Steampunk Review: Her Ladyship's Curse and His Lordship Possessed by Lynn Viehl

Her Ladyship's Curse by Lynn Viehl (Disechanted & Co. Part #1)

Egalley thanks to Pocket Star

Synopsis from Goodreads
In a steampunk version of America that lost the Revolutionary War, Charmian (Kit) Kittredge makes her living investigating magic crimes and exposing the frauds behind them. While Kit tries to avoid the nobs of high society, as the proprietor of Disenchanted & Co. she follows mysteries wherever they lead.

Lady Diana Walsh calls on Kit to investigate and dispel the curse she believes responsible for carving hateful words into her own flesh as she sleeps. While Kit doesn’t believe in magic herself, she can’t refuse to help a woman subjected nightly to such vicious assaults. As Kit investigates the Walsh family, she becomes convinced that the attacks on Diana are part of a larger, more ominous plot—one that may involve the lady’s obnoxious husband.

Sleuthing in the city of Rumsen is difficult enough, but soon Kit must also skirt the unwanted attentions of nefarious deathmage Lucien Dredmore and the unwelcome scrutiny of police Chief Inspector Thomas Doyle. Unwilling to surrender to either man’s passion for her, Kit struggles to remain independent as she draws closer to the heart of the mystery. Yet as she learns the truth behind her ladyship’s curse, Kit also uncovers a massive conspiracy that promises to ruin her life—and turn Rumsen into a supernatural battleground from which no one will escape alive.
Amazon kindle US($2.99)/UK(£2.99)

8.5/10

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His Lordship Possessed by Lynn Viehl (Disenchanted & Co. Part #2)

Egalley thanks to Pocket Star

Synopsis from Goodreads
(see above)

Release Date: October 14th 2013.

Amazon kindle US($2.99)/UK(£2.99)

8.5/10

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To be honest, I am completely baffled by the marketing decision to split Disenchanted & Co. into two parts. The first part, Her Ladyship's Curse came out on August 12th 2013, and the second one will be available from October 14th. However, if you want to wait and buy the whole book as a paperback or an ebook you can wait till January 2014.

I can only imagine how frustrating it would be for a reader to buy part #1 without realising how abruptly it ends and then wait two months to read the second part. As a reviewer I was lucky to request and read both parts back to back, but I strongly advise you to wait until October or even January to read the whole thing together because Disenchanted & Co. is delightful.


Kit is oh so sassy and a wonderful main heroine with a swat of highly disreputable friends throughout the city, and quite a few enemies. In fact, imagine Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock. Now think of Charmain (Kit) as his female counterpart. This is who she reminded me of.

She also has her own Tall, Dark and Dangerous. Lucien Dredmore is a death mage infatuated with Kit and a completely delicious character who is constantly trying to save our reckless private detective. The banter between Lucien and Kit is phenomenally good! *grinning*

The story itself has a few layers and is very interesting to follow. One of these  layers is Kit's investigation into one of the society ladies being haunted by a ghost, another is Kits' prodding into her own family history which is mysterious and fascinating. There is this huge conspiracy going on, and Kit accidentally stumbles into it and bites more than she can swallow.


There are plenty of new gadgets and terminology, and what is extremely refreshing is that the story itself is based in America (by the description of it very close to Canada), but America which lost its fight for independence and is completely under British Empire's thumb.  

Recommended for anyone who liked The St. Croix Chronicles by Karina Cooper. This is written very much in the same spirit of things.

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Прямо прекрасная вышла у Линн Вьел стимпанковская книга. Я её давно люблю за её серию Даркин и знаю, что она пишет замечательно. Вот и её первый эксперимент со стимпанком оказался очень удачным.

Единственная неприяность - издатели почему-то разделили книгу на две части. Первая вышла в августе, вторая выходит в октябре. Я совсем не понимаю, зачем так надо раздражать читателя, когда цена целой книги будет такой же, что и две половинки? но в любом случае, советую вам начать эту книгу в октябре, когда вам будут доступны обе её части.

Главная героиня - Кит - ещё та чума. Если вы помните Шерлока Холмса, сыграного Робертом Дауни Джуниором, если бы его характер был женщиной, то ею была бы Кит. Дерзкая, смешная, ворчливая, категоричная, постоянно меняющаяся и совершенно неординарная, окружёная тёмными личностями - друзьями и врагами, Кит работает частным детективом и развенчивает мошенников-магов.

Она уверена в том, что магии не существует, а есть только грязные трюки для выманивания денег, однако не подозревает, что сама - сильнейший магический ноль, и именно поэтому магия вокруг неё не работает.

Построение мира очень тщательное и охватывает американские колонии на границе с Канадой, которые в этой версии истории войну за независимость проиграли.

Сюжет разделён на две линии - расследование Кит в дело аристократки, которую преследует призрак, и изучение семейных тайн самой Кит. В характерном для таких книг стиле попутно Кит натыкается на огромный загавор, бороться с которым ей совершенно не по зубам, но отступать она не собирается.

И наконец, у Кит есть свой загадочный тёмный рыцарь - Люсьен Дредмор, маг смерти, влюблённый в главную героиню и никак не могущий добиться её любви своими не работающими вокруг неё чарами.

Готовьтесь к заразительным и блестящим перепалкам, куче экшна и очаровательным главным героям. Понравится поклонникам Черри Сент-Круа, очень рекомендую!