His Lordship Possessed

Disenchanted & Co. #Book 1, Part #2

by Lynn Viehl

The second half of Disenchanted & Co.—the thrilling conclusion. 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.

Genres: Steampunk, Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Mystery

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 14, 2013

About the author

Also see S.L. Viehl, Gena Hale, Jessica Hall. Rebecca Kelly.

She writes mostly novels in a variety of genres and under several pseudonyms. Among them are science fiction (as S. L. Viehl), romantic fiction (as Lynn Viehl, Gena Hale, and Jessica Hall), and Christian fiction (as Rebecca Kelly). She has described herself as primarily a writer of romance: no matter what genre she is working in, an element of romance will always be present.

In what spare time remains she enjoys quilting, reading, cooking, painting, and knitting. She currently lives with her family in Florida.

Reviews

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: The action-packed ending is a hang on the edge of your seat kind of ride.

Opening Sentence: “Half an hour after giving myself to my worst enemy, and daftly imagining myself in to be falling in love with him, I placed round the confines of the bedchamber in which he had imprisoned me.”

The Review:

Part 2 literally picks up moments after Part 1 ends. In fact, most copies of this will be contained in the same book. I just ended up with separate parts of them. Had I realized this, I would have read and reviewed them together. Kit is locked up in a bedchamber at Dreadmore’s estate, and when the ghost of her grandfather shows up, he comes up with a plan to help her escape. Once Kit is out and back home, she finds that someone has moved against her. She has been evicted and when she visits Doyle she finds out that there is a warrant for her arrest.

With some serious luck and the fact that she literally doesn’t believe in magic, she is able to get the charges overturned and dismissed, but as soon as she walks out she is under attack again. Doyle and Dreadmore come to her rescue. Kit takes off to hide with Rina, when Dreadmore shows up later she still can’t resist him. Soon more of Walsh’s men come for her and she agrees to go with Dreadmore.

Dreadmore tries to get Harry (Kit’s grandfather ghost) to tell her the truth, but he refuses. So Dreadmore tells her the story instead and takes the pendant from her in order to show her the truth of his claims. Just as things seem to be getting better and winding down, Kit finds they are under attack yet again and this time they are both powerless to stop it. When she awakes things quickly spiral out of control. Can Kit save Dreadmore? Will Kit be able to save the whole country? Will Lady Walsh believe her when she finally tells her the truth of what has happened to her?

I loved this every bit as I did part one. Although I will admit, I was a little confused and wondered if we would actually get back to Lady Walsh and who was trying to gaslight her. I fully admit that I didn’t see the reveal coming at all. Steampunk always seems to be hit or miss for me, but this is a big hit. I loved the change in history. America has lost the revolution and firmly under England’s control. But the spirit is still totally there, and the vibe and this world are just amazing. The combo of mech and magic is just inspired. I can’t stop raving about this series. I am going to find book 2 and read it as soon as I can. I love Kit aka Charm and Dreadmore is totally swoony!

Notable Scene:

“Faeries didn’t build the Brecheliant,” he said, it was the haven of the Druuds the old high priests who protected humanity. A thousand years ago, they saved the world by putting an end to the a civil war being fought by the Armanthan. They combined their powers to lure all of the warring immortals and their minions into the forest, where they bound their spirit to enchanged stones and cast their bodies into the oaks. They then warded the forest itself to prevent anyone from entering it.

FTC Advisory: Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Disenchanted & Co. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Mara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1\2

After reading part II of Book 1, I think I might understand why Disenchanted &Co is split in two. His Lordship Possessed denies what we learned in part one. I felt that Her Ladyship's Curse was stronger than this, as it stayed within the victoriana (almost steampunk) setting, while this second half veers off sharply into magic and mysticism and so lost the grounding it set before.

But it's not only he world-building that veers strongly (toward urban/rustic fantasy): Kit becomes a girl in love (*shudders*) for a short time, there's time travels and mystical being and chaos and mayhem.

Middle way I wasn't sure where this was going (well, except Granpa who was so not a mystery) and I wasn't sure I really liked this new way. But then everything went back to normal, I understood this was all a big setting for the future books and everyone lived happy ever after (not...) < grin >.

Leaving sarcasm aside, I did find the middle of this book a bit problematic, the world-building, the characterization and the plot really seemed to me were going astray. The final "wipe down" was a plot device I'm not in love with. But I honestly admit that it hooked me into looking for the next book in the series. Because now I know. (And you will understand my meaning after you read it.)

When is the next, please?

ARC courtesy of publisher via NetGalley.

[Carolyn F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read parts 1 & 2 as one book. The second part I felt brought everything together.
I really, really liked this book. Usually I think time travel as some sort of do-over is a cop out but this was handled very well. I loved the romance and can't wait to see what happens in the next book in the series.

[Suzanne (Under the Covers Book blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

His Lordship Possessed starts off right where His Ladyship's Curse ends and we straight away flung back into the action. Kit is on the run trying to dodge both her dangerous lover and a lethal enemy. But, to truly understand what is happening and save the man she is coming to love she must embrace all that she once used to scoff. If she doesn't it won't just be her life that ends, but everyone is Rumsen.

Without a pause for breath this book dives straight in to the action reeling you straight back into Kit's world. And I enjoyed every second! His Lordship Possessed is a mixture of action, revelations, romance and unexpected twists, all of which leave you compulsively turning the page.

Once again Kit is a heroine that I can't help but like, a great mixture of smart and daring and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series with her at the helm. I also loved her relationship with Lucien Dredmore, which changed so fast from hate to most definitely not hate that I still have whiplash.

The story continues from the previous book, and I am not sure what ideas I had from reading His Ladyship's Curse but the nature of the conspiracy took me by complete surprise, which I loved I hate it when a mystery isn't quite so mysterious. However, I don't know if I was being a little...slow, but I did find things a little confusing at times and there were parts where I wasn't sure what the hell was going on. I quickly caught on, but I needed a bit more hand holding through some of the unveiling that occurred.

A great book, I had lots of fun reading it and I will definitely be searching out the next in the series, I just hope it all comes out in one book rather than a two parter!

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Genre* Alt-History, Steampunk, Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0

*Thoughts*

Her Ladyship's Curse, along with His Lordship Possessed are two separate parts of the same novel, Disenchanted & Co., which will be released together January 28th, 2014 by Pocket Books. Since both parts intersect with the other, I am going to review them as one book instead of two. It’s called taking creative liberties.

The world of Disenchanted & Co is set in an alternative reality United States called Toriana (The Provincial Union of Victoriana). It is a world where the 13 original colonies lost the fight for independence and remained a part of the British Empire who treated them as traitors for nearly three decades. The residents are still required to take an oath to the Crown every five years without failure or fanfare.

*FYI* I highly recommend that if you read this book, that you don’t forget about the glossary of terms in the back of the book. This will ensure that you will not become frustrated or confused with certain terms.

I've always found the concept of alternative reality worlds to be quiet interesting. If you know anything about the United States History, you must throw out preconceived notions of things that actually happened from 1776 to the time that this story takes place in the last half of the nineteenth century or you won't enjoy it as much. You will also have to restrain your feminist side which will no doubt go crazy over certain aspects like freeclaiming where women can be taken off the streets at any time and kept by a man without any rights or means to complain about her situation.

Her Ladyship's Curse takes place entirely in Rumsen in what would be today's San Francisco if you were keeping track. There is also Settle (Seattle) and Middleway (Chicago). The series itself is supposedly a cross between alternative history, urban fantasy, and of course, steampunk. Steampunk does play an interesting part with Carri’s (steam propelled carriages), and pneumatic tubes which distributes food around the city. I am in the process of asking for one to be built into my home pronto. That way I won’t ever need to leave the house again!

Our series heroine is Charmain (Kit) Kittredge who has never actually believed in Magic. In fact, she became a private investigator and debunker of all things magic in order to disprove the very existence of anything considered the occult. I paused for a moment while reading this book, and thought about Chess Putnam from the Downside Ghost series and the fact that she debunks ghosts. Would it not be cool to have Chess and Kit working together as a team debunking things that go bump in the night? I think it would.

Kit has a reputation as someone who is trustworthy, but, she also has more than a few enemies in the magical community that wouldn’t mind seeing her gone from Rumsen post haste. This brings Kit a very unusual case that ends up with Kit coming face to face with the one person she wants to avoid: Lord Lucien Dredmore, considered to be the most powerful and dangerous death mage in all of Rumsen. Dredmore has been trying his best to peel back Kit’s layers and find out why she doesn’t succumb to his charms and magic like others have. I think you will either be surprised by the revelation, or you won’t since it all makes sense when you put things together.

I actually really liked Kit. She’s a woman in a male dominated society which looks down its nose at independent, strong minded women. She’s fearless, without being overly reckless. She works hard and tries to keep from being destroyed by the rich on the Hill. She has the most interesting friends in Bridget Duluc and Carina Eagle. She even has her own personal guardian who may or may not be a famous named magician. She tries to stick to her guns even with Lucian and Inspector Tommy Doyle (a childhood friend) hounding over her. One (Doyle) trying to protect her, while the other (Lucian) will do anything to get break her will and savage her into making Kit his.

I would highly recommend that if you are going to read Her Ladyship Curse that you also request His Lordship Possessed at the same time so that you don’t have to wait until October for the second novel to come out. I truly believe that if you liked The Parasol Protectorate, or The St. Croix Chronicles by Karina Cooper, you will definitely enjoy this series as well.

*Recvd via Edelweiss 07/16/2013* Expected publication: October 14th 2013 by Pocket Star

[Fangs for the Fantasy · Rating 2 out of 5]

His Lordship Possessed (Disenchanted & Co #2) by Lynn Viehl Kit is on the run – she doesn’t know who her enemy is, Lord Dredmore or Lord Walsh, nor does she know exactly why both of them are pursuing her so passionately, but she hides as more and more of her life is attacked and destroyed.
 
But as she tries to hold the pieces together, she learns of the true threat not just against her, but against the whole city. Ancient, immortal beings released from long captivity and split into factions at war – and one of those factions is coming to the city and determined to reduce everyone to little more than mindless slaves
And Lord Dredmore is deeply involved in the whole conflict
 
 
 
The world building of this world continues in the same style as the first book – in that it is rich and confusing. The world is huge. I strongly suspect the author has a huge stash of notes, alternate histories, magical rules and a vast amount of detailed work to really produce this alternate world. And it is fascinating – not just what was grasped from the first book – the alternate history, an America that lost the Revolutionary War, the magic that is so prevalent, the class system and its added bigotries against the Native Americans and women, but also in its expansion with the introduction of the Tillers and the Reapers and the whole Aramanthan thing.
 
But it was confused. A lot of this information was introduced extremely quickly, with little chance to truly assimilate it or digest it. Many times I had to flip back to try and catch up and sometimes I just plunged on not understanding and hoping things would become clear. I was lost several times, I had to work to keep up others.
 
Excellent world, amazing, imaginative and vast fun – but incredibly confusing and poorly conveyed.
 
I know some readers have also had problems with the language use – and there is a glossary at the back of the book. I didn’t – but then most of the language use are variations of anglicised slang, so, being English, it’s probably less of a problem for me.
 
I feel the story, because of this, rather lurched out of control. It started strongly, Kit running around trying to hold her life together as her enemies try to destroy her. She faces the law, she faces vandalism, she faces murder attempts and she continues to rise above and try to not just survive but survive on her own terms. Including the line:
 
“If I can’t live as I want… then why go on?”
 
As she rejects any suggestion that she leave the city and hide.
 
It’s action packed, it’s edge-of-your seat reading and we have so many diving questions pulling us in.
And then we get the answers and it’s like one great big brick wall of confusion laid across the tracks of the story and I’m laid in the wreckage of the train that was the plot trying to figure out where we’re going and why (that metaphor fell apart along the way).
Suddenly there’s possessed soldiers and magic stones and children with magical powers and Kit’s grandfather’s involved and there’s more possession and an invading army and secret societies and special powers which are super magic but completely separate from magic… I think?
 
The story continued as well as it could – we had action, we had Kit still directing her own life. We had Kit determined to save the city and Dredmore and being pretty cunning with it – but it was built on the shaky foundation of the very confusing world building. Well written, even well executed – but a great story can only go so far when the reader is confused and doubling back.
 
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[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

For this and other reviews please visit Zemfirka Blogs...

Egalleys courtesy of Pocket Star via NetGalley in exchange for fair and honest review.

This is a combined review for Disenchanted & Co. Book 1 (Parts 1 & 2). The publisher made an interesting decision to split the book into two parts, with respective publication dates in August and October of this year (2013). However, if you are faint of heart, or simply do not enjoy a major cliffhanger I suggest either waiting for an October release and get both Parts then, or purchase a combined edition that will be available in early 2014.

Having said that, I must confess: Part 1, Her Ladyship’s Curse did not leave much of an impression on me. I picked the book up based on a friend’s recommendation, and I am glad I did – as it was a very entertaining read overall. My expectations running high, I dug in and found myself often frustrated with the slow development. Only the last few chapters, the cliffhanger ending, and the knowledge that Part 2 awaited me next, kept me going. And what a turnaround it was! I flew through the pages of His Lordship Possessed, impatient to find the key, a resolution, a happily ever after. Such a fast-paced read it was, especially in contrast to the previous one – day and night.

Overall, I think it was quite a unique story. Full of magic, spirits/ghosts, alternate world building, steampunk gadgetry and machinery, a collection of colorful characters, and even a bit of time-travel, it was quite an adventure, and at its forefront a feisty heroine.

Kit is a firecracker; she is ready to dive deep into the battle and is certainly not the sort to act a damsel in distress to wide disappointment of the men surrounding her, especially her nemesis, Lucien Dredmore, a man with a license to kill. He is dark, handsome, rich, and has quite an interest in Kit. As the clouds begin to thicken with mysteries, the two have to learn to work together to save the world and each other, but at what cost. Fortunately, there is turning back the time…

Jareth: “I have reordered time. I have turned the world upside down, and I have done it all for you!”

Labyrinth (1986)

Happy reading!

[Kara-karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5
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.

[Melindeeloo · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I liked the separately published first half of this story (Her Ladyship's Curse) I was disappointed that I wasn't fond of this second half at all.

Part of that might be that this really was a second half of a book and all of the world building things that I liked about the first book - the alternate US in which the the Brits won the Revolutionary war, and the heroine's staunch belief that there is no real magic in the world - was not revisited and having read the first part a while back that was not still in the forefront of my mind while reading this. But that's only a small part of my issues with His Lordship Possessed because in try to express what worked and didn't work for me here, I realize that I have a lot of nits: the stubborn heroine in peril, her sudden shift in attitude towards her long time nemesis, the confusing addition of a set of possessive spirits in the world building and the use of a big 'undo' at the end to solve everything that left me feeling sort of jerked around and sort of disconnected from the story when all was said and done.

What I did like is the supporting cast, I thought that they were well done, and I did like the Toriana (alternate America) parts of the story.

Still the whole thing didn't leave me with a good idea of where the series was heading and didn't leave me with that 'have to have that next book now' feeling. It did leave wondering why this book was split in two - since the second half doesn't really stand on it's one - and wondering where this series is headed next.

[Frankie Ness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Braine's Talk Supe review

I wish I read Disenchanted & Co. parts 1 & 2 back to back instead of taking a break in between and should you decide to pick this up, I strongly suggest you do that or get the complete book instead. I enjoyed both parts but reading it in a continuous manner would've been better in terms of momentum. The pace from Her Ladyship's Curse going to HER LORDSHIP POSSESSED is at a break-neck speed, the plots put together is exhilarating! The only analogy applicable is a roller coaster ride, I know it's cliche as I'm sure you've read this comparison made to a lot of action-packed fantasy books but I promise it's not an exaggeration. LViehl will take you to great heights and then have you free falling at a 90 degree angle. She'll have you breathing a little fast and your eyes bright with excitement because of the twists and turns of the story. Disenchanted & Co. as a whole is wonderfully paced, the characters enchantingly, the chemistry crackling with sexual tension with a marvelous setting that of Victorian America. Perfect Steampunk read if you ask me.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

An awesome ending to a good book. As soon as the guy told Charm to ask Harry his real name I knew what it would be and when it was revealed at the end I was proven correct. I hope to see what happens with the stone that Charm swallowed brings about. Not a huge fan of Doyle as a love interest for Charm. I think he's too boring for her. Would be better off pairing him with the woman from the brothel. Now that would be an interesting story. Yep I think Dredmore and Charm are perfect for each other.

[Deanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kit is on the run, trying to sort out what happened at the end of the first book, however it's getting harder to find people she can trust.
I enjoyed a steampunk book which for a change wasn't set in Victorian London.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. As with the first part, Part 2 of Disenchanted & Co. is an enjoyable read despite being uneven - I find myself finishing the story with a sense of satisfaction, but unable to shake off the niggling issues.

Frankly, I suspect the book would be a much better-balanced whole had it not been divided into a first half (where the introduction to the characters, the world and the mystery that will lead to something more complex occurred) and a second half (where everything that was hinted in the first half comes to pass and we are thrown into a giant bundle of action). I did like the dramatic descent into chaos when the full consequences of Kit's stubborn refusal to believe in magic and her blind stumbling in the dark are revealed, but it became too messy when everything started happening at once, particularly with the lack of exposition. All of a sudden, we had evil Aramanthan overlords intent on mass-possession of the people of Rumsen, a city being laid to waste, Kit's friends scattered and on the run and Inspector Tommy Doyle behaving like a chauvinistic ass. There's also a decided shift in focus from mystery/sleuthing to magic of the overpowering variety - if you didn't pay close attention to the various types of magical stones that were briefly mentioned before, then you'll find yourself completely bowled over by the sudden onslaught of different terms.

The silver lining of this mayhem is that Kit and Lucien Dredmore are forced to work as a team and finding out more about Lucien's past, his motivations for approaching her as well as protecting her force Kit to reassess her previous hostility. They continue to exchange witty banter (which I loved) and I found them an interesting and well-matched couple, but the way Kit's feelings towards Dredmore ran hot-cold and back again prevented me from becoming fully invested in them. Otherwise a kickass and fairly intelligent character, it's somewhat annoying that Kit can't seem to make up her mind when it comes to Dredmore - one moment she's on the verge of falling in love with him after he's saved her life yet again, and the next he's shown his colder, harsher side and she changes her mind about loving/trusting him. It isn't until he lays down his life to protect her that she finally decides that she DOES actually love him, but even that decision is hard to believe. With the breakneck pace of this second part, there's little time for any real bonding or heart-to-heart chats and I'm inclined to be skeptical about two people declaring their love for each other in a mad whirlwind of life-threatening situations.

The manner in which everything is resolved at the end is likely to be viewed as "cheating" by many, not to mention the way Kit was allowed to escape most of the consequences of her actions was fairly convenient. Personally, however, the idea of a second chance is always nice and I'd prefer a satisfying ending that would bring a smile to my face any day, so count me a happy camper on that account. And yes, that includes the step back in the romance department; it does bother me slightly that Lucien no longer remembers that shared experience with Kit and thus his approach towards their romantic relationship will always be a step behind Kit's, but since he's clearly harboured deeper feelings for her for such a long time, it might be a good thing for the two of them to start anew on the same page. Having the leisure to engage in a more normally-paced courtship can hardly be a bad thing.

Mixed bag this might have been, but I'm nevertheless looking forward to further Kit and Lucien developments and more grandfather-granddaughter interactions in Book 2. More importantly, the mysterious Aramanthan stone in Kit's "possession" promises a lot more trouble for our characters ahead, and I love trouble.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review cross-posted from Wit and Sin: http://witandsin.blogspot.com/2013/10...

Charmian “Kit” Kittredge makes her living debunking magic, but right about now she’d kill for a spell that would drop Lucien Dredmore like a stone. The darkly handsome deathmage has kidnapped her and imprisoned her in his home. To make matters worse, Kit had just begun to believe that she was falling for the wretch.

But nothing is as it seems, and not long after she escapes Lucien, Kit comes to believe he might have been trying to protect her. Mysterious forces are at work in Rumsen and they’ll do anything to eliminate Kit. If she hopes to survive – and save the people of Rumsen – Kit will have to open her mind to that which she believed was impossible. For magic is not only real, but also deadly.

Nonstop action, compelling characters, and a wonderfully clever world? Sign me up! His Lordship Possessed is the enticing second installment to the Disenchanted & Co. series, and trust me when I say that you’ll want to block out time to read this, because it’s not a book you can put down.

His Lordship Possessed starts right where the first story (Her Ladyship’s Curse) ends, and the two parts should be read in order. In His Lordship Possessed , author Lynn Viehl takes readers deeper into the realm of magic, further developing not only the incredible world she has created, but the history of our spitfire heroine, Kit. Kit’s beliefs are challenged in more ways than one over the course of the story. Almost no one is what they seem, and uncovering the layers to Kit’s character – as well as those she’s closest to – made for one compelling tale.

I can’t deny that, of all the characters in His Lordship Possessed , Lucien Dredmore is my favorite. I, like Kit, fell under Lucien’s spell the more I learned about him. Though I won’t spoil what is told, I have a feeling there’s more to learn about the seductive deathmage and I’m looking forward to finding out alongside Kit. And speaking of Lucien and Kit…the chemistry between them is undeniably hot. Their complex relationship makes the pages of His Lordship Possessed sizzle at times and I’m very hopeful we’ll be seeing more of them together in future Disenchanted & Co. books.

As I mentioned before, you should definitely read Her Ladyship’s Curse before beginning His Lordship Possessed , and I recommend reviewing the books’ glossaries if you don’t read the two back-to-back. I’m afraid I can’t reveal much of anything about the plot of His Lordship Possessed without spoiling both stories, and quite honestly, far too much happens in this book for me to discuss without writing a novel-length review. Suffice it to say that Ms. Viehl weaves spellbinding new information into the world of Rumsen as Kit’s initial case develops into something far larger than she ever could have imagined. The story takes twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat, rooting for Kit to defeat the enemy and save Rumsen.

Lynn Viehl is a phenomenal writer who has created something special in the Disenchanted & Co. series. I cannot wait to see where she takes Kit and her loved ones in the next book, The Clockwork Wolf.


Note: Her Ladyship’s Curse and His Lordship Possessed will also be sold as one book (Disenchanted & Co.) as of January 28, 2014.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Viehl creates a wonderful and vividly original world where America lost the Revolution and now is her majesty’s Provincial Union of Victoriana. What a marvelous setting for a turn of the century romance with a strong paranormal presence and a flare of steampunk.

Charmian “Kit” Kittredge is fighting her way through a man dominated world. Her Ladyship’s Curse ends with our heroin, Kit, in the clutches of the Deathmage Lucien Dredmore. Although he is a controlling powerful man, you can’t help but feel the passion burning between them.

Lord Walsh will stop at nothing to destroy Kit, there is a very dark and menacing presence behinds Walsh’s motives.

With all of Kit’s resistance to magic and her firm to dispel the belief in magic, she is given irrefutable proof that magic and the spirits called Aramanthan’s do exist. She finds herself pitted against one of the most powerful Aramanthan called Zarath and the man that has stolen her heart.

I love when my imagination is completely drawn into figuring out the direction of the story. I am even more pleased when an author can shock me with a brilliant twists...Viehl’s imagination shocked and amazed me!

A fast paced thrilling adventure, His Lordship Possessed made my heart pound in anticipation, hurt for the choices the characters had to make and delighted in the outcome. Outstanding storytelling, I can’t wait for more. I won't have to wait long because The Clockwork Wolf is coming February 25, 2014!

His Lordship Possessed is the second ½ of the book Disenchanted and Co. Part one, Her Ladyship’s Curse was released August 12, 2013 and His Lordship Possessed, part two, will be published October 14, 2013. If you can wait and want to read the story in one book, Disenchanted & Co will be coming January 28, 2014. You should not start part 2 without reading part 1, it is a continuing storyline. Whatever way you purchase this story, I highly recommend this book, especially to my fellow steampunk, paranormal, romance enthusiasts.

This ARC copy of His Lordship Possessed was given to me by Pocket Star in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication October 14, 2013.

Written by: Lynn Viehl
Series: Disenchanted & Co
Sequence in Series: (Book 1 Part 2)
Publisher: Pocket Star
Publication Date: October 14, 2013
Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
Rating: 5 Stars
Genre: Steampunk, Paranormal, Romance
Age Recommendation: Adult
Learn more about Lynn Viehl on her Website.
Lynn Viehl also writes as S.L. Viehl, Gena Hale, Jessica Hall, and Rebecca Kelly.

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[Vilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review from Backchatting Books

I’m going to write this review assuming you have read the first half of the Disenchanted & Co. You simply can’t dive into this one without having read the first if you want to avoid complete and utter confusion. The two halves are going to be published as one new book called Disenchanted & Co on the 28th January 2014. The last novel finished with Kit being kidnapped by Dredmore (again).

Kit remains a resourceful and independent young woman who is determined not to be underestimated by the men around her. Her business and life has been under threat ever since she took on Lady Diana Walsh’s case. In this half, Lady Diana’s husband begins to exert even more pressure and I half expected Kit to crack. Instead, she rallies her friends around her and continues to investigate. She screws up more than once, invariably when she lets her emotions overrule her head. Often the best way to judge a character is how they behave when they have nothing left to lose. Kit’s persistence, strong moral compass and caring nature are what make her a really great character.

Kit’s propensity for getting kidnapped and then escaping her captors started to grate. Belatedly, I realised Viehl must have been paying homage to the original antics of Kit’s grandfather, Harry Houdini. Kit’s relationship with Lucian Dredmore develops further and I appreciated the inclusion of his backstory as it allowed me to see him as more than just a creepy, mysterious deathmage. I hope Viehl won’t give these two a simple ‘normal’ relationship because they are both too headstrong and it is too much fun watching them fence with each other. Viehl’s use of a plot device that allowed her to ‘reset’ parts of the relationship irked me when I initially read it. In hindsight, I think it was a smart move as it gave the relationship a bit more equilibrium. I was a bit surprised that Tommy, Kit’s other would-be suitor, made such a small appearance given his involvement in the first half but with a bit of luck he’ll pop up in later books.

I simply adored the world Viehl created in the first half of this novel because the steampunk was so well integrated. We had all manner of technical whatchamacallits and thingamabobs that added verisimilitude. In this half however Viehl has lightened the steampunk aspect and focused more heavily on magic. I was fascinated with how magic was being used and abused by those around Kit but I couldn’t help mourning the partial loss of the steampunk though. The introduction of the Aramanthans took the novel in an entirely different direction from what I was expecting and I can’t help feeling that Viehl has only scratched the surface with them.

I really liked the two halves of Disenchanted & Co and they complimented each other well. The former was far stronger in terms of characterisation and steampunk but the latter (this one) had all the action you could possibly want and magic. I hope Viehl returns to her steampunk roots though as that is a clear strength.

*I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review*

[Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars: Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by author

Note: this review will contain spoilers from the first title, Her Ladyship's Curse, which is actually the first part of the two part story making up the novel Disenchanted & Co. If you plan to read the novel in its entirety when it comes out in January - or - if you haven't read Ladyship, please be warned! His Lordship Possessed truly is the second half of a larger story, and I do not recommend reading it as a stand alone story.

His Lordship Possessed picks up immediately where Her Ladyship’s Curse ends. In the first half of the tale, the reader was introduced to Kit Kittredge, a sort of “private eye” who debunks magical curses and spells. Lucien Dredmore is her nemesis who is terribly attracted to Kit and wants her all to himself. After a brief weakness of spirit resulting in exciting sexual encounter between Kit and Lucien, Kit finds herself locked away in his estate. Relying on her mysterious grandfather, she makes a daring escape, only to find that Lord Walsh is attempting to ruin her.

I completely devoured His Lordship Possessed in a matter of hours. I could NOT put this exciting story down for more than a moment. After doing a fabulous job laying the groundwork and creating an interesting and intriguing world in the first book, Ms. Viehl sends her characters on a non-stop adventure, full of unforeseen twists and amazing revelations. The purposeful actions and events are well-planned and masterfully written. One really doesn’t need more from a book, right?

But wait... that’s not all! As I stated in my review of Her Ladyship’s Curse, the characters of this tale are an exciting aspect of the book that make it so much more than just an adventure. Each of the characters undergoes further development and adds heart to the story. However, it is Kit herself that truly makes this story a wonderful piece. Seeing everything from her point-of-view, I was heartbroken as Kit watches her life unravel due to the machinations of Lord Walsh. Her feelings and subsequent actions add complexity to the story and give readers a character to root for and admire. Add to this her complex feelings towards Lucien and their growing affections, and you have a beautiful romance as well.

Meanwhile, we learn the true nature of what happened to Lady Walsh (from the first book), as well as a detailed and elaborate history of events that shape the current conflict with Lord Walsh. We learn if in fact magic is real, and what the repercussions of the truth mean for our heroine. The added world-building is fascinating and completely unique.

I enjoyed the direction the book headed, creating some difficult choices that Kit had to confront. I liked that she took charge and faced each moment with everything she had. However, without giving spoilers, I will say that I did have a minor issue with how things resolved themselves in the end. While the concept of what happened made me cringe a little, I actually am please with the results, so I can’t judge Ms. Viehl’s choice too harshly. Additionally, it left the door open for some exciting adventures ahead, and I cannot wait to get my hands on Kit’s next story!

[All Things Urban Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

All Things Urban Fantasy

HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED was quite the ride. Action packed and full of surprises to the reader, there was never a dull moment. However, it very much felt like coming in halfway through the story, which, in essence, the reader is. From what I understand, HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED and HER LADYSHIP’S CURSE will be printed together as one novel in the spring. This makes sense; HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED starts off immediately where HER LADYSHIP’S CURSE ended, much to my relief. HER LADYSHIP’S CURSE wasn’t really a complete story, so I was curious to see where the second half would take us. Unfortunately, it almost immediately goes a little crazy.

The two halves are both good in their own right, however, they feel very disparate when compared side by side. HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED felt so much different than HER LADYSHIP’S CURSE that I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t what I was expecting. In HER LADYSHIP’S CURSE, I felt there was a lot more sleuthing. In HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED, there’s non-stop action, and while there still is a mystery, it is more of the type where the main character figures it out in their head and doesn’t tell the reader, only revealing all the puzzle pieces at an appropriate, climactic moment. Not only that, but I kept getting a bit confused. The terminology which I don’t remember previously being bothersome, started to overshadow the writing. And so you can learn from my ignorance: please note there is a fourteen (fourteen!) page glossary at the back of the book.

The things I enjoyed about HER LADYSHIP’S CURSE remained the same- Kit continued to be a delightfully witty heroine, always ready with a quip. Dredmore, the death mage, is still broody and rather grumpy, despite his obvious attraction to Kit. HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED is well written, and I easily read it in one sitting. Once I got past the slightly ridiculous turns the plot took, I really did enjoy it. Maybe, if I had read the two halves one right after the other, I would have had a better time of it.

Lucky for you, both the halves are out right now- and if you’re a smart reader, you’ll add $2.99 and $2.99 together and realize that’s $1.61 cheaper than the upcoming Kindle version which puts them together in one book. In my opinion, worth it. (Definitely do not read the second without reading the first, though.) And luckily for me, I only have to wait until February for the second full book of the Disenchanted & Co. series to come out- THE CLOCKWORK WOLF. No matter what the setting, Kit is a draw all by herself, and I am excited for more. Plus, at the end of HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED, Dredmore asks Kit over for dinner. I know I want to find out if she accepts.

Sexual content: Brief sex scene

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Remember how I was intrigued by the first part of DISENCHANTED & CO.? Well, that’s gone now. This second part of the story, HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED, really wasn’t for me. All of the promise I found in HER LADYSHIP’S CURSE gets tossed aside as Part 2 progresses and, by the end of it, I was quite disappointed.

HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED introduces some new mythology, adding in new beings on top of the magic that already exists. These beings are key to the plotline of HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED and I felt like it came a bit from left field. There was nothing inherently wrong with the introduction of these new ideas and characters because it does help to explain some of the magic in the world and some of the peculiarities about Kit, but it felt like it was thrown in there because the author couldn’t come up with a better explanation for Kit’s spell-breaking abilities. I did like how it grew the world but I also felt it took HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED down an ultra dramatic path that I wasn’t expecting (which is okay) but also didn’t feel connected to (which is not so okay). And it wasn’t a question of not remembering the tone or events of Her Ladyship’s Curse since I re-read it immediately before starting HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED, just so that I could have everything fresh in my mind.

I also had some issue with the ending. I can’t really discuss it here since the book isn’t even out yet but I will say that it took away from some of the gravitas earlier in the story and made HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED less impactful for me.

Despite that, there is some good in the story. Kit’s friends continue to shine and I liked them even more this go around. Tom Doyle was particularly endearing (and you’ll see why early on in HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED) and there are some great scenes between Kit and Rina. There are also some lovely interactions between Kit and Dredmore. And I have to say, I liked him much more in HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED than I did in HER LADYSHIP’S CURSE. He’s not a perfect hero but he definitely redeemed himself in my eyes in HIS LORDSHIP POSSESSED, which was great.

On the whole, I wouldn’t recommend this one. There are some much more positive reviews out there and I would encourage you to read them if you’re considering this book, but I will say that DISENCHANTED & CO. didn’t work for me, not because of the split format (which I was a little worried about, and which will be resolved when the novel is released in print anyways) but because I had some problems with the plot and writing style. If you’re a fan of Lynn Viehl, this is probably a great story for you but, in the end, it didn’t work out so well for me.

http://ireadgood.wordpress.com

[Melliane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mon avis en Français

My English review

As I was so eager to read the second part of the novel! I must say that it was really terrible to be left like that at the end of the first part. I am relieved to see that once the book will be release in 2014, it will be complete. But for those who are trying both parts, buy them at once to not be cut in the story. Yet it took me several days before knowing the following adventures of our beloved Kit.

After being taken prisoner and after escaping, our heroine has no idea that her life will become a chaos. Indeed, Walsh is determined to make her life a hell, and being a young single woman, it is difficult for her to deal with everything that happens. After being accused of making magic, be expelled from her building and after someone had trashed her appartment, our young heroine doesn’t have many things left to survive. However, two men, Doyle and Dredmore are always there to help her even though they both expect something from her. The two men are completely different and it’s true that we immediately understand that whereas her choice would be, her life would be very different. Dredmore has everything of a bad boy unlike Doyle who is a knight in white armor complying fully with the law. And of course my heart is always for our beloved magician though he does not always know how to behave. How not to love this sorcerer who is willing to do anything for our heroine?

Even though I might have preferred the first part as it was easy to read it, this one was really interesting too. I think it’s because the author introduces us to many myths here and I confess that I have not yet fully assimilated everything. I am also curious to learn more about them or maybe I just need to reread the novel to understand the subtleties. But it was certainly a very interesting and fascinating story with an indubitable original touch. Lynn Viehl makes us discover many things and it was exciting to follow our heroine in this quest.

I admit that I really enjoyed this novel and I can not wait to see what Kit will discover about herself, now that her life took a new direction. It was a pretty novel full of originality and I look forward to read the next one to find out what the author has us for the future.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
This part of the Disenchanted & Co. series begins right where the first installment leaves off. The author wastes no time getting right to the action, thankfully. Charm (the heroine) is held captive by Dredmore (the villanous-seeming hero). She calls her ghost grandfather Houdini to help her escape by possessing one of her guards. She escapes, and begins again her quest to sort out the mystery of the magical conspiracy introduced in Her Ladyship's Curse.

Charm has a very wry, witty way of looking at the world that I love. She's still plucky, capable of protecting herself, and determined to be independent. Her wit and wry humor comes through especially well in a scene where she gets dressed in a whore's costume at her friend's brothel.

The plot has a lot going on. And I do mean a lot. Dredmore and Charm's grandfather Harry are keeping something big from Charm, something crucial to the plot resolution. Dredmore gets into trouble; the conspiracy involves an ancient magical race and an ancient war; the mystery of Her Ladyship's Curse is revealed to be even more complicated; a trek through the sewers underneath the city Rumsen; betrayal; the development of Charm's relationship with Dredmore in a very decided (and exciting) way; a secret about her pendant is discovered; and even more I don't want to give away.

All this action makes for a roller-coaster ride of a short novel. At times I felt there was almost too much going on, and that it all happened in a fortnight was kind of unbelievable. At times I found it difficult to figure out what was going on, since it had been so long since I read the first installment. In fact, I would have enjoyed these two books much more enjoyable had they been kept in a single volume.

On the other hand, all that action, the romance, and the myriad plots made this a very absorbing page-turner. I have mixed feelings about it - I really enjoyed the book, but at times found it difficult to believe. I would recommend the series for fans of steampunk and urban fantasy. Fans of Lynn Viehl will enjoy it, and fans of S.L. Viehl may also enjoy it, although it is quite different from her space opera/science fiction series Stardoc.

To see a list of Read-alikes, check out my blog post on The Book Adventures

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of this story says it all. Part two of book one picks off right where part one left off. Kit is still trying to avoid being killed. She's now learned a lot more about these Aramanthans. They are pretty frighteningly powerful as well as megalomaniacs. She is ill prepared to deal with them. Joining forces with Dredmore is perhaps the only way she can survive. What Kit uncovers is worse than she could have imaged.

Ms. Viehl continues to build this world and enhance each character's past. This is well done as the reader finds out more about Kit's grandfather. This is a key factor in the resistance against the Dark Forces she's been warned about. What is sad is the truth about Dredmore's past. Through no fault of his own, he's been cast aside by everyone. This is hard to stomach as an adult. To be relegated as far away as possible at the tender age of five is incomprehensible. All of these pieces makes for a more riveting story as the reader feels more for the two lead character.

Where Ms. Viehl shows weakness is in her plot devices. There is a leap of logic in how Kit figures out who is tormenting Lady Diana Walsh. It seems sudden with little too no clues up. Another is the ending of the story. To my mind, it's a Deux ex machina which is not my favourite way to work out an insolvable problem. Literally through magic which the story doesn't lay the ground work, all of Kit's issues are resolved. She saves the day through every obstacle because she uses a magic "easy button". It brings this story down for me. Yes, there is magic which can solve many problems. However, in a world with magic, there are certain rules. The rules Ms. Viehl laid out already doesn't cover this last piece of magic. Or at least she didn't build it strong enough upfront for this piece to integrate in smoothly. These resolutions came out of left field which made an enjoyable book at three stars drop a star because it just didn't make sense to me. It left me stunned and the ending came across like a jarring gallop on a runaway horse. Still, it's book I can recommend to those who enjoy magic and happily ever afters.

*provided by Edelweiss

[Marilyn Rondeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a new reality where America had lost the Revolutionary War, Charmian (Kit) Kittredge makes her living investigating crimes of magic and then exposing them as the frauds that most are. As the proprietor of Disenchanted & Co., Kit comes across many unusual cases. Ostensibly in this second book, Part 2 which is a continuation of Part 1, many of the questions are answered, including the why and who, of the curse of Lady Diana Walsh’s mutilation which happens while she sleeps; as well as some new revelations concerning the nefarious Lord Dredmore and Lord Walsh. It’s a fun jaunt in the city of Rumsen and once you master the new vocabulary, it’s a fun read!

*** Well, I now have had my first introduction to steampunk - and while DISENCHANTED & COMPANY was a fun read I believe more is needed to make a better assessment of the genre. Noting Lynn Viehl is an author I’ve read before, and HIGHLY enjoyed, it is most likely that this new genre will soon turn into another ‘like’ for me. The whole concept of living in what we know is America but governed by the Queen of England was interesting which gave credence to the dialogs and of course the new vocabulary.

Kit was a most interesting character, and her interaction with Harry was most enjoyable. In fact, I found most of the characters well done, and fun. Lord Dredmore and Kit together were a dynamic couple and as a deathmage Dredmore was extremely interesting. The dynamics of their relationship, a love/hate conundrum was made all the more interesting as secrets began to reveal themselves bringing even more issues to cause angst and quite a deep sensualness.

If I hadn’t read PART 1, which I confess I did not, Lord Walsh definitely more of a puzzle. I couldn’t fathom why he was so intent on harassing and trying to capture Kit. While I understood much of PART 2 - my feelings are if I had read PART 1 - I most probably would have enjoyed DISENCHANTED & CO., much more. In that regard, I would highly recommend reading both parts in tandem.

Bottom line: New genre and all - I really did enjoy DISENCHANTED & CO., Part 2 and recommend it for your enjoyment.

Marilyn Rondeau, for www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

[Online Eccentric Librarian]

His Lordship Possessed is the second half of the Book Disenchanted and Co. and as such, you'll want to read Her Ladyship's Curse first. The completed book comes out in January of 2014.

The setting is a fascinating and well-constructed alternate America - now named the Provincial Union of Victoriana after the American patriots lost the Revolution in the 1700s.

This is definitely more an AU than a steampunk, though it does have steampunk trappings in the form of inventors and horseless carriages. But the genre here is more romantic urban fantasy than steampunk, taking place past the turn of the century.

Charmian "Kit" Kittredge runs a business of mythbusting 'magic' - a rare and dangerous endeavor considering women do not have rights/are expected to marry to make their way in the world. Kit is hired by a nob (an elite) to come help her solve a mystery possibly involving magic. What Kit finds instead is that she will fall headlong into a conspiracy involving much more than she could have realized. As well, she has to contend with Lucian Dredmore, a disgraced aristocrat who claims to be a deathmage, and Tommy Doyle, childhood friend and now a copper/policeman.

The book is very well written. The worldbuilding is strong and really brings up the location to the mind easily. I liked that Kit had friends in high and low places that could help her (if able). The romantic aspect could have used more work though (hence a 4 star review than than 5) since this is a romantic urban fantasy. I just had a hard time believing she would give in as easily as she did when she was such a strong character.

I read both halves of the book at one time and felt the first part of the book was much stronger when it stayed within the steampunk/victoriana setting. The second half veers off sharply into magic/mysticism that lost the strong grounding set in the first book. As well, several characters were just completely wasted and unecessary (poor Tommy Doyle). And well, I could have done without the grandfather, who pulled just a few too many 'famous names' out of his hat.

In all, I did greatly enjoy the story and do recommend it. Received as an ARC from the publisher

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

** Review written for an originally posted on my blog, Book Bliss.I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review**

Review: 4.5 stars

General: This book was a massive step up from the first in the series. I was so happy to read this and see her quality of writing and storytelling come back to life. This book is far to short though! It picks up immediately where events in the first left off with the cliffhanger ending and there is almost no world building or character development so make sure you do not read this one first as the world is very confusing that way. This was more “mystery” than anything else and it was a great one at that when the plot is finally revealed.

This time around the focus was on the plot and the emotions rather than on the world and it was so reliving. I was shocked to find myself quite in love with Dreadmore in this installment, as well as an active interest in liking Kit. BY having the focus actually be on the characters as opposed to on the world building this novel was so much better than the first and I think had the first not been split into two it would have been a much high review for the two together.

The only problem I had with this (aside from desperately wanting more now that I liked the characters) was to have the scenes be better played. Much of the action felt rushed and awkward to visualize as a reader and made understanding the big reveal quite a bit difficult on the first read.

Characters: Kit- Liking Kit went a long way to making this part so much stronger than the first. In this we finally see her emotions. She is falling in love and with it, learning to trust her emotions. It made her likeable, and while I still don’t love her, I was cheering for her by the books end and hoping and praying it wasn’t a cliffhanger ending again as I wanted this character to have her happiness.

Lucien Deathmore: I absolutely loved Lucien. Goosebumps on my arms when he was in the scenes loved him. He is still violent and a force to contend with. But we see his human side – fear, love, playfulness – it made him even better and I hope to see more of him in this light as the series continues.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://vampchix.blogspot.com/2014/02/...


His Lordship Possessed picks up exactly where Her ladyship's Curse leaves off, and I do mean exactly. As in, the very next sentence (remember my frustration at the unexpected way part 1 turned out?). Kit doesn't believe in magic so when she is called to help a rich woman that seems to be harming herself while sleeping, she brings her usual amount of cynicism and charm, only to discover that something far greater is afoot. Her investigation draws the attentions of Lucien Dredmore, the incredibly sexy deathmage, and Inspector Doyle, another admirer of Kit's unorthodox lifestyle. Both men want something from Kit and it's just a matter of time before she gives in to one of them. I'm firmly planted on the side of Lucien because there is just something about his silky way of handling Kit and the mayhem that seems to follow her. Plus, he does seem to genuinely care about her. However, if you want to know how all that turns out then you will have to read for yourself!

I highly recommend this new series to anyone that enjoys The St. Croix Chronicles (Karina Cooper) or The Parasol Protectorate series (Gail Carriger), not because they are the same but because all encompass a unique view in the world of steampunk, each having a strong, and willful, female protagonist that seeks to be her own person despite what society might demand. Also, it is imperative that Part 1 and Part 2 be read in order, and if you're anything like me and do not particularly enjoy cliffhanger endings, I would suggest that you read them together...no waiting that way! I practically screamed when part 1 abruptly ended!

Now, I'm finally off to read The Clockwork Wolf, book 2 in the Disenchanted series!

Reading order (extremely helpful to know):
My Lord Mayhem (0.5)
Her Ladyship's Curse (Book 1,Part 1)
His Lordhip Possessed (Book 1,Part 2)
Disenchanted and Co. (contains both part 1 and 2, no new content that I am aware)
The Clockwork Wolf (book 2)

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

As I mentioned in my review of part one, I read this for a book club. I was startled to find the last book was only the first half, and so I read on, despite my dislike of the love interest.

This half has Charmian (Kit) Kittredge stumbling across a plot to take over the city of Rumsen, all traced to the husband of the woman who hired her. When her love interest, Lucien Dredmore, gets possessed by an evil spirit, her only option is to kill him before it can succeed.

Sadly, the second half takes everything that I liked about the first half, and throws it down the toilet. Kit spends the book running for her life or mooning about the odious Lord Dredmore. It has her hiding out in a brothel, just to give Dredmore an excuse to paw at her where other people can see. It also gives us the appearance of Harry Houdini a century earlier, just for some plot flavor.

And the worldbuilding I thought was so nicely handled in the first half suddenly takes on a kitchen sink approach, with conspiracies dating back generations, plots to take over the world, needless complications, and the creepiest declaration of love I've ever seen in written form.

Seriously, am I the only reader thoroughly creeped out by Dredmore's love being based on his ability to control her? Someone else in my group said she saw an unspoken, "But I'm not going to use it" in there, but that was the opposite of the impression I got.

Like it wasn't bad enough I had to stop to roll my eyes every time she was desperate to get him back after that, the ending is pure deus ex machina. The plot device that lets her fix everything came out of nowhere. It reads like the author wrote herself into a corner and couldn't figure out a better way to write herself back out. There were several better ways she could've handled it, including letting the alphahole stay dead.

The way the next book is set up, it sounds like a rehash of this one, without Kit having to be convinced magic is real. No, thank you.

[Yzabel Ginsberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

(I got a copy of thie book through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Click here for my review of Part 1.)

I still liked the world developed in this story. It fels solid and sturdy, with lots of building behind the scene, even though we're not to see everything yet (which is normal); anyway, the important part for me is that I could feel it).

The characters remain likeable and interesting. There's more to Lucien than what he allows himself to show: far from perfect, but not the dark villain kind either. Kit is still her savvy self, doing her best to get herself out of predicaments (and her best does work), learning from past "mistakes" (ah, good old drugged cups of tea), as well as refusing to give up in spite of the odds clearly being against her. Thomas, although a little too bland to my taste, tries to help, and genuinely cares for Kit. And I like Rina and her girls.

I couldn't enjoy this book more, though, because of the way the story moved. At some point, I felt it started to unwind too fast, with too many new elements introduced all at once, especially in terms of the world's mythology. As I mentioned, this world's interesting, but some of its most secret parts would've been easier to stomach if they had been unveiled more gradually. Some links seemed to be missing: for instance, I didn't really saw how Kit came to the conclusion that "the real culprit behind all this is X".

And I'm really not satisfied with the ending. It paves the way for Disenchanted & Co. (as a business), but the way it unfolded was a device I don't like, too close to a deus ex machina, that negated many of the hardships the characters went through. Sure, it saved the day, but at a heavy cost plot-wise, at least in my opinion. I'd have preferred things to take a darker direction, as painful as it would have been for the characters.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this second part of the first book after the first part was so good. I really enjoyed this second book, though it was almost like the author was trying to squeeze too much information in this book instead of perhaps trying to make it several books (like this should’ve been Book 2 of the series instead of Part 2 of Book 1). The excess information/story kind of bogged down the book in the middle and made it a little hard to slosh through. However the ending was well-done and I was surprised (in a good way) at all the storyline revealed by the end of it. I can’t wait to read the 2nd book in the series!

In this volume, Kit has escaped from Dredmore, the deathmage, only to be captured by the police and brought to court on use of magic charges, of course orchestrated by the wealthy Nolan Walsh, who seems to want to reek vengeance on her for meddling in his affairs. She manages to get out of those charges only to land in an even bigger crazier mess involving her dead grandfather Harry, whose ghost she can see and Dredmore, and evil forces set on destroying Toriana, from Rumsen to the rest of the country. Will she be able to stop the dark forces from overtaking Rumsen and her and the town’s way of life? Will Kit and Dredmore ever sort out their feelings for each other? To find out read the exciting conclusion to Book 1 of Disenchanted & Co. 4 stars.

Disclaimer: I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Disenchanted & Co., Part 1, Her Ladyship’s Curse and when Edelweiss offered Part 2: His Lordship Possessed I asked for and received a copy. Then it disappeared, at least that is what I thought happened. I could not find it on my Kindle. Of course it did not really disappear because I finally found it two months after it was released.

I was not disappointed in Part 2. Kit and Lucien work both together and against each other in Part 2. There is a thrill a minute in Part 2 and it looked like there would not be another book in the series. Nothing was working for Kit or Lucien. It appeared that everything was lost and then there was a very surprising twist. That twist really set up the next book in the series.

Most of the world and character building was done in Part 1. The two parts are really one book so do not try to read this as a stand-alone. Part 2 was action, action, action and it was very well written. I look forward to The Clockwork Wolf, the next book in the series.