1871
The final book in the Abernathy series.
When Nancy Sullivan accepts a situation as under housemaid to the famous inventors, George and Douglas Abernathy, she is resigned to a life of domestic drudgery as the price for escaping past mistakes. Naturally bright and curious, she intends to exist quietly amongst the house’s other occupants and hide her intelligence. But fate has other ideas…
Nancy unwittingly ignites a passion in the heart of one of her masters, and becomes the inspiration for their latest project: a mechanical maid for the mass market. Matters are only further complicated when Douglas remodels the prototype maid to create Jezelle, an electric-powered girl capable of feeling every human emotion – including love.
The ensuing chain of events sends shockwaves across England and beyond, threatening to destroy everything the Abernathy family hold dear.
About the Author
Emily Owen studied English Language and Literature at the University of Leeds, and completed her Masters by Research in 2018. Her debut novel The Mechanical Maestro was released in 2020, the first book in her series following the adventures of the Abernathy family and their clockwork creations. The second book in the series, The Copper Chevalier was released in 2022, followed by Mr Gearhart in 2023. She lives in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
My thoughts: This is the last book in the Abernathy series and it brings change to the whole family, human and android.
I have really enjoyed this series, it’s a steampunk/historical/adventure and a lot of fun, the characters felt very real and I especially liked the Colonel (the Copper Chevalier himself) and Pirouette’s relationship, proving that perhaps these androids are pretty close to human.
In this final installment, Nancy accepts a position as a housemaid, despite it being a step down for her, but she needs a job, and unlike their previous maids, is made of sterner stuff, in the eccentric Abernathy household. She takes the unusual family in her stride, accepting the Colonel, Pirouette and the other mechanical members as naturally as the human ones.
Her duties aren’t too heavy and she soon finds herself assisting George in his work, her mathematical brain quickly working through the calculations he needs to develop his newest invention.
Meanwhile Douglas is harbouring a secret in his rooms and Molly might finally start planning her wedding to the ever patient Arthur.
But unfortunately for the Abernathys, anti-android sentiment is growing and as things reach a terrible head, the family may all be in danger, not least from one of George’s creations gone horribly wrong. Can they weather the storm?
There are some heart-wrenching moments as the androids and the human family members (including the staff) have to make decisions about their futures and literally fight for their lives. And as the book ends the brothers must decide whether to continue their business or go their separate ways and find new avenues.
However, the epilogue gives me hope that somewhere, in the alternate universe where the Abernathys live, they find a way to go on creating and come together as a family, a rather unusual one, but mechanical or flesh, always together.
The book is out now which means you can buy the entire series and start from the beginning or simply complete your collection.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 