by Angela Bell
publisher’s synopsis
London, England, 1860
When Clara’s ex-fiancé begins to spread rumors that her family suffers from hereditary insanity, it’s all she can do to protect them from his desperate schemes, society’s prejudice, and a lifetime in an asylum. Then Clara’s Grandfather Drosselmeyer brings on an apprentice with a mechanical leg, and all pretense of normalcy takes wing.
Theodore Kingsley, a shame-chased vagabond haunted by the war, wants a fresh start far from Kingsley Court and the disappointed father who declared him dead. Upon returning to England, Theodore meets clockmaker Drosselmeyer, who hires him as an apprentice, much to Clara’s dismay. When Drosselmeyer spontaneously disappears in his secret flying owl machine, he leaves behind a note for Clara, beseeching her to make her dreams of adventure a reality by joining him on a merry scavenger hunt across Europe. Together, Clara and Theodore set off to follow Drosselmeyer’s trail of clues, but they will have to stay one step ahead of a villain who wants the flying machine for himself–at any cost.
Clara and Theodore were fun characters, and the romance between them was cute. Their verbal sparring was fun. Mrs. Stanton was a fun twist on the mentor trope with the uniqueness of her character. Also, Fred was pretty fantastic.
I was impressed by how Bell wove the Biblical elements into the novel without it coming across as preachy. While the faith content was definitely present in the novel, I think it worked well because of Clara’s character arc and how relatable it was.
The automation elements added a touch of almost steampunk to the book, which was fun. I would have appreciated a note at the end about what automatons were like during that time period, though that’s mostly because of my own curiosity.
Be warned, this book will leave you wishing you would go travel across Europe. I loved all of the little elements of each city Clara and Co. visited, especially the food. It added a level of depth to the settings.
A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure is a fun, light-hearted book, while also having rich and meaningful themes.
I didn’t keep exact track of cautions while reading the book, and it’s been a while since I finished it. However, I don’t remember any cautions beyond light/moderate romance and some brief, light violence. Of course, I may have forgotten something.
(I received an eARC from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)
Hailey Huntington 
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