Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Leander Weatherford doesn’t want a mage, but he needs one. Enchanted mechanical animals are all the rage among the upper classes, and selling them will save his struggling family business. Enter Jak, whose enchanting ability is second only to his talent for flirting. It’s dangerous to keep such a tempting man close, but Leander can’t resist—in more ways than one.

Jak needs money to continue his aimless life of running. A partnership with Leander provides both income and a lovely diversion. Their masterful creations catch the attention of an eccentric baroness who offers them an enormous sum for an ambitious project—a full-scale mechanical dragon.

Swept into a life rubbing elbows with nobility, Leander is pleased but overwhelmed. Spending both workdays and evenings with Jak, he finds himself drawing closer to the charming mage. But Jak is hiding a dangerous secret, and the truth could tear them apart.

Book Review

I quite enjoyed this foray into steampunk – and coming from the science fiction genre, I admit I’m quite picky when it comes to the steampunk subgenre. I thought the author was able to convey the magic that steampunk contains while keeping the focus on the romance between Jak and Leander. This made for a little gem of a read.

For myself, a handful of items would have elevated this first book a couple of steps –there are descriptions of the baroness’s clothes, the billowing “trousers” and her ball gown, and details of Jak’s colorful clothes, but it rather ends there. Steampunk is, in a great part, about the clothes and I would have liked just a bit more elaboration as to adornment.

The other item is, in a society that places an emphasis on hierarchy and titles, and with Jak wanting to keep a low(er) profile, it didn’t make sense for Jak to omit some kind of honorific. Yes, it is understood that mages are quirky individuals, but the emphasis on titles and honorifics is just as important to the worldbuilding.

Finally, Leander begins the story in fear of mages and the power that mages wield, but other than getting to know Jak sexually, I didn’t get a sense of Leander’s personal transformation that no, mages aren’t scary people. I didn’t get a true impression of Jak helping to lessen that fear beyond the bedroom liaisons.

Those were my quirk points. Overall, I thought Leander’s worry and hesitations about his sexuality were well written and appropriate to his situation, I liked the family aspect and the worry about the family’s future status, and I liked the baroness’s brusque no-nonsense attitude. As for Jak and Leander’s evolving relationship – it was just that, it evolved and I do appreciate when emotion is grown in romance books.

So overall, for a first book in a series, this was fun, interesting, and delightful. Recommended if you like a bit of Regency in your books, combined with a dash of science fiction.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 245 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	18-May-2018
Price	$4.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Mages-Mechanisms-Jak-Leander-Book-ebook/dp/B07D64JMMD