Entertaining steampunk romp, with a lady detective who nullifies magic through sheer disbelief -- that's how it starts out, anyhow, before delving into a complex fantasy with magnificent plot twists and turns. Love her strong and stubborn character, not entirely swayed by the romance, and I did not see a bunch of the plot twists coming, although I'm not entirely sure that it's reasonable to write yourself into such a corner that only time travel can get you out. I'll accept that once, but I hope that future installations rely more on the redoubtable main character's quick wits and reflexes. Looking forward to them! ( )

This tells the story of professional investigator and magical skeptic, Charmien "Kit" Kitteridge in an Alternative Universe version of America, with steam punk elements. Kit is an unbeliever when it comes to magic, though everyone around her seems rather certain that it exists. She takes a case that takes her way over her head, and shakes the very foundations of this disbelief.

What did I think of this book? A charming and enjoyable read, despite intermittent frustration with its heroine, and the fact that I found the universe and its political history & steampunk aspects to be unconvincing.

The charm: Kit's profession as a disenchanter was intriguing, I enjoyed the Victorian elements, and the supporting cast was an eccentric and fun lot. Kit had tight friendships such as with the goofy inventor Docket, and the brothel Madam Rina. The romance was steamy, though I disapproved a little at times.

The downside: Kit was stubborn & foolish when it came to magic, and when it came to her romance with deathmage Lucien. She fell too quickly for him, for no apparent reason, when she thought he was a total scroundrel. And some of their romance scenes were a bit questionable morally & rationally speaking. The details of the world were also very unconvincing, perhsod because they weren't explained well enough, and I forgot the names of everything all the time. Some of the steampunk inventions seemed lazy or incredible.

Saving grace: I felt that Kit redeemed herself at the end of the book (really and truly, she sort of gets a do-over of sorts), and so I forgive her completely for her momentary foolishness, and look forward to reading the sequelmat some point. ( )

Unlike most people Kit doesn't believe in magic, she tends to disrupt magic when she's around. Her disbelief while others believe is sometimes entertaining and sometimes irritating, after all stuff happens around her that has no other possible cause. However she is useful to some who are afflicted by magic, and while sometimes she finds genuine trickery at work.

The story falls into two parts and I understand that it was once published as two parts, first is her investigation of a young wife and her issues, which shows us her background, some of her friends and how complicated her life can be. Then there's a sorcerer that she's apparently attracted to, though I didn't see much of that, though he's attracted to her, and a detective that she knew as a kid and now has grown to be a fine man, but some of what she does and those she knows are not people within the law.

Overall I didn't find the romance satisfying and the end left me a little deflated too. ( )

Very strong beginning to this series! Like Kit a lot -- she has a lot to learn, but she doesn't whine, gets around a lot, listens, learns. Interesting side characters. Hope she get to learn more about her family and abilities soon. ( )

I didn't think I would like this book, but, by the third or fourth page, I was absolutely hooked and could not put it down! I highly recommend it! ( )