Review

Summary: Clara Marie Stanton must prevent her rather eccentric family from being put into a lunatic asylum...especially since they persist in doing unusual things, such as flying a giant clockwork owl, protesting against taxidermists, and other such escapades.

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Notes: This book will take you all over Europe, from London to Prague to Switzerland. They see the Prague Astronomical Clock!!! If you don't know what that is, look it up. it's incredible. There are also many literary allusions sprinkled throughout the book, including Robin Hood, The Nutcracker, Mary Poppins, and Pride and Prejudice. I love it when an author does that! I also liked how Clara was respectful to her Mum and Grandfather, even though she disagreed with them. I also liked how Mr. Theodore is kind and helpful to her, even when she distrusts him. Altogether wonderful and likeable characters! (Except for the bad guy. He's a scoundrel) Note the seal of brother approval on this review. It took a bit of convincing to get my brother to read it. It's called "A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventures," after all. 

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Age of Main Character: Twenty-ish

 

Violence: Characters are threatened at gun point, one character suffers from PTSD due to battle, having been in the charge of the light brigade. One character is kidnaped. Not super descriptive...except for the PTSD nightmares.

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Romance: Yes. The young lady is quite adamantly NOT going to fall in love with her grandfather's new apprentice. How does that usually work out?

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Scary Themes: Yes. Clara's ex-fiancé is still trying to get her to marry him, so he follows her while threatening her and her family. 

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Genre: Historical Fiction/Steampunk