After securing her position amongst London's criminals, Lady Claire is able to turn to her real interest: science. As assistant to a smart young inventor, she's able to work on the edge of current science. But after a breakthrough, Claire is horrified to find that no one will acknowledge her contribution to the work.
This is one of my favorite steampunk series out there, with a lot of verve and wit. The dialog never feels forced and theatrical, and the science is only a bit fantastic--it never feels like magic. Claire has to *work* for her scientific progress, and the sexism and racism she encounters feels all the more poisonous because it's so low-key and pervasive.