
Listened to the audio this time around, Fiona Hardingham is wonderful.
December 28, 2022
Gloria manages to tussle with the board and finally succeeeds in ousting her cousin - who has sent the shipment of armaments to the Californios behind her back when she didn't follow proper boardroom procedure to oust him legally the first meeting. She makes sure the job is done right next time, not just to oust him, but also to oust his staunchest ally on the board for threatening physical violence. She has them ousted and removed by security, but her 2 loyal members fail to carry the day with the other board members, to help her in turning the company to peaceful trade and manufacturing, and research and development into better ways to build infrastructure, cities, and more. Their opinion is they're not repsonsible for what the customer does with the arms they sell. It's "just business." And a highly profitable one at that, with no waiting on. a laf in income on peaceful pursuits, just more money in their coffers now.
Gloria decides she needs to stop the Kingdom of Spain and the Californias from declaring war on the Texican territory - where not onlyy are there are rumors of gold that Spain wants, but also because Spain is upset that the Texican territories have set up their own government and seceded from the Kingdom.
The warlike viceroy was deeply grieved at Gerald Meriweather-Astor's untimely passing, and then, he died, and his son - who'd wanted to attend university and is barely out of school - has inherited the job of Viceroy. The hawkish Ambassador has made certain he has enough control of the nobility to declare war on his own, should the young Viceroy disagree. And there is a feudal system in place. The peasants work the nobelmen's tens or hundreds of thousands of acres in virtual slavery, kept barely literate and with only basics of math, just enough to ensure they know how much the nobleman gets...and they are the cannon fodder for the nobles' wars. The boys in the noble families are taught wars along with schoolwork, and the women - even, apparently, those of noble birth - aren't usually literate at all. This, Gloria learns when she is taken hostage as a prisoner for the purpose of, so she is told, explain herself to the boy viceroy after an abortive attempted piracy of their train - which has a unique ability - headed by Ned Mose, tempted by Alice. The Viceroy is angry, since she was firing with the pirates against the train and one of their new war machines, and killing the mercenaries with which the train was packed. She has told him she and her companions were attempting to warn them and were forced into service with the pirates, so had no choice. Evan, left for dead after his rescue of Gloria, finds a way to go after her. This is after the desert flowers he met when Alice took him along to do some fact finding, discover he is alive and give him a drink of something that restores him, as they continue scavenging before they plan to ride the rails back east or south out of the Texican territories. Meanwhile, midshipman Benny, all of 13, in an earlier battle, proves himself adept at shooting and is promoted by Alice, his captain. When he discovers Alicw has beennshit and has been taken, and where he sends a message back to her friends. Ian went there posthaste, when, having sought passage on one of the Dunmuir's airships, he was given leave to take the flagship to see to his "wife." She is in danger; the man who put Andrew in a pinnacle "prison" after he ended up in a dustup several books back, was rescued by Alice, making her a wanted woman for the jailbreak and her forced involvement with Ned Mose's piracy. If any of the Rangers realize who she is, she will either be hanged at the end of a "trial" that never ends well for the defendant, or be taken to a pinnacle prison...and she is at the hospital on the Ranger base. Her biggest nemesis no longer a lieutenant but the commander of the post. 8n a lucid moment she had asked for Alaina, rhe Navapai healer to which the same tale refers, and Alaina is now making her concoctions for Alice. Her rapidly returning strength and her fast wound healing allow her to manage an escape via Jake and Ian. They go in search of Evan and Gloria, without success. Meanwhile, Evan's rarely-tried gift for mechanics has seen him in good stead - until he becomes a prisoner of the ambitious Viceroy for his talents. Meanwhile, Gloria, who has been looking for a way of escape, sees her chance and bolts - but into what? Caverns, flash floods, and witches, whom she hopes are friendly towards her as they have very much frightened the Californios. Will she make it to safety, and if so, just how is "safety" defined if she finds it?
And for all of them, will anyone believe them when they tell their facts to others affected - whether or not they can tell they're under threat - or will all their efforts fail and
leave the surviving Californios the victors over the Texican territories - and since they claim to have once had hegemony over all the Americas, who will be next? New Orleans? The Fifteen Colonies? More of South Anerica? The Canadas where the Dunsmuir mines lie? All of these?
Gloria decides she needs to stop the Kingdom of Spain and the Californias from declaring war on the Texican territory - where not onlyy are there are rumors of gold that Spain wants, but also because Spain is upset that the Texican territories have set up their own government and seceded from the Kingdom.
The warlike viceroy was deeply grieved at Gerald Meriweather-Astor's untimely passing, and then, he died, and his son - who'd wanted to attend university and is barely out of school - has inherited the job of Viceroy. The hawkish Ambassador has made certain he has enough control of the nobility to declare war on his own, should the young Viceroy disagree. And there is a feudal system in place. The peasants work the nobelmen's tens or hundreds of thousands of acres in virtual slavery, kept barely literate and with only basics of math, just enough to ensure they know how much the nobleman gets...and they are the cannon fodder for the nobles' wars. The boys in the noble families are taught wars along with schoolwork, and the women - even, apparently, those of noble birth - aren't usually literate at all. This, Gloria learns when she is taken hostage as a prisoner for the purpose of, so she is told, explain herself to the boy viceroy after an abortive attempted piracy of their train - which has a unique ability - headed by Ned Mose, tempted by Alice. The Viceroy is angry, since she was firing with the pirates against the train and one of their new war machines, and killing the mercenaries with which the train was packed. She has told him she and her companions were attempting to warn them and were forced into service with the pirates, so had no choice. Evan, left for dead after his rescue of Gloria, finds a way to go after her. This is after the desert flowers he met when Alice took him along to do some fact finding, discover he is alive and give him a drink of something that restores him, as they continue scavenging before they plan to ride the rails back east or south out of the Texican territories. Meanwhile, midshipman Benny, all of 13, in an earlier battle, proves himself adept at shooting and is promoted by Alice, his captain. When he discovers Alicw has beennshit and has been taken, and where he sends a message back to her friends. Ian went there posthaste, when, having sought passage on one of the Dunmuir's airships, he was given leave to take the flagship to see to his "wife." She is in danger; the man who put Andrew in a pinnacle "prison" after he ended up in a dustup several books back, was rescued by Alice, making her a wanted woman for the jailbreak and her forced involvement with Ned Mose's piracy. If any of the Rangers realize who she is, she will either be hanged at the end of a "trial" that never ends well for the defendant, or be taken to a pinnacle prison...and she is at the hospital on the Ranger base. Her biggest nemesis no longer a lieutenant but the commander of the post. 8n a lucid moment she had asked for Alaina, rhe Navapai healer to which the same tale refers, and Alaina is now making her concoctions for Alice. Her rapidly returning strength and her fast wound healing allow her to manage an escape via Jake and Ian. They go in search of Evan and Gloria, without success. Meanwhile, Evan's rarely-tried gift for mechanics has seen him in good stead - until he becomes a prisoner of the ambitious Viceroy for his talents. Meanwhile, Gloria, who has been looking for a way of escape, sees her chance and bolts - but into what? Caverns, flash floods, and witches, whom she hopes are friendly towards her as they have very much frightened the Californios. Will she make it to safety, and if so, just how is "safety" defined if she finds it?
And for all of them, will anyone believe them when they tell their facts to others affected - whether or not they can tell they're under threat - or will all their efforts fail and
leave the surviving Californios the victors over the Texican territories - and since they claim to have once had hegemony over all the Americas, who will be next? New Orleans? The Fifteen Colonies? More of South Anerica? The Canadas where the Dunsmuir mines lie? All of these?
August 14, 2017
Claire and Andrew are settled now, but Alice and Gloria are still in the thick of things. Alice goes to the Fifteen Colonies to warn Gloria of her cousin’s treachery over her father’s arms-dealing company. Gloria is able to overcome the attempt to oust her from the board of her own company, but she finds that her wish to cancel the shipment of arms to the Kingdom of Spain and the Californias has been thwarted because it is an issue of a contract.
She and Alice take the airship Swan to Resolution in the Texican Territories in an attempt to enlist Ned Mose’s help in waylaying the train bearing the arms shipment. Evan Douglas, Jake McTavish, and Bennie Stringfellow go with them as crew. Ned agrees to help, but he appears to have his eye on more than Alice is willing to give him, and holds Evan Douglas hostage to assure Alice’s cooperation. The train is successfully diverted, but as soon as they reach Resolution and realize they are not where they are supposed to be, things start to go wrong. They try to back up, and Ned’s people have to blow up the tracks to stop them. Then the Californios launch a counter attack.
They all become separated. Ned Mose shoots Alice, and Jake shoots him in return. Gloria and Evan are trying to fire a Gatling gun at the Californios when they are attacked by a walking weapon the Californios call a behemoth, and both of them are injured. The Californio ambassador recognizes Gloria and takes her back to the train, which puts down regular wheels and drives away back to the rail line. Evan is left all alone to try to find what happened to Gloria.
The action never stops until the end, and it seems a safe bet with this one that there will need to be another adventure – or two – to get everything straight again.
She and Alice take the airship Swan to Resolution in the Texican Territories in an attempt to enlist Ned Mose’s help in waylaying the train bearing the arms shipment. Evan Douglas, Jake McTavish, and Bennie Stringfellow go with them as crew. Ned agrees to help, but he appears to have his eye on more than Alice is willing to give him, and holds Evan Douglas hostage to assure Alice’s cooperation. The train is successfully diverted, but as soon as they reach Resolution and realize they are not where they are supposed to be, things start to go wrong. They try to back up, and Ned’s people have to blow up the tracks to stop them. Then the Californios launch a counter attack.
They all become separated. Ned Mose shoots Alice, and Jake shoots him in return. Gloria and Evan are trying to fire a Gatling gun at the Californios when they are attacked by a walking weapon the Californios call a behemoth, and both of them are injured. The Californio ambassador recognizes Gloria and takes her back to the train, which puts down regular wheels and drives away back to the rail line. Evan is left all alone to try to find what happened to Gloria.
The action never stops until the end, and it seems a safe bet with this one that there will need to be another adventure – or two – to get everything straight again.
January 7, 2018
This book had so much action and confusion it it that it reminds me of the first couple book in the series! Back-stabbing family ✓. Characters that have to make it right ✓. Characters that have to leave the ones they love ✓. Gun play ✓. Characters you don't like die and ones you do like, live ✓. Characters get separated from each other and chaos ensues ✓. The potential for war still looms on the horizon ✓.
This was the first one of the Magnificent Devices books that was not fully wrapped up in the the same book. Spoilers*****
Evan is still separated from Alice, Gloria and the others and thought to be dead. Gloria is still separated from everyone else and thought to be dead. Alice, Ian & the Swan crew need to look for both Evan & Gloria and will have to do that in "enemy" territory and all the while the Califorios (sp?) Ambassador is trying to steal his country from the Prince and make war on the Texican Territories. The next book ought to be a doozy.
This was the first one of the Magnificent Devices books that was not fully wrapped up in the the same book. Spoilers*****
Evan is still separated from Alice, Gloria and the others and thought to be dead. Gloria is still separated from everyone else and thought to be dead. Alice, Ian & the Swan crew need to look for both Evan & Gloria and will have to do that in "enemy" territory and all the while the Califorios (sp?) Ambassador is trying to steal his country from the Prince and make war on the Texican Territories. The next book ought to be a doozy.
October 20, 2018
Finally.
After many times recommending this book for my library to buy, I finally get to read. And it did the thing again where I thought this series was fading, I wasn't completely interested anymore, and the boom, I'm engrossed in what happens, I'm remember why I loved The Lady of Devices. I wish it was longer, or included more because how are they going to stop those powerful machines?? And I wonder what's next after that plot ends...(Mopsies pleazzz)Looking at the reviews for the next book made me a little sad because of the direction the romance takes, but, I really like both characters, even if they don't end up together.
The ONLY THING. What happened to the town of Resolution, and the 'witches'. With the witches, while shrouded with mystery and superstition, the ending brought them out like ordinary people, a tribe, who dress that way to freak out the Californios. But they still believe them to have some sort of power...
After many times recommending this book for my library to buy, I finally get to read. And it did the thing again where I thought this series was fading, I wasn't completely interested anymore, and the boom, I'm engrossed in what happens, I'm remember why I loved The Lady of Devices. I wish it was longer, or included more because how are they going to stop those powerful machines?? And I wonder what's next after that plot ends...(Mopsies pleazzz)Looking at the reviews for the next book made me a little sad because of the direction the romance takes, but, I really like both characters, even if they don't end up together.
The ONLY THING. What happened to the town of Resolution, and the 'witches'. With the witches, while shrouded with mystery and superstition, the ending brought them out like ordinary people, a tribe, who dress that way to freak out the Californios. But they still believe them to have some sort of power...
August 3, 2024
Technology is Dangerous in the Wrong Hands
4.5 Stars
Suitable for steam punk fans from middle school to adulthood
Previous books in the series should be read in order to understand characters and the steam punk world created for these books.
No sex
No harsh language - clever euphemisms sometimes employed
Danger, adventure, loyalty, and treachery
Deep friendships
Most characters are probably in their early 20s.
3 chickens (unimportant to the story)
The setting is a mythical/steampunk version of the United States
Plot no spoilers:
A group of courageous friends discover a west coast colony's plot to wage war against other peaceful midwest colonies. The most important part of the plan is to use nearly indestructible mechanical devices of war such as robot horses -- and more. To stop their plan a train carrying the robots must be diverted.
Entertaining reading
Excellent descriptions enhance the action.
1/2 star subtracted for cliffhanger ending.
4.5 Stars
Suitable for steam punk fans from middle school to adulthood
Previous books in the series should be read in order to understand characters and the steam punk world created for these books.
No sex
No harsh language - clever euphemisms sometimes employed
Danger, adventure, loyalty, and treachery
Deep friendships
Most characters are probably in their early 20s.
3 chickens (unimportant to the story)
The setting is a mythical/steampunk version of the United States
Plot no spoilers:
A group of courageous friends discover a west coast colony's plot to wage war against other peaceful midwest colonies. The most important part of the plan is to use nearly indestructible mechanical devices of war such as robot horses -- and more. To stop their plan a train carrying the robots must be diverted.
Entertaining reading
Excellent descriptions enhance the action.
1/2 star subtracted for cliffhanger ending.
March 17, 2019
Shelley Adina has done it again. Fields of Air is a great addition to the Magnificent Devices series, and after feeling less than charitable towards Gloria at her introduction to the series, I've gotten completely caught up in her story. Word of warning, this book doesn't let her off easy, and since all of the characters in this series are completely engaging, you would be best off to start from scratch at book 1 and continue on. I won book 4, I believe, from Goodreads and had to instantly start the series from the beginning.
From Lady Claire and her gang of street smart children (The Lady of Devices, book 1) to the current book, I have been totally immersed and enthralled by the steampunk genre of Shelley's series, and would totally recommend it to anyone who loves alternative universes and wonderful heroes and heroines and totally despicable foes.
From Lady Claire and her gang of street smart children (The Lady of Devices, book 1) to the current book, I have been totally immersed and enthralled by the steampunk genre of Shelley's series, and would totally recommend it to anyone who loves alternative universes and wonderful heroes and heroines and totally despicable foes.
January 8, 2018
This book is really the start of Gloria's and Evan's adventures, and it's good to see them grow and get their own character development. With more twists and turns than an English country lane, this book is a thrilling read, and I cannot wait to find out what happens next for them all. Oh, and Ian and Alice? All I'll say is - "Finally!!"
I also loved listening to the audiobook of the story (which was combined with the Devices Shining Brightly book), and with Fiona Hardingham narrating again it was, of course, full of character and really brought the story to life. I'd definitely recommend it to all Magnificent Devices fans. I just can't wait for the next instalment to be released!
I also loved listening to the audiobook of the story (which was combined with the Devices Shining Brightly book), and with Fiona Hardingham narrating again it was, of course, full of character and really brought the story to life. I'd definitely recommend it to all Magnificent Devices fans. I just can't wait for the next instalment to be released!
February 28, 2020
A lone lady must escape her captors
Gloria is on her own. She has become the president of her late father's company and is betrayed by her power hungry cousin. To stop a war she heads into the territories. But ends up being captured by the enemy. Can she escape and stop the war?
Gloria is on her own. She has become the president of her late father's company and is betrayed by her power hungry cousin. To stop a war she heads into the territories. But ends up being captured by the enemy. Can she escape and stop the war?
August 25, 2017
Slower than the other Magnificent Devices books, this is a must read if you want to follow the continuing sorry of Alice, Ian and Gloria, but it's not as good as the others.
June 22, 2019
Love these books. Imaginative settings, creative inventions, string female characters.
October 4, 2019
Texican adventure
I liked following Alice and Gloria but it's a shame the author has stopped giving her books an end. The mixed timelines don't work so well either.
I liked following Alice and Gloria but it's a shame the author has stopped giving her books an end. The mixed timelines don't work so well either.
February 9, 2020
Did not disappoint and I am glad that Gloria and Alice had finally been up on the stage and lead in this one. 😊
August 12, 2022
3.5 stars
Took a long time to get going. My least favourite of the series.
Took a long time to get going. My least favourite of the series.
November 25, 2022
Pretty good, but ended abruptly. Clean.
July 23, 2023
47%
This book came off droll and boring. When the whole plot here was girl power... I think we could have done better.
Completely unremarkable book.
This book came off droll and boring. When the whole plot here was girl power... I think we could have done better.
Completely unremarkable book.
December 24, 2023
I3 I think this must be a good series but the volumes are not standalone so I will mark this as a DNF until I Find the first book in the series
March 2, 2016
Gloria Meredith-Astor has inherited an extremely wealth and successful munitions company, one that is set to make a vast profit off a potential future war
And she doesn’t want it – not the munitions and certainly not the war. She is determined to turn her guns into ploughshares and she adamantly will not allow a war to be fought because of the weapons her company created, no matter what erstwhile family members wish.
If she has to hare off across the continent and ambush a train to stop it – then so be it.
This is one of those series that always makes me smile when there’s another book out – and this book is no exception
The series has a semi-shifting protagonist and this time it’s Gloria Merriweather-Astor. Now, I can’t say she’s one of my favourite protagonists, but I’ve always liked the idea of her, as I’ve said before. I like the idea of her because it would have been so easy, so very very very easy, in any other series to make her the villain. I probably wouldn’t have even criticised it if she were because there are so many other excellent and awesome female characters in this series, that having a single vapid/immoral/damn fool cardboard cutout villain would not have ruffled the waters
But that is not this series, that is not what this series does. So, I loved Gloria for that – for turning out to be brave and dedicated and awesome and full of morality and integrity even in the face of extreme pressure when she could just as easily have been a villain. But I am also interested in her because she is very different from the others. To a degree all the other protagonists have been misfits. They’ve not fit in the world they’ve been in – whether it’s Claire’s ambition and sudden poverty or the Mopsies rising from poverty to high society or Alice living among the raiders – they’ve all followed a different path because they haven’t had much choice in the matter. But Gloria has everything going for her – she’s the heiress to a rich, doting father who fully intends her to take over his company (despite him being evil and despite her being female). She has wealth, power, prestige, influence and she is also quite capable of realising any ambition she may have without every doing anything other than what is expected of her. She’s not like any of the other protagonist who must fight for what they want, their career, the life they choose, the family they value – Gloria doesn’t have any hard choices she HAS to make
But she makes them anyway. She makes hard choices because they’re right, because of principle, because of morality perhaps even out of a need to change her family and her business’s legacy: but Gloria’s is ultimately the most unselfish path and that is unexpected.
Read More
And she doesn’t want it – not the munitions and certainly not the war. She is determined to turn her guns into ploughshares and she adamantly will not allow a war to be fought because of the weapons her company created, no matter what erstwhile family members wish.
If she has to hare off across the continent and ambush a train to stop it – then so be it.
This is one of those series that always makes me smile when there’s another book out – and this book is no exception
The series has a semi-shifting protagonist and this time it’s Gloria Merriweather-Astor. Now, I can’t say she’s one of my favourite protagonists, but I’ve always liked the idea of her, as I’ve said before. I like the idea of her because it would have been so easy, so very very very easy, in any other series to make her the villain. I probably wouldn’t have even criticised it if she were because there are so many other excellent and awesome female characters in this series, that having a single vapid/immoral/damn fool cardboard cutout villain would not have ruffled the waters
But that is not this series, that is not what this series does. So, I loved Gloria for that – for turning out to be brave and dedicated and awesome and full of morality and integrity even in the face of extreme pressure when she could just as easily have been a villain. But I am also interested in her because she is very different from the others. To a degree all the other protagonists have been misfits. They’ve not fit in the world they’ve been in – whether it’s Claire’s ambition and sudden poverty or the Mopsies rising from poverty to high society or Alice living among the raiders – they’ve all followed a different path because they haven’t had much choice in the matter. But Gloria has everything going for her – she’s the heiress to a rich, doting father who fully intends her to take over his company (despite him being evil and despite her being female). She has wealth, power, prestige, influence and she is also quite capable of realising any ambition she may have without every doing anything other than what is expected of her. She’s not like any of the other protagonist who must fight for what they want, their career, the life they choose, the family they value – Gloria doesn’t have any hard choices she HAS to make
But she makes them anyway. She makes hard choices because they’re right, because of principle, because of morality perhaps even out of a need to change her family and her business’s legacy: but Gloria’s is ultimately the most unselfish path and that is unexpected.
Read More
February 20, 2019
I continue to love this series. I am hoping inspiration just keeps on churning. I am incredibly attached to the characters at this point. They have morphed before my very eyes. I have loved, laughed, and lost with them. And at an incredibly alarming rate! There is a new book every year—actually just a little less than a year. And they are all wonderful. They never seem to suffer from being so close together.
Sure, I have some that are ranked higher than others, but they have never suffered a bad review from me. I buy, and then subsequently read, each one when they are released. I should probably pace my reading to extend my time with these characters, but I just cannot put the novels down once they are in my hand.
Gloria is proving to be a wonderfully endearing character. She is the American version of Lady Claire. We are following along as she grows and finds her voice as the sudden owner of a major corporation. Very American of her. Her transformation from the beginning of the series has certainly been the most pronounced. She went from being a background character of Claire’s escapades to the leading lady of her own trilogy.
We continue to get adventure, subterfuge and romance in healthy balance. Plenty of things explode and plenty of people have awkward interactions with each other. We also seem to get a fair share of floods. These women really need a weather alert chicken to keep them drier. But then again, we wouldn’t get to meet such fascinating people. Hill people? Really? Love it! I’m really looking forward to where Gloria is going to go from here.
Sure, I have some that are ranked higher than others, but they have never suffered a bad review from me. I buy, and then subsequently read, each one when they are released. I should probably pace my reading to extend my time with these characters, but I just cannot put the novels down once they are in my hand.
Gloria is proving to be a wonderfully endearing character. She is the American version of Lady Claire. We are following along as she grows and finds her voice as the sudden owner of a major corporation. Very American of her. Her transformation from the beginning of the series has certainly been the most pronounced. She went from being a background character of Claire’s escapades to the leading lady of her own trilogy.
We continue to get adventure, subterfuge and romance in healthy balance. Plenty of things explode and plenty of people have awkward interactions with each other. We also seem to get a fair share of floods. These women really need a weather alert chicken to keep them drier. But then again, we wouldn’t get to meet such fascinating people. Hill people? Really? Love it! I’m really looking forward to where Gloria is going to go from here.
June 8, 2023
The Texicans don't know what is about to happen
Alice and Gloria are out to prevent a war. As usual, the best laid plans and schemes on both sides of the conflict are thrown into chaos.
Unlike books 1-8 of this series, the prior novella and this story are both new reads for me. I remain just as captivated by the characters and plots as I have all along, and I am finding it hard to put down my Kindle to take care of house chores. I would much rather be taking to the skies with Gloria in the next book.
Alice and Gloria are out to prevent a war. As usual, the best laid plans and schemes on both sides of the conflict are thrown into chaos.
Unlike books 1-8 of this series, the prior novella and this story are both new reads for me. I remain just as captivated by the characters and plots as I have all along, and I am finding it hard to put down my Kindle to take care of house chores. I would much rather be taking to the skies with Gloria in the next book.
September 11, 2016
The most heart-stopping, cliff-hanging, rip-roaring book in the Magnificent Device series to date! I can't tell you how many times I thought to myself, "I'll just read to the end of this chapter" only to have the diabolical Shelley Adina leave the story dangling in such a way that I was forced to forgoe sleep, delay dinner, skip television... read at your own personal schedule risk! (Oh, but DO read it!)
March 21, 2016
Excellent story, as always from Ms. Adina. I absolutely love this series, and am always eager to read the newest installment. This book focuses on Gloria Merriwether Astor and her adventure to the Texican Territories. It is fast-paced, action-packed, and, as often happens every few books or so in this series, it ends with a cliffhanger! Bring on the rest!
March 16, 2016
Wonderful
A great switch to following different leads. Still strong females in charge! Alice has always held my interest and it has been wonderful to learn more about her character.
A great switch to following different leads. Still strong females in charge! Alice has always held my interest and it has been wonderful to learn more about her character.
February 21, 2016
Another Winner
The latest in the Magnificent Devices series is enjoyable, exciting and fun. Gloria and Alice try to stop a war by greedy Californios. I can't wait for the next book.
The latest in the Magnificent Devices series is enjoyable, exciting and fun. Gloria and Alice try to stop a war by greedy Californios. I can't wait for the next book.
March 9, 2016
Fun read!
Gloria Meriwether-Astor is a great character with unique abilities and a growing sense of self. I enjoyed her perspective in this novel, and I'm looking forward to the next!
Gloria Meriwether-Astor is a great character with unique abilities and a growing sense of self. I enjoyed her perspective in this novel, and I'm looking forward to the next!
March 26, 2016
This was so fun. I enjoyed getting some of the story from Evan's point of view. I'm excited to see who Gloria will end up wth. I'm enjoying her growth and development; her independence. I want more story, but the ending was cute.
April 25, 2016
I should be used to this by now but, "Oh, the cliffhanger"!! Thoroughly enjoyable adventure regardless of the lack of satisfying conclusion. I loved seeing Gloria hold her own on her own adventure and I'm looking forward to the next installment.
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