A Lady’s Handbook to Gadgets and Guile | Light Academia Steampunk
This was the first steampunk novel I’ve ever read, and after I got over the initial ‘what the heck is this?’ reaction, I absolutely loved the depth of storytelling and character creation by Angela Bell. It was also the first book I’ve read in a while where I was actually excited for the romance, and I would totally support this being turned into a movie or animated cartoon series. Ten out of ten–this book was amazing!
Main Themes
In true steampunk fashion, Margaret is an inventor of fantastical gizmos and gadgets in Victorian England. Unmarried and a certifiable spinster of 30-years-old, Margaret deals with terrible chronic pain in her back and side from a freak accident when she was a child. She finds the most pleasure in using her inventions to benefit the Daughters of Genius Society, a collection of secret female investigators who solve crimes and rescue people in distress throughout London.
When Margaret is appointed as the lead investigator for a case concerning purloined patents, she fears her physical limitations will make a mess of the case, disappointing all of her friends and colleagues. After all, she’s never left the workshop and has no idea if her body will be able to bear the strain of fieldwork. Main themes include living with the limitations of chronic pain, accepting help from others without feeling like a burden, and the wonderful freedom that comes from being honest with friends.
Faith Elements
A Lady’s Handbook to Gadgets and Guile has a really thoughtful and inspirational approach to finding strength and comfort in the Lord when living through challenging circumstances. Margaret holds firm to her faith when life hurts and experiences the peace that comes from praising God during the difficult moments.
Family Friendly Considerations
This is a very clean novel. The action sequences are PG and the romance is super light, with only a few brief kisses. The humor is witty, respectful, and genuinely funny. There are characters who deal with chronic pain and anxiety, but none of the scenes are dark or morbid. This is an excellent option for pre-teens, teens, and adults!
Interested in Similar Reads?
If you enjoy female investigators and strong friendships, you might enjoy these novels as well.
- The Liar’s Treasure by Connie Mann
- Last to Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn
- The Manhattan Confessions by Jocelyn Green
