Title: Rebel Mechanics
Author: Shanna Swedson
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Publication Date: July 2015
Genre: Young Adult Fiction/Steampunk, Fantasy
Series or Stand Alone: Series, Book One
Synopsis can be found here.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Review:
Verity finds herself a spy in a wealthy household when she takes the job of Governess to the three nieces and nephews of Lord Henry. But a revolution is brewing and she doesn’t realize how potentially close to danger she really is.
I don’t read a lot of steampunk adventure so I wasn’t sure if I would like this or not. Fortunately, I realized that the magic and machines kept the story interesting, giving it a surreal quality. America is not America as the British upper crust can use magic. The colonies never gained independence and so Britain is still the absentee parent. I really loved this idea. I like how it shaped the story, bringing about an overall sense of unrest. I liked how magic versus industry were pitted against each other and how the rebel group was trying to outwit the magicians with machines and steam power. It gave the book a certain charm!
Verity is an unlikely hero and that should have been enough to endear her to me, but overall she annoyed me. I think she’s supposed to be very smart but she’s always second guessing herself, and third guessing herself, and fourth. She is so wishy washy in her feelings for Henry and then Alec, and how she reacts when she discovers their secrets. She’s not a very strong personality and mostly I think I was bothered that she kept going back and forth on her convictions even though the TRUTH was staring at her right in the face!
The other characters were less annoying, specifically Olive and Henry. I liked Olive’s innocence and sweetness which was a nice lightness in a book of revolt and spies. I really liked Henry and how he lost his defenses and showed Verity who he really was.
Overall, I think Rebel Mechanics is quite good. The story is interesting and I had no problems reading it. The plot does move a bit slow at times, so don’t expect a quick thrilling ride. But it is a thoughtful and fun book and I’m excited to read a sequel to find out what happened to everyone.
Rating 6 Good
Kimberly majored in Songwriting and currently works full time in the music industry. When she's not listening to music, knitting or writing, you can find her outside reading her favorite genres: Young Adult, Adult Fiction, Mystery, and Romance.