Her Own Devices

A Steampunk Adventure Novel

By: Shelley Adina

Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham

Escaped lunatics, lost children, vengeful lords, and love. Really, the situation is becoming quite impossible. Seventeen-year-old Lady Claire Trevelyan, left alone after the Arabian bubble financial disaster claims home and family, now leads the cleverest gang in the London underworld. Between outwitting a rival gang, inventing a device that will net her and her scientist employer worldwide fame, and keeping her mother from marrying her off, she can almost forget that a powerful lord wants to get closer… and if he succeeds, can destroy it all with a single word…

©2011 Shelley Adina Bates (P)2013 Shelley Adina Bates

Great Story, Halting Narration

Any additional comments?

The narrator has an odd speaking cadence and frequently pauses awkwardly, cutting sentences in half. It felt a bit like a bad William Shatner impression.

Amazing writing and telling!

I have never felt so strongly about a book/series to make a comment. This is my first and I am an avid Audible reader/listener. Good fun, strong characters along with a vivid storyline make this series a winner! Own the whole series - you can't go wrong.

Great Family Listen and great fun!

Where does Her Own Devices rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the upper tier

Who was your favorite character and why?

They're all great

What about Fiona Hardingham’s performance did you like?

Perfect distinction between characters

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes but no spoilers here

Any additional comments?

It's extremely difficult to find great books that are both exciting and clean for older children or teens when books are not rated as movies are. These stories offer an engaging story line as well as triumphs of good over evil. Well done Adina!

Fast paced continuing story

I love the Lady and her charges. Very enjoyable steampunk adventure. Be prepared to get the next book as these stories continue from Book 1 to Book 4. New character perspective in book 5 I believe. I finally caught the narration on sale. Clean story with excellent narration.

Steampunk excellence!

Would you consider the audio edition of Her Own Devices to be better than the print version?

It definitely brings it to life. Fiona Hardingham is one of new favorite narrators. She gives voices to all the characters and makes them each unique. Fun listen

What was one of the most memorable moments of Her Own Devices?

Too many to list

Which character – as performed by Fiona Hardingham – was your favorite?

Any of the Whitecastle kids.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was extremely hard to put down.

Any additional comments?

Excellent read for young adventure readers and us oldies too.

Fun steampunk story. great voice work.

A good set up for the series. don't expect much to get resolved in the first book.

Returning to the Adventure!

Like Mary Poppins of the South Gangs of London. I've missed these books. It's like watching the Mummy movie for our Generation

should be 5 but...

Any additional comments?

it was great. I thought it was going to be the steampunk version of Mean Girls but it was delightful. My only complaint is the brevity of the book. The author could have easily drawn out the book and I find it baffling that none of the other street gangs didn't bother her. but still a good solid read/listen.

Like Survivors Guilt... Explitives! #$%@#$%!

If you could sum up Her Own Devices in three words, what would they be?

Frustrating and Impressive

What did you like best about this story?

Human Will for Continuous Improvement

Have you listened to any of Fiona Hardingham’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. This is broader.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Steampunk and Reality betwixt and between...

Any additional comments?

It bears repeating... Sufferage and its many meanings...

It's like survivors guilt in one breath. I feel, as often I do, that I must suffer the incorporation of others misfortunes, because I have not personnaly experienced them. I feel that I must pay for whiteness, for anglo-ness, and for the every ounce of me that has strived and succeeded for everything that I have acquired as a woman, when so many, past and present do not have even the slightest bit of my opportunity, because I am a white, anglo, 21st century female. It all sucks. I hate what people suffer today and certainly what people have suffered, in my stead, previously so that I might break the cycle and break the ceiling.

If I provide no bit of anything, I would like to say that I, as do many, take a female's rights and role in society for granted at times. I'm not a staunch feminist, because I believe that the only way to kill the infestation of stupidity is to constantly widdle away at its incessant nature. Through cultural changes and sufferage (look that up if you don't get it...), I will succeed in denting, if not cracking, if not breaking the ceiling above me. Hah! I am indeed a wit!

We go along and make plans and have dreams and nearly succeed as well as any male. Not so long ago, certainly, even in the last 50 years, we would not have had that opportunity. In a time not so far away, our parents would have had much more hold over our dreams and ambitions, overwritten, even then, by our "husbands" perception of our role(s) in society. Being a woman of science, of STEM, of programming and any type of accomplishment for which I endeavor, regardless of the glass ceiling that still exists, I can say firmly that this was a frustrating listen.

At least Lady Claire has or determines the methods of determining her own future. At least, though I wouldn't have a man help me in my plights... at least Andrew is sensible enough to understand and appreciate Lady Claire in her entirety. Otherwise, I might have thrown my particular device through a window in complete and absolute frustration with Lady St. Ives and James. "Propriety" makes asses out of all of us.

This is a sensational steampunk romp

A great followup to the aces start, Fiona has a nice grasp of the characters and makes it easy to follow who's who during the conversations.
The villains are pleasantly disposable while also being believable.
Very worth your if you like steampunk or heroines, and if you like both you're in for a treat.