Books matching: steampunk city
32 result(s)
Readers also searched for:
- #1
Save:'The Alchemy of Stone' by Ekaterina Sedia is a steampunk novel revolving around the character of Mattie, an emancipated automaton who is on a journey of self-discovery and independence. The story delves into themes of love, freedom, and the struggle to find one's identity in a world filled with political unrest and societal conflicts. Through Mattie's interactions with various characters like gargoyles, alchemists, and mechanics, the reader is taken on a journey through a complex and intriguing world where the lines between humanity and machinery blur.
The narrative is filled with multiple plotlines running parallel to each other, weaving together themes of rebellion, friendship, and the search for purpose. The writing style is described as charming, haunting, and beautifully written, with a focus on character development and intricate world-building that immerses the reader into a fantastical steampunk setting.
We scale the rough bricks of the building’s facade. Their crumbling edges soften under our claw-like fingers; they jut out of the flat, adenoid face of the wall to provide easy footholds. We could’ve ... - #2
Save:Perdido Street Station by China Mieville is a bizarre and captivating tale set in the steampunky city of New Crobuzon. The story follows a brilliant scientist, a half man half bird seeking help, a half bug half woman artist, a renegade journalist, a self-aware robot, and a pack of monstrous moths on a quest for knowledge, justice, and survival. Filled with intricate world-building, weird creatures, and unexpected twists, the book immerses readers in a richly textured, atmospheric read that blurs the lines between fantasy, horror, and steampunk genres.
The narrative delves into the dense and corrupt city of New Crobuzon, where characters must navigate complex social relations and face hard decisions with consequences. Mieville's writing style, described as dense and heavy, paints a vivid picture of the city and its inhabitants, creating a neo-gothic, neo-victorian, and steampunk world. The book is praised for its originality, richly detailed monsters, and the author's ability to handle multiple ideas and themes with brash intelligence and confidence.
A window burst open high above the market. A basket flew from it and arced towards the oblivious crowd. It spasmed in mid-air, then spun and continued earthwards at a slower, uneven pace. Dancing prec... - #3
Save:In a post-apocalyptic world where traction cities roam the wastelands devouring each other for survival, "Mortal Engines" follows the journey of Tom, an apprentice, and Hester, a mysterious assassin, as they unravel a sinister plot in the mobile city of London. The story is filled with action, adventure, and complex characters navigating themes of environmentalism, colonialism, and survival. The writing style is fast-paced, engaging, and at times dark, appealing to both young adult and adult readers with its dystopian setting and intricate world-building.
In happier times, London would never have bothered with such feeble prey. The great Traction City had once spent its days hunting far bigger towns than this, ranging north as far as the edges of the I... - #4
Save:The Grand Dark by Richard Kadrey is a science fiction urban fantasy novel set in a gritty city post-war, focusing on the life of Largo, a bicycle courier struggling with his job, drug addiction, and entanglements. The story delves into a world of unequal social classes, frivolity concealing despair, political machinations, and the looming threat of a new war. The writing style captures a steampunk noir vibe with elements of decadence, hedonism, and political intrigue.
Near dawn, Largo Moorden pedaled his bicycle through the nearly deserted streets of Lower Proszawa. It was exactly one week since his twenty-first birthday. Fog from the nearby bay and smoke from the ... - #5
Save:Skylark by Meagan Spooner is a dystopian YA novel set in a post-apocalyptic world where survivors live within a walled city. The story follows Lark Ainsley, a teenage girl who discovers that she is different when it comes time for her magic to be harvested for the city. As she escapes the city, Lark embarks on a journey into the unknown, encountering various challenges and meeting new allies. The book is written in the first person, capturing Lark's innocence, curiosity, and bravery as she navigates a world filled with magic, machines, and sinister forces.
Skylark explores themes of coming of age, survival, friendship, and the discovery of one's true self in a society governed by oppressive rules and hidden truths. Meagan Spooner's writing style is praised for its ability to create a compelling and unique dystopian setting that keeps readers engaged with its mix of fantasy elements, steampunk aesthetics, and post-apocalyptic world-building. The story unfolds with twists and turns that are both unpredictable and intriguing, making it a captivating read for fans of YA science fiction and fantasy.
The din of the clockwork dawn was loudest in the old sewers, a great whirring and clanking of gears as the artificial sun warmed up. I paused as mortar crumbled from the ceiling and hissed into the wa... - #6
Save:In "Blood Over Bright Haven" by M.L. Wang, readers are taken on a journey through a world where magic, science, and religion intertwine, challenging the beliefs of the main character. Set in a dark academia, sci-fi high fantasy standalone, the book explores themes of oppression, resistance, and a unique magic system that feels like coding. The story follows the first female high mage in an isolated city as she uncovers dark truths and works to dismantle broken systems, while dealing with personal struggles and sacrifices.
The book is praised for its strong and inventive world-building, compelling characters, and a gripping plot that keeps readers in suspense. With elements of dark academia and gaslamp fantasy, "Blood Over Bright Haven" offers a stunning ending that leaves a lasting impact on readers. The writing style is commended for its excellent prose, immersive world-building, and well-developed characters that drive the narrative forward with emotion and depth.
- #7
Save:In "The Hexologists" by Josiah Bancroft, readers are introduced to Isolde and Warren, a married couple known as the Hexologists in the city of Berbiton. When they are approached to solve a mystery involving the King being blackmailed and cursed, they embark on a dangerous investigation that leads them through a world of magic, mystery, and social commentary. Set in a Victorian Edwardian steampunk-inspired world filled with industrial magic, the story unfolds with dry humor, intricate world-building, and engaging main characters who navigate the complexities of a society in flux.
- #8
Save:In the mountain city state of Ondinium, Taya, an icarus courier, finds herself entangled in a web of danger and intrigue when she makes a daring rescue and becomes involved with the ruling uppercaste, the exalted. As she navigates through the city's politics and secrets, Taya is faced with unexpected challenges and alliances, including a mysterious clockwright, Alister Forlore, and his honest brother, Cristof. Filled with mystery, secrets, and surprises, the story unfolds in a richly detailed world full of clockwork elements and steampunk adventure, where characters like Taya, Alister, and Cristof come to life through their motivations and interactions.
- #9
Save:In a future where China has taken over most of the Earth and humans have colonized Mars, 'China Mountain Zhang' follows the interconnected lives of various characters, including Zhang, a gay American Born Chinese man navigating a world where homosexuality is illegal. Through a series of vignettes, the book explores themes of discrimination, identity, and societal struggles in a detailed and evocative world created by Maureen McHugh.
The foreman chatters in Meihua, the beautiful tongue, Singapore English. “Get he over here. All this trash here! Got little time.” He is a stocky little Chinese man who has suffered disappointments. “... - #10
Save:In the book 'Senlin Ascends' by Josiah Bancroft, readers are introduced to Thomas Senlin, a bookish headmaster on a honeymoon trip to the Tower of Babel with his wife Marya. However, the tower turns out to be a mysterious and perilous place, vastly different from what Senlin had imagined. When Marya goes missing, Senlin is forced to navigate through a world of vice and wonder within the tower to find her. The story unfolds in a setting where each level of the tower is like a city, showcasing a blend of 17th-19th century European and Middle Eastern culture with steampunk elements, creating a grand and adventurous world full of strange and wondrous things.
The narrative follows Senlin's journey of resilience, resourcefulness, and tenacity as he faces unexpected challenges and dark corners within the tower. The book is praised for its unique fantasy elements, character development, and the way it intertwines themes of gender, power, violence, and love. The writing style is described as engaging, delightful, and subtly poetic, painting a vivid picture of a world that is both fantastical and deeply human.
The Tower of Babel is most famous for the silk fineries and marvelous airships it produces, but visitors will discover other intangible exports. Whimsy, adventure, and romance are the Tower’s real tra...
