Just started reading Devices and Desires (Engineer Trilogy) this morning. Parker is a new author to me, so I felt a little bit of trepidation when opening the book – you never know if you are going to be wasting your time or not.

So far the book is well written and accessible. It appears to be set in a world similar to Renaissance Italy, with small states fighting and intriguing amongst each other. The main character, Valens, is the son of the Duke of one of these states. He is destined to rule, but is more interested in the fifth daughter of a rival Duke, than in learning statecraft. The other main plot element is going to be about “devices” produced by the largest most powerful state, which leads the world in technology. Not sure how this will develop, but I am assuming that alongside the love interest this will be a major element of the story.