Wit and Sin
My name is Kimberly and I'm the reader/reviewer behind Wit and Sin. Wit and Sin is a website that provides honest reviews and publicity. I primarily read and review Romance titles, but I also review Urban Fantasy, New Adult, Young Adult, Mystery, and Non-Fiction titles. In addition to Wit and Sin, I am a reviewer for Joyfully Reviewed (pen name: Shayna) and Romance Junkies (pen name: Lily).
Review: Scarlet Devices by Delphine Dryden
http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2014/06/review-scarlet-devices-by-delphine.html
It’s a race across the American Dominions in Delphine Dryden’s imaginativeScarlet Devices. This second outing for the Steam and Seduction series features an exciting land and air race with technological wonders that will spark your imagination. As with the first Steam and Seduction story,Gossamer Wing, I greatly enjoyed Ms. Dryden’s alternate history America and her characters’ unique steampunk creations.
At the center of Scarlet Devices are Eliza Hardison and Matthew Pence. Eliza is a Vassar grad with dreams of changing the world. But for all her theories and good intentions, Eliza knows little of the real world. With the encouragement of her cousin and his wife, she breaks out of her comfort zone to participate in the Sky and Steam Rally. I liked Eliza’s intelligence and pluck, and it was interesting to watch her grow as a character over the course of the story. As for Matthew, he’s an inventor with a quick mind and a protective bent. He’s known Eliza all her life and at the request of his friend and former employer (Eliza’s cousin), he plans to watch over Eliza during the rally. I liked Matthew, but he definitely underestimated Eliza and it was nice to see him realize her potential. Eliza and Matthew have a natural chemistry that comes from being lifelong friends, but their romance was the weak point for me in Scarlet Devices. Their romance starts out understated to the extreme and then jarringly goes into high gear – I wish it had been a bit more organic, as it almost felt like an afterthought to the excitement going on around Eliza and Matthew.
A dastardly drug lord villain adds danger to Scarlet Devices, keeping the story moving at a quick clip. Add in some interesting secondary characters and appearances by past and future Steam and Seduction protagonists, and you have a solidly entertaining read. All in all I enjoyed Scarlet Devicesand I’m looking forward to reading the next Steam and Seduction novel,Gilded Lily.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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