Who Would Like This Book:
If you crave imaginative world-building, gritty alternate history, and all things steampunk, "Boneshaker" is a must-read. The story plunges you into a smoky, gas-filled, zombie-infested Seattle of the 1800s - complete with inventive gadgets, sky pirates, airships, and a giant drilling machine gone haywire. Cherie Priest’s attention to detail and knack for creating an atmospheric setting make the book both immersive and cinematic. Readers who enjoy fast-paced adventures, unique heroines (especially moms who kick butt), and an ensemble of quirky side characters will find plenty to love. It's an especially good entry point for those new to steampunk, offering a balance of excitement, chills, and fresh storytelling flair.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Boneshaker might not click with everyone. If steampunk isn’t your thing or if zombies leave you cold (or you feel they’re overdone), this mashup may seem a bit much. Some readers found the pacing uneven - especially at the start - and felt a disconnect from the main characters, or thought certain plot elements and character motivations were thin or underdeveloped. The science behind the world is more style than sense, which could be frustrating for those craving airtight logic or deep emotional stakes. If you're looking for subtle prose, nuanced realism, or a story that breaks free from genre conventions, this might not be your cup of tea.
About:
In the alternate history novel "Boneshaker" by Cherie Priest, set in nineteenth-century Seattle, a catastrophic event leads to the release of a poisonous gas that turns people into zombies. Briar Wilkes, a widow with a complicated past, ventures into the walled-off city filled with the living dead to find her son Zeke, who has gone in search of answers about his father's involvement in the disaster. The story unfolds with elements of steampunk, air pirates, survival horror, and a touch of family drama, creating a unique and thrilling narrative that keeps readers engaged until the very end.
The book is praised for its well-developed characters, particularly Briar and Zeke, and their compelling mother-son dynamic. The intricate world-building, blending steampunk technology with a zombie-infested setting, adds depth to the story. The writing style is described as engaging, with a mix of action, suspense, and moments of reflection that keep the pacing dynamic and the plot intriguing, making "Boneshaker" a standout entry in the steampunk genre.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Boneshaker features themes of violence, horror elements related to zombies, and some instances of racial prejudice.
From The Publisher:
In the early days of the Civil War, rumors of gold in the frozen Klondike brought hordes of newcomers to the Pacific Northwest. Anxious to compete, Russian prospectors commissioned inventor Leviticus Blue to create a great machine that could mine through Alaska's ice. Thus was Dr. Blue's Incredible Bone-Shaking Drill Engine born.
But on its first test run the Boneshaker went terribly awry, destroying several blocks of downtown Seattle and unearthing a subterranean vein of blight gas that turned anyone who breathed it into the living dead.
Now it is sixteen years later, and a wall has been built to enclose the devastated and toxic city. Just beyond it lives Blue's widow, Briar Wilkes. Life is hard with a ruined reputation and a teenaged boy to support, but she and Ezekiel are managing. Until Ezekiel undertakes a secret crusade to rewrite history.
His quest will take him under the wall and into a city teeming with ravenous undead, air pirates, criminal overlords, and heavily armed refugees. And only Briar can bring him out alive.
Ratings (27)
Incredible (4) | |
Loved It (6) | |
Liked It (8) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Did Not Like (2) |
Reader Stats (73):
Read It (32) | |
Want To Read (31) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (9) |
1 comment(s)
I loved the alternate history of a Seattle ravaged by the inventions and accidents of a reviled scientist. The writing was gritty and realistic while still giving us monsters
What can you read after
Boneshaker?
About the Author:
Cherie Priest's Boneshaker was nominated for a Nebula and Hugo Award, won the Locus Award for best science-fiction novel, and was named Steampunk Book of the Year by steampunk.com. She is also the author of Dreadnought, Boneshaker's sequel, and of the near-contemporary fantasy Fathom. She debuted to great acclaim with Four and Twenty Blackbirds, Wings to the Kingdom, and Not Flesh Nor Feathers, a trilogy of Southern Gothic ghost stories featuring heroine Eden Moore. Born in Tampa, Florida, Priest earned her master's in rhetoric at the University of Tennessee. She lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband, Aric, and a fat black cat named Spain.
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